Chapter Nineteen

"You're late Kakashi."

"I know and I am deeply sorry for making you wait Hoshi. May I make it up to you by taking you out to lunch?"

"I thought we already agreed to go out to lunch to make up for bowling me over earlier. Or did you forget that?" Hoshi said smiling.

"Oh how could I ever forget that?" Kakashi said holding out his arm his elbow bend. "May I?"

"You may." Hoshi said linking arms with Kakashi. Sure they had only just met but Hoshi didn't feel uncomfortable around him. And it was best she got to know someone here really well to make it easier to complete her mission. But she couldn't let anyone know what it was. 'And definitely not this strange yet very intriguing man.' Hoshi thought to herself. "I talked to a few people today to find something's about you."

"That's called prying in other peoples business. And that's rude." Kakashi replied smiling at her.

Hoshi laughed and then continued. "They said that you never take your mask off and that only one person has ever seen your face. Haruno Sakura."

Kakashi immediately dropped Hoshi's arm and turned away from her. "She's no longer Haruno Sakura. Her name is Uchiha Sakura. She got married just over a week ago." Kakashi said. Hoshi could hear the sadness in his voice.

"You loved her didn't you?" Hoshi asked already knowing the answer. She wisely didn't touch him but just waited.

"…Yes. And yes she is the only one who has ever seen my face." Hoshi reminded Kakashi of Sakura so much. He suddenly knew somewhere deep down that Hoshi could make him happy if no one else could. He suddenly knew that he had to make this work. Even if it meant showing her his face. He quickly turned around and gave her a genuine smile. He immediately felt Hoshi relax as he heard her soft sigh. Once again he held out his arm, elbow bend. "Come on. Let's go and get some ramen. Take away if you don't mind. When I show you my face I don't want other people surrounding us."

Hoshi linked arms with Kakashi again and knew that he trusted her. And she could help but trust him. At that moment she knew she had fallen for him. If not totally at least a little. Enough to know that when she got to her apartment she'd most likely swoon. "Your apartment or mine?"

"How did you know I live in an apartment?"

"Lucky guess."

"Then this must be your lucky day Hoshi. Mine I think. If you don't mind."

"Not at all."

They went and bought two bowls of take away ramen and made their way to Kakashi apartment. When they arrived Kakashi warmed up the ramen and sat opposite to Hoshi at the table.

"Now please try not to faint." Kakashi warned.

"Oh come on it's just a face."

Kakashi pulled up his forehead protector and Hoshi gasped as she saw the scar over his eye and the;

"Sharingin. That is so cool!" Hoshi squealed. "I thought sharingin belonged to the Uchiha clan."

"It does. To be honest I'm not really sure how come I have it, but it's useful at times." Kakashi explained to her. "Now…"

Kakashi slipped a finger over the edge of his mask and started to pull it down. He stopped just before it slipped over his nose. His eyes were close and Hoshi cautiously place her hand over his. His eyes shot open and stared at her. She could tell he was scared. After all he had only showed his face to one other person.

"It's alright Kakashi. I won't tell anyone what you really look like." Hoshi gave him the sweetest smile and Kakashi knew that was his undoing. With her hand still over his he pulled his mask down the whole way.

Hoshi's eyes bulged as she saw the straight thin nose, and the beautifully define mouth. Kakashi's lips were chiselled and had a red glow to them but still were slightly faded with the beige colour of his skin. Clean shaven Kakashi's chin was richly defined with his slightly square jaw. Hoshi brought her hand up to trace over his chin but hesitated. After a second she placed her hand one his cheek and traced a finger across his jaw. Kakashi's lips were parted and Hoshi could see he had very straight white teeth. She decided she had never seen a more handsome man and never would. She traced her finger over his lips and thrilled when Kakashi darted out his tongue to wet his lips grazing her finger. Hoshi immediately thought of what it would be like to kiss him. She tried to hide a blush at that time and tried to think of something to say.

"You're…" Hoshi didn't really know how to finish that sentence. Beautiful? Handsome? Gorgeous?

"Just say it Hoshi." Kakashi's voice had become deep and husky.

"…Magnificent." It wasn't exactly the word Hoshi wanted but it was good enough.

"Thankyou."

Hoshi quickly pulled her hand away and picked up her chopsticks. Kakashi followed suit and they both ate their ramen in silence.

"I'll walk you home." Kakashi said.

"O.K." Hoshi said not wanting to leave him. But knew she must eventually. She almost cried out in denial when Kakashi pulled his mask back up.

Linking arms again Kakashi kept her as close to his side as possible. He had felt her blush when something had crossed her mind before and he didn't want to rush anything with her. So he let the matter be.

When they arrived at her apartment Hoshi fiddled with her keys and Kakashi stared at her shamelessly. When Hoshi finally opened the door she said a rushed good bye and was about to enter her apartment when Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder stilling her movement. Orange eyes met black eye. Stepping forward Kakashi pulled his mask down coolly and kissed Hoshi on the lips in a swift kiss. Pulling his mask back up Hoshi stilled his hand. Kakashi looked at her questionably. Hoshi wanted more. His lips had barely touched hers. Pulling him down to her Kakashi go the idea and covered her mouth with his. Hoshi wrapped her arms around his neck not wanting to let go. Not wanting this kiss to end. Kakashi wrapped his arms around her slender waist with the same desires as Hoshi. His tongue darted out and touched her top lip requesting entrance. Hoshi responded and opened her mouth to accept its guest. Kakashi traced the inside of Hoshi's top lip. Hoshi's hand swept along Kakashi's jaw as if to pull him closer. She repeated Kakashi's tongue movement with her own in his mouth. His arms contacted around her waist bruising her against him. His hand combed though her hair. Hoshi's other hand cupped the back of his neck, placed on the tender bit of skin. After what seemed like an hour Kakashi broke the kiss. Cupping the back of Hoshi's head his hugged her crushing her to him. Hoshi inhaled the scent of him and knew that she was branded with it. But it was beautiful.

"I'd better go." Kakashi said after a long pause, his voice rich with passion.

"Yes." Hoshi said her voice rushing over Kakashi's senses.

Holding eachother for about another minute they finally let go.

"Bye." Hoshi said slowly closing her door.

"Jamata starlight." Kakashi said.

Kakashi sighed as the door shut. He turned around and pulled his mask back over his face. Then regrettably he made his way slowly back to his apartment. He was still thinking about his and Hoshi's kiss. He knew that she was his now. And he would not stuff this relationship up. He would make it work, because he liked her and cared for her.

Kakashi laughed out loud. "God Kakashi you only just met her." He sighed. 'Well I do care for her. And I do like her. More than a friend.' Kakashi thought. He flopped down on his couch and drifted off into a day-dream about Hoshi.

When Sakura woke up the next day she found herself in Itachi's arms. She smiled as she realised that the must have been asleep for over 30 hours. She did a slight double-take when she didn't recognise the room she was sleeping in. She sat up in bed and;

"Shit." She said as she remembered that she was now an Akatsuki full member. She suddenly had to lie back down as a dizzy wave came over her. When she fell back onto the bed she woke Itachi up.

"Hallo, my cherry blossom. Nice to see you finally awake."

Sakura couldn't say anything back as she put a hand over her eyes, the coolness of her hands easing the pain in her head.

"What's wrong Sakura?" Itachi asked looking at her intently. When she didn't answer he pulled his arm out from under her and touched her forehead. He felt like his hand had been scorched as he noticed how hot her face was. "Shit." He quickly jumped out of bed and went to get a damp cool cloth. He placed it over her forehead and wondered if she had a fever or something else.

Sakura felt the cloth of her forehead and was thankful that Itachi had got it. Her face had warmed up her hand. Then she groaned.

Itachi felt hopeless. What could he do unless Sakura told him what was wrong. "What's wrong Sakura?" Itachi repeated.

"Migraine." Sakura said finally. Now Itachi knew what he could do. He blocked out as much light as possible and then sat down next to Sakura holding her hand being quiet. Though the silence didn't last long as Deidara barged though the door.

"ITACHI! SAKURA-CHAN! BREAKFAST! Uff…" Deidara said as Sakura threw a pillow at him hitting him accurately in the face. Itachi smirked and whispered in Sakura's ear;

"I'll bring you something to eat. You stay here."

"Thankyou." Sakura said softly. She just wanted to be left alone.

Itachi dressed quickly and then grabbed Deidara by the collar dragging him out of the room.

"Don't ever do that again Deidara."

"Sorry Itachi. Um… was that Sakura being moody before? Yeah?" Deidara asked still being dragged but deciding it was best not to struggle.

"No. That was Sakura being moody with a migraine to top it off." Itachi answered.

"Oh… Then it's best not to talk to her today? Yeah?"

"Yep. Just leave her alone."

"O.K. yeah."

"Do you always have to say 'yeah' at the end of all your sentences?"

"No but it's just become a habit yeah."

"Right." Itachi then opened the door into the breakfast room and threw Deidara inside.

"Ow! Itachi!"

"Wow Deidara no 'yeah' at the end of that sentence." Kisame said smiling. Deidara got up and brushed himself off before going over to sit next to Sasori.

"Where is Sakura, Itachi?" Sasori asked.

"She has a migraine so just leave her alone." Itachi informed all of them. Hidan and Zetsu weren't there. Itachi guessed they were asleep as their punishment for what they did yesterday was to clean the entire Akatsuki headquarters by themselves. And even though it was underground it was still a lot of ground to cover. They wouldn't have finished till a little bit past midnight. He'd just repeat it to them later. "Also try to keep the noise level down. As she's also moody from the pregnancy she will hurt anyone who makes her migraine worse."

"Remind me again Itachi when the baby's born." Leader said appearing out of nowhere.

"You have got to stop doing that leader-sama, yeah." Deidara said with a shiver.

"I'll stop sneaking up on you when you stop saying 'yeah' at the end of your sentences Deidara."

"Will everyone leave me alone about my 'yeah's yeah!"

"No." Said everyone except Itachi and Sasori in perfect unison.

"To answer your question Leader-sama, the baby is born in five months.

"Five fucking months of putting up with her."

"Watch you mouth Hidan." Itachi threatened him seeing that he wasn't asleep but looked like hell with heavy black bags under his eyes.

Hidan huffed but stayed silent. Everyone knew this was going to be a long five months.