“You okay?” You heard beside you.
The trance you had fallen into vanished, replaced with the gentle gaze of the silver haired shinobi beside you. Kakashi smiled softly, a small upturn in his crescent shaped eye as he tilted his head sideways.
“I’m perfect,” you returned quietly, a smile falling upon your lips as you felt his hand slip in to yours. He had taken your hand a number of times since you had begun seeing each other, yet it felt just as new each time. It was always gentle, the slide of his fingers against your palm a slow transition before slipping his slender fingers between yours. The tips of those fingers were always calloused, rough and long enough to brush the back of your hand. Yours were so small compared to his. He teased you about it often, lifting his palm to yours and comparing its size.
“What do you think?” You heard him ask rather quietly. The corner of your lip turn down forcefully, trying to conceal the bashful smile that overcame you.
“It’s beautiful,” you nodded, looking back over at him. You leaned onto his shoulder, holding his arm against your side.
“I’m so glad you showed me this,” you added. You knew he was smiling above you, that soft, grateful smile you’ve come to admire in him. It appeared only recently, when he discovered how truly deep your affection was for him. You felt his nose on the top of your head, resting for a moment.
A wisteria blossom floated before you, twirling in the air from the wisps of wind threading through the branches. The lines of wisteria trees on the path in front of you both was nothing short of a wonder. The way the branches hung, the blossoms akin to hanging lanterns. Another gust of wind came through, pushing fallen purple petals across the sidewalk.
“How did you find this place?” You asked, furthering yourselves down the path.
“I was here once before during peak season. On a mission. But I was never able to fully enjoy the marvel of it. I just - I’m glad I can share it with you.”
You could hear the nervousness in his voice. You squeezed his hand a little more, as if to remind him that you were content. It had only been a week since you officially started seeing one another, yet it was a whirlwind of stepping stones. Both of you so hesitant around one another, desperate for love, but uncertain how to navigate it.
“Thank you for bringing me,” you looked up at him. Another gentle smile. Your eyes trickled down, noticing the vein in his neck pulsing against the fabric of his mask. He was nervous, you thought. It was so cute to see him flustered, to want so badly to make an impression on you. It was so unlike his usual demeanor, the nonchalant, casual shinobi. Yet here, in your presence, it was only you that mattered to him.
“There’s one other thing I wanted to show you,” he said finally. It came out in a sigh, a request he had been holding in for some time that was now out in the open, hanging in front of them like the blossomed trees.
“Oh? There isn’t much else that can top this,” you teased, poking his flak jacket. “This is really… amazing. I didn’t know places so peaceful like this existed.”
It was true - the quiet, that is. The vast open space at your feet that was filled with purple petals tumbling across the pavement and the rich atmosphere brimming with wisteria around you. Nothing came to your ears but the wisps of wind and sounds of your steps on the ground.
“Let’s go over here,” he said abruptly, grasping your hand and pulling it under the blossomed tree. You smiled, navigating the hanging lavender ivy before coming to a small clearing directly under the branches. It was like your own little private area.
Letting go of your hand, he gently placed two palms on your hips. Immediately, you felt yourself blush at your close proximity. A quick upturn if his eyebrow sensed your anxiety. Lifting his hands, you quickly slapped them back down and smiled gently. A giggle escaped from your lips and he smiled.
A breeze blew through the branches, shaking the blossoms all around you. Your hair fell into your eyes and you quickly reached up to fix it but his hand was already there. You were entranced, feeling the tip of his calloused finger, the ones only the skin of your hands had ever felt as it grazed across your temple.
You had never been this close to him. Not like this. Not enough to see that the iris around this cornea was actually a dark grey, rather than pure black as you had suspected before. Not close enough to smell his natural woodsy scent, commingled with a freshly laundered uniform and a hint of sandalwood shampoo. Not close enough to see how deep the scar that went across his left eye actually was. He was mesmerizing.
“Is this what you wanted to show me?” You asked quietly.
“Not quite,” he smirked. Your heart was pounding, ringing in your ears. With your hands resting against his chest, you weren’t sure if your pulse was so intensely radiating through your body that your hands could feel it’s erratic nature, or if it was his heart pounding through his clothes. You glanced down, seeing the pulse at the base of his neck quicken. Perhaps it was both.
“Then what is it?” You teased, a nervous smile coming to your crooked lips.
He laughed lightly, taking in a deep breath and looking over your head only for a moment. When his gaze returned, it was deep and intent, enough for your spine to chill immediately. His hand left your hip, reaching up to take yours from his chest. He fumbled for a moment, pushing his thumb up through your palm to the base of your index finger. Finally, he placed it on the side of his face, right below his cheekbone. You hadn’t realize how it jutted out, the curve of it what most woman would kill for. He pushed his palm to the back of your hand, he curled your fingers under the hem of his mask.
Realizing what was happening, your eyes widened as they snapped back to his. He smiled gently, encouraging you to continue as his hand returned to your hip. You laughed slightly, almost uncomfortably at the prospect of what you were about to see. You imagined it every day, in your dreams and constantly swirling around in your thoughts. And here it was, happening.
Peeling back the fabric, you pulled it over his cheek watching it slide off the slope of his nose and over his lips. They were thin, perfect in every way. They were pressed together in a slightly embarrassed smile as your cheeks reddened. Finally, you slipped it over his chin, revealing the smallest beauty mark that dawned the side of his chin. You reached a finger up, touching it, pleased to feel the prickle of a fresh beard starting at his jaw.
Reaching up, he grabbed your hand again, pressing it to his chest. He smiled, and your chest tightened immediately. You took in a shaky, deep breath, letting out a small laugh. Before you were able to process anything else, you felt his hand on your jaw, his head leaning down.
You hadn’t kissed him. You had wondered how it would be: would he just kiss you over his mask or show you his face? The intimacy of the act was enough to shaken your knees. Your lips fell open, your doe eyes staring back into his in anticipation.
His eye searched your face, hesitating as they searched for your consent. Your head barely nodded in agreement before you felt the press of his lips against yours. Your body melted, gripping his jacket as you inhaled his sent. His fingers wrapped around the back of your head, cradling it as your lips moved gently over his.
He was gentle, yet firm. Tender, yet demanding. You reciprocated with the same fervent, gentle desire. You basked in the feeling, the brush of his lips over your top lip, the feeling of the sheer layer of sweat under his nose. Your spine was electrified, heat radiating to every inch of your skin. Nothing compared to it. Nothing mattered.
He let out a soft, content sigh against your mouth. Another soft peck, a nuzzle of your nose to his. Breaking away, he looked down at you, cupping your jaw in his hand. His thumb brushed your cheek as a smile crested his lips. You wrapped your arms around his neck, caressing the silver locks at the nape of his neck.
You felt delirious, enamored with his infatuated, tender gaze. Leaning in, you pecked your lips against his soft, welcoming mouth. He let out a small chuckle as his palm rested at your temple, pushing your hair from your face once again.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. His eyes searched your face, as if trying to remember every detail of it from this proximity. You blushed again.
“I could certainly say the same for you,” you laughed nervously. He chuckled again, pressing you further against his body as he leaned against the tree trunk. Moments passed with nothing but the rustling trees around you making a sound. Kisses continued to be shared, peppering your lips with tender touches.
He didn’t try to deepen the kiss, nor did he try to try his luck at touching you. You wouldn’t have minded, but you respected his discipline. He was merely content holding you. Being so close to you that you could feel his breaths. You wanted to reach up, to trace every inch of his face in a vain attempt to memorize it.
“Do we have to go back to the village yet?” You whispered sometime later. He looked away, peaking through the branches of the trees to assess the setting sun in the distance.
He looked back down at you, shaking his head. You knew he had paperwork to complete, the stacks of mission scrolls that needed to be handed in from the past month of mission work. Yet, the soft gaze he gave you and the small crooked smile he offered was enough comfort.
“No,” he slid his hands down your back, resting at the small of your back. You leaned against him, situating yourself at the base of his neck. You felt the point of his chin resting on your head before giving it a small peck. You looked out beyond the wisteria blossoms hanging around you, the golden light of the setting sun cutting through the vines. You sighed in contentment.
“I’m happy staying here with you.”