When I woke up, I found myself covered in a cold sweat. That dream I had wasn't a dream. It was a bad omen. I dreamt of a beautiful white rose that withered to dust. Thinking of it as I got ready for the ride back with Carlos, I couldn't shake the chills from running up and down my spine. I felt nervous, as if something horrible was going to happen.

Knock Knock Knock

"Who is it?"

"It's your boyfriend", sang Gai from the other side of the door. I tried not to laugh.

'I should forget the dream, it probably has no meaning anyway.'

I opened the door to let Gai, and sadly Carlos, in my room.

"So Hide, He-Man Gai told me about yesterday. CONGRATS!"

Before I could tell him where he can shove his congrats, he kept going.

"And before you say anything, I wanted to personally apologise to you for my inappropriate behavior. That was wrongness on my behave and if I had been He-Man Gai, I would have left you beat on me like ritual drums from my home country."

Hearing this glitter-bug's words, I thought I was losing it,..or at least someone spiked my swordfish yesterday. Carlos, 'Prince Carlos' actually apologizing to me? I looked over to Gai who winked at me. Gai actually taught this idiot some manners. I'm IMPRESSED!

"Thank you, Carlos. I accept your sorry and congrats."

Carlos clapped his hands and bounced around.

"This makes me very happy. Before we leave, how about we all get sexy breakfast, t'is my treat."

I smirked and Gai smiled.

"Can we have the seafood Alamo?"

"But of course! We will even get the chocolate cake mountain, cause I know how much you like chocolate my little cupcake."

Now Carlos had me smiling. He's the only person alive who know the full extent of how much I LOVED chocolate,...if it doesn't scare Gai away, he'll know soon enough.

We all made our way back to the Blue Moon, ordered the seafood alamo and when they brought in the Chocolate Mountain, I gain 10 pounds just by looking at it. It was a 5 foot chocolate cake, with chocolate icing, chocolate shavings on top of chocolate ice-cream scoops the covered the edges of all 7 layers with hot fudge oozing down the sides like delicious hot lava. My heart stopped and my stomach went to heaven. As soon as the 6 waiters put the cake on the table, I was grabbing it my the handfuls, shoving fistful after fistful into my mouth like a starving animal. I could hear Carlos laughing to the point tears where pouring from his eyes. Gai was gawking at me as if I was suddenly mutating. I was trying to at least slow down but, I couldn't. This damn cake was just too good! I just hope Gai wouldn't runaway, traumatized by my endless appetite. 'Holy shit, I'm Shaggy without the dick,..and I have super ninja powers!'

*if anyone reading this doesn't know who Shaggy is from scooby-doo,...I frown upon you. EPICLY FROWNING-NESS*

Suddenly I could hear Gai bust out laughing he was holding his stomach. With just enough will power, I was finally able to stop eating long enough look at him and Carlos both laughing at me. I felt the temperature in my cheeks raise.

"Stop laughing at me!"

Gai pulled me into a bear huge strong enough to choke a whale.

"I'm sorry, Hide. I just couldn't help myself. I just never get a chance to see a woman eat."

I felt myself blush. Out of all the weaknesses I've ever had, chocolate was my unbreakable drug.

"Gai, you watch me eat all the time."

Gai lighten his grip and sat back.

"Well,...yes but if I've would have know how much you love chocolate, I would've just taken you to Candy Kindom to eat."

*No Candy Kingdom is not an Adventure Time reverence, though I should write a parody about it.*

"What is this Candy Kingdom, He-Man Gai?"

"Well, it's a fine restraint for those who have a special sweet tooth. It's all the way on the other side of the gates of Kona."

"It sounds sweet and very sexy. We all must go."

I rolled my eyes.

"Carlos, everything to you sounds sexy."

"Well excuse me for having fun, Missy-miss Grouch."

After the cake was gone, I washed up, and Carlos gave the waiter a $100 tip; we all headed back to the boat and sailed home to Gai's displeasure. However, when Gai got on board I just so happen to give him a shoot of sedative instead of Carlos. Carlos knows from experience that I wouldn't hesitate to through him overboard, so he left you alone till the boat got safely to the shores of the Leaf Village. After Gai woke up from his roofy induced sleep, I got off the boat to do a quick search for any traps or hunters.

~Gai's POV~

I was gathering up some of Carlos' bags when I heard someone cough behind me. Looking back, it was Prince Carlos. Slightly surprised, I straighten myself up to properly speech with the young man.

"Hello Prince Carlos, what can I do for ya?"

"I need to talk to you about Hide, He-Man Gai."

I raised an eyebrow. What on Earth would he what to talk about Hide for?

"Go on."

"I know for a fact that you are much more macho than I and that I have don't have a snowball's chance in my country to ever win against you but, if you ever hurt Hide, I swear on my life and my honor, I will send an army to have you de-sausaged."

My eyes widen. Ok, I didn't see that coming.

"Hold on a second,"

The Prince held his hand up and the seriousness of his eyes made me quiet.

"I like you a lot He-Man Gai, but Hide is a special friend to me. She brought peace in my country. She saved the life of my little sister, my Papa and Mama. She brought life into the barring waste land of my people for many years. I may tease her about the sex I had with her seduction clone, but believe me, I will personally murder anyone who harms my little Chocolate cupcake."

"You knew it was a clone."

Carlos rolled his eyes.

"But of course. Listen to me. I may be a sexual deviant, but my IQ is 198. I knew from the first time I set my eyes on the beautiful Hide long ago, she was a real woman with real pride. From her poster, her formality, her passion to help my people in ways Papa refused to; she is a woman who deserves respect even from royalty like me. I was in fact the one who helped her gather information from my father Ozi. I betrayed my father for her because that is how important she is to me. The only reason the clone was involved is because she was pretending to be my fiancée. In order for her mission to be successful, it had to look real as possible."

Ok, that was another thing I didn't see coming. I couldn't think clearly. If those two was such good friends, why did she run off like she did on the first day of the mission.

"She ran off because she loves you, you oaf."

My head snapped up after realizing I was looking at my feet.

"What?"

"If you're wondering why she ran away after first seeing me, it's because in her head she was thinking, I would embarrass her in front of you to the point you would no longer find interest in her."

"You mean she was worried about being embarrassed,...in front of me?"

Carlos clapped his hands.

"Now you got it."

I couldn't help but smile. Too often I was always worried about impressing women but to have such an incredible woman, my girlfriend, trying to impress me,...it's too hard to image.

"Imagen it He-Man Gai. My eyes don't ever miss a thing, especially when it comes to romance."

This is definitely the greatest day of my life!

~Hide's POV~

I was looking over the map when I heard footsteps behind me. Looking back, I seen Gai run up and give me a nice kiss on the cheek. I laced my fingers with his and once Carlos arrived a moment later, we set off to the village.

~At the Hokage's office~

"Well, I'm glad to hear the mission went smoothly. Hide, go and hand the report in to the Missions Office. Gai, Prince Carlos, I need to speak with you for a moment."

"Hide, afterwards, do you want to grab some lunch?"

"Naw, not this time."

Gai frowned.

"I feel like cooking this time. So if you want, I'll have something good for you at my place, in 1 hour?"

Gai smiled brightly and nodded his head.

"Sounds great!"

I blew him a kiss and left. At the Mission's Office, the line wasn't long at all. In fact, it was only a few minutes till I got to the front.

"Hello Hide, how was the mission?"

"Hey Iruka, it wasn't my longest mission bet it was interesting."

"Really, how so?"

I handed him the report as I was thinking on what to included and what to excluded.

"Well, I escorted an old friend and now I'm dating Gai."

Iruka's face fell.

"You?,...and Gai?"

He tought for a moment and then smiled.

"It's about time. I'm really happy for you both."

I chuckled.

"About time? What does that suppose to mean?"

Iruka held his hands up in defense and giggled himself.

"Well, I mean is, I'm happy that Gai has someone now, especially since it's someone who makes him as happy as he's been."

"Thanks, in that case, I'll try to keep up the good work."

"See ya around."

"See ya Ruke."

It was always nice to see Iruka. During the short time I've been back, Iruka was one of the few guys that treated Gai as a real friend. I've heard Iruka make fun of Gai, laugh at him, or just act rude. Iruka was a real friend of Gai's as to anyone and everyone.

I went to the grocery store to pick out some fresh ingredients for lunch tonight. Picking out some vegetables, a few pounds of meat, and some ice-cream; I paid for my food and left. The streets wasn't too crowded today. I seen mostly familiar faces, well now they're familiar. Spending time with Gai as much as I've been with all the places we train at, it doesn't surprise me anymore how well-known Gai really was.

"I've haven't seen you in a while. Yo."

"Hey Kashi, what's up?"

Kakashi came from behind you and now stood in front of you.

"Oh, nothing much. I was just in the neighborhood today. I haven't seen you in a month though. What have you've been up too?"

I started to walk again with Kakashi walking next to me.

"Nothing much. Gai's been keeping me busy though."

"Gai? I thought you didn't like him."

"I didn't at first, but he's been so sweet he kind of grew on me."

"Does this mean the rumors are true?"

I had to stop and look at the taller silver hair man. I never had an interest in rumors before but if it was involved with someone important to me or myself, then I was curious.

"What rumors?"

"The rumors that you and Gai are dating."

Iruka, it had to been from Iruka.

"Did Iruka tell you?"

Kakashi's only visible eye widen as he took a step back.

"Your dating Gai!"

At least 15 people was now staring at me.

"Shout a little louder Kakashi, I don't think the other country's heard you."

I turned to leave. Kakashi is my friend and has been for a long time but sometimes he was just so infuriating. I felt his hand grab my wrist, making me stay put.

"I'm sorry but you can't blame me for being shocked. I mean, why Gai of all people? Dont you think you could do better?"

*SMACK*

Kakashi was flew back about 30 feet. He sat up and held his swollen cheek. Without even a second later, I pulled him up by the collar of his shirt and I held him high off the ground.

"Unlike the others from before, Gai is there for me. He is REALLY there for me, when I want him and when I need him. He's the best damn man I know and I don't need your fucking approval! He actually cares about me and that's enough for me."

I shoved Kakashi back and he manage to stay on his feet.

"I care about you too Hide!"

All at once my anger evaporated. Was there some hidden meaning or is it as it always was, Kakashi just being a friend?

"You're a friend, of course you care."

"No Hide, I,.."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"Listen, I know I wasn't a good boyfriend to you before but after you came back,...well,...I started to think about 'us'."

"What?"

Ok, so I'm not exactly on the same page. Kakashi walked closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His eyes were closed as he leaned in closer. My eyes widen as his eyes opened. I looked at the two gloved fingers that blocked his path to his success and my down fall. I took a step back and turned away from him.

"Ten years ago, Kakashi, that's when you should have thought about 'us'."

I looked over my shoulder at Kakashi. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes showed disappointment.

"Don't I even get a second chance?"

"You don't deserve a second chance!"

It was the second time in my life I've ever shed tears but the memory of what happened long ago, I'll never forget.

"You're suppose to be a friend and if you can't be happy with what you have now, leave me the fuck alone!"

I raced home. I heard him calling my name but I didn't what to hear it. I didn't want to listen to anything he said anymore. I just didn't want 'him' anymore. I wanted only Gai. He's all I'll want and all I'll need. After getting home on my porch, I touch the hidden scar right above my bikini line.

"I'll never be able to have children Kakashi, you took that from me."