CC: Hey everyone! This was written for the Poe Challenge at the KakaSaku LJ comm. We're given a different theme each week and have to write our interpretation of it. As long as the central theme is the topic of that week and Kakashi and Sakura are the main characters we're pretty much good to go. Every week, there will be voting and half of the competitors will be wiped out until only one remains. It's like KakaSaku death matches, lol. Voting opens every Saturday at the comm so check out the other participants (I'm a little early methinks) and vote for your favorite fics! I want to thank the ever awesome zelha and nimblnymph for putting this together. Good luck to everyone participating and I can't wait to read the mass amounts of win that I'm sure this contest will produce!

Week One Theme/Topic: The Tell-Tale Heart

Sakura sat in the dusty office feeling like a poor imitation of Kakashi with the sterile mask over her face. Speaking of Kakashi, she glanced over her shoulder at him and was disappointed to see that he was still turned away from her, back straight. She sighed and hastily pushed a box to the side only to stir up a frenzy of dust. She angrily swatted at the dust storm which did nothing but kick up more. Her shoulders slumped, she couldn't take it anymore.

She turned around. "Are you mad at me?"

"No, Sakura I'm not mad," he answered.

"But then-"

There was a firm clearing of a throat and Sakura sheepishly looked up at Shizune who was standing guard in the doorway, although she considered it more like baby sitting. "Get back to work Sakura, I'd like to leave at some point today," she stated.

"I can talk and work at the same time."

"You heard Tsunade's orders - work only, no lunch break, no talking, no joking. She said that silence would do you some good. This space hasn't been touched for years and it's your job to clean it up."

Kakashi decided then was the perfect time to pipe up. "Well, if this is her job may I leave?"

Both women glared at him and Sakura smacked him over the head with a folder, which only scattered more dust and grime.

"Work. Now," Shizune ordered.

Sakura huffed and returned to sorting through the boxes. She blamed Kakashi, not fully but she felt he deserved some of it. It had all started when he kissed her anyway. Their relationship had been simple until then.

Before the kiss they had been equals, partners, friends … friends who did friendly things like eat together and have drinks together. They confided in each other and occasionally they flirted. It was all rather harmless. But a kiss? Kisses were rarely harmless in Sakura's opinion. After all, it wasn't some simple peck on the cheek or atop her head. No, it was a heated molding of lips and tongue. It had left her feeling very warm and very confused.

It didn't help that they were shipped off on a mission together just days later. Things went off without a hitch and, in a move that was unusual for Kakashi, he suggested they celebrate. Sakura was hesitant, he had to have something up his sleeve, but she agreed anyway.

The night led to a good meal, strong locally made drink, and the inevitable confrontation of what exactly happened between them and just what the hell it meant. It resulted in Sakura waking the next morning curled up next to an equally naked Copy Nin.

The return journey home was, for lack of a better word, nice. Now that all of the pulsing sexual tension had been expelled there was no more awkwardness between them. They talked freely, and shared canteens, and Kakashi enjoyed rations much more when they were fed to him by a beautiful kunoichi.

It wasn't until they neared Konoha that nervousness began to pool in her stomach. What happened now? It was much easier to be together when no one was watching or judging. Did they keep it a secret? Was it a one time thing? Kakashi looked as calm as ever and she supposed that if ninety percent of her face were covered, she'd be able to pull it off as well.

Upon entering the village, Kakashi saw her home and then they parted ways after he answered some of her inner questions with a kiss.

As days passed Sakura couldn't help but feel tense around some of her friends. What if they figured it out? Naruto could be a little dense sometimes but he was surprisingly brilliant when he wanted to be. As they sat eating ramen together one day, Kakashi showed up and Sakura hoped that he wasn't having one of those insightful moments. Naruto blabbered on and on and Sakura found herself hypnotized by Kakashi's gaze, tuning her friend out.

"Oi Sakura! Didn't you hear me?"

Embarrassed about being caught unawares, she growled as she turned to him. "Of course I heard you! Everyone in a five mile radius can hear you!"

"So, what do you think?"

She could have sworn she saw Kakashi smirk under that damned mask. Feeling her cheeks grow warm she forced out a quick reply, "I think you need to quit reading so many comics!" She huffed and quickly stood, excusing herself before anything she did could give her away.

Naruto looked at Kakashi. "Girls can really be strange, huh Kaka-sensei?"

"Sometimes, yes."

"What does me reading comics have anything to do with a present for Hinata?"

"You've got me," he replied and then decided to mess with his former student. "Perhaps it's a code and you have to figure it out."

"Hmm … eh! She left without paying!" Naruto felt a slight breeze and quickly turned to the side to find that Kakashi had left him there alone. "Kaka-sensei!"

.oOo.

Sakura locked herself in her room and took a deep breath. She just had to calm down. Being around Kakashi and her friends at the same time was proving to be difficult. The way he looked at her with that lone eye, so dark and intense. He may appear indifferent to everyone else but she could see so much there. It was amazing how expressive the eyes could be.

With a sigh she could imagine the smoldering gaze he had pinned her with in the bedroom. It had her feeling excited, enchanted even. That coupled with the lazily spinning Sharingan … She snapped herself out of the memory. It wouldn't do to get caught up in any fantasies, especially when it concerned something as taboo as what they did.

It didn't help that Ino was, unfortunately, perceptive of anything that made Sakura's behavior changed. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep such a secret from your best friend? When they met for their usual Wednesday lunch, Ino could tell right away that something was up.

"There's something different about you Forehead, and sadly it's not your actual forehead," Ino stated plainly.

Sakura subconsciously rubbed the supposed offending space above her brow. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out."

That could not happen, but Ino was good at holding up her end of a promise, especially if it had anything to do with a secret - and even more so if it was gossip-worthy. Yet Ino didn't ask any questions right away and Sakura was grateful. She let her friend talk away as they sipped tea, learning that she was having problems with a new technique that Shizune was trying to teach her and that the last guy she had dated was a 'total loser in the sack.'

The mere mentioning of sex made the tips of Sakura's ears turn red. As her friend went into great detail of her horrific experience of faking an orgasm, all she could think of were the oh-so very real ones she had been succumbed to. There were pictures flowing through her short circuited brain; thoughts of his long fingers and how they deftly worked the buttons and clasps on her clothes, images of his broad shoulders and how they fit between her thighs … lean muscles, strong chest, husky voice.

"Oh my gods Forehead!" Ino squealed snapping her out of her daze.

"What?"

"You were thinking about sex!"

"Could you be any louder?" Sakura hissed at her.

"Who was it? Come on, tell me."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, really."

"Oh please, you were practically drooling all over the table just thinking about it. So who was it? Is it someone from the village?" She gasped. "Did you sleep with Kiba?"

"Kiba? Are you off your rocker? Give me some credit."

Ino wasn't buying it and she interrogated her for a good twenty minutes. Thankfully, the check arrived and their lunch date was over and she could escape her insistent questioning.

Ino gave her a warning, "Don't think you've been saved. I'm going to find out. Guys, even the quietest ones, will still blab about their sexual conquests and if it's a guy in the village, I will hear about it."

'Good luck,' Sakura thought. She knew Kakashi and she knew that he wouldn't tell anyone. This little secret of theirs would remain.

.oOo.

Sakura hadn't seen Kakashi in days now and she didn't want to admit it, but she really wanted to. It didn't even have to be for sex, although gods that would be great, just going to dinner again would be nice. She was really missing his company, so much so that it was affecting her sleep. She dreamt of him - often. They were innocent ones, dreams of flirty conversations or walking through the village at sunset. They were naughty ones, visions of him taking her roughly from behind or making love to her sweetly and how she loved that delicious sound he made when he came.

In the mornings, Sakura would wake yearning for him more than she did when she went to bed.

When she was summoned to Tsunade's office about a week later, she was surprised to see Kakashi there as well. Shizune stood there looking at them silently. Did she know something? She was anxious and her heart thumped heavily.

"Have a seat Sakura."

"Is everything okay, shishou?" she asked as she took a seat next to Kakashi. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw him smile at her. Was his heart not pounding nervously like hers?

"Just fine. I was sorting through some mission logs and I came across one in particular. That's why I called you and Kakashi here, I was hoping you two could explain this to me and clear it up."

This worried Sakura. Something else was going on, she was sure of it.

"It's about your most recent mission together …"

'Oh no, she knows! I should have known Tsunade would figure something like this out. What if she caught wind of Ino asking questions and she called Kakashi in to question him and he told her the truth and now she wants me here to divvy up our punishment….' Sakura's mind was racing.

"I've already spoken to Kakashi and he's told me about what happened …"

'Oh crap! She knows! She knows! Think of something Sakura!' She was coming up empty and her heart was thudding, increasing in speed and sound. To her, it was nearly deafening, the others must have been able to hear it as well.

"Are you okay, Sakura?" Tsunade asked, studying her with her sharp taupe eyes.

"I … I-I'm alright," she stammered, feeling quite uneasy under her stare.

"Are you sure?" The emphasis put on the word 'sure' was not missed.

She couldn't stand it any longer. She stood from her seat. "I slept with Kakashi!"

Sakura gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth, unable to look away from her master. The room was eerily silent and then she was really sure that everyone else could hear the pounding of her heart now. Then Tsunade broke out into a fit of laughter. Sakura slowly moved to glance at Shizune to see a worried look upon her face. Then she glanced at Kakashi who wore the same expression as always. Did he not understand how serious this was?

She was done for. She had effectively caused her mentor to go crazy, she was going to get demoted for sure.

"Shishou?"

That was when Tsunade immediately ceased to laugh and ordered Shizune to take them to the warehouse. Sakura and Kakashi spent nine solid hours cleaning and organizing and when they were finally let out for the day, it was to find that the sun had already set and stars twinkled in the sky.

Kakashi nudged her with his elbow. "Lets go get something to eat."

"Really?"

He picked up on her doubtful tone. "Do you not want to? Are you on a diet?"

She shook her head. "No, I just … I can't believe that I told her and got us in trouble."

He chuckled and she stopped and stared at him as if he had suffered from temporary insanity. "Stop laughing!"

"Sakura, if we were really in trouble do you think we would have been tasked with something so mundane and boring as organizing files in a warehouse?"

She thought about his question. "I suppose not."

"Besides, now that it's over I guess I should let you in on what's happened."

"Wait! Let me in? Kakashi …"

"I went to Tsunade yesterday and told her that even though I believe in privacy and what happens between me and other people of the village is strictly my business, I thought she should know about us before rumors reached her. Tsunade told me that she wouldn't take strict disciplinary action if you came out and told her about us as well. She's actually quite happy for you."

"So when she called me in … you knew already?"

He nodded and then thought that perhaps he should have kept her in the dark as he watched the shock and relief and then more shock cross her features.

He reached out and gingerly touched her shoulder. "Sakura?"

Suddenly, her fist came flying and made contact with his chest. "You jerk! You could have warned me! I was on the verge of fainting in there! Do you have any idea how badly I was panicking on the inside? I thought we were done for!"

He rubbed his chest and couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. "And yet things turned out just fine, didn't they?"

Sakura huffed and dropped her fists. She stared at him for a long moment, her gaze locking with his and once again she could read all the things he wasn't saying aloud. He was sorry, but he was happy and there was a flame behind his look that said he was done waiting for when they were alone together again.

She took a step away from him and then looked back at him over her shoulder. "You're paying for dinner, come on."

He grinned under his mask and took up his place beside her.