Don't own it!

Chapter Nineteen: The Wulfen Brothers

Imako's eyes swept over the raging beasts, marking four of the many. Splitting into four bodies, each took on of the marked beasts and took out a kunai attached to something like a thread of nylon. She could feel the impending attack and waited for just the right moment.

"What is she doing?" asked Sakura wide eyed.

"I'm... not sure," said Kakashi confused.

'Is she...?'

The moment was at hand and the wolves made their move. Imako quickly jumped high into the air and threw the kunai, as did her doppelgangers. Each hit their mark, the kunai wrapping around the wolves throats. The Imako's landed back on the boulder and yanked the string, covering their heads with their free arms as the other beasts jump attacked them in one great body.

"Imako!"

Kakashi's eyes widened in fear and he somewhat dumped Sakura in Naruto's arms and ran to the edge of the cliff, stopping short when the strangest thing happened. Suddenly all but the four snared wolves vanished in a burst of snow, revealing Imako was unharmed. She hopped from the bolder and dissipated her clones after they had given her the strings. She yanked on it again and pulled the four choking beasts together.

"Show your faces you pack of bastards or I'll strangle you on the spot," she snarled.

A puff of smoke and the beasts turned into four boys; all of them no older than twelve and all of them albino. They wore leather and thick furs and on their head they had a wolf skull with fur hanging down the back.

"D-don't kill us, please!" begged one of them as he struggled with the string.

"This is our home and you're trespassing!" spat another glaring up at her.

By this time the others had come down the cliff and approached them. Sakura making it clear Naruto could let go off her now. Imako made a point of not looking at Kakashi and walked away when they arrived. When Naruto finally let go, Sakura stayed at a distance.

"Who are you and why did you attack us?" demanded Kakashi.

"You're trespassers!" spat the bold one. "You have no rite to be here!"

"Shut up Fang!" hissed the third boy. "I don't want to die just yet if that's alright with you!"

"Please, d-don't kill us," leaded the first again.

"We're not going to kill you," said Kakashi exasperated. "You attacked us, remember?"

"What's the big idea anyway?!" said Naruto. "There wasn't even a sign around here or anything! How were we supposed to know this is your place?!"

"We only need to get to the other side of this mountain, that's all," said Kakashi. "Now tell us who you are."

"Tell them Fang," murmured the first.

"Fine!" he grumbled. "We're the Wulfen Brothers. I'm Fang, the scared rabbit here is Snowpaw, to my left is Lupe and behind me is Howler; he can't talk."

"C-can you please cut us loose now?" asked Snowpaw. "These strings are ch-choking us!"

"First apologize for attacking us and breaking Sakura's arm!" ordered Naruto.

Howler looked at Sakura with regretful sadness and bowed his head.

"He says he's sorry," said Lupe. "He's the one who did it."

Kakashi crouched down and cut the strings with his kunai.

"No funny business now!"

Imako had gone off to one of the trees and climbed up to the highest branch. She looked everywhere but at Kakashi; she listened though.

The brothers had told them this was their home ever since they had been driven out of their village. They weren't ninja, but had shamanic powers. The wolves they had battled had been spirits given a body through the snow. This was to keep the villagers away. They had apologized again. Howler had even given them a little potion to help their healing, though it would take a little time to kick in.

"So why did they banish you from the village?" asked Kakashi.

"Because we're different," said Fang sourly. "And with our powers they took us for demons."

"They're afraid of us," said Snowpaw timidly.

"That's a load of crap!" huffed Naruto.

Kakashi suddenly made a face and went for some privacy to do what he really needed to do! Howler sat next to Sakura and made sure her arm was securely bound for the potion to work right.

"Why can't you talk?" asked Sakura.

Howler removed the skull from his head letting long, braided white hair fall and pulled down the collar of his leather and fur shirt. There was a large scar across his throat where the voice box is located. He held his hand as though a knife were in it and drew it across his throat.

"One of the villagers had gotten a hold of him and tried to kill him," said Lupe. "It was a close call, but he's though."

"That's terrible," said Sakura.

It had gotten late so the Wulfen Brothers decided to let them stay the night. They led them not too far to a large cave running deep into the mountain. The part they inhabited was near the opening around a smooth bend in a side cavern. The beds were heaps of furs and an area was cleared in the middle for a fire place. There was a small bowl like outcropping where cold water from the mountain collected. Imako had followed them to the entrance, but hadn't joined them and instead sat outside on a small boulder after clearing the snow. Kakashi made sure everyone was going to be alright and walked out to look for her, finding her not too far off. He scratched his head unsure and sighed. He felt bad for thinking Imako had been behind the attack and didn't quite know what to say; especially after their fight last night. When he looked up from his thoughts she was gone, but he quickly spotted her walking away.

"Imako, please wait!" he called. "I want to talk to you!"

Imako kept walking as though she hadn't heard him. Kakashi frowned and jogged up to her until he could get a hold of her wrist. It's was by no means forceful, but she tensed up and stopped nonetheless.

"I want to apologize to you Imako," he said. "I thought it was you behind the attack."

She didn't answer nor move, just stared at the snow at her feet. Kakashi moved in front of her, but she just looked away to the side.

'This isn't working,' he thought.

"Look, about last night... I really am sorry I got so angry," he tried.

She still didn't respond and Kakashi sighed. When he was about to give up she finally spoke, though quietly.

"They didn't smell right, though I didn't know which the humans were," she said. "I had to observe first."

Kakashi put his hand on her shoulder.

"And you did great."

Imako shrugged his hand off and glared at him.

"I did it to save Kyuubi," she huffed. "Get it straight."

"Whatever you say," he said. "But thanks anyway."

Kakashi couldn't hold back a small smile and she turned her back on him with an 'hmpf'.

"Won't you come to the fire with the rest of us?" he asked.

"Why?" she spat. "I don't belong there..."

Kakashi's smile softened a bit. It seemed Imako was beginning to warm up; finally. He stepped back in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders again.

"Yes you do," he said. "And I'm growing tired of having to tell you all the time. Imako, you have to understand that there is a clear line between you and the Demon; you aren't the same."

"You go on and on about it, but it's not true!" she said angrily. "And how can you, after what I did to you and tried to do again, how can you still want to mend a friendship torn apart years ago?! Why can't you just leave me alone; let go Kakashi; tell them the shaman succeeded! Tell them I'm dead!"

She had used his given name this time. Kakashi let go of her and took a step back, lifting his hitai-ate to free his sharingan. Then, with a deep breath, he slowly and hesitantly lowered his mask to reveal his face for the first time after the attack.

"Look into my eyes and tell me the truth. Would Umino Imako, my Imako, really do this to her best friend willingly?" he asked with a slight tremble in his voice.

Anger, sorrow, fear, regret and confusion danced in her eyes as she looked upon his scared face. As she looked at what she had done to him 19 years ago. The scar across his sharingan went down just below his cheekbone. And another three ran across the left corner of his mouth to his chin; down his cheek to his neck and the third just a bit higher starting just below his cheekbone. Another, thicker scar started at the top of his neck and ran down to where she couldn't see. His entire neck seemed to be made up of the pale scar tissue. With hot tears she remembered tearing at his chest as well. Kakashi looked at her patiently as she came closer and lightly traced the scars with a trembling hand.

"Now do you believe me?" he asked quietly, relieved he had finally gotten through to her.

"I-I'm so sorry- I should have been stronger... I couldn't stop myself—"

"Not yourself; it. I never blamed you Imako," he said reaching up with both hands to lightly stroke her hair. "Never you..."

Something felt a long time ago stirred in him; and against his better judgment Kakashi leaned in and lightly pressed his lips to hers, realizing how much he really wanted... needed to kiss her. At first she was wide eyed and unresponsive; but when the bold Jonin lowered his hand to the small of her back and pulled her closer she gingerly returned the kiss. But then as though having been struck by lightning Imako pushed him away and stepped back with her hand covering her mouth. She took another step back and shook her head.

'Damn,' he thought desperately trying to think of something to say.

"Imako I... I'm- I didn't m—"

"You picked a hell of a time," she yelled furiously.

"I'm sorry, I didn't re—"

Before Kakashi could finish Imako punched him to the ground and stalked off towards the cave. The Jonin rubbed his jaw before pulling up his mask and lowering his hitai-ate. He really screwed up, but the he thought of something to lift his spirit a bit.

"She didn't say she didn't like it," he told himself. "Just rotten timing."

Snowpaw finished cooking the rabbit stew and handed everyone a clay bowl to eat from.

"Master Kakashi and Umino-san have been gone a long time," said Sakura. "I wonder what's taking them."

Howler made some hand gestures and smiled.

"He says it's nice to have some company," said Lupe. "I agree, it gets dull sometimes."

"Where are you headed anyway?" asked Fang.

"Home to Konoha," said Sakura. "We were on a mission."

"What kind?" asked Lupe.

Naruto grinned stupidly.

"Can't tell, top secret."

The Wulfen Brothers shrugged and started eating; the Genin followed suit. Just then Imako stormed in and walked right past everyone along the main tunnel. Kakashi came in not long after, but stopped short of following her further and sighed scratching his head.

'Oh Kakashi you are such a fool,' he berated himself.

"You two really need to settle your differences," said Naruto with a full mouth.

Kakashi lapsed back into his usual self and took a seat by the fire.

"You're the one to talk Naruto," said Kakashi accepting a bowl of rabbit stew.

"Hey!"

Imako hadn't gone much further before she stopped and leaned against the cool stone of the rough cave wall.

'What the hell is he thinking,' she thought angrily. 'How dare he?!'

The longer she though about that instant of intimacy her anger suddenly ebbed away to be replaced by some other strange emotion. It made her uneasy and she lightly brushed the tips of her fingers across her lips and closed her eyes; sinking down to the floor.

"What are you doing to me?" she whispered.

Kakashi felt really bad about what he'd done. Imako was going through enough as it was and didn't need this on top of things. He was selfish.

"Naruto, do me a favor and bring some food to Imako," he said.

Naruto sighed and set down his empty bowl and, taking Imako's, he went off. He didn't have to walk for long and found her sitting against the wall, staring off into space.

"Hey, food," said Naruto holding out the bowl.

Imako stared at him for a moment before taking the bowl with both hands.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"What was that? I don't think I heard you," teased Naruto.

"I said thanks," she repeated annoyed. "Now go away!"

The blond shrugged and plopped down in front of her.

"Nah, I think I'll stay here a bit," he said airily.

"You're a pest Naruto, you know that?"

Naruto arched a brow.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked.

"Why?"

"You just called me Naruto," he grinned foxishly.

Imako glared at the boy.

"You're right, I must be sick," she said flatly.

"Hey!"

To Naruto's and her own surprise Imako started to laugh. It wasn't evil, but a genuinely good natured laugh. He couldn't help it and laughed too. She had to admit, it felt good to laugh like this.

'Leave it to Naruto,' thought Kakashi with a smile.

He had followed the boy without his knowing, but stayed well hidden in the shadows. Her laughter was like music to his heart and he only wished he could make her laugh like that again. But the way things were he'd be lucky to get anything out of her now. He gave a heavy sigh and returned to the others. He felt talking to Naruto was the best thing for her right now. The boy had a knack to bring out the best in people. It was very late by now and sleep was just around the corner.

'Come back to me Imako...'

Another chapter done. The next one might take a while, I've been letting down my homework and my excuse that I've forgotten my notepad won't work twice on the same teach! Well, hope you liked this chapter and look forward to your reviews. Thank you to all who've reviewed the last chap.

Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf