2950 words in this chapter

Unmasked

Chapter 21- Interlude

She blushed and nervously pulled her hand away, walking to his other side to grip the other hand. "Hai, right"

"I'll be back" Kiba winked at Shikamaru and Ino before wandering towards the exit with Sakura in hand.

It wasn't long before they reached the edge of the hall, and were greeted by Naruto, looking very angry and upset.

"Naruto, are you alright?" Sakura asked gently

"No I'm not." He snapped "I told you if he touched you again I'd kill him, but he just acted like I was the one doing stupid things. I am right, aren't I Sakura? You didn't want him to?"

"Naruto I…" she looked up at Kiba with a sigh "I didn't say no or yes. It's complicated; can we talk about it some other time?"

"Did you scare him off Naruto?" Kiba asked

"He left pretty angry. I don't know what that means though."

"Arigato Naruto." Sakura smiled sympathetically at him "maybe you should go home and sleep on it."

"Nah, I'll just go talk to Shikamaru" he shrugged and strode over to the others, attitude completely changed in a few seconds.

Kiba started walking again, and led her out though the hallway until they were standing outside.

She watched on as he scanned the area and spotted Kakashi leant on the wall, and began to suspect a plan.

Before she could say anything, Kiba had pulled her close and was kissing her full on. She figured out immediately what he was doing. He obviously thought that if he did this, he could get a reaction from one of them to ensure that they would have to confess.

As a result, she decided not to give him that reaction. She kissed back with equal fervor, looking over his shoulder to catch Kakashi's eye, intending to let him know her intentions.

He nodded back reluctantly and pulled his gaze away and to the sky.

She sighed into Kiba's mouth and linked her hands behind his neck, hoping that he wouldn't go too far.

Thankfully though, he pulled away a little while later and sighed in defeat. "Either you really do have feelings for me, or you are far too clever"

Sakura smiled back simply and kissed him on the cheek. "Oyasumi Kiba-kun"

He shook his head lightly and headed back indoors with a smirk, leaving them alone.

She began walking away from the hall and soon she heard footsteps trailing behind her, making her smile even wider.

"Is it wrong that I wanted to punch his face through right then?" Kakashi asked her.

"Probably as wrong as the fact I wanted to let you, but that would have caused a fuss; and I heard you've already had one cock-bearing competition tonight"

"Nani?"

She turned her head to him slightly "Naruto? You are lucky he didn't go all Kyuubi on your ass."

"Oh… that…"

"What did you even say to him?"

"Nothing too important, just a quick reality check. You need to tell him though."

Sakura stopped walking and turned to face him completely, the smile gone from her face "I need to what?"

He cringed "Gomen, I didn't mean it to sound like that. I'm not trying to force you public, despite the abuse my walking life is becoming littered with, I just think it would be best for Naruto to hear sooner rather than later. You know it makes sense"

"Sure… I just have no idea how to tell him. He'll either go nuclear or catatonic; and I don't really want either."

"What now then? Are you just going to go home?"

"Why?" she smirked "want to come with me?"

"No, I know how ridiculous that is. You have a roommate."

"A roommate who is currently sleeping with her husband for the first time… ever. She won't be back until tomorrow"

"Sakura…" Kakashi pointed out "it is tomorrow"

"Not until I've been back to bed yet it isn't. Now I'm going to do that exact thing, whether you come with me, or not." She turned and began to walk again, slipping the ring back onto her finger.

He caught up again quickly "I could always transport you back if you are tired"

"No, save your energy, I think I'd rather just walk, enjoy the breeze."

"You are strange" he sighed

She looked over at him, her practical medical side overtaking her mind for a while "Gomen, did you want to rest? You must be tired yourself."

"Where did that come from?" he gave her a blank stare.

"Well… you were really injured. I thought that maybe when you said 'if I was tired", it was because you were tired"

"If I'm tired, it's not because I'm injured." He winked at her then returned his eyes to their path

"I'm serious Kakashi; you don't have to feel obliged to come with me. We have the rest of our lives."

"I'm not feeling obliged at all. I want to come with you. I want to come with you always, but we won't be able to."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Sakura, I'm not sneaking in and out like a cat all of the time. I love you and all, but if you want to keep this all a secret still, it's too much effort"

"Oh, that again"

"Yes, that again. I don't want to keep this hidden, so you can't expect me to waste energy on it"

"I don't want to keep it hidden either, but I just don't want to see what happens when it does come out. Won't people look at us strangely? Will they even take us seriously?"

"It really matters to you what people think? You don't think that people will recognize that you're my wife and move on?"

Sakura looked down at her feet as they continued to walk, thinking to herself.

"Gomen, I meant 'fiancée'." He said bitterly

She stopped walking, an idea coming to her head before her common sense could catch up. "No, we should do that"

Kakashi stopped beside her in shock "Nani?"

"We should just get married. Don't you think that would be amusing? We just won't tell anyone. It's not like either of us have family. Then they will be too shocked to criticize us when they find out." She looked up at him with bright eyes.

"Are you being serious?" he sounded doubtful

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Sakura, up until a few weeks ago, you couldn't comprehend even kissing me one more time, never mind marrying me"

She put her hands on her hips "You were ok with us getting engaged"

"I'm ok with this, he stressed; I'm just hoping you won't regret it."

"Yes then?"

"Hai, if you are sure"

"I'm sure." She grinned and grabbed hold of his hand, dragging him back in the other direction "Gaara's still here, we can ask him"

His eyes narrowed in suspicion "Gaara?"

"Would you rather ask Tsunade?"

"Gaara's good" he sighed

She stopped again, the hall just in sight again.

"What's the matter?" he frowned at her, walking to face her

"Um… do you think you could take us inside, like inside one of the other rooms, away from the main hall?"

"Oh, I get it" he rolled his eyes, obviously assuming that she still was trying to hide it.

"Kakashi, you have to understand. It'll be easier if we don't make a fuss. Just, get in, get married, get out."

"I'm sorry; did you just say you wanted to get married now?"

"Hai, when did you think I meant?"

"I don't know, but I thought you'd want it some other time. Are you sure you want to do this so simply? You don't want a big special wedding?"

"Why, do you?"

"No, but I thought you would."

"I'm not like Ino, I'm too compulsive"

"I know, that's why I'm asking. I wouldn't want you to change your mind."

"Look, it's not like we aren't in formal wear or anything." She smirked, signaling to her incredibly over-priced bespoke garment. "I'm not going to change my mind. Please take us inside"

"Only under one condition" he told her, keeping his serious expression.

"Um… what is it?" she asked awkwardly

"Afterwards… the next time anyone asks about us, you'll tell the truth. No more lies."

She stood back, frozen. "I don't know if I could…"

"Together then" He suggested "the next time we are together and someone asks"

Slowly, and still quite nervously, she nodded and took a deep breath. "The next time we are together"

Gaara stood with his arms crossed, listening to other members of his party talk endlessly about the matters that had already been explained in plenty of detail.

It was boring him rigid hearing it all over again, but most people had gone home already, and as Kazekage he felt he had an obligation to humor them at least until they left.

Slowly, it was beginning to grate on him and he found himself tapping his arm impatiently with a finger. As far as he was concerned, Sakura's techniques had very few disadvantages, so he was going to take on the plan anyway. It was important though, that his people agreed with his decision.

Literally about a second before he was going to start putting sand down people throats, he noticed a head of pink hair heading towards the group he was standing with, and immediately felt relieved.

This was at least the third time in one week she had saved him from disaster.

She came over and said to him quietly "Gaara, can you please come with me for a moment?"

"What is it?"

"I need to call in that favor you owe me" she smiled slightly and he could tell she was planning something

He raised what would have been an eyebrow "Already?"

She blushed slightly and looked at the ground "Hai"

"Fine, just as long as it's quick" he said, deliberately loud, only really to make it seems less like an escape to the others he was with.

"That's the plan" She nodded and walked out of the hall with him following close behind.

"Where are we going?" he asked her once they passed the doorway to begin down another corridor.

"Just somewhere out of the way" she smirked back at him and stopped, opening a nearby door and slipping inside.

He followed her in and saw that it was a plain room, just like the one Sakura had taken him to earlier when they were discussing the plans. Surprisingly, Kakashi Hatake was sat on the edge of one of the chairs and Sakura shut the door behind him.

This must be something to do with Naruto then…

"Ok, I'm here, what do you want?" He glared at her

"I need you to get me married" she told him with another blush

He had to make sure he was hearing correctly "Nani?"

"I need you to get me married" she repeated, speaking slowly and clearer to help him understand.

He stared up at the ceiling with a disgusted look in his eyes "To Inuzuka? I really don't want to."

"No, Kiba was just a cover, we aren't really dating." Sakura told him with amusement in her tone

"She's marrying me" Kakashi's voice called out from behind him

Gaara turned to look at him, slightly stunned and was greeted by a genuine expression of elation. He spun to see the same on Sakura's lightly flushed features and nodded. "Right, I can see now why you are keeping this secret" An affair with a student? Their Hokage would not be pleasant…

"Will you do it?" Sakura asked him with bright, hopeful eyes.

He shrugged "Of course, I have no sensible reason to refuse"

"Arigato Gaara" she almost squealed and threw her arms around him in excitement, before realizing what she was doing and standing back nervously.

It didn't last long though, as she ran over to Kakashi with a smile and stood beside him, resting an arm over his shoulders as he remained calmly sat on the chair. He looked back at her and took hold of her other hand, the one with a glittering engagement ring on it. How long has this been going on?

He looked at them curiously "I never expected you two as a couple though"

"Me neither" Kakashi admitted and stood up, taking Sakura with him.

"But you are the only one to know" She told him, fiddling with the edge of her dress

"Inuzuka doesn't know?" Gaara asked

"No" Sakura giggled

He actually cracked a smile in return, for the first time ever.

She stopped laughing and gaped "Gaara, you… you're smiling!"

"I'm just imagining his reaction. It might stop him in his tracks for a while"

"Why do you hate him so much?"

"I don't hate him"

"Then what…?"

"Kiba and Naruto are the only Konoha shinobi in your generation his sister hasn't slept with." Kakashi pointed out "Naturally, he's possessive"

"How do you know that?" Gaara glowered at him.

"Genma Shiranui" he sighed and looked away

"Gaara, why are you upset at the thought of me dating him if you are just trying to keep him from Temari?" Sakura asked him softly

"I think you could do better" he stated simply "he doesn't deserve you"

There must have been something strange in his eyes, because Sakura gave him an equally strange questioning look, but then decided to ignore it and stared at the floor.

"All of them… wow, I never even knew…" she looked up at him again "Chouji?" Gaara nodded "Shino?" he nodded again "Lee?" another nod "wait, surely not Neji?" he nodded again and her eyes went wide.

Kakashi squeezed the hand he held lightly, trying to get her attention. "Sakura?"

She looked back into his eyes "Nani…? Oh, right… um… hai, the wedding"

"You ready?"

She kissed him softly on the lips in reply, then they turned back to face Gaara.

Naruto watched as Sakura talked to Gaara on the other side of the room and scratched his head in confusion as they left.

Kiba wandered over to stand beside him, just as Sakura began leading the Kazekage away. "What's up knucklehead? It smells like you're thinking"

"Kiba, you know when you said that Kakashi didn't even react when you kissed Sakura?"

"Hai, he figured out what I was trying to do"

"Could it be for another reason?"

"No, I don't think so; Sakura seemed to know what she was doing. She was hiding something."

"What if it was someone else though? I really want to trust them, and Kakashi said he didn't do anything."

Ino, having overheard their conversation, decided to join in "what are you suggesting Naruto?"

"I don't know, but maybe… well… Kiba, where had Sakura been all night until that dance with Kakashi?"

"With Gaara, why?"

"She just came back, that's why."

"I don't get it. Where is she?" he looked around the hall

"She went over there, talked to Gaara with a blush on her face the whole time, and then they left the hall together"

"With Gaara? Are you sure?" Ino asked

He nodded

Kiba was thinking "he seemed really pissed off that I was with Sakura tonight come to think of it"

"And Hoshi said Sakura had an expensive ring on her finger too" Ino noted, fitting stuff together "Kakashi wouldn't buy two gifts in one night, but Gaara has that kind of money too"

"Sakura was late for her presentation though earlier" Kiba pointed out "Gaara wouldn't have…"

"Gaara wasn't there for the presentation" Naruto told them "He was given the information on Tuesday when they met up. They went to a private room then too, and yesterday she said she needed to talk to him, even when she wasn't finished on Kakashi"

"You think Gaara and Sakura…" Ino stared off into space. "It almost makes sense.

Shikamaru returned and handed her a drink "You all look dazed, what's going on?"

"It's not Kakashi" Naruto told him, feeling guilty for yelling at him "It was Gaara"

"Let's never, ever talk about this again." Kiba suggested "I don't really want to get further onto his bad side. The sand siblings scare me"

Almost on cue, Temari strode over and stood in front of them all, her hand place firmly onto her hip in a suggestive manner.

Ino automatically stood up straighter and Shikamaru sighed heavily "I said no Temari"

"Shut up. I don't care anymore, I just need new meat" She stated and looked between Naruto and Kiba with interest.

After half a minute's worth of assessing the pros and cons of each, she took a long, invasive scan of Kiba while he did the same to her. Then she turned to Naruto "you're the one with all that energy, right?"

He nodded slowly, confused at why she was asking.

"Come and show me where you live" she said in a ridiculously over-flirty manner, and then winked at him.

"Why?"

"This place is boring, very boring. You wouldn't want to refuse one of Konoha's guests, would you?"

"I don't know what you would want to do at mine, but if you want" he shrugged

"I'm sure we could find something" she smirked back at Kiba, and then led Naruto towards the exit.

"Um, I'll see you guys tomorrow" he called back naively

"No he won't" Shikamaru sighed "The Suna party doesn't leave until tomorrow night. We won't see him till Saturday."

Both Ino and Kiba glared at him brutally.

Kiba then turned away and moaned "Man, why doesn't she ever pick me? That was just cruel."

"She knows it gets to you, that's why. She lives to cause pain and misery" He grumbled back "I would feel sorry for Naruto, but I'm just too glad it's not me"

AN: Well Narutards, this is exactly what happens when you add a combination of no backup ideas, really random suggestions through reviews, biscuit deprivation (I'm banned after chapter 18), feeling very dizzy due to a really bad fit of hydrophobia, and getting to talk to my closest people for the first time in more than a month.

The chapter, unlike the others, isn't named after what happens in the chapter, for one noble reason. The entire last section was a complete "Interlude" from my normal brain processing. Blame it on being called a psychopath multiple times while writing it.

There's a lot happening in this chapter, most of which was really unplanned, but we really are leading up to the big KakaSaku climax now. (woot!)

I don't know where that whole Gaara thing came from entirely, but yes, that was planned, I have just been hiding it from y'all, even in my teasers. Hehe.

Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't pair Naruto with anyone, but it's not really a pairing as such, more a coercion, so it doesn't count.

I also said I wasn't going to say who the thing with Neji was, but hell, I was on a roll.

Kiba gets seriously burned in this one too, so I'm sorry for any Kiba fans out there reading this.

Um… website has info I think, maybe, in a bit like. Go check it out. Add stuff to the new "Fanzone", all you have to do is message me, and I'll add it. Regular reviewers are already credited, along with the 150th reviewer, and a little bit of writing by Cyberwolf.

Stay shiny and show the luff

Xx Belizma-chan xX