Phatpeguin: Thanks for the comment. I hope that you keep reading.

Disclaimer: Same as the last chapter.

Chapter 1: What Happened?

Sadness enveloped her. She couldn't believe that he was dead. Her mentor. Her teacher. Her friend.

There was a knock at the door, but she didn't have the energy to get it.

"Come on Sakura, we know you're in there," Sasuke yelled at the door.

"If you don't open this door right now, Sakura-chan, we'll break it down," Naruto informed her, very loudly.

"That's it we're coming in," Sasuke shouted. Then the door burst open. They both rushed to her side.

"I'm sorry that we weren't there when he died. He meant just as much to us, as he did to you," Naruto apologized, tears in his eyes.

"It's okay," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"No it's not," Sasuke said softly. "We found out just as we got back."

"What happened, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked with quietness that nobody knew he had.

Flash Back

They had finished their mission and were on their way home.

"Kakashi-sensei I think that we should be home later today." Sakura said glad that the mission was finally over.

"Sakura how many times do I have to tell you not to call me sensei? I'm not any more and it makes me feel old." Kakashi said smiling and reading his perverted book.

"Fine Kakashi. Why do you read those nasty books?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi was about to answer when they heard the pop of a branch cracking under someone's foot. They were suddenly on alert. And at the ready to fight.

"Well, well, well if it isn't some of Konoha's finest. The copy-cat Nin Hatake Kakashi and the world famous Hurano Sakura the world's best medic-nin." Said a very nasal voice. The man that it belonged to was hideous. He was followed by four more men. They all looked lustfully at Sakura.

Noticing this Kakashi put his book away and said, "Keep looking at her like that and you will no longer have eyes to see out of."

"Yeah and what are you going to do about it old man." One of the others said. I can't wait to touch the famous and beautiful Hurano Sakura.

Seeing that they were going to have to fight these guys both Sakura and Kakashi got into their fighting stances.

The four men charged. Two for each of them. Pretty soon Sakura had one of them down and out for the count. She was fighting the other when she senesced that the other was attacking her. They were both coming at her at the same time. She wasn't for the double attack. She got the one that was facing her and then braced herself the other attack but it never came.

She turned around saw that Kakashi had taken the kunai in his chest. That was meant for me!

Sakura became blinded by rage and just started attacking the four men. Before she knew it they were all dead.

She ran towards Kakashi's side. She tried to heal him but he stopped her.

"Sakura, - don't- try- to- save- me. It's- too- late- for- me." Kakashi choked out with blood bubbling out of the side of his mouth.

"No Kakashi that's not true I can save you. I have plenty of chakra." Sakura said tears running down her face.

"Sakura….. Take care of them. They are your boys, and they always will be...Make sure that Naruto and Hinata stay together. They're meant for each other. ... Keep loving Sasuke, he needs it." Kakashi whispered coughing up blood.

"You can't die, Kakashi. You're like my father especially since my own died. When I get married you are supposed to walk me down the isle." Sakura cried out.

He just smiled and whispered "I'm sorry it's my time now…..I wanted that too….. Just let the boys know…. that they are like the sons that I never had….. You are the light of Team 7 and you are the most beautiful daughter….. That I never had...Good-bye" By this time his voice had gotten so soft that Sakura could barley hear him say good-bye.

End Flash Back

Sakura was sobbing after reliving the horrifying memory.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay I'm here. Let it all out." He said in her ear.

Naruto then placed a hand on her back rubbing it. "We'll always be here for you."

There was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Naruto said. He walked to the door and opened it. Tsunade, Hinata, Ino and Tenten were in the doorway. "Come in." The women walked past him each carrying a food item. Hinata stopped.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Naruto-kun. I know that he was like a father to you." she said looking down. Naruto grabbed the food item and set it on the table, and pulled her into and embrace.

"Thank you for your concern Hinata-chan. I love you." He spoke into her hair.

"I love you too. Just know that I am here for you no matter what. You also have many friends, who care about you, as well as Sasuke and Sakura," she informed him.

"I know and we are grateful for it," he replied.

They walked into the living room, after putting the food dish in the kitchen, where Tsunade was waiting for them.

"The memorial service for Kakashi will be held tomorrow at one in the afternoon. I postponed it until Sasuke and Naruto got back because one: Kakashi would have wanted all of you to be there, and two: Sakura requested that we wait." She then left finishing with, "If you three have anything to say then you will have the chance to do so. See you all tomorrow."

Ino and Tenten said "We left some food for you guys in the fridge. We'll see you tomorrow." Not knowing anything else to say they both left.

"I think I leave too. You guys need some time together" Hinata said walking to the door.

"Wait, I'll go with you. I need to be with you right now. Will you two be okay by yourselves?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. We can take care of each other." Sasuke answered.

"Okay, then, good night." Naruto and Hinata left holding hands.

"Let's see what the girls left for us to eat." Sasuke got up and walked to the kitchen and came back with two steaming hot plates of food, ten minutes later. "Here you go Sakura. Eat up. It's what he would want."

"I'm sorry Sasuke-kun. I'm weak. It's what caused Kakashi to die," Sakura burst out.

"Sakura, it didn't, and you're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know. You are the best medic-nin, besides Tsunade-sama, in the world. It's just that we, meaning Naruto, Kakashi, and I, a long time ago, decided that you were to be protected at all cost because you are the only one of us worth a damn. And the three of us combined wouldn't equal to what your life is worth," Sasuke told her passionately.

"But I'm not any better than you three." She refuted.

"You just don't see it the way we do." He answered.

They ate the rest of the meal in silence. Sasuke got up to wash the dishes, when Sakura softly requested, "Stay with me tonight Sasuke-kun."

"Of course."

After the dishes were done they just sat on Sakura's couch holding each other. Sakura soon fell asleep, tired from all of her crying. Sasuke picked her up and carried her to her bed. He put the covers over her, and just as he was about to leave to go to the living room to sleep Sakura grabbed his arm and asked "Will you sleep next to me? You keep me warm."

"Okay," he acquiesced. He crawled next to her, wrapped her in his arms, and they both drifted off to sleep.