A/N: I just read an absolutely beautiful story and got hit with a wave (or splash really) of inspiration to continue with this story.

Kyoku-chan, Black-aria, allyluv, zezura, jenn and everyone who has reviewed - Thank you so much for all your kind words! It's very encouraging and I hope I don't disappoint you! To you and the thousand or so silent readers (don't you love the hit counter has?)- My sincerest and deepest apologies for not updating sooner – I know how annoying it is when you start reading something and then it just pauses indefinitely, but sadly, I just haven't known what to write! The best I can offer is that I will try and be more disciplined from now on so that my month long pauses don't happen again, please forgive me!

So, what you've all been waiting for drum roll Chapter 7!

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07. Perfect First Kiss

The empty mugs had long been set on the window still and forgotten. Sakura stood perfectly still and silent in Kakashi's arms with her back pressed against his chest. They watched the rain falling outside with a content fascination, completely satisfied merely with each others presence on this wet, chilly night. Kakashi's fears had been stilled, and Sakura's question had been answered. It was as though time had frozen, that there was nothing other than a girl in love with the equally smitten man holding her.

"Kakashi." Sakura breathed his name as she turned to face him. Staring up at his handsome face with its mismatched eyes and tender expression, Sakura was simultaneously awed and struck with a feeling of playful curiosity. "How, I mean, when, did you start having feelings for me? Why me?"

Kakashi couldn't stop the sheepish grin that his lips curved into. He didn't answer for a short while as he remembered what had sparked his initial interest in the pink-haired girl. The longer he thought about, the more his mirth grew. While Sakura watched his increasingly amused expression with a certain degree of perplexity, Kakashi burst out laughing.

Sakura loved his laugh. However, the smooth deep rich laughter that reminded Sakura of expensive chocolate and honey did nothing to quell Sakura's confusion. In fact, as the laughter continued and Kakashi's arms around her loosened, her confusion began turning into irritation. After all, it bites to be laughed at and not even to know why you've suddenly been turned into the greatest joke of the century.

"What?" Kakashi's arms had gotten so slack; Sakura could fold hers in between them as the situation required.

Between panting gasps of chuckling, Kakashi managed one word - "That!"

"That?" Sakura was truly in the dark. What the hell was he talking about? That? What that? Her cotton candy coloured hair? Her overly large forehead which was in fact perfectly sized now? For crying out loud, she was super intelligent, the brains needed large storage space! Considering how rare it was to see Kakashi laugh so uncontrollably, Sakura didn't quite have the heart to pummel him into tiny specks of dust as she was sorely tempted to do. Still, a few more seconds of this and she knew she'd reconsider that position.

"Your crazy fiery temper!" Kakashi finally managed to calm down somewhat. Kakashi was so relaxed he came completely clean and told her the entire truth. This in hindsight might not really have been the best thing to do. Absolute truth is a lovely thing, but sometimes versions of the truth are less life-threatening.

So Kakashi continued, so lost in his memories he almost didn't realize he was speaking. Well, he realised he was speaking, but sadly, failed to consider the actual words that were being spoken. "When we were training, I'd read my books and you would go absolutely crazy and interrupt me so that I couldn't help but see you in my mind instead of the women described! At first it was annoying because you were just such a shrill little brat, I'd get a headache and shudder at the thought of kids! But then you grew up. And then of course it was impossible to miss your fantastic legs and the fact that you'd developed quite nicely!"

Sakura's jaw dropped in shock and her face started turning bright red. On one hand, the good thing for Kakashi was that half of it could be attributed to being a flattered sort of embarrassment. Unfortunately, on the other hand, the other part was complete and utter rage. If there had been pointy things lying around, they would definitely have been launched straight at Kakashi. At his face or his crotch, Sakura couldn't quite decide. There was a moment of dead silence as Kakashi realised exactly what he'd said.

Then the silence was shattered. The rage overwhelmed and drowned any flattered embarrassment. "You pervert!" Sakura screamed and reached around to find something to hurl at him. Which ended up being the mugs that had been left on the windowsill.

Kakashi's reflexes kicked in and he ended up catching the mugs by their handles with his index fingers much like you would a kunai. And then, holding up both his hands, stupidly announced with a proud grin, "SAFE!"

Sakura's rage paused. The audacity of the man. It was just unbelievable. Unbelievable! Sakura couldn't help but just stare in shock. Staring at him with so much disbelief Kakashi wondered for a moment if he had done something wrong. She smacked her forehead and began her rant. "I knew it! I just KNEW it! Every man I've ever been interested in has been retarded. Completely and utterly intellectually challenged. Here we have the great copy-ninja Hatake Kakashi. Respected and held in awe by anyone who doesn't know about his book addiction. Fairly easy on the eyes, tall enough to exude a feeling stability and security and has the ladies swooning with his charm. Trust inspiring, reliable if you've never worked with him. All lies dammit! Nothing more than a perverted, stupid, lazy super pervert! You damn pervert!"

For some reason, Kakashi found her description as a "super pervert" oddly worrying. After all, he had nothing on Jiraiya, who was undoubtedly the greatest pervert ever. He therefore proceeded to voice this thought to Sakura.

Whose prompt reply ended Kakashi's argument much like a speeding car would after hurtling into a solid concrete wall. "And whose books do you absolutely worship?"

Oh. By now Kakashi was starting to remember the attraction to both sexes of being cool and stoic. But Sakura hadn't finished yet. Not by a long shot. "Is being less of a pervert than Jiraiya really that much of an accomplishment?"

Kakashi wanted to pay attention to her words. Really, he tried his best. But there was only so much a man could do when the love of his life was worked up in a ranting fit of passionate rage that made her cheeks flush and eyes sparkle and dance. She was so beautiful. In all her moods and actions, there was a grace and beauty. Fluid and precise, intelligent, compassionate, ambitious, fiercely overprotective, Kakashi realized there was so much more to the woman in front of him than just oddly coloured hair and a perfect figure. She had a beautiful heart. And she had given it to him. Kakashi felt almost breathless at that thought even though he wasn't the one unbrokenly ranting like a maniac. She loves me. The knowledge felt as fresh and precious as the very first time he had realized it, as sweet as the first time he had heard it come from her lips, confirming his wildest hope and fear.

In an awe-struck trance, Kakashi almost didn't realize that he was slowly advancing on the angry girl. Sakura's words trailed off as she saw him come closer to her with an extremely unfamiliar expression on his face.

"What, what are you doing?" Sakura hated stammering, she really did. It only happened when she was very nervous, and seeing Kakashi approach her with an expression that was almost creepy in its unfamiliarity, made her very very nervous.

"This." Kakashi had now backed Sakura up against the window and once again, putting each arm on either side of her, set the mugs on the windowsill without once taking his eyes off hers.

"You like your one-word answers don't you?" Sakura smiled playfully, a bit less nervous now that she recognized his expression. Love, awe, desire and something strangely familiar that she couldn't quite place – they were so clear on his face and in his eyes. With this look, with his eyes firmly fixed on hers, she felt as though time had frozen and she had stopped breathing. Her heart was beating erratically as it hadn't quite decided whether to beat faster or to completely stop. He's going to kiss me. Sakura realized with some wonder.

"Well, obviously!" Inner Sakura was back. Sakura was too focused on the man in front of her to give a damn what Inner Sakura was going on about. After all, she knew she was going to get kissed by the most gorgeous and mysterious man in the entire world. Who needed to think?

And so it happened. Kakashi leaning down almost painfully slowly as his eyes continued to hold hers. Sakura holding her breath, waiting for his lips to meet hers. Their lips met tenderly and their eyes fluttered shut involuntarily. This dizzying and intoxicating sensation was so unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. Sakura's knees were weak and her arms slipped around Kakashi's neck for support as his arms tightened around her. Finally, unable to breathe, Sakura pulled back reluctantly and tried to force some air into her lungs as she smiled at the equally dazed Kakashi.

An addiction was born out of that one tender kiss. It was not a first kiss for either, but it was the first time for both that a kiss held such meaning. In that moment, both knew they had found their soul mate. It was perfection. But even perfection needs practice and Sakura and Kakashi were only too happy to oblige.

author's end notes

Before I get blasted on how out of character Kakashi is, I know Kakashi is usually a much more reserved and calculated character than in this chapter. But you've already seen that from previous chapters and I kind of wanted to show how relaxed and safe he feels with Sakura. And I think despite his complexity, Kakashi can be a bit of a goof, especially at this moment when Sakura's broken through all his defenses and he feels he has nothing to hide from her anymore.