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 – XIII
Kakashi ran through the street, the cold, wet air tearing through his lungs. Rain drops pelted his face like sharp, tiny knives, occasionally getting into his eyes and making him wish he had Obito's goggles. But none of that mattered in the slightest.
"…when I went home, he really let me have it. After he finished he threw me in the basement again. He hadn't done that in years. But he said I still hadn't learned my lesson. He left me in there for almost three days."
If he did that because she'd been taken out of the house for a few days, he couldn't imagine what might happen now. Anko had been out of Orochimaru's care for almost three months.
"Damn!" Kakashi through himself off the sidewalk and across the street, ignoring the wave of cold water that passed over his feet as he ran. He had to get to Orochimaru's, he had to save Anko.
"I'll protect you, I promise."
Brilliant fucking job you're doing Kakashi, he scolded himself angrily, wiping the water out of his eyes with the back of his fist. Why the hell didn't you go in and check on her earlier, why'd you wait so long before going to go see Rin and Anko, why didn't you notice Rin was missing sooner? How much of a head start does Anko have on me? Is she there already? Is she even still alive?
"Stop thinking about it!" Kakashi shouted at the sky, running faster still. He was glad no one was around to see him. "Just keep running, it doesn't matter now how far ahead she is or if she's there already, just keep running and fucking find her!"
He skidded around another corner and kept running. I'll protect you, Anko. I promised I would, and I never go back on my word. Please…just please be alive.
An image of Anko appeared in his mind. Her soft, teasing smile, her light brown eyes, the way she held herself when she spoke to someone that wasn't himself, Rin, or Obito, as if she were afraid of saying something wrong. But when she was around the three of them, she let herself go, spoke freely, joking and laughing, and being all around a fun person to be with.
Kakashi didn't want to lose that. He had to save her.
"I don't ever want to go back to him." Kakashi smiled under his mask and reached over, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Good. Because I won't ever let you."
Anko rolled out of the way as Orochimaru brought a knife down near her. It missed, but just barely.
"I'm not finished with you yet." The hateful man grabbed her and dragged her up by the collar of her shirt, hitting her in every place he could reach. Anko tried not to yell out in pain as his fist connected with her over and over.
Don't beg, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. Don't beg, don't ask him to stop, just take it and hope he stops on his own. Even if he locks me in the basement again, anything would be better than this. He'll stop soon. He has to, even he has to get tired eventually. It'll all be over soon.
But his blows didn't weaken. On the contrary, they became stronger. Anko's temple was bleeding profusely, though she didn't remember being hit there. Her whole body hurt like hell, and she began to wonder if it ever would stop.
Don't say anything, don't speak, just wait. Wait…
She was jolted out of her thoughts as her small, vulnerable body connected with the wooden wall. The bitter taste of blood was evident in her mouth, and there were stars in her eyes. She straightened up, resting on her knees, shaking.
"Tell me." She whispered, her eyes focused on the ground. Orochimaru blinked, surprised by the fact she had suddenly spoken. "Obito…did you have anything to do with Obito…with his death? Did you?"
Orochimaru smirked.
"Why of course I did."
Those words alone were enough to motivate Anko. All thoughts of fatigue gone, she jumped up and dove at Orochimaru. The way he spoke about it, like it was no big deal, like he hadn't killed one of the only friends she'd ever had…she couldn't just sit and listen to it.
Orochimaru laughed cruelly and grabbed her by the back of the shirt, throwing her past him. She crashed headlong into to the wall. Tears sprang in her eyes. Out of habit, she pushed them back.
"Damn…you…"
"I told you, you're nothing but a burden to those people." Orochimaru said in a snake-like voice, walking over to Anko. He kicked her in the side, but she barely felt it; her body was just in too much pain. "I gave you the chance to leave. Everyone would have been complete and whole. But no, you had to try and stay. You're a magnet for trouble Anko, a curse on your so-called friends. No one would ever want you."
"Shut up." Anko choked, pushing herself up with shaking arms. "Just shut…up. You don't know…anything about me."
Orochimaru laughed again and stooped down, taking Anko's chin in his hand and forcing her to look into his sneering face.
"My dear Anko…I know more about you then you'll ever know."
He straightened up and walked over to where he had left the knife, yanking it out of the floor. He walked back to Anko.
"This is your last chance. Is there anything you wanted to ask me?"
Anko could only think of one thing. "My parents…did you kill them as well?"
Orochimaru's smirked widened. "That, Anko, is a secret I'll take to my grave. Now…say goodbye."
Just as he swung the knife down, the front door burst open. In a white flash, Kakashi was in front of Anko, taking the knife into his arm. The silver-haired teen winced in pain, but kept from shouting. Orochimaru blinked in surprise.
"Why look, it's the hero. Are you going to do something useful this time, little boy?"
Kakashi gritted his teeth angrily and grabbed the blade, yanking it out of his arm. He jerked it forward, and the handle collided with Orochimaru's chin, sending him flying to the ground. Cradling his injured arm, the teen knelt down beside Anko, who was looking up at him in shock.
"What are…you…"
"I told you," he cut her off, running a hand over her cheek, "I'm going to protect you no matter what it takes."
Before she had time to respond, Orochimaru sneered, "How cute. What do you think you can do though, boy?"
Kakashi stood up, ignoring the pain that was screaming in his arm. "No!" Anko protested, trying to grab Kakashi. He shook her off. "You idiot, don't! You can't—"
"You should listen." Orochimaru said. He sounded almost joyful about the scene before him. "There's no point in throwing your life away for one worthless girl."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the man before him. If he could just get his hands on that knife…
"But now…well, now it's too late!"
Orochimaru struck. Before Kakashi had time to react, the knife was sinking deep into his shoulder. Before he could even process what had happened, Orochimaru yanked the knife out, and slammed Kakashi in the side of the head with the handle, sending him flying sideways. He hit the ground with a thud. Stars sprung up in front of his eyes, blinding him for a minute. He thought he heard Anko yell his name, but there was nothing he could do. His vision was starting to get hazy, and he knew he wasn't going to last much longer.
"No…"
"Kakashi, Kakashi!" Anko struggled to stand up, to run to him. But her bruised legs wouldn't support her, and every time she moved, her head began to spin. "Kakashi!"
Orochimaru grabbed Anko and lifted her into the air. She struggled against his grip, desperate to get free, to go to Kakashi. But Orochimaru was stronger than she was. Her eyes widened in fear as he lifted the hand holding the knife.
"Don't―"
"I'm doing the world a favor by ridding it of one more, useless person." And he sank the knife deep into her chest.
Kakashi's vision was beginning to clear. As he pulled his head up, he heard Anko's scream of pain. He saw the knife in her chest. He felt as if someone had sucked all of the air out of him.
"Anko!"
Orochimaru pulled the knife out of her chest and dropped her carelessly; she crumpled instantly, her eyes closed. Blood was spilling from her chest.
"Are you still conscious?" The man asked silkily. "Oh well. I was going to deal with you next anyways…"
Kakashi barely heard a word Orochimaru said. All of his senses were focused on the still form of the small, purple-haired girl, lying broken on the floor. All he could think was, I have to get to her.
Ignoring Orochimaru, Kakashi pushed himself off the floor and darted forward. He had to get to Anko…if he did, he could turn back time, he could save her…
That was completely illogical of course. But Kakashi didn't care.
A rough hand grabbed him, throwing him backwards. "It's far too late for her." Orochimaru hissed, towering over Kakashi. "And you, for that matter. You should have just let her go, boy."
He'd failed. He hadn't been able to protect her like he had promised.
Anko…I'm sorry.
The faint sound of sirens suddenly rented the quiet air. They were far away, but they were coming closer. The sound managed to clear through the fog that had settled in Kakashi's mind. Rin! She must have…
Orochimaru's face hadn't changed at all. He looked over his shoulder at the door, as if he could see the cars coming. "Well, well…"
And he dropped the knife. Right into Kakashi's stomach. The teen's dark eyes widened in pain, but he managed to keep from screaming.
"Far too late."
And Orochimaru was gone. Kakashi, breathing heavily, yanked the knife out of his stomach and crawled over to where Anko still lay, ignoring the pain that coursed through his body. He pulled the girl into his arms, running a weak hand through her hair.
I failed you Anko. And you…Obito.
―:―:―:―Flashback―:―:―:―
"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.
Kakashi knelt down beside his friend, trying to hide the pain and sadness that was threatening to engulf him. "Obito…"
A small, weak smile formed on Obito's lips. "Mitarashi…do you love her?"
Kakashi blinked in surprise. Obito couldn't have chosen a worse time to talk about this if he tried. "That's not―"
"If you do, you have to keep her close. 'Cause I can tell she loves you, and it'd be a shame to let that go to waste. Keep the ones you love closest." Kakashi looked at Rin, who had knelt down next to him. He nodded.
"I understand."
"Good. Protect Rin for me, Kakashi. Protect Mitarashi for yourself."
And he was gone. Rin buried her face into her hands, crying openly. Kakashi closed his eyes and looked away from his friend's broken form. Obito's last words were ringing in his mind.
I'll protect them, he thought, For you…Obito.
―:―:―:―End Flashback―:―:―:―
The world was starting to darken. Kakashi looked down at Anko's still form. He slipped his hand into hers.
"I'm sorry Anko." He whispered, squeezing her hand tightly. As he finally blacked out, he could have sworn he felt her squeeze back, could have sworn he heard her breath, "No, I'm sorry."
But he could have very well been imagining it.
――――――――――――――
Author's Note ― Huh. Well, before I go anywhere with this, let me give you a small time-frame. Anko had a thirty minute head-start on Kakashi, and had already been at the house for about twenty minutes before Kakashi got there. Likewise, he had about a ten minute head-start on the police (that'll be explained in the next chapter), which is why it took them so long to get there. Does that make sense? Anyways, vacation sucked, but I knew it would. I'm glad to be home :) Review please! -- Sam