I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Hinata starred into Kakashi's eye and she stiffened a bit at the uncomfortable look in them. What could he possible have to tell her that would bring that level of wariness to his expression? She pulled back from him a bit, and waited for him to continue.

"The night that you stopped me from killing myself was a turning point for me. I felt ashamed for breaking down and yet relieved that I had finally released a lot of my pain. I have lost almost everyone in my life that I loved. My mother, father, the Fourth and his wife, Obito, Rin, Asuma, and others that I felt responsible for. I tried to tell myself that I would be weak if I grieved for them, but the truth you showed me that night was that bottling up my pain was what truly weakened me. That I wasn't living- I was merely existing.

For a long time now, I have tried to not form any emotional ties to anyone in the village. I was running away from the pain, trying to protect myself from being hurt again. I hid behind my books and avoided people unless I was needed for a mission. Asuma refused to let me hide from him, and when he died, I felt like my last connection to the living had been severed. I can't describe how empty I felt. If you hadn't stopped me..

The next morning, when you touched my cheek before leaving, I came back to life. I don't know if you felt it like I did, but for me, a new connection had been formed. Did you feel it too?" He asked her. Hinata nodded in wonder, astonished that he was being so open with his feelings.

"Maybe it was understandable that I would begin to watch over you from that point on. I would find myself looking for you when I left my apartment, and my day was brighter when I saw you. Eventually, I followed you around the village, telling myself that I was just protecting you. I was curious about what made you tick- your actions that night were so different from how I viewed you previously. I was intrigued.

The more I watched you, the more I grew to admire you. Your skill, your grace, your genuine caring for others, your selflessness, your diplomacy, your healing skills… It was endless, the list of things that I discovered about you that were all good. Hinata, you are beautiful not only on the outside, but also on the inside." She shyly turned her face away from him, but he lifted up her chin, refusing to let her look away from his eyes.

"The night I found you at the memorial, I didn't take you to the hospital because I knew that you hated them as much as I do. But there was also another reason that I didn't admit to myself until the next day. I wanted to be the one to take care of you. When Neji found us, he was suspicious right off the bat, because he knew there were so many other ways to deal with the situation than what I chose to do. When you gave me that smile before you walked out the door, it hit me like a ton of bricks- I had fallen in love with you." He told her as he searched her eyes for any signs of rejection.

Hinata was shocked. Kakashi loves me? She knew that he had been flirting with her, and was protective of her, but she had honestly thought it was just his way of returning the favor she had done for him. Suddenly, every interaction they had shared since that night made sense finally. Hinata met his eyes unflinchingly as she tried to accept the truth of his love he finally allowed to show openly. So many emotions swam through her at the revelation of his feelings. Doubt, confusion, fear, hope, and finally an answering emotion rising up in her.

Kakashi watched the emotions flow through her eyes, they were always so open, unable to hide anything from someone willing to look. When he saw love reflected in them, the breathe that he was unaware of holding left him. Slowly, giving her plenty of time to stop him, he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss he gave her was almost chaste, an offering rather than a taking, one of gratitude instead of passion. He pulled away from her and gazed into her eyes.

"I need to hear you say the words." He told her, his vulnerability clearly exposed.

"Kakashi Hatake, I love you." Hinata told him firmly, as tears of joy trembled in her eyes. Kakashi shut his eyes, fighting back his own tears, as love and thankfulness rushed through him. Never did he imagine that she already returned his feelings. Opening them, he pinned her with an intent look as he questioned her.

"I thought that you loved Naruto?"

"I realized that what I felt for him was admiration and a desire to have the sort of confidence in himself that he possessed. I always knew that he loved Sakura, but I did waste a lot of years on my crush. For the past year and half I found myself paying attention to his sensei instead. I never imagined that you would ever come to share my feelings. You have so much more experience on the battlefield, and in life that I was sure someone like me would hold no interest for you…" She said, and it was clear that she still had some trouble believing that he could love her.

"I have a confession to make. All this 'experience' I supposedly have is a sham. Totally made up. I have only been with Rin, and after she died, I shut myself off from all relationships." He told informed her. Hinata's mouth dropped open, and Kakashi laughed at her, as he gently pushed it shut.

"But you walk around reading porn!" She finally exclaimed loudly with a skeptical expression on her face. When his laughter just increased, she glared at him. Realizing that his laughter was doing nothing to convince her, he quickly sobered up.

"I may be celibate by choice, but Kitten, I AM still a man, and men have certain needs." He told her seductively with a wink. Hinata's face turned bright red and her anger turned to embarrassment. Kakashi pulled her back into his arms and gave her a kiss that was anything but chaste. When he finally pulled away, all of Hinata's doubts about whether or not he truly desired her were laid to rest. Her hair was laying around her shoulders, disheveled from his fingers combing through it, and her chest was heaving as she took deep breathes, as she attempted to calm down.

Kakashi's chest shook in silent laughter when she let out a small sound of embarrassment and hid her face against his chest. He held her for several minutes, just enjoying the feel of her in his arms. Truthfully, he felt the need to calm down as well. It did him no good to get all worked up when they couldn't act on it till she was stronger. When her breathing was back to normal, he pulled away just enough to be able to look into her eyes.

"I trust that you believe how sincere I am, Kitten?" He asked her playfully. She nodded shyly, a smile on her face.

"Good, since you know that I love you only, there will be no need for you to assault anymore nurses in a fit of jealous rage, will there?" He teased her. In under one second, a glorious blush covered her face and he watched with growing interest as it spread down to the top of her generous breasts.

"How did you-I did not-she just-" Hinata's voice rose to a squeak as she floundered around to answer him. Kakashi laughed outright, releasing her as he howled with mirth. When he finally got himself under control, he looked up to find her sitting up, her arms crossed under her breasts, and an expression of consternation on her face.

"I overheard the nurses talking this morning when I came to pick you up. You don't have to worry about them spreading it around town. I nipped that in the bud." He then told her what he had done to the nurses, and by the time he was finished, she was giggling.

"I almost feel sorry for them. How mean to lead them on like that! You have no idea what one look at that handsome face does to a female." She told him with a grin. He lunged across the bed and pounced on her.

"There is only one woman I am concerned with my effect on." He informed her huskily, as he gazed down into her eyes. When she blushed, he leaned down with a groan and kissed her passionately. After a few minutes, she pushed against him desperately, and he pulled away reluctantly. She panted, and placed a hand over her aching chest. His look of masculine pride turned to one of worry.

"Oh shit! I am sorry Kitten! Do you need me to take you back to the hospital?" He said in panic as he leapt off the bed with her in his arms. She grinned at him weakly as she touched his cheek to get his attention. He looked down at her, and she reassured him.

"I will be fine, but I really think that we will have to be more careful with those kisses of yours. They should be illegal." She told him with a twinkle in her eye. He grinned down at her, but his eye revealed that he was still worried.

"I am an idiot. I just can't seem to resist those succulent lips of yours." He teased her back, but she detected a trace of guilt in his voice, as he laid her back on the bed.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go get Lady Tsunade?" He asked her in concern. Hinata rolled her eyes at him.

"Look, if it will make you feel better, I will let you go get Haruna to check me over. Alright?" She asked him in exasperation. He was out the door almost as soon as the words left her lips. With a deep sigh, Hinata snuggled back into the soft pillows behind her, and she felt the exhaustion dragging her down into sleep. Her last coherent thought was about what a miracle it was that Kakashi Hatake was in love with her.