Sakura was the first to land on the road at the entrance to the town with Kakashi quickly following suit. They stood for a moment quietly catching their breath and surveyed their surroundings. On the path was an ornately decorated arch that signified the entrance to the town while down the other side was the quiet road that they followed in the trees. They looked to each other briefly before Sakura nodded and Kakashi took the lead through the arch.

The town was quite large for its location so close to the boarder. The streets were almost as wide as Konoha's with sidewalks for pedestrians and cobbled roads where horses and small cars left their tracks. Sakura walked behind Kakashi as he lead them down the side roads, every once in a while passing a local who was out for an early night stroll, or just heading home.

The two fell into step with each other and Sakura's tired eyes stayed on Kakashi's back as she walked behind him. She took the time to study him starting from his hair that was more disheveled than normal, down to his neck that was covered by his vest and mask, to his shoulders and arms. She paid attention to how they softly swayed as he walked, he had one hand in his pocket and the other rested freely at his side. Moving to his lower back and hips, she saw that he kept both directly under his head as he walked, and noted the front to back pivotal movement they made when he took a step. Her eyes drifted lower to his legs. She couldn't see the definition of them very well through the fabric, but every once in a while he would step just right and she saw a hint of tone in his upper leg area.

"If you stare any harder, you might burn a hole right through me, Sakura."

Sakura quickly glanced away and blushed.
"Sorry, I was just lost in thought."

Kakashi made an unconvinced noise as he stopped walking.
"I'm sure they were pleasant thoughts, to have you wandering around so intently."

He turned to her and watched as her face twisted with embarrassment. She quickly regained her composure and crossed her arms over her chest while narrowing her eyes at him.

Kakashi placed a gentle hand on her head and ruffled her hair around her headband.
"Relax, Sakura. I'm just messing with you."

He smiled when her shoulders dropped and her eyes fell to the ground again.
She breathed a deep sigh before making eye contact with him and pushing his hand gently away from her head.
"Sorry, I'm just tired, that's all."

Kakashi nodded to her and turned to walk again.
"The place is just around the corner. We'll get something to eat and then head to the hotel."

Sakura put a hand to her hair and attempted to straighten out her pink locks as she followed him again. After she was done adjusting, she caught up to his side and walked in tandem with him as they rounded a corner. The smell of cooking meat was overpowering Sakura's stomach as they approached the small joint.

They sat down in the near corner with Kakashi facing the front entrance and Sakura facing the kitchen. Their waitress came and took their orders while leaving a pot of tea for the two of them and they chatted as they waited.

"How did you learn about this place, Sensei?"

"I had an extended mission in this town a couple of years back when you and Naruto were busy training. I got bored and tired of Tsunade harassing me all the time, so I took it hoping to get away for a while. It worked quite well. The people in this town are very friendly and almost nothing happens here, aside from the occasional festival."

Sakura grasped her tea and took a small sip before nodding.
"I think I remember when Tsunade gave you that assignment."

Kakashi chuckled slightly.
"Yes, you were there. Balancing books on your head, I believe."

Sakura thought for a moment.
"No, I think that was a different time when Tsunade was harassing you about something else. I can't remember what though."

They both laughed then smiled at each other and Sakura let out a short sigh before continuing.
"Seems like Lady Tsunade never has time for me anymore. After I became a Chunin she became so engrossed in her work that the only times I see her are when I'm helping her with paper work or when she sends me off like she did today."

Kakashi's eye fell to the table for a fraction of a second before looking back at her and crinkling into a smile again.
"You know, I may be old, but I still have some things I could teach you."

Sakura gave a breathy laugh.
"Oh please, you were always more interested in Naruto and-" Sakura paused, but then caught herself. She shook her head. "Besides, I don't think I'd be able to take on a sensei again. I work full shifts at the hospital when I'm not being the Hokage's bitch or being sent on stupid missions out of the blue."

"Weren't you planning on becoming a jonin?"

Sakura fidgeted with her teacup.
"Yes, and I still plan on becoming one... I just- Can we not talk about this right now?"

Kakashi nodded and lightened the subject to the weather as they waited for their food to arrive.
Sakura dug in once it finally came, stuffing her face until her mouth couldn't fit any more before chewing and swallowing hard. From the other side of the table, Kakashi watched with an amused grin as Sakura choked on a piece of meat, and he mentioned something about Naruto rubbing off on her again.

When she finished her own meal, Sakura purposefully dropped one of her chopsticks.
"Oops."
She reached down to get it, deliberately taking her time under the table, and then she came up with it, ignoring Kakashi's mysteriously empty plate.
Sakura inspected the utensil.
"Gross, there's a hair on it."

The hotel they were staying at was on the same as the street from the restaurant, so it took almost no time for them to arrive and rent a room. Once paid for, the two made their way into the small abode. After locking the doors and windows and checking all of the closets for potential threats or any squatters, they proceeded to get comfortable. Sakura sat down on her bed and began to take off her clothes down to her spandex and under shirt while Kakashi took off his vest and shirt as well as his headband and shoes. They took their discarded clothes and hung them in the closet to air out.

Sakura turned to Kakashi as he made his way to his bed.
"Did you want to take a shower, Sensei?"

Kakashi shook his head.
"No, you can go ahead, I'll take one in the morning."

Sakura nodded and proceeded to the bathroom where she stripped the rest of her clothes and brought them with her into the shower. The hot water was a nice relief from the long day's sweat and grime. Using her chakra and some soap that was provided, she began to clean her clothes first. Once she was satisfied that all of the embarrassing stains were gone, she threw them over the shower curtain rail and proceeded to wash her own body with the same mixture of soap and chakra. She let her hands roam over her body, hesitating at certain points that had knots in the muscles, making sure to massage them out before proceeding. After she had washed herself fully, Sakura stood in the shower just enjoying the hot water for a few more minutes before turning off the water.

Stepping out of the shower, Sakura wrapped a fluffy towel around her torso before attending to her wet clothes. She used a similar procedure to that of extracting poison to extract the water from her clothes. Once she was satisfied, she wrapped the towel around her head and put her now clean undergarments on and left the bathroom.

Kakashi was lounging on the bed, still shirtless, reading his book. Sakura paused a moment and let her eyes roam over his figure. Kakashi looked up from his book to her.
"Lost in thought again?"

Sakura gave an amused smile to him.
"Hardly. Can't really think too clearly with a well toned man sitting shirtless in the same room as me."

Kakashi closed his book and quirked an eyebrow at her boldness. His sharingan was closed and his hair fell loosely without the support of the headband, which was sitting beside him on the night stand, so all that was covered was below his nose by his mask.
"One must always keep a sound mind in the presence of distractions, Sakura."

Sakura smiled to her self and shook her head as she made her way to her own bed. Once she sat down facing Kakashi's bed she looked into his eye.
"It's kind of funny how we're comfortable enough to go prancing around each other almost naked in the same room, and yet I've never seen your face."

Kakashi sat up in his bed as well and swung his legs over the side to face Sakura.
"We've known each other a long time, Sakura. I've watched you grow up, and I've missed a lot as well, but being a team is all about trust and communication."

Sakura sighed.
"Thank you Kakashi, but I'm really not looking for a sensei right now."

Kakashi folded his hands in his lap.
"Why do you keep calling me Sensei, then?"

Sakura shrugged.
"Force of habit, I guess."

Kakashi's eyes crinkled as he smiled to her.
"Then I guess being a sensei is also a force of habit."

Sakura took a moment, but then she smiled and looked at him.
"I can accept that, Sensei."

With that, Sakura stood and moved to Kakashi's bed and sat beside him. She wrapped her arm around his torso for a side hug, and he returned the gesture. She rested her head gently on his shoulder for a moment and Kakashi quickly turned his head and placed his masked lips on top of her hair. Sakura smiled and quickly rubbed his back before pulling away.

She stood up and made her way back to her bed.
Laying down, she gave him one last look before turning off her light.
"Good night, Sensei."

Kakashi smiled as he watched Sakura sink into the bed. He then laid down and turned off his own light.
"Good night, Sakura."