A/N: I really hope this chapter was worth the wait...

The trip back home took much longer than the trip to the reformatory. Katsuo's brother, Kenshin, was very weak from having endured months of torture and experimentation. Chika was in better condition, but did not have nearly the same kind of stamina as the Konaha three.

Kakashi had managed to fly a message back to Konaha. ANBU would be flooding the onsen soon, investigating and stripping Katsuo's hideout. They would also be bringing back the bodies of both Tetsuya and Katsuo, so that Konaha medics could probe them for their secrets. There was only one loose end, which was Katsuo's lab assistant, Nobu. He managed to slip away during the commotion, and had since disappeared.

Kenshin spoke about Katsuo's jealousy over the bloodline limit, and how he was hoping to identify and extract the gene. Chika spoke about her ordeal as an extra body bag, and how she was receiving injections every day so that when they were ready to harvest organs from her, Kenshin would not reject them. Sakura shuddered when she realized that Kenshin was blood type A – the same as her.

When asked about how Chika knew about Ruzen, she explained that Katsuo and Nobu spoke openly in the lab. They were deliberating about bringing Tetsuya in after Yuu had died, but Katsuo was reluctant because he was still very schizophrenic, and had to explain everything about Ruzen to Nobu. He had been getting his information from Yuu, who seemed to have his fingers in everything at the reformatory.

Sakura intended on putting a clear description of Nobu in the bingo books, because he was the only one left alive who knew how to kill someone long enough to teleport them. Unfortunately, all Chika remembered was going to sleep in her room one night, and waking up again in her cage. Sakura could not feel anything in Chika's chakra that could provide any clues.

Overall, despite the messy conclusion, Sakura considered the mission an overall success. The culprits were caught, their methods and motivation exposed, and now the Katoka inmates were safe once more. Sakura should have been happy, but she could not bring herself to feel that way.

It was difficult admitting that she was not cut out for ANBU, and while she recognized that it had more to do with character than ability, it still stung that she was not good enough for something. It was even harder having to deal with the new, uncomfortable dynamic between her and her former sensei.

Kakashi spent most of the trip avoiding her. Any of her questions were met with clipped answers that left no room for further conversation. He flinched at her touch, and always slept on the opposite side of their camp, no matter which spot she chose.

Her own feelings for him were muddled, confusing and complicated. It was finally clear in her mind that she had been desperately seeking his approval all this time, but she was not ready to deal with the underlying motives. There was also the matter that her heart fluttered every time she looked up at him, and her dreams were assaulted by images of them together, in bed, naked. In the end, Sakura concluded that her special training had taken its toll on Kakashi, and that as soon as they were back home, he would disappear from her life.

xxx

Kakashi cursed his current circumstances. A four day trip had turned into eight, because of two civilians that needed to be escorted back to the village. If the roads weren't so dangerous, he would have made an excuse to run ahead of the party – to get away from them – from Sakura.

He needed to be alone, to make sense of the chaos in his heart and head. He had been driven mad with worry and jealousy while he waited for Sakura to gather information in Katsuo's hideout. He had hoped selfishly the whole time that Sakura would not go near Katsuo, and even though it was an unrealistic wish, he still couldn't cope with the idea that Sakura had been with another man – mission or not. It was this that bothered him most. He felt nothing about who slept with who. He would bang a girl one day, and she would get with another man the next. It never bothered him in the slightest. At first he tried to blame his jealousy on a protective instinct left behind from team seven days. Over time, however, he started to realise that the revelation was bullshit. All he could hope at this stage, was that once he was home, he could melt back into his usual routine and forget about his feelings for Sakura, which he hoped were a bizarre by-product of having taken Serotex with her.

Kakashi loved his village, and seeing it gates appear over the horizon always filled him with joy, and quite often relief as well. Today, he felt both, because it meant his torment would be over soon. The party stepped through the entrance, announced their arrival to the guards, and made straight for the tower to report to the Godaime, who awaited them with great expectation. Doubtless she wanted to know if Sakura had passed Kakashi's test, and if he would be her second reference for ANBU. His answer, in this case, was yes. She had passed with flying colors as far as he was concerned, loathe as he was to admit it.

Chika and Kenshin were taken straight to the hospital, and the three jonin stood in Tsunade's office, where they explained everything she wanted to know. Blessedly, she only asked superficial questions, and so there was no need to talk about Sakura's special training. It would have to appear in their written reports, but that way they wouldn't have to face her.

It was time to separate at last, and after some obligatory exchanges outside the tower, they all went their separate ways. Kakashi went straight for his flat on the opposite end of the village. He had been given three days to recover, and he intended to make the most of them.

xxx

Sakura and Genma were both tired, but the high of the mission hadn't left them yet, even after days of travel. They decided to meet at a bar to enjoy a few drinks together. Sakura went home first to have a shower, where she washed away the road and every last remaining trace of the mission. She wished she could run a cloth between her ears to clean out the unsavory memories as well, but those weren't going anywhere.

The pub was busy, bustling with nin of all levels and qualifications. Genma and Sakura found exactly what they wanted there – familiar faces and a good atmosphere. No hiding and no secrecy – they could be themselves, get shamelessly drunk and not have a care in world for the first time in over a month. Sakura had no idea just how taxing long, undercover missions could be, and understood for the first time why she so often saw ANBU being social like this.

xxx

It was dark when Kakashi woke up. He hated it when his circadian rhythm went upside down, and three days had not been enough to set it right. If he was honest with himself, however, it was not as if he'd been making a concerted effort to fix it though. Since his return to Konaha, he had spent most of his time drinking, fucking and sleeping. The first two usually happened at night, so that left daytime to sleep. He couldn't even be sure how many women he'd slept with since he returned. Some were new, others were old time fuck buddies. It didn't matter, however, because none of them were Sakura.

Kakashi checked the time. It was just after nine in the evening. His bed still smelled of his last girl, who must have snuck out while he was asleep. He was tempted to go out again, but he was due to meet Tsunade the next day. A cool breeze blew in through his open window, the curtains breathing along with it. He could smell rain, though it would not hit for a long time still. He needed a distraction, or something to help him sleep again.

His hand slid beneath the waistband of his pants. He remembered getting up at one point to answer the door – it explained why he was even dressed at all. The messenger had been from Tsunade, reminding him of his meeting with her. The girl he had with him at the time was not interested in another round, and he climbed back into bed half dressed, where he fell asleep again. Now the girl was gone.

She had been beautiful, Kakashi thought. A cute jonin who had recently graduated. She was a taijutsu type, and knew very well how to use her hands, both for fighting and on him. He closed his eyes as her face came to mind. Her dark hair clinging to her body, wet with the exertion of their love making – if he could even call it that. He began to massage himself, slowly increasing the rhythm as he played out the scenes in his head, but nothing happened. He pulled his hand out of his pants and sighed. Maybe he was all sexed out?

And then came an image of Sakura - her doe eyes gazing at him for reassurance as she kissed his body, caressing his skin with timid fingers, injecting gentle pulses of chakra. His breath caught involuntarily, and a familiar twitch between his legs told him all he needed to know. He wasn't sexed out – he just needed one girl. All the others had merely been distractions, and none of them could provide the satisfaction he so urgently desired. Sex alone wasn't enough anymore, but there wasn't anything he could do about it tonight. His hand went back into his pants.

xxx

It was dark outside, and Sakura glanced through the window to see that rain clouds had gathered over the village. It was the last thing she needed now.

The hospital cafeteria was empty, as it usually was at this time of night. Sakura sat alone at one of the tables, looking deeply into a cold cup of coffee. She should have left when her shift ended. Actually, she should have left when her first shift ended, and now she had to choose between walking home in the wet, or staying long enough to be pulled into work again. It was a member of ANBU that made the decision for her.

"The hokage wishes to see you," he said from beside her.

Sakura looked up into the rat mask. She hadn't seen him approach, but she sensed him, despite her exhaustion. She nodded her understanding and gestured with her coffee cup that she would be on her way as soon as she finished it. The ANBU was gone before she could look up again.

The tower was expectedly quiet, and Sakura was surprised that Tsunade was even still up. It was likely that the Godaime was contemplating the consequences of leaving a large pile of paperwork for tomorrow.

Sakura knocked twice against the door to Tsuande's office and entered as soon as permission was granted. Whatever the hokage had been doing earlier was evidently terminated as Sakura walked in; she had the hokage's full attention.

"How many hours, Sakura?" she asked as soon as her protégé was close enough to the desk.

Sakura looked down and mumbled something, but Tsunade made her repeat herself. "Thirty six," Sakura said reluctantly.

Tsunade tightened her mouth, but did not press the matter. It took very little chakra to keep dry in the rain, and Sakura was just short of leaving a puddle in her shishou's office. Normally Sakura would offer an excuse to explain why she had just worked three shifts back to back, but it would only made her shishou angry.

"What are you running from?" Tsunade asked. While she was irritated, Sakura could see the concern in her eyes. "You were given three days for R & R and you've chosen to work instead."

Sakura wanted to lie – she had become so good at it, but this was not the time and place. "I have stuff on my mind," she admitted. "Working is the easiest way to clear my head."

"Are you telling me that you're thinking of other things when you're supposed to be treating patients?" Tsunade asked.

Sakura blinked.

Tsunade crossed her arms over her breasts. "I know you, Sakura," she said. "You're not clearing your head, you're just distracting yourself. Do you want any counseling?"

Sakura shook her head. She had spent enough time around therapists.

"You still haven't spoken to me about the mission," Tsunade added. "I've read your report, but there are some aspects that lack detail. More so, you haven't even asked about Kakashi's assessment of your application to join ANBU."

"Because it doesn't matter anymore," Sakura replied. "I realized that I'm not cut out for that kind of work."

Tsunade frowned and sat up in her chair. "Is that what you think?"

"It's what I know," Sakura replied. "Even Kakashi says so."

"When did he say that?" Tsunade asked.

Sakura swallowed. It had been right after their kiss in the archive room, and telling Tsunade the truth meant telling her more than she wanted to disclose. "Early on," Sakura replied. "We were still at Katoka."

Tsunade turned to a stack of folders on her desk and flipped through them. She eventually found the one she wanted and pulled it out from two thirds down the pile. She flipped it open, shuffled through the papers and pulled one out. Instead of reading its contents aloud, she held the paper up for Sakura to see. It was her ANBU application, with a big red stamp saying 'APPROVED'. Kakashi's signature stood clear and bold on the line under 'second reference'.

"I, I don't understand…"

"He said that you exceeded all of his expectations," Tsunade said. "Perhaps he didn't have much faith in you at first, but this is evidence that you proved him wrong."

Sakura's cheeks colored at what she was about to say, but she had to let it out. "It's only because you're my mentor," she said, ashamed at herself for voicing the thought.

Tsunade seemed unaffected by it, however. "You have no idea how much Kakashi and I argued before your mission," she said. "He was adamant that you were not suitable. The only sway I had over him was to insist that he gave you a chance to prove yourself. If not for that, my authority meant nothing."

Sakura sighed. She found the news hard to believe. Maybe her brain refused to engage because she was tired…

"Think about it," Tsunade said, putting the paper back into its file. "I'm in two minds about it. On one hand, I like having you at the hospital, but on the other, I know you would make an excellent member of the elite - one that I can rely on. The choice is yours to make now."

Sakura thanked her shishou and turned to leave.

"Your three days' leave starts now," Tsunade barked after her. "You are forbidden to come near the hospital until it's finished."

Sakura's jaw dropped and she turned around to gawk at the Godaime.

"I mean it Sakura," she said, "Go home and deal with your demons. Ask your sensei," she added, "they never go away on their own."

Sakura fought the urge to correct Tsunade. Kakashi was no longer her sensei. But Tsunade had a point – his brooding and endless time spent at the memorial stone meant that he was very poor at dealing with his emotions. She didn't want to become like him.

xxx

It was a bright and beautiful day outside. The air smelled clean and watered from last night's downpour, and judging by the gathering clouds, there would be more soon.

Kakashi stepped out of the tower and headed home. His meeting with the Godaime had been brief. She had a top secret mission for him, and he had to leave tomorrow. Judging by the details, he would be gone for over two weeks, and while this normally did not bother him, there was another complication this time.

It had been easy to push Sakura out of his head while in the village, because he knew that if he cracked, he could see her at any time. If we went on an extended mission, not only would he be forced to wait to see her again, but there was always the risk that he would never come back at all. The idea sat heavy in his gut.

Inside his flat, Kakashi removed his ANBU mask, and his uniform. He began to pack for tomorrow, and spread everything he needed on his bed. He took stock of everything in front of him – clothes, weapons, soldier pills, documents…

He wished Sakura could be there too.

xxx

Sakura stood at her bedroom window, her elbows on the ledge. The rain had started again, and she watched as all the people below scurried to find shelter. She wondered vaguely how many of them would be in the hospital soon with a cold.

She had spent most of the day sleeping, and felt a little groggy now that she was awake. She was used to long hospital shifts, but she still felt horrible after a long sleep. She would go to the kitchen soon – make a hot cup of coffee and maybe climb back into bed with a book. Something without sex and romance – maybe a whodunit, or a biography.

A knock at her door made her jump. She wasn't expecting anyone, and her heart sank at the thought that it might be a summons from Tsunade. She didn't want another mission just yet.

She was wearing only a tank top and her panties, so she grabbed her white cotton dressing gown and tied the cord loosely around her waist. "I'm coming," she shouted, after her visitor knocked again.

There were no peepholes in these apartments, and so the only way Sakura could find out who was outside was to open her door. Whoever it was either didn't have much chakra, or was hiding it. Turned out to be the latter. "Kaka-san?"

Kakashi stood on Sakura's doorstep looking the same way she did in Tsunade's office the previous day. Water dripped from his wet, silver hair and his clothes were dark where the rain had caught him. He had covered his eye with his hitai-ate again.

"There are jutsus for that you know?" Sakura said, referring to how wet he got outside.

"I never learned any of them," Kakashi replied, shrugging. A lie, Sakura was sure of it. She stood aside to let the copy nin into her flat. Then, without another word, she left to fetch him a clean towel.

When Sakura came back, Kakashi was sitting at her kitchen table. He was making patterns on its surface with one finger, using the water that dripped from his hair. He looked up to take the towel from her.

"Coffee?" Sakura asked. "I was just about to make myself some."

"Tsunade says you've been working yourself half to death," Kakashi said. He twisted in his chair to face Sakura, who stood at the sink filling the kettle.

Sakura went still. How was that any of his business, exactly? "I wasn't tired," she replied. She turned off the tap and held up the kettle, which she gave a quick shake. "And you didn't answer my question."

Kakashi finished toweling himself off and tossed the towel over the back of another chair. Then he stood up and walked over to Sakura. "And you haven't answered mine," he replied.

Sakura put the kettle down on the counter, but did not switch it on. She folded her arms as Kakashi drew closer. "Maybe I should ask why you've spent the last few days whoring around?" she said. "I don't live under a rock, you know."

Kakashi put his hands on his hips and swore, and for a moment he struggled to look her in the eye.

Sakura shrugged. "What you do in your spare time isn't any of my concern," she said. Another lie. She had hoped Ino was just spreading fallacious gossip, as she often did. Kakashi's reaction confirmed that the blonde had been telling the truth, and it stung. "Neither should my life concern you."

"But it does," Kakashi said. He still couldn't look her in the eye, though he stood close enough that she could smell him – sandalwood and rain. It brought about a surge of unwanted memories.

"If you're worried about my well-being, I'm fine, really," Sakura replied. She meant it too. She had been through a lot before, and while this was different, she had no doubt she would bounce back from it, no matter how much it tormented her now.

"Then maybe you should be worried about me," Kakashi said. He bit his lip.

The medic in Sakura responded before her brain did. "Are you hurt?" she asked. She unfolded her arms and put her hands on Kakashi's chest.

Kakashi flinched and took both of Sakura's hands in his, causing the flow of chakra to break. He then unfolded her fingers gently and pressed both her palms firmly over his heart. "I don't know how to use this properly," he said. "You able to fix that?"

Sakura wilted. No, she could not, not through medical jutsu anyway. At the same time, she wasn't sure why he was even telling her this. What did it have to do with her? "Kaka-sen…"

"Did he hurt you?" Kakashi asked. He put a hand to Sakura's cheek and forced her to look up at him. "Please tell me he was respectful at least…?"

Sakura shook her head. "I don't understand?"

"Katsuo," Kakashi said. "When you… when he fucked you…"

"I didn't fuck anyone on the mission," Sakura said. She swatted his hand away from her face. "Except you," she added. "You were the only one."

Kakashi stood back and Sakura squirmed away from him. Her face hot with embarrassment. She did not want to be having this conversation with him, not now, and not ever. She put her hands on the kitchen table, hoping to hide her face to restore some dignity.

"Shit, I thought…"

"You thought wrong," Sakura replied. "There were some close calls, but I managed to get out of it every time. Almost cost me the damn mission."

"But it didn't," Kakashi replied.

Sakura sighed. "No, I suppose not." She straightened up, but kept her back to Kakashi. "Why are you here?" she asked.

x

Kakashi felt the answer catch in his throat. Why was he here? One minute he was packing for a mission, the next he found himself walking in the rain. His feet brought him here of their own accord, but how did he explain that without sounding like he'd lost his mind. "I'm leaving for a mission tomorrow," he said.

Sakura turned around at last. The color in her face had lessened, but the high points of her cheeks remained flushed. Damn she looked hot like that. He wondered if she was wearing anything under that robe… "You need a medical?" she asked.

"Yes," Kakashi said. The word escaped before he could consider the consequences.

Sakura sighed. "I should have guessed. You've always hated hospitals." She pushed away from the table and gestured that Kakashi go to the living room while she fetched her kit. There was a grey ottoman against the wall and, after Sakura removed a pile of clean laundry, she instructed him to sit on it.

"Take off your shirt," Sakura instructed. She had uttered those words so many times, to so many different men. "The mask too," she added.

Kakashi complied, and he passed the wet garments to Sakura, who then hung it over the back of another kitchen chair. She pulled a stethoscope out of her medical kit bag and fitted the earpieces in one, practiced movement. She then pressed the diaphragm against Kakashi's chest, which made him jump when the cold metal touched his skin.

"Your heart is beating really fast," Sakura said, frowning. "That could be a sign that you're fighting an infection."

How about the urge to jump you? Kakashi thought, but he kept it to himself. He knew another trick around this one. "I had some really strong coffee before I got here," he said.

Sakura made no comment at the excuse, and finished the rest of her checks, including his lungs and blood pressure, which was abnormally high. She put the stethoscope away. "I need to do some chakra checks," she said, rubbing her hands together to warm them up.

This was always the part Kakashi hated during medicals. It was usually uncomfortable and invasive, like sticking cold knives into him without the pain. It was different this time, however. Lately it seemed that every time Sakura tried to force chakra into him, his head would spin with pleasure, and lust. He gazed at Sakura's hands apprehensively.

"Now I'm going to see whether you were telling the truth about that coffee," Sakura said. She approached him, but the height difference with him sitting on the ottoman made things a bit awkward. She cleared her throat. "Maybe you should stand for this."

Kakashi complied, and suppressed a shiver. Damp skin and chilly weather meant that he was cold, but he also battled with the anticipation that threatened to overwhelm him. He had been fantasizing about this woman since he got home, and now that he was with her in person he felt like he would burst.

Sakura placed her hands firmly on Kakashi's sides. She closed her eyes and then he felt her chakra snake into him – she was going to feel it…

Sakura's cheeks colored and she opened her eyes, but kept her hands where they were. "Um…"

If Sakura had taken offense to his arousal, she would have stood back, taken her hands off of him, but she remained, staring at him with her lips parted and her eyes slowly glazing over. It was more than he could stand.

Kakashi grabbed Sakura by the V of her robe and, in one swift movement, whipped her around and against the wall. She gave a startled cry, but he muffled it by pressing his mouth against hers. She didn't hesitate, and opened up to let him in. He kissed her deeply, urgently, desperately, like he had been barely breathing since they parted at the onsen.

Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, and Kakashi grabbed her by the ass to lift her up. She crossed her ankles behind his back and pulled him into her, pressing his arousal against her body. He moaned into her mouth, and felt her smile at his pleasure.

Kakashi put his hand against Sakura's thigh and glided up and under her robe. He was disappointed to feel fabric instead of bare skin – denied access. It was time to remedy the situation. He let Sakura drop and she steadied herself on her feet. He grabbed the cord around her waist, but she stopped him. "Not here," she said. She took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom.

They had barely made it through the threshold when Sakura removed her robe. She threw it across the room and Kakashi scooped her up, carried her to the bed and dropped her onto the mattress. He could hardly contain his excitement – all this waiting, all this uncertainty... for what? He climbed over his prize and pulled her tank top over her head. He savored the way her bare breasts bounced as soon as the material released them. Pink nipples erect – his mouth was on one of them before he could be rid of the garment that had been hiding them. Sakura gasped and arched into him.

He made his way to the other breast, his hand in her panties, trying awkwardly to slide them down her hips. Then he felt her pushing him away from her.

"I guess you get to reap the rewards from my training," Sakura said. Her eyelashes fluttered from shyness, and it made Kakashi's stomach tighten. He could hardly believe she hadn't slept with Katsuo – she was all his.

Sakura pushed Kakashi onto his back and began to kiss him all over – his neck, chest, abs. He closed his eyes and revelled in it, aching with building tension. He almost sighed with relief as her hands found their way to his belt buckle, which she navigated with ease. She undid the buttons on his pants, and he groaned at the release of pressure. Sakura slid his pants down, as well as his underwear, and as soon as she settled between his legs, he knew what was coming next.

"Whoa," he said, jerking up and putting his hands on Sakura's face to stop her. She looked hurt. "You did great last time," he assured her. "But I don't think I'll last very long." It was the truth. There would be other days for this, right now, he just wanted to be inside her. That way he could control himself better, drag it out longer.

Kakashi flipped Sakura onto her back, and she complied easily. He removed her panties, tossed them aside and realized suddenly, that in his blind Serotex induced fever, he had failed to give her a special pleasure that he knew Sasuke would never have bothered to do. Aching as he was for release, Kakashi took a deep breath and promised himself that the delay would be worth it.

"What are you doing?" Sakura asked.

"What I should have done the first time," Kakashi said. He settled between Sakura's legs and began to kiss the inside of her thighs.

"No, it's alright, you don't have to… oh fuck!"

Kakashi smiled as Sakura arched at the spike of pleasure, but he did not stop. She moaned loudly as she rocked against his mouth, trying to increase the pressure. He wasn't going to let her come like this though, not right now. He wanted to come together – there would be other opportunities to play.

He had hoped to last longer, tease Sakura a while more, but the smell of her, and her responsiveness was driving him over the edge. He gave one final lick and began to kiss his way back up again – her abs, her ribs, her breasts, all of which were heaving with her heavy breathing. He paused at her face to take in the lust addled look in her eyes. Then Sakura reached out and grabbed him by the hair, pulling him into another kiss on the mouth.

He pulled away from her just long enough to position himself. Last time he had to ask permission – he was wracked with guilt and shame, which warred with the Serotex that coursed through his veins at the time. Now he knew, Sakura wanted this as much as he did, and in one gentle, blissful movement, he was inside her again. Sakura moaned sharply, while Kakashi had to control his breathing. He was so close to the edge.

After a few seconds of stillness, he felt he was in control again and began to thrust, slowly at first – not nearly as fast or hard as he liked it. He watched Sakura's face as she writhed beneath him, grasping at the bedspread above her head. She ground against him, and he tuned into her rhythm. He sped up, applied more pressure and just as he felt her tense up he leaned forward and kissed her again. Sakura's body exploded beneath him, shaking, convulsing. He went even faster, riding out her orgasm while he sought his. He tried to prolong it by kissing her again, but he didn't need much, and he had to pull away from her mouth as he finally succumbed to his own climax, groaning as his body shook.

He tried to move away from Sakura, but his arms gave in and he collapsed on top of her, his heart still hammering as the last few tendrils of pleasure faded. Sakura's short nails were against his skin – his back, his neck, his shoulders, gently scratching and tickling. It felt good.

Kakashi finally managed to roll onto his back, and he pulled Sakura towards him so that she could rest her head on his chest. He kissed her on the forehead, on the nose, on the cheek. He was so happy right now.

Sakura's nimble fingers walked along his chest and she drew gentle circles around his heart, which was only just beginning to beat normally again. "What did you mean earlier?" she asked. "When you said that you didn't know how to use this properly?"

Kakashi sighed. If he genuinely wanted to learn, then dodging the question was not a good way to start. "It means that I don't know how to feel for someone," he said.

"You mean, more than friends or comrades," Sakura replied.

Kakashi nodded.

"You can practice on me, if you like," she offered. "I am a patient teacher."

"Patient enough to wait two weeks?" Kakashi asked.

He felt Sakura nod. "When you get back from your mission, I'll be here for you."

Kakashi gathered Sakura into his arms and squeezed her to him. "Thank you," he said. "I promise I'll be gentle."

THE END