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 110
With one hand against the wall to balance, Nina battled to remove her water logged shoes. The weight of her wet hair had meant the band that had been holding it in a high pony gave way on her way home. It now stuck to parts of her skin between her gloves and chest guard. Annoying. Equally so, was the water pooling at her feet. Shower.
She had dumped everything at the entry. Normally Nina would take greater care but she figured she probably wouldn't have need of her Anbu attire after the tribunal. Psh. Like it mattered anyway. As the hot water ran over the crown of her head and down her tendrils, Nina's heart flickered. Team Ro. Kakashi.
Clenching her fists made her hand throb. It was grazed and one small split from where it'd come into contact with the wall. Her glove did little to protect it given the force she'd exuded. Hmpf. Probably something else to add to her wayward list of charges from this morning.
Reality check, Nina. They had at least one, if not the only culprit under lock and key. Likely he would be being subjected to the intense interrogation by Ibiki and his team. Six deaths. The latest would provide the greatest amount of useable specimens, adding to whatever data would be collected and collated from the restaurant. It was likely a team had already been assembled to catalogue it all and research a cure.
Shinobi Rule 10: There are times when information is more important than lives.
Dammit. None of which Nina would be permitted to be a part of.
Overall, the investigation and this morning's mission would be deemed a success. Despite the increasing numbness, it certainly didn't feel like a success to her. She'd failed. Six. The last … Dammit. Nina leant her forehead to the tiles in front of her and banged the same wall with her fist. This time a little more controlled and only along the squishy side of her hand as opposed to her knuckles. There'd been enough damage today.
What now? Sleep was never going to happen. Sure she could go outside, but the weather was dismal and she would like encounter people. Her eyes focussed on the shower floor and she let out a sigh. How long had it been since she'd deep cleaned her place?
Often when Nina had been high strung after a mission or busy shift, this was her go to when she couldn't train- Cleaning. Standing in the lounge room looking around it was apparent that sorting through her rather extensive library of books was well overdue. She didn't want to bother Tenzo for another shelf and it was plausible that once she culled a few of the older medical journals she wouldn't have need for the extra shelving.
Between the cleaning and the decluttering of books that ought to tie her over for a few hours.
Kakashi ran his one eye over the man in front of him before welcoming him inside.
"I have to admit I am surprised you are here and not out with-"
"Ah, no. I figured I was best respecting her need for space less I end up sporting something to similar to you."
Jiraiya roared with laughter. The copy-nin had a point. He sat himself down and pulled out a bottle of sake whilst his host fetched two cups.
There would be any number of reasons Tsunade had given him a black eye. Maybe on a whim, or more likely due to the sense of exhaustion he was feeling, Kakashi's slight glance turned into a quizzical lingering stare.
As if he sensed his curiosity, the great Toad Sage took a sip of sake before giving him the answer he was asking. "She didn't appreciate my humour."
"Ah." Kakashi copied Jiraiya and took a sip from his cup. "I thought with all your knowledge of women, you would know better."
"I should, but I guess it keeps things interesting."
"I guess it does. I can offer you the lounge, should you need a place to stay."
"Thanks, I may just take you up on that offer."
They fell into silence and Jiraiya observed the almost forlorn expression of Kakashi. He was staring into the depths of his cup and hadn't taken any more than one or two sips. Least he had enough sense to give Nina some space. Actually, it wasn't sense that would have led to that decision; it was empathy. And reconsidering his initial observation, his expression wasn't forlorn but meditative.
"Ryo for your thoughts?"
"Hmm?"
He lifted his face to Jiraiya, who had lazed back against the lounge, beside him. One arm stretched along the back of the chair, the other holding his cup was resting on his knee of his crossed legs. Kakashi had spaced out. He set his drink down- should he have anymore he would most probably fall asleep. His eyes were irritated, so he slipped off his hitai-ate, laid it over the arm of the lounge and buried his face in his hands. Only for a moment though, then he stood up. It was best if he kept moving.
"She's a handful; I give you that much."
Running his hand down the back of his neck "Yeah and I thought Naruto was." He sat back down next to his guest and picked up the cup, taking a sizeable swig.
He was making light of the situation; always a good sign. "As I said earlier, it's time to take those rose-coloured glasses off."
He didn't take his eyes off the silver-haired nin, as he closed eyes and exhaled, gradually reopening his eye; one still cinched closed. Kakashi refilled his own, followed by Jiraiya who held out his cup. "Do you love her?"
Master Jiraiya and the young boy, Marco, had asked him the same question. Both times he'd managed to deflect from giving an answer. Kakashi wasn't one to speak without clarity, and as it concerned what he considered the most complex of the emotions a human harboured, he'd held his tongue. Any sense of the emotion in question had long been deserted. He valued his comrades and was loyal to the village, but love and any notion of it had long since left Kakashi's world as a child. That truth had stood resolute until…
He looked out Kakashi's window, the rain had only been a minor drizzle when he'd arrived and it'd now completely ceased. Uncrossing his legs, Jiraiya stood up and walked over to the sink to rinse out his cup, returning it to his pocket as he reflected upon the pair.
Hmpf. If only Minato could see him now; and Kushina. A spread widely and fast across his face. Kakashi had been a very dispassionate child, long before the trauma that was to come. A talented shinobi; even in his academy days. So much so, he'd graduated to a jonin well before his peers, or anyone before and after him. His intelligence was unquestionable. However, considering the lack of it when he was younger, followed by the death of his father, teammates and his sensei, he'd become even more emotionally unavailable. His days in Anbu had seen him regress further; Kakashi was the perfect child soldier.
Jiraiya's student had conversed with him prior to assigning Kakashi to Anbu, explaining that it was meant as a salvation for the boy. Unfortunately, Minato didn't survive to see how his decision had put him on a much darker path. He showed no self-preservation, only acting in the best interests of the mission and its' success.
Eventually, Hiruzen, the Third, released Kakashi of his Anbu duties and set him on another course. After failing genin team one after the other, he'd collided with Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. In time the cold-blooded Kakashi of the past faded; as did some of the scars. Although, he had a team and had softened, Kakashi Hatake was still alone.
It wasn't like Nina had just rocked up one day. No. She had been there albeit just a few steps, well, years behind. Hiruzen had never known how to truly handle his head-strong daughter and because of that, sadly, Nina and any chance at a relationship fell to the way side in favour of Asuma and the Village. Nina's mother lacked a maternal streak and the only reason their relationship differed was when Nina come under her tutelage in the medical field. Adding to the sorry state that was her family dynamics, Nina's mother passed away when the nine-tails attacked the village on the night Naruto was born. And as a final blow, Asuma took off to join the 12 ninja guardians. Leaving Nina alone.
Jiraiya had taken it upon himself to fill the father void as best he could and her tenacity and medical expertise seen her catch the attention of Tsunade. He'd been away but it didn't take long for word to reach him that she'd almost fallen into the clutches of his ex-team mate, Orochimaru. She was young and naïve but her skill set hadn't gone unnoticed; maybe to her father, but not to others.
Once back in the confines of the Leaf village, Nina was subjected to what would have been a gruelling interrogation session at the hands of Ibiki and on the word of her own father, no less. Jiraiya had lost a certain amount of respect for his teacher. Regardless, Nina entered the ranks of Anbu.
Nina's journey into darkness was markedly different to that of Kakashi's, but ultimately, they eventually crossed paths. Their skill sets perfectly aligned making them the deadly duo renowned the shinobi world over.
Fast forward, both retired Anbu operatives-one a teacher to three accomplished shinobi and the other a highly regarded medic-nin, which was set to surpass Tsunade herself.
A few weeks ago they'd been thrown together for a mission, where they were required to pose as a couple. It'd seem like harmless fun, so much so two bets had been waged on it.
What had started like the perfect performance quickly formed into something that not even he, the biggest fool when it came to love, had thought possible.
"Well, that's none of my business, really." Jiraiya picked up the half full bottle of sake and pocketed it. "But I meant it when I said I think you can reach Nina. You understand her, more than anyone… even me. Especially now."
Kakashi didn't move; he sat staring into his now empty cup.
"Would you look at that? It's stopped raining. Best I be on my way. It's about time I collected on a bet."
"I know I said I didn't want to know. But would you humour my curiosity?"
"Hmm…"
There was a small pause.
"I made that bet for love."
"I see. About the answer to your question…"
Before Kakashi could finish his words, his door had clicked open and the white haired man was gone. Sleep. He needed it desperately.
