A/N: I think you're going to like this chapter. ^^ Enjoy!

Oh, but first: yay, my first song recommendation! While rewriting parts of this chapter, I was listening "Love Is The End" by Keane. The slow, relaxed rythm and beautiful melody and lyrics compliment the atmosphere in this chapter. :3

So! "Love Is The End" by Keane. You can look it up on YouTube and play it on the background if you like. ^^

Kakashi was working on his mission report when he heard a gentle knock on his door.

He opened up. "Huh? Kaede? Weren't you with Naruto and Sakura?"

Kaede's eyes were wide with horror.

"What happened?" asked Kakashi.

"Why didn't you tell me Naruto is a Jinchuuriki?" asked Kaede, sounding somewhat exhausted.

Oh, crap. Don't tell me Naruto went Kyuubi in front of you. "Ah, about that…" said Kakashi nervously. "Why don't you come in? Then I'll explain—"

"Everything?" finished Kaede. "Could you please tell me all the things I need to know about, Kakashi? Because I keep getting surprised and I'm getting tired of it."

Kakashi exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry. Come on in." He moved aside to let her in. Kaede watched him as she entered the apartment. He closed the door without making a sound and led her toward the couch. "Here, sit down. Are you ok?"

"Just a bit short on answers," she snapped. "Tell me everything."

Kakashi made a gesture toward the couch and Kaede sat down.

"I'll make you some tea," said Kakashi. "And then I'll tell you everything."

Carefully telling her everything, Kakashi secretly wished he didn't have to be the one to tell her all this. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her feelings. She already had so much bad news to take.

"Father wouldn't…" she muttered. She looked pale. She grabbed her head with both hands, trembling. "I can't believe it…" she whispered. "Why would Father…"

"I know all this must difficult for you," said Kakashi. "I don't understand either. But I do know this: your father never did anything without a reason. I think he did it because he had faith in his son. He knew he would be strong enough to wield such great power inside his body."

"But… Naruto was only…" muttered Kaede.

"One of the seals that kept the Kyuubi locked inside Naruto's body, was removed about three years ago," continued Kakashi. "Because it was blocking most of Naruto's own chakra, too. But sometimes the chakra of the Kyuubi leaks out and takes control of his body. That's why we have Yamato to guard him while he's training. Only he can use the technique that can turn Naruto back to normal."

"I see…" whispered Kaede.

"I didn't want you to find out so soon," said Kakashi. "I wanted you to get used to the fact that you have a brother and your parents are…"

Kaede looked at him. She looked exhausted. "I know," she said.

"Let me get you some more tea," he said.

At least now she knows everything she has to know, he thought as he turned to the kitchen counter. It's for the better. I'll just try and help her get through this. But then the thought of Kaede's strange behaviour out in the training fields crossed his mind again. If it actually were a personality shift, he would be responsible for it. Careful not to let it show, he cursed himself for letting her go all those years ago.

He heard a movement behind him, but didn't turn around. He heard soft footsteps walk towards the window.

He poured in the green tea and turned to her. He was surprised to see what she was looking at.

It was a photograph he'd recently found in a box full of old stuff. The toddler Kaede's bright smile was always the first thing he noticed when looking at that picture. A thirteen-year-old version of himself was carrying the tot on his shoulders, a genuine smile marking his features, even behind the mask. The little Kaede beamed, waving enthusiastically to the camera as her short blonde twin tails danced in the movement.

That was not too long before Obito died, he mused.

Kakashi put the cup of tea on the counter and stepped soundlessly behind her, taking a better look at the picture.

"You were three years old back then," he said softly. Kaede flinched, but recovered the next second.

"I can't believe you still have this," she whispered.

"Of course," said Kakashi, fighting the sudden strong urge to lay his hands on her shoulders. "I couldn't just throw it away, no matter how guilty I felt when looking at it."

Kaede turned around, locking his gaze into her own. For a moment, he felt hypnotized by her ocean blue eyes, marked with a few green spots.

"It's weird," she said. "This photo is exactly how I remembered you. You've changed a lot."

"And yet I still tower over you," teased Kakashi.

Kaede gave a short, startled chuckle.

"You've changed even more," said Kakashi seriously.

Kaede blushed and looked at the picture again.

She put it back on the desk and stared at the floor, probably trying to avoid eye contact.

Maybe I shouldn't have said that, he thought. But he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Before he even knew, his hands went automatically towards her cheeks, making her look up. She looked a little scared, but didn't move.

"What are you… doing?" asked Kaede slowly. She sounded so distracted.

"I'd never thought we'd ever be like this," said Kakashi. It was like he was losing control over his own words and actions. But it somehow felt right.

"Like… what?" asked Kaede.

"Standing here like this…" said Kakashi.

Kaede's face flushed even more red, but she remained silent.

"To think I used to hold you in my arms when you were a baby," he whispered. "And now I want to…"

One hand went to his mask, again on its own. Kakashi started slowly pulling down the mask.

"Kakashi…?" asked Kaede. This time, her voice sounded somewhat alarmed.

The mask had reached his chin. He pulled it down completely and waited for just a few seconds. That was enough to see her reaction. From the look on her face, she didn't seem displeased with what she saw at all. She seemed rather… fascinated.

He managed to suppress a chuckle. He didn't use the word often, but right now, he couldn't describe her better than as… cute.

His hand went back to her cheek. He cradled her face in his hands as he slowly leaned in. She froze.

I must be crazy, he thought to himself. But she's not giving any sign of not wanting this…

Their lips almost met, but then for some reason, the picture Kaede was still holding flashed through his mind. A thirteen-year-old Kakashi… carrying a three-year-old Kaede on his shoulders.

He stopped moving when he could feel the warmth of her lips, not quite touching them. He drew back to see Kaede's face. At first, she still seemed a little hypnotized – probably lost in thoughts – but less than a second later, she looked somewhat scared.

She pushed herself away from him and said: "I'm 10 years younger than you!" She watched him with her eyes wide-open, taking a few steps back.

No, don't do that. Not again.

"I'm sorry," said Kakashi.

"Don't you do this to me, Kakashi," said Kaede softly. "Not you."

In spite of himself, Kakashi was starting to lose his patience. Why wouldn't she understand that he wouldn't do anything she didn't want him to do? And for that matter, did she really not want him to kiss her? Because if she didn't, why would she have allowed it to come so far? If he hadn't stopped himself, he was sure it would have happened.

"Kaede," he said more confidently. "I stopped. On my own. If you didn't want me to kiss you, then why didn't you do anything to stop me? I believe I've already told you dozens of times that I'd never do anything to hurt you. You still don't trust me?"

"Yes," replied Kaede. "Yes, I do, but… I mean, I…" She gave a desperate sigh. "I… I should go…"

She ran towards the door and tried to open it, but Kakashi had locked it when she'd come in. She turned around while still holding the door handle.

"Why did you lock it?" she asked nervously.

"Because we were talking about something important and I didn't want anybody to interrupt," said Kakashi.

"Please open it," said Kaede, sounding desperate now.

"In a minute," he said.

"What?" asked Kaede. "Kakashi, let me out!"

Kakashi took a few careful steps towards her. "Listen—"

"I'm serious, Kakashi," Kaede interrupted. "If you don't open this door right now, I'll scream."

"Kaede, we need to talk about this," said Kakashi calmly.

"About what?" asked Kaede. "We just almost made a mistake. Let's just… forget about it."

It was like his body got a mind of its own. Before he even realized what he was doing, he wrapped his arms around her, pressing her closely against him. Kaede froze, holding her breath. Still, his arms refused to let go of her.

"I realized it just now." He spoke, again, without knowing what he was doing.

"Realize what?" she asked carefully, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"I think I'm really…" whispered Kakashi while caressing her head, "… in love with you."

I can't believe I'd ever say something like this, he thought to himself.

Kaede jerked out of his arms and grabbed the door handle.

"Let me go," she begged him. Something like panic was rising in her voice.

"Kaede…" whispered Kakashi carefully.

"You don't mean this," said Kaede, much to Kakashi's surprise.

"What?" He gently grabbed her upper arm, turning her back to him, not too aggressively. He looked deeply into her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he asked: "You think I don't mean it?"

"You don't," said Kaede quietly. She didn't seem as scared as she did a moment ago, but she was watching him warily.

"And what makes you so certain?" asked Kakashi, feeling for a moment as though he was lecturing her.

"What makes you so certain?" retorted Kaede. Again, she managed to surprise Kakashi. It must be running in the family, he mused.

"This is wrong," said Kaede. "There's an age difference of ten years between us. You just said you used to hold me when I was a baby. You were already a Chuunin when I was born."

"I don't care about that," said Kakashi. Rather reluctantly, he reached for the key in his pocket. "But… if you truly believe that this is wrong…" He took the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. "… then you can leave now. I won't stop you. And I won't try anything like this again."

He waited. Waited for what Kaede was going to do now. She seemed to be hesitating as well. She looked at the door with a sort of longing. But then she looked at him, her eyes scanning his entire face. When she finally let go of the door handle and opened her mouth to speak, he knew for certain.

"For… for how long have you been…?" she asked carefully.

"I think…" said Kakashi quietly, "… about as long as you've been in love with me."

"W-what?" asked Kaede.

"Ever since you came back," explained Kakashi, "I knew you were different from everyone I know. Since you opened up to me, told me how you've struggled to keep on living. The night you fell ill when we were standing at the memorial stone. That was when I know: 'I won't let this girl – this woman – ever get away from me again. She belongs here. With me.' We've become more than just childhood friends over the past few days. And I know that deep down, you feel so, too."

The silence that followed lasted for minutes.

"Why are you so sure about this?" she asked.

Kakashi smiled. "Because if I were wrong," he whispered, "then you would've fled out of this room as soon as I'd unlocked the door."

Kaede stared at him with a mixture of realization and defeat.

A lot more confident of himself now, Kakashi reached up to her face. His fingertips brushed over the soft skin of her cheek, his thumb pressing lightly on her lips. Kaede didn't do anything to stop him. The look in her eyes told him that it was ok. She was nervous, he could tell. Then again, he was a little nervous, as well. His heart was racing in his chest.

Should I really…?

His other hand, which was still on her upper arm, slid up to the back of her neck. Kaede shivered, but then she leaned slightly into his hand on her cheek.

Now the hesitation was gone. Kakashi tilted his head down, his lips first carefully brushing hers before Kaede actually leaned in to kiss him. Surprise taking over for less than half a second, he kissed her back. Her lips, her face, her hair, everything was so soft.

He was even more surprised when he felt her arms wrap around his waist, holding him tightly, her hands clinging on to the upper back of his shirt. His hand let go of the side of her face, and landed on her back, drawing her even closer to him. Kaede's breathing was getting heavier and he could feel her heart pounding against his. Her chest was so soft against his.

The world around them seemed to disappear for a moment, as well as their history together and their age difference. It didn't matter. They belonged together.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he finally broke the kiss and looked at her.

"Are you ok?" he whispered.

"Y-yeah," said Kaede quietly, her face still flushed.

She leaned with her forehead on his chest. "What's going to happen from here?" she whispered. "We can't do this. I'm ten years—"

"—younger than me," finished Kakashi. "I know."

"I'm just saying… I'm not an adult yet…" said Kaede. "It's just strange… It's not like I haven't… done this… before." She shivered against him.

"Shh, it's ok," whispered Kakashi.

"What should we do?" asked Kaede.

Kakashi answered her question by kissing her again, only for a few seconds.

"Only if you want it, too," he whispered.

"I don't know, Kakashi," said Kaede. "I'm just a little confused right now."

"Alright," Kakashi said. He pulled his mask back up. "I won't touch you until you're sure about your own feelings." And about yourself altogether, he added mentally.

Kaede nodded slowly. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be," said Kakashi. "I can wait."

Kaede sighed one more time before she withdrew her arms and took a few small steps back.

"I, umm… should be getting back home," she said shyly.

Kakashi really didn't want her to leave, but he had just promised to wait for her. Then again, there was still his mission to keep a close eye on her. But how could he keep her here without having her suspect anything?

She was already opening the door; her movements slow, almost reluctant.

"Wait."

She turned her head to look at him. Now he had to think of something.

That was when an important thought struck him.

"What about Naruto?"

Kaede flinched lightly at his name. "I…" she started, but then she looked at the floor, puzzling. "I… don't know yet." She looked back at Kakashi. "I need to figure things out before I can give you an answer to that."

Kakashi nodded. "I understand that."

Kaede smiled vaguely. "Well then… I'll see you later." She stepped outside.

Kakashi leaned into the doorframe. "How about another training session tomorrow?" he asked.

"Aren't you busy?" she asked. "I mean, don't you have any missions to attend to?"

"Right now, you're my mission," answered Kakashi.

"But—"

"No buts. Tomorrow morning. Or do you have to work in the morning?"

"Err, no. No, work starts at 1 pm."

"8 am it is. I promise I'll be on time."

Kaede laughed. "Don't make any promises you can't keep. I'll see you tomorrow then."

Kakashi nodded. "See ya."

He watched her walk down the stairs, then he closed the door. Automatically heading for the kitchen counter, he found the tea he had poured in for her. It had gotten cold. Pouring it into the sink, all he could think of was how she had repeatedly surprised him. And how he had never felt so weird and so good as he had when they'd kissed.

A/N: I am so sorry it took so long again. After all that's happened in the past week, I've been kind of stressed out. Earthquakes, tsunami, exploding nuclear plants, enough reasons to postpone my 5 months of studying in Kyoto. However, Kyoto is safe from all that, but the government gives a negative travalling advice to all of Japan, instead of just the Kanto region. *sigh* My flight was scheduled next week Friday. Q.Q

So I'll have to wait and see if I can still go. If I can, then I'll still try and post new chapters as quickly as possible. Please be patient with me! Sorry! (.;)