Finally, chapter three is done, took a while but its done. hope you guys like ;)

I do not own Naruto at all.

The cafe Yamato had encountered with Kakashi was fully occupied today. Not wanting to go to another cafe that was further away from where he was standing he went to Ichiruka's ramen shop, which was two stores down. He shouldn't have been surprised when he noticed a loud blonde slurping his seventh bowl of ramen. He sat beside the blonde knowing that even if he chose a seat further from the boy he would have called out to him.

Naruto, finishing his seventh bowl, gave Yamato a hello with his well-known grin.

"Hey what's up Yamato-sensei. Haven't seen you in a while." Naruto said also asking for another bowl.

"I've been busy." Yamato answered.

"You work too hard, you should take a break or else you'll die a workaholic."

"Don't worry, Tsunade is giving me a long brake after the last mission."

"That's good." Naruto said in between slurps.

Yamato turned to the young girl behind the counter who had just attended him. Leaving with his beef ramen order Yamato turned back to Naruto and noticed that someone had taken a seat next to him. He quickly recognized the lazy slouched man. He had been trying to avoid any contact from him since their last meeting.

Kakashi began talking to Naruto about how he was doing and what he was up to, ignoring the brown haired man completely. Although Yamato knew it was intentional he was glad that the Copy-nin didn't go straight to him and ask him about his strange behavior from before. He also hoped that this wasn't Kakashi's way of saying that he'll interrogate him later. Yamato was never one to keep anything from his friend, but he knew that this was something he didn't want to talk about to anyone, especially with Kakashi.

Naruto, not noticing Kakashi's cold shoulder toward Yamato, turned to wooden element ninja asking, "Don't you think Kakashi should stop reading those perverted books already?"

Yamato wasn't paying attention to their current conversation and had no idea how that question came up. Giving a glance at Kakashi it seemed that the young chatter had just come up with the question randomly. "Well that's his only entertainment so I don't think we should take it away from him."

Naruto seemed to think about this answer but concluded, "Instead of reading it he should just enjoy it himself." Yamato's face turned into a plump tomato, understanding full well what the boy meant. He gave a quick look at Kakashi to see his reaction. He didn't seem disturbed at all by the boy's comment.

"He has his own way of entertaining himself." He answered with a huge embarrassment.

"Is that right, Kakashi?" Naruto asked with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Kakashi turned to the amused blonde, but his eyes were directed at Yamato. "I guess it is true, but I'm sure Yamato has had far more interesting entertainments than I have. Haven't you Yamato?"

Naruto turned his eyes in bewilderment at Yamato, but he didn't notice. His eyes were focused on Kakashi's. Kakashi was never one to show his true emotions, not even to his closest friends, but the Kakashi in front of him baffled Yamato. His feelings spiraled out of him like a tornado. He could feel the sarcasm in his tone and knew there was a second meaning to his words.

Yamato had had some weird experiences in bed and had told his perverted friend. However, his eyes showed that his words were not referring to any of those tales. Then what was he trying to say. Surely it couldn't be about the mission. Nobody, except him and Sakura knew. Then why was Kakashi giving these hidden messages?

Naruto knew his question would go unanswered, but he also realized something else. The two men before him had something going on. Something that he didn't want to be a part of.

Diverting their attention to a different subject Naruto asked, "Have you guys seen Sakura-chan?"

Yamato froze at the pink konichi's name. Both Naruto and Kakashi noticed his reaction, but Kakashi answered the boy's question.

"I spoke to her before coming here. We're going to eat tonight."

"Tonight? Aww come on, why tonight, I have to go on a mission later!" Naruto whined.

"Sorry Naruto. Next time I'll take you out anywhere you want."

"Fine, but no funny business. If you invite, you pay!" Kakashi laughed at Naruto's reply.

Yamato, on the other hand, had a stunned look on his face. They were going to eat? He thought, confused. Since when does Kakashi invite...anyone?

Looking back at Kakashi, Yamato noticed a glint on the Copy-nin's one exposed eyes. Was it satisfaction?

No, that can't be.

But it was.

"It's weird though." The young blonde muttered not noticing that neither of the men were listening to him.

Naruto's word were distant echoes to Yamato as he kept on looking for an explanation. His head ran with possibilities about Kakashi's words. Maybe he was thinking too much. Maybe he was being paranoid. Maybe he was still exhausted about the mission. Or maybe Kakashi knew something.

Then the real question was what he knew. Yamato begged to the gods that it was just him being absurd. Yamato's thoughts stopped to listen to the only man chatting between the three. He kept on saying some random things about him and ramen, but then spilled the rosetta's name again. He began to listen again to the loud mouth.

"I should tell you guys that I know weird well, but Sakura's weirdness is weirder than weird. Yesterday, I went up to her and gave her one of my wonderful Sakura hugs. Like always, I thought she would have thrown a punch at me or something along those lines, but she didn't. She didn't even move. She seemed to act like a startled puppy. Once I let her go she said she had to leave. Before I said another word she had already disappeared, doesn't that seem odd to you guys?"

Yamato showed guilt by the blonde's story, but it was only noticed by Kakashi. Naruto continued to eat his ramen waiting for either men to talk about the odd incident, but neither spoke. If Naruto was paying more attention he would notice that the silence was a conversation between the two men.

One showed the pain and guilt he felt. The other showed anger and betrayal. Words didn't need to be uttered for them to understand each other perfectly.

As their silent conversation continued Naruto got an idea, an idea that left him without paying for his food. He gave quick glances at the two men still noticing their lack of attention toward him. He wanted to get up and leave, but decided to play it safe.

Standing up with crossed legs, Naruto jumped up and down faking his soon to spill bladder. "I have to go to the bathroom," his loud voice diminished before he had finished saying the words as he walked further and further away from the two men.

The men knew Naruto's trick well, but did nothing to bring him back. Instead they continued to hold each other's stares. Kakashi was the first to speak between the two. "I heard your last mission was difficult."

Yamato, no longer being able to look at Kakashi's eyes, kept his eyes on the floor. Kakashi's question told Yamato what he feared. He knew something.

"I assume I'm right by your silence, but don't worry we all have one of those missions every once in a while, right?" Kakashi's tone had turned like they were having an everyday conversation. His dark eyes, however, exposed his fake demeanor.

Yamato was never good at playing poker, especially when it came to hiding his expressions, a technique that was needed as a ninja, but that he didn't carry well. To Kakashi this was perfect because he could tell everything the brown haired man was thinking. His tensed posture, his diverted eyes, and his no replies where shouting the answers Kakashi already knew.

"Why are you so silent?" Continuing the silence Kakashi added, "I didn't ask you a difficult question. It should have been easier than the mission, don't you think?"

At his words, Yamato eyed Kakashi with caution. He knew, Yamato knew he knew, so why didn't he just say it straight forward. He wanted to provoke him, Yamato assumed, and he was aiming perfectly.

"I prefer not talking about it." Yamato answered managing to control his voice level.

Kakashi smiled, pleased with him speaking. "Why not. We're friends aren't we."

"You know that missions are classified."

Kakashi gave a loud laugh at his response. "Since when are missions classified between us?"

"This is just one of those missions, OK!" Yamato voice turned agitated at his last word.

"And what does that mean?"

The brown haired ninja was exhausted with Kakashi's game.

"Spit it out. Whatever is in your mind ask it already!"

"What do you mean?" Kakashi wasn't ready to let his playing end. He wanted to get Yamato agitated, mad, fumed, like he was with him.

Yelling now Yamato roared, "You know exactly what I mean!"

All the other costumers in the shop stared at Yamato's uproar. Giving them a convincing smile the others continued their meal as if nothing occurred.

"Why so upset? I haven't said anything wrong?" Kakashi slanted his head a little to the left to show innocence, an image that didn't fit him well.

Yamato, about to yell again, stopped himself to control his temper. "Stop playing! What is it that you know?

Kakashi eyes turned dark as he gave an expressionless face. "What was never supposed to happen."

His words rang true to Yamato. What happened was never meant to be, they just happened because of necessity for the village. But that irked him, it was for the village and nothing more. There was nothing else that was put but their duty.

"That's a vague answer don't you think? A lot a things are not meant to happen in a mission but they do."

Now it was Kakashi's turn to burst. "Vague! I know you know what I mean!" Lowering his voice he continued. "You sleeping with Sakura was something that should not have happened! That you should have prevented!"

The brown haired man was shocked. He already knew that Kakashi would confess, but hearing it was different. He had just proven Yamato's fear. Yamato, although a former ANBU captain with bloodline from the first Hokage, could not do anything to protect an important person. He had been useless.

"You seem stunned." Kakashi stated.

"I wasn't...I mean, it was a mission. I had to follow orders."

"Don't defend yourself. You could have told the Hokage that she wasn't fit, that someone else would have been better for the mission!" Kakashi's anger glistened in his exposed eye.

"You think I didn't try!? It was either I take her or she gets another partner!" Yamato felt the same anger that the white haired ninja felt, but he wasn't sure if it was directed at Kakashi or himself.

"Maybe another partner would have been best!"

Now Yamato knew who the anger built up inside of him was meant for. Kakashi. The bastard had no idea what he was saying and yet he came and criticized him as if he were better than him. A better person to have protected her. "Who then should have gone? You? You weren't even chosen as an option. Would you have preferred that it was a complete stranger rather than me?"

Kakashi was quiet. What Yamato was telling him was true, he had confirmed it with Tsunade. There was no chance he would have gone to the mission, but he didn't want to conceive that Yamato was the better choice. Tsunade's words rang again in Kakashi's mind, most suitable.

"Do you think I took the mission as a joke? I did my best to protect Sakura!"

Kakashi's head zoomed in Yamato's spoken words. "If you protected her so well, then tell me why she's so different from before!? Tell me why she looks at people with fear! Why she doesn't smile like before!" Kakashi had fully risen from his seat as he shouted the words to Yamato's face not caring about all the attention he was attracting. "You say you protected her, but when I look at her, I don't see it!"

With those last words Kakashi left, leaving Yamato with his untouched bowl ramen and the bill.

Sakura was exhausted. Spending the whole day filling papers, taking care of patients, and doing Tsunade's errands could kill a person. She was glad when it was time to leave. Taking off her white doctor cloak and hanging it on the hanger behind her office door she walked out of her office.

Even at night the hospital was lively with people talking, phones ringing, and machines buzzing. The silence outside the hospital doors, however, just held the sound of the wind. This eased Sakura. She loved the peace and safety the sound gave her, not like other places she had been to.

Missions were common to her and was something that she had to live with no matter what she faced. But forgetting or trying to leave something so taunting behind was difficult. She thought it was because she was weak, like everyone had once said, like what she once believed and was beginning to believe again. And probably she was.

When Tsunade had told her the mission she was glad that she had been chosen because she believed it showed her improvement. A way to show that she wasn't the weakest in Team 7. She couldn't believe that this one mission, however, had drastically changed her.

Sakura began walking home when she noticed a dark figure beside the hospital wall. She stiffened when she noticed that it was a man. As she walked by she didn't noticed that it was a man she knew.

"Hey Sakura, going home?" The deep voice sounded from behind the shadows.

Sakura let go of the breath she hadn't known she was holding. Trying to compose herself she said, "Yes Kakashi-sensei, I was."

Coming out of the dark Kakashi gave a fake pained smile. "Did you forget we were going to eat?"

Yes, she had forgotten. She hadn't thought that after a rough day she wouldn't be able to spend it lying in her bed. "Sorry, I did forget."

"Don't worry, I got you just in time to remind you." And with those words Kakashi linked his arms with Sakura's and walked her to the only restaurant that was still open, but not without him recognizing her body falter to his interaction.

The restaurant Kakashi had brought her to was thirty minutes away from the hospital. The restaurant itself would have been gorgeous to Sakura's eyes if she could keep them open. She knew she should have been more alert, but couldn't withstand her overcoming sleep. The restaurants seemed like bright lights and red walls to her. Her body felt too heavy for her legs and she was positive that if it weren't for Kakashi's help she would have collapsed a long time ago.

The Copy ninja slid with Sakura in one of the benches. He knew she was tired and began feeling bad for bringing her after a hard day at the hospital. But he felt that the sooner he got with her the sooner he could help her, fix her.

He called her name gently to make sure she wasn't fast asleep and if she was, to not awake her abruptly.

"Don't worry, I'm still awake." she answered.

"Sorry, just wanted to make sure."

The words after brought silence. Apparently the great Copy-nin hadn't thought so ahead. He hadn't had a normal conversation with his former student in a long time. The last time he had sat down and really talked to her was about getting Saskue back (a topic that was very sensitive back then).

Sakura, managing to stay awake, wasn't doing so well either with the silence. Her times alone with Kakashi were none, unless going to the hospital unconscious counted. She didn't understand why he had invited her in the first place. She had always assumed that he would approach her when necessary and then go his own way. This small reunion to her was unordinary and frankly she was feeling uncomfortable.

"So Sakura, how have you been?" A stupid starter, Kakashi thought, but hopefully a way to start a talk.

"Fine. And yours?"

"I'm doing well." Was all Kakashi said, but began speaking again feeling that the silence would carry on again. "I know I don't usually do this but I thought that it has been a long time since we've spoken so.."

"So you brought me to eat." Sakura finished hinting it also as a question.

"Yes I did because it's the only way I could get you alone."

To this Sakura fully awoke. "Alone? Why do you want me alone?"

Kakashi chose his next words before speaking them. He saw the suspicion in her eyes and didn't want to make the fatal mistake of being the reason of her departure. "Not alone, I also invited Naruto, but he had a mission to go to."

His lie was flawless. Sakura's eye no longer eyed him, telling him that she would continue their meal.

"Hello, I will be your waiter today. My name is Haku. Would you guys like to start with beverages?" The waiter, Haku, said giving them both menus.

"I'll take a coke." Kakashi answered.

Strolling through her options, but finding none she liked she asked, still looking at the menu, "Do you have coffee?"

"Yes we do." Haku replied.

"I'll have that." Sakura said without looking up and with that Haku left.

"Coffee at your age? You know that it will make you look older than you are." Kakashi said matter-a-factly.

"Maybe, but it will be the only thing that keeps me up." She replied also matter-a-factly.

Kakashi gave a smirk at her reply. She was back, his Sakura.

"Oh really? I thought that with me as company the thought of sleep would never cross your mind."

"Think again!" She retorted.

Giving a pout Kakashi said, "I thought I was someone special to you, being your teacher and all."

"Now you know better." She answered giving him a grin.

"And here I thought you were my favorite." This comment gave Sakura a loud laugh. A laugh that made Kakashi smile.

"Well then, I should say that out of all my teachers you were my second favorite."

"You mean out of two, I was second."

Smiling she answered his question, "Exactly."

Kakashi gave a fake hurt expression that led to a louder laugh from Sakura. He liked it. It showed that she was slowly coming back to herself. Her laugh still wasn't completely genuine like before, but they were something. And he was glad that it was with him that she was opening up to.

What do you guys think? I have a small idea of where I want this to go, but I also make it up as I go along. Please review, it makes me wanna write more! =D