With my wide eyes
I've seen worlds that don't belong
My mouth is dry with words I cannot verbalize
Tell me why we live like this

Broken – XI

"Anko-san?" Rin reached down and carefully shook Anko's shoulder. "Anko-san, it's time for school."

"I'm not going." Anko's voice was low and hollow. "Tell Uchiha to get my work for me, all right?"

"I…okay." Rin turned away from Anko, confused. "Anko-san, are you okay?"

The silence rang in the room.

"See you after school, Rin-san."

Rin to that as a hint and left. She walked downstairs, and saw Obito and Kakashi talking to Minato. She approached the older man.

"Minato-Sensei, I think something's wrong with Anko-san."

Kakashi's eyes widened. So he wasn't imagining things. Rin had noticed it too.

"Yeah? What happened, do you know?"

Rin shook her head. "She's just acting really weird, that's all. She said she's not going to school today either. She doesn't like missing if she can help it though. It's all just really strange."

Minato made a face. "All right Rin. Thanks for telling me. I'll try and talk to her, see what she says. In the meantime, you three better get going."

They nodded and started to leave. Kakashi was at the back of the group.

"Kakashi."

He stopped and looked over his shoulder at Minato, who was watching the teen with a stern gaze. "Look, it's no secret you and Anko have gotten close. So if you know what's wrong, tell me. You're not doing her any favors by keeping it a secret."

Kakashi scowled. "I don't know anything, okay? She hasn't said anything to me about it, really."

Minato looked a little convinced, though not enough. "All right…if you're sure. Better get going, you don't want to be late."

Kakashi nodded and left. Minato put his hands into his pockets, sighing. Just when things were starting to get quiet again…

"You can't stay there forever…you're just a burden to them…you're a magnet for trouble, after all."

Was it a threat? Anko thought dully, her eyes locked on the ceiling. She tucked her hands under her head. Of course it was. But was it meant for me? Or for someone else, to motivate me? I don't understand…

"I'll protect you. I promise."

But it's not me I'm worried about…

Anko groaned and grabbed her pillow, pressing it over her face. She wondered for a split second if the world would just be better off without her.

Guess suicide isn't really the answer either, she thought, rolling over onto her side, facing the wall, and tucking her arm under her head. But then what is? What can I do? I can't let anyone get hurt because of me, it wouldn't be right. My only option is to go back. I have to. But…I really don't want to…I wish I could ask someone. I wonder what the others would I say if I talked to them.

In her mind's eye, she saw Rin. You should talk to Minato-Sensei, I'm sure he would be able to help. But you can't go back, Anko-san, you can't.

Talk to Minato-Sensei. Could she do that?

"If you tell anyone, anyone at all, I'll know. And you'll regret it…"

He was bluffing. Wasn't he? Could she take that chance?

Obito's sneering face appeared in her mind next.

Go back? Are you nuts? If you're actually considering going back to that sorry excuse for a human, then you're crazier than I thought Mitarashi. Get your damn act together and stop being such a coward.

Yeah, that was Obito's response in a nutshell. It wasn't anything that was going to help her though. She wasn't scared for herself; it was for everyone around her. She didn't know what Orochimaru was truly capable of, though he had proven ― on one of her first nights in the home ― that he had no problem knocking others out of the way to get to her. But really, Anko could have cared less about herself. It was everyone else she was worried about. She didn't want anyone to suffer because of her. She wasn't worth that.

Kakashi was beginning to become annoyed by the fact he was lacking the ability to pay attention in class. But all he could think about lately was Anko. Especially today. He was concerned by the fact that Anko hadn't wanted to come to school. Had something happened to her? Had someone said something to her? Had they tried to hurt her? Kakashi didn't care who it was ― if someone had done something to her, he'd tear them apart limb from limb.

"Earth to Kakashi-kun, hello?" Rin shook Kakashi's shoulder carefully. "You still with me here?"

"Yeah, sorry." Kakashi shook his head. "What's up?"

"It's lunchtime." Rin jerked her thumb at the door. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah. I'm coming." He stood up, running a hand through his silver hair. Rin cocked her head at him.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Nothing important." Kakashi grabbed his lunch bag and started towards the roof. Rin jogged after him.

"You'll be pretty lonely up there today without Anko." The auburn-haired girl commented. "Want me and Obito-kun to join you?"

"I don't think I want Obito on the roof. He might fall off." Rin laughed.

"Yeah, maybe. Well, we'll grab him anyway. If he starts to fall, one of us can catch him."

And with that in mind, they met Obito outside his class, and went up to the roof together. They sat down in a semi-circle, and started eating in silence, each absorbed by their on thoughts. Finally Obito broke the silence.

"We haven't all eaten together for awhile." The words surprised Kakashi, jolting him out of his thoughts. He looked over at the dark-haired Uchiha boy. "You're always up here with Mitarashi now, and we feel stupid coming up here with you."

"Obito you are stupid." Kakashi said, taking a bite of his sandwich. "But you don't have to feel awkward coming up here. It's not like we do anything, we just talk. She actually talks quite a bit, when it's just the two of us."

"You've gotten really close to her." Rin commented quietly. Kakashi heard a note of hurt in her voice. He understood it. But as usual, he ignored it. He had realized a long time ago that Rin harbored more than just friendly feelings for him. He just didn't return them.

He chose not to respond to her comment. Anything he said would have made them think the wrong thing. Obito waited for Kakashi to speak. When he didn't, the Uchiha said, "Well then, now that we've got that off our chests, and we're all caught up on how everybody's feeling, let's move on to more important things."

"Such as…"

"Midterms. Who's going to help me study?"

Kakashi rolled his eyes and Rin laughed. And for a minute, it felt just like as old times.

Anko would have been happy just staying under her covers all day and hiding, trying to figure out what she was going to do (because she still had no idea). But of course, no one was ever content to just let her do what she wanted to. This was proven when a hand grabbed the blanket, pulling it off her body. She looked over her shoulder, glaring wearily at Kakashi, who was holding her blanket in his hand.

"Give it back."

"Tell me what's wrong and maybe I will."

"Nothing's wrong."

"Yeah, and Obito is passing all his classes. Come on Anko, I'm not stupid." Anko rolled her eyes and rested her head back on her pillow, staring at Rin's empty bed.

"I never said you were. But nothing is wrong, really."

Kakashi sighed, and the bed squeaked as he sat down. "Anko, just talk to me. Please. I'm on your side, remember? You can tell me."

Anko sighed and closed her eyes. "I know. Trust me Kakashi, I know. You're the only person I can talk to, the only one I trust enough. So please, just believe me when I say nothing's wrong."

He didn't believe her. But he knew when she wanted to talk, she would go to him. And that was enough.

Kakashi reached over and slipped his hand into Anko's, pulling her into a sitting position. Before she had time to protest, he wrapped his arms around her and pulling her towards him. She looked up at him in surprise, but let herself relax at once.

"Thanks." She murmured, sighing contently. Kakashi looked down at her in surprise.

"For what?"

"For…everything."

Neither of them noticed Rin and Obito watching from around the door-frame. The former sighed, excepting defeat at last, no matter how much it hurt. The latter, trying to comfort her, reached over and lightly squeezed her hand. He was pleasantly surprised when she squeezed back.

"Someone tell Mitarashi I'm done collecting her homework." Obito grumbled. "I'm a boy, not a servant. She can have her boyfriend collect her stuff, if she wants it that badly."

Kakashi blushed under his mask, but kept his voice neutral as he said, "Boyfriend? I wasn't under the impression she had one."

Obito snorted and muttered under his breath, "Yeah right. Act cool all you want Kakashi. It's not like we don't all know the truth."

Rin just smiled and pulled her backpack tightly over her shoulders. Another day, another walk home from school. Again, Anko wasn't with them. She'd chosen to skip again that day. Minato-Sensei said he'd give her one more day off, then if she still didn't go, he'd talk to her about it. She couldn't keep missing school, after all.

"Anyways, it's like I was saying." Obito quickly looked both ways before setting foot in the crosswalk, Kakashi on his right, Rin on his left. "I'm not anyone's servant, especially not Mitarashi's, I'm not going to keep―"

Out of the corner of right his eye, Obito saw a black blur of a car turn the corner so sharply, the wheels squealed. Rin and Kakashi looked around in confusion.

"What―?"

"MOVE!"

A rough hand grabbed Kakashi, dragging him back and throwing him into Rin, sending them both flying to the ground. There was a horrible, loud thud, and the sound of tires squealing filled the air again. A split second later, the car sped off, past Kakashi and Rin, who were groaning as they straightened up.

"What was that―?"

"Obito-kun!"

Rin's terrified shout cut through Kakashi's confusion. The girl jumped up and rushed over to the battered for of their fallen friend. Kakashi stood up, his eyes wide with shock. Obito looked so still. Kakashi had never seen the Uchiha so still. Not Obito, the boy who was always moving, trying and failing not to be late.

"Ehehehe…" Obito's eyes shifted as Kakashi walked over to him. "Looks like I finally did something right, eh Kakashi?"

"You idiot…don't talk."

"Obito-kun…"

A crowd had gathered around them. Someone was shouting something calling an ambulance. But Kakashi already knew it was too late.

Obito wouldn't live to see the ambulance.

"Anko-nee-chan, will you play with me?"

Anko looked over at the door. Kai was standing there, looking apprehensive. She smiled. "Yeah. Sure."

Kai grinned. "Yay!"

The two made their way downstairs, Kai leading the way. "Minato-sama just bought a new puzzle, we can work on it, we can―"

Anko stopped abruptly when she saw two police officers standing near the entrance, talking to a grim-looking Sarutobi and Minato. Kakashi and Rin were standing with the officers. Their faces bared the looks of someone who had just grown up too fast in too short of a time.

"Anko-nee-chan―"

Completely forgetting that Kai even existed, Anko rushed over. She caught the last few words the officer was saying.

"…hit and run, don't know who the driver was."

"He died almost on impact." The second officer added. The floor nearly gave out from beneath Anko's feet. And she noticed that Obito was missing. Oh God…

"Thank you." Sarutobi said gravely. "And thanks for getting the two of them home."

Both officers nodded before leaving. Anko just stared, sure she had heard incorrectly. Obito couldn't be dead…he was Obito. Loud, obnoxious, annoying, invincible Uchiha Obito.

Anko looked to Kakashi, trying to get confirmation of what the officer had said. The far off, distant look in Kakashi's eyes was enough. Anko leaned against the wall; the world was suddenly spinning. All she could wonder, at that moment, was whether or not Orochimaru had something to do with this.

Author's Note: I don't remember off the top of my head who, but someone asked me not to kill Obito and Rin. Can I just say...sorry? :ducks as a random tomato is thrown: What is it with you people and fruit? :sigh: Review, please? -- Sam