It all started with that dream...

Chp 17: Epiphany

*Day Three…*

Sakura had kept herself as busy as she could all day. As soon as she had woken up, showered and dressed, she had attacked her apartment with a fervent bout of spring-cleaning. It hadn’t taken too long as there wasn’t actually too much to clean, but, nevertheless, she had tried to prolong the process as long as she could, meticulously clearing, dusting and brushing every appliance and available space in sight. After that, she had convinced herself she needed another shower and had, at the last minute, switched to a long, hot, thorough bubble bath. She had stayed until she felt the uncomfortable sensation of her toes pruning and noticed the wrinkles forming on the slim fingers playing with the abundant suds in the water, a testament to how long she had dragged that particular venture out. After a quick rinse-off, she had dressed and promptly gone out to stock up on groceries. Getting back, she had methodically placed every item she bought in their designated spots in cupboards and counter space with vigour reminiscent of a drill sergeant. Albeit a pretty slow one. Now, sprawled on the sofa, she had absolutely nothing to do. Nothing to distract her. ‘Kakashi…,’ her mind wailed. She couldn’t stand waiting anymore when she knew what her answer would be. And she had known even before they had embarked on this tedious arrangement.

She sighed. Still, it was what he thought was best and she would respect that. She should just be glad he hadn’t insisted on a whole, entire month! Shuddering, she tried her hardest to dispel thoughts of Kakashi from her already Kakashi-addled brain. But naturally, the thoughts still came flying. She had to do something else. Concentrate on something else. Think about something else! Briefly, she wondered whether Sasuke would be coming over or not. It would be perfect timing indeed if he would suddenly waltz in the door right about now. Not that she could imagine him waltzing, she thought with a smothered laugh. He would probably take his steady, masculine steps through the door. Even his walk bordered on broody, she thought laughingly, thinking of his constant scowl. Although, that was disappearing now… At least from what she saw. He really seemed to be a whole different person! Uneasily, her mind wandered to the conversation she had had with Ino the day before. Ino had teased her as soon as she had said goodbye to the guy and returned to the living room.

* * * * flashback * * * * *

‘So, enjoying yourself, I see…,’ Ino said coyly, gesturing towards the door, a sly smile plastered on her features.

‘You mean Sasuke?’ Sakura asked with mild surprise, a little laugh escaping past her lips.

‘Who else?’ Ino replied with a wink. ‘It must have been pretty cozy, just the two of you… I guess all went well at the dance eh? Sorry to interrupt!’ A devilish grin spread over her lips. ‘So…share! Tell me everything that happened,’ Ino said excitedly.

Sakura laughed, her eyes widening slightly, ‘Nothing happened! What are you talking about…’ her words ended in a mutter as she looked down, blushing brightly at the idea. She couldn’t blame Ino for teasing, though. She WAS under the impression that Sakura was as into him as she always had been. And it’s not like she knew about Kakashi… Sigh, Kakashi… No! Think about something else…

Interrupting Sakura’s inner monologue, Ino laughingly admonished Sakura, ‘No need to be shy now! This is me you’re talking to! Were you making out or something? Is that why you’re blushing??’ Ino’s eyes sparkled as she continued teasing the girl.

Sakura’s eyes nearly popped out of her head! ‘No! We weren’t making out!’ she retorted, blushing hotly. Somehow, her mind had drifted to memories of making out with a certain silver-haired former sensei instead… ‘It’s not like that, really… Sasuke and I are just friends… He isn’t interested in me that way…’

‘That’s not what I saw!’ Ino continued to tease. ‘I saw the way he was looking at you… And I’m positive he was smiling at you… God knows that guy hasn’t said more than a few choice words and grunts to anybody, much less converse intimately like I saw him do…’ Her eyes twinkling, she mischievously added, ‘Plus I KNOW he hardly ever smiles at anybody the way he seemed to be smiling at you! I actually got a glimpse of teeth!’

Her absurd statement wrung a laugh out of Sakura. But inside, she couldn’t help the doubts from beginning again. Could he like her? But he was interested in somebody else wasn’t he? He couldn’t have meant her… Uneasily, she remembered the quiet statements, the smile in his eyes as he studied her, as if he knew something about her that she didn’t… But no, it wasn’t possible. ‘There’s nothing going on, Ino, let’s leave it at that,’ Sakura laughed. It just couldn’t be…

* * * * end of flashback * * * *

It just couldn’t be, Sakura repeated in her head. She would somehow keep herself busy for the rest of the day, and if Sasuke came, then she would be the most cordial hostess and the most amiable friend there ever was. She wouldn’t let a few suspicions get in the way of their friendship. Besides, there was probably nothing to them anyway. ‘Nothing at all…’

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Kakashi lay on his bed, his legs spread out, sheets twisted low around his hips, his arms folded behind his head. It was past noon, he guessed, but he didn’t feel like getting up to shower or do anything at all. He had busied himself with pretty relentless training for the past two days, pushing himself hard but he knew that he was just trying to push thoughts of a certain pink-haired kunoichi away from his mind. Not that it worked. And now, almost the last day of their holiday, he was prepared to stay in bed all day and not get up. Granted, he would probably get up and take a shower eventually and actually feed himself sometime during the day, but for now, he was content to remain right where he was. He had long given up trying to stop thinking about Sakura and now, he couldn’t help thinking about her smile, her laughing voice, her lips, her body…

Groaning, Kakashi turned over on his side as he made a futile effort to stop the memories of that afternoon from rushing through his hazed mind. But the images kept on coming. He could almost feel the warm softness of her lips moving against his. Pliant. Mind-blowing. He sighed, remembering the feel of her curves and that of her own hands running over his chest and back. What he wouldn’t give to have her next to him right now! Dress code would of course be…very informal, he thought with a low chuckle. He wasn’t going to push her into doing anything she wasn’t ready for, of course, but hell, he couldn’t stop his imagination! He hadn’t actually said so but, based on how hot they were for each other that other day, he probably wouldn’t be able to stop himself from taking it to the next level. If she was ready, of course. It was all he could do to drag himself off of her that afternoon! And that infamous dream didn’t help either, he thought wryly. Post that dream, every Sakura-oriented thought he had was superimposed with that particular footage. Complete with surround sound. And he could officially say his heart was involved in the whole messy deal. She only had to look at him with those green eyes and he would melt. Not exactly in keeping with his quietly dangerous rep, he thought with a sheepish grin.

He sighed heavily. He wondered what her answer would be. He said he wouldn’t try and sway her decision at all but he supposed hoping really hard that she would give him a chance wasn’t out of the question…

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When there had been a knock on the door earlier, Sakura had almost swooned in relief! She had been on the verge of pathetically wasting yet another day, albeit the last one, of this self-declared torture she was undergoing. She imagined she had been quite the sorry sight, sprawled upon the sofa, her insides screaming at her to go and be with Kakashi, wailing at the injustice of it all. She had resisted, though, and she liked to imagine that he would be quite proud of her. Still, resistance wasn’t exactly the best thing in the world to be left with when you were filled to the brim with overwhelming desire to be with your man but instead, was left all alone to entertain the thoughts dwelling in your head. So when the knock had resounded, Sakura had practically leaped off the sofa to answer it in relief, relishing the thought of any distraction possible. Anything!

It had been Sasuke, of course. She had half been expecting him anyway, although she was surprised he had come all this way to talk when he could easily be doing something better somewhere more convenient. Still, she wasn’t one to complain for fate’s small mercies. Putting all her pent-up frustrations into being a gracious hostess and friend, she had cheerfully shown Sasuke to her sofa, going through all the motions of taking care of his needs. He hadn’t wanted any refreshment, though, just conversation. Sakura could only comply.

They had conversed about trivial matters at first, the conversation flowing freely and smoothly towards more personal matters. They had again found themselves discussing Sasuke’s love life and his mystery woman. Now, the air was silent, expectant, waiting in anticipation for Sasuke’s answer to Sakura’s recently voiced question. “So, does she like you?” Sasuke pondered the answer to that question for a bit as he thought of what to say. He had masterfully led the conversation to this point with subtle statements and comments, hoping to recreate the light but loaded atmosphere of anticipation they had shared yesterday when he had been about to confess. Now, he had recaptured his courage and wanted to just tell her. He wanted to be with her as soon as was humanly possible. But he wanted to do this right. He wanted this moment to be perfect. Let there be as long a moment of anticipation as there needed to be as long as the outcome would be perfect. His dark eyes looked intensely into her sea-green ones, wide with their naked curiosity and expectations.

“Does she like me?” he echoed, his voice trailing. Sakura immediately laughed, saying, “Oh wait, that had to be a stupid question. Who wouldn't like you?” Her teasing statement wrung a laugh out of Sasuke. He was happy that the scenario was close to mimicking the way it had been yesterday; light and laughing but loaded with that punch of anticipation he needed to floor her with his confession. “Well, I don’t know…,” he began delicately, “I thought she did… I’m not sure if she still does…” His eyes met hers, almost pointedly, conveying a meaningful look that was designed to slowly introduce the thought in her mind that she was the woman in question. But Sakura had missed the look as her eyes widened in genuine disbelief at the idea that Sasuke couldn’t get who he wanted. Almost like a mother with her only son, Sasuke thought in irritation. That wasn’t what he wanted. He had hoped that the idea that she was the one would sink in, bringing that beautiful blush to her cheeks as she shyly tried to avoid his gaze, her heart fluttering. Instead, she had replied indignantly, “Of course she likes you! Trust me; I don’t think there’s anyone in Konoha who wouldn’t want to be yours!”

Could he take that to be an indication of her feelings for him, he thought, frowning slightly. If only he had a clear idea about how she felt about him now. It was hard to tell… She no longer acted like a lovesick teenager, dogging his steps with offers of dates, but then she no longer WAS a twelve-year old girl bent on winning him. You change with the times, don’t you? Maybe her shows of affection were subtler now as a woman. She no longer called him Sasuke-kun, but maybe it was because she wanted to actually wait for him to actually return some affection to her first? Again, he frowned. This was way more complicated than it had to be! Her voice interrupted his thoughts, bringing a smile to his face, “What’s with that frown? Haven’t I convinced you?” she teased. A reluctant laugh escaped his throat, the rich sound echoing intimately in the room. It was getting dark, he noticed. Almost sunset. Carefully phrasing his reply, he finally said, “So, say she does have feelings for me, what are you saying I should do?” He leveled his dark gaze on her, drinking in the sight of the beautiful porcelain-like features, her soft, pink lips, her large, dominating green eyes. Silently, he wondered, ‘Are you saying I should go for you?’ Of course she still loved him, right? That would never change, right? Wasn’t her heart still his?

Even as he thought so, he couldn’t catch any of her longing glances, he couldn’t hear any of the obvious yearning that had always accompanied her words. Instead, she was frowning in concentration, the tip of her tongue protruding slightly, wetting her lips. Uncomfortably, he felt the hot flash of desire streaking through him. Now, when he hadn’t even secured her yet! It wouldn’t exactly be pretty if he kissed her right now and she didn’t feel the same desire. The same love. He willed himself to focus on what she was going to say, willing himself to not give in to his feelings until he had said what he needed to say, at least. Sakura looked out the window, noting the first beginnings of muted orange painting the skies. It would be sunset soon. Somehow, the sunset reminded her of Kakashi, and the stolen afternoon they had shared right on this very sofa, brought to awareness only by the orange glow of the setting sun. Carefully, she said, “Well, if you know she likes you, and you know you’re DEFINITELY liking her…,” a small smile lit her features as she paused before continuing, “then you should tell her so you can be with her right away. Why waste the time you can be with her when you could easily be with her now. As we speak.”

In her mind, her own words whirled around like a tempest as she contemplated their meanings. Yeah. Kakashi liked, hopefully loved, her. And she definitely loved him. Why shouldn’t they be together now? She had had her miserable few days to consider this fully but there had been nothing whatsoever to consider. Who cared about what everyone would think? Who cared! The point was that she would be happy with him. And she would make him happy, she vowed. Screw it; it was practically three days anyway, she would go see him! She already knew her answer and she had never been sure of anything else. Turning to Sasuke, she smiled brilliantly, “You should tell her. Now, even. So you can start spending your time with her. If she loved you at all, she’ll be thrilled, trust me.” With a wink, she gave the silent Sasuke an impulsive kiss on the cheek. “Good luck,” she whispered in his ear, getting up. His spine tingled as he felt her warm breath run deliciously against his ear. All his nerve endings stood on end. He grabbed her hands, whispering hoarsely, “Wait, where are you going?” She was right. He should tell her. They should be together. He would tell her. She had to be feeling the same way he was. The same way she always had. She had to still love him like he now loved her. Why was she getting up…

An obviously happy grin wreathed her features as she squeezed his hands, gently extracting hers. In a regretful voice, she said to him, “I’m sorry, Sasuke… I just remembered, I have to be somewhere right now. Sorry… But remember what we talked about. Tell her… And good luck! Not that you need it.” With a laugh, she winked at him, her features still illuminated with that happy smile. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. She was supposed to still be on the sofa, mesmerized by their words, bated with anticipation, before he told her that the woman he loved was her. Not getting up and walking away. And…opening the door… And apologizing again… And... And calling out for him to lock the door behind him later! That wasn’t what was supposed to happen, his mind stubbornly repeated in shock. With a silent click, the front door closed, leaving him alone in the darkening room sheathed in orange shadows, stunned in silent reverie. And now she was gone.

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Her steps light and practically skipping, she quickly made her way to her destination. She felt happy, free. Her heart was singing, and all her frustrations were melting away. She couldn’t wait to see him. To be with him. Swiftly, surely, her steps led her to his doorstep. Her heart began thumping in her chest, steadily increasing its tempo. Her hands were a strange mixture of clammy and sweaty as she hesitantly wrung them together. Firmly, she raised an arm to the imposing wooden barricade. The last obstacle to her goal. To the object of her desires. Knock knock knock. The sound resonated in harmony with her beating heart. Would he be home? What would he think? Would he be glad to see her?

It felt like an eternity had passed before the sounds of feet shuffling and someone fiddling with the lock jolted her back to reality. Her twisted mass of turmoil bit of reality. Slowly, the door creaked open. Her downcast eyes noted the dark trousers the figure by the doorway wore. Her eyes slowly traveled up over his form, taking in the way the trousers slung low over his hips, his chest and torso bare to inspection. The orange glow of the setting sun danced over the hardened planes of muscle that constituted his superb upper body. He looked like a bronzed god. Unreal. She took in the strong column of neck and the handsome face highlighted by the sun’s dying rays. His silver hair glinted like fire, bangs flopping onto perfectly chiseled cheekbones. His heavy-lidded eyes took her in. Sakura swallowed the thickening lump of desire that slowly parched her throat. Her lips were suddenly dry.

Kakashi wasn’t prepared for the sight of the woman that had claimed all his thoughts for a while now. He had been used to denying himself of her for the past few days that it was hard to believe that she was really standing at his doorstep now, a day early. The brilliant red-orange backdrop was like a canvas for her, marking her outline as she stood there like a young goddess, wearing a silky-looking white dress with thin straps that draped over her curves, her pink locks tinged by the orange glow as she looked down, her cheeks flaming. He wished he could have a picture of her as she was now, he thought, his heart flipping, his blood roaring in his ears. She was here, he couldn’t believe it. Why? Had she come to tell him that she didn’t want to be with him, that it would be a mistake? Or…maybe…that she wanted to be with him? And she couldn’t wait… His throat dry, he hoped it was the latter. Slowly, the long fans of her eyelashes rose from the soft curves of her cheeks as she raised sea-green eyes to his mismatched ones. This was it. The moment of truth…

“I think your mask wasn’t enough to stop me from showing up on your doorstep,” her voice broke the silence, hesitant, husky. Her eyes were shining, expectant. Kakashi smiled at her quip, his own gaze filled with unconcealed longing, anticipation. His tongue slowly slid over his lips, wetting them. Unable to stop herself, Sakura traced a finger over the moist flesh, tracing the path his tongue had taken, her tongue wetting her own lips in reply. She felt the hot uncoiling of desire begin spreading through her. Delicious. Unstoppable. “Maybe I should try something else…,” came Kakashi’s whisper. Somehow, he couldn’t seem to speak… It was a wonder he had gotten the words out… “Maybe you should…,” Sakura echoed. Their eyes continued to meet, as if glued together by some unseen thread of electricity. Certainly, the air was thick with excitement, in addition to the building anticipation and their potent sexual chemistry. Her finger lowered from his now throbbing lips…over his chin…along his neck…over the hollow at its base…and finally, on to the silver kanji pendant that hung below, glittering brightly in the sunset. Kakashi remembered leaving Sakura’s apartment at exactly this time of day, and now she had shown up here at his. It was like he had left and she had sought him. And now, she was coming home. To him.

He swallowed. Her finger continued its slow ministrations, hooking the thin chain with its slender length. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” her voice thickened slightly as a husky whisper came. A slow smile spread over her face, “Weren’t you supposed to be thanking the buyer?” Damn, that smile was seductive. Sexy. Kakashi swallowed again as he remembered his teasing parting reply to her a few days before. Slowly retracting his steps back, he entered his leaving room, the fragile chain tugging her along with him. Inside, they stood in silence, in anticipation, eyes never leaving each other’s. Long, precious seconds passed. Then achingly slowly, he raised an arm over her head and closed the door shut behind them…

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A/N: Chp18 shd b out real real quick as i'm about halfway thru it now;) Tomorrow or the day after the latest. Promise!;p As always, pls R&R...