Chapter 17

Author's Note: The extended version of this chapter contains explicit sexual content. You can access it on Ao3. Here is the link – enjoy! archiveofourown./users/antiqui_tea/works

Kakashi sighed as he unlocked the door to his apartment. It had been another long, uneventful day for Team 7. Though he took his role seriously, there were times when he lamented it. Kakashi's former line of work suited him far better; the thrill associated with S-rank missions was beyond compare.

"Evening."

He paused and stared into the gloom. "Umi? What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for you," she confessed. "Close the door. We need to talk."

"We do?"

When he reached for the light switch, Kazumi shook her head. "Don't."

"Why?"

The mattress groaned when she stood up. "Because," she said, "you'll ruin the surprise if you do."

Kakashi closed the door behind him. "Surprise?" Something was amiss, but he couldn't put a finger on it. "…How'd you get in, anyway?"

"Spare key," she mused, crossing the floor. The distance between them shrank with every step.

"I don't have a-"

Kazumi placed her hands on his chest and whispered, "Shut up."

His breath hitched when he felt the warmth of her body. "Umi," he murmured, "a-are you…?"

"Yes, I am." She bit back a grin and played with the zipper on his vest. "Surprise."

Against his better judgement, Kakashi wrapped the naked girl in an embrace. It all seemed so surreal (not that he was complaining). Sure, he had thought about her in the past – but he never intended to act on it. Kakashi couldn't fathom why she chose to make the first move.

"Kazumi, I-" A soft groan escaped him when she palmed the hardened length between his legs. He hadn't been touched like that in months. "I-I need to know," he panted. "What do you want?"

"I want you to take me, Kakashi," she purred. "Right here…against the door."

He ached at the thought; she didn't have to tell him twice.

"Kakashi," she whispered, "Kakashi…"

Thud, thud!

"Kakashi?"

Thud!

"Are you home? It's Kazumi."

Kakashi had woken up too late. "Fuck," he whispered. While the encounter with Kazumi had been a dream, it felt like he was still tucked inside her.

Cold beads of sweat dotted his chest and forehead. As he came to, Kakashi eyed the alarm clock on his windowsill. It was 8:32 a.m. Instead of enjoying the afterglow, he rolled onto his side and sat up. His mattress sagged and creaked beneath him.

"I hear you in there," she said flatly. "Open the door."

"J-Just a minute," he stammered, looking at the stain on his pants. "I'm not decent – I mean, I need to change."

Kazumi sighed and leaned against the wall. Though she stopped by unannounced, she somehow felt inconvenienced. "Take your time."

The door opened a few minutes later. Kakashi poked his head into the hallway and looked at his guest. To his disappointment, she was fully clothed and none too amused. "Oh," he said, "you brought tea."

There were two steaming to-go cups in her hands. "Jasmine." She offered one and said, "You take yours with honey, right?"

"…Right." He popped the plastic lid. "Thanks, Umi."

Thanks, Umi? She frowned at the reception. "So…can I come in?"

"You want to come in?" Kakashi looked over his shoulder. He had forgotten to stash the soiled laundry before opening the door. "I'm kind of busy right now."

"Busy?" Kazumi pressed her lips into a tight line. "Really."

"Really. I…I have to pack."

"For what?"

"A trip…" He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. "I'll be out of town for a few weeks."

Kazumi remained unconvinced. "Uh huh," she said. "So, let me get this straight…you're telling me that you can't pack and talk at the same time. Is that right?"

He turned around and took a sip of tea. Judging by the grunt that followed, it was scalding. "Yes."

"And yet somehow you're capable of reading while training your students." There was a smug look on her face. Kazumi shrugged and sipped her tea. "But that's none of my business."

It was hard to argue with that logic. Kakashi stole one last glance over his shoulder before mumbling something incoherent.

The door slammed in her face. "Hey," she barked, "get back here! We need to talk."

We need to talk. He stiffened; the dream was still fresh in his mind. "I said, 'hold on,' Umi."

Why was he being so evasive? Despite their argument, Kazumi thought he'd be happy to see her. She put one ear to the door and listened in. Ordinarily, she wasn't one to eavesdrop – but the occasion called for it. Maybe he had company.

Her stomach turned at the idea.

Floorboards creaked underfoot as he approached. Kazumi removed herself immediately and leaned against the wall. It looked as though she had been standing there the whole time; not a hair was out of place.

"Okay." Kakashi unlatched the door and stepped aside. "You can come in."

"Thanks." She entered like she owned the place and took a seat on his bed. It was made, albeit poorly.

"Mhm." Kakashi retrieved a rucksack and put it on the ground. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I didn't like the way we left things," she confessed. "I'd hoped that you would reach out, but it's been two weeks."

Initially, he didn't reply. This encounter was far more uncomfortable than the one he imagined. Kakashi was – and had always been – a very private man. Discussions such as these were not easy for him.

"Well?"

Kakashi met her eyes. "I just figured you'd come to me when you were ready." His tone left much to be desired; he sounded bored.

"I'm not the one who-"

"I know." He replied.

A substantial divide separated them. Kakashi was too stubborn to yield, and Kazumi resented him for it. Maybe she should've waited a bit longer, but the truth of the matter was that she missed his company. In the interest of their friendship, she changed topics. "So," Kazumi said, crossing her legs, "where are you going?"

"The Land of Waves." Kakashi slipped his hands into his pockets. "We're escorting a man named Tazuna – a bridge builder."

"Wait - we?" Kazumi leaned forward. "You're taking your squad on a C-rank mission?" There was a note of concern in her voice.

"Yes."

She placed her tea on the windowsill and stood up. "Are you crazy? They aren't ready for that!"

"Maybe," he said. "But that isn't your call."

Her cheeks flushed. "Why are you being so flippant?" she spat. "I went out of my way to see you – which, by the way, wasn't on my agenda – and all I'm getting is pushback."

"Well," Kakashi began, crossing his arms, "I told you it wasn't a good time. Maybe you should leave."

"You know what? Fine." Kazumi grabbed her paper cup and brushed past him. If she stayed any longer, she might say something that she'd regret. The last words that she uttered were, "Have a safe trip, Kakashi."

Once again, he stood alone in the small apartment. Kakashi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was terribly confused. On one hand, he wanted to bend Kazumi over a desk – her desk. But on the other, he thought it best to let go. There weren't enough hours in the day for a relationship – no matter how tempting.

Instead of pursing her, Kakashi resigned himself to Team 7's next mission. That, he knew, was far more important.