Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Chapter 41 - What Could Be

"Last time I checked, I lived upstairs." Kakashi leaned on Amaya as they entered the Jonin apartment complex and passed by the stairs. He had walked most of the way back from the hospital himself, but he was still weak from the poison.

"I was told to keep an eye on you for a few days, so you're staying with me."

Even when they'd been together all those years ago, they hadn't lived in the same apartment. It was strange to think they finally would be. The silver-haired ninja shook his head. He was being foolish. They weren't going to be living together, not really. His imagination was getting away from him. He needed sleep.

He couldn't help the small smile that turned up the corners of his mouth. If he suggested they move in together, Amaya would probably avoid the topic with all her will. This was a favorite tactic of hers, one she'd kept even after leaving. Her avoidance was a characteristic he hoped she'd grow out of. Not that he really had a right to want her to get rid of a bad habit when he couldn't do the same. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

Though, in some ways, their relationship now was so different from what they'd had that sometimes he wasn't sure exactly how to act. He hadn't overstepped the line yet, but it was bound to happen. At least until he discovered where that line was firm and where the give was. But testing boundaries wasn't high on his priority list at the moment.

Amaya retrieved her key from her pocket and opened the door. The recovering Jonin helped by flicking on the lights. Neither one expected the sight that awaited them.

Mice were everywhere, on the couch, the kitchen counter, the coffee table. Squeaky voices swirled together in a sound that the auburn-haired Jonin knew would drive Kakashi's ninken crazy; they loved squeak toys. The pair stepped into the mouse-filled apartment, unsure of what to do. As if sensing their hesitancy, Mamoru scurried from the mass of russet bodies on her couch. The summon scrambled up to sit on her shoulder. "Sorry about this. Some of our tunnels flooded. We had nowhere else to go."

"How many of you are there?" Amaya asked, watching tiny furry bodies darting from place to place.

"A lot. The females and children are in your spare bedroom. Can't have them mixing, you know. Your room is free, though."

The Jonin exchanged glances as Mamoru leapt from his perch. They'd both noticed the subtle jab and the mouse's total refusal to acknowledge Kakashi's existence. Making their way to her room, the kunoichi shut the door behind them. "I can't believe him. He makes comments like that and yet leaves us no choice but to share the same bed."

"In his own way, I think he's just trying to look out for you. He may have left us no choice, but he knows with all those ears out there, nothing will happen," the silver-haired Jonin said, sitting on the edge of Amaya's bed.

Amaya sat heavily beside him. "I guess so. We had a fight about you staying here with me. That's why he ignored you. He thinks it's indecent and he's afraid we'll go right back to the way we used to be."

"I think I can deal with getting the cold shoulder from a mouse. And I assume you told him we decided not to slip back into old habits?"

"Yeah, but he doesn't believe me."

The Copy-nin took one of Amaya's hands and squeezed. "Give him time. He'll realize the truth soon enough."

She smiled in return. "You're right."

"Aren't I always?" he quipped.

"Not as often as you'd like to think." She kissed him on the cheek before standing. "The shower's right through there, so get clean and I'll run up to your place to get you a change of clothes."

She left without waiting for his response, careful to not step on any of Mamoru's family. On her way out, she gestured for Mamoru to come to her. "Is my scroll safe?" she whispered.

"Yes, we made sure it was well away from the water," the summon replied once he'd scurried up into her hand.

She nodded, sat him on the floor, and left. The trip up to Kakashi's apartment was quick. Before she could open his door, though, Gai poked his head out his own door. "Oh, I thought you were Kakashi."

The lack of enthusiasm in the green-clad Jonin's voice told Amaya just how worried Gai was. "He's fine. The worst has passed. He's actually going to be staying with me for a few days, so come by and see him if you want."

"That's good to hear! Not that I was worried. My eternal rival can't die, not until I give him the chance to redeem himself from his last loss!"

She couldn't help but smile; there was the boisterous, loud Jonin she loved. "He might not be up to a challenge when you come to visit. Maybe just bring something to eat? Some nice salt-broiled sanma would be a welcome treat after all the hospital food he's had."

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that? I'll cook for him this time and then when the flames of youth are burning bright in my rival again, he can cook for me. You can be our judge and tell us who's food is better!"

The auburn-haired ninja promised she would judge and bid Gai goodnight. Heading straight for Kakashi's room, she rummaged through his dresser. The bottom drawer held pajama pants, and when she pulled a pair out, something else came with the soft, dark-colored garment. She picked up the small box and flipped the lid open. Inside was a silver ring studded with emeralds. Slowly closing the lid and placing the box back in the drawer, Amaya fought to calm her racing heart. Was Kakashi thinking of proposing?

She couldn't turn her mind from the ring as she gathered the Copy-nin's clothes and went back to her apartment. The auburn-haired Jonin wasn't sure what she'd do if he asked her to be his wife. She cared about him, of that there was no doubt, but they hadn't been together long. Not that it mattered; her parents had gotten engaged after three months. Was love all that was needed or was there something else too? Was she ready to say she loved him?

"Can I have my clothes, please?"

Kakashi's voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Oh, yeah. Sorry." She handed him the pile and waited while he got dressed in the bathroom, out of respect for Mamoru. When he came out, shirtless she noted, he placed his clean shirt and dirty outfit on top of her dresser. The female Jonin could see the scars littering his back, and on impulse, rose from her seat to the bed. Amaya stood behind the silver-haired Jonin and traced a crooked scar on the small of his back.

A shiver spread through him at her touch, and he did his best to calm his racing heart as the auburn-haired woman traced each scar with feather-light fingers. When she paused on a scar that wrapped around to his stomach, Kakashi turned so she could continue. Finally, Amaya's fingers ghosted over the long scar left by Zabuza while her lips ghosted over his. All this the silver-haired shinobi let happen. He wasn't sure what was going through the kunoichi's head, but something had certainly brought on this not-unwelcome affection. Still he remained silent, even after Amaya ended their brief kiss.

They locked eyes a moment before she spoke. "I love your scars."

He remembered she'd said much the same thing when they were young. Was her reason still the same? "And why's that?" Inwardly wincing at the way his voice betrayed the desire her actions had stirred, he waited for her answer.

Amaya's soft smile told him she heard it. She kissed him again, letting him wrap his arms around her and pull her tight against him. Again, she broke the kiss, tucking her head under his chin and enjoying the warmth of his strength. "Because of them, I know that, no matter what, you'll do everything in your power to come back to me."

"You're cruel, teasing me like this," Kakashi growled, knowing he'd have to go take another shower. A very cold one.

The kunoichi pulled away from him so she could kiss him one final time. When she broke this kiss, though, he could tell she really didn't want to. The flash of want in her eyes as she stepped from his embrace confirmed it. "I've got to talk with Mamoru, so don't wait up for me."

Half an hour later, cold shower taken, the Copy-nin slid under the covers of Amaya's bed. Everything smelled like her and he breathed deeply, feeling his still-weak body relax as he drifted off to sleep. Hours later, he woke briefly as Amaya climbed into bed next to him. She tensed when he pulled her close, but when he buried his face in her neck and promptly fell back asleep, she relaxed too. His warmth soothed her mind; she'd ask about the ring in the morning. She fell asleep quickly, one of her last thoughts that she wanted him beside her more often.