Hello everyone!! Yes I really am alive, ha ha, sorry about the long wait for the update, though I think you'll all like it because there is a little fluff!!!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

~Italic means Sakura's dream~

Chapter 14: Emotions

"Do we all understand?" Sarutobi asked as he walked next to Hayate. "You will all have one month to prepare for this part of the exams. Congratulations to everyone that has gotten this far; I will be seeing you in a months time."

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Sakura leaned against the wall outside of the Hokage office; Kakashi had asked Sakura to wait for him while he discussed something with the Hokage.

"I'm sorry that took so long," Kakashi said as he exited the office. Sakura noticed idly that he looked stressed and tired; a large black bag was under his eye, and his hair looked more tussled than usual. "But Hokage-sama wishes to see you now."

"I wasn't aware I was going to see the Hokage, Kakashi," Sakura commented quietly as she followed the silver haired man back into the office.

"I apologize Sakura-Chan," Sarutobi stated as the pink haired girl entered. Sarutobi had a stressed look on his face. "Kakashi and I were just discussing what happened with you and your team in the forest… I would like to get your side of the story."

"I'm sure Kakashi has told you everything that I told him, Hokage-sama," Sakura said as she bowed her head.

"I want to hear it from you," Sarutobi said with a smile as he sat down. He motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk; Kakashi and Sakura both sat down.

"Okay," Sakura said. "We were in the forest… we had just finished taking out a group of ninja, and were trying to go deeper into the forest; that's when we were separated…

"A snake appeared out of no where; a really huge snake," Sakura said with closed eyes. "It took Naruto; that's when the grass-nin appeared… it was really Orochimaru."

Sarutobi nodded for Sakura to keep going.

"We fought… and he ended up biting me, and then Sasuke… he did something weird to Naruto… It drained his power."

"And he just left after that?" Sarutobi asked with uncertainty.

"Yes." Sakura stated with a nod.

"May I see your mark?"

Sakura nodded again; she lifted her collar down, and looked toward Kakashi. Her eyes watched as he flinched slightly. Sakura's eyes wandered back to Sarutobi; his eyes were wide with a mix of fascination and horror.

"This is different than Sasuke's," Sarutobi commented as he came closer. His hand slowly reached out to touch the curse mark; the commas started to glow red when his hand came within a few inches.

"Please stop," Sakura said while her hand started to glow green; she pressed her hand against the mark tightly. "It hurts."

Sarutobi looked concerned; he glanced over to Kakashi. "Have you been able to touch this?"

"I haven't tried…" Kakashi said while walking up to Sakura. He brought his hand up to Sakura's neck; the curse mark flared red again.

Sakura's hand glowed green, and she flinched as Kakashi tried to touch her mark.

"How are we going to seal it?" Kakashi asked while looking to Sarutobi.

"I don't even really know what it does…" Sakura commented quietly. Sarutobi looked toward her, and he nodded.

"I'm not really sure what this is or does either… " Sarutobi said while leaning against his desk. "I have a few people researching Orochimaru's old research… I'll have them look into the cursed mark portion."

"Thank you Hokage-sama," Sakura said as she bowed her head.

"There's something else," Sarutobi commented as Sakura was about to leave. "Kakashi you will watch Sakura around the clock; it's obvious that Orochimaru has a sick obsession with you. Kakashi, you will stay in Sakura's apartment, and you will be the one to prepare Sakura for the exams.

"Do you both understand?"

"Yes Hokage-sama," Sakura and Kakashi both said while bowing. The two left through the door a few seconds later.

"I'm sorry you have to watch me, Kakashi," Sakura said while the two started to walk together.

"Sakura, you're my student," Kakashi said as he walked beside her. His arms were laced casually behind his head. "It's my responsibility to look out for you."

Sakura nodded, and the two continued through the street. "What will my training be?" Sakura asked quietly.

"I haven't quiet decided on that," Kakashi said with a sigh. "I thought I would be training Sasuke…"

Sakura nodded quietly to herself. "Did you set up Sensei's for Naruto and myself?"

"I really hadn't gotten around to it, Sakura," Kakashi said with a sigh. "There has just been so many things going on… I've been so tired lately."

"…I'm going to go talk to Naruto," Sakura said while turning into the ramen stand. "I'll see if he'll want to train with me."

"Sakura, the Chuunin exams are not a team a team exams," Kakashi said while grabbing hold of Sakura's arm lightly. "I will set up someone for him, Sakura, just like I will now set up a sensei for Sasuke.

"Right now we have to get back to your apartment," Kakashi stated with another tired sigh. "I know you haven't really had much sleep; neither have I… Let's just go back to your apartment and get some rest."

"Then we will start training tomorrow?" Sakura asked as the pair rounded another corner; Kakashi still had not removed his grip from Sakura's arm.

"Yes," Kakashi said with a slight nod. Once they two had finally reached Sakura's apartment building. As they reached Sakura's door, Kakashi finally noticed his hand resting on Sakura's arm. "Sorry."

Sakura opened the door wordlessly, and started to strip off her clothes. The med skirt went flying across the room, and her red top followed. She then removed her black shorts as she continued to walk to the bathroom.

"Sak…Sakura," Kakashi gulped from the door way as his eyes could not be torn away from the woman before him. But she's not a woman! Kakashi kept reminding himself. "I'm sleeping on the couch."

Sakura walked again wordlessly into a room, Kakashi could only assume as the bathroom, and closed the door. Kakashi sighed as he sat down on Sakura's couch; the same couch he had sat on the first day the two of them had meet.

Kakashi had remembered that day… he could remember all the important moments he and Sakura shared; Kakashi just knew he shouldn't.

Kakashi fondly eyed the stain on Sakura's carpet; it had yet again been from the first few days he had known her; he had comforted her, held her even. Kakashi had to repress a shiver at the thought; he knew he had an uncontrollable obsession with Sakura; he'd have to talk to the Hokage about getting a year long mission away from the village… Sakura was a mere child.

Kakashi sighed deeply, and laid down on the overly comfortable couch. He'd sleep now, and think later.

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Sakura's head leaned against the door she had just closed; she didn't mean to take her clothes off in front of Kakashi… it was habit.

Her mind had been completely gone ever since he touched her; his touch obviously had an overwhelming affect on her.

Sakura sighed and walked away from the door; a bubble bath would do her some good. Stripping off her few other articles of clothing, Sakura turned her tube on, and poured bubble bath in.

After waiting a few minutes, Sakura stepped in, and slowly closed her eyes as a dream over came her.

Sakura was in the forest by herself. She could feel something was off… she was wearing a dark black top, and her headband was hidden by her hair.

Sakura watched herself, as she walked deeper into the forest; the trees now completely cover the sun. She walked on until she noticed two golden eyes staring at her through a set of trees.

"Cherry," the man seemed to hiss out… Sakura knew that voice. Sakura screamed to herself to run away, but she just walked forward, a light smile was on her lips.

"I missed you," Sakura heard her voice say; the voice was more mature and even seemed a little darker.

Sakura screamed louder in her mind as the figure stepped out from the trees' darkness. He took calculating steps to her until Sakura came face to face with Orochimaru.

"Are you ready?" Orochimaru asked as he took her hand. In the dream, Sakura flinched, and Orochimaru frowned. With a flick of his finger, he touched the already glowing curse mark on Sakura's neck.

That's when Sakura realized the curse mark had come to look like more of a chocker necklace; why had it grown like that?

As Orochimaru's hand moved away from her neck, the curse mark began to glow a deep purple; Sakura's smile turned sinister.

That's when Orochimaru slammed her against a tree and shoved his tongue down her throat-

Sakura screamed as she woke; she screamed so loudly, Kakashi was in the bathroom in under a second. The screaming didn't stop as light tears fell from her eyes…

Kakashi, not even caring that he was clothed, jumped into the tub, and held Sakura tightly. He rocked her and whispered soothing words as she cried, and after several minutes she stopped.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked softly; something was wrong with her, something had happened. Kakashi was worried about her; he didn't care about showing his emotion to her, now, at least when she looked so vulnerable.

Sakura was still shaking, though her eyes were dry; Kakashi lifted her out of the tub, and placed her in a robe. Bringing her into her bedroom, he set her down on her bed, and curled up next to her; he continued to hold her.

"Please let me understand," Kakashi pleaded into her ear.

Sakura's emerald eyes looked up into Kakashi's lone concerned one, and she lost it. She brought her lips up to his, and the two seemed to melt against one another.

Kakashi's lips molded perfectly with her own. He started rubbing circles on Sakura's back, and slowly brought a hand up to fist into her hair.

Sakura's eyes were closed, and no thoughts came from her brain. She knew she was safe with Kakashi, and that's all she needed. She slowly pushed her tongue against his lips, and he responded readily.

He opened his mouth, and allowed her tongue to slowly explore before he started to have his way with it. Kakashi wrapped his own tongue around Sakura's and sucked eliciting a moan from Sakura.

That was the noise that woke both of them up; Kakashi's eye opened as did Sakura's. Kakashi backed away first, and slowly left her bed. His eyes were set on the ground as he walked out of her room, and shut the door softly behind him.

Sakura's eyes widened as she thought about what they just had done… She knew she had feelings for Kakashi, but she never thought she'd act upon them.

The dream about Orochimaru scared her… the curse mark she had on her neck scared her. Sakura needed to feel safe, and she sought out comfort in Kakashi's arms.

Sakura sighed and walked to her closet. After that dream, she didn't want to fall asleep. After placing her new attire on, she walked out of her bedroom only to find Kakashi gone.

Sakura ran a glowing green hand across her forehead; she couldn't handle these emotions. Sakura walked out of her apartment, and started to head for the Hokage Tower. She really needed to talk to the Hokage about the dream.

Jumping from roof top to rooftop, Sakura increased her speed. She didn't understand what was happening to her; maybe the Hokage would.

Sakura leaped off of the final rooftop and slipped into an open window only a few doors down from the Hokage. Walking through the door, Sakura made it to the Hokage's door only to find it slightly ajar.

"I feel Sasuke Uchiha is in more danger that Sakura," Sakura heard through the door; was that Kakashi's voice? "I feel I should be teaching Sasuke over Sakura."

Sakura didn't make a noise as the Hokage replied. "You know Sakura is in the most danger; what is going on Kakashi?" Sarutobi asked with concern.

Sakura heard Kakashi sigh, but she didn't want to listen anymore; she'd talk to the Hokage later about her dream. Walking away from the door, she started to head back to her apartment.

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"You know Sakura is in the most danger; what is going on Kakashi?" Sarutobi asked with concern.

"There are emotions coming out of me that should not be, Hokage-sama," Kakashi stated with a sigh as he sat down. "Please, I need to be away from Sakura."

Sarutobi frowned and leaned back in his chair. "You know this type of thing; student and sensei is frowned upon in the village; especially because she is so young. I will grant you this one pass, you are her sensei though, and will have to work out your emotions in the future."

"I understand," Kakashi said with relief. "Thank you very much. Who may I ask is going to train Sakura then?"

Sarutobi smirked. "He actually just arrived in the village; I think you've meet him before."

"Who is it?" Kakashi asked curiously.

"Zabuza Momochi actually," Sarutobi stated as his smirk widened. "He heard about Sakura being in the Chuunin exams and volunteered to help."