Three months later...
"Alright, everybody gather around," Kakashi says.
Everyone in 2nd Unit moves to stand around the table in the center of the room..
"We've got a live one," he says.
Everyone's faces grow serious at Kakashi's words.
"We got a tip-off about some dealing going on in the area. Here's the intel. Technically, this is out of our jurisdiction, but, well... We've been put in charge of bringing down this drug ring."
I take a look at the case details on the papers Kakashi passes me.
"So, are we sure these dealers are working directly for an organized ring?" Naruto asks Kakashi.
"That seems likely, but we don't know sure yet. The plan is to break them up once we get a better idea of the situation," Kakashi replies, "So get investigating."
"Neji and I will handle the paper trail," Sai says.
"Naruto and I will canvas the area," Shikamaru says.
"I'll organize the intel as it comes in and handle the bureaucratic side of things," Sasuke says.
Kakashi looks at me, "Alright. Haruno, you're with me."
I nod my head, "Okay,"
I put the papers back in their folder and stand up. Together, Kakashi and I head to the drug ring's supposed territory. It's been three months since I joined Special Investigations. I'm finally getting used to the way things work around 2nd Unit. I steal a glance at Kakashi out of the corner of my eye. He sits in the driver's seat, his hands on the wheel, a relaxed expression on his face. Kakashi is the one who put 2nd Unit's band of misfits together. In these past three months, I've come to realize a lot about 2nd Unit. Like the connection between 2nd Unit's unique combination of personalities, and the unit's ability to close more cases than any other unit in the Metro PD. At this point, 2nd Unit moves well-oiled machine. Kakashi doesn't need to give detailed instructions on every little thing. The guys are able to split and work as a team to get things done. However, according to Naruto, Kakashi is the one who made 2nd Unit the way it is. Kakashi knows how to operate without ego, how to let the little things slide. He's a man who understands the big picture.
And he's pretty hot too...
I look at Kakashi's handsome face, half-covered by a mask he never takes off that covers his nose, down, and space out for a second. Kakashi turns to talk to me.
"How's it going, Haruno? You used to the job yet?" he asks me.
"It's been a challenge, but I'm figuring things out little by little."
"I see. Sasuke and Jaraiya haven't been hit on you, have they?"
"What? No, no way!"
"Really?"
"I'm not that popular with guys, honestly," I confess.
I laugh, Kakashi chuckles, but never breaks eye contact with me.
"You're so friendly with everyone... You gotta be careful, some guy could come along and take advantage of you," Kakashi says.
"I would never let anything like that happen," I assure him.
"True, I guess you wouldn't..." he agrees with me, "Definitely not with the way you're talking now. I don't think you'd go for it even if some guy did try to put the moves on you."
"Really? Do I come off that uptight? I'm surprised."
"It's not that I think you're uptight, I actually just don't think you'd realize you were being hit on."
"In other words, you think I'm dumb!" I say.
"Not dumb, you just seem... Kind of innocent, clueless." he says.
"Those are not good things!" I exclaim.
"Haha, I'm complimenting you," he says with an eye crinkle grin, "Sometimes it's better to be a little on the innocent side."
"That doesn't sound like a compliment to me." I murmur.
Kakashi smiles at me teasingly before making a face like he's offended. I'm lucky to have a boss I can joke with like this.
"Really? I guess it's just me then," Kakashi shrugs, pretending not to get what I'm talking about, "Really though, Haruno, you should keep your guard up."
Kakashi turns suddnely serious.
"Ok..."
"Don't go off with strange men named Jaraiya even if they do offer you candy," Kakashi warns me.
"What?"
C-candy?
I catch sight of Kakashi's face. I can tell he's grinning because of a faint curve of his mouth on his mask and his eye crinkle, then realize I'm being teased.
"Come on! I'm not a child, and I'm not an idiot!" I yell at him.
"But that last one did go over your head for a second, right?"
Kakashi laughs and pats me on the head.
"Anyway, if anything does ever happen, let me know right away. Okay?"
Somehow... I get the feeling... That last line was what Kakashi had really wanted to say to me, all along.
"Okay," I reply.
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Kakashi nods and returns his eyes to the road.
We arrive at our destination. We get out of the car and take a look around. It's just a nondescript building. The fact that it looks so perfectly average is actually kind of creepy.
"Hatake!" I whisper.
I whisper Kakashi's name and pull him by the arm into the shadows.
"Haruno, what is it?" he whispers.
"I saw someone in the building. The way they were looking around... It seemed a little suspicious."
"What?"
Kakashi leans in closer to the wall to avoid being seen.
"Haruno, come closer. They'll see you over there,"
I squeeze in close to Kakashi. Our shoulders touch.
"He's on the lookout. That's awfully suspicious." Kakashi says.
The man acts casual, but surveys the area carefully.
"Should we approach him?" I ask Kakashi.
"No... Let's hang back for a little while and see how this plays out," he replies.
"Got it."
"There are some other suspicious..." Kakashi whispers.
Kakashi trails off mid-sentence. I look up. Kakashi and I make eye contact, he's standing *very* close to me. Our faces are so close. I can feel Kakashi's breath on my skin.
"Oh! ...Sorry, I didn't mean to get so close!" he apologizes.
Flustered, Kakashi puts both hands up in the air.
"Hey. What's so funny," Kakashi asks me.
"S-sorry, it's just that pose... It makes you look like... like you were just wrongfully accused of grabbing a girl's butt on the train," I laugh.
"This situation's not so different from that..." he says.
He keeps his hands up and frowns awkwardly.
"This is totally different! Hatake, please don't worry about me being a girl. Do what you need to do for the investigation. I'm fine, okay?" I say confidently.
Kakashi raises his eyebrows in apparent surprise.
Kakashi gives in, "Oh... okay, got it. I'll save treating you like a girl for when we're not out on the streets."
I don't reply to his comment.
Treating me like a girl?
My heart skips a beat at his casually thrown out words. I look up at Kakashi to find him smiling his usual eye crinkle smile. He looks casual and calm. It definitely doesn't seem like he's trying to cover up any hidden romantic feelings. I feel embarrassed for letting myself think about something so silly.
What am I thinking? That comment didn't mean anything...
Kakashi is nice to me becuase I'm in his unit and he's a good boss. I logically understand that, but still can't stop my heart from racing.
What am I doing, sitting here thinking about my heartbeat!?
I sigh and return my gaze to the suspicious man.
"Somebody's come for a meet-up," Kakashi says.
A middle-aged man in a suit appears on the scene.
"Should we go have a little talk?" Kakashi says.
Kakashi thinks for a moment. Leaving his eyes on the approaching man, he leans in to speak to me.
"He's not taking his hands out of his pockets. He's probably carrying a weapon. You stay here," Kakashi says.
"I'll keep our escape route open," I say.
"Haruno..."
"You can treat me like a girl all you want when we're back at the office," I say.
I flash him a wry smile, and Kakashi chuckles.
"Alright. Let's go," Kakashi says.
"Okay," I say.
I position myself to cover a little alley we can use to escape if necessary. The two men are obviously nervous when Kakashi suddenly approaches them. They overact in their efforts to appear nonchalant. A moment later, the middle-aged man tries to make a run for it. When Kakashi moves to stop the middle-aged man, the other man runs off. He's headed this way. I block his escape.
"Police! Stop right there!" I yell at the man.
"Shut the hell up!" the man yells.
The man continues running.
"Stop!" I yell again at the man.
"Get the hell away from me! I'll kill you!" the man yells at me.
He runs straight at me. He's going to try to knock me down. I smoothly step out of his path and grab him by the collar.
"I said, STOP!" I yell, and throw the man as hard as I can.
He hits the ground and gets the wind knocked out of him.
"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl."
I hold him down and secure his hands behind his back.
"You... You're strong, huh?" Kakashi says.
Kakashi looks surprised when he runs up. He's got the middle-aged by the collar.
"Alright, time to cuff these clowns," he says.
"What? Can we? You caught them in the act?" I ask.
"Yep. Distribution of cocaine. That guy was dealing and this guy was buying," he replies, "This could get a ltitle rough..."
Kakashi's expression darkens.
Rough?
"Understood. You're under arrest for distribution of narcotics," Kakashi says.
I calmly cuff the man and read him his rights. He looks down and clicks his tongue. When we get back to the MPD, Kakashi handles the arrest procedures. I return to 2nd Unit to fill everyone in on what happened.
"What? You expect us to believe you actually threw the guy who was trying to escape?" Sai asks.
"I mean... I guess it was more like I just flipped him over," I reply.
"You're no joke, Sakura..." Naruto says.
"Were you like a problem child or something'? You used to get into fights?" Shikamaru asks.
"No way, she's nothing like Boss," Sai says.
"Well I'm scared..." Neji says.
"I guess we'd better be careful not to get on your bad side! Haha!" Naruto laughs.
"The idea of trying to tame a strong woman sounds rather appealing..." Sasuke says.
"Sasuke, you trying to get yourself killed?" Shikamaru asks.
They have all kinds of theories, but, unfortunately, they're all wrong
"Um. I used to practice Judo, that's all," I confess, "I wasn't a problem child, and I didn't go around starting fights with random people. I was trying to tell you guys about the case, but I guess you're not interested."
"Oh. Oh yeah, the case. So, he was dealing cocaine? Heroine?" Naruto asks.
Grateful to Naruto for getting us back on topic. I continue with what I was saying about the case.
"Yeah, we were able to confiscate the drugs and his day planner," I reply, "He actually had a list of his clients written in his planner."
"A list of the people he sells coke to. Unbelievable," Sai says.
"Yep, and there are quite a few famous people on the lsit, some really big names. This case is going to be more far-reaching than I thought."
"Famous people?" Shikamaru asks.
"Musicians, actors, TV personalities..."
"So this ring is a pretty big deal," Sasuke says.
"That means taking them down could get complicated," Naruto says.
Everyone falls silent; a serious mood falls over the room. Celebrity clients. That is going to make it harder for us to bust this case open. I remember Kakashi's comment, "This could get a little rough."
I hope we can do this...
"Man! I'm starving!" Kakashi says.
I hear the click of the door opening, and Kakashi walks into the room.
"What's with you guys? Did somebody's dog die or something?" Kakashi asks cheerfully.
"Um, we were just feeling a little worried about the rest of the investigation," I reply honestly.
Kakashi laughs heartily.
"It's alright. Just concentrate on working the case," Kakashi says.
It's alright. Hearing that phrase, that reassurance, even without any evidence to back it up, it lightens the mood in the office. Kakashi really is amazing when it comes to making everyone feel better.
"Let me handle the political details," Kakashi says, "The only thing you guys have to worry about is doing your job. A few things might change in our meetings.. but you guys are basically free to run your investigations as usual."
"We all listen to what Kakashi says, "Yes, sir!"
"Try to proceed with caution. That's all I ask," Kakashi says.
Kakashi shrugs his shoulders and gives us his eye crinkle smile. I can't seem to take my eyes off of his reliable, reassuring smile.