A/N: Greetings. My notes are short...anyways…I just ask for reviews and stuff. I don't think I'll feel to update if I don't get more than 5-10 reviews. (I really would LOVE more than 10 reviews…then I can guarantee an update before the end of the month) Um...yeah. This is a very critical chapter. A little long too. Get comfy. Whatever typos I have forgive me. I'm nearsighted, okay? Later Days.

The Hidden Truth-(Almost but Not Quite)

"Father!" She cried as she ran through the woods. She came upon a river and looked down to see small fish. She watched two of the many fish swim around in circles as if playing with each other. She looked further up the river and saw Yoshimitsu Kyoshi. "Daddy!" She said and ran towards the man. Kyoshi sat at by the river with his Yui and a young Kazuya Yuki near.

"Hey there." He smiled to his daughter. Yui breathed heavily form running so quickly. Her face was red, and her heart beat had quickened. "You look tuckered out." Yui sat beside the man and rubbed her ankles.

"I was looking for you guys." She said.

"Well look no further. Here we are." He said. Kyoshi held the fishing pole stiff and straight, but never took his gaze from his daughter.

"Yeah."

Kazuya looked at Yui. He sat beside a sleeping Yuri with an empty bucket to his side. Yui turned her head to catch the boy's gaze. He blushed slightly and turned away from her look. The blonde girl walked over to him and smiled. "Hi...Yui…"

"Hey there Yuki, did you catch some fish?"

"Not really…" He said timidly.

"Oh...want me teach you how?"

"Your dad tried and it didn't work…I'm not good at it."

"Come on! I'll show you. It's easy." She grabbed the bucket and then the young boy's hand and drew him to her father's side. "Watch and learn."

"Okay…" He watched the young girl as she put together his fishing gear and began to fish like a professional. Her father and her, side by side, seemed like a perfect image of family. The two had the same moments and facial expression as they fished. "Hey! You got one!" Yuki cheered.

"Almost, but not quite!" Yui said and with a great pull she pulled out a large fish. "WOW!"

"Whoa…"

"Great job Yui!" Kyoshi dropped his line as to go help his daughter catch the large fish. After they caught the large fish the group sat down together and grilled it over a fire. Yuki looked further up the river and saw the body of water eventually widened. He asked if a beach was there. "Yeah." The man answered.

"Hey…Kyoshi-sempai when we're done...can we go to the beach?"

"Sure. We'll all go. You see the river flows and eventually goes out and becomes the sea. Marine life everywhere. It's fun. I'll take you guys when Yuri wakes up."

"We should leave him here…loser." Yui said as she was about to take a bite of her fish. The three laughed and Yuri did wake, just in time to steal from his younger sibling.

"I'm a loser. You wish." He said and ate it whole.

"YURI!" She screamed. Kyoshi and Yuki laughed…and laughed…and laughed…

With a light scent of salt water in the air.

"Where am I?" Yui asked. The blonde opened her eyes and saw she was laying on the cold, frozen ice of the same river in her memories. "What…is this…where am…I?" She looked up and saw before her a tall image of a man in dark clothing, with midnight blue eyes. His long hair blew in the winter wind and he smiled.

"I hope its not too cold Yui."

"…" Her eyes widened in fear. "Yu…Yuki…" She whispered.

"It's been a long time. I've missed you so."


Kakashi packed his things and summoned Pakkun. In his head many thoughts of Yui appeared. "This is because of me." He thought. He looked down to the old dog that appeared from a small poof of smoke and raised his paw for a greeting.

"Hello." Said Pakkun to his master. The dog titled his head and saw the worry in Kakashi's eye. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Yui's gone. I need you to go around the house. See if you find anything at all." He told the old dog.

"Right." The dog scampered out of his room down the corridor.

Kirara entered the room as Kakashi zipped up his jounin vest. He turned to face her and saw the red in the woman's eyes; dried tears on her cheeks served as evidence to show she had been crying. "Hatake-san you're going after my daughter, aren't you?" She asked. Her voice slightly trembled as she looked to him. She slowly touched his shoulder and he could feel her hand shaking. "Aren't you?"

"That is why you pay, isn't?" He looked at her hand and smiled weakly beneath his mask. "I'll find Yui and bring her back safely. Yoshimitsu-sama, even if it kills me. I swear it." Kakashi took her shaky hand off his shoulder and held it. "I promise." Kirara's eyes widened as she finally realized it. Despite how she dislike him, and wished better for her daughter Yoshimitsu Kirara saw for the first, that he loved her child.

She slowly drew her hand from his own and crossed her arms. As tears welled in her blue eyes she turned her back to him. "You better." She said semi-confidently. As she exited the room she sighed. It was possible she was wrong about him. Despite that fact, she would never forgive him. His wrong against her daughter was simply "Unforgivable."


'Yuki…?' She looked at the man before her, confused and DOUBTFUL. Her mouth was dry, not form cold but from astonishment. Her throat itched and burned and everything that was real to her dissolved. What was going on? "You're alive?" She asked flabbergasted.

"Alive and well."

"…and…me? Why haven't I frozen to death?"

"A body-warming technique. Something I learned in a scroll I stole from Mizukage. Impressed?" He smiled to her. Yui frowned and sat up. He kneeled as to be eye level with the female then grabbed her arms as to pull her closer. He looked into her frightened green eyes and cupped her chin. "They're still as green as the sea water."

"Where…where have you been all these years?" She cried. Tears welled up into her eyes as she thought about it. "You left and never came back…and...I waited…and waited…so many things happened those days after you left. The village was attacked…and daddy…Yuki after you left someone killed my father."

"I know..." He whispered. He moved his touch from the woman and pulled away from her.

"You know? How…I mean…guess you must have heard---"

"I did it." Yui's eyes widened as she heard the words travel to her ears. Everything being said to her was a painful lie that just couldn't be true. Her heart beat madly with the utter most fear in her body. A painful fear which made her tremble. A painful fear which made her pale.

"What?" She asked as her teeth began to chatter.

"I killed Yoshimitsu Kyoshi. I murdered your father." He looked at her with a glint in his eyes. Of what, she couldn't identify.


"I hope he finds her." Kirara sat before the large image of her deceased husband. Her hands trembled. "Kyoshi please watch our daughter. Protect her with your grace…please…"

Sakura stood at the end of the hall watching the woman. Sasuke touched her shoulder and she looked at the floor. Her feet were wrapped in bandages. A result from the glass she stepped on. It only occurred to her that such happened when Naruto pointed out the bloody footprints as she rushed him to her room. She cleaned up his wounds only to find that she had a few of her own on the bottom of her feet. Sasuke immediately threw the pink haired girl in her bed and cleaned up her injuries.

The three ran down the hall to the kitchen which was now covered in glass. Naruto arose from under the counter and stumbled a bit. "Naruto!"

Sakura ran towards the blonde not caring for what she stepped on. "Are you okay?" She asked. On the blonde's cheek were open cuts and fresh blood. His arms were covered in scratches. Sakura touched the boy's face. "I told you to get some rest…if you hadn't gotten up…I'll clean you up."

"Kakashi will come back." Sasuke told her.

"I hope…"

"Since when was your faith in him so faint?"

"I don't know…I just…I haven't been this anxious feeling since…"

"Since…?"

"Since we were on the mission to get you back."

"…" Sasuke hugged the pink haired female around her waist. She placed her hands upon his own and enjoyed his warm feel. He whispered into her ear. "I'm here now…" he said. "I came back. And Kakashi will too."

"…I hope."

Naruto stood to the corner further down the hall. He frowned as he heard the two and when he thought about it…he had no choice. All he felt was void and he could find no other option. 'That's best…she…she only wants Sasuke…now she has him.' Naruto walked away from the scene as quickly as possible then soon began to run. He was quick to catch Kakashi right before he was to leave. "Kakashi-sensei let me come with you." Naruto asked. "I want to help find Yui-chan too."

"No." Kakashi walked past the boy towards the house's entrance and gathered his leftover materials. "This is my responsibility."

"It's a team mission; it is a blame that falls on all of us. Let me help!"

"No. You're still recovering from earlier today. Moreover this is my responsibility. Not yours or anyone else's. Understand?" As he pulled on his shoes he looked to boy. "Furthermore if there is an attack here you'll be available."

"But sensei ---"

""That is enough Naruto." He touched the boy's shoulder and looked into the blonde's eyes. "I have to go alone." Naruto frowned and stared to the wall. He didn't want to leave just to help; he waned to get away from Sasuke and Sakura.

"Fine. I'll stay." He muttered.

"Good."

Pakkun ran up to Kakashi with the same monotone look he always carried. He told Kakashi what he information he came across. "I could find nothing in particular but there is a lingering scent of salt water where there was broken glass. It is very faint but I can still smell it. I think I can find a lead."

"Yui said the sea is near the village. A bit off from the woods, right?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah." Yuri approached the three and frowned. "Its north of the village. There's also a river some ways before that which flows out into the sea. Find her. Find my sister."

"I will. Pakkun, let's go." The old dog ran out the now opened door before Kakashi, who smiled to Naruto beneath his mask. With that he headed out the door after the summoned animal.

As Yuri closed the door to keep the cold out Naruto turned his back to him. "You're…nice now?When were you---"

"Nice? Well…I maybe a total jerk at times but my family is first. Just like your teammates for you. That's just how it is."

"You're right."

"You just know after a while that how you feel doesn't matter anymore. It's just their safety and their happiness."

The words echoed in Naruto's head and his froze momentarily. 'Their happiness…' He watched the older blonde walk down the hall and whispered to himself. "Their happiness…hers…"


"You killed my father? You? Yuki…YOU!" Yui shouted and stood up. "HOW COULD YOU!" Hot tears slid down her cheeks. "I loved you, and you killed my father?" A rage burned in her chest, one that made her heart burn.

"I loved you as well. That is why I killed him. Kazuya said this with honesty in his yes. It made her worry that he looked so content about his words.

"How can you say this? You dare say that—that you loved me, and you killed my father. The man who I loved so. You killed him?" Her voice trembled. "You…" She grabbed the man by his sleeve and looked hatefully into his blue eyes. "You…you BASTARD!" She punched the man and he stepped back a bit. Kazuya looked up to the woman he loved burning with fury. He wiped the blood from his lip and frowned.

"I thought you'd understand. I killed Kyoshi because he was an obstruction. Her tried to prevent our love!" He grabbed the woman and stared into her eyes. "He told me to stop seeing you."

"…Never…Father would never…He cared for us both….he…he knew we were in love." She shook her head not wanting to hear anymore words. She hoped her oncoming tears would vanish. She wished her nightmare would end. "Everyone…everyone was so cruel to you and daddy defended you." He…he protected you."

"It's that boy." The older woman of the village whispered. "The one Yoshimitsu is keeping at his home." Kazuya held his head low as he and Kyoshi walked.

"I know. Kyoshi-san is too kind to take in such a wayward child and raise him.

"Yes. Kind and crazy. That boy is no good. He's just---"

"An excellent young man," Kyoshi approached the two and frowned. "For you to speak about him so is very impolite on your part ladies. I expect better from the sisters of the ever so famous Monk Govinda." The two women looked away and Kyoshi smiled warmly. "Bedside's its jut wrong to think of children in such a way."


With his adrenaline pumping and his mind in a crazed state Kakashi followed Pakkun as fast as he could. Everything valued most at that moment was on the line. If Yui was killed the mission would be failed. Moreover he'd lose the only woman he ever loved. 'No.' He wouldn't lose her as he lost Obito, he wouldn't lose her as he did anyone he cared for. Not again. "This is my responsibility."

"Kakashi don't feel regret." The old dog told him as they went through the snow.

"I'm not."

"Guilt will change nothing, or help. Remember that."

"…I have always these years…" His hair blew in the wind wildly and in his head thoughts of her was all on his mind. 'Wait for me Yui…wait.'


"He soon saw me as they did too, Yui."

As evening approached Kyoshi sat at his desk with Yuki sitting before him. He looked own to the smooth wood that made the furniture and then to the young man now standing in front of him. "Yuki, I'd like to…I'd see it better for you both if you saw Yui less." He told the teen.

"Why! I love her!" He slammed his fist into the desk causing the papers and other items to fall off. He leaned closer to Kyoshi's face. "I want her to be my bride someday...please don't…"

"Since recently your behavior has become rather…shady...I'd prefer if you do what I asked. Please this is hard as it is." Kyoshi leaned away from the boy's face and stood up from his chair. "I'm not trying to hurt you. It's better for you. That's all."

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! You sound just like them. I hate you!" Kazuya ran from the man he once respected it was official from there on.

He ran out the Yoshimitsu estate. He walked through the village streets receiving glares. He walked until he came upon an abandoned temple. As he headed up the stairs of the temple he checked as to make sure no one watched him. He pushed open the doors and entered to see a cloaked man sitting with many shrouded men before him. He walked past the men and bowed before the man.

"Teach me, please." He asked a younger version of Yachi. The older man touched the boy's shoulder. As smiled sinisterly to him and a glint was in his eyes.

"I knew you'd ask." His eyes glowed with excitement. He had much planned for the boy. "As long as you do some things for me in return."

"YES!" The teen pledged his obedience to the man.

XXX

Kyoshi smiled weakly to as blood trickled down his chin. He held Yuki's hands and slowly pulled the sword from his chest. Kazuya looked amazed as the dying man forced out the weapon lodged in his chest, with his grip still powerful.

"DIE!" Yuki shouted.

"..you know…I saw you as my son…I loved you as my own."

"You tried to keep me from her…"

"I wanted to…protect you both…" Kyoshi fell against his shoulder and mumbled "to…protect you all…Tell…my family…I'm sorry that I cannot make it home…And I wanted them to wait for me…Yuki…my son." The teen's eyes widened and as Kyoshi fell to the snow covered ground. He stepped back and then after an awkward silence…he ran. Warm tears welled in his eyes and he gritted his teeth. 'He kept her from me…he had to go. He kept Yui from me.'

Kakashi had arrived to the scene a hid behind a tree. He pulled a kunai from his pouch as Pakkun vanished. His was listening to every word Kazuya told Yui. He held his breath counting in the back of his, soon after and revealed himself to the two. His eye watched Yui as she cried on Kazuya's chest. "…It sounds rather childish to kill a man because he didn't let you have what you wanted." He slowly and cautiously approached the two. "Leave Yui alone."

"He had to go…he kept me from my love…and you. You have to go as well." Kazuya pushed Yui away and she fell back to the cold ice. Shock in her face, her skin pale, and her eyes wide, she was frozen in horror. "Yui is mine, and I will have no one stand in my way. I've waited too long…" He stepped away from Yui and took a certain stance. "Even if it means going through you…I will. YUI IS MINE!" Kazuya charged towards the silver haired male and vanished by his third or fourth step. Kakashi looked around and saw nothing but the Yui before him...and then he felt a sharp object pointed to the back of his head. Kazuya had his katana merely centimeters from the back of Kakashi's skull.

"Impressive speed. I didn't even sense your presence."

"I'm nearly undetectable."

"Nearly…" Kakashi stabbed the clone in his chest with the kunai that he held in his hand. The Kazuya clone vanished and Kakashi revealed his sharingan. "But I should be able to see your moves now."

"The famous sharingan…something I cannot steal with all my skills as a bandit." Kazuya's voice echoed and through the woods and before Kakashi's eyes two clones appeared from nowhere and attacked. "Mikazuki no mai!" (A/n: Translation: Dance of the Crescent Moon) The clones attacked simultaneously and smiled as they heard Kakashi's scream. Soon the smile faded and the wooden replacement fell on the ground. "Shit!" Kazuya spat. "Wait..." His eyes widened and his head turned to look at the jounin fleeing with Yui. "NO!" he shouted.

'That was Hayate's move. The guy is really talented. I have to be careful. My mission is to protect her. I won't fight if I don't have to.' Kakashi held the dead silent Yui and ran as fast as his feet could carry him. "Twisted ex-boyfriend?" He asked.

"…"

"I know it's no time for jokes but that's a serious question."

"I waited for him…so long…" She whispered. "When daddy died…I wanted his comfort so much…I waited so long…then I couldn't wait anymore…I had to comfort myself."

"And?"

"..To find out he killed daddy…it hurt…Kakashi it hurt just like that time…Kakashi…why did it have to be him?"

"You get the weird ones. I mean you did like me right?"

"I want it…I want it to go away. All my pain...I want it to go…"

"It'll go if you come with me." Kazuya appeared before the two causing Kakashi to halt. He quickly placed Yui to the ground and stood before her.

"Stay back." He whispered to her. The blonde nodded and ran as to take temporary cover behind a tree. Kazuya stood several feet form Kakashi and smiled. "You're sick. You need to keep away from her."

"I do not need advice from the likes of you. You are the one who sick. You're sick and wicked. CRUEL. The woman is tortured by the thought and sight of you and yet you continue to upset her with your presence."

"…"

"Leave…leave HER ALONE!" Kazuya charged with his sword towards the jounin's chest. Yui covered her ears and closed her eyes.

"No more…" She whispered. "God I can't take this anymore…I CAN'T!" She screamed.


"I can't." He said to the two. Naruto looked at Sasuke and Sakura. They sat in the living room near the fireplace. The carpenters had immediately rushed over to assist the Yoshimitsu despite the evening, and the weather, meaning most of the rooms were being repaired and were not warm enough yet. The three teens stayed in the now heated living room and Yume slept in the sofa. She cried herself to sleep with worry for her sister. "I just can't. His teammates looked at him with worry and concern to his words.

"You can't what?" Sakura asked.

"…"

"Naruto what is that you mean?" Sakura touched his shoulder and looked into his blue eyes. The blonde boy pushed away her hand and she stared at him blankly. "Naru---"

"You're happier with Sasuke so just stay with him. I…I can't try and have you love me anymore." He arose and headed out the room. Sasuke sat and looked at the empty doorway his best friend exited out of. He couldn't make sense of it…why? When…was he really giving up on her? Even so, why do it when he wasn't sure that Sasuke did in fact feel that way…

'No. Naruto knew I was beginning to feel that way is that why?' The young Uchiha asked himself. He looked to Sakura who sat with her hands in her lap. She twiddled with her fingers and stared at them. For some reason he felt how upset she was at that moment and did nothing. He didn't touch her, he didn't say anything to her; it wasn't his style. But he did leave the room to follow Naruto. She watched him as he left after their friend. Sasuke wasn't satisfied with Naruto just giving up like that. For everything between them it was a fight to the end. Even if it was for Sakura's affection, he'd fight him the proper way for that as well. He wasn't satisfied at all. "Naruto!" He said as he saw the boy down the hall.

"What?"

"Talk."

"I have nothing to talk about. You have what you've wanted, don't you? This time you win. You both are happy right?"

"You see it as a game?"

"No, but that's how I've been forced to play."

"What kind of crap are you talking about?" Sasuke marched up the blonde and took him by the collar. "Since when was this you?"

"…It's been me for a while. You've just been too much about everything else."

"So what exactly are you saying?"

"When you came back…I couldn't find myself happier. After being depressed for so long, your return was what I needed. It was what I dreamt about for so long…and in all that time we changed so much…"

"What point are you trying to me? Stop beating around the bush."

"Even when I outgrew my crush…with you gone...and it was only her and I, I realized something. While being that pillow to her pain I learned something! That it wasn't just some stupid crush, I loved her!" He pushed the young Uchiha away and shouted to him. "I learned I loved her!" He punched the off guard teen. "It wasn't some crush! I wasn't just some pillow, I was what she needed. A love! Because you left and fucked it up!" He looked at Sasuke with angry blue eyes and his breathing had changed. With harsh breaths he glared. "You messed everything up! Even when you came back and was my friend again you stole yet another part of happiness."

"..." Sasuke touched his bloody lip and looked at the boy who was, even in simplest way was his rival. "You bastard. Stop being so spoiled." He muttered. "Stop being childish!" He punched the blonde teen back and spat out the blood that filled his mouth. "That's the bitch way to go about this problem."

"You call me a bitch after the way you've treated people all these years!" The two were about the hit each other when Yuri grabbed both their wrists.

"You wake Yume, I'll kill you both." He growled lowly. Naruto and Sasuke stared at the blonde man. Where did he come from? Moreover how did he…? "You guys really need to lighten up. Being bitches gets no one, no where." He shrugged his shoulder and shook his head. (A/n: Like Cloud in Final Fantasy VII) "Come on, let's be friends." He smiled falsely. The two stepped back and blinked confused. "That's better. Maybe you should try helping out instead of fighting over some girl. Haruno-sama is pretty, but I'm sure there are a lot of other things needing care first. Remember, as shinobi your emotions come last. Or never…something like that…whatever. I never really cared much to be a ninja."

"Why not? You're incredibly talented." Kirara walked down the hall and approached the three. "I'm always disappointed in you, not because you can't do what's right, but because you are capable of it and fail to do so. You're so worthless."

"I'm not totally worthless; I help set a bad example. Anyways I'm going to get back to working."

"Sure...work by flirting with the maids." Yuri left and Kirara stared at the two. "If you were my own children I'd slap you upside your heads. You can resent people in life, but having resentments against friends, family, and comrades only makes things difficult, and it is a waste of energy. Besides, I'm not paying you people to fight each other; I'm paying for my family's security. I'm already holding this against your sensei. When he returns with my daughter I want you all out. If such things occur while you are here I can seek my helps else where."

"…My apologies Kirara-sama." Sakura had come out the room and stood behind Kirara. She bowed to the brunette and Kirara turned to look at the pink haired girl. "I…It's my fault. I'm sorry."

"…I just want them back safely. My daughter…and your teacher." Kirara marched down the hall and looked at the floor. Sakura glared at her two teammates and then returned to the living room. Sasuke and Naruto both sighed and looked at the floor, as if it would solve their problems.

Kirara once again found herself before the portrait of her passed husband. "You better come back." 'Because, Hatake-san...if she lives and you perished, she'll never be happy.'

"DADDY!" She screamed as they buried him. The rain fell heavily. Mud was at their feet and she watched as they placed his coffin into the ground. "DADDY!" She reached for him as Yuri held her around the waist. Her will to have him back greater than his strength. "NO! FATHER! Give him back...God please…PLEASE!" She fell on her knees and began to dig up the dirt insanely. Yuri tired his best to hold, but she slipped from him as he made effort to keep her back.

Kirara walked over and stepped before her oldest daughter. She kneeled into the mud and held her crying child. "Shh..."

"NO! No..."

"Shh…" She hugged the younger woman and rocked gently as if she was small again. "I'm here…mommy is here now…"

"Daddy is gone for good now mom. He's gone for good...how am I supposed to live…how…?"

"I'm here…Yuri and baby Yume…we're here. You still have us…just…Yui…" She looked at her daughter. With her eyes as watery as Yui's she looked at her. "Please for my sake?"

"..I…I CAN'T!"

"YOU WILL!"

And the sound of a slap against wet skin echoed.


Kakashi watched carefully as Kazuya darted from left to right. The man jumped into he air and pointed his blade downwards as to land, with it meant to go through Kakashi's skull. He frowned when he saw he destroyed another shadow clone.

Kakashi hid behind a tree and held his breath. 'He's fast. Maybe faster than Gai. What makes it hard is that I can barely see him, especially through all this snow. All I can find is his scent…That's right. The sea water. That's how I found him. That's how I'll detect him."

"Where have you gone sharingan user? Your infamous eye is of no use to you while against me? Have you fled? Or are you just hiding?" Kazuya's eyes looked around his snowy terrain and he frowned. 'Where is hiding? I can still sense him. Where is he? Bastard.' "Come and fight me shinobi of Konoha. Or do you care for Yui so little?"

"..." The silver haired jounin pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. He bit his thumb as to get blood for his summoning technique. He'd have his dogs smell him out.

"Do you think I know naught of you? I've been watching Yui for years. I heard of how you crushed her. I watched all those nights she stayed up late in fury and misery. I watched as slowly sank down and began to cry. I was there. Where were you?"

Yui shook her head as every word reached her. 'That can't be Yuki…it can't be….all of this….it cannot be true. I don't want to believe it.'

Kakashi sent his bloody thumb across the scroll and froze as Kazuya appeared before him with the scroll stabbed into the tree he was hidden behind. "What were you doing? I loved Yui. I loved her so much I killed for her. And after all this time you think I'll be obstructed by you and I almost have her? I refuse!" The dark haired male pulled the blade from the tree and swung around cutting Kakashi across the stomach as he dodged.

Kakashi held his stomach in pain. He was careless that moment. 'I am getting old.' He realized the slash across his stomach was much longer than he thought. The length of the cut would cause a loss of much blood, which would slow him down and make hiding more difficult. His blood dripped on the snow covered ground. At that rate his began to feel light headed, and his vision began to blur. He needed to end the battle quickly.

"Tired? Already?" Kazuya walked towards the jounin who seemed to be losing the battle. "You see, you're not even fit to fight me. And still you choose to block my way?"

"As long as I live I'll protect her." Yui listened carefully to Kakashi's words. Was he admitting his feelings for her? "It's my mission." He tried to stand as his spilling blood continued to taint the pure white snow. "I will never just abandon her. I'll always come back…as long as waits." Her eyes widened and she brought her hands over her mouth.

'He'll always come back…as long as I wait…does he—?'

"Shut up. Why would such a woman wait for the likes of you?"

"Why would the same wait for you?" Kakashi responded.

"You are a funny one." Kazuya said sarcastically. "It's a shame….you must go. I do not like being provoked." Kazuya slowly headed towards Kakashi then within the blink of an eye he was gone. "Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" he said as he threw the shuriken and they duplicated. Kakashi moved to avoid the rain of shuriken from above. Kazuya was now in the air. Kakashi need an opportunity to have him remain still for his Chidori, but that seemed nearly unattainable.

Kazuya landed back to ground and charged towards Kakashi. He kneed the man in his stomach. Unable to withstand anymore with such a wound he fell to the ground on his knees. "It is now you die. Your end is now." He raised his blade as to cut off the head of the silver haired male but froze….

When Yui hugged him from behind.

"Please…no more…" She asked. "No more Yuki…" He felt hot tears against his back and listened to light sobs. "End it now…please?" Kazuya lowered his weapon and his hands fell to his side. His eyes widened.

"Yui…" He whispered.

"Don't...don't kill him. Please…if you love me, like you say you do, you won't kill anyone else I love." Kazuya gritted his teeth and his nostrils flared. He turned around and threw the blonde to the ground.

"YOU ARE TO LOVE NO ONE BUT ME!" As he turned again to Kakashi his eyes showed his shock as the Chidori went through his lower abdomen, and his katana through Kakashi's own body. The two men had stabbed through each other simultaneously, in the same area. Yui watched in utter astonishment as the moment occurred.

Kakashi stepped back with the sword still in his side. He could feel the blade through his lung. Yuki stammered back with his blood practically pouring onto the snow covered earth. He fell to the ground and in an image that appeared to be slowed down, he landed beside Yui. He looked at her with tears in his eyes. She stared back, unable to bring herself to words, with tears in her own. "Why…? She cried.

"I couldn't…I couldn't get back…" He said to her as blood trickled down his chin. "I would have returned sooner but…I wasn't good enough… I'm sorry I couldn't make it back to you…"

"WHY!" She screamed. She pushed away his forming tears with the sleeve of her robe. "Why…Yuki?"

"Because…" He began.

"Because…?" She asked.

"You loved him so… more than you did me."

"…what…?" Faint images of her father appeared, and even fainter images of Kazuya. So little of him… so few…he was almost vanishing in her eyes.

"I killed him for the reason… that I wanted you to me wholly. You loved him more. You loved him so much more…" He voice was slowly dying with his existence. "I always felt I had to compete with Kyoshi… I always, even though he never tried. I...I always… was not your greatest love. I hated being second to him. I wanted you to love me wholly as you did him."

"He was my father and you Yuki…! You…!"

As his eyelids slowly tired gentle snow flakes fell upon his face. "I wanted you to love me…as I did you…"

"I did! Yuki I loved you with all my heart and soul! I waited for you until my heart could bleed no more from pain! I really did love you entirely!" She cried. Kakashi stood and watched. He pulled the blade from his body and dropped it to the ground. And as he watched, his heart ached for the man just a little…

"...Almost" While his breathing ceased his lids fell heavier and his life was no more, Yui understood how sickly in love Kazuya Yuki was with her. She wished it wasn't that way. She did not want it to end so... "Almost…but…not quite…" He said with nothing inside of him. It was now that he was dead. She kissed his forehead as tears slid down her cheeks. Another love lost. More had been taken from her.

Kakashi stood there and pulled out the sword from his side then stood before her. She looked up to him. More tears came. "Why?" She cried. With her eyes puffy and red and her cheeks rosy she appeared more beautiful than life itself. More than anything. At least…to Kakashi at that moment. Despite her pain, she still was beautiful. The most precious thing he had.

"I…" He began. "Yui…"

"Why did it turn out like this…?"

"Yui…" Kakashi could no longer see. All that remained in his views was her image. His knees gave in and slowly his body fell to the ground. Yui watched him. His collapsing image was slow and she got up to quickly catch the man. Her arms wrapped around him and his head lay against her chest. Yui took her time and gently laid his body to the ground. "I always had this fear…this fear…so I never loved…I feared never…never coming back. Because of what I do…of who I am…my profession…I feared I'd never come back to you."

Yui's eyes widened. "Me?" She asked. "Is that why you…?"

"…"

"Kakashi…say something…don't shut your lips to me like last time!"

"…"

"Kakashi?" She placed her head against his chest. His heart beat was dying. He had nearly nothing left in him. In her throat was a dry feeling. She was in fear. She was anxious. "Kakashi…I…I love you. I still love you. So much." She put her hand on his stomach and felt the warm blood. And now her fingertips were freezing. Yuki's jutsu had worn off and soon she would no longer be able to remain in the cold. Along with that Kakashi was dying. "…Kakashi…?" She whispered. She looked and saw he was pale in complexion and pulled down his mask to see his lips becoming blue. "KAKASHI!" She screamed.


A/n: The NaruSakuSasu love triangle is getting hard to deal with. Their drama will be brought down a bit just for the next couple of chapters... Moreover I know Sasuke was real OOC this chapter but as I've said before…I find him a fairly hard character to work with sometimes. So…my apologies for that. The typos too. There's like an infinite amount of them in all my chapters. Well…LATER!