**Kakashi POV**

I got up earlier than usual but let Y/n continue to rest. She needed it. She was so exhausted from the night with her parents.

Not to mention the fact her parents wanted to have me over tonight. I could barely even sleep as I thought about it.

Y/n didn't want to talk about anything that happened yesterday, but Shikamaru told me plenty.

Her parents were pissed, and going tonight, I wasn't really in the mood to be told I wasn't good enough for her. I already knew that. I didn't need my biggest fear confirmed.

I made my way to the cemetery. It had been awhile since I was here last, and I just needed to be reminded of how fragile this life was, that I couldn't let my fears stand in between me and Y/n.

If I was honest with myself, I didn't want to spend another moment of this life without her. So even if her parents were brutal tonight, I couldn't let that get in our way.

Especially since she told me she would choose me over her clan status any day. I didn't ever expect that, but when she told me last night, I knew there was no way I would ever let her go.

Being told you're the most important person in the world by the person who's most important to your world... it was such an unbelievable feeling. One I would never forget.

I walked up to my dad's grave, laughing to myself as I crouched down and picked up the black flower left here.

"Looks like you've already met Y/n," my entire face consumed with a smile.

"I don't know how much she told you, but you might actually end up getting a daughter-in-law after all."

••••

**Y/n POV**

I leaned back on my couch, trying desperately to light my cigarette but this stupid ass lighter wasn't working.

I had quit. Mostly. Kinda. And Kakashi would probably be really annoyed if he knew, but I couldn't help it. Not right now.

Every time life got too crazy, like it had yesterday with my parents, my mind could only focus on one thing... The slow burn of a cigarette.

It makes me regret ever picking up these damn things. It didn't matter how much time had passed, the habit never really left you.

"Fucking finally," I mumbled as I got it to work, taking my first drag.

I closed my eyes as I exhaled, resting even further back into my seat. Tonight was bound to be a disaster, and Shikamaru wouldn't even be there to save my ass.

He was called out on a mission with his team shortly after storming out last night. So Kakashi and I were on our own. Hopefully my dad was able to talk some sense into my mom, even just a little bit.

As I sat and smoked, lost in my thoughts, an Anbu member appeared in front of me. I didn't really like the idea of someone showing up in my apartment, but I let it go.

"Mm?" I mumbled, not even bothering to really pay much attention to the masked figure.

"Lady Hokage requests your presence immediately."

"Yea?" my interest piqued, and I finally looked at them. "What for?"

"She's sending you out on a mission."

My body shot up in excitement, "Really!? When!?"

"Before the day ends. You are to go to her office now." And with that, they disappeared, leaving me alone once again.

Today was my lucky day.

I was going to get out of this shitty dinner altogether. We'd reschedule of course, but my mom really needed some time to process and clear her head anyway, and now I actually had an excuse.

I would definitely have to remember to say some gratitude prayers or something because this felt way too good to be true. The heavens were clearly cheering on me and Kakashi.

Or I was just terrified of my mother. Either way, it worked out for me. I quickly got dressed in my shinobi outfit and left to see Tsunade.

I knocked before letting myself into her office, "You asked to see me?"

"Knocking doesn't count if you don't wait to be called in," she mumbled, not even looking up from the files on her desk.

"Oh come on Tsunade," I smirked as I sat in a chair in front of her desk. "I think we're way past knocking."

"Mm," she mumbled with a grin before taking off her glasses and looking at me. "You seem to be in a good mood today."

I shrugged as I lit up another cigarette, giving into the fact that maybe this bad habit was back for good, "I sure am."

"And does this have anything to do with your precious Kakashi?"

"Ok, well he's always making me happy," I laughed a bit. "But this is actually because you saved me from a dinner I was desperately trying to get out of tonight."

She smirked as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, "Mm, is that so? Maybe I shouldn't send you on this mission after all."

"You wouldn't!?" I laughed. "Please! I'm begging you!"

"Y/n Nara, begging!? Never thought I'd see the day. Who are you trying to avoid that badly?"

I blew smoke out in the air, nervous to even recount the events. I honestly didn't even tell Kakashi much. He had all his information from Mar.

"Well, I told my parents about Kakashi yesterday. It was awful. My mom freaked out. They disapproved. And now they're forcing me to take him over there for dinner. Probably to try and ruin my life."

She rolled her eyes as she laughed, "That actually does sound awful, but do you have to be so damn dramatic?"

I sighed as I put out my cigarette in an ashtray on her desk, "I actually do. Tsunade, they were furious. And I don't want to disappoint them, but if they make me choose, it'll be Kakashi every time."

She smiled at me, her eyes softening up, "You really love him that much?"

I bit my lip as I nodded, completely avoiding her gaze. It was still hard for me to talk about, but I really do love him that much.

She let out a low sigh, "It won't ever come to that Y/n. You and Kakashi have the hokage's support, and since the Nara clan works with the hokage, they'll listen to me."

"You would do that for us?" I asked in shock.

"What can I say? I'm your guys' biggest fan," she teased, and it took everything I had not to cry happy tears.

"Thank you, Tsunade," I bowed my head for her a bit. "You don't know how much that means to me."

She laughed loudly, "Did you just bow your head for me!?! Holy shit Y/n! Does he know he has you all wrapped around his finger like this!?"

I grumbled as I sat back in the chair, folding my arms, "You're an asshole, Tsunade."

I watched with a blank stare as she continued to laugh at me... It wasn't that funny, and it'll be the last fucking time I ever bow to her.

"I'm actually well aware," Kakashi popped up in Tsunade's window, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at me.

"Oh good! You made it!" Tsunade called out. "How'd you even manage to tame this?!" She pointed at me.

My eyes widened as I watched them both snicker at me. Feeling a rage start to boil in me... I really wasn't that crazy, but I was about to come unhinged.

"Anyway," I finally interrupted. "Wasn't I called here for a mission?"

"Mm," Kakashi smirked at me as he sat in the other armchair. "So you found a way out of tonight?"

I rolled my eyes as I brought out another cigarette, ready to smoke for the third time on the past hour.

I had no idea what was going on with me, but I felt sick to my stomach, and for some reason, I kept hoping these would help.

Kakashi leaned over and snatched it out of my hand, breaking the small stick in half before throwing it away.

"I thought you quit?" he asked impatiently.

"And I thought you didn't care?" I teased as I crossed my legs, smirking at him.

"Alright children," Tsunade called out. "Time to focus."

We both looked over at her as she began to explain my mission. Shikamaru and his team were sent to a land of fire temple, but when they arrived, they found a group of people had been slaughtered.

So now I was getting sent in to help protect the rest of the monks and the nearby villagers. Meanwhile, Shikamaru would be sent to look for whoever did this.

"When will she be back?" Kakashi asked before I even got a word in.

Tsunade shrugged, "I'm not sure. Hopefully in a few days once we can put together the pieces. However. Y/n..." she trailed off and I quickly looked up at her, nervously chewing on the inside of my lip.

"We believe it was the Akatsuki that did this. So you'll need to be on high alert. Can you handle that?"

I nodded, "Of course."

I knew it was them behind this. It had to be. And it made my stomach churn.

"Send me instead," Kakashi interjected. "Please. I can go."

She shook her head, "I need you to go meet up with Jiraiya. He needs your help."

I reached across to grab his hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. I'm sure he was so nervous, but everything would be ok. I was absolutely sure about that. He had nothing to worry about.