Secret Part 2

Kakashi yawned loudly against his mask, he wasn't that tired even when he did it three times last night, just a bit sleepy. Actually he found himself in euphoria as sex really did men good, they didn't have to hold back anything and his partner was completely out of this world.

But he knew that, for such a long time, it wasn't only sexual category between them, it was something else, something was more farfetched than his imagination – if it was only sex, he just felt satiated after a few times and then the forlorn mood would come back, dip him into utter depression and disgust. But with her, everything seemed so different. They talked after making love, usually about feelings they never talked to anyone, and he felt really at ease when unraveling his heart to her. He enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere around them and she seemed to understand everything he said or intended to say. It was penetration.

Sometimes he thought that he may be dreaming all those time or he may have suffered from some kinds of psychological disease – he was paranoid resulting from all those years of fighting and losing almost all the people he loved. His heart felt so friendless and it had created a perfect picture, a perfect girl for him - a girl who could assuage his grief with her affectionate heart and sophisticated mind, who gave him everything and never asked anything in return, who fulfilled his desire of a man and the need to be loved of a human. His mind may be playing a cruel game with him when she kept coming back once, twice and again and again…He so enjoyed her presence that it scared him, if one day she went forever, one day she woke up from this dream and went on living her own life, a life which is not involving him a little bit. Since, after all, he knew nothing about her, not her name, not her face and may be she was truly a dream. Could he wake up one day and realize that he must go on or was he just fast asleep in it forever? It scared him more day after day especially when she disappeared for four or five days and it was also the reason why he tried his best not to reveal her face…

He suddenly remembered an old myth about Shirahime – actually a beautiful snow monster. She was a blood-sucker wandering about the snow-white mountain to find her prey. Once day she found a group of men sleeping in an uninhabited house to hide from a blizzard and sucked every one's blood but only two men's (one was old and one was young). The young man unexpectedly woke up. Instead of being frightened of her act and running away for his life, the young man pleaded the snow queen to release his father and took his life away instead. Touched by the young man's bravery, the snow queen accepted to spare the young man and his father's live but made him promise: "never tells anyone about her existence", if he did so, she would come back an kill him and the young men accepted. Surviving from this night, the young man went home with his father and became a skillful carpenter. One day he met a very beautiful girl – his neighbor's niece – he fell in love with her and later they got married. The couple lived happily and the wife gave birth to two children – one boy and one girl. The young man never felt so fulfilled in his life until he heard a rumor that recently, some people in the neighborhood were found dead without a single drop of blood in their bodies. The rumor reminded him of the snow monster many years ago. A few days later, an old woman lived next door to the man said that she found his wife usually came out very late at night and then the next morning they found a dead body, she feared something so wrong happening. The man didn't believe the woman but suspicion just made its way back quickly when very late that night, he woke up and he could not find his wife anywhere. She just returned when it was nearly daybreak. The man pretended to be fast asleep and the next morning, the old woman's shrunk corpse was found also without a single drop of blood to the man utter consternation. He decided to confront his wife and told her about the incident many years ago. When he was telling, his wife tried to stop him several times and insisted that she didn't want to hear but the man was so persisted and he just want to know the truth, he just didn't believe that his wife was a blood-sucking monster. And when he finished the story and pleaded her that it was not true when the old woman was suspicious that she was the snow queen, his wife did not say a thing in a brief moment while tear leaking from her eyes, tainting her face, she said slowly with disappointment filling her voice:

I told you not to tell anyone, anyone….

Her voice echoed around the house ferociously and the man terrified to realize the voice and his beautiful wife transformed into the exact atrocious snow queen he witnessed many years ago…Tear flooded his eyes, his beloved wife was a real monster but he still loved her so much so he pleaded:

I'm sorry but please, don't kill anymore, just be my wife and our family could be together once more, I need you, our kids need you, Please, come back…

I can't – said coldly the snow queen – You broke the promise and everything ends here, it's a curse, I have to return to my mountain…

No, please stay with me, I love you

You've betrayed me, I can't be with you any more, I didn't kill you because of our children but we will never meet again…

And then an icy tear made its way down to the snow queen's cheek, her last words haunted the man forever: "My fate is to live in desolation eternally…"

The snow queen disappeared and she never came back. The man realized that he made a terrible mistake, for all those years, his wife was truly in love with him, she really wanted to live with him not to test him. She gave up her monstrous way of living because of him but his faith in her was not strong enough. He broke the promise and he lost her forever.

-It's a horror story – Naruto concluded when the old man finished the story while they was on a boat crossing the sea to the snow country (it's very famous myth in this country), making Sakura hissed irritatingly:

- Naruto, it's a romantic story. Can't you see that the snow queen give up everything to become a normal wife because of her love?

- But she still ends up a blood-sucking monster, Sakura. Old habits die hard

- But she was really in love with her husband and that make up for everything, right Sasuke-kun?

Sakura's voice filled with hope and her eyes were shining as she turned her head towards her crazy love – Sasuke, she wished that he would understand her feeling but all she could receive was a cold stare and a short word:

- Nonsense

Kakashi smiled under his mask when seeing Sakura disappointed like any other times. She was twelve years old and girls at her age were concerned more about love than training to become a great ninja. Just like Naruto, he simply thought that this was a horror story to scare kids not wandering alone without their parents, a bed time story and a simple myth, nothing more. He could not go further than that with all stuffs about love and betrayal. If his own wife was really a monster or some one who launch a threat to Konoha's people, Kakashi would kill her himself. Sakura's thoughts or girls' thoughts were too complicated to understand.

But now, he thought differently.

His girl could not be a blood-sucking monster as it's a legendary creature and no Konoha's people found dead without any blood left, but she may be a spy from other villages or an assassin detached to kill the Hokage, or she may be some one's wife…there must be a rationale here that she had to hide her identity, there must be something wrong and they shouldn't be together in the first place. Why did she have to do this? He did not really care about it anymore since only when she appeared and the moment they were together concerned him more. Whatever she was, whoever she was worried him less and less time after time, he just wanted to hug her in his arm and talked to her, hearing her say his name waiting for her to fill his heart with strangest emotions he could not name. He hardly felt the guiltiness as they met more frequently; it was all pleasure, delight, bliss and happiness mixed with fragile scare of losing his secret soul mate for good. And he did not understand at all or knew where it came from, even when she never said a thing about it, never complained or frustrated but he knew that what she was suffering was beyond anything. The guilty feeling, the self-torturing, the dilemma she was in tormented her every day. She was a girl after all, to decide to do something like this was unbelievable while he was a man after all, too satisfied with his own pleasure, he disregarded everything and just waited for her. The waiting was long and intolerant but at last she came and he had everything again while she must have had to overcome great obstacles to be with him, if this was found out, she was on the verge of losing everything she had. This may be the mood of the snow queen that he could not consider years ago. Her husband could not understand this and he lost her. Kakashi was different, he understood it but he couldn't do anything, after all, it's her own decision. She did not allow him to interfere. She did not allow him to know about her, it was her own choice.

Kakashi sensei!!!

Kakashi's flow of thoughts was halved when he realized the familiar voice of his hyperactive adherent –Naruto. Turning around to see the fox ninja in his usual cheerful manner and his graceful fiancé (also Kakashi's students) - Sakura was walking calmly besides him, Kakashi voiced:

Yo, hi, Naruto, Sakura

It was great to see them that way. At last, they had overcome the great loss after Sasuke's death two years ago and were ready to move on with their own life. It was a terrible time that Kakashi didn't want to remember because it still wrenched his heart just by a flashback of it. That time Naruto was lifeless for weeks and he couldn't shed a single tear, he was too shocked to accept the truth, Sakura, in contrast, cried for more than two months, just a single thing reminded her of Sasuke could also make her fall into an abyss of despair. This time was the worst time in Sakura's life as her parents had just predeceased one month before Sasuke due to the last attack of Akatsuki to Konoha. Kakashi could not do anything but stay beside her day and night while Jiraiya took care of Naruto. Finally, they were strong enough to get through this hardest time of their life and made their engagement three months ago.

It did not surprise Kakashi as Naruto was always in love with Sakura since childhood and Sakura, had she not too obsessed of Sasuke when she was twelve, would she have soon realized her feeling for Naruto. Now they were much more grown up and much more talented, they were no doubt the best students Kakashi ever had. He felt happy that they would get married soon and may be, he could be teacher of their kids someday.

What are you doing sensei? – Naruto asked curiously, his attitude was still not much different since he was twelve, his grown-up side only showed in battle field and in pain. Strangely though.

Nothing, just drinking and thinking – Kakashi smiled, under his mask and continued:

I heard that you two had just come back from an A-rank mission, is it dangerous?

Yeah, pretty hard, but with Sakura's exceptional medic skill and planning, we had detoxicated all the enemy's deadly poisons and eradicated their Head Quarter.

Naruto, you're boasting about me, I'm not that good, and it was all thanks to your strength and quick wits…

Sakura smiled, her eyes beamed with warm light that could make any men notice her beauty more. She had become such a charming lady with natural, delicate gorgeousness and it suited her position in Konoha now so much. She, at her nearly 18, was one of the top medics in the village, The Hokage's most favourite apprentice and a super strong jonin with a wonderful analytical brain. There was no need for Naruto to complement Sakura in front of Kakashi when he already knew her gift since the case with the Kyubi inside Naruto's body. If Sakura had not been extremely brilliant, Naruto could have never been walking and smiling on Konoha's street again and his name now may be carved in the same place with Kakashi's old comrades Obito, Rin, Asuma and Sasuke. When Akatsuki tried to suck Kyubi (The fox demon) out of Naruto's body, he almost died and Sakura had to use a long-lost healing technique to bring back his life, which also nearly cost Sakura, her own life this time after 1 month sleeping in coma at the hospital.

But now, the tragedy at last lowered the curtain, too much for their excruciating adolescence. Currently, together with Naruto, she made up an invincible couple in battle field or carrying out missions. Kakashi found it quite funny hearing them praise each other like that as when they were younger, Sakura and Sasuke always scorned whatever Naruto did. Kakashi interrupted the two's conversation:

Yeah, yeah, I know both of you are so good but you've been on an A rank mission, that means both of you had been paid a great deal of money, so why don't you treat your poor, unemployed former teacher a good meal? Is it a great idea?

Kakashi's stress on the four words "poor, unemployed former teacher" caused Sakura laugh out loud when Naruto winced a little:

You never change sensei; always want to pass on your bills to the others. But…

Naruto stopped to give Sakura a meaningful look and smiled widely:

Actually, we are going to invite you to our house tonight, and eat with us. It's Sakura's birthday – don't you remember?

Oh

Actually, "no", Kakashi remembered nothing about Sakura's birthday. It was not his habit to remember anyone's birthday including his and he was used to receive presents than give them away since he was small with so many achievements he had when becoming a ninja. So this time was not an exception, however, it was nice to hang around with old pupils, eating and drinking, toasting for something.

Sakura will cook and I bet you can't have a better meal in entire Konoha

Naruto talked in his usual enthusiastic way – well, Kakashi never thought that Sakura could cook but sure she changed so much to become a fantastic wife for Naruto, especially when they moved to live together 3 months ago. The idea of tasting Sakura's dishes seemed enticing too. Noticing Sakura's cheeks tainted with red shades when Naruto once again flattering remarked her:

Naruto, I told you, I'm not that good; I can just cook a few things…

Kakashi felt more confident about their future marriage, they looked so much like a young couple now even when they were just engaged. The husband was so proud of his wife and boasted her with every one he met. He decided:

-Okay, you just said things tempting me so much Naruto, I will come.

- Oh, you just stay with him, Kakashi sensei, I want to go shopping to prepare for the dinner.

Sakura said quickly, making Naruto turned to see her:

-Are you sure you can go alone?

Worry appeared in his eyes and his soft voice – "Oh, dear, you two need to really, really get married soon" – thought Kakashi

-I'm okay, don't worry, and just stay with sensei, Naruto

Sakura smiled and she passed Kakashi to walk away. The air filled with the rusty smell of disinfectants, it was nothing strange as Sakura worked in hospital, and she was dipped into that smell day in day out. As Sakura was hidden form view, Kakashi turned to tease Naruto:

- Don't over-protect her like that, you will marry her soon, and you will have endless time to take care of her every day, you know.

The effect did not turn as the way Kakashi wanted it to be, instead of a shy smile from Naruto, Kakashi noticed a sad glint in his sky-blue eyes as he cut short:

Hope so,

But then like abruptly realizing the abnormal look on his own face, Naruto brushed it off quickly, too quickly and then returned his common way:

-yeah, you're right, can't wait to see that day

Then he laughed with a little force that Kakashi could not understand at all but he moved on:

Well Naruto, do you know what Sakura like?

What do you mean?

Naruto's look swiftly became curious and serious:

Well it's her birthday, right? I want to give her something; I've never given her a present for her birthday but this time you and she invited me to the dinner, it's just odd to come in nothing.

Hahaha, it's so funny to see you formal like that sensei, Okay, you can count on me.

You never dared to laugh at me when you were younger, Naruto –

Kakashi grimaced; deadly stare in his eyes, and Naruto took no time to react:

It's the wonder of growing up, Sensei

It's the wonder of…

Kakashi rapped Naruto's head with his knuckles without holding back his strength and finished:

Older, wiser and taller, brat!!!

Ouch, Kakashi sensei, you're mean!!!!

Naruto screamed as he rubbed his head to relieve the pain. Kakashi laughed out loud and continued:

So what does Sakura like?

Well, she's not fastidious, you know, never up to anything too expensive or showy, modesty does her good, and just think about something you know that it'll suit her.

For some people, Naruto's explanation will really help 'cuz it stated clearly about Sakura's taste but in Kakashi's case, it wasn't that helpful. He never considered buying presents for a girl before and when he asked Naruto: "What does she like?" He meant physical asset or a certain object not something that vague or abstract. Thinking for a few seconds and coming with nothing, Kakashi voiced:

Your suggestion doesn't help, too complicated, state something simple.

It was simple sensei, just think of something you want her to have?

Naruto's voice became irritated, a few more seconds and Kakashi gave in:

Nothing, tell me what do you give her?

I can't tell, it's a secret – Naruto made a face which was quite funny to Kakashi:

You become a very husband-like guy, Naruto, well; I think I have to take it really serious to muse about Sakura's present now.

While wandering his thought up to the sky, Kakashi suddenly saw something in the deeply blue mixed with shade purple of late afternoon's sky, the breeze seemed to dispel the heat of the day, the breeze of early summer. Sakura was born in a very beautiful season; the weather was fine, not too hot, not too cold, and very comfortable. Well, it was actually the best present – he could find for her.