Dump me over the Threshold (and other soft moments)
“Hello Sakura,” Kakashi eye smiled at her.
“Hello Kakashi,” she returned warmly. “How is your day going?”
“Oh quite well. Are you working?” he said, still smiling
“I have the day off. A day off from the hospital and training, so don’t try talking me into a spar,” she said good-naturedly.
“Ah,” he said.
She raised a brow at the slouched man, slightly suspicious of his apparent good mood. He also had no book in hand. Instead his hands were shoved in his pocket. He even rocked back on his heel once and both her eyebrows rose. From Kakashi that was pretty much a blush and stammer from someone else.
“You’re happy,” she accused. “Not just happy, excited.”
“Mah,” he said, rubbing the back of his head. “I just had a few plans for the evening.”
“Good plans?” she asked offering him another smile.
Her former sensei didn’t answer, just smiled again and she chuckled. It wasn’t all that rare to see him in such a good mood these days what with the war over and peace finally sinking into the land. Sure he was still a bit of a deadweight sometimes, dragged down by memories of the past, but he was doing a lot better. And he always had a smile for her and Naruto. It was like they helped buoy him.
“Were you visiting Naruto?” she asked.
“He’s busy with some task,” Kakashi flapped a hand before shoving it back in his pocket.
Sakura new that was code for ‘Tsunade had him running ragged under the guise of Hokage training’. She grinned.
“I just came to see you,” Kakashi said suddenly.
She blinked in surprise at his freely offered explanation. Then she flushed just the slightest. Since the war, and even before, they had become friends. Good friends. They had the base of teamwork to build on, and then the base of the last two of team seven left in Konoha for a few years to bolster up a friendship. And then the war had cemented the lasting friendship between them. They had been good partners, but Sakura liked it better when they were not working, when they were not a mission. They were good friends who shared meals and books and conversation. They also sparred and talked and went to movies. Sometimes they crashed on the other’s couch when their own apartment was too empty.
“Well don’t I feel special,” she joked lightly, closing the book on her lap to finally give him all of her attention.
She gave the blanket she sat on a pat and he slumped down beside her, thigh against thigh. Sakura smoothed her shorts and set her book aside, leaning back on her hands to gaze out across the lake before her. It wasn’t really a lake, more of a giant pond, tucked back behind training ground 37. The grass clearing around it was quiet and filled with wildflowers at this time of year. Unless someone was training here Sakura found it relaxing in the sun, half shaded by the edge of trees with the scent of flowers in the air.
“Did you have a purpose to your visit?” she asked curiously looking out across the sunlight scene.
Kakashi stayed silent beside her, fingers resting on her blanket splayed. She let him have his silence knowing that is she was patient he would most likely answer eventually. And if he didn’t answer it was often because he didn’t have one and that was an answer in itself.
“I came to remind you,” he said abruptly after a long drawn silence. “To remind you that you are a very strong shinobi.”
The little girl in her flushed with pride and joy at that statement that fell honestly from his lips. The war-tempered konoichi in her meanwhile gave a very soft smile.
“Thank you,” she said.
“It’s not just a compliment,” he remarked lightly. “It’s a fact that sometimes you need to be reminded off.”
She glanced away at the honest in that statement as well. She felt a bit pathetic at times for how often she needed validation. But if left alone she would often start to gaze at the people around her and while Sakura was very strong, she could not hold up to Naruto or Kakashi. It wasn’t low self-esteem, it was just fact. When you surrounded yourself by powerful people sometimes you seemed so much smaller.
“Is there a reason I need a reminder?” she asked slowly, both cautious and curious.
He was silent again and when ten minutes had passed in silence she gave up on getting an answer. Kakashi stood slowly after that, as lazy as a cat.
“Just remember you ninja history classes,” he eye-smiled, “and above all, remember you are a very powerful shinobi.”
Then he was slouching off.
“Well doesn’t that sound ominous,” she muttered to herself, watching him wander off.
.--.
Kakashi showed up at her window late. Very late. Practically morning actually. Sakura was actually dead asleep before he alighted on the sill.
“Kakashi?” she mumbled as she squinted sleepily at him.
“Yo,” he said clearing his throat softly.
She stared at him and he stared back.
“So,” she said, “Why are you at my window at…4am?”
“Just something I’ve been planning for a while,” he shrugged, glancing away.
He stuck out a hand as if offering her a hand up. She stared at it for a long moment but he said nothing else. Finally she took it. How could she not? She trusted him and he rarely did anything without a reason. Yes, sometimes that reason was being an idiot or a troll, but not usually at 4am. It wasn’t a mission or he would have said something instead of offering her a hand while she stood in shorts and a t-shirt.
She took his hand and he tugged. He pulled her up and out her window and then gloved hands skimmed her leg. He picked her up bridal style and sleepy confused Sakura simply stared at him.
“What the fuck?” she asked him.
He didn’t answer and instead used his foot to close her window. And then they were leaping through the air.
“I can walk you know,” She said.
He said nothing. She let him by mysterious as she looked at him. He wasn’t shaking, wasn’t twitchy, but she could tell he was nervous all the same.
They leapt over a high wooden fence and landed in a dark but beautiful courtyard. A light was on past the veranda and the paper doors and Kakashi carried her towards it. He toed the door open and set her back on her feet just over the threshold. With a slight nudge he made her step fully inside. And then he shut the door, still outside, and she felt his presence pull back.
Sakura blinked, dazedly, at the well lit traditional room. A low table in the middle was set with tea and three women sat at it rather calmly, all older than sixty and all wearing very nice kimono. She blinked at three women before her. The eldest, maybe eighty, tsked and pat at the seat next to her. Sakura sat. A cup was towards her while the other two made noises that could have been disgruntlement or annoyance to the first tsk.
“That boy,” the eldest sighed, “always likes to be so mysterious.”
“He’s just shy,” one with a purple kimono shrugged.
“It’s going to get him in trouble one day though,” one with the glasses said, rolling her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Sakura asked slowly.
“Drink your tea and just sit for a moment to regain your bearings,” the one in purple smiled kindly. “It always helps to just think for a bit.”
So Sakura did that. She hesitantly took the tea cup in hand, not worried in the slightest of poison or drugs and took a long drink. It was a refreshing crisp blend that left a bitter aftertaste on her tongue but it did indeed clear her head somehow. The four of them sat in silence at the low table for a few long moments, each woman sipping tea seemingly lost in their own world.
When Sakura’s cup was empty the one with glasses filled it again with brisk sharp, elegant movement.
“Can I ask who you are?” Sakura finally voiced.
“I’m Ume,” the eldest said.
“I’m Tsunara,” uhe one in purple smiled.
“And I am Yukimara,” the one in glasses offered as she retook her seat.
“And we were all, at one time or another, part of the Hatake clan,” Ume said simply.
Sakura sipped her tea to hide her surprise and mulled over this for a moment.
“So Kakashi grabbed me from my bed, in the middle of the night and brought me to three of his relatives,” she said slowly.
“Relatives is a good term,” Tsunara nodded, “Though my connection is through my first marriage. I was married to his great uncle. I am now married to man under Hatake clan protection.”
“I was married to one of his cousins once removed,” Yukimara said, “And though I never remarried when he passed, I returned to my family and retook their name, whom all used to serve the Hatake clan.
“And I was born a Hatake, I am his great aunt, though I am married to a vassal of the Hatake clan,” Ume said.
Sakura looked down at the cup in her hand brow furrowing. She dredged up the last things Kakashi had said to her before this morning. Remember ninja history. Remember you are a strong shinobi. Ninja History. Kidnapping her from her bed. All female relatives. What she assumed was the Hatake compound though looking quite disused and dusty.
Kidnapping.
Female Relatives.
Ninja history.
Kidnapping.
Female Relatives.
Ninja hist-
“Oh fuck.”
She dropped her face into her hands, trying to take a deep breathe in through her nose. She breathed out once, shaky and sucked in another large breath.
“Figured it out then dear?” Ume asked, not unkindly.
“I think so,” Sakura said, voice a bit higher then she would have liked.
“Take a moment,” Yukimara said gently. “It can be a shock sometimes. I mean sometimes its expected all around, but I suppose not in your case.”
“It wasn’t,” Sakura said taking another deep breath.
Sakura took a few deep breaths before she was ready to lift her head from her hands and pick up her cup again. She sipped at the tea, noting vaguely that she was trembling. She set the cup back down before she dropped it and made sure her breathing was still even as it could be. She didn’t look at the three women, just stared down at her tea.
She needed a moment. She desperately wanted to excuse herself and step outside, away from the company of strangers to work herself out. But she knew that was not an option right now. Well….it was an option, but not a reversible one and she really needed to think on this for a few minutes.
The line about her being a good shinobi suddenly jumped into her mind and she knew it for what it was now. It was a way to tell her that she could leave right now if she wanted. That these three old women, of whom at least two were civilians and one whom had very little training would not be able to stop her. Neither would Kakashi who she could sense further out at the gates of the compound. Though Kakashi wouldn’t stop her which had less to do with her power and more to do with the fact that if she left, that was her answer.
Sakura took another deep breath and closed her eyes. Ok. She had to look at this logically.
In past decades, before the formation of villages, and even after for many, there had been a very popular way to secure a bride when a contract or arranged marriage was either not available or not encouraged. It happened often between rival clans and between even allied ones if the marriage was not going to be allowed for whatever reason be it strategic or monetary. Sometimes it was between two people mutually in love who wanted desperately to be together. Sometimes it was a way for a man to force a woman’s hand. Sometimes it was for strategic reasons.
Whatever the reason, Bride Kidnapping had been popular, especially among ninja clans.
Bride kidnapping always involved the man stealing a woman from her family home and taking her into his own home. He would leave her with female relatives who had to convince her to put on his house colors. She was expected to resist as it wasn’t a kidnapping if you went along with it, so even women who were in on the plans had to act as if they had been truly kidnapped; including wailing, crying, and resisting. If she truly did not want the marriage she often had to hold out until her family came to get her. Sometimes this involved the family demanding her return a few hours later, and sometimes it resulted in full out battles if between rival clans. If at any time she escaped or was released without wearing the man’s colors, she was unmarried and allowed to return home and the marriage would never happen. If she put on his clothing, they were in effect, married.
Sakura took a deep breath and tried to get her mind around the fact she had been kidnapped like women of old. Kidnapped to be married. This didn’t happen all that often in Konoha these days. She hadn’t heard a story in at least a decade of it happening. It had been popular amongst the Uchiha before their massacre. And until about two decades ago had been common in the Inuzuka. Even the Hyuuga had a history of it. Many places still did it as well. Kumo having a high percentage of such cases. In fact when Hinata had been kidnapped as a child briefly they had tried to pass it off as a bride kidnapping despite the fact she was not a woman flowered (which made it void) and besides the fact it was obvious they just wanted her eyes.
“Would you like more tea?” Yukimara asked kindly, interrupting her thoughts.
“Please. I was not expecting this,” she said a bit helplessly, “Shouldn’t you also be convincing me to put on his clan colors, not just offering me tea.”
“At least you know the particulars,” Ume smiled, “And yes, but we thought this would be a better approach.”
“Why?”
“Because Kakashi would not have kidnapped anyone very likely to say no,” Tsunara chuckled, “Daft boy always overthinks and over plans things so much he is often assured of their outcome. He would not have kidnapped you if he wasn’t sure you were going to say yes. Despite that he’s probably outside agonizing over his actions and smacking himself worried you will actually turn him down.”
Sakura opened her mouth and then closed it again. She had a bunch of questions, but not for these women. She had them for Kakashi.
Ume reached down beside her and gently set a bundle on the table.
“Think it over clearly now dear. We are in no rush unless you are worried your father or house head will come barging in to demand you back.”
Sakura stared at the cloth done in what she assumed were Hatake colors. She didn’t even bother to explain her civilian parents would not have noticed her missing and if they did would assume it was ninja business.
“Did you all get kidnapped as well?” she asked instead of saying anything of her family.
“Oh yes. It was quite fun,” Yukimara giggled.
“It has been a Hatake tradition,” Ume smiled, “Hatakes rarely deal in contracts or arrangements. They preferred kidnappings but rarely are they done without some prior planning between the men and women. We are proud to say not one has been forced. The women kick up a fuss of course because it is expected, but anyone who did not truly want marriage was never kidnapped to begin with.”
“The tradition of course died out with the clan,” Tsuara sighed, “Kakashi is the last Hatake by name, besides those of us elders married into different clans. He has the clans under Hatake protection of course, and vassals sworn to the Hatake name, but most of that is just formality these days as he carries on with his own business and leaves us to run ourselves. He never showed an interest in any woman before either.”
Sakura wanted to ask a hundred other questions but her head was spinning with all the information those three had just given her. Instead Sakura took another shaky sip of tea and kicked her mind into overdrive.
Kakashi had kidnapped her with the intentions of making her his bride. This was huge. This was a big thing and she had a few hours to decide if she would accept or not. Apparently this was the norm for Hatakes. Apparently the Hatake were a bit bigger then she had assumed as well, existing as more than just Kakashi all alone. It was confusing though when she thought of him in his bachelor apartment and then trying to attach him to these three women and the subtle relationships that tied them together.
She shook her head. She didn’t have time to wonder at the intricacies of the Hatake clan. That could come later. Instead she had to really think about Kakashi and the fact that for some reason he wanted to marry her. Her. Kakashi and her. Married.
She took a long swig of tea, letting it burn down her throat.
She loved Kakashi, she could admit that. He was her teammate. Her former sensei. A peer. They’d fought a goddamn war together. He was a man she looked up to and respected the hell out of and she knew all of that was returned.
But there was no intimacy.
There were moments when sexual tension fizzled between them, mostly during the war. In the adrenaline high post battle and in a few desperate moments of thinking they were never going to touch another being again except to kill. But they had never acted on those. Sakura had had a fleeting daydream about it every once in a while but she had once has a similar daydream about Gai and she would never marry him.
But marriage didn’t always have to do with intimacy and love. Marriages didn’t always start with passionate love. Sometimes they just started with respect. Sakura already loved Kakashi in one way. She trusted him and she held him in high regard. He was one of hers, one of her confidents. He was closer to her then all but a very few people, mostly consisting of Naruto and Tsunade.
But marriage. Was she ready for marriage? Did she want marriage? And with Kakashi?
Sakura had in the years past, come to the conclusion she was a konoichi. She was a ninja above all with loyalty to her village. It had been that loyalty that had spurred her onto training and gaining strength. It was that idea that had made her set aside her girlish daydreams of true love and marriage for a very long time. But she had never truly thought of living her life without marriage at some point. She had wanted to find a man and settle down. Have someone to return to at night, someone to tell her joys and griefs to. She wanted someone to respect her and love and cherish her.
And she supposed it was hard not to see Kakashi in that position. If she married him it would not be a passionate love affair right away, and maybe even never. But there would be respect and trust and friendship. There would be loyalty and honesty. She could see Kakashi as her life long partner, in sickness and in health.
It would not be a bad marriage. In fact it would probably turn out to be a great one. A healthy one.
But she had no idea why he had done it now. She could sort of understand the kidnapping as tradition and of his way of avoiding her questions until she answered. She could even understand, in a way, why he had picked her. She was one of the very few people he trusted wholly and completely, and one of even fewer women in his life. But she couldn’t understand why he wanted it now.
Also would it have killed the bastard to ask her out on a date first?
Sakura licked her teeth and followed that line of though, letting her face fold into a frown. Sakura wasn’t seeing anyone right now of course, despite Naruto’s hints that now that Sasuke was back she should get to asking. …Sasuke was a bag of cats she shouldn’t be opening right now. She still in some way loved her old teammate, and Naruto thought it was enough to marry him. But…but Sasuke had left them. Tried to kill them. Tried to kill Naruto. Sakura could forgive a lot, especially towards her. But no one fucked with her precious people.
So, Sasuke and Sakura were working through issues and had no time to see if that old torch she’d carried for him could be relit. It probably could but…
But Kakashi.
Sakura thought of sitting so peacefully in the afternoon with him; of soaking up the sun and warmth and peace with him. She could not see herself doing that with Sasuke. Sakura could see herself enjoying a lot of things with Kakashi she couldn’t with Sasuke. Sure, as she’d said, marriage didn’t always start with passion, but Sakura wasn’t even sure some days if Sasuke really respected her and Sakura had grown into a woman who deserved respect.
“Does…does Kakashi want children?” Sakura asked the women, finally looking up.
They exchange glances.
“He has never mentioned it,” Ume finally asked, “I believe he truly doesn’t care either way, if he has them or not.”
So Kakashi was not doing this for an heir then (unlike Sasuke who’s main reason to get married young would be children). Actually…maybe it was that he wanted an heir. But not a child. Just someone to remember him as family and to take over his so called clan if he died in a mission. A wife could be that heir. But that wasn’t Kakashi’s style. He didn’t care about his family name. He could have just listed her in his will.
Maybe…maybe Kakashi just wanted a wife. Maybe he wanted a wife like she wanted a husband. Someone to curl up with at night. Someone to laze with on warm summer days. Someone to return to every time. Someone to respect and cherish and love. The idea that he wanted that, and he wanted Sakura to be that someone made her cheeks flush and her heart beat a quicker tempo.
The worst thing was she would not know until she answered either yes or no.
Sakura sighed and drained the rest of her tea.
She wanted a husband, but she hadn’t been prepared for this abrupt proposal. She loved Kakashi, but didn’t know if it would evolve into an intimate love. She wished the bastard could have done this normally and asked her one a few dates first, could have talked to her. But no matter how close they got, no matter how much calmer Kakashi was, he was still terrible at communication. It was one of his flaws but she loved him despite it. Usually at least.
‘You are a very strong shinobi’. She mulled these words. While she couldn’t very easily divorce Kakashi in this case, she could still live separately from him if it fell apart. But if she was being honest with herself, she could not see this falling apart. They were well paired and already had a good foundation for marriage even if she had never considered it before. It would not be a hardship to be married to Kakashi. And she had a feeling intimacy could grow between them. He was not an unhandsome man and she was not without her charms.
Sakura rolled the teacup between her hands.
She could leave now though. Knowing Kakashi he would never bring it up again, instead pretending it had never happened. He would not hold a grudge, he would let her walk away with no consequences. She doubted anyone knew she was here besides these three and she had a feeling they would hold their tongues. She could walk out, and one day if she truly wanted to pursue Kakashi, she could turn around and do it in the modern civilian style of dates and flowers.
Sakura set her teacup down very gently and reached for the middle of the table. She lifted the bundle of cloth and let it unroll into a long kimono of dark blue and slate grey silk.
Kakashi and her. Married. She took a deep breath.
“I haven’t worn a kimono in a while,” she said standing. “I’m going to need some help putting it on.”
They all beamed at her and stood with her. This wasn’t a bad choice. And it would only take some work to make it a great one. But hell, all relationships took work.
.--.
Sakura smoothed the front of her kimono down, admiring the workmanship that had went into it. She wasn’t even surprised it fit her perfectly as she ran a finger over the embroidered splash of the Hatake blue at the corner of the sleeve.
Ume tsked out something as she ran a hand through Sakura’s hair. They had insisted she shower first and she had been led to a small dusty bathroom that groaned when she turned on the old taps. The water had come out tainted with rust for the first few moments and then clear and she had soaked in the tub. There had been a fresh towel waiting her at least and Ume had handed her a bottle of soft lotion and perfume as well as Sakura dried off. They were a smell that reminded her of her grandmother but they weren’t terrible so she put them on. Then all three had helped her into the kimono, wrapping her up in the grey and blue silk very carefully. Finally they had sat her down back at the table and Yukimara had fetched the snacks they had brought with them.
Sakura was now snacking on a pear while Ume twisted her hair up and back, leaving a few pieces loose around her face, but pinning the rest. Then she slid the headscarf up and over her head. It was a snow white color, the color of a marriage veil and, Sakura thought that while it clashed with the kimono it was also beautiful.
“Oh you looked beautiful,” Tsunara sighed, “Reminds me of my kidnapping.”
“Less noisy,” Ume chuckled.
“She did scream quite a bit,” Yukimara laughed, “Took the part about acting resistant a bit too far.”
“It was fun,” Tsunara grinned, “Also, if you remember, my husband kidnapped me in only my underwear and I was a bit annoyed.”
Sakura bit her lip to contain a giggle. She was amused but so nervous any noise she made right now would be a tad hysterical.
“There. You look perfect,” Ume smiled.
“Thank you,” Sakura cleared her throat softly, “What…what do I do now?”
They all exchanged looks again. Sakura waited nervously.
“Now we go meet your husband,” Yukimara smiled gently, softly, “If you want to be formal, he will introduce you to your clan head as his bride. That step can be skipped though, and usually is in the case of hostility between clans.”
“Probably best to skip that,” Sakura agreed.
They led her down the dusty halls of the Hatake clan manor and finally out into the fort courtyard. The sky was lit up by the rising sun and Sakura caught sight of Kakashi immediately, slinking about in the shade of the outer wall of the manor that acted as a fence. He caught sight of her nearly in the same moment and she watched in the dim light as his eye flew wide and he stilled.
Sakura stepped down the house steps carefully and made her way towards him, leaving the three women on the porch. Kakashi didn’t move a single inch as she made her way over, frozen like a statue as he watched her.
“Hello,” she said quietly into the din.
He didn’t respond, merely swallowed. She reached out her hands and he automatically took them, holding them gently.
“This isn’t something you can easily back out of Sakura,” he said, his voice a croak.
“No, I suppose not,” she agreed.
“You can still change your mind."
“Not really,” she smiled, “Now, hello Husband.”
“Hello Wife,” he returned, eyes fluttering shut as he squeezed her hands softly.
She smiled up at him, heart already feeling lighter. Yes, this was not a bad decision at all.
Then a knock rang out. Sakura blinked, the moment interupted and turned to look at the compound gates. Kakashi stared at them as well as a second knock rang out.
“This doesn’t seem like the place people come looking for you,” she remarked caught off guard.
Kakashi frowned and headed for the gate, one hand slipping from hers, but the other holding tight. Sakura squeezed back and followed him. He lifted the bar and swung the gate open. Sakura blinked in surprise at the sight of Tsuande. Her mentor was dressed, for once, in the full formal Hokage robes, done right up to the neck, hat set gently on her head. Her face was solemn and her demeanor icy as she gazed at them. Just behind her stood Naruto in official apprentice robes as well, eyes wide and hand clamped over his mouth as if he had been warned to be silent but didn’t know if he could manage.
“Hatake Kakashi,” Tsunade greeted, tone flat, “I have come to retrieve the daughter of my house, Haruno Sakura.”
Sakura blanked momentarily. Then her throat closed up and treacherous tears pressed at her eyes. She blinked them away, swallowing thickly as she stared at her mentor. Tsunade did not look at her, but kept her stony gaze pinned on Kakashi.
“Haruno Sakura has been folded into the Hatake clan. She is now Hatake Sakura, my wife. She cannot return with you,” Kakashi replied, tone formal as he etched a very short bow. “We shall care for and cherish the former daughter of your house and she shall not know unkindness in our home.”
Silence ruled for a long moment and Sakura squeezed Kakashi’s hand a little harder. Naruto was still watching wide eyed and silent, eyes darting between all of them as he looked as if he wanted to blurt something out.
“Congratulations Hatake Kakashi and Sakura. May you clan flourish. But know that if Sakura, former daughter of my clan, ever wishes to return to us, she will be welcome,” Tsunade said, bowing her head back.
Sakura bowed alongside Kakashi to the formal greetings. Then she let her hand slip from his and stepped into Tsunade’s embrace.
“Give me the word and I will put my fist through his face,” Tsunade said blandly, squeezing her.
“Thank you,” Sakura murmured. “But I can do that myself if need be.”
“That’s my girl,” she said proudly.
Sakura stepped back and shot Naruto a narrow eyed glare in warning. He kept his mouth shut but his eyes were still wide with surprise as he hugged her.
“We can talk later, but if you ruin my wedding day I will hurt you,” she said half amused, half in warning. “We can talk tomorrow and god help you if I find you told anyone.”
Naruto finally grinned, hugging her tight but keeping his mouth shut. They had taught him in the past year that it was best to keep his mouth shut if he wasn’t sure what he should say. Tsunade’s threats on the same matter helped him hold his tongue more these days.
Sakura and Kakashi bowed them away again, watching as Tsuande swept off down the street, Naruto scrambling to follow her in their constricting formal robes.
“Well,” Kakashi said into the silence, “I don’t know what to do. I hadn’t planned this far ahead.”
Sakura laughed at the admission and took his hand in hers again.
“Now we go break back into my parents’ house so I can grab my things.”
“Sounds good,” he eye-smiled at her.
.--.
“I think that is everything,” Sakura said looking about her room.
“This is all you’re taking?” He raised a brow, sweeping his eyes across the room as well.
“Yes,” she shrugged. “That’s all mine, the rest technically belongs to my parents I would say.”
Sakura glanced at the large chest at his feet, smiling fondly. It was a tradition from her Mother’s line, back from when they had lived in the far reaches of Kusa once long ago. The chest had been made at her birth and then she had slowly filled it with linens. Everything from sheets to towels to washcloths. She had helped make most of them, or at the very least embroidered them. It was enough for a newly wed couple to fill their home. Stacked in the trunk on the linens were sealing scrolls with all her books and scrolls along with some sealed scrolls of her ninja gear. She had taken all of her ninja gear and clothes, but left her regular clothes in the closet (all but what Ino had gifted her). She left everything from her desk to her comforter on her bed to her alarm clock and lamps. Everything that her parents had bought her she left. It was not that she did not like them, but she had been raised in a traditional civilian manner. When she married, she had been raised to believe, she would only take her necessities and her dowry, leaving behind everything of her parents.
It was one of the reasons, years ago, that she had decided to enter the academy. Ninja she had learned young, did not conform to civilian ideas of marriage and home. Sure the woman was still expected to have kids in a clan and raise them, but she was also expected to be a strong independent woman. And ninja who did not live in a clan often had freedom civilian women would never dream of. Even after learning of Bride-Knapping she had known that as a ninja she would have a lot more choice in her marriage then if she had been a normal civilian woman like her parents had wished.
Even though her parents had hoped she would stay a civilian, would change her mind and go back to school of settle down, they had loved and supported her. Her father smiled so happily when she told him she was becoming a medic-nin despite the fact he wanted her to be a house-wife away from violence. Her mother had been so proud when she heard who Sakura was mentoring under despite the fact she wanted Sakura to find a nice young man and settle down. They were proud of her and loved her dearly she knew, but they were civilians themselves and had been raised and lived thinking their daughter would marry a man of their choosing and be fulfilled as a house-wife.
Sakura did not know how they would take her marriage to Kakashi, into a ninja clan, and to a man who could not inherit their business. But she knew to show she was serious, she would have to treat it like they would have treated a civilian marriage. She had to leave her things, leave her parent’s home, and never complain of it. She would have to put up a front of being a dedicated woman who cooked, cleaned, and worshipped the ground Kakashi walked on. It would be simple enough to pretend and it would most likely please her parents.
“You sure?” Kakashi asked, pulling Sakura from her plans and thoughts, “We can make another trip.”
“I’m good,” she smiled, wondering if he understood why she was leaving everything.
She picked up the small framed photo of Team Seven off of her nightstand and gently added it to her trunk before snapping the lid shut.
“Grab one end would you. It’s not heavy, just awkward.”
“Not heavy, she says,” he muttered as he hefted the one end.
She grinned at him and they silently maneuvered out her window. She thanked the fact it was big enough to fit a trunk and quietly shut it behind her as Kakashi stood awkwardly on the wall, holding the trunk so it wouldn’t fall. When it was shut she nodded and they both leapt from the wall silently and in sync. It was a trip of about ten minutes through the roof tops of Konoha, each of them holding onto her trunk.
Kakashi led her to the apartment doors instead of a window and Sakura landed silently, her new kimono not even rumpled. They were quiet as they slipped into the building. The sun had risen but it was still a fairly early hour. Kakashi dug in his pouch for a key and unlocked his apartment door, slipping in ahead of her.
“Let’s set it in the living room,” he said leading her past the small kitchen and down the hall.
Sakura was used to his apartment, but not used to maneuvering a decently large trunk through it. They got the trunk into the Livingroom without dinging up any of the walls and she tucked it between his bookshelf and couch. When that was done she flopped down onto his couch the long way with a sigh.
Kakashi sat beside her, lifting her feet so he could take a seat. He flopped them back across his lap and pulled out a familiar orange book. They would have to talk about living arrangements, about whether they would be staying here or moving to the Hatake manor or moving to a bigger place. But for now, newly married and tired from such an early morning, Sakura relaxed. The easy way the both flopped down in silence felt natural.
Sakura slowly unpinned the veil that had been put in earlier. She ran her fingers over the fine white cloth slowly, impressed with the stitching.
“Where did you get this?” She asked curiously.
Kakashi’s eyes flickered over to her and the veil she held.
“It was my grandmothers. My mother wore it when she accepted my father’s proposal as well.”
Sakura nodded faintly and very carefully folded the white cloth. Then her stomach gave an embarrassingly loud growl.
“I think you owe me breakfast,” she said.
“Fair enough,” he said, snapping his book shut, “Though we will have to go out. I have very little in the fridge.”
“We’ll have to solve that later, but going out now sounds good,” she said, rolling off the couch.
He tucked his book away and waved at the door. Sakura pulled the sandals on that she had just pulled off and waited for Kakashi to tap his own on.
“Lead the way,” she smiled.
“Are you okay dressed like that?” he asked hesitantly.
She blinked down at the Hatake colored kimono.
“Yes,” she said simply.
He cracked a brief smile and then slipped out the door. She followed him as he walked leisurely for the stairs and instead of heading up for the roof he headed down the stairs and out the front door.
.--.
Sakura hesitantly brushed the banner aside and stepped into the small entrance way. Kakashi was already wandering towards the bar and Sakura glanced around the tiny narrow restaurant. There was a total of four tables, two against each wall, with the bar/counter at the end. Kakashi was leaning over the empty counter and calling into the back where a scuffle echoed.
Sakura stood hesitantly at his side as he slouched and waited. A short elderly man came bustling from the back, a scowl on his face. Said scowl only deepened as he saw Kakashi. He stopped to rest his hands on his hip as he glared at Kakashi.
“What are you doing here Hatake? You know we don’t open yet,” he scolded.
“Ah, well,” Kakashi smiled, rubbing the back of his head in a familiar sheepish manner. “My wife was quite hungry and I know of nowhere better to go.”
“That does not excuse the fact we are clo-” The man’s mouth abruptly snapped shut.
Then he stepped around Kakashi to look at her. Sakura met his gaze boldly, giving him as a much of a look over as he did her. His eyes lingered on her kimono. Then he broke into a wide beaming grin.
“This is a cause for celebration!” he declared, “Hatake, finally married and settled! With a beauty as well! Come, com, sit, sit.”
Sakura let him usher her into one of the four small tables.
“What do you like, dear?” He smiled at her.
“I’ll eat anything,” she smiled back at him. “If Kakashi comes here regularly everything must be good.”
The elderly man puffed up and nodded before spinning on his heel to give Kakashi a sharp look.
“Sit down and be polite to your bride.”
Kakashi held a hand up in surrender and did as he was told.
“And we will have words about not inviting me to the wedding,” the man shot Kakashi a glare.
“There wasn’t one,” Sakura spoke up. “Can’t say I’m surprised what with how lazy he is.”
“I stole her,” Kakashi said sagely, nodding.
There was a moment.
“A bride kidnapping!” the man said gleefully.
All the noise had drawn his two assistant cooks out and for a few minutes it was all excited chatter. Finally Sakura and Kakashi were left in relative silence as the cooks got busy on their ‘congratulations feast’.
“You know the elder man quite well then?” she asked, curious as she leaned back in her chair.
“Ah….I didn’t introduce you two did I?” Kakashi winced.
“Not at all,” she said, amused.
“His name is Atsuki. My father gave him the funds to start this business. My father had a weakness for sushi and Atsuki had been only an apprentice, looking to get his own shop so my father gave him the funds. He never got a chance to pay my father back before my father died, so he tries to pay me back.”
“And you refuse,” she read easily.
“Well, there is no need for debts to the dead,” Kakashi shrugged.
“I bet you he does not let you pay for any food here though.”
“Not even the smallest piece,” Kakashi said mournfully. “I make sure to tip well instead.”
Sakura laughed and then turned to smile as one of the assistants came out with a tea set, setting both of them up. They shared a few minutes of comfortable silence. When the food started to come out in came out in small portions, all different kinds of sushi and sashimi and a variety of other things including fresh miso soup.
“This is wonderful,” Sakura moaned as she ate a piece of tuna sashimi, feeling the meat melt on her tongue.
Kakashi smiled at her, fingers going to hook up around his mask. Sakura automatically politely averted her eyes, looking at her own food instead of his face. A moment later she felt foolish for doing so. He was her husband now and she could look at his face. But still, she kept her eyes averted respectfully. He had not invited her to look and she was waiting for that permission first.
They were getting their second serving when the first customer stepped into the small restaurant. Sakura felt Kakashi’s subtle genjutsu immediately layer itself over his face to make it appear he wore a mask even as he ate. She also felt one settle over herself, mostly her hair and face. She gave him an amused quirk of her brows and he returned a minuscule shrug, his own grin twitching. Sakura knew when Kakashi was messing with people so she did not disrupt the genjutsu that was so subtle it was a whisper to her senses.
The man walked up to the counter and ordered quickly, the tone suggesting this was a regular occurrence. Once the order was in, he lazily turned and headed for them. Sakura made sure she looked as if she was engrossed in her food, not bothering to look up at Shiranui Genma.
“I didn’t know you existed before 9am Kakashi,” Genma greeted them.
“Hello to you to Genma,” Kakashi said lightly.
“And out with a friend even,” Genma said, looking over at Sakura.
She ducked her head so he couldn’t see her smile under his curious look.
“Shiranui!” Atsuki yelled, “Don’t bother Kakashi and his new bride!”
Genma’s senbon clattered against the floor as his jaw dropped.
“And don’t gape at her! Its unseemly!”
Genma seemed rooted to the spot.
“Yes Genma,” Kakashi said with a smile, “Its unseemly to gap. Shoo.”
Genma fell back in a daze, eyes still locked on them.
“He even did it properly and stole her,” Atsuki nodded as he handed Genma his order, “Its such a pleasure to see young couples blossom.”
Genma took his food and then glanced once more at them before leaving at a run.
“He’s going to try to start some drama,” Sakura remarked with a smirk as she popped a piece of fish into her mouth.
Atsuki and Kakahsi both gave her sly grins and she laughed.
.--.
.--.
Sakura awoke slowly, the soft warmth of sunlight warming her back and the feeling of another body warming her front. Sakura opened her eyes slowly, sleepily and found Kakashi’s face close to hers, tucked on the same pillow. She breathed slowly, and simply watched his sleeping face for a moment. It was not a new thing for him to be comfortable enough around her to sleep soundly and she enjoyed that trust for a minute.
Finally she rolled over, illogically comfortable crammed onto the small twin mattress with Kakashi against the wall. She stretched slightly, the warm sun filtering in the window warming her and the quilt she was laying on. The afternoon heat made the room cozy and the sun made her lazy as she glanced out at the clear sky.
….
.--.
Sakura heard the loud knock through the compound, the echoing seals sending the noise from the front gate all the way to the veranda in the inner courtyard. She approached the gate curiously, wondering who knew to seek her out at the Hatake mannor. Shining teeth and green met her eyes.
“Gai!” she greeted, startled.
….(Gai is supportive and weepy of course)
.--.
“I have a mission for you two,” Tsunade said blandly.
Sakura raised a brow at her teacher. Tsunade gave her a bland smile and Sakura knew to be worried. That was Tsunade’s scheming face.
“…ah?” Kakashi said with a certain amount of wariness. “Together?”
“Just the two of you,” Tsunade nodded, sliding a scroll towards them.
When Kakashi made no move to pick it up Sakura took it, flicking open the seal to read the contents. Her eyebrows rose further and she tried to repress the smile that tried to stretch across her face.
“A mission?” Sakura snorted.
“It’s a valid mission,” Tsunade smirked finally.
“Thank you then, Hokage-sama, for giving us this opportunity to prove our strength as your loyal ninjas. We will complete this to the best of our abilities,” Sakura said, sketching a bow.
“Dismissed,” Tsunade grinned.
Kakashi followed her silently out of the office. He followed her all the way home silently too.
“Do I want to know where we are going?" he finally asked as the door shut.
“Just make sure to pack formal wear,” she smiled.
He looked very disheartened by that and sighed.
(Honeymoon! Tsunade sends them on a cruise. It’s a murder mystery but more on the level of genin so they get to enjoy the rest of the time together).
.--.
Sakura felt her breath settle and stay in her chest as she stared up into bright mismatched eyes. Kakashi’s gaze was far away as he looked at her, a soft content smile on his lips. He brushed a thumb across her cheek, just under her eye and Sakura froze like a startled deer.
It was such an intimate moment, on some deep level and Sakura didn’t want to move lest she scare him away.
……(First intimate moment, just a chaste kiss. I want them to start sweetly.)
.--.
.--.
.--.
NOTES: Just newlywed Kakashi and Sakura that’s soft and sweet. Sakura who’s always been a romantic (Kakashi too) and Kakashi deliriously happy with this chance. Sasuke bows out gracefully.