"Not this fucker again."
Nishira moved her feet to flick off one heel then the other, the motion jarred Ryogisa more onto her shoulders, now taking the lion share of the weight. Their charge stirred enough to mumble her displeasure, her eyes becoming more alert in the cold night air, but she continued to lean on them.
"You know him?"
"He was bothering her at the club, I told him to leave. Apparently, he doesn't listen very well."
Kakashi's visible eye trailed down the short dress his student wore, although he appreciated the way the velvety pleated fabric hugged her curves and let him admire her long legs, he realized one thing.
"You don't have a weapon."
In the background, their opponent was hurling threats at them, and yelling for his buddies to come out of hiding, which appeared to surround them. Nishira shrugged.
"That's not true." She removed Ryogisa's arm from her shoulders, linking their arms to free up her other one. "I don't have a kunai, but I do have a weapon."
He watched as his student pulled the side of the dress to reveal a wide garter wrapped around her thigh, with black lacing on the back, a small, closed fan was strapped to it. She pulled it out, leaving the dress raised on the one side.
"We haven't trained in fan work; I didn't even know you could use one."
"Fan? This isn't a fan." In a practiced move she flipped open the handles to reveal a blade almost a foot long. "What? The kunai poked out too obviously, this was easier. You didn't think I'd leave home without a weapon, did you? Ryogisa, can you stand? I'm going to need my arms back."
Ryogisa stood wobbling, but free of their support, she gave them a peace sign with her manicured fingers, giving them a grin.
"I'm good!"
"YOU BASTARDS AREN'T EVEN LISTENING!"
Nishira's gaze flashed back to their opponent, who was conveniently the farthest away from them.
"Should I kill them, Kakashi sensei?"
He narrowed his eye at her before eyeing the men around them, most held switchblades, eager for their blood.
"Well, it might be unavoidable, and ANBU doesn't seem to be nearby. So, I guess we'll just have to make do."
He gave his signature shrug, and it was all she needed to take action. Nishira took off sprinting, her bare feet padding on the stone pathway. Kakashi drew out his kunai as he watched her vanish into thin air running towards the man in his tracksuit. He let out a disappointed sigh, it seemed his talks about teamwork still weren't sticking in, she'd left him to deal with the help while she went off to murder their boss.
However, she reappeared in front of the goon that stood between her and the man yelling threats from a distance. Her knife sliced through the muscle and sinew of the man's throat, spraying her with a bright spray of blood from his ripped artery. Behind her she heard a shrill shriek that rattled her eardrums. Nishira turned to make sure their charge was not injured, instead, she spotted the spray of blood staining her crisp white dress, some spots were staining her porcelain face
"Is that… blood? This will never come out! My dress! It's ruined! It's designerrrrr." Her heeled foot stamped childishly with a churlish wail.
With Nishira's attention elsewhere, a window allowed for another goon to rush her without giving her a chance to respond. Kakashi threw the kunai with deadly aim, sending the attacker stumbling back, and giving Nishira a chance to ram the knife into his chest.
"Keep your guard up."
"Yes, sensei."
Kakashi ignored the dangerously warm feeling of liking the way she said sensei, turning towards the clumsy cry of a man rushing at him and Ryogisa. Pressing his hands together in quick submission, he pressed it to the ground, that split open and swallowed three of them before closing with only their heads popping up, screaming their indignation.
"Help!"
Kakashi turned to see Ryogisa's face in panic, reaching for her protectors as a grimy hand forcibly dragged away from him towards a darkened alley, he turned to face the kidnapper ready to pursue him, but the blink of Nishira, now streaked with red, appeared in between the feet of the man and his target trailing behind, flicking the blade across the wrist of the thug. He pulled his hand back, seeing the blood pouring from the wound, before trying to throw his left clenched fist towards her. Nishira stumbled as she was pinned between Ryogisa and the man and it clipped her left cheek sending her off balance and awkwardly falling to the ground. He raised a booted foot to stomp on her, when a quick figure sailed behind him, eyes intent as wire strings roped around his target, and he pulled, rendering the man immobile as he thudded to the ground. Some of the wire began ripping into parts of his bare flesh, rubbing a small wound as drops of bled escaped from it.
The two shinobi were alerted by a shriek that their fight was not done yet, but as they turned, Ryogisa was shaking one leg.
"Now it's on my shoes! These are one of a kind Mita Susumu! Didn't they teach you at your silly ninja school how to protect your clients. You'll be paying for this! "
Without acknowledging Ryogisa's angry screeches, Nishira turned to the few remaining goons who hovered uncertainly.
"If you wish to live, you'll scatter."
Kakashi stood as the last three looked between them, trying to decide if it was worth it. Nishira knew the payday was for the jerk standing in the distance, what these petty thugs for hire would be paid was a fraction of the pot. But apparently it was enough as they steeled their resolve and came for them. Nishira gripped her butterfly knife harder, gritting her teeth. Kakashi simply stood and sheathed his kunai.
"Sensei?"
"I think this is a great opportunity to try that new jutsu you've been working on."
"Now?"
"I can't think of a better time." He placed his hand in his pocket.
Nishira stood and placed her hands together in a sequence awkwardly, it was still foreign to her hands to move in this succession but at the end, she pursed her lips as though blowing air. It was quiet for only a moment until a whistling sound picked up and a gale wind blew through them, Kakashi holding Ryogisa from being blown away as it circled around them.
"More Nishira, harder."
Nishira shut her eyes in concentration as she commanded more of her chakra to wield the unruly wind that plucked at their clothes into a sheath of ribbon, circling around them protectively. The advancing goons slowed to see what power they were facing. Kakashi gazed upon his student whose lethal looks were complimented by the wind that seemed to wrap around her like a second skin and running through her hair, the unkempt mane looked wild in a powerful way as she stared at their opponents. The wild beauty before him didn't see him or the socialite in his arms, she focused it to protect them. She gave a guttural cry, propelling it forward, the ribbon tore through the streets, jaggedly bouncing from every exposed surface. As it raged past trash cans that bowed to its will, and signs that flapped from its force, it whipped at the group of men who shouted, but the sound was consumed by her will as it rip around them and flung them like discarded trash to the sides.
Kakashi took it in that the jutsu could have easily been used to slice them apart any way she felt, but her use of it was non-lethal. It seemed something he had said over the past few months had stuck. He couldn't help the pleased smile that came from that last thought. As she stood, the wind died down and the pained groans replaced it as she turned to them. Kakashi released his charge and crossed his arms.
"Better?"
"Yes, but I think there is definitely some more work to be done, it was a bit sloppy. The landscaping staff are not going to be happy when they see all the garbage."
She tilted her head back in a loud deliberate groan.
"Sensei, cut me some slack, I did it at least."
"Yes you did, but it could be better."
Another shriek from Ryogisa had them turn to see the leader, the one from the club in his track suit and gaudy chain, he held a knife, the blade pressed against the lady's throat.
"Don't come any closer or I kill her. She doesn't need to live to collect the bounty, so give me a reason and she's dead. You let us go, and she lives for now."
He began backing away with a wicked leer. Nishira and Kakashi watched for only a moment, and then Nishira grinned. He must have known something was up when a hand gripped him from behind his neck, pulling him back and separating him from his victim shield. He looked back to see a copy of the shinobi before him with his furrowed brow.
"Using an innocent as a shield is no way to fight."
The man stumbled away from them and the clone that had gripped him, flumping on his rear and trying to scramble to his feet. Without hearing her, Nishira hovered over him, her lips by his ear, and the tip of the knife at his throat. The last words he heard before she dragged the blade along his throat was.
"You should have just left."
The words were cold and before Kakashi could stop his student from killing him, the ripping of his flesh with drowned under a gurgling as blood poured forth onto the cobblestones and the man lay completely prone, making small hiccupping noises as the blood poured out in timed bursts that lagged as his heart slowed. Nishira looked upon him, wiping the blood on her blade on the hem of her dress. Kakashi's gloved hand gripped her elbow.
"What did you do? We needed him."
"No we don't."
"Now we don't know who sent him."
Kakashi frowned but Nishira looked unfazed which dissolved his patience, but she began rifling through the dead man's pockets.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'll know it when I see it."
After a moment, she pulled out an envelope, the beige linen of an expensive envelope that Nishira flipped over a couple of times.
"Thought so."
Curiosity squelched his displeasure.
"What is it?"
Before she could answer, another voice from above them spoke its deep base commanded their attention.
"It's a calling card."
Another shinobi hopped down from the roof, landing just out of reach of them. Their face was hidden by a porcelain mask in the shape of a stylistic bear, with short black hair slicked back from it. His tan skin was shown through partially bare arms that came from a black sleeveless shirt that lay under a grey flak vest. The bottoms of his arms were covered by matching bracers. He held out his hand for the envelope.
"Thank you for your service. We'll take it from here."
Kakashi remained neutrally passive, watching as the man's partner jumped down, but kept to the dark shadows away from the light and his sight. Nishira flipped the envelope a few times and then handed the envelope over without much qualm.
"You know what to do with it?"
The operative seemed to stare down at her but answered in the same monotone deep rumbling voice.
"Yes. We will take the young lady with us back to her residence."
"She's yours now." Nishira turned back to Ryogisa. "They'll take care of the dry-cleaning bill too. See ya!"
She was about to leave when Ryogisa threw her arms on Nishira. After an awkward moment, Nishira gently pat one of her trapped hands on the girls back, pressing her lips together. Ryogisa released her.
"Thanks for saving my life. You're really pretty when you're not being all icky and stabby."
"Uh, thanks?"
The girl turned to the ANBU operatives and immediately started to lecture about the expensive clothes they ruined, the partner that hadn't spoken or approached them began rounding up the thugs with a justsu that seemed to wrap them in rope and carry them without the help of the wielder. Nishira stood with Kakashi as they left them behind, going towards the Hokage's building.
Kakashi turned back to the student.
"Explain."
"It's different in each land, but basically, it's a contract. Someone wants a job, they get a name and the envelope which tells them where to take their prize and drop it off for the buyer, or someone who works for the buyer to pick it up and then the money is wired to the bank number the contractor put on the back. It's usually very regulated by a guild or a gang. Either way, the guy wouldn't know who the buyer is, and the buyer only knows a bank number but no name. It's a very slick organization if you're looking for something." She shrugged nonchalantly. "But to buy in this trade requires money, so whoever wanted Ryogisa is definitely rich. But I'm guessing the goon squad is going to take over from here."
Kakashi looked at her, curiously.
"How do you know that?"
"Because I've been the contractor before, a long time back. It's usually the same anonymous transaction. But the quality of the paper gave it away."
Kakashi nodded, before seeing the split on Nishira's cheek.
"You should go get that looked at," his eyes scanned to see the stained dress, the dark fabric stretched, hugging every curve. "Maybe you'll want to get changed before the nurses have a heart attack."
"No, no hospital, I have the stuff at home, it's just a cut." She turned to grab her shoes and Kakashi saw a spasm of a wince across her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She winced again and Kakashi put a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Show me."
Nishira let out a frustrated sigh before turning her leg to show a cut that had sliced through the fabric of her dress around her left hip, the blood staining the clear cut from a sharp blade.
"Fucker got me when I slashed his throat, it was a stupid mistake."
She turned to walk again but faltered on the first step. Kakashi reached out to grab her arm to keep her from falling over.
"You're going to the hospital."
"No, I just want to go home. this whole day has been one big mistake and I just need some fucking sleep."
There was a pregnant pause after her short outburst, resisting the urge to chastise her language. Nishira emitted a deep sigh.
"I just want to go home."
She tried to shake his hand from her shoulder, and he let her. But a sharp hiss came from her mouth with the next step and a string of curses. Kakashi took her arm again and placed it over his shoulder.
"I will make you a deal. I promise no hospital, but you are going to let me walk with you home and make sure you're alright."
With a small, embarrassed blush crept into her cheeks.
"Fine." The words were small, hushed, and filled with shame. Kakashi pointed them towards her apartment, Nishira scooping up her shoes in her other free hand and they went at a slow pace. Unaware of the figure who had observed them from the shadows.
"Ow! Fuck! What are you doing?"
Nishira cussed into the couch cushion held with a death grip on each side as Kakashi swiped a washcloth stained with blood that he had dabbed up from the wound in preparation to bandage it. Nishira scrunched her face as he placed clean gauze on the torn skin. The rest of the blood had been washed away, her hair still wet from the shower, the dress in the trash. As he placed the bandage carefully on the wound, she let out another string of curses.
"Alright, that should do it. You promise you'll see the doctor tomorrow? I think it might need a few stitches."
She groaned but gave her agreement, waiting for the pain meds to kick in. As Kakashi looked down at her, he couldn't help but notice the curve of her neck as she groaned into the pillow again, the graceful sweep of it and he spotted a small patch of dried blood just behind her ear. Without thinking Kakashi reached with the cloth to dab at the stain. A she did, Nishiura let out a small gasp and shivered, her legs curled up on the couch and his gaze was drawn to the curve of the thigh he'd touched was still bare except for the white square bandage he'd applied. His mouth dried at the temptation to touch her again, to make her react that way again. Instead, he forced himself to look away.
"Kakashi?" He turned to see her looking up at him, eyes wide as they looked at him with a shining vulnerability that shook him to his core. Her hand reached out towards him and brushed the side of his face, and despite his better judgment he allowed the gentle touch and closed his eyes, pressing his hand over it, letting out a shaky breath.
Nishira slowly sat up, only wincing once, focused on the man kneeling before her. Deliriously, she held his face like it would vanish, like she would wake up and find out this was just a pain medication dream. She took her other hand and brushed it through his coarse hair. He looked up at her with that eye searching her face, very different from the relaxed or strict looks he typically wore. She spoke his name, like a prayer, and that seemed to shake the spell that had been cast. Gently he removed her hands by the wrists and stood.
"I should go."
He walked towards the door and Nishira let him. His hand reached for the knob.
"Wait." He turned to see her standing. "I just keep messing things up with you, don't I?"
Kakashi saw her look away, the vulnerability of her gaze clouding over and disappearing behind a face that was so unreadably shut down. Her features hardened a face he was unlikely to forget from the pang he felt.
"Good night, sensei."
He was about to turn without saying anything, knowing nothing would fix this rift, but his control prevailed, until he heard her small voice behind him.
"Thanks. For everything. I hope I was a good student."
His resolve softened but he wouldn't test its strength by turning around. He found some strength left in his vocal chords to respond.
"You're welcome. Good night, Nishira."
