A/N: I actually introduce a new character in the very first paragraphs and I try to remain as vague as I can about him and the love of his life but he is not named. If you can read very well in between the lines, you might figure out who he was and who the love of his life was, but it will be revealed eventually. Thought I'd let you guys know! PS last chapter I switched Taylor and Dalzen's bodies because it was something I have always wanted to do, and when I found the chance, I took it. But I think I completely failed! Haha! Par for course.
Taylor
テイラー
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Chapter Thirty Nine
Forged in Fire
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There was a sense of fear as a young man saw the love of his life die before him, and with her their two children. The house she lived in was burnt down, her art forever indistinguishable. Her house now was just a pile of ash with embers slowly dying down. Even the fields in which they harvested was burnt to a crisp. Tears filled his eyes, both from pain, despair and the smoke. Much like the rest of the village, he was burnt and broken beyond repair. He looked to the night sky and screamed out in anger at the gods.
"How could you!" he cried. "How could you let them die?! Why did it have to be them?! Why didn't you take me instead?!"
The man could recall those very words as he trekked a long and desperate trail back to a dead and desolate village he used to call his home with his wife and children, and he walked with his face buried in his coat collar and his hands shoved into his coat pockets. The nuclear winter made the air freezing cold and the nuclear war from over a year ago that was far from the village left the sky an eerie and sombre red, which was the mood of the future of the planet.
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Dalzen raced through the streets, trying to get to the hospital as fast as he could. He dodged people as he rushed to the hospital, and he quickly grew irritated.
"Hey! Move," Dalzen hissed. "My niece needs a medic." Since he was Saru, he had to play along as Saru as best as he could. However, Dalzen was not an actor. His Saru still seemed like Dalzen.
People quickly shuffled aside to allow him room to run.
"Is there a medic available?" he asked as soon as he stepped into the hospital. "Anyone? I need a medic, damn it!"
Soon, a young man walked up to him with a concerned look. The man was nearly Dalzen's height with a green eye and a grey eye and dark hair like his, jet-black and short. He wore a black trench coat over top a tan turtleneck and navy blue pants. For some reason, he could've passed for a Morino. It was just something in his face and how he carried himself that seemed very Morino-like (but Dalzen took notice of how his hair was cut just like Dura's. That was interesting.) Dalzen swallowed hard, there was no reason to think that. Hoshi hadn't had any kids as far as he knew, prolly didn't, and he was pretty sure there wasn't another kid Teal and Ibiki hadn't told him about. Just had to be a coincidence, nothing more.
"You're not a medic, are you?" Dalzen asked, considering the man's appearance. He could've easily been a ninjutsu user or something.
The man gave a chuckle and a kind smile, "Haha, not entirely. I sorta am, is there something I could help you with?"
"Y-Yes," Dalzen nodded. "M-My niece...she needs healing, but my...friend and I couldn't bring her straight here because she is far too hurt, and I'm afraid to injure her farther because I believe she has a few cracked or broken ribs and a broken hand. Please, she can't stand up on her own because she's so weak."
"I can try to help, certainly," the man nodded. "Please, take me to her then."
"Of course," Dalzen nodded and led him out.
The man had to be around Taylor's age, now that Dalzen thought about it. Hm...there's something about this guy... There was an odd feeling about him. Like...there was some sort of connection. Dalzen frowned— impossible. He shook the feeling off as they hurried to where Ibiki and Taylor were.
Ibiki leaned towards Taylor to check on her and he put his hand on the dry ground to hold himself up.
"Taylor," he said. "You doing okay?"
Taylor kept still and her eyes were closed. Ibiki frowned.
"Taylor..." he muttered angrily. "You couldn't at least try to stay awake?"
Sighing, Ibiki knelt beside her and gently slapped her face.
"C'mon, wake up kiddo," he grumbled. "Taylor, c'mon. Wake up."
Taylor groaned and shook her head.
"I don't wanna..." she mumbled.
"Help will be here any minute," Ibiki told her.
"I just want to sleep," Taylor inhaled sharply against the pain and gave a pained yawn.
Ibiki sighed, "Alright, fine..." He sat back down beside her and she rested her head against his arm. He looked at her in confusion, but shook his head and kept an eye out for his grandfather. Hatake are usually some of the strongest folk, he thought. Ibiki sighed and looked towards his left.
"Ah! There's Grandpa with some help," Ibiki smiled.
Taylor gave a pained groan.
"She's right there," Dalzen ran up to her with a man that looked eerily like Dalzen in the face. But also like Teal with...heterochromia! A blue eye and a grey eye! The man ran up to them and crouched beside Taylor. He snuck a glance at Ibiki and smiled, then looked back at Taylor.
"Broken ribs and you said her hand?" he asked.
"Mhm," Dalzen nodded. "However, I am more concerned about her broken ribs."
"Well, that should be an easy fix," the man put his hands together and held them over her chest to get to both sides of her ribcage.
Ibiki eyed him curiously, "Not a lot of guys are medics. You look more like you are a ninjutsu user."
"Genjutsu, actually," the man said, then gave a wry smile. "My mom made me learn medical ninjutsu but I really like genjutsu. But hey, it really comes in handy. Can't entirely complain."
"I love genjutsu myself," Dalzen said. "But I had to learn ninjutsu..."
"Me too," Ibiki agreed.
"I heard genjutsu runs on my father's side," the man said.
"Hm, who's your father?" Ibiki asked.
The man stopped healing Taylor and gently touched her face. For a moment, he seemed enamored with Taylor. He mumbled in a barely audible whisper, "Wow, you're beautiful..."
"Yo! Who's your father?" Ibiki asked again, completely oblivious to what he had just said to Taylor.
"Er," he shook his head. Then, he proceeded to think for a moment. "I'm told my father was Morino Ibiki."
"Huh?!" Both Dalzen and Ibiki said at the same time. Taylor, who stayed silent earlier so she could rest, opened one eye to look at the man who was healing her. Her sides hurt much less, but she was caught by surprise by the man crouched in front of her. He was handsome! And looked awfully like Dalzen, except with an x-shaped scar on his right cheek. The man looked at Ibiki and Dalzen in confusion, wondering why they were so surprised.
"Why so surprised?" he asked.
"I-I'm...Ibiki Morino..." Ibiki and Dalzen looked at each other.
Dalzen undid the transformation jutsu, "And...I'm your great-grandfather?"
Taylor looked at all three men, "Uhm...what's going on?"
"Shit...I really don't know," Ibiki answered. "I am...really confused right now.
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"It must've taken a lot to let your friends take your daughter away," the woman from before said to Kakashi.
"She was far too hurt to stay here," Kakashi growled. "My father would do the same for me if I were as hurt as she was."
"I would've done the same as well," Jiraiya said.
"So it wasn't that hard," Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"What was this whole thing even about?" Jiraiya wondered. "What was the point of taking Taylor? Why?"
"Yeah, really," Kakashi agreed. "I'm still not certain about what this is all about myself. What is the whole point of taking my daughter, or originally it was me..."
"Revenge," Kyoko told him. "First of all, the both of you have taken scrolls and given them to someone else, and secondly your damned daughter killed Ishimaki's daughter."
"His daughter?" Kakashi asked. "Okay, let me get this straight. This is over stolen scrolls and a dead kid?" Kakashi asked.
"Don't act like you wouldn't hunt down your daughter's killer," Kyoko said.
"I would," Kakashi said. "However, my daughter is a young shinobi. You want to hurt my child, you have to go through me first. There's no getting around me, you deal with me before you can ever take my child and hurt her!"
"You didn't do a good job of protecting her from Ishimaki's men," Kyoko pointed out.
"There was too much going on at the time," Jiraiya told her. "She offered herself up faster than anyone could react to the situation. And she refused to let Kakashi intervene. But I'm curious, who was this girl that my niece killed?"
"I think I know who..." Kakashi said. "There was one girl she killed several years ago after she turned her back and tried to kill Taylor a couple of different times. Her actions were justified, however. She felt threatened and she had every right to kill the girl. They'd been friends in the academy, so it took a toll on Taylor for a few months...or a year..." Kakashi glared at Kyoko and Ishimaki, who was still unconscious from Taylor's attack. "She had every right to kill the girl: she was trying to kill my daughter and Taylor had to protect herself. It's not like she had wanted to kill her."
"She had no choice," Kyoko mocked. "Oh, but she did have a choice!"
"Kill or be killed," Kakashi hissed.
"You weren't there!" Kyoko exclaimed.
"Oh and you were?" Jiraiya snapped.
"Stay out of this, pervert!" Kyoko growled.
"No way," Jiraiya hissed. "My nephew and great-niece are involved so I'm not leaving this. You were there with the girl and Taylor?"
"N-No..."
"Then how do you know if Taylor had other choices?" Kakashi asked. "My daughter doesn't lie, if she had no other choice but to kill...then she really had no other choice."
"Coming from a liar himself," Kyoko mocked.
"Kakashi would never lie about such things!" Jiraiya argued. "Stop acting like you know him and his daughter. Good grief!"
"I really wouldn't lie about that," Kakashi agreed, now feeling irritated.
"If you don't know a person, then you have absolutely no right to judge them," Jiraiya told Kyoko.
"She was right in calling you a pervert though," Kakashi whispered with a chuckle. "Considering your earlier comment about the blood Ibiki found and the books you write."
"I had to ask though," Jiraiya sighed.
"Yeah, sure you did," Kakashi sighed.
A long pause followed. Jiraiya and Kakashi crossed their arms and looked at each other.
"Are we gonna fight?" Kakashi wondered. "I mean, I could use a good fight right about now."
"Yeah, don't disappoint us," Jiraiya said, looking back at Kyoko. "Isn't that what you want? We did take your hostage too...so...Usually a fight ensues right about now?"
"Uhm, yeah," Kyoko realized. "Ha! Well, if you insist."
Kakashi and Jiraiya got ready to fight Kyoko. Two against one, how hard could that be?
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Ibiki, Dalzen and Taylor were stunned. Another Morino? How could that be possible!
"Ibiki did someone?" Taylor whispered her joke.
"Taylor!" Ibiki bonked her on the head with his fist. "You are so like your father! Sheesh!"
Taylor gave a weak giggle, "I know. I'm like just about every man in my family from my dad to Grandpa Coushander."
"What is your name, kid?" Dalzen asked.
"Morino Hiiragi," the man introduced himself. "My mom gave me your last name to continue the Morino legacy, I suppose."
"I don't remember having sex with anyone. You're about Taylor's age, from the looks of it...No, I don't remember having any sex with anyone," Ibiki frowned.
"Are you sure, Ibiki?" Dalzen asked. "There is no way he could look like us if you didn't have sex with anyone."
Hiiragi smiled, "What about my mom? Matsui Chihiro?"
"Chihiro..." Ibiki blinked. "I remember a girl named Chihiro. Golden hair...? Green eyes...? Pretty tall for a woman?"
"Mhm," Hiiragi nodded.
Ibiki's face flushed as he realized he did do someone in the past.
"Oh...oh my..." he stammered. "Now I remember."
Taylor sat up straight and winced heavily. Hiiragi looked at her uneasily.
"Hey, try not to move too much," he told her.
"I'm fine," Taylor inhaled sharply against the pain.
Hiiragi put his hand on her face and held it gently, "No, you're not okay." His different colored eyes gazed at her with concern, "You need to rest."
"But I'm fine..." Taylor argued.
"Don't argue," Dalzen growled. "You should see yourself right now— the amount of pain that is showing through your brave facade! For once, Taylor, accept that you are in too much pain to be doing anything, alright?"
Stubborn...I like that, Hiiragi smiled.
"She's okay to be taken to the hospital, now," Hiiragi told Dalzen and Ibiki. "C'mon, better medics can take care of her there."
Ibiki helped Taylor to stand up and he helped her walk. Hiiragi and Dalzen stood up and Hiiragi led them to the hospital. Taylor clutched Ibiki's arm tightly, trying to keep herself walking. Oh goddess, I wish I could've fought back against Ishimaki... she thought sadly. But I kept getting paralyzed by fear...why is that?
"They must've beaten her," Ibiki sighed. "And made it hard for her to fight back."
"Yeah, I know," Dalzen scratched his head in embarrassment and closed his eyes. "Geez, this day has just been crazy! I'm exhausted."
"It hasn't been that crazy," Ibiki pointed out.
"You weren't there during the body-switch jutsu," Dalzen huffed. "I don't what which is worse: kissing her while I'm sick or switching bodies with her?"
"Wait...what?" Ibiki looked at Dalzen in shock. "What! Ojiisan, you're serious? You've kissed her? And you guys have switched bodies?!"
"It was when I was here a few years ago that I kissed her," Dalzen blushed heavily. "Please don't make me explain it— I still barely remember how it happened. I only know what Taylor told me."
"Oh my god, Grandpa," Ibiki laughed. "I cannot believe you've kissed Taylor!"
She groaned, "Shut up, it was an accident..."
"So what about the body switch?" Ibiki asked, ignoring Taylor and Dalzen's abashment. "How did that happen?"
"That teal-haired guy that Taylor knocked out? He caught us from behind and switched us while we were running," Dalzen explained. "And then he sent her into the past back when this hell-hole was worse. Oh God...I never asked about how that went...I hope nothing serious happened..."
Taylor shook her head slowly, "Nothing serious except almost getting my ass kicked for being a Morino."
"Hey! What's that— oh..." Dalzen remembered. "Right."
Taylor, looking very ill now, tried to escape Ibiki's grasp. Dalzen and Ibiki looked at each other.
"What's the matter, Taylor?" Ibiki asked.
"Looks like she's sick," Dalzen told him. "She was kept in an old, freezing cold jail cell that may not have been cleaned well and she hasn't eaten much."
She grunted softly as she tried to escape from Ibiki's strong grasp. He sighed.
"Looks like we're almost there, can you keep from throwing up for like five or so minutes?" he asked gently.
"I can't throw up," Taylor told him. "The sushi Michiko brought me should not still be in my stomach."
"Alright, but if you feel like you're gonna puke, try to hold it," Ibiki told her.
She exhaled loudly, "I'm okay. Sorry."
"Don't apologize," Ibiki told her. "You don't need to."
"Okay..." Taylor looked down.
Dalzen put a gentle hand on Taylor's back, "Hey, we can't help getting sick...or hurt."
"I would've defended by myself," Taylor sighed. "But every time I went to fight back, I suddenly felt like a scared little kid and then I was paralyzed by fear. That couldn't possibly be a jutsu, right?"
"I wouldn't be surprised at this point," Dalzen shook his head. "Time jutsu, child jutsu, body-switch jutsu...time-slowing jutsu...I'm not going to be surprised much more after the body-switch one. Geez. Hope Saru didn't see the body-switch."
Taylor giggled weakly, "He prolly did."
"Yeah, that was embarrassing," Taylor agreed. "Think I'd rather kiss you than be in your body— not that there was anything wrong with being you, but I'm a girl so that was the strangest thing I'd ever experienced."
Dalzen gave a heavy sigh, "Is it sad that I agree with that? I'd rather kiss you again than to switch bodies with you. It's fine, you're a girl, I'm an old man—"
"Nuh-uh!" Taylor protested. "You're not old!"
"Shit!" Dalzen cursed with a chuckle. "If I'm not old, then what am I? For crying out loud, I remember a time where all of us would've been murdered by now because we're Konoha shinobi."
"That almost happened," Taylor said. "I had transformed back into myself to avoid being recognized as you or your dad, but I was still recognized as a Konoha shinobi because I didn't realize that I had my vest in the transformation. Then, they kicked me and it was undone and people freaked out because I was you. I had to uhm...make an escape.."
"Glad you got out alive, otherwise I'd be pissed!" Dalzen told her. "Miss I-got-captured-and-they-killed-me-unintentionally!"
"What?! So you guys were yelling at me!" Taylor exclaimed.
"Damn right we did, monkey-brain," Dalzen growled. "You think we hadn't been watching?"
"I kinda am amused with this conversation," Hiiragi looked at Ibiki.
"They do this all the time," Ibiki shook his head. "Dalzen — my grandpa — never used to banter like this, but now he and Taylor will go at it like nobody's business, especially if they have nothing better to do. However, I admit it is really entertaining."
"I can see that easily," Hiiragi nodded. "So...he's your grandfather and my great-grandfather?" Hiiragi asked. "How does he look so young? How old is he?"
"He's 101 years old and uhm, well, how he appears so young is a very long story," Ibiki explained as best as he could.
"I'd love to hear it," Hiiragi smiled.
"Once we get things settled," Ibiki told him, nodding at the hospital. He looked at Taylor, "You gonna be okay for a few more minutes, kid?"
Taylor gave a weak nod, "Yeah, I should be okay."
"Good," Ibiki nodded and they all walked in together.
"Let's see...I'll go get a nurse," Hiiragi smiled. "And perhaps get her food. What do you like?" He looked at Taylor with a smile. "Chicken? Soup? Sushi?"
"Miso, if there is any," Taylor said.
"Miso! Miso it is then," Hiiragi bowed and walked to get a nurse.
Taylor turned to Dalzen, "I don't think I could hold anything else down other than miso."
"As long as you have something in your stomach," Dalzen said.
"Yeah," Taylor agreed.
Hiiragi returned with a young nurse and smiled, "She'll take you to a room and finish healing you and check to see if you're sick with something."
"Okay," Taylor sighed heavily.
"This way," the nurse gestured and the two elder Morino and the youngest Hatake followed to an empty hospital room. The nurse made Taylor lie down on the bed and Dalzen and Ibiki stood in watch.
"You know, I don't remember the last time Taylor had gotten really sick like this," Ibiki remarked. "There were days where she had bad cramps or didn't eat and had thrown up, but I don't consider those to be real illness..."
"Well, she was in a pretty nasty old jail cell," Dalzen told him. "Cold, dark...a nice place for bacteria to grow, or so I've read."
"What have you been reading?" Ibiki asked.
"Taylor's biology notes," Dalzen said with a straight face. "No, really I was just reading Alister's Excursion and she had written in Alister getting sick and she explained how Alister got sick. Apparently, they had gone to a cave to explore and Alister had fallen into a deep hole and Ina spent a couple of hours trying to get him out."
"Is that how you had gotten sick?" Ibiki teased.
"No," Dalzen shook his head slowly. "It was a stomach bug, I think. Several people had it in Intel that week, including Taylor and I."
"And later me," Ibiki added. "I'd gotten sick too."
"When? I don't remember that," Dalzen frowned.
"I was home," Ibiki shrugged. "Had a day off, spent it sleeping in bed and throwing up while having Anko take care of me."
"Geez," Dalzen shook his head and looked up when the nurse started checking Taylor's symptoms. "Still surprised that neither Kakashi nor Sakumo got sick either. I mean, they were both in her room trying to make her feel better."
"Yeah," Ibiki agreed. "That virus spread like wildfire in the Village!"
"Fever, chills, uhm nausea...aches and pains, that's hard to tell because you were so beaten up," the nurse said. "Let's keep you for observation, alright? What's your name?"
"Taylor..." Taylor answered quietly.
"Taylor?" the nurse smiled. "Alright, Taylor. You just lay there and rest." The nurse bowed and left quickly.
Taylor put her hands on her face and groaned, "Geez, what a mess I got into!"
"Soooo are you gonna live?" Dalzen sighed.
"Yeah...I think so."
"Good," Dalzen nodded. "You should prolly rest. I doubt you could sleep on that damn concrete floor."
"I don't know how I'm gonna rest knowing I can't help my father," Taylor crossed her arms and glared at the floor.
Ibiki groaned and held his hand on his head in annoyance, "Taylor, your father is the Copy Ninja, Jiraiya is a saanin. They are fine. You just went through a stressful event and you are sick and hurt. Everyone would feel better and safer if you didn't go and push yourself too far beyond your limits."
"Stubborn, just like your great-grandfather," Dalzen muttered. "Damn it, Coushander, you passed your stubbornness to your son, his son and then Taylor. Bastard..."
"You've been cursing out Coushander a lot lately," Taylor mentioned.
"You weren't this bad when we first met you," Dalzen pointed out. "You've grown up to be as damn stubborn as your grandfather. His fault because between him and Saru, he was the most stubborn in the worst ways possible and then he passed that on to his eldest son, Sakumo!"
Taylor sighed softly and Hiiragi walked in with miso.
"I got there just in time! Fresh and hot miso!" he smiled. "Nothing like cold miso to make you throw up. So, luckily it was fresh and hot when I got there. Here you go, Taylor."
"Ah...thank you," Taylor took the bowl when he offered it and she sat up slowly to eat.
"After you eat, you will rest," Ibiki ordered. "No protests."
"Yes...Uncle Ibiki..." Taylor looked down.
"Good," Ibiki nodded.
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By the time Taylor woke up, her condition had worsened, but she had two more people in the room. She could hear them; one was distinctly quiet and low and the other was a little louder than the former. Once she inhaled their scents, she opened her eyes slowly. Her father and uncle Jiraiya. She didn't move, she kept still and silent so everyone would think she was asleep, she even had closed her eyes again to fake sleep.
Kakashi walked towards Taylor and he started stroking her hair gently.
"If you can't tell," he told Dalzen and Ibiki. "It took a few hours to fight that damn woman, but hey we ended up defeating her."
"What happened?" Ibiki asked.
"Let's see..." Kakashi frowned. "Want the truth or the bullshit story first?"
"Truth?" Dalzen looked at Ibiki.
"I dunno, what's the bullshit story?" Ibiki asked.
"Jiraiya was so distracted by the woman's breasts that it took forever to get him to focus," Kakashi grinned. "No, that's the bullshit story. What really happened was that we kept getting frozen by fear and having to slap each other out of it."
"Damn it, I would've believed the bullshit story too," Ibiki laughed. "After all, Jiraiya is the super pervert." Ibiki coughed and strained his voice, "He made that period joke about her blood," and then coughed again.
Aaaand why am I not surprised... Taylor thought in annoyance.
"Taylor was telling us that every time she tried to fight back, she would feel paralyzed by fear and that's why she was so beat up," Dalzen realized. "Wow..."
"It was a jutsu," Jiraiya nodded. "But it could easily be undone by slapping the one who was affected.
"Which is why we had to slap each other constantly," Kakashi said.
"Neither of you are seriously hurt though, right?" came Hiiragi's voice.
Shit, he's still here? Taylor thought.
"No," Jiraiya said. "Well...prolly sprained my ankle but I'm fine."
"Broken hand, actually," Kakashi said. "Uhm, I ran at her and she dodged and before I could stop running I forced my hand through five inches of concrete wall."
"Ow!" everyone winced.
"That hurt just to think about," Dalzen said.
Kakashi scratched behind his head with his good hand, "Heheh, sorry. But there was also the time-slowing jutsu and that's what contributed to that one."
"Looked as painful as it sounds," Jiraiya nodded at Dalzen.
Aww! Daddy, Taylor thought sadly.
Hiiragi took Kakashi's hand, the one he broke, and began healing it. Kakashi looked at him, then raised an eyebrow.
"Now...who are you?" he asked.
"Oh gods..." Ibiki groaned.
"What?" Kakashi asked.
"Morino Hiiragi," Hiiragi introduced himself.
"Morino?" Kakashi looked at Ibiki.
"Yes," Ibiki scratched behind his ear wearily. "Uhm, well I'm not entirely positive what actually happened but I do know his mother. I had to protect her from some bad guy. I guess it happened because we fell into a freezing cold river in the mountains where she was going and it was night, so it was difficult to keep going or even find a warm place so we took our clothes off and huddled close together for warmth. I don't remember it that well, but that doesn't mean anything..."
"I doubt it actually happened like that," Kakashi said. "So uhm...you have a son you never knew about?"
"Apparently," Ibiki shrugged. "Makes me feel bad, I could've helped her out had I known."
"She didn't want to bother you, but she was totally fine raising me on her own," Hiiragi assured.
"Sounds like she handled it well, but I would've liked to have helped out," Ibiki sighed.
Kakashi reached down to gently stroke Taylor's cheek, "So is she sick?"
"Yeah," Ibiki and Dalzen nodded.
"Poor thing," Kakashi said.
"They want to keep her for observation to make sure it's not serious," Dalzen said. "Who knows what was in that cell?"
"I have an idea," Kakashi said. "I could smell mold and other fungi in there. Hopefully she didn't get sick from any of it, she prolly could but I hope not."
"I doubt it," Dalzen said. "However, I bet there was some growing there, it was pretty rank."
Kakashi nodded, "I hope it's not bad, I want to take her home for Dad and we can take care of her."
"Maybe I could arrange for you guys to take her home," Hiiragi suggested. "I don't think it's serious myself, so I can try to arrange something."
"Okay," Kakashi nodded. "That would be appreciated greatly, thank you."
Hiiragi smiled and left the room. Taylor kept her eyes shut, but she wanted to look at her father and her friends. Dalzen eyed Taylor curiously, "Hey, I bet she's faking sleep."
"I wouldn't be surprised, this is Taylor we're talking about," Ibiki said.
"Ah, I believe you're right," Kakashi nodded. "Taylor, are you awake?"
She opened one eye to look at him. Damn it, I thought I was going to be able to fake it well enough. Guess not.
"Y-Yes, Daddy," she muttered. "I'm awake..."
"How're you feeling?" he asked.
"Eh...terrible..." she answered.
"Well, we're going to try to get you home so you can rest," Kakashi gave a gentle smile behind his mask as he took her hand.
"It'd be interesting if we could get in a horse carriage," Dalzen said. "All of us are exhausted, a ride in a horse carriage home would be kinda nice."
Taylor nodded in agreement with Dalzen.
"Say no more, I've got you guys covered," came Hiiragi's voice.
Everyone looked at him with a bead of sweat sliding down their cheeks.
"Isn't that a little convenient?" Taylor mumbled.
"What?" Hiiragi looked at them. "We've got horses—it'd only be less than twelve hours to get you guys back to Konoha."
"If you say so," Ibiki said.
"Well, Taylor looks a little weak to walk back," Hiiragi said. "I doubt you guys want to carry her back?"
"Hey! Nuh-uh!" Taylor protested. "I'm fine!"
Her friends and even her father and uncle glared at her. She looked down, "Okay...maybe not."
"That's what I thought," Kakashi gave a satisfied nod.
Taylor pouted and crossed her arms.
"So, we're going to ride in a horse carriage?" Ibiki asked.
"I can always get one set up," Hiiragi grinned. "I know a few people."
"Again, that's a little convenient," Taylor mumbled.
"Well, I'll definitely take you up on that offer," Dalzen said.
"Yeah," Jiraiya nodded. "Definitely."
"Taylor?" Kakashi looked at her.
"I suppose that's fine," she said, looking to the side.
"C'mon, it'll be fun," Kakashi assured her. "You've never ridden in a horse carriage before."
"Okay, okay," Taylor sighed.
"Awesome. Well. Let's go," Hiiragi smiled.
"Alright."
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Sakumo finished harvesting the rest of the wheat. He wiped sweat from his forehead and he looked at his house. No one home yet. He already missed Taylor and Dalzen, and now he was worried. Why weren't they home yet? It couldn't be that hard to beat up those cowards who took Taylor. Cowards, he thought. Only cowards would take an 18-year-old girl for ransom. He sighed as he took the harvested wheat back to the house.
You know she's an adult, Sakumo. So is sensei— he's nearly forty years older than you, why are you worried about him? Damn it Sakumotsu, get ahold of yourself. They are okay.
He thought about Haruki, and how he assured him Taylor liked him back, but really Sakumo had his doubts. Setting the wheat on the porch, he walked into his home and washed his hands at the kitchen sink. He thought about poor Haruki and how he might actually be in the friendzone. Earlier he'd assured Haruki that Taylor liked him back, but as he thought about it...she had a hard time falling in love with people— yes she crushed hard on real men and fictional men, but the real crushes she always seemed to run from. Every time Haruki tried to ask her out, she came up with an excuse not to and ran. When he tried to show affection, she shook her head and made an escape. Every time he tried to kiss her, she would get furious and again, run. It may be that it wasn't that she didn't like him, she was just afraid to have real love; not the love she had for Sakumo, Kakashi, Yuugao, Ibiki and Dalzen. Real love.
Sakumo turned off the faucet and dried his hands.
"I wonder why she's so scared to fall in love," he wondered. "It's not like she has to stop loving us..."
Perhaps because she was scared to hurt someone or be hurt by someone. By crushing on Dalzen, she felt safe because he would never purposely hurt her. She was clingy to him because they had become very similar in their personalities. She brought him back because she liked him and cared. Maybe she was afraid to let go of someone she brought back from the dead that she cared a lot about.
Sakumo peered outside at the empty wheat fields. Dalzen won't be around forever, Taylor. You should find someone to love if you really want it, don't be afraid. He looked down. Poor Haruki could possibly end up rejected by Taylor though. Sakumo pitied him as he walked to his room to get ready for bed. He just couldn't help but feel sorry, and he felt guilty for assuring him that his granddaughter liked the kid back. Sakumo had his doubts already.
I hope they're back tomorrow, he thought as he laid down to sleep. I miss my granddaughter and Sensei.
.
Taylor was lying against Kakashi in the horse carriage. She wasn't sleeping, she was resting. Kakashi held her gently and he rested his head against her head. He wanted to sleep. Dalzen leaned back against the wood with one knee bent up and the other straightened. He had his arms crossed against his chest and he was busy trying to forget that day's events. Ibiki was posed the same way, but he was too wide awake to sleep and he watched the scenery pass by. Jiraiya nodded off with his head against the wood.
Taylor clutched Kakashi's shirt weakly— her hand still hurt from punching the iron bars. She remembered herself punching it out of frustration.
She coughed heavily and winced. I hate being sick...Kakashi gently rubbed her back.
"Don't die," he teased.
"Mh...I won't, Daddy," she rolled her eyes.
They fell silent as Hiiragi continued to drive the carriage. He took a glance over his shoulder at Taylor and gave a softs mile. Wow, she's gorgeous. Suddenly, he heard a sound and he looked in that direction, what was that sound? He looked around but didn't see anyone. Must've been an animal of some sort.
Ibiki looked over at the trees. He heard the sound too, but didn't see anything either. He heard Taylor cough softly and he looked at her. God, Sakumo will be so happy to see Taylor again, he thought as Kakashi tiredly rubbed her back in a comforting manner. But damn, if I know him well enough he'll keep her in bed for days! I don't think the wedding will finish until Taylor recovers. I know Kakashi had his heart set on her being there and so did Yuu. I bet they'll wait on her until she recovers just enough.
The dark-haired man following the Konoha shinobi hid behind a tree.Almost seen, but I can't be seen yet! No, not yet. He breathed a sigh of relief when they passed without noticing him. He looked at the sky, I'm doing this for you, my love. I will prevent your death and our children's deaths. I promise.
.
It was dawn when they arrived at Sakumo's home outside the village. Jiraiya stopped Hiiragi at the front gate of their house.
"Hey kid! We're at my brother's house," Jiraiya called. "Stop here so we can get Taylor inside so she can sleep."
Hiiragi pulled the reins and stopped, "Here?"
"Eh—yep!" Jiraiya shook Kakashi awake, and the Dalzen and Ibiki.
Kakashi gave a soft groan but he opened his eyes, "We're home?"
"Well, at your father's house," Jiraiya said.
"That's good enough," Kakashi said, stretching his arms. Taylor was now asleep because she just didn't want to wake up late in the afternoon, or pull an all-nighter and have to go to bed at an early time that she hates going to bed at. Kakashi gently pushed her off of him so he could get out first. He stood up, hopped out and got Taylor out of the carriage. Dalzen and Ibiki got out together as well and looked towards the village. As Kakashi was scooping up his daughter, he kept looking towards his father's home. The place he grew up in but also the place his daughter grew up in. Taylor had every intention of taking over the family business when Sakumo falls ill or becomes too old to keep going. He understood why she wanted to stay though.
Once she was in his arms, he, Jiraiya, Ibiki and Dalzen walked towards the house. Dalzen helped open the door for Kakashi and followed him into the house. Dalzen flicked on the lights and Kakashi headed straight to Taylor's room to tuck her in. Kakashi walked in and laid her down and pulled the blankets over her. He studied her and sighed.
"I hope you never pull that stunt ever again, young lady!" he whispered harshly. "Dalzen and I won't be around to save you forever." Sighing, he gently stroked her hair, "But I'm not mad. I'm just glad we were able to get you back." He bowed and turned to leave. He looked at her desk and then walked towards it. He picked out an incense and lit it with a careful fire jutsu and he put it in its holder to let it burn. Sighing, he left her room and saw his father walking down the hallway.
"Kakashi?" Sakumo asked in a whisper, looking at his son with surprise in his ebony eyes.
"Father," Kakashi gave a tired smile.
"How is she?" Sakumo asked.
"Fine, but sick," Kakashi assured.
Sakumo looked past and saw everyone, including the new Morino, who was talking to Ibiki.
"Want to tell me what happened?" Sakumo asked.
"Yeah, sure," Kakashi said. "I don't think anyone has anywhere to be this early in the morning."
Hiiragi smiled at Ibiki, "I've gotta go back. It was nice to meet you, Dad. I should be able to come to Konoha one day. Just for now, my mom wants me to finish learning medical ninjutsu before I can consider being a shinobi in another village."
"Alright," Ibiki nodded. "It was nice to meet you, Hiiragi. I hope you can come join us one day."
"I'll come back, for sure," Hiiragi bowed and left before Sakumo could join them.
Sakumo and Kakashi joined as Hiiragi left.
"Who left?" he asked.
"My son," Ibiki sighed. "Don't ask, long story I am missing details on."
"Alright," Sakumo nodded. "Come, I'll make tea for everyone."
"Okay," all three men nodded.
Sakumo led them into the kitchen and he had the four men sit down at the table. He began to fix them all tea and began asking them to tell what happened. They told Sakumo and he listened with interest. When the tea was ready, he gave everyone a cup of tea and he sat with his son to listen even more. Dalzen gave a nervous look as he told what he did and his face drained of color when he was explaining what happened as he tried to escape with Taylor the first time. Sakumo remained quiet as Dalzen spoke, even though a couple of bad jokes and teasing comments crossed his mind. Then, Kakashi and Jiraiya told Sakumo about their fight with the woman. Ibiki and Dalzen explained when they had taken Taylor to the hospital and how they met Hiiragi, Ibiki's supposed missing son. When everyone had finished, it had to be about eight in the morning. All four men had gone into deep detail with what had happened, but Sakumo was definitely intrigued.
"Wow," he whispered. "That's a lot."
"A lot happened," Ibiki agreed. "But, it was all for Taylor."
The men all nodded in agreement.
"I wouldn't be able to live if Taylor had not made it back," Kakashi said.
"I totally get it," Dalzen nodded.
"Yeah," Ibiki agreed. "I can't imagine Intel without her. Like, I swear she makes everyone there smile...er, most everyone there. You know the Saturday Night Karaoke Night at Intel?" He looked at Dalzen, "Well, we haven't had her do one in awhile due to stress so you actually don't know about it." He looked back at everyone, "Everyone votes on who goes when we give the chance, and I swear everyone votes for Taylor. Don't know what they'd do without her."
"She can sing very well," Sakumo said.
"You know, maybe that's what we should do," Kakashi grinned. "Finish the wedding at Intel and do the Saturday Night Karaoke Night with Taylor singing."
Ibiki grinned, "That's not a half-bad idea, Kakashi. I'll run it by Inoichi and you run it by Yuugao."
"What about Taylor?" Sakumo asked.
"Guilt-trip her," Dalzen grinned. "'If you don't sing, your father and mother'll be sad.'"
"Sensei! That's just mean!" Sakumo gasped.
"Oh come on," Dalzen laughed.
"It'd work," Ibiki said.
"Or threaten her that her uncle Jiraiya will make her read Make-Out Tactics," Ji said.
Everyone stared at him.
"I'll take Sensei's idea over that," Sakumo muttered.
"Yare-yare, Jiraiya," Kakashi sighed. "I would never let her read those books. I know those are my favorite books but...no, not for Taylor to read."
"...again," Sakumo muttered angrily. "Are you forgetting the time you left one out when she was 8 and she read it?!"
"That was an accident, Dad!" Kakashi exclaimed. "Damn it, Dad. Would'ya just let it go?"
"No," Sakumo shook his head.
"So uhm, guess we'll try to set something up for next Saturday?" Ibiki asked.
"Hell yeah," Kakashi smiled.
"I think Yuugao would love the idea," Kakashi smiled.
Sakumo glanced at the stove's clock, "Wow, it's already quarter past eight?"
"We've been talking for over an hour," Kakashi realized.
"I need to go back to Intel and finish an old case, now that we have more information to close it," Ibiki said.
"What case?" Dalzen asked.
Ibiki smiled, "The Yuri Kimura case."
"Oh...really?" Dalzen asked.
"It'll make Taylor feel a whole lot better knowing his killer had been found," Ibiki told him. "And...well, killed."
"I'll come help," Dalzen offered.
Ibiki shook his head, "No, I've got it...Ojiisan. You just go get some shut-eye." He looked at Kakashi and Ji. "And you guys as well."
"Yeah," Ji agreed.
"All four of us should sleep," Kakashi agreed.
"I suppose so...yeah..." Dalzen agreed.
"Alright, now that's settled," Sakumo stood up and suddenly heard Taylor coughing heavily. "Oh my..." He rushed to the cabinets and grabbed a glass and filled it up water, "You didn't leave any water by her bed, did you Kakashi?"
"N-No, I forgot," Kakashi blushed.
"I-I'll get this to her," Sakumo bowed deeply to Ibiki and Dalzen and ran off to soothe Taylor's coughing.
"I'll just uhm...head off to bed," Dalzen said quietly. "Goodnight—er, morning."
Dalzen bowed and headed off for his room. Kakashi walked to Taylor's room, leaving Jiraiya and Ibiki in the kitchen by himself. He walked in and saw Sakumo rubbing Taylor's back as she coughed heavily. She was sitting up and her hand was clutching the glass Sakumo was offering her. He kept it in his hands until he could get her to a point where she could drink from it. Kakashi watched quietly. As a father, how often did Kakashi himself do that with Taylor? Try to soothe her coughs and make her feel better? He thought back as hard as he could to the times she was sick. One particular moment stood out in his mind. She was five and she'd gotten sick because of her classmates being mean to her. She was coughing hard and she was even puking and shivering a lot. He let her sleep in his bed for a couple of days and he hardly had left her side. Sakumo wasn't home the entire time. Kakashi smiled; maybe he had done his job when he needed to.
Sakumo helped Taylor bring the glass up to her bottom lip and tilt the glass so that water poured into her mouth slowly. He helped stop the water when she had enough and he placed the glass down on the nightstand. He continued rubbing her back and once she could breathe again, she laid back down and she passed back out. Sakumo quickly moved his hand before she could lay on it and he placed his hand on her cheek.
"All better?" he asked pointlessly. She wasn't going to answer him, she was too busy trying to go back to sleep. He gave a gentle stroke of her cheek and stood up. "Just sleep, alright? You need it." He turned and jumped when he saw Kakashi standing at the door.
"What? Can't I come check on my daughter?" Kakashi asked, confused at his father's reaction.
"S-Sorry, you just startled me," Sakumo sighed. "I'm getting old, what can I say? My sixth sense is practically gone now, thanks to not being a shinobi much anymore... I have a hard time telling when someone is behind me and when they're not."
A long pause followed the elder father and his son. They looked at each other for a long time, realizing how much they were like the other. Every Hatake was similar in personality in some way or another, and definitely similar in looks as well. Sakumo cracked a sad smile.
"She's...a Hatake, there's no doubt about it," he whispered.
"She is," Kakashi returned the sad smile. "I'm not sure whether to be proud...or terrified."
"A little bit of both," Sakumo sighed, then put his hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "She takes after you."
"No," Kakashi said. "She takes after you, Dad. She...she cares about her friends and family, she refuses to abandon anyone she cares about."
"And so do you," Sakumo smiled at him. "It's the trait of a Hatake...never abandon someone you care about."
"Wish you could've done the same when I was 7, Dad," Kakashi frowned. "And I wish I could've been taught that earlier before I lost that friend."
"I'm...sorry," Sakumo told him. "That is my fault...but, I learned the hard way."
"You did...and so did I..." Kakashi nodded.
"But Taylor...she understood it from the start," Sakumo smile, a little happier now. "She didn't have to be taught it."
"No..." Kakashi smiled as well. "You're right."
Another pause followed and then Kakashi bowed his head, "Well, I suppose I'll come back around noon-ish to check on her."
"Okay, Son," Sakumo nodded and led him out. When Kakashi left, Sakumo looked at his brother still in the kitchen.
"What about you, Ji?" Sakumo asked.
"I'm not tired, so I'm just going to start my journey back," Jiraiya said.
"Where?" Sakumo asked.
"Where do you think?" Ji grinned.
"The land of the Toads, eh? That's where you've been living?" Sakumo asked.
"Of course," Jiraiya nodded.
"Be safe, Ji," Sakumo said as Jiraiya stood up.
"I will, Ani," Jiraiya bowed. "Good luck."
Ibiki stood, "I shall leave as well."
"Thank you both for rescuing Taylor with Kakashi and Dalzen," Sakumo thanked.
"It's not a problem," Jiraiya smiled. "Big bro."
"Yeah, it was for her," Ibiki said. "She's a sweet kid, anyone would go out of their way to rescue her. We need Shinobi like her to keep their faith in people so they can continue to be kind and save other people."
"Exactly," Jiraiya agreed.
Sakumo smiled and led them out. When they left, he locked the front door, sat on the couch, and breathed a sigh of relief. It would be awhile before Taylor woke up, so he picked up Alister's Excursion and began reading it again.
.
Ibiki arrived at Intel around 8:40 and he clocked in. Then, he went to the Cold Case room, looked for Yuri's murder case, and he wrote a report to put it in Closed Cases. When he had finished, he turned and saw Inoichi standing behind him. Ibiki blinked and Inoichi smiled.
"Brought her back?" Inoichi asked.
"Damn right," Ibiki answered. "Hurt and sick, but alive and resting in bed."
"Good," Inoichi nodded, then looked at the case file. "So, what're you doing?"
"This is a closed case now," Ibiki handed the file to Inoichi. "We found out who murdered Yuri and the perps were executed."
"That's good," Inoichi said. "I'll take this and put it in Closed Cases."
"Alright."
"You...Ibiki...Go home and rest," Inoichi told him. "You look fatigued."
"Of course," Ibiki rubbed his eyes. "But one thing: you think we could sorta finish Kakashi and Yuugao's wedding here on Karaoke night? We'll have Taylor sing."
"Sure, why not?" Inoichi smiled and led Ibiki out.
"That would be rather interesting," Inoichi agreed. "Sure, why not?"
"I'll let Kakashi know then," Ibiki said. "After I get some sleep, of course."
"Yeah, go on, Morino," Inoichi ordered. "Sleep, rest. Do whatever you need."
"Yes, Inoichi," Ibiki bowed and went to clock out.
Inoichi sighed, Glad the youngest Hatake is back. And then he walked off to Closed Cases.
.
Taylor woke up about noon, just as her father came to check on her. She heard the front door open, and then heard voices. Daddy? Grandpa? Then, footsteps approached her room. Am I home? Her door opened and she could hear them much more clearly now.
"She looks like she's still sleeping," Sakumo said. "Or, actually perhaps not." He could see her mist-blue eyes reflecting in the light that came from the hallway. Her curtains blocked out most outside light, so it was hard to tell without the hallway lights. "Taylor, sweetheart. Are you awake?"
She gave a tired nod, "Mhm..."
Both the father and grandfather walked in and sat down beside her on the bed.
"How're you feeling, sweetheart?" Kakashi asked gently.
Taylor stifled a cough, "Not well..."
"How about you rest?" Sakumo suggested.
Taylor shook her head and sat up, "I-It's just a cold, I'm fine."
Kakashi sighed, "Of course..."
"I just want to—" she sighed. "I dunno..."
"Write? Draw?" Sakumo asked. "Take a walk?"
Taylor gave a timid smile, "No...actually, I'd like to snuggle with Daddy and watch a movie or something."
"That can easily be done," Kakashi smiled. "However, how about a shower first?"
"And after you eat," Sakumo smiled. "Anything in particular? Are you up for eating?"
"Mh...the soup with the spicy seasoning?" Taylor asked.
"I can do that," Sakumo nodded. "I'll make ginger tea with honey for your throat and stomach too, how about that?"
"Okay," Taylor nodded.
"I'll stay for lunch and stay for a movie with my daughter," Kakashi smiled.
Taylor gave him a timid smile again, "Okay...Daddy..."
Sakumo got up, kissed her cheek and left. Kakashi stood up, kissed her cheek, and went to leave.
"Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Kakashi turned his head.
Taylor threw her legs over the side of her bed and stood up clumsily, taking his hand that rested at his side.
"I-I'm really sorry I did that to you guys," her voice cracked. "I just wanted to protect you and Mommy and Grandpa...I couldn't bear the thought of you getting kidnapped again and I could bear the thought of them hurting Mommy or Grandpa."
Kakashi turned around and took her hands, "It's okay, really. Just, be careful placing yourself into those situations though. Dalzen, Ibiki and I won't be around forever to save you, so promise me you will be careful placing yourself in those situations next time."
Taylor's lips trembled and tears formed in her eyes. She gave a whimper and nodded. He put his arms around her and pulled her close.
"I'm not mad at you, Taylor," her promised. "Please don't cry. I just don't want you to do that again without thinking."
She started sobbing, burying her face in his chest and clutching his vest. Kakashi stood there, comforting her. He buried his face in her soft hair and kept trying to comfort her.
"Everything'll be okay," he promised gently. "I'm not mad." I can't blame her, she'd just been flat out bullied and beaten into submission, he thought. How strange, she's as strong as I am but as fragile as glass. Physically strong, mentally fragile. It must be irritating for her to be that way around us...
Once Taylor had calmed down, he let go and told her to get her shower. He left her room and she gathered a set of clean clothes and then left for the shower. On her way to the bathroom, she passed Dalzen, who could only watch her rush to the bathroom. Glad you're awake, brat, he shook his head and smiled.
When Taylor got in, she closed the door and flicked the lights on. She began peeling off her sweat-soaked shirt and bra. She dropped them in the dirt clothes bins and started pulling off her pants and underwear. Then, she turned on the water and waited for it to warm. Once it was warm, she got into the shower and immediately cleansed herself. The hot water felt nice against her skin and especially felt good soaking into her thick hair. She massaged the soap into her hair for a good five to ten minutes before she decided to rinse it out and rub in conditioner. Once the conditioner was in, she washed her body and she gave a relieved sigh. Once she was done, she rinsed off and got out to dry off and get dressed.
When she got out, Sakumo was busy making udon and her tea was ready. Kakashi and Dalzen were sitting next to each other and talking. Taylor had a towel in her hands, trying to dry her hair off as she paused behind the wall to listen.
"She'd apologized for putting herself in danger, I told her it was ok but not to do it again so recklessly and then she'd started crying," Kakashi gave a dry chuckle. "She felt really bad but I was just glad she was home."
"Aw!" Dalzen laughed.
"It's not like you were mad," Sakumo chuckled. "Poor thing, prolly just overwhelmed."
"Yeah, I'm not mad," Kakashi agreed.
"But I can't say I blame her," Dalzen said.
"Yeah," Kakashi and Sakumo agreed.
Taylor looked down sadly, I guess I was overwhelmed. I have been for awhile... She sighed softly and walked into the kitchen, still drying her hair. Everyone looked at her.
"Morning, moonlight," Kakashi greeted softly.
"Morning," Taylor mumbled.
"You okay?" Dalzen asked.
"Just tired and feeling yucky..." Taylor sat down and rubbed her face roughly.
"I bet," Kakashi agreed.
"Mh..." Taylor looked around. Being home made her so much happier, but she still felt guilty for getting herself into that situation. But somehow, seeing her father and Dalzen's smiles actually cheered her up. No one was mad at her, why should she feel bad? She shouldn't, and suddenly she found herself giving a soft smile. There was no reason to feel guilty, and for a while the guilt was washed away by Kakashi's love and their snuggles later on.
.
.