The waterfall flows softly into a shining pool. Catching the moonlight, the water sings and breathes in the heavenly scent of moon blossoms surrounding her, glowing quietly in the dark. Hidden behind her ever falling tears her deep dark eye burrows deep into the earth. Beyond it, twisting and turning. A labyrinth of veins deep to her core and as her voices rings through the deep, hear her whispers and follow her home.

Cloaked in black they stand waiting, staring into the wall of water before them. The dense forest moves restlessly, murmuring at their back. The pool beneath their feet ripples gently, smoothly, cooling bare skin. Bowing their head to the streaming door before them they watch the dark eye awaken and open her liquid lashes in welcome. A voice within thoughts for a reply within words.

'Hear her whispers'

"…and follow her home"

The cloaked body disappears into the dark, lost to the world behind a clear white veil, as the trees watch lonely in a growing silence.

'… Kakashi… Kakashi… come back to me…Kakashi'

It was so foggy. He couldn't see a thing but a voice smooth in his ears was calling him from so far away. He had to find it, he had to find her. A small orb of light caught his eye. Purer light than the rest. Kakashi headed towards it, a strange sensation coming over him as the orb grew. It was almost familiar but unknown. A cool air began to engulf him bit by bit as the fog took over his vision.

"Kakashi… Kakashi sensei… Kakashi sensei! Come on wake up"

He opened his eyes slowly realizing the voice had changed. It was no longer far away but right at his ear and it wasn't smooth as much as it had now become an almost deafening bellow. As the fog lifted he came back to reality. To a rather annoyed looking pink headed kunoichi and an equally annoying blonde Chunnin who was irritatingly hands on in his shaking of his sensei.

"Come on sensei! Wake up will ya!"

THUNK!

Naruto was rewarded with a jab to the chin for his efforts of waking his sleeping sensei and predictable as it was Sakura bore no sympathy even though she had actually started the shaking to begin with. Keeping quiet and folding her arms in disappointment she clicked her tongue in disapproval.

"Another bad habit of yours sensei? Jeez! Just when we thought you couldn't get any more unreliable"

Kakashi groaned his disbelieve at such a statement and rustled his hair.

'I miss those little Genin's who held me in such high regard. So cute back then'

Clearing his throat and mumbling his apologies he suddenly jolted forward. Not only had he randomly fell asleep without knowing but to sleep so long he had to be called on, the fact he had fallen asleep watching the forest waiting for something he didn't understand and that Naruto had to forcefully shake him awake confused him.

"You know Naruto, next time you try and wake me, be gentle alright. I may really hurt you next time you pull something like that"

Pouting and nursing a very sore jaw the blonde glared at his sensei.

'Hmph! you didn't really hold back that time either. Stupid old man'

"I told you not to be so rough idiot"

Sakura snuffed as she settled herself down for a cup of morning tea. Naruto's jaw dropped in horror at the obvious blame game. Why was he always the victim at times like this?

"Hey! You were the one who…"

He was cut off by a menacing glare and threat of a worst pummeling by the pink haired girl. He quickly stopped where he was going and tried to look as helpless as he could using his big blue watery eyes to try and sway the girl's killing intent. Kakashi couldn't help but notice he was getting yet another headache from these two. It was the same every mission they shared, it was a comfort but a pain at the same time. Leaving the youngsters to glare it out Kakashi shuffled himself over to the large tea table and rubbed his tired eyes trying to remember anything in the hours before he finally fell asleep. Nothing was coming to mind apart from the dense quiet forest staring back at him. This place wasn't normal.

"G …Good morning masters. Do you care for your morning tea to be served?"

Hiro appeared at the hallway. The ninjas noticed that he seemed more nervous than the day before and worn out. They figured it was most likely due to the events of the night before.

"Oh…ah yes of course, thank you"

Before any of them could ask about the previous night Hiro had already wished them good day and made his leave. Kakashi stayed quiet as his two comrades debated on why Hiro had been in such a rush to leave and how rudeness seemed to be the norm of the house hold. Warming his hands around his cup Kakashi noticed a flash of peach flicker at the door. Looking up he found a very quiet Momo standing just inside the door with her head bowed low. Sensing her presence the Naruto face brightened immediately as he threw his arms out towards her. Sakura moved herself to the side and smiled at the little girl ushering her to sit beside her.

"Momo! How you doing this morning, you sleep ok? Sorry about yesterday. You wanna come join us?"

"Good morning Momo. You ok? Come, sit down"

The two young ninja had immediately taken a shine to the little child especially Naruto. She was just so adorable, but something was off. She hadn't ran into the room or even said hello, she just stood there. Without and word and very slowly she made her way to Kakashi and gently tugged on his sleeve while keeping her face hidden. He had never been good with young children so he wasn't quite sure what to do.

"…Momo? What is it?"

Naruto crawled his way over to Momo sitting beside her as Sakura stood and sat closer protectively surrounding her. He took her little hand and could feel her trembling.

"Momo?"

Letting go of Kakashi Momo turned to Naruto and threw her small arms around his shoulders as her small hiccups and sniffles broke through her silence. By instinct Naruto's arms trapped the little girl in a tight embrace, stroking her hair as Moriko had done the previous night. After Kakashi had given the girl a handkerchief and wiped her tears away, Sakura stroked her hair gathering a small amount of calming chakra to relieve any fatigue the girl may be feeling. After her tears had again subsided and her breath had steadied she lifted her face to show sad teary eyes, swollen and red.

"Momo what is it? You can tell us"

Sakura brushed a strand of peach hair away from the little ones face. Looking into her eyes as the tears began to fall again.

"B…Big sister"

"What about her? Is she still sleeping? Is she sick?"

"Big s… sister… a… and Mama"

The ninja's faces dropped. Despite being there for only a few days they could tell mentioning Moriko and Himawari in the same sentence was taboo in that house. Thy all looked at each other with the same feeling in their gut. Kakashi kept his voice flat.

"Is Mama hurting Moriko again?"

As her sobbing took over her small body, Momo managed to nod as her grip on Naruto's jumper tightened as she buried her face in his chest. The anger on Naruto's face was unmistakable as Sakura's face was stricken with worry. Kakashi stood slowly and brushed himself down. Making his way to the door Sakura called after him as Naruto was obviously distracted by Momo.

"Erm, sensei? Where are you going?"

Kakashi stopped. Where was he going? Why did he suddenly stand to leave? It was as if his body had a mind of its own all of a sudden. Taking a second he looked at a hiccupping Momo in Naruto's arms and then looked out towards the trees. A few days into the mission and they were already caught up in something way off from their original objective. For reasons beyond him he wanted to find Moriko. Whether it was for Momo's sake or for his own he wasn't sure. But he knew that once he found her…they needed to talk.

Just as Kakashi was thinking on how to reply to Sakura a familiar scent wafted into his nose. At first he couldn't figure out what it was. It was musky yet sweet, but slightly metallic. His mood dropped more. He was smelling blood … and he guessed it was Morkio's.

"Stay here and keep her company"

"Sensei?"

Taking off with more speed than he intended Kakashi was dreading what he would find. This mission was going to be strange enough without a families domestics getting in the way, but there was something about the way the place felt. It wasn't right. As Kakashi followed the scent outside a sharp pain hit him. Only slightly but none the less unexpected. It felt like it came from the air itself, it felt like the air was in pain. Ignoring it for the moment Kakashi focused on the scent again, it was getting stronger. Just as he had figured out where he needed to go something deep down inside of him suddenly began to stir. That sweetness, that coolness even that metallic taste, he could smell winter, he could taste it. It was something more than winter. It was so… familiar.