"!" Sasuke quickly stood up and spun around so that he faced the entrance. Itachi was waiting at the door with a smug grin, dragging an unconscious Shiatsu by the back of her vest.

Sasuke clenched his fists and growled, "Itachi…"

Itachi chuckled and said, "It's been a while…." He wandered over to an open chair and lightly set Shiatsu on it.

Noticing Shiatsu, Sasuke asked, "Who's she?"

Itachi grinned and replied, "She's my host. Unimaginable power is contained within her body." He chuckled again. "It's even more powerful than myself….so if our powers were combined…" He paused. "We'd be invincible."

Sasuke was confused. "Then why haven't you possessed her?"

"Why, brother, you know you would rather fight me like this. Besides, I don't want to damage her." He gave Sasuke a killing glare. "Now, hopefully, you've taken my advice eight years ago…and you'll be a good challenge."

Sasuke cracked his knuckles and replied, "Oh, I will be!"

To Kakashi

Kakashi wandered the village, searching for any signs of Itachi or Shiatsu. Where could he have gone? Suddenly, a giant flame burst from a nearby apartment window. "What the--!"

He sprang to the building while other people stared. Dashing past doors and climbing up stairs, he hoped that he wasn't too late.

To Itachi and Sasuke

As soon as the smoke cleared, Sasuke saw that Itachi had easily evaded his Phoenix Fireball Jutsu. ""

Itachi stopped smiling and took a look through the hole beside him. People stared with mouths agape at the destruction. He frowned and turned back to Sasuke. "Seeming how you've exposed me, dear brother…We'll continue this fight some other time."

A loud noise was heard outside the door and both brothers stared as Kakashi crashed through. "Itachi!"

"Hmph." Itachi quickly rushed to Shiatsu and began merging. "Too late," he said with a smirk.

"NO!" Kakashi grabbed Itachi's arm, the only part that hadn't merged. "Don't! Not again!"

Just then, Shiatsu's eyes popped open. A wide grin spread across her face and she punched Kakashi in the stomach, sending him flying across the room into a wall. "Aaah!" He landed onto the floor, coughing. Blood seeped through his mask as he glared at her.

Shiatsu got up from the chair and sneered at Kakashi. "Pathetic fool…"

She directed her attention to Sasuke. He trembled as she crept closer.

"Sasuke! Get out of the way!"

Sasuke felt a hand push him aside and he watched in horror as Kakashi leapt out the opening, dragging Itachi along with him.

As they fell, Kakashi smiled and held Shiatsu close. She struggled to escape, but was unable to.

Kakashi knew that he would die from a headfirst leap from a three-story building. He listened to the rushing wind and the screams of the people below.

He crept close to Shiatsu's ear and whispered, "Shiatsu…If you hear me, I'm sorry that it has come to this…"His tone turned into anger. "But as for you, Itachi…I'm delivering you to HECK!"

Shiatsu's body began to glow and Itachi appeared between the couple, grinned, and disappeared.

"Noooo!" Kakashi yelled as they fell to their death.

"Kakashi…Kakashi…MR.HATAKE!"

"GAAH!"

Kakashi woke with a fright to see Tsunade's…not so reassuring face. "So, you're finally awake! We've been waiting for you!" She said.

Clutching his stomach, Kakashi asked, "What happened?..."

Tsunade sighed and shook her head. "Tch, tch, tch…I would've expected you to remember more. But I'll tell you anyway…

You and Itachi were fighting…Itachi beat you up…You tried to commit suicide…And I saved you! And that's how you're here!" She smiled and patted him on the back. "Now you should rest."

After Tsunade left, Kakashi pondered over what had happened. Shiatsu…

Later that night

Tak, tak, tak. A soft tapping noise could be heard coming down the hall. The doorknob to Kakashi's room jiggled and opened. Shiatsu tumbled in on crutches, too weak to support herself.

Kakashi, who had been staring at the ceiling, noticed her. "Shiatsu?"

Her reply was more of a relieving sigh as she sat on the bed. "Mm-hm."

There was a long moment of silence before she spoke up. "Tsunade told me I'm not supposed to get out of bed…She told me you were all right, but after what happened…I had to see you for myself."

After being reminded of Itachi, Kakashi became tense. Shiatsu sensed his anger and got up. She staggered, but finally gained balance. Tak, tak. She had reached the door, but Kakashi called her back.

"Wait…Shiatsu." She turned to him, awaiting what he had to say.

"Shiatsu…Do you…Is he, Itachi…gone?"

She turned away with a sad smile.

"No…" Another long silence passed. "He may be gone now, but he's still out there. Good night."

She left Kakashi in deep thought about Itachi and headed back to bed.

Morning

Shiatsu awoke, still in Tsunade's home, relieved. She was still on crutches, but could take a couple steps from her bed. She smiled and went to join the others.

Tsunade and Kakashi were in the living room, just about to eat breakfast. They greeted Shiatsu as she entered. She smiled and sat down with them.

While Tsunade fetched her a plate, she noticed that Kakashi was back to normal. He was out of bed and his arm was fixed. He was actually in a much better mood than yesterday.

Tsunade rushed back with a well-prepared meal and set it in front of her. Shiatsu thanked her and dug in.

Realizing that they were the only ones eating, Tsunade and Shiatsu turned to Kakashi. He was blushing while holding a piece of food an inch away from where his mouth would be. He had forgotten his mask was still on.

Shiatsu and Tsunade realized this and waited to see what he'd do next. Shiatsu started to giggle, but reclined when Tsunade jabbed her elbow painfully into her ribs.

Suddenly, both women gasped. Kakashi's mask, the most sacred part of him, had been removed.

Kakashi politely ate his food while Shiatsu and Tsunade stared.

"What? Is there something on my face?"