Chapter 12: Be Civil

Author's Note: I am incredibly sorry for the delay! Have been busy with life, and barely having time to write. Also, don't want to spew out chapters unless it makes sense for the story. Thanks for reading! Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

Kakashi flew threw the forest, taking many shortcuts in order to reach the hospital before the nurses realized that Kohana had disappeared.

The ride was smooth, but his speed made Kohana nauseous and she thought she might vomit any minute. She called out to him, asking him to slow down. He came to an abrupt stop near a wizened tree. She immediately hugged the bark, her forehead leaning against the rough wood. Her deep breaths could be heard clearly through the silent greenery, and Kakashi moved his hand in soothing circles on her back.

Kohana feebly gasped, "You're too fast."

Kakashi asked concernedly, "Do you want to stop for awhile?"

Kohana frowned, "I thought you had to get me back as soon as possible."

"That can wait."

"You'll get in trouble."

Kakashi mused for a moment. It was true – the Hokage would not be pleased with having her roaming outside especially considering her weak condition. In addition, she was under high level security; along with Kakashi, Tsunade had requested the help of two other Anbu to guard her while Kakashi was away. The Hokage had asked him to visit her this afternoon, and if he remembered correctly, the Anbu would arrive shortly at the hospital. When they saw her room empty, there was no doubt he would be reprimanded.

"Don't worry about that."

Kohana blinked once, and then repeated with more emphasis, "But, you'll get in trouble."

Kakashi chuckled, and pushed her down to the ground, forcing her into a sitting position. "Your health is most important here."

Kohana looked up at him with a confused expression.

"I can't believe it. You're actually stopping for me", she muttered.

"Let me know when you're feeling better", he replied and turned his back to her staring idly at the cloudless sky, giving Kohana some shadow from the blaring sun.

Kohana asked, deciding to continue the earlier conversation at the mountainside, "So, after you quit Anbu, you joined as a Sensei?"

"Hai. Naruto is on my team. "You 've already met him. Didn't you realize?"

Kohana thought back to the blond haired boy. She silently cursed herself for not recognizing him as the 4th's son. The resemblance was hard to miss.

She scowled defiantly, "I was delirious. Do they like you?"

"Not everyone hates me Kohana", he chuckled.

He sighed softly, talking more to himself than to her, "Maybe I could have done better".

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind. Shall we go?" He didn't feel much like explaining the story of his estranged student especially when he was unable to save him. Not when Kohana was slowly warming up to him.

A week later:

It had been a week since Kakashi and Kohana went on their little excursion. Fortunately, they had made it back in time just before the Anbu guards arrived. Kakashi had left on a mission immediately afterwards, and so Kohana was once again back to her solitary confinement in the whitewashed room.

She couldn't complain as much as before, though. Her legs had significantly improved and she was now able to walk on her own, albeit only for short intervals. It was during one of these walking sessions that she ran into a severely green figure.

"Kohana-chan", a voice boomed loudly. Kohana blinked twice and then grinned broadly, throwing herself towards Gai in a tight hug.

"Gai!", she exclaimed, releasing her grip.

"I came as soon as I found out Kohana. Did Orochimaru hurt you?", he asked in a serious voice.

Kohana frowned, "Gai-kun, I'm trying to forget that."

Gai suddenly smiled and struck his famous pose, "Alright! Then I will help you forget. If I don't, I will run 100 laps around the village."

Kohana chuckled, "You don't have to do that Gai", as she led them back to her room.

Gai sat in the chair and observed her silently. Kohana scrunched her forehead, feeling self conscious. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing – you look familiar", Gai said.

Kohana laughed, "Well, of course I do. It's me."

Gai shook his head, "No. You look the same as him . Well, a lot better than what he used to be, but the same dead look."

Kohana asked, annoyed that she was now being likened to a dead person, "Who?"

"Kakashi! We were very worried about him, Kohana-chan."

Something in her clenched and she ignored the feeling.

"What do you mean, Gai?"

Gai regarded her carefully, "How do you feel towards him, Kohana-chan? Because when you left, it shattered what little life he had left."

She muttered softly, "Are you blaming me?"

Gai said swiftly, "Of course not, Kohana-chan. We know what you went through as well. But unlike you, who accepted our friendship and comfort, Kakashi distanced himself. When you were here, you barely saw him, given that he was on missions half the time. But, a year or so after you left, he quit Anbu., and remained in Konoha."

"I know. We talked."

Gai smiled, "You did? I'm glad to hear that. Then you must know as well about him being appointed as a Sensei."

"Hai. Uzumaki Naruto is on his current team."

"His first team", Gai corrected.

"First team?", Kohana asked. "You mean, he never oversaw a team before now?"

"Getting on Kakashi's team proved to be extremely diifciult."

"What, did he expect them to be as good as him right off the bat?"

"He failed every single student who didn't understand the importance of teamwork,"

Kohana's eyes widened, "He failed them!?"

"Hai. He took Obito's words to heart, Kohana chan. He didn't want anyone to repeat his own mistakes."

Kohana pondered this quietly as Gai continued, "I think he was finally able to accept Obito and Rin's death when he met Team 7. After all, his own Sensei's son, Naruto, is remarkably like Obito, Kohana."

Kohana smiled, remembering the exuberant boy and his playful antics.

Gai then asked her, "Kohana, I have to ask something of you."

Kohana looked at him, and nodded.

"I understand that your past with Kakashi is between the both of you. But, please be civil towards him."

She grumbled, "First , Minato-sensei and then you."

Gai chose to ignore her comment, and stood up and turned to leave but not before offering her a glinting smile.

"You are a kind person, Kohana and you've told me before that Obito taught you how to live. But, I think Kakashi's compassion will even surpass Obito's."