A/N: Hi everybody! Time to get the mission started. Plus, what's Anko's surprise going to be? You'll soon see. I'm waiting to see how many of you go, "OMG!" at the beginning of a certain conversation that just pops out of nowhere somewhere in the middle of this chapter. Enjoy!

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Time soon came for Kakashi to go meet Asuma. Anko insisted on going with him. He was glad she was coming along. It gave them that much more time together. They barely spoke as they walked to the gates. They didn't travel quickly, yet Anko made sure they'd arrive at precisely 9:00, only half an hour after Asuma wanted Kakashi to meet him.

Before long, they reached the gates, where Asuma was waiting with Kurenai. They were standing apart from each other talking like friends would – even though Anko and Kakashi knew they were a bit more than that. Asuma hailed them, Kakashi just said his customary, "Yo."

Asuma said, "Ready to go Kakashi?"

"Yeah. Aren't you pissed I'm late?"

"Nope. I figured you'd be late no matter what time I wanted you to be here. I told you 8:30, but I figured we'd leave shortly after 9:00. Hatake Kakashi, you're right on time."

Damn you to hell Asshola!!! Kakashi fumed silently until Anko smacked him. "Get a grip! You know he's just playing with you."

"I know. I just like being mad at him at times."

Kurenai said, "Anko, do we still have a date tonight?"

Anko nodded. "Sure do. What time's good?"

"Right after work if you like. We can pick up some take out and go back to my place."

"That sounds like a plan." She glanced over at Kakashi who was making his final preparations to go. She said to Kurenai, "Be right back." She walked over to Kakashi and said, "So, this is it huh?"

He looked at her and said, "Yeah. Please don't worry. I'll do everything I can, I promise."

Anko still felt a stab of emotional pain and slight jealousy. She said, "I know you will. I trust you," she got close to his face and said quietly, "and I love you too."

Kakashi felt that same type of stab, but his was a mixture of emotional pain and absolute joy. He smiled at her and said quietly back, "Love you too. I'll be back soon." He took the opportunity to turn his back to Kurenai and Asuma, and pull down his mask to give his girlfriend a kiss goodbye.

Anko looked at him dreamily as their kiss ended. She sighed, not wanting to let him go, but she knew she had to. There was no choice to be made. Word had been given, the mission had been accepted. Hopefully it would be successful with the best possible outcome. Yet Anko felt dread deep inside her. She didn't want things to change between her and the man she loved, but if he had to do some "things" that sometimes happened on missions, she was afraid that they would.

Kakashi said to her, "I've got a surprise for you later."

"What? Today? But you're not going to be here,"

"I know. I just did a little something for you. I wanted to tell you because I didn't want you to be too surprised."

"Oh, you mean you hung up my gown? Thanks for doing that; I was just so late yesterday morning,"

He interrupted her and said, "No, it's a little something else. You'll see later. Around lunchtime. Make sure you're in the lunchroom."

She looked at him, trying to figure out what he was going on about. Was a six food naked blow-up Kakashi going to pop out from under a lunch table? She quickly erased that thought from her mind as a hundred more pushed their way in.

Asuma said, "Alright Kakashi, time to head out. See you in a few days ladies."

Anko said, "Take care both of you, be careful and BE GOOD," or else!

Kurenai said, "Be safe you two. Come back soon!"

Kakashi turned and waved one more time before he and Asuma set out on their three hour trip. Then he turned from his last look at the woman he loved and he attempted to turn his mind to the task at hand. He found that to be a bit harder than he'd expected.

Kurenai turned to Anko and said, "Ready to get to work?"

"Not particularly. I feel like shit."

"What's the matter? You're not pregnant are you?"

"Oh my fuck NO! No, I've taken care of things since the beginning. No little ninjas until I'm good and ready which may be never. I feel like shit because I'm new to this whole relationship thing and it bugs me because I think about and feel things I'm just not used to. This really sucks."

Kurenai agreed, "I know. When you come over tonight, we'll talk about it."

"Ok." She paused as they walked to work, glancing back to see Kakashi's hair bobbing in the distance. Then she said, "Does it ever get any easier?"

Kurenai let out a small laugh and said, "Not really. You just understand it a little more. It's always hard, you always worry. That's all part of it. I guess that's the bad that comes with all the good."

Anko thought Wow, that's fucking brilliant. I can't wait to talk to her about this later. The two female shinobi continued on to work, where three hours from then, Anko would be getting her surprise.

After an hour of practically silent walking, Asuma asked Kakashi, "You're really having a hard time with this aren't you?"

"Yes I am. I've never had to separate work and home before, because there never was any 'home' before. It's hard. I don't care for it much."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. It's not easy, but unfortunately, it's necessary."

"I know it is. I'll do what I have to do."

Asuma didn't want to push Kakashi, so he said, "I know you will."

They continued to walk quietly, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

Anko and Kurenai made it to work a bit later than usual, but no one gave them any grief because it was quite well known who had left on that mornings' mission. Before long, it was time for lunch, and Anko began to come out of her down mood. What's my surprise going to be? I hope it's not too perverted – I don't want to do perverted in public.

Kurenai met her in the hall before lunch and asked, "How you holding up?"

"Not bad. Kakashi said he had a surprise planned for me, in the lunchroom at lunch time."

"Oh God, what did he do!"

"I don't know, but don't worry, I'm sure it won't be anything perverted."

Kurenai looked at Anko and said, "We ARE talking about the same Kakashi right?"

Anko just glared at her sideways and said, "Come on. Let's eat."

The two lady shinobi entered the lunch room, searching the room quickly for anything Kakashi may have rigged, or set up as Anko's surprise.

Kakashi and Asuma walked along, almost at the outskirts of their destination. Kakashi smiled a little inside, because he knew that Anko's surprise was about to arrive. Asuma noticed his change in mood and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"You mean, what have I done."

"Should I ask?"

"Just a little surprise for Anko. Aren't we there yet? I see a lot of farm country coming up."

"Should be up just a little ways. Look for the farmer tilling his field." The two shinobi kept walking looking for the elusive farmer.

Anko and Kurenai picked some lunch out and sat down across the table from each other. Kurenai had her back to the door, and Anko faced it, in case something came through there for her. Kurenai said, "Will you stop staring at the door and eat something? We don't have all that much time you know."

Anko pouted, "But Kakashi said my surprise would come around lunch time, IN the lunchroom."

"Maybe it's late."

Anko was getting disappointed, "Or maybe it's not a surprise at all." She sighed and poked at her lunch, suddenly losing interest and missing him more than ever.

Kurenai said, "At least eat a little something. You can get awful mean when you're hungry."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." She absently shoved a lump of vegetable rice in her mouth when she saw a shadow in front of her, next to Kurenai.

Anko looked up at a messenger boy from a local flower shop. Immediately she thought, I don't do flowers! Flowers are pretty, but they DIE, and I'm not a HUGE fan of them anyway. Did he get me flowers? I guess I should be happy, but FLOWERS? Ugh. I thought he knew me better than that.

The messenger boy said, "Are you Mitarashi Anko?"

"Yes," she said, slightly annoyed and a little more disappointed.

"These are for you. Someone must really care about you."

"Is that so?"

The messenger continued as he handed her the long cardboard box wrapped in a thick red ribbon, "Yeah, these aren't cheap. Have a nice day ma'am."

Kurenai said, "He called you ma'am."

"Shut up. At least I got a present."

"I didn't think you liked flowers."

Anko sighed and said, "I really don't." She untied the ribbon and took the top of the box off. After she looked inside, her eyes got wide and a HUGE smile spread across her face. She looked at Kurenai with absolute joy on her face. Then she looked back in the box and said, "I do like THESE flowers, LOOK!" She turned the box so Kurenai could see inside. Inside some green wrapping paper were six exquisitely shaped and decorated CHOCOLATE roses. Anko was so pleased she wanted to cry. He DOES know me well! I am so lucky. She leaned down and smelled them, letting her eyes roll at the scent of the gourmet chocolate.

Kurenai said, "Save one of those for me later."

"Maybe," Anko said as she took one out and took a big bite out of it.

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A/N: So there we are! Did you OMG when Kurenai asked Anko if she was pregnant? Anko's not pregnant, and I wanted to clarify that, because people have been asking here and there. Also, she DID like her surprise didn't she? That Kakashi - he's a good one.

Next up: Kakashi and Asuma meet their contact and are taken to where the sisters are being hidden, and Anko and Kurenai begin their "girls night in." See you soon!