Chapter 11

The ginger knock at the door interrupted Aya's painting. She wiped her hands on the apron and watched Kakashi answer the door. Gai burst in with a handful of flowers from Inos' family's shop and announced that he was there to visit Ayaka-sama.

"Ohayou, Gai," she said smiling maturely at her guest. He walked up to her and handed the flower-filled vase to her. "Oh! Arigatou, my friend. Please, sit." Twisting in the chair she placed the vase on the side table and turned her attention to the flowers to fix their slight chaotic placement because of his journey up the stairs.

"I heard that you were receiving guests and I wanted to be the first to see how you were doing." Gai replied taking in the painting she had been working on.

"My, word gets around fast," Aya responded winking at Kakashi behind Gai's back. Kakashi didn't look happy at who had arrived but he acknowledged her wink before returning to the kitchen.

"Hai, Sakura is very informative when it comes to personal matters," Gai agreed kindly.

Aya picked up her brush once more, "How have you fared lately?"

"Very well, I just got back from a mission with a small battalion. They did very well also, if I say so myself."

Ayaka smiled pleasantly at his remarks but was concentrating on her painting as he explained the whole assignment.

After a moments' pause to catch his breath from his story he remarked on her painting, "You have a beautiful gift, Ayaka-sama."

"Arigatou, Gai, Kakashi set me up with this chair and easel by this window so that I may get my mind off of Nyoko and the boys…"

"He is very thoughtful," Gai agreed matter-of-factly.

"He sure is," she replied trying her best not to blush knowing that he was probably listening to their conversation.

"Much like Naruto," Gai commented standing up from the stuffed chair to stand by the window.

"Have you any news about the mission?"

Gai sighed but didn't answer vocally; his only response was a shake of his head.

"Are you worried about Neji and Lee?" she asked concerned about his reaction.

"I trained them to be prepared," he said confidently, "but with maturity comes bigger obstacles to face. I hope I trained them well to do this…"

"Without you?" Aya finished softly, understanding where he was coming from.

"Hai," he whispered toward the window.

"Cheer up, Gai, I trust those boys and I barely know them. My faith is in them to bring back my sister and when they do they will be stronger than before."

"Stronger than yesterday…"

"Exactly."

Kakashi listened as the one who stood to loose the most was cheering up someone else. Knowing how amazing someone is was different than learning how amazing they were. Coming into the room Kakashi placed the meal and drink next to the flowers Aya was given. Realizing that they were the fifth set of flowers that Aya had gotten from friends made him rethink his previous belief that flowers were not connected to cheering someone up.

"Arigatou, Kakashi," Aya replied, noticing the food, "Gai, would you like some as well?"

Kakashi hoped that he would decline and was tempted to cross his fingers.

"Ah, I would love to," Gai responded as Kakashi's stomach knotted in annoyance, "but I must get ready for my next mission, which starts in two hours."

Kakashi held back his smile.

"Well, I appreciate the flowers and the company," Ayaka replied from her chair.

"Any time, Aya-sama. It is always a pleasure to be in your presence." Gai said 'farewell' to them both and left.

Ayaka slid the plate toward her and started to eat when she looked up to find Kakashi looking at her. "Nani?"

"Are you always sweet to everyone?" he questioned her in a soft yet manly tone.

Arching her brow she stared back, "How do you mean?"

He didn't answer her but walked up to her and studied the painting, "It looks incredible."

"It's for you," she said turning back to the canvas with the scene on it. The sky was a brilliant blue fading into the horizon as full trees surrounded the memorial for those ninjas lost in battle. Around the grave were flowers, matching those that she had gotten recently. "It's what I would do if I was able to walk…" she whispered and lightly touched the painted memorial with her finger tip smearing two colors to blend, giving the monument a glaze.

"This is what I was talking about, Aya-sama," Kakashi commented, coming around to face her. He knelt so that he could look her in the eyes. "Does this just come naturally to you?"

"I…I don't know, I suppose it does…" she stuttered unsure at what he wanted to know.

"You…" Kakashi was at a loss for words, as well, but he was determined to show her how she affected him. With his left hand he raised the forehead protector and slowly opened his eyes.

Aya searched both of his eyes for the first time and then grinned in complete fascination. His left eye didn't look any different from the other one except for the long, vertical scar running down the middle of the eye and cheek. Without thinking, or caring about her actions, she immediately reached for the scar and tenderly ran her fingertips down its length.

"How did this…?" she spoke softly but didn't allow him to respond by covering his lips with her finger. "Ki ni shi nai…" (Never mind…)

Kakashi swallowed hard trying to keep himself from taking her in his arms and showing her his deeper feelings.

"It doesn't look like the Sharingan right now." She whispered again because she was so close to him she was scared to talk any louder.

"It doesn't turn crimson when I'm not using it…" he whispered back.

"I see…" Aya murmured, getting comfortable with his closeness.

Out of pure boldness, Kakashi reached for her face and held her jaw within his hand. Affectionately, he dared to massage her satin skin with his thumb and he continued to when she didn't pull back from his touch.

Aya felt her expression soften as his tenderness washed over her like a refreshing waterfall cleaning her from any other person in the world. "Kakashi…"

"Hai?"

"You're unlike anyone I've ever met…" Aya mumbled and smirked when he gave her a questioning look. "In a good way," she finished.

She saw his mask move to form a smile underneath. Wishing she could see what it hid but not wanting to push him away now that he was getting so close to being open with her, Aya combed her fingers through the back of his hair to keep them busy. The texture of his hair was smooth and it reminded her of soft fur.

Kakashi closed his eyes enjoying her fingers on his scalp. His chest felt restricted and heavy in a way he had never known before, but the more noticeable feeling was somewhere he didn't want to acknowledge at the moment. The simplicity between them was too nice to interrupt with something as serious as that.

He swallowed and tried to calm his body but she twirled fragrances and sensations around him like a million fireflies dancing about him in a deep night of warmth and passion. He moved his hands from her shoulders and grasped her upper arms in an effort to distract his mind.

Ayaka could read his heart rhythm as it beat in sporadic patterns and knew he was fighting what she was feeling too. Placing both hands on either side of his head, she placed a chaste kiss on his forehead right underneath his protector.

"I think we're getting too close for our own good."

Connecting his eyes with hers he asked, "What do you think we should do?"

"I don't know…"

"Will you make Konoha your residence?"

"Well, when this mission is over and I get my sister back, we're returning to our village. We're going to try to rebuild it." Her fingers slid from his hair and down his chest as he backed away. Revelation dawned on his face but he was quick at hiding its effect on him.

"You aren't staying?" Kakashi concluded in a strange voice.

"I…I was only here to help. And besides, our travel visa doesn't allow us to stay indefinitely."

"Of course," he stated in a stiff tone that left her feeling sorry that she brought it up, "this isn't your home."

Aya inhaled silently at his severity. She wanted to take back the conversation change completely, but it was too late. She tried to take his hand but he retracted it from her reach.

"I should have known better." Pacing to the window he kept his back to her.

"What do you mean?"

"I shouldn't have allowed myself…such liberties with you."

"Just because I'm planning on leaving doesn't mean I don't care for you, Kakashi," she stood up with help from her cane, "in contrast, I feel more for you than should be permitted."

He turned back to her and searched her face for some ounce of falsehood in her statement. He saw none.

"You could have so much more in someone else…" he finished the sentence in his head, 'even though I couldn't stand seeing you with anyone other than myself.'

"I don't want anyone else."

Kakashi didn't know what to say so he remained quiet and still.

Aya held out her hand to him, "You can come closer."

Kakashi confidently strode back to her. He took her in his arms and held her to him as though she were going to disappear.

She clutched him just as frantically, hoping there was some way to keep him in her life.

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Nyoko looked up as the door opened. She had gotten used to the set periods that food arrived so she was curious to see someone enter at a different time. Glancing out her window, she guessed it was around ten in the morning.

When she recognized the two figures in the doorway she put up her guard and didn't say anything.

"Nothing to say, little kitty?" Kabuto asked with a sneer.

Nyoko glared at him and Takahiro dug his claws into the small blanket lining his cage.

"Don't tease her, Kabuto, she can be very sensitive," a wicked voice came from beside the four-eyed apprentice.

"Do you want me to handle her?" Kabuto questioned and got the nod of approval. He walked up to Nyoko, patted her head then pulled out a needle and stuck her with it. Nyoko flinched but refused to comment or protest. She couldn't do anything and she hated that she was forced to sit and take it. 'I'm not about to give them the pleasure to hear me scream.'

She felt drowsy but she didn't fall asleep, she just lost all ability to move her arms and legs. They removed the straps and Kabuto lifted her and headed for the hallway. Takahiro started meowing loudly and hissed at Orochimaru before he left the cell.

They entered a room with a freshly made bed and wires hanging from all over the ceiling. The far wall was covered with television screens and computers. Nyoko read the messages on the monitors before they laid her out on the bed and started strapping her down in case the sedatives wore off. She sighed impatiently as Kabuto leaned in and grinned evilly.

"Do you have somewhere else you need to be, little kitty?"

"Is there a point to all this?" Nyoko asked without looking at him.

"You know full well that Orochimaru has big plans to gain more jutsus. You're just one of the many," he sneered and messed up her hair in a rough back-and-forth manner.

"You both are so pathetic."

Both men looked over at her but Orochimaru was the only one amused by her attitude.

"You aren't the only one we want and having you will help us get the other jutsus I need. Easy plan, don't you think?"

"If you think my sister is going to teach you to use her jutsus than you're more insane then we first credited you for."

Orochimaru laughed and then motioned for Kabuto to start his procedure. Orochimaru left to go to his chambers. Kabuto wouldn't be ready for him for another couple days. Kabuto booted up the software. Kabuto's assistant appeared from the shadows.

He wasn't familiar to Nyoko but she didn't like him already. His dark eyes were creepy. He grunted at Kabuto then turned to administrate the needle into Nyoko to draw her blood.

She hissed at him because he wasn't being tender with her.

After smacking her across the mouth, he studiously calculated the liters of blood her arm was giving him.

She felt the light trickle of blood leaving her lip but she couldn't remove it and soon it dried.

Kabuto was very particular about his measurements and notes so it wasn't long before he ignored the fact she was awake.

"You're bedside manner sucks," she snapped at the silent yet physically abusive assistant.

The evil-eyed subordinate glared at her and walked away from the bed with his notes to give Kabuto.

"Why are you such a traitor to your village? What did they do to you that you'd choose Ugly over them?" Nyoko commented to Kabuto.

He turned, and for a moment she thought he was going to answer her, but he grabbed the full bag hanging near her of her blood and exchanged it for an empty one.

She lay there staring at the many wires draping from the ceiling with no hope of going through the tests unscathed. It was only a matter of minutes before they started taking skin, hair, and print samples. She knew once they had those, they were going to start injecting weird chemicals and trying to manipulate her DNA.

For the fourth time, Nyoko tried to cut her way through the leather binds holding her to the bed. She had managed to flush the sedative out of her arms through her many years of training. Her sister had prepared her for times such as these.

The straps were not budging, how annoying.

Evil-Eyes was casually walking back to the bed when he noticed her attempt to loosen the leather. Anger quickly picked up in his expression and he tossed the notepad on the bed covers. Unexpectedly, he grabbed her fingers and, one by one, started breaking them at the joints.

Nyoko yelled before she could hold it back.

Then, just as he was about to break a fourth finger, a huge explosion shook the world around them. Computer screens and wires started crashing to the floor, Kabuto jumped out of his chair before he landed on his back.

Nyoko was thankful for the diversion because the assistant went to the door to check what was going on.

In moments Kabuto and his aid were gone, probably checking on Orochimaru, and she was left to lie on the bed. Sighing loudly at her predicament and hoping her left hand fingers would just go numb already, Nyoko tried once more to claw her way out of her bonds.

It was an hour before she heard anyone in the hallway. Her heart skipped at the voice and hoped she wasn't imagining it.

"I'm in here! Help me! I'm in this room! I'm in here!"

Seconds ticked by and then the door flew open. Three faces, Nyoko thought were an illusion, appeared in the dim lighting.

"Nyoko!" Lee shouted from the doorway.

All she could do was stare at Lee, Akamaru, and Kiba.

Kiba rushed over to her and started undoing the straps on her wrists as Lee got her ankles.

"How are you, did they hurt yo—?" Kiba stopped his question when he saw her split lip. He frowned and then he didn't notice her swelling fingers until she yelped at his rough removal of her hand from the bed brace.

His cheeks started to flame up with suppressed anger as she climbed on Akamaru's back.

"What about Takahiro?" Nyoko asked as Kiba climbed on behind her.

"Neji and Naruto are searching for him."

"What about Orochimaru and Kabuto?"

"As far as we know, they've escaped. We have only run into their helpers." Lee explained as he ran next to Akamaru. They passed a large room and then stopped suddenly when they registered what they saw. Naruto and Neji were in battle with four other ninjas. Lee made a fist and hollered to Kiba.

"Take Nyoko out of here, I'll find Takahiro and meet you at our reference point."

"Hai!" Kiba yelled and made Akamaru head for the main hallway to get out of the massive tunnels.

After Akamaru reached the main doors they heard an explosion but it didn't shake them as much as it made the tunnels fill with smoke and ash. Kiba clasped Nyoko tighter around her waist and leaned toward her ear.

"Who gave you the injuries?"

Nyoko looked at her hand before answering, "Some guy with really evil eyes. I didn't find out his name."

"What all did he do?" Kiba seethed.

"Split my lip for talking back and snapped my fingers for trying to escape."

"What were you doing in that room?"

"They were taking my blood for tests…"

Kiba remained silent but held fast to her until they came to a tree, old and hollow, that held a small space amongst its roots.

Kiba gently applied some ointment to her lip and then paused before tenderly taking her hand.

"Are you ready?" he asked her before lifting his other hand.

"Hai, just do it." Nyoko grabbed his jacket lapel with her right hand and clamped her mouth shut.

Looking straight into her eyes the entire time, he went through each finger and put them back in place. Tears streamed down her cheeks and he ached for her pain to be his.

When he was done wrapping her hand in bandages, Nyoko fell into his arms from the pain and exhaustion. The pressure was gone but her fingers were going to be in pain for weeks to come.

Kiba wasn't sure if she passed out or if she just lost all strength, so he held her close and soothingly until her soft breathing told him she had fallen asleep.

As the moon rose and the cool of the night set in, Nyoko started shaking, so Akamaru came over and laid next to her to add warmth.

Kiba smiled at his dog for being so generous then worry struck him for the first time. What if Takahiro was not able to come back to Nyoko? He ran his fingers through her hair as he pondered how she would take that kind of news. All he knew at this point in time was he would be there for her through it all.