Chapter Twenty-Eight
'We found him. Ao and Midori will bring you to us. Bring Kotaro-san and Hisashi-san. Hurry.' The hastily scribbled words of the short letter that had been delivered to him just three days before rang through Kakashi's mind once more.
He was hardly daring to hope that these words meant what he thought they did. Jin was alive, and he had finally been found.
The more time that passed while they were traveling, the more impatient he grew. Kakashi needed to see Jin with his own eye. He needed to see that he wasn't hurt. The short letter hadn't been enough to reassure him.
Traveling with him, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hakaru were also anxious, none of them wanting to rest until they had seen Jin or Sakura. Kotaro and Hisashi were more calm about the whole situation, not knowing who awaited them in the makeshift camp that Terumi Mei had managed to set up as their base of operations until they could take Kiri back.
"We're here." Ao said from behind his mask, making a few hand seals to disperse the genjutsu field that surrounded the outer perimeter of the camp.
Midori stayed silent as he led their allies through the trees until they finally reached a large clearing, where several small buildings had been hastily put up and reinforced over the last three years, accompanied by small tents that housed the shinobi that had fled with the former Mizukage.
Sakura glanced over from where she sat with a dark haired young woman, her expression brightening, and then suddenly growing anxious. She leapt to her feet and darted over, her gaze turned towards the ground.
"You're not hurt?" Kakashi asked, watching as Naruto and Hakaru both tackled her in a tight hug, while Sasuke stood by and watched them.
"I'm alright." Sakura replied, hugging both Naruto and Hakaru.
Kakashi was relieved to see that she was alright, but his gaze was already searching for Jin. His heart tightened when he didn't see him milling around with any of the other Mist shinobi, and he wondered if he had been hurt or if he was just resting. "Where's Jin?"
"Th-the thing about that…" Sakura began, suddenly growing cagey. "We got caught up in some trouble when we tried to escape, and…" She gulped, her gaze shifting away. "Azusa was going to kill me, but...Jin stepped in, and...he was hurt pretty badly...but-"
Kakashi didn't even give her a chance to finish speaking before darting off. He felt as if his heart were going to stop in his chest.
Without caring whether or not he was intruding on privacy, he checked through each tent, with no luck, before he went on to check the ramshackle buildings. No matter where he looked, there was no sign of Jin, and his heart sank in his chest.
"What the hell is he doing?" Terumi Mei asked, bewildered, as she strolled up to the newcomers, arms crossed over her chest.
"I was telling him about what happened to Jin, and he didn't let me finish speaking before running off…" Sakura explained with a sigh, letting Naruto and Hakaru help her up.
"Well, he's not going to find him around here. He's been avoiding Kaguya since he arrived back." Mei sighed and shook her head. "I swear, he's luckier than I am when it comes to having handsome men dote over him...and he's not even taking advantage of it."
Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke all stared at Mei with expressions of various degrees of disgust, while Hakaru put his hands over his eyes and just walked away.
"I think that may be a bit insensitive…" Sakura whispered when Mei shook her head and walked off to deal with more important matters.
On the other side of the clearing, Kakashi stopped once he had looked through every tent and building. Where else could Jin be? There didn't seem to be any other place to check, so if he wasn't here, did that mean…?
Jin sank into the warm water of the hot springs for a moment, savoring the warmth after escaping the cold weather that currently plagued the Land of Water. He shut his eyes, not wanting to get out, but knowing that he couldn't stay there forever, no matter how much he wanted to.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he slowly got up, stepping out of the warm water and grabbing the towel he'd brought with him. He dried off, relieved to be clean again, and dressed in the clothes that he had been provided by Ao and Midori.
He felt much better now that he'd been able to clean himself up, though he still didn't know what to do with his hair. For the moment, he had left it long and had let Sakura and Sayuri braid it with some of the flowers that Sayuri had found around the camp.
Jin grabbed his towel, and began to make his way down the hill towards camp, not ready to deal with Raizo's hovering again, but knowing he couldn't stay away forever no matter how much he wanted to.
Things were complicated. He loved Kakashi and that made it hard to be around Raizo. He didn't want to hurt Raizo, but with this unfortunate situation, there seemed to be no way around it, which was why he had fled every time that Raizo had tried to talk to him. It was easier to run away than to deal with his problems right now, especially with the fragile state of mind he was in.
Another heavy sigh escaped his lips as he grew closer to camp. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, but so much weighed heavily on his mind and heart that he just couldn't help it.
Jin pushed through the bushes that surrounded the camp, his head down as he made his way towards the tent Mei had given him to use. He stopped suddenly, sensing a familiar chakra signature. He looked up, violet eyes wide, hardly daring to believe what he had sensed.
His eyes scanned the camp, finally resting on the one person he was certain he would never see again. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, and then Kakashi looked up and met his gaze.
Neither of them moved at first, as if frozen in shock and disbelief. And then Jin was running, tears already streaking down his face as he leapt into Kakashi's arms.
"You...you're okay!" Jin wrapped his arms tightly around Kakashi. He pressed his face against his shoulder, trying to hide his tears. It took him a moment to realize that Kakashi was trembling, and he couldn't help but tighten his grip around him.
"I thought…" Kakashi began in a whisper so soft that Jin had to strain to hear it. "Sakura told me you'd been hurt, and I thought…" His fingers dug into the fabric of Jin's shirt as he fought to remain composed.
"I'm okay now. I promise." Jin whispered, pulling his face away just enough so that he could look into Kakashi's one visible eye. He didn't even try to hide his tears as he gave him a weak smile.
Jin let go of Kakashi, immediately putting his hands on his cheeks, his touch so hesitant, as if he were afraid that Kakashi would disappear if he wasn't careful. Slowly, he hooked his thumbs into Kakashi's mask, dragging it down.
Using his hands to hide Kakashi's face from everyone's view but his own, Jin leaned close and pressed his lips against Kakashi's, relieved when he returned the kiss.
Jin shut his eyes and relaxed, feeling as if all his problems were melting away for the moment, now that he was safe in Kakashi's arms. For one blessed moment, it felt as if it were just the two of them in the world.
After a moment, someone cleared their throat, and Jin let out a sigh as he pulled away, keeping his hands over Kakashi's face until he pulled up his mask. Then he lowered his hands and glanced over to see Terumi Mei staring at them both with her hands on her hips.
"You're just as bad as they are." She waved her hand in Kotaro's direction.
Jin's eyebrows shot up the moment he saw what she meant. Kotaro and the majority of his siblings had just reunited and had nearly collapsed into a puddle of tears.
"No, we certainly are not." Jin slid his gaze away from the broken family, feeling nothing but sorrow for them because they were still missing pieces. "What do you need?" He rested his chin on Kakashi's shoulder as he spoke, not ready to focus on more serious matters.
Mei stared at him for a moment until realization crossed her face. "It can wait until tomorrow. You two should catch up." She said, a faint smile crossing her face. She turned her attention to the rest of the shinobi milling around the clearing and smiled. "I think the rescue of one of our own is reason enough for a celebration."
Jin smiled faintly, turning his attention back to Kakashi. "How about we sneak off for a while?" He asked in a mischievous whisper. "I doubt they'll notice us missing."
Kakashi nodded slightly, letting go of Jin, only to grab his hand a moment later. He smiled beneath his mask and let Jin tug him out of the clearing before the festivities began in full.
"Are you really not hurt?" Kakashi asked once they were alone, eyeing Jin with thinly veiled anxiety. "Sakura said you were injured badly…"
"I...was. But…" Jin paused for a moment, frowning. "You've noticed how quickly Naruto-sama heals, right? Well...now it's sort of the same for me. I'm the sanbi's host now, and have the added benefit of healing a bit more quickly now. But…"
Kakashi's hand tightened around Jin's, and he frowned a bit. "That's why you left so suddenly." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes." Jin replied with a sigh, sitting down in a soft patch of grass just within the perimeter. "When I was caught, they quickly figured out my new status, and had Kabuto sever my connection with the sanbi, but...on our way back here, Sakura-hime was able to repair that connection, which is probably why I'm still alive."
"I see…" Kakashi sat down next to him, studying his face closely. He was relieved that Jin was unhurt, but he didn't think that he was really okay. "Are you alright?"
"I don't think so, but...I will be." Jin answered honestly, leaning against Kakashi. He rubbed at his eyes, still distantly wondering if this was just a sweet dream. "You're really here, aren't you? I thought you were dead. I thought you were all dead."
"I'm here." Kakashi's voice was low as he spoke. He wrapped his arms around Jin gently, protectively. "I don't plan on dying any time soon." He paused for a moment, hesitant to ask his next question. "What did they do to you?"
Jin rested his head against Kakashi's shoulder and shut his eyes. "Azusa is a monster. I don't think there's a line she wouldn't cross." He said softly, sort of avoiding the question. "I think she's the one in charge now."
Kakashi frowned beneath his mask, studying Jin closely. "Jin, what happened?" He had been expecting that he hadn't escaped unscathed, but he was beginning to think that what Jin had suffered was worse than what he had originally thought.
"Does it matter? I'm not going to let it get to me." Jin replied, unable to fully relax. "I've been through hell before, and I'll be through it again. Please don't worry about me. I'll be alright."
"How can I not worry when you won't even talk to me?" Kakashi asked softly. "I'm here, and I'm not leaving you."
Jin opened his eyes, glancing up and meeting his gaze. He didn't realize how exhausted he looked, how haunted his pretty violet eyes were. "You have no idea how much I love you, Kakashi…" He managed to muster up a half smile for him. "I…"
There was a sudden rustle in the bushes, and Jin leapt nearly three feet in the air. He looked around wildly for the cause of the noise, his heart beating so fast he feared it might burst. Pain seared through his stomach, but he paid little attention to it.
Kakashi was on his feet an instant later, kunai in hand. He relaxed slightly when he realized that it was not an enemy, but instead Raizo, which presented a different problem.
Jin didn't relax when Raizo came into view, instead growing more tense. He turned his face away, wondering how to tell him to leave because it hurt to look at him without breaking his heart. He didn't know how to tell him that he was moving on, and that he was in love with Kakashi, though he surely knew by now.
"Can we speak in private?" Raizo asked quietly, voice flat and without much emotion. His gaze shifted towards Kakashi briefly, growing sharp, but he didn't display any outward signs of dislike.
"Maybe you should give him some time." Kakashi suggested, with barely passable friendliness. He put his arm around Jin's waist and gently pulled him closer, wanting to make him feel better.
"Oh? Since when do you speak for him?" Raizo was genuinely not a bad person deep down, but he did have a particularly savage jealous streak, which often ended up rearing its ugly head even when he didn't want it to. "I think you should stay out of this, copycat. You have no right to speak for him, and you certainly don't have the right to hold him in such a familiar way."
"Raizo, stop." Jin said quietly, still avoiding looking at him. He knew the path this was going down, and he wanted to stop it before Raizo said something he couldn't take back.
Kakashi hardly seemed bothered by his words, merely tilting his head. "And you do?" He asked the question in an innocent sort of way, but had a feeling that it would set Raizo off either way.
Raizo took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "More so than you ever will. After all, he's my fiance." The way he smiled held no warmth. "He could never truly love you. You are not, and never will be good enough for Jin."
Jin looked up sharply, suddenly angry. He slipped out of Kakashi's grip and stepped over to Raizo, stopping before him. He looked up and met Raizo's green eyes with his own angry violet eyes.
There was a resounding crack as Jin's hand met Raizo's cheek in a particularly hard slap.
"Don't you dare say anything like that to him again." Jin said, his voice as cold as the north wind. "And don't you ever try to decide who is and isn't good enough for me."
Jin spun around and returned to Kakashi's side, grabbing his hand. Then he turned and pulled Kakashi back towards the camp, leaving Raizo alone in the dark.
Once they were alone again, Jin stopped and turned back to Kakashi, trying to hold back the tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry he said that to you." He said quietly, hoping that Kakashi hadn't taken Raizo's words to heart. "It's not true."
"I know. You don't have to tell me that." Kakashi said softly, reaching up and gently wiping away the single tear that slid down Jin's cheek. He paused for a moment, watching Jin closely. "Are you alright? I saw you flinch when you stood up."
"Yes. I think I just moved a little quickly." Jin replied softly, his gaze shifting away almost immediately.
"Jin." There was a note of warning in Kakashi's voice, accompanied by worry.
"Look, I just said I heal faster now. I never said that I was completely recovered…" Jin sighed, still not meeting his gaze. "I didn't want you to worry."
Kakashi put his hands on Jin's shoulders gently, letting out a soft sigh. He drew him into a hug, gently pressing his forehead against Jin's. "I'm going to worry no matter what." He whispered as their noses bumped. "Don't keep things like this from me, alright?"
"I'm sorry." Jin mumbled, glancing up to meet his gaze. He slowly relaxed, wondering what it was about this particular action that made him feel so at ease. He supposed it was the familiarity of it that made him relax, as well as Kakashi. Jin didn't think he would be so comfortable if anyone other than Kakashi tried this with him.
"Will you let me see your wound?" Kakashi asked softly, frowning at him beneath his mask. "Please?"
"Will it make you feel better?" Jin asked softly, leaning against him. He was hesitant to show him.
Since the moment he had woken up in camp, Jin had been harshly scolded by just about everyone for his reckless actions. He didn't want Kakashi to scold him, too.
"It'll reassure me that you're really going to be okay." Kakashi replied softly, reaching up and brushing a loose strand of hair out of Jin's face, his fingers brushing against his cheek ever so gently.
Jin searched his gaze for a moment before nodding slightly. "I'll show you before bed." He promised. "It would be rather awkward if anyone caught sight of me undressing in the woods. I wouldn't want people to gossip."
"I don't care what anyone has to say." Kakashi replied, unable to hide his worry.
"You will when someone suggests we have a threeway." Jin's tone implied that this had occurred in the past. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "The majority of Mist shinobi seem to forget that I'm not just a pretty face."
Kakashi seemed to understand his point, and just sighed. "Alright, then." He said softly, pulling away, but grabbing his hand. "Let's go back before we're missed."
Jin nodded and offered him a faint smile, walking with him back to camp. Already, many of the Mist shinobi were drunk; some were singing and others were regaling war stories with slurred voices to anyone who would listen.
Sitting around the fire, Kotaro and his siblings were having a very strange conversation. Since they had all died at different points in their lives, they had all been revived at the ages they'd died at, and it seemed to be confusing all of them.
"Wait, so does that mean that I'm the oldest one out of us all now?" Hisashi asked, sounding absolutely baffled, while Sayuri watched on with a smile; she was still the youngest out of the four of them, so nothing had changed for her in that respect.
"If that's the case, then does that mean you're the older brother now, and I'm the youngest?" Ikki asked, rubbing his temples in absolute confusion. He scrunched up his nose for a moment, and then his eyes widened in realization. "Does that mean you guys are going to spoil me now?" A sly smile crossed his pretty face as he realized the possibilities.
Sayuri giggled and patted Ikki's shoulder. "We'll always spoil you." She said gently. "But you'll still always be second oldest, no matter how strangely our lives have turned out. You're still my older brother, and Hisashi, Emi, and I will always rely on you."
Kotaro nodded, a rare smile crossing his normally stoic face. "You'll all always be little to me." He said softly. Though he didn't say it, it was clear that he would always spoil his little siblings.
Jin smiled faintly as they watched the group, glad that they had at least been able to gain some small sort of peace. He glanced at Kakashi, and then looked around for Hakaru. He hadn't yet had a chance to properly greet him yet.
As he glanced around, he caught sight of Yoshihisa for the first time that night. He'd gone out with a medic nin to help gather medicinal herbs earlier that morning, since it was harder to come by manufactured medicine and easier to make it from scratch.
Yoshihisa laughed with the medic nin as they walked into camp together, carrying bundles of herbs. His gaze swept around the camp, and he stopped dead when his amber eyes rested on the face of the man he had given everything up for, the man he had died for and who had died for him.
"Kotaro…?" His voice was soft at first, as if he could hardly believe his eyes. "Kotaro!" The bundles of herbs slipped from his hands in his shock.
Kotaro looked up sharply, unsure if he had really heard Yoshihisa's voice. His violet eyes widened in shock when he saw the familiar face of his lover. "Yoshihisa!" He was on his feet in an instant.
Tears streamed down Yoshihisa's face as he realized that this wasn't a dream, that this was real. With that realization, he was no longer frozen by disbelief. He sprinted for Kotaro, nearly tripping over his own feet in the process and flung himself into his strong arms, letting Kotaro swing him around with joy that could not be contained.
In a single instant, two star-crossed lovers met for the first time in centuries.
A/N: I was gonna post another chapter for Desiderium first, but then I felt bad for the cliffhanger, so I wrote this first...! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'm sure some of you have been looking forward to it! Thank you all for your reviews!