It had taken months of pondering for Haruhi to realize something vital about Kakashi. When she realized it, she had squealed, clasped her hands together and wiped a tear away.

Let me explain.

It had happened late at night, with her belly grumbling loudly enough to wake her up. She blinked open heavy eyes hoping she hadn't woken Kakashi. Haruhi stared at the underside of the huge dresser as her eyes adjusted before she slipped onto the carpet. Kakashi snorted and turned over and she breathed a sigh of relief as she squeezed under the door and snuck into the kitchen.

She rubbed her arms in apprehension as she made her way into the dark kitchen. Her gaze strayed to the bookshelf for a second and she twitched, an imaginary man sneaking through the window.

She climbed the staircase to the countertop and plucked a green grape. She crunched through the green skin and sighed at the cool sweetness dribbling down her chin. As she finished her grape her eyes kept being drawn back to the books as if by a magnet, specifically to the part where the sliding door was covering the other side of it. She had never actually seen what was on the other side…

Finishing her grape, she ran down the steps and over to the shelf, looking up with apprehension at the window. She quickly climbed the tassel and approached the spot where her old bed had been. Just a little beyond that was the big book hindering her from going any further. She pushed a paperback out of the way.

No dice.

In an 'ah ha' moment, she jumped down and ran to the front of the door. She wedged a wooden bookmark in between the door and the shelf and leant on it. It cracked open the tiniest bit-just enough for her to sneak in. She squinted her eye but could barely see anything. Feeling with her hands she patted until she found the spine of a book. Looking closer she read the title.

Icha Icha Vacation.

She had found Kakashi's secret stash.

Just what the heck made those books so interesting anyway!? She had read over (On) Kakashi's shoulder a few times but she always looked away and got bored. The smut was only okay. But he seemed to be enthralled by it. Haruhi was pretty sure he was a virgin because only virgin's got that excited with poorly written smut.

Haruhi didn't mean that in a mean way, but it made sense.

Determined, she squeezed out and pushed off of a book to shut it again and dashed to their room.

Kakashi was exhausted. She could not state that hard enough. After Sakura had dropped the bomb (The dinner) earlier that morning the other three had gotten hyped up. They demanded a training session and Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Haku against Kakashi with their improved skills and teamwork had been a real challenge.

She snuck back in with little fanfare, taking a moment to smile at sleeping Kakashi before climbing up the bed sheets and over to his nightstand. The faithful orange book rested there next to the turned off lamp.

She cracked open the cover and silently turned the pages, frowning as she realized Icha Icha wasn't what it seemed to be.

It was not, solid porn as most thought. In fact, it read closer to a sappy(well written) romance novel with smut in it.

If anything, it was cheesily romantic. The protagonist spending time with their love interest, and trying to get their love interest to fall for them before said love interest leaves. The pages that were particularly worn had the best of these cheesy lovey-dovey scenes in them. The one she had seen Kakashi on the most often (Page 271) Had the main character confessing their undying love in a dramatic fashion, complete with roses and tears.

"..."

Oh.

My.

God.

Kakashi was a hopeless romantic.

She squealed.

"What!? Haruhi!?" Kakashi flung himself forward, blankets flying off him as a kunai appeared in his hands. When he caught sight of her and the page she was reading, he froze.

"Kakashi sooo cute~" She cooed. "A romantic! Who would have thought?"

"W-well, I-I, No! That's not at all-why did you wake me up!? " A flustered blush rose up on his face and overtook his cheek.

She giggled.

Kakashi deflated like a balloon and his eyes blanked white in embarrassment as he pulled the sheets up over his head. For a second his tight grip looked like he wanted to strangle himself.

"There's no reason to be ashamed! Girls love sensitive guys!" Haruhi said mischievously, bouncing around the nightstand. She leapt from the table onto his bed and continued jumping on his chest.

He stopped tugging the sheets. There was a pause in motion as she felt him lift his head. From underneath them he said;

"...Do you?"

"Maybe." She said cheekily, ignoring the way he deflated, head flopping in defeat onto the pillow. "Goodnight!"

His one eye peeking out from the blanket shot her a stinky look and she descended into peals of hysterics as he ruthlessly (but carefully) poked and tickled her sides.

She had promised Naruto. He had pulled her to the side after the training session, desperate for help. Seeing the boy who was usually brimming with confidence so nervous over the dinner had made her want to squeal but also hug him. Then she realized she couldn't hug him so she did the next best thing.

"I'll help you get ready tomorrow." She had said to him without thinking it through. She actually had no idea what passed for formal wear here, and with her and Kakashi heading there right now she was about to jump ship.

Kakashi leant in through the window.

"Eat your greens, Naruto." Kakashi said, reading his book while holding out the bowl of greens to the scowling Genin.

"Eat healthy. You'll have to do it when we get to Sakura's tomorrow." She chipped in, running down Kakashi's extended arm.

Naruto's scowl softened into a frown as he considered the bowl. He snatched it and stuffed some into his mouth, kale bits falling into his instant ramen.

"Dou 'Ike Dat?" He said thickly.

"Very attractive."

Not picking up on her sarcasm, Naruto beamed and shoved more in his mouth. She walked around the table as Kakashi read his Icha Icha, surveying the apartment. To her great surprise, it was cleaner than she thought it would be. In fact, the place was so pristine it shined. The tile floor was pure white, the carpets were so clean they looked to be shampooed, the kitchen surfaces were wiped down and even the windows were cleaned.

What apparition could have done this?

"Hello Haruhi-sensei." Haku said pleasantly.

"Hey Haku." She said. Wait.

"What are you doing here!?" She said surprised.

Haku laughed.

"I live here. Naruto was kind enough to invite me into his home." Naruto blushed and hid behind his kale.

Haruhi didn't know that.

"T-that's really kind of you Naruto." She said. That explained the spotless apartment.

"Well, if you don't need me…" Kakashi inched out the window, threw a wink at her and then was gone. Haruhi had accepted he would be dropping her they dashing from now on. She stole a green leaf and crunched into it. Delicious.

"We need to shop for proper attire first, Naruto, Haruhi-sensei. Then we should perhaps look for some food of our own to stock up the fridge, and after that clean up a little more." Haku listed.

He seemed rather talkative. He was normally more passive. Also out of character, Naruto was listening with rapt attention.

They packed up and stepped out, Haku locking the door behind them. Haku's hand that wasn't holding her twitched like he wanted to twist his long pretty hair, before falling to rest at his side.

Haruhi shifted uncomfortable on Haku's hand. While it was true they had gotten closer over the weeks of training, it still felt...weird having him hold her again.

Naruto twitched nervously before slapping on a cheesy plastic grin. He put his arms behind his head in his standard relaxed pose-only she could see his hands nearly ripping out his hair.

"So guys...Haha, where to first?" Naruto's tone was one of forced relaxation, and she couldn't help but notice the little warble in his voice.

Her heart melted.

"Well, clothes that are more formal, first." She said. God, what even counted as formal wear here? Naruto wouldn't know, and Haku wouldn't have been to a dinner like this in years, much less in a place like Konoha.

"I've surveyed Konoha before. The clothes shopping district is this way." Haku said.

It was still early in the day, and the air carried that crisp morning smell with the scent of freshly baking bread. They walked into a small sleepy thrift shop, filled with decent, seemingly cheaper clothing. No one was at the counter and no one was browsing the racks.

They just stood there, at a loss for what to look for.

"All right!" Haruhi clapped her hands. "Look for clothes without rips, tears or stains, and ones that fit. We'll narrow it down from there."

Relieved at having directions, Haku placed her on one of the racks and they started browsing. They separated clothes on their own respective piles and haruhi shouted out advice.

"Try for something not too formal, but not informal. Dress in between those two. Sakura's parents aren't fussy." Haruhi called. They nodded and Naruto pulled out a pair of sharp sky blue pants that matched his eyes, and a toned down orange shirt with a stain in the front.

"Keep those." She called. Her inner fashion senses were surfacing again and she was already evaluating the shoes Naruto had and the color tones. Her eyes raked over the racks and she spotted a canary yellow shirt with a breast pocket which she promptly told Naruto to grab. It would go perfect with his hair, and the pants were darker at the creases but still matched his eyes. All he needed were neutral shoes to balance everything out. Her mind whizzed with all the possible combinations and she turned her attention to Haku.

"Go try them on." Naruto nodded and scampered into the changing room.

Haku had dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. He was taller and slimmer than Naruto too so slightly looser clothes would be better for him. Light brown pants, almost a beige color would do well on him, and a simple dark aqua shirt would contrast that nicely.

He shifted under her gaze, his bangs falling in his face and hiding most of it.

"Okay Haku, look for clothes that are brown or blue-green."

Haruhi needed to get this right. First impressions were everything.

A man walked out of the back room, surprise coating his face-especially when he saw her, but a glint of recognition lit his eye and he smiled.

"I didn't know I had any customers. Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked. Haruhi was tempted to tell him to go away and leave them alone, but they needed all the help they could get. He showed them clothes that might go well with the color scheme and chatted about the different styles. The changing room door opened.

"Haruhi-sensei I tried them on-" Naruto tensed up.

"…"

The man stopped talking, staring in ill disguised horror at Naruto.

Uh oh.

"Sir, you were saying?" Haruhi's smile became tenser. He seemed to have not heard her as he had yet to break his stare. Naruto was getting antsy and she could see the dejection on his face.

"As-as I was saying." He stuttered, "This shirt would go well with the overall outfit."

Naruto cautiously approached her from the side, taking the long way to avoid the manager. It did little to relax the man, as he shuffled away from them and a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, his gaze narrowing.

It was time to do what she did best.

"You do have a wonderful fashion sense. I can see why you run this shop."

He gaped at her, searching for the lie and thrown by the sudden change in atmosphere. But when he found none the simmering hostility was replaced with confusion and reluctant happiness at the compliment. His focus has shifted to her. Good.

She kept up the pleasant chat as they browsed and the man relaxed the tiniest bit. His gazed flickered back and forth in confusion from Naruto and then to her.

"Naruto, why don't you tell him about your mission?" Haruhi said. She forced a calm expression. This was a risky move. Speculations had swirled among much of the civilian population, especially due to who made up the team and the takedown of Zabuza. She knew he'd be interested and she was proven right when the last traces of hostility vanished, replaced by curiosity. But beside her Haku stiffened.

Naruto launched into a retelling of the wave mission, and by the time he got to the bridge battle, the man was entrapped in his story, urging him to go on. With a couple pointed coughs from Haruhi she was able to avoid any slights against Haku.

"What happened to the bridge?" The man demanded.

"It was finished and they named it after us, Team Seven!" Naruto said proudly.

The man's jaw dropped before he turned and looked at her.

"It's true." she said.

He shook his head, still trying to comprehend all that he heard before he cleared his throat.

"Well, here. These clothes should be good too." He muttered, handing a stack to a shocked Naruto.

"If you need anything else, I'll be in back." And with one last thoughtful looked he disappeared into the back room.

Haku sighed, turning his head to finally show the scarred side.

"That went well." He said.

Naruto was less responsive. His eyes had glazed over in what looked like a sheet of tears and he stared transfixed at the pile of clothing the man had picked out for him and blubbered he was going to try them on now. The door swished closed.

"That went well." Haruhi agreed. Haku nodded but abruptly stopped, his gaze focusing on the door. The bells on the handle stayed silent as they turned, revealing Sasuke.

He stood in his normal attire of white shorts and a high collared blue shirt, but the way he stood with his back slightly hunched and his eyes too the floor cued her in that he was nervous. A faint blush rested on his pale face as his gaze dragged up from the dust speck on the floor and rested on the pile of clothes Haku was holding.

"Would you like to browse with us?" Haruhi asked kindly.

He flushed light pink and nodded, stuffing his hands deeper into his pockets as he made his way over to them. Sensing he was about to say something, Haruhi kept silent.

"It's been awhile." He mumbled after a minute. "I haven't eaten dinner like this since before…"

"It's fine Sasuke. You don't need to explain yourself to me." She smiled, before sizing him up.

What colors would look best on him?

She needed something fresh. So not blue or white. His pale features and black hair and eyes were convenient, as anything could go with that. But she didn't just want anything…

She took in the faint blush on his cheeks.

"Pink." She said.

"Excuse me?" Sasuke said.

"Pink. Pink is your color. Look for a pink shirt with sleeves to the elbow and black pants." She nodded, happy with her choices.

"...But it's pink." He said lamely.

"And you'll look very good in it. I'm sure Sakura will appreciate it." She winked.

Sasuke had nothing to say to that, and set out to look for the clothes.

"Here Sasuke." Haku said, holding out a light pink shirt with long sleeves. Sasuke looked up from a pair of black shorts to shoot a surprised look before accepting it with a small nod.

"Knock on the changing room door. Naruto should be done soon and you both can try on your clothes."

Sasuke nodded and gathered his clothes up and knocked on the door.

"Okay, I'm coming out." A slightly wavering voice said. Naruto opened the door, his nose and cheeks suspiciously red, but otherwise looking sharp in his outfit.

"Sasuke! What are you doing here?"

"Trying on clothes." He said shortly. He pushed past Naruto and closed the door behind him.

"Hm, looks good Naruto." She said.

"Really?"

The Canary yellow T-shirt with the breast pocket and the sky blue pants was fresh as fuck on Naruto. It was well balanced and the color scheme was fly.

"Yes. Very put together. Now Haku just has to try his on." The door clicked as Sasuke stepped out and Haruhi swallowed a gasp.

The light pink long sleeve shirt brought out his normally hidden blush and lips and almost seemed to make his eyes glitter. The baggy black capri with the pockets on the side was sharp-especially with the silver trimmings.

But there was still something off…

"Sasuke, roll up your sleeves to your elbow. Like this." She mimed rolling up her sleeves and Sasuke copied.

Now up to his elbow and cuffed, it looked even better.

"Perfectio." She said smugly.

"Alright, You and Naruto change back to your original clothes and pay for it. I'll work on Haku."

They nodded and gathered up their clothes and headed to the counter, pushing each other and checking out clothes on the racks upfront.

She turned her full attention to Haku. He stood in the back with clothes of his choosing- a pair of beige pants and a toned down aqua shirt with tiny wave patterns on it.

"Nice!" Haruhi said appreciatively. It was very masculine, with the sharp cuts and colors. "Try it on." Haku hesitated for a second before slipping into the changing room. Haruhi waited patiently, taking in how the sunlight was now streaming in the store window, illuminating a rack of ties and jewelry. She was eyeing a necklace with sunflowers approvingly when Haku stepped out.

The beige pants worked well with his eyes and the Aqua blue-green shirt was a nice contrast. The little waves had her sold.

"Execellent."

But instead of going back in and changing he hesitated again, throwing her a glance. Sensing he wanted to say something she looked over her shoulder to see Naruto choking on something (probably a button) and Sasuke giving him the heimlich maneuver.

"What is it, Haku?"

"...I'm...not sure I should go."

"…"

Out of all the things Haruhi had expected this was not one of them.

"Well, of course you should. You are a part of team seven, Haku." She said softly.

He nodded without conviction and Haruhi furrowed her brow.

"Why don't you really want to go, Hun? You can tell me."

Haku didn't say anything, but the way he turned the burnt side of his face away from her was answer enough.

"Sakura doesn't care about your burns, Haku. She looks past them and sees you as the kind soul and good friend you really are. And if her parents are anything like the girl they raised-which they are-they won't care either."

The hesitance didn't go away.

"Haku…" She asked.

"I-" He cut himself off before licking his lips and speaking again. "I hurt Sakura pretty badly."

Oh.

"Sakura doesn't hold that against you, Haku. You hurt me but I don't care about that Haku." His eyes seemed to rest on the circular mark on her clavicle where the senbon had punctured her. "A-and I hurt you too."

His burnt hand was carefully still.

"That was different then. We were enemies then. But now, now we're one the same side. You are part of team seven and you're our friend, Haku honey. Don't you forget it."

Haku blinked for a moment, seemingly in a stupor. Then he smiled shyly, moving a piece of hair into his face.

But that smile was faint and weak, almost a grimace.

What was she missing?

Haku was looking at the clothes like they would bite him. He swallowed thickly as he took in the bold cuts and dark colors. Did he not like the clothes she picked out?

"You know, if you don't like those clothes, we can pick out something else."

He looked startled for a second, before biting his lip. He seemed to want to say something, eyes flickering back and forth from her to the other clothing on the racks, to everyone else around them.

He put down the clothes she had picked out. He walked to the rack filled with womens and girls clothes and flipped through them. He pause when his face stopped in front of the women's sign. He pulled out a baby blue blouse, and a pair of loose pants that has pockets with golden gilded buttons.

"It would look together."

Haku nodded, face stiff in a forced relaxed expression. Haruhi's brow furrowed.

And then everything clicked.

Haku must've noticed the realization drawing on her face because he-she flinched, and clutched the clothes closer to her.

"Would you like to go try them on?" She asked softly. " I think you would look very good in them."

Haku nodded, and closed the door behind her as she closed the dressing room door.

It all made sense. The uncomfortable looks when Naruto called her Haku-kun, the vague looks of envy when looking at other girls or in shop windows. Her aversion to cutting her hair, even though it was severely burned. The look on her face at the store when Ino, Sakura, and her were buying their period supplies. How had she not noticed this before?

Haku emerged from the dressing room.

She looked amazing in that outfit, Haruhi couldn't pull it off better herself.

"It looks great, Haku. Would you like to get that one?"

She nodded.

She turned to go back and change, before Haruhi called out.

"What would you like me to call you?"

She stopped.

"...Haku. Haku-chan when no one else is around."

She nodded, and smiled.

Haku changed back into the gender neutral clothes she had worn before, carrying her clothes under her arm.

"Let's go checkout." She said.

Naruto had stopped choking and was rubbing his throat while Sasuke continued to look on annoyed.

"Sasuke, can you call the man back?" He nodded.

Sasuke then offered to pay despite Haku's protests saying he had a lot to spare.

"Come back again." The man called after them. He had warmed up to Naruto after hearing about his mission to wave.

They wanted to get their clothes home as quick as possible, but before they left they stopped and shopped for food for a little bit. Naruto, Sasuke, and Haku made her promise to meet with them beforehand at Naruto's apartment and with her arms twisted she agreed.

But how would she get Kakashi too?

Haruhi fidgeted with her piece of stir fry, folding and refolding her legs under her. Kakashi was waiting patiently for her to collect her thoughts behind his book.

"All four of them are nervous about the dinner and I really want to be there early to help and I know you don't want to be there early, so um, I don't know, if you could maybe drop me off?" Haruhi had meant to be firm but it ended in a question as she got nervous. She blushed and looked down at her clasped hands.

"...Maa, if it means so much to you, I suppose we could get there...early." He said with obvious distaste.

The Kakashi Hatake, always at least two hours late, willing to be somewhere early!?

"Oh Kakashi, Thank you!"

He waved her off, smushing his face against the book so he wouldn't have to look at her grateful expression. And so she wouldn't see his reddened cheek.

Hey guys! Long time no see! School has started but labor day has granted me a three day weekend to come and update this! The dinner will be next chapter, and after that I plan to start the Chunin exams.

I have a community up so you can check that out.

Harushi moments: 2.

Question of the chapter: How do you think Haruhi has influenced the boys (besides Kakashi) of team seven?

And yes I did loosely base my Haruhi off of the Haruhi from Ouran high School Host Club.

Many thanks to reebajee! Check out some of their work!