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 24

"Alright that's me done for the day. Have you got any plans tonight Hinata?"

"I-I, well, Naruto and I are going to Ichiraku again."

Sakura had almost forgotten that they had gone on a date the other night. "Oh yes, you had one the other night. If you're having another, I'm assuming it went well then?"

"Yes. I really like him. Do you… do you think he likes me too?"

"You make me laugh. You're both so clueless. Naruto wouldn't have asked you out unless he did. He can be reckless but not when feelings are concerned."

"Oh."

Hinata was pushing her index fingertips together again.

"What time tonight? I will see if Sasuke would like to go on a… I mean… I'll see if he-"

"You like him don't you?"

Sakura turned her back on her bashful friend. "Yes."

"7pm. I think you suit each other. You have always cared a great deal for Sasuke. I am sure he has noticed."

"Thanks. I'll see you there then." She turned and flashed Hinata a smile before leaving the hospital.

"Ladies. I'm glad I've caught you before you leave for the day."

"Tsunade-sama. Yes I, we, just finished."

"I won't keep you. I need both of you to meet Temari at the gates tomorrow. She should be arriving mid-morning and will need to be escorted to my office please."

"Yes Ma'am."

"That is all ladies. Enjoy your…dates."

Both teens gawked at each other, their cheeks reddening before bursting into nervous, childish laughter.

"Lady Tsunade. Have you heard from Nina at all?"

"Not yet, they're only on their second day so I don't think I'll hear anything from them before they arrive at their destination. Why the interest?"

"Oh no reason."

"Shizune. She told you about the mission?"

"Yes but not the specifics just that she had to pret-"

"Ah. Don't be too worried. I gave Hatake a stern talking to before he left."

"Uh, I guess that's good then."

Shizune gathered up the stack of files off the reception desk and handed them to her superior.

"Could you please sign these when you have a chance?"

"Sure."

Tsunade tucked the bundle under the crook of her arm and headed back to her office.

She could see Sasuke from where she stood on the steps leading down to training grounds 2, he was weaving signs before billowing a fireball from his mouth and across the lake. She was relieved to see he was alone however, it did little to discourage the butterflies in her stomach. She breathed in deeply and continued to make her way to him, her head was trawling over the myriad of ways she was going to ask him for a dinner… date. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stopped a few steps away from the Uchiha. She rocked back and forth on her feet with her hands behind her back.

"Sasuke, do you have any plans for dinner tonight?"

He swivelled his body to face the evidently anxious girl beside him.

"No."

"I… ah…well… Hinata and Naruto… I was wondering, if you'd like to go to Ichiraku?"

This was certainly reminiscent of the exchange between Hinata and Naruto; it was obvious Sakura felt something for him but he wasn't sure of his stance on the matter.

"You're probably b…"

"What time?"

"7pm. We are meeting Naruto and Hinata there, or we could get a separate table."

It was effectively a double date.

"I'll meet you there."

"Oh…okay. Thank you."

He had actually agreed to the dinner arrangements and with little fuss. She turned away to hide her beaming smile, as her inner-self fist pumped at her accomplishment. She had a few hours to get ready so she raced off to Ino to request some fashion advice and of course, a little gloating.

"Humph." She really did have the most exquisite emerald green eyes.

Two hours in the spa had done Nina the world of good, alleviating some of the affects from the mental strain she had been under recently. Her mind had remained devoid of any wondering thoughts regarding him but she knew she couldn't hide out in the bath house for much longer; she would have to return to their room… eventually. She sunk her body, submerging her head under the warm water and as she rose used the nearby face cloth to wipe her face. Stepping out of the spa, she wrapped the fluffy grey towel around her and ambled to the change rooms. She dried her body, gave her mop of locks a quick pat dry slipped on her underwear, electing to wear a tube top instead of her normal bindings, and a fresh pair of harems pants. The mirror reflected an entanglement of ringlets and she made a vein attempt to brush through it with her fingers and left it fall freely over her bare shoulders. She collected her belongings, slipped on her sandals and dawdled back to the room, taking in the last light of the day and allowing the cool evening breeze to blow dry her hair.

The inn was only a short walk away even at the slow pace she had taken and as she had gotten closer to their room her calmness was being replaced with a fusion of intrigue and dread. She unlocked the door, which let out a creak as she pushed it inwards.

"Welcome back."

"Thanks." She realised he had tidied up their mess from earlier and disposed of their torn clothes and stowed away her bedroll. "You cleaned up?"

"Yes, I hope you weren't wanting to keep your skirt?"

"No, it's a good excuse to buy a new one anyway." She bent over to kick off her shoes.

She smelt incredible, a blend of her usual floral fragrances and vanilla; no doubt from the spa. He watched her flick pieces of hair that were swinging into her eyes as she removed her shoes, and he remarked her missing chest bindings, meaning her bust was weakly bolstered by the thin tube of fabric. The exposed skin of her torso was hidden under a veil of her still water-logged hair as she straightened up, he zeroed in on a few of the droplets that tumbled over her toned abdomen; one dipped into her belly button.

His normal infallibility was disintegrating by the second and it had him questioning a multitude of things arising from the moment.

"I need to go for a shower."

Not exactly an ice-breaker but it was a solution nonetheless. He swung his legs off the bed and gathered the items he required.

"Here." She knelt beside him to undo the straps of the sling and she untied his hitai-ate, laying them both over the back of one of the nearby chairs at the small dining table.

As he stood he was grateful for his armful because it had acted as the only barrier between him and her … he really needed to go for a shower.

In all likelihood, reading one of Jiraiya's more steamy scenes had rattled the usually indomitable copy-nin; such a pervert. She eyed the sling on the chair but supposed he would get a better nights' sleep without it irritating him so she clambered into bed, leaving only the bedside lights lit.

The shower had enabled him to regain his composure, well some of it; his head was trying to ascertain what had triggered his recent instability. He grabbed a second towel and yanked it through his hair before tossing it to the floor. His sexual needs had been sated with Ayame not but a few nights ago, so it wasn't that. Although a fallacy, the type of relationship they were undertaking was abnormal for him, coupled with Nina's inexperience, he was concerned about her vulnerability; presumptively why Tsunade had aired her warning. Additionally, there was the wager amongst the jonin, which was currently far down his list of priorities. Nina had been accurate that they were well-acquainted having known one another their whole lives, he had watched her grow up.

He seized the sides of the basin. The difference now was that he had to disregard the parameters of their relationship that had been in place up until this mission. He had asked her to be open to dating him which meant he had to open himself to dating her too. The newfound freedom between them had already evoked unanticipated effects and he needed to strengthen his resolve; he didn't want to unintentionally hurt Nina.

He emitted a long sigh and donned his mask, sleeveless undervest and a pair of standard-issue jonin pants. The room was dully lit by the bedside table lamps and Nina was already curled up under the sheets on one side of the bed. He trudged over to his pack to fetch his bedroll.

"What are you doing?" Nina sat up groggily, her hair messily draped over her diminutive body.

He continued to undo the latches of his pack. "Sorry to wake you, I'm just get-"

"I can see that but why? We've shared a bed before and with your shoulder I insist you sleep in the bed."

Kakashi angled his head back to her, and she was patting the uninhabited side of the bed. He wasn't going turn her down. It was common practice to save money on missions to share rooms and at times beds, and both were well-versed in doing so without affecting the quality of each other's sleep.

Nina turned the lamp off on her side and resumed her position curling to face the middle of the bed and Kakashi laid down on his back before reaching over to turn off the remaining light on his side.

"Goodnight Kakashi."

"Goodnight Nina."

Naruto lifted one hand from behind his head to farewell the girls from outside the ramen bar, who had set off home as they had a full day ahead of them.

"So, what's the go with you and Sakura?"

"It was just dinner."

"You know she really likes you. I'll clobber you if you mess around with her feelings."

"I beat you last time we-"

"I'm serious. When you left the village Sakura really suffered." His fists were clenched at his sides and he was drilling his eyes into the back of the Uchiha's head.

"I'll keep it in mind. Night, loser."