Live Today, See Tomorrow
Chapter 4
Kakashi opened his eye and gazed at the ceiling. His body ached and his arm throbbed. He closed his eye as he felt a cool breeze through the window. The fresh air filled his lungs and the sound of birds filled his hearing. He looked around the room, it was dark and quiet. He saw a bed next to his and saw Shikamaru sleeping there. He saw the seal on the boy's forehead. His eyebrows came together in concentration. Why hasn't it been lifted yet, he thought. Sitting up proved to be a very difficult task. He let out a groan as he flexed his healing ribs.
"You're up!" Kakashi looked to his left and saw Shikamaru sitting up. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay," Kakashi said, "Why do you look so worried?"
Shikamaru hesitated. "Tsunade-sama was worried about your.....mental state. She said you were put under genjutsus." Kakashi looked out towards the night sky, something he thought he'd never see again.
"Kakashi?"
"I don't really remember. Anything really of what happened. Just...pain," Kakashi said in a quiet voice.
"Neither do I." Kakashi looked towards Shikamaru. "It's these seals," he began rubbing his forehead, "they not only seal our chakra, but our memories as well. I don't even remember the names or faces of the people you got us."
Kakashi's hand went up to his forehead as well. "Tsunade-sama said she can release them, but if she does, all the memories will come flooding back. She said it was going to be painful." Shikamaru looked away. Kakashi studied the young boy's face, he can see the hidden fear.
"How'd they find us?" Kakashi changed the subject.
"Don't know, Tsunade-sama said she'd tell us everything after we got some rest." Shikamaru waited, when Kakashi stayed silent, he said. "We were held captive for five months and been asleep in the hospital for two weeks."
"That's longest I ever was captive," Kakashi's face showed no emotion. Shikamaru looked down and began fingering the sheets. This was an awkward situation, he didn't know how to act or what to say. This never happened to him before. Well, he can't say that now, but he knew this happened to Kakashi before, maybe even Asuma. Movement from Kakashi's side made him look up. He saw Kakashi struggling to stand up.
"Kakashi! What are you doing?" Shikamaru said in alarm. "You shouldn't be standing in your condition!" Seeing that Kakashi was ignoring him, Shikamaru stood up, slow as well, but faster then Kakashi. He walked up to Kakashi and gripped his good arm. "Kakashi, you really shouldn't be up."
"There's someplace I have to go," Kakashi said simply. Shikamaru knew there was no stopping Kakashi, but he also knew that he couldn't let Kakashi go alone.
"Then I'm going with you," Shikamaru stated.
"No, you should rest."
"Yeah, like that's gonna stop me." Shikamaru wrapped Kakashi's right arm over his left shoulder. The weight on his bad shoulder ached a bit, but he was okay.
"...Shikamaru..."
"Lead the way," Shikamaru said with a smile, "just pray we don't get caught."
A small smile slid on Kakashi's face. This time Shikamaru was able to get a real good look at Kakashi's face. Although tired looking, Kakashi looked young and handsome. He couldn't wait until Naruto heard that he saw his face before him. They made it out of the hospital quietly and surprisingly without a hassle. The streets of Konoha were vacant and quiet. Shikamaru was glad to see these roads again. He noted they were heading towards a training ground. Then he realized where they were headed.
The memorial stone shined in the moonlight. Him and Kakashi took a seat down in front of it, both slightly out of breath. Kakashi gazed at the all to familiar names. Shikamaru felt he should leave Kakashi be so he stood up and walked over to lean against a nearby tree. He closed his eyes and allowed the cool breeze to brush against his face. A few minutes later he heard feet approach him and felt Kakashi sit down next to him.
"What should we do?" Kakashi's low voice said. Shikamaru let that sentence hang in the air for a little, then responded. "I think, we should hear what Tsunade-sama has to say and then go from there."
Kakashi rubbed his broken arm, which was luckily his left also, since his right is dominate. He leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes, Shikamaru did the same.
"YOU TWO BETTER GET YOUR ASSES BACK TO THE HOSPITAL THIS INSTANT!" came a roaring voice. Shikamaru's eyes bolted open to meet a ragging Tsunade and a frightened Shizune. The sun was shinning brightly, he figured they had fallen asleep. He looked over and saw Kakashi, who's head was on his shoulder, still sleeping. He shook his shoulder to try to wake Kakashi, it worked to some extent.
"The field is colorful like fruit cake," Kakashi mumbled as he began to wake up. He blinked a few times, fully waking up. He looked up and saw Tsunade. "Hm?"
"What the hell was he dreaming about?" Shikamaru wondered.
"What the hell do you two think you're doing?! You're both in no condition to be up and about!"
Kakashi pointed to the memorial stone like a child afraid to speak, but in his case he was just to lazy to speak.
"I understand Kakashi, but still. Get up! Back to the hospital!" Tsunade said as she clapped her hands together and pointed in the direction they need to go. The two men sighed and stood up. The walk back to the hospital felt strange to Shikamaru, everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and stare. For the first time he felt very uncomfortable in the village.
"Shikamaru?" He heard a quiet voice say. He looked up and saw his mom coming out of one of the stores, her eyes filled with tears.
"Shikamaru!" Before he knew it his mother was hugging him tightly as tears streamed down her face. As much as the hug was painful it felt nice as well. "Oh, my baby! I've missed you so much! Tsunade-sama wasn't allowing any visitors! I was so worried! I thought I'd never see you again!"
Shikamaru didn't know what to say. He just let his mother cry on him and he patted her back with his good arm. He felt a strong hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see his father standing above him, a smile on the man's face. No words were need.
Kakashi smiled at the nice scene. Unfortunately that scene caused the others to come almost out of no where.
"Shikamaru!" Ino cried as she ran up to them, Chouji close behind, with a bag of chips of course.
Then the all to familiar voice was heard overall.
"KAKASHI SENSEI!!!"
Kakashi simply sidestepped the oncoming teen and watched him hit the ground, face first.
"No tackling, broken arm here." Kakashi stated. He watched Naruto get up and face him. He looked angry at first, then he started to cry.
"Se-Sensei....I knew you....hic...were alive! And hic I finally get to see your damn hic face!And....and....."
Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's head and rustled his hair, he gave the boy a real genuine smile.
"It's okay Naruto, eveything is going to be okay know. By the way, where's Sakura?"
Naruto didn't need to answer that because Kakashi felt someone grip the back of his shirt and lean their head on his back.
"Right here, Sensei," she said in a tearful voice.
"Okay, listen everyone, they need to get back to the hospital," Tsunade stated. "You guys can come visit in twenty minutes okay?"
As the scene began to die down, everyone followed them to the hospital and just waited outside, Naruto was starting at a clock.
Shikamaru groaned as he lay down in his bed. His body ached from his mom hugging him so tightly. Kakashi sat at the edge of his bed staring at the floor.
"Tsunade-sama," Kakashi said.
"Hm?"
"Undo the seal."
Tsunade was slightly shocked at the sudden request. "Kakashi, you're still--"
"Please, do it now."
"Me too." Shikamaru chimed in.
Tsunade sighed. "You don't want to rush this you guys. Why don't you let me tell you as much as I know, and then I'll release them."
"Please, Tsunade-sama." Kakashi's voice almost sounded desperate.
".........Alright."
