Title: The Bells May Toll for Some (But Nothing Can Change the Shape of Things To Come)
Fandom/Community: Naruto / kakasakudrabble
Characters: Kakashi, Sakura, Ino, 3 OCs
Pairing: KakaSaku
Rating: PG
Word of the Week: Discovery
Author Notes: No idea how "discovery" comes into this. Tell me if you can actually see the theme in it. I really can't, but hey, I like this too much to ignore it. (shakes head) I'm so happy though, guys! I've gotten over 50 reviews! That's more reviews for this story only than all of my other 11 stories combined. Thanks a lot. (hearts) You guys rock.
Thanks to all the people who commented about my grandmother. She passed away earlier today (Monday) a little before noon. But I'm okay; she was an amazing woman, she's not in pain anymore, and she's gone to a better place.
"Sakura, open the damn door?"
The young woman stuffed her knuckles into her mouth, biting down hard on her hand. She attempted to ignore the giggles that issued from behind her, from both her fellow ninja and the young gennin that were seated behind her.
Kakashi's masked face was impassive as he stared at her—his visible eye however was livid.
"Kakashi! So vulgar! We don't use that language in this house. Apologize for having such a foul mouth, or else I'm going to make you eat soap. Like I threatened to do to Rakkan-chan here."
Ino cackled loudly from behind her. "Sakura," she managed, wiping at her blue eyes. "Just let the man in, I don't need him breaking down my door or anything. I'll make you pay for it."
"No need."
The gennin gasped comically, and Ino almost started laughing again, clutching at her sides. Her laughter echoed louder than the young ninja's shock. Sakura pressed her back up against the door, her body rocked with laughter.
Despite the fact that the Copy-nin was stalking towards her rather predatorily, she couldn't help but giggle at the sight of him, all covered in mud and dirt. Grimy water splashed abundantly up his jounin vest and pants. She could barely tell where his face ended and his mask began, his face was streaked so liberally with mud. Most of his hair was now a brown color, dripping slightly onto Ino's wooden floor.
"I'm guessing our boys got the best of you?"
Kakashi fixed a glower on her face as he tossed Ino a scroll without looking at her.
Pausing long enough to catch the scroll, Ino blinked, before opening it. She pumped a fist into the air and smirked broadly. "Congratulations, Team," she announced, turning to the three young gennin that were still perched, rather nervously on the couch. "We've got our first mission. A D, but you're still gennin, so this is a good experience for you."
Sakura smiled, though she still pressed her back against the door. Kakashi snapped his visible eye to the blonde. "You have a gennin team?"
The two kunoichi laughed. "You jealous?" Ino asked mockingly. "Not like anybody would give you another team; you'd just fail them. You're too hard on young ninja."
Kakashi rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore her statement rather than own up to the truth her words bluntly portrayed. He pulled out a copy of Icha Icha, before growling almost audibly as he realized that the orange book's pages were now decorated with patterns of runny black ink and caked brown mud. He stalked out of the room, towards the kitchen, leaving Ino and Sakura laughing in his wake.
"Um. . . Haruno-san?"
The pink-haired young woman turned and blinked at the small red-head, perched between the two larger boys on the couch. "Akiraka-chan?" Sakura asked quietly, trying to hide the amazement in her voice. Ino's eyebrows had risen into her hairline; stunned that her female gennin had actually spoken.
Akiraka reminded both females of Hinata. She folded her hands, lowering her head in embarrassment as the attention turned to her. "Is that. . . is that your husband?"
A loud thump came from the kitchen.
Ino gave a cackle of laughter.
Sakura blinked, her eyebrows furrowed together and a wrinkle deep in her 'large' forehead. "Why would you think that, Akiraka-chan?" she asked quietly.
"Never mind," the young girl whispered, playing with the fringe of her shirt. "It was impolite to ask. I'm sorry."
The Yamanaka smiled. "No, Akiraka-chan, it was good you had the courage to ask. As for Sakura and Kakashi, well, it's complicated. I guess you could say that Kakashi is afraid of commitment." Sakura blushed slightly, folding her hands behind her back. She was surprised that Ino had noticed that much. Unfortunately, as she opened her mouth to reply, a hand wrapped around her stomach, another covering her mouth.
Kakashi seemed to appear after his limbs had already seized her. "Excuse us."
He jutsu-ed away in a puff of smoke, taking Sakura with him.
He landed casually within his own apartment, dropping her onto the bed with a loud flopping sound. He was six feet away from her in the next few seconds, removing his dirty vest as though it burned him. His shirt came off next, followed by his hitai-ate. Once she recovered, Sakura was pulling herself from the bed, growling as she tugged angrily at her shirt.
"Kakashi, you ass!" she shouted, staring angrily down at her shirt. "Now you got me muddy too."
When she glanced back up, he was standing in front of her, close enough that she could feel his breath on her face. She stilled, staring at him, taken back by his proximity. It threw her off balance, having him so close—close enough that she could smell his musky cologne even over the scent of mud that lingered because of his pants and hair.
He was on one knee before she could even find the strength to breathe.
"I am not afraid of commitment. Now gimme your hand so I can put this goddamn ring on your finger."
Sakura wordlessly held her left hand out and the man slipped a shiny silver band with a green, sparkling jewel on the top.
"Marry me, Sakura."
Her green eyes filled with tears and she blinked furiously, tugging at his neck as she tried to get him to get back to his feet. He complied slowly, drawing his arms around her as she pressed her face into the crook between his neck and his shoulder. She seemed to forget about the fact that his hair was dripping mud onto her shoulders and his legs were pressing dirty water onto her clothes. Sakura leaned back and pulled his face down to hers, lips crashing together.
She murmured against him, "Of course," wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"Good," he mumbled, too busy dragging his mouth down her jaw. "Because you're mine."