To Fall Before You

Chapter Two

Kakashi thought he had seen everything that concerns with the two brats he have for teammates; one obnoxious blonde that has no brains and the other who has emotions similar to a goldfish.

He seriously did.

But the sight of Sai coming into the cave they've been taking shelter with a female – obvious to the kimono she's wearing – over his shoulder like a sack of rice, large chunks of vomit staining his chest, and smelling like he had been rolling with a corpse was definitely something new. His nose twitched from the foul smell and his eyes lay upon the girl. Then his face went blank with unease. Sai didn't manage to get the Goddess of the Tailed-Beasts without them, did he? If he did, then Kakashi is seriously getting old.

"What happened to you?" That question alone from Naruto showed that the boy was as stunned as he was. This is a very critical time that Kakashi will have to finish the Ichi Ichi Paradise later. "And who the hell are you carrying?"

"I don't see any of you around to take credit in this," Sai was saying, his fake smile dropping.

Usually, Sai could care less about them being present during a fight, much less even worry if they're alive or not. If anything, it would be the blonde that would be complaining for days if they even take a step out of the picture when he's concern. Kakashi? His only fear is if he would ever finish reading the infamous Ichi Ichi Paradise.

But it's obvious, even to Naruto, that Sai is having a bit of an issue. A rare moment. Kakashi is all-ears now.

"We checked the lower levels and found nothing but dead people, so we left," Naruto answered him confusingly as he pinched his nose to block out the smell. "You need to go wash yourself. You and that girl stink!"

"Sai," Kakashi whispered, pointing to the girl on his shoulder. "So...who did you bring to introduce us too?"

The dark-haired boy ignored them both, gently putting the girl down. All the man can see is pink – and lots of it to the point of annoyances. But once her face is shown, immediately, Kakashi's eyes perked from the rare beauty the girl is gifted with; young and definitely beautiful.

Then he mentally slapped himself. He is such a closet pervert.

"I can smell her," Naruto's voice broke through his thoughts with a snarl. The blonde was staring at the girl, a growl rumbling at the base of his throat. "Is this her? The Goddess we'd been looking for?"

Sai's eyes shifted to her. "Only a shell. The Goddess is sleeping inside."

"Ah…I didn't think a Goddess of the Tailed-Beasts will be taking a host as well," Kakashi said with interest, tapping his chin in thoughts. "So the Lord does have the Tailed-Beast within him. I'm assuming he's dead?"

"Probably eaten," Naruto corrected him and Kakashi gave him a dry look. Sai left them there, his mind only thinking of finding the nearest lake to clean up and feeling fresh. "Are you forgetting something?"

Sai paused at that and looked back. Naruto still had his nose covered, his finger pointing at the unconscious girl and even Kakashi was looking at him like he's a child who's purposely neglecting all responsibilities.

"She reeks as you do," Naruto pressed. "If you're going to bathe, take her along with you."

Kakashi's arched brows rose high on his forehead. "Ever heard of modestly, Naruto?"

"I've never been surrounded by women to even care so it's not like I really give a damn." And this came out from the man who created a Sexy no Jutsu as a joke.

"Then why don't you do it," Sai told him instead. He wasn't surprised from the sudden blush crossing the blonde's face. Obviously he's all talk.

"No way!"

"So you noticed the beauty in her too?" Kakashi teased. "Well done, my boy, well done."

"Just take her with you!" Naruto said in a hysterically manner, trying to change the subject. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for her to wake up. Whether it's the Goddess we are going to meet first or this girl, the thought of chaining her down while she smells like death itself is unpleasant."

"Just make sure if you decide to dump her into the lake, don't roll or twist her around like you'll be doing laundry," the silver-haired man advised. "Be gentle with her."
Did they decided on their own that he will be doing just what they told him to do? Sai turned his back toward them and said, "I'm leaving."

"Inconsiderate asshole!" Naruto jumped up from his seat, growling. And an argument broke out between them. Or more like Naruto's mouth is the only one running while Sai does the smiling. Kakashi perked when hearing a soft groan coming from the pink-haired beauty. Well, with the ruckus the two idiots are giving, the dead can even wake up from their endless sleep.

"Learn to be more responsible!"

Sai was actually nice enough to waste a small bit of time talking back. "You never really get rid of that habit of yours."

"What habit?"

"It's when your mouth opens and sound comes out."

"GO TO HELL, SAI!"

"And I woke up because of you two? How annoying…" Both men stopped, blinked, and turned as one to the groggily girl as she rubbed her eyes. Mentally, Kakashi clapped to her straightforwardness. He wasn't worried at all; no Goddess of the Tailed-Beasts will be acting like that. Now if that woman wakes up from all the arguing and yelling, she would probably blast the two until they are nothing but dust, just because.

"Who are you three…?" Then her eyes stayed firmed on Sai without another word. No tension in the air, no fear coming from her, and not even confused to her location. Kakashi wondered just how many times she has been in this situation.

"Like we'll be telling you," Naruto said promptly with that sneaky and smug "It's too obvious we are after you because of the Goddess so we are planning on using you" smile. A flicker in the girl's emerald eyes acknowledged she had read him out. Even Sai had to glance at him for his stupidity.

So much for the plan to be stayed a secret.

"Everybody I've met has the same intention, it's almost like a routine now," she muttered, confirming Kakashi's thought. She sighed, trying to stand on her own with wobbly legs. Kakashi would have help her but decided against it. No one made a move to balance her.

Naruto, of course, for obvious reason while Sai is just...Sai.

"You…" she paused, staring at the tensed blonde. "I can sense it…you have one of the Tailed-Beasts inside of you...the nine-tail."

The grip on his shirt was quick and her face moved forward. In alarm, thinking that Naruto would be eaten right then and there or at the least have his nose bitten off by the carnivore Goddess that's taking over the girl, all three were prepared to attack.

But what happened next was totally unsuspecting, not what they expected.

The girl threw up, again, loud and clear right onto the silent shrieking blonde as he stood there, his body completely fossilized and his face showing horror and disgust. Even Kakashi had to stare before letting the girl go and took a quick step back away from him. The silences, minus Naruto's nonsense sounds coming from the base of his throat, lasted for a good five minutes.

"I'm sorry…" the girl murmured in defeat, falling onto her knees. A twitch can be seen from Naruto, indicating that he's still alive from the shock. "I'm really sorry…"

Kakashi was on the verge to laughter. "I believe you two should escort her to the lake now? Unless you're planning on leaving?" he asked her.

"I gave up running a long time ago..." she only muttered.

Sai barely gave them a glance, that smile still plastered on his face, as was the first to leave. Kakashi sighed, helped the poor girl to her feet and led her out of the cave with Naruto following, twitching within each step like an old man with stiff bones.

Kakashi's lips curled with a smile. Of all the possibilities to the capture of the Goddess's bearer, THIS had been quite a surprised. He's definitely looking forward to what's going to be happening next.