A/N: Well we saw just how terrifying this disease is, so now we see what happends to Kakashi. This chapter establisheds another part of Kakashi's personality. So far we've seen just how big his ego can be, and also just how confusing the mission is to him. At this point it seems there is very little I can tell anyone still... Well I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please review.

Chapter 8: Hospital Mishaps

Light? From where...Where am I? Can someone get rid of that light?

Kakashi slowly opened his eyes to see a middle aged man leaning over him. He had no idea who he was. What was worse was he had no clue where he was.

"You gave us quite the scare Hatake-san...no don't try to talk, you won't be able to for possibly a few days. Your body is exhausted and can't be strained...please don't try to sit up I don't want to use the restraints." The man looked like he was genuinely worried for him, but Kakashi wasn't stupid. He didn't know where he was or who this man was.

What's he saying...restraints? Am I captured? No he sounds like a medic-nin.

Kakashi tried his best to communicate without his voice but how could he with his mask on his face...his mask! It wasn't there anymore...where was it? Panic was coursing through his senses. These people had the audacity to take it away from him.

"It's alright you're here in the Hidden Wind Village, in the hospital."

Hearing the word hospital was the last thing he wanted to hear...Hospital meant doctors and nurses sticking their hands in places they shouldn't, the scent of death and sickness, and the sounds of suffering. Of course the cleaning supplies they used smelled worse than any of the above, and Kakashi usally tried to stay away as much as he could.

Suddenly the door swung open across the room almost scaring the jounin out of his wits.

"Ahhh Akahosi-san, what brings you here?"

Coming into his vision was a tall woman. She wasn't unattractive but her features were grim giving her an air of seriousness that Kakashi couldn't ignore.

"I came to check on your patient." Suddenly a smile graced her features. Somehow he felt he couldn't trust her around him alone.

"Would you like me to leave?"

Panic struck Kakashi yet again.

NO! Stay damn it...I don't trust her, she's somehow familiar and I don't know why.

The man stood to leave but was stopped by Kakashi's hand.

The woman laughed. "It looks like he wants you to stay and babysit; I guess he doesn't trust me."

Okay I can swear she can read minds
The look he had made must have been inquisitive since the woman seemed to pick up his thoughts once again.

"No Hatake-san I can't read your mind. But I can read your face."

I...don't...like you!

"Well if I may be so bold to say. But I think he's a smart man to not want to be alone with you." The doctor chuckled merrily.

"Oh?"

"You have a knack for trouble Akahoshi-san."

HA! Trouble, when I get better we'll see who causes trouble...somehow I doubt you're here to visit.

"Down to business... Hatake-san I want to know what it is you were doing in my country and better yet running around in a tainted forest."

Gee, I can't tell you anyways!

"Get me that pad of paper I brought earlier." She ordered the doctor.

"Oh course." Getting up the man moved to the window where indeed there was a pad of paper and a pencil.

DAMN! She's no fool. I should have stayed still.

Smiling at him almost what he'd call evilly the woman placed the pad of paper under his hand and held out the pencil for him to take. "Can you sit him up it might be easier."

"Alright." And the doctor did as told.

Every muscle in his body screamed and pain was shooting through every nerve. Kakashi gritted his teeth and tried his best to not make a sound. There was no way they were going to get any sounds of pain from him.

"Now tell me!"

On the pad Kakashi wrote. "NEVER!"

The woman read over it and sighed. "It doesn't really matter...I'll get what I want from your comrades."

Kakashi was furious she was going to hurt them...he couldn't let that happen.

Just before she stood to leave he grabbed her arm and held on as tightly he could slowly increase the pressure as time passed. He wanted her to get the message that he wouldn't forgive her for hurting his friends.

But somehow she got out of his grip. He wasn't too sure how she did it but as soon as she was free he was falling back into a dozing sleep.

"NARIKO-SAN!" Iruka called as he came into the hospital.

"Iruka-san?"

"How is he?" He asked as he finally reached her.

"Well you were right, he's stubborn." She sighed as she pulled up her sleeve to show Iruka the bruise the man had left.

Don't I know it! What did she do to get him that mad?

"Oh and?"

"Well he should be up and walking in a day or so. He hurts now because he's finally come to, and bed ridden. He's been out for a week straight and I'm sure as soon as we get him walking tomorrow he should be let go tomorrow night."

"Wow that's fast, I'm surprised." He knew how fit Kakashi was, but healing this quickly was a feat in itself.

Well no not really but I'll let her believe I am. The idiot probably can walk already but is too lazy to do so.

"He'll be a handful though tonight. I don't think he'll cooperate with us. He thinks we captured him."

Ha Ha Ha that sounds right. No one can be any more paranoid that Kakashi that's for sure.

"Why would he think that?"

"Well I asked him what he was doing in the forest and in our country...I know not a smart move but I needed to know."

"And?" He knew there was more to this.

Nariko laughed and handed him the notebook.
"He didn't write much but he made sure I got his point."

Iruka opened the notebook and tried not to laugh. "He'll never tell you anything...yeah that's about right. I think your assumption is right he'll be giving the staff hell."

Nariko frowned. Iruka felt sorry for her to have to deal with a sick Kakashi. He had once heard that he hated hospitals and well now he was in one yet again. There was no way he'd cooperate.

"Nariko-san...you might have to put some ANBU with him, he'll try to get away."

"No need to worry Akane-san already set that up. He'll never see them but they're there."

"Good." Iruka turned to leave but a hand grabbed his arm.

"I need to ask you something."

"What is it?" He wasn't too sure what it was all about, or better yet what she could stillneed to ask him.

"Can't you talk to him and show him you're okay?"

Iruka looked at his feet he hated to say this but he had to. "No I can't, I'm sorry Nariko-san, but he's not supposed to see my face."

"Oh I see." She sighed. "Do you want me to get Akane in there with him?"

"NO!" Iruka was not going to let that happen.

That's like poking a hornets' nest with a stick. They'll just get mad at each other. It won't help either of them and Akane is still recovering from her bout of the disease.

"Hmmm you're probably right. Putting two stubborn people in the same room together would be horrible."

"Yes it would. I have a few errands to run but I'll come back to check on him."

"Of course, I'll be waiting to tell you."

"Thank you Nariko-san."

His head hurt, it was their fault, they made it hurt like that. All they do is tell him what to do to get better, but in reality they just make it worse. They talk to him with these sugary sweet voices that make him want to stuff their mouths with his sheets.

A look of satisfaction came to his face as he refused yet again to eat what they were offering him.

Those sheets are looking like a good idea right now. I'm tired of thier voices.

"Please Hatake-san we need you to eat this."

No it hurts my throat!

He shook his head and sighed. They wouldn't listen like usual.

Then the woman came back; the stern grim one from before. She was tall for a woman and very thin...but also a medic-nin. That he found out when he woke up.

"Make him eat the broth at least. I don't want him dying on me just because he decided to stick his nose up his ass."

For this Kakashi sent the woman the best glare he could.

I want my mask back! Give it back.

The woman watched him for a moment confused by the change from a glare on his face to a frown.

Pulling the notebook out from her large pocket she set it down in front of him with the pencil.

Grabbing it Kakashi opened it to the second page and wrote: "I want my shirt back!"

"Oh is that all! Will you cooperate then?" She asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Maybe" he wrote back.

"Alright then, get the man back his shirt." She ordered one of her staff.

Within minutes Kakashi got his mask/shirt back and slipped it on. Now he felt more comfortable.

"I don't like the food!" He wrote.

The woman sent him a glare and growled.

Oops she looks like another Tsunad-sama...that's not a good thing. I have to be careful.

"Well too bad. This food will help you get better now I would eat it if you're going to leave tomorrow.

Grudgingly Kakashi took the bowl of broth from one of the men and pulled down his mask so he could eat it. At least it won't scratch his throat all the way down.

Later that day Iruka came back. Nariko was waiting for him as she had said.

For a moment he had to stop and laugh. That morning the woman looked as though she were perfect but now she looked less so. Her hair was a mess, black circles appeared below her eyes and from how she stood she seemed about ready to pass out. What shocked him most was the side of her face was marked by a modest bruise and her lip was split.

"Looks like you had an encounter with Hatake Kakashi." Iruka laughed.

Better her than me, the guy would drive me mad. I'd have to restrain myself so I don't kill him.

"Oh well then tomorrow please take my place!"

Well technically he was. The next day he would have to pick up Kakashi and try to explain to him what is to happen next. The problem was Kakashi wasn't a fool and his cover would be foiled. Kakashi will know it's him behind the mask and there was nothing he could do now. As for the mission it was already a failure.

"Well I will be." Iruka frowned.

"I know you don't want to, but could you come early. I'm going to need someone to control him. I doubt he'll like me doing a final check up." She smiled as she pointed to her cheek.

"He did that to you?" Seeing thre mark on her face was a surprise. To think Kakashi did ythat to her. He wondered just what she did to deserve it.

"Well he has no problem hitting women...of course he told me I was no woman in his mind."

"Of course not, you're a medic, he hates medics." Iruka laughed. "Sometimes I can sympathize with him. But the idiot is too stubborn to see that medics are the ones that usually save us from death."

"Yes I noticed that. I think he himself doesn't want to be saved. He'd rather save himself."

"Well he's a stubborn jerk what can I say." Iruka shrugged. Kakashi always got him mad and why should he take the man's side.

"It sounds like you two don't like each other."

"No it's not that." Iruka muttered looking off to the side. "I seem to be his latest victim."

"Oh?"

Iruka felt a little uncomfortable about admitting that yes he blows up at the man because he lets the teasing bug him. Scratching the scar on his nose Iruka sighed. "He's just too weird. The man is a crazy idiot as far as I'm concerned."

"I can see that." The woman laughed. "I think you just about called him an idiot five times today already."

Iruka wasn't to sure how to respond to that, Kakashi drove him nuts but he didn't hate him. "I'm sorry Nariko-san I don't hate him, it's just that he's just so..."

"Obnoxious, curious, oh but nosey is better, and rude. Yes I saw all that, but he's no fool. I doubt he means to be like that. I'm sure there's a reason. From what I saw your comrade is just very lonely and lost. He has no clue who to trust and I'm suspecting he spends all his time alone, he has no one waiting for him."

He hadn't thought of that. Was Kakashi really lonely? He certainly wasn't always alone, after all he had his students...but when he went home what did he do?

He does seem to always be reading those books. I see him reading the same book for far too long for that. Does he do anything else?

"Maybe you're right." Iruka muttered still trying to stare at a spot on the floor.

"Why not at least try to a friend, or just be there. Talk to him get him to tell you what's on his mind, you don't need to talk just listen." She was right but Kakashi had this knack to be utterly annoying.

"Maybe but he's just..."

"Look." Nariko sighed as she places her hands on her hips. "You managed t be best friends with my sister; I mean I never see you without her when she's not working. I'm sure that if you can get along with her, you can stand Kakashi-san for just as long. Sure he can be annoying its normal for friends to get mad at each other, but when you blow up without warning he thinks you hate his guts."

Iruka's head snapped up and his eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't say I blow up!"

"Oh yes you do. The only person able to ignore it is Akane; she blows up better than you."

"Well no kidding, look who she is." Iruka's voice had risen.
Damn it she's making me do this, she's doing intentionally getting me mad.

"Point made!"

"Damn."

"Be at the room in the morning, lets make it five...I want to catch him off guard."

TBC...