Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Grounded	By : djserani Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 2818 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
I’m not afraid to take a stand
...come take my hand
We’ll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you’re not alone
-Eminem
* * *
Two days later, Kakashi was once again sitting at the table in the jounin facility, filling out the mission report from his terror-filled run after Sakura. He was having trouble keeping the emotion out of the report and dropped the brush, sighing. He rubbed his hands over his face and picked up his tea cup for a refill.
When he stood up, however, Genma, Gai and Iruka were standing in front of him. “Well, is it true?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is what true?”
“That you and Sakura are still together?” Iruka asked, glaring at him.
“Yes, we are,” he said, unperturbed. “Why?”
“You know why,” Genma put in. “I thought we outlined this a few days ago.”
Kakashi nodded. “You told me the reasons you had a problem with it. But it’s not your problem. There is no problem.” He took a deep breath, considering the three men in front of him. “Whether we are together or not is between us. We are. You don’t have to like it, I don’t much care. Her opinion is what matters and she’s happy with me.”
He looked again from one man to the other. “I am happy with her. So I’ll ask you politely to keep your opinions to yourself from now on, unless it is to wish us well.” And with that, he sidestepped them and headed for the tea pot.
All three of them turned slowly to watch him walk away, then looked at each other. “Well, damn,” Genma said, shaking his head, but Kakashi chose that minute to come back.
“And Genma? The only reason her age bothers you is because you wish you had a girlfriend so young and beautiful.” And with that, he left again, filling his tea back up and sitting down at the table again.
None of them knew what to do with it, what to say and so after they stared at him another minute, they dispersed, each going their own way, completely floored by what they’d just seen.

As they walked away, Kakashi reached into his vest and pulled the small box out. He chuckled to himself. If they thought that was a shock, they were really going to be in for one when they made their announcement in a few days.

Sakura fought with the key again and made a note to have the lock smith look at it. Something wasn’t quite right with her copy. She hauled the box of books into the living room and dropped them on the floor in front of the bookshelf.
She still had stuff packed in boxes in Ino’s spare bedroom, but it would only be spare for so long. They’d need to fix it up for the baby, but she still had some time yet. She’d retrieved her clothes that morning and the few other things that were important to her. That box of books was the last of it until they could find a bigger place.
She dropped her keys on the little table and headed into the kitchen. Pakkun was sitting with his bowl in his mouth again, looking pitiful. “You’ll get fed tonight, you know that.” He pouted, but dropped the dish and headed out to the living room.
She turned the heat on under the kettle after checking it for water, then opened the cabinet door. She grinned when she saw the huge bag of tea leaves, then retrieved the pot and set it to brew. Back in the living room, she emptied her box onto the bottom shelves and then sat on the couch with her tea, closing her eyes.
Pakkun jumped up onto the couch and rested his head on her lap. She looked down at him and smiled. “I thought you were a nin-ken and didn’t do stuff like this?”
Pakkun considered her for a moment before speaking. “I thought you might…want a dog.” He sighed. “The pack likes you. All of us.”
Sakura grinned. “I like you too. But you don’t have to be out of character for that.” She ran her hand over his fur and scratched behind his ear.”
“It isn’t really. We just don’t like to let Kakashi know we really do this stuff. He might start to treat us like dogs. You? That’s okay.” He paused to scratch behind his own ear for a minute. “Him? Not so much. He takes us for granted too much as it is.”
Sakura laughed. “Well, your secret is safe with me. But you’re still not sleeping with us.”
He grumbled, but lay back down on her lap again. She dropped a hand over his back and closed her eyes once more and that’s how Kakashi found them an hour later. He stared at Pakkun for a minute before shaking his head, then squatted in front of her. “Sakura?”
She opened her eyes and started to stretch, before remembering the dog was there. He was still asleep, so she lifted him carefully and set him aside. He curled into himself, snorted once, and quieted.
She smiled up at Kakashi, pulling his mask down for a kiss. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself. Am I going to be replaced by my dog?” he asked, suppressing laughter.
“I am not your dog. We have a blood pact. That doesn’t make me your dog,” Pakkun said without moving.
Sakura laughed. “No, you don’t have to worry about it. I’m still in love with you.” She kissed him again and things heated quickly. She pulled him closer, yanking at the zipper on his vest and neither noticed the ‘poof’ as Pakkun made his escape.
But a moment later, he pulled back with effort. “I actually came home to ask you out.”
She blinked at him. “Out?”
“Yes, out. Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”
She stared. “Kakashi, we live together.”
“Okay. And? We’ve never actually been on a date.” He smiled and she had to remember how to breathe. He still caught her sometimes with just how damned beautiful he was.
“And you want to go on a date?” she asked and he nodded.
“Tonight. I’d like to take you to dinner tonight.”
She swallowed, trying to figure him out, but gave up. “Okay.”
He grinned then. “Excellent. I’ll pick you up at six.”
She stared at him as he headed into the bedroom, then hurried to follow him. He was already reaching into the closet. “Pick me up?”
“Yes, pick you up.” He pulled a hanger out with a bag over it, grabbed another bag from the bottom of the closet and turned back to her. “Do you mind?”
“Oh, sorry.” She and stepped back out to the living room. A few minutes later, he came back out, carrying the garment bag and a small duffle.
“Now, wear a dress. It’s nothing too fancy, but you won’t want your ninja clothes. Maybe the dress you wore the first night we were together.” He grinned and she blushed at the reminder. “I’ll be back at six for you.” He leaned down, kissed her again, then pulled up his mask and left.
Sakura stared at the door. “Okay, um, damn. I’m going to need help, then.” She checked the clock, but she had time. She grabbed her purse and her keys and took off for Ino’s.

At five minutes before six that night, Sakura was still fighting with her makeup when someone knocked on the door. She cursed silently, annoyed at the interruption. She didn’t really expect him on time, but she wasn’t going to be the one late, either. She forced herself to concentrate harder and finally finished her lipstick. She stepped back and looked herself over as they knocked again. She’d have to pass.
She hurried out to the door and pulled it open to see Kakashi on the other side. She swallowed the drool and stepped back for him to come in. “Why—” she had to clear her throat. He was in snug black pants, a grey sweater that hugged his muscles and…no mask. Instead of the normal headband, he had a small band of fabric over the sharingan. She shook her head, he looked deadly. To any female within a hundred kilometers, anyway. “You’re early.” She blinked at the clock on the wall. “Really early.”
He raised his eyebrow. “It’s six,” he pointed out.
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t expect you for at least another half an hour.”
He rolled his eyes, but otherwise didn’t reply to that.
“And… Why did you knock?”
“Because I’m picking you up for our date?” He formed it like a question, then held out a small bouquet of daises for her. “Ino said they’re your favorite.”
“Ino?” she asked, stunned.
“Yes, Ino.” Sakura stared at him, not sure what to make of all of this. This was not the Kakashi she knew. She didn’t mind it, but it was definitely different.
“Well, she’s right. Thank you.” She turned to the kitchen, but the one thing she hadn’t brought over was a vase of any kind. Instead, she took the teapot, cut the stems quickly and put them in it, setting it on the table.
“Are you ready?” he asked her, and looked her over. She hadn’t worn the same dress. This one was in her signature red, but there were two straps this time, one over each shoulder. The front was as low cut as the other one, hugging the tops of her breasts and he realized that they covered the last of her healing bruises. His eyes continued down, taking in the short skirt that stopped well above the knees and the…heels that she was wearing. He had to remember his plans for the evening. And how to breathe.
“Kakashi?” she said, waving a hand in front of his face.
“Hm?” He forcibly shifted his attention.
“I said I’m ready.”
“Oh, right. You are…beautiful, Sakura,” he said and gave in to the urge to kiss her. He forced himself to keep it light and stepped back, offering her his arm.

Sakura couldn’t keep from laughing as people stared. He hadn’t been wearing a mask when he picked her up, but she thought maybe he’d pull one up from somewhere. But he left it off and so, of course, everyone stared as they walked to the restaurant. And when they were seated. And if they happened to pass their booth.
“Are you trying to give half the village a heart attack? I can’t heal them all.”
He grinned, stunning the waitress who had come up to refill their tea. When she left, he laughed. “No.”
“Okay, then what? Why are you suddenly not wearing a mask?” Sakura shook her head, doing her own staring.
The smile faded and he paused to gather his thoughts. Now that it was here, he was actually scared. He took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He set it on the table in front of her and watched her face.
Shock, pure and simple. It couldn’t be mistaken, what the box was. Sakura swallowed and reached out with a shaky hand. She picked it up and had to struggle a little opening it, she was shaking so hard. But open it she did to see a beautiful emerald solitaire ring.
“Kakashi?” She looked from the ring up to his face.
“Marry me, Sakura.” He couldn’t bring himself to say more, didn’t dare. She could still say no. He knew she wanted to be with him, but she’d never said a word about marriage.
But over the days that they’d been apart, during the terrifying run after her and as she lay in his arms when it was over, he’d started thinking it. The first thoughts had, of course, intruded back when they all first went after the nin. With the others having made their own plans to get married, he couldn’t ignore it. But it recently came home to him just how much he wanted it.
She stared at the ring a moment, then carefully removed it from the box. She didn’t notice the tears streaming down her cheeks. It was more than she ever could have hoped for, though she’d wanted it badly. She kept telling herself she could deal without it, it didn’t matter if she had him.
She held the ring in front of her for another moment, then turned to look up at him. “Are you sure?”
He didn’t speak, didn’t try to give the clichéd responses of ‘more than anything’ or something equally lame. He just nodded and let his bare face answer the question for him. He took the ring from her and pushed it onto her finger, staring at it there.
Then her smile bloomed. “Yes.” She laughed. “Yes!” She nearly shouted it. She threw her arms around him and there in the middle of the restaurant attacked him. It took them a couple of minutes to remember they were still in a public place. Especially when waitress came back with the check and had to clear her throat twice to get their attention.
They broke apart, blushing but grinning. “Congratulations,” the waitress said, having apparently gotten over her need to stare at Kakashi’s face.
“Thank you.” Kakashi took care of the bill and they started out of the restaurant.
But before they got to the door, they heard “Kakashi? Sakura?” and turned to see Shizune and Genma sitting at a booth near the front.
“Hello,” he said, pulling Sakura closer to him and putting his arm around her. He turned to Genma and cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology, Genma. I was out of line the other day.”
But Genma just shook his head. “Forget it, man. I understand.” He looked from Kakashi and his clear face to an obviously beaming Sakura. “Seems I owe you one.”
“Don’t worry. Let’s forget about it, okay?” He looked down at Sakura. “Want to tell them?”
She grinned and held her left hand up. Shizune gaped at them, her mouth dropping nearly to the table. Genma whistled. “Damn, man. You were—err, are serious. Congrats.” He held out his hand and Kakashi shook it.
“Thank you. I had to do something to make sure she stayed with an old man like me, didn’t I?” he said and winked at her, making her blush even more.
In retaliation, she leaned up and whispered in his ear. “If you were old, there’s no way we’d be able to have as much sex as we do. Especially that time on the kitchen counter. Or right inside the apartment door. Or up against the wall in the shower. Or—”
“I get the idea,” he said, clearing his throat, his face red enough to make Genma laugh.
Shizune coughed then. “Right, um, congrats, Sakura.”
Sakura laughed. “Thanks.” They waved headed out.

“You still haven’t told me why,” Sakura said as they strolled toward home.
“Why? I love you. What other reason is there to ask you to marry me?” he asked.
Sakura sighed and poked him in the side. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Why no mask?”
He paused at the little bridge over the stream and turned to her. “My life had changed so much in just a month. In that month, I’ve admitted being in love with someone, started living with them, felt grief and terror like I’ve never felt before. And I’ve realized that while my life has been changing, it’s time to change some things in me, too.” He paused and looked down at her hand. “Some are going to take a long time. I still want to protect you and always will, but the time has come to admit that the mistakes I’ve made I can’t change now. Obito gave me this eye so that I could see things better and I still missed so much. I hid behind my mask, hid behind my mistakes and used them as a shield to keep me safe, keep me from feeling too much.
“You didn’t just dismantle that shield. You shattered it, smashed it to dust. It didn’t matter if I wore a mask, you still fell in love with me. It didn’t matter if I stayed aloof, you still learned about me and loved me anyway.” He took a deep breath and looked at the stars.
“It’s time to put the mistakes behind me. I’ve learned from them. But they’re not who I am, anymore. They don’t define me. And you helped me see that.”
She stood in silence, at a loss for what to say. She reached up and traced a finger lightly over the fabric he wore over his eye. “I—” she started, then paused. “I don’t know what to say.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently. “You’ve already said it.” When she looked puzzled, he shrugged one shoulder. “You said yes.”
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