Double Edged

Thank you to slinkymilinky and thatlittleredhead for the amazing fan art! You guys are amazing! And thank you to Omizu for stepping into a toga and playing muse for a day. You are one fantastic lady.

Also, my sincerest apologies to everyone who has been waiting so patiently for this chapter. For some reason, it just really did NOT want to be written. I'm not entirely happy with how it's turned out, but I'm sick of fighting with it. Thanks again to everyone for waiting!


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Song Reference: The Resistance
Artist: Muse
Lyrics: It could be wrong, could be wrong/But it should have been right/It could be wrong, could be wrong/Let our hearts ignite/It could be wrong, could be wrong/Are we digging a hole/It could be wrong, could be wrong/This is out of control.


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Most days, Sakura was very good at not watching the clock. Today though, it was all she could focus on.

The medical reports she was supposed to be sorting through had remained untouched for the last five minutes as she anxiously watched the second hand make its circuit. It was just her, Kotetsu and Izumo in the outer office, and for once the two of them were obediently hunched over their own work. She was grateful that they were too preoccupied to notice she wasn't working, and even more so that Tsunade's office door was closed. It was a mixed blessing though. She'd wanted to try and talk with her mentor about the bet before seeing Kakashi tonight, but the opportunity simply hadn't presented itself. If Tsunade wasn't busy holding meetings, Shizune was in there dropping stacks of paperwork on her desk. The hectic pace was definitely wearing on the Hokage's patience, and Sakura didn't want to push it further by interrupting with a personal matter.

Still, she'd hoped to have some sort of decision made before going over to Kakashi's for dinner … and possibly a bit more.

Sakura shivered and bit her lower lip as memories from the night before spun through her head again. Just thinking about the heat of his mouth and the firm, confident feel of his hands on her was enough to set her tingling with desire. She was glad she'd decided for a bra with thicker padding. Not only was it a vain attempt at creating more cleavage than she actually it, it also hid the fact that her nipples were tight. Her mind flashed to how it had felt to have his hand shoved down her top, which in turn made her fidget in her chair as heat started pooling in her lower stomach.

As soon as the clock hand clicked to five, Sakura grabbed the duffle bag under her desk and bolted for the door. "Bye, have a goodnight!" she called hastily over her shoulder as she left her coworkers blinking in surprise after her. It was rude of her, but she didn't have a moment to waste. Kakashi was going to be waiting for her outside.

She didn't bother trying to catch the elevator; a line was already starting to form outside the doors. Instead, she hurried down the stairs to the main floor of the administration building. Fortunately, today hadn't been a hospital day. Trying to scrape blood out from underneath her nails took forever and she didn't have time for a shower. She stepped out into the main hall and made her way quickly to the bathroom to try and beat the imminent rush.

Luck was with her today. As soon as she locked the only available stall behind her, the bathroom door pushed open and a crowd of women looking to freshen up came in. Sakura smirked at the irritated groans and mumblings from the waiting women as she pulled off her work gear and put on her date clothes. Tonight, she'd opted for something a bit more casual than what she usually wore out with Kakashi; just a simple white skirt with a red top. At the time she'd picked it out of her wardrobe, she'd thought it was cute, but now that she was slipping it on … maybe it was a bit too plain.

Well, it was too late now. She didn't have nearly enough time to run home and find something a little sexier. Letting out a resigned sigh, Sakura finished getting changed and opened the stall door, letting out a startled squawk as another woman practically shoved her out of the way. There were at least twenty other women crammed into the tiny bathroom, all of them waiting with varying degrees of irritation for others to finish up. Sakura sighed again and began squeezing her way out of the crowded space. So much for touching up her makeup.

She hurried out of the administration building, her heart beating excitedly as she took the steps two at a time. Her eyes swept over the people occupying the small courtyard in front of the building, searching for a familiar masked face.

It didn't take long for her to figure out that Kakashi wasn't there. Even though it didn't surprise her that he was running late, she still couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She'd been thinking about this moment all day: her rushing down the steps of the admin building with an artful breeze blowing her tresses, him waiting at the bottom with a warm look in his eye. And he would lean down so that their lips were almost touching and he'd whisper—

"Yo."

Sakura snapped out of her daydream and it took her a moment before she realized the greeting was coming from near her feet. Peering downward, her brow pinched when she saw who was staring up at her. "Pakkun? What are you doing here?"

"Kakashi sent me. Said to tell ya that he got tied up and asked me to show ya back to th' apartment."

"By tied up, do you mean figuratively or literally?" she asked. She couldn't imagine Kakashi allowing someone to string him up, but then one could never tell when it was him.

Pakkun blinked slowly and looked as if he might not answer her, but then he let out a snorting breath and said, "He was cookin' somethin' when I left. Smelled pretty good, too."

A warm sensation swept over her, prompting a smile to twitch at her lips. "He's cooking me dinner?" she repeated softly. He'd cooked for her before, but this was different. This was an actual dinner, not just glorified camping food. It was a very sweet thing for him to be cooking for her after a long day of work. Or maybe he just didn't want to risk her offering to cook for him again.

The pug gave his chin an idle scratch before flicking his tongue across his flat nose. "Who knows? He could be cookin' for me."

Sakura made a face and nudged him gently with her foot. "You shouldn't eat people food anyway. It's bad for you."

"If it's so bad, then why do people eat people food?" he returned drolly, wasting no time in jumping into her arms when she bent over to pick him up.

Laughing as she tucked the surprisingly heavy dog to her chest, she replied, "You know, that's a good point. I just hear Shizune saying that to Tonton a lot, so I thought maybe there was something in human food that wasn't good for animals."

Pakkun snorted against her shoulder and shifted himself into a more comfortable position in her arms. "Ever look at th' ingredients in pet food?"

"No." She'd never had a pet before, not even a fish. Her mom had said that between her studying, training, and helping out around the house, she didn't have time for an animal.

"Well, it's th' same stuff as people food, just dehydrated an' crunchier. It's got chicken an' beef an' what's s'posed to be veggies but probably ain't… Tastes kinda like those field ration packs ya get for missions."

Sakura wrinkled her nose. "Ew." The field rations were one step up the culinary ladder from suicide pills in her opinion.

"Yup," the pug agreed grimly. "Now imagine gettin' fed two bowls a' that stuff a day an' ya know why I'd rather eat people food."

She squeezed him a little closer to her chest and said, "I promise to make him give you leftovers."

"I ever tell ya you're my favorite human?"

"Even over Kakashi?" she giggled, giving his ear a good scratch.

Pakkun grunted and leaned into her ministrations eagerly. "Right now, yeah. Can ya scratch a little lower? There's a spot on my chin I can't – oh, yeah! That's th' spot. Hey, turn left here."

Sakura did as she was instructed, grinning when the dog's leg began to spasm. "Don't squirm too much or I might drop you."

"Can't help it. Feels good," he groaned.

He didn't protest when she rolled him onto his back, cradling him like a baby in her arms, to start in on his chest and stomach. "Are you gonna be able to give me directions still?" she teased as his eyes drifted closed.

"Just keep goin' straight until ya come to an old lookin' apartment building with a couple bars across th' street. It'll be on your right."

"How far?"

"'Bout four blocks."

She nodded, even though he couldn't see it, and continued on as directed. The entire time they walked, she continued rubbing his stomach, using just a tiny bit of chakra to relax him further. Pakkun was as limp as a rag doll in her arms, his jowls flapping back and his pink tongue poking out between uneven teeth as his head lolled across her arm. Passersby kept shooting the blissed-out dog concerned look, which made her snicker quietly.

It wasn't until Pakkun suddenly rolled upright and said, "This is it," that she looked at the area they were in … and immediately recognized the building he'd led her to.

She suspected it at dinner when Genma had mentioned plumbing repairs, but it was still a little surprising to know that she'd been just a few apartments away from Kakashi's last night.

The surrounding area was in one of the older portions of the village, as was evident by worn brick-and-woodwork adorning the buildings. Across the street, heavy bass music pounded from the dance club everyone had gone to last night. Attached to it was a seedy looking bar whose front door showed signs of being attacked recently; the metal bars that ran the length of the glass were irreparably bent.

Yet, despite the less than polished demeanor … it didn't feel unsafe. In fact, she'd almost go so far as to say it felt cozy, like a pair of well worn sweatpants. It was exactly the sort of place she could see Kakashi being drawn to.

Sakura opened the door to the main entrance, pausing just long enough to set Pakkun down. He trotted ahead of her, his claws clicking on the chipped tile floor with every step. She followed behind as he started climbing the stairs toward the top. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least to discover that not only did Kakashi live in the same building as Shizune and Genma but that he shared the same floor.

As it turned out, he didn't; he lived on the floor below them. She could just make out the muffled sound of music playing overhead from their apartment, as well as the occasional footsteps. A television blared from further down the hall and somewhere below a baby was screaming shrilly. The building obviously predated any soundproofing conditions.

Pakkun paused outside a door that looked to have been rather heavily abused over the years. The former tenant also appeared to have been an optimist; there was a faded sticker of a cartoon sun right underneath the peephole with the slogan 'have a sunshiny day' arcing over the top of it. Definitely not something Kakashi would have, unless it was meant to be a joke. More than likely, it'd been there since he moved in and he was just too lazy to scrub it off.

"Well, here we are. Home sweet home," the pug announced. "Guess I'll be goin' now. Nice seein' you again, Sakura-chan."

"You're not going to say goodbye to Kakashi?" she asked.

The small dog made a coughing sound and glanced away from her. "I would, but Kakashi said none of us were allowed over while you were here. An' he said it in that voice."

"What voice?"

"Th' one that means he won't let us sleep on th' bed an' couch if we don't listen. I like you, Sakura-chan, but I like havin' something soft to sleep on even better."

She wasn't sure she liked ranking lower than a piece of furniture, but she nodded anyway and bent down to give his head a final pat. "Alright, that's fine. See you later, Pakkun."

"G'night, Sakura-chan." A cloud of grayish blue smoke burst around her ankles and Pakkun disappeared.

Sakura watched the smoke curl and spread across the hallway for a moment as she focused on trying to remain calm. Try as she might, she couldn't help the feeling of excitement coursing through her. This was Kakashi's apartment. She was about to see his personal space.

And she was about to be alone with him in his personal space. No roommates coming home early. No dogs popping in. No interruptions. It would be just the two of them all night.

Part of her was giddy with anticipation and was more than happy to supply a few fantasies as to what they could do with their uninterrupted time together. Another part of her though was also rather nervous. This was the first time she would ever be alone with a man she was interested in. How far would they go? Was she ready if things did go all the way? She knew that if the moment came up and she decided she wasn't ready to take things there that Kakashi would respect her decision. Knowing that helped ease some of her trepidation, but it didn't cure it all.

There was also the fact that this would be the perfect opportunity to steal his books. She couldn't guarantee that she'd ever get a chance like this again. Maybe she should take advantage of it now, just in case this was a legitimate test from Tsunade, and then try to contrive a way of getting the books back to him at a later date.

But she couldn't do any of that standing outside the door. Sakura took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment before knocking on the door.

It felt like forever before the handle rattled and the door was actually lifted a bit before it swung open. As with every other time she'd seen Kakashi's bare face, her breath caught and a heady rush washed over her. His lips quirked at the corners, one side lifting slightly higher than the other, and she suddenly forgot how to speak.

It had to violate some law, whether natural or cosmic, to be that handsome. It just had to be.

Kakashi lifted a brow and glanced pointedly at the space between him and the doorframe. "You can come in, you know," he commented, a full out grin spreading across his lips when she blushed. A quiet snicker followed it as the blush deepened.

"I know," she muttered as she hurried by him, trying to ignore the brief brush of her shoulder against his. "But it's polite to wait for the host to invite you in."

"Ah. In that case, you're given blanket approval to enter my apartment whenever I open the door for you."

Sakura noted the careful way he'd phrased the permissive statement and tossed him a flirty smile. "Oh, so you don't want to come home one day and find me lounging on your sofa in a yukata?" she teased, giggling when his back stiffened.

"You, uh … noticed that, huh?" There was no mistaking the uncomfortable edge in his voice, but she was merciless. It was about time someone made him squirm a bit – and not in the good sense either.

"Oooh, yeah," she continued, her eyes scanning around his tiny apartment curiously. "I was afraid your eyes were gonna fall out of your face – which is why I offered to change. You can't be Sharingan Kakashi without a sharingan, now can you?"

"No, I don't suppose that's possible," he grunted. She jumped at the sound of the deadbolt grating into place and her heart jackhammered sharply in her chest. "But at least I wasn't drooling like a water buffalo."

Sakura whipped around at that, an indignant scowl on her face. "Are you comparing yourself to the water buffalo or me?" she demanded skeptically. With the way he phrased it, it was hard to tell. Typical Hatake Kakashi … always speaking in vagaries.

All she got in response was an inscrutable little smile as he walked into the kitchen. "Dinner won't be ready for another six minutes. Want something to drink?"

And, as was typical with him, he wasn't going to bother explaining what he meant either. Letting out a defeated sigh, Sakura shook her head and muttered, "I'm fine, thanks." A whiff of something delicious reached her nose, causing her to turn back toward the kitchen in interest. "Need a hand?"

"Nope, I've got it," he replied cheerfully. "Just sit down. Or stay standing. Whatever makes you comfortable."

She rolled her eyes and decided to poke around his apartment a little instead. Who knew when she would ever get an opportunity like this again?

His place was a lot smaller than Genma and Shizune's, consisting mostly of one central room with what appeared to be two much smaller ones attached. The main room served as three in one: living room, dining room, and kitchen. There was no wall to separate the kitchen from the sitting area, the dated tile giving way to carpet that was starting to show wear spots in the weaving. The coffee table showed a few water marks from where glasses had been set on it without any coasters and the couch actually looked like it doubled as a futon.

In terms of decorating, Kakashi's apartment was minimal at best. He didn't have any pictures hanging on the walls (not that he had any walls available; three were completely shrouded by bookcases), the windows were covered in nondescript blinds, and all the colors were muted and neutral. The only bits of finery were the sleek looking ninjato and tanto careful set on a rack in one of the bookcases, and even then she was certain they were more than just decorations. He wasn't the sort to have anything but fully functional weapons around the house, but she found it curious those two blades would be displayed like that.

"What are these?" she asked, moving closer to get a look at the weapons. The saya for each were simple but very elegant and contrasted each other perfectly. The ninjato had a darker case to it, made from a highly polished wood that wasn't quite black, whereas the smaller tanto was white with a faintly green undertone. There were no embellishments beyond the glossy veneer, save for the tsuba on the ninjato; she could just barely make out a swirling cloud motif in the worn silver.

"Ah … those are special," Kakashi answered from the kitchen.

There was a blandness to the words that made her glance it him. "I gathered that. Are they family heirlooms?"

"In a manner of speaking."

For some reason, it'd never really occurred to her that Kakashi might have family. Maybe it was just that before she'd gotten to know him he'd seemed so … untouchable. Or perhaps a better word was detached? Whatever it was, she'd never considered that he might have living relatives. Hatake was listed as a clan name in the Konoha records, and it took more than just one person to constitute a clan.

However … she could tell from his tone that this was an area he'd rather not talk about, so she set her questions aside and remarked, "They're very beautiful."

"Thank you." There was a subtle weight to his voice that said his thanks extended beyond the compliment.

A pleased flush colored her cheeks as she made her way over to the couch and took a seat, letting her bag drop to the floor. There was a shelf beneath the table that had stuff stacked on it and she leaned forward to investigate. Junk mail, unopened envelopes, unfiled mission reports, the occasional magazine … and all three Icha Icha books.

Her eyes nearly bugged from her head at the sight of those volumes stuffed in with the garbage. Sakura quickly looked up to see if Kakashi had noticed she was poking around and let out a relieved breath when she saw he was too preoccupied with the rice cooker.

This was it. This was her chance to snatch the books from him and seal the deal. Her bag was right there; she could stick them inside and he'd be none the wiser.

She reached out slowly but stopped just as her fingers brushed the binding of the first one. Sakura licked her lips as her heart and brain warred with each other. She would be beyond foolish not to take advantage of such a perfect moment, and if she didn't act quickly there was a chance Kakashi would find her out. But when she thought about how much of a betrayal of trust this was … how it would ultimately hurt him … she couldn't quite bring herself to do it. Besides, she hadn't spoken with Tsunade yet. It could wait.

Then again, maybe it couldn't. There was guarantee that she would ever have an opportunity like this again. It would be best to take them now and try to return them at a later date than pass up what could be her only chance. Her hand closed around the first book and pulled it free.

"So, why did you do it?" she queried, speaking in order to cover up the sound of her bag rustling as well as to keep him from getting suspicious. One by one, she snuck the books into her bag, ignoring how damp her palms had gotten in the process. Now all she had to do was henge a few bills to look like the books and he wouldn't notice a thing.

"I do a lot of things, Sakura. You're going to have to be more specific," he answered as he opened the stove and pulled out a small baking dish. She quickly formed the seals, pausing on the last one so as to time the popping sound of the jutsu taking affect with the bang of the oven closing. The door closed, her fingers moved … and suddenly a small selection of magazines took on the shape of the Icha Icha series.

Sakura stole another glance at the kitchen and relief swept over her when she saw that Kakashi was busy setting up the plates. She let out the breath she'd been holding for what felt like forever and flexed her trembling fingers a few times to try and steady them.

She'd done it. She'd not only achieved her mission but she'd also successfully pulled one over on the infamous Copy Ninja. It was so amazing that she hardly dared to believe it. She, Haruno Sakura, had just stolen Hatake Kakashi's prized Icha Icha books from right under his very nose. It was something any ninja would be proud of, and yet….

And yet all she felt was guilt.

Well, it wasn't like she had much of a choice, right? Failing one of Tsunade's tests would be beyond embarrassing. Besides, she didn't even know if she was going to hand the books over. It was stupid to feel guilty when, technically, she hadn't done anything wrong yet. But if she didn't get control of herself right now, Kakashi was bound to notice something was wrong and become suspicious. She had to get a grip.

Sakura breathed in deeply and released it slowly. She repeated the pattern a few times until her heart began to steady out and her hands weren't quaking as badly. By the time Kakashi came into the living room with the plates, she was sitting on the couch as if nothing had happened.

"Why did you let Ino see your face last night?" she clarified, smiling as she took the plate he handed to her. At the time it'd happened she hadn't thought anything of it, but as she'd replayed the evening prior in her head over and over throughout the day, she'd realized he could have very easily prevented it from happening.

Kakashi gave an embarrassed chuckle as he sat down next to her. His thigh brushed hers in the process, causing her to shiver. "You noticed that too, did you? You're very observant."

"Thank you. Now tell me why."

"Misdirection."

"Huh?"

"When you don't want someone to notice something, you redirect their attention elsewhere," he explained.

Her brow pinched in confusion. "But that doesn't make sense. What didn't you want Ino to – oh."

Even without the pointed glance he shot her way, she knew exactly what he'd been trying to hide: a very noticeable erection. Heat flared across her face and she had to duck her gaze from his. "You couldn't have, um … used a transport jutsu?" she asked, clearing her throat when the words came out raspy.

Kakashi took a bite of food and shook his head. "No good," he said around a mouthful of rice and chicken. "She already knew I was there, so making a quick escape would have looked suspicious."

Sakura nodded and picked up her chopsticks. "That makes sense, I guess," she agreed as she popped a piece of chicken in her mouth. "It was the first time that Pig was at a … loss … this is really good!"

He arched a brow at her as she quickly took another bite. "Don't sound so surprised. I can cook when the mood hits me."

"Yeah, but there's a difference between cooking to survive and cooking like this. Wow … what is it?"

A happy smile came to his features, one she knew from past experience was blatantly false. "I'm so glad you asked. It's lemongrass chicken."

Sakura stopped with her next bite halfway to her parted lips and gave him a sour glare. That was the same dish she'd tried (and failed) to make for him a while back. "Haha, so funny," she said sarcastically, ignoring his quiet chuckle. "You've been waiting to do this for a while now, haven't you?"

"Maybe. It sounded tasty."

She sighed dismally at her plate of very delicious food. "Too bad it didn't turn out that way though."

"If it makes you feel any better … it wasn't your fault."

She peered at him suspiciously, her fingers tightening on the chopsticks. "Oh?"

Kakashi cleared his throat lightly and avoided her gaze. "There's a very good chance that while you were preoccupied, my hand might have accidentally turned up the heat on your oven."

Sakura's jaw dropped – as did her chopsticks. Fortunately, he was quick enough to catch them before they hit the floor. When he handed them back to her, she made no move to accept them. She was too busy gaping at him in astonishment.

Sighing heavily, Kakashi set the chopsticks on the edge of her plate and said, "The dress sounded too good to be true."

Maybe the shock that she very well might have pulled off the perfect dinner until he interfered was still pounding her brain, but it sounded like he… "I'm sorry, but are you saying that you sabotaged my dinner – one I'd been making in an attempt to impress you – just to get me in a dress you would have seen eventually?"

Okay, so the last part was a lie. Never in a million years would she have worn only a shirt in public if she'd had a choice. But desperate times called for desperate matters. He just didn't need to know that.

He gave the barest of squirms and a smile tugged at her lips when she noticed the faintest trace of color to his cheeks. "Maybe," he admitted slowly.

'Maybe' in Hatake-nese was as good as a 'yes' from a more normal person. Sakura flopped back against the couch, her lips parting in surprise at his little admission, and shook her head. She didn't know if she wanted to shove him over the back of the couch or down onto it so she could kiss him silent.

He seemed to sense her indecision over his physical wellbeing because he took the chance to edge closer to her. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and pretended the way his fingers were combing through her hair didn't feel so nice. "There's still some chicken left in the pan, if you want retribution," he offered, feigning a solicitous mien.

Sakura quickly bit back the smile that was threatening to break loose, but she couldn't quite keep the amusement from her voice as she muttered, "What, stick it back in the oven and crank it up really high?"

She was done for when he beamed at her, his eyes creasing cheerfully. It was a completely different expression without the mask, one she couldn't help reciprocating. "If that'll make you feel better, then yes."

Wrinkling her nose, she shook her head. "No, that's okay. It'd be a shame to waste good food." And to demonstrate her good faith, she took another bite and gave an exaggerated moan to show how good it was, which earned a quiet chuckle from him.

"You're so strange," he teased, giving her hair a light ruffle before returning to his own dinner.

"You've no right to accuse anyone of being strange," she retorted, though the words were muffled around a chunk of chicken. "You almost burnt down my kitchen."

"Hm? Sorry, I couldn't understand you."

Sakura snickered and gave his side a playful nudge. "You're strange and a jerk."

Kakashi glanced at her before remarking dryly, "You have such a sweet tongue."

"Well, you certainly don't seem to mind it," she shot back, flashing him a wide grin. This was probably the thing she was going to miss the most: sitting with him, exchanging friendly banter while enjoying his company. It made her heart ache to think it would all end once she turned those books in.

All thoughts about the future ceased to exist when he looked at her fully. The heat she'd seen before was back in his eye, darkening the color to the hue of wet slate. Her breath caught at the spark she now knew was desire that flickered through his gaze as he replied softly, "No, I don't mind at all."

The minute she realized the other implication behind his words, her cheeks flared up brightly and she turned away. "Pervert," she mumbled while fighting down the warmth that was trying to thread its way through her body. "It's the lip gloss."

Kakashi shrugged indifferently, but there was a quirk to his lips that suggested he was anything but. "Maybe you're right. Maybe you're not sweet at all."

She pouted and pointed her chopsticks at him like she meant to pinch him any minute. "Better watch it. I could really ruin your reputation of being a hard ass if I wanted to."

"Of course, I don't really subscribe to that theory," he corrected quickly, much to her amusement. She laughed, which in turn brought out a smile from him.

They finished dinner in relative peace, with only the occasional teasing comment or idle question to break the routine. It was probably one of the most pleasant evenings Sakura had ever had. Kakashi, when he wasn't picking on her, had a very relaxing aura to him that made being with him enjoyable. He didn't let many people in, and she couldn't help but to feel more than a little pleased that he was comfortable enough around her to allow this.

But all of that would be lost if she handed in those books.

Sakura quickly pushed that thought to the back of her mind. It was depressing and she didn't want Kakashi catching on that something was wrong. She smiled when he reached to take her empty plate. "So you cook dinner and you do the dishes? Who knew Copy Ninja Kakashi was so domesticated?" she teased, grinning when he cocked a brow in her direction.

Only quick reflexes and an easy toss from him saved her from catching a towel to the face. Sakura glowered from Kakashi to the cloth and back again.

"And for that, you get to help dry and put away," he replied cheerfully.

"It's rude making your guests do the housework."

"Then consider this my present." Kakashi was too preoccupied filling the sink to notice she was gaping slack-jawed at his back.

"What present? I don't owe you a present!" she demanded, even as she stood up and went into the tiny kitchen area anyway. Sakura stood by as he pulled down a small straining rack that had been fixed to the wall before rolling back his sleeves and plunging his hands into the soapy water.

"Didn't you say it's polite to bring a present when going over to someone else's house?"

Oh, that. Sakura rolled her eyes and said, "That doesn't apply to you. It's only when you're going over to someone's house for dinner."

Kakashi gave a pointed look to the plates he was scrubbing.

"And if it's a friend's house," she amended. She still began drying off the dishes as they came up, setting them aside on what little counter space there was for the time being.

"Oh, I see," he drawled, nodding his head slowly. "I'm not a friend." He paused in the middle of swiping a pot clean, his eye narrowing thoughtfully. "Actually, that hurts my feelings. How come I'm not a friend?"

Sakura let out an irritated huff. "Because you're not, okay?"

"Then what am I?"

"You're—" She cut herself off quickly before the word 'boyfriend' could leave her lips.

Kakashi arched a brow as he shut off the sink. "I'm … what?" he pressed, taking the towel from her to dry his hands.

"You know," she mumbled, trying not to notice that they were standing much closer than was absolutely necessary for cleaning dishes. She couldn't quite get her eyes to rise above his kneecaps and her cheeks were burning hot as she shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other.

He braced a hand along the edge of the sink, the other one coming to rest on his hip as he took a half step closer. "No, I don't," he insisted, his voice adopting the firm tone she was used to hearing as a genin in his charge. "What am I, Sakura?"

She was about to tell him he was being an ignorant jerk, but just as her lips parted to deliver the blow she met his gaze … and what she saw knocked the words right out of her.

It wasn't so much something that he was revealing as it was something he was holding back. His eye had that careful, disinterested look in it that she recognized now as one of many defense mechanisms he'd built up over the years. He was trying to hide his thoughts from her, which said that her answer probably had more importance than he wanted to let on. It took her a few seconds longer of repeating his question over and over in her head before she realized what was underneath.

What am I to you, Sakura? – That was what he'd really asked. He was asking, without directly doing so, what their status was. It was sweet and touching and made her warm all over, and it was too much for her to resist.

To hell with waiting until she spoke with Tsunade; she was with Kakashi now.

Keeping her eyes opened and locked on his, Sakura stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips softly across his. He remained still, but there was a slight hitch in his breath that spoke volumes. She drew back, just enough so she could whisper, "You know," before pressing her mouth to his again.

It took a few more pecks before he responded to her, tilting his head for a better angle as he slid a hand along the curving of her side and hip. Sakura moved closer when he tugged, slipping an arm around his neck and pressing herself to the firm warmth of his body. She sucked his lower lip between her teeth, heard him moan softly as she released it. The moan came again a split second later as she stroked the tip of her tongue over his lips and shortly after that his mouth opened, allowing her tongue to slip inside and tap his lightly.

His arms were suddenly around her, pulling her tightly to him as his hands roamed across her back and hips. Sakura groaned into his mouth, arching upward to rub herself against his chest. She locked both arms around his neck, using his strong frame as leverage to pull herself closer. He took it one step further by bending slightly so as to grip her rear and lift her off the ground.

The edge of the narrow counter hit the back of her thighs as he sat her down, his hands running up and down her spread legs firmly as the kiss became more heated. Her head whacked into one of the cabinets hard, causing their teeth to click, but otherwise it did little to disrupt them. She broke away from his lips and began kissing her way along his jaw, shivering at the roughness of facial stubble across her mouth. Kakashi sucked in a sharp, hissing breath when she gave his earlobe a light nip and tilted his head back to give her better access to his throat.

Sakura obliged, tugging the high collar of his shirt down with one hand so as to get to his flesh. His skin was soft beneath her lips, and the feel of his pulse pounding against her tongue made the throbbing between her legs intensify. She wanted more of his skin – to taste and touch more of him. Her hands slid down his chest and his joined as she began pulling his shirt up. The kiss broke as he pulled the dark fabric over his head and let it fall to the floor of the kitchen, but then his mouth was back on hers and moving insistently.

The minute her palms met his bare chest, she drew back in awe. Her eyes drifted lower, watching her fingers explore his flesh. If possible, he was even more beautiful without clothing. His skin was pale and smooth, sleek in the way it contoured his muscles. The only breaks to that perfection were the faint dusting of hair and the occasional scar. One in particular fascinated her, curving across his side and just barely skirting around his belly button. Her mouth went dry as her gaze roved lower, following the thin line of hair that disappeared beneath his pants.

Last night, she'd thought he was big. But in the dim light of the kitchen, that bulge in the front of his pants almost seemed too big.

"Sakura?"

She looked up at the sound of her name and smiled when she noted the concerned knit to his brow. As if to further demonstrate that there was absolutely nothing wrong, she hooked her fingers in the waistband of his pants and pulled him toward her until their hips were flush together. He gasped, his fingers flexing hard against her thighs, as their bodies made intimate contact. His eyes closed tightly and she took advantage of his parted lips to kiss him again.

Kakashi groaned unrestrained as he lifted her legs higher, wrapping them around his waist. Her head hit the cabinet again as he forced her back, a gasp breaking from her lips when he ducked his head and began laying hot, heavy kisses all along her neck. He rocked his hips into hers and the resulting friction left her clinging breathlessly to his shoulders. Spots ate at her vision and the pleasure was so intense that it took over, made her meet his thrusts eagerly. She panted in his ear, murmured words she couldn't decipher, and quickly planted a hand behind herself when he adjusted the angle of her hips on the counter.

Unfortunately, her hand knocked into the dishes she'd set aside and sent them falling to the floor.

Glass shattered, startling both of them. Sakura's eyes widened in horror at the jumbled shards and she quickly slid forward to get down, but Kakashi didn't budge. His lack of movement made her hips press even tighter to his, causing her to freeze as her mouth fell open in a silent gasp of pleasure. The heat between her legs flared hotter and for a moment it was all she could do to draw a breath. Her eyes squeezed shut and her entire body trembled with barely controlled need.

She felt his breath warm the side of her neck as his hands tightened on her thighs, holding her in place as he ground himself against her again. "Leave it," he insisted, his voice deeper than she was used to and a little ragged sound.

It took her a couple tries before she was able to lick her dry lips and whisper, "But, Kakashi – ah!"

Words and thoughts that they should clean up the mess ceased to exist when his mouth attacked her throat once more. Sakura tipped her head back, arching her neck as her fingers tangled in his hair, trying to drag him impossibly closer. She rocked her hips into his again, matching his rhythm, and gave in to the raging pleasure he turned loose on her. Her hands scrabbled across his back, her nails biting into his slick skin as she curled herself around him, smothering her panting gasps into his shoulder.

Kakashi's hands moved up her thighs, one slipping beneath her skirt while the other roamed higher to slip beneath the hem of her shirt. She felt the rough pads of his fingers brush up her side, across her ribs … and then he was cupping her breast in his palm, kneading her flesh in such a way that it made her jerk hard against him.

His lips closed over her earlobe, followed by a slight nip of his teeth and his voice murmuring, "What do you want?"

Some of the haziness cleared from her mind at the question, but it was still difficult to think clearly when he was pressing soft kisses to her jaw and lips and with his hand still massaging her breast. It was a good question: what did she want? She knew what her body wanted, but what about her head? And, more importantly, her heart?

"You already know the answer to that. Why else did you come here?" a voice inside her head demanded impatiently.

Sakura's eyes opened slowly. That was a good point. If she'd truly been uncertain, then she wouldn't have agreed to coming over. She would have suggested they go out or maybe that he come over to her place instead. As much as her brain argued with her that this wasn't right … her heart was much stronger. And it reminded her that she wanted him – just as she had the night before.

She pushed away from him, just enough to meet his gaze. Kakashi wasn't trying to hide anything from her; the need burning through his eyes was more than evident and echoed in the hot, shaking breaths that fanned across her lips. She dusted her lips across his, too light to be called a kiss, and whispered into his mouth, "I want you."

Kakashi groaned brokenly and moved to kiss her full on, but she quickly cupped a hand to his jaw, stopping him short.

"But not in the kitchen."

His eyes widened.

Smiling at his reaction, Sakura nudged his hip with her knee. "Care to move?"

He took a step back, though his expression said he was still numb with shock. Sakura slid down off the counter, being mindful of the broken glass near her bare feet, and moved the hand he still had under her shirt down so that it fit the curve of her waist. She leaned forward, watching him the entire time, and placed a gentle kiss to his sternum. Another one followed a little higher, right below his clavicle, and then another in the hollow above.

By the time she was kissing her way along his shoulder, he was focused again on what they were doing. His hands caressed slowly up and down her back, his fingers catching teasingly in the strap to her bra, as he turned his face toward hers for a kiss.

This time when their mouths met, it was different. The need was still there, but the play of his lips on hers was softer, more lingering. He'd never kissed her like that before, and it did more to warm her insides than all the hard, passionate kisses from before. Their breaths mingled, his sigh blending with her quiet moan as their hands continued exploring the other in slow, long strokes. She traced her fingers over scar lines and muscles, he ran a thumb along her hip bone languidly. She ran her palms up his chest until her nails grazed over his flat nipples, he let his hand slip down beneath her skirt to tease the hem of her panties.

"Say it again," he murmured against her mouth as she began walking them backward out of the kitchen.

She smiled as he took hold of hips to guide her, and it widened when he kissed the corner of her mouth sweetly. "I want you," she repeated, and maybe it was just her but the words sounded more confident the second time around.

They were in the tiny living room again and moving toward one of the doors she'd noticed earlier. Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a deeper kiss. His tongue flicked along her lips lightly before slipping between to caress hers. The rhythm was slow, sensual, but she knew it wouldn't stay that way for very long; she could practically taste the impatience on his tongue as it stroked hotly against hers.

Sakura placed a hand to his chest, stopping him just as he pushed the door open on the darkened room. Cool air hit her back, causing her skin to prickle in response. Kakashi stopped, withdrawing to give her a questioning look. "What about you?" she asked. "What do you want?"

There wasn't so much as a split second of hesitation between the time she finished asking and when he answered, "I want you."

She bit her lower lip to keep from smiling and caressed his chest. "Say it again."

Kakashi snorted and shook his head, but a little lopsided smile tugged at his lips and he did as she requested anyway. "I want you."

Her grin was swallowed up by another, more heated kiss as she finally let her hand slip down to his hip. She backed into the room, and he was right with her. There was a soft click and then the shadows faded under the dull glow of a single, heavily tinted light bulb. It was far from the atmospheric lighting she'd always imagined for her first time, but then again nothing about this was quite how she'd envisioned it – especially not the man.

The kiss remained uninterrupted as she backed toward the narrow bed situated beneath the room's only window. Everything was stained a yellow-brown color from the light, giving it a dingy appearance. The space was barely big enough for what little was in there plus the two of them, but it hardly mattered at all when he was kissing her so deliciously.

He stopped her just as the back of her knees met the mattress and pulled away from the kiss to give her a long look. The heat in his gaze was indescribable, but there was still a trace of control to him that made itself known in the careful caress of his hands across her back.

"How far?" he asked, even as he gripped her rear to pull her closer.

Sakura's answer was to pull her shirt up and off, tossing it onto the worn floorboards. She couldn't help the blush that tinted her cheeks, even if she was the one to initiate such a bold action. This was the first time she'd ever been shirtless in front of a man … and she was beginning to wish she'd chosen another bra besides the white with pink ribbon trim.

If Kakashi thought her choice in lingerie was a bit juvenile, it didn't show. He was staring very fixedly at her chest, his eyes following every intake and release of breath that she took eagerly. Feeling emboldened by his obvious appreciation, she took one of his wrists and used it to gently steer his hand upward across her ribs until he was cupping her breast once again. She bit her lower lip to keep from moaning at the press of his palm, the simple cotton fabric serving to further stimulate her sensitive flesh.

As with his answer to her earlier, there wasn't a trace of hesitation in him as he stroked his thumb over her nipple, drawing a gasp from her as electric-like sensations seared through her. She closed her eyes, shivering as he repeated the movement again. It was so strange … she'd touched herself just like this the night before, but it didn't feel nearly as good as it did right now. Maybe all that porn he read had absorbed into his skin and was being released – like pheromones or something.

Her eyes opened languidly when his fingers moved upward, following the curve of her bra to the pink strap. He plucked at it questioningly, and in response she reached behind and undid the clasp with shaking fingers. She heard him groan when the garment loosened and slid down her arms, catching at her elbows briefly before she shook it loose. It was a little chilly in his room, which made her pale pink nipples tighten further.

She pressed herself to him eagerly, her arms looping around his neck in order to mould herself more firmly to his front. A small hum of pleasure escaped her at the feel of his body against hers: the firm play of muscle, the soft give of flesh, the courser texture of hair, the hard, hot feel of his erection against her stomach. It made her insides flutter with excitement, sent a needing pulse between her legs.

Sakura leaned up and kissed him before she sat back onto the bed, smiling up at him. She caught his hand in hers and scooted backward across the lumpy mattress in what she hoped was with sensual grace. The effect was ruined, however, by the unexpected dip in the foam and the sharp prick of a spring poking into her hip.

"Ouch," she hissed, jerking away from the area.

Kakashi quickly reached beyond her for a pillow and stuffed it in the dent. "Sorry. I need a new mattress," he mumbled, a touch of color darkening his cheeks.

She smiled as she cautiously tested out his patch job and said, "It's okay." And it was okay, at least for now. The pillow protected her from getting scratched up, though it didn't do much to make the bed more comfortable. But for now it was the least of her concerns.

Her arms circled his neck as he ventured closer, wedging one knee between her legs. Sakura gasped and quickly bit back what would have been a loud moan when his chest met hers. The feel of warm, soft skin against her own was exquisite, and the rougher feel of his hair brushing across her sensitive nipples set fire to her nerves. There was a moment where all they did was stay like that, eyes locked and lips just the barest of breaths away … and then his knee pressed up against her sex.

Sakura let out a startled cry and it didn't take long for her body to catch the rhythm he was setting. His breaths came in ragged pants with the occasional moan mingled in as their hips rolled and rocked together. She clung to him tightly, her gasps and cries smothered against his neck as she squeezed her eyes shut. Her nails dug into his back and shoulders as his hands roamed across her body in firm movements.

Everything he did felt so amazing, left her reeling with delight and anxious for more. There was no room for doubt or uncertainty, not he could make her feel this good. Things like 'consequences' were completely drowned out under the insurmountable pleasure whipping through her. His mouth was on her neck again, alternating between hard kisses and gentler laps of his tongue as he moved steadily lower. He sucked at her pulse, ran his tongue across her clavicle, his hands forcing her back into an arch as he went lower still.

The minute his mouth closed over a stiff nipple, Sakura cried out sharply, one hand flailing across the mattress over her head until it met the old metal bed frame. Her fingers quickly closed over it, holding on for dear life. Every swirl of his hot tongue across her skin, every sharp nip of his teeth, every gentle suck left her aching for the next. Her hips ground faster and harder against his, her fingers slipping along his sweat-slicked shoulders as she struggled to hold on. He released her nipple so as to give the other the same treatment, and the sudden rush of cold air across her wet flesh counteracted pleasurably to the heat of his mouth.

Kakashi gave her skirt a tug, groaning irritably around the nub of flesh between his lips when it wouldn't budge. He tried again, and when it still wouldn't move his eyes opened and he started to pull back. Sakura gasped and quickly threaded her fingers through his hair to keep him in place.

"There's a side zipper," she whispered, her voice throatier than she was used to hearing. And, just because she didn't trust him not to just tear the skirt off, she undid it herself.

The fabric was quickly kicked down around her ankles and his hands immediately fell to her thighs, stroking up and down her flesh repeatedly. Sakura moaned heavily, her head falling back as her eyes closed again. His hands felt so good on her skin. He wasn't even really touching her yet and already she could feel the tightness inside her preparing to release.

And then one hand slipped between their bodies to cup her sex.

Sakura's entire body jerked and her mouth fell open in a silent cry. His fingers stroked along the seam of her panties again and if he hadn't been kissing her she was certain his neighbors would have heard her. Kakashi's tongue thrust between her lips over and over again, matching the movement of his fingers between her legs. His other hand massaged her breasts, switching between the two to roll and pinch her nipples in such a way that she felt it between her legs.

The pressure was building inside her, more swiftly and more intensely than last night. Her breaths puffed across his shoulder as she arched her back, pressing herself closer to his chest. His name fell from her lips, getting lost in the steady moans, sighs, and whimpers he drew from her. Pleasure lanced through her sharply with every stroke of his fingers against her … but it wasn't enough to send her over the edge.

Without any thought beyond relieving the aching pressure, Sakura panted in his ear, "Please … I need more."

Something pulled across her hips, biting hard into her skin. It felt a little like rope burn actually, and it wasn't until she heard something tear and felt the cold rush of air across her bare sex that she realized he'd just ripped her panties off.

An angry scowl twisted her lips as she smacked him on the back of the head.

"Ow!"

"You could have just pulled them down, jerk," she grumbled, despite the fact her body was quivering with need. She wanted him to keep touching her, not rubbing his head like she'd clubbed him with a crowbar. It wasn't that hard a blow.

He placed a soothing kiss to the corner of her mouth as his hands finally returned to touching her. She moaned, turning her mouth into his as his palms fit along the curve of her rear. "I'll make it up to you," he muttered against her lips.

At first she thought he meant he was going to buy her a new pair of panties, and the idea of him purchasing underwear for her made her cheeks flare hotly. But when he braced his hands on the insides of her thighs and spread them wide enough to accommodate his hips, she realized exactly how he planned to make it up to her. The blush darkened and spread further down her neck, but a hard pulse of need throbbed through her sex at the idea.

Kakashi very slowly settled himself between her spread legs, his eyes on her the entire time – watching her breasts rise and fall, watching her tongue lick across suddenly dry lips. He lowered himself down onto his forearms and her hands went to his shoulders, noting the tremor in his tightly corded muscles. He wasn't as in control as she'd thought he was, and the knowledge that she was the reason behind that spiked the passion higher.

But he was still wearing too much clothing for her taste.

Sakura leaned up and claimed his lips, swallowing the deep groan that vibrated through his chest, and slipped a hand between their bodies just as he rolled his hips into hers. Both of them broke apart with startled gasps when the movement ground her hand against their sexes. She shivered at the feel of her knuckles rubbing her clitoris and felt an answering shudder in him as his erection was forced into her palm. His eyes were glinting darkly in the dim lighting and were so filled with want that she had to look away. It was such a raw, naked emotion from someone who was normally so composed that it felt like a violation to witness it.

She licked her lips again before requesting hoarsely, "Um… Can you just … move back a little? I want … I'm trying to…."

Fortunately, Kakashi understood what she was attempting to say and lifted himself up just enough for her to reach his fly. Her fingers fumbled as she tried to undo the catch, equal parts nervous and eager, but he didn't try to help speed the process along. He let her do it and she was grateful for that. When she finally managed to get the zipper down, she wasted no time in slipping her hand inside.

She'd barely closed her hand around him, touching him through the soft cotton of his boxers, but he reacted as if she'd done much more. A sharp, quickly bitten off cry tore from his lips and his eyes squeezed shut tightly as if in pain. His hips jerked roughly, forcing her fingers to slide down his hot length. Sakura swallowed hard at the weight and feel of him in her hand and, remembering how he'd adjusted her grip last night, tightened her hold on him. She didn't need to do more than that; he was moving enough to do the rest.

He fell forward on top of her, his mouth kissing anywhere that he could reach: her shoulder, her neck, her jaw, her chin. Every intake was punctuated by another desperate groan as he skimmed a hand down the length of her body, pausing only once to pinch her nipple sharply. Sakura arched off the bed, rubbing her thigh over his hip. She was panting steadily now, as turned on by the feel of him pushing against her hand as she'd been by him touching her.

It was amazing to watch him come undone, to witness him surrendering to emotion. She loved feeling the desperation in his kiss, the demanding thrust of his hips, the careful caress of his fingers along her thigh. She loved the overwhelming need that insisted she push his boxers out of the way, that made her sink nails into his shoulder as he stroked along her bare sex, rubbing purposefully against her clitoris. Heat and desire burned through her entire body, almost too much to bear but too good to quit.

Kakashi stopped suddenly, pushing up onto his knees so that he was staring down at her. She fell back onto the mattress with a disappointed whine, shivering as he glided his hands up and down her thighs in slow, soothing movements.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice sounding a little strained. "We can stop here if you want."

As touching as his offer was, that wasn't what she wanted – and neither did he, judging by the way he was looking at her. It was as if she were the only thing that mattered to him right then, as if she was all he needed. If she hadn't been certain that this was what she wanted before, she was now.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Sakura pushed his pants down further, took his erection in hand, and squeezed. Kakashi's fingers flexed hard against her thighs as his hips lifted into her pumping fist.

"O-Or, we can keep doing this," he panted before his mouth fell open in wonder.

It was a little awkward at first, but the more he moaned and pushed against her hand, the more confident she became. She pushed herself up onto one elbow, her eyes immediately falling to the hard, flushed member she was stroking. Working at a hospital, she'd of course seen a few penises before, but this was the first time she'd ever held one outside of medical necessity.

She took her time exploring him, curious despite her inexperienced insecurities, and watched him closely for a response. Every time her hand slid up his shaft, he'd suck in a quick breath. Each squeeze of her fingers around his base produced a pleasured grimace, each little twist made his fingers press harder into her thighs. When her thumb brushed over the wider head, smearing through the thick fluid pearling at the tip, his head snapped back with a ragged gasp. She repeated the movement again, and this time she could actually feel his member pulse between her fingers.

The way his abdomen contracted with each thrust, the way the dull light played across his slick skin, the soft sounds he tried to control … all of it was affecting her in a very wonderful way. She never would have thought she'd become so aroused just by watching someone, but there was no denying that she was. An aching throb came from between her legs, causing her hips to shift restlessly for attention. With every stroke of her hand along his erection, she could feel herself getting hotter and wetter.

Suddenly, his hand shot out to grasp her wrist tightly, immediately stopping her movements. "No more," he ground out through clenched teeth. His eyes were squeezed shut as he tried to regain the control she'd stripped from him. "Anymore and I won't last."

It took her a moment to understand what he was saying, and when she did she immediately let go of him. A surge of pride swept through her that she'd been able to almost bring him to orgasm, and probably would have if he'd allowed her.

After a moment, Kakashi released a long, sighing breath and opened his eyes. The sharingan moved across her face slowly before trailing downward, memorizing every detail of her body. He trailed a single finger along her cheek gently, a smile tugging briefly at his lips when she turned and kissed his fingertip teasingly. "Have I told you yet that you're a pretty girl?" he asked.

She laughed, pressing a hand across her face and feeling just a little self-conscious beneath him. "If you have, then I don't remember," she replied, her smile softening as he pulled her hand away so he could look at her.

"You're a pretty girl, Haruno Sakura."

There was a seriousness mixed in with the joking tone that made her heart skip a beat. Rather than admit to it though, she arched a brow and said, "Just pretty?"

"Very pretty," he corrected as his smile deepened.

Sakura rolled her eyes, but couldn't quite keep the happy grin from her lips. "Stop stalling and come here," she ordered, beckoning him with one finger.

He did as she requested, bending over to kiss her while keeping his weight from crushing her into the mattress. Her hands smoothed down his chest to shove his pants down further, taking his boxers along in the process. She smiled against his lips when he gave an irritated groan and kicked the clinging garment off completely. His skin was hot beneath her fingers as she arched into him, letting her hands wander lower to grip his bare rear and squeeze. She felt the hot weight of his erection on her thigh and rubbed herself against it, enjoying the surprised sound he smothered into her shoulder.

And then he was shifting off of her, moving toward the edge of the bed.

Not wanting him to make anymore offers to stop, Sakura grabbed hold of his shoulder to keep him in place. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice coming out breathy and rough.

Kakashi didn't answer her. Instead, he stretched across her body to the small nightstand by his bed and pulled the drawer open. Sakura pushed herself onto one elbow to see what he was up to, skimming her lips over his shoulder idly. He fumbled around in the drawer, shoving aside whatever was in there in order to find what he was looking for.

Her brow furrowed as he withdrew a small packet and tore it open, but as soon as she saw what was inside her cheeks immediately became hot. A condom. The only time she'd ever seen one was when Shizune had sat her down for 'the talk' after she'd started using birth control. It'd been embarrassing then, and it was doubly so now that she was seeing it applied to something other than a banana. She knew it was probably immature to do, but she couldn't watch him roll that thin latex sheath down over himself.

As soon as he was finished, Kakashi settled himself on top of her again. She spread her legs wider at the tugging of his hands, and when his penis slid across her folds she couldn't help but cry out.

"Shh," he cautioned, even as he repeated the slow, grinding movement that had solicited her response. "The walls are pretty thin."

Sakura nodded and somehow managed to turn the next shout into a strained whimper. It was so hard to concentrate on volume control when she felt like she was drowning in pleasure. Her hips met every thrust enthusiastically, loving the feel of his flesh between her legs. He wasn't inside her yet, nor was he giving any indication that he was going to be anytime soon. Kakashi knew this was her first time and was being patient with her, letting the pleasure build as high as possible before taking it further. She was grateful for his restraint, however difficult it was for him to maintain. The fact that he was trying to make this good for her showed that he cared, which in turn reminded her just how much she'd come to care for him in return.

After a few more careful rolls of his hips and several deep kisses, Kakashi drew back and met her gaze. He was giving her one final chance to back down if she wanted to. Sakura locked her legs around his waist and maintained eye contact, letting him know she wasn't about to do that. Taking a deep breath, he slipped a hand between her lower back and the mattress, changing the angle of her hips.

And then she felt the blunt tip of his penis pushing inside her.

It felt … odd, and a little uncomfortable. She'd been under no illusions that her first time would be like it was in all the romance novels, but she was surprised it didn't hurt beyond a stinging sensation that radiated from their point of contact. He was taking his time entering her, allowing her to grow accustomed to him before moving deeper. Kakashi held himself off of her so that only their hips were touching; the strain of holding himself in check showed in the trembling of his arms and the sweat beading on his brow. When she looked up at his face, hoping to make eye contact, she noticed that his attention was completely focused on where they were joined.

Curiosity took hold, prompting her to look down the length of her body as well. A gasp tore from her, followed quickly by a dark blush, at the sight of him penetrating her body. He still wasn't in all the way, but he was beginning to move in shallow thrusts, each one pushing just a bit further than the last. She moaned at the rush of warmth that swept over her at watching him slide in and out of her channel, of catching the faint slickness of her moisture coating him in the dim lighting. It was mesmerizing, and also just a bit astonishing, to her that this was really happening. That she was having sex and that it was with someone she'd never thought of romantically until a little over a month ago.

Finally, his hips became flush with hers, and the sensation of being filled so completely made her shiver. He sucked in a gasping breath for air, as if he'd been holding it the entire time, and looked at her face. "Are you okay?" he asked raspily.

Sakura nodded, reaching up to push a few sweaty pieces of hair out of his eyes. "I'm fine," she whispered back, shifting her hips experimentally to see if this was actually true. It still stung a little, but in a way that wasn't entirely unpleasant.

Taking her at her word, Kakashi drew back slowly … and thrust inside her again.

Sakura gasped, her eyes widening as her back came off the bed. The movement caused him to push firmly against her clitoris, sending ripples of pleasure bursting throughout her body at the contact. He pulled back again and she barely had time to suck in a jagged breath before he was sliding home, robbing her of oxygen. Again and again, he repeated the slow, firm rocking of his hips into hers and she responded with like fervor, her body moving of its own accord. She unwound her legs from around his hips, planting her feet into the mattress to lift herself more quickly into him.

Kakashi's hands took hold of her hips, his fingers pressing in as he forced her down to the mattress. The rough treatment made her stomach flutter, her eyes rolling back at the sudden flare of desire it produced. She reached for him, trying to draw him down for a kiss … but then he was sitting upright between her legs and still thrusting at that slow, controlled pace.

The change in angle had her back snapping off the mattress and her fingers scrabbling for the metal headboard again. He gave a harder push, hitting a spot inside her that immediately left her seeing stars and unable to think beyond the pleasure, beyond moving. She tried again to lift her hips, gasping when he kept her pinned to the bed. The feel of him plunging inside her, touching her in all the right places, was beyond amazing – but it wasn't enough. She was left hanging on the edge of the cliff, waiting anxiously to be shoved off into the mind blowing pleasure that was just barely out of reach. And it would remain that way for as long as he kept up the slow, calculated strokes.

It was killing her – he was killing her. The sensations raging inside her were too much, were far more intense than they had been last night. Her hips continued to shift shallowly, asking silently for more, and she could actually feel her body contracting in the same demand. Once again, any thought of modesty was killed dead as the more basic part of her took over. She needed him – his mouth, his hands, his body – right now or she was going to go crazy.

Without much thought beyond relieving the tension, Sakura reached down with the intent of doing it herself. She gasped in surprise, her eyes flying open when she felt Kakashi's fingers close tightly around her wrist. She looked up at him and saw the command in his mismatched eyes: don't move. The silent order was further emphasized when he very firmly returned her hand back to the headboard.

"Kakashi, please," she moaned, uncaring how ridiculous she sounded. Sakura arched her back, trying to gain some sort of leverage to move, but he simply wouldn't let her. A frustrated growl broke from her as she squirmed and twisted in his grasp. "Faster. Move faster, damn it!"

"No," he replied, the low pitch to his voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Not yet. Not until you come."

Sakura opened her eyes, and if it weren't for the wonderful sensations assailing her she would have been embarrassed by his words. He was staring down at her, taking in the sight of her spread beneath him, watching her pant and shift and moan for more – and it was just as exciting as when she'd watched him enter her. The desire in his gaze was searing, and knowing that the sharingan was memorizing every detail of their encounter made her nipples harden despite the heat pouring off of their bodies.

As if whatever he saw when she looked at him was a trigger, his hips began to move just a little faster. Kakashi gasped and groaned along with her at the change in tempo, keeping one hand planted on her hips while the other swept inward toward her sex. Sakura closed her eyes as he leaned over her, his hot breath fanning across her neck as he placed a chaste kiss to her earlobe.

"Come for me, Sakura," he ordered. "I want to watch you."

He'd no sooner finished whispering the words in her ear than his thumb worked across her clitoris in tight, hard circles that had her back jerking sharply off the mattress as the tension finally exploded. Sakura's eyes squeezed shut and she couldn't hold back the screams as wave after wave of pleasure rushed over her, intensified by the play of his hand and between her legs. He stroked her quickly, moving in counterpoint to the even thrusts of his length inside her. Her head tossed wildly across the sheets, her hands gripping the metal rods of the headboard so hard that she felt them dent between her fingers.

It felt like forever before the raw, searing pleasure began to fade, leaving her breathless and practically boneless with satisfaction. White spots still spun behind her eyelids as she struggled to find an even breath. Sakura blinked her eyes open slowly and looked up at him, her body still thrumming with pleasure. He was still inside her, hard and hot and practically pulsing with need. His fingers were curled tightly in the sheets by her hips and there was no mistaking the tremors racking through him as he fought to hang on for just a little longer.

Somehow, she found the energy to lift her arm and drape it around his neck, her fingers toying with the damp hair on his nape as she pulled him down to her. Their lips met briefly, hers moving slowly and his trembling, before she murmured, "My turn to watch you."

Kakashi groaned harshly and fell upon her as his hips surged quick and hard into hers. She cried out in surprise as ecstasy flooded through her once more, left her clinging to his shoulders as her hips rose to meet every demanding thrust he gave. He pressed hot, open mouthed kisses and broken moans to her throat, nipped at her pulse and shoulder roughly as her nails pressed into his skin hard enough to leave marks. The headboard thudded in time to their movements against the wall, setting the light overhead to swaying gently.

This was what she'd wanted from him, she thought as she licked and sucked at the sweat on his throat. To have him let go and give in to what their bodies demanded, to feel his member thrusting desperately inside her. He used his entire body in the movement so that she could feel him everywhere they met, and the added friction had her slipping more swiftly into orgasm than before.

It crashed into her out of nowhere, so sudden and so intense that for a moment she almost swore she blacked out. He cried out harshly, a guttural sound that had her name tangled in it, as her muscles contracted around his length. She felt it when he came, the hard pulse of his length inside her, and it tossed her into yet another orgasm that left her shivering uncontrollably on the mattress. Kakashi continued to rock and grind himself against her, stifling his cries in her shoulder as his hands gripped her thighs hard enough to leave bruises. And when he collapsed on top of her, panting just as raggedly as she was, she felt his member soften inside her before slipping out, resting wetly against her thigh.

For a moment, he remained lying on top of her, his heart hammering against her chest as his breath came in hot puffs on her neck. Sakura hummed pleasurably, enjoying the languid contentment radiating through her muscles. She could feel the ache begin between her legs, like she'd pulled some new muscles or something, and knew later she'd be sore, but right then it was nothing compared to the satisfaction.

Finally, Kakashi rolled off of her, grunting as if even that action was too much too soon. Sakura waited until he pulled the used condom off, tossing it into the trashcan by his bed, before hesitantly scooting closer to him. He rolled onto his side again, his lips quirking in a sleepy smile as she quickly fit herself to him. His fingers were gentle as they stroked down her cheek, brushing her sweaty hair back behind her ear tenderly.

"That was amazing," she commented softly and instantly regretted it when he chuckled at her. She didn't know why she'd thought to open any sort of discussion right after they'd finished having sex, especially with a comment about it.

Rather than tease her about it though, Kakashi kissed the tip of her nose like she was a puppy and said, "It certainly was."

She smiled shyly at that, glancing away as her fingers traced little circles over his chest. "Thank you. For being so patient, I mean," she hastily added when his brows rose in surprise.

He gave the barest of head shakes as he trailed a hand idly down her arm. "You say some of the strangest things."

Sakura's eyes narrowed irritably, but she felt far too relaxed to retaliate any further – at least physically. "What's so strange about that?" she demanded grumpily, trying to ignore how nice it felt to have him touching her. "You were being patient, and I appreciate that. It couldn't have been easy, after all."

"You'd be surprised how easy things are when it involves someone you care about."

Her fingers paused in drawing their circles and her heart skipped at least a couple beats. Sakura looked up, her eyes scanning his features for any indication that what he'd just said could be taken another, more innocent way. The sharingan was closed now, but his other eye was widen open and meeting her gaze steadily. There wasn't a trace of deception there, no careful emptiness. What she saw was a softer look than she'd ever witnessed from him before, as well as a little uncertainty. Once again, he wasn't bothering to hide himself from her, allowing her to see plainly what he was thinking.

And from what she could see, Kakashi cared for her quite a bit.

The guilt returned then, gnawing at her so badly that she had to look away or risk him seeing it. This had been a mistake. No matter how incredible it had been or how much she'd wanted it, there was no denying that sleeping with Kakashi now had been a huge, terrible mistake. Even more so now that he'd just admitted out loud that he cared about her. Here he was, letting her into his life and allowing her to see beneath the surface … and she was lying to him.

She realized now – belatedly, of course – that it'd been a very stupid idea to have sex with him before coming clean about the whole mission. She couldn't blame it entirely on hormones either. Sakura had made the conscious decision to set aside telling him in favor of sleeping with him. There was no way around that fact.

Kakashi seemed to sense the change in her mood because he was suddenly tilting her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Sakura, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied and instantly regretted doing so. He needed to know about the mission before anything else happened. Before either of them became more attached to the other. As much as she would've liked to have not told him anything at all, she couldn't do that to him.

"Something's wrong," he persisted, rubbing his thumb gently along her lower lip. "Do you regret this?"

God, the last thing she needed was for him to think that. Kakashi gave her an inquiring look, his hand still against her hip. She had to tell him. Now. Before this went any further than it already had. Letting out a sigh of resignation, Sakura closed her eyes and asked softly, "Kakashi, have you … have you ever done something stupid? Something that could potentially hurt someone very badly?"

He took a deep breath and released it slowly as he pondered the question. Finally, he gave a brief nod and answered, "Yes."

Taking courage from his response, Sakura chewed her lower lip nervously before saying, "Well, I have too. And I didn't mean to do it, but I felt like I had to and I'm scared that—"

She stopped when he placed a finger to her lips.

"Sakura, just say it. Whatever you're trying to say, just tell me."

Sakura flinched at the gentleness in his voice, but there was that commanding edge just underneath that she couldn't refuse. "I … I stole your books," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Kakashi stilled for a moment before he pushed himself up on one elbow. "Come again?"

"I said I stole your books," she repeated, swallowing nervously. "Your Icha Icha books. And I'm sorry for doing it – I'm so sorry – but I had to do it. And I know I should have said something before we … before we … did this, but I thought I could just return them without you knowing after I spoke to the person who told me to and—"

Once again, he cut her off, only this time it was with a hard, passionate kiss. At first, she was too shocked to respond, but all it took was a nip to her lower lip and the tap of his tongue to her teeth before she was opening her mouth to him with a moan. She practically melted against him as his tongue delved between her lips, rolling onto her back at the encouragement of his hands. This wasn't the reaction she'd been expecting from him … but it was far better than what she'd prepared herself for.

She tilted her head to one side as he nuzzled her throat, lifting her leg across his hip at the guidance of his hand. "It's okay," he murmured against her neck, causing her to sigh and wind her fingers through his hair. "I already knew about that."

"What?" she gasped, shivering as his half hard member rubbed along the inside of her thigh enticingly. It was hard to think straight when he was doing such wonderful things to her.

"I said I already knew about the books," he repeated, his hand inching toward the apex of her thighs. "I knew from the very start."

Sakura's eyes flew open and she stiffened against him. "What?" she asked again, this time more sharply.

Kakashi drew back, holding himself over her with an entirely too happy grin plastered on his face. "Back when you asked me out, I knew you were after something. It took me a week or so to pinpoint what exactly it was, but I've known for some time now you were trying to steal them. That's why I left them out tonight."

"You … purposely left the books out?"

He laughed softly and bent to kiss her again. "Of course. No offense, Sakura, but you're not the most subtle when it comes to these things."

Apparently, she was more subtle than he gave her credit for, because he sure as hell didn't see her hand flying toward his face until after it cracked sharply against his cheek.