Well, I put my first lemon here. I labeled it in case you'd like to avoid it. Tell me how I did. I need reviews to know what to improve on for my next lemon in this fic which is not that far away people!

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Disclaimer: Okay. Don't own Naruto or Kakashi.

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Ch.21: A Little Hope

"Augh. My head."

Sakura sat up holding her head. She blinked and began to rub her temples, blue chakra flowing from her fingers. 'It pays to be a medic, but what happened last night?'

She looked down and gasped. Kakashi woke up. "Mm…Mornin."

"Um, Kakashi? We didn't do anything last night, right?"

Kakashi blinked and pushed himself up onto his elbow, the covers resting just above his waist. "Naruto gave you that party, remember?"

Sakura's hangover gone, she remembered what happened the night before. "Oh yeah, we did karaoke. You sing pretty good, Kakashi. Let's see. Afterwards, we played strip poker and you and Sasuke lost all your clothes." As soon she said that, she blushed. Kakashi chuckled. "You have only yourself to blame."

"For being good at strip poker?"

"Exactly."

"At least I gave you back your clothes. I didn't want to keep playing with you naked in front of me."

"I don't look that bad underneath my clothes."

'Don't I know it.' Sakura thought.

Kakashi fell on his back. "Damn my head hurts."

"You look a little green too. Here, let me." Sakura bent over Kakashi and started rubbing chakra into his temples. Unknown to her, she was giving him a good long look at her cleavage. 'Must resist. Temptation.' Unfortunately, he couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze away, so he lay there until she removed her hands. He cursed the loss of her touch.

"Feeling any better Kakashi?" He grunted and walked to the bathroom. Sakura watched as he entered the bathroom door. 'What's wrong with him?'

Kakashi ripped off his mask and groaned. He turned on the sink and splashed cold water on his face. 'Ugh. Damn morning wood.'

It was true. He usually had it and didn't really care, but after the cleavage incident, it was painful. 'Two options. Either wait it out or take care of it in the shower.'

'You're seriously considering to wait it out? Considering how painful it is?'

'A shinobi should be able to handle any measure of pain.'

'Good luck and I mean it. You'll need seeing how that will probably take an hour to subside and if I remember correctly, you don't have that long.'

'Shit.' Kakashi vented a frustrated growl. 'Fine, shower, it is.'

------------------------------------------------First Lemon------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi undressed and turned on the water. He stepped in and felt the initial shock of the cold. The water slowly began to warm. His hand slowly tracing the sensitive skin of his abdomen. His heart raced a little. He grabbed himself and squeezed. His head fell back. He let his mind wander as he moved his hand up and down and soon, he thought of Sakura. He increased his rhythm, his breathing became fast. He remembered how soft her body was and how she kissed him. That did him in.

He arched himself into his hand as he groaned. "Sakura" he cried, the sound of the shower muffling the sound. He hung his head against his chest and watched as the white liquid dripped down the shower wall. He panted. 'Better clean this up.'

He quickly finished his shower and cleaned up the wall. Drying himself off, he put on some clothes and exited the bathroom.

--------------------------------------------------End Lemon----------------------------------------------------

Sakura heard the door click open. "Everything alright?"

He nodded and sat on his bed. He reached for his signature book when Sakura chirped, "Don't even think about it. Remember the dare? You're not supposed to read that for the rest of the vacation."

Kakashi retracted his hand. "Then what do you expect me to do?" Sakura looked over her shoulder. "Not my problem." With that, Sakura sauntered into the bathroom leaving Kakashi to curse to his heart's content.

With Sasuke and Naruto…

The sun peeked through the curtains into their room, shining directly on Sasuke. He opened his eyes and immediately shouted, "Shit, my eyes!" followed by a "Fuck, my aching head!"

This woke up Naruto. He put his arm over his eyes. "Shut up, teme. Augh. Fuck. I hate hangovers."

"Hn. Whatever, just stop talking." Sasuke hissed in pain. "Guess we have to drag our asses to Sakura later." Naruto nodded and moved to get some aspirin.

Half an hour later, Naruto knocked on the door to his friends' room. Sakura opened the door. "Hi Naruto."

"Ack! Too loud! Too loud!"

"Sorry," she whispered, "Come in." She closed the door behind her and put her hands on her hips, facing Naruto. "Lemme guess, hangover treatment?"

"Yeah." replied Naruto, clutching his head in his hand. "Teme said he was gonna come later."

Kakashi smiled. "I guess I'll get breakfast for all of us, seeing how Sakura is playing nurse this morning for all of us."

'That sounded so dirty.' Sakura nodded and Kakashi grabbed his wallet and left.

Ten minutes later, Sasuke came into the room. Naruto got up from the chair he was sitting in and waved goodbye. "Come sit down, Sasuke." She patted the chair Naruto was just in. He plunked down and Sakura focused chakra to her hand. "So how much did you drink Sasuke? I drank 11 shots, Kakashi drank 15, and Naruto drank 12. How about you?"

"14." came the reply.

"Wow. No wonder your hangover's a bitch. Well, this might take a little longer than everyone else, so get comfortable." He closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair.

Fifteen minutes later, Sakura finished. "I guess we should lay off the alcohol. I'm surprised no one puked."

"Who said they didn't? Dobe puked in the bathroom when he went to get the aspirin."

"Eww.."

"At least you don't have to share a room with him, he snores like a chainsaw."

Sakura chuckled. "I know that. How does Hinata put up with that?"

Sasuke smirked. "Dobe says she wears ear plugs." They looked at each other and broke out laughing. "Seriously?!" asked Sakura. Sasuke covered his mouth and nodded.

Sakura took a deep breath. "Well, anyway, you're done, Sasuke. I'll see you later." Sasuke got up and grabbed her wrist. Sakura looked back. "Nani?"

Sasuke looked at his shoes. "Um, well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the festival with me." Sakura gasped. "I'm sorry Sasuke, but Kakashi asked me yesterday. I'm so sorry. Really, I am."

Sasuke dropped her arm. "Oh. I see." he said, disappointment leaking through his voice and eyes. Sakura grew worried. She raised her hand to cup his cheek, but he tore away from the embrace and ran out the door. She watched him leave the room. "Sasuke." she whispered.

Sasuke ran out of the inn and poofed away. He reappeared at Lake Clarity. He sat on the dock, drawing patterns in the air with his fingers while he leaned against the tree. 'She chose Kakashi over me. How could she? I thought she loved me.'

'Hey, you're not being fair. Kakashi asked earlier than you, what was she supposed to do? Reject him?'

'Yes. She could've at least waited until I asked her.'

'You're being ridiculous. She couldn't say no to him and she didn't know you were planning on asking her. She wasn't planning on hurting you. I mean, she won't hurt a person if she can help it and in case you haven't noticed, she does love you.'

'No she doesn't.'

'Yes she does, you just need to figure that out. Time will tell. Until then, we'll go on with our lives, but you might not like how this ends, but pain is a part of our lives. You should know that better than everyone, or at least, most people.'

'Hn. Fine, I'll wait.'

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke blinked. He looked up at the person in front of him. "Oh, Ayame, hi."

Ayame smiled at him. Sasuke's heart leapt a little. "Would you mind if I sat with you?" Sasuke shook his head and scooted over. She sat down, hugged her knees to her body, and looked at him. Sasuke looked back at her. "What?"

"Would you mind telling me what wrong?" Ayame asked.

'How'd she know? Must be a lucky guess.'

"I asked someone to the festival and they turned me down." Ayame looked out on the lake. "Do you mean Sakura?" Sasuke was shocked and blushed slightly. After getting over the shock, he sighed and hung his head. "How'd you know?" he muttered.

Ayame continued looking out on the lake. "Because I can see it in the way you look at her, like the way Kakashi looks at her, but slightly different."

"What?"

"Oops." Ayame covered her mouth and blushed. "Nothing, nothing."

"I heard it so you might as well explain."

Ayame sighed. "Well, some of the people in the village know how you two feel towards Sakura. I'm surprised she doesn't. The way we know is how you act and how your eyes look when she's mentioned."

"And that is?"

"Well, you two both get a look in your eye when Sakura is mentioned. The way you look is similar to Kakashi."

"How is that?"

Ayame looked at him. "I wouldn't know. It's your heart, what do you think?" Sasuke looked at the lake and sighed. "I wouldn't know. Even if it's my heart, I've shut it away for so long, I can't tell what it does anymore."

Ayame put her hand on his arm, worry in her eyes. Sasuke stared into them, Ayame stared back. Their faces moved closer together. Sasuke moved his head to the side. "Sorry." he said.

"For what?"

"For making you worry about me."

Ayame laughed. "It's no problem, it's my job as your friend to help you in any way I can." she smiled.

"Well, I have to make it up to you somehow."

"Well, if you wouldn't mind, would you like to come to the festival with me?" Sasuke looked at her in surprise. "I understand. Well, I better get back to the store." She got up and looked back at him. "I'm sorry to have bothered you, Sasuke."

She slowly walked down the path back to the village square. Sasuke blinked and saw her figure moving away from him. He ran to catch up to her and grabbed her wrist. She turned back to face him. "Nani? What is it, Sasuke."

"Well, I decided to go with you to the festival. That is, if the offer still stands."

Ayame's eyes widened and her small smile grew to a grin. She couldn't hold back her excitement and hugged him. He wasn't expecting that so he fell backwards, bringing he with him. She landed on top of him with her arms encircling his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Sasuke blushed deep red. "N-n-no problem."

"Huh? What's wrong?" Sasuke blushed deeper and looked down at her. She looked down also and blushed deep red also. "S-s-sorry! I shouldn't have done that. It was just you made me so happy that I couldn't control myself. Gomen."

Sasuke sat up bringing her up with him. He smiled. "It's okay, I understand. A lot of my friends do that too." He chuckled. "Maybe I'll invite them to you one day."

Ayame smiled. "I'd like that." She looked at her watch. "Oh no! I have to get back to the store! I'm already late!"

She scrambled off Sasuke and tried to run, but Sasuke just grabbed her wrist again. "I'll take you."

"No, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that."

Sasuke looked her in the eye. "It's no problem."

Ayame searched his eyes and saw he was serious, she nodded. "Okay." Sasuke kneeled down slightly. Ayame looked at him puzzled. "I'll carry you. It'll be easier and faster." When she didn't, he scooped her in his arms and ran to her store, a trail of dust behind them.

Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi were sitting on the bed watching the t.v. They had finished breakfast and wasting time. A knock at the door came. "I wonder who that is?" Sakura whispered. She pushed herself off the bed and ran to the door. She opened the door. "Sasuke?"

"Hn." She swung the door open so Naruto and Kakashi could see him. Sakura put her hands around his. "Are you okay? Where were you?" she asked worriedly.

Sasuke looked down at her eyes. 'How could I even think she didn't love me?'

"I'm okay. I was just thinking about earlier. Sorry for being an ass." She gripped his hands tighter. "Sasuke? Are you still mad?"

He kissed her on the cheek and smiled warmly back at her. "No. I'm fine. I think I needed to sort some things through. I'm sorry for making you worry. Can you forgive me?"

Sakura smiled. "Of course I can and I already did. Did you eat yet?" Sasuke nodded.

Sakura went into the room and Sasuke followed. Sasuke sat on the bed and looked at the t.v for a while. "Hey Kakashi. Can I talk to you in the hall for a minute?" Kakashi nodded and they left the room. Sakura and Naruto looked at each other with the same question on their minds, 'What was that all about?'

In the hall……

Kakashi and Sasuke stood in the hall. Kakashi closed the door behind him. "So Sasuke, what'd you want to talk about?"

Sasuke looked back at the man. "Sakura told me that you asked her to the festival. What I'd like to know is why?" he stated coolly, regarding the silver-haired man in front of him.

"I asked her because I wanted to."

Sasuke leaned against the wall and asked, "Why? How do you feel about Sakura?" Sasuke narrowed his gaze at him, daring him to try and lie.

Kakashi sighed. "Look Sasuke, I like Sakura a lot. Actually, I love her. More than a student and more than a friend."

Sasuke locked his jaw and slammed the wall behind him. 'I should have known. I don't have a chance with her now.'

'But you can still love her. Kakashi can't take that away from you, no one can. Keep loving her and protect her with every fiber of your being. Keep her safe. Keep her happy. Kakashi can have her heart, but tell her she has yours.'

Kakashi looked at Sasuke. 'I guess he loved her too.'

'It's hard not to fall in love with her.'

Sasuke pushed himself off the wall and looked Kakashi straight in the eye. He took a deep breath. "Fine, Kakashi, you love her, but so do the rest of us." Sasuke's gaze became cold enough to freeze all the dimensions of hell at that moment. "If you hurt her in any way, and I mean it, I will make sure you will never be able to touch her again."

Sasuke glared at him, his eyes telling him that he could count on it. Kakashi nodded. Sasuke pushed past him, his hand on the doorknob. He stared at the door in front of him. "Protect her, Kakashi. I don't think I could bear it if someone hurt her again, and I don't think she can either."

Sasuke entered the room, leaving Kakashi to look at the closed door. Kakashi sighed. "I guess he really does love her." he whispered. 'Don't worry Sasuke, I wouldn't dream of it.'

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Three days later….

"I'm leaving now, Kakashi!"

Sakura called out as she reached for the door. "Take care." he smiled.

"Hai." Sakura nodded and locked the door behind her. She went down the stairs and walked into the lobby. "Hi Ayame!"

The black-haired girl turned around and smiled. "Hi Sakura!" Ayame ran up to Sakura and hugged. They released each other. "Kisa-san, I'm leaving now." said Sakura. Kisa walked from behind the front desk. "Bye Sakura-san, Ayame-san. Oh, Sakura-san, don't forget. You and your friends have to see me and Hiro for your kimonos tomorrow."

"Hai." replied Sakura. Ayame and Sakura said goodbye and went out.

They spent the whole day shopping for the festival the next day. Sakura and Ayame were walking back from the mall. "So who are you going to the festival with, Ayame? I already told you that I was going with Kakashi and you told me Keiko and Saita were going together, so what about you?"

Ayame looked down at her feet and blushed. "Um, well, I'm going to the festival with Sasuke."

"Oh, that's nice. Wait. WHAT?!"

"Ow, Sakura. Not so loud."

"Sorry. So you were why he calmed down so fast. He didn't tell me he was going with you."

"Well, I ran into him when I was on my break."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you for cheering him up."

Ayame looked at her and blushed redder. "W-what makes you say that?"

"Well, usually, only me and Naruto can calm him down when he's angry or upset, but it seems you've moved into the ranks with us."

Ayame's eyes widened. "Really? Wow!" Sakura looked slyly at her friend. "So tell me, Ayame. Do you like Sasuke?" Ayame blushed and looked at her shoes. "Don't worry. I won't tell. Just enjoy yourself at the festival tomorrow, ne?"

Ayame looked up and smiled. "Mm."

Sakura and Ayame were walking past the Tiger Lily café when the door opened. They moved around the door and continued on their way, when Ayame tripped. "Ow." Ayame rubbed her sore butt. "Are you okay, Ayame?"

"I'm fine Sakura." Sakura helped Ayame up and turn to the person in the door. "Who do you think you are, tripping people who come across your path?!"

"I think I'm me and I don't see people. all I see is dirt."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Yumi." she spat.

"In the flesh. Who'd you think it was?" Yumi replied.

'Well, a lot of people.' Sakura thought.

'Bigfoot, Satan, the list goes on and on.'

"So little sister, who's the poor sap you begged to go to the festival with you?"

"I don't think Sasuke would appreciate you calling him a poor sap." pointed out Sakura.

"WHAT?!"

Yumi looked at Ayame in shock. "It's true." replied Ayame shyly. Yumi smirked. "Lucky you. Looks like someone is doing charity early this year. So who's going with you, whore?"

"I don't think you'd want to know." she replied. Yumi folded her arms in front of her chest. "Try me."

"She's right, big sister. You really wouldn't like it."

"Shut up brat. Just tell dammit."

Sakura sighed. "Kakashi." she said bluntly.

Yumi looked like she was going to go into cardiac arrest at any minute. Suddenly, she started laughing. "She's kidding, right, Ayame?" Ayame shook her head solemnly. Yumi turned her head to Sakura. "You really were kidding, right?"

"As much fun as it would be to trick you, I'm telling the truth. Come on, Ayame, I need to go back to the inn and you need to go practice with the band."

Ayame smiled. "Hai. Bye sister!" Ayame waved at her sister before catching up to Sakura. Yumi got over the shock and was livid. 'You are going down, Haruno, and I'm going to have fun watching you crumble.'

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At the inn…

Sakura ran up to her friends' rooms. She knocked on the door rapidly. "Get your asses out here! We need to see Hiro and Kisa for our clothes tomorrow!"

Sasuke opened the door slowly and walked out while Naruto skipped out. Kakashi took his sweet time while he walked out. Sakura ran into the room, dropped her bags, and met up with the rest of team 7. "Ready? Okay. Let's go!" She dragged the three of them and rushed down the stairs.

Kisa and Hiro were waiting at the bottom of the stairwell. "Hi Kisa-san, I got them down here as fast as I could."

Kisa started to giggle and Hiro started grumbling. "What's wrong?" asked Sakura.

Kisa stopped giggling. "Hiro didn't think you'd get them down here so fast, so now he owes me 1000 yen." Sakura started to giggle with Kisa.

Kisa calmed down and looked at her favorite guests. "You three will go with Hiro and Sakura-san, you'll come with me."

"Um. Okay. Guess I'll see you guys later." Sakura waved goodbye and left. "Follow me." said Hiro.

With Hiro…..

Hiro led them to a hallway leading from the backroom. 'So their house is connected to the inn by this hallway leading from the backroom.' thought Kakashi.

"Well, here we are."

"Wow! Look at how many there are!" exclaimed Naruto.

Hiro chuckled. "These were some of my sons'. Some of the ones in the back are my old ones. Feel free to choose whichever one you want." They split up and explored the large closet.

Naruto found his first. "Wow, look at this!" He took down a black kimono with a golden bamboo print. He held it out in front of him and tried it on. "I think I'll take this one, Hiro-san!" Hiro walked over to Naruto, looked at him and smiled. "Yes, it looks nice on you. This one belonged to my second son. Funny, you seem just like him. Fate, perhaps."

Naruto grinned. "Aw, shucks."

Sasuke found his next. He wandered to the area near the back, scanning the closet when he spotted something. He pulled it down and tried it on. 'Hm. It fits.' He was wearing a midnight-blue kimono with a few small black circular designs. "I like it."

Hiro turned to Sasuke. "That one belonged to my first son. He was a lot like you, Sasuke-san. You should be proud, it looks good on you.

Kakashi found his last. He had scanned the entire closet three times and still hadn't found anything. He decided to take one last look. He walked all the way to the back. He sighed. 'Nothing.' As soon as he thought that, he saw something. 'How did I miss this?'

He pulled it out and shrugged it on. "Hm." He studied the fabric. It was a plain black and had a white thing on it. It looked like a haori.

Hiro looked at Kakashi. 'Could that be? It is, but how'd he find it? Could he be? No, it couldn't be, but...'

"Kakashi-san, do you like that one?"

"Yes. Quite, actually. May I wear it?"

Hiro smiled. "Sure. Oh, I 'll give you all the rest of the clothing tomorrow before you leave. Kisa will probably help Sakura with her kimono before you leave, so I'll give it to you then." Kakashi nodded and they put the clothes in a small corner in the front of the closet. They thanked Hiro and went to their rooms.

With Kisa….

Kisa led Sakura to another room in their house. She slid open a door. "Well, Sakura-san, here we are."

Sakura gasped. "There're so many!"

Kisa smiled. "Well, go on and choose one." Sakura smiled and nodded. She passed by many kimonos and yukatas. She looked over each one, after 20 minutes, she still hadn't found anything. "Is everything alright, Sakura-san?"

Sakura looked at Kisa. "H-hai. It's just I can't find anything I like. I'm sorry to have wasted your time."

Sakura walked towards the door when Kisa spoke up. "Well, there is one that you haven't seen yet. Would you like to see it?"

Sakura smiled. "Sure."

Kisa sat Sakura down at the table and fished around for a white box. She laid it in front of Sakura. "Open it, Sakura-san."

She did as she was told. "Kisa-san, It's beautiful, but I couldn't possibly wear it. It's too much."

Kisa smiled. 'So she likes this kimono? The only person to ever wear this before was her, now Sakura? It couldn't be, but there is the chance it is.'

"I insist you wear it. You liked it so much, so I don't see why you shouldn't. I'll bring you the rest of your things tomorrow before we leave to go to the festival."

"Um, alright, but Ayame said she was coming at four because she and the band has to get ready."

"Alright, I'll come up with her. I'll tell Hiro later, now go and get some sleep, it's getting late and there's so much to do tomorrow."

Sakura smiled and nodded. "See you tomorrow, Kisa-san."

"Goodnight, Sakura-san."

Sakura left and went to her room. She changed and slipped into the bed. Kakashi slid his arms around her. "So what did you pick out, Sakura?"

Sakura turned around to face him. "I'm not telling, you'll find out tomorrow anyways."

Kakashi pouted.

"Stop, pouting doesn't suit you." Kakashi sighed and kissed her on her forehead. "Night, Sakura." She snuggled up to him. "Night Kakashi." They soon fell into a deep sleep as the stars twinkled in the night sky.