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 96
Were the right words? No. Were the ones he'd intended to say? Not even close, let alone out aloud. Her tremoring ceased and he readied himself for the lashing he was about to endure.
"And how did that work out for you?"
"Nina, I …"
"I dare say you still blame yourself for Rin's death."
Just her name caused his fur to bristle and promptly come to his master's aid. However, he was ordered to stand down. A simple swipe of hand from Kakashi had Pakkun pulling up but not retreating from beside Kakashi's right leg.
Of course he did and he'd been stupid to utter the words he had. But he couldn't take them back. Kakashi let his hands fall away from Nina.
"Rule 21: The failures or successes of one affect the whole. If I don't solve this, who's next? Naruto? Asuma?" Nina turned to face the silver-haired man, until their eyes met. "You?" She let her eyes drop and found herself eying off his left hand that hung at his side.
This was a very raw Nina. She was being completely transparent. Unlike her; unlike a shinobi. Nonetheless, it was very them. This candidness between themhad become very obvious on their mission and it was possible it'd been there all along. It certainly wasn't something he shared with anyone else.
Aware that his companion had not approved of the mention of her name hadn't escaped him. Nina wasn't just anyone. Her words were the truth. Blunt honesty. And he respected and valued that aspect of their bond. They were both painfully aware of the sinister side of the shinobi life. She hadn't said it in spite. It wasn't the most direct admission but, she was letting him know just how deep her guilt and anguish had become.
Any anger she'd harboured regarding the bet had all but dissipated. Replaced with anguish, guilt, and fear. Kakashi sensed it because he knew the feeling himself. Fear made people do strange things. Like detach themselves from everything around them.
He didn't want that for Nina.
After she'd fallen asleep and following a decent effort to run his eyes over the notes, Kakashi had regarded their situation. With Nina slumbering on the lounge, his ninken lazing around them, and a mess of paperwork littering his coffee table. There was no discomfort or awkwardness. In fact, by all measures it was a striking glimpse into how his…their lives could be. Once upon a time, and not that long ago really, the thought alone would have scared him enough to have him requesting a slew of s-rank missions. Now, tonight, his reaction was a stark contrast. He disliked how her face dropped and her voice broke when voicing her fear.
Here the stood in the darkness in his apartment, in silence.
"We… I mean." She took a breath in and steadied herself. "I can't do this; whatever this is. Not right now. I can't be here."
He looked over in the direction of the coffee table. "What about the investigation?"
She was already facing the door to leave. Turning on her heels, she came back to stand in front of him. Kakashi remained still, hands at his sides, keeping his eyes on Nina. Her hands crumpled into the material of his shirt, her right hand lifted upwards until her hand caressed his left cheek. She was starting to regain some movement in her fingers as they softly stroked and curled around his jaw. He felt her use his chest as a lever and she gave his other cheek a tender kiss before she lowered herself and turned towards the door.
"Tomorrow."
It wasn't the outcome he'd been hoping for. Regardless, he had to respect her want to leave; whatever the reason.
The door clicked behind her and he let out a long sigh. Tomorrow.
"Boss?"
He couldn't find words for the pug, he jammed his hands in his pockets and retreated to his bedroom.
