Thank you everyone

As the daylight broke through the night sky, Kakashi and Kokoro decided to visit their lost friends; doing their usual business as always. It was quite a cold, gloomy day; the sun was just about to set, making the two lovers feel even sadder as they stared down at their stones.

"Senpai, Hatake Kokoro…"

They looked over their shoulders to see a brown haired man with almond shaped eyes glaring at them.

"Tenzo…"

He smiled, "long time no see!" and then he looked at the heiress and nodded.

She nodded back at him and smiled showing teeth. "I haven't officially taken Kakashi's last name yet!"

He chuckled, "Oh, really? Well, it is soon though, right?"

Kakashi and Kokoro smiled at one another before turning their attentions back to Tenzo.

"In two days" Kakashi said in a low tone as he reached for Kokoro's hand, slipping his fingers through the spaces between hers.

"Congratulations!"

They bowed and thanked them.

Tenzo then motioned his hand towards them, "Well, anyway… The third wants to see you two in his office as soon as possible. It is urgent."

Kokoro's eyebrows cocked high, "Wants to see us?" Her voice was innocent as ever.

"Hai." With that being said, Tenzo vanished into thin air.

"What do you think the third wants…?" She didn't get a response so she looked up at him. His face was stern and it looked as if he was trying to think about it too.

"I don't know, but since we aren't doing anything today. Let's go and find out."

..

They stepped into his office. The third was smoking from his pipe as usual while doing paperwork. Without looking away, "Good evening."

"Good evening, Third." Their voices synchronized as they bowed.

"I have a mission for you two."

Kakashi gasped, "Third…"

Kokoro was a little nervous. She hadn't been on a mission for quite some time.

"I think this mission will be perfect for you two. I need you two to spy at an abandoned place on the outskirt of town. There has been a rumor of Akatsuki members around. Please, check it."

"Third… Not to offend you or anything… But isn't there someone else to take care of this…?" Kakashi awkwardly asked. Kokoro nudged him in his side, giving him a death glare. "I mean, Kokoro and I are to be wedded in two days. I was hoping to take these last two days off to prepare and spend time with her…"

The third glanced up at the two and sighed, dropping the sheets of paper in his hands. He sucked in a puff from his pipe and exhaled before answering, "I would, but everyone else is busy for tonight. Besides, the two of you can handle this. We aren't quite sure if there even is Akatsuki member activity happening there. It'll be an easy mission to handle."

"Third..."

Kokoro cleared her throat, butting in, "We will be happy to take the mission, Lord Hokage."

Kakashi glared at her and whispered, "Kokoro-chan…"

She whispered back, "Don't worry. We will be fine, right? We will be together." She smiled a genuine one, which Kakashi could not reject.

He sighed and bowed, "Sorry, Third. We will get on with it."

But as they stepped out of the room, Kakashi grabbed her hand, turning her body towards him.

"Kokoro! What were you thinking?! We promised we would take off days before our wedding!"

"I know… But how can we reject the Third's request?"

He groaned as he ran his hand through his gray-ish white hair, "You're right…"

She grinned, setting her hands on his shoulder, "You worry too much! We'll be fine."

His eyebrow rose high in question, "When was the last time you went on a mission?"

"Hm… Like, two or three years ago?"

He gasped, "KOKORO!"

"What?! It won't be too bad! I spar a lot and train with my father. I am sure I can handle myself!" She then closed her eyes, thrusting her first into the air, "I am the Heiress of the Hyuga Clan!"

"Hey, Kokoro…"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

She pouted, "meanieeee!"

Both wore all black. They camped out near the target, waiting till the moon shined at the highest. He glanced at her, speaking low, "Okay, we will go this way. We stick together." He turned, ready to sprint towards the hideout, but a tight pull stopped him.

"No!"

He covered her mouth, shushing her. "Keep it down… And yes, we are sticking together."

"No." She shook her head. "We split up. I check the left side and you go right."

He groaned, "Kokoro, why are you being so fucking stubborn?!"

"I am not being stubborn! It's better if we separate anyways. Being too close will combine our chakra, making us more noticeable. It is better if we separate. Besides, I am a Hyuga, Kakashi. I'll be careful."

He sighed. She was right. He then groaned, hating himself for saying this, "Fine! Fine! We will separate."

She giggled, happy that she got her way. He leaned close to her face, staring directly into her white eyes. "Be careful. Don't do anything rash, okay?"

She smiled, nodding, "You too."

He cupped her cheek with his warm, soft hand before gently leaving a kiss upon her lips. Before she could even open her eyes to look at him, he disappeared. Her eyes rolled, being too familiar with him running off like that. She cracked her neck, leaned back, cracking her spine. "Alright! Let's do this." She then sprinted closer towards the base in a stealthy manner. She leaped over a fallen down ledge and hugged tightly against the wall, scooting slowly towards the corner. Her eyes widen and she gasped. There was a presence behind her, and she was positive it wasn't Kakashi's. She quickly spun, dodging an attack. As his body flung forward missing her, she took the time to slam her palm right at his heart. She watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, dropping dead.

"Tsk!" She grind her teeth together and muttered, "it's a trap… I have to find Kakashi!" Before she can even finish her thinking process, her body was already moving for her; she wanted to get to Kakashi before they got to him. And even though she had a feeling Kakashi can handle them, she wanted to protect him no matter what.

Turning the corner, she gasped seeing a black figure right in front of her. They smacked head on and she could feel the wind knocking right out of her. She gasped for air as Kakashi held on to her.

"Are you okay?!"

Still catching her breath, she nodded. He didn't have time for her to recover though, he grabbed her small tiny wrist and started to sprint off.

"Did the same thing happen to you?"

"Yeah, we need to get out of here as soon as possible! This isn't Akatsuki. This is Orochimaru's experiments…"

She gasped, glancing down at the ground as she ran. This is one of Orochimaru's base then…

It was too late to escape. Before they knew it, the two of them were surrounded by experiments; Kakashi and Kokoro were back to back.

"I got this side." She called in an angered tone.

"You be careful!"

The two of them then lashed out at the experiments, taking down as many as they can. As she swung one of the men over her, she glanced to check on Kakashi. There was a woman charging at him from behind as he was taking down four men at once. She gasped, smashed an experiment in the face, and made her way towards Kakashi.

She tackled the woman and the two ended up falling down a huge flight of stairs, still trying to fight along the way.

"Kokoro!" Kakashi called as he looked over his shoulder. He wanted to chase after her, but the experiments in front of him kept him busy for a while.

The women groaned, trying to attack each other as they rolled down the few steps. Kokoro was unlucky, being pinned down. The woman took her knife and tried to stab Kokoro. But she reacted fast, catching her arm and flipped her over. She used her momentum to stab the woman in the chest. Her blood splattered on Kokoro's face, and she closed her eyes right before it made contact with her eye. She was panting hard and felt weak, and she couldn't ignore the sharp pain in her body.

"Kokoro! Are you okay?" Kakashi called as he ran down the steps. He stopped to see two figures in front of him; not knowing which was which. But one of them finally got up and made their way out in the moonlight. He sighed and was relieved that it was Kokoro who was the last one standing.

He smiled, "God! You scared me with that move! You shouldn't have done that." He lectured before his eyes widen. The way she was walking didn't seem normal. She was wobbling side to side and had her hand over her abdomen. He could hear some sort of dripping noise. He glanced at the sky, thinking it was raining, but there were no clouds in sight. He looked back at her and notice red liquid dripping at the ground as she walked towards him.

She grunted, winced, but forced a smiled, "Damn, she got me…" Her voice was low and very raspy.

"Kokoro!" He ran towards her, catching her before she hit the ground. He carefully laid her body on the ground as he cradled her head with his arm. He was shaking, not understanding what was happening. Not wanting to admit this was happening. He looked down at her hands which clung tightly to her abdomen. And when she lifted her arms, his eyes widen at the shock of blood dripping from her forearm and hands. "No! No! Kokoro!" He tightly pressed his hand against her wound.

Through her ragged breaths, "I'm okay… Just couple of stab wounds when we tumbled down the steps… I was careless, huh?"

"Kokoro! It's not the time to be joking around!" His voice cracked, trying to hold in his tears. He started to lift her body, "I'll take you back! We have to go to the hospital."

"No… No…"

"What do you mean no?!" He tried to lift her again, but it seemed as if she was forcing herself to go dead weight.

Her eyes were glimmering as moonlight shined down on her, and he could tell she was holding in her cries. She told herself, she had to be strong for him, but eventually tears dripped from the corner of her it all, she kept a genuine smile on her face. The heiress giggled that cute laugh of hers. "Let's just enjoy our time together… just stay here… and hold my hand…"

"Ko…Kokoro." Kakashi could no longer hold in his tears. Either way, whatever he tried to do, he knew the results would be the same. He could feel her small hand grasp so tightly onto his arm. And he looked at her as she winced in pain. He couldn't imagine what she was going through right now. The pain… It must be unbearable. He wished it was him instead of her.

She chuckled, soft-heartedly, "Please, don't cry… I'm happy. I am with the one I love…" She coughed out blood, alarming Kakashi. He tried his best to wipe it off for her, and raise her to a point where she can breathe. She gagged, trying to finish her words, but she couldn't. The blood just kept coming.

"Kokoro! No please. Please. Please, stay with me! You said we would be together forever! You told me you wouldn't leave me. Kokoro-chan, please stay with me." Kakashi fully broke down, rocking her gently. He could make out she said something, but it was too soft to hear. "Kokoro?"

She was smiling again, "I am… I will be with you…" Her arm slowly rose from her wounds, and she made her way towards his heart. She slapped her hand against his chest, "Here… I'll always be here… I love you…"

Her body started to shake, and at this point, she was gagging on all the blood, having no choice, she spit out as much as she could just to catch a breath. She whimpered as her eyes tightly shut and gripped onto Kakashi's shirt. He had never seen something so horrify. He called out her name and tried to keep her with him for a little longer, trying to get as much time as he possible can get with her… But he felt the tight grip on his shirt loosening, and as his crying stop... He heard the one thing that shattered his heart: Her very last breath.

His eyes widen as tears continued to fall; he watched as her hand collapse to her side. Everything was going so well. They finally had moved in together, got engaged, and their wedding was only two days from today… Why? Why? Whyyyy?!

His screamed pierced through the silent night before he sobbed loudly with her in his arms. He held her so tightly, repeating the words "I'm sorry" Over and over.

fin