As the day wore on things seemed to calm down quite a bit in comparison to the frustration of the morning. The flower shops and restaurants were filling up with orders and reservations; chocolates and other trinkets bought, filling the pockets of merchants and by the end of the day, most had come to appreciate the blind date fiasco that had been arranged. Among those that wandered making plans one shinobi dawdled over just what to do.

It wasn't that he did not like who he got, quite the opposite in fact; it was just that he really had no clue what she liked. Cutting across the park near his home, he looked out over the racing children with their melting ice creams and soaring kites. A smile warming his features at the sight. The quick shake of a light blanket catching his attention from the corner of his eye…

Double-checking to be certain she had shut off everything, Kusabana Akarui finally settled down on the couch to have a few minutes to relax before a potential night of horror began. She ran through every male Sensei in the village, not like there were not several she wouldn't have minded but just who Nami and Sei would pick for their little game worried her. Sighing, she stood to go check her makeup one last time but a soft knock at the door stopped her; turning back, she rose up on her toes to look through the high peephole. Brown hair… Little else was revealed for a moment since her date was looking down at his feet. That scar across the bridge of his nose that gave him away when he finally looked up.

Umino Iruka!

He looked so different with his hair tied back at his nape instead of up high.

Swallowing the sudden flare of butterflies in her stomach, she took a settling breath and reached to open the door just as he was about to knock again. His hand stilled in the air, not lowering right away as she smiled up at him. Slowly his lips drew into a gentle smile as he drew his hand about, offering a simple ribbon with a dipped almond blossom clasp.

She could not help but wonder if it was mere coincidence that it matched her simple dress. Maybe it was but with those two running things, it probably wasn't.

Neither of them had even said hello yet, the odd comfort in the need not to settling like a stone in her stomach. Akarui could still remember the first time she had met Iruka; it had been just over six months ago and still, he seemed to calm the world around her just by being there. She had accepted friendship, flirting with him on occasion whenever she was called to the academy to substitute but deep down she truly hoped for something more.

The soft flush speared across her cheeks as her eyes thanked him for the delicate gift before they lowered when he motioned for her to step forwards. Silent steps drew him around behind her so that he could lift her hair from her nape and slide the delicate trinket about her throat. The backs of his fingers delicately brushing over her spine as he attached the clasp. Coming back around, he lightly traced a finger over the blossom before holding out his hand to her.

"Shall we, Kusabana-sama?"

A simple nod was her only answer as she lifted her touch to the necklace and felt the burn of heat rise further upon her cheeks. Her hand settled into his and soon both were on their way through the village. He kept her close to his side, neither of continuing to say much. Akarui enjoyed the silences, giving her a chance to sneak peeks over at him as they roamed the booths and dodged racing children.

Instead of his typical attire, he had switched into simple civilian clothing. The easy fitting shirt was nicely snug against the planes of his chest, its sleeves pushed up halfway up his forearms giving a good look at the sinewy muscles that led down to his hands. It was the denim that had thrown her the most when he had first arrived; after all, she had never seen him in anything but the traditional shinobi uniform. Well, no, that wasn't true... there was that one night at the hot springs when she accidentally opened the wrong door. The memory of him in only a towel and a blush had the deep rouge flaring again on her own cheeks. She found she had to turn her head so she could check to be sure that she did not have a nosebleed.

Okay, so she was really glad that this was just a quiet walk, because if he had asked her anything right then there was no way her voice would have worked.

From the thoroughfare to the market they walked. When they started, she had been carrying the simple basket he had bought but by the end of the aisle, he had taken it back. Not because it weighed too much for her once filled with all the makings of a small picnic, but because she was carrying a small bouquet of flowers cradled in her arm. If it had been anyone else, she might have put up a bit more of a fight over it but then, if she had not let him take it, she would have had to let go of his hand and that just would not do.

A soft smile upon his lips, he turned into a small park and led her along the cobbled path to a lush patch of grass shaded nicely beneath an old tree. All around there were the sounds of summer. It wasn't yet dinner time, so children ran about getting out that last bit of energy, parents sat watching from benches or helping with holding bats or aiming balls; truthfully, the choice of venue didn't surprise her a bit.

It suited him…

There was this gentle smile on his face as he watched a young boy play catch with his father. The soft curve of his lips settling a warm feeling upon her heart. While he was distracted, Akarui began to lay out the food on the soft blanket he had let her pick out.

"You really like kids don't you?"

"Hm?" It took a moment for him to look back to her but when he did, he realized that she had already set out the whole picnic, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get so distracted."

A soft laugh rose to her lips as she shook her head, "It's alright. I like that… um, about you… I-I mean…"

His attention was more focused upon her with each nervous word she spoke. Those soft eyes, unwavering, until she finally ducked her head and hid it against the curve of her drawn up knees. There was the sound of shifting cloth, a prelude to the touch of warmth upon her shoulder. Iruka's strong fingers were gentle as they slid until his touch curled beneath her chin, his thumb lightly brushing the line of her jaw. Slowly, she lifted her head, peeking over at him through the fall of her hair.

His voice was not mocking, merely curious, "What were you trying to say?"

Fidgeting a bit, as he brushed her hair back behind her ear, Akarui mustered what calm courage she could and focused on the kids running about the small playground. "I said that's what I like about you."

"I heard that part…" When she cringed a little, he simply lowered his hand to hers and entwined their fingers, tracing her knuckles with his thumb. "What I mean is... what is it that you like about me?"

"Oh… um… Well, how you are with kids. I mean, I am a bit too old to have ever been in one of your classes but… I've seen you teach and I always used to see you around with Naruto when he was growing up… and now with Konohamaru. You're just really good with children." Finally looking back to him, she was surprised to see a delicate blush darkening the scar across his nose and cheeks. He was watching the playground when she had been; he even returned the wave from a group of kids running past. All but two were students of his, "Do you think that you'll ever have any of your own?"

'Uh oh, personal territory,' was all she thought as she watched the curve of his lips turn down slightly. He didn't say anything for a while, just sat there looking at the tips of his shoes on the blanket. When he did decide to answer, she was ready to take back the question.

The solemn tone of his voice making her wish that she had not asked at all. "I think I'd like to be a father… someday…"

"You'd make a great one, you know."

"Thank you, Akarui-sama," his smile returned briefly, as he glanced over at her before a soft sigh parted his lips, "It's just that I'd be too worried that some day I'd leave them behind, so I try to become a good role model for my students and hope that it's enough."

The life of a Shinobi was unpredictable at best; she knew that, everyone did, so she could understand what he meant. After all, Akarui knew his past; it was the same for many in the village. Parents lost to missions or attacks on the village, life cut short and loved ones left behind. It was a sad fact that everyone lived with in their world.

"Well, you're doing a wonderful job, Umino-san."

"Thank you." His hand tightened within hers, as he cast her a warm glance from the corner of his eye. In his mind, calling her by the meaning of her name, 'My cheerful flower…'

Enjoying the remains of the day over the mish mosh picnic and the occasional interruption from a visiting student, they kept an eye on the growing bank of storm clouds on the horizon. Despite the beginning awkwardness of conversation, it had progressed nicely, leaving a warm feeling within her on the walk home. Once again, Iruka held her hand, this time their fingers entwined as she leaned softly against him.

It had not been the most exciting date, or the most romantic but she had no complaints about it simply being sweet. She smiled to herself at that thought, because it was exactly how she saw him: sweet, caring, and warm. She knew she was right; he would make a great dad, not just a father, but a dad.

Before she knew it, she was standing on the steps of her apartment building and smiling up at him. He offered to clean the blanket and get it back to her but she had convinced him to let her take care of it; it's soft surface laid over her arm as she gently clutched the basket that now carried her flowers. A nervous touch lifted to tuck her hair behind her ear was stopped by the gentle graze of his own fingers as he did it for her. Her face warmed beneath the trace of his knuckles against her neck as he leaned in to settle a lingering touch of his lips to her temple.

"I hope you had a good time…"

"I did, thank you, Umino-san."

"Iruka," he corrected, his touch trailing along the ribbon he had given her earlier. "When you asked if I thought I'd ever have kids… I forgot to add something."

Being reminded of her question, Akarui nibbled her lower lip as she tried not to lean in too closely to him, his continued touch making it hard for her legs to hold her up. Of course, the way his eyes followed the brush of his fingers was not helping her brain, or body, to handle the situation any better.

A nod signaling for him to continue, "I haven't found the right woman. She would have to be someone strong, not physically but in character. One that could carry on and care for our children even if I… One that would be there for me when I returned, who could make me smile even when all I could feel like doing was anything but that."

She listened, unable to look away from his face as he spoke and when he was done, she was rewarded with a soft press of his lips upon her own. It was brief but nonetheless perfect, leaving her leaning slightly against the door as he drew back.

"Maybe we can do this again sometime?"

A nod was all she could manage before she turned in a slight daze and stepped into the building. It was all he needed as he smiled and headed off to see if Naruto was up for some Ramen now that he was back.