Chapter 15: Departure

As Naruto and Kakashi rushed to the site of the impending impact, a powerful force pulverized the flaming rock. Without question, they knew it had to have been Sasuke.

'So, he's nearby,' Naruto mused, partially wondering if he had come to congratulate Kakashi, though he could not make sight of the avenger turned protector. 'Really, you could at least say hello.'

Kakashi eyed the destruction around them as other available shinobi came rushing over. Thanks to Sasuke's efforts that were being attributed to Naruto, the only damage suffered were the fires that broke out in the limbs of the surrounding trees. Those fires were already being put out by the likes of Genma and other shinobi skilled in enough in Water Release to conjure water from the air.

'An approaching moon. Two meteors. Sasuke nearby. And it's the day of the wedding. This cannot be coincidence.'

At Kakashi's urgent request, a Five Kage Summit was to be convened in three days' time—scarcely enough time for notice and travel. Having witnessed the meteors in the morning sky, the other Kage held no objections. The Sand Village, like the Leaf, had also been impacted, sustaining no damage to life thanks to Gaara's sand manipulation. It was time they discussed these cosmic events and the rapidly approaching moon.

It was nightfall by the time Kakashi had finally arrived home, the wedding long abandoned. While he handled things on the political front and initial security, he found that Hinata and several other kunoichi had taken to the village to ensure peace of mind fo mr the villagers and assess the need for evacuation. True or not, word had traveled that it was a natural occurrence, and that the village was not under attack. With no loss of life and no traces of any lingering chakra, he could hardly disagree, though the nagging feeling in his gut told him otherwise.

There were three things that surprised him upon entering his home. The first was the smell of curry, which he knew he had not cooked. The second was the mysterious bag in the entry hall of the home. A quick inspection showed it was filled with clothing, food rations, and other essentials. By its side lade pouches stocked with kunai and shuriken—neither of which he had packed. The least surprising of all—having seen the first two clues—was the sight of his abandoned bride, fresh out of the shower, her wet hair draped over a towel wrapped around her shoulders.

Meeting her startled eyes, he said the only thing that came to mind, "I'm home."

She smiled back at him offering a simple, "Welcome home."

Though it was only the second time she had ever welcomed him home, it had become the one sound he hoped to hear for the rest of his life.

Both a hot bath and curry were waiting for him at his leisure. Though Hinata had gotten a head start, she sat across from him at the table with tea in hand as he ate the curry. He didn't doubt that the food was delicious—it seemed that everything she prepared was in fact quite tasty—but he couldn't seem to concentrate on the flavor profile, being far too distracted by his still-fiancée's partially unbuttoned top. Not only was the top revealing a fair amount of cleavage, but it was white, and becoming partially see-through as droplets continued to fall from her hair and onto her clothes.

Deciding to distract himself, he began idle chatter and thanked her for all the preparations. "Did Shikamaru tell you?" he asked, speculating that he was the one who told her that they would be leaving for a summit.

Hinata nodded. "He did, b-but, I would have made dinner and the bath regardless."

Kakashi raised a brow and watched as she timidly toyed with the hem of her top.

"All of my belongings…they're here now," she explained. "B-but, If you'd prefer…I can—"

"This is your home, Hinata." The words came out faster and sterner than he intended. "Stay," he said, softer and lower. He watched as her cheeks became dusted with pink. "I'll take that bath now." He smiled at her as he got up from the table.

'I'm really in for it.'

He wondered how long he would be able to hold out before he reached a point of no return.

Even in the bath, he found he could not stop the thoughts he was having about what would have been his wedding night, had the wedding not been interrupted. Hinata's floral scent lingered in the bath water. It wasn't overpowering in the same way his former student's perfume had been on occasion, but it was there and so very recognizable as Hinata. He couldn't quite put a finger on what it was, but it was herby and floral and unassuming like her.

He had eyed the products left near the shower, but nothing seemed to be overtly fragrant. The scent was truly a mystery—it wasn't like she just rolled around in flowers, but it did make for an interesting thought. Either way he looked at it, the smell was becoming intoxicating, and he decided not to stay in the tub all that long.

Freshly washed and dried, he left the bath wearing only his pajama pants. He wasn't trying to make his new roommate uncomfortable—it was how he always slept. He briefly considered grabbing a shirt, but it was summer, and he was tired. There were only a few hours before he had to leave. His bride, if he could call her that, was seated on the couch, seemingly having some sort of internal debate.

Smirking, he asked if there was something wrong. Her reaction to seeing him there, far less dressed than he was when he had gone into the bathroom, was almost what he anticipated, a deep red complexion that spread from face to neck and an averted gaze.

'I guess it's safe to assume she finds me attractive at the least,' he mused, still not certain of his real place in her life.

"I-I just…I wasn't sure…uh…where sh-should I….umm…sleep?" she finally spit out, her gaze meeting the floor and his bare feet. It was the most flustered he had seen her in months, though he could understand. The spare room, his childhood room, had been recently used by Sasuke. To either share his bed, or sleep in Sasuke's blankets—it seemed neither were appropriate to her.

Unable to resist, he decided to tease her a bit more. "I guess this isn't turning out to be much of a wedding night, now, is it?"

His smirk was something she still couldn't get used to, no matter how many times she had seen his face now. She knew he was teasing her, but even so, it couldn't stop the blood rushing to her face at what "wedding night," should have implied.

Trying her best to look back up at him and past his well-toned chest and abdomen, she jested back. "T-technically…y-you left me at the altar."

Unable to keep composure, the two of them broke out in laughter. When their laughter finally died down, Hinata couldn't hold back her yawning any longer. Bemused, Kakashi grabbed her gently pulled her close against his bare chest, taking in the scent of her. "Come sleep with me," he said. "I'll be gone in a few hours and back in a few days."

Still blushing and not sure what to make of the feeling of his muscular form against her, Hinata simply nodded her head and allowed him to lead her to the bed.

Hinata watched as Kakashi entered the bed, choosing the side closest to the window. Hesitantly, she climbed in on the other side. The bed was nothing large, a simple double bed. Though she was on the opposite side, she could feel him brushing against her. This was different than sharing a bed with Kurenai on a mission when lodgings were slim.

She felt his large arm circle around her and pulled her back flush against him. His body was warm despite the lack of apparel. As her body tensed up, Kakashi let out a slight chuckle.

"You won't be able to sleep if you're tensed up like that, you know."

Embarrassed that he could feel her unease, she frantically offered her justification. "I've never shared a bed with…with a man. E-even on missions—I slept next to Kurenai or Akamaru."

Although it was confirmation of everything he already assumed—that he would be her first and last—hearing her say it aloud was different.

"I won't do anything you object to. Say the word and I'll stop."

'Stop what…' she began to wonder before her question was answered by the feeling of his lips against her neck. With a slight gasp, she reflexively extended her neck and inwardly arched her back. His breath and tongue were hot and the feeling of him gently kissing and sucking her neck was foreign yet welcome.

"K-Kakashi?" she started, but hearing the sound of his name from her lips only led him to hungrily capture them as he pulled her under him.

Each kiss was more desperate than the last, begging for something she couldn't quite understand. As his tongue trailed her lips, she instinctively parted them, allowing him to explore her deeper. His hands had hardly stayed idle, one interlocking with hers, the other slowly starting to caress and reach further up her shirt, stopping just below her breasts as he straddled over her. As he made his way back down to her neck, trailing along her jaw, she could feel him, or rather it, grazing against her through his pants.

She thought he'd stop at her neck, but he made his way lower and lower to the opening in her top and gently began to place his rough kisses there. Everything was beginning to feel warm all over and she didn't know whether to tell him to stop or to keep going, but as his hand began to cup her breast, she tensed and retracted.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath as he pulled away from her breasts. Beneath him, more exposed than before, his almost-wife breathed deeply and heavily. While he had left no mark upon her neck, the same could not be said for her upper breasts and cleavage, a reddish-purple trail showing everywhere he went. Her lips were swollen, and her hair spread across the pillows. They had not gone nearly as far as part of him would have liked to take things, but she had let him go much further than he anticipated she would.

"S-sorry I…I just…"

"Stop," he said in half whisper, placing a kiss upon her forehead before removing himself from atop her. "Another time."

Pulling her snug against him, he decided it was time to sleep, or else he wouldn't have the chance. With her hand gently tracing his chest before coming to a stop, Hinata allowed herself to close her eyes and sleep against him.

'Next time…next time for sure.'

He tried to leave the bed without her noticing, but it proved to be an impossible task, their legs somehow having become intertwined. Quietly and sluggishly, she had followed him out of the bed and prepared tea for him before he had to leave. Shikamaru, Genma, and Raidou would be waiting for him at the gate.

"I know you can't tell me everything, but…" the petite woman trailed off.

"It was probably a natural occurrence, but in light of other information, I have a hunch that we're missing something."

He didn't want to worry her about the moon or the likelihood of imminent destruction, not when nothing had been confirmed. Yet it was his lack of a clear answer that worried her more. Even she had the feeling that the other worldly happenings were something more. Still, she nodded her head in understanding.

When it was time to depart, he placed a quick masked kiss over her forehead, not wanting to push things any further than he already had. He could still see the trail of bruises down her chest, the buttons still undone. Before he could make his way out of the house, Hinata had hesitantly grabbed him by the arm.

Choosing to be bold, she tiptoed up and pulled his mask down below his chin and placed her lips firmly upon his. They stood there for a moment, locked in a deep embrace.

"C-come back safely…I…I'll be waiting. We have unfinished business," she told him, meeting his eyes with an expression he had never seen on her before.

"All the more reason to come back in one piece," he said pulling up his mask. "I want you to stay alert. And perhaps a bit more covered," he suggested, gesturing with his gaze toward her partially exposed breasts. He'd never seen her fingers move so quickly. "Just in case, I'll leave one of my ninken here. Try to stick with him. I was just going to have him keep watch over you, but seeing as you're here…"

With a puff of smoke, a small pug-like dog appeared before her. "Pakkun," he called, "Look after my almost wife," he said with a wink.

As Kakashi headed out into the night, Pakkun glanced up at Hinata, who he had only formally met a few times before.

"Almost wife?" he asked her.

"Ah…I was s-sorta left at the altar."

-End Chapter 15-