Well I've done it. I've gone and did what some authors out there do, that is, going and responding to each reviewer O.o So if you had a question from last chapter, it shall be answered! At the bottom that is…
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Courage Needs You – Chapter #11
It was close to four in the afternoon when Sakura flopped on her bed exhausted – her puffs of breath the only sound to be heard. She had washed the floors, washed the windows, scrubbed the dishes, scrubbed the toilet, the sink, the tub. Did the laundry, did the grocery shopping, tidied her room, the living room, the kitchen. Burnt her finger, cut her hand, swore ever expletive under the sun, but finally had the rice cooking and the ingredients in the pan ready to be fried.
She mused what was more exhausting; that or Kakashi's boot camp drills. It ended in a tie.
Just as she was drifting off, the phone started blaring, jerking her awake with a grunt. She really hated the sound of her phone; a high merciless shriek that practically gave her an aneurism every time she heard it.
"Hello, Haruno res–"
"Hey girl! How was the hangover?"
Ino always had impeccable timing. "Fine."
"So what's up? You get off training early?"
"Ya, something like that. Umm Ino, who knows about what happened at Yukio's party?" The question had been nagging at her since yesterday morning.
"Oh," she giggled sheepishly causing Sakura to instinctively cringe. "Well I told Tenten, but I didn't think she would have remembered since she was so smashed, but it seemed she did, so she went and told Lee, who freaked and told Neji, who surprisingly told Hinata, who used it as a conversation starter with Naruto, who went on a rampage and blamed Sasuke, with Kakashi-senpai overhearing. And also Iruka, Hokage, my housekeeper, oh and don't forget Shikamaru who also told his parents, and god knows who they told. But besides that, nobody."
Sakura froze; shocked and utterly stupefied. What had she done in her past life to get on God's bad side? And who would've known Konoha was filled with gossiping freaks? The speed at which news traveled was almost praise worthy.
Must. Not. Freak. Out…
"So, any reason behind this call?" Sakura asked, straining for calm.
"Oh ya! Did you hear that Yukio was sent to emerge. with ten broken fingers? Talk about grisly!"
"What?" Was she hearing this right?
"Ya I know! I mean, who could do such a thing?"
Sakura chuckled weakly, mentally scribbling down three names on her most-likely-of-candidates list.
"Not that the creep didn't deserve it…but honestly!" Ino went on.
"Ya…" Sakura responded semi-distant, wondering which one of those bastards had stolen her retribution. "But isn't Yukio going to rat out his assailant?"
"Nope, the guy's too chicken shit – ranting about death as the repercussion or something silly like that."
Sakura couldn't help it, she just started laughing; dropping the phone from her ear and grabbing her gut as she keeled over on her bed. It was just too funny; everything was just too goddamn funny.
"Have you lost your mind?" Sakura heard, Ino blaring from the receiver.
She picked up the phone, still giggling softly, and muttered an amused, "Ya," as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Ino 'ugh-ed' and grumbled out, "Whatever. But hey, guess what. Hokage-sama has taken me off guard duty and assigned me to a mission starting tomorrow. Seems like they need my Shintenshin no Jutsu," she said, not far from boasting.
"Oh, that's cool…hey Ino, what's your opinion on dating older men?" Sakura asked, realizing her topic-switching abilities were far from satisfactory. Thankfully Ino didn't seem to care as she heard her fingers tapping against the side of her phone in deliberation.
"Well how much older are we talking here? Three, five, eight?"
"Umm, I guess at least ten," Sakura said, nibbling on her fingernails, her conscience debating whether it was wise to reveal her intrigue on the topic. Hopefully Ino would be too scatterbrained to pick up on the painfully obvious vestige.
"At least ten eh? Well the good thing about older men is that they're more mature, not like the deadbeats our age, but not Shikamaru, he's the exception…and Neji…and Sasuke…" her thoughts trailed, along with her voice. "Anyway, as I was saying, they're more mature, and they'll probably already have a stable and successful career, so you won't have to worry about money–"
"I wouldn't use anybody for money though."
"Relax! I'm just saying the option is available. Hmm, and also they're probably more willing to commit in a relationship, and will take it more seriously. Guys our age are only looking for one-night stands."
Sakura waited till Ino's theatrical gagging diminished. "Well what about the downside?"
"Downside? Umm…only thing I can think of is that they'll probably be expecting certain things."
Sakura contemplated her words, nails bitten down to the nub. "When you say 'certain things' are you talking emotionally here?"
"Sexually you dope."
"Oh…"
Crap.
"Why, is there some old dude you're interested in?" Ino teased; never passing up the opportunity for gossip.
"No!" was her quick reply, making her flinch from her all too eager and enthusiastic answer. She made a mental note to work on her lying abilities.
"Uh huh…" Ino remarked, drawled and dubious.
"Look, I gotta go, my parents should be home soon and I still have a couple of things left to do."
"Sure you do…"
Sakura suppressed a growl; she hated it when Ino humoured her like this – it was demeaning coming from someone so obtuse.
"Talk to you later," she beamed falsely, swiftly hanging up the phone. In retrospect, it probably hadn't been the brightest of ideas to have asked Ino. Oh well, she could dwell on it later.
Folding her hands on her stomach, she proceeded to do one of her most accustomed pastimes; staring at her familiar speckled ceiling, soothing in its hypnotic and arbitrary patterns.
It seemed whenever she was meant to sit down and think, time and silence would quickly concur in granting her reprieve from the chaos of life. Sometimes it was too coincidental for her liking.
Her forehead creased in a beleaguered fashion, her heart and mind trying to come to terms with the morning's affair.
Even though both those elements had yet to come to a conclusion, her body had seemed awfully eager in deciding for her. Maybe she was like a puppy, starving for some affection. The prospect of Kakashi furnishing her with his affections was thrilling however nerve-wracking it was.
She would be lying if she said his age and experience didn't make her feel cowed.
The man was simply intimidating with his strength and lore, but strangely appealing since he performed it so effortlessly, since that was essentially who he was; never one to put up fronts, never one to oppress or discourage; always confident in his words and actions.
What may have seemed commonplace and ordinary attributes were in fact scarce and few in between; her herself particularly included.
Kakashi was unique, special, and forbidden to someone like her; he deserving an even-tempered capable woman who rivaled the beauty of a geisha, not someone with too thin legs that shrouded their misery behind a wall of flat indifference.
And yet, he wanted her; her and the dying embers of her spirit; stating it in partial indefinite words.
But did she want him in return?
The sound of the front door opening and closing drew her upright. She paused, bating her breath as she listened to the shuffle of footsteps downstairs and the rumble of two familiar voices she hadn't heard in three weeks.
Her feet were moving before her mind could catch up, flying down the hall and stairs to see her battle weary parents in the foyer.
She gave them each a quick scan, frowning when she saw white bandages peeking through some of their regular shinobi garb.
"Are you alright?" she asked, directing the question to each of the jounins, trying to make her worry invisible. They hated it when she fretted over things unnecessarily, which was everything in their minds.
"We're fine dear," her mother responded; speech firmly soft and reassuring.
Sakura beamed in reaction, eased by her mother's assurance and threw herself on the taller pink-haired kunoichi in a bone crunching hug. The woman 'oomphed' and winced, making Sakura pull back and hear her father's disgruntled sigh.
"Are you all right, Taka?"
She nodded her head and waved her hand dismissively at her husband. "I'm going to go freshen up. It's nice to see you again sweetheart," she said, sounding as tired as she looked before ascending the stairs in fluid soundless steps.
Sakura watched her mother leave without a backwards glance and turned to face her exasperated father.
"I wish you would be more careful Sakura, Taka isn't fully healed yet." He crossed his arms, biceps bulging impressively.
Sakura nodded her head in accord, accepting her father's reprimanding. Kisho Haruno was a man whose presence demanded respect, and the option of talking back was a consideration not even to be thought.
She surveyed his heavy gait stroll into the kitchen, so much more different from her mother's soft footsteps, and followed behind him eagerly.
"So how did the mission go?"
He gave her a sideways glance before opening the cupboards; his eyes mirroring her own green perfectly, the only attribute she inherited from her father.
His gaze continued to ignore her as he responded, "it was successful."
She smiled proudly. "What did it entail?"
His mocha-coloured brows coalesced together, realizing what he was looking for wasn't there. "You know that information is strictly confidential, Sakura," and progressed to lift open the pan lid on the gas stove, his hard eyes turning dour. "What is this?" He inquired, countenance that of mild distaste.
"Oh," Sakura grinned, hopping off the counter top to stop beside her father. "I'm making Nikujaga since I know its mom's favourite. I've already cut it all up and I just need to fry it when you're hungry."
He put the lid back down and walked over to the rice cooker, popping open the top.
"Sakura, you put too much water in here."
"Huh?" she peered over the top, seeing the mush that was her rice. How could she have made such a simple mistake like that?
He snapped the top back down with a dull resounding thud. "Please try to be more careful Sakura. It's unseemly to waste food."
He spared her a glimpse before he promenaded out of the kitchen. "I'm going to check on Taka. Maybe you should go train a bit."
And then he was gone, feet thumping up the stairs before his bedroom door closed with a soft click, leaving Sakura to stand in the kitchen with the eerily quiet house once again.
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There was a knock on his door, timid and soft and almost not audible at all. He contemplated answering it. The knock came again, a little bolder this time, forcing him to sigh and place his quill back in the ink well. He wasn't in the mood for visitors, there was simply too much on his mind to enable him to make idle chatter.
Lifting his mask back up and lowering his hitai-ate, he ambled towards his front door at turtle pace, believing if it was important the person would persist, and if trivial then give up and leave him be.
Reaching the door he could sense a presence still on the other side, causing him to exhale noisily before pulling it open.
He stared openly in a semi-shocked state and she smiled meekly in turn.
"Hi Kakashi," followed by tentative finger wave. "I'm glad you're home. Can I come in?"
Stunned for only a fraction of a second, he stepped to the side, allowing her to slip past.
"I'm surprised I actually remembered the right address," she said slipping off her sandals and proceeded to his kitchen, sifting through his cupboards till she found where the glasses were.
He carefully watched her, observing her behaviour from the middle of his living room while she made herself at home.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she queried, filling the glass with tap water before flouncing back to sit on that familiar black couch of his.
"Nothing of significance," he replied, sitting on his black recliner, the reflexes of his mind on high alert. "Have your parents returned yet?"
She nodded animatedly, face schooled into a lip-splitting smile. Her fingers drummed on the glass, directing Kakashi's eyes to the newly bitten nails.
"But they were tired," she informed, eyes still meandering the contents of the room, or lack thereof. "I'm just happy they're okay."
A few moments pause resounded in the room. "I like you're place," she suddenly said. "I forgot to mention that last time. Everything is so…immaculate and perfectly in order."
He arched his eyebrow, head resting against the side of his fist.
"Can I see the rest of it?"
The request made his other brow arch as well. "As you wish," he stood up, waiting for her to place the glass on the coffee table and stand as well.
She followed the jounin down the hall, hands clasped behind her back as he stopped in front of a door before pushing it open.
"This is the bathroom," he said, leaning against the doorframe to watch her expression with his humored one.
She peered around the door, seeing a typical Japanese bathroom donned in pristine white. Moving on, he took a couple steps to the parallel side of the hallway and opened another door, making it squeak on its hinges.
"My study."
This time she actually walked in, hands still behind her back as she observed and didn't touch. It was simple, but busy with information. His desk, shelves, and bookcases were a dark rose wood, littered with white and pale yellow pieces of paper and scrolls that were neatly stacked and organized.
He certainly was a neat-freak.
"What's this?" She glanced at a piece of paper, half blank left open on his desk. Her eyes squinted. "It has Naruto and Sasuke's name on it." She looked at him questioningly.
"It's a recommendation for the jounin exam."
Jade eyes lapsed into shock, before hardening into impassiveness. Keeping up a happy façade was simply too difficult now. "I see…"
"I take it neither of them notified you."
Her eyes focused on the floor. "How long have they been considering it?"
"About three months."
Small hands clenched into fists. "I see…"
An awkward silence ensued.
"When is the exam?" she continued.
"Three weeks from now."
"Do you think they'll pass?"
"They have the talent, yes."
"Oh…well that's good then," she stated, cheerful countenance sported once more, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze for the first time. "Well, I'll leave you to it then," she beamed, walking to brush past him.
He moved, his larger frame preempting her from leaving.
"Please move, Kakashi," she said, voice listless as she focused downwards.
"Why did you come here, Sakura?"
She crossed her arms. "Do I need a reason?" Then suddenly remembered Sasuke saying the same thing.
He intermitted. "No, I suppose you don't."
Except he seemed to be more accepting and understanding than she had been.
She nodded. "Well, if you'll excuse me then," and tried to slink past him, only he didn't let her.
"I'd like it if you stayed."
She weighed the statement in her mind. "Why?"
"Why? Because I enjoy your company."
She snorted, finding his words hard to believe.
"And because I would like it if you talked to me."
She made a noise resembling a 'hn'. That's all he ever seemed to want from her; for her to spill her problems to him like she was in need of a shrink.
"And what makes you think I have something to reveal now?"
Maybe if he told her the flaws in her performance, she would do better next time to avoid interrogation. Him, making her talk to him seemed to be a new hobby of his that she was seriously starting to loath.
"Ever since you walked through my door you have been putting on an act."
In hindsight, she supposed it was pretty pointless to have done so. "All right, so it was obvious, but don't you feel ashamed forcing me to tell you things I don't want to tell? Wouldn't you rather me come to you on my own?"
He mulled over her words. "Do you promise to talk to me when you feel comfortable then?"
She pondered the question herself. Would she ever willingly reveal her turmoil to him? She was so used to being independent when it came to her emotions – forcing herself to cope and keep it contained, and now she had to make a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.
And then, as if reading her mind, "Don't say it unless you mean it, Sakura."
He was staid, his voice always lowering an octave to a deep bass, warning whoever it is that it was in their best interest not to cross him at this point in time.
She huffed. "Fine, I promise." This was definitely not the way into her good books, she thought.
"Come, I'll make you some dinner," he said, lilt pleased and light as his hand guided her from the room by the small of her back. It appeared she wasn't the only one with mood swings. "Do you like katsudon?"
She nodded, a little off balance from the turn of events. It was strange yet humbling knowing Kakashi had offered to do something so mundane as cook dinner, for her no less.
Sitting on one of two chairs at the blandly attractive kitchen table, with her legs tucked underneath her, she watched in silent contentment as Kakashi zigzagged around his tasks, making her completely forget about the day's events.
It was disturbing that he even had a fluid finesse in the kitchen, doing everything with a practiced ease as he swiftly cut up onions and pork, flipping and throwing it up in the air before cracking two eggs into the pan, the rice cooking away on the counter.
He looked like an oddly bizarre chef and it was fascinating to see such a different side to the man who knew over a thousand jutsu's. He must have been doing this on purpose, she realized, eyes glazed over with a goofy grin in place. He was a man cryptic with his words, but usually his actions made up for his lack of communication.
This was something he wanted her to see, or else he wouldn't be doing what he was doing. She felt ridiculously special all of a sudden. I mean, who else got to see the famous Copy-nin cook?
"Will you be eating too?"
A toss and a flip and a "yes."
She perched up expectantly. "Does that mean I get to see your face?"
She could see him quietly laughing at her, but this was too important of a question to let inhibition take over.
"Do you want to see it?" he teased, going back to his cooking.
She leaned forward, almost toppling over her chair in excitement. "Of course I want to see it! So does that mean you'll show me?"
He chuckled. "No."
Irked, she leaned back in her chair and fixed him with a glare. "Will you ever show me?" she asked exasperated.
He shrugged with a smile. "Maybe."
"Maybe!" She threw her hands up in the air, accompanied with an eye roll, too happy to be really annoyed. "How am I supposed to be with someone who won't even show me their face?" she blurted, laughing a little before realizing what she had brought up. She had meant to avoid the topic for the time being – at least until she had come up with an answer.
He looked at her keenly, wondering if she was going to say more.
"Is that what it will take, Sakura?" he asked after the silence had grown too intense. "Because if it is…I'll show you."
She glowered, hating him for making her temptation clash against her morals. "No, I'm not so shallow as to base an important decision on something like that," she defended, although that hadn't always been the case. "But when you do show me," she paused, making sure she had his attention, "it'll be because you want to, and not because you're trying to persuade me."
He grinned, swishing around the meat and vegetables, making it sizzle even more. "I knew you would say that," he grinned. "That's why I offered."
She faltered; irritated he could read her so well. "So you gave me that proposition because you knew I would say no?"
He concentrated on his cooking, giving a nod in affirmation. Her efforts in scowling were wasted on him, per usual.
"You know, you're the only person who can make me so furious."
He chuckled softly, turning off the stove and scooping some rice into two large bowls. "That's flattering for you to say."
She frowned confused. "How does that make sense?"
Placing the pan contents onto each bowl of rice, he pulled out two pairs of simple wooden chopsticks from a drawer and set it down before Sakura.
"Because if I can get such a reaction out of you, that means you care. You wouldn't waste such emotional effort on a stranger would you?"
She cogitated his words. She supposed his logic did make sense – in a weird twisted sort of way.
She was just about to ask him how he was going to eat without her seeing his face, when he leaned his frame against the fridge, back facing towards her while he pulled down his mask and started his own meal.
He looked ridiculous, standing there eating his food, giving her a nice view of his backside and nothing more. The things he would do just so she wouldn't see his face – it almost made her want to laugh out loud.
Shaking her head, she took an experimental bite, only to have her taste buds go into instant overload. It was positively the best katsudon she had ever had – but of course she wasn't about to tell him that. The man was sickeningly good at everything; he didn't need to hear he was a master chef as well. Strange how his ego wasn't the size of Konoha by now...
"So what was with you and Sasuke this morning?" she asked through a mouthful of rice – she never did have proper table manners, as her mother would always say.
She watched him shrug, feeling the tempting urge to lean back in her chair to try and sneak a peek at his face.
"Nothing; it was just a friendly spar."
She snorted. "And Sasuke and Itachi are best friends."
"You saying you don't believe me?"
She gave him a 'well duh!' look, then realized he couldn't see it. "Well, it didn't seem friendly," she said, shoveling some food into her mouth.
"Well it was friendly on my part, as for Sasuke, you'll have to ask him that yourself."
Which was something she fully intended to do. Scraping the remains of her food into her mouth, and almost considering licking the bowl clean, she set it down with a thump, a satisfied smile in place. She hoped she wouldn't get hiccups from the demonic speed she ate at.
Looking around, she spotted a clock on his wall in the living room, seeing it was 7:30pm. She wondered how long she was allowed to stay before he got tired of her or her parents got curious.
Placing his bowl in the sink, he pulled his mask back up and sauntered over to her, looking at her bowl with laughter in his eye.
"Did you enjoy it?"
Her lips formed a hard line, refusing to tell him the satisfaction her tongue and belly felt. "It was all right, I've had better though," she lied.
His eye twinkled knowingly. "I see," he smirked, mood buoyant and unfazed as he placed her bowl with his, starting the whole cleaning process.
Another weird thing to see: Kakashi doing dishes.
Sakura forced herself to engrave this scene in her memory.
"When did you need to be home?"
The question, although seemingly innocent, suddenly made her realize how young she was compared to him. He was a fully grown man who made his own set of rules, and she was a mid-teenaged girl who had a curfew (at least when her parents were home).
It made her wonder all the more what she was doing here.
"What's wrong?" he asked, flippant quality gone as he dried his hands on a dish towel before approaching her.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing," she comforted, willing herself to smile. It was a topic too awkward and not ready to be brought up.
He stared at her for a few moments; those moments telling Sakura he knew she was lying, again!
"All right, so what did you want to do?" he asked, ambling out of the kitchen to the living room, hands hidden in his pockets.
Sakura stared after him dumbfounded, shocked that he hadn't persisted or called her on her lie. Her mouth pulled upwards in an appreciative smile as soon as the astonishing instant passed, realizing he was staying true to his word as long as she did the same.
It made her all of a sudden want to tell him…
Funny how the human mind worked.
She watched him laze on his couch, looking at her expectantly for her to answer or move. Un-tucking her legs, she treaded towards him.
"I just want you to know," she began, slumping down next to him, "that I don't mean to lie…its just that I'm uncomfortable talking about whatever it is I'm refusing to talk about." She sighed; she sounded like an idiot.
The air of humor surrounded him again. "I know," he grinned, "so stop worrying."
Of course he knew, she thought, he always knew.
It was ten o'clock by the time she left his place, a small smile on her face that refused to disappear. She didn't know why, but she felt strangely at ease with herself – lighter and more liberated than she had experienced in over a year.
They hadn't done anything extravagant, nothing that was worth bragging about – but it was memorable just the same. She had finally been able to ask him things she had always wanted to know; no longer feeling inhibited or strange about wanting to know a more personal side to her sensei. They had talked, him telling her stories about his ANBU years, by her request, and she telling him anecdotes of her childhood.
He had lent her a GenJutsu scroll, which she still held tightly in her hand, which had also brought about tales and question from her about all the Jutsu's he knew.
He had led such an exciting and remarkable life before she had even met him; experiencing things in years which took people a whole life time to achieve.
Her life in comparison seemed so dull and uneventful. What had she done that was so unforgettable? That was so worthwhile and so astounding that people would always remember?
Why did she have to be so ordinary, so revoltingly simple?
She shook her head sighing. Why the hell did Kakashi want to be with someone like her?
She was a girl who valued logic and reason, and so far, Kakashi was anything but, concerning her at least.
She had wanted to ask him what it was exactly he saw in her – his student – a girl fourteen years his junior who had represented a daughter up until recently, but the words had been clogged in her throat, finding it impossible to ask.
She knew she would need to know before she made a decision, but she figured it simply hadn't been the right time to ask and she hadn't wanted to ruin the carefree atmosphere they had created with a serious question either.
The inquiry would simply have to wait until the timing was right.
Opening her front door enough for her to squeeze past, she stealthily closed and locked it, slipping off her sandals and crept through the foyer up the stairs.
She nearly fell over when she saw her father standing atop the stair landing.
"Were you training?" he asked, voice hushed, making her quickly understand her mother was asleep.
She nodded, looking up at the man who normally towered above her on even ground, who seemed monstrously tall now that he had the extra height of two steps. Shadows danced about his face, making it seem more angular and demonic than it actually was, especially as it played along the deep scar that ran down his left cheek.
Her father had the special ability to be scary when he wasn't even trying.
"I was training with Kaka-sensei. He's been privately training me for the last week," she informed, tone just as hushed.
She watched his naturally narrowed eyes widen a tad. "Privately training?" and stroked his brown stubbly chin with his thumb and index, eyes upturned in thought. "That's a good idea. You should have had a private trainer years ago. If you did, maybe you would have passed the chuunin exam the first time and might even be looking into jounin status by now."
Her smile fell into indifference. "He says I have potential and that he hopes he can bring it out in me," she said, remembering those words effortlessly because he had meant them wholeheartedly.
"So what did he teach you tonight?"
She faltered for a second, forcing herself to quickly come up with a lie. "He's been helping me with my stamina and speed recently," she said, which wasn't actually a lie per se. She was thankful Kisho couldn't read her like Kakashi could – the thought of being caught lying making her heart stop.
"That's good; you always did have difficulties with endurance."
She nodded in accord, scroll clutched between her hands, making him glance at it briefly.
"It's late, you should go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
She gave him a weak smile in return and didn't move towards her bedroom till she watched him disappear behind his own.
She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and scurried towards her room, stripping out of her clothes and into her pajama's before crawling into bed. Why did she feel like she had done something criminal?
Sighing, she curled herself into a tight little ball and compelled herself to sleep.
.
AN: This chapter is sort of an interlude…but not. It might not seem like much is happening but you get to see what sort of relationship Sakura has with her parents…and how Sakura and Kakashi interact with one another now that his feelings are up in the air.
And on to author responses which I'm sure no one cares about or reads :D
AfroKane – I believe it became apparent in chapter 5 and 6 when he was rubbing her legs…how his objective got side tracked and how he got a little too much gusto from the little sounds she made and the way she looked and responded and just everything. I don't think it was like 'bam', all of a sudden he realizes he feels something for her…I believe he was harbouring it deep within him although he wasn't sure or aware of what it was till that day, especially the day he found out about her and Yukio. I hope that helps a little. Thanks for the lovely comment!
Demeter1 – you know its funny 'cause I'm kind of a rambler in the way I talk, so its interesting that it comes out in my writing also. I'll try harder to cut back and catch it when I do. And Kakashi's drawl isn't just sexy, its orgasmic inducing sexy! Oops…did I actually write that? Hehehe Thanks for the comment and critique!
Tami – I'm going to say this at the cost of being moronic, but sometimes the Sharingan eye has me really confused lol I read in the manga that it involves hypnotic techniques and an attention to detail, which enables them to easily copy Jutsu's involving hand seals…but besides that and Mangekyou Sharingan (which I don't fully comprehend either) I'm not really sure what else the Sharingan can do. If you or anybody else knows, feel free to tell me! I'm probably well overdue for a Sharingan lesson.
Esther – wah, that sucks! I'm sorry FF was being crappy that day…I would have loved to have read your review, although I still loved the one you left me :P And I can sympathize with you having to deal with friends who don't think much of fanfiction. I have my share of 'em also. They just don't know what they're missing!
KaraQ – blah, I just realized I never answered your question in chapter 9, which is yes, you can give the link to my story in other places. Feel free to pimp it as much as you want lol And to answer your question (along with many others) is Sasuke jealous, protective, or what? Well, you'll just have to wait and see what he's up to, if anything hehe
Undercoverchad – Hell ya! I wish it were me also! And I have permission to smack you, you say? (sends you a virtual smackdown) lol nah, you aren't spoiling anything 'cause I ain't confirming nothing! Bwhahaha you along with others will just have to wait and see what our favourite anti-social Uchiha is up to. And you feel it was rushed? I can understand that, but I guess the way I view Kakashi is someone who doesn't have any reservation or inhibition, and also someone who doesn't deny themselves of the things they want (holds up Icha Icha Paradise) But then he is also a very secretive and a private person and gah, it's a confusing topic ne? At least to me. And don't apologize for leaving a long review. I LOVE long reviews, so discuss whatever you want as much as you want :P (hugs)
Iro-Ao – you want more you say? Are you sure? Maybe if you add one more 'more' in there, I'll consider it hehe just teasing. Thanks for the encouragement!
Christinarr – Ah, don't die! I need your inspiration to keep me going! And sorry there wasn't any physical interaction between them in this chapter. Maybe the next one? And I can't wait till I build and build this story till I finally reach the second arc! Jebus, this arc feels like it just keeps going, but I'm thinking 4-5 more chapters and it'll be finished, and then the mission! Dun dun dun…(grins) thanks for the review!
Aoko – you're confused? Awesome! Mission complete! Hehe no but seriously its how I kinda want the readers right now…questioning what Sasuke is doing and wondering if he is up to something. And I like the fact he made the first move also (even though I'm the one writing it...)
Mad Pierrot Le Fou – Yay, I'm glad my story isn't boring you! The only thing I really learned from my highschool writing class is that 50 percent (why don't they allow the percent sign?) is supposed to be narration, 25 percentis description, and the other 25 percent exposition. I think I only got the 25 percent exposition down and everything else is just jumbled. Maybe that's why my teacher despised my writing…(ponders) And I agree, the majority of KakaSaku stories that I've read have been just really incredible, and I'm flattered that you think mine is as well. One last thing; thank God the times have changed. Go KakaSaku!
Lara Roberts – Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter. It's people like you who leave reviews that helps the author along. Whenever I feel sorta stuck at a part, I'll take a break, read some of the comments people have left me, and go back to writing feeling inspired :D
xLindsayx – lol yay, more Sasuke guessing! You know I've been worried a lot of my story has been kinda predictable and boring, but it seems I've pulled off Sasuke being quite the enigma. Your excitement makes me excited! Wah!
Unknown – the best you've ever read? Wow, I'm flattered…but were you under the influence of something when you wrote that? Lol jk. My ultimate fav fanfiction stories that I've read are:
'Laying Amongst Dokatsu' by Nostawen Allesiel (Inuyasha).
'The Disappearing Life' by Meris ann (Witch Hunter Robin).
'Shadows Against a Shoji Screen' by Cappie (Inuyasha).
'Fugue' by Resmiranda (Inuyasha).
'Shadow Dancer' by Belladonna1 (LOTR).
The 'When Dreams Change' trilogy by Cymberleah (Trigun).
And finally 'Chasing Methuselah' by Sandra E (Inuyasha)
All very long – very beautiful – very well-written stories. So if you like any of those categories, you should give 'em a try!
Maris – (sighs along with you) Kakashi is just simply scrumptious, isn't he? Now if only it had been me instead of Sakura on that bridge (and if Kakashi was real…) then I would be set. Oh how cruel reality is, but I'm getting off topic. Thanks for the review :P
Nimacu - (dances a jig) oh, you didn't mean that kinda groove did you? I'm also glad that maybe now she'll start being a little like the old Sakura, although not entirely. Maybe just not as mopey and depressed now, which is always a good thing :D And yay, you think they're in character! Sometimes it's hard for me to judge if they're in character or not since i'm the one writing it, and some of the chapters I've been quite uncertain, including the last. So thanks for not confirming but obliterating my fears!
Afiag – (joins in on your cursing against Naruto and Sasuke) Think of all the lemony goodness that would have come if those little buggers hadn't shown up! Hehe actually not…I don't think they're quite ready for that yet, even though Kakashi is a lecher. Poor Sakura, how is she going to handle him?
Mizuki – (hugs) I'm happy I'm portraying Kakashi as somewhat believable and human. Seriously, the man is sometimes flippin hard to write! But I'm glad it's turning out okay so far. I want Sakura and Kakashi to be characters that maybe reader's can identify with (although probably not so much Kakashi as Sakura). Oh ya, I really hope you cut and pasted all those 'continues' lol here's a cookie for your effort!
And that's it! I'll probably never do that again, but maybe I will…who knows. Human nature is unpredictable (or maybe just me). Happy reading peeps!
–Eris