Clack. Clack.
Her sandals seemed to resonate, filling the stillness around her. There were no other sounds around, no birds or rustling of leaves, no wind movement. It was as if she was running alone through abandoned hallways rather than a vast forest. Her footfalls felt heavy and thunderous. Too loud for an area that seemed frozen in time around her. As if the environment held its breath to see what would happen next.
What would happen next?
Akane could feel her heartbeat increasing in its pounding. Something felt so, so wrong.
Clack-clack.
Lungs inflating, deflating. Inflating, filling with air—release. More air. More speed. Was someone chasing her?
Akane felt a prickle at the base of her neck, and her skin rose with a chill as if someone was right behind her. Slate eyes risked a glance over her shoulder only to find darkness swallowing the space and trees she had come from. Were the shadows chasing her? Were they that close before?
She faced forward, now madly dashing through the trees, no longer concerned with the noise giving away her position. Standing her ground and fighting wasn't a consideration in her state. Terror gripped her as sweat beaded across her brow. She had to get away. That was the only thing that mattered.
Clack-clack-clack!
A kunai whistled through the air, catching her ear and cheek as it passed and slicing the soft skin. A trickle of blood traced down her jaw as she tried to see who threw it but saw no one behind her. Wiping the blood with the back of her hand, she continued fleeing into the forest hoping her pursuer was growing fatigued and that they'd lose her trail. Up ahead, through a break in the trees, she could see daylight peeking through the foliage, a complete opposite of the endless pitch consuming the forest at her heels.
Have to make it… she chanted. I Have to…
If possible, her feet sped up, her body lowering into the headlong sprint. She was almost there-BOOM!
Akane was suddenly airborne, the world tumbling in her vision and propelling her through the sky with enough force that her body snapped a few branches before colliding with the ground. Rolling across the floor was more solid than she expected, causing her to gasp and grimace until her body mercifully came to a stop. Scrapes and cuts covered her arms and skinned her elbows, making her wince as sharp pain shot through her with each movement. Breathless, the wounded kunoichi braced her palms beneath her and pushed up to her hands and knees before her eyes went wide. Beneath her was not the moist soil or grass that she expected, but a pebbled street.
How—her attention snapped up and suddenly her sentence died in her throat. She was someways in a bustling village with various people drifting like ghosts from one market store to the next. None of the civilians took note of her, as if a kunoichi sailing through the air from an explosion was an everyday occurrence.
Coming to a stand, she glanced back, remembering that she was being followed, but the forest was no longer there. Only a training ground that looked decommissioned with overgrown weeds. Not caring for the strange new setting, Akane started to run into the crowd in hopes of finding safety. Bumping and dodging around people slowed her slightly, but again, none of the people seemed to care. As if they were just worried about getting to their next destination and not at all concerned with a woman frantically shoving her way through.
Eventually, she made it down a block before slowing after no further weapons were tossed her way. Bracing against the corner of a shop, she tried to catch her breath, wondering what was going on and why she was there. She had just been in the middle of a forest, hadn't she? Or did she imagine that? It seemed so long ago that she couldn't be certain.
"You thought you could run from us?"
Eyes widening, Akane spun around to face the crowd, but no one seemed to pay her any mind, let alone looked to be the one who spoke to her.
"Always running."
A hand came around her mouth and midsection, locking her arms to her side as she was hauled against a hard chest. A yell tried to break through the hand, but it only came out as a muffle. Kicking her feet into the air, she shifted her weight into the captor's upper body, so they had to lean back to counter it, before tossing her feet forward. The momentum, with her body following the motion, forced the person to flip over her as her sandals planted to the ground. Free from their hold, Akane fled into the alley only to find a dead end. But that wasn't a problem for a kunoichi. Summoning chakra to her hands and feet, she leapt up the side, only to slide back down.
What?!
She tried again, but it was futile. No matter how much chakra she tried to use, it wasn't enough to latch on. This wasn't good.
"Keh, thought you could get away?" the voice asked again.
Whirling around, Akane came face to face with two men. Both familiar, but from different times in her life. How'd they even meet? Why were they here? Why were they after her?
The bulkier of the pair was unmistakable in his gruff posture and unshaven face. Yoi, the River shinobi that had been a member of her last crew before Kakashi's team arrested him. The second, leaner figure, with choppy flaxen locks under his bandana style forehead protector, was a member from another lifetime. Ayumu. Her teammate from the academy...
"What are you doing here? What do you want?" she demanded defensively, hands balling at her sides.
"Retribution," Yoi cracked a malicious grin. "You betrayed Naoti and me. Then you left us to rot in prison and saved that brat instead."
"Well, I see you're out now," she returned acidly. "Looks like you're fine."
"No, no, no. I'm owed my due. You've taken advantage of us for too long and that stunt with the Konoha team really drew the line. I want my payment in blood," his smile grew as he grabbed a dagger from his side and pointed it at her. "Yours to be exact."
Akane scowled darkly but was interrupted from responding by the blond Konoha-nin.
"And you know why I'm here," Ayumu explained, not finding the enjoyment in torturing her as his associate was.
"I'll admit that what I did to Yoi and Naoti is true, but what happened to Kyo was not me. I was framed for that—"
"Liar." The word was said with such finality and coldness that caught Akane by surprise. "The blood is all over your hands. You can't lie to me. See for yourself."
Before she could stop herself, Akane's gaze dropped to her hands to see crimson splashed over clammy palms. Sweat broke out in a cold sheen across her skin as her mouth fell open.
"Th-that's not his. Kyo died a long time ago—"
"Stop lying! We caught you, murderer! You're nothing but a monster among our cohort! After all we'd been through together, you did this to your own friend?!" He shook his head as teeth were bared in a snarl. "No matter where you go or who you team up with, those who side with you end up hurt or killed!"
"I didn't kill Kyo!"
"LOOK BEHIND YOU!" he bellowed with a rawness that broke his voice at the end. The unexpected outburst startled Akane who took an involuntary step backwards and straight into a puddle.
After looking down to her feet, she instantly wished she hadn't. Beside the sandals, staring straight at the sky beyond her, with lifeless gaze, was Kyo. Blood pooled out across the alley ground, a vermillion pool so pristine against the grime that it reflected the clouds above and drenched the ends of his dark hair. Alarmed by the unexpected appearance, Akane stumbled back, tripping over her own feet and falling onto her backside. Blood soaked the side of her pant leg and what was worse was the warmth from it. As if it was freshly leaving his body at that very moment.
"No-no-no-no-noo—I didn't—" A sob wracked from her throat and bloodied hands covered her mouth to keep the cry in.
"You did that- Take responsibility, Akane! It's the least you could do! And if that wasn't enough, you got Hatake Kakashi killed!"
Her eyes snapped up to Ayumu who seethed across from her, staring down at her pathetic form with fury in his curled lips and clenched fists.
"What?! No-"
"Akane…" A new voice behind her, shattered and strained.
Hands falling from her lips, she was gripped in terror. This wasn't happening. Was it a genjutsu? This wasn't happening, she didn't do it.
Still not looking, she pulled trembling, blood-soaked hands in front of her and folded her fingers into the dispel sign. "Release."
Kyo's body still remained beside her.
"Release!"
Yoi's grin only spread further while Ayumu watched her with disdain, as if all she was succeeding in doing was shaming herself further. The unsteady footsteps behind were growing closer as the stream of tears continued falling down her face.
"….re-release."
"Akane…" The voice came out more as a strangulation.
It wasn't a genjutsu.
The realization caused her hands to drop lifelessly in her lap as she unwillingly turned her head to peer over her slouched shoulder; hoping there was nothing but a ghost there. But it wasn't a phantom that lurked behind her.
Kakashi stood, barely able to keep himself up with a sword impaled through his torso. Blood seeped down his forehead from a gash across his brow, mixing with his mask. His strength left him as he collapsed to his knees asking her 'why?' breathlessly between gasps.
Akane twisted around on her knees to face him, hand outstretched to help in any way she could. But just as it reached his shoulder, he slapped it away, making her flinch from the viciousness.
"I don't need your help," he snapped haughtily, "I never wanted it!"
Tears continued to fall, and she curled her hands to her chest, feeling so small and insignificant. "Please… I didn't mean for this to happen—"
Kakashi huffed out a choking cough, bloody droplets from the fabric of his mask spat into the air, landing on her pants and alley floor. After catching a wheezing breath, his mismatched gaze met hers and a bitter smile pulled under the black material.
"They never see you coming, do they, Akane?"
Pewter toned fabric clung to her, matted from overwrought sweat. Her entire being was sweltering. With labored breaths, Akane steadily came to, eyelids blinking against dispute and hysteria. A grand expanse of violet dawn filled her sight. She felt weightless gazing at it, inhaling the cool damp air.
Her nightmare still smarted, a cloying hurt that would not abate. Holding in a groan, she wondered if she was going crazy from exhaustion or something else. From bitter and cyclic, tragic realities, perhaps. She didn't consider it long though, as Aki was abruptly leaning over her.
It was difficult to decipher his gaze in the rocky alcove where shadows still lingered, though she could faintly make out the sentiment in the amber. He merely stared down at her before his muzzle dipped atop her forehead. She stilled, curious to hear what he had to say. Focused on the feeling of the wet nose, she waited for him to finish his own wolfish assessment.
"You don't have a fever, pup," he muttered as he retracted his muzzle to look at her again. "Another nightmare?"
Akane closed her eyes as her body gradually cooled. With the figments of the past weaving into the present, the recollection of her dream played on her thoughts. The lurid illusions of violence and death, conjured by a guilt-stricken mind left her feeling queasy despite not having eaten anything. Opening her eyes, she sat up, unaware of Aki taking a step back to give her space. The new cloak she used as a blanket pooled into her lap as her attention drifted to the focus of her dream.
Kakashi was lying on his back with her old, tattered cloak used as a pillow. Memories from the night before—mere hours ago, revisited in a drunken slur. She had returned from the village with supplies and started a small fire to keep him warm. Then had used the medical materials to rebandage his torso after applying the last of the measly antiseptic to the wounds. She also took that time to change his stained and soaked shirt for a new, clean one to help with his temperature and gave him water. Following her doctoring of the injured teammate, she collapsed on the opposite side of the fire, leaving Aki to keep watch of the two.
She owed him one. If it wasn't for Aki, who knows what the night could have ended as.
"I'll be fine," she finally answered, standing to her feet and stretching. Her muscles ached and protested as they were forced to flex, making her feel as if she was wrung out like a bar rag.
The Summoning wasn't at all convinced by her statement but chose to keep his observations to himself.
"How's Kakashi been?"
Aki yawned widely, showing his massive teeth before looking at the sleeping shinobi. "He's been calmly resting without any interruption." He looked back at Akane. "Why don't you get more sleep? I'll wake you if his condition changes."
"No thanks, Aki. I'm wide awake now." Not true. She just didn't want to take the chance of falling back into another nightmare. "I'm going to try to get some food for breakfast. If I'm lucky, we'll have fish. I don't think I have the energy to get a small animal…"
With that she left the rocky camp and disappeared toward the river, not giving her Summon the opportunity to dispute.
As it happened, some miniscule drop of luck landed upon the disheveled kunoichi. She returned with a total of four trout and quickly set to work on feeding the fire so they could feed themselves. Aki lay behind her as she cooked, a fine backrest and source of warmth. Between simmering the fish, she'd peel off a piece and feed it to him, knowing he hated his meat overcooked. The old wolf graciously accepted it, crunching noisily on bones with each bite.
The sun was now fully present over the horizon, bathing the area with renewed warmth and shimmered off the icy dew across the grass. It was a rather peaceful morning following a day of chaos. The lingering dismay from Akane's nightmare dampened her mood still, making it difficult to take notice of the picturesque landscape. After a while, the fish finished cooking and she swapped the pan for a kettle of water to brew tea.
The quiet that engulfed them was serene to Aki, but it left Akane alone with her dreaded thoughts. With nothing else to focus on-after all, water didn't need to be monitored to reach boiling-she bathed in unavoidable self-reflection. As Akane attempted to decipher the message of the dream, it led down a path that caused her to question her own character and moral choices.
Since when had she last considered Ayumu or his well-being? It had been years since she'd last seen him. Shortly after Kyo's death to be exact, and even then, they didn't interact because he hadn't known she was there. Yoi's presence in her dream was strange but understandable. Despite her revulsion with him and Naoti, she did have a hint of remorse over leaving them in Kakashi's hands. At the time, her strategy was to play the betrayer before they could strike first. That was how she recalled it. However, even though the reason was validated in her opinion, it didn't mean she found joy in her decision to leave them out to dry.
As for Kyo, well… he was a regular occurrence in her nightmares. A forever stain that weighed on her consciousness. His death was a pivotal moment in her life, equal only to that of Sarutobi's reluctant confession and manipulation. Funny how she could collect the heavy devastation of emotions for her teammates, past and present, from those willing and reluctant. But when it came to those that she killed by violating their body with her chakra, destroying them from the inside out in a brutal manner, it didn't haunt her.
Because they weren't significant to her.
"You're nothing but a monster…!"
Ayumu was correct. Like her, a monster wouldn't feel remorse for the torture they inflicted. The opponents she faced were never doing anything except their job, yet instead of harming them enough to keep them from interfering, she viciously executed them. What befell the group yesterday was enough evidence to sell a case and convict her as guilty a thousand times over. But that was just a part of the job. Just another notch in the cons of shinobi lifestyle.
If she paused to give it thought, then sure. She would feel regret and guilt. Particularly when she accidentally killed them in a callous way that caused suffering, or with a thoroughness that one would mistake for glee. Never did she feel happiness in destroying her enemy. But her guilt was never acknowledged either. She remained indifferent.
"They never see you coming, do they, Akane?"
The reminiscence of Kakashi's words wounded her, making her jaw grit at the harsh implication.
Did he really feel that way about her?
"I don't need your help!"
Doubt was contagiously spreading, poisoning her mind. Her self-confidence was taking a hit, whittling her down until she felt like an irrelevant burden. What if there was truth to Kakashi's words? It wouldn't be the first time that her dreams had implied a connection to reality. Was she really a terrible person?
Her gaze drifted to Kakashi's resting form, watching the soft rise and fall of his chest. He looked peaceful in his slumber, not in pain or troubled by the events. The sight eased some of her anxiety, realizing that what was important was his safety. And despite the frantic day prior, she had succeeded in keeping him off death's door. He still had a way to go before he was fully recovered, but for now it was manageable. As long as she kept him safe, she didn't have to be a good person.
The shrill whistle shattered the lull, causing Akane to startle from her musings. Pulling the kettle of hot water from the fire, she set it on the ground beside her and prepared individual cups with tea. Aki took advantage of her distraction and snuck his remaining section of first trout from the pan.
"Really?" Akane chided, "You couldn't wait a little longer?"
Aki's tail wagged at being caught. "Well, you're just teasing me by leaving it in the pot. That's cruel, pup, especially when I stood guard all night."
"Ah, I guess you got me there. I still don't—"
A groan interrupted Akane as Kakashi stirred. Their attention landed on him as his mismatched gaze drearily blinked open, staring at the overhanging rock, taking in the change of scenery and his current circumstances. Akane watched, breath locked in her chest as she anticipated his blame to target her once his awareness shifted in their direction. Aki's amber stare shifted between them, finding it odd that his summoner wasn't going to Kakashi's side. Growing curious, he nudged her with his muzzle, breaking her from the stupor. It was enough for her to hide her reluctance and make her way to her comrade.
Still not aware of Akane's slow approach, Kakashi tried to ease himself upright, wincing with bated breath as he attempted to restrict any unnecessary movement.
"Here," Akane offered, surprising him as she put her hands to his shoulder and upper back to help support his weight. She half expected him to push her away but was relieved when he leaned into her hand.
"Akane," he murmured, finally releasing the trapped air from his chest. As an afterthought to their proximity, he closed his eye with the Sharingan. "What happened? Where are we?"
"Er…" She hesitated, trying to read his reaction, and mentally preparing for his rejection. She opted to explore his emotions further before committing to her thoughts on the matter, still doubting that the dream was only that. "What do you remember?"
Kakashi's hand went to his stomach where he lifted the new shirt to see his torso thoroughly bandaged. "Did you do this?"
Frowning at him ignoring her question, she simply nodded.
"Are you hurt?" he asked suddenly.
"…Er… What?"
"I passed out after I was stabbed, right?" Kakashi's brows furrowed as if he was struggling to recall the events exactly as it happened. The lack of forehead protector revealed more expressions than she would have guessed. He truly looked genuine and troubled as the details started to return. "But you still had opponents you were fighting. Did they hurt you? Are you alright?"
A swell of emotions hit her at once. The fact that he was concerned for her—after being stabbed and almost dying—was too much for her frayed mind. She could feel the foreign presence of tears stinging her eyes, but she dug her nails into her palms to quell the reaction. Relief threatened to overwhelm her and before she could stop herself, she blurted, "You don't hate me?"
It was Kakashi's turn to look taken aback as he blinked owlishly at her. Cocking his head to the side, his brows knitted together, and she sensed a frown settling in under his mask.
"Why on earth would I hate you? Did I miss something?"
The tears threatened to return, and it took all Akane had to hold them back. Afraid that her eyes would give her away, she shook her head and turned her back to him.
"No… I mean, yes, you missed a lot. But… I don't know," she fumbled with the plates and trout, getting breakfast ready for him along with a glass of tea. Finding the words seemed like an impossible task as she stumbled over her ponderings. "I just thought… you would've blamed me for what happened."
"I don't see why you'd think that. I have no reason to blame you, Akane." He paused as a shock of pain wracked through his body. After a couple of seconds, the pain subsided enough, so he continued. "I'm just glad you're alright. Or at least, I assume you are. You still didn't answer my question if you were hurt or not."
Turning to face him with his breakfast in hand, Akane was relieved to see a shy smirk beneath his mask. Something about his strange cheerfulness, despite the pain she knew he was in, pushed away any lingering doubt that resided from her nightmare. As if something solid fell into place and promised that everything was as it should be.
"I'm the last person you should be worried about. You did save me, after all," she offered him the plate and tea that he graciously accepted. "Thank you for that… Kakashi."
Kakashi set the plate in his lap and his shy smile took on an air of sincerity. "You don't need to thank me. I told you I'd protect my comrades with my life. I thought it was obvious that includes you."
"Yes, well," she closed her eyes, the relief she felt giving way to a grudge she hadn't considered prior to that exact moment. Still, it rose up with enough velocity that she knew it was something she couldn't keep to herself. It was one of those things that festered and grew if left ignored, so he was going to hear about it one way or another. Best make her point across now. "Don't you dare make that mistake again—"
"Uh-" Kakashi's smile shattered as he tilted his head in confusion, "Excuse me?"
"I told you, I'm here to make sure you complete your mission. If you think saving me is the better option, think again! What would've happened if you were actually killed? Are you really going to leave the fate of Konoha—even the nations—in my hands? You're delusional if you think that's a smart idea. I'm not at all capable or dedicated like you are. From now on, remember that I'm the disposable one of this team. Not you."
Aki growled low in his throat as he sat up to face the two humans fully. His lips curled to reveal fine sharp canines as his amber gaze locked with Kakashi's. "Don't listen to her. I don't care what happens to you, Copy-nin. If you're working with Akane, you better protect the pup, or I'll devour you."
Kakashi sweat dropped. The unexpected situation wildly spun from talking to Akane to feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place, having not noticed the large wolf prior. Well, things just escalated quickly…
"You have my word," he offered carefully to the Summoning after gaining his composure, "that I'll continue to do what I can to keep her safe."
Akane scowled. "I just told you not to worry about me."
"Pup, drop it. I have the final say."
Her glower aimed at Aki, but he was unaffected by the heated stare. With his own wolfish grin, he picked up the second trout and ate it before she could complain, his tail wagging. Strange that he was in such a good mood. "
Do you need me still?"
The question was directed at her. She hadn't expected Aki to ask to leave so soon. Hadn't he stated he wanted to gauge Kakashi's trustworthiness for himself? Or was he comfortable enough knowing that betrayal wasn't on the horizon so soon after Kakashi sacrificed his defense for her life? Who knew how the old wolf's mind worked.
"No," Akane admitted, half bitter at his unwillingness to side with her. "You can take your treacherous tail somewhere else."
Padding across the short distance, he nuzzled her cheek before licking the side of her face. Akane giggled, complaining teasingly that she now smelt of fish thanks to him. Aki chuckled, telling her his goodbye and to not hesitate to call on him. His final word to Kakashi was "Remember your promise, shinobi," before dispersing in an ominous vapor, casting an awkward silence to fill the rocky outcropping.
Now alone with Kakashi, Akane tried to find something to break the quiet with. The dream and fear from the day prior shook her adventitiously, making it difficult to fall back into her typical sarcasm. Despite her rationalizing that she was only concerned over Kakashi because of their shared goal, it didn't fully explain the extent of her panic. The way her heart seized at the sight of rich carmine blood draining from his body, or the cold madness she felt when she finished the last opponents in retaliation. Even though the remnants of normality were returning between them, after recognizing Kakashi's relief, there was still a feeling of something being out of place. As if she had a puzzle piece in her hand that didn't quite fit with the picture in front of her. A new piece, or spare, perhaps something that didn't belong.
Akane's attention drifted to her hands in her lap, wringing her palms together as she fidgeted. What was going on with her? Why was there a tension emitting from within that made her feel… insecure?
Across from her, Kakashi let out a sharp exhale of air as he tried to shift his weight, pulling her attention outward.
"What're you doing? You shouldn't be moving around," she berated, concern overshadowing her reticence.
"I'm just trying—to lean against the rock," Kakashi rasped, his eye narrowed in a wince.
Recognizing the opportunity, Akane latched onto the offered 'diligent comrade' role. Anything to bury the strange feelings that suddenly appeared.
"Let me help. You're going to reopen your wounds."
He was smart enough to pause and wait for her to reach his side. Taking the plate from his lap, she stood behind him and hooked her arms through his. With a gentle pull, she readjusted his angle, so his back was to the outcropping. Understandably, it caused too much pain to force himself upright without support.
"Thank you," he offered with an eye crinkle as he accepted the plate.
Akane watched him without saying anything. He glanced at the food, then the tea, then the landscape across from him. She decided he was either taking everything in or was acting distracted, so he didn't have to pull his mask down in front of her to eat.
Figures, she thought bemused. Regardless, she knew voicing her irritation on the matter wasn't going to solve anything except feed his amusement, so she opted to ask about something else on her mind.
"I was wondering, what was that technique you used to stop the bomb?"
His attention returned to her face, but she kept a neutral expression as she stared into his dark eye. She always found it odd that he closed the Sharingan when his headband was removed, mainly when she knew he wouldn't use it on her. It disappointed her slightly. Even though they had travelled together for months, he only revealed it when in a fight or on a mission. It felt intrusive to ask if she could look at it outside of those situations, so she settled on an explanation. The circumstances regarding the eye were a sensitive enough topic that reinforced her chosen avoidance for inquisitive prodding.
"That was the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Oh, so a different trick of the Kekkei Genkai?"
Kakashi smiled. "Sort of. Hm, how's the best way to explain this?... The user of the Sharingan progresses its power through time, experience, and, more so, events that trigger strong emotions. The tomoe are formed with each power increase until reaching the Mangekyo. Mine has the Kamui technique which allows me to send objects away from this plane. I'll be honest, I'm not sure where they go, but away from here is all that really matters."
"You mean Mangekyo's are different to the user?"
"It is. I'll admit that my knowledge is limited to the details, but the use of the eye drains my chakra at a high rate. I've not used Kamui in a real battle before yesterday. I'm afraid, even if I wasn't stabbed, I'd likely not been useful afterwards because I still would've passed out. Which, admittedly, wasn't the best scenario either. It would've left you alone to fight the others regardless."
"Yeah, but it was handled, so you don't need to worry about that. I even got the scroll we were after."
"I'm guessing your Summoning helped you finish the opponents then?" His light smile was still in place.
Akane remained neutral, not allowing the desired frown to take over. Even if he didn't hate her for not being aware of her surroundings, she didn't feel like he'd remain unmoved by her admission on the way she killed the others. People tended to be intimidated by her ability to dismantle their inner workings with a touch. Best avoid giving him reason to doubt her, or worse, judge her character.
Closing her eyes, she gave a half shrug, opting to shift away from the topic. "I think you should give me a warning next time you plan to use Kamui. That way I'm not surprised when you fall unconscious."
"I'm certain that you'll only see me use it in dire circumstances. You know, when planning isn't an option." The hint of sarcasm eased the space between them, giving Akane something to latch onto that was more natural.
"So, what you're saying is I'm stuck with your reckless actions. No warning or anything. Just in the middle of a battle and—surprise—you're on the ground?"
"I can't imagine it being a frequent occurrence," he stated deprecatingly, not exactly pleased by her account, "But I can't say it's never going to happen, either."
"You can if you promise you won't pull that stunt again."
"And what stunt is that?"
"Risking yourself for me. That was stupid and irresponsible, Kakashi. You need to finish what you came here to do. I'm not a major part of that plan, just the supporting role."
"I'm not going to promise that," he let out a sigh. "You're my comrade no matter what is thrown at us. We started this together and my intentions is to see it through with you there as well."
Akane shook her head, brows pinching together. "Do you hear yourself? Your priorities are all screwed. The mission should come first, not someone like me—"
"Enough, Akane." His gaze turned sharp as he fixed her with a dark eye. Clearly, she insulted him, but she couldn't see what she said to cause that reaction. "I agree, the mission is important. But I'm not going to stand by when a teammate is in danger. I refuse to let you get hurt or worse, just so that I can live on for a mission that may not even make a difference. My priorities are where they need to be."
Akane didn't feel the usual rise of defense come, instead found her chin dipping as she struggled with the abrupt feeling of a berated child. She couldn't find the words to dispute him, particularly because, if the roles were reversed, she'd make the same decision. Well, not if it was with her previous teammates, but if it was Kakashi… as it was now…
Again, that tumbling feeling returned with vigor. With it came an absurd thought that flittered across her mind; if she opened her hand right then, would that out-of-place puzzle piece appear?
"Look," she started, her voice tremulous, yet firm. She held tight to the previous cynicism to keep from losing ground with him. "I didn't know what happened after he skewered you. I thought you were done for, especially when I reached your body, and you were bleeding out. It startled me and… An-and if you scare me like that again, I'll finish you off myself."
Despite the tense subject and unease rolling from her, Kakashi couldn't keep from shaking his head, as if unaffected by her declaration. "What did I do to deserve all these death threats today?"
"What do you mean all? I'm the one threatening to kill you. Aki only threatened to eat you," she corrected.
"Yeah… same thing."
Akane shrugged. "Not if he eats you while you're still alive."
Kakashi sweat dropped, "That's disturbing. What's wrong with you?"
"You, Sparky. You're what's wrong with me." And that wasn't entirely false.
Akane stood up and dusted her knees off. She knew Kakashi needed to eat, and the trout was likely cold now. Opting to give him privacy, she turned her back to him and settled near the dying fire to catch the last of its warmth, unaware of Kakashi's gaze tracing over her clothes. The cognac stain on her grey shirt clashed harshly, and spread from the center, down to the edges and across her waistline. No punctures or tears in the fabric which meant it was likely his own blood. He assumed that she would've carried him, but seeing the evidence surprisingly made the situation more real.
As she picked up a stick to prod the white bark at the bottom of the fire, watching it crumble to ash, the sounds of Kakashi eating reached her. Pleased, she still found it silly that he refused to eat in front of her, even after all that time. What would he say if she lied and said she had a peak under his mask when he was unconscious?
"So, what happened after I passed out?" he questioned before she had the chance to bait him.
"Well," she started, not turning to face him. "I managed to get the scroll, got your bleeding to stop, and then hauled you around the forest like a pack mule. After a while, I got tired of being a free ride for you, so I dumped you here and went to a village for some more bandages. You're pretty heavy, you know? I was going to take you in to a medic, but my little body can only do so much."
"…I'm not sure I've felt so insulted before by being helped…"
"Wait-you better not be insulted of me helping you. Would you rather I left you there?"
"No, I'm insulted by sounding like a sack of burdensome material that you were forced to haul around."
"Psh, maybe next time, let me take the hit from the opponent. You know I'll heal from it."
"Even you have to admit you can't heal from everything. That bomb would've killed you."
In the face of his resilient concern for her, Akane felt her expression twisting as she recognized remorse at her ungrateful façade. Even though she was leaning on it to hide her true emotions, she knew she was digging a little too much into Kakashi.
"…. Yeah, I suppose you're right."
"What was that?"
Akane rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see. She knew he still heard her. "You're right. I appreciate that you saved me. But you still had me worried."
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that last part."
"You did, too."
"No, really. I didn't. It must be from the injury I sustained to my head. Can you repeat that again for me?"
A tight smirk pulled at her lips as she wrapped her arms around her curled knees. "I said… you had me worried. There. Happy?"
"I didn't know you cared so much," he teased, smiling softly at her back.
"I never said I cared."
"True, but the fact that you're worried about me is evident that you do care." She opened her mouth to retort, but he continued, closing the opportunity before she could take advantage. "I'm touched. And obviously the feeling is mutual if I was willing to risk myself to protect you. There's nothing wrong with that, right? Just two people looking out for one another because they care about what happens to them. Doesn't seem like anything to be ashamed of. I know I'm not."
Anything Akane had to say died in her throat as her shoulders tensed and her head dipped to her knees, making herself small. She could feel warmth return to her face and ears and she pressed her cheeks to her arms that wrapped around her curled legs. If there was any time to be grateful for her back to be turned and Kakashi being too injured to move freely, it was now.
Just what was he playing at? Was he teasing her to get a rise or did he mean it? His actions said he meant it, but then why would he feel the need to tell her that. And how did he have no issue saying it without feeling awkward? As if it was just another common admission he made regularly. Then again, he likely did to his teammates. That's all she was, after all. He saw her as a comrade and not an enemy coerced into helping him. That was why it seemed strange to her. Since starting their journey together, their dynamic had shifted. It was a goal they wanted to accomplish so to convince Akatsuki that they were both authentic missing-nin who found mutual alliance with each other.
The revelation helped Akane compose herself, despite feeling ridiculous for her strange reaction. Not wanting to dwell on it further, she uncurled herself little by little until she was comfortably poking the embers again, waiting for Kakashi to finish his breakfast.
An hour later found Akane smothering the last of the campfire out and hiding any remaining evidence of their presence. Kakashi watched from his designated spot against the rocky wall, trying to hold back the wincing from the pain he was in.
"I figured we'll head a little further south," Akane proposed, kicking dirt over the ashes. "There's a small village near the border that should have a medic for you."
"If I can just get to a village hotel, I can wait while you take the scroll to Frost. Or wherever the clan is. Now that I think about it, did we even get their location to deliver it?"
"That won't be an issue. The small village we're going to has another old contact of mine. When I say old, I mean, old. Like when I first started life as a missing-nin. It's been a long time since I've been there."
"Uh, I'm glad you're motivated to continue work, but I'm not sure I'll be much help so soon. Plus, shouldn't we worry about dropping off this scroll so we can get paid first?" The sentence came out as rhetorical, rather than sincere. A subtle reminder of the mission basics.
"Huh? No, no. That's not what I meant. I'll be delivering the scroll to him. He'll hire another group to take it back to the clan it belongs to, so we don't have to worry about that part."
"Is that… allowed? I thought we had to deliver it."
Akane laughed lightly, reminding him that there were still things he had to learn when it came to the rogue lifestyle. "I mean, if we wanted to get the honor of hand delivering it, sure. The money would be better too, but that's more trouble than we're prepared to deal with. At least, for the time being. Usually, there's fail safes like these in place for rogues. Some travel alone, some in large teams. If there's an accident on the mission, they need a Plan B to fall back on to complete it."
"So, an injury on the job that prevents a team from finishing it still lets them fulfill a part and get paid," he clarified.
"That's right. The good thing about this is that we did the hard part. We got it away from the team before the deadline. Now, the delivery portion will likely be a B-rank mission, but we'll still get paid for the majority of the S-rank."
"That's convenient."
"There's some perks with the lifestyle," she agreed. "Imagine how many jobs would go uncompleted if there wasn't a backup plan in place. Plus, it shares the wealth a little with other teams."
"Hm, I didn't know you were so charitable to other rogues," he complimented sarcastically.
"Hey, I'm just saying I've benefited from taking the second half of missions. Don't get the wrong idea that I'm some nice person."
"Of course. My apologies."
Akane stuck her tongue out at him before smiling. Then looked out across the landscape, taking in the scenery for the first time that morning. In spite of the sun creeping closer to the middle of the sky, the air was chilled and breeze brisk. Kakashi's internal temperature still wasn't where it needed to be. Even now, he was finding it difficult to stay comfortable. His body was fluctuating from hot and cold, and Akane knew that with significant blood loss, the symptoms could come back days after the traumatic event. His vision would become impaired, headaches return tenfold, limbs tingling, equilibrium dismantled, and pulse would increase. All things that could make his recovery disadvantageous if they were still out in the open.
As if on cue, the movement of clothes and shift of loose rocks behind her drew her attention. Snapping her gaze behind her proved her assumption correct. Kakashi was trying to stand up.
"Stop—You're going to make things worse!" She closed the space between them and looped her arm around his midsection, careful not to brush against his injury.
"How else are we-going to travel," he grimaced, bracing himself against the wall with one hand, the other circling around her shoulders for support.
"I'll carry you, dimwit. You're not walking on your own."
"I'm not going to let you carry me, Akane," he disputed flatly, offended by the offering. Standing now, he looked down at her, his scarred forehead protector in its rightful place. She stared back, still linked with him in close proximity. "I can make it to the village if we walk."
She obviously wasn't convinced. "You're being ridiculous. If it's your pride that doesn't want my help, you better swallow it."
"It's a little bit of that," he admitted. "But I'm also capable enough to do it if we take our time."
"No. I'm not having it. Here, support yourself so I can get in front of you." She made to unravel her arm from him but his remained firm around her shoulders.
"Akane, stop. I'm not letting you carry me," he repeated. "I'll manage. And I promise I'll be careful."
It was one of the few times that Kakashi's stubbornness was rivetted in place. A worthy match against hers. Over the past few months, Akane had learned that some things were not worth the effort to change, despite hurting her ego in the process of giving in. She couldn't win all the disputes and knew that picking her battles was key in continuing to keep the peace between them. Glaring impatiently, she tore her heated gaze away from him with a grudging sigh.
"You want to walk yourself? Fine. Let's see you do it. I bet you pass out before you reach the river."
"Oh, someone's attitude went back to being prickly," he mocked, not affected by her vinegar demeanor.
He had enough sense to unloop his arm from around her to let her put space between them. Keeping an annoyed kunoichi locked to his side in his condition would not end well if he continued to push his luck. He was certain her compassion would only stretch so far.
"If you could see yourself, you'd understand why I think you're an idiot for wanting to walk. White paint has more color than your face," she threw back sourly, arms crossed over her chest as she watched him.
"How about this. If I pass out, then I'll let you carry me. You can even tell me all the 'I told you so's' you want while you do it."
"You're insufferable, you know that?"
"I'm pretty sure it's a habit I've picked up from my partner, as of late."
"Yeah? Well, you're doing a good job wearing down my reluctance to let you walk yourself. Keep it up, and I'll start to find pleasure in your suffering."
"Sadist."
"Stubborn prick."
To be honest, this wasn't what he had in mind after talking to Leader about his findings. The objective of the night prior was to be piss drunk and sleeping right about now, even if it was in the middle of the day. It wasn't often that Deidara's and his free time lined up like it had, especially for days that offered prime opportunity for stumbling around in a slur and causing trouble. Why did he have to look across the street at that exact moment to notice the woman? And, more importantly, why did he follow instead of pretending he didn't? It wasn't, after all, unlike him to ignore something because he didn't want to deal with it.
Beside him, Itachi ran soundlessly, hardly saying a word throughout the night on the matter. Never a complaint leaving the stoic man. Did he not care that they were out running after targets that looked to be long gone? Of course not. The man never did much on his free time, let alone have a life. Between him and Sasori, it was a good thing that others like Kisame and Deidara were around to balance out the boring.
"I want confirmation whether they are still together."
Leader's words echoed in his thick skull, bouncing around the sober, grumpy thoughts and pinging them back and forth. For hours, they'd been combing the perimeter of the village, searching for any sign of the Konoha-nin. As it happened, they were nearly three quarters finished with nothing to show for it. While Itachi wasn't prone to complain, Kisame wasn't above such things. The only thing holding the barrage back was the silly fear that Leader would hear him. What a ridiculous thought, sure. But when the man—or God—repeated something word-for-word, said in another country, it caused for some superstitions to arise between the members. Did he eaves drop through the rings? Did he listen via weather events such as rain? Was it something more ominous?
"Up ahead."
Itachi's baritone voice broke his musings, tugging his attention forward. At first, only the monotonous scene faced him, the typical few trees and exposed rocky substrate, bare of dirt or sand from decades exposed to wind. What was he talking about? Kisame didn't see shit.
But as he searched through the shapes around, another of his senses picked up the stray sound of voices carried by the breeze. It sounded like a pair were discussing details about where to go next. At least that confirmed that Itachi wasn't losing it. Recognizing the possibility of success, not to mention the chance to return to Amegakure, Kisame felt a spark of hope.
Without a word between them, the two men circled to the left of the voices to stay downwind and hidden. Years of working together on countless missions tended to hone unspoken communication, which could've been mistaken as telepathy in some cases. Particularly when hunting. Wouldn't want to spook the poor beasts before they knew what was happening.
Jumping up a couple branches to gain extra elevation to fully see the landscape around the understory, both men came to a stop. Just 15 feet ahead, the credulous people walked to their direction, never aware of the danger lurking above. Some shrubs parted as a man stepped out, dark hair and River Country emblem. The person following was another man who shared a close resemblance, likely brother. Not Hatake. Not Nori.
The small blossom of hope that had been there was snuffed out instantly. As if someone was flipping a light switch on and off. The mood darkened and Kisame had half a mind to kill the two men in retaliation for such a disappointing find.
Recognizing the false identities, Itachi turned away and started where they left off, whether aware of Kisame's murderous thoughts or not. Either way, he didn't seem concerned if the Mist-nin followed. He was creating distance quickly. A little more speed and bounce in his step than was normal for the Uchiha. Maybe he too didn't want to be out there any longer. That small notion was enough to pull the burly man away from his temptations. With one last look at the two men below, Kisame grunted at them and then pursued his teammate.
As they continued through the terrain, a new series of questions started to pop up. Leader wanted answers. But if they couldn't find the Konoha-nin, then would they have to widen their search? There was only so much ground they could cover before their tracks went cold. It wasn't like Leader sent out multiple teams. Only the two of them. Surely, they could just return and report their lack of findings, followed with promises to notify their contacts to update them as soon as they set eyes on either Hatake or Nori. That had to be enough to sate the Leader's inquiry.
Wrinkles pinched across his brow as Kisame clicked his tongue against his teeth. He was following Itachi still. Well, of course he was. But the issue he had was that he was still following. That Uchiha was making a straight line through a thicket of trees with a determined pace that made it difficult for Kisame to catch up at his usual speed. Was he onto something? Extending his stride out and leaning forward pushed his pace enough to come up alongside Itachi.
"What's going on?" Kisame pestered, not interested in trying to uncover the answer himself. He was tired of looking at bland rocks and shrubs. He'd rather be looking at a bottle filled with bitter liquid.
"May have found something."
Kisame wanted to feel that spark of hope again but only managed a frown. "Right…. But what'd you find?" He glanced around for good measure. "I see nothing."
"I'm not sure yet."
If it was anyone else in that situation, Kisame would have let loose a string of insults. But it was Uchiha Itachi. The same man who been his partner for years. Vague answers were sort of his motif. Plus, if the man said he wasn't sure yet, then that meant he didn't know. If Kisame wanted to be on the same page as him, he needed to ask the right questions. So, he picked his next words carefully.
"Well, how do you know where we're heading is the right direction?"
"I sent crows out through the area to find Hatake and Nori. One of them has found something."
Once again, Kisame's frustrates were abated by Itachi's reliability. The kid was young. Boring, unless in a fight. But he couldn't deny the brat was clever. Even after all the time together, he never failed to remind Kisame of his progeny status. Sure, sending clones out would have been smart, and it wasn't outside Kisame's wheelhouse to come up with on his own. Yet, the fact remained that he didn't. If he wasn't stuck in his own pity for being sent out on an errand on his day off or griping internally that he wanted to be nursing on a bottle instead, he'd been thinking clearly and done so. Well. Too late now. Besides, Itachi was covering that already and, with a little luck their direction, maybe it was enough to find their answers.
Eventually, after running another 3 miles, Itachi landed on a large boulder outcropping beside a river. A faded acrid scent tainted the air, the same that only came from campfire smoke. As the two men looked across the river, the nearby trees among scatter rocks, neither noticed any further sign of a fire. A blur of black swept down toward them from their left, gliding on wings pitch and silken until landing on Itachi's outstretched arm. The crow cawed, flapped its wings twice more, then swept through the air below the outcropping they were standing on. Taking the hint, Itachi leapt down, followed by Kisame to see that what looked like a wall was actually an overhang. Inside the concave rock was exposed soil kicked and rutted over what could only be an old fire.
"Is this theirs, or…."
Itachi stepped to the pile and picked up a nearby stick. Squatting beside it, he set to using the stick to uncover the dirt. The silty tan gave way to ash that bulged over remained charred wood. Hovering the back of his hand over it, he wasn't surprised to find nothing more than a wisp of heat lingering. Stick still in hand, he glanced around the stone shelter, taking note of scuffs in the ground resembling drag marks of a body and two different sandal imprints. Among them were padded indentations that easily reached the size of his own hand. A beast, canine if he had to guess, among the human inhabitants. Judging by the unnatural shifts in the ground, not to mention the size, it looked like it came from a summoning.
Kisame, still not getting an answer, started with his own assessment of the meager quarter cave and stepped in. His height forced him to duck from the ceiling, before making his way to the back wall where most of the disturbance in the soil was. Along the rocky barrier, just below knee height was a dark stain on the sandstone cropping. Kneeling to examine it closer, he reached out a rough thumb to rub flakes off, realizing it had a vermillion tint to it. He only leered at it in contemplation for a split second before sticking his tongue out and licking it clean.
Eyes perking up, he raised his clean thumb into the air toward Itachi as if it was obvious.
"It's blood."
"Hn." Itachi scanned the area once more, taking it all in to see if there was anything he missed. The evidence presented was not concrete, by any means. What he knew of the pair was that Kisame saw Nori picking up medical supplies alone. It meant that if Kakashi was still around, he was likely injured. Not to mention, Kakashi had dog summonings in his arsenal. If he was wounded and alone, it made sense that he would call on one specialized in combat to assist until the woman returned. The odds of the site belonging to another set of rogues was possible but highly unlikely. "Depending on how injured Hatake is, could give a wide range of distance that they made it from here."
"So, this is them? And they're both together."
"It's not a guarantee, but enough to convince me that its so."
"Keh," Kisame's face split into a wide grin, "That's good enough for me! Let's go tell Leader!"
Finally releasing the stick, Itachi stood to his full height, not tall enough to find an issue with the ceiling, and gazed across the grassy opening. Finding their trail through the dense brush or trees was not ideal. While he'd prefer to confirm by setting eyes on the Konoha pair himself, he understood it wasn't necessary to pursue them. What was, however, was informing Pein about the discovery, although that didn't mean Itachi couldn't do his own inquiry on the side.
With a subtle glance to the crow lingering in a branch above, the bird flapped its wings and disappeared into the forests, its inky body being swallowed by the shadows as it went.
The pace they traveled was steady.
Steadily slow.
Akane walked ahead for the remainder of the morning, frustrated with her partner's persistence in his ability to manage. Her arms were firmly folded across her chest as she gauged her speed based on the sound of Kakashi's heavy steps and breathing. Even though she was the epitome of indifference, she was still troubled over his condition. By the time lunch came around, they stopped at a flat spot where he nearly collapsed in his effort to sit down. Akane was close enough to catch him before he completely lost his balance and assisted with lowering him the rest of the way gently.
Checking his bandages didn't do much for her growing distress. The movement throughout the morning had caused the injuries to open again and stain the pristine white gauze. It wasn't detrimental. Just enough to bleed through at the size of grapefruit. Putting a hand to his exposed cheek didn't offer an ideal measurement of his temperature. Particularly when her fingers were numb from the biting cold, and his cheek was the only thing exposed to the frigid air. To be safe, she helped him put his cloak back on and closed it up snugly to keep him warm. Even after she said her piece about him risking his health, Kakashi merely shook his head and insisted he was fine to continue under his own steam. Reluctantly, Akane allowed him to walk, hoping it wasn't poor judgment on her part.
After they had their fill of food and water, Akane helped him to his feet. For the afternoon, she let him lead the way, falling back half a step behind him in the event he collapsed. Picking their routes through some of the uneven terrain proved to be strenuous and their pace was slowed to a crawl. Not that it mattered to her. She wasn't in a rush so long as Kakashi was making do. Eventually, as the sun dipped lower, the lights of a small village in the distance beaconed to the tired pair. An hour later and they were within the town's boundary where Akane took back the lead to take him to the medic she knew of.
Kakashi, delusional from pain and weighed with exhaustion, insisted that he was fine and could just recover in a hotel room. Akane's lenience on letting him call the shots had abruptly ended as she denied him his request. When he continued to press that it was the best option (after all they didn't have money if the doctors wanted payment upfront) she remained silent, not even bothering to rise to a dispute. If he thought he could pressure her into giving in again, he was mistaken. Ultimately, he came to terms with it, likely from agony dwindling his strength, as he followed her to a modest wooden structure. The outside looked like any older building on the block except for a sign that had a painted lotus blossom and cross in the center.
Upon entering the cozy structure, an older woman with deep set of wrinkles greeted them. Akane openly inspected the lobby area long and hard as she explained to the woman what Kakashi needed. The woman only nodded as she listened to his condition, not taking any offense with Akane's noticeable assessment of the area, as if it was a completely normal reaction for clientele. It sounded like he was going to get the medical help he desperately needed until a young man appeared from the hall behind the old lady. Akane abruptly cut off her sentence and her full attention zeroed in on the new presence. He looked close to her age, perhaps a couple years younger with caramel colored hair and gemstone green eyes. He wrung his hands dry in a rag as he approached the counter, his gaze bouncing between the pair of them, and pleasant smile plastered.
"This is my nephew," the older lady introduced, sensing the tension. She clearly dealt with missing-nin frequently if she was trying to soothe the jumpy kunoichi with a quick preface. "He's been my apprentice for the last two years."
Akane didn't respond right away, scanning the young man for any sign of a threat or link to any shinobi affiliation. He didn't seem bothered by her blatant staring either and offered a pleasant bow of his head.
"He'll be the one to assist in your companion's recovery today."
"I'd prefer if you could do it. I've had you work on me in the past and been pleased with the results." Akane was trying to stay civil.
"I'm honored to hear that, miss. But healing takes a lot out of me nowadays. I rely on my nephew to do most of the healing, and I only step in for dire circumstances."
"Right." Akane muttered, pondering the options before looking to Kakashi. "Are you ok with this?"
Despite arguing that a hotel was the better option, Kakashi knew that wasn't a true solution. He needed to get healed as soon as possible and that was their only option. "I'm sure it'll be fine."
The smile he had was obviously meant to ease her worries, but she found her scowl deepening.
"Right," she repeated, if only to fill the lounge with something other than quiet.
"Great," the older woman nodded then turned to her nephew. "Which room is ready?"
"Number 2."
"Right this way, sir. We'll take you back."
Kakashi started his shaky walk around the counter with Akane in tow, still looking throughout the small building for any hint of deception. Once in the room with a leather cushioned table, the nephew took one side of Kakashi while Akane took the other to help him up. Then, with a quick 'I'll be back' the pair were left alone.
A brisk sigh left Akane, and she met Kakashi's gaze.
"Here, take this. Hide it under the table or something." She offered one of her short swords to him.
"For what exactly?"
"Have you not figured it out yet? You can't trust anyone. Especially, if you're injured."
"Will you relax? I'll stay alert. Besides, I'd prefer you keep your sword. I have my weapons on me still."
"You're not exactly nimble in your condition. A sword will give you better reach and advantage than a kunai."
"I always have the Sharingan, too."
Akane didn't look convinced. Worry was etched across her brow, so Kakashi set a gloved hand over hers holding the sword. "I'd feel better if you have it in case you run into trouble. I'll be fine here."
Grudgingly, she placed the blade into its sheath. "Fine. But if you get any sign of trouble, end the medic. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"And what sort of trouble are you expecting?"
He seemed a little too carefree in the moment for her liking. Delusion from the pain, perhaps? Then again, Akane was aware that he was plenty capable of taking care of himself, even when injured as he was. Unwillingly, there was a small tug of her lips as she poked his chest lightly with her finger.
"You're a wanted man, remember. Someone could get a pretty bounty for that nice head of yours, particularly in your condition."
Kakashi smirked under his mask, eye crinkling mischievously in the corner. "You think so highly of me, Akane. That's sweet and kind of cute."
Any amusement she had shriveled up instantly. Rolling her eyes, she quickly turned away.
"And that's my que to leave this conversation," she admitted with a wave over her shoulder. "I'll be back soon, and you better still be here."
A brief 20 minutes later and Akane entered the medical lobby with a pouch full of money, only to find the counter vacant of the older woman. Not entirely comfortable with the change, Akane didn't waste time helping herself to the hall where she made a straight line to Room 2. Not even bothering to knock, she opened the door abruptly, nearly slamming it against the wall, to see Kakashi laying on his back, bare from the waist up aside from his mask that was still in place. The nephew jerked his head up to the intruder with his hands still hovering over Kakashi's abdomen, green chakra flowing. The older lady looked disgruntled at Akane's rude entrance as her hands perched on her hips and she glowered at the younger woman.
"This is a delicate procedure," she berated. "Your interruption could've caused unnecessary damage to your companion."
Akane didn't look troubled by the woman's chiding. "How much longer are you expecting?"
"However long it needs to be. There's a waiting room up front that you can help yourself to."
"How much longer?" Akane echoed, tone taking a firmer approach that left no room for the woman to brush off.
"I can't say. The wound was agitated, and infection was starting to suppurate in his back. I'd estimate we're halfway through it currently."
"Very well." Akane closed the door behind her and walked around the nephew who continued to heal Kakashi. Making her way to the opposite side of the room, near Kakashi's head, she leaned against the wall with her arms over her chest.
"I said there's a waiting room—"
"I'm fine here."
The nephew tossed a questioning gaze to his aunt who huffed impatiently. Giving in, she nodded at him to continue. Returning his focus on the injury, his green chakra flared, and the room fell back to a hushed quiet. Kakashi tilted his head back to fix Akane with a raised brow, as if to say 'what was all that about?' Her answer was a subtle shrug.
Aside from the older woman giving direction to her nephew about healing a certain part before another or not forgetting to reconstruct the individual layers of tissue, the time went by smoothly. Another 25 minutes passed until the pair agreed that Kakashi's healing was finished. With pleased smiles and bundles of dirty bandages in trash bags, the nephew said they would let Kakashi get dressed and meet them out front for the payment when he was ready. Then he left the pair alone in the room. Kakashi sat up on the table with a fluid motion, though a wince was evident in the crease of his eye.
"What's wrong? Is something not healed right?" Akane asked, picking up on the indication instantly.
"No, everything seems completely healed. I'm just a little sorer than I expected."
"Oh, I supposed that's to be expected."
Grabbing his shirt from a bench, he unfolded it and pulled it over his head, the motion causing his white air to bounce free after the collar passed. "How'd it go? Did you deliver the scroll."
"I did." Akane pulled out a pouch, lumpy and hefty with coins. "We got a generous payout as well."
"All is as it should be, then." Kakashi stood and took his cloak from the back of the chair before stretching, feeling the muscles strain under the new regeneration. "Eh, I hope this doesn't last long. It feels like I just suffered one of Sakura's punches."
"Maybe you won't be so reckless next time."
"Still ungrateful for my help. Geez, and here I thought I could win you over with that stunt."
"…" Akane blinked before realizing he was teasing her again. Face dropping, lips tightening, she retorted. "It'll take more than that to win my favor. Better step up your game."
Kakashi chuckled as he followed her out of the room and toward the lobby. "Is that a challenge?"
"I would say yes, but it wouldn't be fair to you when you have such a disadvantage."
"And what disadvantage is that?"
Instead of answering, she shot him a look over her shoulder. "Did you hit your head again while I was gone?"
"Eh, what can I say? It's fun to tease you."
"Maybe I should've told him not to heal you all the way. You're a little too wicked, right now."
Unaware of their conversation, the young man unintentionally interjected as they came around the corner. "How are you feeling now that you're moving around, sir?"
"Much better, thanks to you. I'm grateful for having a skilled medic in this town," Kakashi replied politely, eye crinkling as one hand dipped into his pocket.
The man beamed and nodded his head. "Thank you for the kind words. I'd like to remind you that you'll be sore for the next couple days, but movement is good to encourage the fluids to transfer through and stimulate any additional healing. If you find the pain is too uncomfortable, heat and ice treatments will help with lingering inflammation."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After finalizing the bill, and paying a little extra for their discretion, Akane and Kakashi stepped out into the dark street. The moon streamed through the clouds as they made their way to find a late meal and hotel room. They strode down the road at a comfortable pace, Akane pulling her cloak closer to her face to keep warm as the icy wind nipped at her nose. She hoped that there was a restaurant close by that had plenty of hearty food options.
"So, what's the plan now?" Kakashi queried beside her, the protrusions from beneath his cloak at his sides indicating his hands were stuffed in his pockets.
"Well," Akane started, folding her hands under her arms, "after we get a meal and sleep, I figured we can start our break. And try to stay out of this cold weather."
"I figured that much, but how long is this break really going to be? We didn't complete the mission to its full extent, so our pay isn't where we expected it to be."
"True, but as I said, they were generous with giving us our due." Akane shrugged as an afterthought and added, "Really, it depends on how we spend it. If we're smart, we can make this stretch for a week, maybe more."
"I'd imagine you'd want to stay in a hotel during our time off. Hotels aren't exactly cheap."
Akane merely smiled off his doubt, as if he was worrying over nothing. "As it happens, Sparky, I know a place that won't charge us. And what's better is, we can be there by tomorrow afternoon."
If she was expecting him to be impressed, she was in for a disappointment. Kakashi gave her a withering look, bemused by her cheery statement. "You had a place this whole time and only now mentioning it?"
Again, she found her mood dampening as she tossed a derisive side eye at him. "I had to screen you first, you know. Make sure you weren't a shifty character and trustworthy to reveal."
"And it took you nearly seven months to determine I wasn't shady?"
"That's about right."
"I'll admit, I'm not sure if that's a reflection of the amount of distrust you have for people, or if you're that poor at judging character."
"I'm sorry. Wasn't it you who was complaining about money being the de facto to missing-nin goals? How we all just backstab each other if the pay is good enough?"
"I wasn't referring to you, Akane."
"Why not? I'm not any different." Again, she shrugged languidly, not taking it personal.
"You are, though. You have goals of your own that put you in danger and there's no money involved. Plus, you're helping me without any pay, even when it was promised." A familiar bitter scowl etched across her brows at the harsh reminder. Kakashi only smiled. "Would you backstab me if someone offered you money for it?"
"You know I wouldn't."
"Exactly my point."
A warm glow broke the darkness ahead, coming from a glass window of a restaurant. A couple patrons walked out of the door, making eye contact with the pair. The light that stretched across the sidewalk resembled a beacon to the cold Konoha-nin and lit up the gentleman holding the door. An unspoken look met Kakashi who nodded his head and picked up the pace, eager to not have the kind man hold the door open too long for them. Akane followed on his heels until Kakashi took the door from the man with a thanks and held it open for Akane.
"After you."
The corners of her mouth quirked up at the jester and she stepped through the threshold to meet the wall of warm air within. Kakashi moved to follow her, but hesitated as a dark movement caught the corner of his eye. Glancing to the restaurant's hanging sign above was a crow staring back with a cocked head. Something about it seemed ominous to Kakashi with its intelligent beady black eyes watching him and slate grey clouds behind it. As if was a stain in the sky.
"Kakashi, you coming in?" Akane called, a hint of concern in her tone.
The crow cawed, as if jeering him, a tiny puff of warm air leaving its beak.
Plastering a smile beneath his mask, he pulled his lingering gaze from the bird and stepped inside. "Sorry, just got distracted."
Hey! Hope all is well!
I do want to throw out a disclaimer that the dream sequence isn't my favorite, but normally dreams are choppy and out of sequence. I was trying to keep it realistic/confusing, but smooth enough for it to make sense.
I'm excited for the next few chapters to come! I'll try to get them out in the usual weekly fashion but want to make sure that it isn't rushed.
Thank you again for everyone following, favoring, and reviewing! Stay safe!