"I don't think she thinks you're as much of an idiot as you think she thinks you are."
"I appreciate that you want to help and all, but just stick to carrying the groceries." Kakashi had his hands full, literally, as he and his clone returned to Mei's place.
He heard Bull shuffle his weight away from the front door, and he reentered her home. Bisuke's claws clicked softly against the floor as he made the rounds to tell the other summons that the Boss had returned.
Seven ninken surrounded his clone and himself as they set their bags of groceries on the countertops in Mei's kitchen. Despite Kakashi's sulking, he couldn't help but smirk at seven wagging tails. Bisuke was first to speak. "All was quiet, Boss, nothing to report."
"Good job Boys."
Pakkun made his presence known the moment he joined the others in the kitchen. "If the Boss says it's ok, you can head on home. I'll catch up with you."
"Yes, you're dismissed, and," Kakashi turned to his clone, "thanks for your help as well." Most of the crowd in the kitchen disappeared in a quiet poof with the dispelling of the jutsus.
The reassurances that the clone had tried to offer him came unbidden to Kakashi's mind, and he sighed as he began to unpack the grocery bags.
"She's going to be ok Kakashi." Pakkun misunderstood the reason for the last Hatake's mood.
"I know… that's not what's bothering me." Kakashi opened one of Mei's cupboards to get a bowl to serve the rice porridge he'd picked up for her on his way back from the store.
"Then what is it?" The pug circled around Kakashi to get a better read on him.
Kakashi poured the contents of the takeout container into the bowl and left the question unanswered. Pakkun tried again anyway. "What is she to you, Kakashi?"
Kakashi knew which drawer Mei kept her spoons in and opened it. "Important."
"I see. Did she ask you to come?" Pakkun continued to push him.
"No. In fact, she told me not to. She said she didn't want me to see her when she was sick." The Rokudaime Hokage set the spoon down and placed his hands on the counter. "She must think I'm ridiculous."
"I know that she doesn't." Pakkun was quick to supply which of the secrets he thought he could share as he looked back in the direction of Mei's bedroom. "I also know that she's glad you're here, even though she's probably feeling vulnerable."
"Vulnerable?" Kakashi looked down at his summons.
"Yeah. She's sick, so she's not at her best, and you showed up unexpected. Kind of like Gai used to when you were kids." Pakkun chuckled a little but stopped when he saw the horror in his summoner's eyes. "Don't get me wrong Kakashi; I'm glad Gai kept pestering you when he did, and I'm glad you've come here to help her now."
Kakashi picked up the spoon and stirred the porridge in front of him on the countertop.
The pug cocked his head to one side. "Did you come here for her sake or yours, Kakashi?"
"What do you mean 'for my sake'?" Kakashi was becoming irritated with the pug's interrogation.
"Well, you said she told you not to come, but here you are. Did you come here just to set your own mind at ease?"
"Is this supposed to make me feel better Pakkun?" Kakashi let the spoon fall with a clang on the countertop.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Kid. You don't have to be. I have a feeling Lady Mei would understand you, but you've got to give her a chance to, first. And right now, she probably feels at a disadvantage. Try to make it a little easier for her; y'know?" Pakkun vanished back to his home before Kakashi could reply.
His irritation subsided as he glanced at the place the pug had just vacated. Kakashi grabbed the spoon from the counter, rinsed it off, then carried it and the bowl of porridge to Mei's bedroom.
He gently sat on the bed beside her and stroked her cheek with the fingers of his free hand. Mei's eyes fluttered open and focused on him. "You're back," she smiled.
"I am," he returned her smile from behind his mask. "And I've brought porridge. Eat as much as you can, and then I'll bring you some medicine."
"Ok."
Mei removed the washcloth from her forehead and set it aside. She sat upright and took the bowl from Kakashi. As soon as his hands were free, he propped the pillows up behind her back and stood to exit the room. He paused to look back at her when she cleared her throat. "Thank you for worrying about me Kakashi."
Another hidden, relieved smile spread across his face as he watched her eat a spoonful of porridge and the last of his doubts were silenced. "Thank you for letting me worry about you, Mei."
Kakashi woke on the morning of Valentine's Day to the bed shifting when Mei sat up in it. He shot upright. "Do you need something?"
"Good morning," she said in a rather husky version of her voice. Mei chuckled, bringing a hand up to her throat, "it doesn't hurt as much to speak, but I'm not sure if this is an improvement."
"It's sexy." Kakashi wiggled his eyebrows at her and Mei laughed until it turned into a coughing fit.
He leaned over and placed a hand on her brow. "Your fever's down, but you're still a little warm. It sounds like your cough is loose, so that's good."
"Can we play doctor when I'm feeling better too?" Mei smirked at him.
"Do you want to be the patient or the nurse?" Kakashi lowered his voice, matching her husky one.
"You're the one that reads romance novels, which scenario has the better ending?"
"I'll get you some chocolate ice cream." Kakashi turned away and eased himself out of bed.
"I'd rather have tea, thanks." Mei giggled. "But first I'm going to shower."
"Do you need help?" Kakashi walked around to her side of the bed. He couldn't help teasing her; he was happy to see how improved she was.
"No," Mei emphasized the word though she giggled again at the end of it. "I absolutely draw the line there. I haven't shaved, and I'm not going to right now."
Kakashi blinked at her, trying to understand why that mattered so much and extended a hand to help her get out of bed.
Mei smiled shyly at him as she stood. "You came here when I wasn't ready for you, so you'll just have to deal with my snot-faced, prickly-legged self."
"I'll take it." Kakashi left the humor out of his voice to let her know he meant it. He pulled Mei's hand to his face and kissed it with his masked lips. It was only then that he realized he'd forgotten to take it off before going to bed again.
She placed her hand on the side of his face and looked at him with a serious expression. It was clear to him that she was carefully considering her next words. Mei let them out after she drew in a quick breath. "Why do you wear this?"
"So I don't catch your cold." A lifetime of evasive maneuvering now produced deflections without his having to think about them.
Mei didn't turn her eyes from his and ran her thumb across his covered lips, waiting patiently for the answer they both thought she deserved.
Kakashi skimmed through years of memories with the efficiency of a Yamanaka. He quickly decided what to keep for himself and what to give to her. "It was a game…" he lowered his eyes to her feet. "Until it wasn't anymore. After that, it was expected of me." It was the best he could offer for now, and he looked up for Mei's reaction.
She smiled softly, still stroking his face and seemingly content.
"Does it bother you?" He curled his fingers around her hand that cradled his face.
"No," Mei said without hesitation. "I feel privileged to share and protect a secret of yours."
Kakashi tugged his mask down below his chin and kissed her forehead. There were beads of perspiration along her hairline, and he withdrew again. "You're still feverish; hurry with your shower so you can lay down again."
"Ok." Mei smiled and went to her dresser to choose fresh clothes to change into after she'd cleaned up.
Kakashi spent most of the holiday reserved for lovers in his lover's kitchen, making soup for her while she reclined on her sofa. He wasn't convinced that it was a romantic way to spend the day, but Mei thought otherwise, and that was enough to satisfy him.
After a few hours of simmering, the soup was ready, and while it wasn't on par with the dinner plans he'd initially had to mark the occasion, it would make for a good meal. Kakashi ladled the soup into two bowls and thought of the Nara couple to whom he'd transferred his reservation to before he'd left for Kirigakure. He smiled when he remembered Shikamaru's shock at his surprise, generous offer and hoped his former assistant and his wife were enjoying an evening out.
Kakashi placed the bowls of soup, a plate of sliced bread and a couple of oranges on a tray. He carried it into the adjoining room where he discovered a change in ambiance since he'd last left it.
The room was bathed in candlelight. Mei bent over the table near her sofa, rearranging their cups of tea amid the tapers she'd placed upon it. She stood up when she saw him. "I keep these for emergencies, but I think they'll work for romantic dinners too."
"Where should I set this then?" Kakashi held the tray a little higher in front of him.
Mei grabbed her throw blanket off the couch and spread it on the floor. "Let's make it an indoor picnic," she said, smiling and sitting down on the floor.
After they'd finished eating their soup, Mei pointed at the oranges. "I see you found half of your Valentine's Day gift."
"These?" Kakashi asked as he handed one of them to her.
"Mmhmm. I was at a bit of a loss as to what kind of gift to get for a man that doesn't like chocolate. But then I remembered that you were peeling an orange when you asked me out for the first time." Mei giggled to herself and looked down at the orange she held.
Kakashi chuckled. "You really had me sweating there; you know that? I had to ask you three times before you answered."
"I'm sorry." Her apology was genuine though her eyes sparkled mischievously. "I was distracted at the time."
"By what?" He was truly curious now, wondering if he'd missed an important detail at the Kage meeting while he was focused on asking her out on a date.
"By you," Mei answered, smiling at him in the sly way that he liked best. "Would you peel this one for me when you're done with yours?"
"Sure," Kakashi cautiously agreed, confused why her cold prevented her from peeling an orange. However, he had a question of his own to ask. "You said this was half of my gift. What's the other half?"
"I suppose that's a gift for us both." Mei smiled that dangerous smile again. "But I'm afraid I'll have to wait to wear it until I'm feeling better and shaved my legs." She dissolved into giggles that became coughs before long.
Mei reached for a tissue from the box that lay on her sofa and Kakashi scooped her into his lap. He kissed her ear and murmured, "It pains me to say this, but it might have to wait a little longer than you think."
"Why?" She asked, dabbing at her nose.
"I have a tickle in my throat." He whispered in her ear as he nuzzled it.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry Kakashi, I-"
"At least it means I can do this now." He interrupted her and kissed her breathless as he held her close, closer than she'd ever been to him.
The End
