I know it's really late, but I was on break for a month and didn't have internet access. Now I do, so enjoy and sorry for the aggravating wait!

Oh man... the last chapter! Crazy, I actually finished! Thanks to ALL of you for reading! Skip the next part if you want:

I realized after reading many other Kakasaku's that this fic really isn't that good, and I apologize for that. It's a bit cliche (not entirely my fault) and it could have been "deeper". It's entertaining, but I could have done better.

Some Bet

"I hope you'll understand," he said.

"I don't understand."

"I'd stay and talk more, but I have a report to turn in."

The smoke clouded her kitchen puffed around her hands. He was gone. Sakura's record now stood at two losses and zero wins. A silly thought touched her mind.

How could Gai-Sensei keep up this guy?

It was no great surprise when Sakura was summoned to the Hokage's office once again; these trips were becoming something she really dreaded. On her way to the tower, she scanned the streets for any signs of a particular man. The spirit inside of her was already drowning in an irritable pool of misery after her last encounter with…

She sighed. At least she was clean—clean enough for her Master to not question her injuries. She wore her regular red vest, black shorts and pink skirt. She hoped Tsunade would see that she was ready to get back to the hospital and start working. All she needed was some ruptured organs and injured shinobi to take her mind off of the lesser drama in life.

When Sakura stepped in, it was Shizune who let her in. Fixing her with a fleeting smile, Shizune actually left through the door as Sakura entered.

This must be bad, Sakura thought dismally. But how could it get any worse? The door clicked shut behind her, sealing her in with the scary blonde woman known as Sakura's master.

"Good morning, shishou," Sakura mumbled rigidly. Tsunade looked to be in far better spirits than she did the previous day. The morning light reflected against her magically youthful skin. Her light brown eyes shined at seeing her pink haired apprentice. She softened.

"Sakura, I see that you checked into the hospital yesterday like I asked. Everything is healed?"

"Yes," Sakura confirmed, wondering why Tsunade had summoned her when she already turned in her mission report.

"I'm glad. I guess you're wondering why I summoned you here…" Sakura blinked and the female Hokage propped her face on one hand. For a moment she looked reluctant—with a cynical and stubborn edge shown by a crease between her eyes. It was the same look Sakura remembered on Tsunade's face every time she had to admit she was wrong.

"I wanted to apologize, Sakura. I know that mission was rough, but I also knew you could handle it. When you announced your intentions to take the Jounin exams and also go on the ANBU track, I had to test you."

This sparked an interest. "What do you mean?" asked Sakura.

"Sometimes, especially in these exams, you are put in scenarios similar to that of your mission. When kunoichi, and even shinobi, aren't prepared, things don't go down well. And after all the work, they fail."

"Ah…" Sakura lowered her head, a little resistant in believing that Tsunade really had her best interests in mind.

"When it happened to me, I didn't take it well. That's why I wanted to prepare you." Sakura snapped her head up in disbelief.

Master Tsunade had to do… that? A small chuckle escaped the blonde woman's lips at her naïve apprentice's surprised stare.

"Anyways, Sakura. I also wanted to say I'm proud of you. I was worried, but I knew you would find a way around it. By not giving your body to the enemy, you won. Your body is a precious asset to yourself, don't forget that—"

"But M'Lady didn't you say-!"

"Read between the lines, girl." Sakura could have fainted from exasperation from Tsunade's hypocritical, conflicting messages. Either way, a better feeling filled Sakura up to the brim. Tsunade assigned her the mission because she knew she could handle it.

Even though that didn't erase the hurt and trauma her body experienced, it made Sakura hardy. She liked the feeling.

"So you do forgive me?"

"Yes, shishou." Despite herself, she was smiling. The morning light beaming through the windows offered the promise of a better day to Sakura. It beckoned her to leave the office and take it easy. The sun was visible now even though the forecast said that the clouds would soon hail rain.

Sakura waited to be dismissed, but Tsunade seemed to be conjuring up one more message to deliver to her apprentice.

"Oh, Sakura. There's one more thing I should tell you." Her voice sounded more firm and official. There were a stack of papers in her hand that she tapped against the desk. Her eyes seemed to skim them briefly and she made a mark on the parchment with a red quill. "Hatake Kakashi has requested that you no longer are assigned to any of the same missions as him. You've been taken off his roster."

What? Every piece of warm sunshine she felt earlier liquidated in her body and spilled out. An icy cold sensation clutched her being and turned her face to stone. Something ominous simmered under the surface of her skin.

Sakura was dumbfounded. "W-Why? Why would he do that?" Tsunade's jaw was set.

"He said it was because during the mission, certain feelings developed. He said he had feelings for you that would complicate your relationship and endanger the completion future missions. It appears that he wants to distance himself from you."

Sakura's jaw dropped. Kakashi told Tsunade that? He went as far as to publically seek help avoiding her, but he would never admit that "certain" feelings had developed between them to her? So that mission was the catalyst and he was afraid it would happened again?

"I'm telling you this because I think Kakashi is being wrong," Tsunade said evenly. Sakura was shocked and pleased at how her master addressed the situation. She knew her student well.

That coward… Sakura thought.

"Thank you for telling me this, shishou." A shadow fell over Sakura's face and she turned her back to the windows. A sharp popping sound dotted the air as Sakura cracked her knuckles.

"And Sakura? Go easy on him."

There's a lot of history behind his decision, Tsunade thought with a frown. She felt like she was watching a sad, dramatic movie unfold before her eyes. She wanted to warn the heroine of the dark path in which she embarked, but she was only talking to the screen. The heroine of this tale couldn't hear her. The proof was in Sakura's reply.

"No chance in hell," the female medic nin stated and headed towards the door.

He hadn't expected a near explosion when the door barged open, dangerously close to swiveling off its rusted hinges, and an angry smudge of pink rocked through the doorway.

"Why the hell did you request to not take up anymore missions with me?" Sakura snapped, voice slightly hoarse from the cold and rainy weather. That in no way diminished the rage that poured out of her mouth.

Kakashi would have prepared if he suspected Hurricane Haruno hurled his way. She caught him in the act of leaning against his counter, about to sip a very somber cup of tea. Other than that nothing else stood out on his agenda. He didn't bother to hide his slightly fearful reaction to her entrance, even though he knew she would be angry if she ever found out what he had done.

"Did you hear me? Why did you specifically exclude me from your mission roster?" Sakura entered Kakashi's apartment even further without permission. He blinked at her. It really was an intrusion, and he looked completely unarmed without his headband and his flak jacket. She didn't care.

When her voice faltered, only the drizzling of rain against the window sills drummed their ears. For a quick second she peered around the bare place—she had never been to Kakashi's apartment before, and was just lucky enough to remember where he lived. It was a shame this ass-kicking would have to take place during her first visit.

Why didn't he answer her?

"I barely see you on any regular day. Do you know how much that hurts?" she asked, the evidence of the upset beginning to line her voice. Kakashi set down his cup and stood still. Maybe he was waiting for her anger to flush out, but that wouldn't happen. She didn't care that even slouched down he was overbearingly taller than her, and broad-shouldered and stronger. He deserved this lashing.

"I think it's for the best," he said quietly. Kakashi averted his gaze under those half-closed eyelids. She thrust a finger in his direction as if he had made an excuse for being late again.

"Liar! Lady Tsunade told me you requested to not have any more missions with me! She said it was because you didn't want to complicate things. Because during the mission i-it must have made you realize. You don't want to see me anymore because you have feelings for me, Sensei! Why can't you just admit that…"

Oh. He hadn't expected Tsunade to openly tell her about his request, let alone that last part about feelings. Such a breach of unasked for confidentiality would have someone like Shikamaru shaking his head and muttering curses about how "troublesome" this new Hokage proved to be. She noticed him take a step forward and eye her sharply, such a contrast from his previously careless stare. Some silver hair fell over his forehead and brushed his white eyebrows. He held out his hands in an open gesture.

"Is that what you wanted to hear, Sakura? Over the course of these last years I developed feelings for my student? That last mission nearly jeopardized what there is left of Team 7," Kakashi said.

Her body was paralyzed under his words and the tart confession. In the enactment in her head, Kakashi never admitted to anything. Now the scene broke free from her expectations and control. But like Kakashi said, what did she expect?

"It didn't. Obviously whatever this is existed beforehand," Sakura replied coolly, matching his glare and throwing out a hand to physically signify "this". She took in all of him; he looked tired and weary and done with dealing with the turmoil she doused him in. The adrenaline entering his blood must have roused a fighting instinct within him too, since he cracked his Sharingan open to a slit as if was dying to be unveiled. Was he trying to read her? Well, that was too bad.

"You don't know what you're talking about, or what you're trying to take on," he said flatly. A bold insult to her ego. Sakura winced, but didn't back down.

"If these feelings exist—don't pretend they don't—then give me a reason why we shouldn't see each other anymore! Why ignore this?"

First and foremost: "You're my student."

"I was."

And then the inevitable: "Age."

"Doesn't mean anything in this village."

The last reason: "You're asking to be hurt."

"Don't pull that! Why are you trying…" her voice broke a little when she saw how hard he was trying to put her off, "-to abandon me?"

The cup he gripped again in his hand cracked. It was an audible crack that clued Sakura in to the tension in the jounin's seemingly slack posture.

When he spoke, his tone was low and dangerous. "Everyone who I loved, everyone who is close to me is dead or gone, Sakura. It's only a matter of time before I am, too. What do you expect? I refuse to put you in that position. You will get hurt. Even as a friend, you could slip away at any time. Everyone who loved me is dead. Do you want to be next? You won't be."

Did he believe himself to be cursed, or something? Did he hold himself responsible for fate's playing cards? She pondered those words.

Thunder boomed outdoors, and nature added an ominous threat to this words. But Sakura shook her head. Her hand was clutching the material of her red vest, trying to quit shaking and keep still. She protested with all of her will of fire.

"Naruto's alive. Sasuke's alive, somewhere. I'm alive, Kakashi Sensei."

Without further words he strode over to the lone sofa in the room and sank into it. One hand pushed through his mess of silvery white hair.

"When did this happen… " she heard him utter, stress and pain evident in his eyes. It was clear to Sakura. It was clear that he was distressed and preoccupied with losing more people he loved. Behind his revealed eyes, red and black, ghosts of the past swam around and haunted him. It wasn't fair to him. And it wasn't fair to those who loved him.

From the opposite end of the room, she spoke with bitter nostalgia lining her voice. No matter how quietly and weakly she spoke, she would make him hear her words. Because he needed the answer that that question.

"You know… It started as a crush. When I was a genin I was infatuated with Sasuke, of course, but I always thought… what a cool teacher I had." A lopsided, sad smirk graced her lips. "When everyone left, that's when I realized there was something more there. Always looking out for me, dependable, like family but not… My Sensei started entering my thoughts more, but I was confused. I knew you would never reciprocate, because I was just a girl. I pushed it to the back of my mind to further my training. Because I didn't want you to think I was weak anymore, when you were such a strong person in my eyes. I wanted to mirror that. And when you stopped coming around, it made my feelings stronger because I felt like something was missing. And I finally realized it wasn't Sasuke."

"Forget the mission. This has been going on long enough. If I nearly chased Sasuke out of the village, what makes you think I'll give up you? Kakashi-Sensei?"

There were gentle tears swimming in her eyes.

"You're asking me to let you be hurt. If it's not now, it will be later. What kind of teacher would I be then?" His voice was rough.

"You used to know me so well. Why don't you look in my eyes?" He didn't. "You know I'm like Naruto, right? Why don't you believe in me like you believe in him. You can tell… I'll make that sacrifice. I'm asking you do to the same. Just one more time."

Kakashi was unresponsive.

"Kakashi... Sensei. I lov—"

In a startling crash her back was slammed against the wall. She was jarred and winded. A hand was pressed tightly against her mouth. When Sakura opened her eyes and shook away the dizziness, she saw the Copy Nin bearing over her. It was him who pinned her there, and in no gentle way. His hand seized her wrist steady and the other was still clamped over her mouth. She couldn't see his eyes because their bodies were so close. She only saw the masked, lower part of his face and the outline of his lips moved to say,

"Sakura. Don't."

She wedged her free hand between them, grasped his wrist, and removed it from her mouth.

"I love you," she told him directly.

The black fabric that colored her vision was yanked down and the color of light, rich skin replaced it. She only had a millisecond to stare at the strong, bare chin when Kakashi suddenly crushed his lips to hers.

She didn't flinch, she didn't wince—nothing but the present filled her mind. The profession of those words were the battering ram that busted through the supposedly indestructible wall of Kakashi Hatake.

Sakura's eyes were wide open, suspended in surprise. She only closed them to push back into his soft lips with her own. Everything felt amazing, enveloping her. The essence of Kakashi enveloped her. She could palce both of her bare palms on the sides of his smooth bare face, and feel his wild hair tickle the backs of her hand. She remembered that Kakashi smell that filled her nose when she borrowed his shirt after the mission. Now, there was Kakashi all over her.

Even though she didn't want this feeling to leave, Sakura had to push him back. After years and years, she could slide another victory under her weapon holster. She burst out in a grin, looking at his unmasked face.

A small smirk graced his perfect lips. His nose was straight and his jaw line was defined and masculine, if not a bit narrow. Every part of his face was perfectly fitting underneath his dark eyes and light hair that had always been hers to see.

As expected Kakashi Hatake was on the handsome side. What pleased her even more was that he was a bit plain—just like any other human. Yes, he was human. A young, handsome, fit, hot—

Her lips and body were pressed against his already. Hatake lifted her up from the wall and started towards his couch, careful not to break the kiss which was deepening into something more impassioned and feral.

She crashed down into his couch with him on top, pressing her body into the cushions. She wanted him to increase that pressure the same way she pressed back against him and his lips. She was melting into the heat of this moment. Sakura knew that the thrill of this could never be replicated in any other way by any other person-because it was not only forbidden, but was overdue. She felt bare hands run up her sides and-

Kakashi withdrew, both eye opens, staring at the pink haired girl. Sakura smiled.

"Why did you stop, sensei?" she asked. Her voice was goading because he had given up and she won, but her breathlessness told him he was in control. She could see it in his softening expression that there was no going back, so she hoped. It was gratifying to be able to see the small smile twitch at the corner of his lips instead of resting on a creased eye. Purging the moment of silence, howling wing banged on the Copy Nin's apartment window. The incessant rain transformed into an all-out storm.

"I'm guessing you don't want to talk home in this weather?" he asked lightly. The smile slipped off of her face.

"What?"

"You can stay here tonight." She beamed. "On the couch."

He withdrew from her and retrieved another tea cup from the kitchen, not even bothering to pull up his mask. Sakura, however, was still shaking in anticipation. The Jounin set tea on the table next to her. And Sakura waited, slightly fearful, for his next move; because the damn man was always pulling away what she worked so hard to gain! That, and she was entirely prepared for whatever could happen next.

With a swoosh a blanket fell on top of the kunoichi, who yanked it off to glare. When the blanket uncovered her eyes, he was no longer at the head of the room.

Kakashi was crouching beside her.

"You're so stubborn, Sakura. Despite what you say, you need time to think. How early in the morning do you think I wake up?"

"What? You probably sleep in and keep everyone waiting!"

"Alright then. If you're still here when I wake up, I'll know there's no detering you." She blinked. Was that it?"

"Kakashi-Sen-" Before she could finished the forbidden suffix he pressed a finger to her mouth. She snagged it away. "Kakashi... Goodnight."

He smiled and she stole another kiss, laughing at the surprise etched on his features. It still felt pleasantly strange. Butterflies raged on the inside of her stomach when he smiled back and at last pulled his mask up; yes, it was indeed Kakashi Hatake and the moments that preceeded hadn't been a dream. She clung to that thought when he disappeared into the door of his bedroom.

Sakura Haruno yawned, hardly believing that she was finally being rewarded for her knuckle-headed persistence. So Kakashi wanted to see if she would be there when he woke up? He could shut her out now, but when the Copy Nin awoke she would make sure she was sleeping right next to him: for she found comfort in his presence all along, and would teach him to do the same.

Buried under paperwork and accompanied by Shizune and a grand bottle of sake in her office, Tsunade had a rare smile stuck on the corner of her lips. This did not go unnoticed by her assistant, who insisted on the Hokage telling her why she was so amused. Shizune knew it had to do with the exchange between the blonde and Sakura that happened an hour prior.

"It's not often I'm pleased with myself like this, but it's just funny," Tsunade quipped. "You heard me tell Sakura about what Kakashi said, right? About removing her from the roster?" Shizune frowned. She handn't found the news funny at all, if not worrisome. She could tell Sakura had been hurt.

"Yes, that silly man. Is it supposed to be funny?"

"Well, I didn't tell Sakura the whole truth," her superior said in a smile, and continued scribbling on her paperwork as if she hadn't just admitted to lying about something serious.

"My Lady! What do you mean!" The darked haired woman made a mental note to be present for more meetings Tsunade held with people. Who else would keep track of her shaky words?

"Kakashi did come in earlier. He requested to have her removed from his roster after the mission," said Tsunade firmly.

"So what's the big deal?" If her assistant only knew...

"Oh, jeesh. You've been around that man. All those things about having feelings for her and distancing himself… Does that sound like something Hatake Kakashi would say to me? Well, let's just say that part I said to Sakura was an inference…"

Shizune trembled under the implication. "W-What? Are you saying… he never said that?"

"Not out-right," Tsunade said, then gave up the act under Shizune's incredulous stare. "Oh, please. He'd never come out and say it himself. So I just read in between the lines for Sakura. It was a favor"

"Shishou!" She didn't really have other words for how wrong her Master's actions were. Yet her sentiments may have been dead-on: It was one twisted situation. After the shock faded, she too realized she was smiling. It wasn't long before Shizune collapsed into giggles.

A gaping void in the hearts of both the villagers and the village itself returned today, as rumor had it. Such rumors spilled across the village and added a burst of yellow to an already sunny day. Sakura though she was the first to bound towards Konoha's gates, but as it turned out to her utter disappointment, Sai had beat her to it.

She spent almost ten minutes greeting, hugging and ranting over the blonde boy who finally returned to the Leaf after an extended period of training.

"I missed you too, Sakura," he beamed back. However, she never said she missed him to begin with. She was more pissed about the pale, dark haired boy that hovered next to him. Naruto and Sai had been hanging out for a full hour before anyone came to get her!

"Yo, Naruto. Welcome back," called a voice from behind her. Sakura's whole body tensed, as if usually did when she heard his voice. Even after a month, her and Kakashi's relationship, which was a strong word as this point, was still being worked out. But—it was only climbing in a positive direction.

Although, the part that worried Sakura was that not many people knew about the "thing" she had going on with her Sensei (whatever that thing really was!). Kakashi himself seemed to care less about what other's thought, the opposite of what she expected at first.

And the one person who might turn Konoha on its head if he knew was Naruto. So Kakashi's voice mixed with Naruto upon his return filled her up with a little apprehension.

But there's no way he would figure it out anyways, right?

"Oh hey! Kakashi-Sensei! When are we going to spar?" She shook her head. It was a wonder that Naruto hadn't dived straight into Ichiraku's first before challenging the Jounin to some combat straight away.

"I though you would want to rest." Now, the voice was beside her. White hair tickled the corner of her peripheries. Sakura knew if she even glanced at him, she would start to blush.

Naruto broke out in a grin. "This is great. What a reunion, eh?" Sai surged forward, his eyes narrowed in a practiced, but real, smile.

"Hey, Naruto. The sight of Sakura and Kakashi-senpai should remind you about our bet. I would be breaking the rules if I didn't remind you about the stakes to our bet." Naruto's toothy grin dropped in moment faster instant than ramen. The groan that followed was not from his belly.

Out whipped a green little froggy change purse.

Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"A bet?" Since when did Sai make bets? "What are you guys doing?" she asked suspiciously as Naruto dumped his full stash of money into Sai's open hand. Sai likely didn't want the money or bragging rights—but was probably adhering to the rules of betting as he knew it. And if Sakura knew the pair, Naruto must have been the one who initiated it.

"Heh heh, well Sakura-chan, me and Sai made a small bet about Kakashi-sensei before I left the village to train."

"And I won," Sai supplemented. "Thanks to you, Sakura." The pink haired medic cocked her head. Beside her Kakashi narrowed his visible eyes, turning his gaze towards her, then the others.

He suspected that the bet had something to do with his face under his mask. Kakashi cast a half-betrayed, half-stern look in Sakura's direction. Being the only current member of Team 7 who had seen his face, she would have been the one to tell them he didn't look like a mutant or a freak. It was too bad, because he rather liked that kind of mystery.

"Well, what did you find out?" he asked plaintitively, but even Sakura seemed curious. Curious, and annoyed that the devious way Naruto was snickering like a kid.

"See, see, well I bet that you and Kakashi-sensei would be together after you made joinin, Sakura!"

"WHAT?" She twitched maddenly, not daring to glance up at Kakashi's expression. "W-What in the world would give you that idea? N-no wonder Sai won the bet you baka!" Sai smiled shallowly.

"Yes, I bet that Sakura-chan and Kakashi-senpai would already "be together" by the time Naruto got back from training. That is to say, become involved in a romantic relationship"

Her weak knee gave out and somehow she ended up on the ground, shivering. Naruto was clutching his sides in laughter and Sai simply smiled at the remaining victim of the bet.

"Uh, Naruto, would you mind telling us why you seem to think Sai won the bet?" Kakashi asked. His expression appeared mute of any giveaway emotion, but to the trained blue eye Naruto could tell he must be boiling on the inside.

"Sai told me. I believe him."

"The entire village knows. It was more or less a bet on how long it would take. I've studied non-verbal behavior in many books, and it made sense to me that it was obvious, although I can't speak for a more simple minded thinker like Naruto." Kakashi scratched the back of his head, wondering what words to force out of his dry mouth.

"The whole village…?"

Sakura arose, still a little wobbly.

The whole time, everyone forecasted their eventual "thing" but them.

"To Ichiraku's!" Naruto cried, secretly planning to make Sai pay for his meal. Dropping the conversation in an uncharacteristically non-chalant manner, Naruto grabbed Sai's shoulder and began to haul them off. "Meet you there, Sakura!"

She was still frozen stiff.

"Are you alright?" Kakashi asked. She felt a hand wander to the small of her back, sending warm shivers up and down her spine.

"They… bet on me. They bet on my love." Apparently, some things ran deeper than the satisfaction of Naruto's approval of her unorthodox relationship.

"Some bet," the silver-haired man agreed. Kakashi slipped a lazy arm around Sakura's shoulders, and they followed in the friends' wake.

fin! It wasn't my best chapter, but it was the last chapter. Thanks for following along with me.

DON'T GO YET. I HAVE ONE LAST THING FOR YOU. I'm writing another KakaSaku and it's different; if you're interested it's posted and it's called Reactance.

http :/ www . fanfiction . net/s/7753052/1 /Reactance#

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