Chapter Fourteen

Home Invasion

"All I'm saying is," Sakura continued animatedly, using her arms to aid in her storytelling as she walked through her house, "the violet-spotted salamander is the closest relative to the black salamander, so in theory, the antidote should stop all the symptoms except for fever, nausea, vomiting, and probably shallowness of breath." Her voice was muffled as she headed up the stairs, still talking, but Kakashi had sat down on her sofa so he could take his boots off. "It wouldn't be pleasant, but at least it would buy me enough time to extract the poison and apply some basic mathematics to tweak the serum sequence and I'd have the proper antidote in no-time."

Kakashi inhaled deeply, releasing a sigh as he leaned back into her couch cushions and let his head fall against the pillows. "Basic mathematics, right." Sakura had of course been talking about the clinical trials on their way out of the depot, and again once they had reached his apartment so Kakashi could pack some of his belongings. If he was going to be crashing at Sakura's house until the mission was complete, he needed a few basic grooming materials. It was too risky to talk about the mission out in public, but Sakura's mind had been reeling and she had no problem picking up right where she left off when they reached her house… And not that Kakashi didn't love when she was talking about, well, literally anything that made her spark with light and joy, he just had other pressing things on his mind… For example, like how in the hell he was going to keep his mind out of the gutter while existing in the same space as her.

"I'm sorry," Sakura said, appearing at the foot of the stairs. "You're probably sick of hearing me talk about it. I know I've been kind of repetitive." She had a stack of blankets and pillows in her arms and bent slightly so she could drop them on the couch beside him. Sleeping in bed with her was out of the question… He doubted he'd get much sleeping done, and, as they had already established, there were ground rules in place until the mission was complete.

"Talk about it as much as you like, I don't mind," he told her. "I like hearing you talk about things you're passionate about."

Sakura smiled at him. "Morbid medical mind," she said, pointing to her temple.

"Say that five times fast."

Sakura giggled. "Are you hungry? I know it's late but we could heat up some soup or something."

"Grilled cheese and vegetable soup," he said.

Sakura frowned and smiled at the same time. "How oddly specific of you. Let me check the kitchen and see what I've got." She padded off towards the kitchen, checking the fridge and the cupboards for the materials they needed, so Kakashi used the time to pull his toiletry bag out of his backpack and headed for her bathroom.

Sakura kept a tidy house, but the bathroom was sort of an exception. Not that it was dirty by any means, but you could tell a woman's presence dominated the space by the various hair styling tools left out on the sink, and a bamboo tray stacked with body lotion and perfume. The medicine cabinet was stuffed with makeup palettes and fingernail polish, but still had enough space for Kakashi to put a can of shaving cream, his razer, and a stick of deodorant on the shelf. He plopped his toothbrush in the holder on the sink, next to her pink one, and added his tube of toothpaste to the drawer. Next, he deposited a bottle of body wash on the shelf in the shower, and noted that he'd forgotten shampoo… Not that it mattered, he doubted Sakura would mind him using her products. Sakura had offered to let him stay in her spare bedroom, but Kakashi happened to prefer her couch over the lumpy mattress passed down by her great-grandmother that occupied her spare bedroom. He did, however, take advantage of the dresser in there and put his clothes away.

Kakashi changed out of his uniform, and pulled on a pair of black sweatpants before returning to the kitchen. The smell of butter and cheese permeated the air, making his mouth water as he stepped up behind Sakura and made a move to stir the soup as she flipped a sandwich in the skillet. She gave him a quick glance, the ridge of her cheekbones dusting pink with color. Kakashi grinned.

"You know," Sakura said, sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear, "if we're supposed to be practicing those ground rules you mentioned back at Headquarters, you traipsing around without a shirt isn't helping matters…"

"You've seen me without a shirt a hundred times," Kakashi said, reaching above her to pull a couple of bowls down from the cabinet.

"Yes, well that was before."

"Before what?"

Sakura's blush deepened. Oh, this ought to be good, Kakashi thought. "Before I started looking at you that way."

Kakashi was full on cheesing beneath his mask now. Did he dare ask how long she'd been 'noticing' him that way? He was really enjoying the blush staining her cheeks. "I see," he said, his tone full of mirth, "and how long has that been going on?"

Sakura plopped a grilled cheese sandwich on a plate and shoved it forcefully into his hands before taking her food and heading for the couch. "That's none of your business," she said.

Kakashi chuckled and followed her.

"Not that you haven't always been nice to look at, you just–" Sakura paused, her spoon accentuating her words as she struggled to come up with something to say. "–I just…"

"Had a thing for Sasuke," Kakashi supplied.

"Sure, for a while," Sakura agreed, and then bit into her sandwich so she wouldn't have to say anything else.

Kakashi waited until she wasn't looking to eat his food. "And you don't still have… feelings?" Kakashi hated asking. But the conversation he'd had with Sasuke earlier that night was weighing on him like a block of iron. It sounded like Sasuke had chosen not to be with her on account of understanding he could never give her what she needed – not that he didn't want to be with her.

"No," Sakura answered, stirring her soup, and then repeated more firmly, "no." She sat her empty plate on the coffee table and tucked her legs beneath her. "Sasuke doesn't have the emotional capacity needed for a healthy relationship – for what I require in a relationship. It just took me a little while to see that."

Kakashi dragged a palm over the back of his neck. "He wanted to be with you, he just didn't think he could give you what you needed." The words were out before Kakashi considered how she might take that news, assuming she didn't know…

Sakura snorted. "He wasn't even willing to try. That speaks volumes all on its own."

Kakashi hadn't considered that perspective. Effort had always gone a long way with Sakura. He didn't know her to be a superficial woman who only wanted perfection. No, she had always been realistic in the ways of believing that people were naturally flawed, but it was the effort and the way they showed up that truly mattered to her. Kakashi wasn't perfect by a long shot, but if Sakura made it clear she wanted him in her life, he was going to show up to the best of his abilities and keep trying to be what she needed.

"Don't look so glum over there," Sakura said, pulling him from his inner thoughts. "We don't need to talk about Sasuke, okay? That's all in my past." She offered him a smile, and reached out to lay her small hand above his knee. "How was your food?"

"Delicious, thank you."

Sakura glanced at the clock on her mantel, and Kakashi followed her gaze. It was a little after midnight. "I guess I should probably get to bed…" She dipped her chin, looking up at him through her long dark eyelashes. "You sure I can't convince you to join me?"

Kakashi felt an ember ignite in his core at her suggestion… and the way she was looking at him? Gods… "Don't tempt me, woman."

Sakura pushed up from the couch in a graceful turn that seemed like something a dancer might display. "You're the one walking around half-naked," she said, and winked at him. "Good night, Kakashi." She bent and pressed her lips to the minimal amount of skin that was visible below his eye, smiled at him, and then headed for the stairs.

Kakashi's chest tightened. "G'night," he called after her.

Sleep was easier for Sakura on account of her exhaustion, and when she woke the next morning, it took her a second to remember that she had a house guest… A very sexy shirtless house guest that deserved to be punished for crimes committed against her. She'd fallen asleep thinking about his perfect six-pack and how it had been killing her to not be able to touch his abs… Sakura eased out of bed, gathering fresh clothes from her dresser, and quietly padded into the bathroom to shower. She'd noticed his things tucked amongst hers when she'd brushed her teeth last night, and found herself smiling at the sight.

Sakura washed and conditioned her hair, dried off, and dressed herself in a pair of cheeky black underwear, a white lace bra, and pulled on a white tank-top that laced at her breasts like a miniature corset. If Kakashi could walk around half-naked and she was expected not to touch him, the very least she could do was return the favor… She grinned at her reflection before exiting the bathroom and heading downstairs to see if the Copy-nin was awake yet.

When she hit the bottom landing, the smell of eggs and bacon engulfed her senses. She rounded the corner into her kitchen to find that Kakashi (still shirtless) was busy at the stove. "Mm, breakfast smells really good," Sakura said.

Kakashi cast a glance over his shoulder and nearly fumbled the entire skillet of bacon. He steadied it, placing it on the back burner before adjusting the knob on the stove. "Now who's not playing fair?"

Sakura pulled herself up on the counter, crossing her ankles as she swept an apple out of the fruit bowl and bit into the red, juicy flesh. "Just think of it as graduating to the next level in the kunai game. You can look but you can't touch." She winked.

Kakashi stood in front of the stove, curling his fingers into his palms as he openly gazed at her – the look in his eye the equivalent of hunger – of a man starved for far too long. He inhaled, and Sakura watched the muscles in his chest expanding as he took in the sight of her toned legs, from ankle to hip, and then stepped towards her. His palms, warm and rough from calluses, pressed into her knees, gently but firmly pulling until he'd spread her legs just wide enough for him to step between her thighs. Sakura dropped the apple as Kakashi grabbed her hips and hauled her to the ledge of the counter, his fingertips pressing into her skin. "I never said anything about not touching," he said, his tone low and husky.

That's all it took for her skin to tingle all over – her body becoming a livewire of sparks and electricity. Sakura licked her lower lip and then tried to clear her throat. His right hand followed the dip of her waist, sweeping up over her ribs until his thumb grazed the underside of her breast.

Sakura's breath hitched, and she hated her tank-top, loathed her bra, and needed the layers between them gone – immediately.

"Hey, Billboard Brow, are you home?"

A voice neither of them had been expecting to hear caused confusion and then adrenaline to slice up Sakura's spine until her core was alight with panic. "Shit," she whisper-hissed, pressing the back of her hand to her feverish face. "She has a key."

Kakashi groaned and dropped his forehead against her shoulder, the hand on her hip squeezing in frustration. "I'm going to shower." Kakashi stepped back, gripping Sakura by the waist and plucking her off the counter like she weighed no more than a small bag of apples before setting her feet on the ground.

Sakura's gaze dropped to the rather large bulge in Kakashi's sweatpants, and her face burned with the force a thousand suns. She was most definitely going to kill Ino for interrupting them.

Kakashi swatted Sakura on the ass before heading for the bathroom, perfectly timed with Ino making an entrance. Her blond friend was carrying a pink box from their favorite bakery and had two cups of to-go coffee balanced in a carrying tray. Sakura pressed the heels of her hands into her eye sockets. "It's Thursday, isn't it?"

Ino placed the box of bagels on the counter and set down their coffee cups, her gaze sweeping the kitchen and the fresh breakfast Kakashi made. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry, Ino… Mission stuff has me all discombobulated," Sakura said – that, and the Copy-nin upstairs in her bathroom shower…

Ino frowned. "Why is your face so flushed, and why are you walking around your kitchen half-naked and–oh!" The blonde's eyes widened so much that the whites of them framed her irises. "Is your shower running upstairs? Do you have a man up there?!" Ino began bouncing on her feet in excitement. "A man who seemingly spent the night with you?"

"Um," Sakura began, "it's not exactly what you're thinking…"

"Well, you did forget it was Thursday, and you never forget anything – mission or not… You're making breakfast in your underwear for the love of all the Kage's…"

"I wasn't making breakfast."

"Oh, come on, Sakura… Curiosity is killing me right now! Who is it? –Wait, is it that guy from the Tavernette? You know, the one with the shaggy auburn hair that's been hitting on you for ages? I know he's a little scrawnier than you tend to like them but–"

Sakura held up her hands, begging her friend to stop. "–Ino, I said it's not like that. Nothing happened…" Thanks to you, she added mentally.

"Fine, but who is it?! I'm dying here Sakura!"

Sakura scratched her arm absently and said in a small tone, "Kakashi."

Sakura didn't think it was possible for her friend's eyes to go any wider, but Ino was proving her wrong… The blond squealed. "You're walking around in front of him in your underwear?!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "We're on a mission together."

"A mission to get laid," Ino quipped, waggling her eyebrows.

"You know, sometimes I really hate you, Pig." Sakura turned on her heel and plucked one of the coffees out of the carrying tray and collapsed into a kitchen chair.

Ino narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her friend. She took the remaining coffee and plopped down in the chair beside Sakura. "Okay, I won't tease you anymore… You can talk to me." Ino reached out, rubbing her palm up and down Sakura's arm.

Sakura didn't even know where to begin. "Things are… changing… between us. I… I really like him, Ino." But it was more than that. She'd liked him for as long as she could remember, but over the last year that 'like' had begun morphing into something deeper. Under her nose. They'd gotten really close, and Sakura considered him to be one of her very best friends, but she'd be lying to say that it stopped there. She didn't want it to stop there…

"Well, duh," Ino supplied unhelpfully. "What's not to like?"

"I mean it, Ino…" Sakura bit her bottom lip and lowered her tone. "I think I'm falling for him."

A slow smile stretched along the planes of Ino's mouth. "It's about damn time. Anyone can see how crazy he is about you. Took you long enough to figure it out." Ino sat back in her chair, crossing her arms.

"Hey, you said you weren't going to tease me…"

"I'm being honest. That man has clearly been carrying a serious torch for you for a couple years now. He was probably just waiting on you to figure it out. Kakashi doesn't strike me as the pushy type."

"He's not," Sakura said.

"Have you seen him without his mask yet?"

Sakura shot Ino a look and narrowed her gaze. "No, I haven't… and that's really not important to me."

"I think it would be killing me to not know."

"I kind of like the mystery." Sakura shrugged.

"What if he's totally hideous under there?" Ino lifted an eyebrow.

"He's not, but if he were, I wouldn't care. It wouldn't change the way I feel about him."

"Well, that's always good to know." Ino propped her head up on her fist. "Doesn't hurt that his physique is a literal gift from the gods, though."

Sakura laughed. "No, that definitely doesn't hurt."

Upstairs, the sound of the shower cut off. "I guess I should probably get going before he comes back down here… I don't want to totally ruin your morning."

"It's fine, Ino… We have an arrangement… no physical relationship until after the mission is complete." Although Sakura was pretty sure that both of them would have broken that little agreement this morning had Ino not interrupted them.

"That sounds like torture…"

"You have no idea." Sakura bit her lip again, and stretched her arms out in front of her to grip her knees. "He keeps walking around without a shirt on, so I thought a little payback this morning was called for." Sakura gestured to her lack of clothing.

"Ooh, I love it." Ino giggled. "Keep that playing field nice and even, Haruno."

"That's the plan." Sakura grinned. "How have you been? I feel like we haven't had a proper chance to catch up lately."

"Yeah, that's because every time I come to visit you Hatake is in your house and you won't let me live vicariously through your interactions," Ino teased. "I've been fine, though. The flower shop is always busy this time of year, and Dad is thinking of retiring soon and letting me run the thing."

"Is that what you want?"

Ino nodded slowly. "You and I both know that my medical skills were never really that great. I'll still take missions from time to time, but I think I want to take over the family business – maybe settle down, eventually get married and have some babies."

"Ino, a mother… I can't picture it," Sakura teased back, earning herself a playful punch in the arm from Ino.

"All right, I'm leaving now… Save your bagels for another morning. Don't let the Copy-nin's breakfast go to waste." Ino rose from the kitchen chair and headed for the front door, but not without first plucking a strip of bacon from the skillet and biting into it. "Don't forget next Thursday, Forehead – or I will end you."

Sakura laughed. "Goodbye, Ino-Pig."

Despite Ino's untimely interruption, Sakura and Kakashi made it to Headquarters by late morning; their bellies stuffed with bacon, eggs, and buttered toast. Much to Sakura's dismay, the pair did not pick up where things had left off, but Kakashi was getting more comfortable with taking small liberties with her – like brushing his hand over the small of her back when he passed by, or finding any little excuse to touch her. Sakura had looped her arm through his and stayed that way during their walk to the depot, and did not let go until they were in the Commander's office, informing him of last night's clinical trial success.

"Tora volunteered for the human trials," Sasuke told her. After a quick exchange, Sasuke had gone to find the tiger-masked operative and met her in the lab. Naturally, he wanted to observe the process; long ago his stoic presence may have intimidated Sakura, but she found herself drawing comfort from Kakashi's quiet presence seated at one of the tables, and ignored the dark shadow that was Sasuke right beside Tora at the examination table.

"It would be helpful if you could report all your symptoms the moment you feel them," Sakura said, swiping Tora's bicep with an alcohol cleansing pad. She'd already had him hooked up to a machine that would monitor his heartrate. Next, she drew the poison and injected it below Tora's top layer of skin. It would have worked just rubbing it on his skin, but this way was more direct and would cause the symptoms to set in faster.

After a couple minutes, Tora said, "My mouth is burning, and my skin feels like pins and needles." Sakura noted the time, and glanced at the heart monitor before scribbling notes on the clipboard. Within twenty minutes, Tora's breathing was labored and his whole body had stiffened; though he didn't complain of being in pain, he just couldn't move. His heartrate dropped below resting. After half an hour, Tora could no longer speak.

"Time to administer the antidote," she said, drawing the second needle. After the administration of the antidote, it took nearly twice as long for Tora and his heartrate to return to normal. "How are you feeling?" she asked him, removing the little clips and wires from his chest.

"I feel tired, like I've expended all my chakra, but other than that, completely normal," he told her.

"That's to be expected," she said, "according to the old medical reports." She waved her clipboard and cast a glance towards Sasuke. "Everything checks out, right down to the T," she said.

"Good. Do you know how long the antidote will last if our elite becomes exposed to the poison multiple times?" Sasuke asked.

"One dose will last for approximately twelve hours, and the serum is safe enough to administer a second time if exposure occurs right after," she said.

Sasuke cradled one of his elbows, his fist propped under his chin in thought. "How long will it take you to make twelve more of those?"

Sakura shrugged. "At least a day."

"Great. That should give us enough time for the spy team to return from rain. I'll assemble a team of six elites to infiltrate Hattori's hideout with double antidotes. With any luck, they might return with some to spare."

Sakura didn't like the sound of that… That meant that Sasuke was expecting the team he sent to not walk away unscathed. And being infected with the black salamander poison was far more lethal. Sakura really hoped her medical theories would hold. To Tora she said, "You should feel completely normal by tomorrow, but I wouldn't try to do anything extraneous today."

Tora nodded and then he and Sasuke left the laboratory. Sakura didn't move until the door closed behind them, and then let out a long sigh.

"You're doing really well, you know," Kakashi said, rising from his stool and striding towards her. Sakura didn't wait for an invitation and instead plunged herself into Kakashi's arms, inhaling the clean, woodsy scent of his skin.

"I don't suppose I could sweet-talk you into helping me make a batch of these antidotes?"

Kakashi tightened his embrace. "You don't even have to sweet-talk me. I'm at your disposal, Sakura."

"Mm, I kind of like the sound of that." She smiled against the fabric of his shirt, and pulled back out of his arms just enough so she could look up into his face.

"Just tell me where to begin, Sweetheart," he said.

Hello Loves,

Thank you for the comments Uchiha Misaki and Moonqueer! I appreciate hearing from you!

Thanks for Reading!

XOXO,
~Sparrow