They concluded that planning a proposal had been stressful enough, and therefore, their wedding would just be the two of them. There was the added attraction of less public attention - it would be easier to tell everyone after the fact, rather than explain the whole deal only to dodge questions about the wedding.

"Do whatever feels right," Manami had told her daughter, eyes puffy and red after finding out that she was to be married. "As long as you tell me the day, so I can send you a wedding gift."

And so they took her advice, choosing a civil ceremony officiated by a wide-eyed civilian clerk, out in the forest on the edge of the village. It hadn't seemed right to wear formal clothes for such an informal celebration, so they decided on 'tasteful, and not tactical gear'; all the same, Kakashi thought Masako looked like the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"Um, people usually say something at this part, i-if you want," the poor clerk said, looking like he was about to pass out.

Happily ignoring him, they exchanged short, simple vows, and even simpler wedding bands. And when the clerk finally pronounced them married, Kakashi coughed and shot him a pointed look. Getting the hint, he turned around and Kakashi pulled off his mask to kiss her, really kissing her, fierce and protective and probably a smidge too far to be considered proper, but neither of them cared. At that moment, the world consisted of the two of them and this sacred moment, the affirmation of their love and the promises that they made for the future, made no less important by the lack of ceremony and frills.

Kakashi's heart was so full of happiness he could scarcely believe it was real.

As they broke apart from each other, he could see that same happiness reflected in Masako's - his wife's - eyes. He saw something else, too, a look that made him doubly glad that they didn't have to sit through a reception and hours of well-wishes. After all, it was a far more enticing prospect to go back and christen their home as a married couple.

"Shall we?" Masako - my wife, he said to himself again - said, looping her arm into his.

And so they did.

Some hours later, Masako reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a package.

"Before you distract me again, I got you a wedding gift."

It was a thin gold chain, like the one that was draped around her neck. She reached around his neck and clasped it, saying, "So we match, you know? And it's so you can put your ring on it too, so it doesn't get in the way of work."

He wasn't sure which was more Masako – the thoughtful gift, or the casual reference to A-rank missions as 'work'.

Pulling her back so she was flush against him again, he smiled and planted a kiss on her collarbone.

"Thank you."

They lay like that for a while, content to just be near each other.

It was Masako who broke the silence first.

"Kakashi?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Well, it's going to come out now," she said the next morning, reaching up to touch the ring hanging around her neck. "We weren't exactly subtle. People will talk, and then the clerk will recover, and then people are gonna talk more."

"About what?" he replied, feigning ignorance.

"About your terrible choice in civilian clothing," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. It was a barefaced lie, of course, given that he'd looked so good in his clothes that she wasted no time getting him out of it.

"I think that's forgiveable, seeing as I made a brilliant choice in my wife."

That's right, I'm his wife, she thought, giddiness washing over her. And he's my husband.

"I can't argue with you there," she said, running her fingers through his hair. "But I believe I asked a question."

"We can just wait until they ask us. And then answer with the truth."

The truth. Now that was a change of pace. Their entire relationship, they'd been careful not to raise suspicion, bar a few life-or-death situations that could be explained away by adrenaline and fear; even their friends who were a little more willing to speculate were given denials and statements of indifference.

"Sounds like a plan. Who do you think -"

The shrill noise of the alarm made for a rude intrusion.

Masako shot up. "Oh, shit. I forgot, it's the chunin exams today."

"Already?"

"Funny, isn't it? They happen at the same time every year, twice a year, exactly when they're scheduled to." She was moving around the room now, tugging on her gear.

"I guess everyone finds out today, then. Can't get a room of shinobi together without the gossip flying through the ranks." But still Kakashi lay there, enjoying the view. "I didn't think you were even supposed to attend."

He was required to, of course, but without a team, he could afford to be a few hours late.

"I'm supposed to see the new crop, since Takahashi got injured. See if there's anyone with potential for ANBU, compare notes with the Third, the usual whatever."

Masako was fully dressed now, to his disappointment.

"Are you going to start married life by being on time?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Nah. I like that you're only on time for me. See you in a few hours." And with that, his wife strode out of the door, and he knew that the lovesick smile on his face would probably be there the whole day.

Judging by Masako's exasperated expression when he showed up, it was going to be one of those days.

"Honestly," he heard her mutter to herself, "Why did they even bother entering?"

Unfortunately for her, the day wasn't over yet. Given the amount of genins that had passed the second round, it was decided that this would be one of the years that they had preliminary individual matches.

When it was announced, Kakashi grinned to himself. This had also happened the same year Masako had been promoted to chunin; the events that had followed her during the entire span of the exams, especially that particular day, were memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Catching up with her outside of the room, he greeted her by saying, "It really brings you back, doesn't it?"

Her huff is adorable.

"No need to look guilty, Masako. It finally gave them an excuse to build a decent building."

"Ha," she replied in the most monotone voice she could manage. "Monogamy's changed you. You used to be funny."

"I've been funny for at least five years," Kakashi retorted, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. He was acutely aware at the several interested looks that were being thrown their way, but he chose to ignore them.

By the way Masako looked out of the corner of her eye, she'd seen it too, but she didn't seem uncomfortable; quite the opposite, actually, as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm going to get a good vantage point for the matches, so I'll see you there. Say hi to Gai for me." At that, she strode off, arching an eyebrow at anyone who stared too long.

This feels good, he thought. I thought I'd feel exposed, but it feels good.

Casting a look around him, he sauntered out. He wondered who would be the first to actually to ask.

If I was a betting sort, it would definitely be Gai. I can already picture what he'd say.

"Soooo," Anko slid over next to Masako as soon as the first match began. "Someone said that they actually saw you and Kakashi acting like an actual, human couple in the corridor. Is it true or am I going to have to repurpose Hayate into a pincushion?"

The two opponents in the arena were too cautious by half. Masako leaned over the rail, curious to see how the fight would pan out; when it was her exams, she – well, it wasn't her exams anymore, praise the universe, so it didn't matter.

"It's true." If she played her cards right, this would be a short, highly entertaining conversation. Anko was almost too easy to wind up.

"Wait, so you're not shitting me? I was actually right the whole time? You two are together? Like together, together? Are you sure?" Anko was gaping over at her, ignoring the two genins that were beginning to give each other the beatdown some ways below them. "I mean, I'm happy for you if you are…but really? Him?"

They're definitely too evenly matched down there, Masako noticed absentmindedly. The only way one would win would be to land a lucky hit. Giving a deliberate yawn, she looked sideways at her friend.

"Yup."

"You're not joking, are you? Because in you are..." Anko trailed off, her expression making it very clear what would happen if her leg was being pulled.

Oh, this is going to be fun. Biting back her giggle, Masako made sure to school her features into a neutral expression before she replied.

"Yup."

The reaction was all Masako wanted and more.

"What the FUCK?" When Anko shrieked, people couldn't help but pay attention – her voice had the power to level a building. Both of the unfortunate genin looked up in surprise before one of them had the common sense to take advantage of the distraction.

What an anticlimactic finish to the fight, Masako thought, rolling her eyes as Hayate called the match. But I guess a win's a win.

"You? Him? Him? You? When?" she continued, getting louder with each word. "How did we not know?"

She was attracting spectators now, genin and jonin alike, so lest she start unleashing her snake jutsus, Masako grabbed Anko with a laugh and an iron grip.

"We're going to be given the worst duties if you destroy the place, so just relax, okay?"

"You're going to answer all my questions," Anko hissed, but at a more human volume, so Masako counted it as good enough and released her arm. "Over dinner, and you're going to pay for mine, too."

"Oi, is that how you treat a newlywed?"

Her friend went completely still.

Oh. Oh no.

Perhaps she should have waited until Anko was a few drinks into dinner, broken it to her gently. As it was, there was no avoiding it now.

"Just married? When, exactly, did this happen?" The calmness in her voice was leagues more terrifying than her shouts; it was the same eerie calm that Masako had heard students at the academy whisper about in fear. Clearly, all chunin exams were cursed for her.

You're a grown woman, she told herself. Anko's your friend and you would have had to tell her anyway. Stop being ridiculous and spit it out.

All the same, Masako made sure to secure a kunai before she answered.

"…yesterday."

Kakashi looked over to the spot where Anko was threatening Masako – my wife, he thought yet again, with an impossible amount of satisfaction – with at least three different weapons. To her credit, she wasn't actually using them, but whatever Masako was saying was definitively not helping.

Masako saw him watching and gave a small shrug, before holding up her left hand and point to the ring finger.

Ah.

Evidently, she had run before she had walked.

"Perhaps we should stop them," Gai said, in alarm. He began to crouch down, preparing to do just that, when Kakashi stopped him.

Shaking his head, he said, "You'll just make her angrier. She'll get over it."

He's going to ask why she's angry, any minute now. Is it too much to ask that he's less dramatic than Anko? It's too much, isn't it. He'll be a lot more dramatic, because he's him.

"This might damage their friendship if not addressed!" Rounding on the silver-haired ninja, Gai's speaking voice rose to match Anko's in volume. "Why is Anko so magnificently furious? If we knew, we could help them see reason and end this fight!"

"Anko's angry because Masako got married and didn't tell her."

Gai gasped, hand over his heart, as theatrical as he was genuinely sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Kakashi!"

Wait, what? I think he's got the wrong idea.

"You are?"

"My friend, I've known for a long time that you've nursed a cherished place in your heart for the wonderful Masako. You have my honor as a ninja that I will offer you support through this heartbreak –"

Huh. Fair enough. I'd think she married someone else too, if I were him.

"– you will recover, with time, and you will find someone who –"

"Gai. It's me. She married me."

If Anko's retelling of the story was to be taken as truth, Gai's scream of delight was heard all the way from Suna.