"He hasn't eaten in 2 days and he didn't show up to his training session with the Genin this morning either." Tenzou whispered, his arms folded, brows furrowed in worry.

"Thank you for notifying me. I'll probably have to threaten him with a hospital stay if he doesn't eat anything today." Tsunade whispered back, her own face displaying worry as well. "Where is he?" She asked, looking around her.

"In the bedroom." He answered, pointing. She smiled at him kindly, a sympathetic look that promised she would help in any way she could. She entered the bedroom hesitantly, knocking on the wall as she walked through the opened door.

"Kakashi?" She called as she moved towards the bed. He ignored her, his staring eyes looking through her as she bent down, her face inches from his. Sighing she sat down on the edge of the bed, facing him. He was still dressed in full Jonin uniform. She doubted Yamato had even been able to get the man to bathe judging by the fact that his shins were still wrapped as well. Slowly she moved her hand towards his pale face, pausing before she touched him, giving him time to reject the contact if he wanted. She ever so gently pulled down his headband to cover the glassy Sharingan.

"You're wasting Chakra brat." She said softly, as she lightly stroked his cold cheek with the back of her hand, just once before withdrawing. Gradually she moved her hands over his chest, again giving him a chance to push her away before she focused some chakra in to them.

He exhaled shakily as warm sensation spread through his chest. It felt soothing. His chest loosening ever so slightly as the medic examined him with careful palms.

"You're not getting any better Kakashi." She said sternly, yet with compassion. "Your heart is weak. It's very rare for patients to exhibit symptoms again after an episode but I'm worried about you. If you're not careful this could turn in to a full on heart condition. It could threaten your work as a Shinobi." She paused, hoping he would react. He merely blinked once, continuing to stare straight ahead at nothing in particular. "I think we're going to have to talk medication. I didn't want to do this but you're going to need some kind of blood pressure medication, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, to name a few. If you don't eat something today I will admit you back in to the hospital and you will not leave until you are completely well. I gave you liberties I shouldn't have letting you out in to Tenzou's care but you have taken them too far brat. You'll kill yourself if you keep going this way."

Kakashi scoffed, a small smile spreading across his face. Tsunade felt Tenzou shuffle uncomfortably behind her. She could tell his mind was boarding the same train as hers. She sighed again, an exasperated sound that warned of her impending loss of temper.

"Don't you go smiling at the thought of death." She hissed, leaning close so only Kakashi could hear her. "I've seen that look before Kakashi. On your Father's face. You remember how it felt when he left you? Don't you dare do that to the people who care about you." She warned, taking his chin in her hand and forcing him to look at her. "I will make you better. The Hatake clan isn't going to end with you." She said defiantly before standing, placing her hands on hips. "Get up!" She demanded.

Kakashi glared at her. How dare she say that about him? About his clan. If he wanted to end his life who was she to prevent him from doing so. He had no immediate plans, but it hurt what was left of his pride to feel like the choice had been taken from him.

He stood slowly. Tenzou rushed to his side, slinging a shaky arm over his strong shoulder and steadying him.

"The medication isn't up for debate but the hospital stay is. You have 5 minutes to eat something in my presence before the choice is taken away from you." She said strictly, turning and heading out of the room, towards the kitchen.

A reluctant Copy Ninja allowed his friend to drag him after her and sit him at the table. A small thump echoed around the tiny room as he let his entire body weight slump on to the chair like a child having a tantrum.

"What is this?" Tsunade asked, holding up a familiar looking purple plant. Tenzou opened his mouth to explain but thought better of it, opting for a shrug instead. "Is it edible?" She pressed, a look of confusion spread across her features.

"I… don't know." He answered softly, a small blush gracing his cheeks. She cocked her head slightly at his response, then shook it in exasperation as she dropped the vegetable back on to the table. "If I had of known I would be having the Hokage in my apartment I would have been better prepared M'lady." He apologised. She waved him off, taking some bread from the counter and helping herself to his fridge.

Tenzou watched in bewilderment as the leader of his village made a peanut butter sandwich for a sulking Jonin.

"Eat this, sook. That's an order." She stated as she put the crudely made sandwich in front of her patient. He eyed it curiously, swallowing hard. His stomach churned at the thought of food.

"No." He said in barely more than a whisper.

"What was that?" She thundered.

"No thank you Ma'am." He corrected softly. "I'm not hungry."

"Kakashi if you don't eat they will put you in the hospital on a drip." Tenzou said flatly, a firm hand on his back. He leaned close. Kakashi shivered at the feel of breath on his ear as he whispered. "You won't be able to sleep in my bed anymore. You'll be alone."

The silver haired man looked incredibly lost. The feeling of neglect he had been keeping at bay for months creeping in to his stomach and up towards his throat as he pushed away the urge to vomit. He shook his head, eyes closed as he forced himself to breathe, realising fearfully a panic attack was imminent.

Tsunade's hands were on him in a flash, she monitored his heart rate and ran a soothing hand down his back in long timed strokes encouraging him to breathe at the same pace.

"Tenzou I'm sorry, you've been a fantastic help but you've done all you can. I need to take it from here. He needs nourishment and he's obviously not going to eat on his own." She said quietly. Kakashi shook his head again at her words. Speaking incoherently, trying to tell her no as she explained to his friend that she would contact him to meet her later.

They were gone in an instant. Tenzou allowed himself to sink in to the chair Kakashi had just vacated. He rubbed his face with the palms of his hands, groaning at his failure coupled with disappointment.

OoOoOoOo

It was a full 24 hours before Yamato heard the faint chirping of a small yellow bird coming from outside his window. He rushed towards it, opening the window and listening as the sweet sounds relayed Tsunade's message.

He dressed swiftly and leapt from the window, the rooftops being the fastest route to the hospital. He jumped down in to the streets a block away and walked the rest of the way. He didn't want to seem too eager.

As he made his way inside a peculiar sense of foreboding washed over him and he suddenly realised this wasn't going to be a happy social visit. Kakashi would either be heavily sedated or entirely too erratic to speak with. Hands in pockets and head down he made his way towards the front desk.

"Hatake?" He asked when the medic behind the desk looked up at him. She checked her chart, looking back up with an air of acknowledgment on her face.

"Are you Tenzou?" She asked with a smile. He nodded slowly. "Lady Tsunade wants to see you. Kakashi Hatake is in room 210. She'll be waiting in there for you."

He nodded again, the menacing feeling getting steadily worse. The door was opened so he didn't bother knocking as he entered. He stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking as he watched the scene in front of him.

Tsunade sat on a plastic chair by Kakashi's bedside. His hand in hers as she stroked it delicately with her thumb. She was whispering to him inaudibly as silent tears fell from his medication glazed eyes. He was tucked under thick blankets but Tenzou could clearly see that he was no longer wearing his uniform, a hospital gown covering his thin frame.

Pity crept in to his thoughts as he gathered how the proud man must have felt to wake and find someone else had dressed him. They had also removed his mask. He supposed it was to help with his breathing. He pushed the pity away harshly, not wanting to feel that way. Kakashi would be devastated if he realised even his friend that promised no judgement was pitying him.

He regathered himself, walking forwards and making his presence known by clearing his throat. Tsunade turned to look at him while Kakashi stared straight ahead.

"Ah, good." She said as she let go of the man's hand and stood. She gestured towards the seat and he took it with a nod. Kakashi reached for him with his empty hand and exhaled calmly as he took it and resumed the gentle caress's the Godaime had started. "He's just woken from the sedatives I gave him when he arrived here last night. He has had all the medication he needs fed to him through the drip and he won't need to actually eat anything for a day or two but I'll be back to check on him before then anyway. He probably won't be able to talk much because of all the drugs I've given him. In fact I'll be surprised if you get anything coherent out of him at all tonight. He'll probably just go back to sleep now that you're here which is fine. The more rest he gets the better." She paused.

"This is officially a mission now Shinobi. You are to stay by his side until he is well. I'm not officially classing this as a break just yet but if he gets any worse I will have no choice. This will go on his file as an illness related respite from duty and it will go on yours as a private S rank mission directly from the Hokage. Do you understand?"

Tenzou nodded, hoping that she was right about the other man not being coherent. Talking about him so blatantly right in front of him surely couldn't be good for his ego or his recovery.

"There's one more thing." She paused. "Iruka… wanted to visit him. I have no idea how he found out he was here but I assume it has nothing to do with you and a lot to do with Genma chatting up that pretty nurse at the front desk."

Tenzou shook his head in utter disbelief.

Oh. My. God. He's fucking everywhere!

"That being said, the Chunin is to come nowhere close to Kakashi until he is out of the hospital and he feels stable enough to handle that. Understood?" She asked again.

"Yes M'lady. Thank you." The ANBU replied promptly.

"Good." She said. "Feel better Kakashi." She smiled, turning on her heel and exiting the room. She closed the door behind her, leaving them in a relaxed silence. Tenzou wondered if Kakashi would understand him if he was to speak. He looked incredibly dazed. He pondered why he was crying, whether it was embarrassment from understanding the situation or the confusion of not overwhelming him.

"Kakashi?" He whispered when he was sure they were alone. "Kakashi if there's anything I can do. You know I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." He said, squeezing his hand confidently.

Kakashi eyed him for a second before slowly raising his arm pointing across the room. Tenzou turned in the direction of his finger, seeing nothing he turned back shaking his head. Kakashi pointed again, nodding his head at the same bearing. The brunette let go of his hand wearily, standing and walking in the direction the man was indicating. He stopped short of the small shelf where Kakashi's uniform was folded neatly. He picked it up, his heart quivered slightly as he realised what he wanted. He fished around in the pocket, smiling to himself as he walked back towards the bed.

Kakashi snuggled down against the covers, facing Tenzou as he returned to his bedside and sat back down in the plastic chair.

"Here." He said softly, handing him the small stuffed dog. Kakashi sighed contently as he brought in to his chest, closing his eyes as he held out his hand for Tenzou to take.

"Don't go." He mumbled, bringing the blanket up under his chin so the toy was hidden under it.

"I'm not going anywhere." Tenzou reassured him, bringing the other man's hand to his mouth and kissing it softly.

OoOoOoOo

"Can I ask you something?" Yamato questioned, looking from his pastel friend to the stuffed dog in his hands.

"My Mother gave it to me." Kakashi whispered, answering the question he knew was coming to save his friend the trouble of wording it in an unoffending manner. Tenzou nodded slowly in understanding. If he owned something that his mother had given him he doubted he would be able to part with it during adulthood. "When she was sick…" Kakashi continued. "She told me that if I was feeling upset in the future to hug the dog and think about happy things and everything would be okay." He swallowed the lump in his throat, determined to finish the story. "She knew she was going to die but… I didn't understand. I was too young. When she eventually did pass my Dad started to go a little insane I think. I doubt he wold have made the decision he did on that mission if he was in his right mind… and even if he did make that decision and Mom was alive, she would have stopped him from… Doing… what he did." He paused. "Anyway I… I always hugged the dog when I was sad because I was 4 when Mom died and I believed adamantly everything she told me was true. She said the dog would make me happy so I kept it with me whenever I was sad. Then Dad…" He trailed off. Tenzou took his hand, caressing it lightly.

"You don't have to continue. I get it. I shouldn't have asked."

"No I want to tell you. I feel like… you understand." He admitted. "I've never felt like that around someone else before."

"That's because I do understand." Tenzou confessed with a coy smile. "I know I didn't have parents. Well… obviously I did. But I didn't know them like you did. I understand the pain of being alone Kakashi. But I must admit I don't understand the pain of loss as greatly as you do. I can't imagine what it must feel like to lose a parent. I need you to know I don't judge you for the dog." He finished.

"I know you don't. That's why I have it in front of you. I never even showed it to… Iruka…" He choked.

"Don't think about him." Tenzou commanded firmly. "Let's talk about something else okay? Did I tell you my theory about Genma?" He smiled. Kakashi shook his head weakly. "Okay so… hear me out before you tell me I'm wrong. I think he's a ghost."

Kakashi laughed out loud and Yamato beamed. He always took great pleasure in hearing that man's laugh. A real laugh, not the small chuckle he let slip in front of acquaintances.

"Or… maybe a unicorn." Tenzou continued, abandoning his original story and opting to instead make the most ridiculous assumptions possible in the hopes of cheering up his friend. Kakashi grinned, his eyes on the small dog as he turned it over in his hands. "That man… that… thing. He's fucking everywhere. Okay so…" He paused, amping up suspense as if he was narrating the trailer of an action thriller. "Picture this… I'm at the market…."

Kakashi continued to smile to himself, laughing occasionally as Tenzou obviously over exaggerated his story, making his encounters with the Special Jonin sound like supernatural experiences and himself sound like and action hero as he told the story he had named: The Purple Plant.