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 33
Their return to the orphanage was considerably more difficult due to the older children all carrying their own bedrolls, and Nina was left with Kimi's and Yuuma's and the younger children's. Remarkably, the children were very obedient and kept together as best they could, only occasionally bumping into each other or being distracted by one of the stalls; the older ones held the hands of the littler ones.
The caretakers were rendered speechless as the children poured into the orphanage, loudly rambling about their adventures and eagerly displaying their new bed rolls, and then running off to their bedroom.
"Kimi and Yuuma, this is for yourselves. I hope the queen size will suffice."
Kimi had her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face, just managing to stay upright because Yuuma was bracing her, who was also crying.
"Than…Thank you so very much, Nina. This is…"
"Very deserved and I am sure well overdue."
She handed the bed roll over to them, giving both of them a consoling cuddle.
"I am going to go help the children with theirs, if that is okay by you?"
"Of course Nina. We cannot thank you enough."
Nina simply smiled and made her way into the sleeping quarters where the children were causing quite the commotion.
She helped the children strip the room of the older bedding, excepting their special possessions- a mix of toys, knickknacks and photos, then they laid out their new bed rolls and blankets.
From the kitchen Kimi called the children for lunch and they quickly rushed to her summons. Nina lingered in the door way, looking at all twelve bed rolls and the difference it had made not only aesthetically but to the mood of all of the children and caretakers.
The grocer dangled the last bag over his wrist after he had finished paying for everything, and he made his return to the orphanage. Lifting the loaded bags was additional training and he continued to keep watchful of his surroundings, in line with their mission.
He wondered how Nina had gotten on with all of the children but then re-evaluated his concern, sure that looking after the children was probably a lot simpler than contending with uncooperative shinobi in the clinic.
Passing a poster advertising the upcoming Fireworks Festival, Kakashi was thankful for their impromptu involvement with the orphanage as the festival was still a few days away. He was unseasoned in long term dating and Nina was inexperienced with dating all together, and he had surmised this was why both of them seemed to be off kilter… well actually things were not necessarily off kilter; he'd kissed her twice today and it come quite instinctually. They were chaste but innately intimate by his own standards, particularly the one this morning. Had she … this was just a mission, a cover, nothing else. He'd been entrusted to look after her and to date her.
Speaking of which, his effort had been very little other than demanding of Nina, although she had initially been quite reluctant, her confidence had grown considerably. She'd never been on a proper date, besides the failed ones with Genma, and he doubted they were anything noteworthy. Yes, he would have to find something special, and for tomorrow night as he had plans for dinner tonight.
He arrived at the orphanage just in time as some of the bags were about to deteriorate under the weight of their contents.
"Alright Kimi and Yuuma, I will take it from here."
Kakashi unloaded the bags into the fridge and cupboards, moving on to clearing a space in preparation for dinner.
"Kakashi, this isn't-"
"It's our pleasure. Go and be with the children."
He sported his token crinkled eye smile, turning back to the bench.
Nina picked up the apron Kimi had hung on the hook in the kitchen and balled it up with the shirt she had managed to sneak out of Yuuma's cupboard. Ninja.
The scent of the floral flower crown alerted him to her presence, but he still jolted slightly when she peered around his body to inspect what he was doing.
"What's on the menu tonight chef?"
Her eyes were alight, her body settling against his back and her hand resting on his forearm that had been cutting an assortment of vegetables. He cleared his throat and resumed cutting.
"Oyakodon."
"Yum!"
"Hope so."
The hand that had been on his forearm receded to his shoulder, and she shifted, pushing up on her tip toes. Even with the mask he felt the pressure of her lips against his cheek; he dropped the knife onto the bench and encased her body, trapping her between him and the bench.
Her breathing was erratic, as was his; her hands were rising and falling against his chest. She wasn't prepared for this reaction and was unsure what was unfolding. Her mouth was dry from the deeper breaths and she tried to subtly wet her lips and swallow.
"Kakashi?"
Her voice was shaky, beckoning him to respond she cautiously raised her head, as she splayed her fingers out across his chest.
He was damning his ineptitude regarding self-control and Nina's obliviousness to the effects of her caressing his chest. His mind had reeled to his birthday celebrations where she had blatantly tried to avoid his lips and he had redirected her at the last second, and his body had retaliated by forcing their current position.
His right hand travelled up her left arm, provoking a trail of goosebumps to erupt. He grazed his fingertips up her neck and along her jawline, until he snagged her chin in between his fingers, as he had done that night; tilting her head up further. He watched her intently, closing her eyes and a fickle attempt to swallow before slowly opening her eyes on his face; her hands had ceased moving. He edged his face closer to hers, pushing his thumb up against her chin, sensing a slight detraction, and placed his other hand on her hip to pull her in against him.
Resembling the scandalous birthday kiss, a mixture of emotions had been incited within her. She fixed on his charcoal eye, waiting for him to say something; anything.
It was conceivable that he was solely seeking to test her conviction for the mission; it couldn't possibly be anything but that, could it?
The warmth of his breath descended onto her lips and they were mere millimetres away from each other.
"I have to…" She pulled back, dropping her head. "I have to get back to Mr Baku with these other items." She pat his chest, and motioned to the two garments that were draped in the crook of her right elbow.
Somehow she had salvaged the situation, for both their sakes.
"Okay."
He raised his right arm up and allowed Nina to leave, and recommenced with his dinner preparations.