Kakashi and I are going on a date.

A date... What are we going to do?

I don't know whether I should be happy about this or not. But, regardless of the confusion in my head, my heart continues pounding with excitement. I press on my cheeks in an effort to stop myself from smiling like an idiot, and wait for Kakashi. A big SUV pulls up in front of me. The passenger side window rolls down.

"Hey," Kakashi says.

"Hatake!" I say.

"Get in."

"Okay..."

Excited, I get into the car.

"Is this your car?" I ask Kakashi.

"Yep," he replies, "Did you think this was one of the unmarked police cars?"

"No way. I just... I expected you to drive a luxury car or a sports car or something..."

"I like big, comfortable cars."

"You should get one of those dekotora 18-wheelers with lots of lights!"

"Hey. Don't assume I'm into all that flashy street stuff just because of the motorcycle thing."

"Yes, Sir, Boss, Sir!"

"Cause I'm not, ya' know!"

We joke around, and i fasten my seat belt.

"Okay," Kakashi says.

"Hm?"

"So... Where do people go on these 'date' things?" he asks.

"Um... Out to eat, or for a drive, or to an amusement park. Stuff like that, I guess," I reply.

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"Let's go," Kakashi says.

"Go? Go where?" I ask.

"Everywhere. We're gonna do all of the stuff you just said," he replies.

"All of it!?" I exclaim.

A few hours later...

"That was so good!" I say.

"You can really eat, huh?" he asks.

"S-sorry," I apologize.

"Don't apologize. It was fun eating with you."

"Huh?"

"We should go out to eat together again some time," he says with an eye crinkle smile.

I look down at the ground, "O-okay..."

I'm embarrassed and happy all at once...

"Oh. Rainbow Bridge," Kakashi points out to.

"Wow. It looks so pretty, the way they have it all lit up," I say.

"Date-appropriate scenery, right?"

"What?"

"I mean, because, we're on a date, right?" he asks.

"Y-yeah, a date..." I reply.

He's dropping the word "date" like it's nothing! Isn't he embarrassed at all?

After driving for awhile, we approach an amusement park. I hear it's lively sounds, and automatically turn my head to look at the park.

I haven't been to an amusement park in forever...

"I haven't been to an amusement park since I was in college," Kakashi says.

"I was just thinking about the exact same thing!" I exclaim.

"Alright then, it's decided."

Kakashi puts on his blinker and turns towards the amusement park.

"Coming here reminds me of that rumor about Sakai..." Kakashi suddenly remembers about.

"What rumor?" I ask.

"It's just a stupid story. Some cop came to this amusement park on a date, and saw a man who looked just like Sakai. Before you know it, the whole MPD was talking about Sakai's supposed 'secret love-child.'"

"What? Why!?"

"According to that cop, the person who looked like Sakai was acting all stealthy. Like he was trying not to attract attention. But Sakai's too old to take a mistress to an amusement park, and there's no way he would come here by himself... Anyway, that was the rumor."

"And everyone thought he had a 'love-child' based on that?"

"Yeah, well that park probably had something to do with the fact that the rumor started just after Sakai's wife left him. Everyone was saying hat his wife must've left when she found out about his illegitimate child."

"Was that really what happened?" I ask.

"No. It was a simple case of mistaken identity." he replies, "Sakai was Chief of the Detective Bureau then. He didn't have time to be playing around like that."

"I kind of feel bad for him..." I confess.

Kakashi shakes his head in disappointment, "Yeah... He's done bad things in the past, but regardless of that, that rumor was unfair."

We pull into the amusement park's parking lot.

"We're here!" Kakashi says.

"Yay! The rollercoaster here is supposed to have the steepest drop in Japan! I've been wanting to ride it forever!" I say cheerfully.

"Oh..."

Kakashi looks a little nervous.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Kakashi's face is expressionless as he avoids my gaze, "It's nothing..."

The rollercoaster makes its way up the first hill to its starting point. I haven't ridden a rollercoaster in a long time.

"This is so exciting!" I say happily.

"Yeah..."

Kakashi sounds less than enthusiastic.

"Hatake, you aren't... scared, are you?" I ask.

"Scared? No..."

"Are you sure? You're acting weird..."

"I guess I'm a little off..." he says.

"Put your hands up in the air when we get to the top, okay?"

"Aren't you scared, Haruno?"

"No way, I love rollercoasters!"

"Good man."

"I told you. I'm a girl, don't call me 'good man'!" I protest, "Hatake! We're at the top! Get ready!" I yell at him.

I throw my hands up in the air.

I scream at the top of my lungs, thoroughly enjoying myself, "Aaaahhh!"

Kakashi's face is bright red, "Don't laugh."

"I... I can't help it..." I say between catching my breath from laughing so hard.

I look at the picture of us on the rollercoaster. I'm smiling from ear to ear with my arms straight up in the air. Kakashi sits next to me, hunched over, gripping the bar in desperation. He looks terrified.

"H-Hatake... This is so... cute!"

"C-cute!?" Kakashi exclaims,"Don't be stupid!"

"Somebody sounds a little sensitive..."

"Sensitive? N-no way! Time for the next ride, let's go!" he says quickly and starts walking off.

I follow after him, "Where are we going on next?"

"Splash! You can't go to an amusement park without riding that!"

"But there's a little bit of a drop at the end of Splash, too. Are you going to be okay?" I ask.

"I should be able to deal if I brace myself," he replies.

"If you brace yourself, huh..." I say thoughtfully.

"I-I mean... Of course! I'll be fine!" he says flustered.

He looks so cute, flustered and stumbling over his words. I can't help, but laugh again.

"Look, churros!" Kakashi says.

"Ooh! I want one! The best flavor is definitely..."

"Kinako!" we both name the same flavor at the same time.

"What?! Nobody ever likes kinako!" I say surprised.

"Yeah, I thought so too. I'm surprised."

"Do you dip it in brown sugar syrup?" I ask.

"Um. Of course! You?"

"Of course!"

I feel like we're bonding. The idea of Kakashi and I growing closer makes me feel a little giddy. We buy our kinako churro, and, standing side by side, dig in.

"This is..." I start saying.

"Hm?" Kakashi asks.

"You, standing in an amusement park, with a churro in your hand, and the fact that you're scared of roller coasters..." I can't help but laugh, "It's hilarious to see you like this," I finish my sentence.

"Hey, now... I'm the boss here. Quit making fun of me!"

"Eeek! I'm soo sorry!"

Kakashi's face is bright red. He shakes his fist at me in fake admonishment. I think he's going to pat me on the head, but her reaches out and tousles my hair until it's all messed up.

"Aaah! Hey! What are you doing!?" I exclaim.

"Haha... Looks like you're finally feeling better."

"Uh..."

Kakashi smiles at me kindly before leisurely walking off, "Can we take a break for a minute before we ride Splash?"

"Sure."

Cigarette in hand, Kakashi heads for the smoking area. I watch Kakashi. He stands a little away from me to light his cigarette, never taking off his mask. And then I realize... Kakashi hasn't brought up the case once since we got here.

He's doing this for me...

I fell guilty, but thankful... I'm filled with a strange, bittersweet feeling that I've never experienced before. He handles his lighter with a bearing that speaks of experience and confidence. I can't take my eyes off of his hands.

He was acting so cute just a minute ago...

I feel my heart start to beat faster. I realize I'm staring, and hurry to avert my gaze somewhere else that isn't on him.

Kakashi is my boss...

I repeat to myself as a reminder.

A few minutes later...

"I'm soaked!" Kakashi says excitedly, and casually offers me his hand to help me down off of Splash.

I take his hand and step out of my seat, "T-thank you."

"This is a date. It's okay if we keep holding hands," Kakashi says casually.

"Um..."

We walk hand in hand.

This feels just like a real date...

Without thinking, I squeeze Kakashi's hand a little tighter.

"Sorry you're stuck with me," Kakashi says.

I give him a confused expression, "Huh?"

Kakashi laughs bitterly,"I'm sorry you're not here with your boyfriend."

"I told you, I don't have a boyfriend."

"Haha. So, what kind of guys do you like?" he asks.

"What... kind? Guys that are mature, sweet, masculine, reliable... That kind of person."

"Oh? Sounds like I'm your type!"

I can't believe he just said that.

I don't reply to his statement.

"Hey. What are you spacing out for? You'd better wake up or I'm gonna mess up your hair again!" Kakashi threatens me teasingly.

"You MUST be playin'!" I say.

"Now you're talking like Shikamaru too."

"What can I say? It's contagious."

Kakashi laughs, "That's true."

"Anyway, how about you, Hatake?"

"How about what?" he asks.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I ask.

"Nope. Girls don't like me all that much," he replies.

"Is it that you... don't want a girlfriend?"

"It's not that I don't want one... It's just that I don't want a girlfriend badly enough to go looking for one."

He's so passive. I expected him to be more aggressive.

I go for it and ask him straight out, "So what kind of girls do you like?"

Kakashi thinks for a moment, "Someone strong and responsible with a sense of justice. And lots of energy."

"That sounds like you!"

"Gross! Are you trying to say I'm in love with myself?"

I start laughing. I wanted to say, "That sounds like me!" But I lost my nerve at the last second.

"Alright. On to the haunted house!" Kakashi says.

I look at the ground nervously, "Uh..."

"What is it?" he asks.

"G-g-great! A haunted house!" I stammer.

"You aren't scared, are you? You look like you're panicking," Kakashi says with an eye crinkle smile.

"No, I'm not scared! Ghosts aren't scary! But when you go to a haunted house, people and things are always popping out at you unexpectedly. I don't like that..." I confess.

"In other words... you're scared." Kakashi says with an amused expression.

"N-no! I just get surprised, like if somebody jumped out from the shadows, and yelled,'Boo!' at you when you were coming out of the bathroom..."

"Got it. Got it," Kakashi says sarcastically.

It doesn't seem like he believes me at all. He continues to hold my hand as we walk to the haunted house.

"A-are we really going?" I ask.

"Of course. We're at an amusement park. We can't go home without going to the haunted house, " he replies.

"Really? I wasn't sure under the impression that going to a haunted house was quite that essential..."

"I hate haunted house. When something really shocks me, I'm paralyzed in fear. Plus, my screams aren't cute and girly at all. I scream like someone's actually trying to murder me. If I remember correctly, when I was in college, I even went so far as to judo-throw a guy dressed up as a ghost...

"It's okay. I'm telling you, it won't be a big of a deal," Kakashi says reassuringly.

"Really?"

"Probably."

I don't respond back.

"Oh, there it is," Kakashi points to the haunted house.

I want to run away. But, I can't do that to Kakashi. He was scared, but he rode the rollercoaster with me without a single complaint.

"Alright! You ready?" Kakashi asks.

"Yeah..." I reply unconfidently.

He's holding my hand; so I'll just keep my eyes closed the whole time.

*ring* *ring*

I hear an electronic ringing sound coming from Kakashi's pocket.

Kakashi checks who's calling him, "It's Sai."

After checking the caller ID, Kakashi quickly answers the phone.

"Hatake here. What's going on?" Kakashi says.

Suddenly, his face turns serious, "What?! Today? Okay... Where?"

What?

"Huh!?" Kakashi says shocked.

Kakashi sounds like he's been caught off-guard.

"No... No, nothing. I'm near that location now. Let's meet up. Haruno? It's okay, I"ll get in touch with her," Kakashi says.

What happened?

Kakashi gets off the phone. Uneasy, he looks at me.

"We've got some work to do, Haruno," he says in a tone that means it's business-time.

"It sounds that way. What happened?" I ask.

"We got a tip-off about a dirty cop in the MPD. He's supposed to be meeting with a drug ring," Kakashi explains.

"Today?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Here."

"Huh?"

"Today, starting now, here."

"Are you serious?" I ask still in disbelief.

"Yeah, here, at this amusement park," he replies.

"What!?" I exclaim in surprise.

"We're meeting up with Sai and Shikamaru behind the main ticket gates. You should go wait for them there.," Kakashi says.

Is this for real!? This is the kind of stuff that happens in movies!

I nod my head, all the while thinking about what an unbelievable situation this is.