Disclaimer: I don't own anything cept for the plot and Saundra and all the other made up characters.

This chapter is basically all KakashiSakura so I'm sorry if it's a little dry but I'll try and make it interesting. Fluff hopefully.

Chapter 1 – Homecoming

Konohagakure – late afternoon

" Wow it still looks the same. I wonder if I'll even be able to fit back in." Sakura looked around, as she spoke to her self, the place really did look the same. It brought back so many memories, of happier and sadder days, when she was still part of team 7. On the other hand she had changed a lot since then. Her hair was now a little bit of a deeper pink and fell to her mid back, but she kept it in a French braid. She was a lot curvier and wore a pair of cream/sandy colored shorts with a tank top, that showed of her 6pack stomach, and had a black fishnet long-sleeve shirt under the tank top. She wore black gloves and had black sandals on. To finish the outfit she had a belt that carried her weapons and leg holsters for her kunai.

The sun shone down on her through the blooming sakura blossoms. It was so beautiful like something out of a romance novel. She laughed to herself at the thought. Her of all people thinking of a romance novel, no it wasn't right she had sworn of love after the last one. It still brought tears to her eyes. She thought she could move on after Sasuke, and she had till the bastard nearly killed her. Oh well that was all in the past so it didn't matter anymore.

" Well now you're someone I thought I'd never see again."

Sakura spun around lightly to face the one and only, "Kakashi! Wow is that really you. Never thought I'd see you again." She smiled at her ex – teacher, who was leaning against a tree. When she had left he was the only one she had told, after all he was the only one who believed in her.

Kakashi smiled at her and laughed at her response to his greeting. " So Sakura what are you doing back here I thought you said 'you were never coming back because it was to painful being around people who didn't believe in you.'" He walked over to her as he had been speaking.

"Well at the time I told you I thought it was true. I came back because of the little civil war that's happening in the country I had been living in." Sakura stated matter - of – factly

Kakashi simply looked at her as if she had suddenly sprouted 2 more heads and was breathing fire. " So you left because….."

" Because the new Hokage Nia said it was the best. She was having everyone who wasn't born in um I mean from there leave due to the um circumstances. Its not as if I wanted to leave but I had no choice." Sakura looked at him with a look of guilt mixed with a hint of remorse, but also as if she was guarding something.

" Interesting, what are you hiding Sakura?"

" I can't tell you I was given orders not to tell anyone. I'm sorry."

" Well you would have gotten away with it." He paused there to see the look on her face only to see her waiting to see what he had to say. Obviously she hadn't been trying to keep it too hard. Almost as if she wanted to tell but something held her back. " You messed up when you mentioned Nia, she was second under Kade and became Hokage after he was killed. Which plunged all of the sand country into chaos cuz no one knows where his killer is. Though we all know whom SHE is don't we Sakura. You're back because Nia is sending all foreigners out of the country so they don't fall victim to Saundra." He then smirked at her.

"Gee guess you got me. Really I wanted to tell you but technically I couldn't. Wait before you ask its because I think I might have been followed and I was hoping that you could help me out and maybe watch my back." She looked at him with a hopeful look. He hadn't realized before how tired she had looked. Right then her stomach decided to growl. She blushed at the betrayal of her own body.

"Hmmmmmmm perhaps you should eat something Sakura." He couldn't help smiling at her face it was so..so… what was the word, cute perhaps but he couldn't look at her as cute…. Could he. " How bought we get some ramen and we can talk bought your travels."

" Well that depends are you treating?" She simply smiled at him. Wired for some resion she thought he looked different from before, what was it. Maybe …no, well she couldn't deny the fact that he was attractive.

He just laughed at her softly. " Sure."

The ramen shop

" So how in the world did you end up in the sand country?"

Sakura looked at him with a thoughtful gaze. " Well honestly I don't really know. I just wondered till one day I came across a fight, and I simply stepped in to help the person I thought was a framer. Turned out he was actually a retired shinobi and was attacked for the knowledge he had. He thanked me and asked me if I was a sand ninja, and when I replied no he said I should talk to his grandson who turned out to be Kade. Actually the funny part was I didn't even realize I was in the sand country till then." She paused to eat some of her ramen.

Kakashi thought over what he had just heard then asked her, " So you went to Kade then what? As far as I know leaf and sand had no real connections."

"Well we don't. Kade laughed at me when I 1st walked into his office. I actually only stayed there because Atoya, the older shinobi, told Kade to give me 3 months of training and if I passed the jouinin test I should be able to stay. Kade looked at me for what seemed like ever then agreed to train me himself. I agreed of course because I figured my life wasn't going to get any better so I might as well take the chance." She smiled at Kakashi at the thought. Like she was laughing at a joke that only she got.

" So you must have known Kade pretty well then. Did you feel bad a bought his death?" Kakashi was a little more then started by the response he got.

" Ha! Your kidding right? He was the biggest egotistical chauvinist pig you could ever meet. I'm actually glad he was finally beaten and that Nia is now Hokage. He was always talking bought how he had never lost at anything. I was just lucky he never took any interest in me other than as a sparing partner, or otherwise I would never have gotten rid of him."

" Well he must be blind then not to notice you." Kakashi chuckled slightly at the thought not really realizing what he had said till it was to late.

" Did you just say that you thought I was attractive?" Sakura was to amazed at the thought to think up anything witty to say.

Kakashi now realizing what he had just hinted to tried and failed to cover up his mistake. " Um well it's just that any guy would have to be blind not to see that you're very beautiful and attractive. Not that I really personal think like that bought you, but …um.. well…hehe" His nervous laughed died quickly only to be filled with a thick silence. This lasted for a good 3 min while the 2 companions refused to make eye contact.

" Thanx" Sakura uttered the word softly.

" For what?" He was only a little taken aback by her reaction; after all she was very beautiful.

" For what you said. I don't think anyone has ever said that to me." She smiled meekly at him.

" Really that's surprising." He stopped when he caught a glimpse of her eyes. Was that pain he say in her eyes? What could have happened to her to maker her act like this? " Sakura did.." He wasn't aloud to finish his question.

" Ya know what we should do, we should go for a walk. After all its such a nice day." She was all smiles again as if nothing had ever happened. Kakashi just shrugged it off and agreed.

In the forest

The sun was setting and it cast everything in a gold light. It was like a picture of some place perfect. The 2 friends walked along in silence for some time just basking in the peacefulness of it all. Sakura was the one to finally break the silence.

" So what happened to Naruto and Sasuke?"

" Naruto I'm sure you'll be shocked to know has become our Hokage." He stopped to see her reaction.

" Wow really, hard to believe that he could finally get his act together and achieve his dream. Though I guess I shouldn't have underestimated him." She smiled, glade that her friend had finally achieved his dream.

" Sasuke, he left shortly after you did to try and destroy his brother."

" Oh so I suppose you haven't seen him since. Darn I wanted to show him just how 'weak and helpless' I really am."

"Haha well if you really want to you still can. You didn't let me finish, after a year he came back. He said he had defeated him but wasn't able to kill him. He's now part of ANBU and I do believe he's looking for a partner. I personally think you could handle ANBU and I'm sure Naruto will love to pair you 2 together."

Sakura gave him her most evil death glare, which is rather deadly. " I'm sure you find oh so humorous, but I don't work with people who are as weak as he is." Kakashi only laughed her. "Alright that's enough you're making you're self look like a lunatic."

" Too late for that." Before either one could say any more they were attacked.

" Get the girl she has the information we need." A black clad figured leapt at Sakura but she was to fast and easily dodged the attack. She quickly reversed her escape into an attack and flung 5 kunai at her attacker only to find that she had hit a stump instead.

" Crap where did he go?"

" I'm right here." Just then 2 figures leapt at her from 2 directions trapping her against a tree, she managed to kill one with a sebon needle through the neck but the other changed his direction to fast to be hit with the second needle. He pulled a ninjato from the sheath on his back and aimed it at Sakura. It looked pretty grim she took a stance determined to go down fighting, but then Kakashi jumped in front of her hand took the full force of the attack. Just when the attacker thought he had killed the masked men he was burnt to a crisp with a little fire jutsu.

" Guess that takes care of him." Kakashi laughed but then started coughing.

" Crap Kakashi look at you what the hell were you thinking? You could have been killed." As she looked at him she realized he needed help that attack had been deep. ' Why the hell didn't you let me take him I probably would have made out better."

" Without any weapons? I know you're good Sakura but frankly I didn't want to take a chance and I knew that I would survive."

" You might have survived the attack but if you don't get help your going to die." While they were having this discussion Sakura had taken of his vest and used some of her chakra to slow the bleeding but she needed proper supplies if she was gong to save him. She had lost her pack in the fight and wit it all her medical supplies. " Where's your house? I'm assuming that you have medical supplies there."

"I can take care of myself Sakura." He tried to stand up but clasped right away. " The blade was probably poisoned and you've lost more blood then I like. Now where is your house."?

" Fine if you help me walk I'll show you."

It was a small apartment complex on the outside of the village. It would have taken 10 min to get there normally but they made it there in 5.

" You will need a key to get in."

" Well give it to me then or should I just let you die here."

He could tell she was worried which was why she was yelling so much. Beside the point though it was still giving him a headache, or it could have been the loss of blood. Either way he wasn't going to agitate her any more so he handed her the key and they went in.

"Where do you keep your supplies?"

" In there." He pointed to a door that was the bathroom. He limped over to his couch and waited for her to come back. He was really starting to get light headed he thought it reminded him of a hangover.

"You'll need to take off your shirt so I can clean the wound."

Wait when had she gotten there he hadn't sensed or heard her. Never the less he just had to make fun of her bought the request, she was far too serious. " Alright if you insist. Guess you just really want to see me without my shirt don't you."

" Just take it off." She just ignored his comment and picked up the cloth and poured the disinfectant on it. She began cleaning the wound as carefully as she could; well at least it wasn't as bad as she had thought it was. He must have been able to block it a bit, which was why he was still breathing. He hissed a bit at the sting from the alcohol.

" Sorry, but I am trying to be gentle." She spoke to him gently to engrossed in her work t give him her full attention.

" I know, it just hurts. Funny can't remember the last time I had a beautiful woman taking such good care of me."

" Really that's a surprise. I would have thought a stud like you would have to beat them back." She couldn't help herself he seemed so perfect like this. She shook her head, what was she thinking it was Kakashi he must be…. Wait how old was he. "Kakashi, how old are you?"

" 36 why how old are you?"

" 23."

" Hm guess that makes us like…."

" 13 years apart. How old were you when you started teaching?"

" 19 it was right after they died. I couldn't take it so I left ANBU and started teaching. Less painful."

" I see." She had finished bandaging his wound and was sitting there looking at him and thinking bought what she had just learned. '13 years that's not that big of a difference', she thought to herself.

" Sakura, can you please take my mask off. I can't breath." He sounded so faint and she quickly sat on the couch next to him to help him take it off. It didn't even occur to her that she would see him without his mask on.

She pulled it off gently only to see the most handsome face she had ever laid eyes on. He looked so young and gentle but strong at the same time. It took her breath away. He was so handsome.

" Sakura" She looked up into his eyes not really remembering when he had taken his forehead protector off.

"Yes"

"Are you alright? You seem lost." Neither one had realized how close they were, or how much closer they were getting. They were to lost in each others gaze till… " Sakura do you really.." His answer was a soft delicate kiss. He had never tasted anything so perfect he pulled her closer trying to savor every last part of her.

Sakura was going out of her mind with pleasure. He was so..so.. incredible. As he pulled her closer she gave into him and kissed back so that it became more passionate. She ran her hands through his hair and was caught up in it all. The last thing she remembered thinking, before everything became a blur of passion, was that it was definitely a good homecoming.

MWHAHAHAHAH cliffhanger. I hope to update as soon as I get 5 good reviews. Hopefully I wont get writers block before then, but who knows. Hope you like the story and if you have any suggestions on how to make it better please tell me in a review. Thanx x