Chapter 7: Perfection
He hadn't moved. He couldn't move. He was paralyzed.
Azuma and Kurenai had decided to stay despite their scratches and bruises being less severe than his current bout of paralysis from their earlier "flying lesson".
As far as the nurse could tell, it was an unidentified "harmless" drug-induced paralysis. His breathing had been labored at first but everything else seemed fine. As for when and how he had been drugged, they just weren't sure. It had all been a bit of a haze the moment their feet were in the air.
"For now, waiting here is your only option. We currently don't have anybody on staff that could help with taking whatever's in your system, out." Stepping closer to his side, the nurse stuck a long, thin needle through his arm for a sample of blood.
"We'll check with some of the other medics on staff to see if they can confirm what did this."
"Thank you," the group responded on Kakashi's behalf.
A short nod and the nurse was gone.
They would have brushed off their injuries and gone home with the exception of himself, writing it off as all in a day's work had it not been for who they had just talked with.
It had unfortunately been Guy, to Kakashi's annoyance, who had helped him get to the hospital after meeting up with them on the edge of the forest. He had found them a few seconds after they had fallen, sprawled out a few feet from each other, Kurenai and Azuma recalling how helpless they had been, how out of control they had felt, not being able to move their arms and legs even before they hit any trees or fell to the hard, hard ground.
But unlike Kakashi, they could still move.
They were staying in his room in an effort to figure out what had just happened.
"It appears that they haven't found Naruto yet," Guy said, his large brows meeting together as he frowned.
"But don't you think that's strange?" Azuma said from where he sat on the corner desk. "Those guys had already infiltrated the village. It should be easy to find Naruto here. Itachi knows Naruto's face."
It just didn't make sense.
The room grew quiet as Guy brought a lone finger to his lips. They had company.
Entering the room, his forgotten, misdelivered curiosity quickly turned to confusion and then, to worry.
"Kakashi...," Sasuke said brokenly, stopping when he realized he would get no reply from him.
"Why is Kakashi not moving? Besides, only jonin are gathering here...what are you doing? What in the world happened?!" His eyes wide as he turned to face Guy.
"Nothing...in particular...," Guy knew it was a weak excuse. It was lame really.
"Is it true that Itachi has returned?!"
They all glared as another unwanted visitor came barging in.
"And moreover that he's after Naruto...?!" The shinobi realized his mistake too late. "...Oh..."
"Idiot," Kurenai huffed.
The present was breaking before his past. He had tried for a moment to leave what had happened behind. He had started to find a family in those around him. But that night, it just wouldn't leave him alone.
Sasuke ran out, the color draining from his face.
"Why does this always happen?!" Guy stood up in an attempt to catch him before he left, but by the time he looked out the door, only an empty corridor greeted him.
Kintsugi had sensed the boy exit the hospital through a window out of anyone's visible sight before Kotetsu and she had gotten close to the entrance.
She sneered. That kid was living and burning.
"Oh, you're still alive. Good," she had left Kotetsu behind as she entered Kakashi's small, crowded room, her words unintentionally menacing.
Perhaps it had been the way she had spoken to them, or that they hadn't sensed her, maybe it was the rather long blade she normally kept hidden within her cloak that she was now using as a pointer, that caused the next moments to happen.
They were already on guard, but the moment Azuma moved for his knife, they were all on the floor.
Despite not being able to move, they were all giving her a dirty look, ashen faces with dark glowering eyes. She couldn't see it, but she felt it.
Recognition at their feelings dawned on her face as she felt a vague sense of power. Their blood was under her control.
"You know, green, I was told, felt like life. Like that of soft leaves and wet grass. I don't care very much for that color. But, right now, I would think it's your favorite color. You do want to live...right?" She was scowling.
"Ah, good. You're here. Close the door."
Kotetsu had finally bothered to enter the room.
What a mess of things I've made. It's not too late though. Taking off her mask she attempted to smile at him. That was what friendly people did, right? It was uncomfortable.
"Don't worry they're not actually dead. Perhaps a little broken. But not dead."
Coughing before she continued to speak she figured some people didn't need to be controlled to stay quiet.
"Look. I regret a lot of things. Having this conversation tops the list. But I only wanted to get a moment of your time." She was swinging her blade around for emphasis, but everybody else just wanted to leave.
"I wanted to...apologize, for what happened earlier. I hadn't meant to throw you as far as I did, but I guess it just ended up that way."
"Who, who are you?" Kotetsu was finally talking.
"How about we all calm down and be friends instead? Hmm?" She said, looking at everyone except him.
They were starting to connect the dots. They hadn't been alone at the bridge. She had been there as well.
Kintsugi loosened her control over their heads so they could at least nod.
They didn't.
"Where are you from?" Kurenai said, her mouth twitching.
"Oh, here and there."
"What do you want?" Azuma sniffed, not liking the comfort the cold floor was giving.
"This and that."
"You're just full of information," Guy gritted his teeth.
"That was sarcastic, right? Well, I also stopped by because I wanted to ask Kakashi Hatake-shi for a moment of his time tomorrow. The drug I gave him, should wear off by then. Just making sure he doesn't run away from me."
She offered them another smile. Azuma looked at her, his forehead puckered. What a creep.
"You could have just asked, you didn't have to drug him. How do we know you're not working with the Akatsuki?"
Kintsugi was hungry.
"Ha! Keep your morals away from me Chain Smoker. You should have told me you wanted the Akatsuki to kill you. Had I not sent you flying, you would probably be six-feet underground. There is a method to my madness. Besides, I'm here on business. Commerce if you will."
She bit her lip.
"A wonderful plan for reinvigorating your economy."
"Why...?" Kotetsu turned to say.
"Be quiet. I'm not finished." Kintsugi interrupted him.
"Look. I heard about what happened to your Hokage. I could speak to your elders, but I've also heard alot about Hatake-shi here. I need someone to vouch for me when I present my plan," she said looking at them expectantly.
They were on the floor. There wasn't much they could offer.
"Tell Hatake-shi to meet me tomorrow by the BBQ place near the hot springs...alone. I hear they have good food."
Having said all she had planned to say, she left, only loosening control over them once she was far enough away, dust gently sweeping away her trail.
She would eat and go to bed with a full belly.
They took it rather well, she thought.
Be careful who you trust. His accusing words echoed in her mind again.
She sighed. It had been a long time since she had. That won't be an issue.
You're a weapon; and weapons don't weep. Rashaan's voice seemed to add.
The sun was getting lower on the horizon.
She just needed a bite to eat.
