A/N: I am so, so sorry!!! It's been a month since I last updated--I feel so bad! GAH. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it, though.

Dedication: To all my readers--thank you for sticking with this story and my sporadic updates.

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Sasuke would love Hanabi. Yay for crack pairings!!!

Summoning

"...I hope that you find these rooms to your expectations, Masashi-san. Fire is much different than Sand, isn't it? When I was your age..."

Kakashi ignored the aged inn-keeper's ramblings and surreptitiously glanced his teammates. Quietly, he noted that they each had melted into their roles with ease.

"...you said, you were from 'Kazue', eh? I've never been there, but I've been in Sand before and, meaning no disrespect, but it was quite a dry place..."

Kakashi nodded vaguely as he surveyed Naruto introduce himself to other guests, making obnoxious remarks about the places he's been and all the things he had the privilege to buy, before launching into an explanation about his family's wealth. Ruefully, Kakashi noted that Naruto was quite good at acting pompous and barely suppressed his chuckle when Naruto swiveled a hand in Aya's direction, beckoning 'his woman' forward. Submissively, Aya appeared at his side, not even batting an eye when her 'boyfriend' referred to her as his property--most likely, the silver-haired nin assumed, that she had learned in the patriarchal Hyuuga household.

"...you said you were going to Snow? Not even my eyesight is that bad. How did you get brought onto the edge of Fire--is your eyesight bad, young man? Although, you can't be that blind, it looks like your right eye is functioning properly. That cut on your eye must be bothersome. My husband, rest his soul, lost an eye in a foresting accident--he ended up wearing a similar eye patch as well..."

Paying no mind to her incessant chatter, he switched his focus to his cherry-blossom. Underneath his mask, he stole a quick smile at seeing the normally proud woman act so docile--sitting with her hands folded neatly in her lap, with their packs under her surveillance. However, it didn't escape him that her keen eyes were taking furtive glances at their surroundings--taking in the people, the arrangement of the room, and how the staff interacted with each other, no doubt.

"...ah, I seem to have been running my mouth. I've gotten carried away. Here are your keys, young man. The rooms have an adjoining door just as you wished."

Shaking his had to clear out the distracting thoughts, the ANBU operative took both keys. Now it was time for him to act.

Walking towards Naruto, he bowed slightly--almost confusing the azure-eyed man.

"Raku-san, I have secured our rooms."

Puffing out his chest in a melodramatic manner (he would have to remind Naruto not to over due the acting--too much would undoubtedly cause suspicion to arise), the man responded, "Very well. You and your wife can carry the bags. Aya, come."

Obediently, Hinata followed.

Kakashi strode across the room--with a gait that, he hoped, was fitting of a hired guard--to Sakura who meekly waited for the orders from her 'husband'. Kakashi couldn't repress the smirk when he thought of how she was seething underneath.

Picking up three of the four packs, he muttered a gruff, "Move it!" before following Naruto and Hinata.

Clutching the last pack, Sakura followed suit.

Over-exaggerating their steps in an attempt to surprise anyone--for civilians are never as quite or graceful as ninja--the four made their to the second floor.

The inn was ancient, but when the couples broke off to their corresponding rooms, each was pleasantly surprised at the modern accommodations.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, the medic tossed her pack on the bed and, placing her hands on her hips, turned towards the Copy Nin.

"So, Kakashi-kun, where are my presents?"

Chuckling at her adorable reactions, the silver-haired ninja opened his mouth--

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Simultaneously, both heads turned towards the loud noise coming from the connecting door.

Stepping forward, Kakashi undid the deadbolt, allowing the shinobi to enter--Hinata following with a small smile on her pretty face.

Closing the door behind the couple, Kakashi went and pulled the rolly chair from under the wooden desk. Naruto had already situated himself on couch, with Hinata perched contentedly on his lap--he vaguely noted that Naruto's lap seemed to be her favorite seat--while Sakura was spread out on the bed, propping her head up on her hands.

"Alright, now we get a couple of days of relaxation. However, while we are out we need to be sure to look for information about Sasuke or the Sound. If possible, try to get the background story of what has been going on in that accursed village these last few months."

Taking Kakashi's tone as a cue to leave, Naruto pulled his wife towards their room which a comment slung over his shoulder about going to a bar and looking for some food.

The connecting door closed with an audible click and Kakashi felt warmness pool in his lower regions as he noted the playful look in her eyes. He repressed a disheartened sigh when he realized that thatlook was not that look.

Without any further prompting, Kakashi walked towards his pack and, kneeling down, pulled out an old and battered scroll.

Noting the confused look on her face, Kakashi smile good-naturedly.

"This", he said waving the scroll, "is your first present."

Eagerly, the pink-haired ninja leaped off of their shared bed and quickly sat down cross-legged next to the older ninja.

With Sakura leaning over his shoulder--he could smell her raspberry shampoo--he rolled out the scroll.

Beryl eyes widened as she took in the scroll's contents. "Kakashi, this...this is a summoning scroll."

"Yes, dear, how perceptive of you."

Fighting of the urge to slap him, she continued. "This is your family's summoning scroll!"

"Yes, I believe we've already established that this is in fact a scroll for summoning."

Deciding to let that last comment slide, the kunoichi shook her head. "Kakashi, how is this my first gift?"

"I thought you might like to be able to summon Pakkun and the rest of my nin dogs."

Wiping her tear-blinded eyes, she nodded.

With her blood, Kakashi added her name to the list on the bottom on the scroll, and performed a few hand-seals that secured her name. Pulling her in front of him in a kneeling position, he placed his warm hands over hers and whispered the instructions in her ear.

He smirked in satisfaction as she shivered involuntarily from his touch--melting into his arms.

Together, they preformed the seals and Sakura squealed in delight when they heard a "Pop" and a familiar droopy-eyed pug appeared.

"Yo."

YAY! It's finished. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter Please drop a review and tell me how you felt about the chapter!