The Perfect Drug (part 2)

A big bear of a yawn signals Asuma's awakening. He sits up and reaches for the bottle of water sitting next to an ashtray filled with cigarettes. When he drinks he never really realizes how many he's tarred his lungs with. The water soothes his dry throat and loosens his tongue from the thick saliva. It had been boring. There's not much fun being alone in a new town. Why did Kakashi have to go and be so sensitive? Asuma was just trying to be a good friend. He glances over and spots the two rolled up beds ready for check out. The strained grunts of numbers lead him to Gai.

"1077, 1078, 1079. . ." Gai is doing hand stand pushups. A puddle of sweat under him tells that he's been up since before dawn.

"Just watching him makes me tired." Asuma rubs his eyes. He sees Kakashi's backpack totally undisturbed from where he dropped it. Now that he thinks about it he didn't remember seeing or tripping over Kakashi like he had done to Gai. "Hey, Gai, did Kakashi show up last night?"

"2,000!" Gai hops to his feet. "No, can't say that he did. His bed was still made when I woke. Kakashi is a mystery. The man is not normal and it's that abnormality that makes him a tricky opponent. That's why. . ." Gai's shoujo effects kick in as he stands on a boulder and a great wave crashes up around him. ". . .he is my true rival!"

Asuma covers his face with one hand as he tries not to laugh. "He's not the normal one, Gai?"

Gai becomes serious as a look of dread comes over him. "You don't think. . ."

Gai's reaction concerns Asuma. "Think what?"

"Think that he. . ." the suspense mounts, ". . .that he stayed out all night training!"

Asuma puts a cigarette in his mouth and looks out the window. "Doubt that, but since he didn't come back he's officially M.I.A. so we better find him. Trouble may have found him. Ninja's aren't widely accepted in this area since most end up becoming bandits from the lack of work assigned by the feudal lord."

Gai puts his hands on his hips. "The fool!"

"Hurry up and take a shower so we can start looking."

Gai takes in a deep sniff and lets out an "ah" of satisfaction. "This is the overwhelming scent of successful training and the scent of a man!"

Asuma lights his cigarette. "It smells like cooked eggs and old vegetables." He grunts as he stands up.

"I'd rather have that than the lung blackening scent of tobacco spoiling my natural aroma." Asuma sighs at Gai's stubbornness. Why couldn't there be anymore rooms?

Gai follows as Asuma traces his last steps Kakashi and him shared. From the hotel to the bar they split up going left and right. They stop by public places giving and showing descriptions by covering half their faces, one eye, and making a slanted point for the hair, but all with no luck. They meet back at the bar.

"I've seen that guy." A shady character covered in many bandages speaks from narrow ally. Gai and Asuma turn to him and wait. "But it'll cost ya." He rubs two fingers together in a greedy motion. Asuma pulls out his wallet, but Gai huffs and slams the guy against the wall. Asuma was hoping to not cause a public disturbance. Attracting attention was not the ninja way. "Okay-okay I'll tell ya!" The man is about to piss himself. "He was attacked, but ended up killing the guy. He showed up later with some kid at a bar in the slums. It's called Reno's, I think." He spills the beans like a pitiful stool pigeon. "That's all I know I swear!"

Gai drops him. "We should've found this coward earlier." Asuma smiles and they head out.

* * *

Sho wakes with the sting of a cruel sun in his eyes. He sneers at it and blocks it out with his hand. The red of his blood makes an outline through the edges of skin. His head and eyes are heavy. This he is used to. There's a thin film of sweat down his back where another body is pressed. This he is not used to. He rolls onto his back and is face to face with an older man with a scar over his left eye and wild silver hair. A tight cloth mask is pulled under his chin to reveal a handsome face. This man's left arm is draped over him as if he were a his teddy bear. It takes Sho a moment, but it all resurfaces. Sho never blacked out when he drank. If anything he could recall things better. i'He didn't leave,' /iSho isn't surprised, but offset by this. He wasn't used to anyone staying or being so close to him. He didn't really like to be touched and hated being emotionally connected. A passionate night like that could make a man start feeling all kinds of illogical things. He relaxes. No use in crying over spilled sex.

Paranoia pulls Kakashi's eyes open. It felt as if someone was watching him. His puffy oculars find an angelic face that would makes any woman green with envy and the same type of equally sleepy eyes. He can remember almost everything. The memories before the bar and going to bed are crystal, but the rest is slightly fuzzy like looking through foggy goggles. One thing was for certain he was still heated from the intoxicating night before. He never experienced such raw and unfathomed fervor. Thinking about it is putting tension on his morning erection. Now that he is facing this young man he is unsure of what to say so he smiles. "Morning."

* * *

The bar is a total dive. The usual barflies are already hovering and sucking them down. They'll be here spending all their weeks wages until they're too numb to acknowledge reality. Asuma approaches the bar coolly with Gai in toe with a tough guy expression on his face. Asuma leans against the bar and gets the bartender's attention. "We're looking for a man just over my height, silver hair, one eye, thin, and is a ninja wearing a mask. He'd have this symbol on him." Asuma points to his forehead protector.

The bartender has to squint to see it in the low lighting. He snickers and goes back to cleaning the counter. "Yeah, I've seen that ninja. Was in here last night taking them back against one of my regulars as if it were a contest." The bartender pauses. "You lose him?" It was a question meant to tease. Asuma doesn't like it. "He didn't stay here I can tell you that, but he did leave with that regular."

"Who, and be a little more specific. This is kind of important." Asuma is keeping cool.

"I bet it is. That regular I see in here with a different man every week. Can't keep them away, too pretty. Drinks as if their liver was made of iron."

"A woman?" Asuma assumes.

"Woman? In this place? No-no you're looking for a young man not even old enough to be drinking. This is a place for broken men and depressed bums. Only reason I keep catering to him is because he's the only tab holder that pays his tab always in full and always in cash. This kid is prettier than any girl I've ever laid eyes on. I know he lives around here in an apartment on the east end. That's about all I know about him other than he's quieter than a mouse and smokes like an old man. Good luck in finding your friend. You'll need it." Though Asuma has gotten the information they need the riddles this alcohol jockey was feeding them didn't sound good-not good at all. It churned in the pit of his stomach.

* * *

Sho sits at the counter leaning on his elbows as the smell of rice and fried eggs makes his stomach grumble. He can barely keep his head up. Kakashi has put on his pants and shirt so his mask doesn't feel so out of place all alone around his neck. Sho reaches over to the pipe he left smoldering on a tea plate and taps out the contents before cleaning and refilling it. One deep breath and the smoke is blown out in a steady stream between those plush lips. Kakashi would say something, but after feeling what those lips can do he wouldn't dare object to them wrapping around anything. Sho holds the pipe lazily in his hand and doesn't move. Was he asleep?

"You know what I am. What do you do for a living?" No use in pussy-footing around it.

Sho lifts his head slightly and lets it tilt to the side in a drunken manor. "I'm a hunter." He almost sounds sarcastic, but Kakashi could hardly tell. "I trap, kill, and butcher wild game. People say what they want, when, where, how, and I deliver. I don't really care about their reasons as long as I'm paid up front in full. It involves all kinds of pelts and parts. Whatever they desire." They both knew exactly what it sounded like. So Sho is a poacher. That would explain his fresh surroundings, guilt driven lifestyle, and strange moral beliefs. The ugly side of humanity is all he ever saw or witnessed from himself. Still, as built as the boy is it's hard to imagine those soft hands spattered with blood and delicate body carrying around dead animals. Kakashi slides the eggs off on a plate with a side of rice then a quick mix of a tart dressing and steamed vegetable. He sets it in front of Sho who immediately sets down his pipe on the tiny plate and digs in with the chopsticks sticking out of the rice.

Kakashi has to pause as Sho eats. "You're eating as if you haven't eaten in days."

"I don't know," Sho says between rapid bites. "I can't remember."

Kakashi looks upon him sympathetically. Maybe killing animals had made the boy sick and unable to eat right after due to the gore and guilt? His clients would be despicable people that no one would want to stand, the richest of the bottom of the barrel. He knew that kind all too well. To serve them made one nauseous inside. He pokes at his eggs and accidentally breaks the yoke. "Dammit." He sighs.

The brooms kick up dirt as they sweep the stone pathway clean. The old woman points to a corner the preteen missed. The boy hurries to please her. Asuma and Gai approach and patiently wait to be noticed. The boy is the first. He tugs at the old woman's apron strings. She glances up and cleans off her glasses to get a better look. The old woman is slightly hunched with long gray hair pulled back by a bandana. The teenage boy is only a foot taller than her with short, shaggy brown hair that was probably cut at home and his white skin is touched with a pink burn on each cheek. Outside chores were a man's job.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, but we were looking for someone. He's got tall hair that points straight up, he wears a mask and covers one eye, he's kind of tall and thin. Responds to the name Kakashi." Asuma describes as Gai does all the silly gestures to mimic the description.

They're both silent for a moment as if they were speaking in another tongue. The old lady adjusts her glasses. "No, sorry, haven't seen anyone around here like that." She shrugs and turns back to her sweeping.

"I have..." the boy blurts out before he can stop himself. He glances at the old woman who glares at him, shuts his mouth tight, and sucks in his lips.

Gai and Asuma stare him down. They were hiding something. "Please, it's very important that we find him. He's a comrade of ours. If something has happened to him we have to know." Asuma pleads in all seriousness.

"Hintan." The old woman scolds him. "You were safe inside your room last night."

The boy studies the two men. "But grandmother, they're wearing the same uniforms and the man had the same kind of symbol of a leaf on his forehead. He looks just like they say." The boy begs to tell. He doesn't want to lie. He clutches the broom with sweaty palms and the pink of his cheeks glows. "I know the man stayed here last night." All their faces light up in shock.

"Hintan, how can you know this? You were inside all night, weren't you?" The grandmother has switched her concerns from what the men are to the well-being of her grandson.

"I'm sorry, grandmother, I wanted to be outside under the stars. I went on the roof again and that's how I saw that man and the other walking into the building." The boy sounds so ashamed of something so simple. "I can tell them the truth, can't I?"

The grandmother sighs. No use in lying now when their cover has been broken. "Alright, Hintan, you may. But know, strangers, we don't want any trouble. We have nothing to do with our tenants as long as they pay on time and don't bother any of the other tenants. All we know about this young man is that he comes and goes, always pays on time, and sometimes comes home with strange men. Sometimes they leave in the morning and sometimes they disappear all together. We know nothing more than what we see and we see nothing. Do you understand?" The grandmother lays it all out there. She than looks down with sad eyes. "One time men came looking for their companion. They were persistent and dangerous. We gave them his apartment number and never saw them again. They vanished into thin air. We kept an eye on him and saw no change in his routines. It was like nothing happened at all and they never existed. You don't want to end up as they did. You've been warned."

The boy is a little shaken. In his mind he can still hear the sounds of their night. He had listened to it all the entire time. It had made him tremble and blush and bite his lip until it bled. In his heart he wanted to experience such sounds. With everyone watching he can't let it take over him. What an embarrassing situation that would make. "Apartment 405 on the second floor."

There must have been more to the story, but that didn't matter to them. It was becoming more and more apparent that Kakashi could be in some big danger and the fool had walked right into it. i'What could he have been thinking?'/i Asuma's mind growls. "Thank you." He quickly moves through them and heads up the stairs.

"Wait," the boy stops them, "knock softly. He doesn't like to be disturbed."

There's a soft knock at the door. They both pause and stare at it as if it'd open itself. "Don't answer it." Sho orders. "I don't get company." Simple explanation. Sho gets up and stands next to the door to peek through the cracks instead of the peephole. Kakashi raises a hand to stop him, but just scratches the back of his head as to the attire Sho is currently sporting. "Looks like comrades of yours, Kakashi." Sho smiles.

"What?" Kakashi whispers shocked.

Sho's little smile shows his large, vampiric canines. "I'll get rid of them." He grabs hold of the doorknob and swings the door open. Asuma gets an eye full of a naked young man. "What do you want?" He asks in a low, angry voice.

Asuma's eyes travel all over the boy's body before he can spit out an answer. "I must have the wrong apartment. Sorry," Asuma tries to register the image as he walks away.

Gai is helping the old woman sweep as he waits. When he spots Asuma he's scratching his head and has a very puzzled look on his face. "Did you find Kakashi?"

"No, but I did find a naked young man with an attitude problem."

"Sounds like him." Grandma takes back her broom and continues. "Strange yet beautiful boy. With those looks he's the child every mother wishes she could be blessed with."

"We should keep looking then check back in at the hotel to see if he's there." Asuma plans. He lights another cigarette and inhales deep.

Sho can't help, but release a light, airy chuckle as he closes the door. He sits right back down and continues to devour his breakfast. Kakashi is glaring at him. "I'm not carrying any ID." Kakashi sets down his plate and prepares himself. "I never told you my name." His weapons are on the floor with his vest. He plans out the quickest way to reach them.

"Didn't you?" He keeps on eating without a care. "I must have heard it somewhere."

Then it hits Kakashi. The only time his name was ever said was by Yasuko. Sho had been in the ally suddenly to save him when he wasn't there before. Why hadn't he realized it all before? Sho wipes a grain of rice from the side of his mouth with a finger and sucks it off. That's why he had been blind to the obvious. "What do you intend on doing? What do you want with me?" Kakashi demands to know.

Sho looks up at him. "And you called me conceded?" He places his chopsticks in the empty bowl. "You're making all the assumptions. Why don't you tell me?"

There's another knock at the door. Kakashi waits for him to move. Sho peeks the exact same way, sighs, and grabs a robe from off the bathroom door. He opens the front door to a small figure in a brown cloak. It's completely covered. The cover is shyly pulled back to reveal a older woman who was old enough to be a young grandmother. She's wrinkled with worry and lack of sleep. The bags under her eyes say it all. She whispers something and Sho responds with just a, "Yeah." Sho lamely waves his hand for her to move back and shuts the door behind him. Kakashi doesn't move, but listens closely. He can't make out much as the woman blubbers out something about needing his help and she's willing to pay any amount or do anything he wants. Then she gets quiet. "That's enough. I don't need to know anymore. Just come with the full amount at the drop-off point." Sho tells her and comes back inside. He takes his seat and picks up his pipe. "It's rude to eavesdrop." He informs him.

Kakashi can feel himself becoming bolder. "You know you never explained to what extent of animals you're willing to go after for the right price." Kakashi hides his hands at his waist. "Hunting or not, killing a man is still considered murder."

Sho doesn't respond. He takes little puffs and stares at the open end of his pipe. He shifts slightly and holds it in his resting hand. "Do you think man is any better than any other animal on this shit-hole planet?" Sho's face doesn't match his ugly words. He's gone off into space. "All animals bleed the same the only difference is the conscious thought human beings put behind their actions. They're all so stupid and greedy. They want so badly for self preservation when death in the inevitable truth. Nonexistence is only a heartbeat away so go and cry about it. When it comes it's a release, isn't it? People should be grateful for such mercy. They no longer have to run, hide, and piss themselves in fear. There is no longer any pain or suffering."

Kakashi steps back. Who is this young man? He's never known. It's starting to hurt his head. "There's more to life than death to end a pitiful existence. Man is more than that, Sho, you know it." Kakashi gently argues.

Sho returns from his daze. "I know- - it's time for you to leave."

Kakashi shuts the door and hesitates to let go of the knob. Sho didn't move or speak since the moment he told Kakashi to go. Kakashi wasn't even sure if Sho was breathing anymore. The guy was angry that much was for certain and if Kakashi didn't leave it would all be directed at him. The boy at the bottom of the steps spots Kakashi and freezes up. Kakashi smiles and waves at him. The boy is totally flushed a bright pink. He sweeps rapidly trying to ignore him. Kakashi shrugs and walks on by with his hands in his pockets. The day is light and birds are chirping. As for time all he can tell is it's past noon. He'd forgotten to check in or more likely he didn't care enough to check in. Inside the hotel room the beds are made, bags are set in random corners, but there's not sign of the other jounin. Kakashi takes the opportunity to jump in the shower.

The scents of the night still linger on him and with his sensitive nose he can still smell it. For some reason he's saddened by the smell washing away. It had felt comforting to have his scent on him like a child to it's familiar stuffed animal. He runs his hands through his own hair and remember the feathery black strands slipping through his fingers. He closes his eyes and becomes disgruntled. Why was he still thinking of that possible psychopath? He glares down and sees his massive erection pointing up at him. Just the thought of him and his entire body reacted. He can still feel Sho on him and inside him, coursing through his veins like heroine. He has never noticed how dark the veins on his member get when he's as hard as this. It didn't seem normal. Normal, there was that word again. He grabs hold of himself. He had to shake this boy from his system. He had to get him out. He was no longer any part of his life. It was a one night stand nothing more. Sho didn't care for him and he didn't feel for him, did he? Impossible. He's never gotten emotionally involved with anyone or anything. A ninja never shows any emotion. His tears drip down his face. He was crying. Sho was crying as he came. Sho was angry at Kakashi's assumptions and corrections of his beliefs. What was he hiding that made him so sad? What was it about him that made him so addicting?

Kakashi's body trembles and he falls back against the cold wall. He breathes in the humid air and feels the perspiration combining with the clean water. More thoughts of Sho come to mind. His hand pumps faster and faster. His soft lips and skillful tongue teasing him. The way his back arched as he'd pull out when he let Kakashi take him. To feel him so deeply drove him crazy with lust. The hard desire to have him there right now makes him rock his head back and forth with need. Every droplet of water hitting his writhing pecs and abs only heightens the sensation. Those pale orange eyes watching him as he slept held such a corrupt purity. Kakashi's head smacks the wall as he tosses it back and stares at the ceiling. He still holds himself after all the fluids have shot out at his feet. His hair covers his face, but can't hide the realization that has flushed over his face. He wants more.

Asuma and Gai enter the room about ready to give up. They've searched every inch of the entire city. The only leads lead them back to the slums where they know Kakashi was attacked, seen with some kid, then completely vanishes from the radar. The smell of hot soap turns them to the bathroom. Gai jumps ahead and kicks open the door. Kakashi glances back in surprise with half the towel drying his hair and the other in front of his face. Luckily there's a spare around his waist.

"Oh, hello fellows, have a good night?" Kakashi asks casually as if he's been there the whole time.

"Sure," Asuma walks up behind Gai. "But our morning we could have done without. We've been looking for you since we woke up. Where the hell were you?"

Kakashi faces the shower and continues drying his hair. "Well, you know, out and about. Not anywhere really. Just getting lost on the path of life."

"You liar!" Gai screams and points at his back. "You got those scratches in battle with a group of thieves! Don't deny it!" Asuma gives an understanding, crooked smile.

"I haven't denied anything, Gai." Kakashi covers his back with the towel. "What was the question again?"

Gai's face about falls off then he explodes. "Where have you been all night!"

"I thought I already answered that one." Kakashi wiggles a pinky in his ear.

Asuma puts a hand on Gai's shoulder. "Come on, let's leave this tom-cat to finish getting ready so we can leave." Asuma drags Gai out and peeks back in as he's shutting the door. "Was it worth it?" Asuma knew, but didn't know.

Kakashi stares down. The scratches on his back were beginning to itch now that he acknowledged them. Was it worth it? "Yeah, it was." Kakashi says in monotone.

Asuma smiles. "Glad your stubborn hide took my advice." The door shuts.

"Yeah," Kakashi agrees regretfully.

Down the winding path to Konoha they travel together. Kakashi and Asuma stop dead. Gai walks up, "What's the matter? Scared of a little. . .uh. . ." Gai freezes when he sees the wild and wide river before them.

"Raging river of ice cold water?" Kakashi finishes Gai's sentence.

"I'm very sorry, sirs, but the dam is let loose once a month to prevent overflows and also allows farmer to irrigate fields twice as fast if needed. It'll be shut off by tomorrow morning. Until then please enjoy yourselves." A helpful old man informs them as he serves their tea at his tiny Inn.

"Can't be helped." Asuma shrugs. "We didn't get too far from that town we stayed in last night, right Kakashi?" Kakashi doesn't even glance over. He knows exactly what Asuma was implying, but Kakashi couldn't go back there to visit his "lover." He still felt a longing for him, but if he'd go back now could he ever leave him again? It was a risk he isn't willing to take. His only commitments were to Konoha. He has to convince himself of that or else he'd of left his strange fantasy for nothing.

PKakashi sits in the window of their even smaller room than the hotel and watches the sun set. The brilliant colors of orange, pink, red, and yellow are a reminder to the other colors he had recently seen. That pale orange: what made a color like that in a person's eyes? Illness? Genetics? And those fangs behind a false smile made him look like a demon. Yet he held the soft graces and beauty of an angel. Which would be worse?

"Kakashi. . .?" Asuma starts to ask, but a scream of terror echoes through the valley and the quiet evening all the way to them. At first they pause not about ready to jump up, but the screams continue. Was someone being murdered? They both get to their feet and rush out. Gai is already at the scene. A few people are gathered around and the screaming woman is now weeping in the arms of a man. In the middle of the circle is a body cut wide open and whose blood is splashed all over the green grass. There's a look of horror on the man's face. The people move out of the way as they approach for a closer inspection. "He's been killed recently. I'd say not even an hour ago." Asuma gives him a good once over. "Look at his ankles." He points out.

Gai and Kakashi lean over. "His ankles are practically broken. I'd say he was running for a while just by the bruising and cuts along his soles. Whoever did this wasn't just killing him they were making him suffer." Gai makes an astute diagnostic. "Asuma, look, do you see anything missing?"

Asuma peers into the perfectly cut chest cavity. Whoever did this had a long, sharp knife or sword. Everyone quickly spots the missing object. "His heart. The killer took his heart. . ." he sounds grim, but pauses when he searches further, ". . .and his kidneys." He's confused by this. "If it were just his heart I'd say this was an act of revenge, but why take his kidneys?"

The graying woman at Sho's door comes to Kakashi's mind. Sho claimed to be a hunter who didn't value human life. He saw humans as just animals. A man with the love of the hunt would give his game fair chance to run and hide. A man like that would love the rush and would always dive head first into dangerous situations to continue that rush. Sho was medicating himself in alcohol and smoking the entire time he was there. It was to drown out those urges, weren't they? i'Sho,'/i Kakashi sighs, i'did you do this?' /i

"Please," the woman sobs, "find the man who did this and bring him to justice. Lord Tenshi did not deserve to die like this."

"This man was a lord?" Asuma is surprised by this. The man's fine clothes are tattered and covered in dirt. He looked just like any dirt poor farmer from the area. "I'm sorry, but we have to be assigned by our hokage before we can take part. . ."

"I'll pay you any price! If you let this man get away then his death will go un-avenged! Doesn't your land have an alliance treaty with ours? This is your duty to catch this murder! I tell you here before all these witnesses that anything is yours and your Hokage can charge whatever price he wants as long as you catch this demon! Please!" The woman is demanding and begging at the same time. Asuma glances back at his comrades. If they deny her request it'll cause bad feelings between the nations, but then again they aren't allowed to take on missions without consent. If they did that the repercussions could be severe. All of them wear a stone face. The body is getting colder. "He's a feudal lord! I am his daughter! I am now lord! I order you to help us! By the alliance between our nations and villages I order you to catch his killer!"

"It's a hard call." Asuma thinks out loud. Out of the blue Kakashi takes off. "Hey, Kakashi, what are you doing?" Asuma yells after him. Gai follows so Asuma has no choice.

Having taken a lead Kakashi cuts this thumb and summons Pakkun. "What is it now Kakashi? Lost another student?" Kakashi pulls off his forehead protector and holds it to his nose. "What's this?"

"There's a second scent on this. Can you find it?" Kakashi knows they will eventually be assigned to find him, but the trail will be cold. He knows it was a mistake to be so gun-ho, but if anyone should find him it should be him. "We have to move quickly."

Pakkun picks up the scent. "Yes, I found it, but you're being very hasty." Kakashi puts the protector back on without it over his left eye and waits. Pakkun sighs and leaps into the trees. From branch to branch they jump with great speed. They're almost flying. Kakashi rushes as he can hear Gai and Asuma closing in. "The scent is getting stronger and there's blood in it." Pakkun reports. The forest grows on forever. It's an endless sea of brown, black, and green. Kakashi doesn't miss a step. His speed has slowed, but he can no longer hear Gai and Asuma trying to catch him. "There, up ahead, the scent is from a body!" Pakkun announces. They slow and stop. Quietly they stalk up and hide. Kakashi peeks around a tree and sees a man in all black sitting on the ground. Dried blood clings to dark attire. Not an inch of skin on him can be seen not even his hair. Was that Sho? He couldn't be so sure. Between his resting legs is an air tight cooler with a few strings of dried blood around the edges.

Kakashi slips down cautiously to approach him when he picks up two bodies quickly closing the gap. i'No!' /iKakashi glares back. How was he going to stop them? A whirlwind blows past. The man's covered face pops up and he zips out of the way as the tree he was leaning against splits and falls. Kakashi leaps out of the way. Asuma jumps down for overhead. Gai and Asuma make a triangle with the killer. They stand poised and ready to attack. Kakashi stands in the wing to act as backup. Two against one was enough. Whether or not it was Sho didn't matter. This man is a killer who needs to be brought to justice. It's his duty. He is a ninja first. Gai leaps at him with his "dynamic entry!" The killer ducks only to get Asuma's right hook. He leans back in time for it to skin his cheek. Blood drips down his chin. He hurries out of their tag team and stands in the open. The cooler is tightly gripped under his left arm. Gai's speed is just too much and he gets behind him. With one swift kick the cooler is sent into the air. Asuma recovers the pass and takes off. They all go after him.

Asuma glances back a Gai yells out something to him, but he can't hear. He halts, but not quickly enough as he senses another presence. A sharp pain slices through his stomach. Hot crimson drips to his feet. The blade is pulled out and the cooler snatched from him. His head goes light and he falls back. The killer in black is standing where he stopped, blood-his blood is dripping down his arm, and the cooler is in his hands. Asuma feels a terrible weightlessness coming over him. It's scary falling into the open mouth of death. He can only accept it.

Gai rushes and kicks the killer in the back. He goes flying off the branch and the cooler is thrown from his hands. Gai is about to jump down after it, but Asuma is in mid-fall about to hit the ground. He activates his Hidden Lotus and grabs him just before he hits the ground. The killer regains his senses quickly. His priority was about to be splatter on the terra firma. He flips around, kicks off a branch, and flies head first. The cooler latches snugly in his arms as he somersaults and lands, kicking up a cloud of dirt.

Gai sits with Asuma on the ground and their fugitive only yards away. Gai glares at him as he stands and hops away without a second glance. Asuma coughs up blood. Kakashi rushes to their side. The wound is deep, but smooth. Nothing was torn out of place. Kakashi is fuming. "Take him to get medical attention. I'll catch him. I won't let him get away." He sounds so assure of himself.

Gai stands and balances Asuma against his shoulder. "Kakashi, be careful. He cut Asuma open just using his elbow and no other weapon. Be careful this ninja is using a technique I've never seen before." Gai offers his advice.

Kakashi turns and goes in his direction. The scent of Asuma's blood was now on him and he didn't have much of a head start. Kakashi catches up to him quick. He's stopped again. There he stands with the woman in the brown cloak. He hands her the cooler. She's shaking. Kakashi jumps down and makes his presence known. "Go now." The killer orders her.

"But-but the money. . ." She begins to whimper, but he shoves her back violently.

"Go!" He snaps. She turns and flees as fast as her aged legs will carry her. When she was young she'd run all day and night, but now arthritis was setting in. How she missed being able to run so freely. Now it was a painful chore.

The killer knows that Kakashi's pursuit is after him not his precious cargo. He darts off along the path. Kakashi stays in toe catching up to him with every step. He doesn't have the advantage on the ground so he takes to the trees. There he can jump like the most agile cat from branch to branch at an almost unmatchable speed. Kakashi pushes himself to the limit in order to keep up. He can felt he muscles in his legs splitting. At last they reach a clearing. He is forced back on the ground and only runs a few yards before he swings back around, but is blocked by Kakashi. He stands with a kunai in his hand pointed right at him.

"Looks like the end of the line," Kakashi squints at him, "Sho."

He reaches behind his head and pulls off the mask. His hair is a sticking out all around him as if he just got out of bed. Kakashi resents how cute he looks even with blood staining him. Sho stares at him with those tired eyes that glow in the last streaks of the setting sun. "So you've got me. What do you do now?"

Kakashi grins under his mask. "Does it matter?"

Sho smiles, "I guess not." He throws back his mask and Kakashi realizes he's at the edge of a cliff. Sho glances behind and watches it fall into the raging river made by the draining dam. It's swept under and away the moment it touches.

"I know what you are now. There have been quite a few cases of abducted organs from all kinds of people, but most are from those who are wealthy and therefore guaranteed to be healthier." Kakashi holds his stance, but wants to move in closer. If Sho really is as daring and foolish as he thinks he may jump. "You're a hunter. You force your victims to flee for their lives knowing they're going to die. You ride that adrenaline rush and pick them off. The only question left is why do you do it? I could really care less, but seeing as your reason has to be a dozy I wouldn't mind hearing it."

Sho folds his arms around his waste. "You want to know about me?" He hums as if he's heard that one before. "Tell me, Kakashi, how you're feeling right now."

Kakashi can't help but feel worried. Why would he ask such a question unless he's done something to him? But when: last night or during the chase? Remain cool. "Me? I'm feeling fine. I'm about to take down a violent serial killer and return home."

"That's not the kind of ifeeling/i I was talking about." Sho is growing impatient. Kakashi is confused for a minute then realizes all these strange temptations and urges he's been having. Is that what Sho meant? "I was always told ninja's are geniuses, but a simple farm kid like me can outwit any one of you. Maybe genius is a title given by those who are easily impressed?" Kakashi isn't stunned by Sho's insults. The boy is still angry. A lot of young men his age are. Kakashi could chalk it up to any number of reasons, but Sho's must be more specific just by basing it on his crimes and actions. "My reasons for killing are my own. I enjoy it. It doesn't take long to grow sick of slaughtering dim-witted animals. Sadly, it turns out to be just the same. I pick based on the client's needs. It's as easy as that. Got to have a match, but I rarely get to pick and chose. When I do I chose those who have spoiled lives and can't appreciate a thing. I'm not playing god by judging. I'm just killing those I personally can not stand."

"The feeling of longing like an opium addict to the pipe," Kakashi concludes. Sho suddenly appears interested. Kakashi has turned the conversation around. "That was the feeling I was left with when I left you." Kakashi lets his hand relax and stands facing Sho casually. "How did you create such a lasting sensation? What did you do to me?"

Sho bows his head then rolls it to the side. "It sure isn't love." He chuckles. "I didn't do anything to you. What you're feeling is a poison. A very potent one that courses through my veins." Kakashi's heart slows. He was poisoned? "The moment you kissed me trace amounts were transferred through the skin. The moment you fucked me even more was introduced. It's not much by comparison to the crystallized form, but it's something that you're still alive." Sho admits. He doesn't sound thrilled about it. Kakashi can't believe it. It wasn't possible for Sho to still be alive if a poison that potent was flowing inside him. "You don't believe me?" Sho can see it on that covered face of his. He lifts his skin tight shirt out of his pants and turns around. Kakashi's eyes gets wide with shock. At the base of his spine that spot he thought was a gigantic bruise is a dark purple patch of crystal plating. The veins around it course such a dark maroon. The veins around his genitals were the same color. The shirt drops back down and Sho faces him.

"Who did that to you?" Kakashi asks like he's implying he had done it to himself.

Sho's eyes change as if he's about to cry. "There was once a clan that specialized in poisons. My mother was a ninja that infiltrated them and was caught. They let her go." Sho is filled with rage. Kakashi knows that the only way an enemy is let lose is to be punished or used to get what they want. "She was pumped with this poison that grows naturally on it's own. She became deathly ill as the poison spread. Her two children that were always by her side caught what she had since it had become airborne through her coughs. It affected my little sister worse than me. It turned her into a walking corpse. As for me I was left with the duty of putting mother out of her misery so she couldn't hurt us anymore." Sho is off in a daze as the dreadful memories resurface. "We were left alone with a bitch that used us like slaves. She turned our house into an inn where many travelers would stay. So many of them were business men of high rank and perverted appetites. At the time the poison hadn't crystallized in our bodies so many of them got away with taking away our childhood, but giving nothing in return." Sho's story makes Kakashi's stomach churn. Pedophiles and poison wasn't a fairy tale life. Kakashi knows right then why Sho was crying. No matter how much his body may enjoy it his mind is taken back to those nightmarish nights when sick men would take him and his little sister as their own toys. "Does it make you happy to know about me? Is the romantic mystery destroyed for you? Now you can return to your village happy knowing you didn't fall for some pretty little boy. It was all a drug induced dream."

"What are you going to do now? Harvesting organs doesn't suit you and once you're caught it's over." Kakashi isn't so concerned with Sho's intentions anymore. He's more concerned about Sho.

"Don't pity me. I hate pity. Only the feeble hearted pity others." Sho snips at him. "I only do what suits me. But if I were to have a goal in this life before I die a painful death at the hands of this poison I'd say I'll finish what I've already started. I remember them all every last pervert and I'm going to kill them. It isn't going to be with the poison my mother cursed us with. I'm going to do it with my bare hands just like I always dreamed of since it started. They're going to suffer until they wish to be in hell. Then after every last one has been pulled to pieces I'll sit back with my pipe and die."

Kakashi scoffs at him. "Nice plan. Sounds like you've got your whole life planned out. But there's only one fault," Kakashi starts to walk towards him, "you won't get that chance when you're incarcerated." Sho doesn't move into a defensive stance. He doesn't do anything at all. Kakashi knows he's not going to go quietly. Sho jolts to the side, but Kakashi catches him by his left wrist and yanks him back. He grabs hold of his other wrist and holds his hands up where he can see him. Sho stands with his eyes closed. He almost lost his composure. Kakashi was beginning to see through him. The boy held no conscious he only drank and smoked to drown out the pain in his body. He enjoyed murdering others and planned on killing until he died. Sho may have been a angel once, but he fell far from grace. "You're not escaping."

"You're not going to stop me. If I bleed on any open scratch or orifice of your body you'll die in minutes." Sho warns him.

Kakashi glares at him. "You think I'm afraid of that poison you hold?" He yanks down his mask, grabs the back of Sho's soft hair, and gently kisses him. Sho's eyes remain open. He's panicked and can't get away. But he quickly calms down and eases into Kakashi's soft lips that hold him with such strength and unspoken understanding.

Kakashi slowly releases his mouth and feels his heart racing. Poison or no poison those fantasies and his constant thoughts of Sho weren't due to any addiction other than the one in his heart. The more he tried to suppress it the harder it was to control his self.

Sho breathes a little shakily. For the first time he's acting like a shy boy his age should. He gazes into Kakashi's eyes. "You haven't seen my technique yet." His voice dives into something dark when his eyes still twinkle with tender feelings. "I can materialize my chakra into a solid shape out of any pore on my body." With that said a blade shaped object pierces through Kakashi's left hand that's still gripping Sho's wrist. He gasps as he lets go and pulls back. Blood pours out all over his arm. Kakashi holds his own wrist tightly and heaves in pain.

Sho takes a step back. Kakashi reaches out to him. "Don't. . .!" He cries out, but Sho instantly disappears over the edge. Kakashi drops to his knees and stares down at a quick splash, but no body resurfaces. He's gone.

He scratches at the bandages on his hand. The cut was so clean no stitching was even needed. Not even a scar would remain. He wishes it would. It would serve as a reminder of one night of his life that made him alive again. As desperate as it all ended it was something uniquely beautiful.

"Was the operation a success, doctor?" A sweet little nurse asks the older gentleman as he walks through the hall.

Kakashi watches as he stops with a weak smile. Hours of surgery must have worn him out. "Yes, it was."

"But I thought they didn't have any matching organs for those children?" The nurse inquires.

"Their only guardian, their grandmother, showed up last night with them. Can you believe it? She even had the full amount for the operation." The doctor chuckles with delight at how it all worked out.

"No way! She didn't even have enough to cover the rooms a few days ago. How could she get all that money?" The nurse is bedazzled.

The doctor shrugs with an old man sigh. "I don't know. The village may have pitched in. It doesn't matter. I don't want to know. That business is her own. The important thing is those darling kids will make a full recovery. Let's leave it at that." The doctor keeps walking.

"Oh, yes, doctor," the nurse shies away now that he's told her his opinion.

Kakashi gazes back down at his hand and moves his fingers. Everything still in tact. Sho didn't take the money. He didn't let the woman try to give it to him. He even felt the need to distract him from the woman so she could get away. He hadn't noticed at the time, but the more he replays it in his mind he sees a side of Sho that was hidden by the drama and dark words. Sho: the peculiar yet beautiful young man who hungered for love when no one can hold him without being poisoned. He must have been convinced that the poison is all he is and he can only harm others after being used and abused. That would play hard on a boy's psyche. It would warp his personality so that he could not even recognize it himself. If he could have would he save him? Was that what he was trying to do? Was Kakashi trying to save him?

"Hatake-san, we have your friend out of surgery. He's going to make a full recovery. He just needs bed rest until he heals and we're sure there isn't any infection. You may see him for a short while if you would like." An orderly informs Kakashi in such a serious tone it sounds as if Asuma died.

"Thanks," Kakashi stands up.

Finally they can leave again. Gai is helping Asuma at the hospital as Kakashi wonders off. He finds himself standing in front of the small apartment building. Walking up those stairs it doesn't even seem familiar. He was so out of it that night. At the door he stands at it as if it would lead him into another dimension. It had felt like it had at the time. He turns the knob. Still unlocked. He pushes it open, but doesn't go inside. It's dark and empty. It's emptier than before now that he bed is gone and no towels are draped all over the bathroom. For some reason it makes him feel very lonely to see it this way. The air inside is ice cold unlike that night when it was a searing temperature that made their bodies perspire. He shuts the door and sticks his hands in his pockets.

Back in front of the building the boy from an earlier morning is carrying a bucket and rag. "Oh, hello," the boy flushes red with surprise.

"Hi," Kakashi says flatly.

"If you're looking for him he's already gone. It was a few days ago he just disappeared. He left the rest of the rent on the floor and we haven't heard anything since. Grandmother is happy about it, but I'm going to miss him being around. Nights were always so much more interesting." The boy sits next to the bucket and wrings out his rag.

Kakashi lets a small smile cross him.

i"What's your name?" Kakashi wonders.

"What does it matter?" He's groggy and stubborn.

"It matters to me." Kakashi lets more emotion through than he intended. He sounds hurt.

The boy opens his eyes a crack and blinks. "Sho." /i

So simple and little it's a kid's name. It's gentle and modest. Maybe it did fit the boy perfectly even if it is made up. Now he has a name forever in Kakashi's memory. "Sho," Kakashi hums.