Chapter 24
The next morning Kakashi walked into the Kage tower feeling disheartened and confused.
"What's wrong?" asked Shizune entering the office with their morning briefing notes for review.
He looked at her with a dark look and sighed.
"What is it….?" she probed. Finally Kakashi gave in and told her what had happened last night, covering his face when she started yelling at him.
"That is the worst declaration of love and the worst proposal I have ever heard. If you can even call it that. And no that is not an exaggeration. Why would you tell her you THINK you love her and that you THINK you are ready to get married. That is stupid."
It was a testament to their relationship that Shizune could lay into the Hokage like this. Kakashi looked back at her guiltily and rubbed his forehead. He had made a mess of things.
"You need to figure out what you want before you talk to that girl again, otherwise I suggest you stay far away from her" Shizune said in a final tone, before sitting down across from him with a huff to discuss the agenda for the day.
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About a month later Kakashi was ready to try this again.
He had finally come to accept that perhaps he was deserving of love, and that maybe happiness was something he could have too. After that realization (with the help of Shizune of course) he enlisted in therapy. He now had a reason to work on himself because he wanted to be better for himself and for Hinata.
After some time with a therapist he was told that he had what was called abandonment issues or fear of abandonment. With his therapist he started to work on his anxiety associated with relationships and moved on to learn about ways to build healthy relationships. Years of repressed issues weren't going to be tackled in one month but he already felt like he was making good progress.
His therapist made it clear that he needed to be comfortable developing relationships in general, not just romantic once, so he had been trying his hardest to open himself more to team 7.
He started with finally accepting Naruto and Sakura's invitation for dinners and took an active interest in their lives, including the progress of their relationship (where as before he wouldn't have even dipped a toe into the state of other people's relationships).
He had been surprised to find that the love birds would soon be getting married!
In addition, he had taken to spending a lot more time with Sasuke. Like himself he knew that the avenger had his own issues. He might not be able to name what they were, but based on his recent experience he knew that everyone benefited from having someone to lean on. So he started visiting Sasuke a couple times a week.
Kakashi was glad that Sasuke was back in the city but it was probably a matter of time before the avenger would take off again. Sasuke hadn't really changed too much since he was a child. He was still a very simple man. He led an even more isolated and remote life than Kakashi did. His interactions were mainly limited to Naruto and Sakura.
"Is it weird to see them together?" he asked the avenger one day as they were unpacking the takeout Kakashi had brought along.
They were having dinner at Sasuke's house in the abandoned Uchiha district. Kakashi offered to help rebuild the area but Sasuke had refused his help. He also offered to get Sasuke a different apartment so he didn't have to stay here but again he had simply refused.
"Sakura and Naruto?"
Kakashi nodded.
"No I'm happy for them" Sasuke said simply. "They both deserve happiness after all they've been through".
Kakashi nodded, serving himself some noodles.
"So what caused this change?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
"What change?" he asked.
"This change. You are spending a lot more time with us than you did before. And... a few months ago you wouldn't be caught dead talking about feelings".
"Oh… I went to therapy" Kakashi said simply.
"Therapy?" Sasuke asked in an emotionless voice.
"Yes… you should try it sometime".
The Uchiha simply gave the older man a death glare, so with a smile Kakashi dropped it.
"I fell in love" he said in truth, deciding to be honest with Sasuke.
The shock that passed in the younger man's face was hard to detect but it was there. If it wasn't for Kakashi's shrewdness he would have missed the flash in Sasuke's eyes.
"Oh?" Sasuke said simply. "With whom?".
Kakashi had always been impressed with the Uchiha's control and his ability to mask his emotions.
"Hyuga Hinata" Kakashi said and this time the Uchiha's eyes did more than flash. In fact one of his eyebrows went up.
"You are in love with Hinata?" he asked in a slightly disbelieving voice.
"Yes" he took a swig of the beer he was holding.
"Huh.. that's interesting. I wouldn't have thought of you two as a pairing. Perhaps you and Shizune… but not Hinata".
Kakashi decided graciously not to take offence to that. Clearly a few people are going to be put off by their pairing.
"You do know Shizune is attracted to women right?" he asked Sasuke instead. He had the joy of seeing obvious shock appear on the younger man's face. He hadn't seen the Uchiha this animated in a while… sadly.
"Well she's a good choice," Sasuke said after some thought. "I could see why you might like her".
"Oh?" Kakashi asked curiously hoping that Sasuke would go on. The glimpse into his inner thoughts like this was a rare treat.
"Yes…. she's sensible and kind. You could do a lot worse".
Wow, sensible and kind, those were high praise indeed, Kakashi thought with amusement.
"Well thank you...I butchered my first attempt to propose to her, so wish me luck on my second try".
"When are you going to propose to her?"
"I haven't decided yet," Kakashi sighed. After his last catastrophic failure he had left Hinata alone for the time being... but he needed to come up with a new plan soon.
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Kakashi debated on what was the most sensible approach. Was it better to talk to Hiashi, or was it best to talk to Hinata first. Hinata was her own woman now and talking to her father implied she was someone to give away, but at the same time Hinata was traditional. If he were to bypass her father it might be offensive to her and the clan.
At the end of the day because his last attempt had been a huge flop he decided to start with Hiashi.
Kakashi followed the proper protocol and requested an audience with Hinata's father. For some odd reason Hiashi-sama decided to visit him at his office instead of requesting Kakashi's presence at the Hyuga compound.
"Hello Hiashi-sama" Kakashi bowed as the elder walked in.
"Hello Hokage-sama" the older man said in a dignified voice.
"Thank you for coming here, I wanted to talk to you about quite a serious matter, in regards to Hinata-san"
Hiashi gave him a measured look, and instead of the Hokage, Kakashi felt like he was a 14 year old about to get rejected while asking a girl out for the first time.
"I have had the privilege of getting to know your daughter over the last few years and I don't think I have to tell you how amazing she is. I don't deserve her honestly, but I am in love with her and I would like to ask you for her hand in marriage? I would be honored if you say yes and I will spend the rest of my life trying my best to make her happy". Kakashi gulped after saying all that and took a deep breath.
The silence in the room trickled by and he felt that he could actually hear the sound of the clock ticking in the room. Hiashi slightly leaned back in his chair and stared him down.
"You may be the Hokage, Kakashi... can I call you Kakashi?"
"Of course" he replied.
"But what makes you think you deserve my daughters hand in marriage? You've been a known philanderer for years, who goes around the town reading filth. Yes... you are a prodigy and a genius and all that. But from a character perspective, what makes you think you deserve her hand in marriage?"
Kakashi gulped. Right… he hadn't been expecting that. He took a deep breath gathering his thoughts so he didn't fumble for words in front of Hiashi.
"The truth is I don't deserve her, based on my actions so far-"
"What actions" Hiashi looked at him suspiciously.
Kakashi continued on as if he hadn't heard that and prayed the older man wouldn't return to that point. "-but I am determined to work my hardest to make sure I am worthy of Hinata and to make her the happiest she can be. I have long since given up my philandering ways... it just took longer than it should have for me to realize that I love her".
Finally a smile cracked through Hiashi's tough facade. "Well I appreciate you saying that. The truth of the matter is Kakashi, I can't decide who is going to make my daughter happy. You are going to have to ask her this question yourself. But… for what it's worth… you have my blessing".
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Kakashi walked through cloud nine for the rest of the week. He asked Shizune to help him with the proposal. With everything he had gone through with Hinata, he knew that he needed to do this right.
At the end, they decided it would be a surprise. They enlisted Kiba and Shino's help in getting Hinata to a local restaurant for dinner. Kakashi worked with the owner to rent out the rooftop for the proposal, and Sakura, Ino and Shizune helped to decorate.
The ladies had stressed the importance of candles, twinkling lights (which he hadn't even known existed before) and flowers. And lastly of course he had gone to pick the ring out with Hanabi.
FB
"Are you sure you want to marry her, she can be really moody sometimes," the younger girl said as she browsed the rings alongside him.
Kakashi gave her a sardonic look, "moody... really?".
"Oh yeah, she's a real mess".
"I've never seen that side to her".
"You probably haven't seen her angry side either".
Kakashi thought back to the time he had known Hinata. He couldn't really remember any instances of her being truly angry.
"Angry…?" he asked in surprise.
The younger girl stared at him with a deadpan look for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. "No Hinata is a saint, but it's going to be fun having a brother in law" she smirked.
"Alright champ, how about you focus on what we are here for?".
"Right… well Hinata likes simple things. You can probably get away with just getting her a simple gold band… but I like this one right here".
Kakashi moved over to look at what Hanabi was pointing at. It was a simple silver band with a .5 carat solitaire diamond seated in the middle.
"Really, should I get a bigger diamond?"
"No… I think that is perfect" Hanabi said, turning to look back at him. "You can buy me a present though with the money you will be saving on that bigger diamond."
Kakashi rolled his eyes jokingly at the younger girl. It was certainly going to be interesting joining the Hyuga clan.
End of fb
Shaking himself out of his thoughts he looked up nervously as Hinata walked in. She looked stunning in a cream coloured sheath dress with her hair in waves around her. He gulped nervously patting the ring in his pocket and hoped that within a few more minutes she would be his fiance.
Hinata froze at the doorway to the rooftop looking in disbelief at the scene in front of her. Kakashi was standing in the middle of a decorated area, dressed in a black suit without his mask on. There were candles and twinkling lights all around as well as scattered rose petals.
Hinata stumbled in looking around in shock trying to find Kiba and Shino.
"W-what is going on?" she whispered.
"Hinata…" he started seriously waiting for her to reach him and then took her left hand getting down on one knee.
She blankly looked at where their hands were joined thinking that she was dreaming. "The last time I did this I butchered it really bad, so I am going to try one more time. Hopefully better."
She swallowed nervously and Kakashi looked her in the eyes deeply, "Hinata I love you… I don't know for sure when it started, but I do know that since I got to know you in Kirigakure I have come to love you more and more each day. The time we spent together quarantined is the happiest I can remember being in a long time, if not ever. That scared me… actually... that scared me a lot and I didn't process it well. But… I hope that you won't hold that against me".
Hinata felt tears streaming down her face at his words and her knees got shaky, she found herself sinking into her own knees next to him.
"I love you more than you could ever know… I-I want to marry you, have a family with you, grow old together and never let you go. I will spend the rest of my life trying my best to make you happy. Will you please be my wife?" he finished.
"W-what?" she asked crying thinking that she was hearing it wrong and she pinched herself to check if she was dreaming. No she felt that which meant this must be real.
"You heard me…" he said gently now taking her face between his hands and looking deeply into her watery eyes. "Will you please put me out of my misery and do me the honour of being my wife?" he asked sounding a bit desperate this time around.
"Y-yes… yes, of course I will… I love you too" she sobbed. Kakashi swooped down with a kiss effectively silencing her, before putting the ring on her finger and kissing her again.
Minutes later it was the sound of applauding and cheering that jarred them out of the bubble of bliss they were in. Hinata turned in shock to the crowd that was trickling up, and Kakashi put his mask back on. Before long they were surrounded by people congratulating them and wishing them best wishes.
Hinata was stunned to see her clan members among the crowd and she ran to her father and Hanabi to hug them.
"Sooo do you like the ring?" Hanabi asked.
"Oh" Hinata jumped back, "I forgot to look at it" she exclaimed, glancing down at her hand and teared up again, "It's perfect!".
Hanabi rolled her eyes, "Ugh see… this is why I told him even a simple gold band would work with you".
Hiashi gave his younger daughter a jab to shut up and Hinata looked over her shoulder to find Kakashi.
He was surrounded by people, but he happened to look back at her just when she turned. Everyone in the room disappeared for Hinata in that moment as Kakashi toasted her silently with a glass of champagne. Her heart overfilled with love and she smiled widely back at him, she couldn't wait to get married!
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Authors note: There you go :D! You have waited long and patiently enough! Thank you soooo much everyone for all the reviews and for the love you have shown this story. It has been a pleasure to read your comments and I really appreciate your time! Stay tuned for the epilogue!