Chapter 6

(Saturday, 6:52 P.M.)

"Awwww Shikamaru do we REALLY have to go?"

Chouji Akamichi's whine echoed through Asuma Sarutobi's apartment as Shikamaru hurried around the apartment, turning on several lamp lights.

"Yes Chouji, I told Lee we'd be there by 7:00! We have about eight minutes to show up and I'm not even completely ready yet."

Chouji let out a long sigh and slumped into one of Asuma's armchairs, his arms hanging off both of the armrests, face displaying a look of pure boredom and annoyance. Why did they have to go to a movie so soon after this... tragedy? Besides, why waste your money on a movie when you could spend it on more important things? Like food...

"Yeah but Shikamaru, I don't know if it's a good time to leave... Asuma-Sensei is still..."

"Still what?" The bearded jounin stalked into the living room, his normally slicked back, black spiky hair a tangled mess, eyes a tired pink. He laid back on the couch offering a lazy gaze at Chouji. Shikamaru gave a wide-eyed look at the genin, who quickly bumbled for an answer to Asuma's question.

"Still... still as wonderful as sensei as ever!" he quickly replied, plastering a fake smile on his face.

"Mmm.." Asuma grunted, lost in his own thoughts again and staring out the window at the darkening sky.

Shikamaru nodded carefully at Chouji as he relaxed back into the armchair letting out a little sigh of relief. That had been close! He breathed in for a moment letting the air slowly fill his lungs and was surprised that it was missing that usual acrid hint of tobacco. Although he shouldn't have been. His sensei hadn't picked up a cigarette in days...

"Chouji it's time to go. Lee will be angry if he has to miss the beginning of the movie because of tardiness... he'll probably make a crack about Kakashi-Sens---"

"DON'T mention THAT name in MY house..." Asuma suddenly said in an outburst through gritted teeth, his eyes taking on a wild look.

"R-right... sorry Asuma-Sensei. C'mon Chouji..."

Chouji nodded, eyes wide as he wrapped his scarf around his neck. They both said farewell to Asuma who replied with an annoyed grunt as Shikamaru shut and locked the door.

"What was THAT about?" Chouji inquired angrily as they both walked down the hallway toward the elevator.

"It's simple really Chouji. He blames Kakashi for the deaths of Ino and Kurenai-Sensei..." he pushed the button for "DOWN", the button lighting up and the soft whir of the elevator motor reverberating from the two metal doors.

"But didn't Kakashi WARN us about the bridge? Shouldn't he be more angered with Anko-Sensei than Kakashi-Sensei?"

"No Chouji... here let me explain..."

DING!

The two doors slid open and they both stepped inside, Chouji pressed the button displaying the number "1" and turned to Shikamaru as the doors slid shut once more. "Ok, explain." his brown eyes filled with interest.

"It's like this Chouji, Asuma-Sensei feels that Kakashi knew that they were going to die but didn't do everything he could to stop them. He's also frightened because Kakashi was actually right about it... then there's the whole grief problem over Ino and Kurenai... he needs someone to blame and Kakashi's the "lucky candidate"." Shikamaru shrugged giving a glum expression.

Chouji's face gained an annoyed look as he folded his arms.

"Well that's not very fair... Kakashi was trying EVERYTHING to stop all of us. Remember?"

"Of course I do." Shikamaru mirrored Chouji's annoyed look. "I'm not saying I agree with him! I'm just saying that's how he feels and why he feels it..."

Chouji nodded, his face relaxing a bit.

"That makes a lot more sen--"

RRMRRRMMBBMMBRRRMM...

The lights in the elevator flickered a bit as the elevator gave a violent shudder. Shikamaru and Chouji placed their hand against the walls bracing themselves, both with wide-eyed frightened expressions on their faces. The elevator came to a halt for a second and they were enveloped in darkness, only their quickened gasps could be heard over their racing hearts.

"Wh-what's going on Shikamaru...?"

"I...I don't know Chouji... the elevator must have malfunctioned..."

They both waited a few moments more in the darkness, not daring to move... when the elevator suddenly started up again. The lights came back to life again causing them both to squint. They stayed stationary until the elevator finally reached it's destination. Both doors slid open with the familiar "DING!" and the two boys tumbled out of the elevator, glaring at the innocently closing doors.

"DAMN ELEVATOR! I'M GOING TO GO COMPLAIN TO THE MANAGEMENT RIGHT NOW!"

Chouji turned, his face red with anger, as he stomped in the direction he figured the management office was until he was suddenly yanked back. He plopped backwards on his butt and turned angrily toward Shikamaru, who was holding a trailing end of his scarf.

"NOW WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"

Shikamaru let out a laugh throwing the end of the scarf into Chouji's face and helping his friend to his feet.

"We can't go to the management office, we've only got about 3 more minutes until the movie starts! Plus do you know how much trouble Asuma-Sensei will get into if the management office finds out we're living in with him for a while?"

Chouji grunted yanking his hands out of Shikamaru's grip and dusting himself off.

"Well, it was Tsunade's idea we even stay with him! Can't she pull some strings or something?"

The genin started walking angrily toward the exit doors. Shikamaru laughed a bit at his friends angry expression and followed.

"Well I suppose we can talk to them later then! Come on we're gonna be late!" He grabbed Chouji's scarf like a leash and pulled him a long as if he were a big lumbering dog.

Chouji yanked it out of his hand, grumbling, and walked at his own pace.

"What is this stupid movie anyway?" he asked, breathing in the cool night air.

Shikamaru laughed a bit kicking a pebble off of the sidewalk.

"It's a horror movie of all things! Probably with a romantic interest put in there too."

"Ino would've liked that..." Chouji muttered, his head down.

"Yeah... she would've."

They walked in silence for a moment, the sounds of crickets emitting from the bushes as they made their way to the movie theater. Chouji let out a small laugh causing Shikamaru to glance sideways.

"What?" he asked, a smile growing slowly on his face.

"As if I don't have enough horror in my life after the bridge and that damn elevator!"

Shikamaru laughed loudly, "Seriously..."

Chouji snorted. "Yeah... next time I'm taking the stairs!"

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(Saturday, 7:04 P.M.)

Naruto's blue eyes filled with worry as he watched Lee's expression take on a concerned look. The five of them stood outside of the movie theater waiting for Shikamaru and Chouji to show up. He let out a sigh and turned to Lee.

"You told them it was at 7:00 right?"

Lee nodded silently and Naruto turned around looking at the poster for the movie. It was rated R, but as they were all shinobi they were all allowed to view it. After all, what was a movie compared to the horrors they had to endure daily anyway? Neji and Tenten were trying to console Hinata as she quietly sobbed into Neji's shoulder. Naruto looked downward for a moment. She had it worse than him, she hadn't only lost two teammates, but her sensei too...

"There you are!" Lee exclaimed, causing Naruto to look up.

Shikamaru and Chouji walked slowly toward the group. Hinata's sobs stopped as she looked at the both of them, her hands clutching the fabric of Neji's shirt, her eyes glistening in the blinking lights of the sign advertising their movie: "STAIR OF THE DEMON".

"The movie started 5 minutes ago! We've got to hurry or we're going to miss it!"

Naruto nodded and followed after him as he rushed through the entrance.

Shikamaru chuckled a bit as they entered the revolving doors.

"What's so funny?" Naruto asked as they headed toward the ticket counter.

"They spelled "stare" wrong. This movie should be good... pfftt..."

The seven of them purchased their tickets and headed toward the viewing room. They entered through the swinging red doors and took seats in about the middle row, plopping themselves down in the plush blue chairs.

"I... I shouldn't be here..." Hinata uttered out sadly, her hand clutching the hem of her coat as she stared at her knees.

"Why not?" Naruto asked, his gaze falling onto her trembling form.

"I... I'll just cause trouble... I'm so messed up..." a small sob escaped her lips, her black bangs hiding her tearful eyes. "I just... I can't deal with this..."

Naruto let out a sigh and took her right hand in his left. Hinata's face turned a light pink as she turned to him, meeting his gaze.

"Hinata... I almost lost everyone too. Sasuke and Sakura..." he stopped for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a small breath. "Sasuke and Sakura were my two best friends... I'm sure you felt that way about Kiba and Shino too... but we have to keep on living. We have to do it for them. Be strong for them..."

Hinata nodded, staring at her knees again. Her grip tightened on Naruto's hand and his face grew a small smile.

"So let's watch this movie with our friends... and be thankful we can. Yeah?"

Hinata met his gaze once more and nodded again.

"Th.. Thank you Naruto-kun."

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(Saturday, 7:57 P.M.)

"Give it baaaaccckkk..."

"Shna..Wha?! Gah!"

Kakashi sat up in bed, his book falling off his bare chest. He ran his right hand through his silver hair and let out a long yawn. It had been a nice nap... nice until that damn nightmare had awaken him again. He let out an angry growl casting a glance at his window which now filled his view with a night scape of bright stars, the clouds tinted a bright blue on the tops from the glowing full moon.

Tossing both feet over the side of his bed, the jounin stalked over to wall, fumbling with the light switch. His room was swept with artificial yellow light causing his silver picture frame displaying Team 7 to glint. Clad only in pajama bottoms, Kakashi walked over to the frame and took a good look at it.

He needed to buy a new frame... the glass over Sasuke's face still had a big crack in it... and so did Sakura's? He took a closer look, and indeed, Sakura's face had a crack over it too... how odd. Normally he would have shrugged something like this off... but if felt like it meant something...

"Nah!" he said out loud, laughing. He set the picture frame down and turned around. Anko's talk must have spooked him a bit. Yeah, that was it...

"Guuuuu"

The jounin rubbed his stomach. He hadn't eaten anything since the pancakes that morning.

Kakashi let out a small gasp as his the soles of his feet took in a cold feeling as they transferred from warm carpet to cold tile when he entered the kitchen. He slowly opened the fridge and found nothing that he felt would fulfill his appetite. His face took on a glum expression, and he let out a moan. He needed SOMETHING to eat. He slowly pulled open the door to his pantry...

"WHOO... CRISSSSHHH..."

He watched as a bag of barbecue potato chips fell to the floor, chips scattering all over the tiles, orange dust coating the small rug beneath the sink.

"Uggghh..." he let out a disgusted sigh and began to pick them up, tossing them into the garbage can.

"THUNK"

He paused. What was that sound? He stood up slowly and peeked back into this bedroom.

The picture had fallen again. It lay face-down on the carpet as if mocking him. How had it fallen? He'd put it in the middle of the shelf...

He walked over to it, picking it up again and a surprised look came over his face. It was no longer a picture of Team 7... but a picture of Chouji. Not a smiling cheesy picture either... his face was horrible, bruised and bloody...

The jounin's face took on a look of horror as the frame filled with blood and started overflowing, dripping down and turning his cream carpet a dark maroon color. He dropped it quickly as if he was holding a dead cat and backed up falling onto the bed.

"Kakashi..."

Kakashi turned around, his gaze falling on the undead face of Obito as his Sharingan looked once again upon the vacant hole it had once inhabited. He froze once more, his face once more displaying an expression of terror.

Obito pulled the rusty dented kunai once again out from behind his back, cackling evilly as he advanced toward Kakashi...

- - -

"Gaaaahhh!!!"

Kakashi bolted up in bed again, gasps echoing through his apartment. His expression turned from fright to anger as he tossed his pillow toward the window, burying his face in his hands.

"THUNK"

The jounin's face emerged slowly from within his palms to gaze in horror as he saw the picture had fallen once again. He must have knocked it over with the pillow... just like... that day... he bolted out of bed picking up the picture. There WAS a crack over Sakura's face... he must not have noticed it before. How did the dream know?!

He stalked toward the kitchen to splash some water into his face. The dream had been too much for him to take... it must have been from Anko's talk earlier...

"CRUNCH"

He stopped dead in his tracks, inches from the sink. What had he stepped on? Slowly he raised his foot and stared down at the remnants of a barbecue chip, his foot coated in crumbs and orange dust...

This could only mean...

"Chouji..."

Kakashi rushed toward the window flinging it open, not even bothering to close it, as he dashed toward the movie theater.

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(Saturday, 8:10 P.M.)

Chouji shifted in his seat uncomfortably, letting out a low grumble. How long was this movie anyway? He was sooo hungry...

"Shikamaru..." he whispered, breaking his friend's concentration.

"What? What is it Chouji?" Shikamaru whispered back, a little annoyed.

"Is this movie almost over? I'm starving here..."

"Yeah, it'll be over in about 20 minutes. Shhh..."

"20 minutes?! I can't wait that long..." Chouji whined.

"Go buy some popcorn then. They sell it at the snack bar."

Chouji's eyes lit up. Why hadn't he thought of it before? That's what must have made him hungry in the first place... the smell of butter and salt... ohhhh man. He had to go buy some right then!

"I'll be right back ok?"

Shikamaru nodded, uninterested, as Chouji stood up from his seat and walked up the aisle toward the exit. He opened the doors and walked toward the snack bar. It was surprisingly empty. The workers must have been on break... his brown eyes rose up toward the prices and his mouth dropped in disgust. $5.00 for a large popcorn?! Was this place run by Orochimaru?!

He sighed and leaned against the counter waiting for an employee to return so he could shell out five bucks for overpriced popcorn, when he looked over to the side noticing a door that was ajar. The smell of more popcorn seemed to waft from it as if taunting him. He wondered if there was any in there?

Chouji walked casually toward the door, took two glances from side to side making sure nobody was watching and quickly slipped through the red painted entrance. He was met with cement stairs that led down to a small dimly lit room, a metal banister held in place to make sure the user wouldn't fall.

Chouji's eyes went wide as he gazed upon the golden treasures held inside the room: bags upon bags of popcorn! This must be the popcorn storage! He held onto the wobbly banister as he descended the staircase and ripped open one of the bags digging into the contests, his hands becoming covered with salt and grease as he feasted upon the crunchy kernels. He then grabbed a bucket filling it with free popcorn and laughed to himself. Wait until Shikamaru heard about this!

The genin began climbing the staircase again, his right hand clutching the banister. He was about three steps away from the entrance when he heard voices approaching the door. Eyes going wide he rushed up and leaned toward the banister, so the open door would hide him if anyone entered.

The voices died after a few seconds, must have been a few civilians heading toward the bathroom. He let out a small sigh of relief and spoke aloud.

"That was a close---"

Crrrrreeeaaakk... CRACK!"

The banister Chouji was leaning on snapped off, the pieces tumbling toward the bare cement below. Chouji's arms windmilled for a moment, his bucket of popcorn careening off into the air. He grabbed for the doorknob, but his greasy hands slipped off and he fell backwards making a loud crash onto the hard cement floor, a sharp crack emitting through the room as his skull hit the ground. His brown eyes grew dim.

The back of his head felt wet... was that blood? He asked himself silently as his view was slowly overtaken by a black curtain, the spilled popcorn kernels floating silently in the growing crimson pool...