Disclaimer: Apherion is not feeling up to right anything hysterical as it is 10:12 at night her time and she wishes to speak with her friend on YIM (she nearly just typed 'YUM' instead of that).

She doesn't own this fic, even though we all know that she wishes to and that she one day hopes to create something that will bring Anime characters alive. Thank you, enjoy the reading!


Uncertain Feelings

Part 2

By: Apherion

Chapter 4: Mission

The next day, Sakura went to the medic building. Tsunade wouldn't be coming in until later that day, so Sakura made the executive decision to start on the easy load of work that had been laid out before her by the other medics. Only a few of the jounin teams had been sent out on missions, and one-if not two-would be coming in tonight. Sasuke wouldn't be in either of course, but Naruto is.

It's a shame, Sakura thought as she walked down the halls in her white medic-nin suit. Hinata should become a jounin, that way she and he wouldn't have to be torn apart so much. She stacked a couple of papers and took hold of the medicine cart, some of its supplies were running low and she was going to be restocking them for the day ahead. She just knew someone was going to badly hurt.

"Working already Sakura?" Shinta had come around the corner, looking expectantly at her. She nodded.

"Hm, yeah, I guess so. The cart needed some more of that new green ointment that Tsunade-sama had come up with, so I was going to replace it…is there something wrong?" Shinta's eyes had become a little unfocused and she pointed behind Sakura. Sakura turned and saw Ten-ten supporting a weak Temari. Sakura gasped and rushed over with the help of Shinta, pulling Temari as quickly and as gently as she could to a room.

"Temari, what happened?" Sakura interrogated as soon as she could. Temari coughed and Gaara entered the room. Shinta stepped away from the redheaded boy, out of fear more or less.

"We were just coming back from Sand to talk with Hokage Tsunade when this treachery happened." He spoke with dignified disdain, looking at his suffering sister.

"Who did it?" Sakura asked, gently placing a hand on Temari's head, feeling for the problem from the starting point. Gaara didn't answer immediately.

"Sasuke," he replied coldly. The focus Sakura had on Temari was broken for a second and she cursed herself and she re-gathered her chakra to locate Temari's injury. Only half of her focus was on Temari though, the other half fully listening and waiting for Gaara to continue.

"He came out of nowhere and attacked like we were his enemy, and he knows full well that Sand and Leaf have made an alliance to come to one another's aid if needed." He sighed and rubbed his temples worriedly.

"I being the Kazekage of Sand, my people weren't willing to let me go by myself, but I insisted that I was to go alone. Temari said to me to at least let her come with, and I gave, my older sister you know? Even though Tsunade had made it clear she only wanted who was necessary for the discussion we were to be having as soon as I got here." He seemed distressed, if not guilty for letting Temari come with him. He had briefed her like an equal, even though she was below him. Sakura always found respect for this now coming man, for he never gave up and he was so powerful.

"Temari took him on, as I was further behind her, but she was almost killed if I hadn't stepped in as soon as I saw the exchange." He sighed and settled himself in a chair. "I couldn't believe that he would actually attack us though." Gaara shook his head, slightly blurring the appearance of 'love' written in kanji on the left side of his forehead. The black rimming of his eyes stared hungrily at his hands, needing the truth to help him. He was so dangerous, him and Sasuke both were scary to be put up against. But I've been against Itachi…I know what it's like to have the sharigan used on someone; I know what it feels like and for Sasuke to attack me, then attack these two… She felt a shiver pass through her.

"What's wrong with her?" Gaara finally asked; straightening in his chair as Sakura straightened herself from the bed.

"Temari has some head trauma, but it's nothing irreversible. She'll be out of it for a few hours to a couple of days. Do you know if…?" She choked on the name, unable to get it to form. "Sasuke used any special techniques on her?" Gaara shook his head.

"No, I told you I was behind her and I only got there just as he was about to finish her," he replied patiently. Sakura blushed at her moment of lacking attention. She couldn't help it though; the mention of Sasuke blew her away completely.

"Sorry, but come along, we'll let Shinta finish up here." Shinta nodded her brown head and Sakura walked Gaara from Temari's hospital room. Sakura had barely entered the 'waiting room', so to speak, when she heard Tsunade's voice call out to her.

"Sakura, what are you doing with Gaara? Where's Temari?" Sakura stared blankly and then remembered; today just wasn't her day for attentiveness.

"Temari's back there," Sakura pointed behind her, "passed out in a room," she added. "Gaara is with me because he was telling me what happened to her. You need to hear about it, it's…it's about…Sasuke," her voice had something acute of grief, but she tried to hide it. Tsunade beckoned Gaara forward and then thought better of leaving Sakura just standing there.

"Go and get Kakashi, he needs to hear this too." With that, she and Gaara disappeared almost at once. Get Kakashi; get Kakashi, she shrieked inside her head. God, why do I have to see him again…he'll be furious like he was last time. Sakura groaned and disappeared in the same puff of smoke that the jounins knew how to do. Kakashi training her had helped a lot.

She appeared in front of his house almost instantaneously. She rapped hard with her knuckles on the door. She kept hammering until someone opened the door. She was about to slam her fist into it when the door opened and she fell against the chest of her ex-teacher.

"Sakura, what on earth, why are you here?" He questioned as she blushed furiously and backed off him.

"Tsunade-sama wants a word with you, immediately." He placed his back to the hallway's wall and allowed Sakura entrance. She looked at him in wonder, but walked by him, inside his house.

"What's so urgent?" He asked indifferent, muffled by him pulling on a shirt over his head. Sakura was amazed that his mask didn't come off, but she didn't let it show on her face.

"Gaara and Temari are here," Sakura said quickly and Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this.

"Then why does she want me there, a promotion?" He joked, but stopped at the stern look he was being given by Sakura.

"No, Temari was attacked," he motioned for her to keep going if she had more to go on. "Sasuke ambushed them." To say the least, Kakashi's jaw dropped, but not from what Sakura could see. Let's say instinct informed her.

"God, so that's why," he whispered, sustaining his balance. Sakura looked at him concerned for a second, but then turned from her urgent message that Tsunade was telling her to get Kakashi and get back.

"Why'd you invite me in? Keikoku (siren-mythical sea creature that lures men into the sea to drown) not home, Kakashi?" She laughed bitterly. "Come on, Tsunade's going to kill me if we don't get there soon." Sakura grabbed his arm, but he stopped her.

"Sakura stop being like that, I swear that's all we ever fight about." He sighed heavily, but Sakura flared.

"What, you actually care now? I don't need anyone or anything-especially sympathy-to keep me going. You neverpaid attention to me until Naruto went off with Jiraiya and Sasuke left last year. Tsunade trained me, and you finally see my potential. I foolishly developed feelings-things ninjas shouldn't have I suppose-for you. I didn't want to think that I had, but…I had." Words were coming easy to her, almost as fast as the tears that were falling down her face.

"But of course, I have no willpower to help me fight the jealousy, and here I am talking to you, telling you right here and now, I can't take it anymore!" Her breathing was shot; she couldn't understand why he was so bent on getting her to confess. Yet, she had done it of her own free will.

"Trickery," she said under her breath as she watched him smile knowingly.

"Bitterness," he said, opening the door, motioning for her to leave. She glared at him as she walked out the door.

"Careful, that beautiful face my stay like that…not that I'd mind it like it is." He winked, and Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. She knew what he was trying to do, but she didn't like that he was being a child about it. She took his arm and transported both her and him into Tsunade's office.

"Finally, Gaara has completely covered the information and I need to speak with you Kakashi, Gaara, you may stay as you and I are in the same boat, but Sakura-no offense-but I have to ask you to leave." Tsunade wasn't offending her, no, but she wished she could find out what was going to happen, Sakura being a curious person in the first place.

"I'll be a good girl, Tsunade-sama," Sakura said with a bow and exiting the room, not turning her back on the group of three extraordinary ninjas.


Sakura jumped to her feet when she heard a crashing sound in the entrance of the medic building. She ran and found herself face to face with Naruto, being supported by Hinata and Ino. Shikamaru heaved a sigh, lumbering in with several senbon needles protruding from him.

"God, what happened to you all? First Temari, now you two," Sakura cried, shocked. Naruto looked dazed and out of it, a bubble of blood forming at the corners of his mouth. He looked drunkenly at Sakura.

"Saakra…youse looks…fooney," he slurred before clasping in Hinata and Ino's arms.

"Shikamaru, what the hell, you two went on a mission and this is the condition I get you in. What went wrong?" She asked firmly while trying to help Ino and Hinata sustain Naruto.

"Sound-nin and missing-nin came after us…" Shikamaru started, breathing heavily. "We lost them…or at least, we thought we had…" more deep breathing. "I looked out from above and Naruto took below. I got pinned to a tree with these things," he motioned to the senbon needles and the various places blood was spreading from.

"When I got to Naruto, he was like that; I only saw the retreating backs of a traitor and his groupies." He finished, collapsing into a chair in the waiting room. Tsunade, Kakashi, and Gaara came into view after their long discussion. It had to have lasted several hours, for it was ten o'clock when they entered the room. Now, four in the afternoon, with two severely injured jounins in the lobby, it was about damn time.

"Sakura, I thought you could handle things here," Tsunade said with a bite of cold fury setting on her student.

"Uh…Sensei…if I…had control…over these two…they wouldn't have…gotten…hurt," Sakura heaved, trying to talk while helping support someone twice the size of the three girls holding onto him. Kakashi stepped in and took Naruto off of their shoulders.

"Down the hall, right door," Sakura stumbled, trying to catch her breath. Kakashi nodded and took Naruto where Sakura had instructed like it was no problem. Hinata looked at Sakura and Tsunade for some reassurance. Ino went straight to Shikamaru and put a hand to his head. A silence followed that enveloped every bit of them.

"Sakura-san, Temari's woken up," Shinta had made her reappearance in just a few seconds after Kakashi left, bringing back noise.

"Good, good, Shinta-get someone to help you bring Shikamaru into the room next to Temari's would you?" Shinta nodded and did as she was told. Then someone very unwelcome burst through the doors.

"Where's 'Kashi…oh, Lady Hokage, have you seen him?" Kina, Sakura thought reproachfully, get out of here and never return.

"Sakura will gladly show you where he is," Tsunade stated wearily. Sakura gave her a look that said plainly, 'me?' Tsunade shot a sharp look and Sakura nodded respectfully.

"What, 'Kashi's hurt?" Her voice was so…full of it, Sakura wanted to just hit her. She resisted the urge her other persona was telling her to do.

Kick her ass; just kill her. No one will care. She deserves it, being all phony. Sakura didn't laugh when she heard this come from herself.

Stop that; I can't do that. She's Kakashi's wife and I have to learn to accept that fact.

Bull, girl-you know you're lying to me. I can tell you know.

"No, he's fine, Kina-san," Sakura bit out. "Follow me, and if you keep your mouth shut I won't kill you," she added underneath her breath.

That a girl, her inner self said, patting her on the back. It's going to take more than that to get under your skin.

We already know two who can. Kakashi is one-the obvious-and…Itachi. She shivered at the last account, three months ago. The feeling was mutual between her and Inner Sakura. Yet why was it Sasuke who attacked her yesterday?

The way Itachi had touched her; feeling her up like she was some doll. The way he kissed her; ravishing and hungry. She stopped herself; she didn't want to think about the rest. Even so, she didn't think Itachi would let his brother try the same thing.

"In here," Sakura said, walking in first, seeing Kakashi looking at Naruto with concern. He looked up and saw Sakura, but he did not smile at her. Kina drew his attention away from her, and Sakura ignored the exchange between the 'happy couple'. Hinata had followed hesitantly, and Sakura walked over to her and brought her into the room before setting to work on her friend. The kunoichi touched his head and felt around with her chakra. He needs…

"Hinata, stand right here and hold his hand, he's going to need your help with this one." Sakura smiled at her while she followed the instruction without delay. Sakura then rubbed her hands together, gathering chakra held tightly by friction. She remembered everything that happened to Naruto in the past. How annoying he was and how he failed to bring Sasuke back, and most importantly, how she knew Akatsuki would come after him. They probably attempted that today, she thought worriedly as she placed one hand on his forehead and one on his chest. She pushed on his body and his eyes shot open.

Naruto looked wildly around, and caught Sakura's glance. She smiled and petted his head like he was a child. Hinata squeezed his hand to let him know she was also there.

"Naruto what happened," Kakashi spoke as soon as he saw that Naruto was up. Sakura looked at him before considering that there was something else to it. He wasn't letting Kina get a word in. Surprisingly, Sakura didn't care. She was becoming indifferent to him, like she was when she was his student. She remembered pleading with Sasuke to let her go with him so they could be together.

"I…Sasuke," he said breathily, trying not to faint once again. Sakura kept her hand on his head.

"He's got a fever, let him rest," she found herself saying exactly what her 'inside' friend was about to say. She ignored her personality flicker and stared coldly at Kakashi and his…

"Sakura-Chan," Hinata put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly. The bold move was strange coming from a very shy girl. Sakura looked 'round at her friend.

"Hn," Sakura muttered bitterly, pushing away from the group, but was stopped at the door by Tsunade and Gaara. Sakura made a motion that would allow her to be excused, but Tsunade shook her head.

"No, everyone in this room is involved with the conversation about to take place. Temari's also entailed to this, but having already informed her, there simply wasn't any use of bringing her out of her bed." Sakura turned around and sat in one of the comfy looking seats that she knew were beyond their appearance. She stared hard eyed at Kina and Kakashi, the latter returning it, only it wasn't a condensed glare, it was a gaze of sympathy. Sakura shot to her feet, insulted by the look.

Kakashi Point of View

Why was she acting so weird? Kakashi stared dumbfounded that she was looking beyond pissed at him. She had jumped to her feet as if just stuck by a pin. Her fists were quaking softly against her white medical uniform. He sighed and looked away. Hormones, he thought, must be allowing her more violent side to overcome her now. First her crying like mad, now intense anger…I can't seem to do anything right.

But she has a reason to want to take her life and kill you. If you don't remember, the woman standing next to you is the whole reason most of this started. Kakashi groaned and put a hand on his head.

Yes, I do remember, but I also let my own self-control slip and I ran her under overwhelming confusion. He was feeling just a bit argumentative with himself at the moment.

And it was your fault for not realizing she might have had feelings for you! He mentally hung his head in defeat. It was true; he never stopped to think through the two months that she and he didn't speak that she might've had something for him.

"I feel like such an idiot," he said so quietly, no one had heard him.

"What's the meaning of this then? We're all different levels of ninja Tsunade-sama, so how can we possibly go on the same mission?" Kakashi looked back at Sakura. She had somehow worked that out before Tsunade had spoken. She really is going to end up surpassing Tsunade one of these days, catching on like that.

"Well, I figure that five jounins, three chuunins, and a medic-nin would suffice as a good group to go and seek out Sasuke." Kakashi already knew this and tuned it out. He didn't need to hear it again. He delved into his thoughts once more.

Sakura, he thought, looking at her form that had appeared in his mind's eye. He returned to the kiss he had given her. He would definitely be given more opportunities to be with her like that. The mission would help plenty of things. Retrieving Sasuke, repairing my relationship with Sakura, and Kina…would be forgotten. He forced the thoughts from his mind as quickly as he could when he heard his name.

"Yo," he answered in his usual manner. He heard Naruto and Hinata laugh, he blinked and saw Tsunade and Gaara had left and that Sakura was trying to get his attention.

"You," he watched her eyes dart, her normal way to come up with something in replace of a curse word. She never had called him anything of that magnitude before. He vaguely wondered what she would look like if she accidentally let one slip in his presence. Probably blush like mad and beg for forgiveness; or just act like she is now and really give me the chewing out that I deserve.

"Kakashi, pay attention to what I'm saying for five seconds at the least. I deserve that much." He looked at her, softly like he had before, hoping she wouldn't fly off the handle again.

"'Kashi doesn't have to listen to you if he doesn't want to," Kina threw in smugly, but something inside Sakura snapped and she lunged for the girl, looking murderous. Kakashi intercepted her, but she didn't calm down. She was actually doing a great job at trying to get him to release her.

"Let me go, Kakashi. Let me kill her," her voice was dark, much like Sasuke's tone that he normally had used. He almost did when he heard it and it registered.

"Like you could, Kiddy," Kina mocked her, and now Kakashi knew what Sakura was talking about when he had spoken with her after the wedding. They obviously didn't like each other and it was apparent it wasn't over an old relationship.

"Don't start with me, bitch. Sooner or later, I'm going to get out of his hold and you won't be waking up for a good while," Sakura threatened just before sinking her teeth into one of his hands, taking one of her hands and pulling his other away from her. Shock and a twinge of pain ran threw his body and Sakura didn't have him holding her back anymore. Anger boiled in her aura and Kakashi didn't intervene in the fight yet.

Kina jumped away, retreating slightly before running straight for Sakura. Sakura slid underneath Kina, the heel of her hand whipping around, colliding with Kina's back once, twice, but no damage was inflicted. Kina turned, grabbing Sakura's long hair, drawing out a kunai. She sliced it; pink locks of hair fell limp to the floor, released of their nutrition source.

Sakura screamed enraged at Kina for cutting her hair off. She dove for Kina, catching her by the shoulders, wrestling with her. Kina overthrew her easily, tossing her hard onto the floor where Sakura's head made contact. She lied there still and unmoving and Kina approached her, settling her foot on top of Sakura's chest, pressing into the un-exposed flesh, pinning her to the tiled floor.

Sakura took hold of the ankle and sent a surge of chakra through the hand. Kina withdrew with a wail of pain. Sakura stood up, blood mingling with her cut hair from when she cracked her head on the tile flooring. She walked tenderly towards a wounded Kina.

"I'll teach you to do that!" Kina spat, staggering to her feet, but the instant that she set weight on her broken ankle, she crumpled, blacked out. Sakura approached her and sat her unceremoniously on the chair she had long since abandoned. She set to work on her head, utilizing her chakra to repair the damage that the floor had inflicted. She then commenced with her hand seals and healed Kina's broken ankle.

"If I wasn't a medic-nin I wouldn't have done that for her. And if she wasn't your wife, I wouldn't have just injured her ankle." Sakura cold voice reached his stunned ears. Seeing Sakura fight with that much intensity was foreboding. The fight had ended within minutes. Kakashi knew she could've passed the jounin test with ease after that show. She had never been that intense in any practice sessions he had put her through.

"I'm sorry," he said to her, and he hugged her tightly, saying without words that he wished he didn't have to let go. They broke apart when they heard footsteps approaching the room he, Sakura, Kina, Hinata, and Naruto were stationed in.

"What's going on? We just heard," Tsunade's eyes looked over the scene, fresh blood on the floor, pink hair strewn about the room, and a conked out Kina on the uncomfortable couch. Her eyes flicked to Sakura and then Kakashi.

"Me, Tsunade-sama," Sakura spoke quickly. "She proceeded to push me, my blood-and obviously that's my hair-is on the floor, but everything that was injured was fixed." Sakura animated her words by pointing at Kina and the blood. Tsunade's shoulders sank and she looked at her student.

"I thought you better Sakura, but no matter. Clean up the blood and everything's all right." Tsunade turned to leave, but stopped.

"I hope you all realize this mission will take a long time. Months, maybe even years, I wish you didn't have to leave during this time of year, but it can't be helped. I'm sorry for doing this to you all." Kakashi nodded and felt that Sakura had as well. His mask itched against his nose, but he refused to scratch it just yet. It had become uncomfortably hot in the room as well.

"It doesn't matter, the sooner we leave the better," Naruto spoke up and Tsunade nodded.

"That's right, oh, yes. Kakashi," he looked at the Hokage. "You will be in charge of Sakura, with Ino and Shikamaru's help, seeing as medic ninjas are vital for these missions; we need the best helping her." Sakura blushed, but grinned when she heard the news. Kakashi also liked it, more of a reason to spend time with her, even though Kina would be hanging around.

"Temari will watch after Kina, and Naruto will watch over Hinata, agreed?" They all nodded save for Kina, who was out of it, and Temari, who was in another room. Tsunade nodded to them all and left the room, leaving him feeling a bit better about the mission they would begin as soon as Temari and Naruto healed.

He wasn't too huffed at Sakura for what she had done to Kina. Kina had been looking for trouble with him for a good long while, calling him "'Kashi" like he was some kid. Three months of it wore him thin as a sheet, he was astounded at his will power, and five months ago proved that even though the light spring, love-love mood couldn't break it. Not with Sakura back then, not with Kina now.

He followed suit, leaving the room in silence. Kina would show up home pissed, he would beat her at arguing, and then they'd make-up. What a life he had, eh? It was to be expected…only what if it was Sakura coming home to him instead of Kina? He shook his head, berating himself.

You screwed that chance up when you met Kina; I thought we went through this. His head chided him for his lack of an attention span. The longing for Sakura had been evident ever since he had chosen his fate with Kina, but the evil monkey on his back told him that this mission could be the perfect thing. It wouldn't shut up after Tsunade told him that he, Kina, Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Naruto would be going on a search for Sasuke.

"It would be very easy to make it look like an accident, and Sakura would be all too happy to comply in backing you up when you…told the tragic tale of your wife…jumping off a cliff." He tried to suppress his smirk when it voiced this inside his head. Yeah, I know Sakura would definitely go along with that, especially after seeing her fight Kina.

He entered his place of residence to find it completely empty and dark. He hit the light switch and watched the light flood the entire hallway. More evil thoughts encountered his brain when he threw off his shirts and mask.

"She could be taking a dip in the river and drown by getting caught in the under toe." He shook his head and climbed into bed. He wouldn't do that to her. He had no reason. Divorce was better at any rate, but it would be easier if he got her to the point where she wanted him to go. He smiled and sank further into his pillows, happy to have some excuse to fall asleep.

Sakura Point of View

Sakura looked down at Kina, then at Hinata and Naruto. She smiled at her friends and vaguely wondered if Ino and Shikamaru had left yet. She fingered her remaining tresses of hair. The second time, she thought bitterly. Having cleaned everything up moments before, she returned her focus to her friends that were present.

"Hinata," she said softly, "if you and Naruto weren't my friends, I'd have to ask you to leave, but. Seeing as Kina's the only person I wish ill of, you're fine," she grinned, trying not to laugh. Naruto did and so did Hinata; taking her off as joking when she was being serious. Sakura wasn't going to correct them. They could think what they wanted to, it didn't matter to her. Sakura waltzed over to Kina and slapped her cheeks gently, making cooing noises.

"Wake up, Kina-Chan," Sakura said in her poison-sweet voice. Kina mumbled and turned over, sucking her thumb. Sakura looked at her, then at the other two, and then they all burst into laughter as a group. Kina woke suddenly.

"Huh-what…what is it…where am I?" Sakura clutched her stomach, laughing so hard. Kina's eyes rested on her and Sakura felt the intense glare.

"Yeah, I shattered your ankle, but you should be able to walk on it." Sakura mocked thinking for a second then added, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your 'crutch' isn't here. He went home for the night, assured that you were okay and all. What can I say? I'm a rather good medic." Kina sat up and went to stand only to stiffen.

"Oh, which reminds me, you need to stretch it before walking on it. That way, you don't break it again, because I might not be so generous to you." All Kina could do was glare at Sakura.

"You're precious hair is still lying on the floor, Sakura," Kina made a stab at ridiculing her, but failed as she tried pressing her foot to the ground again. Sakura laughed at her.

"Well, I'll see everyone in two days time. See how everything's going," Sakura yawned for affect to her next statement. "I'm going to bed."

Kakashi Point of View

Kakashi's eyes flew open with a realization. He couldn't, no, he shouldn't was the correction. He untangled himself from the bed; Kina had yet to make it here, so all was fine. He didn't care, he was done screwing himself over. He was going to see her no matter what the stakes of getting caught were.

This would definitely qualify as something to tick Kina off so much that she would file for a divorce with him. He grinned for his reckless streak that he was known to have. It paid to be just a bit manipulative as well.

He put on his mask and a long-sleeved shirt, both of black. He pulled his hiate-ate over his sharigan and pulled on black gloves. He was going to see Sakura tonight, and nothing was going to stop him. He shut the door to his house as he exited and sprinted to her address.

He opened the door, it being unlocked, and entered the little abode. He sighed, noting the house empty, excluding himself. He sat against the wall at the end of the hallway. He would see her coming through the window, but she wouldn't notice him until she got inside the house.

Her now short pink hair head appeared from out of the darkness. Her own forehead protector being vacant from her head, she gave the impression of being secure about herself and looking too good for her own good. He watched the doorknob turn, and apprehension filled his system.

The door swung open, and he stood swiftly, advancing on her. Something about his approach caused her to become stunned with fear, and he just remembered the freak happenings that were because of Itachi. He rounded behind her, carefully covering her mouth with his gloved hand. He shut the door behind her with his foot. The slamming caught her out of her reverie. He was afraid she would bite him like she had earlier that evening.

"Sakura," the moment her name came from his masked lips, her stiffened form relaxed. The feel of her body against his was a little too much for him and he let her go, much like he had done the one night she had reprimanded him for not going to the hospital.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, stunned, but she went for the lights. He caught her wrist from reaching its destination however.

"I had to see you." His answer was simple; it defined why he was here. He had to be with her. Not that Kina was something he minded, it was just, Sakura had plenty of things Kina didn't. Sakura had things that only she could have and Kakashi knew that.

"Why, I mean…" she stopped mid-sentence, unable to finish what she was going to say. He turned her into him, looking into her eyes with his obsidian one. Still beautiful, still Sakura; he felt impatience rise within himself, but he held it at bay. Patience was needed for this, no matter what; patience was the answer.

"No light, Sakura." Sakura looked at him, confused by the sentence and he pulled her into him. She molded into his body and he felt the sensation rush through him. He had to keep his intentions clear to himself, or he'd lose his control with her.

"Kakashi, what's wrong…why don't you want me to turn on the light?" Her voice was hesitant, unsure of herself to let her speak. He squeezed her gently then let her go. She threw her gaze onto the floor, innocent. Her innocence was on the line; he had to stay in control.

"Nothing's wrong Sakura, I just need to be with you." Her eyes darted from the floor to his face, her confusion evident on her face. She wouldn't know what was going on with him; she would only know that she was happy that he was here with her. She took her hand and grasped his, pulling him into the living room. She sat down and motioned for him to do the same, which he did. In fact, once he sat down, he pulled her closer to him. Restraint, he chanted inside his head, restrain yourself. Don't make any bad moves or you'll make it worse.

"Why are you doing this, Kakashi?" Sakura asked not necessarily matching her words with her tone and actions. Kakashi thought on it, pulling her into his lap, and leaning her back into his chest where he would be able to whisper into her delicate ears.

"Because it's real, what I feel. It's not some stupid fantasy, but I admit that I pulled up some obstacles." His lips brushed her ear and she almost caught him with her head as she tried scratching the tickling sensation away.

"Please don't be just saying that," she whispered, evident that she felt excited by this. His hands touched her waist softly, and she moved further into him. He let the feeling consume his slightly, holding onto his self-control firmly.

"I'm not, Sakura," he breathed. She stood up, breaking his hold on her. Instead of her leaving though, she spun on the spot, facing him, and straddled his waist. He emitted something sort of 'mm' and he noticed that it drew out a smile on his 'comrade's' face. He sight and undid the tie on his forehead protector. His left eyelid automatically closed over the sharigan. He held the hiate-ate in his hands.

"Let me see," she said softly, her face dangerously close and a hand attempting to pull down the cloth that was his mask. He pushed her back a ways away from his face and took her greedy hand away from his mask.

"No," he said, holding the Konoha headband in his right hand while slipping his left behind her head, pulling her into his masked lips. They brushed together and stuck, as if glued, to each other. It was scratchy due to the cloth, but all the while pleasurable. He broke the kiss, only to re-enter it at Sakura's hands this time.

She grew bold with each exchange, taking her hands and running them through his silver hair, touching his chest slightly, doing all sorts of things that were making it immensely difficult for him to keep himself together. But so is the fun of playing with younger women, he laughed.

Sakura looked at him and laughed too, why, he didn't know, but neither questioned the other as to what they thought was funny. He looked into her eyes; he wanted to be rid of the mask, but with her eyes watching his every move, it would be impossible. He didn't want her to see him without it just yet. Kina hadn't seen him without it until just recently.

But you've known her Kakashi; you've known Sakura her whole life. She's known you since she was twelve and she'll see you how she sees you no matter what she sees. He shook himself mentally. There wasn't anything wrong with his face at all; he just didn't want her to lust after him because of it. Then an idea came to him.

"Sakura lean your head back," he muttered softly and she complied with the small order. He lifted the hiate-ate and rested it over her eyes, his skilled hands tying it behind her head. She was about to complain when he took her hand and used it to pull down his mask.

It slipped down his average-sized nose. Sakura didn't need much persuasion to pull the black mask down completely. Her fingertips traced every inch of his face. Caressing his cheeks with her fingers, feeling the almost smooth skin beneath them for the first time while brushing over his lips with an almost need about her. He fulfilled what she was wanting by forgoing her hands that were still on his face, and touching her lips with his. She gasped audibly, but he did not seize the moment to deepen the kiss. He at least knew she liked the feeling.

He grinned and bit her lower lip softly when he kissed her again. Her hands rested on his shoulders and felt his body come into contact with all of her once again. They sort of melted together as he tenderly kissed her lips. She finally moved away from him, but something told him that had she not needed air, they would've stay embraced like that.

"My first," he cut her off by kissing her again, words not needed at the moment, but he couldn't help himself, a thought occurring to him.

"I'll be your first everything, Sakura." A blush formed rapidly, filling her cheeks with crimson.

"Who…says?" She asked, nervously trying to play it off.

"You could, if you want it." He was being serious, and he knew that his little way to get out of showing her his face was proving to be a problem. He wanted to see her whole face, no matter how many times he had seen it. So this is what she must feel like when she can't see mine. His hands unwound themselves from her waist and proceeded to untie the forehead protector from her head. It fell in-between them, neither one trying to catch it, even though they both had the ability.

Her eyes widened when she saw his face. She was taking it all in and she longed for more it seemed like. She seemed to catch onto how serious he was when he answered her. Naïveté was her all around, but he liked her like that. He was glad she wasn't like the many that threw themselves at the feet of men for one-night stands. He was grateful she hadn't seen the side of the world after sex. The sad thing is though; sex was the medicine and the poison after you've had it, one of those perfect drugs if you will.

"I c-could…r-really?" She stammered, her eyes were wide, lightly tinted with fear. He nodded, poker-faced at her. She grinned lopsidedly, but stopped, the fear overcoming her demeanor.

"Only if you want it, only when you're ready," he said it softly to her, willing her to understand how much he could give her. He would kill off the marriage with Kina; he only wished he knew why he didn't see how sincere Sakura had been before Kina.

"What about…what about…?" She stuttered again and Kakashi kissed her again.

"Gone, I'll end it with her if you want me to. Yet after tonight, I think she'll be doing the 'I want you out of my life' speech." Sakura giggled, much like she had done when she was a child. He smiled at her and kissed her again. Sakura kissed him back.

"Thank you, Kakashi," she had tears in her eyes and his face dropped into concern. "No, no," she said laughing, despite the tears coming out of her eyes. "It's okay, I'm happy…you kept your word."


A/N: Whoa, I think this is one of the longest chapters I've EVER posted...well, I want some reviews. I have given you extreme fluff and some backing for what the third part's gonna be about. Rating will be going up for all of you Mature fans.

Review, review, review (because it doesn't take long to type a quick 'update soon') and I take flames too!

.:.:.Apherion.:.:.