A/N: This is it, the end of Holding His Angel. Thank you all for reading this fanfic, for sending your reviews and so on and so forth. Don't forget to read the epilogue.

Chapter 10

"Kakashi, I don't think I want to go on this mission anymore," Chihiro said nervously as they walking around the area they were guarding.

"Chihiro, there's nothing to worry about. All we have to guard the scroll until they find new guards," Kakashi said in a calm tone.

"What happened to the old guards?" Chihiro asked.

"Well…" Kakashi started, "…let's not think about that now and focus on completing this mission."Just then a twig snapped.

Chihiro spun around, "What was that Kakashi?"

Kakashi grabbed Chihiro firmly on the shoulders, "Calm down. This scroll isn't that important so anyone that does come after it probably isn't stronger then I am, maybe not even stronger then you."

Chihiro closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Okay, sorry Kakashi." Kakashi nodded and they continued to circle the area. About ten minutes later, they hear another snap. They're heads turned in that direction.

"Probably just a squirrel," Kakashi said and they continued to walk on, but Chihiro stopped. She had the strange feeling that someone was breathing down her neck. She turned around quickly and threw some kunai.

"Very good, I've seen you've improved," and out from the shadows came Kabuto.

Kakashi took his turn to throw some kunai at him and put an arm in front of Chihiro to keep her back, "Chihiro stay back."

"It's useless Kakashi," Kabuto smiled, "Orochimaru-sama will get what he wants." And Kabuto leaped forward to strike and both Chihiro and Kakashi jumped back.

……………

10 minutes later, Kabuto was surrounded by kunai, shuriken, and broken trees. He was breathing heavily, clutching his wounded arm, and was beginning to think that this battle was a little too for him, "Orochimaru-sama, I've never doubted you, but this is crazy."

Kakashi and Chihiro were also breathing heavily, Kakashi with his Sharingan and Chihiro with her wings; it looked as if the match was over.

"Kabuto, this fight isn't over," said a very cool voice and Chihiro turned to see the man with the snake-like eyes.

"Orochimaru," Kakashi said.

"Kakashi-kun, have you been taking care of my little pet?"

"Chihiro doesn't belong to anyone."

"Hn, shine!"Orochimaru cried out and made a sudden movement to strike Kakashi. But, as if in slow motion, Chihiro moved forward to shield Kakashi from the deadly blow.

Blood began to trickle out over her mouth and a red spot slowly began to grow near Chihiro's stomach. Orochimaru frowned, "Foolish girl…Kabuto, let's go. There's no reason to be here anymore." And with that Orochimaru and Kabuto disappeared, leaving Kakashi alone with a bleeding Chihiro.

"Damn it," he said, ripping some cloth off of his shirt he lifted Chihiro's top to wrap the wound.

"Kakashi…am I going to die?"

"No, don't say that," Kakashi said, worried at the sight of all the blood that was coming out of her wound. He picked her up and began leaping through the trees to take her to the nearest hospital and away from his mission.

A tear rolled down her face, "I'm going to die aren't I?"

Kakashi began running faster and faster, "Just hold on a little longer, we're almost there."

More blood came out of Chihiro's mouth, "Kakashi I need to tell you something."

"Don't speak, save your energy…shit," Kakashi cursed, he looked up; it had started to rain.

"Kakashi, I love you."

He blinked and then he shook his head, "Stop talking like this. You aren't going to die Chihiro."

"I'm dying for you Kakashi that means I love you, right? I love you…"Kakashi looked down to see if Chihiro was still all right. He saw her smiling softly, tears running down her cheeks. He saw the face of an angel…a dying angel.

"I love you, Chihiro. So don't give up now," Kakashi whispered so she could hear. But she said nothing. Kakashi stopped, "Chihiro!? Chihiro!?"

"Kakashi, I don't think I can hear you. I can't hear anymore Kakashi…"

"I love you Chihiro. Don't die," Kakashi said, they were both now in a town and he continued to run to the hospital, "I love you, you hear me?"

But Chihiro still stared at Kakashi with somewhat of a blank expression on her face, "Kakashi everything's getting fuzzy now…"

Kakashi looked up ahead; he could see the hospital sign and doors, and said, "We're almost there Chihiro. Almost there…"

Chihiro slowly reached her hand up to touch Kakashi's face, "Kakashi..." But before Kakashi could enter the doors of the hospital, her hand fell from his face, her body went limp and her beautiful blues eyes closed forever.

"Chihiro!? Chihiro!?" Kakashi felt neck for a pulse but couldn't feel a single heartbeat. His legs collapsed and he kneeled on the ground, looking down at Chihiro.

He looked for her about 5 minutes before saying, "She's gone…she's gone," Kakashi said wiping away the tears that had flowed down Chihiro's soft cheeks. "Chihiro," Kakashi whispered holding her body close to his and he continued to kneel there, holding his angel until the rain stopped.