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The Hatake family entered Naruto’s office when he called. Inside they found not only the sitting Hokage but Sasuke and Sakura as well.
After greetings were exchanged Kakashi paused. “I didn’t think we’d receive such a full reception.” He looked at his three students suspiciously.
“Sensei, Mei,” Sakura began shifting her feet. “We’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”
Mei turned and looked at her husband. He had a single eyebrow arched in Sakura’s direction, clearly as mystified as his wife. “Yes?” Kakashi encouraged his student to proceed.
Sakura turned to Naruto. “It isn’t just us,” Naruto continued for his teammate. “We’ve discussed it with your children as well.”
Both of Kakashi’s eyebrows disappeared behind his headband. The parents turned to look at all four of their children. Kasumi and the twins looked at their parents nervously but Roka kept his eyes steadfastly on the Hokage.
“You need a vacation,” Sasuke deadpanned.
Mei blinked. Kakashi’s eyebrows fell into a thoughtful scowl.
“Idiot, why’d you have to just spit it out like that? You could have let them get used to the idea,” Naruto barked at Sasuke.
The raven haired man shrugged, crossing his arms. “You two were taking too long.”
Sakura’s eyes narrowed and Sasuke took half a step back. He didn’t take back what he said however.
“A vacation?” Mei repeated, glancing at Kasumi who looked guiltier than ever.
Roka jumped right in. “It’s not like you’re crabby or anything. It’s just that you two haven’t gone anywhere or done something for yourselves in ages. And day trips don’t count,” Roka headed his father off even as the former Hokage was opening his mouth. “We’re talking about a real vacation.”
“If I didn’t know any better I’d think you four were up to something,” Kakashi stated crossing his arms.
“They aren’t,” Sakura said quickly defending the young Hatakes. “It’s just now that Roka and Kasumi have graduated we figured you two could take a short break. Two weeks tops.”
“Why now?” Mei asked, warming up to the idea. She smiled reassuringly at Kasumi who sighed in relief.
“It’s not as if Roka and Kasumi can suddenly defend themselves better now that they’re chunin,” Kakashi said, his voice gaining an edge to it.
“We can take care of ourselves Dad,” Roka spat out instantly.
Kakashi’s eyebrow arched as he turned to look at his eldest son. Roka glared back.
Mei leaned in to whisper in Kakashi’s ear. “You two are not going to have this argument again. Not here.”
Kakashi sighed.
Kasumi spoke up, “we won’t leave the village while you’re gone. We’ll help Fujita and Hisano with their classes, all that.”
“Now I can’t leave the village either?” Roka grumbled to his brother.
“Why? Do you need money?” Kasumi quietly countered, knowing the answer.
“No,” Roka grunted, sulking.
“Do you want them to have their vacation or not? We already talked about this,” Kasumi reasoned.
“I know I know,” Roka whispered back. Louder so that everyone could hear he said, “right, we won’t be leaving the village. We’ll be safe and sound. I’m sure Aunt Hinata will come by and tuck us in as well.” He rolled his eyes.
“Roka don’t be disrespectful,” Mei reproached him.
Roka crossed his arms and said nothing.
“Roka,” Kakashi said, voice stern.
“Yes mother,” Roka responded. He shifted uncomfortably.
“So where do you want to go?” Mei asked Kakashi, trying to change the subject.
“Who said we were?” Kakashi replied, eyes half closed. “Seems to me we’re needed here.” He glanced at his eldest and Roka seemed to shrink.
“I’m sorry,” Roka said. “We really do want you to take some time off for yourselves.” Roka had calmed down and was speaking to the floor. “Kasumi and I will keep our eyes on things. I’m sure our sisters won’t give us any trouble.” He smiled at his youngest siblings. Hisano nodded eagerly. Fujita smiled in a way that could be interpreted as either mischievous or agreeable.
Mei’s eyebrows rose and she looked at Kakashi. Kakashi put a hand on Roka’s shoulder. Roka looked up, startled. “If they do I’m sure you can handle it.” He favored his son with an eye smile. Roka only half-smiled back but his eyes beamed.
Changing the subject Kakashi addressed the group. “So where would we be taking this hypothetical vacation?” Kakashi was sure they’d already planned something and his suppositions were not disappointed.
Sakura and Naruto looked at each other in glee. “The Land of the Moon,” they said together.
Kakashi’s eyebrows made another ascent. Mei jerked back in surprise and recognition but said nothing. Kakashi turned to his wife, “what do you think Mei?”
Mei smiled. “I’ve always wanted to go to The Land of the Moon. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
Kakashi grunted noncommittally. The Sixth Hokage eyed his students. He was trapped and they knew it. They smirked at him like mockeries of cherubs. “When do we leave?”
Mei tried to hide her gargantuan grin.
“Tomorrow,” Sakura squealed. She handed Kakashi a rather thick packet. “This is your itinerary.”
Mei’s smile fell. “But Fujita and Hisano start their next round of academy classes tomorrow.”
“It’ll be okay Mom,” Fujita said. “Like Kasumi said, we all already talked about this.”
“Go have a good time,” Hisano added quietly.
Kakashi whispered to his wife, “how did our children become so well adjusted?”
Mei shrugged in response.
“Sakura,” Kakashi asked, afraid of the answer, “what is all this?” He gestured by hefting the itinerary.
“Oh, your tickets, arrival and departure times and anything we,” she indicated Naruto and herself with a nod, “thought you two might be interested in doing since we’ve been there recently.”
At this Sakura glared at her husband until all eyes were on the Uchiha. Sasuke shrugged, “I refused to help.”
“Shocking,” Mei said before she could stop herself. She was irritated by her own lack of control but not entirely repentant that she’d said it.
Sasuke glanced at her but said nothing. Sakura uncomfortably shifted in place.
“Well,” Kakashi said briskly, “we’d better go read these. Kids? Want to help us plan our getaway?”
“We were actually going to meet up with sensei,” Fujita said. Hisano nodded. The two departed out the window.
Roka said, “I’d better go to the missions office and see if there’s anything in village,” he added emphasis when Kasumi opened his mouth, “that I can do that won’t completely suck.” He waved and vanished.
Kasumi fidgeted. “I actually need to go shopping. We haven’t been in the Leaf for almost a year. I’m sure the pantry is wiped.” He left through the door.
Mei sighed, “well I’m feeling very unneeded. Good thing we’re going on vacation.”
Kakashi whispered something in Mei’s ear and she immediately smacked him chidingly in response.
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“So what’s on the itinerary?” Mei asked as they walked down the streets of the Leaf Village.
“Well it’s the Land of the Moon so there are casinos, beaches, and a lot of sun,” Kakashi replied as he scanned the activity brochures that Sakura had stuffed into the envelope. “I see that the circus is still in business.”
“I meant what’s the plan,” Mei clarified. “Numbers.”
Kakashi shifted some papers around. “Well we’re taking a cruise ship there apparently,” Kakashi said, reading the schedule. “We’ll arrive at the island at 9 in the morning. Then we’ll be breakfasting with the royal family. After that-”
Mei blanched. “What was that last part?”
“Hm?” Kakashi asked looking up from the list.
“Did you just say ‘breakfasting with the royal family’?” Mei was sure that she’d heard wrong; her ears had to be playing tricks on her again. Kakashi made it a point to enunciate his words very carefully but sometimes she still missed things.
Kakashi blinked. “Yes,” he replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “King Michiru, Queen Amayo, and Prince Hikaru. After that-”
“Stop Kakashi, stop,” Mei demanded shaking her head and putting her hand out.
Kakashi complied and waited.
“Why are we breakfasting with the royal family on our vacation? We’re not going as ambassadors. I was actually hoping that we’d keep as low of a profile as possible.” Mei stared at her husband, comprehension dawning. “Oh Kakashi no, not again.”
Kakashi, catching her meaning, remained in silent embarrassment.
Mei put her face in her hands. From between her fingers she said, “who was it this time? Who did you rescue? A princess? Diplomat? Ambassador?”
“The king.”
“The king!” Mei echoed, exasperated.
“And prince,” Kakashi coughed out, looking anywhere but at his wife.
“But not the queen?” Mei asked with tainted amusement.
“No, the queen was not involved. I’m sure they remember Naruto better anyway, he and Hinata have visited them twice already.” Kakashi could see that this explanation was not soothing his wife, the retired leader of a long shunned hidden village, so he shut his mouth. “I really didn’t do much.”
Mei snorted. “How long were you in the hospital that mission?”
Kakashi shifted uncomfortably.
“Kakashi if you didn’t do much then you wouldn’t have had to stay there after the mission was completed. However, based on Naruto and Sakura’s reactions, which make a lot more sense now by the way, they got to spend quite a bit of time in the Land of the Moon while you apparently were unable to enjoy yourself. How long?” Mei was getting more and more agitated but there was no stopping her now.
“Two weeks,” Kakashi said flatly.
“Didn’t help much indeed,” Mei huffed, crossing her arms.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “Like I said, they probably won’t even remember me.”
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“Kakashi! It’s so nice to see you again!” King Michiru gushed. “And this must be your lovely wife Lady Mei! Naruto told us all about you!”
After a very relaxing cruise the Hatake couple arrived in the Land of the Moon where the king himself greeted them at the docks.
“King Michiru,” Kakashi said. “It is a pleasure to see you again. And may I say you’re looking very fit.”
The king, whose jet black hair was now more silver than black, had indeed lost his excess weight but not his barrel-chested laugh. “All thanks to you and your students Kakashi,” the king lowered his voice, “or should I say Lord Sixth Hokage?” The salt and pepper haired man winked.
“I take it Naruto sent word ahead that we wanted to keep a low profile?” Kakashi said genially.
“He did he did,” the king smiled. “Although I can’t imagine why. It’s not as if you’d be treated the worse for it, quite the opposite in fact.”
Kakashi eye-smiled. “Let’s just say that I want this trip to be more relaxing than the last.”
Michiru laughed again. “Too true, too true. The carriage is this way my dear,” the king said, taking Mei’s hand.
Mei looked back at Kakashi with her eyebrows raised, he knows that I could kill him right?
Kakashi gave her a fake scowl in return, but he trusts that you won’t. Besides, I’m right here.
Mei lifted her eyes skyward for Kakashi to see and then turned her attention back to the king. Kakashi silently chuckled, following the king and his guard to the carriage. Mei was used to formal situations but those didn’t usually coincide with her being treated like a delicate princess who needed to be guided by the hand.
Once they arrived at the king’s castle Mei was introduced to the rest of the royal family: Queen Amayo, who Kakashi was pleased to see had returned to the family after Michiru’s change of heart, and Prince Hikaru, who was now a man in his own right and preparing to take the throne.
As Queen Amayo invited them all to sit down, Prince Hikaru peppered Mei and Kakashi with questions about how they met. After Kakashi told the story about how he had asked Mei out on their first date, with Mei beet red the entire time, Mei decided that some payback was in order.
During the next break in conversation Mei asked, “King Michiru, Prince Hikaru, could you please tell me about how you met Kakashi? He hasn’t been forthcoming about details of his last trip here.” She said the last part smiling at her husband.
Kakashi pretended to be asleep to feign indifference. Mei knew better.
“Oh Kakashi saved our lives, he and his team,” Michiru said laughing. “He had the brilliant plan to use the circus as a smokescreen while they launched a rescue attempt.” The king drank orange juice from his glass. “He pushed himself so hard that he was in the hospital for two weeks!
“His students enjoyed the time off at our resorts but poor Kakashi was stuck in the hospital. In fact, when we all went to visit we found him doing pushups in bed. I’d never seen Sakura look so angry.” The king chuckled at the memory.
Mei glanced over at Kakashi who was still faking sleep but she could spy a slight twitch of his left eyebrow.
After breakfast the Queen called her carriage to take them to the resort. “Michiru, they don’t want to spend their vacation chatting with us. Besides, they must be tired from their journey.”
The king smiled at his wife, “of course my dear, you’re always so sensible.” Michiru turned to his guests, “I don’t know if Sakura told you but we’ve set you up in the royal villa on the beach. I hope that suits you.”
Mei’s eyes grew wide but Kakashi said smoothly, “that would be perfect, thank you for your generosity.”
“It’s our pleasure,” the queen said. She smiled kindly at Mei who shook herself out of the dazed state she’d fallen into and smiled in kind.
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The bellhop, though confused that the couple only had a backpack worth of luggage between them, was still happy to show them to their villa. When he opened the door the sight of the inside took Mei’s breath away. She’d stayed at inns before but this was entirely different. This wasn’t a room so much as a stand-alone house, on the beach, with room service. The floor plan was completely open allowing the air and sun to move freely from room to room. The bathroom floors and walls were mosaics made of colorful sea shells making swirling patterns. The furniture looked as if it had been carved out of drift wood. The wooden floors were rubbed smooth by the sand and the linens were all as white as the crest of a wave. They could see curtained glass doors on the far side of the house that led out to a back patio that disappeared into the sand of the beach. The beaming bellhop quietly closed the door behind him on his way out as Mei took it all in, Kakashi grinning at her reaction behind her.
Mei whirled around, face alight. “It’s perfect.”
Kakashi’s smile was hidden by his mask but the way his warm eyes rested on his ecstatic wife said all that needed to be. “And it’s ours for two weeks,” Kakashi set the pack down. “What would you like to do first? There’s snorkeling-”
Mei strode up to her husband and silenced him with a kiss. “No hurry. What actually sounds perfect right now is a nap.”
Kakashi bodily picked Mei up, walked into the bedroom, and eased her into the downy covers that seemed to go on forever.
“Mmm,” Mei said and she leaned into the hundred pillows that covered half of the bed. She couldn’t imagine what they could all be for but at that moment she didn’t care.
Kakashi laid himself down next to her. “Still irritated that I saved another king?” Kakashi teased.
“No,” Mei sighed with her eyes closed. “But I could have gone for more royalty saving missions and less body disposal back in the day.”
Kakashi hummed contentedly in his chest. Then he said, “Mei?”
She cracked an eye open in answer.
“I love you.” Kakashi nuzzled his face into her hair, breathing in the scent as he relaxed into the covers.
Mei smiled sleepily at him. “I love you too.”
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A knock on the door the next day brought both kage awake and out of bed in a flash. Mei pulled a kunai out from somewhere.
“Room service!” A cheerful voice called from the other side of the villa’s front door.
Kakashi motioned for Mei to take cover behind the entryway wall while he moved to answer the door. Mei hurried to the bathroom instead, much to Kakashi’s confusion. She emerged with one of the resort’s robes and tossed it at him.
He caught it and tied it on, sending her a grateful look, before answering the door.
The man started when Kakashi whipped the door open suddenly. “Oh, um, hello,” the man pulled himself together and cleared his throat. “I am here to welcome you to our fine establishment now that you’re settled in. If there’s anything you require, here is a list of our services. We’re only a phone call away.” The man handed Kakashi a folder which he accepted with care.
Kakashi smiled, “thank you. We’ll be sure to do that.”
The man’s mouth fell open a bit but he quickly recovered, bowed, and left. Kakashi frowned at the man’s retreating back as he shut the door.
Mei was smiling at her husband’s confused expression upon his return.
Kakashi cocked his head at her, what?
Mei, barely suppressing her grin, reached up and stroked her chin.
Kakashi’s hand flew to his face only to confirm what he’d just realized. He did not have his mask on.
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Most of their days were spent walking along the beach. The couple would examine the seashells, stones, and lumber that washed ashore at their leisure.
Kakashi, after making sure that no one was watching, built a rough sand castle using earth style. It was more like a fortress actually and too close to actual scale for comfort. He immediately returned the ground to its original shape. Mei, in response, attempted to use water style to reverse the tide so she didn’t have to move her towel on the beach. They both agreed that that was too conspicuous and just moved the towel.
They stood in the surf, feeling their toes sink deeper and deeper into the sand as the warm waves eroded the grains around and under their feet.
Kakashi, much to Mei’s shock, continued to wear his mask even with his swimwear. “It looks ridiculous,” Mei stated that morning with a giggle.
Kakashi shrugged. “Covering my face never bothered me in the bathhouse and it’s not going to bother me now.”
“The tan line from your mask is going to be horrible,” Mei pointed out.
Kakashi looked at his pale skin and shrugged.
Mei looked her husband over again, “in fact, we’re both probably going to burn.”
“Well, you might.”
Mei raised an eyebrow. “What makes you immune?”
In answer Kakashi, after rummaging in their pack, grasped something and tossed it to her. Mei caught it and saw that she was holding a bottle of sunscreen, SPF 1000. Mei shook her head, disbelief clear on her face. “This can’t be real.”
Kakashi snorted, “it’s as real as the tan I got the first time Guy flashed his teeth at me. He gave me that sun block and it’s worked for everything ever since.”
“I wouldn’t believe you if I hadn’t seen Guy’s smile with my own eyes,” Mei shuddered. “You Leaf ninja and your quirks.”
“At least we don’t file down our teeth to look like sharks,” Kakashi pointed out.
“Well that’s only,” Mei began and then stopped. Her hand went to her mouth as she thought. “Okay yeah, quite a few people do that.”
Kakashi chuckled in triumph but Mei ignored him.
“Anyway let’s try this out,” Mei said gesturing at the sun block and hurrying toward the patio doors on the villa that led to the beach. “Oh, but first,” Mei said stopping herself.
Kakashi watched as his wife found her comb and untangled her hair so it all streamed down her back. It was shorter now than the way she’d kept it when they were younger, only to the small of her back, but it was still quite impressive. Then, with skillful fingers, Mei wove her hair into a long braid down her back.
Kakashi frowned as he fingered the restrained locks. “I like it better when it’s down,” Kakashi almost pouted.
Mei snorted. “Yes but if you think I’m swimming in the ocean with my hair going every which way then I’ve married a fool.”
“I’d help you comb it out,” Kakashi offered as they stepped out onto the deck.
“And you still can when I take it out after our swim,” Mei smiled behind the bangs that did not fit into the braid. She took Kakashi’s hand and dragged him into the shallows.
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It wasn’t long before Kakashi learned the joys of reading on the beach. There were some lawn chairs in a shed next to the villa and he wasted no time in acquiring one in which to lay out and read upon.
Across the private, white sanded beach Mei entered the surf for a swim. Kakashi glanced at her rear as she stepped into the waves and dove in. He smiled and returned to his book.
The Hokage’s usual paranoia didn’t leave him even on vacation. He continued his ritual of checking on where Mei was before returning to his read every few minutes.
At one point when he glanced up Mei was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t worried, she could be diving or was so far out that a wave was hiding her. He returned to his book, looking up more frequently to catch her next surface. With each unsuccessful glance he looked back at his book for smaller and smaller periods of time. After only looking back at the page long enough to read one word Kakashi lowered his book and scanned the ocean in front of him.
He didn’t want to overreact. After Mei had been kidnapped she’d practically had to beat it into him to not overreact if she was out of his sight for more than a few seconds. Still, this made him uneasy.
After several more seconds of scanning the water in front of him Kakashi took off across the beach and onto the surf. Then, remembering himself, he let his feet sink beneath the surface until they hit sand. He looked to the left and right as he ran. They were on a private beach but so were the villas that flanked them. There were still people within sight who’d certainly notice a man running on top of the ocean.
He dove under the first wave that impeded his progress and swam hard. Where is she? The salt water wove through his hair making it dance above his head like flames. The salt stung his eyes but he forced them to remain open.
Kakashi surfaced for a breath and got half of a lung full of water. Air had joined the water however and so he dove again, ignoring his burning lungs. He continued to paddle beneath the waves heading out to where he’d last seen his wife. In a space of time that seemed, to him, to be an eternity he spotted her surfacing a few strokes away. They surfaced together and Mei was startled to see him.
“Kakashi what-” then she stopped because Kakashi was coughing and floundering next to her. “Idiot,” Mei growled out. She yanked Kakashi’s mask down to his neck as he continued to choke. Mei reached out and grabbed him before he could sink and helped him float while he, now unimpeded, coughed up the water he’d inhaled.
With a one-armed stroke and a strong kick, Mei towed her rescuer to the beach. Kakashi continued to cough but was able to take deep breaths by the time they reached the shore. Mei hauled him up onto the dry sand and Kakashi lay where she laid him like a piece of driftwood.
“What were you thinking swimming with your mask on,” Mei demanded crossly. “Of all the idiotic- You could have drowned. I’m surprised you got that far. What were you doing?”
Kakashi remained silent with his eyes closed. He had a sliver of hope that Mei might think he’d passed out. Frankly he’d rather be unconscious than explain to his wife that he’d been attempting to rescue her.
The sun shining through his eyelids was suddenly blocked and Kakashi opened his eyes to see Mei bent over him. “I’m fine,” Kakashi said but was interrupted by another round of coughs.
Mei’s eyebrows evened and her eyes softened. “That’s not what I asked,” she said softly reprimanding him. She realized how horrible that sounded even as the words left her lips.
Kakashi finished with his coughing and attempted to look anywhere but at his wife’s face. “I um- I didn’t see you. I thought you might be drowning.”
Mei’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Then she began to chuckle and the chuckle grew into a full laugh. Mei covered her face with her hand and then attempted to wipe the smile from her face. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t laugh. It’s not funny you could have been hurt.” Despite these words Mei spent the next minute attempting to muffle her giggles.
“No it’s not funny,” Kakashi said from his couch in the sand, irritation ringing his voice.
“I’m sorry I’m sorry,” Mei said stifling the last of her snorts. “It’s just you thought you had to rescue the Land of Water native from drowning. It’s a little funny.”
“I’ll fail to see the humor for a long time yet,” Kakashi said flatly, fatigue making him irritable.
“Really though, are you okay?” Mei asked seriously. Kakashi held out a hand and she helped him to his feet.
“Fine, I think I’m going to go lie down though,” he replied, brushing the sand off of his back.
Mei nodded. She leaned in and felt his temperature with her forehead. “We’d better get you warm, just in case. Really that was a foolish thing to do.”
“I forgot,” Kakashi replied honestly, scratching the back of his head with a lazy hand.
“Well don’t forget again,” Mei scolded.
Kakashi sighed, “yes ma’am.”
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The sun continued to shine throughout the Hatake’s vacation. One day Mei suggested they go to one of the public beaches. She had snorkeled through their entire area and was looking for fresh ground to cover.
“It’ll be crowded,” Kakashi argued even as they packed a bag for the quick walk.
“Yes but it’ll be nice to see others vacationing too. Little families building sand sculptures and having picnics,” Mei said smiling. “I bet there’s a volleyball net. Want to beat some young fools at doubles? They’ll probably try to go easy on us because we’re old!”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea. It would be hard to resist the urge to show off and that wouldn’t coincide with our low profile plan would it?” Kakashi pointed out as they started down the path.
Mei sighed. “Fine, but I would have loved to teach them a thing or two about assumptions.”
After arriving at what Kakashi had correctly predicted to be a crowded beach, Mei went out to snorkel while Kakashi procured a lawn chair. Having settled on a relatively private spot, meaning that the towels and chairs of strangers were an entire foot away from his, Kakashi settled down to read a familiar orange book.
The sun made its lazy trek through the sky as noon came and went. Kakashi occasionally checked on Mei over the top of his novel and, seeing her familiar figure swimming along at the surface, contentedly went back to his book.
Suddenly there was a call of, “look out,” as a volleyball sailed toward Kakashi. Before it made contact with his head however, he punched it back toward its astonished owners with a lazy fist. The kage hadn’t even looked up from his page.
A minute later a shade was thrown over him and Kakashi looked up to see what was blocking the sun. It turned out to be a she: a slight but shapely blonde teen in a red bikini. She held the offending volleyball on her infirm hip and she was gazing at the Hokage.
Kakashi raised one eyebrow a fraction in silent inquiry. What could she want? He turned his eyes back to his book.
“Hey there,” the girl said smiling, as if Kakashi hadn’t noticed her.
“Yo,” Kakashi responded, not looking up.
The girl persisted. She shifted the volleyball to her other hip. “What are you doing here by yourself? On vacation?”
Kakashi blinked. He looked up again. The girl was bending forward, trying to read the title of his book, or pretending to. You have got to be kidding me. Then Kakashi saw something that made him both gleeful and anxious. Mei was marching toward him, snorkel and mask clasped in an iron grip. Well at the very least I’m about to be rescued…I think.
Kakashi snapped his book closed and gave Mei his full attention as she entered the scene. The girl had only half turned to see what he was looking at before Mei was on top of them. “Goodbye,” Mei addressed the girl with a smile and cheerful voice so fake that Sai would have been able to spot it.
The blonde recoiled immediately as if burned. The venom in Mei’s eyes was unmistakable. Prospects ruined, the girl moved off, giving Kakashi one last flirtatious wave. He responded with a bored stare.
“Ready to go honey?” Mei asked, her voice still a little too cheerful.
“More than,” Kakashi replied, standing and stretching his muscles. “Did you enjoy the change of scenery?”
“Not as much as I thought,” Mei replied, glancing at the teens playing volleyball down the beach.
Kakashi snaked an arm around Mei’s waist and pulled her to him. “Then we should leave. Neither of us have eaten since this morning and I am famished.”
“The sun will do that,” Mei commented idly. She was staring at her feet as she pulled away from him, heading back to the path.
They continued down the path that led either to the villas or the restaurants. At the fork in the road Mei was still contemplating the ground so Kakashi chose the villa fork without pausing. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it, waiting.
“Kakashi?”
“Hm?” Kakashi responded, pretending that he hadn’t been waiting for her to speak.
“Am I old?”
“We’re the same age Mei,” Kakashi responded instantly. “If you are, I am.”
Mei remained quiet for a time. Then she said, “I just never thought I’d make it this far and now that I’m here-” Mei crossed her arms and she became silent.
“And I thought I would? I survived two wars that took men far better than me to an early grave.” Kakashi became silent himself. They continued to walk.
Mei picked the conversation up. “Sometimes I wish that we could have done these sorts of things when we were younger. In my prime I was-”
“Just as stunning as you are now,” Kakashi finished. His kind eyes turned roguish. “Don’t make me prove it to you.”
Mei smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. Kakashi wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. Mei shook her head, “that girl…”
Kakashi barked out a laugh. He filled in, “was a fool. I’m old enough to be her father.” Or grandfather, Kakashi thought and silently cringed. “Reminds me of the company Jiraiya used to keep.”
Mei snorted. “Not the most becoming of vices but we all have our own.”
Kakashi nodded.
Mei looked up and around, confused. “I thought we were going out to eat.”
Kakashi shrugged and they went back to walking side by side. “We were but I thought we’d get room service tonight. Wouldn’t want to run into my new girlfriend.” Kakashi ducked his head and could feel the wind of the missed slap pass over.
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“So how was it?” Naruto asked when Kakashi and Mei returned.
The couple looked at each other over the shoulders of their children. It had been a Hatake dog pile.
Kakashi looked away from his smiling wife and at Naruto, “it was paradise. But it’s good to be back.”