When I planned this chapter, I was expecting fire and punch. Instead I got this incredibly vulnerable scene, and it is quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever written. I just love when you plan one thing and the characters pull you in a different way. It's my favorite part of being a writer.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's been long overdue.

Chapter 21

Sakura woke up with the worst hangover of her entire life.

She couldn't remember most of the night before. After she started chugging her drinks during Truth or Dare, everything was a blur. She remembered bits and pieces, like Shin being dared to kiss Sai, and Shikamaru having to reveal that Temari was the last person he had sex with before dating Ino. She oddly spent most of her night drinking with Sasuke, laughing and drinking straight vodka. That was where her memories ended.

She must not have made it out of the kitchen after drinking with Sasuke, because she woke up laying on the kitchen floor. Someone had thrown a blanket over her but no pillow. That may have been another cause of her pounding head.

She managed to pull herself up and get a glass of water. She drank it fast, making her stomach flop. She puked into the sink, which was full of beer cans. Now someone — probably her — would have to fish out the puke-covered cans.

She wandered through the house, seeing who was awake and who was still passed-out. She didn't expect anyone to have left yet, but Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. The sun was barely up. "How the hell did he get up so early?" she asked herself.

"He got called into the ER about an hour ago."

She let out a yelp and turned to see Sai sitting on the couch, reading a book. He must have had one in his car. Ino definitely didn't keep any in the house. "What are you doing up?" she asked him.

"I never went to sleep," he said. "Kiba and Shikamaru snore like bears."

She hadn't noticed before, but Kiba and Shikamaru were snoring like bears across the room. They were both sprawled out on the couch as if they fell asleep talking. What they had to talk about was a mystery, unless they discussed tips on how to make Temari happy. That must have been a weird conversation.

"Ino and Temari went up to her bedroom to sleep," Sai continued. "Gaara drove home last night — he didn't drink — with Kankuro, and I believe he took Hinata home, too."

Everyone was accounted for, and no one had driven drunk— assuming Sasuke's buzz had worn off by the time he left — to Sakura's relief. That was always a risk at home-parties. No bartender to cut people off and make sure they got sober rides home.

"Did Kakashi text you back?"

"Kakashi?" Sakura didn't remember texting Kakashi, but that didn't mean she didn't in a drunken haze.

"Ino dared—"

That was all Sakura needed to hear. She stumbled back to the kitchen to check her phone. She didn't see any notifications that he texted, so she unlocked her phone to check what she had sent to him.

Come party.

Come at Ino.

No not w Ino dont touch her, stick with me.

Ignore me. I'm horny and drunk and flustered from sitting next to this hot doctor. Talk later.

"The last one was Sasuke. You were very angry with him."

She was probably more than angry. She had to have been pissed at Sasuke. Then how did she end up drinking with him on the kitchen floor? The mysteries of the night before could wait, she decided. They weren't as important as explaining herself to Kakashi.

She shot him a quick text. Sorry about last night. Can I see you today?

Not a second later, he replied. Text me Ino's address. On my way.

X

Everyone was still sleeping when Kakashi arrived. Sakura and Sai had managed to clean most of the house, including the puke-covered cans in the sink. He said he would leave when Shin woke up, and she hurried outside, not wanting to keep Kakashi waiting.

"You look like a hot mess," Kakashi said when Sakura got in the car.

"Just drive."

She pulled at the skirt of her dress, but every time she pulled it down her breasts were exposed more. Pulling it up showed more of her legs. She gave up on the dress and slipped off her high heels. Why didn't she grab a hoodie from Ino before she left?

"I had an interesting night," he said. "Do you want to hear about it?"

She didn't.

"I was sitting with my father and his new client. Real fancy restaurant, full suits and cloth napkins. And my phone keeps going off."

She couldn't tell if he was angry or not, so she stayed quiet.

"I got invited to a party, propositioned, then—"

"I know," she interrupted. Then find out I'm supposedly horny with a hot doctor.

They didn't speak again until they arrived at her apartment. She trudged up the stairs, feeling his eyes on her the whole way, cursing herself for wearing the stupid dress. When they got inside, she ran off to her room and he planted himself on her couch.

She didn't want to keep him waiting, but she had to make herself look human again. She scrubbed her face and brushed her teeth twice, sprayed dry shampoo in her hair, and changed into jeans and a hoodie. It was as good as she could do in ten minutes.

"You're mom isn't here," he said when she came back. He waved a scrap of paper at her. "She spent the night at Minato's, apparently."

"No way," she said, completely shocked. Though she knew her mother and Minato were getting closer, they hadn't spent the night together. Until last night.

She plopped on the couch beside him, bringing the note close enough to touch her nose. I'm going out with Minatao and may not come back tonight. Xoxo Mom.

"It seems that you both got some action last night."

Her eyes snapped to his, and she finally knew what he was feeling. There was no anger in his eyes, just pain. "I didn't send that message."

"I know."

"You do?"

"There was no way you sent a perfect text after screwing up three simple ones."

"Jerk!" She hit his chest with a pillow, and he laughed and caught it. "Why did you make me think you were angry?"

He ripped his mask down, showing her his smile. Her eyes followed over the scar running across his face, but not in the same way as before. She used to have a burning feeling in her chest every time she looked at it, aching to know where it came from. Now it was simply a part of him, something she didn't think twice about.

He had never said anything when she looked at his scar, so she had assumed he didn't notice her looking. She was wrong. "I want to tell you about it," he said.

His finger ran over it, from his nose to his chin. She was mesmerized, watching his every move.

"I was seventeen when it happened," he began. "My father was out of town to look at real estate. That was before his business became the Hatake Corporations. He owned a few in town, but was looking to expand.

"One night these guys came to the house. I don't remember much of that night, just that they were so angry. They didn't like the power my dad was getting and wanted to put him in his place."

She reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing.

"They attacked my mother. By the time Rin came over, she was dead, bled out. I was barely alive. I was rushed to the hospital, and my father cut his trip short to come home. They had cut my mouth to keep me quiet, so that needed stitches, and I had a bad concussion."

He put his head down on her shoulder, snuggling into her neck. She let out a shaky breath, trying to calm down. She hadn't expected such a story, but it all made sense now. No wonder he didn't want to show his face.

So many thoughts were swirling in her mind, and she grasped onto the silliest one, the one that was the most manageable. "Rin was there?" Though he wasn't dating her now, that didn't mean he didn't before. And clearly they had history.

"We dated in high school," he said, sending a pang right through her heart. "We broke up after that day — I couldn't deal with a relationship. My father moved us to this city after I graduated, bought me the coffee shop. Rin followed us here for college."

They didn't speak for a long time. Kakashi kept his head against Sakura's neck, and she ran her fingers through his hair. It was the most intimate moment they had shared. He had given her such a vulnerable part of himself, and she wish she could return the favor. But she couldn't, not yet.

"I don't want to lose you," he said, so quietly she almost didn't hear him.

"I'm right here," she said. "I'm not going anywhere."

He leaned back enough to look at her. "But you could, could leave." He reached his thumb out to brush her cheek. "I've lost so much. I don't want to lose you too. And certainly not to a sexy doctor."

She smiled devilishly. "It was a hot doctor, remember?"

"I don't care."

He pulled her face to his and kissed her, telling her everything he hadn't said. He held their lips together for so long she thought her heart would stop, then kissed her quickly three times. "Be mine. Please."

Her heart really did stop that time, she was sure of it. "Always," she said, again breathless.

She expected him to kiss her again, but instead he pulled her into a tight hug. "Always," he repeated.

Please leave a review letting me know what you think! And if you haven't already, go check out my new story, Secrets of the Crown.