Chapter 11

Coats of Identifications

Kakashi stared at the girl with mild hurt in his eyes. "Sakura it's -"

"Stop it."

She effortlessly manifested a kunai and pointed it towards his neck. She shouldn't have ignored the signs. It was like the war and the Zetsu clones again. She should've realized.

The duo stared at each other long and hard before Kakashi finally crossed his arms and scowled at her.

"What gave me up?"

She was still hoping he would deny it. She recoiled in disgust, abhorred by the thing standing in front her, wearing her teacher's skin. Maybe she was more revolted by the fact that she fell for it so easily.

"This is still his body, you know," he smiled as Sakura discreetly leaned away from him, "Though I do rather miss mine. Your dearest Kakashi must be thrilled to experience having my beautiful orange locks."

"Are you a Yamanaka?"

He scoffed and looked at her with amusement. "No I'm not some long-lost cousin of your beloved best friend. Besides, my technique is far more superior than that Mind Body Switch Jutsu; our very souls switch places. I can live my entire life in this body if I wanted to. Pluuuus, I can manipulate this body. Literally."

"Fuck up," she said through gritted teeth, unnerved that he had background information on her, "I'm bringing you to the Hokage."

"Yes let's," he agreed with mockingly eager compliance,"It must be a relief to finally get this you chest. Oh the ache of having to keep Sasuke all to yourself. No need for secrets anymore, now, is there?"

She stiffened and realized how slippery her grip has become from her sweat.

She traced small circles in the dust with her index finger. Her eyes were dry, but swollen and she had an ear pressed against the floor. She turned onto her back and stared blankly at the wooden dark ceiling. Night must have fallen; in the bright morning glows, when she would lay there beside him, small streams of white light would seep through.

But it was completely dark now. The shed she came to to see him was finally empty of him. She was abandoned.

Goosebumps riddled her skin.

Abruptly, she shifted out of her state of catatonia and opened her mouth to let out a hideous scream. It was laced with bitterness, anguish, but most of all confusion. She couldn't think straight. So she stuck to basic things: close the mouth, swallow, wet the chap lips and open again for another vocal release.

It came out as a soft groan.

The rickety door opened with a slam, allowing faint moonlight to seep in. The man who was breathing laboriously in front of her froze, the tips of his silvery hair quivering. Her two bright green eyes peered back at him in the darkness, wide and unoccupied. He fled to her and kneeled, his expression fearful. Quickly, he turned his head to call for back up, but her arm jerked violently to grab his hand.

Her mind was sharp enough to feel the humiliation. Her body was barely covered with what remained of her uniform and fact that her team leader found her like this was shameful enough; she couldn't have him carry her to the hospital as a weak, scraped up, and exposed girl, ready to be devoured by prodding questions and remarks.

He cupped both cheeks tightly, his expression sick with worry. She immediately deflated. It was Kakashi. The same Kakashi who teased and mentored her. The same one that would pick up her crying self when no one was looking and babied her until she stopped sobbing over splinters and scrapped knees.

She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him in the way she learned to growing up, because it was a natural habit built out of familiarity. He was solid. He was stable. He was her anchor now.

Slowly, he tried to shoulder off his vest without jostling her too much, and cocooned her in it.

"Sakura," he hissed urgently, his chest vibrating against her cheek, "what happened here? Who attacked you? Are they still here or did they leave? You have to talk to me if there are threats lurking around."

Here it was, the promise of relieving the ache of having to keep Sasuke all to herself.

"No more...no more Sasuke," she breathed out, immediately regretting it as soon as it left her lips.

"Oh? Did I hit a nerve there?" Kakashi's skin asked satirically.

Sakura looped a finger through the kunai's bottom ring for a better grip.

"I'll do anything to protect Konoha."

He smiled, the fabric on his face wrinkling. "You hesitated."

Kakashi immediately scowled and started to stand up again when she clamped her hand over his, squeezing until her knuckles became white.

"This never happened. Please."

For a moment there, all she needed to save was herself. Sakura just wanted to forget and move on. For a moment, it didn't matter that he was a wanted rogue; she needed to slam this door shut and march the hell away.

He eyed her keenly, long and hard, as her eyes filled up. He lightly traced his thumb along a checkbone.

Then, Kakashi made a reckless decision which set the dominoes that will continue leading him astray. He gently hushed her as he opted to pull her closer. He sandwiched her against his chest and urged her to wrap her legs around his waist. At a brisk pace, the copy nin was careful to keep to the shadows. He continued to leap slow enough to blend into the night, but hurried too, as if the devil was nipping at his heels.

While he picked her lock, her grasp on him was as tight as ever. He squeezed her closer while she tried to rest her cheek on exposed skin on his neck, seeking comfort.

He gently laid her down on her carpet next to her couch, in the dark. The sudden shock of cool air against her chest again forced her eyes open. She looked down and in the absence of his arms, saw the bits of dust and scratches that reminded her again of his abandonment. Her anguish renewed.

"Get it off," she wheezed in a strangled voice, rubbing her skin raw with her stubby nails.

Kakashi immediately carried her to her bathroom and gently into the tub, careful never to stray too far for too long as he gathered things and flipped on a light. As the steaming water ran, he tugged off her ruined clothes, keeping his contact brief and professional. He gently cupped her cheek with the wash cloth, wiping away the grime to reveal her flushed skin. Her eyes were downcast and shadowed.

All those budding sentiments she cut off when Sasuke walked out on her were given the green light again, making their way into her blood stream once more. Sakura whimpered softly as he scrubbed.

Kakashi kept himself behind her back as he washed. Her humming light and the trickling sound of water filled the silence. He gently lifted her hair and brought some water up to her neck, rubbing it steadily. He leaned over and drew the cloth over her calves and knees. It felt good. It felt really good.

With nothing left to wash, he finally, noticeably uncomfortably, turned to her front and looked into her eyes first. He timidly brushed a wet strand of hair away from her forehead and switched his gaze back and forth from each of her eyes, searching.

The girl was completely naked in front of him, her legs scrawled modestly in front of her, her nipples taut from the cold. Yet, she met his gaze unabashed and then he reach forward and draw the cloth over her thighs, stomach and chest. She closed her eyes and felt him gently press the rag on the underside of each breast, nudging them ever so slightly. After Kakashi abruptly withdrew, her eyes fluttered open and she watched him wrung out the cloth at the sink. Grabbing a towel, he urged the girl up and wrapped her up.

Feeling a little safer, she relaxed and leaned her weight on him. Hardness nudged her thigh as soon as she pressed against him, making Kakashi stiffen. She didn't move from her spot and they both ignored his erection as he wrapped her up, and lifted her out of the tub, grunting. She absent-mindedly rubbed her wrists when he drew away from her again, looking for some clothing. Eyes closed, Sakura tried not to focus on her now throbbing sex; it only added to her humiliation. When she opened them again, he was already in front of her, holding a t-shirt over her head. His eyes bled relief when she was covered up, and Sakura vaguely felt disappointment. She sunk back to the ground, suddenly exhausted and tried to rest her head on her knees before his hands reached for her again.

"Let's get you to bed first," he said quietly, finally breaking the silence.

Her teacher gave her his hands, palms up, and instinctively, she accepted and leaned in, encircling his neck in a tight grasp. He sighed and lifted her up while her legs found their place around his waist, resting on his hip bones. His stiff bulge rubbed against her every so often as he walked her to the bed. Heat and moisture built up between her legs, and unconsciously, she tried to press herself tighter against it. He carried on placidly, and dropped her on her bed. Her arms lingered stubbornly on him so he hovered over her, a hand on both side, his gaze patient, but inquiring.

Sakura was desperate to lock herself in another corner of her mind, far from where she stored Sasuke and the feelings that followed. She pushed up the metal head band to see his face in full view. No, not yet. Her heart quickened as she drew both hands to the edge of his mask. He made no move to stop her, his gaze unchanged. Slightly more spirited, she dug her fingers under the thin material of his mask, and tugged. She was enthralled.

He was so handsome.

His jawline was lined with his 5 o'clock shadow. Her eyes lit up as she traced the white scar near his chin, all other thoughts dismissed. Sakura lifted her head slightly and grazed her lips against it, feeling him exhale heavily on her cheek. His heat radiated from him at that proximity and she had an urge to pull him to her. He still hadn't moved an inch. She could hardly even hear him breath.

Sakura sunk her head back onto the pillow and stared up at the man above her, as exposed as she felt. She hoped he understood how eternally grateful she was to him for leaving her alone and staying by her side at the same time. Finally, she eased up, closed her eyes, and curled into a loose ball.

He stood up from the bed and watched her for sometime. Softly, he groaned and stepped into his shower for a cold shower, but he only got hard again; bits of Sakura's uniform were scattered at the foot of the tub. He stayed there until his feet got numb and then he briskly got dressed and walked out the door.

Unbeknownst to her quiet, sleeping form, Kakashi found a brunette stunner that night and charmed her into her place. He ripped the clothes off her and fucked her hard and fast, finally finding release.

Sakura woke up the next morning like a bleary kitten, pawing and stretching underneath her sheets. It took a while, but she finally managed to open her swollen eyes, effectively waking herself up. She lied on her side for a few minutes and frowned. Her anguished and tormented self didn't wake up from last night's sleep, but the memories definitely stayed. Very crisply in fact. Surprisingly, she didn't exactly feeling like wailing over Sasuke again. It was like the moment after a long hard crying session and you just sit there, curiously empty and lighter, letting your mind wander to the next most random thought. Like what's in the fridge.

Or like Kakashi and how she just couldn't stop thinking about him. Her embarrassment was kissed by excitement, covered with curiosity and confusion and drizzled with a bit of horror and delight sauce. Eventually the sauce drowned her sweet delicacy as she imagined Kakashi's point of view. Oh, the horror fully submerged everything else.

There were a few raps on her door. She almost dissolved in a puddle of unhappiness; she absolutely did not feel like entertaining. God. She pleaded to the small hand of her clock, quivering below the 10, that the person would get the hint.

The door unlocked. She bolted upright.

"I don't appreciate having to break in. I prefer being invited," Kakashi called out.

He juggled a few take-out bags and some folders in his arms, emptying them on her counter. All her misgivings seemed foolish the minute she saw Kakashi. Sakura immediately ran to him and hugged his torso tightly, giving him a full, closed kiss on his mouth through his mask. He didn't do anything about it, but simply looked twisted a strand of her soft rosy hair on his finger, thoughful. Finally, he detatched himself from her and ruffled her hair with a smile.

That day, Kakashi stayed until the moon sneaked up on the sun. Then, the next morning, he showed up at 10 again.

"Chick-a-dee?"

His saccharine tone shook her out of her stupor. All her little missteps up to this point was finally coming back to bite her in the ass. She shouldn't have begged Kakashi to choose her over the village. She shouldn't have even allowed Sasuke to slither so close to put herself in that situation. Now, as desperate as she was to come clean and incapacitate the man in front of her, she couldn't, fearing the consequences Kakashi would have to face because of the shit she dragged him into.

"What the hell does he even want," she said hoarsely.

Kakashi's skin bathed in his victory and responded," Tsk tsk. Where has your head been all this time?"

She stared blankly at him.

"Na-ruh-to. Naruto. Naruto, Naruto, Naruto," he whined on, "Always Naruto."

"Jesus, why?" she demanded, her anger flaring again when she sneaked a glance at his sleeping form beside them.

The imposter leaned in and stared evenly at her, the amusement gone.

"Just to talk, Sakura," he said quietly, "Nothing else."

"About what?"

"You'd have to ask him yourself. Any time now, actually."

He drew back abruptly and grinned a shit-eating grin.

"I've always wanted to lock up that asshat," Suigetsu remarked, smirking, "He gives me the serious creeps."

His irritated fellow guard scoffed. "You do remember that he's not actually Tori right now, right? He is in Hatake's body...idiot."

Suigetsu turned his smiling face to the quiet form and said, "Humour me. As long as that's Tori's skin, I can pretend. Were you there when he made his skin open up all over the place when we were eating, just because he was pissed. Like, no one wants to see your guts when they are putting food in their mouth. Geeze."

Karin narrowed her eyes at him and said, "Well the creep is doing a hell of a lot for us right now, so shut your trap."

"Little fucking chick-a-dee, let me show you all the creepy shit I can do with my body," shark boy continued in a high pitched squeal, high on his righteous compaign, oblivious.

She didn't even bother this time. Wistful, Suigetsu deflated at the lack of enthusiam from his audience. As he leaned back and gazed blankly at the concrete ceiling, he sucked on the sharp tooth that jutted out from his lips.

"I really hope this is all worth it, ya know," he said to no one in particular, "I don't think Sasuke thinks right when it comes to his ex-team mates."

"He's thinking fine," growled a low timbre.

The guards straightened up to see the Uchiha walking towards them.

"It's time to go. Anzai is already waiting. Take Kakashi with us."

Suigetsu unlocked the bars and dragged out the prisoner. He straightened up and peered at his captives evenly with his bright yellow orbs. Orange waves tumbled down to his shoulders, accompanied by a matching sunset, horseshoe beard.

Sasuke stood before the gangly man and said, "You help us get in and Sai remains intact."

He watched Sasuke's profile intently and mused, "This is awfully elaborate, Sasuke. If you really just wanted a conversation with Naruto, he would've readily come to you."

The Uchiha turned around sharply and regarded his ex-sensei through his companion's face with something that may have resembled a sneer.

"Naruto's heart belongs with the village. He would only hesitate for so long before he came for my neck."

Kakashi looked down at his foreign hands and body and sighed a foreign sounding sigh.

Sasuke heard Kakashi expel another soft sigh when the troop was literally 10 feet from Konoha's border, their presence veiled with the help of Anzai, an impish, blue-skinned recruit's jutsu. The sun was lying down and the work day has come to an end. When Tori had switched back to his real body for the briefest second, too fast for a disorientated Kakashi to actually realize he was back in Konoha, he gave Sasuke the signal. Now they here, 1 hour later, just as planned. He knew that Naruto would be in the hospital, but according to Tori, he was unguarded. Tori also said her name; she was there.

The unwelcome memory of when he went to see Sakura for the last time slipped into his thoughts. He was furious and hurt then because for a split second, it was revulsion that coloured those pretty green eyes. She was suppose to be an exception. There had been some comfort in believing there would always be at least one soul out there that still doted on him unconditionally.

Foolishly, he felt betrayed, even though she shouldn't have been close to actually betray him in any way. So Sasuke wanted her to squirm, to fear him, to solidify the image of the monster whose existence she had kept denying.

Now, he had no one...no one, but Naruto. So like a genocide escapee going to find another fellow escapee, years after everyones forgotten the event, Sasuke wants to see Naruto again. See if he can kill him, see if he can make a connection with him. See his former friend and see the place he had called home. Such a simple word can cut deep for an itinerant.

"Suigetsu, you take Kakashi to his apartment; Tori got in and left it unlocked. I will go to Naruto with Karin and Anzai. Keep him quiet and stay put until I come back. And don't make a commotion."

Suigetsu and Kakashi had already flickered out of the space by the time Sasuke finished.

Sakura's pupils dilated as she tried to process what the man in front of her just said.

The sun has sunken lower from when she first stepped in and by now, it shadowed the trespasser's face and blinded her.

She could actually feel his presence without turning around. Are you afraid, Sakura? Are you afraid, are you afraid? Fuck yes.

She looked behind her back, right into his dark, livid gaze. They had smiled at her once before, not too long ago. She barely paid attention to the others he came in the room with.

Sasuke's eyes widened and then chilled abruptly. He couldn't do it after all, cut her out and make her fear. He would rather she just disapear.

"Get her out of here."

She winced at the sound of his voice. A...teal creature yanked her arm, and surprisingly, she didn't put up a fight. You grow up with someone. They hurt and you try to help, but they leave nonetheless. Then they come back to you, but this time, its you that hurts them. And now they've come back again. What are you suppose to do?

"What do you want, Sasuke," she choked.

"Why is she still here?"

When her demon finally, literally found her, she now wanted nothing more than to run to him and demand to understand. She couldn't leave her Naruto laying there defenceless. Everyone always seemed to forget that he was but a boy when he was given the fate of the Nations in his hands. Surviving made him a leader, yes, but it broke him some.

She was ready to throw the blue man through the floor, but he reacted quicker and wrenched her arm into an awkward angle behind her back. The searing pain was only amplified by her still tender muscles she had torn on the escape back with Naruto. She looked down to find new blue marking on her skin that glowed brighter the weaker she felt. Sakura wished she never looked down because by the time she looked up, her captor was already carrying her away.

"What the hell do I do with you now," the blue man mumbled to himself, his snowy gaze irritated. "Guess I may as well bring you to Suigetsu."

The streets blurred into navy static and she found herself waiting as Blue, she nicknamed him, opened Kakashi's front door. What?

"Anzai? Why the fuck did you come here-" Suigetsu paused mid-sentence when he saw the feeble and pale Sakura.

"Really? ANOTHER ONE? Is Sasuke really that melancholic? That's his entire team now...God..."

He quickly shut the door behind them.

"She was in the way."

Sakura kept quiet as they argued, accessing the place, trying not to let everything Kakashi overwhelm her. She wondered if his pillows smelled like him. She tried to ride the waves of yearning that hit her with an uncomfortable intensity. She needed to get him back.

So far, it seems that only five outsiders were in her village, including Sasuke. Suigetsu and Karin's powers she remembers, and deducing by how anemic she feels, Blue takes chakra. The funny thing about the fifth outsider was that he looked like a prisoner too. Maybe he tried for a one man mutiny. She gazed at his orange hair and human enough features and looked into his yellow eyes and stopped. They brightened at the sight of her, and almost automatically, an unabashed smile lit up his features.

Sakura shivered. What a creep.

"Ok whatever...just whatever he wants," the shark boy waved him off, no longer interested in the conversation.

He strode to Sakura and gave her a face full of his purple irises.

"I hope you can keep in check your notoriously fiery temper for a bit. We don't want any unnecessary trouble," he smiled, "because you see, Karin has become a terribly jittery lass these days. If something doesn't goes as planned, she might panic and might forget how to cure Naruto."

She stiffened.

"Oh what? You really didn't really think that Naruto could wake up on his own now? It's not medicine Sakura, it's a new jutsu. Your petty medic procedures are thoughtful, but ultimately useless. Oh, and don't forget the bombs dear old Tori planted around the place when he was here...the one in Sai too, the by way. Now go sit in the naughty corner."

She gasped, livid. Again, she didn't see the signs. How sketchy was it that Sai came back, alive and healthy? She fumed.

Tori. So that was the bastard that possessed Kakashi. Blue dragged her to the other prisoner's side, and dropped Sakura by his feet. She looked up and caught him trying not to grin. She narrowed her eyes at him and hovered a hand over her limp arm, trying to heal it. Meanwhile, she pondered whether to gamble or wait this out.

Her skin prickled beneath her companion's stare. She met his, quizzically, and watched him study her.

"Hello," he said quietly with a soft funny lilt to his voice.

If she didn't know better, he was happy to see her, as if the poor bastard had been kept in solitude all his life. Well, he seemed harmless and better yet, he might be willing to plan an escape with her.

"What are you here for," she responded, gesturing weakly at his matching, blue glowing wrists.

"For trying to save a girl," he said, amusement gleaming in his eyes.

"How romantic. What happened to her?"

He smiled and looked at the pacing men in front of them. "Well, she found me again."

Her brows furrowed and she edged on,"And?"

"What about you?" he said, moving the spotlight, "How did a dainty one like you get caught up with these guys."

He choked at the 'dainty' part. Was the bastard laughing at her?

"Screwed up childhood," she dismissed.

"Do you know where we are?" he said politely.

"Uh...friend's place."

"Good friend?"

"Great. Except he kind of sucks."

"Hey, from what I've seen here, he doesn't seem too bad. Efficient furnishing, tidy place and even a little greenery by the window. He must have a wonderful personality too."

"He is wonderful. And obnoxious. And tardy and distant and frustrating and sometimes I want to crack his skull open to see what the hell goes on in there. Hot and cold and cold and warm, all the fucking time. And the annoyance is always one-sided which only vexes me, even more, so much that all I can think of most nights is his silence."

He watched her evenly and spoke with a neutral tone, "I gather you don't enjoy his company too much?"

She grew distant and smiled. "Are you kidding me? I use to grovel for his attention. He was like an idol."

She blushed as he gazed at her with genuine surprise. Strangers always had more success wrenching out her heart and sticking it on her sleeve.

"How?"

She chuckled and caught Suigetsu watching them with a what-the-fuck expression. When he didn't comment, she just went on.

"I did a lot of embarrassing things to get him to notice me, actually. Like everyone else, I was smitten with the great Konoha Legend. There was also the general buzz that he had the face of a model, but I bet he started that rumour himself."

He frowned. "I don't think that-"

"We use to get dango together every week. Once, he mentioned his vain quest to find scented candles because it smelled like rotting carcasses in here at one point, or something like that. Right afterwards, I spent hours scouring the village for them and turned up empty-handed. So of course, I go straight to the library and research how to actually make candles because I was just that desperate."

The prisoner stared at her with wide eyes.

"I know, sad right. It also costed me my allowance that time, buying all the ingredients. So I made a few batches and after picking the prettiest ones, I brought them to him, saying I found them in my attic and-"

He groaned softly

"Ha, I know right, it is bad. Turns out he already found some sweet-smelling herbs to fill his place with."

"If you told him, he would've readily taken your candles with gratitude," he said, exasperated.

"And have him find out how...obsessive I was?"

He chuckled and rubbed his hand behind his head. Just like Kakashi use to. She turned sad again.

Just then, Tori (in Kakashi's body) and Karin opened the door.

"What are you guys doing here," Suigestsu immediately demanded, "How could you leave him alone?"

Karin began, "He insisted-"

"Where is my body?!" Tori immediately interuppted.

Suigetsu rolled his eyes as Tori took a few long strides to where the prisoner was sitting with Sakura.

"Sakura," Tori quickly winked at her and then sneered at the prisoner beside her.

"Your mask is profane. it's like you enjoy being suffocated. Stand up and I'll like to take my body back, thank you very much."

"What," Sakura gurgled out.

Tori smiled at her and said,"Admit it, chick-a-dee, Kakashi really is hell of a lot more charming with my pretty face, eh?"

Kakashi? She looked at the sheepish man with orange hair beside her.

A/N: Sorry for the obscene amount of OCs. (Anzai = Blue imp thing, and Tori, the fake Kakashi)

Thank you very much for reading