A/N: After reviewing, I realized the timing of when the story takes place doesn't really line up, so I will be making a few modifications that don't really impact the overall story but does make it more logical. I don't think anything would need to be re-read, so don't feel the need to go back (unless you want to, of course).

I started off writing this as taking place in the spring following the war, but it makes more sense to take place the following spring (around a year and a half since the war starting in Ch. 1). This more closely aligns with the timing of Kakashi's formal ascent to the role of Hokage in the novel series. By chance, I seem to have had the ages right though! Additionally, the wedding will be moved from late spring to early summer to provide for a bit more time in between. Lastly, I had also previously mentioned Kakashi telling Hinata about his favorite foods in Ch. 7, but decided to leave that as something she only learned of after talking about their mothers in the previous chapter. I'll update the past chapters to reflect this soon.

Anyway, without further ado, here's Chapter 12!

Chapter 12: A Guest

After the war had ended the autumn before last, Sasuke remained confined in the village under the supervision and repeated interrogation of Ibiki Morino and his staff, but they found he had nothing to hide. He willingly shared all that he knew and confessed all that he had done and spared no details. Upon his release, he had made the personal decision to wander for a while, to explore the world and investigate any activities that might be related to Kagura and the Otsutsuki clan. It was his act of reparation and atonement for all he had done.

It was now the first week of June, summer soon upon them. He had been roaming for months now, this being only his second return to the village since he first set out nearly a year and a half ago. Several things had surprised Sasuke on his return to the village, but none more so than his former sensei holding hands with Hinata, a girl he vividly remembered from his time as an academy student and genin. She never bothered him, keeping her distance and placing her attention elsewhere. Out of all the women he had come to meet, she was perhaps the least annoying, although she obviously had strange taste in men.

They were getting married in two weeks, they explained, a fact that was immediately unnerving and only led him to eye Kakashi in unveiled repugnance. He never thought Kakashi to be a lecher, although his reading selection implied him to be debaucherous at the least.

'The stress must've pushed him over the edge,' he reasoned, then noted that marriage also explained the sudden cleanliness and décor of the home—the vase of wildflowers a jarring sight when he first arrived.

Had Hinata not intervened and explained the politics surrounding their match, there was a strong chance that he would have lost all respect for the man. Hinata was clearly a consenting adult—her hand didn't seem to be held hostage, and those groceries seemed preplanned—but knowing they were the same age—knowing she was actually younger than him—made him feel nauseated, perhaps because Kakashi was like a father to him, in a weird sort of way.

Even more strange to him was that Hinata didn't question his presence. Although visibly surprised to see him, she seemed fine to just go along with it, proceeding to the kitchen to make dinner for three. Anyone else would have asked why he was there and how long he would be staying—and he would have answered. He would have explained that he didn't want to stay with Kakashi, but that he was required to check in now and again. There was really no need to take up his former residence—if it was still standing—and for any enemies on the hunt for him, that would be the first place they'd check anyway. But she never offered him that chance to explain and he could only wonder what conclusions she had drawn on her own.

He wanted to be annoyed with her—he really did—but as he caught up with Kakashi, he happened to catch a peripheral glimpse of her moving through the kitchen, a long apron around her front and her raven-like hair tied back. In that brief moment, she reminded him a bit of his mother. So, when she asked if there was anything he wanted, he requested tomatoes, rather than eggplant, with the miso soup. She proceeded without question to do just that, and he thought to himself that maybe her presence here wouldn't be all that bad. Maybe he would come back sooner and more often if there were food like this waiting.

When Kakashi returned from escorting the girl home, he and Sasuke resumed a more serious conversation. While he trusted Hinata, there were certain things that he didn't want to involve her in, things he kept between just himself, Sasuke, and Shikamaru as his closest advisor. There were reports of unrest—shinobi unprepared for what peace meant for their careers and lifestyles—and economic struggles. Those two things combined were problematic without question. Most puzzling of all were observations of the moon—observations shared across the Five Great Nations. It was coming closer, and no one knew why.

"Do you think it's related to Kagura in anyway?" he asked his former student.

"I don't know," Sasuke sighed, "but it doesn't seem to be natural. There have been meteors, too."

Kakashi scratched his head. Nothing was adding up.

They spent a few hours talking about Sasuke's journey, the things he was beginning to take notice of that he never would have seen before. Kakashi invited him to the wedding, though he was certain Sasuke would decline, and so he did. The invitation did, however, pique Sasuke's interest. He had had enough of the interference of elders and politicians and their control over the lives of others, so he asked, quite simply, which advisor arranged this. He never expected Kakashi to say that it was Hiashi and themselves.

Sasuke had only stayed for three more days, but for each of the three days, Hinata had come over, bringing with her sewing threads and salves and groceries. The groceries were easily identified as ingredients for dinner, though she had started preparing lunches there, too—one bento for Kakashi, and one for Sasuke with whom she would silently join for lunch. There was nothing they had to say to each other.

The threads and salves were a greater mystery, but on their second luncheon, she had given him a set of standard issue black jonin apparel to wear so that she could his worn clothes. He didn't ask her to do it, and he couldn't fathom that Kakashi would either, but when he asked her why she was doing it, she had only looked at him and, "because there are holes." The salves, it had turned out, were a homemade gift.

"W-whatever tears your clothes," she said, "probably cuts you, too."

On his last dinner with the soon-to-be married pair, he thanked them both. He had a place to stay, even if it wasn't quite home, and hot food on the table. It was a feeling he couldn't describe, something he hadn't felt in a decade despite his young age.

"Next time, I'll talk to her.'

"Why did you do it?" Kakashi asked her on their usual late-night stroll to the Hyuuga Estate. He hadn't been blind to the way she treated Sasuke, and while he wasn't entirely jealous, there was a twinge of something.

"D-do what?" she questioned, her head tilting in confusion.

"You really went out of your way for Sasuke. You're not going to tell me that you once led his fan club, are you?" He enjoyed teasing her, even if there was some seriousness to it.

She glanced at him incredulously and much like in their very first interaction all those years ago, she adamantly denied any such possibility and sighed.

"H-he's alone," she admitted. "I don't know exactly what he went through, but I know what it means to lose a mother and to watch your brother die in front of you." She grew silent for a moment before talking again. "Naruto once said that Itachi wasn't who we thought he was. I-I won't pry. I know f-family…family is complicated. B-but when he's here, e-even though it's secret, s-someone should be there."

As he listened to her speak, softly as always, but full of compassion, there was one more thing he understood about Hinata. She was kind, and she was giving, and while he still couldn't say he loved her, this was something he could say he loved about her.

Without notice, he slid his mask down and leaned forward to kiss her. His kisses no longer seemed to surprise her, and she stood tip-toe to reach him.

-End Chapter 12-

(next chapter: A Wedding)