Her anxious footsteps were beginning to draw looks from the guards on duty at the main gate. Looking out over the horizon through the gaping wooden doors, Sakura’s internal monologue only sped up her pacing.
What if he'stoo tired…or worse, injured again? What if he can't come back by today and I lose the timing? My next mission is already tomorrow...
Her fingers worried the loose tendril of hair that fell in front of her ear. Biting her lip, she mentally recounted everything Tsunade had told her on Monday.
His mission was a solo A-rank mission scheduled to take one week. He'd already been gone for 3 days when I badgered Shishou about it, so he should be coming home today. Which means today is definitely his birthday. And seeing as no one else is here waiting to greet him, it's more likely than not that he hasn't made other plans.
She smiled in spite of herself. It wasn’t that she wished for his friends and colleagues to do nothing special for his birthday — she’d never want him to feel neglected. But she was happy that they generally seemed none the wiser of his birthdate. Her teammates, including Yamato, had certainly had no idea when she asked them weeks ago. In fact, she’d been asking every once in a while since she was a genin, hoping to pry the prized information out of somebody. But just like their mission to sneak a peek at his face all those years ago, his personal details were just as hard to unmask.
But in the end, it had been by a mere slip of the tongue on Tsunade’s part that Sakura finally got what she wanted. After a very routine Monday morning report to her Hokage, which somehow always devolved into worrying about her former Sensei until she got scolded, Tsunade let slip that the date of Kakashi's return signaled a well-deserved paid vacation. One which she’d purposely scheduled to commence on the good man’s birthday—how dare Sakura insinuate that she was slave-driving Konoha’s best Anbu operative!
Perhaps it was the case that Kakashi’s friends had come to accept by now that he just wasn’t a presents-and-party sort of person. But to Sakura, enduring her Shishou’s temper for this secret knowledge was priceless. So what if he didn’t care for parties? That certainly didn’t have to preclude him for receiving presents. And what she wanted to give him was extra special—it wasn’t something that made sense to just hand over any old time. But by the same token, she wasn’t about to make a huge deal out of it. He wouldn’t like that.
She wanted this to be something he’d like. Something meaningful. And she was sure he’d make an exception for this.
So as the mid-afternoon sun began to drift lower on that distant horizon her heartbeat and her pacing grew a little faster.
He better not be coming back on a stretcher this time. I don't know if I have it in me to see him like that again. I know the war is over, and that he’s always been more than capable without his Sharingan, but that doesn’t mean an A-rank mission is any less dangerous…
She stilled, right in the middle of the gate and looked skyward with a sigh.
All I want isto see him.
Her blush was invisible to the guards at her back, but they’d seen enough nervous pacing in front of that gate to know when someone was anxiously awaiting the return of a lover.
“Who’s the lucky nin?” one of the pair called out to her in a lilting voice, unable to contain his curiosity. He knew who she was — all the jonin did. How could he not be curious?
She spun on the spot, obviously ruffled. “What did you say?!” she spat out.
“Must be a secret fling,” muttered the other one to his partner, “if she’s acting like that.”
“Do you want me to personally oversee your next medical exam?” she shot back, threateningly tugging at the wrist of her gloved hand while eyeing the pair.
“Calm your kunais, we’re just messing with you.” The first one said again with a chuckle. “Just wanted to see if you’re as picky as they say.”
Typical, she scoffed to herself, you turn down 1 jonin and this is what happens...
Not willing to take the bait, she hmmph’d emphatically and turned her back on them. Too bad that little comment really did add to her anxiety; she was feeling nervous enough as it was, but now she definitely didn’t want an audience to hear her invitation possibly get shot down. Especially after being labelled “picky.” Ugh. Now that she knew today’s guard rotation were a couple of Nosy Nancy’s she just take this outside. So, still fuming, she set off out the gates and stomped down the road until she was well out of sight.
Just as she was coming upon a wide spot in the road, she felt it.
He's near!
His chakra presence tickled the edges of her perception like a small, painless flame. She spun around, excitedly wondering if she could predict from which location he might emerge.
But before she could narrow it down, she felt the gentle whoosh of his flashstep and the heavy palm atop her hair from behind.
She spun back around, a big smile on her face. Oh thank goodness, she thought, It looks like just cuts and bruises this time!
“Sakura-chan!” he smiled genuinely at her, looking her up and down. “Not headed out are you?”
She reveled in his hand still ruffling her hair, and shook it. “Nope!”
It actually wasn’t the reply he expected, so naturally he was quick to ponder whether she was up to something. Why else would she be out here on a Friday afternoon if not to go “out"? And what’s this? Had she… done her hair? Why were the ends curled so neatly? And were her eyelashes always so long and dark? He could have sworn they were usually the same shimmering pink as her hair...
Ah, perhaps she has a date? He burned at the thought, but he kept it down. What good would his sorry old disapproving attitude do? It wasn’t like she needed protecting. Not anymore. And everyone agreed it was high time for her to indulge in a little romance anyway...
But why does the idea bother me so much?
He cleared his throat and was trying to arrange his expression when she broke his thoughts with an unexpected question.
“Would you like to have some tea with me? My treat?” she said.
He raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what on earth she had up her sleeve. It wasn’t like they’d never offered to share an afternoon snack, or any meal of the day really, but something felt different. Was it her posture? Or maybe the slightly shy tone in her voice? He looked her up and down once more without meaning to, trying to discern the scheme. Surely she and the boys weren’t trying to unmask him yet again? He thought they’d given up on that years ago. But with her looking so lovely under the afternoon sunlight just now, he felt moderately worried he might actually fall for any number of tricks.
Wait… he paused in his appraisal, she’s done her nails as well? In red?
He swallowed once, only to realize how parched he was. The day was still hot and he needed a quiet place to write up his mission report. So who was he to turn her down, especially since she’d marched all the way out of town just to intercept him, looking like a million ryo. Wait… did she really come all the way out here… for this?
“Don’t say no…” she pleaded, taking his hand and pulling him toward the village. “I purposely didn’t offer sweets or fried foods because I know they’re not your thing. So at least say you'll have tea with me?”
He was already following where she was leading him, unwilling to let go. “I never disagreed,” he reminded her teasingly.
But instead of smacking at his arm, she beamed. She twirled around once with a big smile on her face and then took her place at his side, linking her arm with his as she often used to when she was just a genin being a teacher’s pet. As they walked along he wondered at her sudden friendliness but thought better of mentioning it; he’d missed this after all, although he’d never tell a soul. The years Sakura had spent under Tsunade’s tutelage instead of his had been hard on him in ways he wasn’t ready to think about. And now that she was so often working long shifts at the hospital or going on jonin level missions of her own, the empty feeling had only grown. So it certainly wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t help but lean into her touch and enjoy the way her bare shoulder just barely grazed the skin above his arm guards.
With perfect nonchalance, she asked him about his mission and shared with him all the goings on at the hospital until they arrived at the entrance.
In her relief at finding Kakashi returned from his mission in one piece, Sakura had already forgotten about the annoying guards on duty. But she was promptly reminded by a raucous wolf-whistle as they passed through the gates side by side, talking in the amiable tones of two very close people. But her anger management was getting better these days, and right now she couldn’t be bothered to ruin their perfectly lovely chat with a confrontation. She shot them a very pointed middle finger, and pulled herself a little closer to Kakashi simply because she could. Yeah, that’s right, she thought proudly, I am picky! and off she led them on their merry way.
The tips of Kakashi’s ears went pink, but he made absolutely no move to create any distance. He was too focused on Sakura and how unfazed she was—that whistle had obviously been directed at them. She just got closer didn’t she? he thought happily to himself, I wonder if she knows they all call her picky behind her back… The vision of her beating the two young jonin to a pulp had him smiling under his mask, but mostly he was happy she’d chosen him and their conversation over violence in that moment.
In the back of his mind, Kakashi prided himself on how he always enjoyed Sakura’s animated chattiness. For reasons he couldn’t comprehend, the team 7 boys always seemed to tire of her stories and questions after a while. And although he used to hide it by pretending to be immersed in Icha Icha as they’d trudged along on those boring old genin missions, he’d always been listening. Her questions were sharp, and her quick understanding was beyond refreshing to him. The whimsical ideas she loved sharing, and the excitement at her progress as a kunoichi were also enchanting. As an only child himself, he understood what it was like to crave the undivided attention and praise of someone close, and he knew her parents weren’t well-versed in shinobi matters. So maybe it made sense that he felt like he should be that someone—he’d never want her ending up terse and cynical like him.
To tell the truth, after a solo mission, Kakashi always hated going home first thing. He’d endured days of Anbu stealth protocol, so why would he want to languish in more silence? But he wasn’t the sort to go around inviting others out to selfishly kill time. No one expected it of him either. He always thought it was a stroke of good luck to run into Guy for a quick and silly competition, or Iruka on his way to have ramen after work, but being purposely invited to afternoon tea by Sakura, on his birthday no less, was really something else. He chuckled at the coincidence.
And before he knew it they'd arrived at Konoha Tea House.
She pointed him to her favorite booth, the one she usually occupied with her friend Ino, and traipsed off toward the counter. She really was going to treat him it seemed.
So off he went, and took out his mission report scroll to get a head start when he sat down. It took him until she returned the the table and plopped down opposite him with their tea tray to realized he’d been humming. Humming?!
“Don’t stop on my account, Sensei,” she teased, popping a cherry from her bowl of anmitsu into her mouth and pouring him his first glass of green tea. He promptly stopped, of course, but took the teacup gladly when she offered it to him.
He was mildly self-conscious of whether he might accidentally start humming again, so it wasn’t the best mission report he ever wrote. But it’d do. Mostly he was just enjoying watching Sakura savor her treat from the corner of his eye for the better part of the hour.
When she saw him put his stamp on the scroll, he saw her begin to fidget. She looked a little anxious as well. Ah, perhaps she’s nervous I’ll reject going to the hospital to get checked over?
But just as he was about to stand to leave, Sakura burst out with another odd question.
“Kakashi… would you finish it for me?” she asked, holding out the last pure white mochi to him on her spoon. “It’s… it’s bad luck to leave a piece behind!”
He didn’t know what came over him, but the look in her eyes was undeniable. He leaned forward, still looking at her, and took the spoon in his mouth. Huh? Maybe he did like sweets? Why did it taste so much better than usual?
Sakura was a little shocked but overcame it swiftly, giggling a bit and thanking him teasingly. “Are you sure you haven’t been body-swap jutsu’d on the way home? That was a test you know?”
“Sakura,” he sighed with his trademark slouch, “Your birthday is March 28th, your favorite color is red, followed by green, and you gave me a plant named Mr. Ukki who is still alive and well in my windowsill presuming you’ve been by to water him while I’ve been gone?” They’d done this a thousand times, but he’d added the colors for good measure since he realized he was behaving a bit odd today.
“Wow, I’ve never even told you my favorite color, but you’re right,” she laughed. “Is it that obvious?”
“Sakura-chan, how many times should I tell you you are an open book.”
“Yeah yeah, say what you like,” she blushed, "But you still don’t know everything about me.”
“Are you sure? I’d say I know near enough,” he countered.
“Well you don’t~” she stuck her tongue out teasingly.
His only reply was a thoughtful hum.
“If you know me so well, guess what I’m about to ask you next,” she said, eyebrow raised.
“What? Whether or not I’m stopping by the hospital on my way home?” he said, fairly certain, but knowing she could be a petty little creature and change it up at the last second.
“What? You look in tip-top shape to me. Don’t you know that I know that you hate hospitals? Seems like I’m the one who knows you better here…”
“Alright, I know a losing battle when I see one…” he said, giving her a crinkled-eye grin as he stood to go.
“Wait!” she called out suddenly, grabbing for his vest but unable to look him in the eye. “Are you, going straight home after you drop off your report?”
“Why?” he asked slowly, remembering his suspicion from earlier.
“What?” she shrugged, "I haven’t seen you for ages...” she said as she looked away again, obviously hiding something.
“And…” he prompted, knowing that there was more.
She almost backed out to make up something else, but she grit her teeth and just went for it.
“Wouldyouliketohavedinnerwithme?”
It all tumbled out in a garble and her cheeks had gone as pink as her hair. This, too, definitely felt different. Different than any other times they’d agreed to eat a meal together.
“Well, of course,” he said obligingly, "I always love sharing a meal with my favorite former student.”
“Oh stop it! Don’t call me that,” she lamented.
“Only once you remember to stop calling me Sensei” he teased.
“That’s different!” she shouted.
“Now, now, let’s argue more over dinner, shall we?” He was a master of intercepting her tirades. “And to tell you the truth, I’m feeling in need of a wash first. But then we can eat. Where should we go?” he asked, hoping that wouldn’t trigger her in some unexpected way. He desperately didn’t want her to think he didn’t want to. He just honestly was so sweaty and dirty...
“I’ll drop by to get you!” she said sweetly, suddenly looking very relieved as she walked with him to the door.
She was definitely up to something.
“Alright, well, I’ll drop this report off now and then head home. Take a rest and come get me when you’re hungry."
“Alright I’ll see you in a bit,” she agreed, and off they went their separate ways.
Yes!!! He agreed! her inner monologue practically shouted, finally turning optimistic. This is perfect! Good thing I already went shopping this morning! And that 'Come get me when you're hungry'? Yes, exactly.
She dashed home and packed up the ingredients she’d carefully selected according to Hinata’s list. Though she wouldn’t tell her friend the occasion or reason, she’d spent the better part of Wednesday and Thursday evening learning to cook a few choice dishes as part of her plan for Kakashi’s birthday. They’d even tested the recipes out on Neji, who Hinata said was quite the picky eater, and had gotten his seal of approval by the end of the second evening.
By the time she’d changed her outfit four times, finally settling on a pale green off-the-shoulder top and her favorite white capris that managed to highlight her slight curves, she set off for his house. If her estimation was correct, she’d arrive just after him, and would likely be able to slip inside while he was in the shower. She still had his spare key from watering Mr. Ukki after all.
But when she actually arrived at his doorstep, the fact that she was right and could hear the shower water running made her hesitate. I’ve… never been in here when he’s… naked! she thought frantically. She promptly flushed to her neck and tried to recite the steps of Hinata’s recipe to herself to calm down. After a moment she reminded herself that she was a medic for crying out loud, and had already seen her Sensei in various states of undress before, and that this was nothing different. At least, that was the excuse she was going to give him when he came out and made a fuss.
Because she knew he was going to make a fuss. But honestly, that was part of what she was looking forward to.
With the salted saury tucked into the oven and the vegetables coming to a boil on the stove, Sakura was over the moon with how well it was going. She’d even set a timer to make sure she didn’t burn anything since Hinata wouldn’t be there to help her out, and she tended to space out and daydream while cooking. But right now she was doing a little victory boogie because man it smelled good in there!
But when the sound of the shower water ceased, and she heard the intense ruffling of what must have been him towel drying his hair, her heart leapt into her throat. He’ll be out any second!
And when he did indeed emerge, steam billowing out around him (and off of him) and his towel wrapped around his waist, she nearly dropped the soup ladle.
OH MY GOD! I'm an idiot! Of course he's not wearing his mask! He's just been in the shower!
She spun on the spot, nearly tripping on the apron tie that had come undone.
“Sakura-chan…” he sighed disappointedly, thinking he’d caught her in the act of trying to unmask him as he suspected.
“N-no! It’s not what it looks like! I didn’t see anything, I swear!” she yelled at his kitchen window, refusing to turn back and face the full force of his naked frown.
“So you really were up to something…” he started to say, but then his nose pricked at the tasty scent coming from the kitchen. Oh?
“Go get dressed, Kakashi! And for god’s sake put your face away! I wasn’t expecting it!” she shrieked, probably losing actual minutes off her life from the heart palpitations.
“Thought you said you didn’t see anything?” he teased, relieved that he was mistaken in his suspicion. It seemed she was just here to… cook him dinner? Was this a good idea?
“I, uh- I didn’t… not really! Ugh, just hurry up, the food's gonna burn if you keep distracting me! I’m just here to make you a proper meal, okay?”
He was loving how flustered she seemed and decided to add on a little more as payback for the absolute heart attack he’d just survived when he saw her dancing in his kitchen wearing his mother’s old apron. “Sakura-chan… are you sure this is a good idea?”
She turned back around to shake the ladle at him, but nearly bonked herself in the head, forgetting he was still standing here with no mask on. Further proof she really hadn’t come for that. “I can do it!!!” she shrieked back at him, fuming but this time unable to look away from him.
“Alright then, I’ll be right back. But the cat’s out of the bag now, so I’m not putting the mask back on,” he said with a smirk, watching as her eyes zeroed in on the mark at the side of his chin.
“Fine, be that way!” she teased back, making a valiant effort to seem unfazed again, "Just stay in your birthday suit then, why don’t you?” she challenged, “Since it’s your birthday and all!”
His eyes went wide with surprise. “How did you—“
But then the timer went off loudly, and Sakura rushed to check the oven, leaving Kakashi with no choice but to go get dressed and ponder the demise of one loose-lipped Hokage.
It had been so long since Kakashi had even acknowledged his own birthday that he wasn’t sure what to make of all this. So when he quickly threw on his comfiest old jonin blues and rejoined her in the dining room he was entirely unprepared for what he saw.
Spread across his usual low table were two settings worth of salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant, accompanied by steaming bowls of rice and an assortment of pickled vegetables that put even his favorite restaurant to shame.
“Sakura… what’s all this?” he asked, unable to think of anything more eloquent.
“What does it look like, silly?” she said, a rice paddle now clutched in her hand, pointing at the table as she stood with her hip cocked out, “I’m pretty sure I cooked it right!”
But before he could even agree, he walked right over to her and gave her the biggest, most earnest hug he could muster. She was so small between his arms, but it still felt like hugging the sun. She was warm and bright, and even the little giggle she let out was like a tiny flame tickling his heart.
“Kakashi Sensei!” she scolded, patting him playfully on the backside with her rice paddle, “Why don’t you try it first before you thank me.”
The pat on his backside brought him back to the present. “R-right,” he said with a bashful smile as he quickly let go of her and took his place on the floor. “It looks great, Sakura-chan.”
And for the second time that day she beamed at him. She also took her seat and waited for him to take the first bite. When he took it, and then took another, larger one, she was satisfied and began to dig in too.
“So, you’re not mad that I found out about your birthday?” she asked softly. “I promise I didn’t tell anyone else.”
He paused after a very loud slurp of miso soup and looked at her cheekily, noticing how she blushed so easily at his change in expressions without his mask. “Mah… I suppose since this is the best miso with eggplant I’ve ever had I can overlook it.”
Her big smile was her only response, and after that they enjoyed their meal in much the same way as they’d shared countless others. They chatted comfortably and both went back for seconds. He teased her about her appetite, and she teased him about his food preferences, and by the end of the meal Kakashi was feeling very warm, and happy, and maybe a little bit too much of something else. Something he didn’t think he should put a name to. But that didn’t stop him from giving her at least a little hint of his true feelings. Not that he could hide it now that his face was still out in the open, but he’d already forgotten he was maskless long ago.
“I’m glad I came home,” he said. And they both knew he meant I’m glad I made it back alive.
Sakura smiled in understanding and said, “I’m glad you came home too.”
She stood to clear the dishes, and Kakashi made to help her but she swatted him away, alerting him that birthday boys did not, in fact, need to help with the dishes. “Especially injured birthday boys… now go rest on the couch,” she instructed, noting that he obviously hadn’t been to the hospital for his wounds, just as she expected.
So he sat back and watched her flit around, feeling oddly relaxed. When she finished she took off the apron and carefully placed it back over the oven handle where she found it. She’d presumed it had belonged to his mother judging by the Hatake monogram and the aging ruffled edges. She thought it was sweet that he kept it somewhere where he’d see it every day, but it also made her a little sad to think of him living here so quietly and alone.
She joined him at the couch and perked up when she saw his very satisfied face smiling at her. “So,” she asked, “What do you think of birthdays?”
“Can’t say I’ve seen a better one,” he said with a smile, “Although I’m no expert.”
“You certainly aren’t!” she replied with a slap on his forearm, “You haven’t even asked what your present is yet!”
“You mean Chef Sakura’s delicious 5-star meal wasn’t the present?” he asked, looking bemused.
“No?” she scoffed, looking offended, “You think that’s the best I can do???”
He scratched his chin for a moment but being this inexperienced with birthdays he really couldn’t imagine what else she had up her sleeve, so he just looked at her dumbfounded. Why on earth was she doing so much? Come to think of it, why was she still here, getting comfy next to him in his living room. It was getting to be very late… and it wouldn’t be terribly appropriate for him to keep her there much longer.
“Well if you don’t have any guesses, then I guess we’re just going for it.” she said matter-of-factly.
“Going for what?” he asked, suddenly feeling a flutter in his chest. Surely she wasn’t going to kiss him or something? If she tried it right now he didn’t think he’d be able to stop her. Or himself.
“Give me your hand,” she demanded suddenly, offering no further details.
He knew better than to ask questions when she was making that face, so he held out his hand to her, still unsure what to expect.
“Sorry Sensei, I promise it’s actually a present. Just trust me,” she said. And with a wicked little flash in her eyes, but an apologetic set to her eyebrows, she gripped the side of his hand and pulled it close to her face.
As she leaned forward to close the distance between them, her top began to gape open at the front, but Kakashi wasn’t aware of anything but the feel of her breath on his fingertips.
And then she slipped his thumb between her teeth. Heat rumbled through her core at the feeling of the hard, callused pad of his finger touching her tongue. And the way his knuckle bent ever so slightly to press into her mouth while his jaw clenched to maintain a neutral expression… That was the moment she knew her plan would succeed. But before she could let her imagination run away with her and trick her into actually sucking his finger, she bit down, drawing a small trickle of blood.
Damn it. This was NOT supposed to be turning her on like this. But it undeniably was…
Thankfully, Kakashi’s face and ears went an amusing shade of beet red when he realized what she’d done. Seems he’d been imagining something else happening between his fingers and her mouth, just like her. But she’d deal with that later.
For the moment, she removed his thumb from her mouth and raised it higher. The smile she gave him was one he hadn’t seen before. But he was immediately enchanted.
She… looked a bit shy. As in genuinely shy. As if she were about to do something very private that she didn’t want to let just anyone see.
She had his rapt attention.
For a while she closed her eyes and seemed to concentrate quite hard. And then he saw it. Her Byakugou mark began to glow. Followed by the the four black tendrils that began to slowly emerge from it.
“Sakura, I’m not hurt, really! I promise. What are you—“
“Shhh! I need to concentrate!” she whispered, the tendrils faltering a little.
He gave her an entirely bemused look, which she missed as her eyes were screwed shut with focus. He’d never wanted his Sharingan back more than right now… without it he had no way to guess what she was attempting to do.
And then it appeared. The black marks had delineated a familiar pattern.
The characters and outlines of a miniature summoning scroll had materialized, with a blank section surrounding her purple diamond.
With her eyes still closed, she raised his hand to the center of her forehead, took a deep breath, and pressed his wounded thumb to her glowing mark for a few seconds.
For being a top logician, he really should have realized what she was doing. But being how he was, with Sakura occupying his apartment alone with him, after having shared a delicious home-cooked meal and teasing each other relentlessly, it wasn’t his fault his brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. So he couldn’t be blamed for asking her dumbly, “What… what are you doing?”
Sakura smiled in satisfaction as the drop of blood left behind was subsumed into the mark, and the tendrils retracted smoothly and slowly. When her mark no longer glowed, she opened her eyes and gave him a very pleased grin. “I gave you my present!” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing.
“Sakura… I’m not sure I—“
“I know it’s not really conventional,” she broke out suddenly as if to explain away her own awkwardness, "but through my bond with Katsuyu, I found a way to extend her to you…” she said. “And I got her permission, okay? Don’t get any funny ideas…”
“You got her— Wait. You made it so I can summon Katsuyu?!” he said, going a bit pale at the thought of the chakra it would surely require.
But Sakura only laughed, understanding his trepidation.
“It’s not like that, silly! I just… made it so you can summon 1 piece of her through me… when you really need her.” She twiddled her thumbs as if she wanted to say more but wasn’t sure.
He looked at her with a loudly silent questioning stare.
“And don’t scold me or call me reckless, alright? I can spare enough chakra at ANY time to accomplish this. I just thought… I don’t ever want to see you like that again.” she said, her lips frowning as an image of terror shot past her eyes. Her fists clenched into the hem of her shirt as she continued, looking at him in earnest now. "You are never allowed to show up at my hospital halfway through death’s door ever again. So just… please accept my gift? And promise me you’ll use it?”
He didn’t know what to say.
But she did. “And don’t lie. Because I’ll know,” she said, pointing at her forehead. And there was that blush again. She was shy and angry at him at the same time and he might have combusted internally.
Then, the magnitude of what she’d accomplished finally hit him. She truly was a master of chakra—something like this had never been done before, and she had figured it out… just for him. It was like a huge, warm, heavy blanket had tucked itself around his heart. It was such an unfamiliar feeling, and he wasn’t sure if he could say he’d ever felt it exactly this way ever before. But suddenly he was melting under its warmth. A cold, distant exterior felt like it was burning away under her white-hot gaze. And the only thing his body would allow him to do was to breathe out her name as he reached for her.
And then she was tackling him backward into the couch.
For a few reckless moments they kissed each other with utter abandon. He could feel exactly what she felt for him in the way her hands clutched his face. Could confirm that all her touches and smiles of late weren’t just in his head. And she could feel how much he longed for her. How long he had wanted everything that she was. She could feel it in the way he reached all the way behind her to pull her completely over him as if to wrap himself in her.
And then there was the heat between them. Desperate, intentional, and dangerous.
When they paused for air it was just long enough for Sakura to pre-empt his secondary feelings that she knew would threaten to make an appearance.
“It’s okay. You’re not my sensei anymore, Kakashi. And even if you were, I couldn't care less.”
And she kissed him in earnest again. He kissed her back because he simply couldn't help it, even though his restraint was threatening creep back.
“But Sakura,” he gasped as he struggled to speak between their kisses. "I’m still -mmmh- much older than you and—”
“Yes,” she giggled, pulling back, "Especially today!” And with that she wriggled happily into his chest as if it were the best part of it all.
What has gotten into her!? he sighed to himself. And then he sighed again, at himself for good measure. And why can’t I let go of her?
When he turned a slight frown at her where she lay looking up at him from his chest, she put a finger to his lips.
“Kakashi…" she said, as if disapproving of his thoughts before he could say them aloud. "I’m just here to spend your birthday with you. And if I choose to give you a kiss on your birthday, just take it for goodness’ sake.”
And with no fight left in him, he reciprocated another of her blistering kisses.
Seeing the mild terror in his eyes as he realized just how lost he was getting in her, she paused and took a more comforting tone with him. “Stop overthinking it. Just pay me back by spending my birthday with me?"
”How will that make it better?” he asked, his blush deepening as he realized he hadn’t actually managed to 1) refuse her or 2) let go of her.
“Isn’t it obvious?” she teased, hoping he would catch on. “Or are you getting forgetful in your ‘old age’?”
He scowled at that, but she wiped it away with another peck while he pondered her words. She’d really put the man through a lot today, she could admit that much. And it was getting very late, so she’d let him off easy. She gently peeled herself off of him and pulled him up into a sitting position, laughing at how pliable he was under her touch. Since she had her own mission starting early the next morning, she knew she shouldn’t linger, so she kissed him on the forehead once more, for good luck, and turned to get ready to go.
She flashed him a mischievous smile over her shoulder as she slipped into her shoes by the door and stood to make her exit. He was still too shocked to move, but that was just fine. At least he was already sitting down.
With her head peeking through the doorway on her way out, she finally answered his question with a saucy little smile.
“Because this year’s my 18th birthday!”
And with that, she promptly shut the door and ran off with her giggles echoing into the night.
God he loved her.
And god it was going to be a long six months...
Well. He never was one to turn down a slow burn in fiction. Maybe 32 would be a good year to try it out in real life for once?
But after those kisses… how slow does she really think we can go? he pondered as he laid back on the couch again, completely exhausted but ineffably happy.
As he drifted off to sleep he realized maybe that was the point.