Author's Note: If you're here I hope it's because you believe in the power of love to change people and the world for the better. That's what Naruto is about, after all. Time with loved ones is precious - don't let yourself or your love gather dust!

Rated T for old people angst. Pretty sure it'll be mostly fade-to-blacks on this one. Fortysomething Kakashi and Hanare are flattered you're here but don't really feel the need to let it all hang out.

Enjoy.

Ja matta!

The Concept

An image of over-the-hill Kakashi alone in a quiet back room of a used bookstore. He goes there every afternoon, perusing the shelves to see what's new and also because he doesn't have anything else to do. It is the springtime of his middle-aged youth, and the autumn of his life. Outlook: uneventful? Current score: Guy 678, Kakashi 677. Lots to look forward to… babysitting Team 7's kids, wheeling Guy to the dog park along with the pack, reading Icha Icha knock-offs at the memorial… grocery shopping, alone. It's fine. Then one afternoon, everything changes.

1: An Uninvited Guest

A knock on the door. Kakashi set down his newspaper with a groan. He'd finally gotten a break from everyone's kids - still have to clean up the mess Boruto and Sarada made in the garden! - and had just sat down with his sake-laced macha to rest his bad knee.

Grumpily rising from the table, Kakashi limped toward the front door. Better not be another solicitor… "What do you-" Kakashi froze. Standing on the step was a small woman dressed smartly in a lavender kimono. Her braided hair was an unusual color: green. It had faded, but he'd know her anywhere.

"Ha… Hanare?" His voice cracked on the last syllable like he was going through puberty again. He took a step back, feeling like he'd seen a ghost. She should have been in her early forties, but looked more like late twenties.

She walked right past him, into the house. Right into his house… "Hello, Kakashi," she said. "I know you live here alone. Your best friend Guy told me." She glanced around his modest home, taking it all in quickly. Kakashi stood open-mouthed (behind the mask, of course - thank god he still had it on - what if I'd answered the door without it?!) by the threshold.

"I have a proposal," she said, setting her plain suitcase (wait, suitcase?) on his table. "I've never married," she said, a slight blush that he remembered too well forming on her cheeks. "Close, but no cigar, so to speak." She laughed lightly. "And from what I've heard, you've never even come close."

Kakashi looked sideways and scratched his head self-consciously. "So what's your point," he said.

"We're not getting any younger," Hanare said, walking over and opening the curtains over his sink so the late afternoon sun streamed into the small kitchen, illuminating the tile. "I think you and I… might've had something. Maybe it was just youthful urges, but it was something. I felt it. And even if it was only chemistry, or even if you didn't feel it as strongly as I did - even so, it was something and it wasn't bad."

She turned and looked at him. The beauty mark under her right eye twitched as her eyebrows raised in query. "Do you disagree?" she asked. Kakashi was silent. "It's alright, Kakashi. You won't hurt my feelings. I'm a forty-one-year-old woman. I've been through a lot." She smiled like she had when Naruto gave her the daisies. Kakashi was surprised at how clear the memory was. He hadn't thought about it in a long time.

"No," he said. "I don't disagree with what you've said."

Hanare nodded. "Good. Then here's my proposal: I'll move in. We'll see how it goes - just friends for now. If something more happens, great. If not… well, let's give it three months. That's when most new relationships hit a re-calibration point, they say."

"Who says?" Kakashi frowned.

"Psychologists."

Kakashi frowned deeper.

Hanare laughed. "Don't look so threatened, Kakashi of the Sharingan. Marriage counseling is a long way off!"

"M - mar… marriage? Counseling?" Kakashi's eyes went wide.

"Kidding," Hanare giggled, raising a palm. She leaned back on his table, tilting her head and appraising him. Kakashi stood there, hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant and feeling anything but. What a strange day, Kakashi thought. It sure was uncomfortable. But not really bad...

After she gave him a good once-over, Hanare met his eyes once more. "So. What do you say, Kakashi?"

The sound of screaming kids wafted in from outside. Kakashi could smell the blossoms from the fruit trees. It was spring. What did he have planned for today…? Oh, right - summon Pakkun and the pack for a little walk. Go by the bookstore to see what was new in the adult section. Flower shop... Cemetery… Mah jong with Guy. Grocery shopping and get something from the deli for dinner. Home… re-read Tactics. Sleep.

Having Hanare around would undoubtedly impact his routines… his way of life. Why should I change? I'm perfectly fine with things the way they are. An image of himself crashed out on the couch, arm draped over his eyes and Icha Icha muffling his snores, popped into his head. Fine… aren't I?

He took in the woman in front of him. Was aging well a thing kunoichi could study? She seemed to have gained a lot less wrinkles than he had over the years. Kakashi ran a hand through his hair - aware suddenly of how it was a bit thinner than it used to be - and scratched his chin through the mask. He hadn't shaved. Hanare's eyes were bright and clear, watching him expectantly.

"I'm too old for this," Kakashi said. "But alright, then."