Eeek, I love all of you so dearly for the reviews on 18. Dearie me! Oh, also, don't you love the smell of the plot getting moving? Well...more plot getting moving! There were a few correct guesses as to this guy's identity last chapter and I think I let it slip to a few others. He's fun in the coming arc.

Funfacts!

Funfact: Back in the day there were three methods of inheritance in Japan. Option 1: Have a son, everything is amazing. Option 2: Have a daughter, convince some dude to marry her + marry into the family, everything is amazing and no one is happy. Option 3: If lacking children, convince dude or dude and his wife to become your adopted children. Sakura's parents originally planned on using Option 2, but then their daughter married out to better prospects. A plus, yes, but distinctly leaving them sans heir-bait.

Funfact: Kids were supposed to take care of their parents in their old age, and those parents also helped out by taking care of children or cooking and such. That's why it's "so difficult" to raise children (at least in "western" family units) in the 20th and 21st centuries, because grandma and grandpa have been removed from the childrearing equation for the most part. What was once shared between 2-4 people has become the work shared by two people with societal Judging! heaped on parents who bring in additional people to care for kids. Funtimes! D:

Funfact: Samurai usually had facial hair when they could grow it. But you are all having to put up with more of my Jedi-handwaving skills here because...because...YOU CAN'T MAKE ME PUT A BEARD ON KAKASHI.

Funfact: After the rice harvest everyone usually gets together and has a big party that's all about rice (you know, the one I totally skipped over earlier because it's huge. I had Asuma and Kakashi get tipsy on the porch instead), and everyone decides who grew the best tasting rice, etc. No, seriously. This happens today.

Funotherstuff: One of you guys figured out the connection between Tenzou and Sarutobi in a PM to me. I'll give you the same hintish I gave them. Re-read chapters 13 and a little bit of 17, and add in your guesses for Iruka's wife. That's all I'm giving you, since that's all they got!

On that note...

Enjoy!

It was often still dark when she woke up, so Sakura couldn't see Kakashi's face when she reached for it. What she usually did was press her palm against his chest or neck and follow his skin up to his jaw, then smooth her hand across his cheek. Kakashi would usually wake up when she did it, at least the first few times he had. She was still getting used to touching him just as he was getting used to touching her. But this morning he only mumbled a little in his sleep, holding her tighter instead of waking.

His cheek was rough, scratchy with stubble and Sakura almost giggled at him for it. Her husband refused to grow a beard, refused to wear his hair like any other samurai, preferring to be generally comfortable than correct. Her initial impressions of him, made more than a year ago, had been so far off base that she almost laughed at them now. He cared a great deal about traditions, rules, laws—but he was willing to bend those every now and then when he wanted to, often to extremes. Kakashi was by no means a rigid man by society's measure—he was, rather, rigid in morals and decisions. He took life as it came to him, judged his course of action depending upon the wind rather than the time of day, and brooked no refusals as he did so.

She liked being married to him, and she decided she was glad that the fates had brought them together as they had. She'd never expected to marry for love, but it was love she'd found with him. She always thanked Sakumo for raising such a man when she tended to the butsudan, for it was surely his guidance that had helped form the man that Kakashi had grown to be.

Tenzou decided to re-sew the young man's wounds himself. He had to know if there was any terrible infection brewing in his new roommate's injuries. It was a terribly messy proposition but his stitches were of better quality and it was for his own mental health—and the patient's, of course. His patient was awake sometimes but stared around himself without any recognition of his surroundings. He never spoke, falling back to sleep easily. He hadn't even whimpered when Tenzou had taken out the stitches initially, and only winced in his sleep when they were reapplied.

He asked Kurenai to check on the man when she could during the day as there were things he had to tend on the farm even as winter truly set in. Those chores couldn't be abandoned and Kurenai was visiting him anyway on account of Asuma also helping out. He pretended not to notice the happy smile she now wore, the furtive glances she sent at Asuma, or the way her hand would just brush her stomach. Tenzou wondered, genuinely, how dense his neighbor was or how incredibly unexcited he was—it was obvious that Kurenai knew she was pregnant and only waiting to tell Asuma the news.

Unless Asuma was truly that unruffled by the news he would finally have a child. The two had been married for nearly four years now, and because of how exuberant the Sarutobi man normally was, Tenzou doubted Kurenai had mentioned anything. He was quite sure that if Asuma knew he was to be a father, Tenzou would be the very first to hear of it. Their apparent success, however, chastened Tenzou into making a proper visit to the butsudan and praying that Sakura and Kakashi had the same luck.

While Asuma and Kurenai had gone years without children, there was nothing else remarkable about them. They were wholly normal for the Fujimi local society. Kakashi and Sakura, on the other hand…well, they by now had some pretty strange rumors floating around concerning when and how their children would come about. It was only for their benefit that he prayed—so that the rumors didn't become even more strange as time went by with no signs of a Hatake heir.

Kakashi woke up early on their last day in Iimori. He kissed Sakura's shoulder before getting up to dress and shave—he wanted to find Masaki and take him aside before either Sakura or Ume distracted him somehow. Or the man in question escaped to his shop in town, because then Kakashi would have to make a major production of finding him and getting him on his own. Something had occurred to him a few months ago, but only now did it really ring true as the right course of action.

Sakura had been Masaki's only child—the only way of securing a male heir was through her, or adoption. But that obviously wasn't something Masaki was interested in these days, because in over a year Kakashi would have thought his father-in-law would have found someone interested in inheriting the house and business of a wealthy merchant. This left Kakashi more sure of his offer, that it would be perhaps looked favorably upon.

Masaki was warming his hands at the fire when Kakashi made his way into the main living room. He sat across from Ume, whose hair was an even more fiery orange than usual in the light of the cooking fire. Over the past week and a half Kakashi had just about trained both of them out of bowing relentlessly when they spoke to him or addressed him—he came, he continued to insist, as their son-in-law Kakashi not as a landed samurai. But there was still a minute hesitation in both of them as he sat down and made himself comfortable, shaking off the chill of the bath house he'd just come from.

"Masaki, may I have a word with you before you leave for the day?"

"Of course, Kakashi," he said, twitching as he resisted bowing his whole body—the compromise the three of them had reached was a quick bow of the head, which still grated at Kakashi but he was tired of fighting against his two in-laws at that point.

"I hope you're not going to traumatize my father, Kakashi," Sakura said, her voice coming from across the room behind him. Kakashi turned a little, squinting in the darkness, as he smiled at her. She crossed the room quietly, trying to stifle a yawn. It wasn't any earlier today than when they normally got up at home, but they'd been forbidden from getting up early to help with chores—they were visiting, Ume insisted, and wouldn't be forced to work more than she could help it. But this morning was of course the day they were to leave, so it was best to try to cover as much distance as possible—hopefully to get home before dark.

They ate breakfast in comfortable silence, and Ume let Sakura help her clean up—for the first time since they'd arrived, perhaps to extend the time spent together with her daughter. Kakashi and Masaki however went outside to move some firewood from the stack near the gate to against the house so it could dry properly in the icy winter air.

"So, you said you'd like a word," Masaki said as he loaded Kakashi's arms up with logs.

"I did indeed," he said around the growing pile he held. Masaki soon finished with him and started to pick up his own pieces. Kakashi decided that was a go-ahead if he was ever going to get one.

"I realize that you hoped Sakura would marry a man that you could adopt to inherit your business and wealth—and carry on both. And I know that I am certainly not that man, as I told you in the spring I have little desire to learn or practice your trade. You said to me once you are not as strong as your own father-in-law was, and I have thought on those words for a long time. I'm not so strong as you are, either. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Sakura for so long on trips as you do your wife."

"And you are a samurai and I a merchant, let us not forget that Kakashi," Masaki muttered, his eyes resolutely trained forward rather than turned to look at Kakashi as they headed back towards the house.

"I have not, but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about—I wanted to bring up what we spoke briefly about in the spring. Sakura has saved enough from our finances this year that we are going to try to start a family soon. We…we are trying," he swore to himself that he hadn't stuttered over the admission, he hadn't. Masaki frowned a bit but nodded, dropping first his own logs before starting to unload Kakashi's arms.

"Sakura and I of course will take both of you in when you deem yourselves ready, as we agreed on last time we spoke of this, but your help—once children are about especially—is always welcome in my home. Even if you were to leave everything behind here in Iimori, we have enough saved in money and rice to feed and clothe two more people. And perhaps in the next few years Sarutobi-sama will redistrict the land-holdings and my family will benefit…Sakura has brought such luck upon my head since our marriage that I cannot but hope she will continue to do so."

"So you are encouraging us to move to Fujimi sooner rather than later?"

"Yes—besides, children are supposed to look after their parents once they are old enough to do so. Sakura cannot do much from Fujimi for either of you while you still live here in Iimori. All I ask is you think on it. I'm sure you and Ume would like to see your grandchildren often," Kakashi hinted as the last of the wood was taken from him. Masaki chuckled, but with a wry twist to his face.

"See them often, yes—hear their constant cries in the night as infants? I don't know. I will speak with Ume about it, Kakashi…you are right that it is difficult enough to raise children with the aid of one's parents, I'm sure it would be quite hard on Sakura if she had to run your house as well as care for your children all by herself."

They stood in awkward silence for a few moments then, before Masaki cleared his throat and spoke again. He'd decided on something, and Kakashi kept carefully silent so as not to interrupt.

"I will see about taking on an apprentice soon, in hopes of leaving my business to him soon. And when Sakura gives you reason to hope for a child of your own, you should write to me immediately—both to inform and warn." Genuine pleasure and amusement marked his father-in-law's face then, and Kakashi allowed his own smile to break out in response. He would certainly appreciate Masaki's addition to the house—Tenzou would have someone to commiserate with about Kakashi's behavior, and Sakura would be happy to have her mother and father around once again.

Less than an hour later, he and Sakura started out of town towards home.

It was getting dark as they entered Fujimi, so Kakashi stopped momentarily to get the innkeeper to light their lantern. He had looked strangely at the two of them, but had kept his opinions to himself. Sakura stood at his side and smiled up at him once the flame took properly to the wick. She put her hands safely in the crook of his elbow as they walked out of town towards home. It was very cold outside, but Kakashi was very warm with her tucked against his side as she was.

He was glad to have spoken with Masaki—hopefully he would bring some of his own money to add to the family finances when he moved, but even then Kakashi's words had been true. They could handle feeding two extra mouths now that the debts had been paid, as well as Sakura saving a great deal of their money over the last year. This fall's harvest had been excellent as well, and it was widely agreed in Fujimi that the Hatake rice had been the tastiest of the season. It was hard to believe that Sakura didn't carry a little bit of magic around with her.

They spoke softly in the darkness as they went home—still another hour's walk down the road—of what tricks they might pull on Tenzou. Sakura told him that she was wary of giving Kakashi ideas, apparently she thought that he would prank her as well if given half a chance. Kakashi had, in his estimation, wisely said he would never do such a thing—Sakura had peered at his face in evident distrust of his word, which was equally wise, if not a little paranoid. But that frog idea was definitely going to see the light of day come spring.

There was no light hanging on the gate post as they approached the house, but there were a few lights on inside. Tenzou might not have expected them until midday tomorrow, as the weather was turning from generally rainy to generally snowy and they might have had to stop for the night at the ryokan between Iimori and Fujimi.

Kakashi led the way up the steps to the alcove where they both sat to remove their sandals. He got his off first so he picked up both his load and Sakura's and headed inside. The main room was beautifully warm as he stepped inside, and he looked towards the fire where Tenzou was likely making dinner. Tenzou was making dinner as was expected, yes, but laid out on a futon near the fire was an unconscious man. That was very unexpected.

"Tenzou?" he glanced Kakashi's way briefly before going back to stirring the soup.

"Yes Kakashi?"

"There's a man in my living room." Tenzou's eyes flicked towards him again before giving up on tending the food, focusing on Kakashi instead.

"Yes, there is."

Kakashi sighed deeply and it was only because his arms were still loaded up with gear from the trip that he didn't drag a hand down his face. Tenzou had a reason for this, Tenzou always had a reason to do the things he did. Kakashi trusted that, but that didn't make it less frustrating.

"Is the ofuro hot?" his servant nodded a yes in response. "Then I'm going to put this stuff away, and then Sakura and I are going to wash. And then I'm going to come back in here, and when I do, I am going to need a full explanation of why there's an unconscious man in my living room." He sensed Sakura at his elbow, peering around him as he solidly blocked the doorway.

"Sakura, please go out to the bath house, I'll be there in a little bit."

The bath warmed them both up, but didn't warm Kakashi enough that he was going to let Sakura be around the stranger in the house. So he directed her to go to their room and wait for him there for a little while—he made a note to bring her supper with him, as she would be hungry. Tenzou was lifting their guest up by the shoulders to slip a little broth down his throat when Kakashi came back in. He knelt down and served himself a small bowl of the stuff as well. It wasn't as good as Sakura's, but she had been taught to cook food pleasurable to eat, and Tenzou had been taught to cook food that wouldn't make others sick. Besides, they had both lived just fine on Tenzou's cooking before Sakura came to them, it was almost nostalgic.

"So…" Kakashi started the conversation, choosing to leave his previous questions hanging in the air.

"He was found outside of the village four days ago, the innkeeper wouldn't take him in and sent him to Sarutobi-sama. Sarutobi-sama gave us money to care for him over the winter, and he said he would increase your stipend come spring. Before planting so that you get the full benefit of the gift."

"Has he spoken?"

"No, he's been unconscious for the most part since he got here—he has stab wounds, I wanted you to look at them before they'd healed too much but…he's been healing remarkably fast." Kakashi frowned a little at that. Tenzou had treated his father Sakumo's wounds, and had seen stab wounds before. The brown haired man looked at him steadily, waiting for Kakashi to think it over for a little.

"They seemed strange, Kakashi…as though they were self-inflicted. But he wasn't found with a weapon, and the idea is only based on one of them." Kakashi stared down at the pale face showing just above the blanket, trying to make out if the man were conscious at the moment. The man's illness and obvious loss of blood—else why would he be so very pale?—were why the house had been so warm earlier. But that was the only answer he'd managed to gather. He sighed deeply, rocking backwards onto his heels before standing up. His eyes flicked away from their new guest towards Tenzou.

"At least Sarutobi-sama is giving us the funds to feed another mouth, especially so soon after I informed Sakura's parents they should make arrangements to live with us as soon as they can—we have enough as we are to feed two more, but not three. Where have you been keeping him?" Kakashi suddenly remembered he was bringing soup to his wife, but Tenzou beat him to it. His eyes were on the bowl he held, but his response was still quick.

"He sleeps at night in my room so that I can keep an eye on him, and during the day I bring him out here to be with the fire. Kurenai looks in on him from time to time."

"Good."

The next morning dawned with frost—he didn't even have to get up and go outside with a light to know how cold it was—and Kakashi found himself very against the idea of even going to the bath house to shave. Sakura was huddled up against him, her face pressed on his chest as well as hidden under the blanket. The warmth trapped between them was wonderful, but the chill on his back reminded Kakashi that they would need to get out more blankets soon if they wanted to be warm in the mornings. In Iimori they'd been piled on, but that was because Iimori was already getting snow—it had been colder there for longer.

Eventually Sakura woke up and talked him into getting up, but that still took some time—they'd walked for the entire day yesterday, he really just wanted to sleep in. But as their room gradually lightened as dawn broke, her words finally took effect. They walked together out to the main room, where Tenzou was already heating water for breakfast. Their guest was laid out once more near the fire, putting up weak hands against Pakkun's inspection of his face. Kakashi smirked—several months ago Pakkun had crashed through their shoji and licked both him and Sakura awake, so he was very well acquainted with where his guest found himself.

"Pakkun, no," he said, pointing instead at Sakura. The dog's attention turned towards her immediately, and he nearly bounced over to her to similarly smother her with dog kisses. The man, vaguely conscious, blinked slowly around himself before settling a consternated look on Kakashi's face—well, several inches above his face.

"I'm Hatake Kakashi, a samurai of Fujimi district under the rule of Sarutobi Hiruzen. It would appear that I am to be your host as you recover," he let the man take that in for a moment before hesitantly asking after the man's own name and origins.

"I'm…" black eyes roved around a little, and Kakashi noted that they were bright with fever, "I'm afraid I don't know where that is…and" he laughed softly, but there was almost a desperate quality to the sound, "I'm not exactly sure I remember my own name."

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