Hey you guys! Sorry I didn't upload this yesterday, but I had my prom on Friday, and I ended up sleeping in until 3:30pm yesterday XD So I wrote this up this morning and now I'm submitting it. I didn't want to go another weekend without submitting, so ... yeah XD
I hope you enjoy! The KakaHina-ness is starting, and what ho! An old friend has arrived!

Chapter Ten – Healing

Kakashi laid Hinata on her stomach as gently as possible so as to not wake her up. It had taken him a bit longer than usual to reach his little shack on the outskirts of Suna because he had been using his Sharingan for most of the night, and he didn't want to hurt Hinata further simply because he was tired.

Once she was lying on his sleeping mats, Kakashi lit a few lamps he had found in the abandoned building and inspected her injuries. Now that he didn't have to worry about anything but Hinata he could take the time to thoroughly assess the extent of her cuts, and he winced slightly at the sight.

Her back was crisscrossed with at least a dozen welts. It was a miracle she was still alive after enduring that and then having to reside in the dampness of the dungeon. She'd be lucky if she didn't have an infection.

Taking in a deep breath, Kakashi knew what he had to do. Leaning forward, he slowly removed the kimono and under clothing from Hinata's body. If he didn't want Hinata to slowly die of her injuries, he would have to heal her. That would leave him completely drained of chakra, though, so he would have to do it perfectly, otherwise they would both me sitting ducks to Tatsuo's men who would surely be looking for them by morning. Hinata would have to be healed enough to take care of them both while Kakashi rested to regain his strength.

Clapping his hands together firmly in decision, when Kakashi pulled them apart they were glowing a soft blue with the chakra he would use to heal her. He had always known how to heal minor cuts and injuries, but during the five years alone, Kakashi had decided it would be a good investment to expand his healing knowledge, and had practiced on himself more often than not. Now, his knowledge would definitely come in handy as he sealed the wounds on Hinata back.

He laid his hands on her back gently, and just as he was going to seal the first wound he sensed what he had feared would happen. Many of the cuts were poisoned from their exposure in the dungeons without treatment. Having no other choice, Kakashi very slowly drew the poison out of Hinata's body by letting his chakra seep out into her veins and pulling it out. Panting at the exertion, Kakashi leaned on his arm for a moment after her cuts were clean.

The way I'm going right now, Kakashi thought sardonically, I'll be lucky if I heal all her injuries before I pass out. Shaking his head in frustration, Kakashi sat up again and began healing the cuts themselves. Wincing at the pain in his body as he began to push himself to his limits, he watched as the last cut slowly faded into an angry looking scar, red and puffy. He would be unable to heal her scars fully, with the low amount of chakra he had, so Hinata's body would have to do that on its own. Without immediate further healing, though, Hinata would definitely be left with scars.

Falling back on his ass to rest his arm on his up drawn knees, Kakashi watched as Hinata's breathing evened out with the absence of pain from the cuts of the whip. Smiling with triumph, Kakashi turned Hinata over so she could rest fully on her now healed back. He sucked in his breath sharply at the sight of her exposed nudity.

Kakashi suddenly remembered the young and shy Hinata from Konoha. She had always worn thick, baggy clothing, even in the hot climate that always surrounded Konoha, unlike Sakura and Ino, who had both worn tighter, more revealing clothing. She had always been shy, the only person she could seem truly comfortable with being her teacher, Kurenai. That made sense though, since she had been living with Kurenai since her father banished her from the clan at a young age. Of course, he accepted Hinata back into their fold after she had proven herself to be a competent, if not powerful, ninja.

Looking at her now, Kakashi wondered what type of person she was. He had only truly been able to talk to her for one day, so there was no way he could fully understand the new Hinata. Was she still shy? Was she still infatuated with Naruto? Did she wear the tight kimonos by choice of because Tatsuo liked it? He recalled an extremely young Hinata pressing flowers into a book instead of gathering them as her teacher had asked. Did she still enjoy doing the things she loved?

Kakashi glanced over Hinata's body again, feeling only appreciation for a beautiful woman as he gazed at her wide hips, her soft, slightly rounded belly, and her ripe, large breasts as they rose and fell in the slow, even breaths of a deep sleep. His Sharingan eye drooping slightly in tiredness, Kakashi barely registered the bruising and scratch marks on her soft, white thighs.

I've expelled far too much chakra in one go, Kakashi noted absently before he fell backwards in a heap as his body descended into darkness.

Tatsuo rose from bed the next morning feeling angry and not at all rested. Dark circles were beginning to appear under his eyes, and the pain in his body had prevented him from getting a true night's sleep.

The night before, after Kakashi – that BASTARD, Tatsuo seethed – had entered the manor and not only took Hinata but gave Tatsuo a thorough ass kicking, Tatsuo had done a quick rounds to check on his men. Thankfully, they all appeared to only be caught in a genjutsu. When they were roused from the illusions all his men reported to having spent the last few days relaxing in a meadow and frolicking through it chasing butterflies and rabbits.

Tatsuo's teeth gritted in annoyance. Especially when it was discovered that the only guards unaccounted for were the two he had charged with breaking Hinata's spirit. They were found in the dungeons, one with his throat slit and the other with his belly torn open.

Tatsuo shuddered in disgusted memory. He hadn't been the one to find them, thankfully, but the man who had had fainted dead away. He had been executed a few hours later. Tatsuo couldn't allow weak men to work in his employ.

Sitting in bed, Tatsuo tapped his fingers against his chin thoughtfully. He had lost Hinata, and he had no idea where Kakashi had taken her. A bad place to start, certainly, but attempting to get Hinata back now would be better than waiting for Pein to arrive and remove him, for that is surely what he would do once he discovered Hinata – the KEY to all his plans – was gone.

Closing his eyes and taking a big breath, Tatsuo stood up swiftly and moved to his closet to pull out the clothing he would wear that day. Just as he touched the handle, wind blew through the room, tossing papers off his desk and causing Tatsuo's night shirt to fly up past his waist.

Pushing it down and muttering angrily, Tatsuo spun around to see that his window was open. His breath freezing in his lungs, Tatsuo turned around slowly, only to see Pein leaning nonchalantly against his desk, his piercings shining in the early morning light.

"P-Pein-sama," he stuttered out, kneeling down and bowing low. "How unexpected. I didn't think you would be coming back to Suna for another week at least."

Pein lifted his right hand up slowly to stare idly at his black nail polish. "Yes, well, Zetsu has been telling me of the strange things happening in Suna at the moment, so I thought I'd pay my dear vassal a quick visit."

Tatsuo gulped. "W-what strange things has h-he been telling you about?"

Pein lowered his eyes and directed his spiraled gaze on the prostrate man before him. "Oh, nothing in particular. Just the fact that Hatake Kakashi has been wandering your streets and speaking to Hinata, and the fact that she is no longer at your manor." Pein's eyes narrowed towards the end of his speech and he slowly stalked over to Tatsuo, who quickly scrambled up and backed away.

"N-now Pein-s-sama! T-there's no need to d-do anything r-rash! I can still get Hinata b-back for you!" Tatsuo's stuttering became more pronounced the closer Pein got to him until Tatsuo was back up against the wall with Pein simply standing before him and once again examining his nails.

"I believe I've given you enough chances to prove your worth to me, Tatsuo. And you are simply not living up to my expectations at all." Pein slowly reached into his black cloak and pulled out a wicked looking short sword.

"I think you know what's next," he murmured, his eyes glowing faintly as the room grew dark. Looking up, Tatsuo saw a cloud floating across the sun, and his body stiffened in unwanted realization.

"Yes," he replied simply, and stepping forward from the wall, Tatsuo turned his back to Pein and knelt down again, his head tipping backward. There was nothing he could do as Pein came up behind him and quickly slit his throat.

Hinata groaned softly and held her head as she sat up. "Where am I?" she murmured softly. It took her a moment to realize she was naked, but once she did Hinata immediately grasped the blankets beside her and pulled them up to cover her nudity, gasping in shock.

She stuffed either edge of the blanket under her arms to hold them there and clenched the bottom between her legs. There was no way that blanket was moving. She quickly grabbed a second, long blanket, and wrapped it around her entire body so it would hold up the first blanket. She tucked the edge into the top of the makeshift dress it had created and then slowly relaxed.

Now taking the time to look around, Hinata quickly realized that she was in Kakashi's borrowed shack near Suna. A moment later she saw the man himself.

"Kakashi!" she cried out, and fell forward on her knees in front of him. Hinata noted the absence of pain in her back but soon forgot as she gathered Kakashi into her lap. She saw her bloody kimono beside him and shuddered, endeavoring to forget its presence and meaning as she glided her fingers through his tangle, silver hair.

"C'mon Kakashi, wake up," she whispered to herself, feeling his pulse and forehead. She lifted his eyelid slightly and saw that it was slightly pink and bloodshot.

He must have overused his Sharingan, Hinata immediately realized. Rubbing his scalp unconsciously, Hinata gazed down at him thoughtfully. He must have healed my injuries too. Or at least, most of them, she noted, wincing as she shifted her position and pain lanced up her body from her thighs and center. It was bearable, though.

Unsure how long Kakashi would be asleep, Hinata prepared herself for a long wait. He felt slightly warm, so she quickly located a bucket and went out to find his water source. It took her a few minutes, but she soon found the small well behind the shack and filled the bucket with water. She bathed his face and neck with the cool liquid and teased a few sips past his lips so he wouldn't become dehydrated.

She watched him sadly for a long while. Here was the man who had saved her from almost certain endless torture, and he was unconscious because of it. Not only that, he healed her injuries. She could only guess at his reasons for helping her, but she knew without a doubt that they were good ones.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," she whispered in his ear. She nearly jumped back when he rasped out, "Not…sensei."

Hinata smiled indulgently. "All right…Kakashi." His lips pulled up into a small smile before he sat up. Hinata immediately put herself behind him so she could support his weight, her breasts pressing against his back.

Kakashi groaned slightly, and thinking he was in pain, Hinata adjusted their positions slightly, which only caused her to press herself more fully against him. Kakashi's reaction was immediate, even in his current condition, and he found himself blushing slightly in embarrassment.

"Hinata," he spoke roughly, "please, I can support myself fine."

Nodding in understanding, Hinata backed away from him and watched as Kakashi struggled toward the center beam before collapsing against it, allow it to support his weight.

"Was I asleep for very long?" he murmured.

Blinking, Hinata tried to guess what time he might have gone to sleep the night before and replied, "I don't think so. For about a day, maybe."

Kakashi nodded and rested his forehead against his knees. "Then it's been about five days. We should be safe now."

"FIVE DAYS??" Hinata cried out, and watched as Kakashi lifted his blind gaze to hers, and the smile twitching at his lips. Confused, but wanting to be helpful, Hinata quickly located his blindfold and tied it around his head, tugging it into place. She blushed slightly at his murmured 'thank you' and backed up again to sit in front of him, but closer than before.

"Five days," she said again. "How is that possible? I don't remember anything after you took me from the cell at Tatsuo's manor."

Kakashi shrugged. "I guess you were just completely worn out. You were down there for three days before I found out that's where you were, and then it took me almost all night to get to you."

"Was it really that long?" she said softly to herself, but Kakashi must have heard before he nodded once. Looking up at him, Hinata moved forward until she was sitting beside him. She felt him stiffen next to her, but she wrapped her hands around his arm and leaned towards him, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you for rescuing me," she whispered.

Kakashi nodded again but didn't say anything. He knew he was sitting perfectly straight, all his muscles tightened in shock, but he couldn't bring himself to relax. Now that Hinata was well again, truly safe, and not clinging to him because of tears, Kakashi didn't know how to react. It's been so long…

Hinata smiled softly and closed her eyes, leaning her weight against him. Kakashi's status had changed in her eyes over the last few weeks. Though she had called him sensei up until he asked her not to, she had stopped viewing him in that light after she cried in his arms … almost 9 days ago, she realized in shock. Her eyes blinked open when Kakashi's free arm came up to hug him to her, and she looked up at him curiously.

"Kakashi?" she asked softly.

"Please, Hinata," he began hoarsely, "just…trust me." His head tilted down towards hers slowly, and with a quickly inhaled breath, Hinata suddenly knew what he intended to do.

"I do trust you," she whispered, just before Kakashi's lips covered hers.

His breath sucking in through his nose, Kakashi brought his hands up to cup her face after she released his arm. He felt Hinata's hands fall on his shoulders and her body straining against his, but he held her firmly there. He knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself if she somehow managed to crawl into his lap, and neither of them was ready for something like that.

Hinata gasped softly against his lips, and Kakashi tongue immediately delved into her mouth. She moaned softly at the new sensation; Tatsuo had never kissed her like this. He had always roughly taken her lips in bruising kisses, but they had been swift and meaningless, because Tatsuo was never looking out for her pleasure. But now, Hinata could feel a strange stirring in her belly, and it frightened and delighted her at the same time. Unsure what to do, Hinata pressed her lips more firmly to Kakashi's, but he suddenly pulled back and she was left confused and unsatisfied.

"Kakashi?" she asked weakly.

Kakashi shook his head, his breathing harsh. Though he could tell Hinata had never truly kissed anyone before, that knowledge was extremely arousing, and her blatant innocence in her actions of pressing closer spoke very strongly of her honest attraction for the broken ninja.

"I'm doing it wrong, aren't I?" she whispered, and Kakashi smiled softly.

"Not wrong," he murmured, drawing her attention back to him. He could feel her hands resting on his knee, and he slowly gripped them, pulling them up to his lips where he kissed them. "Just different. Let me teach you," he finished, and his lips once again met hers, this time even more slowly than before. No words were needed as their lips glided across each others, and soon Hinata once again opened her mouth.

"This time, use your tongue too," Kakashi groaned, before his tongue once again entered the sweet cavern of her mouth. He groaned again when Hinata's tongue shyly danced with his.

Hinata realized what she was feeling now – lust – and it felt incredibly wonderful. Slowly, she lifted Kakashi hands – which were still clasped in hers – and brought them up to rest on her hips. Kakashi obligingly kneaded her flesh, and Hinata moaned softly as they moved to her center to caress her stomach. Hinata closed her eyes and brought her hands up to his chest, feeling his hard pectorals and deltoids. Together, they touched blindly, the feelings more pronounced and enticing when they couldn't see each other.

Suddenly feeling daring, Hinata pushed her tongue past Kakashi's and into his mouth, tasting him on her tongue and feeling him leisurely. Kakashi groaned at her brazenness, and his hands tightened uncontrollably on her hips.

Pulling back slightly to draw breath, Hinata shakily murmured, "Kakashi…" About to push forward again to continue where they had left off, Kakashi suddenly stiffened beside her.

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly, but she was suddenly pushed behind him as Kakashi stood and crouched in a protective stance.

"There's someone outside," he whispered hurriedly, and cursed. I haven't fully healed yet. If I use Sharingan now, there's no way I'll be able to effectively protect Hinata. I'll collapse in five minutes, tops. I'll have to fight blind.

"Kakashi, I can fight!" Hinata whispered back loudly, and stood behind him.

"Don't be foolish, Hinata! You're still hurt." Kakashi could feel that the group was just outside the door now, but his concentration was stuck between the intruders and Hinata as she repeatedly tried to push herself to stand beside him.

"Don't you be foolish, Kakashi! You healed me yourself, I'm fine now! Don't forget that a woman can fight as good as a man, simply because you haven't been around one for five years!" Stiffening at the obvious accusation that he was sexist, Kakashi growled softly before falling forward in shock as Hinata effectively stuck her leg between his and knocked him down.

"Hinata, now is not the time –" Kakashi began, but was cut off as a familiar voice came out of the darkness, laughter evident.

"Well, well, Kakashi-sensei. Bested by a girl, and Hinata-chan no less!" The man's laughter echoed in the shack, and Hinata gasped in surprise.

"Naruto-kun!"

There's no Japanese terms this time (and I'm not sure how many more I'll be using XD) so I'll just explain one part of the story.

I'm not sure how correct it is, but on many Naruto information sites it says that Hinata Hyuuga was banished from the Hyuuga clan by her father at a young age. She moved in with Kurenai, and thus Kurenai became her teacher when they moved into three-man cells. I didn't make that up for my story, and unless those information sites are misinformed, that is a very canon aspect of Hinata's childhood.