First off, glad you all respond so well to lemons. I got some tremendous feedback from the last chapter so thank you. My life just flashed before my eyes and I'll be going the way of E.L. James.

Second, I profusely apologize for any typos in this chapter. I tried to get them all after realizing how many I'd left in the last chapter.

Most of all: enjoy, R both are greatly appreciated! Xo


I've never gotten dressed so quickly in my life; it must be a world record. Wiping my hand against my mouth and smoothing out my hair, I cast a look at Sasuke.

"Stay up here."

He doesn't protest, just nods as he rights his clothes. I open the door quietly and proceed down the stairs as calmly as possible, preparing to face whatever Tsunade might throw at me. But that's not who's waiting at the foyer, suitcase in hand.

"Kakashi-sensei!" I fling myself into his arms and he catches me effortlessly. "When did you get back?"

"Just two days ago," He says, smiling at me through his mask as we let go.

"Why are you here?"

"Tsunade sent me to supervise," as he explains, he looks over the extensive number of guards both seated and standing around the room, "Apparently you haven't been following the rules. Not that that's a surprise."

"You taught me too well," I simper and he grins in agreement. Then his eye softens.

"Where is he?"

"Upstairs," I beckon him towards the second landing.


Kakashi is not who I expected to walk through that door. For a moment I feel a very familiar shame as I'm forced to face yet another person I abandoned. Sakura beams off to the side, watching this awkward reunion play out. For some reason her smile reassures me and I take Kakashi's outstretched hand. Kakashi doesn't settle for just a handshake and pulls me into a tight grip. Is he really that happy to see me? I step back before I feel it become too uncomfortable.

"I hear you two have been up to no good," his eye holds a mischievous twinkle. Before I can even wonder if that has some underlying meaning about the debauchery Sakura and I have engaged in, she is shaking her head with a small laugh directed at me.

"To be fair, it's mostly me," she admits, coming to stand beside Kakashi.

"More like Tsunade than me, I think," he gives her a sidelong glance and I feel like I've missed something when she exhales a small laugh. Their interaction is so fluid and natural, no longer that of a teacher and student. It was to be expected that Naruto and Sakura's friendship progressed even further, but I feel surprisingly threatened by this development. Just like I did when Naruto mentioned Sakura's "many" boyfriends. Why it bothers me I can't say. But, it strikes me again that she had a complete life before she found me. I think, once more, that maybe they really would be better off without me.

Sakura looks up to me and smiles sweetly, something proud in her stance. Is she preening? Showing off to Kakashi that she was able to bring me back?

"I told you I could get him back," she says to Kakashi, but keeps her eyes on mine. It dawns on me then that she does feel some sort of pride. I crack a smirk and bite my tongue. Really, what choice did I have? Although, if it had been anybody else. . .

"I didn't doubt you for a second," Kakashi clasps a hand on her shoulder and she reaches up to pat it. Why are they so comfortable with each other? How? Something sours my mood, an awful knot twisting in my stomach. It feels oddly wonted, yet out of place in this scenario. He turns to me, "What happened?"

That's the question on everyone's mind. I squeeze my fists, feeling particularly adverse to opening up right now, especially to Kakashi for some reason.

"Tsunade-sama didn't happen to share with you how the trial was going did she?" Sakura places a hand on Kakashi's arm, tearing his attention away.

"Not extensively," he shakes his head, "It seems they're indefinitely stuck at an impasse due to a lack of information."

"Well, that's good right?" She asks and I swear I see her spirit brighten. Kakashi shrugs.

"Honestly, it's still possible for it to go either way, but I'm no diplomat," he smirks at that, but Sakura's shoulders droop slightly. At the moment, I find myself more concerned about what that means for her rather than my own fate hanging in the balance.
"I assume Tsunade sent you, why?" I ask, almost desperate to divert the conversation.

"The Hokage is occupied for the time being and asked me to watch over the two of you. I'm here to make sure you do your job," he points at Sakura, "And I'm here to make sure you don't be an asshole."

He points at me and I scowl.

"She's fine with me staying?" Sakura asks skeptically.

"She doesn't want to admit it, but she doesn't have anyone to replace you with right now, at least nobody that's up to date on his condition and competent enough in the field of medicine. But she would like me to remind you that you're on thin ice."

"Consider me reminded," she smiles and hugs him tightly, too tight for my liking, "I'm so glad you're here!"

"Me, too," he hugs her back and smiles at me. For a second, I think he's taunting me; there's something twinkling in his gaze, "And maybe we'll get a chance to bond while I'm here. Oh, I almost forgot."

"What?" Sakura asks when they pull apart.

"I brought you this," Kakashi pulls a bar of chocolate out of his jacket pocket and hands it over to Sakura as her eyes light up in a way I've never seen before.

"You didn't!" She clutches the bar steadfastly against her chest.

"I happened to be passing by the shop on my way back," his grin is evident through the mask, "And of course I thought of you."

"Kakashi-sensei, thank you!" She tears open the wrapping and bites into it ferociously.

"Now I know where you get your bad eating habits from," I cross my arms and watch them turn to me with similar, scrutinizing expressions on their faces.

"Don't mind him. Sasuke has a strong dislike for anything succulent and delicious."

I rake my eyes down her body, purposefully, elaborately until the grimace is gone from her face and replaced by a strong blush. I disagree.

"I seem to remember an obsession with tomatoes," Kakashi muses.

"That's still true," Sakura chimes in, grateful I think to break eye contact with me. She gnaws on another piece of chocolate. I glower and snatch it out of her hand. What does she do for food if she lives by herself?

"You need to eat something substantial."

She gives me a threatening look and I might have been intimidated if she didn't happen to have chocolate smeared on her lower lip. I can't tell myself what possesses me to do it: assertion of dominance, Kakashi's presence, or maybe just the fact that I want to; I take my thumb and run it along her bottom lip. The irritation behind her eyes is gone as I lift my finger to my mouth and lick the chocolate off. Kakashi clears his throat.

"I could use something to eat. Are you two hungry?"

Not for food.

"Yes," Sakura turns away from me and leads Kakashi downstairs, "Famished."

I wait a moment, standing in her room in the dim light. Sakura confuses me. She can't intentionally be tormenting me, but everything she does makes me crave her. It's as if it's gotten worse since we first had sex. I feel an ache settling in my bones that seems permanent in its depths. What goes on in her head?


"What was that about?" Kakashi questions in a whisper when we reach the bottom of the stairs and turn into the kitchen.

"I don't know," I give a shrug and bury my head in the fridge, digging for leftovers.

"That seemed a little," Kakashi struggles for the word as I pull out some soup and stir fry, "Intimate?"

"Sasuke can be unpredictable like that sometimes," I shrug again and cringe inwardly at how obvious I must look.

"So you think if I had some chocolate on my mouth he'd do the same? Or maybe he'd go a step further and lick it off me?" Kakashi smirks, leaning against the counter.

"What are you trying to say?" I ask bluntly, facing him.

"Nothing," he digs around in the cupboards for a pan and gives a little sound of surprise when he finds one. Sasuke ambles down the steps without urgency, seemingly lost in thought.

"Sasuke, are you hungry?"

His eyes snap to mine and I can feel a bit of tension between our locked gazes. I suspect it might not be so awkward with us if Kakashi hadn't been here to witness that bit of mild foreplay.

"Sure, I'll eat."

"Good," I try to give him a reassuring smile and I think he softens at that, but his expression doesn't show it.


"I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you did not cook this wonderful meal?" Kakashi slurps almost as violently as Naruto does. Sakura nudges my arm in warning and I can't help but smirk at her peeved appearance.

"She helped."

Sakura rolls her eyes but gives me a smile nonetheless.

"A job well done to both of you," Kakashi wipes his mouth but doesn't resume his mask just yet, "I guess we should discuss sleeping arrangements."

"Sleeping arrangements?" Sakura asks and we both set our food down to regard Kakashi.

"Well, obviously he can't sleep alone - "

"I'm not sharing a bed with you," I frown.

"Well then I'll sleep on the floor, I suppose."

"Why can't the guards just watch him? You can sleep on the couch, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi leans in closer to whisper.

"She's not convinced by their performance and would prefer to have somebody more attuned to Sasuke's mannerisms just in case he decides to make a daring escape."

I scoff and shake my head.

"My thoughts exactly," Kakashi gives me a clipped smile, "But I'm here, and you'll need to learn to deal with it. I'll make a cot on the floor."

"Why can't I share the room with Sakura?" I don't even dare a glance in her direction; I know she's burning a hole in my head.

"You're going to make her sleep on the floor?"

"I'll sleep on the floor," I volunteer, though for all my selfish purposes, I don't intend to.

"Sakura?" Kakashi looks to her for approval and finally I peek at her. She doesn't seem mad, but rather flustered. Sakura's cheeks are aglow with a soft pink, not entirely unlike the flush that graced her when I was between her thighs. She must be playing out the same thoughts that I am.

"I'll, um, think about it," she stands, "I'm going to take a shower, I believe I need one."

"You do," Kakashi chimes in and she's so quick to run up the stairs that she doesn't even spare him a glance, let alone a snide comment. When I look back at Kakashi his mouth is pulled into a somber line, but I see that mischievous glint back in his eye, "That didn't take long, did it?"

"What?"

"For you and Sakura to fuck," Kakashi's words are an obscene whisper and if I had any food in my mouth, I'd probably have choked on it. Lecherous old man.

"That's none of your business," I keep my voice level, narrowing my eyes.

"Sakura is always my business," he responds calmly. "You were, too, once."

His voice holds the promise that I can be again. I'm not sure if I want to be.

"If Sakura wants to tell you something, that's fine, but you won't get anything from me," I stand, taking mine and Sakura's bowls to the sink. Kakashi is on his feet in a second to stand beside me.

"She doesn't have to say anything, it's obvious," he pulls his mask up, "Don't be ashamed, Sasuke, she's a beautiful woman. Smart, too."

And strong. Compassionate, brave, sanguine. I glare at him. So why don't you date her?

"What's your point?"

"We don't live forever, but that's just an incentive to enjoy life more. Cherish it, even," his words take an ominous tone, the conversation shifting in an instant. Though his eyes linger on me, he seems to be seeing a distant thought, something unclear to me. I thought he might chastise me, talk about not playing with her emotions or not breaking her heart. Is he trying to tell me something about my trial? "I'd hate to see the both of you suffer because you get in the way of your own happiness. And then before you know it, it becomes too late."

Kakashi exits on that note to the living room, grabs his suitcase and ascends the stairs.