Shattered Reflection-Chapter 9

"Kakashi!" Rin gasped when she watched the large shadow like nin kick him in the head, sending him crashing across the floor of the bridge before coming to a stop at a light pole, bending it a little. But she had her own worries to think about. Before she could run over to see if Kakashi was okay, a cold hand clamped down on her shoulder and shoved her into the bridge's railing. She gasped in pain as she hit the wood but gasped again when she saw exactly who had her pinned against the railing.

"Caligo!" Rin yelped in fear and pain.

Caligo Zangetsu, unlike his brother, was a whole lot more serious than Sei ever was and more darker looking. He did have shaggy, long, black hair, spilling all around his face and falling over his dark eyes, one with a golden glow near the pupil. His skin was slightly pale from the lack of sunlight. He was wearing a black Gi, along with a thick traveling cloak, looking a little aristrocratic. He was a few years older than Rin, and definitely a few years older than Kakashi as well. Maybe in his mid thirties. He had strong look about him, though in a very dark way. Around his neck, hanging rather loosely, was his forehead protector. In one hand he was holding a long bladed Kunai with teeth along the edges against Rin's throat, while his other hand was clutching her arm tightly and forcing her against the railing. His body was pressed against hers, keeping her pinned tightly against the railing as well.

"Hello, Ling." came his deep and dark monotonous voice. "Or shall I call you now by your real name, Rin?"

Rin shivered against him, her eyes wide with fear. She knew that she was in trouble. She knew what kind of danger she was in now that Caligo Zangetsu had arrived. "Cal-Caligo...you...you're here." She said in a trembling voice.

Caligo just eyed her darkly, though his mouth parted in to a dangerous smile. "Yes. I've recieved Sei's message and I came to the Fire Country to see how he was doing." His eyes now narrowed dangerously. "Guess where I found him?"

Rin swallowed hard as she tried to move back a little more but found that she couldn't. She used her other hand to inch it closer towards her Kunai holster but before she could even get it close, the kunai at her throat pressed against her skin, threatening to cut into her delicate throat. "Make a move, Rin. I am so dying to do it." Caligo said seriously, his eyes in dangerous slits. "After what you've done to Sei, I should return the favor."

Rin shook her head, trembling like a leaf during a storm. "I...I didn't kill him! I didn't...!"

"I know you didn't." Caligo said darkly. "He's alive, but just barely. I've a few medical nins healing him as we speak and he should be ready to rip your heart out from your chest in a few days." He tilted his head when he heard groaning from behind him. Rin even looked over his shoulder and saw Kakashi starting to move to his hands and knees, shaking his head as if he was trying to shake off dizziness. "Kakashi..." She said weakly. Kakashi must have heard her because he looked up and around for who had attacked him only to see a tall dark man have Rin pressed up against the side of the bridge. His eye flashed and he quickly climbed to his feet and started forward.

"I would not do that if I were you, Copycat Ninja." The dark man warned.

Kakashi stopped when he saw the man press the kunai into Rin's neck, now breaking the skin. A thin line of blood seeped through and started running down the blade. Rin whimpered in pain and fear, her eyes flashing as she felt the blade cut into her. "Rin..." Kakashi hissed between his teeth before he straightened himself and glared at the man holding his friend hostage. "Let her go. Now." His voice laced with danger.

Caligo Zangetsu smirked with a low "hmph" before flickering his eyes over to Rin, who looked back with fear. "I will, Hatake, once she gives me Sen."

"No." Rin said, now bravely. She winced when Caligo tightened his grip on her arm, digging his fingers into her skin. "Caligo, you can do whatever you want with me. I don't care. But I will not let you touch her."

"I'm sure your friend would not agree." Caligo said darkly as he pressed his kunai more into her throat, making her cry out in pain. "So, Kakashi Hatake, as I was saying. Guess where I found my brother, Sei?"

Kakashi didn't move, not wanting to provoke Caligo into hurting Rin anymore. He needed to have a clear mind, try to figure out how he was going to help her without getting her killed. "Let me guess. Dead on the forest grounds?" he asked sounding amused, though he was forcing it.
Caligo didn't seem amused though. He tilted his head towards him, looking at the white haired Shinobi through narrowed slits. "In deed, on the forest floor, bleeding to death. But he's alive. Barely." He turned a little more to get a better look at Kakashi. "I should repay you the favor, Copy Ninja, by killing Rin or severely injuring her." he turned his dark eyes back onto the frightened looking kunoichi. "But I won't."

Suddenly, he moved in a blur, throwing Rin as hard as he could at Kakashi, who was taken by surprise. He moved forward quickly but ended up getting thrown back a few steps on impact, his arms around Rin, keeping her from falling to the ground.
"Rin," Caligo said, facing both of them now, his eyes still dark as ever. "You have your warning."
Rin clapped a hand over her throat, starting to quickly heal the cut that Caligo had placed there, her eyes dark with anger. Kakashi also was glaring at her, his arms still around her. "Do not disappoint me, Rin Hayashi." Caligo spoke as he clicked his fingers, and loudly. Both Kakashi and Rin blinked and looked around as several Shadoai bandits stepped out from behind trees. "I've taught them well and they will be watching. You tell my little brat of a niece to give me that diamond or your village will be in flames before I'm done." The dark Shadoai said in a low voice.

Kakashi let go of Rin, pushing her behind him to protect her, his arm very straight as blue electricity started to spark at his fingers. "Do you know what happens to enemy nin if they threaten Konoha, Zangetsu?" The silver white haired Shinobi said, dryly.

Caligo just smirked at him as he tilted his head downward, digging his chin into his neck. "Kakashi, I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned him. "Kakashi, be careful. Please." Rin pleaded, her hand on his shoulder. "Caligo is a lot trickier than Sei. Look around us. It's too dark. We will be playing in his battle field if we fight him." She told him. Kakashi continued to stand there, his ball of electricity still pulsing in his hand. He just continued to glare at Caligo, who was watching him through narrowed eyes, but still smirked. "Kakashi, please trust me on this. I would not interfer if I knew he wasn't dangerous. He's a Shadoai, and his specialty is the shadows."

"I would listen to her if I were you." Caligo warned her darkly. "She knows from experience of what happens when she messes with me."

Kakashi narrowed his eye even more dangerously before tilting his head towards Rin. "Rin, did he ever hurt you?"

Rin hesitated as she heard the venom in her friend's voice. She wasn't sure that she should tell him. She wasn't sure what he would do. But when he tilted his head to look at her, the look in his eye told her that she should tell him. So she nodded. "A long time ago. When he was exiled out of the Shadoai Village." She told him before touching her shoulder, pausing before pulling the sleeve up to reveal a nasty scar.
The dark look in Kakashi's eye grew even darker before he turned and looked seriously at Caligo. "Get out of Konoha Village, Caligo, or I will kill you. If you ever come back, so help me, I will not show you mercy." He spoke in a tone with was laced with danger.

Caligo stared at him for a long time before he turned away. "Be careful, Copy Ninja. Do not threaten me. You do it." He then clicked his fingers and the bandits were disappearing in the dark shadows. "Three days, Rin. You tell Sen that I will be back in three days for that diamond. If she continues to refuse to give it to me, your precious village will be destroyed on the behalf of her hands." And then he was gone in a black flash.

Kakashi stood there for a long time before he finally called back his Rasangeri and straightened up. He turned to look at Rin, looking her over for any injuries. But seeing that she healed the cut on her neck, he relaxed, taking a deep breath to help calm his nerves.
"Rin, are you all right?"

Rin sighed as she lowered her head and stared numbly at the ground. She folded her arms, hugging herself, looking a little guilty. "I froze up. Seeing Caligo here startled me and I froze." She shook her head. "Why can't I ever change, Kakashi? I'm so weak. Weak compared to you." She sighed. Kakashi just frowned at her before placing a hand on her shoulder and used his other one to make her lift her head. "Rin, don't you ever call yourself weak again. You are not weak." He told her sternly. "Caligo took us by surprise, that's all. He got me and I don't usually put down my guard." He said before tilting his head. "Which, is actually a first."

Rin just stared up at him. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. It's probably my fault..."

"Rin, will you please stop blaming yourself?" The silver-white haired Shinobi said impatiently, throwing his hands up in the air. "You always do that. For once, will you please stop it?" He asked sounding annoyed. Rin stared at him for a long moment before she smiled faintly. Without a word, she threw her arms around his chest and hugged him. The action seemed to take him by surprise but he wrapped his own arms around her to keep them from being thrown to the ground.
Rin just smiled against him, a deep sigh within her throat. "Thanks, Kakashi. I'm sorry. I wish I could make it up to you of what happened to Obito, and for being gone so long."
Kakashi stared down at her for a long moment before his eye softened as he hugged her right back. "Rin, you are a funny person, you know that." He pulled away and shook his head at her. "Don't apologize anymore. You're back and that's all that matters." He then got a spark in his eye and an idea hit him. "If you really want to make it up to me, you should go apologize to Naruto and maybe even help me with a special training session I'm holding tomorrow."

Rin blinked a few times before she made a face and placed her hand against her forehead. "Oh, that's right. I still need to talk to Naruto and say that I'm sorry. I should have never said what I did to him." She sighed before smiling. "All right. I'll come help. But I'm going to bring Chiro and Sen to watch. I still need to keep an eye on her."

"..." Kakashi hummed as he made a face. He didn't look entirely thrilled about that, though he actually wouldn't mind Sen. It was Chiro that he did. "Rin, can I ask you something?"

Again, Rin blinked, seeing the look on his face and had heard a little discontent in his tone. "Uh, sure. What is it, Kakashi?" She asked tilting her head. Kakashi stepped back, his arms folding over his chest as he looked up at the sky. "About Chiro. Exactly...uh, jeeze. I can't believe I'm even asking this. He's your friend, right?" He muttered. Rin stared at him with surprise before a big, sly smile curled onto her face and she stepped back, folding her own arms. "Kakashi Hatake, correct me if I'm wrong, but are you actually sounding a little jealous?"

Kakashi sighed and shook his head before he turned away. "Good night, Rin. I'll see you tomorrow then."

Rin laughed as she caught his arm and held him back. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease you." She told him as she pulled him back. "Yes, Kashi. Chiro is just a friend. He actually has a wife and two children waiting back at the village." She shrugged. "We've just been friends for a long time. Since I saved Sen. He actually taught me a little in their ways."

Kakashi rose his eyebrow at her, though he looked very amused. "Okay. I'm just looking out for one of my old friends, that's all. I'm not jealous. There's really nothing to be jealous about anyway." He told her and he almost laughed at the way Rin crinkled her nose and gave him a dark look. "Uh-huh. Sure, Kashi." She turned away, smuggly and folded her arms behind her head. "You're just in denial. You know you love me." She teased.
And then she was suddenly turned around when Kakashi grabbed her arm. She looked up at him surprise, seeing how soft his eye as he stared at her. She blinked several times while staring right back. And it surprised her even more as he dipped his head much closer to hers, his nose barely skimming her own.

'Oh my.' She thought breathlessly. 'Is he going to...k-ki...kiss me?' Rin thought, a faint blush starting to form on her cheeks.

But as Kakashi moved in for the kill, he suddenly grinned wickedly and flicked her nose softly. "See you tomorrow, Rin." He told her before he suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke and leaves swirling around.

Rin was still in a daze, staring at where he had been before he was gone. But she blinked out of her supor, realizing that he had been teasing her. With a scowl, she began cursing Kakashi's name as she made her way back to her apartment. "I am SO going to kill him tomorrow." She hissed between her teeth. "He's as bad as Obito Uchiha!" She continued to grumble but then smiled slyly. "Oh, yeah. Tomorrow, he is so going to pay." Pay back was such a delicious effort, especially when it was her who was going to do it.