What Sasuke Wants

I have been placated. That rant wasn’t for the general readers, but my loyal reviewers who got me too used to reviews that tell me about the various body fluids (nosebleeds, drool, ect.) that tend to . . . come forth during my lemons. Got spoiled and had a tantrum. I’m good now! ^_^ I just like to have fun with my reviewers, kinda build a dialog. Not much of my personality comes out in the story, so . . . Good to have friends. *hugs*

TanyaUchiha: ^_^ I had a little fun with that. Naruto is a bitch though. He’s going to bitch out a bit more in an upcoming chapter.
krito1389: Me too. *shifts eyes nervously* (No idea!)
Anon: I just like to hear when my lemons are awesome. This is a special request fic for a fan and it was for an uke Kakashi. I find it harder to uke out Sasuke since he’s such a tight ass (pardon the pun).
-00-night-eyes-00-: Your wish is my command.
DarkAngelJudas: *takes cookie* I LOVE cookies!!!! You are forgiven. I’ll get out some sweet Itachi/Kakashi to you in UR&A! *kisses*

I had fun writing this chapter. Not sure why this was such a pleasurable experience . . .
I think I might have an ending. I do see where this story is going and it’s getting longer. (I'm going to have battles in a future chapter!) Will that be the end? Don’t know yet.

Lemon. But they have a lot of ‘xplaining to do. Lot of talking, sorry.

----------

Kakashi didn’t go straight to Sasuke’s. He was angry about being spied on much more than he was about Izumo talking to the Hokage. He stopped by his house, threw out anything in his kitchen that had gone bad or was about to, packed some clothes, then made a winding path to Sasuke’s.

It wasn’t very late, but he saw that the lights in all three houses were out. He jumped up onto Sasuke’s windowsill, carefully avoiding all the traps the paranoid Uchiha had left everywhere, Sasuke having told him about them all. Sasuke was sitting up in bed.

“What are you doing sitting alone in the dark?” Kakashi asked from his perch.

“I wasn’t asleep and I sensed you coming. Did you have anything to eat?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Sasuke got up and pulled on a robe. Kakashi deposited his bag and followed the Uchiha to the kitchen.

“I used up nearly everything that wasn’t perishable for the rest of us,” he said as he fished threw the fridge, tossing a few wilted vegetables into the sink to grind up in the garbage disposal.

“Don’t go to any trouble.” Sasuke ignored him and Kakashi didn’t argue any further.

“Didn’t go well, I take it.”

“How could you tell?” Kakashi leaned on the table.

“Well, I didn’t expect to go any way but badly.” Sasuke switched to the cupboards.

“A little shouting, door slamming.”

“You’re angry. Let it out. I know better than anyone how unhealthy it is to keep it in.” Sasuke still had his back turned, trying to figure out what he could make with tomato paste and corn starch.

Indignation bubbled within Kakashi. “He talked to the Hokage in order to separate us. He was spying on me!” Kakashi wasn’t furious, just indignant. Sauske shut the cupboard. There was nothing edible left in the house. Distractedly, he thought they should be given more money just replace the food that went bad during longer missions. Sasuke turned toward Kakashi finally.

“He saw us the night I comforted you. He thought that was a prelude to sex.”

“I have a confession.” Kakashi focused on Sasuke. No food? he thought dejectedly. But Sasuke looked a little more apologetic than an empty larder would prompt. “The way I knew you were with Izumo was that I was following you. I wanted to see you face and we had fun doing that as children. Sorry. I wasn’t peeking in any windows though. I never saw anything more than you kiss him.”

“I figured that was how you found out.” Kakashi was calm again, unable to sustain his anger with Sasuke looking at him and with the slightly fearful, consolatory look on his face. “I remember you three following me and trying to trick me into taking off my mask. It was fun. I put on that second mask just to mess with you three. You were a cute bunch.” Kakashi reached out and caressed Sasuke’s face. Sasuke leaned into it. Then he pulled back, that apologetic look back on his face.

“And I’m out of food.”

Kakashi chuckled.

“It’s not too late; there should be somewhere still open. My treat. A bar, if nothing else.”

“I know of one that has an excellent menu.”

“I’ll get dressed.”

The bar that Kakashi led him to wasn’t crowded. Sasuke walked in without any regard to his being underage. He didn’t have to worry being with the closest thing to a guardian he had and the fact he didn’t intend to drink. Kakashi sent the bartender—who seemed to have a preternatural ability to know people’s ages—a consolatory wave to placate him. He recognized Sasuke was Kakashi’s student and, with a scowl, returned his attention to his legal clientele.

Sasuke chose the darkest booth where Kakashi could sit with his back to most of the room so he could remove his mask. Kakashi ordered a meal while Sasuke merely ordered tea and an appetizer to munch on.

“So, was he angry or hurt?”

“I think more angry. He was jealous before I said anything about breaking up with him. It could have ended better.”

“I feel a little guilty, stealing you away like that.”

“He pissed me off by being jealous of our relationship without evidence that it was sexual. I would have left him anyway.”

“Still.”

“Don’t worry about it. How was dinner?”

“Scavenged.” Kakashi laughed. “Luckily I had a few canned things, rice, and root vegetables last longer than most. I didn’t have anything fresher. I was going to talk to Karin, but I let her go home. I did talk to Juugo though.”

“How did he take it?”

“He’s fine with it. Doesn’t matter to him. He likes the idea of Karin and I having kids. The first thing I’ll teach them is how to calm down ‘Uncle Juugo.’”

Kakashi laughed lightly. The food was brought rather quickly. Once the waiter was gone, Kakashi pulled down his mask. Sasuke didn’t find it any easier to read him than when he had the mask on, having become adept at reading him despite the mask.

“You sure it doesn’t bother you? Karin, I mean.”

“Honestly, a little. I’m not jealous by nature though.” Kakashi took a bite. Sasuke looked down at his tea. Kakashi swallowed. “Really, I’m used to this sort of arrangement.” Sasuke looked up at him. “It was the same with my first lover.” Sasuke couldn’t help but gape at him. “He had a girlfriend who he got pregnant. He was so excited when it happened. I was happy for him too; I knew he wouldn’t shut me out.”

“What happened to them?” Sasuke asked with a bit of dread.

“They both died.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s been a long time. I liked her too. Actually, she was a lot like Karin. She could be rather boisterous at times, but she was really sweet to those she was comfortable with. Make her angry and she’d try to kill you.”

“Does sound like Karin. And Naruto,” Sasuke added with a small laugh. He had let his eyes drift back down the cup of tea and the plate of calamari so he missed Kakashi’s expression. It was hidden by his next bite.

“You won’t mind a bunch of Uchiha brats running around, will you?” Sasuke asked with a smirk.

“If they’re half as cute as you were, not at all.”

“As long as they’re at least half as arrogant?”

Kakashi laughed. “It would be an improvement. I’m looking forward to it, in fact, as I was back then.” Through a sixth sense—or rather, Sasuke thought, a seventh or eighth—Kakashi knew to pull up his mask before the waiter was within sight.

“Everything good here?”

“Some sake,” Kakashi said.

“Careful,” Sasuke warned. “I’m not dragging you home.”

“It’s with a meal.” He nodded to the waiter and Kakashi pulled down his mask as he walked away.

“It’s you Uchiha who can’t hold your alcohol. Like the other night. Like your—” Kakashi broke off, remembering any mention of Sasuke’s family was painful.

“Go on. It’s not like I don’t think about them several times a day.”

“Minato-sensei had an impish sense of humor and dragged me along with him when he was meeting with your father. He told me to watch as he started pouring sake. Two cups and Fugaku was very near being slobbering drunk. Minato-sensei just nodded to any nonsense he was saying and glanced at me to share the joke. He had warned Obito not to drink years before, saying that none of your clan could handle alcohol. But he said you all felt you had to defend your honor by entering into drinking contests. Your father, however, was just being polite, drinking with the Hokage. I nearly died trying not to laugh out loud. Not a man anyone wanted to get on the bad side of.”

Sasuke was smiling without any darkness in his eyes. So the topic could be broached without too much risk of Sasuke trying to kill someone.

“Except perhaps one of his sons.”

The mask came up, the sake arrived, the mask went down again.

“You do have a Sharingan remember.”

“I beat Gai at drinking contests all the time.”

“But that’s against Gai.”

Kakashi laughed heartily. “True, true.”

“I never trusted myself to drink when around other people. I’ve seen too many people wind up looking like idiots. I have too much pride to risk it.”

“Except that one time.”

“Except that one time,” Sasuke agreed with a smile. “Didn’t turn out all that bad. I won’t drink in public though.”

“You’d either be dancing on the table or falling asleep.”

“I don’t want to do either in public.”

“So you wouldn’t mind dancing on the table in private?” Kakashi asked with his eyebrows raised.

“Well, I can do what I feel like in private without having to worry how much of an ass it makes me look.” Sasuke’s eyes became flirting as did his whole demeanor. Sasuke was obviously thinking of exotic dancing.

“I might have to get you drink at home one night. Again.”

“I’m still underage.”

“Didn’t stop you a week ago. So where’d that sake come from?”

“Not everyone knows how old I am. I think some fear me enough to let me do what I want. I was a lawless missing-nin for nearly four years. Having it on hand was a part of the manners I learned from my clan. Even if you don’t drink it, others do. I’m old enough to kill, I should be old enough to drink, even if I don’t.”

“If you’re old enough for some things, why not others,” Kakashi agreed.

Sasuke had a remarkable ability to not look as uncomfortable as he was, but Kakashi knew him well enough by now. But he let Sasuke decided whether he would say what he wanted to say or not. Sasuke munched on a calamari.

“How old were you?” he finally asked.

“Humm?”

“Your first time. How old were you?”

“Younger than you are now. It was soon after Rin, my teammate, died and I joined ANBU. Seems like a very long time ago.” His voice had a finality which Sasuke understood as ‘topic closed.’

“Didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”

“I brought up your father; we’re even.”

Sasuke stared into his cup as if he were gazing back at his past. “My father. That’s one thing I can never forgive my brother for; I’ll never know what my father said to my mother about me. She said that even though he only seemed to care about Itachi, he spoke to her only of me. I should have asked what he said. I never imaged I would never get the chance to ask again. And Itachi killed him just as he was finally showing interest in me, just as he was beginning to train me himself. I was finally feeling accepted as his son, as an Uchiha. I was beginning to make him proud. I can’t forgive Itachi for that.”

Kakashi wanted to touch him and comfort him, but the table made it difficult without being too obvious.

“At least you seem certain he was proud of you just before he died. Most of us who lose their parents always wonder. I’m also certain my father was proud of me; though at the time I doubted it. Wasn’t I enough to live for? He was too depressed to consider that or had too much faith in me that I would understand and deal with it. I dealt with it, but not in a very healthy way. I definitely wouldn’t have had a much older male lover at fourteen had he lived.”

Sasuke had sat back to listen. “I’d probably be married to someone my father chose in order to carry on the bloodline of the leader of the Uchiha. I probably wouldn’t have been your student. I had hoped to be on a team with my brother.” Sasuke smiled fondly. “My great older brother who I, and the rest of the clan, worshipped. Until about a week before they all died. I remember that afternoon. I know he was actually right to do what he did; he chose the village over his clan, but I can’t fully forgive him for it. I wonder if I would have done the same. If I think about who I would have been at thirteen had my family lived, I doubt I could have done it. Does that make me better or worse than my brother?”

Kakashi had no response to that.

“You know I didn’t mourn most of them at all really. My mother . . . the aunt I spoke to that very day . . . my uncle . . . my father . . . but the rest of them? The ones I knew and the ones I didn’t? They were all sort of the same. They were just ‘my family,’ ‘my clan,’ not ‘my cousin,’ ‘my second cousin,’” he smiled wryly. “Really they were all cousins. And they were just gone. I saw a few bodies, but I didn’t know who they were. I saw my paretn’s bodies, freshly slain by my pericous older brother.” The exact fear, sadness, and shock he felt when he opened that door to see his parents and brother washed over him. “My parents died, my aunt and uncle died, and, in a sense, my brother died. The others were just gone. Existences I was used to, objects I expected to see, presences I was accustom to, names and faces that I recognized. I didn’t really know them. It hurt more as I grew up that I would never really know them. But I never really mourned them.”

“It’s sort of like someone in your academy class who you never really spoke to dying on a mission,” Kakashi said. “It was good that you were somewhat numb to their deaths or it might have truly driven you insane.”

“I nearly killed myself a few days after it happened.” Kakashi stared at him, but Sasuke’s attention was focused inward, his eyes pointed at the table. “My desire for revenge was the only thing, the only thing, that stopped me.”

“Itachi fed your desire for revenge for that reason, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, I think so. He must have known how isolated and abandoned I would feel. How hopeless. He gave me a goal and a reason to live. I also had pride in my clan, so that became a secondary goal. But I lost that secondary goal when I found out the truth. Not out of disgust with my clan, but out of rage and love for my brother. I did go crazy.” Sasuke looked up at Kakashi with a fond expression. “Until you saved me.”

Kakashi returned a similar expression. “But I did really intend to kill you that day.”

“I know.”

“I thought that was the only way to save you.”

“Probably one of only two options. Luckily, you stumbled on the second.” They were silent for a few moments. “Well, that was a much more depressing conversation than I had anticipated.”

“My fault.”

Mask came up, waiter checked on them, waiter left, mask came back down. Sasuke poured another cup from the pot next to him. Despite the tea, he yawned.

“It is getting late,” Kakashi said. He focused a little more on eating while Sasuke continued to snack on the calamari.

They went straight to sleep when they got home, both physically and emotionally tired. But as much as Sasuke enjoyed it, he was not liking just how addicted he was become to being held as he fell asleep.

-----

They woke up almost at the same time at the crack of dawn. But the sun was still hidden behind the forest trees, giving no more than a grayish glow the outside world. They knew the other was awake by their breathing. Sasuke turned over to Kakashi. Sasuke’s eyes were still sleep blurry, but there was a hint of lust there; Kakashi answered it with a slight smirk. Sasuke moved over him and rubbed their morning erections together through the scant clothes they wore while he kissed his older lover.

Since that first night when the oil had just happened to be left there, Sasuke had given the vial of oil a permanent home on his nightstand. He reached for it blindly, his arm not quite long enough. Kakashi’s eyes flash open when he heard the hiss of a snake. Sasuke had extended his reach with a white snake of his Sen'eijashu technique. Kakashi pulled his lips away.

“I thought you lost your abilities with snakes.”

The single snake grabbed the vial and retracted, leaving the vial in Sasuke’s outstretched hand.

“Just the techniques only Orochimaru could use. My Summoning contract with snakes is also null and void. I just don’t use these techniques very often.”

Seeing Kakashi’s comment was merely out of curiosity and not disgust, Sasuke went back to kissing him. He pushed down his own pants and pulled at Kakashi’s. He moved his lips to the sensitive spot on Kakashi’s long neck. Using his preternatural balance and exceptional abdominal strength, he was able to keep his body hovering above Kakashi’s as he kissed his neck and used both hands to uncap the vial and coat two fingers in oil.

Kakashi’s fingers ran over Sasuke’s chest, barely feeling his ribs under muscle. Sasuke shifted to loosen Kakashi up while he continued to kiss him despite their mutual morning breath. Kakashi now held Sasuke’s head where it was, kissing him, and pushed his hips up into Sasuke’s questing fingers, begging for more.

Sasuke tortured him a while longer, loving how needy Kakashi was, loving the sounds he made; the moaning when Sasuke stroked his prostate and groaned in complaint when Sasuke removed his fingers for even a moment. That satisfied his ego and sense of superiority for the day. The groan Kakashi gave when he removed his fingers completely was full of disappointment even though he knew Sasuke wasn’t that cruel. At least not to him.

But Sasuke was a bit of a tease. He rubbed the head of his cock over Kakashi’s entrance, feeling it twitch with impatience. He didn’t tease for long, wanting to take Kakashi as much as Kakashi wanted him to fuck him. Sasuke pressed in. Kakashi was still so tight despite being experienced. In fact, Kakashi still hasn’t gotten completely used to Sasuke girth.

“You’re definitely larger than any lover I’ve had before,” Kakashi groaned while Sasuke paused to let the initial sensation of entering him wash over him.

“How many would that be?” Sasuke said, panting for breath.

“Three.” He wouldn’t have answered—and Sasuke would have been tactful enough not to ask—if his head wasn’t swimming with the slight pain and the immense pleasure.

“I’ll ruin you for anyone else.”

“No one else,” Kakashi agreed.

Sasuke pressed further in and knew when he hit Kakashi’s sweet spot; Kakashi bucked, forcing his body further onto Sasuke’s length. Sasuke let his hips fall forward with Kakashi’s body as he fell back onto the bed then thrust the last inch into him. Kakashi bucked up into him as if Sasuke was holding back another three inches.

“Eager this morning?” Sasuke purred next to his ear. He hadn’t moved, still pinning the older man to the bed.

“You started this.”

“That I did.” Sasuke gave him a loving kiss before he pulled away. He started out at a leisurely pace, but Kakashi wasn’t content with that and raise his hips up to meet Sasuke’s. Sasuke let him do this for a while, but sped up his own movements as his orgasm approached.

Neither one had touched Kakashi’s erection since they started. Kakashi reached for it, but Sasuke grabbed his wrist to restrain him.

“Trust me.”

Kakashi relaxed. He felt Sasuke’s cock swell and throb before it twitched and unloaded ropes of cum inside him. Sasuke thrust slowly as he rode out his orgasm. Kakashi watched him intently as the look of almost painful, intense concentration gave way to utter bliss. And he wondered if Sasuke would actually leave him hanging.

But when Sasuke pulled out, his whole body moved downward. Looking up into Kakashi’s questioning eyes, Sasuke licked the oozing precum from the head of Kakashi’s painfully hard cock then took the head into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around and gave it a gentle suck, teasing out more precum. He sucked harder and took his length into his mouth while never breaking eye contact. A still oiled finger massaged Kakashi’s ill used opening, dipping in from time to time. Kakashi body clinched around the smaller intrusion in order to feel it more entirely.

Sasuke broke eye contact to concentrate more on bobbing up and down Kakashi’s shaft quicker. Kakashi could no longer keep his eyes open as Sasuke pleasured him, nor could he control his hips which Sasuke barely managed to restrain with his free hand. Kakashi groaned his name and restrainedly ran his fingers through Sasuke’s spiky hair.

As he got close to his climax, he tried to say his lover’s name with a little more urgency, but Sasuke just sucked harder. Kakashi cried out as he cam. Sasuke let the first shot enter his mouth then pulled away to let the rest spray across his face.

As Kakashi calmed down, Sasuke crawled up his body. Kakashi opened his eyes to the very pleasant sight of Sasuke’s cum strewn face. He cranked his neck to lick the younger man clean. They kissed.

A little unexpectedly, Sasuke then got up and went to the bathroom. Kakashi heard the water running. Sasuke came back with a glass of water.

“To clean out the morning breath.”

Kakashi smirked and obeyed. Sasuke returned the glass then came back to bed.

“We have no mission today. Let’s go back to sleep for a few more hours.”

“Sounds great.”

Though Sasuke was definitely the seme of the relationship, he curled up beside Kakashi with his head on his chest. Kakashi put a protective arm around him.

-----

Unfortunately, the old saying that ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ doesn’t always apply just to women. More like ‘a lover scorned.’ Sasuke could feel there was a difference as he led his two fellows through the street. They felt it too. The only reassuring thing was that he knew Kakashi was lying when he said he had other things to attend to this morning and that he was really shadowing them from above.

While loading Juugo’s arms with the bag of produce, he said within Karin’s hearing as well, “If something happens, don’t get involved except to defend yourselves.” They didn’t respond, but he knew they understood.

He decided to cut this trip short and just went to one more shop to pick up some meats before they headed back home. They weren’t quick enough however.

“Little Uchiha slut,” someone muttered. Juugo made to turn, but Sasuke checked him.

“Ignore him.”

“Spread you legs for Orochimaru too? Seem to have a thing for your senseis.”

This time it was Juugo who had to stop both Sasuke and Karin. “You said ignore him.”

“What was that about his sensei?” The man looked around for the source of the voice. Kakashi was leaning against a wall, unnoticed, reading his book. He was not in his old Jounin uniform, which he still wore around Konoha as casual clothes, but his new black outfit he now wore on missions with the swords strapped to his back. If a glaring Uchiha did not put the fear of god in the man, seeing the black clad Jounin lounging against a wall with his masked nose in a book did.

“Kabuto was Orochimaru’s bed warmer, not I,” Sasuke said in a hard voice. “Picking a fight with two Sharingan users I believe is counted as suicide, am I right, Kakashi?”

“That you are.”

The man was left without a retort. ‘I didn’t mean nothing by it,’ just didn’t seem like it would work in this instance.

“Or are you just trying to test my temper?” Sasuke asked. “Well, you found its limit.”

The man skittered away from them as fast as he could. Sasuke growled and turned to leave, Kakashi coming up next to him.

“Bothers me that it takes the sight of you to scare them,” Sasuke grumbled. “An Uchiha should be enough.”

“It’s because you’ve never actually attacked.”

“Because I know what the consequences would be.” Their conversation was loud enough for others to hear as they stalked by.

“True, wiping out everyone on the street would be a problem.”

Once they were clear of those who saw the encounter, Sasuke spoke lower. “Naruto? Or Izumo?”

“Naruto’s not that stupid. He’s rash and emotional, but I’ve never known him to be really vindictive.”

“Izumo?”

“Don’t know. I don’t want to say yes.”

“I don’t want to have to ask.”

“Likely. He is jealous by nature. That’s what broke up with relationship with Kotetzu.”

“I wonder who all has heard.”

“Maybe you should find Sakura before she hears it on her own.”

“She wouldn’t believe it, but she might be angrier or more shocked if I just confirm the rumors as if I never planned to tell her myself,” Sasuke agreed. “Take care of this; I’ll find Sakura.”

“Ah.” They were within sight of home and felt safe this close to Sasuke’s defenses. Kakashi vanished.

-----

After depositing his supplies and dependants, Sasuke took the high road to Sakura’s apartment. She answered the door and blushed. At least it wasn’t in a ‘I’ve heard really embarrassing rumors about you’ way, just a ‘I didn’t expect the man I love to come over before I was ready’ way. He had thought about this: would it be better to take her on a walk where there were things to distract them both and maybe lessen the blow, or talk to her in her apartment. He decided on here in her apartment so if she broke down, she wouldn’t have far to go to get away from the world.

“You’re still invited to dinner tonight, but I think I should talk with you now. Can I come in?”

“Of course.” Her blush was worse. She started giggling about how ‘the place is a mess’ and ‘make yourself at home.’ Even she inwardly cringed at the triteness. Sasuke didn’t react, but sat down in a chair where she couldn’t try to fit herself in next to him. She sat down as close as possible to him on the sofa next to his chair.

“You’re still in love with me, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes.”

“So were you lying to Naruto when you said you love him?”

She looked embarrassed, but oddly her blush disappeared. “I was trying to convince myself that I loved him. I didn’t want to love you anymore because of what you seemed to have become and I—”

“I did become,” he corrected, but there was no anger or reproach in his voice.

Sakura looked up, but looked away again. “I knew everyone had decided you were a lost cause at that point and they were all decided that you had to be killed. It was my fault Naruto was so obsessed with bringing you home. I begged him, made him promise to bring you home. His nindo drove him to do whatever it took keep his promise. Sai told me just how much Naruto loved me. I really thought it was just a joke to playfully annoy me. So I decided I would love him back and that only I could take the promise he made off his shoulders by killing you. But I couldn’t do it. And he didn’t believe me anyway; he saw right through me. I couldn’t kill you because I still loved you. I still love you.”

“Naruto wasn’t obsessed over bring me back just because you asked him to. I have no doubt he would go that far to up hold his nindo, but he had his own reasons for bringing me back. He would have hated you had you killed me. Your request probably just spurred him on. Nothing was your fault Sakura.”

Sakura lowered her gaze and smiled gratefully.

“Do you think you could ever really love Naruto?” Sasuke then asked in a voice as even and emotionless as if he was asking her the time.

“Maybe.”

“I mean, truly love him.”

“I like him very much, but he’s more like a brother to me. Doesn’t really matter anymore since he seems to be giving Hinata more attention.”

“Naruto cannot make you love him?”

“No, he can’t.”

“Neither can you make me love you.”

That was like a stab in the heart. Was it really the same thing? “I see,” she said, crestfallen.

“When I thanked you when I left, after you tried to convince me to stay or take you with me, that was completely genuine. I did have fun back then. I did consider you a friend. But I’ve never loved you. We were children back then and I was too focused on my goals to even think about things like that. I was just as focused when I met Karin and when I chose her for my team.”

Despite the way Sasuke was beginning this part, Sasuke felt dread coiling up in her stomach.

“She understands more about me than you do even though you’ve known me longer. She’s also much more familiar with person I am now, not the child I was. You caught a glimpse of my dark side, but she stared into it longer and took the brunt of it when Danzo held her hostage. And yet, she forgave me. She also suffered the loss of her entire family. Perhaps that’s one reason we were drawn to each other on some level. She had a savior—though I don’t discount Orochimaru being the one who slaughter her village—and she followed him to thank him and to become powerful enough to defend herself. I had a target and followed Orochimaru for the power to kill my brother. Really not that different. We share a pain, you do not, and I hope you never will. Kakashi shares that pain as well.”

Bringing Kakashi into it confused her.

“I’ll be marrying Karin.” She was surprisingly numb. “I want to begin to rebuild my clan. I do feel for, I feel affection for her, but she’s not the one I truly love.”

Sakura’s heart leapt. But wait, he already said he didn’t love her.

“It’s already entered the rumor mill. I was going to tell all this to you tonight, but I didn’t want you to find out through rumor. I’ve been in love with Kakashi since before I left Konoha.”

Now she was struck totally numb. Her head swam and she couldn’t feel anything in her body but a coldness and her heart palpating uncomfortably in her chest. Kakashi? She felt lightheaded. Her breathing had stopped and she didn’t notice. Her vision began to gray. As she fell over, she heard Sasuke call her name.

Luckily, after her shocked mind lost consciousness, her body instinctively began to work again. She was breathing and the blood started flowing properly again. Sasuke really hadn’t expected her to faint. Cry, rage, slap him, yell at him, cry, punch him, cry. But to actually faint. Once he saw she was breathing again he actually gave a rye laugh. He didn’t think women actually did that.

He laid her out and put a pillow under her head. He took hold of her cold hand and then fetched a blanket. He tucked her in and sat back in his chair. After a minute of just sitting there, he decided to make tea. Help keep her calm; he hadn’t even mentioned that Kakashi reciprocated his feeling and that they were lovers. At least he would be prepared when she fainted again.

-----

Kakashi didn’t find Izumo in his apartment. The bed was made, but he could of made it before he left this morning. But something told Kakashi Izumo hadn’t slept here last night. He went to the gate. No Izumo. He asked about him. He didn’t come in this morning. Neither did Kotetzu.

Kakashi knocked on Kotetzu’s door—it was in the same building and on the same floor as Izumo’s. Kotetzu took his time coming to the door. The dark complexioned shinobi went pale at the sight of Kakashi. The fact Kakashi was in his recently adopted ass-kicking outfit probably didn’t help matters much.

“Is Izumo here?”

“Uh . . .”

“I’m not going to murder either of you. Is he here?”

“He’s asleep. He got really drunk last night.”

“Where at?”

“Well . . . He went to that bar over by Ichiraku, but he saw you there with Sasuke. He ran out and ended up in another bar. He got really drunk and started saying all kinds of things about you and Sasuke. Iruka came and got me. We brought him back here. He’s sleeping it off.”

“How much of what he said was before he was drunk?”

“Uh . . .”

“Thought so. Jealous and vindictive. I don’t envy you, Kotetzu.” Kakashi left. Really, it would be punishment enough for Izumo to know Kakashi knew what he did and that he came looking for him while armed. He would be paranoid for a year. Hopefully he’d feel safer with Kotetzu—who was able to calm Kakashi and keep him from attacking (or so Kotetzu would probably reassure him)—and they’d put an end to this farce of a lover’s spat.

That didn’t change the fact the rumor about his relationship with Sasuke was spreading through Konoha. At least Naruto already knew.

-----

Sasuke was sipping at tea in the armchair he’d claimed when Sakura woke up.

“Sasuke?”

“If you think anything I said was a dream, it probably wasn’t.”

“I fainted?”

“Dead away.”

“You’re marrying Karin?”

“Yes.”

“But there was something . . . else. Something about Kakashi.”

“That’s the part I think made you faint. I’ll make you a cup of tea first.”

He brought her a cup with a little sugar. The caffeine and sugar perked her up a bit.

“You okay now?”

“I think so.”

“What I said when you fainted was, I’m in love with Kakashi.” Her eyes went wide again, but she didn’t faint this time. “Better reaction this time. We’re lovers Sakura.”

Darkness started creeping in on the edges of her vision and oblivion did seem inviting at the moment, but she rallied, not wanting to show Sasuke such weakness. Again.

“But . . .”

“If I have don’t father any children, it will be the end of my clan. But I love Kakashi. Nothing is set in stone except that Kakashi and I are lovers. That’s not the reason our teams were split, but it was a factor. The rumor got out about Kakashi and I in the last day. Naruto and Karin found out while we were at hot spring; that’s why he’s been in a bad mood. I wanted to tell you myself.”

“So, you’re . . .”

“Bi.”

“Oh.”

“There are ugly rumors going around among those who still hate me or distrust me. Try to ignore them if you hear them.”

“I can’t do that.”

“What you will.” Sasuke put his cup down. “If you’re alright, I don’t want to leave Karin and Juugo alone for long. As I said, you’re still invited to join us for dinner. If you need anything, you’re welcome to visit us. Just be aware, the grounds are booby trapped.”

He stood up. Sakura stood even faster and was hugging him tightly before he’d straightened up.

“I still love you, Sasuke.” He tentatively hugged her back. “Can we at least be friends?”

“Yes. I’d like if you and Karin were friends.”

“We were starting to become friends.”

“She’ll need a friend.” He let go of her and she released him after another few seconds. “I’ll see you tonight.”

-----

Kakashi believed it better to remain out in public than to be perceived as hiding. There was really nowhere to loiter other than the park-like promenade. He hated all the steps, but at least he was visible. He took seat on a bench in the shade of a tree and read his book. The dark haired girl in the story was looking more like a dark haired young man in Kakashi’s mind’s eye. A young man with nearly black eyes and a haughty bearing. It gave the story a new freshness.

He was avidly reading the scene where the dark haired (wo)man was playing hard to get with the hero when Kakashi became aware of a familiar presence approaching. He continued to pretend he was reading while the presence came right up in front of him. He was not looking forward to this encounter.

Kakashi nonchalantly looked up. Gai was bent at the waist so their eyes were level and his fists on his hips.

“Are the rumors true?”

Sasuke had been right about Gai. Kakashi sighed. “Which one? There seems to be a few going around today.”

“Number one—”

This is going to be a long day, Kakashi thought.

“—you were dating Izumo?”

“I wouldn’t really call it dating . . . but yes.”

Gai looked scandalized, but Kakashi knew it was feigned. “Number two—”

Kill me now.

“—you broke up with Izumo last night causing him to binge drink and puke in the street.”

“I don’t know about the puking . . .”

“Number three—”

Lovers have telepathy, right? Come one, Sasuke, save my ass. I saved yours this morning.

“You’re having an—that is—having a . . . You’re . . .”

“I started up a sexual relationship with Sasuke while I was still technically with Izumo?”

Gai’s scandalized expression was more genuine this time. “With a student?!”

“He’s not thirteen anymore.”

“Still . . .”

“I didn’t want to get into anything with him because of that, but Sasuke’s pretty insistent when he knows what he wants.”

“But . . . but . . .” Gai stammered.

“I’m happy, Sasuke’s happy, the village can go fuck itself.”

“What does the Hokage think about this?”

“Since when do I need the Hokage’s blessing?”

“He’s an Uchiha.”

“Thanks for the newsflash.”

“He’s so much younger than you.”

“Gai, there really isn’t anything you can say that I haven’t already thought of.”

“I love you.”

Shocked, “Except that.”

“Just kidding; lighten up.”

“Says the person doom and glooming my relationship.”

“What about the other kids, Naruto and Sakura.”

“Naruto’s pissed, but at Sasuke, not me. And Sasuke’s talking to Sakura now. Frankly, my team has always had love triangles and never been totally sane. As Sasuke pointed out, I was given two emotionally damaged students.”

Gai looked like he wanted to add to that, but for once he showed some tact and didn’t mention that Kakashi’s background wasn’t rife with emotional health. Kakashi glared with his single uncovered eye to show he knew what Gai was thinking.

“It’s fine Gai. Our team’s been split so Sasuke and I are on a different team than Naruto and Sakura. That will prevent any tension within the teams.”

“Until your teams are sent out together.”

“By then I hope this has all blown over.”

“I know how they all treat Sasuke. Just be careful.”

“I will.”

-----

Kakashi felt justified in his decision to stay out in the open rather than hide from the rumors. People hushed up and, while the did give him odd looks, the fact he wasn’t furtive about it seemed to make the looks less and less disapproving. As far as he was concerned there was nothing improper with his relationship with his former student and therefore it shouldn’t seem so to the rest of the village. And he was making himself available to any who were brave enough to question him about it, like Gai. Gai would feed into the rumor mill as well, but on his side. From all points of view: profitable.

But then he saw Sakura approaching. He’d given up his sitting on the promenade for strolling through the village like normal, but today he had no destination. Kakashi sensed her before he saw her and by the way she was looking directly at him, he knew this was no coincidence; she was coming for him. The fact she didn’t look ready to pummel him gave him some hope, but he was sure he would not enjoy the conversation. Especially out here in the street.

He stopped before she got too close. She followed suite a few steps later.

“Sakura,” he greeted cooly.

“Kakashi-sensei, can I speak with you?”

No, thank you, Kakashi thought. I like all my bones just the way they are. “Of course.” Where to have this discussion? She seemed levelheaded about this and perhaps a public setting would be beneficial to his health as well. “Can I treat you to some tea and dangos while we talk?”

She gave one of her smiles that seemed so innocent, but he wasn’t sure it was entirely genuine. “Thank you, sensei.”

He led her to the favorite dango place in the village. This time of day there weren’t a whole lot of people there, but it was still one of the centers of village gossip as they all stopped mid-word when he entered and looked at him searchingly. He ordered tea for two and dangos for Sakura, though he wasn’t planning on drinking anything. When they arrived, Sakura measured her voice so that it would only carry to Kakashi’s ears.

“Sasuke came to talk to me today.”

“I know. He meant to tell you tonight after dinner, but the rumor mill prompted him to tell you as soon as possible so you would learn it from him and not the village scuttlebutt.”

“He didn’t tell me how this happened.”

“I think it far be it from me to tell you something he wouldn’t tell you.”

“Well, on his side. What about for your part?”

“I didn’t start to think about a relationship with him until he mentioned it. You see, after my last birthday, we started becoming closer. I realized later that Sasuke had probably always been closer to me than even the two of you, his peers. I personally trained him in using my Chidori and, I know after that first test with the bells, he respected me for my ability. We didn’t talk much at all when I trained him alone, but I knew about his past, even knew several of his family members. The night he left the village I talked to him and confided that he and I really weren’t that different, that we both had lost everyone we ever loved. He says now that that almost made him stay, that he would have stayed if it weren’t for Orochimaru’s men cornering him that same night.

“After he came back—this I again didn’t realize until recently—he purposely pushed both you and Naruto away, but he never did so with me. Things started to really change on my last birthday. He’s the one who gave me these swords. He invited me over and gave them to me. I mostly thought at the time that he was merely coming out of his shell finally. We started to spend a little more time together outside of missions.

“Then one night, when he drank a little too much, he flat out told me the truth, that he was in love with me. I tried to dissuade him, telling him he was drunk, but he was insistent. I needed time to think it over.” Kakashi avoided telling her anything about the ill-advised sex they had that night. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had always loved him, though perhaps not romantically. I was spending a lot more time with him and coming to know him better and better. He let me see what he was really like. Sasuke doesn’t show his true self to anyone it seems. He’s different than what you know. I genuinely fell in love with him.

“It wasn’t until our first night at the hot springs that I told him I reciprocated his feelings. Unfortunately, Naruto and Karin overheard. That’s what had Naruto so angry and Karin so depressed.”

“But Sasuke is going to marry Karin.”

Kakashi stared at her for a moment. “Yes, he is. I’m fine with that.”

“Seems rather selfish of him.”

“He asked for my approval. I don’t think he would have done it without my approval, but I don’t think he would ever stop trying. But I knew—know—how important reviving his clan is. I’m really okay with it. Karin and I both know who he really loves and what his motives are. I really do love him, Sakura; I not ashamed of it. Though every reason everyone else in the village thinks it’s wrong had already gone through my head. And Sasuke’s too I think. We don’t care.”

“But what about the fact you’re supposed to be prepared to kill him for the village if necessary?”

“Do you think he’d let it come to that? And I hope everyone knows, my loyalty is first to the Hokage and village, my teammates second, my lover third. Course Sasuke is in more than one category.”

“And the splitting of our teams?”

“Our relationship did have something to do with it. Have you heard about Izumo?”

“Yeah, just a few minutes ago, I stopped to overhear a conversation. Sasuke warned me about ‘ugly rumors.’”

“Izumo got jealous even before he had cause. He repeated a conversation I had with him to the Hokage and he followed me one night, looking in at Sasuke and I. There was nothing romantic about that night, but he saw what he wanted to see. He repeated the suggestion I made to him about splitting our teams when I thought it best that I separate myself from Sasuke. But I had fallen in love with him and didn’t want to be separated from him. I decided that instead of this nebulous team we’ve had, it would be better to split the teams in the manner they were. Ends up, the Hokage was of the same mind. So I didn’t suggest the split to her, but I did suggest the teams as they are now. It also gives Juugo and Karin a firmer place in Konoha, being on a real team.”

“You really love each other?”

“Very much so.”

“Is Sasuke happy?”

Kakashi couldn’t help but smile. “He is. It’s a side of him I don’t think anyone has seen since that night nine years ago.”

“I see.” She was subdued during the entire speech, but she suddenly perked up. “But if you ever break his heart, you’ll be answering to me.”

“Knowing your skill and strength, I’d never risk it. I’m glad you’re taking it so well. I thought you’d be furious.”

She shook her head. “Apparently when Sasuke told me, I fainted.”

“But at least you didn’t use your black gloves on either of us. Especially me.”

“I was too shocked when he first told me. Then as I thought about it some more, I did want to pound you into the ground for stealing him from me. Then I thought about it some more. I realized the same thing you did: he’s always treated you with more respect than he ever did us or anyone else. I noticed he spent more time with you, talked to you more, and you worked so well together.

“I’ve been thinking about love since before Sasuke left. At first I really just thought he was cute and cool. Then, as I got to know him, I wanted his approval and I wanted to make him happy. It went from a selfish thing to, almost, selfless. I guess I’m still a bit obsessed with him, but more than anything I want him to be happy. Even if it isn’t with me. I’m happy for Sasuke. And for you.”

“Thank you, Sakura.” Kakashi gave her a seated bow.

“Since I didn’t use my great strength on either of you, I’ll use it on anyone who spreads any nasty rumors.”

“Good luck. I think it’s gone through the entire village. I’m expecting a visit or a summonce from the Hokage at anytime.”

“Sasuke headed me off, maybe you should her. Or I will. I’m her apprentice; I’ll go talk to her.”

“That’s kind of you, but it’s really our—”

“I can handle her temper.”

“Oh, you can, can you?” Sakura turned chalk white. Kakashi looked up to see the blonde buxom Hokage standing a few feet from them.

“Kakashi, you’ll accompany me to my office now!”

Sensing she wasn’t as angry as she led on, Kakashi tried to be sensible, and rather conniving. “Perhaps we can discuss this over sake?” His eye shut with a placating, overly large smile behind his mask.

-----

Kakashi dragged into Sasuke’s house three hours later. Sasuke had started dinner and the kitchen was already awash in steam and the counters covered with prepared ingredients ready to be added to the cooking vessels. He was cooking for five, so he prepared quite a bit. And a desert for three of them. Sasuke’s soft, though bit oily, hair looked a tad wilted among the steam. The rice cooker and the meat and liquids hitting the magma hot wok made the room look like a sauna.

Kakashi did not stop to greet him, but went straight for the shower and changed into his last set of clean clothes he brought here. Sasuke was preparing the final stages when Kakashi emerged and leaned on an empty end of the counter. Sasuke did not physically acknowledge him.

“How was your day?” Sasuke asked.

“Tiring.”

“Tomorrow I don’t think I want to leave my bedroom.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Kakashi waited for the hiss of steam to simmer down. “I, uh, was cornered by the Hokage this afternoon.”

Sasuke turned to look at him for the first time and stood stalk still, his skin a little ashen and worry threatening to create lines on his usually impassive face.

“It’s alright. I calmed her down with sake. I explained everything—though not in any more detailed than I thought was necessary. She accepted it. I think she knew she had little choice. She could have forbidden it, but that wouldn’t stop two highly skilled shinobi—especially two on the same team—from doing exactly what they wanted.”

“She’s accepted it?”

“I think she was sort of amused on some level. She asked about the future of your clan and I told her about Karin. She’ll do nothing public unless pressed to do so, but she won’t side against us in any event.”

“Good. I didn’t think about her.”

“Well, I had two other encounters today that brought her up.”

Sasuke didn’t move, afraid of what Kakashi would say. At least he didn’t smell any blood on him. But then again in this sauna of a kitchen . . .

“Gai and Sakura. Both went better than I expected.”

Sasuke breathed at last and went back to work. “Seems everything’s out in the open and settled then. Except for Naruto.”

“He’ll come around.”

“Perhaps.”

“When he sees how well Sakura’s taking it, he’ll calm down.”

-----

Sasuke didn’t flirt in the slightest during dinner, would be rather rude with both the women who loved him at the table. Sakura was recovering better than Kakashi thought she would.

Karin and Sakura were a little uncomfortable at first, but the three men kept the mood as light as possible. It turned into a pleasant evening with no one mentioning the tangle of relationships in the room. Sasuke walked Sakura home.

They didn’t say anything almost the entire time. It was getting late, but there were still people walking around. Seeing Sasuke walking casually with someone other than Kakashi, Karin, or Juugo, stifled any comment.

They were almost to Sakura’s apartment when she finally spoke. “Thank you, Sasuke. I had fun.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’d like to see you more often, all of you, as friends. We’ve all been on the same team for while, but I never got to know Juugo or Karin.”

“I was wrong to push you away when I returned. Come over whenever you want.”

“Thanks. As a medical-nin, maybe I can help Karin when . . . you know.”

“I’d trust you more than any other for that.”

“Thank you.”

They arrived at her door. She hugged him. “If I can’t marry you, I’ll still do what I can to make you happy, even if it’s just as friends.”

“Thank you, Sakura.”

He took the quicker rooftop route back home.

-----

Karin and Juugo were gone by the time Sasuke got back. Kakashi had cleared the table and was putting things away.

“Thanks,” Sasuke said as he walked in.

“Not a problem. Sakura alright?”

“Ah.”

Kakashi began to suspect Sasuke’s lack of flirting during dinner was not just out of consideration for Sakura’s feelings.

“I’m going to bed,” Sasuke announced as soon as the dinner was cleaned up. “You’re welcome to do as you please or join me.” There was a complete lack of sexual invitation in his voice and bearing. Kakashi figured rightly that being called a slut had put a slight damper on his libido.

Even while they were not officially living together—though Sasuke all but told him to stay with him—Sasuke was completely comfortable going about his routine with Kakashi present. Kakashi joined him.

Not sure if Sasuke even wanted him to touch him, Kakashi didn’t try. But Sasuke curled up next to him.

“I’m staying home tomorrow,” Sasuke said. “I’d prefer to never go out except on missions.”

“Bad idea.”

“I know. Just for tomorrow.”

Kakashi kissed his hair. “Once something else diverts their attention, the village will start to accept you.”

Sasuke hummed non-committally and fell asleep.

----------
Sen'eijashu is the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands

Here, Sasuke is 17; for those of you who are like me—from a state where the age of consent is 18—many states have the age of 16 or 17 (I was shocked). In Japan, it’s 13! (more shocked) But some areas do have higher ages. So legally, there’s nothing wrong with Sasuke’s age here in Konoha which I figure is 16; that’s why no one makes anything of his age. I’m also going with a legal drinking age of 18 (yeah, not in my state or country(I think)), so Sasuke is a year shy of proper.