Thank you so much everyone for the follows and comments. Knowing how much you all enjoy this story encourages me to keep writing, you guys are amazing. Special thanks to my beta CherryBerry12. As always please read and review, thanks and enjoy.

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Monday morning, Sakura was up bright and early for her shift at the hospital. After leaving Sukea at Genma's apartment Saturday night, she hadn't returned home until about 6:00 am. After showering and changing into her comfortable clothes, she dove into bed and quickly fell asleep.

She had woken later that afternoon and went about her normal Sunday chores, laundry, cleaning and weekly shopping. After finishing her meal preps for the week and putting away her clean clothes, she relaxed in a hot bath for a while before going to bed for the night. It would definitely help with her soreness.

She arrived early for her shift at the hospital, which Tsunade was relieved to see. Two ANBU members had just been brought in, and Tsunade was dealing with one while Shizune was struggling to keep the other alive.

Sakura had been told that the man Tsunade was working had taken a heavy blow to the face with a blunt weapon. He had multiple skull fractures and several chunks of skull lodged in his brain with severe brain damage. He had also taken several blows to the body with the same weapon.

Despite its complexity, Tsunade could handle the operation on her own with the help of some support nurses. However, the man Shizune was working on was the one that needed Sakura's help. When she entered the room and stepped up to the operating table, she had to hold back a gasp—the man couldn't have been much older than Sakura herself. Yet here he was, dying right in front of her if she didn't snap out of it and do something.

He had a large open wound in his chest and several lacerations all over his torso. Once Sakura got started with the healing process, she realized that he was still bleeding out. Her medical training told her that it must mean he had internal bleeding, some wound inside the body that was causing mass blood loss.

Doing a full body scan on the man, Sakura found that he had additional damage to his kidney, spleen, and lungs. He would need a lot of work to save his life, but Sakura was prepared to give him her all. She took a steady breath and focused her chakra, then began to use it to mend his internal injuries before moving to the external ones.

Having Sakura show up at that moment had provided Shizune with the extra help that Tsunade was too busy to give her. Ultimately both men made it through surgery. Both were still badly injured and would need weeks in the hospital and several more healing sessions before being able to leave, but they were no longer in critical conditions.

Sakura was now sitting at her small desk filling out the paperwork for her patient. He had lived and it was thanks to her; times like these were why she loved her job as a medic so much.

She always felt a sense of pride and accomplishment after a major surgery that was successful. She always held her head a little higher, her shoulders a little straighter, and kept a small smile on her face. How could she not? He would live and it was because she refused to give up on him.

It was her greatest strength and her greatest weakness—Sakura could never bring herself to give up on anyone, no matter how hopeless things seemed.

Her thoughts about the ANBU member had led her mind to wonder about her former sensei. She wondered how his mission had gone, how things had been for him lately. She wondered what all in his life had changed since the last time they had seen each other, if he had any interesting stories to tell, if he had been getting letters from Naruto as well.

When was he going to come by to catch up with her? He had told her before he left that he would. She knew he was home; she had seen him at the bar and Genma had confirmed it. Not like she could admit any of that, but still—she knew.

She briefly wondered why Kakashi was always so closed off from everyone. He never talked about his past or his private life. He never showed up to events, birthdays, celebrations, or any of the other events she knew he would have been invited to. He was almost always alone.

She hardly ever saw him out with people. When she did, it was always the same two or three and he never stayed long, just like last night. She just couldn't seem to understand why anyone would want to be alone so much, why he never wanted to create memories or share things with other people. Even when Sakura was here practically begging for his friendship.

How could opening up and letting people in be so easy for people like Sukea but be so difficult for Kakashi? Sukea was warm and inviting; he talked about himself, not in detail but more than Kakashi ever had, and she hadn't had to beg him to do it. He asked about her and her life—things Kakashi had never done even though he'd known her for years.

Finishing the file and standing up to put it in the cabinet, she winced slightly at her aching body. She had been a little sore yesterday, but she had been sore after training and missions too, so she had pushed through it thinking a hot bath and night of sleep would cure it all.

Apparently, she had been wrong. If anything she was even more sore today than she had been yesterday. Her chakra could close wounds and mend bones, but it did little for things like the common cold and sore muscles. She could help the muscles relax with her chakra but couldn't completely eliminate it.

Noticing the odd look she was getting from Shizune, Sakura did her best to mask her grimace as she walked over to the file cabinet. Too late, Shizune had seen it.

"Sakura, are you alright?" Shizune asked her.

"I'm fine Shizune; it's nothing really," she insisted

"Are you sure? If there is something wrong, I can take a look at it for you."

"No, no, no, that's alright. Really, I'm just sore from a spar I had Saturday." It wasn't a complete lie. She just really did not want to have to explain her new hobby to Shizune.

Shizune raised a single eyebrow and replied, "Hmm, it must have been some spar."


Across the village, Kakashi flipped another unread page of Make Out Paradise as he lay on his back on the soft grass. Though reading Make Out Paradise was Kakashi's favorite pastime, today he was simply going through the motions. Rather than actually reading any of the well-known passages, he was staring at the pages imagining a different story.

He had tried actually to read his book earlier, but every time he got to a part about the Heroine instead of silky black hair and brown eyes like in the book, in his mind it would be vibrant red hair and big blue eyes. Once again, he couldn't seem to get Saki off his mind.

After leaving Genma's house shortly after Saki had, Kakashi had gone home to sleep in his own bed. Not waking up until about 5:00pm, he had gotten out of bed long enough to eat something and went right back to sleep until his alarm had woken him up this morning. He'd slept most of the day away, dreaming of Saki over and over.

The night before had been amazing with Saki; she was fun and outgoing without being loud and overbearing. She was so very different from the women he usually met at the Rusty Shuriken he seemed to be growing more fond of her every time he saw her. Perhaps that's why he had asked to see her again officially. Kakashi had never even had a real girlfriend or an actual date before.

Not that he couldn't: he had his pick of women in this village and others. He also was no rookie when it came to sex either. He just had never wanted a 'relationship.' He didn't want the commitment to someone else; he didn't want someone in his personal life, in his feelings, in his head, and certainly not in his past.

He didn't particularly want Saki in those places either but he did want to see her again. He wanted to spend more time with her and get to know her more; they definitely had a spark. He thought back to early that morning when he had asked her to meet him Friday night. He was more hopeful than he should be that she would show up.

She seemed torn, like she wanted to say yes but something was holding her back. Maybe she had someone at home? No, she didn't seem like THAT kind of woman. She seemed more… shy? Afraid, maybe? Something about those big green eyes looking back at him with uncertainty told him he was missing something about this situation.

Wait? Green eyes? He thought to himself, How can I remember every detail I see in this woman but can't remember what color her eyes are? Since when do I have such a lack of attention to detail?

His mental lashing was interrupted by a skittish looking Chunin boy who was standing about four feet from him just staring. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the boy then asked, "Yes?"

The Chunin took in a breath and then blurted out, "Hogake-Samasaidgetyourasstoherofficenowfor missionquestions."

Kakashi gave the boy an odd look. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Please, Kakashi-Sama, I'm just doing as I was told."

"I understand that. What I don't understand, however, is the message you are trying to give me. Try it again but slowly this time, hmm?"

The Chunin nodded, then took a deep breath, "Hokage-Sama said get your ass to her office now for mission questions."

"Ah, I see. Why was that so hard to say the first time?"

"Umm, well, Kakashi-Sama. You looked a little… upset when I found you. You seemed to be thinking very hard about something and you were muttering to yourself. I just didn't want to upset you any further."

Kakashi stood there in shock for a brief moment. It wasn't everyday that someone caught him in an embarrassing moment, especially not someone who looked up to him. Thankfully, the boy was more afraid of the situation than amused. At least his reputation wouldn't be taking a hit from this encounter.

"I see. Well, thank you!" Kakashi said before turning on his heel towards the Hokage Tower.


Sakura was sitting in the Yamanaka Flower shop with Ino eating some sandwiches that Ino's mom had made for them. She was on her lunch break for her shift at the hospital and had decided to come talk to Ino about Sukea's little request the night before.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Ino inquired.

"What makes you think I need to talk to you about something, Pig?" Sakura shot back, a little too defensive to be innocent.

Rolling her eyes Ino answered, "Because, Forehead, you wouldn't come all this way on your one-hour lunch break for no reason. I'm guessing that it has something to do with Sukea; why else would you need to talk to me so badly that you couldn't wait until you got off work?"

Sakura had to admit, Ino had a point. Not to mention she was absolutely right. Damn she knows me too well. "Okay, yeah!"

"I knew it. Now tell me!" Ino exclaimed.

"He asked me out."

"Out?" Ino didn't entirely understand.

"Yes, out. Like a designated day, time, and place to see each other again," Sakura elaborated.

"OH MY GOD, SAKURA. He asked you out on an actual date?" Ino squealed.

Sakura nodded.

"Where, when, and what do you wear? Details, woman."

"Friday night at the Kintai Bridge." Sakura answered, a little weary. She still hadn't decided if she was going to go or not yet.

"Well, you ARE going to go right?" Ino asked.

"To be honest, I'm really not sure, Ino." She wanted to. She had really enjoyed spending time with Sukea and knew that it would be enjoyable to do it again. Especially if they had the time to plan things out ahead of time.

"What? Seriously, Sakura?" Ino pointed a single finger at her friend. "You're going."

"What? You can't make that decision for me Ino." Sakura objected.

"Watch me! You go, or I'll go as you! Either way Someone is showing up at that bridge Friday night."

Sakura couldn't believe Ino was actually blackmailing her into accepting a date with Sukea. Okay, well she could believe Ino would do something like that, but only if Ino honestly believed that it was for the best. Which begged the question, "Why do you feel so strongly about it?"

"Because guys don't take you out to buy you things and impress you if they have already had you, Sakura. Not unless they are interested in more than just what you bring to the bedroom. Honestly, I have never had a guy ask to take me out after."

"Really?" Sakura asked.

"Really. I've had dates, of course. But never a guy out of a bar that met me and wanted anything more than just to get in my pants." It was true. She had guys who knew her from the flower shop and around the village who asked her on dates, plenty of them. But she had never had a guy show interest in her after they had gotten her in bed.

Sakura took a moment to let Ino's words sink in. This wasn't what she had been expecting when she had taken Ino's advice a little over a week ago, but she couldn't deny that she was starting to really like Sukea and wanted to see him more. "Alright, I guess I'll go. It's not anything serious anyways, we're just having fun, right?"

"Right!"

"I have to get going or I'll be late getting back to work, I'll see you later Ino," Sakura told her as she grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

Sakura made her way through the streets of Konoha, slowing down to walk as the hospital came into view. As she approached the building, a familiar head of silver hair emerged from the building beside it, the Hokage Tower.

Kakashi had just finished his meeting with Tsunade and was now heading back out into the village. Apparently Lady Tsunade had a few things that she wanted to discuss with him about his mission report, mainly about the men who had attacked them. According to Tsunade, those men had nothing to gain from the contents of that scroll.

The scroll was nothing more than medical information. It was important in its own way but not anything that would be considered detrimental or sensitiv, especially to outlaws like that. After spending the last two hours going over important details, he was now finally free again.

As he was exiting the building, he caught a glimpse of pink hair in his peripheral. Sakura. As they drew closer, he avoided eye contact and casually pulled out Make Out Paradise and situated it right in front of his face.

He knew she wouldn't want to sit and chat with him, not after everything that happened. Not after everything that he had put her through. At least, that's what he had convinced himself. Why would she want anything to do with him after what had happened to Sasuke?

Truthfully, Kakashi couldn't bear to be around her after what he had let happen to Sasuke. He could understand why she was angry at him, why she would never want to be close to him. He was responsible for allowing the person she loved to go astray, only to have to watch her best friend kill him in order to stop him.

Kakashi had seen Sasuke going down the wrong path and he had tried his best to keep him out of the dark. It hadn't worked; Kakashi had failed him too. Sasuke had plunged into the dark powers of Orochimaru, completely giving in to it.

When that final battle had come and Naruto had to fight Sasuke, there was nothing left of the Uchiha boy. He was all coldness, pain, and darkness. Sakura had wanted to believe that the old Sasuke was still in there somewhere and had thrown herself into the battle in hopes of stopping them.

That hadn't worked. Sasuke wasn't going to stop his attack just to protect Sakura, and Naruto couldn't pull back his attack without ensuring that Sakura would take it head on. Kakashi, weak and out of chakra, knew that he wouldn't be able to get to stop the two young men on his own anymore.

But he could stop Sakura before they collided with her. He could save her. If no one else, he could save Sakura. With everything he still had left in him ,he had gone afterSakura at full speed, tackling her to the ground and covering her body with his own just in time.

If he would have gotten to her a moment later, she would have been dead.

But it turned out that saving her life had also placed a terrible burden on her. That was something Kakashi knew well. He had to watch the love of her life die in her arms. She had applied a healing hand to Naruto and Sasuke, but by the time Sakura had finished Naruto was alive and Sasuke was not.

Kakashi assumed that his injuries were too severe for him to be saved.

Naruto left the village shortly after the war. Sakura had to hold the man she loved while he died, and then had to watch the man who had become her brother leave because of his grief. It was all Kakashi's fault; his failures and his shortcomings were the cause of her pain.

All of it.

He deserved the resentment that he saw in her eyes as he walked past her. He never fully looked at her, but he could see the look she gave him as he passed. Her look of hurt, all from his mistakes.

As Sakura approached Kakashi, she noticed he had pulled his book out and began reading as he walked. She had hoped that crossing paths with him would remind him that he had promised to catch up with her when he returned from his mission.

It wasn't looking too likely, she realized when he walked right past her. He was just a few inches away and yet there was no wave, no smile, no greeting, and not even the slightest look in her direction.

Still invisible to you, huh, Kakashi Sensei, she thought as she watched him continue on. Either that or you really just hate me so much that you don't even want to acknowledge my existence.

She watched him until he disappeared around the corner, then sighed heavily she pushed through the doors of the hospital and headed back to work.

Kakashi rounded the corner and was quickly out of sight. Maybe he should take some extended mission to somewhere else. Missions were easy, but dealing with Sakura was not. He had ignored her for the nine months that he was her sensei, favoring Naruto and Sasuke.

It wasn't that he was intentionally trying to shrug her off; it was that she still had family, she still had a support system, and she didn't need him like Naruto and Sasuke did. Besides, she was a young girl and her fighting style had been very different from his own. At the time, he really had no clue how to handle her or what to do with her.

Hell, I still don't know now! Kakashi thought to himself. That extended mission in another country was looking pretty tempting right about now; he needed to stop running into Sakura so much lately. Ah, but then I would miss my date with Saki, he reminded himself. Well, he couldn't have that.

Maybe in the morning he would go to the Missions Administration Building and see if there were any short missions available for him to take. Something that would take just a day or two, as long as he was back in the village by Thursday. That didn't seem like too bad of an idea.

But then it would take away time for him to think about what he would be taking Saki to go do for their date. Hmm, now that was something to occupy his thoughts. Dating was a new thing to him, so he wasn't entirely up to speed on how these things were supposed to go.

Good thing he had a best friend who went on more dates than anyone else he knew. If anyone could help him understand the ins and outs of traditional dating, then it was going to be him. Kakashi's mind made up, he took a left at the next street and headed to the Jonin Headquarters to track down Genma.


After Kakashi made it to the Jonin Headquarters, he promptly found Genma in the lounge area and pulled him aside to a more discreet place for their conversation. They were now sitting in one of the private rooms that lined the main hallway of the building.

Genma stared at Kakashi for a moment, surely he had misunderstood what Kakashi had just said, "Hold on, you did what?"

Sighing as if it were the worst thing ever to have to repeat himself, Kakashi said, "I asked her out on a proper date. What's the big deal?" Kakashi knew full well why it was such a shock, but he wasn't going to let Genma make this into an even more uncomfortable situation.

"The big deal is that Kakashi Hatake does not date! Yet here you are telling me that you have a date with a woman you have already taken to bed too. It's news, that's for sure."

"No, it's private and it better stay that way," Kakashi warned.

"Alright, alright, have it your way. So, if it's so private then why did you track me down to tell me about it?" Genma asked.

Great there it is, the question. This had to be one of the most embarrassing things he had ever had to ask someone. "I need you to explain how these things usually go."

"Huh, didn't see that coming."

Kakashi glared.

"Well, there isn't really a standard procedure for dating anymore. Except for the common courtesy rules."

"Which are…"

"You know, things like dress to impress, show up on time, pay the bill, hold the door open for her. Things like that; basically, just be a gentleman."

Kakashi listened to Genma's list and felt a little bit of relief. He didn't typically do such things for other people, usually making a point to keep to himself. But all in all they weren't difficult things to do.

"So, what do you usually do on a date?"

"Like I said, there isn't really a standard guideline anymore. Almost anything fun can be considered a date nowadays. How creative I am depends on the girl. Sometimes we just go to dinner, sometimes we go to a play, sometimes we see a movie, and sometimes we just go to the bar to have a few drinks and play pool. It mostly depends on the girl."

That made sense. Every woman was different so the things they enjoyed doing could vary greatly; if you wanted your date to enjoy your time together then you would need to inquire about her likes and dislikes. Kakashi was now kicking himself for not asking Saki more about her hobbies. He would have to remember to do so next time he was with her.

"What do you suggest? What kind of girl do you think Saki is?" Kakashi asked.

"Look man, don't stress it, okay? Just show up on time, tell her she looks nice, and take her out for a nice dinner. You can please most women with that one and it's simple." Genma was trying to give Kakashi ideas that were easy to follow through with. The man was a genius when it came to being a ninja but as a 'normal' man, not so much.

"Saki seems like a really nice girl; she would probably appreciate something simple but would also be mind blown by a little extra effort. That's the feeling I got, anyways. Just try to keep it simple to start with."

"Right." Simple. He could do that. He liked doing that, he liked when things were simple. He could do this.

Just show up on time, so set an alarm. Telling her she looked nice—shouldn't be hard as she has looked nice every time he has seen her so far. Wear something casual yet stylish; he had a good pair of dark jeans and a grey button down in the back of his closet that would do. Take her to dinner, somewhere not too casual but not too upscale. Keep it simple, got it.

Now all he had to do is find the right restaurant to take her to.