Chapter Four:

Don't Leave Me

Wesped along, silent, both lost in our own thoughts. If we
didn't get there quickly, Hikari may ofkilled more people. This is
somethingwe couldn't allow, and so the two ofus said only brief words
to communicate our meaning, and kept going at a steady pace.
Soonwe reached the outskirts of the Forest Country. Kakashi stops, and
Ilanded next to him.
"We'll watch from here. If we go inside, Hikari may be warned we are
here and escape."
"Ok."I said softly, staring at the houses. Only a few people
walked the streets, and they look terrified.I could see a huge
graveyard from there, many of the mounds freshly turned over.I felt
a huge sadness wash over me, butmy face remained blank. Kakashi and Iwatched over the village for the whole afternoon, seeing
the people walking out of their houses, sometimes going to the graves, and
sometimes to the shops to get something. Everything was quiet.
Just whenI started to think that the murderer wouldn't show,I heard a
scream. The people looked up in alarm, and ran back into their houses.
weinvoluntarily tensed up. This was it.
Wesaw a man walking down the street. Slinking would be a better word for
what he was doing. He was hunchbacked, and even from therewe could see
the evil grin on his face. His yellow eyes sparkled with evil intent,
and his black hair fell over his face in ugly, greasy strands.
He moved toward one of the houses, and tomy horrorI heard him
talkingsoftly to himself.
"Yes yes, she will regret it, she will regret it when I kill her
little children... no one says no to me..."
Myeyes widened. His voice is like noneI have ever heard. It fluted
slightly, deep and yet soft at the same time. It was beautiful, although
what it says made my insides clench with hatred.
There is no doubt about it. This is Hikari Chinpou.
Kakashi signaled to me.I nodded, and got ready.

Hikari's hand reached for the doorknob. Just as his fingers touched it's
cold metal, a kunai embedded itself in his fingers.
He let out a hiss, and spun around, already in a fighting stance.
"HO TORI NO JUTSU!"I shouted, and a huge bird of fire rose up and
dove at Hikari.
He dodged and flung a kunai my way.I deflected it with my own as
the bird took another swoop.
Icould see Hikari's sneering face as he performed his own hand seals.
He shouted somethingI couldn't hear, and a giant wave of water from the
lake in the middle of the village washed over my jutsu, extinguishing it.
"Think you can hurt me, little shinobi? Think you can hurt Hikari
Chinpou?" he taunted in that wonderful, beautiful voice.
Suddenly a huge water dragon rose up behind him, sweeping him off his
feet. His body dissapears, a log in it's place.
Iperformed another set of seals.
"KUCHIOSE NO JUTSU!"
A huge scarlet bird appeared beneath my feet.
Ilooked down.
Hikari was locked in a fast-moving battle with Kakashi, whose hitai-ate
is up, his sharingan revealed.
Suddenly one of Hikari's kunais got through Kakashi's defence,
stabbing him in the arm.
NO!
Isaw Kakashi's signal - a small movement of the hand.
The bird took off, swooping low over the two men.
It screamed, letting out a huge tornado of fire. Kakashi leapt out of
the way before he was scorched.
Isaw Hikari's body burn in the fire.
Letting out a sigh of relief,I relax, only to hear Kakashi
yell.
" BEHIND YOU!"
Istarted to turn. SuddenlyI felt an unbelievable pain in my
back.I screamed.
In agony,I fell from the bird's back.I hit the ground with a
sickening crunch.
Blood is flowing freely from the wound in my back. Every breath was a
struggle.
Myvision started to blur.
"Hee hee! She thought she had me, didn't she? Now she'll die, and
serve her right, the littlewitch! She burnt my arm..."
Iheard a hatred filled shout, and a chirping sound that made my
heart beat faster.
SuddenlyI felt a gust of wind go past me, and a scream of agony.
"AAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHH!"
It ended in a horrific, burbling sound.
Then there was silence.
Iheard footsteps coming towards me, and a warm pair arms wraped
around me.
"Hold on Mikomi... I'll take you back to the village, you'll be
ok..."
"Kakashi..."I whispered.My breathing had slowed.
Ifelt something wet hit my face.
"You'll be ok Mikomi, you'll be ok..."
"Kakashi I... I'm dying."I said softly.I heard his sharp intake of
breath.
"Don't say that! You'll be fine!"
"Kakashi..."I said, a slight scolding tone in my weak voice. His
arms tightened around me.
"You won't die. Tsunade will fix you up..."
The world started to darken.
Just beforeI lost consciousness,I heard Kakashi say one last
thing.
"Don't leave me Mikomi... I love you."