Quietly

Today's Valentine's Day. There's a whole day devoted solely to love. Does that make any sense? Nah. Love makes us all crazy. But it's fun too.
-Lisa Greenwald,Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes

~xXx~

In her friend's bedroom, Ayame sat propped against a bed scattered with magazines as sun beamed in from a small balcony keeping the room warm for them as they plan out their summer wardrobes.

"I like that dress..." Cho muttered from where she was sprawled out on her bedspread. The brunette grunted. She flipped a page in one of Cho's magazines as she looked for an idea as to what kind of new sandals she wanted, Ayame caught something move from the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she jumped back. Inches from her was her friend's grinning face. Putting a hand to her heart, the brunette scowled.

"What are you trying to do? Give me white hairs?"

The other girl laughed, her round face gleeful. "Do you realize what Wednesday is?!"

"Half-price cabbage day at Taka's Vegetable stand?"

Shaking her head, Cho rolled off the bed in great dramatization and when her knees connected with the floor, the girl latched onto Ayame's hand. "No," she pouted. "It's Valentines Day!"

Amused, the teenager brushed her hair behind her ear and said; "Okay, what about it?"

The black haired girl threw her arms up in a silent cry. "Ayame!" She complained, "People our age are supposed to have dates and boyfriends lined up for a day like Valentines!"

Putting aside the magazine, the other twirled her hair. "Cho..."

"No, Ayame, I have absolutely no one to go out with!"

Sighing, the brunette smiled. "Well, you have a two days to goad a boy into asking you out to a restaurant or karaoke." Slyly, she put a finger to her cheek and suggested. "Iori or Chion would be happy to take you out-actually, you could bring both of them along and watch them compete for your attention."

"You're a mastermind Ayame, truly!" Her black haired friend giggled. "What about you? What are you going to do? I heard Waku's been asking around for you lately."

The teenager's heart constricted. She's never going to go out with him again. Not after what he did. "Oh dad'll probably want me to work..."

Her friend shook her head. "Oh that's no fun!" She complained. "Look, if I can get Iori or Chion to agree to go out with me...do you want to make it a double-date? I think that'd be fun for everyone. The pressure to make it romantic would be off too."

"Yeah," Ayame agreed. It was a good offer. Spending a night out with Cho, Iori and Chion would be good. "Yeah, you ask them and we can get ready at my house the evening of, okay?"

"Deal!" The black haired girl agreed, a smile splitting across her face.

Humming to herself as she brings out dishes, Ayame can hear her father yelling at his new cooks and she chuckled. "Here you are!" She told the shinobi talking together, they thank her and begin to eat. Turning, she pulled out her notepad and-

"Kakashi!" She exclaimed.

His lone eye crinkled. "Yo," he greeted.

"How are you? It's been a while!" The brunette smiled.

He nodded. "I actually failed my first genin team this week," he offered conversationally.

"We're they that bad?" Ayame inquired.

"Close enough," he shrugged. "Besides, I don't want a team yet."

The girl paused. "But why did you get one at all then?" She questioned.

Kakashi sighed. "Our dear Hokage thinks it would do me some 'good'." Fingers making air quotes on the word 'good'.

"I see," Ayame laughed. "The usual?"

"Yeah," He agreed.

Scribbling down the order for the cooks, she waved at him as she darted back to the kitchen. "We should totally hang out tomorrow if you don't have anything going on!"

Ayame didn't hear a reply, but she saw him nod and felt quite happy with herself. It was always hard to make time to hang out with Kakashi, and if he got a genin team soon...it'd be even more difficult. The girl frowned. She realized she didn't like that at all. The idea of sharing her ninja friend with even more people seemed awfully unfair.

Still brooding as she brought out his bowl, the jonin took note of the furrow in her brow. "What's got you so upset?" He implored.

"Huh?" she blinked. "Oh nothing! I'm just thinking too hard on what I want to wear tonight!" She chuckled. "I'm going on a double date with my friend Cho for Valentines day."

The ninja paused in taking off his mask. "Valentines...that's today, huh?"

"Yup," the brunette agreed leaning on the counter. "I'm actually kind of excited! Cho told me Iori and Chion we're thinking we'd hang out on their apartment's roof and set off some fireworks."

"...I don't think that's legal."

She winked. "You won't tell on us, will you 'kashi?"

He smirked. Mask down. "No, who am I to stop a girl's fun?"

She giggled.

A minute later he was done with his meal and putting money on the table. "Oh no," she disagreed. "You don't have to pay!" It only seemed fair after he agreed not to tattle on her for night's plans. Taking away the bowl, she smiled. "Have a happy Valentine's day Kakashi!"

Ayame never noticed the stillness of her friend or the calculated look that came to his eye.

I lagged a little on this chapter, didn't I? Sorry 'bout that! It's also a little short...but, it's the first part to a two-part prompt I was given by Mijubuki. And that prompt was: "Ayame giving kakashi a free bowl of ramen on vday, and he takes it like a token of her love or something like that. & then kakashi gives her something on white day in return!"

As you can see, we all know what next chapter will be about! I hope you're looking forward to it.

To reviewers, Gibbles, YLCourt, Mijubuki, Harvestangel99 and The Goliath Beetle; thanks guys, you rock!

Thank you for reading and please review!

P.S. If you have time, I'd love it if you voted on the poll I have on my page.