I headed upstairs and into my room. If anything, I needed to redecorate it in the near future. Maybe I would just relocate. New chapter of my life, I guess I'll move to a new room. The next morning, Itachi and I were off early in the morning, about six. It wouldn't take long to get to the Cloud, but we did want to get there by our agreed time, so I shimmered us about half way there. I straightened and dusted off my cloak, and unfortunately had to place the hat on my head. Why I hated the hat so much I really couldn't remember, but I didn't feel right with it on. We made our way deep into the heart of the city, with guards of course. Though I had not directly set up this meeting, I knew that he would probably be surprised to see me after such a long time. After climbing the rather large staircase in the front of the main building, they opened the massive doors revealing a quaint hallway, decorated with nearly nothing.

"Well if it's not Mariah Namikaze, long time no see. Welcome!", he said coming up and hugged me a little too much before letting go minutes later, "I haven't seen you since you were a youngster, now look at you"

"It has been a while, I meant to stop by earlier, but…you know, ninja things"

"Enough said, let's continue our conversation in my office, shall we?"

His office was nothing special, a desk, couch, chairs, nothing seemingly out of the ordinary. Not that I was expecting anything. He had even sent his guards outside the door, he must've really trusted me.

"So what do I owe this meeting?"

"What do you mean? As a newly elected Hokage I am to meet with each of the Leaf's allies"

"Hahaha that's right, you're old chancellors made you come!"

"Yes, so I guess we should get this meeting along, I don't really trust who I left in charge of the village"

"No problem! We'll get through what we have to, then I'll treat you to a feast"

"A feast? I don't know about that, but I guess we have to get the boring done first before we move to anything else. Would you like to read through the folder I brought with me?"

After what felt like hours of talking about nothing that was particularly new to me, I had already studied through the policies of each ally that I was to visit, we were finally done. I passed on the feast and decided to simply get back home. I would probably want to get back as fast as I could so that I'll beat Team Kakashi home. It had been about a week since I sent them off, they would be back soon.

"What might the Hokage's plans be when she gets back?"

"I am going to finish my evaluation papers, preassign tomorrow's missions, read over the analysis papers from missions today. It's going to be a late night"

"Or I was thinking, you let me take you out to dinner and we go out tonight"

"You know how busy I am, I can't possibly do that"

"We haven't gone out just us in a while"

"And you know how behind I would be because of that"

"I'm not taking no for an answer"

"Itachi really no"

"I'm going to make you take a break whether you want me to or not"

"You can't just order around the Hokage like that, considering you're just a Jounin"

"Yes but I'm no ordinary Jounin, now I am, I'm the one that stole your heart"

"Your attempted argument isn't working, and you shouldn't be so sure of that last part you said", I said teasingly, wanting to see his reaction.

"Well point me in the right direction, I'll teach them not to mess with us"

"Of course you would try, but in all seriousness, you do realize how far behind I would get?"

"Yes, but who cares"

"If I happen to say yes, you have to do all of my work tomorrow"

"Deal, so dinner at your place then moonlight walk-"

"My place? I'm fairly certain you live there too and I do not really feel like cooking"

"Fine, but I'm treating"

"As if I had anything else in my mind"

'Let me think, where would the best place to go be..."

"Nothing coming to mind"

"Nope, not a thing, I don't know what you would want"

"You're right, I'm fairly picky"

"Oh I have a great idea"

"Oh?"

"Dango?"

"Nope"

"Tempura?"

"No"

"Bean soup?"

"Don't think so"

"Hm, what else is there in the village to eat...I wonder"

"There is a little place I've heard of"

"Where is it?"

"Off the main street, I think they serve ramen there"

"Hm ramen..."

"C'mon, I'm done playing around, let's go"

Ichiraku ramen was one of my favorite places to go and a usual date locale for us. We sat together on the far side from the door. I would normally finish first, if we simply ate when we were there. I was picking out one of my last bites, holding it in the air right under my lips, when he nabbed it, taking the whole thing with his tongue.

"Oh did you want that? You were taking too long to eat it so I presumed you were done"

"Really? Is that a fact? Well then I presume you're done"

I used my chopsticks to gather the rest of his bowl into mine and fitting the whole thing in my mouth.

"Mm wasn't that good?"

"I don't know, let me check", he said, pushing his lips against mine, his tongue roaming freely over mine. I ran my fingers down his hair as he moved closer and closer, nearly off of his chair.

He broke away for a moment, "That was pretty good, but I believe it is time for us to head out", again grabbing my hand, leading me back outside towards the nearby lake. It was the lake that feeds the river which snakes its way througout the entire village. It was a seamless blue with the moonlight sparkling on its surface. We were at the end of the dock, my feet barely touching the water.

"I can't believe all that's happened recently"

"You mean how you are now living out your dreams?"

"You know that's not true, I gave up being the Hokage when I was little"

"Then what happened"

"I guess I realized...there's nothing else I would rather do than work and sacrifice for the village. Being the protector of a place like this, it's unmatched"

"I'm glad you are enjoying yourself"

"You're saying that with remorse aren't you?"

"No, I just wish that we could spend more time together"

"Itachi...I send you on missions for your own benefit, and I can't help that I'm busy"

"I know, that's why I enjoy times like this, don't you?"

He brushed over my lips before kissing my neck. He gradually moved his way up, meeting my lips with his, as our hands and lips acted of their own accord. I let my fingers run down his chest, making his advances more urgent as he pulled us closer together, but we broke apart, still intertwined with our hands. He gently kissed my forehead and continued to move his fingers through my hair.

"I hope we can always be like this"