Kakashi stood in the shade of the palms, right where the scrub started out of the white sand of the beach. Kakashi did not like sand, nor did he like being hot. Unfortunately, he'd spent an awful lot of his life in the sand and heat, due to his profession.
What had he been thinking, joining the military at 18? A life of sand and sweat.
During the most recent war, he had spent six weeks in the deserts of Suna, watching an Akatsuki member who hailed from the land. His unit, which was specially put together to hunt the Akatuski, had all suffered in the heat and shivered in the cold at night. He almost smiled as he remembered Obito's complaining, but he didn't. Kakashi was the last living member of that unit. He hated the sun and sand.
The one thing he did like about the island was at that moment walking out into the perfect white sand in a carefully designed bikini, volleyball in hand. Kakashi couldn't believe TV shows were still filming scenes like this, but here they were.
The ridiculously good-looking cast of Night High were all showing tons of skin and pretending to engage in a competitive game of volleyball, shouts and laughter in the air more often than the ball was. Sprays of sand went up as they raced about, shimmering in the hot air.
He tried not to look too long at Sakura's legs, or the sharp line of her collarbones, or the deep v of her bikini top. Last night she'd eaten half a plate of dinner and passed out immediately, exhaustion dragging her under. There hadn't been an opportunity to practice her self-defense. Or teach her anything else.
He was working, he needed focus.
Kakashi dragged his eyes from his perfect, jade eyed wife, who was struggling to play the game. He smiled to himself under his mask as he scanned the beach. So far, nothing seemed that threatening, but that Ran guy did give him, as the kids would say, sketch ass vibes. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he'd survived this long by listening to his gut. He would keep an eye on that guy.
As if summoned by Kakashi's thought, the young man appeared on the edge of the set, a bucket for snakes dangling lazily from one hand. Kakashi doubted there were snakes on the beach, but he supposed that knowledge was outside his area of expertise.
Still, he kept his good eye on the guy. He didn't like the way Ran looked at Sakura. To be fair, most men and plenty of women also looked at Sakura like that.
Kakashi didn't feel like being fair. For the first time in his life, he felt like being supremely and overwhelmingly selfish. He felt like wrapping his arms around her lithe frame and yelling 'MINE' at everyone.
Somewhere to the east of Kakashi was Asuma, detectable from the smell of cigarettes wafting on the sea breeze. The man was away from his wife and child for one day and had resorted to nervous chain smoking. Kurenai would pitch a fit when Kakashi told her. Because he absolutely would. Asuma would make a joke about the way Kakashi looks at his wife, or about Kakashi's age, and whoops—did Kakashi mention how much the smell of cigarettes had stained their trip?
Asuma, to his credit, had been trying to quit since his daughter had been born. But being this far from her was wrecking his nerves.
Kakashi wondered if he'd ever get to experience that. Fatherhood.
He wondered if he'd have a jade eyed, silver haired kid, running about and being dramatic.
It seemed unlikely.
Abruptly, Kakashi wanted to hit something.
"Hey, Kakashi,"
He looked down at Inoichi's daughter, who had a book tucked under one arm and a beach towel under the other. She shook the towel out and spread it over an even spot of the ground, then plopped her blonde ass on to it not far from Kakashi's feet, fanning herself.
Kakashi said nothing. He was working after all, and he never said anything while working. Except to his men. And Sakura.
"How long are they going to be doing this ridiculous exercise?" She mused, hunching forward with her elbows on her knees. She huffed. "And I can't even play because I'm 'not in the show'. But tanning by myself is boring."
Kakashi artfully ignored her, squinting his eyes against the reflection of the sun off of the sand.
One of Ran's friends, another diver hired by the production company, took an interest in Ino's presence and meandered over. Kakashi stiffened as he approached. They weren't diving today, why was this diver here? Dude, get a hobby. Who hangs around their work when they aren't working?
Well, Kakashi did, but that was not the point. He was, quite literally, married to his work.
"Hey," the younger guy crooned. Stellar opening line. He was clearly a poet, Kakashi thought. "How come you aren't playing?"
Ino looked him over, clearly unimpressed. "S'not my job." She answered, her tone bored. She opened her book.
"I don't see why that should stop you from having fun,"
Ino blinked slowly up at him. "I am having fun." She said flatly. Then she yawned, entirely unapologetic.
The poor bastard laughed, unbothered. "Well, if you do decide you want to have fun, some of us are going to hangout tonight. And tomorrow night we're having a bonfire, since it your guys' last," He raised his eyebrows. "Same place you guys were the other night."
Ino flipped a page.
The guy smiled at Kakashi, his expression saying 'women, playing hard to get'. Kakashi debated painting the sand with his blood, but the man wandered off again before he could decide if he wanted to be bothered with dealing with a foreign arrest.
He and Ino remained in silence while filming progressed through the afternoon and into the evening. They both had books out, Kakashi as he leaned against the palm, Ino comfortable in the sand. At some point Ino had a crew member bring her a snack and a spiked lemonade, though it wasn't their job to do so. Voices shouted in the distance across the beach. Waves crashed. Pages were turned.
The sun crept towards the horizon while Night High filmed tons of different beach shots, and ended, finally, with a fireworks scene and Omoi leaning in to kiss Sakura. Kakashi made his eyes flat and distant.
When the director called it wraps Ino stood up and dusted the sand from her ass, tossed an arm into the air and called for Sakura.
Sakura, now with a gauzy, wrap skirt covering her lower half, made her way to them, stepping carefully across the sand in her sandals. Her skin was on display, her little bikini hiding next to nothing but her scar. Her face was sweaty, strands of pink hair sticking to her temples. Her hair was the color the sun had painted the sky before it had sunk into the sea.
"God, I'm awful at volleyball," she groused as she stopped next to Ino. Her eyes glanced over Kakashi before returning to the blonde. "But we're done for tonight, thank god."
"Let's do something fun. Your husband and I have been sitting here in silence for like, four hours." She stretched luxuriously, then bent down to collect her towel, giving it a shake for the sand.
Sakura met Kakashi's eyes, raising a curious brow. He quirked one back.
The rest of the cast, plus annoying Ran, drifted over, chattering and laughing. Sakura turned towards them, sucked firmly into their orbit, though Kakashi didn't miss the smallest slouch in her shoulders.
Kakashi tucked his book in his back pocket, suspecting they'd be on the move in a moment. He hoped they would be content to do nothing, so that he could give Sakura a defense lesson. He didn't like letting her slack off. Every lesson gave her more of a fighting chance.
He would give that fighting chance.
"Well," Ran opened his mouth. God damn it all, Kakashi thought. Here we go. "My friends and I are going to chill, if you guys are cool hanging out with the locals." He offered. Why was this guy even here? How had he worked his way into this circle of elite celebrities?
Sakura smiled, her reaction the only one Kakashi was watching. There was the smallest line forming between her eyebrows.
"We don't mind," Omoi answered.
"Sounds like a plan," Ran said easily, sliding one of his arms around Lee's shoulders. Lee grinned at him.
The group turned to walk off.
Kakashi stepped forward and blocked Sakura. "Sakura, you didn't train this morning," he said pleasantly, smiling at her through his mask.
"I'm too sore," she pouted and rubbed at her biceps. Kakashi was unmoved.
"What kind of training?" Ran butted in, still hooked around Lee. Kakashi ground his teeth in annoyance.
Sai answered, "She's learning self-defense. Sakura does all kinds of hobbies." Kakashi could have kissed the kid for how great that answer was, and Sai didn't even know he'd done something good. No need for Sakura to tell this guy she was learning because she'd been attacked. Blaming it on her hobbies was perfect.
Ran nodded sagely. "A well-rounded woman. Multi-talented. I respect that. But I'm sure you don't need to do it tonight." He started walking again, the group going with him. This guy's dismissal of Kakashi had him wanting to punch Ran in the face. He let the rage go, reminding himself that it was not important what this kid thought. And that Inoichi would not be happy if he had to bail Kakashi out of a foreign jail.
Kakashi, feigning full drill sergeant, swooped in and snagged Sakura, tossing her easily over a shoulder.
"Sakura can play tomorrow night. Goodbye," He waved cheerfully and set off with the popstar over his shoulder, ignoring her pounding on his back and the complaints of the group they swiftly left behind them.
They were approaching a secluded stretch of the beach when Sakura sunk her teeth into the tender skin just above his ass. Kakashi grunted, both annoyed and endeared.
With a heave of his shoulder, he flipped her forward and let her drop far and fast, catching her just short of landing on her head. She shrieked.
"Are you quite finished?" Kakashi asked calmly, carefully keeping his amusement from his face.
Sakura, the epitome of grace and poise, reached her hand down behind her into the waves and splashed Kakashi in the face in defiance.
He blinked through the salt water. "I know you don't think so, but I would really prefer to keep you alive."
Sakura's mouth formed a tense white line as she exhaled harshly through her nose. "I'm well aware of your priorities, Kakashi." The hurt was so stark in her voice that it was as though she'd plunged the world into black and white. He knew she had not forgiven him entirely for hiding the truth from her, and he didn't blame her.
Maybe he should give her another orgasm as an apology… No, no, bad Kakashi. Focus.
He pulled her upright, holding her aloft with a grip around her thighs. He looked her straight in the eyes, unflinching. "You are my priority, Sakura. Regardless of how it came to be," he hoped his sincerity shone through.
She bit her lip and looked at the sky, composing herself. "Right." The single word sounded like salvation and damnation. Kakashi lowered her slowly to the ground and set her on her feet. She finally met his eyes, hers burning with a multitude of emotions.
Kakashi took her chin in his hand, noting the delicacy of the bone beneath. "Don't doubt that for a damn second."
She hesitated only a second. "Okay,"
Kakashi smiled softly after her. "Come on, let's practice breaking out of holds again. Practice makes perfect," He quickly tossed his book behind, well out of harms way, and readied himself.
He beckoned her toward him, farther onto the sand from the water. He figured that these exercises were likely the most important for Sakura, all things considered. Escape was his goal for her. A direct fist fight was the worst possible situation. Maybe he should start making her do sprints.
Sakura's face cleared of all emotions except determination, and she stepped willingly into his arms. Kakashi resigned himself to knowing his poor back was going to hurt. With a deep inhale to brace, he locked one arm around her windpipe, and another around her waist.
Sakura did not disappoint. She slid one foot backwards, in between his legs, and bent forward, throwing him the same way she had on the boat. But not quite. Kakashi's arm remained locked, and she went tumbling with him into the sand.
With a small cough, Kakashi rolled on top of her and pinned her down. He stared down into those spring-green eyes, the color deepened by the falling night. Kakashi was fascinated by the range of hues she possessed. Every shade was his favorite color. Every shade was a different version of her. Green fire, soft spring, jade brilliance.
"What did you forget?" He asked her, grey brows lifted.
"To dislodge your grip," she answered frankly. Her hair splayed in the sand around her head, thoroughly disheveled. The waves barely reached the furthest tips, darkening them with water.
"That's right, popstar. Again." He ordered. He stood up and pulled her after him.
Her next three attempts were better, sharper. Kakashi was proud as he stared up into her eyes after being pinned, his spine aching from being slammed, his shirt wet.
Sakura tilted her head at him, her face soft and open. A thrill went through Kakashi. He loved it when she looked at him like that.
"Alright, popstar, you can rest." He told her, his voice only slightly strained from having the air repeatedly slammed from his lungs.
Sakura sat back in surprise. "That's it?"
He pushed a hand through his wet hair, making the strands stand up. "Practice was partly an excuse. I could tell you needed a social break." He smiled at her through the mask.
Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "I've been going now for three days with all these people all the time." She mirrored his earlier motion, running a hand through her hair.
"I know. You need some anti-social time. Even from your friends. So relax,"
He knew she loved her friends, but even on tour she had breaks, had space. He always recognized the end of her rope.
Sakura considered him for several seconds, her expression unreadable.
She jumped up suddenly, sand falling from her knees. "Let's relax, then." She tugged at the knot holding her skirt together and let the gossamer fabric flutter to ground, took two steps back, and then leapt over Kakashi, her feet crashing into the surf and sending warm water spraying over him.
Kakashi tilted his head to track her with his eyes as she bounded, wild and graceful, into the sea. When she was waist deep, she dove, disappearing for several long seconds. Her head popped back up and she turned back toward him, her hair slicked back. Her smile in the moonlight was like a flashbang—an utter assault on his senses, totally stunning him. He was overcome by her.
Kakashi sat up on the sand and watched her play in the water, twirling and dipping beneath the surface, enjoying time to herself that wasn't just sleep. He kept his eyes and ears alert, in case something should happen on the land or in the water.
Sakura turned toward him after several minutes, a little breathless. "Well, come on!" She called before sinking back beneath the waves.
She wanted him to swim with her. In the ocean. Under the moon. Who was he to deny her anything?
Heedless of his aching back, Kakashi heaved himself up, and after a few furtive glances around, though he knew Asuma and Guy were nearby, he removed his clothes, leaving him in only his black boxer-briefs and his dog tags. His mask sat on the top of his neatly folded pile of clothes, next to Sakura's skirt.
With one last scan of the surroundings, Kakashi charged into the surf after his wife, warm water sliding over his skin. In a mirror of her actions when she entered the sea, he got about waist deep and dove, pushing himself farther out under the water. The feeling of the ocean on his sweat kissed skin was a release.
He broke the surface, warm air filling his lungs, the sound of Sakura's laughter in his ears.
When he wiped the water from his eyes she was bobbing in front of him, water shining on her lashes, the moon behind her. He tread water before her, content to quietly watch her shining in the moonlight.
"So Kakashi, what did you and Ino do while I worked?" Small waves were sent out from every motion of her hands, echoing out into the world the same way she did.
"Absolutely nothing," he informed her. The only sounds for a moment were the crashing and receding of the waves. He bobbed backward until he could touch the bottom.
"Nothing? For hours?" Her voice was laced with her disbelief. Kakashi couldn't help it, he grinned wolfishly at her, slipping closer through the waves.
"Why? Are you worried we hit it off while you played with your friends?" His feet just barely touched the sandy bottom, enough to keep his head above the water. He reached out and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her toward him.
She rolled those summer-time eyes and sent a wave at his chest. Warm water trickled down his chest, tickling mildly.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I never am,"
She gave him a sardonic look.
Kakashi pulled her into him and wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands coming naturally to his shoulders, so that she no longer needed to keep herself afloat. "I didn't say a word to Ino. She read her book, I read my book. We were just in the same general vicinity." He held her eyes as he told her, his grey and earnest, hers burning green.
While it was true Ino was not in any formal relationship with Sai, and they seemed to like it that way, Kakashi was not interested. With bold letters.
"Hmmm. I believe you, but only because you're so antisocial," It was her turn to smirk at him.
"I am not antisocial. I'm hyper-focused." He corrected her. "I have plenty of friends, remember?" Though less now than he had had before the Akatsuki wiped out his unit in retaliation. He went quiet as the thought slipped through his mind.
"There you go again," Sakura whispered into the balmy air, drawing his focus back to her. Water glistened on her skin, making her shine like a pearl in the moonlight.
He blinked at her. "Where I go again?"
"Somewhere else," she tilted her head at him curiously. "A million lightyears away, somewhere close to the asteroid belt," her words were little more than breaths on the breeze.
His gaze slid away from her, focusing on a pier in the distance. A blue light bobbed at the end of it, casting the waves in cobalt.
"Sometimes I get lost in the past. So, you could say I'm a million lightyears away. Maybe a million life times." His admission slipped past his lips and sank into the water to drown. Kakashi was the wind and the water; he was everywhere he had been. He had left pieces of himself scattered all over like shattered glass. He was here.
He brought his eyes back to Sakura's, finding them gentle in a way they rarely were. He found it within himself to tip the corners of his mouth up, if a little sadly.
"Where in the past?" Her tone was soft, hesitant, just for his ears. She was smart enough to know that sound traveled over water like a megaphone, and this conversation was just for them.
"War. After the war. To when my unit was alive and triumphant and immortal," he swallowed harshly. Sakura's eyes tracked the movement. "To when they were hunted down by the remaining Akatsuki and gave me my life in exchange for theirs." And that was the sum of it. He did not feel the need to elaborate; no reason to paint the details in this beautiful place, to turn the waves red. No reason to elaborate on the way Obito had pushed Kakashi out first when their base had been attacked.
Sakura's fingers stroked comfortingly through his wet hair, though she remained quiet.
A shuddering breath wracked Kakashi's frame. "I don't get stuck there very often anymore, just sometimes. But death is a lot harder to recover from than books and movies do it justice." Sakura didn't look away from his intense gaze. She steadily witnessed him, listening. "Every time someone I love dies, a piece of me starts screaming and never stops."
Sakura nodded, once, in understanding. In empathy and support. She pressed her forehead to his.
Kakashi felt gravity like he weighed a thousand pounds. Sad and heavy. He breathed it in, breathed it out. Released it into the night with the things that would drown him if he didn't choose to keep going.
"Well, you can ask me for whatever you need. I'd like to help if I can." He could feel the words against his lips as she spoke them.
It was a flashbang all over again. He had been watching Sakura grow for years, but she had matured a lot in under a month. Before she would never have offered, would have moved on as something she didn't need to worry about. Maybe it wasn't maturing so much as opening. Thawing.
He was infinitely moved.
He took several moments to pull himself together, to drag those pieces back and slap duct tape on to hold them together. "I don't need anything, Sakura. But thank you for the offer," he pressed his lips lightly against hers and pulled back. He hoped this casual affection wouldn't freak her out. "Let's be done with this topic for now. I thought you wanted to play?"
One side of her mouth tipped down. "If you're sure…"
He didn't give her any warning before tilting his weight back and pulling her under the water with him. Kakashi heard her muffled shout through the liquid, felt the rush of bubbles on his face. He released her to swim back to the moonlight, a laugh breaking free from his lungs, feeling like a splinter being pulled out.
"Oh, you're asking for it!" Sakura's voice was slightly pitchy as she reappeared before him.
Kakashi dodged her easily as she lunged for him, sending water spraying. He laughed again, the sound chasing the darkness away.
"Sakura, you are good at many things, but you are not about to succeed in attacking an ANBU, even in the water." He teased as he remained out of reach.
She paused, wiping water and makeup from her eyes. "I am good at many things, aren't I?" she said smugly. He let her swim closer, the siren of his dreams here to drag him to the depths. When she was close enough to reach out and push on his shoulders, he did the same thing to her that he did on the mats. He moved around her smoothly, grabbed an ankle, and pulled her under.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself now. This was revenge for all of the things she had put him through. For years of her dodging and ditching her guards and making them go on goose chases. Though maybe he should go easier on her, considering their conversation just now.
Sakura sputtered, cursing fiercely in that unladylike way of hers. It warmed him.
"Stop that!" she hissed, and Kakashi recognized the end of her patience.
He put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I accept your white flag, popstar."
Sakura splashed him full in the face, which he took with grace.
"Some bodyguard you are. Tossing me off boats, tugging me under water." She circled around him in the water threateningly. He could practically hear the Jaws theme song.
Kakashi pushed back a few feet towards the beach and found his footing again. "That was an accident, and you know it."
"Will Tsunade believe that?"
He snorted. "If you want to find out which one of us she trusts more with your safety, you are about to be sorely disappointed." He crossed his arms. "I would never have kicked you off if I knew you would go overboard."
Sakura hummed in consideration as she swam into his blind spot. Suddenly her mouth was on his shoulder, placing a faint kiss from behind. "Of course not." She sank her teeth into his skin softly, the sweetest shark in the water. Kakashi tactfully suppressed the heat that ran down his spine.
She surged upward, pushing down on his shoulders. Kakashi didn't move an inch, firmly standing.
She made a frustrated noise. "Oh, you're no fun!" She swung around to face him again, her nose brushing his with her closeness.
"I believe you pay me to stand my ground," He pointed out lightly.
Sakura released him, pushing away to float on her back. "You've got me there, Kakashi." She closed her eyes, a tune floating between them as she hummed to herself.
"What song are you thinking about?" He leaned forward expectantly, watching her face.
"Linger, by The Cranberries,"
Kakashi took a minute to recall the song. "Isn't that song about cheating or something?"
A smile gilded her mouth while her eyes remained shut. "I believe that it is. But damn, is it a good song."
Her voice rose just a little as she sang the chorus. "You know I'm such a fool for you. You've got me wrapped around your finger." Her eyes opened and found his in the lowlight. Warmth flooded every pour of his being, lit him from within. Filled the cracks between his scattered pieces.
It was a silly thing, really, since the song wasn't romantic. But the way she was looking at him…He wished she would look at him like that forever.
She sank beneath the water again as her voice faded, a dramatic close for this dramatic woman.
He watched the surface as he waited for her to resurface. After a second he felt something twine around his legs, stirring the current he was standing in. A hand slipped up his thigh, his abdomen, before emerging from the water directly in front of him. Then a slender arm, followed by a sopping pink head.
She was smiling as she opened her eyes, water dripping from her lashes. "I love the ocean," she said unprompted. He returned her smile.
"You really are a mermaid," he commented. He reached out and pushed wet strands behind her ears. His eyes flicked to the moon, which was moving faster across the sky than he would have thought. "But let's get to bed, Ariel, or else you'll be grumpy as hell in the morning."
She sighed. "Fair enough."
He turned to go back to shore, kicking off the bottom. It was then that she sprang.
Sakura rushed forward and pushed down on his back, successfully dunking him. Her laughter followed him under.
