Take My Pain Away Chp 6

[CAndyElly]

Sorry for getting this one out so late? I blame it on my term paper on Schizophrenia and Counseling Techniques.

Thanks to the boyfriend for choreographing the fight scene for me!

I?m future-telling in this one a little bit about Kakashi?s past. I?m too impatient to wait and see what it really is and well I don?t think my readers would hang out that long either ^^

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A new day, a new country, and a new objective. All hope seemed to be lost when it pertained to locating Uchiha Sasuke. They had taken the small lead and left Otafuku but the city they had come to held not even one scent of the man. With no further leads this mission was a needle in a haystack. Kakashi and Sakura were still attempting to locate the Uchiha, however, their ambition was dying at the lack of action now. They were taking it easy.

Sakura?s birthday was in two days. She would enter the world of being an adult in about 48 hours. It wasn?t too significant to her. She had felt as if she were an adult for many years now. The things she had seen and the acts she had committed for her country were enough to make anyone grow up faster than usual. Her emotions responded to situations as if she were an adult already. Often times she wondered what it was like to be her age?being a ninja made it seem like she skipped her teenage years.

Sakura sighed as she pulled her hair back from her eyes. Kakashi and she had been sparing for hours and she was beginning to tire. Like usual, he didn?t look the least bit phased for all he did was dodge.

She turned her gaze to his form. He was resting under the shade of a tree on the edge of the forest. He was sitting casually, leaning against the trunk, reading his latest novel. There was something peaceful and serene about it and Sakura could not help but stare at him there.

Looking up from his novel, Kakashi smiled in Sakura?s direction when he noticed her gaze. She took this as an invitation and made her way over to join him under the cool shade of the tree. At first she just stood next to him, feeling the breeze as it brushed her skin. She supposed they looked like quite a teacher and student pair there, at the side of the forest.

Sakura looked down as she felt a tug on her pants leg to see Kakashi motioning for her to sit down. She obliged and took a seat on the earth rather close to him. There was something odd about his reaction when she took her place, his aura changed in a way that made her feel more welcome at his side. Her presence seemed to make him evolve into relaxation.

Sakura inched closer to him so that her arm was touching his and their legs rested against each other. She could almost feel his body relax against hers and although his breathing did not change she swore she heard a small sigh.

There was something here between them. It was no longer a teacher and student relationship they shared. This mission may not have wielded significant results yet, but it had strengthened their friendship?their bond. It was one of those feelings that Sakura couldn?t name. She was seeing him through new eyes.

Kakashi was a very attractive man, but Sakura would not let her fall victim to his looks. She had her guard up?it was apparent that women all over the country saw the same things as she in this man that was her former sensei.

?Hey, sensei.?

Sakura hadn?t called him that in weeks. He didn?t turn his head to her as she spoke, instead he looked to the leaves above him, ?Hm??

?Don?t use the same things on me as you have all of your women. I?m much more fragile.? Sakura spoke in a calm voice. She valued their friendship and did not want to see it thrown away because she couldn?t resist his charm?she had felt herself begin to fall and she was not feeling him resist in any way. His love for women was known among the Jounins. She didn?t want to be another woman.

?You have my word.? Kakashi replied softly, not emitting any signs of shock at her statement. He understood her.

Silence followed the two of them as they sat there leaning against each other. Kakashi continued reading his novel and Sakura just calmed herself into a meditative state, enjoying the feeling of being there.

After around one hour, Kakashi broke the silence. ?I want to teach you a new Jutsu.?

Sakura snapped out of her state and turned her head to look at him. He was still holding his book but he was not looking at the pages?his gaze was straightforward. She didn?t respond.

?I?m no longer your teacher, I know. But humor me, I think you could put good use to it.? His visible eye went soft as he made eye contact with her. He trusted her without any doubt. With a nod, Sakura agreed his offer.

Kakashi reached to his side to pull a small scroll out of his pouch. Quietly he unrolled the scroll to expose a list of signatures written in ink so dark of a red that it was almost brown. The last name read ?Hatake Kakashi?.

?This is a blood pact, Sakura. It?s irreversible and signing your name here will create an unbreakable bond with the hounds. It?s not very ladylike?but I?m serious about passing this skill down through you.? Kakashi laid the scroll down on the ground before him, ?So?? he continued, ?If you want, I?m willing.?

Sakura was flattered, to say the least. There were no other names she recognized on the pact and she gathered that the length of time between the signatures was very far. ?I would feel honored to make this pact.?

Kakashi reached to his leg and pulled a kunai from its holster, ?Let me have your hand...trust me.?

Sakura complied and held her hand out to her teacher. She prepared herself for the stick as Kakashi so gently held her hand in his.

?I?m sorry.? He apologized as he brought the kunai to her finger to pierce the soft porcelain skin, causing crimson droplets begin to run down her hand. She didn?t even flinch. He then gestured for her to sign her name on the pact.

The scroll felt rough beneath her wounded finger as she signed the pact offered before her. She felt important. Her Jutsu had always been exceptional but she had nothing to call her own. There was nothing to separate herself from the others she graduated the academy with. No special bloodline trait was found in her genes, and thought she was smarter than your average ninja, there were others smarter than her.

Once she was done, Kakashi took her hand once more and softly wiped off the blood with his shirt and then brought her fingers up to kiss them. Sakura felt herself float and ironically her pain instantly disappeared.

Kakashi stood, still holding her hand, and brought her up with him. They were standing so close; Sakura could feel his warm aura exuding from his body.

?Follow my hands.? He commanded as he let go of her hand to show her one of the Jutsu to summon the hounds.

Sakura followed him and repeated the steps until she felt rather fluent and Kakashi nodded at her to try the summoning Jutsu seriously this time.

With all her concentration, Sakura pushed her will and chakra into the one place needed for this Jutsu. She had always had great control over her chakra and such a step in this Jutsu seemed almost elementary to her. Then quickly forming the seals she brought her thumb up to her mouth, tearing the skin with her teeth, and then shoved her hands violently at the ground.

?Summoning no Jutsu!?

With a poof, very similar to the one Kakashi was so fond of arriving with, a small brown dog appeared.

?Pakkun!? Sakura squealed delightfully at the sight of the pup she hadn?t seen in so long, bringing her loose fists up to each sides of her wide smile.

?Well now, what a surprise. It?s been a while Sakura, you?ve grown beautifully.? Pakkun turned his gaze to Kakashi, who was standing behind Sakura with a look of pride, ?and what can I do for you, Kakashi??

Kakashi shook his head in a slow and languid motion, ?She called you here, not I.?

Pakkun returned the direction of his gaze back to Sakura, ?I see?? he said someone hesitantly, ?What can I do for you, Sakura??

Sakura stood contemplating if there actually was anything the pup could do for her, then it struck her, ?Do you sense Uchiha Sasuke at all??

?No dear.?

?Ah, well it was worth a shot. Forgive me, you are my practice for this Jutsu. I hope I didn?t disturb you!? Sakura blushed slightly, turning her face away from the dog.

Pakkun once again looked at the man standing behind Sakura, ?I was beginning to wonder when you would pass this Jutsu, Kakashi. I was afraid you might take us to the grave.? Pakkun paused, ?Forgive me for my bluntness, but what are your reasons for chosing Sakura? They will like to know.? Pakkun was referring to the other hounds that were now at Sakura?s call.

Kakashi stepped forward and came to a squat in front of Pakkun, petting him on the head, ?She?s my purpose, Pakkun. I want you to protect her when she calls. It is very important to me.?

After his request Kakashi turned his gaze to Sakura and smiled his sweetest smile. Sakura felt her knees weaken in his gaze. She wasn?t sure that he meant it to have that effect on her, but never the less it did.

?On my honor, we will protect her with our lives.? Pakkun spoke and quickly disappeared in the same way he had arrived.

Sakura felt warmth and trust in her former sensei. It was almost indescribable how honored she was at receiving such trust.

?Kakashi,? her gaze was still fixed on him even though he had his back turned to her, ?Thank you for your trust.?

He nodded, and began explaining the different hounds to her and what all abilities they could use. Then he stopped. There was one more thing he needed to say and he didn?t even want to voice the possibility.

Sakura could tell his sudden change to seriousness and deep inside she knew what was coming. It was of no harm but the mention of it alone was like accepting the reality that every ninja tried their best to run from.

?If anything should happen to me?? he paused, realizing how realistic it actually was, ?You must keep this scroll.? He held up the pact in reference.

?I?I understand.? She didn?t want to talk of death for it was all too common.

?Now where was I?? As quickly as he had changed moods he switched them back again and dropped to a sitting position without even bothering to change his location. He picked up his novel from the forest floor and began reading where he left off.

Sakura smiled to herself, this is what she liked about Kakashi. He had the ability to be able to switch on his happiness at any moment and make those around him smile as well. It took a lot of strength at times, she knew.

?You?re such a pervert.? She laughed, not moving her gaze.

He didn?t respond. He sat there pretending to read as he took in the feeling of her gaze. His love crazy student had developed into a beautiful woman. A woman that anyone would have been proud to have at their side.

Time passed and they both sat there together quietly like they had been doing before. The more Sakura got to thinking the more she realized how relatively little she knew of Kakashi. She felt so close to him yet the only thing she knew of him is that he was a ANBU member and apparently he had graduated the academy at a very young age. He liked those perverted books, that was a fact?and he was a pretty decent, even if strict, teacher. She chuckled as she remembered Team 7?s test to become Genin. It seemed so long ago.

?I want to know more about you.? Sakura offered.

?There isn?t much to know.? Kakashi didn?t even bother looking up from his book.

?That is a blatant lie and you know it. I?ve known you for eight years now and have yet to even see your face. Tell me something, anything. I don?t care. Just tell me something I don?t know. I?ll return the favor.?

?There?s something about you that I don?t know?? He asked her, suspiciously.

?Gotta be.?

?Hmmm well how serious does mine have to be??

?Well tell me about something that made you who you are??

Kakashi paused briefly to think before he continued on, ?It hurts to remember those things. You don?t want to see that side of me.?

?I?ve seen it. I see it all the time. You trust me so much with your hounds yet you can?t tell me the least bit about yourself?? She was slightly accusing him now. She found herself offended that he didn?t confide in her for personal matters.

?If it hurts too much, I?ll drop it. I?m sorry.? She smiled nervously, ?Didn?t mean to upset you.? Sakura stood to her feet and began walking a line, pacing almost. Restlessness was starting to take her over.

Silence once more passed between them as Kakashi marked the page in his book and put it away in his pouch. He hadn?t talked of himself for so long. The only ones who knew anything about his past were the ones who were actually a part of it?and most of those were dead. He didn?t want to scare her. There were a million memories running through his mind that he could share with her, yet he didn?t want to share a single one. They were memories that had been pushed into the depths of his mind and had a thick layer of dust he had to clear before they would resurface.

?I can?t think of what I want to tell you.? He spoke honestly.

Sakura had an idea of something he could tell her that wouldn?t be too terribly painful for him, ?Tell me why you wear that mask.?

?I started wearing it when I was young and well? it just became a part of me.? Easy enough, he supposed.

?I figured as much. Why did you start wearing it??

?It?s been so long I can?t even remember clearly,? he laughed, ?I suppose it had something to do with me being so young at my level. I graduated early. I was taken more seriously if people couldn?t see that I was actually still a kid.?

?And you won?t show me because??? Sakura questioned.

?Because I like the games you play. It?s like tradition now.? His eye turned up into a smile as he looked at her.

?Why don?t you show me, and then we?ll pretend I didn?t see it and I?ll keep playing them.? She returned his sly smile.

?Fat chance.?

?It was worth a shot.? Sakura shrugged and moved her gaze back to the forest floor.

?Ok, now something about you.?

?Everyone I know has had these terrible things happen to them, but honestly I feel like a rather lucky?but boring?person.? Sakura sat down behind the peaceful man, her back pressed against his and her knees brought up to her chest in a tight hug. He felt content with just that small touch of her being there.

?You?re far from boring. You keep an old man entertained.?

Sakura never thought of him as old. He was in his 30s, she knew??My entire life I?ve lived just normal. Look at all the great ninja, they weren?t normal. Your life wasn?t normal.? It was that feeling again. That feeling that in the end she was nothing special.

?Sakura, let go.?

?What?? Sakura looked at him in question, unsure of what he meant.

?Just let go. It?s beautiful here, you know.? His voice was calm and held great reassurance.

?Here?? she repeated to herself. She let her head fall back and rest on his shoulder, looking up at the sky. A sigh escaped Kakashi?s covered lips as he felt more contact with the beautiful girl. Here?it wasn?t obvious but Sakura knew the meaning. Here?it meant that mind state. That point of breakdown. In the end it wasn?t that bad to just lose control and admit you don?t know where you are going. It wasn?t your past, it was the here and now.

?Here?? Sakura repeated in a whisper, watching the clouds roam overhead through the sky. They all had a destination, clouds and lives?they all moved in the same direction.

With a deep breath, Kakashi spoke, ?Feel that??

?What?? She felt a lot of things but which the older man was referring to was beyond her.

Taking another deep breath, Kakashi answered her, ?That?breathing.?

Closing her eyes, Sakura fell into the feeling of his back to hers and of their slight movement as they both inhaled and exhaled the cool winter air. It was almost as if she could try hard enough and feel the breath tickle across every inch of her body on the inside before it escaped her. She had never thought about breathing. It had never seemed so hopeful.

Kakashi closed his eyes as well and leaned back into her as she did him. His head fell back to rest on her shoulder and he turned his face to look at her. She did the same and they were facing each other?only an inch apart. They were so close and she could feel his warm breath over her eyes.

?Everyone takes that same breath?? he whispered, his eyes were caught on her lips and with all his might he tried but he just couldn?t tear his gaze away. They looked so inviting and at that moment he knew?he knew there was something there between them that hadn?t been there before.

?Kakashi?? He felt each warm breath of his name brush across his face. She knew what he was trying to say. It didn?t matter of your past; deep down you are still the same person no matter what happens to you. As long as you had a purpose, and as long as you let that drive you. It wasn?t along the same lines as Neji?s belief in fate?it seemed more spiritual.

Kakashi reached his hand up to run his fingers through the cherry blossom hair that fell over his chest. Sakura fell into his touch, savoring every moment of it. She could feel his breath getting heavier through his mask and he pushed himself against her back.

Suddenly, Sakura panicked. It was happening. She told herself she wouldn?t let it happen, she wasn?t another one of his women. He was her teacher and she didn?t want to ruin this because he was so damned irresistible. He was her extremely supposedly handsome teacher with a love for perverted books and women. Without thinking much more about it she jerked her head off his shoulder and jumped to her feet, nearly causing him to fall backwards without her support.

?No, no, no, no!? A flustered Sakura exclaimed, looking down at Kakashi with a glare. Her finger had raised and was pointed at him, as if accusing him of something.

He smiled dumbly through the mask, moving his body around to face her.

?Quit before you?re ahead!? She yelled at him with a voice that sounded completely unsure of what she should even be saying, ?I?m not falling for it Hatake Kakashi! I refuse.?

He had to admit to himself that he was doing something?but he was doing it because he wanted to. The feeling had come from her too. She was every little bit of a seductress as he was a seducer. He wasn?t alone in playing this game and he knew it. The words she spoke, however, had truth. It wouldn?t be worth it for a little tension relief that would just fade eventually on its own. It wouldn?t be worth the repercussions if anyone found out, either.

Holding his hands in the air as he surrendering, he spoke, ?You caught me, I?ll quit.?

?Good.? She eyed him suspiciously, not completely believing him or even knowing if he had control over what was happening.

?So?Sakura-chan?? He nodded lazily to the clearing, ?Ready to start your training again? You know?since I?m apparently still your teacher.?

Sakura?s blood boiled at his voicing of ?Sakura-chan?, causing her cheeks to grow a deep red. She was blushing and she was furious at the same time. God, this man could so easily push her buttons with just the slightest bit of effort. ?You have to stand up first, you lazy pervert!?

Kakashi slowly moved to his feet and looked at her with his visible eye. His posture was slouched, as always. How tall would he be if he stood proudly, she wondered.

?But you have to fight back, this time. No reading that damn book.?

?Trust me, I learned my lesson?? He chuckled as she took her fighting stance.

Ready for action, Sakura charged at her former teacher, throwing two smoke bombs at his feet. Instinctively, Kakashi in turn threw a kunai into the cloud of smoke that bellowed before him. When the smoke began to clear he noticed a simple log with a kunai logged into the bark.

Sakura used her Jutsu to appear behind Kakashi and in a quick movement with her feet she swept his legs out from underneath him. Step one, accomplished. Sakura thought to herself.

Not expecting the sudden kick, Kakashi feel backwards and felt his back connect with the cold ground. It wasn?t a very hard fall so he quickly moved to recover back to his feet. Propelling himself up from the ground he was shocked when his head came into contact with Sakura?s warm leg, causing him to fall down again. Step two. She grinned.

Sakura had expected at least two seconds to pass before Kakashi made a recovery from the knee to the head. However, she had underestimated him. In surprising speed, Kakashi reached his arm out to grab Sakura?s leg, pulling it towards him and causing her to nearly fall into a split.

With Sakura knocked off balance Kakashi took the cue and sprang to his feet. While Sakura was falling she quickly brought her other leg around and attempted to kick at him once more. In response, he dashed backwards with no problem.

Unable to save herself, Sakura fell to her back in the same spot Kakashi had. She quickly jumped up and sat in a squatting position, ready for an advance from the man.

An advance didn?t come. Looking more carefully in front of her, Sakura noticed the man was no longer there. As she was turning her head around to check the area at her side she was tackled from behind.

With Sakura in his arms Kakashi brought them both to standing. Sakura braced herself to be thrown, but was surprised when nothing came. He just held her there in his arms, with her back to his chest. She could feel his labored breaths and her knees began to go weak in his firm grasp.

Kakashi grinned to himself, noticing the effect he had on the girl in his capture. Leaning over to where his masked lips were next to his ear, he whispered, ?It feels so good to have you like this??

Sakura was getting ready to say something in return when Kakashi?s grip tightened on her. With no warning, Kakashi arched his back into a backbend, pulling Sakura over him in the process. Sakura?s chest hit the cold ground with great force. The impact had knocked the breath out of her and she lay there gasping.

A tall figure stood over her, one leg on each side in a straddle. He placed his hands on his hips and smirked as he looked down at the breathless girl, ?I take your breath away, don?t I??

?Kak?ashi? you?perv?? Sakura gasped between gulps of air while glaring at the man standing over her. She had a weakness, and as ninja do, Kakashi had exploited it fully.

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They had returned to their rooms around six in the evening. It was time for another night of hide and go seek with Uchiha Sasuke. Just a few minutes ago was the first time Sakura had even thought of the boy all day long. Funny, it was supposed to be a mission about him too.

In accordance of taking the day off to train and spar, they decided to go out and look for leads at night. As usual they would start separate and probably meet up somewhere along the way and continue on together. This town wasn?t nearly as busy as Otafuku but still there was enough to keep them busy for a few more days.

Sakura had decided first to try all the inns. She knew it was likely that he had stayed at one of them had he passed through here. She didn?t feel hopeful, honestly. There were a number a ways he could have traveled after leaving Otafuku. They had chosen this one because it was closest. Tsunade had asked them to report back after about two weeks if there wasn?t any significant information and it would be near those two weeks when they were done in this town.

It was so boring! This was the worst mission ever, she thought to herself. It felt more like a vacation than a mission?and really, this was a huge country. Had Sasuke wanted to be found she was pretty sure he would have made himself known by now, or at least been careless enough to leave a few clues where he was going.

Sakura sighed, knowing deep down that she should have told Tsunade the events that lead to him fleeing Konoha. It was possible that she would have even called off the mission altogether and kept it at more of a casual search. Sakura cursed herself for not swallowing her pride and coming out with the truth. Tsunade would be upset with her for disclosing information, but she thought it would be best when they head back to Konoha at the end of the two weeks.

So far, Sakura had checked three inns. The clerks hadn?t recognized the picture but they did tell her when the shift change would be so she could come back and ask again. She planned on doing that in the morning. There was only one more inn that she knew to check and it was on the other side of town. It was getting late, it would just have to wait until tomorrow.

With her stomach noticeably growling in hunger, Sakura stopped at a small bakery and purchased a slice of cake. Kakashi was nowhere near to scold her in her choice of dinners so she took full advantage of the opportunity. After quickly eating the cake in a not so very ladylike manner, she continued on her way back to the inn where she was staying.

There was a bar next to the inn and she knew Kakashi had been there last night after she had slept. She didn?t know his business there but she figured it was just to pick up a drink. If there were women involved, which by the looks of the bar there were, she didn?t want to know about it.

Sakura had to pass the said bar on the way back to the hotel and stopped in her tracks at what she saw. She could barely make out Kakashi?s form on a stool with three rather attractive women surrounding him. Had she not been expecting to find him in a situation such as this, she would have never known it was him.

That bastard! I?ve got to stay away from him?

Her mind told her one thing but there was something there that made her step into the door of the bar and inspect closer. Kakashi had his back turned to the door so she was in no fear of being discovered. Had he known she was here, he most definitely wouldn?t be in such a flirtatious situation.

The girls around him laughed as Kakashi apparently said something humorous. Sakura could feel herself wanting to smack every one of them. How dare they!

?Aww?but you must be so handsome under that mask of yours. Are you sure you don?t want to come with us?? One of the girls made her best pouting face as she positioned her chest with cleavage directly in the Jounin?s eye site.

Sakura?s fists clenched at her side as she watched the scene. Kakasensei is going to go home with these women! He is such a damn?

?I?m sorry, ladies.? The corner of his visible eye turned up into what signified a smile, ?I have my eyes set on someone else, I don?t want to mess it up.?

Sakura nearly tripped over the table in shock and had to reach out to hold the chair in front of her to keep her from falling. This man who had teased her all day long out of pure fun had just turned down three beautiful women with the excuse of there is someone else in his life.

Was she that someone?

Sakura frantically made her way out the door of the bar before he noticed her presence and briskly walked all the way to her hotel room. She unlocked the door and then threw herself onto her stiff bed, looking up at the ceiling.

/I have my eyes set on someone else. I don?t want to mess it up./

Sakura?s breath began to pick up as his voice rang in her mind. If he was talking about her, then that means he is serious. If he was so serious and determined how was she going to be able to escape his seduction?

Kakashi had far more experience in the art of seduction than she had. Honestly, she didn?t even know what to watch out for. She was a virgin. Aside from the unpleasant incident with Sasuke, she didn?t really know a thing about sex and seduction. Naruto and she had kissed once, but it was really just out of curiosity.

This couldn?t happen. He used to be her teacher.

You think he?s sexy, don?t you?

Inner Sakura spoke up, contradicting all of her thoughts. Deep down, she wanted him?but what about the consequences? A one night stand might be too much for her to take from someone who is so close to her. Could they ever go back to being teacher and student?

Thoughts were interrupted with the click of a door opening. It was the door that conjoined her room with Kakashi?s. She didn?t bother looking up, she knew by the sound of his gentle footsteps that he was walking towards her.

?I saw you running out of the bar.? He spoke as he sat down on the bed next to her, causing the mattress to shift and her head to role to the side.

?You looked busy.? She fumbled, hoping to work around the fact that she had heard his declaration. To avoid any unplanned contact, she raised her body up to sitting and turned to halfway face him. He was looking at her.

With that goddamn handsome stare he could do.

?Kakashi, I??

?I wanted to say I?m sorry.? He interrupted her before she could finish what she was about to say.

?Sorry?? She looked at him in question.

?I made you uncomfortable today.?

Sakura could faintly smell some type of alcohol come from Kakashi?s direction. He had come to her after drinking, how flattering. ?No you didn?t.? She was being honest. The attention she had received today had been exhilarating.

Standing, Sakura moved over to where the older man sat on her bed. His hair was beginning to fall with the late hour and silver bangs fell into the gaze of his one visible eye. ?Don?t you ever get tired of this thing?? Sakura reached out to flick the headband that covered his sharingan eye.

?I don?t have much of a choice.? Kakashi?s vision was beginning to make him slightly dizzy. He looked around him and stopped to think of what his reason for coming into her room was, other than the apology. He then realized he didn?t have another reason.

?Take it off.?

?Eh? You are trying to take advantage of me in my state?? Kakashi referred to the mask he was wearing.

?No, I won?t touch the mask.? She promised him. Actually, Sakura?s only intention was to look into his eyes. Even in his semi-drunk state she wondered if she could look into his eyes and tell what it was that she was feeling.

?You don?t remember what happened last time, do you?? Kakashi asked the small girl standing before him.

?Last time???

?The last time you looked into my eyes.?

Sakura froze. She hadn?t remembered anything at all. The only time she had seen his sharingan was in battle?she hadn?t looked into his eyes then.

?Do you remember the cherry blossom trees??

Cherry blossom trees?then it hit her. The night that she dreamed all those beautiful dreams? ?I didn?t know that was you??

Kakashi turned his head to look at the sheets of her bed, which were tossed around in every direction, ?You haven?t been sleeping well, have you??

?No?? she said softly, realizing what he was going to offer.

Kakashi reached up to slip his headband off, causing his silver hair to fall into his face. Sakura?s breathing picked up slightly in awe at how beautiful he seemed to be.

Looking into his eyes to find out what she felt, wasn?t working. What a stupid idea?she thought to herself.

?Kakashi, I don?t want to??

?I know.? He interrupted her. ?I?m not here for that.?

She had her head turned to the side so she didn?t have to look at his handsome face, even if it was still masked.

Gently, Kakashi reached out to brush the side of her cheek so that her face turned in his direction. His sharingan eye was closed. ?I?ll never take advantage of you like this, Sakura. I just want you to dream.?

She nodded softly as he opened his sharingan eye. It was like a sudden feeling of warmth took over her body and no matter how hard she tried she could not break this gaze.

Suddenly, there they were. Back in Konoha?back in the cherry blossom grove. Sunlight hit her soft skin and looking down she noticed she was wearing the outfit like she was 12 years old again. Smiling, she looked up at Kakashi, who was standing a little bit away from her. His face looked younger as well.

?Remember eight years ago?? He asked her, and she nodded. ?Dream of it, my blossom.?

In the hotel room, their eyes were still locked into a deep gaze. Sakura had no sense of things around her. To her, they were in the grove?eight years ago. She had been so happy then?well she was still happy, but, she held dreams then. The one thing she wanted was a dream.

Kakashi gently grabbed her in her arms and laid her down in her bed. He was glad he could give this to her. It was already decided in his mind that he would not take the tension between them any further. What they had right now was a beautiful and trusting friendship, and he did not want to break that for her.

Kissing her forehead softly, Kakashi whispered, ?Sweet dreams?my blossom.?

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OMG that was long! I suppose the length makes up for me putting it out so late ^^