|| [Hatake] : Fascination : [Kakashi] || [Part XI] ||

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"Ohayo!" Kakashi spoke brightly with a hand raised in a semi-wave, the time now far closer to 11o'clock rather than the agreed meeting of nine.

"Hey," She replied, her thoughts now more focused on how tired she was feeling, having exercised for almost all of the three hours straights with only a short break – that at least was enough to distract her for now. He leapt down and was stood right in front of her as he rummaged around in out of his pouches, Oriko beginning to feel more uncertain about what on earth he'd drag out. It turned out to be a haitai-ate,

"Here, it's about time you had one of these,"

"Oh!" She took hold of it and could feel how surprisingly heavy it was as she flipped it around and tied it around her head, it would take a while to get used to the feeling of it. She couldn't resist a small smile at the fact she now felt more shinobi-like somehow, although it sounded extremely childish…but she shook it off and looked back to Kakashi,

"What's on the agenda today then?" She attempted to simply to ignore how uncomfortable she felt and how distracting it was knowing what he looked like without, at least, a shirt on.

"You were talking about the new jutsu you developed a few days ago, right? The one which resembled a playing card," He began, but was soon cut across,

"Hey, why didn't you say anything to Tsunade-sama yesterday about the whole…uh…'Raiga thing'?" She questioned, her hand scratching the side of her head out of nervousness as Kakashi simply eyed her carefully whilst choosing his words,

"It was something we were able to sort out and Tsunade didn't need to get involved, you came back to Konoha of your own free will and I didn't want to make the matter worse," Kakashi casually explained, observing Oriko's concerned expression but nod in understanding; she didn't look very reassured. Kakashi decided that it would be best just to leave it for now – she'd probably say something if she felt the need, "Anyway, I was going to suggest that we work on that new jutsu of yours," She nodded again, this time raising her eyes to meet his, stepping back slightly, trying to concentrate on moulding her chakra. She turned, seeing that Kakashi wasn't about to say anything else and was about to walk away,

"H-Hey, wait a minute, I thought we'd improve your jutsu through counter moves first," He commented, raising his hands and gesturing for her to walk back over to him, she shot him a playfully suspicious look although it was quick to disappear; it wasn't lost on Kakashi how it was odd behaviour for him.

Oriko gathered and moulded her chakra, as she allowed the card to form but she hadn't managed to practice for the last few days, and it almost immediately escaped her. It didn't take thought, after a few more tries before it was stable,

"Well, this is about as far as I can go…I can't yet throw it any further than about two meters,"

"Mmh," Kakashi eyed the 'playing card' of chakra carefully, "Mostly you need practice with keeping it spinning in your hands, but for now, you will need to know any counters the enemy may use," She nodded without even looking at him but could feel his eye on her, as she attempted to keep the chakra flow even and stable, which unfortunately took exactly that time to suddenly fluctuate and blew itself apart. This, in turn, knocked Oriko back a few paces and off her feet and forced Kakashi to leap back as well, to avoid getting sliced,

"This is why your jutsu needs a lot more work," He commented stepping back closer to her, but she's done incredibly well to get this far so quickly and without any help…

"Ugh, well it would help me to concentrate without you staring at me like that," She grumbled more to herself, but was well aware he heard it, she get back to her feet and reorganized her chakra, she noted as well, how much quicker the 'card' formed and how much more quickly it 'stabilized'. Oriko looked back up at Kakashi as he nodded and prepared to throw the 'card' of chakra at him, her thoughts lingering over why he suddenly seemed to want to be so directly involved with her training.

He still doesn't trust me.


Oriko, having just heard the knock at the door, rose to her feet to answer it; it was early-ish evening, and she got back to her own apartment a few hours previously, after a particularly gruelling training session with Kakashi. He'd offered almost every counter to her move he could think of, as it seemed to Oriko so much so that they were almost sparing constantly for some hours; she continued to train by herself for a while afterwards, but she suddenly felt as though she wasn't improving at all. Oriko opened the door to reveal Anko at the door,

"Hey, fancy a drink tonight? I've got a few other people to join us," Anko smiled gently, Oriko thought for a moment but nodded nonetheless and was out of the door in a flash, accompanied by her wallet and a light jacket.

"So how've you been? Had a good day?"

"Yea, not too bad, harsh training session though, there are muscles aching that I didn't even know existed!" Oriko rolled her eyes, as she could hear Anko's laughter,

"Yea, I know, it takes a while before you body's fully up to scratch,"

"Who else is going to be at the bar? Well, Iruka, Asuma and hopefully Kakashi, as well as a few other shinobi I found with nothing better to do this evening," Oriko nodded feeling apprehensive at the thought of Kakashi being there, she didn't really want to annoy him by feeling as though he had no space from her….Nor did she really like the idea of Anko spending all her time flirting with him.

They were soon sat around a small table, Oriko with a bottle of Asahi and Anko with a small bottle of sake and two cups (Anko not really needing to explain who the other once was for), Iruka, Asuma and another woman turned up quickly after,

"Oriko! How've you been?" Asuma flashed a grin in her direction,

"Not too bad thanks," She smiled back,

"Good, this is Kurenai," He gestured, to the woman next to him, who smiled as well, bowing slightly to her, which Oriko matched,

"Nice to meet you, I'm Oriko," They both found a seat, where Kurenai and Iruka were sat next to Oriko, Asuma opposite Kurenai and next to Anko, the remaining spaces at either end of the table.

"How have you been, Oriko? I haven't see you for a while," The slightly shy sound of Iruka's voice came through clearly, as she turned to look at him, a childish grin covering his face,

"Not bad, thank you, got back from my mission yesterday and just been training today, I still ache, really,"

"Ah, what sort of mission was it?"

"Well, it was only to escort a trainee priest…" She trailed of, thinking about all of the numerous things which had happened on what was supposed to be a C rank mission…

"Oh, is Kakashi coming out tonight?" Iruka asked, suddenly and although his attention was directed to Oriko, Anko answered instead,

"He'd better be," She rolled his eyes, making it immediately clear that no one was oblivious to his tardiness.

"Hey guys, here you all are," Two unfamiliar looking shinobi wandered up to the table, one with a tooth pick in his mouth and his haitai-ate on backwards as a bandana (of sorts) mostly covering his blonde hair and the other with short spiky dark hair and goggles over his eyes,

"Hey, there you two are, you're a bit late, geeze!" Iruka motioned, as the blonde one took a seat next to him and the other next to Anko, after she forced him into the next seat over (leaving one still for Kakashi). "This," Iruka gestured, "Is Oriko, he is Genma," He said pointing to the blonde one, "And he is Aoba,"

"Nice to meet you," They each greeted in turn, Oriko looked between them a few times, making a note of their names and their faces, Oriko could see Genma's eyes flash over to Anko who looked a little lost for Kakashi still not having shown up.

"Oriko, when did you get your haitai-ate?" Iruka asked gently,

"Kakashi gave it to me this morning," Oriko could see Anko sit up slightly in her peripheral vision and turned to look at her,

"All I'm hearing is innuendo," She commented, causing the entire table except Asuma and Kurenai erupted into laughter

"Jealous?" Oriko couldn't resist the question, although not sure why

"If you weren't just talking about innuendo, then yes,"

"Please stop this conversation!" Genma interrupted, his face looking as though it was resisting showing disgust, "Oh thank god!" He commented, upon seeing Kakashi's form approach the table,

"Hello there," He looked lazily over the table, before meeting Anko's eyes, still shining with amusement from her and Oriko's conversation.

"What took you so long?" Anko asked, as Oriko couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes, partly through embarrassment, but there was something else too, as though he'd somehow know exactly what she and Anko were implying a few moments ago.

"Hmm? Oh, a black cat crossed my path and so I had to take an alternate route," He smiled half-heartedly, as Anko put a small sake cup in front of him and began pouring some out,

"Sit down," Kakashi obliged, mildly surprised that a drink was already waiting for him, as Oriko took a sip of her own drink, Iruka again diverted her attention,

"So you've been in Konoha for nearly two months, right?" She could see Aoba and Genma looking interested at Iruka's statement,

"Really?" Aoba asked, eliciting a nod from her,

"No wonder I haven't seen you around before…you're shinobi?"

"Yea, just began training as soon as I came here," She could see Anko roll her eyes in her peripheral vision, earning a smile from Oriko, "Anko!"

"Can't help it," She attempted to dismiss,

"What?" Kakashi questioned, starting at his student, wondering what he'd missed out on,

"They've been talking in nothing but innuendo," Genma sighed, clearly unimpressed with the situation,

"Eh?" Kakashi again questioned, asking of Oriko,

"Nothing, just be glad you were lat-be glad you weren't here on time," She corrected herself as Anko descended into hysterical laughter, Kakashi's eye not leaving Oriko, while his eyebrow raised slightly, ignored Anko but neither daring himself to think quite what he'd like to; instead feigning stupidity.

"Anyway!" Iruka cut across, as Oriko took another swig, but found the bottle empty, grumbling slightly she rose to her feet,

"Sorry, hold that thought, Iruka, would anyone else like a drink?" She questioned, half glad for the excuse to leave the table for a few moments, Kakashi responded quickly,

"Yea, bring another bottle of warm sake, would you please?" Oriko nodded easily back, but no other response was to be had from anyone else, Oriko made her way slowly to the bar, as it was a busy night for drinkers. She stood there quietly, hoping Kakashi didn't think she was even more weird than he must have previously thought; she was having an incredibly bad week for making appropriate impressions on him.

Even though she'd been under his tutelage for nearly two months, she still, for some reason, felt the need to make a good impression on him. She collected the drinks and made her way back to the table, where Kakashi, Aoba and Anko had their backs to her, with Genma sat at a right angle to them, and Iruka nodded in her direction when he spotted her. Kakashi looked over his shoulder slightly and Oriko placed the bottle of sake in front of him, leaning over his shoulder before walking the rest of the way around the table. As she took a seat again, Kakashi nodded in thanks to her, and Kurenai again interfered with Iruka's attempts to talk to the slightly younger kuniochi,

"Not a fan of Saké?"

"Nah, spirits don't much agree with me," Oriko couldn't resist a disgusted face at the thought of having to drink it, earning a laugh from a few around the table,

"Tell me about it," Genma responded, "Damn these old folk here who don't drink beer anymore,"

"Hahaha!" Oriko couldn't help but laugh in response to his quip, her eyes somehow naturally finding their way to Kakashi, who's expression was nearly unreadable, whilst Anko looked deeply unimpressed, "I didn't think you looked that old, hahah" She averted her eyes quickly to Anko who was looking right back at Oriko.

"We're not! We just have more refined taste-buds!" Anko defended, and she could hear an undertone to it, but couldn't quite work out what it was,

"Sure!" Oriko started at Anko playfully suspiciously for a few moments, trying to reassure her friend, or maybe reassure herself Anko wasn't angry at her.

"Well, then we young ones should stick together, leave the old-folks to it, eh?" Iruka laughed, fixing his attention on Oriko,

"Haha, maybe we should, yea," She grinned, ignoring mostly what he said glad to have her attention diverted from Kakashi, who seemed to be enjoying the 'feud', while taking occasional sip of sake. He was amused by the strange triangles which seemed to have formed quickly, Iruka's eyes on Oriko, Genma's eyes on Anko, her eyes on him and his eyes on Oriko. Not that he particularly cared much for the easily excitable Anko or Iruka damn…now I'm thinking in innuendo, he rolled his eyes and took another sip, hoping it was merely because of the alcohol he'd consumed;

"Hey, do you fancy meeting me for lunch sometime this week?" Iruka asked, obviously catching Oriko off guard,

"Eh?"

"Lunch, do you want to meet up for lunch?"

"Uh…I…I dunno," She answer pathetically, looking around to the table to find all eyes on her, some with more interest than others,

"Why not?"

"Uh…well…I don't know you very well,"

"That's the point of a date ya know," Oriko couldn't resist an irritated frown,

"No, I thought nights like this were for getting to know someone," She responded, earning a laugh from both Anko and Kurenai, but she was feeling more uncomfortable by the second and although she wanted to leave, was worried that Iruka wouldn't not let him walk her home…

"Ahaha, touché," Iruka rubbed his finger over his nose in embarrassment, Oriko couldn't help but feel a little bad for embarrassing him, but then he did put her in an awkward spot, she took another swig of beer, attempting to ignore the other pairs of eyes on her, as she could tell the bottle was nearly empty. Oriko eventually rose to her feet, attracting many pairs of eyes and stepped out from the table before saying anything,

"Hey, I think I'm gonna head off, but thanks for inviting me out, Anko, I had a really good time; I'm sure I'll see you guys again soon," She smiled kindly, towards Genma and Aoba who smiled politely in return as Kakashi too found his feet,

"I think I'll head off too, night guys!" He apparently smiled,

"Night, Kakashi," Anko grinned politely towards him which he nodded back too; all too soon Kakashi and Oriko were outside the bar, in the cool and dark evening air

"Well, I'm going this way," She gestured, but wasn't expecting him to begin leading the way back to her apartment, she felt tempted to say something, but would feel foolish if he just happened to live in said direction also. Her thoughts quickly drifted to Iruka and his proposal, a loud, heavy-hearted sigh escaped her before she could contain it,

"Something wrong?" He questioned, looking over to her, but not finding her gaze,

"Ahh, I wish Iruka would stop asking me awkward questions,"

"Has he asked that before?" He couldn't help but narrow his eye in curiosity,

"Not that one specifically, but he seems to like asking me questions…I don't want to be rude to him but…I dunno," She trailed off, feeling more irritated with both herself and Iruka; Kakashi couldn't resist the amusement which overcame him, which earned him a rather unimpressed look from Oriko, which seemed only to amuse him further,

"Don't you see anything in Iruka?"

"Is it still not obvious?"

"Apparently not to Iruka," He continued to chuckle, as they accidentally bumped their arms into one another, as they rounded the corner,

"Ugh, why do you find this so funny then?" Oriko asked, trying to ignore the mild blush which had crept to her cheeks,

"No sure; probably Iruka's attempts at attracting you are so misplaced and he's so oblivious to your lack of interest,"

"A little like Anko then," She didn't quite mean to say it out loud, but could prevent herself cringing at her stupidity,

"Well, a little like Anko, yea,"

"What?" She immediately turned to look at him, finding his gaze immediately,

"I'm not that stupid, Oriko, I can tell what she wants from me, she just isn't one to easily give up," He explained, his voice becoming more exasperated the closer her got to the end of the sentence, something which in turn elicited a rather amused childish grin from Oriko. She noticed that they were now outside her apartment, as she turned around to look at him once more, as he noticed her amused expression,

"What?"

"Nothing, goodnight, Kakashi, I'll see you tomorrow at some point,"

"Nine o'clock outside Tsunade-sama's office," He corrected as she looked at slight disbelief at him, but quickly rolled her eyes, "It wasn't fun getting the blame for someone else's bad punctuality,"

"Yea, I bet that was a first time for you, eh?" She questioned, again hitting the bull's eye dead centre, she observed him carefully as he allowed his expression to fall a little in mock upset, he found he couldn't resist playing along with her game; but caught himself and a small smile darted back to his face as he turned to leave, giving her a final backwards wave as he walked off, feeling strangely uneasy.

"Night, Oriko,"