Disclaimer: Sadly I own neither Naruto nor Kakashi nor the songs being used in this fic. Credit is given to Gloria Estefan and Alicia Keys for inspiring it with their ballads "I'm not giving you up" and "Like you'll never see me again" respectively.

A/N: Hi there, thanks for your patience at myslow update but please bear with it for the moment. You see, come next week I'll be in mock exam mode, which is an exam my school gives to 'final exam' students. It's similar to the real thing that the Caribbean Examination Council gives to the region, just to let students know where they stand in terms of work ethic. My future rides on the final exam, my social life on the mock lol. I'll try my best but again your patience is greatly needed. Many, MANY thanks to all those who read, reviewed, alerted and even favorited my fic (throws out millions and millions of Hershey's kisses to readers) LOVE YAH ;)

Chapter 2: Birthday wishes

I take a breath before entering the place. Even from the outside you can see it's brilliantly lit, and the soft ballads being played from inside can faintly be heard from where I stand. Two more guests pass me with a slight nod of respect as they proceed to enter the doors of the community center; they're probably from the academy, faces do look familiar. One more breath escapes my lips as I too enter to join in the celebration of my favourite cherry blossom's 18th birthday.

I feel like a teenager on his first date; hands clammy, heart racing as his nerves bounce all over his system, boy do I feel pathetic. At least my good looks are making up for this newfound height of anxiety. Yeah, we're all dolled-up, and just for her. Clad in a classic black tux complimented with white shirt and tie I do look snazzy, the only thing 'misplaced' being my mask and protective headband. Tsunade's gonna be all over me like ulcers on a leper for it, but I've got a rep to protect so sue me. Gotta give it to the woman though, she went all out for her apprentice on her special day, but I don't blame her for Sakura's worth every penny.

I gaze at the sight before me and a genuine warmth reaches my heart, a smile slowly making its way onto my face as joy and laughter from her comrades continue to fill the hall. The place is even more beautiful than I imagined, that is until I saw the guest of honour and understood the true meaning of the word.

The initial striking feature was the way her kimono enhanced, no, revealed all her best 'qualities'. The intricate pattern on the kimono subtly drew attention to the gentle and generous curve of her hips; the black, yellow and deep pink intricacies complimenting her well. The light-pink obi, a stark contrast to the deep pink, displayed the slim tapered waist that Sakura maintained. Moving further upwards to another curve, once again subtly complimented, the opening of the kimono was deep enough to allow a tempting yet decent view. This asset was exhibited enough to keep one wondering, but decent enough not to spoil the imagination. Yes…exhibited, she was an image to look at indeed. The minor details of her ensemble allowed the finishing touches of perfection. The light blush upon her face, whether natural or not, suited well with the pink gloss upon her naturally pouted lips. Her eyes, a distinct contrast to the softer colours glowed as they stood out and captured those that dared to seek them. Tearing my view from her mesmerizing orbs it could be observed that her hair was pulled into a neat yet highly flattering up-do, allowing an unhindered view of her face. The hairstyle was appropriately adorned by decorated hair chopsticks with tassels that framed her face without removing the natural beauty that was Sakura.

I feel my breath coming in short as the proximity between us decreases with each step she takes towards me. Easy Hatake, she's just coming to greet you like any decorous hostess would.

"You made it," she says excitedly, swinging her arms around my neck, sheer delight at my presence shining on her face.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world Sakura-chan. Tanjoubi omedetou" and I place a gentle kiss on her cheeks flushing it just a bit. I wish I could've done more, but the impropriety of it all stopped my mouth short of capturing her lips with mine. Before I knew it our moment was lost as she returned to the crowd to greet the other million and one people invited to the festivity. I was about to take a seat at the bar when a powerful "yosh!" was heard from the assembly of children, which meant one sexy green beast was nearby. It also meant another thing…

"Kaka-sensei!" Never had I hated that nick-name until it escaped the lips of one flamboyant Maito Gai. Kamis help me not to kill him on her birthday! In a puff of smoke he was by my side, that twinkle in his eye evident as he looked on at the children in all their merry.

"Oh how the power of youth is in full bloom with the sakuras, ne?" Gai now asks me, that starry-eye quickly replaced by a river of tears. Kami here we go.

"Jeez Gai, can you be anymore gay?"

"There lies no boundaries to my gaiety where the joys of adolescence are concerned Kaka-sensei!" Not exactly what I meant, but I think in a sense he answered my question. I'm ready to down sake to diminish the sadistic thoughts about the many ways I could take this particular human life without anyone noticing when Asuma arrives and frees me from my hell on earth.

"I see you two are getting along well Hatake," he grins wickedly, receiving several glares on my behalf as Gai decides to show him how well we truly are interacting by playfully placing his arm around my shoulder.

"Like the best of friends," I manage to say beneath clenched teeth, still trying to wiggle my way out of Gai's grasp. When did he get so strong? "Gai, how come you haven't given Asuma a welcome hug as well? I think he may get jealous of our 'youthful friendship'." I figured a good ole fashioned bullshit lie was in order, anything as a matter of fact if it meant Gai would get his effeminate hands off of me.

"That may be so, but he'll get over it eventually. Besides, I met him at the door so he was greeted properly then," he replies with that sickening smile again. Asuma's impish grin is enough for me to clobber them both, but before I get the chance the Godaime herself comes into view and asks that everyone gather round a rather large table to bear witness to Sakura cutting her birthday cake.

"Before we begin I would just like to say a few words. If everyone would please raise their glasses being handed out to them by the waiters. Sakura, I took you under my wing five years ago in hopes of developing a strong kunochi, because that's what you asked of me. 'I want to be strong like Naruto and Sasuke, no longer the one everyone has to protect.' Well, I believe we can all agree when I say I got more than I bargained for. I trained a young girl, and she blossomed into a woman over night it seems. I'm damn proud to say not only have I taught you, but I've gotten to know you as an individual, a beautiful, caring, selfless person." The old woman stopped briefly to wipe a rogue tear, springing forth water works all around the room. Why did I get stuck standing next to Gai?

"Anyhow, I did say 'a few words' and I believe I've gone over my limit now. Continue on the righteous path you are now Haruno Sakura; never forget who you are along the way. Happy Birthday my dear," were the final words as glasses clinked in tribute to the celebration of her birth.

"Happy Birthday to Sakura…" a boisterous Gai began as he finished downing his drink. Soon everyone was merrily into the song, which was followed by the blowing of the candles after the birthday wish was made.

"Now, you have quite a variety of young men to cut the cake with. Who shall be the lucky one?" Tsunade asked her pupil when the clamour settled. I saw the hands of many raise in hopes that they'll be chosen. But just as becoming Hokage is destined to one, there was but one obvious choice in this circumstance. I couldn't help feel a bit sorry for Lee, disappointment etched all over his face as the raven-haired boy made his way to her side. Why does loving someone have to cause so much pain?

Looking on I felt I was attending a wedding rather than a birthday party, the way they held the knife and fork as the cutlery pierced the soft icing of the pink cake, he feeding her a piece and vice-versa. What caught me off guard though was the brief kiss on the lips he gave her after he's swallowed his share of confection. My fists clenched at the sight, the palm of my hand pleading for me to allow some form of colour other than white to grace its poor self.

"You okay there Kakashi?" Asuma asks placing a concerned hand on my tense shoulder. I hadn't meant to make my feelings so known, but everything about that girl was out of my control.

"Yeah, I just need a drink."

He joined me on my voyage to the bar where we met a distraught Iruka apparently drowning his sorrows in the rice wine.

"Take it easy there Iruka, we wouldn't want you passing out on the dance floor now would we?" I say trying to liberate some of the stress of whatever he was going through. And I thought I had issues.

"No, nothing's wrong. It's just…they're all growing up so fast" and a fresh stream of tears came pouring down.

"Damn it don't tell me Gai got to you too?" He let loose a chuckle, a sign that his mood was lightening a bit.

"You could say. Just watching them out there brings back memories doesn't it?"

They were all dancing now, some paired off, and others gathered round the two synchronized green monsters of Konoha who…wait, are they wearing the same outfit? I thought Lee had better taste that to wear an olive green suit with that distasteful white frilly shirt. Poor boy, he needs a new idol. But the sight does cause me to reminisce on my own fond memories of them all; how they each graduated from genin to chuunin, and eventually to my ranks as respectable jounin, maturing like the young men and women they rightfully are.

"We're getting old aren't we?" Iruka finally says, followed by an averse "yep" from Asuma and me. But I'm not going to allow my age to obstruct my caring for her…my loving her…

"How's Kurenai and the baby going?"

"Ah Umuino boy, she's doing swell! The baby's due in a couple of weeks so she's taking it easy at the moment. She sent her best regards."

I saw her once big with child, a month ago to be precise. I couldn't help but feel some remorse; that could've been our child, our 'happy life' as she so fondly calls her time with Asuma. But hearing about their good life no longer brings regret to my heart, but genuine contentment at the couple, and envy that I could never have that with the one woman I truly love.

"Isn't it romantic?" I hear someone dreamily sigh, and I follow their gaze to the couple leisurely moving to the slow rhythmic bass beats of the love song played.

So every time you hold me
Hold me like this is the last time
Every time you kiss me
Kiss me like you'll never see me again
Every time you touch me
Touch me like this is the last time
Promise that you'll love me
Love me like you'll never see me again

His hands are encirlcing the small of her back now as their lazy pace continues. She looks so happy with him, being in his arms at last, I no longer have the heart to tear them apart for my selfish desires. Loving someone does entail letting them go right? This is where she belongs, picture-perfect with the Uchiha of her dreams.

"Did you ever think you'd see the day they'd acutally end up together?" Asuma asks, directing his question more to me seeing that I was their former sensei.

"No, I didn't. But I'd always hope the utmost happiness for her. I'm glad she finally found it."

Several 'awes' were heard as the ballad came to an end; how sweet and sickeningly appropriate for the two. I shot the last of the sake I ordered moments ago and prepared to leave this godforsaken place; my heart just couldn't endure the torture any longer.

"Think I'll call it a night now guys," I announce as I place the ceramic cup on the bar counter and rise from my stool.

"Whatever happened to showing up the youngsters? C'mon Kaka, the night is young," Asuma jokes with me, lightly tapping the table signalling the bartender for another drink.

"It just isn't my night then." For some reason Asuma doesn't press the issue any further and allows me to bid them farewell. Before I leave I search for the birthday girl to tell her of my departure, out of common courtesy of course. Those distinctive pink locks were seen amongst a tower of brown, black and blonde. By the grace of the kamis I manage to squeeze through the horde of teenaged girls till I reached the princess of the night.

"Enjoy the rest of your night Sakura-chan." The music was so overwhelming I was damned that she heard what I said.

"You're leaving now?" She takes my hand and secludes us from the crowd to one of the seating areas. "It's only 9 o'clock Kakashi, you can't go now." She seemed upset at my sudden leave, but I knew the feeling was mutual. Soon she'd be back into the arms of her Sasuke-kun and thoughts of old Kaka-sensei would be nothing but dust in the wind.

"Yeah, I've got a mission in the morning so I was hoping I could get some rest." I hated to lie to her, but the truth was all the more painful.

"But I haven't danced with you yet" and before another protest could be made she grabs my hand and soon we're on dance floor, with no music playing. How freaking embarrassing.

"Sakura please." I try to beg my way out, but then I remember this girl's got the will of iron steel.

"C'mon Kakashi, just one dance" and out pops the puppy-dog pout. Damn, she caught me.

"Alright," I sigh as the DJ begins to play the requested song.

The first notes come from the quick beats of a conga drum, followed by the melodic strum of a guitar singing a song all its own with the rich sounds of its nylon and copper strings. So it's a Latin tune she chose, and slowly I'm regretting telling her my secret obsession with the Spanish music. When we were still together Kurenai tried to enrol us in some Latin dance classes, a 'couples hobby' she called it. We gave up after a month; she thought I didn't like it, but my only problem was the instructor using me as his personal cabana boy.

The soft introduction continues as I cup her delicate hand in my contrastingly rugged ones and hold the small of her back so that her body's pressing close to mine with only the required space needed for the rumba to occur. Our bodies fit almost perfectly against one another, and it scares the hell out of me. How am I to let her go when our world begs to differ? My revering ends when the singer belts out the first line of the song and soon I'm back in dreamland as I allow myself to get lost in the lyrics, in the moment, in the now…with her…


To be completely honest it scares me to imagine
what life would be without you
And for this very reason I ask you to forgive me
for what I'm putting us through

"I hope you like this song, I'm a sucker for the classics," she whispers to me when I draw her closer, our breaths mingling with the little air between us. No wonder I thought it sounded familiar; a great tune, but another horrid reminder of how old I really am to her. Yet, I can't help but feel this is the most dangerously appropriate song for my personal dilemma.


Although there're so many things against us I've decided
I'm not giving you up
No...

Against all odds, she refuses to lose the love of her life. Can you do the same Hatake? Are you willing to risk it all to be with her? I hadn't noticed when we gained an audience, but the obvious "how cute" and "aww" murmured amongst our pairs was a gentle reminder that we weren't alone, and by the looks on their faces the romantic feel of the dance was lost as they continually reiterated the fact that I was her "ex-sensei".


Thinking back, I see what we have
is something different
I think we've known all along
so how fair would it be
to divide this love's existence
between what's right and what's wrong
And you, always wondering if we'll make it time will tell you
that I'm not giving you up, no, no...

Our dance resumes as excitedly as it began, much to the delight of our spectators. But I pay them no mind, for all I can see is her. All I ever want to see, breathe, touch and taste is her glory. My heart continues to drink in the message of the song, obeying its every word like it was scripture. If she feels as strongly about me as I do her, not even the kamis will have the power to take away what's rightfully ours. I say let true love live, no matter what the circumstances.


We'll find a way to be together
however long it takes, wherever
if it means having you for only a moment
a moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no
no, I'm not giving you up, no

For a man as greedy as I a moment with Sakura could never be enough. It will be valued for dear life, but I refuse to settle for anything less than her all. My Haruno, if you could read my thoughts what would you say to them? Would you loathe me and call me a pervert like most of Konoha probably would, or would your heart rejoice at knowing it has found a love willing to test the wrath of time and humanity?


Screaming in the silence the promises we've spoken
come back to haunt me, false and broken
quiet desperation to see we're lost forever
searching for water in this desert
No, I refuse to have to do without your kisses

I'm not giving you up, no, no

Her body has nuzzled neatly into mine about now, our cheeks lightly caressing the other. An alluring scent takes hold of my nostrils and immerses it in a sea of lavender, a scent apt to the beauty in my arms. This newfound proximity brings forth a lump to my throat, my breath hot and short against the crook of her neck. Kami I hope my 'friend' behaves himself down there! This woman has many an effect on me, physically and emotionally, so much that my life has become dependent on her very existence in it. My immortal rain, my star in the midnight sky, my sakura…


We'll find a way to be together
however long it takes, wherever
if it means having you for only a moment
a moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no
no, I'm not giving you up, no

And as I sweep her downwards for a final dip as the music begins to fade I find myself silently singing the last sentence of the song, slowly allowing the words to engulf my mind as it chants so melodiously…

I'm not giving you up

I somehow hear an applause coming from our audience above the maddening pulsation of my heart, the blood racing hotly through my system as I briefly lose myself in her beryl pools before positioning her back on her feet to stand and take a bow with me. Damn I'm good.

"You're a wonderful dancer Kakashi," she tells me with cheeks rosy either from the heat of the dance or from sheer embarrassment at having her comrades ogle me now with a newfound respect, curiosity, and of course lust on the women's behalf. Need I say it again; damn I'm good!

"As are you Sakura-chan. Happy birthday," I say before placing a butterfly-kiss on her cheek and at last, making my exit from this place. The journey home no longer seems as onerous as it once did. Maybe there was something in the night air, a peace that loomed over the building, one that only occasions such as this could bring. Or maybe the effect of the sake had reached its peak, releasing a never-ending feeling of euphoria throughout my body. Whatever the cause, I couldn't be on a higher cloud if I wanted to. I found my new mantra, and no matter what people will say after this I know where my heart belongs, and nothing and no one can change that. I love her; I always have and always will.

And for that, I'm not giving her up.