For the next three days, Sakura was everywhere. From house-calls to hospitals, to clinics, then back to houses, she barely got a break. When she did get one, it would either be for a quick meal to help replenish her chakra, or it would be almost midnight and Kakashi had forced her to go to bed. The two didn't have any time with just each other, for even at night, any citizen of Yakusoku could come barging into their room, in need of Sakura's help. Their affection was limited to chaste kisses and brief embraces.

Sakura had practically begged Kakashi to stay two extra days. At first, the man had refused, saying that they had to stick to the assigned time period. But when Sakura had pulled him down and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips, he relented. Sakura had been thrilled.

They had been out of the village, traveling for several hours. They had found a place to rest among the trees. They sat side-by-side, in a comfortable silence. (remember that tension from a few days ago? Yeah, that one. Well it was gone now.) Kakashi kept his mask loose, around his neck. They were relaxed in each other's presence, but alert enough to sense the small cluster of shinobi headed in their direction.

"Sakura, how many?" Kakashi said, quietly.

"I sense four shinobi. From the way their chakra is developed, I would assume a genin team. One-" Sakura paused. Kakashi looked towards her inquiringly when she burst into laughter. "I guess Konohamaru got roped into taking on a genin team."

Kakashi smirked. It would hopefully help the young man. Kakashi knew that it had certainly helped him when he himself had taken on a team. Look where he was now. "They will be here in two minutes." Sakura said, leaning up to give Kakashi a quick kiss before he was back to the confines of his mask. Kakashi had just barely pulled up the fabric, before Konohamaru broke through the trees, followed by three children.

'Hmm.' Inner-Sakura spoke. 'I don't recognize these twerps. Wonder where they came from.' Sakura did her best to ignore the voice as she stood, ready to greet the small team. Kakashi had stood and was already speaking with the group. Sakura walked over to his side and smiled down at the children. As Kakashi discussed whatever with Konohamaru, Sakura introduced herself to the genin.

One of the girls looked up with wide, hazel eyes when she heard Sakura's name. "You're the Godaime Hokage's apprentice?" she practically squealed. Sakura chuckled.

"I am. Now, I don't know any of your names yet!"

The girl who had spoken earlier spoke again. "My name is Shirai Ahma*. I'm twelve!" Sakura smiled and turned to the next girl.

"I'm Aoki Aya*." she said, meekly.

"And you?" Sakura asked the lone boy. He stood proudly amongst the girls.

"I'm Kasai Aito*!" he spoke. Sakura laughed. The young boy reminded her so much of Naruto.

"It is so nice to meet you all! How long have you been a team for?" Sakura asked, genuinely curious. It was quite rare for two girls to be placed on the same team, unless they were being sent on a seduction mission. She knew for a fact that Naruto would never send a genin team on a seduction mission.

The blue-haired girl, Aya, spoke up. "We were put on Team Three, two weeks ago." Sakura nodded.

"Is Konohamaru training you guys properly?" The three nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh yes!"

"He's sooo cool!"

"I want to be just like him!"

Sakura laughed. "That's great to hear! You know what? I knew Konohamaru before he graduated from the Academy."

Ahma giggled. "What was he like?"

Sakura tapped her chin as if she was in deep thought. "Well, he was a real trouble-maker."

"Like Aito is?"

Sakura chuckled. The kids were so innocent, just like her team had been when she had been the kids' age. "Konohamaru looked up to Uzumaki Naruto, one of my teammates, a lot when he was your age."

Aito's eyes widened. "Hokage-sama was your teammate?" he asked, awestruck. Sakura nodded with a smile. She heard Konohamaru and Kakashi come to an end of their conversation.

"It was so nice to meet you all." she said. "I will see you all back in the village!" She walked over to where the two men were saying their goodbyes. Konohamaru gave her a quick salute before turning back to his team and instructing them on how to move out. Sakura turned to Kakashi once they had left. "Should we keep moving? There is a cave a mile towards Konoha that we could spend the night in." Kakashi smiled and pressed a masked kiss to her forehead.

"Let's go."

{O}

{O}

It had taken them ten minutes to get to the cave. Kakashi had built a small fire in the middle of the indent of rock they were residing in. The two Konoha-nin sat side-by-side once more, with their faces turned towards the fire and their backs against the rough, rock wall. Sakura laid her head on Kakashi's shoulder and sighed quietly. Her Inner had decided to strike up a friendly conversation not five seconds after Sakura had sat down.

'Mmm, I see things went well with Hatake.' her Inner practically sneered.

'Jealous?'

'Oh, no! I was just wondering what would happen if lovely Kakashi here would find out of my wonderful existence.'

'He won't. I'll make sure of that.'

'Oh really now?'

'Yes, now do you need something else from me?'

'Why, am I bothering you?'

"Oh my gosh, you never leave me alone!" Sakura shouted. She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Sakura," Kakashi started, "Are you all right? Who are you talking to?" He sounded anxious and genuinely confused. Sakura's Inner cackled maniacally.

'Hmm, we'll see how this plays out, ne?'

{O}

{O}

Kakashi sat in the silence comfortably, enjoying the way he was able to relax in Sakura's presence. He couldn't say very much about how Sakura felt around him, for the girl had ever-so-slightly stiffened at his side. He threw a sidelong glance at her, noticing the way her eyebrows had furrowed. He said nothing. Sakura tensed again and her eyes flashed with an unreadable emotion. At this point, Kakashi was beginning to feel concerned. A shout rang out into the cave. "Oh my gosh, you never leave me alone!" Sakura quickly covered her mouth with her hand, as if the action could have stopped the words from slipping from her lips. Kakashi turned towards her slightly, his mouth pulled into a frown.

"Sakura, are you all right? Who are you talking to?" A look of horror washed over Sakura's face.

"U-umm. No one, Kakashi-sensei! Just thinking." she stuttered.

"Sensei?" Kakashi asked, pointing out her mistake. Now he had to know what was troubling her so much. "Sakura, tell me who you are talking to or I will find some way to get it out of you." Sakura blushed.

"F-fine." she managed. "Please don't judge me for this." she said, her voice suddenly hushed. Kakashi raised an eyebrow. If anything, he was concerned. What was it that could make Sakura so anxious? Sakura took a deep breath. 'Now is the best time, I guess. At least I am telling one of the people that I trust the most.' She released her breath and spilled everything she had been keeping secret for ten years.

She told Kakashi how Inner-Sakura had appeared a decade ago. She told him about how her Inner thought in a much more different manner than she did. She told him how her Inner had been useful in some situations. She also told Kakashi about how Inner-Sakura had always been taunting and goading her. After her long spiel, Sakura looked up, surprised to find a relieved face gazing back down at her.

"I thought I was the only one." Kakashi said after a moment.

"You," Sakura stuttered, bewildered. "You have an Inner, too?" She looked up at him in disbelief. Kakashi scratched his chin.

"My 'Inner-self' appeared about a week ago." Sakura blanched.

"You mean, I provoked your Inner?" she asked. "I'm sorry." Kakashi nudged her lightly with his shoulder.

"What are you sorry about?" he asked. "Without my Inner, this mission would have been a total failure. You and I would probably still be avoiding each other." Kakashi chuckled. "Besides, without my Inner, I might not have ever learned that I had fallen in love with you." Sakura giggled as a light blush graced her cheeks. She leaned against Kakashi's side once more.

"Your Inner sounds nice." she stated. "Mine can be helpful, but she's a pest the whole time."

Kakashi hummed absently. "Sounds fun to have that in your head."

"Yeah, well, you get used to it. Eventually." Sakura sighed. "That was like lifting a load of bricks off my chest. I've never told anyone about my Inner before."

"Nobody?"

"Well, Ino has known since our first chuunin exams. She found out during our fight in the preliminaries. That's how I got her out of my body."

Kakashi nodded in acknowledgement. Sakura stretched her arms above her head, much like a cat does. "Come on," she said, grabbing Kakashi's hand as she stood up. "Let's go to bed, I'm tired."

Kakashi followed her over to their bedrolls silently. The thin mats had already been arranged next to each other. No ridiculous lying was required to get them any closer. Kakashi laid down next to Sakura and pulled the blanket over both of them. He then reached out and scooped Sakura into his arms. He pressed his nose into her hair and breathed her scent in. The two lay there, encased in each other's arms and warmth. Sleep quickly overcame them both.

{O}

{O}

Sakura woke up to the smell of hot coffee. Wait, coffee?

"Good morning." a familiar voice said.

"Good morning, Kakashi." Sakura replied, her voice scratchy with sleep. Kakashi handed her a tin mug after she had sat up and stretched. Sakura's eyes widened. "Where did you get coffee?" she sputtered. Kakashi grinned.

"I boiled water and added some rations." he answered. Sakura gave him a suspicious glare over the rim of the mug as she carefully tasted the liquid inside.

Once more, her eyes widened. "It's actual coffee!" she exclaimed.

"Of course it is." Kakashi said with chuckle. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Sakura grinned up at him as he stood.

"Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." Kakashi said as he walked over to the small fire. Sakura stood up and properly stretched her muscles. She straightened out her clothing and clipped her thigh and hip pouches on. She paused in her routine when she heard an all-too-familiar voice.

'You got lucky that time.'

'What do you want now?' Sakura thought, exasperated as usual.

'Oh nothing,' her Inner insisted. 'I'm just checking up on you and Hatake.'

"Is she bothering you again?"

Sakura looked up into Kakashi's gaze from a few feet away. She smiled gratefully. "She was." Sakura said. "But not anymore, thanks for helping me out."

"Of course. I can't let my favorite student fall behind due to distractions." Kakashi replied. Sakura walked over to his side and lightly slapped him on the arm.

"Well," she said, "I'm not just your student anymore, am I?" she asked slyly. Kakashi chuckled as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Not anymore." he whispered, his lips mere inches away from hers. Sakura smiled before he closed all the distance between them. It was a simple, lingering kiss, but it held all of their love and admiration for each other in it.

They finally pulled back, breathless. Sakura pulled Kakashi down once more and rested her forehead against his. They stood there for a while, reveling in the other's presence. Their eyes met, green clashing with grey.

"Breakfast?" Kakashi asked.

{O}

{O}

Shirai means 'white well'. Ahma is a super-rare girl's name meaning 'black rain'. See what I did with Ahma's first and last name? XD
Aoki means 'green tree'. Aya means 'colorful'. (I think Aya is a beautiful first name.)
Kasai means 'fire'. Aito means 'love' or 'affection'. I know, it seems like an odd name for a boy, but I tried to take the meanings of the first and last names and form something unique.

Another chapter completed! I barely pushed through, cause gosh, I hate typing out stories. Writing is fun though. Thank you all for your continued support. All reviews, favorites, and follows are immensely appreciated.

~Rus