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It all starts, as many things do, with a sigh from Shikamaru.
Kakashi is smiling at the words written in hasty script on the frayed parchment he holds, torn out of some notebook or inn keeper"s pad, when the younger speaks.
"What"s so distracting you can"t let me finish this debrief on the council elections before you obviously stop paying attention? It"s literally the last thing sensei, and I know it"s a fuckin" drag, but we"re pretty set-"
"Mah, Shikamaru, have you ever hard of delegating? I"m sure you can handle hiring the poll supervisors just fine."
The other man scoffs, before his gaze sharpens in on something sitting on Kakashi"s desk.
"What is that? A flower?"
Kakashi looks down, realizing it must have fallen out of the letter. A perfectly pressed camellia, still fairly bright in colour and soft to the touch. He picks it up, feeling the petals slightly and smiles again.
"Oh...I get it now," the Nara drawls.
"Hm?" Kakashi looks up again, blinking, "What?"
Shikamaru is already picking up his things though, and walking out the door with a wave.
"Don"t worry, sensei. Been there, done that. I"ll see you tomorrow."
* * *
Naruto knocks on the door to Kakashi"s residence, waiting for the call to come in as he whistles a tune. When it finally comes he skips in, grinning, already gearing up to crow about some political maneuvering that was pretty deft if he does say so himself. Okay so it was Garaa on the other end, but Garaa never let him get away with anything. Except most things. Regardless!
He pauses when he notices the funny shaped bookmark Kakashi is using as he sets Icha Icha down, pink and floppy and wholly impractical before he coos.
"Is that a flower? Didn"t realize you were into frolicking in fields, sensei."
"I didn"t pick it," the man says easily, gesturing for Naruto to sit down.
"Huh? Then where did it come from?"
"Someone gave it to me. Now. What can I help you with?"
"Someone....gave it to you...a pressed flower? That"s like that Ino and Sakura and Lee did back in the day, Ino and Sakura to give to the bastard as if he cared and Lee for Sakura as if she did - oh my god."
Kakashi looks at him with a raised brow, "Naruto-"
The blonde runs out before his sensei can get a word in. He has to tell Sakura.
* * *
"Back up," Sakura says, chewing on her apple with a frown, "Kakashi has a secret lover?"
Naruto hops from foot to foot like he is in desperate need of a bathroom and maybe he does, Sakura supposes if anything would make someone was to piss in excitement it would be the news that their sensei is finally, actually entangled.
"That"s what I said! He was using a pressed pink flower as a bookmark, Sakura! You know he never uses those! He"s read those damn things so much he just picks a line to relive the greatest hits!"
"Pretty damning stuff," she acknowledges, "So who is it?"
"Gee, that would be the secret part, wouldn"t it?"
"Well did you ask?"
"...I did not."
* * *
Yamato shrugs, "He"s sentimental like that."
Sakura gestures wildly, "Sensei is? No way."
"You"d be surprised how much you don"t know about your sensei, Sakura," he says mildly, "And no I"m not about to tell you when you could just ask."
Sai blinks at him from his spot against the tree, where he"d been sketching during a break in training.
"Aren"t you curious, Captain?"
He shrugs, stretching, "Well, sure. But Kakashi is a private man and he deserves for us to respect that. He"ll tell us when he"s good and ready."
He"s dying of curiosity if he"s honest but he owes Kakashi more than most and that includes not prying. No matter how much he wants to. Pink camellias, really...
Sakura sighs, "That"s quite romantic. And clearly whoever sent it to him is, too. I wish Sasuke could be so romantic with me..."
Sai blinks, "Maybe he would, if he had such romantic feelings for you, Sakura-"
Yamato pulls Said out of the way just in time, wincing at the splintered tree.
"Guess you"re still working through that second series of behavioural books...run."
* * *
Ino hands Sai another glass of water, watching unimpressed as he drains that one too.
"It"s what you get for riling her up about Sasuke, you know."
She heads back to the cash register, it had been a busy day at the flower shop and closing time is soon. When a bell tolls she looks up boredly, perking up when she sees the tall figure walking in. As handsome and charming as ever, and apparently off the market now. She mourns for the collective hearts of Konoha.
"Hello, Ino."
"Lord Kakashi!"
"Please drop the-"
"Lord, I know. But well you know how it is, sensei. So," she leans against the table coyly, sneaking a grin at Sai who watches curiously, "What can I get for you on this lovely White Day?"
"Ah, is it? I didn"t realize to be honest, do you have camellias?"
She smiles, amused and winks at Sai as she turns and walks to a corner of the store.
"Sure do, sensei. A lovely choice. Do you want to add a card?"
She picks their best dozen of the pink flowers, quickly arranging them and tying their stems together with a white ribbon. Kakashi drops some cash on the counter and shakes his head.
"No need, thank you. Take care Ino, Sai."
The man shunshins away and Ino sighs, before turning to Sai with a frown, "The rest of you could learn a thing or two from him, you know."
* * *
"Really?" Pakkun says, as Kakashi straps the bouquet to his little pack securely.
"He"ll get a kick out of it," the man says, sounding more like he"s convinces himself.
"Right. Very funny."
Kakashi tuts, "Just go. Stay safe."
"Always do, boss."
The little pug vanishes and Kakashi shakes his head fondly. He doesn"t expect anyone else to understand. He and his penpal share a distinct sense of humor, after all.
He spends the next few hours finishing up his work for the day before finally standing with a stretch. Nine o" clock. Not bad. He thinks he deserves a bit of take out for that. He heads out, making his way down the village, smiling lightly at the couples he passes and friends hanging out. It"s nice to see the village so lively and in peace time. He wonder"s what he"s up to...
No, better not get too wistful. It"s been a good day, after all.
He stops by the barbecue place to pick up his usual takeout order there, the place full and jostling with customers. When he finally steps out, bag in hand, he nearly runs into someone in a dark cloak.
"Really, Kakashi?"
He blinks, eyes curving into a smile when he sees the face before him, exasperated but entirely fond, and holding up a familiar bouquet in question.
"Ah so you did get them! Couldn"t resist thanking me in person, huh?"
"Don"t flatter yourself. I was on my way back."
Kakashi places a hand on his chest, feigning hurt, "Sasuke, you wound me."
The younger rolls his eyes, holding the flowers up to his nose, "Whatever. They do smell nice. Just like the fields. You should see it some time."
"You should show me. I"m not going to have the energy to traipse around looking for romantic flower fields on my own once this job lets me go."
"Hm, fine."
They"re heading back to the tower, a silent agreement that Sasuke is obviously staying with him in place. Kakashi is just thinking if he has enough food to share when a loud exclamation greets his ears.
"AH HA!"
There are hisses, knocks and a few curses before Naruto comes barreling out of the bushes they are passing, Sakura, Sai, and Ino tumbling out after him.
"So you"ve gone and told Sasuke but not us!"
Kakashi blinks, "Told Sasuke what?"
"Naruto," Ino starts, tugging at his sleeve, but the blonde ignores her.
"Told him about your secret lover!"
Sasuke tilts his head, "Secret lover?"
Naruto nods, "Yeah, he"s been exchanging letters with them! Lookin" all dopey-"
"Hey..."
"-saving pressed flowers, buying bouquets for them, daydreaming, probably night dreaming too if we"re honest, we"re all thinkin" it."
Sasuke"s face melts into something amused then, dark eyes finding Kakashi"s mortified face, "Oh really?"
"I can explain-"
"And after all that, you can"t even tell your precious students who this mystery person is, but you have Sasuke holding flowers for them. What the hell, sensei?"
There is a very long pause after this until the blonde gasps, eyes wide and scandalized.
* * *
"Nothing we say will convince them otherwise now," Kakashi sighs, flopping down on the couch next to Sasuke, the vase in front of them holding the camellias in water.
The other man shrugs.
"Maybe we don"t need to."
Kakashi snorts, "What, just live a lie? Or are you asking me to run away with you to the camellia fields for real, Sasuke~"
The raven haired shinobi shoves him away but when he speaks, it"s unsure sounding.
"Would you come? Sometime. Not now maybe but- whatever, I don"t know."
Kakashi blinks at him, turning to face the other, catching his eyes.
"It"s dumb," he starts, "Forget I said anything. Your jokes need work by the way, who buys a bouquet of flowers as one-"
"Sasuke-"
"And anyway, you deserve whatever dumb rumors Naruto comes up with just for that-"
"Sasuke~"
Kakashi"s voice is coaxing, that sing-song tone he"d been goaded with so many times before only now it sounds less teasing and more tender. He looks at the other man cautiously, feeling a heat in his cheeks that only embarrasses him further. Just as he"s about to look away, Kakashi catches his face between his palms.
"Yes. Yes I would."