The door to our room slid open smoothly at the barest touch of Guy's finger. There was a huge, low futon covered in satiny, scarlet bedding... and expensive furnishings, all in dark, intricately carved wood. A gigantic, granite soaking tub took up one whole corner. Wood and paper lanterns cast a warm, fiery glow from the ceiling. There were candles on the table, giving off some kind of heady fragrance. Guy entered the room without hesitation and went over to the futon, gently setting me down on the bright red expanse. Even the light pressure was agony on my parts, but I smiled through it.

"Thank you so much, Mister Guy!" Hachidori chirped. Guy nodded. I fluffed my hair and glanced up at my partner. Kakashi was standing in the doorway, arms still crossed. He made a show of looking over the room.

"This'll do," Koyote finally said, and he walked in and plopped down on an armchair. "Hachidori. My shoes," he ordered brusquely. I jumped up and knelt in front of him obediently, not missing Guy's scowl as I did so. "So what are you, Kazu's bodyguard?" Koyote demanded bluntly as I removed his left slipper. Very daring, Kakashi, I thought to myself. It wasn't out of character or an unreasonable question, though, so I figured he'd just decided it would be worth the risk to find out Guy's rank and function in the whole mess.

Guy's face barely changed expression. He was already standing at the door, ready to leave. He looked back slightly at Koyote. "I do a lot of things around here," Guy said with the ghost of a smile. His eyes flicked to me, and I grinned brightly and waved Koyote's other loafer at him. "I'd advise you both get some rest," Guy said as he turned away. "I bet tomorrow'll be a long night."

The door closed softly behind him.

Kakashi and I were alone.

Suddenly I felt very unsure of myself. It was funny how so far on this very bizarre mission… the hardest times were when no one was there save for me and my Leaf comrade. With the enemy around I acted on instinct, fell back on training, made quick and correct decisions… With Kakashi Hatake, I fumbled and felt like my mouth was full of cement and I couldn't quite control my breathing, blushing, or any number of other physical reactions. I looked cautiously up at him now. The deep v of his yukata had fallen open all the way to his navel, exposing his smooth and toned chest. If I squinted hard, I could see the little fine scars, remnants of battles past. Kneeling in front of him as I was reminded me of back at the hotel, what Kazu made us do… the feel of Kakashi's cock pressing against the back of my throat as Kazu held me there. My face was getting warm again. I looked up cautiously at Kakashi. He was staring right at me, visible eye half-lidded, by all accounts bored.

I searched his face. Mostly to check that the bandages over his sharingan were staying in place, of course, and that the hair dye wasn't fading -

"I'm getting in the tub," Kakashi said. He stood abruptly, almost bumping into me. I instinctively leaned out of the way, still holding one of his slippers.

"Ohhhkay, Koyote! Great idea," I chirped without thinking. "I… I mean, it's not like you need a bath or anything, not like you smell or something, I mean… um," I amended. Stop it, you're blabbering. I stopped. I swallowed. My eyes tracked Kakashi to the edge of the bath. He hadn't given any indication he'd heard a word I said, anyway. His back was to me but I could see his hands working on the belt of the merchant disguise. The lanterns cast a sunset glow on his dyed-pink hair, making it look more intensely ruddy. The haori and yukata slid from Kakashi's shoulders. The skin of his back was a beautiful vista under the golden glow. His shoulder blades and curve of his spine… The clothes hit the ground and I snapped my mouth shut, realizing it was partially open for no good reason other than I was ogling him.

He bent over the edge of the tub to turn on the water. The soft pants I'd altered for him stretched across his hips and…

I turned away and picked up his other loafer. Slowly, I got to my feet and went to the door, ignoring the soreness in my thighs. I set the shoes down next to the mat. Now what? I bit my lip. I could hear the water splashing down into the tub. If it weren't for the mission, it would feel exactly like being on vacation, in a hotel room, with a lover… I couldn't remember the last time I'd been on vacation. I thought hard and realized it must've been over a year ago, a three-day "break" after a particularly rough, long undercover mission to Hot Water. I'd been posing as one of the town's geisha, which required actually apprenticing for over a year. Then there were several months of entertaining all of a financier's entourage, with the goal of eventually ferreting out some intel from the financier. The goal was accomplished. No one was the wiser. Sleeping around was never part of a real geisha's job, but it was one of my mission targets. I lost count of how many international sleazeballs I'd had sex with, and the mission had gone off without a hitch. It was perfect. Sandaime had said so. I put a hand to my head. A headache? That was strange, I never got headaches except when I was ill or -

"Aren't you getting in?" A low voice, snapping the line of my thoughts.

"Me?" I squeaked out. I immediately chastised myself - it really had been me and not Hachidori just there, sounding like an idiot. I bit my lip and twisted slowly, agonizingly reluctant to look at Kakashi in the tub. I wanted to see, but I didn't… I tried to focus on getting back in character. I couldn't believe I'd slipped - dozens of missions and it had never happened even once before. I gritted my teeth. If only I wasn't here with him -

Kakashi wasn't even looking at me. He was sitting in the tub, soaking comfortably, staring off at nothing toward the wall. A little alcove above the tub held some candles and decorative stones - maybe he was looking at that. My eyes traveled over the nape of his neck and his bare shoulder. His arms were draped languidly on the edges of the tub. As I watched he slouched down a little more, relaxing into the water. I imagined his legs taking up most of the tub beneath the surface, partially extended, apart at the knees… also relaxed.

"I'll get a pillow for your head, Koyote." I sounded like Hachidori again, but my cheeks were on fire. I scurried as quickly as my sore thighs would allow over to a cabinet near the tub. I opened the door and saw there were indeed a couple small massage pillows on one of the shelves, as I'd guessed there might be. I smiled a little. Places like this were always stocked for whatever pleasures one might desire…

I had also realized there might be cameras hidden around the room, recording our every move. In my experience the levels of surveillance in pleasure-houses and such varied widely, so it was always anyone's guess. Sometimes there were no cameras and the patron just wasn't into video, other times you found out there were truly awful surprises like cameras in the restrooms and such. Since we were going to be in constant undercover it didn't matter either way on this mission, but I figured I should alert Kakashi in case he hadn't thought of it, him having so much less espionage experience than I.

I glided over to just behind Kakashi's head and fell into a kneeling position. "This'll be a lot more comfortable for you, Koyote-sama!" I chirped in Hachidori's higher voice. I placed the pillow on the edge of the tub and slid it flush with his neck. "There, just lean back now," I cooed. He did, sinking lower into the water and tilting his head back until it rested on the pillow. I reached forward and put my fingers on his temples. "You shouldn't be so tense, Koyo-kun," I whispered affectionately, clucking in faux disapproval. My fingertips pressed against Kakashi's skin.

Cameras in room maybe. I signed it briefly with my left hand, the gesture imperceptible from the facial massage. Kakashi lowered his chin just slightly in acknowledgment. I didn't have anything else to say at the moment, so I continued working him, massaging his face and scalp for real until a sigh of pleasure escaped his lips and I felt the tension leave his neck.

"That's better, isn't it?" Hachidori giggled.

"Mmmmm," was Koyote's only response, which made me giggle again. I kept on at his neck and upper shoulders for a couple more minutes, getting my fingers warm in the bathwater and enjoying being so close to a wet Kakashi.

"Ohhhkay, Koyote-sama, I need to see what's in the pantry," I cooed, and finally pulled my fingers away, going to stand.

Kakashi's hand shot up from the water like a snake and clenched around mine. "Where do you think you're going, Hachidori." Koyote's drawl was low and menacing. Kakashi's thumb flicked across my palm.

Get in, Hanare.

My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth and my throat went dry. "I… I… but Koyote, I'm hungry - oh!" My protestations were cut short as Kakashi pulled me forward. As I nearly pitched head-first into the tub, his other hand came up and caught me around the waist, turning me around so I splashed into the water bottom first… a small mercy, I supposed.

"Koyote!" I spluttered, wiping my eyes with the heels of my hands. "Look at my new dress! You ruined this one too," I whined.

"It was Kazu's dress," Koyote drawled. "Take it off. I'm sure he'll get you another one." I got the water out of my eyes and squinted at Kakashi, glaring. He was almost smirking. His eye was sleepy looking but there was a sparkle of mischief in it. I took a moment to relish the sight of his un-masked mouth emoting, as I gave him stink eye.

"My hair," Hachidori pouted quietly. I lowered my gaze as I moved over to the edge of the tub nearest the wall, looking for hairpins. My knee bumped Kakashi's leg under the water and I started blushing again. I couldn't look at him. Swallowing, I peered into some tiny boxes on a toiletry shelf built into the wall. There were hairpins. I picked one up, trying to ignore the feeling of Kakashi watching me. And the feeling of his toes brushing against my thigh. I twisted up the fluffy, ebony Hachidori hair into a gigantic bun and pinned it on top of my head with half a dozen or so hairpins. I ventured a look at Kakashi. He was leaning back on the pillow, looking half asleep. Under the water, his toe seemed to nudge the edge of the dress.

I flushed furiously. I felt like he was amused, though his expression hadn't changed, and I had to look away. "Hurry up, Hachidori. I don't want to wait all night," Koyote snapped. I looked up, shocked at the change in tone, as I turned completely red. Beneath the water, Kakashi's foot grazed the inside of my leg and spelled out a different sentiment.

Are you uncomfortable? I can get out.

I blinked. My comrade's unspoken question was even more jarring than his in-character crassness. Slowly, I shook my head. Even though I felt like I couldn't breathe, I didn't want him to leave the bath. I ventured a glance at him. Same expression. That sleepy dark stare.

"You're so demanding, Koyote!" I complained loudly, and started to take off the dress, fumbling with the wet straps that clung to my body. I hated how nervous and klutzy I was around Kakashi. And why all the fuss? I berated myself. We'd already done it. It was for the mission, of course, and under duress, but still. It was done. Yet here I was, acting like a teenager with a crush during Golden Week. I finally got the straps undone and reached down to pull the dress up from the bottom. The carmine lamps glinted off the water and our skin. I gathered wet fabric in my hands and made sure not to look at Kakashi as I peeled the dress over my head - though I could feel the weight of his stare anyway.

My face was hot as I felt my breasts plop free of the soaked silk. The hot water felt good on my bare nipples. I needed something to do so I squeezed the water from the dress, keeping my eyes averted. I edged to the side, bumping into Kakashi's other leg beneath the water, but pretended not to notice. I looked around for somewhere to stash the dripping dress and saw a peg with a couple empty hangers behind the tub. I really felt I should hang the dress… there was no point in trashing something so expensive. But hanging it would mean getting partially out of the water…

I glanced sidelong at Kakashi. He was still watching me. Only now one hand was behind his head, and the other was…

Under the water. My brow furrowed slightly. I thought I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. I gritted my teeth. Oh, he thinks this is funny, does he? How dare he laugh at my discomfiture. I steeled myself and rose up out of the water, turning to put the dress on the hanger and peg. That meant I was giving Kakashi a good, deep view of my backside. Ah well, not like he hasn't seen it already on this damned mission! My face couldn't get any redder so I just bit my lip and took my sweet time hanging up the dress. Let him look. Pervert. My heart fluttered in my chest as I wondered what he was thinking, but outwardly I showed nothing. I even leaned over a bit unnecessarily, swaying my hips as I reached for the peg. See? I can be just as cool as you, Hatake -

"AHHHH!" I yelped as something touched me under the water. I spun around, sure I'd felt something graze between my legs. Kakashi was looking at me, but he didn't look so sleepy now. He was sitting up a little straighter but still had one hand under the water. The other arm stretched along the edge of the tub. The lamps made his lavender hair glow warmly. His eye was intensely dark. His gaze moved from my face, to my shoulders, to my breasts, and lower… to where the waterline crossed my hips. There was a whisper of a line between his brows. He said nothing. My gaze fell to his mouth. There was a droplet of water on his lower lip.

A sensation like dreamwalking came over me. I felt myself slide back down into the water, crossing the tub to go to him. It happened in slow motion, and I again found myself wondering if he ever used the sharingan to have his way with lovers. Or was it just that he himself was so magnetic, having this effect on people? I glided through the tub and the steam, my eyes on his face. I reached my hands out under the water until I felt his knees. I drew myself closer to him. He didn't move, didn't respond at all. His eyes were shaded, trained on my chest but unfocused as if he was staring through me, right where my heart would be. I had no idea what he was thinking.

Kakashi… my finger traced across his thigh, under the water. He didn't move, didn't even blink. I swallowed. Maybe I was making a huge mistake, but…

I remember, the campsite. I pushed my finger across his skin. It was soft and yet I could feel the strong line of muscle in his thigh. I remember. You can't focus, unless… I paused. My body ached, I was still sore everywhere from what seemed to be the longest day (night, really) ever, since we'd entered Akayama Town and this entire gauntlet of a mission had started. Had it really only been one night? What time was it? I guessed it was early morning of the second day, maybe 2 or 3 a.m., when decent people would be sleeping. But not ninja.

Kakashi still hadn't moved. I drew my finger across his leg. Let me help you.

Kakashi blinked. His dark eye rotated up to meet my stare. I was hovering between his legs in the steaming water, my hands on his thighs, propping myself up. He was leaning back against the edge of the tub, a hand behind his head. He hadn't said anything in a while and I suddenly felt foolish and naive - what was I doing, anyway? Throwing myself at Kakashi Hatake? I bit my lip and looked away. I should just get out and go to bed. I have no idea what I'm doing.

Suddenly I felt his hand on me, the hand that was under the water. He ran his palm over my hip, his fingers digging into my flesh. I could feel the strength in his grip as he pulled me closer to him. And then I felt the scratch of his finger across my stomach.

No, you're injured he signed. I looked up in surprise, thinking I'd been hiding it well. Kakashi's gaze was steady yet deep within, I saw that it was pained, a kind of tired acceptance was now apparent on his face. I immediately felt guilty… at the same time a surge of empathy welled up in my chest. I shook my head.

No, I'm fine. I signed it quickly and firmly on his thigh, and slid my hand further up his leg. To my surprise his hand clamped down over mine.

I don't want to hurt you more he drew across my skin. I frowned. His eyebrows lowered in emphasis. I know we hurt you on the ride over. His fingertip was slow and certain.

I swallowed again. But… But, what? What did I want? Suddenly it seemed so important to be useful to him, to give him something. I could see that the knowledge of my pain was a burden to him, and something deep inside me wanted to alleviate that burden - immediately. Being a burden to Kakashi… the thought turned my stomach, saddened me…. And suddenly, angered me. A wave of disgust and frustration washed over me and I jabbed my finger into his leg.

It's my body. I'm fine. Just go slow.

No, he signed back, and started to stand up.

"I'm tired, Hachidori." Koyote's words were harsh on my ears. "I'm going to bed."

I growled. Kakashi paused in surprise, which was all the opening I needed. I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, doing the same with my legs around his waist. I kicked his knee out from under him with my heel and he slid heavily back down into the water with a small splash.

"Hachidori, I -"

I silenced him with my tongue. I felt delirious and confused, only knowing I wanted Kakashi to want me. I wanted it to be true so badly. I kissed him like he was mine, like I'd imagined doing all those nights alone in Konoha, dreaming of him, pretending my pillow was him, laughing derisively at myself in the dark of my apartment because I knew it was completely futile and ridiculous: I'd wake up and walk to the Academy alone, sit in class alone, watch him from afar, alone, as he stood aloof and untouchable surrounded by a moat of friends and admirers. So far away that I might as well be in another village. So far away that I would never in a million years be able to reach him, no matter how hard I tried, or how far I stretched. No matter how much I dreamed...

I felt his hand - no, both hands, now… clench around my hips. The hesitation melted from his mouth as he submitted to my kiss. His head tilted back, his lips parted and I caressed his neck and shoulders tenderly as a surge of adrenaline coursed through me. This small acceptance… just letting me demand something from him… a rush if emotion whelmed my senses and sent chakra flooding to my sensory apexes.

Kakashi sighed, and he pulled me closer to him until I could feel his hardness under the water, between my legs. I cupped his face in my hands and gently bit his lips, then along his jawline to his earlobe. "I'll do anything for you," I breathed onto his skin.

"Hmmm," Kakashi murmured as his grip tightened. His hands slid from hips to under my buttocks. He lifted me slightly then rocked me back down, sliding me along the length of his shaft without penetrating me.

"Eeeeuh," I mewled instinctively, and he did it again. Chakra swirled at my erogenous zones and I felt dizzy again. "Please," I whispered hoarsely at him, my head bowed, forehead pressed against his neck where I could feel his throbbing pulse. His fingers moved, tracing a message on the back of my thigh.

So this is all for my benefit?

I paused, blood rushing and obscuring my reasoning. What? What did he mean? I pulled back, but he leaned forward and kissed me, so I couldn't see his face.

This is all for the mission, right? He scrawled on my skin under the water. The benefit… of… the…

He slid me up and down his length again, still not penetrating me - just gliding along my slit, only barely parting my lips.

...mission

I moaned into his mouth, lightheaded and confused, angry because I wasn't sure what he was getting at but certain he was getting at something and I was missing it. The pooled chakra had alleviated much of my pain and all I could think about was Kakashi. I wanted him inside me - deep inside me. I wanted to make him moan - no, scream - for me…

I pricked the skin of his neck with my finger. Please, Kakashi

He pulled away from the kiss and glared at me. For the mission? He insisted, his finger bruising my thigh.

I bit my lip. Shook my head. No, no… My eyes stung and blurred.

I didn't know what else to say. My fingers dug into him desperately.

No, I signed. For me.

I didn't even fully know what I said in code or how it was coming across. As I stopped writing I despaired, sure he would reject me.

But he didn't.