Chapter 3

Kakashi was walking back to his apartment, dinner in hand, when he saw Asuma walking his way, but he looked different. As they walked closer to each other, Kakashi noticed the smell of alcohol on him.

"Asuma, are you all right? Do you want me to walk you home?" Kakashi offered. He was worried about his friend.

"Huh?" Asuma looked up at Kakashi. He looked confused. "Oh, no, I can get home on my own. Thanks, Kakashi." Asuma put his head down again and began to walk away.

"No problem." Kakashi whispered as he slipped back into his own thoughts.

I guess he finally knows that his sister is dead. I feel for him. I was close to Yuushi as well.

Kakashi reached his apartment and put his dinner in the refrigerator. He had lost his appetite after his encounter with Asuma. He walked into his bedroom and took off his vest, forehead protector, and long-sleeve blue shirt. When he was more comfortable, he fell backward onto his bed.

Yuushi what happened to you? Why were you so far away from home? And in enemy territory, no less. You left so many behind. You promised you would return to me. I miss you. I love you.

Kakashi opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. His eyes burned with sadness, as a few tears slipped out of the corners of his eyes and onto the bed sheets. As his tears began to flow freely, he was overcome with exhaustion. He fell asleep and dreamed of Yuushi.

"Yuushi what's wrong? You don't look like yourself." Kakashi spoke as he tried to catch her eyes.

"I'm fine, Kakashi. Really, I'm just tired from my last mission." Yuushi said with a weak voice. "What? Don't look at me like that!"

"I don't believe you. Even when you're exhausted, you still have a light in your eyes. Today it's gone. Did something happen?" Kakashi asked with a soft voice.

"No." She tried to avoid his eyes again.

"Yuushi! Seriously, what happened yesterday? You were fine until you spoke to your father last night." Kakashi was losing his patience.

"I'm fine! Let it be, Cynic boy!" Yuushi yelled.

"Cynic boy? Hn, I haven't been called that in a long time. You must really be frustrated with me if you called me that again." Kakashi laughed.

"Yeah, I am frustrated with you. So… Hey, stop laughing at me!" Yuushi began to turn red in the face. "Kakashi, what's so funny?"

Kakashi continued laughing. "Nothing, it's just I enjoy making you angry. I like it when you show more emotion. Now, that's the Yuushi I know." Kakashi smiled when Yuushi calmed down. "Now, let's get back to the original topic. Where do you want to go to lunch?"

Kakashi woke up. His eyes felt dry and they burned when he blinked. He sat up to look at the clock on his bedside table. The bright red numbers read 11:06. As he sat, thinking over his dream, his stomach growled loudly.

"I guess I should eat my dinner now." Kakashi turned on the light in the kitchen and got his dinner from the fridge. When he looked up something caught his eye. He turned and saw the framed picture from when Yuushi started in ANBU. Kakashi stood next to her, and on her other side stood the Third Hokage, her father. His eyes fell again and he sat down at his table and turned the television on, not wanting to feel so alone in the silence again.

He thought of his dream again. Yuushi had been in a foul mood, and speaking to her about her father had always been a sore subject.

Wait! That's it! I remember when that had happened. She was upset with her father after she had spoken with him and no more than a week later she was sent on her last mission.

"So, the hokage did know something. Something must have happened between the two of them, that's why she wasn't as happy as she had always been before she left. But what happened?" Kakashi tried to work all of it out in his mind. "I need more information if I want to figure this out."

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Yuushi lay in bed. She had woken up again when her nightmares took over again. She was breathing heavily while she tried to regain her composure.

"Yuushi, are you all right?" Shizune's voice came from beside her.

"Oh, yes, I'm okay. Just another nightmare. It woke me up." Yuushi explained.

"Do you need anything?"

"I think I'm out of water, could you get me some more?" She asked.

"Sure I'll be right back."

"I don't think I've ever seen you hyperventilate quite like that before. Are you sure you're okay, Yuushi?" Jiraiya's voice came from the chair beside her bed. His hand found its way to her own. He squeezed her hand reassuring her.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I just need to get a hold of myself." Yuushi said as she was still breathing heavily. "Jiraiya, how do I make them stop?"

"Huh? Make what stop?" Jiraiya asked, letting go of her hand.

"The nightmares. The pain in my heart. How do I get rid of it?" She asked the pain in her eyes showing.

"It doesn't go away. Not ever." Jiraiya spoke.

Yuushi's eyes filled with hot tears as she remembered all the pain she had gone through. All of the monsters and all of the death. She lost all of her teammates during those two horrific days.

Shizune returned with a fresh pitcher of water. When she saw the pain in Yuushi's face she was afraid her wounds were hurting again.

"Yuushi?" Shizune began.

"She's fine, Shizune. Her wounds are fine. Just leave her be." Jiraiya spoke.

Shizune nodded and left to tend to her other patients. She worried about Yuushi the most because of her mental state.

"Jiraiya, will you leave me to my thoughts for a little while?" Yuushi asked in a quiet voice.

"Sure, I'll come back later." Jiraiya stood up and left, most likely going to find Tsunade.

"Finally, I'm alone." She said quietly to herself.

Kakashi, I miss you. I want to write to you again, but it may be too dangerous. I'm still in enemy territory, but I'm so near the border to Wind Country. If you only knew what I knew…you would understand why I'm here right now. Kakashi, love you. I'll keep my promise. I will return to you.

For the first time since she was admitted to the hospital, she slept peacefully. She dreamed of the past, of when she was happy, of Kakashi.

When Jiraiya came back, he watched her as she slept and noticed something different than usual. She was smiling.