He heard her before he saw her. Kakashi could recognize that sweet, slightly off-key voice anywhere.

Looking over the top of the book he was currently reading, he saw her walking over the hill in front of him. Arms swinging carelessly, a beautiful smile on her face... same old Sakura. How she stayed so happy all the time he would never know.

The book was put to the side and instantly forgotten as she walked closer, still humming. His visible eye crinkled as he grinned and waved. "Sakura! What brings you all the way out here?"

The humming ceased as she waved back, a grinning cheerfully. "Kakashi! Imagine running into you here!" Kakashi had long ago told her to stop calling him "sensei"; hearing her worriedly call "Sensei?" when he was lost in his own little world was really awkward, seeing as how he most often fantasized about what he'd like to do to the pretty kunoichi when they were alone.

And it made him feel old. He had a few more years before he could even think about being old, so the "sensei" thing had to go.

He leaned back into the tree, casually shrugging his shoulder. "You say the same thing every time you 'accidentally'run into me. What is this, the fifteenth time this week?"

She giggled softly as she plopped down next to him, smoothing out her skirt. "I just like talking to you, Kakashi; you're interesting."

"I'm sure."

"Well, you are! More interesting than Gai, at least... do you know he's been following me around the village, begging me to go on a date with Lee? He keeps telling me that my youth depends on it, or something like that. It's weird."

"So you come to talk to me just to get away from Gai? I'm flattered."

"No, Kakashi, I come to talk to you because you seem to be the only one who has any sense these days."

"And because I'm interesting."

She smiled slightly. "Yes, that too."

He put his hands behind his head, closing his eye. "So everyone's gone crazy, huh?"

She leaned back next to him, snorting. "Have you seen any of them lately? Naruto and Hinata are never apart, so you can't talk to them. Ino's obsessing over Shikamaru, who's crazy over that Temari girl, Chouji's obsessed with food, Tenten won't shut up about Neji, and Neji's just not friendly. Kiba's busy with a new litter of pups, Shino never talks anyway, that Kankurou boy is in town but he's obsessed with his puppet, Tsunade is in a bad mood because the last batch of missions all went terribly, and Lee is just Lee." She paused for a breath, gasping in air, and then continued. "I mean, they're all crazy. You're the only one I can stand to talk to right now."

He chuckled. "Poor little Sakura, having only me to talk to."

"I'd rather talk to you anyways," she said hurriedly. "I didn't mean to make it sound like you were my last resort. I've always preferred to talk to you."

He knew it was true. Ever since she was a little genin she would come talk to him, fearlessly interrupting his reading time to talk about the weather or the next mission or boys. He grimaced at the memory of the last one... that was rather painful.

He had to admit, he enjoyed talking to her, too. Kakashi could bring up any topic and she would know a little something about it, without him having to explain it. He hated having to explain things; it made everything so, to steal that Nara kid's word, troublesome. She was also happy to just sit in silence with him, staring at the stars or the clouds or whatever was particularly interesting that day. He had never met a woman before Sakura who could bare to just sit in silence with someone... most women had to go ruin the silence with their senseless chatter. Sakura loved to talk, but she knew when to be quiet, and Kakashi loved that about her.

Actually, now that Kakashi thought about it, Kakashi seemed to love a lot about Sakura. He loved her explosive temper-- he liked women that expressed how they felt, etiquette be damned. He loved how she was trusty and reliable, how he could depend on her for anything and everything. He loved how she was the best kunoichi in the village, and she knew it, but she didn't become haughty or arrogant... she stayed the same old Sakura.

He loved how her green eyes lit up when she saw him, how her pink hair glistened in the sun. He loved how she understood him perfectly, never asking questions.

He supposed he loved everything about her.

And that meant...

"Kakashi? Are you there?" A hand was waved in front of his face, waking him out of his reverie. "I was just saying how nice it would be to go get some ramen. Want to come with me?"

He blinked. "Ramen sounds good... I'll come."

She stood, dusting off her butt. "I'm glad, because you're buying."

He groaned theatrically. "I knew you had some ulterior motive for asking me. You would never ask someone like me to dinner just to talk."

Sakura held out her hand to him. "How many time do I have to tell you? I like talking to you, but I just figured you would be sweet and buy me dinner."

He grabbed her hand and stood, bending down to grab his book. "Sakura, you know I'm anything but sweet."

"You're just an old teddy-bear, Kakashi. Cute, fluffy, and loveable."

He snorted. "Sure, sure. Cute and cuddly."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ichiraku's was empty, nobody occupying the stools but a silver-haired man and his pink-haired companion.

Both were currently debating over their ramen bowls, gesturing wildly with chopsticks.

"Look, I say Asuma will ask Kurenai to marry him really soon. They've been dating forever!"

"I've known Asuma longer than you have, and he is not ready to settle down. He loves her, sure, but getting married? Not possible."

Her pair of chopsticks came within an inch of his nose. "Oh, come on! If a couple has been together for as long as they have, them marriage is in the near future!"

His chopsticks swept hers away from his face. "Watch where you point those things. Anyways, I still say marriage is a long way off."

"I bet you it's not."

"I bet you it is. Tell you what... if the two of them get engaged in the next month, I'll buy you dinner for a week, anyplace you want. If they're not engaged in a month, then you owe me seven dinners anyplace I want. Deal?"

She stabbed her chopsticks in her bowl vigorously. "Deal!"

The cook stood polishing glasses not far down from the couple, slowly shaking his head and smiling. He remembered a time, long ago, when he and his wife had been like that-- young and in love. Seeing those two really brought back memories...

Kakashi brought out his wallet and counted the correct amount of money, placing it under his glass. "Are you prepared to lose, Sakura?"

She merely grinned. "I hope you have enough money for seven dinners... I don't eat cheap."

"Neither do I." He tucked his wallet back in his pocket. "I'm looking forward to those free dinners with you."

She smirked. "Hope you like sushi."

He disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving her alone on the stool. She smiled-- Kakashi always had to have a grand exit.

Taking a long draught of her drink, she headed down the street, humming slightly off-key. One month... she knew Asuma would have asked Kurenai by then.

She was sure of it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi sat on his couch, head in one hand and book in the other. Anyone who would have walked in would say he was tired, or sad, or maybe a little bit of both. But the truth was, beneath the mask, Kakashi was grinning. A huge grin, one that took up his whole face.

He knew he was going to win the little bet. He had known Asuma for a long time, and he knew Asuma was not ready to commit to one person for the rest of his life. He was having too much fun as he was.

And since he knew he was gong to win, what better way to spend his time than plotting what restaurants he was going to force Sakura to go too? He could be cruel and force her to go to the ones she absolutely hated, or to the expensive ones, but he knew he couldn't do that to her. She would probably kill him if he forced her to go to her least favorite restaurants-- As much as I love her temper, he thought, I'd prefer to not be pummeled into the ground. And he definitely didn't have the heart to make her spend all her money on him... on any other woman, he wouldn't think twice, but not for Sakura. He couldn't have her hating him for the rest of her life, all because of one little bet.

He'd settle for the cheap-but-good restaurants. That was fine with him... better than his cooking, at least.

A week of free food. He could get used to that.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, you and Sakura placed a little bet, huh?"

Kakashi nodded, sipping his sake. It had been way too quiet in his little apartment... time to hit the bars. "I know I'll win. I mean, can you see Asuma getting married?"

Genma laughed. "Not in my lifetime."

"That's what I mean. An easy win."

"Yeah... and this is the perfect opportunity to make your move on that girl, if you know what I mean."

Kakashi looked warily up at him. "I know what you mean, but where do you get I'm interested in Sakura?"

Genma downed his sake in one gulp, sighing happily. "Good sake, no? Anyways, it's obvious you like her. Whenever she comes within a mile, you put down your book and wait for her, like an eager little puppy. You never put that book down for anyone. And whenever someone needs to find you, nine times out of ten you're talking to her. Did you know we've started tracking you down when we need you by finding out where Sakura is?" He grinned. "I didn't know you had such good taste, Kakashi."

"She was my student, Genma! I can't be... involved with her."

"Ah, but there lies the key word." Genma leaned across the table, smiling wickedly. "She was your student; you said it yourself. Now she's a hot, single kunoichi who just happens to like to talk to you a helluva lot."

"She's talked to me since she was twelve."

The man sighed, twirling the senbon in his mouth. "Why can't you see a good thing when it's right in front of you? She likes you, and now all you need to do is make your move and POW!" He slammed his fist on the table. "She's yours, you lucky bastard."

"I'm still unconvinced."

Genma sat back and sighed. "There's no hope for you. This is the perfect opportunity to score the woman you love, and we know you love her," he said hastily, cutting off Kakashi's protests. "Quit trying to fool yourself. All I'm saying is that you should take advantage of this opportunity. You deserve some happiness, don't you think?"

Kakashi drank the rest of his sake, slamming the cup down on the table. "Well, looks like I'm done here. See you later, Genma." With that he got up and left, leaving Genma shaking his head and muttering to himself.

"Idiot... gotta see the bad in everything..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He didn't hurry back to his apartment, preferring to use the long walk back to his apartment as a time to think.

What Genma had said was true, he supposed... the feelings he felt for Sakura were the closest thing he had felt to love in a long time. But still... she was my student! It's just wrong to get involved with her. She's still young, with plenty ahead of her.

But she's not your student anymore, an annoying little voice said. And she's legal.

That doesn't make it right. What will the village think?

Since when have you cared what the village thought?

Since... now, I suppose. Anyways, there's no way she could possibly love me. She thinks I'm a trusted friend, nothing more.

Are you sure?

Positive, he said angrily. This little voice was pissing him off.

Then what's the harm in trying to woo her during those free dinners? If she doesn't love you, then all of it ends there. Just don't make the wooing obvious.

The voice had a point. What would be the harm in trying? Nothing, really...

And you get seven free dinners.

Hell, he thought, what's the harm in trying?

Good, the little voice said smugly.

Kakashi picked up the pace, sticking his hands in his pockets. He whistled the strange tune he had heard Sakura sing earlier that day.

All he had to do was wait a month, and then the great plan would be put into action.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

A/N: Is Arianna trying a multi-chapter story? Oh my God…. Yeah, I know, I broke away from my little one-shots to start this thing, so we'll see how it goes.

Who knew Genma was so wise in the way of love? It's amazing! And poor little Kakashi, traumatized by Sakura's talk of boys when she was younger... terrible.

I will try to update this regularly, but this isn't going to be really long, so don't expect a gazillion chapters. I'm saying... oh, I don't know, maybe a total of nine or ten? We'll see.

REVIEW! Reviews are awesome, so please... review! I need some constructive criticism, people, and I've not been getting any, so please... TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!