With my wide eyes
I've seen worlds that don't belong
My mouth is dry with words I cannot verbalize
Tell me why we live like this

Broken – XIV

Rin curled up in the chair she was sitting in, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, her knees tucked under her chin. Minato was sitting next to her, his face set, grim. They were in the waiting room at the hospital, doing just that ― waiting. Waiting to hear news about Kakashi and Anko. Waiting to hear that the two would be okay.

"Minato-Sensei?" The blonde man looked at Rin in surprise. It was the first time she had spoken in over an hour, since she had sought him out, panicking and saying that Anko had left, and Kakashi had gone after her. After seeing the note (which Anko had apparently left behind in her hurry to get out), they had wasted no time in called the police.

"What is it, Rin?"

"Why do people do it?" The girl's words surprised Minato. "Obito-kun gave up his life to save Kakashi-kun. Kakashi-kun went after Anko-san to keep her safe, because he promised her that he would. But why, Minato-Sensei? Why do people make promises like that? Why do they risk their lives for others, even though they know they could end up dead?"

Minato sighed. He couldn't expect Rin to understand something like this. Both her parents had only been sixteen when she was born, and hadn't had time to bother with a baby. Nothing had changed when she got older. She'd ended up in Konoha, finally, when her grandparents (who had been very sick and were always in and out of hospitals) had both been sent to nursing homes. She just didn't understand the concept of caring for someone enough to die for them, because for the first seven years of her life, no one had felt that way for her.

"Let me ask you something, Rin. If Kakashi or Obito were ever in danger, and you knew there was something you could do to stop it, would you?" Rin looked up in surprise. After a second, she nodded. "And why would you do that?"

"Because they're my friends."

"Exactly." Minato nodded. "They're your friends, and you worry about them, don't you? Obito saved Kakashi because ― no matter what he said contrary ― Kakashi was his best friend, and he didn't want him to get hurt. Just like Obito would have done anything to save you, had he ever been given the chance."

Rin nodded. "But Kakashi-kun and Anko-san…they're more than just friends, aren't they?"

Minato made a face. So he wasn't the only one that had noticed the feelings those two harbored for each other.

"I don't doubt that, Rin. I don't doubt that Kakashi and Anko feel a little more than friendly towards each other. But that's all the more reason why they would want to save each other."

Rin looked down at her hand. The note was still crumpled in it. She could still see parts of it in her mind's eye.

That little Uchiha boy is dead because of you…Who will be next? The pretty little girl Rin… Or perhaps Kakashi. I notice you've become particularly close to him. You could save a whole lot of people…just come home…And no one else will have to be hurt.

Rin shivered. Orochimaru knew them. He knew about Rin and Obito, and the relationship between Kakashi and Anko. But how? Was he spying on them? And how did Anko get the note to begin with?

That little Uchiha boy is dead because of you…but that didn't make any sense. How could it have possibly been Anko's fault that Obito was dead? She hadn't even been with them that day, she had stayed home! A person couldn't be blamed for something if they weren't around when it happened, especially not something like this.

Nothing made sense anymore. There were too many unanswered questions, too many things Rin didn't understand.

She just wanted everyone and everything to be okay again.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Kakashi's lips as he looked around. They were down at the river. Anko was teaching Rin how to skip rocks (the purple-haired girl had a fondness of doing that), and Obito was wading in the water, interrupting the stones just so he could aggravate Anko. It was working.

"Knock it off already Uchiha!"

The only person missing was Minato. Where was he? Kakashi couldn't imagine the four of them coming down to the river without him…

But still. They were having fun. The sky overhead was a happy blue, the sun was shining brightly, and fluffy white clouds dotted the sky.

Everything was perfect.

"Five skips!"

Suddenly, right before Kakashi's eyes, the scene changed. The sky overhead turned blood red, and lightning ripped through the now menacingly black clouds. And the funny thing was, he seemed to be the only one who noticed. Rin, Obito, and Anko were still playing in the water, acting like nothing was wrong.

"What the hell―?"

Suddenly, a hooded figure wielding a scythe appeared behind Obito. Before Kakashi could shout a warning, the figure brought the scythe down into Obito's back. The boy collapsed, his blood spilling, turning the water bright red.

"Obito!"

Rin and Anko had taken no notice of their fallen friend. It was as if he didn't exist. They were still skipping rocks. The figure approached Rin next.

"Rin, move!"

But his shouted warning fell on deaf ears. The figure swung his scythe, and Rin's head went flying. Her body fell into the water and disappeared from sight.

"No!" Kakashi ran forward, thinking Anko would be the next target. But suddenly she was gone. Vanished. Kakashi skidded to a halt, looking around.

"Where―?"

The sound of robes fluttering in the breeze attracted Kakashi, and he looked behind him. There was the hooded figure. And standing with him was Anko. She looked terribly guilty.

"Anko―?"

She looked up at him, her brown eyes full of guilt. "I'm sorry."

And then the figure brought the scythe right down through Anko's body.

Kakashi gasped as his eyes shot open and he bolted up in bed. He was breathing heavily, as if he had just run a couple of miles, and his head was spinning. Light was pouring into the room. He blinked rapidly to try and adjust to it.

"Kakashi-kun?" He looked around. Rin was standing next to his bed, looking a little apprehensive. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she was shifting from foot to foot.

"Rin…"

"Thank God you're okay." She breathed, looking relieved. "The doctor wasn't sure if you were going to…well, it doesn't matter. You're okay now."

"Rin, what are you―" Kakashi's eyes widened as he remembered everything that had happened. The note. Orochimaru. Blood. Anko.

Anko…

"Where's Anko? Is she okay?" Kakashi shoved back his covers and started to climb out of bed. Rin's eyes widened as she grabbed him and tried to push him backwards.

"Kakashi-kun, don't! You just woke up, you should wait for the doctor―"

"I don't give a damn about any of that, I just want to know how Anko is!"

"I'll tell you!" Rin said desperately. She was losing this battle fast. Kakashi was stronger than she was. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything I know, just please lay back down!"

Kakashi stopped struggling and looked down at Rin. Her deep brown eyes were filled with tears. He could tell she was scared. He laid back down carefully, watching his friend. Rin wiped the tears from her eyes and brought a chair over to the bed, sitting down.

"Well?"

The girl folded her hands in her lap, staring determinedly at them. "Anko-san is…well, she's…I don't really know how to explain this―"

"Is she still alive?" Rin looked up, surprise etched in her face. It vanished a second later, and she nodded.

"Yeah, she's alive. She's…well, she's in a coma. That's what the doctor told Minato-Sensei. But there's…more."

As if the coma wasn't bad enough. "What is it?"

Rin sighed deeply. "She had a lot of head damage, Kakashi-kun. A concussion, brain bleeding, and a few other things. I didn't really understand much of it, I don't think Minato-Sensei did either. The point is, Kakashi-kun…they don't think she'll ever wake up."

Kakashi felt as if the floor had just given out beneath him. He was falling. Rin's words couldn't be true, they couldn't be…

"Kakashi-kun?" He found it very hard to bring himself back and focus on Rin. He had a feeling she had just asked him a serious question.

"What?"

"I asked if you wanted to see her. Minato-Sensei is here, I'm sure he could convince the doctor…"

Kakashi nodded, and about ten minutes later he found himself in a wheelchair, being pushed down the hall by Rin (who had insisted on going as well).

"I haven't been to see her yet…I know I should, but I feel too guilty…"

"How long was I out for?" Kakashi asked, staring straight ahead. Rin bit her lip.

"About…four days. Almost five. You were stabbed twice, Kakashi-kun, you lost a lot of blood. You could have died." Like he didn't know that. And until Anko woke up, he'd wonder why he didn't.

"What about Orochimaru?" Rin winced. She didn't really want to talk about him.

"He…got away. The police have been searching for him non-stop, but so far no luck. He's good at disappearing."

Kakashi nodded silently. He had expected as much.

"Here we are." Rin came to a halt outside the room a few minutes later. "Do you…want me to stay with you, Kakashi-kun?"

No, he wanted to say. He wanted to be alone with Anko. But he couldn't turn Rin down. So he nodded, and she wheeled him in.

The room was filled with the sounds of beeping machines, monitoring heart rate, pulse, and everything else. Keeping Anko alive.

The girl in question was laying in a bed of pure white. Her pale skin seemed to almost blend with the pillow and covers, but her dark purple hair stood out more than ever. Her eyes were closed, and Kakashi knew they might never open again.

He heard Rin inhale sharply behind him, and knew this couldn't be easy for her. For the second time in almost two weeks, they were once again seeing one of their hyperactive, never stopping friends completely still.

Almost dead.

"God…" Rin breathed. Tears were stinging her eyes. Kakashi knew he should have done something to comfort her, but everything ― his mind, his senses, all of it ― were focused on Anko. He reached out a shaking hand and ran it through Anko's soft hair. After a minute he moved, running it over her cheek. His breath caught in his throat. He just couldn't believe this was Anko, loud, energetic, Anko, laying there, unmoving. He couldn't believe that she would never wake up.

He didn't want to believe she would never wake up.

"Kakashi-kun?" He looked up at Rin. She'd paled slightly since they had entered the room. "I'm going to…wait out in the hall, all right? Call me when you're…when you're ready to leave."

He watched her go. He didn't think he'd ever be ready to leave Anko though. He turned back to her, wrapping his hand around her small, pale one.

"They said you're never going to wake up, Anko. But I don't believe that. I think you will. And when you do, I'll be here. And I'll keep my promise. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again, I swear."

He watched her, wishing for some kind of reaction. If this had been a movie, or some sappy romance novel, she might have woken up, might have called for him, might have been okay.

But this was life. And in life, nothing happened. Kakashi knew that all too well. But that didn't stop him from leaning over, and kissing her lips lightly.

"Please Anko…please, just wake up."

Author's Note: Hmn…there's a brief time skip next chapter, in which you eventually find out the fate of not one, but two characters. So read on to find out what happens ― Sam