What the New Year Brings

Thank you to those of you who reviewed! It means a lot to me!

Subetesa from the KakaSaku site brought up a very valid question which I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, too. "So what's with 'The First' trend?"

Here was my reply:

If you remember in Ch. 10, in Japan the New Year means a celebration of firsts, from the first sunrise to the first time you laugh. It works perfectly for KakaSaku because it is also their first year as a couple, so I'm celebrating everything they do for the first time together.

Hope that clears things up. Anyway, AraelMoonChild from FanFiction then asked me, "Does that mean the sequel will be a year of seconds?" Hehe. We'll see...

Chapter 19-The First Time Kakashi Dares Sakura

Somehow, exploring the world and experiencing new things seems more special when you finally have someone to share it with.

When Sasuke left and then Naruto, I had to learn to become self-reliant. Being in Shishou's tutelage only reinforced that need. Tsunade, after all, is all about "girl power" and "girl power" entails being able to take care of yourself, knights in shining armor be damned! As a result, I have no qualms about doing things on my own. I live by myself, make my own money, go where I please, do as I please, and buy what I please. It's truly empowering, not needing anybody but myself. And yet for all my independence, I can't help but link my arm through Kakashi's now, lean my head against his shoulder, and feel so grateful for his companionship as we lazily walk through the castle grounds. For you see, there is something more empowering than independence and it's called love.

It's not just about the sky looking bluer, the grass looking greener, and the birds' songs sounding sweeter than ever. Finally being with someone you know you're meant to be with makes you forget what loneliness feels like, makes you wonder how you ever coped with it in the first place, and makes you wonder how you ever went through life without the person you're with now. We all need somebody whether they be friends, family, or lovers. It's what makes us human and makes us stronger than what we would be by ourselves.

After putting our packs away in our individual rooms and being fed a hearty lunch, Naruto, Yamato, Kakashi, and I each go our separate ways to explore the castle and its grounds. Well, that is to say that Naruto and Yamato each go one way while Kakashi and I go another way together. In fact, exploring the castle is becoming something of a second date for us.

Castles, especially those high up and isolated from the rest of the world down below, have to be self-sufficient. As a result, the castle is like a town in itself and as towns go, there's plenty to see and do. And what's the first thing to do when you're someplace spectacular and new? Go shopping!

You know you've got a good man in your hands when he's willing to humor you even when doing something as dreadful as shopping. Did you know males' heartrates actually increase when they're forced to go shopping with their female counterparts? Something about anxiety attacks. It's true. It was in a study. Anyway, Kakashi doesn't seem to be having any anxiety attacks. Truth is, he just seems to be enjoying our time spent together.

"You'd look cute in that." Kakashi says as he pauses in front of a store we were just about to pass by and slightly nods his head at its window display.

I direct my gaze at where he's looking and can't help but think: "Geez my boyfriend has good taste!" For hanging off the mannequin in the window is a pale pink, shimmering silk kimono with an intricate brocade pattern of cherry blossoms with a matching dark pink silk sash. It's stunning. And expensive. It's just one of those dresses you look at and think: "Yup, not gonna happen. Pretty though..."

So I can't help but choke when Kakashi says: "You should go in and try it on."

This is where you insert me choking.

"Kakashi, you gotta be kidding me! I couldn't even walk in that store without them giving me the 'Pretty Woman' treatment!"

"Pretty Woman Treatment? What's that?"

"Haven't you ever seen the movie 'Pretty Woman' with Julia Roberts?"

"Can't say I have."

"We'll she's this prostitute - Don't give me that look Kakashi! It's a Disney movie! - Anyway, so the man who, um, hires her gives her his credit card to buy anything she wants in Beverly Hills, only the store keepers take one look at her, snub her, and she ends up running home in tears. That'll be me Kakashi! I so much as open that door and show my face and I'll be snubbed!"

"Sakura, you've faced Akatsuki and Orochimaru himself and you're afraid of a snooty storekeeper?!"

"Yeah, well, homicidal maniacs are easier to deal with than high-class snobs. A blow to my body I can easily heal with my chakra. A blow to my dignity, not so much."

For some reason, Kakashi's eye sparkles down at me before he lowers his lips close to my ear and whispers:

"Pretend that they're Naruto and do to them whatever you'd do to him if they get out of line."

I wrap my hand around the back of his neck to pull him closer (God, he smells good!) and whisper back:

"I do that and I'll be sued for physical assault."

We slowly part, our lips and breaths inches from each other with his eye still sparkling down at me.

"Try the dress on, Sakura, and I'll buy it for you."

Again insert me choking.

"Now I know you're not serious! You won't even pick up your half of the bill when we go out to eat!"

"True, but I don't like seeing you act weak, Sakura, because I know that you're not. You don't get intimidated and you never back down. That's why I chose you and that's why I'll buy you that dress."

Then, Kakashi brings his face closer to mine until the distance between our lips is no longer inches, but mere centimeters.

"So..." he asks huskily, "What are you waiting for?"

For a second I'm breathless, completely dumbfounded as I stare at his masked lips so close to mine, but then I feel the anger rising up inside of me.

"Nothing! Just watch me!" I say with my eyes narrowed, then swiftly turn my back on him to tug the store's door open and storm inside.

Behind me, I vaguely hear Kakashi say: "That's my girl!"

Half an hour later, I've got a ridiculously expensive kimono that I'll probably never have an occasion to wear in a shopping bag hanging from my arm because like I said, even though independence empowers you, love empowers you even more.

To be continued...