"So, what do you think?"

"I think they're a bunch of idiots."

"C'mon, they've got spirit."

"Doesn't mean they're not a bunch of idiots."

"I can't win with you, can I?" Naoko asked, shaking his head with a laugh.

"No one can." Kazuko replied, smirking at her partner.

The couple had arrived at the training grounds and were met by Kakashi and his students. Kazuko had instantly taken a liking to the loudmouth 'knuckleheaded ninja' as Kakashi had put it. Naruto did indeed have spirit, and she liked that. The kunoichi on the other hand, she thought, was useless. In the five minutes she had been with the team, Sakura looked at Sasuke dreamingly fifty-five times. Kazuko had counted.

Speaking of Sasuke, Kazuko had to admit that he looked strong. She had heard of the famous Uchiha clan, and he was no exception. But he was arrogant and thought he was better than everyone else. Kazuko had gotten that vibe the first time their eyes locked. She could feel it in his gaze, and she did not like it.

"Ramen?" Kakashi asked, breaking Kazuko's thoughts. They were currently sitting in Ichiraku Ramen, curtesy of Naruto's nagging.

"Beef, please." She replied.

"How long are you here for your honeymoon?" Sakura asked, eyes gleaming brightly as she stared at Kazuko.

"We haven't decided how long." Naoko replied casually with a kind smile to the young pinkette. "It's so nice here that we may end up staying permanently."

Naruto bounced in his seat beside Kazuko, an excited energy emanating from him. "Will you come watch us train while you're here? I want to show you my awesome moves!"

Kazuko couldn't help but chuckle at Naruto's enthusiasm. Naoko looked over at her, an eyebrow raised at her sudden outburst. Kazuko never laughed. "I'll be sure to come see you train, Naruto. Don't worry." She smiled at him warmly and Naruto grinned in return.

"Thanks for lunch, Kakashi." Naoko smiled, one arm around Kazuko's shoulder after they finished their lunch. "Your students are lovely."

"They like you as well." Kakashi assured, his visible eye smiling as he looked at Kazuko.

"Well, we should be going." Kazuko stated, feeling uncomfortable under Kakashi's keen gaze. "We'll see you around."

"Right, I'll see you later then." Kakashi waved goodbye to the pair as they walked off, needing to prepare for the evening ahead.

.

.

.

Kazuko groaned when they reached home, flopping onto the couch and throwing an arm over her face.

"I think he likes you." Naoko stated amusedly, the grin visible in his voice.

"Say that again and I'll bite your tongue off." Kazuko warned.

Naoko laughed from the kitchen. "I'm just saying. There's no need to get defensive. Besides," He popped his head out from the kitchen and grinned at Kazuko's figure lying on the couch. "I think you like him too."

Kazuko snarled at her partner and threw a pillow at his head. He caught it and laughed, waggling his eyebrows at her. "Shut up Naoko! I'm supposed to be married! Stop being such a jerk." She flopped back against the couch, exhausted. "Besides," She mumbled. "He can't like me. He thinks we're married and liking someone else's wife is against the rules."

"Rules? There are no rules, Kazuko. He's a smart guy. He'll figure out we're not married sooner or later. I mean, we don't really act like the average newlywed couple, do we?"

Kazuko snorted. "I could've told you that."

"Then, it's settled!" Naoko exclaimed, clapping his hands together enthusiastically. "Once he realizes we aren't married, you'll be free to pursue him."

He laughed when she pounced at him and he held her at bay as her fists tried to connect with his grinning face.

.

.

.

It was a peaceful night. They were off duty for the evening but Kazuko decided to go for a walk anyway, leaving her 'husband' at home. She liked the peacefulness of the nightlife—cool air, bright stars, no people. It was something she usually took for granted in Suna. As Kazuko looked skywards here though, she found that there weren't half as many stars visible. She scowled at that.

Closing her eyes to listen to the crickets and the other night-dwelling creatures, Kazuko didn't feel the presence of someone following her. She shoved her hand through her hair and thought once again about the 'Copycat Ninja' that they'd been spending so much time with lately. They'd had lunch with the team several times now, even staying to watch them train as they'd promised to do.

Kazuko jumped when a hand touched her shoulder and she immediately went for her weapons pouch, only to realise she didn't have it on her.

"Settle down, it's just me." Kakashi's voice calmed her and Kazuko let out a breath of relief.

"You scared me, Kakashi!"

"Sorry. I was calling your name, but you must not have heard me. You're out late again."

Kazuko shrugged. "Felt like a stroll. I enjoy the peaceful nightlife. No people around to annoy me."

Kakashi chuckled. "Do you mind if I walk with you?"

She didn't know why that question suddenly made her nervous, but she wasn't one to let people know what she was thinking. Her face remained stoic and she replied with, "not at all."

They were silent for a few minutes while they walked, content enough to just be in each other's company. It was only when they reached Kazuko's street that Kakashi spoke.

"You and Hiromasa are a strange couple." His voice was low, as if he didn't want to disturb the silence around them.

Kazuko raised an eyebrow, alarmed. "You think so?"

"You're just… you seem casual with each other. Not something newlyweds are normally like." He looked over at her, trying to read her expression.

She shrugged, acting nonchalant. "We get that all the time. It's just how we are."

"Do you want to get dinner?" He asked suddenly, turning to look at her.

"At midnight?" She asked, eyebrows raised in surprised.

His eye twinkled. "Midnight snack, then?"

Kazuko laughed and gave him a warm smile. "Sorry, but Hiromasa will be worried if I'm gone too long."

They reached Kazuko's apartment and she fiddled to get the right key, turning around to face the silver haired Jounin.

Kakashi's eye softened as he held her gaze. "Another time, then?"

She nodded, surprised that she regretted saying no to his offer. "Sure, another time. Goodnight, Kakashi."

His eyes held that secret again, and it made her breath catch. "Goodnight, Airi."

.

.

.

Kazuko spent quite a lot of her down time with Team Seven, especially the hyperactive blond. Kazuko felt drawn to Naruto for some reason, and she felt the need to help him out, even though she knew it could blow her cover.

On this particular day, Kazuko was accompanied by Naoko. The two of them were sitting under a tree, watching the three Genin as they practised their chakra control. As usual, the raven-haired boy was cocky and confident while the blond blundered around, trying to best his teammate. Surprisingly to Kazuko, however, was that the kunoichi of the team was the one that picked things up the quickest.

"They're a good bunch, aren't they?" Naoko stated smilingly. "You've grown fond of them."

Kazuko glared at her partner, but it held no sting behind it. "I have not."

"It reminds me of when we were their age. So full of determination, yet so clueless at the same time."

"Well, you have always been clueless."

Naoko nudged her shoulder. "Ha ha."

Naruto called out to the duo. "Hey, come here and I'll show you how to throw shuriken!"

Kazuko smiled inwardly but shook her head at the blond. "No thanks Naruto, not today. Someone might get hurt if I handle them."

Naruto's face fell, but he ran over to the couple and held one out. "Here, they aren't so bad. You just need to be careful."

Naoko jumped up and took it off him. "Why don't you let me have a go, eh Naruto? I'm a quick learner!"

Naruto grinned. "Yeah!"

The two idiots ran off together to practise shuriken throwing and Kazuko sighed, finally finding some quiet.

"Hey."

Or not.

Kakashi stood above the secret ANBU member, his gaze as intense as usual. "Mind if I sit?"

Kazuko shrugged. "Go for it."

Kakashi plopped down beside her, facing his team. He was silent for a few minutes, the two of them content with watching Naruto and Naoko, who was doing a pretty good job at pretending to be a bad shuriken thrower.

"Are you going to the festival?" He asked suddenly, turning to face her again.

"What festival?" Kazuko asked, not really interested.

He raised his visible eyebrow. "You don't know? The cherry blossom festival is starting two days from now. It's the biggest festival of the year."

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize. I'm not really into festivals, but we'll probably go anyway. Hiromasa will make me."

Kakashi laughed at this, turning his head to watch said person. "Yes, he is a very lively fellow. Opposites attract, huh?"

"Yeah." Kazuko replied wearily. He said these kinds of things a lot, like he was waiting to catch her off guard. She didn't like it at all.

Kazuko stood up and moved away from the silver haired ninja. "Well, we should probably be going. We have a lot to do this afternoon." She called to Naoko before turning back to Kakashi once more. "Good luck with training them. They look like a handful."

Kakashi sighed and stood up as well. "You don't know the half of it."

Naoko arrived and the two of them said their goodbyes to Team Seven. While walking back to their apartment, Naoko grinned.

"Naruto was telling me about the cherry blossom festival in a couple of days. That'll be exciting!"

"No, it probably won't be. You know I don't like festivals."

"Ah, but Airi sweetie, we have to maintain our newlywed status. They expect us to go."

Kazuko shot him a glare. "Shut up. I know that already. Besides, the only reason I'm going to go is because it'll be a good night for the Night Demon to attack."

Naoko nodded sagely. "True, true. We better be on the lookout at all times."

"Yes Hiromasa, dear. No slacking off." Kazuko retorted, daring him to talk back.

Wisely, he didn't, and the two continued silently to their apartment for that evening's mission.

Thanks for reading. Festival fun coming up for our lovely couple! Please don't forget to R&R. :3