Tomorrow

Summary: No longer a one shot. A multi chapter story where Kakashi and Hinata find themselves underestimating their enemy and falling prey to a little trick he plays on them. The trick come with consequences and feelings that neither are really sure they want to explore.

Disclaimer: Kishimoto is my surrogate father so I mean, that pretty much means that I own Naruto right? Right?! *cries in a corner* No, I do not own Naruto.

Also: I am back from my extended leave! I am soooo sorry about the amount of time that is between this and the last chapter and hopefully it won't be this long next time. I love this fic a lot so don't feel at any time that I would leave it. My love for Kakahina is far too great. Enjoy.

Chapter Five: New Players

The wide eyed Hyuuga could only watch as the jounin disappeared from view.

She had no idea what to think.

Tsunade had, more or less, just informed her teammate that the feelings he had been experiencing while in that room was, in no way, from the drug and after a moment of awkward staring, he had run away without a backward glance, leaving the young woman where she still stood.

Was it true? Did he actually like her? Were his feelings real and not some by-product of the drug he had unknowingly taken? And if so, what did that actually mean?

Why did he run?

Standing in front of her Hokage's door, Hinata put her arm to rest on the door frame and leant her whole body against it. Bringing her head to the wood, the young woman tried to find some explanation that would fit with what had happened, was happening and what she wanted to happen.

This was all just too confusing.

Giving up on finding an answer right this moment, she righted herself and turned to walk out of the building. Maybe if she distracted herself with something else things would become easier to understand, he would become easier to understand.

Maybe.

~~~*~~~

He was a blur as he ran, trying not to let something as basic as thought enter his mind as he fled to his home.

While he ran he tried to understand the basics of what was happening to him but became chagrined when he realised that he wasn't sure of anything; all he knew was that at that moment in time his only option was to run.

Kakashi was trained as a shinobi and as such viewed every situation, subconsciously, as a battle. He had protocol for almost every battle he found himself in and he used his skills and knowledge to make every skirmish come out in a win for him. So when he was faced with a closed door, a confused woman and a hammering heart he let his instincts take over. One of his golden rules was that if he ever found himself in a situation where the outcome was heavily stacked against him, the best option was to retreat to familiar ground and plan an attack that would turn in your favour at a later date.

Consult others in your team if necessary.

Seeing his apartment coming closer, the jounin managed to open the window and fly through in record time, landing on the wooden floor with bent knees and hands spread out in front of him.

He stayed like that for a moment, eyes closed, mind empty for a split second, and breathed in the familiar smells of his home.

Stretching up to his full height, he turned and closed the window against the thought of intruders, though most would use the front door, and groaned while putting his hands to his face, he was such an idiot. He, Hatake Kakashi, had run and he was not proud of that fact.

Looking to his bed, the Jounin became tempted momentarily to just sleep the day away in utter oblivion but realised that sleep was no escape. He knew what his dreams would be full of and knew that his current thoughts would make every dream as tantalizing as possible, and that was not an option.

Sighing, the Copy-Nin started to undress and headed to the shower. Hopefully the water would wash away all the tension that he had accumulated in his shoulders and clear his head somewhat.

He could always dream right?

~~~*~~~

"Hinata- oneechan," an enthusiastic voice cried out from the walls of the Hyuuga compound, "you're home!"

Barely registering the voice, Hinata was not prepared for the little sister that propelled herself into her arms. Smiling despite herself, the older sister hugged the littlest Hyuuga after regaining her balance and before lowering her to the ground.

"Hello to you too Hanabi-chan," Hinata started walking alongside her sister as she entered the compound feeling happier then she had in a long time, "And how have you been?"

"I've been good, missed you though. You're home for dinner right?"

The Hyuuga smiled again at her sister and nodded, "Hai, I'm home tonight, I don't have another mission yet, though Hokage-sama did congratulate me."

The smile faded imperceptible from Hinata's face when she thought of all that had gone on in Tsunade's room but was pulled out of her reverie quickly by the bundle of energy beside her who had not noticed the fading enthusiasm from her older sister.

"Tou-sama would like to see you before you get ready for dinner and Neji-san has been pretty restless waiting for you, but uh, I didn't tell you that," the small Hyuuga giggled into her hand but stopped abruptly when a shadow fell over both of them.

Looking up the younger sister immediately dropped her gaze to the floor while the older one just barely managed to raise her head when they saw their father's form in front of them.

"Hanabi, shouldn't you be training?"

"Hai, yes Otou-sama, I was just heading there."

"Hm."

Hinata watched as her sister walked away sedately and tried not to let her face show how sad she felt that her sister's exuberance was muffled so keenly in the vicinity of their father. Not that she could talk, even now it went against everything in the Hyuuga to not take a step back and bow at his feet as he stood there, so regal and commanding.

It had been a long fight within herself to start looking her father in the eye when he talked to her but she had finally gotten there. Day after day when she woke up, she reminded herself that she was something better and could become something stronger with discipline and time and she had eventually proven herself right.

Daily ninjutsu practice sessions with her cousin, weekly genjutsu sessions with Kurenai and sparring sessions whenever her team could fit them in had all moulded her into the woman that she was today. She knew that she wasn't at her ultimate level but she was slowly getting there and she liked to think that her father saw that in her.

But she was never sure just what her father thought. She would never be able to comprehend the enigma that was her father, so really, was it any surprise that she couldn't understand Kakashi either?

"Hinata," his voice sifted into the cracks of Hinata's posture and she felt herself slowly bend in the gaze of her father, "I wish to speak with you now."

It wasn't a question, it was never a question.

"Hai Otou-sama," she replied, willing a rod of steel into her spine as she followed his figure down the hallway. He stepped into his private chambers and she followed him in, not liking what was happening.

She had never been allowed into his private rooms before; that she was now, was frightening and unusual. Something wasn't right, something was happening.

What if he knew?

"Hinata, sit down."

Not seeing any cushions of chairs, the Hyuuga heir sat on one of the tatami mats that covered the floor, her insides rolling around while she sat perfectly still pondering on her options as a spoilt woman.

"You are no doubt wondering why you are here."

Hinata barely nodded and her father didn't even twitch as he continued on, his face impassive and showing no clear indication of where this conversation was headed.

"You are my heir," the word 'unfortunately' was not said but was audibly left off, "and as such, you need to become worthy of being so."

Here he paused and Hinata sensed a person at the door and then heard a tentative knock. Without waiting for an answer, the servant slid the door open whilst on bended knees, eyes down, mark showing, and slid the tray with tea and honey bread towards the two main branch Hyuuga before sliding the door closed and walking away.

Seeing the invisible demand, Hinata stood up and picked up the tray, praying that her hands would remain steady despite the fear that had settled in her heart. Bringing it to the side of her father she prepared the tea as noiselessly and properly as she could. It had been drilled into her at a young age and because of that her mind had far too much time to roam around and create horrible images of her receiving the mark, being thrown out of the compound or having to commit something as horrible as seppuku.

Completing the task, she passed the tea to her father and waited for him to taste and approve before sitting herself opposite him with a cup for herself with his permission.

"You always do make the best tea."

Hinata was visibly taken aback before carefully concealing her surprise in front of the leader of her clan. Hiashi had never given her such blatant praise before. He was not a cruel man and he did point out when she had improved but to say that she was good at something, well, that went beyond what the shy Hyuuga was capable of taking in at that moment. The praise that she did get always came with a 'but' or was more of a business remark of what she did for the Hyuuga name. This comment was like nothing she had ever heard before.

Stowing that piece of praise away to take out some other time when she had the leisure to examine it in all of its wonderful detail, she turned herself to the conversation taking place at this moment in time.

This conversation had started to take a turn that she was not expecting. Praise before death? That wasn't her father's style.

"You have become an asset to Konoha Hinata, and, make no mistake, you are a good kunoichi. You were even picked to be Hatake-san's teammate on your last mission," Hinata nodded, noticing the difference in the way he complimented her, this was all business, "but you need to become even better to be a worthy leader of the Hyuuga clan."

Ah, there it was, after everything, she still wasn't good enough.

She couldn't say that she was surprised, but still, a little disappointed.

"So I've decided to take things into my own hands, I'm growing older by the day and I need to know that the Hyuuga have an adequate replacement when I die."

Placing his tea by his side, Hiashi started to visibly become eager, "I've procured a tutor for you. Someone who I hope will bring out the talent that has already started to emerge in you."

The young woman stopped herself from speaking out of turn and tried to stop herself from feeling angry at the thought that her own practicing and the sessions with Neji, Kurenai and her team were not enough for her father. She had worked so hard to be where she was and now her father was saying that it wasn't up to his standard.

Biting back an irritated sigh, the young Hyuuga watched her father and listened as he started up again.

His hand raised up and he signalled someone from behind her, "Come in, I need to introduce you," Looking back from over her shoulder, Hiashi looked at his daughter with a touch of a smile on his face, obviously pleased with the way things were going and absolutely oblivious to the seething woman inside, "Hinata I'd like you to meet your new tutor."

Finally having permission to look behind her, Hinata turned around to see who would be her new sensei with a blank face, carefully concealing her emotions.

"Shiranui Genma."

~~~*~~~

Kakashi was walking around in his apartment for a time extremely annoyed with himself. His shower hadn't worked at all, the tension still knotted in his back and neck and every movement had become not only irritable but also almost unworkable.

Cursing under his breath he looked to his coffee table where he had thrown his latest Icha Icha book in disgust. He had thought that this, his constant companion, his trademark accessory, his staple piece of release would have worked if nothing else but of course it hadn't. Every page, where before was a tale that he could be immersed in, a perverted story where he could be the voyeur had turned ever so horribly towards himself and her. Every love struck word, every caress, every kiss, every touch was no longer between two fictional characters but was between Hinata and him.

When he had realised what was going on he had thrown it aside, bemoaning the fact that he couldn't get away from what was happening.

Looking outside, he realised that the hours had passed quicker than he had first thought. Looking around his room he picked up his clothes and got dressed again deciding that he was in need of some serious counselling and realising that there was only one person he could turn to.

He needed to consult someone that was on his team.

Dressed and sitting on his windowsill he quickly looked over his apartment, making sure everything was fine as he leapt out, closing the window behind him.

He intended to be able to read that damned book upon his return.

~~~*~~~

The day was just starting to fade when Naruto and his friend and teammate, Sakura, walked towards Ichiraku for dinner. They were both rounding a corner when a raised voice stopped them in their tracks.

"What?!"

"Hey, hey, not so loud!"

Eager to know what was happening, Naruto put an arm in front of Sakura, stopping her from walking around the bend, and put a finger to his own lips which were slowly lifting in a sly smile in response to her hesitated look.

"Wait wait just...wait a moment, you ran away?"

"No, of course I didn't."

"Well, you did..."

"No, well-"

The two voices started to sound familiar and the blonde shinobi slowly put his arm down when he realised that his friend wasn't going to walk any further. They were both very interested in knowing what exactly Kakashi was running away from and why.

"You, a grown man, ran away from a young girl who you may or may not be experiencing feelings for."

The pink haired kunoichi raised her eyebrows and quickly put her hand over the blue eyed young man beside her, cutting off any shout of surprise that might have come out of his mouth. The young woman was close to smacking a hand over her own mouth.

Kakashi?

In love?

This was something that they both had to know.

"Hey now, I wanted you to help me not accuse me."

"Come on Kakashi, did you really expect me to say that you were right to run away. I mean, if you're not explaining it properly I need to know."

"Well, I-"

"Did you or did you not come to an awkward realisation just a few hours ago."

"Yes, but I –"

"Did you or did you not leave a young girl without explanation, alone, angry and really confused?"

"She's not what I would call a young gir-"

"And did you or did you not run away from her?"

There was silence for a moment and the kunoichi tightened her hand over the blonde's mouth as she tried to stop herself from leaning forward. Naruto looked up to his friend whose eyes were wide and whose lips were spread in a huge grin.

This was fantastic! Any moment now, the other voice – which Sakura had realised belonged to Iruka – was going to spill the name of the woman that Kakashi was enamoured with. This was the biggest piece of news she'd ever come across and she was not going to miss it.

The two imperceptibly inched forward, trying to get some kind of glimpse of the two older men that were completely engrossed in their conversation. As their heads bent around the wall they were hiding behind, they saw the two shinobi, one pacing in front of the other, silver head down, while the other leant against the brick wall, leg up and a smirk gracing his face.

"But she, well, I'm not sure," the grey haired jounin put his hand to his hair, "Kami Iruka! I completely stuffed up!"

Kakashi stopped in his tracks when he yelled this out, clearly exasperated with himself, and the two chuunin jumped back behind the wall when his head shot up. They waited a moment and then looked back around, more curious than ever, when they heard a dull knocking sound.

As their heads came around again they saw Iruka shaking his head as his friend stood against the wall with one hand holding his weight as he smacked his head rhythmically against the brick wall. Sighing, the older chuunin brought his hand up and gripped Kakashi's shoulder – stilling his movement.

"You know what you have to do Kakashi, you're going to have to apologise."

'Come on,' urged Naruto in his mind as he peered out at his two sensei's, 'Give us a name!'

Kakashi dropped his shoulders and turned around to sag his whole body against the wall, "But Iruka," he started, his voice tinged with sadness and regret, "We slept together and then it all went to hell. I've said and done such mindless and stupid things. I mean," It was here that Kakashi took up his pacing once more as his two students watched in fascination, "What can I say to her to make up for all of that?" His visible eye pleaded with his friend as he stopped in front of him, "Can anything happen between us?"

Iruka pushed himself away from the wall, "Kakashi," he said, shaking his head, "Isn't it too late? Haven't 'things' already happened between you two?"

The jounin hung his head and nodded slightly. His two students hidden around the corner were starting to get restless with crouching so long and with heads bent around the brick. Sakura looked down at Naruto whose whiskers seemed to almost twitch, he was completely involved in this conversation. The kunoichi had a hard time believing it all but couldn't argue with what she was hearing.

Who was the girl?

Her attention went back to Iruka as he started to speak up again, "Kakashi, do you love her?"

Complete silence reigned and the pink haired kunoichi and her blue eyed friend tried to stifle their breathing lest it give their presence away.

The renowned Copy-Nin had completely stopped all movement; his hair was standing up at odd angles and his hands were still by his side, his head was up but his eye seemed to follow movement of something invisible.

His chest rose and dropped harshly in contrast to the complete stillness of the rest of his body and he opened his mouth before shutting it closed again. Several times he went to say something, to answer his friend but each time he couldn't raise the courage to answer. Yes or no, it seemed so simple to say but his brain just couldn't formulate the right molecules to let the words out.

"It's, it's not that easy Iruka."

The scarred shinobi walked up to his friend and put his hand on Kakashi's back putting his head down to his.

"Do you love Hinata or not?"

Sakura gasped and Naruto lost his footing as his teammate accidentally slapped him on the back. Falling out into the alley the blonde haired shinobi shook his head and groaned as he moved off a rock that had lodged itself into his back. Completely forgetting about the two older men who were looking at him in utter bewilderment and growing anger, the young man stood up, rubbing his back side while looking at his teammate who was still behind the wall slapping her head with her palm, "Oi Sakura-chan, why did you push me?"

"Naruto?"

The blonde shinobi turned slowly to face his two sensei's angered expressions realising, much too late, at what had happened.

"Oh shit," was the only thing he could say.

Kakashi ran a hand through his hair while Iruka put both hands on his hips, staring hard at the young man, "Did you hear everything that we were saying?"

"Well..." started the Jinchuuriki whilst looking at his teammate who had finally come out from behind the wall, "I heard something about Kakashi-sensei sleeping with Hinata-chan and an awful lot about how Kakashi-sensei is an idiot. And by the way," the blonde got up and pointed a finger at his sensei, "what's the deal doing that to Hinata-chan, she's one of my friends! If you hurt her, sensei or no I won't stand for that!"

Sakura put a hand on Naruto's shoulder, stopping his tirade, "Naruto, I think Kakashi-sensei is feeling bad enough already."

While the pink haired kunoichi tried to settle her friend down the jounin turned to his friend in resignation, "He heard everything," turning back to Naruto he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Naruto," he started, trying to get across his desperation as the shinobi turned to face him, "you can not tell anyone about this. You too Sakura. Not so much for me but for Hyuuga-san who is in a delicate situation because of me."

Both shinobi nodded their heads in understanding.

"So," Sakura held her hands behind her back as she stepped forward towards her old sensei, "what are you going to do now?"

"Well uh," Kakashi grimaced, trying to think of something, "I have no idea. What do you think I should do?"

"Flowers."

"Really? Flowers? That's it?"

Kakashi could not believe that an apology could be so simple. Didn't there have to be fanfares and wild proclamations of the deepest, heartfelt statements of apology? Weren't flowers a little...simple?

"Sure, every girl likes flowers. Go to Ino's shop, she'll give you a nice bouquet."

Sakura's mind was working a million miles an hour as she put forward this idea to the silver haired shinobi, knowing he would take it. Things needed to be put into action if she was going to help her sensei. All thoughts of dinner had been replaced with plans to get the two shinobi together. She didn't know the whole story, and it seemed like there was a lot to it and she knew that she'd have to get Hinata's side to it, but it seemed like this was the perfect chance to play cupid.

"Well, Naruto and I have to get going Kakashi-sensei," said Sakura as she dragged a complaining Naruto by the scruff of his shirt, "but you should definitely get those flowers for Hinata-chan, she'd love them. And all you have to say is 'sorry'. Though you really should try and sort out what you really feel."

Kakashi, a little unbalanced, not used to taking advice from his students, merely nodded before turning his back to them and walking back home while a grinning Iruka started off after him.

The kunoichi dragged her teammate all the way to Ichiraku's and plopped him down on one of the seats before taking a place beside him.

"Sakura-chan can you believe that! I don't know what to think about it. I mean it's Kakashi...and Hinata, what if she's hurt? She's my friend but he's my sensei and-"

His teammate cut him off with a look.

"Naruto, we have work to do."

A/N: Yay! Another chapter out! So Genma hey? Hehehehe, let's see how this turns out.

Also, I don't like turning the easily-evil characters evil and I've read sooo many fics where Hanabi and Hiashi are complete bastards so I decided to give them a bit of a break.

Also Also, I thought I should apologise for the OOC-ness of Kakashi. I kind of didn't want to put it in but it needed it with what I want to do in the future with this fic and I kind of rationalised it by thinking that Kakashi is going through something he never has before. For once he's not in control of everything and he doesn't know what's going on. I'm sure he'd be freaking out a little and not acting like himself.

But he will calm down in the next chapter. Which will lead to more complications...he needed this time to vent to his friend but he'll be going back to the Kakashi we know and love very soon. So stay with me, this has turned out to be a bumpy ride and I beg of you to bear with me.

Yours,

Jaggarte x