DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. I will end up using it, I promise!

Thinking

Emphasis

Biju, etc. speaking

Following the night of what the Hokage would refer to in his mind as Naru's ramen-gasm, they settled into a routine of hugs and occasional fairly chaste kisses before leaving each other's sides, pleasing the man immensely. Was it enough? Of course not, but he felt that things were progressing at least a little. He was terribly unsure whether or not to bring ramen back into the Tower. On the one hand, he had loved watching her come undone and listening to the noises she made while devouring it. On the other, he didn't know if he could take a repeat of the entire thing: he was getting up there in years for a shinobi, had a lot of stress in his job, and was already taking cold showers daily after all.

Speaking of getting up there in years… "Kakashi, how old are you?" Naru asked one morning as the two were walking to the hospital for another one of her therapy sessions.

"Maa, how old do you think I am, Naru-chan?"

"Mmm, I don't know; that's why I asked. If I had to guess," the woman paused and took a good look at her masked, silver-haired companion as they continued walking. "I guess I'd say mid-fifties?"

Kakashi nearly fell on his face - he definitely missed a step. "Mou, Naru-chan's so mean! I'm not old," the old man whined.

"Says the guy with gray hair," Naru snorted.

"Oi! It's silver! And it's been this color since I was a baby, I'll have you know." Kakashi paused, regarding her severely. "You didn't… seriously think I was that old, did you?"

"Of course not!" Yes, I did actually. "But who would know how old you are considering you wear that mask all the time? And if you've been wearing it forever, then you haven't had the sun on your face, and that might make you look unnaturally younger - and that's not fair," the blonde responded.

"Not fair, eh? I can't help my youthful good looks, Naru-chan," came the cheeky reply. "Plus," he whispered, leaning down into her ear, "you get to see me without my mask every day. You're just that special."

Naru looked up at the grinning egotistical bastard walking next to her and scowled. Yes, she had to admit he was pretty. Especially with those damn dimples and all of the rest. She would even admit he had a good personality. But what was his deal? She really wanted to know exactly why he spent so much time with her, what their relationship had been before she came to this crazy place, and more.

He and her friend Sakura-san were a bit weird, truthfully. She liked them both so much, but they seemed to be nearly hiding her from meeting or sometimes even seeing other people. Sometimes she felt like she was being paranoid even thinking such a thing, but at other times she was sure she was right. Then again, she had some kind of mental or brain injury or disease or something they said. She had been told that she'd get better, and it's not like it affected her day-to-day life too much. Or does it? I suppose it doesn't matter. It's not like I do that much anyway. She yawned.

"Sleepy already?" Kakashi asked. "I'll get you back home so that you can take a nice long nap after you're done with Sakura, all right?" The young woman nodded back at him, and he placed his arm around her and sunshinned them to the hospital.

Once back in her bed, Naru looked at Kakashi tiredly. Sakura-san had once again been excessive and loud. How such a small, pregnant woman, (with pink hair no less,) could be so scary was beyond her. Thank goodness she was her friend, otherwise, there was no way she would even enter that awful hospital again.

"Kakashi-san, were you in love with the old me?" Naru asked, her mouth running off before she even had a chance to censor herself. Kami-sama! I must be even more tired than I thought to have asked him something like this!

Kakashi froze, his eyes wide, as he stared at the woman he was sitting beside. He knew the answer, of course - he just hadn't expected the question. "Uhh, ha-ha… Where did that question come from, Naru-chan?"

The woman stared at him tiredly. I asked first, damnit! Also, the question came out of her mouth, and probably out of her brain, although she wasn't quite sure about that at this point. Thinking it over, she decided just to ignore his question. Somehow the guy always seemed to either read her mind or correctly interpret the dirty looks she threw at him. That didn't mean he reacted appropriately though. But, as loathe as she was to admit it - she kinda liked that about him. Must be because something is wrong with my brain. I mean what else could it be?

Kakashi fake laughed again, which made the woman lying in the bed he was sitting on twist her lips in a little scowl. So I'm going to have to answer this? He took in a deep breath. "Well, yes. Does that bother you?" He felt himself blushing and had to force himself not to pull up his mask. Of all the times for me to have pushed it down!

"No, it doesn't bother me," Naru replied, turning and smiling slightly at the blushing man. "I had just wondered." She yawned widely then asked, "Did I know before - I mean, were we…"

"No," Kakashi shook his head. "No, I never had the nerve to confess, and I don't think you noticed." He was looking away now, but eventually turned back to her and grinned.

Hmm. "Are you sure?" Naru asked. Kakashi seemed kinda like a catch if she wanted to admit it. She wasn't sure if she did want to admit that, though.

"Oh yeah," he chuckled dryly. "Pretty positive on that front!" The man scratched the nape of his neck, looking embarrassed. "Now that you know this, though: does it bother you?"

She looked at his eyes and thought about it for a bit before answering him. "No. No, it doesn't. I mean, we're getting to know each other - or we kinda do now already, I guess. And I like being with you…" she blushed every shade of pink and red imaginable.

"Well, that makes two of us then. I like being with you, too. And getting to know you… better. Orrrr, like you are now. You know," he stammered. "You'd better get some sleep, ne?"

"Hai. I guess so," she replied softly. She felt funny inside.

Kakashi leaned down and brushed his fingers through her unruly bangs. Looking deeply into her eyes, he kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, koi."

She stared up at the man as he closed the door to her room, off to do his paperwork again. This time as he left her, her heart was hammering in her chest.