A/N I'm sorry I took so long to update and I'm sorry It's so short, but I really wrote myself into a wall last time and I only got over it tonight. I wrote all of this in one go and decided that I should post it like this. Hope you enjoy and thanks so much for waiting ^_^ (oh yh, I've started editing the chapter before the one i post so there will be a few changes and stuff nothing major though)

Ch9

Why?

Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?

Why did I open up to him?

Why can't I stop crying?

I must look like such a child right now...

"I want my brother."

Why can't I stop?

"I'm useless without him. We...We've taken down people much stronger than Mizuki together-" Kakashi didn't make a sound and it was driving me crazy. Was he even still there? Maybe he'd gone after Naruto?

"-and I couldn't even bruise him. I need my brother. I need him, I want him. I need him. I'm useless alone. I neeeeeed him." My sobs took over my desperate voice and I just wailed. Occasionally repeating everything till I was too tired to talk.

Slowly I calmed down a little, but I was still shaking and couldn't stop the stream of tears. I still wasn't sure whether Kakashi was there or not, so I slowly moved my hands and peeked out.

He was still there.

...Why?! Surely he has something better to do than sit here and watch me?! Why would he bother?!

...Then again he bothered to take me to the hospital when we first met... Also he helped me with my training earlier... but he doesn't know anything about me so why would he want to deal with me in this state?

...Maybe he doesn't... He's obviously a nice guy so maybe... maybe he just doesn't know how to leave...

I began to try and wipe away the tears as fast as I could, but they kept falling.

"You don't have to go out of your way to stay with me you know." I stammered out, my voice hoarse and quiet. "I'll be ok on my own." I tried to sit upright as proof but winced as soon I used the muscles in my stomach. It hurt. I let my arms relax suddenly, so that I'd fall down again, but before I did I felt strong arms gently hold me upright.

"It's not out of my way." I heard Kakashi's voice fall gently onto my ears from above me, and my eyes widened in surprise. I started sobbing again. His arms wrapped around me and he held me tight while I cried away all of my tears.

When I finally stopped crying and he picked me up. I frowned,

"I can walk on my own." I said with a small sniffle. I squirmed a little to make him let go but winced with the movement. "Put me down."

"It's not the first time I've had to carry you to the hospital so don't worry about it." Kakashi replied in a firm tone. It sounded like he was smiling though.

I let out a small sigh and stopped moving, then he carefully carried me across the trees. As we travelled I began to wonder why he didn't talk for so long and, since I didn't really have anything left to lose, I asked him.

He glanced down at me before focusing his eyes forward again.

"I was trying to decide which was more important at the time, your mental health or your physical health." He replied. I chuckled then relaxed, though not before hissing against the pain that flared up.

"Shouldn't you be able to make decisions like that in a second? You're a ninja, right, and a Jounin at that." I lightly teased him. I struggled not to laugh as he grimaced slightly.

"Well, you're definitely feeling better." He stated. I felt a small smile form on my lips.

"Yeah... thanks."

"Don't mention it."

A silence fell between us, but it wasn't a bad one. I felt relaxed and peaceful.

My eyes unconsciously fastened onto his hair -fascinated by the way it moved in the wind- and I soon found myself stifling a yawn. Despite my hopes that he hadn't noticed, he told me to sleep. I smiled again and let my eyes fall closed.

"Really, thanks." I muttered before falling asleep.