Konohagakure's Kakashi Hatake & Nina Sarutobi have only lived & prepared to die by the Shinobi rules.
Amid an intensive investigation into a spate of mysterious deaths, a birthday party for the elusive Copy-Nin sets off a chain reaction no one quite...
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(Monday> September 15> Kakashi's Birthday> Celebrations underway)
~Nina~
"What? Water? Why? It's Hatake's Birthday and...," Nina's probing into Kurenai's choice fizzled out as she downed the declined drink in her hand. "Like, you don't have to... don't worry. I'll get you a jug of water."
"Just how much have you had to drink?" Kurenai asked, her eyes flicking between Nina and the bottles on the bar.
Good question.
The four—now two, maybe two and a half-full—bottles of saké, along with herself, were supposed to have returned to the booth where Jiraiya and Tsunade were some time ago. But, strangely, the whole practice of sipping the fermented rice drink went out the window. Nina held the bottle, which she thought was half-full, to her right ear and gave it a tiny shake; a dribble sloshed around the bottom.
Nope, make that two left.
It'd been going down very smoothly.
"Enough to think that we should join Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade," Nina finally replied before making an order for their table with the barman.
"Nina, I, well, we...," Kurenai stuttered, stalling them at the bar a while longer. "Asuma and I are expecting."
When her brother's name was mentioned, Nina searched the room for him. "Expecting what exactly?"
"You know, expecting," Kurenai repeated.
Nina screwed her face, disliking more vagueness until she looked at the raven-haired woman, noticing Kurenai's subtle hand gestures to her lower abdomen. Ecstatic with the news, Nina jabbered a heaping of questions. "How far along are you? Have you had any morning sickness? Have you been assigned a medic? Have you seen a medic? Can I be your medic?"
~Kurenai~
Kurenai jumped at the opportunity when Asuma had passed on informing Nina; he was convinced his sister's response would be clinically controlled. Kurenai knew his justification was a lie. Asuma wasn't a man of extravagance; he showed his devotion through smaller, more meaningful gestures. He'd hidden behind the phony cover and offered her a chance at something she wouldn't have elsewise—given she had no living blood family members.
Not quite ready for the village and its rumour mill to catch wind of her news, Kurenai cupped her hands around Nina's. "They're starting to serve. How about we go find a seat, and I can answer all of your questions?"
"But—"
"Look," Kurenai pointed ahead. "There's plenty of room with Lady Tsunade and Master Jiraiya, and here comes Asuma and Kakashi."
~Nina~
Nina juggled the remaining bottles, handing them to Jiraiya, who passed them onto Tsunade.
