First fanfic! W00t! I will try and update every week or so :3 I would really appriciate reviews and such to help me get better C: So... I'll skip to le details!

I do not own Naruto, nor the characters

Kakashi has been distracting himself with mission after mission, hardly ever being within the village for longer than a day or so. Now, with a strained sharingan destroying his body, he's on lock down in Konoha until they can figure out a way of healing him. Returning to the village seems almost unnatural to the man after so long. While he's been gone his students have been growing up without him. Naruto's training a very unusual group of genin and Sakura, she's changed the most. Although she welcomes him home, the new life she's started both confuses him and puts him at ease.

Couples: umm well that's to be decided still, but lets claim KakaSaku for now xD

Tsunade's eyes bore into Kakashi's as she tapped her fingers on the desk, "I don't care," she growled quietly visibly irritated, "Our medics cant keep healing your Sharingan until we know more about it. No more missions Kakashi." Tsunade's eyes, voice, and stature were firm – there was no getting out of this one.

Kakashi was silent, as much as he wanted to fight it, she was the Hokage. "What should I do?" There was no emotion in his voice his eyes falling from hers, focusing on the dust on the floor.

With a heavy sigh, Tsunade's eyes softened. Pursing her lips she thought about her words carefully, "Enjoy civilian life for a while, maybe? Go back to teaching new genin?" her voice fell becoming slightly sad, "Naruto and Sakura both are here, maybe talk with them," With a nod Kakashi silently walked from the room. Tsunade's eyes focused on the door as a wave of sadness crept over her. Hatake Kakashi was one of her best ANBU and she had just condemned him to the village.

Rain pattered down from the sky, soaking the village to the bone. Not a single person was on the street, shops were closed, and the only thing that was left of the village was the bare bones of it. The sound of the rain almost washed away the sound of Kakashi's footsteps against the rock path. Shoving his hands into his pockets Kakashi walked silently down the sobering path to the KIA memorial. His eyes scanned the names etched into the stone. The rain froze his body, numbing him to the bone – the rain dulling his mind. "Go away, Iruka."

Kakashi's eyes stayed on the cobalt stone, never looking to the man behind him. Iruka's eyes softened, "I'm here to help Kakashi, why won't you let me?" he whimpered out quietly as he stepped forward, reaching for the man's shoulder to comfort him.

Kakashi's voice darkened, stopping Iruka in his tracks, "Making me stay home from missions isn't helping anyone," he snapped darkly. "Leave me alone here." Clenching his fists in his pockets, Kakashi shut his eyes tightly, controlling his flaring temper. Iruka turned around, meeting the glowing blue eyes of the Copy Ninja's student. Shaking his head, Iruka silently explained that Kakashi wasn't ready to be around anyone.

The rain continued for hours, but Kakashi never left the stone tablet. His silver hair hung in his face as his soaking clothing hung heavily on his lean frame. Even as the sky darkened further, Kakashi didn't move a muscle. Closing his eyes, Kakashi bathed in the darkness, the cold echoing through his body. The sound of footsteps didn't alarm him, only believing it was Iruka once again. A sudden warmth burned Kakashi's skin. Opening his eye, his surprise peaked. A young pink haired woman stood beside him. Her glistening emerald eyes were focused on the memorial in front of them. As his eyes wondered over her, seeing her hand had crept into his pocket only to pull his out into the open; intertwining her pinky with his. "I don't want to talk Sakura," he growled quietly beginning to pull away from her.

Her pinky tightened around his, her eyes never leaving the glimmering stone, "I know," she whispered quietly, her voice faint under the cover of the rain. She had no umbrella, no thick jacket like he wore; but she stayed. Lengthy pink hair clung to her as the rain dripped over her porcelain skin. A thick strapped tank red tank top now dark maroon as it clung to her body weighed down by the water trapped inside it. They stood there, in pure silence, holding each other's pinkies in front of the memorial. Kakashi's perception of Sakura was spinning. The woman beside him never liked silence, yet here she sat, with no words not even asking him a simple question like she normally would. No words were exchanged after that. Another hour passed as the rain numbed them both, yet Kakashi continued to feel the warmth that she held; never letting go of her pinky.

His eyes wondered from the stone, looking at his grown student in a new light. With eyes focused on the stone, reading every name, he could feel her pain; the pain of losing a comrade. She stood here, unmoving and silent, just to let him know that she was there. "Are you going to leave?" he asked quickly, as if warding her off from staying any longer.

"No," her eyes turned to him, a smile curving up her plump, slightly purple lips, "Not without you, Kakashi-senpai," her pinky tightened around his once again, "You're not alone anymore."

The way she had said those words made Kakashi stiffen: her soft voice finding a way to be firm, the rain pattering around them suddenly quieting for her to say those words, her clothes heavy with rain water, emerald eyes glistening with emotions that proved every word. His cobalt eyes widened as he looked into the pools of emerald: admiration, pride, concern, devotion, and most of all understanding. Kakashi's lips tugged up into a smile under his mask, his eyes curving up in response, "Let's go home then," he muttered as if it was a totally different person saying things against his will. She gave a soft nod knowing his grin was fake and began pulling on his hand, making him walk at her side as if letting go meant he'd slip back into the darkness. It only took minutes to reach Kakashi's apartment, "how did you know where I live?" he questioned in confusion.

Kakashi lived in a part of town where most of the batchlor ANBU lived: low rent, easy upkeep, far enough away from town for solitude yet and close to the Hokage tower and memorial. Sakura, a few steps ahead of him, felt her body stiffen in embarrassment. Turning back to look at him she gave a nervous smile, "Countless years of trying to see under your mask," she muttered quietly as she walked towards the steps to his apartment. Kakashi could only roll his eye until she pulled out a key to open the door, suspicion peeking even more, "Tsunade-sama gave me a key," she could only chuckle nervousely as she felt his eyes on her.

Kakashi was surprised when he walked into the apartment. Though he hadn't been home in a few months, the place was spotless. Stumbling into his home Kakashi felt out of place. Sakura floated past him to the kitchen without a word. Kakashi stood there silently as he watched her; she seemed to know the house better than he did. "Go change out of your wet clothes," her voice was quiet as she sensed his discomfort at being in his own house.

Giving a silent nod Kakashi walked upstairs to his room, walking through the doorframe as if he was walking into a foreign land. A set of clothing was set out on his bed, waiting for him, "she knew," he whispered quietly as he looked back at the door. With a smile tugging on his lips he could only shake his head slightly, "always prepared."

Sakura put a tea pot and a cup of tea on a tray, walking up to Kakashi's room. "Kakashi-senpai! I brought tea," she called as she walked through the door frame. Emerald eyes widened as her body froze. Hatake Kakashi stood shirtless in front of her. As the dray dropped from her hands, crashing to the floor, Sakura's eyes continued to wander his body: chiseled abs, a built chest, sculpted muscular arms that would make any man jealous and any woman swoon, and scars covering most of his skin. Sakura was was shocked out of her trance by the sound of glass breaking at her feet, "shit!"

Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle at the woman, blush now painting her cheeks, "So much for the tea," he teased as he pulled the new shirt over his head. Charcoal eyes scanned Sakura as she picked up the pieces of glass. Her clothes still soaking wet, "You didn't change," he pointed out.

Her hand froze as she reached for a piece of porcelain, her voice quiet, "I didn't bring extra clothes. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe." she whispered as she turned and looked at him with a questioning look, "You still wear a mask when you change?" she questioned teasingly.

His eyes softened as he grabbed one of his bigger shirts from the closet and handed it to her. Sakura's small frame could use the shirt as a dress, and it would be much more comfortable than the clingy wet clothes she was in. "Change before you get sick, I'll take care of all this."

She looked up at him and shook her head hesitantly, "I have to go soon… I'll be fine."

Sitting on his bed Kakashi looked at his student, "When was the last time I saw you?" he asked quietly as his eyes scanned her. Pastel hair was longer that he remembered, past her shoulders to the middle of her back. Emerald green eyes, once swirling with emotions, now only showed the ones she wished to show; a ninja's skill. Without letting his eyes drop too far, he noticed the way her body had changed. Wet clothes clung tight to her curves, almost enhancing them, it was almost impossible to say she wasn't a woman.

Sakura seemed to freeze, from his words or from his wandering eyes, "A year, two months, and four days." Kakashi's eyes widened as Sakura put on a falwelss smile, "We've all been busy," she justified quietly as she took the tea back down to the kitchen.

Kakashi felt a weight in his chest as he followed after her, leaning against the wall of the staircase watching her in the kitchen, "Where have your missions taken you?" Inwardly groaning, Kakashi felt like a boring old man. He had never been good at small talk; it always ended up with business.

She chuckled washing her hands in the sink, "It really has been a long time since we talked," she whispered bitterly as he eyes became distant. Raising a brow Kakashi waited for her to continue, "I stopped going on missions a few years ago." She turned to him, watching his brow frown in disbelief. One of his students refusing to go on missions, it just didn't seem possible to him. "I'm the lead medic at the hospital though. Ive healed you and Naruto a few times after missions."

Kakashi was quiet; he didn't know how to respond to her calm demeanor about not having communication with someone who she had spent most of her childhood with. Had she healed him? His mind couldn't recall the medics he had heal him, he always left as soon as he was able to walk. "I didn't know," it was the only thing he could say.

Sakura looked at his confusion and smiled back for reassurance, "No one did, that's the point of us medics, we're supposed to act invisible to active duty shinobi," she said robotically. Running her fingers through partially dried hair her eyes bore into his, "I should still make tea so you don't get sick," she giggled to herself as she looked back at the broken cup.

Kakashi forced a smile, viable through his mask, "Stay for a little longer, lets catch up a bit." Sakura stared at him in confusion, confused on why he wanted to spend time with her so suddenly. "Just an hour, you spent longer in the rain with me."

She chuckled and smiled abck at him, "One condition," Kakashi rose a brow, confused by the young medic calling the shots, "I'll take that shirt now…" she whispered as a light blush painted her cheeks. Kakashi could only laugh and nod, taking control of the tea making, leaving her to change.

Moments later, Sakura quietly walked down the stairs. Kakashi's large shirt draping over her feminine form, a low collar showing off her neck and a bit of her cleavage while the hem stopped a few inches above the middle of her thighs.. A blush painted across her cheeks and Kakashi tore his gaze, trying to make her comfortable. Motioning to the couch, Sakura quickly curled up with a blanket. Her eyes wondered the room; very simple, no pictures, hardly any furniture. The apartment only included what was necessary. "It's a beautiful place," Sakura said with a smile, trying to be polite.

Kakashi became quiet, "I'm hardly here anymore, and normally Iruka keeps it maintained." Sakura's eyes focused on hi as he continued, "It's not really a home," he muttered bitterly.

Sakura smiled, "It will be soon," she assured him as she watched him shift uncomfortably, "I'll have a cure for your condition in a few months, by then you'll feel at home in Konoha again," his eyes rose to meet her sincere emerald globes. "So, tell me about your missions."

Kakashi smiled at her and began to explain his latest mission. Sakura smiled inwardly, He sensors it enough so I'm not offended or disgusted but still tells enough to make it interesting. She nodded and laughed listening to his story about Gai picking a fight in the middle of the forest during a stake out.

Time passed quickly as Kakashi told the story, almost continuing to another before he remembered she had to leave. "What did you have to go and do anyway?" Kakashi asked quietly looking down at the now cool tea. With his mask covering his face, he was unable to drink it, and he had no intention on becoming that venerable in front of Sakura just yet.

Sakura scratched her head nervously, "Honestly, I was supposed to help Tsunade-sama with her paperwork, she wanted to go drinking." Kakashi almost fell out of his seat at her response, "But, that's okay, she knows I'm with you Kakashi-senpai,"

Kakashi's brows frowned together, "You can just call me Kakashi," he stated with an apologietic smile for interjecting, "You're a jounin now, under Tsunade's tutelage, you're not my student anymore." He said proudly.

Sakura felt her cheeks heat up hearing such words from his mouth as she continued with what she was saying, knowing his curiosity. "Iruka told her you were angry, and she asked me to watch over you until you got home."

Kakashi gave a sincere smile now knowing that the woman had taken the extra step to stand beside him for the few hours in the rain. Relaxing in his chair Kakashi muttered, "You should go, before Tsunade gets angry," Sakura smiled nervously at the thought of an angry blonde breaking everything within her reach. With a silent nod she got up and reached for her shoes, "Your clothes?" Kakashi questioned as his brow rose.

Sakura smiled, "Gives us a reason to talk again before next year," she joked and winked playfully as she ran out into the rain in only his shirt. With Sakura gone, the house felt cold and lonesome even through her warmth still lingered. Taking his cup to the kitchen Kakashi felt his good mood slowly fall away until he found himself staring at the broken glass that Sakura had left in the sink.

A small smile tugged at his lips as his eyes focused on the sharp edges. His student had grown up so much while he was gone. A unsurpassable strength hid behind her gentle smile. Tearing his eyes from the shattered cup Kakashi began wandering around the apartment, slowly recognizing the place he had spent his free time. Walking up to his bedroom Kakashi's eyes focused on the clothes that were piled in the corner. The white circle standing out against the maroon fabric, 'What else have I missed?' The thought of his students lingered in his mind. 'If I can find sleep, tomorrow will be easier.' Falling into his bed Kakashi let sleep take over.