Disclaimer: I hope everyone realises that the original cast of Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

This chapter goes to Illeria&Miyuki-chan, whoever you are, your reviews were hilarious and I loved the banter between the two of you! ;P Sorry for the slow update, but I've been ON HOLIDAY! Forgive me! I wrote you a fairly long-ish chapter.

Chapter 16

I had shoved myself into a relatively nice looking t-shirt and some comfy sweatpants, no need to dress up on my day off, and was making my way into the kitchen to see what Kakashi was cooking when- "MY EYES! Oh sweet baby Jesus, IT BURNS!" I screamed as I covered my eyes and ran to Kakashi's side to hide.

"Oh grow up Natsuki." Azami managed to say between the kisses she and Gai were exchanging. If you could call it kissing, more like eating. They were half on my dining table – note to self: throw out that table – way past making out and onto the next step. I could already see some of their clothes tossed aside onto the floor, although thankfully they had their underwear still on at least. I had screamed before though because I had come into the kitchen just as Azami was reaching for Gai's pants. That was not something I wanted to see. Ever.

Kakashi's voice interrupted my stream of thoughts thankfully before they got any worse, "Jesus? Who's that?"

I whacked Kakashi on the arm, "Kakashi! Why didn't you stop them, say something, anything?"

"I was cooking."

"They were practically having sex on my kitchen table!"

A shoe found its way to the back of my head and I heard Azami talking between her kisses, yes, they were still going despite the interruption, "You baby, it's not like you haven't done it on here already. You're not a virgin or anything."

Kakashi frowned, "You're not?"

I waved him off, what's it to him if I was or wasn't a virgin? "But now? On my kitchen table? Only I'm allowed to have sex on that." I whined.

Azami finally removed herself from Gai. Straightening her clothes, she made her way to Kakashi's other side and stole a rasher of bacon that was done from the plates he was serving up. "The kids are gone? Why not take advantage of it?" she grinned at me before glancing up slyly at Kakashi, "You could use it to your advantage. That is why Naruto moved out you know."

Kakashi dropped the spatula in his hand, "What?" he turned to face me, looking a little intimidating as he looked down at me from his towering height, "Naruto moved out so you could have sex?"

I glared at Azami while she giggled, "No! He just thought I needed more space-"

"To have sex." Azami sang, before rushing off to her husband and dragging him out of the apartment, leaving Kakashi and me alone.

I turned to face Kakashi to find him glaring down at the sizzling bacon and eggs in the pan. What's he angry at? I smiled at him, trying to see if he'd smile back. He didn't. I poked his side to get his attention, "Kakashi? What's wrong?"

"... Nothing..."

"Come on, it's me. You can tell me anything right?" I poked his side again, "Kakashi?"

"... You're not a... virgin?"

I gawked at him, "What?"

"Never mind-"

"No, wait. You thought I was?" he stayed silent. I laughed a little, "I'm twenty-four years old Kakashi, did you really expect me to stay a virgin? Are you still a virgin?"

"No-"

"So?"

"... Fine. I was surprised, that's all."

"I guess I can understand that." We continued finishing breakfast in silence, I helped set the table – which I had scrubbed clean and disinfected after Azami and Gai had left – while he dished out all the food. We were sat and eating when he decided to break the silence.

"So who was he?"

I groaned, "Kakashi...- "

"I'm just curious."

I rolled my eyes at him, but decided to answer anyway. I was interested in how he would respond. "Shiranui-san."

He spat out his coffee in much the same way that I had when Naruto told me he was moving out. I can see now why Naruto laughed at my expression. "GENMA? Him?"

"Yeah. We went out a couple of years ago-"

"How long ago?"

"-But it didn't really work out. We were together for a couple of months though, it was fun, and so I thought I might as well. He was nice enough." I grinned at Kakashi now, enjoying this talk, "He was pretty good."

"Hm." Kakashi said, staring into his mug of coffee, cooling now.

I grinned at him, "Is somebody jealous?"

"No!" he stood up and took his empty plate to the sink. "I'm just, concerned, about you."

I really enjoyed teasing Kakashi like this, he got so flustered, it was absolutely adorable. It would only be made better if I could see his blush, but until then... I took my plate to the sink along with Kakashi's long empty plate and sat in front of him on the table. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He snapped. I raised an eyebrow, maybe I had teased him a little too much.

"Well, since we're sharing, who was your first?"

"Rin." Cue flare of jealousy. I just managed to hold in a growl. "Now who's the jealous one?"

"I thought you weren't jealous."

"I wasn't."

"But you said 'now who's the jealous one?', which implies you were jealous before."

"Well I- I meant- that's- you're getting to good at these sorts of arguments."

"Thanks." I smiled at him and resumed finishing my coffee. "The food was good."

"Maybe I should stay over and make you breakfast again some time."

I almost choked on my coffee. Did he just imply?- "What?"

"Nothing."

"Uh-huh." I shrugged and finished my coffee in a final gulp. Kakashi handed me his empty mug, which I took to put in the sink. I could wash up later. Tugging on Kakashi's arm, I dragged him to sit on the sofa beside me and turned the TV on. We were sat watching random programmes on the TV for a while before Kakashi spoke, breaking the silence once again.

"You busy tomorrow?"

"No."

"Want to hang out with me?"

I turned to face Kakashi now, focused entirely on this conversation. "Are you... asking me out?"

He kept his eyes on his lap, where his hands lay, "Do you want me to ask you out?"

"Oh no no no no no, you answer my question without asking another question. Now, are you asking me out, on a date?"

"... Yes."

"Then I accept."

"Would you have accepted even if it hadn't been a date?"

"Yeah."

His eye bugged out at me, "You made me panic like that when you were going to accept anyway?"

"Duh. It was funny, and you're my best male friend at the very least. I love spending time with you whatever the circumstance. It's just a plus for us both that this is a date."

He rolled his eye at me, "Figures I fancy a loon."

"Takes one to know one." He chuckled and pulled me up closer against him as we finished half-watching TV. It was nice properly snuggling into Kakashi's side like this. I didn't have to worry as much now whether he felt too uncomfortable or not about stepping over the friendship line, because he asked me out, so that means he has to like me a little more than friendship, right? He felt nice and warm, and his fingers were drawing patterns on my shoulder again. Eventually I had to ask something that had been bugging me, "When do I get to see your face?"

"Maybe when we kiss."

When? I blushed a little now, both at the prospect of finally kissing him, and finally seeing his face. I hid my face in his shoulder before he saw the effect he had on me, how can he always be so laid-back like this? "Maybe? How would you-"

"You'll see."

"And, erm, when will that be?"

"Hmm... not sure. I told you, we'll have to see."

Damn him, now I was nervous. When did he get to flip the table on me?

"Wait! That means Rin's seen your face!"

He just laughed.

Kakashi left an hour later, and I was in the middle of washing up the dishes when by some weird chance, Azami decided to drop by. She never usually dropped by like this, she always had a valid reason. I say valid because her reason for dropping by now was 'because she had a feeling'.

"I just don't understand what feeling you're talking about."

"Well... it was strange, but happy. Has anything happened since I left this morning?"

I wasn't quite ready to tell Azami about the date Kakashi and I had agreed on. Not that she wouldn't be happy. She'd be a little too happy. "Erm, define anything."

"Something did happen! Oh, I am so going to go with my feelings from now on, especially concerning you." She did a mini dance around the apartment before returning to me, "So? What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Liar, tell me."

"No."

"Oh, so it's good then."

"Azami..."

"Don't make me use the puppy dog eyes Natsuki-chan! You know I will."

Maybe if I mumble... "Kkshiskdmotonadt..."

Azami cocked her head to one side, looking confused, "What? Speak up I didn't hear you."

"Kakashi asked motonadt..."

"What did Kakashi ask?"

"He asked me out on a date, alright?" I closed my eyes, anticipating an Azami-squeal. It was the least she was likely to do after years of hinting to a relationship that went past friendship between Kakashi and me. But... nothing. I tested out a look to see what she was doing, and I saw her creepy grin on her face. What? Wait... "You knew already!"

"Of course."

"You didn't have a 'feeling' at all, did you? How did you know?"

"Kakashi stopped by to get Gai to cover a C rank mission for him tomorrow. I asked why, and he told me. I just wanted to hear it from you though. Oh sweetie! Finally you can have your happy ending and have lots of babies with Kakashi for me to spoil. Oh! Promise to tell me what his face looks like? It's so frustrating not knowing..."

Azami overload, "Chill Azami! We haven't even gone out on one date yet! Stop planning the colours of our hypothetical baby's nursery."

Azami pouted, before cheering up almost immediately afterwards. Uh-oh... "What are you doing then? Where are you going? Are you seeing a movie? Gai took me to see a movie on our first date, it was so sweet. Wait, what are you wearing? Do you need help? Can I help? Wait!- "

And so it began...

"What are you doing here, now?"

"I have to help you get ready. You should be thanking me Natsuki-chan."

"At five in the morning?"

"Sweetie, when was the last time you went on a date?"

"Erm-"

"Exactly." I followed Azami into my apartment and headed to the kitchen. If Azami was going to keep me up dressing me or what-not until my date with Kakashi, I'd need some reinforcements- "Don't even think about touching that coffeepot Natsuki-chan. You need to be nice and calm on your date, not hyped up like Naruto. Kami knows this has been a long time coming."

"Not this again..."

Azami just nodded her head, flittering about the apartment and preparing the things she would need to 'help' me. I was so tired right now, if I didn't get some coffee, I'd fall asleep halfway through the date itself. Actually, I was quite calm about this whole thing. I expected to be more hysterical or something... why was I so calm? Maybe it just hadn't sunk in yet. "Oh I'm so excited! You should be worshipping me right now."

"Why should I be worshipping you?"

"Gai wanted to help you today too." I froze, "I however managed to persuade him to train with Lee again today." I breathed again in relief. That's exactly what I'd want; Gai 'helping' me at five in the morning, and me not being allowed to have coffee.

"Thank you Azami-chan, you are the best."

"I know." I shook my head at her. How we were best friends... sometimes I wondered. But she always made me smile, which as a kunoichi, sometimes was quite hard to do. "Now, what were you thinking of wearing?"

"Azami..."

It was ten minutes until Kakashi was supposed to collect me from the apartment, and I was still calm. It was sort of frustrating. Azami had stayed the whole day with me, declaring that a girls' day was in order and that today was the perfect opportunity. Of course, what she meant was that she'd be taking me out shopping for my 'dating' necessities. Honestly, she was acting as if I hadn't dated before. I wasn't a little girl. I'd dated Genma for Christ's. He'd been fun but high maintenance.

I was sat literally twiddling my fingers waiting on my sofa. It was a simple meal out to quite a nice restaurant, but Azami had dressed me up as if I was greeting a royal. At least I thought so. It was a nice dress, cut to my knees and a lovely dark green. Not Gai-green. Dark green. Emerald almost. Flat black shoes and my hair let loose for once. Azami had done my make-up, and then refused to let me see her work. She told me that I should 'ask Kakashi what he thinks'. She even made me swear on our friendship, which she knew I always stuck by.

So I was sat.

Not looking at any reflective surfaces.

Hoping that Kakashi wouldn't be late as usual.

And then the unexpected; a knock on the door. Five minutes early.

I raced to the door and opened it to reveal... Gai. Gai?

"You look very beautiful Natsuki-chan. Isn't my wife brilliant?"

"Gai? Is something wrong?"

"I have a message for you from Kakashi, my eternal rival!"

Oh this had better be good... "What did he say?"

"He left early this morning with his team on his youthful C rank mission. He took it back from me when he found out the details, and said you'd understand. Something in the Land of Waves."

I felt my face fall and realisation and fear rush through me. He had left for the first 'real' mission of Naruto's, and my big sister vibes were on maximum. I wanted nothing more right now than to teleport to them and help, but I knew this was an essential mission to Naruto, not only for his further understanding of the Kyuubi, but also to strengthen the bonds between Sasuke and him. Then the anger and disappointment crept through; Kakashi had left this morning and couldn't be bothered to tell me himself. Instead he tells Gai to pass the message on long after he's gone.

Basically; he'd stood me up.

Sure he had his valid reasons, but it felt like those past years again when he avoided me at all costs.

It hurt.

And I realised why I had been calm all along. I had never fully expected Kakashi to pull through with this date. Sure we were ninja, with important jobs blah blah blah... but we were always given sufficient time to say goodbye to our friends and family before a mission. You never knew when it could be your last. And he had fled, with Naruto.

"Thanks Gai." I said, closing the door slowly, "I think I'll call it a night though."

"Azami sent me to invite you out with us. We were going to go to a new barbecue place, I have heard great reviews. Surely they will grow when Konoha's Beautiful Great Beast and his Wife attend such a place. We'd be honoured to have you with us."

I smiled, knowing in my head that it wasn't just going to be me killing Kakashi when he returned. Azami had seemed more excited about this night than me. "Thanks, but I feel tired. Have a nice night with Azami, and pass on my thanks for all the help."

"Are you sure?"

"...Yes, I think I'm just going to go to bed."

"Well, have a restful sleep and sweet dreams Natsuki-chan. I shall eat your portion of barbecue for you, and if I cannot, I shall run around Konoha on my elbows!"

I couldn't help the small laugh at that comment, "Sounds good. Goodnight."

Gai pulled me into a quick hug before making his way off, shouting a 'Goodnight' along the way. Closing the door I made my way to bathroom ready to wipe off all the gunk on my face and curl up in bed to drown in my worry for Naruto... and Kakashi I guess. I was still sulking at him though. I looked at the mirror and felt I should applaud Azami right now. I really looked... pretty.

Not that I was ugly before or anything, I just felt prettier. It wasn't even a lot of make-up, just hints of grey and silver around my eyes, and my skin seemed to shimmer slightly. It seemed a bit of a shame to waste all Azami's effort, but I'm sure she'd understand. I grabbed a facecloth and wet it, scrubbing my face and watching my normal face return. Tying my hair back again I changed into my nightclothes and crawled under the covers of my bed.

Just wait Kakashi, you're going to be in huge trouble... from Azami. I turned to face the window and closed my eyes, cringing when I could almost see the future fight. Please be alright. Please don't let me having come here have changed anything too much. I was drifting off to sleep when I felt a shadow pass over my window, and like the good kunoichi that I was I was up and armed, searching every crevice of my room by sight at first.

Nothing.

I was still alert though, and made my way slowly out of the room and checked the rest of the apartment. Still nothing. Probably just my nerves about Naruto. It could have been some ninja just passing by or something. I went back to my room, putting my weapons away except for one kunai and then saw something on my bed.

Cautiously approaching the bed, I turned on the bedside light and saw it.

The mask.

Madara's mask.

He knew who I was.