Afloat in the Water

Chapter Ten

"Is it over?" Naruto whispered as the water calmed and the night air went silent. Sakura rushed over to Kakashi, whom closed his eyes as a peaceful slumber overtook him. Kisuke sighed and put a hand on the unconscious Jonin's shoulder.

"Your sensei is safe, now. But I recommend you all to keep moving to your village. The reapers will continue to hunt you down." Naruto joined them, and with Sakura, hoisted Kakashi off the ground, his arms over the younger nins' shoulders. Sakura gave Kisuke an admiring look.

"Thank you for saving him." Naruto nodded, but Kisuke's attention was on the now still waters. It had been too quiet for comfort and he knew something wasn't right.

"Hey. Ronin's old man." Arashi stumbled towards them then, clutching at her dislocated arm. He frowned as her lip quivered, doing her best to keep calm in front of the others. "I can't find her. She vanished in the water." A tear escaped and ran down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away, never paying it any mind. She wanted to stay strong. "I will deliver them to their village from here. I will search for her along the way and when I come back as well."

"Thank you, Arashi. Let's move. There's nothing more to be done for now." Arashi watched as Hat and Clogs led his team away into the darkness and took in a deep breath. She turned to the ninjas and collected her emotions, her face hardening.

"Time to move. Try to keep up with me. I'm faster than Ronin." Naruto looked from his Sensei to the Quincy.

"Where is she?" Arashi closed her eyes a moment before turning her back to them. When her eyes opened, they were full of dread for fear of her friend's death.

"We move." The teens exchanged worried glances and they began their last stretch towards their home.

. . .

Where am I? She opened her eyes, searching the dark to try and pinpoint her location. She felt disoriented and pain enveloped her entire body. She could feel herself lying on the edge of the river, but she was unsure of what part of the river. She couldn't feel any energies and she groaned, the water's cold temperature making her skin prickly. She tried to move, but her body would not obey.

The waters picked her up and she began to float on the current. She felt her mouth open slightly, catching small gasps of air in between splashes. Darkness was threatening to take her over once more and she fought just enough to call upon her soul. Kakashi is safe. But you are not, Ronin. It was Kasai; she could hear the pain in her soul's voice and she knew it wasn't looking good. She thought everything over for a moment before replying.

None of that matters now, Kasai-Ken. My mission is completed.

You're giving up that easy?

What choice do I have? And she let go completely, too weak to hold on.

. . .

"Kakashi." He could hear a small voice calling for him and he felt himself flinching, but his eyes remained closed. He wanted to go back to sleep. It was comfortable in the dark. "Kakashi." He heard it again, and this time he could see the darkness becoming brighter, as if a light was shining over him. "Wake up." He examined the light and found himself reaching for it, his hand outstretched. He suddenly remembered everyone he had left behind when he fell unconscious and was desperate to see them unharmed. His fingers spread out and he reached as far as he could…

"Kakashi!" he opened his eye and Sakura flooded his vision as she hovered above him. Beside her was Naruto and the both of them held a relieved smile on their faces. He let his sight adjust fully and he realized he was lying in a hospital bed in Konoha. Behind the teens were Tsunade and the Quincy that had joined them to their destination home. He studied their expressions a few minutes when suddenly, everything that had happened the last few weeks flooded back into his memory. He bolted up in the bed and gasped, his first thought of Konoha and its condition. The Hokage looked at him.

"Welcome back, Kakashi. I see you've realized where you are. If you're wondering, the village was in complete demolition, but we've been building ever since the battle ended. We lost a lot, but we banded together and first reconstructed the hospital for the wounded." He calmed himself down a little at the news, but his mind swam with questions. He looked at Arashi and watched as she looked away from him, sending him back on alert. Ronin….where is she?

"Arashi…" He whispered, but Tsunade stepped in front of the girl and approached him.

"How do you feel?"

"…Where is Ronin?" He ignored her question, wanting to know where she was. He had to know. The fifth sighed and glanced back at Arashi once more before answering his question.

"Ronin is missing, Kakashi. She had been for three days now. Arashi told me everything and we put together a small team in search of her." The Hatake looked away with hurt in his eye, clenching his hands into fists.

"My status?"

"You're healed. Nothing too severe. You can leave at any time. Excuse me. I have to ask Arashi a few more things." Kakashi looked back up and watched as Tsunade took the Quincy out of the room. Naruto and Sakura exchanged glances and the girl nodded her head toward the door.

"Sensei, we'll be outside if you need us, ok?" He didn't answer; instead, he watched as they both left the room, obviously worried about what he was thinking at the moment. He waited for the door to close before reacting. As he heard the latch fall into place, he was out of bed and dressing into his normal attire. 10 minutes later, he was climbing out of the window and jumping down to the ground. He didn't want to face the others. Not yet. He gazed around at the village and heaved a sigh. He wanted to search for Ronin, but he had to focus on helping his village. It was his duty. He stifled his emotions and rushed over to a man lifting a piece of wood much too heavy for him. As the man thanked him, he looked up at the sky.

"Ronin…"

. . .

Arashi walked along the path leading away from Konohagakure. She took slow and sluggish steps, unable to control her emotions. She was tired and distraught about Ronin's disappearance, and was unsure of what to do. No one could find her. Things weren't looking good. She kicked at a stone that was in her way and bit her lip. We succeeded in our mission to help the shinobi. But we've lost you, Ronin. Why? Why did it have to be you? She grew angry, wishing she had done more to prevent her friend's fall from happening. She began to run.

A few more days had passed and word made it back to Konoha that Arashi had made it back to her home. But all hope had been lost for Ronin being found. Kakashi carried an armful of wood into the village for building materials. The forest surrounding Konoha had proven plentiful in materials for restoration, mainly because of the river. He sighed as he reached the abandoned building he had hid in with Sakura and Naruto before plunging himself in the cold water just a short month before.

Setting down his armload, the Hatake went to the water's edge. Kneeling down, he stared at the gathering koi and half-heartedly smiled as they swam around each other, living as if nothing violent had ever taken place. But something caught his attention. The koi noticed too, and bolted away startled. He blinked. Something else was in the water!

Kakashi stood and felt his eye widen in shock as he caught sight of a figure afloat in the water. He threw his vest off and lunged into the water, swimming towards it, all the while knowing it couldn't have been possible, but knew it was her. He grabbed the 19 year old girl out of the water and brought her to shore, turning her over and gasping at the sight of her pale face. "Ronin!" He felt for a pulse, alarmed at how feint it was. He realized she wasn't breathing and quickly began mouth to mouth, desperate to bring her back to him. She had been missing for days, and for her to show up in his village just as he did in hers.

As he breathed air into her lungs and pulled back, she coughed, water spilling over her lips and dribbling down to the ground. He grabbed her face in his hands as her eyes cracked open enough to look at him. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her close, so happy to see her alive. Her breathing became normal and she weakly reached up and grabbed a hand in hers before closing her eyes again. Her grip was strong and his heart fluttered. He picked her up and began to run towards the hospital, knowing she needed medical attention. As he ran, he felt the eyes of the villagers on him and knew they were aware of who she was. But all he could focus on was her tight grip on his hand. She came back to him. She came back.

. . .

Ronin opened her eyes and immediately remembered seeing Kakashi above her. But she couldn't remember when it had happened, let alone if it was real. But she was covered with something and she felt warm and dry. She focused, realizing she was in a bed, a blanket wrapped comfortably around her. She took in a few deep breaths, allowing her brain to process everything around her. She couldn't believe she was even alive. She was sure she died in the water. She had every intention of dying. She had let go. Or at least she thought she did.

She found her hand reaching for her hair and she picked up a strand of it to find a brilliant red streak replacing the blond. She sighed. "I'm gonna die a red-head."

"Ronin…!" Ronin dropped the lock of hair and saw Kakashi in the doorway of the room. He quickly scurried to her side, grabbing her hands in his. It struck her then, where she was and what had happened. The river had carried her to Konoha, and it was Kakashi who saved her this time.

"Kakashi…" He smiled and pulled down his mask, his lips pushing against hers to kiss her softly. She felt the color return to her cheeks and kissed his back. After a moment, he pulled away from her and smiled. His face had also become a few shades darker.

"I thought you would never wake up." He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close, running his hand through her hair. Ronin clung to him, surprised at the turn of events.

"It's alright. I…won't die as easily as you think….what happened? Were you hurt by any reapers? Were you turned into a hollow?" Her voice was hoarse, but she pressed on, wanting to know everything that went on. She felt like she had been asleep for years. He laughed.

"Your father saved me. No attacks. Arashi led us home and held any attacks at bay. I don't remember much, just bits and pieces. What happened to you?"

"I released my bankai, the strongest stage of my sword and evolved myself into a dragon. It was the only way I could have beaten Gin." She frowned. He put his hand on her cheek and they looked into each other a moment. A tear glistened in the Hatake's eyes. Ronin watched the tear fall and she wiped it away. She smiled. "I'm sorry for worrying you…but I'm…back now." She leaned in, kissing his tender lips. His mouth opened in reply and the two of them indulged in their private passion.

. . .

"Are you ready, Ronin?" Kakashi called from outside of her door. She flicked her long hair behind her and stepped out. She finally felt like herself again, and the hospital was allowing her to leave. She watched as Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura stared at her. She was wearing a black tank top and cargo pants styled black capris. On her right arm was revealed the tattoo of a red tailed hawk's tail feather. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid, her bangs framing her face as always. Naruto whistled at her.

"Dang, Kakashi-Sensei, you got a fox!" Ronin scowled at him.

"From what I hear, you're the one who's 'got a fox'." The teen blushed, his lower lip sticking out in a pout as he looked away. Sakura giggled and Kakashi merely smiled under his mask.

"Are you sure you're ready to go back? You can stay for a day or two." He suggested. She shook her head with a small smile.

"No can do, Kakashi. My stay in the human world has been cut extremely short. I have to return to Yoruichi's soon." He nodded in reply, sadness filling his eye. He glanced at his students.

"Let's begin. Remember the concealing jutsu I taught you both. That way we cannot be detected by any outside force."

"Right."

"Got it!"

. . .

Kisuke looked up at the sky with his eyes half closed. He was lying next to the river behind the Urahara shop, wondering if his daughter would ever be found. He worried about her, but would never admit his feelings. Nobody understood what he thought of her, but the truth was that he loved her more than anything. She was his whole world. But nobody else was allowed to know this. It would only cause everyone more trouble, her in particular. If she was alive, that is. "Sure is quiet around here…and boring." He frowned at his words, wishing she was there.

"Perhaps I should find you something to do." Kisuke bolted upright from the ground and looked to the river to see Ronin standing above it, Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto standing behind her. He stood, baffled as she stepped onto the ground and closed the space between them, hugging him close to her. He hesitated, but hugged her back. When they pulled away from each other, he regained his 'Kisuke' composure.

"It's good to have you back, Ronin. Of course I never thought you would give up that easily." She grinned.

"Yes, well I wouldn't have made it without their help. Anymore trouble from the soul society?"

"Surprisingly, no. The head of captains called it off…well except for one small thing." She scoffed.

"Let me take a guess. I'm more wanted now than I was before. They must be thrilled about my bankai form kicking Gin's ass."

"Well…yeah." Kisuke replied, almost resembling a chirp. He nodded towards the shop and she nodded back, but turned around to look at the ninjas behind her. She wandered to Naruto and Sakura and hugged them both.

"Thanks for all the help." She told them. As they smiled and backed away to give her and their sensei privacy, she approached him. She frowned at him, noting his saddened expression. "Don't give me that look Hatake, Kakashi." She smiled, but he couldn't return it.

"And so we go our separate ways?" He asked, but the tone in his voice noted that he already knew the answer. She sighed.

"For the time being, yes. I have to escape from the society so they don't get a hold of me." She paused a moment before pulling down his mask and kissing him hungrily. He returned it and then they looked at each other, their lips swollen. He blinked, feeling something tucked in his right hand. She smiled at him as she caressed his cheek. "I'll find you, Kakashi. Just give me time." With one last kiss, she turned away from him, tears running down her flushed cheeks. He gripped the item in his hand and brought it up to look at it. He smiled. It was a necklace, the charm of a black dragon. He quickly placed it around his neck and tucked it under his shirt.

He watched her follow her father to the Urahara shop, never looking behind her. But he knew she wanted to. She disappeared over the hill and he looked at Naruto and Sakura. "We should head back to the village now. There's much work to be done." Naruto crossed his arms.

"What about Ronin? What's gonna happen to her?"

"She's going to be under the radar for a while, but we'll see her sometime." He saw Sakura smiling and he nodded at her. "Let's get going."

As the shinobi began to leave, Ronin gripped her own dragon charm around her neck and closed her eyes a moment. "Miss your love already?" Came Kisuke's voice. Without opening her eyes, she punched Kisuke in the jaw, sending him flying up against the side of the shop. She sighed.

"Shut it, Hat and Clogs."

"Geez…so stingy." He rubbed his now red cheek and stood back up, heading inside. She followed after him, giving one last look towards the river. The ninjas were gone now, but she knew he was still with her. As she would always be with him. After all that went on, it would be hard not to be. She headed into the shop.

"Time to get back to work."

. . .

…..Le Fin…..That's right. It's over. The last chapter of Afloat in the Water. I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review and as always, thank you for reading my story! : ) Keep checking in on my page for new stories to come!