Warning
suggestive content incoming

Chapter 38

The early morning breeze made its way through the open window and gently brushed past the curtains. Feeling the chill of the cool breeze, Keiko stirred from her slumber and snuggled closer into the warmth she found herself in. The world had a harsh way of trying to wake her before she wanted to and this was one of those moments. She was warm and content to continue her dream, the subtle scent of mint lulling her back to sleep.

She had intended on going back to sleep but something stopped her. That scent, it was out of place. As was the solid chest she clung to. Her eyes opened and she gasped. Gaining a better understanding of her surroundings.

The reality she faced was Kakashi. Realizing that he was in her bed, their legs intertwined beneath the covers and her face buried in his chest. His arms strung loosely around her. Her face blazed in color as she lifted her head to look at him, resting on her elbow to do so. She took the opportunity to study him, thinking about the events that had ended with them falling asleep in the same bed.

While she had changed into her usual night dress, a short navy blue silk kimono and matching shorts. Kakashi had only removed his ninja attire. His vest, headband, shoes and weapons rested in the corner of the room so he was only in his pants and undershirt. Toned arms exposed and the mask pooled around his neck, allowing her full view of his face. The gentle yet masculine features that had been hidden for so long were captivating. She had been attracted to Kakashi longer than she would like to admit, but to see just how attractive of a man he really was… It felt almost wrong to see his face now.

Keiko could feel her heart beating erratically in her chest as the reality of the situation slowly sank in. Through the nerves, a soft smile broke across her face as she gazed upon him.

He liked her. Kakashi Hatake, Konoha's fierce Copy Ninja, returned her feelings.

It did feel like a dream.

The corner of his mouth pulled into a half smile. His voice cracked lazily, "Good morning." He breathed a deep refreshing breath and his eyes opened just a crack. He could feel her looking at him and turned to meet her gaze with both eyes. Seeing her there like that was enough to make his heart sing. Black hair falling like a curtain around her. The silk of her kimono slipping over her shoulder slightly, showing more of that tantalizing skin. The blush that rested upon her cheeks only served to enhance the gentle beauty of her smile. Not to mention those eyes that were filled with an adoration he swore never to take for granted.

Keiko chuckled, a nervous excitement sending butterflies flying wild within her chest. "Good morning," she said in return, reaching out to brush her hand against his cheek. When her fingers made contact, Kakashi jumped slightly and his eyes widened a fraction. Making her hand recoil as if she had been burned. "I'm sorry," she breathed in surprise. She hadn't meant to startle him. After the events of the previous evening she assumed this was nothing.

His hand quickly grasped her own and held it gently, "No." He didn't need her to be sorry. There was nothing to apologize for. "I guess I'm just not used to it." He held her hand up to his face where she originally intended, "It's nice." He could not remember the last time someone had touched his face without the mask to block it. The feeling of her cool skin against his was wonderful.

The warm and fuzzy feeling only grew and she leaned over to place a chaste kiss on his lips. "We'll have to change that." She spoke softly, her thumb caressing his exposed cheek.

Kakashi could feel a mischievous smirk cross his face and he shifted their position. Her back rested upon the mattress and he looked down into those luminous blue eyes. "I'll hold you to that." He stated, leaning down to press his lips against hers.

Keiko leaned up to meet him, her hand finding its way into his hair. While they had done plenty of this the night before it was still just as breathtaking. When he had told her about her drunken boldness there was a part of her that was disappointed she couldn't seem to remember the encounter. She quickly realized that it didn't matter. There would be more than enough opportunities to make up for one lost memory.

Soon, Kakashi's lips left hers, opting to leave a trail of featherlight kisses down her throat. The response she gave to his attention only served to spur him on further. Her breathing grew shallow, his name passed her lips in a breathy sigh as she tilted her head to the side to allow him further access. He grinned against that smooth skin. His once light kisses turned more heated and deliberate.

When Keiko felt his tongue glide over her skin she sucked in a breath, her hands tightening their hold on him. He was laid over her, the weight of his body pressing her into the mattress. The pressure did nothing to quell her steadily growing desire. She could feel his hands resting on her hips and slowly gliding their way under her top. The rough calloused skin was a stark contrast to her own. His touch was so light as he explored, gently grazing the skin of her sides and stomach. Her back arched and a shameless moan passed her lips, her eyes rolling back as she lost herself in the sensations she had only ever read about. Even through the haze of her desire she realized how lewd she sounded and her hand clamped over her mouth in embarrassment.

She felt perfect beneath him. With every nibble and caress he bestowed upon her there seemed to be a new sound or reaction. He wanted to feel more of her. He wanted to hear more of her entrancing music. He wanted to show her just how much she meant to him. How long had it been since he started picturing doing these things to her? How long had he laid in bed at night wondering how it would feel to have her by his side? The reality was far better than he had ever expected or dreamed it would be. Even now, he felt like he was in a beautiful dream and he fully intended on giving her everything she deserved.

He suddenly came to realize that those cute little moans were silenced and he knew why. One of his hands quickly reached up and held her wrist above her head. At the same time he bit at her neck, eliciting a startled yelp that quickly morphed into a low guttural moan.

The nails of her free hand dug into his back, a satisfactory growl rumbling in his chest. For a fleeting moment Keiko was thankful Kakashi still had a layer to save his skin from her nails. That thought was quickly driven out by an overwhelming desire to touch him. The hand trapped above her head struggled to get free but his grip only tightened. As skilled of a fighter as she was, Keiko couldn't help but feel completely defenseless against him. She trusted him not to break her but knowing that he was more than capable of doing so only drove her to higher peaks. Her nails trailed down to the hem of his shirt to under neath where she was able to feel the toned muscles of his back. Her leg looped over his hips, pressing him closer to her. Feeling the proof of his own desire against her.

Kakashi's grip on her wrist tightened, suppressing the urge to take her then and there. His free hand quickly fell on her thigh, caressing that smooth skin until his fingers rested within her shorts. Tightening his hold on the luscious mound of her backside. His nose trailed from her neck down to the loose opening of her top, pushing it aside to lavish the soft flesh there with his attention.

"Keiko! Are you seriously still aslee-!?"

Both adults froze, growing ridged when they heard that unmistakable voice.

The woman in question slowly turned her head, her eyes so wide she feared they might pop out of her skull. Crouched in the window, holding the curtain to the side was none other than Naruto. His expression showed just how horrified he was at the sight he had stumbled in on.

Naruto gapped at them, his hand raised to point at them fervently as he stumbled over his words. His face turned scarlet. Trying to string together a sentence before falling out of the window, unable to keep his focus on his balance.

Knowing that his student was no longer present, Kakashi quickly lifted himself off of Keiko and placed the mask back in position. Thankfully when Naruto had so rudely interrupted them his face had been hidden from view. For Naruto to get so close to them… he really had let his guard down.

As soon as Kakashi was off of her, Keiko sat up straight and threw the covers off of herself. Her clothes were disheveled and she had to straighten out her top before leaning out the window only to see Naruto was nowhere to be seen. She sighed heavily and closed the window, closing the curtains along with it. Naruto had seen them… She only hoped that he wouldn't be too traumatized by what he saw. Thank God they were both at least partially clothed. Had he popped in maybe five minutes later and he would have seen something far more explicit… Her face was the shade of a ripe tomato as she looked over her shoulder toward Kakashi who was still sitting on her bed.

A long and awkward silence fell over them. The entrancing atmosphere was no more as they had to face what they could have done had Naruto not shown up to interrupt. Slowly she moved to sit on the side of the bed, Kakashi shifting to sit beside her.

"So..." Keiko tried to start, but wasn't sure where to begin. She hadn't ever been in a situation quite like that before. The missions she had been on where she had to seduce a target were nothing like that. Their touch hadn't sent a burning fire deep to her core, made her shiver in anticipation and desire. She had also always been sure to end it before it had gotten too far. If Kakashi had wanted to she would have let him do anything he wanted… but was she ready for that?

Kakashi leaned forward, resting his weight onto his knees and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry." He hadn't meant for it to go so far. He wanted it to, but even he could see it was too soon for it. That being said, it was all dependent on her. If Keiko felt ready then he would use everything he had to give her the time of her life.

She shook her head, brought her hair to rest over her shoulder as usual and ran her fingers through it. "Don't be… I-" She faltered, smiling through her embarrassment, "It was nice."

Beneath the mask he could feel himself smirking. While he liked to think he was above the manly boasting and pride that he saw in other men, he couldn't help but feel a little smug. He felt confident that his experience in this field far surpassed her own. While for years he had been satiating his desires through the written word he couldn't forget those early days. Whether it had been for a mission or simply to try and fill the void within himself after he had lost everything, experience was experience. He wasn't proud of how he got his skills, but at least now he could put them to good use. One thing was for certain. He had never felt as good as he did with those nameless faces as he did with Keiko. He lifted his head and offered a reassuring eye smile. His voice held a teasing edge to it, "I certainly hope you weren't pretending."

Somehow the idea of her faking it was even more embarrassing and she covered her face with her hands. "Like I would ever do that."

When she raised her hand to her face he noticed how her wrist was red. His brows furrowed and he reached out to take her hand, inspecting the color. It shouldn't leave a lasting mark but it looked as though it would have been uncomfortable. A sudden feeling of guilt washed over him and for the second time he apologized.

Keiko shook her head and without thinking opened her mouth, "Don't be, I liked it."

Kakashi froze, his gaze lifting to see her eyes were as wide as his own.

She stuttered, the blush returning in full force, "What I mean- Well, what I meant is that-" She shut her mouth and quickly stood, making her way toward her bedroom door. "Ya know, forget I said anything."

As soon as her hand rested on the doorknob she could feel his presence behind her. Rough hands circled around her waist and pulled her back into a sturdy chest. She could feel his warm breath against her ear as he whispered, "A little pain with the pleasure, hm?"

Her blush turned crimson and her hold on the door tightened. Not able to think of a witty comeback she wrenched the door open and made her way into the bathroom. She looked back, a flustered smile across her face, "You should get dressed. We're back on missions tomorrow and we both have things to do."

Kakashi was going to agree with her but blinked slowly when for the first time he noticed all the marks littering the base of her neck. Instead, he nodded slowly as the door to the bathroom closed. A faint blush rose to his cheeks as he realized just how fragile her skin was. Perhaps he should be a little more gentle next time…

The thought of a next time only served to make him grin like an idiot. He turned and grabbed his headband, tying it in place. Now, what could he do to ensure that Naruto wouldn't be there to interrupt next time?

Within the bathroom Keiko leaned back against the door and sighed heavily to calm herself. For a few moments she just stood there, looking at the floor in wonder and astonishment. Her body tingled, thinking over every moment and every touch they had exchanged. A hand rested on her neck, tracing the spots Kakashi had given such lavish attention.

Despite the rather eventful night and morning, Keiko felt much more energized than she had before. She realized that she had slept through the night and she had to wonder if that was because of Kakashi… He had always had a calming effect on her. Keiko stood straighter and turned to the mirror to brush out her hair. She had to wonder if this would be how their mornings were from now on.

When she looked up into the mirror to begin brushing she froze. Keiko dropped her brush and it clattered against the linoleum floor. Her hands reaching up and pulling open her top to see even more marks. Trailing from her neck to her collar and even a little lower. Her fingers traced them one by one and she could feel herself blush for the umpteenth time that morning.

How could she walk around the village with these?!

~0~

Keiko made her way down the hall and into the mission room. She could certainly tell it had been a long time since she had been there as there were mountains of scrolls littered about and her once great organization seemed to have gone to the wayside. She had meant to only stop by for a short visit. Say hello before heading off to the hospital to see someone, but now she wasn't sure if it would be so short.

Two people were bent over the desk, writing furiously until one of them noticed her at the door. A young woman no older than twenty smiled brightly, "Hello! Here for a mission or two?" The girl laughed and gestured over to the stack of paper next to her. Keiko didn't answer right away and took a moment to study her. Fair complexion, shoulder length dark brown hair and large doe eyes. Keiko smiled in return, she was rather adorable.

Iruka sighed, not expecting the next Shinobi to be there for another ten minutes. When he saw who it was she jumped, "Keiko!" He stood, hands on the desk as he leaned forward. "You should be in bed recovering! What are you doing out and about?" He paused, "Also... I've never seen you wear a scarf before..."

Keiko smiled and gave a short nonchalant wave of her hand, "Well, it was a little cold this morning."

Her long-time friend didn't buy it. He'd never seen her wear a scarf unless it was blistering cold. When she put her mind to it she could resist the cold better than any Shinobi he knew! It made perfect sense considering her abilities. Before he had another chance to speak, the girl sitting to his side gasped. She stood as well, hopping over the desk and grasping Keiko's hand. "You're Keiko? Iruka's told me so much about you! You're even prettier than he described! I'm Remi, Remi Inuzuka!"

Keiko was a little taken aback by the sheer energy the girl seemed to possess. That was until she said her name and it all made sense. The Inuzuka were well known for their boundless energy and she was no exception to that rule. Her eyes also shifted over to Iruka at the mention of her first name. So, this was the Remi he had been so eager to go meet up with. She smiled, "It's wonderful to meet you Remi. Seems you've been keeping Iruka company while I've been away. He's mentioned you."

Remi stood a little straighter, "He has?" The faintest of blushes crossed her face and she looked back at Iruka who happened to have even more color dusting his cheeks.

Keiko chuckled, readjusting her scarf, "Oh, yes, he was very eager to see you last I remember."

Iruka wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. He spoke her name in warning but it held none of the malice required to even attempt to threaten her.

The Jonin looked around the room once again, "Do you two need some help?"

Remi beamed, "That would be gre-!"

"No!" Iruka cut her off. "Keiko, you're set to go out on a mission tomorrow and you just woke up from a coma. Take this time to rest, not load yourself with more work!"

"Weren't you the one that said I should work twice as hard when I get back?" Keiko teased.

The man sighed in frustration, "That was when you were just hungover, not bedridden for weeks!"

Remi turned her head from one person to the other. "Wow. You two do bicker like an old married couple."

While Iruka sputtered trying to form a response Keiko laughed, "We have known each other for years. But he's more like a brother to me. Family." She lifted her gaze to look at Iruka and her smile only grew. "I suppose I'll be leaving you then, I do have someone I need to see before it gets too late." She turned and made her way back out through the door before looking back and winking toward Iruka, "Don't have too much fun."

She left, leaving the two in silence. While Iruka blushed heavily, Remi only smiled. She turned back to Iruka and laughed, "I see why you like her so much."

~0~

As Keiko approached the hospital she kept an eye out for an unmistakable flash of orange. What on earth was she going to say to that boy when she finally found him? The look of absolute horror on his face was concerning, not to mention how he had instantly ran away without a word. Who knows who he had gone and blabbed to. Maybe Jiraiya? She couldn't imagine what kind of things Naruto could have possibly seen or witnessed around that man.

She sighed and readjusted the scarf around her neck. She would have to tell Kakashi to leave marks where only they could see them. It was obvious to her that Iruka didn't buy her excuse.

Walking through the halls of the hospital it was eerily quiet. It was one of the many things she disliked about them. The silence was usually done out of respect for those needing rest but it always hit a little different for her. She much preferred the bustling and lively activity of the market or a similar location.

When she approached the room she intended, she paused. Muffled voices came into focus and she moved slowly, not wanting to alert them of her presence. Once she was close enough to hear them she stopped and strained to listen.

"I told you! They were all over each other!" Naruto said, flailing his arms wildly as he tried to get them to listen.

"Naruto, would you quiet down? Sasuke needs his rest." Sakura huffed and crossed her arms. Naruto had come bounding through the window like a lunatic. Speaking incoherently about something and she wasn't in the mood for it. The capacity she had for patience was running dangerously low and she didn't want to lose it and smack him just for being irritating.

The blonde's eyes narrowed for a moment. Even though Sasuke was sitting right there in bed and perfectly able to speak for himself, Sakura was doing it for him. That jerk had no idea how lucky he was. He heard Sakura had been worried sick over him for weeks and Sasuke didn't even say thank you. Regardless of that, he was relieved to see Sasuke was alright too. He shook his head, getting back to the task at hand. "No, Sakura, you don't get it!" Naruto leaned forward and spoke a little quieter, "I think it was Kakashi Sensei."

She gasped, all the irritation Sakura had been experiencing was now gone. "You mean, Keiko and Kakashi Sensei?"

Naruto nodded fervently, "Yeah, you see what I mean?! I guess, I have to assume it was Kakashi Sensei. The hair kinda spoke for itself. I just can't believe you were right!" Sakura had told him way back during the Chunin Exams that she thought something was going on between them but he didn't want to believe it. He thought Sakura was just being a girl and making something out of nothing but now there was no denying it.

A sudden thought crossed his mind and he grabbed his head in frustration, fingers digging into his hair, "Gah, I should have stuck around to see his face!"

At that, both his teammates perked up slightly. Sakura gaped, "You mean his mask was down?! You didn't see it?"

"No," he held out his hand to gesture where Kakashi's head had been, "he had his head hidden like this, ya know?"

Sakura and Sasuke both blushed, Sakura's much more prevalent. "Oh my god." She felt embarrassed for them. At the same time, her inner self was boasting, she knew it was going to happen! "Why would you interrupt them like that!?"

Naruto flushed crimson, "I didn't exactly mean to see them like that, ya know!"

Sasuke hid his blush well. "Yeah, we get it. Just drop it." Then he saw the door creak slightly and instantly recognized who it was, "Keiko."

Naruto and Sakura turned and both jumped in surprise when they saw her. Standing in the door was none other than Keiko, a smile on her face as always. The two of them shared a horrified glance, just how much had Keiko heard?

"Hello everyone." She greeted them. "How are we all doing today?" Keiko didn't let it slip just how embarrassed she really was in front of the three students. As long as they didn't ask her to elaborate on what Naruto had stumbled on then it would be fine.

Sakura opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by Naruto who pointed at her and demanded, "Alright, Keiko! Spill! Are you and Kakashi Sensei dating!?"

Silence settled over the room. Keiko's eyes scan each one of their faces, finding a varying array of eager curiosity and stubborn indifference. "It's not good to peep, Naruto. You don't want to follow all of Master Jiraiya's examples." Naruto sputtered but was cut off as Keiko smiled at Sakura. "Sakura, I saw a wonderful little stand selling Onigiri on the way over. Why don't you and Naruto go enjoy some?"

The girl blinked before suddenly realizing the message. Her eyes flickered back to Sasuke. What did Keiko have to talk to Sasuke about?

"Keiko! You didn't answer the question!" Naruto insisted but was quickly shut up by Sakura grabbing him by the arm and yanking him out the door.

Keiko shook her head as she watched them go. Naruto's protests and Sakura's constant shushing were easily heard until they were far down the hall. She shut the door and turned to walk up to the bed the young Uchiha was still sitting up in. "How are you feeling?"

She didn't receive an answer but that wasn't surprising. A sigh passed her lips and she took a seat in the chair Sakura had been occupying just moments before. "I heard you ran into your brother, Itachi."

Just the mere mention of his name was enough to put the boy on edge. So, that's what she wanted to talk about. Sasuke could feel his hands tighten into fists and his jaw clench, "So did you. What of it?"

Blue eyes studied the young Uchiha before she nodded, "I did." There was another pause and she watched him carefully, "Did you let your anger cloud your judgment like I did?"

He paused, looking up to meet her gaze through his hair, "What do you mean?"

Keiko sat straighter in the chair, the smile falling from her face completely. "When I saw him for the first time in so long, I felt nothing but hatred. How could I not? After everything he had done to the Uchiha Clan, and to you. We both saw what happened that night."

Sasuke growled, "You didn't see anything. You weren't there. You have no idea the suffering I've been through!" His voice raised to the point he was nearly yelling at her.

Unlike in the past when she would smile apologetically and back away to give him space, Keiko stood her ground. Even he had to admit the lack of a smile seemed off.

Keiko didn't respond for a minute, "I was there." Sasuke was about to protest but she held up a hand to stop him. "That night haunts me even to this day. I followed you home only to see that the entire Clan had been slaughtered." She could still clearly picture the bodies littering the streets. "I knew I had to find you. I had to be sure that you were safe. When I stumbled across you it looked like Itachi was going to do the same to you."

Sasuke was watching her openly now, eyes wide in a mixture of emotions. Keiko had been there? He remembered that night in great detail and past arriving home he never thought that she was there. He also found himself resonating with her. When he heard that Itachi was back and that he was after Naruto, he had to be sure Naruto was safe. Not only did he finally have a chance to face his brother again, but there was no way Naruto stood a chance against him. He couldn't let him face that alone.

She continued, "Itachi was like a younger brother to me. Of course, I didn't know much about the inner workings of his life, but I thought I had a good grasp of what kind of person he was. That's why I struggled for so long after what he did. For months I struggled with guilt. I blamed myself and thought that maybe there was something I could have done. If I had spoken to him more about his personal life. Made him open up… Would he have done it?"

He growled, "Weren't you the one who said not to linger in the past?" He was angry. When Keiko had spoken to him about this in the past she had always seemed to take the high ground in the conversation. But now it seemed like she was going backward. Doing the opposite she told him to do.

"I did. And we shouldn't." Keiko said simply, undeterred by his outburst. "That guilt and sorrow slowly turned to anger. I've suppressed it over the years but I never dealt with it. Seeing him again made it all come back to the surface. I lost my temper, lashed out and acted irrational. And so did you. Look how we ended up." Sasuke didn't have a response. "I know you want revenge, Sasuke. I know you want to become strong enough to defeat Itachi. But, you have to let go of that anger."

"Shut up!"

Keiko sat quietly, watching the growing anger and resentment bubbling to the surface within the young Uchiha. His dark eyes flashed, the Sharingan making itself known as he snarled. "It's because of my anger that I've gotten this far. I can't stop now! Nothing you say is going to change that!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. "You can become stronger without the need for revenge. Like Naruto." The subtle clench in the boy's jaw when she mentioned Naruto was not lost on her. "He's grown stronger than anyone expected him to. Not for revenge, but for his dream. And to protect those closest to him."

"Neither of you could possibly understand! I especially don't need to be lectured by someone who has never had to face the same loneliness I have!"

Keiko stood, making her way over to the door. She could feel Sasuke's eyes burning holes into the back of her skull. Running into Itachi had stirred up feelings within them both. She wasn't sure what she had hoped to accomplish by visiting him, but she had to try. Just before reaching for the door, she turned back toward him and smiled. "There are others that understand you more than you know. You just have to open up, Sasuke." The door opened and she took a step through it. "Sakura and Naruto should be back shortly. They're your team, you can trust them."

And she was gone.

The Sharingan faded and Sasuke was left to think over what she had said. His fingers laced into his hair and he could taste blood from where he had bitten into his cheek in frustration. She was right. Naruto had grown stronger. That reckless, clueless, knucklehead of a ninja had been starting to over shadow him for a while now. When he thought about it before, it only made him want to improve more to not let Naruto show him up. But now all he could think was how? Why?

'...to protect those closest to him...'

His jaw clenched. He wasn't Naruto.

~0~

Nose buried in his favorite book, Kakashi walked down the street on a leisurely stroll. A small smile hidden under the mask as he read the scene again and again. It was all too reminiscent of what had happened that morning. Those events had been on his mind nearly constantly. Even after he had returned to his own home and taken a long cool shower.

She was right that he should get some more rest, but he would much rather wait for her to get done with whatever she had planned. Spending the night with her again was on the forefront of his mind and he had to wonder if he would come off as clingy if he swung by later.

"Kakashi!"

A sturdy arm looped over his shoulders and he was pulled into someone's side. He blinked in surprise, looking over to see none other than Keiko's father.

Musashi grinned, a knowing glint in his eye, "How are you doing, young man? Have a good night last night?"

Young man? While he was still in his prime, Kakashi found it odd to be called young when he was only a few years away from thirty. That thought was quickly pushed aside as he coughed, placing his book back into his pocket. This was the father of the woman he had nearly slept with that same morning. He could feel a blush work it's way onto his face, "It was... eventful."

Musashi nodded, his grip on the Jonin tightening as he led them down the street, "Good to hear! I've been meaning to have a word with you, if you don't mind."

Why did it feel like he was about to be interrogated? He offered one of his famous eye smiles, "Uh, of course not."

"Great." The older man smiled widely.

Kakashi didn't know what he had expected, but sitting at Ichiraku's with Keiko's father wasn't it. Musashi was quiet and Kakashi couldn't stand the silence any longer. "So, how is rebuilding the village coming along?" The sounds of construction could still be heard, even weeks after the incident.

The man nodded in thought, "It's actually coming along faster than expected. Thankfully the damage wasn't as severe as it was when the Nine Tailed fox attacked. Even so, most of my spare time has been devoted to helping different clans and families rebuild their homes."

"I see," Kakashi said, "I heard you spent an awful lot of time at the hospital as well while we were recovering." We, being Keiko and himself.

He shrugged, taking a sip of the tea Ayame had sat in front of him. He cast the Jonin a sidelong glance, "She is my only daughter. It would be crazy for me not to worry."

The Shinobi easily saw past the double meaning. Kakashi laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head, "Of course." While Musashi wasn't a threat in the traditional sense, the last thing he wanted was to be on the wrong foot with him now that he and Keiko were… involved.

Teuchi lifted his head when the curtain was brushed aside and smiled widely, "Ah, Keiko! Long time no see! Finally up and out of that hospital bed."

Kakashi and Musashi both turned and sure enough there was Keiko, walking over to them and taking the seat between them. She beamed at the shop owner as she took her seat, "It's wonderful to be back. You couldn't keep me away for too long." Once her usual order was placed she turned to her father, "When you asked me to meet you here I didn't expect Kakashi to join us. Not that I mind." She said softly, looking over her shoulder to smile at him.

Across the counter, Teuchi and Ayame shared a glance when they saw the famous Copy Ninja blush. They heard a lot of gossip pass through the shop and it seemed like they were getting confirmation to one rumor that had been floating around for ages now. Ayame had to turn away and suppress a giggle. Keiko certainly was lucky. She had seen a glimpse of Kakashi's face once and it was all she could think about for a week!

Musashi greeted his daughter warmly and rested his cheek in his hand, "I stumbled upon Kakashi on the way here and thought it might be a good opportunity for the three of us to spend a little time together. Get to know the man a little better." he watched the two of them, a sly grin forming. When Keiko took a sip of her tea he finished, "You know, before he makes me a grandfather."

Everyone in the shop, Teuchi and Ayame included, jumped in shock. Keiko nearly choked on her tea and Kakashi whipped his head around to face the man. How could he speak so openly about that?! He had to cover his face with his hand, worried that the intense heat would be enough to burn his mask right off his face.

Musashi cackled, the reactions upon their faces were priceless! He threw his head back in laughter as Keiko desperately coughed to clear the tea out of her airway.

"Father!" She finally scolded, her cheeks flushed, "W-Why would you say something like that?!"

His laughter finally subsided and he took a deep breath to settle down. He wiped a tear from his eye and smiled, "Oh, just speaking the truth, Kiko. I've got a good idea of what's going on between you two. No reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed over it."

Keiko was unimpressed. It was a little different when it was her father saying those things. She didn't need him knowing what she did in her personal life, at least not when it came to that.

He waved a hand dismissively, "Don't worry, I'm happy for the both of you. Just so long as Kakashi here doesn't do anything to upset you, that is."

Kakashi was still trying to get past the shock of Musashi's statement when he felt a soft hand rest on his thigh. He blinked, realizing that the hand belonged to Keiko. His eye met her own and she smiled up at him lovingly, her soft touch gliding further north with each passing second until it rested on his inner thigh. The further north she explored the shallower his breathing became. He twitched, flabbergasted that she was bold enough to tease him in a place like this. She had been nothing but a blushing mess that morning and now it seemed the tables had turned.

Keiko smiled, "Oh, he doesn't do anything I don't like."

Musashi smirked, having an idea of what was going on and he sighed. Memories of his own past lover entering his thoughts. "You're just like your mother."

This was fun. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! :)

I don't think there will be any Rated M content in this story. I think I'll probably post a separate one-shot for those moments eventually.

Don't forget to Favorite, Follow, and Review!

Posted - 11/3/2021