Don't own it!

Chapter Seventeen: A demon's demons

Breakfast had been interesting. Naruto wouldn't stop staring, Sakura was uncomfortable sitting next to her and Sasuke was completely indifferent. Imako glared at Kakashi the entire time and Kakashi just sat there reading his book. While the three Genin cleaned up Kakashi restocked the supplies Arase had permitted him to take and they were on their way in no time.

The next two days of travel Imako kept her distance of Team 7, but Kakashi made it clear he wasn't about to loose sight of her. The further they reached up the mountain, the colder it became and at the evening of the second day it had begun to snow. From then on they had to walk through varying layers of snow as the summit came ever closer. But also, the further they came the worse the weather got. For now though there had been no trouble and all they needed to worry about was to choose what to eat that night.

"Do we have any ramen?" asked Naruto hopefully.

"Since they didn't have it on the menu in the inn, what makes you think we have it now," said Kakashi. "But we have rice."

"Whoop-de-do," moaned Naruto.

After making sure everyone was asleep aside of Kakashi who was gone, Imako walked off a little distance. He stopped at a small stream and kneeled down to look at her reflection in the cold water. Her eyes widened in fear of the monster staring back at her. It was very unlike her demon form. Flaring red eyes, skin made of shadows and an evil set of razor sharp teeth.

"We are one!"

Imako jumped back, her heart pounding in her throat. Her reflection had spoken! There was a sudden stabbing pain in her chest and she bit her tongue to keep from crying out. A light thud behind her gave away Kakashi's approach. He looked at her clutching her vest. Imako flashed him an angry glare and doubled over spitting out blood. Kakashi silently crouched down beside her and put his hand between her shoulders. Building up some chakra he let it flow into her until Imako stopped feeling pain and somewhat relaxed.

"If you don't rest properly you'll never replenish the chakra your body uses to keep the seal intact," he said. "I know you haven't been sleeping since we left the inn."

"Fuck off Hatake," spat Imako with a slight tremble. "I don't need you help; I don't want you help!"

"You're weak and you do need my help Imako," said Kakashi taking back his hand.

"NO I DON'T!" she yelled, her voice sounding strangled. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!! WHAT DO YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME?! YOU DON'T CARE SHIT!!"

"I care Imako," said Kakashi. "I care because you are my friend!"

"I WAS! PAST TENSE! GET OVER IT!" she yelled clenching her fists on the ground. "YOU BASTARD DON'T EVEN REALIZE YOUR OWN LIES! IF YOU'D CARED SO FUCKING MUCH THEN YOU WOULD HAVE COME AFTER ME WHEN I LEFT KONOHA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!"

That was below the belt and Kakashi got angry.

"Incase you've forgotten you attacked me," he said trying to keep his voice level. "I would have come after you if it weren't for me spending two god damn weeks in intensive care at the hospital! How do you expect me to look for you when three healers are stitching me up while another two are working to keep me alive in the first place?!"

This time Imako couldn't retort and kept silent. Kakashi clenched his fists.

"My assignment is to bring you back to Konohagakure and you will come back whether you want to or not," he said incensed. "And if you want to be treated like the murdering scum sealed inside of you then fine, that's how you'll be treated! You've been given the chance to live as yourself, but it seems you're too blind to see it! Not even Naruto is that big of an idiot; at least he's living it up even though most of Konoha hates him and would rather see him dead!!"

Startled by his own words Kakashi heaved a sigh and composed himself.

"You should take an example of him; he's going to prove to be a great ninja yet. And unlike you, he's working to earn respect and prove them wrong about himself."

He turned his back on her and sighed again.

"I always thought you were stronger... smarter than that," he said quietly. "Proves what an idiot I am doesn't it. I've never been so wrong in my life."

With that he walked off to camp. Imako was trembling, some blood and saliva still dripping from her slack mouth. Slowly she sat back on her knees and wiped at her mouth, startled to feel her warm tears; she hadn't realized she'd been crying. What else neither she nor Kakashi had noticed the shadowy figures in one of the few trees.

"There's some major stuff going on between those two," whispered Naruto after they'd raced Kakashi back to camp.

"I was right," muttered Sasuke.

"What should we do?" asked Sakura.

"Leave it all up to the great ninja to be," chimed Naruto with a stupid grin.

"Talk about an ego."

All three Genin went pale as chalk and slowly turned to see Kakashi standing there with his arms crossed.

"And just what do the three of you think you were doing spying on us like that," he asked irate.

"We're sorry Master Kakashi," said Sakura. "We heard yelling and... well—"

"You had no rite!" barked Kakashi before he could stop himself.

He immediately apologized and scratched his head.

"We just thought we might be able to help," said Sakura close to tears.

"Yeah Master Kakashi," said Naruto. "She could have attacked you."

Kakashi sighed and crouched down.

"Look, I appreciate your concern guys," he said putting his hand on Sakura's head. "But this is a personal matter between Imako and me. Besides," he shrugged. "I'm a grown boy and capable to take care of myself."

"I was right," said Sasuke. "It was you, wasn't it!"

"Yes Sasuke, it was me," he breathed. "But don't drop the bomb please."

"What's right? What bomb?" asked Naruto confused.

Kakashi ignored the blond and put his arm around Sakura, pulling her into a hug against his chest.

"Please don't cry Sakura," he said soothingly. "I really am sorry I barked at you like that."

The pink haired Genin rubbed at her misty eyes and looked up with a smile.

"Does that mean you forgive me?" he asked.

"Yes," she smiled. "I forgive you. But why don't; you tell us things about you and her?"

Kakashi let go of her and stood up.

"Where's the mystery in that?"

Imako had cleaned the blood and saliva from her mouth and hands before lying down on her stomach by the stream. She refused to look at her reflection in the stream again, but the sound of the running water soothed her mind. It didn't take long before she closed her eyes and fell asleep then and there; indifferent to the cold snow.

So, what'cha think? Like it? Don't like it? Tell me in a review! Thanks to all who've reviewed and see ya later.

Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf