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 26
"Achoo!"
Kakashi glanced backwards to her, before tightening his grip on her hand and working their way through the crowd, seeking as much shelter as possible from the downpour. They were both soaked, having not been able to outrun the rain.
She was thankful when they had arrived at the reception of the accommodation for the week. Nina felt a little guilty when she stared down at their feet to see the water pooling from their bodies, but it couldn't be helped and she figured it was probably something they were used to here in Rain Country. A shiver ran through her body spasmodically causing Kakashi's hand to stiffen around hers whilst he was talking to the innkeeper about their room. Now that they were no longer mobile, her body temperature was dropping rapidly and she was looking forward to a long hot shower.
"I'm sorry about the mess we've caused." Nina apologised, in between her body spasms which were coming frequently due to the cool breeze hitting her skin.
"Don't worry about it. If it's any consolation it's just a small shower and it'll be over soon."
"This is a small shower? Achoo!"
The innkeeper laughed, handed Kakashi the room key and gave him directions.
"Third floor, second room on the right, room 302. All our rooms have dryers. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance to you both during your stay."
"Thank you." Kakashi smoothly replied before turning to face Nina. "Let's get you warmed up."
Nina wanted to reply but her slight shiver had turned into teeth chattering, so she simply nodded, wrapping her free arm across the front of her body to try and conserve body warmth. Instead of being led, Nina found herself being directed to in front of Kakashi where he guided her from behind up the stairs to their room.
"We appreciate the effort from Sand; given our current shortage in available ninjas it was necessary to request your presence here. I trust your journey went well."
"Yes Ma'am. We understand some things are outside your control given the circumstances surrounding the recent deaths and the importance of building our political ties between Sand and Leaf."
"Agreed. Well I will get right to it, even though your counterpart has yet to make an appearance, the Chunin exams are coming up and are to be held here in Konoha. As expected there is still some political ties that are brittle due to the events the last time we played host and so it is imperative that we have ample strategies in place and take the appropriate action to prevent any short fallings occurring. You have come highly recommended from Suna and…"
Shizune peaked into the office.
"Sorry to interrupt Lady Tsunade, but Shikamaru Naara is here."
"Send him in."
Temari remained casual, sitting cross-legged in the seat across from the Fifth and her weapon leaning against the armrest.
"You're late but never mind have a seat."
Shikamaru dropped into the spare seat beside his girlfriend.
"As I was saying. The both of you have been selected for your analytical talents. Your proposal for the exams, clearly outlining risks, strategies, staffing and security requirements is due on Thursday. That gives you roughly three and a half days. Any questions?"
Both shook their heads to indicate no.
"That'll be all."
"I'm hungry, care to take me for breakfast?"
"Hmpf. Already bossing me around, troublesome woman" he begrudged, holding the door open wide enough for her to walk through without being impeded by her weapon that was strapped to her back.
She flashed a smirk and her cheeks marked by a rosy tint.
He reached around in front of her to unlock the door, continuing to guide her inside where she slipped her pack off for him to take to the laundry. Spotting the bathroom Nina trudged towards it anxious to warm up; a startling realisation set upon her that she hadn't didn't really have anything in her pack that was long sleeved.
"I… I… d…don't have… any…anything w…w…warm." She stuttered, stopping at the entry to the bathroom.
"I'll sort something, just go have a shower." He disappeared into another room which she assumed was the laundry.
She stepped into the bathroom, closing the door and stripping from her wet clothes and entered the stream of hot water. The shudders from her body lessened as the room filled with steam, and she pulled out her messy bun to absorb some of the heat.
Hanging the two packs on the wall hooks, he set about ransacking them for something for Nina. The packs were waterproof so thankfully their clothes and other paraphernalia would be dry. Hers was filled with mostly medical supplies; unsurprisingly. He stripped, tossing his wet clothes into the dryer and wrapping a towel around his waist so he didn't risk getting any of the contents of their packs wet. His eye caught sight of a glint of yellow lace; his mind rehashed the events of the other day when he had first seen them. He plucked them out of her pack, along with a tube top and tights, and folded them with one of his long-sleeved shirts.
"I'm almost finished!" she sung out.
He got a change of clothes for himself and set her pile on the corner of the bed for when she exited the shower.
There was a click when the door opened, sending a stream of steam billowing out into their room. He was coming into the bathroom? Sure they had been in the unisex bath houses but this was different; there was only a fabric shower screen between them and she was totally naked.
"What are you doing in here, pervert?"
"You said you were almost finished. No need to turn the water off. I've put some stuff out for you, hope they'll suffice."
"Kakashi…"
She didn't add anymore, she lathered her body with the body wash and rinsed off; causing the water to slap the shower floor.
Perhaps he had been a little presumptuous to come into the bathroom with her still in here and with no clothes and no towels either.
"I'll be back, you'll need a towel." He scooped up her wet clothes off the ground, tossed them in with his and started the dryer before fetching her two towels.
When he re-entered the shower screen revealed her silhouette and he found himself studying the details of her body; svelte. How had he not noticed her before; or had he just ignored any such thoughts?
"Alright, I am coming out."
He passed a towel to her hand that had peaked out from the curtain, and he intuitively turned to face the wall.
She drew back the curtain, whilst simultaneously enveloping her body with the towel. When her eyes looked up from her feet she was confronted with his bare back; defined muscles littered with faded scars that water droplets skittered along. With the room being quite small, the space between their bodies was minimal and one of them would have to move first; but she found herself frozen in place.
A few minutes had passed and she was still standing at his back; warily he about-faced, the warmth of her gentle breaths puffed against his chest. She didn't show any sign of disengaging.
"Clothes."
"Hmm?"
"Where have you put my clothes?"
"On the bed."
"Thanks."
She side stepped and managed to leave the room; the door closed and he exhaled finding he had been withholding it for some time.
Hazily, she made her way to the bedside and balanced on the edge of the mattress; the tips of her toes just skirting the floor boards. She pulled herself together, concluding that what had just happened was just a slew of coincidences, the wet weather, her body's intolerance for the cold, a small room and two bodies; two very near naked bodies.
A comforting scent hit her as she tugged on the bottom hem of the shirt he had lent her. It reminded her of Konoha; of home. She brought her wrist up to her nose and took a deep whiff, closing her eyes to enjoy the familiar slideshow of their hometown. Inspecting the sizable difference of the shirt versus her own body, it was unnecessary to wear the tights he had set out for her, it hung to her mid thighs and she was able scrunch up the excess of the sleeves in her hands. She retrieved her book whilst she waited for Kakashi to finish in the shower; lunch and a report to Tsunade-sama were in order.
A deep-seated regret engulfed him at the sight of Nina huddled up on a lounge reading; her hair uncombed, swamped in not but his shirt and the cursed yellow underwear, that he himself had selected. She wasn't the first woman to be enrobed in his clothing but the vision before him had him clamouring to recall an encounter so alluring.
"Kakashi, you're staring."
Shit how long had he been standing here? He had a newfound empathy for her past unsuspecting victims that had succumbed to her flairs of seduction; her current position wasn't purposeful or maybe it was?
"Still staring" flicking her eyes over the top of the book to his direction.
"On quite the contrary, I was waiting for you to finish the page before discussing our plans."
"Uh huh. Give me a minute, I'll go change. Suns out now."
She set the book down on the coffee table and he watched her amble down to laundry, with the tights in one hand.