"I'm home."
Kakashi pushed open the door, the faint scent of rain and village streets still clinging to his flak jacket. He'd run into Naruto on the way back, let the kid drag him to Ichiraku for a late-night bowl, then walked him home. Only after all that did he finally head to his own apartment.
"You're late."
A familiar voice, half-pouting, half-accusatory, floated in from the living room. He hadn't heard that tone in weeks.
"Couldn't be helped," Kakashi called back, toeing off his sandals. "Just got back into the village. Missions, reports, the usual mess. Once everything was wrapped up, I went to check on Naruto."
"That's why it's this late."
He padded toward the living room. "Weather's turning cold these past couple days. Tomorrow let's hit the shopping district and get the kid some warmer clothes. He'll run around in that orange jacket until he freezes if nobody reminds him."
A soft huff. "And what about my dinner?"
The question came from directly behind him made Kakashi freeze mid-step.
…Shit. He forgot.
"…Instant noodles aren't the end of the world," he said, straightening up like nothing happened.
He stepped into the living room and found Hikari sprawled sideways across the couch, arms wrapped around a cushion, lower lip jutting out in an impressive pout.
"Naruto, Naruto, Naruto. That's all you ever talk about."
"You don't care about me at all."
Kakashi looked at the ancient Uchiha ancestor currently sulking like a teenager and gave a helpless sigh.
"You're jealous of a twelve-year-old?"
"Naruto's special," he added quickly, before she could explode. "Also—" his visible eye curved, "—that outfit looks good on you."
He headed for the kitchen, tossing the compliment over his shoulder like it was nothing.
Hikari blinked, glanced down at herself—soft lavender sweater, loose white skirt—and then back up at the retreating silver hair.
Wait.
Did Copy-Nin Kakashi, legendary lover of smut and hater of effort, just compliment her clothes?
The man who once told her "orange is a perfectly valid fashion choice" with a straight face?
Her brain short-circuited.
Where's Jiraiya? I need to send that pervert a fruit basket. A big one. With sake.
"Does it really look good?" she asked, scrambling off the couch and hurrying after him.
"Mhm." Kakashi was already pulling a cup of instant noodles from the cupboard. "Purple suits you."
He wasn't lying. Purple really did look good on her.
Hikari's grin threatened to split her face. "I can't believe it. The blockhead is finally enlightened~"
She bounced up beside him, hip-checking him out of the way to grab the kettle. "So, did you read the book I gave you?"
"Read it. Wasn't bad."
He had, in fact, skimmed Icha Icha Paradise in various guard posts and treetops over the last few weeks. He'd been mildly horrified to discover that Jiraiya—eternal bachelor, professional peeping tom—actually understood women.
"Don't ever doubt this lady's taste," Hikari sang, filling the kettle with unnecessary flair.
Steam curled up as the water boiled. Kakashi tore open the noodle cup, dumped in the seasoning packets, and poured.
"Hey, Kyubey, c'mere!"
Hikari waved toward the corner of the room. A small calico head poked out from under the couch—white with orange and black patches—then the whole kitten launched itself into her arms.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You got a cat?"
"Found her a while ago outside a ninja animal shop. They were giving her away for free."
"Ninja animal shop?" He frowned slightly. "Inuzuka?"
"Yep. Apparently she flunked out of ninja-cat boot camp. No talent for jutsu, so they stuck her by the door with a 'free to good home' sign."
Hikari scratched behind the kitten's ears; it purred like a tiny chainsaw.
"As long as you like her," Kakashi said. "Just train her not to pee on the tatami."
"Also, change the name. Kyubey is bad luck."
Hikari blinked. "Eh? But it's cute!"
"Xiaoke," he said firmly. "That's better."
Before she could protest, she set the kitten on the counter, reached up, cupped his face with both hands, and forced him to look straight at her.
"Be honest," she said, eyes narrowed. "Did you hit your head out there?"
"If your brain's broken, don't worry—I'll just do all the missions from now on and support you."
Kakashi stared. "You're overthinking it. Kyubey is absolutely cursed."
"Why? I spent forever coming up with it!"
"Male intuition."
Hikari's gaze flicked downward for half a second, lips curling into a smirk that was pure evil.
Kakashi felt a vein throb in his temple.
"You—"
He didn't let her finish. One hand caught her wrist, the other braced against the fridge as he pinned her back against the cool metal door.
Cold surface, warm body, zero distance.
Hikari's breath hitched. "W-what are you doing?"
"What do you think?" His voice dropped, low and rough. "You're always saying weird things to me."
A flicker of genuine panic crossed her face, but her chin lifted defiantly. "W-who knows what goes on in that perverted head of yours…"
He leaned in closer. She could feel her pulse racing under his fingers.
Ticklish, she thought dazedly, warmth brushing her skin.
Kakashi watched the ancient kunoichi who'd faced down gods and monsters try—very badly—to hide that she was nervous as hell and still refusing to yield. Amusement and something hungrier curled in his chest.
So this is what happens when you actually read Jiraiya's garbage, huh.
Hikari's eyes fluttered. She squeezed them shut, face flaming, clearly expecting—bracing for—
Kakashi's grip softened without permission. The moment she cracked one eye open to check, he closed the last inch.
Soft. Warm. A little tremble.
Hikari's brain blue-screened.
[Uchiha Hikari emotional fluctuation +1+1+1+1+1…] [Chakra +1%+1%+1%+1%+1%…]
Time lost meaning. When he finally pulled back, Hikari's face was scarlet, hair slightly mussed, breathing like she'd just sprinted across Fire Country.
"You absolute lecherous dog!!"
She shoved him off with all the strength of a five-century-old ninja, bolted out of the kitchen, and slammed her bedroom door so hard the walls shook.
Kakashi stood there a moment, touched the scar over his left eye, and exhaled.
Well.
At least she didn't slap me.
————
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