Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto.

Konoha's Deadly Blossom & Copy Cat
Chapter Three

The early morning light beamed through the windows in Sakura's room. She screwed her eyes shut and rolled over. Consciousness slowly seeping back, she shot up and looked around. She was in her room. She looked down to find herself in her night clothes. 'I don't remember changing – the last thing I remember was Kakashi carrying me home. Why did I drink so much? Did he put me in bed and change my clothes? No…' She thought back to the night before and smiled. Kakashi must have been flirting with her at least that was the way that it looked – even Ino asked about it.

Gravity finally kicked in and her headache pounded. She grabbed her hair tie and knotted her hair away from her face. She looked at the clock – 7:13am – good, she hadn't overslept. Sakura ran her hands over her face, rubbing her eyes and then yawning. With a quick motion she pulled the covers from her and walked out of her room and froze. On her couch were two men – Naruto and Kakashi.

'Kakashi stayed here last night?' she thought franticly. 'I don't remember anything.' She looked at the two sleeping men and smiled. They had fallen asleep while playing cards – maybe passed out was a better way to explain it. They had helped themselves to more beer and chips. She smiled and all anxiety faded away. They were her boys and nothing bad would have happened when they were around. Neither of them would take advantage of her nor would they let the other – she breathed easier, however she was slightly ashamed that she had even considered anything bad.

Sakura entered her small kitchen and started cooking breakfast for them. When she was about halfway done, she tried to go clean the living room so it wouldn't be so dirty when she came back from the mission, but it was already clean. Kakashi was awake. He rubbed the back of his neck working the kinks out.

"I have the worse case of cotton mouth I've ever had and I wake up to find that I indeed ended up sharing your couch with Naruto."

"Poor baby. Come in the kitchen and get something to drink, breakfast is almost ready and I can even help with the neck."

Kakashi stood from his spot and stepped over Naruto. He smelled the air.

"Breakfast smells good. Didn't realize that I was so hungry."

"Well, drinking like we did last night will do that too you in the morning."

Kakashi opened a cabinet and removed a glass. He turned the tap on and left it running even after his glass was full. He slipped his mask down and started to drink. Sakura looked at his flawless skin as the morning light hit it. If it was possible he suddenly seemed even more handsome. He filled the glass for a third time and then turned the tap off.

"You might as well just take the mask off with your shirt."

"Excuse me?" he said.

"So I can look at your neck. I have this cream that is really good with muscle tension." She said as she reached into another cabinet.

"You're sure you just aren't trying to seduce me?"

"Please don't insult me… I am much better at seducing than what you are obviously giving me credit for."

"Oh really?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Possibly… I am intrigued now."

"Well… I would have to show you but we don't have time. We have to meet the client at the gates in roughly thirty minutes and we all need to eat and shower… so maybe later."

"Shower? Why? I smell like a rose."

"Like a rose fertilized with booze. It is seeping from our pours and we reek. But the sweaty thing that is passed out on my couch is much worse. How much did we drink last night?"

"Trust me… we all would have made Tsunade proud." Kakashi said as Sakura massaged his neck. "You are really good at that you know?"

"I know." She said with a smirk.

All too soon for Kakashi's liking she was finished and wiping her hands off on a rag. She turned and went to wake Naruto up.

"You can put your shirt back on if you want and help yourself to breakfast." She called out over her shoulder.

Kakashi nodded to the empty room as he left his shirt where it was and went to eat. There was a sudden loud crash that erupted from the living room. He turned just in time to see Sakura enter with a scowl on her face and Naruto behind her rubbing his head. She looked up to see him still bare-chested and her scowl vanished. Kakashi thought he saw a little blush.

"What did you do Naruto?"

"Nothing… I think." He said still rubbing his head as he entered the kitchen.

"Nothing? I am not Hinata! You're a ninja for crying out loud… be aware of your surroundings!"

"Not Hinata?"

"He grabbed my ass and tried to kiss me." She said glaring at the yellowed haired boy.

Naruto just shrugged. "Good way to wake up either way."

"I don't think Hinata would like to hear that." Kakashi chuckled.

"Eat. I am going shower… with the door locked." She added as she stormed off.

When Sakura finished she dressed quickly and vacated the bathroom so Kakashi and Naruto could use it. She made her way back to the kitchen to see Naruto finishing up the dishes, but Kakashi was no where to be found.

"Where did Kakashi go?"

"Back to his place, he didn't plan on staying here last night so he needed to shower and get his things."

"Now we are going to be waiting for forever till he comes back."

"Nah, I told him after the ass incident that it would be wise if he showed up early. I think he agreed."

"How did he end up sleeping here last night?"

"Well after he carried you home and I changed you, we got bored and started drinking some more. Two drunken men never think that they have had enough… then we started playing cards and talking… and then we just passed out."

"You changed me?"

"Hai, you spilled beer on you so I thought it would be better if you didn't wake up in it."

"Thanks. So what did you two talk about?"

"Not what you are thinking…but it sort of did come up in a way. I didn't want to push to make it seem weird."

"So?"

"He was looking at all the pictures and rambling on about the last ten years and about even though some bad things happened that they were a good ten years. He told me not to say anything but he said he's been the happiest that he's been in a while recently – which is obvious. Then he said that one day he thought you'd make someone a lucky man and then sighed so loud – it was so dramatic – something Ino would have done. I don't know – like he wishes it was him or something."

Sakura was about to ask him something else when the front door opened and in walked a fully dressed Kakashi.

"Yo! I'm back." He announced.

"Good. I am going shower and then we should be ready to go." Naruto said as he walked to the bathroom.

Sakura watched Naruto disappear and Kakashi situate himself on the couch. She was tempted to sit next to him and mess with him a little more, however, she decided against it. She had her travel bags and gear packed and sealed but she had not filled her weapon pouches that she carried yet.

She placed her hand on the seal and opened her weapons closet. She entered the small closet and started to fill her pouches. She grabbed two cloths off of the shelf under her katana and folded them in half before reaching behind her and stuffing them in to her pouch. She looked up to grab her sword when she saw Kakashi's one eye starring at her in its reflection. She turned to find her self face to face with him.

She sucked in a breath, "Can I help you?"

"I was just curious – you keep this room locked." He said as he eye crinkled.

"It's just your average weapon closet."

"With a chakra seal?"

"Well, there are a few things that I can't part with." She said as she turned to grab her katana and its sheath. She sheathed it and placed it on her back.

Kakashi touched the sheath, "Family… so we are always with you."

Sakura's heart fluttered as she turned to face him again. She was completely aware of how close he was to her face. She looked into his eye and saw that it was scanning her face. Her heart sped up as she noticed his eyes lingered on her lips.

"Always…" She said breathlessly.

"Sakura! Where are the towels?" Naruto interrupted.

Sakura and Kakashi both sighed. She bit her lip before she side stepped Kakashi. She walked to the door to grab her vest.

"They are in the cabinet, Naru! Where they have always been!" she replied as she slid the vest on over her katana. "Are you decent?"

"Hai." He said as he walked from her room pulling his mesh shirt over his head.

Sakura grabbed Naruto's scroll from off the coffee table and tossed it to him. He caught it and placed it in his rear pouch. He watched a little confused as she walked past him in what seemed like a hurry. He looked to Kakashi for answers and just found him with a bewildered look on his face as well. 'What the hell happened while was in the shower?'

Sakura stopped at her dresser. She placed her hands on the top and looked in the mirror. She gazed at her own reflection – her cheeks were blushed and her breathing slightly labored. 'What is happening? Was he about to kiss me? Would I have let him? My heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest… I have faced countless dangerous ninja and I have never been this nervous before.'

Naruto walked in the room to find Sakura starring at herself in the mirror.

"Hey Sakura?"

She snapped up and looked at him, "Are you ready to go yet?"

"Hai, I was just getting my clothes."

"Leave them, you can get the after." She said as she walked past him as she slid her own scroll in her vest. "We are going to be late. Get the lights…please."

Naruto flipped the switches and followed her out. Kakashi had the door open and was waiting on them. He moved out the way as Sakura walked through. She glanced up at him and quickly met his onyx eye before going through the door. Naruto looked curiously at the exchanged but said nothing. Following suit, Kakashi was close behind his teammates as he shut and locked her front door.

The walk to the front gate was quite and fast. The three made it there before the client and his caravan. It was time for them to put their game faces on – no matter what had just happened or what could happen, as of now it was not the priority.

Kakashi lazily lounged against the gates and Naruto stood rooted with his arms folded across his chest. Sakura had her hands on her hips waiting for this so called client. Sakura's mind began to wonder back to the meeting yesterday. There was no longer any time to ignore the matter at hand – the little creep who seemed to be posing as an official was hiding something. It was time to let their senses flourish in order to pick up what was being hidden from them.

Sakura came out of her thoughts when she heard the approaching carriage. It was a smaller carriage pulled by two horses. There were two large men sitting in the front, steering the wagon.

"Look alive, the nouveau is inbound." Sakura stated.

The carriage came to a halt in front of Sakura and her teammates. The door opened and another large man stepped out of the carriage. He held the door open as the client slid to the door.

"Good morning." He greeted with a hesitant smile.

"Good morning." Sakura returned. "All we were told was to meet you here at the designated time – we wish to know where we are headed and why you need our assistance being as it seems that you are already protected adequately."

"We are headed to a small town just inside the Rice boarder. I have a family heirloom that I wish to keep safe. I have received threats that it will be stolen."

"I still don't understand why you need us. Your muscle seems to be enough to handle thugs." Naruto added.

"This is something that is… very precious to me. I don't want to take any chances. There is a possibility that someone could send ninja."

"Doubtful… but it doesn't matter anymore. May I see your map?" Sakura asked with her hand out.

"You do not trust us to lead?" the driver asked annoyed.

"On a mission, I trust the two men behind me and only them. The map." She said with a finality that rivaled the Hokage. Begrudgingly, the driver handed over the map to Sakura. She took out her own map and compare routes. She handed their map back to the driver. "Your route seems to be a little more out of the way, but that shouldn't be a problem. Please, let's get this mission started."

Kakashi nodded at the man, "After you."

The carriage began to move. The client slipped back into his seat as the man riding with him hopped in and shut the door. Team Seven nodded to each other as they took up their line behind the carriage. The mission had begun.

- - xXxXx - -

If there were any mission that any ninja would hate to take it would be escorting a civilian. These types of missions seemed to take forever due to the fact that they had to move at the pace of the client – which was so much slower than their own.

By the time they made camp for the night, they had traveled less than half the distance that Sakura would have wanted. She was clearly annoyed at the situation. Yes, they were civilians but they also had a horse drawn carriage and could have moved faster. This bothered her.

There were two small fires in the camping area – one for the client and his guards and one for Team Seven. The client had opted to sleep in his carriage and his men in tents close by. Being as it was a warm summer night and the forecast was clear, Sakura, Kakashi and Naruto had all opted for no tents.

Naruto had removed three cups of instant ramen from one of his scrolls. Team Seven sat in silence as they ate their small meal. Sakura handed her half eaten ramen cup over to Naruto.

"Thanks Naru, but I'm not so hungry tonight. You finish them."

Naruto took the cup from her – happy to finish them off.

"Sakura what has you so annoyed?" Kakashi asked.

"This whole mission. I don't understand this man. If this heirloom he has is so important, then why did we not travel at a faster pace?"

"I was thinking about that too." Said the silver haired man.

"There isn't much about this man or this mission that make sense." Naruto added in between slurps.

"I'll take the first watch. Any traps I need to be aware of?"

"Hai, there are a couple snare traps out there and a few tags but nothing you can't recognize, you know my marks." Kakashi replied.

Sakura nodded before she jumped off towards the trees. Kakashi sighed heavily as she left. Naruto looked at him and arched an eyebrow.

"Not that sigh again." He said.

"What sigh? What are you talking about?" Kakashi asked.

"You made that noise last night when talking about Sakura, now you made it as she left. What is up with you two Kakashi? I may now be the brightest person but I can tell there is something."

Kakashi sighed again and Naruto laughed at him.

"You sound like Ino when you sigh like that. All dramatic and what not."

"Naruto, I don't know what is happening. For once, I am confused as to what I am feeling. I've never been like this before."

"Well… if it helps, I have never seen you like this since I have known you."

"No that doesn't help." He paused. "It's like ever since we all became a team, ever so slowly all the pretense and defenses that I had around myself began to crumble. And now all of a sudden I look at Sakura and really see her. I have never thought of her as anything more than what she had always been to me, but now I can't help but think of her as more."

Naruto nodded and listened to the man speak. He didn't want to interrupt.

"I don't know if this has been there for a while or not, but it's like I have never seen her before… not until now. I'm worried too. I don't want to act on it and lose her. You two are all I have left – you two are my family."

Naruto chuckled a little and looked at the man that use to be nothing more than his sensei, but now is like his brother. "You can't lose family Kakashi, that's why we are family and not just friends. There is a stronger bond between the three of us and maybe the bond between you and Sakura is meant to be a little more than my bond to her – at least I think it is."

"You think?"

"Hai. You two have always moved in a tandum that is different from her and me."

"How is that?"

"I don't know, it's more like how she would act with a brother when she is with me, but it has always been a deeper act when she is around you." Naruto paused as he tried to think of a better way to explain it. "More like how she would act with a lover – not that you have done anything like that – but it's just a little more emotional."

Kakashi didn't say anything. He mulled over all that Naruto has just said. He could see the difference in the way she acted between them. It made his heart beat speed up a little. 'Lovers? Her and I? Strangely enough, the thought doesn't sound as wrong as I thought it would.'

"But you know I have noticed the same thing with you." Naruto said causing Kakashi to turn and look at him.

"I would hope that I treat you as only a brother and not a…"

"No! Not with me… I meant with other kunoichi you ass."

"Oh."

"I have seen the way you are with Anko, Kurenai and Shizune… it's not the same. They are your sister's in arms, but you treat Sakura with more…respect, honesty and loyalty. You treat her how you want to be treated."

"Isn't that the golden rule?"

"Don't be a smartass right now Kakashi. I am serious. You know she is my sister and I am protective of her. I don't care if you two fall madly in love and get married and all that, but I don't want her hurt."

"I'm sorry. This is all just taking me off guard a little." He said holding his head in his hands. "I never thought that I treated her differently. I mean I knew she was different from the others but I didn't know I made it obvious. Why?"

"Well, I think it's because you care how she treats you more than how the others treat you. You want her and care about her. You just never knew it until now."

"Damn, Naru…"

"Hai I know, I am wise beyond my years."

"I wouldn't say that now…" Kakashi shrugged as he threw his ramen cup at his teammate.

"Say what ever you want but I'm right aren't I?"

"This is the only time you will ever hear me admit that you are right… but I think you are."

"I knew it!"

"I wonder how she feels?" Kakashi asked.

"You could ask her." Naruto replied.

"But what if she doesn't want to be with me or try or…"

"For such a bad ass ninja you aren't very perceptive or fearless are you?"

"This is not a battle Naruto!"

"I never said it was, but did you not just listen to anything I said? I think it's safe to say you would get the green light."

"How can you be so sure?"

"A little pink bird told me so."

"Pink bird? Wait… she talked to you about this?"

"My lips are sealed."

"That's not fair… you have valuable intell that I could use."

"I thought this wasn't a battle?" Naruto said.

"Oh shut up! What did she say?"

"You are so channeling Ino right now. It's scary. But I'm not going to tell you what she said just like I won't tell her what you said. I'm a neutral third party in the Kakashi and Sakura love story. You will have to talk to her and find out… what a concept!"

Kakashi stood up and walked past Naruto. He bopped him on the head before he took off into the trees to find Sakura.

- - xXxXx - -

Sakura was high in a tree looking at the moon when Kakashi found her. She was stretched out with her feet propped up against the trunk of the tree. He was so engrossed in her beauty that only seemed enhanced by the moonlight that he failed to notice that she had placed her own snare trap under her.

Sakura heard someone approaching. She figured since they were on foot that it was either one of the guards or a thief – no ninja travels on walks on the ground if they have to. She stayed still and grabbed a kunai and sent it flying.

Kakashi saw the metal object sailing at him and jumped out the way and directly into the snare trap.

"Now don't I feel like an ass." He said as he was hanging upside down from the tree when Sakura jumped down.

"Kakashi? What are you doing in my snare?"

"I was coming to check on you. You seemed really annoyed before and I wanted to see if you were better."

"Hai, I'm fine." She said smiling.

She picked her kunai up off the ground and stored it away. She withdrew her sword and slashed the rope. Kakashi fell to the ground with a thud causing Sakura to laugh.

"You're not on you A game right now are you?" she shook her head and jumped back into the tree where she was before.

Kakashi stayed where he was for a minute – silently cursing his bad luck. He looked up at her again. She was breathtaking. He stood up and dusted himself off. He jumped up and landed next to her and sat down.

"You don't have to say Kakashi, I can stay on watch for a little while longer." She said.

'What's the matter with me?' Kakashi thought. 'Even her voice is getting to me now.'

"If you don't mind a little company, than I'll stay a little while longer." He said as he crinkled his eye in a smile just for her.

"Sure."

The two sat in silence for a while. In that moment it was enough for them just to be near each other. It was oddly comforting to both of them. Sakura shift her position – she placed her back against the trunk and pulled her knees into her.

Her face was still looking in the direction of the moon when she spoke. "It's a beautiful night."

"Hai." He agreed as he glanced at her, "Beautiful."

She could feel him looking. She felt her pulse quicken as she looked at him. He smiled and she returned it.

"You know the one thing I will never get use too?"

"Hmm?" he grunted.

"Seeing you smile with your eyes but never knowing for sure if it's reaching your lips. Sometimes I really hate your mask." She explained.

"Fair enough." He flipped through a few hand signs and then pulled his mask down. "How's that?" He smiled back at her.

"Much better. You have a very charming smile Kakashi. It's no wonder why you wear your mask. You would have all the ladies chasing you."

"Well then it's good that I wear it. I don't want all the ladies chasing me."

He wanted to tell her that she was the only one who he wanted to chase him – the only one that he wanted near him. He laughed at himself silently as he thought of Naruto's words. "For such a bad ass ninja you aren't very perceptive or fearless are you?" He was right – Kakashi was scared. He was scared that the one person that he had let his guard down for would reject him.

"Kakashi? Why are you so quite?" Sakura asked softly as she gazed at his flawless face.

"Just enjoying the company."

"You're so full of it… but if you don't want to talk about it then that's okay."

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it… it's just that I don't really know how." He said as he scratched the back of his neck. "I've never been in a situation like the one I am in now."

"Oh… well I usually talk things over with Naru when I am confused about something."

"I did that."

"And what did he say?"

"He said to just go for it."

"Then I would do what he says, surprisingly enough… he's usually right on with things. Perceptive little loud mouth." She said as she giggled.

The sound of her laughter brought a smile to his face. He took a deep breath and looked at Sakura.

"Well, it was sort of about you."

"Me? What about me?" she said as her heart stopped.

Kakashi reached over and placed his gloved hand on her blushing cheek. He leaned over and brushed his lips lightly across hers and then once again more firmly.

"Well, there was that." He said as he pulled away looking back at her to gage her reaction. When she didn't react violently he figured it was safe to continue. "I don't know how you feel because I am not exactly sure how I feel, but I think there is something more… between us than what we have always thought."

Sakura brought her hand up to her lips. She still had not spoken. Kakashi eyed her nervously, praying that she would say something.

"Sakura, please say something this is killing me."

"I think…" she sucked in a deep breath and locked her emerald eyes on his uncovered eye. "that you are right."

-End of Chapter-