AN: Well, this is it for this particular work. Hope you enjoy it. I've started working on an actual Kakasaku story (not just one-shots, a lot more on the lighthearted/humorous side). If you're interested, I'm planning on posting the first bit within the next two weeks. As always, reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated. I do not own the characters. Word count: 1,769

Carrying You With Me

An overly persistent rock seemed to dig into his back no matter which way he turned. For some reason the hard ground below seemed particularly unforgiving to his aching body that night. What he wouldn't give to be in a soft bed, a certain someone's warmth seeping into him…

I'm getting too old for this, Kakashi thought wearily.

Granted that wasn't exactly true, considering that he was a shinobi in his prime with nearly three decades worth of experience under his metaphorical belt. Maybe it was just that his mentality or priorities had changed of late. Resisting the urge to sigh—after all, there were far worse things than camping out in the forest—he left the overly warm confines of his sleeping bag. He knew that he needed to sleep, especially since the fighting they had engaged in earlier seemed to have taken its toll on everyone. However, it seemed that rest wouldn't come easily to him that night.

He sat down near the fire, briefly drawing the attention of the man on watch. This time giving in to the urge to sigh, Kakashi reached into a pocket of his flak vest for his prized possession. Opening Icha Icha Paradise, he turned to page forty-six. He pulled out a small photo that had been tucked inside the book. It nestled perfectly in the center of his palm; its edges had long since become worn. A slight tear called the top right corner home, and the surface's sheen was dull from repeated handling. The remnants of a crease—painstakingly smoothed out by Jiraiya's masterpiece—lent it additional character.

He traced his thumb gently along the porcelain cheek residing on the picture. Kakashi felt heartened and exhausted all at once as he gazed at Sakura's smiling features. The flickering campfire cast a soft light over her image. The subtle, adoring look in her eyes got to him every time, even if it was only captured in a photo.

He was a shinobi. It was a way of life, willingly risking all to protect their village and country. Granted, he had never met a ninja that didn't crave—no, need—the rush that accompanied the dangerous lifestyle. They just weren't cut out for the calm, ordinary life of a civilian. Kakashi had had more than his fair share of regrets over the years, but becoming a shinobi had never been one of them. It was in his blood, after all, and about the only thing he was good at.

Yet, he had never truly had something to lose until now. Sure, he had friends and teammates that he would mourn the loss of, but he had and would survive that. What he didn't think he could survive was Sakura not returning alive from a mission. To never wake up with her in his arms again, or to simply enjoy her presence. Alternatively, he would never want to put her through the heartache of himself being killed in action. Yet, every mission that sent them outside the gates of the village was another chance that they might not return home to the other. Their chosen profession didn't exactly lend itself to security and stability.

Kakashi looked back at the woman he loved, pale locks framing her face. She was so full of contradictions and contrasts. She possessed such delicate beauty alongside immense strength. Anyone who though her frail or weak would quickly learn otherwise. She could destroy and level mountains or bring people back from the brink of death with her bare hands. Those same hands were just as likely to pummel him as they were to caress him tenderly. She had a fiery spirit and an indomitable spirit.

Running his fingers over her smile one last time, he tucked the photograph back into the book with care. Even as he was currently returning from a mission, he knew that Sakura would likely be doing the same. Typically, they would be sent out on missions in which the team was comprised of at least the two of them. Having a team include individuals that were romantically involved was a generally discouraged practice, but exceptions were made. Kakashi and Sakura complimented one another's strengths and abilities, resulting in a flawless teamwork that pretty much ensured the success of a mission. They were both confident in the other's capabilities to the point that worry for one another did not negatively interfere with the carrying out of a mission.

He looked up at the dark expanse of sky overhead, the scattering of stars making for a spectacular sight. He could only hope that those same stars were gazing down at her, finding the kunoichi alive and well wherever she was.

It had been two years since they had first admitted their feelings for one another and embarked on an actual relationship. Looking back, age differences, a former student-teacher affiliation, and all the other concerns that had initially greeted them meant nothing. Nothing was guaranteed for a shinobi, especially not a tomorrow. He never had, never would, nor ever be able to take advantage of her by supposedly abusing his position. The lives that they lead meant that worrying about the perceptions of observers was inconsequential.

All Kakashi cared about was getting back to her. Because after all the bloodshed and morally questionable actions that he had engaged in, she was the only thing that made him feel alive. Nothing else mattered at the end of the day. Only she mattered.

Critics be damned.

Ordinarily, Sakura didn't mind rain. In fact, she enjoyed the somewhat frequent rainstorms that allowed for Konoha's lush greenery. The clean, earthy scent that it washed the village in, and the lulling rhythm of water hitting windows and roofs. Even though she was well into her twenties, she couldn't deny that she relished the opportunity every now and then to splash through puddles.

However, the climate of the aptly named Land of Water was grating on her nerves. For the total duration of their mission, it had rained nonstop. Heavy downpours that drowned out all other sounds and made it difficult to see beyond three feet in front of her. Misting rains that slowly, but surely, soaked through every inch of clothing until every inch of her was likewise sopping wet. Horizontal rains that cut through her no matter which way she positioned her gear bag.

She was miserable, and the rain merely compounded that fact. Sakura had been dispatched with an emergency medical unit to deal with sudden viral outbreaks in rural villages in the waterlogged nation. It was irrational to think that they could have saved all those that were infected. But…bearing witness to the large number of children that didn't survive was something that even the most seasoned medic struggled with. To know that there was nothing within your power that could be done to help such innocent individuals…

Sakura quickly shook her head, trying to avoid going down that mental path, sending droplets of water flying from her hair. She took a deep breath before pulling her soaked coat tighter around herself. The chill in the air and rain seemed to have seeped into her bones, since she couldn't seem to get warm at all.

She craved the comfort of his arms. The way she felt utterly safe and cared for when wrapped up in his embrace, no matter where they were. He was the calm in a world consumed by chaos. She longed for the startling contrast that the tender warmth of being home with Kakashi provided in comparison to the harsh realities of missions full of violence or loss.

Yet, she would never strive to be anything less than the best kunoichi and mednin that she could be. It was a difficult way to live, true, but more than worth it in her opinion. She had long since dedicated her life to protecting her loved ones and the citizens of the Land of Fire. Whether it be with her fists, weapons, or healing abilities, she would defend those that could not do it for themselves. Even if she helped only one person, it made a difference. It would be enough. She would shoulder the burdens of the world so that others didn't have to.

Her hand slipped into a pocket, cold-stiffened fingers grasping the black fabric that lay within. On restless nights out in the field, Sakura had developed the habit of burying her nose into the mask, inhaling the comforting scent of Kakashi. The pleasant notes of sandalwood, musk, and the outdoors would soothe her until she was able to drift off into much needed sleep.

Grip tightening around one of his old masks that she secretly had deemed her good luck charm, she wondered how he was. If he trudging through snow or grudgingly dealing with bitter heat. If he was reading one of his numerous Icha Icha volumes, though that seemed likely. If he had experienced any combat, and whether or not he was injured. Most of all, she wondered—and worried—if he was out of danger for the moment.

She glanced up at the heavens above, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars, but they were hidden behind a heavy curtain of rain. Sakura sighed softly, regretting her inability to view them. It had always made her feel marginally better to look at the glittering stars, thinking that Kakashi might be gazing at them at the same moment. It made the distance keeping them apart not seem quite so vast.

A certain numbness seemed to have settled within her after closing so many lifeless eyes during the past two weeks. More than anything else she wanted Kakashi beside her. She wanted to hug the man she loved and then check him over, ensuring that he was hale and whole—questionable sanity notwithstanding. Then she wanted to bury herself into his chest, his arms around her. That was her safe haven, his embrace. Where the heat from his body could replace the chill that had settled within her, and his presence could banish the numbness in a way that only he could. It was the only place where she didn't have to be strong, because he would always catch her. And when it was his turn to fall apart, she would be there to collect and mend the pieces.

Sloshing through the rain towards Konoha with the rest of her temporary team, Sakura filled her thoughts with Kakashi. Rubbing the cloth of his mask between her thumb and forefinger, she gradually realized that she no longer felt quite so cold.