Sakura, who had slept very deeply, was completely disoriented. Why was Kakashi standing in her door in nothing but his boxers, holding a snarling black puppy at arm's length away from himself? She rubbed her eyes once, twice, blinked them rapidly, pinched herself… but it wasn't a dream.

Oh shit. Oh shiiiiiit. Her heart raced in her chest, and panic settled in as the realization hit her—this wasn't her door. It was his.

"Do I even want to know?" Kakashi mused, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.

"Oh!" Sakura yelped, suddenly aware that she was sitting in his bed in nothing but her bra. She yanked the blanket up to cover herself, her face burning with embarrassment.

"You're in my bed with less clothing than usual," Kakashi remarked, glancing down at the valiantly struggling puppy in his hand. "And there's a strange dog in my apartment who doesn't like me. Both are very confusing firsts."

Sakura barely registered his words. The light behind him cast his face into shadow, but it made his silver hair glow like molten moonlight. He looked unearthly, almost otherworldly.

During her time abroad, she had often sought refuge in what the locals called "a church." One particular sanctuary had brought her peace. It wasn't the largest or most ornate, but she found herself drawn to an old mural on the back wall. She would stare at it until her thoughts stilled. The centerpiece was a strong, winged figure, holding a book, radiating divine light from its silver head.

It was only now, staring at Kakashi framed by the doorway, that she realized that angel had always reminded her of him.

Only… angels were chaste beings, messengers of those foreign lands' God who always dressed with decorum and modesty. The Kakashi standing before her was decidedly not modest. He was basically naked, his body exposed in a way that left nothing to the imagination. She could see… everything. Including his face. Again. One would think that repeated exposure would make the novelty wear off but… nope. Catching a glimpse of that face still sent a rush through her. His features were too perfect—sharp, yet soft in a way that made her chest tighten.

"I can explain," she stammered, her voice shaky as she struggled to maintain her composure, desperately trying not to ogle him. But it was impossible to ignore the wave of elation and greed rising inside her—feelings she hadn't realized she possessed.

She could explain, but the truth sounded utterly absurd. After rescuing the puppy from its third mishap in just a short span of time, it had rewarded her efforts by throwing up all over her shirt—an expensive one, no less. That shirt was now soaking in the bathroom sink. The puppy had whimpered and whimpered, so she had cuddled it for consolation, the poor creature. Why on the bed? Because the puppy had insisted on lying on the bed and nowhere else.

Kakashi placed the dog on the floor, but it immediately bared its teeth and lunged for his ankle. "You are a vicious one, aren't you?" He scooped it back up by the scruff, examining it from all angles. "Are you the little present?"

His gaze shifted to Sakura as he spoke, and she felt her face flush even hotter, the blush creeping up her neck, filling her cheeks, and spilling down to her toes.

"I must have fallen asleep," she mumbled, trying to sound composed and reasonable but feeling more like she was about to burst into flames, because why was there a voice in her head screaming Yes! Yes! I am!

"It's a comfortable bed," he agreed drily, placing the puppy back on the mattress. It immediately scooted over to her, burrowing itself in the blankets around her legs, seeking warmth and comfort.

Kakashi sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. "I don't suppose this puppy is yours?" he asked, his tone a mix of exhaustion and amusement as he glanced at the small lump the puppy made under the blanket.

"I'm more of a cat person," Sakura muttered, her eyes lingering a little too long on him. His scent—wild, feral, raw—made her heart race. He'd probably been training or something like it. The thought of him working out, his muscles taut, skin glistening with effort, sent a new rush of heat through her.

In her mind, an outrageously inappropriate scenario unfolded. She pictured herself stepping in front of him before he could wash away that heady, intoxicating smell, grabbing him, pulling him close. She could almost feel his warmth against her, the way his skin would feel under her fingers as she pressed herself against him, as if by some primal instinct to rub that scent on him onto her.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded her, his expression still unreadable, but her breath hitched, mortified that her wild, unbidden thoughts might've somehow shown on her face.

"I have to ask," Kakashi said coldly. "Are you… are you trying to seduce me?"

"No!" Sakura squealed. "I know it must look like it, but it never crossed my mind! It's really not what it seems!"

"Okay, that's a relief," Kakashi replied, taking a deep breath as he settled onto the edge of the bed. "I'm pretty exhausted."

That was… his reason for being relieved?!

"Would you…," she stammered, her embarrassment nearly overwhelming. "Would you feel less relieved if you weren't exhausted?"

Kakashi met her gaze. "Honestly?" he said, his voice low and measured. "It's hard to say. Exhaustion has a way of dulling the edges of… well, everything."

Sakura felt her pulse quicken. "And if those edges were sharper?"

He paused just long enough for the silence to become charged with unspoken tension. "Then maybe I'd have to confront whatever this is."

Her breath caught. "And what is this?"

Kakashi leaned back slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Two half-naked people alone in a bedroom," he said and Sakura's stomach flipped.

It was a simple statement, yet it carried a world of unspoken possibility. This was it. A tipping point. She could cross that line, change everything between them with one simple gesture. It would be so easy. All she had to do was reach out, touch him, take that step. Everyone did this kind of thing, didn't they? People gave in to temptation all the time, everybody had sex with gods-know-whom. Why not her? All she had to do was stop thinking—stop worrying about consequences, propriety, or being the "good girl."

Her fingers twitched, aching to move, to bridge the gap between them. She wondered what it would feel like—his skin, warm beneath her touch, the roughness of his scars, his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. Would he pull her closer, or would there be a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he leaned in?

Kakashi's gaze stayed steady, but there was indeed a flicker of something in his eyes—a challenge, perhaps? Or maybe curiosity. Either way, it was subtle, restrained, like everything about him. He wasn't moving toward her, wasn't pushing her to close the distance. Just watching, waiting.

So typical.

Had she forgotten? Kakashi was never moved by anything. He lived in a perpetual state of calm detachment, as if nothing could ever surprise him, as if the world could crumble around him and he'd still be standing there, quietly observing, unaffected.

It was quite sobering. Exactly what she needed.

"What are we going to do?" She whispered, all her insecurities rushing to the fore. He was testing her, wasn't he? Taking her measure.

Kakashi cocked his head slightly, studying her carefully. "Well," he replied, his voice low and deliberate, "that depends on what you want."

What she wanted? The pull toward him was undeniable, but every time she tried to give it words, her mind stuttered. She wasn't supposed to want this. Not with him. Not like this.

"Kakashi," she started, but the words tangled in her throat. I can't do this.

She was a coward, had always been. She wasn't ready for what this would mean—for the consequences it would bring, for the shift it would cause between them. Kakashi waited, his expression softening, as if he could read the internal battle playing out on her face. And maybe he could.

"What if we just… talk?" Sakura suggested, her voice faltering slightly as she fought the disappointment that clawed at her. This was who she was—always cautious, always holding back, the eternal killjoy. Life had already passed her by and she wasn't even thirty yet.

Kakashi chuckled softly, quickly closing his eyes. "That sounds like a great idea. Talking is good," he agreed, turning her head towards her. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" Sakura replied a little too quickly. He had maneuvered them into utterly safe territory with this question. And yes, she was starving—she hadn't eaten since lunch, and even that had been just a small sandwich. Now that he mentioned it, her stomach growled, reminding her of how late it probably was. She glanced around the room, looking for some clue of the time, but there was no clock in sight.

"It's around 9pm," Kakashi said, hoisting himself upright. "So… what happened to your shirt…?"

"I washed it in your bathroom after the puppy ruined it," she admitted, holding her breath. Would he believe her?

He nodded as if that explanation was completely normal. "You can wear one of mine."

Kakashi rummaged through the cupboard before tossing her a dark blue shirt. As she slipped it over her head, she was hit by the scent—distinctly him, warm and comforting. The shirt hung loosely on her frame, but she wasn't about to complain. It felt soft against her skin and gave her an unexpected sense of security, the kind that came with being enveloped in something familiar.

"Small puppies need to go outside to pee quite frequently," Kakashi remarked, "especially during the early stages of house training."

Sakura glanced down at the fluffy black puppy snoozing at her feet, the little thing looking deceptively peaceful. "You want me to… take him outside?"

"Take him to the roof," Kakashi said with a nod, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'll take a quick shower in the meantime."

She blinked at him, then looked back down at the puppy. "Right. Okay." The thought of Kakashi in the shower was definitely a distraction she didn't need right now. "I can do that."

"The exit to the roof is one floor up."

"Won't there be Anbu there?" she asked, her voice rising in pitch.

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, "they are always stationed around the Hokage Tower, though I keep telling them that it's not…"

"What will they think when they see me this late?" she interrupted him, feeling queasy at the prospect of running into anyone.

"Nothing," Kakashi shrugged. "And if they do, they'll keep their thoughts to themselves."

"Right," she mumbled, shifting awkwardly. "Totally normal to be wandering around the roof in your shirt with a puppy at this hour."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "They've seen weirder things."

Sakura didn't want to imagine what that meant. The thought made her cheeks burn, and her mind wandered to a question she kept coming back to. Before making a complete fool of herself in Kakashi's bed tonight, she hadn't been able to stop herself from wondering about Kakashi and Tsunade. Had they… in here? When she had been Hokage? Or afterwards too?

"Up you go," Kakashi said, picking up the puppy and depositing the sleepy little lump into Sakura's quickly outstretched hands.

She barely had time to adjust her grip before the puppy let out an extensive yawn, its tiny pink mouth wide open. Sakura blinked at it, then at Kakashi.

"Anything I need to know about taking a puppy up to the roof? Like… can they fall off?"

"Definitely," Kakashi said, nodding with exaggerated seriousness. "This one looks like the type who might."

"What? Are you serious?" she squealed. "Do you have a leash?"

Kakashi looked slightly offended. "No. My dogs are never on a leash."

"Oookay," Sakura said slowly, looking down at the puppy in her hands, whose tiny body wriggled sleepily. She got up carefully, balancing the little thing before her. This was going to be interesting.

"You'll come back, right?" Kakashi asked, his voice casual, though his eyes lingered on her a second longer than usual. He didn't wait for an answer before turning and heading toward the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind him.

Sakura stood there for a moment, her mind buzzing and her heart racing again. She would come back—there was no doubt about that. Even though, deep down, she was pretty sure she shouldn't.

If Kakashi could have turned the shower even colder, he would have. The icy water did little to cool the heat that had built inside him. He had come dangerously close to making the biggest mistake of his life. He was just lucky that self-preservation, and maybe even a deep-seated fear of rejection, had made him dump the responsibility of choice on Sakura. It was embarrassingly cowardly, but if he hadn't? He knew, without a shred of doubt, that he wouldn't have had the strength to walk away from the temptation of her—half-naked, lying in his bed.

So beautiful.

The anger he felt for Pakkun surged, matching his own frustration at how weak he truly was. How had that blasted mutt orchestrated this? More importantly, how to punish his ninken for this? He did not know what was appropriate. Cutting all ties between them? He wasn't even sure that was possible.

Kakashi shut off the water after he'd scrubbed the sweat and grime off his skin, standing in the silence of the bathroom as droplets dripped from him. He toweled himself off, trying to focus on the mundane act of drying his hair and brushing it, even though it resisted taming like always.

Pulling on fresh underwear, then a black tracksuit, Kakashi glanced at his reflection. Should he put on a mask? She had reacted strangely the first time she saw his face, and even tonight her gaze had lingered longer than usual. But then again, tonight, there was more to be shocked about, like the fact that he had appeared in front of her in only boxers.

"It's my apartment," he muttered to himself. "And I can walk around naked if I want."

Shaking his head, he moved to the basin where Sakura's shirt was soaking. He scrubbed it with force under the running faucet, trying to wash away not just the stains. What had almost happened in that bedroom? What had he almost let happen?

My blood is up after a hunt, he rationalized. But it felt like a weak excuse when he, the trusted leader, the mentor, had almost crossed a line with his former student. Worse still, she wasn't just anyone; she was Sasuke Uchiha's girlfriend. What kind of man even considered this? What kind of scumbag would do this to someone who had already endured more than his fair share of hardship?

The water in the basin turned murky and Kakashi's jaw tightened. He had always been proud of his restraint, his ability to keep his distance, to remain in control. But tonight, that control had slipped, and he'd nearly betrayed everything he stood for.

He had some massive soul-searching to do.

He rinsed the shirt one last time, squeezing the water out with a determined twist of his hands, then hung it up to dry. Well, Kakashi was nothing if not practical. There was no use in wailing about a mistake that hadn't quite happened. He still had a chance to make things right. To restore the control he prided himself on.

Opening the bathroom door revealed that Sakura had not returned yet. All the better. The longer he had to compose himself, the easier it would be.

He padded quietly into the kitchen, his bare feet making no sound on the plush carpeting that stretched across the living room. The space was large, much too big for just one person, but it was the kitchen that Kakashi liked best. It was the perfect blend of functionality and style, with sleek granite countertops, dark wood cabinetry that lined the walls and a large island that dominated the center of the space. Its surface was wide enough to accommodate both cooking and casual dining, topped with elegant bar stools.

Determined, he opened the stainless steel fridge. "Let's see what we've got," he muttered to himself.

The fridge was stocked with fresh vegetables, meats, eggs, and various condiments, a testament to Shizune's relentless efforts to keep him fed, despite her current irritation with him. He pulled out a pack of fresh chicken thighs nestled beside a container of leftovers he would likely never get to. There was pre-cooked rice there too—Oyakodon was in their future. From the crisper drawer, he retrieved a large, firm onion. Kakashi also found a small bunch of green onions, perfect for a final garnish. His hand reached to the shelf for the essentials: soy sauce, mirin, and dashi.

After putting the rice into the rice-cooker to reheat, he made quick work of chopping the onion into thin slices. They went into a large frying pan and were topped with soy sauce, mirin, and dashi. Once it simmered, Kakashi added the chicken to the pan, stirring carefully until it was no longer pink. He cracked three eggs into a bowl and beat them lightly with a fork, then poured the eggs over the chicken mixture. With the lid on, he allowed the dish to cook for a couple of minutes, occasionally peeking in to check the eggs, ensuring they cooked just right—not too runny but still soft.

With a pang, he realized how much he had missed cooking.

In moments such as these, he was struck by the bittersweet truth of how much his life had changed since he had agreed to become Hokage. On good days, he could convince himself it had changed for the better. Wasn't it every shinobi's greatest dream to serve their village in this capacity? But on bad days, he felt hollow, like a shell stripped bare of its essence. The weight of responsibility felt crushing, a burden he had never truly wanted, and a burden he sometimes feared would break him.

Just then, a soft knock from the door brought him back to reality. "Come in!" he yelled, his heart picking up speed.

The door creaked open, and Sakura stepped inside shyly. The little dog zoomed in after her, barking excitedly, its tiny tail wagging furiously - until it saw Kakashi and begun eyeing him with suspicion.

"He wouldn't pee!" Sakura complained, exasperation coloring her tone. She threw him a look, then turned her eyes away. Maybe it was time to get that mask. No need to make her uncomfortable.

Kakashi wiped his hands on a kitchen towel as he turned to her. "Puppies can be a bit stubborn," he reassured her. "We will have to establish a routine—take him out after meals and when he wakes up. We will find a specific spot outside for him to go, and use a cue word like 'go pee pee' every time we take him out. It helps them learn what we want."

The "we" threw him off right after he'd said it.

Sakura sighed, shaking her head. "I didn't think it would be this complicated."

"Just be patient," Kakashi added. "It takes time. Watch for signs—if he starts sniffing around or whining, it's a good indication he needs to go. And when he does go, praise him right away. Positive reinforcement works wonders."

The "you" didn't sound right either. Clearly, this puppy was going to be his responsibility going forward.

She nodded, her expression shifting to one of mild determination. "I'll give it another shot."

"Good. In the meantime, dinner is almost ready." Kakashi lifted the lid to check on the pan, the rich scent wafting through the air.

"That smells heavenly!" Sakura exclaimed. "You made this? I thought we'd go out!"

Kakashi lifted his eyebrows playfully. "No need to sound so surprised," he smirked. "Did I not cook for you guys plenty of times?"

"Yeah, I guess," Sakura came closer, licking her lips as the aroma enveloped her. "But campfire food never smelled this good!"

Fluffing the rice in the rice cooker and letting the steam escape, he finally plated the dish, scooping generous portions of the chicken and egg mixture over the rice. For the finishing touch, he chopped the green onions and sprinkled them over the top.

"You want a beer?" he asked, glancing back at her.

"Will you have one?" Her eyes grew larger for just a moment, as if having a beer was the greatest thing in the world right now.

"Yes?" he replied, slightly amused.

"Then yes, please!" she said with enthusiasm, climbing onto one of the barstools.

Kakashi grabbed a couple of chilled beers from the fridge, popping the caps off and handing one to her. As he settled onto a stool across from her, he couldn't deny a certain warm, fuzzy feeling at serving this woman self-made food and seeing her eyes light up in delight.

"Do you want me to put on a mask?" he asked.

She looked at him briefly and blinked.

"No," she said quietly, "I'm sure it's annoying for you to eat with. And it's okay. I will… I will try to get used to seeing your face."

The warm-fuzzy feeling intensified dangerously within him. Oh boy, just like that, they were back in dangerous territory. This time, fully clothed. Small blessings were still blessings, he supposed.

Sakura took a bite, her expression transforming into one of pure joy. "This is amazing! I really didn't know you were such a great cook!"

"I used to get plenty of practice," he said, shrugging modestly, though the truth lay in the shadows of his past. Growing up without parents meant he had to fend for himself, learning to cook out of necessity rather than passion.

Sakura's gaze lingered on him, and Kakashi felt more warmth spread through him under her scrutiny. You're that starved of normal human interactions? he scoffed internally, but it felt like more than that. The feeling could have terrified him, but not even he was stupid enough to second-guess this as long as he didn't have to.

She devoured everything in front of her, her appetite voracious, and eyed the pot, hoping for seconds.

"I'll cook for you again," he chuckled, getting up to serve her more. "This is quite gratifying."

"Oh, I'll be here, ready to eat," she enthused, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she dug in once more.

Kakashi raised his beer in a toast again, a grin spreading across his face. "To more meals together, then. And to getting used to each other's faces."

Sakura clinked her bottle against his, and as they settled back into their meal, he found himself stealing glances at her, appreciating the way her features softened in the glow of the kitchen light. The conversation flowed easily, laughter punctuating their words, and soon they found themselves discussing everything from old missions to shared memories of their training days.

It was time that intruded upon this perfect moment with its well-known brutality.

"You want some coffee?" Kakashi asked, taking the bowls and placing them into the dishwasher.

"Isn't it a little late for that?" Sakura frowned, her brow furrowing slightly as she leaned back against the counter, arms crossed.

Kakashi made a rueful face. "Yes, but I have piles of documents waiting for me."

"What?" She cried, jumping off the barstool. "Don't tell me… you're going back to work?!"

"I have to, Sakura," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There are reports to review and decisions that can't wait."

"Oh," her face fell. "That reminds me…"

She zoomed out of the kitchen, returning not much later with two colorful transparent file folders. "I came here to hand over my two reports."

Ah. The gears in Kakashi's head began to turn. Maybe Pakkun wasn't responsible for everything. His eye fell on the sleeping puppy underneath Sakura's chair. Only that. The rest was on them.

"Okay?" He extended his hand, and she hesitated for a moment before placing the files into his palm.

"The first is about my mission abroad," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "It's… it tells you everything you need to know. I also made some recommendations at the end."

"Thank you," he replied, glancing over the cover page briefly.

"The second is my report to you as Head of the Hospital. It's… it's incomplete. I didn't have time to formulate recommendations."

"That's fine," Kakashi assured her. "If I have any questions, I'll just ask."

They held each other's gaze for a moment. Kakashi could feel the weight of what he could easily have said hanging between them, daring words that felt tantalizingly close to crossing his lips. He swallowed them down.

"Because you will report to me regularly from now on," he added, trying to keep the tone light, but even that felt like a precarious tightrope. It was time to part, to let the reality of their roles seep back into the comfortable space they had shared.

"Yes," she said, her gaze dropping to her feet. "Yes, of course."

"Goodnight." He extended his hand to her, feeling a mix of reluctance and resolve.

"You… you will take care of the puppy?" she asked, hesitating.

"Sure," he nodded, forcing a lightness into his tone. "Dogs are up my alley after all. Besides, this one was dropped off by my loving ninken."

"Ah," she still hesitated. "Well, okay. And the kitchen…?"

"On me," he smiled.

"And my shirt…?"

"I'll give it to you once it's dry," he promised, trying to keep the conversation casual.

"And I'll give you back yours," she replied tersely.

"Yes," he nodded. "That's how it's done."

"Okay, then," she said, her voice soft. "I guess I'll see you… soon?"

"Soon," he confirmed, feeling a pang of reluctance at the thought of her leaving. "Sleep well, Sakura."

"Goodnight, Kakashi." She lingered for just a moment longer before turning toward the door, the puppy chasing after her, tail wagging with innocent enthusiasm.

"You stay here," Kakashi grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, gently but with enough authority to keep it from following her out.

As she stepped outside, Kakashi waved, the little creature trembling in his hand. Once the door clicked shut behind her, the puppy began whining pitifully.

"I know," Kakashi murmured soothingly, petting its head gently as he felt like whining too. "Looks like it's just us for the night. But we'll manage, won't we?"

He went to one of the cupboards to retrieve some dog-treats, bowls and a blanket. As he went to the kitchen to clean up before tackling his documents for tonight, his mind drifted unbidden to memories of the past. He remembered all the life lessons about not letting people get too close, the stark brutality of that reality hitting him particularly hard after letting himself experience softness and warmth tonight.

With each dish he washed, his melancholy deepened. He thought about all the people he had lost—friends, teammates, family—each loss like a sharp blade that cut deeper than he could withstand. Had he learned nothing over the years?

Time to build another wall around himself. One that wouldn't come crashing down so easily.