A/N: Wow second part. That said anyone reading this for the first time, I would recomend you read the firs part (The Village Hidden in the Wind) You would be able to understand the situtions better and the characters but I leave that totally up to you.

Anyways here it is, I'm hoping to have this one going for longer but it all depends on how far I get.

I think I babbled enough for now. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Loneliness

Kakashi,

It's been six months…six…wow too long. I can't imagine how fast the time had flown by. To me it seems you were here with us just yesterday. I can still remember the sounds you made when you walked down our halls. Now they're so empty, I feel at a loss really. I mean not only aren't you here but Iruka, Genma, my brother…and even that quiet jounin…um Raidou wasn't it. I miss the fights and the laughter. I just can't stand it here anymore.

Orochimaru has stopped sending his infected minions to die in our country. It's too late as far as I'm concerned. Most of Canyon Village has been infected. Some are coming round but many are still showing the symptoms of the other virus. Is it possible there's a failsafe? I don't know. One thing we managed was to get an antidote. Unfortunately, it required me and a few others to get infected. Myself and all but one survived it.

The symptoms are similar to the other virus, the one you had. This time though it arrives without warning. So you could accidentally walk into an infected field and show symptoms weeks later. Some never even got infected. Basically we had to find the strongest strain out there and infect the test subjects. Let me just say I don't want to live through that again.

As a warning I want you to tell Tsunade-sama to look for any shinobi wearing long coats and a band around their arms. It has no insignia so it should be easy to spot. Most of them are brainwashed and from other countries. I have no clue how he's getting them but keep that in mind if he does start a war with Fire Country.

He's pretty much given up on us for now. Of course that's not a good thing. I can deal with Orochimaru on my own, hands down; but I can't hold my own against the Akatsuki and I'm sure there's a rumor out there about me. I'm a little worried they'll come after me.

Anyways I should go save dinner from Nariko…or else we'll all die of food poisoning…no more worries then…oh so pessimistic.

Nariko attached something to the scroll. I have no clue what it is but I know it's nothing good.

Be careful!

Akane.

Rubbing his eyes Kakashi placed the parchment down. It had been late when it arrived and it took him a while to disassemble the exploding note attached to it. He had to admit she never took chances. Of course when he sent a message her way it didn't need the security.

Three months ago however there was a scare between he and her. Tsunade had noticed him sending a message out but she had no clue as to why he would do that. Later she questioned him and found he had been sending a message out to Tazuna an old client to see how he was doing. Too bad for her he had managed to get past her. Now instead of using one of the village's own messengers he used his hounds. He knew they were next to impossible to track and if he went far enough he knew he wouldn't be followed.

"This is strange." Pulling the scroll around he found a small envelope taped to the side.

Pulling it open he found a photograph. Written on the back was Nariko's message.

"Here's something to remember her by. She'd never send this unless she never knows it. I got a good shot of her when she was doing her little dreamy thing she does by the pond. You know the look. Anyways I know you miss her and I decided this was as good a way as any to show you she's still fine and hasn't gotten ugly…although I still think I look better.

Nariko.

Kakashi chuckled. He knew Nariko had a thing for him when he had arrived but he never really cared much for the woman. He found her cooking was lacking and her temper was one to be reckoned with. However he liked her insight and valued her friendship.

"Ah. Nariko…you are strange. However you are wrong." He muttered as he turned the photo over and smiled.

There sitting among the roses was Akane. She wore a black tank top with a pair of dark capris. He liked the way she looked in them. They made her seem mysterious and yet the clothing hid nothing. Of course that was a fallacy, if anything she had at least ten weapons hidden on her.

"Hmm…She was definitely caught off guard." Kakashi mused as he touched a finger to the girl's face. He missed her he knew that. He missed the way she would smile for only him and the way she would tease him or get back at him for some teasing he had dealt her hours before. Overall he just missed her completely.

Getting up he opened a cupboard in his kitchen and pulled out a frame. Placing the picture between the glass he walked out of his kitchen and in to his bedroom where he placed it between the picture of his teammates and team seven.

As he gazed at all three photos he felt an emptiness he hadn't felt for a long time grow stronger.

"With you there I forgot I missed everyone." He muttered as he touched the face of the young woman once again.

He had lost the one Iruka had sent him in the forest months ago and this one was a far better shot. One in which Akane wasn't glaring daggers at the camera.

"Not photogenic I guess." He chuckled. "You never really see the truth in what I said to you do you."

Akane came into her house momentarily startling Kakashi. Standing abruptly he held the air in his lungs for a moment until she turned to him.

"What?'

"You look…different." He smiled then noticing the change right off.

"I hope so." She placed her hands on her hips and scowled.

"Yes you got a hair cut." The smile grew even more. He could feel it affecting his eyes. He only hoped he wasn't giving a wrong message to the woman before him.

"Ha yeah Now I don't look like Iruka." She laughed.

"You looked fine before but better now." He told her as she gave him a shocked look. "With it down I must admit you look stunning." He rubbed the back of his neck trying to stop the blush he felt creeping across his face. "I…just thought you should know that." Now he was trying to save face.

Akane just stood there for a moment staring as though he was speaking a new language and sighed. "Right." She then walked past him hollering down the hallway for Iruka.

"I really meant it…" He sighed as he sat back down almost relieved she was gone and yet at a loss because she was gone.

"If only I could tell you that again. You might believe me." He laughed as he sat down.

He had known her for longer than he had originally thought and it took their time apart for him to realize it. He had known her since he had first started training with his sensei. Even back then Kakashi didn't think he would feel the way he did now. When he was twenty he had feelings of a different kind for her, his thoughts were less than clean and he had on several occasions dreamt of catching her and taking her where they fell. However, as he saw her more often he learned to respect her and understand her and as time went by he also felt less inclined to hurt her for his own gain.

Getting up he wandered into his bathroom and pulled down his mask.

He knew the face he was looking at but at the same time he didn't know it. He knew it's name he knew it hurt if he pinched hard enough, but he never really knew how others saw it. Did they see who he saw or did they see something else?

"What would you see?" He asked, as he looked closer at himself.

"I don't see much. I see a man who hasn't lived like one should. I see a murderer who never seems to forget. I see someone who lost everyone and yet there's still one I keep loosing." He sighed as he glared into the mirror.

"Maybe you like me because you don't see my face, see who I really am." He looked at himself from the side.

"Or maybe you don't like me that much and only put up with me because I'm kind to you and help you." Then he stopped. "Am I a friend or something else?"

The thought bothered him. A friend was someone you trust fully. Someone you help when they are in trouble, someone who returns all you give back. But with her it was different. He helped her, she helped him. He trusted her and she trusted him. They both returned what the other gave; but was it normal to wish they were in your bed with you? Probably not.

"I don't know what you think. I wish I did. If I knew that there would be no need to dance around." Of course he knew better. If he could read her mind then he would know everything and not want to learn more since there would be nothing to learn.

"Do I like you because you don't tell me anything about yourself…I do the same but I'm confused. You tell me you miss me but then you mention the others. Do you mention me first because you think about me first?"

He knew he was being silly asking himself all these questions to a person who wasn't there. How was he to ask her such things if she was never there to begin with?

"I don't care about these rules anymore." He sighed. "It seems I'm interested in what I can't have and it's slowly eating at me…Genma was right." He rolled his eyes watching the snotty effect it had on his face.

Walking away from the offending object, or so he decided, he heard a knock on the door.

Placing his mask on his face he opened it slowly to see a pink haired teenager staring up at him with a shocked look.

"What?" He asked nonchalantly, after all she had disturbed his train of thought and he really needed to work it out.

"I need to ask you something."

"Ah Sakura this isn't a good time…" Of course like every student he taught…a total of three. She pushed past him. "Alright looks like I have no choice." He sighed as he shut the door not bothering to lock it.

Locking the door only meant finding it hanging by the hinges and a loud talking green monster with a bad hair cut, telling him it was time to get up for some match or something along those lines.

"I can't get this feeling out of my head." She was nearly in tears. He had no clue just what brought it on but he was convinced she was just being herself and probably going through memories like he had.

Poor Sakura. I know the feeling but you need to put it past you.

She sat on his couch and placed her hands in her face. He found it strange that his three students (two at the moment) found it easy to make themselves at home in his house. If he had done the same thing they would have had a fit. Of course he was the teacher and he had to remain calm and forgiving. This was easy if most of the time caring didn't always count into it. However as he watched the tears drip to his carpet he couldn't help but care. He knew what it was.

"Sakura we'll get him back safely." He tried to console her by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"How?"

"I don't know but we'll find a way. If you really care enough about it I'm sure you'll find the answer."

"Kakashi-sensei I'm scared. He really wanted to kill Naruto." She cried as she flung herself at him.

Stepping back mostly to take the shock of her movement Kakashi stiffly patted her back.

"How about I get you some tea and you can first relax and we'll go over it." He said as he steered her to his table. He felt better if she was there rather than the couch for some reason. "A nice chamomile…that's good for the nerves." He smiled reassuringly as she nodded sullenly with the occasional sniffle.

"Okay sensei." Came her meek reply.

Once in the kitchen he set to work making the tea. He had a feeling Sakura would come to him soon but not like this. He was expecting her to be level headed. However this time she was all but.

I suffered once too. They don't know it but I felt the pang of loss and even now I feel it. I've lost Obito, Rin, Yondiame, The Third, Hayate, Sasuke, and even Akane…I just can't figure out why everyone I care about dies so savagely. I'm convinced it's a matter of time before someone kills Akane…I just hope I know before it happens.

Coming back he realized a mistake. Sakura had found the scroll he had gotten that day and was reading it. Placing the tea down he snatched it from the girl at his table.

"I'm sorry Sakura but that's not for you to see."It was clear she hadn't quite digested what was on it so he left it at that.

"Kakashi-sensei…what about Naruto. Aren't you worried about him?"

Kakashi thought about it but the answer was simple. "What do you think?" He wanted her answer before he told her anything.

"I'm scared. Sasuke was so much more powerful than Naruto. He moved so fast I couldn't even follow it."

"And."

"I'm scared Naruto will…" She sniffled. She left it there knowing full well he knew what she meant.

"Sakura. Naruto made a promise to you did he not?"

She nodded slowly tears still streaming down her face but less than before.

"He promised he would get Sasuke back before he died. He said he would die trying if that is what it takes."

Once he said that he noticed the shock on her face.

"However with myself, Yamato, and Sai there's nothing to worry about." He said this on purpose. "It's up to you whether or not you feel you can trust yourself to help with the task." He looked to his tea. "By being there you give Naruto your support. However also by being there you're showing Sasuke that you're not the weakest link in the team but rather one of the strongest."

"How can I be the strongest link?"

"The stronger members are the ones who care for each other. The members who trust each other and help each other. To sum that up I'd say friends." He smiled. "Once Sasuke sees that he'll realize his mistake if he hasn't already. Don't forget that seal has a lot of control over him, and that's not just his emotions but his thoughts as well."

"How do you know that?" She asked him.

"A friend told me this. I trust them with my life, they may not be here with me but I know they will do what is in their power to keep me and everyone I care about safe." He had found out about the workings of the seal from Akane. Nariko had been working on a test subject they had captured and learned to use some of Akane's strange powers (again neither one wanted to explain it to him) to cancel the seal. However the exertion nearly killed the young jounin in the process.

Nodding Sakura got up and began to pace.

"You told us everyone you knew was on the monument."

"Yes I did." He nodded sadly remembering the day they had asked him about it and when Naruto had promptly made a fool of himself. Kakashi was sure if it weren't for him the boy would have been there.

"Why is it you never seem to move on…isn't it painful. I see you there everyday." She asked. He couldn't blame her for not understanding. Most of the people she knew were still alive and she was lucky for that.

"Sakura, it's complicated." As he answered he realized she had gone off into his bedroom. "Ma…not you too." He sighed as he got up only to find her holding the picture he had just received.

"Is she dead too?"

Kakashi's breath caught. He hoped she wasn't. He desperately hoped she never would be.

"No she's still alive."

"Is she a friend?'

"I would like to think so…yes she is." He smiled taking it from her and placing it back. He felt uncomfortable with people in his room like this.

"She's so pretty."

"Yes she is." Kakashi hadn't realized how distant his voice had become as he said this until Sakura gave him a strange look.

"You care for her?'

"Like I do you and the rest yes." He lied he felt he cared more for some reason he didn't understand.

"I should go then…I'm sorry for bugging you sensei."

"It's okay to talk from time to time. I know it helps to talk to someone you trust. Just remember what I told you." He smiled and ushered her to the door.

"Yes…but what about…"

"Bye Sakura." He waved as he pushed her out of his apartment. He wasn't intent on thinking about Akane.

Iruka wandered down the street, not entirely sure where he was going. He had been teaching all day and finally got a break. He decided a walk would be better for him than sitting all day in a stuffy classroom marking papers full of rude comments and nasty notes.

It wasn't that his students hated him, no he was sure they liked watching him get annoyed or frazzled.

"I swear if I ever get another Naruto I'm leaving the village." Iruka sighed heavily. He really had no right to complain about his class. Naruto was the hand full.

Naruto would skip class, leave in the middle of class, be disruptive, and so many other things that made Iruka's hair stand on end. Still even then he liked the boy. He never despised him or hated him. Everyone expected him too, even Naruto but in the end he saw more of himself in the teen than others did.

Everyone had known him for so long that they had forgotten that he played many of the same pranks and games. He used to irritate his teachers and because of his foolishness he was held back for years. It took him until the age of sixteen to reach chuunin, if he had paid proper attention to the lessons he would have passed the exam far sooner.

Now though he was pleased with where he was. Being a chuunin wasn't so bad. He liked the children he got to teach, and the missions paid enough for a decent life. What else could he want?

"Oh Iruka-sensei?" A soft voice made him stop in the middle of his thoughts.

"Ah…Sakura? What are you doing here?" Normally she was volunteering at the hospital. He could tell she was crying. "What's the matter?"

Sakura froze.

You seriously don't think I wouldn't notice?

Smiling she waved her hand at him. "Oh me…no no no I'm fine." She knew why he was asking and she answered enough for him.

"Why are you coming from there?"

"Um…I was talking to Kakashi-sensei…." She seemed to be thinking about something.

"Hmm…well why not come with me, it's a nice day today." He smiled trying to make her feel better. Sakura used to walk with him when Naruto left, mostly because she associated him with the crazy youth. If only she knew just how similar they really were.

She's worried about him still. So am I…

As they walked Iruka couldn't help but notice the worried look on her face, he started realizing it wasn't just Naruto she was worried about.

Keeping quiet he tried to focus more on his surroundings.

They walked past Ino's parent's flower shop and towards the market.

"I wonder what the peddlers have today." Iruka mused.

"Why you never look at them."

"Sometimes. I like seeing what strange new things they bring in. You really never know what you find." He smiled, really the effect was somewhat silly and he could see a smile creep up her face. "Come on lets see if there's something we haven't seen before. I bet there's lots here." Grabbing her hand he pulled her into the busiest part of the market.

Sakura yelped and tried not to scream at the sudden jerk. What was it with everyone? They were all acting weird.

"Iruka-sensei?" He was being very strange, almost depressed, like Kakashi.

"Yeah?" He looked up only to get a laugh back. "Huh?"

"That's a funny hat." She tried not to laugh to hard but when he started laughing himself the effect became more contagious.

She had never seen her former schoolteacher in anything other than his uniform and she felt he looked strange in anything else.

"Yeah you're right, that's just not me." He smiled. Somehow there was something about him that reminded her of Naruto. It seemed as though Iruka was almost able to be a replacement for the boy.

"How about this one?" He smiled placing a straw hat on his head.

"Actually that one kind of looks good."

"Really?" Iruka looked up but then shook his head. "I really don't have any use for a hat." He frowned. Putting it back she noticed a mark on the side of his hand she had never seen before.

"Where's that from?"

"Oh this…it's nothing." He smiled. "Common."

So they went on for what felt like hours until they reached Ichikaru's. Sakura knew full well Iruka wanted to eat there.

"Let me guess you're hungry too?' She sighed.

A loud rumble answered the question rather well. Rubbing his head sheepishly Iruka laughed. "Well I guess I am."

Over an hour passed as they ate silently before Sakura felt the need to ask something.

"Is there someone you miss Iruka-sensei?"

Suddenly the carefree attitude her former teacher had was gone and a more serious one replaced it.

"Lot of people Sakura."

"No I mean someone alive." She leaned closer.

"Yeah sure. I miss Naruto and Sasuke and some of the others. Some of them I haven't seen in a long time. Why?"

"I think Kakashi-sensei misses someone a lot more than he usually does." Iruka's posture changed again. Sakura was sure he knew, but just how much was he going to tell her.

"What's going on Sakura?"

"He's just very distant."

"Oh Sakura, he's always like that."

"Like what?" A deep voice startled him causing Iruka to flail momentarily before his face turned red in embarrassment. "Honestly Iruka-sensei you should be more aware of your surroundings."

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura nearly fell over herself.

Waving Kakashi settled himself down and ordered some ramen as well.

"So Sakura was just telling me you're being distant lately."

"Me…no…I had just gotten back from a rather long mission." Iruka nodded, that was true. Kakashi had been out of the village for a month. "So what am I normally like?"

"Oh it's nothing." Sakura interrupted before Iruka could snap at him for interrupting people's conversations.

Lucky bastard she interrupted me.

With Kakashi there Iruka felt less inclined to talk. He still found it hard to face the jounin, especially since the last mission they had together. But Sakura was right after all. He was getting more and more distant from them.

Maybe he did fall into a depression of sorts. Maybe I should tell her about it. She might be able to get him back to normal.

Looking to his left he watched Kakashi contemplate the bowl. It seemed he had lost all will to even eat.

"You okay?" Iruka asked watching as Kakashi looked up at him slowly.

"Of course." Kakashi smiled. It was fake, which was obvious.

Sighing Iruka went back to his ramen and finished it. "I'll pay for you two, I doubt Kakashi-sensei even has any money with him." Iruka sneered. Kakashi was always out to get a free meal, especially if the chuunin was involved in paying for it. It seemed Kakashi treated it like a game. Iruka smiled. If he really wanted to keep that up because it was normal then fine he's allowed to, then Iruka knew he was okay.

"You got me Iruka-sensei." He smiled. Then got up. In a puff of smoke he was gone.

Staring Iruka just glanced to Sakura. "Was it just me or was he thinner than usual?" Sakura nodded an affirmation.

"Should I tell Tsunade-sama?"

"No not yet. He's okay still."

"Hmm? This is strange." The owner of the restaurant said suddenly.

"What is it old man?" Iruka asked.

"He always eats his meals."

"Huh?"

Sure enough Kakashi had never even touched it.

"Can you please put that in a take out container, I'll bring it to him later. By then he'll eat it." Iruka smiled his thanks as the old man passed him the leftovers.

"Make sure he's okay Iruka-sensei. The only time I've seen him do that is when his friend died." The old man smiled.

"Will do, thanks!" Iruka waved.

Stopping a good distance from the ramen stand he turned to Sakura.

"I want you to keep this quiet."

"But…" She was worried. He could understand that but there were times when one should keep silent.

"I'm not to sure what's wrong with him yet. It could just be left over from his mission."

"But Iruka-sen…"

"Sakura, promise me you won't talk."

Nodding slowly she looked to the ground. "There's something that might help…."

"What is it?"

"There's a new picture in his apartment, of a girl."

Iruka froze. How the hell did she find out?

"It's okay I'll talk to him. Just don' tell Tsunade-sama about this until I tell you to."

She nodded.

"Good then I'm going to give him his dinner. I'm sure you'll see him tomorrow Sakura." Smiling Iruka took to the roves.

Sakura watched her ex-teacher and friend leave. She had fun walking through the markets with him. Iruka knew how to make someone feel better, but when Kakashi appeared even she noticed the way Iruka changed.

She was sure he knew something, but she had also promised him not to tell her mentor about her sensei-s weird behavior.

He trusted her with that and she was going to stay quiet.

What else could she possibly do?

Iruka made his way to the outskirts of the village. He had seen Kakashi at the monument many times, usually before he would come.

Often the older man would just stand and stare at the stone, other times he could hear him talking to it. That wasn't new to Iruka, he did it himself quite often. Talking to the dead just reinforces their remembrance and lessens the chance of forgetting.

Of course his guess was right. Kakashi was right where he thought he was.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi turned slowly, the lazy look on his face that Iruka hated so much.

"Hmm?"

"I wanted to talk to you…." For some reason Iruka always felt so small around the other man. He wasn't sure just why he felt like that but it annoyed him.

Something to do with that stupid look he has. He's so damned lazy.

"What about?" Now Kakashi seemed more curious.

"Sakura's worried about you."

"Maa…she'll get over it." Kakashi looked back to the stone. "I never knew just how much I was missing until I got back from the mission." He wasn't in the mood to discuss his feelings with the schoolteacher.

"I know that." Iruka smiled.

…Okay you're scaring me.

Then the smile vanished.

"You miss her don't you?"

"Hmm?" He heard him but was making sure the two of them were thinking of the same person.

"Akane-san." This was said slowly and sadly. It seemed Iruka felt the same way. Kakashi didn't really want to get between them but it seemed Akane was insistent on avoiding him for some reason.

"Does she send you messages?"

"What? Uh…not often."

She's avoiding him, and sending messages instead…this is strange.

"I don't know, I think I'm tired that's all. Tsunade-sama has had me on S class missions every week since we got back." Kakashi knew it wasn't the truth.

"Maybe. Here I want you to finish it." Iruka handed him a bowl of warm ramen. He had to admit Kakashi looked like he was feeling more hungry than before.

"Thanks…" He looked down.

"I'm going to come by in the morning to make sure it's been eaten. I will know if you poured it out got it!" Kakashi took a step back as Iruka became the monster Kakashi usually saw him as. Truth be told he was the cause to it usually.

"Okay…okay…" He backed up more and watched the chuunin almost literally deflate.

"Well then, I have to go see Tsunade-sama but remember what I said."

"Yes…."

As Iruka walked off Kakashi couldn't help but stare.

He reminds me of a mother…geez

Walking back to his apartment Kakashi let the smell of the ramen fill his senses. He was hungry after all.

Akane-san

Forgive me this is late. I had a long mission before I got this. I had a bit of scare as well. Sakura had come and almost read it. You're probably going to lecture me about leaving my things lying around like Umino would. He seems to like control it seems.

I miss your family…I can't believe I just wrote that. Anyways they seemed to enjoy my being there. No one stared…but I guess I would fit in considering some of the people there are very strange…then again Iruka-sensei is quite odd himself.

I'll inform Tsunade-sama about the vaccine as soon as it arrives. I wouldn't want to tell her too soon, she'd try to find my source and send people to see if you're reliable. That could be a major problem.

However I am very sure things will go smoothly. There's no way I can see anyone catching on to you being my informant, they would more likely expect someone from Sand than someone from Canyon.

Putting the pen down he threw the scroll to the floor.

"How the hell can I say anything to her?" He placed his head in his hands as he stared at the table. "She's not going to know what to think of me if I write some of the things I want…. I would never write that."

Giving up he decided to turn in. Nothing could be done if he couldn't even think straight.

TBC...

A/N: Chapter one down...please review.