CHAPTER 3
It was a few days after having some BBQ with her friends. The situation at home was still pretty strict. Nothing has really changed so far and the rules still stand as well. Kina has been taking more shifts at the Hospital. She couldn't stand being in their home– the image of her uncle in pain in her yard made her feel uneasy. Ko and another extra body guard still followed her everywhere she went. I guess her father was still worried something was going to happen to them. She did see Kakashi again, too. When doing her recent visits, she saw him paying his respects as well. This time the two of them were standing side by side by the memorial stone. The heiress did try to introduce herself to him, but that didn't quite work out well– he vanished before she could even say anything.
She tapped the end of her pencil on the table in a rhythmic beat, staring at the clock on the wall. She sighed, resting her head in her hand counting down the seconds.
"Damn… maybe I should stop taking night shifts for a while. It's starting to catch up on me." She yawned, throwing up her arms to stretch.
"Hyuga!"
"Yes, Naga?"
"There is someone who came back injured from a night mission. He needs some stitches, it looks like. Will you be the one to handle it? I have to check on another patient tonight." She handed over a clipboard with the patient's information.
Kina glanced at the clipboard and sighed "alright."
"Oh, come on. It's not like you were doing anything anyways."
"Hm, you are right about that. Better than doing nothing." She said, getting up from the chair and heading towards the room.
The lights buzzing above her as she made her way down the hallway. Her feet echoing loudly on how silent it was. She gently knocked on the door twice before sliding it open, beginning to skim through the information on the clipboard.
"Hello, I am Hyuga Kina.. I'll be your nurse for the night.'' She then sat down the clipboard on the countertop to pull out a needle and threat from the cabinet. In one of the sliding drawers she grabbed some disinfecting liquid in a small bottle and what looked like white cloth. Without looking at the patient, she sat everything on a metal strolling tray. Went back to where the counter was and washed her hands before slipping on some gloves.
"So I was told you had a deep cut that needed stitches, huh?" she said while standing in front of the patient, looking down to review the information on the clipboard again– in focus this time. Her eyes widened slightly when she read the patient's name out loud "Hatake Kakashi?"
She looked at him, seeing him without his ANBU mask for once. He had only one eye opened, and she noticed a scar running down his left eye. He wore only his black undergarment, revealing his small yet toned arms. She reached out for his arm, but he did not move one bit.
Nervously, "may I look at your wound?" she asked.
He slowly held out his arm towards her and with gentle care, Kina took off the badly wrapped up bandage to get a look at the wound. She winced slightly from the sight of the cut.
"Well, you're lucky it didn't cut through any major veins in your forearms." She pointed out before bringing a rag closer to his forearms. She prepared, "this might just sting slightly." As she pressed the rag against his wound, he didn't flinch.
He stayed unresponsive, staring blankly at his lap as she proceeded to sew up his wound.
Breaking the silence, "I saw you earlier." She paused waiting for a response. But she did not get one. She continued, "Not to sound all creepy or anything. But I actually see you a lot when I go visit the memorial stone."
Still no answer.
Kina then began to wrap up his forearm with bandages and continued, "so… you stop at the memorial stone often as well. Means….that you lost someone during the war too?"
Still no answer.
"Was it a teammate? Maybe a best friend? A… ah-uh, lover?"
Still no answer.
She sighed, tightening the knot of the bandage then came to a stand. She placed everything on the metal tray stroller and moved it near the door. The wheels squeaked slightly as she pushed. She then disposed of her gloves in a small trash bin that had a lid and washed her hands.
"Well, you should be fine now. I saw in the notes the doctor wants you to stay in for the night, just in case. I am assuming they just wanna monitor your vitals before sending you home. If anything is needed, just call for us. So, yeah, goodnight, Hatake."
She slid the door open beginning to leave until she heard a faint low voice.
"Thank you."
His voice was soothing. She turned to face him and gave him a gentle smile before leaving the room.
"Aw, come on! It'll be fun this time. I swear!"
Kakashi annoyingly sighed. "Asuma, I don't want to go to this festival."
"But you always went to them in the past. Why are you being like this now?"
"Tsk. Just to third wheel with you and Kurenai? No thank you."
Asuma groaned, rubbing at his temples with the tip of his fingers. "It won't be like last time."
"Last time you said that last time too!" Kakashi bit back.
He chucked. "Okay, but this time it is different. Kurenai is bringing one of her girlfriends this time. I swear. She is really pretty. You have to come."
"Last time you said that, it was Gai. So no."
Asuma broke into laughter before he started to ramble on about that time. Kakashi's face became serious, starting to close the door on him. "See? Bye."
"Wait! Wait! I am just messing with you!" Asuma holds the door to stop it from closing all the way.
He sighed, opening the door wide.
"I am serious this time. Her name is Hyuga K-"
"Kina?"
Asuma's eyebrow raised high. "So you already know her? See that's great! Then it won't even be awkward."
"You really are trying to set me up with the heiress of the Hyuga Clan?"
"Even a greater story to tell in the future, no? How you won her over and stole her from her daddy and duties?" Asuma joked.
Kakashi groaned as he locked the door. The two of them walked towards the festival side by side.
"Wait, how do you even know her again?"
"She was my nurse the other day when I came back from one of my missions."
"Woah," Asuma started and then in a joking way, "nurse… huh?"
"Asuma…"
"I'm kidding! But she's beautiful, right? That's got to be why you came out of your home the moment you heard her name. Haha!" He gently slapped Kakashi on the back.
He glared at him with his hands in his pockets. "I mean… She's cute, but I don't know."
"Just see how it is and then just go with it, bro."
Meanwhile on the other side of town, Kurenai is prepping up the nervous Kina. "Would you relax already?"
"I swear, if you are trying to set me up with Gai again."
Kurenai giggled. "Don't worry! It's not Gai this time. He's busy on a mission today anyways. So relax."
Kina patted at her formal kimono and muttered under her breath, "this makes me look big for some reason…"
"You look fine! You look great! Come on." Kurenai tugged on her arm. She pointed at the two of them waiting near the entrance of the festival. "See, look! I told you it wasn't Gai. Now do you believe me?"
The heiress met eyes with Kakashi, who was leaning against a tall electric phone pole with his hands in his pockets. One foot hoisted against the pole.
"Where were you two? We have been waiting here for a good half hour!" Asuma complained.
Kurenai held onto Asuma's arm. "It was Kina's fault! She was dragging."
"Well, we only have a while left till the fireworks so lets make it worth it."
