Send Me An Angel

by RedRedRosy

Akatsuki hunting them, the remaining three members of Team Kakashi are forced to hide. With Kakashi healing and Naruto being unreasonably difficult, will Sakura be able to make it through? Kakasaku

7. Chapter 7

A/N: I was flipping through the channels and found that nothing good was on, so I started thinking. Well, I realized that this chapter was still sitting in My Documents and that I had yet to upload it. So let's fix that.

Send Me An Angel: Chapter 7

Sakura work up the next morning aware before she was awake. The softness of the bed continued to caress her body gently while the air filled with the fresh, wild smells of the outdoors. When she lazily opened her eyes she could see the dimming light of the sun sliding behind the cover of trees, marking the end of the day. She had slept much longer than she had expected to, but she felt so much better that it didn't even matter.

She was slow to move, savoring the comfortable lull her body had put itself in. It gave her a great sense of relief after a night such as the night before. She believed that if she moved too quickly she would still feel the strain of her muscles as they held her up mercilessly, not allowing her to fall, taste the tears and feel the raw tracks across her cheeks. She didn't want that. She wanted this relaxing glow that had somehow found itself about her.

Kakashi was busy making dinner, rushing from one side of the kitchen to the other. He was missing his headband, flak jacket, shoes, wrappings, and gloves. It gave him a disheveled look that she thought suited him quite nicely. That thought sent her back to another thought, one that had hidden itself in the recesses of her mind.

He had agreed to show her his face.

But why would he do such a thing?

"Good morning, Sakura," Kakashi greeted without looking at her, despite the late time. He was stirring something in a glass bowl when he turned around to face her. He smiled. "You look better, but I think you could still use a shower."

"No kidding," she replied as she fell into a chair that had mysteriously moved from the dining room to leaning against one of the long counters of the kitchen. "I feel great though."

"That's good," he said as he went back to work.

"What are you cooking?" she asked, though she honestly didn't care. Her stomach growled furiously. She would eat anything.

He laughed. "It's nothing you know, but I like it. The only thing that sucks about it is that it takes so long to make. I think you'll enjoy it. You always take pleasure in things that involve other's people's time and labor. It's sort of evil."

"I only take pleasure in it because it's finally not me who's working."

"How cruel."

"Hey, how many times have I cooked for you?"

"Point taken." He sat down the bowl and checked on something in the refrigerator. He shut the door, satisfied, and went back to doing something else at the counter that Sakura decided wasn't worth paying attention to. The sooner she had food in her stomach the better. Her stomach roared again in answer, almost as though agreeing with her.

"When is it going to be done?" she groaned, tipping her head back to lean it against the wall as her tummy betrayed her yet again.

Kakashi smiled. "That's right. You've got to be starving."

She grunted.

"Well, it should take another half an hour. That's why Naruto is still out training. Sorry."

"Can I have something else then?"

Kakashi stepped away from the counter, grabbing a dishcloth that had been laying off to the side. He wiped his hands on it thoroughly as he looked at her. "You don't want to eat this?"

"It's taking too long, and the smell is driving me crazy. If you don't hurry up and get it done or give me something else to eat, I might just start eating whatever it is that's in that damn bowl over there."

He laughed and threw her an apple that had been laying in a basket off to the side. "That should hold you off until dinner."

She caught it and stared at it, then she grunted. "But it's so little."

"No offensive Sakura, but you're little as well."

"Compared to what?"

"To me?"

"You don't eat much anyway," she argued. "How much do you weight? One-twenty?"

"One-seventy."

"You gained weight," she said as she bit into her shiny, deep red apple. The juice rolled down her chin.

"That's what you've got to do when you're preparing for an ambush. Build muscle."

"That sounds like something a kid would say," she commented.

"Well, when you're the main muscle you understand that a kid's mind is far more flexible than that of the wise strategist standing next to him. The strategist thinks objectively. The kid bends around all forces and goes for the straightest blow."

She sighed. "Why does it seem like every conversation with you ends in a lesson about missions or survival? It's ridiculous."

"You try being a shinobi since you were five years old and tell me how your head works."

"Odd. You were five? That's weird."

"I expected more of a reaction."

Sakura shrugged. "You're Kakashi, you do things like that. You do things that people don't expect and survive when people expect you to die…even when people already count you as dead. I'm used to amazing things from you. Everyone is by now."

He leaned against the counter, putting his work to the side for a moment. "It sort of takes the glory out of it doesn't it?"

She through the remains of her apple at him with as much strength as she could muster without using chakra, and he caught it swiftly and surely, just as she suspected he would, then she smiled at him. "See? It doesn't take the glory out of anything. I guess the way I see it is that if people already know that you're awesome and all the incredible things you do don't surprise them, then you're finally able to say 'I made it' and mean it."

Kakashi laughed, and Sakura felt a tingle in her heart that momentarily blocked out the hunger that was already beginning to rise again. His eyes claimed hers. "I made it? Sakura, you really are something."

"What? What's so funny?"

He shook his head. "You should already know. I suppose it really shouldn't be funny though."

"What is it?" she demanded.

"I was the only one that made it," he whispered, the sound of his voice traveling more across the air and into a world of magic rather than to her.

She swallowed, pushing back down a lump that she refused to let grow. She was not going to let that ruin her good mood. She had actually woken up feeling good, and that was something he wasn't allowed to take from her. "Don't you dare," she growled. "You will not start thinking like that. Right now it's my turn, so shut up and cook."

He looked surprised for a mere second before amusement returned to his eyes and his mouth slid into a wide grin that could be detected even through his mask. "Yes, your highness."

Naruto came in earlier than expected. Kakashi was just finishing putting together the rest of the meal when he arrived. He was fifthly, dirt caked to his clothes, sweat matting the questionably blond hair to his forehead, and soil and blood smeared across his left cheek.

Kakashi's eyebrows raised. "What happened to you?"

"I not sure," came Naruto's quiet, tired answer. "I think I trained too long. I'm exhausted."

Sakura watched as Kakashi's eyes narrowed in spite of the fact that the sight of Naruto should have excited pity instead of whatever glare now marred her sensei's face. Kakashi asked sternly, "Did you go overboard? Did you do anything that would have caused suspicion?"

"I don't think so."

"I don't care what you think. I need you to tell me what you did."

Naruto's eyelids drooped. "Normal routine. Same stuff I do with you."

"No rasengans?"

"Maybe one," Naruto allowed.

Kakashi growled. "What do you mean 'maybe one'? Are you out of your mind? The Akatsuki are searching for us and you could have possibly just given them an arrow pointing in our direction."

"Sensei," Sakura said gently, "Naruto needs sleep. Let him rest and then we'll get this worked out after he wakes up."

Kakashi shut his eyes and when he opened them Sakura could see that he had regained his calm composure. "No, he needs to eat. Naruto runs on food. He's barely eaten at all today."

Dinner was a quiet, delightful matter. Sakura found that the food was delicious, the meat tender and flavored. Naruto gobbled noisily, the meal giving him energy Sakura thought he had been lacking because of need of rest. She was surprised that Kakashi hadn't demanded that he take a shower first, but Kakashi had left them to go eat outside. Sakura saw through the open door that the fireflies were glowing brightly. She smiled to herself, thinking of the beauty that steamed just beyond the wall that separated them from the outside world.

Naruto said goodnight as soon as he was done and quickly left. She heard the faint hissing of running water and knew that Naruto was off to take that shower he so desperately needed. Sakura carried her plate with her outside.

Kakashi was sitting on the porch, his eyes staring off into the distant forest. He had finished eating, as she had suspected he would have. His dogs were howling. For some reason it wasn't annoying to Sakura, instead it was beautiful. She sat down next to him and resumed eating her own food. Of course, the silence didn't last long.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Kakashi asked her, giving her an offer that was bound to confuse her in some way. He didn't really care. He needed a break. His own rules had kept him confined to a house that his subconscious held the burden of, and after a few weeks of living there he could feel himself becoming exhausted with the beautifully carved furniture and the luxuries of the house. He felt claustrophobic.

"Uh," Sakura paused. "Okay, I guess." It would be interesting, if nothing else.

Kakashi smiled but looked down at her plate to see what was remaining of her meal. "Would you like to finishing eating or are you already done?"

She shrugged. "I've been done for a while."

Kakashi's hand grabbed hers and pulled her to her feet before she had even realized that she had agreed to go with him. His grin offered her an invitation she couldn't refuse. "Then let's get a move on," he laughed.

He led her through the back yard, passing the shed where his dogs lay lounging across the worn grass around it. Bull, Kakashi's largest dog, gave a ruff bark to his master before again falling silent. Howls went up and Pakkun was elected as the one to go speak to Kakashi. The small, brown pug made his way slowly over to him.

He didn't have a greeting for them. He went straight to the point. "Where are you going?"

Kakashi's hand was still wrapped around Sakura's as they continued to walk towards the dark forest, and Pakkun's eyes strayed towards the entangled limbs before rising to meet Kakashi's. "A walk. It's getting stuffy around here."

Pakkun grunted in response.

"Put up guard," Kakashi ordered. "Regular positions. I won't be here to scout out any intruders, so the job is yours again."

"Ours," Pakkun corrected, referring to his pack.

"Of course," Kakashi said dismissively. "We'll be back soon."

"Tonight's the last night?" Pakkun inquired. He wished to know Kakashi's health status. He had named it an unfortunate quality, but regardless, he was of the canine race, and as such held a loyalty that couldn't be explained.

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, last night. After this it's done."

Pakkun grunted in satisfaction and trotted off, rejoining his brothers. Finally they could stop their pestering worry. Gossip reigned supreme among the pack, as was expected to happen when dogs were taught how to speak and then left alone for long periods of time. It had become a habit of sorts. According to the rumor, Kakashi and Sakura were growing very close, perhaps too close.

This started a new worry.

Kakashi wasn't like them in that he didn't mate the same way. In fact, Kakashi had never had a litter. Pakkun found it sad, and so this new development was a very welcome one. He had always liked Sakura. This was one way she could officially join the pack.

He spared one last glance to the departing duo before jogging the rest of the way to his waiting family. Whatever happened, Kakashi would be all right.

-

Sakura was surprised to find that the glowing lights of fireflies extended through most of the forest. Bushes and trees were filled with their bright yellow dots, and the only just appearing stars added to that beauty. She was walking with Kakashi down a path that had been reclaimed by the grass and weeds.

"Kakashi?" she asked quietly, not wanting to disrupt the magic surrounding her. It was like she had entered a fairytale, one that she had dreamed of many times as a little girl. The only difference was that she was sharing it with someone other than Sasuke, the most unexpected someone.

"Yes?"

"Can I see your face now?"

She had asked it so quietly and so innocently that for a moment he was thrown off. He stopped walking and turned around to face her where she stood behind him, their hands still connecting them.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I know it's personal and I won't be mad if you don't show me. I'm just curious anyway. I know that you only do that when you trust someone and…"

She trailed off, getting nervous both by how she had begun to ramble and by how he had stepped closer to her, his eyes smoldering as he stared down at her own. In a moment he had ripped his mask from his face, revealing pale, smooth, unblemished cheeks, a straight nose, attractive lips, and a masculine jaw line. The simple curve of his cheek would have been enough to overjoy a painter of the beauties of life. She couldn't help her gasp, the sound breaking through the buzzing of the insect nightlife around them.

"I do trust you, Sakura," he whispered heavily. "I trust you more than I trust anyone."

With that his lips were pressed gently onto hers, and though shock ran though her body Sakura was aware of the way he quickly pulled back. She saw the panic in his eyes and heard the anxiety in his voice. "Sakura, I'm so sorry," he said in a haste. "I didn't mean that."

But she had wanted so badly for him to mean it. She had no idea why, but for that unknown reason she pulled herself closer to him and put her arms around his neck. He was still panicking, though this time not from the fear of guilt, but from the fear of a horrible mistake.

"Kakashi," she whispered, her breath fanning his face, "I don't care."

And so she kissed him back. She had believed that he would push her away, but that belief was quashed when his hands slid across her back and his lips began moving with hers. There was already a foundation between them, one of comfort and loyalty. Neither wanted to think of how this might change their relationship. Neither wanted to know.

But as all great things do, their kiss ended.

"We should get back," Kakashi said, still holding her.

They hadn't really gone for a walk. It was far too short. She could still see the outlines of the house. The only thing that kept her from protesting was the fact that she knew Kakashi was looking for a way to escape whatever it was he had started. He needed to think. So she nodded and followed him home.

Before they reached the house, Pakkun came running to Kakashi. He didn't seem like he had any news that needed concerning, but his words contradicted that. "You have visitors."

"Who?" Kakashi asked in a falsely indifferent tone.

"Your human pack," Pakkun grunted. "They'll be arriving soon."

Sakura was surprised again when Pakkun followed them into the house. It was still an unusual thing for any of the dogs to do.

"How much time?" Kakashi demanded as he began stifling through a drawer in the kitchen counter. He came out with a familiar CD.

"We're out of time," the pug answered.

At that moment a knocked sounded at the door. Sakura could tell from the multiple chakra signatures that their was no doubt a party waiting outside. Before she or Kakashi had a chance to open the door for their guests, the so called guests had it shoved to the side.

Genma was the first to enter, wearing the face of a guy who obviously knew he was in for a good time. Kurenai followed after him, a soft smile on her red lips while one hand rested lightly on her stomach. Asuma came in carrying a radio, just as he had promised, and Anko shut the door behind her. The noise that came with them upset the quiet of the house, the peace that had possessed it.

Kakashi acted very well, as Sakura had always known him able to do. There was no trace of anxiety or worry in his expression. It was as though they had never left the village, as though their lives had never been disrupted. He commented lightly, "I guess next week was out of the question. It's good to see you guys."

Genma grinned and walked over to Kakashi, throwing his arm around his friend's shoulders. "You've got the night, Asuma's got the music, and I've got the booze. Let's get started."

Kakashi laughed. "I think you already have."

Genma left, carrying a bag that Sakura hadn't noticed. The clinking of glass indicated it's contents. She decided it was best ignored.

"Happy early birthday," Kurenai greeted Kakashi, her smile warming. The older woman turned to face Sakura. "I hope it hasn't been too difficult here."

Only every night she had remained in this house. "Not at all," she answered. "It's been fun. I miss home though."

"How about you girls go help Genma in the dining room," Kakashi suggested. "We don't want him getting too wasted."

Kurenai laughed lightheartedly and started for their destination, pulling Sakura along by her arm. Once they were out of sight, her face became more serious. "Sakura," she said, "be honest. I know about the nightmares. We all do."

Sakura looked down, but kept walking with Kurenai's guidance. "If I had said anything it would have ruined everyone's mood. Plus, it might have even embarrassed Kakashi-sensei."

"You still call him sensei?"

"Not often," Sakura admitted, a blush lighting her cheeks. "I don't think he really cares. It would probably make him feel old tonight anyway."

Kurenai's smile returned. "Probably," she agreed. "But I'm not worried about Kakashi. I've known him too long to be worried about him. I'm worried about you."

"Why?"

"Because I've known of a few girls who got confused living with that man."

Sakura struggled to comprehend. "Confused?"

Kurenai stopped before they reached the dining room, keeping them out of Genma's bubble of awareness. "Kakashi isn't…he doesn't mean to, he doesn't, but sometimes girls aren't as careful as they should be. Sometimes they fall for men they shouldn't, and that almost always hurts them."

Something clicked in Sakura's brain, and she was shocked at the implications. "Are you warning me not to fall in love with Kakashi? Seriously?"

She had never thought of it. Kakashi wasn't what someone would consider easy to fall for. Yes, she had recently found out that he could be--if he would remove his mask. Yes, she knew for a fact that he could be charming and admirable, but she had never thought of Kakashi as able to fall or stay in love. He just didn't seem the type, and so she had never considered herself capable of it.

Kurenai remained serious. "Yes, I am. Sakura, I'm going to be honest, so I want you to be."

"All right."

Kurenai took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I want him to fall in love with you, or someone. It would help him, and God knows he needs help. When he's around someone he trusts and loves, his nightmares can't harm him nearly as much because he isn't focused on the agony. But I don't want you two to fall for each other because I'm afraid of what it would do to you if that were to happen. I am not worried about Kakashi because I know he'll pull through and get done with the recovery fine, even if it could be easier for him."

"Kurenai-sensei I-"

"But," she continued as though Sakura hadn't spoken, "I can see that you're already beginning to. I want to help my friend, but I won't at the cost of your heart. Do you understand, Sakura? Do you get it?"

Sakura leaned against the wall. "Yes, I do."

She wanted to tell Kurenai about the kiss. She wanted someone to share the experience with, but she was afraid of what words the information would bring forth from those plump, red painted lips.

"Sakura, tell me," Kurenai said. "I can see it in your eyes, and I can tell when Kakashi is hiding something. He may be a damn good actor, but I'm a better critic."

Sakura sighed and crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. "Just before you arrived," she began, "we were in the woods, and he kissed me."

"He kissed you?"

Sakura blushed deeply. "At first. Then he pulled back and apologized, but I…"

"Oh God, this is worse than I thought."

"It was an accident," Sakura said quickly. "It won't happen again."

Kurenai nodded. "Yes, I know."

Sakura took noticed of the way the brunet's hands slid around her stomach, the way they cradled it. For a desperate, fleeting second, she wished that she could have that with Kakashi. She wished to carry his child. But then that yearning was gone with the disappointment and self disgust that came after it. She had just been warned only seconds ago, and here she was wishing for things she could never have. Not only that, but she was repulsed at the thought of letting herself be taken by emotions so clouded that she couldn't see straight.

"C'mon," Kurenai said. "I can already smell Genma drinking."

They turned to enter together, and together discovered the table littered with full bottles of liquor. Genma was sitting at the table, emptying a shot glass of something Sakura couldn't identify. Of course, Sakura didn't drink, so that seemed a pretty good excuse for not knowing.

She felt Kurenai's hand on her arm. She watched as Kurenai's lips formed her sentence. "Whatever happens, I think it will be all right."

Something in Sakura's stomach stopped fluttering and her own anxiety began to ease. Kurenai's opinion was a unique one in any situation, and one to be trusted. Sakura felt confident that that wasn't going to change any time soon.

Still, it had been quite an experience to listen as that opinion flickered through hope, then doubt, and then finally a loss of worry. She knew, though Sakura didn't have time to ask how, that neither her or Kakashi would get hurt.

Sakura sat down next to Kurenai, Genma naturally on the opposite end of the table. He ignored them as they began a impersonal chat.

"Where is Naruto?" Kurenai asked. "Is he coming?"

"I doubt he even knows you're here. He spent the day training, so he's exhausted. I bet he's unconscious by now."

Kurenai laughed easily as the three missing members of the group entered. Asuma sat next to Kurenai, comfortably resting his arm on the back of her chair. Kakashi sat next to Genma, who clearly enjoyed the company. Anko took the empty seat to Sakura's left, a wicked smile pulling at her face.

Music began to blare out from the radio that Asuma had brought, though it wasn't obnoxious music. It just sounded a little old fashioned. But then again, Sakura wasn't really able to care at that point.

Shot glasses made their way to everyone sitting around the table besides Kurenai. No one offered her any, the courtesy of friends treating a pregnant member gently. Sakura pushed her own glass away, not wanting the feeling of the liquid burn as it slid down her throat. Anko and Genma drunk openly and rudely, while Kakashi drunk without notice. Sakura hadn't even been able to tell he had been drinking at all until empty glasses came to a numerous number in front of him.

Sakura joined Kurenai in laughing at their intoxicated friends as they began to sing along loudly to music. Sakura asked, "This is what Kakashi's birthday is like?"

"We like to have fun," Kurenai answered. "It's not everyday we get to force him to celebrate something. His birthday is something we haven't skipped since he left Anbu."

"Why didn't you do it when he was in Anbu?"

"Because he would always take a month long mission for September so that we couldn't."

"Huh," Anko grunted as she stared at Sakura.

Kurenai smiled at her. "Actually, Anko didn't join us those years. She was rather young."

"That's not what I meant," Anko mumbled.

"Then what did you mean?" Kurenai asked, a rare color of curiosity in her voice.

Anko leaned over the table and whispered something in Asuma's ear, just low enough so that Kurenai couldn't hear. When she pulled back, Sakura could see Asuma staring at her with large brown eyes. After a few seconds he said, "Wow, you're right."

Anko grinned. "I know. It's pretty freaky, isn't it?"

Asuma nodded. "Freakiest thing all month."

"What is it?" Genma asked, joining them as his short conversation with Kakashi ended. Asuma did the same thing as Anko had. He whispered the secret in his friend's ear.

Genma had a far different reaction. He laughed. "No kidding. Why didn't we see that before?"

"Because none of us were drunk enough to look before," Anko answered. "It's not something any of us expected from her."

"Very true," Asuma said before leaning towards his wife to tell her. The second he pulled back was the second Kurenai's eyes flickered to meet Sakura's. After a moment she gasped, "It can't be."

"Oh, but it is," Anko laughed cruelly.

The matter seemed to have finally found Kakashi's attention. "Okay, what the hell is it?"

Genma smirked as he whispered to Kakashi. Kakashi's reaction was worse than the others. His eyebrows nearly touched his hairline and his mouth was obviously hanging open, though only slightly. He blinked a few times, and then he rested his head on his arms on the table. "How? How did this happen?"

Sakura looked to Kurenai. "Please, tell me."

Kurenai swallowed. "I don't know if I should."

"Oh hell, I'll tell her," Anko offered loudly. "You see, I've noticed a very strange thing that we should have picked up on a very long time ago. You just so happen to match each description of Kakashi's ideal woman."

For a long moment the only sound was the singing and the guitar of the music behind them. Then, "What?"

Genma laughed. "Way back when, we were drunk and bored, so we each made a list of the qualities of our 'ideal woman.' Kakashi's was very general, so we made him give more detail. Amazingly, you fit the list."

Sakura ran her hand through her hair, trying to fight off the frustration that confusion always brought on. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

"No," Kakashi mumbled miserably. "It's not a joke. But I don't see how she fits every description. Some, yeah, but not all of it."

Asuma raised his eyebrows. "Is that so?" he challenged.

Kakashi lifted his head to glare at him. "That's right."

Asuma's smile was enough to make Kakashi want to bash his head in, but he restrained himself. Asuma asked, "Genma, what were some of the things in that list exactly? You remember it better than I do."

"Well," Genma thought for a moment. "Huh. Do you want the physical traits first or the personality traits?"

"Let's go with physical."

"Kakashi said that she had to have interesting, pretty eyes. Out of the three of us, I was the only one who didn't say shit about the eyes. Anyway, he said that and that she should be conservative in the way she dressed, but still obviously gorgeous."

"Anything else?"

"Not really. He kept pretty general with the physical traits. She just had to be pretty, which really isn't hard to find where we come from."

Asuma laughed.

"And personality wise?" Anko prompted, her smile never faltering.

"She had to be independent. Kakashi wanted a woman who was capable of stepping up and taking charge, but he also wanted her to be sweet and gracious."

"Wow, Kakashi," Asuma snorted. "I'd forgotten about that."

"Shut up," Kakashi growled. Asuma just continued to laugh at him.

"She also," Genma continued, "had to be able to love completely. Kakashi didn't want a whore who would run around and sleep with every guy he ever worked with. He wanted someone who could be his."

Genma paused, patted his friend on the back, and then laughed. "That was probably the worst interrogation you had ever been put through. To admit something like that!"

Kakashi's glare shifted to burn a penetrating stare at the man in the chair next to him. "And Sakura fits all of that?"

Genma nodded. "Just accept it."

Sakura looked down at her lap, blushing. Was that why he had kissed her? Did she fit his image of the woman he wanted to spend his life with? For some reason that hurt more than it should have. It hurt because she had wanted him to love her because of her, not because of a picture he had painted in his head; and because she knew now when she had decided that it could never happen.

Kurenai leaned over to her. "You know, we've actually been trying to find a girl who fits that description for years. This is just some sort of twisted irony."

"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said, looking up, "you shouldn't drink anymore. It might mess with your recovery."

Kakashi's glare faltered when he looked at her, if only because he knew it wasn't her fault. "Yeah, you're right."

Asuma smiled widely. "Well, let's not end this night without at least sending Kakashi to bed laughing like an idiot."

Genma cheered, "That's what I'm talking about!"

Asuma turned in his seat to face Sakura. "Sakura, did you ever hear the story of how Kakashi first lost his virginity?"

"No," she answered, blushing deeper, "and I don't think I want to."

Genma laughed. "He lost it before all of us."

Kakashi simply buried his face in his arms again.

"Well," Asuma said, looking her over, "I'm guessing that your pretty little cherry has yet to be popped. Am I right?"

Sakura nodded, a deep inner knowledge knowing that her face was bright red. She was seventeen. It wasn't like she was late or something.

Genma said loudly, "We had all lost it by time we were your age."

Sakura wondered at that, but stopped. If she blushed any harder she would faint, just as she had seen Hinata do a hundred times before.

"To be fair," Anko smiled crookedly, "from what I've heard, Kakashi lost his before anyone else in this room. I just wasn't in this fucked up group when it happened."

"I had taken Genma and Kakashi to a pub for the first time," Asuma recalled. "I wondered off, and when I came back…"

Genma put his arm around Kakashi's shoulders again, "I was passed out and this guy here was getting screwed in a back room."

Kakashi would have gnawed Genma's arm off if he had had the dignity left to lift his head. He felt Genma's body shake as he laughed. "To think that we were only fourteen."

Oh, the arm was coming off. Maybe not tonight, but it sure as hell was coming the fuck off.

He chanced a glance up and saw that Sakura's face was brightly colored, her posture rigid and her hands folded in her lap. He felt bad for her. She was probably almost as embarrassed as he was.

It was time for some payback. Kakashi forced himself to sit up, shoving Genma's arm off with a silent viciousness. He smiled tightly. "What about the story of how I nearly got Kurenai to dump you, but then took pity on your worthless soul and left you keep her? Do you remember that one, Asuma?"

Asuma frowned. "What?"

Oh, it felt so good.

"Oh, nothing, nothing. I guess she never told you." Kakashi turned his gaze to Genma. "Or what about the time one of your balls was accidentally cut off during one of your missions, Genma? That one's hilarious. Maybe we should discuss that instead."

Anko snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "You got one of your balls cut off? That freaking hysterical!"

"And don't you even get me started," Kakashi said, turning now to Anko. "I know for a fact that you've been screwing Ibiki and Ebisu's brains out for three months now. Not exactly the type of men you want people to know about. Especially the way you do it, Anko. A snake pit isn't exactly romantic. Kinky in the creepiest of ways."

Kurenai laughed, an odd sound to be filling such tense air.

Genma grunted. "You aren't going to humiliate her?"

"Of course not," Kakashi replied with a sweet smile. "Kurenai has never done anything mean to me. I'm certainly not the type of man to take vengeance on someone who doesn't deserve it. Besides, I like Kurenai. She's nice. And pregnant."

Sakura giggled in spite of her self. The embarrassment from before had finally ebbed down until it was just a painfully present self consciousness. "Kakashi-sensei, I think it's getting late. You should get to bed."

Kakashi grinned. "Of course. I agree completely."

Sakura nodded, and then stood up to go help him and give him his pill. She paused as she began walking out of the room. Her gaze flickered to Asuma. She asked, "Did Tsunade-shishou reply to my note?"

"Oh, yeah," Asuma mumbled as he began checking his pockets. He finally came up with a folded white sheet of paper. "Here you go."

Sakura grabbed the letter, said goodnight, and then went to join Kakashi. He was just opening his bedroom door when she found him. She bit her lip uncomfortably. "I'm going to go get your pill, and if you don't mind I think it would be best if I just stayed with you tonight. I think it would make things a lot easier."

He nodded. "Go ahead. I'll see you when you get back."

She ran to her room and shut the door behind her. There, she took out the note and slid to the floor, her back pressed against the wall.

Sakura

I'm sorry I was so unable to explain to you what was going to happen. When you receive this note Kakashi's recovery will either be finished with or coming to a close. He suffers from his past, Sakura. It hides in his subconscious and haunts him in his nightmares. I wish I could have better prepared you, but by now you understand. I apologize again, but I knew that you would make it through. I had no doubt of that.

I'm proud of you.

Tsunade

It wasn't as though she had expected very much, but she had at least expected more than this. It told her next to nothing. His nightmares were about his past. She had figured that out on her own. Frustrated, she through the note to the side and quickly retrieved Kakashi's pill. She walked to his room quietly, listening to the noise floating through the house from the dining room. It would be a while before they left, but hopefully they would leave before Kakashi's torment began. It would be awkward if they didn't.

He was laying on top of his blankets when she entered, his hands behind his head under his pillow and his eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Do you need water?" she asked as she stood in the doorway.

He shook his head. "No, it's fine. I can swallow it without it. You can close the door."

She felt slightly uncomfortable, and she was afraid that he could see it, so she sat on the edge of the bed with deliberate indifference. "Here," she said as she handed him the pill.

He toyed with it, moving it between his fingers. "I don't think that was a bad birthday," he mused. "It was pretty funny."

"Yeah, I didn't know that Genma had lost something so precious to him before," she replied.

Kakashi chuckled. "I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone. The little bastard should have remembered that I'm not above breaking a few promises for a little revenge."

Sakura nodded. "It was well deserved. Now, take your pill."

He smiled at her. "I already did."

She checked his hand only to see that the pill was gone. It could have been thrown somewhere, but Kakashi wasn't that stupid. He had simply swallowed it too fast for her to have seen, though she had no idea why it would bother him to show her his face again. She decided not to push it. A lot had happened the last time he had done that.

She sighed and then laid down beside him. Kakashi smiled, "You usually sleep on this side. Would you like me to move?"

"It doesn't matter," she answered, closing her eyes.

"Sakura?"

Something in his voice forced her to look at him. "Yes?"

Only his dark eye was open, but it looked guilty. "I overheard you talking to Kurenai."

Sakura felt her cheeks flush. "That was very rude."

"But Sakura, what if…?"

"What?" she prompted.

Kakashi looked back at the ceiling and spoke slowly, "What if what's going on between us is wrong? What if one of us gets hurt because of it? I can't imagine doing that to you."

"Kakashi, you aren't Sasuke." She looped her fingers through his loosely. "You wouldn't make his mistakes. And I know you could never hurt me."

"But I have already Sakura," he said. "Every night I hurt you."

He was silent. She tightened her grip on his hand. "Does that still bother you?"

He didn't answer.

"Does it?"

"Of course, it does. How could it not?"

Was it possible that the pill had already made him vulnerable? Could that be it? She highly doubted it. Kakashi had a strong system. He wouldn't have been alive at that moment if he didn't.

"Sakura, I've never been in love before," he said suddenly, quietly. "I tried once. I tried to because I did love her, but I wasn't in love with her. I couldn't be what she needed."

"Who?" Sakura asked quietly.

"Rin, my old teammate. I guess it shouldn't matter now. She's been dead so long that it shouldn't, but somehow I feel like I can't fall in love. Not ever. That's what Kurenai was warning you against. That's what you should be afraid of."

"But I'm not," she said, shaking her head. "I can't be. I can't be afraid of you. I just can't. I can only be afraid for you. Do you see the difference?"

"This is wrong," he whispered, even as his hand finally tightened around hers.

"Does it feel wrong?"

"No."

He turned his head to look at her. She met his gaze. "Then don't make it."

Kakashi had never wanted her as much as he did then, with her quiet defiance and hypnotizing eyes. Her innocent trust warmed something in him, the same thing her kiss had excited. He turned onto his side, leaning over her slightly. "Do you trust me?"

She nodded. "Of course."

Her voice had never sounded sweeter. He slowly removed his mask, the cloth that always seemed to be separating them. He held his lips a breath away from hers for an agonizing moment and then finally let himself feel the soft flesh of her lips, her inaudible sigh, the tremor that ran through him when she put her arms around his neck and twisted her hands in his hair. It was different than it had been with the other women he had been with, and he suspected it was because he felt something for this one.

He deepened the kiss, biting and tugging on her bottom lip. When his tongue finally slid into her mouth she let out a soft moan. Kakashi knew he was dancing with the forbidden. But was it so forbidden? Did the unwritten rule stand the same for him as it did for everyone else? His name had already rebelled against so many rules. Why not this one?

He twisted himself until he was hovering over her. His hand grabbed the back of her right knee and pulled it up until her leg wound itself around his hip. She was so tender and graceful and soft. He groaned as quietly as he could.

Probably the most fun thing I've written in this story yet. Also probably a ton of mistakes, but we're not going to pay attention to that.