F l e u r D e L i s

He smiled when she began to eat not touching his food quite yet. "I am glad you like it. I enjoy good food so I have taught myself to cook." There was no way around it. Ino was going to see him with his mask off. She would be one of the first to see that of people who were close to him. Sighing he reached up for his mask and took hold.

Giving a soft tug Kakashi pulled his mask down revealing his whole face. Many who saw it were stunned at his handsomeness. Many said he was one of the best looking men they had seen. Which could be wholly possible because he was definitely a looker.

While he began to eat Kakashi kept an eye on Ino to see her reaction as to what his face looked like. "You are right this did turn out really tasty.

"Holy crap! You took it off!" Ino dropped her chopsticks and covered her mouth, surprised that he would allow her to see what he had hidden all his life. Her frenzy barely died down as she peered at the lower half his face. Before she knew it, she had definitely trespassed the border of personal space. She blinked at the man in front of her. So this was what Kakashi Hatake looked like. She could get used to it.

"Wait till Forehead hears about this! Oh gosh, even Sasuke-kun was curious what was underneath there." She giggled at the ideas they had about his features.

"One time we thought you had buckteeth or something. Oh, there was also that other time we thought you didn't even eat at all." She slightly tilted her head back in laughter as she sat back down in her seat, never taking her eyes off of him. 

"What do you know, you don't look too shabby." She shrugged her shoulders, trying to play it nonchalant.

"I've seen better though." She smirked as she rested her chin on the palm of her hand. After a few seconds of silence she continued, 

He waved at them turning himself and Ino in the other direction talking instantly, "I'm sorry... I'll make it up to you. Come with me." He didn't unlock their arms and took Ino along with him.

Kakashi didn't say a word after that. He just glanced down at her and smiled. Eventually the got back to his place and he lead her in. Taking the blonde to the kitchen he sat her down and put some tea on. Moving around the house he started a fire and got some things out for dinner.

"Go sit next to the fire and warm up. Dinner will be ready soon." He spoke softly. Cooking something up. When the tea was ready he poured Ino a cup and handed it over to her before cooking. All her protests and what not was not stopping him from doing what he wanted and Kakashi made that clear. He felt bad for Ino.

"Something's up with her." Shikamaru watched the two leave, confused by the situation that had just happen. That was nothing like the Ino he knew. It had been only a few days, yet it felt like months since they had spoken with one another. His attention was focused back to his company, apologizing for his lack of concentration on their conversation. Maybe he didn't have to worry. It seemed Ino was being taken care of, despite having it bother him that he wasn't the one taking her home. 

Outside in the rain, Ino walked beside the other and shook her head.

"Y-You better be sorry. Some plan that was," She scoffed playfully, trying to hide the fact that she was hurt by what she saw.

Their walk was rather silent and that was just what she needed. She didn't care where they were headed as long as it was isolated, so she willingly followed his footsteps. When they got to their destination, Ino followed Kakashi inside his home. Trying to brighten up her mood, she teased, "Don't try anything on me, Sensei." 

In the kitchen, Ino realized what he was doing.

"Ah, let me help." Her assistance was not needed as Kakashi denied her offer. All she could do was watch him making dinner. That was kind of him. She made her way to the fire, feeling the droplets of rain slowly drying off her body. She looked around her surroundings, finding only a few pictures of Kakashi and some people she had never seen. 

These must be them.

Her eyes outlined Kakashi's figure in the picture as she noticed that one of the figures in the picture was a girl. The way she looked at Kakashi was a look Ino knew all too well. She smiled, knowing how she must have felt. 

"Alright it's ready!"

Before she could analyze any further, she was called over by Kakashi. 

"This looks impressive." She sat down next to him as she noticed that his cooking smelled and looked better than hers. 

"Sake?" She was underaged, not that she was complaining though.

"If you're trying to get me drunk, good luck. I'm a pretty heavy drinker." Well, for the most part. She could barely hold her liquor at times. 

"Itadakimasu!" She picked up her utensil as she hurriedly stuffed everything in her mouth.

 Kakashi smiled as he stepped into the Yamanaka store, a bounce in his step as he was in a particularly good mood. 

      ” — Ohiyao Yamanaka-Chan!” 

"…" No, no. He was not going to dignify that with a response.

blondeflorist said: "You’re denying it?" Ino is not amused.

"I am neither."

"One percent fat! That's what you are. No one wants fat in their milk."

"haha~ you can’t be single forever Ino. You are far too beautiful for that. Plus I wouldn’t let you be." Kakashi spoke without even thinking. Sometimes it was very bad that he did have much control over his talking filter. A soft blush rushed over his cheeks realizing what he had just said and what it could imply. But thinking it over he didn’t mind and would let Ino decide on how to take it.

"Not if the loud mouth blond is you." he smiled teasing her right back. Then a soft chuckle left him since he heard Ino’s stomach growl. "I would like to go get ramen with you."

Kakashi was quick on the up take. He saw Ino’s eyes dart to Shikamaru and Tamari and how quick her demeanor seemed to change. So it was him that she was upset about. Thinking quick Kakashi smiled back at Ino, “No no… lets go get ramen.” He replied loudly and laughed. “It’ll be just like a date~” he winked at her before leaning close.

"Just go with it and I will explain when we get away from them. Please trust me." With that Kakashi linked arms with Ino and put a happy look on his face encouraging Ino to do the same.

"Please Sensei, I'm not hungry-" Her lips stopped moving since the other's presence inched closer and closer to her, his face a mere inch away. Surprised by his playful wink, Ino unwillingly agreed to his suggestion. She heaved out a sigh as she linked her arm with his, questioning their actions.

He was able to catch on quickly. Was it that obvious she was upset because of the male sitting in the ramen shop? 

Ino met Kakashi's gaze and she forcefully plastered on a smile. She sure hoped he knew what he was doing. They walked inside together, unnoticed by the Nara and sand-nin. That was a relief. Ino didn't want to be near him or be seen by him. 

"Ne, Sensei. I'm uncomfortable with this whole thing." She tugged on his sleeve, hinting that she wanted to leave. 

"Oi, Ino, Sensei." Ino flinched at the sound of the familiar voice. Reflexively, the blonde retracted her arm from Kakashi's as she turned around to greet her teammate. 

"Hey, you guys." She waved at the two as she felt her chest tighten. 

"Join us. We just got here." 

Sure Kakashi had like people before but he never actually thought of it as love. It never felt right that way. It was nice to show someone this side of him. Ino was trust worthy and he felt comfortable talking to her. Even though he didn’t know it, Kakashi’s thought pattern was similar to Ino’s. She was a very beautiful girl and would be a catch for any man. How someone wouldn’t choose her he didn’t know. If given the chance Kakashi may even take it. But… of course he didn’t think she was interested in him that way.

"Oh and who I this right person? And how do you know they are the right one?" he asked inquisitively. "But you see that logic you just used can be flipped. While he could be the only one… What if he isn’t?" Kakashi pointed out.

"What if you are so fixated on the man who you think is the one that you miss the person who will truly make you happy? As for keeping your heart open… As long as it is open there will be someone who will want to try to enter."

Chuckling at her quick change he continued, “It’s quite alright. I don’t mind being there to listen and help where I can. If you ever need it will gladly be there.”

"Despite the pain, there's just as much, probably even more...happiness that comes from it. I'm sure those people you held dear, made you smile a lot, no? It's the fear that allows you to treasure them and it's great that you can admit that you're afraid." She felt respect for the man next to her, despite his liking for perverted books, but who was she to talk? She was a perv herself, albeit secretly. 

"Ah-" Was that rain or sweat on her forehead? Ino shifted her gaze elsewhere as she scratched her cheek.

"Just someone you know. Someone I know. Someone..." She paused and cleared her throat as she calmed herself down. "...I'll tell you about later..."

She nervously laughed off her awkwardness as she noticed Kakashi's shoulder was getting wet. Maybe he was more of a gentleman than the character in the book. She chuckled to herself as her slim fingers slightly grazed the other's. She grabbed the end of the umbrella and tiled it towards her Sensei. She inched closer to him, so that they were both protected from the unsettling weather. 

"I hope you're right. If you're not, I'll be single forever." The Yamanaka was surprisingly relieved and glad that he wasn't headed anywhere important. 

"Really? You wouldn't mind a loudmouth blonde joining your quiet walk?" She teased, only to be interrupted by her grumbling stomach. She had planned to go home and call it a night, but it seemed her stomach had other plans. 

"If you want to join me, want to get some ramen?" She headed towards their destination, fastening her pace, not caring if she got wet. Her stomach was in dire need of sustenance. 

Her feet stopped in place when she saw who was also there. It was him.

Shikamaru was recently assigned to show Temari around, who was on a mission. Ever since then, he acted different. Ino saw the way he looked at the sand-nin and vice-versa. They were happy. Which made the blonde happy, for the most part. Her stomach dropped, not from the hunger, but from the sight of the two chatting, or what seemed like chatting. It looked more like bickering, but they were smiling.

The blonde quickly turned around, facing her Sensei and greeting him with a big smile. 

Looking back down at Ino, Kakashi could clearly see that she was a little in distress from her thoughts. He wasn’t very good at comforting people when it came to these kinds of things. Then he heard her question…

"This time yea it was." He thought back over his life, "No… I have never been through a break up of love. But I have lost so many people who were close to me that I know the pain all too well." He muttered.

Kakashi rarely showed this side of himself to anyone. He wasn’t the kind of person to because he thought it was showing weakness. It showed that he really trusted Ino. Clearing his throat he spoke again, “I would like to know what true love feels like. Just haven’t found the right person.” His eyes connected with hers and understanding came to him about what she was thinking.

"You still have many around you. People that are close to you, I mean." Of course he would know that, but she had to say something that could be a little comforting. 

Her eyes were glued to the male as she listened to his words.

He hasn't been in love? That was difficult for her to understand. He was a pretty good catch. Not that she would ever say that out loud. He was also older than her, he surely had been in love. So, she thought. Guess not. She appreciated his openness with her, usually he wouldn't comment so much on subjects like these. He must have seen how she was slightly upset. That was rather sweet of him.

"I hear what you're saying..." Her gaze shifted to the view in front of her. The rain made the atmosphere solemn, yet she loved the rain. Especially when it ended, there was a refreshing scent to everything outdoors. (FORESHADOW DUN DUN)

"I have found the right person." Ino's chest inflated from the sigh that escaped her lips. Stupid Nara. 

"What if he's the only one? Let's say I do open my heart...and no one enters..." Her eyes met Kakashi's, which caused the blonde to chuckle at her musings.

"Mou, gomen. I didn't mean to make you my love therapist or anything." She stretched her arms, which slightly got wet, and then plastered on a smile that had long been gone. 

Again he got a little nervous at the mentioning of the books. Her question scared him a first but sighed as he had just got done finishing that chapter. Which was the main reason he had put it away. It was a good breaking point.

But once again it was a good opportunity to mess with her so he tried to look distraught. “How could you spoil the book for me?” he whined. “Oh you are just soooo cruel.” he over dramatized. After giving a little pause for Ino to react he laughed.

"Hah?" She playfully glared at the other as she pushed the umbrella into his hands and gently hit him in the shoulder. She retracted her hands and crossed her arms, a smile slowly gracing her features. It was rather nice talking to her Sensei. It had been a while.

"I wouldn't have felt sorry if I ruined it for you anyways." What a lie.

  The blonde held out her hand, grasping the droplets of rain, which slipped through her fingers. Her thoughts were filled with a certain someone. A certain friend of hers. He had fallen in love with someone else. Her lips started to move, slipping out words that had a somber tone to them. 

»     ”                         ɢᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ                       

of my way. 

He put his book in a pocket deciding to pay more attention to their conversation. “Well now how can you say that? You hardly know me. And you also know, I am sure, that I was just teasing you anyways and was going to let you under.” Kakashi pointed out sure that he was right.

"Who knows if you would have? You're even letting me hold the umbrella." She twirled the object in her hand as she subconsciously made sure not to get the male's shoulder wet. Not like he was special or anything. It was the principle. The principle was the basis of her actions. He was willing to share, so she shouldn't get the man wet. 

"Anyways, what chapter were you on? Did you get to the part where they broke up?" Ino's eyes slightly flickered at the thought of the couple going through hardships together. 

She quickly covered her lips with her free hand, realizing she had spoiled the plot of the book if he wasn't at that part yet. 

DO I SMELL NEW OTP?! ahah u guys are stunning -kisses screen-

hugh grant approves doe

A smirk appeared under his mask remembering that day. It was nice to know that he wasn’t the only one who had a definitive liking for the books. It was even better to know that a girl liked them. At the same time it made him question Ino’s perviness.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Sensei." There were times she regretted going to that bookstore. And that instant was one of them. Her cheeks were brushed with a slight pink hue as she bit the inside of her cheeks. If only she met a man like the one in the series. A hopeless romantic she was. Or, she was just lonely.

For her to see Kakashi like that? Hah! What a joke. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her thoughts.