Just a head's up, this might be the last chapter for a while. I'll be studying abroad in Japan for the next 6 months and my focus won't be on updating. Instead, it'll be on enjoying my experience and trying to survive the intensive language course I'll be taking. I know a few of you will be probably be unhappy but I'd rather get the most out of my six months in Japan than worry about writing. I'll update if I can but I make no promises, especially since I have no idea about the sort of internet connection I'd have. Enjoy this chapter!

Kakashi had to press his fist against his mouth to muffle any sound that would come out of it. He watched Akago—Harry?—drop to the ground, lifeless. It wasn't the first time he had seen someone killed in front of him but he knew that this death would haunt him for many nights to come.

The man who had killed his lover dropped to the ground as well, drawing the attention of the others in the clearing. Kakashi moved quickly once he spotted that all focus on Harry was gone. The others were too concerned about the wellbeing of their leader. As stealthily as he could, he approached Harry and picked up the limp form. Then he was gone.

He had cut it close, Kakashi realized as he briefly stopped out of view of everyone in the clearing. Already he could hear the outraged cries as the spectators discovered their victim was missing. Within seconds they would be scouring the nearby area, looking for any sign of the body. Kakashi adjusted the body in his arms and continued to move away. He didn't stop again until he was miles away, still deep inside the forest.

Unable to help himself, the shinobi checked Harry's pulse. He still had hope. However, he could feel nothing. There was no pulse. The absence of it forced Kakashi to believe what he already knew.

Hiro Akago, known in this world as Harry Potter, was dead.

Kakashi's attention was diverted as a twig branch snapped. The gray-haired shinobi withdrew a kunai, prepared to fight. When a tall figure came into view, Kakashi visibly relaxed. He nodded a curt greeting at Neji, who examined the scene with an impassive face.

"We drew back when they briefly called the truce," Neji stated. "You didn't show up. The others started getting worried."

"I had other things to do," Kakashi replied in an even voice. The evenness startled him. He had forgotten how accustomed he had grown to hiding his pain since he had first become a shinobi. Now he did it without even thinking.

"Sakura wants you to report so she can examine you for injuries," Neji informed the older shinobi. It was only through his past dealings with the Hyuuga clan that Kakashi noticed that Neji was refusing to look at the body in his arms.

"I don't have any," Kakashi replied.

"Sakura wants to examine you," Neji repeated. Kakashi's jaw tightened. He wasn't used to receiving orders from shinobi less experienced than he. He also knew that he was reacting hostilely to something minor but that was to be expected. He had suffered a loss.

Kakashi knew he had to calm down. He didn't want to prove Tsunade right. She had been hesitant to let him come, knowing how close he was to the situation, but he had insisted that he wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him. He had to follow through on that promise.

"Have we lost any?" he asked as the pair of shinobi began to move on. Finally Neji glanced at Harry before averting his eyes.

"Only two," the Hyuuga said. "We've been fortunate. We move too fast for their methods to be effective."

Kakashi refused to ask if Harry was one of those two. Instead, he adjusted the body in his arms and pressed forward. Since they had started moving again, Kakashi had refused to look down at the form in his arms. He couldn't bear to see those lifeless green eyes.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

The masked shinobi lifted his head and blinked dully at Sakura, who was quickly approaching the pair. He had been closer to the shinobi base than he had been aware. No wonder Neji had been able to locate him.

Sakura slowed when she spotted the lifeless body in Kakashi's arms.

"Is that Akago-san?" she asked, trying to hide the horror she felt. Kakashi gave a tiny nod. Sakura's green eyes widened and she gestured for Kakashi to set the body on the forest floor. The older shinobi obliged, even though he knew Sakura's efforts would be futile. The kunoichi began to immediately check for a pulse or any other signs of life.

"He's dead," Kakashi murmured. "He was hit by that killing blow of theirs—the green one." Sakura sent her old sensei a look full of disbelief.

"No, he's not," Neji interjected. Sakura and Kakashi stared at the Hyuuga. Neji tapped Harry's forehead, right under the scar.

"The Byakugan is registering that their type of chakra is still flowing steadily, not trickling away like it would if he was dead. It's also registering signs of brain activity," he explained. "Until both stop, the Hyuuga would consider him to still be alive."

Sakura's green eyes widened and she tried to find a pulse again. For a few seconds she felt nothing but then she felt a weak, tiny beat. The medic waited for another minute, not moving her fingers. She felt the beat again.

"A pulse," she sighed in relief.

Kakashi sat back on his heels, stunned. He was alive? The shinobi could feel some of his hope returning. Sakura stepped aside and let Kakashi check as well. The hope continued to return as Kakashi felt the same beats that Sakura had.

As Harry came to, he made sure to keep his eyes closed. He wasn't sure what he was about to encounter but if he was still in Voldemort's clutches, he didn't want his enemy to know that he was still alive.

"The pulse is nearly normal," a woman's voice announced above him. The voice was faintly recognizable to Harry. "Hopefully he should wake up soon. Neji-san, could you bring me some water?"

San. The suffix let Harry know he was among friends. Kakashi had followed through Harry's request to bring his body back.

Green eyes snapped open and immediately Harry was greeted with the sight of Kakashi's masked face. Harry offered the shinobi a weak smile.

"I got lucky," he said in a hoarse voice. Kakashi didn't know what to say, so he just ruffled the younger man's hair and helped him to sit up. Neji was quickly returning with water while Sakura sat off to the side. It was a welcome sight.

Reviews are always greatly appreciated!