Kakashi and I finished our food in silence after that, not mentioning what had happened between us or getting caught escaping from the hospital. Kakashi paid the bill as soon as we finished and with a sigh, we both headed back to the hospital with our heads held low. While the hospital was a safer place than most, we certainly had had our problems there, not to mention the food was terrible and no one sane really wants to be in the hospital.

He had one hand in his pocket, acting aloof, the other holding his book up to his face, obscuring it from view. I tried to trail behind him to get a glance of the book a few times, but like he had a super sense, he would move it so I couldn't read the book.

The third time he did it, I hissed, "Kakashi! I just want to read it, too!"

"Ma," He drawled, "I think you've had enough icha icha, Rin. It's been a bad influence." He didn't look up from his book as he made the claim, but his shoulders tensed at the same time.

"Don't you mean you've been a bad influence, Kakashi?" I huffed in exasperation. "After all, you're the one that read the book to me at night." So it was okay for him to read perverted books and be a closet pervert, but the moment I express interest, it's not okay? I mean, forgetting the fact I've been making jokes and pranking him about it…

Huh. He might be right. I was corrupted. Didn't mean it wasn't his fault.

At my words, Kakashi's shoulders tensed even more and he almost hunched in closer to himself.

We were silent as we walked before I finally admitted, "Sorry, Kakashi, I may have gone a little too far with the teasing. I…this is just very new to me. Being around you again, the village, the…freedom. And, in a way, I think I haven't handled the stress from the latest situations the best. But I think we both know that, Kakashi."

Kakashi paused his walking and I noticed he hadn't turned a page of the book in a while. He didn't move from the middle of the street, book still stuck up to his face. I almost bumped into him as he stopped and when he didn't move for a few seconds, I asked tentatively, "Kakashi?"

When Kakashi responded, his words were strained, and he slowly eased the book down from his face. "I'm sorry, Rin, this isn't just an adjustment for you." He didn't say anything else, and when I slowly walked around to get a look at his face, he had that fake eye smile again on his face.

I felt my shoulders slump at the look on his face and another sigh broke through my lips. I shrugged at him in response and looked away before leading us back to the hospital. We were silent once again and Kakashi went back to reading, the pages turning and covering his face.

However, when we got to the hospital, Tsunade stood outside with her arms crossed below her chest. Reflexively, I reached out to grab Kakashi's arm as I sought out comfort. Call me crazy, but Tsunade wasn't all that scary when I watched the anime or read the books. However, seeing her in person and the power she holds, I could almost feel my legs shaking under my weight.

I was terrified, especially since I knew I was on her radar from my misdirection, mistruths and for the information I held.

Underneath my grip, Kakashi's muscles pulled taut at my fearful response. I looked between him and Tsunade whose ANBU were actually visible and standing around her. "Kakashi…" I whispered.

His response was barely audible, merely a breathy murmur as he said back calmly, "Relax, Rin."

I found it hard to do as he suggested – or ordered – when Tsunade stared at us with the fierce look on her face and her entourage of deadly killers who obeyed her every word.

We came to a stop before her and I almost dropped to my knees to beg for forgiveness when Kakashi was the one to hold onto me, holding me in place. The minute I had almost dropped to my knees, he'd pulled me back up firmly and held me in place. I looked up at him in surprise and confusion.

Finally he pulled his book down and looked up lazily at Tsunade. "Problem, Lady Hokage?" He asked in a drawl.

She harrumphed, adjusting her arms under her chest and face rapidly turning red from anger. "For once in your life, Kakashi, could you not break the rules and do the right thing?"

Kakashi was silent in response, but I couldn't help the thoughts roiling in my mind… breaking the rules and doing the right thing can actually be the same…in the case of…when he saved me – Rin – the first time, he broke the rules, but did the right thing. He's done that other times as well. One is not exclusive from the others all the time. Sometimes rules are bad and made to be broken.

"U – um, Tsunade –" I tried to speak, my voice barely audible as it squeaked. Maybe I shouldn't have gone with Kakashi to the restaurant. I didn't realize just how much I was frightened of Tsunade, especially since our last conversation. I knew my integrity, her trust in me was hanging by a thread.

Kakashi's grip on me tightened, warning me to stay silent. I immediately shut my mouth in response.

She turned to me quickly. "What?" She asked angrily. I shook my head at her with my lips clamped tight. She sighed at the sight, narrowing her eyes on Kakashi's hand holding me in place, squeezing tightly to keep me quiet.

"Listen, Kakashi," she said heavily, voice stern, frustrated and tired. "I'm trying to understand how you guys are feeling here. But you have to understand the situation I'm in. I know no one likes being in the hospital, especially for days on end, but you both are also in danger. Yes, both of you." She added in response to Kakashi's disbelieving look. "That's what I wanted to talk to you both about when I found out you made a run for it." Her glare was evening out as her steam slowly released.

Ignoring Kakahi's tight grip on me, I spoke up. "What are you talking about? Is – is the leader of Akatsuki targeting Kakashi, too, now?" Fear had gripped me, this time for Kakashi and I couldn't hold back my words anymore.

Tsunade's eyes softened as she stared at me at my response and she gave another huff of frustration before she swiftly turned around and said over her shoulder, "Meet me in my office now – and that means immediately, Kakashi."

Kakashi straightened in response and before I could say anything, he shoved his book in his pocket and lifted me up off my feet as I eeped in surprise. I grabbed onto his vest quickly to find purchase as to not to fall onto my butt unceremoniously.

Another squeak left my mouth as he took off onto rooftops at a punishing speed.

"Dammit, Kakashi!" I howled. "Why do people keep carrying me places?! What's wrong with walking!"

To my surprise, I could hear a stifled laugh behind Kakashi's mask and his face seemed lightened despite the news Tsunade wanted to deliver. "Because you're so slow, Rin, you need to practice using chakra again and physical activity."

I mock gasped and backhanded him with one hand, the other still gripping his vest. "Don't sass me, Kakashi! I've had no way to train those things until now!"

Without breaking his pace, he shook his head at me, the light look on his face not fading. "How long have you been in Konoha? You could've done something."

I gritted my teeth at his response before he made one final, large leap up onto the Hokage building and ran vertical up it. In panic, I gripped his vest with both hands again in a death grip and hissed threateningly, "Don't you dare drop me, Kakashi."

He gave me a faux offended look and said in a voice that was lacking actual surprise, "Why would you ever think I would do that to you, Rin?"

As soon as he said that, he'd come upon the window to the office and jumped right in with me still in his arms. I curled into his chest, ducking my head to avoid any hitting of my head against the top of the window.

He lightly set me on my feet as soon as we touched down in the office. I backed away from Kakashi immediately and put a hand up to tell him to keep his distance. The other hand reached up to hold my head as I shook it lightly and tried to focus on the here and now.

I had to remember that we were in this office for a reason; most likely Obito being a threat to both Kakashi and I. Now was not an appropriate time to flirt.

"You okay, Rin?" Kakashi asked, tone mildly concerned.

I dropped my hands and nodded with small smile. "I'll be fine, just ask next time you decide to grab me and jump across rooftops, okay?"

Kakashi went to respond, but the door opened and Tsunade walked in. She glowered at Kakashi angrily, snapping, "I have a door, Kakashi, learn to use it!" She slammed said door as she walked through it, the door shutting with a loud bang and the office shuddering lightly. I was surprised the door managed to survive, but since Tsunade became Hokage, I bet they had to make a lot of changes in the integrity of the building.

Kakashi didn't respond out loud, just shrugged and pulled out his book once again.

Tsunade was tense; and as she sat in her chair behind the desk, it was slow, purposeful and she stared at us with undisguised concern and frustration.

I stumbled up to her desk and stopped short of just touching it. "Please, Tsunade, what's going on?"

She pursed her lips minutely before responding. "I have received intelligence that the Akatsuki has been on the move again – not our friend – but the zombie duo." I jerked at that information. I felt intense concern build up in me as my body began to shake. "I have also received intelligence that the Akatsuki has orders to capture Rin – without damage – on sight, and to eliminate Kakashi – on sight as well."

Itachi, I thought, Still coming through for Konoha. They have no idea what he does for them.

Still, her words were concerning. Kakashi and I would be picked at purposefully; if Akatsuki came upon either of us, they would be relentless. I didn't believe for a second I would be left untouched – if I fought back, and I would, they would hurt me; and Kakashi didn't need more people on him.

I looked over at Kakashi with concern, but his face was blank.

I turned back to Tsunade and asked quickly, "Do you have a plan for the zombie duo? A way to avoid Hidan's ritual and circle? Kakuzu's five hearts?"

She waved me off, turning to Kakashi instead. "You're grounded for now, Kakashi. You're hereby discharged from the hospital, but you are now supposed to work with Naruto on a new technique. Also, you are to also keep watch on Rin. While it isn't good to have you two together in case of Akatuski running into you both, I doubt you guys would be willing to separate for long knowing the Akatsuki were after both of you. Not to mention, Kakashi is the best defense against them for you, Rin. While you're helping Naruto with his technique, along with his other teacher, you need to get Rin up to shape."

I could see the minute crease of Kakashi's face, the concern and stress creeping over him.

"All right." He said in a voice devoid of emotion.

Tsunade addressed me next. "We've got plans, Rin, no worries about that. You two just stick together and be careful." I nodded at her and turned back to Kakashi, watching him with fear.

"Well, if we're going to finally be free from the hospital, we need to decide where we're going to live, Rin," I reddened at his words and ignored the light chuckling behind me from Tsunade.

May the Springtime of Youth keep you healthy and happy this May! :)