Author's Note: For KakaSaku Valentines Day on Tumblr. Prompt was Healing and Love Language.
Kakashi balked at the door to the university hospital, shaking his head. "I said I wasn't going to the hospital. The walk over cleared my head tremendously. I'm fine," he argued, backpedaling at the door.
"You said you weren't going to the emergency room or urgent care," Tenzo pointed out with an eye roll. "Tsunade is doing some kind of clinical extra credit nonsense today, but it's at the hospital. We're just going to see her there."
"Pretty sure that's a violation of our agreement," Kakashi pointed out. The words slurred as the pressure in his head grew more pronounced. What had been pins and needles earlier had shifted toward piercing stabs every few minutes, and tight bands squeezed around his temples.
Tenzo walked through the automatic doors and skimmed the department listings overhead with an air of familiarity. Without stopping by the information desk, the man turned down a hallway on the left. Kakashi followed doggedly, stumbling only a little when the floor moved underfoot. Tenzo glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure you don't have any space to talk."
Grumbling, Kakashi dug his phone from his pocket to check the time. He stopped in the middle of the hallway, blinking at the notification bar which showed multiple unread text messages. He unlocked the screen and read the words three times before the meaning hit home. I'm sorry, that was probably really inappropriate. Is it too early to ask what you won't do on a second date and suggest we talk about it over dinner tonight?
"Are you smiling at your phone again?" Tenzo stared at Kakashi like he'd grown a second head. "I'm not sure what's more worrying. The concussion, or the fact that you—"
Tenzo stopped mid sentence, and a look of understanding entered his eyes as he grinned. "Wait, are those texts from Sakura?"
Locking the phone with his thumb, Kakashi slid it back into his pocket. "I told you, I don't kiss and tell."
"Don't make me punch you, again," Tenzo said after a beat of silence. He shook his head. "Is that what you were thinking about when we were fighting? What are you, sixteen? You should know better."
When Kakashi didn't immediately respond, Tenzo watched him with a mix of amusement and surprise. "You like her, don't you?"
"It was a nice dinner," Kakashi offered, rubbing his temple as the pain spiked again. The sharp throb felt like a gong ringing between his ears. The room grew wavy at the edges and his vision distorted, causing him to stumble forward three steps.
Tenzo caught Kakashi and kept him upright. A worried frown creased his lips. "I'm not sure we shouldn't just take you to the ER. Are you sure you feel okay?"
"If I felt okay, I would have gone home," Kakashi snapped, trying to push away the dizziness again. He exhaled and forced his back to straighten. "I agreed to come see Tsunade so that you wouldn't worry about me all day. Can we please get on with it?"
Humming, Tenzo released Kakashi and reached for his phone. He skimmed over the screen then swiped something away. "Come on, she's at the clinic with a couple of medical students who wanted extra credit. And, she's expecting us."
Tenzo walked through the hospital with a familiarity that Kakashi hoped to never obtain. He hated going to his regular doctor, much less spending time in a place like this. But, Tenzo had practically been raised here by his aunt. Despite their years of friendship, Kakashi wasn't sure what happened to Tenzo's parents, but he had lived with Tsunade as long as they'd known each other. The woman doted on him, but she held him to an impossibly high standard at the same time. Watching them together was usually amusing.
The waiting room that Tenzo led Kakashi to held a handful of people in scattered plastic chairs, but the receptionist motioned as soon as she saw Tenzo. The pretty redhead gave the man a flirty smile that Kakashi picked up on even through his pain clouded vision. His friend seemed totally unaware. "Senju-sama asked me to take you to a room as soon as you got here," the woman explained, slapping a visitor sticker on Tenzo's chest in a surprising show of forwardness.
Bright blue eyes came to Kakashi's face, then flicked back to Tenzo. "Do you need any help?"
"Nah," Tenzo slid closer to keep Kakashi upright with an arm around his back. "He's fine."
"Okay, this way, then." The woman led them deeper into the free clinic that Tsunade had started years ago. She'd forced the hospital's hand to open it by threatening to leave if they wouldn't use the space to ensure that everyone had access to a doctor when they needed it. Kakashi wasn't surprised to find that the woman continued to work here, even years later.
The redhead opened a door seemingly at random, indicating the exam room beyond. "I'll let her know you're here."
"Thanks." Tenzo flashed one of those smiles that made everyone like him, then walked Kakashi toward the bed.
As soon as the door closed, Kakashi rolled his eyes. The movement produced a sharp spike of pain behind the left one, but he ignored it. "You know that girl has a thing for you, right?"
"What, who? Yuki?" Tenzo turned back to the door like the woman might still be standing there, ready to confess something he'd been too blind to see. "I'm pretty sure she has a boyfriend."
Kakashi settled on the edge of the bed as the room started spinning again. He closed his eyes against the burn of the overhead lights and laid back, throwing an arm across his face. "Okay, but I'm pretty sure she'd leave him if you asked."
"Turn the light off, would you?" A low groan slid between Kakashi's lips before he could stop it. Darkness bathed the space, and he peeked out from under his arm with a sigh. "Thanks."
Humming a non response, Tenzo glanced down at Kakashi from beside the bed. "You look like shit, man. Sorry."
"You keep saying that." Kakashi snorted without moving since the room seemed to have steadied itself. "I'm not sure you know what it means."
Tenzo opened his mouth to respond, but a sharp knock interrupted the thought. A brilliant patch of light flooded the room, followed by Tsunade's voice. "Why the hell are the lights off, I told Yuki to—Tenzo? Why are you and Kakashi sitting in the dark?"
Groaning, Kakashi threw his arm back over his eyes. He heard Tsunade cross the room with a tutting sound under her breath. She'd been almost like a second mother to Kakashi as well, and he knew she wasn't pleased by what she found. "Alright brat, what happened."
"I'm pretty sure he's got a concussion," Tenzo answered before Kakashi could find a softer way to tell the truth.
Kakashi mumbled in agreement, stopping himself short of pointing out that he was old enough to deserve more respect. The words stuck tight in his throat when Tsunade's footsteps paused halfway to the bed. "How sure? What happened?"
"Okay, so funny story, we were sparring and—" Tenzo started.
"He got lucky with a punch," Kakashi interrupted, ready to get this farce over with. "I'm only here because he made me come."
Tsunade tsked again as she approached. "Of course you are, stubborn man."
Someone dimmed the lights enough that they no longer seared Kakashi's retinas. Tsunade turned away, however. "Okay, what are the signs and symptoms we're looking for? What do we have?"
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, an all too familiar voice answered. "Patient presents with sensitivity to light which is one indicator of concussion. We'd need more information to know more."
Kakashi wished that he felt well enough to glare at Tenzo. As it was, he pushed into a sitting position and willed himself not to vomit at Sakura's feet when the room tilted. He expected mild amusement to shine in the woman's green eyes, but they were filled with apprehension. If Tsunade felt the sudden tension between student and patient, she ignored it. "Okay, what would you do next, Sakura?"
The pinkette startled and stepped away from the two men who were standing beside her near the door. By the look of them, they must have been medical students as well. "We need a more complete history of the incident," Sakura observed. She looked at Tenzo rather than Kakashi, but the man seemed almost as shocked as Kakashi felt.
"My head hurts," Kakashi offered helpfully, feeling the warmth of a blush on his cheek despite everything. Multiple times, the words echoed in his mind, inviting his thoughts to places they most definitely shouldn't go in the middle of a medical examination.
Tsunade rolled her eyes loudly enough to draw Kakashi's attention to it as she motioned Sakura forward. "Come on, you can get some practice in. You don't object, do you, Kakashi?"
Tsunade's tone made it obvious that Kakashi didn't have the option to say no. Sakura took a deep breath and stepped closer to the bed. Exhaling in a steady stream to steady herself, Sakura put on a tight smile. "Alright, so tell me what happened."
I was distracted by how much you got off thinking about me, and I took a left hook to the face, Kakashi thought. But, since that didn't seem like the right answer, he reached for another. "I let my guard down and took a punch. Honestly, we're making a big deal out of nothing."
"Let me be the one to decide that," Sakura chided, voice shifting away from warm familiarity to professionalism. "Did you lose consciousness?"
Kakashi frowned and tried to remember, but the image refused to resurface. Tenzo used the opportunity to slip into the conversation. "He did, but for no longer than a minute or two."
Sakura nodded, green eyes locked on Kakashi's. Even in the dimness of the room, they shone far too bright. "What about dizziness? Nausea? Balance issues? Headache? Sensitivities to anything besides light?"
Cringing, Kakashi shrugged. "All of the above?"
Producing a pen light from a pocket, Sakura flicked it on by her thigh. "This is going to be bright. I'm sorry, but I need to test the reactivity of your pupils."
The warning wasn't enough for the beam that temporarily blinded Kakashi. He tried to close his eyes, but Sakura thumbed the left one open and flicked the light toward his face then to the side. Sakura repeated the movement on the right with a nod. "Sorry."
Kakashi mumbled something about being fine and wanting to lie down for the rest of the day as Sakura stepped back. He sighed and leaned back against the wall. It took Kakashi a moment to realize that Tsunade had been talking, but he hadn't heard any of the words. One of the other medical students was speaking when he reconnected with the conversation. "— for observation?"
"Rest," the second boy chimed in, speaking for the first time since the trio had followed Tsunade into the room.
Tsunade turned toward Sakura, and Kakashi watched the woman chew her lip as she looked at her peers. He had the distinct impression that she didn't agree with them, but she wasn't sure of her answer. Finally, she met Tsunade's gaze. "A CT scan."
The black haired boy snorted. "A CT scan can't diagnose a concussion. It's a waste of time and resources." The second man was nodding, though he didn't seem as caustic as the first did.
For a long minute, Tsunade didn't speak. Then, she asked a single question. "Why?"
"To rule out a larger problem like swelling or bleeding in the brain." Sakura's voice grew more confident as she went on. Then, she paused. "How bad is your headache, on a scale of one to ten with one being nonexistent and ten being the worst pain you've ever experienced."
Kakashi blinked at the question, then considered. "I'd say a steady five or six, spiking as high as seven or eight at times."
Sakura nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Can you stand up for me?"
Concentrating hard on the wall across the room, Kakashi lowered his feet to the ground and stood. Nausea swam through his stomach in angry waves, but he forced it away. Sakura nodded in his peripheral vision, making the world tilt alongside her head. "Good, now walk toward me."
Kakashi took a step, bobbled, and tipped to the side. Sakura wrapped her arms around him before he fell, and as much as Kakashi wanted to apologize, the only thing that he could concentrate on was the warmth of her body against his and the faint, floral scent of the perfume she'd worn last night.
Tenzo moved at almost the same time, taking some of Kakashi's weight. He guided Kakashi back to the bed. "He's been off balance since it happened."
"Good call," Tsunade said, nodding in Sakura's direction. "Given the presentation of dizziness, headache, and interrupted balance, a CT scan would rule out something more serious, especially given the patient's age."
Tenzo coughed into his hand to hide a laugh, as Sakura turned a bright shade of pink and dipped her head. "Yes, Tsunade."
"I'm not that old," Kakashi grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
Tsunade patted his shoulder with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're not as young as you used to be, either."
For half a second, Kakashi considered pointing out that Tsunade was older than he was, but he wisely held his tongue. The woman hated everything that had to do with aging and fought it with products and surgeries. At least, Kakashi thought that she had. There wasn't really any polite way to ask. He decided to let the comment pass without comment.
Tsunade snapped her fingers at the men standing in the doorway. "You two, get the nurse and let's get this underway."
As the boys hopped to attention and Sakura stepped back from the bed, Tsunade patted Kakashi's knee as if he were a child. "I think you're fine, but let's just make sure, okay?"
Hours later, Kakashi fumbled the keys to his house from his gym bag. "This is stupid; the scan said I was fine. It's just a headache."
"A headache from being punched in the face and losing consciousness," Tenzo agreed for the umpteenth time. His lips pulled into a grin that he tried to suppress when Kakashi glared in his direction.
Shoving the key into the lock, Kakashi rolled his eyes. "You're enjoying this far too much. It's like you planned it. Maybe you're only saying I was distracted during the fight because you've been looking for a chance to get back at me for something."
"Yeah, I planned to punch you, then spend the whole morning at the hospital with you." Tenzo walked toward the kitchen and returned a few moments later with a bottle of water. He held out like a peace offering. "It's going great."
Kakashi squinted up at Tenzo from his position on the couch. "Good, I'm glad this is how you wanted to spend your day."
Lifting his hand, Kakashi checked his watch. It was already two in the afternoon; he hadn't planned to be stuck in the hospital all morning either. "You don't have to stay and babysit me," he observed, unscrewing the cap of the water to take a drink. "I'm pretty sure I can lie down without needing a minder."
"I'm sure you can," Tenzo quipped with a pointed look that would have made Kakashi roll his eyes if it didn't hurt so much. "I'm just here to make sure that you actually get home and go to sleep."
Kakashi had taken some over the counter medicine for the headache, and it took the edge off. Tsunade warned him not to take anything else until at least twenty-four hours had passed to reduce complications. Kakashi hadn't asked what those complications were, but he gripped the bottle of pills like a lifeline. "Honestly, thanks for everything, but I really just want to sleep it off."
For a minute, Tenzo weighed Kakashi with that sharp gaze of his. Then, he nodded. "I know, but you will take care of yourself, right? I didn't actually mean to hit you."
"Yeah, yeah," Kakashi waved a hand in the man's general direction. "I'm not upset with you. You're right, it was my fault for not seeing it coming."
Tenzo hummed without seeming to agree or disagree as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. "I don't mind hanging out here for a while if you're worried or want some company."
"I'm fine, really," Kakashi repeated, forcing himself to stand up and walk toward the bedroom. "I'll text you later and know that I'm not dead."
"I said I was sorry," Tenzo grumbled under his breath, taking a step toward Kakashi.
Waving the man away, Kakashi walked toward the blissful darkness of his bedroom and called over his shoulder. "Lock the door on your way out."
Minutes or years could have passed before Kakashi reopened his eyes. It took him a groggy few seconds to recognize the urgent buzzing of his phone. Fumbling by his pillow, he tugged the device closer and hit the accept call button in the dark. He slurred something about just having fallen asleep without raising his head.
"Kakashi?" The voice on the other end of the line most definitely did not belong to Tenzo. "How are you feeling?"
Coughing, Kakashi rolled onto his back and pulled the phone away from his ear long enough to read the name on the screen. Of course it was Sakura, because, why wouldn't it be? Huffing out a breath, Kakashi threw an arm over his eyes. "I'm okay. You?"
"Well, I'm not the one who spent the morning in the hospital." Sakura laughed, and the warmth of the sound tugged the corners of Kakashi's lips into a smile.
"Technically you did," Kakashi pointed out, feeling slightly more awake from the unexpected pleasure in Sakura's voice. "In fact, you were there for longer than I was, so I should be the one asking how you are."
Sakura chuckled softly. "I'm doing well. Tsunade-shishou let me diagnose a couple of her patients today. There was this crazy old man who got knocked out during a—"
Kakashi made a crackling, hissing noise in the back of his throat. "Sorry, you're cutting out. I didn't catch that last bit."
"So this old guy—"
Repeating the static noises around his grin, Kakashi pushed into a higher sitting position on the bed. "Yeah, you're still breaking up."
Laughing, Sakura tried again. "There was this devilishly handsome man who came in today," she paused, undoubtedly waiting to hear the static noises. When they didn't come she continued. "And, I just couldn't stop thinking about him after he left, so I may have gotten his address from a friend and went by his house to check on him."
Kakashi's heart did a quick double beat against his ribs. "Is that so?"
"Mm," Sakura hummed in agreement. "But, he never answered the door."
"Well, that's silly of him." Attempting to roll off the bed produced a wave of nausea, and Kakashi clenched his jaw to contain it. Once he stopped moving, the room steadied itself. "Did you try calling him in case he fell asleep?"
Sakura was silent for the briefest moment, before answering. "Obviously not. I'm talking to you."
Chuckling under his breath, Kakashi wobbled toward the door to his bedroom. "So, I'm your backup plan? That's good to know."
"A girl can never have too many options," Sakura answered with a huff of laughter. "Now, are you going to let me in or not?"
Kakashi blinked in the semi darkness of the living room as he crossed it to unlock the door. Sakura stood outside, wearing the clothes that she'd had on at the hospital, and holding a bag of food in one hand. He couldn't help but smile. "I thought you were visiting the incredibly hot patient from earlier today."
"I tried," Sakura deadpanned, slipping under Kakashi's arm and into the house like she'd always done so. "He wouldn't answer, so now it's you and me."
For half a second Kakashi considered hooking an arm around Sakura and pulling her flush against him. The light teasing and familiarity felt normal in a way he hadn't experienced in a long time. But, he kept his hands firmly against his side. "His loss," Kakashi answered, shutting the door behind them.
Sakura moved through the living room, undoubtedly spotting the kitchen beyond, and placed her bag and the food on the table. She turned, as if suddenly unsure of herself. Kakashi found it comical considering the easy way that she'd marched into the house like she owned it. It was less amusing to feel the soft tug in the chest that warned that he could get used to something like that.
Sensing Kakashi's gaze, Sakura offered a half smile, and moved closer. "His loss, your gain."
Kakashi realized his phone was still held loosely in one hand. Laughing at himself, he disconnected the call and dropped it onto the table next to the bag. "What's all this then?"
"I thought you might need some looking after, considering what happened." Sakura shrugged her shoulders, but there was a dusting of color on her cheeks.
Kakashi reached past the woman to turn on the lights then groaned when pain spiked through his head. Sakura's fingers brushed across his when she dimmed them back to a reasonable level. "It's okay, we can leave them dim."
"Is this your way of seducing me," Kakashi teased, managing a weak laugh as the pain started to subside.
Sakura moved closer, her body almost touching Kakashi's. "No, but if it's working, I'm not going to complain."
With another chuckle, Kakashi stepped back. "Who gave you my address?"
"Senju-sensei," Sakura answered. Kakashi realized that the words could refer to either Tsunade or Tenzo, but he supposed it didn't honestly matter which. They'd both been giving him the side eye during the examination. "Is this okay?"
"Well, I don't usually bring girls home on the second date either." Kakashi gazed down at Sakura with a soft expression, only partially surprised when she leaned closer. "But, I suppose I can make an exception when they show up unannounced."
Sakura brought one hand to Kakashi's chin, and her thumb slid along his lower lip. "You're going to have a bruise in the morning," she observed.
Kakashi turned his head, wincing at the pressure. "Does it make me look tough?"
Sakura considered for a moment, chewing her lower lip. He waited for the quip about looking accident prone or like he lost a fight with a door, but the woman surprised him. "It makes you look interesting," she decided with a sharp nod of her head. "I had no idea you were into boxing."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me," Kakashi agreed, sinking into one of the chairs beside the table. His headache hadn't come back full force, but it lingered in the back of his mind as a sense of constant pressure.
Nodding in agreement, Sakura joined Kakashi at the table and started removing food from the bag. The bowls of ramen were still warm despite having waited for Kakashi to wake up, and she'd pulled two bottles of water from the fridge. The flavor and warmth of the food was soothing, especially when combined with the easy conversation that Sakura and Kakashi fell into. They talked about everything and nothing as they'd done the night before.
Near the end of dinner, Sakura glanced up at Kakashi through her eyelashes as she pushed her plate away. "So, I suppose this is where I should ask about your rules for the second date."
Laughter rumbled in Kakashi's chest as he took a sip of his water. Even if he'd wanted it, Sakura had been firm about not drinking alcohol after a concussion. The lack left his head clearer than the champagne had. "The second date is to get to know the person better," he observed with a rueful smile. "Third date is the earliest for testing out chemistry."
"So, what you're saying is that I shouldn't lean across the table and kiss you, right?" Sakura didn't blush or seem embarrassed at how forward the question was. Her smile was open and honest, like she was asking about the weather. But, there was an undertone of hunger in her eyes.
Kakashi swallowed the lump in his throat. "Is that what you want to do?"
"I've wanted to do that every time I've seen you since yesterday," the woman admitted. "It's what I wanted to do at dinner last night, on the steps to my apartment, and in my bedroom after you so cruelly left me alone. It's what I wanted to do today in a hospital room full of people who could ruin my career. And, yes, it's what I want to do right now."
Self control must have been one of Kakashi's super powers, because somehow he smiled instead of closing the distance between himself and Sakura. "And, if I ask you to wait longer?"
A frown slid onto Sakura's lips, and she blew out a shaky breath. "Are you telling me that you don't feel something between us?"
Kakashi laughed, unable to stop the incredulous sound that rose in his throat. "It feels like electricity every time you touch me," he answered. "Sometimes, just the way you look at me is enough to cause it."
"Then, why wait?" The smolder in Sakura's gaze was enough to turn Kakashi to ash, but he endured it for a long moment.
Exhaling and standing up to put some space between them, Kakashi carried the dishes to the sink. He cleared the table, struggling to articulate his reasoning. Finally, he sighed. "It's been a long time since someone wanted to sleep with me, and I—"
Before Kakashi could finish the thought, Sakura burst out laughing. "I'm sorry," she said, holding up a hand. "But, there have been so many people that wanted to sleep with you. You just haven't let anyone close enough to do so."
Kakashi considered the words with a rueful shake of the head. "It's been a long time since I wanted to sleep with someone, then. At least, in the sense that I was attracted to them for more than that. Once you cross that line, there's no going back, and I don't want to rush and ruin something that could be more than just sex."
Sakura moved closer to rest a hand on Kakashi's back. "I can respect that," she murmured near his ear. "But, it only makes me want you more. Besides, this is technically our third date."
"Hospital visits don't count as dates," Kakashi laughed, taking the woman's meaning. "Especially not when one of us is the patient."
Rolling her eyes, Sakura helped Kakashi finish cleaning up from dinner, then stared up at him with some calculation. "You know, it's probably for the best. To steal your line, I'm pretty sure that if I kissed you, I wouldn't be able to stop myself. You're supposed to be resting, after all."
Kakashi inclined his head, trying to focus on anything except the heat that radiated off Sakura's body pressed close to his hip. She offered another tight smile. "How about watching a movie together? That's light enough not to bother your concussion, and innocent enough to meet your stipulations, right?"
"As long as you behave," Kakashi teased, following the woman to the living room.
Nearly an hour into the movie, Kakashi exhaled and allowed his body to relax. Sakura's breathing had finally leveled out against his chest. She'd cuddled against him earlier in the evening with a cheeky remark that physical contact didn't violate their agreement, and Kakashi hadn't had the heart to argue. Sakura fit perfectly against his side with one cheek against his chest while his arm trailing over her back. She breathed deeply, entirely content.
Sleep tugged at Kakashi as well, along with the gentle pressure that remained in his temple. As much as he wanted to rest, he focused on the feel of the woman in his arms. Despite having worked a full shift at the hospital, the floral scent of perfume still clung to Sakura. Kakashi was surprised to realize that he'd already come to identify the smell as uniquely her. The ease with which she slipped into his life was astounding. Three days ago, Kakashi had been debating whether or not to stand her up for a friendly dinner. Tonight, he cuddled against her on the couch like they'd been dating for months.
It had been a long time since Kakashi let anyone get close to him, and he couldn't understand how Sakura had wormed beneath his skin in just over twenty-four hours. The attraction was undeniable; the woman was beautiful, but it was more than that. She parried his witty remarks with comebacks of her own, she held intelligent conversations, and she challenged Kakashi in unexpected ways. He didn't believe in whirlwind romances or soul mates; love didn't happen overnight. But, he couldn't deny the feeling of home that Sakura somehow brought out in him.
When the end credits began to roll across the screen, the final theme song ramped up the sound. Sakura startled at the noise, eyes focusing on the television across the room. "Dammit, I'm sorry." She pushed away from Kakashi's chest and sat up, leaving a tiny spot of drool across the top of his stomach. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's been a busy couple of days," Kakashi offered, voice thick from lack of use and the exhaustion that he'd been fighting for the past hour. "It's fine."
Chewing her lip, Sakura glanced at Kakashi from the corner of one eye. Then, she nodded. "I should get home. I'm supposed to meet my parents for lunch tomorrow, then I've got to get my notes together and study for class on Monday."
Kakashi felt a soft ache at the realization that he wouldn't see Sakura the next day. He followed the thought with a reminder that some time apart would allow his head to clear from the whirlwind of the past two days. Kakashi needed the space more than he wanted it though. The reluctance to let Sakura leave surprised him. "Can I drive you home at least?"
"No," Sakura shook her head, pushing herself into a standing position. "You're supposed to be resting. I already took up more of your time than I should have."
You could just stay. The words were on the tip of Kakashi's tongue, but he swallowed them. There was no universe in which Sakura could spend the night without something more happening between them.
"I enjoyed the evening," Kakashi said instead, following Sakura as she gathered her bag and walked toward the door. "It was nice of you to come and check on me. I appreciate it."
Reluctance slowed Kakashi's feet. The tense, awkward moment of whether or not to kiss Sakura was coming, and it was getting more difficult each time to refuse. They stopped at the doorway, and his heart pounded in his ears. The urgent drumming fought to block conscious thought from his mind.
"I'll text you tomorrow to make sure you're okay," Sakura began, toying with her bag in an effort to stall. At least, that's how it looked to Kakashi. "But, I probably won't be able to come by."
"I'm not your responsibility. Enjoy your time with your family, and good luck with the rest of it." Kakashi's heart did an uncomfortable squeeze that he didn't fully comprehend.
Sakura's eyes echoed the same emotion as she moved closer. "Can I see you again," she whispered, sounding uncertain for possibly the first time since this not quite a relationship started. "It won't just be a crazy weekend that ends on Monday morning, will it?"
"I'll talk to you tomorrow," Kakashi reassured the woman, but he felt a flutter of doubt. Would a single day be enough to cool the fire of curiosity that had sparked between them? He exhaled and nodded to himself. If it did, then they were never meant to be more in the first place. "Be safe on the way home."
Humming, Sakura started to turn, but Kakashi surprised himself by catching her hand and pulling her back toward him. He dipped his head to brush his lips against her cheek, knowing it was dangerous. The soft inhale of surprise almost led him to throw caution to the wind and pull her back into the apartment. But, for the second time in two nights, Kakashi did the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. He smiled and let Sakura walk away.
Desperate beeping dragged Sakura from the warm confines of her dream. She went reluctantly, savoring the imagined feel of Kakashi's body against hers. Her eyes opened to the semi-darkness of her apartment and the screaming alarm on her nightstand. She sighed and swiped the app shut, annoyed that she'd already slept it twice trying to hang onto the dream.
Sakura threw off the covers and pushed herself out of bed. She'd stayed up too late studying for a test that she had today and reviewing her notes from her other classes, mostly because her mind kept drifting to Kakashi. As much as she'd wanted to show up at his door unannounced a second time, the day had been too busy. Lunch with her parents had been filled with a million questions about who she was dating, how Valentine's Day had been, and the inevitable questions about Sakura's future that she had to answer every month or so.
After the very public split from Sasuke, Sakura's parents had given her some privacy to collect herself. It had lasted for approximately six months, then they'd started talking about how she needed to move on because she wasn't getting any younger. It wasn't Sakura's fault that her parents had met and married before they were twenty. People just didn't do that now, and she needed to worry about her future as a doctor first.
Even as the bombardment began, Sakura wondered what her parents would think if she told them about Kakashi. If they remembered him at all, it was only because she'd mentioned him in passing when he'd been her teacher. Would they remember the name? Would they flip out over the age difference the way he'd suggested? Sakura didn't think her father would, at least. He just wanted her to be happy. Her mother was another story, though.
None of that matters if he's already moved on, Sakura thought sourly as she brushed her teeth and checked her reflection in the mirror. From the dinner on Friday night to the impromptu date on Saturday evening, their relationship had been a whirlwind. Normally, Sakura wasn't forward enough to show up at someone's door with food and the expectation that they'd let her in, but somehow, she'd known that Kakashi would. She was glad that she hadn't misjudged him.
It feels like electricity every time you touch me. The words had replayed in Sakura's head like a song that she couldn't shake. Not that she wanted to, of course. Kakashi's dark stare was enough to undo her, she didn't need his touch. But, Sakura couldn't help but fantasize about it all the same.
Sakura had curled against Kakashi during the movie, half because she wanted to feel the spark of his body against hers. She'd never imagined to feel the firm muscle beneath the t-shirt he wore. Yes, she knew he worked out and boxed, but she hadn't imagined that it would rival most men her age. She'd wanted to test his resolve then, but Kakashi had closed his arm around her in a natural gesture of gentle companionship that melted Sakura against him. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but she'd felt safe and content.
As Sakura zipped on her jacket, she checked her phone one last time. She didn't expect Kakashi to text her good morning, necessarily, but it would have been nice. They texted back and forth briefly yesterday, long enough for Kakashi to say that his headache was better with ibuprofen and Sakura to complain about being busy, but there hadn't been much conversation. She told herself that it was best to give Kakashi space to let him figure out when he wanted to reach out to her, but she knew that she'd cave and check on him by lunch time if not sooner.
Picking up her bag, Sakura slung it over her shoulder and started out the door. Even though she lived close to the university, it would take her a while to get there with the bus schedule the way it was. The chill outside almost took Sakura's breath, and she pulled her jacket closer. She was halfway down the stone stairs leading to the sidewalk before she registered the figure standing at the bottom. Her stomach gave an uncomfortable squeeze when she recognized Kakashi's messy, silver hair.
The man stood on the sidewalk, leaning against the balustrade with an apparent air of disinterest as Sakura descended. A heavy black coat and grey scarf protected Kakashi from the cold, as did the steaming cups of coffee in either hand. Sakura paused two stairs above him. "You look familiar," she suggested, studying the dark shadow that covered his jaw above the soft fabric of his scarf.
"Fancy meeting you here." Kakashi held out one of the coffees with a slight smile pulling at his lips. Kami-sama, he was gorgeous, even with the bruise across one cheek. "I thought you might need a pick me up to make it through Monday. No idea what you like, but this one is loaded with sugar which seems to be your go to."
Laughing, Sakura took the coffee. "I do like sweet things, and coffee is practically my love language, so you're kind of knocking it out of the park."
"Was that a sports reference," Kakashi chuckled, squinting against the sun with a smile. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
Taking one step closer, Sakura nodded. "I aim for mysterious, but I suppose that'll work."
A blush slid onto Kakashi's cheeks, deepening the color that the chill had already put there. Sakura took a small drink of her coffee with a content sigh. It might not be her normal order, but Kakashi was right, it tasted wonderful. He watched her with an unreadable expression then nodded over his shoulder. "Can I give you a ride?"
At Sakura's nod, Kakashi started to turn away. She reached out and caught the lapel of his jacket to stop him. One eyebrow arched, and she couldn't help but laugh. "You know, technically this is our third date."
"Coffee on the stairs doesn't—"
Sakura rose on her tiptoes from the stair above Kakashi, pulling him closer by the front of his coat. She registered surprise in the dark grey eyes half a second before she meshed their lips together in a heart stopping rush. Kakashi's mouth opened in surprise, and Sakura could taste the bitter tang of coffee on his tongue. Fire raced through her veins as she pressed in closer, nearly dropping her coffee in the process.
It lasted for a short eternity, then Kakashi drew back with a soft chuckle that made heat pool low in Sakura's stomach. He ran his tongue across his lips and glanced at the door behind her as if debating with himself. Sakura blew out a breath that did nothing to cool her desire. "I could be late to my first class," she husked by Kakashi's ear, reveling in the shudder that raced through his body.
A low curse slid between Kakashi's lips, and his voice sounded strangled when he said Sakura's name. He exhaled harshly with a shake of his head. "You're going to be the death of me," he murmured, affection and frustration straining the words. "The coffee and the ride are both strictly no strings attached offers. And, unfortunately I can't be late to my first class."
Blushing furiously, Sakura ducked her head. She knew that he wanted to take things slow, but every time she looked at him, she forgot that in the heat of the chemistry between them. He probably thought that Sakura was using him to get sex, though realistically she could have gotten that much easier elsewhere. "I know, I just," Sakura trailed off with a shrug and a blush that threatened to singe her cheeks with its heat. "I'm sorry. I'll just catch the bus."
Sakura turned away in a fit of embarrassment. Warm pressure caught her free hand, and Kakashi brought her back from the panicked flight that she'd been preparing herself for. He smiled, then dipped his head to meet their lips together a second time. Kakashi's kiss lacked the speed and rush that Sakura's had, but it stole her breath in a different way. When they drifted apart after the touch, Kakashi tightened his hold on Sakura's hand. "Let me drive you to class, please?"
Nodding, Sakura followed Kakashi to his car. He opened the door and she slid into the seat, dropping her bag on the floorboard. Despite the kiss and the obvious care, Sakura felt cheated and frustrated by the way her morning had gone. After buckling her seat belt, she took a slow sip of the coffee. At least that left her feeling warm inside.
The ride to the school was uncomfortably silent as Kakashi pulled away from the curb and merged into traffic. Sakura sat beside him, alternating sipping her coffee or staring out the window. Kakashi didn't think anything of it at first, but as the ride dragged on, he started to wonder what he'd done wrong. He might not have been around Sakura much the past few years, but her seething demeanor was obvious. "You're angry at me," he observed.
Turning on the signal, Kakashi pulled into the parking lot nearest the medical school. Sakura stared out at the buildings while hurt and anger rolled off of her in waves. Kakashi put the car in park and let the silence do its work. After a couple of minutes, Sakura huffed out a breath. "I don't understand why you don't want me. The way you look at me," she paused, searching for the right words. "I mean, it's obvious that you find me attractive."
"I do," Kakashi agreed, aware that the woman was working herself up to saying something else. He needed to give her time to work through the confusion on her own. "You're gorgeous."
Sakura growled under her breath and turned to face Kakashi. "Then, why won't you have sex with me? Is it because you think I'm pretty, but not pretty enough to sleep with? You don't think I'd be any good in bed? Because you're interested in me as a friend, but nothing more?"
"I'd be crazy to think any of those things," Kakashi answered, turning to rest his back against the car door to look at Sakura. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, but the hurt in her eyes was obvious. He gentled his tone before continuing. "You're fourteen years younger than me."
Sakura's nose scrunched in confusion as she digested the words. "What does that have to do with anything? You don't enjoy sex anyore? You're afraid you won't be able to keep up? You can't get it—"
"Hey, that's not the issue," Kakashi interrupted with a self conscious laugh. The fear that he might not be able to keep up with Sakura had definitely crossed his mind, but not because everything didn't work as intended. "I might be old, but I'm not old enough for that to be an issue. And, you should know that much as a medical student."
A fleeting smile slid across Sakura's face, suggesting that the words had been in jest, but the expression faded after a second. "Then why does the age difference matter?"
"Because, I remember what it was like to be young and sexy and free to do whatever and whoever you wanted." Kakashi had never been interested in sex without attachments, not really. But, he'd gone through a dark phase after losing Rin. "I've done that before, and I'm not interested in reliving it."
Sakura didn't answer right away, and Kakashi watched as she worked through the statement in her mind. Much of his early twenties had been lost to a haze of alcohol and risky behaviors that probably should have killed him. It took Kakashi years to work through the pain of losing everything that he cared about in one night, and he'd done a lot of things during that time that he wasn't proud of.
Since leaving Sakura on her doorstep Friday night, Kakashi had been considering what made him so reluctant to fall into bed with her. The day apart had given him a much needed breath of air in the midst of the chaos from chemistry and hormones. It had been a long time since someone clouded his mind the way Sakura did, but it went deeper than just wanting her physically. Kakashi shrugged almost apologetically. "I don't need sex to be attracted to you."
"Maybe not," Sakura's voice betrayed more than a little hurt at the accusation. "But, you don't want it either."
"I do," Kakashi chuckled and raised one hand to brush a strand of hair behind Sakura's ear. "Very much so. But, I want to get to know you without it."
Sighing, Sakura tipping her head toward Kakashi's hand. "What if I want more than this?"
Resting a forearm on the center console, Kakashi leaned in to catch Sakura's lips with his. The kiss lacked the urgency that she'd displayed on the steps, and the tenderness that he'd shown after. It fell somewhere in the middle with Kakashi coaxing her lips open with his to deepen the connection. When they pulled back, Kakashi rested his forehead against Sakura's. "You'll have to trust that I'm worth waiting for," he chuckled.
Sakura made a whining sound in the back of her throat. "Can I get a trial offer or something, just to make sure that I want to purchase?"
"It's strictly on faith, I'm afraid." Kakashi laughed, tasting Sakura's next exhale against his lips. He couldn't bring himself to pull away.
The woman's chin tipped up, lips almost brushing Kakashi's. "Can you explain the terms in detail? For instance, would it be a violation of our agreement if I kissed you right now?"
Kakashi chuckled as a flood of warmth washed through his body. "I suppose that depends on the details of said kiss."
Painful pleasure jolted through Kakashi's lower lip when Sakura's teeth caught it. She pulled back long enough to draw another breath, then kissed him again, gentle and lingering. Her mouth clung to his when she pulled back to whisper. "Do those cross a line?"
"Maybe," Kakashi answered, breathless and dizzy. Unable to stop himself, he cradled Sakura's face in his hands and kissed her until his lungs ached for air. When he pulled back, her cheeks were bright pink and her eyes were shining with a hunger that made it hard to think. He exhaled shakily. "Is that enough to assure you that I want more too?"
"Maybe we should try once more, just to be sure," Sakura teased, but she didn't move in for another kiss.
Kakashi sighed thankfully. His self control slid through his fingers like sand, and he'd already thought of half a dozen secluded spots on campus where they could park the car and disappear from the world for a little while. He pushed the thoughts away with a light smile, glancing over at the clock. "I have a lecture to get to," he complained, feeling the same reluctance that led him to steal every moment with Sakura that he could. "Can I see you later, though?"
Flashing a cheeky grin, Sakura unbuckled her seat belt. "I think that can be arranged." She pushed the door open, then paused to look over her shoulder. "But, I'm going to need more details about those rules of yours before I commit to anything."
"I can do that," Kakashi agreed, smiling as he watched the woman walk toward the medical building. He shook his head as he backed the car out of the parking place, but he couldn't seem to stop smiling.
"Hey, you made it through the weekend." Tenzo's voice pulled Kakashi from his thoughts, and he glanced up from the lesson plan that he'd been working on. The man stood in the doorway to Kakashi's office, sipping a cafeteria drink that he held in one hand. "Have you eaten lunch yet?"
"Yes," Kakashi answered the first question, then realized it was almost two in the afternoon. "And, no."
Tenzo tossed a protein bar from his bag in Kakashi's general direction. It bounced off the computer monitor and hit the floor. Bending down to pick it up, Kakahi rolled his eyes. "You could have just handed it to me, you know."
"Where's the fun in that?" Tenzo took a seat on the opposite side of Kakashi's desk, and the man looked young enough to be an undergrad come to discuss their career choice or argue over some asinine point in a story. Kakashi liked discussion as much as the next person, probably more so even, but he didn't enjoy pointless arguments.
Glancing at the computer screen, Kakashi sighed and turned toward Tenzo. He hadn't been able to focus on the plan anyway. No matter how many times Kakashi pushed it away, the memory of Sakura returned to the forefront of his mind. It was easy to recall the feel of her lips on his, to taste the sweetness of the coffee that he'd bought her mixed with the minty bite of the toothpaste that she'd used that morning.
Kakashi exhaled and shook his head as if that would drive the memory away. It didn't. "So, what brings you to my office in the middle of the day? Don't you have labs to conduct or plants to study or whatever it is that you do all day?"
"Or friends to check on," Tenzo countered, taking a long pull from his drink. Kakashi raised an eyebrow when he recognized the new bubble tea fad that had been sweeping over the university. Tenzo was still young enough to be swayed by the same trends as the students that he taught.
The man tipped his head to study Kakashi's face. "That's one hell of a bruise."
Raising a hand to his jaw, Kakashi shrugged. "It's not as bad as it could have been."
Tenzo nodded, watching Kakashi for a long moment. When he didn't elaborate, the younger man continued. "So, how was your weekend?"
Kakashi tore the paper off the protein bar, took a bite, and winced at the pain that came from chewing the cardboard-like substance. He reached for his water bottle and took a long swallow to erase the flavor. "My weekend was fine," Kakashi answered, taking a smaller bite the second time. "I did a lot of sleeping and lying around on the couch, numbed by pain medicine."
"Was all of that sleeping by yourself," Tenzo asked, fighting to hide a knowing smirk behind another sip of tea.
"Nah, I called all my girlfriends over to keep me company." Kakashi's sarcastic reply brought Tenzo up short, which he hoped was enough to get the man to drop the subject. "Of course I was by myself."
Chuckling, Tenzo nodded. "Yeah, yeah. It's just, I couldn't help but notice the way that Sakura was looking at you at the hospital—"
"Like a patient with a concussion? Yeah, I saw that too," Kakashi interjected, feeling a blush creep up his neck. He and Sakura hadn't discussed hiding their, whatever this was turning into, but Kakashi felt reluctant to share it, even with Tenzo. It seemed too tenuous, like exposing it to the harsh reality of the world would erase every possibility of it working out. And, he didn't want to risk that.
Realization settled in Kakashi's mind a few seconds later. "You gave her my address?"
"I didn't think you'd mind." Tenzo took another long slurp of his drink, then grinned in that annoyingly playful fashion he had. "You practically had hearts in your eyes whenever you looked at her."
"They were stars. You know, because you gave me a concussion?" Kakashi snipped, pain flaring to life with his annoyance. "I was mostly focused on not puking or falling off of the bed at the time."
Finishing off his drink, Tenzo tossed it into the trash bin next to Kakashi's desk. He didn't say anything for a moment, watching his long time friend with a knowing expression. Kakashi clenched his and finished the protein bar in silence; he wasn't going to give Tenzo the satisfaction of knowing that he'd spent most of Saturday with Sakura. Kakashi had no idea why he held the conversation back, but he did.
"Would it help if I mentioned that Sakura had heart eyes too?" Tenzo laughed and glanced toward the open office door then dropped his voice. "So much so, in fact, that Tsunade asked if you two knew each other at dinner yesterday."
Fear washed through Kakashi's stomach at the thought of Tsunade knowing about his relationship with Sakura. The woman loved him like a second son, yes, but he had no idea how she'd react to the idea of him dating one of her students. "What did you tell her?"
"I told her that you'd had Sakura in class," Tenzo offered, fighting a grin at the innuendo in his wording. Then, he sobered. "You know, undergrad stuff."
"I don't think she suspects anything," Tenzo said, sensing Kakashi's discomfort. "You know, it's okay to admit that you like Sakura, if that's the case. Nobody is going to care about the age difference in the long run."
Kakashi chuckled and shook his head. "Are you still going to be saying that when the school board writes me up for unethical conduct?"
"I'll be your first character witness," Tenzo answered, eyeing Kakashi over the desk. "Just don't overthink this one and screw it up."
Nodding, Kakashi waved the man away. "Yeah, yeah. Now, if you don't need anything, I have a lesson plan to get back to."
