A/N:
Hello again! Thanks for reading the last chapter! I love you all, and I hope you stick this one out for the long run. (Trust me, it will be a long story.)
Thanks again Llama and everyone else who has had their hands on this bad boy before release!
Light From the Shadows Chapter 2
Sakura
One last look at the library and she would leave. Sakura glanced over her shoulder. Her friend the Owl Spirit was watching her leave from the tower of the library. He waved her off and she left. The desert was scorching. Sakura was glad she wasn't stranded. At least, not this time.
She hopped on the sand sailer she had 'borrowed' from the surrounding area's sandbender bandits and threw down her supplies in the passenger area. Books, scrolls, and other supplies were shoved into the giant pack. This stay had been her longest yet, and this time had also brought an end to her spirit training with the Owl Spirit. She had successfully traveled to the spirit realm, stayed there for a time, and made it back.
"Congratulations Sakura Haruno. You have completed your training in the spirit realm and now I have nothing more to teach you. You may take a few of the extra copies around if you wish. Try and spread your knowledge wisely. Do not let the wrong things get into the wrong hands. Knowledge is power, my friend."
For the spirit to call her friend was a huge compliment to her. The pack was overloaded in copied and written down text she had deemed worthy of bringing back with her. Sakura was eternally grateful to the spirit. Nothing had left the library in thousands of years. There was no checking out books with a two-week due date. She had promised the owl to keep the library's secrets and vowed to never share anything but helpful information with anyone else.
On her way out the Si Wong desert, Sakura passed the turn off for the city of Omashu. Her home. The city had once been a home anyway. Before her parents had disappeared. I wonder if our home is still there? If anyone else has moved into it? Ah well, no time for that now.
When she was 15 she had received a letter from King Bumi, sending his condolences for the loss of two important Earth citizens. Sakura was in denial of their death and left to find them herself. She spent a month struggling in the desert, hallucinating on cactus juice and wandering in circles. She would sob herself to sleep at night. Bandits had even kidnapped her in the middle of the night in the desert once. They only made that mistake once. That night had been the one Sakura had procured her sand glider.
One day, Sakura thought she was having another hallucination. She had been wandering in the desert going on five months now and her hope had just about dried up, along with the rest of her. There was a giant library in front of her. Just enormous! She approached and it didn't disappear. The library was real.
And that was five years ago.
Sakura looked away from the turnoff and continued through the desert. She had a different destination now.
Upon exiting the desert, Sakura sold her sand glider for boat tickets to Kyoshi Island. The people she managed to gain passage with were actually fisherpeople, so they didn't get her all the way to the island, but most of the way there. Sakura had to swim the rest of the way.
…
When Sakura finally arrived at the island, she collapsed on the shore. The last thing she saw before passing out was the giant Kyoshi statue marking the entrance to the village.
She had finally made it.
…
"State your purpose! What are you doing on Kyoshi Island?" A few women surrounded her, accompanied by an old man. She recognized their uniforms. Kyoshi Warriors!
"I've come here to learn. To join the Kyoshi Warriors."
"And why should we trust you? You could be fire nation in disguise. Or a spy."
"I'm an earth bender." Sakura waved her hand and a few large rocks flew up from the ground. "I'm definitely not from the fire nation. I'm from Omashu, in my pack, there is a letter from King Bumi talking about my parents, if that proves anything to you, I don't know. I'm really just eager to learn new things. I've done all I can in my studies and now I need to move on to learning new techniques in fighting. Which is why I want to join the Kyoshi warriors."
"I think she's telling the truth." The voice came from one of the women. But it definitely wasn't a woman's voice. It was a man's! I thought only women were ever allowed to become Kyoshi warriors!? They accepted her story once reading her letter and let her enter the village. The man who hadn't been in the Kyoshi warrior uniform turned out to be the governor of the island.
"Good luck, you may have convinced us that your cause is just, but to join the Warriors you'll need to convince Tsunade." The man among them told her quietly. Sakura studied him. He was quite a bit taller than all the rest of the warriors, his uniform ended before his boots began and the gap was bridged with wrapped bandages. The uniform looked strangely good on this man. Yes, she had thought he was a woman at first, but upon a second look, his stature and muscle build gave him away. Not to mention the face with a strong jaw. And was that a tiny mole!? He was quite fetching. I wonder what he looks like underneath all that makeup?
They reached the Kyoshi Warrior training building and Sakura sat across from Tsunade and retold her story. From the beginning.
I grew up in Omashu. My name is Sakura Haruno. When I was 15 my parents disappeared. They were merchants and I was used to them leaving for longer periods of time, but when they were gone for over a month, I started to worry. I received the letter from King Bumi sending his condolences. But they hadn't found any bodies. So I went out searching for them. Found my way into the desert. Spend a long time wandering. Lost. Hallucinating. I finally made my way to a Library. And I spend the next five years studying everything I could there. But the one thing sadly lacking in the Library is information about fighting. And I was especially interested in the Kyoshi Warriors as an all women fighting group. The last time the Library had been visited by Fire Nation, they had burned up the entire wing of the library on themselves. They destroyed years and years of history, it is my aim to replenish that knowledge someday.
Tsunade assessed her carefully. 'You aren't talking about the Great Library, are you?'
The one and same. But I can't tell you where it's at. I've been sworn to protect it at all costs.
'I understand. You are welcome here. You can start training with us today. The house next to Mrs. Shamiro is open to being rented. I'll have Kakashi show you the way. '
Thank you, Master Tsunade.
"Kakashi?"
"Yes, Master Tsunade?"
"Please take Miss Haruno to Mrs. Shamiro's house she has for rent? She'll be staying with us for a while."
"Much obliged ma'am."
Sakura got up and saw the man Tsunade had been speaking with. It's the guy from earlier!
"Hello. Sakura is it?"
"Yes! Sakura Haruno. You must be Kakashi."
"The one and only."
Kakashi showed her to Mrs. Shamiro's property. It wasn't very far away, maybe a block and a half out from the dojo. The entire village was quite small, on a few streets lined up on the shore. Most of the island was uninhabitable or farmland. The home he showed her was small, but more than Sakura had ever had to herself before.
"Think this will be suitable?"
"Definitely!"
"Mrs. Shamiro!" A woman popped her head out of the window and saw the two of them outside her property.
"Hello! Kakashi? What can I do for you?"
"Sakura here needs a place to stay. Can she rent this place from you?" Kakashi asked, pointed at the property in front of them.
"Sure! Just whatever you can afford, and maybe a few chores to help me out occasionally and it's yours. Sound good?"
"Yes, ma'am you are too kind."
"Oh stop, I hope it's to your liking! The front door is unlocked. Keys are on the table."
"Thank you Mrs. Shamiro," Kakashi said, bowing slightly to the woman in thanks. Sakura followed suit and they entered the house. It was mostly one large room, matted with a fireplace in one end rigged up for cooking. There was a low table off to the side, holding the keys the woman spoke of. There was a bookshelf, but not much for books on it, just random things. Too bad… I'll remedy that! There was a small conjoining room that was a bedroom and a door to the backyard. There were a small outhouse and a large barrel bath with a bucket for washing. It was quaint. And just what Sakura needed.
She turned to walk back inside and Kakashi was right behind her. She ran into him and almost fell on her ass.
"S-sorry! I didn't know you were there."
"That's quite all right, Sakura. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you." Sakura nodded, only half paying attention to what he said. Wow. This man is made of muscle. Damn. I wonder if I could take him in a spar? "Ahem. Well. If you're ready to go... Training is starting, and we'll be late if we delay any longer."
"Oh right!" Sakura left her pack on the floor in the main room and followed Kakashi to the training building.
Upon arrival, Tsunade handed her a bundle of clothing and directed her to the changing room. Sakura fumbled a bit with the uniform but managed to get it all on. There were several layers of the armor, and Sakura found them awkward to get in place and tighten appropriately alone. An under layered jumpsuit type thing, padded on the upper body and designed like loose harem pants around the bottom started off the outfit. Probably for ease of movement. Next was a delightful green silk dress, ankle length with long sleeves and heavy embroidery, including gold warrior insignias. Black bracers, upper body armor, and gloves, a green sash at her waist and the dark green and gold headband with matching gold tassels. It was complicated yet once Sakura had it all in place she knew it would get easier with practice. The makeup she had a little trouble with, and luckily the head warrior came in to help her with it.
"Hey there. I'm Suki. Here. Let me help you with that." She held out her hand for the large pan of white makeup Sakura had been holding and kneeled in front of her. "First you paint the whole face white." She used a large flat brush to paint on the white, heavy makeup. "It's painted on thick so you won't have a chance to sweat through it." Once her face was a ghostly white, Suki picked up a smaller, pointed brush. "Next the crimson red. The symbolism here," She put the brush to Sakura's cheek, just below her tear duct and started a flowing line of the bright red makeup, "is that we paint our eyes with the blood of our enemies. We don't actually put blood on our faces, the red just symbolizes it." Suki finished painting her eyes and lined her eyes with charcoal. Lastly she painted her lips a scarlet red.
"All done! Now you look like one of us! Nice job with the uniform on the first try by the way. Just one thing." She adjusted the sash so the knot was directly on her right hipbone.
Sakura turned to the mirror on the wall and was shocked at her appearance. She looked like an entirely different person. A powerful and beautiful person.
"Wow...do you all feel this powerful with the makeup on?"
"Yes! It's exhilarating isn't it?" Sakura couldn't help the grin that broke out across her face.
"It is." Suki smiled at her.
"Here, don't forget your fans! They are essential!" Sakura took them gratefully and they joined the group in the main room.
Suki took a place at the front and Sakura walked to the back, taking an open spot. It just so happened to be right next to Kakashi.
Tsunade shut the door to the room and they started their training. They were going over basics today, lucky for Sakura. They stretched for a good half an hour, letting Sakura's tired muscles stretch out and loosen up. Afterwards were some basic moves, going over holding the fan, feeling it as an extension of your being, getting the flow down through their stances. The control of their movements was insane! Sakura struggled to keep still in some of their forms, and found her muscles straining. After a few hours, they ended their workout and Sakura was dead tired and sore. How could I be so out of shape? Well I guess I have spent the last five years studying in a library instead of working out... Kakashi came up to her after he had changed back into civilian clothing. The rest of the warriors were still completely dressed. Did they stay that way all the time?
"Yeah... I'm just an honorary member, so I only have to wear it while I workout here. You only have to be completely decked out when you're on patrol duty. Which is really only two or three women every day, and you aren't put on guard duty until you've become a full-fledged warrior after a year of training."
"Wow, that's some training if it lasts an entire year!"
"They spend years perfecting it, Sakura."
"Yeah. How long have you been here?"
"Eight years. But I have only been training with them for something like 2 or 3."
"Wow. Took you that long to convince them, huh? Where did you come from before here?"
"Asking a lot of personal questions! I'm kind of from all over, traveled a lot. You know."
"Sounds like fun. I'd like to see the world. I've just been to Omashu, a bit in the desert and here."
"So you want to get some food? I'm starving."
"Definitely. Let me change first." Sakura changed out of her warrior garb and stowed it in one of the unassigned cubbies along the wall with the other uniforms. It was a quite organized room. Clean and un-cluttered. A wall length mirror was on one wall for the warriors to have enough room for all of them to do makeup at once if they so choose. There was a wash station in the corner to remove the makeup and Sakura walked over to it. She scrubbed and washed the makeup off, the water she used turning a pink color similar to her hair. She dried her face with a towel and rejoined Kakashi.
"So what is there to eat here?"
"Plenty!" Kakashi brought her to the inn down the road and they went to the upstairs dining area. Kakashi had told the innkeeper what they were there for and he and Sakura settled in to wait. The innkeeper brought out a large tray of food, including soups, meats and baked goods. Sakura's stomach growled and she dug in almost immediately, barely waiting for the innkeeper to leave.
"Hungry?"
"YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I haven't eaten real food in weeks. Few foods last well in the desert so I've been living off purified cactus juice and dried jerkies for a something like a month now."
"Ouch. Dig in." She practically inhaled a roll and ate half her soup before slowing down.
"Ugh. It's all so good."
"I assure you there is no shortage of food around here. There's always something to eat if you're hungry." Kakashi sipped his tea and ate a few bites of his own plate.
"That's good to know."
They chuckled and continued their meal.
"You're lucky you're a woman." Sakura tilted her head and gave him a confused look.
"What do you mean? Generally people value strong men as fighters don't they?"
"Not on this island. I was extremely lucky the Kyoshi warriors let me train with them at all."
"I take it they don't make it a habit of allowing men join their midst?"
"No. No they don't. In fact I'm one of the few they've EVER allowed."
"That's impressive. If you don't mind me asking, why did they allow you into the program?"
"If I'm being totally honest, I don't really know myself. Maybe it's because of how great I look in the uniform!" Sakura blushed. Well he doesn't look bad in it. Not bad at all. I wouldn't blame her if she makes him wear the uniform simply because she likes the way he looks in it.
"Sure. Yeah. That's it." Kakashi laughed.
"Yeah, I know it's silly. Maybe Tsunade just felt generous that day."
"Maybe?"
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders and they finished eating. They both cleaned up the table and Kakashi carried the tray holding the dishes down the stairs as they left. The innkeeper thanked them and they left.
"Thanks for having a meal with me, Kakashi."
"No problem. Want a tour of the town?"
"Yes!" Kakashi started walking towards the most inner part of the village.
"So on the left we have the Kyoshi Warrior training building. On the right is the inn we just came from.
Next to the training building is Tsunade's home, which I swear is attached the building in some way. The other Kyoshi warriors have the option of living in the upstairs of the training building or in their own homes around the village."
"Why doesn't Tsunade just live there?"
"I think her reasoning is something like, 'if someone were to attack the main building, and everyone inside were to perish, who would teach the next Kyoshi Warriors?' or something like that."
"Interesting."
"She's an interesting woman. The rest of the houses around here are all occupied with families, I think one has a market stall out front, and there are some people around town that can help with just about anything. At the top of this hill is the governor's house, which he says is too big for his liking, but we all think he deserves it. He's a very kind man and tries to do his best by the village."
"Glad to hear it."
Kakashi turned them around and continued his tour once they had passed the inn.
"Now here are some more homes. Some also have shops, some do not. I think Mr. and Mrs. Shamiro sell cheeses and other foods they get delivered in through connections, there's a man who has a cabbage cart who comes by every now and again... hm... I think sometimes farmers from the surrounding areas come by with meats during market season. There are several artisans around this part of town as well. I believe a potter and leather worker live at the edge of town, and some other artists across from him. Your house is right next to Mrs. Shamiro and I live just down the street from you, next to Madam Sayuri."
"Who is she?"
"She's an older woman, I don't know that she's capable of doing much these days, she's fairly frail."
"That's too bad. I'd like to meet her she sounds nice."
"She can really get on me sometimes, for reasons I couldn't possibly imagine, but yes she is very kind otherwise."
Sakura laughed, "I'm sure those reasons are probably more imaginable than you think!"
"Hey! I'm being a nice guy, showing you around town."
"Thanks for your services, Kakashi."
"You're more than welcome, Sakura. Would you like to join me for some tea?"
"I would very much love to."
They walked to Kakashi's apartment, and so started their routine.
…
One thing Sakura found lacking about her life on Kyoshi Island?
The village didn't have a library.
And the worst part about it?
Most of the villagers didn't even want one!
How could so many people not want to further themselves!? I can't make a library with no books. I mean I have books, but I'm not allowed to share them with just anyone... Sakura had hidden the most important of her literature in a sealed ceramic box in the earth behind her house. No one but an earthbender would be able to find it. She was depressed at the idea of not being able to learn much of anything new while she was living on the island and decided to approach the governor with plans for a new library.
Sakura knocked on the governor's door.
The old man who had been with the Kyoshi Warriors on her first day here answered the door. She had only seen him a few times since, but he looked just the same.
"Sakura! What can I do for you? Come in, come in, I've just put on a pot of tea."
"Thank you sir."
Sakura sat down on one of the cushions in the governor's home, across from another at his low table.
The house may be lavish compared to the other houses in the village, but Sakura knew he wasn't the type of man to change the way he lived just because of his station. He had the same furniture as everyone else, slept the same way, bathed same way... lived the same way. Everyone was equal in the village, he just had more power when it came to making decisions. And luckily there weren't too many of those to make in their village.
"So what can I do for you today, Miss?"
"Well, Sir. I've noticed that we do not have a library here on the island."
"You are correct."
"And why not?"
"Can I be completely honest with you?"
"Of course."
"It's just because no one is really interested in that sort of thing. There are other factors that could come into play, like too much humidity. Books are a little hard to come by here, as it's an island... not to mention importing is too much work and should we request certain materials, we might have the Fire Nation upon us sooner than we expected. You never can be too careful when it comes to them."
"You're right, I guess I never thought of that. I'd still like to make one, though. Even if it's just books published on island, or those people already have. Would that be something I'd be allowed to pursue?"
"Of course my dear! You are more than welcome to use any land you can find that's not being used."
Sakura finished her tea the kind old man had provided for her.
"Thank you very much sir. I'll report back to you later with progress."
"Thank you, Sakura. I'm sure the people will appreciate an opportunity to improve upon themselves, however little they may be able to."
She bowed and left his company, determined to find some spot of land that wasn't occupied.
As it turned out most of the island that wasn't village, and was farmable, was just that, a farm. Sakura was able to find a spot just outside the village and she decided to take it. Using her Earthbending, Sakura created the building out of the earth. It was crude for now, just a big enough building to walk around in and have a half dozen shelves or so. Sakura commissioned the few people around town that knew anything about construction and they helped her finish and refine it. Soon the 'library' was finished. The building was earth, supported by wooden structures. There were a couple windows in the front of the building for light. Inside, the walls were lined with shelves. At the back of the building was a long desk for a librarian to work at, once the library had enough books to warrant checkouts. It was a great little building and Sakura felt accomplished.
She put out a request on any books the people felt like donating to the cause and she actually had quite a bit of turnout. A few boxes full of books showed up on the library's doorstep one day and Sakura was grateful for the donation. The books included several Sakura had never seen before and was eager to read. She set them out on the shelves and reported back to the governor.
Sakura knocked on the man's door and he answered right away.
"Sakura! How are things?"
"Great! We've finished the library and with the help of some anonymous donations, we have plenty of books! I just wanted to let you know the progress."
"That's wonderful Sakura. I'll organize a grand opening if you like?"
"Oh that would be fantastic!"
Oyagi smiled and went back inside his house. Sakura left the place and went to tell Kakashi the great news. Kyoshi Island has a library! And I helped create it! Upon arriving at his place, Kakashi answered the door before she even knocked on it.
"Sakura. What are you up to?"
"The library is getting a grand opening! We got a huge donation last night and now we have enough books that people can start checking them out!"
"Sakura that's wonderful. What a great thing you've done."
"Ah come on now," Sakura said, blushing slightly, "You know everyone helped out."
"Yes, but would they have ever had the idea to build it in the first place if you hadn't urged the idea?"
Sakura thought on it for a minute. The governor did say the people in general didn't really have much of an interest in things of this nature... but hey I guess someone had some books stowed away!
"Do you think Mrs. Shamiro might have some connections to get a hold of more books?"
"I could ask."
"Thank you, Kakashi! See you at the grand opening tomorrow!" Sakura said as she hugged him.
"See ya, Sakura." She left his house to go back to the library. There was so much to do! Sakura spent the rest of her afternoon reorganizing the books in her library. There had to be at least 300 books that had been donated. She was so involved in her work, that she didn't notice when the sun started to go down.
Oh no! Kakashi will be waiting with the tea!
Sakura shut the library door and rushed down to her friend's house before he went to sleep for the night. She got there and was panting on his doorstep.
"Is something the matter, Sakura? You don't usually run wherever you go." She held up one finger, signaling him to wait a moment while she caught her breath.
"No I don't, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss tea with you. I lost track of time at the library. I'm sorry
I'm so late."
"No worries, Sakura. I'll brew a fresh pot for you."
"You don't have to do that!"
"It's no big deal at all, I swear!"
He went about making more tea, and Sakura took her usual seat across from his at the low table in his living room. Kakashi was finished with the tea in record time and Sakura was grateful for the hot deliciousness.
"Ah... Kakashi you have no idea how much I look forward to this every day."
"You look forward to tea with me? I thought you just came over to mooch off an old man."
"Kakashi! You aren't old, and I bring tea over whenever I can, you know that."
Kakashi chuckled. He sat down on his own cushion across from her and poured them both another cup of the thick chai tea.
"To the library!" He raised his cup up.
"To the library." Sakura responded.
...
The day was warm. Kakashi was lying on the beach and Sakura swimming in the water.
"Kakashi why don't you join me?"
"Mmm... Sakura water is bad for books. Plus I don't like water."
"Yeah you just keep reading your pervy novels."
"If I'm such a pervert why do you want me to join you? Miss Wearing-Practically-Nothing."
Sakura covered her chest protectively, "Pervert!"
"Guilty."
Sakura's cheeks burned as she let her arms drop and relaxed in the water. She loved to just float in it. Sometimes Sakura thought she should have been born a waterbender because she liked being in water so much during the warm months.
"But seriously though, Kakashi, the water feels soooo nice, and it's so hot today."
"I'll just work on my tan from here, thanks."
"Work on your tan? You'll have a horrible tan line, wearing all those clothes!"
"Probably."
"Whatever floats your boat I guess, pervert."
She breathed in and felt her chest rise in the water, released the air and felt it sink. She spread out her limbs and just floated. It's so nice out here right now. I wonder why he won't come swimming? Maybe he doesn't like the water like I do. Some people in the earth kingdom feel so connected to the earth they feel unsafe when they aren't on it.
Just as she felt she was about to fall asleep, Sakura flipped up and realized she was further from the shore than she anticipated. Oh no. I do not want to deal with the Unagi today. Sakura swam back to shore, hoping the giant eel creature wouldn't follow her. She flopped on the sand and relished the feel of the warm sand on her damp skin.
"Done swimming?"
"Yeah."
"Mm."
"Have an extra book?"
"Your hands are wet and sandy."
"I'll dry them off."
"Well, I don't have an extra book anyway, so you'll just have to go without." Sakura tried to sneak up behind him and read over his shoulder.
"That's rude Sakura," Kakashi said, while turning the book out of her view.
"But Kakashiii..."
"Sakuraaaaa. Just lay in the sun for a while. Doesn't it feel nice?"
"Eh. I like the sand better than I like the sun on me."
"Fair enough. Just be quiet so I can read."
Sakura sat next to him and thought about it. How can I get him to share? She pulled the sand next to her into a ball. You know I've heard of snowball fights... but has he ever been in a sandball fight?
Sakura felt the warm sand ball in her hand, weighing it... then she threw it at his chest, purposely getting a little sand on his book. Kakashi shook it off and snapped the book shut, then slipped it into his bag.
"You're going to wish you hadn't done that."
She heard a maliciousness to his voice that wasn't normally present. Oh shit. Sakura scrambled up and ran away down the beach.
Kakashi made a sandball, and threw it at her, hitting her squarely in her lower back. Some of the sand got in her bikini bottoms. Eww sand feels weird.
She turned back around and used her earthbending to raise four sandballs from the beach. Kakashi paled, then turned to run away. Sakura hit him with each sandball, and as they disappeared she created more. Eventually he fell and she buried him in the sand. She found his bag back where they had been sitting, and pulled his book out.
"Sakura, please..." His voice was sad, with a little bit of a whine. Embarrassed maybe? She sighed.
"One day you'll let me read them." She let the sand flow away from his body. He got up and retrieved the bag as well as his book from her hands.
"Maybe. But only if you ask nicely. And even then, I might say no."
Sakura walked back toward the water, the sand rubbing her in all the wrong places.
"All right, Kakashi."
She waded in, just far enough out to try and wash away the sand from her body.
Kakashi flipped the sand off his towel and laid back down, reopening his book and continuing where he left off.
...
"Kakashi."
"..Yeah?" Kakashi and Sakura had been paired up to spar that day and a question was burning her up.
"Why don't you just use the makeup? Tsunade said she'd teach you the advanced set if you made the change permanent and wore the makeup everyday..."
"I know what she said."
"Why do you have such an issue with it? You seemed fine that one day..."
"We had just met, how do you know I was fine?"
Sakura was shocked at the confession, her footing slipped, and Kakashi caught her off guard. He pressed his fan at her neck.
"Concede."
"I do... Kakashi I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"Again?"
"Yes."
They sparred for the rest of the workout session, each pinning the other in defeat several times.
"You're improving quickly," Kakashi told her after the training session. "Probably even better than me at this point."
"Only because Tsunade refuses to teach you. Sometimes I think she just does that because she thinks you're a pervert through and through. She has something against perverts but I just cannot place my finger on it. You're not so bad yourself, by the way."
"Thanks. And I'm not that big of a pervert."
"Says the man who reads porn in public."
"And?"
"It's indecent!"
"How would you know? You've never read it."
"That's true... but Tsunade has a pretty strong opinion on it. She refuses to tell me why."
They chuckled and headed to Kakashi's house for their evening tea.
"I think I'll make ginseng tonight. What do you think?"
"I like chai and jasmine green tea better, but I'll drink it."
"Duly noted."
"You know... I'd do your makeup for you if that's the problem. The doing it yourself part..."
"Absolutely not." Kakashi looked at her from the corner of his eye, "But I appreciate the offer."
…