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: A Kakashi ending

Word count: 768

{A/n;;As the chapter title ends, this is one of two alternate endings with Sakura, the one where she chooses/ends up with Kakashi. (Simply, because either guy could work out fairly well with Sakura in my opinion. The next and final chapter will be with Itachi. The character with the most votes on my profile~ -S.s

When she had woken up to a cold bed, Sakura felt the troubling facts settle in, that she could and never would be able to be with Itachi. Sure, she had strong feelings for him, but these feelings couldn't erase the fact that he was a S-class criminal with a huge bounty of his head. To him, she was probably nothing more than a few one night stands. He just couldn't stay with her, unless he was to be killed in the process.

Heartbroken at the thought, she wandered aimlessly, until she arrived accidently at the apartment, she shared with Kakashi. Thinking him gone, she unlocked the door, only to fall sobbing quietly against the wooden backboard. She rubbed on her eyes, praying for the tears to stop, but of course her tears didn't listen to her. Her grief was that strong.

Powerful arms wrapped around her, and pulled her close, "I presume then, things didn't go well?" Sakura didn't ask how he knew what she had been up too, but simply nodded, as her throat felt oddly raw.

He pressed his lips in a butterfly kiss to the top of her head, and lifted her up to carry her princess style to her bed. He turned to go, only to find her hands clenching imploringly in his jacket. Raising an eyebrow at her antics, he was just too kind to ignore her blatant request, and settled down next to her, spooning her small trembling back into his large chest. It wasn't a request for her to sleep with her; it was simply that she needed comfort. And despite how wrong it was, Kakashi could never refuse her that.

The morning after her small breakdown, she rolled over and almost smacked noses with Kakashi's warm body. He had stayed with her until she had stopped crying well into the next morning. His white eyelashes fluttered peacefully against his chest, as sleep still held onto him. His messy spiked locks were splayed on the pillow next to her, just inviting Sakura to touch. She giggled softly at his unconscious state, because it was highly unusual for Kakashi to be so vulnerable. It was so adorable, she couldn't help running her fingers through his scruffy hair just for kicks and giggles. He opened one lazy eye to gaze at her motions, "Glad to see you feel good enough to take advantage of a slumbering man."

Huffing at the idea, "Psh, you practically would throw yourself at me in the past!"

He nodded understandingly, "I see how foolish I was then, you knew me as your sensei which was odd, but for me, you were a unbelievably charming woman."

"Glad to see how it makes sense now."

"But luckily for me, with all those memories made then, I know you that better know. It will make pursuing you that much easier."

Her jade eyes widened at the husky tilt to his voice as he spoke, and barely managed to stutter, "Y-you jerk, I'm still not over Itachi!"

He nodded again appreciatively, "I know, and I'm willing to wait if necessary, but rest assured Sakura, I do want to be with you. I waited till you returned to this time, so a bit more of time doesn't matter to me. Only you do."

To avoid him seeing the blush spread across her face she shoved her pillow at over his face in a mock attempt to smother him, screeching, "Stop be so sensitive to my wants, it makes you far too likable."

Kakashi mumbled under the pillow something that sounded suspiciously like, "That's my plan."

Laughing sweetly at his sincerity, Sakura removed the pillow and planted a chaste kiss to his unshaven cheek, the stubble tickling her face.

He looked up at her in wonder, "You are the most enchanting creature sometimes, but even when you angry your still beautiful." He rushed out the last part, but Sakura still caught it.

"But will you still love me when I'm all wrinkly and sourpuss faced? I've seen how little you aged mister, you gonna be a frickin stud till you die!"

She could see his grin from underneath his mask he replied, "We'll see, you're not my wife yet, so no promises alright?"

"You're obnoxious! But someday, I can really see myself, being able to love you." With these words she snuggled back into his warm arms to catch a few hours of blissful sleep knowing that when she woke up, he'd be right there next to her. Forever and always, even if he would have to wait years, he would, for her.

{A/n;; Next up is the Itachi ending you've been waiting for! Hopefully… xD

-S.s