When Sakura had formed a plan, it was over dinner. The unwitting accomplice none the wiser of his crucial role opening up a Pandora's Bento Box.

The night was abuzz with the remaining cicadas of the season. Sakura was no longer in her in medical uniform and comfortably stood in her loose hoodie with black plush leggings. The nights were getting chilly, and the traditional sandals were replaced by winter booties. Her hair, although smoothed, was untidied from a draining day of demoralizing failed experiments. She even smelled of smoke from one distinctive consequence.

She pulled up her hood, a cloudy gray from her usual bright choices, and watched the fog of her breath float in the air. Her eyes skipped along the faces passing by like a stone on water. She was looking for someone specific. He had grown taller in his adolescence, even a little rugged, but trademarked bowl-cut was timeless.

In the years of Sasuke and Naruto's absence, Sakura had found a kindred spirit within Lee. The two had found a platonic equilibrium in the passing years. They had a lot in common in their pursuit to become reputational shinobi. Whenever she needed to remember that it didn't take special eyes or a DNA quirk to become brilliant, a moment bathing in the inspirational aura that was Lee would perk her right up. She would say the same about Gai, but his sense of youth often overwhelmed her.

The ramen dates of Team 7 had been replaced with these all-you-can-eat dinners with Lee. It had started unintended as an exhausted detour after an obnoxious mission. The offhand suggestion had been such fun that the two kept finding reasons to meet up again. Each time they would reschedule the same day and time. After a handful of weeks, it was just implied to show up on Thursday, at 17:40, at Komatsu's.

She was standing by a newly remodeled grill. The neoteric shop had moved in the past year and was one of the closer restaurants to their operative district. It was the shortest distance for both of them to walk and meet. The reviews were not always perfect, but it was glowing enough for both Sakura and Lee to stake it out as their Thursday haunts.

The technology of Konoha was starting to show itself with these new cropped up shops. The modern dive had a giant neon sign of lightning blue, reading boldly, "KOMATSU'S GRILL." Before this, Konoha had never even seen the presence of "neon" in its borders before. It had a unique layout of equal outdoor and indoor seating. The outdoor seating had braziers to warm their customers up, allowing even the colder days to be enjoyed. Sakura typically preferred the indoor plush booths, while Lee liked the atmospheric outside seating. The night as showing to be a beautifully clear one, and Sakura enjoyed being in the moment, losing interest in people watching and focusing on the thin crescent of the bright moon.

"Sakura!"

The familiar holler snapped her attention to its direction.

"Sakura, I am so sorry I am late," Lee's formalized tone cut through the buzzing of villager and cicada. Shining, well-groomed black hair emerged from the masses, and Sakura gave an easygoing smile to her friend. His steps were tired and clumsy, panting a little through his mad dash once he found her. He was still in his green jumpsuit and endearing orange leg warmers. "Gai-sensei instituted a challenge of who could build a most effective make-shift camp, and we ended up assembling and disassembling several camps until—"

Sakura removed a stick that roguishly found home within his typically smooth hair.

"—Oh," he stopped, noticing her removing the evidence of his endeavor. "I did not check if I was presentable for our usual date. Forgive me, Sakura-chan." The diminutive made its cute appearance once he had caught his breath. He seemed to feel sheepish as she tossed the twig away, her eyes glancing around to make sure there was nothing more disheveled on his person.

"So how many did you make?" Sakura chimed back, insouciant and continuing the conversation as if this was a regular occurrence. Gai seemed restless in his competitive verve with Kakashi gone. In the absence of his rival, his protégé took it upon himself to fill in the often-patient shoes of the stoic friend. In retrospect, Lee had saved Kakashi from pretty outrageous claims for championship.

"Six and a half," Lee dusted himself, now self-conscious. "Gai-sensei made the best. His seemed to withstand more severe weather conditions. I learned quite a bit about thatching with leaves and sticks. Did you know that by river banks, dig deep enough, you are most likely to find this particular kind of clay? Cure it with fire, and you can make a formidable roof that can keep out any amount of rain!"

"Hum," Sakura replied, listening to Lee's enthused explanation. She watched his eyes light up as he continued to talk energetically, despite moving like a ragdoll.

"And did you know the right kind of sticks to gather? The right size and diameter? There are specific sizes that you will need to look for to be able to make a decent enclosure. It's all such a skilled art to use the nature around you to build a home."

"If I didn't know better," Sakura's silky smile turned into a comical smirk, "It almost sounds like you two were competing in building nests."

Lee's laughter broke out boisterously. A voice formally called out from the front desk.

"Haruno, table for 2?"

"Ah, good thinking Sakura-chan," Lee praised, realizing how the rush hour was about to start. "Always prepared!"

"Always," Sakura agreed, and the two went inside.

"The experiments have been progressing, but it hasn't shown quite the predictable results as I hoped," Sakura fussed, prodding a sliced eggplant with an agitated fork poke. "I've in fact been doing the same jutsu for a week with only burns to show for it."

Lee swallowed a mouthful of rice, his thick eyebrows arching. "What medical jutsu could you be doing that would burn someone?"

"It's not always medical," Sakura's eyes rolled upwards as if she were trying to look virtuous as she answered ambiguously. "I'm trying to master a fire jutsu with chakra control. It has some medical uses, such as cauterizing a wound. But, mainly, it's for my own exercise of ninjutsu training. I can't be too focused on taijutsu and genjutsu."

"A new fire jutsu, huh?" Lee said almost enviously, wondering what it would be like to draw power and create fire at your fingertips.

"Nothing to write a report about," Sakura humbly remarked, "My genjutsu and medical jutsu will be paying my dues under Tsunade's tutelage. Blood transfusion in particular."

"Blood transfusion? What is this, and what's it for?" Lee excitedly asked, enjoying listening to Sakura speak so detailed about her work.

And so, she did. She explained to Lee about blood transfusions, blood types, and even sharing memories or feelings through transfusions. She explained to him her theories about how these procedures could create a temporary, weak telepathic bond. She spoke of her speculation of chakra transfer given the right conditions. Lee listened intently as he ordered a second and third helping of the same dish. After a time, Sakura decided to change the subject.

"You know, though, Lee," Sakura started, munching a little more of her eggplant and beef. "Is it me, but you noticing that our generation is starting to…well, I don't know, pair off?"

Lee gulped tea and then returned his attention to her. "You mean?"

"I mean, have you noticed that some of us are starting to date one another? The other day I was noticing Ino hitting on Sai. Sai, of all people. It wasn't even subtle. I know that Hinata has always had this big thing for Naruto, but Naruto seems still to be—" she paused, not wanting to admit or make public admission she was aware of his head-over-heels feelings towards her, "—unable to notice how wonderful she is. One of the Hyuuga girls was eyeing you a few weeks back, and Tenten, well, you know Tenten and how she looks at you."

Lee did not budge. Sakura's sharp eyes glanced up and noticed him completely still and quiet.

"Lee?" she called, not understanding his sudden deer-in-the-flashlights look.

"Tenten?"

"Yes, Tenten?"

"Tenten?" he asked again as if he were grasping a difficult mathematical concept.

"You don't notice her looking at you whenever you're doing your, ah," Sakura waved her hand in the air, her eyes glancing up to the side. "You know, your 'things,' with Gai-sensei? Don't tell me you've not noticed, not once, where her eyes follow? All these years?"

Lee remained still as a statue. "But Neji—"

"The shinobi prides themselves on being masters of observation, Lee."

"Tenten," he repeated, his eyes lowering to the table and chewing on that thought.

"Did I break you?" Sakura wryly joked. She was starting to notice her humor was branding Tsunade's edge more by the day now. She moved forward in the topic as her busted compatriot was dragged along. "It's been a vague thing between all of us these years. As we've grown older, more independent, simple crushes seem to be growing…deeper. Definitive and clear. It's…It's strange, but I started to wonder about that. About where I fall in that."

Lee snapped back to reality, trying to decipher her nebulousness. Sakura was usually very clear and direct about what was on her mind. This was jumbled, incomplete, and quite frankly, confusing. A brief pause, he filled in the gaps himself. "Where you fall into…what? You mean, your relationship with Sasuke?"

"Yeah," Sakura said with a distant look. She was staring into her tea. Her first complete thought fell out of her lips. "A long time has passed. I don't know what kind of person he is. I haven't grown beside him the way I have the rest of you. He's one of us, but he's missed so much shared history. I still love him. I love him so much, more than I know anyone else."

Sakura drifted in the silence.

"Who I remember and who he is now could be very different people. I don't know if it's as clear to me that we were meant to be, as it was then. The thought of not having that figured out is, well… it feels like I am losing a part of my identity. My feelings for Sasuke seemed as fundamental of who I am as Ino's infuriating existence."

It had been weeks that Tsunade's conversation had lurked in her mind. She had nursed her inquisitive attraction to her past teacher, but it was not without hesitation. Knotted, conflicted feelings prevented her from going too far. They chained her to what she couldn't tell was comfortable routine or resolute belief in true love. Tsunade was not a big fan of Sasuke's decisions or his treatment of her. Their conversations seemed tense when she tried to explain that Sasuke wasn't nearly as awful. Tsunade, on the other hand, would contend saying that Sasuke wasn't the damaged, fallen angel that she saw, either. He was an emotionally unstable, dangerous, and willing accomplice of one of the more perilous rogue ninja. The same outlaw, Tsunade would remind Sakura, that had murdered the past Hokage and left her with the job.

Lee was an unbiased and approachable territory. He was more level-headed than Tsunade, Ino, or herself in the matter. She knew if she were to get any closure, he would be her best bet.

"Sakura-chan, if I may be so bold to say," Lee started, his tone warm in hopes to uplift his companion. "There are some things I did notice about Sasuke from the get-go, that I think you may have, well….not noticed due to your intense feelings towards him."

"Pedestaling," Sakura termed it. Actually, it had been Tsunade who coined it. It made sense. In Sakura's eyes he was nearly perfect, and because of it, she was blind to the parts that made him human.

Lee chose his words carefully, and she could see it. "Sasuke is like, Sasuke was always a person who seemed to have a delicate…constitution about him."

Lee leaned back against the plush booth but did not break eye contact.

"Let's say we are all food, like this buffet here. Some of us like cabbage," Lee pointed to himself. "However, others might find cabbage repulsive. Then there's some that may not like cabbage unless introduced with spices. Then there's some of us that don't even care for cabbage and prefer eggplants."

He smiled at her and Sakura smiled back. She knew where he was going with this, but she preferred not to interrupt him.

"Sakura, you are not like other girls. If you were a dish, you would be something that had a strong and distinct flavor."

A hot feeling spread across Sakura's face, but not enough to cause a blush. Her smile grew wider at the compliment.

"You are cinnamon, or wasabi, or pepper oil. You test the mettle of the people who are with you. It takes a man of great strength or constitution to be able to take such a flavor on. Not many can." He took a moment to sip a bit of tea. "You also have a cool side to you, a calmer side. You are part refreshing, part spice."

"I am reduced to a menu item," Sakura gave the punchline with a chuckle.

"But you must understand," Lee exasperated. "Sakura-chan, what I am telling you is that Sasuke had a very delicate stomach. Sasuke could not the level of spice that you are."

Sakura's chuckle turned into a carefree laugh at the thought of Sasuke nibbling on her and steaming. The humor was shortlived, as a hot flush of red across her cheeks. Eating her. Oh no – oh no - her mind was traveling somewhere bad before she could stop it.

Although only playing with the idea of Tsunade's advice the first few weeks, Sakura eventually gave in. It led to Sakura imagining kinky and alluring situations to feel for a more magnetic attraction. She even used those fantasies as practice for her genjutsu. The practice had since given her a spontaneously dirty mind.

She hoped Lee did not notice her change in demeanor. He seemed to go forward without having made the connection.

"He preferred things that were gentle in taste. He seemed only to be able to stomach things that had a temperate flavor. Sasuke, well, is a very fragile person due to what he's been through. It's like developing many food allergies due to a terrible illness. He would need something that wouldn't make his stomach upset."

"So, I'm the level ten ramen that would kill him on the spot. Who do you think that Sasuke could be with?" Sakura seemed amused by all of this talk of food, over food, with crazy imaginings of eating one another. She mused she'd make a joke about cannibalism if oral sex wasn't overruling her more clever cortexes.

Stop thinking about sex, she reminded herself. Stop thinking about sex, stop thinking about sex, stop thinking about sex—

Silver hair, mismatched eyes, climax, stop thinking about sex!

"Hinata," Lee answered.

"Huh?"

The fog of arousal was dispelled instantly. Sakura was overjoyed by how Lee could so quickly disengage her hormones so well, but also very confused.

"Hinata," he repeated. "Hinata would be the kind of dish that would be soft and mellow in flavor. Like a coconut soup, with a hint of lemongrass. A soup with mushrooms and ginger, and shrimp that would soak up that smooth flavor. It would be sweet but not overwhelmingly so, hearty but not without any zest."

Despite Sakura's prods at his explanation, it suddenly made sense of what he was trying to say. She seemed dumbstruck that the silly conversation had turned into something profound. She had half a mind to order something spicy off the menu just to have a taste of her own kind of personality.

"He may want to be able to taste you, but handle you, I do not think that's a possibility," Lee surmised, hoping that his explanation arrived at the logical destination as affable as possible.

"Certainly explains Naruto's preferences," she tsked.

"Yes," Lee laughed along with her. "Yes, that seems to be his thing."

The chilled air felt refreshing after a warm meal. The two loitered around the entrance a few more moments, having last bits of idle chat about work. This was usually when the two shinobi parted ways. "Thanks for coming for dinner, Lee. Thanks for the talk earlier, too."

"Always a pleasure, Sakura-chan. See you again next Thursday."

Sakura waved as she watched his silhouette blend into the night. She turned on her heel and started to make her way to the northeast end of Konoha. Sakura slid her hoodie back up, snugging where the shoulder-length hair couldn't keep the frosty wind from touching her. White-skinned, cold fingers buried themselves in the hoodie's pockets and she prepared to bury herself in her own mind. She was jerked back from the edge by a familiar low laugh.

"The copy-nin is having another round? You're not going to get that report done in the morning," It was Genma's voice.

Sakura glanced up to see – at the farthest end of Katsumo's outside dining area – a cluster of older jounin festively conversing. She had not noticed them while dining with Lee, because even with the equally open spaces, it was hard to know who was in the establishment with them.

She approached closer. The low table was scattered with several sake bottles and empty dishes. Genma, Kakashi, Yamato, Iruka, and Asuma were having a night on the town. The only missing piece of that entourage was Might Gai, whom she knew was sleeping off his nest-making mania.

"Not that he needs to," Iruka seemed to be rolling his eyes. "The Fifth seems to be too lenient on him lately. You bribe her with something?"

"I take my time to provide with quality reports, Iruka. Proper rest is required to clear the mind to deliver such pristine professionalism," Kakashi bantered back.

"You're not Jiraiya, and this isn't a romance novel! It's a report, Kakashi. It needs to be timely," Iruka's rolled eye tone sounded like he was scowling a child at the Academy.

"I've yet to check in the hospital, I'm sure I can extend the due date with reasonable cause," Kakashi replied in his usual nonchalant, lighthearted tone. She didn't have to be facing him to know he was saying it with his trademark serene smile.

There was more muffled discussion between the older ninja. She decided to come by and say hello to her former sensei. He had been gone for nearly two months on a mission, and it would be only polite to drop a hello. Konohagakure was not the kind of village to rudely ignore a colleague.

She got within distance to greet the party without being disruptive. She removed her hood and brightened a smile towards her former sensei. "Welcome back, Kakashi-sensei." She leaned against the ornate fence that separated the public roadway and the dining area.

"Oh, yoooo, it's your old student!" Genma drunkenly pointed out the obvious. "Hey, there flower, good to see you."

"Good evening, Genma," she returned in a reposing inflection.

"Good to see you actually out of the Hokage building," Iruka warmly added. "You've been working very hard, and it's showing."

"Ah, thank you Iruka-sensei," she formally responded, her face flush from being caught off guard.

"You think we should order one more bottle? Happy hour is almost up," Gemna had asked Asuma, who was fiddling with his empty sake cup.

Iruka had a few questions for Sakura, mainly about her progress and the modernizing of the hospital in Konoha. As she answered, green eyes stole glances at Kakashi. Genma's arm was hanging over Kakashi's shoulder as Kakashi seemed – what's this? – floating in a blissful happy haze, his eyes their usual but perpetual crinkled smile. He was attentive yet out of it. Sakura's groomed eyebrows raised a little as Kakashi turned to her – but could he see her? His eyes were still closed in their smiling ways – and he lingered in her direction in his masked enjoyment.

A moment passed.

Oh.

Oh, she's seen this before. Tsunade – Tsunade was like – yes, she knew what this was.

Kakashi was tipsy.

"It's a pretty swag joint if you ask me," Genma continued. "You get to enjoy some of the delicacies of different places without the aching journey."

Asuma lit a cigarette, an idea sparking like his lighter. "Hm. I wonder if we'll get more imports and trading posts built here. It would be great to have more accessible trade items without having extra risk and cost of escorting our own caravans."

Iruka had paused his questioning of Sakura to participate, his quiet interest of politics manifesting itself. "Maybe? With the world stabilizing and Konoha being more active on the map, more trade deals are being made given Tsunade's natural talent for it. I wouldn't be surprised. This shop opened up pretty quickly all things considered. We'll probably have more like this as the years go on."

"Fantastic," Genma enthused, seeming estactic for the idea of foreign indulgences being funneled into quaint Konoha. In particular, a western spirit called vodka.

Yamato peered from behind Genma, the singular sober voice of the group. "Kakashi-senpai, I think you should have some water."

"Hmm?" Kakashi answered, and noticed the water that had miraculously conjured on the table by him. "Ah, yes, probably a good idea."

"Water? It'll just make that fire he has in his mouth worse, you know," Iruka quipped. "He probably would need milk, if he didn't drink all that fireball."

"Fireball?"

"Oh, ah," Iruka paused. "We all ordered a dish from one of the different lands. Some of us remember tasting some of the food back when we were traveling on missions. Asuma and I took a dish from the Land of Rivers. Yamato chose one from Frost, and Kakashi and Genma chose the more aromatic dishes from Land of Snow."

"Kakashi took the strongest. Had to wash it down with fireball vodka," Genma said. "A welcoming back punch from those that love you most." He cracked up at his own joke, his tongue sliding the senbon like a tumbleweed.

"Strongest?"

"Spiciest," Kakashi corrected – mistakenly? Or purposefully? – reaching not for the water glass, but for the cup of the supposed fireball vodka. "I'm still standing; I have become fireproof."

"Yeah, but you're pink as a peach. I bet five good kunai that you're sweating underneath that cool demeanor of yours," Asuma grinned.

"Where's Gai to call for a challenge when you need him?" Genma grinned.

Sakura seemed stunned. Perhaps, it was a coincidence. She had never known Kakashi to enjoy spicy anything.

"Kakashi-senpai, the water," Yamato started, noticing it untouched.

"Ah yes, I thought this was it," he humored, waved the empty sake cup. "An honest mistake."

"Well, it is good to see you safe and sound. I guess I will see you, eventually, in Lady Hokage's office," Sakura started, placing her hoodie up. Their little reunion seemed too serendipitous for her comfort. Especially so soon after her conversation with Lee.

"Heading home?" Iruka noticed her body language. "It is getting late, probably best we should head out ourselves."

Sakura nodded. "I have some left-over duties to take care of. I'll be heading out to the field in two weeks."

Asuma waved his hand. "Workday, go away. Come back a never-day."

Yamato raised himself up, taking it upon himself to be the more responsible angel to Genma's more impulsive demon. "I think we should. We paid for everything?"

Kakashi had a little slur in his speech, "It's tradition to pay for the nin that's come home after a long mission."

Genma glided the senbon over his lips, rolling his eyes. "Fine, Hatake. Fine. We'll cover you. But you can't keep skipping out on these bills on your coincidental circumstances!"

Kakashi feigned an injury, his playfulness more palpable in his lowered guard. "You injure me, Genma. Are you saying I never pay my own bills? Whatever happened to camaraderie and welcome home parties?"

"That's exactly what he's saying," Iruka placed his share of the bill onto the table. "Because you never do."

Kakashi placed his hand over his chest, becoming more expressive in his exaggeration.

"My hospital visit is nearer than I expected, for there's a kunai lodged in my heart from your words," Kakashi lamented in that languid tone of his.

"Oh, shove it," Iruka scoffed, tossing his head to the side.

Sakura started to turn and make her way as the party began to disperse. She opened her mouth to say goodnight to them all but was interrupted.

"Sakura, do you need someone to walk you home?" Yamato volunteered, in an attempt to be protective and gentlemanly.

"I should be fine. Anyone tries anything smart, I'm capable of defending myself," Sakura assured, placing her hands back into pockets.

"Well," Iruka said, "Would you mind being a responsible adult, and supervising the Kakashi of the Nonflammable to be secured at his quarters?"

"That's not necessary," Yamato started. "I can walk Kakashi-senpai back to his apartment. I live nearby. He still didn't drink enough water."

"I'm not a fish, Yamato," Kakashi sarcastically replied.

Asuma got up and put out his cigarette for the night. "You could, but don't you have to report for that new mission in the next few days? You're one of the Hokage's earlier appointments."

Yamato stiffened. "Well, yes. It is a bit of a distance, but—"

"It's fine," Sakura waved. "I'm also in the northeast. I've sparred with him, and survived him being a teacher. I can escort him. I'll even report if he spontaneously catches fire."

"Good," Iruka said, "Because Yamato, I'm going to need help getting," his eyes looked over to Genma's wavering figure, "the others home."

"What are you talking about," Genma retorted. He was beyond inebriated. He had ascended to a god-like state where he was the patron of the alcoholic spirits. In his hands, he had an empty sake bottle. A sake bottle that was three-quarters full when she got there.

Yamato nodded and Asuma stood up, figuring that another pair of hands wouldn't hurt to carry Genma if necessary. Genma definitely needed supervision, and a slightly tipsy Iruka couldn't contend with his godhood on his own.

As they handled the last of their expenses and started their way home, Sakura and Kakashi walked alongside each other into the night.

She didn't say much at first. Kakashi swayed subtly, but otherwise, seemed ordinary. His hands were in his pockets as usual, and he appeared as calm and as controlled as ever.

"I'm surprised you didn't teleport home."

"Depleted chakra," he answered. "I had to use the Sharingan on this mission. I would say I am about to drop dead from exhaustion, but I suspect admission would have you carrying me to the hospital against my will."

"And is that an admittance?" Sakura playfully bit.

"Can't collect hypotheticals as statements," Kakashi coyly replied back. "I haven't dropped dead yet, so I guess I'm not that exhausted."

"But depleted enough chakra to need to be walked home," Sakura teased.

"I suspect it's just comrades being a little too worrisome," Kakashi drolled, a slur still tinging a little of his words. "Iruka will make a great mother hen someday." He paused. "Yamato, too."

He chuckled quietly underneath his mask.

They continued down the path with Sakura smiling to herself. Although these past weeks she had imagined him in the dirtiest scenarios, she couldn't help but fall into their old relationship roles. It was so hot and easy to think of him below her waistline, but now that he was here, in front of her, it all seemed so silly. She can't even imagine him without his mask off. She warmed her hands within her hoodie pockets, fingers fiddling while absorbing the difference of reality versus fantasy.

"How's the medical training?" Kakashi asked, noticing she was getting lost in her thoughts. He always seemed interested in how she was doing, and Sakura was never the type to elect information with him. He wondered if her reverie was about Sasuke. It had been nearly six months since he had heard her openly talk about him.

"Should go to the hospital on time to find out," she baited. "I'll be a much harder doctor than your past ones, that's for sure."

"Sakura, I go to the doctor to be healed, not to be sadistically tortured."

"Would assume different considering how much you avoid it," Sakura teased again. "Avoiding it just prolongs the suffering. The only sense I can make of it is because you like it, you masochist."

Kakashi glanced over and arched a mirthful eyebrow at her jesting at this time of night. "She's caught me."

She returned his expression with a playful smile.

"It's going really well," Sakura returned to the topic and answered properly. "I should have my own jutsu soon. Something to show for the research and effort the Lady Hokage has put into me. Still going to take some time, but the honest truth is I need a break. I'm relieved to be going out and on active duty soon."

"Coming out to play with the rest of us," he hummed.

Sakura laughed. "Ah, yes, near death experiences seem to really cut loose."

The both of them were quietly amused at her references of their past missions. Many of them near-emotionally crippling misadventures but struggling to have fun along the way.

"So, spicy dishes? Really? Did they dare you to do it?"

"Dare me?" Kakashi queried. "Why would they need to dare me?"

"I've never heard you ever, willingly, eat anything spicy. Far as I remember you only order plain things. Usually fish and some eggplant, or some miso soup. Spicy, though? I thought you didn't like it."

"Aa, that's fried or sweet foods, Sakura."

Sakura raised her hands out of her pockets, a mocking tone slipping from her delicate lips. "Whoops! Well, there goes my plan to surprise you with lunch."

"You jest," Kakashi mocked back. "False promises of a homemade lunch, such a kunai to the back. Sakura, I thought you were a doctor."

"Do we need to revisit that you're a masochist?" Sakura's smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, looking directly at him.

Kakashi let out a low laugh. "No, it wasn't a dare, Sakura. This may surprise you, but I do like spicy foods. Spice usually adds a little fire and liveliness to the meal."

"Anything you recommend?"

"I tried the broiled eel with sansho pepper. Had it along with mixed vegetables with soba noodles, with a broth mixed in koregusu. I rather liked it."

Sakura's smile turned into a firm line. Koregusu? Koregusu was one of the spiciest condiments out there. In fact, it was like putting lighter fluid on your tongue and swallowing a lit match.

"You had that and did not burn alive?"

"Along with fireball vodka," Kakashi nodded.

"Fireball vodka?"

"Cinnamon vodka," Kakashi detailed. "For the palette, it would be strange to have a sour sake. The spice and the sweet so strong can be a bit overwhelming in sensations, but with appropriate doses, they make a great combination. Complementary flavors, Sakura, usually make a great meal."

Sakura lingered in the thought. "And you enjoyed it."

Kakashi looked up at the stars, sobering up as they were approaching their destination within minutes. "Very much so."

Sakura let out a quick, startlingly loud laugh. "Are you really human?"

Kakashi smiled. "A non-flammable one."

In her bed, Sakura stared at the ceiling. It was 04:38. She had been home only two hours, but she couldn't sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about what Lee had said. The ironic twist of choice of where and what Kakashi had for dinner. There was something here, she realized, to be enjoyed and accepted.

What Lee had said made sense. She revisited his metaphor and was glad it had put her at peace. It was the last stand for validation, to know it was the right time to move on from Sasuke. It helped to leave something behind when you had a destination to move to, and for now, Kakashi Hatake was a destination.

As her eyes grew havy, skilled hands moved across her stomach and below.

She could still smell him, fireball vodka and all. She could envision his tousled silver hair, his slouched posture, the sound of the smooth timbre of his voice. This was not like the other times she imagined him – often hyper-idealized, his behavior uncharacteristic for her own erotic agenda, his body a different shape and movement a different cadence than the real thing. No, she imagined him the way he was, the way she had just seen him tonight.

The way he really is.

She imagined him spun in bravery. That with the right variables lined up, he would lean in and kiss her before they parted ways. His lips would open, mask and all, against hers, and feel her warm and lithe body by pulling her close. He would have been blushing, even with his initiative.

No, Kakashi would not take the initiative. He usually lived his life very cerebrally. Even though he was so engrossed in those trashy romance novels, he lived in an emotional fortress. He kept everyone at a distance. If a kiss were to be had, it would be due to Sakura's cunning. He was the type that needed that encouragement because of how emotionally closed off he was. Kakashi was too professional to start the advance. It would have to be her.

Kakashi was, as she studied deeper as time went on, a shyer, more reserved, more compassionate man than he disguised himself to be.

Fingers danced and she opened her mouth to let out a happy sound. She suspected she'd no longer have trouble reconciling the reality with the fantasy now. As her back arched and she quickly found herself riding the nerves firing in her own body, she made a resolute decision to follow through with her impromptu plan.

She had lied to Lee about the fire jutsu. It had been the forbidden transformation jutsu she had been practicing. Sometimes, her attempts would lead to explosive results. The outcome would leave her a few years too young, or decade years too old. With renewed vigor, she was sure to achieve the perfect result. Her change in post will be in four days: she could make the deadline.

Kakashi was going to get a surprise, as she had finally the courage and the clarity to do it.

He made it clear that he enjoyed playing with fire.