Aya ignored the ringing of the doorbell.
There was only one person who came into her bookstore everyday anyway, and right now she wasn't in the mood to speak to him.
"Hi honey."
She continued counting the number of Mastering Shougi. Pretending he wasn't there was no easy task, but she managed admirably.
Kakashi's shoulders slumped. "All right, what's wrong?"
She tried to move past him, but the aisle was taken up by his lean form. He had the advantage of height as well, so she was forced to look up at him to glare at him. "Move out of my way. You're blocking the light." She pushed past him.
"Come on, Aya, you still angry about yesterday?"
"You're the genius shinobi, you figure it out. Now, I'm just a humble storekeeper and I need to take stock, so if you aren't helping then get the hell out of my store."
Kakashi ran a hand through his white hair. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean what I said... not really. I'll tell them, I swear."
Aya's back was rigid as she noted the number of Cooking with Ichiraku: Anyone can Cook Great RAMEN!. She didn't even turn to look at him. Kakashi had to content himself with looking at her bare neck. Hmmm... the marks are fading. Time perhaps for a new one.
"Honey..." The jounin was very glad to know his three were out with Gai's team. If they ever heard him wheedle... "Honey, can't we kiss and make up?"
"I don't WANT to make up," snapped Aya as she whirled around. She slammed the clipboard she was holding onto a tottering stack of jutsu-introduction books. She pouted for a moment as Kakashi stepped closer to his girlfriend before she broke into a wry smile. "But I'm fine with the other part."
Her fingers pulled the mask from his face as he bent down and kissed her.
He nipped at her lower lip gently, knowing she like the sensation of teeth. She teased him with tightly closed lips before yielding to the passion of the moment. He drank her in, his tongue exploring her mouth and her willing imitation. She suddenly buckled against him, and his arms tightened to take her weight. They backed against a shelf, but neither broke apart when a stack of books came crashing down.
After what seemed like an eternity, they came up for air. Aya blinked and pressed her lips together for a second. Then she nailed Kakashi with a look.
"What's wrong?"
"What? What do you mean what's wrong?" Damn, she's good. She'd make a great interrogator, though I don't want her to have to kiss before getting the information.
"You're kissing me like... like you're never seeing me again or something." Her eyes, her lovely amber-golden eyes narrowed. "Tell me the truth."
"I've to go on a mission tomorrow. Could be weeks before I see you again," explained the white-haired jounin.
Aya stood up and put her hands on her slim hips. "Why?"
"Escort mission. Secret."
Aya pouted again. "Fine. Be that way." She yanked him to his feet, adding mysteriously, "Wait a sec. Don't go anywhere."
"Sec. Over."
"Done. Let's go."
"Where?"
"To your place, stupid. If you're gonna be away from me for a while, I'm gonna make sure you don't get tempted by any babe you happen to meet."
The trip back was faster than they usually took. Kakashi was still frenching Aya when he summoned Pakkun out of the corner of his mouth. Panting, he settled Aya on his lap.
"Eh, Boss, what's up?"
Kakashi pulled away from Aya reluctantly. "Help me with the routine check, will ya?"
"Fine, fine..." Pakkun didn't grumble much but just scented the rooms. "Nada, boss. Only your bedroom's lilac scent- mmph..."
"Lilac, huh. There was another girl." It was a calm statement, but there was real fury behind her words. Aya pulled away even as Kakashi sent Pakkun off to wherever he was supposed to be. "Alright. I'm gone. I'm not gonna be just another scratch on your headboard."
"Aya, wait!" He tried to grab at her as she stormed her way out of his apartment. He wished he could chase after her, but right now there was a bodily reaction that hadn't yet abate – if anyone saw him going after a girl in that condition...
Dammit.
"Is there going to be an apocalypse or something?" Sasuke was in sarcasm mode that morning.
"Good morning to you too, Sasuke-kun." Kakashi was still annoyed with himself and his girlfriend. There. He'd thought it. Aya's my girlfriend.
"SASUKE-KUN!" squealed Sakura from half a mile away. Thankfully that drew attention away from the unusually punctual Kakashi. Naruto was yawning in a corner – it was five in the morning after all.
When the team finally settled, he gathered them around. "This is an escort mission. We are to escort and protect the caravans on a circuitous route: through various towns and cities of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind."
"Coming with us is Shikamaru-kun. Godaime-sama asked me to take him along as on-the-job training. So for now, he's acting team leader, and I'm just a consultant. Questions?"
Shikamaru strolled out of the lead caravan. "Mornin' Kakashi-sensei, guys."
"Call me Kakashi. As chuunin you're on equal footing with me."
"Nah, I'll stick with sensei. Changing terms now is too troublesome." Shikamaru was wearing his customary scowl, but there was something else in his expression. Eagerness? For what? "I've checked with them. They want a Northeast to Southwest trip, because the dates are in sequence. We have to make Each trip in two days, so the caravans are not that heavily packed. With a regular momentum, we can manage this escort trip, no problem.
"The only obstacle they mentioned to me is that one of their ladies is blind and will need extra care. She's in the middle caravan, along with three others. The first caravan carries the manager and main supplies, the last caravan the other passengers.
"Sakura, you and I will take flanking positions. This will narrow our scope of duties since neither of us are long-range jutsu users, but we can depend on our wits to determine actions to take immediately. Sasuke, you and Naruto take lead: I can trust you to be vigilant, and I know Naruto is hyperactive. When he's on duty, you can rest. Plus you can be trusted to react appropriately to different circumstances. Kakashi-sensei, please take the rear. With your speed and experience you'll be able to help any of us at any time, and you'll also have the widest range of vision.
"That's it. Check your equipment, top up if necessary, this is a five-week trip with only one definite resupply station in Sunagakure. Questions?"
Kakashi smiled. Shikamaru would make a great leader someday. He was along, basically, as insurance, since all of them were adolescents. Also, he had to be around Sasuke in case the seal acted up. Sighing, he noted the first light of false dawn creeping over the horizon.
"We gotta go soon, Shikamaru-kun," said Kakashi, deferring to the much-younger boy's leadership. He flushed a little, and a small grin crept onto his face.
Shikamaru nodded. "Yup. In thirty minutes we're moving out. If you need to go stock up, go now."