disclaimer: I, Emiko, am submitting for Natsuhiboshi the fic that was written by HER! Why? Because I would like to show you all the other stories she has written! duh! here you go!

Shampoo

Does my leaving make you angry?

Not as long as you come back.

The one thing that Emiko absolutely hated about missions was the fact that they were so tedious and long and that half of them were of Jounin rank which literally meant that Kakashi was almost always gone.

No one else was really as truly experienced and feared as he and he was an excellent foe. She knew they were shinobi first and lovers second, but could you really blame her for wishing for more time with the man?

Emiko sighed softly, bringing her and around her knees. It was a Friday night and she should be out celebrating with friends, especially now that Natsuhi was single and free again but she couldn't bring herself to even move.

Instead, all she really wanted to do was just relax and sleep. To dream that Kakashi was back home, here, with her… where he should be.

Morning came faster than Emiko had expected and she climbed out of her bed still as weary as when she had gotten in. She was still so tired and alone.

"Damn. Nothing is going to happen with me moping around like this. I might as well get cleaned up. I don't really know who's planning to show up and say hi to me today."

Emiko twisted the knob of her shower and let the water warm up as she stripped off her clothing. Once she knew that water was the way she liked, she climbed in and began her shower.

'Kakashi's shampoo…'

She smiled and squeezed a generous amount onto her palm.

Kakashi arrived at the Hokage Tower three days earlier than expected.

"This is really impressive, excellent Kakashi. A weeks worth of work in only three days. You're dismissed. You can give me the report later on."

Upon arriving at home, however, Kakashi did not find an empty apartment as expected but instead he found a person cooking breakfast. He sniffed the air.

Bacon, eggs, and was that… waffles he smelled? Yum. The thought of Emiko's cooking made his stomach growl.

He approached her from behind, knowing full well that he would get hit later on for his careless actions. But that wasn't important at the time. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose into her hair and she squeaked.

He inhaled, then froze. He knew that smell. He would know it anywhere.

"You used my shampoo?" he asked softly. She laughed nervously and smiled. "Yeah… you see, when you're gone I find it easier to deal with your absence when I have an essence of you around me.

"The most importance essence is scent. If I wear your clothes or sleep in your bed I feel like you're with me, but it's your shampoo that gives me the best sense of having you around."

Kakashi laughed and Emiko blushed.

"Do you think it's stupid?"

"You really want the truth?"

Emiko nodded her head.

"Alright. To be honest, when you're gone, sometime I use your shampoo too."