~Chapter 5: Consolation Prize~
(Monday September 15-Kakashi's Birthday-Shushu-ya)
~Kakashi~
Groans echoed in Kakashi's mind, suppressing the want to tuck tail and disappear. He preferred not to give in and participate in these predicaments, but this was how it often went with Guy—it'd start with a joke that would likely get out of hand.
"Stay in your spot, do not move. The closest one to my rival will be victorious!" Guy instructed.
Oh boy. The peppy Guy winked at Kakashi, pulling a tape measure from his back pocket.
Because everyone carries one of those around.
~Nina~
Already indifferent to romanticised traditions like mistletoe, Nina wanted no part in any of this. She was too close for comfort at a quick gauge, so against Guy's instructions, she retreated. Asuma impeded her escape attempt—the tell-tale foul smell of nicotine, a dead giveaway.
"Move your big dumb foot," she begged, trialling a kinder approach with her smart-arsed sibling. Nina's jaw tightened, the temptation to jam her pointed heel into the top of Asuma's foot increasing for every second he refused to move it.
"Can't do that," Asuma replied, unaffected by Nina's repetitive footed shunts." Besides, it'd go against the rules."
Rules? Nina tsked, tongue clicking at the absurdity. There were no fucking rules for this bullshit.
The way forward was blocked by foot traffic and wanton women; then again, it was thinning. Those who were spoken-for or too young moved away, leaving a few desirous ladies. She could part company and hopefully avoid getting caught up with Guy's sideshow event.
"You know we want the best for you, Nina," Kurenai began, rounding Asuma and standing on Nina's right.
"No matter what," Hanako continued, coming from behind the pillar to stand to Nina's left.
"What?" Nina rejected.
Springing forward to put distance between her and the other two women—albeit she was now closer to the Copy-Nin—she thudded into another body with her back. Reflexes sharp, Nina spun around again, this time on the back foot and eyeballing the trio closing in on her.
"This is for your own good, Little Sarutobi," Genma taunted, stepping backwards to avoid Nina's swinging right fist.
"Like fuck it is!" Nina lashed back, throwing another punch for each that didn't land. With the additional physicality to their argument, Kurenai and Hanako to bowed out, far away from Genma's flanks.
"Every girl wants a piece of him. Count yourself lucky for such an opportunity," Genma added, cocking his head and narrowly escaping her right hook.
"Two point nine meters. Nina, you're one lucky lady!" Guy announced, capturing her hand and stretching it up in victory.
Unperturbed by the proclamation, Nina twisted around Guy to continue her counterargument. "It's not even a proper kiss, Shiranui."
With Kakashi wearing a mask, it'd be no different to, well—ew. She pushed aside the remembrance of hearing classmates talk about the happenings at pubescent girls' nights and how they practised the art of kissing on teddies and pillows.
Genma held his palms up in resignation, allowing Nina to shake free of Guy and deal with her brother. Crossed arms, her knuckle bone white as she gripped her elbows, she pivoted on the balls of her feet. "It's no different to the peck on the cheek I give you, and you're my br—!" Her trio of hecklers had disappeared, leaving her berating … no one. She stamped her foot in frustration.
~Kakashi~
A second look at where Ayame stood; Kakashi held his reservations. Interesting. Ayame purposely brushed past him; her eyes flickered up, giving him a warm smile and a silent reassurance that her affections were secured for the night—later. First…
Sarutobi.
~Nina~
Feeling something warm fall on her shoulders, Nina glanced over her left shoulder at the figure that loomed over her. "You're not obligated to do this, you know?" she snipped.
"Have you met Guy?" Kakashi asked, stepping in until he unpocketed his left arm, planting it on the pillar beside her head.
Worked up from her brother and friends, Nina strived to come up with an excuse or quip that could insult, or at minimum, ruffle Kakashi's coolness to match the shabby state of his silver crop of hair. Locked in against the pillar by his taller frame, she flashed her eyes to either side, noting that no one seemed aware of them, too busy in their own conversations; except one person.
"What about Ayame? She's very pretty and clearly looking to spend the night in your bed."
"Mhm, that's all taken care of," Kakashi answered with an irritating casualness that had Nina rolling her eyes. "What do you say you and me just get it done and over with, hm?" Kakashi teased.
"Wait—what?" Nina sputtered, swallowing the anxious quiver of her voice. You're serious?"—nearly melding herself into the pillar at her back—"You're actually going to kiss me?"
"It's not like I have anything better to do." Kakashi shrugged.
Nina glowered back up at him. He was a fucking shinobi; he had plenty of alternatives. No, Hatake knew precisely what he was doing and enjoyed every drawn-out second.
"Sure you do. Cats to help across the street and little old ladies to pluck from the trees." Nina snapped her mouth closed.
Shit, that's not what I meant to say.
She looked off to the side, annoyed that her words had tumbled out in some weird jumble given the speed she'd spoken in. "Don't," she warned, pressing a hand to his chest. "Just don't."
Kakashi—the epitome of calm under pressure— snagged her chin between his thumb and index finger, gently tilting her face toward his, leaning closer for her to hear his lowered voice. "Try again, Sarutobi. Slower this time."
Nina blushed at the intensity of his words, gazing directly at him for a long, awkward, and slightly uncomfortable moment. Being accustomed to Kakashi's authoritative intonation, his smooth, flirtatious solicitation had her mind reeling. Their proximity was close enough that she could feel his breaths feathering against her lips.
The touching, the stares, it all felt too intimate, vulnerable.
"I can't do this," Nina conceded.
"You can't do what?" Kakashi asked.
What sort of question is that?
Nina squirmed, wanting to make eye contact, but at the same time, to look literally anywhere else.
"This. I can't do this."
~Kakashi~
Kakashi saw that confident, almost smug smile on Nina's face slip, and in the middle of all the larking, there were her eyes. She was eyeing up at him with an expression of confusion and something else. Something dangerously close to fear.
He knew that should they not follow through with the senseless tradition, they risked a backlash from Guy. Even so, seeing Nina like this for nothing more than the cheap thrill of their friends shocked him. Kakashi dropped his hand from the pillar to her shoulder and looked deeply into her soft, pleading eyes. He slipped both hands into his pockets and withdrew backwards two steps, giving her ample, unhindered room to move.
~Nina~
Shaken from the whole situation, Nina nodded, comforted but overwhelmed by Kakashi's actions and not knowing what to say in response. He wasn't pressing this—just the opposite; he offered her an opt-out. She looked for Asuma and the others, but none appeared in sight or earshot.
Thank fuck.
Unable to start processing any of it just yet, Nina hesitantly edged forward, keeping her eyes on Kakashi at all times—should he be inclined to rebuke. Cursedly, her limbs were unresponsive to her brain, and she tripped on air.
~Kakashi~
Instead of letting Nina faceplant onto the floor, Kakashi jutted out one leg and wound an arm around her petite waist as she tottered on her stiletto heels. Again, they momentarily regarded each other while the rest of the party carried on around them. Kakashi had to fight the laugh in his chest, settling for a half-smile. As quick as the look of humiliation on Nina's face came, it was gone, as was she—pushing off his chest and scampering into the crowd without looking back.
"Ah, unrequited love, my friend," Guy cracked, shouldering Kakashi with a sympathetic nudge. "How about another drink?"
Kakashi followed his comrade to the bar. Guy took the opportunity to tout tips and tricks for ladies—none of which Kakashi paid attention to, occasionally nodding or humming in feigned interest. While he understood the need for some to seek love and companionship, he did not despair that he may never have his one and only—for many reasons. Also, he believed there was no need to occupy his mind with other matters that could impact a mission's success.
Ironically—and rudely, considering his female companion cosied into his ride side—Kakashi's mind was preoccupied with the medic-nin and her peculiar response.
Nina would deny it, but there was something…something lusty tucked away behind her eyes. Something Kakashi couldn't quite put his finger on. She'd seen things, done things. Nina Sarutobi was either wildly naïve or dangerously intelligent.
*Hours later*
~Nina~
It was late, Nina could tell. It was the part of the night when the hours started to lose meaning, and her tally of drinks consumed was unknown. Genma and Hanako disappeared an hour ago, giggling and shushing each other. Asuma and Kurenai called it a night shortly after. Ayame, sandwiched between Kakashi and Guy, occupied the far-right end of the bar. Nina had been making an effort not to listen to their conversation. Nonetheless, she still picked up Guy's half a dozen proffers to Kakashi.
The celebrations within the walls of Shushu-ya were at an end for the night, the bartender calling for last drinks. Nina ordered and downed a shot—a spirit of the bartender's choosing. She was tipsy and on her way to getting comfortably drunk—head a little spinney, everything mildly funnier, along with the tingly rise in her perceived body temperature.
If she left first, then she could avoid entangling with the triangle.
Outside, with the world spinning a little more than Nina wanted, she stabilised herself against a wall.
Or maybe it is a tree.
She peered up, chin tucked into her left shoulder, watching as a person made up of smears of silver hair and a face—majority covered—slowly approached her. "I...I'll be f-fine," Nina croaked out.
Kakashi captured her by the hip as she swayed. "Hm, and I thought Guy was supposed to be the liar tonight."
Utterly confused for the minute, she tensed up at his steadfast hold. Looking back at the entrance of Shushu-ya, Guy and Ayame—with their arms around each other, barely succeeding in remaining upright—were uncoordinated bundles of intoxicated affection. A whip of cold air sobered Nina up to the realisation she'd unintentionally pulled Hatake away from a girl he might have wanted to take home. Shit. "I'm sorry, Hatake."
~Kakashi~
"No, you're not, Sarutobi," Kakashi gibed.
It was his fault—no—choice too. For whatever reason, tonight, Nina found trouble. But that was why Kakashi was there, leaving his companion in the all-too-eager hands of Guy.
If Genma were present, he'd likely have a dig at the Copy-Nin, citing a dated promise, and perhaps he'd be partially correct. However, Kakashi preferred to believe it was a pathological impulse that stemmed from years of comradeship.
Located close to Konoha's hospital, Nina's apartment was within short walking distance from Shushu-ya; the route between the two passed through some of the darker and shadier parts of the village. Respectfully, being unsteady on her legs didn't make Nina any less capable of holding her own. Nevertheless, Kakashi wanted to ensure Nina arrived home safely.
In their silent companionship, Nina's eyes dropped to the path under their feet—sometimes pavement and sometimes dirt. There was plenty to trip over if she didn't take care to mind where she trod. Kakashi no longer held her; instead, he hung by her side, with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
Without a book to occupy his perpetually busy mind, Kakashi mulled over the would-be kiss. He saw the moment it happened and how it was like nothing he'd witnessed from Nina before. He wasn't aiming to draw blood, just an answer.
"What is it that you were afraid of earlier, Sarutobi?" Kakashi asked candidly, guiding Nina around another lamp post.
~Nina~
Bitterness lingered on Nina's tongue like a burnt aftertaste. The silence hung in the air while she contemplated why she was holding back on answering Kakashi. It was said, 'there are two reasons people don't talk about things. Either it doesn't mean anything to them, or it means everything.'
'Coward,' snarked her subconscious.
"Them," Nina mumbled, taking quickened steps to close the gap between them.
~Kakashi~
The blunted sincerity caught Kakashi off-guard, meaning he was now the one trailing behind Nina. She was already halfway down the alley, and he was frozen, still coming to terms with her revelation. Kakashi opened his mouth to force something—anything—out. "How could you possibly know for certain that they would—?"
"Hurt me?" Nina clipped in, looking at him from over her shoulder. The shadowy light played across the planes of her face enough that Kakashi could see some softer edges to her expression before her head whipped away from his view. Nina breathed in deeply, "I don't." She tipped her head back and exhaled as she closed her eyes. "But I'd hurt me,"—giving him another smile, but this time, there is a fragility to it—"if I gave too much of myself to someone."
Kakashi knew that she didn't intend for anyone to hear this display of emotion. He could well understand the importance of such a mask; he wore one himself.
~Nina~
Nina cringed as a hiccup broke through the unanticipated sombre state of the night. Having had her fill with embarrassment for the night, she rounded the corner to the right; they hadn't far to go at all. Kakashi followed with a quiet hum.
When the steel railings of the stairs that lead up to her apartment came into sight, Nina decided it was far enough for her chaperone. She hadn't forgotten it was the Copy-Nin's birthday. "Go on, birthday boy," Nina ushered Kakashi to go with a wave of her hand. "Go fuck noodle-girl," she half-giggled, aware she shouldn't begrudge a man for his selections in bed company.
"A gentleman should walk you to your door," countered Kakashi, a playful yet knowing glint shimmered through his eye.
Amused by his mock chivalry, Nina laughed—two more hiccups escaping. "Ah, but you're no gentlem—"
~Kakashi~
Kakashi sighed, shaking his head. Not a second after calculating Nina's success rate of making it up the stairs in one piece, she'd slipped on the edge of the fourth step. "Offer stands," Kakashi reiterated, holding a hand out for her to use.
Nina ignored is offered hand and opted to pull herself up. "Offer declined."
Kakashi watched her from the bottom of the staircase, ensuring that she did make it to the top this time. He smiled softly, feeling a bit sheepish.
Hm, yellow really does suit her.
"Goodnight, Hatake," Nina called from over her shoulder.
The click of the door closing came before he could reply.
No matter.
"Goodnight, Sarutobi."
(Shushu-ya)
~Kakashi~
It'd been a fifty-fifty swaying chance that this was how Kakashi's night would conclude. He rubbed his hand down the back of his neck.
Ah, Guy. Wonder how many points you'll award yourself for this win?
As a small, less complicated consolation prize, with his bed empty, Kakashi was free to read the latest instalment from Jiraiya.
