19. best way to start a day

Dear readers,

I had a rough week. At the moment I'm struggling with my current profession.

There was an article written in a local newspaper, which misrepresented me and official duties due to the pandemic. Also I was seen on national TV for the first time, at least I could hide behind my mask.

Then a few days later at work I had to reanimate a dying person by myself. My colleague was frozen (incapable of acting) and the first aider was already exhausted, so I basically had to function. After a while the paramedics arrived and we fought for the person's life together, but our efforts were unsuccessful. It still bothers me. Not really death, I have seen people die before and death is a certainty in life, but the way my colleague left me alone with this situation was unsettling. Nobody cared about my condition. I'm worried about different situations with danger involved and how my colleagues would react then… Maybe I'm overthinking too much.

And let me tell you one thing: If you will ever get into such a situation, trust your instincts, remember what they taught you in first aid courses, stop overthinking and start acting! If you can't help, get help and assist as best as you can. The only thing you can do wrong is to not do anything. One thing you should know: Yes, if you do it right, a rib will crack. It's normal and you should continue the heart massage. I can still hear the sound and feel the crackling underneath my hands. Remember: The only thing you can do wrong is to not do anything.

Please take care and make sure to tell your loved ones that you love them. You will never know when your last day has come.

Stay safe!

Yours SquaMata

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As usual when he had the time to do so, Kakashi went out for a run before dawn. He used his henge for nobody to recognise his true identity, while Tatsuo the clone would be secretly on guard to protect her. Afterwards he would gather breakfast as a surprise, maybe some freshly baked goods and fruits, maybe some goats' cheese and honey or some nuts and milk, he would see. The weather would brighten up, there would be not many clouds left when he would return. He smiled as he looked down on the path he had taken which led through the woods nearby. She would be happy to see that she had been right: It had been snowing indeed.

Strange.

But it didn't build up due to the mild temperature. The snow would soon melt away when the sun warms up. The brown-haired ninja sped up and ran up the hill.

In about an hour he would be back.

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In the meantime the Sakura was still deeply sleeping in their cozy sheets. The pinkette was stirring in her dream.

It was a strange dream, like the ones she had before.

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The couple was finally reunited in a dark cave. All she was craving for was his calming embrace so she knew everything would be alright. And there he was safe and sound. Happiness washed over, her worst fears vanished.

All of a sudden Kakashi got shot in the back by an arrow. Right in her arms he sunk down and couldn't catch a breath. Sakura screamed and she could feel people rushing around her, a fight continued, but she had only eyes for her beloved.

"Stay with me!"

The medic-nin looked at the arrow which stuck in his upper body. With an intangible ear-piercing sound the arrow vanished in red light and from that moment on he started coughing blood. The hopelessness in his mismatching eyes meeting her emerald ones was obvious as he was bleeding out. Her green hand glowed with all her force, but she couldn't close the wound. As hard as she tried, she couldn't fight the poison. Deep red blood pooled around her as he was melting like a snowflake in her arms.

It was destroying him into nothingness.

It was over as soon as it had started.

Sakura was left alone.

Startled.

In her arms was nothing left but blood. In a breeze the smell of freezing cold snow and iron of fresh blood.

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In tears she shrieked up in her bed. With one hand she reached out to his side of the bed and one hand she pulled up to her heart. It was pounding heavily.

Kakashi was gone, but the minute she realised it was morning and she was safe in their holiday cottage, she knew he was just out for a run.

Seems like the temporary separation has taken its toll.

He will return soon.

The pinktette sat up and pulled the sheets close. She felt really cold. Her eyes wandered into the direction of the huge window nearby and noticed the snow falling down. Then the breeze hit her for real.

Did Kakashi leave the balcony door open?

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Suddenly it went all black.

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A few kilometres away Kakashi felt a sudden pain in his chest. He had already been on his way back to the hotel to get them breakfast. Pakkun looked concerned. The copy-nin in disguise had to pause and breathe for a few minutes before the constricted feeling vanished and he could go on.

What the hell was that?

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"Boss, are you alright?" Pakkun asked.

"Maybe I'm getting old", the ninja tried to hide his nervousness, but the sensitive ninken didn't catch the bait. "Let's head back, something doesn't seem right."

"Sure. The winner will get a steak!" And off the pug went. Kakashi chuckled.

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Kakashi as Tatsuo entered the cottage. He had brought a silver tray full of delicious food for their breakfast together. Carefully he closed the door behind him to not wake her up. Soundlessly he changed into his own appearance, pulled off his shoes and sneaked into their bedroom.

There he noticed three things:

The bed was empty, the door to the veranda was standing open and the smell of snow and blood was present.

He couldn't detect her chakra. The moment he realised it, the tablet fell to the floor.

Quickly he checked the veranda only to find an unconscious Tatsuo clone there. Kakashi laid a hand on the clone's shoulder as he took his last breath and vanished. In a blast the copy-nin felt all the pain the clone had felt before, he fell down to his knees and cringed. He was withdrawn into himself as he had to endure the clone's violent last moments in life. It seemed that the cone's perception had been blocked and with one single blow his skull had been shattered into pieces. Sadly the clone had been attacked from behind by surprise, so he couldn't see much. Alltogether indicated there had been a highly skilled group responsible for the attack. They had to have awaited the perfect moment to strike.

Kakashi held his aching head and groaned in pain. Pearls of sweat formed on his forehead and his neck turned red in agony.

"Not now!"

It was not the right situation for suffering the clones' dying pain, the copy-nin fought it off as best as he could. At least it had been a quick death, but nonetheless painful.

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His worst fears came true.

He had failed her.

One single moment that he had not been there.

He had not taken enough care.

He had let her too close.

He had made her a target.

One single moment was all that it took.

In one single moment she had been taken from him.

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It took him a moment to recompose himself, then he stood up and walked over to their bed to detect any tracks and indicators for her whereabouts.

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There was a neatly folded note on the bed.

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Kakashi-san,

Do you really think we wouldn't notice? You both have agitated a lot of people without being aware of it.

Guess what! Your little plaything is with us now.

She's alive, so don't worry. It would be no fun to kill her right now anyway.

Come and find us and make your decision.

Will it be her life or yours?

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He didn't have to think about it, he already knew the answer.

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