~A FEW DAYS LATER~

The halls were empty, quiet, and filled with darkness. As Kokoro sat the desk in her small office, the slightest sound could easily distract her: The buzzing and flickering of the light above her, the steady ticking of the clock roared far in her ears, and the water dripping loudly from the nearby sink. All caused her irritation. She let out a small groan as she threw her head up, grasping at her long locks of hair and dug deep at the root.

She complained, "I will never get these medical documents sorted out in time!" She sighed looking at the piles of manila folders stacked high on the side of her desk. Kokoro was working the night shifts again. Something she hated the most. "Hm?" She turned her head towards the door hearing a knock.

The door slowly opened and one of her coworker's head stuck out her head into the room, "Hey, Kokoro-chan! You have a patient who just came in!" She waved the clipboard in her hand.

"At this time of night?" Kokoro questioned to herself out loud.

She sighed and quickly began to stack up the pile of documents that was spread out on her desk and walked over to grab the clipboard. The nurse nicely opened the door wide for her to exit the office office.

"I'm surprised you aren't complaining this time, Kokoro-chan!"

She looked down at the clipboard, scanning the information and replied, "It's better than organizing paperwork."

"Yeah, true. Well, see you later, Koko-chan!"

She let herself into the patient's room. He was sitting on the side of the bed, holding onto his wounded shoulder. She pouted at him, slapping the clipboard against the hard metal table pushed back against the side of the wall. She walked over to the cupboard to put on plastic gloves.

"Kakashi-san, what'd you get yourself into this time...?" She started to lecture, and he let out a deep sigh already knowing that was what he was going to get. She slapped his bad shoulder. "What's with your attitude?"

He winced and moaned from the pain, and she let out a concern gasp, beginning to embrace him gently.

"Oops! I'm sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine, it's fine." He reassured her.

"Let me take a look." She asked, motioning her hands towards his wound. She examined it carefully, touching around the wound ever so gently. "It looks fine. Not too deep. But you'll need stitches, and I'll obviously disinfect it. But what about your other wound?"

She started to reach at his scratched up mask which was practically falling apart. She could tell there was blood, and maybe a small cut or so.

"Don't!" He quickly smacked her hand away.

A gasp slipped between her lips, "Kakashi..." Her voice was so soft, and she just looked shocked while staring hard at his face. He was cold towards her and looked angered.

Kakashi let out a soft gasp, quiet enough for her not to hear it, realizing what he's done. His face pretty much shocked as well; Eyes widen, eyebrows arched high, and slowly his face became relaxed, and his eyes began to droop.

"Kokoro... I didn't mean to..."

She forced a smile upon her face. "It's fine."

There was an awkward pause between them so she turned her back quickly towards him, beginning to walk forward, "I'll just go get the stuff to patch you up."

She pat away blood oozing out from his wound before continuing to sew him up. He watched her, focusing on how focused she was with patching him up. He analyzed every part of her features. From her nicely straight combed black hair to her soft stunning white eyes and her rosy cheeks that brought out her light pale skin, and he couldn't have forgotten about her nude lips that he lust to plant kisses on. But the only thing holding him back was his mask.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

He swallowed hard; she had her eyes on her work the whole time, yet could sense him looking at her. He let out a chuckle, "nothing..."

"Okaayyyyy, whatever you say."

He scrunched one side of his face as she sewed the last part to close the wound together, pulling the thread to tighten it shut.

"I'm sorry..."

She stopped in mid work, focusing on Kakashi. His eyes met hers after awhile, and he said those words again.

"For what?"

"For earlier, obviously…"

She looked away from his gaze, grabbing at the scissors and cut off the extra thread. "I said it was fine."

"Well, I know you say that. But I just wanted you to know that I was sorry."

"Well, if it makes you happier, then I accept your apology." She stood up from the side of bed and pulled off the plastic gloves, tossing them into a nearby garbage can. "Kakashi, if you don't take care of yourself more, you'll end up getting so many stitches. You'll end up looking like all your body parts were sewed on!"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head letting out an awkward "eh-eh" kind of laugh. "Sorry, Kokoro. I'll try to be more careful from now on."

She quickly turned around with her fists against her hips, "I doubt that."

He couldn't help, but admit she was totally adorable when she lectured him. As much as he wanted to tell her that... He couldn't. It was too embarrassing.

She walked over and sat down next to him. "I know you aren't supposed to talk about anything that goes on in the ANBU... But is everything at work okay? I just know that the Hokage is focusing on finding Orochimaru. How's that going?" She glanced at him.

"I don't want to talk about it, Kokoro..." His voice was low.

"Did something happen?"

Nothing but silence answered her. She let out a sigh in frustration and rose out of bed, walking towards the cabinet. He climbed in bed and watched her as she grabbed things out of the cabinet, setting them on a tray. The moment she turn towards him, he flipped over and grabbed the sheets, covering himself up to his neck. He wanted to avoid contact at this point. She was suppose to be an escape from work, yet here she was speaking about it... It was the last thing he wanted. She pouted, knowing he was trying to avoid her. It drove her crazy. How he could be so sweet and then so cold to her the next, but she forced a smile and walked over, setting down a tray full of ointment, bandages, and a nurse mask at the small table beside the bed.

"These are for your face scratches and a temporary mask. I'll bring you a new mask tomorrow, okay? Good night, Kakashi-san."

She stormed into Kakashi's hospital room. He was reading the book she had gave him for his birthday. He had his hand pressed against his lips, chuckling to himself. She groaned in disgust, walked towards the window, and pulled the blinds wide open. He let out a groan, covering his eyes from the sunlight.

"Hey, Kokoro! What are you doing?!"

"What does it look like? I'm opening the blinds. What are you? A vampire?"

"Dracula." He quickly responded without looking away from his book

She turned around snatching the book out of his hand.

"Kokorooooooo!" He whined.

She waved it in front of his face. "I should have never gotten you this book! All you ever do is read it on your free time. What is it? Like your 6th time reading this? You pervert."

He snatched it right back from her, "actually, it is my 10th time reading it, and says the one who got it for me, huh?"

"Yeah, remember when you said it was 'whatever'? Kakashi… You drive me crazy." She mumbled, grabbing at the roots of her hair.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." He couldn't think of a come back, and she was right. Kakashi was always doing the opposite of what he truly felt, and as much as he knew she knew about this, he couldn't stop the habit of doing it. He just knew that today had to be the day he would break away from his old habits. If he wanted to correct the mistakes he made in the past, he had to change his ways. It slowly starts today.

She threw a dark navy blue mask at him. It landed on the book, making him focus his attention on her. He lifted the mask off his book and sat the book on his lap. He stretched out the mask to confirm it was what he thought it was. He smiled behind the current nurse mask he wore.

"Kokoro..."

She smiled, being proud of herself, "I told you I'd bring you one."

He took in a deep breath and motioned his hand at her. Her eyebrows raised high. Slowly, she began to take steps towards him.

He patted the side of the bed, encouraging her to sit beside him, and she obeyed. He looked into her eyes, and she looked at his. Out of nervousness, she glanced away, gulping loudly, but with his hand, he quickly raised her head by her chin and their eyes met again. She felt her lips tremble as he softly caressed her cheek, beginning to push back her long hair behind her ear. He pulled her in closer by the back of her head, kissing her on the top of her head. His natural scent filled her nose, and she couldn't get the smell off her mind. Her face gently brushed against his skin, feeling the warmth and softness of him. She felt her face turning hot, and a small smirk formed on her face. She couldn't believe this was actually happening; it was the first time Kakashi had ever embraced her like this. Her trembling hands slowly began to wrap around him, feeling how toned and muscular Kakashi was. Her hands met at the center of his back gripping tightly at his shirt. She wanted this moment to last forever. She felt his lips press off the top of her head. And he whispered, "Thank you, Kokoro-chan for always taking care of me."

"nee-cha-"

Kakashi and Kokoro quickly parted their embrace and their eyes beamed at the door where little Hinata and Ko stood. Out of embarrassment, Kokoro stood up from the bed and cleared her throat. Kakashi awkwardly picked up his book and pretended to read.

"Oh, nee-chan...?" Hinata called out a little puzzled.

Ko eyed her. She tried to avoid eye contact with him.

"Hinata-chan, Ko... What are you two doing here" She asked quietly.

Ko took awhile answering because he was too busy looking at Kakashi. He looked at Kokoro before replying, "Hinata-sama wanted to visit you at work today. You get off soon so she wanted you to take her out shopping today, and maybe some training since Hinata-sama will be entering the Academy soon..."

With her head still tilted down, she turned facing Kakashi and bowed, "Sorry, Hatake Kakashi, I'll be leaving now."

And then ran off towards the door greeting her younger sister. Kakashi glanced up from his book to watch her treat Hinata with kindness.

"Hello Hinata-chan! Want to get dangos?"

"B-but... Father doesn't like me eating sweets before meals..." Hinata whimpered softly.

He watched Kokoro pat Hinata's head.

"It's okay. It'll be our little secret!" She excitedly said.

Hinata smiled at her sister and hugged her before leaving the room.

Once out of the room, Ko began his lecture leaning close to Kokoro's ear. "What do you think you're doing with that boy, Hatake Kakashi?"

"Ko..."

"You know, if your father found out, he wouldn't approve, Kokoro-sama."

She smiled softly, "That's why this will be our little secret, right?" She then looked down at little Hinata, who held her hand as they walked. She shook her hand to catch Hinata's attention. She looked up with soft eyes.

"Let's hurry, okay?! Ready for dangos?!"

"Mhm!"

The two Hyugas began to skip and run down the hall.

Ko sighed, throwing his head up towards the ceiling while he smacked his face as he mumbled to himself, "Why must Hiashi-sama have to have all girls? They're so troublesome!"