Caged

Chapter 4: The Jailer Cometh

A/N: Yeah.. lovely author notes...I'm giving hugs/shout outs to those who've reviewed so far: Infinite's girl, SweetAssassin, GinaCat & Madness Incarnate. Thanx alot cuz if it weren't for you guys wanting more and pushing well this fic would probably have fallen in the cracks...

And I can't forget my lil sis, Apherion, we're too much alike! She's my muse and so forth... appreciate ya!

Disclaimer: Yeah, Apherion, you're right, this is gay! Don't own Naruto. I'd be better off financially if I did! Also ' Set Free' yeah that is mine (like you hadn't heard that in the previous dis). For those that are eager, back to the story! Do I hear clapping and cheering somewhere? ;)

Looking at the sky with it's beautiful, sweeping, hues, Kakashi prayed Sakura would come to her senses. They really needed to air everything out. Something happened and he fully intended to get to the bottom of things no matter what! Regarding the object of his thoughts, he followed a few moments later, in the direction of their beloved Konoha. He had to head home and get some rest.

Maybe tomorrow would see a better day and the beginnings of a healing friendship between him and Sakura.

' Who knows. Maybe tomorrow.' That being his final thought when he reached the village gates.

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Sakura awoke to a pounding on her door. Rolling over the numbers on her clock read 8:30pm. ' This better be good or somebody's gonna die!'

Jumpin up to answer the door, the pounding continued. Sakura hollered,"Alright, already. Crap keep your pants on." She fervently hoped the irritation in her voice carried throught to whoever was standing on the other side. Taking a deep breath and flinging open the door, she came face to face with Ino.

"Ino, what the hell are you doing? I'm trying to sleep here." Sakura was ready to revert back to calling Ino by her old pet name of Ino pig, which wouldn't have been appreciated, and would have started alot more mess than she wanted to deal with right now.

"Sakura, I tried calling all afternoon. Where've you been?" Curiousity was so eating a hole in Ino right now. She new that here lately, Sakura spent a lot of time with the tall, silver-haired jounin.

"Ino...I-I've been training and I'm wore out."

"Well that's gonna change. Me, you and a few of the others are going out tonight. Suck it up, get your ass ready and meet me outside in...oh about an hour?" Ino sensed Sakura's hesitation so she pounced. "There will be guys there, alcohol there, and did I mention guys?" Ino's face now wore the infamous pleading look that usually guaranteed her success with whatever she wanted.

"Well"...Sakura thought about it. The last person she wanted to run into tonight of all people was Kakashi. Topping it all off, the last place she'd want to run into him would be at a bar.

"Ok, Ino. I'll go. I'm looking forward to being plastered for once!"

That statement alone sent a warning bell off in Ino's head but she thought, ' What the hell, Sakura never does anything remotely wild, let's live it up!'

Sending Ino on her way, Sakura showered and got dressed. She'd decided to wear an incrediby short green miniskirt with a very low cut halter top. She made sure to pay meticulous attention to everything. Never know who you might run in to there after all. Looking at her watch Sakura noticed her time was up and she knew Ino would be out front waiting.

Sakura walked out her front door locking as she left. Sure enough, there stood Ino true to her word. "Ino, what's the destination?"

Ino told her it was, Kunai's, the most infamous bar in the village. Not only that...it was the most popular Jounin haunt.

' Too late to back out now. I just hope he won't be there.' Sakura secretly crossed her fingers.

"Sakura, who are you hoping won't be there?" Oh man! Ino's curiousity was really piqued now.

" Nobody really." She thought, ' I really need to watch the discussions with my inner self. I can't believe what I said outloud. Too much said and Ino will have it all over the village by the next day!

Twenty minutes later, the two girls arrived at Kunais and it was swinging! Ten-Ten and Hinata waved them over to a table. Promptly, a waitress came over asking for their drink order.

Ten-Ten wanted a beer, Hinata a Smirnoff , Ino and Sakura wanted Coke/Rum... shots that is... they both ordered three shots apiece. Before they knew it the waitress was back and the drinks were thrown down!

An hour and a half later, Ten-Ten and Hinata excused theirselves to go home, claiming a mission tomorrow. Ino and Sakura decided to keep going.

"So, Ino, how's Shikamarou?" Sakura felt it'd be only nice to ask her best female friend in the whole world about her boyfriend.

"Lazy as ever. I' ve never seen someone so lazy-assed as him. But I love him and wouldn't take nothing for him."

Sakura could hear the happiness brimming over in her friend's voice and she really was happy for her; but at the same time, she was envious. How's that for a friend, huh?

"Ladies aren't we looking hot tonight." A third male, sensual voice joined in their conversation.

"Hey Genma!" They both said.

One thing led to another and Genma was buying shots left and right, entertaining them with all kinds of his "war stories". Of course Ino and Sakura were really too drunk too care. They'd already had about ten shots apiece of the Coke/Rum.

Genma, sitting next to Sakura, put his arm around her, flirting outrageously. Sakura, being drunk, flirted right back. Unbeknownst to the three, a shadow sat in the back watching. If someone had been close enough, they would've been able to feel the rage coming off in waves.

They'd kept talking when Genma said, "Oi, Kakashi! Come over and join us."

Sakura tensed a little but thought maybe this will break his hard exterior. I think it'd be fun to see if the infamous Copy-Nin, Hatake, Kakashi is capable of jealousy. She took a deep breath and hoped her plan wouldn't backfire right back in her face.

Kakashi leaned down, taking Sakura by right arm, pulling her to stand." I think it's a little hot in here. Don't you agree?"

She caught the undertones in his voice no problem. Getting her purse she told Ino that she was hot and getting tired.

"Sakura, are you going to be alright walking by yourself drunk?" At this point, neither girl could really talk that great without some heavy slurring.

" I'll be fine Ino. See ya later."

Kakashi and Sakura walked out the door, within minutes, finding theirselves at the bridge where their team used to meet all the time as genins. God she missed those days. Now everything's so complicated. Feelings, relationships, nothing seems easy anymore. It's sometimes depressing.

She kept conversing with herself until Kakashi spoke up.

"Sakura, we need to get this right. I owe you an apology and I'm truly sorry. "

"No.. I understand. It just hurt that you abused my trust that way." Her voice grew a little bit softer and he could catch the hint of tears running down her face. " I never told you or Naruto but Sasuke did it to me once. We were training, the same as what we were...Before I knew it, he had both of his eyes activated. I went throught hell! In his eyes, if that were to become my reality, I'd rather be dead!"

Sakura could barely speak now through her tears and her pain was so palpable that it began to choke him. No wonder she'd reacted the way she did! "Sakura", his voice gentle as the night breeze, "Tell me what you saw...please."

"I can't. You won't understand and you'll just play it off as being of no concern." The tears just kept on coming. She tried to stop them, damming them up, unfortunately they refused to stop.

Kakashi pressed on. "You can tell me...anything. I do mean anything. Obviously it's serious enough to be breaking your heart; causing you pain. So tell me."

Giving a leap of faith, she looked at him so tenderly that he was moved. "You", she said, " I saw you and you'd be killed and I was left with nothing." Sakura held her breath now that her secret was out.

I can't stand

Seeing you this way.

Gently grasping her chin, looking in her eyes he said,"Sakura, please don't cry. I cant' bear it. I'd do anything to make you happy. I'd do whatever it took to see you smile. Please... smile for me?"

His plea went straight to her heart...

Smile for me

Through your tears

The insecurity.

The edges of her mouth teased up in the corners, working their way to a full blown smile. Just for him. She'd do anything just for him.

"Sakura you've had so much pain and I'm so to have caused you more but I'll will make it up to you, I swear. Everything with Sasuke and then both of them leaving; one of his own accord, one to train. All will be better." He flashed her his trademark "everything will be alright" smiles. You might almost say it could've been a smirk.

Pain

Is all you feel

Tears will fall

Time will pass

You will heal.

Sakura knew that Kakashi wouldn't break his promise so she decided to seal the very promise given by him, for him. Leaning forward, gently pressing her lips to his mask covered ones, she felt his surprise. Though the kiss began slowly, it quickly grew into an inferno threatening to rage out of control.

Kakashi never felt like this with anyone before. These feelings Sakura was bringing forth were unparalleled. Before he'd always felt like a prisoner, a caged bird, if you will. Hopefully, she would be his freedom.

This caged bird

Finding it's wings

The wind lifting you

Soaring, flying

To new heights.

Both of them burning, their passion, also fueled by a little liquor, ignited even hotter. It wouldn't be long before this would have to move indoors. They really didn't need any spectators considering he could get in a shit load of trouble for this. But he found he didn't care, couldn't care about anything but Sakura.

Surprised eyes

View splendid sights

Hope renewed

When freedom achieved.

"Sakura, are you sure this is what you want."

"Kakashi, I want this more than anything. I' ve wanted you for a long time now and I promise no regrets."

Satisfied with her answer, he picked her up bridal style, taking off like a bat out of hell for a night neither would forget.

Sunlight awakened Kakashi first so he just laid there watching Sakura sleep. They enjoyed a wonder night of passion and it thrilled him to know he'd been her first. He looked at her face so innocent in sleep, capable of great passion and she could produce enough fury to make a grown man wet himself. So here she is with him, of course he doesn't know what she sees in him, but for now love is enough. So much of his life felt like it'd been spent behind metaphorical and alliteratory bars. Well, apparently love would be his downfall. His jailer had come.

Help me to breathe

I didn't realize

I wasn't breathing

Til you

Openend my cage

Setting me free.

Well, this is the end for chapter 3. Hope it's a little longer for ya! It's almost 2:30am and I've gotta go to bed so I can get some sleep for work...

Something, I keep forgetting to mention... in this fic, Sakura's 21 and that makes Kakashi 35. Just a fyi thing... thankx for reading, now for more I just need you to r/r...later.