Sakura was out collecting medicinal roots when she got the summons. Elbow-deep in muddy sand, she threw what she had collected so far into a bucket and headed back to the village. The woman sent to fetch her had said the Kazekage wished to see her in his office as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the medical unit was waiting on the roots, and she didn't see a problem with keeping Gaara waiting a few more minutes.

Since transferring to Sunagakure, Gaara and his siblings had checked up on her roughly once a week, making sure she was settling in ok, and gently (but not particularly subtly) asking about why she had requested a short-notice transfer there. She knew it was nothing more than concern for an old friend, but each week it became harder and harder to feign innocence. Each week away from Konoha got harder and harder for several reasons…

"What are you doing here?" her medical supervisor, Kayo, asked the moment she stepped through the door to the medical facility. Sakura raised the muddy bucket by way of reply.

Kayo bustled over and took the bucket. "Forget those, didn't someone tell you you've been summoned by the Kazekage?"

Sakura shrugged. "It'll just be a social thing, Gaara doesn't mind if I'm la-"

"It is not a 'social thing.' There's a messenger for you. From Konoha."

Sakura blinked. "A messenger. For me?" What on earth could they possibly want?

Kayo rolled her eyes. "Well if you stop standing here and get a move-on, you might actually find out!" She started pushing Sakura back out the door.

"Wait, can't I wash my hands firs-"

"-Out!"

Five minutes later, Sakura was half-jogging along the corridor to the Kazekage's office. She probably looked ridiculous, covered in mud and panting from the run, but Kayo's insistence had spurred her on, so that she hadn't so much as stopped to catch her breath. As she drew level with the door, she heard a laugh from inside, which abruptly cut off as she knocked. She noticed with some chagrin that her knuckles left a muddy streak on the wood.

The door opened, and Kankuro took one look at her and snorted. "What have you been doing?"

Sakura bristled. "My job. But I was summoned and so here I am." Kankuro stood aside as she strode into the room, though she could tell he was making some kind of face behind her back.

Gaara sat behind his desk, and though his face seemed as impassive as usual, Sakura had known him long enough to sense that he too, was amused by something. His hat sat on his desk instead of his head, and his body slouched comfortably in the direction of the third person in the room. This man had glasses and close-cropped auburn hair. Sakura didn't recognise him, but by his clothing guessed him to be the messenger from home.

"Ah, Sakura-san," Gaara stood up as she approached, "you've finally arrived." To his credit, his eyes didn't linger on her dirt-crusted arms. "We've been chatting with your visitor in the meantime." He gestured to the man with the glasses, who bowed humbly. His eyes did linger on her arms, and Sakura thought she detected the ghost of a smile as he straightened. She nodded back at him with as much dignity as she could muster.

"This is Shinji," Gaara continued, "and he says he has a message for you from Hatake Kakashi."

Sakura stopped cold. She could already feel the blush burning across her face at the mention of his name, but forced her features to remain impassive.

"Very well," she said, reaching out for Shinji to hand her the scroll.

Shinji looked apologetic. "It's a verbal message. He asked me to give it to you in person."

Gaara smiled one of his enigmatic smiles. "Kankuro and I will take our leave to give you some privacy." At that, he and the puppet master left, and Sakura gave a tiny sigh of relief. Hearing Kakashi's message was no-doubt going to be painful in the extreme, but at least she wouldn't have to bear the shame of having her friends know its contents.

Shinji waited expectantly. It occurred to Sakura, as she stood facing the messenger, just how tall he was. He was actually the first person from Konoha that she had seen since leaving, and the sight of him, even though he was a stranger, gave her a tiny pang of homesickness. After a moment, she turned away from him. She didn't want this man to see her pain up close.

"Alright," she finally said, mentally preparing herself for Kakashi's anger and blame, "Let's have it, then."

"Sakura," Shinji began, reciting the words Kakashi must have told him, "I needed to talk to you, but wasn't sure I could do it properly in person. You know me; I'm good at avoiding things, and people, that I shouldn't."

Sakura could imagine Kakashi, awkwardly reciting this message for Shinji to repeat. He probably hadn't been able to look the man in the eye, either.

"…but I can't avoid you any longer. I wanted to apologise, firstly, for the way I neglected you for years. I feel that you must know I never meant to hurt you. I know how weak that sounds, but I promise you, no matter what you might believe, I do think you are a phenomenal ninja and a truly amazing person."

Staring intently at the window across the room, Sakura raised her eyebrows in surprise. So far, this wasn't what she had been expecting.

"…you should also know, I know it was you. I know Umeko was you."

She squeezed her eyes shut. Here it comes…

"…I didn't know it was you at the time. I found out only recently, actually. But I should have known. I should have realised that the reason I felt so comfortable and happy around Umeko, is because I've known her for years. I wanted to get to know her better because I wanted to get to know you better. It was your beauty, not Umeko's, that made me want to kiss you that night."

Sakura's eyes flew open in shock, and she turned to face the messenger.

"Did he say anything el-"

Shinji had disappeared, and the man now standing before her, the man who it had always been, was Kakashi. He wore his usual flak jacket and mask; even his head was free of bandages, his sharingan covered by with nothing but his usual forehead protector.

As she gaped at him, Kakashi cocked his head to one side in a smile. "Good to see you, Sakura."

Her mouth worked to form words. Her head was buzzing and her heart felt like a music box that had been wound too tightly. Everything was equal parts pain and bliss.

"Kakashi. What are you doing here?" she finally managed to get out.

The silver-haired jounin raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "I'm here to deliver a message, of course. Which, by the way, I haven't finished."

Sakura nodded once, then stiffly gestured for him to continue. She felt an absurd compulsion to burst into tears, and fought it fiercely.

Kakashi continued. "I wanted to thank you for saving me that night, in the clearing. And for our last mission together, when you saved me and the sharingan. I didn't realise at the time, the great personal pain it caused you when your chakra got affected by mine. I'm sorry you had to share some of my burden."

"I'm not," Sakura whispered, and meant it. She found herself staring at the floor rather than looking into his one visible eye.

A hand reached out to cup her chin, gently raising it until she had no choice but to look at him properly. He was so close to her, just like that night before they kissed. She remembered the feel of his hands on her shoulders, her desire to touch him. She suddenly felt hyper-aware of the mud on her hands.

"Sakura," Kakashi breathed her name, quiet as a prayer.

Her name. She was Sakura, and he was Kakashi, and as he tugged his mask down, she didn't look away.

Their lips fit perfectly.