Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto only my characters.

Chapter 8 New Found Feelings

Maiha's surveillance mission required her to locate and gather information on a black powder and weapons smuggling organization. Though surveillance only meant observing and reporting, Maiha took it upon herself to go the extra mile and, not only survey the organizations movements, but to collect important information in order to achieve recognition from the Hokage.

She was here to prove something, somewhat of a mission within a mission.

Her plan was simple; she frequented the bars and other such businesses as she had been told by an informant that the organization's leader had a rather large sexual appetite.

Using her kunoichi training, she took on the persona of a promiscuous woman, hoping to attract his attention. And attract it she did, as it seemed he had a soft spot for her long dark hair, blue eyes and revealing clothing.

At first she teased him, sending him smiles and glances from under her lashes, trying to gauge his interest. Once she'd caught his eye, he'd try to flirt with other woman, as if to make her jealous, but she countered by whispering in other men's ears then stare at him whilst smirking before leaving with the other gentleman.

This proved to be slightly problematic because once Maiha arrived back at the gentleman's apartment she'd have to use genjutsu, something she'd always struggled with. When it became difficult, Maiha would revert to using other methods to rendering the man unconscious. After waiting some time, she'd leave the apartment as if she'd just spent the night in the man's bed.

The plan continued for a few weeks until she hit a problem one night. Maiha could feel the Boss's men following her as she left the club with a young man. She made her reason for leaving the bar with him more obvious by pushing him up against a wall, kissing him passionately. She pulled at his clothing and pushed herself against him.

"If you keep this up we'll never make it back to my place." The man whispered, exhaling pleasurably.

"What's the matter," Maiha whispered back teasingly, "Don't you like my foreplay? Am I being too rough?" He grinned and chuckled. "How about we get back to your place before you can't keep up with me anymore."

"This way, it's not too far." He stammered. As she turned to follow him, Maiha noticed a familiar silhouette dart out of sight from the alleyway. A few moments later, two of the village's ninja bounded into view, stopping the couple.

One of them ran his eyes over Maiha before staring at the young man. "You two should really get home. There may be an enemy ninja in the village."

"Yes, we'll head in straight away." The young man replied.

"Hmm, how exciting. Are you going to keep me safe?" Maiha said seductively.

The young man glanced down at her, his chest puffing out, "Of course, he'll be no match for me."

Smiling at him, Maiha glanced down an alley they just passed but there was no sign of him. She turned back to the young shinobi, snapping back into her role. "Maybe I should let you have control tonight. I wouldn't mind being a little submissive."

"Here we are!" He announced. He became distracted by her advances and fumbled for his keys.

Maiha took this chance to look around again. It looked like the two men had stopped following them, most likely due to the guards scouring the area. For a few seconds, Maiha wondered what he had been doing in the village and doubted that it had been a simple coincidence.

As they entered the young man's bedroom, Maiha went to work. She rendered him unconscious before setting up a believing scene of what was supposed to have happened. She paused for a few moments, staring out the window, thinking deeply.

She knew very well that if he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't be but there was a possible chance that he could blow her cover. Maiha gathered up some of the man's clothing before slipping out the window and onto the rooftop before bounding from alley to alley, whispering his name as she entered each one. "Kakashi?" She whispered.

"Yo." He finally answered, materializing in the middle of the alley.

She went down the alley to meet him. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He replied.

"Here put these on." She said handing him the clothing.

Kakashi put the dark shirt over his flak jacket and covered his hair with the stocking cap that Maiha had brought him. "Now my hair will be messed up."

"I'm glad you see humor in this but my cover could be blown." Maiha lectured.

Their attention was brought to a group of shinobi they could hear discussing a course of action. The group was far off but the city was so quiet that Kakashi and Maiha could hear every word.

"Search every alley, every street, and every nook until someone finds him. He couldn't have gotten out of the city yet. Start a thorough sweep from the outside in that way if we flush his out he can only come inward and we can converge at once. Now scatter." There was a whoosh as the ninja leaped into the air.

"I'll take them out as they come. After the first wave passes we can get out of here." Kakashi whispered.

"No, we don't have time to get rid of their bodies and it will make my mission that much harder." Maiha replied.

As she paused to think, Kakashi had a realization; he had intervened.

Her first solo mission, which she had been so proud and excited to have been chosen for and he had let his overwhelming need to check on her, be its undoing. Had he just let her be the shinobi that he knew she was, instead of Ai's little girl, her mission would not have come to this debacle. How could he make up for something, that if he disclosed his reasoning, he knew she'd be hurt? What could he do but let her take the lead? He exhaled. "How can I help?"

She looked up at him and announced, "Come closer and take off your mask."

"Huh? I don' think this is the time for a 'let's-make-Kakashi-take-off-his-mask' game," He said.

"I never played that game with you and this is my mission, so it's my rules. I'll close my eyes," She fixed him with a hardened glare, "Your mask will raise suspicion. Just follow my lead and they'll think you were the guy I was with before."

"…Okay." Kakashi was still a little unsure about the plan.

"Now, kiss me." She whispered hastily as she closed her eyes.

"What?"

"Kiss me like you mean it or you'll blow my cover and so help you! I'll never forgive -,"

It was almost an involuntary action. Kakashi quickly pulled down his mask, embraced Maiha and pressed his lips to hers. It took a second for her to react but she soon fell into her role.

For the awkward moment that their lips first met, to her rapid inhalation as his mouth enveloped her own, the realization that this was actually happening melted away as her lip movements coincided with his. She pulled herself in closer, melding her body with his, only selectively paying attention to their surroundings. The rest of her attention was entwined with his tongue darting in and out of her mouth, and the feeling of his fingertips and the palms of his leather gloves against her bare back.

Had he forgotten who she was? No way could a cover-up be as realistic as this but ugh! Who cares?

The Molotov cocktail-like feelings, lit by the adrenalin of the situation, the epinephrine released when their lips met and the familiarity between the two exploded, setting the tempo somewhere between passionate and primal.

A pair of ninja finally made it to the end of the alleyway, "I thought I told you two to get inside?" One of the ninja growled.

Maybe if I ignore them they'll go away. Kakashi doesn't seem fazed by their presence.

"Hey!" He called out again.

Maiha broke their lip lock by releasing the grip she had on Kakashi bottom lip with her own. He hid his face behind her head and directed it in toward her neck. The heat from his breath whisked over the surface of her skin causing her mind to scramble for words.

In his attempt to keep his face hidden, he caught himself staring hungrily at her neck. Trying to resist the urge to graze it with his teeth he directed his chin downward, only to focus on her heaving chest. The line between her cleavage was like that of an arrow pointing downward to every area that would need attention below her lips.

Had it not been for the sake of the mission she would have killed the village ninja herself for just one more minute of the impassioned episode. Finally she found the words and spoke, "Sorry, must have gotten caught up in the moment."

"We won't tell you again. If you are harmed, it will be on your own accord." The village ninja reprimanded.

"Got it," Maiha replied and then focused her attention back on Kakashi, "There are many more things we can do in private anyway." She took a small step towards his and pulled on the waist of his pants.

Kakashi provided a playful laugh and the ninja took off. She turned to the side and exhaled. "That was close." It gave him time to replace his mask and a second for her to cool down. It was like he used a jutsu to set her a blaze leaving her smoldering in the aftermath.

"We should get going." Kakashi pushed.

Snapping back into reality, Maiha replied, "Right, uh, my lodging isn't far from here, you can stay with me tonight." She inadvertently slipped her hand into his leading the way.

What just happened? It's like I lost it for a few moments there. He was good at concealing his visible and audible cues mostly due to his mask. However, internally he was confused on his eagerness and hunger to satisfy the urge to carry out the reaction after their lips met, encouraged by the physical contact and the warmth transferred between them, the curvature of her body and the taste and feel of her lips. He could only stare forward in thought as she navigated through the alleyways to her apartment gently pulling him behind her.

Neither one of them spoke on their way back to her quarters. They were both equally mystified by the reaction that occurred after their lips met. It was only for a short time and merely a cover but exhilaration resonated in their minds and seemed to permeate every cell of their bodies.

The time between the alleyway and her accommodation allowed them to compose themselves somewhat and upon their arrival Maiha made sure that all the curtains were closed. "Okay, Kakashi, tell me where you are hurt."

"I'm not really hurt, just a few bumps and bruises."

Maiha raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms and switched her weight over to one hip, giving him a 'are-you-kidding-me' look,

"Okay, okay. Maybe a few cuts as well but nothing critical." He said, holding up his hand with a smirk on his face. He knew that look meant business, he didn't need the sharingan to see that.

"Where are your injuries?" Maiha said as she changed her posture and softened her demeanor.

"A few cuts on my torso and legs but, really, it's no big deal."

"Off with it," she said, motioning her hand in an upward direction. "Let me see what's under your shirt."

He sighed and rolled his eye.

Instantly annoyed, Maiha glared at him and hissed, "Take it off."

Kakashi chuckled, "You look just like Ai when you say that."

The corner of Maiha's mouth turned up, "It's nice to hear that you're not just giving me a hard time then."

"No, I pretty much did the same to her, but she never wore anything like that when dressed my injuries." He teased.

Maiha looked down. She had forgotten about the attire she had chosen for that evenings activities. It looked like she had walked off the pleasure district in Otafuku Gai. "It's part of the mission." She said blushing then snapped at him, "Now stop trying to change the subject and let me look at you injuries."

He pulled off his shirt and turned so that she could see the wounds. However, she didn't expect to react the way she did when she saw him with his shirt off. Her heart began to race and could feel a flush come over her face. She looked closer in order to assess the damage but it was extremely hard to concentrate though she tried to hide her attraction to his physique. It seemed that their kiss had unlocked a realm of thought in which her mind had never travelled to. Sure she'd had a crush on him when she had been younger but that was some time ago. All of a sudden she was blushing and feeling bubbly around him. Come on Maiha. This is Kakashi you're talking about, get a hold of yourself. She carefully reached out to touch the worst wound and checked them for signs of infection. "As you said, they're not that bad. Let me get you a towel. You can get cleaned up and I can take care of those for you."

She spun around and went towards the bathroom to get the things he would need for his shower and to put some distance between them. When she returned she found him reclined on the couch with one of his favorite books, "Do you carry one of those everywhere?"

"Why wouldn't I? What can I say, I like to read when I have spare time." He said, defending his book.

"I was gone for five minutes tops."

He exhaled, "Five minutes worth of good reading time." Though considering on what had just happened, it was difficult to concentrate on its contents.

Maiha sighed and shook her head with a smile, and handed over the items she'd collected for him, "Here you go. Now go and get cleaned up. While you are in the shower would you like me to wash your clothes for you?"

He tilted his head to the side a bit and thought. "It would be nice to slip into clean clothes, since you offered I'll take you up on it.

Maiha gave him a smirk and teased, "Okay, well, don't give me anything you don't want me to see."

He began to walk towards the bathroom, "Little kunoichi, I've got nothing to hide."

"Suit yourself," She shrugged, "Just leave your clothes outside the door and I'll get them."

"Okay."

After she heard the door close and the water start to run, Maiha retrieved his clothing. She began taking everything out of the pockets, all the way down to the little orange book and placed them on the table. I can't believe that he left his book accessible, considering he knew I'd find it.

She placed all of his clothing in the apartment washing machine and strolled over to the kitchen to put a kettle of water on for some tea. She turned around, facing away from the counter and leant on it while she waited for the kettle to whistle. Hmm, I wonder what the fuss is all about. She picked the book up, flipped to a random page and began to read.

After a few pages, she began to blush. She set it down and returned to the counter and the kettle. There was a reason why Jiraiya chose vibrant colors for the covers, it demanded attention. Now that she knew the content, she understood why Kakashi was called a pervert. Once again she smirked and shook her head. It was then that a mischievous thought popped into her head. Maiha quickly grabbed a small strip of paper and started writing, 'Real women are much more fun. Words on a page could never replace one. Ask one and she'll show you how, to make it worth your while.' She pushed the message into the binding of the book, close to the end and giggled at her little prank. Most likely he would know who had put the sonnet in there, since he rarely let the book out of his sight, but it was fun none the less.

Maiha jumped as the kettle whistled, pulling her out of her giddy state. Quickly setting aside the book, she moved back over to the counter and began to steep the tea.

Kakashi walked into the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair. Maiha noticed him and instantly began blushing. Although she really wanted to stare and take in every square inch of his body, she didn't want to make the attraction too obvious, considering her hormones were driving her thoughts at the moment. "Kakashi! Have you no decency?" she shouted, turning away slightly.

Had this been in any other situation and with anyone else he wouldn't have done so but he had noticed a new found comfort between them.

"Well, you did take all my clothes."

"Oh yeah, I did, didn't I?" Maiha had forgotten what she had been doing had been replaced by her prank. "Well, they've finished so I'll just take a second to put them in the dryer for you," As she came back into the room she asked, "I made some tea, would like some?"

"Yeah, thanks." He said as he sat down on the couch.

She handed a cup over to him, "Here you go."

"Are you not having any?"

"I am going to take a shower first. It's a lot easier to relax when you feel clean."

Maiha entered the shower and couldn't help replying the events that had transpired that evening in her head. She thought about their cover-up actions and touched her lips as they curled up slightly at the sides letting a pleasurable hum escape them.

As he sipped his tea in the silence of the living room, his mind wondered on to the same topic. He thought about the conversation when he was at the bar. It was hard to admit but after his realization that night combined with what just took place it did shake something loose for him as well. I just need to treat it like it never happened. It was a spur of the moment action to save a mission, nothing more. He attempted to push it out of his mind by picking up his book, carrying on with some 'good' reading.

Maiha emerged a bit later in a tank top and shorts, normally what she wore around her apartment. To her surprise Kakashi was still wrapped in a towel and reclined on the couch, reading, "Book get a little interesting? I see you haven't gotten dressed yet."

"I just thought that it would be easier for you to fix me up if you didn't' have to work around any clothing." He redirected her comment.

Maiha internally sighed. If only he knew how tormenting this is right now. Who am I kidding, he doesn't think of me that way. Get over it, Maiha.

He noticed her choice of clothing. Her shorts showed off her long lean legs and her tank top drew attention to her breasts. Although he was able to keep a stone-like face, his mind continued to process the sight in front of him and how attractive her body was. Until then, he hadn't really noticed before.

The tea kettle whistled again, startling them and momentarily stopping the rush of thoughts rooted in the pleasure center of their brains.

"I thought I would warm the water back up for your tea. It's the least I could do since you have been so nice to me Maiha."

"Oh thank you Kakashi, but you know that I am not going out of my way. I would do it for you anyway." She said walking over to the counter to make her tea.

"I know but I could have blown your cover."

"That's true but everything worked out so it's okay. Now then, let's get you all patched up." Maiha attempted to change the subject so she could separate herself from the feelings that she was experiencing.

Maiha retrieved her medical bag that she had brought with her and began treating Kakashi's injuries. Once she had finished, a random thought popped into her head, "Hey Kakashi," she said in a sweet voice.

"Hmm?" He responded, still reading.

"Can I try something on you?"

Kakashi looked over the orange cover of his book with a raised eyebrow questioning what she could be asking, "Possibly," he replied considering his lack of attire at the moment, "What do you plan on trying on me?"

"Nothing indecent, don't worry, it's something that Ai taught me." She smiled. Without Ai around, her medical ninjutsu skills had gotten a little rusty. This was the perfect opportunity and she knew Kakashi would let her.

"I suppose. I am interested in seeing what you are going to do." He said, repositioning himself.

"Okay, here it goes." Maiha took a deep breath in and let it out. Her hands began to glow green with chakra and she ran her fingers over the stitches she'd just put in, healing his lacerations completely. She removed the stitches and then healed the holes that the needle had made. She then moved on to the bruises, healing them as well, "There, all done." She smiled.

"I had no idea you had medical training, Maiha." He said, surprised.

"I don't. Ai just taught me a thing or two when I would hang out at the hospital. Sorry, I used you for a guinea pig, Kakashi. I just wanted to see if I could still do it."

"No problem at all. You did a great job, it's like nothing happened." He said cheerfully.

"Whew, now I am really tired. I'm a bit out of practice and that took a bit out of me. I think I am ready for bed now," she said with yawn then she stretched her hands above her head. "Since you are my guest Kakashi, I will allow you the choice of the bed or the couch."

"I'll take the couch."

"I knew you would, I just wanted to be a gracious host," she gave him a smile and a wink as she turned to get him some linen. Maiha returned a short time later with a sheet, blanket and a pillow. "Let's get you set up for the evening." Kakashi hopped up from the couch and Maiha prepared it for slumber. "Now, I don't care how you decide to sleep but if you don't want me to see anything you may want to make sure everything is covered up." She said as she walked to her bedroom.

"What, you've never slept in the nude before?" Kakashi teased.

"All the time, Kakashi," she said entering her room then turned back towards him, "The only difference here is that I have a door."

He smiled and shook his head at the last comment. You have become rather flirtatious with me all of a sudden, little kunoichi. All in good fun, I'm sure. Your tone interests me though. Not wanting to allow his mind to continue down a road of dirty thoughts with her as the object of interest, he yet again tried to push them from his mind.

Maiha awoke in the morning to the sunlight streaming through the window of her bedroom. She made no attempt to rush out of bed, thinking that Kakashi would still be asleep anyway. I'm hungry. I'll just peek my head out the door and see if he is awake and decent. She peered outside her door and found that he was indeed still asleep and to her relief, decent. Though he was in a rather strange sleeping position. Maiha tip-toed over to him and smiled that he was sleeping so peacefully. She gently pulled the covers back up over him and crept into the kitchen to grab a snack. Once he woke, Maiha would make breakfast but she wanted him to recover as much as he could from his mission before heading back to Konoha. She grabbed an apple and a glass of water before returning to her bedroom.

She sat in the sunlight, enjoying the warmth for about an hour until her stomach decided it was time to wake Kakashi up. Again she quietly crept over to the couch where he slept. She thought about how she wanted to go waking him up and thought the gentlest way possible. Bending over, so her lips were near his ear, she whispered, "Kakashi." She gave him a little time to respond before whispering again, but this time rubbing his arm, "Kakashi." This time her efforts gave a response, though he reacted rather strangely.

"Hmmmm." He moaned in a blissful tone.

Maiha smiled and thought, he must be dreaming. He was probably up reading his book last night. She decided to play along. She knelt down next to him. Changing the tone of her voice to a more sensual one, she swirled her index finger around his ANBU tattoo and whispered playfully in his ear again, "Kakashi."

"Hmm." He drew out.

"You're amazing."

"Mmmm hmmm."

It was hard to keep her composure but Maiha continued with her little game. Remembering the passage she'd read in his book the night before she began again, "I want you to do naughty things to me." She whispered more eagerly.

Her words finally made him wake, his eyes focused on the face mere inches from his. "Morning Kakashi! Did you sleep well?" she asked with mischievous smile.

"Pretty good, considering I slept on the couch." He replied.

"Have any good dreams?" she asked as she rocked back onto her heels.

"Yeah, I did actually but I can't tell you about it."

"Oh, and why not?"

"Too graphic. I had this little kunoichi whispering seductively in my ear trying to wake me up." he said smiling under his mask closing his visible eye.

"You were awake the whole time?" She asked frustrated exhaling as the area between her eyebrows furrowed and she pouted. She thought she had one up on him.

"Yeah nice try, maybe that works easily on most men but I am exceptional at seeing through deception. I have complete control over my body and thoughts." he said jokingly.

"So you're telling me that if a very attractive woman made advances toward you, in a normal situation of course, wanting to fulfill your most sought after sexual desires you would be able to resist her?" she asked cynically.

"I have to admit that it would be very difficult but I would be able resist. Just because I am a man doesn't mean that I don't have any self-control."

She leaned back in toward him and began in a somewhat playful voice, "It's not just self-control Kakashi. It doesn't take much to trigger the primal urge of a man. Once you flip the switch you just have to supply the hunger with what you tell them they desire. Not much to it really, take it from a kunoichi, you men may be strong but you are all simple creatures," she gave a satisfied grin.

Again with the flirting, though it is a bit strange to hear this tone in a conversation between us it is still mischievously amusing.

"Are you hungry Kakashi?"

Still stuck on her last statement about the male gender he gave her a confused look. "What?" he asked like he hadn't heard her.

"I'm making breakfast would you like anything to eat?" She asked again not realizing the irony of her question.

"Oh. Yes please, I'm famished."

Maiha began breakfast and Kakashi gathered his clothing and went to her room to dress. He returned shortly after plopping himself down on the couch once again.

"Umm… Kakashi, about last night..."

"Yes?" he responded wondering what she was going to say about the whole incident that had now seemingly created this tangent in their relationship.

"I just wanted to let you know that I, uh, didn't see anything."

"Oh, okay I believe you," he said, "That whole situation was a little awkward wasn't it," Kakashi continued as he put his hand behind his head. "You were pretty convincing though Maiha, you must have excelled at seduction techniques in your kunoichi training."

"Oh, umm thanks. It was actually a pretty grueling part of the educational process, talking and programming your mind to make such intimate actions part of a mission. It's kind of hard to wrap your mind around it at first. I still have a little difficulty with it, so I have to take on a whole other personality to do some of the things necessary. What you saw last night with that young man and I is only a glimpse of what a kunoichi may need to do," she said rather glumly. "Most of the time we have to allow certain actions to be done to us as well in order to complete the mission, so playing that role well is not without its vices."

He noticed that her posture changed as she became uncomfortable recalling some of the things she had to do in the past. Kakashi had not thought about the kunoichi role in that much depth before and at that moment understood why she had given him the lecture on a man's primal urge and how and why they were taught to use it against them. But the emotional toll that it takes on the kunoichi could be substantial if she didn't have a strong mind. At that point he felt a bit of sympathy for Maiha. It was no wonder he never had heard of her dating any young gentleman, she must still be trying to figure everything out. But her actions after their little play last night didn't fit her story. She was the same Maiha, just more flirtatious and affectionate. He just chalked it up to their close relationship, but still, it was an incident worth contemplation and remembrance.

There was a short period of silence.

"You know the rumors that I heard about you are true," she said light-heartedly, trying to break the heaviness in the room as well as change the subject.

"Oh, what rumors?" he asked intrigued.

"You are an exceptional kisser." It would have been a dangerous thing to say had she not been facing away from him as she bit her bottom lip thinking about the pleasurable memory that she now had. It shifted her dismal attitude and the topic of discussion as well.

"Rumors about me, huh?" he said boastfully.

"Your reputation precedes you and you know it," she laughed.

"Honestly, I don't know what you are talking about." he said rather suavely with his newly inflated ego.

"Oh Kakashi really." she sighed as she tilted her head back. They both began laughing as she laid out the bait and he purposely took it and ran.

Thank you to those that are sticking with me, readers, the review and those following along. I know it moves a little slow but please hang in there. I plan on trying to post once a week if at all possible, so keep checking back if you like what what you are reading. Suggestions and constructive comments are welcome so please leave a review!

As always a big thank you to my AMAZING Beta cheekylips, I couldn't have done it with out you!