Sakura, Hinata, Ino and Ten Ten were walking towards the "Moon garden" tea house. She learned from her friends that most of the shinobi will be there. That included Kakashi. She felt a little uncomfortable by the fact that he was going to be there. After the situation last night she did not know how to act around him. Her dreams flashed in her mind every time she thought of him:"Sakura be careful with the lanterns." Ino scolded her and took her out from her mind drift. The girls took the liberty to bring their friends one handmade lantern. Since they were going to spend almost the whole night in tea house and go out only when the fireworks started. Sakura adjusted the Handles between her fingers and carried on.

Kakashi and the others were already seated in their estimated tables. He did wasn't sure why he was throwing looks at the entrance all the time. He was going to hear everyone greet her once she comes in. He decided not to think about her right now so he focused his attention to his friends and the conversation they were having. The topic matched the festival purpose he heard Gai saying:"This war was so much more destructive than the Third shinobi war. Many brave men died in these battles.". Genma took a sip from his sake and then continued:"It was harder because we were facing ninja that we only read and heard rumors about. But seeing old comrades disgraced like that made me feel sick. "

Kakashi couldn't say anything. His pain was even greater than they knew since his old teammate and friend Obito was behind all of the evil. In the beginning he started blaming himself that he had let this happen. But then as time passed he realized that it wasn't his fault that his friend turned to the dark corners in his heart and had let that negative energy consume his mind. Genma and Gai noticed the expression on the Copy-nin's face and didn't know what to do. Words were not going to change the past so Genma simply put his hand on Kakashi's shoulder reassuring him that he had done the best that he could. That moment Kakashi felt stronger and his face went back to the neutral expression he had.

"Sakura-chan! Oh my God you look pretty!" Kakashi turned to Naruto's words only to find something at the entrance that would make him gasp. It was like dream come true. Sakura was wearing a beautiful mint kimono that suited her perfectly. The obi on her back was read matching perfectly with her cherry blossom hair that was held up high in a tight bun with red ribbons. He couldn't stop looking at her. But he was thrown out of his gaze when Genma threw his hand behind his neck and screamed in his ear:"Sakura, looking sharp tonight."

Sakura just waved at Genma and then saw that Kakashi was staring in her. It made her feel a bit uncomfortable so she took her seat next to Sai immediately. After she made herself feel comfortable she sunk into the loud conversation and noises coming from everyone on the table. As the set down and the village was shining in lights and fun the atmosphere in the tea house never went down for a second. At one point Sakura saw Shizune join Genma and Kakashi at their table and she smiled at the image of Genma hugging Shizune and laughing at something what she said. She then looked at her own table. Hinata and Naruto were talking quietly to each other, Ino and Kiba were screaming at Sasuke and Ten Ten for something and Neji was trying to calm down Lee. She found this atmosphere rather soothing and it kept her thinking of Him for the last time.

Kakashi was stealing glances at Sakura the whole night. She was talking to everyone but he noticed that there were moments where she was silent and it looked like she was drifting to another place. During the whole night she came to their table to greet him and give him a paper lantern. They exchanged pleasantries and she was gone. He made a point to talk to her later or offer her to walk her home. And as his thoughts continued he heard the blast of fireworks outside. The excitement suddenly rose to a maximum. Everyone went outside in the summer garden of the teahouse. Waitresses were handling everyone candles to put in their paper lanterns. Kakashi took the candle in his lantern and took a glance at Sakura. She was already ready with the candle and waiting for the others so they can release them at once.

Once the countdown started Sakura's heart was pounding in her chest like it was going to explode:"From this night on the memory of will not haunt me anymore." When everybody counted to three all of them released the lanterns. As she was releasing hers she felt one single tear escaping her eye and suddenly her heart and mind felt light.

As soon as the fireworks and releasing of the lanterns was over everyone went back in to continue their fun. Kakashi noticed that Sakura was crying and was worried. When he saw her making her way to the bathroom he followed her and waited patiently in front of the door. When she came out she looked really surprised:"Kakashi what are you doing here this is the ladies room?"

"I know very well I came to see if you were okay. I saw you crying outside." His response made her flinch. She didn't think that anyone had seen her tears since all of them were looking at sky:"I guess not all of them." She thought. After she smoothed down her kimono she raised her head only to meet a very interesting gaze. Kakashi's eyes were walking all over her body. She suddenly felt hot and felt her sides going red. But then she straightened her neck and simply said in a firm voice:"I am fine you don't need to worry." She passed by him in the small corridor and warned:"Don't go into that bathroom!"

"Sakura wait." She felt his hand grabbing her arm firmly. Her heart was going to explode so she slowly turned around and saw his penetrating gaze. She felt naked under those eyes. Why was she feeling like this whenever she around him. No man had ever made her feel this way before.:"I want to walk you home tonight." he told her in a firm voice that didn't allow her to say no. For the first time she felt a man's power on her like that. She simply nodded her head and once he let go of her hand she quickly left. When she went back to the table she saw Ino staring at her:"What?" she mouthed so no would hear.

"Are you okay? You look uneasy?" the blond mouthed back. Sakura just nodded and took a sip from her sake. The rest of the night passed in fun conversations and drinking sake and eating tasty food. Once all of them decided to leave Sakura turned her towards Kakashi's table and she noticed that he wasn't there. So she went outside to the street said goodbye to her friends and turned around to walk home. As she turned she bumped into his chest. She raised his head to meet his gaze. He was looking straight at her face, he smiled at her and said in a calm tone:"Shall we get going?"

The streets of Konoha were still filled with a lot of people he were having fun, eating nice meals or simply gazing up at the lanterns in the sky. They were walking towards Sakura's house, neither of them saying anything. He decided he should be the one to break the silence:"That is a very interesting book you gave me." She looked at him smile on her face:"Oh I am glad you like it. I was afraid it might be a little to girly for you."

He smiled at himself:"So she doesn't know what exactly I am talking about. Well I have a good idea how to make her remember. " He took a deep breath and looked at her once again from head to toe. She noticed that he was looking at her and asked:"Is there something in my hair or on my kimono?" and she started touching her hair:"No I was simply looking at your clothes. They remind of the way Ukiko looked when she had to spend her first night with the young master."

Sakura immediately went two shades of pink. She remembered that scene perfectly. Introduction was not the only thing that happened in that chapter. Later on there was a very heated sex scene with a lot of detail. Why was he talking about that?:"Well Ukiko is a concubine she must wear kimonos all the time" she said after a while. He raised an eyebrow but he noticed that she was still flushed.

When they reached her house she quickly wished a good night and started making her way to the door when he grabbed her by the arm again and made her face him. She felt helpless again. His huge figure was hovering against her and she felt the heat that was rising in her body. His power was overwhelming her and the only thing she could do was wait for him to talk and she would obey:"Tell me the truth" he said in a sudden voice:"Why were you crying tonight? You have been acting strange all night and at the physicals you said you will have a rough time after this day. I want to know why."

Sakura took a deep breath and let it out. She lowered her gaze to their feet:"I guess it's time I tell someone else or the thought of that will torture me for life." She thought as she struggled to keep a neutral face. She invited him in her house.

Sakura was finishing with the cleaning and restocking her cabinet in the medical tent she was working in. It had been a long day with lots of injuries. She felt a little tired and as she took a seat she started wondering how long she will have to live like this. Day by day watching from the sidelines of the war until it was her own turn to take action in the battlefield. The thought of death was scaring her to the point where she couldn't sleep.

Her life was too short to be over. What about love, marriage, kids all of the things that were expected of her as a woman if she really dies in this war she will be just a name on a historical piece of paper in the Konoha arc. She did not want that, the past two years she was working hard to become stronger and more than she was when she was a kid she did not want to see her hard work die in vain.

As her thought were becoming even more depressing a man came in and greeted her. It was the Iwagakure shinobi she treated earlier. She remembered him by the broken arm and the head wound. She greeted him back and asked in worried tone:"Are you alright? Are you wounds bothering you ahhh….."

"Daichi. Himura Daichi is my name. And no I am fine. In the hands of a skilful medic like yourself of course I will be fine." He praised her and blushed while scratching the back of his head. Sakura smiled back at him. She always felt good when someone was thanking her for her help. But then why was here if not for his wounds and just when she was about to ask he said in a shaky voice:"To be honest I don't know how will you react to this but I feel I have to say it. I will go back to the battlefield soon and I have to tell you this before I lose my life like the many others."

Sakura suddenly felt confused. What was this man trying to tell her. He took a good look at him. He had broad chest and his arms were strong and firm. He was a bit taller than her but his face looked kind with innocent eyes and lips that looked like they were always smiling. His hair was black and spiky and now was crushed under the bandages on his head. From his appearance she could tell that he was kind, but shy and had a hard time expressing his feelings with his words. She was brought back from reality when he continued talking in his shaky voice:"Ever since you treated me I can't stop thinking about you and you kind face. You are really beautiful and genuinely care for people."

The pink haired medic blushed at his words. Suddenly she felt warm and fuzzy on the inside. Butterflies were humming in her stomach. It was like this man had come here to make her thoughts from earlier a lie she telling herself. But she said or did nothing to indicate that. He reached into his bandaged arm and pulled a small envelop and handed it to her with a shaking hand. She took it and examined it with questioning look on her face:"What is this?" she asked after she couldn't figure out what was happening.

"Well…" he shrugged and went silent while thinking how to form his next words:"It's what you would call a love letter.". Sakura had never received a love letter in her life. The situation she was in proved her theories from earlier. Life had so much to offer. But right now at first her first instinct was to kindly say no and send Daichi on his way. But some small voice in her head begged her to change her mind so she simply said:"Thank you Daichi-san I will read it and tell you my thoughts tomorrow." And with that Daichi left happy that he was able to tell this amazing girl what he felt about her.


Well this is just the first part of Sakura's secret. What do you think? I know some of you may be dissapointed by this twist but that was how I imagined it. Enjoy :)