A/N: Hi again all. Anko is late for work, as you can well see below. And Kakashi and Asuma have some final details to go over. We're also going to learn the two sister's names in this chapter and get a hint of what they look like. All you curious readers have been asking, so this is the chapter that tells a little of that. So without any more dilly-dally, let's get going. Enjoy!

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Anko practically ran to work. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm SO FUCKING LATE. But I can do this. Yeah! I'm a ninja. I'm really good at this. Yeah. I'll sneak in. They'll think I was there all along. I'm not that late. Yeah I am, but they don't have to know that. She ran on, getting closer to the academy grounds. As she came upon the grounds, she saw people here and there, but not many as usual, because most of them were already there working, having not been late like she was. She managed to sneak around the side of the building where she snuck up to a bathroom window that she knew didn't have a lock on it. She carefully opened it with a little bit of effort and wiggled inside it. She dropped to the tile floor catlike. She straightened her clothes, turned, and ran smack into Kurenai. "I was wondering when you were going to get here. Not like you to be late. Kakashi rubbing off on you?"

"Ha. Funny. I forgot to set my alarm last night, that's all. Anybody looking for me?"

"There have been a few questions. I covered for you. Said you were in here – ate some bad dango." Kurenai patted her stomach to emphasize what she'd told their peers.

Anko said, "Thanks, I think."

"Glad I ran into you actually, Asuma told me about Kakashi, and the hard time he had accepting the mission they're going on tomorrow."

"Really? I thought he only told me about that."

"Well since he's going with Asuma, I guess he told him too. You know, Kakashi almost didn't accept the mission. I think you convinced him that it was ok to do it."

Anko mentally smacked herself in the forehead and though Fucking great – I just sent my boyfriend out to protect, and coerce information out of two women. I am the stupidest person on earth.

Kurenai continued, "Kakashi was pretty torn up about it. I think it's sweet that he doesn't want to hurt your feelings."

Yeah he is pretty sweet. And hot.

Kurenai continued, "Let's get together tomorrow night. I checked the schedule posted for the rest of the week. You and I are scheduled off the day after tomorrow, so we can both sleep in if we stay up too late. What do ya say?"

Anko said, "Sure. I just don't see how you do it. How do you just let Asuma go and do what Tsunade asked him to possibly do?"

"We'll talk about that tomorrow night. You may see my point of view after we talk about it, and you've had a few drinks. For now, you'd better show you face around here. People are starting to wonder if they should come in and check on you."

"Alright. Thanks for covering for me. You're a good friend."

"Don't mention it. You've covered for me before. Just returning the favor."

"I'll see you later." Anko turned and with a quick wave, left the restroom so she could be seen by the people she works with.

Kakashi stayed in Anko's bed for another hour. He was awake, he was just reliving the night before in his mind. He reached behind his head and gripped two of the rungs of her brand new headboard. He thought very functional and sturdy. She chose well. Then he thought that he should probably get going. Asuma was probably looking for him to go over the final details. He didn't want to think about the mission until he had to, so he let the memories of their nocturnal activities push his obligations right out of his head yet again.

He went into Anko's bathroom to take care of his morning urges. As he stepped onto the bathroom floor he immediately saw Anko's gown in a heap. He picked it up thinking she probably wants this hung up. She was in a hurry. I'll take care of it for her. He went back into her bedroom and found an empty hanger in her closet. He walked back into the bathroom and hung the gown from the shower stall. There, safe. He ran his hand over the lace on the dress, and then ran it down the silky lower part. He picked up the long part and held it to his nose. He could still smell her on it. He was tempted to take the gown with him on his mission, but he didn't know how or where he'd keep it. Instead, he had a better idea.

After taking care of his aching bladder, he returned to Anko's bedroom and got dressed quickly. He stopped only a moment to retrieve something of hers to take with him. Then he left to have some breakfast, a shower to get the rest of the honey off his body, and to find Asuma. It was time to get on with the final planning if they were to leave the next day.

After his shower and other preparations which included eating an energizing breakfast (which he found he needed after his play-time with Anko), he set off to find Asuma. He had a couple of errands he had to run before he left, and he wanted to make sure to water his plant. But finding Asuma was first on the list.

Anko plodded her way through work, not concentrating much on what needed to be done. Luckily, she was not required to make any life or death decisions. All she wanted to do was go find Kakashi, and keep him all to herself until he had to leave.

She made her way through the day completely distracted, wanting to go home, but then again, dreading it at the same time. She knew that when she left work that it was going to be that much closer to the time he'd have to leave, for three days of possible temptation. She hoped her "performance" for him the night before would make him a rock – make him refuse to partake in the complimenting and flirting that was sometimes customary on information seeking missions. She had done all she could have done for him. She loved him deeply and that's why it hurt so much to think that part of his job may require him to be "more than friendly," with a member of the fairer sex that was NOT her. Still, she trusted him. She only hoped that if it came down to it, he could think of another way to get the information they needed. Another method of extraction if necessary. She thought maybe he can use his sharingan? Does it even work that way? She wondered. She thought she might ask him about that later.

Kakashi was in search of Asuma. He knew Kurenai was working, so he figured the big ox of a ninja would be at his own place. He was right. When he knocked on Asuma's door, it was opened by the man himself.

"Kakashi. You're out early for having the day off."

Kakashi said, "Anko's at work."

"Kurenai too. Might as well come in – we've got stuff to go over." Asuma stepped back to let Kakashi in. Then he closed the door and followed Kakashi to the living room.

Kakashi plopped lazily on a couch next to a coffee table where numerous papers had been spread out. Asuma had been studying and planning before Kakashi had arrived.

Kakashi aid, "So what's the plan? Any indication where we should start?"

Asuma pointed out a small secluded village on what seemed to be a hand drawn map. He said, "About three hours from here is a small village where our targets are being hidden. They're staying with a distant relative – an old Aunt of theirs. Their other family has long since moved from the area. When the sisters escaped Orochimaru, they ran to her – knowing she's a remote family member – hoping that Orochimaru wouldn't trace them there. He hasn't so far. After they arrived, the Aunt convinced then that they needed to go into hiding. They agreed, but a safe transport couldn't be set up until last week. The person they're using to orchestrate all this turns out to be a former shinobi whose village was attacked by Orochimaru's minions years ago. Once he heard about the girls and how they escaped Orochimaru, he was more than happy to help. Since this shinobi heard that another legendary sannin was now Hokage of the Leaf, he contacted her and attempted to arrange the girl's safe transport into hiding. With me so far?"

Kakashi nodded, "Lots to remember, but keep going."

"OK. The girls arrived in their Aunt's village and changed their looks. The older sister is Hanami, and she's got black hair now and hazel eyes. The younger sister by a year is Harumi, who has brown hair and green eyes. Neither normally look like that, their hair and eye colors are changed and they even travel the village separately so they're not seen together. They won't be easily recognized by Orochimaru or his people, so they're safe for a few more days at least. But one thing has not changed – the small serpent tattoos on the inside of each of their left wrists. They tried to have them removed, but the tattoos reappear. It's as if they've been permanently branded."

Kakashi said, "Almost like another form of a curse mark."

"Similar, but it gives them no power – just marks them as sympathizers of him."

Kakashi nodded, and said, "So how do you want to do this?"

Asuma said, "I say we tell them the truth – and go in street clothes so we don't attract attention."

"Good point. I agree. We'll tell them we're there to help keep them safe before they're moved permanently."

Asuma said, "Good. I suggest you work on one; I'll work on the other."

"Fine – it may go faster if we split up. We'll compare notes as we go along. Ok. Now, how do we find them?" Kakashi asked.

"After the contact made the arrangements with Tsunade, they set up our arrival time, and a phrase we need to say. It's all very cloak and dagger-ish."

Kakashi sighed, "Do tell."

"When we make it to the little village outskirts, ON TIME, there will be a farmer tilling a field. As we pass him, we're to wave and tell him, "Exquisite day we're having." Then he'll reply, "If it decides to rain, you can find temporary shelter at . . ." That's how we'll find the contact."

"Ok so far. We don't know where they'll tell us to find him yet do we?"

"Nope, have to wait for the farmer to tell us. After we find the contact, we have to say to him, "We heard they fled at night." Then he'll say, "They did, to avoid the snake." That's how we'll all verify we're who we say we are."

Kakashi thought a moment and said, "It all sounds so corny."

"They're just trying to protect two very smart girls from harm."

"Yeah, I guess that's the best way then. What time do we leave?"

"Tomorrow, 8:30AM SHARP. I said SHARP – did you get that? SHARP!"

"I heard you – SHARP!"

"Good. Any questions?"

"Nope, I'm good. I'm gonna go pack. Street clothes and a uniform just in case I have to prove where I'm from."

"Good idea. I'll see you tomorrow at the gates 8:30 AM SHARP!!!"

"OK! Jeez." He got up and left Asuma's apartment to get to his place and fill up his pack with traveling clothes and assorted weapons and scrolls, as well as a few other essentials he was going to take along just in case he needed them. But first, he had a few errands to run.

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A/N: So what is Kakashi planning for Anko now? We're just about ready to move to the mission phase. And you know the girls names now too. So now that all the plans are set, we're ready to move forward.

Next up: Anko runs into Kakashi at his apartment and laughs at what she sees. Then the conversation turns and he asks her to "do" something for him before he goes. See you soon!