Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto only my characters.

As always a big thank you to my Beta cheekylips.

Chapter 27 Underneath the Underneath

She headed to Sasuke's apartment and upon her arrival knocked on the door. No answerHmm… where could I find him? He takes a lot of missions, maybe the Hokage's office. Luck struck and she caught him just as he was exiting the tower. "Um, hello Sauske," she greeted and gave him a smile as she placed her arms behind her back.

He said nothing, only gave her a questioning look.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a question."

"Hmm…" Sasuke nodded, still wondering why she sought him out in the first place. He searched her body language for any hints as to why she would pay him a visit but found none. For some strange reason he was interested in what the dark haired girl had to say.

Sasuke's answers would be short and to the point not to mention with his narrow emotional range hard to read. If Sasuke had something to say he would say it, otherwise he was mute and kept to himself. Maiha knew she would have to be careful on how she asked and her reasoning for doing so for him to accept her request.

"Your question?"

"Well, actually I have a favor I would like to ask of you."

A tiny frown appeared on his forehead. "A favor?"

"Yes, I need someone to train in kenjutsu with me. I'm sure Kakashi can still wield a sword just fine but he has become predictable as I have trained with him for so long. I need a new partner, someone who can take me to another level. Considering your cultivated skills and mastery, I thought of you first so I sought you out." She paused. "I understand if you don't want to as I am sure you are busy, but I thought I'd ask anyway."

He thought for a second, Kakashi become predictable? Hardly likely though he entertained the thought of a new partner for kenjutsu training considering she had trained in the Land of Iron with samurai. "I will help you with your kenjutsu training as long as it doesn't interfere with my duties."

"I completely understand, village comes first. I appreciate your time Sasuke." She nodded and exhaled softly on his acceptance. "May we start at the beginning of the week?" They discussed training days and locations before her visit had ended.

Okay, now to find Naruto. Hmph, It should be easy to find him, it's lunch time most likely he'll be at Ichiraku's. She headed over and of course found him sitting on one of the stools slurping up a bowl of ramen. "I'll take care of that," Maiha grinned at the owner handing money over the counter.

"Hey Maiha! Great to see you, and thanks for lunch!" Naruto took a minute to come up for air.

"You're welcome," she smiled.

"Hey I haven't seen you in a while how have you been?" the blond gave her a smile just as big as her own.

"Very well Naruto thanks, but I have to be honest with you, I didn't just seek you out for small talk."

He frowned slightly, "Okay, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you would be willing to train with me."

"Training, you know I'm your guy!" He said animatedly as an ear to ear grin came back to his face.

"I thought you would be excited," she shot him a grin just as wide. "When can we start?"

Now Lee. Where could I find him? Wait, I bet he's training. I'll head back to the fields. Maiha knew that the spandex clad duo spent so much time at the field the village could charge them rent and headed there straight away. Just as she thought, both were training. She stood at the edge of the field and watched for a bit before approaching with her request.

"Hey Maiha, what brings you out here? Come out to watch how Taijutsu is really done?" Guy blurted out striking a pose with a small grunt.

"Uh yeah sorta," Maiha put her hand behind her head and faked a large smile due to the awkwardness Guy caused. "I have come to discuss training with you."

"Ah yes, we spoke about this a while ago didn't we," Guy rubbed his chin with his index finger and his thumb.

"I would be most honored to assist you in your training Maiha-san," Lee bowed.

"Thank you Lee-san I look forward to training with you," and she smiled, "may we start this time next week?"

Maiha was juggling three men on different days of the week. Monday, it was Sasuke, Wednesday Naruto and Friday Lee, three tough training partners with a day in between. The training schedule was looking good and she was glad the pressure was taken off her and Kakashi.

Kakashi had returned from his mission finding that she had set up training with the three other shinobi. He somewhat questioned her but she explained that it was so she could get different types of training in with different partners, though it wasn't all a lie. Maiha scheduled with Kakashi on Tuesdays or Thursdays depending on missions just so she could cover the fact that she was trying to avoid the training with him at all. After a month she settled in just fine and was benefiting from it by leaps and bounds. So far she had been able to keep them all in dark about her actual reasoning. Kakashi would overlook it because it was her, Naruto and Lee were just too naive but Sauske, she would only be able to fool for so long.

As she suspected Sasuke finally spoke up. "Mind telling me why you have set up this rigorous training schedule," he insisted at their next training session.

Caught off guard by his blunt question that seemed to come out of nowhere she quickly searched her mind for an answer. "Well, I felt that I needed to broaden the spectrum of my training so I lined up a few different shinobi to assist me."

Sasuke crossed his arms displeased of her trying to evade him and his lips formed a tight straight line. "That may work on Lee and Naruto, if they even thought to ask, but do you really think I would so easily believe that. Though training with you has benefited me as well, I have suspected since the day that you asked me for assistance that you had a hidden agenda. I am still willing to help with your training but I believe an explanation is in order."

Maiha looked away quickly, the rouse was up, at least with Sasuke. She looked back at the Uchiha "I was hoping I could get away with it a little longer but I should have known you would be the one to notice another motive for my training partners."

"And?"

She exhaled heavily. "Well lets just say that the relationship between Kakashi and I has changed. We are cordial and still have a friendship but… well maybe I should start at an earlier time." Maiha filled him in on all pertinent information so that he may have a better understanding and then came back to the current time frame. "And now I can't concentrate with his hands all over me. That is why I set out to find new training partners."

Sasuke stood glaring at her with a stone face. Maiha hadn't felt this disappointed in herself for hiding information since keeping Kakashi in the dark about the training for her geisha mission. In a few moments he startled her with his response. "You love him then."

She sighed heavily, her eyes brightened and a smile returned to her face, "Yes I do."

Seeing her reaction he knew this was truth. "And him?"

Her smile faded, "I'm not exactly sure." Her face took on more of a serious expression. "I don't expect him to act on any feelings but I can't keep mine in control."

"So you are trying to distance yourself but still train," he continued.

"Yes, it is imperative that I focus on training to keep myself mission ready. With me not being able to concentrate I wouldn't get the best out of my training which not only puts my life at risk but others as well. I refuse to allow that."

He took another long moment before answering. "I appreciate you being honest with me. However, you really should consider being honest with Kakashi as well as with yourself."

Maiha sighed, though Sasuke's tone was without emotion he picked apart the situation and presented it to her up front. For him to even slightly interject his attention into a situation involving another's personal life was completely out of character for him and although shocked he had done so, she appreciated him voicing his opinion. "You're right Sasuke," she paused "but why do I think that taking care of this situation will be more difficult than sparring with you?" and she gave him a smirk.

Over a month had passed since Kakashi and Maiha had shared their moment of intimacy. The subject wasn't openly spoken about between the two and the only other that knew was Sasuke. Though no words were spoken the impression had already been made. The moment they had shared together was not just that, there was a deeper connection. Each instance of eye contact brought back the memory, each passing provided a moment to touch, each conversation a chance for admissions, and still they chose to keep it from each other.

Kakashi thought about her often, reviving the past. The night in the alleyway, how he lost himself momentarily, the affection she exhibited after that he didn't detour.

The night on the dock, the 'mistake' that really wasn't. Then she was gone. He was consumed by guilt and had deceived himself by trying to replace her physical presence with Madori, a complete blunder that he wished he could take back for so many reasons. His jealousy of Katsuro, and then their fallout, bringing them to her admission that night. Her words, her voice. But it was their emotion not just his own. He smiled under his mask. Her lips and skin, their taste their feel, her sighs. He exhaled moving on. Her disinterest the next day, the out she gave him was it all just for one night? The memories disoriented him and it left him almost feeling hollow inside. It was too much, and just as the Kakashi of old, he pushed it all aside.

Maiha would stay as busy as possible keeping her mind occupied for most of the day. She sought out missions of any rank, helped with the academy and spent time with the girls. Though she didn't push him away completely, they still visited the lake and occasionally shared lunch but the subject remained closed. They both were trying to hold back not realizing the feelings of the other but it was getting more and more difficult to deny the attraction to each.

At one of their lunch dates Ino excitedly presented an idea to the girls that had just come to her while she was stocking the flower shop. She looked at them with her baby blues smiling slyly, "Are you ladies in for some real fun?" By the look she gave them it was a guarantee. Ino always had a way of making an evening no one could forget. They all smiled and nodded. "We are going to have a little black dress night!" So the plan is to hit the five biggest bars in town. We'll start at one side of town and end up at our regular hangout. It's a girl's night out, no guys until after midnight. We will all go shopping on Thursday and go hopping on Saturday. We can call ourselves 'The Little Black Dress Squad.'"

The girls shook their head at their blond friends wittiness, "That sounds like fun," the girls agreed chuckling at the thought.

"Oh trust me, it will be," Ino gave them a smirk and a wink.

Thursday came and the girls went about the town and all found their attire for the event. Their excitement was building and keeping the event a secret was getting more difficult. When Saturday finally rolled around Ino had already taken care of table reservations at every bar for the group. As usual they met at Ino's, got ready and headed out the door ready for a night of fun.

It wasn't hard to notice the group of five women all dressed in black sitting at a reserved table and it certainly didn't take long for the men to get involved with what was going on. Ino stood up with a cup of sake and toasted the group. "Ladies, here's to a night of fun. We've got a lot of bars to visit so pace yourselves. Let the Little Black Dress Squad mission commence," and the girls drank up giving a cheer as the night began.

As the girls moved from bar to bar word spread about the Little Black Dress Squad, its five members and their outing around town. Their usual male comrades were at the familiar hang out when the news reached them. Apparently the girls had a following of young men and the bars were buzzing with the event.

"Little Black Dress Squad huh," Guy said rubbing his chin.

"I'll give you one guess who that includes," Asuma pointed out as he counted the empty seats at the table, "One, two, three, four, and five. And there is a reserved table over there in the corner."

"Those girls," Genma smiled as he chuckled.

Approximately thirty minutes later the bar began to fill up with young men and they were all talking about the group of girls.

"Must be on their way here," Genma smirked as he rubbed his hands together wanting to see what all the fuss was about.

Kakashi, late as usual, slid into his normal seat at the end of the table. "The bar is busy tonight. I see we are missing a few of our regulars as well," he jumped into the conversation noticing the empty chairs at the table.

"Oh they're on their way," Asuma smiled. "Look at all the young men in here."

Kakashi looked at him questioningly.

"There seems to be a group of young ladies bar hopping that the young men seem to be following."

"Oh really," Kakashi chortled.

The whole bar was lively and getting quite loud but Ino could still be heard over the noise. "Last stop girls no need to pace yourselves any longer!"

"There's Ino," Asuma announced, of all the men in the bar he recognized her voice the most. "They're here."

The five ladies entered the bar with rosy cheeks and a little off balance giggling like little girls. They had come in the bar's entrance opposite of their regular table and headed for the bar top. "Maiha, you're up," Ino shouted over the noise. Ino had added a clause to the night that each girl had to drink a specific number of sake filled cups at a bar to make it more fun.

Hearing her name, Kakashi focused his attention on the group of girls at the bar.

"How did I end up last?" Maiha asked smiling.

"Because out of all of us you can drink the most," Sakura slurred slightly. "I had to drink three and I'm the light weight."

"Do I really have to drink five?"

"Five cups, that was the agreement before we started. You paced yourself, I think," she waved her hand, "I lost count, but I'm sure you're fine," the blonde winked as her nose crinkled up.

"Okay," Maiha sighed.

"I need five small cups of sake for my friend here!" Ino yelled out over the bar noise.

"Five?" the bartender asked to confirm.

"Yes five," Maiha exhaled.

"This is gonna be good," Genma smiled as he turned toward the bar.

The bartender filled up five small cups of sake and set them in front of her. "I can't believe I said yes to this," Maiha smiled. The girls gathered around her and rooted her on. They counted each cup as she drank them and turned them over.

After the last one was down they all cheered and headed back to their corner table where they remained for most of the evening. Maiha was seated in a spot which had an open line of vision straight to Kakashi. Throughout the night he watched her smile and laugh. To him it looked like she was having a good time.

Sometime after their arrival Maiha excused herself from the table and headed to the restroom. Kakashi had decided to do the same. However, because of the many people in the bar neither one noticed that they were about to meet in the middle. To get to either restroom they would have to cross paths as they were located on different sides of the bar. Maiha stopped halfway as her attention was diverted for a moment and she turned her head away from the direction she was walking causing her to run directly into Kakashi. "Oh I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention," she blurted out as she put her hands up. Then she picked up on a familiar scent on the person that she had bumped into. She looked up and their eyes met. "Oh hello," she smiled at him.

"Looks like you are having a good time."

"I am, but I can't talk to you right now it's against the rules, not till after midnight."

"Rules?"

"Yeah, so I have to go." she smiled as their bodies pressed up against each other in passing and exhaled with an ear to ear grin, placing a hand to her chest as soon as she had cleared him.

"Did you see that?" Genma pointed out.

"Yeah, that was an odd reaction," Guy replied.

She knew she would have to pass by him again on the way back to the table so she took her time. Tonight there would be no way of concealing her feelings. The alcohol consumed had taken all reasoning away. As they passed each other on the way back to their respective tables, the body language was very suggestive. For those who noticed and knew the two it was worth questioning.

Kakashi defended the situation, "Maiha gets really comfortable and bubbly when she drinks. You guys know that. I was teasing her about their little gathering this evening."

"Yes their choice of how they spent their evening was interesting," Guy raised an eyebrow.

"Well you can't talk to them until after midnight, it's one of the rules. So if you want to know more you'll have to find out then," Kakashi laughed.

"Rules, seriously?" Asuma scoffed

"Yep," Kakashi answered.

"Girls night out, eh?" Genma laughed.

Midnight rolled around and the girls became a bit friendlier with the men that approached them and each was accompanied by a young man as they left for the evening. Maiha, however, made her way to the bar to settle up on the bill for the table. She handed the bartender cash plus gratuity for the services rendered, and also bought a round for Kakashi's table. While she was standing at the bar a young shinobi approached her. Considering all the girls had been escorted home by a young gentleman he thought he would take his shot at the one left alone. When he reached her at the bar he raised his hand to her neck and slowly ran his fingers gently down the skin exposed by her open back dress. She looked over to him and gave him a smile opening her body posture a bit.

Genma gave Kakashi an elbow in the side to get his attention but his eye was already watching the situation unfold. Their entire table, as well as most of the bar, focused on the couple; the last girl in the little black dress squad and the young shinobi that would most likely be taking her home.

Kakashi squirmed a bit in his chair, and like him the rest of the shinobi at the table, hung on every word.

"Hello beautiful, may I buy you a drink?"

"Only if I can buy you one," she smiled. Maiha saw no harm in accepting the drink as long as she kept it even.

"It looks like you and your friends had a good time tonight," he slurred slightly.

"Oh, indeed we did."

He leaned in a little closer, "Think of how much better it could be if you came home with me."

Maiha's eyebrow raised and her smile grew wider. She moved in closer to him.

Kakashi's eye widened shocked at what he was seeing, it was unsettling. Is she really thinking about going home with him? The rest of his table were bewildered, as this type of behavior was uncharacteristic of her mannerisms but the sexuality that she was projecting was enticing to watch.

Maiha repositioned herself placing him between her and the bar top. She stepped in playing with the front of his flak jacket, "I can see you have had a lot to drink this evening." She kept eye contact with him smiling sweetly. "Usually that's not a bad combination when it comes to fun in the bedroom. However, it can also be disappointing." Maiha single handily unbuckled his belt, pulled it through the loops of his pants and tied his hands to the bar rail behind him in a matter of seconds. In his inebriated state he was bound before he even know what happened. She bit her bottom lips slightly, "And I would so hate to be disappointed."

The men in the bar were all wide eyed at her action as well as her choice in words. Though it would be embarrassing to be in the young shinobi's shoes, the maneuver was still stimulating to the libido. "No hard feelings okay," and she patted him on the chest lightly. She then turned and walked away from the bar passing by Kakashi's table on her way out. "'Night boys," she said in a light and happy tone with a wink and a wave.

The table was silent and frozen in a state of shock. The server made her way over with a tray of drinks. "Here you go guys, from the young lady that just left."

"Uh thanks," they managed to force out.

"That was probably one of the hottest things I have ever seen," Genma drew out in amazement, "Is she still single?"

Not long after Maiha left and the young shinobi was set free, and the group disbanded, everyone heading home but one.

He stepped double time to her apartment. Maiha had just unlocked and pushed her door open as he popped in behind her. She turned feeling his presence. Kakashi closed the space between and pulled down his mask. The reason for his advancement was clear she knew what he wanted and had no intention of stopping where it would lead them. Words were not necessary they were replaced by physical reaction. There they stood within inches, heaving chests next to her open door. Their lips moved about one another without touch, heated by moist heavy breaths. Finally they met as Kakashi threaded his hand through the hair at the base of Maiha's neck and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her in close before guiding her through the door.

Kakashi nudged the door closed with a sweep of his foot. He directed her toward the adjacent wall pinning her there by placing his thigh between her legs. She let out a forceful exhale as they crashed up against the wall and she shivered slightly as her bare skin came into contact with its surface. He held her tightly there, confined her, she couldn't move, not that she wanted to. Shut away from the world they were the only two in existence.

Maiha had felt this urge before, the unbridled lustful desire for another. Only this time it was his voice, his touch and his lips on her skin. The tension that had been building since their first evening together had boiled over into this heated event, both releasing what was held within.

Maiha pulled at the zipper of his flak jacket while he continued the blitz on her body and he aided in its removal as well as his undershirt. Her dress provided little coverage and with one tug of a string the top became slack. Kakashi yanked it down and her breasts bounced free as the restriction was removed and he plunged his face into her cleavage before teasing them with his mouth drawing in each peak, rounded and flicking at them with his tongue. The other was given attention as his hand kneaded its supple flesh and taunted its pink crest gently gripping and pulling as he rolled it between his fingers.

He was domineering, aggressive, a man she didn't know, but wanted to. She grasped to hold on but there was nothing, yet her hands still searched only resting when they became entwined in her own hair. Her vocals urged him to press on. He pulled up her skirt as he groped her bottom before sliding his hands between the thin material and her skin that provided coverage underneath. His thumbs hooked the thin strings pushing them down only stopping as they fell to the floor. He rose again slowly his hands petting her skin heavily as he returned again to her lips.

Maiha fumbled with the buckle of his pants and soon her ambition was reached as they dropped to the floor, his boxers following closely behind.

Her body was open to him, vulnerable and naive to his advance. Maiha reveled in his touch and the thought of him absolutely ravaging her body turned up the temperature in the room; she was sure there would be scorch marks on the wall in the morning.

He pushed the skirt up further over her hips and urged one leg up around his waist caressing its entire length as he pushed her back up against the wall. Their breathing became more rapid, the kisses more intermittent. Thoughts were interrupted by what their bodies were doing, touching, feeling. He urged the other leg around his waist and he lowered her, slowly, and they mewled into each mouths as he drove into her warmth. Kakashi stood still his lips motionless against hers, breathing heavily attempting to gather himself before continuing any further.

She helped him, urged him by moving her hips stroking him, breaking Kakashi out of his trance and he gripped her bottom tighter thrusting himself in deeply, rocking her back and forth. Each movement pushed her, each drawn out second of the friction in between directed her toward the edge. He controlled every sound she made, every pleasurable exhale simply by manipulating her hips. He teased her, taunted her mounting the buildup.

Maiha tightened her grip around his neck; their lips no longer touched the panting left her gasping for air. Each pitched breath echoed in his ears, every low groan in her short breaths told him she was getting closer. Not until he heard his name in a long pleasurable moan that rolled out over her lips did he begin to unravel. Deeper, faster he pulsed until finally he pushed her over the edge, and as her body seized around him she pulled him down with her.

He rested a hand against the wall, holding her around the waist, almost comatose, lost in the world of euphoria they had both fallen into. Slowly regaining consciousness he gently pulled himself out and whispered "Hold on to me," urging Maiha to tighten around him. His strong body was suddenly weak and he somewhat struggled to walk the short distance from the wall to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed and he next to her. Maiha nuzzled up next to him still reeling from the cataclysmic event and Kakashi, was still breathing heavily and droplets of sweat moistened his skin.

Soon she drifted off to sleep, however, Kakashi lay awake, contemplating their relationship and its happenings. These feelings, yet somewhat confusing did not detour the desire he felt that was rooted deeply within him. Everything was jumbled clouding his mind and he began second guessing himself. Anxiety set in and he thought it best to leave the situation momentarily returning when his thoughts were clearer.

As soon as Maiha's breaths were deep and even he left her bed, returning shortly after he replaced his clothing to gaze at her once more. This woman had turned him inside out, he couldn't fight and yet didn't want to. She had obliterated the walls he had put up, it was apparent, but yet confusion still existed. He watched her in the silence of the night asleep and oblivious to his inner torment. Had she been awake she could ease his apprehension, but for once in his life he turned coward, retreating and made his way out of her apartment.

Maiha woke from the stirring in the room opening her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of his back as he exited her bedroom. Her eyes watered sharing the same confusion of this hinge type of relationship between them. There was no true definition, no spoken words to describe it only heated moments of sexual gratification leaving her core, her heart hollow. She heard the click of the apartment door, he was gone, she let him go and by her own silence was once again empty and alone.

Ok so I went for it, my first attempt at a steamy scene. I hope it wasn't too bad. Anyway thank you for reading hopefully it wasn't so repulsive that I pushed you away.

Up next... Definition, direction, duty and possibly more stuff that makes me blush depending on the reception.

Oh, and the belt thing. If you were doubtful, it's possible I've seen it, old roommate don't ask.