"Really?" Sakura's eyes opened wide. "You don't say... well, tell him I'll be there in fifteen minutes, tops. Mm-hmm. Thanks!"

She clicked the phone off and laid it on the table beside her, stifling a chuckle. "Trust Shikamaru to go and do something stupid," she muttered to herself, chuckling. "A typical Shika-moment."

Sakura ran out the door, giggling madly and reflecting on what the nurse had told her. "Well, ma'am," the worried voice on the other end of the phone had said, "he said he told his girlfriend to quit being so... troublesome, I think it was, and to leave him alone. Anyways, the girl apparently took it badly and-- this is exactly as he said it-- 'blew me out of the damn second story with that damn fan of hers.' I don't know what he meant by that, but the fact is that he has two broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and nasty bruises all over him, and he refuses to be treated by anyone other than you."

She neatly dodged a group of women standing on a street corner, still giggling. She could imagine the whole--

"That's her," a loud voice rasped. "That's that pink-haired skank."

Sakura stopped and whirled around angrily. The voice was obviously talking about her-- how many other pink-haired people was there-- and had dared to call her a skank. "Excuse me?" she called out icily, glaring at the only possible culprits... the group of women, all of whom were glaring back at Sakura. "Did you say something?"

"Damn right I did," the voice rasped again. The group of women parted down the middle to reveal a hefty woman dressed in a violet nightgown, her pallid face twisted into an angry sneer around a cigarette. "Tell me, you little hussy, what did you do to Kakashi-kun?"

"Kakashi-kun?" She would have laughed, had she not had at least twenty women staring at her with murderous intent.

"That's right. You did something to our Kakashi-kun because we know he would have never otherwise agreed to go to dinner with you. So what did you do, huh?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

The woman dropped her cigarette on the ground, stomping on it angrily. "Don't play stupid, girl," she huffed, "we all know you did something. I bet it was some kind of forbidden jutsu, or one that you created."

"I think that Tsunade woman taught her it," called a voice from the back. "My mother always said she was no good." All heads nodded in agreement.

Sakura stomped a foot angrily. "You women are crazy! There is no such thing as a... a seduction jutsu, or whatever the hell you want to call it, and there is no way to create one!"

The woman took a step forward, tiny eyes narrowing. "If you don't release that jutsu," she hissed, "I will personally come and break every one of your ribs, one at a time."

Broken ribs... damn it. "I don't have time for this," Sakura muttered. "You're all crazy!" She turned her back in the gaggle of women, running down the street.

"That's right," called the woman, raising a fist angrily. "Go ahead and run! But you'd better leave our Kakashi-kun alone!"

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Shikamaru yawned as the door to his room was thrown open. "It took you twenty minutes and thirty-nine seconds to get here," he drawled, lazily eyeing the clock on the wall in front of him. "I thought you told the nurse--"

"Shut up," the pink haired girl growled. "I would've been here on time, but I ran into Kakashi's little fan club..."

He yawned again. "That group of women that stand on the corner about two blocks from here?"

Sakura's eyes opened wide in surprise. "Yeah... how'd you know?"

Shikamaru snorted. "Temari and I happened to walk down the street not too long ago, and some fat, troublesome woman proceeded to give us a lecture on the 'sins of the flesh'. Don't worry about it... they seem to think it's their duty to annoy every single person who walks by. It's probably not that they actually love Kakashi, it's just that they needed someone to annoy and you were the perfect target."

Sakura laughed. "It sounds like the same bunch of women, but they were quite adamant about their feelings for him... one of them actually had the nerve to call me a skank, accuse me of using some kind of seduction jutsu on Kakashi, and then threaten me! She told me she'd break my ribs if I didn't release the jutsu on her 'Kakashi-kun'. I mean, how idiotic can they get?"

"Speaking of broken ribs…"

"Yeah, I know." She walked to the foot of his bed and grabbed the clipboard that hung there. "Let's see... two broken ribs-- left bottom side-- plus a broken collarbone and some nasty bruises. Says here you fell out of a second story window... how on earth did that happen?" She peeked over the clipboard, eyes twinkling merrily.

"I know you heard the story."

"Hmm... You're lucky you didn't obtain worse injuries." She let loose a giggle. "Seriously, Shikamaru, did you have to go and tell her all that stuff?"

"Yes. She was being extremely troublesome."

"That's a terrible excuse, and you know it."

"Can you just heal me and quit talking, woman?"

"You see? This is what gets you into these messes-- being rude to women."

Shikamaru sagged against his pillows. "You're being very--"

"Troublesome, I know." She smiled at him. "I'd better just heal you so you can get out of here… I don't think the nurses could handle you much longer."

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Ino burst into hysterical laughter. "You're kidding! You actually blew him out the window?"

Temari shrugged nonchalantly. "He wasn't hurt too badly, was he, Sakura?"

The pink-haired girl shook her head. "A couple of broken ribs, a broken collarbone... child's play, really."

Ino slapped the table. "I... I can see it," she spluttered. "I can see him as he fell out the window... damn!" She snorted loudly and collapsed against the table, chortling.

"So, Temari," Sakura began carefully, "what's going to happen between you two? I mean, blowing him out of a window isn't exactly helpful in you two's relationship..."

The sand-nin sipped her water daintily. "I went and talked to him today, I apologized-- he was shocked, seeing as how apologizing isn't exactly my forte-- and then I agreed to not blow him out of any more windows as long as he stopped telling me to not be troublesome. Do you know how annoying it gets to be called that day after day?"

"Yes," laughed Ino. "I've been called it for years!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "It's good to see that you two reached an understanding."

"Yeah... as dumb as he is, I don't know what I would do without him."

"Oh my-- Temari, I can't believe I forgot to tell you!" Ino leaned forward, grinning widely. "Guess who Sakura's dating?"

Sakura blushed. "I'm not dating him, Ino…"

"KAKASHI!" Ino threw her arms up in the air. "Aren't they just adorable?"

Temari wrinkled her nose. "Kakashi... you mean your old teacher?"

Sakura blushed even more. "I'm not dating him, but I--"

"She-lost-a-bet-and-owes-him-seven-dinners," Ino muttered quickly, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, that's true, but the more important thing is that Sakura admitted to me that she might possibly love Kakashi, and Kakashi admitted to Genma who admitted to me that Kakashi might just love her back!"

Temari frowned. "Genma?"

"You know that hot jounin that's always chewing on a senbon... so sexy." Ino sighed lovingly. "We've been together for two weeks! We're, like, the hottest couple in the village!"

Temari cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, I've heard about Genma... he's the womanizer, right?"

"No!"

"Yes," Sakura said, "but he seems to be truly infatuated with Ino. I don't think he's hit on another woman the whole two weeks."

Temari let out a low whistle. "Good job, Ino."

Ino smiled. "Love conquers all, doesn't it, Sakura?"

"So it appears."

"So," Temari leaned forward. "How are Hinata and Naruto? Still going strong?"

Sakura let Ino happily tell all the latest gossip, content to lean back and let her mind wander to more important matters. Kakashi-kun... She closed hereyes and shook with silent laughter, imagining the fat woman from earlier trying to kiss Kakashi. He'd be smothered!

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Elsewhere in Konoha...

"How could you do this to my poor student! It's... it's a travesty!"

Kakashi merely blinked.

Gai began to wail even louder. "Lee will not even train! It's destroying him! How could you take away his most precious person, Kakashi? How could you?"

The silver-haired man shrugged. "I thought you said Lee and that other girl on your team-- Tenten, was it? -- were 'deeply and passionately' in love."

"Love is a fickle thing, Kakashi! Lee realized the power of the love he feels for Sakura, and it far outweighed his feelings for Tenten. But now…" Gai's face was soon covered in twin rivers of tears, and he collapsed in front of a bewildered Kakashi. "Lee will not talk to me!"

Kakashi sighed. "Terrible for you, honestly, but--"

"But nothing! Lee has lost the very essence of vitality that made him the wonderful vision of youth he was, and all because you stole the love of his life!" Gai stood quickly, thrusting a fist into the air. "I will not allow this to continue! I will... I will..."

Kakashi rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had plenty of experience with Gai over the years, but this... this was one of the oddest encounters ever. Thankfully, Gai was a relatively simple person to deal with. "Hey, here's an idea," Kakashi said slowly, making sure Gai caught every word. "Why don't you convince Lee to train harder? To prove to Sakura how strong he is than me? Because once he demonstrates how much better he is, there is no way Sakura could resist him."

Gai punched the air again. "That's it! I will tell him to train, to recapture the essence of his youth! There is no way anyone could resist him then!" He smiled his famous smile, a loud ping echoing around him. "Once again, Kakashi, I have outwitted you and proven who the better man is!"

"That's right, Gai. There is no way I could possibly beat you in anything." Kakashi lazily turned and walked away. "Good luck with Lee," he called over his shoulder, tucking his hands in his pockets. "Seeing as how he won't talk to you, this is going to be a hard task.

"But I will accomplish it with speed, for I have the power of YOUTH!"

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Sakura collapsed on her couch, kicking off her shoes. For the day to have been her one day off, it had been surprisingly hectic-- the rush to the hospital to heal Shikamaru, the lunch with friends, the rush back to the hospital to heal Shikamaru again because he had mysteriously fallen down a flight of stairs-- Sakura had a sneaking suspicion that one of the nurses Shika had dubbed to be 'ugly and idiotic' had had a bit too much of his smart-ass mouth, and had decided to do something about it-- and then the hurry to run to the market before it closed. But now I finally have some alone time... some time to just relax...

"Sakura! Been a long time!"

She whirled around, sitting up on her knees. "What the--"

Pakkun merrily grinned at her from his perch on the counter. "It's been, what, two years?"

There goes my me time... "Longer." She gripped the back of the couch, trying her hardest to stay civil. "So, what brings you here? You know, in my house? Without an invitation?"

"Calm down, Sakura, just here to deliver a message." He jumped down, shaking himself off. "I've been delivering a lot of these lately, you know. Not seeing as much action as I used to..."

"That makes two of us," she muttered. "I've been sitting around the hospital more and more..." Pakkun jumped on the back of the couch directly in front of her.

"Terrible, isn't it? And if you can just untie it off my back, please." He turned sideways, allowing her to gently pluck the rolled note from its ties.

"Thanks, Pakkun."

"Yeah, well, it was nothing big. Till next time... or the next message." He disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sakura dropped back down on her butt, opening the note slowly. She squinted-- the untidy scrawl was barely legible.

Meet me in front of the flower shop as soon as you get this.

Sakura frowned-- one sentence that was all. Not even a very polite sentence. "Typical Kakashi," she muttered. "Just typical."

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"So, who are these flowers for?"

Kakashi winked-- at least, Ino thought it was a wink, seeing as how she could only see one eye open and close quickly. "Someone special."

"Someone like... Sakura?"

"Maybe." Ino leaned back and looked at the finished bouquet.

"There! It's done... and I know she'll like this."

He laid the money on the counter. "Thanks, Ino."

"Anything for you." She pushed the vase of flowers forward, admiring it for a moment. "You know, I think this is my best piece yet... very balanced and pretty."

Kakashi knew nothing of flowers, but it did look pretty, he'd say that. A single red rose rested in the middle of a simple glass vase, surrounded by tiny pink sweetheart roses with a dash of soft white flowers thrown in. "I think the baby's breath adds a nice touch," Ino said. "Very soft and delicate."

"Beautiful," he agreed. "I think she'll like it, too." He clutched the vase gently, lifting it off the counter. "Tell Genma I said hey, seeing as how you'll be seeing him before I do."

"Sure. Good luck with tonight!"

"Thanks." He kicked the door open. "But I doubt I'll need luck."

"Sure you don't… I mean, look what happened last night!" Ino snorted. "You were exactly suave then, if I remember correctly."

"That's me," he said cheerfully, walking out of the store. "Always perfect." He ignored the laughter that followed him out the door, focusing instead on the woman currently standing in front of him. "Sakura! When did you get here?"

"About two minutes ago," she said wearily. "You said to come here as soon as I got the note, right?"

"Glad to see you followed directions. For that, you get a prize." He held out the bouquet. "For putting up with me for... well, let's just say for many years and leave it at that."

"It's beautiful!" All traces of tiredness disappeared from her voice. "You got this for me?"

"Yep. It's one of a kind, just like you."

Sakura grinned at him, delicately lifting the vase from his hands. "That's a good thing, right?"

"If you want to look at it that way."

She stroked a rose petal, still grinning. "I... I don't know what to say."

Kakashi chuckled. "You could tell me thanks, for starters."

"Well then, thank you."

"You're welcome." He looked up at the sky. "It's getting kind of late... ready for dinner?"

Sakura smiled dumbly at the flowers, still lost in her own little world. "That sounds fine."

"Then let's go."

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Kakashi happily slurped up a particularly long ramen noodle. "Nothing beats Ichiraku's, right?"

"Nothing." Sakura smiled up at him, then smiled at her ramen bowl, and then smiled at the flowers sitting in front of her.

He grinned-- seeing Sakura so happy over such a simple thing as flowers was great. Hell, since she loves flowers so much, maybe I should give her some every day of the week.

She suddenly began to giggle. "I forgot to tell you! Guess who I ran into today?"

Kakashi slipped the chopsticks under his mask. "I have no idea."

"Your fan club!"

The chopsticks paused. "I have a fan club?"

"Yep."

"Let me guess-- as soon as you met them, you ran to join."

Sakura laughed. "If it makes you feel better about yourself… sure."

"I knew it." He dropped the chopsticks. "So, how were the members of this club? I'm guessing all were young, sexy, and scantily clad."

An image of the fat woman in the purple nightgown popped into Sakura's mind. "Of course," she said, stifling a giggle.

"I'll have to go rub this in Jiraiya's face next time I see him."

"You do that."

"You can be sure I will." Kakashi leaned forward, staring at the rose in front of him. "Oh, and speaking of running into people... guess who I ran into today?"

"Your eternal rival?"

The silver-haired man snorted. "How'd you guess?"

Sakura shrugged. "Woman's intuition."

"Lucky guess, more like it. Can your woman's intuition tell you what he told me?"

"Hmm…." She scratched her chin. "Let me see... right now, it's telling me he told you that... that... that Lee and Tenten are no more, and Lee now wishes to earn my love."

Kakashi's visible eye widened playfully. "That intuition of yours is amazing."

Sakura chuckled softly. "It's more like Lee came running up to me in the hospital, yelling at the top of his lungs that he loves me like no other man could possibly love me, and that someone like me needed someone like him."

"What'd you say?"

She chuckled again. "I didn't have to say a thing. I had the biggest, fattest nurse at the hospital sit on him while I shot him up with a sedative. He should be waking up right about now..."

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing. "I wish you could've done the same thing to Gai," Kakashi said amusedly. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble."

"I would have if you had run and got me."

He shook his head, still laughing, when suddenly—

"Haruno Sakura? Hatake Kakashi?"

They both turned and looked into the face of the same man from the previous night. "You again?" Sakura groaned. "What do you need now?"

The man bowed low, his nose practically touching the ground. "The Hokage requests both of your presences immediately."

"Both of us?"

The man nodded. "Yes, both of you. Immediately."

Sakura sighed. "Let's go... it's probably something stupid, like last night."

Kakashi stood slowly. "You never told me what happened then."

"It's a long story. I'll tell you another time."

The man cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but the Hokage said--"

"I know, I know," Sakura muttered. "We're going." She and Kakashi both disappeared in a puff of smoke. The messenger scowled-- no thank you, no appreciative words at all. Why was it people like him never got the respect they deserved?

The hefty cook suddenly appeared behind the counter, glaring down at the much smaller man. "Hey, buddy," he growled, "Since your friends ran off, I'm guessing you're picking up the tab, right?"

The man's scowl grew even larger. No damn respect!

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Tsunade lifted her sake glass to the couple entering her office. "Wonderful to see that you two decided to join us."

Sakura scowled, while Kakashi merely looked around the room with an expression of indifference. "Why did you need us so urgently, Tsunade-shishou?"

The Hokage cackled. "We couldn't very well start without you, could we?"

For the first time, Sakura noticed the people scattered around the room. Naruto grinned cheerfully at her from his spot in front of the desk, waving enthusiastically. Neji met Sakura's gaze with his trademark glare, while Shikamaru yawned and Genma nodded lazily.

"What the... what's going on here?" Sakura looked up at Kakashi, who shrugged.

Tsunade smiled sweetly. "A mission de-briefing, of course!"

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A/N: Finally, some action! I mean, a mission is bound to be exciting… or is it? Guess ya'll will have to wait.

Thanks again to x.Mi Tsukai.x for the edit!

One last thing… please, review! If you like it, if you hate it, if you think it's absolutely terrible... I'd kinda like to know. Thanks to all those people who have reviewed since the first chapter! (You all know who you are!)

EDIT: You know what's weird? Apparently, this dumb website eats quotation marks. When Mi-chan pointed out to me all of the mistakes in this chapter, I thought, "WTF? Almost all of them deal with quotation marks!" So, feeling very stupid for making that many mistakes, I pulled out my old document-- I keep every document I've ever posted here-- and guess what? All the quotation marks that were missing in the this copy were there then. Damn you, this-damn-webiste... damn you.

And WHY for the LOVE OF GOD won't they let you put the address of this stupid website in a document? It's annoying. Furthermore, WHY does this stupid website RUN WORDS TOGETHER when you edit your document here? If anyone has an answer, then please, I'd like to know.