Author's Note: the Kage Tournament is an idea I have on the backburner. Just roll with it.

Sorry for all of the extra notes at the end.

Mei's Uniform

"I need to pick out something to wear to the next Kage Tournament," Mei said thoughtfully. She and Kaori were relaxing in the kages' apartment in the Hidden Mist Village. Kakashi had gone out to pick up dinner for the three of them.

Kaori frowned. "What was wrong with what you wore last year?"

Mei shook her head. "I'm stealthy enough in my dress against regular opponents, not my peers, no offense." Kaori waved away the potentially insulting statement and Mei continued. "If I want to win I'm going to have to step up my game."

Kaori glanced at the closet. "Do you still have your Hunter uniform?"

Mei blinked in surprise. Then she turned thoughtful. "I haven't worn it in years, I'm not even sure if it still fits."

Kaori sat back, pulling her legs up onto the chair she was sitting on and grinned. "Well, let's see it then. Go try it on!"

"We'll see," Mei said and stepped into the walk-in closet. From the depths she called out, "I'll still need your help with my hair."

Kaori frowned. "No you don't. I've seen you do it by yourself." A boot flew out of the closet.

Mei stuck her head out to retrieve the wayward footwear. "I can, yes, but it works out better if I have help." She plunged back into the walk-in closet, boot in hand.

Kaori nodded understandingly. She never could comprehend way her friend liked her hair so long. If her own got further than the small of her back she just had to hack it off. Then a new thought occurred to her and Kaori's eyes popped. "Mei? Has Kakashi seen you in your uniform before?"

There was a pause and then, "I don't think so. He must have seen it in the closet at some point but never on me." Mei stuck her head out and shared a grin with her friend.

Kaori smiled wickedly. "Oh I'll do your hair alright. You're going to knock him dead." The blond went into the bathroom to retrieve Mei's comb and a few other things. "I can't wait to see his face."

Fifteen minutes later Kakashi walked into the apartment with bagged takeout in hand. He closed the door and started to say, "they were out of the rolls so I-" but he suddenly stopped speaking when he turned. Across the room from him was Mei. On her feet were black sandals with long lacings that crisscrossed up her lower legs and terminated at the top of her toned calves. They were tied overtop of dark blue pants that sheathed Mei's legs in closed-cell fabric. Kakashi's eyes traveled up to her torso. The pants and shirt, which were of similar material, met at a dark green belt with small pouches built into the seams. Unless the observer knew better, one might assume that the belt was for fashion rather than function. Mei's shirt, which hugged every curve, ended in a half turtle neck that kept her warm in case her work took her into the water.

Her hair was pulled back in a hot crossed bun style. The majority of her auburn locks were pulled into a bun at the back of her head but there were also two substantial braids that began at each of her temples, traveling back on the sides of her head to meet the bun and then wrap around it. The remaining bangs that were too short to weave into the plait hung in Mei's eyes and hid her ears as always. She looked out at her husband from behind them, her green eyes dangerous and predatory.

Kakashi stood dumb. His eyes passed over Mei's outfit once, twice, and thrice. With each perusal his eyes grew wider. Mei gave him a teasing smile. She parted her ruby lips to make a clever remark when the takeout hit the floor. Kakashi quickly followed suit. He landed flat on his back, unmoving.

Mei's green eyes widened in shock and her mouth dropped open. "Kakashi?!" She crossed the room at top speed, kneeling next to her motionless husband. Kaori, who had been sitting off to the side, eager to see her friends' reactions, was not far behind.

"Is he okay?" Kaori asked. "He looks like he's having a fit."

Mei was giving his shoulder a tiny shake. Kakashi's eyes were open but blinking frequently. He head also seemed to be twitching, making his silver hair shudder with the movement.

"Kakashi?" Mei repeated when he remained unresponsive.

Kaori gently rested her fingers over his nose and mouth to make sure he was breathing. She relaxed a bit when she felt the movement of air. However, when she removed her fingers the pads were coated in red liquid. She didn't have to smell it to know what it was but she did anyway. "What the -?" Kaori exclaimed. "His mask is soaked in blood."

Mei's eyes widened. "What?" Kaori got up and looked out the front door for an assailant while Mei reached up and unceremoniously yanked down the mask. Some of the blood squeegeed out of the material as it bunched up at Kakashi's throat. The front of his shirt was also soaked through. "Kaori would you get me a towel? One of the old green ones."

Mei's old friend rushed off and did as she was asked. Meanwhile Mei searched in a panic; that much blood probably meant a head wound. Kaori returned with the towel and handed it to Mei without looking down. She was stretching out her senses, on high alert. "Have you found it yet? Should I call some medical ninja? The Black Ops? What?"

Mei just shook her head. She was vigorously wiping up the blood, clearing it away to find the wound she knew had to be there. She had cleaned down to the front of Kakashi's shirt when some bright color caught her eye. There was a single drop of fresh blood sliding out from her husband's left nostril. She frowned at it, something not working out in her mind. Her eyes traveled up to his, which were now focused intently on her.

Mei leaned over Kakashi and his eyes followed her. "Hey, can you hear me?"

Kakashi nodded. Very slowly a roguish grin snuck onto his face. He said, "so, come here often?"

Mei blinked once, twice. "Wait, you," she looked at the bloodstains again, following the pattern. "Was that all just a nosebleed?"

"I'm going to need a new mask," Kakashi replied cheekily. Mei wanted to smack the grin off of his handsome, if bloodstained, face.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kaori exclaimed, facing the other side of the room to give Kakashi privacy. "He's totally fine?!"

"Well I do feel a bit light-headed," Kakashi said, still eyeing his wife dreamily. Mei put a hand to her face, covering her eyes in exasperation.

Kaori rolled hers and said, "I'm getting out of here. Good luck you crazy lovebirds." The click of the window latch was the only sign of her passing.

Author's Note Part Two: So I made a discovery the other day. My husband leaves reviews on my stories every so often. This was news to me because I've never seen them. Apparently I either don't get notifications for mobile reviews or they're coming in sporadically because I do everything via e-mail on my laptop [I don't own a smartphone, you can all gasp in horror now]. That being said, if you've left mobile reviews and are wondering why I haven't responded at all…it's because I had no idea it was happening. So I'm going to try to keep a closer eye on that by manually going in and checking reviews on the site. Sorry for ignoring you mobile people!

Special note for Guest: dude, if you got an account then we could message about your ideas and it would so much easier. But since we can't…

I do take requests. Sometimes I can work them in, sometimes not. Sometimes I have to sit on them for awhile while I think the idea through.

Road to Ninja: Kakashi and Mei? This story is already an AU… How would the plot of that begin? Or would it be crackish in that, I don't have to explain how it happened they're just there? Or is it alternate Kakashi and Mei showing up in the normal (my AU) world like the episode with the wrong Sakura? Oh my goodness their kids would be so confused! hahaha

By blue-haired habanero are we talking about Himawari? Is that what she's being called now? On that note, I have no plans of reading beyond volume 72 of the manga so if you reference any of the newest manga, chances are I won't know what you're talking about. As I said in the story description, I'm making the post-war stuff up.

Hope to talk to you soon!