A/N: How much do you hate the flashbacks? Huh? Huuuuuh? lol

PS: Cyn, sorry if I butchered your profession T.T

Disclaimer- :Is running away from K. Masashi's house screaming with Naruto character sheets, K. Masashi wielding a gun:

Two Year Previous.

Sakura jerked up in bed, startled, at the sharp knock on her door. She groaned, kicking the blankets off herself and getting to her feet. She hadn't had a full night's sleep since she got there four months before. It was a little frustrating, really. They always woke her up to ask if she wanted pizza or a movie or something else just as ridiculous. She suspected they may be trying to get her used to being awake, but for God's sake, couldn't she enjoy the sleep while she got it?!

The rosette threw open her door, annoyed, opening her mouth to snap when she noticed the panicked look on Naruto's face. "What's wrong?"

"It's Kakashi." he said, paling. "He got hurt—really badly. I-I can't reach Tsunade. You're almost a nurse, right?"

Sakura pushed past him, rushing towards the elevator. She hit the button and Naruto appeared right beside her, making her jump.

"It freaks me out when you do that."

"Do what?"

"Super speed."

"Sorry." Naruto whispered before the elevator doors opened.

They both got in and hit the basement button, waiting. When the door opened again, Sakura flew through them, her eyes locking on Sasuke, who was holding what appeared to be a shirt over Kakashi's shoulder. She rushed to the older man's side, slapping away Sasuke's hands. With the wound exposed, her eyes narrowed as she stared at it. A chunk of Kakashi's shoulder had been ripped out. Luckily, he wasn't in any danger of dying, but he was going to have an ugly scar.

"Get me some gauze, surgical thread, hot water, gloves, painkillers and rubbing alcohol." she ordered as her brows knitted together. The two boys obeyed, rushing off to grab what she had asked for. They returned soon after, handing everything to her. She worked quickly and efficiently, occasionally ordering the two boys to get her something. Otherwise, neither moved, watching on in worry. Naruto was gripping the table tightly enough to leave dents in the metal surface. He didn't even seem to notice.

It was only an agonizing two hours later that Sakura finished, wrapping the gauze securely around his shoulder. Kiba, Hinata and Neji had returned by then, the brunette chain-smoking worriedly across the basement.

"He'll be in pain for a while, but he'll be okay." Sakura pulled off the gloves before wiping the back of her hand across her forehead. "I don't think there's anything else I can do for him."

"Thanks. You helped a lot." Naruto whispered. He couldn't seem to loosen his hands on the table, nor tear his eyes away from Kakashi.

"Sasuke and I will bring him upstairs." Kiba said, coming back across the basement. "Hinata, Neji, sun must be up by now. You should feed and go to bed."

"Right." Hinata stared at Naruto worriedly before she and Neji grabbed a bag of blood each and retired.

Kiba and Sasuke grabbed Kakashi, heading for the elevator. Naruto went to follow, but Sakura grabbed his wrist.

"You wait." she whispered.

The blond obeyed until all doors around them closed, and they were alone. Naruto didn't know what she wanted, but he wasn't in the mood for it. He wanted to check on Kakashi again and go to bed.

"You're too tense and wound up. I don't want you going to bed like this. So," she patted the metal table, "lie down on your back."

"Why?"

"I want to run a few tests." she insisted with a gentle smile.

Naruto wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he obeyed, climbing onto the table. Sakura tugged on his shirt before he lay down and he pulled it off, throwing it off the side. Sakura's eyes traced the angel tattoo on his back for a few seconds before he lay down, hissing as the cold of the table bit into his skin. Sakura walked towards Kakashi's computer, booting it up.

"He's really protective of his computer." Naruto informed.

"He can suck it up." She grabbed a few things before returning to Naruto's side. She placed a few small, flat discs at various intervals on his chest before tying rubber tubing around his upper arm. Naruto cocked an eyebrow in inquiry, but she ignored him. She pulled on gloves before pulling a syringe out of a plastic wrapper, inserting the needle into Naruto's vein after having rubbed alcohol onto his arm. He grunted.

"Sorry." she murmured.

The rosette then grabbed a test tube, attaching it to the end of the needle, blood beginning to fill it at a fairly rapid pace. Once it was almost full, she pulled the tube out, the blood-flow being stopped by the end of the needle. The rosette grabbed a cotton ball and pressed it atop the needle still in Naruto's arm. She pulled it out, quickly covering the wound with the cotton ball, setting the needle aside. She used surgical tape to keep the cotton fall in place, sitting down at the computer and placing the test-tube of blood beside it. She bit her thumbnail as she opened the program she needed, eying everything.

"Okay, Naruto, I'm going to send jolts of electricity through your body, and I want you to tell me whether or not you feel them."

"Great." he muttered. "Is that what these discs are for?"

"Yup." Sakura set it to the lowest setting, something even a human wouldn't feel. No reaction. She turned it up to where a human would feel it, but just barely. Nothing. Higher, where a human would feel it and sense discomfort. Nothing. Higher, where a human would feel slight pain. Nothing. Higher, where a human would feel intense pain. Still nothing.

"Are you doing anything?" Naruto asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

Sakura bit her bottom lip before setting it to a higher level—where a human would die.

Naruto cried out, arching his back. Sakura hastily turned it off, turning to Naruto wide-eyed. Jesus, I killed hi—

"That hurt!" he hollered angrily, sitting up. Sakura stared at him, stunned.

"That—hurt?"

"Yes! It hurt!"

"Naruto—I just blasted two-hundred and twenty-five volts into your system."

"So?"

"So, a human would've died." she informed.

Naruto blinked, staring at her. He—hadn't known he could withstand more than others. That was news to him. He lay back down on the table, frowning at the ceiling.

"It hurt—but not to an unbearable level."

Sakura frowned. "Meaning?"

"Up the voltage."

The rosette just about fell out of her chair. "Are you crazy?! I took a huge risk doing that right now, I'm not going to turn up the voltage!"

"Stop bitching and just do it." Naruto grabbed the rubber tubing beside him and wedged it between his teeth. Sakura just stared at him, almost horrified. Was he insane?! She could kill him! Just turn it up slowly, she ordered herself, turning back to the computer and returning the voltage to zero.

"I'm restarting at zero and I'll just turn the voltage up gradually." she informed him. Naruto grunted.

She began turning up the voltage, watching Naruto closely. He was staring at the ceiling, his teeth clenched, and his muscles tensed in anticipation of the pain. Sakura glanced at the voltage. Based on a few seconds ago, he couldn't feel anything yet. When she got to the voltage that would kill a human, she turned back to look at him, watching him closely. His fists were clenched, but he didn't make a sound. Sakura continued to turn it up, much slower than before. When it hit three-hundred and fifteen volts, Naruto's back arched in pain as he bit down hard on the rubber tubing. Sakura turned it off, running to his side as he fell back onto the table.

"Are you okay?!" she asked urgently as he pulled the tubing out of his mouth.

"Dandy." he grunted.

"Maybe we should stop for tonight. I—"

"No." Sakura's head snapped back. "Tsunade's never done this with me. She's too scared of hurting me. I need to know this stuff, so please—keep going."

Sakura winced, then sighed. She pulled open another plastic wrapper, pulling out a Q-tip. "Open your mouth."

Kakashi winced as the elevator jolted, his shoulder stinging. He reached up to gently touch the gauze before thinking better of it and waiting. The doors opened and he walked out before freezing. Naruto was lying down on the metal table they used for the injured.

"Naruto!" He ran for him before a voice made him freeze.

"He's asleep." His eyes shifted, focusing on the owner of the voice. Sakura was sitting in front of his computer. He didn't like that fact, but didn't comment on it.

"Why—is he here?" he was utterly confused.

"I ran some tests on him. Come over here for a minute." She leaned back in the chair, Kakashi walking over to her and looking over her shoulder. He frowned.

"What am I looking at?" he inquired.

"This is his blood." She switched slides. "This is his blood mixed with mine."

"It looks—I don't know." He frowned. "Kind of like his blood cells are eating yours."

"They're not, they're reinforcing them." Kakashi frowned.

"What does that mean, exactly?"

"Well, I haven't tested the theory yet, but I think—that his blood can strengthen ours to the point where we can get a few of his vampire traits."

"Really?" Kakashi's eyebrows shot up. "That's—really interesting."

"I thought so, too. And look at this." She switched slides again. "This is some of his tissue, but..." she trailed off as she took a pipette and dipped it into what Kakashi assumed was some kind of water sitting in a petri dish before dropping one drop on the tissue. The dead piece of skin immediately began to regenerate itself and come back to life.

"What is that?" He motioned the water.

"His saliva."

"No way!"

"Yes way. His saliva heals wounds. I'm thinking that's why vampires have never been discovered. They'll force the wounds to heal before leaving the corpses so that the cause of death is unknown."

"That's—actually quite clever."

"Yeah. And his pain threshold is amazing. His healing abilities are astounding, and his strength—well, see for yourself." She motioned across the room. There was a large hole in the concrete wall. Luckily there was a room beyond and Naruto hadn't punched to the outside, which would have allowed sunlight in.

"He did that?" Kakashi breathed.

"Broke his hand in four places and shredded the first layer of skin." Sakura stood up and went to the blond's side, lifting his right hand and showing Kakashi. "Completely regenerated, and his bones healed in less than an hour. I think he can only be killed the same way as a vampire, minus sunlight, of course. Decapitation and messing with his heart."

"What about a bullet to the head?" Kakashi asked.

"I don't know."

"Please don't try it." Naruto mumbled, shifting.

"Hey, brat, you awake, then?"

"Obviously, old man." Naruto grunted as he sat up, wincing. "Man, this table sucks." He jumped off the metal table, stretching, the angel on his back distorting. "Are we done?"

"For now." Sakura smirked before poking him in the stomach. "You're going to be my new lab-rat."

"Joy." Naruto rolled his eyes before heading for the elevator. "I'm going to bed."

He disappeared a few seconds later, Sakura turning to Kakashi with a smile.

"You're freakishly smart."

"Why thank you." She grinned. "How's the shoulder?"

"I'm going to see Tsunade in an hour so she can take a look at it, but it actually doesn't hurt too much. You did a good job on it."

"Thanks." Sakura beamed.

"Which is why I came looking for you." Kakashi leaned back against the table, crossing his arms. "Tsunade needs a nurse."

One Year Later.

"Hatake, put me down!"

"Why?"

"Put me down, now!"

"Why?"

"I'm going to kick you in the nuts!"

"Now really, why would I put you down so that you can kick me in the nuts?"

Sakura groaned, giving up. She'd twisted her ankle during their last fight and one little wince when she'd put weight on it had caused Kakashi to scoop her into his arms. It wasn't even that bad. He was overreacting!

"You're the nurse, you should know better."

"I do know better! It's not bad!"

"Lying is a bad habit, Sakura." He smiled at her. She let out an annoyed cry and continued to sulk in his arms. Though she had to admit—it was nice being held by him. She shook her head to rid her mind of those thoughts. Get a hold of yourself! You're nineteen, he's thirty-five! He'd never want you. She knew it was true. It didn't mean she had to like it, though.

"So..."

"So?" Kakashi asked.

"I've been meaning to ask about your tattoo." she said with a frown. "What is it?"

"I don't know." He looked down at his left arm. "A skull with a cool design, I guess. I got it when I was fifteen." He paused. "Shayera picked it out for me." (1)

"Oh." Sakura winced. "Sorry."

"Eh, it was a long time ago." He shrugged. "You've waited this long to ask me?"

"Well—yeah. I, uh..." she trailed off, looking away, "knew I would ask about more than just the tattoo." They were walking up to the front door, now, Kakashi kicking the door slightly after Sakura turned the knob for him.

"And you needed to wait a year before asking?"

"Well—they're kind of personal." she whispered as Kakashi walked into the elevator.

"If you want to know how big I am, you can just ask." he teased before winking, walking out of the elevator as the doors reopened in the basement.

Sakura said nothing as they walked towards the metal table, Kakashi placing her down on it so her feet dangled over the side. He turned to grab a tensor and returned to her side. Before he bent down to wrap it around her ankle, her hand came up to trace one of his scars, making him look up at her. Sakura's index finger traced the scar that ran along his cheek, starting from the corner of his mouth. She then did the same on the other side.

"Is that your question?" he whispered, pulling away and bending down to wrap her ankle.

"I just—sorry." she whispered back, an awkward silence settling over them for about a minute. It felt more like an hour to Sakura.

"He tried to rip my jaw off."

"What?" she asked, the older man having spoken so quietly she was surprised she'd heard him at all.

"Arashi. It was when Naruto was twelve. He cornered us and tried to pull my jaw off. Naruto stopped him, but he still managed to dislocate it and rip my skin. Tsunade fixed it as best she could, but I needed a lot of stitches, and—it scarred." He stood, avoiding her eye. "The scar on my eye was when I was twenty-two. A female vampire scratched me. Not really sure how it scarred, but whatever."

"Sorry." Sakura felt awful, now. "I didn't mean—"

"It's not a problem." Kakashi interrupted, wanting to change the topic. Stat.

He held his hand out to her and she took it, allowing him to help her stand. She winced as she put weight on her ankle, leaning into Kakashi more. He held her around the waist, ensuring she didn't fall.

Sakura's heart was beating wildly in her chest at their closeness. She looked up, her eyes locked on his lips. It would be so easy to just lean up and—No! No! He'll get mad! Things will get awkward! She was in the midst of forcing herself to look away when Kakashi's lips fell lightly onto hers.

At first, Sakura panicked, thinking that she was the one to lean up and kiss him, but as her neck wasn't craned and she wasn't on her tip toes, it was clear the first move had been done by him. He pulled away and Sakura's mind shrieked, shaking her and demanding she follow his lips.

"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Kakashi whispered, beginning to pull away, but Sakura wouldn't let him get that far. She held him tightly, leaning up this time and pressing her lips insistently on Kakashi's, not giving him the chance to pull away. Not that he wanted to.

The second Sakura kissed him of her own free will, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing back, his tongue coming out to caress her bottom lip. She didn't need any more coaxing, her mouth opening and her own tongue coming out to pull Kakashi's into her mouth. The grey-haired man grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up and sitting her on the table. Sakura's legs wrapped themselves around his waist, pulling him closer as her hands buried themselves in his hair.

"Oh, come on!" a voice hollered, Kakashi and Sakura separating reluctantly. "They're fucking up there, you're making out down here—I can't get away from you horny bastards!"

"Glad to know you're still alive, Kiba." Kakashi smirked.

"Yeah, yeah, you bastard." Kiba grunted as he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and inhaling before continuing. "You all wish I was dead so you can all copulate in peace." He paused. "Well, you know, minus the two fucking upstairs."

"Do you have to be so vulgar?" Sakura asked dryly. "Would it kill you to say 'making love' or 'having sex'? Or even just 'screwing'?"

"I ain't got no manners, duchess." Kiba grinned before inhaling again. "I need to sleep. Got an early day tomorrow."

"Work?" Kakashi inquired.

"Hell yeah." He grinned. "I love my job. I sit there and get paid to watch movies all day. Gotta love working at Blockbuster." He saluted them with the same hand that held his cigarette and turned, entering the elevator. "Be safe, kids. Use a condom." The elevator doors closed with his grinning face. Sakura growled.

"I hate him sometimes."

"Kiba's someone you need to get used to." Kakashi agreed. "But I'd miss him and Akamaru if they ever disappeared."

"Yeah." Sakura sighed.

The two were silent for a few seconds before looking back at each other. Sakura's legs were still around Kakashi's hips and her hands were still in his hair. Kakashi's own hands were still wrapped around Sakura's waist.

"I've—been wanting to do this for a while." Sakura admitted with a blush.

"Yeah." Kakashi smiled, brushing some hair out of her face before caressing her cheek. "Me too."

"Really?" Sakura smiled.

"I think since the first day I met you." he admitted, then chuckled. "I've never gotten a girl out of her clothes so quickly."

"Jerk." Sakura hit him in the arm and he laughed.

"It's true, though." He grinned. "Wanted me the first time you saw me, right? It's okay, I do that to people." He winked. Sakura laughed, shaking her head.

A few seconds later, both were silent again.

"So..."

"So?"

"What's happening then? Between us?" Sakura asked.

"Well—I am older than you... A lot older." he whispered.

"Yeah. But, you know, I think my mum wanted me to meet you."

"Really?" Kakashi smiled.

"Yeah. Every time my father asked about a boyfriend, she would always say they should introduce me to 'him' and then my dad would get mad. I'm assuming that's you, and that the reminder hurt my dad."

"That's pretty cool." Kakashi smiled. "I don't mind giving this a shot. If you can look past the age, I'm all for it."

Sakura watched him for a few seconds before smiling. "Can we discuss it later? I'm actually quite tired."

"Oh." Kakashi's heart sank. "Yes, of course."

"Thanks." Sakura retracted all her limbs and jumped off the table as Kakashi let her go. "Good night." She made her way to the elevator.

"Ramen!" Naruto cheered as he sat down at the kitchen table, slurping noodles up happily.

"I need your help." Sakura fell down in the chair across from him, startling the blond and causing him to choke, noodles stuck where they shouldn't be. Sakura winced, feeling bad as the blond continued to cough.

"Don't scare me like that!" he hollered, clutching his heart. "Man!"

"Sorry, I thought you heard me."

"How can I hear you over the sound of my slurping?!" Naruto demanded, then sighed, calming down. "Don't do it again."

"Sorry." she repeated as he played with his noodles.

"So, what did you need help with?" He took a bite of his ramen.

"I'm in love with Kakashi."

Naruto spat his noodles out. "What? Sweet! He can finally get laid! I told him he just had to be patient!" He grinned. Sakura stared, disgusted, at the noodles on the table, but said nothing about them.

"Well, there's the slight problem of, um... I'm scared."

"Of?"

"Loving him."

Naruto cocked an eyebrow, pushing his ramen aside. "Why?"

"Well, I mean—" She cut off and sighed. "The truth is, I don't want to care about anyone. It gives me something to lose."

"Sometimes, having something to lose makes you stronger." Naruto smiled. "I mean, wouldn't it be better to risk this and then lose him than to never even have experienced what it was like to be with him? The famous phrase 'It is better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.' It's true. It's why Sasuke and I are giving it a shot." He shrugged.

"I don't think I can handle losing anyone else." Sakura whispered.

"So, what, you're going to stay single forever?"

"It's not that simple. In our line of work—"

"Hey, don't use that as an excuse." Naruto insisted, leaning back in his chair. "Sasuke and I could be business men and I could get run over on my way to the grocery store. Our job makes no difference. Everyone dies. You just have to decide what you want to take with you when you do." Naruto shrugged before grabbing his bowl of ramen. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think Sasuke is overdue for some molesting." He winked at her before leaving the kitchen, bowl of ramen in hand.

Sakura sat in the kitchen for a long while, contemplating everything Naruto had said. With a sigh, she stood and headed for the elevator. She hit the button and waited. Once it arrived, she stepped inside and hit the appropriate button. Once they opened again, she headed down the corridor and reached a door. She sighed, grabbing the handle and pushing it open, entering the room. She closed it behind her and headed for the bed, pulling back the covers and slipping under them. She shuffled closer to the other body in the bed, burying her face in the strong, broad chest.

Kakashi smiled lightly, half-way between sleep and wakefulness, wrapping his arms around Sakura and pulling her closer.

"I love you." he mumbled.

"I love you, too." she whispered back.

(1) My muse drew a cool pic of Kakashi and Sakura where you can see his tattoo XD She even won first place in the AU contest in Devart's KakaSaku club for it. It was based on what they would look like in this fic, since I'd talked to her about it for a while long before I started writing it. Link's in my profile, if anyone's interested. There's a second under it with the scars on Kakashi's face.

And Puck off drew a version of Naruto with the angel on his back, too. That's also in my profile.