Inner Tourniquet

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Chapter Two

Kakashi's POV:

My sensei once told me something I never, to this day, have forgotten.

"…Strip away the codes, laws, jutsu, nindo…and all you are is human. All humans have a nature buried deep inside them that makes them who they are. A darker part, if you will. A truly strong, just man would stare right into his own inner being and still hold his head high…"

"Would you be able to, Kakashi?"

I was fourteen when he asked me this and I remembered loathing the question – it reminded me too much of my past. The Yondaime even had the same knowing smirk on his face. Now, it almost seemed ironic, given the current circumstances.

'Would I be able to?' Hm, some things were better left alone.

I walked on to the seemingly endless stretch of shadows with Sakura trailing behind closely. It was hard to see ahead since this place was stained black… even the walls surrounding our sides appeared to be constantly dripping dark ink.

No wonder I mistook this place for Hell. 'Actually, the underworld would probably be much warmer.' I amended, estimating it had to be below zero in this existence.

This being my mind didn't quite surprise me. It was strange to face one's own inner demons… but to have someone else see you – that other part of you – for Sakura to see every thought, every action…

I hated it.

I am a private person, after all. That is exactly why we must leave here as soon as possible, if we even have that much time left. Sighing, I stilled as I thought I heard something in the distance. 'What now?' I thought, instantly on guard.

I felt Sakura bump into me from behind. I frowned as the strange jolt of heat and energy passed through me, just like before. I turned to face her as she smiled and moved away.

"Gomen! What's wrong?" she asked with an inquisitive stare.

"I heard something."

Thud… Thud…

Sakura's green eyes widened, "What is that?" she asked with a worried edge to her voice.

Thud…

"Stay close." I said, making my way towards the noise.

The sound kept increasing… I knew we were getting closer. I stepped through the mist, making sure to talk hold of Sakura's arm so I wouldn't lose her in the smoke. A strong gust of wind blew right through us and the mist disappeared, leaving me to stare at the image in front of me.

Thud…

My Otou-san. He was hanging by a rope tied to an invisible point in the far off ceiling as his corpse banged repeatedly against the wall with each sickening thud. The scene burned into my mind… there was no mistake.

'It's not real.' I thought conflictingly, but my eyes scanned the familiar sliver hair and trademark mask that I had inherited from him. Sakura let out a gasp as she took a step back, throwing a cautious look over to the body then back to me.

"Kakashi… that looks like you…" she said waveringly.

I didn't answer.

I turned away. "It doesn't matter. Let's go."

"B- But…" she began, hesitating.

"Kakashi…" I froze. That was his voice.

I quickly turned around to face my father's body and shoved Sakura behind me. My eyes widened a facture as deadened black eyes stared directly through me. His masked face was set completely emotionless, but his ghostly gaze was accusatory as he hung there.

"You are like me." he rasped, eyes narrowing.

I tensed, not knowing whether I should leave or remain. All I did was stand there and stare right back into his eyes, millions of questions running through my mind but I didn't find the will to speak them.

"You're path will end the same way mine did."

'My path…?' I thought, shocked. My Otou-san, the legendary White Fang of Konoha… died in a shameful way. An ending of suicide… I would never take this path. He felt ashamed that he failed his mission to save his comrades… he killed himself. I was the one who found his body.

I never knew him that well. But I did know that he taught me a very important lesson. Always follow things by the book, never let your emotion rule you. Never deem anyone more important than a mission. Keep a lid on every feeling you have so they would not consume you.

But that was before Obito died. On that day too I learned an important lesson: Ninja who didn't protect their comrades were even lower than trash. 'This is just my thoughts… all I have to do is remember that.' Nothing inside here is real.

"You thought it could be different…" I stiffened at his words.

'He knows what I'm thinking…' that has to be the explanation. Not that I could possibly hide anything from my own mind.

"Kakashi, what's going on?" Sakura asked as I noticed a fearful, teary glint in her gaze.

The silver haired corpse laughed lowly, "You even thought if you could change Sasuke's path maybe you could alter your own… you failed, Kakashi."

I glared evenly at the man whose darkened, amused gaze still locked on me. His body stopped swinging as he hung there – completely lifeless and immobile.

"You will die in the same humiliating, tragic way… you are my son." I could feel my insides twist uncomfortably at this but adeptly ignored it.

'Why can't I move?' I thought, on edge. I didn't want to hear anymore. I didn't want Sakura to hear anymore.

"It's what you want, after all." His whisper died out as the image dispersed.

"K-Kakashi"- Sakura started but I cut her off.

"We're leaving." I said tonelessly, walking forward as she was forced to follow.


We continued on for what felt like hours in silence until I noted Sakura's condition. She was more and more slowly lagging behind, her breathing getting more uneven. She was even paler than usual. I stopped my pace as she arched a brow at me.

"We'll rest for awhile, you seem tired." I said, nodding to her.

"Ah, well kinda." She replied, smiling uneasily. "Um Kakashi, can I ask you something?"

I stared at her expectedly, knowing this was coming.

"Well… that man. He looked so much like you, so was he… well…" she stumbled, not knowing quite how to phrase her question.

"He was my father." I answered, realizing that much was obvious to the pink haired medic.

"Oh, then...?"

"That is all I will say, Sakura." I responded, deadpanned.

"Right." She sighed, looking away.

'Is it masochistic to hate my own mind?'

I sat down on the misty floor, looking up as she hesitated. She shrugged it off lightly; "I just haven't had much of a good experience with the floor, you see!" she laughed nervously but sat down beside me.

Leaning up against the now solid wall (nothing was ever constant in this place) I turned my attention on the medic next to me.

"Sakura… you are not to repeat anything you see or hear while you are here, understand?" I questioned with a narrowed gaze.

She blinked but nodded in return, "Of course. It's your privacy, after all. I feel like I'm intruding…"

I didn't reply to that comment. "Do you know all the effects of your jutsu? How much time do you think you have?"

"I don't know for sure… it's different with each person. It's really only my inner thoughts present in your mind. I'm here but not here at the same time. It's all very confusing and leaves many unanswered questions. There are many unknown effects that could transpire."

She brightened, "Like this!" she poked my arm with her index finger as another shot of warmth ran through me.

I frowned at her, rubbing my arm that was left with a tingling sensation. "What is that all about, anyway?"

"I think it's because since we are both images of our thoughts and emotions, when we touch it causes a reaction. It must be since I'm a foreign element in your mind." She smiled happily, amused at this.

Now that I focus on her clearly, Sakura is more defined that anything else here. At least, she is more vivid. Her pinks and greens stand out amidst the grey and black shadows. I could even feel heat radiating off her… that's strange since it was so cold here.

'These are all the effects of the jutsu?' I find it more that slightly disconcerting.

"Hmm." I said, as she closed her luminescent emerald eyes and leaned up against the wall as well.

I stared at her for a moment. "Is it hard to exist here?"

"No… it's just the air is so heavy… walking gets me tired." Her head swayed in my direction and hit my right shoulder. She sighed deeply, inclining her head in a more comfortable position so she leaned against my side.

I looked away, centering my gaze on the drifting shadows. I would keep an eye on them so they don't come too close. I could feel the now recognizable shoots of warmth melting into my right side and sighed as well.

'It'd be best if we got out of here as soon as possible.' I didn't want to linger here more than necessary. My gaze strayed over to Sakura's sleeping form once again.

'It was… unnerving.' Everything here was.


"What does this exit look like?" I asked as we kept on walking an even pace through the ever-going blackness.

"Tsunade-shishou said I'd know it when I see it!" My ex-student remarked confidently, yet I hear her underlying tone.

"You don't have a clue, ne?" I asked dully as she glared.

"I TOLD you, I will know when I see it!" she exclaimed in a huff, her famous temper coming into action.

"Hn," I said, disinterested.

"Hey! Are you"-

She stopped speaking and let out a scream as the floor beneath us disappeared. I reached out and grasped Sakura quickly by her upper arm as we fell through a dark, bottomless pit. 'Where the hell did this come from?' I thought, wary as we continued to fall. There was no way I could stop our descent.

It was then that started ear splitting screams. The screams were of women, men, and even children… in fear, sadness, and despair. It was as if they were crying with their last breath… Perhaps it was.

It sounded familiar, the resonating echoes of screams.

"Hold on," I said, over the loud voices.

Sakura grabbed onto me tightly and buried her face into my shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut. We continued to fall as I wondered if we would ever stop. Suddenly, it was as if we were never falling at all.

'What's this?' I scowled, surveying the new area with caution.

We were now standing in a field… it seemed familiar also. 'My old team's training grounds?' I thought silently shocked for a moment as Sakura regained her footing, looking up at me with a wondrous expression.

"W- What's going on?" The medic asked, shaken.

I took a step forward, knowing we were still in my mind. 'This has to be another illusion.' I thought logically. 'Why would we end up here?'

In between the trees I saw a figure move out of the shadows. I blinked, unmoving as a twelve year old Obito appeared with the same grin on his face. I could only stare back in shock. He ran up to us until he stood only a few feet away.

"Obito." I stated, not knowing what else to say.

But this was wrong. This Obito was a decaying corpse. His skin looked pallid and sunken with an eye missing from its torn open socket… even his limbs seemed to be rapidly decomposing. 'His eye…' I could feel my guilt weigh down like lead.

"Kakashi! Sorry I'm late, you see, you wouldn't believe what happened to me! I got stuck in a trap hole and it took all morning for me to climb my way out!" he laughed loudly. "Did I miss training?"

"You…" I shook my head, lost for words.

"Fine, I lied. I was actually buried under a boulder." Obito stopped laughing as his one rotting red eye focused on my own red one.

"You took everything. Why do you take everything?"

His tone grew more serious as he stepped closer. I could see his skin hanging off his brittle bones as his only eye stared at me hauntingly, undeterred.

"You're the jounin prodigy… Sensei likes you the most in our team… even Rin-chan liked you, not me…"

My throat felt dry as I just stared, "It's… It's not"-

'It's not real, he's dead. He died a long time ago. They all did.' I carved their names into the memorial stone myself. They are the ones I visit everyday.

"You couldn't even save me." he glared coldly, "You didn't even do what you promised! You didn't protect Rin! She's dead because of you!"

My eyes widened at his statement. Distantly, I felt a sharp crack in the back of my mind that followed with a cold, icy numbness.

"You even have my sharingan eye…"

Raging red met bleeding crimson and black.

"You take everything."

The world collapsed as black replaced the training grounds once more. Swirls of black, grey, and red clouded my vision as it felt like I was falling yet standing still at the same time. My thoughts raced, overlapping and coinciding. The floor titled again.

I could vaguely hear Sakura yelling my name. It sounded far away. I reached up and touched my sharingan eye – no, not mine, Obito's. It wasn't mine. I shouldn't have it.

"You even have my sharingan eye…"

My fingers dug into my eye, scratching it frantically. 'I can't have it, it's not mine… it's not mine.' I tore into my socket, feeling liquid steadily drip down my arm. I needed it out… it's not mine. The world lurched once more as nothing made sense. I couldn't even feel pain... just an icy numbess.

'I didn't keep my promise.'

"Kakashi!" I blinked as something pulled my arm hard, "Please, stop!" Another wave of dizziness hit me again.

I stared into frightened green eyes. 'Sakura…?'

I felt a pull on the back of my neck as I was pulled forward so my face landed in the base of her throat. "Please, Kakashi… Calm down…" her voice sounded shaky as the hand at the back of my neck began rubbing soothing circles on my skin.

Feeling the world spin once more, I shut my eyes and concentrated on her presence. I sagged against her smaller frame completely and let her warmth soak into my skin… it was a distraction from the distorted images. I grasped her arms tightly after another haze of confusion went right through me.

'Sakura…' she was real. The only thing here that was real. She was here. She was alive, breathing. I pressed closer, feeling the tingling heat take effect. I sighed heavily, inclining my head deeper into her soft neck.

"You take everything."

My eyes snapped open in alarm as I jumped up and stood away from the pink girl. Sakura started up at me in puzzlement, her green eyes wide. She stood up too, frowning at me thoughtfully as she gazed at my eye. I reached up and touched it, noting it felt the same as before. As if there was nothing wrong with it.

"There's… no wound." Sakura said, astounded. "But you practically tore your sharingan eye out!"

"Forget it, let's go." I responded, unaffected as I turned and began walking away. I could hear her hurried footsteps behind me.

'Whatever that was… ignore it.'

That's exactly what I would do.


A/N:

Thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock, seriously. Please continue to tell me how I'm doing!

Next chapter: More mental torture for Kakashi!

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-Twitchy