Promises Remembered

Chapter 23

A/N Oh my gosh! This is THE chapter! The last of part one! I am so excited for you to cry- I mean love this! I loved writing this chapter, let me know what you think!! 

Chapter 23

Sakura

Seven-hundred and thirty-three days into the past

April 14th, Kazuki's birthday

When Sakura woke that morning, she did not want to get out of bed. The weight of the day pressed heavily down on her and she felt despair. So she wrapped herself around Kakashi and mumbled something about how they should spend the day in bed. He hummed thoughtfully, staring into her green eyes like he was trying to read her soul. When he seemed to find whatever he was looking for there, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I love you, you know that?"

She smiled, ignoring the burn in her eyes to focus on the warmth that spread through her chest at his softly murmured words, chasing away the despair. "I do." Her lips sought his in a lingering kiss. "I love you too, Kakashi... so, so much."

This time when he kissed her, it felt like he was trying to tell her something. His unspoken message to her continued as he rolled her over so she was facing away from him. As he reached around her to touch her where he knew she liked, as he kissed her neck, her back, angling her hips so that he could fit himself between her thighs—his silent expression conveyed with every touch.

She wished she could understand it fully.

Afterwards, he pulled her back flush against his chest and buried his face in her hair. She was glad she was faced away from him. That way he couldn't see her eyes, red rimmed and glassy from all the tears she'd silently wept as he'd made love to her.

They lay that way for a while, neither one speaking, both lost in their heads as they clung to one another. Eventually, she had to get up. As she tugged on one of his shirts, much less roomy now than it used to be, he sat up and scrubbed at his face.

"I'm going to get breakfast. Do you want anything special, Sakura?"

She turned around and leaned against the door frame as she watched him tug on a pair of sweats and crossed to follow her. "I bought some strawberries yesterday." She knew she needed to eat that day if she was going to stretch her chakra to the end. But all she wanted to do was lie with him. "Maybe an egg with rice?"

The corner of his mouth turned up before he kissed her, moving them both out into the hall. "You know I'm terrible with eggs."

Sakura couldn't help but smile back, remembering Kazuki complaining about his father's eggs the first time she'd made him one. He would not improve, apparently. "Don't be silly. They're perfectly edible."

He nuzzled into her neck, his light breathy laugh tickling her skin. "'Edible,' she says. Fine." He kissed her shoulder as he pulled away, crossing the hall to the kitchen. "I'll meet you back in bed with breakfast. Don't get dressed."

Sakura walked down the hall to the bathroom with a soft, sad chuckle. After cleaning herself up a bit, she combed her fingers through her hair to braid it back. Her fingers stilled and she stared at herself in the mirror. Quite a bit of the back of her hair was damp, where Kakashi had buried his face.

Sakura was not the only one hiding tears that morning.

<KSK>

After feeding her in bed, Kakashi grabbed their favorite book and they spent the next several hours reading together. As they finished their favorite chapter, Sakura pushed him down and climbed on top of him. This time was much less bittersweet. He nipped playfully at her fingers, kissing away the sting when she laughed at him and stilled her hips until he gave in. When she came, he had just made her laugh again, the joyful sound becoming a moan that vibrated in her chest and was echoed by Kakashi when he followed her over the edge.