Caranril: I'm doing what I can, writing bits at a time, so know that this (surprisingly longer than I intended) project shall be continued in Part III: To the Land of Dragons!

Legolas: A very happy thanks to: Moonlight (Eh, unfortunately, the awkward stage between our silver-haired hentai and the fiery foreigner doesn't occur until a later chappie. But I know what you mean by Kaori not being able to meet his eye...mweh, I'm 'so unfair!' And yeah, Sakura's not a very forgiving person...), WindDancer18 (Woot I pulled a fast one on you!), Aisuhana (Ooh, you appreciate my writing talents? Are you sure it's not the yummy bishies I've so deftly manipulated?)

Caranril: Enjoy!

Legolas: And review!

disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.

Chapter 14: What Are Friends For?

Hospital smell flooded the halls: medicines, bandages, and sterilizing products. Sakura revived the ANBU members, whose glares at Sasuke could be felt through their masks, and they escorted Kaori down the corridor. Sakura led them to another room and ordered ANBU to remain outside. They appeared to object, but Sakura rewarded them with a Tsunade-esque glare that forced their compliance.

The atmosphere in the room scared Kaori. Closed blinds kept the room dark and a sole figure occupied the sole bed. Kaori froze by the door, afraid to go further. Sakura tended to the patient in the bed before cracking open the blinds to provide a bit of light. Sasuke's face grew grim as he approached the bed.

"Kakashi, what have you done?" he said quietly, shaking his tousled head.

The figure shifted and attempted to sit up. Sakura helped him and adjusted the pillows behind his back. Kaori swallowed hard. Kakashi looked frail and aged. His skin had lost all healthy flush and was paled by even Sasuke's flesh tone. The mask he always wore didn't fit as well as it used to, and his cheekbones and eyes were sunken. Cadaverous.

He raised his head and met Kaori with one eye. He kept the scarred eye closed. The Sharingan eye.

"Ah, Kaori-san. You're looking well." His eye smiled tiredly.

Kaori tried to return the smile and gulped.

"Well you look like shit," Sasuke commented.

"Eh, that's not really my fault. At least Sakura-chan had a guinea pig for what happens when your Chakra is drained by force." Kakashi scratched his ear lazily.

Kaori stilled her knees from quaking. She could feel a huge pit inside, unsure if what her sensei was implicating.

"Tsunade-sama will return in a few days," Sakura said. "She feels this matter deserves her utmost attention. And Shizune and Jiraiya have already made preparations for the mission to Kaori-san's home country. We haven't been able to discover anything about this mystery here, so we feel the answers lie there."

"Go to the source," Kakashi mused.

"Yes. Tsunade-sama would like to interview you and Sasuke-kun, Kaori-san, and Naruto before the mission is ordered. We have so many questions." Sakura gazed evenly at Kaori. "I'm sure you have questions too, Kaori-san. But for now, you are to remain in containment until we can discover if there is a trigger for this...erm...phenomenon."

"A trigger can be controlled," Kakashi said weakly.

"What if there's no trigger and it just happens randomly?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura did not need to answer that question. Kakashi and Sasuke fell silent as well.

"Well?"

The three looked at Kaori.

"What if there's no trigger?" she asked tonelessly. "What will happen to me?"

"That's for Tsunade-sama to decide," Sakura murmered. "But for now, you must return to your room."

My room. My cell. Kaori bowed her head. "Would it be okay if I had a few minutes alone with Kakashi-sensei?"

Sakura glanced at Kakashi, who nodded, then motioned for Sasuke to follow her. Sasuke studied Kakashi a moment longer before shaking his head and following Sakura. His face was unreadable as he passed by without looking at Kaori. Not that she noticed; she refused to lift her head. The door clicked shut.

Silence. Incredibly awkward silence. Kakashi watched Kaori with a tired eye, hoping he wouldn't pass out before she got a chance to speak her piece. He didn't have the energy to initiate the conversation. His vision began swimming just as she mumbled something.

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

"For..."

"Everything. For earlier when you said I look well. For training me to enter the Chuunin exams. For...helping me out. You didn't hafta do that."

"Well I didn't need to think about it," Kakashi said sheepishly. "I had to save you. And Naruto."

"You could have died," Kaori continued quietly.

"There was no question in my mind when I did it." Kakashi managed to lean forward and gesture for her to come closer. "I'm the kind of guy who'd give his life for his friends."

Kaori paused next to the bed. "You think I'm a friend?"

"Of course." The tired eye smiled. "Not just my pupil, or my teammate, but also my friend. Am I...your friend?"

Despite the gaunt features and extraordinarily pale skin, Kakashi's face radiated a warmth that drew Kaori to him. She felt instantly better.

"Yes." Kaori returned his closed-eye smile. "Yes." Her eyes snapped open when a cold hand grasped hers. The hand unconsciously tried to jerk away, but he held it firm. Heat rushed to her face as she stared at the hand cradling hers. It was rough and scarred, but the longer the hands remained together, the warmer they grew. Kakashi sighed.

"Good." He loosened his grip and fell back into his pillows. Kaori's hand went with him. As he made himself comfortable, he sighed again.

"Your hand's so warm," he slurred sleepily.

Kaori stared at the clasping hands again. An idea had suddenly crossed her mind that seemed wildly impossible, but if she could take Chakra away, wouldn't it be reasonable that she could give it back? As Kakashi let out a light snore, Kaori decided to try.

So tired. So weak. But not her. She could feel Kakashi's tiredness and weakness. Fix it. Yeah, fix it. She found her Chakra centre like Neji had taught her. She imagined the Chakra leaving her hand. Kakashi suddenly took a deep breath in his sleep. Kaori peeked. A healthy flush reached Kakashi's cheeks and his breathing increased.

Oh. Shit. Kaori panicked. She couldn't stop the flow of Chakra. Shit! Her hand tightened on Kakashi's instead of letting go, and his tightened in response. She whimpered as she sank to her knees, shaking uncontrollably.

The door opened. "Akumako, it's time to-" Sasuke froze. Kaori gasped, trying to use her weight to separate the hands. "Holy shit!" He stepped between them and pried their hands apart. Kaori fell back in a twitching heap. Sakura bolted into the room at the commotion.

"What's going on?" she bellowed, the two ANBU members right behind her. She rushed to Kakashi's side.

"Akumako...Akumako!" Sasuke gripped her head between his hands. She gave him a goofy grin.

"I feel weird," she chortled.

"What did you do?"

"She healed him," Sakura answered in awe.

"What?"

"Kakashi-sensei's aaaaaall better now," Kaori sighed before passing out.

"I can feel his Chakra network again: it's returned to normal!" Sakura touched his skin. "He feels alive again too. Amazing."

Sasuke looked at the woman in his arms. "What is she?"

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ANBU, Jiraiya, Shizune, the Elders, and the Hokage held careful discussions and long meetings about the situation with Akumako Kaori. Of course many saw her as a danger to the Leaf, and especially to the Fire Country. Others felt the need to take in this lost young woman and train her to suppress the monster within, just like they'd done with Naruto. Then another group remained neutral and could see both arguments' pros and cons. Tsunade remained silent during the heated discourse. Her brow furrowed permanently, warping the single blue diamond on her forehead. Jiraiya was exceptionally loud in his support to help Kaori. Tenzou stood meekly as his services as Shodai's clone were also taken into Jiraiya's account.

Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto were banned from the meetings, having a particular bias with Kaori. Or against her. Unfortunately Naruto had to be drugged to prevent him from bursting in on the meetings or busting into Kaori's room. He wanted answers just as much as every other ninja in Konoha. As she watched over her friend in a fitful, drug-induced sleep, Sakura began to resent Kaori. The foreigner had hurt Sasuke, nearly killed Kakashi, and mentally traumatized Naruto. Kyuubi hadn't gotten loose in a couple years, thanks to vigorous training. Not even Orochimaru had managed to create a reaction in the Fox Demon. With all the other bijuu dead, Naruto had no reason to call on the Kyuubi's power. Until that day. That day that had left permanent hand marks on Sasuke's arms. That day that had brought the genius Hatake Kakashi to the most helpless state a ninja had ever been in.

Not much arose from the discussions. Tsunade finalized her decision to send a team to Kaori's country, since others were counting on this important ambassadorial effort. After contacting Temujin with her Gelel stone shard, the Hokage dismissed the meetings until Kaori's citizenship could be discussed in a calmer manner.

Kakashi and Sasuke met in the hall before heading to Kaori's room. The older man had recovered from his injuries quickly after Kaori had managed to donate some of her Chakra. Sasuke kept his forearms bound with bandages: one for support, two to hide the distinct hand prints. Sakura would bring Naruto, and Tsunade would meet them all in the room for a mission briefing. The time had come to get some real answers.

Tsunade opened the door and led the group in. She paused in the doorway as she was greeted by Kaori hanging from the ceiling. Blood flooded to her head, giving her expressionless face the look of a tomato with her hair as long white roots hanging down. If Tsunade didn't know any better, she'd say the woman was dead.

"Kaori-san, it's time." She stood with her arms crossed in intimidation. Kaori didn't move for a moment, and then suddenly fell. She flipped gracefully and landed on her bed. She stared at the group with a guarded expression. As the blood quickly drained from her head, Tsunade could see the dark circles, sunken look, and pale skin. Much paler than she used to be. The hospital clothing hung loosely, and her arms looked much thinner. It dawned on Tsunade that it must have been weeks since the incident, and being locked all alone in this room had affected Kaori's health and psyche. Great. This could cause more problems for the mission. Tsunade sighed inwardly. Why couldn't the difficult things go smoothly?

"The details of this mission are quite simple: travel to Kaori-san's country and make contact with the government established there by Temujin-san. You will go north, through the Rice Country, and meet a ship on the coast that will take you around the peninsula and to the east. Two teams of three are to depart from Konoha: Kakashi, Sasuke, and Kaori; Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru. Two Sand ninjas will meet you at the port, and how you divide the teams is up to you. I will have team leaders carry important documents that will hopefully help the country's development. Are there any questions?"

Naruto had not taken his eyes off Kaori the entire time. His blue eyes narrowed and he focused intently on her.

"Naruto!"

He blinked. "Hai!"

"Do you have any questions?"

"Yeah." He pointed at Kaori. "What the hell have you done to her?"

Kaori stared blankly at his finger.

"Naruto, you must understand that we had to keep her isolated in case something triggered another episode."

"You mean another possession?" He crossed his arms and glared at Tsunade. "That's what you mean isn't it? All of you think that? Am I right?" Fiery blues challenged every gaze that refused to meet his. Not even the Uchiha, who could never turn down a challenge from Naruto, kept his eyes lowered to the floor.

"I'm disappointed," Naruto continued. "If you were really Kaori's friends, you would do this after not seeing her for months..." He launched from his place near the door and directly into Kaori with his arms wide open. "Kaaaaaooooooori-chan!" He nuzzled her shoulder, practically purring from his excitement. Kaori received his ministrations, dumbfounded. Her face lit up like fireworks as she buried her face in mussy golden hair.

"I'm still your friend, Kaori-chan," he murmured comfortingly. He pet the ponytail cascading down her back.

Kakashi sighed. "If I had any questions, they were answered just now."

"I understand." Tsunade faced Kakashi. "Are you prepared for your assignment?"

"Hai."

"Tenzou has gone through everything with you?"

"With exceptional thoroughness."

"I suppose all that's left is for you and Shikamaru-kun to decide when you are leaving."

"Once Kaori's recovered to her former snarkiness, we shall depart." Kakashi winked at the pink tongue taunting him from above Naruto's head.

"Very well then. It's long journey and even longer by ship. Be sure to pack adequately. Naruto," Tsunade finished with an emphasis.

"Fine, I'll bring one small bag."

When Tsunade left, Kakashi approached the hugging pair. "Kaori-san, will you be able to leave tomorrow morning?"

Steely eyes peered at him. "Hai."

"Wonderful. We'll meet at the north gate at eight sharp."

"Or nine thirty-ish if we go by your schedule," Sasuke said, stretching his arms over his head.

"Sh."

Naruto could feel Kaori smile into his hair. It brought a smile to his own face.

Kaori seemed to be terribly opposed to being left alone again, so Naruto treated her to ramen before walking her home. He had his own preparations to do, but since this was Kaori's first real mission, he would help her prepare first. When he felt that she was sufficiently prepped, he bid her farewell and promised to return for her in the morning.

Return he did, bright and early at seven thirty. He looked snappy in his Jounin uniform. The metal on his hitai-ate was freshly polished. As they headed out, Naruto led Kaori a different way than she was accustomed to. He sent her through a door in a small, unimpressive building. Standing in the dimly-lit room was Tsunade, holding a small bundle. Naruto pushed Kaori in further.

"Kaori-san, it is a little early to reveal this information, but because the vote was decided and you will be gone during any awards ceremonies, I have taken it upon myself to inform you. Congratulations." Tsunade held out the bundle to her. "You are a Chuunin."

Kaori's eyes opened impossibly wide and sparkled with awe. Naruto held up the jacket and let her slide into it. Kaori snuggled into the jacket, relishing in the thought that it was her very own. She took the pants and shirt that went along with it and changed in a tiny bathroom that hadn't been cleaned in...ew...Why Tsunade had chosen such a location was beyond her.

Naruto grinned proudly at the Shinobi that returned from the bathroom. She looked handsome in the uniform. Tsunade bid them farewell and ordered them on their mission. Kaori beamed at Naruto and he beamed back the entire walk. They were the first to reach the gate, followed shortly by Sasuke and eventually Sakura and Shikamaru. In his highly-predictable yet unreliable manner, Kakashi showed up forty-five minutes late, if only to prove wrong Sasuke's time estimate of nine thirty. Naruto was so proud to announce that Kaori was a Chuunin, as if they couldn't see that from her uniform.

Kaori gazed at the guard booth as they passed, a post that Izumo and Kotetsu were often assigned to when Tsunade had no need for their services. Poor guys, getting the crummy jobs. She missed their antics. But she couldn't linger on the feeling when she looked at her teammates. Naruto's gushing over Kaori's uniform was getting on everyone's nerves. She'd have to rebuild trust, but with Naruto already mending things, friendships were bound to flourish again in a short time. If anything, the horrifically long journey that would carry them 100 leagues north and then countless more east would give her ample time to prove that despite the monster inside, she would always be a Shinobi of Konoha.