A/N: Thank you for the reviews, welcome to those who have just followed along, and thank you for the favs. Really appreciate having everyone along while this story comes together :)

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 94


"What do you mean you haven't even started the assignment, Naruto?"

"I hate writing, you know."

"Such an idiot."

"Shut up Sasuke. I bet you haven't even started yours either."

"Hmpf."

Sakura have both teammates a forceful thump around the back of their heads.

"It's due tomorrow. Honestly, you two."

"Not my fault, you know. How am I supposed to know their tactics?"

Sakura heaved another sigh. She'd at least started but come to the same roadblock. Admittedly, she'd been surprised Sasuke hadn't done more. A wave of guilt washed over her. She hoped their social life hadn't been the reason why he hadn't even started the assignment.

"Guess there's only one solution. We need to go speak to Kakashi and Nina. Sakura do you know if Nina's at the hospital?"

"No, she's not. Something about an investigation."

"Tch."

That makes things more complicated. Kakashi was hard enough to pin down let alone pinning down two of Konoha's top shinobi.

Naruto's stomach growled loudly. "I don't know about you guys but I need to eat first. Then we can split up and look for Nina and Kakashi-sensei."

Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets. He wouldn't say it out loud but he was hungry. Sakura and he hadn't even had breakfast this morning.

"Alright! Let's go. Ichiraku we're coming for you!"


It wasn't his best idea as he slowed his pace. Nina unconsciously following suit. The last time they'd been here together they'd…

Kakashi stopped and waited until Nina pulled up at his side.

Nina hadn't really being paying attention to the direction they'd be travelling in. She was more concerned about the documents they both held and the frustration in her inability to close out the investigation. Once they had stopped, Nina immediately recognised where they were; the base of the stairs leading to Kakashi's apartment. Shit.

Kakashi contemplated taking the map from Nina so that she didn't have to come upstairs however, if they were going to have to work this out and now was as good as time as any. So, he headed upstairs unsure if the kunoichi would follow, but hoping she would.

Get it together, Nina. You've walked this staircase, actually, no. Not as often as she thought. She shook her head. I am a kunoichi, shinobi and an Anbu operative. Flashes of their last encounter filled her head as she forced her feet to walk forward and upwards.

By the time she'd reached the top Kakashi was already holding the door open for her. She gave him a half smile as a thank you for his gentlemanly gesture.

"Um, where do you want this?"

"Here."

Nina knew she'd held her breath as Kakashi lent down beside her to place the paperwork on the coffee table she'd been standing next to. The air felt thick and she couldn't rid her mind of him; of them. Her skin prickled with the heat resulting from her emotional turmoil. Yet, Kakashi seemed as calm as ever. She watched, barely able to swallow the unforgiving lump in her throat as he nipped his thumb and a few of his ninken appeared.

There was no finesse, the words blurted out of her mouth mumbled and untamed. "I do trust you."

Kakashi gave Akino's head a ruffle and he stood from kneeling, exhaling heavily.

Nina fidgeted trying but failing to keep her eyes on Kakashi's. In the end she kept them down casted at the ninken. She didn't wish to retract the words; they'd been the truth. The delivery could have been a little smoother.

"Sorry?"

He was probably risking things by enclosing in on her but his body was acting on its' own accord.

Nina braced herself, sucked in a breath and lifted her head to meet … his chest. "I said, I trust you."

She glance down and caught Pakkun's crinkled face. The pug gave his head a tilt and his ears pricked up. She glanced to the other side and she seen the rolled cardboard and the pile of paper. The investigation. Five. Five deaths still unanswered. Five deaths she'd been unable to prevent.

Nina cleared her throat. "Where to for lunch?"

The sooner they had lunch the sooner she'd be able to get back to the investigation.

Kakashi felt the obvious shift. "Ichiraku?"

"Sure."

It was subtle but he'd seen the brief last backwards glance she'd given to the contents on the coffee table. It wasn't out of distrust for his loyal pack guarding the documents but something else. He respected the effort it was undoubtedly taking for her to walk away from it. With one hand in his pocket he held the door open as she breezed through it, descending down the staircase.


"Nina."
No reply. Her mind was elsewhere and he reached out his hand to hers. His exposed fingertips barely touching the back of Nina's hand but she still jolted abruptly, her knees banging the underside of the table.

"Kaka…oh sorry." Nina realised why he'd reached out for her attention. She'd spaced out. "Just some dumplings please, Teuchi."

Almost instantly Nina drifted off, twirling conjoined chopsticks on end against the table. She should probably a little more aware of her surroundings but she felt the invisible pull of unfinished business. Nine. The boy's face appeared before her eyes, marked with splatters of blood and the image blurred with strings of her hair that had fallen into her face. She'd failed. Failed to save not just one life, but five.


By all accounts, Nina was simply preoccupied, something not out of the ordinary for a shinobi. However, Kakashi, having experienced it, recognised the signs of what was consuming Nina. The guilt of lost lives was eating her up more than it'd ever done so. The tipping point, at a guess, was the loss of the young boy. It'd taken him a damn long time to climb out of the pit he'd fallen into. Truthfully, he'd never fully recovered, and doubted if he ever would.

Their food was placed down in front of them; Kakashi grabbed Nina's, butting her elbows with the back of his hand.

His touch once again brought her back to reality and she lowered her hands to her lap before picking up one of the skewers of dumplings. A part of her thought she was out of her mind but honestly, she knew she was out of moves. "Kakashi?"

"Hmm?" He broke apart the chops sticks, placed his hands together, palms facing in. "Thank you for the food."

She adverted her eyes from his direction, knowing he would need to lower his mask to eat. "I was wondering-"

"Kakashi-sensei! Nina!"

Kakashi removed his fingers from the seam of his mask.

"Well, that makes things easier."

"And what can we do for you three?"

"Well, you see Kakashi-sensei. We have an assignment on the master class and we were wondering if we could ask you and Nina a few questions?"

His interest was more in what Nina was about to ask before his loud-mouth former student interrupted. However, they were unlikely to let it go. He observed Nina take in a dumpling in one mouthful and give a simple nod in agreeance.

"We don't really need much for Kakashi. Since he was our teacher and all."

"So you're more interested in Nina then?"

"Sorry Kakashi-sensei but Sasuke is right."

Kakashi waved them off. He was relieved that he wouldn't be subjected to questioning from his former team 7 members.

"What do you want to know?"

Kakashi was just an onlooker while Nina listened to the questions, pausing only momentarily before giving a reply. He wasn't sure what to make of things when Nina moved in her seat so her back was directly to him until her only available hand twisted behind her back and signalled for him to eat. As quick as she'd given him the signal her hand had picked up a pen and she was drawing in Sakura's notebook, maintaining all three shinobi's full attention.

Satisfied with the information they'd gathered from Nina and few minor details from Kakashi; Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto left.

Nina picked up her last skewer of dumplings and finished them off. She slid off the chair and began making her return to Kakashi's. Shit. That's right she was going to ask. "Kakashi, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind having a look over the notes?"

So, that's what she wanted to ask? Nina let out a yawn and a half stretch with her arm stuck in the sling. He really didn't have anything else on his agenda, at least not until tomorrow night. If Nina was still hung up on the bet it didn't show, especially since she was willing to ask for his help.

Well, silence wasn't exactly the answer she'd expected. Maybe she'd done herself out of his assistance after yesterday?

She yawned again. After last nights' events he was surprised she'd managed to stay awake for this long.

They'd arrived at the bottom of the staircase.

"You've probably…"

"Tea?"

"Sorry?" Nina stood stunned on the first step, watching as Kakashi kept ascending ahead of her.

"Would you like a cup of green tea?"

"No thanks, but a water would be nice, please."

"Okay."

He unlocked the door, holding it open and staring down at Nina who took a moment to compose herself before racing up the steps. Once inside he fetched them both a glass of water.

Nina contemplated sitting on the floor but the couch looked far too inviting to pass up. She weaved through the bodies of the pack that had relaxed upon their return, managing to sit just as Kakashi set down their glasses on the coffee table. She watched as he unrolled the cardboard and picked up the notes.

"I'm missing something but I just don't know what." Nina's body gave out another yawn and she wiggled her arm that was aching to be released from the confines of the sling. She plumped up the cushion and laid down. Her body already relaxing heavily under the weight of exhaustion after last night. Her eyelids suddenly felt like lead and she knew her will alone was not going to be enough. In between the final blinks of her eyes, curtained by her eyelashes she watched Kakashi flick and sort through the paperwork; stopping only to make a few notes or take a sip of water. She should just go home. She trusted Kakashi with the information. She could just come back tomorrow. A familiar warmth and calm washed over her that she no longer had the strength to fight against.

"Nmm."

Kakashi turned from where he sat on the floor between Nina and the coffee table and observed the kunoichi who'd drifted off to sleep. Despite being in a deep sleep, her right arm was restless. Her face contorting in frustration even in her slumber. He leant over, carefully lifting her head and undid the sling. Nina wiggled minimally until she was finally in a full state of comfort.

He only let his gaze linger for a few minutes before turning back to the coffee table. Now, to see what he could do about easing some of her mental and emotional load concerning this investigation.