I do not own Naruto.

The Honorable Daishukujo

Night fell but they were home.

Pass Konoha gates, pass welcoming guards and curious civilians strolling about at night and finally, they were taken to their new home near the heart of the village. Of course, not to forget to mention the dreadful stop.

Kakashi helped Ayame out of the carriage. Fuko and Yugao collected their belongings and made their way inside the freshly constructed house.

It was a two-story home of gray brick and wood. It was night but the spacious front yard held the promise of green grass and the perimeter was surrounded by brick fencing, too. The entry to the house was a pergola, two wooden steps high. Fuko switched on the house lights.

Ayame was torn about admiring her new home.

Dear okaasan and otousan,

You are preparing to leave and return home as you read this. A tragedy befell a fledging flock. There is only a little one left. He needs the soothing voices of crows. Okaasan, the sun is rising on your role.

A genin team had been slaughtered the night before. The surviving genin had survived without a scratch on him. The Hokage and Daishukujo went to pay the young man and his parents a visit. Okita-kun, was his name. Ayame had realized upon meeting him that she was going to have to start learning a lot of people's names. Impromptu meetings would be something the Daishukujo would have to get used to.

It had been awful, the way Okita-kun looked, so disengaged with reality. But one thing and one thing only had he been passionate about, he was done being a shinobi. Kakashi, in the calm way he handled tension, took it all in stride and assured the boy he would visit again in a few weeks' time. At the very least, Okita-kun was persuaded to start attending Konoha's new Mental Health Department. Ayame had been useless of course. She just stood there and held Okita-kun's mother's hand, trying not to cry.

"Ayame?"

She looked to Kakashi, standing in front of their home. "I'm sorry," she said earnestly. She had no idea what he'd said, thoughts back at Okita-kun's house.

He pulled his mask down, smiling politely. "You must be exhausted."

She was—incredibly so, but for the life of her, Kakashi looked far more exhausted than she felt.

Kakashi had been quieter than usual on the way back. He did not make Ayame feel excluded or burdensome after she'd been given the letter that morning. He explained what it meant and she understood. She'd fallen asleep a couple times on him during the trip back home. The moment they entered the village, the mask was on and skin films gone.

"Let's go in," Kakashi said gently, leading her inside.

The entry opened to a family room. Moving boxes and wrapped gifts lined the back wall that adorned a huge window. To the right, there was a stairwell and a hallway that Ayame knew led to the kitchen and living room. Seeing everything in person compared to the blueprints was kind of amazing. Curious, she made her way to the kitchen. She liked how the island separated the living room and the cooking area. The marble counters were littered with multiple boxes, too. Most were labeled 'Daishukujo' while only one read 'Hokage.'

"It's big," Kakashi said from behind her and she jumped.

"Oh! Yeah," she agreed. Once fully furnished, she was sure it'd seem smaller. Speaking of furniture—she hoped her bed was set up—where had they put her old things anyway? She really was tired. She glanced at Kakashi as he peered inside the refrigerator. Was he okay?

Would they sleep in the same room? To the left of the house, there was another hallway that would lead to two rooms one of which was the master bedroom. Would her bed be set up there? Or his bed? Was there only one bed set up in the entire house? Ayame was starting to feel a headache come on.

"Great place," Yugao said, hands on her hips as Fuko came to stand next to her. "We left the bags in your room." She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. "Big room with king-sized bed and frilly covers, right?"

Ayame and Kakashi both looked at each other. Did he have a king-sized bed? She never did visit his old place—wherever it had been. He looked puzzled himself.

"Did you?—"

"—No, I didn't."

The two of them walked to the left side of the house. As Yugao said, a large bed with an embroidered duvet was right in the middle, Nami no Kuni bags at the foot of it. Yugao hadn't mentioned, however, all the other furniture pieces. Ayame covered her mouth, touched at the furnished room. It was all white washed wood—her absolute favorite and what she always went for when decorating. Who did this?

On the bed there were many little notes, signed by various people: Otousan, the Uzumakis, Haruhi, the guys at the shop and Kurenai. One was signed with a slug drawing. It read: "Don't break the bed."

She picked it up and examined it. "Who would write this? What does it mean—" Kakashi gingerly picked the note from her fingers.

"Never mind it," he mumbled and walked out of the room. Ayame stood there, bemused as she heard him thank and dismiss Yugao and Fuko.

As he spoke with them, she was delighted to find their clothes arranged and color coordinated in the closet. Kakashi's small corner of uniforms, admittedly, didn't need much coordinating. Back in the room, she found on either side of the bed designated nightstands with sleepwear. She blushed, realizing her side was stocked with lingerie she previously did not own. The tags were signed with the slug cartoon. Examining a revealing pink slip, she figured the gifts were from someone Kakashi knew. They obviously thought she and he were the lovey type. Setting the delicate nightie back in the drawer and taking out a cotton nightdress, Ayame wondered what 'type' she and Kakashi were. She sat on their new bed, contemplative. They'd done it once and she wasn't sure when they would again.

'We'll wait however long we need to.'

She remembered his words fondly. Despite it being just once, she knew he was a considerate lover. He'd known what to do with gentleness. All the things he'd done were kind of embarrassing. The places he kissed and dragged his tongue through—well. He'd even—

"There's a bed upstairs," Kakashi interrupted her thoughts, arms crossed, leaning against the door frame of the room—their room, "I think it's the one from your apartment." Ayame concentrated on his words and smiled. "Would you like to sleep here? I'll go upstairs."

Ayame's smile faltered. "Oh, okay…" She was getting used to sleeping by his side but she supposed it was because they had had no choice on the trip.

Kakashi looked through the drawers she pointed out. Grabbing something, he said, "They stocked the bathroom upstairs too. I'll wash up there. Go ahead and take this bathroom."

She could only stare as he walked away. Why the disappointment? They had decided to take things slow and sharing a bed probably defied that plan. But she felt somehow rejected.

Stop it, Ayame, she chided herself and went to shower. She couldn't afford to be selfish right now. Kakashi, as Hokage, just lost two little genin and a trusted, elite jonin. Now there was a misplaced, miserable young man who wanted to retire at fourteen. The parallel of Kakashi's life was not lost to her thanks to history and village rumors. The members of his original team were all dead, too. Those deaths had transpired within the course of years—Okita-kun lost his entire team in one night.

Exactly, Ayame. The man is emotionally and physically exhausted. How could she bother him about her trivial feelings? It wouldn't be right, she concluded, dressing herself for bed. She would just leave him alone…

'I felt lonely that night.'

'I know. I was, too.'

After praying and moisturizing her face, Ayame went upstairs. She was a little surprised at how winded she became by the time she was on the second floor. There was a small living room with her white sofa, seat cushions leaning against the wall. She dragged her hand across one of the armrests, smiling to herself. She glanced around the area, thoughtful, imaging the space to one day become a play area for her baby. Upstairs was made up of three rooms and a bathroom. She hoped one day to fill the rooms with children.

Ayame tentatively made her way past two empty rooms and then the last as Kakashi was pulling the covers back from her old bed. He was in shorts and his hair fell around his face, mask gone. She blushed, remembering the reef incident. She hovered by the doorway. Built as he was, she felt like a potato in his presence.

He glanced up with that polite smile again, sitting down. He was unsurprised by her presence but briefly examined her lavender negligée. It was modest and to her knees. "Hey," he said. Her heart ached.

She silently went to stand on the side of the bed he was sitting on and the scent of both their soaps filled the room. At this point, since she hadn't spoken, Kakashi rose a brow. She touched his cheek. His expression was not pained or troubled. There were no tears in his eyes and his tone of voice was calm. He appeared fine. Just tired.

Tears escaped her eyes and he watched them slide down her face. Her hand caressed his cheek, trying to understand the enigma before her. She wanted to say things like, this isn't your fault and the boy only needs time, but she realized he probably already knew all of this. He lived it all. She remembered his tossing and turning at night and knew he lived it still.

She leaned down and kissed his mouth, wondering what use she could be to this man. What could she ever really do for him? He returned the gentle press of her lips.

"I don't want to sleep alone anymore," she finally said. She didn't want him to be alone either. "I've gotten used to you."

Pressing a quick kiss to her mouth, Kakashi slid over and she climbed in next to him, a delicate sleeve slipping over her shoulder. Was it that easy now? To share how she felt with him, after a year of struggle and inability to? The bed seemed smaller with him in it but it was fine. She knew they would end up entangled.

She lay down, passing him a shy smile as she righted her frilly sleeve. He reached over and at first she thought he was reaching for her so she closed her eyes tight and waited. She felt his lips on her forehead before she heard a 'click' and the room went dark. He situated himself under the covers next to her. What else could she say or do as the Daishukujo? As his wife?

"If you need me, I'm here," she whispered into the darkness, heart pounding.

"I know." And that was that.

The silence nearly suffocated her. She wouldn't call it withdrawing, what he was doing. But he wasn't speaking. He wasn't using his words even though they said they would try but she knew he was hurting. How could she help if he didn't tell her what to do?

Before she could think herself into a frenzy, she felt him move next to her in the dark again. One of his hands touched her shoulder and pushed a sleeve down. His mouth replaced it and Ayame pressed her lips together, surprised by the desire to call his name. His hand went to the opposite shoulder and bared it too, massaging her arm, up and down. His mouth moved to her collarbone. She thought he would make his way around to the other shoulder but he moved lower.

She gasped at his gentle ministrations. He never went past what her nightgown covered but he was close and the massage he was giving her arms made her moan. Then he rested his head on her chest and sighed. Ayame inhaled, raising her arms so he could wrap his arms around her. She let her hands fall to his hair.

"Thank you, Ayame."

His vulnerability kneaded her heart in ways she couldn't name or understand. He wasn't really saying what he felt but she understood that sometimes inaudibility was the same as sadness. Being a man was hard, she thought to herself.

"I love you," she said softly.

She massaged his scalp with the pads of her fingers, hoping to relax him. He rubbed his nose between her breasts. She mewled and arched as he shifted to run a palm along her ribs, side to side—so close to her breasts. She concentrated on breathing. With one finger, he began to outline her ribcage. Her heart felt like it was floating above warm water.

Ayame couldn't help herself as she grabbed his face and led his mouth to hers. What was this warm pull? Ah. She knew this. The evidence of the last time she felt this was just outside the door, in a barely visible stain, leaning against the wall.

"Ayame," Kakashi said against her lips and she opened her mouth so he could kiss her deeper. Their chests pressed and their fingers entangled in one another's hair, pulling at certain points of extreme pleasure. She never knew kissing and only kissing could feel like this. They weren't touching anywhere else, but by the end of it, she felt satiated somehow. He must have felt the same because after the sensation she felt the highest intensity in the kiss, his kissing and breathing slowed with hers.

Thoroughly satisfied with their make out session, Kakashi pressed one last kiss on his wife's mouth and rested on her chest again.

She rubbed his scalp until her eyes blinked often, sleepy. She forced herself to wake up to continue to rub him when she drifted off. She kept it up for hours. She even dreamt in between the blinking and massaging. At one point, in the middle of the night, she startled awake. She hastily made to massage because her hands had fallen away but one of his hands gently pried her fingers off. He groggily said, "I'm asleep. It's okay."

With his hand loosely on her wrists, she sleepily massaged him anyway until his hand slid away in unconsciousness.

Tsunade was sure Kakashi was boiling with the need to execute slow and excruciating revenge just as much as she was. Professionally, the two stood next to one another, silently taking in the conversations below them. They'd gathered all jonin and chunin to inform them of the current situation.

"We bust a trafficking ring and they respond by killing our shinobi?"

"This is awful."

"Disgusting pigs!"

"Poor Okita-kun."

"And the free women and children? Where will they go?"

"The five great nations have agreed to help investigate to relocate all recues. Families with missing persons are being contacted."

"How old are these missing persons cases? Some must be decades old."

"What if they don't remember where they're from or if there's no family to return to?"

"I've heard some parents sell their children for money."

"Trafficking cartel? They don't just traffic narcotics. These are people—children—for the love of God!"

Kakashi stood, with a calm demeanor. He really was the most emotionally intelligent Hokage. He never made decisions out of sentiment, but he also never made decisions without fully being aware of others'. This specific situation, however, was in a league of its own. In the past, internationally organized crime was not something Konoha dealt with unless it affected its citizens or all the previous wars. Crime like this, Tsunade admitted, made the horror of Orochimaru's past human experiments pale.

Kakashi was not like Tsunade or her uncle Tobirama. They had not intended to be Hokage but for want of options they inherited the position. Kakashi had never been interested until after the war. She had mentioned it to him multiple times before and he had all but evaded the question like the plague, until the Great War finished and he casually brought up the idea and offered his services. She had been more than willing, really, but it had surprised her.

What changed?

He only response, Obito.

The Rokudaime Hokage raised a hand and immediately there was a hushed silence.

"We intended to keep the raids covert until necessary. It has become necessary. We expected resistance but not outright terrorism. Genin will stay within the village until this operation has come to a close. Understand this could mean six months to a year. Does anyone oppose?"

Only one jonin stepped forward. "Milord, I am not in opposition. I don't think anyone here would be. But my genin may not think the same."

"You bring up a good point, Atare," Kakashi stated. "All instructors are to dissuade students from rebelling against village confinement. It is rare for genin to be assigned out of the village but not so rare that they have to wait a year. The situation may be explained to them. Understand, as your Hokage my priority is to keep this village safe. That includes the shinobi. Godaime-sama and I nearly decided the same verdict on chunin but refrained."

The rumblings filled the room but eventually ceased when Kakakshi and Tsunade leveled them with serious stares.

Kakashi continued, "The way team eleven was found was a clear message. Many of you are grieving, I know. It was only supposed to be an escort mission. I am sure team eleven's jonin fought his hardest for his genin. We all know that it is very difficult to be in combat while protecting another let alone three cherished students. I wish to take this limitation away as much as possible so Tsunade-sama and I have decided the persons only allowed to leave the village are chunin and jonin. Genin and civilians will be subjected to martial law. No one leaves.

"We will be working for farmers and merchants from this point forward to help deliver and obtain goods and resources. Reason being as civilians they can no longer execute the travel aspect of their businesses. I want you all to understand that this will all be undercover so be patient with the executives of the farms and businesses. All they know is that the Hokage has declared martial law and unknown people will be exporting and importing their beloved product. Undercover, because, in the off chance that you are stopped by the same person or group that butchered team eleven, they will think you are defenseless civilians. Use this misconception to your advantage whether to fight or flee. No one will travel alone."

Tsunade stepped in. "Your assignments will be down the hall with administration. Any transfer requests will go through Shikamaru's team and complaints will go through me."

There were chuckles throughout the hall and even Kakashi smiled at her. He nodded at her and then addressed his shinobi again. "Besides the restrictions placed, live life as usual in the village. Nothing has changed. These are only temporary safety measures until everything settles down. I thank you in advance for your future contributions to the village." Kakashi leaned forward in a slight bow.

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" The entire home bent at the waist.

"Except for those of you we spoke with earlier, you are dismissed."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Acknowledging those that stayed, Kakashi and Tsunade jumped down from the second floor.

"Alright," he started, "these are the teams."

Sakura watched Hatake Ayame enter the hall. She wore a yellow dress that hugged her ribcage but flared out at the waist in an accordion skirt. The brown buttons on the bodice matched her boots. With dark hair slick back into a fishtail, Ayame looked very little like the ramen girl and more like the wife of the most influential man on the continent.

And bless her, Ayame carried a basket full of, yes, cookies! She brought chocolate chip cookies to the village's biggest meeting since the war. And she was giving them out.

Sakura smiled big as shinobi happily, and almost reverently, accepted the sweet. Some were even exceedingly gentle in taking the treat from her hands, as if the Hokage's civilian wife was made of wet paper. Rock Lee nearly kowtowed and Ayame excused herself quickly in embarrassment.

Many who noticed her bowed in different distances from the waist. Ayame, with a smile that still reflected embarrassment at the formalities, would nod in acknowledgment. All the kage did that, Sakura noticed. Nod at the bows and the greetings and well wishes. In her lifetime, Ayame was the only Daishukujo she had the benefit of experiencing. The Sandaime and Yondaime's wives passed during Sakura's infancy.

When Ayame stopped in front of the pinkette to greet and pamper her with special attention (being the kage's student had its social perks, much to Uchiha Sasuke's chagrin). Sakura complimented Ayame's hair and the older woman offered to do a quick braid for her. Excitedly, Sakura sat down and Ayame proficiently twirled pink locks into a simple but beautiful braid.

After talking a bit, Ayame surprised Sakura by asking her about the Mental Health Clinic. She wanted to volunteer her time since she was technically no longer employed and had a lot of free time. Sakura accepted, moved.

Kakashi conversed with a colleague, emphasizing the particularities of the mission. At one point the men in a semi circle around him were analyzing the scroll. Concluding, some looked over his shoulder and grinned at the Hokage.

Kakashi glanced back.

Ayame, as spiffy as ever, made her way through cliques of shinobi, passing out cookies. From a basket. Covered by a pink cloth. With white polkadots.

Kakashi could not stop the smile that touched his mouth if he tried. His eyes softened at the sight of her. She caught his gaze and her cheeks pinked. She'd worn that dress when she'd come to tell him about the pregnancy.

"Ayame," he turned to his wife, rolling the scroll closed.

His smile only grew under his mask when she bowed to him and softly acknowledged him, "Hokage-sama."

He felt those behind him shift to bow, as well.

Kakashi stepped towards her and contented himself with meeting her sweet gaze as she straightened. She was as enamored, smiling, basket the only thing between them.

"Thank you for coming," he said.

Her cheeks glowed. "Someone told me the sun was rising on my role and I thought this could be a start."

"Oh?"

"Thank you, Kakashi-san."

"Still with the 'san,' hm?"

"Well, I was hoping—"

"Ah-HMPH."

Kakashi and Ayame simultaneously looked towards the harrumph. And then slowly took in their audience, which was everyone in the hall. Grinning. Widely.

In response, Kakashi's eyes smiled. "As fascinating as the Hokage's love life is, it can't compare to strategizing how to save hundreds of lives, hm?"

Ayame's mouth opened, aghast at Kakashi's underhanded way of turning the atmosphere around. Grins vanished. Properly ashamed, Shinobi turned back to their groups.

Kakashi's gaze opened in seriousness and tossed the scroll to the men he'd been talking to. "Atare, talk with the team captains and we'll confer in 30 minutes. I'm going on a walk."

Ayame suddenly realized how scary Kakashi could be. This was probably the version of Kakashi Raiden knew. She thought of when her friend had interpolate one of their walks and Kakashi stared Raiden down, giving him and Ayame pause.

The Hokage grabbed her free hand and they made their way through the halls of the administration building. Kakashi relaxed, slouching slightly, hand in his pocket.

She smiled. Ayame hadn't expected to get one on one time coming here. She'd found his note easily enough after waking up. He said he'd be at the admin building with 'everyone' and she was more than welcome to pass by. He'd never included her in anything work related before and she didn't want to miss an opportunity or disappoint him. Every part of her wanted Kakashi to approve of her.

She figured noon was the best time to come by. "I brought you something."

He glanced at the basket, unexcited.

She laughed. "Don't worry. The cookies aren't for you. But I did bring lunch."

"Oh that brings back memories."

"Yes, so long ago. When I wooed you by bringing lunch and you subjected me to embarrassing meetings."

He chuckled. "Wooed me? I doubt being forced by your employer counts as wooing. You were mean back then."

Her nose scrunched up. "I was mean?"

"The worst."

"How could I ever make it up it you?" The sarcasm was undeniable.

"I can think of one way." Kakashi wrapped an arm around her waist and brought their abdomens together. She yelped in surprise. He caught and repressed the basket to her hand before it fell. He kissed her mouth. She blinked at the feeling of his lips through the mask.

Hesitantly, she pressed closer to her husband, figuring the initiation of physical touch meant the coast was clear. She set the basket down and snaked an arm around his neck. She brought his mask down. She giggled when he growled playfully, baring his teeth. He attacked her neck and she squealed, laughing out loud at the antics. His stubbiness tickled her.

"Haha—no!" She cried, angling away.

He laughed, finishing with a sweet kiss to her mouth and nose.

She felt light, happy. Her fingers slid from his shoulders to his collar, grabbing the jumbled mask at the base of his neck. Curious, she rose it up. It took her two tries to get it well placed on his face.

"How're you feeling today?" he asked.

Ayame shrugged. "Mornings are still nauseating."

"Have you visited your father?"

"Today might not be possible. I gave the shop a call but Aoi-kun said they're super busy lately. I'll try again tomorrow. I have an appointment with Kurenai-san," she began to whisper, "to see how the baby is doing."

He leaned his forehead on hers. "Let me know how it goes." It seemed like he wanted to say more, guilty glint in his eye. Maybe he wanted to come along but Kurenai was casting an illusion on her so the facade would be useless if the Hokage came. The jig would be up or people would start thinking the village leader was a rake. Two weeks into a marriage yet accompanying a strange woman who was going in for a second trimester checkup.

"I will! I'm sure everything is okay," to distract the disheartened man, she said, "This morning I was unpacking."

"I would help but," he nodded towards the way they came.

"It's okay!" She meant it. Mustering up some courage, she said, "Is it okay if I—umm if I unpack some of your things? I might just do that for the rest of the day. And before you say anything, I'll leave the really heavy stuff to my guard." He had less boxes than she did but she really wanted to unpack and organize everything.

Kakashi nodded, albeit slowly.

"You can say no!"

"I've never been asked that. It surprised me."

She blushed. "We're husband and wife now so, I mean—we do this for each other, right?"

"I guess so."

"We-we have a home together."

"Yes, we do." He looked a little flustered now and she didn't blame him. This was all new to her too and frankly, too vulnerable.

Ayame's fingers tangled in his hair as she leaned her chest into his. "I ...I could wash your clothes with mine," she said. Kakashi was not used to a family. She wanted to be his family. She wanted him to accept her as his family. Her father had been both parents to her and Yumi, so Ayame knew how to operate within a home. She could give that to Kakashi, so bereft of it. It hurt him so much when she had dangled it in his face in Nami no Kuni and kept snatching it away to spite him. She's never so that again.

"We can have lunches together sometimes, like before. And at night, when you come home late and I'm asleep, dinner will be waiting on the kitchen table." Whenever the table was delivered, anyway.

Kakashi watched her mouth as she spoke. "What else?" he said lowly.

"You'll take a warm shower and join me in bed."

"Hmm," he was pleased, forearms wrapping around her back, "I like that."

"And even if I'm asleep, I want you to hold me like you did last night and every night after that."

Haruhi smiled at Ayame. The older woman was pouting, looking through the sign-up roster. They were sitting at a table in a classroom with twenty countertops installed with kitchen appliances.

She had finished teaching her first class. Promoting extracurricular activities was part of the Mental Health Clinic's goals for inpatient psychological development and implementation of life skills. Ayame, Konoha's Daishukujo, suggested a culinary program. Haruno Sakura and the rest of the leadership panel loved the idea. The class would take place three times a week for any patient that wanted to join.

And there lay the problem. Even though a dozen women and children showed up to learn how to make onigiri, only two people actually signed up for future classes. One being Haruhi, who was an outpatient. Although most of the participants had been to themselves, the atmosphere had been pleasant enough.

"I don't understand, Haruhi-chan," Ayame said, holding the roster to her apron. "Did I do well?"

Haruhi nodded. She signed, 'More will come. They are shy. Freedom is new.'

Ayame immediately embraced her and Haruhi couldn't help the huge smile that took over her expression.

She noticed it after a couple of weeks at the house: Kakashi had an obsessive-compulsive disorder. He wasn't obsessive about things like touching every lamppost he passed or opened and closed a door ten times before going into a room—it was with cleaning. More specifically, vigorously cleaning a single thing, and it didn't matter what, every morning.

Ayame enjoyed cleaning, but deep cleaning was for the end of the month back when she lived alone and before, with her father. Kakashi did it every day. One early morning, Ayame found Kakashi in the bathtub, sleeves rolled up, scrubbing away. She awoke to teetee and there he was, bleaching a new bathtub.

She hadn't thought much of it as he shrugged and said he was "getting chores in before work" so she shrugged too and used the half bath in the living room. But when the next day came, she walked in on him scrubbing the kitchen floor. The morning after that all the sinks in the house were sparkling and the day after that the walls smelled like lavender. Once, he mopped the floors and hung all the new rugs outside. She'd found a note on the refrigerator asking if she could take them down after midday.

She didn't mind, really. It certainly wasn't a bad problem to have. She decided one morning to join the fray.

She started to regret her decision almost immediately when she woke up with him at four o'clock in the morning. He did this every day before training and work? Oh no no no. When she followed him to the bathroom, grumbling, Kakashi commented.

"Good morning, Ayame."

"Hokage-sama." She held her toothbrush towards him so he could squeeze paste on it. She didn't have the strength so early in the morning to do it herself. He was amused, sleep in his eyes as he humored her.

He chuckled, "Problem sleeping?"

"How could sleeping be a problem?" She was very serious about that question, but he only laughed again and she questioned everything he ever stood for. She even wanted to cry a little.

"What I meant," he started gently, knowing she was in a delicate state of sleep deprivation, "is that you are usually sleeping at this time."

Drying her mouth on the hand towel, Ayame remained silent for ten seconds before gathering enough energy to answer him. "I'm gonna help you clean."

Kakashi's brows rose. "Oh. Doubt worry about it. You take care of everything else already."

Sure, she fixed their bed in the mornings but by the time he came home she was asleep in it. She'd done laundry a few times in the past month of living together but nothing as out of the ordinary as he was doing. A few lunches here and there was nothing. Never mind dinner at home—due to the martial law and new arrivals, he hadn't come home on time once to eat dinner with her. After she ate alone, she would clean everything up and leave food in the warmer.

Every morning when she woke up the glassware would be washed, dried and put in its proper place. He ate everything, every night. Once she checked the trash just to be sure and felt silly for thinking maybe he'd thrown food away.

"I don't…really see you." She admitted to herself she had gotten used to spending long periods of time with him during the honeymoon—even if most of it had been a ploy to drive him nuts. Returning to Konoha was different. They had gotten on so well—after the ploy. She hoped to continue all the bonding when they came back home. They loved one another, after all.

But between his running the village, her lessons with Shikamaru and volunteering at the Mental Health Clinic, there wasn't really time for them right now.

Kakashi kissed her forehead. "Ayame, if you go back to sleep, I'll come home for dinner."

"Oi, sensei," he slurred, annoyed at the text in front of them.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Stop calling me that, Naruto." He sat across from them, reading something else. Probably the lesson for tomorrow. Ayame hoped it wasn't clan politics again.

"I have a question."

"Obviously."

Naruto pointed to a sentence on the page. "This says if a man becomes the husband of a clan heiress, he becomes the new heir to the clan."

Ayame gasped. She gave him a quick bow. "Hyuuga-sama!"

Naruto scrunched his eyes at her. "That's weird, Ayame-chan."

Shikamaru sighed, something he did more than the Hokage. Kakashi sighing was basically his response to everything. Ayame was pretty sure he sighed at least five times trying to get her back to sleep this morning.

"Yes, Naruto, that's what it says. It wouldn't apply to you though."

"And why not?" Naruto was suspicious.

"Geez, Naruto, if you'll read the rest of the chapter it'll explain marriage laws for clans with kekkai genkais."

Ayame raised her hand, eager. Oh she knew this one!

Shikamaru frowned. "Ayame-sama, you're free to speak...raising your hand is, well, you don't have to." She tried not to grimace at the formality. People kept using her name like that, even at the shop. Now, instead of talking over her, people quieted when she spoke. Everyone made sure to greet her everywhere she went, too. Excessively. At one of the rare lunches this month spent together, Kakashi advised she get used to it.

"Sorry, sensei—I mean, Shikamaru-kun! I think I know this one."

"Oh?" He was interested, probably surprised one of his idiot pupils had helpful information to share.

Ayame flipped forward two pages. "Here it says that clans with kekkai genkais only accept heirs with said kekkai genkai." She smiled at her peer. "So you don't have to worry, Naruto-kun. Hinata-san's still the heir of the Hyuuga clan."

Naruto exhaled loudly, reclining back on the cushiony seat. "That's a relief."

"That's very good, Ayame-sama," Shikamaru said, pleased. She tried not to raise her chin too high at the praise. "That's true for most clans with kekka genkais. The Nara are like that. It's not the case for the Hyuuga."

Naruto turned his head to the side, curious. "What is the case?"

Ayame blinked at Shikamaru, inquisitive herself. She didn't know much about clan politics (despite spending the last week going over them), let alone ninja clan politics. The Hyuuga wedding had been so fancy and they were more lavender eyed members there than Naruto's side "of the family." Ayame and Teuchi had been so in awe.

Shikamaru scratched the back of his head. "Hinata-san hasn't told you?" He mumbled at the end, "That's troublesome."

Naruto looked at him suspiciously. "Told me what?" He obviously didn't believe Hinata would keep something from him. "What?" He insisted when Shikamaru looked uncomfortable, more interested in the scroll in front of him than eye contact with Naruto.

Ayame touched her mouth with her finger tips, worried. While she didn't know much about politics, what she had learned was that they tended to be unfair to female members.

"Shikamaru, what!"

"I don't know, man. You should talk with Hinata about that. She's your wife."

"Fine, I will." Obviously not one to wait for an answer, Naruto got up and left the library.

Ayame looked apprehensively at Shikamaru after the door slammed shut. A few scrolls from a shelf near the exit scrambled to the floor.

"How can he not know?" he mumbled.

"Know what?" Ayame stressed.

Shikamaru sighed and Ayame tried not to think of a certain Hokage again. He shook his head, saying "If a female heir marries outside the family, they lose their inheritance as clan leader."

Ayame gapped. "That's not fair." She also wondered why Hinata had not told Naruto this. That was too big to keep from your husband.

Shikamaru was grim. "Yeah."

She longingly looked at the door. What would Naruto do? Would the young couple be okay?

Ayame shouldn't have been surprised when Naruto showed up at her new house but she was.

His short hair somewhat deflated and his eyes lacked their vibrant hue, red from crying. He stood on the porch, hands in pockets, gaze downcast. "Nice place," he mumbled.

"Naruto-kun..."

"Ayame-nechan, is sensei here?" His blue gaze met hers and Ayame tried not to tear up. She had just finished crying herself, cleaning the kitchen. But this was Naruto. He looked so sad. A strong image of him after Jiraiya-sama died crossed her mind.

Ayame hugged her midsection, composing herself. Her head shook. "Sorry, Naruto-kun. He... hasn't come home yet." Unfortunately, she ate alone tonight, despite Kakashi's promise.

"Oh." Naruto managed to look taken aback. "It's pretty late."

Ayame nodded. "It's been a very busy month."

Understanding seemed to pacify his sadness. "How could I forget? Everyone's been running around like chickens without heads." He suddenly slapped his own cheeks, really hard, making Ayame jump. He grinned cheekily, "I'm sorry for bothering you so late, I should get—"

"Naruto?"

Naruto turned aside and around, giving Ayame a full view of Kakashi closing the gate to the brick fencing. His formal robes hung over a foreman, hat lopsided on his head. Exhausted. Exhausted. Exhausted.

"Sensei!" Naruto shouted and both Kakashi and Ayame jumped. "I need to talk with you." He was suddenly subdued. "Please."

Kakashi nodded. "Let's go inside, Naruto."

"Yeah..."

The three of them sat on the living room floor, tea steaming between them. Ayame briefly apologized for their absent furniture before they began conversing. It was as Ayame thought.

"It was Hinata-chan's decision. You can't take that away from her."

Naruto's face was red, frustrated, and oddly serious. "I know that. But she never told me." Evidently the couple had gotten into their very first spat. It was quite serious for being a first argument. Ayame couldn't remember half the things she'd yelled at Kakashi for.

"Is that what bothers you?" Kakashi said, sipping his tea, mask at his neck. He was as collected as usual but the dark circles were new. "By withholding information, she lied."

"It kinda is, you know? It's just..."

Ayame gave an encouraging smile, scooting to kneel closer, pouring the young man tea.

"I promised her happiness, right? But I think I took some of it from her. Maybe I should have waited to become Hokage. I could have changed things, and then I could have thought about things like marriage. I know it was her decision. I know that. But it's not a good decision. It's her family!"

Ayame hesitated to speak but when Kakashi said nothing, she said. "Naruto-kun, what are you saying? That marriage was a mistake?"

He remained silent and Ayame was shocked.

"Naruto," Kakashi said, scary voice activated. Naruto slumped forward at the rare but familiar tone of voice. He was a child ready to be scolded and Ayame waited with bated breath. "'Things like marriage'? How do you think Hinata-chan would feel if she heard you?" Kakashi scoffed, "Think before speaking. I don't know why she chose to keep this information from you, Naruto. That is something you need to discuss as husband and wife. If you regret marrying, you should have never done so in the first place."

Tears fell from Naruto's eyes.

"Naruto-kun...please listen to me."

The men looked at Ayame, holding her abdomen. "You are one of the few people that know why Kakashi and I married. I am ashamed—I am, but," she looked at Kakashi, "I love my husband. I am happy we married, despite how difficult it was to accept in the beginning. We promised each other happiness, too. And although we fail sometimes, and it's only been a month, we're not going to just give up.

"Even with our strange beginning, Kakashi-san has become a significant part of my life. I could never brush him off. For better or worse, his world has become my world, and if he told me now that I've made a mistake in this union, my heart…my heart would break. I know it can't completely compare to abandoning clan leadership, but everyone leaves their father and mother at one point to hold fast to a spouse. It is where two become one flesh. I believe that for Kakashi-san and me, and I believe that for you and Hinata-chan. She didn't choose you over her family, she chose family over being an heiress."

Kakashi and Ayame watched Naruto wave goodbye, jumping away.

"So 'two become one flesh,'" Kakashi said, facing the direction Naruto disappeared. Ayame's face turned bright red. "Someone has been reading Otsutsuki."

Ayame squeaked, "I found his writings inside one of your boxes—I don't have to explain myself to you!" She dashed inside and he followed her, smiling.

"Went through your husband's belongings, I see."

She spun around so quickly Kakashi had to stop suddenly to avoid running into her. She poked his chest repeatedly as she spoke her next words, "That's right, Hokage-sama. I noticed philosophical literature is not the only thing you read. I wonder what the Sage of Sixth Paths would think about that!" She finished with one last, hard poke and walked away. Kakashi just stood there.

Snapping out of it, he followed her to their room and into the bathroom. She was ferociously brushing her teeth. He offered, "I'm sorry about dinner."

Ayame dried her mouth on a towel before answering him. Her hands landed on her hips and he waited. She sighed heavily and the action reminded him of himself. Perhaps he was a bad influence yet.

"How will you make it up to me?"

Kakashi didn't want to make another empty promise, so he asked, "I was hoping you would tell me what to do." There. He didn't sound henpecked at all.

"Fine," she said a little too readily, "no chores tomorrow morning. You sleep in with me."

His eyes widened. She got him there.

Why don't you laugh, young man, when troubles come,

Instead of sitting 'round so sour and glum?

You cannot have all play,

And sunshine every day;

When troubles come, I say, why don't you laugh?

…

Why don't you laugh, and make us all laugh, too,

And keep us mortals all from getting blue?

A laugh will always win;

If you can't laugh, just grin, -

Come on, let's all join in! Why don't you laugh?

- from The Independent