We found ourselves nervous as the next two days passed us ever so slowly. Time dragged on crawling as an infant before us as if it were purposefully trying to cause our anxiety and delirium. I couldn't say if it was due to my apprehension for the future, our group's paranoia of our stalkers, or just plain both, however it all built up with each footstep we reluctantly made towards our destination. No one had really been sleeping well, for you could tell by the dark pigments that crept under our eyes and the irritableness of our nature. We all wanted our stalker dead, but the person or persons had no trouble hiding when need be. They also felt no need to attack us, in fact they seem to rather harass us, cause us nervousness and tension; it was as if they wanted to watch us squirm under their passive aggressive torment. All I could think to myself was that I wanted them dead, but my current goal was more important than a hopefully non-threatening opponent. With my thoughts haunting me, I slowly carried on with my mentally and physically exhausted team.

"Fuyami-san, are you alright?" I looked over at my sister, whose face was ridden with concern.

"I'm fine; don't worry about me at the moment. Take care of yourself, you and Sakura are our medics, we need you focused and ready. Ok?"

She knew I was right, but I didn't blame her. I am her only family, and I'm worried for her just as much as she is for me. She slightly nodded her head and went on about her business as Sasuke then went to console her. I hope he's doing better than I could; she deserves to be happy and have someone there for her. I'm just no good at it. I looked over my side to see Kakashi looking at me with concern as well; in return this caused me to be irritated with myself for causing Akiko and him problems. I just wanted them to be alright and to focus on themselves as well as the mission. I don't want to be on their minds because I hate being a burden. An eerie looked most indefinitely passed along my face as I found myself sulking towards the ground.

As a few hours passed, tension radiated throughout our group as we came upon a distorted corpse along our path. It had smelled fresh, and seemed to have been tortured and impaled to death. The corpse I believe was male and as pale as an uncharted canvas. He previously seemed tall, but due to his misconfigured limbs due to inflicted injuries, he no longer could stand to meet that height. Both of his knee caps seemed to have been shattered, and his legs were dislocated from the sockets they had been bound to. Crimson cascaded his torn cloths, and swelled below his knees as well as stomach and elbows. Bones protruded from his upper legs, giving the insinuation that his femurs had been snapped from his upper legs. His arms were equally as disembodied, for his one radius shot through his skin into his neck, giving away that his jugular had been punctured with his own skeletal member. His other arm was twisted out of his socket, lying limp adjacent to him. His shirt lied next to him in tatters, leaving his gaping open stomach in view with a letter inside.

What once occurred previously will find its way again,

What once was omitted will find remembrance again.

Consigned to oblivion, neglected, misplaced

Family is forever, incapable of being erased.

Turn away now, retreat, retire,

Or await the consequence, portraying the corpse you desire.

I threw down the note I had retreated from the bowels of the lifeless body in front of us, trembling with fear. Who could have wrote this, let alone be capable of these actions? Whoever was following us did not want us to continue, or maybe they did? I couldn't tell if this was sick and perverse, or if someone was genuinely scared of me finding the truth. We were then startled by a man of our own Anbu, offering to escort us the rest of the way.

"Kakashi, we are away of your current situation, and the Hokage wanted us to offer your team assistance. This way you can avoid any further hindrances."

"Where are the other Anbu members to help you?"

"There are only few of us; most of them are hiding to wait for an appearance, the rest scouted ahead."

"Fine, I believe we could use the moral support. This corpse had caused enough pandemonium."

"Hai, and I also wanted to greet Fuyami-san. We worked together often in the Anbu."

I looked over to notice I hadn't taken the time to recognize this chakra due to being consumed by my own fear. I realized I had known this chakra from the start; it was my old best friend from Anbu. We had trained often together, and gave each other the little socialization we could offer.

"Nakusu?"

"Oy! How have you been Fuyami?"

"Not so well do to these chaotic circumstances, however it's nice to be greeted by a familiar face-er mask." His laughter at my statement was warming, giving a sense of safety. I was very happy to see him, and almost forgot the note I was clenching on. Panic still lingered around our group, for that corpse we had later buried haunted our minds. But Nakusu in a way helped that, allowing our thoughts to think elsewhere as he and I reminisced over our memories together in Anbu. Everyone seemed to like him, even Kakashi whom never showed much emotion at all, well except for the other night.

It was then that I found myself blushing at that scene with his exotic features that had gazed so passionately upon my body. A warm sensation filled me as I found myself longing for his touch again. I looked over to him to see him staring right back at me. He moved closer towards me and entwined his hand in mine, squeezing to reassure me everything would be ok. Later that night we all sat around upon our newly made fire, talking about our mission as well as memories.

"Oy Fuyami! Remember that mission we had been assigned where we had to take out a drug lord and his trafficking?"

I blushed ten different shades of crimson as he brought that up. "Don't you dare continue!" I smacked him behind the head.

"Awh come on! You guys should've seen her; we had to go undercover to get him. She enacted a stripper, and boy can this girl dance!" A wide malevolent grin infested his cocky face.

"Oh really?" A brow raised on Kakashi's face as if his interest had been peaked.

"She gave credits to that book of hers to top it all off! Haha!"

"Ass! I do remember you getting your ass handed to you by his lacky!"

"He was over six feet tall!"

"Suuuuure he was."

"As if you could do better!"

"Didn't I save you?"

"If anything I saved you missy!" A grim looked passed upon both of our faces, as I remembered how I was almost sexually assaulted by the drug lord Nakusu had been there to save me before anything happened. I still remember that awful man's alcoholic breath on me. I then went on a small walk as I tried to forget the awful events that had occurred that mission.

"W-what happened?" I overheard Naruto ask.

"Let's just say men can be disgusting pigs."

"Drop it Naruto." Kakashi said irritably. It was then he followed me to check up on me.

"Don't worry," I said, "nothing happened. Nakusu came in time."

"It still bothers you though, and I want you to know that will never happen to you again." He said as he pulled me close to him. I tugged down his mask while he pulled up my chin to steal a quick kiss.

"I'm sorry I'm dragging you through this."

"Don't apologize; I would have been pissed if you went without me."

"Why?"

"I can't protect you if I'm not there."

"What does that matter?"

"Why do you think it matters?" I pondered that question. I know he cares for me, but why would he go so far? He then kissed my forehead and led me back towards the fire. We sat down and continued to talk about new moves, and training for when we returned safely to our village. I felt an uneasy feeling throughout the night, as if something bad awaited us.

It was then that Kakashi whisper in my ear, "Maybe you can show me that dance later." I felt overwhelmingly embarrassed, yet happy that we were all together and forgetting the previous tragic events. How long will this safety last? I never want these moments to end. I took first watch as everyone fell asleep by the fire, holding the man I love as he lied down with his head on my lap. I still felt some apprehension for tomorrow, for none of this could be that easy. It doesn't just end like this, if anything I know our antagonist will find his way back for more.