"Good luck needs no explanation."

When The Day Met The Night

Day after day. The clean-cut routine of a shinobi never truly changed. Accept a mission, travel to objective, complete objective, return, report in, rest, repeat. Hatake Kakashi's life was no exception to that routine. Currently in the rest phase of the cycle, the son of the White Fang took to lounging about his apartment, idly passing the time on his first of many days off. His previous mission had taken close to a month to complete and, as required, he was to take a minimum of seven days off to recover. Not necessary, he thought to himself, but unavoidable. The village Konoha was currently at peace, for as long as that would last, and there was no reason from him to accept missions back-to-back, like he'd previously been used too. The Hokage told him so, and the Hokage's word was absolute. Sighing, Kakashi ran a hand through his silver mane as he rolled over onto his back. He was bored, to say the least. Staring up at his ceiling, he watched as particles of dust caught by the rays of early morning sun danced above his head in a lazy fashion. He glared at the offending flecks. Was this was he was reduced to? Had he nothing better to do with his day than to stare at the meaningless paths the specks of soot took around his room? No, he thought to himself, closing his good eye, I should enjoy the silence while it lasts.

And at this moment, as if he was suddenly gifted with clairvoyance, a shout broke his hopeful tranquility.

"MY DEAREST RIVAL! I HEARD YOU HAVE RETURNED TO US, SUCCESSFUL AGAIN! COME! LET US CELEBRATE YOUR MOST JOYOUS WELL RETURN!"

Kakashi's eyebrow ticked down in annoyance. Because around here, his charcoal eye reopened, now donning a slightly sardonic smirk, the peace never lasts. With that last fleeting thought, Kakashi stood and stretched. Gai, truly his closest friend, had arrived and now he had something to do today.

xxxxxx

Meanwhile, across the village...

"Good morning, Kaneki!" "Good morning, Shizuru!" "Good morning, Aido!"

Passing by each one of their respected shops, Kurosaki Nanami called to each of the familiar faces that were also gearing up for the day. All the shop keepers waved and smiled brightly as they returned her friendly sentiment. There was a skip in her step as she made her way through the market district this morning. Copper strands of hair fell about her face and glinted brightly in the morning sun. Nanami ran her hands through the errant strands, forcing them back over her shoulder as a warm, spring breeze tousled them. She hummed a wordless tune as her feet carried her to her first and only stop before continuing on to work. Nanami could smell her destination minutes before she arrived and it took a good amount of effort to not break out into a sprint towards the Karasu's bakery. It is always a good day when I can smell cinnamon in the air. Nanami smiled to herself, rounding the corner to a bake shop that had its front door open. Without fail, the best things happen to me after I've had a 'Good Luck' bun.

"My precious girl!" Karasu Hana, the bakery owner, called as soon as the redhead was in sight. "Good morning Nanami!" She greeted, cheerfully. Nanami returned the baker's bright smile and wave as she approached the counter. Bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, Nanami clasped her hands together in awe of the rows of freshly baked cinnamon sweet-rolls in the glass case. Metallic, gold eyes lifted to the matron saint of baked goods behind the counter. "Hana, my saving grace!" Nanami pretended to weep. "This is just what I needed to finish out the week! Your 'Good Luck' buns!" Hana rolled her eyes and with a click, she placed the slate plaque that named them simply 'Glazed Cinnamon Knots' Nanami slapped a hand over her heart. "That name does not do them justice!" Hana leveled Nanami gazed, knowing where this was going. "I have told you over and over-"

"How after one bun, you got a raise." Hana finished for her, a friendly smirk gracing her motherly features. "And how, another time I baked them, you were praised by your boss in-front of your entire department. And another, when Anko surprised you with a necklace from the Land of Snow. Oh! and another-"

"I get it!" Nanami huffed, crossing her arms playfully. "but I'm serious! They need to be called 'Good Luck' buns! I always have good fortune when you finally get to make them!" Muffled voices stared to grow outside the shop as other villagers were awake now and finally making there way to their respected jobs. Nanami shook her head, digressing. "I'll take two, please." Digging in her pocket for the correct change, she passed the Ryo. Hana laughed, handing over one bun in a paper bag, and the other with just a thin napkin so Nanami could enjoy it on the way to work. "I'll tell you what," Hana started, depositing the money in her register and briefly greeting the young couple that entered the bakery behind Nanami "If these buns can land you a boyfriend, I will change the name to 'Nanami's Good Luck' Buns. How does that sound?" Nanami snorted in amusement and shook her head. Turning to make her way out, over her shoulder she called out, "Sure! Thank you, Hana!" She heard the woman reply softly before she was out the door.

"Yeah, right." Nanami said now to herself, gazing down at her 'Good Luck' bun. "You bring me good luck," She told the sweet treat as she converged with the traffic that headed in the direction of Hokage tower. "but you can't work miracles."

Biting down into the sweet bread, Nanami looked ahead. She didn't even roll her eyes when she head the tell-tale signs of Konoha's Green Beast running to challenge his 'greatest rival.'

xxxxxxx

Kakashi, much to his chagrin, had competed in three different challenges with Gai so far, and it wasn't quite noon yet.

"I believe that means are score is 54 to 49," Maito Gai, raising both of his fists in the air. "Which means, I'M CATCHING UP!" Kakashi rolled his eye and chuckled softly. "Whatever you say." He said, noncommittally, following Gai into town. Gai's constant chatter was a welcome white noise to Kakashi. It kept him from thinking to much about, well, things he rather not. Kept at bay the nightmares that plagued him and automatically played every time he shut his eyes. After all the things he's seen, the things he's done, it's bound to leave a permanent mark on him. Physically and mentally.

"-one day, anyways. I believe it! What say you, my youthful rival?"

"Mm?" Was Kakashi's eloquent response. "Say to what?" Kakashi moved his eye from his green-clad 'rival' to the young couple that stood close on a bridge. Whispering and giggling quietly to one another as they shared bites of some sweet pastry. So very obviously and very painfully in love.

"It is the springtime of our youth!" Gai switched all his attention back to Kakashi. "We too should have a youthful romance! A partner that does not only complete us, but makes us strive to become better men! A woman who would exude love and affection at our mere presence! What do you think? A soft civilian to come home to? A fierce kunoichi to have to watch your back on missions?" Gai offered. Honestly, curious. "Why kind of woman are you looking for?"

A good question. What kind of woman would best suit Kakashi? Romance, honestly, was not a possibility for him, he had told himself this long ago. But if he were to allow himself to dream, what would he choose? There were pro's and con's to each, and as he mulled over the idea, his eyes slid back to the couple. He could admit, he did crave affection from time to time. Intimacy as well. These things, however, were distractions he did not afford himself. He shook the thoughts from his head, and answered.

"A mix of both, I suppose." Kakashi stated plainly. "A woman who is soft, but not unable." Yes, that is vague. Kakashi thought with a snort. But, my perfect woman did not exist. "Though, Gai, I am not looking. I will let fate do her worst." Ominous words he would later eat.

"5,000 ryo says I can find you a girl like that."

Both Gai and Kakashi whipped around and stared down at the familiar head of dark amethyst hair. Mitarashi Anko. Wearing her ever present shit-eating grin. "5,000 ryo, Kakashi," She repeated, twirling a kunai around her finger. "One date, and you'll be hooked." A sliver eyebrow raised, amused.

"That easy?" He teased, folding his arms, "A perfect woman for me will be that easy to find?"

"Yep!" Anko sheathed the kunai, putting her arms behind her head. "They don't call me Matchmaker Mitarashi for nothing!"

"No one calls you that." Kakashi shot back, deadpanned.

"But they will!" Anko pointed back at Kakashi. "After I set you up."

"And me?!" Gai lamented. "I cannot loose to my rival in love as well!"

Anko shrugged, "First Kakashi, then you." She turned and headed to the Hokage tower, or more specifically, T&I, where she worked. But before she was out of sight completely, she turned over her shoulder to yell at the pair. "I'll be in touch, Kakashi!" Kakashi only sighed. Anko missed the part where he didn't actually agree to meet some mystery date. Oh, well. Kakashi thought with a shrug, continuing to tune out Gai who was once again rambling about who could be his perfect match. One date, and I'll be 5,000 ryo richer.

Another set of words he would also eat.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Author's note: Hello! If you take the time to read this, thank you! This is my first story here on FF, which I will probably cross post to my old AO3 account. I hope you enjoy the intro! This it just a cute little love story that popped into my head I hope to finish in 10 chapters or less. This is wild AU and has nothing to do with main story plots. Just the environment and characters, somewhere after Kakashi is discharged from ANBU and before he becomes Team 7's sensei. I own nothing, just the OC's you don't recognize. This isn't proof read and English isn't my first language if the sentence structure seems sloppy. Please let me know of any errors and I will fix them accordingly!

Thanks again! -Grey