AN Long time no see. I'd like to thank you all for your favorites and follows, and especially those of you who review! I got this idea about switching off the part of your brain that processes emotions and pain from The Vampire Diaries and reading about PTSD. I forgot to translate the poem I wanted to feature, but seriously I am so tired now that there is a good chance I'm already asleep. I got a little lazy with the editing because my back and head started really hurting, but I think it's A OK. I hope you enjoy the long-awaited reunion! I know I did! Please R&R xoxo

Lady Ruby: Chapter 22

Sakura gritted her teeth as images tore through the dark spaces behind her eyes. Bitterly, she wondered if Kuriko would undo the jutsu that had resurrected the walls that once kept her mind in an orderly state. There was nothing orderly about it now, it was just pure chaos. A barrage of memories continued to assault her even as she opened her eyes to stare at the ceiling, hoping desperately that if she tried hard enough, the memories would disappear. But, that wasn't going to happen.

It wasn't as though she couldn't handle them, in a sense. Had she been able to live one moment at a time, her body and mind would have been able to adjust and prepare. Living nearly three weeks of torture in the span of a few hours was threatening her to just give into the numbness and lose herself in the quiet darkness that whispered promises of release.

She knew that voice, though. It was a defense mechanism that presented itself to battle-worn shinobi. It was a instinctual way that the brain used chakra to react to extreme physical or mental trauma. Though she had, thankfully, not experienced it, she had read enough patient files to know the signs and symptoms.

After the war, hundreds of shinobi from Konoha alone had stumbled back to the village covered in wounds that they couldn't feel, and staring forward with blank, expressionless eyes. It was understandable. Oftentimes, when a ninja experiences what is commonly known as "battle fatigue" their body automatically flips into autopilot. It takes away the sensation of feeling both pain and emotional stress. Other times, it is a learned technique used only in the most violent or trying situations. ANBU Root members had all been raised from birth with this training.

The hushed sound of her mind pleading for an escape brought up a memory from years ago, giving her a momentary haven from the onslaught. It was of Kakashi. Her heart began to beat a little faster and endorphins rushed through her, slightly ebbing away the sharp edges of the pain that sliced at her, tears stinging her eyes.

They had won the war. But, from the decimated forests, flattened villages, and rows and rows of casualties lined up in perfectly straight lines, it didn't feel that way. Most of the commanders and those serving on the front lines were given the weekend to rest before they would be expected to return the following week to make arrangements for the dead and regrow the land they had destroyed. Nearly every medic was required to stay behind and continue cataloguing the casualties.

Whoever decided these plans clearly was not a medic-nin. Sakura could understand that maybe those who spent all of their time on the battlefield needed at least a few days of rest, but to deny the same for the medics was preposterous. Using healing chakra was so vastly different than offensive or defensive chakra. It required the medic to pour every inch of their soul into the endeavor, to truly believe they had the power to save a life. In battle, failure was imminent, and every life lost took a small piece of the medic's soul with it until eventually they resorted to any means necessary to combat the sense of loss.

Sakura had seen it happen to her mentor. It was hard to look directly into Tsunade's eyes in the moments when she wasn't filled to the brim with rage. Her gaze seemed to always be focused on something just out of reach. It was in those moments she pulled out a bottle of sake and began to drink until whatever it was that lingered beyond the realm of reality had disappeared.

Sakura was luckier than many other medics. Her last hours of the war had been spent in battle, which allowed her three days to replenish her chakra and gather her bearings. Her conscience screamed for her to fight for the rights of her fellow medics, to do anything to grant them their much deserved leave, but in her selfishness, she didn't. She couldn't. The only thing on her mind was sleeping in their make-shift village built upon the ruins of what used to be, and drinking enough for the emotions to come rushing back, and force herself to cry. She needed to cry, but when she called upon that need, nothing came. Only numbness prevailed.

It was on her second night "home" when she ran into him. He had long since abandoned his hitai-ate of the allied forces, along with his usual attire. Now, he sat at the bar of the only drinking establishment that had survived the various attacks. Sakura couldn't help but think that whatever the man did to keep his pub standing was brilliant. No one needed a drink more than the ninja-turned-soldiers who occupied nearly every seat in the room.

Despite the place being full of people, there was a calm blanket of stony silence that had fallen over the room. She weaved through the crowd, trying to tune out the quiet conversations that flitted about her. Finally reaching her destination at the bar, she realized her former sensei had left a copy of his favorite book in the seat beside him. She couldn't help but frown, was he saving the seat for someone?

"Are you going to sit down or are you going to stand there all night?"

She jumped at the sound of his voice. Hoarse and brimming with unhidden emotions, Sakura almost didn't recognize that it was Kakashi who had spoken to her. He lifted the book and set it on the bar. Taking her cue to join him, she sat down and squirmed at how closely they were sat next to one another.

"Sorry, I thought you were saving the seat for someone." She gave him a nervous smile, not really sure how to act around him. Then again, she had never really been sure how to act around him.

"I was. I knew you'd come here." He shrugged, ignoring her surprised expression and poured another drink from the bottle he'd clearly purchased. It was cheap, rice liquor and the smell stung her nose, forcing her mouth to twist in disgust.

"Why are you drinking that filth?"

"The same reason I read this filth." He indicated to the bright orange binding of his beloved novel. "To shut out everything for a little while."

She was taken aback by the omission. An odd sense of trepidation and excitement twisted her stomach into knots. Getting a tiny hint of anything intimate or private about her sensei, especially from his own mouth, was like getting Christmas presents before Christmas day. It was exciting, yet at the same time, felt very wrong. He was staring at her from the corner of his eye, patiently waiting.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"I asked if you wanted a drink."

Eyeing the bottle suspiciously, she finally gave in and nodded. The clear liquid disappeared into the small paper cup (apparently glass was in low supply) and she couldn't help but cringe again at the smell.

"How did you know I would come here?" She asked, still holding the fiery concoction in her hand. He shrugged again, running his hand through his hair, which Sakura realized could use washing. The usually shiny, silver strands hung heavy with old sweat. She wondered if he had only just gotten back, sparing himself only enough time to slip out of his worn gear and into a new shirt.

"Well," he started, pausing to take a gulp of the foul liquid, "You're a medic. You've just lost your mentor. Your best friends are in critical condition. You're powerless to help as a result of overexertion. You're most likely wrought with guilt over a billion other things. Where else would you be?" His voice was so casual, that she almost overlooked the frankness of his statement. She didn't waste another moment and finished her drink in one pained gulp. After a few seconds of coughing, she finally regained composure and proceeded to pour another.

"To be honest, I don't feel much of anything." She replied wistfully.

"Which is why you might come to the only place known to serve alcohol to minors." He gave her a grin, the outline of his mouth just barely visible behind the dampened cloth. The smiled faded almost as quickly as it came and the air around them returned to its previous somber state. "Almost everyone needs help forgetting their pain, but some people need help remembering it. You strike me as the latter."

"I didn't realize you thought so much about me." She deadpanned, trying to force humor into the words that just wasn't there. He gave her a small smile anyways that reflected on her own face.

"What kind of respected educator would I be if I didn't care about my students?"

"So that's what your calling yourself these days." She nudged him playfully and felt a quiet chuckle shake his shoulders. Silence fell between the two and after a few more drinks, Kakashi spoke up, startling Sakura from her musings.

"When did you grow up, anyways?" He asked curiously.

She fumbled for a few minutes for a response, not entirely sure what he was really asking. Hatake Kakashi was a master of subtext. It might take weeks for the impact of his words to hit the target, and Sakura had fallen prey to his manipulation more than once. In fact, the entire evening seemed to be teetering precariously atop a pile of unspoken emotion, either hers or his. She wasn't sure which. For the first time since she had known him, it appeared that Kakashi was too tired to erect the usual walls of cool indifference that kept them all at bay.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile onto her face. "I hardly think I'm grown up. Not even old enough to drink."

"Age doesn't always determine maturity. I would know."

"You think I'm mature?" His eyes slid down to see a rosy blush light up her pallid features.

"More so than last year. I can't picture you as someone foolish enough to run headlong into danger by yourself anymore. It just wouldn't add up."

She knew exactly what Kakashi had been referring to and embarrassment burned her blush deeper. "I'm still really sorry for that, you know."

"We all make stupid mistakes, Sakura. Just remembered to keep a cool head when those passionate Konoha feelings take over. Not everyone can turn that passion into a super power."

She laughed, thinking about the infamous Green Beast. "I'm so going to tell Gai-sensei you said that."

He gave her a stern look. "That would be a grave mistake. And just when I thought you'd grown up."

His jab caused her to choke on the acidic beverage for a moment until she was able to force the rest down her throat. She glared menacingly, acutely aware that her now very apparent inebriation may have an effect on her ability to be scary.

When she heard him begin to laugh behind his hand, Sakura couldn't help but join in. They fought to keep their laughter as quiet as possible and after Sakura wiped the gleeful tears from her eyes, she was overcome with an intense guilt that robbed the air from her lungs. She was feeling something. Genuine guilt began to explode somewhere within her, and the weight of a hundred deaths settled rather uncomfortably onto her heart. A strong arm wrapped around her as she was pressed into the firm chest of her former teacher.

It was in that instant she realized that she was sobbing quietly and that Hatake Kakashi, of all people, was holding her as she did so. Though it was clear from his stiff posture that he was terribly uncomfortable, he didn't let go. Instead, he rested his head atop hers, and although it was never confirmed, she was certain she felt a few warm drops fall into her hair.

Sakura swallowed the choked sobs swelling in her throat. It was one of those very rare moments of Kakashi's raw humanity that she meant to treasure, and yet had somehow forgotten. It was the first and only time he had ever done something like that. Grant it, she hadn't been given the opportunity as of late to see if the shift in there relationship would make a difference.

She tried desperately to hold onto the memory, to relive the warmth of Kakashi's strong embrace, but as swiftly as it had come, the memory was gone, and the pain of what she had endured over the past few weeks took over once again. She glanced at her bare arms and glared at the chakra seal the shimmered in the soft candlelight.

Kakashi had never been more thankful to be leading a team of chuunin half his age. They were all frozen to the bone. Despite having trudged through the snow for nearly five hours, they were ecstatic to finally see some action. There had been almost no activity for the younger generation in weeks.

Their mission was simple enough. Bisuke and Guruko would serve as his Jūjin Bunshin. In teams of four, Kakashi's ninken clones would lead them to accomplish two separate goals.

Team Bisuke was to head straight for the scroll archive. Sasuke's report had stated something about their being a seal that caused the person to lose all memory of what they had read from the scrolls unless they were inside the archive. For this team, Kakashi had chosen a seal specialist to alter the specifications and recognize Sakura as authorized personnel, making the seal powerless against her. To throw the scent off the trail, they were given instructions to retrieve any scrolls that had been reported missing from other villages. Naruto would thank him later for that.

Team Guruko had would be operating on the opposite side of the compound in the research lab and prison block. Their job was to locate Aka and Tan and rescue them. Although doing this would in no way complete the overall mission objective, and required him to take a huge risk in doing so, but Kakashi had made a promise to get the two to safely and it weighed heavily on him that they'd gotten captured, and he was sure that Sakura felt the same way.

Rescuing the brother-sister duo, though, had required him to go directly against the Hokage's orders. He was instructed to assemble a group of five chuunin, and he did. However, he also personally requested the assistance of a young man looking to make jounin. He was one of the few survivors of the Iburi clan and was gifted the kekkai genkai of Smoke Transformation, which was a rare technique that allowed him to turn his body into smoke, and he was one of the last people on the planet to do so.

Kakashi promised to sponsor and train him for the jounin exams if he helped with this mission, and he had every intention of doing so. Konoha would benefit greatly from such a jutsu and losing this kid was simply not an option.

Once they had achieved those goals, their prime objective was simple: drive the entire compound into mayhem. Whatever the specifics of Sakura's mission was, Kakashi had a feeling it would take awhile. A sudden halt in work would surely bring Mao here to investigate.

Not to mention they all needed to blow off some steam.

Although he wasn't there to witness it, Kakashi knew that everything was going according to plan. Both of his ninken team leaders provided constant updates that painted him a pretty good picture of what was happening as he crept along the shadows of the dormitory.

If it weren't for the fact that the compound was located in the middle of a frozen tundra and stretched hundreds of feet below ground, Kakashi would have thought security to be severely lax. He passed almost no guards, and when he did, he simply swept right by them unnoticed. Honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. For a man who exuded such a lazy, carefree demeanor, he became bored quite easily and he was itching for action, but he was also a sensible man. These mindless guards didn't measure up and it would only waste the time he could be spending with Sakura.

His breath caught as her face fluttered across his vision like fallen petals from a cherry tree, causing his mind to race with possibilities. How much longer would they be here? Could they complete the mission and be home by late spring? Kakashi never particularly cared for seasonal festivities, but he was positive that he would do nearly anything to see Sakura smiling amidst the cherry blossoms, her pastel hair blending into the pinks until she seemed to disappear among them. He'd pick a few stray petals from her hair and she would blush prettily, her jade eyes shining up at him.

Kakashi stopped and leaned against the wall, shaking his head. What was happening to him? "Get ahold of yourself." He growled under his breath before trudging forward.

It took everything in him to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. Finally, he heard three quiet, short barks echo in his earpiece indicating, that Pakkun had located Sakura's room. Heart racing, Kakashi jogged quickly ahead.

"Hey, Boss." Pakkun greeted, scratching the back of his ears.

"Thanks, Pakkun. You remember the plan, I assume."

"Hai. Once they've done their jobs, we'll dig our way out and head to the rendezvous point. " He said, clearly more interested in taking care of an itch he couldn't reach.

Kakashi bent down and scratched the wrinkly pug's ears, grinning as his stumpy legs gave way and drool began to escape the folds of his mouth. "Alright, alright." He stood up, earning a glare from Pakkun. "Can't be spoiling you."

Pakkun rolled his large, droopy eyes and trotted off the way they came. As soon as he was out of sight, Kakashi took a deep breath and turned the knob of the door.

Although he had made sure to have no expectations about how seeing her would make him feel, it was impossible not to be filled with elation just to know she was alive. But the relief was swiftly stamped out by worry. She was sprawled across a tiny bed, her body stiff with tension, but her face a picture of serenity.

Even in their short time apart, her appearance had managed to change. Though Sakura had always been a petite, slender girl, the thin layer of flesh that softened the lines of muscle had disappeared. She was more sinewy now, her skin pulled tightly over dense muscle. Her heart-shaped face had slimmed considerably, revealing pronounced cheekbones and a sharper chin. These were all signs that she'd been trying to maintain her strength while on a steady diet of rations and vitamins.

Despite the change in her appearance, he couldn't deny that she was absolutely stunning. The light from the candle bathed her porcelain skin in an amber glow, splashing her clavicle with color with every rise and fall of her chest. Even the faint sheen of the chakra seal intricately woven across her arms and legs seemed to shimmer beautifully in the dim light.

She was ethereal and perfect, and Kakashi mused for a moment that she reminded him of a sleeping princess trapped in a tower, waiting to be rescued. He chuckled quietly. Sakura would murder him if she knew he'd had the audacity to think such a thing.

He took the few short steps to her bed and sat down beside her, watching as her eyes fluttered open to glance around, unfocused.

"Sasuke?" She asked almost hopefully, her voice hoarse. Kakashi coughed, for a minute, surprise having knocked the breath from him in one merciless kick. She blinked a few times before pinning him with a blank stare. "Kakashi."

"Sorry to disappoint." He said lamely, ignoring the foreign feelings of jealousy and disappointment as they twisted in his stomach.

"I'm dreaming." Her eyes closed again, leaving him to stare in bemusement. She'd looked straight at him, hadn't she?

"Sakura, you're not dreaming." He insisted sternly.

Jade eyes opened again to study him and he was taken aback with what he saw. Instead of the usual fire that lit her gaze so perfectly, there was nothing there, as though all of the emotion had been sucked from her body. He carefully schooled his face into one that hopefully hid his trepidation.

She pulled herself into a sitting position and Kakashi waited patiently, not missing the way she strained to do so. He yearned to help her, but Sakura was always proud, especially when she needed assistance, and it was clear that something was terribly wrong. It would behove him to tread carefully until she was ready to talk, but by the look in her eyes, Kakashi suspected he'd be waiting for a long time.

Sakura was looking at him, he knew, but it was as though she didn't see him. Her large, viridian gaze was dull and empty, her pupils dilated so large it was like looking into a glassy, dark lake.

"Sakura.." He started nervously, anxiety clawing at his throat, making his voice quaver. Worry began to muddle his thoughts and he closed his eyes to take a deep calming breath. Quickly sorting his thoughts and steeling himself, Kakashi opened them again with a renewed sense of determination.

From his calculations and the steady stream of commentary quietly filtering in through his ear piece, Kakashi knew that it would take the teams no more than an hour to complete the primary goal, which lent him an indeterminate amount of time with Sakura before he was discovered, though he had to guess that, if every shinobi here were as clueless as the guards outside, he had three hours. If they sent shinobi from the same branch as the ones from Sasuke's division, he had less than an hour.

"Sakura." He urged, this time using a more commanding tone. He scooted close enough that her bare feet were beneath him, and she simply watched him with cloudy eyes, unfazed from the contact. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes." She nodded dutifully, her voice as wooden as her expression. Bringing a finger to rest on her knee, Kakashi sent a pulse of lightning chakra into her flesh, keeping his eyes trained on her face for any sign of change. When she bore no reaction, he nodded in understanding.

"Sakura, you're suffering from battle fatigue. This is your body's natural response to trauma. Can you tell me what happened?"

She licked her lips slowly and reached for the water. After a few long gulps she cleared her throat, her voice robotic and frank. "They've been using archaic methods of torture as a way to test a medic's ability to self heal. A positive side effect was that they could uncover which stimuli had the most effect on our mind's, then use them as a tool for mind control. I knew that something along these lines was occurring, but they were using a jutsu to keep us from differentiating between dreams, memories, and even reality."

Kakashi's jaw clenched and he hoped that she couldn't see the action beneath his mask. He had a million questions, most of which he wasn't sure he wanted answers to. "What kind of torture, Sakura?"

"Standard physical torture. Psychological torture."

"What kind of psychological torture?" He knew what standard physical torture entailed, but he cringed to think of how they had tortured her psyche. Torture of the mind was a very personal, almost intimate experience that was very different for every person.

A spark of something undefinable flashed across her face and she squared her shoulders, mustering enough strength to voice it. But as she opened her mouth to speak, it was clear that nothing was going to come out. Kakashi reached into his med-pack and pulled out a few anti-anxiety pills he'd gotten from Shizune.

To his surprise, she took the pills from him without hesitation, which spoke volumes of her current state. Sakura didn't usually condone the use of such medication. It would take a few minutes for her to experience results, so Kakashi chose to redirect his path of questioning.

"That jutsu sounds like Kuriko's. Which begs the question, why are you able to remember experiencing this?"

Her eyes softened from the effects of the medicine and Kakashi was thankful to see something other than numbness on her face. "She's been trying to build up my literal strength of mind and waiting to see if I showed enough competence to deal with the repercussions. Apparently I proved myself today. She undid the jutsu this afternoon and I've been.." She trailed off and Kakashi nodded that he understood. She was forced to relive every forgotten moment at once. That was a lot for anyone to handle

Silence descended on them, and Kakashi removed his gloves and took to tracing Sakura's fingers in his hand. Her nails had been chewed into jagged shapes and there were a few nicks across the calloused pads of her fingers. He realized then that he had never really touched her hands in such an intimate way.

"Kakashi?" She was breathless, her cheeks flushing slightly. He took a deep breath and beneath the layers of uncertainty, sadness, and guilt, he could detect a hint of arousal.

His head snapped up in surprise. "Yes?"

"Am I going to be okay?"

"What do you mean?" He almost laughed at the question. Of course she would be okay. And although he wanted to assure her of this, something in her gaze stopped him.

She bit her lip and looked away, but Kakashi could read her clearly. His touch was bringing the azalea-haired kunoichi out of her trance. A rush of emotions swam across her expression and he could tell it was overwhelming her.

He stopped caressing her hand for a moment and reached up to pull down his mask. Once the fabric was gathered at the collar of his vest, he breathed in the cool air, acutely aware that he could hear his heart pounding in his ears.

Sakura focused her attention back to his face and gave him a smile, her problems all but momentarily forgotten. "You told everyone at the pub that you were in love with me, you know. And that you had no intention of taking anyone home that wasn't me."

The apples of Kakashi's cheeks grew warm and he despaired to see she had noticed it. "I also went home with a green-eyed strawberry blonde."

Her pretty lips pulled into a scowl, but she shrugged it off with a quiet laugh, an evident clue that the anti-anxiety medication was working. "I thought it was kind of flattering, actually."

Kakashi didn't believe her in the slightest and surmised that she was flirting, something they hadn't had the opportunity to do in a long time. The grin that curled up the corners of his mouth drew her eyes downwards. "Sakura?"

"Hm?"

"I'd like to do something before someone barges in here and drags me away."

Pink eyebrows knitted together in confusion, but Kakashi had parted her knees and was leaning over her, his mouth so close to hers that she could smell the granola from the energy bar he must have only just finished. His hip was pressed firmly between her thighs and she moaned when he shifted against her and swallowed the space separating their lips.

She could feel the kiss on every inch of her skin, leaving her flesh warm. One of the hands holding him in place came down to rest lightly on her neck, his thumb caressing her careening pulse.

Kakashi smiled a smile that Sakura knew was as handsome as it felt and she tentatively opened her mouth to trace her tongue over the tiny scar that sliced through his lips. A groan sounded from the back of his throat and Sakura grabbed his shirt, forcing the kiss to deepen.

The heat that had begun to gather at her core from the moment he touched her hand was starting to pulse through her blood stream and wrap around every nerve. She opened her eyes just as he pulled away and she suppressed a shudder at his appearance.

Sakura had seen Kakashi in a state of arousal, more or less, but experiencing it first hand was something else entirely. His eyelashes shimmered with moisture every time he blinked. Charcoal and milky grey, his eyes were glazed and tired, but held a passionate kind of intensity that made her mouth go dry.

His hand lazily trailed down her neck, between the shallow valley of her breasts, his featherlight touch teasing her until it reached its destination at the curve of her inner thigh. The entire trip, Kakashi had frozen her in place with his expressive, incongruent eyes.

Finally, he released her from his stare and buried his face into the crook of her neck, gently biting her shoulder as his hand grasped the fabric of her pants with shaky fingers. "Sakura.." He groaned helplessly, his voice dark but weak. "What are you doing to me?"

She wanted to argue that she wasn't doing anything to him, but his mouth and eyes and fingers had left her unable to respond. No one had made her feel this way, so speechless and powerless and burning with desire.

His fingers dipped into the front of her pants before stopping abruptly. He lifted his head to look her in the face, eyes questioning. She nodded, allowing him to shift her body until she was beside him.

Tugging down the thin fabric, Kakashi marveled her nervous expression, and the way her eyes squeezed shut, to embarrassed to watch as he revealed her bare, toned legs. He had no intention of having sex with her. Actually, he really only wanted to kiss her, but he felt his will unravel with every quiet sound she made, and if anyone deserved a few moments of pleasure, it was Haruno Sakura.

Her eyes opened again and she carefully avoided looking down. She gave him a small, sheepish smile that melted into one of surprise and desire when he cupped her sex, wet heat causing his fingers to tingle slightly.

"Fuck." He whispered, the expletive sounded surprisingly musical to Sakura's ears.

He stayed still for a few moments too long to regain composure, and Sakura wiggled her hips slightly, causing him to chuckle as the rough pads of his fingertips located the small pearl of tightly wound nerves hidden beneath her folds. He pressed against it and Sakura's eyes rolled back, her body jerking with a gasp.

Slowly, almost methodically, he traced tiny circles over the swollen bead, feeling the way his ministrations transformed her. The sheets soon found themselves twisted in her grasp and Kakashi wished for more as her lips parted, to suck in a shallow breath. He tried to remember to breathe, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight of her writhing beneath him.

The smooth muscles of her stomach flexed, bucking her hips upwards. Releasing the sheets from of her fists, Sakura's hand flew to her mouth to muffled the moan that tore through her body.

"Don't do that." He pleaded, his lips brushing against the cavern of her ear. "I want to hear you."

The gravelly sound of his voice tickling her skin, winded her a little tighter, and with every complete orbit his touch made around her clitoris, she lost herself a little more to the burning darkness that blurred her vision.

Doing as he said, she moved her hand away from her mouth and instead held onto the front of his shirt, allowing the heady moans to ring from her lips. "Kakashi.."

"What is it?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

The volume of her breaths rose considerably and she fought to keep herself coherent. "I'm going to-"

Kakashi pressed his mouth to hers, muting her words. And for a few agonizing seconds, the entire world fell silent before Sakura tumbled downwards. Kakashi greedily swallowed her cries of ecstasy as he fitted a finger inside her and pumped slowly, and when he felt the way her tight center clenched around the protrusion, the erection that had been straining against his pants throbbed painfully.

After a few moments, Sakura's body went limp and he took a deep breath, mouth watering as the bittersweet scent of her arousal permeated the air around them. He slowly pulled his hand back, and she sighed as the pressure disappeared from inside.

Her eyes fluttered open just in time to see him pull his index finger out from between his lips. Her face burned with embarrassment and he gave her a grin that dared her to say something about it.

Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as she realized she was genuinely happy, her face glowing with comfortable bliss.

Kakashi leaned down to kiss her lips, but froze suddenly. "Sakura." He murmured, disappointment dripping from the syllables. "Someone is standing outside the door."

Her exhaustion dissolved instantly as her taut muscles clenched defensively. "Who?"

"Sasuke."