Story: The Keeper.

Series: Naruto.

Summary:

Due to a malfunctioned summoning scroll, Sakura finds herself sent into back in a time where Sasuke is still innocent. As she tries to undue her mistake, her reason for returning grows less every day she spends in a life where everything was simple.

Chapter name: The meaning of home

Word count: 846

{A/n;; Thanks guys for all the reviews, it really pumps my authoress speed when writing. xD –S.s

She returned home to her apartment with help from Naruto, she hadn't spoken a word of why she had cried, and he didn't push her to. Her apartment felt cold to her skin, as if wasn't really hers. The worst part of returning home, was the mere fact that she had been gone for weeks without a trace, everyone had almost given up hope of finding her, except of course her blonde teammate. The air was stale, dust clung to every article of furniture, and her fridge smelt awful. What a wonderful welcome home gift, Sakura thought miserably.

"Yeah…your place has looked better, you're welcome to stay at my apartment with me?" Naruto scratched his head good-naturedly eyeing her place with blatant scrutiny.

Sakura shook her head and spoke softly one word, "Kakashi."

Naruto didn't question where the sensei at the end of his name had gone, but simply escorted Sakura to said's man's house and left. She would talk to him when she was ready. And when it came to Sakura, Naruto could be a very patient hyperactive ninja.

Kakashi eyed the downtrodden girl on his porch with a discerning eye, her eyes were pink from crying, her cheeks blotched with red, and her hair tangled. She certainly had, had her better days, thought Kakashi with a chuckle. With a sigh, of the upcoming confrontation, Kakashi first threw her to the whims of a warm shower, and supplied her with one of his larger shirts to wear. She came out the bathroom looking thoroughly better than when she had gone in, her long hair wetting the black shirt that fell just below her hips.

Sighing again, this time with a foreign emotion to him, Kakashi lead the overly quiet girl to his bed, to comb out her hair. Gently with the precision of an patient older sister, the silver haired jounin brushed and unsnarled her long silken pink locks, styling it into a loose braid, her well-known trademark. Letting loose a contented sigh, Sakura leaned back against his chest, his long lanky legs snug against the outside of her thighs.

Finishing the last remnant of pinkette hair with a spare piece of cloth, Kakashi could feel the gentle and even breathing of his former student as she slept blissfully. He tried to move from the position he had found himself in, only to be thrown under Sakura as she flipped him over onto his back, to lie on top of him, her head to his chest. Rolling his eyes regretfully at the ceiling, Kakashi found it hard to believe the girl was truly asleep given her extraordinary uncompromising strength.

But her pink lashes fanned across her pale skin covering what he knew to be true jade eyes in such an innocent manner, that Kakashi really hated to move. Her legs intertwined with his as she sleep on peacefully, leaving the poor Jounin wincing at their position. Her shirt kept riding up and Kakashi could only smirk at what appeared to be bunny and cherry panties. There was no helping the the feel of her breasts against his lower stomach and Kakashi secretly cursed the gods of karma. Because to be in such a delightful position and to have the girl, be exhausted completely with no help from him was surely the worst of predicaments. If only, if only.

The next morning, Sakura exhaled happily, as she had slept better than most nights she could remember. She looked to her hands which fisted against a toned, chiseled chest and then up to a messy mop of silver hair. Fighting back a surprised yelp, Sakura rolled sideways to untangle her limbs from her former sensei.

"You know in the past, that you used to sleepwalk quite often into my room and dot the exact same thing. Of course before you awoke I was sure to move you back into your own room to avoid any embarrassment." Kakashi let a great yawn roll off his tongue while speaking and stretched lazily, glad to have his limbs back, but as the same time missing the warmth that Sakura brought with her.

Sakura laughed nervously, her voice squeaking slighting from mortification, "So sorry Kakashi! I'll try for it to not happen again."

"As for your apartment, it looks as if to not be fit for human living, feel free to stay here as long as you need."

Gratful for his words that didn't pressure her, Sakura simply nodded, stealing another shirt from his drawer and heading the bathroom to change. Looking in the mirror, Sakura noticed her flushed checks and tousled hair and clothes and could only blush like a mere schoolgirl at the very thought of why she looked so ruffeled. Slowly she leaned against the door to fall to slide down to the cool floor, her mind whirling from where her thoughts were going. Did she like Kakashi? Sure he was attractive, but so was Itachi. Why was it that Sakura, felt like she was never more confused in her whole life. Whatever was the pinkette to do?

{A/n; For those of you who are hardcore Sakuraxsomebody shippers, check out my profile to vote for who she will end up with. You the reviewers hold this power xD Till next time, the reviews are most welcome :3

-S.s