Air for life

by thebeagle

A story that follows the ninja girl Toshi who's a rebelious orphan. When Kakashi and team 7 is assigned to capture her, they find out that she's quite a handfull, especially for Kakashi. Will she end up in prison? Full summary inside. KakashixOC

20. Air for life Chapter 20

I'm so sorry this chapter took so long!

Actually this one is a bit shorte than the previous chapters, because it originally was intened to be a part of a much bigger chapter.
I decided to cut it into two though, because it was getting too long :P

So, FINALLY I have a new chapter for you guys! :)

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Sleep was heavy and deep. So heavy in fact, that I woke up in the exact same position I fell asleep in. The brightness in the room was overwhelming for a moment, sun shining through the window, tangled up in white sheets. Kakashi's arm was still around me, though the arm that had been underneath me was pulled back to support his head. Butterflies filled my stomach immediately. Our legs were still entangled, our hands not intertwined from a whole night of sleep. I squirmed closer and further down the covers and he responded by squeezing me harder to him. He was still heavily asleep I could tell. The sense of being relaxed and secure still filled me. I had nothing to get up to, no meetings, no favors, no one waiting for me. I closed me eyes and fell asleep once more.

The second time I woke up was when the copy ninja moved behind me. Half asleep I rolled around with him and gently snaked my arm across his stomach and chest when he rolled onto his back. He folded an arm under my head and around my back and pulled me closer, like it was a must for us to have physical contact. When I realized our new position with my leg slung over his thigh, my mind started the rush of butterflies once again. My hand felt numb lying there - on top of his chest. I could feel the hollow between the two chest muscle, and further down on my lower arm I could feel the sharp edge of his rib cage and the muscles marking his stomach.

My eyes flickered open and was met by the white cover. I looked up to see Kakashi still asleep, his mouth partially open. He looked young and peaceful, not in any way like a lethal elite ninja. His hair was messy, flat on once side where he had been laying all night, and all mussed on the other side. I looked away and tugged closer. Kakashi was warm... almost too warm. But it was also somewhat cold as we had forgotten to close a window, sometime when we got home. That damned hand... I couldn't remove my focus from my arm on his chest and stomach. I could actually feel his skin and his body without feeling guilty about it.

I couldn't sleep anymore though, even if I wanted to. So for a while I just laid there, feeling the rise and fall of Kakashi's chest. Wait a minute... When did we open a window? Slowly I withdrew my arm - of course making sure to feel every inch of muscle - before turning around. Kakashi held me back though, clenching my back just tight enough for me to not turn around. He stirred;

"I was just laying so good." He muttered, keeping me in place.

"Oh..." Was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

My heart rate shot up like fireworks at the anticipation of the awkwardness of the situation. I had no idea what to say or do when laying this intimately. Not just that, but now I was fighting my beating heart to slow down before Kakashi would notice it. I was a trained ninja for crying out loud. I should be able to keep my body in check!

Kakashi snickered, my head moving with his chest "Why're your heart beating so fast? Were you planing on pranking me?"

It should be obvious to him why my heart was beating so fast, but this excuse was better.

"Dammit." I muttered like I'd been caught.

Keep your heart in check. Get it together. Fake your confidence, fake it, fake it. I propped up on my elbow, moving it over his arm, so it could still be in place on my back. He released his grip a little, letting his hand linger over the fabric of my shirt, before placing it on my waist. There was a careful sensitivity to his hand as if he was unsure if it was okay to put it there. It boosted my confidence the slightest. It wasn't the first time he'd shown a kind of insecurity about where to put his hand on me. I smirked down at him as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"Actually I was wondering why the window was open. I had a minor panic attack about it. I thought maybe someone had broken in while we were sleeping."

One of Kakashi's fingers found a strip of bare skin underneath the hem of my shirt. My breath caught in my throat for a second.

"Well if anyone did, I was sleeping too heavily to notice anyways." A strange look crossed his features.

"You did sleep pretty heavily." I retorted, fighting to keep my heart rate under control, when apparently, he didn't remove his finger. Kakashi was way too sensitive to not notice the difference between fabric and skin. He was fully aware, I did not doubt.

"Yeah... I seem to do that around you. I can't figure out if that's good a bad. It's probably going to be my downfall some day."

I laughed shortly at that "I'm flattered. Kakashi Hatake sleeps tight around me, what an accomplishment. I could probably earn a lot of money on that weakness and kill you when you sleep." I smiled at him devilishly.

He snorted "You like me too much for that."

Another finger found its way under the hem of my shirt discreetly. I pretended not to notice, but inwards my mind was going rigid. A slight panic started to rise in me. This was very intimate. This was Kakashi Hatake, the only one I truly desired - innocently, but fully intentionally feeling my body. Why did he do that? What did he want me to do? I could only deny his interest in me, pretending that it was nothing in order to maintain my cool. Deny deny deny deny, I told myself. I didn't know why I was so scared by the intimacy, I only knew one thing; I was not used to him showing an attraction towards me, but now he was. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, he was.

I half snorted, half laughed "I don't like you." It wasn't very convincing, considering how much I was smiling. He knew just which buttons to push. He'd put that extra finger under my shirt, just to make me nervous about that question. I glared down at him now.

"You wish I did though." I added.

He chuckled tired and moved his hand further up my side, four fingers reaching inside my shirt. It was so far up by my breast now, that I stiffened and fought a shiver. It was an odd mixture if nausea - wanting to throw up and completely, and utter desire. Once again, I pretended not to notice. What was this game? I reached my hand down and played with a few strands of his grey hair. Fine, if he wanted to play games, I could too. He closed his eyes and sighed, visibly relaxing. He liked it, I concluded, and the sigh it was... it was a longing sigh. Another strike of panic ran through me. How could this be worse than a kiss? It sure felt like it. It was like my mind simply couldn't acknowledge the fact that the copy ninja who was six years older than me, in fact, did desire me, whether if it was because of the morning moment or just in general - I couldn't figure out. I needed to get away. This couldn't be true.

"Do you often have nightmares?" He asked suddenly, opening an eye up at me.

I stopped playing with his hair and squirmed his hand away and lay down by the pit of his arms as before. Now I felt more comfortable, even though that was kind of strange too. I tugged my shirt down and he was smart enough to take the hint, leaving his hand on the small of my back, on my shirt instead.

"Sometimes. They're pretty rough." I admitted, making sure to keep my hand to myself this time.

Had I just rejected him? If so, rejected him from what?

"You're suffering from a kind of post-traumatic stress it seems." He responded casually.

"Yeah... I can still feel the cut of steel through my finger." I scoffed and lifted my hand out to let my shortened pinky peep up.

I was about to take it away when I noticed him staring at it. It was embarrassing to have a finger looking like that. It was downright unattractive. But he grabbed my hand before I could hide it again.

"It's kind of cute." He said cheekily.

"Shut up. Now you're just rubbing it in." I responded trying to tug my hand away.

He laughed at that "I mean it. Every ninja has a scar they're embarrassed of though. You shouldn't be embarrassed of this one."

I snorted "Yeah right. Like you have a scar you're embarrassed of."

"I do. This one." I looked up to see him point at the scar across his sharingan eye.

I frowned in confusion at first, but then realized that the scar reminded him of Obito and his 'failure' in protecting him.

"You shouldn't be. It fits you." I replied, cocking an eyebrow unimpressed.

"Well then you shouldn't be embarrassed either." He retaliated.

It was funny how he was embarrassed of a scar that, to me, looked kind of cool. It was like his signature scar, although his hair was kind of a signature in itself too. In fact everything about Kakashi was very distinct.

"Alright alright." I muttered and tugged my hand away again.

Kakashi sighed lazily as if he couldn't muster the argument. Even his lazy, nonchalant sighs seemed to be sexy in some strange way.

"Kakashi?" I said.

He responded with a "hn?" peeping down at me at the tone of my voice. His heartbeat picked up ever so slightly. For some time I'd been wondering about a lot of things - work related things - I wanted to ask him about. My curiosity was almost as bad as my attraction to him.

"I was just wondering if I could ask you a question." I tried.

"Okay? Give it a try." He sounded relaxed, but his heartbeat wasn't as slow as before.

For a brief second I wondered what question could possibly have him nervous. I turned to lay on my back and looked at the ceiling. I didn't want him to feel trapped.

"Well, why are you so afraid of that Orochimaru guy? I know he's in the hit-books and ranked an s-classed criminal and actually there's a lot of facts about him. But is he really so scary and strong?"

The copy ninja didn't answer straight away. That could only mean he was little taken aback by the question.

"Uhm... He's one of Konoha's three legendary Sannins. They're some of the strongest ninja in this village. He's a masterplanner and manipulator. I was only a kid when he conducted illegal experimentation. I was there in my ANBU years when The Lord hokage tried to arrest him. For all in the world he's a person to avoid."

"Why do you suddenly want to know?" He added.

"It's just... A lot of my resent missions I always stumble upon his name or some henchmen of his. Why now? Is my work that thorough? Why would he suddenly be leaving all these tiny trails?" I said in thought.

Kakashi didn't laugh or stir "That's a good question. Maybe it's a coincidence."

Even Kakashi himself didn't believe that, but he never liked me poking around too much.

"I just have a bad feeling that a storm is gathering." I sat up and looked out the windows at a grey day.

Talking about this hunch made me sick to my stomach. It made me feel unsafe. Kakashi sat up behind me and ran a hand through his hair.

"Be on the lookout then and report everything you encounter back to the hokage. Always listen to your instincts... You're a part of Konoha now, so you have every ninja watching your back. Don't worry."

Don't patronize me, I wanted to scream at him, but kept my temperament on the inside. He was only trying to comfort me. Obviously he could sense my discomfort.

"I know I know. I'm not used to that though." I grabbed the fabric by my heart, recalling how it felt to be alone. The feeling was easy to recall. I'd lived like that for most of life.

It was easy, when being with Kakashi, to suddenly go emotional. Everything in me screamed to keep it inside, but when he said things like that I was often reminded of all the loneliness and sadness in my life.

"Hey..." He said and put a hand on my back "Are you alright?"

Wait. Why was I suddenly shaking? I was just about to have him tell me more about Orochimaru.

"It's nothing." I responded, trying with all my might to fight down this panic attack or whatever it was.

"Clearly it is. Was it something I said?" I could feel him loom behind me, searching to see my face.

I bit my lip and breathed through my nose. I would start to cry if I didn't get this under control.

"No... It's just." How to explain what I felt?

"You know how I was, well, before I came to Konoha." I peeped at him over my shoulder, "Sometimes, when I'm reminded of how bad I felt inside I feel so grateful for the people that has come into my life." I explained and looked away again. It was so embarrassing telling him such things. Yet I couldn't help myself.

"Yeah-" Kakashi laid down on his back again and fitted his arms behind his head "New friendships will always help fill that void if you let them."

"Thank you Kakashi." I looked at him fully, brushing locks of my hair away to see him better. He looked perplexed, maybe kind of startled for a moment, "Thank you for believing in me and liking me for who I am. You're one of the reasons why I fight so hard for Konoha. You make me strong."

If I wasn't mistaking I could swear he was blushing a little bit, his lazy expression now patched up with slightly widened eyes. When he was uncomfortable he always looked a little bit sick.

"Ah, well." His eyes strayed away and around the room, everywhere but at my eyes, "I haven't done anything special. I'm just a nobody."

I rolled my eyes. The feeling of loneliness suddenly gone.

"Stop being so modest. You're one of Konoha's best ninja's. Of course you're not a nobody." I retorted.

He laughed sheepishly and scratched his hair "If you say so."

Even if he didn't want to admit it my words had touched him. "Men." I muttered.

"We need to get up though."

It wasn't true, but I needed to get away from the intimacy. I didn't know what to do with myself.

"You're right." He responded.

I'd expected him to ask why, but apparently he needed to get away too. The awkwardness if the situation was palpable; it hung in the air and threatened to suffocate us. We both knew that embrace hadn't been just friendly. We'd crossed a line neither of us wanted to acknowledge or could fathom was there.

.

Cold yet warm. That was how the rain felt when he jogged through the forrest. His body was damp and wet, warm from the running exercise. The rain cooled his skin down. He was only in his black undershirt and his black ninja pants and sandals. His arms were bare, revealing the ANBU tattoo on his left shoulder. Kakashi was panting evenly, the forest only a relaxing blur compared to the chaos in his mind. Every rain drop bounced off of his arms and body, the small amount remaining of each drop slowly gliding off of him.

It had been a long time since he had taken a casual run, but he really needed it. He thought he could keep the physical contact shared with Toshi casual, but apparently he couldn't.

What're you doing Kakashi? She's way too innocent. She doesn't know how much this affects you. He came to halt and looked into the sky and let the rain wash over his eyes, nose, mouth. He felt every drop, alive and sensitive. The forrest was around him, lush and full of life. Wind sighed, trees whispered, insects hid under trees, a hare was eating a root not far away puzzling the undergrowth. The sky was grey with hints of blue and the clouds were massive and majestic, rolling through heaven like giant beings.

It had been a long time since he had felt so much. When he closed his eyes he saw Toshi's emerald eyes staring right back at him. Somehow they reminded him of the old ties he had.

Obito, Rin, what's happening to me? Why do I suddenly feel so much again?

The apparent feelings he had for Toshi brought up other feelings of lament and regret in those few seconds he had been too late to act, those few seconds that would forcibly change him forever. It only took a simple defining moment or choice that could be life shattering. The loss of his father. The loss of Obito. The loss of Rin.

Each loss hit him as hard as the other and each changed him in a different way. New bonds made him stronger and helped fill that gap. It helped him to not ponder so much about his past mistakes and how he could've changed them. He never thought he could feel such an intense desire to be with someone again. It was almost like a teenage crush. The constant mix of sadness and excitement - Toshi's skin, watching her curious, defiant eyes and laying close to her, smelling her scent of apples and fresh air - made his chest ache.

The elite ninja's eyebrows furrowed the slightest when he tried to restrain himself, head tilted towards the sky; a single tear slipped out and ran down his cheeks, blending with the rain. Admitting to himself that he was starting to not just have feelings but falling in love with the powerful girl made him light headed and slightly frightened. He had always thought he would never feel the same about anyone or anything again. But these feelings still existed in him.

He couldn't figure out if he was affected by her abilities to reach people and feel their emotions, considering how much time he had spend with her, or if it simply was pure attraction to her as a person. His mind was trying futilely to make logic of these new feelings. She had seen his biggest regrets and mistakes, she understood how it felt and why he acted like he did. It shamed him that she knew so much about him and at the same time it relaxed him. She was still his friend in spite of all the horrible things he had done in his life. She accepted his past and his present and still allowed him so close...

Kakashi's hair was starting to droop downwards, touching his brow and the bridge of his nose. His body was coiled as tight as a spring, every muscle as edged as if it had been chiseled out of stone. Looking ahead again, he started jogging, trying with all his being to run off his feelings.

Toshi's POV.

How long had I been staring at the ceiling? A smile forced its way to my lips and I tried to suppress it by biting it down, but that only worsened it. Another spark of butterflies erupted in my stomach by the thought of the grey haired jounin. It wasn't like me to daydream like this, or to smile spontaneously all the time... But the thought of Kakashi's arms around me and they way he snuggled into my neck... My toes curled up and I bit my lip one more time. It had been two days since my birthday and I hadn't seen Kakashi ever since, but that was not unusual. He was always in my head or in the back of my mind. I constantly thought about him, couldn't sleep properly and often missed what Gai was saying because my mind was on Kakashi.

I kept reminding myself that I was only torturing myself by thinking about that embrace and the feelings that came with it. Certainly I would have to get rid of these feelings when I was assigned my next mission. My toes curled up once more before I jumped out of bed, unable to lie still. Even Gai had noticed a slight difference in my mood, though blaming it on a newfound youthful attitude.

One week after I returned after a mission with Yugao Uzuki who, by the way, was a cool woman and thoroughly loyal to both the hokage and Kakashi. She displayed a disliking to me the moment she'd set eyes upon me, but as I found out later it was due to the fact that she thought I was ungrateful to the training and attention I'd been receiving from her former mentor and captain - Kakashi.

"So Shiori. Are you going to the festival in a couple of weeks?" Yugao asked while removing her arm guards inside the ANBU locker room.

"Which festival?" I asked confused, still not used to being called by my code name.

Yugao shot me a perplexed look and swung her long black hair with a purple tint to it - behind her shoulders.

"The tsukimi festival obviously." She responded.

"Oh..." I hadn't really given upcoming festivals any thought "I suppose. But I never really took part in any festival before."

"Really?" The purple haired woman looked genuinely startled at that fact.

"Yeah I mean-" I turned around to my locker embarrassed and started undoing my arm guards "I've never really had a normal life you know. Festivals never really was my thing."

"Come on, who doesn't like festivals? Is it because you were turned down by a guy once?" Yugao came over and leaned against the locker, a devious light shining in her eyes.

"No it's not that." Feeling somewhat annoyed at the woman being nosy I turned some more, starting to undo my flack jacket "I've never had anyone to go with and I'm not really good at going out and that stuff."

Yugao laughed out loud and slapped my back in a friendly manner "Please Toshi, man up. I'm sure any guy would want to go out with you. You just have to be yourself and strike up some good conversations that's all. Why don't you ask Kakashi out? Maybe going out with someone you know will make it easier for you, I mean, you can always ask a friend out."

The woman's smirk was so full of mischief that just the mentioning of Kakashi sent my heart racing. No one could ever find out that I had fallen in love with him. I pff'ed maybe a little too obviously and rolled my eyes.

"Like it would be any fun going to a festival with an old bore like Kakashi." I huffed while placing all my gear into the locker.

Yugao's smirk disappeared right off her face, skulking at me because I had to guts to talk like that about her old mentor.

"It would be an honor to go with Kakashi, but I guess someone like you can't appreciate that." She retaliated and narrowed her eyes at me.

"I guess not, but you know how I am." I eyed the woman questioningly "Who're you going with?"

"Some one you don't know." She answered guarded.

"Is it Hayate? I know it is." I said cheekily and smirked right up in her face.

"No, and stop teasing me!" She shot back a faint blush evident on her cheeks.

"Please, like he's 'just' your old instructor." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"Mind your own business, Shiori." She huffed and left my side.

"Could say the same about you." I muttered, putting on my standard black sweatshirt.

Yugao liked teasing me and she liked striking up conversation whereas most my other teammates was quiet like myself. To an outsider it may look like we weren't on friendly terms but our small bickering was kind of normal by now. It didn't matter, it was just our way tell the other that the conversation was becoming too personal.

To the matter at hand though; the tsukimi festival. I had never even considered going if not for the mentioning. Later it proved that Anko had the same question for me in mind. I'd met her during grocery shopping and the nosy older woman was literally doing her best to convince me to go.

"You'll be mind blown if you have never tried it before Toshi! Please ask someone out or at least say yes if someone asks you!"

"I-I'm not good at serious things like going on a date. The last guy I dated turned out to be a Root spy." I answered while handing the shop owner money.

"That is unfortunate." Anko muttered with a hand to her chin "You should ask Kakashi out, you trust him, right?"

What was it with Kakashi always sneaking his way into my conversations? As if it wasn't enough that he was always on my mind. I wanted to go out with him just as friends, but after that night with the nightmare we couldn't do things like that just as friends. I knew he knew that we had crossed a line - oh god the butterflies again - and I simply didn't have the guts to go on a real date with Kakashi. Surely I didn't dare to make any moves, I could only do some basic flirtation which didn't work on him and he would only make any moves if he felt like it, which was unlikely.

"Yeah but... " I trailed off not really knowing what to answer without sounding stupid.

"I'm sure he'll say yes. I haven't seen him care about someone as he cares about you. If he says no you can call my Skippy the rest of that week!" Anko beamed at me in confidence.

"Yeah it's not that, I just..." I pinched the bridge of my nose as we left the store and started down the streets. "It's complicated going with Kakashi." I admitted

"Why? He's the most simple man I know." Anko said.

I shot her a wary look "He's not simple, trust me." before looking ahead "Kakashi and I have so much history. I have a lot of different emotions attached to him. Going with him would simply not be very... relaxing."

One of Anko's eyebrows went up unimpressed "There'll always be emotions attached to the persons in your life you're closest to, deal with it. Simply go with the one person you want most to be there, that's my advice."

Of course, Anko thinks it's Kakashi. She's onto me, I thought sullenly.

"Thanks for an advice I didn't ask for." I said wryly.

Anko glared back at me "What was that?!"

"Never mind... Anyway I'll think about what you said, but I have dinner night with the family and I'm kind of running late."

"So you're calling them family now?" Anko responded

"Well yeah... Because they are a family. Not mine, but they're a gathering of people related to each other. Family... "

"You're trying to hard Toshi."

"I know." I answered promptly with a sigh.

.

This will be my undoing, I thought when I spotted Kakashi in front of a fruit stall. I hadn't seen him in a weeks time after our little sleep over, and the first thing I wanted to ask him was that question.

Just go over there and ask him casually if he want's to go with you to the festival. It's no big deal. You've done worse... I was only kidding myself. I was a nervous wreck, but hey, maybe there was a chance he would ask me. My feet was bearing me towards the tall prodigy of a ninja until I stood behind him.

"Hey Kakashi." My mouth said.

The grey haired man peeped over his shoulder lazily, recognition flashing in his eyes when he saw me..

"Oh hey there Toshi. What're you up to?" He responded.

"Not much... Just doing some errands." By kami that sounded ridiculous when in fact I'd been stalking him to work up the guts to ask him about the festival.

"For Hana?" He asked casually.

"Yeah yeah, right." I said and scratched the back of my neck.

Get your act together Toshi, stop looking so nervous. Act casual! Kakashi looked a bit perplexed, his hands buried in his pockets oblivious to my inner struggles.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

I dropped my hand and forced a relaxed casual facade up.

"Yeah, I was just wondering how you are. I mean it's been a week or so." I responded. Talking about avoiding the inevitable.

"I'm good. Been training the kids." He answered with a shrug.

So he had plenty of time to come over and ask me about the festival then, except for when I was on a mission with Yugao.

"That's nice. I was just on a mission with a kunoichi called Yugao who seems to know you. She admires you a lot." Finally I could say something on the more casual side.

Kakashi's eyes widened the slightest at the mention of her name "Yugao? She's an excellent ninja. How is she?"

"I think she's good. At least that's my impression." I answered.

"Well if that's your impression it's probably true." His eyes curved as if smiling.

By now I was so used to Kakashi acting casual no matter the situation, so even though he acted as if that night wasn't anything special I knew him well enough to know that it was out of the both of us' comfort zone.

"Thanks... Actually she mentioned the upcoming festival-" I lay on the casual facade as thick as I could now- "and said she was going. I was just wondering if you wanted to join me considering I've never been to an actual festival before."

There I said it. Despite my hands lazily in my pockets and the casual tone, my heartbeat was going sky high. I watched every little detail of hints Kakashi's body would give away, and first noticed that he grew uncomfortable.

"Oh uhm, actually a girl across the block already asked me to go with her so I just said yes." He explained, at least making the effort to look apologetic.

But the pain in my middle was the unmistakable pain of rejection.

"Oh okay, that's cool." I shrugged feeling my heartbeat drop in a matter of seconds "I'll just ask Gai then."

Even though I said it casually the mentioning of Gai was intentionally meant to spark any feelings of jealousy in the copy ninja, even though I knew it was pointless. I was so disappointed that Kakashi hadn't even considered saying no to that girl and ask me instead - that I simply needed to get away from the situation.

"Anyways, I'll see you later." I added promptly.

"Uh, yeah." Kakashi looked confused as I left him quickly, blending into the crowd of people.

I grasped my stomach, the hopes both Yugao and Anko had helped grow - completely gone. If Kakashi liked me, he wouldn't be holding me in bed like that, right? Or was it really just in a friendly manner we'd been laying in bed like that? I growled, stalking through people who skidded aside for me.

It had been so stupid of me to even consider that Kakashi could like me as I liked him. I was just a small girl to him, like a sister, nothing more! Taking in a deep breath through my nose I changed direction towards the training grounds where Gai used to train.

As I cooled off, my rational side started kicking in again. I couldn't forget that Kakashi was exceptionally good at hiding his true feelings. All actions, all conversations was carefully chosen in order to manipulate people to perceive his thoughts accordingly to the situation. I could never really know what he was thinking unless he chose to show or was so overwhelmed that he couldn't help it.

"Heey Toshi!" came Gai's voice from the clearing of the training grounds.

I'd been so caught up in my thoughts that I had walked straight into their practice without really registering the kids and Gai. Neji, the ever hard training prodigy looked exhausted when I met his lavender blue eyes. It was unusual to see him like that.

"Hey Gai and Neji." I responded.

"Have you come to join us?" The enthusiastic black haired man asked.

"No unfortunately." I scratched the back of my head, wondering why it was so much easier to ask Gai if he wanted to come.

"I just wondered if you would go with me to festival. I've never been to one sooo..." I rolled my eyes awkwardly around the sky hoping the positive man would say yes.

"Of course I would like to come!" He exclaimed and laughed loudly, hooking his arm around my neck to pull me into a sideways hug.

"But I'm already accompanying a fine youthful woman." He added and planted both hands on my shoulders to look if he had hurt me.

"R-really?" I stuttered in disbelief. Even Gai had a date and there was almost two weeks before it began.

"I'm sorry Toshi, I'm a very attractive guy, lots of girls wants to go with me. You should've asked sooner." The puppy dog eyes he was giving me gave me nausea. He looked at me as if I was a fat kid riding a bike, which wasn't the case obviously, although I was a little disappointed I couldn't go with him either.

"Why don't you ask Kakashi?" He suggested with a devious light in his eyes.

"What is it with people?! Why's everyone suggesting that I go with him?! Jeez." I shrugged Gai's hands off, suddenly not caring what he thought I felt.

"Well, since he's the guy you're closest to, it should be an obvious choice..." He remarked and smirked.

Ever since my birthday Gai had been pestering to make me admit that I had a crush on Kakashi. It was so annoying that he could see it. He'd started mentioning Kakashi more often or trying to convince me to find him for some 'business' he had with the copy ninja.

I huffed embarrassed at the obviousness "Well, Kakashi already have a date." I muttered sullenly.

"Hmn?... Really?" Gai seemed genuinely startled at the news.

"Yeah. Whatever, I'll find someone else to join me." I crossed my arms, letting Gai see that it actually was irritating me.

"Can we get on with training then?" Neji interjected, looking just as sullen as I did.

"Don't worry I wont be taking anymore of Gai's time. I'll see you two around." I said and held my hands up to perform a short transportation jutsu.

"Toshi wait! Maybe you can-"

I lost the chance to hear the last thing Gai said, even if I landed only a few trees away. After two let down I wasn't really in the mood to talk more.

.

"You're lying right?" Anko breathed.

"No... Skippy." I answered and rolled my eyes "It shouldn't shock so many people. A lot of girls wants to date Kakashi. She probably asked him months ago."

"Yeah but still..." Anko took a hand to her chin like she always did when she was thinking.

"Anyway's I have a date with the smith Iwao's son Hiroaki." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"A real date?" Kurinai asked her eyes widening.

"I suppose." I answered full knowingly that it wasn't a real date, considering Hiroaki wanted to impress a girl he'd had a crush on in, like, forever.

"That means you'll have to do your hair and wear a dress." The collected woman with red hypnotic eyes said.

"Noo she doesn't." Anko shot back, ever the tomb-boy.

"Yes, and make-up too." Kurinai almost beamed at me.

I made a face, the same I make when I accidentally squash a snail under my shoe, and so did Anko.

"But I've never worn girly stuff like that." I said incredulously.

"Don't worry, me an Anko can help you pick a dress." Kurinai leaned closer to whisper in my ear- "secretly Anko like this stuff too."

"Do not!" The busty woman said.

"I'm not sure..." I didn't know why I was so intent on trying to avoid dressing up too much. I was a member of the ANBU, killed people and even had a bounty on my head, yet it was way too out of my comfort zone to put on make-up and jump in a dress.

"Sure, it'll be fun! Every man is going to fall head over heels for you." Kurinai said and popped her hip out under that dress she was wearing.

"But I don't want that." I noted carefully, raising a finger to make sure I was heard.

"You just have to pretend you're covered in your ANBU cloak. That way you'll look confident and if anyone bothers you, you can always just send them away." Anko explained, starting to shift sides to Kurinai.

"I suppose... That sounds logical." I pondered.

"And also you can make Kakashi regret that he went out with that other girl." Anko added with a devilish smirk.

"Stop that Anko. I don't want him to regret anything! Why did you even bring him up, he's so irrelevant!" I boasted at the woman.

"Of course you don't." She answered and rolled her eyes.

"Why you!" I held my hands out in a strangling grip while Anko stuck her tongue out at me.

"Stop it you two. Of course Toshi doesn't want Kakashi to regret anything, she's a good friend to him. Don't bring him up all the time Anko." Kurinai said. But it was a lie though. Of course it would be nice to see him regret his decision.

"Thank you. Finally someone with some common sense." I sighed.

"But it would be nice to see the look of regret wouldn't it?" Kurinai smirked, beaming down at me.

The two women started laughing at my expense while I gave them the glare of death.

"Use your common sense you two. You both know how Kakashi is, no woman in the world could make him feel a feeling of regret. The only regret he feels is wrong decisions made on a mission and you both know that." I explained, putting my hands defiantly on my hips.

"What? Don't think that. If anyone has a chance it's you." Kurinai said.

"Yeah, Kakashi treats you differently. It's obvious he's a bit fascinated with you." Anko added.

"... You're joking with me again. Right?" I said, my heartbeat already picking up at the information slung right in my face.

"No." Anko shot, looking it me as if I was stupid.

"That's ridiculous." I answered, shaking my head back and forth.

I didn't dare to get my hopes up, but Anko and Kurinai had been around Kakashi much longer than I and knew his habbits. If they could see he was fascinated with me, then why couldn't I see it? And what did "fascinated" mean anyways? Did that mean he saw something in me he didn't see in other women?

"You're a really beautiful girl and on top of that he respects you for being such a skilled ninja. It's only natural he would find you interesting. I've never seen him talk to other girls like he talks to you. I mean he doesn't even look at me that way." Anko said, Kurinai agreeing eagerly.

"It's just because we're close, after everything we've gone through. It's not anything romantic, so drop it already." I snapped.

It was simply too risky to get my hopes up. Maybe Anko and Kuriani was telling themselves that they saw all these signs, because they wanted me admit that I had a crush on the grey haired jounin.

"Besides, he's six years older than me." I added with a wave of the hand.

"Age is irrelevant." Anko replied and rolled her eyes- "But alright, we won't talk about Kakashi anymore. Let's go find a dress."

.

The problem with being so caught up in your job and other important things in life was that I had no clue about how to put on make-up or do my hair properly. Instead of doing the embarrassing thing and go ask Kurinai for make-up tips I decided to go look for a beauty saloon.

In spite of all my doubts, somewhere deep down I really wanted to impress Kakashi, even if he didn't show it. I'd almost forgotten how much unspoken tension there used to be between us. The only times I saw him now was if I spotted him in the crowd in the market district, but other than that, we hadn't spoken ever since my apparent rejection. The thought of awkwardness sent my body going rigid in annoyance every time, as my pride couldn't take it.

"Madam blue-licious." I read out loud when I came across a small saloon.

I suppose that'll do, after all make-up is the same thing wherever you go, I thought and heard the bell ring when I stepped inside.

"Welcome!" A deep voice with a girly edge shouted and stepped out from behind a veil of clicking pearls.

I bit my lip when I saw a man dressed as woman step out, popping his hip exaggerated when he waltzed over to shake my hand loosely. He had large black curly hair and a fiery red lipstick. He batted his fake eyelashes at me and smiled big.

"What can I do for you honey?" He asked and stared dramatically at me.

"Uhm, well, I need to look good on friday at the festival, so I was wondering if you do hair and make-up?"

"By Kami, of course I do silly! Tell me, what're you thinking?!" He asked and put the back of his hand under his chin.

Slightly stunned at the high voice and the undivided attention I thought for a moment. What did I want?

"Can you do something subtle and classic?" I asked with a shrug.

"Why of course! I know just what the boyz wants." He enthused and beamed at me- "You know what, I'll give you a free make-over today so you can see how fabulous you'll look!"

I supposed that was a good deal and agreed willingly, somewhat excited to see if I would really look that much better. With a "Okay honey just let me do my magic." I settled in a chair and didn't get to see myself for at least an hour. I had to ask many times what he was using, wondering why he was using blue colors, and how they could look subtle.

"Are you ready? You simply look stunning." He enthused and clapped his hands excited. Being a ninja it was almost sickening to see someone display so much emotion in everything he did. Kind of reminded me of Gai actually.

The drag-queen spun the chair around to a mirror and the image that met me was not of Toshi.

No, could this really be considered beautiful? The man had curled my hair in big corkscrew curls and put some of them up on top of my head. In fact, I was kind of horror struck at first seeing myself with such a thick layer of make-up. My eyebrows were drawn up in black thin lines, not matching the actual broadness and much darker than my hair color. Blue eyeshadow was applied all the way up to the black eyebrows and my eyelashes were thick with mascara. My cheeks were an unnaturally bright color of red, that looked odd on my else wise tan skin. A lipstick was applied, just as fiery red as his own was.

"So pretty." The man sighed, leaning his chin against the back of the chair as if he was in love.

"Yes... It is." I said, feeling proud I'd done this, even if this was considered pretty, I couldn't wait to see how guys would react, if it really was as Kurinai had said.

After many thank you's I left the saloon with a new boost of confidence, ready to show myself with make-up on. I noticed people looking but soon came to realize they weren't looking in an admiring way. A few younger boys snickered at me, and not long after I walked by two girls who couldn't stop staring and afterwards broke into laughter. Something was definitely wrong. I wasn't as pretty as I had thought, apparently, and the thought that make-up and me didn't go well, bumped me out.

"Did you see her? She looks like a whore." I heard a girl snicker to her boyfriend.

I clenched my fists and started running. The humiliation of how ridiculous I looked was simply too much to bear at the moment. How stupid of me to think I looked prettier, when in fact I simply looked like a whore. It was so demeaning.

For some unknown reason, my eyes started to sting with tears. How could those girls just laugh at me like that? I knew nothing about make-up or hair, so I had only assumed the madame blue knew what he was doing. Apparently not. I sprinted through the streets, holding up an arm to cover my face so no one could see.

In a flicker Kakashi's scent overwhelmed my senses. I bout around him, bumping into his shoulder by accident.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed in a sudden burst of panic.

He couldn't see me like that, not in a million years! So I sprinted forward without stopping, going right and left around people.

"Toshi wait, I-" But he was quickly out of hearing distance.

At home I scrubbed my face ferociously, only worsening the make-up that now was smudged all around my face.

"This was a bad idea." I muttered, looking at the black mascara running under my eyes and my mouth, red all around from lipstick.

I turned on the shower, hoping that water could get those horrible curls out. The water was scolding hot, but I had developed a habit of withstanding the fiery sensation until my skin was used to it. A knock on my terrace door roused me out of my thoughts. I grabbed a towel, tip toeing across the floor, taking a quick peep in the mirror before venturing outside to see who my guest was.

I almost stopped in my tracks when I saw Kakashi stand awkwardly outside the glass door. He waved a hand at me as I walked across the floor, holding my towel tightly. Sure he had seen me with less clothes, but the fact that he would see me naked if I dropped the towel put me in a vulnerable situation.

His gaze on me as I fiddled with the lock put me on edge. Why had he come? I hadn't seen him ever since I asked him to go with me to the festival. A rush of cold wind hit me when the door clicked open and I tensed visibly.

"Hey Kakashi?" I said, mussing my hair with my fingers.

"Hey..." He simply answered, staring down at me. I noticed him gulp, his eyes flickering to mine as if he had just been thinking about something else.

"Uhm, I just wanted to know if you were okay." He tried.

A frown appeared upon my brows, I wasn't quite sure what he meant. Then it hit me; he must've thought something was wrong when I ran into him in the streets earlier.

"Oh, yeah of course I am." I said bluntly and shrugged.

The copy ninja didn't seem convinced "Why were you running from me then?"

"..." There was no way in hell I was going to admit to Kakashi that I had tried to wear make-up. It was simply embarassing "That was you? Sorry I didn't see."

Wow, it was the worst lie in the world. Kakashi knew full well I would've recognized his presence from at least two streets away.

"Toshi-" Kakashi moved closer to get permission to step inside. Happy at the initiativ I moved aside and out of the cold air, still clutching my hands tightly over the towel, which somehow suddenly seemed too small.

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't ask you to go with me to the festival. I can understand if you're mad at me-"

"Wow, stop stop stop!" This conversation was going in a completely other direction than I had expected.

The grey haired man looked perplexed and slightly taken aback.

"First of all; who said I was mad at you?" I scoffed.

"I just assumed, since you ran away from me that - maybe - you were mad, I mean girls sometimes get mad when-"

"Okay, I'm not mad at you." I held my hands up to stop him from telling me all his assumptions -"you're only flattering yourself thinking that I'll get mad just because you are going with some girl to an event. Seriously why would I get mad? You're not my boyfriend or anything."

Kakashi blinked, looking slightly embarrassed and confused. An awkward silence followed and I simply wanted to hide somewhere. My mouth had been going off on its own again.

He sighed "Sorry, sometimes I forget you're not like most girls."

"That's the first time." I muttered darkly.

"It was the only possible explanation I could come up with to explain why you were avoiding me like that." He explained further, starting to look uncomfortable and irritated.

"Please." I huffed starting to feel offended, although I had been quite disappointed and down over the fact he didn't want to go with me -"I'm going with someone else anyways."

"Did you get Gai to go with you?" The copy ninja asked.

"No, just a guy." I replied.

"Was that a trick sentence? Just a Gai?"

"No, I really mean just a guy. A male you don't know."

"Oh, okay..." He answered.

Why was this so awkward? Kakashi never showed any signs of awkwardness, but right now it was like the both of us couldn't keep up the usual facade. His onyx eye was so intense and calm, the light seeming to cast a shadow under his eye socket that made his gaze so much more intense. There was an attraction so magnetic to him that my heart started beating faster and faster.

"Have you been wearing make-up?" He asked, voice unexpectedly dry.

"Uhm-" I started rubbing my eyes "No." I lied.

He raised an eyebrow skeptically. Who was I kidding anyway? I didn't even try to make an effort to hide my lie and Kakashi, trained as he was, could see right through it.

"Okay, yeah I have. But I didn't like it... That's why I was in such a hurry." I admitted reluctantly.

"Why?" He asked genuinely.

"For the festival." I admitted.

"Oh of course." He said it like it hadn't dawned upon him.

"Anyways, I'm kind of taking a shower." I gestured toward the terrace door, hoping that he would leave soon, instead of dragging this awkwardness out too much.

"Right, sorry. I'll leave now." He said and looked around the apartment expectantly.

I got the feeling he wanted to stay, especially when his eyes lingered on me for a moment. He turned kind of awkwardly, like he didn't know where to place himself.

"I'll see you around." It was his last words before he walked out the door and jumped to somewhere.

I stood there, looking out the window while comprehending what had just transpired between us... I hated Kakashi and loved him at the same time. He was so hard to read, yet he had been easy to read right now. Though his body language was obvious, I had no idea about the thoughts in his head. Why did he want to say? Did he just want to hang out? Maybe he was shocked I wasn't mad at him for not inviting me out. Who knew?

.

"Make-up?" Hana said incredulously.

"Yeah, I don't own any myself, and frankly don't know how to use it anyway." I admitted.

"Well, it's been a long time since I've worn any." Hana pondered.

The kitchen was buzzing with cooking food. Vegables was boiling, eggs were fried, meat was being grilled in the oven. Hana was mixing a dough for dumplings when I asked for help.

"Are you dressing up for the festival Toshi?" Came Yoshiko's voice from the end of the counter.

I looked back at the black haired woman, kind of surprised that she was getting herself involved in our conversation.

"Yeah, I am. But I haven't dressed up before and I kind of had this bad experiene with a beauty-saloon giving me a make-over that said 'whore'." I explained.

The slender beauty straightened her back and seemed to think about that for a moment.

"I can help you. You can burrow one of my kimono's and I'll help set your hair and put on your make-up. You'll look really classy." She suggested.

Yoshiko had always been hard to read. She rarely showed any emotions that would disturb her perfect milk-white skin. Even know, she didn't sound or look very enthusiastic. It was hard for me to mingle with women as silent and shy as her. I had no idea what to say to them. But right now, it seemed I had hit a subject she liked.

"That's a great idea Yoshiko!" Hana enthused. A waft of damp hit the side of my face and a moved out of the way, closer to Yoshiko.

"I would be really grateful if you would do that." I said, hoping for all in the world that her version of classic wasn't the same as madam blue-licious.

"Of course. You're basically a part of the family and you're helping my parents so much. I'm very grateful for that. I can't do much from my own home." She said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

I was least to say speechless. I'd always felt Yoshiko saw me as a kind of competitor of the attention of her parents, but in reality she was simply just observing and enjoying. I knew she lived in the upper district of Konoha amongst guarded mansions, but I had never considered that she simply came here to relax.

"Well uh." I became flustered at the compliment and didn't quite know how to answer.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me." I said, fidgeting with an apple laying about on the counter.

"If you come around the house at three o' clock on Friday, I'll make sure to help you." She answered.

I left the teashop with strange feeling, like what had just happened was some kind of strange dream. Yoshiko had actually helped me, spoken to me and been nice. Where did that come from? I was never good a understanding girls.

.

This should be the right address, I thought looking up at large round oak doors, an otherwise small part of a long white chalk and brick wall surrounding the whole mansion. It was hard imagining little Azami actually living here in such a private house. I knocked on the gate, feeling strangely awkward, doubting that no one could hear me. A quick clique of a shutter sent my nerves on edge before I saw a pair of eyes looking at me.

"Who's there?" A rough voice called, eyeing me warily.

"I'm Toshi. I'm here to see Yo- I mean lady Yoshiko." I said, feeling stiff and awkward about being so formal.

"You're expected." Came the answer before the shutter was shut, and the large oaken doors creaked slowly open with a long hard sigh.

"Thank you." I tried, but seemed to be speaking to no one.

I was met by a large courtyard, perfectly groomed and symmetric. It felt oddly desolate with the exception of two servant girl crossing. When I looked back at the closing gate a single ninja stood in black clothes, disappearing as soon as the gate was locked.

I suddenly didn't feel like I was dressed properly as I scurried across the courtyard and up to the broad steps, surrounded by wooden pillars and leading to a big entrance with doors almost as large as the gate's. I wasn't even sure if I was supposed go in through the front door, but when I reached the final steps and crossed the wooden floor to the door I sensed someone nearing, and waited to knock until he stood behind me.

"Please follow me miss."

I turned to another ninja in black anonymous clothes. His dark eyes were curious, I guess, because he had expected to startle me.

All around the mansion was wooden flooring, acting as a kind of terrace to whatever door we passed. The sheer size of the house left me gaping. It was beyond me how anyone could live in such a big house and manage the many servants that ran it in order for it to function.

The ninja lead me inside a smaller door at the eastern side of the mansion. The hallways were a dim labyrinth of rooms. With such a big house it dawned upon me why Azami was such a wild child. She could easily hide and slip away in such a big house, playing around for herself without being discovered.

The ninja stopped in front of two ornamented doors decorated with the paintings of dancing peacocks and sakura trees. He kneeled in front of the door. Oblivious to my manners I just stood there until I realized that I was supposed to do the same.

He knocked twice at the door after clearing his throat "Lady Yoshiko. Your guest has arrived."

"Please come in." Her light voice called.

The ninja pulled the door aside, keeping his head low. It was hard for me to take these customs seriously.

"Hey!" I enthused and got up, entering the room. I sensed the ninja beside me tense, but my manners around Yoshiko had been worse than that, if he just knew.

"It's nice to see you Toshi." She said softly, grasping my arm in a motherly manner.

"You may leave Daichi." Her eyes moved to the ninja still kneeling and he bowed deeply before closing the door without looking up.

"Wow, you're treated like a goddess here." I commented and looked around her room.

It was widely decorated with fine furniture and expensive porcelain.

"I am the lady of the house. If we don't keep a certain formality the house can't function." She explained, seeming to study me as I searched the room.

"I could never get used to that." I admitted.

"It was hard to get used to in the beginning for me too." She said.

In a matter of minutes I found myself surrounded by two servants trying futilely to brush my long hair hair and scrub my feet. It was a true test of endurance for me, to let two strange people ravage my feet and fight with my hair. Yoshiko seemed amused, maybe a bit entertained at my obvious discomfort.

"This will be you kimono, Toshi."

I peeped out from squeezed eyes when the lady Yoshiko spoke again. Delicately she held an orange golden kimono embroidered with golden streaks of paradise birds. At first I was mortified by the conspicuous colors, but after a few seconds I realized how beautiful and classic it was. The sleeves were long indicating that the woman wearing it was still without husband. It looked expensive too, even vintage.

"I can't wear such a fine dress. I'll just wreck it." Was the first thing that popped out of my mouth.

The two servants paused before continuing, ever so evident that they found me extremely rude towards the lady of the house.

"Of course you can wear it. You'll look astonishing." The timid Yoshiko said, flashing me a gentle smile.

"Thanks..." I fought a blush "but I'm not sure I wont break it."

"Don't think about that. Just enjoy the night." She enthused.

It felt odd and a bit awkward to be in her presence due to her shy nature. I was never sure of what she was thinking, not even sure if she liked me or not.

As the hours progressed I was painted with make-up, getting my hair straightened, getting my nails done. Until at last I was standing in front of a mirror, seeing a girl I did not recognize. This time though, the girl in the mirror wasn't scandously layered with thick make-up. No, this girl looked like a noble from an ancient house. She looked like a woman with power and strong connections. No one could break her. Her hair was straight and silky, parted in the middle traditionally. Her eyes popped out like a cat's but it looked natural and her skin was fresh and flawless. It was me...

"Is this me?" I muttered, noticing that even the servant girls were staring at me.

"No man can resist you tonight." Yoshiko put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me in the mirror.

I blinked, not sure how to act when looking like this. My looks exceed my expectations by far. I had no idea I could be so pretty.

"Come, your date could be here any minute." She said softly, tugging my elbow gently for me to follow.

This time we followed another passage of hallways, servants and ninja's sbutly casting admirable glances in our way as we passed. We entered a large hall where a tall man stood in a long coat, talking with my date Hiroaki. I gave him credit for punctuality, but it was obvious the smith's son was uncomfortable at being in such a fine mansion.

"You're punctual." I said, almost forgetting to be lady-like when I flashed him a smile.

Hiroaki looked lost for a moment, while the tall dark haired man turned observingly, seemingly pleasantly surprised.

"My dear. This it Toshi." Yoshiko said, introducing me to her tall husband.

"A pleasure to meet you kunoichi." He said smoothly. The way he said it made my heart skip a beat.

There was an aura of authority about him, but a certain charm to the smile tugging on his lips. So poised with a flicker of tease in his eye. He took my hand, bowed and kissed the back of my hand. For a short moment I was speechless, whereas Hiroaki just watched the scene play out in all his boyish manner.

"Uhm nice to meet you too Mr. Fujimaki." I answered, not quite sure what to do with myself.

This was Yoshiko's husband. The kiss on the hand made me feel inappropriate immediately, but Yoshiko didn't seem to mind.

"Hey Hiroaki." I added and bowed slightly to him too, he was about to say hi when Mr. Fujimaki interrupted.

"It is splendid to meet you Miss Setsuko. Yoshiko has told me much about you and your helping hand at her parents house." The dark haired man said.

I glanced at Yoshiko who seemed to flush the slightest, "Yes of course. I live there." I answered truthfully.

He smiled at me as if trying to read my mind, staring back unwavering. I didn't know what his deal was. Maybe he was so used to people being his servants, rather than just people.

"But you must be going with your date now." He looked away and stepped back, allowing us to walk towards the big doors.

"Uhm, thank you." I wasn't quite sure what to say or how to act, so I just looked at Hirokai who looked just as lost I felt.

"Nice to see you again Toshi." Hiroaki said, his voice strained as if nervous. "Will you accompany me?"

"Of course." I smiled, taking his arm as offered, hoping for all in the world I wouldn't mess this night up.

.

The sound of a woman's drunken laughter drifted from within a tent and mingled with the strains of music and chatter.

"Y-you look beautiful Toshi." Hiroaki said, scratching his neck insecurely.

"Thank you. We'll have to make Rei jealous somehow, right?" I winked at the muscled man who's macho looks didn't quite match his mellow personality.

Hiroaki nodded in agreement, his eyes falling down my orange golden kimono. The whole market district was turned into one giant festival, reminding me much of the Suna night market. Paper lanterns hang in long rows above us, swaying when the wind blew while merchants called out to costumers from stalls.

"Let's try some things while we're on the look out." I suggested and dragged the smith's son over to a stall.

It took some time for him to warm up, whereas I really just was being myself - probably more concerned about Kakashi's whereabouts in the midst of all these people. A lot of new things had been put up I noted. A ferris wheel, a large carousel and lots and lots of stalls with different games where you could win prizes. The mood was high and love was in the air, literally. Everyone smiled to one another, all grudges and bad feelings gone, like we had entered a bubble happiness and joy.

"Toshi look, she's over there." Hiroaki said and nodded his head in the direction of the bakers daughter Rei who was a small brown haired girl with quite some curves.

I grinned at him "Come on let's play a game over there then."

"I'm not sure, it may seem a bit too obvious." He pondered, his eyes flickering nervously.

"Believe me, I'm a master in making things look casual, come on." I took the guy's arm and dragged him to a nearby stall.

"She's here with her family, so there's plenty of chance you can still go with her the rest of the night. I'll just have to pretend to be mad at you at some point and then you can have her for yourself." I explained.

Whatever there was between the two, it was so obvious that I could cut the tension with a knife. The brown haired girl noticed Hiroaki immediately. I took note of the flicker of emotions that crossed her face when she saw him and thereafter me. Hooking myself in his arm I smiled up at him as he threw a dart. He missed, slightly flustered at my sudden proximity. If I had not been in such a good mood I might not have done it, but what the hell, it seemed to work wonders on Rei.

"Hey Hiroaki." The baker's daughter stood beside us now, holding her hands timidly in front of her.

"Oh, uhm, hey Rei. How are you?" It was obvious even to me that Hiroaki's heart was beating triple times.

"I'm good. What about you?" Rei's eyes flickered to me

She turned so I couldn't see her and their conversation became private. It was so obvious they liked each other much. Their body language told it all. I wondered what it would be like if Kakashi and I had been so easily able to read each other. Would I even have liked him then? There was something to the mystery that was him which attracted me. Still though, I wished I could have something as simple as the feelings between Hiroaki and Rei. The smith's soon rubbed his neck nervously and smiled at the girl. I wondered how many times he had been in love with someone.

Rei flicked her hair and blushed at something Hirako said. I'd never been in love, never had that unbelievable attraction towards someone. Sometimes I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Consequently my ideals and expectations were too high, but in reality nobody's ever made me feel like that... Except for Kakashi.

"Hiroaki, let's go somewhere else." I suggested seeing my cut to give Hiroaki his dream date.

The guy was in a dilemma. He didn't want to seem like a douche in front of his girl by letting his actual date down, but at the same time he wanted to be with the brown haired girl instead of me. I raised an eyebrow impatiently when he didn't answer and tapped my foot. I had to be the bitch and give him an ultimatum.

"Are you going to talk to the bakers girl all night or are you coming with me? There isn't room for the both of us you know." I lied and narrowed my eyes.

"But Rei is my friend." He tried. He could count himself lucky Rei wasn't a ninja - I could smell bad acting ebbing from him.

"So? She's not prettier than I am." I said, eyeing her, not with too much confidence. Rei was the baker's daughter after all and it would be a shame to burn too many bridges with the baker.

Hiroaki's protective instinct started to kick in and his eyes spit fire for a second.

"That's not true. Rei is the most beautiful girl I know." He retaliated.

I gaped at him offended, noting that Rei's attention was completely directed at Hirako now, her eyes admiring him silently.

"Take that back or I'll leave!" I said. It was odd acting so immature over a person, but then again; perhaps I would have been genuinely sad if Hiroaki had been Kakashi.

"F-fine then go. I can't take it back when it's true." He stuttered.

With a huff I turned on my heels, giving Hiroaki an acknowledging glance just before turning. I stalked off with no last words, thinking that I'd done a good deed. The further I came away from them, the less determined my steps became. When I found myself surrounded by strangers - no - couples, I heaved a deep sigh. I had yet to enjoy the festival and now I was going to explore it on my own. For some reason that thought was disheartening. I'd been so caught up in my game with Hiroaki and his crush that I had forgotten myself.

Couples passed by, absorbed in their own bubbles. Children ran by with masks, playing ninja around the oblivious couples. I looked up at the Ferris wheel, watching yellow lights slowly turning. One couple was kissing, another rested in each other's arms. At a stall to my left a man shouted victorously as he was handed a large teddy bear which he gave to a madly blushing girl.

I shifted my eyes when I felt a gaze at me. At first someone walked in the way. I thought I lost my chance to capture the eyes, but soon my eyes were locked with Kakashi's. He was far away, but stood out in the crowd as if he had some aura no one else could match. How could people not look at him? Recognition fluttered across his face after a moment and his eyes flickered involuntary. In that moment I became awfully self aware. The tall ninja had never seen me dressed up and all my insecurities came flooding in. Was the make-up too much? Did I look ridiculous in a kimono? How did my hair look?

He seemed to direct his attention briefly but reluctantly at someone speaking to him. Oh, right, he was here with his date. My eyes frantically searched for something else to look at but kept landing at him. It was hard to look at him under these circumstances. I wanted to talk to him so badly.

An electric shock ran through when he looked at me again, even from this distance his eyes were intense. There was no turning away from him now, I had to go and say hello. Every moment seemed slow and it was like the crowd suddenly cleared as we walked closer to each other.

The elite ninja's expression was, to say the least, different. His eyes were slightly widened, his gaze glued to everything else about me than my eyes. I wanted to shrink away under his stare. To have him show such obvious fascination was truly a big deal. With a confident facade I flashed him a smile, hoping I was convincing him better than myself.

"Hey." I greeted softly.

"Hey." He answered a little delayed, stopping formally and stuffing his hands into his pockets.

I wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. Kakashi Hatake was staring so much at me that I wondered if this was too much.

Just before the brief pause became awkward, Kakashi spoke "are you enjoying your night?"

He looked uncomfortable, like he didn't know what to do with himself. I noticed him gulp and his eyes finally flickered away as if realizing he had been staring too much. My scalp prickled at the idea that maybe, just maybe, the copy ninja might like me.

"Yeah, it's fun. It reminds me of the Suna night market." I said.

"Yes, I remember... " His eyes became intense again like he wasn't able to control it.

"You... Uh-" Kakashi took his hand out of his pockets in a gesture, like it would explain what he wanted to say.

"Uhm-" He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his neck "You look stunning Toshi."

It took me off guard. So much in fact that I felt myself go red. Kakashi had never said something like that to me before. In fact, I didn't even know if he liked my looks. He wants you or he wouldn't have said that, my subconscious said to me, her eyebrow figuratively raised. I slapped her down. It was enough to give me remarkable sense of confidence though.

Kakashi's POV

"Thanks. I wasn't sure if this was over the top." She said, looking down at her dress to straighten it out.

"No... No, it's... You're the most beautiful girl I've seen at this festival so far." The words just spilled out of him like a sickness and he mentally scolded himself for his body's betrayal.

Toshi blushed again and seemed nervous, self-conscious, an arm crossed slightly over her torso. But she corrected herself every time she showed those signals. Kakashi felt like his voice was going dry and hoarse, so he swallowed again. Truthfully the girl looked like an angel amongst a mass of black haired people. It was the first time, in a long time, he was unsure whether or not a woman was out of his league. A long forgotten half of himself called 'insecurity' spoke to him from the depths of his mind. There was no way someone with a background like him could ever have a woman looking so noble as she. He was sure she could have any man she wanted and there was no way someone like him could be that man.

Another half of him scolded him for not inviting her to the festival. It gave him a strong sense of regret. He could've gone with the most interesting and beautiful woman he knew, and yet he said yes to the first girl who asked him. But deep down he knew he had a chance if he dared to take it. He didn't know the exact reason why she had been so insistent in pursuing him after she had moved out. He had thought nothing of it and guessed it properly just was for reasons of attachment to the only person she knew well in Konoha. Yet as time continued to pass he found her unwavering and vying for his companionship. It seemed no matter how hard he tried to keep his distance, it never seemed to lessen her affection for him. Now he wasn't able to stay away either. It was a simple fact he now acknowledged after that night with her in his arms.

"Thanks again." She answered and gave him another smile that made him look at her lips once again.

Kakashi had no clue whether or not Toshi found him attractive in the way he found her magnetic. He didn't want to ruin their friendship and loose her, but also he knew he wanted more from her.

"Are you enjoying your date?" He asked and had to clear his throat afterwards.

The elite ninja had always been relaxed and smooth around girls and it always payed off somehow. But at the moment he found himself at loss for what to do. She knew him better than most and could easily read him. He couldn't pull off the same tricks he used to do on other girls. Kakashi simply didn't know what to do. The only thing, he realized, he could do was to watch her body language and try to soften her.

What am I thinking? I'm putting myself up for a major crash, he thought, still not able to comprehend the fact that he wanted to be around her tonight secretly hoping to capture her heart.

"Uh, he went off with another girl." She answered, now moving her beautiful eyes to somewhere in the crowd.

"What?" Kakashi heard what she said but couldn't quite comprehend it.

"He went off with a girl he liked better." She repeated with a shrug.

There was a minor melt down in Kakashi's head. How could anyone ditch the beautiful girl in front of him for another girl?

"Wh- but... " truly he didn't know what to answer to that. It was completely and utterly preposterous.

"It's alright. I knew he liked the girl beforehand. So I'll just check out the festival on my own. That's what I always do." She said and smiled timidly.

"You shouldn't be on your own. I mean you should at least have someone to enjoy the festival with." He answered, feeling a tinge of anger towards her supposedly date.

"Someone like you?" She raised an eyebrow in challenge and crossed her arms stubbornly. The sarcasm in her voice didn't go unnoticed.

"Well... Yes. Who wouldn't want to accompany you?" He responded, mentally giving himself an acknowledging pat at the blush that crept on her cheeks again.

It made him want to caress her. To see her melt into his arms as he charmed her into submission.

"There you are!" He was roused out of his inappropriate thoughts when he heard the voice of his date.

She handed him a dango which he had asked her to get while he 'said hello to a friend'. Kakashi felt himself stiffen when she attached herself to his arm, but succeeded not to show. His date looked pale in comparison to Toshi.

Toshi's POV.

There was a look of pure disgust when Kakashi's date laid eyes upon me. It was as if she was looking at an insect she wanted to squash. We sized each other up. A sharp pinch of jealousy vibrated from her and it felt suffocating, but I would not go there.

"Fuyu this is Toshi. She's a ninja too." Kakashi said gesturing to me.

"Nice to meet you." The brown haired girl flashed me the most insincere smile I'd seen and bowed slightly.

"Nice to meet you too Fuyu." I greeted, counting myself lucky that I was a little better at flashing a genuine smile.

She flashed me another fake smile "I was just getting us some dangos after Kakashi won me this plushy purse from the 'water shooting' stall. He's so good at aiming, don't you think Toshi?" The talkative brunette leaned up against his arm in girlish enthusiasm, pissing off her territory.

I subtly raised an eyebrow at Kakashi "Yeah, he's great at aiming That's probably why he's a jounin."

I mentally rolled my eyes, when she shot me a look of hate. In the past I would probably have punched her or yelled at her, but now it simply was a ridiculous thought to even act upon her behavior.

"Where's your date?" She snapped raising both eyebrows while smiling wryly.

I guess there was a part of me that didn't want to loose to her. Here I stood without a date, while she stood with a dead gorgeous date. Kakashi, trained as he was, caught up on my uncomfortableness immediately.

"Why don't we go an get a drink so Toshi doesn't have to stand here with us, hm?" He suggested.

The way he looked down at the woman, visibly softened her. She was just as susceptible to those eyes as I was.

Fuyu beamed, "we should go to that place with homemade sakes-" I got a stinging slap on my arm, courtesy of her waving hand -"I've seen two already... And who knows what might happen if I get too much sake."

She gave it all in the flirty division, batting her eyelashes while blushing at the innuendo. I for that matter wanted to throw up. Kakashi simply looked completely unaffected, his expression blank like he didn't know what she was talking about. The way he had looked at me before she came was so much different.

"Right, I'll see you around then." I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, although the thought of Kakashi making out with the girl was both angering and hurtful.

There was a look of regret in Kakashi's eyes when his date dragged him away. Like he didn't want to say goodbye. For a moment I watched his tall figure, fighting the urge to be with him and punch that girl all the way to Suna. With a sigh I turned around, the shred of good mood left in me gone completely. I had nothing to gain from staying at this festival now.

I ended up wandering around for some time though, watching a dance, seeing a man making water based ninjutsu for a kids show. I didn't decide to go home before I saw Kakashi leave the festival with his date hanging tightly to his side. The notion of him taking her home sent an unbelievable feeling of jealousy and hurt through me. Eien's chakra even acted up for a moment, scaring a few people around me. I went to an alley to calm myself down, breathing through my nose and exhaling through my mouth. It took a few minutes for me to have the chakra calm down, but after that I decided it was about time to go home.

I was fairly disappointed in all my efforts at trying to look good when Kakashi just barely even saw me for a few minutes. I took a grip of my dress and looked at it, thinking it was stupid of me to dress up... It didn't change who I was or what I'd had done. I was still a killer and a loner - now with a pretty dress and make-up on. In a minor outburst of fury I punched the wall with the bottom of my hand, feeling the wood splinter beneath the force. By kami, feelings could be intolerable!

With a sigh I started walking towards home. It wasn't going anywhere with Kakashi. Even if we had those odd intimate moments, we were both too damned stubborn to admit our feelings. I was sure Kakashi saw me as more than a friend now, especially after I'd seen the way he looked at me, but there was no way in hell he was going to act upon it. That was clear for certain! Whatever relationship we had, it was doomed to fail.

"Where're you going?"

I was roused out of my angry brooding when I heard Kakashi's voice to my surprise. In the darkness of the night, I looked up to see him crouched on a rooftop, waving casually down at me.

"Uhm, home." I responded unsure.

"Why? The night is just beginning." He said.

There was something about seeing him crouched there in his black outfit and his grey hair gently swaying in the wind.

"Obviously because festivals aren't fun alone." I shot back, wondering if he had run away from his date.

The thought sent a spark of joy through me, although it wasn't a nice thing to get excited about.

"You know, it's not fair you're sitting up there. This dress is kind of limiting." I shot at him.

He laughed briefly "spoken like a true kunoichi."

I raised an eyebrow, not sure of that was a good or bad thing, "Where's that girl you left the festival with? It isn't nice to just leave her."

The copy ninja stood up, towering on the roof and into the sky before he jumped down and landed in front of me.

"She might've gotten a little too drunk to walk. So naturally I followed her home." He explained with a devious light in his eye.

"That was quick." I answered skeptically, trying not to feel submissive under his unwavering eyes.

He moved a tad closer "Well, I can be very persuasive."

The way he said that had an undercurrent of something I couldn't identify. His voice was soft, his expression playful.

"And now I have time to show you around." He said, turning the slightest to offer me the hook of his arm.

I didn't want to seem too eager to have him show me around, although my insides where writhing in excitement. So I just looked at his arm and turned the same way as he, to walk back to the festival.

"Oh, and by the way." He leaned down and whispered into my ear "I only bring women home." His voice was low, teasing, full of dark promises. Something began to unfurl within me, something that made me blush beet red.

When I looked up at him, something between us connected. True to the shinobi he was, Kakashi's eyes didn't give away any indication of his feelings, but his words... It was like he was saying something entirely else.

He nudged me in the side, urging me to hook my arm to his. With a sigh of defeat I did as he wanted and let him walk me back to the festival.

When streets lit by lanterns surrounded us there was a strange tranquil peace between the both of us. It was as if it was the most natural thing to walk together. Maybe it was because we'd done it before in Suna, or maybe it was because of something entirely else.

The crowds were becoming massive and so the entertainment. In the shimmering lights we watched a shrine parade accompanied by high sounds of drums and large lively dolls. Now and then Kakashi would lean down to whisper in my ear and I would fight the shivers that ran down my neck. We went searching for any stall that would have any unique food we hadn't tried. The only thing we found was salesman who'd come to Konoha specifically for the this festival only to sell something he called rum.

Kakashi - who was naturally suspicious of the new drink - politely watched me as I tried a shot of two different kinds, and was afterwards convinced that it was safe to taste. I bought a small glass bottle as a kind of souvenir and memory of a somewhat successful festival. Lightly tipsy the both of us continued, more and more absorbed in our little world, our most basic ninja instincts starting to get ignored.

"You should try one of those. It's kind of customary for young people to have done at least once." Kakashi said and pointed to a small booth standing by a stall.

"What is it?" I asked with a frown.

"It's a photo booth." He responded as we made our way towards it.

I raised an eyebrow "Something for young people?"

Kakashi shrugged before we stopped to look at the commercial pictures of friends laughing and having fun on the display.

"I guess that excludes you." I snickered and nudged his shoulder playfully.

"You should try it." He said indifferently and searched his pockets before pulling up a coin.

"You just put some money in it." He opened the curtain and we both peeped inside.

I had to admit that my curiosity was getting the best of me. I'd never owned a picture of myself.

"Alright-" I took the coin out of his hand and sat down looking at the screen in front of me -"So I just put the coin in here and push that red button, right?"

I did as mentioned on the screen and popped the coin inside. Kakashi who was still peeping inside shifted in his stance and was about to leave.

"You should be on the picture too!" I demanded more than suggested and scooted over.

"Nah, I'm not really a picture kind of guy. I'm too old for this." He said.

"Come on! Just this one time." I looked up at him, plastering on the best tortured puppy dog eyes I could manage- "Pleease."

The jounin who still lingered by the curtain looked like he was in a serious moral debate with himself. Like some kind of force was pulling him away, but his mind was set to stay.

"Fine." He sighed in defeat, obviously not comfortable about giving in.

It was not the largest seat in the world. The proximity between was us was none existing as he sat down, shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh.

"So how does it work?" I asked, finding it almost suffocating to be in such a small space with the elite ninja. None of us was comfortable in small spaces, a bad work related habit, I suppose.

"Maybe you should press the button." He suggested, looking kind of stiff and awkward.

"Oh right." I leaned forward, about to press the red button when a flash went off, momentarily blinding me.

Both of us stood up in an alarming rate. The copy ninja had magically conjured a kunai into his hand, crouching towards the machine while I jumped up on the seat, holding up my guard.

"What just happened?" I asked, my heart going crazy in adrenalin.

"I think it was the fla-" another flash went off.

"Jeez! It's taking pictures already? Quick!" I said and we both rushed back down on the seat, Kakashi swooping away his kunai.

"You're sitting on my dress." I could feel the tug towards him when he sat down on some fabric.

"Sorry." He muttered, placing his arm behind my head on the opposite wall to lift himself off the unhandy dress.

These pictures had to be the worst in the history of photo booths and the thought forced a chuckle out through me teeth as I pulled the fabric away from under him.

Another flash blinded us.

"We're not very good at this are we?" He commented and removed his arm.

"Being civilian is not as easy as it looks." I answered dryly.

"Embarrassing that two Black Ops can't even take a decent picture."

A knowing, devious glance was passed between the both of us. In a second we burst into laughter, and when the laughter slowly subsided the last flash went off.

"I'm out of here." Kakashi said, promptly getting up and exiting the booth.

I followed close behind and we waited for a minute or two before the booth spat out a strip of pictures. Still hot, I took it up to see four pictures. Kakashi came up to my side to look at it, warmth emitting from him.

On the first picture was a close-up of me with an uncomfortable looking Kakashi in the background.

On the second, half of my upper body was gone when I had hastily sprung up on the bench. Kakashi on the other hand had a fierce look of determination and a kunai pointed at the camera. A rush of excitement ran through me as I allowed myself to stare at that gorgeous deathly expression, forever printed on a piece of paper.

I pointed to it and snickered, looking to see his reaction "That one is funny."

Kakashi tilted his head studying the picture silently.

The third picture made me blush beed red. He had his arm around me and our eyes connected and I smiled sheepishly. We looked like a couple in love.

In the last one we were both laughing, for once looking relaxed and normal. The picture reminded me of how much struggle we've gone through together to be where we are now.

"It might not be the best pictures, but I'm going to keep it." I said after a moment.

"If you didn't, I would." He answered with a shrug.

It was a sweet thought to have the pictures of us hanging in his apartment. So sweet, in fact that, I didn't know what to answer.

After that the festival became a blur of emotions and colors. Along the way we met Gai and his date, ran into Naruto and Sasuke. The only thing I really noticed was Kakashi and I's proximity growing closer and more carefree. Sometimes he would put his hand on the small of my back, even brush his thumb once or twice while holding me.

A band was playing in the center of the festival at a big stage, lit up by small lanterns. Couples danced slowly to the soothing rythms of a man's voice and a deep bass, absorbed in their own little world. The copy ninja who was taller than I, stopped to watch them along the circle of people that surrounded the dance floor. When I subtly glanced up at him there was a look in his eyes that made the butterflies in my stomach go wild. It was look of longing and peace. He was considering to take me out for a dance I could tell. I swallowed hard and looked away from his handsome side profile. I wasn't sure if I could dance so intimately as those couples. The attraction I felt towards Kakashi was so strong at the moment that I wasn't sure if I could hold back. In fact it was so bad that I sometimes felt sick and frightened.

"Come." He nudged me forward without even asking if I wanted to. He must've read my thoughts or maybe he knew I knew...

"Uhm..." I looked at the couples hesitantly.

A look of insecurity passed Kakashi's expression. It was out of place to see that on him, but it made me change my mind immediately. If Kakashi was feeling unsure around me, he must really have cared what I thought of it.

"Alright." I enthused, faking it obviously, and pulled him forward this time.

The elite ninja took the lead right away, and like the couples around us our world became a small bubble in a second. It was only his eyes, and he locked them with mine. He took my hand and placed the other on my back and pulled me close without hesitation. I didn't know what to do. Like a magnet I followed his lead instinctively.

"Human." the singer kept singing, and I couldn't help but seeing him for the person he was.

Not the elite ninja, not the copy ninja or Kakashi-sensei. He was Kakashi Hatake and all his flaws was what made him so beautiful, I realized. I couldn't keep looking at those eyes. In fact I don't think I had ever looked at his eyes and seeing them looking back at me for such a long time. I leaned my head in the hollow of his neck and breathed in. He grabbed me harder, moving his other hand around me into an embrace.

Finally there was something that connected between us. He held me close like he was never going to let go, and the thought of us ever letting go made me sick. It was a pain going deep, a pain that followed years of no love or affection. How could someone like me deserve to have someone like him so close?

I wanted to get away. I always wanted to get away when this happened between us. Why couldn't I get over myself?

"I just can't keep hanging on." The singer sang.

Something stroke a blow like a hammer to my chest, and the monster of grief awakened, clawing at my eyes and throat. Was that the sickness I constantly was trying to escape around him? I bit my lip and clenched my eyes. Trying to hold back the tears. Tears of not deserving to have someone trust me so much, to hold me so close.

I fought the tears back and tried tricking my mind into happy thoughts. Anything could help the situation. Maybe if I teased him, or mocked him I would be less tense. I pulled away the slightest. He seemed reluctant to let go.

"This is unlike you." I said, raising an eyebrow.

He looked offended and perplexed at the same time. It gave me sense of control of the situation, although the words were kind of degrading. He could take, I did no doubt.

"The same goes for you." He raised an eyebrow back in challenge.

We sized each other up, the tension growing tenfold with electricity. He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. My lips quivered in restraint. His scent was suffocating.

"Hey Kakashi!" Came a loud voice, cutting through the song like ice.

Like a scissor, Gai's voice had cut right through the tension like he had short-circuited it. Kakashi looked to his left, and I almost fell over my own feet at the sudden interference. I looked at Kakashi's prominent jawline to the gorgeous straight bridge of his nose.

Then I saw Gai, waving frantically at us from the mass of people surrounding the dance floor.

I sensed Kakashi sigh, muttering something sounding awfully a lot like 'bad timing as always'. The moment, whatever it was, was ruined and gone. Somehow I felt like I was saved by the bell, but somehow I felt disappointed too. I marveled at Kakashi as he steered me along, calm as anything, slipping between couples like he was more liquid than solid with consumate ease.

"Hey you guys!" Gai greeted happily.

"We need another couple to join us in the drinking games!" He added.

Both of us, still not quite over that moment, shared a look.

"I suppose." I answered with a shrug, trying to read Kakashi if he wanted to do the same.

"Why not." The copy ninja said nodding at Gai after a moment.

A barrage of people were gathered around a large tent when Gai lead us towards the drinking games. An odd scent was evident in this area. It was a mix of sake, bile and human sweat. Obviously the games had been going on for quite a wile now. I looked at Kakashi who seemed to find the smell just as unappealing as I did.

"I signed us up for a team drinking game! Of course us men can drink the most, so we'll simply have the girls fill up new cups." Gai shouted over the many people talking.

"But that means we'll get really drunk." Kakashi responded skeptically.

"But we'll win!" Gai nudged his grey haired friend in the side.

With much reluctance, it seemed that Gai finally convinced Kakashi of joining the drinking games. The price was nothing to speak of. At every single match each member of the teams won a gift certificate for ichiraku ramen.

Infectous shouts started all around the crowd when the start horn had blown the signal. Men on both teams gorged down shots of sake one after the other. When on of the two jounins would stop I tried to help out by taking over for a short time. But neither our team or the competing team held on for very long. When one of the guys from the opposite table suddenly turned and puked, the game was over and our team had won. Caught up by the all around mood I gave a victorious shout before attacking Kakashi in a big hug. He wobbled under me, pulling me away to smile down at me. Gai swung his arm around my neck with a "I told you we could do it!". It suddenly didn't matter that everyone was touching me. Even Gai's date took my hands while jumping around in a circle and the host came over congratulating us, like it was some kind of big deal. It was a strange mood of happiness, light, people and nightsky - as if there was no tomorrow.

.

"Look at you, all drunk." I mused teasingly.

Kakashi was trying to open the front door to his apartment building, his usually so precise aim not that, well, precise anymore.

"I'm not drunk." He muttered, tilting slightly to the left.

"No, you're drunk in love." I teased, pinching his ear.

He responded with a sigh and shrugged my hand away. I don't know where I found the guts to tease him like that, but maybe it was the fact that he was never going to admit that he was attracted to me. Maybe he wasn't attracted to me the way I was to him, but I was only starting to discover my feminine power. He was a guy, and most guys worked the same way, especially when they were drunk. It was simply fun.

"What has gotten into you?" He said, finally unlocking the door and stumbling inside the hallway.

I swooped in front of him as we started climbing the stairs and walked backwards up the stairs while smiling at him.

"It kind of amuses me how easy guys are to lure in. I mean sometimes all it takes is just a bit of swaying with the hips." I said, flashing a smile full of tease.

He growled lowly before answering, "I suppose. A good thing that doesn't apply to me."

"It applies to every guy." I said and raised and eyebrow as we reached the second floor.

"Maybe, but not when you read body language so easily. Sometimes things become too obvious." He responded.

Still walking backwards I stopped, reaching out for his keys.

"Then you know I'm flirting with you." I dared say.

I must've been drunker than I realized. I just said that with no hesitation. He stopped when I blocked his way and looked at my hand. Kakashi's lack of proximity only showed how drunk he actually was. Warmth emitted from his body, briefly putting my mind off course.

"Certainly-" He quirked an eyebrow tentatively -"But you're only trying to tease me. Your purpose doesn't go beyond that."

He handed me his keys, our hands brushing each other for a short moment. The sensation of his warm hand send a shiver up my arm, stirring the butterflies in my stomach. He'd figured me out pretty well. I wouldn't know what to do if he actually acted upon my flirtatious attempts.

I shrugged "Who knows." Turning around I walked a few more steps to his door.

"You do." He breathed, looming closely behind me as I stuck in the key and turned the lock.

I tried controlling my breath when I felt him breathe in my neck, pushing the door open as fast as I could.

"True." I replied and stalked into his room, breathing in his scent and recalling the times I used to sleep here.

I turned around to see him staring back at me from the door way. The copy ninja looked away and stepped to the the shelves by his door to turn on the lights with a sigh.

"Fortunately for me, I'm the mind reader, not you." I reminded him, giving in to the pull of him and walked closer.

"I can read your mind and I know you like me." I teased, fronting him directly, enjoying to be able to be so provocative. It was a part lie. I wasn't sure how much he liked me.

"Well then you can't read my mind very well." He responded, towering over me and moving closer.

His breath, sweet and ripe from sake came down on me as he stepped closer. His words didn't match his actions, his body language was consuming, his chest so close to me. Suddenly confused I let go a little and reached out to feel his mood, although he usually was so good at hiding it.

I would've been a dunce, a telepathic null, not to feel the waves of frustration and longing that rolled off of him. A shocker. How could I not have felt that? My breath hitched, as the feeling hit me. He didn't just like me. He wanted me badly.

"You have no idea how tentative you are." He breathed, moving a hand to a strand of hair to remove it delicately like I was the most fragile thing in the world.

"You might be able to feel moods. But I can read your body as well. I can hear your heart beating faster. I can hear the change in your breathing, when I touch your skin. I can see the way you try to control your hands." He said.

His hand slid down to my neck, his eyes seeming to search every little detail of my skin. I didn't know what to do. I was like frozen to the spot, not able to comprehend what was happening. My back straightened like ruler at his touch. Before I could think more of it, he had his arm around my back, forehead pressed against mine as his visible eye stared hungrily into mine, as he pushed me backwards until we hit the wall rather violently, like some predator stalking its pray.

"Your scent... You're driving me crazy." He muttered darkly.

He moved his head to the hollow of my neck, burrowing his nose into my hair.

"Kakashi, I..." My voice had become a low squeak and it kind of surprised me. Somehow in one shift movement he managed to lift me off the ground, pinned against the wall.

My body, treacherous, started to act on its own. I pulled my arms around his neck in a kind of hug, burrowing my face in his grey hair. I couldn't control my breath anymore, it came out heavy. His lips was on the side of my neck now. Soft, gentle and hungry. I sighed in delight. How could something feel so good, but be so full of restraint at the same time? I ran a hand up his neck and into his hair, basking in the sensation. He arched his back, writhing against me, one of his hands running down my side and to my thigh.

But under the surface a panic was bubbling in me. Did I want this? Kakashi was drunk. Would I just be another one of his conquests? I certainly didn't want that. What if he was to regret this tomorrow?

Doubt started to take over my craving for him. But god, it was good. I leaned my head against the wall when he moved to my collarbone. But...

"Kakashi." I whispered, gulping right after for doing this "Please stop."

It was like he didn't register at first, and I didn't mind. After a moment he looked up, a slight scowl evident on his brows. His lips were wet and glistening in the dim yellow light. His mask hang loosely around his neck, I'd almost forgotten that. By kami I wanted to kiss him. His eye showed confusion though, but his arms were still claiming me.

"I... I just want to sleep." I mustered and looked away.

A long silence followed afterwards. It was obvious he felt turned down. Something he probably wasn't used to much.

"Alright." He sighed, and let me slide slowly down to the ground again.

This was so awkward. I wanted him... But not this way. I couldn't tell him that. It was all so confusing. There was so many things unsaid. The elite ninja didn't even bother to ask.

The dress, tugged over my thighs was disheveled along with my hair. It felt odd, although my body was still burning with desire for his touch.

"I'll go an take my make-up off." I sighed.

Kakashi wasn't looking at me, but had moved to the middle of the room, staring out of the window silently. I wasn't sure if I had hurt him. Maybe it was a blow to his ego, but I highly doubted I could've hurt him into being mad at me. He nodded in responds though and I fled out of the room and into the bathroom out in the hallway.

I let out a deep sigh as soon as the door was locked, and melted down on the white tile floor. Now that I had removed myself from the situation I could really feel the impact on my body. My knees were weak, my hands were shaking, my heart was beating so fast that I was sweating. I brushed a hand over my forehead, recalling the feeling of his lips on my neck, his longing for me, his soft hair between my fingers...

Did I just miss my only chance of ever feeling Kakashi's lips on mine? I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the door, feeling myself cool down and it was like the silence of the room finally started to sink in.

After minute of cooling my emotions off I got up, meeting the image of myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess... But my make-up was miraculously in place. While I washed it off, I wondered what Kakashi was doing right now and what he was thinking. Did he think I was mad at him? Obviously I still had issues with being too close to people physically. It amazed me how much my past still affected me, like it was deeply rooted into my soul that physical contact was something that would hurt me, no matter how good it felt.

When I was done and entered his apartment again, he was already in his bed. He stirred and peeped up like he had been lightly asleep. Relief seemed to wash over his face when he saw me in the pale light of the moon.

"You came back." He stated as if I had run away.

"Well, yeah. I said I was going to the bathroom." I responded as a matter of fact.

"I know... You just seemed spooked." He replied hoarsely.

I walked silently to the edge of the bed and sat down with my back towards him. I wasn't sure of I should have that talk while he was still drunk.

"You know how I am." I said evasively "But I could use some help with untying the sash."

I could hear him sit up in the bed. His scent hit me double when he came closer, looming behind me. Why did I say no him? He was so hot, and he was sitting right behind me, ready if I threw myself at him.

Kakashi's POV.

His fingers started tangling with the sash. She pulled her hair to one side to make it easier for him, closing her eyes relaxed. Unnecessarily he pulled off the sash for her and started working on the second underneath. His breathing shifted and got heavier like before. Her body reacted instantly to his breathing.

The second sash fell off and the kimono slid down her right shoulder, revealing it to him. When she was about to tug it up, he brushed his fingers over the soft skin of her shoulder. When he saw her shining in the dim light he seemed to loose the power of speech. His throat felt as dry as Suna's sands. Silent he sat, drinking in the glories of her body, the curves at waist and hip. Her skin was smooth beneath his fingers, as warm to the touch as sand baked by the sun. Her hair was sandy and thick and smelled of apples and earthy smells that made him so hard it almost hurt.

"You're beautiful, Toshi." He whispered dryly.

She wasn't moving. Just sat there in restraint. It was obvious her body wanted the same as he, but something inside her was holding her back. Even if he was drunk, he didn't want to push her. Sometimes he simply had to remind himself that she was also the orphan girl he had beaten and taken to prison.

He noticed the goosebumps erupting on her soft skin and simply wanted to hold her, rip her clothes off and find her mouth. He sighed and pulled the kimono over her shoulder.

"Thank you." She whispered.

He watched her change, biting his lips subtly to keep his desires at bay as he watched the hollow of her throat and the round breast inside a bra. He rolled on his back and the room seemed to swim around him. He took a deep breath in, trying to steady his rigid body. He couldn't remember the last time his body had reacted such a way to a woman. It was almost as if the room was too small. The madras moved when she sat down and swooped under the covers, and his body went back to a rigid state. But it was heavy too. When he moved his head to look at her it was as if gravity pulled twice as hard. How much did he drink? His eyelids were heavy. But she was there, right beside him. Somehow he managed to reach out and pull her into his chest. She curled up against him with a sigh. He could barely register how soft her skin was now. The copy ninja wasn't content with that fact, cursing himself for having been drinking too much. Eventually he gave in to sleep.

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I hope you liked this chapter!

This one focused more on the romanctic part rather than all the ninja related things.

Next chapter will be one that'll make all of you finally release that breath you've been holding throughout the story. ;)