Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Chapter 23

"Baby is growing really well and you are simply glowing. Do you have any questions?"

"That's great news and no."

Shizune had her head down making notes on Kurenai's file. "Do you think they're okay?"

Shizune paused and let out a sigh. "I don't know. Kakashi can be very persuasive but Nina can be so bullheaded."

"Like her brother." The pair laughed. "Asuma doesn't seem to be phased at all."

"He bet against anything happening which I thought was odd because Kakashi was right about his birthday night."

"Yes. He said something about 'a brother's intuition' but I have no idea with that man sometimes."

"Nina doesn't have much of a social life but she does confide in me a fair bit. However, it's rarely been about guys. I couldn't tell you the last guy she dated."

Both ladies let out a dreary sigh.

"I best let you get to your other patients."

"Yes. Sorry again for the wait. It's a little slower today with the younger medics on."

"They need to learn somehow. I think they're all doing splendidly."

"Yes they are. Hinata is a very capable medic-nin, just needs to work on her confidence."

"Pop by for a coffee sometime and I may have some tips for you."

"Oh wonderful. Thank you. Have a great day and we'll see you soon."

"Here you go, one serve of dumplings and one serve of salt-boiled saury."

"Thank you" the pair replied in unison and the waitress left them to eat. Nina had opted for a booth table again out of respect for him and his mask. He was still ruminating on her answer to his earlier question and had reservations about a further inquiry.

"They weren't really relationships, both never went any further than the one night and one is kind of one sided."

Whilst she was being so candid he was hesitant to impede on the conversation. She ate another dumpling from her plate and finished her mouthful before continuing. "I was drunk for both. Iwashi and well…Guy."

Kakashi choked on his mouthful and quickly reached for the glass of water. "Did you say Guy?"

"Yes and if you dare tell anyone I will hunt you down Kakashi!"

"Well that is interesting because he's under the impression you've only ever rejected him."

"I may have had something to do with that." She took a sip of water. "I used a genjutsu that altered his memory a little."

"It worked; you just may have to show me that one day. He has no memory of it and he is the type to be rather inclined on oversharing such information."

"Yes he is."

They had both finished their meals and were sitting in silence. He watched her flipping one of her chopsticks in between her fingers.

"Is that weird? I mean, am I weird for only being with two guys? Maybe weird is the wrong word. It's a bit embarrassing really."

He had presumed her behaviour had been the result of a spate of bad experiences and not what she had just divulged. He lounged back and stretched his arm out and drew her body into his side.

"Not weird or anything to embarrassed by. I am a little surprised though, I would have thought you would be overrun with such things."

"That's kind of you to say so but no. I used to think it was because I was the daughter of the Third, and then I got a little older and I blamed it on my overbearing big brother. Eventually the excuse went to Anbu and the hospital and then I just kind of got used to it."

His rubbed his thumb over her shoulder, something she figured was autonomous given their current embrace. Although, she did find it to be comforting in light of her confession about her dismal love life.

"Tsunade chose you for this mission, which is encouragement enough that we are able to succeed. I've been on missions with you where you have had to use your sexual aptitude to secure the missions' success."

"Controlling a situation is easy but this is different."

"What is it that you're afraid of, Nina?" His voice was low and her hand that had been flipping the chopstick was stopped by his.

"I…I mean we know each other and it's not … I don't know why it's so awkward but it just is."

"You're over thinking things."

"Probably."

"That's why Tsunade chose me."

Nina felt her body tense; had the Hokage really evaluated her best suitors and decided this man was the prime candidate? What on earth was she thinking?

"Because you're a pervert?"

"No. What's important in any relationship?"

"I wouldn't know, I haven't had one, remember?"

"I'm not referring to dating Nina. Think about comradeship, siblings, friendship and that sort of thing. You get the idea."

"Oh, I guess, um… loyalty, honesty, and-"

"Trust, Nina." "If you don't have trust in any relationship it's doomed to fail." She could feel his calloused thumb rub over the back of her hand.

"I trust you." She whispered. It was the truth. They had been on countless missions and even the medial tasks within the village she never questioned it and it was clear it went both ways.

"Good. Now that I know the extent of your experience, I can take it from here but you have to stop being so evasive." She couldn't bring herself to say anything so she drank the last of her water.

"I'm not one for public displays of affection either but a spectators' perception can be easily swayed by mere proximity. It's only while we are out in public that we will be under scrutiny. Once we're in the confines of the room we will be-"

"Wouldn't it blow our cover if the maid walked in to find you on a bed roll on the floor and me on the bed?"

"That is a point but you're getting too far ahead of yourself."

"Sorry."

He shuffled his body around and cocooned both her hands in his one hand, leaving them to rest on top of the table. "I know you've had a lot going on back in Konoha but you need to concentrate on the task at hand." He paused to have another sip of water. "I know this is unusual for you and you're making progress with the physicality required for this mission." He tilted her head from under her chin so that he could see her eyes, and he returned to hold her hands. "You're going to have to let me date you."

Just as he had suspected she would, Nina pulled back and dropped her face from his view but he didn't let go of her hands.

"You don't date."

A slight rosiness had befallen her cheeks and he wondered if his last command had indeed caused her to blush.

"No I don't, but for you I'm willing to make an exception. You'll be the first and only girl to say so."

"Lucky me."

"A kiss and a week-long date with me, you should think yourself extremely fortunate."

"Careful you're starting to sound like Rai-"

"Now that's just hurtful. You didn't seem to withdraw from our kiss and I can't help but wonder had you not been so intoxicated how differently the night may have turned out."

"Hardly a proper one with you wearing your damnable mask and doubtful. You both seemed pleased with the nights' undertakings."

"So you did consider it?"

"No. I am not interested in being your hussy for one night."

"But you were willing to be Guys'."

He knew that one was a bit below that belt and had already taken the precaution by sliding out of her reach and outside of the inn until she had cooled down.

Knowing the copy-nin well enough she was not about to spend the afternoon in a useless search of him. She had seen a sign earlier advertising a local spa that she was going to inquire about at the reception desk. It ought to give her ample time to process what had just taken place whilst fending off any implausible presumptions relating to her dating one, Kakashi Hatake.

He climbed a nearby tree and settled down against the trunk to recommence reading, doubting she would come looking for him. They had only been on their mission for two days but Nina's demeanour was already starting to mellow and she was opening up to him with a sincerity that he assumed she reserved for conversations with Jiraiya. She may have been steel-willed when performing tortuous medical duties however, her inexperience with men gave her a certain naiveté. He hadn't had to need to indulge the intricacies of a courtship on this level for quite some time, nor with someone so familiar. She was Asuma's younger sister which automatically had removed her from his mind but, then there was the other night. He had tried not to but it was becoming increasingly unavoidable and he was yet again brooding on it, on her.

He redirected his focus to the sentence in front of him, concluding it was dangerous and premature to speculate any further on the kunoichi.