Beneath Ryouma's long, blunt-tipped fingers, Shiba quickly melted into a contented puddle of fur, tongue poking out between her tiny, needle-sharp teeth. Under Kakashi's own hands, Hoshika sighed quietly and stretched like a duchess.

But, now that he had a shield to think behind, Kakashi was a little more interested in Ryouma.

He settled down on the floor, putting his back to the closet door and crossing his legs, and smiled very slightly when Hoshika abandoned dignity for comfort and sprawled across his lap. Tweaking one long ear, he cast a glance over his mission partner from behind the reassuring bulwark of contented dog. There was tension there that hadn't been present a moment ago, firming the line of Ryouma's lips, chasing a shudder through long limbs. Even across the room, Kakashi caught the change in scent.

"What're the chances they'll ever make us run a seduction again?" he asked, drawing a mental circle around the word sober. "It's not like we're built for it."

Once at the bar, twice in Matsuda's private room. Three moments of crawling almost-panic and only one shot. Drugs hadn't been the only reason Kakashi had drank.

"Ryouma, what's your issue with alcohol?"