Shikamaru pushed the door open and the doorbell jangled merrily. "I'm here for the textbooks," he called out, unable to see anyone. "Hello?"

The shopkeeper peered out from behind the stacks. "Shikamaru-kun! The texts are on the table in the back."

"I brought lunch," he said, raising the bag he held in his left hand. "Naruto – I mean the Hokage – insisted that you eat more veggies, so it's almost entirely vegetarian."

"He's just mimicking what I told him years ago," said Hatake Kakashi. He wiped a hand over his brow. "Tell the little idiot thanks."

Shikamaru bagged the textbooks for his kids. Temari had been after him to get these for the past month, and should he be remiss today, there would be an interesting headline tomorrow. Nara Shikamaru Dead: Frying Pan Suspected Murder Weapon.

Kakashi set out the dishes and took only enough for himself, putting the rest aside for Iruka. The teacher would arrive soon for his own lunch break.

Done with the books, Shikamaru sat at the table too. "I'm free tomorrow evening," he told Kakashi. "Game for a rematch?"

"You know you'll lose," chuckled Kakashi. "I'll be there."

The new head of the Nara clan smiled at his friend and teacher. "Y'know, even after so many years, I still can't reconcile this unmasked face with your name."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Kakashi slurped up the soup. "Reminds me – freshen the traps and protective spells, would you? Temari forgot to do so the last time she was here."

"She was here and didn't get the textbooks?" Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "That troublesome woman..."

"She probably found them too heavy and bulky," supplied Kakashi with his trademark smile. At Shikamaru's sigh of affectionate exasperation, Kakashi laughed. "What can you do? You married a smart one, remember?"

A/N: I'm not reading Naruto any more unless Kakashi is alive. Even if he was only a civilian. Or blind. Whatever.
Kakashi is NOT DEAD. HE IS NOT DEAD. (puts hands over eyes and ears to block out all baseless rumors otherwise)
HE MUST LIVE! HE MUSTN'T DIE!! KAKASHI LIVES FOREVER!!!
(sends flying howler monkeys to Kishimoto Masashi)
HATAKE KAKASHI FOR PRESIDENT OF THE WOR- (abruptly cut off)

*The producers apologize for the sudden bout of incoherent ranting. Please be assured that after some time and heavy medication the little pink organ known as PQ's brain will continue to function as per, uh, normal. We now return you to your regularly scheduled reviewing of a fic.*