A/N This is the last chapter the has been looked at by my beta. She corrects my grammar and terrible understanding of commas. Hopefully she will have time to look at a couple more chapters this week so I can update 2x in the coming week. But, I am still wrangling with some things for this anyway. Thank you for all the comments on the last chapter. I got a lot of good ideas and some that required a lot of thinking. I defiantly think I am going to have to write up a one shot with pregnant Sakura getting kidnapped and having to be rescued. You all seemed to love that idea as much as me. I really couldn't make it work for this one though. We might get a taste but It would have thrown off the entire story. Anyway, I hope that this chapter works for you.

Chapter 11

Sakura

Sixty-seven days into the past

Sakura woke slowly. Morning light peaked between the curtains, illuminating the dim room. Memories of the night before flooded back, bringing a smile to her face.

He is for you.

Reaching across the bed, she found it empty. Her smile fell. Where was he? Slowly sliding her hand across the sheets, she found them cool. Wherever he was, he had been gone a while. She sat up and looked around. He was still on medical leave so he hadn't been called off to work. Scrubbing her hands across her face, Sakura tried not to panic.

Had he realized everything? Had he decided he wasn't interested in a doomed relationship? With so much pain and trauma in his past already, surely he wouldn't choose to add more. If that was the case, she didn't know what she would do. Never mind the fact that she was pretty sure she was already falling for him, what about their son?

Frustrated, sad tears started again. Then, because she was crying—again—she grew even more frustrated and cried even harder.

"Dammit."

If he chose to reject her out of self preservation, she wouldn't be able to blame him. Neither would she be able to force herself on him.

In the bathroom, she splashed some cool water on her face and ran her fingers through her hair. Looking herself over, she decided it wasn't too obvious she'd been crying. She was still wearing the green qipao from their date.

"I guess it was a date after all." She laughed sadly to herself. Hopefully it wouldn't be the last.

Deciding she needed to find him, Sakura went back out to the main room. His sandals were gone and—when she peeked out onto the balcony—the ashtray was missing. The memory of her last night in the future came to her and she wondered if hiding on the roof was a habit.

Sliding into the pair of slippers she had bought for his apartment, she stepped out onto the balcony. The smell of cigarette smoke assaulted her nose immediately. Yep. He was definitely upset.

'Only on the hard days.'

Sakura only hoped he would still want her like he had the night before. Focusing her chakra, she climbed up on his balcony rail, only to be met with the sight of his dangling feet. One sandal looked in danger of plummeting to the ground. Standing on the rail, she could lean over the edge of the roof.

He was laying on his back with his arms spread out in either direction. There was one cigarette stub smashed in the dog shaped ashtray, another lying forgotten inches from his right hand. Looking at him closely, she could see there were tears leaking from his eyes and in profile, his expression looked miserable.

Chest tight, Sakura called out to him. "Kakashi?"

His whole body flinched. Dragging his palms across his face, he sat up and looked at her. "Hey…"

Vaulting up and onto the roof, she cautiously approached. "Are you ok?"

He inhaled deeply through his nose, looked out at the village below, and then back at her. She could see the wheels turning in his head. Was he about to tell her thanks for the kisses but I think we should be friends?

Instead— "Yeah…" He reached for her, pulling her down to sit beside him. "Just thinking."

He tucked her into his side and stared out at the last bits of sunrise kaleidoscope. Relief washed through her. "Hmm…" She wrinkled her nose, picking up his burnt stub that was now right where she wanted to rest her hand, and dropping it in the ashtray. "I could smell. You know… you really ought to stop that."

He huffed a quiet laugh. "You already know I won't."

In the short silence that followed, she let her cheek drop to his shoulder. He copied the gesture, his cheek resting against her hair.

"Are you gonna tell me what has you up here, smoking and watching the sun rise?"

He sighed. "I guess I'm just…" He sighed again. "I've never done this before, Sakura. And… you know, everyone I've ever—" His breath caught, "—ever cared about is dead. I guess I'm just… a little scared."

Part of her was amazed to hear him admit to being scared. The emotion seemed so antithetical to Kakashi the man. But mostly she understood. She knew how this would end and she was terrified. "We're shinobi. Caring about people is always a risk." Something her mother told her once when she'd asked about Kazuki's mother came to her suddenly. Now, it felt ironic. "My mom told me once, 'Love always ends in tragedy, Sakura. Whether you live to twenty-five or ninety-five, when one of you dies or if somebody leaves, it's always the same at the end. But life is so much richer for having taken the chance.'"

She could feel him relax. He turned his face and kissed the top of her head. "Hmm. It feels a little unfair that you know what we're risking better than I do." When she tensed, she felt him smile against her hair. "I get the feeling there is a lot you're not telling me, most of it probably bad. But I won't ask. Even if you weren't from the future, a relationship would probably be doomed. Like you said, we're shinobi."

He leaned around so he was looking into her eyes. "I could avoid it—shut myself off from the possibility of more heartache like I have been doing for years—push you away and go back to how it was before you fell into my life… But I'm already living with enough regrets, Sakura. I don't need any more."

Smiling, heart-sick, and yet still happy, Sakura reached for him. He tasted like smoke and salt, his warm lips slightly chapped. Despite everything that was against them, everything she knew was coming, Kakashi was all she wanted… and apparently, he felt the same.

KSK

After forcing him into the shower, Sakura ran back to her own apartment to get things for breakfast. By the time he was out, clean and no longer smelling like smoke, she had food almost ready. He came up behind her where she stood in front of his small stove-top and settled his hands on her hips.

"Hungry?"

When he nosed her hair out of the way to kiss her shoulder, she smiled and leaned back against him. Based on their earlier conversation, she got the feeling he was going to take this as seriously as she was. He might not know their time was limited, but he had suggested he didn't think they would have forever.

"Do you think it's too early to ask you to move in? I like this."

Her heart fluttered. Definitely serious. Now that they were together, after spending a night wrapped up in him, the prospect of sleeping in her own apartment sounded lonely. What would he think she was hiding if she said yes? They had only decided to do this the night before… "Hmm… I'm remembering another of my mother's favorite pearls of wisdom."

"Oh?"

She smirked as she took the salmon off the burner, sliding it onto a plate. "Don't play the wife when you're just a girlfriend, or you'll be a girlfriend forever." Chuckling, he took the fish from her and headed to his small table as she took off her floral apron. "Don't get used to this just yet. You're still recovering and we're both still off work. I'm spoiling you."

His smile was warm and thoughtful, his gaze piercing. "I'll savor every second, then."

There was more than one meaning there, she could feel it. Setting the rest of the dishes on the table, she leaned down so her lips were inches from his. "So will I." Before he could lean forward to kiss her, she pulled back to sit across from him.

KSK

Since Kakashi had overdone it the night before, they spent the better part of the day resting. After eating, they adjourned to his small sofa. She picked up one of the medical scrolls she had left there during her weeks-long vigil and tossed him his favorite book. He'd seemed sheepish about reading it in front of her at first, but when she reminded him it was a usual sight for her, he had relaxed.

Gradually, as her interest in her medical scroll started to wane, Sakura found her eyes wandering to what Kakashi was reading. Her cheek already propped on his left shoulder, she could easily read along without him noticing.

Never having read the books before, she found herself immediately—and embarrassingly—engrossed. The plot seemed impressively well developed for something she had always considered a smut rag. Her one and only sexual experience had been nothing like the passionate—somehow tender and loving despite their explicitness—encounters between the couple in this story. Every new sexual experience, each more graphically depicted than the last, Sakura almost wished she were the one living the story.

Glancing covertly at Kakashi—moving her scroll along to maintain the illusion—she wondered how much experience he had. What was it that attracted him to these books so much? Did he ever picture himself as the male lead?

Her lip trapped between her teeth, she looked back to the page. Halfway through, she noticed his finger tapping lightly at the bottom corner.

"Are you finished with this page?"

"What?" Face burning at having been caught, Sakura leaned away slightly, laughing awkwardly. "I'm not reading that!" She held up her scroll. "I'm very engrossed in my own thing, thank you very much."

He snorted and gave her a bored look. "I might have my left eye closed, but you're not nearly as sneaky as you think."

She scoffed, her flaming face doing nothing to hide her guilt. "I'll have you know, I am very sneaky."

With a slight shake of his head, and an amused tilt of his mouth, Kakashi turned his attention back to his book. After a second, he lifted his arm for her to sit closer.

"Tch." She tossed her scroll to the floor and burrowed into his side. "Why do you like this book so much anyways?"

"Hmm. The plot. It is very compelling."

She laughed at his familiar, deadpan tone. "Sure…"

"What's kept your interest?"

Blushing again, Sakura did her best impression of him. "Definitely the plot."

KSK

Sixty-nine days into the past

Sakura stood—hands on her hips—staring down Kakashi with a glare that had caused weaker men to quail. His lack of response was both so familiar, and so extremely irritating. She was used to this from him. The fact that they were now a couple, had—unsurprisingly—not done anything to make him more willing to cooperate with her training restrictions.

They had come out to the training grounds for some light exercise only to find Gai already there. As soon as he'd seen them, he had—somewhat justifiably—accused Kakashi of cheating him out of his date. When he had challenged him to a spar, Kakashi had stupidly accepted.

"Kakashi. We walked to the restaurant not even that far across town and you ran home. That was enough, just two nights ago, to have you nauseated and hardly able to stand. You are not ready to spar anyone!"

He sighed, hands in his sweatpants pockets. "Hana…" She wanted to punch him for how bored he sounded. "It's just Gai. And he's annoying."

She tsk'd, folded her arms and sighed. Ignoring the aforementioned smug-looking irritant, Sakura took three steps to stand in front of Kakashi. Spreading her palms out flat against his chest, she gave him a rueful smile. "Kakashi. You almost died. You're healing amazingly fast, but…" She wrinkled her nose and grinned teasingly. "Gai is gonna kick your ass the way you are right now. It would be embarrassing for everyone."

He scoffed, dropping his head to the side to glare around her at Gai. "Rude."

Chuckling lightly, she let the hand furthest from their company slide up his neck. "We both know how strong he is, even if he acts strange sometimes. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure you could take him in a fair fight."

"Tch. Damn right—wait… only pretty sure?"

Sakura smirked. "I mean, he is probably the fastest shinobi I've ever seen at his peak, maybe even too fast for the Sharingan." He scoffed, offended. "But I don't know where he is now versus the last time I saw him go all out." She frowned, the obvious occurring to her. "I don't know about you as far as that goes either…" That piqued his interest, his visible brow arching in question. She sighed, more future things she couldn't share.

"Look, don't worry about Gai." She let her smile return. "I'm not going on a date with him. You're the only man that's ever going to be taking me on dates, Kakashi."

Realizing what she'd said a second after he did, Sakura let out a soft gasp. His one dark eye bore into her green ones, baring a thoughtful, warm expression that held emotions neither one of them were ready for. Smiling, she wished very much that they were alone so she could kiss him. Instead, she let her eyes linger on his mask-covered mouth for a long moment before turning around to face Gai.

"I'm sorry, Gai. He may have used underhanded tactics, but Kakashi definitely won this one. As his personal medic, I'll have to ask you to wait at least another week to punish him for cheating."

Striking a ridiculous pose, Gai grinned at her. "Due to the nature of this contest, I shall accept the outcome, as to do otherwise would be to disrespect your choice, fair Hana-san. However, I can not accept cheating. It disrespects our eternal rivalry." He pointed at Kakashi, a broad smirk on his face. "I shall punish you for this, my friend, rest assured."

Still slouching and looking as unbothered as ever, Kakashi sighed. "Yeah, yeah."

With a parting, gleaming grin, Gai spun on his heel and headed back into the village. Once he was out of sight, Kakashi reached for her hand, tugging her around to face him again. "Only pretty sure?"

Rolling her eyes at his petulant tone, Sakura pushed him gently on the shoulder. "Kakashi…"

Quickly—before she could pull away again—he tugged his mask down with his free hand and leaned in to catch her lips in a searing kiss. He was smiling almost boyishly when he pulled away and replaced his mask. The strangeness of such an expression on his face was almost as heart-stopping as the kiss had been. "Am I still cleared for that light exercise, personal medic, Sakura?"

Catching her breath, she crossed her arms and played at indignation. "Oh, are you listening to my advice again?"

Shrugging, he leaned forward slightly so that he towered over her. "I never stopped." She leveled him with an unimpressed glare. "Hey, I'm not sparring Gai, am I?"

"I guess you're not." Leaning up on her tip-toes, she kissed his masked cheek. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I guess." Squatting, Kakashi drew a kunai, spun it around his finger before catching it and slicing his thumb. With an amused glint in his eye, he summoned one of his Ninken. Pakkun—of course—appeared in a cloud of smoke, causing a silly grin to split Sakura's face.

"Hey, Boss." Pakkun scratched idly at his ear, ignoring Sakura but for a twitch of his nose. "You look terrible."

"Gee, thanks."

Sakura chuckled at that. "Hey, he very nearly died. I'd say he looks alright, considering."

Ears perking up, the gruff little pug turned his head to her finally. Lazily, his dark eyes took her in. "Who's she, Boss? And why does she smell like you?"

Kakashi coughed awkwardly and Sakura blushed. She hadn't realized. "This is Hana. She is responsible for keeping me alive. And she uh… probably smells like me because she's been sleeping with me—in my bed, that is—the last few nights. We're… together."

That definitely piqued Pakkun's interest. Evidently, Kakashi's love life was something the ninken cared about. Standing with a small stretch, he trotted closer to her, allowing her to scratch behind his ears. "Kakashi has finally found himself a mate, huh? Never thought I'd see the day. So, Hana-san… you a medic, eh?"

Blushing even more, Sakura nodded. "Yes."

"Good. That kid can be reckless." Turning back to Kakashi, he sniffed. "So, did you need me for something or was this just a social call?"

Sighing, Kakashi shrugged. "Well, she's finally cleared me for some light exercise. Just felt like some extra company, if you're up for it."

Pakkun made a noise halfway between a snort and a laugh. "You must really like her if you're actually listening to her. You never mind the doctors." He snorted "Why don't you call everyone else and we can go for a run. Haven't had a nice fun day in a while."

He stretched again while he waited for Kakashi to summon the rest of the pack. When they appeared, it was Pakkun that made the introductions as seven curious noses snuffled in Sakura's direction—completely ignoring Kakashi. "This is the Boss's new mate, Hana-san."

"Mate?"

"Finally. He's always been too tightly wound."

"Bark!"

"Does that mean pups?"

"She smells nice."

More barking and tail wagging and talking dogs eager for pets.

Sakura laughed, enjoying Kakashi's flat, irritated glare. "He missed you, and since we were going on a run, we thought you could join us."

Eight wet noses turned their attention to Kakashi. He shrugged and reached for Sakura's hand, pulling her from the middle of the pack to his side. "I had no idea they were so interested in my love life." He sighed, and gestured for them to follow. "Let's go."

Still laughing, Sakura took off after him, howling and barking following them through the trees.