A/N: I really appreciated the fullness of your reviews Cathy- thank you :D It helps me a great deal to see what it is that a reader picks up from what I am writing. I never wanted Nina to be overpowering and hopefully that is what is being delivered to you. Kakashi also has that vulnerability about him too. A part of the reason why I felt the name change (to Between the Raindrops) was important because this sequel is really about them charting those aspects of their bonds. Anyways... I'm waffling lol - Happy reading x

Chapter 41

Scaling up one concrete step at a time towards her destination Nina gave some thought to her life and to …

Kakashi.

She afforded him the same courtesy he'd given her. He would know what today was, giving cause for the scrambled mashing of her words regarding her plans for today. Just like Nina knew his question had really applied to after their social commitments but she answered it otherwise.

There was every reason that Nina could stay there with him. Safe. Secure. But Kakashi wasn't a crutch for her to lean on. She had a pair of perfectly operational legs of her own to stand on. That didn't mean she wasn't grateful for the shelter he'd offered and provided, from the storm that was waging within her own mind and heart. It was just time for her to confront her own existence again, starting with working her way through the guilt surrounding Asuma's death that was swallowing her up. Offered or not, it wasn't Kakashi's responsibility nor within his powers to make that possible.

The other notable issue Nina was facing was that chakra. Nothing was quite matching up. Since returning from Amegakure she'd only encountered it twice and both were markedly unlike previous times. The first, Kakashi had sensed and the second had been Kakashi himself in his own home. But then why had Master Jiraiya asked Anko about it?

Nina's stomach swooshed and bubbled. She paused on the second most top step, running her hands across her stomach in a bid to soothe her upset innards.

At the top of the stairs Nina mused at the correlation between the flourishing green paddocks she looked upon, with lines of alabaster headstones and the fate that all shinobi faced. Even in death every last morsel of your soul and body was given to the village. Asuma being one of the fallen now.

Nina punted the bottom of his shoe with the top of hers.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

She didn't reply.

He let out a long drawling yawn before sitting up and lazing his arms over his knees.

"Ugh."

"Did you sleep here all night, Shikamaru?"

"That obvious?"

Kneeling down Nina ran her hands over his neck feeling out along the crookedness of his spine and knotted muscles. Sending a wave of chakra she realigned, released and soothed all the ailments that would have been causing him discomfort.

"Thanks."

"Well, I'll leave you be."

Still no response, not even a shrug. From standing shoulder to shoulder, facing opposing directions Shikamaru stepped forward and stopped. He'd been wanting ask her since the moment it'd happened but never found the right time. Even still, now wasn't the right time.

"Have fun with Kurenai tonight. It's all she's been talking about. And who knows we may even bump into you guys."

"Hmn. It's a small village."

With a final flick of the heirloom lighter Shikamaru left Nina.

You would have made a good father. You chose well to have Shikamaru safeguard your King. He's a good kid. Well… not so much a kid anymore. The kid with cloud-envy you used to tell me about has gone and grown up into an outstanding shinobi. He's sure to be promoted any day to Jonin. I can see your face now.

A face she never seen from her own father. Lifting her eyes upwards she was unable to miss the grand fire monument at the head of the yard. Tch. They drifted back down to the stone at her feet.

Asuma…

Fuck it. She had time. Flopping to the ground, Nina laid on her back, one arm folded under head between the cold rock and her head and stared at the sky. What was she supposed to talk to him about? Was she supposed to talk at all? What was the point?

"They do listen."

Thinking back, Asuma wasn't much of a talker either. Fool. Why couldn't he have said anything other than what he had? What was the point in telling her with his last breath? Why had she made that promise?

Forcing herself to stop the torrent of rhetorical and foolish questions, Nina shut her eyes in a bid to slow the world from spinning.

Nina angled around and planted her lips to the white, chalky headstone.

Happy birthday Asuma.

She took one last quick glance to the cloudless sky and an uncontrollable smile tightened her lips. She snuffed her nose in amusement. A month ago she was mocked for being sexually frustrated and Kakashi Hatake was nothing more than a comrade.

Did you know the night at Shushu-ya? And the morning at the café when I said 'everything,' did you know what I really meant? Just like I know that you said the bet was to serve as a punishment for Genma but you knew... didn't you?

Tonight there would be more grilling from the girls, mainly Shizune though and Nina hadn't really given too much thought to how she was going to combat them or if she was better just coming clean about it all. Although, in all likelihood any notion of Kakashi Hatake would be drowned out with Shizune's want for prowling.

Ugh. The word made her think of people like Raido and Anko and thus her skin crawled with disgust. They deserved each other. Nina contemplated herself for a moment. She really wouldn't be much better than that pair if she went with Shizune's grand scheme but then if she didn't, it was going to raise more questions. What if they did run into Shikamaru's group which would include Kakashi?

This is all your fault, you know? If you would have moved your big, dumb foot then I wouldn't have had to kiss him and then maybe I wouldn't have been sent on that mission. I could have spent more time on the investigation and you …tch.

Nina damned the weather for being so picturesquely sunny and swiped her cheeks of the rogue tears.

I should be saying thank you, I guess. We're still working things out and of course by 'we' that also means the rest of Konoha. I can kind of empathise with you now. A little privacy would be nice. But if a thickhead like you can work it out then I suppose there is hope.

Patting down the rut of earth and grass she had dislodged earlier, Nina stood up and brushed her hands together. Her stomach gurgled loudly. Hmpf. That was something new to learn too. The balance between the basic human needs of food and intimacy.

Still your fault. Somehow.

She needed something bland and minimal in order to fulfil her hunger and not antagonise the squeamishness she felt. Using the sun and her shadow as a rough guide, she had about twenty minutes to sort herself out before the start of her shift.

See you later, Asuma. And just so you know, I love you too.

"Sorry Boss, turned up empty."

Master Jiraiya was bound to surface in due time, but what to do until then? Chunin exams were set to begin tomorrow with his … no. They weren't his anymore. Just like they had transitioned from Iruka's academy students to his soldiers- Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto had formed their own nindo, and forged their own paths as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. They were comrades.

Transferring the wet load of washing to the dryer, separating it as he did because sheets had that dreadful habit of balling into a knotted mass that would put the most experienced seafarer to shame. Staring at the small article of clothing that had fallen away didn't go unnoticed by his audience.

"Just a word of caution, Boss. Whatever it is you have going with floozy…"

He shot the pug a dirty look but was ignored.

"I think Bull might have something to say on the matter should things… you know?"

Kakashi was doubtful Bull would use words and would probably sink his teeth into his flesh making the incident on their last mission look like a kiss.

"I also think you may need a bigger bed."

Once he'd finished loading the dryer, Kakashi folded out the small wooden hanging rail attached to the wall and hung her underwear.

He could get a bigger bed but he didn't want to. Also, it wasn't how they worked. Kakashi spent a lot of time people watching and with his nose in a book. Notwithstanding that he had next to no experience in a fully-fledged relationship, he did have knowledge. A pitfall that he'd seen play out in both life and in books was that of co-dependency. Whereby, one or both parties would be changed, force change or expect change. Which often led down the grim path of resentment and individual identities being lost.

For someone who had even less experience in relationships than he, casual or otherwise, Nina was…different.

It happened every so often that a woman would get hung up on the want and expectation of more than the casualness that he was offering. Like… No. Anko was a bad example. No one came to mind and so Kakashi moved on. Anko was a different type but she served as a means of release for him on more than a handful of times but she lacked discretion too.

The risk of co-dependency occurring was higher than average in certain cases, a lot of which they ticked the boxes for. Be that as it may, Nina navigated her way around it this morning with an unspoken grace and it had him forgetting again that she was a virgin on multiple levels.

Sadly, it was unlikely the Elders would see them in the same light. Lady Tsunade and they, could attest otherwise all they wanted and they'd still only see fault. Nina's recent behaviour gave them more than ample cause to believe she was unable to sustain an emotional detachment. A staple requirement of a shinobi. Any doubt of such depreciated the success rate of a mission and by extension that would affect the income of the village.

And this is where their next hurdle was. It was working just as it was but for how long? What would their relationship look like after confronting the Elders?

"I hope you don't mind but I let myself in."

"Master Jiraiya. Not at all."

"Must be important if you sent your ninken out."

"Not really. I just have a few questions."

Jiraiya had a few questions of his own, well… one considering the dainty, black undergarments that were hanging on the rod behind Kakashi.

"Regarding?"

"An unusual chakra."

"I'll make a deal."

"Hm?"

"Tell me the story behind those and I'll answer any and all of your questions."

"That's a long story."

"Well then, how about we continue this over a few drinks?"

"I'm busy tonight."

That was a happy coincidence since Jiraiya had his own plans. "That's fine. What about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is fine."

"Good. I look forward to it."

A piece of artwork caught Jiraiya's eye and took it upon himself to gain a closer inspection.

"This is a masterpiece."

"What is?"

Jiraiya was all but nose to nose with the latest artwork Kakashi had hung on his wall.

"Oh that."

"Where do I get one?"

"No idea. Was a birthday gift."

"I see."

Dropping the red faced pervert act, Master Jiraiya looked over the piece a second time.

"From?

Kakashi sat on the edge of his bed and started reading to avoid responding.

"Whoever it was knows you quite well."

"Lucky guess."

"I'd say a little more than a guess. That is an uncanny resemblance to…"

Their eyes met for a second.

"Ah well. I'm not a fan of spoiling a good story. Let me know what time works for you tomorrow."

"Mhmm."

The door latched shut, laying the book to his lap, Kakashi stared at the ceiling and then settled on the artwork. Dammit. Trust Master Jiraiya to recognise that.