Chapter 24: Twenty Questions

(Thursday September 25 Amegakure Tavern Night)

As Kakashi stepped through the door to the tavern with Nina following behind, he was greeted by a wave of warmth and noise. The bar was dimly lit, with strings of fairy lights casting a soft, multi-coloured glow over the patrons. The walls were adorned with faded posters of bygone musical idols and eclectic knickknacks, giving the place a quirky, lived-in feel.

The air was thick with the mingling scents of alcohol, grilled food and the subtle musk of damp clothing. A small stage dominated the room, where a group of locals belted out a song with more enthusiasm than talent, reminding Kakashi of someone else back in Konoha. Their laughter and off-key singing blended into the background hum, adding to the bar's vibrant atmosphere.

Kakashi led Nina to the long, polished wooden bar stretching along the room's side. It was a focal point of the establishment, lined with an impressive array of saké bottles and other spirits, their labels boasting a variety of origins and ages. The bar was dotted with stools, some occupied by patrons engaged in quiet conversation or simply enjoying their drinks.

Kakashi selected seats near the end of the bar, where they could maintain a low profile while having a good view of the entrance. The bartender, a middle-aged man with a friendly, weathered face and a towel slung over his shoulder approached with a welcoming smile.

"What can I get for you?" he asked.

"Two cups of your best saké, please," Kakashi replied, his eye scanning the room as he spoke.

"Bottles," Nina corrected.

The bartender looked to Kakashi for confirmation. With a small nod, the bartender moved to fulfil the order. While waiting for their drinks, Kakashi glanced around the bar, his sharp eye missing nothing. The noise of the bar ebbed and flowed around them, a comforting reminder of their anonymity in this crowded place.

When the bartender returned, setting the cups and bottles down with practised ease, Kakashi turned to the kunoichi, his visible eye crinkling into a half-smile. "Kanpai," he said, raising his cup.

Nina clinked her cup against Kakashi's.

"So," Nina began, "how about a game of twenty questions?"

"No," Kakashi replied, taking another sip of his saké before leaning back slightly. The suggestion was entirely out of character for Sarutobi. That and the list of things she knew about him was already concerningly long. "Besides, you usually have a habitual way of reacting with violence towards this stuff," he added.

With a wry smile, Nina threw back another cup of saké, countering his refusal with a playful challenge. "One question and the absolute truth."

Unchanging his expression, Kakashi shook his head in mock exasperation. "I'm afraid I'm not one for bartering, Sarutobi."

Nina scrunched up her face, her lips and nose contorting into an expression of disapproval. "You know what I think? I think you're scared."

Kakashi paused, his drink halfway to his masked lips. The opening chords of a new song on the stage and the off-key singing of the patrons filled the room once more.

"I think you're terrified that I might find out something," Nina said, revealing a smiling set of teeth that made Kakashi's jaw muscles tense. "I think you're a coward—"

"You know what I think?" Kakashi snapped. His words were like fire on his tongue. He pretended not to notice how the kunoichi's smile faltered as he leaned in close, caging her in her seat. "I think you're pushing it."

~Nina~

Nina couldn't read the look Kakashi gave her. His eye bore into hers as she tried not to squirm under his scrutiny. She slowly downed the last of her drink, never breaking eye contact. The alcohol burned as it reached her throat and down to her stomach. It was strong, but she didn't wince, nor did he. How he carried himself, always so composed and in control, was intriguing and infuriating.

Nina knew, for a shinobi, keeping emotions in check was second nature, a skill honed through years of training. Even the slightest display of weakness could be exploited in their world. And so, emboldened by a little saké, she decided to push Kakashi further, determined to crack his calm exterior.

"I'm not afraid of you."

Nina's words hung in the air, a quiet declaration of defiance that cut through the banter like a blade. Her tone was firm and unwavering as she spoke her truth.

Kakashi pulled back from Nina, one elbow resting casually on the bar as he refilled their cups. His expression turned contemplative, some of the light leaving his eye. "Maybe you should be."

Nina's breath caught, the intensity of the Copy-Nin's words hitting her hard as their banter took on a more serious edge. With a furrowed brow, she hesitated, the words dying on her lips as she accepted the futility of pressing him for more answers that he was unwilling to give.

In the background, another round of amateur performances cycled through as Nina hypothesised the possible motives of the enigmatic ninja beside her. Instead of returning to the Inn, he'd bought them here—a tavern nestled within the labyrinthine streets of the perpetually rain-soaked village. From the outside, it appeared unassuming, a weathered wooden sign with neon characters glowing faintly against the misty backdrop.

Nina swirled her drink before taking a sip, savouring its warmth and smoothness. Kakashi had ordered the bar's best saké. Her eyes shot up at him.

Oh god.

"Hn?"

Nina snorted. She finished her drink, refilling it herself this time.

"You may be a dangerous man, but I won't be manipulated so easily," Nina said with an air of finality.

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi quizzed.

Whether it was feigned innocence or sincere confusion on the Copy-Nin's part, Nina held up the near-emptied second bottle of saké and gave it a swish. Kakashi chuckled; the sound was rich and genuine.

"What?" Nina demanded.

She watched Kakashi with growing impatience as he took possession of the saké bottle. He tilted the bottle, letting the clear liquid flow into his cup. The soft sound of pouring saké seemed to stretch out the moment unbearably. She tapped her fingers on the bar, her eyes narrowing as she waited for his explanation.

Kakashi set the bottle down gently and lifted the cup to his lips, taking a slow, measured sip. Finally, he turned to Nina. "It's not a matter of can or can't, but rather how."

Nina felt a flush of warmth that had nothing to do with the saké. She shook her head with incredulity at how much confidence and sex appeal was oozing off the man. He had no shame at all, and the worst part was that she was still somehow surprised by it.

Nina shrugged, easing back into her stool with a smirk. "You're not the first to play this game. What makes you any different?"

"Ah, but you see," Kakashi replied, his arm casually draped over the back of Nina's stool, "I never claimed to be different."

Nina gritted her teeth, pinned by the truth in the Copy-Nin's words. She knew she needed to respond swiftly to regain her footing in their verbal spar. However, before she could gather her thoughts, the words tumbled out of her mouth like an unguarded confession.

"You make it sound so simple," Nina said.

The song ended, and the bar erupted into applause. Nina traced the rim of her cup with her index finger, the cool porcelain a grounding sensation against her skin. She could feel the words bubbling up, a confession she'd never intended to make.

Whether it was her trust in Kakashi or simply the blur of intoxication that dulled Nina's inhibitions, she found herself acknowledging her own humanness. With a quiet sigh, she allowed herself to lower her guard, if only for a moment, embracing her emotions in a way she seldom permitted herself to do.

"Two," Nina stated firmly, her fingers wrapping around the neck of the saké bottle. She chose to indulge in the whole bottle this time.

As Kakashi's eyebrow raised in mild surprise, she rushed to explain.

"Genma and Iwashi." Nina tilted the bottle to her lips, taking a deep swig before setting it down with a clatter. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "At first, I blamed my father. Then, there was my idiotic brother," she continued. "Always hovering like I was some fragile thing that needed shielding."

Nina sighed, tapping her thumb twice on the bottle. "Work, well, that was always a convenient excuse," she lamented.

Nina took another swig of sake, trying to steady her nerves. They were taught that saying their emotions out loud would only lead to more issues, but here she fucking was. She glanced at Kakashi again, trying to read his expression and discern any hint of what he might be thinking. However, his face remained inscrutable.

"Sorry, I know it's strange," Nina said, her voice tinged with self-consciousness. "But society has its standards; sometimes, I just don't fit into them."

"Standards are overrated," Kakashi replied with a small smile.

Nina's heart fluttered with a mixture of confusion and warmth. Yet, a familiar instinct kicked in—the need to shield herself from vulnerability because in the shinobi world, where danger lurked around every corner, there was no room for sentimentality—only the cold, hard truth of survival.

With a quick, dismissive laugh, Nina brushed off the moment, her walls shooting back up like a fortress. "Yeah, well, we've both seen enough in our line of work," she quipped. Nina eyeballed the bottom of the bottle. Noting its emptiness, she set it down on the bar and signalled the bartender for another. "Feelings just get in the way."

~Kakashi~

Kakashi pondered Nina's revelation, her admission casting new light on the complexities of her character. he and she were people who didn't want to talk about their pasts because they were traumatic, damning... they had their reasons. Some things were better left unsaid.

Sarutobi's words echoed the sentiments of countless shinobi, always on the move, always with a mission to complete. It was a life that left little room for personal connections. The thought led Kakashi to consider the dynamics of the kunoichi's relationships with those closest to her. Did Nina share more of her inner struggles, finding solace in her friendship with Hanako? And what about her brother, Asuma? Although siblings shared a unique bond, Kakashi doubted he'd ever glimpsed at the cracks in his sister's armour.

Nina Sarutobi was indeed a tough nut to crack. Yet, Kakashi couldn't help but admire her for it. He knew the weight of expectations, the pressure to always appear strong, unbreakable. He saw the similarities in their lives, the shared burden of their roles. They had both been shaped by their experiences, their losses, and their responsibilities.

As the bartender brought another bottle of sake, Kakashi watched Nina carefully as she poured them both a drink, her movements slower and her expression pensive. The yellow sundress with white polkas she wore was unlike her usual attire—a soft, feminine touch Kakashi seldom saw. The dress hugged her figure in all the right places, the hem riding up slightly as she shifted, revealing more of her toned thighs. Kakashi's resolve wavered for a moment, a fleeting spark of curiosity flickering beneath his stoic façade. His critical gaze swept over the kunoichi, lingering a little longer than necessary on her exposed skin.

"You're staring."

Nina turned her head slightly, a blush creeping up her cheeks that she tried to hide. Not letting her shy away, Kakashi gently snagged her chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning her face back toward him.

"You're blushing," he teased.

"Yeah, because you're so close," Nina snapped, meeting Kakashi's gaze head-on. Her irritation barely masked the nervousness in her voice, and he could see the faint tremor in her hands.

Kakashi leaned forward, his lips hovering just inches from Nina's. There was no mistaking the want burning in her eyes, a stark contrast to the hostility she'd shown at the beginning of their mission. He could hardly approach her without her withdrawing or lashing out.

Despite Nina's earlier admission of anger towards him and herself, she now seemed to embrace the moment with an unexpected ease. Kakashi considered that her apparent relaxation could be part of an act, a carefully constructed guise designed to maintain their cover during the mission. After all, they were both skilled shinobi, adept at hiding their true intentions beneath layers of deception. But there was a nagging doubt in the back of Kakashi's mind. A whisper of suspicion that perhaps Nina's behaviour was not entirely an act.

"Then tell me to stop, Sarutobi," Kakashi murmured, drawing circles on her thighs with feather-light touches using his fingertips. The gesture was tentative and calculated.

"Pervert," Nina seethed, though her voice wavered, and Kakashi could sense the ripple of awareness that coursed through her.

"You still haven't told me to stop," Kakashi said, his hand edging further up Nina's thigh, brushing the hem of her dress. He watched her, noting the way her muscles tensed slightly under his touch, betraying the impact of his actions.

Although he'd successfully shut the kunoichi up, he knew she was never one to not have the last word.

"And if I did, would you listen?" Nina asked.

Somehow, Kakashi's confidence made her feel steady enough to be direct with him. To be flirtatious.

With each flirtatious remark and teasing gesture, Kakashi tiptoed dangerously close to crossing a boundary he wasn't sure he wanted to breach. It wasn't right. Kakashi knew that and yet, his drunk body was more honest than the sobered version. And more needy.

"Of course." With his masked lips brushing the shell of Nina's ear, he lowered his voice to a husky whisper so that only she could hear him. "Even if it is a traitorous command."

Kakashi waited before pulling away. Hesitantly letting go.

~Nina~

Nina blinked. She felt the coolness of the air where Kakashi's warmth had been, the return to reality sharp and disorienting. The murmur of patrons ordering drinks and the bartender's steady rhythm of pouring and mixing became more pronounced. She could hear the distant clatter of dishes being cleared away and the subtle creak of barstools as people shifted in their seats.

Kakashi cleared his throat, the sound pulling her attention back to him. "We should head back before we draw too much attention."

Nina glanced around the bar, noticing the curious glances from a few patrons and the bartender's raised eyebrows. Now keenly aware of the eyes on them, her cheeks flushed again.

Nina nodded, feeling the saké-induced haze start to lift. "Yeah, we should."

Kakashi's presence beside her was a steadying force. "Ready?"

Nina stood, adjusting the hem of her dress, which had ridden up slightly during their exchange, and smoothed it down with deliberate movements. She couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. She squared her shoulders. "Ready."

Outside, the streets were alive with the hum of festival preparations. Lanterns hung overhead, their soft, warm glow casting a magical ambience over the bustling crowd. In shades of red, orange, and gold, the lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, creating a mesmerising dance of light and shadow.

Nina stepped onto the cobblestone street, the uneven surface making her balance more challenging than it should have been. She took a moment to find her balance, instinctively reaching out to steady herself against the rough texture of the bar's exterior wall.

She glanced around, realising she had lost sight of Kakashi in the throng of people. Her eyes scanned the sea of faces, looking for the familiar masked shinobi. She spotted him a few paces ahead, his silver hair catching the light of the lanterns, making picking him out from the crowd easy.

Relieved, she made her way toward him, her steps more cautious now. As she approached Kakashi, he turned and saw her, his eye softening.

"For you," he said, holding a flower out to her.

Nina blinked, taken aback. "Why a sunflower?"

Kakashi's eye crinkled with a smile behind his mask. "I thought they suited you." He stepped closer. "Sunflowers always turn to face the sun, no matter where it is in the sky. They're resilient, and they always find the light."

Nina felt a blush creeping up her cheeks again. She took the flower from him, her fingers brushing against his in the process. "Thanks."

She looked down at the bright, cheerful bloom in her hand, its vivid yellow petals, appreciating the small sense of ownership it brought. It was such a simple thing, really, but it held so much meaning. Having a flower of her own, given to her by someone she respected and admired, felt unexpectedly personal.

Nina glanced up at Kakashi, who met her with a calm, steady look. The crowd around them was a blur of motion and noise.

A sudden jostle from a passerby had Nina stumbling on an uneven patch of pavement, her grip on the flower loosening. Kakashi was quick to react. He bent down, picking up the fallen flower before it could be trampled underfoot.

Nina accepted the flower with a sheepish smile, her cheeks flushing again. "I guess I'm still a bit tipsy."

"Here, let me carry you," Kakashi offered.

"I can walk on my own. Don't patronise me," Nina shot back, though her laughter dulled her bite.

"Of course not." Kakashi chuckled. "I would never."

"Thank you—argh!"

Just as they resumed their walk, Nina misstepped again, stumbling more severely. She watched in sadness as her sunflower—lost to the ground—was repeatedly trodden on.

"Four whole steps before you decided to hug the floor. I'm impressed." Without waiting for her response, Kakashi scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest.

"You know, you don't have to carry me," she mumbled, though she made no move to get down.

Kakashi looked down at her. "Maybe not, but I want to. Plus, it's not every day I get to play the knight in shining armour."

Nina rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Well, don't get used to it," she quipped. "I'm perfectly capable of walking."

~Kakashi~

Kakashi liked to think he had control over his emotions—but looking at Nina, he knew that was far from the truth. She looked relaxed, a faint smile playing on her lips as she breathed in the night air, captivated by the festive lanterns that lit their path back to the Inn.

They didn't have much need for conversation, falling into an easy rhythm that Kakashi knew he'd never forgive himself for jeopardising if he ever tried to talk about... Kakashi's eye drifted to Nina's lips.

He'd figured it'd take something drastic to finally push them over the line... but a kiss—one single kiss—was all it took. Kakashi had overlooked how his feelings for the kunoichi had grown. Without meaning to, she'd snuck in behind his iron guard.

~End of Chapter~