A/N: Yes sorry forgot to mention that on last authors note: there has been a name change of the sequel. Felt the new one reflect the sequel much better and the previous one may work better for the third part.

Agreed that it is kind of sad that they can't just be. They've both got a lot of baggage to contend with.

Promise I understand that this feels a little slow but its a slow burn and building this foundation is equally, if not more, important than the conflict itself. I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to showcase their inner demons and how they do and don't deal with them.

Thanks again for the support, follows, favs and reviews. Happy reading x

Chapter 39

"Easy Pakkun, it's just me."

"Floosy. What are you doing here?"

"How about I explain over dinner?"

"Bribery won't work."

"I beg to differ."

Nina pulled up short when Pakkun sounded a cautionary growl warning her not to be so complacent. The longer she was stuck out on Kakashi's balcony, the higher the chance she would be spotted. She had to settle this gatekeeper charade between the pug and herself sooner rather than later.

"Shame. Oh well, I guess Bull can enjoy this."

She knew that as a ninken, Pakkun's sense of smell was dramatically more sensitive than that of the average dog. Without removing the contents from within the blue plastic bag, Nina dangled and swayed it just above his head.

He and the other ninken had been trained to mistrust anyone and everyone, including Kakashi. Nina was no exception to the rule. In saying that, Pakkun was more than satisfied that the person in front of him was not an imposter or threat. It was exceedingly stupid for someone to taunt a ninja hound, something that Nina wasn't. If she had been, there was little doubt in Pakkun's mind that would make him believe his master would have gone to the lengths he appeared to have gone to at this point. She smelt like Nina. Looked like Nina. And only his master or Nina would attempt such a feat and so brazenly.

"You're a…"

"Ninja, Pakkun."

Not what he was going to say at all and he snuffed a scoff at the nerve of Nina finishing his sentence. He then seen that she was carrying a pack and as she edged into his master's bedroom, she slipped it off of her shoulders and set it down on the bed. The blue bag, that had him struggling to contain the drool that was building up inside his mouth from the delectable smells it was emitting, was on the floor at her feet accompanied by another blue bag and two white ones.

"Moving in?"

"No."

He watched as she hung two outfits from the cupboard door and then slipped off her shoes, then he followed her into the kitchen where Nina started unpacking the plastic bags.

Kakashi's kitchen was immaculate and opening his cupboards they were neatly arranged and kept to a minimum of bare essentials. A part of her questioned if maybe she was going too far by cooking dinner, but she felt … obligated? That was the wrong word. To be perfectly honest, this could end up a complete disaster considering she'd never prepared a meal for anyone, however she wanted to at least attempt it.

"Never had a floosy bring us a treat."

"You really aren't doing yourself any favours on winning me over, Pakkun."

"Why should I? You're the one who's snuck into my master's house with no explanation."

"Surely it's pretty obvious?"

"But why?"

"Because humans have this peculiar need to eat in order to survive."

Okay, he walked into that one.

"Funny."

"I thought so."

"I meant, why are you here?"

"Because…"

Because… Kakashi asked her to stay. That ought to clarify the pug's perception of her-not. This was just temporary solution given her inability for a decent sleep and because they were… dating? They hadn't been on a legitimate date. Could this count as one? They didn't necessarily have to go out and actually, thinking about it, a night in far outweighed a night out to any extravagant restaurant. At least here there were minimal risks for intrusion or roving eyes belonging to loose tongues. Here they were free to be themselves.

"Are you going to answer me?"

"Because I am. How does Kakashi feed you all? Do you have a set meal time or something?"

There was a bit of a bite in her reply.

"We come and go as we please."

"Well, I have something for all eight of you."

"You've gone all out."

She kind of deserved his nonchalant attitude as repayment for the sharp-tongued reason she'd given for her presence.

"Could you help me out please?"

"I could."

"Is there a way of getting the pack here without Kakashi summoning them?"

"There is."

Tch. This was worse than trying to administer an injection into Naruto.

"And is that something you could…I mean, would be able to help me with please?"

"About time you caught on, and yes. Also, since you asked so nicely. Be back soon."

"Thank you."

Nina established her bearings and began cutting up the ingredients she had bought from the shop, throwing them into the dishes and pan as she needed to.

Forty-five minutes later and all in all, it looked like it was going to be a success and an edible one at that.

"Salty."

The calf of her leg was smeared with a generous amount of dog drool owing to one oversized bulldog's tongue.

"Hi Bull."

The saltiness would be a result of her sweating having just finished cooking their dinner. Nina clamped a lid over the pan to lock in the heat and removed it from the burner so it didn't overcook. She'd have to have another shower later.

"The others should be here soon. Bowls are in this cupboard."

Nina knelt down with her knees onto the cold tiles to open the cupboard Pakkun had pressed his paw against. There were two stacks of four, totalling eight bowls. Each of which had a name scratched into them.

It was all in the small incidental details. The ones that flew under the radar, affirming his statement that people wouldn't notice anything that they weren't looking for. However, whilst it was true, there was also the fact that people would only see what you wanted them to see. Kakashi Hatake chose to portray a shinobi that was emotionally detached and aloof. However she knew different. He was attentive, particularly so and anything but unemotional. He was just select, you could say. Nina was becoming increasingly fascinated with this part of him, but for the love of the Fourth it scared the shit out of her.

The slobbery, panting whines of all eight ninken snapped her out of her clamorous thoughts.

"Is there a certain placement or order?"

"No. But do put some space between Bull and the rest of us. He sometimes gets carried away."

She laid out the bowls one at a time, shuffling along the floor, the action of stepping one knee out and bringing the other to meet back together and her wandering thoughts enflamed her core. Eight sets of hungry eyes were on her and growing impatient awaiting their dinner. She distributed the premium grade meat into each of their bowls, washed out the plastic bags and discarded them into the bin.

"Thank you for the food."

Washing her hands Nina's while the ninken slurped at their bowls, she was alerted by the detection of a chakra signature. Why here? Her mind had to be playing tricks just as Kakashi had suggested. But then again none of the ninken had reacted. One, two, three…

"Some guard dogs you lot are."

It was Kakashi and her body relaxed straight away. Her subconscious had gotten it wrong and in fairness she was exhausted.

Turning the tap off, stepping towards where Kakashi was leaning with his back against the counter closest to the stove, Nina dried her hands on the hand-towel hanging from the oven door.

"Sorry Boss. Offer was too good to pass up."

"Good thing it's just temporary."

Temporary…

Shit. That face, her face. Making matters worse was that even Pakkun had shot him a look of disbelief.

Old habits were hard to break. Everything in his life up until this point had been just that- temporary. His dad, sensei, Obito, and Rin were all gone and there were sure to be others to follow. The only constant had been the shinobi world.

"Nina…"

"Dinner is shrimp and eggplant fried rice."

Her being here was just temporary and maybe whatever they had was just temporary. She lift the lid, picked up the wooden spoon and stirred it around.

"Nina, let me rephrase…"

Nina need to push that 2% of ridiculousness aside and try focussing on the 98% of her that was not emotionally volatile.

"How hungry are you?"

The porcelain plates scraped together with a slight bobble of her hand, which he stabilised from behind and returned the plate to its original spot.

"Stop and look at me." "Please?"

His voice was low and husky, the please coming after a small pause had Nina's body doing as requested except she couldn't bring her eyes from his chest.

She may not have overstepped her place with Kakashi, but she'd done just that with her own limits. This whole situation was straying away from her acute sense of independence and into a dependence on someone else. He had his own demons and didn't deserve to be lumped with hers.

"Talk to me, please?"

"I… I can't."

Her voice croaked. Can't and won't were much of a muchness.

Pakkun nudged his head, motioning for the pack to clear out. His master and Nina needed their privacy with this conversation.

If she wasn't going to talk then maybe he should? He scratched the back of his neck. This was as much an untrodden path for him as it was for Nina. Not every step was going to be on even ground and at times they may have to side step or back track before moving forward.

Sometimes actions spoke louder than words and if that were the case then…

"Is this too much?"

His warm breath splintered through the flimsy material that was his mask and lightly collided with the fingertips of her right hand that he'd guided into place. He could have let her leave. It would have been easy. People did it all the time, right?

"No. Just … unusual."

Nina's hand pulled back but Kakashi locked her hand in place, burrowing his thumb and index finger into either side of her palm.

"But my request stands."

He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand spurring on faint flexes of her fingers against his masked lips.

Kakashi's flak jacket was either an old one or overdue to be replaced. The stitching was missing from the seam of the zip in several places, and some of the pockets which already had patches were wearing through again.

"I'm here aren't I?"

"Are you?"

She inhaled sharply as her chin was tilted upwards where both of Kakashi's eyes were piercing into hers with a definiteness that was both alluring and daunting. Nina fingers pressed into the groove between his bottom lip and chin, barely preventing contact as Kakashi dipped his head down so that their lips threatened to meet.

"I…"

On reflection everything in the life of shinobi was temporary. They'd spoken about it in while embracing in the pitch black of the night. Caught between the world of make believe for a mission and something hardly tangible for a ninja. Regardless, they had a shared understanding of the truth and admission of their fears. A truth that had only entrenched further into her when she failed...

Let the guilt go.

Nina couldn't fathom being able to bring herself to attend Shikamaru's celebratory night out in honour of Asuma's birthday. At least with the planned ladies night, his passing wouldn't be as prevalent and it would be more like he was away on a mission.

Fickle. Shinobi life was that too.

Expecting death was their normal. Not an aim, but accepting that actuality made a better ninja and in turn increased the success rate of a mission. It wasn't that she was struggling with Asuma's death because he had died, rather because she'd made that stupid promise and not saved him.

Nina's hands coasted over Kakashi's jawline.

Expectations.

She'd failed her whole family. Never living up to her father's unattainable expectations, or her mother's and ending with her biggest failure of not being able to save her brother.

What if she failed Kakashi too? Could she fail him?

In his patience Nina's logic was returning.

Of course this was unusual for Kakashi. He'd only ever experienced and by default known the messy temporality of human life.

When it would have surely been easier to resign, Kakashi had fought her and for her. When Nina could have suffered in silence on her own, she'd found her voice and him.

What they had to weather as individuals before arriving at this point, together, was immense and she'd been dismissive. No. Neglectful. No. Unfair. No. She didn't really know the right word. It wasn't without justification nor was it intentional.

"Take it from an old woman, don't disregard something in the now because of something that happened in the past."

Well, perhaps she'd exercised some self-preservation. But…

There weren't any expectations or obligations, it was a connection. Their red string of fate.

Her fingers hooked into Kakashi's mask, peeling it away from his skin and sinking her lips into his.

In between the impassioned kisses she scantily delivered her answer.

"Yes."

Actions definitely spoke louder than words. Removing his mask was symbolic for them. It was their "all in". Nothing temporary.

He delicately cupped Nina's face, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs and his fingertips and gloves catching within her hair. Nina moaned into his mouth, as he slid his tongue along hers, having gained entry with few taps on her lips. The vibrations and sensation of Nina's fingers dragging through his hair kindled an urgency to mollify all that had gone unfulfilled between them today and been missing from his life for the better part of two weeks.

He reversed their places by gripping Nina's waist rashly to plop her onto the countertop without breaking their feverish making out. Her legs and wrapped around him needily, locking him in solidly and he braced a hand on the overhead cupboard door behind Nina's head to prevent her from accidentally knocking it.

Having run short of air they both retracted their tongues, rested their foreheads together as they competed for oxygen with shallow raspy gasps.

"Satisfied?"

"Heh. Not even close."

"Idiot. Wasn't talking about that."

"You should have been more specific Sarutobi."

"I can see where Pakkun gets his flattery from."

He could count on both his hands, at minimum, lost chances or objections to his ninken. Nina accepted and interacted with them like it was second nature. She'd somehow breached their guard into his apartment which he'd set up after Naruto and Sasuke had broken in during training.

"How did you get past Pakkun?"

"Why? Planning on enforcing your defences once I leave tomorrow?"

He dropped the piece of hair he was coiling around his fingers and his other hand tightened around her thigh muscle. "You're leaving?"

"Some of us actually have to work."

"And after that?"

He gave her a chaste kiss but purposefully skirted his hand from Nina's thigh along her panty line, to her hip, where he dug his thumb under the elastic band and drew circles around her protruding hipbone.

"Uh, ah"

Her tongue clicked as it unstuck from the bottom of her mouth and she swallowed.

"Ladies night out."

"Prowling, if I'm correct."

His thumb explored further, easily negotiating the elastic belonging to her underwear that he used as a guide for his digit to run along. Every time Nina attempted to make contact with his lips he would detract from her at the last second.

Kakashi knew he was edging closer to derailing Nina completely as her forehead fell to his shoulder and her nails scraped across and into the back of his neck.

She couldn't let his win be too facile and turned her head into his neck searching for his own sweet spot.

Seduction she had done and could do. This time she wouldn't have to rely on cheap tactic using medical skills to manipulate the mental and physical state of someone. This time she could do it for real. Not because she had to but because she wanted to.

"Jealous?"

A bobble of his adam's apple and throaty rumble signalling the copy-nin was not decisive winner, just yet.

"No."

Other than their ragged breaths, there was only the whacking noise as each tooth of the zip unclicked from the slider body that Nina was leisurely pulling down. His jacket clonked against the kitchen tiles. She gave him the same tormenting treatment of luring him in for a kiss and then denying them.

"Like that is it?"

"Ngmm." Her hand snapped onto his, no longer his thumb but all four of his remaining digits that were coursing along under the front of her panty line.

"And you were doing so well."

A little too well. She was definitely not the same skittish Nina from a month ago. He tested her hold and was shocked to find her hand snaking up his arm, across to the buckle of his pants where her other hand was already waiting.

Impressive. But… Fuck. Her teeth were nipping playfully into his collarbone blurring his focus.

His slithered down her searing slit that was sodden with arousal. Foresight had meant that her head banged against his hand that was braced on the cupboard door as her pelvis rocked against his fingers begging for release.

"Raincheck."

"Uah, for… ngmm."

He'd not had shrimp and eggplant fried rice but…

"Kaka…shi."

He agreed with his Pakkun. Too good to pass up. And with any luck it would help him chase away her demons for another night.

He just had to remember to talk to her about that conversation she'd had with Anko.