The Final Countdown.
Ten.
She stared at him with her cat-shaped emerald eyes. Her coated mascara eyelashes only seemed to make her gaze even more intense. He could feel his insides wrenching and twisting. He felt sick yet he was proud.
Nine.
She had chosen him as her partner, however due to Sai and Naruto's inability to train with one another without bickering, they decided to relax. She insisted they would cloud-watch. She told him how this became one of her favorite hobbies. He just thought that she was hanging around Shikamaru a little too much. His train of thought flew away as the brush of her pinky grazed against his. The churning of his stomach resurfaced and his heartbeat quickly jumped. He felt proud once again because she finally understood.
Eight.
They were on a mission, Naruto, Sakura and himself. It was just like old times. He didn't know how he felt when Sakura admitted, halfway to their destination, that she forgot to pack her tent. Unfortunately, Naruto had done the same thing. It was typical for Naruto, but Sakura? She had planned this to happen. Nevertheless, he spent that night with his two students cuddling him. When Sakura grasped his arm tightly, he inhaled sharply through his nose. Her hand entwined with his and he couldn't help but smirk at her action. His heartbeat quickened once again as his cheeks burned up.
Seven.
Often times, Kakashi was not someone who would get scared easily. When Sakura jumps on his back out of nowhere, he feels like dying because she does it when he least expects it. But he doesn't mind it, not one bit. She has decided to use him as transportation, but only to the stores that are near his apartment. He doesn't know what she's got up her sleeve, but he knows she's planning something. His heartbeat still jumps but he believes the cause to be her pouncing on his back. He doesn't want to think too deeply on the effect.
Six.
Sakura has this new desire to whisper in his ear. The cool breath of air tickling against his earlobe sends shivers down his spine. When they're at a bar, she whispers to him. It isn't even dirty talk, it's pure conversational phrases. This time, Kakashi closes his eyes and sighs. In her eyes, it might be perceived as out of disappointment or annoyance, when it is just the opposite for him. To meditate, to clear his mind of all the ideas that have tortured him for years. She pouts whenever he sighs and she looks adorable when she does.
Five.
She started to hang around his house, not that he was complaining. One morning, he did his usual routine - get up, shower, put on the uniform and go straight to the cenotaph. When he arrived back at his apartment, he was greeted with smells of pancakes, waffles and a breakfast sandwich on his dining table. She sat across from him with a huge smile. "Good morning," was the only two words she uttered in his apartment that day. He felt special and his stomach flared up with butterflies. He didn't know if it was a normal activity for Sakura to do - surprise her boys with breakfast - but he was delighted that it was just her. The fact that she had made this for him was enough to make him feel touched. She probably knew where he went as well, after all, she was the first member of the team to find out he visited the memorial site every morning. He was grateful and still baffled.
Four.
Pakkun had ingested a funky purple-green fused grass and Kakashi took his trusty companion to the animal clinic. Pakkun was wanted for overnight stay and the only condition he would stay was if Kakashi could stay too. After a very easy persuasion from the Copy-Ninja, Pakkun got his wish. What Kakashi wasn't expecting was Sakura waiting outside of the secluded examination room. It turns out, she heard from Ino who was informed by Kiba in which Hana told him. She was worried sick that Pakkun, the dog who used the same shampoo as her, was going to die. He laughed at her reason and assured her that everything was going to be all right. Pakkun wouldn't leave his side for nothing. Although, Pakkun retaliated, "If I had to choose between you and Sakura, I'd chose her." The two ninjas snickered at his comeback. Kakashi wasn't all that upset; he knew he'd choose Sakura over himself any day.
Three.
Genma dropped off a bottle of wine late at night. He wasn't sure what to make of this, but he knew Sakura had a hand in it. Around 3AM, Sakura appeared in front of his door. She was dressed in club-hopping clothes. A cute black tube top that suited well to her and her regular shorts she always wore. He chuckled to himself and asked her, "I didn't realize that my apartment was classified as a club." The rest of night was filled with glasses of wine and endless amount of topics that never seemed to kill their concentration. Kakashi was a man of few words, but he felt comfortable with Sakura that night.
Two.
It was a moment that was could be described as random, gutsy, risky and confused. The teams of Konoha were gathered together for special celebration. It was a important deal for the future of shinobi and kunoichis alike. In the middle of the rambunctious sounds of cheers, instruments and various cooking wares clanking together, Sakura grabbed a hold of his hand. Butterflies flew in his stomach. However, she was getting closer, taller by the second. In the corner of his eye, he saw her eye close and her lips touched his cheek. He still had his mask on but she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Sakura would never do that, she never did it to Naruto or Sai and circumstances wouldn't allow her to give one to Sasuke. He squeezed her hand tightly as if saying that it was all right, that he gave her permission to do it again whenever she wanted to. Sakura didn't piece it together that their friends had witnessed the whole exchange. It was a hot topic later in the tavern.
One.
The feel of her soft lips against his cheeks woke him up again. He was having daydreams or nightmares; he couldn't tell which would be safer to say, about her lips pressing against him. All over him. He was seriously troubled this time. Outside the comfort of his home, he'd go into tactical Kakashi-ninja mode. Once he crossed the threshold of his home, every little perk that Sakura had done that day would swarm his thoughts. When she would lick her lips unconsciously before facing her toughest training opponent, he couldn't stop staring. All his emotions were stacking up. He tried to keep himself controlled but she was slowly deteriorating his wall that he built up.
Detonation.
A thunderous crash of china plates hit the floor. Breakfast was on those plates, but he didn't care.
Sakura tried to scream but she was cut off by his mouth. His bare lips moving against hers. Flesh upon flesh, lips against lips. Just like how he dreamed and it felt so right. It was the best course of action, absolutely worth it as well. All those absent stares he gave her, the small blushes that appeared whenever he said her name. All those empty twinges of desire and hopelessness, they were washed away.
He kissed her and she smiled, "It took you long enough." With a light ruffle of her hair, he gave a small peck on her nose.
"Shut up," was all he said as he grabbed her hand and led her toward his bedroom.