A/N: The finale has arrived for all of you long-chapter lovers.

Uncertain Feelings

I want to heal. I want to feel what I thought was never real. I just want all the pain to go away. These wounds, they will not heal. Fear is how I fell; making me confuse what was real. For all the times you stood for me and all the times you made me see. You stood by me and I stood tall. I had your love I had it all. Everyone had turned away from me and isn't it sad how I wish to be there. Meet me where the world ends so our world can begin.

Epilogue

Her twenty-second birthday was approaching Konoha, March twenty-eighth. The more-than-newlywed Naruto and Hinata were going to be joining her for her second year of an 'official' it's-okay-to-drink-because-you're-old-enough party. She knew the kid at home was well babysat while Mommy and Daddy were away. The two's company was nice and pleasant, but this year...she was expecting someone else to join the celebrations.

True, last year was held at the local bar and practically everyone was invited. Rock Lee even joined in a friendly competition of who sang better between the two of them, but Sakura wasn't all that amused the morning after. Hell, she never was impressed with mornings, but that morning she had been anxious for the winter to come and pass. Fuck the idea of Christmas (the whole gift-giving part) and kill anyone sporting an 'I love you' card or flowers or box of candies. The only holidays, excluding her birthday as being one, she seemed to partake in were New Year's and St. Patrick's Day; binge drinking without having a reason to do so was always a good thing.

She laughed bitterly as she walked outside, which was frigid with morning air, in her pajamas. She shivered waiting for the post-man. It was what she lived for and she knew his letter would be coming today. She had written him six days ago, give the postal services two days to get it to him, give him two days to respond and send it, and give the postal services another two days. She had worked it out after all that time sending, anticipating, reading while blushing profusely at what he had written to her, squealing lightly as she wrote her reply, and sent it off again.

Sometimes the things he had written to her recalled the lands he'd gone through. Sometimes the things he wrote down weren't something she would display or mention in public (unless accompanied by said person where as it would be appropriate to some extent). Sometimes the things he wrote brought tears to her eyes, but he would always have her laughing before the end of the letter. He always said he missed her and couldn't wait until his solitude was spent and he could return to her.

He would joke in his letters, acting as though he was in other countries because he chose to be so as he could get his unsettlement out of system before coming back. He would be romantic in his letters, seducing her in a way that she never knew was possible in a letter. He would make her cry in his letters, telling her that he wished he hadn't been so rash.

She would reply to his letters, letting him know everything was fine (even when it wasn't) and that no one had paid much mind to her (even though they had). She would say in her letters how much she longed for his touch, here and there and there. She would get letters back from him saying such provocative things she would tell people not to disturb her and to leave her alone until she was ready to show her face to the public once again.

It felt like they were defying the hokage's wishes with these letters. The letters entertained her brain for hours at a time and when she turned eighteen, she began reading the Icha, Icha Paradise books, all the while wondering how Kakashi could read them in public. Yet she had often been caught just pulling them out and rifling through the pages, thinking about Kakashi all the while.

She walked inside with the letter clutched possessively to her chest, not going to allow anyone to take it from her. She would open it later.

She never told Kakashi how she had stayed locked away inside her house for at least-if not more than-a year, only to come out for the mail and groceries. Naruto, before marrying Hinata when both had turned eighteen, would come knocking begging her to open the door. He would slouch away when she refused to remove herself from her couch or her bed.

"Sakura," the knock was hard and almost as loud as his voice…almost. "Come on, Sakura, I know you're in there. Tsunade's worried, I'm worried, we're all worried, just let me see you for a little while. We can talk…" Sakura heard his voice trail off and become slightly distant. Only four and a half agonizing months had past what felt like an eternity without Kakashi.

She padded along the hallway while heavy feet. She didn't have the bounce she used to have. Her eyes were dead, soulless and void of emotion, save for that one tear that seemed to leak from her eyes like a broken faucet. She cautiously turned the doorknob, awaiting the hammer to fall. It didn't.

As the door swung open painstakingly slow, it revealed a seasoned Naruto. He appeared to have aged after killing Sasuke. Tsunade had only sentenced him to community service.

"You have nerve," she said in a dry, hoarse whisper. Her vocal cords were shot due to the extensive crying over the past eighteen weeks. The blue-eyed boy in front of her dropped to his knees; she couldn't shut the door unless she wanted to risk having chunks of Naruto's flesh in her door, doorway, and doorframe, let alone the blood splattering the walls and door to boot. She decided she didn't need another's blood on her hands. Her parents' deaths had been enough, her being the murderer, hearing Kakashi's voice inside her head the whole time, egging her on.

"Sakura, please, you can't stay in here the whole seven years! You'll die." Naruto looked to the ground, almost as if he was going to say something else. Sakura headed him off though.

"I am already dying! You have seen to that personally. I don't want you or anyone else coming over here to take me from my house. I will wait for him, just you wait." Sakura stared him down as he slowly rose to his feet, and even though he was taller, he quailed underneath it.

"Coming to me when you're the one who turned us in; we were happy, couldn't you see that? Sasuke had left for power and I moved on. Did it disturb you that I was with Sensei…Kakashi? Did it bother you that much that you couldn't bear to see us happy? Kakashi might've been the one who started it, but I finished it after Kina had come into the picture. All of that, that was me. He was hesitating! He wanted to wait and I gave myself to him. I gave him the only true thing I have ever owned. I know I spent it wisely."

Naruto didn't come back after that…it was probably another two months when he showed up on her property, demanding that the old Sakura come out of hiding and have fun. She had refused him then as well.

She walked into her shower, turning it on and lathering her shampoo (which she changed to Kakashi's for a longer lasting image of him) into her hands before applying it to her hair. She washed her body after rinsing the shampoo from her hair. She had her hair grow out and she made sure it was always kept clean and shiny. She closed her eyes and shook her head, remembering a time when her hair was short...

She wrapped the towel around her curvy form. Her physical features didn't do much in the past seven years. Her eyes became brighter and her pink hair became more defined as 'pink' than it had been when she was younger. She figured it was the shampoo. She had grown a couple of centimeters, but not a huge number. She was still going to be shorter than Kakashi; maybe she was just at his chin now. She walked out of her bathroom and into her room to throw on some clothes before training her ass off again.

She mentioned her becoming a Jounin to Kakashi. She would look at the tattoo affectionately, her tiny keepsake of him on her left arm. He said that he was proud of her; he said he was already proud of her no matter what she decided to be as a ninja. 'I could not love you any more than what I already do.' She laughed when she read that line, smiling deeply for what seemed like days when it was only hours.

He just had that affect on her. Like some drug, love was a high she was glad she had been apart of. She knew she was still Kakashi's 'little sakura blossom' despite the years that had passed. She put on a black tank top that fit her snugly. She noticed the tightness noting that she might have to take Ino and Hinata on another shopping trip. She looked into her vanity pleading that her stomach hadn't enlarged itself over the years.

She let out a sigh of relief. She realized that she had picked out one of her old shirts. She grinned back at her reflection. The tank looked good on her despite how it seemed to suffocate the one inside it. She laughed and pulled on some black shorts, these too were tight, but allowed swift movements from their owner. She looked at how toned her legs had gotten and she blushed at a reoccurring thought inside her mind. One of which involved calloused hands running along the inside curves.

She walked out of the house without breakfast and she saw Ino walking arm-n-arm with Shikamaru. Speaking of those two, they were engaged to marry at the end of June if a mission from either one didn't intervene. They had been on and off a lot lately, but finally the Nara boy got off his lazy ass and finally popped the question. She sighed, they had been allowed love and I was allowed to sit back and watch.

"Hey Ino, Shikamaru," she called from where she stood. Ino and Shikamaru looked up from each other and waved.

"Right back at you Sakura! Ready for your birthday, birthday girl?" Sakura chuckled softly at her friend's comment. It's not my birthday yet, but yes, I am. She had been anxious since the week before her birthday. March twenty-first was when he could come home, to her, but he didn't. Now every time there was a knock on the door, she primped herself before answering the door. When it wasn't whom she had hoped, she'd greet the guest with less enthusiasm than normal. She nodded softly and laughed.

"You should know, Ino," she whispered to herself as she passed her friends waving jovially to them. She sighed as she greeted her old apprentice, Shinta, her new apprentice, Koyo, and Shizune. All three welcomed her and she dropped into her office. She was working again the year after she had lost Kakashi. Tsunade had been kind enough to let her wallow in her misery. Misery always needs company though, and what better way to accompany misery than a large bottle of wine?

Tsunade, still hokage but looking for a replacement, just on the off chance she was assassinated. Sakura had found the idea comical though. Who the hell would want to mess with her? She'd kill you before you gave a sound reason as to why you were there in the first place.

She massaged her temples sitting at her desk, another day's work…just another day. Then the tears seized her. Whatever it was that she had just thought caused her to begin crying. She gripped a pen, and threw it against the wall. It clattered to the floor.

"Sakura-san," Shinta's voice hesitantly floated through the room. Sakura swiped at her eyes and looked at her ex-apprentice.

"Yes, Shinta…what is it?" Sakura asked the twenty year-old. She watched the now woman fidget nervously, as if being inspected underneath a microscope.

"Shinta," Sakura pressed the woman further.

"Are you…I mean to say…how are you?" The woman looked uncomfortable as she toyed with her brown locks. Her gaze was fixed on the floor. "I-I don't mean to pry." Sakura shook her head.

"No, no, Shinta, you're fine. I'm…living." Sakura had to search for the correct term. She wasn't happy. She wasn't…fine. She was just there, doing her job, and following instructions. Seven years without him had been hard on her.

"Oh…okay, well Sakura, Tsunade-sama wished me to tell you that she needed you to visit someone." Sakura sat up so fast it startled Shinta, who jumped into the air at the intensity of the look she was being given.

"Who Shinta; who was it that Tsunade wanted me to visit?" Her anxiousness was noticeable if not tangible as she pressed the medical personnel for information.

"She didn't say, go see her." Sakura didn't need telling twice. She slid past Shinta and walked down the halls at a fast pace. She came into Tsunade's office, breathless and expecting.

"Sakura, I didn't expect you till later today. Anyway, sit down, sit down." Sakura shook her head.

"Tell me who it is that you wanted me to see," her voice was cracking as she spoke. Tsunade looked at her like she was crazy.

"Someone I wanted you to…oh, yes. Shinta told you, right?" Sakura nodded, impatient to get an answer.

"I need you to go and check up on Naruto," the effect was instantaneous. Sakura's impatience fled and she plopped down in one of the offered chairs.

"Don't be like that Sakura. You're better off without…" Tsunade trailed and Sakura took over. She remembered the disaster of how Neji tried to cheer her up.

"Sakura," she looked around and saw Hyuuga Neji walking towards her. Nineteen years of age suited him, unlike the seventeenth year she was experiencing.

"Hey Neji…what's going on?" She was trying to be friendly, but her front wasn't as good as it was when she had been almost a year younger.

"You want a drink?" He asked her the simple question, and the truth was, she had been sober for a while, six months in the least, she accepted his proposal. After the heavy drinking splurge both went into, Sakura called it a night. Neji was all too happy to escort her back to her place. She fumbled with the key to get it in its lock. That's when the first thing happened that shouldn't have.

Neji's lips connected with her neck's flesh.

Obviously that sent her into a peal of giggles, being high-strung and set out to dry. She dragged him inside her house; the second happening that was but shouldn't have.

She almost swore off drinking after what had commenced. She nearly gave herself away to a man she thought only as Hinata's cousin and a good friend. No longer was that topic discussed and both rather wished they could quite forget about it. At least now the conversations that they had weren't as awkward as they once were.

"No, I have waited seven long, long years. I will not be denied what I want." Sakura mentally added, and it's perfectly legal now for the two of us. "I'll go to Naruto, but why didn't Hinata just bring him here?" Tsunade laughed.

"No, Hinata brought him here and practically dropped him off. All the 'witnesses' heard was Hinata scolding Naruto, telling him he wasn't coming home until he was completely checked out. Something told me what Hinata had said to Naruto didn't register with him."

Sakura left the Godaime's office to enter the lobby. She saw just what the hokage had meant by 'didn't register'. Naruto was just prancing around looking like a complete idiot. She burst into laughter…it had been a long time since she had laughed and she stifled it instantly. Naruto looked around at her and leaped over to her like a ballerina.

"Naruto," she said raising her eyebrows at him. She watched his antics as he became more disorientated. She said his name firmly and he paused for a moment before jumping up and down like a rabbit. Sakura growled.

"Stop being stupid this instant Naruto; there is nothing wrong with you!" Sakura screamed at him, miffed at how light-hearted he was acting. She wasn't mad at him. No, she wished she could be like that. A tear rolled down her cheek. She was jealous of what Naruto had. She felt cold all of a sudden.

-----

She awoke on the floor, her viridian eyes blinking in the bright light. Naruto was still prancing about until someone brought him down by his neck and wrestled him to the floor. She looked around confused. Her head hurt terribly and she saw silver.

"Ka-kashi," she said brokenly, trying to sit up and locate the source of silver. The figure shook with laughter and shook its head.

"No, miss, I'm not Kakashi," the man spoke and it took her awhile to realize who it was.

"Jiraiya-san," she asked no one in particular. The figure nodded and she just laid there. Her eyes slid out of focus. Where was he? He was always late…but it was abnormal to prolong his lateness like this. She sat up shakily.

"Jiraiya-san, tell Tsunade I'm going home…I can't be here any longer," Sakura's voice cracked and she walked away from the medic building. She continued to stroll to her house; she felt her tears falling down her face.

She opened her door as soon as she reached it. She just remembered the letter she had from him. She slammed the door shut and ran into her room. She looked at the envelope.

To: Haruno Sakura

438 Cherry Road, Village Hidden in the Leaves

From: Hatake Kakashi

She hugged it to her chest before brutally ripping the seal off. She gingerly pulled the letter from its packaging and marveled at Kakashi's handwriting.

My Love,

I'm sorry for the delay in my return. I'm anxious to get there, but I fret that I won't be able to make it back this week. I have to cross back over into our village and you know how long that takes. I hope to see you Tuesday at the latest.

Kakashi

Sakura stared. That's it, that's all he bothered to write? She flung the paper, but it didn't go far for its resistance. She fell on top of her bed, ignoring her starved stomach's growls in protest of no food. She wouldn't need it until he came back. He could feed her like no one else could.

She woke in the middle of the night, hunger suppressing everything else, including sleep. She rummaged around in her cupboards finding the chocolate and she broke out a wine bottle to 'celebrate' her birthday seeing as it was early the morning of.

She popped the cork from the bottle and poured a healthy portion of the drink inside a glass. The chocolate was heavy on her tongue, mixing perfectly-seamless in fact-with the strawberry wine.

Later that morning, Sakura found herself in a light doze at the kitchen's bar, head resting beside the wine bottle and chocolates. She sat up and to stave off the sleepiness of earlier that morning, she drained the bottle of its remaining contents. It was even true to say she held her liquor almost as good as Genma.

She stood firmly on her feet, all of her weight shifting into her feet as she shuffled to the door. It was shaking on its hinges due to the profound knocking. She didn't bother with her shoulder-length hair this time.

Ino had been the one knocking on her door with a hesitant Hinata standing adjacent to the fiancée of one of the laziest men in town. Sakura inwardly thought about how Naruto was fairing with the little one, Saski. Sakura had seen him in action; more damage could be done with a baby ninja than a baby with crayons. Her heart went out to Naruto, knowing him to already have made it home. He didn't look like he had a serious condition…it looked like euphoria or something in that ballpark that made him act like a raving lunatic.

Both of the girls dragged Sakura from her house, up the street, and into a tiny café parlor, Dana's Tea and Coffee, before Sakura had realized what had happened. By then it was too late to start a scene.

"I swear you look dead," Ino complained as all three began to order cappuccinos with vanilla ice cream. Sakura glared over her menu at Ino.

"If I was given forewarning about this, then I wouldn't look so dead," Sakura replied darkly.

"E-z…e-z…I'm being serious. Even with the make-up, you just look out of it."

"I'm sure the reason you're like this is because he's not here yet." Hinata piped in quickly. "Imagine Ino, losing Shikamaru because of some…rule," she waved her hand about to give the feel of a trivial matter. "I know I would probably go to extremes to get Saski and Naruto back if I was ever to be separated from either one of them." Sakura laughed bitterly.

"Don't wish it upon yourselves. You're lucky you were able to pursue your happiness as soon as you wished. I just wish he was back right now." When their orders arrived, none talked much, too immersed in their own minds to care what was going on around them. Over the seven years, Sakura had begun to remember more about what happened during those years between her fourth and eleventh birthdays.

An ankle-length dress, spring green with pink blossoms bursting at the bottom, hung off her seven year-old body, adorning and complimenting her pink hair and green eyes. It even had white lace around the collar, hemming, and at the ends of the sleeves. She spun counter-clockwise around in it, the dress curling left with the gravity then to the right to settle against her form once again.

"You are quite the young lady," she turned around, shocked but all the same, happy to see him in her doorway.

"Kaka-kun," she cried, running into his arms. He squeezed her lightly, picking her up with enthusiasm that could've rivaled plenty of people.

"What is my favorite girl doing in her best dress? I announce we're going out and you get dolled up just for me…I'm flattered." She blushed and when he sat her back down, her feet supporting her weight once again, her hands went directly for the fabric.

"I uh…I just wanted…to…look…nice," she smiled. He laughed and played along with her.

"You always look nice Sakura, even when you're with the most handsome man in all of Konoha!" He bragged on himself and she playfully shoved his arm.

"You are not! Sasuke-kun is…but you're nicer than him." She smiled at him sweetly, innocently.

The look he had fixed her with was priceless. He was priceless. She heard Ino and Hinata talking, but she ignored the chat mostly until they breeched the subject that was her name.

"You never look well anymore, Sakura-chan." Hinata had spoken the truth, despite her appearance at the moment. Sakura hadn't taken the pleasure in looking healthy like she had when she was younger, and her distraught mood began to come on thick as the week wore on. If she could make this week and next week merge into today…she'd give up her birthday for eternity, just to be in his arms again.

"Un," she muttered, sipping the coffee with diligence. She felt a lump in her throat form…almost as if she was choking, bringing tears to her eyes.

"Watch me Kaka-kun!" She cried happily as she daringly climbed the cherry blossom tree at five years old. She went to grab the branch just above the one she was on, but an unearthly cracking sound signaled that the bough she was standing on broke.

She wailed in fright as she fell from the height of the tree. She braced herself for the impact of the ground, but it didn't come. She blinked away her tears and looked up to see Kakashi's young, masked face smiling back at her. She felt him hold her close to his frame and she cried her nervous tears on his sleeve.

His hands made swirls on her back, soothing and making her sleepy. His fingers traced intricate patterns in constant motion along her covered flesh.

"I wish you wouldn't cry, little Sakura. You shouldn't bring that rhyme 'rock-a-bye' to life." She giggled away whatever else she had felt.

She wiped her eyes on a napkin, watching without interest as to what her friends were now talking about. It must've been something about her because Hinata waved a hand in front of her face.

"I-uh-got to go pick up something for Shikamaru," Ino started offhandedly. "I won't be back until late…I'm sorry, Sakura." Sakura nodded and watched the blonde drop a couple of bills on the table before excusing herself from the building.

"I do too, Sakura, I'm sorry, but leaving Saski in Naruto's hands too long worries me. I have faith in Naruto…but I don't want to see my house in ruins. Neji said that he would come over and help out Naruto…but I think those two wouldn't be a good example for the baby." Sakura laughed affectionately.

"You're right, but which baby are you talking about?" It was Hinata's turn to laugh out. She smiled at Sakura before lying down her bills and departing from the café. Sakura sipped her cappuccino once again.

"I don't have a problem with it," she whispered and she threw down her money that she had been lucky enough to grab before totally relinquishing herself to Ino and Hinata. She removed herself from the coffee house and began down her road once again. It started to rain.

Her eyes downcast, she ran. Her hair clung to her face and her clothing seemed magnetized to her body. She opened the door quickly and entered, shuddering from the air conditioning that was still on. She stripped as she made her way to the bathroom.

She turned on the 'hot' knob, watching the shower jet begin to spurt the heated water. She stepped inside, grateful for the warmth that immediately washed over her.

She just sat there a while, letting her memories of his touch trickle over her skin, sending minute shivers through her body. She let herself become consumed by it as she lathered her hair on top of her head. Sakura began to sing softly inside the shower.

"Trail away the skies and fantasies. Break apart all pieces of me. Just give me the keys; just give 'em to me." She turned off the water and stepped outside the tub with a towel drying her body off. She imagined his hands running through her hair as she did this.

"Show no emotion. Have no fear… Rise to the commotion as the end is near." She walked inside her room, still carrying on with the tune she had started in the bathroom.

"Hold me, until the light of morning. Let me see the man I know. Let me have the man I chose." Her eyes were closed, shaking from the feeling of dread in her chest. The agony…the pain, she just wanted them all to leave her, make her as cold as she felt. She remembered the scare she had during the months she locked herself away. Itachi had paid a visit when she sang that song, and he didn't leave once he had entered.

"That you shall have…" Her eyes flew open as she jumped at the husky voice in her ear, feeling warm arms embrace her middle. She squeaked in fright.

"N-no…leave me alone!" She screamed trying to pull out of his grasp. He threw her to the ground. She felt so weak, though a jounin now, she felt entirely weak against him. Her eyes shut tightly, not wanting to see him. His lips crashed down on hers and she whimpered. He chuckled; causing her pain had been a specialty of his.

"Shut up and be good, we didn't finish last time." She swallowed hard, not wanting what was coming to come. She kept her eyes shut from those eyes. Those eyes had been in her nightmares. Those eyes weren't comforting. Her breathing hitched painfully as she panicked.

She felt her body being shifted from its position to something softer beneath her. She felt his lips press against hers, softer than she remembered. She didn't want it. She felt herself trembling under his touch.

Her eyes opened slowly, breaking the view of the vision from the past. She saw her room, empty as it should be. She sighed as she pulled on an outfit worthy of her 'big day'. A striking red halter top with a plunging neck-line even her Koyo would have difficulty not staring covered her top torso. She allowed herself to slip into the only piece of clothing Kakashi had bought her (that was acceptable for outer showcase); a black thigh-length skirt that flared out, flattering the curves she owned.

A knock on her door somehow filtered all the way to her room. She took one more adorning look in the mirror before leaving to go tot the front of the house. She combed her hair as she walked, hoping beyond hope that it wasn't too tangled. She set the brush on a stand beside the door before flipping her hair out behind her. Her hand just barely touched the knob when the door opened with a bang. She jumped back, clutching the hand that went to open the door to her chest, which was heaving in fright.

"Genma, don't do that!" She shouted at the shinobi in her doorway who was grinning like he'd won something wonderful. Her breathing was still labored from the fear that had coursed through her. She glared menacingly at the brown-haired man. He walked in despite that she hadn't invited him.

"What, I figured you needed some help today," he grinned like a fox. She got her breathing back to normal. She looked at him in confusion though.

"What are you talking about? I don't need help." He laughed at her. It had been a while since she had last seen Genma. He was the one to actually get her out of her house.

"Silly, you are in definite need of help." She looked at him more confused than ever.

"What are you going on about, Genma?" He took hold of her hand, not mentioning anything. He dragged her from her house, much like Ino and Hinata had earlier.

"Have Ino and Hinata…?"

"No, Sakura, its a little party I managed to get together. Practically everyone's going to be there, but yeah, they did set me up for this." She laughed light-heartedly, he was always crazy. She squirmed against the hand on her wrist, trying to pull from it. She was glad for his attempts, but she didn't feel like entertaining today. He stopped, surprising her and she followed suit, halting her trying to wrest the rest of her arm back. He turned to face her with a serious face, slightly broken by the senbon sticking out from between his white teeth.

"Look, I'm not doing this because I want to. I know how you feel about these things. I'm on your side here, but you have to come with. They feed off your happiness. Somehow, I don't have the faintest idea, but they love your smiling face. Why do you think so many people were worried and fretful when you confined yourself inside your house, like some prisoner inside your own head? At least come for an hour at the smallest amount of time." Sakura stood there. What was there to say? And if there was something she was to say, what were the correct words for the statement?

"You mean you don't like my face?" She started laughing and he just looked at her. "I mean…I'll come, not for a long time. I'm really not in the partying mood." Genma smiled and leaned down to her ear.

"I could change that…but I don't want Kakashi down my throat for taking his woman." She blushed heavily and they continued their way in silence to the bar Sakura had gotten wasted at seven years ago.

"Sakura, you got here okay! Fork it over Shika," Naruto gestured at Shikamaru to hand over the cash. Sakura laughed bitterly.

"So happy that you were worried…why were they worried again?" Sakura looked over at her friends in confusion.

"Because we had Genma pull this thing together and get you," Ino replied quickly. "Oh, god, someone stop him before-damn…too late." Ino flinched, commentating what Genma was doing. Apparently, Anko was there.

"I thought that they were together…" Sakura said in wonderment when she turned look at a dripping wet Genma, who sidled back over to them smelling like vodka. He shrugged his shoulders.

"You win some and you lose some."

"Genma, that's a battle you'll always lose," Naruto said, clapping him on his back.

"You're right Naruto," Genma said replicating the blonde's actions. "I should just go over to those chuunin over there and introduce myself. You know…I think they'll break my latest record." Ino laughed and Hinata shook her head as the brown-headed jounin strode off into the crowd of people.

"Saski is with whom tonight," Sakura asked looking at the married couple.

"Neji and Tenten's agreed to help him." Hinata said fondly.

"Yeah and Lee's going to pop in after a while being here and give Neji and Tenten a break from the little rascal. He's a damn handful." Hinata glared at Naruto. "But we love him of course, jeez, don't look at me like that Hinata." Sakura and Ino looked at each other knowingly.

Drinks were ordered and the five of them drank calmly and held serene conversations as the first hour began to come to a close. Genma hadn't shown back up, but Sakura didn't worry. He was always with some woman or women. Never be the one to be tied down; that was his motto.

Even with the drinks though, Sakura wasn't in the entertaining mood still. She just wanted to go to bed. Her eyelids were even echoing that wish.

"Guys…I know you all made this for me, but I-I really just want to go back to the house. Thanks for everything," she sat her drink on the bar and was about to walk away.

"You want us to bring the gifts over tomorrow?" She smiled morosely and nodded before turning back to the door to exit. She sighed, it was still light out and she was feeling something just take hold on her. She closed her eyes for a second and continued her way back to her place.

She fumbled the key and unlocked the door, stepping inside with little effort. She shrugged her shoulders, and half lidded eyes took in the house, with the faint frown pulling her lips down.

She continued to walk softly, ghost-like even, down her halls. She heard something creak, but she barely looked up from her current pondering. So long, she thought desperately. She shook her head. Then a heavier sound from behind her pulled her from her trance. Her head shot up from looking at the ground and turned to look over her shoulder.

She dropped to her knees. The long awaited tears of relief washed over her as she cried happily face down on the floor. She felt a hand brush back the pink stands in front of her face behind her ear affectionately. For the first time in a long time, she was glad he lied.

She sat on her legs, looking at him, trying to analyze the person in front of her, disbelieving him to be there. She smiled through her tears at him and simultaneously both embraced each other in an over-due hug. His mask was even off, and she felt the coolness of his cheek against hers.

"I've missed you so," she cried as she gripped onto him for dear life. It was a good feeling, knowing you had someone there for you.

"I'm here now, Sakura, I'm here now." She pulled away from him, to look him in the eye. In one split-second she was gently guided towards him, and as his lips crushed hers tenderly, and as she felt herself being lifted into his strong arms and brought into her room, she knew she didn't need another thing if the world was to end at that moment. Perhaps, she'd have even liked it to have ended while she was at peace with the man she loved.

Later, after hours of sweet-nothings and devilish kisses (and great love-making), she laid her head on her his bare chest. Her left arm was tucked underneath his neck, with that hand on his shoulder, while her right hand and his left laced themselves together as both waited for their labored breathing to become normal once more.

"Kakashi," she whispered, sleep gaining the best of her as she yawned. A noise emitted from him, indicating she had his full and undivided attention. "I love you." His right hand squeezed her hip and pulled her tighter against him. She had finally labeled the feeling she was uncertain about for a long time, and she was glad she could say it.

"I love you too."


A/N: A happy ending...aww...Hope it wasn't too hard to follow. It's been real people!