Teachers and their Pets

Chapter 19

"…so,"

Asuma and Ino had relocated to Ino's room after the Yamanaka parents had finally finished interrogating him, though Inoichi had instructed them to keep the door open, a command that had made Asuma feel very much like a sixteen year old again…though not in a good way. The Sarutobi was half afraid that Noriko and Inoichi were going to confiscate his cigarettes off him, citing them to be a bad influence or something. He patted his pocket where the ciggies lay, comforting himself with their presence. At his voice, Ino looked up. Asuma looked back at her.

"That was awkward."

Ino looked back down, her expression a mixture of both irritation and relief. "Yeah," she replied. "I'm sorry."

"No, no," Asuma shook his head and then grinned at her. "It's nice that they care so much about you," they were silent for a few moments longer and then the man gingerly extended a hand, toying with the blanket Ino had draped over her knees. "If you don't mind me asking though, how did they find out?"

Ino chewed at her bottom lip and glanced away, looking sheepish now. "Um, I maybe, kinda, accidentally, let it slip that I'd slept over at your place?" She looked up and scrunched her nose. "It all kinda came out from there, with dad freaking out like crazy."

"Yeah…" Asuma didn't really know what to say. On the one hand, he'd found Inoichi's reaction quite shocking. On the other hand, hadn't the blond only said exactly what he, Asuma, had been thinking at times?

"You handled it really well though," Ino murmured.

Asuma looked over at her again.

"Uh," the girl looked away once his orbs fell onto her. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Did you, um, really mean all of what you said down there?"

Asuma remained silent, waiting patiently until she looked up before he replied. "Yes."

Ino coloured immediately and then shuffled forwards, still wrapped in her blanket, until she was sitting next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I meant it too," she muttered. "I love you Asuma."

Asuma brought one of his arms up and wrapped it around Ino, letting her lay her head comfortably on his chest.

"I love you too Ino."

"Sakura! Sakura! Sa-Ku-RA!"

Sakura awoke with a jerk, being pulled out of her warm slumber by a brutal hammering sound upon her door, and the importunate yelling of her best male friend.

By God, what time is it? What does Naruto want? The girl sat up blearily and rubbed at her eyes. Underneath her, Kakashi was just coming to also. He shifted slightly, his eyes still closed. Sakura couldn't help the small smile that slipped across her face when she took in the man's sleepy expression. He really could be very cute, it was a shame that no one else really got to see his face.

"Sakura! I know you're in there, because all the lights are on and you never leave the lights on because you said something about electricity bills and stuff!" The impertinent banging continued at her door. "SAKURA!"

Naruto can be so annoying! The pinkette sent a glare in the direction of the door, then she paused. Naruto was outside her house. Naruto was outside her house and she was inside, half naked, lying on top of an equally as half naked Kakashi.

Sakura let out a yelp and suddenly jumped off of her former Sensei as if he was infected. Kakashi's brow furrowed slightly in confusion and he fixed with her a puzzled look.

"It's Naruto!" She hissed in an exaggerated whisper, in reply to his questioning gaze. "Naruto."

Kakashi looked at her for a few moments longer and then suddenly leapt off the sofa.

"We need to get dressed!" Sakura ripped the man's top off and threw it at him.

Kakashi caught it and quickly pulled it on before moving swiftly, pulling his fly up and grabbing for his headband which had fallen to the floor. Sakura, meanwhile, went careering out of the living room, pounding up the stairs in search of clothes.

Oh God, what were they going to tell Naruto? No matter what people thought of him, the Uzumaki wasn't dumb; he'd be able to recognise something was up in a few seconds flat. They had to tell him. Of course they had to tell him. But Sakura had wanted to do it on her own terms. The boy was supposed to be ill! What was he doing turning up outside her house!?

After quickly whipping on her clothes, the Haruno crashed back downstairs.

"SAKURA!"

She rushed into the living room, gave Kakashi the once over and was pleased to see he looked relatively normal, and then rushed to the front door, ripping it open to reveal a cold looking Naruto.

"Why'd you take so long?" The blond demanded immediately, bringing his fist down and peering at her inquisitively.

"Uh, um…" Sakura began pawing at her hair, trying to smooth it down. "I was…asleep?"

Naruto looked at her for a few short moments and then peered over her head. "If you were asleep why is Kakashi Sensei there?"

Fuck. The smile froze on Sakura's face and she quickly whipped round to see that Kakashi was standing in the hallway, his hands in his pockets. She turned back to look at Naruto.

"Naruto, would you like to come inside?" She smiled pleasantly as she extended a hand, gripping the boy by his coat sleeve before dragging him into the house.

Naruto allowed himself to be pulled in, but he remained by the door, watching both of his team mates with a rather guarded expression.

"Ok," Sakura closed the door and then breathed out heavily through her nose, building her confidence up before she looked at her best friend. "Naruto, we were planning on telling you this pretty soon,"

Kakashi did not speak.

"But, um, Kakashi and I…we're…we're in a relationship."

The words were out and Sakura suddenly felt her whole body run cold. The whole situation in the light of day, in the light of Naruto, suddenly felt remarkably wrong.

Naruto, for his part, looked extremely confused. "…what?" He questioned after a short while. "Sakura I think I must have heard you wrong, cuz it sounded like you just said you and Kakashi Sensei are…together?"

Kakashi moved, coming to stand next to Sakura. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "We are Naruto."

A mixture of emotions flitted over the jinchuurki's face, his eyebrows pulling down slightly, but then he looked back to Sakura. "I don't get it," he stated. "What about Sasuke?"

Immediately, Sakura coloured. Kakashi felt his heart beat increase a little. There it was again.

"Sasuke has nothing to do with this!" Sakura snapped defensively. "Look, Naruto, we would have told you sooner, but we only recently worked out what this…" the girl indicated between herself and Kakashi. "…was."

Naruto stared at them both, his expression once again too hard to read. "This is a joke, right?" He questioned. "Sakura, you love Sasuke remember?"

Sakura didn't reply. She looked to the ground.

"How…I…Are you lonely? Do you miss Sasuke, is that it?"

Kakashi felt a small part of his heart crack a little. Yes.

"No!" Sakura retorted. "Like I said, Sasuke has nothing to do with this. Stop bringing him up. Naruto, please, can you just react to what we're telling you please? What do you, uh…think about…it?" She faltered at the end. The Haruno was desperate for Naruto to suddenly begin laughing. To be happy for them. It was great that she and Kakashi had found each other! The green eyed girl had the distinct feeling that that was not going to occur.

"You want to know…" Naruto's words came out measured. "…what I think…about it?"

Kakashi didn't look up, he was still dwelling on the presence and importance of Sasuke in Sakura's life.

Which was why he didn't see Naruto's fist until it was too late.

The Uzumaki punched his former Sensei hard in the chin, sending the silver haired man flying back, slamming into the wall behind them. Sakura let out a shriek of horror.

"What are you doing!?" She demanded angrily.

"He's our Sensei, Sakura!" Naruto yelped back, the boy looked all together angry, confused and upset. He didn't look like he was pleased with what he'd just done. He gazed at Kakashi with something akin to worry in his eyes. Perhaps he was nervous the Copy Ninja was going to return the attack. "This…it isn't right!"

Kakashi got to his feet and grimaced as he felt blood pooling from his nose. Sakura looked tearful as she retorted to her best friend.

"Why not!?" She returned. "I love him and he loves me! What's so wrong about that!?"

Naruto flinched at these words, but decided not to reply, instead looking to Kakashi. Meeting the man's eyes as he rose to his full height.

"How could you do this?" The blond questioned, hands balled into fists. "She was your student and you're just…you're-"

"We only fell in love recently," Kakashi replied, cutting off whatever the boy was about to say. "I would never harm Sakura. You know that."

"Do I!?" Naruto returned angrily. "Then what is this!?"

"How dare you try and speak for me!" Sakura yelled. "Kakashi and I are in love, Naruto, and I don't understand why that's making you so angry!" Her voice dropped. "Of all people, I'd have thought you'd be behind us,"

It was a low move. She was appealing to Naruto's caring side, to the part of him that was always willing to help people. She was preying on his weakness for her. It was horrible and it was cruel, but she needed him to understand. The Uzumaki's mouth hung open slightly, and his gaze was still hard. He turned to look at Sakura slightly. Sakura looked back at him.

"Please Naruto."

Naruto looked away from her, closing his eyes and pointing his face to the ground. When he spoke again, he spoke to Kakashi.

"You swear that this only developed recently?"

Kakashi gaze was slightly wary as he looked upon him. "Yes." He replied evenly.

"If I find out you're lying," the boy strode forward, completely unafraid of the superior Shinobi as he shoved his finger into his face. "Then I will never forgive you."

"Oh Naruto." Sakura grabbed him into a hug.

The boy did not reciprocate at first, but eventually he brought his arms around her, placing his chin on her shoulder.

It was going to be ok. She still had two of the most important people with her. Naruto was going to take a long time to come around, but he hadn't left. He hadn't deserted her. Sakura closed her eyes. It was going to be ok.

So, sorry it took me so long to update, but I've had a lot of work to do and stuff like that, so yes! Thankfully it's the Christmas holidays soon, and hopefully I can finish this then before working on some requests I've been given.

Anyway, thank you for waiting and I hope you enjoyed this chapter well enough. Thank you so so much to everyone who has favourited and followed!

Also, thank you to: Brina (Thank you!), deathrosekitty, Salinia, (ah, that means so much to me!), bookluv22 (yeah, I mentioned in one of the earlier chapters that she'd amassed enough money to buy herself her own place :3), AkariNeMellia, StarKiss666, harvestangel99, CaitlinIntolerant, Trunksmybaby and Bella (Thank you so so so much!) for your reviews! They mean so so much!