It was the aftermath of a particularly dangerous mission.

All missions nowadays are particularly dangerous missions anyway, so there's no difference, Masako thought, about to pass out from the exertion of running. Her chakra was dangerously low, but she pushed herself further. There was no time, not when the poison was coursing through her system and she was bleeding from more places than she could fathom.

And if the poison doesn't kill me, the blood loss definitely will.

If she didn't make it to the hospital in half an hour, she –

I'm going to make it.

She wasn't going to leave her mother to bury her only child. She wasn't going to leave Kakashi alone again, leaving flowers on the graves of those who had left him behind.

If she had had the luxury, Masako would've screamed. Her body was running on autopilot now, held together by the sheer force of will.

I'm going to make it.

Apparently, she'd run straight through a wall, collapsing on the hospital floor in a mess of blood and limbs.

But she didn't care, not when she woke up to the two faces that she'd been so desperate to come back to. Her mother, frowning, was on her left. Over the past few years, Saito Manami's face had changed, the constant worry etching itself onto her face in the form of fine lines.

On her right was Kakashi, face neutral as ever. In the full year since that first kiss, Masako had never talked to her mother about her relationship with him, not even knowing how she would bring it up, but here they both were, no questions asked. They remained there, not a word spoken while Masako was informed that between the blood loss, the poison, and fighting until her heart almost gave out, she would be pulled off active duty indefinitely.

No one was willing to break the silence even as she was discharged. Just after the three of them reached her apartment, she could feel sleep encroaching again – she was only dimly aware of her mother pulling the sheets over her and gently smoothing her hair back.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too."

"So."

It was Saito Manami who finally talked.

Kakashi was stood in the middle of the entrance, unwilling to leave but unsure if he would be allowed to stay. The older woman's voice was careful, full of questions, but no hostility.

"I'm sorry." The words left his mouth without his meaning to.

"What are you sorry for?"

At this, he lapsed into silence once again. She remained standing, watching him with those eyes that were so like, yet unlike, Masako's.

"I knew that Masako was with someone," she said, by way of conversation. Sitting down on the step, Manami gestured for him to sit down next to her. "I just wasn't sure who. And, I'm going to be honest, I'm a little surprised that it's you."

Kakashi sat next to her, forcing himself to breathe evenly. He was no coward, but this was shaping up to be the most terrifying conversation of his life.

"It happened very quickly." Turning slightly to look at her, he realized how insufficient that was as an answer. "A year ago. You don't need to worry. I won't hurt her." If he was a better man, he would've added that well-worn line: And I couldn't even if I tried.

But he wasn't that good of a man, and this cramped hallway had no space for lies, comforting or otherwise.

"Are you happy?"

This question took him by surprise. Why would she care? He wasn't anything to her, nothing at all.

He realized he'd been staring straight ahead with no answer when she cleared her throat.

"If my daughter – my only daughter," she said, taking on a tone that brooked no argument, "Is going to share her life with somebody, it'd better be a good one. And it's only good if you're both happy. Masako can speak for herself, when she wakes up. I'm asking you if you're happy because you're the one who can answer that."

"Oh," he said, wishing that he could've led with something a little more intelligent. "Yes, I'm happy. A lot happier than I would be if we weren't in – together."

Nodding, Manami stood up and started to make her way back into the apartment.

"Good. That's all I need to know for now."

Finally relaxing, he did the same.

"Wait!" she said, whipping around, hand darting out to grab his arm. Bemused, Kakashi let her.

"Dinner."

Tilting his head slightly, he waited for her to explain.

"The three of us need to have a real dinner together, when we can. It's only proper, so I can get to know you!"

"I –," Kakashi said, a warmth starting to blossom within his chest. If he hadn't had the mask, Manami would've seen the warmth spread to his cheeks. "I would like that."

Smiling for the first time since she'd arrived at the hospital, Manami moved as if to place her hand on his cheek; but on seeing Kakashi flinch ever so slightly, she rested it on his shoulder instead. It was only the beginning, after all.

"They said only clear fluids for now – I'm going to get some broth from my house," she said, whisking around the living room collecting her things. "She never stocks up on any proper food around here. Look after her for me?"

Giving him yet another smile – she was generous with them, Kakashi had noticed once before – she left, shoulders squared and chin raised, like it was just another day.

Exhaling, Kakashi made his way towards her bedroom, stopping by the kitchen as he did so; Masako would be thirsty. There was no way he would've let her mother know just how familiar and comfortable he was with the apartment, not if he didn't want an incredibly awkward conversation.

"The medic-nin said you should be resting," he said, when he saw that Masako was stirring. "Your mother's gone to get some food, so you should sleep until then."

She blinked at him, and made a noise halfway between a hum and a 'yes'.

Placing the water on her table, he sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle her. He took her hand, somehow unhurt and unbandaged, rubbing slow, gentle circles into her skin. For a long time, longer than their romantic relationship, they'd decided that this was a subject that wasn't worth broaching. What could either of them say about danger and death that the other didn't know?

So, they just sat there, taking comfort in their shared company.

"She and I had a talk," he said, shifting so he could face her.

Quirking her eyebrow up, she replied, "And?"

Noting how hoarse her voice was, he went to pour her a glass. Pulling herself up with only slight difficulty, Masako waved it aside and took the whole jug, drinking until it was empty. Kakashi waited until she finished before he continued.

"Well, I've never had to have the 'meeting your parents' conversation before, so, who knows? But I probably did really well. I am a prodigy, remember?"

Masako's laugh was short, and quickly turned into a cough, but she could laugh, and it was wonderful.

"She also invited me to dinner, just the three of us."

Laughing again, Masako reached forward and pulled down Kakashi's mask. Leaning into the kiss, he felt her smile.

"We need a battle plan," she whispered, as they broke apart.

"Huh?"

"I think that you should have dinner with my mother first. Just the two of you. Then when you've charmed her completely, we can all have drinks. Preferably a lot of drinks, so she forgets to yell at me for keeping this a secret."

Drawing back, Kakashi could see that there was a real glint of fear under her mirth.

"Are you really that scared of what she'll say?"

"She's only gentle right now because I'm injured. Once these bandages are off, I'm a sitting duck, and she's a great shot," she said, taking his hand again. "Kakashi, if you love me –,"

It was at this moment that they both heard the door open. Masako gave him another quick kiss, then pulled his mask up, saying, "Go, go! I need to sleep, remember?"

With that, she slid back under the covers, leaving Kakashi to his fate.

Sighing, he sauntered back to the living room. Manami greeted him with two weeks worth of five course meals, clearly intent on stuffing her daughter's cupboards full to the brim.

"Hello again," she said, holding out some bags. "Is Masako already pretending to sleep?"

"Ah…"

It was going to be a long few weeks.