What the New Year Brings

Thank you for continuing to read this story and to everyone who faved, alerted, and reviewed. I honestly appreciate it. ^_^

Chapter 28-The First Time Kakashi Admits That He Used To Be One

Evening falls and the world around us changes. Kakashi and I sit shoulder to shoulder on a fallen log, watching in comfortable silence as the last rays of the setting sun bleed into the slowly darkening sky, turning it into brilliant shades of burnt pinks and oranges with just a touch of purple brushed here and there. To say it's beautiful is an understatement yet no other word fits it so perfectly.

My head instinctively falls softly against Kakashi's shoulder with his own head coming to a gentle rest against mine. As a cool gust of wind blows against the grassy knoll we sit upon, the temperature drops, making me shiver and fully aware of how we're still in the middle of winter. Kakashi's hand quickly moves up to my arm and rubs up and down against it to make it warmer. His masked lips pressed against the crown of my head only makes me feel warmer and cozier in his loving embrace.

Resting his cheek back onto the top of my head, we both let out a slow, contented sigh, a small smile gracing both our lips. We sigh for several reasons...

We sigh because we finished another day of our mission without incident even with Hiraku riding out in the open like free bait.

We sigh because our bodies are relieved to finally rest, the day's worth of travel finally taking its toll.

But we sigh mostly because we are simply happy. These last few days have been the happiest we've been in a long time and it can all be attributed to each other and these quiet moments we spend together.

Again, we sigh - a lovers' sigh.

But not all is as it seems for right behind us is: Sheer. Chaos.

Like trees on Miracle Grow (with a drop of liquid crack for good measure) building upon building loudly erupt from the ground and shake the very earth beneath our feet. Nearby, Yamato has his hands clapped together and is sweating profusely as he uses whatever little chakra he has left to build not one, not two, not three, but four houses for everyone in our convoy. Why? Because Yamato is too nice of a guy for his own good.

When we finally entered River Country a few hours ago, rather than have everyone try to cross the river or walk a few more miles alongside it to get to a premade bridge, Yamato summoned a wooden bridge with his Mokuton Jutsu instead.

When Hiraku asked in awe what else he was capable of doing, rather than say "Nothing," Yamato stated he could build houses as well.

And when Hiraku asked if he could build living quarters for everyone tonight, Yamato happily agreed, even volunteering to do it for however many nights it would take us to get to Wind Country, thinking that he was just going to summon one large house like he usually does when Team Kakashi goes out on missions. Instead, Hiraku requested one house to accommodate herself, her mother, and Tora (Yes, Tora is with them on this trip. Do you really think Madam Shijimi could live without her precious Tora-chan even for a few weeks?), another house for her guards, another for her servants, and of course, another for Team Kakashi. Not to mention a stable with individual stalls to hold all 24 horses - so that the wolves wouldn't get to them in the middle of the night. When Yamato asked, understandably overwhelmed, why everyone couldn't just share a single, mansion-sized house that could comfortably accommodate everybody, Hiraku's haughty response, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world was: "Because then everyone won't be separated by social class as they ought to be."

At that moment, Kakashi and I gave each other a groan and a look, not only because of how unbelievably &#! Hiraku's snooty response was, but because it was a clear indication of how much work we had ahead of us. It is this very mindset that is the root of our, or rather, Hiraku's problem - She somehow has it embedded in her head that certain people shouldn't be together for no other reason than "just because." It's bigotry at its best and as most people with prejudices go, it's difficult to get through to them because they believe that they're absolutely, completely right, going so far as to stubbornly shut their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to anyone or anything that contradicts them. And such is ignorance. And such is the problem it causes everyone unfortunate enough to be touched by it.

"There's still hope." Kakashi murmurs now in my ear, holding me close as we watch the last sliver of the shimmering sun sink into the sparkling waves of the river in front of us. Meanwhile, behind us Hiraku continues to torment, I mean, tell Yamato the exact spot where she wants each house to be built.

"How can you say that, Kakashi?" I ask with a shake of my head. "There's about as much hope of Hiraku having a change of heart as there is of Sasuke coming back!"

"That much confidence, huh?" Kakashi says with an audible smile in his voice.

I just fold my arms tightly across my chest, stare hard into the distance, and continue to pout.

Kakashi laughs at me and hugs me tighter.

"Sakura...As hardheaded and as awful as Hiraku may seem, she's really not. When it comes right down to it, she's just a young girl born into a position with a lot of responsibility and a lot of pressure who's just trying to do the right thing."

"Well, she comes off as cold and full of herself if you ask me."

"Maybe, but I think she just acts that way to protect herself. Take it from a guy who's been called 'aloof' more times than I care to remember."

"You're nothing like her, Kakashi! She's so stubborn and self-righteous! How could you even-"

"She's nothing in comparison to how I used to be when I was younger."

I can only look up into Kakashi's eye in disbelief while he just continues to look down at me with that soft look of kindness and understanding in his eye.

"When the world around you feels like a mess, Sakura, like something you just can't take, people find different ways to cope. Some people drink, some people draw, some people hide inside themselves while others go to extremes, like doing everything by the book, but each action has a reaction: a hangover, an angsty piece of art, people feeling pushed away, and people taking things the wrong way..."

"So you're saying I'm taking Hiraku's bad attitude the wrong way."

"What I'm saying is that people are easily misunderstood. Sometimes someone who comes off as 'cold' or 'full of themselves' is just going through a lot of stuff and the last thing they need is to be called names. What they really need is someone to see what they're going through and give them a little bit of understanding."

"Anyone who can do that must be a saint!"

"Or just a really good friend."

"She's just a client, Kakashi. Nothing more."

"She's a person and everyone deserves a chance. Just try to see things her way, okay?"

For a second I turn around in my seat, take a good long look at Hiraku, then turn back around to face Kakashi again.

"I see Hiraku putting Yamato through a lot of shit."

Kakashi snorts in laughter.

"She just wants everyone to be properly sheltered for a cold winter's night, Sakura."

"I see a stuck up little girl who doesn't want to sleep with the maids."

"I see a young girl who, in spite of her self-proclaimed high standards, fell in love with the stable boy anyway."

"..."

"You got me there, Kakashi."

"Good, because like I said, there's still hope. Haven't you noticed that for all Hiraku's griping about our flirting and being late, she hasn't said one negative word about our relationship?"

"And?..."

"And I think that's where our hope lies, our common ground, because even she knows her relationship is not all that different from ours-"

"Weird?"

"Unconventional."

"You mean weird."

"Fine. Weird and unconventional. You happy?"

"Very."

"You know, you're very lucky that I'm a very patient man."

"That's why I'm with you, old man."

"I prefer to be called 'mature and experienced'." He tells me with a mischievous glint in his eye. I look up at him and match it with my own, both of our minds wandering to...other things. But of course-

"Sakura-CHAAAN!!"

Kakashi and I both let out another sigh, this time not a contented one, but an exasperated one as we turn around to face the loud-mouthed blond bouncing our way.

"Yes, Naruto?" I ask tiredly.

"Sakura, we really need to talk about this bet. I just can't afford it!" And as proof he pulls out Gama-chan from his pocket, the poor frog looking limp and starved for coins.

"Naruto, you really don't have to panic. It's not like I'm going to make you pay for the bet all in one lump sum. When you do get paid, just pay for my meals whenever we go out to eat from now on. You can be my boyfriend without benefits." I smile at him.

Beside me, Kakashi laughs.

"In fact, if you pay for Kakashi's meals as well, which you normally end up doing anyway-"

Kakashi's laughter abruptly dies for some reason.

"...Then you can pay your debt off twice as quick. You'll be both my and Kakashi's sugar daddy." I say happily.

Again Kakashi is smiling next to me because now he's fully aware that not only does he get to be my boyfriend with benefits, but that he gets to continue being his tightwad self as well.

"But Sakura-chan, it'll take me another 10 years to pay you off!"

But Kakashi and I barely hear him because Yamato just finished building the houses and Hiraku is walking towards the one she's designated for herself. At the same time, the stable boy is leading a horse towards the newly made stalls.

Kakashi and I exchange knowing looks and both stand up.

"Remember, Sakura, if even the hardest of hardasses like myself can change, so can she."

I nod and we lightly touch lips, Naruto looking between us in confusion. Then we part ways, each of us going a different direction after our targets.

Now standing alone on the grassy knoll, I hear Naruto say: "Since when did Kakashi-sensei stop being a hardass?"

I think on it for a second and figure that Naruto's right. As lazy and cool-headed as Kakashi is, he's still notorious for-

"Naruto..." I hear Kakashi yell up at him from the opposite direction, "I think you're overdue for another bell test."

"Aw, man!"

That.

To be continued...