I'm sadly still in need of a beta. I had a friend who was going to do it but had some things come up and now she can't. So, if you want to give me a hand, I would be forever grateful!

On a happier note, I can't believe how many people have faved and alerted this story! It's not quite the same as a review, but the sheer number is starting to change my mind on the matter. So, thank you to all of you! Reviews, faves, alerts, I'm thankful for all of them. Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

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You Gotta Go There To Come Back

Chapter 8: Promise

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The vision softly fades

But there's a light that still remains

And in these walls I feel your sadness wane

But in a moment you'll feel no pain

All lines have broken but we need you to hold on

Your eyes have opened but you've got to go on

I will comfort you

I will sing to you

It's a promise not forgotten

-Promise by BRMC

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Sakura sat on the balcony of the palace just outside her room, breathing in the fresh air. She hadn't been able to get much sleep the previous two nights. That feeling that something was amiss kept her mind active when all she wanted it to do was shut off and let her pass out. She set her cup of tea on the bistro table next to her and let her mind drift. It had been a long three and a half years, but she wouldn't have traded them for anything. She was adored and loved by hordes of fans, she had been busy enough to keep her mind off of those she missed, and she had discovered things about herself that she never would have learned in Konoha.

Inevitably, like it always did when she thought of home, her mind shifted to the man she still loved even after all this time away. She envisioned Kakashi's masked face with the creased eye and smiled softly. Would he return her affections? Her grandmother's admission that Kakashi changed the subject when it concerned her was difficult to hear, but maybe she was misunderstanding something. Kakashi was not a man of black and white. Underneath the underneath, right?

Was he even still available? Tsunade had told her in each letter what the Copy Ninja was up to and no women had been mentioned. Besides that marriage attempt by the counsel, Kakashi's love life was seemingly non-existent. But Kakashi was an extremely private person and chances were he had found someone to spend his life with. He was 33 after all. It wasn't old by any means, but for a shinobi luck started to run out around 40. Around that age they started to have children and generally retired, took lower class missions, or never returned from one.

She had been telling herself that whatever the outcome, she would be able to return home with her head held high and wish him and his wife the best. But if she was truthful with herself, she would never be able to do so. If he had found someone, she would stay in Snow and continue the life she had built here. Perhaps it was built on false pretenses and her fans and those around her were in love with a fabrication, but it beat returning to Konoha and having her heart ripped from her chest.

As she surveyed the fall landscape, she heard a squawk in the distance and turned to observe the outstretched wings of the large bird flying overhead. It was odd to see a bird this far north in autumn and a little knot of nervousness wound tight in her stomach. When the bird flew in the pattern of a figure-eight over her, Sakura shot up from her chair, sending the wrought-iron legs screeching along the concrete. "Messenger bird." she whispered and watched with mounting worry as it landed. She untied the little scroll attached to its leg as quickly as possible with her trembling hands and scanned the contents. A little sob escaped as her panic escalated and she grabbed her napkin from the tall bistro table and a pen from her nightstand just inside her balcony doors. 'Understood.' was scrawled in shaky writing and re-attached to the bird's leg and Sakura sent it back to Konoha.

In a flurry of activity, she shot into her bedroom and pulled out her ninja gear, donning the familiar clothes in record time. The clothes were a little tighter and shorter than she remembered, but they would have to do. She almost forgot her weapons and medical supplies due to her worry, but thankfully had enough wits about her to dash back and grab those along with a cloak and some spare clothes for Kakashi. Captives were almost always stripped. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, the princess stopped her as they almost collided. "Sakura! Where are you heading in such a hurry?"

"There's an emergency back home! Kakashi has been captured on a mission, they're utilizing poison. I have to go help. Cover for me with Hiro, please! I was supposed to start recording next week." Sakura was already out the door before Koyuki could respond.

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She bounded from tree to tree with chakra-enhanced limbs. She was supposed to wait for the ANBU retrieval squad, but if she arrived first there was no way she was waiting. The wait could be the difference between retrieving Kakashi and retrieving his corpse. The latter she couldn't cope with. Just the thought had her legs moving quicker, more chakra being used in her launch off the branches. The trees started to meld into one green and brown blob as her speed increased again, some branches snapping or cracking as she shot off of them with more chakra than they could handle. She was merely a blur as she sped to the west through Snow, heading to the border of Lightning.

It was normally a five day journey. Sakura was there in two days. Soldier pills had been her only source of food, she hadn't slept or rested during her chakra-enhanced travels and she knew when she finally allowed her body to relax she would be in a world of pain. But Kakashi's life was on the line and even if she didn't love him, her actions would have been the same.

She was currently hunched down by some bushes on a cliff overlooking the enemy's compound according to Tsunade's map. Taking stock of the guard situation, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. The thugs outside were definitely not shinobi, but that didn't mean those inside were the same. They were using poison, so they could have gotten in a lucky shot and taken Kakashi down that way. But going on that assumption was dangerous and she had to think of worst case scenarios in her mind. She was borderline genius, so she would have to use her smarts to get her through this.

She quickly created a clone and then made her way into a higher vantage point on the cliff side, blanketed by the thick fog covering Lightning and some large rocks. Her clone made her way closer to the hideout purposely being loud. When the thugs noticed her presence, they took off in pursuit and Sakura jumped down and ran towards the building as soon as they passed underneath her. The clone wouldn't last forever and unless these guys were complete idiots, they would realize they had been duped and come tearing back to the compound soon.

Crouched low, she peered inside the first window she came to and noticed a few men milling around. She continued around the perimeter, looking for an entrance that would allow her to move about freely for a while. Finally, she found a window with one man inside. He was dressed in a white coat and Sakura prayed luck was on her side and she had found the one responsible for the poison.

Quietly and efficiently picking the window's lock, she slid it up and was behind the man, kunai to his throat before he could blink. "Where is the Konoha shinobi you captured?"

The man quivered, clearly terrified of the woman behind him. "I don't know w-what you're talking ab-bout." He was able to spew insults and such when dealing with an incapacitated man, but a fully capable shinobi was a different matter.

Sakura pushed the kunai closer, voice deepening. "I asked where he was. You can answer me now and live or keep refusing and I will kill you. The choice is yours."

"You wouldn't kill me, would you? I have the antidote to the poison used on him." The man's voice was cocky, thinking he had won and Sakura smirked.

"I'm a medic. I don't need you to cure him. And I have no problem whatsoever with skinning you alive, asshole."

There was the sound of liquid hitting the floor and Sakura peered down in her peripheral vision, frowning as she did. The coward had wet his pants. Sakura sneered at him, "Where is he now?"

The kunai pressed deeper and the man gasped as it broke skin, the warm trickle on his neck inciting some panic. "Down in the chambers. Go left out this hallway and there's a door at the end of the hall with a 'Caution' sign on it. Go down those stairs and follow the last hallway to the right. He's in the third cell."

Sakura pulled the kunai back and knocked the man out. As she prepared to focus chakra to her feet, shouting erupted from the other areas of the house and Sakura peered out. Seems the ones following her clone were back and her presence had been discovered.

She emerged from the kitchen-like room she had been in, kunai at the ready. Four kunai flew in rapid succession, each one hitting a vital point and killing four of the mercenaries. Chakra enhanced punches and kicks took out others while poison tipped senbon immobilized even more of them. She kept her back to the wall so no one could sneak up on her and a look of deadly calm settled upon her features. Finally, it was down to her and one last thug. With a burst of ninja speed and a trusty kunai, Sakura had gotten behind the man and slit his throat. There was no remorse in her after killing the mercenaries. She would do it all again to protect or save Kakashi. He was all that mattered in those moments.

She ran through the hallways as fast as her legs would carry her. As she reached the 'Caution' door she flung it open only to have four men come barreling at her. A flurry of kunai took them out and she continued on down the stairs, barely touching them as she took five or six at a time. As she got to the bottom, another group of men shot up from their seats, surrounding her. A quick succession of hand signs had them trapped in a genjutsu where they were still fighting her while the real Sakura made it to the last hallway on the right. She made her way quickly to the third cell and her breath caught.

Emaciated, bruised, bloody and dirty, he was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Even after so many years with no contact and a situation as dire as this, she couldn't stop her heart from clenching as she looked at him. As she picked the lock, the fear that more men would come after her had her adrenaline pumping. No matter what, she would get Kakashi out of there.

She quickly knelt next to him, letting her chakra flow through him, checking for internal injuries and getting a better idea of what was used on him. She took note of his labored breathing and focused on his lungs. The poison wasn't concentrated there, but it did leave a residue making it difficult for his lungs to expand and take in air. A few ribs were also cracked and she imagined each breath brought on a bout of pain. It was a wonder he wasn't hyperventilating with such shallow breathing. He would wake up as soon as she started to heal him so she hurriedly made the signs for a sleep jutsu and brushed her fingers lightly against his temple. She left for a second to grab some bowls of water and took a deep breath when she returned. This procedure would take quite a bit out of her, but she would get through it.

With another calming breath, she lifted the ball of water and threaded it into Kakashi's body, absorbing the poison and drawing it out of his muscles and away from his lungs. As she concentrated on her task, she whispered mindless and soothing words to Kakashi, hoping her speech was getting through to him, letting him know it would be alright and she was here to save him. She repeated the process, gathering poison and cleaning out his body.

Sakura pulled the last of the poisonous residue from Kakashi's lungs and watched as his breathing eased slightly. Her chakra seeped into him again, looking for anymore poison. When she found only trace amounts, she focused on healing his wounds. She set to work on his ribs and smiled when his breathing became deep and even. She gently pulled him into a sitting position and leaned his forehead against her shoulder. Wincing, she pulled a bottle of antiseptic from her pack to wash the criss-crossing lacerations along his back. The unmistakable whipping marks had her blood boiling and eager to exact some sweet retribution on those responsible for doing this.

She poured the liquid over his back and stroked his dirty hair as he whimpered. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I need to do this to make sure you don't get infected. You're safe now. Just relax and let me heal you before we get you home." The words seemed to penetrate through to his mind because he drooped just slightly, the tension starting to ease from his shoulders. Smiling tenderly at his surrender, she poured a little more antiseptic over his back before her green hands hovered over the wounds. She watched in slight fascination, the image never growing old, as the veins and capillaries closed, followed by tissue and skin until no signs remained of his trauma. The skin would still be tender being brand new, but his back was healed.

Sakura unfastened the cloak from her shoulders and laid it on the ground before laying Kakashi back on it. There was no way she was going to put him back on the grimy floor of the cell. She healed the large gashes along his legs, the punctures in his abdomen and arms, and the various bruising all over his body. She set his jaw and used her chakra to ease the discomfort and bring down the swelling.

With another internal sweep with her chakra, she frowned. His chakra wasn't flowing at all. She poked around with her own chakra until she found the blocks and forced surges of chakra into them until they gave way. She gave a sigh of relief when she was finished. Her chakra was almost gone and she had only two soldiers pills left, which she would need for the journey back to Konoha. It had taken her almost 24 hours to heal Kakashi, but the bright side was that he was healed. He would still need fluids, nutrients and rest, but he was okay for now.

She pulled a spare pair of pants and some socks from a pocket inside her cloak. The clothes would be too small, but at least it was something to keep him covered on the way home. She gently pulled the clothes on him, careful of all the sensitive new skin. She pulled out her water bottle and placed it to Kakashi's lips, fighting back the urge to cry as he greedily gulped it down. She had to pull it away and give him small sips every few minutes as she rested before starting home. Too much water at one time after so long would make him sick. It twisted her stomach and closed her throat when she thought of how cruelly he had been treated.

When she was ready to start home, she fastened the cloak around his neck and grabbed a cloth from her pack, tying it as a make-shift mask around his face. She had wanted him to show her his face, but looking was necessary to heal him properly. And was he ever handsome! But it was just a bonus, she had loved him long before she knew what he looked like.

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Kakashi's ANBU squad came upon the compound and abruptly stopped. Takeshi looked down at the base and then back at his comrades in confusion. "Something isn't right. Kakashi-taichou was obviously defeated since he didn't return and there's no sign of him anywhere. But the compound is too quiet. Where are all the guards?"

Harada narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, but we need to get down there and rescue Taichou. There's no other option."

Shuichi rolled his eyes at his teammate's melodramatic speech. "Let's go then."

Matsumoto gave a low whistle when they entered the compound. The scene was sickening to look at. Blood and dead bodies were everywhere, littering the floor, the walls, the furniture. Whoever did this had been pissed and ruthless.

Hearing some rustling in the next room, the ANBU rushed in and looked at the man in the white lab coat who was just coming to after the hard blow from Sakura. Matsumoto had him incapacitated within the blink of an eye. "Who are you?"

Seeing the animal masks and knowing what that meant, the man started to shake and figured honesty would be the best policy. ANBU knew some very unsettling jutsu that would make you talk. "I am a scientist. I create poisons and hire mercenaries to bring me test subjects."

The four men scowled. It seemed this piece of trash was similar to Orochimaru as far as using humans as test subjects went. Takeshi growled. "Who do you work for?"

"N-No one! I swear! I was going to create poisons and then make money by selling them to the highest bidder."

"Is there a Konoha shinobi here that you captured about two and a half weeks ago?" Harada just wanted to rescue their commander and get the hell out of that blood bath.

The man began to tremble, remembering the violent woman who had attacked him. "A woman came to get him yesterday. I don't know if they're still here."

Shuichi nodded as he spoke to his teammates. "The poisons expert." He looked back at the man with narrowed eyes. "Take us to your lab and give us the antidote. The woman who came for him may need that."

Sakura paused in preparing Kakashi to travel back to Konoha when four cloaked figures appeared in the doorway of his cell. Making sure they didn't attack her, she called out her shinobi information. "Haruno Sakura. Chuunin. ID Number 012601." She lowered her head and pointed at her headband and the ANBU nodded.

Matsumoto's eyes roved her body, liking what he saw. It wasn't the time or place to put the moves on her, but he was sure once this was over he would be trying for a date. "Are you the poisons expert?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes. Kakashi will be fine, but we need to get him back to Konoha quickly. I've done all I can here."

Takeshi stepped forward with the man in the lab coat and shook him roughly. "Give her the antidote now."

The frightened scientist handed her a vial and Sakura pulled out a scroll with various script written on it. From one of the bowls, she gathered a tiny drop of poison and let it fall onto the parchment followed by a drop of the serum. When instead of disappearing the poison spread, she turned a deadly glare to the man. If she had injected Kakashi without checking this, it would have killed him. "This isn't an antidote. Where is the antidote?"

The man's trembling increased. "I haven't made one. I was never going to cure anybody poisoned with it."

Sakura shot up from her spot by Kakashi and without second thought, kicked the man in the chest, the chakra-enhancement causing him to fly through three cement walls before slumping on the fourth. The ANBU looked at her wide-eyed. "Is he dead?" Harada was just as afraid of this terrifying woman as he was of his brutal interim commander.

Green eyes narrowed in her rage, her head snapped to him. "Did you hear his sternum crack? Yes, he is dead. The bone shattered and the force of the kick sent the shards straight into his heart." Her expression softened and her movements were gentle as she picked up Kakashi and used a sheet to secure him to her chest, figuring it would be more comfortable than her back. "Let's get him home."

Despite the severity of the situation, Shuichi let a slight smile slip. It was becoming apparent that this mystery woman before him was smitten with the elusive Hatake Kakashi. Another one of the ANBU looked at the sleeping ninja. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine. But we need to hurry. I plan on traveling straight through. If you can't keep up, that's fine." Sakura raced up the stairs and back into the main area of the compound. She stepped gracefully around the corpses, barely glancing at them as she made her way outside. Once clear of the building, she stopped and the ANBU looked at her questioningly. "We need to destroy the base, correct?"

The ANBU nodded and got ready to head back inside to plant explosive tags. "Don't worry with those. Just stand back." With a wail, Sakura punched the ground and the group watched in fascinated fear of this woman as the ground erupted around the entire base, causing the structure to rumble and collapse into a pile of rubble.

Matsumoto began to rethink his earlier thoughts of asking her out. If she reacted badly to his advances, he could end up dead!

They raced along the sandy ground, hoping to make it back to Konoha in record time when a large group came at them, a band of mercenaries that had been patrolling farther out from the looks of it. Sakura rolled her green eyes. When would the annoyances stop?

The ANBU fell into battle stances and Sakura motioned for the ANBU to stop. "No need. I've got this, too. Stay back."

She stepped sideways and lifted the leg closest to the approaching goons. When they were too close for the ANBU squads comfort, she stomped on the sandy ground with her foot sideways and a wall of sand erupted from the ground, swallowing the enemies whole. She followed it with a few quick hand signs and the sand crushed down, killing the men instantly. "Thank you, Gaara." she muttered. "Alright, let's go."

She popped a soldier pill into her mouth and took off at a blinding speed. The ANBU, now completely terrified of the powerful kunoichi, obediently followed. As they crossed over into Fire, one of them approached Sakura. "Would you like me to carry him?"

"NO!" The ANBU drew back slightly at the ferocity the young woman spoke with. Feeling guilty, Sakura offered a small smile. "I'm fine. I'll carry him home."

By the time they reached Konoha, three days later, Sakura was accompanied by only one ANBU, the remaining ones having exhausted themselves along the way. Kotetsu and Izumo could only brace against the force as a red and pink blur zoomed past them followed by a black figure. Sakura took to the rooftops to avoid as many people as possible, thankful it was night time. She reached the hospital in less than a minute and instructed the remaining ANBU to fetch Tsunade.

The nurse on duty at the front desk reeled back in alarm at the frightening young woman who seemed to materialize out of nowhere. "I need an available room."

The woman ruffled through a chart and quickly answered. "D289."

Sakura was gone in a flash, racing along the corridors to the stairwell and heading up to the second floor. Once in D wing, she quickly located the free room and gently set Kakashi on the bed, doing all the necessary cleaning and prep work so he could rest and get well. She gently turned him this way and that, clearing his skin of the sweat, dirt and grime he had acquired in that cell. Tsunade entered moments later to find Sakura sitting there with one hand gripping Kakashi's as she sat in the visitor's chair.

"Sakura." Tsunade breathed out and raced forward to embrace her apprentice. "Are you alright?"

Sakura smiled through a wave of tears from being home after so long and sheer exhaustion. "I'm fine. But Kakashi needs some fluids and an antidote. I managed to remove most of the poison and heal his other injuries, but there's still trace amounts left."

Tsunade nodded and ordered a nurse to bring her all the necessary supplies. She looked over at her student again and sighed. "How long has it been since you slept, Sakura?"

Frowning, the young woman tried to remember. 'Let's see two days to Lightning, one day to heal Kakashi, three days back. Has it really been six days?' She frowned deeper. 'Shishou is going to kill me.' With a sheepish smile Sakura looked shyly up at her mentor. "You see, the thing is..."

"Sakura..." the warning growl in her Hokage's voice was unmistakable.

"Six days."

Tsunade breathed deeply to keep her temper in check and resist yelling at her stupid apprentice. "Sakura!" She took another few breaths and then sighed. "I guess love can make even the most intelligent people do idiotic things." The nurse rolled the cart with the requested supplies into the room and Tsunade dismissed her. "Let me get Hatake set up and then you, young lady, are going to sleep whether you like it or not."

Sakura began to protest. "No, Shishou. Let me watch over Kaka-"

"ENOUGH! I'll put you in a bed in here, but you must promise to rest."

Sakura gave a resigned nod. "Please promise me you won't let anyone else in here until I'm gone. I'm just not ready to come back yet. Please?"

"Sakura, you've been gone for almost 4 years! We all miss you terribly."

"I know, Shishou. I feel selfish for asking, but the time just isn't right. I have other obligations right now that I can't walk away from. All I ask is for a few more years. Then I will gladly return." She looked at the Hokage with exhausted green eyes, pleading.

With a tired sigh, Tsunade nodded. After all, she had spent more than a decade avoiding Konoha. She would be a hypocrite if she refused. "Fine. Just be careful."

"Always!"

After Kakashi was set up, Tsunade pulled up a chair and sat in front of her favorite medic. "So, mission briefing. Let's hear it."

Sakura giggled and recounted the story to Tsunade. She was exhausted though, so she had to keep stopping to gather her thoughts. After ten minutes of stumbling her way through her recollection of events, Sakura let out a monstrous yawn and Tsunade sighed. "Just get some sleep. We can try this again when your brain is functioning properly."

"Yes, ma'am."

Tsunade turned to ask if Sakura wanted some food brought up, but the pink-haired woman was already blissfully asleep in the bed next to Kakashi's. With a shake of her head and a small smile, Tsunade exited the room.

"Misao!"

A brunette nurse scurried up to the intimidating woman. "Hai, Godaime-sama?"

"Make sure no one and I mean no one, goes into that room until I have given clearance. Is that perfectly clear?"

"Yes!"

"Good. Should anyone be allowed in, there will be consequences." She narrowed her eyes, allowing the threat to sink into the woman's mind, before stalking off back to her quarters.

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Sakura awoke with a powerful headache and a nauseous feeling. Managing no more than a groan, the medic looked up and saw Kakashi was asleep, but looking better than he had. Apparently the male orderlies had been up to bathe him. Feeling the pull of tape on her hand she glanced over and saw an IV attached. Following the tube up to the bag at her head, she noticed it was a bag of fluids. "Wonder how long I was out?"

Shizune's soft voice answered her. "Three days. But that's to be expected with all those soldier pills you were running on. You know that's dangerous, Sakura-chan."

Sakura gave the biggest smile she could manage to her older 'sister'. "Sorry, Shizune. It had to be done."

Brown eyes softened as she made her way over to hug the younger woman. "We've all missed you, Sakura-chan."

"I've missed you guys, too." She gave Shizune a tiny smile before glancing back at Kakashi. "Has Kakashi woken up, yet?"

"No. But he was severely dehydrated, malnourished and exhausted from Sharingan overuse and his body was just plain worn out. We've been getting the involuntary responses so we know he'll be fine. His body just needs to rest."

Sakura gave a relieved sigh and her stomach gave an embarrassing rumble. Shizune laughed. "I'm guessing food is next on your list?"

Sakura nodded. "I'd like to shower, but I'm sure I'd just faint without eating first."

"I'll have something light sent up to you. It's best to start slow after so many days. We'll get you multiple light meals today and then tomorrow we'll try something heartier. No showering attempts until this evening. Tsunade-sama or I will come up and you can shower when we're here just in case your body gives out."

Sakura nodded at the instructions and smiled. "Thank you, Shizune."

With a smile from Shizune, the door closed and Sakura and Kakashi were alone again. She made her way to his side on wobbly legs, rolling her IV stand with her. Looking over his chart, she gave a sigh of relief. Shizune had said he was fine, but seeing it in writing was reassuring.

Sitting down in the visitor's chair next to his bad, she sighed and hesitantly grasped his larger hand. "I don't know if you can hear me or register what I'm saying, but I want to say it anyway. I've missed you so much, all of you. The time isn't quite right for me to come back, but soon. I'll be home for good soon."

Sakura just stared at the upper portion of his face that was visible, unable to tear her gaze away from him. She couldn't believe how close she had been to losing him. Just the thought made her want to cry. Licking her dry lips, she took a deep breath and began to softly sing to him, a song she had written just for Kakashi.

For all I know, nothing's changed

Nothing ever will if I don't leave this place

For all I know, you're waiting for me to whisper your name

What I wouldn't give to kiss your sweet face

Cause all I know is I need you here

And all I have, I would give away so I could say this dear

All I feel, oh I tried so hard to not feel

It's killing me

For all I know, you forgot me

For all I know, you're different, completely

And everything we had was never what I thought it was

But for all I know, oh it was love

She couldn't continue from that point. Her emotions got the better of her. The years she had spent pining for someone she couldn't have, the years away from him and all of her friends and family, the fear she felt when she learned he had been taken captive, the myriad of emotions she had experienced during his rescue, the exhaustion of such an intense fight after years without combat. It was just too much and Sakura finally had to break down and let it all out.

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She woke up later to a loud throat clearing, blinking in confusion she realized her back was aching something fierce and her hand was holding someone else's. Looking up, she saw Tsunade glaring and trying not to smirk at her, a strange combination. "You should be in bed, young lady."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just came over to look at his chart and then Shizune brought me some soup, I ate and then I guess I fell asleep." She glanced apologetically at the powerful woman, a little embarrassed at being caught.

"I brought you some food. Nothing fancy. Just some plain rice and a cup of steamed vegetables. There's also a small cup of fruit if you're up to it."

"Thank you, Shishou. Could I possibly shower first? I feel grimy and disgusting. I'm sure I'll feel much better just to be clean."

Tsunade sighed and looked at her in contemplation. "I suppose. But leave the door unlocked so I can get in if you're in trouble."

"Hai." In a flash, as much of a flash as she could manage anyways, the young woman was standing in one of the best showers of her life. She made sure to keep the water from being too hot. She wasn't sure if her body could stand up to the heat she usually liked in her showers. After washing her hair twice, doing a quick shave and washing three times, she felt satisfactorily clean and sighed as she dried off. "Tsunade-sama, that was the best shower ever."

The Hokage let out some chuckles from the other side of the door. "Post-mission showers usually are the best. I also hear mothers saying post-birth showers are heavenly."

After pulling on the hospital-issued gown, she emerged with a smile. "I can believe that. Birth is a messy thing."

Tsunade let a rare, motherly smile slip out. "Feel better?"

Sakura sighed. "Much."

She looked over to her bed and saw the food from Tsunade sitting there. "Ah, food and then more rest. If I'm feeling my best tomorrow, then I'm going to leave."

Tsunade felt her face fall. "So soon? But you're not fully recovered yet."

"I'll travel slowly and stay at inns, making sure to get plenty of food and rest along the way." Giving a deep sigh, Sakura glanced at the sleeping Kakashi and then back up at Tsunade. "I just can't be here when Kakashi wakes up. You know why."

All the blonde could do was nod. "Eat well and then sleep. I'll be by to check on you tomorrow morning, so no running off until I've cleared you."

"Yes, Shishou."

"Goodnight, Sakura."

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Sakura's parents and grandmother entered her room, the concern apparent on each of their faces. After assuring all of them that yes she was fine, and no she wasn't lying about being fine, she watched her grandmother as the old woman's eyes landed on Kakashi. "Stupid kid."

She trotted over and smoothed a wrinkled hand through his silver locks. "I've missed him, you know. Tuesdays just haven't been the same without my tea buddy. I was worried sick about him and then when they said you had gone to retrieve him..." She trailed off and sighed as she returned to her granddaughter's side. "I've never been more petrified in my life, Sakura." She squeezed the young woman tightly. "I'd obviously give my life for you and Kakashi is quickly moving up to that category. He may be an idiot, but he's a good kid and I'm starting to adore the little jerk."

Sakura had to laugh heartily at her grandmother. Though she was being serious, it was odd to hear anyone speak of the feared Copy Ninja like that. Then again, if anyone was going to insult someone and then say they cared about them in the same sentence, Aiko was the one to do it.

"I'm sure he cares about you too, Grandma. Kakashi isn't one to spend time with just anybody, much less someone he doesn't like."

Sakura's father perched next to his daughter on the hospital bed with a sigh. "Listen, kiddo. You know I've been less than pleased about this whole Kakashi deal from the start. Truly, I thought it was a crush and in a few months you'd come back saying you were over him and had found some new kid to drool over."

Sakura frowned, but her father continued. "Seeing what you went through to protect and rescue him... well I see now that I was wrong. If he really means that much to you and you love him enough to risk your own life for his, then you have my blessings."

Sakura looked at her father wide-eyed and then gave a giddy squeal before hugging the man with an affectionate smile on his face. "Thank you, Dad. I do love him, more than anything. And if you had continued to disapprove of my feelings for him, it would have broken my heart."

Sakura's mother smoothed a hand over the young woman's pink locks. "We just want you to be happy, sweetheart."

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As Sakura sat in her clean-again uniform, thanks to Shizune, she ran her chakra through Kakashi's system. "He seems fine. His brain function is picking up and I think he'll be awake any time now."

Tsunade and Shizune nodded. "It was all due to your quick work in the enemy compound, Sakura." The Hokage smiled softly at her apprentice. "There's also something I want to say before you leave. I got the ANBU squad's mission reports. I would have loved to see you 'kicking ass' as they put it. By their accounts you were practically rabid in your protection of Hatake. This is highly unorthodox, but if one of my top ANBU squads confesses to being 'piss in their pants' afraid of you, then you must have something going for you in terms of skill. So, I'm hereby promoting you to jounin."

Sakura's mouth gaped open as she stared at her mentor. "Really?"

Tsunade nodded with a proud smile on her face. "Really."

Shizune gave a bright smile and big hug to the disbelieving woman. "Here. This is our gift to you for your promotion." She pulled a long, thin box into the room from its spot just outside the room's door and handed it to the stunned young woman.

Sakura eagerly tore the wrappings off and looked inside, eyes lighting up as she looked at the beautiful sword. "It's amazing." she breathed. She slowly pulled the blade from the black sheath, eyes roving over the shiny silver blade, checking the edge and smiling brightly at its quality. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tsunade gave a defeated sigh, dreading this part. "You're well enough to be discharged, Sakura." There was a relieved smile, but forest green eyes immediately snapped to Kakashi's sleeping figure. "Memorize this moment, Sakura. Who knows when you'll be back again?"

With watery eyes, she moved over and sat next to him on his bed, grabbing his hand and running her thumb over his knuckles. She stared down at his peacefully sleeping face, what she could see of it anyway. Her breath caught as his eyelids fluttered open.

Kakashi blinked a few times at the deep green eyes in front of him, glistening with unshed tears. They finally came into focus and his eye took in the sight of gorgeous feminine features before a pink strand of hair fell in front of those captivating eyes. "Sakura?" he croaked out. His deep baritone that she hadn't heard in so long was still just as beautiful and captivating, even rough as it was.

She smiled softly at him, a warm and at the same time sad smile. "Sleep, Kakashi." Warm fingertips traced his temple and he was out again. She let her lips lightly skim his forehead in an innocent kiss.

She stood and took a shaky breath before smiling bravely. "See you in a few years, ladies!" She hugged Tsunade and then Shizune before pink petals engulfed her.

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Kakashi sat trying to read one of his beloved books while the members of his current ANBU squad prattled on about this and that in his hospital room. "You should have seen her, Kakashi-taichou! She was hot! Beautiful beyond belief and fucking fierce! I thought Takeshi was gonna piss his pants when she kicked that guy through three concrete walls! It was sexy as hell. And then she was damn protective of you. None of us were allowed to carry you back here and she went straight through! All of us but Harada had to stop and take a break. He managed to keep up with her!" Matsumoto broke off and a dreamy smile came over his face. "Those curves, those green eyes and that pink hair. Damn! What I wouldn't give for a piece of that!"

Kakashi froze. The insane ability to kick a guy through three concrete walls had been tickling at his mind, but he had stubbornly pushed it away. That final description cinched it for him. He thought he had been dreaming when he saw Sakura. Everything from that day was foggy at best. "Pink hair, you say?"

Harada spoke up from his spot by the window. "Yeah. She had it bad for you. I've never seen anyone so careful with a retrieval. I mean, yeah we take care of our own, but she was very gentle with you, and she healed everything she could right there in that cell. She was popping soldier pills to get you here. And from what I could tell when we met up with her, she hadn't slept in days by that point already."

Shuichi's red hair hung over one eye as he spoke. "What I want to know is how a Leaf kunoichi knows Sand techniques. That was definitely one of the Kazekage's moves when we were leaving. That wall of sand and then crushing those guys with it! That was freakin' great!"

Harada spoke again. "After I told Hokage-sama about that move she was stunned so apparently it's a new technique to that woman."

At that moment, the door swung open and Tsunade entered. "Alright, boys. Time to leave. I need to check your captain's vitals."

The four filed out and once Tsunade closed the door, Kakashi gave her an intense stare. "Was Sakura here?"

"I suppose there's no harm in telling you. Yes. She was the one who brought you back."

Kakashi nodded as he reclined in his bed. "So I wasn't dreaming when I thought I saw her."

"No. She was here. She practically killed herself getting you here. She hadn't slept in a week by the time she arrived and after getting you set up, she passed out for three days straight. Silly girl."

Kakashi chuckled. That stubbornness was typical Sakura behavior. "So she left again?" He supposed he already knew the answer and was disappointed about it. Now more than ever he wanted to talk to her and see if she was just as intelligent and intriguing as she was beautiful. If so, he didn't think he'd be able to resist pursuing her. Taboos and peoples' perceptions be damned! The Hokage herself said she approved of the relationship just after Sakura left.

"Yes. Said she wasn't quite ready to return home. I did promote her to jounin before she left though. She has some amazing new techniques."

Kakashi's visible eye widened. "You promoted her? Without testing?"

Tsunade frowned as she jotted notes down on Kakashi's chart. "Hatake, she infiltrated an enemy stronghold by herself, took out a large number of mercenaries alone, located you, healed you, lead the ANBU squad out of the compound, destroyed the compound, killed approximately ten more enemies in one move and got you back here. Without sleeping or eating for six days straight and managing to scare the piss out of several ANBU members. Still think she needs testing?"

"I suppose not."

"Damn straight she doesn't!" Tsunade finished filling out his chart and sighed. "Your vitals are good and the physical therapist says your muscles are toning back up nicely so I'll be releasing you tomorrow. No intense training for another few weeks. And don't get impatient and escape on me."

Just before she reached the door, Kakashi called out to her. "Tsunade-sama?"

"Yes?"

"Does Sakura love me? Am I the older man you were talking about four years ago?"

Tsunade turned and looked at the Copy Ninja. "It isn't my place to say."

"I'm not stupid. There are a lot of clues that point to it and I just want to be sure. I've never been so close to death, Tsunade-sama. I've never been incapacitated and unable to help myself. Time in a place like that cell will make you want to appreciate life a bit more, and if it isn't me that she loves then I won't need to feel guilty if I meet somebody to spend my time with." He ran his hands down his tired face with a sigh. 'Please buy my bullshit! I just want to know!'

Tsunade made a face. "You're asking me because you want to get laid?"

With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, Kakashi answered. "No, I just...would like to know."

"Like I said, it isn't my place to say. However, if you ask again, I won't lie."

Kakashi smiled softly. "Does Sakura love me?"

With a grin, Tsunade turned and left without saying a word.

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A/N: Yay! I like this chapter! And now after months of sitting on my computer, waiting for its turn to be posted, it's finally getting its moment in the sun. Review please! Smooches!

Song is 'All I Know' by Kelly Clarkson.