Always watching you
Chapter 7

Shizune's eyes narrowed as she watched the man suspiciously.

He should have full movement of his hands by now, but she watched his hands flop helplessly around as Kakashi continued to threaten him.

If he seriously could not move his hands then they could easily finish him off. There was only an hour left before they ran out of the darkness that stretched the skies and once the sun rose they could not escort a murderer without being found out.

However… If he was faking it and just waiting for Kakashi's guard to drop, it could be very deadly.

"Kakashi, give me a sec okay." She mumbled as she gave her partner a slight push so she could sit in front of Takeshi. As she went to tap his wrist once again, he suddenly sprang into action!

Shizune gasped as she felt his massive hot hands wrap around both her wrists.

Kakashi didn't expect a thing and he was far from prepared to react. One moment Shizune was in front of him, the next she was pulled from the ground and flung over the huge man's broad shoulder. And Takeshi was a lot faster than he had let on during their fight.

Kakashi didn't bother muttering the curses that swam through his head, he simply went speeding after his former captive and watched Shizune's legs as she determinedly kicked the man with as much force as she could muster in that position.

Takeshi grinned as he ran.

"You know what girlie, those tablets weren't poison; just sugar. I was planning on faking death till you came out of hiding but you just had to do that little stunt to my hands."

"Then don't underestimate me just because I am a girl!" Shizune snapped back defensively.

Takeshi chuckled, his lips tightly pressed together and concealed by his wild red beard.

"I won't do that again. But I am guessing you can't do that little trick without your hands." He was right. Shizune was helpless – she couldn't even muster a good amount of force to kick with! His grip on her wrists were so tight she couldn't even twist them free and his clammy large hands did nothing to make her feel better. As much as she hated it, she would have to wait for Kakashi to catch up…

…but that didn't mean she would play the part of the damsel. With slight difficulty she managed to place her feet on his wide back and pushed herself up and over his shoulder.

Takeshi stopped on a tree branch in shock as the weight on his shoulder left him and Shizune landed in front of him crouching. If not for the fact he was holding her wrist it would look like she was holding him down! With this sudden unexpected act, Kakashi now stood only a few feet away.

Takeshi had 3 options...
1: Throw the girl to the side and run as fast as his muscular, bulky legs could carry him!
Hopefully Kakashi would not chase and kill him….
This was unlikely however and if he released Shizune's hands she would probably do that thing to his ankles this time.

2: Pull Shizune in front of him and threaten to slit her throat.
This was a little more promising than the first option but it would still be difficult to escape.

3: Bury the girl alive with his jutsu AND RUN LIKE THE DEVIL WAS ON HIS HEELS!

If his theory was correct and their lovey dovey behaviour wasn't an act, Kakashi would most likely try and save her first, meaning he could escape!

Takeshi held his breath as he lifted Shizune off her feet and before she could kick him, he threw her down to the ground.

His hands quickly made the correct sequence of hand signs for his special jutsu and as he leapt off the tree branch, he slammed his fist into the muddy ground.

Before Shizune had even hit the forest floor, the mud and dirt stretched above her head and toward the early morning sky. But the thing that had shocked her was not Takeshi's last ditch attempt to escape…

…it was the firm hand that grabbed her own. The hand that despite its rough skin, was gentle and comfortably warm. The hand she had been holding all day long.

The dirt formed a cylinder around them as Kakashi dug a kunai into the dirt wall. Shizune hung from his hand and as her gaze drifted downwards, she saw the rock solid spikes that sat inches below her feet.

"I could have dodged them myself." She stated both annoyed and touched at the rescue.

"I know. I think Naruto is rubbing off on me." Kakashi sighed as he looked up to see the ceiling close over.

Takeshi blinked in shock. Unable to move his fingers from their current hand sign and unable to speak at this sudden bout of luck!

He was planning on running but this seemingly idiotic ninja actually jumped head first into his trap!

When the delirium of his mind began to clear, a soft laugh began to slip passed his lips. It got louder and louder until he erupted in unrestrained laughter!

"I was right! It wasn't an act! I can stick to the original plan now and kill them!" and with those excited words said, he began another long series of hand signs.

Kakashi stood near the wall closest to Takeshi. He had heard the man laughing and it was safe to say that Kakashi was not impressed.

What was he thinking jumping into a trap like that?

It's not like Shizune wasn't capable of saving herself. And wouldn't it be easier to save her if he was OUTSIDE the trap?
He recalled instructing Naruto on this very same blunder when he jumped into Haku's ice mirror trap to help Sasuke. Those three students of his would be having a mighty fine laugh by now if they had seen this!

"Kakashi. He has rooted our feet to the ground." Shizune's voice was calm as was her exterior, but inside she couldn't seem to settle the panic that kept rising. This horrible feeling sat in the pit of her stomach and she found herself examining their mud and rock tomb, calculating Takeshi's next move.

Kakashi looked at his feet to see them encased in dirt and stone. He tried to pull them free but it was no use.
Turning to Shizune he suddenly realised just how small this trap was. It was roughly the size of a small well; Shizune was perhaps a step or two behind him.

What was with him today?
Never had he let his guard down!
Never did he underestimate his opponent,
NEVER HAD HE JUMPED RIGHT INTO A TRAP!

He could easily blame Shizune for being so damn cute and captivating that he had become distracted.

He could easily blame Jiraiya for writing such descriptive books that just kept springing into his mind as he watched Shizune's a…errrr legs… from behind as Takeshi carried her over his shoulder. (animefreaklizzy: I think we all know what he was staring at. XD)

But no. The truth was plain to see! The only answer was…

…Naruto's knuckle-headedness.

It must be contagious and all Kakashi's training with him lately had exposed him to the disease! That was the only answer Kakashi could conclude. After all it was the only answer that seemed even remotely likely...right?

Finally solving that puzzle; Kakashi's focus directed itself to the dirt wall before him.

A chidori or two would surely get through it. It didn't seem to regenerate when Kakashi scraped his kunai on it. And if that fool had not moved from his spot, if he was still standing in that very same place, he would be toast in the process.

"Stand back." Kakashi said out of pure instinct. Shizune looked at the large spikes that surrounded them and then down at her grounded feet.

"Yeah sure, no problem." She mumbled sarcastically to herself so Kakashi could not hear.

She was actually very concerned about Kakashi. He had been messing up pretty spectacularly tonight and even for him to say such a thing without realising was unlike him. He had been acting completely different! Was he sick? Had she not realised he was unwell because she was so selfishly angry at him?

Kakashi's hand flared with lightning and Shizune crouched behind him to avoid the sparks in this enclosed space.

With a swift and powerful blow Kakashi managed to get a third of the way through the thick, hard wall.

"No good. I only have two of those in me." He mumbled.

After a moment of contemplating silence their ears pricked up at the sound of moving earth and rushing water. Both looked up and were horrified to see water streaming down the walls.

Takeshi laughed loudly "DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS TRAP? I HAVE MADE A CONVEYER BELT OF EARTH MOVE THE WATER UP THE TOMBS WALLS. YOU WILL DROWN WITHIN TEN MINUTES, ALL BECAUSE YOUR LITTLE 'COUPLE ACT' WASN'T AN ACT AT ALL!" He yelled confidently as he watched the water speed up the side of the cylinder like tomb.

Kakashi watched the water reach their knees and calmly yelled back "IT WAS AN ACT! SHE TOLD ME HOW MUCH SHE HATES ME AND WHO SAID THIS ISN'T PART OF OUR PLAN YOU FOOL!"

Shizune clutched a hand to her heart. That reply hurt. It actually caused her heart to ache painfully. She knew it was all true.
They weren't a couple
Kakashi did not love her
and she did say she hated him.
So why could she feel this pain? Was it because he believed her lie?

"Do you have any powerful attacks like Tsunade and Sakura?" Kakashi gently asked. He refused to look behind him for the very reminder that Shizune hated him caused his heart to tear. Surely if he saw her angelic face his heart would split in two!

"No. I never had that kind of strength to begin with. I have only learnt medical ninjutsu from Tsunade…" Her words sounded lifeless as if no hope would ever show itself. But as a thought came to mind, her words found new energy and were overflowing with a tone of hope, "But I learnt medical ninjutsu! Kakashi, if you had more chakra you could do more chidori's correct?"

"Yeah." Kakashi dared look behind him at the excited beauty.

"Take off your shirt!" Shizune declared loudly and thrillingly.

Kakashi blinked in shock by her sudden exclamation but happily complied never-the-less.

"Shall I lose the pants too?" the words slipped out jokingly before he could catch them and Shizune's squealed refusal to the suggestion raised his spirits!

"The plan is this; I know how to do a chakra transplant! It works a lot quicker the more skin I can touch…"

"So, yes to the pants?"

"I SAID NO, YOU PERVERT!"

"But Shizune, the water is approaching our chest. The chidori will electrocute us." Kakashi stated.

"THEN BE CAREFUL!" Shizune snapped as she leaned forward and embraced Kakashi from behind.

Kakashi could feel the wet black strapping that had been wrapped around her chest, stick to his back and her soft skin press against him firmly. "You know, if you lose your top even more skin will be touching…"

"SHUT UP KAKASHI! I'm trying to concentrate." Kakashi couldn't hold back the smile that reached his lips, as he felt her heated face radiate into his cold wet back. The smile became a smirk as he could begin to feel the chakra flow into his body.

Shizune tried to ignore his suggestive comment… not to mention his toned wet body. She wasn't doing a very good job at it and concluded it was impossible to ignore but she tried, despite this.

Tsunade had only shown her this technique once, when a fellow ninja used all their chakra whilst in the middle of a mission. To remember everything Tsunade had told her proved difficult, but as she started the procedure, it all came back to her mind.

"Kakashi… I will be a little weak after this." She mumbled as her embrace tightened. A little weak was an understatement. If she transferred too much she could die! And her control of transplanting chakra wasn't perfect yet.

"I will have to finish this up quickly then." Kakashi reassured her as he held his hands above the water. Electricity sparked in both hands and both he and Shizune cringed as a shock hit them. It threw off Shizune's heart beat and she choked on her own breath.

"You okay?" Kakashi asked. He could feel her nod against his skin. He had to so this quickly because if the water was to reach the chidori they wouldn't just get a shock!

Impatient with death at their heels, Kakashi held a chidori in each hand and acted swiftly. His first hand nearly broke through the wall and his second finished the job, flying right through Takeshi in the process. Kakashi did not look away from the shock in Takeshi's eyes as life fled his being.

The trap became rubble and the water a fierce current as it pushed the two ninja along. Kakashi saw a tree fast approaching and quickly grabbed Shizune's wrist, pulling her from her embrace and twisted around, so he could pull her into the safety of his strong, lean arms. He hugged her tightly as his back slammed against the tree trunk and agony soared through his shoulder.

He groaned slightly as the water lessened until it was mere puddles surrounding them.

"It worked Shizune!" Kakashi hoarsely whispered, the nights events taking their toll on him. He could feel her wet skin against his and her wet silk like hair against his bare chest but no reply came from her lips.

"Shizune?" Kakashi asked as he loosened his grip and pushed her away from his body. His eyes widened as the unconscious girl lay limp in his arms. He saw her thick, long lashes moistened with water; he saw her dark wet locks cling to her pale skin. What he didn't see was the small trace of life within her…

A/N:
kaz: Sorry it took so long everyone! Works been hectic. Good news though! I started taking a note book to work and working on my fanfics during my breaks! Hopefully this will help me update sooner! Let's see how it goes :D

animefreaklizzy: Sorry guys for taking so much time, it was mostly all my fault, so don't blame Kazzy-chan haha ^^ . If some of you didn't know, I work on a scanlation group, so I guess you guys could imagine all the work that I do. Oh and I also have school, which will ALWAYS suck. :/
Have any of you guys got their new Zelda game yet? (LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD) I recommend it! So guys, thank you for all the reviews and alerts! Kaz and I are really happy that people DO enjoy this fanfic. SO STAY TUNED FOR NEXT CHAPTER, WHAT'S WRONG WITH SHIZUNE? IS SHE OK? Even I don't know guys, this all depends on what is happening in Kaz's little mind. XD

kaz: and my mind is a very dangerous place to be lol. And I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND SKYWARD SWORD! I love zelda's lil habbit of pushing people off high places lol. What do I mean? You will have to play it to find out :D

{I dare you to click the little button below ;) }