Dreams of the Past

Making Plans and Taking Notes

Chapter 16

Making Plans and Taking Notes

It had been her hope that a conversation between Kakashi and Sakumo would go well. There was every possibility that it wouldn't, he had legitimate reasons to be angry with his father now that everything was out in the open. But they had lived together peacefully for six months so she'd thought her hope was well founded.

So it had been somewhat of a surprise to come home to find them looking like they were about to go to blows over the cigarettes. Kakashi's sour mood was shocking too. He'd snapped at her for no damn reason. What the hell was that about?

Frustrated, hurt, she stomped into the kitchen and grabbed the custard filled taiyaki she had bought herself. She had also got something for Kakashi, the takoyaki she knew he liked. But just then, she felt like eating his too. Grabbing them both, she carried them back to the table and sat down.

Sakumo watched her for a moment, a curious tilt to his lips, before sitting beside her. He had never done that before. That was Kakashi's spot. She glanced at him but decided she didn't mind.

He rested his chin on his hand and smiled at her. It was an openly flirtatious, charming smile without any of the smarminess of Jiraiya's. She couldn't keep the heat from her cheeks. Damn their genetics. "So, is Ayame your real name?"

Swallowing the bite she'd been chewing, she looked past him at the door. Where was Kakashi? "No, it's Sakura. But please call me Ayame."

He nodded. "Both lovely names. Very fitting."

What is he doing?

Shifting in her seat, Sakura pushed her hair behind her ear and tried to smile back at him. "Um, I'm guessing he told you we're not really married?"

He nodded again and she had to fight to keep the disappointment off her face. She opened her mouth to tell him that she was flattered by his sudden attention but that she wasn't sure she was interested when Kakashi came inside. Sakumo heard the door slide open and closed behind him and a wicked gleam lit his eyes. Was he... trying to make him jealous? Well that would never work.

Would it?

She looked around him to find Kakashi glowering down at the back of Sakumo's head. When he noticed her eyes on him, his shoulders slumped and the anger went out of him immediately as he slid into the seat across from her. He eyed the takoyaki, even going so far as to reach across the table for one, but her chopsticks shot out, smacking his hand away. The flash of confused hurt immediately shuttered behind his usual indifference dropped a lead weight in her stomach.

What was happening?

He hadn't been upset with her before. In fact, she'd woken up nestled in his arms. As cliché as it was, she was positive she had never felt so safe and content. Embarrassed too, because if he'd woken first and caught her luxuriating in the feel of him around her gods only knew how he would have reacted. Maybe positively. Maybe he would have kissed you. They had been so close, if Tsunade hadn't blown up their evening she might have kissed him already. She had thought they might have reached some kind of turning point in their relationship.

And now they were sniping at each other.

He was staring intently at the woodgrain on the top of the table, pointedly ignoring her. Her teeth caught her lip. She shouldn't have smacked his hand away. That was just needlessly unkind.

Sighing, she pushed the dish across the table to him. She had bought it for him anyway. His eyes leapt up to catch hers but she blushed and looked away before she could read the emotion they held.