The days seemed to fly by since my birthday, and I had spent most of my time working on patrols and doing favors for people around the village. I even managed to get a significant amount of training done with Guy at the training grounds every day, he was the perfect sparring partner because he relied so heavily on taijutsu. I hardly ever went on a mission where I didn't have to use ninjutsu anymore, so it was good to keep up on close combat training when I was home.

Today was my day off, I had been working to hard according to Lord Third. He had ordered me a day of rest and relaxation, he even suggested I head over to the bath house and take an entire day to soak the stress from my body. That didn't sound like a horrible idea so I decided after a long internal argument with my own mind that I would try it, what would it hurt to try and decompress?

I made it home and grabbed some new clothes and my towel. It had been some time since I had gone to the bath house. I think the last time I went was with Asuma, Kurenai and Guy a couple of years ago, it was their attempt at getting me out of my slump and although it didn't exactly work, at least they had tried. Looking back on it now, they always had tried to be my friends, even when I didn't want any.

It was completely quiet when I walked in, sliding the door closed behind me and going over to the changing and shower area. I hung my towel on the half wall beside me and stripped down completely. I rinsed my body off and taking a quick shower before getting into the bath. I was enjoying the fact that I could be alone for the time being, regardless of how long that would last.

I wrapped my towel around my waist when I was finished and walked over to the steaming bath, my muscles seemed to suddenly ache as I stepped in and submerged myself just past my shoulders. I could feel the instant relief wash over me. Clearly, I had no idea what I was missing out on because this was wonderful, I felt the tension in my shoulders and lower back undo itself and I hadn't even noticed it being there before. It was so silent that I could have fallen asleep in the water and I almost did, but as I was drifting in and out of consciousness, I heard a couple of voices coming from outside. The sound of the door sliding open startled me and I sunk down further with most of my face covered by the water. I wasn't wearing my mask, so it wasn't uncomfortable like the fabric would have been when it stuck to my face.

"I don't know, that's not what I heard." Said the first male voice as they walked through the door. I was ducked low enough that nobody would have been able to see me over the walls of the tub.

"That's what I overheard this morning! They just got back a few hours ago, it doesn't look good." The second boy chimed in.

I didn't know these two people; I had never heard their voices before. I'm not one to listen to gossip so I decided not to any longer. I stretched out trying to work all the aches from my shoulders down to my feet, I could feel all the knots loosening as I extended each limb. I wasn't going to be staying much longer if there were others getting ready to come in, it wouldn't be very relaxing anymore listening to others talk.

The two were still bickering back and forth while they showered across the room. I hadn't been listening at all to what they were saying, mainly because the water was so loud as it echoed through the room. I sighed as I heard the water finally stop, I guess it was time to take my leave.

"They said she probably won't make it, what a shame." The second boy said as I heard his footsteps through the water on the floor.

The first one was silent for a moment. "It's always hard when we lose medical shinobi, there aren't that many to begin with." He said before sighing. "I've heard that Rin Nohara is one of the best that the medical core has…She was even trained by one of the legendary Sanin, Tsunade Senju."

My heart was beating so hard that I could feel it throughout my entire body. Did…Did I just hear that right? It couldn't be true, but there was no mistaking it, that was what he had said.

I reached up and grabbed my towel off the side of the bath and flickered over to the showers, unnecessary use of chakra, but I didn't need the two of them to see me getting out of the water. I got dressed quickly as they slid down into the water, they didn't even notice me until I was already out the door. I had to hurry, I had to figure out what was going on. I was sprinting toward the hospital as fast as I could without running into anyone or anything. My head was foggy, and I could very easily stumble and hurt someone in this state of mind.

I reached the entrance to the hospital, gasping for breath as if I had been running for much longer than I had. I walked inside, my head still spinning from lack of air and the information that was swirling around my head.

"I need to see Rin Nohara." I said as I approached the woman at the front desk.

She glanced up at me. Her face was emotionless. "I'm sorry, she cannot have visitors at this time, please wait over there." She pointed to a wall a few feet away with some chairs, they were all empty and the lobby was completely quiet other than the faint shuffling noises coming from down the hallway behind the front desk. "Is she alright? When can I see her? Where is Minato?" I couldn't stop shaking, I had so many questions. I knew she was here, but I knew nothing other than what the two strangers at the bath house had said.

The receptionist shook her head, looking down at her desk. "I have no answers son, I'm sorry, you'll just have to wait."

It wasn't her fault and I needed to stop myself from taking my emotions out on the woman, she was clearly upset about the situation as well. I'm sure that Rin had been working in this hospital many times during her medical training, which means everybody here had a connection with her as well. I sighed quietly and walked toward the row of chairs, picking one closest to the exit and sitting down with my face in my hands. I was at a loss, what was I supposed to do?

I heard a door slide open across the room, but I didn't look up, I just sat there trying to focus and stop my racing thoughts when I felt a presence in front of me.

"Stand up". A stern voice said above me. I knew this voice, it was Asuma. "Outside. Now." He didn't even wait for me to move; I heard his footsteps as he left the hospital. I slowly stood up and walked toward the door, glancing once more back at the receptionist who was shuffling some papers. I don't know how long I would have to wait, but from our conversation, it wouldn't be any time soon.

I walked outside and saw him standing against the building on my left. He didn't look upset, but he looked unhappy. I needed answers from him, he had been in there with her. "Asuma what…" I couldn't say another word before he cut me off. "Follow me." He didn't hesitate before sprinting off toward the forest just behind the hospital. I took off after him, trailing not far behind but he didn't even acknowledge my presence until we stopped just beyond the first few rows of trees. He turned to me immediately after we stopped, his face was stone cold, and his eyes felt like they were piercing into my soul.

"Who told you." He said, his eyes never leaving my single uncovered one.

I shook my head slightly. "Nobody…I mean…I don't know who they were. I overheard a conversation." I was confused, he wasn't giving me any answers either, why did he care who told me what happened?

"You had the nerve to show up to the hospital. So, now you want to be there for her." He had bawled his fists at his sides. "There is no reason for you to have come today Kakashi." He was walking toward me and stopped only about a foot from me.

I was shocked. I didn't expect this, but what did I expect? "She left after explaining so many things in her writing, I had so many questions… and then she comes back…and…and I don't know what's going on!" I was partially shouting without meaning too.

Asuma quickly reached out and grabbed the neck of my shirt in his right fist. "You think you know everything because you read her journal?" His voice was lower than usual.

"You know NOTHING about Rin, Kakashi." He tightened his grip further "I've been by her side through all of her medical ninja training. I've seen how much she has changed over the years. Where were YOU?" He shoved me away with one push, staring directly at me. I had never seen him like this before.

"SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE NEVER WANTED TO SEE ME AGAIN. WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?" I screamed at him. I was so angry; my fists were clenched. "She wanted NOTHING to do with me and she made that clear FOUR YEARS ago."

Asuma was shaking his head as he was turning away, I think I saw a tear in his eye, but I wasn't sure. "You didn't even TRY and fight for her…You just walked away and forgot about her."

I paused. I knew he was right. I was just so angry at what he was saying, was I supposed to have done something different all this time? Sure, I could understand that, but what would she have done if I didn't leave her alone. How was I supposed to know if she would push me away further or that it would fix things between us.

"Sensei told you to come with us on this mission didn't he?". He said in almost a whisper. "He gave you a chance..." He was walking away, back toward the hospital. "I couldn't save her...but maybe you could have."

With that he was gone. Leaving me in the forest alone once again.

He was right...I was being selfish by cutting myself off from her and everyone else. I clenched my fists as I fell to my knees, letting the tears flow rapidly down soaking my mask.

I wish I would have gone with them.

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Thank you guys for all of the support!

I made a small edit to this chapter.

Keep on letting me know what you think!