Part III | Chapter 6

Kiku. The Fire gambling city of massive steel buildings and neon signs. It's lit silhouette cut through the barren scenery of high altitude, fake and misplaced.

Gohama felt self-conscious as anxiety dripped out of her. The imminence of death made her gut tighten in excitement and sharpness. Even when she had almost died, her fear never made her body strained. It made her eager to fight, confident of her keenness. Her movements were fluid and agile, her mind swift and bold. But now, each step she took stabbed into her nervous stomach. Each one closer to that steel and glass giant.

It was just sex. Something irrational had started growing on her and she had to destroy it. Gohama wanted this, she wanted to complete this S-rank mission, a seduction mission. 'You don't understand what it's asking of you…' Kakashi's words kept creeping into her thoughts. She already knew she didn't understand.

Maybe the uncertainty was what was scaring her. She knew death. She knew loss. She didn't want to die, not before she could honour her Village, but she didn't mind if it happened. This mission was a risk to her life, Dazai was powerful and smart. But this wasn't what made her hesitate. It was the uncertainty of using sex and not fists or jutsu.

As both of them entered the city of Kiku, Gohama pushed forward, kept on walking. She ought not to think, not to feel and just act. She just wanted to get it done and leave.

The sun was almost past the horizon and the neon and streetlights were gradually lighting up. The buildings were luxurious and modern. They stretched high, hovering and imposing over Gohama. She felt trapped. Even the wide avenues that filled the city couldn't ease her. The casino that Dazai attended was at the centre. The glass building rose above the others. There was a certain beauty about its slickness, its fluidity. It was soberer than the others were. No cheap neon and flashing lights meant to call for costumers. It held itself in its grand fame.

The entrance hall was high and great. Its barren modernity was still luxurious, it was meant to awe, but it only made Gohama feel foreign. Absentindly, she wondered how Tsunade had funded a single night at the casino's hotel. At the reception, Kakashi pointed towards a pamphlet announcing Saturday was ball night at the casino and required dress code. It would be an advantageous night to dress well and attract Dazai, but Gohama didn't see the ruthless missing nin as the ball type.

"Good evening. A reservation in the name of Minamoto Taro."

The receptionist searched her computer. "Floor 46, a double equipped with kitchen?"

"A double? Aren't there any with two singles, same floor or closer?"

"At the moment, only from floor 23 and down."

Kakashi seemed unimpressed.

"What's the big deal, Kakashi? I share beds with the guys all the time."

The receptionist flinched lightly at the possible interpretation of Gohama's words.

"You won't want me there after…"

"Who cares, it's just a bed. Don't be so complicated." she glanced towards the receptionist "The room is fine. Thank you."

Shinobi had little space for modesty and propriety. She had even shared a bedroll with Hansuke (before their relationship had taken a more intimate turn) and had woken up to him poking her. The only one embarrassed had been him and she had only mercilessly teased him for it. Nothing could surprise Gohama about sleeping in the same bed as a man.

Gohama took the key and allowed her backpack to be carried by the concierge.

The room was spacious and with the same slick design as the rest of the building. Gohama made a b-line towards the largest bed she had ever seen and flopped down onto it. The sheets were silky and smelled like spring. The mattress made from clouds and cotton. After sleeping on the forest ground for two days, it tasted like pure bliss.

"This is great." She sighed.

In turn, Kakashi laid his backpack onto the bed and started unpacking. She watched him from the corner of her eye. His face was impassive as costume, but his movements were tense and irritated. He settled kunai and shuriken on strategic places across the room. He examined every single corner of it, every piece of fabric or crack on the hardwood floor. Certain the room was safe from bugs and traps, he took out his clothes and arranged them in the closet. He was methodical and at the same time somewhere else. His steps were heavier than usual and he sometimes forgot what he was doing and quickly started again when he remembered. His restlessness was bothering Gohama.

"You were worrying for nothing." She commented while spreading herself on the bed "There's enough space for us to be two meters apart from each other."

"You don't und—" he cut himself off "I'll just sleep on the couch."

"We've slept closer together on our bedrolls, what don't I understand?" she asked annoyed. He didn't answer. She would pay him back for his typical condescendence. "Do you think you won't be able to control your urges if we sleep together?"

"There are no urges."

"I do remember some a couple of months ago…" He only threw her an intimidating gaze. "Just stop walking around the room, you're unsettling me."

"You should unpack too. We don't have much time to get ready."

"Oh gods, are you always this uptight?"

He ignored her and walked towards her side of the bed, crouching next to the table. "I can summon kunai, there's no need to hide one there."

Kakashi still pinned it at the bottom of the bedside table. Before he could get up, she held his arm, so he would stop.

"When I say you're unsettling me I'm not overstating it."

"What do you want me to do, then?"

"Just stop moving around, maybe lay down."

"Gohama, we have a mission to—"

"I know we have a mission. Just do what I'm saying, Hatake." her tone was harsher. He complied and lay on the furthest spot from her. "Much better."

Gohama could finally unwind. Now, laying down, she could feel the soreness and weariness from days of walking and sleeping on the floor slipping from her body. Her muscles could finally rest and she felt her body gradually relaxing, gradually sinking into the mattress. Soon, she was asleep.

"Gohama, wake up."

Kakashi was standing in front of the bed, a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair dripping. Her eyes swept over his bare chest and stomach.

"Can you get ready in twenty minutes?"

Kakashi was definitely fit, which was obvious since he was a shinobi. But it still somewhat surprised her.

"Sure."

"Do you want to discuss our approach better?"

"There's nothing to discuss. I'll simply play a seductive version of myself. After all, I am his fetish."

"Don't say that."

"What? The truth? I never took you for the sensitive type, Hatake."

Gohama raised from the bed and went towards the bathroom, taking a scroll with her.

Kakashi was, to say the least, worried. He had sensed Gohama's restlessness, as they got closer to Kiku, but, as soon as they reached the city doors, she relaxed. He felt all the uneasiness had been pushed onto his shoulders. He didn't mind that, however he knew she was suppressing her emotions. It was good for the mission, it was good as a kunoichi, still he couldn't bring himself to be glad about it. If she bottled up, the weight would crush her someday or explode. He didn't want that for her. It was better to let her worries run freely and controlled. Why couldn't she trust him with that? He knew why. It was the same reason he did. But that didn't help. He didn't want her to end up like him. Old and miserable, alone and mistrustful.

The shower had stopped running for some time now. Kakashi felt his hands unsteady in anticipation. He didn't want her to seduce and have sex with Dazai. He knew he would hurt her, he knew it would crush her, he knew she would pretend she was all right. What would Tsukate feel if he knew what his niece was going through? If he knew Kakashi had failed convincing her?

The only thing left was trying to protect her, all means necessary. He didn't care if the mission failed, even if Gohama would beat herself up for this. He didn't care if he fucked everything up, he just couldn't let Dazai hurt her. She was only seventeen. She didn't deserve what had been asked of her, she didn't deserve part of her being stolen for the sake of a mission, for the sake of the Leaf. Too much had been taken away from her, how could the Konoha ask for more?

What had happened to him? She was a kunoichi of the Leaf, it was her duty to sacrifice herself for her Village. He was a shinobi, he should want the protection of the Village over the protection of a person. She wasn't even in his team. He had made a promise to a friend, but that wasn't it. It was his guilt. It was making him unreasonable.

The door opened and Gohama came out. She was wearing a deep green satin dress. It flowed and fitted her. Her black long hair fell in waves onto one side. Her green eyes popped from the mascara, she wasn't wearing any more make-up, they had become the same colour as her dress. He knew Dazai wouldn't be able to resist her.

"You look handsome." Gohama commented, smirking. "So much better with the hitai-ate off"

Kakashi glanced over what he was wearing and brushed his nape with one hand, embarrassed. He was wearing a white shirt and black tailored pants. He didn't know what to answer.

"I never imagined you could wear anything other than sweat pants."

"You still have a lot to learn about me, Gohama."

He couldn't stop staring at her eyes. The Kyura had always been famous for their beautiful, forest green eyes. Kakashi had obviously noticed Gohama's eyes before, it was the first thing he remembered about her, besides her Kyura chakra. He was sure it was the first thing anyone remembered about her. Now the mascara only accentuated their magnetic pull.

"I took longer than expected. We should go." she said seriously.

Had she detected his inconvenient gaze or was she focused on the mission? The mission. She had dressed fancily for the mission, so she could let herself be fucked by a sadist guy and then kill him.

"We can still find another way, Gohama."

"I'm doing this, Kakashi. You may be the team leader, but this is my mission." Her voice was harsh.

She left the room and he followed her. He could see the dress was cut low, leaving her back bare. As they entered the casino, most heads turned towards the pair. Kakashi was eccentric by himself and Gohama was stunning. If she realised the attention she was calling, she didn't show. Her walk was as before and her head, slightly tilted up, was, from what he could see, indifferent. He studied themselves as they passed by a mirror wall. His laid-back walk, almost slouching, contrasted with her fluid and straight movements, full of dignity. Gohama exuded the daring class of a woman raised to be heiress of one of the noblest clans.

Kakashi had never seen this elegant side of her. It suited her, she was made for it. The same way she was made for her ninja life. He knew where she had gotten that range. Her ceremonious childhood as part of a noble shinobi clan. Gohama had been raised to reign in both decorum and death.

First, they entertained themselves at the gambling tables. Dazai wasn't there. He observed Gohama as she bet on the roulette. She won twice her bet and soberly left the game without hesitation. She also won a favourable quantity in Black Jack. Her eyes were shining with a mix of wonder and triumph. Kakashi gambled little, he was enjoying himself enough by accompanying her.

"I can see why Tsunade gambles. This is fun."

"That's because you're winning money."

"The moment I start losing I'll just stop. It's not that hard."

"It is for gamblers."

"Are you just going to watch me all night?"

He smirked. "It's entertaining enough, you look adorable when you win, Go-chan."

She smiled at him. A couple of pats to his cheek accompanied her sweet tone. "Call me that again and I'll rip out your tongue out with wire."

"So feisty, Go-chan." He dodged the jab to his stomach. "Threats don't suit a young lady as yourself."

"Neither does your patronising banter." she replied seriously and turned back towards the dice table.

He didn't have anything to answer back, so he kept quiet, satisfied at how he managed to irritate her. It had been over an hour and Dazai hadn't appeared. Kakashi thought it was best to search at the ballroom. It was full of people. Both headed towards the bar and he could see the men glancing over his teammate.

"We should dance." Kakashi commented.

"Why? Not everyone is dancing."

"It's the perfect way to do surveillance unnoticed."

"I don't think it's necessary. I doubt Danzai enjoys this type of dance."

He turned to lean his side against the bar and fully look at her. "You obviously can't dance and are just you intimidated because I excel in everything I do." He repeated the accusation she had thrown at them at the beginning of their journey there.

Gohama glared at him from the corner of her eye. "I can dance. And nothing intimidates me, least of all you."

He grasped her hand and pulled her towards the dance floor. He quickly drifted his other hand onto her waist, locking her in place.

"You're a brute. That's not a way to ask a young lady to dance."

"I've saved you from the annoyance of having guys and old men asking you to."

"So you assume you're better."

He shrugged. "Of course. I'm the great copy ninja of Konoha."

He chuckled and led her onto the other side of the room, so they could search for Dazai there.

"I'll lead." Gohama ordered as they swerved on the marble floor towards her chosen direction.

"I'm the man." Kakashi countered, a pull of her hand and a push to her waist and they were again under his rhythmic command.

"All the more reason for me to—" Kakashi cut her off by whirling her away. Another pull to her hand she was again closer to him, settled with her back against his chest and his arm wrapped around her.

He whispered, his lips teasing her ear. "And the team leader." He allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk as he heard her small gasp and felt her tense up against him.

"He's here..."

Kakashi frowned at her unexpected words. He looked away from Gohama's milky chest and searched for Dazai. Then his chakra hit him with all the blow of an S-rank nin energy. He wasn't hiding it, he was showing it off and it involved the ample room. The crowd spread away from him as he moved towards the bar. He settled against it with a roguish smirk. His dark and lusty eyes pinned on the Kyura. Kakashi felt his blood boiling. He swiftly turned her to face him and danced away to the other side.

"What are you doing?"

"Relax, Gohama, the guy isn't going anywhere."

Her movements once fluid, even in their battle for control, were now tense. Her eyes travelled all across the room except for his own and Dazai's. Kakashi observed the man observing her. There was no need for seduction on her part. Dazai's was the gaze of a predator that could already taste the blood of their desired prey. How good it was for their mission, how good it was for Konoha.

"Gohama."

"What?"

"You should look at your dance partner." She turned her eyes up him defiantly. "Just ignore him for now."

"That doesn't sound very efficient."

"He hasn't stopped looking at you. We should leave him waiting a little longer."

"Kakashi, his chakra—"

"I know. I can sense it too. Don't worry, that's why I'm here." he creased his eye reassuring her. He didn't feel comforted at all, his dampening hand against her warm one all the more proof of that.

"I'm not worried I'm stating."

"He hasn't even noticed me. You're making him careless."

"How could you know?"

"Trust me, I know."

Gohama glanced over his shoulder curiously. Noticing her eyes on him, the man and he turned his gaze away.

"You intimidate him." Kakashi commented.

"I didn't do anything." she said defensively.

"It's something about your air of great clan's heiress and unreachability."

"With Father, they just called it arrogance."

Kakashi's eyebrows jumped up at her sudden sharing. He couldn't help but smile under his mask.

"Stop it." she hissed.

"What?" Gohama answered with a glare. "Well, was he arrogant?"

"Not with me."

"I met him maybe a couple of times. Diplomacy things with the Third. To me he seemed distant."

"Father was shy." she said protectively "He didn't enjoy all the show off a kage and Kyura Head of Clan has to offer."

"I also remember him in the war. One of the two great Kyura brothers. People always seemed to forget about Tsukate."

"It's not so bad that they did."

Kakashi chuckled. "He didn't think like that at the time."

"I'm sure he thinks that now."

The first time Kakashi had met Tsukate was during the Third Shinobi War. He had been one of the Buki soldiers to deploy alongside Konoha. They had fought together and the bond between people that lived through the horrors of war together was always a special, stronger one. Tsukate had been a new Jonin at the time, just as himself. Their regiment was formed of few jonin and mostly chunin, younger and fresh shinobi. Kakashi would never forget how Tsukate, as one of the older nin there, had accompanied and supported all of them with the patience and sacrifice of an older brother. He owed so much, Konoha owed so much to that man. This mission tasted crueller for that.

Some of the Buki shinobi had messed with him for being the outcast of the family. The one with no Kyura bloodline limit. Son of the great Buki Blue Beast, the Arms' jinchuriki. Younger brother of Katsuo and Inaku. While these three had been heroes and leads of the war, Tsukate had been one more soldier, one more pawn.

But more that Gohama's father, more than the already old Blue Beast, Katsuo had been the grand hero, the grand promise of Bukigakure. The man that would become the Head of Clan and next Yukikage. All that promise, all that potential for greatness and glory had meant nothing during a war. Kyura Katsuo had died with a kunai to the heart. The death of a common soldier.

His brother, Inaku, had taken the burden of the Kyura clan and the Arms Hidden Village. The sharingan had forever carved his eyes into Kakashi. Eyes of acceptance and duty, eyes that looked beyond veils and mirrored the blue hues of lighting. And Kakashi now watched their echo from behind mascara painted lashes.

"You have your father's eyes." his words flowed from his tongue with no thought attached.

He inwardly winced at his slip, but Gohama's jerk of her head up to meet his dark eye, gaze wide and vulnerable, cheeks tinted pink, made him smile. In an instant, it disappeared.

"Just like every Kyura." she said dismissively.

"No, it isn't about the colour or shape. It's their expression."

"And what do they express?" The amusement in her voice not masking her eagerness.

Kakashi lifted his eyepatch to uncover the sharingan. He studied the deep and gleaming green, unfathomable.

"I just recognise it. I can't read them."

He couldn't understand what she was thinking. He understood her as a shinobi. He understood her motives and doubts because they were much like his own. The duty, the loss, the guilt. But her every moment thoughts were sealed. Her expression always pushed out of her eyes but never palpable enough for him to catch it. The Gohama that was just Gohama he didn't know.

Maybe now, as they danced, Kakashi was seeing just Gohama and she was seeing just Kakashi.

"We should go to the bar, so he can approach me." With her words, Kakashi snapped out of her eyes' pull.

No, they weren't. There was no Gohama that was just Gohama and there was no Kakashi that was just Kakashi. The shinobi life rooted deep. None of them was who they were without being a ninja first.

He led the way to the bar. He ordered two glasses of scotch and in silence they drank and waited. But not for long. First, the bartender brought her a cup of sake. Pretending to look across the room in search of the generous man, she gave the cup to Kakashi. Soon after, a glass of scotch landed before her. This time, she took the glass onto her lips. It smelled wonderfully. It was expensive, excellent scotch. Kakashi watched her close her eyes and sigh as it ran down her throat in a small sip.

The chakra signature approached, but Gohama didn't tense up as before. It stopped in front of them. Kakashi didn't act surprised. Dazai knew he knew he was there. He glanced at the missing-nin indifferently and Gohama looked at him as if asking for confirmation about the unknown person.

"What a surprise. Not a pleasant one, but a surprise nonetheless. Hatake Kakashi in Kiku." Dazai hastily turned towards Gohama with the same hunger as before "My pleasure falls onto the beautiful last Kyura." He gave her an impish smile and didn't look away as she turned to Kakashi inquiringly.

"Dazai Kenta. A missing-nin from Mist. We had an encounter a while back. Good to know your leg is well."

He glanced for a second towards the copy-nin. "The same for your arm." and then his stare went back to Gohama. "I'm glad you like my offer, but scotch isn't a drink for young ladies."

"It isn't?" she asked cheekily.

She downed the rest of the glass coolly, she gave no signs of the burning down her throat. Her gaze fixed on Dazai. She finished by licking the remains of the alcohol off her lips. Kakashi felt disgusted at the heat flickering in the man's eyes. Dazai chuckled.

"Nice to meet you, Kyura-san." he nodded slightly, that disturbing smirk never leaving his mouth. She nodded back impassively. "I have to say you look even more beautiful in person."

"I didn't know there were photos of me circling around." she said haughtily.

"You have to understand you are the last of a pure and perfected breed. You are what's preventing it from going extinct."

"Nothing makes me more pleased than being compared to a mare." Gohama replied dryly.

He chuckled again. "The Kyura women were always feisty."

"Maybe it was just the company." Gohama's tone was now playfully, approachable.

Again that sickening smirk. "We could test that."

Danzai glanced towards the bartender and he quickly came to him. "Danzai-sama."

He looked at Gohama. "Dice or Roulette?"

Dazai had taken the bait, Kakashi had been certain he would. However, the consequences of what was to come still made him wonder how he could ruin the mission. He was disappointed in himself and his irrationality.

"Dice." she answered with a pleased smile.

"Make sure my usual dice table is ready." he said to the bartender without breaking his eye contact with the her green ones.

The bartender came back to announce the table was ready. Danzai stepped aside, giving Gohama way to pass through. "Kyura-san."

"Gohama." she corrected him.

"Call me Kenta, then. Hatake, for you is Dazai-sama."

Gohama laughed as she glanced at her irritated teammate. Kakashi could only be unimpressed by her amusement. He couldn't understand how she could act so indifferent as Dazai placed a hand on her back and led her away from the ballroom. Something about the way he touched her and looked at her and talked to her made him shiver and clench his fists.

More people known to Dazai had gathered around the dice table. Gohama infatuated the men. Some were shinobi and other civilian. Even the last could sense the dignity about a great clan's sole survivor, especially when she was good-looking. She seemed to be genuinely entertained and enjoying the attention she was receiving all around her.

Kakashi couldn't help but admire her smoothness from behind his Icha Icha. She indulged the other men with a bit of recognition, but her interest was on Dazai. She would flirt with him and tease him with light touches. As she got closer, just enough for the fabric of her dress to scrap lightly against his clothes, she pulled away oblivious to the nearness of their contact and the avid frustration Dazai was left in. The missing-nin tried forcing her into proximity but she slyly escaped and never allowed him more than fleeting touches.

Kakashi knew Dazai believed he could still bring her to his room. Gohama showed off her interest with no reservation and yet she was playing him. She intended to bring him towards the edge but never surpassing it with him. Why, Kakashi couldn't understand. Maybe she was avoiding the inevitable. Maybe she just enjoyed driving the man crazy. Honestly, Kakashi enjoyed that too, very much, although there was always an itch he couldn't quite grasp.

After three hours of being oblivious to his presence, Gohama finally sat beside him. She offered him a glass of scotch and he accepted it without taking his eyes of his book.

"Are you just going to read your porn all night?"

"Mm."

"Why don't you get out of that book and butt and come gamble. Maybe lose your life savings."

He turned a page. "I'm thinking of wasting my life savings on literary erotica, so I'm good."

"Then come make me some company."

"You looked more than entertained without me."

Gohama leaned against him. Her dark hair fell over his shoulder, drowning the stale air of the casino with her feminine scent, a blend of herself and lemon from her shampoo. He should warn her about the dangers of perfumes for shinobi – stealth involved the lack of smell – but she probably already knew that. She looked over his shoulder towards the pages. Even before she spoke, he could feel her smirk.

"Don't you ever get turned on while reading that in public?"

Kakashi was taken aback by the bluntness of her question. After years of public porn reading no one had ever asked him that, either afraid of his answer or of posing the question. He shrugged.

She sighed impatiently and the sound, so close to his ear, almost made him shudder. "I know you do." She waited for him to react. "I don't understand what you find so fascinating about third rate porn."

The hairs at his back stood up in alarm. Kakashi flashed his eyes to source of his discomfort, Dazai obviously. Beside him, Gohama placed her hands on her lap and took her time examining every little detail. Kakashi was surprised at how well taken care of they were for a shinobi. When every nail and loose skin had passed her demands, she tried to tease him again. "Don't you get tired of reading the same scenes over and over again? The same plot?"

"No."

"Hmm, I see, it takes little to entertain the Copy-nin's narrow mind."

"What do you want?"

Her cheeks turned a soft pink and he was surprised he had made her blush. She glanced up at him through her full lashes and offered him a coy smile, the same she had given Dazai throughout the night.

"Maybe I just enjoy being with you."

He chuckled wryly at her little act and turned a page. His eye flashed back towards the dice table and saw Dazai's spiteful stare.

"Ah. You're making him jealous."

"I've been making him jealous all night, I don't need you for that. It's not hard, really." she snickered "I've met him three hours ago and he already thinks he owns me."

His heart twisted at her words, although there was no emotion in them besides contempt. He honestly didn't know what to answer.

Gohama looked at Dazai and then turned back to him. "Come play."

"Don't really want to."

"Kakashi…" She exhaled in exasperation. He turned to the next page. "Fine, be an antisocial asshole. I'm going back to the table before he kills us both with his stare."

And so she left him.

The people at the table started dispersing and parting. Soon there was only Gohama, Kakashi and Dazai there. Kakashi kept his distance while the couple talked and whispered. Maybe he should leave. Maybe she would speed things and have sex with him that night. What was left for him to do was hope she would be okay and wait for her in their room. He closed his book and rose from his sit.

"Are you finally going to have some fun with us?" Gohama asked.

"No, I think I'll get going."

"Then I'll go too."

Danzai looked confused and offended. "Gohama, I thought we were going to stay longer."

"I'm tired from the journey here. I'll see you tomorrow." she both patronisingly and teasingly patted his thigh and rose, ignoring the indignation of the man. Kakashi couldn't help but smile. She was definitely enjoying playing him.

As they walked back to the room silently, Gohama could sense Kakashi's amusement. She was glad it was he and not Hansuke as she had wished before. She couldn't have had the looseness of flirting with Dazai with him there. In the beginning of the mission, his patronising had been infuriating and hurtful, but now that she actually had to complete it, he had given her space and freedom, while never leaving her side. And yet, except from when they had danced, he wasn't there.

For one moment in the entire night, Gohama had needed his help to unwind from the constant edginess of having Dazai loom over her. One time she had sat beside him and one time she had come for him. Had that been wrong? To have needed him to distract her from the weight of Dazai's stares and Dazai's hands and words? Maybe that was why he had been so annoyed with her. Kakashi had kept his nose stuck to that stupid book. She had tried to tease him, irk him, insult him, and nothing had made him acknowledge her presence.

Tomorrow Gohama would be prepared. Tomorrow she wouldn't let herself burden him, because she wouldn't need him.

When she came out of the steamed bathroom, her muscles now relax after the tenseness of being watched, Kakashi had already settled on the couch.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to sleep."

"Get in the bed."

"Gohama, I'm flattered but we're teammates on a mission."

"Sleeping in the couch will only upset it." she replied seriously.

"Gohama, I'm trying to help you. You don't u—"

The start of his lazy justification made her clench in anger. Couldn't he understand how infuriating that made her? How weak she felt if he gave up his rightful place in the bed so he wouldn't trouble her, so he would somehow ease her handling of the mission? She didn't need indulgences.

"Don't you dare say I don't understand, Hatake. I'm sick of it! What I do understand is that you're taking me as if I'm a weak vulnerable little girl since the beginning of this fucking mission and I hate it, so just get in the fucking bed."

Kakashi stared at her for a while, she could see him pondering what to do or say. Then his look deflated into resignation. "The left side is mine." Content, Gohama took a bottle of sake and went towards the terrace. "What are you doing?"

"Enjoying the rest of the evening."

"It's four am."

"You're such an old man."

"I'm only two years older than you."

"Perhaps mentally."

He didn't answer and she smirked in victory, closing the glass door behind her.

Gohama had set an iron hand on her thoughts ever since she had reached Kiku. It was better this way, practical and safer. Dazai was as she had imagined him. Depraved and hungry, rough and violent. She had managed to tone those down using his need to have her and therefore please her. There was insecurity in his superiority. Kakashi has been right, he was intimidated by her and it only made him have a greater need of overpowering her. She had genuinely amused herself by making him fall into her submission. His pained control over anger and his urges was out of himself. She could sense his struggle and his resignation. He would let himself down for her. She was his weakness and, although repulsive, it gave her a sense of power different from the one she had as talented kunoichi. It was more primal, more feminine. Maybe she would end up suffering the consequences of her mocking when they had sex. She didn't let her thoughts linger on that.

She sighed and downed another glass. Gohama could see he was handsome. He was well kept for a man in his forties, as were most ninja. His face was tanned and manly, with a sharp jawline. His lips were plump and naturally red and his dark stubble attractively rough. He was tall and bulky, his muscles had been evident under his loose shirt. His dark hair was the same colour of his dark eyes. The last with dangerous, almost mad, cunning. The typical ruggedly handsome.

Something about him made her shiver in repulse. Maybe it was his threatening chakra, it felt like a gale that broke through her bones and punched through her stomach. Maybe it was the lusty and violent way he looked at her. She had to suppress it. She had managed to seem interested in him, just enough to drive him crazy. Her soft touches were working and she had pushed herself onto accepting some of his back without showing her disgust. Tomorrow she had to have sex with him. Better to end this sooner.

The bottle of sake was finished. She stepped onto the edge of the balcony and glanced over the busy and noisy horizon. It was so different from Konoha or the Arms. With the upper and wide view, the dirty city had its own beauty. The lights and neon veiled the stars, but the vast and flashing sea offered part of the same awe. It was a shame she couldn't feel it, she knew it was striking, but she couldn't feel it. Gohama smiled as Hansuke popped into her thoughts. Where would he be now? Probably home or maybe on a mission. She hoped he also held her in his mind.

Now, walking back inside, she realized how foggy and blurred her vision was after a full night of heavy drinking. She slammed her toes against the nightstand.

"Fuck…" she hissed.

"Having trouble getting into bed, Go-chan?"

She had thought he was asleep by now. All she could see of him was his spinning back. She took a pillow and threw it towards him. "Shut up."

He didn't dodge, as he was more than capable of.

"Surprising aim, for a—" another thrown pillow cut him off. This one he caught ."Not fast enough, though." And threw it back at her.

She only understood what had happen once she was on the floor, her head hurting and a soft pillow on her lap.

Kakashi peeked from the top of the bed, fearfully waiting her reaction. "Oh shit. Gohama, are you okay?

"My pride is a little wounded."

He chuckled in relief, realising she wasn't mad at him and wouldn't burst into a violent and dangerous drunken payback. "I'm afraid that's quite lethal…" He held a hand towards her and she gladly took it. He smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Just prepare for my ruthless revenge." she mocked.

However, Kakashi didn't seem amused by her playful threat. He laid her down and pulled the covers over her, tucking her in. She too comfortable to wonder about his strange behaviour, until he took a strand of hair away from her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry."

The honesty in his tone caught Gohama off guard. What was he trying to say? Was he also drunk? Because she definitely was too drunk to make sense of what the hell was happening with him.

"For what?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Hurting you."

His eyes had become the same as in the night he had kissed her. But this time the pain and guilt only left her uncomfortable. She relieved herself in the thought that tomorrow she wouldn't remember any of this. There was no need to force herself to contemplate Kakashi's deal. Maybe it was better that way. The one thing she would have to confront - better escape - was the emotional tension.

"Don't worry, my pride is tough. Night." With those dismissive words, she turned her back towards him and tried to sleep.

"Goodnight, Gohama."

He didn't move for a moment and she secretly frowned at his behaviour. Then, she felt the sheets tussle and the mattress sink on his side. She could finally sleep in peace. Closing her eyes, she ignored the spinning blackness, she had drunk too much…, and let herself drift into a heavy and restless sleep.