Chapter Five:

Of Wounds And Sharigans

When she was little, she knew about her father's precognitive abilities. She had, after all, caught him muttering odd things on more than one occasion, and saw a few of them happen in front of her eyes. When she asked him about it, he explained it to her, and she just knew he was being truthful. Of course back then she never once doubted her instincts. Still, having this strange man, saying he was part of a shinobi group arranged to help, by her father several years ago, was stretching it. She both wanted to believe, and wanted to be wary. He could be telling the truth, or he could be setting a trap. But then she remembered the letter her father hid with her, and told her not to open it till the time was right. And that she would know when that time was. She figured it was now.

"Before we speak any further on this, can you get something for me?" She looked up at Kakashi who was practically standing over her.

"Sure." He looked at her a bit funny, but was willing to help her out anyhow.

"It's in my closet." She waited as he opened it. "On the far left side, at the top, right above the top shelf, tap the middle of one of the sides of the wall till it opens." He raised his eyebrow, but he did so anyhow. Interestingly enough it did open, where he saw a few hidden items.

"What exactly do you want?" He looked at her.

"The small metal box; and thank you." He grabbed the box, closed the hidden door, and handed it to her. When she opened it, he saw an envelope inside, which she promptly tore into, and started reading a letter of some sort. "What are the names of your team mates?"

"Iruka-kun, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun, Sakura-chan, and Shikamaru-kun." He noticed she looked at the letter intently as he listed them off.

"I see, well then I guess you're right. My father did send you." She handed him the letter to look over. "He told me I would know when the right time was to read this, and well, I guess he just decided to have everything covered;" she sighed.

"What's wrong? I'd think you would be glad for more help after yesterday."

"It's just; I don't want more people to be dragged into this mess." She rubbed her forehead. "But if my father says you're needed, then you'll be needed."

"So now will you explain what happened?"

"I think, so that I don't need to say it twice, I should wait till I have everyone in front of me first."

"You have a good point;" he murmured. He really wanted to know what was going on, but it did make more sense to wait for everyone else.

"Yeah;" she sighed again, looking down a bit. That's when she realized what she was wearing. Or rather, the lack of wearing anything other than a bathrobe, and some bandages. "So, who exactly took care of me?" She really hoped it the pervert shinobi was the one. Especially since she just realized she didn't even have any panties on.

"It started off being Sakura-chan and I, as she's a training medic-nin, and I was the one who caught you." He looked over at her, and noticed her wary expression. "You still had your undergarments though, until after I left. Sakura-chan, and your Mother were the ones who finished cleaning, and dressing you."

"I see, thank you." She wasn't all too thrilled that he saw her in that little clothing, but with as bad shape as she had been in, she couldn't be angry at him. Still, she would keep an eye on him. Her bandages were starting to feel like they were soaking through; signaling they may need to be changed. "Is Sakura-san here? I think if the bandages aren't changed soon, I might be getting blood on the bed." She was frowning, and took a peek at her leg.

"No, I'm afraid your Mother took everyone else out shopping."

"Damn, knowing Mama they won't be back until dinner time."

"I may not be a medic-nin, but I do have knowledge of first-aid, and I can change them for you;" he offered.

"I don't know…" she trailed off while frowning. That would mean the removal of her bathrobe, and being naked. But she did need them changed. "Fine, they do need changing, but first I want to put a pair of panties on before you start."

"Which drawer?"

"Top right. And if you could from the bottom drawer grab a set of loose cotton pajamas so I can put them on after?" He nodded his assent as he opened up the underwear drawer. She glared at him when she noticed his rather lecherous approving look on his face while staring at said undergarments. "Damnit, just pick a pair of panties already, you pervert."

"I'm sorry, they were just all too nice not to look at;" he winked at her as he tossed her one. He tossed her light blue cotton pajama shirt and pants set next to her and darted off to get fresh bandages, and the ointment Sakura brought. As he did so, she put the panties on as quickly as she was able too, under the covers.

"Alright, let's start with the legs first." He pulled the covers off. "How about you lay down for this, we can move onto the stomach wounds after." She did comply. He cut the bandages off, and noticed that they were not only healing nicely, but that they were further along than he had expected. He gently spread the ointment and re-bandaged her legs. Then he pulled the covers up so her panties would be covered, and opened the bathrobe enough to both see her stomach, and hide her breasts. He may be a pervert, but she was injured. There were lines he clearly wouldn't cross, even with a twenty-foot kunai.

Again, her stomach wounds were healing faster than expected. But he decided to hold his thoughts on that until he was done. He was surprised at the starburst shaped scar by her hip, though. And gently ran his hand over it.

"You'll find out about that scar later on." Kagome startled him out of his thoughts. He quickly finished treating her stomach in response.

After he took care of her arms, and with the use of a strategically placed towel, the rest of her torso, he gently flipped her onto her stomach. He carefully removed the bloodied bandages and assessed her back. Of all of the injuries, the back was the most curious ones. They looked like four large claws swiped at her. He didn't know how right he was. But eventually he re-bandaged it as well. He then helped her to sit up, and turned around so she could put her pajamas.

"Thank you, Kakashi-san;" she said once she was finished dressing.

"I have to say, you are healing rather impressively."

"That would be due to my miko-ki."

"Interesting."

"It's useful;" she replied as she started to move so she could get out of bed.

"Even if you are a fast healer, I don't think you're ready to get up just yet." He was eyeing her warily.

"I hate staying in bed all day, and I need food." Oh yes, she had little patience when it came to actually being a patient.

"Well I can't let you walk just yet;" he stated, as he scooped her up. "So I'll carry you downstairs." As steep as the stairs were, it was a good thing he had excellent balance. He placed her on the couch once downstairs.

"Ah yes, to be out of my room;" she sighed happily as she watched Kakashi wander into the kitchen.

"I should warn you now; I can't cook anything beyond toast, and tea."

"That's alright; I can deal with toast, or cereal or something like that."

She listened to him rummage around the kitchen for a few minutes when she spotted the television remote on the coffee table next to her. She promptly started channel surfing, and in the midst of it, Kakashi returned with two cups of tea. He then scuttled back and forth bringing out cereal and toast for the both of them.

"Thank you;" she said as she decided to watch the news for awhile. It had been a few months since she had the chance to catch up to the current affairs of the country, and world.

Kakashi was definitely interested in the news. The outside world was largely ignored in the shinobi lands, unless there was a mission outside of them. Which was rare, but considering they were mercenaries of sorts, it had been known to happen. They did have television available there, but news tended to be filtered out. Actually a lot was filtered out. They didn't get all that much in the way of channels. They got anything made on the lands, and from the outside world, mainly older classic movies. So to see news about all sorts of places all over the world was fascinating.

They sat in companionable silence for awhile just watching the news. At some point after they had finished eating, she stretched out, using Kakashi as a pillow for her legs. Strangely enough he didn't object. He only positioned them in a way that wouldn't make his legs fall asleep. She studied his forehead band for a bit.

"I hope you don't mind me asking this, but why do you keep one eye covered?" She couldn't help but be curious about it. He looked over at her debating on if he should answer her or not. He really didn't like talking about it, but at the same time she was to dredge up a good portion of her life, later on herself.

"When I was younger I lost my left eye;" he paused to think on how to word things. "Later on in a mission my friend and team mate was fatally wounded. Before he died, he had our other team mate, who was a medic-nin, give me his left eye." He took off the band, and she saw the red eye with what looked to be three commas. He was an Uchiha, and had what was called a Sharigan eye. The Uchihas who gain it, can turn them on and off, and it's not much of a drain on them. But since this isn't my natural eye, I can't turn it off, and if I use it too much, I'll collapse."

"So you keep your eye closed and covered when you don't need it." She frowned at that. It could end up being a weakness for Naraku to exploit.

"Sasuke-kun is an Uchiha himself; as well as your cousin."

"My cousin?"

"His mother was your father's sister, apparently. Your mother will probably be able to give you more details on it."

"And Sasuke-san has the Sharigan?"

"Yep."

"I see;" she put her hand at Kakashi's temple and felt the energy from the eye, and how it conflicted with the rest of his body. Kakashi though, did feel a tingle from her little examination.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting a feel for its energy, and your own natural energy. I'm going to do the same with Sasuke-san when they return."

"Why is that?"

"Because if you're going to chase demons with me in the past, I want to try to remove the excess drain the eye has on you. It's a weakness that would quickly be exploited."

"You can do that?" He stared at her.

"I might. I have to get a feel for how it naturally feels like first though." She finally removed her hand, and sat back in a more relaxed position.