Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Soooo sorry its hideously late!

'Tea love?'

Sakura glanced at her mother tiredly, who was holding up a mug with a gentle smile on her face.

'What? Oh yeah sure.' Sakura answered with a sigh.

Her mother gave her a worried glance as she poured the tea.

'Are you alright, you've seemed a bit down since you came back from the hospital. Are you still feeling a bit worse for wear?' Her mother asked concerned.

Sakura held the mug between her hands, relishing in the warmth that spread to her fingers.

'Yeah just tired I guess.' Sakura answered with a measured tiredness in her tone.

Mrs Haruno sat down at the worn dinner table and regarded her daughter. She looked tired, run down as if something troubling was constantly on her mind. She could see the weight of whatever problem she carried in her eyes, and from the way her shoulders slumped. She seemed fragile and defeated, and that wasn't like her daughter.

'If it was something other than feeling a bit under the weather, you would tell me wouldn't you?' She asked reaching to hold her daughters hand.

Sakura could feel tears prick at her eyes. How she longed to tell her mother all about her miserable predicament, but she was just too scared of her mother's reaction. How exactly would she react? Would she be horrified? Shocked? Disappointed? Indifferent? Sakura could only guess that she wouldn't be too happy about it all.

'Yeah mom, I just need some rest I think.' She answered with fake cheer.

Mrs Haruno didn't look convinced but gave her daughters hand a comforting squeeze before getting up to resume cleaning the kitchen. Sakura dipped her chocolate biscuit into her tea with a thoughtful sigh when there was a knock at the door. She allowed her mother to answer it. She had a small flicker of hope that it was Kakashi, but that was quickly squashed when she heard the high smooth tone of Ino's voice. If anything she slumped a little bit more.

'God you look terrible.' Ino chirped as she took in Sakura's appearance.

'Nice to see you too.' Sakura replied as she stood up, dumped her mug in the sink and turned for the stairs.

'I mean seriously when did you last look in the mirror?' Ino asked following her up the stairs.

Sakura offered her only a growl as she walked into her room, and flopped down promptly on her bed. Ino followed her in before closing the door, and quickly turning around to face Sakura.

'Alright who is he?' Ino asked.

Sakura felt her heart stop momentarily and she burrowed her head further into her pillow.

'Who says there's a guy? Maybe I'm depressed because I have no guy.' Sakura grumbled, face still buried in her pillow.

'Because your acting the same way as you did when Saskue left, now come on I know there is a guy just tell my who it is.'

Sakura thought through the pros and cons of telling Ino. On the plus side she was dying to talk to someone about it, and Ino usually had decent advice especially when it came to men. On the downside there was always the possibility that Ino would tell just about everyone, she had certainly blabbed in the past. But Ino was her best friend; she would understand that this was too important to spread around right?

Sakura made up her mind and sat up on her bed, clutching her duvet to her. She regarded Ino closely before speaking.

'You have to promise you won't tell anyone Ino.' She said quietly.

Ino smirked and casually waved her hand.

'Yeah yeah come on get on with it.'

'No I mean it Ino. You can't tell anyone this is serious.' Sakura said more firmly. Ino let the smirk slip from her face.

'Alright I promise.'

'Well I have been seeing someone...well not really seeing more like had a brief encounter with someone I've known for a really long time, which is kind of what makes it weird and painful but amazing at the same time and...'

'Sakura take a breath I can't understand you.' Ino interrupted.

Sakura bit her lip and sunk back down on the bed, she was just going to have to tell her properly no more blurting.

'Ok. Well I kind of kissed someone who I have known for a very long time,'

'Oh my god it's Naruto isn't it?!' Ino shrieked, Sakura gave her an exasperated look.

'No! I would never think of kissing Naruto eww he like a hyperactive annoying younger brother.' Sakura shouted back.

'No it's definitely not Naruto... anyway now he's acting weird and avoiding me.'

Ino gave her a sympathetic look before answering.

'Well I hate to say it forehead but maybe he's not interested, you know with the whole avoiding you thing.'

Sakura shook her head slightly.

'No he's definitely interested, well at least I'm pretty sure he is I mean he kissed me and he wouldn't hurt me like that.' She replied slowly.

Ino regarded her friend quietly; an unhappy forehead wasn't a fun one.

'Sakura, who is it?' She asked as she sat down on the bed next to her best friend.

'You can tell me, my lips are sealed I promise.'

She had to tell her she knew she couldn't go through this alone and she knew it, there were certain things that Sakura just couldn't manage alone. Ask her to fend off a group of enemy nin and she would mange, ask her to heal a ridiculous number of injured ninja and she would cope, but ask her to deal with relationship problems and she would crumble.

'It's Kakashi.' Sakura said weakly. She watched Ino stare at her blankly, then observed the disbelief creep onto her features.

'I'm sorry did I hear you right, did you say that it was Kakashi?'

Sakura nodded in response.

'What really?'

Sakura rolled her eyes, how was it Ino could annoy her no matter what the situation?

'Really really, is it that hard to believe?' Sakura said a bit frostily.

'Well he is your sensei, and he's older than you I guess I just figured he'd be interested in someone more mature.' Ino trailed off as she saw the anger seeping into Sakura's features. She laughed nervously as Sakura looked ready to slap her.

'So you're saying that you didn't think he would waste his time with his immature student?'

'No no! I just mean I can see why he would like you, your pretty, have a decent personality and have freaky ninja strength. But I thought you know being your sensei he'd stay away, he could get a serious whipping from Tsunade you know.'

Sakura's angry fizzled out as she digested Ino's words.

'I know, that's why I need your help.' Sakura despaired pressing the pillow to her face once again.

'Alright start from the beginning.'

Sakura found days like these extremely annoying. She found it immensely unfair and sickening when the world appeared oh so very happy, when she was oh so very miserable. She felt as though the world and its inhabitants should share her pain not go on obliviously while she mopes about.

Sakura was truly at a loss of what to do or where to go. She had been sent home from training with Tsunade at the hospital due to her lack of concentration, she didn't want to go and see Ino just to listen to her telling her what an idiot she was being and she really didn't want to go home so her mother could try and pry for information whilst periodically giving her tea and biscuits, Sakura was sure she'd had enough tea in the last three hours to last her a life time.

It was sad but all she really wanted to do right now was talk to Kakashi, she hated to admit it but she missed him. She missed him teasing her; she missed trying to subtly extract little stories from his past, but most of all she missed him just being near.

She gave a loud sigh as she wandered through town lazily kicking the stones in her path, she made her way to an old looking bench and plonked herself down on it and surveyed the street in front of her. It was early evening now the sun was beginning to set giving everything an orangey glow. If everything had been fine and normal Sakura would have described it as romantic and lovely, but seeing as she was in a foul mood she decided garish and sickly was a better description.

She watched with small interest as people made their way home, or set out for a night on the town giving small peeved looks at the couples who passed her. Why did these people seem so happy? Sakura decided it wasn't healthy, and she dropped her head into her hands and regarded her feet as an exceptionally happy couple strolled on by.

'Stupid happy couples, don't they know over half of all marriages end in divorce, yeah that will really fix their wagon.' Sakura growled at her feet.

'Really over half? That's quite a depressing statistic.'

Sakura's heart almost stopped. She knew exactly who that voice belong to, and even though she was immensely happy just to have him near again she felt as though she should still be mad at him, after all he had hurt her.

'What do you want?' She mumbled miserably without lifting her head.

'That's no way to greet an old friend, not to mention your sensei.'

Sakura felt the hidden meaning behind that word sensei. It implied the way she felt, they way they felt was wrong. Sakura lifted her head to look at him. He looked the same way he always does, slightly ruffled but comfortable. Sakura wondered absently if he had always oozed confidence or had he learnt it?

'Well you haven't really been my sensei for a while now so it doesn't matter how I greet you.' She replied with as much conviction as she could manage.

He held her gaze for a long while, so long it was beginning to make Sakura feel the urge to squirm.

'Is there any reason you came over here and began badgering me? Because if there isn't I would really like to get back to staring at the floor, there is an interesting family of ants mooching about and watching them is kind of stress relieving.' Sakura said leaning back on the bench.

'Really? Well maybe I should watch I think I need some stress reliving of my own.' Kakashi replied before taking a seat next to Sakura.

He sat close enough so their arms were lightly pressed together, not enough to mean much but just enough to remind Sakura he was there.

'Did you really come over here to watch ants?' Sakura asked slowly looking straight ahead.

Kakashi turned his head slightly to regard her.

'No. Did you?'

Sakura could feel her cool aloof attitude slipping.

'No,' she said and began to take great interest in her nails. Neither said anything after that, both taking refuge in watching people pass along the street.

Just when Sakura thought she would die from the silence she felt Kakashi sigh slightly beside her.

'Sakura I...I.' He started before stopping sharply. Sakura turned her head to watch him, he looked frustrated and at a loss. Since when did Kakashi stutter? Sakura decided to let him suffer, it was him who need to talk not her she had already explained her feelings for him.

'Can we go somewhere a bit quieter?' He asked.

Sakura was a little taken aback by this request. Usually when a man said, 'can we go somewhere a bit quieter?' It was in some sexy scene in a movie where both characters had been shamelessly flirting, not when two people were barely talking as they sat awkwardly on a bench. Then again what did she have to lose?

'Erm ok.' She said shakily, Kakashi immediately got to his feet and looked down at Sakura.

'Come on my apartments not far.' He said motioning for Sakura to get up and follow.

Sakura felt her heart leap to her throat when he mentioned his apartment. She was going to be alone with him, in his apartment. As much as she relished in this idea her reason quickly followed and she felt like slapping herself to get a grip. After all, she had spent the last few days alone with him in his apartment. Not to mention they were still barely talking; it was unlikely he was taking her there for a steamy encounter like she hoped.

The journey to his apartment was quick and spent in silence, Sakura took in the surroundings and details of his apartment building even though she had memorised it before. She found it difficult to suppress the fluttering feeling in her stomach as she followed him through the door and flopped down on his sofa.

An unbearable silence followed, where Kakashi sat opposite her whilst looking mildly angry as he stared at the floor. Just as the silence was becoming too much he finally spoke up.

'Are you ok; you seemed a bit down on the bench out there.' He said as though he had no idea as to why she would be upset.

Sakura felt like taking off her shoe and viciously beating him around the head with it. But she kept her calm and just looked at him as if to say, 'are you a complete idiot?' Kakashi remained to appear oblivious. It was now obvious to Sakura that he was going to be an emotional log, and she really felt too tired to deal with him.

'Peachy.' She ground out as she stood with the intention of storming off dramatically.

'Sakura wait.' Kakashi called standing up.

She stopped half way to the door and turned around slowly.

'I'm sorry.' He said a little too quickly as if he didn't really want to hear himself saying it, well Sakura wasn't going to let him get out of it that easy.

'For what?' She replied sharply.

Kakashi swallowed and looked uneasy; good let him suffer thought Sakura.

'For the other night, I didn't think it would upset you so much, I...'

Sakura was definitely pissed off now.

'Didn't think it would upset me?! Are you really that dense? You really hurt me Kakashi.' Sakura shouted as she tried to hold back the tears the threatened to fall.

'I thought that maybe you were just having a lapse in judgement, you know from being switched back and being so happy.' Kakashi answered.

'Lapse in judgement! What gives you the right to dismiss my emotions?!' Sakura shouted and began wiping fiercely at her eyes as the tears finally spilled over.

'That's not what I meant!' Kakashi answered looking just a little bit more than flustered.

'Then what did you mean?!' Sakura said between sobs.

'I don't know.'

Sakura was definitely not impressed with that answer.

'You don't know? Genius shinobi my ass!' She shouted taking a threatening step toward Kakashi.

'You really have no clue do you? How you have survived with no people skills all these years I have no idea!' Sakura felt her strength being sapped from the emotional trauma and began to sink down to the floor.

Kakashi gave her a hurt look and began to walk toward her. Good, the closer he was the easier it would be to throttle him.

'Sakura.' He said gently, kneeling down and taking her hands in his own.

'Oh go away.' Sakura sniffled huffily.

'Sakura I really am sorry, I wasn't trying to upset you I just panicked, like you said no people skills. I was stupid.' He captured her chin and made her look at him.

Sakura felt her heart get caught in her throat, why did he always have to look so good?

'Yes you are stupid.' She stated simply.

Neither moved for a moment and Sakura delighted in how close he was. She chewed on her lip nervously as she reached for the edges of his mask and rolled it down slowly. Her eyes drifted down to his lips and absently remembered the kisses they had shared. She saw him part them slightly and tug on her chin whilst leaning into her.

The kiss was soft and apologetic; neither demanded more and simply allowed the kiss to linger. He pulled away from her slowly and offered a small smile.

'Don't think because you kiss me and bat those eyelashes that I will forgive you.' Sakura said firmly.

Kakashi's smile widened into a grin.

'Oh really, well I guess I will have to try harder.'

He pulled her in for another kiss; it wasn't soft like the last one but firmer and more passionate. Sakura was more than happy to allow him to take control of the kiss but the hurt he had caused lingered, her eyes still stung from tears and her throat still burned from suppressed sobs. She pulled away sharply and tried not to process the confused look on Kakashi's face.

'Please don't do that unless you mean it.'

The confusion on Kakashi's face intensified.

'Please I need to know where we stand.'

Kakashi sat back a little to regard her.

'I can't promise that I'll be everything you need, because I really doubt that I will be.'

Sakura closed her eyes, she could feel the rejection coming and with it the hurt. She turned her head away and made a move to stand.

'I'm not finished.' Kakashi said whilst gently pulling at her wrists to keep her in place.

'Like I said I can't be everything you need, but I'm willing to try.'

Sakura couldn't believe it. Had she heard him right? Did Kakashi Hatake just say something sweet? Was the sky still in place?

'Could you please say something, it's just that you're making me feel nervous just staring at me like that.' Kakashi said smiling nervously.

'Sorry I'm just shocked.' Sakura laughed. Kakashi pulled a face in response.

'Shocked, but happy.' Sakura said catching his face in her hands.

She felt like laughing and crying at the same time. She thought back to all the craziness of their last mission. Of the trials they had faced being switched, and the hilarity and anguish of the ordeal. Even though she was pretty sure she never wanted to be a man ever again, she was glad that jutsu had hit them because who knows maybe if they had never walked that mile in the others shoes they may have never discovered how they truly felt. For Sakura that made that bodged jutsu a blessing in disguise and she silently thanked the fates.

And although Sakura knew it was probably a bad idea venturing into her first serious relationship with a man 14 years her senior, and her teacher no less. But she couldn't help but let the triumphant smile spread across her face as Kakashi began to steer her toward the bedroom.

One thought did cross her mind though as he pushed her softly down onto the bed, they had to explaining to do when they next saw Tsunade and Naruto.

Oh well, they always said the best things in life were worth fighting for.

My goodness I am so sorry for how horrendously late this is! I'm afraid exams snuck up on me and writing had to take a back seat. I hope you all enjoyed this story and thanks to all those who read and reviewed. I should be posting some more one shots soon and hopefully maybe another multi chapter. Tata for now!