Hinata

"Miss Hyuga!" I turned to address the person shouting my name. It was a man I didn't know, and I paused to let him talk to me. "I've been asked to bring you to the Hokage tower to answer some questions for our Lord Danzo. Will you follow me, please?"

"W-what's this about?"

"My name is Shinzo Kei. We really need to hurry. You aren't resisting, are you?"

I gasp, "N-no, Of course I will follow you, Shinzo-san." Curiosity burned questions into my mind. I couldn't even begin to wonder what had brought me to the Hokage's attention. Even more questions rose to the top when, instead of following the main staircase up to the Hokage's office, we went down.

"The Hokage's office," I began, "is up."

"I know the questions he wants answers to. I have orders to allow you the chance to see what happens to people who lie."

I shook my head, "I wouldn't lie to the Hokage." I thought furiously, "I have rights as a Hyuga."

He merely smiled and continued past a floor that looked to be made up of cells. The prison smelled strongly of mold and dirt. I couldn't contain the sneeze that sounded over loud in the stifling staircase.

"Don't worry, Princess, I would never personally accuse a Hyuga of lying. I simply was directed to show you something, and ask you some questions. I would never harm a hair on your pretty little head." He stopped on the next floor after the cells. It was dotted with featureless doors. Behind one, I could hear what sounded like men talking. He opened the door, "Remain here for a moment, I must make sure everything is ready."

A few minutes passed before he opened the door with a greasy smile, "Come in, my dear." I went in, and immediately was rendered speechless. Kakashi was hung on the wall like a grizzly tapestry. The floor and walls were splattered with blood, fresh, if the smears on Kakashi's legs and feet were any indication. All I could do was stare.

I opened my mouth, but instead of a demand that he be let go, I slapped my hands over it to stop my own scream when the other man in the room swung a whip at Kakashi's torso, cutting lines in his flesh. Kakashi bucked against the wall, his feet beat against the floor. "No!"

"Princess, we've heard the most disturbing rumor." He motioned for the other man to lift the whip again, "If you tell me that you and Kakashi here are not an item, why, we'll let him go and he can be healed."

"Hinata," Kakashi panted, and the man with the whip laid it gently across his mouth.

"If it is as he says, and you and Kakashi are indeed in love, and engaged to be married..." he grinned, a death's head, "Well, then I will have to make sure Kakashi finds moving for the next few days to be a tiresome affair."

I didn't know what to do. Promises were made, I could see Kakashi slumped and naked against the wall. He made no movement beside heavy breathing. What was I supposed to do? I could save him, end his pain and go our separate ways. What would he say? What would Naruto say?

"I love him," I whispered, and Shinzo clucked his tongue in irritation. Then with a lazy movement he motioned for the whipping to continue. I made a pact with my eyes. I would not turn away from this. I could be just as strong as Kakashi needed me to be. He was whipped again on the chest, along his perfect abs, and over his thighs. The man doing the whipping laughed, and swung the whip toward his face with a crack snap of displaced air. Kakashi screamed, making my eyes tear up and spill over.

"Go to him, Princess. Lord Danzo has ordered that you must care for him with your own hands. No healers, no chakra. He must be able to report to the Hokage by Tuesday."

I looked at his bloody flesh. Tuesday? They were giving me two days to make this man able to stand and wait on the Hokage? What could I do but run to him. "Please, remove the restraints." Though I knew my cheeks were red and my eyes were streaming tears, I made my voice as steady as I could, "I cannot reach them."

The man named Shinzo un-buckled the only thing holding Kakashi upright. He fell bonelessly to the floor, not even a final gasp, or twitch of pain. He was truly, deeply unconscious. I found his clothes, now splattered with blood, and stood. "You will wait outside the door, please."

When we were alone, I slapped Kakashi's face as hard as I dared, I needed him at least lucid to help me dress him, and maybe walk to the door. I wasn't prepared for the keening wail that passed his lips. Kakashi gulped air convulsively, his eyes flickering open for moments before he lay shuddering in my arms.

"Kakashi, I'm sorry, they hurt you terribly, but I need your help." His head twitched in a manner not all encouraging, but I nodded, "Okay, I'm going to dress you." He said nothing, but one leg straitened. I found his boxers, and with as much dignity as I could pile on, I slipped them up his ruined flesh.

His pants and shirt were even harder in their way. Kakashi was soaked in his own blood, making the clothing sticky. Even the gentlest touch brought another gasp or moan of pain to my ears, making me want to weep over him. Finally, his clothing mostly replaced, I grabbed his shoes, vest, holsters, and hitai-ate. I pulled up the elongated neck on his shirt, making sure he kept masked, even at a time like this. There was no way he was walking anywhere, so I opened the door to see Shinzo yawning against the far wall.

"I demand that you fetch a stretcher and help me carry Kakashi to the compound." He looked like he might argue, so I squared my shoulders, and gave him my best Hyuga frost stare. He shrugged and returned moments later with a stretcher and the other man.

"What is your name?" I spoke to the one who'd inflicted the wounds on my husband-to-be.

"Moreno Takashi, Hyuga-sama." Finally, someone remembered that my family wasn't to be trifled with. "It was orders." And not a complete idiot if he knows why I'm angry. Both men went back into the torture chamber, and shortly returned with a now, once again, unconscious Kakashi. I lagged behind, watching carefully that they wouldn't bump him around too much on the staircase leading back to - if not a place that was better - a place with sunshine and fresh air.

Shizune was standing outside the Hokage's tower with Sai and another medic I didn't know. She rushed to the stretcher, her hand lit with her chakra to heal, and I had to stop her, "I'm sorry Shizune-san, I cannot allow it. Hokage's orders are that I must care for him by hand." Shizune stumbled to a stop, and I continued, "I need a little advice, though, so if you can follow?"

"I have the seal, Hinata-san," she opened her mouth, revealing a black ladder that matched the one in Sai's and every other ROOT member. "If I know it's an order from Danzo... I can't help." Tears welled, and one slipped down before she wiped them away. "I'm sorry."

I nodded, "It's alright, Shizune-san. Traditional Hyuga healers are still in residence at the compound. It will be alright."

Shizune nodded again, and turned around to walk back to the hospital. Sai took a few steps, he was no medic, so it wouldn't be breaking Danzo's orders, but he obviously couldn't bear to be so close yet unable to help. "Take care of him, Hinata-san."

I nodded, and then led the men to the other side of the village. Everyone we saw stopped to gawk at us. Sharp nods of agreement and eyes tightly closed in shame rippled in our wake. When we reached the Hyuga gate, it was open, and Kazuko opened her arms, and I ran to her, allowing my tears to flow, "We need to get him inside. My room, and I need the healers."

"Yukiru-donno reported you had been taken to the Hokage's tower. We've been waiting." The confident woman scanned the scene, "Hatake-san. I see." She frowned and motioned toward the group of Hyuga gathered behind her, "I need two volunteers to carry this stretcher to the old bath house. You'll find it ready to receive Hatake-san." She turned opalized eyes on me, "Please go with them, and I will send healers to you there." She touched my hair and whispered for my ears, "We'll help him, now, sweetheart."

I nodded, and two cousins switched places with Danzo's boys and we paraded out to the old bath house. It had housed my grandparents after they'd turned over the clan to my father, and now it would be Kakashi's - no, our - house until father turned over the clan to me. It wasn't really the way I'd wanted to come to my bridal home.

Curiously, I poked my head into the guest room. I half expected my bed to be set up there, but it still only contained Grandfather's desk and a computer that didn't really justify the word. Kakashi was brought in and I followed them to the master bedroom. I was shaking with nerves.

Inside was a giant King sized Western style bed with tall honey stained wood posts and it was piled with plump pillows that Grandmother had loved so much. I ran into the room, "Hold him for a moment," I pulled back the blankets, and swept most of the decorative pillows to the floor. "Okay. I'm ready for you. Gently, gently!"

The men carefully tipped the stretcher onto the bed, and one let his side go and helped me to pull him into position. "Thank you." I smiled at them, "I really appreciate your help."

When they left I gazed down at Kakashi. His wounds were seeping all over the clean sheets and the bed underneath, and I knew we'd have to go looking for a new mattress soon. Ordering one from one of the other Nations was probably out of the question. There's always the black market, I thought to myself. Then I took a deep breath, "I'm stalling."

I pulled off my jacket, revealing a navy mesh shirt over a black t-back sport style bra. Kiba and Shino had seen this look many times, and if I could show it to my teammates, then my fiancee... That sounded funny, but also like my heart was beating faster. Well, he still wouldn't see it, I suppose.

I heard the outer doors opening, and Kazuko peeked in. "My lady? Are you ready for the healers to come in?"

"Are they..." I paused and lowered my voice, "Are they trustworthy?"

Kazuko looked thoughtfully behind herself, "Trust no one, My Lady."

"Fine," I agreed with her, she had a good head on her shoulders, and had always served our family, and me in particular, well. "Please send them in. I need some things, then they will have to leave. Shinzo was specific, unfortunately. I have to heal him with my own hands."

Kazuko smiled, "You will do well, sweetheart. I'll send them in, and then make sure they leave. I will tell your father what I know."

I lay my hand on Kakashi's forehead, "Thank you. Kazuko, you know you can ask me for anything; you know that."

"I know, now let me do my job." She said it with a smile, and left calling out for the healers to come in. There were three, and they each had a bundle. They filed in, one gasping in surprise, "It's the Copy-nin!"

The others gathered around the bed, and the oldest of them bowed, "Hinata-sama, we were told to bring you medicines and bandages, but we were not supposed to help."

"Yes," I sighed sadly, "I must take care of him with my own hands. Please explain what your salves do, and how often they can be used. I will also need pain killers. Father can requisition them if you don't have any. Hopefully, you can give me something that will keep him asleep."

All three of the healers exchanged looks, and again the eldest bowed, "As you say." She dipped her hand into her bundle and handed the packet to me, "This can be brewed into a tea. Put the entire packet into the pot, and give him a few sips every two hours or so. It will help him sleep. Try not to miss a dose..." The woman pulled out packets and conferred with the others until there was a list of herbal remedies and a row of neatly labeled envelopes.

"You've been wonderful, I should get to work now. Thank you for your wisdom." I bowed my head low and they all bowed in return. The youngest, also the only male, cleared his throat, "Anyone can find one of us, My Lady. Just ask, and even if we are not allowed to touch him, we can always just talk you through it." He fiddled with his bundle, "Here, it's the bandages. Lots more where they came from."

I accepted them with a smile, "Again, thank you for your service."

They scurried out, and I took another look at Kakashi. Clothes first, then I can get started cleaning then packing the wounds with the medicinal poultices, and sewing if necessary. I did know how to sew, and I'd been trained, like most of the Rookie Nine kunoichi, on battlefield dressing, but I devoutly hoped I wouldn't have to.

I started with the pants he'd been wearing. Navy, they had been at least, standard issue. I hesitated at the waistband. There wasn't a button or a snap, just the drawstring that I hadn't had the heart to tighten. It was just so...intimate, now that we were alone. I couldn't act like the professional that Shizune had talked about when I did the emergency medical classes. I took a deep breath, and started to wiggle them down his hips.

Kakashi stirred. I popped up like I'd been burned, "Oh! I should make the tea. I'll be right back, okay?"

"O...kay," he croaked.

I ran to the kitchen, and turned on the little stove and filled the kettle with water. I set it to boil, and filled another glass with water, and ran back to the room. The packet of morphine tablets sat on the dresser, and I poked through it, coming up with two 10 milligram tablets. "I have to help you sit up, and swallow these pills." A few fingers twitched, and I took it for an okay to continue.

Gingerly, I hooked two fingers into the material covering his lower face. I took the time to really look, now that I wasn't being surprise proposed to, or quivering in abject terror, and the man himself was more or less out of it. I had another nervous giggle tickle up from my core. I was mildly surprised at my own curiosity at such a time.

The shape of a nose can't be that distorted by a mask, but I'd never really noticed before. He had perhaps a sharper nose than Neji, and of course my cousin didn't have a thick line of scarring to mar his pale perfection. But the scar and the mole where cheek met chin made him look like Kakashi. Neji and Sasuke could have their snowy, elegant faces. I like a face with a little character.

I really needed to keep my mind on the job. His shoulders had escaped any damage, and I slipped my arm across them, and tried to lift his uncooperative upper body. With a wince, I used the hand with the tablets to stroke his lower lip. His mouth opened, like Hanabi's when she was a baby. Kurenai-sensei had said all those baby-sitting missions would pay off. I bet she never would have anticipated this.

A fingertip further to insert the tabs and then I grabbed the water and tried tipping a little in his mouth. He swallowed and choked a little, so I gave him more before stroking his throat to encourage him to swallow. I hoped that meant that he'd taken the pills, because I didn't want to check. The kettle whistled, so I pulled the remaining pillows over one at a time with my free hand so I could prop him up.

"I hope you swallowed them, Kakashi. Those tablets can burn you." I lowered him onto the pillows and went to retrieve the tea. I put the pot, now steeping with the stinking Valerian tincture, and a single cup on a tray, and brought the mess back into the room. I poured the tea, it smelled awful, but was supposed to be an effective sedative. Unfortunately, according to the healers, it was just as disgusting to taste as it was to smell. Well, Kakashi would just have to complain later.

I dropped an ice cube into the cup, and poured the tea over it. With that much watering down, I would have to have him drink the entire cup. Later, after it cooled, a half cup would be enough. I turned back to him, and his grey eye was open. I blushed, though I don't know why, and lifted the cup. "I made tea." I was strongly reminded of yesterday. "You must drink this one though." I smiled when his eye crinkled slightly. "I promise, it's strong enough to take rust off an old kunai."

"G.." he swallowed, "Good. 'm thirsty."

"Let me help," I handled the cup, and put it to his lips. I tipped it and he sputtered. "I know it tastes awful, but it'll help you go back to sleep. I'm going to have to doctor you up. You won't want to be awake for it." I also didn't want him to watch me stare at his body. I gave him small sips, and in the end, he managed to get the foul brew down.

"The morphine should be fast acting. I'm going to go ahead and take off your clothes, and work on your front. Then, I'll get someone to come help me turn you over and clean up your back, it is worse..." I winced as he groaned in affirmation, "Then, I can bandage you." I felt good, and all professional explaining it to him. Until he croaked out a laugh.

"Just can't wait to get me naked, huh?"

"You c-can keep the boxers." I couldn't fight the embarrassed smile and radiant blush. "You weren't kidding when you said we might have to go faster than either of us likes."

He snorted, then groaned, "'m feeling tired already. Can you get an eye patch?"

"I have bandages, I could wrap your head, but you're not hurt there are you?"

He yawned, and his words came out a little more garbled, "'s more 'an a fashion thin'. Keeps the 'gan from..." his head settled deeper into the pillows, "Need ta.. save my chakra t' help heal."

I guess I just didn't know that. I stood there, the cup with the dregs of the tea loose in my hand as I frowned. He didn't know how to turn it off? That was fine for now, maybe we could work on it together later. I set the mug back on the tray and settled in to work.

AN/ In case you have been sleeping under a rock, or maybe you haven't had an unhealthy need to know what Kakashi looks like, it has been revealed! Yes. Please go look it up, it's easy to find. I was not disappointed in the least. I mean, you know, he's no Itachi (Kisame)... LOL (In which you are happy, and I am just glad his hair is still silver, though there's no sharky teeth.)