For the first time in a very long time, Kakashi felt content.

They had easily established a routine where Kakashi would slip into Kotori's window every evening. They would make dinner and spend the evening talking or reading or writing reports before tumbling into bed together. He enjoyed being able to share the mundane observations he had made during the day. He enjoyed being able to touch someone and bring them pleasure rather than pain. More than anything, he enjoyed having someone who valued him for something other than his skill as a shinobi. He had no idea what exactly Kotori saw in him, but it made him want to try to be worthy of her affections.

The only problem was keeping his feelings for Kotori hidden from everyone else. He felt as if it was written plain across his face in neon letters. He felt as if any rogue shinobi would try and steal her from him. Considering the disasters that had befallen those he cared about, he bitterly thought that he would have a front row seat when - no if - something were to happen to Kotori.

He would do anything to avoid that outcome, even if it meant losing her as his girlfriend.

So he remained as aloof and distant in public as he had prior to them getting together. As far as the rest of the team was concerned, nothing had changed between them. Tenzo huffed and threw pointed glances. Yugao gave him the stink eye. Genma told him to quit sulking. The team believed Kotori was dating someone and the general consensus was that he was jealous. He could live with that.

Kotori could not.

This had been the first time in months that they were separated for any significant length of time. Kakashi had been taking a few one or two day missions, secure in the knowledge that Kotori was waiting for him back in Konoha. Meanwhile, Kotori had been working on a security project that kept her in the village.

The morning that she and Genma had received their new assignment and set out from headquarters, he had wanted to grab her and hold her and ask her to be safe. Of all the places to be sent, it had to be Kiri. The orders had come from the Hokage himself otherwise Kakashi would have gone in her place. Kiri was dangerous. The Seven Ninja Swordsman of the Mist were only the start. They were an unstable village and home to some of the most depraved and bloodthirsty shinobi. They had earned themselves the nickname of the Bloody Mist Village. Kakashi had tried to block out the memory of waking up in a pool of blood, Rin's body just out of reach.

He remained stoic as he saw them off. Kakashi had fallen back on years of being the hardened ANBU captain and gave a clipped response when Kotori said goodbye. The hurt look she gave him before slipping on her mask only registered after she flickered out of reach. His chest felt empty, as if she had stolen his heart and taken it with her to Kiri. There had only been a day to torture himself over their parting before Kakashi found himself hunting down a rogue shinobi with Tenzo, Satoshi and Yugao.

He had just returned from the mission and had briefed the Hokage while Tenzo and Yugao dropped off the prisoner to Ibiki. Seeing Genma in the ANBU locker room filled him with relief. It meant that they had both come back. Genma would not be his usual nonchalant self if his mission partner had been seriously injured or killed. Still, he needed to confirm it.

"Report," he said to Genma.

Genma shrugged. "Mission was a success. As suspected, Kiri has a new Mizukage, a teenager by the name of Karatachi Yagara. The village has become unstable under his leadership. However, they seem too busy fighting each other to become much of a threat in the short term. I would gather they're heading for a civil war if their rebels can organize themselves."

Kakashi would lose no sleep if Kiri tore itself apart. So long as they didn't drag Konoha into their mess. Kakashi also happened to be privy to the information that Yagara was also the jinchuriki of the three-tails. Kiri had managed to recapture it shortly after it resurfaced and sealed it within the boy.

He thanked Genma and informed him that they would meet in three days. For the first time in his life, Kakashi wanted the full two recovery days they were allowed after a mission.

He took to the roofs, using what little remained of his chakra to send an earth clone to his apartment. He concealed himself as he went in the opposite direction. Kakashi landed on the windowsill to Kotori's bedroom. The window was locked for once. She had taken to leaving it unlocked for him. He wasn't sure if it was deliberate to keep him out or as a security measure. Coming back from Kiri would have anyone on edge.

He could feel the eyes of her chakra birds on him. One of them dove at his head from a nearby tree. Kakashi plucked it out of the air and held it in the palm of his hand. "It's just me."

The bird puffed its chest and let out a chirping noise. The window slid open, however his way inside was blocked.

"You're back."

"Tori-chan - " The diminutive pet name he had started calling her made her melt every time. Except for tonight. It seemed to infuriate her.

"Don't call me that, Captain. We're not that familiar."

His shoulders slumped. He deserved it. From the edge in her tone to the words that she said. It didn't help the fact that it still stung.

"Can I come in?" He asked. "I don't want to have this conversation in your window."

He was worried they would attract a crowd. He knew Tenzo lived in this building as well as Yamashiro Aoba. Tenzo would probably be happy for them, if a little peeved that Kakashi had kept this secret. However Aoba had a big mouth and would have this circulating around the jonin standby station by dawn. He would probably exaggerate it too.

She backed away, letting him enter her bedroom. She crossed her arms, hesitating even as she tried to close herself off to him. He knew she had a hard time staying annoyed with him. It was something he hoped was still true tonight.

"I'm sorry," he said. He gently pushed a rogue lock of hair behind her ear and her expression softened. "I've made a lot of enemies over the years. I'm in every Bingo Book, if Kiri or Kumo or Iwa knew who you were to me - they would use you to get to me."

"Kakashi, that's a little obvious," she said, rolling her eyes. The softness vanished and she was angry once again. Her green eyes were now as hard as emeralds. Her hands dropped to her sides as they curled into fists. "How naive do you think I am? Do you think I'm not aware of the risks? I just want you to be nicer to me in public. I'm not asking you to carve our names into every tree. This hot and cold act needs to stop, it's confusing - "

He could concede that there was no reason to be so indifferent to her. It was unnecessarily cruel.

"We should at least be able to tell our friends the truth. Tenzo, Genma, Yugao and Aimi," she continued. "That's only four people and it would make life a hell of a lot easier for both of us. You know they would be happy for us."

Tenzo would never compromise a comrade. Yugao had proven herself trustworthy. Aimi was an unknown, however he would trust Kotori's judgement. Genma was the only potential problem because he was the link between Team Ro and Kakashi's peers from the academy. While Genma would never purposely jeopardize Kotori's safety and reveal her to an enemy, he had an annoying tendency to gossip within the village.

"Fine," he slowly agreed, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. "We can start with them."

"Really?"

She was letting him hug her now. That was good. More than good, really. After a long mission and two weeks apart, he really just wanted to hold her in his arms. Coming back to someone - having a reason to come back - it was a nice feeling.

Kotori staggered a little under his weight. "You're chakra exhausted again, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"A bath will help," she said as she gently tugged him towards her bathroom. "I was about to make dinner too. Rest and carbs are the best remedy for chakra exhaustion. How does stir fry sound?"

She was drawing him a bath and making him dinner. Usually he just collapsed in bed after a mission. Kakashi didn't know what he had done to deserve to come home to this wonderful woman. She sat on the edge of the bathtub as he sank into the hot water with a groan.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" He asked. He felt a little guilty knowing that she had just gotten home from a mission as well. The last thing she probably wanted to do was to take care of him.

"I'm fine," she said. She ran her fingers through his hair, absentmindedly massaging his scalp. "We didn't run into any problems on the way home."

"Any issues in Kiri?" He asked.

"Eh, Kiri was its usual charming self," Kotori said. "Cold, damp and dreary."

He slid further into the water, the heat and relief that came from her words relaxed the tension he had been carrying. "Good. I was worried about you."

Kotori skimmed her fingers along the top of the water. A thoughtful expression crossed her face. "You shouldn't worry so much. I'm good at what I do."

He knew that. He was avoiding doing the annual skills assessment on his team because he would have to reevaluate Kotori's stats. Based on what he had seen in training and missions, she could be classified as a mid to long range combat fighter in addition to intel gathering. He didn't want to add that to her file or she would be sent on more dangerous missions. "I'll always worry about you."

"I'd say you'll worry yourself grey - " Kotori slyly replied. "But you seemed to have already done that to yourself long before you met me."

"It's hereditary," he mumbled.

"The stress or the hair?"

"Probably both." Cracking open an eye, he tried to give her a lewd glance. It probably came out more as a grimace. "I know a way you could help me destress."

"Mmm, you look like you'd pass out halfway through." There was a tinkling laugh as she stood up. "I'll come get you when I'm done."

It was the easiest post-mission recovery he had ever had. He still had the typical aches and pains the next morning and wouldn't be doing anything too strenuous for the next day or two, however he felt lighter. Kakashi was lounging on Kotori's couch reading when the peace and quiet was interrupted by a knock on the door. He chose to ignore it, assuming the person would go away. To his dread, he heard the click as the main door was unlocked.

Kakashi grabbed a shuriken from his holster and threw it into the doorframe as a warning, only to find a surprised Yamanaka Aimi standing in the doorway.

She gave him a little smile that didn't quite meet her eyes as she dangled a keychain from her fingers. "I have the spare."

He couldn't help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. The rest of her appearance seemed careless compared to its usual pristine state. Her hair was messily pinned back by a pair of senbon and he wondered why no one had ever told her just how utterly idiotic that was. Then again, Genma always had one of the damn things hanging out of his mouth.

Kakashi nodded as if he hadn't just threatened his girlfriend's best friend. "Kotori is in the shower."

The bubbly blonde stepped into the apartment, chattering on about how she usually checked Kotori's mail and watered her plants while she was away. If Kakashi was one for social pleasantries he suspected she would have manoeuvred the conversation until she was subtly interrogating him. Instead he remained silent, giving the odd hum to indicate he was listening.

Aimi seemed comfortable with his silence. She just smiled as she sat at the table like finding him in her friend's apartment was perfectly normal. Aimi rested her chin in the palm of her hand. Her pale blue eyes silently watching him. Kakashi knew what she was doing. She was using the awkwardness of the silence and the situation to prompt him into speaking. Her little interrogation techniques were not going to work on him. Kakashi had no problem being socially awkward.

In fact, he was going to make this more awkward for her than for him. He sat across from her, pulling out Icha Icha once again.

"Do you always hide from social interactions by reading porn?"

Kakashi flipped a page. "Sorry, did you say something?"

"No matter, I'm not that interested in your oddities," Aimi said. The facade of the bubbly blonde dropped as those analytical eyes narrowed. "If you are dating Kotori-chan you could at least make an effort with her friends."

He ignored her, flipping another page of his book. "Not even going to deny it?"

This was why no one liked the Yamanaka. They spent too much time uncovering other people's secrets. Kakashi avoided them as much as humanly possible. Ayumu's addition to their team made him uncomfortable enough. She had used her mind transfer jutsu on him exactly once. It had taken him about ten seconds to throw her out and that felt like ten seconds too long when she had access to all his darkest memories. He stuck to taijutsu sparring matches with her after that and instructed Haruki to otherwise train with her.

"I see you've met Aimi-chan," Kotori dryly said.

"You!" Aimi's voice went up an octave to an annoying screech.

She sprung up from the chair and rushed over, latching herself onto Kotori. Kakashi had to resist the urge from interfering, despite all of his instincts screaming at him that someone had just lunged at Kotori and was therefore a threat. Perhaps he was being bias, but Aimi seemed a bit mentally unhinged to him.

He had very little to go off for her usual state. He typically did not bring prisoners to Torture and Interrogation and if he did, they were going straight to Ibiki or Inoichi. He had observed Kotori with her genin teammate on other occasions. The most recent being the Uchiha funeral. Kakashi could remember the sight of Aimi crying uncontrollably. Kotori and Ensui had escorted her away from the cemetery soon after placing flowers on the grave. The loss of a genin teammate hit everyone differently, but Kakashi knew that it often made the survivors more protective of each other.

This was the first time Kotori had left the village on a mission since the Uchiha massacre. As an ANBU, Kotori's mission details were classified. Aimi had no way of knowing when her friend would even return. It was difficult enough for Kakashi to see her leave and at least he knew the details of Kotori's mission.

"Excuse me, like when were you going to tell me about this?!" Aimi waved her hand at him.

"Now seems like a good time?"

Aimi cling to Kotori's arm, before giving him a vicious smile. "You don't mind if I borrow your girlfriend for a few hours, do you? We need to do lunch and shopping and I'm going to ask her for all the dirty details."

"Aimi-chan," Kotori sounded a little exasperated.

Kakashi watched as his plans for a lazy day in with Kotori went up in smoke. Taking the hint that the girls wanted to catch up, Kakashi said he had some errands and would be back later. There was an awkward moment when he wanted to kiss Kotori goodbye as he always did, but also did not want to do it under the watchful eye of her friend. He ended up patting her on the head before flickering outside his apartment building. Using chakra when he was still recovering gave him a head rush.

Not wanting to go inside, Kakashi found himself wandering around the village instead. He spotted Gai, Asuma and Kurenai at their usual table at the Dango Shop. Genma was also with them along with Namiashi Raidou, Yamashiro Aoba and Mitarashi Anko.

"Mind if I sit?" Kakashi asked. Several pairs of eyes stared blankly at him. Then, suddenly, they were all sliding over to make space for him. A chair was dragged over from an empty table.

Kakashi felt a little guilty. When was the last time he had joined them out of his own free will? He had been there for Kurenai's birthday - no wait, that was because Asuma had threatened him. Then there was the celebration after Anko had been promoted - no, he had spent the entire night once again held at knife point. Then there was the time that - come to think of it, Gai had kidnapped him from his apartment and dragged him here.

"My eternal rival!" Gai tackled him into a hug. Gai lifted the ends of his head, as if doing a thorough inspection of him. "You're brimming with the passion of youth!"

Kakashi swatted him out of his hair. "What are you doing?"

Gai just flashed him a large smile and a thumbs up. "Inspecting that my rival is in good health for it has been far too long since we have engaged in a hotblooded challenge!"

Kakashi knew he could not get away without a challenge, especially since it had been months since he had last seen Gai. Fortunately, it was his turn to pick something. Paper, scissors, rock seemed like the easy way out and he would probably get heckled for being lazy however he was not at his best for any of the more physically demanding challenges Gai typically chose.

"Throwing contest, whoever makes the best design out of dango sticks from 10 metres away," Kakashi eventually decided. "The table can judge."

Kakashi and Gai stood back to back as they threw the sticks into separate posts. Kakashi's outline of a songbird ended up winning over Gai's outline of a lotus flower. Genma's vote had been the deciding factor. He had taken one look at the bird, smirked, and then announced him the winner.

"Once again, my rival aspires me in new and unexpected ways! I shall endeavour to improve my creativity for the next time -!"

"Ahhh, there's no need," Kakashi sheepishly said. It was more likely that their next challenge would be some test of strength, speed or endurance.

"You're in a suspiciously good mood," Anko said. She carelessly gestured with her stick of dango. "Did you finally get laid or something?"

Kakashi hated it when he blushed. It was a response he couldn't control and only happened around those he knew well. Minato and Kushina had been the worst offenders for teasing him until he blushed, however he could remember a handful of embarrassing moments as a child and young teenager that had drawn a similar reaction. He could feel it burning across his face and to the backs of his ears. It felt like a bright red signal to everyone present. Kakashi felt the uncomfortable urge to pull his mask up further, but that would only draw more attention. Hopefully his mask hid the worst of it.

He would have to play this cool. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

Genma's chair shifted forward so that all four legs were back on the ground. Kakashi could see the gears turning in his head. In hindsight, the songbird had been an idiotic move on his part. Genma had all the puzzle pieces and was able to make them fit together for the complete picture.

"You bastard, all this time? You and -?" Genma made the ANBU hand signal that mean hawk. "No wonder she - I can't believe you both kept this a secret."

"Ah, well, you know how these things go. We were trying to keep it quiet," Kakashi said. He hoped he was making the right decision. This group had never outed Asuma and Kurenai's relationship. The girlfriend of the Hokage's son should have a larger target on her back, but it seemed the information had either never leaked or wasn't important enough to other villages. Still, he couldn't help but feel nervous with his secret out in the open.

Genma bit down down on his senbon. "Say no more. We get it."

Gai burst into noisy tears. "Who is she? The beautiful flower who has reignited the passionate flames of youth within your heart! We must meet your eternal love!"

"Please don't call her that," Kakashi winced.

"Yes, I'm sure she has a name." Kurenai sounded hopeful.

Anko smirked as she rested her chin on her fist. "Yeah, Kakashi. What's her name?"

He wasn't going to make this easy for them. "A name? I suppose she has one of those."

"Wait, is she the ANBU with the bird mask," Asuma suddenly asked. He closed his eyes as if trying to recall the details. "What was her name again?"

"So we are talking about a real person who someone here other than Kakashi has met?" Aoba clarified. "Not a fictional character from his book?"

Kakashi threw a dango stick at Aoba's face, which he caught between his fingers.

"You need to introduce her to everyone," Kurenai insisted. She clasped her hands together, a bright look in her crimson eyes. "You must really love her if you waited all this time."

"I'm hurt, Kurenai, you never want to meet my girlfriends," Genma snarked.

Kurenai crossed her arms and fixed Genma with a stare. "No sense getting attached to someone who's only going to be around for a day or two."

"You assume the poor girl Kakashi tricked into dating will last," Raidou chuckled.

Gai was looking around eagerly, as if Kakashi had stashed her somewhere in the Dango Shop. "Well, where is she?"

"Kotori!" Genma called out in an annoyingly loud sing-song voice. "Just the girl I wanted to see."

As his luck would have it, Kotori and Aimi were walking past the Dango Shop at that precise moment. Kotori paused in her tracks, tilting her head as her eyes glanced from Genma to him before recognizing she had the interest of everyone seated at the table.

She crossed her legs at her ankles and gave an awkward smile. For the second time that day, Kakashi felt warm. Although rather than a blush across his face, this time it started in his chest and radiated out. She was adorable and precious and his.

"Um, hello?"

All hell broke loose.

Gai had been sitting on his blind side so he hadn't seen him move until it was too late. Before anyone could react, Gai was swinging Kotori around in an enthusiastic hug and crying something about flower blossoms and springtime. When he released her, Kotori stumbled three steps to the left and fell into Aimi. Both girls shared a confused look as tears streamed down Gai's face as he then grabbed both of them in a hug. Kakashi covered his face with his hand. Gai could be a little extra.

"You're the beautiful flower who has captured my eternal rival's giant heart!"

"I, uh - what?" She threw a look at him that could only be interpreted as please help.

He reached out for her hand to pull her closer. Partially as an introduction and partially because he wanted to get her away in case Gai started hugging her again. He smiled beneath the mask as he felt her hand squeeze his in response. "I would like you to meet Kotori."