The coffee shop wasn't busy at two in the afternoon. It turned out that Hanare liked to get an Americano. Kakashi got his usual latté. The barista was very good and drew a shuriken in the foam. Hanare admired it and said it was kawaii.
Kakashi walked to his usual table, the corner one near the window where the light was good, and sat down. Hanare took the seat across from him. She sipped her coffee and stared out the window, watching people in the plaza. Kakashi shifted in his seat. Usually he'd just take out Icha Icha…
"That couple is in a fight," Hanare murmured. Her eyes were discreetly tracking someone outside. Kakashi followed her gaze. A young man about Konohamaru's age was holding hands with a girl as they used the crosswalk. Their faces looked placid and unreadable to Kakashi.
"How can you tell?" he asked.
"Before the crossing light turned green, he held out his hand to take the shopping bag. She looked at his hand then moved the bag to her other shoulder and pretended not to see his offer." Hanare said. Kakashi raised his eyebrows. They both looked elsewhere so as not to be rude as the couple passed the café window.
After a moment, Kakashi nodded. "You were correct. Now they're arguing at the corner." A fox-like grin spread across Hanare's features, making her look sharp and mischievous. Kakashi chuckled.
"I knew it," the green-haired woman crowed quietly. She drank more coffee. Then her eyes alighted on Kakashi's half-empty cup. "How do you do that?" she laughed, leaning forward and squinting at his mask.
Kakashi shrugged. "Even a spy's eyes can't be everywhere at once." He started to wink, thought better of it since it might be kind of creepy, and as a result his eye twitched awkwardly. Hanare giggled.
"Kakashi." She leaned back in her chair and stared upward at the ceiling. "Are you afraid I'm here to infiltrate the village?"
"Of course not."
"Liar."
"Well, you did infiltrate my house rather easily…"
"Do you honestly think I'm gathering intel on the Leaf?!"
"It wouldn't be a bad cover."
"Ah, baka neh, Hokage-sama!"
"You like the uniform, though, right?"
Kakashi stared sleepily at Hanare. She was glaring and blushing at the same time. The light from the window was very pretty on her. She'd turned to look across the street again. Her brow raised suddenly.
"Who are they?" she asked.
"Who?" Kakashi said, noticing some of her lipstick had rubbed off onto the Americano cup.
"Over there by the planter - the ones staring and pointing at us."
Kakashi kept his face expressionless. His hand clenched in his pocket, though. The people Hanare was referring to were Kiba, Mirai and Ino. Kiba was going out of his way to be obnoxious. Starring in those dog food commercials had clearly gone to his head.
Running a hand through his hair, Kakashi realized in retrospect he probably should've taken Hanare out somewhere in the country, maybe to one of the neighboring towns… or at the very least, picked a table in the back of the café.
"Oh, it looks like they're headed this way…" Hanare said.
Damn, Kakashi thought. He actually looked around to see if the shop had an emergency exit.
"Evasive action?" Hanare said drily, and Kakashi froze. The kunoichi was eyeing him skeptically. She looked unimpressed.
Kakashi crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a palm in the air. "A tactical retreat, if anything. But I'm not in the mood to give ground." He dismissed the enemy with a wave of his hand.
Hanare raised her chin approvingly. "I see. Defensive formation, then, Commander?"
Under his mask, Kakashi smiled.
The door jangled as Kiba shoved his way into the café.
"Kakashi sensei!"
"Kiba."
"We saw you in the window and thought we'd say hi," Ino gushed, eyes darting to Hanare.
Mirai just chuckled, sounding exactly like Asuma. Kakashi felt pleasure and a deep pang of sadness simultaneously. While they hadn't been very close as kids, as adults Asuma had grown to be Kakashi's best friend - next to Guy, of course - and losing him had been a terrible blow. Now Asuma's daughter was already a jonin. Beautiful and capable, Mirai seemed to have the best parts of both Asuma and Kurenai. Not a day went by when Kakashi didn't worry that something bad would befall his niece during a mission. But, that was the life she'd chosen…
Kakashi blinked. He suddenly realized everyone was staring at him expectantly.
"Euh…" the ex-Hokage ran a hand through his hair and looked to Hanare. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"I think you left us for a moment, Mr. Hatake." Hanare laughed lightly and everyone else chuckled in kind. Hanare laid her fingers just barely on the sleeve of his uniform. Her tone was professional. "Your friends here were just inquiring as to how we know one another…"
Kakashi swallowed and beneath his mask, opened his mouth to speak. But Hanare was a step ahead.
"... I presume you haven't publicized your intentions with the property. And why should you? It's a personal matter." Hanare smiled smoothly and turned toward the youngsters. Kakashi's mind raced - he had no idea what Hanare was referring to…
"I'm Mr. Hatake's real estate agent," Hanare bowed her head courteously. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."