A Day in the Life-

Sakura's body woke at the usual appointed time: 6am. In which case, it just happened to be a good thing, seeing as how she still had to go to work that day. Unfortunately, she couldn't sleep-in like the naked sloth, who apparently even in his sleep, didn't want to let her go. But instead of feeling anger, trying to pry his strong pale arms from around her waist…and chest, Sakura was busy wearing a slightly timid smile.

Waking up beside a man she had spent the night with was all new to her. Even if it was someone she had known half her life; a man she loved deeply. A woman doesn't go from being only comfortable with a mirror seeing her nakedness to…prancing around in the buff in a strange apartment. Even if it was Kakashi's…and after what they had done.

Sakura continued in her struggle to extradite herself from the sleeping Copy-nin's grasp. But unaware to the naked kunoichi, the always alert shinobi had been awake ever since her first stirring.

Kakashi continued to play the role of a dead log while keeping the woman, he had just recently figured out he loved, deeply entrenched in his arms.

Sakura didn't become aware of the sly ninja's trickery until a deep amused rumble halted her actions from behind. "Going somewhere?"

The trapped kunoichi didn't know what was worse: the man's arrogant tone or the wide smile she couldn't fight down.

She quietly laughed, still facing away, before answering. "To work. Some of us aren't accustomed to being late unlike some people I know."

She felt his features twist into a smirk against the flesh of her back as his hold on her tightened. "Lucky you, you're stuck with that somebody."

Heart beating faster, since they hadn't really established anything between them since…well, since they didn't really talk, Sakura asked almost hesitatingly, "I…am?"

Kakashi gave her back a soft kiss. With a façade of arrogance he asked, "Lucky or stuck with me?"

Sakura smiled, staring at the desk across the room. Timidly she answered, "The second one."

With a suck of his teeth and a sigh, he said sadly, "Too late to back out now." Flatly he added, "You've seen too much. I'd have to dispose of you."

Sakura pressed her face into the pillow they shared trying to suppress her giggles. But then she realized she only had half an hour left to get to work and she still had to go home, shower and change. "Crap! I've got to go!"

This time when Sakura struggled to get up there was no resistance. Feeling somewhat relieved that she didn't have to root around looking for panties or having to bind her chest, Sakura haphazardly threw on the dress from the night before. Kakashi watched her every move with droopy eyes and a small smile from the bed. During the entire ordeal Sakura tried to keep her eyes from floating over to his naked torso and the bit of manly hip showing behind her. The image was clearly dangerous enough to cause her to be…hours late. Then again, as Sakura asked him somewhat irritably, somewhat amused heading into his bathroom to check her hair, she had to admit, it would be worth the punishment. But…she had to be strong. "How is it fair that you look like that in the morning?"

A corner of Kakashi's mouth lifted in a lazy smirk as he lay back in bed. "Handsome and irresistible?"

Sakura smiled at her bed-headed reflection saying teasingly, "How about irksome?"

After fruitlessly running her hand through her hair, she hurriedly came out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Back to him, hands fidgeting in her silky skirt, she said timidly. "I don't want to go." Mournfully, chin hitting her chest she added, "But I have to."

Scooting behind her, propped up on an elbow on his side, the other hand now rubbing on her hip, he said consolingly, "It's alright." After a single chuckle, he added amusedly, "I don't want to be accused of corrupting you-" The hand on her squeezed. "-just yet."

Still not looking at him, feeling wholly embarrassed to be talking about such things with Kakashi, Sakura asked shyly, "So uh, I guess I'll be seeing you…sometime?"

Feeling her apprehension, Kakashi pulled her back into his chest, forcing her to finally look at him. With the smirk she had already deemed dead sexy he said playfully, "So much so you'll tire of me," before giving her a light kiss.

When they pulled away Sakura was beaming a kilowatt smile, giving him a sure, "That won't happen," in return.

She had meant her words too. She already knew every bad habit the man had…and still she had fallen in love with him.

Before pulling Sakura down for a last deep kiss before her departure, Kakashi said lightheartedly, "Here's to hoping."

Silver hair sunk into the pillow with the force of the exchange as he pulled Sakura tightly to him. After a full minute, Sakura forced herself to release his lips. Biting her bottom lip, she moved off the bed. Slowly walking backwards toward the exit bashfully smiling at Kakashi, Sakura said, "See you when I see you then I guess."

She forced her self not to melt as he gave her that smirk she loved coupled with a little wink.

Fumbling for the door behind her, she opened it giving him a shy, "Bye" before forcing herself to slid through the small slit of space she gave herself.

The moment the door finally closed and she was on the other side, the happy kunoichi took a moment to gather her wits. As she stood there with the doorknob still in her hand, back to the door, everything just seemed to come to light then. Sakura couldn't resist the insane urge that overtook her then. With nothing but the little piece of wood between her and Kakashi, Inner Sakura leaked out to Outer. The overjoyed young woman broke into a little victory dance pumping her fists. Thankfully her screams of "Oh yeah!" and "Whose the woman!" were only silently mouthed.

After finally composing herself, Sakura took to the roofs, wide smile still in place.

After the sounds of tapping feet halted outside his door Kakashi's quirked brow fell. With it went his back hitting the bed once again.

Amusedly, he thought, 'That woman…'

His grin only seemed to widen as Kakashi sank back under his covers, taking in her scent. In the process of going back to sleep, the sleepy shinobi found he was missing the pink haired kunoichi already.

Unfortunately, an official sounding knock on his door interrupted his would be slumber.

The moment Sakura stepped foot inside her apartment, the irate blonde kunoichi sitting on her couch reproached her.

"Where have you been?"

Sakura sighed dejectedly. She still had fifteen minutes to go. Unfortunately it looked as though she was going to be subjected to Shizune's wrath regardless. A manicured finger poked Sakura's forehead, stopping her hurried walk to the dresser in the corner.

"Hey, Naruto forced me to stay here all night because of you!" Ino huffed wit her hands on her hips, a fierce glare in her blue eyes. "I think I deserve an answer."

"Naruto was here?"

Ino rolled her eyes going back to the couch. "Yeah, he even dragged Hinata along. After we left the bar, we came here to check on you, but somebody wasn't home."

Sakura paused while pulling out a fresh pair of panties from her top drawer. Not sure if she wanted to come out and tell her friend the truth she stalled, "Uh, well you see…"

Crossing her legs under her, as Sakura flipped on the light in her bathroom, Ino snorted, "Kakashi-sensei didn't kidnap and take advantage of you did he?"

With her back to the woman, Sakura paused in her bathroom's doorway. "Not exactly…"

Manicured hands covered red smeared lips in quiet surprise. "Oh my god." Ino jumped from the beige couch to her feet, eyes wide. "He did, didn't he!" Blue eyes blazing, a fist pumping in outrage; Ino loudly declared, "I'll pester Shikamaru into killing him!"

Sakura calmly picked up her toothbrush and toothpaste. "Pig, I wasn't raped."

"Oh." Shrugging her shoulders, Ino's mood made a 180. With the sound of teeth being brushed coming from the bathroom, Ino asked sitting back down on the couch. "Well, what happened?" Ino laughed back down on the couch, getting comfortable. With a snicker she asked, "What? He didn't know where you lived, so he took you're passed out ass to his place to sleep it off then?"

After the sound of gurgling, Sakura gave an indistinct, "More or less."

Ino raised a blond brow as she crossed her arms. "You're being awfully vague, Forehead."

Popping her head around the corner, Sakura shot back, "You're being awfully nosey Pig."

Sakura went about her business completely missing her friends sapphire eyes going wide. "Hey, where'd you get that!"

From back inside the bathroom Sakura asked turning on the shower, "Get what?"

The startled pink haired kunoichi almost had a heart attack the moment Ino came sliding into the bathroom in stocking feet, behind her, mutely pointing a finger at an area a little below Sakura's left ear. The confused woman looked down to see just what in the hell her crazy friend was talking about, but couldn't see anything out of place. Then Ino yanked on her arm, pulled her over to the little mirror above the sink and moved her hair. Pointing at the large black and blue like bruise along the side of her throat, Ino screeched, "That!"

Wincing from the physical reminder Kakashi had left on her person from last night, Sakura began timidly, "Well you see-"

Sakura watched her friend's reflection turn surprised as the Yamanaka finally caught on. Hands to her mouth, Ino shrieked in awe. "Holy shit! You had sex with Kakashi-sensei! Kakashi-sensei had sex with you! Kakashi-sensei had sex with a woman! With my friend! His former student! He really is straight!" Bouncing on her heels now, the blonde fired question after question in one long breath, "What's he looked like? Tell me he's hot! Is he good? How long did it last? Are you two an item? Have you guys done this before?" After hyperventilating a little more, Ino yelled again clutching her heart. "He's the mysterious man! You're in love with Kakashi-sensei!"

Shower forgotten, Sakura looked down to her sink with a dazed smile. "…Yeah"

After a few moments of trying to compose herself, Ino crossed her arms smugly and smirked at her friend's reflection. "I take it my little dress brought him around?"

Sakura looked up and gave Ino the same dreamy smile. "Yeah." Then her smile fell as her friend abruptly turned and quickly strode to her door. Running to her hurriedly departing friend and grabbing her wrist Sakura asked a smirking Ino, "Where are you going?"

Ino, too giddy to yank her wrist out of her friend's grip, stated as if it were clear as day, "To open up shop."

Sakura knew that was just Yamanaka code for 'To spread some gossip'. Not wanting her business to be put out in the street just yet, Sakura let go of her friend's wrist. Crossing her arms and giving her a pointed look, she said, "Keep your big mouth shut pig."

Ino wasn't to be deterred however. Knowing her friends weakness, she asked. "What? Are you ashamed? Afraid of what people might say?"

Sakura gave her a sure, "No," in return.

Crossing her arms, Ino asked shrewdly, "Then, why does it matter? You two are an item now right?"

Sakura wasn't a hundred percent sure since her and Kakashi didn't really talk about that. Actually…they hadn't really said much last night at all. "I suppose."

"Then you should want other people to know!" Shaking her head, heading for the door Ino grumbled, "Kakashi-sensei... Now, why didn't I think of that?"

Elsewhere in Konoha…

"-two of you to take care of the miscreants causing trouble for the locals there."

And just like that, life for Kakashi was business as usual as he stood there on the other side of the Hokage's desk taking in his new mission details. Genma standing beside him was his only consolation…if you could call it that. He'd rather it be… No. Kakashi inwardly shook his head. He knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate if she was. He found himself thanking Kami for her new position in the hospital in that moment.

Tsunade turned narrowed eyes upon the silver haired man in front of her whose dark eye was staring at the floor. "Kakashi, am I boring you?"

The dark eye quickly looked up. After a cough into his hand, the man in question gave her an apologetic, "No. Of course not Hokage-sama."

"Good." Sakura waved the two men out of her office. "You're dismissed." As the two turned away, Tsunade called out with innocent tones. "Oh, Kakashi."

Kakashi turned back with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"

Words ringing with a double meaning, Tsunade smirked asking, "How did my little apprentice fair last night?"

The sound of metal clanging on the floor outside the door followed the widening of Kakashi's eye as he froze. Sweating profusely, scratching the back of his head he laughed out, "Hahahaha!" Then after a cough into his gloved hand, he calmly answered in his usual deep voice, "She's fine. She went right to sleep."

Quietly laughing at the man's discomfiture and obvious lie, Tsunade waved him out.

The moment Kakashi closed the door behind him; he turned to a smirking Genma in the process of picking up his fallen senbon. Kakashi started calmly walking down the hall away from his partner for the mission. Genma sauntered beside him quietly leering, "Wore her out did you?"

Kakashi just his eye on Genma and shook his head before whipping out his book.

The senbon user shook his own head amusedly. He was so wanting to take a poke at his friend's newest conquest. But he also wanted to know what was going on. So Genma figured he'd kill two birds with one stone. "Can I ask you something?" He received silence as they walked out of the double doors leading to the outside. Feeling sure in the fact that this was the only way to get an answer from his tightlipped friend, Genma leered, "Mind if I tap that next?"

Kakashi stopped and turned to his friend. With his dark eye narrowed to a slit he said in a deathly calm voice. "Because I know you didn't mean that, I'm willing to let it slide." He added a warning, "This time," for good measure.

Genma clapped his shoulder smiling, senbon bobbing between his glimmering teeth. "Happy for you man."

Kakashi gave him an eye-crease as Genma retracted his hand. Then in blank tones he instructed, "Front Gates in an hour."

Genma inwardly smirked knowing that the Copy-nin usually didn't take so long making preparations. The moment before Kakashi put up his hand in his usual goodbye, Genma told him smirking, "Kiss her goodbye for me too, would ya?"

The little intercom, unit on Sakura's desk, clicked and buzzed suddenly, interrupting her reading. An older woman's voice came over the speaker then. In a business like tones, the front desk clerk said after a crackle in the line, "Haruno Sakura there is a gentleman here to see you at the reception desk."

Reaching for the black button underneath the printed words 'talk' Sakura grumbled, "That better not be Naruto again." Ino wasn't the only one waiting to interrogate her that morning. Naruto had been dropping by every hour to see if she was available. Not ready to hear her friends ranting yet, she had basically told Yome-san to lie for her. She knew she'd have to talk to him regardless but she wanted to wait until after getting off from work, in a time when she could yell to her hearts content. "Yome-san, if it's Naruto- Please just tell him I'm still busy."

In a singsong voice Yome said through the speaker, "It's not him." With laugher in her voice the older woman explained further. "It's that handsome hunk of man you were walking with the other day."

Sakura quickly looked around to make sure Shizune and her three medics were aptly busy. Shizune was busy watering the sunflowers in the corner as her three assistants were sitting on the floor pouring over dusty tomes. Feeling sure that their conversation was secure, Sakura quickly asked with a lower voice, "Silver hair?"

A smirk was clearly evident in Yome's voice. "That'd be the one."

Nervously running a hand through her hair, Sakura gave a quick reply. "I'll be right there."

"Shizune-senpai, I'll be right back."

As the pink haired kunoichi practically ran for the door, Shizune's knowing smirked remained unseen.

Sakura forced herself to slow her hurried gait to a more respectable walk as she rounded the corner to the lobby area. But she was defenseless against the wide smile that over came her features as she took in the sight of the familiar shinobi standing, reading his book, with his back to the side wall across from the front desk. Unconsciously biting her lip, Sakura gave him a little wave when he looked up from his book as she neared. On the receiving end of a happy little eye-crease, Sakura gave him a timid cheerful, "Hey you," in return.

Putting his book away, Kakashi asked pointedly nodding his head toward the receptionist who was clearly taking in their every word, "Is there someplace we can talk?"

Hands in her white medic's coat pocket, Sakura smiled and nodded down the hall. "Yeah, come on."

They strolled side-by-side at a respectable distance from each other toward the first empty room -four doors on the right. The moment the door was closed, Sakura found Kakashi's arms around her from behind. With a masked chin on top of her head, Sakura's heart fell as Kakashi explained exactly why he had come. "There's a mission to Bird country."

Trying not to sound too disappointed from the injustice of it all, she forced her self to get out a simple. "Oh."

Kakashi felt the need to lighten the mood after hearing the sad tone of her voice. He was cursing the timing of his current mission himself. He had planned to meet her here after work, hoping to spend the rest of the day…and night with his treasured cherry blossom in his arms. Tightening his grip on the disappointed woman, the two of them still facing the door, he moved his masked lips to Sakura's shoulder by her ear. In a comical sigh, he told her dejectedly, "Stuck with Genma on this one."

Sakura turned her head to regard him with a smile. "Lucky you."

She turned around in his arms and pressed her cheek to his vest as she wrapped her arms around Kakashi's waist. The masked chin went back to the top of her head again as he quietly reassured her. "Shouldn't take more than a few days."

Sakura pulled back to look him understandingly in the eye. "You take as long as it needs to get the job done. Remember, I'm a shinobi too. I understand." She smiled as he pulled down his mask to smile back. With soft eyes and his hand on her cheek, she revealed quietly, "I'm just touched that you came by to tell me in person."

Tipping Sakura's chin up to him, Kakashi slowly walked her backward closing the gap between her and the door. With the kunoichi's back pressed to the cool metal, Kakashi leaned down whispering, "I had to see you before I left," before giving her a tender kiss.

The moment their soft, slightly parted lips met, Sakura felt his tender wet muscle enter and sweep the roof of her mouth. Immediately, with his hands tangled in her hair and her own around his waist, Sakura found herself go weak in the knees. Easily their simple kiss turned heated and animated. The door creaked behind her as Kakashi leaned further in, deepening the kiss to a whole other level.

The man who had said he lived and breathed for duty had actually made time to come and see her before he had to leave on a mission! Without her having to ask him! Not only that, but Kakashi was kissing her like it was the last moment they would ever share together. She desperately pushed away the little voice that relayed the dismal thought that it just might be. But she wouldn't wallow in that aspect.

She knew it wasn't healthy.

Sakura felt his hands leave her hair and slide inside her lab coat. She gasped when she felt his warmth on her sides, sliding up and down, thumbs brushing her bound breasts.

From Kakashi's internal clock he knew he only had twenty five minutes left. Regardless, he was steadily thinking about using that time rather wisely…with his pink haired lover in his arms.

The moment Kakashi's left hand moved down to the back of her thigh, lifting it to rest on his manly hip, Sakura moaned into the mouth taking her breath away. She could feel his arousal quite clearly pressing hard to her center, her skirt riding high on her hips.

Willing himself to calm down, Kakashi forced his right hand from her breast and let go of her leg. Ripping himself from her lips, he pressed his forehead to hers. Kakashi panted trying to find some semblance of self-control, but finding it hard as hell to do with the warm body so close to his own.

Closing his eyes tightly, hearing nothing but the blood pumping in his ears, Kakashi hoarsely ground out, "I have to go," before kissing her cheek.

Turning and kissing his lips, Sakura told him breathless, "I'll be here."

After many more little kisses shared, Kakashi finally found his way out of treatment room 4…leaving Sakura and himself a little too hot and bothered to keep their mind on work for longer than a few minutes.

A Week Later…

Sakura found herself sitting in her apartment to be worse than hell it's self. Every time she found a quiet moment all she could think about was Kakashi. Even though she knew he was a capable shinobi, all she kept thinking about was: Was he alright? Is he in danger? Is Genma getting on his nerves? Is he eating alright? Is he thinking about her? Does he miss her?

But as she sat there across from Ino in the usual bar, being completely ignored for the blonde's man of the hour, Sakura's thoughts still roamed to the one man she missed so much.

A loud screech from across the room got her attention then. "Hey Pinky!"

Sakura looked around and found a slightly fanged kunoichi yelling her way from the booth that Kakashi was known to frequent in the back.

With Kunenai next to her, Anko ordered, "Get over here!"

Thankful for the intrusion, Sakura turned to her oblivious companion attached to her new man at the lips, "Uh Ino-" Sakura sighed getting up after remaining ignored. "Never mind."

Sakura made her way over to the two older women in the corner. "Sit on down here girlie." Anko put her arm around Sakura. Leering the snake user asked, "So how was it?" with kurenai rolling her eyes.

Wide-eyed Sakura paled, sputtering. After many failed attempts she asked, "Excuse me?"

Kurenai shook her head. In consoling tones, she turned to the younger woman. "Sakura, you don't have to answer that."

The Mitarashi woman pouted. "Oh come on! It's just us girls here."

"Anko. Just because you've always been interested in Hatake's prowess, doesn't mean I've been."

Anko pouted even more. "No fun." Then her mood went back to lax as she put up her sandaled feet on the vinyl seat beside the ruby eyed kunoichi across from her. Hand's lacing behind her head as she sank into the cushion behind her, Anko turned to the saddened woman beside her. "So, what's up Pinky, you seem distracted." Nudging Sakura's trench coated shoulder with her own, Anko jibbed, "Aw, does pinky miss ol' One-eye?"

Feeling irritable and moody from 'Lackisus of Kakashisus' symdrome, Sakura leaned back next to Anko and gave her a flat, "Did you invite me over here to rescue me or make fun of me?"

Laughing, feeling that she was actually starting to like the young woman, Anko snickered. Then after taking a drink, she told the truth. "To make fun of you-"

Sakura rolled her eyes, thinking she should have known better. Why else would Kakashi's friends call her over when he wasn't there.

Flipping her straw between her teeth, reminding Sakura of a certain senbon user, Anko added smirking, "-and to rescue you from boredom."

Kurenai jutted her chin at Sakura with her arms crossed. "You're one of us now." Flicking her eyes to the trenched kunoichi across from her, she added, "So you're gonna have to get used to her."

Anko flicked her straw from her mouth "Hey!" leaving Kurenai to draw a face wiping her saliva sprinkled face with a napkin.

Finally smiling, feeling grateful for the two's acceptance, Sakura laughed out, "You guys realize that Naruto's part of that packaged deal too right?"

Anko rolled her eyes before downing her drink. "Don't remind us." Then she brightened, speaking conspiratorially. "Hey do you wanna hear some juicy stories about Hatake?"

Sakura gave a wide smile. "Yeah." With a nod she added, "I would."

Anko pumped a fist. "Yes! Fresh ears!"

Kurenai got comfortable in her seat turning an amused look to the pink haired kunoichi. "You're in for a long night just so you know."

Sakura shrugged, feeling positive in her words. "That's ok."

Anko pounded the table with a palm. "Alright! Well there was this one time me, Hatake and Asuma-"

Later That Same Night…

The hour was late, so very late. Not a single person was up and about; the only individuals awake were the sorry sacs who had to pull gate duty that night.

Kakashi was tired. Dog tired. The mission had gone easy enough. The pack of outlaws hadn't been anything Genma and himself couldn't of handled blind folded and maybe missing a limb or two. It would have been a solo mission had it not been for their sheer numbers. But he wasn't tired from kicking scum ass. No. Genma had suggested forgoing camping for the night to seriously push the return journey home. His excuse had been because there was some friend's hot cousin leaving to go back to Grass country the next day.

Kakashi hadn't argued.

That's why he was dragging ass through the main streets of the village now, having said goodbye to Genma upon their arrival. All he wanted to do was fall into a coma like sleep. But even before that, there was still one more thing he wanted to do.

Coming upon a familiar apartment building, Kakashi's dark eye zoomed in on a certain window. Her lights were out and the window was open. But that was to be expected at 3am in the morning. From the exhausted Copy-nin's vantage point, making his way over the nearest rooftop, he could just see the outline of her silhouette lying on the bed against the sidewall.

Kakashi made a mental note to tell the oblivious scantily clad kunoichi to invest in some thicker curtains…or to at least buy some blinds as he silently jumped to her windowsill. The moment he landed, the woman he thought was asleep came to a defensive fighting pose on her bed, kunai, that she whipped out from under her mattress, in hand.

Kakashi gave the highly alert woman an eye-crease and a silent hand waved 'yo'.

Sakura, heart beating wildly and wide-eyed, gave him a not so silent, "Damn it Kakashi you scared the shit out of me!" jabbing her kunai in his direction.

Kakashi jumped down into her room with silent laughter overtaking him as he shook his head. Coming down from her adrenaline high, Sakura flopped back onto her bed with a hand to her heart. Still on her back, Sakura turned to Kakashi slightly panting. Sounding out of breath, she said, "Although I'm really glad to see that you're back-" Sakura sat up and looking him over. "What are you doing here?"

Ignoring Sakura's question, he turned to her open window. "You should lock that." Turning back to the young woman seemingly unaware to the fact that she was sitting only in her bindings and cotton panties, Kakashi added flatly, "Anyone can break in."

Sakura raised a shrewd eyebrow, pursing her lips, "You mean like you?" Then she noticed the redness in his eye and the extra slouch in his…slouch. Patting the spot beside her on the pink twin sized bed, her standoffish attitude softened. Looking at the clock reading 3:13am Sakura said semi awed, "Wow, you must be tired."

Kakashi pulled off his pack and dropped it to the floor in the corner of her room next to her desk. Scooting back to the spot next to the wall, throwing the covers over herself, Sakura watched as he next stripped himself of everything but his pants. Sakura's eyes roamed over the scar sprinkled body before her, catching on the huge bruise on his left side as Kakashi climbed into the small bed beside her.

Watching him wince as she poked the black and blue area, Sakura sucked her teeth shaking her head. "Here, let me."

She drew the covers back without being given permission. Giving the man, who always chose to suffer through the pain instead of asking for help, a silent glare, Sakura placed a healing hand over the area. In just a short few moments, the bluish white glow diminished and Kakashi's side was left feeling ten times better. Sliding her hand softly upon the newly healed warm skin, Sakura's curiosity got the better of her. "What happened?"

Eyes extremely heavy, what with the soft pillow under his head and his tired muscles finally relaxing, Kakashi pulled her down on top of his chest. In a low rumble he smacked his lips and simply said, "Morning."

Feeling slightly miffed, but equally tired, Sakura gave in, but not before saying in an equally exhausted voice, "Did you know Kotetsu used to have a thing for you? Anko told me."

Kakashi looked down at her with wide mismatched eyes.

Snuggling into the warmth of his chest, Sakura said smugly, "Morning."

6 Months Later

A pink haired woman holding one side of a bookshelf looked around with fire in her emerald eyes. "Where is he!"

A Naruto shadow clone, holding the other end of the piece of furniture, sweated profusely. "Uh, Sakura-chan-" Looking over to the many boxes marked 'Kakashi's junk' that the owner had just been standing by, the tired blonde quirked a brow. "-he was just here a second ago."

There was a grumbled, "Not again," before the infuriated kunoichi sucked in a breath. Sakura shuffled her lover's smutty book holder against the wall of the new apartment they had just rented letting out her held breath in one very loud yell. "Hatake Kakashi! Get your ass out here!"

A certain silver haired shinobi winced, reading by the light of a flashlight, in the back of a spacious walk-in closet.

Kakashi sighed closing the new paperback he had just picked up that morning. 'She just had to go and pick the day Icha Icha War came out to move…'

Just then his senses tingled, feeling a familiar chakra signature approaching his position. Melting back into the shadows…standing behind Sakura's hanging uniforms, Kakashi stilled as the door was thrown open.

After a moment, a manly deep voice flatly filtered to his ear, "I can see your feet Hatake."

Kakashi, caught, pushed Sakura's clothes back and stepped out into the light, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Ah, hahahaha! I was just-"

Genma shook his head amusedly, cutting him off. "You know, Sakura's got that crazed look in her eye. I'd be careful if I were you."

Kakashi sighed dejectedly, chin to his chest. Genma, feeling no pity for his not so sly friend, pushed Kakashi out the door to face the music.

Bookshelf now in place, Sakura turned around to see her significant other slouching rather guiltily with his hands in his pockets in the doorway to their new bedroom. The Naruto clone, feeling the murderous intent flowing like water off the woman to his left, quickly made a beeline for the exit to the room, giving the silver haired man he passed by a shaky, 'Sucks to be you' in passing.

Genma gave his sulking friend a few words of advice before following after the one of many imitation Narutos. A hand resting on a vest covered shoulder, Sakura glaring pure death at their forms, Genma whispered, "Lie. Lie your ass off my friend."

The moment the door closed, Sakura watched Kakashi slowly make his way over to her as she crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Hands on her shoulders, Kakashi leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Sakura remained unmoved.

With narrowed emerald eyes, the angered woman calmly asked, "You were reading that new book of yours again weren't you?"

Sakura growled as a headband covered forehead slumped to her shoulder in defeat.

Her scowl soon melted into a smile as soft comical whimpering came from the mass of silver rolling about on her shoulder. Shaking her head stifling a laugh, Sakura amusedly told the sometimes infuriating man she loved, "You're lucky I love you."

Sakura laughed as Kakashi pulled back, mask now pooled around his chin. With the side of his lips quirked in that sexy little smirk she loved, Kakashi looked her in the eye, his own dancing with mirth. "That… and the fact that Genma has no morals."

After giving the smirking man a chaste kiss on the lips, Sakura agreed with a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, if it wasn't for Mr. Wonder Perv you never would have noticed the beautiful, intelligent woman right on the end of your-" Kakashi received a tap to his perfectly sculpted features here. "- nose."

And as he leaned in to give a deep content kiss to the woman he loved for the first time in their new humble abode, Kakashi had to admit she was right. If it wasn't for Genma's unorthodox influence he might have missed out on the greatest thing that had ever happened to him. For as duty had always given him direction and purpose….

….Sakura made him feel whole and gave him a reason to live….to really live.

He wasn't just coasting through life anymore, going from one tedious mission to the other. He was happy. He was content. He was alive…and for the first time in his life, he was thankful.

It was true that Genma had one of the dirtiest minds in Konoha, but then again…Kakashi was glad. For, he was quite aware that his new found happiness really was…his fault indeed.

The End!

I hope no one overdosed on the sugary sweetness of this chapter. Eh, what can I say? I love the sappyness! I just had to put in the idea of them moving in together. I also thought it would be sweet if his Icha Icha came out on the same day….hehehehehe! Gotta love Kakashi.