Chapter 5: Coma

Eight years ago. Kakashi Hatake's P.O.V.

I hadn't gotten much rest last night but I decided to visit the girl anyway, even if it was her eyes that didn't let me sleep in the first place. I walk through the streets half asleep, as I made my way to the hospital I passed the academy. I heard my name called but I wasn't in the mood to chat, so I kept walking pretending I hadn't heard. They shouted again and I heard footsteps running towards me.

"Hey! Hey Kakashi! Hold up a minute!"

A young Iruka with a bandage across the bridge of his nose caught up to me.

"Oh, hello Iruk- what happened to you?"

Iruka rubs the bandage, "Oh, we were practicing with kunai at the academy and a kid clipped me on accident."

"How is it you got hit if a student threw it?"

"This other kid, Naruto Uzumaki was goofing of as usual, I told you about him. And I turned to tell him to stop screwing around and I didn't notice the knife, so I got cut. Don't worry, it's not that bad."

I roll my visible eye, "Some sensei you are."

"Stuff it Kakashi, I don't see you doing any better. By the way, how'd that mission go?"

"Fine. Nothing eventful happened really. Well except the girl…" I mumble the last part to myself but Iruka hears me anyway.

"Girl? What girl? Hey is she hot?" Iruka smirks.

I feel myself blush under my mask, "Not that kind of girl you dope! She'd a kid!"

I whack him on the side of the head; he's constantly bugging me about girlfriend crap.

"Ow! Hey I was just asking! So what about the kid?"

I whack him again, "What the hell kind of sensei are you! You pervert!"

"Ow, Ow, Ow! Dammit Kakashi I didn't mean it like that!" Iruka rubbing the side of his head.

"Oh… uhhh… sorry about that." I pat him on the back.

Iruka glares at me, "As I was saying, what about this girl?"

"On my way back last night I heard her scream in the forest. I'm going to the hospital right now to see if she's alright."

"What's her name?"

"I don't know. I just took her to the hospital; she wasn't in any condition to talk."

"How old was she?"

"What are you getting at Iruka?"

"One of my students didn't show up at the academy this morning, and no ones seen her since we let out yesterday. She lives alone so I'm kind of worried."

I laugh, "Maybe you're not such a bad sensei after all. Well she looked eight or nine."

"Brown hair? Gold eyes?"

My heart skips a beat at the mention of her eyes; I see a flash of the demon eyes from my nightmare.

"Uhh…yeah…gold eyes."

Iruka gives me a look of concern, "You alright there Kakashi?"

I quickly lie, "Yeah, just tired from the mission."

Iruka nods, "Alright, well I'll see you around, I need to get back to my class."

Iruka turns and waves as he jogs back to the academy.

I call to him, "So the girl is in your class!"

Iruka yells back, "Yeah! Her name is Lekali! Tell her I say get better soon!"

"Alright! Thanks!" I start walking to the hospital again.

I arrive and ask for the girl by name, "How's Lekali?"

The young med-in from last night gives me a confused look, "Lekali? You mean the girl you brought in? I thought you said you didn't know her name."

I sigh and explain about my conversation with Iruka which in turn opens a flood gate of questions from the med-in.

I swear, the only thing this guy is good for is asking questions.

The med-in scribbles things on a clipboard and gives a sigh.

"Well thanks for the information. Lekali-is it?' I nod. 'Lekali is under a self induced coma."

This confuses me for a moment.

He looks at me like I'm dumb, "She could wake up if she wanted to, but she won't. Would you like to see her anyway?"

The words automatically jump to my lips, "Yes I would."

I follow the med-in to her room.