Title: Cinderella

Author: Tsuminoaru

Rating: PG

Pairing: Yonkaka

Warning: hm... nothing really important. (There is a bit angst and fluff, I guess. But there is going to be more of the second in the next chapter ___)

A/N: Many thanks to Vernajast for beta-reading!!! ___

_____

Kakashi dried his freshly dyed hair with a towel and chanced a look into the mirror. Hn... He wasn't convinced this would do it, but he was determined to try it! The jounin brushed his hair back and made a pony tail so he had better access to his face. He traced the scar on his cheek with his fingertips. For a moment he was carried away, lost in memories, then he reminded himself to go back to the task. He took the small make-up tube and covered up the scar thoroughly. Then he placed a grey contact lens at his left eye. After he was done, he looked at his reflection, his face in particular. It didn't look right, it didn't *feel* right, but it was only for tonight so Kakashi supposed it was okay.

The fifteen-year-old used some mascara on his grey eyelashes and pulled the hair tie out, combing some of the now raven black strands over his sharingan eye and part of the covered scar. It didn't do any harm to play safe. 

Done.

He was still unsure whether or not this would actually work as he entered his bedroom and changed into his ANBU uniform, leaving the armor and the porcelain mask out. But the Festival was a far too big a chance to let it simply slip away. There were some foreign shinobi from befriended villages in Konohagakure tonight who were about his size, so he could pass as one of them. Without his mask, he also looked a bit older. If he was lucky, nobody would question him.

Kakashi braced himself and left his small apartment... for the newly opened striptease club.

---

The Hatake couldn't believe how simple it was. He'd been prepared to make use of his sharingan if needed, but the jounin at the entrance glanced at him and let him inside. Apparently, he neither looked suspicious since he wasn't using any henge jutsu nor had he looked underage.


He was of a legal age since he was fourteen, actually, but for this particular club one had to be eighteen at least. The Hokage allowed the club to open only under this condition, so genjutsu and henge justu were also strictly forbidden.


Kakashi figured the tattoo of the Black Ops must also have paved the way for him since most ANBU members were about twenty. The other jounin was probably thinking it wasn't wise for an ANBU to show his face but the Hatake was so not bothered by his opinion.

It wasn't Kakashi's first time visiting a striptease club, of course -- being addicted to Icha Icha and all -- but the first time under such circumstances. He had no mission in there and he would be able to enjoy himself and drink alcohol, loosen up a bit without having to fear to lose control of a henge jutsu. And if the reaction of the doorman was any indication, no one would treat him like a child.

Konoha's striptease club wasn't all that big but the atmosphere was 'niiiice.' The light was dim. There was a bar, tables with comfortable looking chairs, and three stages -- two small and round and a big one in the middle of the place. AND, last but not least, there were damn sexy dancers. It was perfect! What would you need more?

The guests were following the performances, some were chatting and flirting, so Kakashi slipped to the bar nearly unnoticed and ordered himself a drink.

Then, with his drink in hand, the Hatake turned to face the main stage so he had a better view and could enjoy the performance. Kakashi was about to swallow a mouthful of saké when he spotted two familiar men at the first table in front of the stage. He nearly spit the alcohol out then and there; instead, he choked on it.

His heart sank.

There was no mistake -- not far away from him was a totally drunken Jiraiya cheering at the dancer and enjoying himself while more or less headlocking the Yondaime Hokage. Even in the dim light, Kakashi could see the deeply red blush of embarrassment on the blond's face. He would have felt sorry for him if he hadn't been panicking so much. He was sure they would recognize him the first time they saw him. He needed to get the hell out of there! 


Kakashi stood.

iThen again.../i

He sat down and decided to calm down first, to think rationally. While doing so, his gaze never left the two men.

The Sannin was pretty much drunk and way too interested in the performance. And the Yondaime... well, with Jiraiya holding him like that, the man wasn't going anywhere. Kakashi just had to repress his chakra, so his sensei wouldn't sense him and stay at the bar in the shadows. Sounded simple and manageable enough.


Yes, that was it. That's what Kakashi was going to do. He hadn't dyed his hair for nothing! 


If he was lucky, those two would leave soon. But knowing Jiraiya he didn't really count on that.

---

A while and three drinks later Kakashi's nervousness was replaced by amusement. It was pretty hilarious to see how his sensei was trying and failing to escape or to talk Jiraiya into leaving. In the end, the Yondaime was the one who was talked into drinking, or so it seemed.


Kakashi nearly jumped when the Yellow Flash suddenly appeared at his side and ordered the barkeeper to replace his saké with water the next time the waitress brought them their drinks. After Kakashi recovered from his shock, he realized the man nearby him was just a kage bunshin while the real one was still held in place by the Sannin.

"Interesting... So, you're allowed to perform ninjutsu in here?" Kakashi spoke before he could stop himself from doing so. Apparently the alcohol had already started to work because he would have never ever spoken up in such circumstances if he'd been sober! He was already berating himself inwardly and searching for a way to talk himself out of the situation. His sensei wouldn't approve of him visiting this place. He would probably be disappointed in the first place and then he would hold a speech about how wrong it was, and how it was against the rules, and how he was way too young for such things, and, and, and... Ah, not to forget, he would probably laugh at him because of his black hair and all. Naturally, Kakashi wanted to avoid being discovered, but he figured it was already too late.

"Why, ye..." the Yondaime began and apparently forgot how to end his sentence as his eyes met the young man at his left.

He stared

...and stared.

Kakashi shifted under the gaze, panicking on the inside while staying mostly cool on the outside. He was ninety-nine percent sure his sensei had recognized him, which was the reason for the staring.

"You know, you shouldn't stare at people that openly. It's not very polite," the young jounin said a little pouty. So yeah, he dyed his hair (and his eyebrows), and actually used some mascara on his eyelashes because he needed them to be black, aaand he showed his face on purpose. Yes, he'd gone through so much trouble only to disguise his identity in order to visit a striptease club. And, YES, now that he thought about it, he felt pretty dumb and wished he could just disappear. SO, was it really necessary for his sensei to stare at him like that? Because in spite of the fact that it was just a kage bunshin, the staring still had the same irritating effect.

"Oh! Uhm... yeah, yes..." the blond spluttered and actually blushed. "I... mean, I'm sorry!" he said while attempting to take a seat at the bar stool next to Kakashi's. He was still staring.

For a moment Kakashi stared blankly back in irritation, then he narrowed his eyes to slits and looked at the man suspiciously. It didn't look as if the Yondaime was acting, but then again, why would he behave like that?

"Then why don't you stop staring, if you agree?" Kakashi asked gruffly. Because, clearly, this started to be really irritating and made the Hatake want to hide his face, which he couldn't at the moment.

"Uhm... tha... that's because I can't?" the Yondaime stuttered in respond, smiled, and scratched the back of his head in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

Was that some kind of punishment? Was his sensei trying to make him feel uncomfortable so he wouldn't try something stupid like this ever again? Then it wasn't working because the Yondaime seemed to feel more uncomfortable and embarrassment than Kakashi did.

"What is that suppose to mean? Are you trying to pick a fight or something?" the young ANBU asked, a bit out of it. Like what the hell? He rose to his feet.

"Woah! Noo..." the blond raised his hands in denial and leaned backwards, nearly falling from his stool in the process. "The barkeeper is also staring at you! Why are you only angry at me? Uhm... I mean, I didn't want to make you angry! I'm sorry I stared!"

"You still are!"

"Yeah, well... I'm sorry I'm still staring at you! I'm really trying my hardest not to! Is it my fault you are so handsome? I mean, please... le... let me get you a drink as an apology?" the Yondaime babbled. He looked at Kakashi sheepishly with a hint of a blush across his cheeks.

Kakashi gave him a blank look. "I'm sorry?" It was a joke, wasn't it?

"Can I get you something?" the blond repeated himself, and then he seemed to have a moment of realization after which he tried to hide his disappointment. "Uhm... oh, I see", he looked down, "I sometimes miss the hints if someone tries to say 'no' politely. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be so forward ...or hit on you. Uhm, I mean I *was* hitting on you, but yeah... I mean, no... What I mean is, I was trying to... But don't get me wrong! I really didn't mean to be impose!!! Uhm..."


He was babbling and spluttering again, and blushing madly, and gesturing chaotically with his hands while smiling far too much.

Kakashi watched the blond with amazement and growing realization which finally hit him. He hadn't been discovered by the Yondaime! He didn't know why but apparently even his voice wasn't a big enough hint for the Hokage to recognize him as his former student. Hn... Maybe he sounded different because he wasn't wearing his mask? Kakashi wasn't all too convinced that was the reason, but it didn't bother him that much, anyway. As long as he wasn't recognized, that is.

"It wasn't a rejection. I just wasn't sure whether I'd understood you right," Kakashi pointed out, effectively stopping his sensei's babbling before he could make a complete fool of himself. Uhm, well... Actually he'd probably accomplished that already because Kakashi had rarely ever heard his sensei talking so much nonsense in one breath, while acting like a complete idiot. On the other hand -- the teenager wasn't exactly sure why -- it was kind of charming. And it actually made him laugh.

Now the Yondaime was imitating a fish, probably not on propose, which made Kakashi laugh even more.

"Jeez... You suck at pick-up lines", the young ANBU told him after regaining control of himself. He took a seat at his bar stool again.

"I guess so... I don't do that often," the blond admitted with a decent blush and laughed a bit. At least he didn't seem as nervous as some moments ago.

"I figured that much," Kakashi said and looked at the man. Then, with a sly grin, he added, "But then again, it also could be just you're scum."

The Yellow Flash actually make an attempt to look offended, but he failed to keep the expression for long and smiled sheepishly instead. "Uh, you got me... So, what would you like to drink?"

----

Hours later Kakashi found himself drinking much more than he intended, flirting with his former sensei instead of watching the show, and completely falling for the man although he had nearly convinced himself he'd gotten over his first crush on him.


During that time, the Yondaime managed to excuse himself from Jiraiya since Kakashi pointed out he wouldn't dance with a shadow clone. The whole time afterward, the blond actually tried to persuade him into dancing, simply ignoring Kakashi's objections of this being not the right place and him being a miserable dancer. Although the Hatake would actually love to be held tightly by his former sensei while dancing, he didn't want to draw attention and he didn't want the blond to laugh at him, either. Because he *really* was a miserable dancer.

"You don't like me at all!" the blond exclaimed with a pout.

"Why, that's not true!"

"Then why would..." the Yondaime began but was interrupted by the barkeeper.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but we are closing. It's already an hour after the closing time," the man said politely and gestured to the tables which were all empty. Even Jiraiya had already left - probably with some of the dancers.


The two of them glanced over the place, both surprised that they hadn't noticed the time nor the guests leaving the club.

"Oh..." the blond mouthed, "then we should leave as well, I guess." He smiled apologetically at the barkeeper, who'd had to work longer because of them, paid the bill sand left a tip.

Then, he looked to Kakashi.

"Shall we?" he asked, and Kakashi nodded and stood up. They left the club without exchanging further words.

Outside the sun had already begun to rise, but the streets were still empty and quiet. A light breeze brought the smell of coming rain...

Somehow, Kakashi felt the atmosphere change with the change of places. He felt more sober than he probably was, and he felt nervous. He was more than aware of the Yondaime, who stayed so close to him that their upper arms touched. He felt awkward. Although he knew the man very well, and he sometimes felt nervous around him before because of his crush, something was different this time. Kakashi couldn't point out what it was.

"So... shall I bring you to the hotel? In which one are you staying?" the Yellow Flash asked to interrupt the silence. His voice was cheerful in an attempt to lighten the mood which had suddenly become weary. Apparently the man had noticed it as well.

Hotel?


Kakashi looked up at him, being still slightly shorter. His eyes widened as he became aware of the situation he was in. 


The blond was thinking of him as of a foreign shinobi. He was flirting with him, because he was thinking of him as a foreign shinobi. Someone else, someone of the age around eighteen. Maybe the blond wanted to meet him again, or maybe he even had some other kind of 'intentions.

But that really didn't matter now because he wasn't from another village. He hadn't meant to trick the Yondaime, but in the end he unwillingly did so. Now he couldn't tell him the truth because he didn't want to disappoint the blond. He didn't want to make him sad... He couldn't fake his identity any longer, either, because he wasn't faking or playing or lying while he was in the club. It all was real, he'd just forgotten everything around him including his appearance. Now he was aware of it all. But playing along and letting the blond walk him to a hotel, pretending having a room there -- that would make him a liar for real. He couldn't do that, he couldn't fool his sensei on purpose.

He bit his lip, feeling guilty, and looked away. He couldn't stand looking into those warm blue eyes, seeing the Yondaime was still clueless, was actually worrying, probably wondering what was wrong so suddenly.

"I wish I had danced with you... I'm sorry," Kakashi said with regret after a moment of silence. Then he forced himself to look the man in the eyes one last time. He used his sharingan and the moment of unawareness to capture the Yondaime in a genjutsu because he had no chance to escape otherwise. The blond was called the Yellow Flash of Konoha for a reason, and Kakashi knew better than to question that nickname. He ran for it using two shadow clones to disguise himself and the direction he was hitting, knowing it wouldn't take the Hokage long to undo the genjutsu.

One of his shadow clones puffed in the air as the Yondaime caught up with it, but by that time Kakashi was already in his apartment. Some moments afterwards, he let his other clone disappear as well.

---

So... That was it, Kakashi thought as he leaned with his back against the door of his flat, his eyes closed, his breath shaking.


Now he knew that he did stand a chance. In fact, it seemed the blond was attracted to him for real. But only as long he was a complete stranger...


Knowing that made Kakashi feel even more hopeless, because this time he was sure it wasn't just a crush. He really did fall for the man. Too bad all he had and all he would ever get was probably this night. There was no way he could repeat that act; he wasn't even acting then. There was no way he could tell the blond the truth because after leaving him like that he would surely hate him. Kakashi couldn't bear that. And, of course, there was no way the Yondaime would fall for someone whom he regarded as his younger brother.

Kakashi slid to the ground and leaned his forehead against his knees.

Shit, it was all a mistake. Breaking the rules led one nowhere but a personal hell in the end, Kakashi thought bitterly and sighed.