Ino was still awake when Sakura finally let her feet drag her home. She had spent almost an hour wandering the village, trying to calm the heat that Kakashi had sent spreading through her veins. As soon as she had disappeared out his window her inner monologue had begun screaming to go back, to shove him down on the bed and just stop overthinking it. The gate squeaked as she pushed it open, gravel crunching under her sandals as she headed for the back door and smiled at Mr. Wiggles' face smushed against the window pane.

"Go on then," she cooed, watching as he immediately darted between her legs when the door opened. She heard the patter of bare feet as Ino rounded the corner, wrapped in a shirt Sakura recognized as one of Shikamaru's.

"You're out late."

"Tsunade-sama needed me for some village business," Sakura half lied breezily, not sure if she was ready to get into what had happened afterwards. Ino shrugged one shoulder and pointed out the window behind Sakura's head.

"Does that village business have to do with the fact there's been shinobi peeking over our bushes every two hours since about sundown?"

"Ah... about that..."

Sakura plastered a wide smile on her face and set the kettle on the stovetop. She wasn't going to outright lie to Ino, not if there was a threat of danger in their own home. But she was definitely going to need to tweak the story a little to avoid giving too much information away.

"I found a bootprint in the bushes yesterday, and Tsunade-sama is working on something right now that suggests someone might have eyes on our house. We're safe," she assured Ino, "But you know Tsunade-sama, she just wants to be sure."

"There's a stranger in the village?" Ino asked, brows knitted together in confusion. Sakura winced, knowing she'd explained herself into a corner. With no way out, she sighed.

"No. Tsunade-sama believes the surveillance is coming from inside. A spy. But you can't tell anyone, Ino, you know people will start panicking and we could lose the trail. We're safe here, I promise. All I found was a bootprint, and it could have belonged to anyone. You know people sneak in here all the time to steal my flowers."

Ino huffed, "Yeah, I've noticed. You're going to put the flower shop out of business. My lips are sealed, Sakura. I'll let you know if I see anything weird."

Sakura smiled, knowing it was nothing but a teasing jab. She was thankful that Ino didn't press any further for information, seemingly satisfied with Sakura's explanation. They sat at the table in silence until the sharp whistle of steam began pouring from the goose neck of the kettle, Sakura rising to pour herself a cup of chamomile and lavender tea. Ino waved off the offer, pulling her legs to her chest on the chair and propping her chin on the dip of her knees.

"Do you think Shikamaru would wait for me if I spent two years in Suna?"

"If you asked him to, I'm sure he would. And would he really have to wait? You've seen the trade deal proposals, Suna and Konoha are in talks to start shinobi exchange programs, he could see you every few months if he really wanted. And his genin team keeps him busy these days, it's not like he'd be forced to sit at home staring out the window at the horizon for you."

Ino rolled her eyes and tugged at the sleeves of the shirt, rolling it back so it didn't brush against her knuckles, "I just really want that foreign medic position in Suna. I'd get the chance to work with the Poisons and Antidotes lab and I'd be heading up my own section of the hospital when I was there for treatments. Tsunade-sama wrote me an excellent recommendation, I heard back from Temari when I came back from the mission. They'll have me as early as this summer. And don't think I don't know you had Naruto mention me to the Kazekage."

Sakura smiled innocently over the rim of her mug, but didn't confirm or deny. She knew Ino was the best medic in the village for the position, and that wasn't just because they were friends. Ino excelled in all the areas Suna was looking for help in, and she would be fully dedicated to the cause while she was there. What was the point of having friends in high places if you didn't utilize your connections when it mattered?

"You know," she began softly, "It's okay if Shikamaru means more to you than the position in Suna."

Ino looked up from her knees and frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I know you want the Suna rotation, but there's nothing wrong if you decide to stay for Shikamaru. People look down on kunoichi when they do things for love, like it's some kind of betrayal to their job and their villages, but it really isn't. Make the choice you want to make, not the one you think will upset people less. I've seen how Shikamaru looks at you Ino... he'll wait as long as you need him to."

These were the moments Sakura would always hold in her heart when it came to her friendship with Ino. They'd wasted so many years being 'rivals' and fighting over such petty things. The day they had finally cast away those issues; years ago on a random Tuesday outside a takoyaki stall when Sakura had been a few ryo short of being able to buy lunch and Ino had appeared... that day secretly meant more to her than the moment Tsunade had agreed to take her on as an apprentice. Ino sitting across from her and admitting that she was conflicted between her job and her love made Sakura question her own secrecy.

"Ino?"

"Mmmm?"

"You and Shikamaru were teammates for a long time before you started dating. You were friends for so long..."

The longer Sakura let the silence stretch between them while she stumbled for her words was making Ino's eyebrow climb high on her forehead while a grin began to tick at her lips. She waited patiently for Sakura to keep speaking, but Sakura already knew she was caught.

"Kakashi and I went on some dates," she finally admitted, giving up on trying to talk her way around it. Ino's squeal of excitement was accompanied by an enthusiastic fist pump and feet kicking.

"I knew it! I knew there had to be something! When? How? Tell me everything. Wait-"

Ino rose from the chair and poured herself a cup of tea, throwing the cabinets open to locate a half empty, slightly squished bag of bisuko before returning to the table.

"Okay, now tell me everything."

Sakura smiled at her enthusiasm, but laid out as much as she could. From the day he showed up at the home after breaking out of the clinic- to hours earlier, when she had gone to find him after her 'business' with Tsunade. It was easy to skirt around the more sensitive details pertaining to the ongoings in Konoha, even if it did leave a few gaps here and there. Ino seemed to already know she was out of the loop, but didn't pry. Instead, she gasped and squeaked and 'yes, Sakura!'-ed her at appropriate intervals, making her feel like she was a giddy teen at a sleepover. When she reached the end, Ino frowned and looked up at the clock.

"Wait, you went to his house this late? Sakura," she mock gasped, placing a hand over her heart like a swooning woman. Sakura smacked it away and threw half a bisuko at her.

"It wasn't like that!" she insisted, "After the thing with Tsunade-sama I wanted to talk to him. But then I went through his window and, well-" she could feel herself blushing and Ino flailed her hands.

"Aaaaaaaaaand?"

"And he was doing pushups and he wasn't wearing a shirt and Ino he looked so good I just sort of grabbed him and kissed him."

The last part came out in a hurried whisper, but Ino's keen ears caught it all based on her reaction.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you," she laughed, flicking away the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, "I'd hit that if I had the chance. What happened after?"

Sakura hesitated before explaining the moment they had shared on the bed, unsure why she felt the need to keep that particular moment between her and Kakashi. Ino smiled and reached out to take Sakura's hand, squeezing reassuringly.

"Hey, you don't need to tell me. I know that look. Whatever it was though- you two were safe right?"

Sakura flushed dark red, "We didn't do anything. But if we- when we do, yes. We will be. I'm a medic, Ino."

Ino squeezed Sakura's hand again before propping her chin into her palm, "I know, but you know I've got to ask. You asked me the same thing when you caught Shikamaru sneaking out that first time. I'm just looking out for you. Though you and Kakashi would make adorable children."

She winked and Sakura couldn't help but laugh. They were medics at heart, and it was hard to shake the safe sex talk when they gave it almost every day. With the topic of sex on the table, however, Sakura fidgeted with her mug and pursed her lips.

"We've only been on two real dates," she said softly, "Would it be too early? If I wanted-"

A good hard fuck? Her inner self supplied helpfully, the heat from the evening still apparently lurking deep within her brain.

"-sex." Sakura finished.

Ino shook her head right away, "You're both adults, Sakura. As long as you're both on board, there's no wrong time. One date, eight dates- no dates. Whatever. But talk about it first, just make sure you both want the same things. When I was hooking up with that guy from Suna-"

"Bastard," they chorused in unison, making Ino laugh.

"He wanted more than I did from the situation, but I didn't realize it at the time. That's what made it so messy. Talk to Kakashi about it and go from there. What do you want out of this?"

I want to hold his hand and have him kiss my forehead and curl up beside him and make him smile because it makes my heart feel so full I can't breathe when he smiles at me and even though we haven't talked about anything yet I can't remember ever feeling this way for someone and I'm scared he doesn't feel the same?

"I don't know yet,"

"Uh huh. Sure you don't." Ino replied dismissively, but didn't call out the glaringly obvious lie that Sakura had just told. Ino tipped the bag up to her mouth, catching the fall of crumbs that poured out of it and tossing it expertly into the trash can, "Sleep on it then. Nobody really wants to have the 'where is this going' talk, but the sooner you do it the sooner you can rip his clothes off and go to town-"

"INO!"

"You were thinking it, I just said it."

Sakura couldn't deny it, so she let it slide with a shake of her head and a private smile. Ino rose from the table, no doubt ready to head back to the couch where she was watching her dramatic soap operas.

"Before they started creeping over our fence those shinobi left something for you. Said it was a priority package from Tsunade. I put it outside your room. Also your cat is lurking on the windowsill."

Sakura looked over her shoulder at the ginger face mashed against the window again, wide eyes gazing deep into her soul. The package would be the personal effects of the man they'd found in Danzo's attic, and her fingers itched to start going through them but her pre dawn shift at the hospital loomed on the horizon, meaning she'd need to put it off until tomorrow afternoon. She opened the door for Mr. Wiggles, watching as he darted inside and disappeared around the corner and up the stairs before she could see if he had anything gripped in his jaws.

"I better not find a dead rat on my bed tomorrow morning!" she yelled up the stairs, tacking a soft, 'again' under her breath where Ino couldn't hear it. He might have been an overfed house cat all his life, but Mr. Wiggles had a knack for creeping up on unsuspecting wildlife and deviating from his carefully portioned meal plan Sakura had set up. She bid Ino goodnight before she headed upstairs, bypassing the bedroom in favour of the bathroom, sweat and dirt clinging to her like a second skin that she was eager to shed. The bathroom filled with steam within minutes, Sakura's skin painted pink and red under the spray of water as she scrubbed her body down, resolutely not thinking about the events that had transpired that evening. She needed to sleep, not lay awake all night aching for hands on her body and a mouth between her legs-

The bathroom tile rattled ominously when she slammed the water off with too much force, pushing the soft cloth of her towel hard against her eyes until she saw stars. Maybe she was going to have a harder time sleeping than she planned. At least the ninken seemed to be lurking elsewhere this evening- she wasn't going to think about what questions they would want to ask her. She could still hear the low hum of the television when she left the bathroom and called out a goodnight to Ino as she clicked her own door shut and prepared for bed. 'Prepared' meaning half heartedly towel drying her hair to avoid early morning frizz; throwing one of the t-shirts she had pilfered from Naruto or Sai over her head and all but throwing herself into the blankets with a sleepy grunt. Sakura curled up on the left side of the bed, punching the mountains of pillows into submission and wriggling into the perfectly shaped dent she had formed over the years. Hesitating ever so slightly, she reached out to the other side, cold under her touch and the sheet and duvet pulled up tight from where she had made the bed earlier that morning.

Maybe tomorrow night it won't be empty?

Sakura huffed and rolled over, turning her back on the empty space beside her.


The early dawn light painted the village in a beautiful palette of soft yellow and blue, settling easily into the nooks and crannies of the buildings and creeping slowly along the ground. Bakeries and coffee shops still shuttered their windows, but Sakura could catch the scent of coffee beans and bread already being made for the still-sleeping masses. The hospital was quiet, though shinobi returning from missions were already beginning to filter in. Sakura was at least happy to see that there was yet to be anyone looking particularly bloodied or wounded.

"Ohayo Shoji. What's on the agenda for today?"

Shoji shoved his glasses up his nose with one hand, clearly startled by her sudden presence at the desk, "Ohayo Haruno-san, you're earlier than I expected. Ah, you'll be switching out with Himari-san this morning, she's still finishing up with her last patient. I don't have all your files yet, but no major traumas came in over the night, though Konohamaru-san had a bad evening,"

Sakura took the file with a frown, flicking through the notes Himari had left. A spiked fever, increased pain levels. Not uncommon during recovery from major surgery but still worth a second look and monitoring.

"Really, Shoji, you can call me Sakura. I'll see Konohamaru first; will you have the rest of my files ready when I return?"

"Yes, Haru-Sakura-san," he corrected with a crooked smile, "While you're over there, I'll give you the file of his female teammate. Himari-san made some notes on her recovery, if you'd like to take a look."

Sakura took the second file and headed towards the east wing of the hospital, basking in the silence while it lasted. She hadn't thought to check the mission roster before coming in, so she had no idea if she was about to be inundated with returning shinobi teams. Konohamaru was asleep when she slid open his door, watching him with a critical eye. Naruto had clearly been to see him, there was an obnoxiously large stuffed frog sitting beside a vase of flowers on the bedside table. Konohamaru's breathing was laboured, the white sheet tucked high on his chest rising and falling a fraction of a second faster than Sakura would like. It also rasped with a slight wheeze with every inhale, suggesting some kind of illness. Himari had made a note that suggested such, and administered something to help control the fever, though she had found no signs of an underlying infection. He roused when her hand touched his forehead, threading chakra through his system to locate the source of the issues.

"Nee-chan?"

"Go back to sleep," she whispered, "I'm just making you comfortable. You're not feeling well?"

He shook his head sleepily, dropping back into his slumber almost as soon as he closed his eyes. Sakura removed her hand from his forehead and placed the stethoscope to his chest, frowning when she heard the subtle tick of a wet rattle. She replaced the cold instrument with her hand, sighing quietly when her chakra flickered and she felt the damp sensation of something lurking in Konohamaru's lung. It wasn't strictly a surprise that he had contracted something while in the hospital after a major surgery, but they had been doing everything in their power to prevent it. She made a few notes in the chart and stepped back from the bed. They would need an x-ray and likely a blood test to determine if it was a far gone as pneumonia, but for now he would benefit from rest and fluids.

"Haruno-san? I'm just letting you know I'm leaving for the day. Shoji-san has your files ready when you return to the front desk. I see you got my notes about Konohamaru-san?"

Sakura slid Konohamaru's door closed and smiled at Himari, who was already out of her medic scrubs and clearly dressed to leave.

"I did, Himari. I was just wondering though..." Sakura hated this part. The part where she had to question the people she worked with about their abilities without sounding like an asshole. Though Tsunade had admitted on more than one occasion that she wouldn't hesitate in turning the hospital over to Sakura's care, she had no official authority unless both Tsunade and Shizune were out of the village.

"You stated that you checked for foreign bodies that could have caused the spike in temperature, but just now during my examination I found that he might have pneumonia. Did you check his chest when you conducted your exam or just the wound site?"

Himari flushed.

"I- ah- I just checked the wound site, Haruno-san. I'm so sorry."

Sakura waved off the apology and tilted the chart so Himari could see the notes, "In patients recovering from major surgeries, until they are discharged it's always important to do a full exam when there is any chance of infection. He likely caught it here in the hospital, and even though he'll be fine, it's important to catch things like this early. I'll start treatment today and it can be continued this evening if necessary. Enjoy the rest of your day, Himari."

Pink still tinted Himari's cheeks when she ducked away down the halls and Sakura sighed softly. Tsunade's teaching method when it came to Sakura had involved a lot of screaming, aggression and tears, though the last one had been mostly on Sakura's behalf. As much as she had, at the time, questioned it, she now understood the intention. As a medic nin, you held life in your hands. There was no room for simple mistakes, half-energy days, and anything but perfect attention to detail. There had only been a handful of times Sakura had outright yelled at her coworkers for their careless mistakes, and this situation didn't need to be one of them unless Himari began to make it a habit.

Sakura eased Moegi's door open quietly, pausing in surprise when she saw the kunoichi staring blankly at the walls instead of sleeping.

"You're early."

Sakura slid the door closed and flicked on the table lamp to get a better look at her, seeing the masses of white dressings and medical gauze still wrapped around her face. Sakura glanced down at the notes Himari had made, keenly aware of the gaze trained on her as she perused the pages. Himari had noted some concern for Moegi's mental state, citing periods of depression and rage combined with days of silence. Sakura began the routine checkup, but didn't say anything as she did so. She was checking Moegi's blood pressure when the kunoichi finally cracked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The other medic was in here last night. I yelled at her. Did she... did she say anything bad about me in the file?"

The shamefaced confession made Sakura smile sadly, but she shook her head, "No. The medics here know how hard things are for you right now, Moegi. Unless you're causing them or yourself any danger, we're never going to be upset with you. Can I ask why you got upset?"

Moegi fidgeted as Sakura settled her hands over the dressing, threading chakra slowly through the scarred tissue.

"...everybody thinks I'm weak," she breathed, her one visible eye shining with tears. Sakura chest tightened and she thumbed the stray tears away as she continued her assessment.

"Now why would you say that, Moegi? Nobody here- and I mean nobody thinks that you're weak. I've read your report- you got hit with the explosive tag when you jumped in front of Konohamaru after he'd been hit. It would have killed him if it had made contact, his injuries that night would have prevented him from doing anything about it. You are the farthest from weak I've ever seen."

Tsunade had dropped the report on Sakura's desk a few days after Moegi had regained consciousness; Moegi had seen a shuriken and heard Konohamaru fall, but the explosive tag had come out of nowhere only seconds later.

"I'm a kunoichi," Moegi said softly, "I shouldn't let my appearance dictate how I feel."

Sakura sat on the end of the bed and reached out a hand, assessing the remaining scar tissue that crept across half of Moegi's face. Moegi's file noted that she reacted badly to her dressings being removed, so Sakura was forced to work blind, using only her chakra and medical knowledge to tentatively address the situation. Shizune had done an excellent job with the wounds, but even Shizune's careful medic touch wouldn't have been enough to limit the damage to the skin, though they were confident her fast action had been enough to save Moegi's eye. She was passing her optical exams at only a fraction less than prior to the attack, and aside from some blurriness of vision and tension headaches, there were no obvious signs of permanent damage. Sakura flared a tiny chakra blade into Moegi's skin, disappointment settling in her gut when Moegi didn't react. The nerves in her face were too damaged too feel anything, and it was likely they wouldn't be able to repair it. She would discuss it with Tsunade to make sure her diagnosis was correct, however, before she broke the news to Moegi. Instead, she slid her hands from Moegi's face to her hands, lacing their fingers and squeezing hard.

"We've only got one face, Moegi. It's okay to want to like what you see in the mirror." Sakura offered quietly, "Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is an idiot. I see you spoke with Himari last night about your pain before you were feeling upset. Do you feel up to discussing it with me or should I come back later in the day?"

She took Moegi's noncommittal shrug as an invitation, poising her pen in hand and looking at her notes. Moegi offered short, clipped answers to most of the questions, only offering more detail when gently coaxed. Her pain levels were elevated, prompting Sakura to recommend a small dose of something to keep her comfortable, though it was unfortunately no surprise to her that the wounds were still causing problems. Moegi was in a for a long stay at the hospital. Physically, she was recovering as fast as they could hope for with such a severe wound. But until they were sure that she wasn't susceptible to any infections in the damaged tissue, she wasn't going anywhere.

"Do you know who did this yet?"

Sakura looked up from her notes and shook her head, lips pressed into a firm line, "Not yet. But it's the main priority for the Hokage right now and we aren't going to give up until there's justice."

"For the dead guy." Moegi said softly with a nod, "He was pretty nice you know. He talked to me all the way back to the village."

Sakura closed the medical file and tucked it into the hanger at the end of the bed. "Not just for him, Moegi. For you and Konohamaru as well. And Anko, and Genma. Even Udon. You were all victims of this attack, and Konoha won't let whoever did this get away with it."

She gave Moegi a reassuring smile before she headed for the door, "I'll send the nurses in to change the dressing on your face, okay?"

"Yes, Sakura-san. Thank you. Have a good day."

Sakura made sure to slide the door fully closed when she left, heading down the quiet halls and back to the front desk. Even in the half hour she had been starting her rounds, the lobby was beginning to filter in more patients. Shoji shoved a teetering pile of folders towards her and tapped the top one before gesturing to a group of shinobi sitting in the cluster of waiting room chairs, flipping through a series of outdated magazines.

"Routine post mission for the first four, returned from Lightning about an hour ago. No major complaints. After that you have a genin team supposed to be returning before nine; two surgeries before midday, and by then the post lunch crowd should be coming in. I'll have their files ready then."

Sakura did a quick scan of the shinobi, seeing at least two favouring a leg and a shoulder while one hadn't stopped sniffling since she had entered the room. She sighed and reached for a pair of gloves and called for the first one, pointing him in the direction of the checkup room.

"I don't really need to be here, it's just a sprain. Can you sign my-"

"Sit down."

Today was going to be a long day, she could already tell.


Kakashi lingered on the edge of the training ground, poised and ready to lunge at his unsuspecting prey. He wasn't sure if he had been spotted yet, though he could never be too sure. Gai bent down into a low stretch, planting his palms flat on the ground and raising himself into a handstand before flowing easily into a single push up and lowering himself parallel with the ground. Kakashi darted out onto the grounds, seizing the opportunity of Gai's distraction in the hope he could make a quick getaway.

"What does it mean when a woman invites you to her house and she makes sure to tell you that her roommate won't be there?"

He'd underestimated him. Gai was on his feet in a flash, hands caught in the front of Kakashi's shirt. This was a mistake, Kakashi decided immediately. Gai's eyes had widened, his already broad grin somehow stretching even further across his face before his arms wrapped tight around Kakashi's neck.

"A woman has cornered your affection, Kakashi? She must be quite special for you to seek out advice as to how to please her! I am happy to assist!"

Gai's exuberance was attracting the attention of the other shinobi on the training grounds, forcing Kakashi to seize him by the collar and drag them further away. Gai fell limp in Kakashi's grasp and allowed himself to be moved.

"I really don't need help knowing how to please a woman, Gai-"

He let go, and Gai was already punching the air, "First, who is the lovely woman? All women want different things, they have different battles they fight every day! Knowing more about her will help me determine her motives for seeking out your solitary company."

Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed heavily. He should have asked Genma. Genma would have shrugged and offered a good enough reason for why Sakura would invite him over- but Kakashi knew in his gut that – as much as it hurt to admit it- Gai would be able to help him. Even though Genma and Shizune were sickeningly domestic with one another, Gai was the only one of their group who had held down multiple serious relationships in his lifetime, most of them ending in a mutual departure where both parties remained friends.

"I'd rather not say."

Gai beamed and offered Kakashi a thumbs up.

"Some matters of the heart should indeed stay personal, Kakashi! I will respect your decisions! But I have to admit I'm not sure why you would ask such a question. Sensuality is best explored when two people can be as emotive as possible-"

Kakashi raised his hand, "So you would assume it is... sensually charged?"

This conversation was physically hurting him. He could feel it eating at a part of his soul. The night before with Sakura had felt different to their other encounters, moving away from a quiet smoulder and into something that held sparks. Her invitation had been accompanied by dark eyes and parted lips in a way that often had led to him in bed with women, but he didn't want to make the wrong assumption. He wanted to do this right. Which was why he was here. Gai was nodding sagely.

"But it is true that you can never know a woman's true intentions until you ask her yourself. But if you're asking for my advice, I would prepare accordingly in case the opportunity for fulfilling your sexual desires arises. If I might make an assumption... is this object of your affection a kunoichi?"

Kakashi paused before he answered, but didn't see the harm in it. There were a lot of kunoichi in the village, there was no real way for Gai to know he was specifically referring to Sakura.

"She is. Why would that matter?"

Gai flailed, as though Kakashi had asked why the sky was blue, "Much of our job as shinobi is to guard ourselves from others; to keep our true selves hidden under the visage of our occupation. When someone invites you into their home, they are opening themselves to you in an intimate way. Revealing the layers of themselves underneath who they show the outside world. To be invited into a woman's home, to be given the opportunity to see her personal space is an honor. Even if the two of you don't consummate your desires-"

"Gai, really-"

"Whoever this woman is," Gai continued, eyes wide and earnest, "She is showing you a great trust. I doubt she is doing it with any expectations in return, but I'm sure it would mean a lot to her if you were to reciprocate that trust."

Reciprocate the trust. Show Sakura something about himself that he kept personal and hidden away from others? That... made a lot of sense. Gai was nodding silently, as though he could see the various cogs screeching in Kakashi's head. As though seeing a weakness in Kakashi's front, he smiled widely and leaned in close, voice dropping into a low whisper.

"...Sakura is an excellent young woman. The both of you complement one another, like the Sakura blossoms to the spring."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, but Gai was watching him with a speculative head tilt and Kakashi realized Gai hadn't known, but had only assumed. And Kakashi had reacted just as expected. Gai was good. He was smirking now, the tips of his fingers pressed together.

"I've heard many great things about her for a long time, Lee was taken with her since the Academy. She came to me to learn some Taijutsu," he said, head low and eyes closed, "I was incredibly humbled that she would consider me to be a student under. That generation created a lot of great shinobi, but she is unlike any I have ever seen. She is truly something special, Kakashi. As much as I love my student, even I must admit when two true hearts have found one another."

"It's really not that serious," Kakashi rebuffed, though Gai's smile softened and Kakashi prepared for him to begin waxing poetic again. To his surprise, Gai instead reached out and clasped a hand to Kakashi's shoulder.

"You are my eternal rival, Kakashi. That much is true. But I also consider you a close friend. Let yourself be open to good things- you are a man who deserves it."

Compliments made him squirm, especially when they commented on his character. But Gai had a way of sometimes saying things that made everything so much clearer.

You deserve good things.

You aren't ruining her.

"Thanks, Gai."

Gai's serious face dissolved into his trademark grin and it forced Kakashi's to curl to mimic it like it was contagious.

"Perhaps before your moments evening with your beloved- a challenge! Five hundred push ups! FOR LOVE!"

"Well-"

Gai was already flat to the ground, poised and ready to begin. Kakashi sighed and dropped to his knees, fist planted solidly in the dirt. He could indulge Gai this once, he supposed.

For friendship.

Not love.

Not yet.


Sakura set Mr. Wiggles on the stone path, where he promptly mewled up at her and tried to scale her legs. She loved him dearly but tonight she wanted to make sure he wouldn't spend most of it begging for hers and Kakashi's attention. The outdoor area, lovingly dubbed, "The Catio" by Naruto, was several large sections of wood piled high into the shape of a small house, complete with a plush cat bed and several toys. Sakura had slapped it together shortly after she had... acquired her feline companion, hoping that coaxing him to be outside would help in his weight loss journey. It hadn't, much to her chagrin, as Mr. Wiggles spent most of his time sprawled uselessly on the top pedestal, gazing off into the distance and licking his tail.

"Stay out here tonight, okay?" she pleaded as he wound his way around her legs, purring up a storm between his pathetic mewls for attention. She scooped him into her arms and plopped him on the catio, where he promptly tuned his butt in her face. Sakura sighed and pulled a tupperware container from her pocket, Mr. Wiggles' ears perking to her direction at the sound of it popping open. Ino had made the chicken while Sakura had been away, which meant it was going to go bad if it wasn't eaten. She set several thick slices of it on the wood, watching the bright eyes peering out at her from the darkness with suspicion. The last time Mr. Wiggles had been treated to rotisserie chicken, he had woken up neutered. She was pretty sure he still hadn't forgiven her for that.

"It's not a trap," she wheedled, "It's a bribe. Don't go scratching on my door at three am, okay? You can come back inside but stay downstairs. Or go into Ino's room."

Mr. Wiggles meowed, a single fuzzy paw stretching out from the dark to snag a piece of chicken before drawing it to his body. Satisfied, Sakura headed back inside. She was an excellent pet parent, her new ninken was going to love her. Ino's shift had started an hour ago, which meant Kakashi would be here any moment. Sakura had showered since she returned to the hospital, fluffing her hair into something at least somewhat presentable and spending just shy of a half hour selecting an outfit before finally settling on a comfortable pair of leggings and an oversized shirt. Kakashi didn't care how she looked, he'd seen her covered in two weeks worth of mud, blood, and vomit before. But that didn't mean she didn't want to at least try and look presentable. She'd torn the sheets from her bed and replaced them with a crisp, clean pair, plumping the pillows and shoving all of her miscellaneous clothes around the room into a drawer. The condoms she had grabbed from the bowl at the hospital crinkled as she slipped them into the bedside table.

Just in case, she'd thought to herself as she had taken them, knowing if she went by the pharmacy there would be gossip. She wasn't ashamed of having sex, but she'd like to actually have it before people started gossiping about it. Not that she'd had much time once her shift had finished to do anything but rush home. The day had been, as she predicted, long and arduous. To her surprise, however, it hadn't been the genin that had caused her grief, but the incoming shinobi. A team had arrived back from their mission to Kirigakure, and brought with them yet another raging cold that was sweeping the village. She had breathed a sigh of relief when she had been summoned to the civilian clinic around the middle of the day to aid one of the midwives. She'd helped deliver a premature baby boy to one of the young mother's she had assisted with for prenatal care. There were a lot of things she loved about her job, but there would always be something special about placing a newborn baby on the chest of its mother.

Her eyes scanned the bedroom, looking for things that were out of place or embarrassing. The box Tsunade had delivered the night before was tucked under her bed, still sealed. The urge to begin rifling through it itched under her fingernails, but there was no telling how long it would be until Kakashi got here.

But on the other hand... he wasn't here yet.

She dragged the box out from under the duvet, rummaging through what little information Tsunade had been able to scrounge up. What caught her eye first, however, was a tattered journal atop the files. She flicked it open to a random page, shuddering at the detailed sketch of a faceless man chained to a table and dissected like an animal. She slammed it shut.

The urge to read it had definitely waned that wassomething for another day. Right now the only thing on her mind should be-

The sharp, staccato knocks on her front door made her heart leap into her throat. She shoved everything back into the box before kicking it back under the bed, taking the stairs two at a time with ease and skidding to a stop in front of her door. She took a moment to collect herself, resisting the urge to throw the door open. When the tremble in her hand had finally stopped, she gave her hair one last tousle before letting it swing open.

"Yo."

"Yo youself,"

She stepped back and gestured for him to come inside, the butterflies in her gut ricocheting around at high speeds as his eye crinkled in her direction. He declined her offer of both water and tea, but crumbled when presented with the remaining half of Sakura's croissant from lunch. He was sucking the chocolate from his fingers when Sakura casually made her way to the staircase, looking over her shoulder as the only invitation for him to follow.

"I thought we could hang out in here. My room's a lot more comfortable than downstairs. If you want."

Smooth like a block of sandpaper, Sakura

She pushed open her door and stepped over the threshold, suddenly wondering if this had been a good idea. She'd had people in her room plenty of times, Naruto was always running in for something and she knew Ino liked digging through her closet. If Kakashi thought anything was strange, he didn't say so. Instead, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed her in, clearly drinking in the details of her room.

Please don't think I'm weird...


Kakashi couldn't remember the last time he had been in her bedroom. Besides occasionally dropping in to alert her of upcoming missions, he couldn't remember a time he had ever come here for more than a moment at a time. He wasn't sure what he expected, but somehow everything about it screamed Sakura. A large bookshelf in the corner housed several dozen medical textbooks interspersed amid other various fiction books. The bright covers of Icha Icha could be seen poking out from the second shelf, making him smile. The walls were decorated with photos of the Rookie Nine and Team Kakashi, as well as some clearly candid shots of Tsunade, Shizune and others he had seen Sakura interact with. A shot of Team 7, not the one he so often saw, was tacked to the wall by the window. Naruto and Sasuke were sandwiched on either side of himself, clearly dozing in the afternoon sun with Icha Icha open on his face. Sakura's face was crammed in the corner, grinning wide and flashing a peace sign. A charcoal sketch of Sakura; kunai in one hand as she tied up her hair, was beside it with Sai's messy scribble in the bottom corner. Kakashi looked to the window, where a pale blue curtain was swaying lazily in the evening breeze, giving him glimpses of an overflowing flowerbox hanging over the ledge. The walls were haphazardly painted a shade of mint green he recalled seeing in the beds of Naruto, Sai, and Sakura's nails for weeks last summer, and he briefly wondered if he could talk them into helping him repaint his own home. He could see Sakura in his peripheral vision, wringing her hands in silence as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. Gai's words, of all the advice he had received today, lingered in the back of his mind. Sakura was showing him a part of herself that she didn't likely often share. While his own room was unadorned and existed mostly for function, Sakura's was clearly an extension of herself.

"It's nice," he said, wishing he had more words that didn't fit awkwardly in his mouth. The slight tension in Sakura's shoulders unfurled and he felt himself mimic it. Sakura crossed the room and jumped onto the bed, flinging some of the cushions on the floor in her wake.

"Make yourself comfortable. Try not to disturb that game of shogi though, Pakkun and Bisuke have been at it for almost a week now. They keep getting annoyed at one another and having to be separated."

Pakkun and Bisuke played shogi at Sakura's house? Was he his ninken's second favourite person now?

Wait.

There were bigger things happening right now. He'd focus on that later.

He debated sitting on the bed beside her, but instead dragged over the chair tucked neatly into the desk to the bedside. He picked up a lopsided stuffed slug plushie, one eyebrow raised in Sakura's direction. It had two different size and shape buttons for eyes, and the haphazardly sewn seams were bursting with stuffing.

"One of the children from the civilian ward made it for me. I taught her to sew since she was going to be there for a while."

This thing was going to haunt his nightmares. But it was so... Sakura to have kept it right by her workspace, where she could see it every day. His heart thudded against his chest.

This girl was something else.

He set the 'slug' gently on the windowsill and dropped easily into the chair.

"How was your day?"

Sakura perked up, beginning to talk animatedly about the daily grind at the hospital. Kakashi missed being on the mission roster, even if it was only for menial duties most times. He'd never taken this much time off before. He felt like he was slowly losing his mind.

"-Mei remembers you," Sakura finished with a wicked smile, "You made quite the impression on her during your little jailbreak."

Kakashi shrugged his shoulder, "No idea what you mean. I did nothing of the sort."

"Uh huh. Of course not." Sakura drawled.

Kakashi scooted closer to the bed, leaning in close.

"I forgot something when I first got here."

"You did?"

He thumbed at her jaw before he kissed her, drawing her lips to his. Even with the mask on he could feel the warmth and softness of her mouth, but Sakura was clearly wanting more judging by the way her fingers hooked eagerly in the edge of his mask and pulled it down around his neck. Their kisses had passed from curious and tender to harder and more passionate, hands on jaws and rasping gasps between each break. The front of his thighs hit the edge of the bed and he climbed atop it, one hand going to Sakura's waist and cushioning her down onto the pillows.

"Mmmm- wait,"

Kakashi pulled back as soon as he heard Sakura's slightly dazed gasp, pulling away so he wasn't lingering over her. Sakura blinked and pushed hair away from her face, chewing gently on her bottom lip.

"Is something wrong?"

"What? No. No nothing's wrong. Everything is... good. Really good. I just..." she swallowed hard and Kakashi felt his heartbeat stutter. Sakura wide eyes were captivating him, shy and watching his every move. He could feel the heat of her thigh on his own and he rubbed his thumb comfortingly against the skin of her ankle.

"I invited you over here for sex," she said. Calmly, not a waver of anything in her voice; as though they were discussing the weather or the flavors of mochi at the corner store. He cleared his throat and settled back on the bed, keeping an arms length of distance between them. He'd assumed as much, but it was comforting to hear it from her.

"Have you changed your mind?" he asked softly, "Because nothing needs to happen, Sakura."

"No no no," she waved her hands at him and cleared her throat, "It's nothing like that. I just... I want to make sure we're both in this for the same thing. I don't want- I don't want this to mean more to one of us than the other. I want to know..." she trailed off, clearly searching for the right words. Kakashi gave her a few moments before he filled the silence.

"My intentions?" he offered. This talk didn't come as a surprise, though he'd be lying if he said he was often given it beforehand. It was usually afterwards, laying in the post sex glow that his partners rolled over and asked 'what this meant'. More often than not, he was a little ashamed to admit, it meant he was creeping out the window as soon as they'd fallen asleep.

"...Our intentions." Sakura clarified, "I'm hardly a wilting flower... but you already know that. I'm not expecting this to end in a marriage proposal, but I can't tell you I only want sex out of this. I like you. A lot. And I'd like this to be more than sex. And if you don't feel the same way, I need to know now."

He didn't exactly pry into the sexual exploits of his former students – or anyone for that matter- but he had hardly expected that Sakura was still a virgin. He'd tossed her intentions for inviting him to her house over in his head so many times today, though in his gut he had known what it would likely end in. But she was giving him an out, a chance to back away from this and to avoid making things awkward. She'd bared her soul to him in admitting she wanted more than just sex, but smoothed it over by also admitting she wasn't planning for them to settle down and have an army of pink haired babies. For the first time in a long while, he let himself think of the future. Of what it would be like to wake up next to her; to ruffle her hair and kiss her forehead every morning before a mission. For her to be more than a quick comfort and a bandage on gaping wounds he was never sure he would close.

She's different.

She's something special.

"I've been with a lot of people, Sakura," Kakashi admitted, "Some of those people meant something, but most of them didn't. I want this to mean something. For both of us. And if that means we wait- we will wait. But don't for one second think that I only want you for sex. This is... more to me than that."

His answer pleased her, he had seen that shy smile on her so many times before. She settled herself closer to him, nudging at his legs to prod him until his back met the headboard and he relaxed against the tower of pillows she kept on her bed.

"I told Ino. About... us," she admitted as she curled up beside him, draping her legs easily over his own and nestling herself into the curve of his body as though she had always belonged there, "I hope that's okay."

"Genma knows about us as well. And Gai. Though in my defence, Gai guessed on his own. Not that I'm surprised; I'm sure half of Konoha knows by now anyway. Does that bother you?"

"No."

Kakashi tangled his fingers in her hair, gently at first, waiting for permission. Sakura sighed happily and tipped her head back, encouraging the touch of his hands against her scalp and the long drag through the strands of her bright hair.

"I haven't been Rasengan-ed in the street yet, so I assume Naruto doesn't have any idea?" he joked, though Naruto had been known to have negative reactions to Sakura's partners of the past. Not out of jealousy, he was sure, but the lingering (though somewhat unnecessary) need to protect his teammate.

"Naruto knows I'm an adult and I can do as I please," Sakura said firmly, "If he has any issues it will only be concern for the structure of the team, but you and I are professionals, not lovesick idiots. I won't go sneaking off on missions to make out with you."

"A shame, really."

Sakura punched him playfully in the shoulder and he responded by tugging lightly on her hair, watching for a split second as her mouth parted and her eyes flickered.

He'd need to make a note of that for later.

The weight beside him shifted and Sakura propped her elbows on his chest, kissing the very tip of his nose.

"Can I ask something?"

"You don't need to ask if you can ask questions, Sakura," he chided.

"Who was the first person you slept with?" Sakura asked, and he realized why she had first requested his permission. It wasn't a question he was afraid to answer, and he knew there would likely be more of them. His ninken had not so helpfully already informed her that he had taken with many people before; and he would be a liar if he didn't admit he had the urge to turn the question on her.

"A kunoichi assigned to one of my team missions. She was older than me. We were told that this mission could be dangerous and we might die. She didn't want to die a virgin and neither did I. I was thirteen."

He heard Sakura's sharp intake of breath but she didn't stop the easy, slow strokes of thumb on his abdomen. He didn't tell her that the girl had, in fact, died on the mission. He had stood over her while blood gurgled out of her mouth and remembered the way she had kissed him with sloppy and inexperienced abandon and he had learned more than he anticipated that night. Instead, he smiled.

"Yours?"

Sakura scrunched her nose in an incredibly fetching way, "A boy from the village. He was a civilian while I was training with Tsunade-sama, we met when I was tasked with healing his younger sister after she fell off a swing set and broke her wrist. He would visit me every day after training and we would just sit and talk. He gave me my first kiss the day I showed him how to climb the Hokage monument. I was fifteen when we slept together for the first time. He's married now, I went to the wedding last fall. They're going to have a baby."

Her tone was light and nostalgic, not a trace of sadness or regret in her tone.

"What happened?"

Sakura chuckled.

"Life happened."

That was something Kakashi could understand. It never mattered what plans you had set for yourself, or the direction you tried to cut your own path towards... life found a way to do whatever it wanted with you. Though he was starting to think- here in the bedroom of a woman who looked at him as though he wasn't covered in scars and suffocated under emotional baggage; who stood so fiercely in front of anything in her way and demanded it bow to her- that maybe life had greater plans for him than he could have ever imaged. The silence that settled between them was comfortable and soft, Kakashi finding himself contented just by the feeling of Sakura's weight on his shoulder. He could feel her hands tracing patterns absently on the front of his shirt, drifting up along his biceps before dipping down to the slope of his hips as they disappeared into the waistband of his pants.

"I'm going to kiss you." she said softly, waiting until he inclined his head to show he had heard her before she brought their mouths together.

This kiss was different. Sakura's hands were firm on his shoulder as she drew her closer to him, letting herself fall back so he was half atop her. He hovered his weight over her, kissing back with the same intensity. Her hands crept under his shirt, yanking at the fabric until it swept over his head and disappeared somewhere into the bedroom. He could feel her fingers on his scalp, raking through his hair and keeping him within kissing distance until they were drifting down his back and sliding under the band of his pants.

"Off?" she asked softly.

He was more than happy to oblige, watching with amusement as Sakura kicked the fabric of the bed like it had personally offended her. He was happy that he had chosen his second nicest pair of underwear today. He'd considered the dancing pugs but somehow it hadn't felt appropriate.

Kakashi nudged her thighs apart with his knee, settling between them with ease before he broke the kiss. He pulled back, ignoring the unimpressed grunt he received in favour of the sharp intake of breath when his mouth met the hot skin of her hip. He kissed along the angle of her hip, over the softness of her lower stomach and up to the defined plane of her abs. He could feel the encouraging tugs of her hands in his hair, coaxing his ministrations up to her ribcage before he felt her pull away. He stopped kissing her, leaning back to put space between them in case they had gone too far. His concerns were soothed almost immediately, however, when Sakura shook her head and drew him back to her. She licked her lips and tugged gently on the sleeve of her nightshirt.

"I'm not-ah- I'm not wearing anything under this shirt," she said, eyes dark and wide as she teased the end of the hem between her fingertips. Kakashi raised an eyebrow and Sakura grinned, mouth still wet from their kisses, "I just thought I should let you know."

Kakashi couldn't help but smile, leaning in to kiss her before pushing the fabric over her stomach, over the stretch of her ribs as she arched to free the fabric from under her- before he folded it loosely and dropped it on the floor. Sakura's hair spilled out over her shoulders, some tendrils landing softly on the swell of her breasts. Kakashi smiled.

"My abs aren't as nice as yours. You're putting me to shame here." he teased, hoping to ease the self consciousness he could see flickering in her eyes. It worked, the doubt gone and replaced with a squint of her eyes as she laughed.

"Give me three weeks, I'm sure I could whip you into shape."

Kakashi smiled and kissed her collarbone, letting his kisses drop down the valley of her chest while his fingertips grazed his breasts. He took his time pressing his mouth to her body, finding where the ticklish giggle turned into the appreciative moan; how the swirl of his tongue with the scrape of his teeth across her nipple earned him an arch and a bitten off curse. Sakura was gasping and whimpering by the time he finally reached the waistband of her leggings, looking up at her for permission before sliding them easily off her long legs and dropping them over the bed.

She wasn't wearing anything under those either.

The kiss he pressed to the inside of her thigh made her tremble, and the one placed ever so slightly higher offered him a cracked moan. He heard the long, drawn out whine of 'please' and he was already achingly hard against the fabric restraint of his underwear.

"Take them off," Sakura breathed, "Please, Kakashi, I want,"

He tossed them down with her clothing, very aware of the fact that Sakura was watching him as he gave himself three quick strokes. His condoms were in the pocket of his pants, which were now... he tried to surreptitiously search the room, looking for their landing spot. Sakura reached out and opened her bedside drawer, retrieving one and tearing it open with her teeth. He had a moment to be impressed by her preparedness before he grit his teeth with a hiss, feeling her hand wrapped tight around him as she rolled the condom down his length.

"How do you want me?' she asked, and Kakashi was sure if his body hadn't already been screaming for her, that sentence would have done it.

"On your back. I want-"

I want to see you

Sakura didn't question his pause, only fell back against the pillows and hooked her legs around his waist, kissing him again and again like it was the only thing keeping her alive. When he finally sank into her, he knew he wasn't going to last long, much to his chagrin. It had been a long time since it had been like this, since it had been more than just a faceless person scratching an itch. He dropped his face into the crook of her neck, feeling the rock of her hips meeting him thrust for thrust. Sakura's hand was braced on the headboard, nails scraping on the wood. He felt the sting of her teeth on his chest and he growled, knowing it was going to leave a mark and leaving one of his own in return, high up on her neck.

"People will see that!" she gasped.

"I don't care."

He punctuated his words with a snap of his hips before he sucked his thumb into his mouth and slipped it between them, finding her clit and pushing up against it with the barest amount of pressure. It was enough, based on Sakura's hand going from the headboard to his back, digging in and gripping to him. The other covered his own, coaxing his thumb in a circle and changing the pressure until she closed her eyes and moaned.

"Do it like that. Please. Please."

If she knew what she wanted, he'd be happy to oblige. He could feel the tightness around him, the sound of skin and the creak of the bed mingled with Sakura's gasps and praises. He wasn't going to last much longer and like hell he was finishing if she didn't. He thrust harder- faster into her, timing his strokes of his thumb with the strokes inside her until he could feel the tremble of her legs and the flutter of her walls and her half gasp of 'ohyesfuck' wasn't necessary to tell him she was coming. He planted his hand in the bed and thrust twice more before he bit of a grunt and felt the tension finally release.

When the peak of his orgasm had faded, Kakashi lifted his weight from Sakura and rolled to the side, feeling the pile of pillows mash instantly underneath him. His chest heaved with every breath, the thunder of his heart echoing in his ears. Sakura rolled over, cheeks flushed and panting softly.

"...wow?"

Kakashi snorted, which was the cue for Sakura to begin laughing as well. He let himself lay in the afterglow, listening to the heavy breathing beside him peter out over time. This was usually the part where he got up and left...

"You can stay?" Sakura said softly, half a question but layered with hopefulness. He thought about the excuses he could make, how easily he could wait until she fell asleep and slip out the window. How if it had been anyone else he would already be planning those things.

And how all he wanted was to wake up with pink hair on his chest and sleepy green eyes looking back at him. He leaned in and touched his lips to the crown of her head, muttering into her hair.

"If you'll have me."

He felt the tug of the blanket as Sakura yanked it from under him, throwing it up to cover them both in darkness. His endorphins were fading, leaving his muscles lax and his eyes heavy. Sakura's mouth was at his ear.

"You never have to ask."

He could feel himself falling asleep already, wrapped in the warmth of the bed and the softness of the pillows. He should ask her where she bought the mattress. No wonder the ninken liked sleeping here. When was the last time he'd gotten a good sleep- besides that time he was in a coma? He didn't remember... her bed smelled like crisp air, sex, and Sakura. It was a good scent...

"goodnight kakashi..."

She was smiling. He could hear it in her voice.

He hoped it was because of him.


She would need to get up soon. She could see the sun rising in distance, but the warmth of Kakashi's body beside hers was begging her to stay where they were. Kakashi had stirred awake sometime in the night and his movement had startled her, though it had taken a turn for the better when it became sharing lazy kisses that had turned into Kakashi inside her again and again, long and slow strokes that made her beg and writhe. At some point, she had rolled them both onto the floor and dragged the sheets and comforter with her. The plush bedding was wrapped around her, wedged under her back, and thrown haphazardly over Kakashi's lower body before snaking around his thigh. He was asleep, or he was good at pretending he was. She pressed a tiny kiss to the crook of his neck, but the steady rise and fall of his chest didn't change.

"Kakashi."

"Unghfg,"

Sakura pressed a hot, open mouthed kiss to a red and purple mark blooming on his chest, "Kakashi.."

She saw his eye crack open and he blinked the sleep away, muffling his yawn with the back of his hand.

"It's morning?"

"Yep."

Sakura pressed another kiss to the swell of his bicep; then one to his collarbone, scraping her teeth gently over the sharp jut of it. He raised an eyebrow, but she ignored it, continuing the slow drag of her mouth over his bare chest.

"Are you seducing me?"

Sakura laughed, kissing the skin just above his bellybutton and inclining her head to the wrap of the sheet over his hips, "Well it's working. Or did I wear you out? There's really no shame in- oof"

He'd grabbed her by the waist and lifted her as though she was weightless, letting her sprawl ungracefully on his stomach. He was smirking at her. Readjusting, she let the duvet fall off her shoulders as she settled easily on his hips, surprised that she wasn't more self conscious under his stare. It felt as though he was drinking her in in the morning light as his gaze flickered from the tousle of her hair, over her breasts and down to the peak of her thighs.

"You're beautiful." he murmured, almost too softly for her to have caught it. She blushed.

Sakura reached easily down between them, hand circling around his cock and giving it several soft strokes while she basked in the soft groans of pleasure. She was tender from the night before, but seeing him sprawled on her floor, messy haired and sleepy eyed had stirred something in her. They had time before she had to leave for work. She caught the condom- the last condom- she noted, between her teeth and ripped it open, rolling it easily down the length of his shaft. Kakashi's hands were on her hips in an instant, guiding her down against his lazy, measured thrusts up into her.

"This is a good look on you," he gasped, snapping his hips particularly hard as she rocked down on him, making her cry out and dig her nails into the flat of his abs.

"Good. Get used to it." she shot back with a smirk, shifting her knees to get better leverage and watching Kakashi arch under her.

She heard the screech of the gate signalling Ino's arrival and she cursed under her breath, sweat beading down her back and she worked her hips against Kakashi's, tipping her head back and sinking her teeth into her bottom lip to stifle her whimpers and moans. She felt Kakashi's hard grip on her hips and then the cold, hard floor under her back as he flipped himself on top of her, the leverage letting him go harder and deeper into her. His free hand went to her mouth, the other hitching her leg over his hip before planting firmly on the hardwood behind her head. If this was supposed to make her regret insinuating he couldn't keep up, she wasn't sure this was punishment. She could feel his strokes getting faster and more erratic as he buried his sweaty forehead into the crook of her neck with his own bitten off grunt. She dug her nails into the firm muscle of her back and whimpered, feeling the tight knot of something surging in her gut before she moaned against his hand and rode it out; pleased to hear a hitch of breath and a stuttered gasp in her ear only moments later. She could hear the front door open and close, the rustle of Ino dropping her gear on the floor and the sound of water filling the kettle.

"...that one might have worn me out," Kakashi mumbled before pressing a tiny kiss to the crook of her neck.

Sakura laughed, giddy and rushing with endorphins. She had no idea how she was supposed to go about her today with the memory of this right at the front of her mind. Kakashi had hitched the sheets around his hips and was wrapping the condom in a tissue, watching her closely with a tiny quirk of a smile on his lips. He was gathering his clothes from where Sakura had exuberantly tossed them when he looked down at her.

"I have somewhere to be this morning, and I know you'll be at the hospital all day. But can I see you tonight?"

Sakura sat up and stretched, drinking in the view in front of her, "I suppose we could make that happen. Did you have anything in mind?" she teased, unashamedly watching the beads of sweat roll over the marks she had made on him last night. Kakashi smiled.

"I thought I could make you dinner at my place. Say around seven?"

Sakura bit her bottom lip and blushed, "I'll be there."

Kakashi stooped down to where she was still sprawled on the floor, catching her jaw and pressing a tender kiss to her mouth before jumping easily out the window and disappearing. She stayed on the floor for a long time, her heart full to bursting with emotions. It wasn't until she heard Ino's voice call up the stairs that she broke out of her reverie.

"Are you up yet, Forehead? you're going to be late!"

"Oh shit."

A quick shower, mandatory teeth brushing and a high necked shirt later; Sakura took the stairs two at a time, medic pouch in hand and hitai-ate dangling from her wrist. Ino looked up from the table, mug of tea in hand and smiled knowingly.

"You're glowing, Forehead."

Sakura grabbed an apple in her free hand and did a twirl on the kitchen floor. "Ino," she began, breathless and cheeks hurting from grinning, "You have... no idea."


A/N- Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I'm glad the scene with kakashi was well received. I hope the scenes in this chapter were worth the wait, I haven't written sex since I was lying about being 18 . I actually had this chapter as it is posted finished almost 2 weeks ago, but couldn't figure out why I hated it so much. Turns out I was trying to shove too much into one chapter and took an entire plotline out to save for the next chapter. Writers life amirite.

Wedding planning is going to be the actual death of me. Send help. Or reviews. Those are good too.