The Capture, The Kiss and The Death

Uchiha Kin ran. He ran faster than he had ever run before, but still the sounds of his pursuer were close behind him. He crashed through thick undergrowth, underneath the dark boughs of the never-ending forest. Tears streamed down his face, but he paid them no heed. All he could think of was to run far, far away.
I'm sorry, father. I'm sorry, mother. I'm sorry, Ichiru-niisan! I'm sorry for everything. Just please, come find me? I'm done running away!
His legs grew tired, and he could feel himself slowing down, his breath ragged. Sweat trickled down his brow, mixing with the tears on his cheeks. He wiped his face hurriedly with the back of his hand, taking a moment to glance back. Numerous shadows seemed to be hopping through the trees towards him; he had been wrong when he thought there was only one person following him. All around him were voices, laughing, shrieking with glee; evil voices, full of malice. He wept uncontrollably, with no idea where he was running. What little sky he could see through the treetops was an inky purple, heavy with storm clouds. There was no light to show him the way, and he stumbled constantly on roots and fallen branches. His hands were torn by thorns, his clothes snagged on bushes that seemed to reach out like long fingertips to grab at him. The spillage of his blood only seemed to spur his tormentors on, as their whooping and calls became more excited. He could tell they were playing with him. All the evidence said they were ninja, and could have easily killed him by now, if they'd wanted to.
A twig snapped just behind him, and Kin span around to see a shadowy figure below a tree, only a few yards away. He gulped, turning to run again, but he couldn't move. Suddenly, he was overcome with fear. His whole body stiffened, and he felt bile rise in his throat, causing him to retch. He panicked, grasping at his throat, his eyes wide and frightened. What was going on?
The figure crept closer to him, their glasses glinting as the moon peeped out from behind the angry clouds for a few seconds. The pale light illuminated the scene perfectly. Kin stood, shaking and being sick, surrounded by a group of burly, evil looking ninja. One spat at him, provoking a chorus of laughter from his companions, and then a swift blow to the head with a kunai.
The other ninja backed away as his body fell to the ground, and made way for the man who was quite obviously their leader.
"Do not disrespect our dear friend here." The man wearing the glasses said.
He strode forwards, coming to a stop in front of the terrified Uchiha. Kin had finally stopped throwing up the rice he'd eaten earlier and looked up, his eyes slightly glazed. The man in front of him was a little taller than him, with grey-silver hair and round glasses. He smirked, pushing the glasses up his nose a little.
"How nice to meet with an Uchiha again." He said, reaching out to touch Kin's pale face. "My name is Kabuto."
Kin shuddered at the touch of Kabuto, as the silver-haired man stroked his cheek slowly. The boy was powerless to resist as Kabuto crept ever closer and leisurely ran his tongue along Kin's ear.
"Now you're mine." Kabuto whispered.

*

Inuzuka Hinata stood panting in a forest clearing; two dead bodies clothed in the Akatsuki robes on the floor below her. Her husband stood not far away, with Akamaru, and a little further on were Nara Yukio, Uzumaki Dai and her own son Inuzuka Haru. Strewn across the floor, like paper dolls, were the bodies of the ninja who had attacked them earlier in the day: 8 in total, once 5 more had joined the original troop of 3.
Unbeknownst to Hinata and her companions, only a few kilometres from where they stood now was Uchiha Kin, in mortal peril. Even with her Byakugan, Hinata could never have known, or done a thing. As the storm broke overhead, the Inuzukas, Yukio and Dai all took shelter under the branches of an ancient tree, Akamaru and Kiba taking first watch.
As Hinata put her head down to sleep, she said a small prayer for her daughters, wherever they were right now.

*

Akane knelt on the floor, her face stained with tears and soot from the smoke surrounding her. Ichiru was slumped next to her, where they sheltered behind a low, grey stone wall. The fighting had died down now, and the enemy seemed to be retreating. Whatever their goal had been, the attack obviously hadn't been well thought out. These ninja may have been wearing the robes of the Akatsuki, but they were not skilled renegade ninja. Although they could put up a good fight, they were common thieves and outlaws. Akane had decided for herself that this Akatsuki thing was all a façade for the real attack, the real reasons behind it too. Although she couldn't quite decide what the real motives were.
Ichiru groaned a little beside her, and she quickly turned to face him. His hair was matted with blood at the back of his head, and he was absolutely filthy. The smoke from the fires lit by the enemy had been heavy and acrid. The thick clouds of it had hovered in the air, acting as smokescreens for them to sneak in, and the stench of it stung the back of Akane's throat, which was also red raw from screaming.
She'd killed a lot of people today.
Looking down at her hands, she almost saw the blood dripping from them, the blood of the many she'd mercilessly slaughtered in a blind rage. She knew in her heart of hearts that the genin she had been put in charge of were dead, and this had spurred her on to kill as many in revenge as she possibly could.
One for each innocent life taken.
Ichiru moaned again, a little louder. He was regaining consciousness. Would it be safe to take him to the hospital?
Akane decided to take the risk, and eased him slowly to his feet, his harm slung around her shoulders. He winced as she half carried, half dragged him towards the hospital, hoping and praying there wouldn't be any enemies there. Thankfully, she seemed to be in luck, and managed to get him inside and to a vacant room with not a peep from anyone. Akane laid him down gently onto a bed, pulling the curtain around them. She rifled through the cupboards, eventually finding bandages and antiseptic cream.
Hopefully this will be enough.
She edged a little closer to Ichiru's bed. He seemed to be sleeping. His clothes were torn, and he seemed to be losing a lot of blood from various surface wounds.
"I tried my hardest to protect you." She whispered, "And now I'll look after you."
She blushed a little as she carefully took off his top.
"I'm sorry, Ichiru-kun, but I can't attend to y-your wounds unless… unless I take your c-clothes off." She bit her lip, angered at her stuttering.
With a sigh, she carefully removed his jeans, trying to ignore his body and focus on the cuts that covered it. The scars from his training wounds were not yet fully healed, and now new ones covered them. Would they be permanent? Akane couldn't possibly know.
She dipped a piece of bandage into the antiseptic cream, and smeared it across the wounds. Ichiru breathed in sharply, his back arching a little. Akane held his hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry this has happened."
"I-it's not your fault…Akane-chan…" Ichiru managed to say, opening his eyes a little.
Akane squeezed his hand, a smile on her face.
"You're awake."
He nodded, smiling back.
"It hurts."
"It will. Let me bandage you up." She said, continuing to apply the cream, and slowly winding the bandages around him, making him sit up a little to do so.
"I'm having déjà vu." Ichiru said, seeming to perk up a little after Akane fed him some water from her gourd. "I seem to have a recollection of you bandaging me up before." He finished, with a wry smile.
The Inuzuka smiled back, once again her breath catching in her throat as she looked at him. How close had they been earlier…
No! I will not think about that. How inappropriate! she scolded herself for thinking such things. They'd just been caught up in the moment. He'd never want to…to kiss her. Not in a million years.
Would he?
Ichiru edged a little closer to her, taking her hand gently in his own.
"I'm sleepy. Will you lie with me for a little while, Akane-chan?"
She nodded dumbly, curling up beside him. Akako whined from the floor, obviously wanting to get up onto the bed too. But for once, Akane wanted to do something without her best friend sharing in it too. The dog seemed to understand, and padded outside to the corridor to keep watch.
Ichiru turned on his side to face her, his eyes level with her own.
"Arigato." He whispered.
"You always say that." She whispered back.
"I mean it."
"I know." She closed her eyes.
Feeling him breathe so close to her made her heart flutter a little, as if it were a caged butterfly trying to break out. Ichiru entwined his fingers in hers, and snuggled a little closer, lying nose-to-nose now. She sighed a little at his touch, making him inch closer until…
Until the butterfly was set free, as their lips met for the first time. Akane smiled through the kiss, as his soft lips pressed against her own, and she tasted him, and in that instant there was no war, there was no Konoha, or Suna, or Akatsuki: Just her, and Ichiru on this bed, in this room, far away from everything.

*

Tenten edged through the narrow passageways, hearing the faint murmur of voices up ahead. She held Hirokazu tightly, not wanting to do what she knew she must.
Eventually she reached a huddle of villagers, all making their way carefully towards the sanctuary. Tenten stopped, selected the most matronly looking woman and slipped her some money.
"I need you to look after my son, just for a little while. I-I have to go back to get my husband and my daughter."
The woman clocked Tenten's hitai ate, and nodded immediately, taking the youngest Hyuuga from his mother. He mewled softly from inside his blankets, breaking Tenten's heart as she swiftly turned and headed back the way she'd come.

*

The taste of blood was in their mouth, and the heavy, metallic smell of it filled their nostrils. Their breathing came in shallow gasps as their eyes rolled back in their head. Smoke. Everywhere. It filled the room; it blurred their vision. The sound of footsteps could be heard a little way off, followed by voices, hushed and hurried.
Where am I? Am I dying? What happened? I'm alone. I'm so alone.
They clutch at something, anything to hold on to. But there is nothing, And there is no one.
And so they take their last breath, cold, alone and afraid.