Relentless (Book 2)

Trust- Katsu

Three days. Three days  they were scheduled to stay in the wretched suite, awaiting a time when the Leaf shinobi on their tail would eventually abate their search.

Agonizingly precious time wasted, Katsu thought with disdain as she lay on the large bed restlessly. Moving carefully to the end of the bed, she stole a glance at Kakashi. Her sensei, to her increasing anger was fast asleep, sprawled comfortably on the floor, dreaming peacefully. She could leave him behind and go after Erika herself, she mused, not for the first time. He clearly didn't want to act as quickly as she did, nor with as much urgency as she thought necessary. He was only slowing her down.

Katsu shook her head and scoffed, silently emerging from her bed to exit the suite. It seemed she never really was great at getting a full night's rest. Her nerves or interrupting thoughts always precluded any tranquility she should be allowed to find during the short hours of the night. That was called being constantly alert. A trait that often came with being a Jonin.

Katsu wasn't planning on leaving- not yet anyway. But if Kakashi didn't decide to act very  soon, she decided that she would. There was no way she was waiting three days. That was another thing about being a Jonin. Personal instinct was everything. And her instinct was telling her that every second that they wasted at the hotel was a second they lost that could be used to save Erika.

Katsu headed to the hotel pool- open at all hours, to her relief. Perhaps the cool waters would help soother her anxiety. She didn't have a bathing suit, but figured her tank-top and shorts would do just fine for a dip in the water. Grabbing a towel to set beside the edge of the pool, Katsu removed her shoes and took a deep breath before stepping into the chilly water. After her body was fully submerged, Katsu allowed herself to sink so that she sat at the bottom of the pool, her hands clasped around her knees. Peering through the water, she felt as if she had actually stepped into a dream, time almost slowing, everything in gradual motion. Her purple hair turned black with the weight of the water, swirling around her in long sheets. Only after Katsu was sure she had been submerged for at least three minutes, did she finally return to the surface to breathe.

"Trying to drown yourself won't help anyone," a cool voice said from the edge of the pool, causing Katsu to jump. Pushing the dark hair out of her face, she turned to look at her sensei. Kakashi sat casually across the pool deck, his hair a mess as usual, his Jonin vest absent.

Katsu shot a flat glare at him. "I'm not trying to drown myself. While you're in there sleeping the night away, I need something that will at least help calm my nerves."

"I was not sleeping," Kakashi said, unaffected by her harsh reply.

"You seemed relaxed enough," she snapped.

"Do you really have such little faith in her?" Kakashi asked, peering at her curiously.

Katsu glanced at him stubbornly. "Erika?" she asked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, trailing his fingers back and forth across the water slowly. "That you know as well as I that she has skill greater than any young ninja in the Academy."

Katsu refused to look at him again.

"And with that skill, she wields maturity and responsibility. She's not going to do anything rash."

"She's already left the safety of the Leaf!" Katsu exclaimed. "Was that not rash enough?"

"Not to her, it wasn't," Kakashi murmured, still painstakingly calm. "Can't you at least try to trust her judgement?" he asked.

Katsu shrugged but couldn't find words to snap back in reply. Because there were none. She knew he was right but didn't want to admit it.

"She'll be fine, Katsu," he said then.