Warnings: This chapter contains references to panic attacks.
Sakura wrestled for consciousness as the world blurred around her at a gentle pace; a haze of midnight powdered trees glinting under the pale moonlight. Her mind vaguely registered that she was on Kakashi's back, running from a fortunate escape, but she couldn't bring herself to do anything than blink tiredly. She felt so far away.
One blink must've lasted longer than she thought, for suddenly the world was travelling upwards instead of sideways, and then it was still. Yet her body remained in a sense of free-fall. Sakura rolled her head to chase away the dizzying sensation. Her cool cheek pressed into the warmth of Kakashi's shoulder as she tilted her head, a curl of mist escaping her dry parted lips.
"Hey, you still with me?" The vibrations from his body stirred her more than his voice itself, and Sakura finally recognised that they were once more on the forest floor.
"Mmh yeah." Dry throat, approaching dehydration, a voice numbly catalogued in the back of her mind. Her head lolled, the side of her temple resting against Kakashi's neck. He was so warm.
A hot hand flexed against her leg. "I'm going to set you down now, okay?"
Stuffed ears. Unbalanced equilibrium. "M-kay."
Sakura felt the ground meet her with alarming disorientation, her feet instantly slipping on the icy ground. Her knees buckled, but strong arms had already wrapped around her torso keeping her steady. The shock of the movement and bite of cold was a welcome centring point, and Sakura took a long drag of the crisp air, letting it ground her. She felt the strong heartbeat at her back, her spine strung up against Kakashi's front, his forearms crossed protectively over her middle. Her hands were on his arms before she knew she moved, squeezing it. She hoped he took it for the thank you it was intended as when he loosened his hold slightly.
Sakura tipped her head to her chin. Clarity was poking at the edge of her senses in sharp reminders; her mind clearing despite her flagging body. There was something important she had to do before she could rest. There was the smallest rumble of vibrations at her back, akin to a stifled grunt and Sakura was struck with determined lucidity.
Sakura knew she should sit down. Actually, she knew she should be currently be resting at 180 degrees on a cushy hospital bed with an IV drip. But she couldn't afford to sit, because if she sat then she would lose consciousness before she could take a look at Kakashi's side.
Sakura twisted her leg out marginally and frowned. She could feel the warm rusted stain on her thigh from where it had rested against his torso. She wouldn't allow herself to pass out before that was seen to. Kakashi was a damn pain when it came to looking after his own injuries. And with their 'new friends' apparent interest in them, Kakashi needed to be at one hundred percent to deal with whatever came next. Kami knows she was going to be useless in the coming days.
"Sakura?" the gentle rumble was back, warm breath tickling the top of her head.
"I've got it, thanks." She murmured, pulling herself slowly from his grasp.
Kakashi let her go, regarding her with a speculative eye, but released her only slightly. He moved, keeping a strong hold of her elbow as she swayed; now vulnerable to gravity with only her own strength to hold her up.
Kakashi dipped his head to catch her eyes, his hair a liquid-silver as it moved under the moon's light. "I'm going to summon my Ninken. You don't want to sit?"
Sakura briefly scrunched her face. Sitting down sounded so nice. But she couldn't. Not yet. "I just need to stand for a moment… please."
His hesitation was palpable, but eventually Kakashi took a knee and summoned his pack, all the while keeping a hand clamped about her elbow. Sakura smiled drowsily but screwed her eyes shut as a bout of nausea overtook her. It was getting a little harder to stay focused.
Seven Ninken burst into existence, snouts twitching and tails stilling as they absorbed the situation. Ūhei stepped forward, his cold nose bumping Kakashi's hand from where he knelt. "Boss. Your woman smells hurt, she okay?"
Vaguely in the back of his mind, Kakashi thought he ought to have a conversation with his Ninken about how they had begun to refer to Sakura. Lately they had been getting… ideas.
At Ūhei's words, however, the rest of the pack turned inquisitive stares over Sakura, Shiba even going as far as to nudge and whine at her ankles. Sakura barely seemed to notice their presence, another shudder of exhaustion bringing her closer to collapse on the hard, frozen ground. Kakashi freed his hand from her elbow, instead extending an arm out to Sakura's waist and tugged her closer to where his head was inclined to his Ninken. He kept her close and upright, subconsciously noting the way her hand sought for comfort of balance in his hair.
"She'll be okay." He reassured his troubled pack. "On the verge of severe chakra depletion, but she's fighting through it. Stubbornly." He felt Sakura grip his hair a little tighter in retaliation, or perhaps it was disorientation. Either way, it shouldn't have felt as nice as it did.
"What happened?" Bisuke questioned, cocking his head.
"Later." Grey eyes settled over his ninja hounds as they stood to attention. "Urushi, Shiba, set up a perimeter and begin watch rotation. Bisuke, Akino, I want you two to go and make sure our tracks have been covered. Guruko, and Ūhei, have a look around for shelter, maybe a town close by where we can seek some cover and medical attention. Bull, see if you can catch something worth eating. Sakura is going to need something more substantial than military rations to keep her strength. Go."
Kakashi felt the mild toll on his chakra as the Ninken offed out of his sight – he wouldn't be able to keep them summoned indefinitely. As it was, he was still attempting to reserve most of his energy towards keeping Pakkun tethered to the realm. He needed to find a more sustainable solution before he ran himself dry alongside Sakura.
Kakashi had barely begun lifting from his knees, when Sakura lost her footing completely. He caught her swiftly, steadying her head as she tumbled into him, like a doll cut from strings. Concerned eyes ran over her as Sakura lay boneless in his grasp, groaning and trembling. He lightly patted her bandaged cheek.
"Hey, Sakura. Can you hear me?"
"Sorry 'Kashi." She slurred, eyes unfocused. "Lost my footing there I suppose."
He sighed over her, freeing a hand to discard his cloak and lay it on the snow bitten ground. It wasn't ideal, but it was enough for the moment, at least until he could rummage through his pack. "It's okay. Just try to get some rest. We're safe for the moment and you need to rest."
"Wait." Sakura protested, resisting against his attempts to lay her down. "Your side."
Kakashi grimaced. Of course, she wasn't going to let that go. "I've got it. Don't worry about it, Sakura."
Her bandaged legs were now resting on his cloak, but that was apparently as far as he was going to get with her like this. Sakura curled a hand in the fabric of his pants and used it to lever herself further upright.
"Kakashi." Her rebuke would've been impressive if she wasn't halfway panting.
He placed firm hands on her shoulders and ducked his head to find her hazy green eyes. "No, Sakura. You are not to even contemplate accessing your chakra right now. So help me, I will throw you over my shoulder and march you straight to Tsunade herself for punishment should you disobey a direct order again."
His commanding tone only bought him a moments consideration from Sakura, before she was pushing at his hands and wriggling free from his makeshift bedroll with far more strength than she ought to be capable of right now.
"Jus' wait." She grumbled stubbornly, gaining some coherency in her misguided urgency. "Let me at least clean it for infection, and then I can rest." When he remained unmoved, she begrudgingly added. "I wasn't going to use chakra… just conventional medicine. Happy?"
Not in the least. He knew Sakura to be a wilful woman – a quality he always admired in her – but this was taking things a bit far. Wilful was one thing, but stubborn self-destructive behaviour was quite another. Kakashi waited another few moments before responding, hoping by some miracle she would pass out before expending herself further. But luck was not on his side, as Sakura started tugging at his flak jacket, and grumbled his name.
"I won't rest until you let me look at it, Hatake. Medics overrule orders and you know as well as I that ninja need to be at full strength in the field. It's irresponsible otherwise." Sakura snapped pointedly, and Kakashi wondered where her disorientation and good humour had disappeared.
It was on the tip of his tongue to point out that she was most certainly not at full strength whilst in the field… but then that would just prove her point about him. Kakashi sucked his teeth and scowled at her. "Have you always been this disobedient?"
Her weary grin was both reassuring and damning to him. "I reserve it mostly for you." She admitted, before her brow furrowed in determination once more. "Please, Kakashi. Let me. I need to know you're going to be okay."
Kakashi fought the urge to pull his hair at the way they were going around in circles with one another. Despite Sakura's regard for authority, apparently that only extended to people she actually respected. Kakashi feared he lost that from his genin the moment he let an eraser land on his head within the first ten seconds of meeting them. They had only grown bolder with age, evidently. With a gruff exhale he locked eyes with Sakura and challenged. "Then you'll rest."
"Medics honour." Sakura gave a serious nod, but that did little to hide the triumph in her moss-coloured gaze.
Kakashi rolled his eyes.
With gentle assistance, Sakura shuffled onto her knees; Kakashi once more propping her between his legs as she leaned heavily on his right thigh. He reluctantly tugged aside his flak jacket and rolled up his shirt to present his bleeding side to her.
Kakashi absently thought it was quite alarming how much his mind was chanting for Sakura to pass out. He hadn't wished unconsciousness on a teammate so ardently since the day Naruto discovered he could play around with sound frequencies in his Rasengan. But, watching now as Sakura snapped herself into forced coherency, he couldn't help but admire her once more for the very same quality he begrudged her. She was remarkably wilful.
Sakura sat back on her heels and assessed the damaged torso under her pale hands and scrupulous attention. The sight of Kakashi's blood was assuredly sobering and Sakura felt confident that despite her intense fatigue, she could still affectively treat him. She'd healed under worse conditions, by far. What was a little exhaustion compared to pumping Naruto's heart by hand on a flying cloud of sand in the middle of a war?
Sakura shook her head and examined Kakashi closely. It was not a substantial wound, but still deep enough to risk infection if not treated promptly. She could heal it easily. Well, maybe not as easily right now, but it would be better than how Kakashi would handle it - by ignoring it until it all but puckered and oozed. Kami knows Kakashi's heath had always been his last priority, especially without her there to beat him over the head with her lectures.
She could do this. Treat one simple injury, then fall peacefully into sleep where she could recover, knowing a mended Kakashi would be watching her back. This she could do. Flexing her fingers towards her med pack, Sakura withdrew the appropriate supplies and began cleaning and dressing Kakashi's side with her small shaky hands. She barely noticed the way one of Kakashi's arms coiled around her, balancing her as she worked. If she closed her eyes Sakura could almost imagine it was sand that was wrapped around her as she tried desperately to save a teammates life again... If she had the energy, she might've laughed at how dramatic she was being... the places her mind was attempting to stray in its enervation.
As it was, she entirely didn't have the energy to focus on anything else beyond the disinfecting of the long, bloodied gash. It was raw, but clean. Stitches would be ideal but not strictly necessary. Whoever inflicted it took great care of their blades, Sakura could tell that much. She was mostly just thankful that the perpetrator forwent a proclivity for poison. Sakura breathed out a wobbly breath. Small victories.
Sakura blinked heavily and measured Kakashi's gauze-covered side. She knew she had dressed it well, and despite how much of her rational-self told her it was fine to stop there and let it heal for the time being, she just couldn't leave Kakashi to suffer through it. Not when she was about to leave him the task of looking after them both for the foreseeable future. She still had the smallest flicker of chakra in her, she could do this much for him. He needed it more than she did, anyway. If she was going to be useless for the next few days, she may as well make it as worth it as she can. It wasn't reckless if it was for a good cause, Sakura told herself.
Besides, it was Kakashi… she'd do anything for that impossible man.
"Impossible man." The words fell from her tongue without conscious thought as she gently pressed her palm on his bandaged side. With a flash of pale green, she pulsed the last of her chakra through him to speed the healing process along.
Sakura heard the surprised grunt, felt his skin jump under her palm and then his hands were upon her own bloodied ones, carefully wrenching them away from his side. Kakashi's grip was tight on her fingers and she could feel his absolute frustration radiating off him. Worth it. With a guilty smile, Sakura let her heavy head drop to his shoulder, and but a moment later her consciousness followed, and she was enveloped into easy obscurity.
Kakashi held Sakura as she fell limp against his chest; an uncomfortably common occurrence these last few hours. Her breaths were haggard and there was a thin line of sweat cresting her brow. Her pink locks were sticking stubbornly to her skin, falling in a tangled mess down her back and her limbs quaked with exhaustion, even unconscious. Kakashi willed his strangled frustration back down to the depths of his agitated mind. He was equal parts torn between cradling her and throttling her.
Kakashi worked his jaw, as he finally settled Sakura down to lay across his splayed cloak. "Just so you know," he began tightly. "I promise not to tell Tsunade you just did that, if you promise that you'll never do something like to me again…" He shook his head. "You're going to give this old man a heart attack."
Needing some distance from his overwhelming disquiet, Kakashi leaned his head back on the base of a tree and brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He took several calming breaths, and once he was certain he could look at her again without feeling the need to implode, Kakashi gazed upon Sakura.
She was still marred in white gauze; dirt and sweat now streaking its edges from a fight she never should've been part of. Kakashi's lips twisted and he plucked the side of her cloak to bring it closer around her person, hiding his regrets further from sight.
He wiped a hand down his face and sighed. He should've forced her to drink some water before she passed out. He should've known she was going to try something disobedient and reckless again when she demanded to heal him. He should've been able to focus his intense worry over her into something productive. And yet here he was; barely managing the strength to reach for his pack in case it took him too far from her side.
"Impossible woman." He echoed quietly.
Kakashi heard the familiar thump of Bull returning and reluctantly tore his gaze from Sakura to watch his largest Ninken lumber over with a rabbit caught between his jowls. They would avoid starting a fire tonight, but it was a useful catch for when they could afford the time and luxury of a hot meal and some protein.
Kakashi managed a smile and lifted his hand in Bull's direction. A brown head was nuzzled under his palm before long, as Bull dropped the game into Kakashi's lap.
"Good boy." He praised softly, earning him a gruff yip from the bulky hound. "Can you do one more favour for me?"
Bull looked up eagerly from under his hand and Kakashi tilted his chin to the slumbering medic at his side.
"Can you keep Sakura nice and warm tonight? I give you permission for cuddles so long as you're gentle with her." Kakashi eyed Bull meaningfully as he wagged his tail in excitement.
With a quiet bark, Bull climbed over to Sakura and spent a moment nosing her head lightly before laying alongside her happily.
It wasn't the first time Kakashi had been confronted with the image of Sakura crowded up with his Ninken in such a way, their scent covering her – protectively, possessively. And Kakashi blamed his heightened senses and canine heritage at how his own instincts sung at the sight.
He had tried to discourage his pack when he realised what they were doing; having long and slightly mortifying conversations with them about boundaries, misread 'signals' and - Kami help him - mates. But his dogs were crafty and Sakura was blissfully unaware and happy with the affection. And Kakashi was the worst for letting it happen. But he would be a bastard if he took away that which so easily put a smile upon Sakura's face.
Kakashi was of the personal opinion that it was unfair how the universe liked to challenge him in this way. He blamed Obito. He was sure the man must've been talking to someone up there for Kakashi to be experiencing this perfectly innocent brand of hell. It was just the idiot's style. He just prayed that Rin might take mercy on his depraved soul and intervene at some point. If not for his sake, then maybe for Sakura's.
Then again, Rin always was a hopeless romantic...
Kakashi sighed. He didn't have the energy to feel the warmth that spread through him at the welcoming picture of Sakura wrapped up in his pack, so he turned his eyes away and let his head fall against the rough bark at his back. Stupid Obito.
"Just make sure you leave room for the rest of the pack when they get back." Kakashi said to the wintery canopy and closed his eyes. He smiled tiredly when he heard Bull's unhappy grumble.
The birds had barely sung their morning praises when Kakashi's eyes snapped open to the feeling of being hunted. The forest was still; persevered in ice under the cloud-chocked sky as the sun remained hidden beyond the horizon. Kakashi's legs twitched, pins and needles shooting up his spine from where his body had lain slouched against the hard wood of a tree for too long. His limbs were frozen, and yet his blood ran hot with adrenaline. Something woke him.
Wary, Kakashi cast a critical eye around his surroundings to find the source of his unease. It didn't take him long to spy the three figures perched above him in the tree tops, eerily calm in the pale blue light of pre-dawn. Kakashi was as steady as the ground beneath him in holding their stares.
Kakashi didn't have to glance beside him to know what he'd find. Sakura; unconscious and encircled by several of his Ninken, and no closer to waking. He clenched his jaw.
"I hate to interrupt such a precious moment, but I'm afraid you two are just too good of a pair to pass up." It was the woman from before, and Kakashi hated her just a little bit more every time she opened her mouth.
Several low growls filled the air as his Ninken roused, keeping their bodies protectively swarmed around Sakura. Kakashi flexed his hand towards his hip pouch - thankful of the way Akino shifted to hide his movement - not taking his eyes off his opponents.
There was something off about the hunched man dressed in orange robes, tilting his head side to side with a smile. Contrastingly, the tall dark-haired individual was unnervingly still and poised, eyes half-lidded and hands hidden in the folds of his neat battle yukata. Everything about them screamed power and skill. No obvious discernible weapons, nor village affiliation, and yet they found them, were hunting them. Calm and confident. Predatory.
"Ah. Poor darling." The swordswoman continued, her voice frostier than the winter's morning itself. "She really does look exhausted. You both do. The dogs are a cute little surprise though. That one of your tricks, Copy Nin of Konoha? Or would you prefer to be called by your esteemed title, Hokage-sama?"
That riled his Ninken up; Bull towering to his full height and letting an impressive growl rip into the open frigid air.
"I don't think his doggies like that, Ara-chan." The hunched man giggled and now Kakashi had a name to attach his seething dislike to.
"I suppose not." Ara's golden eyes curved in a satisfied smile.
"Is that her, then? Uchiha-sama's woman?" The sandy-haired man licked his lips, his eyes crazed on Sakura in intense curiosity.
Kakashi couldn't hide his defensive twitch at the man's words. Uchiha-sama's woman? Trepidation burned through his veins, as more puzzle pieces were placing themselves before him. Things just kept getting more complicated.
"That's the one, Hansai." Ara purred, tilting her head just so. "Pretty, no?"
Something like a howl escaped Shiba, the rest of his pack curling their lips back in sharp, angry snarls. Kakashi felt his own growl simmering in the back of his throat and glared up at the nin, his fingers curled around metal.
"Forgive me, Rokudaime. For while you are not our intended target, you are a remarkable playing piece. I'm sure you understand, it is truly nothing personal." The final man spoke, his voice so unnervingly soothing that Kakashi found himself subconsciously biting his tongue in crude resistance to his mollifying nature.
There was a moment of stillness wherein Kakashi could see what was about to happen a second before it unfolded. Then with a careful raise of the man's hand, Ara and Hansai moved and Kakashi let metal fly, a ferocious barking filling the forest in a dramatic clash.
Ara dropped her arm, slipping her senbon back into her ponytail and regarded the empty space around her with an amused purse of her lips.
"Clever little Dog." She hummed, running her eyes over the fresh indents of turned snow.
Where once the Rokudaime sat, ambushed and vulnerable with their Prize and a pack of dogs, now only dissipating smoke remained.
"Ah! Yuki! Did you see?! They vanished. Just like Uchiha-sama and the Demon Fox! They ran from me again!" Hansai shouted aghast, a petulant whine escaping him as his hands grabbed at his hair.
"Concentrate, Hansai. Unlike the Uchiha, he will not have gone far." Yukine said, gliding from the trees and joining them below with an air of grace. "The Rokudaime's skill and resourcefulness should not be unexpected."
Ara straightened her black leather jacket and tipped her head towards him. "Indeed." She agreed with a smirk. "After all, he fooled even you, sweet Yuki."
"At the cost of a great deal of his chakra. Using both clones and his summoned ninja hounds to create misdirection has only bought him time, not success." Yukine affirmed closing his eyes, his shoulders lifting with his slow intake of breath.
Ara pouted at his non-reaction, and ran a hand through her long swaying ponytail impatiently. "Well then, shall we continue the hunt? I'd hate for Hansai to feel rejected for a third time in a row. You know how he gets."
Hansai stepped up into Ara and pulled at the edge of her sleeve, his silver eyes beseeching. "Ara-chan. I think the pink Princess will be the perfect gift to bring Uchiha-sama back to play."
Golden eyes looked down her nose at the short man. "I think she would be perfect for a great many things." She licked her lips and shrugged free of Hansai's light grip.
"You will both do well to remember the importance of the woman in our plans, and the respect with which to approach Hatake Kakashi. Do not let your greed blind you."
Yukine turned bright emerald eyes unto them, and with a nod they vanished; wisps of ice once more sent flying in the quiet waking forest.
Kakashi nearly missed his next step when his clones popped, inundating him with his team's naturally terrible luck.
Well, that didn't take nearly as long as I'd hoped.
Kakashi creased his brow. Ūhei was leading the way at his front, Guruko at his rear, and an unconscious Sakura had been slung over his back for the better part of an hour as they traversed the landscape. His Ninken had sensed the three nin approaching in the early hours of the morning and Kakashi had quickly devised a plan that he hoped would buy them the time they needed to lose their hunting party, indefinitely.
Evidently, that wasn't going to happen.
Kakashi kicked up his pace and drew closer to Ūhei, his body burning with its heavy expenditure.
"Ūhei, how much further?"
The hound didn't slow down, only flicked an ear in his direction and sniffed. "It's another two hours west of here. A small civilian mining town."
Kakashi clenched his jaw and then let out a sharp whistle, pivoting to a stop in the tree tops, Ūhei and Guruko swiftly following his lead.
"Change of plans." Kakashi hitched Sakura a little on his back and freed a hand to reach into his pack resting across his chest. He fished out his bloodied flak jacket, and a pair of Sakura's shorts. With quick work he hooked the fabric in his teeth and shredded it in half, nodding for his Ninken to do the same with his jacket. "Take these and create false trails, one leading north, the other north-east. They're too close and I can't risk drawing an innocent town into whatever it is we've gotten ourselves into." Kakashi readjusted Sakura, crossing her forearms over his collarbones and tucked her wrists back under the warm weight of his knapsack.
When his Ninken continued to eye him worriedly he sighed. "Right now, our best option is to split up. I'll take Sakura and hide to double back the way we came. Hopefully they'll pass straight over us. But I'm going to be relying on the two of you to continue our trails."
Guruko nipped his sandal. "Boss, we can't leave you defenceless."
Kakashi crouched and rubbed their heads fondly. His pack was getting sentimental with age. Just like him, he thought dryly. "Maa, who do you think you're talking to? Besides, you're not leaving me. You're following important orders." He rose back to his full height, watching as his Ninken took up the shredded clothing. "Now go. Run the trails as far as you can then dismiss yourselves. I'm proud of you both."
"Hai. You can count on us, Boss!" With a bark Guruko leapt through the trees.
Ūhei hesitated only a moment longer before he dipped his head. "Take care of your woman. And yourself."
And then it was just Kakashi and Sakura once more. He drifted a hand up her head, still pressed unmoving against his neck. Her breathing was becoming shallow, and her weight was disturbingly light on his back. The backs of his fingers skimmed her jaw on the way down. Her skin was clammy and cold to the touch.
"Hang in there, Sakura."
Kakashi decided it was karma, with how easily he found a suitable alcove to conceal themselves in, not 500 yards from where he had stopped.
It was a shallow carving of rock; not obvious enough to be distinguished as a hideout, but big enough to house them both temporarily. Kakashi was just thankful that this far north, the terrain had yet to even out into one singular environment. Rockfaces still lined the outskirts of the woodland at awkward angles; at times domineering in its proclamation of space. Frozen ravines parted the landscape like abstract lightning strikes; twisted and varied. And the steady downfall of snow in the region had created a blanket of cover in the otherwise bare pine and oak trees.
The alcove itself was lodged halfway up the rockface, a good few hundred meters from the ground; almost too inconvenient to be considered anything close to useful. It was more akin to a gash of rock than anything. However, that suited his needs fine. Although it would take some manoeuvring.
Quickly, Kakashi shuffled Sakura from his back and swivelled his pack to take her place. He would have to wedge himself in, back-first, and then hold Sakura against his front to keep them secure. It wasn't going to be particularly comfortable for either of them. He leapt from the thick branch, Sakura underarm and hugged the wall of rock. Kakashi panted slightly as he grappled with the rigid stone, using chakra to suction himself to the cliff face as he worked himself into the horizontal cut-out in the rock, all the while keeping Sakura aloft in his arm. He edged in from the side, working an arm in first, feeling out the depth. Then he tucked his head and torso under, pulling Sakura along with him, until eventually he was pressed, full-bodied within the nook.
It was a tight fit; his arms just managing to cage Sakura against him and lever them unto the shelf of rock, so that he wouldn't have to use chakra to remain there. Kakashi's head scuffed against the sharp sandstone as he worked his bicep under Sakura's own head, cushioning her as much as he could manage. Then he met his hands together and cast a number of layered genjutsus over their position, scouring his memory for his most S-ranked concealment techniques. With a final check, he snuffed his own chakra out and rested his forehead against the back of Sakura's.
"There." He huffed faintly. "That wasn't… so hard… was it?"
Kakashi pretended the multicoloured spots dancing in his vision were a trick of the dim morning light reflecting off the silvery terrain. But he was far too familiar with his own chakra depletion to kid himself for long. It had barely been nine hours since the initial ambush, and he had already used up more than his usual rationing of chakra, summoning his entire pack and keeping them sustained, as well as his constant travel and use of clones. Kakashi was running on adrenaline, a half hour of sleep, and petty displeasure at his entire situation.
He was really caught between a rock and hard place with this one.
Kakashi's breath escaped him in a dry laugh, sending strands of pink hair fluttering against his nose and cheek, the faint scent of jasmine and apples now mingled in with his packs'. He pressed his head further to the back of Sakura's and turned against her; gratifying in the gentle pressure that took the edge off his burgeoning headache.
"Well, I have been saying I miss the field. If there is a God, they clearly answered my prayers. If in the most troublesome way possible." Another huff. "Ah. I sense Shikamaru's karmic hand in this."
Sakura didn't answer. But Kakashi never expected her to. He held her tighter all the same.
"Wherever our boys are, I hope they have a good excuse for missing out on all our fun."
Sasuke felt heavy. There was a pounding ache to his head that simply wouldn't ebb. His shoulders were stiff. His neck was sore. His legs felt numb.
His hand was warm.
Sasuke felt distantly vulnerable and his instincts demanded he rectify that fact. His eyes were sluggish to open, unwilling. They throbbed in protest. Things felt foggy… lethargic. Unsettled. He needed to wake up. He needed to move.
Sasuke tried flexing his hand only to rapidly jerk awake when it wouldn't respond.
He blinked harshly through his thundering heartbeat, drawing his brows together in a frown as though it would lessen the dull pain he woke up to. His body still felt weighed down and bleary eyes travelled across the dark room sharply.
Where - ?
A spinning crimson eye caught upon a slouched figure across from him, and his foggy mind slowly built back the pieces of his memory.
He was… back in Konoha… with his team.
Kakashi was sprawled across the loveseat opposite him; Sasuke could just make out the red armband around his bicep from where he had it tucked under his head. His other arm lay draped across his abdomen, his crude little book hanging dutifully from his fingers. The man looked dead to the world in his slumber.
Sasuke blinked at the peculiar image. There was a fuzz in his brain that he thought might be the responsible for his lack of focus and mild discomfort. It also might be the reason he is currently… wherever he is.
A loud snore by his ear had Sasuke's head whipping to the side. His brow wrinkled uncomfortably. The Dobe was fast asleep with his head awkwardly propped on his shoulder. Drooling on his shoulder. Disgust briefly out won against confusion, and Sasuke leaned his head away from the sleeping idiot.
As he turned, his eyes caught on the empty bottles and knocked over cups across the small kotatsu. A solid memory clicked into place.
They had been celebrating… something… and they had decided to gather in the Hokage's residence – lots of space, '…private so you don't need to worry, Sasuke…'.
Clearly, they all had more to drink than was necessary, if the mess of booze and passed out teammates was anything to go by.
Sasuke went to lift his hand to rub his eyes when he froze. His hand was warm. He couldn't move it.
His eyes dropped immediately down to his uncooperative palm and his breath stalled at what he found there.
Where Naruto was drooling on his left, Sakura was sound asleep on his right. Except, her pink head was pillowed on his thigh and his only hand was clutched between hers where they rested delicately under her chin.
Sasuke stared at the image in muted awe, not daring to breathe or move. She was curled into a small ball and holding his hand like a child would hold a precious toy. His fingers twitched minutely as he studied her. Sasuke thought he should've felt more uncomfortable than he did. He should've pushed off the Dobe and removed himself from Sakura completely. But… he didn't.
A shadowy movement from the corner of his eye had his head turning and his eyes blazing, protectively.
A man stepped out of the obscured hallway and offered a raised brow followed by a guilty shrug. The Wood-user – Yamato, his mind reminded – kept his pace, walking back into the large lounge room with what Sasuke finally noticed was a bundle of blankets.
Kakashi was closest, and the Captain draped the thin woollen sheet over the Rokudaime with a small disapproving huff, expertly confiscating the book that had been precariously dangling from the man's fingertips.
Sasuke watched with rapt attention as next, Yamato navigated himself around the table to spread a blanket open at their feet.
It was only with the strange action that Sasuke tore his eyes from the Wood-user to peer curiously at the base of lounge he had come to share with Naruto and Sakura.
His replacement – Sai – had curled himself at their feet, using the pillow that Naruto had thrown at him some point in the night, as a headrest. Almost cat-like, Sasuke couldn't help but observe blankly.
Yamato carefully adjusted the blanket around the sleeping ninja, before straightening and turning his attention directly onto Naruto.
The blond in question let out a chocked snore and Yamato wrinkled his nose before darting his eyes to Sasuke.
There was a question communicated through the eye contact and Sasuke found himself slowly nodding.
It was with skilful hands that Team Seven's Captain slipped a palm under Naruto's awkwardly bent neck and gently pried it away from Sasuke's shoulder, leaving a trail of drool connected between his shirt and the Dobe's mouth.
Sasuke glanced back up at Yamato and saw his own disgust reflected in the man, albeit with a fond edge in the older man's gaze.
It didn't take long for Yamato to rearrange Naruto into a more comfortable position on the couch; angling the boy to lie down and resting his blond head on an actual cushion rather than a muscular shoulder and a stump. A blanket was tossed on for good measure, despite the fact they all knew Naruto to be a furnace.
Then, the older man's eyes rested on Sakura, sleeping peacefully on Sasuke's numb leg.
Sasuke studied the man's expression intently as it appeared to soften in regards to the slumbering female. Sasuke had catalogued this exact same reaction several hundred times by this point; by teammates, friends, patients and passing villagers alike.
And something in him always simmered slightly at the phenomena. A flicker of heat that prickled under his skin at the realisation of just who Sakura had become. The woman she grew into.
Sasuke swallowed inexplicably when he realised Yamato had turned to look at him expectantly. He was offering the same question as before.
And for some reason – some deeply buried selfish reason – Sasuke shook his head.
Yamato quirked a brow but it was gone before Sasuke could begin to decipher it. With a final movement, a blanket was placed over Sakura as tenderly as one would tuck in a child, and Sasuke felt stupid for watching it unfold with such strange rawness.
Almond eyes found his and Sasuke saw the final blanket Yamato was offering him. The gesture tugged at his insides uncomfortably and he shook his head tightly.
He didn't need a blanket. He… didn't need that comfort.
The older man didn't say anything, just folded the blanket over symmetrically and carefully leaned over him. Sasuke tensed, his muscles reacting to the invasion of his personal space, but found himself slightly frozen when the folded blanket was gently wedged between his head and the back of the couch. Yamato was up and crossing the room before he could react. And Sasuke just stared after him in cautious puzzlement, tracing his movements as Yamato plucked a pillow from Kakashi's sofa and comfortably laid himself out on the carpeted floor, opposite Sai between the kotatsu.
Sasuke absent-mindedly flexed his hand in restless bewilderment, only realising his mistake at Sakura's responding incoherent mumble.
Sasuke froze as Sakura softly whined and briefly arched her back in a sleepy stretch. Her hands loosened completely around his and he found himself slipping out of her grip as she rolled herself over towards him.
Sasuke awkwardly hovered his hand above her as she twisted slightly in the light blanket before finally settling back into a deep sleep; her petit nose now brushing his hip.
An unversed warmth spread like fire through him, clawing determinedly up the back of his neck to the tips of his ears, and Sasuke clenched and unclenched his now free hand, restlessly. There was a thrum deep within him answering to Sakura's unconscious call; a swell in the base of his stomach, a thrill in his veins, a clench of his damned heart.
He swallowed it all down.
It took him another long moment to collect himself before Sasuke allowed himself a glance back at the blissfully unaware medic so comfortable and close upon him. The thrum was back, or perhaps it had never left him completely. But this time it left him curiously… longing.
Sasuke frowned when he saw how the blanket had shifted down around Sakura's waist, and without thinking, he reached over to pull the light material up, stopping only when he caught sight of her slim but powerful hands. One lay open palmed from where she had pushed it slightly from her body, like she was reaching for something. And Sasuke, with nothing but blind fascination to guide him, brought his own hand down to slide along one of hers.
The reaction was instant. Sakura clutched his calloused palm and unconsciously brought it closer towards her chest, cradling it between her smooth palms like she had done before.
Sasuke waited for the heat of embarrassment to overtake him again, but was instead hit with a wave of goosebumps as her breath coasted over the skin of his wrist.
He… didn't mind.
Sasuke tore his attention away from Sakura to glance once more around the quiet room, filled with the forms of his sleeping, trusting teammates. A frown pulled at his lips.
A crimson eye once more lingered on the pink haired woman on his lap and Sasuke knew with a dreadful certainty, that this was something he wanted to preserve and protect.
He hadn't done many things in his life to deserve this sort of trust and family – he needed to prove to himself that one day he could earn the camaraderie that had been so generously bestowed unto him.
Sasuke didn't sleep the rest of the night. He stayed awake to appreciate each fleeting moment that would never come again.
He was gone before the first twitch of waking...
Sasuke's hand was warm when he woke, and for one breathless moment he experienced a strong surge of déjà vu – not daring to move a muscle lest he wake the sleeping rosette clutching his palm.
But then the pain hit him and he jerked to open his eyes before he could linger in the false comfort of the stirred memory.
His vision was blurry but Sasuke could just make out the dulls of yellow, orange and black as Naruto shifted into focus. The blond appeared to have fallen asleep upright with his back leaning against what looked to be bark. Sasuke squinted as he traced the Naruto's arm to where he was tightly holding his wrist and part of his hand.
Sasuke anticipated the knee-jerk reaction to tear himself away and call the blond some reproving name, but… he was instead smothered with tired relief and deep regret. With careful movements, Sasuke gingerly sat up and felt the raw pull of the skin on his blistered back. He breathed roughly through the blinding sensations of pain, hitting him from every waking angle. Blurry eyes found his sole teammate again, and Sasuke lightly twisted his wrist free from Naruto's firm cling, cautiously eyeing the place around him.
The hollowed-out trunk and small window of ghastly forest was enough to stir a completely different memory in him. Sasuke unconsciously lifted a hand to rub his aching neck. The guilt only blossomed when he looked back to see Naruto's dirtied and exhausted person. Some long-suppressed fear urged him to climb out of the tree and find Sakura! But Sasuke swallowed back the impulse with bitter reality.
No. He knew where they were and he knew what he'd been forced to leave behind. Sasuke grimaced. Judging by his levels he'd been unconscious for at least the better part of twelve hours, and yet it would be at least another twelve before he could even consider warping them back to their dimension. He had fucked up hard and it was his team that was paying the price. Yet again. Sasuke curled a fist, fingers digging into leather and brought his knees closer to his chest. Something poisonous was moving within him, slithering under the surface of his skin and making him wince.
In the quiet of his shame, stranded by his own making; Sasuke let slip a shuddering breath of defeat. His lungs sought the lost air back with an unsteady hitch. His heartbeat was loud in his ears, and something was gripping his chest relentlessly. There was a sting to his eyes he could easily attribute to his overuse of chakra, and yet a small, overcome part of himself urged to acknowledge the wetness behind that burn.
His hand shook as he brought it up to rub at his sore, hazy eyes. And Sasuke hated how his shame chased him, hedging him in from every direction. The warmth of his hand burned with a quiet yearning and the sting of his eyes itched with regret. He hated how everything made him think of Sakura. How much he failed her… how much he missed her. Wanted her. Needed her.
Sakura, Sakura, Sakura!
He hated himself for leaving her, time and time again. He hated himself for lacking the courage to stay. And now he found a whole new level of hatred for involving her in his mess and then abandoning her... always abandoning her...
She was a quiet echo in his tumbling thoughts and Sasuke screwed his eyes shut.
"If you were to stay here with me… there would be no regrets."
Sasuke was finding it more and more impossible to regulate his breath. It was too shallow, to quick, too much. Not enough.
"What if I said I'd come with you…"
His hand shook. His fingertips prickled with the heat of the memory against her skin; the memory of her trusting smile and faithful eyes.
"…nothing to do with me…"
His hand burned in guilt of her fearful, tear-soaked eyes.
"If there is even a little corner of your heart that thinks of me, please don't leave again!"
He felt something within him shift – like losing his footing in sand and stumbling. He sucked in a shaky breath.
" - I love you with all my heart!"
There was something bubbling within him; in his chest, his veins, his throat. Molten heat turning cold, hard and brittle. He clawed at his chest.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke felt some part of him break off and shatter.
"I'm sorry." He choked into his arm as he buried his face there. "I'm sorry…"
Naruto turned his blue eyes away as Sasuke unravelled before him; curled unto himself under the hollow of their fragile shelter.
He didn't expect it to hurt this much… to see Sasuke fracture beneath the weight of another loss.
Naruto gave him as much privacy as he could, despite the part of him that wished to wrap his friend in an embrace and ply him with words of comfort. No. Such a deed would be a selfish consolation.
Not for the first time, Naruto found himself wishing that life had been kinder to Sasuke. Wishing that Sasuke would learn to be kinder to himself. He didn't deserve to constantly walk his path alone. Not when there were people who ached to stand by his side.
Sending a silent prayer up to Itachi to watch over his brother, Naruto closed his eyes to Sasuke's shattering.
Please, Itachi. Be with him. Guide him to the life you always wanted for him.
Naruto closed himself off to the sounds of Sasuke's stifled sobs, and prayed.
For the first time in a long time, Kakashi saw his enemy before he sensed them. He watched as they passed by, barely a flit of muted colours against the white canvas of snow. But he didn't dare move, and wouldn't until he was certain the threat was well past his position. Kakashi braced himself for another uncomfortable hour cramped in stone. His genjutsu was holding well, and he knew that both his Ninken would have led convincing trails in opposite directions. Maybe these unclaimed nin would pick up on the converging tracks and split up. Maybe they'd give up altogether and call it a day. But Kakashi wasn't going to hold his breath on that one.
Snow had begun falling in earnest with the mornings dull grey glow. Gentle flakes floating perilously down to touch the earth, unhindered by even a whisper of wind. Despite the drop in temperature that it brought, Kakashi counted his blessings that the lack of wind would make it marginally harder to track a scent, and the falling snow would dampen any trails they did find. It made the chilled ache in his bones and the tight burn of his exposed skin all worth it.
Kakashi comforted himself with that thought right up until the moment a set of shinobi sandals entered his vision. His heart lurched to his throat.
Kakashi couldn't quite hear above the sound of his pulse in his ears, but he was certain there was a faint sigh that accompanied his increasing blood pressure.
At this height in the alcove, he could only see the ends of an emerald robe as its owner stood within the branches of a tree, not a meter from where Kakashi had hidden himself with Sakura.
There was no room to move. Not even room to withdraw a weapon. He'd made himself and Sakura vulnerable the moment he chose to bank entirely on defence. And now Kakashi could only allow his mind the permission to run rampant with possible strategies on how the hell he was going to get them out of it this time. Grey eyes narrowed, darting fractionally across his window of terrain, then back at shinobi's black sandals. His genjutsu was still intact, not even a brush of chakra had threatened to dispel his thickly woven cover. And it remained that way, even as the pristine green robe shifted; the man bending at the knees to face them at eye level.
Kakashi stayed unmoving when the equally dark green eyes stared directly at him, a think black strand of hair falling across the man's calm gaze. Kakashi settled his reflexes and met the man's blank stare as snow continued to fall gently atop them.
The man showed no sign of acknowledgement but Kakashi didn't allow himself the concession to breathe just yet. His blood was roaring so loud in his ears, it was a wonder that alone wasn't enough to alert the man to his presence. Kakashi's fingers jumped slightly from where they'd dug into Sakura's slack body, and still the man stared – as though he was seeing more than the smooth contour of rock Kakashi knew him to be studying right now.
Against all odds, Kakashi felt his body slipping into a sense of calm as he unwittingly memorised the angular lines and striking complexion of the man's solemn face. His eyes were a soulless jade, so vast and cold in their depth, it was matched only by the pitch black of his lashes and hair. Kakashi noted the faint lines of crow's feet at the corner of those cool eyes and estimated the man to be around similar age to himself. Then those eyes were turning away, directing their sight over the powdered landscape once more. Kakashi felt his muscles coil.
"You are remarkably talented, Rokudaime." Wisps of white unfurled from his lips, as the man's soft voice sounded. And Kakashi's stomach churned. "Please know that it brings me no pleasure in what I'm about to do."
Suddenly, his genjutsu was effortlessly dispelled, chakra shimmering from existence as it unveiled them completely. There was a split second of stillness in which the man's eyes refocused and Kakashi's mind sort for a plan of action. Then the world resumed and before Kakashi could flinch, the man had struck his fingers into the soft flesh of his neck. Kakashi lurched, his shoulders and arms scraping against the protruding rock and jostling Sakura in the process. He scrambled to remain awake, and yet the threat of unconsciousness never overcame him.
Kakashi's eyes widen, as instead his body went numb and his control over his chakra was severed completely; as easy as turning off a faucet of water.
"Hah– " he choked, struggling to keep a hold of Sakura as his arms – and his world – fell.
The man had a hand at the ready, pulling Sakura from him and Kakashi snarled; his eyes and voice the only thing he still had within his control. And he almost wanted to scream at the fact that years ago perhaps one of those might've been enough to save Sakura's life.
Fuck. Obito! It was desperate plea that never made it past his lips, hopeless as it was.
The man stopped, almost respectfully at Kakashi severe reaction, although his eyes never lost their apathetic sheen. "You will drop her." He said simply, pulling Sakura entirely free from weak his grasp.
Kakashi could do nothing but watch, his body spiking with fear in the absence of control.
"Careful Yukine honey, you're handling a most prized jewel there." Ara was suddenly sat beside him and Kakashi watched in horror as she hovered over Sakura, hand brushing her temple, before flitting her eyes to him. "Oh dear, look at what you've done to the 'esteemed' Rokudaime. Wasn't it you who told us to approach him with respect?" she teased.
Kakashi couldn't move. He could barely speak. It was like he was paralysed…with panic. And the panic only grew as Sakura was passed from the man to the woman, her pink head lolling with the movement. The notion made his chest seize all the more. Then the man's – Yukine's – eyes were back on him.
"Whilst a clever plan to have your summons lead false trails, and conceal yourselves – such a thing does not work on a sensor." His tone was soothing as he dipped his head in introduction. Then he was nodding to Ara. "Neither do Genjutsus on similarly classed specialists."
Kakashi's breath was colouring the air in violent bursts mist as he struggled against his own body's unresponsiveness, his eyes darting between Yukine, Ara and Sakura held between them.
Then the third entered, bouncing upon the branch as he landed, sticking his face within a hair's breadth of Kakashi's. "We caught the Doggy and the Princess!" Hansai grinned, his teeth a near yellow and breath the stench of rot.
"Hansai." Yukine called. And that seemed instruction enough as the crazed man drew back and spread his arms to the side in a sweeping gesture.
Kakashi grunted as he tried to raise a fist, flex his fingers, anything!
Abruptly, his body started moving; clawing himself out of the alcove and joining the others on the thick tree branch they shared, his feet sinking in the gathered snow.
But his actions were not his own.
Kakashi grunted as he tried to rip himself from the control of the feral orange-clad shinobi. He could hear the delighted laugh from Hansai just over his own panting as he strained to free himself from the chakra strings that were attaching themselves further onto his body and into his numb chakra network.
"I would advise you not to move recklessly whilst Hansai has you ensnared. Precise he may be, but also sadistic. He enjoys watching prey struggle in his net." Yukine said, rising to his full height with Sakura now crested in the woman's arms as she stood with him.
Kakashi hissed through clenched teeth as the woman crooned over Sakura, twirling a lock of pink around her finger. "Oh, Hansai look. Have you ever seen such a precious flower?"
His captor pressed closer to Ara, his face suspended inches above Sakura's own. "Uchiha-sama's woman is… pretty." Hansai decided, looking back up to Ara for approval.
Ruby lips parted in a smile. "That she is, Hansai." She tilted her chin to her last companion, standing silently at her right. "Yuki baby, can I keep her?"
Kakashi felt the bile roiling in his stomach.
"Enough Ara, she is to go straight to Atsuhiko-sama. You can make your case to him when he's finished with her."
"Don't you dare touch her!" Kakashi's voice tore from him in a snarl, his foot jerking marginally forward in his desperation.
The three nin regarded him speculatively before Hansai was back in his face and laughing. "Ooh! Her guard dog has still got some bark to him. Sorry little doggy, but now you're on my leash, and I say yield."
Kakashi stifled a grunt as he was forced roughly to his knees by the chakra strings, his bones jarring with the harsh movement.
"Maintain your head, Hansai." Yukine reprimanded steadily before his gaze landed on Kakashi. "Apologies Hatake-san, but it would be in your best interest to come quietly." He spared a glance to the others. "Move out."
"Oh, what's the hurry? Our other two heroes are surely bound to be back soon. Why not catch all four flies in our web? Save ourselves a trip." Ara said, running a pink tongue along the seam of her red lips.
"Arrogance is unbecoming on you, Ara. I am not willing to lose two captives over your misguided impudence. What we have accomplished today is nothing to preen over. Our captives were injured and depleted well before our strike. What they lacked in offensive actions speaks only of their handicap of values." The corner of Yukine's lips turned down fractionally. "He was never going to fight with her in this state."
Kakashi let the words wash over him as his eyes stayed riveted to Sakura. Something white hot burned within him with a desperate fury, blaring at him to get Sakura! Sweat trickled down his temple, pressure built in his neck, pain stabbed through his head. Kakashi felt the world tilt slightly on its axis. He grit his teeth and pushed past it all.
"You're no fun. Fine then, let's go."
"Ara, take care with the girl. Hansai, you would do well to echo that sentiment with the Rokudaime."
Kakashi gathered all the strength he could and pushed against his invisible restraints with a rough yell; his muscles screamed in protest, his pulse fervent in every inch of his body. His left wrist twitched towards Sakura.
In a heartbeat, Yukine was blocking his vision, palm pressed squarely against his stomach. "I did warn you."
Kakashi lost his grip on reality and slipped away into oblivion; Sakura's name dying on his lips.
Consciousness happened in snapshots – pieces of clarity drifting past him like Konoha's autumn leaves on a mild breeze. He chased after them, muddled and lethargic, cataloguing them as he caught them between shaky hands.
Kakashi was cold, and bare. He felt the cold press of wet stone against his naked cheek; felt the bite of exposure all the way down from his neck to his feet.
He cracked opened his eyes to dimness. A blur of amber bathed black walls grey, as firelight licked the corner of his vision. He blinked, his world horizontal and divided by iron squares.
Voices argued above him, barely distinguishable through his cotton-stuffed ears.
A cough welled up in his throat, bursting from his lips before he could stop it, jostling his chin against the ground. His mouth was dry and there was a tug at his arms as the voices continued. He blinked drowsily, focusing on making out their words.
" - ridiculous! Where did they hide it? We've stripped them bare and still no sign on either of them!"
"Calm yourself, Ara. They are elite shinobi, you should not be so surprised by their ingenuity."
It was the man… Yukine, and that Ara woman. And suddenly all pieces clicked into place – the breeze stilled and the leaves gathered around him in morbid understanding.
They'd been fucking taken.
A scoff. "You're clearly calm enough for the both of us, Yukine."
Kakashi tried to feel for his chakra and found it completely extinguished from his reach. He closed off the cynical part of him that wanted to groan and attempted locate the disembodied voices in the room around him; his eyes darting where they could but still drawing up short.
"I sense your impatience is misdirected."
"…she's wasted lying in a cell. He should have just given her to me."
Kakashi's ears pricked, his throat like sandpaper when he swallowed. Fuck. Where is Sakura?
"Remember our orders."
"I know. She's off limits until further notice."
"Don't cross a line you can't uncross, Ara."
There was a shuffling sound near him, chains rustling and then the woman spoke again, her voice liquid. "I wouldn't be crossing anything if she came to me willingly."
Kakashi had heard enough. He jerked upright, frenzied charcoal eyes coming face to face with the sickening sight of Ara knelt over Sakura's limp body, a hand threaded through her long pink hair.
The room stilled. And Ara's smirk grew wicked. "Ah, look who is awake, and with that pretty muzzle clear for all to see! Hey there guard dog, did you have a good nap?"
Kakashi didn't pause to think as he propelled towards the woman, realising too late his arms were shackled to the floor, yanking him back before he could reach her smug face. A long heavy chain connected his hands, nailed down to the ground by a steel hoop. Iron manacles engraved with an abstract Fuinjutsu cut into his wrists, the thick chain thrashing as he tested its strength with his harsh movement. Ara didn't flinch.
"Ooh he is feisty!" a final voice sounded from his back, and Kakashi recognised him as the chakra-string enthusiast, Hansai.
"Gorgeous too." Ara stood, dragging her fingertips through Sakura's hair and holding Kakashi's eyes.
"My apologies, Hatake-san. I am sure you understand the action taken was necessary. However, if you would reveal where you hid the Pomegranate you recovered from the Seal, your cooperation would be taken under great consideration." Yukine declared flatly.
The three came to gather as one above Sakura, like she was some sacrificial offering to the Gods and Kakashi was merely the witness to their reaping. His lips thinned.
"Not likely." He clipped darkly.
Ara sighed, and reached to rest her arm upon Yukine's shoulder. "What did I tell you? Civility will get you nowhere. Yuki honey, it's all about getting personal with these types."
Yukine's eyes did not leave Kakashi's, a challenge set between them. "Hatake-san is an intelligent man. He will see reason, in time."
"Yuki? Can I go play with my new pets now?"
Kakashi's hair stood on end at the thought that they were going to be the deranged man's 'pets'. His eyes fell to Sakura briefly before returning to Yukine's cool gaze.
"Of course." Yukine granted, and it was only after Hansai scurried out the cell with a pleased giggle, that Kakashi exhaled. "Come Ara, let us leave our guests to think over their choices." To Kakashi he said, "Please refrain from attempted escape, we have ensured such efforts to be futile. And painful."
Then he was gone, as quiet in his footsteps as he was in his manner. And yet Ara stayed, watching Kakashi just as he watched her. She tilted chin, flaxen eyes gleaming like embers under the flicker of torch light, but she did not move.
"I don't know precisely what she is to you, Copy Nin." She started, "but I'm certainly curious to find out." Then, seemingly out of thin air she produced two blankets, tossing them at him. "For the cold." She said and walked from the cell, shutting it with a screeching clank.
"Take care of our little Princess, won't you?" she called with a lilting laugh as she too disappeared down the obscured corridor.
Once out of sight, Kakashi shot his gaze to the ivory figured slumped on the cold damp floor of their shared cell.
In one swift movement Kakashi was by her side, gently lifting her into his arms as best he could. The long chain trailed his movements as he went, mercifully able to travel with him to an extent, although their slack likely wouldn't allow him to stand, either of them. Sakura's pink hair was sprawled across her face with no longer her hitai-ate to hold it back. Chains were dragging from where they made purchase on her wrists and tethered her to the floor – just like his own.
Kakashi placed fingers at her neck finding her pulse sluggish but mercifully strong. He rested the back of his hand on her forehead, then her cheek. Sakura's skin was clammy and cold to the touch, no change from before... Kakashi wracked his brain for a clue as to how long he might've been unconscious but his thoughts struggled to stray from Sakura. She was clad in her small black shorts and chest bindings, with only his rigorous bandaging affording her any modesty or protection from the elements.
"Fuckers." He cursed under his breath.
Kakashi lifted his head to scan the cell they had been left to rot in. It was reasonably large; black cobblestones making up the ground and three walls. A singular chamber pot sat to one side, likely only just reachable with the damnable iron hoops which nailed their restraints to the centre of the cell's floor. There was no window, no way of marking the passage of their time here. Three torches of fire lit the opposing wall, just outside their steel bars, but they offered little comfort of heat against the stinging cold. Kakashi could feel the tremors of his own body threatening to take hold; left to fend off the sub-temperatures with nothing but a blanket and his boxers. It was as humiliating as it was dangerous.
With the temperatures as low as they were, Sakura wasn't going make it through the night (day?). Already her chapped lips were beginning to take on a purplish tinge. Body heat was going to be the only option for either of them. Kakashi reluctantly snatched the scratchy blankets Ara had thrown at him, and with careful manoeuvring, shuffled them against the back wall. He cautiously wrapped Sakura with the first blanket, cocooning her against his chest. Then he reached to cover the both of them with the second woollen sheet. He wrapped it around them as tightly as he could, but it was still damn freezing.
He brought his knees up, cradling Sakura in his lap and searched for her icy hands, rubbing them between his own.
He lifted their hands to his mouth. "Just hold on Sakura. I'll figure us a way out. You just have to hold on for me, okay?"
Green eyes remained hidden from him, with barely a steady heartbeat to reassure him of her continued presence. Sakura did not move. And despite the lack of barriers between them, Kakashi could hardly feel her shallow breath on his bare neck.
"If there was ever a time to be stubborn, now is it Sakura. Too many people are counting on you to hold on. Got that?" Kakashi laid his cheek atop her head. "I'd make that an order, if I knew you'd listen."
A torrent of fierce protectiveness swept through him, and Kakashi knew that he would lie, cheat, steal and kill to keep this woman safe from any further harm. He had made this promise to her Shishou, to their teammates, to a Slug and his own Ninken. But now he was making it to himself.
He was going to bring Sakura home.
A/N: Woo, we're back! Sorry for the delay everyone. Life happened, I got sick and stayed sick. But I'm on the mend now. So, if this chapter is marginally shitty, you can blame sick me for writing it haha.
Team seven went through the wringer a bit in this chapter and I did not mean for Sasuke and Naruto to have such ~sad times~ it just happened. But they've been through a lot and I think Sasuke especially reached a tipping point of sorts. Emotionally and physically.
I realise we're getting a lot of 'flashbacks' with Sasuke, and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I feel it's an important inclusion to both keep the story going and also get a taste of where they've come from in those little snippets. It's my way of giving Sasuke his team bonding without this becoming a whole saga haha.
Now if everyone could please bow your heads and pray for Sakura. Thank you. :P