Author's Notes and Story Summary:

As If Fate Would Have It is my first major story! I hope you guys follow along as we explore my take on Sakura and Kakashi's relationship!

Story Summary: Sakura is beginning to see Kakashi in a new light ever since he approved her clinic expansion and they went out to celebrate. Kakashi is questioning why Sakura just won't leave his mind since that day. As fate would have it, they stumble into each other's arms one night when Kakashi visits Sakura at work to check on the clinic and the rest is history as they come to terms with the feelings they have.

Pure KakaSaku goodness.

They're 19 and 33 when the story starts.

Roughly-ish follows canon, with obvious tweaks. Characters are slight OOC, but nothing major, just for the story.

Rated M for smut and other themes that shall be mentioned in later author notes.

This is most definitely going to be a semi slow build up/slow burn story. Lots of emotions, internal monologue, and character development I wanna cover and I don't wanna rush anything or skip much. Prepare for the long haul, y'all. My main purpose with this story is to be filled with love and fluff between our two main characters, so my goal isn't drama/angst all the time.

I'm still experimenting with a lot in this story so the summary will probably definitely change and update slightly as the story progresses. :) So make sure to check it every so often!

I'm by no means a professional writer! I'm just writing this in my free time and wanted to share my imagination with you!

A special thank you to Taytay95 for being a wonderful beta and for encouraging and inspiring me to finally write this story! Go check out her own KakaSaku stories too!

I do not own anything! Cover Image used with permission is by ksanon/dimisfit on Tumblr! Go check out their amazing KakaSaku art!

Chapter One: Lunch

"Mahh, Sakura. Can't you leave a poor old man alone?"

"Not until you review this proposal. And you're not an old man either, so pipe it."

"I told you, I'd review it by the end of the week. I promise."

"Not good enough."

Kakashi stared up to the young woman standing in front of his desk. She hasn't left him alone for barely a moment since he walked into his office this morning. He hunched over his desk hanging his head and groaned.

"Sakura… I can't get any work done with you watching over me like a hawk. Let me get a few things done first and then I promise you, I will look at your proposal." he begged.

"How long is that gonna take?" Sakura shot back, glaring.

Kakashi dropped his head on the desk at her remark. Not moving from his position he groaned again as he stuck his hand out towards Sakura and she happily placed the file in his hand.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei." She grinned, knowing she would have her way.

Still in his face planted position, Kakashi spoke.

"Please, Sakura, drop the -sensei. I haven't been your sensei for over five years now."

"Sorry. It's a habit, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi let out yet another pained groan at the sound of the new honorific. Sakura knew quite well how much Kakashi disliked being called '-sama' in any form. She was messing with him and she was enjoying every bit of his suffering.

Finally deciding to sit up, Kakashi opened the document Sakura had placed in his hand.

"You said it was for a clinic expansion?"

"Yes. After the war ended two years ago, you granted us temporary resources for a clinic to assess children and teenager's mental trauma post-war. We worked for six months and it proved highly beneficial. It was scaled back after that six months though, but I feel we should expand it again, but further." Sakura explained to him.

'She has obviously rehearsed this,' he thought to himself as he skimmed the file over, 'She probably has this entire proposition file memorized too.'

"Well, I don't see why I would ever deny this proposal. Why didn't you tell me to look over this sooner?" Kakashi said with the most casual tone ever, winking up at Sakura.

It was now her turn to groan.

"You're impossible."

"It's not the worst thing I've been called."

Sakura huffed at his remark.

"So? Are you approving it or not?"

"Obviously. Anything for you, Sakura."

This obviously caught Sakura off guard. She was prepared to fight more over this. She even cleared her whole day at the hospital to make sure this proposal got cleared and she managed to get it done before 10 o'clock in the morning? Kakashi watched as she just stood there baffled for a moment.

"Really? You're approving it? Shannaro! Yes! This is a cause for celebration! Kakashi-sensei, lets go get some lunch!" Sakura pumped her fist in the air in celebration, she couldn't contain herself she was so happy.

Kakashi sat there watching Sakura essentially do a happy dance in his office. He smiled as he watched her punch the empty air in front of her.

'She's really grown into quite the capable woman.'

After a few more moments passed, Sakura vented most of her excitement and turned back to Kakashi.

"So? Are you coming? Let's go!"

"Sakura, it's barely past 10 o'clock. Don't you think it's a little early for lunch?"

"Not with that attitude it isn't." She shot back, sass evident. Placing her hands on her hips and tilting her head to the side while raising her eyebrows at Kakashi.

"You got me there." Kakashi said as he stood and walked around his desk, stopping in front of Sakura. He noted that she had grown some more, become more womanly. And she was beautiful.

Sakura smiled up to Kakashi and dropped her hands from their place on her hips, allowing them to swing behind her back and hold them. She watched as Kakashi studied her.

He hasn't changed much in the last couple years she thought to herself. It was nice to finally see both of his eyes, it made him more human. She has always been fascinated by his scar.

He stood there and kept studying her.

Sakura suddenly started to feel warm under his intense gaze.

"O-okay! Let's get going!" she blurted out and turned quickly to leave. Hiding her increasingly warm face from Kakashi, which, knowing herself, was more than likely forming an obvious blush.

He quietly obliged and followed along behind her.

'What's wrong with me?' Sakura thought to herself frantically. 'He's my former sensei! Why am I blushing over him?'

After about a minute Sakura was able to get herself back under control for the most part. She felt her face cool down, so she allowed herself to fall back and walk next to Kakashi.

'He probably thinks I'm being super weird right now… Get it under control, Sakura!'

Kakashi was the first to speak first.

"Everything okay?"

Sakura twitched at his comment.

'He knows! He saw! Oh god.'

Without missing a beat Sakura replied, waving her hand in front of her face, "Of course! I'm just happy you approved my expansion proposal is all!"

Kakashi hummed in acknowledgment.

"I see. So what do you have in mind for lunch?"

'It seems he bought it!'

"Hmm, I'm feeling something with miso?"

"Let's make it simple and just do Ichiraku's?"

"Sounds good to me!"

Together they exited Hokage Tower and headed towards Ichiraku's.

Once they arrived they quickly place their orders and chat while waiting for their food. They rarely saw each other ever since Kakashi became the Hokage and Sakura starting full-time at the hospital. Kakashi was thankful for the pleasant company and distraction from his usual everyday monotony.

One could only handle so many meetings and so much paperwork after all, before they crack.

Sakura spoke more about the children's clinic expansion and Kakashi quietly listened to every word she had to say. He loved how dedicated she was to her job and how much effort she put into whatever she does.

Once she was done their food arrived.

"Itadakimasu!" they both said before digging into their ramens.

"Ahhh, this is delicious!"

Kakashi hummed next to her, agreeing with her statement.

After a few quiet minutes of eating passed, Sakura looked over to see that Kakashi was already done with his bowl and fixing his mask back in place.

He heard her giggle to his right.

Looking over to her with a raised brow, he spoke up.

"Ahh, what seems to be so funny?"

"Your mask." Sakura put simply.

"I see. And what's funny about my mask?"

"I dunno, just is."

Kakashi sat and watched Sakura as she continued to eat her ramen.

"You sure are acting odd today, Sakura."

He watched as she froze at his comment, chopsticks stopping at her lips.

He was enjoying teasing her. A little payback for this morning he figured. She has always been easy to read to him anyways, so he knew exactly what buttons to press to get a rise out of her.

"I'm not acting odd." She said suddenly, returning to eat her ramen.

Placing his elbow on the counter and resting his chin in his hand. Kakashi turned more in his seat to look at Sakura more clearly.

"I wish I could believe you, but you're not a very good liar, Sakura."

He watched as she put her chopsticks down and turn to look at him as well. She attempted the most serious, yet casual, face she could muster and at this Kakashi smiled slyly to himself under his mask.

'This is going to be fun.' he thought.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." she said.

"Oh really?"

"Yes. Really."

"Then explain earlier."

Sakura tensed up briefly at his comment, but readjusted quickly. This didn't go unnoticed to Kakashi.

"I still have no idea what you're talking about."

'So we're gonna play dumb? Okay then, let's play.'

"Oh? Ah. Then, I guess, let me refresh your memory for you." Kakashi explained, smirking under his mask, "I recall we were standing in my office, you were staring at me then suddenly you became quite flustered and began blushing. That was the first odd thing. Then you suddenly rushed out of my office leaving me behind to follow after you. That was the second. Then you ignored me for a couple minutes after that. That was number three. Now you're making fun of my mask? That's the fourth odd thing in about an hour. So yes, this all seems pretty odd to me, if I don't say so myself. Right, Sakura?"

He watched as Sakura's eyes widen further and further which each one of his observations.

She didn't speak for a moment. He watched as she looked away from him, eyes searching desperately for an answer. Turning she faced forward again. Picking up her chopsticks, she began eating the last bit of her ramen.

"How very observant of you." she said in between bites.

Sakura couldn't think of anything else to say. He had seen everything and called all her bluffs. The only thing she had left for her is to try and play it cool.

'Oh, god. He's gonna think I'm so weird.'

She could feel him staring at her still.

Studying her. It took everything in her to keep her composure in this moment.

'If he keeps looking at me like that, we're gonna have a repeat of what happened at the office… Why is he looking at me like that!? Why won't he saying anything?'

Sakura started to feel her face warm up again. She stopped eating, putting down her chopsticks, and just stared into her bowl. She clenched her fists.

'Oh, god, no. Not again…'

"I'm sorry."

Sakura whipped her head to the left and looked at the Hokage. She found worry in his dark eyes.

"I'm sorry." He repeated, "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Sakura continued to stare at Kakashi for a moment before slowly facing forward again, looking back into her near empty bowl. Processing what he just said.

"I wasn't uncomfortable. Just… embarrassed." she spoke quietly into the bowl. She began to fidget with her hands in her lap.

He was still looking at her, studying her and this only made her fidgeted more with her hands.

Suddenly he reached out and grabbed her hands, easily holding both in his one.

This motion jerked Sakura back to reality, turning she looked back to Kakashi. They made eye contact, two dark gray eyes looking into seafoam green. She could see sincerity written in his tired eyes.

He finally spoke.

"Don't be." He said in a quiet voice, just above a whisper.

Sakura instantly felt her face get hot and she knew she was blushing and there was no way she could hide it this time. She looked down to Kakashi's gloved hand that was holding both of hers.

'His hand is so warm…'

"Thank you..." Sakura managed to get out. Her throat instantly feeling dry the moment the words left her lips.

Kakashi gave her hands a gentle squeeze and removed his hand a few moments later.

"You're welcome, Sakura. Let me pay for lunch."

Sakura looked back up to him.

"Oh no, I offered lunch. Let me pay!"

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I let the lady pay for lunch? Consider it my treat. It was nice spending some time with you, Sakura."

Before she could continue her protest Kakashi had already pulled out his wallet and laid some cash on the counter. They eventually made their way out of the food stand and stood outside for a few moments before Kakashi spoke up, breaking their silence.

"I should probably get back to the office soon or Shizune and Shikamaru will begin a manhunt for me. Do you need me to walk you home?"

"No… I'm good. I'm actually gonna go back to the hospital and relay the good news and help out with anything that may need to be done."

"I'm sure they're in chaos without you there."

Sakura laughed at this and turned to smile up to Kakashi. Most of the tension dissipating between them, the air between them finally feeling light again.

"The funny part is you're probably right." she joked.

As if fate would have it, a sudden voice called out from behind Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sama!"

Kakashi blew out a breath of air at the sound of interference approaching them. Moments later Shizune appeared at his and Sakura's side.

"Kakashi-sama, where have you been!? Oh! Hello Sakura-san!" Shizune spoke, semi out of breath and slightly surprised to see Sakura with the Hokage.

"Hi, Shizune-san." Sakura replied back, soft smile on her face.

"Hello, Shizune. Reminder once again that you do not need to use the -sama with me."

"Do you realize how much paperwork you have waiting for you!? Where have you been?"

"I do and I decided to go out for a nice lunch with Sakura here."

"That's all fine and dandy to do on your own time, but Kakashi-sama it's still work hours! So can we please return back to Hokage Tower to attempt to finish this up?" Shizune was practically pleading with the Hokage. Turning to face Sakura, "I don't mean to sound rude, Sakura-san."

"Oh, don't worry. It's sort of my fault anyways. I pulled him away and asked him to lunch."

Kakashi watched as Sakura spoke to Shizune, taking some blame off of him and onto herself. He suddenly felt a weird sensation in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't tell if it was a good or bad feeling. He just felt an odd sensation that he couldn't explain.

Pushing that thought from his head, Kakashi turned to face Sakura.

"Well, I guess that means my fun here is done. I told you they would hunt me down, Sakura."

Sakura turned to face him as well and smiled.

"I shouldn't keep you any longer then, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi just looked at her and sighed. She was teasing him again. Deciding to play along with her little game, Kakashi plotted out his mini revenge. He straightened up a bit more smirking under his mask, he winked at her.

"I'll see you soon, Sakura."

His plan had worked out perfectly. Kakashi watched on as Sakura reacted to his wink and comment. Her eyes widening slightly and a dusting of a blush quickly crossing her cheeks. She regained her composure almost immediately.

Eyeing him with playful eyes, she gave him a small nod and a smile. Or smirk? He couldn't quite tell. Sakura then turned to Shizune and gave a quick nod as well before turning to walk away towards the direction of the hospital.

Kakashi heard Shizune begin speaking next to him but didn't listen to what she was saying. He was partially distracted watching Sakura walk away and thinking to himself.

'I feel like this isn't going to be the end of it.'

He smiled to himself before turning back to Shizune.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying again?"

A/N: There you have it! I can -begins singing- feel the start of something new~

Rate and review! Let me know what you think!

Stay tuned for the next chapter! I'm hoping to have a regular upload schedule if my writers block stays at bay. *fingers crossed*

If you haven't already, check out my beta's, Taytay95, own KAKASAKU story called To Love A Life! You're missing out of wonderful KAKASAKU goodness if you haven't!