Two days later, Genma received a message that he would be moved to gate duty for the foreseeable future. He recognized Tsunade's handwriting instead of Kakashi's, but that hardly surprised him. Genma figured it would be a long time before Kakashi could look him in the eye without wanting to black it. He could accept that, no matter how long it took. The men had been friends for years, eventually this whole thing would blow over.

Sakura was another matter. Genma had stopped by her apartment twice, but she'd either been away or avoiding him as no one answered the door. He supposed that was fair enough considering she'd pretty much broken up with him that last time they talked. Not that they'd been dating in the first place, but he didn't know what else to call it. The whole situation was so fucked up that Genma couldn't begin to understand it. Had Raido been in his place, Genma would have laughed himself breathless. It was a lot less funny on this side of things.

"Are you even listening to me?" Raido's words pulled Genma from his sour thoughts. He found his best friend staring at him with a mix of amusement and concern.

Genma nodded, toying with the food on his plate. He didn't have much appetite lately, not even for his normal favorite of burgers and fries. And, truth be told, he had no idea what Raido had been saying. Raido rolled his eyes. "So? Did it have anything to do with you or not?"

Genma frowned, wishing that he'd been at least halfway attentive to Raido's ramblings. Maybe if he had, he'd have some sort of answer. "Did what have anything to do with me?"

"I don't know why I even bother with you lately." Raido took a long pull from his beer, dragging out the suspense. He couldn't resist gleaning another drop of gossip if it was just there for the taking. Genma remained silent. "Are you the reason that Kakashi came to work with bruised knuckles and a hangover?"

Raising a hand, Genma brushed across his chin as if he could still feel the bruise that Sakura had healed. Deciding that he didn't want to get into it, he shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're a terrible liar," Raido laughed, finishing the remaining fries on his place, then leaned back with a grin. "Did you two kiss and make up or should I avoid him for a few days?"

Genma shook his head, smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite himself. "You know he's not my type, too moody."

The teasing banter felt good, a clear break from the funk that being back in the village had left Genma with. Everything had changed in the three months that he'd been gone. Even the posting on the gate pushed Genma further away from the life that he remembered. He wouldn't be near his closest friends, men that he'd served alongside since he was nearly sixteen years old. Genma would learn about everything second hand, hearing gossip only when Iwashi or Raido let something slip rather than drawing his own conclusions. He'd practically been banished from the Hokage's office.

Genma drained his beer to push away the uncomfortable ache in the center of his chest. "Has Sakura been by the office?"

Despite the casual way that Genma delivered the question, something like pity entered Raido's dark eyes. The man toyed with his beer, not quite meeting Genma's gaze. The tokujo's stomach dropped when Raido continued. "Don't torment yourself over it, man. It's not worth it."

"Yeah," Genma agreed despite the sick feeling worming through him. He swallowed around the lump in his throat and ordered another beer from the man behind the bar.

The conversation drifted away from Kakashi and Sakura, but Genma struggled to keep his mind from returning to the pair. Raido detailed the antics of the new genin, shared bits of gossip about the shinobi they'd grown up with, but Genma couldn't focus on the words. He made himself nod and grin at the appropriate places so that Raido didn't pick up on it. He'd learned to hide his emotions a long time ago.

Genma wondered how much Kakashi understood about his relationship with Sakura. Obviously he knew that they'd slept together on that Kami-be-damned mission, but did he know the rest? Did he know that for all her fury, Sakura welcomed Genma back into her bed with open arms? Did the Hokage know about the way she'd melted into his kiss like it was the first time she'd been able to draw a full breath in months?

Did Kakashi know that Genma had gone to the most recent doctor's appointment with Sakura? Would he care? Genma knew that Kakashi had some sort of feelings for Sakura, hell maybe the man was in love with her, but that didn't give him the right to her. As far as Genma knew, Kakashi had never made a bid for Sakura's affections, never admitted that he felt anything beyond friendship. Of course, Genma wouldn't know if he had; Sakura wasn't the type to kiss and tell. Genma didn't find that reality as comforting as he once might have.

"You aren't going to let it go, are you?" Raido drained the last of his drink, then pushed the bottle away. "How did the other night go? After you left the bar, I mean."

Genma realized that maybe Sakura wasn't the only one who didn't kiss and tell, at least, not anymore. He hadn't seen Raido since the last time they went out and drank together. Everything had been too chaotic for him to make sense of his life. Genma affected the usual smirk he wore when talking about women. "It's complicated."

Raido whistled under his breath, then clapped Genma on the back. "So, have you two talked about what you're going to do?"

"Not really," Genma hedged, unwilling to open a door to all the problems currently running through his head. "It's still so new, you know? There are a lot of things to consider."

For a minute, Raido watched Genma without speaking. He drummed his fingers on the table in the way that he did when he was debating whether or not to say something. He lost the battle with a sigh. "Yeah, sure. Have you guys thought about-"

"I'd honestly rather not think about any of it right now," Genma interrupted. He had a million thoughts already crowding his mind with no chance to clear them out. The last thing that he needed was more to consider. "Can we please talk about something else, anything that isn't this?"

Raido nodded, launching into some story that would have normally had Genma rolling with laughter. For now, he managed to smile and was thankful for that much. Things would eventually get easier, they had to

Steam rose from the mug in Sakura's hand, its soothing aroma easing some of the stress in her shoulders. Despite lazing around her apartment all day, Sakura felt more exhausted than if she'd worked a full shift at the hospital. While she knew that she needed to talk to Tsunade about getting reinstated at work, Sakura hadn't bothered yet. The chaos from the last couple of months made the normality of her job seem unimportant. At best, Sakura would have another five or six months of work before needing an undetermined amount of time off.

Curing beneath a blanket on the couch, Sakura set the tea aside and reached for the two books on the end table. One was a stupid, trashy romance novel that Ino had been trying to get her to read for months. Sakura had made it about halfway through before tossing it aside. Men did not act that way in real life; there were no grand gestures, no explosive confessions that fixed all the problems. Relationships were too complex to be tied up with neat little ribbons at the end of three hundred pages.

The second book was one of those instruction manuals about pregnancy that tried to prepare people for what was coming. As a medical professional, Sakura knew the ins and outs of childbirth and pregnancy, but she couldn't help but be curious about what it said. There were anecdotal stories in there as well, and old wives tales half lauded as possibilities. She read it mostly to laugh at the absurdity of it all, and maybe a little because she was nervous to go through with it. Knowing details from a textbook was worlds away from experiencing something in real life.

Sakura had just finished reading a series of supposed remedies for morning sickness when she heard a knock at the door. She jumped like she'd been electrocuted, nearly dropping the book in the process. Frowning at the clock, Sakura slid the pregnancy guide under a pillow and pushed to her feet. It would probably be Genma again; he'd stopped by several times, but Sakura hadn't felt up to dealing with him. She didn't know how she felt about the man, and every moment that she spent with him blurred the lines further.

Kakashi had shown up as well, but Sakura hadn't answered him either. The two of them hadn't spoken since Kakashi recalled Genma to Konoha. The man had overstepped his place by involving himself in this when bringing Genma back. But, Sakura wasn't sure exactly how, because she'd been the one to drag Kakashi into their situation to start with. She'd run to Kakashi with the information when she could have left it to Tsunade. Or Genma, a small voice whispered.

For a brief moment, Sakura remembered the feel of Kakashi's arms around her. The revelation that the Genma was the father instead of Sasuke almost leveled the man, but he hadn't turned away from her. If anything, he'd pulled her closer when she started to cry. Kakashi understood the things that Sakura couldn't put into words, and he'd never asked her to try. He'd been gentle in a way that she hadn't anticipated.

Pushing the thoughts away, Sakura rose on tiptoes to peer through the peephole. Ino stood on the welcome mat, toying with the thick braid that she'd worked her hair into. Frowning, Sakura opened the door enough to stare out at her friend in confusion. The blond rolled her eyes and grabbed Sakura's arm. "Come on, forehead. Let's go get a drink and catch up. We've got so much to talk about."

Sakura pulled away then shook her head. 'It's already late, and I want to stay in tonight."

"You always want to stay in," Ino complained, running her eyes over the pajamas that Sakura wore. She flounced into the room with a sigh. "Do you at least have something to drink here?"

Ino made herself at home in Sakura's apartment, going straight to the kitchen cabinet where Sakura kept her alcohol. She followed the blond, pushing around Ino to pull down two glasses. Ino had already swiped a bottle of fruity mixer and vodka, which she tipped haphazardly into the cup Sakura pushed across the counter. When she reached for the other, Sakura shook her head. "I'm good."

Ino narrowed her eyes at Sakura for a long moment, then affected a sigh. "You never drink with me anymore. You're turning into a boring, old woman. What's next? A herd of cats to keep you company?"

As Sakura laughed off the words, she found herself wondering exactly when she and Ino had grown apart. The weeks after the mission with Genma had been a chaotic time for Sakura, but she hadn't told the blond any of the details. The sex had seemed too personal at first, then she'd been embarrassed about being just another notch in Genma's belt. Then, when Sakura realized that she was pregnant, Kakashi had filled a void she hadn't known existed.

"Better than getting my heart broken every other weekend," Sakura teased, filling her glass with water instead of meeting Ino's eyes.

The blond seemed to be trying to work her way through all the boys in the village. Half of Ino's conquests were complete strangers to Sakura. Ino's position in intelligence introduced her to dozens of shinobi on a regular basis who weren't a part of their circle of acquaintances. Sakura had met a few of them over the past couple of years, but none had stuck around longer than a month or two. The latest one obviously hadn't lasted either. Following Ino back to the living room, Sakura settled on the couch. "So, what happened?"

"Men are stupid," Ino complained, raising her drink to her lips for a long sip. "Ryo only wanted me to talk to him and no other guys. Then, he blew up when he saw Shikamaru and I having dinner."

"Shikamaru, huh?" Sakura smiled, but did her best to hide it before Ino saw. She'd always thought that Ino and Shikamaru should dispense with the whole friendship ruse and admit that they had feelings for each other. Of course, both of them vehemently denied any such allegations.

On cue, Ino rolled her eyes. "Don't start that again. You know we're just friends."

Snorting under her breath, Sakura pulled the blanket back across her legs. While she hadn't met this Ryo, or whatever his name was, Sakura knew that she preferred Shikamaru. If only she could find a way to make both of them realize that they'd be perfect together. Sakura vastly preferred focusing on her friend's problem instead of her own. "So, what were you two discussing if it wasn't a date?"

"You can go out to dinner without it being a date, Forehead." Ino rolled her eyes and brushed hair away from her face. "We meet up once in a while, usually to complain about life. Don't you ever do that with someone besides me"

Sakura laughed. Who would she go out with? Naruto? The boy had practically been in love with her for as long as she'd loved Sasuke. Then, there was Sasuke himself. There had been a time when Sakura thought they might work, but the past few months had evaporated that feeling like dew under the desert sun. Ino had stopped asking about that situation; finally accepting that Sakura had closed the book on that chapter of her life.

"I don't really have that kind of relationship with my teammates," Sakura shrugged, running her fingers through her hair. "I mean, can you imagine trying to have a discussion about how much the world sucks with an optimist like Naruto?"

Ino inclined her head. Then, her smile grew dangerous. "What about Kakashi? You two are close, aren't you?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. Ino had questioned her relentlessly over the past few months about her relationship with Kakashi. Sometimes Sakura wondered if Ino's curiosity hadn't been the reason that she'd started exploring unlooked for feelings in the first place. The subtle shift from friendship to a crush had been so slight that Sakura hardly noticed it. "We're friends. You know that," she repeated.

"Just like Shikamaru and I," Ino pointed out, grinning.Touche.

Shaking her head, Sakura gave up arguing the point. Ino watched her for a moment, then raised her glass. "So, I heard a rumor that Genma is back in the village."

Sakura nearly choked on the water that she'd been drinking, covering her mouth with a hand to keep from spitting it everywhere. Ino's smirk increased as she toyed with her glass. "I also heard that he and Kakashi had a falling out shortly after."

"Any idea what it was over?" Sakura kept her voice neutral, wondering if she was walking into a trap. Ino always knew, no matter how insignificant or secret things were supposed to be. Sakura wasn't sure if she ferreted news through her position in intelligence, or if the woman really was that good at finding out the most intimate details of a person's life.

Ino's smile seemed overly bright as she turned back to Sakura. "Rumor has it that it was over a girl."

Sakura's laughter sounded forced to her ears. Even though Sakura knew that Ino wouldn't believe her lie, she had to attempt it. "I don't think that's likely."

"Hm, maybe not." Ino glanced up at Sakura through her mascara-enhanced eyelashes, her face a picture of innocence. "Do you think it's possible you made a very public scene with Genma in a bar the other day?"

Sakura sighed, maybe Ino spending time with Shikamaru wasn't such a good thing after all. She'd walked into a trap dusted with his fingerprints. The two of them didn't get together to commiserate about life, they got together to gossip. Sighing, Sakura shrugged. "It's possible."

"Just like it's possible that you were out walking with him the other day?" Ino continued, finishing her drink in one long pull then turning her glass in a lazy circle. "You've been holding out on me."

"We're friends," Sakura offered again by way of explanation. It wasn't exactly a lie, but it didn't touch the truth either. She couldn't explain why unwrapping the complex situation with Ino didn't appeal to her. Probably because it was too much to deal with at the time. Everything was too much to deal with lately. Even now, Sakura couldn't bring herself to admit to her relationship with Genma. It wasn't even a relationship, not the type that could be put into words. It was more of a messed up ball of feelings and mistakes. Soon, Sakura would need to sit down and untangle the confusion and make a plan, but she didn't know where to start.

Ino didn't speak for a long time, waiting for more information. When Sakura didn't offer it, the woman sighed. "Since when?"

Sakura shrugged, wishing that she hadn't opened the door at all. It would have been easier to curl up on the couch and ignore...all of this. "Since I apprenticed with Tsunade. You know that we worked together sometimes back then."

"Sakura, what's really going on with you lately? I can tell when you're trying to hide something, because you suck at it." Ino sighed and ran a finger around the rim of her glass. "Is it Sasuke again?"

"No, not Sasuke. I've given up on that particular insanity at least." Sakura groaned and closed her eyes, wishing it was that simple to shut everything else out.

Ino snorted as she pushed to her feet to get a refill. She continued to interrogate Sakura from the kitchen. "If it's not Sasuke, it's some other boy. Only one thing ties a girl up in knots like that."

Sakura took perverse pleasure in the fact that Ino was wrong. Or, at least only half right. A part of her wanted to come clean about everything; she knew the rumors had been swirling for a while already. Some of them were even alarmingly close to the truth. Sakura doubted that Ino was oblivious to what was happening, but the girl had been kind enough not to ask, so far. It looked like Sakura's luck was running out, however.

"Come on," Ino pressed, returning to the couch. "What's been going on with you lately? You know I've always got your back."

The truth in Ino's words made Sakura's stomach tighten. She'd been holding onto this secret for so long that it had become second nature. It didn't take much pressure for angry tears to gather in the corner of her eyes. Ino sat her glass on the table, scooting closer as Sakura wiped at her cheeks. Sakura drew a deep breath, then let it out in a slow whoosh before facing her friend. "I'm pregnant."

Sakura had expected the words to have some kind of immediate reaction. Instead, Ino blinked a couple of times with her mouth hanging open as she tried to make sense of the declaration. Sakura didn't rush to fill the silence; her statement was a lot to take in. After several moments, Ino chuckled under her breath. "Wow," she snorted "I guess not drinking makes a lot more sense now."

Laughter rose in Sakura's throat, forcing its way between her lips until she couldn't breathe around the amusement. Ino chuckled, but the noise sounded forced. As the seconds ticked by, the waiting grew uncomfortable until Sakura couldn't stand it any more. "Say something," she grumbled, feeling a flush creeping up her neck.

"I don't know what to say." Ino picked up her drink and finished the contents in one swig, making a face at the taste. Apparently she hadn't put enough mixer in this time.

The girl chewed on her lower lip for a moment, clearly deciding if she wanted to ask the obvious question. Sakura saved her from the trouble. "It's Genma's."

The soft inhalation of shock was more satisfying than it should have been, but Sakura didn't stop there. "So yeah, I guess there's some truth in the rumor that we caused a small scene the other day."

Sakura recalled the angry words and fury, then the heat of Genma's body against her. She'd almost convinced herself that the night meant nothing; it had been a release of pressure that they both needed. Ino's mouth continued to open and shut for several seconds, then she shook her head. "Damn. I don't even know what to say. That never happens."

"Yeah," Sakura agreed, pulling her knees toward her chest. She rested her forehead against them, unable to think of anything to add. Kami, she hadn't wanted to get into this tonight.

The couch shifted as Ino moved, and Sakura tensed for the feel of a hand on her shoulder, but it never came. "So, the fight with Kakashi was over you?"

Sakura settled her chin on her knees without answering. She knew that Kakashi and Genma had shared words when the tokujo returned to the village, but the bloody lip that she'd healed the other night came to mind as well. Had that injury been from Kakashi? Did Genma gloat about his night with Sakura where the other man could hear? Had it been a heat of the moment strike or a training accident like Genma suggested?

Realizing she hadn't answered Ino's question, Sakura shrugged. "I didn't know that they'd fought."

"Really?" Ino's tone made it clear that she didn't buy Sakura's excuse. The pinkette supposed that she wouldn't either if their situations were reversed. Of course, Ino would never be stupid enough to get herself into this type of situation. The blond chuckled, tipping her head to the side. "When I told you that older men were more stable, I didn't mean Genma." Ino blew out a breath then laughed. "Kakashi too, huh?"

Ino ducked the pillow that Sakura lobbed at her head. The words stung, but Sakura remembered that conversation well. She'd been upset over Sasuke when Ino shook her head and said that boys their age were too immature to date. Ino further suggested that the boys needed a few years to mature before they'd be worth the trouble. Sakura hadn't thought of it at the time, now she wondered if that's when she started looking at Kakashi differently. He certainly met that requirement, Genma even more so. At least, Sakura thought he did. Truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure how old Genma was. Somewhere upwards of late thirties for sure.

No, Sakura decided. Ino's advice hadn't changed anything. She still hadn't decided what she felt for Kakashi, even months later. And Genma? Sakura wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. "There is no Kakashi," she answered finally.

Ino wrapped her arms around the pillow that had fallen beside the couch as she pulled it into her lap. "But," she prompted, "there is a Genma?"

"Not really." Sakura shook her head, considering the best way to explain things. She came up short and gestured vaguely at her stomach. "I mean, there's a little bit of a Genma, but that doesn't mean there's anything else."

"It certainly looks like there's more to the story, maybe on both sides of it," Ino observed. When Sakura opened her mouth to argue, Ino continued. "I can't even begin to imagine the rest of it, but I know what a girl looks like when she's pining after a boy. You know, you don't have to pick between them, not yet anyway."

Sakura rolled her eyes, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. She couldn't, wouldn't play with Kakashi's emotions, even if she thought that she had the power to do so. And Genma, well Sakura only gave as good as she got. She hadn't tried to complicate anything between them. Sakura had just wanted to talk, it wasn't her fault that he looked the way that he did.

Ino toyed with the tag on the pillow, not quite meeting Sakura's eyes. "You know, you don't have to keep even the little bit of Genma if you don't want to."

The words didn't surprise Sakura. Maybe they should have, but she'd considered that option herself. In the end, she'd decided that while this wasn't perfect, it wasn't something she wanted to run from either. She shrugged one shoulder. "I know."

Thankfully, Ino didn't press the issue further. "So, tell me more about Genma. Is he really as good as he pretends."

Despite everything, Sakura laughed and offered a conspiratorial grin. "Better actually."

The barriers that Sakura had built between herself and Ino disappeared as they fell into gossip like thirteen year olds. Ino didn't push for information, and Sakura didn't volunteer anything she wasn't ready to talk about. But, for the first time in a long time, Sakura felt like herself again.

Exhaling, Kakashi tried to focus on the report in front of him, but the words kept running together. He sighed and pushed the paper away, rubbing his eyes with a thumb and forefinger. A headache had formed at the base of his skull, throbbing on and off for the past two days. He had almost managed to convince himself that it had nothing to do with his inability to sleep lately, but came from the pressures at work.

Since the discussion with Genma, Kakashi had kept a low profile. Tenzo had been right about the need to sober up before he made any rash decisions, at least. Once Kakashi had, he'd tried to talk to Sakura. She hadn't been home or hadn't wanted to see him. Kakashi supposed that he couldn't blame her. He'd thought that he made it clear to her that Genma needed to know about the situation. In retrospect, he should have explicitly told Sakura that he was recalling Genma to the village.

There were so many things that Kakashi wished he could have done better, but there was no way to change the past. The future was less certain, but he wasn't sure that he could change it either. Focus on one thing at a time, Kakashi reprimanded himself, picking up the paper a second time. He managed to move three reports to the completed pile before a quick knock interrupted his work. He glanced up to find Raido standing in the doorway, hands clasped behind his back. "Hokage-sama, Haruno Sakura is requesting to see you."

The marked formality surprised Kakashi, though he supposed it made sense. Kakashi hadn't devoted any time considering how Raido might feel about the Genma mess; the man was one of his best friends, after all. Kakashi fought down a sigh, realizing that he had yet another grievance to quell. "Send her in," he answered, stopping short of telling Raido to see that they weren't disturbed. He held no illusions that Genma would hear about today, no matter what Sakura said or how long she stayed.

Raido bowed and turned back to the door and hallway beyond it. Exhaling, Kakashi ran his fingers through his hair, then rested his palms on the desk. Second guessing himself, he folded his arms over his chest as Sakura entered the office.

"Hokage-sama," Sakura murmured, dropping into an exaggerated bow. For the first time, Kakashi's title sounded like a curse on her lips instead of a tease. He tried not to read too much into her tone, but it was difficult.

Sakura looked different without her black tights and red qipao that she usually wore. Her black pants didn't hug her body in the same way that others had, and a baggy green sweatshirt that missed the color of her eyes by several shades hung loosely off of her frame. Kakashi inclined his head. "What can I do for you?"

For a long moment, Kakshi wondered if Sakura planned to answer him. She scuffed one foot against the floors, then sighed. "Why did you bring Genma back to Konoha?"

Kakashi schooled his face to neutrality and kept his gaze away from the purple bruise over his knuckles. He had wondered when this conversation would happen, had even prepared for it the other night, but his drunken reasoning seemed insufficient by the light of day. Sakura worried her lower lip between her teeth, clearly keeping herself from saying something else, but Kakashi had no idea what. He wondered if that decision had pushed her away from him forever.

Even so, Kakashi owed Sakura an answer. "His diplomatic mission was at its end," he hedged. "It was time for him to come back."

Sakura snorted. "You sent Genma on a diplomatic mission? What were you thinking?"

I was thinking that he'd just saved your life and I owed him whatever he wanted, Kakashi thought. His voice answered differently, however. "I was thinking that he had the necessary skill set for that mission. Since when do you question my decisions?"

"Since they interfere with my life," Sakura shot back, heat flaring along the words. Kakashi almost leaned away from her wrath, but made himself remain stationary. "What gave you the right to tell him?"

Kakashi watched Sakura for a moment. The woman's hands shook where she clasped them together in front of her. Fury, hurt, or some combination of the two swam through her eyes, threatening to explode at the slightest provocation. Kakashi blew out a breath, wishing there had been more time to smooth the waters between them before this question came up. "Would you have told him?"

The question caught Sakura off guard, and her expression changed. Kakashi found himself realizing how young she looked, young and uncertain, easy prey for someone like Genma. His hand clenched into a fist, producing a faint ache that grounded him to the moment. All the words that Tenzo had stopped Kakashi from saying rose up his throat to choke him. They were on the tip of his tongue when Sakura shrugged. "Eventually."

"Sakura," Kakashi chided, swallowing the confessions like a bitter pill. "You can't exclude him until you make up your mind about what you want."

"Why not? Why is everyone else so interested in making my decisions for me?" Sakura came around the side of the desk to stare down at Kakashi. Her gaze bored into him. "Are you sure you didn't have an ulterior reason for telling him?"

Kakashi recalled the meeting with Genma, the thinly veiled contempt on his part and the shock and anger on Genma's. Then, there had been the moment when Genma realized what it all meant. Sakura had told Kakashi before him, she could have put it in a letter, she could have requested a trip to Suna on her own, but she'd told Kakashi. The betrayal and hurt in the man's eyes was almost as surprising as the challenging glare of Sakura's now. "He deserved to know," Kakashi answered, sticking to the answer he'd always given and ignoring the woman's question.

Sakura nodded and turned away, posture tightening at Kakashi's answer. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he recognized that he'd somehow said the wrong thing. Sighing, he pushed his chair back and followed Sakura. He placed a hand on her shoulder to bring her back to face him, surprised to feel the shudder beneath his palm. Electricity raced up his arm, making Kakashi's heart thunder in his ears. "I'm sorry," he began, releasing her. "I should have asked you first."

"Yes, you should have," Sakura agreed, but the heat had dissipated from her voice, replaced by something more like resignation.

Kakashi's hand fell back to his side. He had made a lot of mistakes over the past few months, especially where Sakura was concerned. Kakashi had replayed those early days a million times, wondering how much the outcome would have changed if he'd told the elders to shove it and gone after Sakura himself. It wouldn't have ended this way, that much he was sure of. But, he couldn't help but wonder if there might have been something more than this disaster.

"Aren't you going to warn me to be careful with him?" Sakura's voice had taken on a soft, uncertain tone that Kakashi had heard only a handful of times. Her laugh held more bitterness than amusement. "That seems to be what everyone else is saying."

"Is that what you want me to say?" Kakashi fought to keep his tone neutral, to keep his eyes from spilling the secrets that he held too close. One glance would have undone his defenses, reducing him to nothing, but Sakura turned her attention to the window. Kakashi exhaled, and let her step away.

Grey clouds covered the late afternoon sky, threatening rain. The pre-storm wind whipped the awnings of the shops below, blurring the colors. People scurried to and from shops and buildings, not lingering in the chill to chat. Sakura watched the scene without speaking, even when Kakashi moved beside her. The uncomfortable silence tugged at his patience, and he eyed the woman without turning his head.

Sakura's gaze locked on something beyond the window, something that Kakashi couldn't see. He wasn't entirely sure that she noticed his presence. Her lower lip was trapped between her teeth again, eyes watery in a way that made Kakashi want to wrap her in his arms. Except, he wasn't sure if she would welcome the embrace or throw him across the office. His hands remained where they were.

When the silence lasted a tick too long, Kakashi murmured her name. Sakura breathed out a sigh. "I just thought-," she shook her head and changed whatever she'd been planning to say. "No, none of that matters anymore, does it?"

Before Kakashi could figure out what Sakura meant, she turned from the window. The softness had disappeared from her face, replaced by a brittle mask that Kakashi didn't dare try to break. "I should be angry with you," she said with a shake of her head. "But, I guess you did the hard thing so I wouldn't have to?"

The question almost made Kakashi laugh. He could recall the fury at facing Genma, the rage that he hadn't anticipated when the man stepped into his office. But yes, in a twisted way, he'd done it for Sakura. Once Genma knew, it was up to him to try and rectify things with Sakura if he wanted to, or run from it. Kakashi had fully anticipated the latter. Except, this time, Genma hadn't, and he still didn't know why.

"I didn't want you to have to face him if you weren't ready," Kakashi finally offered. "But, it was time to bring him back to the village. There have already been some rumors about why you were pulled off active missions, and I didn't want Genma to hear it from a stranger in a bar."

"You should have told me first and let me decide on the timing, or at least if I wanted you to tell him." Sakura answered, voice holding a bit of its earlier fire. It faded as quickly as it had flared. "But, what's done is done. There's no point being angry over it any longer."

Kakashi studied Sakura for a moment, affecting an eye smile with effort. "So, you're saying you forgive me?"

When the woman didn't answer, Kakashi folded his hands in a mock pleading gesture. Sakura chuckled, then her forehead wrinkled as she frowned. Reaching out, she caught Kakashi's right hand in both of hers, thumb brushing over the bruise on his pale skin. "What did you do to yourself?"

Heat flushing his cheeks, Kakashi jerked his hand back like it had been burned and shook out the tingle of electricity that her touch had caused. "I got careless in training."

Sakura raised one eyebrow, studying Kakashi's face through pink lashes. Then, she snorted under her breath. "It seems like there's a lot of that going around lately."

Kakashi wondered if Sakura meant Genma, trying to imagine if the man would have gone to her apartment after their sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach suggested Genma had. If Tenzo hadn't stopped Kakashi, it was possible that he would have shown up and seen them together, and-his mind couldn't come up with a possibility in which that ended well, for any of them. Kakashi pulled his hand back when Sakura reached for it again. "Stop, it'll heal on its own in a few days, and it's a good reminder."

Sakura frowned, tucking her hands into her pockets. "A good reminder for what?"

Kakashi smiled sadly. "That time heals everything."