Disclaimer: Still don't own any of them, the plot however, is a creation of my sick twisted mind.

Chapter 4: The Tigress

They stared each other down, Kakashi, in his lazy, sluggish pose and Sakura in her alert, attacking stance. Neither one backed down their gaze. The easy drop of water before had become a full wretched storm now, and it poured noisily on them. Both were soaked to the bones but neither one paid any heed. Lightning flashed above them followed instantly by the roaring thunder.

Kakashi was the first to break the silence between them.

"If you value your life, girl, then turn around and back out now. This is no game you play."

Kakashi suppressed a smile when he saw the annoyance in her green, jaded eyes when he addressed her as "girl". Such brilliant, emerald eyes, and right now, they are staring daggers at him. He allowed himself to wonder how they would look like given a different setting.

"I am not one to back down from a mission." Sakura said boldly. "and my mission requires your blood on my hands." This man has no idea what kind of "girl" she can be, and she was more than willing to show him.

Such defiance in her voice, he had never met someone with as much audacity as she had. Man or woman. Her statement made it clear, she will kill him mercilessly, without a second thought. Kakashi had hoped that he wouldn't have to hurt this beautiful creature, but she seemed to think otherwise.

This woman intrigued him.

"Before we fight, tell me your name. I hate to kill someone without even honoring their name."

Sakura laughed at his remark. "There is no honor between enemies," she tightened her grip on her weapons. "and I will not be the one dying tonight."

A blinding brightness flashed above as lightning split the sky and before Kakashi's eyes could adjust to the light, she was gone. He had never known anyone who moved so fast that he didn't even sensed her coming. A stabbing pain shot through his left arm as his skin linked with metal, and before he knew it, she was gone again, as fast as she came in.

Sakura continued to move with lightning speed while her jutsu veil her movements and her chakra. This was her favorite strategy and many had fallen victim to it.

Fast.

Easy.

Clean.

She launched herself in the air, kodachi in hand, ready to strike. She used her weight and gravity to further increase her speed. Kakashi didn't even have a second to react as her blade seared through his chest, leaving a deep, painful cut.

She landed on the ground, her back arched, one hand on the floor to soften her momentum while the other hand held on to her blade. She allowed Kakashi one last look of her eyes before she disappeared again.

She had the eyes of a hunter stalking her prey.

A hissing sound came from behind as shuriken blades aimed for his body. He to ran to his left to escape the flying weapons only to come face to face with his opponent, her right hand held back, clutching her faithful kodachi. She thrust her sword arm toward his body with as much force as she could exert. He tried to jump back to avoid her dagger but not until it sliced through vest and shirt.

Kakashi took as step back as he held a hand through his bloodied shirt. His other hand searched for his only weapon, the kunai that belonged to the ninja he had killed, hoping to defend himself from her next attack.

His hope didn't last long.

She suddenly appeared behind him as he felt the warmth of her breath on his icy cheek. He was stunned, unable to move, as she whispered closely to his ear, the tip of her dagger inching it's way through the skin on his back.

"Is this the great Kakashi Hatake? Is this all you got?" Her voice mocking him as she pushed on her dagger, making him aware of the dangerous position he is in.

"I am disappointed, I thought you'd be more of a challenge." She stated as her knife cut through his flesh and skin. "I guess I was wrong." and she disappeared again, leaving Kakashi bloodied and in pain.

He cursed himself as he fell to the ground. He had underestimated his opponent. She was as deadly as the other ninjas he had faced, if not even more. She was no mere woman.

She was a hunter.

"Blasted concealment jutsu!"

He realized he will have to fight seriously if he wants to survive the night. His little wildcat turned up to be a fierce tigress after all.

He rose to his feet, slowly, steadily. His bloodied hands dropped to his side. Sakura stopped her movements and landed several yards in front of him. She stared at him as he got up to his feet, into that sluggish position of his.

He had his eyes closed and she wondered what he was up to.

Then she heard a deep, rumbling sound coming from his chest. She was doubtful at first, but it grew clearer and clearer.

Is he laughing at her?

How could he laugh in a situation such as this?

How dare he?

This made her angrier, more determined to kill him now. The next time she strikes, she will strike true.

"You have forgotten the most important rule for a hunter, my precious little wildcat." he

told her mockingly before she leaped through the air.

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Author's Note: Phew... writing a fic is tougher than it looks... currently in the process of writing the lemony chapter of the story...hope you guys like it... If you like / don't like my story...please please please... don't forget to drop a reveiw.

I think I desereve treat... reaches for a KitKat