"An interesting village."
Kakashi hummed; the residential area and the lives of the ordinary citizens seemed better than expected, given the circumstances.
"It might not be much, but I plan to make the most out of it and improve it."
Mei replied, recognizing the polite assessment of her village, recognizing that it isn't up to par with the other Elemental nations.
"I think you'll be the change this village needs."
"My~ Such confidence in me, I'm flattered."
Mei used this moment to flirt a bit, her voice velvety and alluring.
'This woman is impossible.'
Kakashi pretended to look around, ignoring the smirk he noticed from her out of the corner of his right eye.
"Maa, I wasn't attempting to flatter you."
"Too late, I've been flattered."
Mei replied cheekily, stepping ahead and leading Kakashi to a cold noodle restaurant, hips swaying on purpose.
'I'm so glad Jiraiya isn't here; I wouldn't hear the end of it.'
Kakashi internally groaned as he followed along, keeping his gaze respectful despite the obvious show Mei was putting on, missing Jiraiya appear from a wall with the cancellation of a camouflage jutsu, Kakashi not having been using his observation Haki.
'Hehe~ Well done, Kakashi. A busty auburn-haired beauty. I would be jealous, but you're about to make me a lot of money.'
Jiraiya giggled pervertedly before his camouflage jutsu was reapplied, and he continued to tail them at a safe distance with a pair of binoculars.
Oblivious to the perverted Sage, Kakashi and Mei talked over food, Mei continuing to flirt with Kakashi in little ways. A heated stare, small smiles, and the complete attentiveness only given to guys when a woman is truly interested in them.
Kakashi, for his part, wasn't used to dating, at least not in this life. But that was many years ago, and he was having a hard time responding to her like he'd want to. A beautiful, strong, and very confident woman was clearly not about the 'hidden signals' that women gave him in his past life; no, this woman was more akin to a loudspeaker, no subtlety needed when she was fully confident in herself.
"You're… rather forward."
"I'm not one for wasting time. You find me physically attractive, I find you equally as attractive. So, why can't we talk without the awkwardness of people who clearly find one another appealing? I've never been one to hesitate in what I want."
Mei smiled, her eyes not leaving Kakashi's even for a second.
"You're just assuming I find you attractive?"
Kakashi raised a brow, eager to hear the reply despite the intense gaze of hers making the hair on the back of his neck stand.
Mei rolled her eyes playfully.
"Are you saying that you're not?"
Mei smirked when Kakashi didn't reply.
"You're far more cute than your strength would suggest; it's charming."
Kakashi rubbed the bridge of his nose, recognizing that she was controlling the conversation and not giving him any opportunities to change the subject.
'Truly worthy of being a Kage; I can barely talk.'
Kakashi acknowledged before speaking up after a sigh.
"Let's say that we do start talking; how would it even work? We're from different villages."
"If I'm not mistaken, Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki were from different villages. They were allies, but so are our nations. I'm not rushing into anything, but your point is invalid. If anything, I can see both of our villages approving of us at least being friendly."
Mei leaned her cheek into the palm of her left hand, smiling as she had him backed into a metaphorical corner, taking great pleasure in flustering this powerful man across from her.
Kakashi truly had nothing to say to that. He silently went back to eating his cold noodles.
Mei went back to eating as well, giving Kakashi a break, but continuing to smile throughout their meal.
*Scribble, scribble
'Hehe~ Kakashi, you better put up a better fight, or you'll be a man chained down by a relationship, no longer free to peep at the women's bathroom.'
Jiraiya thought with a smirk as he began to write with the fervor of a poet in love, simultaneously pitying and jealous of Kakashi for the attention he was getting.
'If only Tsunade would give me this kind of attention.'
Jiraiya giggled, thinking about the 106 cm cannons, blood trickling down his nose, giving Tsunade back in Konoha a sudden wave of irritation that she couldn't place, ultimately blaming it on the paperwork in front of her.
"So, Kakashi, what made you take off your mask? Is this a recent development?"
Mei asked in genuine interest.
"Not that I'm complaining."
She added with a soft purr.
Kakashi chose to ignore the latter part the best he could.
"I felt that it was time to change, and yes, It's a very recent development. My village doesn't even know."
Kakashi chuckled, thinking about the reaction of the people back in Konoha. The only one back at Konoha who had seen his face was Tsunade; Shizune had been busy helping at the hospital and training Sakura on Kakashi's recommendation, and later Tsunade.
"I'm honored."
Mei smirks softly when Kakashi gives her an unimpressed deadpan.
"Don't give me that; it's not every day that I see someone this handsome."
'Not that I've ever seen someone this handsome before.'
She mentally added, looking him up and down without shame before standing up.
"Shall we return?"
Kakashi stood, going to pay, when Mei grabbed his arm and walked out.
"I've already paid."
"When did yo-"
Kakashi looked over to see her eyes glinting knowingly.
"You had this planned all along and already paid them... Did you use a clone?"
Kakashi asked, Mei having been with him for some time after all.
Mei nodded, hand still on his arm as they returned the way they came; only when they neared the aftermath of the party venue did Mei reluctantly let go.
Kakashi felt odd about her letting go; it wasn't an unpleasant feeling- odd at first, but he got used to it and felt a sense of loss as a cool ocean breeze swept past.
'What the hell is wrong with me? I just met her.'
Kakashi took a calming breath, having been flirted with before, but never had anyone ever made him feel anything at all. This wasn't to say that the women who had flirted with him weren't beautiful, because they were; Kakashi could objectively agree to that, but Mei was different in a way that he could tell almost immediately.
Kakashi shook his head. If something came of it, then it did, but if it didn't, then he'd get over it. He wasn't going to push away any potential relationship or rush into one. If it happened naturally, it didn't matter how fast or slow it happened; he'd accept either outcome; that's what he kept telling himself, at least.
- Chapter End -
Hope you enjoy this chapter. It's probably not the best; I don't really write romance stuff, and I can't write female flirting dialogue that well. But I gave it my best shot. I was really going for how I think Mei would act with a potential romantic interest, and I went with this confident, flirty, assertive type. Can't really see her as anything like shy or tsundere.