REVIVAL

Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

Suzanne Collins

Author's Note: Hello everyone! We are nearing the end of Tenshi and Kakashi's journey. But fear not, there will be an additional arc coming soon that will conclude the entire Revival story. Stay tuned!

Chapter XXVIII: The Prism Nation

Mixed emotions stir Tenshi awake.

Today is the fated day they're to face humanity's greatest threat yet. But there is also a blissful peace of having the strong arms of the man she loves around her.

He must've been exhausted after yesterday's preparations as he sleeps with light rhythmic breaths, lids fluttering. She smiles as she turns to him face-to-face, laying a hand on his masked face. At this moment, she can only wish they can hide from the world.

After a few more moments of letting him sleep, she gently runs her thumb over his cheek, nudging him awake. Their eyes link for a few moments, no words need to be exchanged. He runs a hand over her arm before resting it on her waist.

Her body shivers, weakening once again. The loss of her prism more evident than ever. But she fights it. She can't have her body failing her today. Not even if it kills her.

A pained look stares back at her as Kakashi's eyebrows knit together. But she just shakes her head, smiling up at him. Right now, she just wants to savor this moment.

This is going to be one of the last times they're going to wake up together.

Something wet runs over her cheek as she focuses on the tears brimming Kakashi's eye. She pulls him closer to her resting his head on her shoulder. His grip on her tightens.

And they stay like that for a few moments. More than anything, how she wishes for moments to go on longer. But the morning sun burns bright outside, breaking the veil of peace they had.

It's time.

Shortly after, Kakashi exits her tent to prepare for battle. Tenshi does the same.

Gato enters with Rubichan in tow, a long box in hand. Sending him a questioning look, the old man just smiles and asks her to open it.

She lifts the lid to reveal something iridescent. The material is strong yet flexible.

"It was Yuki's, your sister." He says, eyes glassy. "This was her favorite armor. It was one of the things I picked up when I came for you. You were a scared little thing in her bedroom."

Something about what he said tugs her heart strings. Sadness? Nostalgia for an event she doesn't remember? She has no idea.

"Thank you," she utters, eyes wet as she sniffles, "I'll wear this with pride today."

"They will be so proud seeing where you are today."

"That's the dream."

Gato lays a hand on her shoulder. "No matter what happens, we're fighting the good fight. The noble fight. The Prism will hide no longer, we are the defenders of peace."

"Defenders of peace…I like the sound of that."

They smile at each other one last time before he gives her time to change. Tenshi turns to Rubi, the dragon's sapphire eyes looking back at her excitedly.

"You're lucky your whole body is made of armor."

She croaks, stroking her whole body against her leg. Remembering something, her dragon's eyes light up as she flies up to Tenshi's eye level to reveal a large medical kit is strapped to her back. Her eyes widen at the sight, patting her head as she laughs.

That is…seriously smart.

"Time to change."

The armor is slim fit around her body, covering her from neck to toe. The material seems to be able to magnify her chakra, extra padding is sewn over areas needed for extra protection.

The crowd gathering outside mumble among themselves, spirits downcast as the final day arrives. Kaida and Gai try to keep the morale high. Kakashi awaits her by the platform, his eye widens at the sight of her.

"Is it too much?"

A blush creeps up on his cheeks as he scratches his cheek with his index finger. "You look really beautiful, Tenshi." He catches himself, looking around their comrades who are giving him teasing looks. He stiffens. "I mean, you look strong. And capable."

"It was a nice try, Kakashi-san." Gato laughs as he pats a deflated Kakashi on the back.

Looking over at the crowd, Tenshi lets out a shaky breath. But Kakashi stands in front of her.

He nods and gives her a reassuring smile. She gives his hand a quick squeeze before she walks up to the platform.

The crowd cheers, her comrades soon stand beside her. The sun above blazes high in the blue sky, the smell of morning dew fills the air.

"Today's the day," she starts, her hands shaking, knees quivering. She hasn't spoken to this many people at once. But she tightens her fists. "I know we're all nervous. I'm not going to lie, I am too. In fact, I'm terrified."

She pauses, eyes scanning over the different faces, trying to capture every feature. "But that's what bravery is, right? We're all scared, nervous. But we fight anyway. We fight to free our home, our beloved country from the grasps of those who wish to destroy the world with the power it wields. The Akatsuki don't know what's headed for them."

Fists raise in the air as the crowd agrees with her. An inexplicable energy surges through her.

"I, Tenshi, Kairi, all of me, from the bottom of my heart and with all my body and soul, vow to do whatever it takes to bring us all to victory. We are family. And today I can finally say, it's time to come home!"

The joyous uproar of the crowd explodes as Kaida raises her fist to lead them to the direction of battle. Much to her surprise, the crowd splits in the middle, her parents making their way to her. The smiles on the people's faces like they're in on something she has no idea about. She turns to Kakashi but he just smiles and shrugs.

"Tou-san, Kaa-san, what's this?"

In her mother's hand is something wrapped in a black cloth. "When the people knew about your condition, they decided to pitch in and your father and I got to work in his lab."

Tou-san looks like he's about to combust from emotions, nearing tears. Her brows crumple in confusion until her mother lifts the cloth to reveal something sparkling. A syringe with a glowing iridescent liquid.

"You…you mean to say?"

They nod. "Everyone gave a piece of their prisms to give you one enough to function for an entire day."

The view of her parents start to wave wonkily as the tears fill her eyes. "Thank you, everyone."

Excited whistles and shouts reply back at her. Lifting the syringe, her father says, "This will hurt a bit."

"It's nothing I haven't tried before." She chuckles. "This time, at least I have a heads up."

Right at her chest, he deposits the specimen in her. Immediately, vitality comes back to her body. A strength that wasn't there awakens. She pulls her parents in a hug. "Thank you for everything, Tou-san, Kaa-san. No matter what happens today, I'm glad you're my parents."

Her old man sobs even further as her mother pulls her in tighter. "No matter what happens today, you better live, Ten-chan. I still have a few equipment that need sharpening."

"And I've got dishes that need cleaning."

"I will, I will."

Aoi, Anzu, and Hari stay behind to man the medical tent. No words need to be exchanged between them. They all give each other knowing looks.

Rubichan flies above their battalion, she emits a loud roar spurring them on.

"Since when did she learn to do that?" Kakashi asks.

They both laugh as they look up at her. "I have no idea. But I like it."

Saving their chakra, they decide to walk to the Land of Prism. The entire time they travel, the group remains silent, people just murmuring amongst each other. The energy grows heavy, the reality of the situation slowly dawning in on them. Kakashi holds her hand, their fingers link together. She turns to offer him a weak smile.

"Everyone!" Gai shouts from the front. "Fight-o!"

"Yosh!" Everyone responds with equal vigor. She and Kakashi look at each other and chuckle at their friend's undeniable passion.

Kaida joins her boyfriend, cheering him on.

Mira just shakes her head, but she smirks to herself anyway. A specially made medical pouch equipped at her waist.

After an hour of walking further down south, she can hear the waves of the ocean. And before her, her heart swells at the sight. Tears forming behind her eyes.

Before them, the Crystal Bridge holds on for dear life, the once beautiful great infrastructure lays cracked and broken. A true sign of the battle that took place a few weeks back. But across it, that's where the true heart of it lies.

The Land of Prism is a giant diamond-like island, floating just above sea level. The grand architecture made white crystal stand proudly despite the time it's been abandoned. The white rays of the morning sun hits it, letting it glisten beautifully, colors dance on the water surrounding it.

"Woah…" Kakashi gawks from beside her, eye wide and mouth agape.

Tenshi wipes her eyes. The sounds of sniffles audible from behind her. She chuckles to herself. I'm bringing us home.

Voices play in her head, an ache and ringing suddenly overtake her mind that she can't help but bend over in pain.

"Tenshi!" The man beside her calls out.

But she can barely respond.

"It's them. They're out to get us," a familiar male voice says. It's her father's. What's going on?

"That can't be! The scouts must be wrong." Her mother bangs the table, making her jump.

And then she's back to reality. Concerned eyes stare back at her as she opens hers. The pain subsides. "I'm sorry. Something just came over me."

Mira shuts her eyes in concentration, facing the beautiful lone island. They all watch her.

"There are multiple streams of consciousness on the other side," she announces, "They're here. Tenshi, you better be ready."

Picking herself up, she stands upright. The women nod at each other. "I'm ready."

Kaida pats her on the back and they give each other high-fives. "Ready when you are Mira Monster."

The lithe woman opens her eyes from another scan. "There." She points to the far left.

"Yosh." Kaida reaches inside her equipment bag, her explosive globes on hand. With a practiced stance, she tosses the tracking bombs. The little pingpong balls shoots straight to spots behind the crystals.

A cloud of smoke blocks their vision, everyone anticipates as it dissipates. Silhouettes emerge from their hiding places. Different shapes and sizes come out with a variation of weapons.

Mira curses under her breath.

"What is it?" Kakashi asks.

"There are around a few hundreds of them." She says. "I can feel their chakras. But it's quite...off. Weaker than I expected. But still, everyone proceed with caution." Mira looks her in the eye. "Remember the main goal. Don't worry about anyone or anything else. You have to promise me, Tenshi."

She smiles at her. "I promise."

As the white clouds fully lift, Tenshi's eyes widen but slowly, her expression contorts to anger. Her fists quiver in silent rage.

Standing directly across her from the other side of the bridge is Tobi.

"Kairi-hime," he shouts as he flails his arm around in greeting, "Nice to see you again. It's sad we have to fight today. I was hoping we could continue what we started. Come and catch me!"

He's toying with me. He was nothing like this when I last saw him. And that just makes her blood boil even more.

"CHARGE!" she shouts.

Everyone runs over the bridge, the structure barely holding on with all the weight but it will have to do for the rest of the battle. A few bits and pieces of it crack and break from below them.

Tobi disappears.

Kakashi and Tenshi stick with each other. Although not being a fighter and having limited to almost no powers, Tenshi tries to defend herself for the most part. The Copy Ninja does most of the fighting. Her eyes scrounge around for any sign of her intended destination. A familiar grand emerald roof catches her eye.

Just as Kakashi gives a Mist ninja one last kick, she taps at his shoulder. "That's the one. We have to go there."

"Alright. Come on."

A gloved hand holds tight onto hers, they sprint to its direction despite the chaos ensuing around them. A familiar yellow ponytail catches her eye. Deidara. Kaida and Gai take turns attacking him, the pair working together like a well-oiled machine. With Gai's taijutsu prowess and Kaida's wind-style jutsus, Deidara's bombs barely stand a chance.

"Mira." She gasps as Kakashi's head whips at her friend's direction.

Encircled by a few missing nins, Mira maintains a defensive stance. "You're so beautiful. It's a shame we'll have to kill you now," one of them says.

"Thanks." She smirks. "But I don't think I'm the one dying today." With ease and elegance, she dodges their attacks with amazing agility.

"Looks like she doesn't need our help after all." The masked man smiles at her. "Right now, you are the utmost priority."

"Right. You're right."

After a few more minutes of running and dodging, everyone seems preoccupied as they fight. The palace stands in the middle of the island, the grand elaborate structure stands tall, glistening. Crystal pillars and marble walls make up the entire palace. A long and wide grand staircase awaits them before they could step foot on the entrance.

They look to each other before nodding. The pair make their way up.

Just as they make it halfway, a pair of Akatsuki members block them. One has the looks of a shark with blank eyes and sharp teeth, the other is a young man no older than her with a sharingan, long raven hair framing his features. He looks awfully familiar.

"It's a shame to meet you here, Kakashi-san, Kairi-hime," the younger man says, voice deep.

Without a single second thought, Kakashi summons a mud wall between them. "Listen to me," he says to her, "these men are highly dangerous. I'm going to fight them. You have to make sure you run as fast as you can. As far as you can away from here. Do what you came here to do. Understood?"

"Is that...?"

Kakashi nods. "Remember that time when I was unconscious for a while and everyone came to visit?"

"Yes?"

"It's because of him."

Tenshi bites back her fear. She doesn't want to leave him alone but he's right. If she fails, everything they sacrificed for will be for nothing.

She nods. "You got it." She plants a quick kiss on his lips making his eyes jolt wide open. "I'll make it no matter what. You have my word."

A scaly sword stabs through the wall making them jump.

"Tenshi-chan, you go ahead. I've got Kakashi's back." Gai shouts from behind them.

"Gai…" Kakashi says.

The green man grins at them, Kaida in tow. Her blue-headed friend summons her Zephyr Bird. "Hop on!"

Kakashi pulls her back one last time before she leaves. "Take care, Tenshi."

"I expect to see you in one piece too, Kakashi. Promise me."

"Yes, ma'am."

With one last smile, she jumps from the stairs and lands on the summon. Rubichan hovers over them, a wide grin on her face. "You guys came just in time." She tells Kaida.

The ladies look down below at their men battling the Akatsuki in perfect synchrony. "Are they sure they're not the ones who should get together? I'm feeling a little left out here." Kaida chuckles.

"You're such an idiot."

Slipping through one of the windows, they land into the interior of the palace. The gorgeous sapphire ground and white marble wall stretches endlessly.

"Damn Tenshi, who knew you were this rich?"

"Not me, that's for sure." Something in her chest pulls at her the moment they step foot inside. It must be the Great Prism. "Come on, it's this way."

They sprint through the vast halls, something catches Tenshi's eye. It's a hitai-ate. A Leaf Village one. That's weird. But she decides what they're headed towards is far more important. The sounds of struggles and explosions, kunais and shouting are prominent outside.

After climbing down a few flights of stairs, a gigantic double door greets them. This must be it. Each with a door on hand, the ladies pull the doors open. Rubichan's eyes widen upon the sight inside, a panicked look on her face. Kaida and Tenshi exchange questioning looks.

A kunai flies straight at the dragon with an explosion tag. Sharp crystals of different colors fly out of Rubi's mouth. They make contact with the kunai and it explodes, the smoke consumes her.

"Rubi!" Tenshi shouts. The explosion does little damage to the dragon but Tenshi makes her stay behind her, she can't risk any more lives.

"Oh, Princess! I'm so excited to see you again. Came back for more, hm?"

That voice. It can only be… "Tobi. Get the hell away from here."

Behind the masked man, is a prism the size of a house. Tenshi can only assume that it isn't working, the crystal dim.

"I'll take care of him Tenshi. Step back." Kaida says, ribbons ready.

If only sheer will can destroy this enemy in front of her, the nagging feeling claws at Tenshi. She was never a physical fighter unlike her friend. Because of this man, she's missing a prism, the one thing that could keep Kaida and Rubi safe.

"Don't take him lightly," she warns, "He's much stronger than you think."

Whipping her golden ribbons, Kaida does a few hand signs and whirls her ribbons around the air in circular motions. Gusts of winds gather around creating a small tornado in front of her. She directs them at Tobi.

The masked man whips his arms around as he sprints to the far left of the room, barely dodging her attack.

"You almost got me there, Blue-chan." He chuckles, the sound of it getting darker. "My turn."

With that said, wood-like stems grow from his body and launch at Kaida collectively.

The fighter pushes Tenshi away from the point of attack, dodging it with relative ease as well. Using the extension of his body, Kaida climbs over it and launches straight at him, exploding bombs in hand.

"Eat this!" She throws the explosives into the collar of his coat.

Tobi shouts, "Oh no, oh no!"

The explosions blasts them a few meters, but it doesn't stop Kaida. Using the smoke to her advantage, she launches straight at Tobi, kunai in hand. With no second though, she lodges it straight at his neck. Her eyes widen.

She slips past through.

Tobi disappears.

Tenshi heads inside, runs after her friend. "You okay?"

"No, where the hell is he?"

The pair look around the room, searching for any signs of the Akatsuki member. But he's nowhere to be seen. Rubichan growls from outside. The ladies sending her questioning looks.

A tap on Tenshi's shoulder catches her attention. "Over here, Princess."

Before she could utter anything, her friend rushes at her, kunai ready.

But without lifting a finger, he keeps his hands on Tenshi. A giant whirl swallows them in. The last thing Tenshi sees are panicked looks of Kaida and Rubi.

"What is this place?"

Multi-level gray platforms surround them. Blackness hovers over them, a dim white light the only source of illumination. Something tells her she isn't in the Land of Prism anymore. Maybe not even on Earth.

Tobi doesn't answer her. Instead, he turns her towards him.

Her hands shake at the sight, a doomed feeling consumes her. What is he planning to do to her now? Last time she encountered the man, he caused the single most painful moment of her life. But she swallows the lump in her throat in.

"Tobi, I don't want to fight you." Her voice shakes, so do her hands. "If we just keep fighting each other, this cycle of hatred won't stop. And it's what got all of us here in the first place."

The masked man remains silent, as if watching her every move. She can only hope he's considering her words.

She continues, "My family believed in that idea, so do I. No one has to die here. But if you have to kill anyone, it should be me. But please, let's stop these nonsensical killing of my people. No one else has to die."

Cloaked shoulders start to shake, Tobi grasps his head as he begins to laugh at her. The maniacal sound is enough to make the hairs on her arms raise all the way to the nape of her neck.

"Oh, there's so much you don't know about."

"What…what do you mean?"

"If I return your prism, I don't believe you'll be saying this garbage you're spouting out now." He walks up to her, she stiffens. "In fact, you will regret remembering anything at all. And the darkness will consume your naive optimism."

This time, she looks straight at him. "You're not the judge of that."

Taking her hand, he lays a glowing syringe atop it. "I'm giving this to you to prove a point. And when we meet again soon, I know you won't be the same." The swirl that transported her from earlier spins once again at her. "Until we meet again, Princess."

"Tenshi!" Kaida shouts from a distance, she rushes at her. She's been transported back in the Prism Room. "Are you okay? Where did he take you?"

Tenshi shakes her head as she rises from her spot. "It doesn't matter. How is everyone?"

"That's the curious part." Kakashi says from the main door, a crying Gai beside him. "It turns out their 'army' is a bunch of shadow clones. They all disintegrated at some point."

"I'm so relieved you're okay!" The Green Beast throws his arms around her, enveloping her into a bone-crushing hug.

She links eyes with Kakashi, the man smiles back at her. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too." She exhales as the man releases her. "How did we do?"

"We lost around fifteen people…" Kaida says.

Tenshi swallows back the painful force in her throat. "I see, we should honor their sacrifice tonight."

The four of them walk down the halls, Tenshi gripping on the syringe. From the window overlooking outside, Gai points. "The Medical crew has arrived." Gato, Anzu, and the others are perched atop Kaida's Zephyr Eagle.

Tenshi keeps her eyes at them, a relieved smile on her face. Her foot kicks on something, a sound of metal clanks against the marble floor. It's the Konoha hitai-ate. She and Kakashi share confused looks. But she just shrugs, not wanting to ruin their happy moment.

The people rejoice as they head outside, some crying. "All hail the Land of Prism!" They chorus.

Tenshi stands atop the giant staircase, visible to everyone, tears in her eyes but a grin on her lips. She raises a fist.

"All hail the Land of Prism!" She says. "Welcome home, everyone."