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 92
Nina was less than impressed to discover Ibiki's team hadn't made any more revelations concerning the investigation. It took an enormous amount of restraint to not let her disappointment seep into her tone. As there hadn't been much progress achieved and her injury, she was assigned a partner for night watch on one of the shinobi whose primary chakra nature was wind.
"And who is my partner?"
"He hasn't …" Another operative whispered into Ibiki's ear and at Nina's side appeared another operative. "Right on time, Kakashi."
Seriously?
"Kakashi is your partner for tomorrow night. Any questions?"
A thousand but none that related to the task.
"No Sir."
"Right then. That is all. Unless we have a breakthrough then that is your task for tomorrow."
Nina couldn't allow herself to acknowledge him, instead she turned on her heels and sought the investigation team.
And the cold, distant Nina had returned.
"I take it there's been no progress on the investigation, Sir?"
"Nothing substantial. Keep an eye on her, Kakashi."
"Is that a mission or a request?"
"Take it as you wish."
"Understood."
She was like Bull, once she'd sunk her teeth in to something, she struggled to let go. Even under command. Kakashi's mind recalled the conversation with his small pug companion back in Amegakure. Kakashi had stated the position his pack had laid in was nothing out of the ordinary, whilst true, he'd discredited Nina's place in his pack. And now that he was reviewing his words, his assumption had been wrong. Nina had long been a part of his pack and he hadn't even realised it. Their formation was as it would be if it had been he instead of Nina in the centre. And there wasn't another Shinobi alive whom could accomplish that fete.
He sighed heavily perched on the rooftop of the interrogation building, attempting to gain a better vantage point to fulfil the request from Ibiki. Every time Kakashi contemplated their ability to regain what they had before the mission, something arose that gave him a blunt reminder that it was almost impossible for that to happen. In the short time he'd been able to spend at the memorial stone, he'd wound himself in circles and concluded that he really didn't want to go back to that. But he didn't want whatever they had now either. Their normal ease in each other's presence was no longer there, instead there was only a shroud of doubt, avoidance and mistrust with glimmers of their former relationship.
He was a masterful tactician but he was pulling up empty as far as even his next move. All he could do was, hope. Something Kakashi had struggled with, always.
Although, they would eventually narrow down their search, Nina took it upon herself to take copies of the files and set herself up in the library. It also served as a means for her to occupy her mind rather than have it overrun with the relentless thoughts concerning the very shinobi she'd be spending the majority of tomorrow night with.
Kakashi spotted Nina exiting the building, barely able to juggle the pile of paperwork. He shook his head. Stubborn, troublesome, reckless and … the yelp and floating loose sheets was his queue to intervene. Hopeless.
Nina scrambled along the ground to collect the fly-away paperwork, aware of the nature of the information they contained.
Agitation wore at her last shred of patience and she ruthlessly ripped the sling off her body and discarded it.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." He collected the sling and handed over a few of the loose paperwork to Nina.
"It's just getting in the way. Just like… thanks." She stood keeping her eyes on the paperwork and never higher than his chest. She juggled the paperwork, still unable to work her hand as she normally would. "Tch."
"Where are we heading?"
"I am heading to the library." Placing emphasis on "I", Nina pulled the last few pieces of paperwork together and pushed the rolled cardboard into the crook of her left arm further. But it still managed to slip out and topple onto the ground.
And there it was.
"What's so funny?"
Her juvenile foot stamp had always amused him but this time he'd been unable to stop himself from laughing out loud. His inability, earned him a blazing glare from Nina. "Nothing. Let's go." He couldn't help himself, bending over and picking up the roll, only to bop the infuriated kunoichi on the top of her head as he took the lead in the direction of the library.
Why the nerve! Unfortunately, Nina had little other option and she gave the ground a small kick in protest and followed Kakashi.
"You can go now."
"Good to know."
"Kakashi."
"Nina."
He pulled back the chair opposite Nina and sat. He then pulled out the chair beside him, slung her sling over the back of it and used it as a footrest. Kakashi dug into his back pocket and started reading.
"Kakashi."
"Nina."
"Ugh. What are you doing?"
"Fulfilling a mission."
"What? Actually, no. Never mind."
She removed her one hand from her hip and dropped her eyes that had been locked on his that were buried in the throes of Icha Icha. Rolling out the cardboard revealed the layout of the village. Even though it'd been rolled for a short amount of time she still needed to use four heavy books to keep it from refurling. Nina then sifted through the sheets of paperwork, putting them back into order and took her seat across from Kakashi.
"Jiraiya, did you talk to Nina?"
"Yes. Not sure if it did any good."
"Did you hear about last nights' incident?"
"I heard there was a bit of commotion at Shushu-ya last night but not much in the way of details."
"It was Nina. Report says it was self-defence against unwanted advances from a fellow shinobi."
"That seems rather mellow."
"Would be until she put him through two almost three solid walls. What's more she's incapacitated her right hand for the time being."
"So you have some doubt?"
"She was undoubtedly drunk, otherwise I would have been called to tend to it. There were also very few witnesses."
"I see. So what's the problem?"
"What did you talk to her about?"
"Not anything that would cause that reaction."
"Jiraiya, Nina drank herself into a stupor and then got into a bar fight. You'll have to give me a better run down than that."
"Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"You're impossible."
"That's rich. Anyway I need to head back to Grass Country for that research I was in the middle of. I shall be back in two weeks to collect on our bet."
"Fine."
Jiraiya could see Tsunade stewing by the window and it wasn't how he wished to leave.
"She's a lot like you. Whether you care to admit it. Leave her be. I'm sure they'll work it out."
Tsunade continued to chew on her thumbnail, seemingly ignoring his words.
"If we worked it out, there's always hope for them."
"What makes…"
But he was gone. Her lips twisted into a half smile. Hope. I suppose there may be.
