"Kohaku!"
The sound of Kakashi's voice snapped Kohaku out of his terror, and he remembered why he had returned here in the first place.
How long was he going to let this fear rule over him? He couldn't give up now, not when the consequences of giving would be not only his own death, but also likely Kakashi's and Hisayo and Hisahito's deaths as well.
A fierce stubbornness rose up inside him; he refused to die like this.
Kohaku let go of his naginata, knowing it was useless in such close proximity, and instead snatched one of the kunai he had brought along. He reached up with one hand, tangling his hand into the surprisingly soft shoulder fur of the creature, and jammed the kunai upwards into the creature's chest, twisting and shoving the beast off of him as the blade struck true, embedding itself in the creature's chest cavity.
In its own desperation, the creature dug its claws in deeper, dragging them viciously across Kohaku's chest until he managed to disentangle from it. It let out a strange sound, somewhere between a snarl and a yelp, letting go of his shoulder.
Kohaku sat up and scrambled backwards, a hacking cough already rising up to his lips. He listened as the creature flailed violently, in the throes of death, desperate to keep going after its prey. Its struggles grew weaker and weaker, until finally one last strangled cry left its mouth, and it went eerily still.
For a moment, Kohaku sat there in silence, his breaths rasping in his throat as it grew more difficult to breathe. Then he slowly turned and crawled over to Kakashi, feeling as if all his strength had been sapped in the struggle.
"Are you alright, Kakashi?" He asked in a whisper, trying his best to ignore the overwhelming taste of coppery blood in his mouth.
"...yes." Kakashi sounded stunned. It had been impossible for him to see what had happened in the pitch black darkness, and he could hardly believe that the beast had been slain. "Kohaku?" His voice grew concerned once he began to snap out of it, realizing that he hadn't just heard the monstrous creature cry out in pain.
"I'm here." Kohaku said softly, unable to stop a bloody cough from escaping him. He was dizzy, but thought that if he was quick, he could get Kakashi out of here before he collapsed completely. He wrapped his arms around Kakashi in a tight hug, relieved that he hadn't been hurt. "We're safe now. It's dead."
Kakashi returned the hug, immediately noticing the wet blood drenching Kohaku. He frowned beneath his mask, and fumbled around to see if his flashlight was anywhere nearby so that he could check how badly injured Kohaku was. "You're hurt." He said softly, not really expecting an answer of any sort.
"...yeah." Kohaku said softly. "I...I think it's bad." Normally, he wouldn't make an admission like this, much preferring to suffer in silence, rather than worry or scare anybody. "Hard to breathe."
Noting the strained breaths Kohaku took, Kakashi finally managed to grab ahold of the flashlight he had brought with him, flicking it on. It hadn't been much use with the creature attacking them from places that the light could not reach and faster than they could react, but with it dead, they didn't have to worry about a thing.
Kohaku glanced away from the light, having grown accustomed to the darkness in the short time he'd been back in the caves.
"Don't move, Kohaku." Kakashi said slowly, a tiny sliver of fear present in his voice. "Put your hands over the worst ones." He leaned closer to look at the bite on his shoulder, worried about the rate he was bleeding at. "I think I have some bandages."
Doing as he was told, Kohaku shut his eyes and remained as still as he could, trying to ignore the blood rising up at the back of his throat. It hurt to breathe, and he felt as if he were drowning, and in a way, he supposed he was. His lung had most certainly been punctured, and he could feel the blood filling it up slowly.
Kakashi found the bandages that Kohaku always kept on him in case of emergency, and quickly began to bandage the wounds, concerned that the blood was soaking through them so quickly.
Once he was done, Kohaku opened his eyes, a frown on his face. "We should get out of here." He said softly. "Find Hisahito-sensei and Hisayo-sensei."
As Kohaku pushed himself to his feet, stumbling forward and falling against Kakashi, he realized that something wasn't quite adding up. He let Kakashi slip his arm around his waist and put his own arm around Kakashi's neck, reluctantly leaning his weight against him.
The beast had somehow managed to dislodge the boulders and separate Kohaku and Hisahito earlier, but he was certain that he had heard the beast go in the direction that Hisahito had gone. If that was the case, then why did the creature attack him so soon after that?
It didn't make sense to him, and as they walked through the cavern illuminated with the glow of the flashlight, he struggled to piece it together. "How did it find me so quickly…" He mumbled between ragged breaths.
"I think there's more than one." Kakashi supplied an answer, glancing at Kohaku. "I never saw more than one, but…"
Of course. It was that simple, wasn't it? It would explain why it always felt as if it leapt out from one direction and the next direction the very next moment. It would explain how it could be so unrelenting, never taking an opportunity to rest.
"Then we have to move more quickly." Kohaku said softly. "That way next. I can feel Hisahito-sensei's chakra." As he focused his senses outwards around him, he found that he was beginning to learn how to recognize the presence of the creature that had attacked him.
It was a distinct feeling that he had felt from the one that had attacked him, and he could feel it again, this time coming from the same direction that Hisahito-sensei's chakra came from. He could feel the heavy darkness in the air ahead of them, but couldn't catch any sort of scent with his nose clogged with the scent of his own blood.
Thankfully, when they found Hisahito and Hisayo, neither of them were badly injured, though the second creature's presence lingered around them.
"Kohaku! What the hell happened?!" Hisahito asked the moment he spotted all the blood drenching his student's clothes, concern saturating his voice.
"It attacked me. I won." Kohaku replied simply, a painful, hacking cough immediately following his words.
"Dammit." Hisahito swore. "Can you still guide us out of here? Hisayo has a broken leg, and we need to get you medical attention as soon as possible."
"Yes. I'll get us out of here." Kohaku replied, slowly pulling away from Kakashi to stand on his own. He swayed, but managed to stay upright. "I'll try to get us back to the place we came in at. But we need to be fast."
Hisahito nodded, lifting the unconscious Hisayo into his arms gently. "Then let's go." He said, shifting back and forth on both feet.
Kohaku nodded slightly, turning slowly and making his way back up the path that they had just come from. He stopped when he felt Kakashi's hand close around his elbow, gentle as could be. He glanced back, wiping at the blood dripping from his mouth.
"I'm okay." Kohaku reassured, managing to keep himself from wheezing for just a moment. He set his naginata against the wall for a moment, gently making Kakashi let go of his elbow, and taking his hand instead. He picked his naginata again and smiled wordlessly at Kakashi before continuing on.
Startled by Kohaku's peculiar actions, Kakashi could do nothing but follow along as he led the way as quickly as his injuries would allow.
The group moved quickly through the winding caves, pausing only when Kohaku had to check directions. They stuck close together in a tightly knit group, so that they would not be separated should another of those creatures show up again. Kohaku never once let go of Kakashi's hand, instead squeezing it every time that Kakashi shifted closer to check on him after a particularly bad cough.
For a while, Kohaku was worried that his instincts were leading him astray, and that he was only getting them more and more lost down in the caves. He knew he wouldn't survive another year down beneath the surface, even if he wasn't alone this time. His injuries were too severe this time, and would require professional medical treatment.
Finally, the group managed to reach the spot that they had entered through, much to Kohaku's relief. The light that shone down from above was a sight for sore eyes, and a welcome sight.
"I'll go first." Kohaku said, grabbing the rope that still hung down for them. A grunt of pain escaped his lips as he began to climb, moving too quickly for Kakashi to protest. He was determined to make sure that they all made it out safely, and if that meant that he put himself at risk to do so, then it was a worthy risk.
After several minutes, he reached the top. He flung one over the side of the cliff and looked up when he noticed a shadow falling across him.
The first thing he saw was a pair of golden kunai dangling from a worn belt, hauntingly familiar, though in much better condition than the one he'd seen several months before. His gaze rose higher and he narrowed his eyes at the sight of the man that he'd bumped into months before; Senga Matabei.
"My, how curious it is to see you here again, little fox. Did you enjoy your little tussle with my pet?" Matabei lifted his foot up and slammed it down on Kohaku's hand, staring at him with a yellow-toothed smile.
And now, Kohaku understood why Matabei had seemed so familiar. Everything was falling into place all at once, almost too much for him to register all at once. This man had participated in the Kanemaru massacre, and it seemed as if he had also been the one responsible for tormenting Kohaku the entirety of the year that he had spent in the caves, the one controlling the beasts the dwelled below. But why? What was his purpose?
Kohaku slipped, losing his grip for a moment as pain seared through his arm. He managed to grab the rope to keep himself from falling, reaching up in an attempt to climb up before Matabei could crush his grip again.
"Nice try, little fox, but this is the end of the road for you. If only you had chosen your allies differently, you could have survived." Matabei removed one of the golden kunai from his belt, pushing his glasses up with his free hand before he set to work cutting the rope, slicing through it with one swipe.
As a result of a combination of his injuries and his surprise at what he had suddenly learned and realized, Kohaku was not able to latch onto the side of the cliff before Matabei cut the rope.
A cry escaped his lips as he fell suddenly, reaching out for anything to stop his fall, but finding nothing.
Fear pierced his heart like a kunai. Once again, he was falling down into hell, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. This time, he was certain that he wouldn't survive it, as he had nothing to break his fall.
He shut his eyes, hands grasping at thin air. He braced for the impact, afraid that if he did survive, the other beast would already be down there waiting to tear him to shreds. It was almost too much for him to take, and he felt as if his heart were going to burst. Kohaku could not help but wish that he had more time to tell Kakashi how he felt, and that he had been able to hold his hand more than just once. But there was no point in wishing when it was too late to do anything about it.
Kohaku landed hard, but miraculously, he did not touch the ground. Instead, he found himself held tightly in strong arms. The world swayed around him as his savior staggered from the impact, but managed to stay upright.
"Is he alright?" Hisahito asked nervously from somewhere to his left, voice growing closer.
He felt a gentle hand on his face, and Kohaku forced his eyes open slowly. His gaze met with Kakashi's anxious gaze. He smiled ever so slightly, reaching up to place his hand over Kakashi's.
"I'm okay." Kohaku said, coughing weakly as Kakashi gently set him down on his feet. He swayed, legs nearly buckling beneath him.
"No, you're not." Kakashi frowned, immediately steadying him with both hands. "Sit down and rest." He glanced up at the light shining down at them, squinting to see what had happened.
"What happened?" Hisahito asked urgently, a frown on his face as he followed Kakashi's gaze.
"The man controlling these creatures is up there." Kohaku was beginning to put something else together the longer he considered all that he had learned.
And then it hit him. Why had Matabei tormented him in such a way all those years ago, and killed the Kanemaru clan years before that? There was really only one conclusion that made even a little sense.
If the Kanemaru clan was really capable of what Tamayo had said they were, then it would make sense for them to be eliminated if one's goal was to take control of the Kyuubi, especially if the Kanemaru clan was not willing to cooperate.
The only person that Kohaku knew had a goal requiring the Kyuubi was Uchiha Madara, and he was one of the most intelligent shinobi in history. It would be nothing to plan the downfall of a reclusive shinobi clan, and use the last survivor, who would never remember a thing to make retrieving the Kyuubi entirely too easy.
"You two, stay down here with Hisayo, and I'll take care of him." Hisahito said suddenly, his voice unusually cold and angry.
Before either of them could respond, Hisahito was gone in a puff of smoke. Hardly ten seconds later, they could catch the grating sound of metal clashing with metal.
Kohaku frowned, trying to stand up, but finding that he lacked the strength to do so. He grabbed Kakashi's wrist, hoping he would understand his urgency. "We can't let him fight alone."
Kakashi didn't have a chance to reply before there was a feral snarl from the other side of the cave, accompanied by the clicking of long, sharp claws. His attention snapped towards the direction the snarl came from, his eye narrowing. Very slowly, despite his lack of chakra, he lifted his headband to reveal his Sharingan.
The creature, however, paid no mind to Kakashi as it stepped into the dim light. Instead it crouched low to the ground, gathering up energy in its powerful hindquarters. Then without warning, it sprang forward, past Kakashi and right for Kohaku.
It wanted Kohaku dead more than anything else, and he realized that it would never stop going after him, so long as Matabei was alive and controlling it. He was the sole target because he could potentially derail Madara's, and now Obito's, carefully laid plan.
Kohaku felt his head crack against the stone wall as the creature landed on him, and his head spun as he flung his arms up to defend himself. He knew it was futile while he was so weak, but he did not want to die.
The creature's claws dug into the hard stone ground, scoring it deeply with horrifying gashes that showed just what it could achieve. Its hot, rank breath nearly suffocated him as it leaned close and snarled.
A second later, Kohaku heard the crackle of lightning, something strange and impossible in this underground cave. Then the creature shrieked in agony.
Blood sprayed across Kohaku's face, and he hardly registered the creature collapsing onto its side, instead focused on the sudden appearance of Kakashi's face in his line of sight. He stared at him, mismatched eyes wide and afraid. Not afraid of Kakashi, but of the very close call he had just had.
Kakashi shoved the creature away from Kohaku, his gaze never leaving Kohaku's face. Then he dropped to his knees next to him and wrapped his arms around him tightly, one hand gently cradling his head against his chest.
Kohaku immediately returned the hug, shutting his eyes tightly. He could feel Kakashi shaking against him, and he could not tell if it was from exhaustion or fear, though, judging by the rapid beating of his heart, it was more likely fear.
"Are you okay, Kohaku?" Kakashi asked softly, loosening his grip just enough for him to look up.
Silently, Kohaku reached up with one trembling hand and brushed his fingers across Kakashi's cheek gently. He nodded slightly, unable to tear his gaze away from Kakashi's.
As inconvenient as the timing of it was, Kohaku suddenly noticed the closeness of their lips in the dim lighting, only a few centimeters apart, and separated by the thin material of Kakashi's mask. He wondered briefly if he could make some sort of excuse to shift close enough so their lips touched.
"Don't scare me like that again." Kakashi whispered, staring at Kohaku intently. His voice shook ever so slightly, hardly noticeable unless one was as close as Kohaku was to him. "I lost you once, and I've nearly lost you twice since then."
Kohaku frowned, focusing on his mismatched gaze. "I'm okay. You're not going to lose me." He promised, but fell into a painful coughing fit just a moment after he spoke.
It was clear by what little Kohaku could see of his expression, that Kakashi was not convinced. He reached up gently, cupping his hands around Kohaku's face, running one thumb along the scar that went down the left side of Kohaku's face in an absentminded manner. "Just stay with me until we can get you help."
"I won't leave you. I'll always be right by your side." Kohaku promised, offering him a weak smile. He wanted to say more, but their moment was interrupted by Hisahito returning, looking much worse for wear, but still somehow in better shape than the other three.
"Are you alright?" Hisahito asked when he spotted the beast lying dead beside Kohaku and Kakashi. "What happened?"
"We're fine. Well…" Kakashi glanced at Kohaku, frowning. "As fine as we can be. But we need to get going again. Is it all clear up there?"
Hisahito nodded slightly, going to check on his sister briefly before checking on Kohaku. "We won't have any more problems returning home." He examined Kohaku, frowning. "We'll go up, and find a safe place to rest for the night, and I'll see what I can do to lessen your pain."
Kohaku frowned a little, tilting his head. "I trust your judgement, Hisahito-sensei, but you're not a medic nin, and quite frankly, that scares me." He tried to cushion the blow, but they seemed to land hard all the same.
The wounded expression on Hisahito's face was something to behold, sad and pouty. "I'll have you know that I do have medical training. I just decided that my path laid elsewhere." He paused and huffed. "And I really don't like seeing blood."
"Should we really be stalling time like this?" Kakashi asked, sounding less rude and more worried as he gazed at Kohaku's pale face.
"You're right." Hisahito sighed. "It's safe now, so you can carry him up there without worrying. I'm going to take Hisayo up."
And so, the group left the caves, the only sign of Matabei left at the top, his golden kunai stained with blood. None of them were aware that their troubles were far from over.
