A/N: I've been working on this for a while. I'm curious to see how it will be received.

WARNING: This is a horror story weaving in and out of a romance. This will include both paranormal/slasher themes. There will be graphic descriptions of violence, gore, abuse/manipulation, dubious/retracted consent, and some sexual violence.

I have no intentions of creating an overpowered kunoichi, but she will gradually improve and overcome her trials. This is a dark fiction with an eventual happy ending. There will be some slight crossover into a few universes. I won't tell you what they are, you can figure that out easily. This will be a short arc in the story and the main character will take center stage again.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

It's staring at me. I can feel it. Since waking, I could feel it looking at me. After seven years of being comatose in the hospital, seven years of enduring its nightmarish world, I thought I escaped. I thought that waking up was a sign that it was letting me go, but no.

My body lay motionless upon a hospital bed, attached to monitors, checked on infrequently by the nurses because it wasn't expected that I would wake. I do not know if my father visited me in this state. I can imagine he heard the news, saw me to the hospital, then departed with a narrowing of his brows. I was his disappointment. I was his child that passed out in the woods from overexertion, is that what the doctors told him? No, overexertion doesn't put you into a coma. They had no explanation for my sudden coma, likely, and he only sneered at them. It did not matter, I was a failure to him.

This nightmare was in my head. They didn't see the torture, they didn't hear my screams. In its world, I was just another plaything. A toy for its monsters, a test subject for its experiments. How many times could I be stabbed before going into shock? How many limbs could I have torn off before passing out? How many slams into the wall until my skull became mush in its grip? What number of times could I awaken from my murder only to be met with another hideous creature? The world of endless grey cycled as such. I would die. I would wake up with a cloudless, colorless sky above me. I would face another one.

But this time, I was indeed awake. When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling and a blinding yellow light. The sounds caused me immense pain, but what was that pain to what I had been made to feel by it? The beeps of the machines rammed against my eardrums, the lights forced my pupils to dilate quicker than was comfortable, and the feel of my unused muscles moving sent dull aches over every inch of my skin.

And I could feel it staring at me.

Somewhere beyond my damaged senses, beyond the blur, it was watching me.

In those seven years trapped inside my mind, I saw it once. It showed itself to me the moment before my eyes opened. And it smiled. I knew, when I saw it, that all the monsters I faced were nothing compared to it. They were its pets, sent to break me and tear me apart so many times that finally my mind would give and it would be able to take my body as its own. In that split second seeing its face, I thought. No. You will not have me.

When my senses adjusted, I was expecting to see it standing at the foot of my bed, but it wasn't. A medic ninja entered, hearing the frantic beeping from the monitors.

"She's awake!" they called, the sound sending another shock of pain through my eardrums.

What sounded like a stampede, but what was really the footsteps of only a few nin, came from somewhere down the hall, adding to the pain that wracked my skull.

"Mitsui-san? Mitsui-san, are you awake? Can you hear me?" the voice was close, standing by the bed.

I focused what little energy I had on moving my lips beneath the plastic mask strapped to my face, feeding me air through a tube. They gently removed it and I tried to move my lips again.

"She can hear me, but she can't speak. Someone call for…" the voices went on and on about finding a medic nin that specialized in sensitive internal repairs.

I gave up on trying to speak. It wasn't long before I was alone with only one other person. She was a young woman with short blonde hair and pale brown eyes. She fiddled with the machines near my head. I noticed a weak scent, a combination of flowers and baby powder, coming from her. Does she have a child? I blinked away some spots in my vision, watching her as her thin hands delicately unhooked one of the machines.

"My name is Nakashima Ryuu. It's nice to meet you, Mitsui-san."

There was no point in trying to respond, I could already feel the muscles in my face straining.

Then a person I could barely remember came in. Her hair was styled in two low ponytails. Her smile took up the majority of her expression. Her eyes were large. Their color was bright green. She looked ready to lunge at me, but the nurse stopped her.

"She woke up a few moments ago. Please be careful. Oda-san."

"That's right, I'm sorry."

The girl approached the bed while wiping her pale cheeks, but there were no tears. She waited a moment beside me with her enormous smile still plastered across her face. Was she waiting for something?

"I came here every day hoping you would one day open your eyes," she laughed slightly, "I was so surprised when the nurse at the front desk told me you had."

How quaint. I vaguely remembered beginning at the academy with her, before falling into my coma. We had spoken a few times, I think. But my memory just before falling asleep was unclear. All of the pain I endured left my childhood memories jumbled and incoherent.

Her fingers ran through her hair in a nervous gesture. She seemed unsure of what to do with herself.

"How are you feeling?" she asked finally, after a few excruciatingly awkward moments of her staring at me.

My weak vocal chords couldn't fashion an answer, and then Nakashima had to explain that I would not be able to speak for a while, at least not until the muscles in my throat became stronger.

While they were talking, I noticed a leaf headband secured to Oda's waist. So she became a genin. It's no surprise, I've been asleep for so long. The strain from holding my eyelids open quickly became too much, and they fell shut. And there it was, blocking the light above my head. I could make out its outline through my eyelids. I wanted to scream and tell the person who called me her friend to run. I wanted to plead with the nurse to lock the door as they left, but no matter how much I moved my lips I could only manage a few strained sounds.

"It's alright Mitsui-san." Nakashima's voice was gentle and calm. "I'll bring a medic nin in, and she'll be able to heal your vocal chords a bit."

But you need to leave now.

One of the monitors finally caught on and released a series of frenzied beeps from its tiny speakers. Nakashima placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Mitsui-san?"

I mustered the strength to open my eyes again already imagining its face before I would see it. But once my vision cleared all that I saw was that hideous yellow light. My eyes scanned the room for any sign of it, but there was none to be found.

"Mi-chan?" Oda spoke a name I had not heard since I was a child.

A wave of emotion wrought my senses. It's been so long since I heard someone refer to me with such concern. It's been so long since I felt such a gentle touch on my person. Nakashima's hand was still placed upon my shoulder. The tears were painful, but somehow also felt wonderful. The drops trickled down my face, leaving warm trails along my skin.

"Mi-chan!" Oda quickly walked over and wrapped her arms around my head, pushing Nakashima away.

A strangled cry that did not sound like my own voice left my parted lips. My heart slammed so forcefully upon my ribcage that I feared it would burst through my chest.

Could it be my imagination being cruel to me? Did I create the image because I became so accustomed to seeing it everywhere I went in that nightmare? A shadow always within sight but never reachable, watching its playthings, peeking out from the edges of door frames and the corners of wooden houses to reveal it's bloodshot and black eye.

"Oda-san please, Mitsui-san needs more rest."

Another stampede of footsteps came from down the hall.

"The medic nin are here. Oda-san, please step back."

I could feel the reluctance of her release. I watched her crying face as she was obscured by a flurry of white coats. As the people that surrounded me made hand signs, I remembered her name.

Oda Hanako.

X

Transparent, blue waves emitted from their hands. Chakra. I remember it. I remember how it felt to channel the energy through your muscles, the sensation unique. In that world, I was unable to use my chakra. I couldn't even feel it, but now beneath my skin, I felt the energy coursing through my limbs to encourage muscle regeneration. They were utilizing the unused reservoir of power within me to heal myself.

"Only a few more minutes and you'll be able to move again, Mitsui-san." A male voice had spoken.

The register was new; I hadn't heard a male voice is so long. Occasionally the medic-nin would switch out. They mumbled something about it being tricky. I assume it took quite a bit of chakra to create a connection with my own. It was a jutsu I was unfamiliar with it. Granted, I hadn't gotten to learn much before falling into my coma.

"Maybe you're just doing it wrong." one of the medic-nin joked.

Another elbowed him.

"Just focus."

"It is a bit tough though. Don't you think?"

There was a silence from the rest of them. Time passed slowly, but I was quickly intrigued by the sensation of my muscles twitching. All at once they lifted their hands away, the energy was drawn back into their bodies, and they released a collective sigh of exhaustion.

"How are you feeling Mitsui-san?"

My lips parted, I felt the air rush into my vocal chords, and I attempted to make a sound. I wanted to explain that my limbs felt as though they were going to separate from my body, but instead, in a weak voice, I said:

"Peachy."

A chuckle came from a few of the white cloaked ninja around me, but the one who had asked the question remained skeptical.

"Are you all done here? Guests are waiting outside," another nameless person popped their head in the door.

"Yes, we finished."

They walked out, each stretching and smiling, content by a successful afternoon. Or at least I thought it was an afternoon. I could see a bit better. The light coming in through the window was tinted auburn and cast unnerving shadows across the walls.

Just as the last was leaving the one who had made a joke said:

"It felt like it was pulling away, right? Like… something was keeping it from fully connecting, right?"

He earned a few irritated grunts from his colleagues.

Of course, nothing would be perfect. There is something strange going on with me. My nightmare isn't over, I know it isn't, but when will it show up?

Amidst my thoughts, I began flexing my fingers. The tensing of my muscles caused fires of pleasurable pain up my hands. I let out a soft moan just as someone entered the room.

"Mitsui."

He looks familiar, was my first thought. The grey hair, the one visible eye, the sharpness of his chin, all contained an air of nostalgia. But who the hell was he? He stood by the bed looking down at me, his gaze half-lidded.

"You're finally awake."

His voice was irritatingly familiar; it was much deeper than what my brain claimed to remember. The boyish tones remained somewhere beneath the low notes. He seemed to be unsure of what to say next, so instead shuffled back and forth, his gaze drifting around the room.

I didn't want to say anything unnecessary. I had questions for him, this person who I was supposed to remember, but not having my voice for so long, it felt as though any expel of sound would use up what little I had been able to retrieve.

Another nurse nin came into the room carrying a small tray of food. The new scent immediately set my mouth to water.

"Mitsui-san, I've brought your dinner. It's all soft food so you won't have to strain your throat. Ah, Kakashi-san will you please help me raise her up?"

"Sure."

Oh, that name… Kakashi? I remember it. It's the name of someone I met while I was in school or someone I met outside of school. I was unsure. Kakashi…

I stared at him hard as he pressed the back of his hand into the mattress to dip underneath my back. His other reached beneath my legs, scooping me up gingerly into a sitting position. His scent was a pungent mix of soap and cologne. Had he bathed just before coming here? His face was close to mine as he carefully stretched my legs back out. The touches were so gentle, but my body still felt intense, aching pains running all over.

As he brought his hands away, I tensed, afraid I would not be able to hold myself up in this position, but I found that I could.

The nurse nin attached a flat surface to a latch on the side of the bed and turned it over, so it now covered my lap. She set the tray of food in front of me with a smile.

"Eat up, you must be starving!" she exclaimed with joy.

The scent of the food was stronger now, but I found myself still drawn elsewhere. My gaze rose slowly to the man still standing by the bed, watching me.

"Perhaps, you can't raise your arms yet?" suddenly the woman said.

I hadn't tried. I focused entirely on my right arm and began lifting it, but after only rising a few inches it dropped back onto the bed.

"I see!"

A mischievous smile came to the woman's face. She misread the tension in the room:

"Kakashi-san, I have to bring around the other patient's meals, would you mind helping Mitsui-san?"

"Huh? Help? You mean?"

"Thank you!" she was already out the door.

I took in a breath slowly, now fully aware of the awkward situation the foolish nurse nin had put us in. He let out a sigh and sat on a stool. He was reaching towards the tray, and I finally willed myself to speak:

"You…"

His hand paused.

"... don't have to."

It retreated to his side, and he watched as I made another attempt to raise my arm and reach for the spoon. Just as I was getting close my hand dropped. I cursed, the single word louder than anything I had spoken just yet.

He let out a chuckle.

"As stubborn as always."

A flush came upon my face, and I glared at the man who had an idea of who I was, yet I could not recall what he had been in my life.

He lifted a plastic spoon from the tray and dipped it into the small mountain of white mush.

"Here."

I wanted to slap his hand away in retaliation to his earlier comment, but now that the scent of food was so near to me, I couldn't resist leaning forward and taking the spoon between my lips. He lifted it up and pulled back in the same way one would feed an infant. The plain taste of rice porridge on my tongue was ecstasy. I swallowed slowly, shutting my eyes and hunching my shoulders slightly. Suddenly, tears were rolling down my face again.

"Mitsui?" his tone was laced with concern.

I opened them to look at his face. That's right. Kakashi. The young adult who I would rush to on the training grounds and he'd pause in his drills to watch me attempt to concentrate chakra in the palm of my hand. I was born with the lightning affinity, I had convinced myself I could imitate his Chidori, but I barely ever achieved a spark. He'd make fun of me for wanting to try, he'd even joke that it was impossible for me to do anyway. I'd glare, saying I would do it. He'd retort with, but it is impossible without… by then I would have run off in frustration. I had to keep training. I had to do it someday. I had to make my father proud. I had to show my mother I was...

Oh… my mother is dead. The realization came over me again just as it had when I was a child.

"Mitsui." He spoke softly.

His hand cupped my face, wiping away a tear with his thumb.

"Kakashi-san." I finally said his name.

He seemed startled by it for a moment, but he continued to stroke his thumb along my cheek, though the tears had stopped.

"I'm glad you're awake."

I wasn't used to all of these tender touches. Kakashi must have noticed my discomfort for he retracted his hand rigidly and rested it on his side. His expression shifted as though he were acknowledging and then rejecting a sudden thought. It was strange to see someone look as though they were arguing with themselves without them speaking a word. I caught the short sigh that came from him, as he whittled away whatever it was that crossed his mind, that was then followed by what was clearly a forced smile.

I wonder what he was so ready to push away?

He took the plastic spoon and repeated his previous actions. I followed them as I was for some reason sure he wouldn't indulge my curiosity even if I questioned him. Why I was sure, I did not know.

The silence continued even as he finished feeding me. Kakashi seemed at a loss for words. I wondered what he was thinking with his half-lidded eye turned towards the sheets bunched up at the edge of my hospital bed.

"I'm sorry," he said.

If I were a patient person I might have waited for him to explain himself, but I didn't like it when people paused for long periods of time. Don't be dramatic, just say what you have to say.

"For what?"

"If I had known you were going to wake up today I would have brought you something."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. I remembered him now, but only snippets of our relationship. Were we that close?

X

Kakashi arrived earlier that day after completing a simple mission with his students and stopping by his home to bathe. This was a habit he developed quite a while ago when he lost some of the most important people in his life to war, the only difference being he stood over a sleeping form instead of a grave. He planned to describe the past few days to her, laugh about his student's antics, and whisper he wished she could have seen it herself. Sometimes he thought this limbo-like state of hers was exceptionally cruel. She was not dead, because her chest lifted ever-so-slightly as she breathed in through the ventilator, but she was not alive. She couldn't answer his questions after all.

Today started off no differently until a rush of medical ninja went by discussing with excitement that a long-term coma patient had awoken. Kakashi didn't assume anything at first. There were plenty of patients at this hospital that had been there for extended periods of time. It was when another nurse came to the front desk just as he was checking in that it was confirmed.

"Did you hear? Mitsui Mitsuru woke up? How long has she been here?"

"Mitsui-san has?" Another nurse responded in shock. "I believe its been at least six years maybe."

"Seven," Kakashi said.

"Kakashi-san!" both gasped.

"She's been here for seven years." he finished.

"You've probably already heard then, Kakashi-san! She woke up a few minutes ago!"

There was a feeling in his chest, a swelling sensation like that of a balloon being filled with water, fit to burst at any moment. Could he really have one of those important people returned to him?

"They're going to do chakra treatments on her muscles right now and give her an examination, but her body has been exceptionally healthy all this time. She should be able to talk in a few hours. Do you want to come back later?"

"I think I will do that."

He spoke calmly although the balloon was past its capacity. Perhaps he could have done something productive for the next few hours, but he only stood somewhere outside and opened the copy of Icha Icha Paradise he had in his tool bag. His hands were shaking slightly as he turned each page. He read the words without processing them until enough time passed for him to justify entering the hospital again.

The nurse guided him to the room, though he knew exactly where it was. She peeked her head in while he waited with bated breath. As the medical ninja exited a flurry of thoughts cascaded through his mind.

What should I say to her? Should I tell her about my last mission just as I always had? No, that would be strange. It's not like she could hear me all this time. She'll think I'm odd. Should I ask her about what happened? No, she likely won't be able to talk much, they've only performed one regeneration treatment. Then what should I say? I should have prepared something before coming back. All this time I've been visiting her between missions while recalling our few memories, but will she even remember me?

It took another second for him to realize that it didn't matter. He had been gifted with the miracle of someone he was fond of returning to his life. He only had to step inside to see those naturally scowling, endlessly frustrated, but strangely hopeful eyes once again.

But the first thing Kakashi noticed was how faded the brown in her irises was. The syllables that left his mouth were not what he originally wanted to utter. No one could see his lips moving under the mask, no one saw the hesitation as he began the Mi then settled with the tsui.

Mitsuru-chan his mind breathed out gently. He had said it so many times while her eyes were closed. Never before had he spoken her name like that while she was awake and seeing the distance in her gaze told him not to do so.

As she turned her head and looked directly at him, he recognized an emptiness unlike what he recalled. It didn't change once as the nurse came in with Mitsuru's meal and requested that he help her. Only when the nurse asked that Kakashi feed Mitsuru, and Mitsuru rejected his hand that reached for the plastic spoon, did he finally catch a glimpse of a memory. She made an effort to lift her hand only to let it drop back to the sheets.

"Fuck."

He wanted to burst out laughing with joy in confirming that she was as foul-mouthed as ever. Instead, he let out only a soft chuckle. Then there was that scowl, that glare he remembered so vividly. The one that always put a smile on his face. The tenacious budding kunoichi that brainlessly challenged him to battles despite being eight years his junior, weak in strength, and pathetic in ninjutsu, once again appeared before him, but for only a split second.

Tears flowed, and he reflexively had to stroke them away. When she whimpered his name, Kakashi's eyes widened.

Does she remember now?

Seconds later he realized his thumb was still against her cheek, even though the tears stopped. Embarrassment filled him as he took his hand away and he battled every single thought that etched its way through the wall he had built.

She's too young. I've always seen her like a younger sister. That can't change now. She just woke up. She has to focus on her recovery and rejoining the community. Even if, no. No even if. Her health is more important than anything. I'm much too old for her. I have to help her now, in the way that any good friend would. We're friends. Only friends.

A/N: Thanks for reading!