A/N: Apologies for my absence- have not been very well. Thank you for all those who are patiently waiting for an update, welcome to those new followers, and thank you for the favs. Hope you're all enjoying it :)

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 91


Kakashi woke, aware it hadn't been for very long. He stretched, sitting upright and padded down the hallway to check on Nina. She was still bundled amongst the linen.

She had clutched against his body last night, barely conscious as he dressed her. Their exchange had been uninhibited from anger or any such things pertaining to the bet. And he couldn't help but wonder if she had forgiven him; at least somewhat. Grovelling wasn't his style nor were emotional displays of any kind; he preferred to keep things close to his chest. Which, up until recently, had sufficed. But somehow, try as he might, the fiery medic-nin had edged her way under his skin and was consuming a great deal of mental space.

"Kaka…"

She was barely audible and he couldn't make out any of the mumbled words that followed. A part of him… Hell, who was he kidding? A large part of him wanted to stride over and comfort her however, he wanted to have the discussion, if there ever was to be one, when they were less, exhausted. So, he forced his feet to obey his will and left Nina's apartment.


Nina finally came too, wincing from the pain that radiated from her hand. That's right… Raido. The nights' events were a little hazy but she remembered … her body shuddered and her hand banged against her beside. Yelping at the pain the impact caused, Nina's feet hit the floor. She was home. Dressed. Her wound tended to but how? Flashes from of familiar faces played over as she stumbled down the hallway to the kitchen. On the lounge was a neatly folded blanket and on the coffee table The Tales of a Gutsy Ninja. Kakashi.

She whirled around to try and work out if he was still around. Of course he wasn't. Why would he be, Nina? You defeated him in that… well, call it what it really was… a grudge match. She sighed clenching her fists discovering her right hand didn't respond. She must have done some serious damage to the nerves. Her stomach churned however, it felt devoid of any contents to regurgitate.

Wonder who cleaned the kitchen? It was spotless. Not that she left it messy but not a thing was out of place and it smelt heavily of disinfectant. Had Kakashi cleaned it? No, there was Shizune and someone else. A male but she couldn't place his voice. Oh for the love of the Third why had she ever allowed herself to believe drinking herself into a stupor was a good idea?

A green tea. That's what she needed. A simple pot of green tea to sip at. How she was going to …

There was a knock at the door and a familiar voice. Shizune.


"Oh, glad to see you're back in the land of the living."

"Thanks. Um… Shizune…"

Shizune knew her friend was probably going to ask to fill in the missing pieces.

Nina looked over Shizune, she looked tired and guessed that she'd probably just finished a night shift.

"Can I tempt you into explaining it over a pot of green tea?"

Thankfully, she gave a smile. "Sure."

Nina fumbled closing the door using her left hand.

"You won't be able to have full use of your hand for a few more days yet. You severely damaged nerves and some of your ligaments."

It was what she had thought. Damn. Her mind raced recalling the conversation with Ibiki. How was she going to be able to be fit for Anbu duties in this state? Shit. Did the Fifth know?

"And don't worry, Lady Tsunade isn't aware of all of the details of last night."

"Thanks Shizune."

It was a genuine thank you and at the same time an apology. Nina knew she hadn't treated her very well lately. It was a bet, made it jest. Something that occurred often amongst friends just… well, what? What was it that cause her to react like she had? Was it that others seen something she hadn't? Or that it had turned into something more? Or was she looking for a way out? Was there some truth in Jiraiya's words about tarring him with the same brush as others in her past? Perhaps, it was a mix of all those things. And despite Nina's usual robust exterior, her soft and squishy insides had leaked out from the cracks formed with the time spent with the copy-nin.


Nina was grateful for Shizune's apparent forgiveness and was looking forward to having some blanks being filled in. As they arrived at the café, another hurdle was encountered.

"Oh look, Asuma, Kurenai, Guy and …" Shizune eyed her friend off from the corner of her eye. Nina's eyes had closed in almost defeat at her unfortunate luck. "Kakashi. We don't have to…"

"It's fine, Shizune. I probably owe more than one of them an apology for last night."

Well, that was an unexpected reaction but welcomed all the same. Honestly, Shizune would have liked if it had been just her and Nina so she could ask a few more questions about matters concerning her and Kakashi but this was positive.

"Look what the cat, well, the Fifth's right hand lady dragged in."

Nina just glared at Asuma. Had Kakashi told him?

"Do I owe you an apology for last night?"

Asuma smirked, stretching his arm around Kurenai's shoulder. "Not really. Shikamaru failed to arrive for a team meeting but that's really neither here nor there."

So, the other person had been Shikamaru. She definitely owed him an apology. How disgraceful for a junior to see such a senior shinobi in whatever state she'd landed herself in last night. Nina hadn't even given her body position much thought as she sat until her leg came to land flush against his.

He'd caught it; the sharp inhalation as their legs met, where Nina come to realise she had seated herself between him and Shizune. He waited for a quick retraction however, it didn't come. Instead, Nina's leg relaxed, as did the rest of her body, at his side. He took a quick side glance, assessing Nina. She was subdued, not quite defeated but her body language was sluggish. Adding to that was a blush of red to her cheeks and the one closest to him was puckered in trapped between her teeth, no doubt.

"Yet again, you've left me quite useless darling sister."

"Huh?"

Nina's head snapped up from the grooves of the table she had locked onto, in a bid to avoid eye contact.

"You certainly know how to look after yourself despite being quite intoxicated."

"Is he… Is Raido…"

"He's fine, Nina. Got what he deserved. That is all that Lady Tsunade is aware of. It was self-defence."

"Tch."

"What the matter?"

"It was sloppy self-defence, if I ended up this injured. And what's more the Hokage believed it."

"Well, yes. A struggle would be expected and as for your injuries, a broken mirror would account for that."

Nina wanted her willpower to be enough to clench her fists. Don't get her wrong, she was grateful that Tsunade hadn't questioned it any further than an altercation of unwanted advances from Raido however, Nina was less impressed with the fact there was a report that portrayed her as someone who had struggled against the likes of Raido. Ugh.

Without warning, there was small nudge against her leg that snapped her out of her cycle of self-frustration. It wasn't accidental, but rather calculated. Behind her closed lips were a bundle of words threatening to fall out in no particular order or format. Instead, she inhaled and let herself relax again.

"I still can't believe you beat my eternal rival!"

Everyone laughed, and Kakashi with his face buried behind a copy of Icha Icha simply shrugged it off. Or so Nina thought.

"She cheated."

With the ruckus of laughter, it appeared no one else but Nina had picked up his muffled words.

"I did not. If you recall there were no limits to the match. You were simply bettered."

"If you say so."

His nonchalant response rubbed on Nina's nerves and she attempted to cross her arms only to discover she was unable to do so thanks to the brace and sling.

Under the cover of his mask, Kakashi felt a smirk emerge. Although, she was injured, Nina's personality was much more palatable. Their bantering had occurred without the rest of the table noticing and the abrasiveness Nina had displayed the day before was almost, actually, it was non-existent. She was calm and hadn't increased the distance between them in any way; their legs still pressed against each other.

"Speaking of apologies, Nina. We all kind of owe you one. We prob…"

"No. It's fine. I …" The disbelief that was painted on the faces around the table was equal to her own inner admission. "It was a bet. A joke. I overreacted."

Keeping up cool appearances was usually as easy as breathing but Nina's words had him forgetting the simplest of human bodily functions; like breathing.

The waitress set down a fresh brewed pot of tea and Nina, keeping up appearances, picked up the pot left handed but unfortunately struggled to handle the task of filling her cup.

"Well, if that's the case I'm just going to ask because none of you are." Genma squeezed himself in beside Shizune, meaning everyone else had to shuffle around the booth a little further to accommodate the guest.

Amidst the body shuffling Kakashi's hand had wrapped over Nina's and he'd aided her to pour her drink. Giving her hand the extra strength her non-dominant hand had lacked.

"Thanks."

"See? That! You say nothing happened but something did, didn't it?"

He just wasn't going to let it go. Damn Genma just couldn't let it be.

"Genma, you lost. Just leave it be."

"No. You only say that because you won and two, she's your sister. They're both here now so I say they come clean."

Asuma cast his eyes over both Kakashi and Nina, both were giving no indication of being frazzled by the inquest nor that anything was but what it'd always been. But it was … almost too calm and collected. Nina was hurling kunai in all directions yesterday, particularly at Kakashi and yet today, she was sitting next to the copy-nin as if nothing of the sort had transpired. They hadn't been able to finish their chat the other day before Kakashi had been summoned by Anbu. However, as far as Genma and the whole bet, Kakashi hadn't lied. Just there had been something more. Whether it would survive the revelations concerning the bet remained to be seen.

Nina picked her cup up and focussed on the ripples her breath made as she blew to cool it down. "You want to know if Kakashi's story checks out, huh?"

"Yes! I still call bullshit. You were pissed about Ayame until you found out she was dating Guy. I've never seen you jealous. What's more I seen one of Kakashi's dogs with you the other night. And I know he's never been one to just hand over one of his precious hounds to a lady. And why were you so pissy about the bet anyway?"

Nina sipped at her tea, enjoying how it quenched and soothed her throat, whilst she mulled over the onslaught of questions from Genma.

"Although I don't know all the details. Genma does raise some good questions."

"Guy, I thought you said you believed Kakashi?"

"I do Asuma. I believe my eternal rival with all my being but I wouldn't mind hearing it from Nina."

"Fine."

She felt it, the minor movement of Kakashi's leg. Had he clenched his muscles?

Fuck. She'd proven to be as, if not, more unpredictable than Naruto. What was she going to say?

"I'll make it simple. The bet was for if we'd hook up on the mission, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then no. We didn't."

"And the other stuff?"

"And the other stuff, Genma, I will answer. We were required to date for the mission. Being the type of shinobi we are, after affects were bound to occur. The dog, whose name for your information, is Bull. I was pet-sitting. With the increase in Anbu missions as of late, and the lack of ones leading up to it I figured it was best to re-establish our bonds. As for the bet, I don't appreciate my love life or lack of, being made a joke of. But a joke is a joke. No hard feelings."

He watched as Nina finished her cup and set it down on the table.

"I, uh, well… I guess that answers that."

"Satisfied Genma? Now you can pay up."

Asuma signalled for Kurenai to slide down and leave the booth. He wondered if they had worked it out yet. Worked out just how alike they were. From her whole demeanour down to her answers it was if Kakashi had answered them all himself. However, he passed one more look at the copy-nin. He was absorbing her words just as the rest of them were. He had put his beloved Icha Icha down as the words had left Nina's mouth.

"Where's Shikamaru, Asuma?"

"Mission. Since you're incident kept him from the debrief I need to go tend to that now."

"Ah. When is he due back?"

"Three days from now."

"I see. Send my apologies and thanks for last night." Not that she knew what his part had been. "I'll catch up with him when he returns."

"Will do."

"I need to go get this money for this stupid bet."

Stupid. Yeah his sentiments exactly. Kakashi hoped the immature idiot had learnt his lesson.

"I need sleep. Kakashi can fill you in with the rest of the details."

"But Shizu…"

"Nina, I have another shift in a few hours. Someone had to cover you while you're on Anbu duties."

"Oh. Thanks."

Shizune gave Nina a gentle squeeze and caught up with Genma who was already outside the café.

"Well, I promised Lee some training. I'll leave you two to it."

Shit. This wasn't awkward or anything. Nina wondered who'd break the silence first or better yet, who would make a break for it?

"I don't know what led to the incident between you and Raido, and it's none of my business. Shikamaru and I got you home, Shizune tended to your wounds. I apologise but I had to be quite brutal and force you to vomit. Shikamaru cleaned the kitchen up. I stayed until you were settled and then I left. Shizune said…"

"A few days before I can use it. Thanks and uh, sorry."

Nina took in what had been said but was unsure what words should come next. Kakashi didn't respond to her in any way, instead he just resumed reading Icha Icha.

With everyone vacated Nina figured she should put some space between them. The slings' straps dug into her neck uncomfortably and she squirmed trying to loosen it.

Kakashi heaved a sigh at the struggling kunoichi. He was keeping it solemn, assuming that was the best tactic after everything that had happened. "Here."

He once again put his book down, and slid over to Nina, reached around to loosen the strap and even readjusted her shirt as he noticed the marks from where the strap had indented into her skin.

She had only just put some space between them only for him to close in. "Uh…" she swallowed as her throat felt dry again. Probably a result of last night not from his proximity.

"Is that better?"

Unable to find the words. Nina closed her eyes. They couldn't. They shouldn't. She was still mad wasn't she? But then this… this was… nothing more than a comrade helping out another comrade. "Yes. Thank you."

It'd only been faint. And to those around them it probably would have gone unnoticed but to Nina it filled her stomach with the flutter of butterflies.

Out of habit, perhaps. Out of want, maybe. Regardless, he'd done it and his ears had picked up the audible response as Nina's breath hitched.

Nina dared not move as his fingers slid along the nape of her neck, freeing trapped hair before the last act of curling a stray ringlet around her ear.

He'd observed as Nina's arm gave in to impulse and her hand folded carefully over the fabric of his forearm.

Nina flicked her eyes to be met with his one and quickly adjusted herself, realising where her able hand had wandered to, and withdrew from the table.

"I should… I have to report to Ibiki. About yesterday, I mean the fight…"

"A shinobi must always see under the underneath."

"Uh yeah, something like that."

Nina picked up the whole table's tab and made her way to the front of the café. They had never had their discussion. But she supposed now was too late. His explanation of the night played over in her head. Shit. Did he think something had happened between her and Raido? Surely, he wouldn't but then again she'd allowed herself to foolishly believe something had happened with Ayame. Shit. But she'd told him how much she despised Raido, hadn't she? Nina was reminded that her hand was still very much incapacitated and despite that it was still able to produce a remarkable amount of pain if she forgot that small detail.

Why couldn't they just get it right? So much melodrama really wasn't Nina's style and she was beginning to feel like it was as they had discussed it should be, when they returned to Konoha. But why couldn't she let it… no… him. Why couldn't she let Kakashi go and just return to comrades? Surely this ridiculous series of events and constant hurdles weren't indicative of a healthy or sustainable relationship? They hadn't even managed to have the discussion. Maybe if they had it then they would be able to make sense of it all?

"Nina, you've been summoned to report to Ibiki."

That's right, that's why.

Shinobi Rule 5: A Shinobi must always put his/her village before him/herself.


Summoned by Anbu. No doubt he would be too, soon. Perhaps this was how it was supposed to be. It was mostly reminiscent of how they were before the mission. That should be suffice, right? He snapped his book shut and headed towards the rock that didn't talk back, despite his deepest desire for it to be otherwise.