Perfect Blue

Bluebell; cerulean; robin's egg; navy; sea foam. A dizzying array of blue hues all in the forms of dozens of perfectly cut 3"x3" squares littered the desk, shelves, chairs, and even floor. The sight in Kurenai's office was too unusual to simply pass up, so Kakashi allowed himself to do some freelance investigating. Such an under-taking of course had to be done with a certain amount of style, tact, and class.

"Hey Kurenai. Why so blue?" Kakashi always had been in a league of his own.

Glaring at him appropriately for the pun, Kurenai patiently answered his question. "I'm redecorating."

He looked around. "I'd suggest a professional."

"Not for my office, for my apartment," she snapped. "These are color samples for curtains."

He picked up a square of something labeled Slate. "If it's that hard choosing, why not just sew them all together and have it all?"

"Nevermind," she sighed. "I've seen your drab apartment, Kakashi. I'm not about to listen to your opinion. Which is a shame because I could use one now."

"Oh?" he asked, tossing the fabric aside and stepping closer. "On what? I'll let you know that I'm an expert on bed sheets."

Another glare neatly swept his comment under some metaphorical rug. "I've narrowed down the curtain colors to these two choices." She held up a pair of blue shades. "I can't decide though and need to find someone of reliable tastes."

"You wound me," he didn't quite whimper. He studied the squares in her hands carefully, going over as many details as he could pick up without resorting to the sharingan eye. At last he sat back, thought deeply for a moment, and then looked back up with the solemn response, "What's the difference?"

"This one is obviously lighter than the other," she explained with some exasperation, jerking the sample in her right hand.

"It is?"

"Yes! Well… Here, let me hold it up in the proper light." She stretched the fabric in front of her face, angling it to catch the light coming in through the windows behind her desk. Kakashi studied it again.

"Ah, I think I get it now."

"You see," Kurenai said smugly.

Kakashi nodded sagely. "Yes. …That cloth would make an excellent handkerchief."

"Aurg! I don't know why I even bother," she griped. "I can't take you seriously at all anymore. You're bad jokes are getting old and even a littler predictable these days."

His eyebrow curved upward and knitted closely with his other. "What do you mean?"

"I mean your sarcasm holds less surprise and more dull annoyance these days. Knowing you, you're next comment will eventually be something like…" Kurenai brought the sample in her hands up to her face, covering the bottom half of it in an imitation that was unmistakable. Closing her eyes, she lifted her nose haughtily and in a lazy, deep tone said, "I vote for the transparent ones." She scoffed and looked back up. "I swear Kakashi, all you—"

She only had time to intake half a second of air before freezing solid from the shock as Kakashi suddenly leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn't really much of a kiss; probably didn't even count as one. It was a peck really, so brief she immediately doubted it had really happened. And she still had the cloth over the bottom half of her face and he was still wearing his mask. But there was still a tangible body heat and the pressure of soft lips felt through the dark blue material, and a completely illogical tingle that hung in the aftermath.

There was silence. A short, eternal silence that seemed misplaced by his casual grin.

"Kakashi… what was…?"

"I liked it," he winked.

"…What?"

"The samples. I liked that one best." And then he vanished, forcing her to swallow the long lecture building up in her throat.

Kakashi caught a glimpse of the curtains hanging in her apartment from the outside some weeks after the incident. He still couldn't tell the difference until a breeze came through and lifted one of its edges up into the sunlight.

She tries to assure him she got a second opinion. He just says he'll be glad to inform her of his tastes any time she needs.

-owari

Authoress Notes

My second attempt at the 30kisses themes. This one was done a tad quickly. Hope it doesn't show too much...