Part III | Chapter 5

Of course it was almost 8 am and Kakashi was nowhere to be found. Gohama hadn't expected anything different and yet his lack of consideration still annoyed her. She would have arrived at the gates at least an hour late, but she had woken up to early that day, even before the night had ended. She had been faced with the possibility of lying next to Hansuke, doing nothing besides staring at his sleeping face and overthinking over last night. Or the possibility of sitting around in her apartment doing nothing besides overthinking over the man. Or entertain her thoughts while strolling around the Village away from the alluring cause of her overthinking.

She had decided for the later and left the warmth of his bed, not forgetting to say goodbye to her goldfish. Still, nothing in the quietness of dawn attracted her rebellious mind away from Hansuke's sheets. Her mind wandered aimlessly in its considerations and memories, but at least Gohama had sealed up the paths for thoughts about what she felt.

Now, she had ended her walk on a rooftop near the gates. The morning commotion still doing little to ease her hyperactive mind. The particular sound of Izumo and Kotestu bickering with each other rose above the murmur of Konoha's people. Gohama gave one last look at the blank sky and jumped from the roof, landing beside the entrance post and leaning her against a wooden pole.

The two chunin tried to hide their startle at her sudden appearance. "You'll get yourself killed one of these days, Gohama." Izumo admonished.

She crossed her arms and sighed in dismay. "So little faith in my reflexes."

"Yeah, Izumo, so little faith in our village's new jonin." Izumo sent his partner an unimpressed glare and whispered an insult at his flattery, which Kotetsu decided to ignore. "How's Nikato doing?" he asked with an amused tone "Last we saw he was doing the knife game without even holding his head up."

"I'm sure you weren't doing any better with all the declarations of love to a sake bottle. Lovely verses."

Kotetsu blushed behind the white band on his nose and Izumo laughed beside him. To mask his embarrassment he turned to his laughing partner and returned to bickering with him.

After both of them calmed down, Izumo looked down on his catalogue. "Going on a mission?"

Kotetsu looked down at the entry and exits catalogue and raised back up to pout playfully at her. "And here I was thinking you came just for our company."

It fascinated Gohama how the two of them always referred to themselves as us. Everyone in Konoha, and she wasn't above them, wondered if the two of them were lovers. Sure, their chemistry was more brotherly than romantic and they did date women, but their connection of two in one insinuated something more than friendship. Either way no one could deny the mastery of their complicity in battle. They were one joint mind with the power of two. And, as long as they were useful to the Village, people didn't condemn whatever went behind closed doors. The gossip rings relished on imagined novels but, apart from some vicious people who had a twisted pleasure in that, there was no censure in the rumoured words.

Gohama had come to them in search for an entertaining company while she rotted in wait for Kakashi. "Sorry to disappoint." She said with a sweet smile.

"We're not disappointed, we're hurt." Kotetsu said with a kicked puppy look and a hand to his heart.

"Very hurt." Izumo deadpanned. "So, it's good to know your teammate is Kakashi-sempai, you'll grow old and wrinkly before he reaches the gates."

Kotetsu gave him a slap behind the head. "So resentful."

With that mocking comment, the two were back at bickering. Gohama let out a small chuckle and a wave over her shoulder, even if they wouldn't catch it. "See you, guys." Who knew if she could see them again? There was no point in dwelling on that pessimistic question. Even if it rose from her thoughts before every mission.

Gohama turned her back to Konoha and walked through the massive gate. A presence reached her side and matched her steps, one she had already sensed moments ago. "Yo." He tilted his head to the side in consideration and hummed. "Yes, I can definitely see some crow's feet there." He pointed to the corner of her eye.

"Not surprising, considering the time."

"Ah." He exclaimed while brushing the back of his neck, not straying from the theatre piece he always played. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting until you grew old and wrinkly, Gohama, but there was this old woman who had lost her pet frog begging for me to use my pack to find her only friend. How could I ever deny her, being a shinobi of Konoha, who swore to serve its people?"

"Mm. Did you at least find the frog?"

"One of my ninken did. Basan thanked him with some meat and me a pat on the cheek." He answered with a boyish grin.

"It's a good thing when an S-rank shinobi can also be the friendly neighbourhood Copy-nin."

Even if it was obvious Gohama was joking, Kakashi sobered at her words. "It's our duty to fight for a safe and happy home for everyone, in and out of the walls."

She had nothing to answer, Gohama wouldn't joke about that.

Kakashi paused and waved to the Village with his head. "You can still turn back."

"You're too predictable for a ninja."

He sighed and said with no hint behind his words "I knew you wouldn't listen to me. So, I guess I'm not the only predictable one.

"That's not being predictable, it's being true to my commitments."

"Of course, the honourable Kyura."

Gohama would normally show her displeasure at words like his, but her indulgent mood that day allowed him to slide. "You should learn with me, Hatake."

Kakashi didn't answer, didn't react in any way, besides taking his Icha Icha out of his back pouch and opening it on a dog-eared page. They walked in silence. Gohama preferred to run, but Kakashi probably wanted to enjoy the easy pace for reading before reaching the edge of Konoha's forest. She wouldn't deny him that, so Gohama closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the sun, relying on her other senses to keep her on a safe path.

When her cheeks turned uncomfortably warm, she moved back to look at the dirt road in front of her, allowing herself a glance towards Kakashi. After how strained things were between them, Gohama had worried over how it could influence the mission. But now she was surprised their silence wasn't awkward or tense. If it weren't for his strong, unmasked chakra always tingling her side, Gohama could almost forget he was there. Which was a rare thing with people, only Kisamaru had that ability. While traveling through this line of thoughts, Gohama noticed he hadn't read a single page of his opened Icha Icha. Well, maybe one as the dog-ear was now turned down against the right side of the book. She tried to study his face but from her side there was only the navy of a mask and hitai-ate.

"It's never reassuring when the team leader worries, you know."

"Who said I was worried?" he asked with his usual bored tone.

"You haven't changed a page on your book. You're either thinking about the mission or continuously reading a sex scene. Whatever the case, you should stop."

"It's the latter. And I'm too entertained to stop."

"Then read it—"

"Do you have a thing for me reading you smut out loud?"

"—unless you're lying and aren't even in the right page."

He closed his book with a snap. "You're too young, the cover says 18 up." He pointed to the restriction warning on the back.

"And yet I'm old enough to whore myself for a kill." She quipped with a blank tone. It was crude, but too fitting to let slide.

Kakashi tensed up and didn't answer. What could he say to that? Tell her he had warned her before? It wasn't in his nature. The moment they had left Konoha's gates they were on a mission and on a mission shinobi didn't regret taking them, that could only come after, and they never turned back.

She let out a delighted sigh. "There's a strange joy in making people uncomfortable."

His short chuckle had a hint of relief. "You're cruel." he shook his head and exhaled heavily "I fell right into that one."

"Thank you for that."

Once they reached the edge of the Konoha forest, they started running on the trees.

Gohama finished picking up the small, but extremely annoying stones away from her designated sleeping space. With a tired sigh more out of boredom than physical weariness, she sat on her kneels and pulled her bedroll from her pack. Behind her, she felt the small spike of chakra and the warmth of fire embraced her back. Satisfied with her sleeping arrangements, Gohama scrutinized her work and gave a few more straightening pats to her bedroll.

"Never took you for a picky princess."

Gohama snapped her head up to Kakashi who was thoroughly amused at her antics and his insult. "Don't ask me to take care of your kinks when you wake up."

His amusement turned into mischief, always mixed with that blasé away of being. "I usually prefer my kinks to be taken care of before falling asleep." Even if his tone hadn't been suggestive that impish gleam in his dark eye was enough.

"Please don't quote Icha Icha when I'm alone with you in some lost forest."

He started laying his bedroll right next to hers. "Don't worry, I'd never offend your virtue, Gohama."

He frowned slightly at the implication of his words in the context of her mission. But she didn't let him dwell long, following him on his attempt at irritating her.

"What are you doing?" She pulled the bedroll away from that too close spot. "This is my space."

Kakashi pulled it back onto his hold and continued to set the bedroll down. "I'm sure you don't own this patch of land, so you have no right to monopolise the spot with softest ground." He said innocently and gave her an eye-crinkled smile "This way there no kinks to be taken care of."

"If you as much as lay a finger beyond this line," Gohama said lightly and smiling, while drawing a barrier on the dirt with her feet. "I'll cut your whole hand."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Are you always this neurotic with your team?"

"My team is my team." Seeing her simple answer settled things, Gohama sat beside the fire Kakashi had lit. "I'm not cooking."

He followed her there. "If you want to eat something other than burnt residue, you should."

"You can't trick me, Copy-nin. You're the type of person that has to excel at anything you do."

"I don't know if you're complimenting or insulting me."

"I'll let you choose."

Kakashi put the water to boil and when the steam and bubbles rose from the pot, he dumped the noodles there. All as sloppily as he could. He served her first and Gohama stared at the bland ration noodles inside her bowl. No one could make those taste good.

"We should discuss the mission." Kakashi's team leader voice completely replacing his typical bored drawl.

"What is there to discuss? Are you going to teach me about the birds and the bees?"

He just watched his chopsticks playing around with the food. He wouldn't try to eat if she was looking at him. "I can. If that helps."

"How old were you? I know that Hansuke was at most fifteen."

"It doesn't matter."

"It helps."

"Fourteen."

"You were a child…"

He chuckled bitterly. "I had been killing for years. Age means nothing when at war."

Gohama was still a toddler when the war had ended. She remembered nothing but the scars it had left on her people. Scars she had been too young to understand truly. Uncle Tsukate had left for the monastery after the war. "How many since then?"

"More than it is healthy."

"I bet you look good under that mask."

"You now know what awaits you if you ever join ANBU."

"It wouldn't stop me."

"I know."

"Does the Village still send kids on these missions?"

"Not anymore." He finally raised his eyes from his bowl of food to hers. "But it still sends virgins."

"I'm not a virgin."

He raised his brows in surprise and quickly sobered. "It will still break you."

"I didn't lose it to ease this. Even when I was rejected and I didn't crawl away to accept your offer."

"So you are still a virgin." His tone had gained some his teasing back.

"Have a little faith in my charm, Hatake."

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have."

"By the way Tsunade spoke of Dazai I don't think it really matters."

"We can test that theory. You can play an obnoxious brat." Definitely back to his laidback joking.

"That's impossible for me. I'm just that likable. It would be better to just dress your sweaty and worn clothes."

"That's not nearly enough." Gohama blushed as her mind took his innocent comment as a compliment, and looked down at her dinner. "Maybe if you dye your hair you won't look so Kyura-like."

"Are you trying to sabotage my mission?" she asked playfully.

"When you succeed you'll steal all the good ones away." he said with a smile.

When. Not if.

"I know what you're doing." She bit out.

He looked confused at her sudden mood change. "What?"

"Being all nice to me. I don't need it. Besides, the bantering isn't fun."

She rose and walked away from the fire.

"Gohama, where are you going?"

"For a walk. Don't worry, I'm not running away."

She moved away from camp, towards the stream, sitting down by its bank. It was a Fire stream. The water not nearly as cold as Snow ones, not nearly as clean. Still, the sound of the running water was enough to calm her slightly. Her heart hadn't stopped rushing with its pounds and her guts kept flinching nervously. Kakashi's niceness made things worse. There was no need for him to change his ways in an attempt to sooth her. It didn't sooth her, it irritated her. It only made the impending mission more real. The man didn't have a middle term, he either chose to hinder her life or tried (and failed) to ease it.

And Hansuke… Sleeping with him had opened her to a whole new thing, a wonderful thing. It didn't help her. She didn't regret it, she could never regret it. But maybe it was better if she hadn't had such an intimate and loving first time. Hansuke had been safe, passionate and tender. Gohama had begun seeing her body differently. The cold indifference for her sexuality had started to fade. It was dangerous. Her body was only a tool. She had to preserve that moto. But the thought of Dazai touching her disgusted her more than ever. Her stomach raged in anticipation.

Again, treacherous sentimentality. Yes, her body could also be a source of passion and pleasure, but that was a separate dimension of it. Gohama had to divide the personal dimension of sex and the professional one. She could do that.

A bitter laugh gurgled out of her. How pathetic. Hansuke and Kakashi had been kids with old men. They passed through it like one passes through a tough fight. It was no different. The same vulnerability and undesirable touch. Minus crushed limbs and cut skin, of course. So, it had to be easier to endure. It was just like a fight. How cowardly, how frail of her to be anxious. Kakashi was right to treat her that way. How she hated when he was right.

Gohama was overthinking again. And she scolded herself for not ruling over her thoughts. As she lay down on the bank, she focussed on the familiar sounds of the forest. There was a chilly breeze and leaves lulled in the trees. The cicadas buzzed around her and owls hooted. A difference in the environment made her snap out. Another chakra shadow appeared. A small one, a dog.

She groaned in irritation. "Tell daddy I'm all grown up and don't need babysitting." her voice broke the serenity of the night.

She heard the soft steps of the dog patting away, until they suddenly stopped. A heavy sigh travelled to her and he returned towards her. The ninken sat next to her. It was a pug.

"He told me you would notice me right away and that I should watch out for shuriken and kunai."

The deepness of his voice surprised her and she turned an inspecting eye on him. He had an expression so humanly grumpy she couldn't help but laugh to herself. The Konoha hitai-ate around his head and vest with a Henohenomoheji only completed the absurd image.

"You're doing his dirty work."

"He's the boss…"

"Why did he even send you?"

"He didn't want to invade your privacy."

"You're here."

"While still making sure you were safe, Gohama."

"You know my name."

"Well, yes, I helped track you when you were kidnapped and I don't forget a scent." He demonstrated by sniffing the air.

She glanced over him and smiled gratefully. "Thank you, …"

"Pakkun." he looked at her quizzically and asked "Can I at least stay here with you? Kakashi said he would give me more treats if I did." She laughed. Pakkun had called him the boss, but he still had to bribe his summons. "I'll even let you touch my paws." He raised his fluffy, cute paw to her with the most solemn expression, as if presenting a precious honour. In truth, Gohama really wanted to touch them.

"Sure. I like dogs."

"Do you have any?" He lay his paw on her belly and she promptly let her fingers enjoy the softness and furriness of it.

"We used to have six, we would hunt together." She really missed them.

"What breeds?"

"All husky. I'm from the Snow Country, they could hold the cold and push a sled. They also played and were smart and liked petting." she chuckled caringly at her memories "I was basically brought up by my dogs and wolves."

"I don't know about wolves."

"They are my clan's summons."

"You should go with ninken, Gohama."

"Maybe." She answered without any commitment behind.

"Can you summon?"

"No, I never did learnt it."

"Why? Tracking summons are always useful and good for company. I didn't know what would have been of Kakashi if we hadn't been around to push some sense into that thick head."

"Well, when I was back in my Village, the wolf I wanted to sign a bond with was Father's so I couldn't do it. That's how it works for us, you bond with one wolf and one wolf bonds with you. Then, when he was finally free, I couldn't do it. I wasn't ready to…" Gohama caught up to the words she let out of her mouth so easily and turned a nervous glance at Pakkun. "Will you report to Kakashi our little conversation?"

"If you don't want to…" He answered hesitantly.

"Thank you. I'm talking because I want to talk to you."

The droopy eyes of the pug lit up and he shook his tail. Gohama patted her lap and Pakkun jumped onto it. It reminded her of when, as a child, she scooted beside her dogs and used their thick fur as a blanket. Now, all she had to keep her company was a fish. She liked Toshi, he was a living thing and the frail chakra he emitted enough to remind her of his presence, but he wasn't a dog or a wolf. The connection was one-sided and the companionship empty.

So, Gohama stroked lightly over the brown fur of Pakkun and enjoyed the familiar and cosy warmth of a dog. She fell asleep without even noticing, into the peaceful rest of a child.

They had been walking in silence for a few hours now. There was little need to rush on their journey to Kiku. Kakashi wanted to enjoy the good Fire weather while it lasted and the peaceful forest. ANBU had been doing a good job of keeping the Land of Fire safe from missing nin and bandits. He let his mind wander while his eyes indifferently traced the letters of his book. He hadn't been in the mind-set to read about the detailed and fervent escapades of the main character.

Instead, he thought of his conversation with Pakkun while Gohama had been bathing in the stream. Kakashi was surprised to learn that she had easily accepted his presence, after the initial wariness. This explained why he had found Pakkun curled up on top of her stomach and both of them asleep. For someone that had spent too long minutes tidying up their sleeping space, Gohama looked strangely comfortable and rested. It had almost been an endearing picture.

Kakashi knew how difficult Gohama could be. She enjoyed being alone and, especially before a seduction mission, he understood her need of that, hence why he had sent Pakkun and let her be. His ninken had said they talked a bit and that she was easy to talk to. The man had laughed at this. Gohama had mastered the ability to evade meaningful conversations. She was perfect at bantering and terrible at talking. Kakashi admired her capacity for talking about herself and still not letting anything of herself be known.

And strangest of all, Pakkun had liked her. Only people who had spent more than a few times with Gohama could get pass their unfavourable first impression. People usually didn't like Gohama. Their interest was drawn towards her because she was a found relic from a powerful and tragic past. But they didn't like her. Unlike people, Pakkun seemed to have liked his first impression of the Kyura. So much so he refuse to share their conversation at the price of treats and massages.

Without lifting his eye from his book, Kakashi asked with his best uninterested voice. "So you and Pakkun got along well. What did you talk about?"

"Why do you even care?"

"Making up conversation."

"You never make up conversation."

She had him there. "Do you like him?"

"He's a talking dog, what's not to like?"

She had him there again. Every single ninken in his pack was adorable. "You used to have one, didn't you? Ruka, or something like that."

As he felt her tense up and her chakra wave ominously, Kakashi realised he hadn't taken a good risk.

"Seriously?" Gohama let out, more bitterly than angrily. "You're going with one of the memories Konoha ripped out of me?"

"Sorry." He asked quietly.

"How do you even remember that? It was like a year ago."

"The Yamanaka jutsu makes you live the memory. I can't just forget them." Even if he wished he had.

"And yet you forgot the most important piece of information. Riku's name. A disappointment Copy-nin, the great Kakashi of the Sharingan, the genius of Konoha—"

Trust Gohama to deviate the way of a conversation with banter. He gladly followed it.

"I'm starting to think you actually admire me."

"Maybe I would, if I didn't know you in person."

"So kind." he said dryly.

Kakashi was ready to jump onto the tree branches and break some of the tension by running, when she called him. "Kakashi?"

"Hm."

"Since when does Tsunade have this mission prepared?"

Of course, she had realised it. The carelessness of Tsunade concerning Gohama had frustrated him. Yes, Dazai's new known weakness was precious. He was a great liability to the Daimyo and Konoha and almost untouchable. However, Gohama didn't have to be thrown into the wolves with such indifference.

"She knew about the information for some time." She sent him a demanding glare. "A few months ago."

"Ah, so she was waiting for me to become a Jonin."

"First, she wanted to pass it as A-rank so you could take it as a chunin."

Gohama settled a suspicious look on him. "My strength didn't improve that much, why did you convince her to make it S-rank?"

"Why do you think it was me?"

"Who else."

"It is an S-rank mission."

"Is this why you decided to persecute me during the pre-admission and exam?"

So, she was finally bringing that up. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I didn—"

Gohama let out an exasperated snarl. "Don't you even dare try to deny it! What's your fucking problem with me, Kakashi?"

She was angry with him again. She couldn't understand his position. He watched with his typical impassive expression as her chakra grew more menacing. "It had nothing to do with you personally, but as a Konoha nin. No need to be so self-centred."

Her chakra deflated. "Why do you always have patronise me? Just tell me what is it that is so fucking weak about me that I can't take this mission?"

The self-doubting tone stabbed right through him. Her insecurities were being projected on his motives. Why couldn't she see her undeniable strength, not just as a shinobi, but through the hardships of her life? Why couldn't he tell her that?

"I've been through this. I know what it takes from people."

"You were only fourteen."

"And I had just lost my best friends. I had just lost everything and it still took away a lot." he moved to grip both of her arms, maybe force into that stubborn head of hers what he was saying. "Things I didn't even know I had." His voice had taken his stern, commanding tone.

"Why are you telling me this?" She fought against his hold on her. "There's no turning back."

"You don't have to sleep with Dazai." He fingers tightened against her arms, calling her to his proposal. "We can kill him like a normal mission."

"No we can't. That's why this is a seduction mission." Her frustration made her push him away with the help of chakra. "Just have a little faith in my endurance."

"I have more than enough faith in your endurance, that doesn't mean I want to see you hurt."

"Why do you even care?"

It was always that question she threw at him – why do you even care? – It mocked him every time.

"Tsukate would want someone to look out for you."

Gohama sent him a terrifying glare at the mention of her uncle. "Yeah, right... I know it's not just that. There's something else. That night we kissed, there was something about your look I didn't understand. And then you rambled about guilt and it was so clear. Why are you so guilty around me? What are you trying to account for?"

"Well, I did choke you."

"It's not that. I know there's something more."

"Gohama..." A mix of a warning and plea.

"I'll find out the truth eventually."

Kakashi's heart started pounding. His hands were turned damp, stinking to the fabric of his gloves, and he moved one back to a pocket. The other pulled Icha Icha out of his pouch and opened it on a random page. Without a glance her away, he jumped onto the tree branches. The warm air of the forest shallower in his lungs.

There was no answer he could give. He could not lie to her and he could not tell her the truth. The truth… They were shinobi in a shinobi world, there was no truth. The truth was whatever advantaged the most powerful. Reality was sustained by a game of power and influence. To a child two and two were three if their father told them so. And they lived out their lives according to two and two being three, just because their father had told them that was how it was.

The truth was what Gohama and the rest of the world had been told it was. Maybe someday Gohama would become more powerful than the most powerful and then she would find a more truthful truth. And then what?

When she had first asked for asylum, he feared she would bring complications. It was one of the heaviest drawbacks about taking her in. Kakashi hadn't wanted her in the Leaf. Only the letter from Tsukate had opened him to her presence. He had been apprehensive about keeping an eye on her because of the havoc her presence would bring to him. When he grew into her distant safeguarding, pushed by his loyalty to her uncle, it was because he saw in her redemption. His worry wasn't pure, it was stained with torment and guilt and selfishness. Gohama didn't deserve that. Gohama didn't deserve his overprotectiveness, his almost patronising for the sake of redeeming himself. He knew she could take care of herself. He admired her strength and endurance. And still, Kakashi could never stop seeing in her that child's green eyes, terrified and lost.

Even after establishing their camp for the night and having dinner, the shinobi barely exchanged words. There was tension and anxiety between them. Not even playful teasing could break it. They didn't know how to deal with it and they didn't want to talk about it. After dinner, they settled by the fire. Kakashi took a small bottle of scotch from his bag. He poured it in her glass without even asking.

"Here. If scotch can't help us, then we're doomed."

Gohama chose not to comment that last time they had drunk on camp, they were ambushed by a group of missing nin. Instead, she accepted the alcohol without acknowledging Kakashi. She felt the warm and burning liquid drip down her throat and sighed in pleasure. Kakashi smiled at her delight and she ignored him. He seemed glad she was glad. Gohama settled for watching the flames flow and the rising sparks flicker.

Fire was mesmerizing. Gohama finally understood fire as a sensual symbol. Humanity had always used it as a comparison for desire and passion. Gohama had always thought it was a romanticism meant to entertain people, meant to flourish the flatness of people's lives. For the first time, she was glad she was wrong.

A wistful smile escaped her lips. What would Hansuke be doing now? She hoped he wasn't on a mission. She hoped he was thinking about her, just as she couldn't keep herself from thinking about him, about their night together. She missed his tender touch and passionate kisses. She missed the new feel of him throbbing in desire. She missed how he filled her so perfectly, painful at first and then all pleasure. His calming and heated voice. The sound he made as he came.

Those three whispered words…

They made her heart flutter in wonder and unease. He was her team leader, he was her friend. She lusted for him. She didn't want a romantic relationship with him. Could they go back to the way things were? After sleeping together, after this seduction mission… Her desire had only grown more eager now that she had had him. They couldn't have sex again. He was her superior and having sex would complicate their relationship.

Gohama was afraid of hurting him. She had asked too much of Hansuke that night and yet she couldn't regret it; she hoped he didn't too. She knew she couldn't give him what he wanted. She had known he cared and wanted her. But love… It was terrifying and exhilarating. She felt cruel for enjoying being loved without loving back. She cared for him and was drawn to him but it wasn't love. Her love had died with her Village, she could only love dead people, her dead people. But if Gohama could ever love someone, it would be Hansuke. She would hurt him so ruthlessly. Maybe he could understand. Hansuke knew her.

Hansuke… she had been made to say his name.

"You can't stop thinking about him."

Kakashi's comment broke her from her mesmerized contemplation. She turned her eyes towards him and felt the blurriness of alcohol. She had been drinking without realising and he had kept filling her glass. The bottle was almost empty. She felt relief when she saw the glitter in his eyes and blush of his cheeks. He had drank as much as she had.

"Who?"

"The one you slept with." she didn't answer and turned back to the fire "Was it that good? No one's first time is good. I can't wait to see who your secret boyfriend is."

"I won't have a boyfriend when I come back."

"Why not?"

"Do you actually think I'm the relationship type?"

"Why not?" She answered with a humph. "Boyfriend or not, who is he?"

"He's a person."

"That's narrowing. Is he more handsome than me?"

She turned towards him and examined his one droopy eye, reddened from the alcohol. The only patch of Kakashi she could actually see. "I couldn't say. I've never seen your face."

"Wrong answer. You should always say yes to comparisons."

"I won't take advices from a chronic bachelor."

"I'm only one by choice."

"We both know it's because you're an unbearable ass."

"An unbearably attractive ass. I've been voted the best ass in Konoha by all Jonin."

"Your greatest achievement in life."

"Yes, I am very proud. Now stop deviating the interrogation."

"Why do you even care?"

"I'm curious to know who caught the great Kyura heiress eye. I'll start saying some names and you'll nod when the right one comes up."

"Leave the poor man alone."

"Man, hmm?" he quirk an eyebrow "So he's older."

"Is it possible you're so bored over Icha Icha you started to take an interest in my sex life?"

"Definitely older. Is it Genma?"

"Yes."

"Poor guy… You know, Gohama, he really took a hit to his ego when you played him for drinks."

"He was being very smug about the way I played you on the pre-admission. You should thank me."

"Thank you, Go-chan, for defending my honour after I choked you."

She laughed and he smiled. "That was a weird day."

"That was an off day for me. I think I was on my period…"

Gohama shoved his shoulder at his lame, slightly offensive, joke. "So the mystery is solved." She let a mocking and examining eye roam over his hunched form. "Is that how you like it, Kakashi?"

"What?"

"From choking to kissing…"

His one visible eyebrow raised at the boldness of her comment, but his surprise was quickly overthrown by a challenging look. "You're filthy, Gohama, you know that? Preying on an old man's embarrassment and sexual perversion."

"Oh gods, stop it!"

"Why? Are you picturing it?" he smirked mischievously.

"I don't want to have nightmares."

"They are usually called wet-dreams, Go-chan."

"Yeah, from cold terrifying sweat."

"You don't know what you're missing."

"Oh, but I do know: incoherent babbling and that was just after a kiss, I wonder how it'd aft—."

"Hey," he let out seriously "I thought we'd just ignore it ever happened." he seemed actually concerned.

"You don't have to be so worried, Kakashi. Life would just be boring without weird days."

"And near death experiences…"

"…and sex missions…"

"…and scotch."

She propped her elbow on her knee and raised her glass lazily. "To death, sex and alcohol."

He copied her gesture. "Humanity summed up in a toast."

They both smiled pensively and their share a long gaze full in understanding.

"Oh no. We're entering the philosophical phase of alcohol. We should go to sleep before we spill our deepest thoughts…" She joked with serious undertones.

"It would be even more awkward in the morning than if we had sex."

"Oh definitely."

"First round of watch is on me. Sweet dreams of me, Go-chan." Kakashi said as he stood up and cleaned his pants.

Gohama's brain caught up to his words. "You're so drunk, you're calling me by a nickname, Kaka-chan."

He stumbled a little and gave her a confused expression, until his brain caught up to his own words. So, that had been with the intention to tease her. "Well, do you like it?"

She knew that if she said no, it would only spur him on. "Love it." She deadpanned.

He brought his hand to his chin and rubbed it. "What a shame. Guess I'll have to think of something else."

She smiled and shook her head, while standing up and cleaning her butt. Gohama lay on her sleeping bag. With the alcohol she had drunk, a restless sleep came early.

Kakashi sat on a tree branch against the trunk. He didn't know why his tipsy mind had decided to call her Go-chan, but maybe it could be fun. She didn't seem to have liked it. Before opening his book, Kakashi gave a last glance at even rise and fall of her chest and wondered which idiot had caught her eye.