Sixth

Fury trudged up the stairs towards the Hokage office with Rush, going over the plans they had hastily sketched out on the stack of papers he was holding. She knocked on the door and they entered without looking up from the papers.

'Godaime-sama, we've got the final plans for the project mapped out.' Fury announced, proudly holding out the papers. Then nearly dropped them when she finally noticed the person standing between them and the Hokage.

Kakashi looked over his shoulder, an eye-crinkling smile ready. She gulped and smiled a little too widely back. Beside her, Rush sighed and walked up to the Hokage's desk, deliberately blocking her view.

Fury recovered quickly, clearing her throat in embarrassment. Kakashi turned around and gave the Hokage a final nod before leaving the room quietly. As he passed her, Fury held her breath, trying her best not to stare after him, then started when she felt a soft brush on her fingers. It took all her willpower not to respond and just as she managed to get her breath back, Rush clicked his tongue impatiently to beckon her over.

Red-faced, Fury scuttled over to the desk and started launching into her prepared briefing with Rush. Steady, keep calm and stop acting so immaturely, she screamed inwardly to herself. But…she couldn't the smile that crept up inside her when she remembered the momentary contact with Kakashi. She really missed him.

~…~…~

When the Hokage finally gave them a dismissal look, Fury tried not to sigh with relief. Rush shot her a private grin as they strode out of the office.

'That went well.' He said in a low voice.

Fury returned his satisfied smile. 'Let's hope the actual plan turns out just as well.' She began to say then stopped abruptly when a figure appeared in her peripheral vision.

'Hey.' Kakashi greeted her warmly. His smile wavered slightly at Rush who glowered at him.

'I'll see you back home.' Rush mumbled under his breath then walked away before Fury could stop him.

Fury stared uncomfortably at her friend's retreating back but her guilt subsided considerably when Kakashi beamed at her, his happiness growing more and more apparent now. Fury felt herself brightening up too, her suppressed delight in seeing Kakashi bursting to escape.

'Let's grab dinner.' He said, offering the crook of his elbow out to her.

She took it happily. 'So, is this going to be a date?' She asked eagerly.

'Of course.' Kakashi answered. He ran a cursory look over her suddenly and Fury tugged self-consciously at her dress. 'You look good.' He murmured, a wistful look rippling across his eye.

Fury's heartbeat raced and she spluttered to reply, 'Thank you.'

He grinned at her nervousness but didn't elaborate on it. Fury moved closer to him, her affection for him doubling at that moment. With a sudden streak of boldness, she rested her cheek gently on his upper arm, reassured by the solidness of it.

~Kakashi POV~

Kakashi looked down quickly as he felt Fury's head on his arm then wished he hadn't. His heart leaped so high that he could almost feel it choking him in the throat. Quelling the urge to bundle her in his arms, Kakashi fixed his gaze on the road in front of him. Dinner, they were going to have a proper dinner date first.

Fury sighed next to him and he glanced over at her sharply, thinking that she had been put off by his lack of response to her gesture. But he only saw her closing her eyes partially, a contented smile blooming across her face. Seeing that, Kakashi couldn't help smiling as well. Surreptitiously, he took out his hand from his pocket and reached for hers.

~…~…~

Fury had finished her dinner but she continued to pick at the scraps on her plate, sneaking secret glances at Kakashi who was eating bare-faced in front of her. She still couldn't make out his features properly under the dim lighting – he had truly mastered the art of concealing his face, she grumbled to herself – but what little she saw of his face stunned her. It was a good thing that he was too occupied with eating that he didn't notice her occasional awed looks. It would be embarrassing to have Kakashi find her gaping at him like a silly teenage girl. Although, she was a teenager, she reminded herself miserably.

'Fury?' Kakashi's deep tone shook her out of her reverie. She glanced over hastily and saw his poorly-lit features carrying an amused look, suggesting that he had been trying to get her attention for a while.

'Yeah?' Fury said, flushing as she realized she sounded dazed.

'I said, do you want to order anymore food?' He asked gently, looking pointedly at her plate.

Her blush deepened, knowing that he had noticed more than the emptiness of her plate right then. 'No, I-I'm full.' She muttered, snatching up a cup of tea and sipping it to keep from answering.

Kakashi copied her, lifting the cup to his lips in a painstakingly slow way. Fury knew what he was trying to do and kept her gaze determinedly on her own cup. She swore she heard him chuckle through the din of the restaurant thought she didn't dare to look up and check.

'Have you been visiting the river?' Kakashi inquired, finally speaking up again after a long stretch of bemused silence.

Fury let loose the breath she was holding but continued to keep her eyes down as she nodded. A shadow loomed over her cup and instinctively, she raised her head, startled. She locked eyes with Kakashi, who, thankfully, had put his mask back on.

'Do you mind taking a walk there with me?' He asked with a smile.

'Of course! I mean, yes.' Fury stammered, practically flinging down her cup of tea and sidling out of her seat. 'I'll just…pay for our meal, alright? Wait outside for me.'

'I can pay for both of us.' Kakashi started to protest but Fury waved his offer away, bolting away before he could stop her.

As she waited for the bill, Fury heaved a sigh, staring ruefully at Kakashi's back as he exited the restaurant. She couldn't deny her curiosity over seeing his face but she was aware of how bad of an impact her eagerness would have on him. The last time she had asked him to remove his mask his expression had clarified all her fears. Even though he had agreed to show her in the end, that look on his face…Fury could not forget it, no matter how hard she tried. Could not find another way to explain that flash of doubt and distaste at her daring request.

Fury walked slowly towards Kakashi, each footstep heavier than the last as she envisioned his every possible reaction. He straightened up as she drew nearer, probably having recognized her footsteps and held out his arm again without turning around. Warily, Fury hung on to him, careful not to overstep her boundaries again.

It might seem ridiculous to anyone else to act so cautiously around their partners but Fury wasn't taking any chances with this relationship. She loved being around Kakashi and the thought of not being able to talk to him anymore was enough to kill her. She didn't know him as well as she would have liked but she was willing to learn and accept him as he was. If that meant restraining herself for the rest of her life, she would gladly do just that.

'Are you alright?' Kakashi spoke up the moment they were out of earshot in the forest.

Fury averted her eyes from his piercing stare. 'Yes, of course I am.' She said in a cheerful tone.

Kakashi fell quiet then said, with more concern this time, 'If you're tired, I can walk you home. We can see the river another day.'

'No!' Fury objected, a little too quickly. 'I mean, I'm not tired at all. I really want to visit the river with you.'

Kakashi shot her a dubious look. 'You don't look like it.' He said with the vaguest hint of disappointment.

Hearing it, Fury panicked and her brain scrambled for a reassuring answer. Against her better judgment, she curled her other hand over his wrist, drawing herself closer to him. 'Don't misunderstand. I really, really want to spend more time with you, Kakashi.' She said softly with a meaningful squeeze.

His eye widened slightly and he jerked his head around. 'Alright then.' He said, picking up his pace immediately.

Fury sped up too, taken aback at his reaction.

When they reached the clearing, she released him instantly and made for the large slab of rock she had taken to resting against, purposefully facing the river. Kakashi sauntered up behind her and, after pausing unsurely, settled down next to her.

'How was your mission?' Fury supplied, trying to clear the awkward tension between them.

'Fine.' He answered mechanically. She stole a nervous look at him and his brow furrowed slightly when their eyes met.

'Have I done something wrong?' Kakashi said at last.

Fury shook her head guiltily and turned back to face the river. 'The sun is going to set soon.' She said, injecting as much enthusiasm as she could into her tone.

'Fury…'

'Shh, we'll miss it if we keep talking.'

'Look at me.'

'Kakashi–'

'Please.'

With a heavy heart, Fury did as he asked, bracing herself for the expressions of sadness and disappointment. But when she looked, there was no disappointment at all. Only mild concern, with a hint of embarrassment and suppressed anticipation. She could see all this clearly on Kakashi's face because…she was looking at his face.

Her jaw slackened. A look of amusement fleeted across Kakashi's expression and his mouth quirked up in a smile. Fury felt her insides seizing up at that one small movement made by those perfectly sculpted lips. Lips she had only kissed through fabric.

'Is this what you wanted to see?' Kakashi asked wryly.

'I–' Fury struggled to unfurl her tongue but her lungs seemed to have empty themselves of air at the same time. Her eyes darted across Kakashi's face, taking in the smooth, fair skin, the angular slant of his nose and his sharp, perfectly carved jaw. There was a mole near the corner of his mouth, offsetting the perfection of his facial features a little, but it barely put a dent in his overall splendor.

'You're so beautiful.' She finally gasped out.

Kakashi blushed, the pink tinge highlighting his well-defined cheekbones even more vividly. 'I wouldn't take it that far.' He said with a laugh.

'Why–?' Fury started to say but hesitated, insecurity washing over her again.

He shrugged. 'You wanted to see and I did promise you the next time we were going to kiss, I would take down my mask.' He reminded her, grinning meaningfully at the last part.

But Fury was too stunned to acknowledge his hint. 'I thought you didn't like that I was curious.' She managed to blurt out.

Kakashi fiddled with his forehead protector, pushing up the left side to reveal his scarred eye. He frowned at her reply, 'Is that why you were acting so strange? You thought you had offended me?'

She nodded vigorously, thrown at the sight of his Sharingan, which was now boring into her. Kakashi noticed her flinch and closed his left eye hastily. When she still didn't relax, he reached out to take her hand.

'How can you be so silly?' He chuckled, which nearly gave her a heart attack as she watched his mouth curving open to reveal a set of pearly white, straight teeth. It was so dazzling that she missed what he said next.

'Sorry, can you repeat that?' Fury said, clapping a hand over her eyes and rubbing them wearily.

Kakashi sighed, a mixture of exasperation and amusement in his expression. 'I said, if I didn't want you to see my face, I wouldn't have eaten openly in front of you. And also, that's not an excuse for you to hold yourself back from me. Don't you know how worried you made me?' He said sternly. 'I thought I had upset you.'

Fury uncovered her eyes. 'Did you say something about kissing?' She inquired.

With a growl of frustration, Kakashi let his head droop. 'I give up, you're really too much for me.' He swooped forwards and enveloped her into a hug.

'Kakashi?' Surprised, Fury tried to pull away but he held on tight.

'Just stay like this for a minute.' He instructed.

Instantly, she went limp, her hands clumsily pressed to his sides. Uncertainly, she slid them around his waist in a careful hug. Kakashi inhaled deeply, burying his head in her shoulder and tugging her closer as a sign of approval.

'I really like you, Kakashi.' She murmured in a muffled voice.

Like, not love, he noted with slight disappointment but he gave her a gratified squeeze anyway. It was better than nothing. 'I like you too.' He whispered back.

Kakashi closed his eyes, letting the world melt around him, leaving only the feel of Fury in his arms. Her warm presence filled the air with a soapy, minty scent, soothing the pain from his cuts and bruises. He was relieved to not have been hospitalized this time; he was absolutely ecstatic when she had walked into the office, that urge to kiss her had flared up so strong and fast that he–

'Oh no!' Fury cried out suddenly, pushing away from him.

'What is it?' Kakashi said in alarm, catching her before she could sidle further away from him.

'We missed the sunset!' She groaned, gazing wistfully into the horizon.

Kakashi dropped his hands. 'Is that all?' He grumbled, leaning back on the rock. When Fury didn't respond, he nudged her gently. 'Hey, it's ok. I'll watch it with you again tomorrow.'

She turned to him with sorrow-filled eyes. 'But this was supposed to be your homecoming gift. The first sunset after any event is always special and we just missed it.' She moaned, drawing her legs up to her chest morosely.

Kakashi bit back a laugh, feeling a little touched and amused at Fury's sincerity. 'I don't need gifts, I'm just happy you're here with me.' He said, rubbing her back soothingly.

She lifted her head. 'Is it alright if we stay here for a bit longer?'

He smiled. 'Of course. I'm not going anywhere without you.'

Her cheeks pinked slightly at his words. Taking this as a good sign, Kakashi reached for one of her hands, removed her glove and held it up to his face. Fury flinched at the first contact, her fingers twitching as if he had scorched her. Kakashi smiled reassuringly but he felt his own skin tingle with excitement.

Slowly, Fury moved her hand, stroking his cheek lightly with her fingers. He released her, leaning in so she can touch him with her other hand too. He closed his eyes, letting her trace every ridge. She thumbed across his eyelids, one finger lingering on the scar over his left eye, and trailed her fingers over his nose, then finally, his mouth. Her hands trembled as she reached it.

Kakashi opened his right eye and found Fury hovering just a few inches in front of him. Her black eyes shimmered with emotion and her lips parted, waiting for his approval. He inclined his head as little as he could into a nod, determined not to break the connection between them right now, and her eyes fluttered shut. Finally, Kakashi moaned inwardly, leaning forwards eagerly to receive Fury with his lips.

The first touch was like an explosion. An eruption of the most delicious, satisfying flavors and textures he had ever felt. Her lips were softer and silkier than he had imagined and she tasted so amazingly sweet. He pressed deeper and she responded, the softness hardening, and it felt so much better then. How could he have put off kissing her without his mask? She was a delectable concoction he yearned to savor every day.

Fury grunted into his mouth and he paused, realizing that he had shoved her down onto her back, flattening her with the frame of his body. Wondering if he should stop, he raised his eye to meet hers questioningly. Fury merely closed her eyes again and lowered his head down over hers.

The second touch. It was just as electrifying, Kakashi thought with a thrill. Just as marvelous and perfect as the first.

~…~…~

Fury touched a finger to Kakashi's bottom lip. He enveloped the tip with his upper lip teasingly, laughing at her startled expression. She scowled at him but couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face.

'Maybe I should count this as my first kiss?' She murmured, touching her own mouth this time. 'The ones with your mask don't count.'

Kakashi grinned. 'You're making me look bad here. It's not like I deprived you of anything short of good, I can give equally good kisses with my mask on.' He said confidently.

'Mmm, those kisses were good. But this,' She grazed his lips with her finger again. 'This is phenomenal.'

A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. He cupped her face affectionately, surging forwards to plant a kiss between her eyes. She sighed with pleasure, snuggling up to him as he pulled away. His chest rumbled from his chuckle, thrumming up the beat of her heart.

'This was a good date.' She commented, tilting her head up.

Kakashi met her eyes and smiled in agreement. 'Do you want to try another one tomorrow?' He asked in a mockingly polite tone, as if in the act of courting her for the first time.

A grin flashed across her face – she didn't need to say anything for him to know her answer. It was only the sixth date, and they were already starting to understand each other. Fury tucked herself into Kakashi's embrace, blissful and content at her new life.

THE END