Shizune froze in her place as Kakashi stared at her quizzically, his gaze intense. She had kept a professional mask all throughout the examination that they did but she doesn't think she can keep the mask up if she's left alone with him.

Tsunade took the tray and the clipboard from her and pushed her with her elbow, "You can have her. I can handle the council."

Shizune looked at her with panic in her eyes, "But – but Tsunade-sama!"

The older woman glared at her, "No buts! I said I can handle the council!" On that note, she closed the door and left the two of them alone.

She shuffled on her feet, trying to gather her courage, when he spoke again, "You can sit here," gesturing at the lone chair in the room in front of him.

She nodded and slowly walked towards it and sat down, folding her hands over her lap.

"How are you, Hokage-sama?" she started.

"I'm good, I guess. How are you? You didn't visit me last weekend."

Shizune fought down her blush at that. In truth, she was actively avoiding him while staying at her office right here at the hospital. She's not yet ready to stay at her empty apartment and see flashbacks of the past year that they shared together. She only goes to her apartment to shower and change her clothes; her office was equipped with a sofa bed wherein she sleeps at night.

"Um, you know, busy with the uh… upcoming arrival of the leader of Land of Snow. Yeah, yeah, that," she stumbled over her excuse and she wants to slap herself.

He hummed and clasped his hands together, "I want to ask you a few things."

She took a deep breath and finally lifted her eyes to him, "What do you want to ask?"

"Hmm, I suppose I should start with… how did I ask you out?"

Shizune blinked and held in her laugh. It was a hilarious memory and it still makes her giggle. Some of her nervousness disappeared at the unexpected question.

"Well, it took you a few tries," she began.

His eyebrows furrowed, "You rejected me a few times?"

She couldn't stop her chuckle this time, "No. It was because I was an idiot who kept on misunderstanding your words."

He smiled, "Ah, I see. Though I suspect that it was not you being an idiot but me being an awkward one."

She laughed. It could be true both ways.

"Next, when did we come out to our friends?"

"After two months of discreet dating."

"Who kissed who first?"

Shizune smiled despite the heating of her cheeks, "You did," she paused for a while, "Are we playing 20 questions?"

Kakashi contemplated for a while, "In a way, yes. I want to remember everything that I experienced with you."

Shizune frowned, "But why?"

Kakashi's gaze fell back to his lap as he thought about his next words, "Well… I know you said that you will still continue to be my assistant and the reason why you told me about us was because you want to be honest with me."

She nodded her confirmation.

Kakashi looked back into her eyes as he said, "Well, I want to be honest with you too. I'm not ready to continue our relationship from the way that it was and I guess you're not too. But I do want us to start from the beginning. You were, first and foremost, my friend before you became my assistant. I may have lost the memories that I had from last year but that doesn't stop me from creating new ones, right?"

Shizune nodded her understanding, "Like a clean slate, perhaps?"

Kakashi smiled, "Yes, just like that. We can start from there and… maybe see where it goes?"

Shizune smiled for the first time since Tuesday night. It's a better proposition instead of being awkward around the Hokage that she's supposed to serve, "I would like that."

Though Kakashi didn't ask anymore questions about their relationship, he did ask about their dynamic at work. How was his work ethic? Does she often scold him? Does he escape from work? He also asked her about the politics, the laws he passed, the alliances he made with other villages and lands and the state of commerce of their village. Shizune answered them as best she could – she was his assistant and trusted advisor, after all, she knows about the intimate details of his government and how he ran the village. She even told him about the ramp that he made going up the Tower so that Gai, and other wheelchair-bound villagers can come up to his office regarding their concerns.

Shizune didn't even notice the time but when she glanced at her wrist watch, almost three hours had passed. She rushed back to the Tower, hoping that Tsunade will not get too angry with her. She was breathing heavily when she got back to the Tower and she raced up the stairs to get to the office. She knocked and opened the door, not waiting for a response.

Tsunade looked up from her paper work when the door busted open.

"Oh, you're back," she commented and continued her paper work.

Shutting the door behind her, Shizune moved to stand in front of the desk and bowed, "I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama!"

The blonde merely waved her hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it. I know you'd want to be… reacquainted after almost a week of celibacy," the older woman laughed.

Shizune flushed bright red at the implication, "T-Tsunade-sama! It's not like that! We just talked!"

The woman just laughed, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! You get flustered so easy," she looked up quizzically for a moment, "What did you talk about anyway for three hours?"

Shizune looked off to the side, "He just wants to ask about how he ran the village for the past year. He also wants to know the dynamics and his ethics at work."

Tsunade raised her eyebrows, "Is that so?" she said with suspicion.

Shizune sighed. Of course she knows there's more to it.

"Well, he told me that he's not ready to continue the relationship we had…"

"I can hear a 'but' coming," the older woman quipped.

"…but that he wants us to start from the beginning, he meant as friends, and see where it takes us," she finished.

Tsunade leaned back on her chair, resting her arms on the desk as she studied the woman standing in front of her, "And, are you alright with that arrangement?"

Shizune let out a small sigh and a hopeful smile stretched her lips, "It's still better than avoiding our history for the rest of his reign, isn't it?"

The blonde grumble as she picked up her pen once more, though she doesn't sound displeased, "I suppose."

"You need anything else, Tsunade-sama?" she inquired.

Tsunade snapped her head up as she remembered, "Oh, right! You need to supervise Shikamaru. That nosy garden gnome from Iwa wants to know who has amnesia among us. Tell him it's none of his business."

Shizune rubbed her chin in contemplation, "Would it be such a bad thing to let the Kages know about Kakashi's condition?"

She put down her pen again and was silent for a moment. When she looked up, her honey brown eyes were kind of gloomy, "It did cross my mind that maybe they should be let in into the fold, tell them about what happened. We are in a time of peace, after all and alliances between the lands are stronger than ever. But, I doubt they would completely support Konoha if they found out that the Hokage has missing memories.

"And, let's say they did continue to support us, word travels fast. If the news of his condition reaches the ears of those who tried to kill him, then who's to say that they're not going to try it again?"

Shizune nodded in understanding, "You do have a point. I'll go and help Shikamaru now."

Shikamaru was in his office, which was next door the Hokage's. He was focused on the screen of his computer, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard. Though he kept the door open, Shizune still knocked.

His head snapped up, "Oh, Shizune-san, you're back. The office of Tsuchikage and Mizukage already sent their response. Mizukage herself said they'd send copies of their available literature about brain injuries and treatments for our disposal. I already acknowledge that one. The one from Tsuchikage, though…"

Shizune smiled dryly, "I know. Tsunade-sama already told me about that one. I'll take care of it. Can you forward it to my email?"

"Already done," he replied.

Shizune's smile widened. He may be seen as lazy but he's become reliable these past few years, "Thank you, Shikamaru. What are you doing anyway?"

"Ah, Godaime-sama requested that I help her with the assignment of mission and gave me half of them. It's a drag but it's something that I need to learn if I want to become Naruto's advisor."

He really grew up from that lazy teen to a determined young man, Shizune thought to herself with a smile.

"I'll leave you to it then. You know where I am if you need any help," she offered and left, turning the knob of the door opposite his office. Shizune strode to her desk, landing heavily on her seat with a sigh. Turning on her computer, she brought the small stack of paper work that she needed to go over. It was mostly hospital papers: some were profiles of her patients, others were requests for medical supplies and hospital repairs that needs her approval. Kakashi had been the one to assign her such task at the start of his career as Hokage since she also works at the hospital and reasoned that she's the most qualified to handle the affairs of the hospital.

Shizune smiled when she remembered that. When he told her about her assignment, she squinted at him and asked if he was trying to reduce his paper work by giving them to her.

Kakashi smiled at her from behind his mask, "Maybe. But the reason that I'm giving you this job is because I trust in you and your skills to handle this job."

Shizune smiled at that and gazed around her office. It was a simple one, which was what she wanted for herself. There was a shelf of medical and law books on one wall and a couch on the other. A wooden, center table also adorned her office, with books and scientific journals neatly stacked over the other. Her desk was the only one out of order. A telephone on the left hand side of her table along with various notebooks and scrolls. On her right were framed pictures, a bottle of water, a can of biscuits and her pen holder.

Shizune's gaze landed on the pictures, her smile turning sad and nostalgic. There was a picture of her and Tsunade in one of those casino, one with Naruto, Jiraiya, Tsunade and Tonton at Tanzaku Quarters. One was her cradling Tonton in her arms.

She picked up one of the framed pictures, one she treasured. It was taken a few months ago and it was of her and Kakashi on New Year's celebration at the rooftop of the Tower. She was wearing a purple yukata, her obi just a shade darker while Kakashi wore a traditional dark blue hakama. He decided to forego his forehead protector and Hokage hat that evening, though the mask stayed. His arm were around her shoulders with his eyes closed, that eye-smile he was known for. On her hands was the red lantern that they were preparing to let go into the sky. Naruto had asked them pose for a photo and had given it to her when it was printed.

She sighed again and put the frame down directly facing her. It will be another long way for her and she's not even sure if they can go back to the way they were. She's hoping, of course she's hoping, that it will go back. But if not, she's prepared to love him from a distance, even if it broke her heart.

After sending a polite response to the Tsuchikage and finishing her own stack of paper work, Shizune decided to check on Tsunade, hoping she's not passed out drunk on the desk.

She barged in unannounced and was surprised when she saw the older woman working studiously on a paper.

Tsunade looked up with a scowl, "Did you forget your manners or something?"

The assistant merely laughed, "I thought I'd catch you in here drinking or, worse, passed out. I guess I'm wrong."

Her scowl deepened at that and gestured at the desk, "Well, clearly, you're wrong! What do you want anyway?"

Shizune turned serious, "The office of Raikage and Kazekage also sent a response. Raikage doesn't have any brain specialist in their village but he'll have his medical team search through their available resources. The Kazekage himself had responded and said they'll try to find something of help in their village."

Tsunade nodded, "I see. Did you reply to that old man?"

"I did, Tsunade-sama. I told him…"

"Did you tell him to mind his own business?"

"I told him that it is needed for one of our ninja that was injured in a mission."

Tsunade scoffed at that and crossed her arms, "It would've been better if you said what I said."

"Maybe," Shizune acquiesced, "But it's already sent. Do you need anything else?"

Tsunade glared at the remaining papers. It's only a few handfuls now considering the fact that she enlisted Shikamaru's help with mission assignment and hospital concerns being on Shizune's hands.

"Nah, I'm good. You can go home and drag a certain Hatake to your bed."

"Tsunade-sama!"

A/N: kinda cliché but im listening to 'the scientist' by coldplay while writing this chapter xD hope you enjoyed the chapter!