Chapter 3 Awake
Kakashi's chest felt like an elephant had sat on it and he couldn't feel much of his right leg except for a strange prickling sensation. He heard someone singing softly. It was sweet soft voice reminding him of cherry blossoms swaying in the wind of a beautiful spring day.
"Am I in heaven?" he thought, "Would I feel this much pain if I were dead? Surely not."
He opened eyes but the bright sunlight blinded him and made his head swim. He moaned from the sharp pain shooting up his eyes up to his head.
"Ok maybe this isn't heaven, maybe it's hell," he thought. Although he wouldn't have imagined hell to have such a bright sun. Then he heard the sweet voice that had been singing say something.
"Shhh. Easy now. You are still badly injured." He felt a soft petite hand on his forehead and the smell of vanilla wafted by.
"I'm going to give a shot of a morphine. That should make you a bit more comfortable. Still don't try to move" The hand was on his arm, felt the chill of a cotton ball soak in alcohol and then a small prick. The painkiller worked fast. In a matter of minutes his head stopped spinning and he was able to open his eyes slowly to get accustomed to the light. The first thing he saw were a pair of twinkling green eyes and pink, lots of pink flowing hair.
"Sakura," he whispered hoarsely, "Is that really you? Aren't you a fair sight for sore eyes" He was alive and had a strange happy feeling that his first sight was this pretty pink kunoichi. That was unexpected but probably from the euphoria of realizing one is alive even though badly battered.
She smiled, her eyes twinkling even more. "I'm….I mean…we," she stammered nervously, "are so happy you are ok. I'll go get the others. They've been waiting for you to wake up"
"Wait," Kakashi grabbed his former student's hand preventing her from going any further, "Was that you singing I heard?" he asked not sure why he just had to know.
Sakura felt his hand around hers and fought the urge to intertwine her fingers in his. "Yes it was. I picked up that habit while working in the hospital under Lady Tsunade. I know I'm terrible but it seemed to soothe some of the patients," she blushed "At least the ones that were so out of it they couldn't tell how dreadful my voice is"
"No it isn't dreadful at all." Kakashi squealed her hand tenderly. "I would like to hear more."
Sakura smiled and walked out of the tent to fetch the others. "Ok those were the drugs talking"
After 15 minutes of Anko, Naruto and Sasuke saying things like "You gave us quite a scare" and "Glad to see you are okay" , the drugs to affect and Kakashi was peacefully asleep. Sakura shooed everyone out of the tent but left the flap opened so she could hear if Kakashi needed her attention.
"Sakura, can Kakashi be moved?" Anko asked it was one of those rare times she was serious. "We aren't in the most friendly area and with what happen to Kakashi only a few miles from here. I would like to get going, you know."
"Yes he can be moved but he'll have to be carried in the cot since we don't have a stretcher. Also we will have to make frequent stops so I can redress his wounds and take his vitals."
"Ok," Anko said obviously working out a plan so that they could reach Konoha as quickly as possible given the conditions that Sakura stated and most importantly avoiding any enemies. "Obviously, Sakura will need to stay with Kakashi so she will carry the stretcher. Sasuke, you will go ahead a scout making sure we don't fall into any traps and finding the quickest, safest route home. Naruto, you will help Sakura. I'll bring up the rear. We'll switch positions on a daily basis, except for Sakura obviously." The raven-haired leader took out a map from her pack and stretched it out flat on the ground. She pointed to area colored a light blue bordering a red area. "This is were we are. In the Land of Rain close to the border of the Land of Fire." She then pointed to a small dot labeled Border Town. "It should be about a two days walk to this town. Maybe three days in our current situation."