Practicing Love

A/N: This was just cute and fluffy. Totally random. And today seemed a good day to post it. Chances are I'll add random sex scenes later for Sasuke's humiliation and everyone's enjoyment. For now, I give you a random, and possibly completed one shot.

The man was such a mystery. Maybe that was why he was Sasuke’s first crush. He had told them all they were not fit to be shinobi while smiling. Smiling, for God’s sake! One did not just say such serious things with a smile if he was in his right mind. Maybe that also appealed to the much younger boy. He had been surrounded by such strict people all his life. This man was supposed to be his mentor, and for as long as Sasuke could remember, Hatake Kakashi had always been so weird - because there was really no other word the Uchiha heir could think of for such a man. He was still strict in his training, much like when he taught the boy Chidori, but at the same time was so unconventional in everything he did. He seemed to prefer anything humorous over anything serious. It was everything Sasuke was not. It had bothered him for so long. Kakashi had always been on his mind, but he had dismissed it as being a source of constant annoyance. The man lacked the proper drive to be a jounin in his opinion.

When Sasuke had left to go train with Orochimaru, his thoughts had stayed with his former sensei. Again, he had dismissed it. Kakashi had been the first person to help him hone his abilities into a perfection. It only seemed natural he had lingering thoughts. He had done a lot of comparing between the copy nin and the snake sannin. When he had realized his thoughts of Kakashi never seemed to fade, he accepted it as a crush. He had sunk into a depression for a while after that. He was never going to see the man he had fallen for again because he had run away from Konoha. When the blonde idiot had come for him after three long years, he had refrained from killing the boy out of shear joy that maybe this meant he had a way back into his crush’s life without being killed for defecting.

He had gone as far as to kill Orochimaru to get back home. It would have been naïve of him to think it would be enough to spare him the council’s wrath. He only hoped it would show them all he had no intentions of defecting again if they let him return. For Kakashi, he would even give up his life’s mission of revenge. If the man would accept his feelings, such things would seem trivial when he could focus instead on building a life with love. He could worry about children later.

Sasuke had returned to the village in broad daylight, completely unarmed. He had let the ANBU take him to the Hokage’s tower without any struggle. He had presented Tsunade with proof of Orochimaru’s demise and requested only that he not be killed. The woman had a soft spot for children it had seemed. After a few days of containment, he had been released as a citizen of Konohagakure under the watchful eye of an ANBU guard. His position as a shinobi would be a lot harder to reinstate. He, of course, was just thrilled to be back and allowed to walk the streets. He had immediately moved back into his home in the Uchiha district. The glares and distrusting looks bounced right off of him. He even allowed a certain blonde to attack him and ramble off loudly about how everyone had missed him and was so happy he had come back. Naruto was not fooling anyone. Almost no one seemed happy to have a traitor back in their midst.

The one person Sasuke looked for, he could not find. He was not surprised. Kakashi was always busy. Him being the favorite for sixth Hokage, he was given a more difficult selection of missions.

“When is Kakashi-sensei getting back?” He gave in and asked Naruto upon his third day as a “free” man of Konoha.

“Ano… That’s a good question. I think he should be back any day now. He promised to help me learn some new jutsus, so he had better hurry,” Naruto huffed, crossing his arms in mock frustration.

Sakura frowned at Naruto. They were all just standing around on the bridge they had waited on in their genin days for Kakashi to show up. Since Sasuke was not technically a shinobi anymore, they had limited time to hang out. The pink haired girl had wasted no time in returning to Sasuke’s side. Like Naruto, she had always trusted and believed in Sasuke. Sai had also started to join them when the three gathered to talk. Sasuke would only be there to get away from the Uchiha district, trying to find something to do. He found civilian life to be incredibly boring. He prayed to whatever gods that would pity him that Tsunade could find a way to return him to his ranking.

He wanted to do missions again. He wanted to train with the others again. He had never appreciated his team quite so much. They were the only ones willing to approach him and spend any time with him. He had found Sai rather annoying at first, but upon spending more time with the boy, he found him to be bearable - like the other two. He wondered if his crush had made him softer. Surely he would never have taken these things quite so well in the past. Sasuke pulled at a piece of his hair that dangled in his face.

“Ne, Sasuke-kun, have lunch with us. We can go check on the status of Kakashi-sensei’s mission afterwards. I know you must be anxious to see him and tell him about how you killed Orochimaru for us,” Sakura smiled.

“Alright,” he conceded.

The other males were shocked at how easily Sasuke gave in. He stood up straight from leaning on the bridge’s railing and followed the only girl of the group towards the main street of the village for some food. She had no idea how right she was, but she would not like his reasoning at all. She had made it very clear her love for him had not faded over the years. She had merely learned how to be not as overbearing with it. Naruto and Sai scrambled to follow. Sai was smiling his usual smile as he came up next to Sasuke.

“Sasuke, I’ve heard you were never quite this nice. Did you realize what an ass you had been and now want to make up for it?” He inquired casually.

Sasuke’s eyebrow twitched. He had punched Sai in the jaw when the other raven haired boy had first asked him if he had come back so he could profess his undying love for Naruto. The other boy involved had paled and started screaming about how he was straight and in love with Sakura. All in all, there was a lot of yelling and hitting between the four people. After that, Sasuke had just gotten used to Sai’s crude remarks.

“Shut up. Leave Sasuke-kun alone,” the pink haired shinobi spoke up.

“I want ramen!” Naruto exclaimed before any more could be said.

“Of course you do,” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

The two rivals began their age old bickering. Sasuke did not want such an unhealthy excuse for a meal. He had wanted sushi, or at least something with some form of nutrition. Naruto argued that ramen was perfectly healthy. The other two shinobi just chuckled. After a few minutes, it seemed the two were not going to find a resolution on their own. Sakura, having had enough, decided for them.

“We’ll go shopping,” she told them sternly.

“Nani?” Naruto cocked his head to one side . “How does that solve anything?”

“Buy your ramen, Naruto. And I can make Sasuke-kun some sushi,” the girl smiled.

“I’ve had your cooking. Its terrible,” Sai copied her smile.

Sakura’s eyebrow twitched. She pulled her fist back and coated it in her chakra. The blow connected with Sai’s arm and the boy was pushed to the side. He fell roughly into a muscular chest.

“Yo. What’s going on?”

“Kakashi-sensei!”

The blonde boy’s mouth fell open. Kakashi stood Sai up straight and gave the group a short wave. The side of his head seemed to be covered in blood. When he stepped forward, he was limping a little. His clothes were ripped and his jounin’s vest was missing. He looked very much worse for wear. Sasuke’s face had heated up significantly at the sight.

“Are we getting lunch?” Their teacher asked.

“We were,” Sakura said, a scolding tone to her voice. “You are going to the hospital.”

“Eh?! Why?” Kakashi pouted.

Well, as far as they could tell. The only thing on the man’s body that was unharmed was the mask he always wore. The features on his face they could see had wilted. Sakura tapped her foot impatiently.

“Oh! This blood isn’t mine,” he waved his hand, his visible eye curling up in a smile. “Things got a little messy, but I’m finished early.”

“Kakashi-sensei! Tell them to go eat ramen with me,” Naruto whined.

“I’m not eating that. I just got home! Why don’t you kids treat your sensei to a real meal.”

“No!” They all said flatly.

“Wah, you’re all so cruel! Huh? Sasuke? When did they let you out?”

Sasuke glared at the man. Kakashi looked up to the sky, a hand on his chin as he contemplated Sasuke’s freedom. It truly did not make sense to anyone that he would be released into Konoha so early. He had defected for quite some time, and even bringing Orochimaru’s head back was in no way enough to excuse him.

“I’m only allowed to walk around. I’m not a shinobi again,” he explained icily.

Kakashi nodded; that made sense. Tsunade had not gone senile just yet, it would seem. Kakashi limped over to the Uchiha and wrapped an arm around him.

“Alright. I treat Sasuke, but the rest of you are on your own. And I won’t eat ramen either.”

|~~~~| |~~~~|

Naruto had sulked as they entered the small restaurant. They had let the jounin decide on where they ate. The place had seemed almost forgotten on the outside but had a comfortable atmosphere inside. And Naruto had found his favorite noodles on the menu by some miracle. The group had sat in a back corner so as to not disturb the other patrons. After a few cups of sake, Kakashi had finally agreed to give them a few details of his mission.

“I don’t really know how a group of outlaws made it to top priority. They were fairly easy to take care of,” Kakashi said absently as he told them all of how he had tricked them into walking right into their own traps.

“Then how did you get covered in all that grime?” Sakura wrinkled her nose as she pointed at him with her chopsticks.

“Oh, their boss wasn’t as stupid. He got them free. I’m good, but having about fifty outlaws rushing me, things had to get a bit graphic.”

Sai chuckled. Naruto and Sakura each shot him a glare. They did not appreciate the sick humor in the same way the other did.

“Sadist,” their pink haired companion mumbled.

“Only a little,” Sai admitted.

All in all, the air surrounding the five people was pretty happy. Sasuke stayed quiet. No one really pushed it, he had always been a bit broody. He had opened up since being allowed back into his home village, but he still sunk back into his old self from time to time. On that day, he was focused on controlling his blush and urges to pounce on Kakashi. He had harbored such a crush for too many years. He had spent his time devising a plan to get the man alone.

“Well children, that’s it for me,” the man announced suddenly.

He stood with a slight sway. Sasuke’s eyes lit up. Now was his chance. He stood smoothly and caught Kakashi by his elbow. The slight drunken shinobi looked to him with a smile.

“Oh, thank you! I must go report to the Hokage, if you’ll all excuse me.”

He started to take a step forward and felt like he was falling. The hand still holding his arm kept him up. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the sight. The others were laughing. Sasuke reached a hand into the man’s pocket and pulled out some money, tossing it down on the table.

“I’m sure Kakashi-sensei wouldn’t mind paying,” he remarked.

“I wouldn’t” the confused Konoha shinobi asked with a slur.

“No. You did get drunk around your students after all. I’ll walk you to Tsunade’s office. We’ll see you guys later,” the Uchiha nodded to the people remaining at the table.

They all bid him farewell and told him to keep their favorite silver-haired man out of trouble. Sasuke threw an arm over his shoulder and drug the stumbling mess out of the restaurant. Once they had rounded the corner, Kakashi straightened up and separated himself from the boy. He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked firmly on his own.

“Well, now you’ve got me alone.” He informed a confused teen.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Sasuke blushed brightly and looked away. The man was still a mystery, even after all those years. Inside Sasuke was relieved. It was good to know things had not changed too much.

“Hn.”

“I’ll take the long way so you can say what you need to say.”

Hokage’s tower loomed over head, The walk was usually a quick one, but the pair took the back alleys. Even though the boy had wanted the older man alone, he found himself lacking the courage when facing what he had wanted so desperately. He was chewing on his bottom lip and fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Naruto had stolen the purple belt he had and burned it upon his return. Sasuke had been forced to find clothes at the Uchiha manor. The only thing he had found to fit him had once belonged to Itachi. He wore loose shorts similar to the ones he wore as a boy, only a dark blue in color, and a black t-shirt. He had kept meaning to go get a new wardrobe.

With the Hokage’s tower only minutes away, Sasuke swallowed his pride and stepped in front of his former teacher. He stopped moving and faced him with determination. He looked up, hands in fists at his side. Kakashi mused over the childish look while Sasuke fumbled around his words.

“K-Kakashi-sensei! I…. Well, see I…. Oh damnit all. Kakashi-sensei, I like you!”

Sasuke closed his eyes and all but yelled his last words. His face had only succeeded in forming a new shade of red. Kakashi blinked a few times before smiling.

“I like you too, Sasuke.”

“Wh-What? Really?”

“Of course. I always had a place for you. You have chakras similar to mine. You were the one students I thought that could take Chidori to a new level. That’s why I taught it to you,” the other Sharingan wielder explained, rubbing the back of his head.

“Huh? Chidori? N-no! That’s not what I meant. I meant…. I meant, I’m in love with you,” Sasuke snapped.

Kakashi’s eye widened. He had known what the youngest Uchiha had meant but had been planning on his tactic of feigning ignorance to have put the boy off such notions.

“I can’t return those feelings Sasuke. I’ll see you around.”

Kakashi brushed past the broken hearted boy and finished his trip to see Tsunade alone. Sasuke fell to his knees in defeat. He pushed away the burn in his eyes. He swallowed hard, hoping to alleviate the dryness in his mouth and throat. He had not known what to expect, but certainly not to be rejected so harshly. The boy stayed in the street on his knees until he heard approaching footsteps. He then picked himself up, shoved his hands roughly in the pockets of his shorts, and headed home.

|~~~| |~~~|

“I’ve never seen him look so down,” Naruto whispered.

Neji nodded his agreement. The Hyuuga heir had stopped by to say hi to his favorite bundle of energy. The stoic teen would never admit to caring quite the way he did, so would always use the excuse of his cousin being busy but wanting to know how Team 7 was doing. Sasuke was moping around wherever they went. He had not even put up a fight when Naruto had asked him to eat ramen. It had been a little over a week since their outing with their teacher. Naruto just assumed whatever had brought the boy down had to do with Kakashi.

“You two never noticed?” Ino asked, leaning on the counter on her elbows.

Shikamaru, Ino, and Chouji had asked to follow them when they had seen Naruto heading off for lunch. The six people hanging out together really was rather odd. Neji and Naruto both frowned at her questioningly.

“Even I noticed,” the shadow genius said as he slurped down a noodle.

“Noticed what?” Naruto demanded.

“Sasuke-kun loves Kakashi-san,” Ino explained.

Neji’s face heated up. Naruto fell off his stool. Sasuke looked over at the blonde as he crashed loudly to the floor. He sent the boy a disapproving look and went back to his meal. The emo teen had wanted to eat alone and was none the wiser to the conversation being held.

“N-no way! Sasuke’s... gay?” Naruto whispered loudly.

“You seriously never noticed?” The blonde girl raised an eyebrow. “I wonder how long it took him to figure it out himself. But it has always been painfully obvious to us.”

The shock teens took a moment to reflect on the Uchiha’s past actions around the Hatake man. Neji, having only limited experience with the two, could still see the signs once he thought back on it. He nodded silently to show he understood. Naruto, however, was still confused. He could only accept the fact that his best friend‘s actions were from respect. Uchiha Sasuke could not possibly have a crush.

“I’m guessing he finally found the nerve to tell the man and he was shot down,” Ino continued.

She paused another moment before shrugging and taking a bite of her cooling ramen. Naruto jumped up, remembering his own ramen, and dove into the bowl without righting his overturned stool. When the group was finished eating, Ino and the rest of her team said their good byes. They had a mission the next day they needed to prepare for. Naruto and Neji were left alone to talk.

“How should we cheer him up?” The self proclaimed future Hokage asked, chewing absently on his chopsticks

“Why should we? He needs to learn life’s lessons somehow.”

The Hyuuga did not like the attention the Uchiha received from Naruto. He knew they were best friends and eternal rivals, but that was no reason to steal all the limelight. He was bitter towards the onyx eyed beauty for getting the attention he would do anything for, and not appreciating it properly. He knew Naruto was straight, but one can dream.

“Neji~ Will you help me?” The blonde whined.

“You, yes. Uchiha, no,” he frowned.

Naruto pouted. The action usually made the older teen cave, but said teen had made up his mind to not cheer up such an arrogant prick. He shook his head and looked away. The blonde wilted.

“Alright. Ne, Neji? Let’s hang out a little later today. I think I’ll go talk to Sai for a bit and then I’ll stop by the Hyuuga place. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” the brunette sighed.

He knew it was for Sasuke. But, Naruto never wanted to see him at home, so of course he would give in. He nodded and left the ramen stand.

“Teme! I’m leaving. Pay for your own damn ramen!” The Uzumaki boy yelled across the counter before rushing off.

Sasuke “hn”ed in response, not looking up from the soggy noodles he was busy swirling around in his bowl. Naruto was running off down the streets at break neck speed. He found Sai sitting under a tree sketching something. He slid to a halt in front of the raven and bent over, leaning on his knees to catch his breath. He held up one finger to show he needed something but was not ready to talk. Sai never looked up from his paper.

“S-Sai. I need y-your help,” he finally asked through gasped for air.

“What, dickless?”

“Sh-shut up! I need your help… cheering up Sasuke. He’s been d-down since our lunch about a-a week ago.”

“Sasuke-kun? Sure, I’ll help.”

“Really?! Awesome!” Naruto dropped into a Indian-style sitting position on the ground next to Sai.

“What do you want me to do?” Sai inquired, putting his sketch down.

“Well, it looks like Sasuke has a crush on Kakashi, and we think Kakashi-sensei turned him down. I want to cheer him up and I can’t do it alone!”

“Oh, I knew that,” Sai smiled.

Naruto’s jaw dropped. How did everyone know but him?! He closed his mouth with some trouble and stared up at the sky to think.

“Why not just set him up on a date? Get his mind off of it? I’m sure he’d go out with you,” Sai teased.

“N-no way! I don’t like boys, I like girls! I’m in love with Sakura,” Naruto blanched at the thought of dating Sasuke.

“I’d do it. It’d be funny to see Sasuke acting like an idiot.”

The paler teen was smiling still. The idea made a dinging sound in the other’s head. He slammed a fist into an opened hand.

“You could transform into Kakashi-sensei! I’m sure he’d know the difference, but maybe it would cheer him up!”

With the plan formed, Naruto instructed Sai on what not to do to seem too much like Kakashi and give Sasuke the wrong idea. Sai, however, had his own ideas. After the hyperactive one left, he picked up the empty scroll he had brought with him. He jotted down a quick message and sent it off to its recipient with a few well form seals. Sai stood and stretched his legs. He tucked his sketches away and preformed the henge. Hatake Kakashi walked from under the tree and headed to the ramen stand.

|~~~| |~~~|

“Yo.”

Sasuke sat straight up. His ears had to be playing tricks on him again. He had been hearing Kakashi’s voice everywhere. He turned around reluctantly, not wishing to make a fool of himself for looking at nothing. There stood the tall shinobi, lifting the flags at the entrance to the ramen stand and leaning down to wave with his free hand.

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sasuke asked softly.

“May I join you?”

The boy nodded. He blushed, realizing he had let his noodles get icy cold. He put the chopsticks down and pushed the bowl away. He raised his hand to order and new one and was stopped halfway through the motion. Kakashi grabbed his arm.

“Let’s go somewhere else. I prefer something with a lot more protein.”

Sasuke nodded his agreement and swallowed the lump in his throat. Images flashed through his mind that had him wondering when he had become such a pervert. The silver haired man paid for Sasuke’s uneaten ramen and dragged him off, not letting go of his arm.

“Those clothes don’t flatter you too much. How about we get you something else?”

Before he could respond, the raven haired teen found himself led into a clothing store. He was soon being handed clothes that he actually would not mind wearing. Kakashi seemed to be enjoying himself. The boy thought his face would never return to its porcelain like color. It seemed to be stained with a permanent blush at this point.

“Ka-Kakashi-sensei? What’s going on?” He managed as he was pushed towards a dressing room.

“I thought about what you said last time. It wouldn’t hurt to spend some time with you and see what happens, would it?”

‘It might hurt me….’

“No, of course not.”

Sai, disguised expertly as Kakashi, smiled happily and told the blushing boy to show him when he found something he liked. He pulled out his sketches he had henged to look like the orange book the teacher always carried. He leaned against a wall adjacent to the changing room and pretended to read. Sasuke walked out a few minutes later fishing around in his pockets for money. Kakashi grabbed his hands and shook his head.

“It’s a date, so I’ll buy.”

The Uchiha dropped the clothes he was holding. D-date?! Kakashi picked the things up smoothly and paid for them, leaving the teen in his shock until he was ready to go. At that point, he waved a hand in Sasuke’s face before walking out. The boy was left scrambling to catch up.

“I’m not the girl in this!” He yelled.

“If I remember correctly, you were the one who confessed. I think that’s generally the girl’s move.”

Sasuke’s nagging feeling that someone had been playing a prank on him was dismissed. The man was certainly behaving like himself. His former sensei was heading for the Uchiha district to drop off the clothes. Sasuke jogged to catch up and glare up at the gorgeous man.

“What’s really going on here? You don’t have to baby me, Kakashi-sensei. I’m a big boy, I can take rejection.”

“I changed my mind. Isn’t a man allowed to do that?” Kakashi titled his head to one side in a question.

“I suppose.”

“Good. Now dress nicely when we drop these off. The summer festival is tonight and we’re going.”

The Uchiha nodded. He was enjoying the way Kakashi took control. It really felt like a date. Maybe he could let go and actually have some fun. The last time he remembered going to Konoha’s festival, Itachi had snuck him out to go watch the fireworks and eat cotton candy. Sasuke was sorely tempted to act even more un-Uchiha like. Well, not to say that being love struck over his teacher was not bad enough. He wanted nothing more than to wrap himself around a muscular arm and play the role Kakashi-sensei had given him on the date. He wanted to smile up the man and tell him how happy he was.

He would not, of course. He walked beside the man close enough that they could touch if either one moved slightly to one side. Kakashi was carrying the clothes he had just bought the boy. He looked straight ahead as he lead the way to Sasuke’s home. The man seemed to not notice the teen’s inner turmoil. He stayed calm as he walked. He could feel Sasuke so close to him but was intent on teasing him with closeness without actually touching. Shinobi truly were sadistic in their own rights. They arrived at the door to the Uchiha manor in the same silence they had walked in.

“You can wait inside if you’d like,” Sasuke mumbled while opening the door.

“I will, thanks.”

Sasuke pulled the clothes away from Kakashi and ran off for his room. The teacher chuckled as he watched the retreating figure. He pulled the book out once more and leaned against the front doorway to “read” while he waited. Sasuke had thrown the clothes down and pulled out the yukata he had picked out in a hurry. He would clean up later. He stripped down, throwing the old clothes into a corner. His room was always in pristine condition, it now looked like a tornado had ripped through his closet and spat all the clothes onto his bed. He did not care. He crammed the clothes over his body and pulled sandals onto his feet.

“Ah, I’m ready Kakashi-sensei,” he announced.

He was out of breath from the quick jog through the manor and the speed with which he had dressed in. His hair had been ruffled through the change yet it only added to the sexy spiked style. Kakashi held his breath as he studied the new look. The dark blue yukata had shorter sleeves than most, ending just below his elbows. It had been tied sloppily and part of Sasuke’s chest was showing. He was wearing fishnets under the yukata and his old sandal from his days as a ninja. Some habits just died hard. Kakashi smiled.

“Let’s go. The sunset is beautiful. You should stop and enjoy it more.”

|~~~| |~~~|

Somewhere along the way, Sai had dropped his act. Sasuke had been smiling ever since they arrived at the festivities. He had even indulged in getting a fake ANBU mask and was wearing on his head much like the children running around their feet. Sai was laughing inside at seeing the famed Uchiha genius behaving in such a carefree manner. Sai longed to know what it would be like to let go and not have to worry about being called away at any minute to defend his village. He loved Konoha enough, but every now and then he would find himself wondering it would have been like to choose a normal life.

“Let’s share one of those,” Sasuke begged, breaking Sai from his thoughts.

He returned to his “Kakashi mode” and raised an eyebrow.

“You don’t like sweets,” he reminded.

“I know. That’s why I said share. I could never finish one,” Sasuke scowled as he picked up a cotton candy and paid for it.

He pulled some of the fluffy sugar off and popped it in his mouth. He grimaced. It was nothing like what he remembered. He shoved it in Kakashi’s hands and crossed his arms to pout.

“It tasted better with Aniki….”

“Ouch. I’m hurt, Sasuke. Talking about another man while out with me,” Kakashi teased, pulling off his own bit of the candy and slipping it under his mask discretely.

“Whatever. When are these fireworks you promised?”

“Later. How about a game? I’ll win you a teddy bear.”

Sasuke glared. Was he really behaving that childishly that Kakashi felt the need to treat him even more like some idiotic girl? He had no desire for such a trivial present. He shook his head no and walked away from the man to do some more observing. Aside from the cotton candy, sneaking out and a bit of the fireworks show, Sasuke did not remember the festival. After the demise of Uchiha, he had never gone by himself. He had even turned down the offer to go with his team so many years ago. Now he was on a date, and intended to remember everything he could. He got separated from Kakashi in his eagerness. He was following a booth selling mock kunais and shurinkens when he bumped into some one.

“Watch where you’re…. Oh. Kakashi-sensei. I thought I left you back there. And when did you change?”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the Uchiha. Was the boy going crazy?

“What do you mean?” The jounin asked.

He was wearing a forest green yukata and was holding dango. He looked very out of place in the midst of all those people. Sasuke frowned deeply and looked over his shoulder. Kakashi was walking towards him with one hand in his pocket and the other holding the cotton candy. When the Kakashi he was on a date with saw the other Kakashi, he stopped dead in his tracks. The Kakashi wearing the yukata stepping in front of Sasuke protectively.

“I expect you are the one sending me notes then?” Kakashi asked skeptically.

Sai nodded and stepped forward, keeping up his illusion. He pulled the hand out of his pocket to show he was unarmed.

“I’m on a date with Sasuke. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to it.”

The next move the Kakashi garbed in the yukata made surprised both himself and Sasuke. He wrapped one arm around the boy and pulled him against his strong back.

“Drop your henge. This boy is no longer a shinobi and therefore no longer a threat!” He snarled.

Sasuke inhaled the scent of the man on accident as he gasped at not only the sudden contact, but also at the protectiveness emanating from him. Sai smiled and obliged the request. He dropped his henge with his hand still held up. Sasuke peered around Kakashi’s back. He was glaring daggers once he recognize the other raven haired boy.

“Sai?!” Sasuke yelled.

“You were so cute. Did you enjoy your date with ‘Kakashi-sensei’ today?”

The Uchiha was temporarily blinded with rage. The only thing that mattered was getting his hands wrapped around the pale neck and throttling the life from it. He forgot that Kakashi was still holding him when he pushed away from the back and lunged. The strong arms of his former sensei wrapped around his waist and hauled him up bridal style. Sasuke sobered when he heard Kakashi speak in his ear.

“Now now, this isn’t way to play in public boys. And don’t forget Sasuke. If you use your chakras you won’t be allowed the small freedom you have now.”

“K-Kakashi-sensei….”

“And one more thing,” the man smiled, putting Sasuke down on his feet, now trusting that Sai was safe.

“What’s that?” Both teens asked.

“I’m not your sensei anymore, Sasuke. Now I can properly return those feelings of yours.”

Sai had at some point walked up to Sasuke, or so he assumed, because he felt a fist connect playfully with his shoulder.

“Way to go.”

“Wha? Are you serious?” Sasuke finally managed.

“Well, yes, I think so. I was going to find you and invite you out here myself but I got this challenge notice.”

Kakashi handed the scroll to the Uchiha before he could ask. Inside were the words:

I’m going to ask Sasuke out. You were too late, so I’m going to be the one to put the broken pieces of his heart back together. I’ll erase his love for you. Cheer me on tonight at the festival.

Sasuke’s hands shook in a new rage. He turned slowly on his heel to face Sai.

“Who’s heart was broken?”

“Ha ha, well you know, jealousy is always a good way to bring out one’s true feelings. Says so in this book I just read….”

Sai ducked as the scroll was thrown at his head. A large hand fell on the seething Uchiha.

“Calm down now, Sasuke. Do you not want to hear what Hokage-sama told me?”

Sai took his chance and disappeared to a puff of smoke to report to Naruto on how his best friend’s spirits had successfully been risen. The new couple was left to work out the details of a blossoming relationship. The jounin walked his former student away from the crowd with his hand still on the boy’s shoulder. They found a clearing where others were starting to gather to watch the fireworks. They separated themselves completely from others before talking.

“You will be reinstated to shinobi ranks next month,” Kakashi started in his serious tone. “I requested that you not be made my student again.”

“Why not?!”

“It is highly inappropriate for a teacher to have a relationship with his student, ne? Besides, you have risen to a level where you no longer need the help I can offer. Sasuke, understand the only reason I turned you down-”

“Don’t. I don’t want to know,” the boy snapped.

He crossed his arms and looked away. He much resembled his twelve-year-old self, sulking about nothing in particular. The man watching couldn’t help but laugh.

“Were you… were you really jealous back there?”

“Hmm, yes I’d have to say I was. Watching you with him was annoying. Couldn’t you tell it was a henge?”

“I-I did! Okay, not at first. If I’d used my chakras they would have known and I would have never been reinstated. I’d decided when you said no I work my way back into your life where you would have to notice me.”

“You really are annoying aren’t you? You may even be able to rival Naruto in this, too.”

Sasuke frowned. He refused to look at the man. He was right though. Sasuke had been rather annoying as of late. Not even the teen himself could explain it. He had told himself that it was a harmless crush and it would fade. There was no reason whatsoever for his displays of affection and childish behavior lately. He was disappointed at his lack of discipline. Kakashi wrapped his arms around the teen’s chest.

“You should act like this a little more often, Sasuke. It’s positively adorable.”

Sasuke ripped away from the man and glared.

“That is not a word you should use to refer to an Uchiha,” he warned.

“Aww, but its true. Just look at how my former student has grown up!” Kakashi pretended to cry, bringing a hand up to his face.

Sasuke was about to turn away when the other hand caught him and pulled him against a warm chest. Kakashi leaned down and used Sasuke’s face to shield himself from onlookers. He pulled his mask down with the hand he had pretended to cry with. He pressed his lips firmly against the Uchiha’s. Sasuke gasped into the motion and a tongue invaded his open mouth. Kakashi caressed Sasuke’s tongue gently and explored every inch of the wet cavern it could. The boy’s knees gave out and he grabbed onto the shinobi kissing him so fiercely. Kakashi took a few more moments to taste the boy before pulling back and replacing his mask. He watched the way Sasuke’s cheeks had formed a light pink color, his Sharingan had activated in the passion and his eyes were half closed.

“Adorable,” Kakashi whispered.

“Does that mean they’re together now?” Sakura whispered urgently to the boys she stood next to as they all watched the couple from afar.

“It would seem so,” Neji voiced his agreement.

Naruto was blushing at the sight of his teacher kissing someone his own age. Sai was grinning from ear to ear. He was quite pleased with how he had played his part. Sakura had somehow managed to keep the inner fan girl at bay so far. Inside she was squealing wildly at the scene of two gorgeous men making out in downtown Konoha. As if on cue, the fireworks started up. The group spying on the two could see Kakashi pressing his forehead to Sasuke’s for another minute. When he pulled back, he wrapped his arm around Sasuke’s shoulders and they turned to watched the multicolored lights against the black velvet sky. Sasuke hesitated a moment, then gave in and settled into the jounin’s side.

Sakura could contain her joy no longer. She squealed loudly into Neji’s and Naruto’s ears. She jogged up to the one’s she had spied on and popped up in front of them with her glee written all over her face.

“Its about time! You guys are just too cute,” she informed them.

“Go away,” Sasuke mumbled.

“Now now Sasuke-chan, let’s not be rude to Sakura. Would you like to join us?”

“Sasuke-chan?!”

“Sure!”

Sakura waved for the other boys to join them while Sasuke started raving about the indecency of being called Sasuke-chan. It just was not right in his opinion.

“I’ll take you home later, so be good,” Kakashi whispered in his ear.

And Sasuke was indeed good after that.