He remained motionless as her cold fingertips and soft lips moved away and her feet came back to earth. His eye was wide open this time and his cheeks were madly red. All he could do was stare at their hot breath in the thick cold air. He didn't know how to react to that. It had never happened to him before. Anko stepped back and covered her lips. It wasn't that she regretted kissing him, but now, when the heat of the moment was over she realized that she had just kissed her superior: Hatake Kakashi.

"I-I'm sorry," she looked away letting her hair fall over her eyes. "I got carried away. Like I said I'm as scared as a cat," she spoke.

"Did you just kiss me?" he asked pointing to his lips.

She nodded. "Mhm."

"No one…No one had ever done that…" he continued.

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Kakashi started. "The only person who used to do it was mother. After she died no one ever did it…"

"Sorry, then!" she gasped.

"No," he quickly said. "Can you…Can you do it again?" he shyly asked.

She had a surprised smile on her lips. Her small fingers traced shapes on his raw cheeks. He had a handsome face under that mask, a very mature face, she could tell. Her fingers rested on his lips and he closed his eye expecting. She kissed him again this time throwing her hands over his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist. They fell to the ground on the moist ground. She wanted to get up, but he pulled her back.

"It's okay," he pulled her small head to his chest and ran his hand through her messy hair.

When she opened her eyes, she saw it started snowing.

"Ha-ha!" she laughed. "It's snowing!"

She couldn't resist and got up to look at the sky. She outstretched her hands feeling the cool flakes on her palms. Kakashi smirked. She was such a sweet kid. She turned to look at him with a wide grin and sparkling eyes.

"Oh…." she shivered. "It's a bit cold."

He took a seat on the ground propping his back against a tree trunk. She came and sat by his side. He threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Are you better now?" he had a concerned tone.

"Much better," she rubbed her head against his chest reminding him of a cat. "I could get used to this…"

He gulped. Her words scared him. He had claimed earlier that he wanted to get to know her, but was that what he really wanted. It was very difficult. He had never been attached to someone that way before and the life they both had held surprises for them around every corner. He shook his head. It didn't matter for the moment.

"So," she asked looking at the sky. "What are our plans for tomorrow?"

"Well," his eye brows furrowed. "Scout the area and ambush at night."

She bit her lower lip. "Are you sure we should ambush this early?"

"The sooner the better, Anko. I'm thinking about those people. And I'm tired…really tired. I just want to get back home and rest."

She smiled. "Me too."

"You miss your friends?" he curiously asked.

"I do. I miss the whole village," she dreamingly said.

That had taken him aback. The whole village used to treat her very badly. "Really?"

"Yeah…I can't wait to laugh in the old man's face when we get back safe and sound having rescued hundreds of people," she looked at her reflection in her nails. "Missions will come pouring after that!" she enthusiastically said.

"That's what you want?" he tiredly asked.

"Of course," she nodded.

"Don't you have any future plans?" he asked.

"Ah, well, I was thinking of becoming a special ninja…but that requires a lot of training in only one domain. I'm not ready for that yet."

"You mustn't say that."

"Well, I'm not a genius like you."

"Nonsense," he shook his head. "I'm not genius…someone else was…" he thoughtfully looked at the sky.

"Your father," she whispered.

"Yeah," he looked down at her.

"He was an admirable man."

"He was a coward and a reckless man."

"Kakashi," she looked up at him. "Who are we to judge?" she sadly asked.

"Well, if he hadn't committed suicide, maybe things would have gotten better and my mother wouldn't have died of a broken heart."

"I'm sorry…"

"You knew that she couldn't look at me? I looked too much like him. It was like she was seeing ghosts. She went mad…"

She snuggled against. "I'm sorry. We don't need to talk about it."

He didn't answer.

He heard her giggle.

"What?"

"You know what I see you as?" she grinned up at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

"A sensei. You should take up a team of genin. Teach them a trick or two," she winked.

"I'm not that good with kids…"

"I was just saying," she looked at him with tired eyes.

She gave a long and bright yawn. His hand ran over her arm. He gently started rocking her until they both fell asleep.

She was woken up the following morning by a patch a snow that had fallen on her nose from the branch of the pine tree.

"Ah!" she cried jumping to her feet.

"What the-" Kakashi also got up.

She rubbed the snow of her nose. It was early in the morning and some little birds were jumping from branch to branch.

"You little," Anko drew a kunai out of her pocket and was preparing to throw it at the little creature when she noticed Kakashi was staring at her.

She blushed placing it back in the strap on her thigh. He expectantly looked at her. He pulled his mask back.

"We need to get back to camp and wake the others," he said. "We're going to have a long day."

"Okay," she smiled.

He turned on his heels and returned back to his tent. She expectantly followed. She was bothered by his indifferent reactions towards her. She pushed a strand of hair from her face. When they got back to camp everyone was sleeping except Yoh who had woken up and was playing with a snowball.

"Where were you?" he ran to her. "I was worried," he tightly hugged her knees.

"I went for a walk," she ruffled his hair. "How about some breakfast?" she asked.

"Great!" Yoh exclaimed. "I'll go wake up Kurenai then," he ran off to her tent.

Anko's eye brows furrowed. "Ungrateful brat."

She heard Iruka laugh behind her. After glaring at him, he stopped and resumed to his morning stretching.

"Gather round everyone," she heard Kakashi's authoritative voice. "I'd like to assign search parties now."

They curiously looked at him.

"Tenzou and Genma, first search party," he said. "Iruka, you come with me and Kurenai you go with Asuma and Gai."

"I object! Why does he have to come?!" Kurenai pointed at Gai.

"To protect you, fair maiden," Gai bowed in front of her.

"I don't need protection," she huffed.

Asuma lit himself another cigarette.

"Um…Kakashi," Anko said. "You forgot to assign me to a team."

Kakashi looked at her. "That's because you're not coming."

"What?!" she yelled.

"Yes," he stated. "We can't endanger Yoh here," she motioned to the little boy. "It's your mission to get to the nearest village and wait there for our return."

"No," she said. "No, you can't do this to me!"

"Actually, I think I can since I'm in charge," he sarcastically said.

"No, you can't!" she cried. "It's not fair! I need this!"

"Stop thinking about yourself," he glared at her. "This is not about you. It's about the mission. You're going back. That's an order, Mitarashi!" he yelled.

She stepped back. A cloud of silence fell upon the ninjas. Anko and Kakashi locked gazes for a moment. She didn't understand why he was acting like that; as if last night never happened. He looked away.

"Start gathering camp," he ordered.

His hands balled into fists. He didn't like acting like a jerk, but it was the only way he could get Anko to safety.

"Where are we going?" Yoh asked.

"You and I…" she tiredly said. "Are going to a nice and cozy village."

"Why?" he confusedly asked. "I thought we were going to see mommy and daddy."

"We are," she picked him up. "When the fight is over, I promise we'll go back to them."

"Don't they need you to fight with them?" he asked.

"Apparently not," she scolded in Kakashi's direction.

He sighed.

"I'm ready," she said. "Good luck!" she took off.

"Bye, Anko!" Kurenai called after her.

"Are you sure of this?" Iruka asked him as they watched her disappear in the trees.

"Yeah," he looked at him. "I am."

Anko monotonously jumped from tree to tree. Many were the times she wanted to run back to them, but she decided that Yoh's life was far more important. It was getting close to sundown when the little one woke up from his nap.

"Hey, Anko," he said.

"Hi," she smiled.

"I was wondering…what if something happens to them?"

"Nothing will," she assured him. "They're brave and skilled ninjas."

"I don't know. You're braver than all of them," he trailed off.

"Oh, thanks. You're so sweet."

"And also reckless," he joked. "But you were so obedient. I guess Kakashi kind of tamed you."

"Me?" she laughed. "Never," she abruptly stopped. "Hold on. You're in for a bumpy ride!" she turned in the opposite direction and raced back to her comrades.

"Yay!" Yoh cheered her on.