Insanity rise: Whoop! Hello peeps, here's another chappie! Anyway, this one is so short for me…but it does introduce another part of the plot and I like it too! Also, for anyone wondering about my updating schedule, I will try and put on one chapter of this in the morning, and another during the afternoon each day, but sometimes I may only end up with one, matters where I'm at in the story. Anyway, I have done it again, I told myself I would finish this in 30 chapters, in fact the original deadline was 17, but I keep getting so many ideas…It's gonna end up being longer again which only makes it more fun! Anyway, more Dosu stuff! Yay!

Oh and to tell you, I always write to music, sometimes you can even tell if you read my writing and listen to the song I do, it actually does shine through! I wrote this chapter to "Missing" by Evanescence (which I use a lot for writing) and "Angels" by Within Temptations! I'll probably write that down on every chapter just to see if you peeps can recognize what I'm tuned in too! Seems like fun to me! Anyway, please enjoy the chapter and await the next! Thanks for your support!

Chapter 26

Help…

A few hours later, Mrs. Kinuta led Kin and Zaku into her home, setting a bag of groceries down on the kitchen table. Kin shook the snow from her shoes and shivered slightly, the cold from the open door rushing through the small house. Only momentarily though, for Zaku quickly closed it shut, his cheek looking painfully swollen from where he'd been struck.

"Here," Mrs. Kinuta smiled, handing Zaku a cloth containing a piece of ice who accepted it gratefully and held it against his throbbing cheek.

"Thanks," Zaku winced.

"Pardon my asking, but did you hurt your arms," Mrs. Kinuta stared at Zaku's still bandaged hands. Zaku looked down at the ground, having no wish of telling her what was going on.

"It was nothing," he said, Mrs. Kinuta realizing he had no desire to speak of such matters.

"Well, I'd better go and check on Dosu," she sighed, preparing to leave.

"I'll go with you," Kin volunteered; Zaku grumbled something and flopped down on the couch.

"Whatever," he shrugged.

"I hate to leave him alone for so long," Mrs. Kinuta, sighed as she opened the door to Dosu's room and stepped inside. Kin followed her, copying her quiet manner.

"Dosu," Mrs. Kinuta gave her son a soft shake, "are you alright sweetie?"

"Leave…me…alone," Dosu moaned, coughing as he did so. Kin cringed and gave him a concerned look.

"That's quite the cough," she shook her head, "are you sure he's okay?"

"He hasn't said much since that night," Dosu's mother sighed, "I hope he's alright, I'm pretty sure he's just so tired…"

"He looks kind of sickly to me," Kin pointed out, Dosu giving another hoarse cough.

"You're right," Mrs. Kinuta sighed, realizing it was true, Dosu's face had been completely drained of any color, his only eye red and blood shot, his entire body looking exhausted and spent, "Do you think I should speak with a doctor about it?"

"Definitely," Kin shook her head, "he's running quite the fever, but there aren't any doctors in this village-"

"That's crazy," Dosu's mother gasped, "what can I do if-"

"But we do have one medic," Kin cut her off, already knowing what she was going to say, "but I don't know…"

"Who is it," Mrs. Kinuta asked quickly, praying for a chance at helping her disease wrought son, "surely they could help!"

"It's," Kin looked down at the floor, hating their only answer, "Kabuto Yakushi."

The room grew silent for a moment, for each knew what the other must have been thinking. It was quite the long shot, asking someone like Kabuto to help Dosu, like asking a cat to help a mouse. Kabuto and Dosu weren't at all what you would call friends, quite the opposite, and they both knew this wouldn't sit well with Orochimaru either. This was an absolutely condemned plan, both knowing it wouldn't work out from the start. Yet, there was a silent flicker of hope in Mrs. Kinuta's eyes as she stared down at her whimpering son, knowing he could really be taken from her if they received no help. She sighed, looking back to Kin, praying she would agree to what she was about to ask.

"Could you…," she asked quietly, "you and Zaku, could you go and get him for me, please."

"But Kabuto would never-"

"I'm not saying you have to," Mrs. Kinuta sighed and looked away, "but even f he does hate Dosu, its better to try than to just sit and wait for death to creep upon us."

"But…," Kin realized what this woman was saying, but this was in fact a doomed plan, something inside her knew this wouldn't work, but maybe, she could at least try, "you're right."

"Then you'll go," Mrs. Kinuta exclaimed hopefully, tears welling in her tired blue eyes. Kin sighed, even though this woman was so beaten and broken, there was still just a glimmer of hope in her eyes, like the flame of a dwindling candle, it wouldn't go out until the wick was completely spent.

"I'll get Zaku," she nodded, "but it may be tricky, the weather's really getting bad out there, it might take us quite a while…"

"Trying is better than doing nothing," Dosu's mother gave a deep sigh.

"No…," Dosu suddenly whimpered like a dying animal, taking in strained gasps of air. His mother gave him a sad look, knowing he shouldn't be wasting what little energy he had trying to stop this from happening.

"Shush," she said softly, running a hand through his messy black hair in a motherly manner, "it's already decided."

"I'd…rather…die," Dosu mumbled, barely able to choke out the words.

"Dosu," his mother scolded, barely able to believe his stubbornness, "that's enough."

"It'll be alright," Kin comforted as best she could, though it wasn't something she'd normally do, "we wouldn't let him hurt you or-"

"Shut up," Dosu barked, but it sounded more like a plea than a command, "I'm not…that weak."

"Hush now," his mother, sighed, trying to quiet him down, "you need your rest."

"I'm not…sick," Dosu coughed, "just…leave me…alone."

"Then you'll surely die," Kin, said in a matter-of-factly tone, "believe me, I don't have to help you."

"But…it's a waste…of time," Dosu groaned, his body ravaged by a burning pain that seemed to never slacken its grip, "just…let me rest…I'll be fine."

"Dosu," his mother said softly, "you're talking like you can barely breathe, just wait and we'll get you some help, stop fussing about yourself all the time, you don't always have to hide behind those wretched bandages sweetie."

Kin just stared at her; for she was speaking as though she wasn't even there, knowing Dosu would definitely be mad at her later for this. She shouldn't even be here, she should have gone straight back to Orochimaru instead of following around with Mrs. Kinuta, she could only hope she wouldn't be in any trouble. Nevertheless, when she looked down at Dosu's scarred face, she didn't feel pity or sorrow, weakness or hatred, she felt nothing. All she saw was a scarred individual, someone who was too afraid to be who he really was, someone who felt like he had to hide from everyone when to her, it didn't matter. She'd been through terrible things when she was younger, and though people had given her strange looks, she could stand it, what was so different about him?

"Mom…," Dosu whimpered, "just…get out…"

"It's going to be fine sweetie," Mrs. Kinuta sighed, giving Kin a scared look, "everything is going to be just fine, you'll see…"

And now a quick word from the characters (here we go again...)

Kin: WAIT A MINUTE! ITS COLD OUT THERE!

Insanity rise: wear a hat.

Kin: but I don't want to go!

Insanity rise: I am the wrtier so I get to tell the characters what to do...haha.

Kin: Well I don't think you're paying me enough for this job!

Zaku: what do you mean, she never pays us!

Kin and Zaku: gives author death glares

Insanity rise: um...see you next time!