A/N: That's is right people this is me updating. What?! Yeah I know be surprised . I mean I'm good but not that good and I'm tired. And old. How old? Nunya but old. Like high school old. You know your old when your in highschool and the freshman are older than you. Yeah that is sad. Sad on the freshman part not mine. I can't help it if I'm smart.
School is coming up but fear not. I will continue to update(hopefully). Using whatever means I can.
I'm also sad but do not fear you are words, blah, yeah.
I want to thank Prescripto13, FallenCrimsonStar, Melyss,Kashi-Cookie-Monster,StarKiss666,Akatsuki'sBloodyNekoNinja,IshtarAli,xmxoxoxnxy,MadGirl03,MystereKitsune,Flyingswallow,vivycantu,goddesslyndseylove for reviewing. I have 30 reviews and though it isn't a hundred or even fifty I'm happy and stuff and that's what keeps me going. I don't even care if I get reviews because I already know how many favorite and alert and view. I just appreciate that you guys review. Thank you.
If I missed anyone you too.
This chapter is dedicated to you guys and all my other readers . . . but mainly you guys.
Oh and one more thing I love is the people from other countries I mean I love all the Americans viewing it but the fact people from the other side of the world read it too makes me so happy and special.
Like I promised the missing scene.
Snowflakes
Looking into the mismatched eyes of a very familiar friend and leopard she smiled, the crows feet around her eyes deepened with warmth, "It's been a while Kakashi."
They stared each other human and former human, female and male. His mismatched eyes did not paralyze her with fear nor did it strike her as odd, it was just who the man or . . . leopard was.
"You seem to be doing well," She stated opening the makeshift door for him. Trotting inside everything looked the same as it did the last time he was here. Even her lamp and papers seemed to be in the exact position as it did the last time he was here several months ago.
"I'm glad you found them Kakashi." The leopard dipped his head in acknowledge meant as he took a seat across from her.
Sitting on her bed she gave him a wry smile, "If your here you probably want something from me. Is that right Hatake?"
With a slight nod she cupped her cheek with her hand, "And you know this will come at a price?"
Another nod had her grinned maliciously, "Then you have lost two months."
Though he narrowed his eyes in distaste she began to weave the hand signs with a proficiency that only came with time.
She had only done this twice and each time hurt like hell. The grinding and reshaping of bones was agonizing and he had only asked when in dire need. A mix between a yowl and a scream came from his lips.
By the end of about seven minutes Kakashi laid there panting on the floor. His body tired from the strenuous change.
In front of the old woman was a naked Hatake Kakashi, "I need your help."
The older woman smirked as she handed him so briefs, "It wasn't hard to figure out the reason why you wanted to see me."
He ignored the statement and continued on, "There have been some mysterious poisonings in Suna targeting children."
She narrowed her eyes, the woman loved children but never was able to have any of her own, "So what do you need from me?"
"Avaron," Kakashi said slowly recognizing the glint in her eye, "I just need information. Sakura and the others will handle it from there. She has been working on the antidote since we got to Suna."
"How will you get them to go after the culprit Kakashi? They think you are an animal." She gave him a stern motherly look that almost made him shrink back, almost being the key word.
Giving Avaron a shrug he said, "I'll figure that out when I head back. Do you have any information? Sakura says that the poison reminds her of Sasori but he's dead."
"There has been some talk about a infamous poisoner hired by someone up high."
"How high?"
"High enough to be a pain in the ass." Avaron grumbled.
"What about the poisoner?"
The older woman sighed, "He's just a fan of Sasori's, but he really doesn't know what he's doing. His expertise is more plants than metals and this seemed to have gotten out of hand. Personally, I don't think this poison was supposed to have gotten out. It was still pretty experimental."
The Copy-nin grit his teeth and clenched his fists at the news, "So you mean this was an accident!"
"Yes."
"Do you know where he is?"
"Somewhere near Otogakure. He's been shifting along the border always jumping from one side to the other. My trackers are getting irritated with him."
"Well they won't have to track him for long. As soon as Sakura figures out the antidote they will be sending a team after him."
Avaron nodded her head in approval. "She must really be something."
Kakashi was taken off guard and spluttered a reply, "Yeah she's my student. She was trained very well."
"You know that is not what I mean Kakashi." She gave the middle aged man(for a ninja) a stern look.
"Yes," He sighed, "She is."
"Well you should get back to her then." Avaron gave a knowing smile. She began the chant and the appropriate hand signs. The process from man to leopard was always easier still painful but just easier.
When the change was completed Avaron looked down at the changed animal before her, "Remember the deal. You have twenty or so months Kakashi. Make them see."
Giving the woman a nod he bounded away towards Suna and towards Sakura.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Sakura was worried sick, "Where is he?"
The people around her Sasuke and Naruto included, didn't know if she was talking to them or to herself. Putting a comforting arm around her shoulder Naruto smiled, "We'll find him Sakura. He couldn't have gotten far."
She sniffled before smiling, "Thanks Naruto but you saw how he was when we were coming here. He can't stand heat at all. Even Konoha was hard for him."
Over across the street a little girl shrieked at her mommy, "But I saw it mommy. It was a giant kitty cat. It was huge."
"Sweetheart there are no large cats here." The mother said gently.
"But it was here and it was running up the wall. I saw it." She pouted.
The mother sighed before placating her child, "Then I guess it was there."
The young girl looked at her mother approvingly, "Now let's go get ice cream."
Her mother's response was a raised eyebrow but the girl-child did not seem to notice or care as she walked off towards the ice cream.
The boys looked at the pink-haired as she sighed in relief but they could soon see the tell-tale sign of irritation. "Stupid cat. Where the fuck does he think he's going? So the bastard wants to melt in the freaking desert, then go ahead. See if I give a fuck."
After her little rant Sakura left the street and went to her lab underneath the Suna hospital. After Chiyo-baa-sama had passed the doctors, medics, and scientist of Suna had invested more time, effort and money into poisons and their antidotes. In the lab Sakura was currently at they had created a garden of herbs and plants of all kinds and even had specific areas and climate containers for the rare ones.
Sakura was amazed and grateful that the selection was wider and easier to get. She was currently looking at basic herbs rosemary,thyme,basil. They were useful for a wide selection of antidotes and were easily overlooked because of their role in the kitchen.
Several citrus fruits were also available to the doctor. Pectin and Vitamin C were useful in the recovery process. Walking back over to her desk she began to go back over the three newly acquired poisons and Misa's. The only annoying attribute of the poison was that it 'regenerated' itself so that unless one had the poison the pain and torture would go on indefinitely eventually filling the bloodstream with poison unless you were lucky to die from it in your sleep.
Sakura was close and she could feel it. Thinking back on the information she had she began counting off what she knew:
He was apparently after children
He was using metal based poisons
Just like Sasori
—wait, if the poison was just like Sasori's.
She had totally forgot and felt like a complete novice. Going towards the vast underground garden walking throughout the aisle before she came upon a familiar herb, cochlearia. Taking a bundle she went back to the desk and finished mixing the experimental antidote.
Taking out a scroll she unrolled it to a familiar seal taking a pipette with the antidote she dropped a few drops on the paper. Though it wasn't the complete antidote Sakura knew she was close. The results from the seal showed it would stop the poison but wouldn't neutralize it.
She was so close.
And as always, so far away.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Akame was running back with a half-eaten rabbit. His chakra had restored itself the time he spent hunting and the rest between Ame and Suna. The wall was in sight and in his excitement he picked up speed.
With a precise eye —cough-sharingan-cough— he leapt at the wall and dug in with his claws. Using chakra for the vertical climb he carefully climbed up looking around for shinobi that might attack him. Seeing none he jumped down and followed the scent of Sakura.
The people and children alike moved out of his way little girls cooed about how cute he was to their mothers and the men stood bravely in front of their family.
But these people weren't important getting to Sakura was. Her scent twirled in circles before heading off to the hospital. Determining that Sakura hadn't left due to her nature and the fact that when he got to the hospital her scent hadn't moved.
Taking a deep breath he waking through the open doors.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
"Yes," Sakura squealed.
She had figured out the antidote and currently had Dia making another batch. Rushing upstairs she talked to Sasuke and Naruto. "I've got the antidote and Dia is making more batches."
The two walked on both sides of her as she raced down the hallway towards Misa's room first. The bottle in her left and a needle in her right she filled the needle up before giving a smile to Misa.
"I got the antidote Misa-chan." She watched as a smile split the girl's face.
"Really Sakura-sama."
"Yep now I need to give you your antidote, hold out your right arm." The young girl did as the kunoichi requested.
Within minutes Sakura was able to give Misa the antidote, "Okay Misa. Just because I gave you the antidote doesn't mean your ready for action right now. The nurses are gonna keep you for a few days to make sure you are perfect when you leave this hospital."
Misa giggled at Sakura before gasping. "Akame."
A/N: Yay I updated. Go me. Go me.
Okay so I may have lied about some things. I will get to it eventually. Before I forget I will be updating by September 11. That is my goal. And if your lucky, which you might not be, I might update with two chapters.
Something else to hopefully look forward to. When this story and Once Upon A Time are done I will be starting a new story called Prisoner, a Criminal Minds story. So if you like Criminal Minds get excited by that. Hopefully it will be before next summer.
Hopefully seems to be my favorite word.
