Thank you for reviewing! Oh. I see fanfiction changed the layout while I was away. ...Great... *unenthusiastic sigh* it was so much more DIFFICULT when all the options were out there in the open like that, thanks for putting them all behind the filter menu, that really helps a lot. To those of you who also read Reversal, I needed to do a little research before posting the next chapter and am exhausted tonight, so it'll be updated tomorrow. Sorry.

Kakashi didn't know how he got to the surface. One minute, he was standing above their bodies, the civilian's bodies, all of them- the next, he was standing above the ground. Still surrounded by bodies.

He knew something happened in-between, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Instead, he just stumbled aimlessly, walking on dead bodies- how many of them had he killed?- walking, walking, walking. His vision refused to right itself and so all he saw was a grey and red blur when someone approached him. He sniffed curiously and found that they were covered in blood but alive, somehow. How were they alive? Everyone else was dead.

He flinched back when he felt the warm touch come to his hand. Alive things shouldn't touch him. He made alive things dead things.

"Sir, I'm a medic. It's all right, I'm on your side- was undercover here. Sir? Can you tell me your name?"

"Uh… I…"

The grey blur shook him again. All Kakashi could make out was that he had glasses.

"Sir, are you Kakashi? The ANBU told me to look for you; you fit the description."

"Uhn…"

Something forced him to sit down in on the dead bodies. One hand gripped his shoulder while the other palmed his face, and he blinked in confusion. The hands felt unnaturally warm and their energy seeped into him and… that was a medic's Chakra. But that didn't make any sense. Why was a medic trying to save him? Why was a medic trying to save someone that was already dead?

He must have zoned out, because the next thing he knew, he could see a little better, and Raven was kneeling in front of him, along with the glasses man. Glasses man looked like he'd been through a few rounds with an angry wolverine, while Raven seemed entirely unscathed.

"Oi, Hound," the masked ANBU said, voice carefully flat, "can you hear me? Hound?"

"Ho… who?"

The two were silent for a moment, and then Raven cleared his throat. "My mistake. Kakashi, can you hear me?"

Oh, that's good. He was Kakashi. "Yeah. …Can talk a little better. What…?"

Glasses man spoke this time. "I gave you an antidote to the poison, and treated what wounds I could out here. My name is Sashou-"

"The mission is over," Raven said sharply. "His name is Kabuto. Sorry, Kakashi; one of Danzou's men."

Danzou. He didn't like that name. His upper lip curled up in disgust and glasses man smiled sheepishly. "Ah… forgive me, Kakashi. I-"

"You're small," Kakashi said abruptly. He reached out with a shaking hand to poke his tiny shoulder. "You're very small. To be a medic. Here." So very small; he should stay away, since he killed everything he touched and something that small couldn't possibly defend himself.

"Yeah," Raven muttered. "Like I said. One of Danzou's. Look, Kakashi, we've got to get moving back to Konoha. The Mist back up team is going after the missing-nin that ran off because… the team they replaced is all dead but Kisame. Your team is all alive, but not doing well- we've got to get you back to Konoha. Kabuto used some forbidden jutsu on the other three to keep them stable but it wears off in twenty four hours exactly. Now Kabuto's Chakra is almost out, too, and my men are going to have to carry the rest of your team back. I want to be ready to fight if we're followed, so you're going to have to walk by yourself. Can you do that?"

That was a lot of information, but he figured it was important, so he tried to puzzle it out. But it didn't make much sense.

"He's hypothermic," glasses man supplied, voice sounding a little faded and distant, which was odd, considering he was right there and in front of him. "Liable to be confused. Try phrasing it… simpler."

Raven gave an exasperated sigh. "And there's another reason I don't like you ROOT people. Fucking unnatural and stupid as hell. Do you have any idea how many this man has killed tonight? And your only excuse is hypothermia… watch closely, and take lessons on how to be a real person instead of Danzou's fucking soldier."

Kakashi blinked dully as Raven pushed his mask aside and turned back to face him. The Uchiha lightly tapped him on the side of the head to get his attention. "Hey. Kakashi, focus. You got a fix back home?"

He nodded numbly. "I… yes." He nodded because it was expected of him, then actually thought about the question and smiled. Iruka. Iruka was in Konoha. Iruka was tan skin and long ponytails and that cute scar and a volatile temper and a smile to die for. Iruka Iruka Iruka. Had to get home to Iruka. Iruka always knew what to do, Iruka would know how to stop this horrid feeling inside of him and make him feel better and-

"Okay. Well, we're going back home so you can see him, but you need to walk yourself for that to happen."

"Home to see Iruka?" he asked hopefully. He would really like that.

Itachi smiled. "Yes. Home to see Iruka."

Kakashi bobbed his head happily and stood, eager to get back as fast as possible- then he frowned. Wait a minute… he killed everything. This was bad. He would end up killing Iruka, too. He didn't want that, he never wanted that, but if he went back to Iruka like a fool then he would end up killing him. He shook his head slowly, feeling the hope literally die inside of him and stared at the blood-soaked ground and all those bodies. "…I can't."

"Why can't you, Kakashi?"

"Because I kill everything." He spread his bloodied hands out, staring at the flesh that was both burned black and still frostbitten. "I kill everything. I'll kill him, too."

There was a long pause, and when Itachi spoke again, his voice was as cautious and blank as ever. "Your team is still alive, Kakashi. Every Konoha ninja here today is alive, and you played a very large role in that."

"But I-"

"No buts. Now, be honest, Kakashi- would we be letting you go home to Iruka if you were going to kill him?"

"I-"

"We wouldn't. Now, get up and stop talking. Your team is in serious need of medical attention- as are you, I might add. Come on, focus."

Little glasses man and Itachi led Kakashi over to a small collection of masked ANBU. His blood-soaked boots went squelch squelch squelch on the bodies and the blood-soaked ground, then stopped when he did, swaying a little unsteadily. The group turned to face him.

There were three Konoha ANBU he vaguely recognized as part of Itachi's team, and then three more on the ground that were members of his team. He tried to see more about his team but his vision refused to focus enough, and the moment he leaned forward to try and get closer, he found himself falling forward before a hand grabbed around his collar, holding him upright.

"They're fine, Kakashi."

Who was that, again?

"Are you sure he's really an ANBU? Seems like the legendary Sharingan no Kakashi needs a lot of reassurances…"

Kakashi frowned. He didn't recognize that voice, but they clearly knew who he was. He blinked and found himself looking over at… huh?

Was that a shark?

Itachi gave a heavy sigh. "Kisame, you are annoying. Shut up and go back to your village."

The shark man laughed at that. "You're one to talk. You bug the hell out of me, you know, and-"

"So why don't you just get out of here? Your backup team has already left. There's no reason for you to hang around here."

The shark waved off Itachi's words, even as he turned to look away. "I've had enough of this shit," he muttered. "You Konoha bastards are weak-willed. I'm just glad I'll never have to work with you again after this."

"Are you planning on leaving anytime soon?"

Kakashi watched as the shark shot Itachi a venomous glare over his shoulder before trudging off through the bodies god, there were so many bodies…

Kakashi blinked and somehow, his team's bodies had teleported from the ground to in the ANBUs' arms. He rubbed his eyes with numb fingers, a little confused, but glasses man took him by the shoulders and turned him around to face the other direction. Itachi moved out in front of him and called out, "We don't stop for any reason. If we're attacked, I'll hold them off and you guys continue on. Kakashi- stay with us and keep moving. Everyone understand?"

Kakashi mumbled a weak affirmative and smiled. Iruka. Home to Iruka.

"Good. Go!"

Kakashi followed Itachi's order. Away from the dead bodies. All those dead bodies. Home to away from all those bodies and to Iruka. Because everyone was dead and he had nowhere else to be.

"It's not my blood."

Iruka stared dumbly.

Kakashi repeated himself, voice unsure and shaking, as if he didn't quite know where he was or what was going on. "It… It's not my blood."

Blood. Kakashi was covered in it. From head to toe, Kakashi was dripping and soaked in blood. His ANBU mask was cracked and splintered, revealing a long gash on his forehead, what was visible of his cheek splattered with tiny streaks of blood. The katana hung off his back, stainless steel glistening with a virulent red, the sheath mostly burned away into black nothing, and the black ANBU top was torn and in places held together by a thread. Several cuts rent the man's torso, but Iruka could only tell by the thin gaps in the fabric- he was so covered in blood the red that was his and the red that was the enemy's was indistinguishable.

"It's n-not my blood."

The trembling voice shook Iruka out of his stunned disbelief. His hand shot out and grabbed Kakashi's, and he pulled the ANBU out of the freezing air and shut the door behind him. The man didn't move; he just stood in his entryway, dripping blood onto the floor, face frozen and shocked.

"Kakashi! What are you doing here? You're hurt! You need to go to a hospital!"

Kakashi spoke slowly, voice hesitant and noncomprehending. "But, it's not my blood, Iruka. They are all dead. Every last one of them, dead. I saw her, I saw Rin, and then I just killed her. They are all dead. It's not my blood."

"Even if most of it isn't, I can see that you're still injured! Badly! And- god, Kakashi, you're freezing!"

Kakashi shook his head, motions still slow, slight, and tired. "Freezing. Cold. Dead bodies are cold. Cold, cold, cold. I think she's cold by now. Do you think so, Iruka? Her parents aren't cold. We had to burn their bodies."

Iruka managed to shake his head as well, making quick work of the ANBU's pack and katana, tossing them down to the floor before removing Kakashi's ANBU mask. It revealed that both eyes were open, and the Sharingan was bleeding, a trail of red moving down to soak into an already soaked mask, and his silver hair hung low, weighed down by the scarlet liquid. "Kakashi," he murmured, shaking him slightly, trying to jolt him out of his haze. "Kakashi, you've probably lost a lot of blood and are Chakra exhausted. You're just delirious. I promise that everything's going to be okay but you have to let me take you to the hospital-"

"I told her that. I told her that everything would be okay. And then I killed her. She was very scared. I told her to close her eyes, that it wouldn't hurt, and she would see her parents soon. I didn't lie. And then I killed her. She is dead." Kakashi's voice was still blank and unemotional. It wasn't cold or harsh- it was just… dead.

Iruka shuddered, even as he forced Kakashi inside, since the man seemed very unwilling to take even a single step back. He made him sit down on the couch and looked him in the eye. "Kakashi, it's okay. I'm going to go get a first aid kit- stay here and don't move."

Kakashi didn't make any indication that he had heard him. He just sat there, silent and unmoving as a rock. Iruka stared at him for a moment, then bounded back to his bedroom and dug through his closet. He didn't know what would happen if he left Kakashi alone for too long- he also didn't want to find out.

When he returned, the jounin was still sitting in exactly the same way that he had left him. Iruka set the materials on the table and began to remove what he could of Kakashi's clothes. The ANBU didn't struggle when the gloves, armor, and torn shirt were pulled away, but flinched a little when he hooked a finger around his mask. "Kakashi… are you injured under here?" he finally asked, torn. He tugged a little at the soggy cloth. "If you're not, then it can stay."

Kakashi didn't reply, either verbally or even with a nod or shake of his head. He continued to just sit there, and Iruka was beginning to think it wasn't just blood loss or Chakra depletion that was leaving the man so out of it. Deciding to deal with that later, Iruka slowly tried to pull down Kakashi's mask again. As long as he was gentle and took his time, it didn't garner any reaction, and he finely managed to bare Kakashi's face. There were no injuries, but Iruka was still glad he got the mask off- it let him see just how pale the ANBU really was, and that his lips were tinged with blue. He had really been out in the cold for far too long.

Iruka pursed his lips. He had to get Kakashi's wounds cleaned and he had to warm the man up, and the best way to accomplish both of those things was a hot shower. But with how unresponsive was, Iruka didn't think he should be left alone, never mind would he even be present enough to clean himself and not just stand there until all the hot water turned cold.

Kakashi sat there, trembling, and Iruka slowly reached out to take his hand. "Kakashi, are you here? Can you hear me? …Look, you need to get warm and clean. If you won't go to the hospital then it'll have to happen here, and since I don't think you want me doing it you're going to have to do it yourself. …Kakashi?"

"…Dead."

Iruka frowned. He was beginning to think Kakashi's state had less and less to do with the physical and a lot more to do with whatever he had seen or done on his mission. But he didn't have time to deal with that right now. "Okay, I'll just… see what I can do here, and if I can't help then I'll just have to take you to the hospital. Come on, I'll help you up."

Iruka had to heave to get Kakashi to his feet, since the man wasn't trying at all to stand, but once he was up he was moving under his own power. He allowed Iruka to lead him through the apartment, dripping blood as he went, to his small bathroom, eyes still blank and confused. Iruka immediately turned on the shower, and while he waited for the water to warm up, he shook Kakashi, trying to get him to realize what was going on. "Kakashi? Are you going to be able to do this by yourself?"

Kakashi didn't respond, and Iruka stared at him, trying to think of something, anything, he could do. He didn't want to help Kakashi with this; they were only just starting to be friends, and it seemed… like something friends just didn't do for each other.

In a moment of desperation, because Kakashi was starting to scare him, Iruka remembered a lesson he'd once received, during the required medic classes he'd taken to be a teacher. In getting through to a ninja who is in shock, try referring to them by their rank, or reminding them that they serve Konoha. It will help in most cases.

"Hound," Iruka tried frantically, "Hound, can you hear me?"

Kakashi finally reacted. He flinched at the very name, eyes widening, then slowly shook his head. "Hound. …Hound is dead. He died. I'm here now. Hound is gone."

"…If you're here now, then who are you?"

Kakashi frowned, the expression surprisingly innocent on his naked face. "I'm just Kakashi."

"Well, then, just Kakashi, are you going to be able to do this?"

Kakashi stopped responding at that. It looked like any question beyond whatever was occupying his mind right now just went unheard. So, sighing, Iruka began to tug at the ANBU's soaked pants, trying to work the bloodied cloth down his hips. "Okay. That's fine. Just stay calm and I'll take care of everything."

"Hound is dead, Iruka."

"I know," he murmured gently, doing his best not to make eye contact. He didn't know if he was afraid of what he would see in Kakashi's face or if he just didn't want to provoke an unfavorable reaction. Had a feeling it was the former.

Kakashi continued speaking, voice blank and lost. "Hound had to kill her. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong situation. Did nothing wrong. Just her parents, but even they weren't doing anything wrong. Scared Konoha. Konoha is the big bad wolf. Scared Konoha. But she didn't do anything. Just like Rin. She didn't do anything. She just happened to be there when Mist found their target. Just like this girl. She didn't do anything. She just happened to be her parent's child and that's why she had to die. But she didn't do anything. They told me, kill everything, kill every man, woman, child, pet, bug, every single living thing. But she didn't do anything."

"Shh," Iruka whispered. He made Kakashi stand in the shower, both men naked except for their boxers, shifting to shield the ANBU's injured body from the hot spray. "Shh. Stop talking. Save your strength."

"But she's dead, Iruka," Kakashi replied, voice sounding confused. "She's dead."

"…I know."

It took a full hour and a half for Iruka to clean the ANBU. The extent of his injuries horrified him, for more than one reason- because Kakashi had been right, most of the blood hadn't been his, but he had been absolutely covered in it. But the ANBU was also hurt badly, broken bones and cuts and burns covering his entire form, so many that he could barely find a patch of pale, unblemished skin. The man was also still cold, even after an hour's worth of a hot shower, but at least he was no longer freezing, body shivering and teeth chattering. Iruka could feel literally almost no Chakra signature coming from him and had to keep closing the Sharingan before Kakashi killed himself; it was a wonder he was still standing- even conscious.

Iruka managed to get the stumbling man into his own bed, since there was no way Kakashi would be finding his way home now. Kakashi was only barely awake at this point, so Iruka was able to lie him down and bandage him with no resistance. He dressed him in the warmest clothes he had and tucked him under several blankets, then felt his bare cheek again, testing his temperature. It was still a bit low, but at least he was getting warmer.

Iruka stared down at the ANBU for a moment, then formed the seal for a clone. Whatever had happened to Kakashi, it wasn't something he could deal with by himself.