Living in the Mist (Chapter 21)
Disclaimers: Not mine.
"Kakashi?" Iruka whispered once he saw Kakashi slid into the hospital room silently. He must admit that he was surprised by Kakashi's presence because he could not sense anything before Kakashi came in.
"Seal my chakra, fast," pulling up his shirt, Kakashi said urgently. Iruka nodded as he swiftly formed the necessary hand seals and nicked his thumb before he drew the seal on Kakashi's lower back. He then placed his palm over the seal and channelled his chakra into the seal steadily. The seal worked instantly as Kakashi's clone disappeared in a poof once Kakashi's chakra was completely sealed.
"Are you alright?" Iruka asked in a worried tone, all the while trying to spot any visible injuries on Kakashi.
"Maa, I'm fine. You did some pretty interesting thing with my clone huh?" Kakashi openly smirked after the clone's memory was transferred back to him. He must say that he was fairly pleased by the blush spread on Iruka's cheeks and ears after the little teasing.
"You and your clone have the same fucking attitude," turning his head away from the grinning idiot, Iruka huffed in annoyance.
"Thank you," Kakashi replied happily and moved to sit on Iruka's bed.
"That wasn't a compliment and get off," pushing Kakashi's shoulder half-heartedly, Iruka retorted.
"Stay like this. I've a lot to tell," Kakashi leaned to Iruka and whispered, not budging from his seat even for an inch. This caught Iruka's attention as he stopped his action instantly and nodded.
"Your chakra…"
"They're having a huge commotion out there. You must've sense it too. Their chakra should be able to conceal mine," without waiting for Iruka to finish the sentence, Kakashi reassured Iruka with his reply.
"But your chakra trail…" not convinced by Kakashi's reassurance, Iruka asked again.
"By the time they finish the commotion out there, my chakra trail would've disappeared completely. I kept my chakra at minimum level all the time except when I was in the dungeon."
"Dungeon? What dungeon?" Iruka asked, trying to keep his volume low despite his surprised state.
"I'll get to there. The ends of your hair are burnt," noticing the messy ends of Iruka's hair, Kakashi took a few brown strands in his hand and stated the obvious.
"Yeah, I know. The fireball in the forest, remember? Back to topic," shaking his head slightly in an attempt to free his hair from Kakashi's hand, Iruka said quietly.
"Okay. I overheard a conversation. People in the mansion are disappearing," Kakashi replied as he swiftly pulled out the rubber band from Iruka's hair despite Iruka's protest.
"Don't mess with my hair. What happened to those people?" swatting his hands blindly at Kakashi who sat behind him, Iruka asked.
"Well, after I overheard the conversation, I was wandering around the mansion until I found a hidden entrance to an underground prison," Kakashi took one of Iruka's wrists and slipped the rubber band onto Iruka's wrist as he smoothed out the tousled brown locks. Iruka stopped protesting once he felt the comfortable sensation of someone combing his hair.
"And then?"
"There were two separate ways in the tunnel so I sent a clone to take one of them," Kakashi answered and fished for his dagger in his pants pocket once he smoothed out Iruka's messy locks.
"Your clone got wiped out by the traps right?" leaning his head back slightly, Iruka asked as he closed his eyes at the comforting touch on his hair. The last person who combed his hair was his mother and Kakashi's surprisingly gentle hands on his hair were a perfect mimic of his mum's.
"Yeah and I found a prison. The prisoners in there seem to be those who disappeared," while answering, Kakashi gently took some brown strands in his hand and started to cut off the singed ends with his dagger, letting the spoilt ends fell to the floor.
"They imprisoned their own people?" Iruka asked in disbelief.
"Apparently, yes. I met an old man who proclaimed himself as Yamanaka Ryuichiro in the cell," pleased with the first few cuts on Iruka's hair, Kakashi continued his task as he briefed Iruka with the situation he was in, carefully tucking his emotions away when he mentioned the name.
"Yamanaka Ryuichiro? Ino's grandpa? He's still alive?"
"Think so. His dog tag and ANBU tattoo proved that. He told me that the other way that my clone took led to a pendant," expecting the bombarded questions, Kakashi replied steadily.
"He knew about the pendant?"
"He was sent to spy on Umino clan years ago but he was captured and imprisoned until now. He said that once the pendant is fully charged with chakra, it'll summon something. Those prisoners in there are supplying chakra to the pendant."
"They're using their own people like that?" Iruka tried to turn around but he was stopped by Kakashi's palm on the side of his head, signalling him to stay still.
"I think so. The pendant can only absorb an Umino's chakra. Most probably is like they let the pendant sucks the chakra from the victim and before the victim's chakra is completely depleted, they stop the chakra flow. The victim will then be left in the prison to replenish their chakra and then they will let the pendant does its job again," Kakashi deduced.
"Sounds reasonable. We have to confirm the identity of Yamanaka Ryuichiro though," Iruka agreed.
"I can't go back to the prison anytime soon so this will have to wait. In the mean while, we can try to find out what is the pendant going to summon once it is fully charge. We need to figure out the grass chuunin incidence too," Kakashi said as he recalled back the other event.
"You're right. The grass chuunin, there's suppose to be another pendant right?"
"That's what we deduced back then. We need to find out about that as well."
"Yeah, you're right. So that's all?"
"Yep. But I want to ask Sandaime something though. If Konoha sent someone here so long ago, why didn't he tell us about it?" Kakashi added as he ran his fingers through the brown strands, happy with his own work.
"He must have his own reasons. You can let Pakkun tells Gai next time," Iruka suggested with a sleepy tone. Those hands were lulling him to sleep with the gentle touches.
"I'll do that. I wonder what's happening out there. I sense one more crazily strong chakra."
"You need to rest now. Let them fight. We can pry on this later," Iruka replied with a slight scolding tone but he was not too successful with it when he was on the verge of falling asleep.
"Do you have a hair band? Rubber band is not good for your hair," Kakashi asked as he pulled Iruka's hair back into a pony tail and held it in place with his hand.
"No, I lost mine. Just use the rubber band or leave it like that," Iruka answered absentmindedly.
"Alright. I'll leave it down," releasing his hold on Iruka's pony tail, Kakashi smoothed out the long hair once again with his fingers.
"Go back to your bed. I want to sleep. You should take some rest too," Iruka yawned and rubbed his eyes sleepily as he turned to look at Kakashi.
"Okay, okay," Kakashi drawled lazily and moved back to his own bed while contemplating how young Iruka looked right then with his hair framing his face.
"Thank you and night night," Iruka slurred and curled into a ball, pulling the blanket to his chin before he closed his eyes.
"Night night? That's cute but its afternoon now. I must make him sleepy again if he is this adorable every time he is sleepy," Kakashi mused to himself as he watched the sleeping face of Iruka with a smile tugged on his lips.
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"Your follower deserves it, Orochimaru."
"I want the pendant. Will you give it to me?" not bothering to make a comment on what Kuroshi just said, Orochimaru asked mildly.
"No! How dare you send someone to infiltrate my mansion looking for something that doesn't even belong to you?" Kuroshi hissed angrily. Beside him, Byakko was ready to fight with his dachi unsheathed and his chakra spiking wildly. Seiryuu and Genbu who were calmer in their actions just stood quietly with their tense postures.
"I was thinking to take it away from you without letting you know but I guessed it didn't work well," not affected by Kuroshi's temper, Orochimaru replied.
"You're stepping on a dangerous line, Orochimaru! Don't forget about the peace treaty between our countries!"
"Do you seriously think I care about the treaty?" Orochimaru retorted and smirked at Kuroshi's expression.
"How dare…"
"The next time we see each other, we'll be enemies. The pendant shall be mine," not letting Kuroshi to finish his sentence, Orochimaru cut in before he lifted Kabuto and teleported away all in a blur of speed.
"That snake… Byakko! Get Suzaku to the hospital! Genbu, Seiryuu, come with me!" Kuroshi roared his orders as he turned and entered the main hall once again. Byakko slid his dachi back to its sheath before he rushed to Suzaku's side and helped Suzaku to stand upright. Genbu and Seiryuu on the other hand trailed behind Kuroshi quietly and they went into the main hall after Kuroshi.
"You alright?" Byakko asked with his gruff voice and he looked at Suzaku worriedly.
"Who do you think I'm?" Suzaku huffed in annoyance as he tried to free himself from the tight grip on his waist. "I can stand. Let me go."
"No," giving his single syllable reply, Byakko dragged the protesting red head towards the direction of the hospital.
"Bastard," cursing under his breath, Suzaku stopped struggling and let the physically stronger Byakko to manhandle him.
"Why are you getting chakra depletion with just one jutsu from Orochimaru?" Byakko asked curiously. Suzaku was never weak and he knew that. So why on earth Suzaku could barely even stand after clashing his jutsu directly with one of Orochimaru's?
"Fight with that guy and you'll know. He is strong. I could barely stop his water dragon. Perhaps to you it looked like I was attacking but the reality is I was defending," Suzaku said indignantly when he thought back about the battle.
"I wonder why both Kuroshi-sama and Orochimaru want the pendant," knowing that Suzaku was very unhappy with the fight, Byakko changed the subject and said absentmindedly.
"I'm wondering that too. I heard that our guest was considered as traitor because his father took the pendant and ran away from the clan. What's the big deal with the pendant?" Suzaku scratched his hair in frustration as he asked.
"I don't know as well but it must be something important. We should protect it as long as it benefits the clan."
"Yeah, that's our job as guardians of the clan after all. Anyway, did you notice that some people are missing? I mean I haven't seen them for quite a few days," Suzaku asked when he remembered about the weird situation.
"I've noticed this too but Kuroshi-sama didn't say anything so I think everything should be fine. Perhaps they just leave the mansion for some personal occasion," Byakko deduced as he hauled Suzaku up the staircase in front of the hospital, ignoring the angry protests he heard.
"I hate you, bastard!" Suzaku aimed his fist at Byakko's head but his fist was easily caught by a bigger hand. Pushing Suzaku to sit on a chair, Byakko signalled a nurse to come over and take a look at Suzaku.
"Byakko-sama, we'll treat Suzaku-sama right away. Suzaku-sama, please follow me," the nurse looked at Byakko and said after she made a rough check on Suzaku. Byakko nodded and patted Suzaku's shoulder with his big hand.
"Alright. I'll leave him to you," with that said, Byakko left the fuming Suzaku alone in the hospital reception area with a nurse trying hard to make him used crutches to walk.
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A/N: Big thanks to those who reviewed. Hope you all enjoy this one too. Please review. =)