A/n: Okay so I didn't get as many reviews as I've dreamt about, but…I'm glad I did get some. I'd like to dedicate this particular chapter to the reviewer Hanariko. Your reviews, especially, keep me going. I'm glad to have such a faithful reviewer and I'm glad to have such a large group read and enjoy. Thank you all very much for what you've given. Uh..Sasuke and Naruto are a little out of character for this chapter too. Maybe even Sakura..I'm not sure. Moreover, this chapter will have instances from Yui's P.O.V. and it will be her thought…so there will we a lack of grammar usage there, being that thoughts are ongoing. (Tips from fine Literature works really well…) Forgive whatever typos are in this chapter...I'm just really too lazy sometimes (all the time) to correct them. I hope they don't take way from the chapter too much. I hope you enjoy.

Bold for Yui's P.O.V.

Bold Italics for thought

Italics for memory lapses. (As if you already didn't know…)

As the snow fell from the sky an icy winter wind blew. The sky was dead, and dark, despite all the pure white snow. Yachi appeared from behind one of the many trees. He walked towards the dead body that belonged to the once living Kazuya Yuki. He stood beside the lifeless man. All he could do was sigh deeply. Shinra hopped from a tree and kneeled to Yuki's side. He touched his cold, dead face. The brunette bit his bottom lip as Yachi began to speak.

"In the end his love for that woman killed him. Look now, upon this departed man who died. The reason was to his sick love. Thanks to her our lead man is no more." Yachi looked around and saw Kazuya's katana lying in the snow. Near that sight was a trail of blood and footprints.

"That blonde bitch is the reason for all this. I told him women were no good. Should we seek revenge?" He asked. Shinra's fingertips traced his jaw line and felt in his own side a great pain in result to the recent loss. "Tell me we can." He looked up to the older man and asked him earnestly. "Tell me I can kill her! Kazuya was my friend! All he wanted to do was be the best and come back for her!" He shouted. "Tell me I can steal her life!"

Yachi looked into Shinra's pleading eyes and closed his own. After a long moment of silence, with no sound but that of the winter wind, Yachi answered. "No. I warned him this would bring his demise. He refused to listen. He failed to heed my warning. I as his own doing." Shinra slammed a fist into the snowy ground and breathed heavily.

"Damn it!"

"Moreover, there is nothing in this village of worth left to steal. The Yoshimitsu estate has nothing worth our time. I've checked."

"...liar." Shinra muttered. "There are other reasons. Is it because of the Konoha-nin?"

"No."

"Then why?" He shouted. His voice echoed into the empty woods. "Sentiment?"

"…"

"So it is sentimental reasons. Even years after she had been married and had three children you still lover her. Women such as her…they disgust." He spat.

"Let us leave." Yachi ordered.

"…and him? Does he not deserve the proper burial?"

"…laying here in the snow…it probably is the burial he would want."

"To be covered by snow…? Kazuya Yuki."

"Snow. That suits him best." Yachi and Shinra walked through the ice cold blizzard and vanished, never to return to the village again. The snow fell and totally covered Yuki's body…all left to the earth was his katana. A gift to him from Yoshimitsu Kyoshi for his 18th birthday… the day he left.

"For you." Kyoshi said as he handed the blade to Yuki.

"Me? So you still care to give me gifts? I thought you hated me."

"I don't. I've never said that Yuki." He looked to the young man wiht slight upset in his eyes.

"Liar."

"Despite what you think, I'll never come to hate you." He shook his head. "Never."

"Whatever." Yuki turned away and stared at the floor.

"Here." Kyosi wlaked before him. Hehanded the boy the katana. Yuki's eyes looked at Kyoshi with utter confusion. He snatched the weapon away and turned his back to the blonde once more.

"… Though I'm not grateful for this I'm taking it anyway."

"Even if you say you're not grateful…I know you are." Kyoshi smiled and soon egan to laugh. "i could never come to hate you Yuki. You are family. Rememeber...you've stopped running."

I'll Wait for You (Her Patience)

I dragged along for as long as I possibly could. I think my physical strengthgave way a long time ago, and only my will drove me. My ankles burned and my body ached. I couldn't even breathe…My eyes hurt…my head…my heart.

I dropped him before me as I collapsed. I made it…I was now before the front door. I could make it. I had to…I had too much to lose if I didn't. I made it this far. The only thing left to do was knock. Please hear me.

She jumped. Yume sat in the hall and jumped to the sound of a violent knock. "Who's there?" She asked in a whisper. No answer came. The blonde girl had been waiting alone since she had awoken. By that time the rest of the household was already asleep. It was pitch black outside; the only light had been the pure white snow. Now it was the darkest hour. The hour before dawn. The knock occurred again. "H-hey…someone…anyone! There's someone at the door!" She shouted. "HEY!"

Yuri fell out the closet with one of the maids between his legs. "Yes..?" He responded. Yume blinked to him annoyed. Even at such times he was just sometimes really thoughtless.

"…" She blinked to him annoyed.

"…" The maid scrambled from between his legs and ran down the hall.

"You're a loser. A genuine loser. I swear."

"You asked for help?" He said as he got up.

"Not from you." Yume frowned. "I hate you." The knock was louder and more violent. "MOMMY!" Yume screamed. In less than a minute the entire household came. "The door." She said and pointed.

"…" Kirara looked at it and frowned. "Yume you frightened me. Now what about the door?" She asked. The brunette looked at Yuri who shrugged. "Well…?" Sakura rubbed her eyes. Sasuke scratched the back of head, and Naruto yawned. "Yume?"

"Someone was knocking really loud." The next knock that came was faint, and much weaker than the first few. It could barely be heard as Kirara reached for the door slowly. Her hand shook violently. Every person behind her held their breaths and the three young chuunin stayed alert. "Who is it?" She asked as she slid the doors the house open…

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura shouted. Naruto and Sasuke dashed past the group and picked up the man who was once their teacher.

He lay before meand all I could do was watch. As they picked him up and ran into the house leaving a trail of blood behind all I could do was watch. My eyes became blurry from forming tears. Everything was frozen to me. My existence…I couldn't even scream. I can't…Even if I wanted to touch him I couldn't reach. My universe was crumbling. It was fading.

My mother and Yuri helped me off the ground and pulled me into the house. "Kakashi…" I whispered. Everything in front of me was fading and as I saw them going with Kakashi, they too vanished. All I could see was him walking away…he was leaving. No. He was leaving like Yuki, and Daddy. No. No. Kakashi don't leave. Don't leave me. Please…right now...I don't know how long I can wait! NO!

"NO!" She screamed. She cried in hysteria as she watched them vanish down the end of the hall with him. Yuri held his sibling as she struggled to get free. "LET GO! KAKASHI DON'T LEAVE ME!" She screamed. "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" Yuri held her tighter and Kirara watched while her hands shook violently. "LET ME GO!"

"Yuri let her go…"

"Mother...she's gone mad."

"Let her go, now." The blonde looked at his mother and slowly released grip. Yume stood behind one of the maids and Yui stopped her screaming. Her body shook violently and she sank to the floor. "Yui..." Kirara called gently.

"He can't go…" She reached forward. Her hand extended and she touched nothing but air. "Don't leave me like father…like Yuki…I don't know how long I can wait…"

"Yui. Stop." She said. Kirara sat on the floor beside the woman and touched her hands. They were freezing cold. By just coming in contact with her there was a burning like feeling. It pained the two as they looked at each other. "I'm here…okay?"

"Mother…is that you mother?" Her mind blocked all her images. She responded to voice. Her sanity was temporarily diminished.

"Yes."

"He's leaving me. Mom…I don't want him to go. Not like everyone else. Not like everyone else I've loved."

"He won't. Okay? Come here. Come." She hugged the frozen blonde and everyone watched in utter shock.

Before her eyes and in her head everything was crumbling. Her hopes, her dreams, her fears, nothing was in her any longer. All she had now was… "Yui…just wait," Yume whispered "like I did for you."


She pulled the blankets to his chin and sighed. Several hours. That is how long it had taken her to keep the blood from flowing. In addition he had internal damage to his lung. Sakura sighed. Could her trip become any worse? "Naruto, Sasuke, and now you sensei…Why all this?" She sat at the chair that was to the bedside. "What's happening to us?" She put her hand to her chest, over her heart. "I'm so tired now…"

"Kakashi-sensei don't die! Come now!" With the best of her medical ninjutsu she tried to save the man who was once her teacher. Everything was riding on her learned abilities. The only thing left after her tasks to heal him and save his life was time. Time would decide whether he would make it or not. A wait that would haunt every person in that household. A wait added to her anxiety. As if she needed anymore.

"You should get back to bed." Sasuke said as he entered the room. He walked over to her and touched her shoulder.

"I was going to bed soon…but...I just want to sit here for now, that's all."

"Naruto is with Yume and Yuri. He said he didn't feel like seeing Kakashi like this."

"Yui?"

"Her mother locked her in her room. She needed to calm down. She practically went mad."

"Can you blame her? Look what has happened in a less than a month. The pressure and emotion are unbearable. It's very nerve wrecking as well." Sakura arose from the chair.

"You should have seen her crumble."

"Was it heartbreaking?"

"..Yes. Even for me." They walked out the room and Sasuke slid the doors shut. "I never want to see anyone crumble like that. It's horrid."

"Usually you're uncaring to such things. Why does it bother you now?"

"…It makes me think of…forget it. I'd rather not say." The dark haired male looked away and sighed deeply. "I've become sentimental...All because of you." He looked to Sakura who blushed slightly to his gaze.

"…Oh." Her eyes stared to the floor and she rubbed her arm.

"Go to sleep." He looked into her green eyes. "I see the weariness in your eyes." Sasuke used his finger to raise her head up by her chin. Her bottom lip quivered and she closed her eyes. As his lips moved toward her own Sakura re-opened her eyes and froze to the image before her.

'Naruto…?' It was his blue eyes staring at her as she looked again. They were sad and broken. Filled with pain and resentment. Because of her? Because of Sasuke? Them both? When it occurred to her, she really…they really did hurt him.

Since their three man team was chosen she put Naruto below her feelings for Sasuke. Still…he cared for her despite that. At the time it was just a stupid crush but even after they grew his fondness of her never changed. She understood how much he really cared when Sasuke left. That time frame he was absent from Sakura learned that Naruto had more than a fondness of her. He wanted to be her everything. Even if it was to clean up the glass Sasuke broke, he wanted to do it, for her.

"No." She muttered. Sasuke's lips were merely a centimeter from hers. He stopped and looked at her teary eyes. "No. This time…no." The Uchiha stepped back and looked at her questionably. "I…I still feel a lot for you Sasuke. That won't change. But…I've come to feel a lot for Naruto too. That I cannot change either. So for now…can we all just drop this?" She asked. Her eyes scanned the floor and she held herself. "Okay?"

Sasuke looked at the pink haired female and frowned. "Alright then. I'll force nothing onto you."

"Thanks Sasuke. I'm going to sleep. I barely have any charka left after dealing with Kakashi-sensei." She headed down the hall back to her room and Sasuke looked at Naruto who approached.

"I'm sure you heard." Sasuke said to him.

"I may silly, but I'm not deaf."

"Right. Listen. This changes nothing."

"What? Of course it does. I consider you more of a rival now than I did those years ago. Forget the strength. It's different now. It's all for her."

"Fine. I'll beat you in that too if you see it that way."

"It's not a game, remember?"

"I know it's not. Still..." He walked past the blonde. "As humans we have to do it as so." He vanished down the darken hallway and Naruto frowned. He looked at the door to Kakashi's room. "Wake up. For Yui. For us. Wake up. This way we can hurry and go home. Being here makes me sick." He stood there for a moment. Time would remain still...as they waited. As she…


I sat up. It was late evening. How long had I been in bed? I was wondering. When did I fall asleep in here? Right. I remember screaming my lungs off. I fell asleep around ten I think. Maybe a bit earlier. I can't recall.

I looked up to the clock. It showed minutes to one. When did we arrive? Maybe earlier that day. That's right. We came in before dawn. I know I threw away my breakfast when they brought it to me. I had lost it. I felt slightly chilled as well. Maybe a hot bath now. Yes. That should do me some good.

I slid the room door open and walked down the hall. It was empty. The entire house seemed very empty. Everyone is most likely in bed now. Yeah, sleeping. It was too late for any other activity to go on.

I proceed to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. The bathroom was warm and had sauna like feel. That or I was extremely cold before I came in. As I set the bath and shed the clothes from my boy I looked at what feel to the ground. A long nightgown. It was thick. I don't remember having this on when I came in. They must have put it on me. I turned off the faucet and entered the steaming bath water. It was true relief.

I watched the water from the faucet drip. I watched it ever so carefully. I watched every last drop. The faucet for some reason did not annoy me as it usually did. Since my youth whilst I bathed the damn faucet would drip. It would annoy me, but…not now. For some reason…now I brought back thoughts I had run from for years.

Since father's death I was running from a lot of things. Everything. I think I only stopped to try and become stronger. I wanted to find his murderer. I wanted to face the killer so I could give him back the pain he gave me tenfold. I never would have considered that my first love would have been the one to do it. I never considered that. At all. What would I have done if I knew prior? Maybe nothing, just as I did when I did see him.

My time in Konoha was in vain.

Drip.

I wasted so much time to only get hurt badly.

Drip.

I mess up in everything I do. I'm pathetic. A soon to become village leader. As a ninja…

Drip.

As a friend. As a daughter.

Drip.

As a lover.

Drip.

As a woman...a failure as…

Drip.

A human being. How can anyone love me?

Drip…

In those days with him…we were each other's everything…I remember that. It's been thirteen years. Yes. It has. It was a day on the beach. We were playing around as usual. We hung out. We goofed off. We played. I treasured those days so much. I remember…that day Yuki told me he loved me. I remember.

"Here." He handed her the sea shell and smiled. His long dark hair blew in the wind that smelled of the sea. His eyes had a reflection of the sun and the sea. "I hope you like it."

She smiled as she looked at it in her hands. It was so precious to her .Magnificent.

"Well?" He asked.

"Yuki-kun. I love it! I'll keep it with me all of the days in my life."

"Yeah…" His cheeks turned a slight pink to her words. Kazuya reached out and held her hand. "Yui-san…?"

"Huh?"

"I love you, Yui-san." She blushed to hearing his words. The seashell fell to the ground as her body shook in astonishment and excitement. "Oh! You dropped it---"

"No, I got it—" The two bumped their foreheads into each other and rubbed it as a result of the painful contact.

"Sorry." He muttered.

"Me too." She said. His dark eyes seemed warm and she smiled.

"Huh? No it was my fault."

She shook her head. "No. I mean I love you too Yuki-kun. I really do…"

"…"

"You've always been there for me. I love you Yuki." He handed the blonde back the shell as the salty breeze blew her hair over her glowing eyes.

"Love no one but me Yui..."

Drip.

"Always…" She smiled. He took the palm of her hand and gently kissed it. She blushed to the warm feeling of his gentle lips on her skin. She had been in love. Real love. At one time…

Drip.

"That's how this came about." He took her hand and placed it over his eye. He frowned. She sent her finger along the length of his scar and sighed. "There are moments whether I question it. A gift? A curse. These days…I can never tell. All I can do is go on as I am. I'm too old for change."

Kakashi's sharingan. A gift from his long since departed friend Obito. When he told her of this death, it brought to mind thoughts of her father. "… and your teacher?"

"He arrived late. I saw him once I awoke."

"…"

"Rin was never the same. A while after Obito's death many things had happened. I actually saw less of sensei and Rin. I joined Anbu around fifteen and sometime before that sensei died…he sealed the Kyuubi. He gave his life for his village. The great Yondaime."

"…" Kazuya's parents had died assisting Konoha in that battle. They were mercenary. After all his tears Kyoshi took Kazuya. He felt it was only right. He knew the boy needed family. Yuki and his parents had been good friends with Kyoshi in the beginning. It only made sense.

"I think I lost my humanity around that time. I couldn't handle anything with emotion…no more losses. Since my father…since Obito. So much. Anbu eliminated my idea of feeling. Of humanity. I don't remember well what I was like then. It's a little difficult now."

"Understood…" She kissed his forehead as tears slid down her cheeks. So much sorrow. So much. Life was cruel. Living it was proof of that.

Drip

Ieyes snapped openand sat up. Had I almost drowned? Idozed offin the water. For how long…? As I gasped for breath I looked around for a while. The bath water was lukewarm. I looked at my hands and they were slightly wrinkled from sitting in the bath so long. So much thought. Everything….I messed up so badly…I promised Yuki something I didn't keep. And Kakashi…pains I claimed to understandyet I was being too spoiled to try and understand his last actions to me before I went. And I said I understood. I said I loved him.

Father?

"You can't stop to greet people if you keep running." Kyoshi told Yuki as grabbed his hand. The young boy had tears sliding down his cheeks. "Stop running."

"…I have…"

"That's right. Now, greet all the people you can. The more friends you make the more support you have." Kyoshi kneeled and hugged the young boy. "Like me. If you stop running and wait for people then those you love can come and support you, because they love you as well. Stop running…and wait. Patience…it is a virtue."

"…Kyoshi-sama?" Yuki cried against his shoulder.

"Yes?"

"Thank you…"

"Yuki…you are welcome."

I got out of the tub. I dried myself and headed down the dark and empty halls once again. This time I did not go to my room…but his.

"... In this sad reality I exist in, I'm running from everything hoping…someday…someone will follow." Tears began to fall from her eyes. To Kakashi they were like crystals from the sky. He could see them despite the rain. "I can't have someone follow if I don't stop running to greet people." He pulled her close and held her.

"Please stop running." He said. The rain poured harder.

"...I have." He looked into her glowing green eyes and brought his arms around her waist. He leaned in once more, even more gentle then the first time. For the second time that night, he kissed her. She kissed back. Although cold and drenched the touch of their lips was heated and burning. The cold feelings of their bodies could not compare to the scorching feeling of their lips. When they parted they looked deep into each other's eyes. Nothing else mattered. No one else needed to care. "I love you…"

The door.

It was vanishing…Drifting…fading…I reached for it. I touched it. It felt so cold. More frozen than the snow outside…yet more burning than a raging fire. This rift between Daddy…Yuki…Kakashi…my sanity…Now as I hold my hands against this door...now I feel no temperature. No feeling. So empty. I became frozen. 'Move.' I thought. 'Move…MOVE!' Iscreamed mentally.

I slid the door open.

He lay there. I couldn't breathe. I stood there momentarily then walked over to his side. The weakness in my body made my knees give in. I fell to the floor and grabbed the sheets on the bed. Before I realized it I began to cry. I cried so much and so hard. "I can't live without you. You…for you…only…for you. It's all the love I have left!" I brought the sheet to my face and cried more. "I'm done running and I'll wait. I'll wait for you all the days of my life!" I looked at his still figure. "Kakashi…I'll wait for you...forever…if I must…I'll wait for you…I promise...and I'll keep that promise…"


And she did. There she sat. It had been a week. She sat to his side unmoving. Yui held his cool hand and watched him. Her lips motioned words of prayer that she hoped would reach him. She looked at his hand as she held it. "His hand…it's so much bigger than mine. I never paid much attention to it. I've held this hand so many times before…and never realized it." She placed it back to his side and held herself. 'The room feels a bit colder than the rest of the house.' She touched his hand and ran her fingers through his hair. "Kakashi…"

The snow fell outside…

"You know…I never apologized for everything before. I'm sorry…for everything. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused, you know? For saying those cruel things about Obito and getting Naruto hurt. I want your forgiveness...please. You don't owe me any apology when you wake. I owe you so many! I…These same feelings were those I had for Kazuya. Hm…you hear me? I'm blabbering now. Hm…I didn't even realize it. I'm really an idiot huh?"

She looked at the door as Sakura slid it open. She smiled faintly to Yui. "Kirara says breakfast is ready…"

"I'm not hungry…"

"…Okay. I'll tell them then."

"Don't bother waiting."

"Right."

"It's like that time…just like that time. I did the same a week after daddy died. I sat in his room and cried. I didn't eat. Mother...she didn't force me to either. I think I started eating well again after about...a month. I made myself really sick that time. I remember that well."

"Oh…you should take better care."

"Hm?"

"Of your body I mean. Emotions do stop us, but lack in health helps no one. Especially you. Tsunade-sama reminded me of that. The year Naruto went off with Jiraiya-sama I felt horrible. Sasuke was gone, then Naruto. I had dreams of them coming back. And…I was so haunted by their lack of presence." She walked to Yui's side and looked at Kakashi. "I stopped eating for weeks. I lost a lot of weight and energy…it interfered with my training…so Tsunade-sama helped me out. I was back on track a little after."

"Tsunade was friends with my father. I remember I was really young when I saw her. She was gambling…she had lost a good amount of money too. Loan sharks were after her. Not that she couldn't take them, but it wouldn't be the best of choices…so father paid them off."

"That was kind of him."

"He said beautiful woman shouldn't be pursued by loan sharks. Moreover, he knew them well and compromised. This is a village of merchants, and my family is the head."

"…"

"Still…"

"Haruno-san! Yui-sama!" One of the maids called.

"I should go."

"Yeah. Sakura?"

"Yes?"

"How are you and the boys handling?"

"..We…I decided to drop the situation. Kakashi-sensei's recovery is more my concern now."

"Ahh…I see. Always remain as you are Sakura. And you'll get what you deserveifyou reamin as this person."

"Thanks Yui." Sakura exited the room and Yui turned her gaze back to the sleeping male. His coma could last for an unknown amount of time...but she'd wait as long as it took.


Sakura walked down the hall and saw Naruto. She waved morning to him and he smiled weakly. She walked ahead as he waited for Sasuke to exit their room. As the Uchiha stepped out the room he glared at Naruto. "Yes?" He asked slightly annoyed.

"I know we haven't been speaking lately but I think we can at least come together for Kakashi-sensei and Yui-chan. Sakura-chan…she needs the break too."

"I'm fully aware of that."

"So our spoiled behavior ends here? Truce?"

"Wait." Sasuke held up his hands before the blonde. "Since when are you this out of character?"

"The situation calls for more serious behavior."

"…Whatever, dobe." He walked past the blonde and Naruto stood there with a small smile. Even though tension sat between he and his closet peers some things were never to change.

'No matter what comes between us three...I hope we always remain the same.' He turned and followed Sasuke to breakfast.


"I'm waiting for you Kakashi…for as long as it takes." Yui said to the sleeping man. She kissed his forehead as silent tears slid down her cheeks. "For as long as it takes…patience is a virtue" She whispered.