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

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)

Chapter 16

Sun light had streamed through the sheer curtains, filling the room with morning warmth, and neither of them had shifted from the confines of each other for a few hours. With one arm under Nina's head, Kakashi laid on his side sliding his fingers through her hair that was draped out in a tangled mess from under her head. When he got to the end of a section, he would trace downwards from the tip of each finger on her right hand, draw circles in her palm two or three times, before dragging down her forearm, navigating the bend of her elbow and back up to her shoulder. Sometimes lingering longer in particular places, testing, observing and admiring Nina's reactions.

Kakashi recalled the passing confession of Nina being ticklish, and little by little he was making mental notes whenever he discovered a new spot. One of the most sensitive places was her ears. A nip, a brush of his masked or bare lips, or when he would furl a stray curl around her ear would illicit an array of reactions. Anything from the layer of goose bumps that sheathed her skin, the hitch of her breath, or if he was listening attentively enough, he could make out the small tick of her lips parting and her tongue coming away from the bottom of her mouth.

Like his nosey canine companion had said multiple times, Nina was different.

Most of the women he'd been with were very vocal, upfront … accessible. Forgetting her daily persona, when it came to matters of intimacy, Nina took work. Just as Asuma had warned him. Therefore, when Nina opened up and allowed him in, no matter how minimally, it was worth savouring all of it.

Nina was on her back, the sheet covering half of their bodies, nestled into the warmth of Kakashi. Her right hand bent next to her head, trapping some of her hair that he'd already streaked his fingers through. Her left hand roaming over his Anbu tattoo, at first, then up to his face where her eyes tracked the movements of her fingers as they explored his features.

She was yet to come to terms with it. She skittered her fingers over the stubble of his regrowth. The colour was the same sterling silver shade of his unruly head of hair. In no rush, she wondered how often he had to shave. She'd never paid much attention to it before. His mask would conceal majority of it, however, surely it would have gotten annoying once it got to a length where it would snag in the material?

"Nmm."

Unable to control her body's full roll as Kakashi's hand traversed over her ribs, his thumb smoothing over her tattoo and back up to her collarbone.

Opening her eyes Nina fumbled her fingertips over his lips as she caught the clearest sight of his magnificent smile that she'd ever seen. With hardly any effort, she was sure that it had been permanently etched into her memory.

Likewise, Kakashi thumb was running along Nina's bottom lip that was taut from her own smile. It was unlike the one that everyone else got to see. It was paired with the soft flush to her cheeks. And her eyes darted away for a second or two, before fixing on his with a mixture of coyness and devotion.

Nina rolled over and lowered herself onto Kakashi's chest with her hands resting atop his shoulders.

It was as if she was blanketing him with herself. A sense of completeness and calm washed over him. Before she laid her head down, Kakashi scooped her hair out of the way so that her cheek and ear were flat against his chest. He inhaled deeply, drinking in the intoxicating scents from her hair.

As his chest rose, Nina closed her eyes, and intently listened to the steady thrumming of his heart beat.

Before the words left his mouth he'd known how hypocritical they were.

"You shouldn't hold onto that guilt."

Her breath shuddered. It was coming from a place of more than well-meaning.

"It'll eat you alive." His fingertips danced over her lower back.

"Asuma. Your brother. He wouldn't want that for you."

There was a seriousness and sadness in Kakashi's voice, which beckoned for her full attention. This part of him had been hidden behind a façade of aloofness. The same sadness that had overwhelmed and spilt over last night as he clung to her. Kakashi Hatake was rendered powerless to stop the tears from falling.

Suffocating and palpable.

She could feel her own self retreating inwards away from the edge she was standing precariously close to.

Kakashi registered that Nina had stopped taking even breaths, and promptly flipped her over to her back and opened both his eyes.

Nina was trapped and she could sense Kakashi's eyes burning into her. He'd had time. And not just weeks or months, but years. Nina had … days.

A knock at the door gave Nina the out she desperately needed. She jolted forward, with no refusal from Kakashi.

He sat back, threw his hands up to either side of his body and gave her right of way.

"I'll get it."

She scanned the floor, picking up a few items in search of a shirt. The doorway wasn't more than a few meters from the bed but as she drew closer she felt it. Nina managed to pull the shirt down, and with each step her legs become lead weights.

Kakashi shuffled off the bed and pulled up his pants, turning to find Nina frozen in place. Had he pushed her too far? Shit. He padded over to her, there was another knock on the door. When he got to Nina her face was pulled in a crumpled uncertainty.

Nina's own heartbeat become deafening as she watched Kakashi open the door which she had been unable to do so herself. Her skin crawled from the flats of her feet, corkscrewing around her legs, hips, waist, chest, and constricting around her neck. Time slowed down to an absolute drawl. As the figure came into sight, Nina's mind was flashing shadowy silhouettes that she couldn't quite place.

When the door clicked, the sensation vanished and she snapped back to reality. Kakashi was holding a letter.

"Nina, did you hear me?"

"Ah, yeah. Sorry. I'll be back."

She pulled the sliding door and stepped out onto the balcony. She put her hands behind her head and breathed in long, full breaths.

Kakashi grabbed the small bin bucket and raced to her side just in time for Nina to vomit. Her olive complexion had gone to a pale white and was gleaming with a sheen of sweat. Her breaths were erratic. What the hell was going on?

Nina twisted her hair and threw it over one shoulder, as she collapsed onto the ground. Kakashi knelt beside her, winding the bits of hair she'd missed behind her ear.

It was the same but more noxious. The shadow was too fuzzy and she couldn't be sure.

Kakashi tipped Nina's head up, searching her eyes for an answer. She steadied herself. Her eyes landed on Kakashi's hand that was holding a letter.

"That looks like Tsunade's writing."

"Huh?" Kakashi followed Nina's eyes. "Yeah. But what was that about?"

"Nothing." She pushed herself up, taking Kakashi's hand and stood. "What's the letter?"

Kakashi felt torn. He wanted to talk to Nina. Wanted her to talk back to him. But… maybe he'd pushed her too far?

She could read the panic in his face. "It wasn't you. It was just…" Nina picked up the bin bucket and headed inside to wash it out.

Kakashi leaned on the doorway of the bathroom, watching as Nina washed her mouth out and then the bucket.

"Maybe I got up too soon."

Kakashi blocked her way out. Nina bopped under his arm and replaced the bin in its' rightful place under the counter.

"Nina that was a pretty serious reaction. Are you sure it wasn't because of what I said?"

"No. Of course it wasn't."

Nina grabbed hold of Kakashi's hands and pressed them to his chest. "I know he wouldn't. Just like Rin wouldn't have wanted it for you." She let one hand go and stroked her fingers over the scar that ran down his left eye. "I just need…"

Kakashi grabbed hold of her hand and gave her palm a kiss. "Time."

"Yes."

Nina slanted her head and Kakashi came down to meet her in a kiss.

She directed him backwards until he hit a wall. Nipping at Kakashi's ear, and rolling herself against his abdomen. Kakashi's airy words ushering into her own ear.

"And to think you used to be such a shy girl."

"We all grow up eventually."

"Nhmm."

Nina whispered into his ear. "Ninja."

Kakashi pondered for a brief moment about the consequences of what he'd unlocked within Nina. He wasn't griping by any stretch of the imagination. Just…

He threw his head back in a thrill of pleasure as Nina scaled down his abdomen. His hands scrunched and he suddenly remembered the letter. He tore it open and gave a quick glance.

Fuck.

Nina stopped, letting go of his waist band, twisting so she too could read the letter.

"Back to Konoha?"

"Yeah."

Dammit.

"It doesn't say why?"

"No. But it does say…"

"That I have to stay."

Kakashi let go of the letter, pulled Nina against him and kissed the top of her head.

They were shinobi first, humans second.