Chapter 8: To Where Tears Fall
Shaking.
Sweating.
Panting.
It was becoming too much. Kakashi wasn't sure just how long he could keep this up…and that was a bad sign. He and Obito had clashed kunai only thrice now, and frankly – it was more than enough. The Akatsuki's strength matched his own, and the remaining Sharingan was proving to be a most formidable opponent in and of itself.
"Give it up, Hatake! You and I – we'll be at this all day you know."
The Jounin thought of making a few hand signs as a precautionary measure. He couldn't know when the other would choose to attack. It was true – this could go on indefinitely...or until one of them broke. However, Obito was only half-right…he hadn't taken the ANBU into account. They'd be sure to show up any second now. Hell, the clashing of kunai was creating more than enough noise to bring them running.
"I'll stop once you're dead."
The other laughed from all around, his amusement echoing off the empty space with uncanny resonance. There! Kakashi launched his kunai into the brush, sidestepping to avoid a barrage of incoming needles thrown at the same time. Obito in turn flew out from his hiding and circled behind the Jounin. Kakashi whirled, Sharingan flashing, and began making hand seals in conjunction with Obito. "Goukakyuu no Jutsu!!" they shouted in unison - hands reaching to mouth. The combined fireball the two created could have rivaled one of the Kyuubi's.
When Kakashi reemerged from his underground hiding place (a nice Headhunter Jutsu had protected him from the fallout created), he quickly surveyed the damage done in one quick glance, then turned to look for Obito. Gone. He looked for Rin. Also gone. "No..." he whispered hoarsely. Had she been taken? Or perhaps he'd unintentionally cremated his beloved? The horror!
"Hatake-san!" sang a grating voice.
Kakashi whirled about to find the Akatsuki standing there, feet straddling their former teammate and friend. How dare he defile her body like this?! The Jounin literally growled from deep within his chest, his mismatched irises burning in cold rage.
"I found Rin-chan. She looks hurt." Obito nudged the kunai in her heart with his toe. That's when Kakashi realized his horrible, horrible mistake. He realized it when Rin shuddered. When she gasped in pain. When she coughed wetly, blood spurting from between her pale lips. She hadn't died. Not yet. But almost... But this was all wrong. He'd felt for her pulse, for her breath, for any signs of life. Rin had definitely been dead. Unless...was this also one of Rin's many "puppets"? The color drained from his face as he looked upon the girl. He couldn't take that chance of it "not being Rin". Kakashi had to save her now. She was almost gone, but he could help her yet! This was nothing Tsunade couldn't heal. Rin would be alright. He'd forgive her for trying to leave. He'd forgive her and they'd go home together, perhaps marry, and live out the rest of their lives in peace. Yes. Yes, that was what they'd do...but Obito was the one standing in the way of these happy dreams.
"My, my. How embarrassing. I was pretty shocked when I saw you left her for dead. Her heartbeats might be faint, her breathing might be shallow – but that's no excuse. And you call yourself a shinobi...tsk, tsk." Obito shook his head in mock disappointment, though he himself had thought Rin dead as well.
"Shut up," hissed the other. "Don't you dare touch Rin-chan!"
The first laughed and placed his foot on the kunai's handle. Then he pushed. Rin moaned faintly, protesting as loudly as she could to his assault. It hurt Kakashi to hear her suffering – this was torture and Obito knew it. "Stop!" the Jounin cried. "What is it you want?!"
Obito removed his foot. "First, tell them to back off," he said, nodding to something behind Kakashi. The silver-haired man turned to find the ANBU squadron armed and prepared to fight, awaiting Kakashi's command.
"Sir!" cried the leader. "What are your orders, sir!?"
Kakashi motioned for them to stand down. "Inform Tsunade that she should be ready come at any moment. As soon as I finish off this filth before us, she'll be needed immediately."
They nodded and flickered out of sight. "There. Happy?" inquired the Jounin dryly.
Obito shrugged. "It's a start. Now – let's play a little game, shall we?"
Kakashi shot him a most venomous glare. "What kind of game, Uchiha?"
"Oh, it'll be fun. I promise. So..." The Akatsuki leapt several hundred feet back so that he and Kakashi were on opposite sides of the clearing, and Rin lay in the dead center. "Do you remember...your 'special' jutsu? The one you were so, so proud of, Hatake-san?"
The Jounin eyed him warily. What exactly was Obito up to with this? Where was this going?
"Chidori...revised to Raikiri. Impressive, I must say. And after the little 'accident' we had in Rock country, I believe you were able to perfect the technique, ne?"
His question was met with silence, but Obito didn't seem to mind too much.
"So, let's try it - you and I. I want to learn this jutsu of yours...and I want to destroy you with it."
"And if I refuse?"
Obito chuckled darkly. "Let's just say...Rin-chan will meet a hellish demise. Exploding tags are so useful, aren't they?"
"You bastard!!" the Jounin roared furiously, his fists clenched so tightly the knuckles had turned white.
"Yes, yes. But it's all deserved – her death I mean. Anyways, I wanted her to stay somewhat alive so she could watch me kill you. Won't that be fun? Now – show me the jutsu! I'm watching!" Obito sang, tapping the eyehole on his mask.
Kakashi gritted his teeth in frustration. So...he'd kill one teammate no matter what. Well, the choice wasn't hard. He'd kill Obito before he killed Rin. "Fine!" he muttered, preparing himself. "I didn't know you wanted to die so badly!" Then he froze. Rin, despite her traumatic wounds, was struggling to her feet. She'd surely protest this face-off, and that would be certain death by means of exploding tag. He had to do it now! Hands began to fly, Obito copying them in perfect synchronization as expected. But Rin...she was on her knees now... There! He'd finished the hand seals – but no! She was on her feet...
"NO, RIN!!" he screamed, forgetting the jutsu. "Get down!"
Her glassy eyes widened first in bewilderment, then in fear as she heard the crackling of the Raikiri behind her. Rin knew full well what was happening now – he was going to die. "Kakashi..." she murmured tearfully. There was no chance in Hell at this point. Kakashi had no time to escape the lightning quick attack with another jutsu. Obito charged, Raikiri extended clumsily before him – eye set on Kakashi's heart. His target. How quickly Death was approaching.
Three.
Rin mustered everything in her body...and turned.
Two.
Kakashi screamed and began racing towards her.
One.
But Obito beat him to it.
Rin whirled and received the blow meant for Kakashi...who stood just behind her now. He'd been a half-second too late. Obito's gory hand quivered slightly as it protruded from her back. "W-What...have you...done...?" he gasped. "There was no exploding tag...you would have lived!! You fool! Why didn't you just stay down!?"
The girl's soggy cough was enough of a response. Blood sprayed everywhere, painting Obito's orange mask red. The Akatsuki ripped his arm out and staggered backwards, Rin's body sinking downward as it followed the river of blood pouring forth from it. Kakashi reached out and caught her in his embrace to prevent her from hitting the ground. The girl attempted to smile her thanks, but choked on more gore forcing itself up her throat. There would be no more smiles from Rin. "Ka...Ka..."
He pressed his hand to her mouth to quiet her. "No, it's alright. Save your breath, Rin...I'm taking you to Tsunade. Hang on..."
"No...don't..." she protested, her words hardly audible. "No hope...left..."
Kakashi felt wetness at the corners of both eyes. "Don't say that," he pleaded, caressing her silken tresses with a bloodied hand. "No, of course there's hope left, Rin-chan! Of course there's hope left."
Rin coughed again, though much more weakly this time. "Remember. You...can't cry...you promised..."
"I'm not crying, Rin-chan. See? No tears are running."
"But...you're still..." She couldn't finish the sentence. Kakashi had to choke back his sobs as he gathered her into his chest, rocking her back and forth to soothe her somewhat. "'Kashi-kun..."
He closed his eyes, every syllable tearing him apart. "Yes, Rin?"
"For...give...me?"
"Please don't. You've done nothing, Rin-chan. Everything...it always comes back to me. If I'd treated you properly all those years ago..."
Rin shuddered feebly, refusing Death's temptations just a moment longer. "F-For...give...me?!" she insisted frantically. "Please...'Kashi!"
"Yes, yes! Fine - I forgive you!" he sobbed, finally breaking down into her shoulder. This was too much to handle. Too much to hold inside. "I forgive you – for everything. I forgive you!"
He heard her sigh softly. Was it in contentment? Happiness? Regret? "Bury...me. In...the snow..."
Kakashi nodded silently, clutching her tighter to him. He didn't want to think about burying her. Not again. A near forgotten Obito put a hand to his forehead as he began staggering off. Who knew where he was off to? All Kakashi knew was that the man was wise to disappear. Otherwise, he'd find him. Then he'd send him to another dimension. Piece by. Bloody. Fucking. Piece.
And he'd smile as he did it.
"'Kashi?" Rin whispered weakly. His attention snapped back to her.
This was it. He could tell by her voice...it was so distant. She was more than halfway gone by now, able to hang on to this world by sheer willpower alone. "Rin-chan! No, please don't leave me! Please, please don't leave me! I'm begging you!!" he cried desperately. "I'm begging you!"
The girl choked a little, her hand slowly reaching up with the last shreds of strength she had left. Kakashi grasped onto it tightly. "I...want you...to know..."
Her voice...he could barely hear it. "Rin...no."
"I...love...you..." she breathed into his ear. It was the last breath this body in his arms would ever take.
O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O
"Kakashi. I'm sorry. There's nothing to be done," Tsunade said quietly. "She's gone."
The Jounin shook his head. "No. She's not dead. I thought she was dead before but-"
The Hokage's voice suddenly grew stern. "Stop it, Kakashi! I'm a medical expert. Would I lie to you?! She's dead!"
"But—"
"No!" she snapped. "Denial isn't going to help anything! Now...I know this is hard, but you'll need to be debriefed in an hour or so. I'll be waiting in my office. Until then, you can say...goodbye." The Godaime's eyes softened a bit as she spoke. "I know there's never enough to time to do so, but try alright?"
Kakashi only stared at the bed in response. The body had been covered with a sheet so that no one would have to look at the mangled corpse he'd brought back. What a sight that had been...what a nightmare.
He crossed the room to be at Rin's side, studying the designs her blood made as it seeped into this sheet over her body. He'd take one last look...just to see her beautiful face. The man reached out and gently pulled the white cloth back only to find...
A different face.
A different body.
A different girl.
Another of Rin's puppets.
So...she'd done it again, but he'd known it all along, hadn't he? And yet...despite this last trick...Kakashi smiled. He smiled because it meant that the real Rin wasn't dead. This wasn't her who lay before him. It wasn't her who Obito had murdered. It wasn't her. He smiled, which slowly turned into chuckling, and finally into incredulous laughter. "Alright, Rin. Alright...I'll go meet you in the snow."
O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O
As he gathered his supplies, Kakashi watched the rain fall – watched the sky bleed out its tears, moaning and sobbing out its sorrow like a wretched mother robbed of her infant. He'd always hated rain.
The Jounin dully shifted his gaze to the distant mountains off Fire's northernmost border. He knew it'd be snowing up there, and she'd always loved it. Rin had loved the snow. He didn't understand why. To the silver-haired man, the stuff was worse than rain. At least rain wasn't so bitterly cold...but she'd loved it all the same.
"Do you know..." she began slowly. "Do you know what snow really is, Kakashi-san?"
Yes, she'd begun to address him formally just following Obito's passage to the next life. He wasn't sure why, but it irked him - more so than being called "'Kashi-kun". "No, Rin...what is snow?" he'd asked her tiredly, not even trying to mask his fatigue. The latest ANBU endeavor had had the young boy chasing what seemed like shadows now...shadows he'd hunted for diligently until they'd all been banished from this world. He couldn't scrub the blood off his hands. The stains had run too deep to merely be washed away with soap and water.
The girl smiled at the distant mountains, her own eyes in some faraway land – distant, tired, sad. The ANBU wondered if something might be wrong, but his ever-stoic persona kept him from voicing this. "They're crying," she told him, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
"Who's crying?" He rubbed his eye wearily, growing thoroughly annoyed with her juvenile suspicions.
"The souls," she replied – still gazing off into nowhere. "The snow is their tears."
Was she delusional? Drunk? No – he smelled no alcohol on her, and Rin had never been one to drink. "That doesn't make any sense, Rin-chan. Wouldn't it be the rain?"
Rin shook her head slowly. "No," she said. "Rain isn't pure – it's only the recycled tears of people who live here – in this world. The gods catch our tears when we cry, and pour them out somewhere else. That's what rain is..."
"Rin-chan, this is ridiculous Why are you telling me these old-wives' tales?" he'd snapped suddenly. "Only fools believe in these things."
She laughed a little and scratched at one of the indigo stains upon her face. "Then I guess I'm a fool..." Rin then tipped her head down, burying it in her arms, hiding it in her knees. "When I die...I'll remember to cry for you, Kakashi-kun. Even if you hate the snow..."
"Cry for me?" he'd asked indignantly. "Why the hell would you do that?"
Rin smiled her sad, tired smile again for him – trying to offer the last shreds of comfort her dying soul could muster. "Because someone has to..."
Kakashi glanced back over his shoulder at the picture sitting on his nightstand. He smirked slightly at Rin's almost-mischievous grin. She'd been so...full of life back then. Maybe, maybe now...they could both start over. They could go back together and try to forget all this bitterness. And together, perhaps they could find happiness.
The Jounin shouldered his pack with a heavy grunt, then headed out the door. Time to go meet Rin.
O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O
YATA! It's been so long!! I can't believe I actually finished a chapter! I so sorry to all you who were looking forward to a quick update, but moving sucks pretty bad. My compy was disconnected for almost three weeks! screams
Sakra-chan: xD alright, alright. I gotcha. Sorry I didn't send this in for beta-ing. I wasn't sure if you still wanted to do it or remembered who I was or anything. ;;
AznPuffyHair: Thanks for the long review, so lessee if I can answer the questions/comments. Um, 1) I think at the end of chapter 2 I said it was taking place during the time Kakashi is hospitalized after fighting off Deidara/Sasori in the River country, and it's taken place over about 1-2 weeks. We'll say 1.5 just to be safe. 2) Yeeaaah...I didn't really feel like putting them in. 3) Um, I didn't really feel like doing that either. No offense or anything, but I like keeping my focus around the main characters of the story. I have a hard time going back and forth, and then it just wouldn't fit with the story. I mean, suddenly putting in a big dramatic scene with Naruto/Rin...I couldn't do that without regretting it. And yeah, I actually used one of Kabuto's jutsu (the whole corpse puppet thing). Thanks so much for the long, thoughtful comment! I'm glad you put time into it. :)
Eldr-Fire: She's not dead:D Confusing, ne? First she is, then she isn't, then she is... I don't think I'll be "killing her" again though.
Kazumi Tachikawa: Sadly, yes. Poor Kakashi... Anyways, thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it!
broken0dream: ;; your review...almost brought tears to my eyes. I feel so honored. Thank you so much for you kindness!
kakashifangirl51: Ahaha! Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it.
anbu10: nervous laugh yeeeah...like I said before, sorry about taking so long. Hopefully you haven't forgotten all about me at this point. xP
H'okay! I think that's about it for the thanks. Um...Kakashi is a bit OOC this time around, but what's to be done? I dunno. I think I'll be wrapping it up in the next few chapters...maybe. So...yeah! Until then, I'll be pounding away at the keyboard as always.
- Hikari