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Kakashi and Sakura arrived at the party at about 7:30. Once there, Sakura abandoned the man to hang out with Ino, TenTen, and Hinata.

Kakashi pouted, but was somewhat grateful for the freedom. He was scared for his life the entire walk to the house.

About an hour ago, things hadn't gone too well.

Sakura had managed to break down his bedroom door, flood his house with a water jutsu, singe his favorite shirt with a fire jutsu, pierce his walls with fourteen senbon needles, eight kunai, and eleven shuriken, give him a black eye, and sprain his ankle.

And that's not even the scary part. The scary part was the fact that she had done all of this in under a minute...

Here's some advise to all of the male population out there. Never, and I repeat NEVER, give a girl a hickie.

What's even worse is the fact that she didn't even heal him. So now he was searching high and low for Shizune or Tsunade. They would probably help him out. The only downside is all the questions they would ask. And knowing them, if he told them the truth, they'd simply give him more bruises and swelling.

Sighing, he simply sat on a nearby couch. Maybe someone would notice him and come keep him company.

"Kakashi! My youthful rival!"

Was God trying to torture him or something?

Groaning, he looked up and saw something that disturbed him so much, he suddenly felt the need to vomit.

Instead of the usual green spandex he usually wore for training, Kakashi saw a completely different outfit. His orange weights were now green, while his spandex were a bright red, which seemed to show more outline of the body then the green ones.

He was wearing a Christmas hat and had his normal, blinding smile in place.

"I can't believe you actually came. It took some persuading though, huh?" He asked, indicating to his bruised eye.

"Shut up Gai. Where's that stalker student of yours? Shouldn't you be teaching him youthful lotus stuff and the blossoming of cherries and all that crap?"

Gai's eyes began watering as he made a fist and looked upwards at...well bascially nothing...

"Oh Kakashi, it's just wonderful! He's blossoming into a man! A man I tell you! He's finally worked up the guts to ask that wonderful student of yours for her hand in marriage! Isn't it just romantic?"

Kakashi's eyes widedened. "WHAT?"

His sudden outburst made many guests turn to look at him in shock, but he didn't care.

What did this red-spandex-wearing man just say?

He quickly stood and began searching for two certain chakra signatures. When he found them, he realize that they were both alone in a bedroom upstairs. Oh hell no...

He quickly ran up the stairs and down the hall. That kid had some guts to had even thought of taking his cherry blossom from him.

The hall seemed to go on forever until he stopped at a certain door. He double-checked the signatures in the room to make sure it was Sakura and Lee. When he realized one had kneeled, he heard the young boy ask through the door, "Sakura...Will you marry me...?"

That was it!

Kakashi slammed the door opened and stormed over to the two teenagers before standing in between them.

Seeing this, Lee got offended and quickly rose. Kakashi noticed that he had been wearing the same outfit as his Sensei, but didn't really care. Right now, he was pissed as hell and wasn't planning on letting this little event continue.

Lee spoke up, "Excuse me Hatake-san. Is there something you need? We were kind of in the middle of something important."

Kakashi glared at the boy. He never liked this kid. "Yeah. There is something I need. For you to leave. Now."

Lee crossed his arms defiantly. "I think we should leave that up to Sakura, don't you?"

Kakashi's glare intensified before he turned to Sakura to see what her expression was. He wasn't surprised to see shock written all over her face.

Leave it up to Sakura? She didn't know what to do! Ever since Lee had kneeled in front of her, her mind had gone dead. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

She simply stared in shock between the two men. Finally, she realized that she was keeping them waiting and cleared her throat before saying weakly, "U-um...I-I guess I'll t-talk to you later Lee..."

Sakura's heart broke when she saw the hurt expression on his face before he hung his head and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

The next thing Sakura knew, she was being pinned against the wall.

With how quick it happened, the back of her head had hit it hard, making her yelp in pain. Opening her eyes, she cringed when she saw the anger in his eyes. And yes, she meant plural.

Apparently, sometime during the time when he walked in the door and now, he had raised his hittai-atte and activated his Sharingan.

Sakura opened her mouth to ask what the hell was wrong with him, but was cut off when she heard him speak instead.

"What would you have said?"

Sakura blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The grip on her wrists tightened painfully as he reworded his question. "If I hadn't come in, if you two had continued your little shinanigan, what would you have said?" His Sharingan began spinning dangerously. "Would you have accepted his request? Would you have let that little boy, who barely knows you, steal you away from me? Huh?"

He put his face closer to hers and looked her straight in the eye. "Would you have left me so that you could go live happily ever after with that guy? Would you?"

"SHUT UP!"

Kakashi's eyes widened at her sudden outburst. He suddenly realized that her eyes were watery and she was frightened.

Hesitantly, he let her go and backed away, watching as she sank to the ground and curled up into a little ball, crying.

He had never noticed how heavy his breathing had gotten or how wildly his Sharingan had begun spinning. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, he pulled his headband back over his now aching eye and stared at the girl on the floor.

He'd made her cry again. That was twice. In one day. On Christmas day! Because of the same damn kid! What the hell was wrong with him?

He continued to stare at the crying and balled up girl. He was a monster...It was plain to see...He had done this to her twice today. She clearly deserved better than him. So why did he continue to fight for her? He always told himself that he couldn't have her because of the village's beliefs, but he would always scare away men that ever tried to steal her from him. Was he trying to make her stay single forever?

He had to choose one. Right then and there. He couldn't continue to torture her like this. It was either go against the village and be happy with her, or have the people of the village continue to respect him while she went off and had a life with another man, leaving him to watch on the sidelines...hurt and alone...

Oh to hell with the village!

He walked over to the girl and kneeled down to where she was curled up. He knew that this would simply confuse her and frustrate her, but he didn't care. She had to know how he felt, and he couldn't keep hiding it from her.

He reached out to touch her shoulder, making her look up at him. She was about to begin yelling at him to leave her alone, but was silenced before she could even speak, by his lips.

When she had opened her mouth to probably fuss at him, Kakashi took the opportunity to pull down his mask and claim her mouth with a passion filled kiss that sent sparks through his entire body. He had kissed her forehead, her hand, and even her neck. But never had he touched her lips. As far as he knew, nobody's lips had ever touched hers, and that excited him.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, hoping she wouldn't mind.

Apparently, she didn't. He felt her wrap her own arms around his neck as she began battling for dominance over his tongue.

After about a minute, the two seperated to take in some much needed air. Kakashi closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Sakura's. He couldn't believe he had just done that...He'd definitely have to try it again sometime in the near future though, that was for sure.

Opening his eye he stared into the beautiful jade eyes before him and smiled. Thank Kami she wasn't mad. Actually, he was surprised to see that she was happy and somewhat satisfied.

Deciding he didn't really want to be at the party anyways, Kakashi teleported them back to his place. He picked her up and carried her over to his couch before gently setting her down on it and putting a blanket over her. He then turned toward his fireplace and made a few hand signs before lighting a small fire to keep them warm.

Once that was done, he walked towards the girl on the couch and sat next to her. He then thanked the gods in heaven when she crawled closer to him and snuggled into his chest, inviting him to wrap his arms around her protectively.

Sighing, he lowered his face into her pink locks and mumbled, "You know we have to talk about this right?"

Sakura smiled and closed her eyes, leaning against his chest. "What is there to talk about? From how we expressed it earlier, it should be clear as day. We're in love with one another..."

He blushed and rolled his eyes. "Well you didn't have to put it so bluntly." He was happy to hear her giggle and feel her snuggle even closer to him.

Smiling, he shifted slightly so that they were both laying comfortably on the couch. He continued the conversation, "So I'm guessing we'll exchange gifts in the morning?"

Sakura frowned. That was no fair. "Aww...I want my gift now, but I don't feel like moving to let you up...I'm too comfortable."

Kakashi chuckled and replied, "Well then I'll give you your Christmas present in the morning. But since you just have to have one tonight, I can give you another one without having to get up."

Already predicting what it was, she smiled and shifted so that she could kiss him, but was stopped when a finger was put over her lips.

Kakashi grinned. "It's not a kiss my dear. It's a question." He then smirked. "As a matter of fact, this will be the second time it's been asked of you today."

Sakura stared at him in confusion as he removed his finger, but when she remembered the incident with Lee, her eyes widened.

No way...He's not serious is he...?

Kakashi smiled lovingly at the shocked girl. "As crazy as this may sound coming from me, Haruno Sakura...Will you marry me?"

Sakura's eyes began watering. How many times had she cried that day already? It was shocking she hadn't drained every bit of water out of her body by now.

She quickly rubbed her eyes before any tears could escape. She wasn't going to cry. She was going to handle this like an adult and answer him properly.

Kakashi watched as she wiped at her watering eyes. She was just too cute...

He quickly grabbed her wrists and looked her straight in the eyes. Raising a brow, he asked, "Well are you going to answer or should I answer it for you?"

Sakura's grinned and punched him in the shoulder before kissing him. She just couldn't believe this was happening.

She then pulled back to ask him, "Are you willing to go through all of the abuse you'll probably earn?"

Kakashi chuckled. "Don't I already?"

Sakura closed her eyes and put her forehead against his once more. "Then yes...I, Haruno Sakura, will marry you..."

Kakashi leaned up to whisper in her ear, "Don't you mean Hatake Sakura...?"

Sakura giggled and hugged him close, not planning on letting him go the entire night.

She then remembered something and began laughing. Confused, Kakashi pulled back and asked, "What's so funny?"

Sakura continued giggling and answered, "Santa gave me what I wished for..."

Kakashi continued to look at her as if she was stupid, but then remembered the situation from the day before at the mall.

His eyes widened. She was kidding right? She couldn't possibly mean...

For a genius former ANBU captain, Hatakae Kakashi felt like the absolute stupidest man on the planet at that exact moment.

"Are you telling me...That yesterday, when you were making that wish, that the "thing" you wanted so badly...was me? I was the thing that you wanted to own but couldn't? I was the thing that had been through so much abuse, making you have to fix me up every time...?"

Sakura nodded and continued for him, "And you're the thing that apparently "looks and works like shit". And the thing that santa thought I should simply replace and get another one of."

She giggled at his angry expression as he said, "Maybe you should stop listening to Santa then..."

Sakura leaned down and pecked him on the lips before laying back down on his chest. She felt him run his hand through her hair continuously. She felt like she was dreaming...But she thanked the gods that she wasn't. She was so content, laying in Kakashi's strong arms, and leaning against his lean yet firm body. She wouldn't give up this moment for the world.

She just wished that she could find a way to make it up to Lee. She couldn't even imagine how he would react.

But seriously, think about it. How would you feel if you asked the love of your life to marry you, got inturrupted before they could even reply, have to leave the room to your love and your enemy, and then find out later that your enemy ended up marrying your love?

Ouch...

Oh well...She would deal with that some other time. Right now, it was her, Kakashi, and a small fire in the fireplace. Nothing was going to dare ruin this moment for them. If anyone or anything did, they obviously had a death wish.

After about ten minutes of comfortable silence, Kakashi heard Sakura's breathing even out. He smiled softly down at her sleeping form and held her closer (if that was even possible without squeezing the life out of her).

Sighing contently, Kakashi closed his eyes and thought of what would happen the next day. Obviously, they would have to eventually tell her parents and Tsunade. As for the rookie nine and team Gai (excluding Lee), they would probably give them their blessings and attend the wedding. But when it came to the elders and the rest of the village, he had no clue as to what they would think. Maybe they would turn them down, maybe they would say "Well it's about damn time.", or maybe they would ban them from th village. But whatever the reaction would be, he didn't care. As long as he was with his cherry blossom, all was right in the world.

His final thought before letting sleep overcome him was, What the hell am I getting myself into...?

He then fell asleep with a small smile on his face. Things were only going to get better from then on out. He just knew it...

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