A/N: Just a friendly reminder: I removed chapter 17 "powerless" so chapter 44 is a new chapter "broken kids" for those who haven't gotten the chance to read it yet. :)

It was good to be going home. After two months away with four grumpy teenagers - and an equally grumpy Asuma - Kakashi was looking forward to being back in the village.

Ino and Sakura had snarked at each other constantly. Their competition over Sasuke had morphed into a contest over everything. Kakashi and Asuma had used it to their advantage, subtly manipulating the girls into pushing their training harder for the month between the second and third exams. Most evenings, the two teenaged girls were so exhausted they collapsed into their beds. It was an effective strategy. One that Kakashi had employed on Naruto and Sasuke often enough in the past. It was the boys that Kakashi was at a lost for how to deal with. Shikamaru and Choji had become aware of the fairer sex and it was so, so painful to watch. At fourteen, Kakashi had been too busy burying himself in the deepest hells of ANBU to notice girls so he could hardly relate.

Shikamaru had tried - and failed - to catch Temari's attention throughout their stay in Suna. His shoulders a little straighter and his voice a little louder whenever she was nearby. As if he were trying to bait her into arguing with him. The sudden effort from the usually lazy Nara would have been entertaining, if he weren't so miserable to deal with whenever she wouldn't give him the time of day. Meanwhile, Choji's insecurities over his appearance had resurfaced. Ino and Sakura would talk him up, but Choji would quickly lose whatever confidence he had gained whenever he was shoved in front of another girl.

Then there was Asuma's irritability that Kurenai's team hadn't come. He had spent many nights sitting on the rooftop, smoking, while leaving Kakashi on his own to deal with InoShikaCho Junior.

Really, the only thing that kept Kakashi's spirits up was the promise of a date once he returned to the village. Something that had his heart light as he leapt from branch to branch.

Asuma slowed ahead of them, indicating that they were close to the gate.

Kakashi had noticed there was a change in the level of security to pass through to get to Konoha. Not that it would have been visible to the average eye.

"Anything happen while we were away?" Kakashi casually asked Kotetsu and Izumo as his team checked in at the western gate. There was a little more scrutiny than usual over their shinobi ID cards and Konoha passports. Kakashi could also make out a Hyuga hidden in the watch tower above.

"Some new security messages," Izumo explained. "Given the last year - "

Kakashi understood. Orochimaru's invasion followed by two Akatsuki members infiltrating Konoha in such short order had the Hokage's office fuming. Not to mention all of the smaller infiltrators that have been uncovered. Tsunade had no doubt ordered an entire overhaul.

"You're free to go."

Wind and leaves swirled around to the left of Izumo as an ANBU suddenly revealed themself. They were shorter in statue and had the white captain's cloak on, its hood concealing their hair. The beck of a mask peaked out from underneath the hood, the only hint to their identity.

Kakashi felt breathless at the sight of her.

"Really?" Kotori asked in a nonchalant tone. "You're just going to let him in without asking him to lower the mask? He could be anyone."

Kakashi splayed his hands. "I'm sure that's unnecessary."

"Oh no, I insist."

He could only imagine her teasing grin hidden behind the mask.

Sakura eagerly bounced up beside him. "Come on Kakashi-sensei. You need to listen to the ANBU."

"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei." Ino goaded him from his blind side.

"There's no need to go to such extreme lengths," he mildly protested, closing his eye into a smile. "I'm sure my team would be happy to confirm my identity."

"I don't know," Sakura dryly said. "We weren't with you every minute of the mission."

"He could be an imposter," Shikamaru agreed.

He could hear Asuma's snort of laughter behind him. It was cute that the kids thought they had him caught by an ANBU. But Kakashi had been playing this game far longer than any of them had been alive.

"Can an imposter do this?" Kakashi dramatically asked, biting his thumb enough to draw blood. He summoned Pakkun in the palm of his hand.

"Yo." The pug greeted Kotori.

"I suppose you can pass." He could hear the amusement in her voice as she signed him back into the village.

As they left, he could hear Kotetsu sputter. "You want us to ask shinobi to take their masks off? Even - ?"

"Especially Kakashi," he could hear Kotori's exasperated tone. "I know he can be difficult. So ask to see the sharingan, make up a security question, just make sure it's not someone else hiding underneath that mask."

After they reported to Lady Tsunade, Asuma had suggested going out to celebrate Choji, Ino and Sakura's promotion to chunin. But after months of being forced together in cramped quarters, everyone was quick to go their separate ways with promises to meet up in a few days. Asuma had beelined for Kurenai's apartment while the teens went home to their parents. Kakashi wandered the village. He knew he should pick up groceries, but couldn't be bothered after travelling all day. The question remained, Ichiraku's or ration bars?

Chika dee dee dee

Kakashi glanced around, finding Kotori standing under a nearby tree. She was no longer wearing her ANBU uniform. Instead, she wore a sky blue sleeveless blouse and a pleated grey skirt that fell above her knees, showing off her toned calves.

She tilted her chin to look up at him and his eyes caught the delicate chain around her neck, following it to her collarbone where the pendant flower he has gifted her all those years ago rested.

He eyed her appreciatively. "I believe I still owe you dinner."

"Pick me up at my place at seven," she said, a faint blush in her cheeks. "And try not to be late."

xXx

Kakashi knocked on Kotori's door at ten after seven. He had meant to be earlier, but it had been a long time since he had visited the memorial stone and he had underestimated how much time he needed to get ready.

He had taken Kotori's cue from earlier and dressed in civilian clothes. The same blue dress shirt and black slacks the last time he has attempted to take her out. His hair once again free from the forehead protector and his eyepatch in place.

His heart fluttered in his chest, a nervous excitement that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

"You're late," she playfully accused as she opened the door.

He chuckled. "Well, you see, a little birdie distracted me on my way here."

"Oh?"

Whatever excuse he had carefully prepared died when he walked into her apartment. The lights had been lowered and his eyes adjusted to the soft glow of candles. Kotori's kotatsu had been set with plates for two in her living room. His mind vividly replayed the countless evenings they had spent, tucked in together after a mission.

"I know you intended to take me out- but I thought, you've been gone two months and probably haven't had a home cooked meal in a while - "

Kakashi preferred to cook for himself when possible. Teaching genin had awarded him longer stretches in the village where it actually made sense to buy groceries and not sustain off of ration bars. The last time he had shared a proper home cooked meal with someone else was - 1645 days ago, before that awful mission - with Kotori.

She had remembered all of his favourites and prepared them. She had made salt-broiled sanma and miso soup with eggplant. Honestly, he would have eaten tempura with a smile and said it was the best meal he's ever had if that's what she had made.

" - and I know you don't like to eat out that often and probably wanted to relax and - "

He was suddenly overcome with emotion. He reached out to grab her hand, squeezing it. "It's perfect."

The tension melted from her as she turned towards him. "Good."

"I was supposed to take you out though." He felt like he should be the one doing something nice for her. He still hadn't done anything to earn back her affections.

Kotori gave him a charming smile. "Then I suppose you still owe me dinner."

An ache in his chest relaxed at the promise that there would be more to come.

She tentatively reached out, her thumb brushing against his mask. When he didn't move away, she hooked her fingers through the top and lowered it.

"Had to confirm," she said, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Next time I'll have to pull you aside for a strip search."

"Privately?"

"Mhm."

"I've told you before, don't threaten me with a good time."

The responding smile was downright wicked. "I didn't say it would be with me. I'm sure I know an ANBU or two who would love to get you out of that mask."

"Maaah, you're the only one who's been successful at it."

She ducked her head, a sure sigh that he had made her blush. Even if he couldn't see it bloom across her olive skin in this dim lighting.

Dinner was relaxed. The two of them sitting next to each other at the table as they used to, eating and trading stories of their time apart. Kakashi entertained Kotori with stories of Team 7's antics along with the recent Chunin exam in Suna.

"If they knew about you, they'd be tripping over themselves to stalk you."

He thought of the time his team thought he was interested in Hanare and tried to push them together. A different ache filled his chest as he wondered how Naruto and Sasuke were doing.

Kotori giggled. "Well, I'll let you know when that happens."

"How have you been?"

She was wearing more makeup than usual. Kakashi wasn't sure if that was part of her preparations for their date - she did looking stunning after all - or if it was an effort to conceal sleepless nights.

"Busy," she admitted. The light dimmed in her eyes. "You know I can't really talk - "

"I know. But I'm here if you needed to."

He could remember the crushing weight of being an ANBU captain. Never mind the seemingly impossible task that she had been given. He didn't want to burden her with talk of Danzo or Orochimaru or the Akatsuki when they were having such a pleasant evening. But he would listen if she needed to vent about any of it. She had been his light in the dark for many years, a lighthouse beaconing him home. Even… even if it had taken him a while. He could try to be the same for her, bringing her home from whatever darkness haunted her.

"I know."

Kakashi was too comfortable to move, with Kotori sitting so close to him. So he created a shadow clone to clean the dishes. It was the least he could do after she had cooked for him. The two of them awkwardly fumbled around each other, trying to make excuses to prolong the evening. Kakashi didn't want to impose, but he also didn't want to leave.

"I have playing cards or go if you wanted to stay for a bit?" Kotori suggested. She had already pulled out a deck of hanafuda for a round of koi-koi.

He sagged at the loss of her warmth as she shifted to face him. Kotori quietly watched him the entire game, a question flickering in her eyes. He knew if he waited long enough, she would eventually speak her mind. As she was shuffling to begin a new game, her hands slowed.

Her voice was soft as she asked. "Did you still want that second chance?"

"More than anything," he breathed. "Tori-chan. I swear, I'll - "

But she was shaking her head, stopping him. Kakashi felt his heart shatter in that moment.

"No more apologizes," she said. "Can we just be us again? We can figure out the rest as it comes."

She watched as a brilliant smile brightened his face. It chased away the shadows lurking in her heart. He was so heartbreakingly handsome when he smiled. Something that was so rare and so precious to see.

She knew his answer before he could even utter yes. Could almost feel his heart beating just as fast as hers. She wasn't sure why she had been so nervous that he would suddenly reject her now. Not when he had made his intentions know for well over half a year.

"Yes," he easily said.

He reached over, capturing her lips in a kiss. Sweet, at first. But then more passionate as she deepened it. Like a prince waking her from an enchanted sleep, her body roared to life.

Although he was no prince and she was certainly no fairytale princess. They were soldiers broken over and over again by the battlefield. But whatever shards of her heart were left belonged to him. Perhaps she was a fool entrusting them to him again, but deep within her she wanted to believe that this time they could get things right. For him, she would always try.

She climbed into his lap. Her fingers touching everywhere. Tracing the jawline that he usually kept covered. Tangling in his silver hair. Heat bloomed from where his hands touched her waist, holding her in place. She couldn't get close enough. She wanted to feel all of him. Her body wanted him, desperately, urgently, now.

She pulled back, biting her lip as her eyes scanned his own. She slowly rocked her hips as she straddled him, her skirt bunched around her waist. She could feel his erection straining against his pants as she rubbed herself against him. Her flimsy panties going damp. Kotori felt embolden by his reactions. The way his eye was utterly captivated by her. Devotion mixed in with desire.

Almost shyly, she unwrapped the tie around her shirt and allowed it to slip off of her shoulders. She reached behind her, unclasping her bra and letting it fall next.

"Come here," he said, pulling her back into his waiting arms.

Hours later, she fell asleep in those same arms. Her mind blissfully quiet and her body humming with contentment.

"Welcome home, Kakashi," she sleepily murmured, drifting off as he pressed a kiss to her temple.