Chapter 12!
I really would've updated much sooner, but site wasn't letting me log in for some reason, kept getting that "FanFiction Error" page…. Grrr….
Well, because of that, the next chapter should be out even sooner…. like, later today....
So no worries! ^_^
Title: "Pests and Boyfriends"
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
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Our third kiss ended, our breathing was deep and fast, in synch.
My lips found his magnetically before we could completely catch up to our oxygen needs.
His hand in my hair shifted to the base of my neck.
My heart was still floating despite how the world seemed to be running out of oxygen.
I kept thinking how incredibly lucky I was… to be this close to him… for him to want me this close to him…
Our fourth kiss ended too soon.
My legs felt weak.
My arms felt weaker.
I leaned into his chest, catching my breath while listening to his racing heartbeat trying to catch up to his arduous breathing.
In that moment, he was literally the only thing on my mind.
I loved his eyes, his arms, his lips, his heartbeat, his scent, his chest, his hands, his funny way of making me feel like I was the only other person in the world with him.
I needed more of him, I needed to know more, to have more, to feel more.
"Sakura…"
His voice… I loved it when it was a little breathless like that… I loved it even more when he used it to say my name.
But I knew what his tone of voice meant.
"It's getting late, right?" I guessed, my own voice was still wispy.
I wondered if he liked my voice like this, the way I did his…
Such a strange thought.
"Unfortunately." He added, his voice a bit more stable.
I smiled at his response.
I felt his hand find my arm, unwrapping it from his back, his fingers searching for mine.
I gripped his hand eagerly.
"I'll take you home." He said quietly.
"Okay…"
We left our sanctuary behind.
I felt like a left a piece of me back there…
……………………
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZ!
"Ugh!" I flung out of bed, onto the alarm clock.
I fiddled with it roughly.
"I thought I killed you already!" I whispered at it harshly.
I satisfied my vendetta with my alarm clock by slamming it against the wall again.
The alarm warbled off awkwardly….
I thought about naming it Warble for a second.
I wondered if there was some sort of internal trigger that turned it off when you hit it hard enough.
As I was sleepily trying to make sense of the complicated time-telling device, I noticed the pretty green symbols on Warble's face.
"6:32am"
I thought to myself… what do these symbols mean?
Suddenly all the sleepy fatigue was washed away with a realization.
"Kakashi-sensei!" I whispered to myself urgently.
I looked around my room for my boots and outdoor clothes…
Wait! I have a mission to prepare for!
It was strange how even when my brain was sleep-scrambled, I managed to remember the time of his departure before I remembered I even had a mission.
I chose to ignore my own mission for a little bit.
I washed up in the bathroom, combing out my hair, putting on my forehead protector.
I rummaged through my clothes, I mind as well get dressed for my mission.
I grabbed my red shirt, black tights, pink skirt, knee-high boots and put them on in a flurry.
I ran out the house right after I knocked on my parents bedroom door, yelling a 'bye' that I heard them groggily respond to with a 'take care'.
I checked my watch…
' 6:53'
I picked up my pace.
The cobalt blue, morning sky was really chilly.
The sun was rising, but the thick night-clouds were still in the way.
I just want to say 'bye', just as long as he sees me, I'll be happy.
I really wanted to prove to him that I was thinking about him as much as he seemed to be thinking of me.
Even if that meant that I had to skip my beautification and prepping time.
I felt the gravel shift under my feet with every galloping step.
My heart was racing… I really hoped he wasn't gone yet.
The Konoha gate was finally in sight.
I saw two figures, one of them was walking away… it looked like one of the debriefing shinobi.
The other one, was undoubtedly Kakashi.
Tall, muscular, high-reaching silver-hair, blue fabric covering his handsome face.
He was walking towards the forest beyond the gate.
My legs moved faster than before.
I finally reached the gate.
"Kakashi!" I yelled after him.
He turned around immediately.
He smiled and waved at me…. Just like he normally would.
That was strange.
I noticed a little too late that the two gate-monitors in the booth nearby were staring at me a little strangely.
I looked over to them, nodded my pink head to them.
The nodded back respectfully, then went back to their conversation.
I turned to Kakashi again.
He was peeking over his shoulder at me.
Then he was gone.
He had jumped into the forest, abandoning the path altogether…
Even though it was a little embarrassing…
I knew from that moment, that today was going to have to be a good day…
……………….
Today was going to be so horrible…
I grimaced to myself.
Me, Naruto, Sai, and Yamato-taichou were standing outside of the Gate… it was now 8:54… I was tired and a little hungry, but none of that got on my nerves as much as our mission did.
Our mission was this fifteen-year-old feudal family heir.
I already knew that today was going to go horribly when I saw him giving me those little lecherous leers.
"You're to escort Young Master Koichi to the Head Family's mansion in the Tsuchi no Kuni." This kid seemed a little tall for being called 'Young Master', I thought to myself. "There he will undergo the Head Family's inspection before he can take over the rule of his own family." Explained the debriefing shinobi.
So this was an escorting mission to the Land of Earth.
Escorting missions were always fairly easy… except the first one I went on.
The first real mission I had, when Kakashi was our only captain.
Then again, I wasn't able to do much other than watch and cry in those days.
I was distracted by those painful memories when I heard the little leer-er speak up.
"I am Koichi Kimihiro. Thank you for accepting my request." He nodded at us a little, his eyes glued on me.
I felt a little creeped out.
He wasn't bad looking or anything. He was actually really cute, but that didn't affect me in the least… especially when, after seeing Kakashi's real face, it was hard to compare any amount of handsome-ness to him.
I really just wanted to get this mission over with so that I can see Kakashi-sensei again.
"Are there any other family members after you? Anybody that might to take your place?" Yamato-taichou spoke up, asking a really important question.
"The Young Master has no siblings, cousins, aunts, or uncles…" The debrief-er answered for the kid.
Which in other words, meant that nobody would be able to take his spot if he was killed… so nobody would be coming after him… so we were basically baby-sitting.
I wanted to sigh.
"So this'll be really easy!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly.
I had to disagree…
Something told me that this leering heir was going to be the cause of a lot of trouble.
…………………………………………….
Kakashi rushed through the forest, trying to get to his mission as soon as possible, so that he could finish it as soon as possible.
This was the first time in a long while that Kakashi was hurrying through a mission.
The last time was probably when the latest Icha Icha novel came out.
"Kakashi!"
He smiled to himself happily.
She came to see him off.
He had hoped to see her at least once again before departing, she must've felt the same.
Even though what she did was a little inconspicuous, he couldn't help thinking it was really cute.
Not to mention, there was a small part of himself that secretly wanted people to find about him and Sakura.
He knew that sounded really horrible, but he wanted to be with her freely.
To not feel that guilt anymore.
To be able to kiss her on the street if he wanted to.
He couldn't think about anything else as he was rushing through the forest.
I wonder what she's doing right now…
…………………………………
"What's your name, ninja?" The 'young master' asked me suddenly as we were walking. I didn't like the way he said 'ninja'... like I was an object or something.
I had seen him eyeing me for quite a long time while we were walking, even when Naruto was asking him about how it was like being a Family heir, I could just feel the kid's eyes boring into the back of my neck.
I didn't like his tone… he sounded really snobby.
"Haruno…" I gave him my last name a little hesitantly.
"Yeah, but everybody calls her Sakura, isn't that right, Sakura-chya~n?" Naruto crashed into our little awkward exchange with unnecessary details. His arm casually resting on my shoulder for a second.
"Sakura, huh?" The heir spoke with an appraising voice that got on my nerves. "Such a pretty name." he said finally. His voice was think with immature charm.
I wanted to laugh at him.
I didn't. I just stared ahead of me, not accepting the compliment.
I saw Naruto stiffen a little defensively.
"Heh heh, it is a pretty name, isn't it?" Naruto pointed out a little worriedly.
"Maybe you might like to see the sakura trees at my mansion, Sakura." There he went, already calling me by my first name, trying to ask me out. And with a really obvious, cheesy, pun on my name.
"No, I don-" I was going to take care of it myself, but Naruto adopted his defenses and was already speaking for me.
"What do you mean by that?!" Naruto spoke a little louder.
"I was simply asking Sakura if she'd like to join me to watch the sakura blossoms bloom at my mansion." Koichi explained with etiquette, but it didn't stay civilized for long. "Why are you getting so rowdy. It's not like she's your girlfriend, right?"
That was it.
Every time somebody said that, there was no going back.
Naruto fumbled over his words, not denying it.
"So she is your girlfriend?"
His pompous voice was like a screeching chalkboard to my ears.
"No!" I answered for Naruto after the silence had gone on for too long, giving him a good jab.
"Then an outsider like you shouldn't interfere with our business."
What?!
Where the hell did that come from!?
Our business?!
"I'm not an outside you little..." Naruto trailed off as he grabbed their heir's expensive collar.
"Ok, that's enough now…"Yamato-taichou calmly pushed Naruto and Koichi apart.
Koichi's face had the look of a snotty kid who was planning an ill-natured revenge.
"So, Sakura, about that offer-"
"No!" I answered firmly.
"Are you sure?" He continued, despite my very obvious 'No!'. "You would be treated very nicely. I'd even buy you a nice kimono."
Naruto ran a few steps towards the kid, but Yamato's arm quickly blocked him.
What the hell?!
What time period did he think we were in… you can't just buy a woman with a kimono and pretty flowers.
"I don't have any interest in any of that." I said robotically.
I didn't want to insult him too deeply, because I could just imagine what his type would do.
Something childish, unnecessary and troublesome.
"Are you sure?" He asked with that same voice.
"I'm very sure that, no matter what, I would never accept your invitation." I explained truthfully with a harsh voice, trying to focus on the path ahead of me.
I heard his footsteps falter a little before they caught with me again.
"I won't give up." He said quietly.
Damn it!
He's one of those guys…
The farther you push him away, the more he latches onto you…
He's gonna make my life horrible until he manages to get a 'yes' from me.
Which he never will!
I promised to myself fiercely.
……………..
"So, how old are you?" he asked me curiously.
I kicked the pebbles in front me defiantly.
The weather was so nice today… but this little kid was a hail storm of questions and proposals.
"16…" I said shortly.
"Only a year older…"He whispered to himself too loudly.
"Why'd you become a ninja?" He asked.
"Because I wanted to." I explained vaguely… that wasn't the only reason of course.
"Have you been in battles." That voice…. Ugh.
"Yes."I answered shortly.
"Have you ever killed anyone." He sounded more like a little kid.
"You sure you want to know?" I teased him with a scary voice.
Maybe that'll freak him out.
He paused for a second.
I prayed for more silence.
I could hear Naruto and Yamato arguing behind us… Naruto felt like it was his duty to protect me from this little heir.
I wasn't in danger… if anyone was, this kid was. I was trying to develop a plan that would include punching him in the face without getting in trouble. Nothing worked out in my mind.
"What are your three sizes?"
"Excuse me?"
"Bust, waist, hips."
I saw Naruto's fist flash out of nowhere and almost land on the heir's blonde head, but stopped in mid-air.
"Naruto!" Yamato-taichou yelled out, stopping Naruto. "We're suppossed to make sure nothing happens to him!"
"But he's being weird!" Naruto complained, running over to Yamato.
I was left with the cretin again.
"Have you ever been stabbed?" His questions were persistent, not even pausing to register the fact that his bodyguard just tried to pummel him.
I sighed.
"Yes." My voice was purposefully agitated.
Were these really the types of questions that a kid asks his crush?
"Did it hurt?"
What kind of question was that?!
Of course it did, you little retard!
"You wanna find out?" I said menacingly.
It was difficult trying to sound scary when the guy you were sort of threatening was an inch taller than you.
Why was he so tall for his age?!
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
He had completely ignored my devious question and sprung up with one of the most evil questions he could've thought of.
Here I thought he just a stupid boy asking random things, but this whole thing was probably planned out to shock an answer out of me.
With that question I was suddenly forced to label Kakashi with "boyfriend" in my mind… that word seemed way too immature for him. He needed a better title than that. One that was more respectable.
"Well?" He pestered, ruining my word-quest.
I stared at the ground angrily.
I didn't want to lie.
But maybe I'd have to.
I couldn't decide what to do.
"You do have a boyfriend, don't you?" his voice was so imposing. I still didn't answer.
"Sakura-chan?" I heard Naruto's worried voice clearly.
Damn it!
If Naruto found out that I had some mystery 'boyfriend', then he'll pester me about it even more than this over-sized, little, demon.
I looked over to Naruto with a pleading and frantic expression.
Do something, Naruto!
Punch him, kick him, anything!!
I wanted my thoughts to reach him.
And they did.
"Yeah, she does have a boyfriend." Naruto said loudly.
I felt an unfamiliar arm wrap around my shoulder tightly.
Eh?
When did Naruto get all the way over here?
Why was his arm around me?
Boyfriend?
Did he know about Kakashi!?
It took a few seconds to make sense of everything.
…
This really wasn't what I had in mind, Naruto!!!
But it was my best chance to make the demon back off.
I smiled crookedly, trying not to grimace.
"I thought you just said he wasn't your boyfriend." That snotty voice spoke up.
"It was a secret!" Naruto exclaimed happily.
I nodded weakly.
Koichi was looking at us with peeved eyes.
His nose turned up with distaste.
Naruto's arm was wrapping tighter around me…
I really wanted to duck out of his reach… it didn't feel right… but I tried to imagine it was Kakashi next to me, that helped a little.
……………………………………………….
"Thank you, Kakashi-san!" The villager thanked him profusely.
The mission was somewhat simple.
He only had to wait and catch a pocketpicker that was running loose within the little village.
The pickpocket had ran off with Kakashi's satchel only to discover a little green book and a few kunai.
Not much of a bounty in exchange for revealing his identity.
Everything was taken care of now.
Even though small missions usually annoyed Kakashi, he was genuinely happy that he had gotten such an easy assignment.
Now for his own plans.
He knew that he really shouldn't do it.
But he didn't want to go back to Konoha without at least dropping in and checking on her.
He pulled out a little scroll from his vest pocket, bit his thumb, and smeared the blood across the ink seal on the paper.
With a little poof, Pakkun was running next to him.
"What do you need, Kakashi?" Pakkun asked gruffly.
"Could you please track down Team 7?" Kakashi asked politely of his tracking-expert comrade.
"Ok." Pakkun sped off ahead of him.
Kakashi found himself wondering what she was doing again.
…………………………………………………
My hand is really sweaty… so sweaty…
We were walking down the path, hand in hand.
Me and Naruto holding hands like a young couple.
It was too hot for this.
But when our hands were like this, it seemed to ward away the pestering heir.
I glance over to Naruto, not letting him see that I was looking at him.
He had a grin on his face.
This is bad….
What if he expects something from this?
He should know it's only a façade, right?
Sai was walking to my left.
He smiled politely when he saw I was looking at him.
I was trying to be discreet but he had spotted my staring.
He must have a sixth sense or something, he's always picking up on small details.
"So when did you two finally get together?" Sai asked with a small-talk tone, his smile unchanged.
…. I was wrong about that sixth sense.
And what did he mean by 'finally'?!
"Um, well…" I started.
Do we lie to Sai, too?
We can't tell him the truth now if he hasn't already figured it out.
I heard Yamato chuckle behind us.
That's really not helping, taichou!!
"After we saw Icha Icha Paradise." Naruto explained excitedly.
Both Sai and I looked over at him, waiting for an explanation.
"She was so cute. She just up and said, "I like you, Naruto.", but I was like "We really shouldn't. We're on the same team. It'll get in the way." But she didn't care, she just said "I still want to be with you.." and then she kis-" My other hand smacked his face on the lips.
I hated the way his voice went all squeaky when he was imitating me saying those things… too weird.
I started laughing nervously.
"Heh, heh, ye-yeah… that's how it happened." I added, my enthusiasm fading.
I didn't care if Sai saw through our act, I hoped he would, but if that Koichi-kid saw through it, he'd give us hell, no doubt.
A sudden motion from behind me caught my eye.
A figure suddenly appeared next to Yamato-taichou.
When I recognized the blur in the corner of my eye after a second I immediately wanted to tear my hand away from Naruto.
Kakashi-sensei…
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