A/N: Thanks for the good wishes on my spider bites, everyone! They're finally getting better and hopefully they'll be gone gone BUH-BYE in another week or so. NO HAND SURGERY, YAYNESS!

This chapter's kind of low-key, but I hope you'll like it anyway. Eleventy-hundred thanks to all of you for your reviews! Much love and smooches! Please keep it up, it makes my day all bright and shiny to see the new reviews in my inbox. And a happy writer writes faster, as we all know, so you can call it enlightened self-interest, LOL!

Still don't own it. Still wish I did. So it goes.

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The candles burned low around the pool, their flickering light a perfect illumination reflecting off the hot water. Kakashi held Suyo on his lap now, closing his eyes as her hand lazily traced little nonsense patters over his chest. It was sexy, but more than that, it was strangely relaxing. While a small part of his mind listened for the gong that would notify the bath house patrons that the establishment was closing, the rest floated in a contented neutral.

Suyo's fingertips slipped up his throat to his face and stroked gently over the scar marring his eyelid. Her soft murmur after such a long silence somehow didn't break the mood. "Will you tell me about this?"

He kissed her palm, only mildly surprised that she'd finally asked. Although they had a kind of unspoken agreement not to ask about each other's scars, he knew she'd seen his Sharingan when she'd come to him at the ANBU training grounds. Curiosity was only natural. "What do you want to know?" he asked, strangely not reluctant to discuss it with her.

"Whatever you want to tell me," she replied, lifting her head from his chest for the first time in many long minutes. He opened his eyes–both of them–and smiled down at her as she trailed a finger across his brow. "It's amazing–I've never seen anything like it."

"It's called a Sharingan," he said, no longer surprised at how easy it was to talk with her. "It's a kekkei genkai, or a bloodline trait. Not all clans have them, and the ones that do protect them zealously. This particular one runs only in the Uchiha bloodline." Her eyes widened a little, betraying that Naruto had told her about Sasuke. "Yes, those Uchihas, and Sasuke does indeed have the Sharingan."

"But you're a Hatake, not an Uchiha."

He nodded, agreeing with her since it wasn't a question. "No, I'm not, and when an Uchiha awakens the Sharingan, it is in both eyes, not just one. My teammate on my genin team was an Uchiha, though–Obito was his name."

Obito's face rose in his mind again as it had the night before, laughing, scowling, teasing Kakashi, always so frustrated when he refused to rise to the bait. For a long time, he stared into the middle distance, thinking of the boy who was now long gone, buried under rubble too deep and heavy to move. Yet another shinobi whose body would never be reclaimed.

Then he dragged his thoughts back to Suyo, to her question. How could he explain what had happened so she'd understand, when he barely understood it himself? "It happened on my first mission as a jounin, my first as taichou. I was so determined to be perfect," he began, speaking slowly, thinking it through. Remembering. "Things went bad pretty quickly, and I… I wasn't like I am now, Suyo. I was so focused on completing my mission that I was willing to let my teammate die to do it. But Obito… well, you could say he knocked some sense into me."

He smiled a little at the memory of those words that had changed him so much–shinobi who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their friends are even worse than trash. "I abandoned my mission to help him rescue Rin. We were ambushed when we were fighting to free her. This–" he touched his own scar, "–was the first really serious injury I'd ever suffered as a shinobi. It was a kunai–I almost dodged it in time, but I just an instant too slow. That was all it took to lose my eye."

Suyo leaned up and kissed the scar. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's all right. Every ninja knows such things are a possibility. You accept the risk when you don the uniform," he said, and that was true enough, but at the time he'd been infuriated with himself. That kind of carelessness wasn't perfect.

"How did you end up with his Sharingan?" she asked gently when he didn't continue. "It is Obito's, isn't it?"

He nodded, and the Sharingan stung again–a familiar feeling, tears trying to well up in that eye. He'd always mocked Obito for his quick tears, and it seemed like he was getting his revenge for that in making Kakashi endure it now. "When someone attains the rank of jounin, their teammates give them gifts. It's tradition," he said, gaze still focused on the past, remembering. "Obito… he was forgetful, always late. Careless. He was…" He smiled. "He was a lot like Naruto, in fact.

"The mission was pretty much a disaster when I lost my eye," he went on, although clusterfuck was probably a more accurate word. "We were outnumbered and outmatched in every way. Obito had just awakened his Sharingan and wasn't very good with it yet, I was half blind, and Rin was out of her head from genjutsu torture. There wasn't a chance of completing our objective. The most we could hope for at that point was to retreat and hope to get back to Fire Country alive. We were in full retreat when I got hit on my blind side and fell, and one of the enemy nin triggered a rockslide jutsu right on top of me. But instead of doing what I would've done–instead of letting me go down and get killed–Obito pushed me out of the way and took my place under those boulders." He took a deep breath, the air shaking in his chest, and blew it out. "He died for me, Suyo, and to this day, I still don't know why the hell he did it."

She hugged him. "Because he clearly saw the same things in you that I do," she answered softly.

It was the best explanation of any, so he didn't question it even though he still couldn't fully accept it. "He was still alive, but we all knew he wasn't going to make it," he said. The story was getting a little harder to tell now, but her arms were around him and she kissed his shoulder, and he concentrated on that and managed to go on. "He told me he had a gift for my jounin promotion now–this eye. Rin was a medical-nin and she did the transplant before he died."

He sighed, forcefully releasing the memory and looking back down into Suyo's eyes instead. "Because I don't have Uchiha blood, it's difficult for me to use the Sharingan–it's a constant chakra drain so I keep it covered when I don't need it. It takes more energy, more concentration, more everything, but I've worked hard over the years with it." That was the understatement of a lifetime–he'd exhausted himself nearly to the point of death learning its secrets, had sweated blood to master the damned thing. Not only was it an unrivaled weapon, it was a way to keep at least some part of Obito alive. "With the Sharingan, I can see chakra flowing, read an enemy's movements before they strike, anticipate and steal their jutsus, even sometimes glimpse their thoughts and feed them doubts. It's a powerful tool."

Suyo was silent for a long time, still caressing his face. "I'm sorry for the loss of your friend," she finally said with simple, honest sympathy.

How like her to disregard the lethal skill he'd just explained and strike right at the heart of his feelings. Kakashi dropped a kiss to her lips, closing the Sharingan again. It amazed him how he felt so… so normal with her right now, that even while speaking of missions and kekkei genkai, he could still feel just like a man with his woman. Was this what it was like to have all his masks down? He'd wanted her to see his true self–was this who he was inside?

He hoped so, because he was coming to crave the moments he felt like this with her. He brushed a droplet from her cheek and savored the softness of her skin beneath his thumb. "Obito would've liked you," he said, knowing it was the truth. He'd always tried to get Kakashi to loosen up, to stop being a shinobi for just a few minutes. He would've been awed by this woman who was able to actually accomplish that feat.

She smiled brilliantly at that, and then the gong he'd been dreading sounded and he sighed. "Unfortunately we'll have to go now," he said regretfully. "The bath house is closing."

She stretched, then rose from his lap and climbed out of the pool. To his immense satisfaction, she looked absolutely boneless with relaxation and didn't once blush or hesitate as she slid naked from the water. "I have something of yours at my apartment. Are you coming home with me?" she asked, glancing back over her shoulder with a little smile.

"That is a question I'll never say no to," he replied, following her out of the water.

~*~*~

Naruto was waiting for them when Suyo unlocked her apartment. Something was bubbling on the stove, and while it didn't smell as delicious as Suyo's cooking, it didn't reek like Naruto's usual muck, either. "Hey, Suyo-chan, finally! I was getting worried–oh, that explains it." His happy voice turned into a grumble when Kakashi followed her inside. "Don't you have an apartment of your own, sensei?"

"Yes," Kakashi said. In truth he was a bit taken aback to find the teenager so comfortable in her home when he'd been anticipating spending a little more time alone with her. "But I like this one better."

Naruto snorted. "Poor Suyo-chan, what'd I tell you about bringing home strays?" he lamented. "You feed them once and they never go away."

"Certainly explains you," Kakashi shot back.

"Boys, boys," Suyo chided, smiling, and locked the door behind them. "I know you didn't cook that, Naruto, since it smells really good. What is it?"

He stuck his tongue out at her but didn't deny it. "It's from Ichiraku," he said proudly, lifting the lid of the enormous pot and stirring it. "Teuchi wanted to try a recipe for something that isn't ramen and he said he couldn't think of anyone better than me to try it first. I asked him to make enough for both of us so you could have some, too."

She laughed at the sight of her biggest soup pot nearly full with the new soup. There was probably enough in there for five people. "Well, it looks like there's enough for your sensei to try it, too, if you can stand to share," she teased. "There might be only six or seven bowls for you."

Naruto kept grumbling, but he submitted to Suyo's hug and kiss on the cheek with a bright smile and let her take over the reheating of Teuchi's new recipe. Kakashi pulled down bowls from the cabinet while Naruto set out spoons and napkins, and between the three of them, the table was soon set with bowls of delicious-smelling soup.

The simple domesticity of it was utterly alien to Kakashi, but he couldn't deny he liked it.

They'd barely sat down when there was a knock at the door. Suyo looked up, surprised, but Naruto was up and bouncing across the room to answer it before she could so much as wonder who was calling on her so late. He glanced over his shoulder as the teen opened the door–

And instantly slammed it again, but not before Kakashi caught a glimpse of a white porcelain mask above the black and silver uniform. "Kakashi-sensei, this is probably for you," Naruto said stiffly, but Kakashi was already moving.

"I'll take care of it," he said. He dropped a masked kiss on her forehead as he stood. "I hope I'll be right back, Suyo."

She smiled easily enough that Kakashi was sure Naruto had been fast enough to prevent her from seeing the ANBU who'd knocked. He waited until Naruto was blocking her view of the door–something the boy did without either of them so much as exchanging a glance–before he slipped through it.

The assassin's tone was as blank as his white lion mask. "Hatake Kakashi, I have an urgent summons for you from Godaime. You and your team are to report to Hokage Tower at once."

He stifled a sighed. He should've known this contentment was too good to last. "I will be there shortly, Lion-san," he said, keeping the disappointment from his voice with an effort. He really shouldn't complain–nine days off between missions was almost unheard-of. "Naruto is obviously here with me, but I would appreciate it if you could summon Sakura and Sai."

"Hai, Kakashi-senpai," Lion replied, and with a quick salute, he was gone in a swirl of leaves.

Kakashi rubbed his eyes for a moment before reentering Suyo's apartment. Unsurprisingly, Naruto had already finished his bowl of soup and was slurping down the last of Kakashi's. He just thumped the blond on the back of his head as he came to Suyo's side and brushed his palm over her hair. "I'm sorry to do this to you, Suyo, but Team Kakashi has been summoned. We'll probably leave at once."

That tension returned, stiffening her shoulders, dimming her smile. She rose from her chair and kissed his lips softly through the mask, but all she said was, "Don't think about me."

"I won't," he promised, hoping it was a vow he could keep. He touched her cheek one more time before releasing her and turning to Naruto. "You ready?"

Naruto was watching his and Suyo's interaction strangely, but his face cleared as he nodded at once. "Suyo-chan, will you be okay by yourself?"

"Of course I will," she said, waving a hand dismissively, but his comment reminded Kakashi of his conversation with Pakkun.

"Actually, I had an idea about that," he said, and with a quick bite and series of seals, he summoned Bull. The enormous mastiff arrived in a big puff of smoke. "This is Bull," he said, smiling at the stunned look on her face and the utter confusion on Naruto's. "He's one of my ninken–a trained ninja dog. I thought you might like some company while I'm gone, and since he's so cuddly…"

Bull gave him a baleful glare at being called cuddly, but Suyo was already approaching him with her hand out. "He's magnificent," she breathed, and Bull's glare vanished instantly. He sniffed her hand, glanced between her and Kakashi with a mildly quizzical expression, and submitted to having his ears scratched. "I didn't know you liked animals, Kakashi."

Naruto snorted out a laugh. "Likes them? Bakashi-sensei is an animal."

Suyo shot the teen a twinkling, wicked grin. "Now that, I already knew." Then she laughed as the boy promptly went into a blushing, gagging fit and started yelling things about needing brain bleach. Kakashi couldn't hold back his own grin at seeing her out-innuendo the perverted teenager as she looked back at him. "You're sure you can spare him, Kakashi? I really would like the company, but if you need him…"

He patted Bull's massive head and nodded. "I want him with you," he said simply. "I want you to feel safe, and he's one of the best ninken in Fire Country."

She leaned up and kissed Kakashi's exposed ear. The feel of her lips on his bare skin sent shivers through his entire body. "Thank you, and I love you," she whispered. He savored those three words. "Now go before I get all emotional in front of Naruto, all right? Be safe."

"We will," he promised, then bent to whisper to Bull while she hugged Naruto tight and smiled for him like she didn't have a fear in the world. He assumed that Pakkun would've already jumped on the chance to share this juicy development with the rest of the pack, but just in case, he wanted to give the ninken some instructions. "She's my mate," he murmured, holding the dog's deceptively mild gaze. Using that word was still a thrill. "She's got some history with the Sound, so keep a close eye and send word if anything happens, all right?"

Bull barked once to show he understood–it was something like a minor explosion–and then Naruto was done with his goodbyes and Kakashi led the blond out the door, leaving the warmth and comfort of Suyo's home behind.

It was time to put his masks back on and go to work once more.

But before they could leap to the rooftop and speed toward Hokage Tower, Bull's booming bark made them turn around to see Suyo leaning out her window. "Kakashi! I almost forgot–this is yours!" she called, waving a little bundle.

He made a quick jump back and took it from her. "Thanks," he murmured, smiling at her and risking pulling his mask aside for a bare instant to kiss her. "I'll be back soon."

"You'd better," she said, returning the smile, and then he and Naruto were away.

He didn't have a chance to open that package just then, however. They ran into Sai and Sakura on the way, and then Tsunade's briefing–a complex one involving the Sound, Sasuke, and plots involving infiltrating Orochimaru's base–took up all his attention. The next hour was spent gathering weapons and supplies, then rushing to get underway as fast as possible. So it wasn't until they finally stopped for a rest break at dawn that Kakashi remembered the little wrapped package she'd pressed on him and moved a little away from the three teenagers to open it.

Inside was a familiar orange-covered book–when had he left one of his Icha Icha novels with her, anyway? Wondering if she'd actually read any of it brought a smile to his face. He idly flipped through it, not really paying attention to where the pages fell, but the oft-repeated action was comforting.

And that was when he realized that Suyo had indeed read his book. But that wasn't all.

She'd bookmarked it. And, in some places, added notes in the margins.

Kakashi laughed out loud–God, she was perfect for him–and quickly stifled the sound before Naruto could get nosy and ask him what was so funny. This wasn't something he particularly wanted to explain.

Paging through the book more carefully this time, he saw that she'd written little messages on some of the bookmarks. One such scrap fell out and he saw a little scribble on it in an elegant, controlled hand: Don't you think this one would work better with whipped cream than butter? Another one said, This sounds fun. I'll bring the rubber bands, you bring the feathers. In a third place, there wasn't a note, but a braided lock of her hair was pressed between the pages. He raised it to his face and closed his eyes in pleasure at the soft scent trapped in the strands.

He heard his team stirring behind him and quickly stashed the volume in its usual place in his kunai pack. She must've known he wouldn't dare read such a distracting book unless it was safe–he would take her additions to the story as tacit permission to think of her during such times. He could hardly wait to open the volume again and find the rest of the surprises she'd hidden for him in there, but now wasn't the time.

Naruto approached a moment later, hands in his pockets as he looked up at the sunrise. "Kakashi-sensei," he said, nodding vaguely in his direction but not looking at him.

This was a bit odd. Kakashi instinctively tensed, remembering how closely he'd been watching he and Suyo say their goodbyes. "Yes?"

"You... you're doing really great," Naruto mumbled. Instead of looking at the sky, now his attention was focused on his feet as though they were the most fascinating things he'd ever seen. "With Suyo-chan, I mean. I just wanted to tell you that. She seems really happy with you."

Wow... the unexpected praise momentarily rendered him speechless. Kakashi gave the teen his one-eyed smile, meaning it this time. "Thanks, Naruto." The teenager just grunted before going back to the other two, his fox-whiskered face a bit pink.

Well aware that a hint of that stupid grin was back on his own face, Kakashi stood and got his team moving again, his heart much lighter than it had been.