A/N: Hello :)

Thanks for all of the nice reviews! I want you guys to know that I do read every single one of them!

Query

Can you feel it?

Now it's coming back we can steal it

Three months later…

"Sakura, can we talk a moment?"

Sakura's CPR class had just let out for lunch and as such the room that she had been teaching in was filled with young, first-year nurses. They burst into red-cheeked giggles at the person standing behind her. If she hadn't known who the person was by the familiar voice, the nurses reactions would have been the best indicator at who the individual was.

Sakura turned to find Sasuke standing expectedly at the door behind her.

She smiled at him. She hadn't seen him since Mino-san's last therapy session—where they all had had a pretty thorough and wholesome chat—about a month ago. "Sure, Sasuke! We're just finishing up here."

Two minutes later, when Sakura had finished packing up the supplies for the class she led Sasuke out of the hospital building to a small grove. As they walked, Sakura curiously noticed that Sasuke was rather groomed for a normal day: he had cut his hair and was wearing crisp, new clothes. She wondered if he maybe had just come, or was, going to a hearing with Tsunade that day.

She led them over to a stone bench next to a willow tree. The day was sunny and balmy, but the willow tree afforded them some shade, so they didn't have to squint at each other. Fall was on the way, Sakura passively noticed.

"What's up, Sasuke?" She absentmindedly wondered if this would take long, because she was really looking forward to eating the tempura she had brought for lunch. Normally, Kakashi met her for lunch, but he was on a mission and he still hadn't returned.

Shaking thoughts of delicious lunch out of her mind, Sakura focused on Sasuke again. He studied her with dark eyes, looking slightly pale. She wondered if he was getting out enough. She'd have to bug Naruto later about the both of them trying to get him out more.

Sasuke inhaled and honestly nothing could have prepared her for the words that started coming out of his mouth. "I know now, and I knew before I came back, that the council meant for me to continue my line, which was why I came back...I was more or less prepared to do that."

Sakura nodded to show she was listening. She was a bit befuddled, though. Why was he talking to her about this matter now? And why her? Naruto was his usual confidant.

"I was hoping," Sasuke continued after taking a deep breath, as if he were gearing himself up for something, "with all due respect, Sakura, and considering our past, that you would be the person that I would marry and continue my line with."

Sakura was sure her mouth opened in a dinner-plate-sized gape. She was too stunned to speak.

"I know you're with Kakashi—although, I don't even know what you see in him—alright, sorry!" Her mouth promptly shut with an aggressive click. "Anyway, I'm going to try to explain myself as best as I can: I've grown from the person I've used to be. I've tried to show you that these past few months.

I do care for you, Sakura more than any other woman I know because of what we have been through together. You are familiar and honestly I know we can form an amiable and steady life together."

Sakura sat quietly for a moment, trying to sort through the jumble that were her thoughts. Sasuke thankfully stayed silent so she could do so.

If this had come years ago, Sakura knew she would have probably spontaneously combusted and agreed to him right away. But the woman Sakura now was, recognized that beneath Sasuke's thoughtfully crafted words, were absent of even a hint that he loved her. She was positive that he was sure of what his feelings were towards her, but it was only the companionship formed of knowing someone since they were both children and having been through difficult times together, as Sasuke himself put it. She knew that he had chosen her for the sole fact that while there were an excess amount of women who would gladly bone and bear Uchiha Sasuke's children, none of those women knew him like Sakura did. He didn't want to pick a stranger, council-appointed or otherwise, because they would not know his temperament, his pet peeves, antisocial nature, and otherwise stoic personality that could be confused for indifference instead of what it actually was. Infact, the words that he had just delivered to her right then was probably the most she had heard him talk since they were twelve.

For Sakura, those were not the terms under which she would ever choose to start a relationship, regardless of the fact that she did not love him in a romantic sense.

Also, she had kind of thought that Sasuke might be asexual, gay, or bisexual, considering his complete and utter lack of interest in women. She still hadn't quite cleared her mind of the suspicion that he and Naruto had been secretly canoodling a romantic relationship between themselves before Sasuke had left the village. She was sure Hinata would have a few choice words to say about that.

Maybe she just hadn't been around him long enough to notice an interest in women or men...or both. It had been five years until a few months ago since she had last seen him.

She sighed—Sasuke's love life was totally not her problem. "Sasuke, I love Kakashi."

"You used to love me once."

"I don't think what I felt for you was love, Sasuke—at least not romantically. When I compare it to what Kakashi and I have...well, honestly there's no comparison. Loving him is as easy as breathing."

"So, you do compare us?"

"You are definitely getting the wrong idea about what I just said."

Sasuke shrugged, not at all bothered by, well, anything. "You're not married to him yet, so you can still change your mind. When you do, I'll be here. Don't worry, I won't try to interfere with your relationship. It's just a matter of time anyway." And without further ado, he stood up and left.

Sakura blinked bewilderedly at his retreating figure. Her current feeling could be akin to the experience of being blindsided by a pack of muscled bulls. She sat, thinking for a moment longer, then shrugged.

Tempura time.

Kakashi came home later and Sakura, who had been deliberating all day since Sasuke's confession still wasn't sure if she should mention anything.

He kissed her softly in greeting, immediately noticing that something was wrong.

"What is it, Sakura?"

Sakura tried to smile reassuringly at him, but probably only ended up giving him a grimace. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you or not, but I don't want to feel as if I'm keeping something from you, so…" she told him of the events of earlier in the day. "...he even dressed up for the occasion," Sakura finished, trying to be light because Kakashi's lack of expression was quite concerning. She'd seen him gut enemy nin with that expression.

"...Kakashi?"

He blinked, seeming to come out of his stupor (or maybe murderous rage? Good thing she had paraphrased the really gruesome parts), and smiled at her. "It's fine, Sakura. I trust that you know your feelings. If you wanted to be with him, you would be. But instead you're here, with me."

Sakura stretched up and kissed Kakashi again. "I'll always choose to be here with you. Just so that's clear," she said after.

She was fairly sure that the four orgasms he later coaxed out of her had nothing to do with the tender subject they had discussed earlier.

Later in the night, while Sakura was deeply asleep, Kakashi snuck into the Hokage's office and personally assigned Sasuke his D-class missions—a mandatory requirement set by the council in accordance with his readmittance into the village.

Truly, his imagination knew no bounds.

Six months later...

Kakashi gently twirled Sakura in time with the music coming from the tsungi horn and various woodwind instruments, making her giggle. Her emerald dress fanned out at her waist from the movement.

Konoha's annual Tanabata festival had been another hit this year. And like every other year, once dusk hit, the band started playing and people were encouraged to go out and dance in the streets. The starry night was cold, but it didn't bother her much.

Kakashi twirled her a few more times, smiling at her childish mirth at being circled around. He held her tightly round the waist up against him when she got a bit too dizzy and gave her her favorite cinckle-eyed smile. Head tipped back, Sakura grinned lazily at him, waiting for her vertigo to subside, while they swayed gently.

When it did, she asked Kakashi to go buy her a strawberry ramune. He told her he would be right back and disappeared into the crowd.

Alone now, Sakura turned to study the crowd around her. With a jolt, she noticed Naruto watching, leaning against the closest building. Until then, she hadn't come across anyone she knew. She wondered how long he had been watching.

Deciding that she would be very rude if she pretended she hadn't seen him, she somewhat reluctantly made her way over to him.

Naruto had actually almost gone back to normal around her and Kakashi in the past few months. He no longer went out of his way to avoid them and she only noticed the occasional grimace when they were together and the subject of Sakura and Kakashi came up. But being so explicitly exposed to their ongoing relationship as he had just been, was another matter entirely.

As she approached him, she noticed his neutrally pensive expression.

Before she could even get a word out, Naruto said with a curious smile. "You two are good together. I can see it now."

Sakura's heart filled with joy and she gave Naruto an impromptu hug. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that!"

Once she released him, he gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry I was such a dick about everything. I've had time to think about everything, though. It's actually better this way."

"Yeah? How so?"

"Well, this way, you stay in the group! Who's to say some big shot medic from another village wouldn't have swept you off your feet and taken you away. Or even someone from here who would eat up all your time and you would never get to see us ever. With Kakashi-sensei, we have at least already established a routine where we all meet up every now and then! I wouldn't want that to change."

Sakura laughed. "You're so weird, Naruto...but you're right."

They lapsed into companionable silence, watching the merry-making going on around them.

"Sasuke told me what he offered you a few months ago, by the way."

If Sakura had been drinking something, she would have spat it out right then. As it were, she kinda only choked a little on her spit.

"Don't worry! The bastard told me that you totally shot him down. I just...I guess I didn't totally believe him until now. You really do love Kakashi-sensei, don't you?"

Sakura nodded solemnly. Then asked tentatively, because she knew Naruto hadn't brought this up for no reason, "Where's, Hinata?"

Naruto shrugged, not quite succeeding at being nonchalant with the gesture. "We haven't been out together in ages. She says I spend too much time with teme."

"You kinda do."

"Yeah, I know." He pursed his lips, brow furrowed. "Sakura, I'm confused."

Sakura took his hand. "I'm right here if you need help figuring it out."

His consternation cleared and he smiled at her. "Yeah, I know."

Kakashi came back then, holding two cold drinks, one very obviously intended for Kakashi himself.

Naruto promptly snatched one away and chugged it. "Thanks, Sensei! Well," he patted Kakashi on the shoulder and gave Sakura a quick kiss on the cheek, "You two lovebirds have fun now! I'll see you later!"

Kakashi turned one very dumbfounded expression on her, then gazed forlornly at his now empty hand.

"It's okay," Sakura chirped. "We can share mine."

She'd enlighten him later of Naruto's newfound acceptance of their relationship.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Btw SasuNaru is a ship I very much stand behind~