Chapter 22: Reflexes
(Wednesday September 24 Morning Amegakure Mr Baku's Shop)
~Kakashi~
As Kakashi turned a page, he looked over the top of his book. Sarutobi disliked being fussed over, but be that as it may, she was trying her best to be tolerant and compliant.
Well, sort of.
"You're being more fidgety than usual," Kakashi said with his eye back on his book.
"I don't fidget," Nina shot back.
Kakashi's hand snatched at the air, catching the projectile that the huffy kunoichi pegged at him. He brought his hand down, pinching the small piece of sewing chalk between his thumb and forefinger. Mr Baku shook his head as he attempted to retake Nina's measurements.
Positioned as Kakashi was, he placed the chalk next to the book Mr Baku used to record customers' measurements on the counter he was leaning against. At a quick glance, nothing listed on the displayed pages was suspicious.
The village was the same.
No faces or names spoken matched anyone listed in the Bingo Book. Everything was orderly and as the day before. Excepting today. The Orphanage was undergoing a remodel. To avoid mistrust, Kakashi had Tsunade provide Tenzō with a notice from Amegakure's Kage to hand to Kimi and Yuuma.
"Third time is indeed the charm," Mr Baku remarked. Kakashi watched the elderly man write down three measurements, not knowing if he should laugh or hang his head. "Your turn."
~Nina~
Nina opted to wait outside, escaping the overwhelming whir from the sewing machines. She slumped down the glass shop window until her bottom hit the pavement. After ruffling Pakkun's head, she pulled her book from Jiraiya out of her shoulder bag.
Unlike Kakashi, so far, she'd read ten-fifths-of-fuck-all. It was easier for him because his book was smaller than hers, making it pocketable. Nina sighed.
There it was again—her irrational irritation with Hatake over something trivial.
"I don't fidget," Nina mumbled, turning a page. "Hey!"
Nina's sloppy swipes for her confiscated book were for nothing; Kakashi was already out of reach and slipping her book back into the bag. Mission or not, reasonable or not, she rooted herself in place with her arms crossed, uninterested in yielding to one of the Copy-Nin's stupid games. "I want my book back, Hatake."
"As you wish," Kakashi responded.
With a slight tug, Nina was on her feet and staring at her bag, which she was sceptical would be returned to her.
"Is it waterproof?" Kakashi asked as he slowly slung the bag's strap over her head.
"I don't think so." Nina wrinkled her nose, thrown that she hadn't thought to ask the question before making the purchase. "Why?"
"Where's the fun if I tell you?"
(Amegakure Lakeside)
~Nina~
Nina could hardly contain her childlike excitement. That was until she realised she was about to be set upon by all the Copy-Nin's ninken, except Pakkun, who plonked his rear end at his master's side. From the flat of her back, Nina did what she could to fend off the tongues and abhorrent doggy breath. Eventually, Kakashi issued a short, sharp whistle, and the pack abided.
"I think they missed you," he chuckled as he began removing each dog's insignia.
"I missed them too, but the drool," Nina wiped the side of her mouth with the back of her hand, eyeing the oversized mastiff, "I could do with a little less of."
The lakeside was serene as it was the night before, offering a moment of reprieve from the typical chaos that Nina was used to. Without regard, she dropped her bag at the tree's trunk, removed her shoes and traipsed to the lake's edge. She barely held her footing as the pack of canines rocketed into the water in pursuit of the stick she had thrown. Nina laughed at Bull's ungracefulness and marvelled at Pakkun's ingenuity as he padded across the other dog's heads to reach the stick first.
Life had been a lot lately—Konoha's hospital, the investigation and this mission. As Akino and Ūhei banded together, tugging Nina into the surprisingly tepid water, she knew she should savour the pleasantness of it all.
I need this.
Edging deeper into the lake—sliding each foot a little at a time to not slip—Nina wondered if the Copy-Nin had known that and planned the day accordingly or if it was all just a flukey happenstance. A small warmth stirred in her stomach. No one else had shown her that kind of consideration. Others had tried to, in their own, and at times, peculiar way. Gai instantly came to Nina's mind. But something about Hatake's kindness felt different. There was something else that lingered. It was simultaneously complex and delicate, leaving Nina conflicted.
She snatched the stick from Pakkun and threw it again, successfully freeing herself of Akino and Ūhei.
~Kakashi~
Kakashi sat down, leaning back against the tree's trunk, eyes closed and body lax. It wasn't the best use of their time, but he believed there was little more to gain from further surveillance around the village.
"Back so soon, Pakkun?" Kakashi asked.
"Hmpf," the pug grunted, settling in beside him. "Aren't you worried about exposure?"
Kakashi opened his eyes. Sarutobi was a mess of squeals and laughter, kicking up the water and darting between the ninken. "No."
~Nina~
Exhausted from the skirmish, Nina yawned as she left the lake and splayed herself out like a starfish on the grass—stretching her legs out as far as she could. Bull was quick to seek the first ear scratch. Her laughter made his boof head bobble, smearing his slobber on her bare abdomen.
Nina rubbed the dogs with her fingers and toes as she closed her eyelids for a moment. Thoughts and reminders of the things she needed to do lined her entrance to sleep, but the door was so inviting that the red tape of her to-do list blurred.
~Kakashi~
Kakashi only stopped reading when the shadows blended into each other's boundaries. The sun was finally setting, and more clouds rolled in. "Hmm." Kakashi ruffled the top of Pakkun's head. "You can smell it too, huh?"
The wind picked up some, indicating a small rainstorm destined to happen later in the evening was starting to make its way in. Kakashi opted to pocket Sarutobi's book in his waterproof pants pocket instead of risking its soggy ruin if he left it in its current bag.
"Anybody would think she's one of us, eh, Boss?" remarked Pakkun, his head on a slight tilt.
"It's not like Sarutobi is a stranger to them," Kakashi replied, stretching out of his typically slouched posture.
"No. But that formation—"
"Inbuilt," Kakashi cut in.
"Not just for anyone, and not usually without command," Pakkun continued.
"Something more you wish to say, Pakkun?"
"No." Pakkun averted his eyes from Kakashi's. "It was just an observation."
Kakashi knew there was perhaps more beneath the surface to consider, especially with the bet still in place, but for now, he needed to concentrate on them returning to the Inn before the rain set in.
While he dug out the insignia he'd stashed in Nina's bag earlier, Pakkun roused the other ninken.
"Pakkun, I need an update on Tenzō's progress," Kakashi stated, affixing Bisuke's insignia.
"Got it, Boss," the pug acknowledged and dashed off toward the orphanage.
Kakashi dismissed the others and went about waking the still-slumbering kunoichi. She was more than peaceful than he'd seen her in a long time—her eyes shut and lips parted with gentle breaths.
Using his thumb, he wiped away the strands of her hair caught in her eyelashes. He admired the soft fluttering of her lashes, the flush of her cheeks and the sound of her breath hitching.
Slow and steady.
"You're getting better, Sarutobi."
"Don't patronise me," Nina growled groggily.
Clearly not one for compliments either. Noted.
"We need to be fast," Kakashi said with gentle urgency as he helped her to her feet.
While Nina stood, shaking her limbs to wake herself up, Kakashi collected the kunoichi's clothing that Shiba and Guruko had used as bedding. They were soaked and reeked of the dogs, but she'd have to wear them. At the rate the clouds were darkening, he knew the rain would definitely occur sooner rather than later.
(Amegakure Inn Room 302 Night)
~Kakashi~
Upright but hunched over, Kakashi's breathing was as unsteady as his hands that raked through his hair. He stared at Nina from out of the corner of his right eye. Her chest rising and falling through the moonlit darkness was a peculiar comfort—warm and steady. Still there.
Kakashi closed his eyes, focusing on nothing but the darkness and the feel of his heart thundering in his chest. Even in sleep, he could not escape the memories anchored deeply within his mind. They tormented him terribly.
His shoulder tensed under Nina's hand.
Kakashi fought the part of him that wanted to yell because he knew she understood. He often got harsh and lost his filter—his sharingan burning with unbridled rage. Unlike others, Sarutobi never appeared to take it personally whenever he'd gone off, nor had she made it personal.
Another clap of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a roll of thunder. Kakashi's body shuddered, and still, Nina stayed quiet. Feeling the kunoichi's hand slowly slipping away, he quickly grabbed her by the wrist. Much like his, her eyes slowly scanned his face for tells, causing him to swallow hard.
Nina looked concerned—a little crease formed between her eyebrows as she frowned. "Is the Great Kakashi of the Sharingan afraid of lightning?"
When only Kakashi's exasperated huff filled the air, he expected Nina to heed his body's hostile reaction. However, against all logic, she tucked her head under his chin and curled against him. He gave in to her weight, sinking into the futon together, her softness enveloping him.
As Kakashi eyed the lightning riotously banding across the night sky outside, something in his chest twisted. It had always been easier to wear a mask than to let someone rummage around in his insides. But last night, Sarutobi allowed herself to be vulnerable, speaking to him of buried truths in all their discomforting glory.
Kakashi's next breath faltered slightly, the weight of the impending conversation heavy on him. "It reminds me of her."
"Rin?"
The sincere question in Nina's voice laced itself around Kakashi's abdomen, squeezing him tight. While he trusted her, knowing she would sit there and let him speak as much or as little as needed—not an ounce of judgment passing her lips or marking her face—they didn't talk about themselves this way: recollecting and trading traumatic memories.
Kakashi took another deep breath, preparing to release the secret he'd been keeping. "Yes."
The dark room went completely quiet for a few minutes. Nina pulled her hand out from under her head and traced the emboldened swirl on his left bicep with her fingers.
"The Fourth assigned me to ANBU as a sort of salvation," Kakashi said.
Nina snuffled a sort of laugh and then tapped his tattoo twice. "Salvation, huh?"
Kakashi was relieved she'd not taken what he'd said as an ingratitude of his Sensei's efforts to nullify the belief that the Son of Konoha's White Fang was a friend-killer. Instead, there was a mutual understanding that while the bleak world of ANBU had given him and her a sense of belonging, it wasn't without cost.
Kakashi was thankful for that. Slowly, the kunoichi looked up at him. His mouth slanted into a smirk. Actually…he was thankful for a lot of things when it came to Sarutobi.
Without really thinking much, Kakashi drew Nina tighter against him and softly pressed his mouth to her forehead. As he pulled back, eyes still closed, there was an urge to dive in for a second kiss. Catching himself mid-thought and worried that he'd made a mistake with such a forthright gesture, he quickly checked for Nina's reaction. Kakashi noted the tiniest bit of awkwardness. But there was something else there, too.
Something he didn't w̶a̶n̶t̶ t̶o̶ recognise.
Before Kakashi could rationalise away the thought, he cautiously leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against Nina's lips. The kiss, though brief, was thick with heat and not nearly enough.
He groaned as he broke away. "This should be against some sort of rule."
~Nina~
An agreeable hum left Nina's lips. "It is."
She blinked against the darkness, horror washing over her.
Shinobi Rule #3
Hone your reflexes. They often react without you realising it.
Shit.
"It does," Nina said, wincing at her words. "I mean…this is…uh…" Nina's tongue was suddenly too big for her mouth—her conscience pleading with her to stop because she was on the verge of saying something that perhaps she shouldn't. She immediately shoved Kakashi away so there was a respectable distance between them. She heaved the blanket over her shoulder and rolled to face the opposite way.
"Nina."
She froze mid-roll. Her eyes went wide, her mouth dry, and that God-forsaken feeling low in her stomach grew. There was a strangeness in how Hatake had said her name; it'd come out almost pleadingly.
Facing away from him, Nina laid her head on her pillow and took in a deep breath, trying to gather the courage to say what she needed. "Goodnight."
~End of Chapter~
