Author's Note: Ahahaha~ Thank you for the reviews. I hope you enjoyed Chapter nine. I had fun writing that specially the part where Kaka-chan was reading. xD And now on to Chapter 10~

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone yet, and I certainly don't own these guys.

Chapter 10: Love is a Strong Word…

And there on the table was a feast fit for a king. There were assorted delicacies that lined the table top, and such were…

Freshly steamed lobsters seasoned and glazed with a lemony butter sauce with a hint of spice that will razzle-dazzle your tongue. There were also steamed king crabs that were cooked in sweet tasting sake, allowed to simmer in order to capture the taste. Raw mean was there on the table, elegantly arranged on the plate, ready to be dipped in a pot where Shabu-Shabu was usually cooked. There were also assorted vegetables to go along with it. Calamari and Tempura were also present along with some divine sake and juice for those that preferred a less alcoholic drink.

"Well everyone, dig in. Help yourselves, there's plenty to go around."

The elderly but kind Daimyo urged the youngster's to eat.

"Kakashi-sensei, come on and eat with us. The food looks great."

Sakura jeered, trying to get her sensei to join them on the table, but to no avail the jounin merely glanced at them from where he stood, which was by the window, guarding the place to see if there were any suspicious figures lurking around. He offered his usual smile though just to say that everything was fine with him even if he didn't say a single word.

"Let him starve if he wants to starve."

With that said, Urami, the son's Daimyo began eating. Sophisticated when eating even with his attitude being like that, at least that was something these nobles never seemed to lose. Kakashi though didn't take that all too lightly, but of course he just ignored it like he usually would with any idiotic comments thrown at him. It wasn't like him to care much. He was on a mission right now and he was bent to do it with a hundred percent success rate. No excuses.

Oi, Kakash! What's with that line of thinking!? Snap out of it you jerk!

That's right…what was I thinking…

He couldn't help but ponder about it a little. How he suddenly just wanted to not care about anything but the mission on hand, as well as the success of it. What's with him reverting back to his old uncaring self…well almost, at least he could still muster a smile. But then again, it just wasn't like him at the moment. Something was seriously wrong with him. Still he was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt someone tugging at his jounin vest. Blinking Kakashi glanced once again to the side finally seeing the center of all his mental distractions.

"Here, eat something at least."

She said while handing him a bowl of rice as well as some vegetables and a pare of chopsticks. From her memory, the guy loved vegetables more than anything. He'd even cooked for her once in a while when she brought over some fresh greens to share them with him.

"Domo."

The silver haired one spoke in an unusually soft tone as he looked at the bowl she handed him.

Before she went to her seat, she leaned up towards him, whispering something in his ear. This made the jounin look at his comrade a bit wide eyed for a moment but then chuckled softly. Rin in turn smiled and returned to her seat.

She always was the thoughtful one in the group…really, that girl…

He thought to himself once more before placing the bowl by the window whilst he broke the chopsticks apart. Once that was done, he took the bowl once again and carefully slipped off the mask just under his chin so that he could take in his meal.

'Here, so that you don't have to trouble yourself from hiding your face from the others.'

The medic's words played in his head as he ate. Although Rin had been pretty annoyed at him, she still didn't cease to care. It just really made him smile mentally.

And now you're just being all mushy! Kakashi pull yourself together wont you? Geez…and I thought you were very good with girls or handling them…

I am so just—hey wait a second…

Fine fine, I wont bother you! You're such a jerk! And here I am just trying to help! BHEEE!

Kakashi had to mentally flinch at that inner conversation that he just had. That was very peculiar in every sense since it happened only now. It wasn't such a big deal if he was conversing with himself but Jesus, he must really be not feeling well.

And now we leave Kakashi and go back to the group at the table who was more or less half way eating through everything that was on the table.

"Honestly, you really have to be so kind to other men? I'm your future husband after all."

Urami noted as he placed his bowl and chopsticks down, pretty much finished with his meal. The guy by the window just flinched, and Yamato happened to see this by accident.

"Well yes, he is my friend after all. I cant let him starve, and please remember this is just a mission. I really wont be your future wife…"

Rin spoke with a soft smile on her face whilst wondering why those kinds of questions had to be asked. Another flinch. This time it was noticed by the young Sakura.

"It's the same thing. Like I said, if I love you enough, I'll still make you my wife. If not, you can just be my concubine. What more can you ask?"

That smug look was on his face while he looked at the brunette who was now looking very nervous. Especially since this wasn't the thing that she had agreed too. A mission was a mission and a very separate thing from reality.

"Love is such a strong word. You may want to rethink about it Urami-dono….besides—"

"Besides, she has someone else that she likes, right Rin-san?"

There was also a smug look on Yamato's face as he intervened. He saw how the medic's face blushed and that had made him glance over to the standing shinobi who was just motionless with his back facing them.

"That's right, Rin-san does have someone that she likes!"

Sakura chimed in, somehow getting what the vice captain of the group was saying as she threw little suggestive glances at Kakashi who was still just motionless.

"Well is that true?"

The daimyo's son asked.

"Well…I guess that's right…"

Just from that statement, Yamato and Sakura mentally cheered, now it was sure that the daimyo's spoiled son wouldn't try pursuing her.

"…but he has been dead for a couple of years now."

There was a pause of silence after she had uttered those words. Tenzou's eyes as well as Sakura's widened slightly as they heard this, and another glance was set in the direction of the silver haired jounin who seemed rather quiet as well. Somehow his silence was different than his earlier lack of movement and words. Urami on the other hand was just smirking not really caring and his father seemed a bit worried after hearing that.

Heavy footsteps broke the silence along with the sound of the rice bowl being placed back down on the table. Another thing that broke the momentary silence was that of the flipping pages of a small book that had been pocketed out of the left upper most part of the copy ninja's jounin vest, as well the sound of his footsteps once more but this time sounding quite distant. In a matter of seconds, the doors which lead to the outside slid open as his fingers pushed them aside. A small glance was given to the group then as he smiled slightly from under his infamous mask.

"I'll be scouting outside. Ja matta na."

His free hand would then be raised just a bit, enough to be waved as he bid the group goodbye. His fingers once again slid the door to a close upon his exit and soon enough his footsteps became less audible until it finally vanished.

"If the guy's dead, there should be no problem then. Now if you will I'll excuse myself. If you want Rin, you can come to my room later tonight. Father."

With that Urami came to a stand and gave a small bow to his father before winking at Rin slightly. The daimyo soon came to a stand as well, excusing himself from his guests' presence and following his son with some sort of urgency. Now that those two were gone, Yamato and the pinkette looked at Rin incredulously. At that moment, the older medic was biting onto the tip of her chopsticks lightly, somehow looking a little flushed…if at all upset in a way.

"Is that true?"

Sakura asked, looking at her fellow medic, still quite worried with her sensei.

"Is what true?"

The other returned the question with another question, pretending to be oblivious to the issue.

"Don't you love Kakashi-sempai?"

Yamato who seemed to be more direct asked bluntly. This time Rin was placed in a momentary frozen state, unable to answer the frank inquisition. She then sighed and stood up, heading for the door.

"Like I said earlier, love is a strong word."

She stated in her usual tone, before giving them both a smile. Afterwards she made her exit and back to her room which had been shown to her earlier when they had first arrived. Locking the door shut, she pressed her back against the nicely polished piece of wood that blocked the entrance, sighing and slumping down on the floor. Not a second wasted, she'd collect her knees in her arms, wrapping it around the aforementioned limbs and almost threatening to cry.

If you just knew how much…

On the other hand…

"Yamato-taichou! We have to do something!"

"Ah. We'll figure something out. Sempai isn't going to snap out of it if this keeps going on, plus we have a mission to complete."

"Right."

Meanwhile, as the two other squad member plots…

She likes Obito…

Kakashi was still scouting the area for any enemy movement, and so far nothing seems to be out of place aside from the annoying buzzing sound that was constantly pestering and lingering around his ear. It then stopped.

SMACK!

Kakashi winced as he smacked his exposed hand slightly. Indeed the buzzing stop only for the mosquito to feast on him. But with quick hand movements the pest has been obliterated.

A/N: Late update I know. Computer broke and theatre had accumulated all of my time, well most of it anyway. I hope to update more in the future so help me by sending in some reviews. It'll be a good help. Thanks all~