Kakashi was making his rounds at the academy, seemingly bored.

But this was always his favorite part of his job. Seeing all the tiny little children running around, laughing, naïve.

It made his heart burst with happiness.

"Kaka-sensei!" Kakashi turned and instantly looked down to see Sarada, Sakura's daughter, smiling brightly at him.

She had a small piece of paper gripped in her hands. "This is for Kaka-sensei!" She declared, thrusting the paper up in a loud declaration.

He gave her one of his signature eye crinkles. "Thank you." He carefully plucked it from her oh-so tiny fingers.

She motioned for him to lean down, he did as he was requested. "Make sure you're alone when you read it." She said with a very serious crease in her brow.

"Alright." He nodded, mimicking her furious head nods.

She scampered away.

The teacher-he didn't pretend to know his name- said something about how the young idolize him. He looked down at the paper.

It was a valentine. His brow quirked, but he slipped it in his pocket. He would (shockingly) do as he was told.

III

When Sakura swung open the door, the last person she expected to see was Kakashi. She quickly put the half empty bottle of wine behind her.

Kakashi smiled pleasantly. "Having a party?"

She laughed nervously, "No. Just a glass. I wasn't expecting anyone."

"Then I'm not interrupting. Good." He slipped past her.

"That doesn't mean-"

"Your daughter delivered this to me." Between his pointer and middle was a small square. "Trade you."

She gave him a warely look before handing over the bottle, taking the small card. She instantly laughed. There was a giant bee on the front. "A valen-"

"Open please."

She complied. She instantly shot him a look. "What-"

"You see," He slipped behind her. "It's cute when little kids draw their 'S' backwards." He pointed at the signed name. "But when you do it Sakura, it's just sad."

She shot him a dirty look.

"And your name-you didn't even spell it right." He pointed to where the 'KR' were. "There should be a-"

"Kakashi!"

"I'm just trying to help you out." He leaned against the hallway wall. He looked into the house. "Daughter's giving valentines to strangers."

"You're not a stranger." She scoffed.

"I've been to her birthday once." He did rationalize.

She sighed, snatching the bottle out of his hand, heading towards the kitchen. He followed a few strides behind her. She tossed the Valentine on the table.

"So where is she?"

"Naruto's." She reached for two large glasses. "Slumber party."

Kakashi watched her amused. "And you were going to have a slumber party with Mr. Merlot?"

She rolled her eyes. "I've been drinking this for two weeks." She slipped into a kitchen chair, Kakashi in the opposite. She poured an equally generous cup.

"It's been hard, since he left." She sighed. "She thinks I don't notice, but I know how it's affecting her. She wants to be strong." She picked up her glass and swirled it around lazily.

"But," she sighed, "That was a long time ago."

Kakashi was staring at her, he hadn't touched his drink. She wasn't sure if he even liked wine. "Happy Valentine's day." She put the glass to her lips.

"What if I kissed you?" She smiled, taking a long sip.

"You're supposed to drink that before making crazy statements." The look in his eyes, so serious, yet so calm sent a chill down her spine. "Why would you do that?" She took another sip, watching him.

He leaned back causally in his chair. "I've always been curious as what it would be like."

She strained to swallow. "I'd stick to your little novels. More exciting."

She watched as he slowly stood and crossed the table. If she would have had it in her to blink, she would have missed it. Kakashi's kiss.

He watched her for a moment before leaning in and kissing her again. This time with a little more behind it. Her jaw went slack and he took advantage and pulled down his mask-she felt the fabric skim her chin. Butterflies exploded in her stomach as she set the glass down and faced him properly. Her fingers grazed the back of his neck, and he snapped up straight. His eyes were dilated. His breathing, slightly ragged.

His face-

She quickly looked away. "Sorry." She closed her eyes, but the imaged was already imprinted on her mind. It was god like.

She heard him chuckle softly, his fingers finding her head. Slowly, his fingertips sifted through her pink locks, making her breath hitch.

"Happy Valentines day, Sakura." He whispered, kissing the top of her head. As he started to walk away, he grabbed the valentine off the table. "I'm holding you to this. No matter how terribly you spell your name."

She smiled as she watched him leave.