Well, that week came and went. Everyone had gathered for the 'ceremony', as it were. Kakashi lounged in the window, his team sitting just below. The three from Heiwa plus Risa's mother sat on the opposite side of the bed. Tsunade, head hung, stood at the end of the bed.
What's going on? Risa asked. Everyone is so somber. I'm all right see? I told you not to worry! Turns out, I only needed a little rest to flush out all that chakra from my system! Isn't that great? Guys?
"Do you want to say something?" Tsunade asked, looking at her mother. Asami glanced at her daughter, peacefully sleeping in the white hospital bed.
"This war took everything from me. My brother. My husband. My legs. Now it's taken my daughter too. No, Hokage. I have nothing to say," she mourned. Asami took a small vial of Heiwa soil and set it on the bedpost. It was fitting for Risa to take her last breath with her people behind her. Kin's heart clenched.
"Well I have something to say!" She exclaimed. Her hold around Mei's hand grew tighter, and her eyes narrowed. "Risa was my first friend besides my father. And now she's dead. She's dead because of greed and power and strong people preying on the weak without anyone who'd stand up for them. She became that person and paid the price. That's not… That's not okay!" Fat tears began dropping from Naruto's eyes, and Sakura started sniffling a little. When she looked back up, Kakashi had left.
I'm not dead you little fuckers! Look at me! Listen to me! Risa screamed.
Kakashil gazed at the memorial that would never have her name on it. The bright sunny day was in complete contrast to his misty eyes. A small gleam caught his stare, and he almost choked. There, resting against the memorial, was a small rock with her name shakily carved into it. So she would be honored after all... Kakashi felt his eyes begin to fill. He closed them, tilting his head towards the sun. Because if no tears fell, it meant he wasn't crying. It must have been one of his team that made the rock. Obito. Rin. Now Risa. And there were so many more. So many that died because of him.
I'm not dead!
The vial of dirt wobbled and tipped over, smashing to the floor.
"Did you feel that?" Kyo asked, looking at Mei. The girl nodded. They both took a bit of the soil from the floor and coated their hands with it.
"What are you doing?" Tsunade asked.
"She's not brain dead. How could we ever doubt the great Risa, huh?" Mei said. Tsunade sighed and put a hand to her head.
"Don't do this to yourselves. It's over," the Hokage said lowly. "You're only making it worse." They both put their hands against Risa's head, and Kyo laughed.
"Oh you little bitch. You've been here for a while, haven't you?" He chuckled.
Oh god yes! Get me out of here! Risa exclaimed.
"Give us a second, you greedy whore," Mei muttered.
Are you angry with me? Risa asked tentatively.
"Of course we're angry!" Both of them shouted.
"Well I'm sorry!" Risa shouted back. Tsunade's eyes widened, and Naruto's jaw dropped. Risa looked at her moving hands, her moving feet. "Haha! I knew I couldn't die! You all were doubters!" Kin, in a moment of overwhelming emotion, spun Mei around and kissed her deeply.
"She's alive!" The sleeping beauty exclaimed and hugged Mei tightly. It was Risa's turn for jaw-dropping.
"Wait, you're together?" She asked, pointing at the two women. "Together together?"
"I-um," Kin stuttered. "We were going to tell you if you… When you woke up."
"And how long has this been going on?" Risa enquired, folding her arms. The two looked around, anywhere but Risa.
"Kinda since you introduced us…" Mei answered, biting her lip.
"What?!" Naruto yelled, jumping up. "You're lesbians?"
"Hey, what am I?" Risa yelled back. "Chopped liver? I just came back from the dead!" Several different people suddenly smothered her.
"Of course not!" Sakura exclaimed.
"All right, people. Give her some space. She shouldn't be moving around like that anyways," Tsunade chided, breaking up the dog pile.
"Oh, I'm fine, Hokage. I've had a week to heal. It was just my consciousness that was suppressed. I didn't take into account the fact that I had to make room for everyone, but I never released it. I just needed a little jump-start, eh?" Risa smiled, jumping out of bed. She looked around at the smiling faces of her friends and family. Except Kakashi. That one hurt. Mei noticed the disappointment on her face.
"Kakashi! We have to find him and tell him!" She cried. Risa wiped the gloom off her face, setting up annoyance instead.
"What's with that, anyways? He wasn't even going to be here when I died? Tch," the dead-woman walking muttered, pursing her lips. That one really hurt.
Sakura flashed in front of him, barely catching Kakashi by surprise. She was panting lightly, having already looked many other places for him.
"Is it done?" He asked, not looking at his pink subordinate.
"Hardly, Kakashi-sensei," she breathed, smiling. "Risa woke up."