Dreams of the Past

Birthday Boys and Storm Clouds

Chapter Twenty

Birthday Boys and Storm Clouds

Kakashi breathed her in—his wife—pressing his lips against her bare neck, resting his cheek on her shoulder where she'd let him bite her. The stress and fatigue of the day—rumblings of war, of conscription, of spies and looming danger, of heavy lifting and toil and frustration—melted away. A warm feeling filled him up, replacing it.

Peace.

How had he gone his entire life without this? He didn't know it could be this way. If he had, he might have tried to find it sooner, but then he wouldn't have it now, wouldn't have her now.

Sakura. His wife.

His pack, his family, his mate, his peace... his.

"How was your day, Kakashi?"

"Hm." He sighed, sliding a second arm around her waist to keep her close. He looked out the open door in front of them to the garden beyond. Their son was sitting on Kakashi-kun's lap, hands occupied with his shirt as the older boy read a section of the fūinjutsu scroll her grandmother had gifted him. It would have been leagues above a normal six year-old, but Kakashi was a genius. "Alright... I think Hiruzen will be forced to declare open war soon. There was another skirmish with Iwa. If it's already news around the civilian quarters, it's at least a week old."

She hummed thoughtfully, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. He thought he might melt right through the floorboards. "Sakumo's been gone for a week."

"He has. I imagine the next time he's home will be the last for a while."

"You're probably right." She sighed. "In less depressing news, Kakashi-kun admitted that yes, he would like for his friends to come over for his birthday. He would like miso glazed eggplant—"

"Naturally."

"And salt broiled saury."

"He has excellent taste."

She laughed, light and sweet. "When he wasn't sure what kind of dessert—because you can't have a birthday party without one—I suggested cheesecake."

"Hm." Kakashi kissed her cheek. "I've never had it."

"They're not terribly sweet, and some fall fruit will go nicely." She smiled to herself before turning in his arms to smirk up at him. "I'm getting pretty good at this housewife stuff."

A grin stretched across his face. "You are. A woman of many talents, capable of anything you put your mind to."

"Thank you. I think I'd like to put my mind to more intense training soon. I want to really push myself. Maybe research the wood release too, so we're ready." She rested her head on his chest, sighing, content. "But not today. They haven't seen you yet, so they'll probably be distracted for a while longer."

A muffled shriek turned into a groan when he picked her up, wrapped her legs around his hips and kissed her silly as he carried her to their room.

<KS>

Ume watched closely as she shook powdered sugar over the top of the cheesecake. It turned out perfect. Sakura grinned eagerly with the success. It had taken her two tries, but that was a secret she and her grandmother would take to their graves.

"That looks lovely, Hatake-san."

Sakura looked up to see a brunette woman—Rin's mother—carrying a wide box wrapped in lovely green patterned furoshiki, bow respectfully, a shy smile tucked on her face.