A/N: Hi again everyone! CLIFFIES! Why the hell is Anko screaming? You're about to find out. Just a little teeny tiny almost cliffy this chapter. Gotta give you a little breathing time. Let's get started. Enjoy!
Anko's scream pierced through Kakashi's dead sleep. He bolted upright in bed, and then he saw her – Anko, the love of his life, next to him on the bed, her eyes wide with terror, screaming and panting at the same time. He reached for her, and she turned her eyes to him and stopped screaming, "What is it Anko? What happened?"
She reached for his face, tears leaking from her eyes. She said, "Oh thank God. Thank GOD! You're ok. Oh my God. Just give me a minute."
Kakashi held his tongue though he was desperate to find out what was wrong with his wife. Instead of talking to her, he wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her hair in an attempt to soothe and comfort her. He knew she'd tell him everything when she was ready.
She sniffed a bit, sniffing back tears, and said quietly, "Thank God you're alright."
Kakashi took a chance and said, "Mind telling me what happened? You've got me scared to death right now."
Anko began to tell Kakashi what had caused her to scream:
"Everything was fine at first. You were there, Asuma and Kurenai were there. Jiraiya was somewhere, but I didn't see him, and Gai was there too. I remember the sun was shining, so bright that you can see the pollen floating through the air." She sniffed loudly. "Everyone was smiling, and I didn't feel him anywhere."
"Who?" Kakashi asked.
She looked up at him and said, "Orochimaru. I didn't feel my curse mark, nothing. I couldn't feel any connection to him whatsoever. We'd been successful on our quest."
"Well that's good news. A positive omen brought to you in a dream."
"Don't SAY that!" she barked at him. "That's not all that happened! It got a lot worse after that."
Kakashi looked at her with concern and said, "Go on then. Tell me the rest."
She took a big breath and said, "Everyone was so happy. It was like a new age was beginning. Like we all had brand new lives that were starting over again. Then, out of nowhere, the sky turned an ugly gray color, and the wind picked up. I thought at first that maybe a storm was coming, but I was wrong, really wrong."
She continued, "I was a little way away from everyone when I saw this all happening. The sky changed so rapidly, and when I looked at the rest of you, you had all turned and were looking away from me. I couldn't see what you were all looking at, at first, but then I looked up. It felt just like the other day when I saw Orochimaru's remains and it felt like someone punched me in the gut. It was just as cold too. I bent over quickly, and I remember feeling pain in my back too and my curse mark began to pulsate. I couldn't stand upright, but I looked up with my eyes. I saw all of you in attack positions, but I couldn't see what you were attacking."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and said, "It was like you were all defending me from something, but I couldn't see what that something was. Then a huge shadow loomed ahead of everyone. It was shaped like a giant snake, similar to Manda or my summon. As it came closer, I saw that it was white, and had two heads. One was Orochimaru's and one I believe was Itachi's."
"Jeez that is horrible," Kakashi said still absently stroking her hair.
She continued, "Seeing that thing was terrifying. It looked to me as if Orochimaru had somehow merged with Itachi's body – they were one, and they were cooperating with each other. It got closer, and I still couldn't stand up straight. I tried, I had to try and help everyone, but it seemed as if everyone was trying to keep it away from me. I tried to scream at everyone to get away from it, but I had no voice." She touched her throat for emphasis. "The Itachi side of the snake began to glow then – a circle of light on the side of the snake – and something began to emerge from the light. I couldn't tell what it was at first until it was most of the way out. It was an arm, and at the end of the arm was a huge sword that had chakra that I could actually see."
"The Sword of Totsuka?"
"I don't know! All I know is that Orochimaru told the Itachi part, to kill us all. And it started to!" Fresh tears leaked from her eyes as she recalled everything she'd seen. "The huge arm swung the sword and Gai was cut down where he stood. Asuma and Kurenai fought side by side. As the giant snake thing swung the sword back from killing Gai, it hit Asuma so hard that it drove him into Kurenai. They were killed instantly and their bodies flew like rag dolls being tossed aside. All I saw then was is a tangle of arms and legs, and her hair . . ." she tried to suppress a sob.
"Jiraiya came out of nowhere then, and he was able to hold the snake thing back for a little while. He yelled for you to get me out of there, but you wouldn't leave him to fight alone. I tried to scream at you to run, to get away as I felt another shot to the gut and my curse mark HURT. I put one hand on my stomach, and one on my curse mark. Then I pulled my hand away from my shoulder and saw blood on my hand and I felt a wound where my hand had been. Then when I looked up, I saw the giant snake thing overtake Jiraiya and crush him into the ground. Then it was just you and me." She sniveled and Kakashi held her tighter.
"You looked back at me then, and saw the blood on my hand. But you stood your ground as the snake advanced toward us. I saw your hands making seals and a small porthole opened up on the snake's body. Then Orochimaru's face laughed and he said, "Too little too late Kakashi," and the snake lurched forward toward us."
"Then Orochimaru said, "Kill him, but leave her. I still have a use for her." Anko got really quiet then. She said, "You tried to run to me, and I tried to get to you. I still couldn't stand up straight and I could feel the wetness from the blood on my shoulder, but I reached for you! I stretched as far as I could, but I couldn't reach you," she cried fresh tears as Kakashi tried to comfort her.
"Then you stopped running, and I didn't know why until a giant thing shot out of the front of your vest. Itachi had driven the sword right through you from behind." She paused touching his face to make sure he really was there with her. "In an instant, I saw the carnage – all my friends dead, you were dead, and that Itachi Orochimaru thing was coming after me. Itachi swung the giant sword sideways and your body flew off it and landed in a heap. That's when I knew you were really dead, and that's when I screamed, because I can't live without you!" She broke into fresh sobs and buried her face in his neck.
Kakashi held her gently, yet securely and let her cry. He thought she's got herself all worked up about this. I don't really have anything I can say to her that will make things seem better. I don't have much hope to give her. We'll just have to do what we have to do.
After a few minutes, Anko's sobs lessened. The alarm clock went off and she said, "Saved by the bell right?" She managed a small giggle amongst her tears.
Kakashi said, "It was a dream Anko. A pretty terrifying dream, but it was just a dream. It was not an omen or anything, and Itachi would NEVER merge with Orochimaru willingly. Orochimaru can't even attempt that now unless Itachi was near him. They're in two separate places, so at least we don't have to worry about that. We're going on this quest to make sure that Orochimaru has no way to get to you or anyone else. We are going to sever any bond he ever had on you when we destroy his body. You'll be free Anko. You won't have to worry about him ever again."
She nodded, knowing that what he was saying was true. "It was all so real. And losing you? I couldn't bear it. I'd die right along side you. There would be no joy in my life anymore. Not without you."
"I'm right here," he reassured her, "you're not getting rid of me that easily. Come on. We've got a quest to go on. You gonna be ok to do this?"
She sat up from his grasp and said, "Yeah. It was a dream, just a dream. I'm ready to make sure that asshole of a sensei I had is gone forever. He's not getting me – not ever!" She said it with such conviction that she even believed herself.
"That's my girl." Kakashi stood up and said, "Let's do this then."
Anko gave him a teary-eyed smile and said, "Let's."
The two shinobi dressed, strapped on weapons, and ate a filling breakfast. They were out the door moments later to meet the rest of their hunting party in their quest to find Itachi and the Sword of Totsuka.
They were the first ones at the gates.
Kakashi sighed audibly and leaned against one of the gate posts. Anko stood stock still and looked off into the greenery that surrounded Konoha. Kakashi asked, "Doing ok?"
Without looking at him, she said, "Yeah. I'm good. The others should be here shortly."
Kakashi marveled that this was the same woman who no more than thirty minutes earlier, was a bundle of crying nerves caused by a nightmare. Then he thought to himself, she's got her game face on. He stood there silently watching the intensity on her face. He smiled quietly to himself putting yet another check mark in the "reasons I love her" column in his mind.
Gai breezed to the gates with his former student Rock Lee. Gai greeted them, "The lovely Anko and my rival Kakashi! Aren't they wonderful Lee? Two shinobi in love, now going on a quest together. It's almost poetic."
"YES GAI-SENSEI!" Rock Lee shouted in agreement. Kakashi just rolled his eye then looked at Anko as she rolled hers.
Anko said, "We're just waiting for the rest of our party Gai. Feel free to relax before we get going."
"Right!" Gai said. "Come Lee. Let us spar while we wait for the rest of the party to arrive."
"I will not go easy on you Gai-Sensei!" Lee shouted back at him.
"I would hope you wouldn't Lee. Come on! Let's show these loafers how the elite Leaf ninja really do things!" He took an attack position.
"As you wish Gai-Sensei!" Lee said as he too assumed an attack position. The two were exchanging blows and blocking kicks as Asuma and Kurenai walked up.
Asuma said, "Whoa, don't those two ever stop?"
Kakashi said, "Apparently not. I'm just glad he didn't ask me to spar with him."
Asuma said, "Why? Afraid he'll kick your ass?"
"No," Kakashi said, "just conserving my energy."
"Good thing, with your low chakra level and all," Asuma poked back at him. Kakashi flipped him off for the hell of it.
Kurenai walked to Anko and said, "Looks like we just need Jiraiya and we're off. You ready for this?"
Anko glanced over at Kakashi, noting that his eyes were already on her, "You bet I am," she said as she then turned to face her best friend. "We're going to get this done, and get rid of that asshole once and for all."
Kurenai said, "Yeah. Now that's what I wanted to hear."
An echoing voice came from the Village, "Hi-yo!" Everyone turned to see Jiraiya loping up to join them. "Sorry I'm late everyone, but I was finishing some last minute preparations and wanted to make sure I had everything before we left. Are we all present and accounted for?" He took a quick look around the group of people and said, "I see we are! Let's head out then. Any questions?"
Anko spoke up, "When are you going to fill us in on these newly found truths, so we can accomplish our mission correctly?"
Jiraiya said, "Give it time Anko. Let's walk a little bit first. We're in no hurry to find either Itachi or Kisame yet. Part of the road of life is enjoying the journey. We can at least do that before we risk our lives don't you agree?"
Anko thought a moment and gazed at her husband. She totally agreed. She smiled at the pervy sage and said, "You'll tell us when the time's right."
"I certainly will. So without further adieu, let's go!" The six shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village then walked through the village gates to begin their quest.
As they walked away from the village they all loved so much, they had no idea what was waiting for them on the other end of their mission.
A/N: Dun-dun-dun! What's waiting for them? You'll find out soon enough.
Next up: We'll visit some "guests" first, then all the new truths are told. Finally, we end on yet ANOTHER cliffy! See you soon!