Chapter 1: Scars

((Katsu POV))

She woke even before she opened her eyes. She felt the soft fabric beaneath her, the clean smell in the air, the silence. Slowly she forced her eyes to lift, they felt heavy like bricks. Still she forced them open with relentless determination. Her body was hers to command, but it seemed as if it had forgotten how to as she struggled. The light hit her with an intense glare, but she continued to force her eyelids to listen to her. Soon her eyes adjusted to the light and she could see white through her hazed and unfocused eyes. She felt an light-headed and confused as she stared at what she realized was a ceiling. Her body ached, and she could feel the soft bandages that covered her skin. Her mind started adjusting along with her eyes, becoming clearer. She was badly hurt, but recovering she realized. The pain still lingered, not wanting to let go just yet, even with the sedatives she knew she had in her body. She could feel the numbness throughout her body.

In a slow process she lifted her aching arms and painfully pushed her body into a sitting position on the bed. Where was she? She wondered silently. She couldn't remember a thing, her life felt like a large black hole. She pocked and proded her head for any kind of memory, but it was all in vain. All she saw was a small flash of a memory. Was it even a memory? All she saw was silver. More questions crawled into her mind. Why was she in pain? What was still place? How had she ended up here? She felt hollow.

Her slim fingers moved to the sheet that covered her body and slowly pulled it aside. Her eyes looked down at her battered body, she was still bruised, but it was healing, fading. How long had she been here? Slowly she once again pushed her body until she sat on the edge of the bed. Her teeth clenched involuntarly as she moved, the pain flashing through her body like a bolt of lightning. The pain didn't stop her though, she wanted to know what was going on. She needed answers.

As her feet touched the ground she could feel the weakness in them. Her body was so numb she could hardly feel them at all. She took a painful breath and steadied her feet on the ground, using her arm and shoulder against the wall to keep from falling. Slowly she dragged one foot forward, then the other. Her face twisted in pain with every step. Her body wasn't used to the simple movements anymore, she would have had to have been in bed for several weeks to be this weak and frail.

One more step. Suddenly her legs gave in and she fell. She braized herself for the pain, but it never came. Instead she felt a pair of strong hands lifting her up gently. She blinked, confussed. Her eyes lifted from the ground and up. Silver. She stared silently at the man that had saved her from falling. Her eyes shifted from his silver her down to the forehead protector, then further down to a mask half his face. Who was he? She thought, as he gently put her back in bed.

"Finally awake I see."

His voice was soft, but rough and deep. She could see a smile form underneath the fabric covering his face. He had sleek features, strong jaw and grey colorless eyes. He seemed friendly. She tilted her head curiously as she stared at the man, a silent question filled the air.

She watched him as he leaned against the wall by her bed. Her head hurt by the chaos of questions that filled her mind. as if by a queue the man spoke again.

"Hatake Kakashi. Konoha Shinobi," he introduced himself. She could feel his eyes studying her, studying her reaction. She didn't move though, her face staring blankly back at him. "You've been sleeping for about 2 weeks now. I wouldn't move around so much if I was you, your body isn't used to it." It almost sounded as if he was scolding her, as a father would towards his unruly daughter.

"I - -" Her cracked lips parted, but closed again. The pain seered through her as she swallowed. "I don't remember. Why - - I - -" she trailed off. Her voice was tembling, every word seem to burn her throat. She felt utterly exhausted as she looked at the strange man, her eyes couldn't focus anymore and felt heavier and heavier by the second.

"The med-nin told me you have suffered a bad memory loss, you've got a bad concussion," he explained. "He said you'll probably get your memory back when you've healed proparly." He put his hands in his pockets, pushing himself from the wall with his leg. "I need to get back to work," he finally said, looking at her for a second before turning to leave.

"W - - Wait!" She struggled as she tried to raise her voice to more than a hoarse whisper, it felt as if her throat was being ripped apart. "I don't want to be alone..." She whispered, tears streaking her pale face. Even crying was painful.

He stopped at the door, then turned around. Without a seconds hesitation he walked back to the side of her bed and sat down on the chair there. Her body seemed to relax, the tension disappearing. She felt comfortable. She didn't know this Hatake Kakashi, but the way he talked and looked at her, he didn't seem like a bad person. And, she didn't want to be alone now, she didn't want to feel lonely, not now.

"Thank you," she whispered as her eyes slid close and she let sleep embrace her.

He stayed with her through the night, not leaving her side, not sleeping. He just watched her peaceful expression as she slept. His face was blank, his eyes revealed the strange compassion he had for the girl though. He didn't know who she was, or where she had come from. Yet, he felt strangely protective over her. He knew he was being a fool, but he wanted to protect this strange small girl, who seemed so lost and confused.

The next couple of days Kakashi came to visit her when he found the time. They talked. Or, Kakashi talked while she listened, she had nothing to talk about, she still couldn't remember a thing. He made her forget that though, he made her laugh and smile. Since she couldn't remember her name he started calling her Katsu, telling her that it suited her. She liked it, it was a strong and powerful name, so she kept it.

2 more weeks passed and she was finally released from the hospital. Kakashi had arranged for a place for her to live and got her some new clothing to wear. Her memory was still locked somewhere deep in her mind, but she felt happy. The med-nin had told her that time would heal her mind and she would start remembering, and that something might trigger her memories. What would trigger them, none of them knew, but Katsu didn't care. She was happy.

As Kakashi helped her get settled in her new apartment he told her he would take her with him to Team 7's next training session. Katsu knew a lot about his three former students, he had talked about them often when she was still in the hospital. She wanted to met them, but she couldn't help feel a little sad. They had such a strong bond to each other, she envied them for it. Never the less, she was excited to meet the people who was so important to Kakashi.