A/N: Thank you to those of you who have reviewed and thank you to those who have favorited/story alerted/author favorited this fanfic (Check out my profile, if you did any of those, you'll be on it)! Sorry for the wait, I was busy with my other story, 'Awkward Mission'. As I read the first chapter of 'Growing Feelings' I realized how much it sucked. There were so many mistakes, for some time I called Dajaku 'Takoto' and I forgot the separators (….) so it just turned out to be a big mess. I'm rambling, and I know it.

So, here it is!

Sakura bit her lip as Kakashi said those words.

He really seemed upset, perhaps Sakura went a little too far?

Maybe he was disappointed in her.

Sakura frowned; she really hated it when Kakashi acted coldly towards her.

Suddenly, Kakashi turned around. "Follow me," he said monotonously.

Even though Kakashi was upset, he couldn't help but think how incredibly cute Sakura is when she was nervous.

….

Kakashi opened a door that seemed to lead to a meeting room.

He switched on the dim lights, and checked around for anything suspicious.

Then he sighed, brought up I chair and sat on it. He looked down, running his hands through his hair as if to soothe his brain.

Silence.

Sakura felt very uncomfortable in the awkward silence. Especially since they were going to most likely talk about their little jealousy 'game' and how they shouldn't like each other and all ….

"Kakas-" Sakura began.

"Sakura, what are you planning?" Kakashi asked bluntly, looking up.

He seemed really lost here. And troubled.

That caught her off guard.

She wasn't really used to dealing with Kakashi in anything other than techniques and skill.

" … I-I … I don't know," she whispered, looking down at the floor.

It was obvious Sakura was guilty of her actions.

What kind of idiot am I?

Kakashi said nothing.

He looked at Sakura, who was still frowning at the floor.

He really shouldn't of been that harsh on her. She seems to realize what she had done.

Besides, it's not only his fault, but his.

He decided to play along with the jealousy game.

His eyes softened, and he gave a shrugging smile.

People can be idiots when they like someone.

"Sakura," he said softly. "Look at me,"

Sakura's eyes widened. Slowly she brought her face up.

"I don't … I don't really know how I can … deal with this." Kakashi said truthfully.

Sakura nodded slowly.

He's probably going to start saying how this is taboo and how he's so much older than her.

How this is so wrong and that she should just forget about him.

Sakura knew he knew about her feelings for him.

And he knew she knew about his feelings for her.

She couldn't stand the tension any longer.

"You know what Kakashi?" Sakura said suddenly. "I think we should just stay as friends. As captain and comrade. This is all so silly. I mean seriously, you and I? I shouldn't be with someone like you. As old as you. Soon we'll be back to normal, and then we can go on with our own business, ok?" it just killed her inside to say these words.

Sakrua turned around and ran through the door, she didn't know where she wanted to go. Just out of Kakashi's 'little-naïve–girl-who-doesn't-understand-what-love-is' look he's probably shooting at her.

Thing was, he wasn't looking at her like that.

In fact, Sakura didn't even look at Kakashi as she told him that.

She missed the pained, sad, hurt look he had on.

Or when he punched the wall so hard after she left, making a hole.

….

Sakura walked out of the bathroom, taking a deep breath.

I can do this. Just don't think about Kakashi. She thought.

She wore a forced smile and walked around the palace, finally being on task.

Meanwhile …

Kakashi sighed.

"You know what Kakashi? I think we should just stay as friends. As captain and comrade. This is all so silly. I mean seriously, you and I? I shouldn't be with someone like you. As old as you. Soon we'll be back to normal, and then we can go on with our own business, ok?"

The way she said it.

She acted like it was a silly little crush.

And she may feel that way towards Kakashi.

But that's not what Kakashi felt for her.

He felt something different.

Something deeper.

He loves her.

….

Sakura opened a door to a room that seemed to be Yoshinao's office. It had stacks of scrolls and papers.

,

She slowly and quietly picked at a few … and opened several scrolls to read.

One of them was named 'Confidential' and Sakura mischievously opened it.

Scanning it over, her eyes widened.

Capturing the tailed-beasts is the main goal of Akatsuki. Make sure to keep an eye on him. There should be enough protection …

Sakura frowned. Maybe the enemy wants to kill Yoshinao so that there's no control over the seven tailed beast …

She could be in a fight, and she's actually ready and excited to kick some butt.

She had to tell Kakashi, but at the same time, she didn't want to.

….

Kakashi stared at the garden. It's been some hours since he's talked to Sakura and it seems that they're going nowhere.

How can they catch the enemy if they stay in the same position? It would be too late, because the enemy has enough time to attack.

His mind trailed off to Sakura. He needed to talk to her (about the mission) but it seems that their feelings have made it awkward between the two, and now they're using the technique of avoidance.

Screw it all! This is ANBU, and he's the captain! He should just conceal his feelings, and maybe even stop them. This was a mission, dammit!

With his decision in mind, he went inside to find Sakura, but he couldn't help but feel nervous.

….

Sakura was intently reading, so intent that she didn't notice Kakashi right behind her.

Kakashi couldn't help but feel a little proud. It was a great idea to look through Yoshinao's papers to find out more information about him, and possibly, why he is under attack.

"Panther," he said softly, touching her am.

Sakura jumped, dropping her scrolls. "Oh, uh- hi Dragon!"

Kakashi chuckled. "Have you found any information?"

"Yep. I found out that the seven tailed beast lives in the Land of Grass, who's name is Kaede, and he's an orphan. Apparenty, Yoshinao controls his protection, since he is only a young boy and Akatsuki is after his kyuubi."

Kakahsi nodded.

"They could be aiming to kill Yoshinao in order to extract Kaede's kyuubi easier.'

Kakashi smiled. "Great work. Also, watching in the same position is not a working idea. It may be too late when they already plan an ambush and attack …"

Sakura nodded.

"So, I'm proposing that 2 of stay at the castle, and 2 of us search around in the forest."

Sakura frowned slightly. He's probably going to be with Yuki again. But I shouldn't care, because I have to get over this crush!

"Because I am the captain, and you've found some interesting information …"

Sakura felt her bubble of hope grow …

"And you're a medic-nin and I'm ninjutsu, and we're both good in taijutsu and gengetu … there's likely going to be an attack …"

Sakura's eyes widened.

"I propose that you and I will go search, and Yuki and Dajaku stay back here." Kakashi finished with a smile.

Sakura could've jumped for joy.

….

Just as Kakashi explained it to Yuki and Dajaku, he and Sakura were about to set off when they were cut off by a yelling chuunin.

"Yoshinao-sama!" the young ninja cried. "Kaede has been reportedly been captured not too long ago in the woods!"

Kakashi and Sakura immediately took action. They followed the chuunin to the place, along with Yoshinao.

….

When they arrived, they saw a ninja clad all in black, even his sheath, which was covering his eyes. All you could see was his cocky smirk.

You would already know that he is a very skilled ninja.

A young boy of around 13 years old, with black messy hair and orange, frightened eyes was tied with chakra strings, attached to 5 trees surrounding him in a circle.

That must be the seven tailed beast, Kaede.

The enemy had another member with him, a voluptuous woman with streaking green hair, and dark blue eyes, also wearing black.

The ninja clad in black casually stood up from the tree his was leaning on, to walk towards Kaede, bringing his hand around his neck with a kunai. Kaede was his hostage.

"Konoha ANBU ninjas, eh? It seems that Yoshinao-sama here is desperate. Getting the skilled ninjas to finish me off." He smirked.

Sakura's stance tensed. He seemed very skilled himself.

He pushed his hood back, revealing pitch black hair and eyes, a scar running across his right cheek. His Grass headband had a scar across it. He was a missing-nin.

He turned to Kakashi.

"Hatake Kakashi, huh? I remember you, you had the same mask even back then. You had to flee for you life when you were younger. Do you think you can handle it now, Copy ninja?"

Sakura could feel Kakashi tense up. He obviously didn't like his past being talked about.

The missing nin turned to Sakura.

"I see that you've brought along a partner. "he gave her a wink.

Sakura felt like gagging.

"The pink haired bitch really impressed me. Defusing my explosive tag, and extracting the poison from the woman's neck. I bet she has a lot to offer." He licked his lips.

Kakashi's fist clenched.

"Oh, oh. No need to be so hasty, Hatake. I know that something is going on between you two."

And then the world came crashing down.

Sakura's eyes widened behind her mask.

She knew Kakashi was surprised, too.

She began sweating. The tension is too hard for her to take.

Kakashi knows that I like him! And he likes me!

"What? Don't act so clueless. You're both talented, but I guess you're just chicken when it comes to-"

"Shut up!" Sakura acted on impulse. Something ANBU should never do.

She was about to run forward, ready to punch him to obliviation, when Kakashi softly touched her arm to stop her.

Sakura shot him a confused look.

"If you like each other … I don't see what's holding you back." The bastard continued. "But I guess you won't be able to live any longer."

The other ninja sneered.

Suddenly, the black clad shinobi was in front of Kakashi in a millisecond, attempting to do an over head kick, when Kakashi effectively stopped it.

This fight has just begun.

….

Sakura knew she should start fighting, too.

"You!" she screamed over her shoulder at the chuunin ninja who showed them here. "Protect Yoshinao-sama!"

The green haired woman came behind her.

"Why don't you die, too? Little girls shouldn't pretend to be ANBUS." She hissed in her ear.

Sakura's eyes narrowed.

She jumped into the air swiftly threw a few transparent arrows.

The missing-nin used a long stick to block them, and dodged the rest.

When Sakura jumped down they began taijutsu.

She blocked the lightning fast hits from the woman with her arms, and then Sakura caught her off guard and got to hit her stomach with a chakra-infested kick.

The woman landed on the floor with a thud.

She got up and immediately began making hand seals, before water dragons swirled around Sakura, who jumped in the air. She made a number of hand signs, before putting her fingers to her lips to blow a fireball at the water.

It exploded, and Sakura flipped back to jump on a high rock, avoiding the water below them.

The woman was standing on her vertical stick.

After some hand signs Sakura made a gengetsu, as she disappeared into a swirl of cherry blossoms. It surrounded the woman who was losing her footing on the pole.

Sakura suddenly appeared behind her, similar to Lee's lotus position. She began to punch and kick the woman in mid-air, almost defeating her.

With the missing-nin's last amount of strength, she mananged to jump back onto the pole.

Sakura was on the rock, smirking. Lifting her finger up, she made her chakra string that was attached from her finger to her pole visible.

The woman's eyes widened. "How did-you …"

"When I threw the arrows. They had chakra strings attached." She remembered how Chiyo-baasama used it on Sasori.

In one flick of her finger, the pole collapsed underneath her, the woman's chakra so drained that she couldn't bring chakra to her feet and stand on the water.

For extra measures, Sakura made a lightning and wind combo, and slammed it into the water, making the whole thing explode.

The woman's remains were scattered all over the area.

….

It was hard for Kakashi to concentrate when he was busy worried over Sakura.

He almost got kicked in the face if he hadn't recovered that fast to narrowly miss it.

He already had this nasty gash on his stomach. His sharingan hurt from being used too much.

He needed to see if Sakura was ok.

"Who are you?" he asked over the ruckus.

"Kin Gamoki. Missing-nin from the Grass." He answered obediently.

"Why do you want to kill Yohsinao-sama?" Kakashi asked, after dodging a hit.

"I work for Akatsuki. They need to capture the son of a bitch Kaede."

Kakashi was surprised with his easy answer. He must honestly think that he could defeat Kakashi.

Not going to happen.

In a number of hand seals and a chidori powered hand, his opponent was finished.

….

Sakura ran towards Kaede, and using her kunai, cut open the char strings so that the boy was free.

Yoshinao and the chuunin ran over to her.

But someone is missing.

She felt Kakashi's weak chakra signature behind her.

Swifly turning around, she saw Kakashi holding his stomach and his eye.

She ran towards him so that he could fall on her.

"Kakashi, are you ok?!" she asked.

"I'm fine … Sakura. I finished him … off." He panted.

Sakura gapped at his wound. "Let me fix that for you."

He obediently laid down on the floor, watching as Sakura expertly concentrated on checking the wound.

He really loved her.

And he had to admit, he kind of liked the enemy.

He was really smart, knowing that if you love someone, go for it.

Live your life with no regrets.

Sakura could reject, call him a stupid, old man, or a pedophile …

But he'll never know if he doesn't try.

"If you like each other … I don't see what's holding you back."

He was a shinobi, he could die tomorrow.

He should live his life to the fullest when he has the chance.

….

Sakura began sweating as she felt Kakashi watch her intently.

She snuck a peek at him, he seemed really thinking, his eyes softening as he stared at her.

What if she wasn't here to fix his wound? He would die before he could reach Konoha.

What if Kakashi didn't survive today?

He's a highly classed shinobi, but she knew he was at the brim of death before.

He's been alone all his life.

He's been so mysterious and misunderstood.

Pervert … Old man ... He's none of those.

Sakura has never met someone like him.

She likes it when he ruffles her feathers.

She loves it when he smiles at her.

And she loves it when he is staring at her like that.

And if he dies.

She wouldn't be able to handle it.

She probably would kill herself, too.

She'd feel guilt.

Pain.

Sadness.

Regret.

She has to tell Kakashi her feelings when he's still alive.

….

Sakura was so concentrated in her thoughts that she was healing one spot for a long time.

That spot was beginning to hurt again.

"Sakura," Kakashi rasped out.

Sakura snapped back out of her reverie.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, taichou!"

"Call me … Kakashi."

Sakura blinked at him.

"I'm very sorry, Kakashi. I was-uh just caught up in my thoughts. I apologize."

He grabbed her shoulder for support so he could sit up.

"Sakura, I really need to talk to you."

Sakura nodded. "I uh- need to talk to you, too."

Kakashi smiled. "You started off as a … little 12 year-old genin. You were my favorite out of the team. Over the years, you became a strong chuunin under the hokage. I was impressed."

Sakura nodded.

"And then … I don't know where I was all that time, but … you became an amazing, high-classed, talented shinobi. You were a jounin, the master medic, and now, an ANBU. I feel so proud whenever I look at you.

At the same time, I feel so … ashamed of myself. I was such a bastard. Never paid any attention to you. You are the happiness in my life. "

Sakura's eyes widened. She never heard Kakashi call himself a bastard.

"Sakura," he breathed. "You've got to help me out here. I've- I've never done this before."

Sakura felt like she needed to tell him how she felt about him.

"Kakashi," she interrupted. "You were my genin sensei, who never ceased to impress me. You could defeat Naruto and Sasuke in one hand, and were the famous Copy Ninja Sharingan Kakashi.

Even though Iruka was nicer, and Tsunade helped me improve the most, you- … you were my favorite sensei."

"I knew it," Kakashi added.

"And now you're… ANBU captain, and I can't believe it. My respect for you has grown. To a whole other level." She whispered the last part.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

Live your life with no regrets her conscious encouraged her.

"Kakashi … I- I really … like you. More than a friend."

….

A/N: Ooohhh … What's going to be his reaction? Well, you already know he likes her.

Please review!

BTW: Sorry, I suck at 'confessing' scenes, and fighting scenes, too. :P