Sakura awoke to the sound of light rustling. Her head unbent from its position against Kakashi's bicep and she squinted through the unchanging amber glow of their cell. Sakura locked away a small groan at the realisation that her last twenty-four hours weren't in fact a terrible dream.

"Hey." Kakashi said quietly as Sakura slowly sat up.

She was about to murmur a reply when her eyes caught upon his bare face. Reality slammed into her again, this time inflicting a different stir of surreal comprehension.

Sakura licked her chapped lips and breathed through her wonderment; Kakashi's open face creating a mingling of conflicting emotions through her as he lifted his cheek in greeting. She wanted to smile gleefully at him, and clap her hands over his naked face in triumph; entirely ordinary, yet perfectly incomparable. And yet, she couldn't enjoy the surrender of his face like she had once dreamed to as a child.

Mostly, she resented the circumstances; regretted that the choice was taken from him. Sakura mourned the fact that she had been stripped of the discovery herself, just as Kakashi had been stripped of his mask. It was perhaps a selfish regret, but a part of Sakura had always imagined the moment to come in grand gesture – a sign, a turning point – something to conclude almost a decade of mystery, patience and friendship.

Sakura didn't realise she was still wordlessly staring at him until the back of Kakashi's fingers rested at her forehead. "How's your fever?" He asked in concern.

Sakura cleared her throat, feeling a burn unrelated to her temperature flush her cheeks.

"Fine." She croaked and winced. How long had they been here now? She found another regret in wishing they still had some more water left.

Kakashi's fingers ghosted over her temple on their way down, his eyes growing tight at the edges at her obvious lie. Sakura smiled feebly in return and sat up a little straighter, feeling the cool air seep in the spaces her body left between his.

Kakashi appeared to be wide awake, perhaps had been for some time, and was holding his wrists carefully above his lap. Sakura noticed he had covered her fully in their shared blanket at some point, and reminded herself to scold him later for it.

Bloody impossible man, trying to make my life harder. She grumbled to herself, fighting her shiver against the cold. He is trying to get a fever too?

"I have a theory." Kakashi suddenly said.

Sakura blinked up at him. "Yeah?"

Kakashi lifted his wrists and brought the engraved manacles closer for her inspection, pointing at an abstract shape. "See this character here? It an old symbol for lightning. I've seen it once or twice before, I'm sure of it."

Sakura nodded and rubbed her eyes for a keener look. The entirety of the metal cuff was covered in small detailed carvings – Fuinjutsu seals designed to block chakra. Sakura swallowed her annoyance at yet another seal standing between her and chakra. If she never had to look at Fuinjutsu again, it would be too soon. She hadn't personally had much experience with these types of cuffs, but she supposed Kakashi did come from a rather colourful and experienced past.

"Most Fuinjutsu cuffs are based off a particular symbol, or element. A primary code." Kakashi continued explaining. "And this one," he pointed to a sharp and angular symbol, "keeps repeating itself all throughout the script. I think the cuffs' primary code is electrical currents, sending minute pulses to disrupt our flow. It's working in tandem with our nervous system to negate our chakra pathways."

"Okay." Sakura cleared her throat, mind slowly working itself back up to speed. "Okay, that's something."

"It's something rather significant, especially for someone with a lightning affinity." There was a subtle satisfaction to his voice that caught her attention.

She narrowed her eyes at Kakashi's expectant face and the pieces clicked into place. "Kakashi." She warned. "Having an affinity for lightning, is severely different from having an acute understanding of the electrical intricacies of the nervous system to a meticulous degree. No."

He raised a brow and cocked his head at her. "You don't even know what I was going to suggest."

"Yes, I do and no. It's too dangerous. You could fry yourself from the inside out. Not to mention, we don't even know if your theory is correct!" Sakura countered hotly.

She had just woken up and already Kakashi was assaulting her with terrible ideas. She twisted her lips and began to push herself further away from him to stretch out her poorly cramped muscles. The stone floor was blisteringly cold when she stretched her legs out and left Kakashi's comfort of warmth. But she ignored the bit of chill in petty stubbornness.

"Let's not start pointing fingers about testing unstable theories first, and dealing with the consequences second."

Sakura paused in the middle of rolling her shoulders at his rebuke, and glanced back at him.

He levelled her with a pointedly raised brow and she could see the straight set of his lips; see his disapproval so plainly on his bare face. "Tell me I'm wrong, Sakura."

Sakura scrunched her nose and began working her fingers into her numb legs, disregarding his reprimand.

"Kakashi. You can't just inundate your system with lightning that you can neither see nor control, in the hopes that it will miraculously short-cut the cuff's own 'alleged' electrical flow." She began to lecture.

"Perhaps that would be true for a Chuunin, but I am in fact a Hokage." He opposed simply. "They don't give that title to just anyone, Sakura-chan."

Sakura tossed her head and rolled her eyes at him. "Clearly they made an exception with you, Sensei."

Kakashi knitted his silver brows. "Well, regardless of your lack of faith in me, it's the best course of action we have. I just need to figure out what frequency the cuffs are channelling, then counteract that with my own." He said undeterred.

Sakura huffed exasperated, "And how exactly do you expect to do that when you can't even access your chakra?"

Kakashi winked. "Genius."

Sakura forgot her body aches, her fever, her migraine and shot to her knees with all the strength she possessed. The blankets fell off her as her hands found their way to her hips, and she glared down the infuriating man.

"If you're so insistent on getting electrocuted then why not just wait until Sasuke gets here, and explain your insane plan to him! I'm sure he'd gladly shove a Chidori up your ass for your trouble."

Kakashi blinked, bewildered. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before clicking it audibly shut.

Sakura, satisfied she had gotten through to him, huffed and then sat herself back down to continue massaging her constricted muscles. Damnit, she had never been a particularly chirpy morning person, and the universe appeared to be working in tandem with Kakashi to prove her foul mood further warranted. Sakura was sick of feeling useless! And it irked her to no end that she could barely manage the strength to sit up, much less fight her way out of prison.

And here Kakashi was, all but ready to electrocute himself in order to give them the chance to do just that. It was an absurd theory, but what terrified Sakura more than anything was the certainty that she wouldn't be able to help him in the least if something went wrong. So forgive her if she wasn't jumping for joy at Kakashi's horribly dangerous plan.

Sakura was halfway done aggressively working her numb fingers up her other calf when Kakashi cleared this throat from beside her. His cheek ticked in nervousness when she turned her attention sharply back to him, so she guessed she'd hadn't quite managed to turned off her glare.

"As… colourful as that imagery was, Sakura. I'm afraid I'm going to have to veto you on this one." He held up a hand before she could object. "You've been throwing me an awful lot of veto's these past few days, and completely ignoring all of mine. I do believe I have earned the right to return the favour."

"Kakashi – "

"Unfortunately, the decision was never in your hands Sakura." He interrupted firmly. "If it makes you feel any better, I would be attempting the same feat with or without you here. The path to survival isn't usually a doctor approved health plan."

Sakura frowned, feeling chastised but no less disconcerted. "It's dangerous." She tried again, quieter this time.

"The life of a shinobi always is, and that is something you've always known."

Her eyes sought his, "There has to be – "

"You are awake then." A smooth voice cut over hers, and Sakura jerked into silence at the unfamiliar tone.

A tall man with deep striking emerald eyes melted into view as he emerged from the shadows of the prison hallway, dressed in a flowing traditional yukata. His long raven hair framed his face; his high cheek bones catching the light as he stepped up to the iron bars. Sakura distantly thought he looked quite handsome, with his strong features, impeccable state of dress and regal stance.

She guessed this was one of the men she had to thank for her capture. Kakashi shifted beside her, but he didn't display any outward signs of open hostility. For now, she would follow his lead.

The man stood calmly on the other side of the bars and dispassionately studied them. "I see Ara saw fit to feed you." He spoke at last.

Kakashi sniffed. "A real achievement for her I'm sure." He deadpanned.

Sakura swallowed her surprise at his open bitterness towards the name but kept her expression neutral. She slowly sank back down against the wall and observed the man as he regarded them.

"Apologies, Sakura-san." The man said evenly. "We have yet to meet formally. My name is Yukine." He sounded so sincerely polite that Sakura couldn't help but raise a brow at him.

"Well I'd shake your hand, but it's chained to the floor." She responded flatly, unable to help herself and her acerbic mood.

Yukine seemed entirely unaffected by her sarcasm and merely dipped his head fractionally. "An occupational hazard. But one I'm sure can only improve with your cooperation."

There was a deep sigh from beside her and Sakura glanced at Kakashi's casual attitude wonderingly.

"Maa Yukine-san, if cooperation was all you were after you should have said so! And here I was thinking we were your prisoners." He quipped with a brittle eye crinkle.

Yukine remained still for a moment before he turned on his heel and strode back through the darkness of the corridor. Sakura looked baffled to Kakashi, but he simply held a finger to his lips. She trusted him, Kakashi had dealt with these people far more than she had. Whatever he had observed of their natures, it appeared he was adopting specific personas to offset them based on the individual.

Yukine re-emerged not a minute later, holding another tray of food identical to their previous one. He placed it carefully on the ground before sliding it forward between the bars and coming to stand. "It has been some time since your last meal."

Kakashi whistled. "See Sakura-chan, I told you we should have just cooperated. Look what happens when we play nice. We get a nice tray of cold rice and water. My favourite."

Sakura didn't know whether to laugh or hit him. "Right. Silly me." She murmured stiffly.

Kakashi reached over to pat her head before turning his steely eyes back to Yukine. "I'm assuming that was all you came for then, Yukine-san. To ensure such esteemed hospitality to your guests?"

"Ensuring continued nourishment unfortunately takes higher precedence." He replied. "But I am hopeful you might remedy yourselves a higher degree of comfort by answering a question for me. The answer may very well inform where we go from here."

Kakashi hummed thoughtfully before kicking his legs straight out and reclining lazily against the back wall. He tucked his hands behind his head, completely baring his chest and made sure to rustle the chains pointedly with his movement. "Well, I've got nowhere to go but up. Shoot."

Yukine, whose passive green eyes had barely strayed from Kakashi finally drew his sole attention to her, and Sakura set her shoulders under his gaze.

"Sakura-san." He addressed civilly. "Are you with child?"

Sakura jerked at the question and froze, the air swiftly stalled in her throat. Whatever she had been expecting him to ask her, it wasn't that. She didn't even have the words to sputter, she just gaped.

W-with child?!

Sakura turned the question over in her mind in relentless confusion, barely even registering the way Kakashi had tensed at the words.

Yukine continued unperturbed, "Although you are showing no outwards signs, and we can only speculate at this stage – "

Indignation found her words for her. "Where the hell do you find your delusions asking such a thing?" She exploded, shooting back to her knees and rattling the damn chains that wouldn't allow her to go further than that.

Cha! Kidnapping was one thing, but accusing me of… of…! Where in Kami's name did he even get that idea?!

Yukine paused thoughtfully at her outburst, and stared plainly at her. "You are wife to Uchiha Sasuke, are you not? Such a progression is only natural."

Sakura felt the air leave her lungs as though she were sucker punched by her Shishou. She physically recoiled from the statement, her hand unconsciously coming up to clutch at her thundering chest.

Wife… to Sasuke-kun… expecting his child…?!

The thoughts were hysterical. Painfully – stupidly longingly – hysterical. It felt like someone had read her childhood diaries and was feeding her fantasies back at her as fact, in some cruel form of torture. Her fingers itched to form Kai, but it was a weak plead of escape. No, this was her bitter reality; kidnapped because someone thought she was worth more as someone else's wife.

Old insecurities flared to life, ravenously eating at her but Sakura quashed the parasitic thoughts before they could fester. She wanted to be enraged by that fact, and truly she was – her pride as a kunoichi and woman, stung.

But a contemplative, smaller side of her was still caught in notion of such an idea.

Married and expecting…with Sasuke-kun.

A strange tenderness strung through her, smothering her fury in devoted longing; some deeply buried, expertly hidden twinge that she could never seem to shake around Sasuke.

The remnants of a silly dream – she had told herself – it's just passing growing pains. The same parts of her that fluttered and burned when he was near, and ached when he was distant or gone. They were the parts of her she had done such a brilliant job of hiding and ignoring for the better part of four years. And now here they were, bubbling up to the surface because someone had brought to life the dream she had once tried to suppress and bury.

The dream where 'what if' and 'when' were a distant memory, and all her shelves were perfectly full; and Sakura had everything she had ever wanted in one place. The dream where it didn't hurt to see all her friends move forward with their lives, while she stood still. The dream where Sasuke was home…

Sakura felt the fight fizzle out of her, and struggled to reach back for that righteous fury that gave her the strength to shatter and blaze of her own accord. Yet, she felt bereft. Sakura drew her chin up and glared at the contemplative man beyond her prison cell.

"If I may ask, " Kakashi interrupted in lieu of her speechless state, sounding suddenly more austere. "How exactly did you come to this conclusion?"

Yukine had yet to take his eyes of her as Sakura knelt here quietly heaving in turmoil. There was something intent in the mans' gaze as he tilted his head to the side to appraise her further, almost short of frowning. He did not spare a glance at Kakashi as he replied, "Rumour and fact are equally interchangeable until one or the other is equivocally disproven."

Sakura's glare sharpened at the man's answer. He was basing this off rumour? Some bizarre rumour? He had gone to all this trouble without even getting his bloody facts straight?

Sakura felt some of her wrath simmer back up to life within her and quickly latched onto it with a death grip. What an absurd, and sloppy waste of time and effort. By Kami was she going to set this man straight and wipe that composed look off his regal face.

"Well I can prove it to you right now." Sakura bit out starkly. "I am not engaged, married, nor am I carrying Uchiha Sasuke's child. So if that's why we're all here you can go ahead and – "

"It is unfortunate that I cannot divine fact based off purely your word, Sakura-san." Yukine cut over her indifferently. "As I'm sure you'd agree, shinobi lie. They lie to deceive and they lie to preserve. And I am disinclined to believe your denial when that same denial could very well benefit you, your husband or the security of an unborn child."

Sakura felt drawing horror creep up her spine at his entirely logical assessment, and noticed Kakashi lean forward slightly in careful anticipation. What could she even say to that, except repeat the adamant truth?

"I am afraid further proof will be required to confirm your claim." Yukine attested plainly, moving to unlock the cell gate.

Sakura's hands spasmed by her sides. What - ?!

"If you even think of coming near me – " she warned, not realising the way she had inadvertently backed herself further against the back wall of the cell.

What would he do? What could she do? She was practically powerless as she was. Completely and utterly defenceless beyond anything other than a short lived and futile resistance.

Kakashi had now completely abandoned his casual façade and was ramrod straight beside her, slowly rising to his knees as well.

Yukine had already pushed open the cell gate with an unyielding screech and Sakura might've covered her ears if she weren't so frantically trying to think of all the things she could do to avoid whatever situation she was abruptly careening towards.

"Trust is not a trait inherent in shinobi." Yukine stated coolly, stalking forward and revealing his long pale hands. "I cannot trust you in the same way you could never trust me. However, I do swear we will not go beyond doing what needs to be done in order to confirm your claim, Uchiha Sakura."

Sweat was gathering in her palms as her eyes darted around the cell for something – anything – she could use to deter this man. Kakashi had shifted in front of her, and yet Sakura could not abate the buzzing panic that was threatening to undo her. What could she do?

"What would it even matter if Sasuke had a wife or child!" she cried in a desperate attempt to get him to stop!

And pause Yukine did, dispassionate eyed and blank faced. "Attachment is a dangerous thing in our world. And when tested, it makes people…" He drifted off before levelling her with a firm stare. "Worry not, Sakura-san. You are just as invaluable to us as Uchiha Sakura as you would be Haruno Sakura." He took a step forward.

This time it was Kakashi's voice that halted him. "You're a Sensor, aren't you?" he all but accused. "Shouldn't you already be able to determine if she's pregnant yourself?"

Sakura was breathless with the revelation and implication. She wound her fingers around the cold metal of her chains and squeezed.

There was the mildest crease that formed between Yukine's dark brows before he answered. "Unforeseen consequences have assured that to be quite impossible. Such a scan would be… inconclusive."

And it was the way that he sounded almost apologetic, that had Sakura momentarily distracted by his swift advancement. In the blink of an eye, Kakashi had lunged to encase Yukine's wrist firmly in his hand as he reached for her. Sakura swallowed her gasp.

"You're not going to touch her." he growled.

"I'm afraid you're in no position to make such a promise, Rokudaime." Yukine countered calmly, despite the audible crunch Sakura thought she heard coming from his captured wrist.

Sakura saw the flex in his shoulder a second too late. She shot out a hand to block his strike, but she was too slow – too weak – and Yukine's palm made perfect contact with Kakashi's exposed stomach.

A shout bounced off the walls as Kakashi grunted and then groaned, collapsing in on himself; and Sakura realised it was her voice that was ringing in her ears. She went to rush to side, but Yukine intervened effortlessly, a palm placed squarely over the back of her neck.

Sakura halted, her eyes still glued to Kakashi's unmoving form as Yukine held her hostage with his simple touch.

"Your muscles need to be stretched and used." He said softly from so close to her ear, his voice so velvety she almost lost her grip on her hostility. "It would benefit us both if you walked yourself, but I am not averse to rendering you unconscious, should you prove to be unwilling."

Her flesh rippled from his cool warning, and she swallowed the damnable lump in her rough throat as her muscles began to relax into his grasp. "What did you do to him?" What are you doing to me?

"He will be fine. As will you, should you cooperate."

Sakura grit her teeth and turned her head to glare at the side of his face. The movement pressed his fingers further into her soft neck, and she hated the way her instincts flagged sluggishly at the threat. Why was she suddenly feeling at ease with him now? It was like his voice itself was drawing the fight out of her, leaving her entirely open to his suggestion. Like stepping into a warm bath and forgetting all her troubles.

"Unchain me then." She demanded weakly.

"You are still recovering, Sakura-san." Yukine said silver-tongued and unmoving. "Should you make an attempt ill-fitting of your condition and circumstance, I will be forced to take actions you may find… unfavourable." He met her eyes. "For the both of you."

Sakura set her jaw against the way she felt her resistance melt away, all but surrendering into his warm hands. Kami, why do I feel so peaceful?

She furrowed her brow and cast a final glance over Kakashi's crumpled form before turning her unfocused jade eyes to his.

"Let's get this over with."

Sakura was steered down the derelict and bleak hallways, mentally mapping out what appeared to be an old fortress of sorts. She had regained some of her heated irritation back ever since leaving the cell, and Sakura was beginning to think the man had some sort of contact-based disarming jutsu up his sleeve. She ground her teeth and endeavoured not to let him touch her again.

Sakura stole a glance at another non-descript hallway leading to who knows where and inwardly huffed. She idly wondered at the fact that Yukine hadn't even bothered to blindfold her as he toured her around their seemingly abandoned base of operations, but the whole concept was far more foreboding than it was comforting.

Sakura chewed her dry lips in frustration. Even with the chakra-inhibitor cuffs removed, she felt no different than how she did in the cell. She could account for the unideal situation and lack of proper nourishment all she'd like, but still. She should've felt at least some of her chakra replenishing itself by now. It must be verging on two days since she and Kakashi left that cave, and that timeframe should equate to at least a fifth of her strength returning. At the very least!

Something was wrong, and she had a sinking feeling it had to do with her initial 'chakra poisoning' theory. That, or her chakra pathways had corroded past the point of intervention and she was now incapable of producing or holding chakra…

Sakura immediately wiped the morbid thought from her mind. She couldn't afford to get herself worked up over something she couldn't prove. It would only make things worse for her. She needed to keep her wits about her, even if it meant playing the role of an optimist for a while.

So, she couldn't feel her chakra. But some might be there, and she was just blind to it still. However, she couldn't attempt flaring it to test her hypothesis. Not with a Senor lurking at her back. She didn't want to give him the invitation of knocking her out cold, lest he sense her experimental test as some sort of escape or attack. No, he'd made her chances of success clear on that.

Sakura resisted the urge to groan. She had already woken up on the wrong side of the prison cell this morning with Kakashi's proposed electrocution plan; between that and her psychological battering with Yukine's bomb of a revelation, Sakura wasn't feeling particularly inclined to deal with the conundrum of her missing chakra.

No, she had other things to worry about. Like how utterly unprotected she felt parading through the dreary fortress in nothing but a few strips of cotton. Although, the sullen bastard was polite enough to throw her a blanket, after he'd uncuffed her. She wanted to refuse purely out of spite, but that would've been a disservice to only herself. So here she was, marching headlong towards her fate with nothing but a flimsy blanket draped across her shoulders to defend herself.

If her face wasn't spotted in gauze and tape Sakura would've ran her hands over it in aggravation. As it was, the bandages were beginning to itch, and Sakura could feel the layers of grime and sweat that had begun to create a film over her skin. A greasy pink strand of hair fell into her eyes and she blew it away aggressively, her mood souring by the second. The consistent migraine she had been waking up to was worsening with every step and when her bare foot caught upon uneven pavement tripping her, Sakura snapped.

"Where are we going?" She demanded, roughly shaking off the steadying hand Yukine had reached to stable her with. She did not want that man touching her.

His hand fell away and he waited for her to look at him. "You are to meet our Master."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "And what do they want with me?"

Yukine began walking into her, forcing Sakura to continue forward. "That is for him to decide." He answered from her back.

Sakura felt fleetingly grateful that Yukine couldn't see the trepidation skate across her face as she trudged ahead. Her fingers curled into her palms, rubbing anxiously against the roughened gauze on her hands as Sakura waded through her tumbling emotions, forcing herself to focus on logic.

She could handle this. They abducted them for a reason. A reason that dictated their continued survival by the looks of it. Sakura mentally listed what she knew of them.

They thought she had some… deeper connection to Sasuke, apparently. She ignored the corner of her heart that tugged with the notion – she couldn't think about that right now.

Instead, she catalogued the likely hood of this 'meeting' being an interrogation to find the Pomegranate. Probably the highest probability of circumstances, considering the woman in the woods had allured to such a reason for her capture in the initial ambush. They were dead set on that Pomegranate, and that only made Sakura pridefully grateful she'd had the foresight to ask Katsuyu to conceal it for her.

However, another distinct possibility for her presence still lurked at the edge of her analytical mind. Yukine had said they would 'do what needs to be done to confirm her claim'. Her claim that she wasn't pregnant…

Sakura bit back her shiver. Whatever the hell he meant by that, she wasn't going to give them the chance. She couldn't afford to fight, not when she knew she would fail and it could land her or Kakashi in a worse position. But maybe she could prove her claim on her own terms? Reason with them? Negotiate?

Sakura inwardly scoffed. She was their prisoner; targeted for both her apparent link to Sasuke and under suspicion of being in possession of that stupid fruit. If they couldn't nab her for one, they sure as hell got her right with the second. Either way, they wouldn't be getting a morsel from her on either end.

And whatever they were hoping to gain by using her against Sasuke…

Sakura's stomach roiled and suddenly she felt entirely weighed down.

Sasuke-kun… Naruto… You two better be safe.

Sakura didn't realise her fingernails had cut through skin until her palms felt warm and slick with her blood. She didn't bother looking down, only loosened her hold.

I will not be the reason my teammates suffer. They will not use me against Sasuke-kun.

Holding her chin up high, Sakura steeled her spine and glared ahead as she was stopped before a sturdy iron door. The blanket fell from her shoulders as Yukine pushed the heavy doors open. And Sakura didn't hesitate as she stepped boldly through the threshold to meet her fate, leaving the blanket – and her fears – behind.

The room was dimly lit, as was most of the cold winding fortress she had seen. Dark grey concrete and stone made up the rooms' interior, as it stretched down towards an altar of sorts, where a stone throne sat under a tall dirty window. Thick layers of dust and cobwebs swathed the corners and walls of the otherwise grandiose room.

Sakura could just make out drapes of scarlet silk decorating the various tapestries and ancient weaponry artefacts that lined the brick walls. She saw the deep gashes in a number of paintings of what appeared to be samurai; as though a blade had been slashed through each portrait in precise malice.

Her eyes were drawn to the floor and lingered warily on the clear stains of old blood on the ground. Something significant had happened here. Sakura drew a breath and looked forward towards her destination. She squinted in the low light, trying to make sense of the time of day. She guessed they were still in the light hours based off the marginally grey light that filtered through, but she couldn't be certain.

A push at her back had Sakura stumbling forwards, and she briefly spared a glare behind her at Yukine. Rolling her shoulders back, Sakura set her jaw and strode further into the insipid room.

Sakura stifled a gasp when she suddenly felt something in her buzz to life; a simmering reaction burning into existence within her. Sakura drifted a hand to her stomach – her core – as she tried to pinpoint the feeling.

…my chakra…?

She glanced warily around the dim room, but couldn't determine a significant source of her internal feedback. She wanted so badly to flare her chakra back in response; to uncover what she couldn't see, but she couldn't risk it. Not here, not now. Not when she was still unsure if drawing upon her hidden chakra could kill her…

Oh Shishou, what would you do? How the hell would you face this? Sakura frowned. Well, you probably would never land yourself in this position in the first place. Sakura gloomily conceded, mentally scolding herself for losing her optimism so quickly. Naruto would surely be disappointed in her.

Sakura reached the base of the throne's altar and stared impatiently at the empty chair. The chair which had a hole through its centre, as though someone had been speared through while sitting there. She bit the inside of her cheek and tossed a scowl back at Yukine behind her.

"I take it punctuality isn't his strong suit then?" she quipped dryly to hide her growing apprehension. "I wonder what you see in him." She muttered turning back around, Yukine remaining unaffected.

Then, Sakura felt it. The buzzing beneath her skin amplified and her hair stood on end as a door was edged open from the side wall. There was a high-pitched ringing in her ears, and a heavy prickle in her chest as a figure slid from the doorway. Sakura blinked as the shadows gave way to the amber and grey light of the room, revealing a tall, elegant man with silvery blue hair tied back, and pale eyes.

The buzzing stilled and the ringing stopped when those eyes caught hers, and Sakura couldn't breathe.

What…? Who - ?

She watched entranced, as the man sank down unto the throne in controlled movements, his lavender eyes contemplative, and his smooth lips turned upwards in thought. He seemed pleased. And Sakura felt mildly ill.

"A pleasure to meet you, Woman." He began in a silky tone, a section of his long hair slipping from his shoulder as he dipped his head. "I have waited a long time for this moment."

Sakura swallowed. "Who are you?" She demanded, shifting her weight and brining her hands up.

The man smiled kindly at her. "I am Otsutsuki Atsuhiko." He said. "And you freed me, Woman."

Sakura's world stopped.

Yukine exhaled through his nose and looked down at the woman who lay once more cataleptic; draped over his arm like fabric from where he caught her.

"Was that truly necessary, Yukine?" Atsuhiko mused with a hint of disappointment.

"She was preparing to attack you." Yukine replied settling her fully into his arms. He idly thought it was becoming harmful, the amount of times this woman had been rendered unconscious in the last few days. She would not benefit them in this state. "She would have hurt herself."

Atsuhiko smiled knowingly. "You did not fear for my safety then?"

Yukine looked up at him and felt the God's underlying amusement. "We both know she cannot hurt you."

Atsuhiko seemed satisfied enough, waving a hand for Yukine to bring the woman closer. "She is remarkably young and small for one so powerful." He noted tenderly, trailing a finger across the pink hair at the woman's temple. "So contradictory and… pink. This, Uchiha Sakura."

Yukine drew a breath and shook his head. "She denies this." He corrected, feeling Atsuhiko's intrigue as he glanced up. "Rather fervently. And yet she expressed confliction over the suggestion."

Atsuhiko studied him, his rolling chakra blooming in interest. His hand next drifted to the woman's stomach, where bandages criss-crossed her abdomen. Yukine felt the spark as Atsuhiko's skin made direct contact with hers; a warm static leaping from one to the other.

"I suppose she claims to be bare as well?"

"In the end, only you could say for certain, Atsuhiko-sama." Yukine confirmed, his brow creasing at the recollection of his own assessment of the woman yielding… tainted results.

The God nodded, closing his eyes and flattening his hand on her abdomen. "A child would indeed complicate matters." He expressed, humming as the golden flow of his chakra swirled deeper into the woman, where it was met welcomingly. "However, it appears such considerations are unnecessary." He lifted his pale eyes to Yukine. "She holds no fruit." His lips quirked momentarily. "Not the Uchiha's, in any case."

Yukine felt Atsuhiko's mild amusement in stark difference to his own discontentment on the matter. "I have yet to find evidence of the Pomegranate on her or Hatake-san." Yukine answered the unasked query. "As it is, she has not been awake long enough for me to question her."

Atsuhiko lifted his hand from the woman to wave him off. "It is only a matter of time." He said, his eyes falling to the pink woman's pinched face.

"And if her claim proves to be true, and she is not wed to the Uchiha?"

Atsuhiko flit his pastel eyes to his, mood swirling. "From what Ara and Hansai have observed, their bond seems connected regardless. He will come for her. He will come to me."

Yukine lowered his chin. "It is as you say then."

Atsuhiko drew his hand back to the woman, lingering on her cheek. "In the meantime, we may begin our first session. This Woman, who has changed everything."

Kakashi had been meditating when he heard the quiet gait of footsteps approaching. He kept his eyes closed, but his ears peeled; attempting to pick out anything of note that could potentially give way to location or time. The scent of sea water, the call of an owl; anything to help tether him to a solid foundation for strategy.

Silver brows creased when all he could decipher was the slight draft of an open door – unhelpfully cold and disappointing. Slowly, his lids slid open to give way to liquid smoke eyes, and Kakashi glowered at his visitor. He didn't dare move as Yukine approached the cell bars with Sakura unconscious and crested in his arms. He didn't know what state she had been in when she'd been taken from him, but it was somehow unsurprising that she was returned this way. The cold inferno was back, boiling in the depths of core.

Kakashi sat still and waited as Yukine effortlessly hulled open the metallic gate and breezed smoothly in with Sakura, his yukata trailing his movements. Yukine graced him with a cursory glance as he approached, as though anticipating a reaction; but Kakashi wasn't going to do so much as twitch. He wasn't going to give the calm bastard a reason to knock him back to square one. Not when he had finally clawed his way back from the disparaged state he left him in.

Yukine raised a raven brow at him, but proceeded to lower Sakura to floor wrapped in her blanket and then refasten the cuffs around her too thin wrists. Despite Yukine's attention never straying from Sakura and his task, Kakashi didn't have a shadow of a doubt that he also had a trained eye on him. Kakashi watched as the cuffs flared a bluish-white as they were clamped shut, and silently appointed himself a pat on the back for his theory.

Lightning elemental based. He affirmed mildly. The first piece of good news in days.

Kakashi blinked and Yukine was staring at him solely now. "She will wake soon. Ensure that she is properly fed and nourished when she does." He instructed.

Kakashi wanted to roll his eyes at such a pointless demand. But Yukine did not immediately move away, and Kakashi took his strange lingering as invitation.

"You fight like a Hyuuga." He said point blank, studying the man for any sort of tell. The thought had been gnawing at him for a while now, and he took the chance while he had it.

Yukine did not so much as blink at the veiled allegation. "Yes."

Kakashi mulled over his easy admittance and considered Yukine as he remained poised and altogether calm, knelt at his level. The man was grace and confidence personified, Kakashi observed; traits befitting his unique style of combat.

"Who taught you the fight style of one of Konoha's most prestigious and private Clans?" He asked, keeping the man's bottle green eyes.

"Are you asking as Hokage?" Yukine redirected, tilting his head at him.

"No." Kakashi shook his head and quietly scanned what he could of Sakura in the movement – she seemed unhurt. "I'm asking as a shinobi. You fight like my comrades and yet you are not. Call it professional curiosity." Kakashi leaned back against the wall, letting his hand innocuously drift closer to Sakura's prone figure.

He wasn't sure what he was trying achieve exactly by interrogating the man here and now. But he hoped it might buy him some piece of valuable information that could make even the smallest difference. A hint of buried loyalty perhaps? An abstract hole in his attack or defence? Or maybe even a missing piece of a puzzle that would bring some closure to a family back home. He'd been doing his job for too long to forget how to think like a Hokage by now. And Kakashi had long since learned the ways of casual interrogation. There was more than one way to break out of jail.

If Kakashi was surprised when Yukine remained knelt adjacent to him on the biting cell floor, he didn't show it.

"His name was Hyuuga Sen." Yukine said, barely betraying a hint of meaning towards the name. "One of your former black operatives."

Kakashi furrowed his brow and searched his mind. "I remember him…" he murmured, careful not to leak his own emotions into the conversation. He had a feeling this man's ability's as a Sensor stretched far beyond mere chakra. "Hyuuga Sen was reported KIA almost twenty years ago. Fatally injured on mission and drowned. His body never recovered." Kakashi recited in perfect recollection.

The report had been passed around in whispers in the ANBU barracks for weeks, not long after he'd joined. An honourable and talented young man, not much older than himself, swallowed up by ANBU and never seen again. The Hyuuga clan… well, they were always very private with such affairs. Kakashi had never really cared to take much notice of things back then. Not when he had other ghosts haunting his every thought.

"You knew him?" Kakashi asked as neutrally as possible.

"I helped fake his death." Yukine confessed simply, openly watching him for his reaction.

Kakashi did not change. For whatever reason, Yukine felt no hesitation in answering his questions now. It was possible the man sort to turn his interrogation against him in some way. Yukine was in a position of complete power; he did not have to do or say anything he didn't want. In fact, he could very well punish Kakashi easily for the mere insult of asking. And yet, he answered. The idea sent warning bells blaring through Kakashi – dead men tell no tales – but the shinobi in him read the deeper meaning behind the man's calm admission.

Kakashi got the feeling he had inadvertently touched upon the heart of this man's Nindō.

"Why?"

Yukine's gaze remained detached as he stared back. Kakashi kept his slouch exaggerated, and lightly tilted his head up in a dangerous gamble of a non-threatening gesture. The man could likely read entirely through him – perhaps read him like an emotional book – but Kakashi committed to the action all the same.

"We met by chance." Yukine began, his tone pensive. "He was running from his Clan. I was running from everything. One conversation led to another, then to a mutual respect and understanding. We both wanted the same things. Freedom. I helped him escape his Clan and village. He helped me control my bloodline."

Kakashi nodded. "You're more than just an ordinary Sensor." He filled in, the edge of his lips quirking upwards in understanding for but a moment.

Yukine dipped his chin, his emerald eyes catching the light. "I am what you say I am. However, if you were to accuse me of anything, it would be that my skills extend beyond mere chakra and straight to the tenuous nature of emotions."

Kakashi clicked his tongue, "A difficult bloodline as any. Especially if you want nothing to do with this life." He said offhandedly, not missing the slight narrowing of Yukine's forest green eyes. "You sense emotions within chakra to a debilitating accuracy and level, I take it. Sen-san taught you Gentle Fist as a way to understand and control your sensory gifts."

"Sen turned a burden into an offensive weapon. I learned to control the input and instead manipulate people's emotions and chakra on an innate level. When and if I so chose."

"But you and Sen-san were never fighters." Kakashi surmised keeping his tone light and his emotions clear and steady. "I remember Sen-san from my ANBU days. He never sought a fight, he avoided what bloodshed he could. He was an honourable shinobi. A good man." Kakashi said honestly.

"He did not belong where your village shunned him." Yukine agreed with a whisper of venom, surprising Kakashi. "But no, we did not seek revenge or money or battle glory. We sought only peace and freedom, living nomadically. We learnt what we could of culture, religion, academics, art. It was beautiful, while it lasted." Yukine finished softly, his eyes straying to Sakura for a moment.

Kakashi swallowed back his creeping apprehension, and Yukine flickered his eyes up to him expectantly, catching onto his unease like a ninja hound with blood. Kakashi let the tension drop from him in a silent exhale. It was a delicate game they were engaged in now. Kakashi just wasn't sure what he was playing for anymore.

"How did he die?" he asked quietly, watching a dark shadow cross Yukine's emerald eyes.

Those same eyes bore into his own, before skimming back across over Sakura. Yukine levelled Kakashi with something short of a condemnent glare. "Conflict arises where attachment is tested. And attachment will bring nothing but demise." He said by way of explanation, his once soft voice becoming sharp. "In our travels a Samurai noble who had a vendetta against Sen sought to use me against him. Sen died because of his attachment.

"I avenged his death in this very fortress. I took what they took from me, down to the last shred of possibility. And I was prepared to meet my own end when Atsuhiko-sama himself stopped me. A 'fortuitous meeting' had he called it."

Kakashi filed the new name away for later. "What did he offer you?"

Yukine's eyes creased at the edges, and his face stole and twisted until he was all but sneering at him. "There is nothing in this life that I want for myself."

And Kakashi could practically hear the unsaid. 'Not anymore'.

"However, Sen believed in honour and destiny. Fate brought me to Atsuhiko and I will honour my debt to him until it has been repaid." Yukine finished apathetically, and Kakashi sensed they were approaching the end of their game.

Yukine began to rise from his knees and Kakashi leaned forward with him. "And then what? Where do you go from here? You serve another man until he releases you?" His words were meant to poker, to bait and Kakashi was not at all surprised when they did neither.

Yukine glanced disinterestedly at him. "For me to know, Rokudaime. You have your answers now. Do with it what you will. It matters not to me."

Kakashi sat back and watched the man step from his cell. "Sen would not stand for the cage of blind loyalty, Yukine." He said softly. "He would want you to be free."

The air seemed evaporate from the very room, and Kakashi saw the way Yukine drew taut at his words. Kakashi braced himself to be pinned to the wall by his neck in the next breath, but instead it was Sakura who Yukine held ransom; pulling her upright by her long hair and holding his hand at her neck.

Kakashi froze, self-loathing, regret and horror hammering through him as he saw the darkness behind the man's measured glare.

"Speak Sen's name once more and I will make it so you never feel a moments happiness again, Kakashi." He threatened darkly, his voice like steel on copper. "I have felt your every emotion since meeting. Do not overestimate your advantage here simply because we once knew the same man."

Kakashi felt his own control slipping. He had let himself push the boundaries, foolishly thinking only he would be at risk from the repercussions. He had misread the man's principle as a form of honour, and now he was watching the consequences of his mistake play out in devastating detail. Kakashi's hands were twitching restlessly by his side as his eyes darted between Sakura and Yukine, holding her very throat in his hand.

"You and the Uchiha will soon learn what Sen died learning." Yukine declared, his fingers tightening around Sakura's pale neck. "Your attachment to this woman will bring only death. Be it yours or hers."

Something like fire blazed across Yukine's emerald orbs, as shadows danced sardonically over his face in the flickering firelight. Kakashi held his breath and curled his fists, Yukine's sneer burning itself into his mind.

And then, the man was gone; vanished in a swirl of green and lavender fabric, with the rough clang of the cell's gate echoing his departure.

Kakashi caught Sakura's head before it could hit the stone floor, and carefully set her back down, his eyes compulsively running over her neck in hysteria. His hands shook as he withdrew from her, Yukine's words reverberating through his mind.

That was twice now someone had seen what Sakura meant to him and threatened to use her against him. Twice now he had put Sakura in danger for merely caring about her.

Kakashi brought his hands to his face and drew them slowly through his hair, gripping the silver strands as he bent his head.

Friend-killer Kakashi. That's what they had called him. The few times in his life he had grown to care for people, it landed him with that cursed moniker.

He didn't want to know what they would call him if he ever dared to love someone.

Suddenly Kakashi understood Sasuke all too well again. Suddenly he remembered why he wore a mask and made sure to keep everyone at arm's length. He remembered why he was the last of his Clan and happy to keep it that way.

He remembered all the reasons for him not to love Haruno Sakura.

Sasuke panted as he expelled the last of his stomach contents in the dirt behind the thorned shrubbery. Sweat trickled down his temples and trailed along his spine as he sat hunched over in pain. He wiped his mouth with the edge of his tattered sleeve and pushed himself away from the liquid expulsion.

"Shit." He muttered to himself.

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder. Naruto was still wondering around the campsite picking at the patch of moss Sasuke had instructed him to harvest. He had fed him some bullshit line about it being good for disinfecting burns just to keep the Dobe busy while he succumbed to his failing health.

Sasuke sat back on his heels and tilted his head to the canopy covered sky. A clammy breeze drifted through the air, making his skin uncomfortably warm and yet sending goosebumps along his arms. He tossed his head to the side and spat out another mouthful of his foul-tasting saliva.

He supposed he had his answer now. The silvery water of this realm was poisonous to humans. And now their time-line had been halved. Sasuke measured he had about two-thirds less than he needed to make the jump back home, probably even less considering his poor health and stamina right now.

Sasuke clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. He had hoped to make the jump this morning, but after what he'd woken up too…

"Fuck."

He didn't have a choice now. They would have to warp back home tonight. He was already dehydrated as it was; they couldn't afford to go another day without water, not in this climate. And not with him quickly succumbing to his undoubtedly infected wound.

Sasuke could see Naruto becoming exhausted too. They had to leave… before he became completely useless and trapped them here indefinitely.

Sasuke staggered to his feet, his head swimming and his body sluggish. "Naruto." He called out hoarsely.

The blond was by his side almost immediately, and Sasuke had to blink a few times to refocus onto his wavering face. He waved off the hand that Naruto cautiously reached out to steady him when Sasuke swayed.

"Hey teme, you – ah… you don't look too good, man."

Sasuke grunted. "Thanks." He wanted to say more but his nausea bade him to snap his mouth shut.

"I got the moss for you." Naruto offered, holding out a large handful of the pungent greenery.

Sasuke turned his face away before the smell could affect him any further. "Get your stuff together." He said instead. "We're leaving, tonight."

Naruto caught his elbow and steered them both back to their base, and Sasuke was too disorientated to shake off his help.

"Tonight? Are you sure, Sasuke? I can see from here you're not nearly recovered enough to make the jump that soon."

Sasuke growled before he knew what he was doing. "We don't have a choice." He rebuked, pulling himself from Naruto and leaning heavily against a tree. "We jump tonight or we die here and disappoint Sakura."

Naruto clicked his jaw shut, a sombre expression settling over him. "How bad?"

Sasuke ran his tongue over the sharp edges of his teeth in frustration and glared unfocused at Naruto's shoulder. "Bad enough."

Naruto let out a breath. "Okay." He said quietly. "Okay, Sasuke. Just get some rest from now until then at least."

Sasuke's cheek twitched in agreement. He would jump them now if he could, but he was simply to weak. He had until tonight to scrounge up chakra before he potentially succumbed to his festering infection. Sasuke shook his head to clear his thoughts when he heard Naruto talking again.

" – and then tonight, we'll go back home and Sakura and Kakashi will be waiting for us, asking what took us so long." A feeble little smile was growing on the blond's face as he talked. "Then Sakura will take one look at you and call you an idiot all the while fixing you up. She'll probably have some choice words for me too." He laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

Sasuke closed his eyes, briefly watching the scene play out in his mind's eye.

Sakura, waiting for him, standing with her petit hands on her slender hips as she stared him down with her big green eyes.

Sakura, running her cool hands over him as she lectured about all the ways he was being reckless, and telling him how she worried over him.

Sakura, catching his eyes and making him promise her he was going to be more careful next time.

Sakura, holding her hands behind her back and smiling at him like she knew something he didn't as she waited for him to promise her.

Sakura, waiting for him. Waiting for him to do better for her, by her.

Sakura, and her sweet smile, compassionate heart and beautiful eyes.

In that moment, Sasuke wanted nothing more than Sakura and the chance to do just that.

He was going to make it home. Make it back to Sakura.

Naruto caught Sasuke as he passed out against the side of the tree.

"Stubborn bastard." He murmured, carefully dragging him under the oak and laying him carefully on his uninjured side. "Sakura-chan is definitely going to rip you a new one for coming back to her like this, Teme."

Naruto eased onto his rear and blew out a breath. "We gotta do better for her, Sasuke. If she feels anything like this when we get ourselves into trouble… I guess now I know why she likes to lectures us while she heals." He laughed weakly. "This… this feeling sucks, Teme."

Naruto picked up his kunai and ran it over the edges of his fingers distractedly as he gazed at the tropical forest, a bittersweet sorrow taking root in his chest.

"Happy Anniversary Hinata." He whispered to the open air. "I'm sorry I'm not there to tell you that in person."

Naruto ran a hand through his dirty blond hair and licked his dry lips. "I'll bring my team back home and make this up to you, I swear it. We can even go get that fancy sushi you like, and I'll wear that scratchy yukata you think brings out my eyes. And I'll tell you every day how thankful I am to have you. I'll bring them back home and I'll sweep you up and kiss you. And we'll all be happy, together again. That's a Uzumaki Naruto promise." He grinned faintly and closed his glimmering blue eyes. "Believe it."

Kakashi was on his seventh set of push-ups when Sakura came to.

An indistinguishable groan ricocheted off the walls as Sakura hissed and arched.

Kakashi paused in his movements, and watched as she slowly pushed herself up from where she lay along the ground, wrapped in cotton with his blanket wedged under her head.

"You have got to be kidding me." She swore as she brought a manacled hand up to rub her head.

Kakashi studied her from here he held his position, something in him hesitating from immediately going to her side. Her eyes landed on him, and he felt her tentative confusion cut deep.

"…Sensei?" she asked, just as hesitant and Kakashi shook off his foolish reluctance at her unsteady voice.

"Yeah, I'm here." He said softly shifting to his knees but keeping a measured distance between them. "Are you alright?" He was so afraid of her answer.

Sakura rubbed her neck and then blinked a few times looking down at herself. "Yeah." She said slowly. "I think so. If anything, I feel… rested." She looked back up at him questioningly, as though he might have the answers.

The corner of his eyes tightened. "What happened?" He had to know, and he braced himself for the worst.

Sakura's jade eyes darted between his own, and he could guess she was trying not to read into his sudden reticence. Kakashi kept his face neutral. "What happened?" He repeated in his ANBU captain voice.

Sakura straightened at the tone, perhaps unconsciously responding to the firm command. "I… don't know. I was taken to a throne room of sorts, to meet their 'Master'. But then something felt…" she drifted off and furrowed her brow, bringing a hand up to touch her temple. "How long was I gone?"

"Just under two hours."

Verdant eyes ran over the faint gravel markings of the stone floor, her bottom lip tucked back between her teeth as she chewed on it thoughtfully. "It's like one massive black spot in my memory. I don't know what happened after I…" She paused and suddenly her hands clutched at her body – her abdomen – a faint tremble lining her movements.

His controlled demeaner left him in an instant. "I'll kill them."

Sakura's panicked eyes shot to his and immediately her hands flew to his arm, chains rustling. "Hey. It's okay. I'm okay, Kakashi." She said in a rush. "I think maybe they might've just done a scan or something?"

Kakashi stared at her, running his gaze over what he could see of her body now that she had left the comforts of the blankets. His eyes narrowed at the slightly loosened bandages over her limbs but Sakura's hands tightened on his arm, pulling his attention back to her face.

He could see it in her eyes. That she wasn't sure she believed her reassurance either, even to her own ears – despite the brave face she pulled. But it was better than whatever alternative was running through her mind. Likely still a million times better than what was running through his. She needed this. He might too. This wilfully ignorant comfort she tried to give them. Because if there was one thing worse than being at the mercy of someone else; it was not knowing what they did with that power.

Kakashi couldn't seem to regain his control back as his blood moved like ice through his veins. He nodded mutely to her and noted her slight relief at his acceptance of her plead. His jaw ticked. She shouldn't be the one trying to comfort him. He looked back to her face to tell her as much, but instead noticed something; the peeling edges of one of the bandages on her cheeks. It had all but completely come off. Kakashi lifted a hand to inspect it and his eyes widened fractionally.

"Your burns."

Sakura brought a hand to hover next to his at her cheek. "What?"

"They're healed." The words came out tightly and Kakashi fought not to show too much of his wariness on the matter. What the hell had they done to her?

Sakura quickly pulled aside the white material covering one of her arms and gasped. She pulled at more until at least one sliver of her unmarred skin was revealed on each plane of her body. She was winded slightly at the end of it and Kakashi cautiously watched.

Sakura bit her raw lip again and tilted her head, studying her smooth palms most intently. Kakashi noted spots of blood on parts of the gauze that now dangled from her wrists.

Something had happened to make her bleed. Kakashi pulse was in his throat, suffocating him in quiet fury.

"I guess maybe that time I was out of the chakra inhibitor cuffs, my own chakra instinctually moved healed me?" She theorised faintly once more, again entirely uncertain she could prove or disprove this one either.

Kakashi took a breath and smoothed his hand over one of hers, closing her palm to her stagnant inspection. "Then let's be grateful for small miracles."

She looked up at him slowly and nodded. Kakashi withdrew his hand and took up residence leaning against the cell wall again. He could feel the way Sakura was watching him, but he kept himself unreadable to her worried gaze.

"What about you?" She eventually asked in the wake of his silence. "Are you…"

"I'm fine." He answered before she could ask, once again reminded of that shameful little fact that he hadn't been enough to protect her when it counted. He kept talking so she couldn't question him. "Whatever progress I was making on those cuffs has been stunted for now, thanks to our friend. He completely shut off my network. It's going to take a little for it to wear off and reconnect."

Almost exactly like the aftereffects of Gentle Fist. He thought morosely.

And yet, Kakashi couldn't shake the feeling that Yukine had done something else to him as well. He'd like to take the easy way and blame it on the man's ability to manipulate emotions within his targets. But Kakashi knew that man hadn't needed to touch him to get his true point across.

No. Kakashi was feeling bitter and jaded and tired of this whole mess. And he only had himself to blame for thinking he could get away with pulling off the same reckless shit he did when he was young, numb and invincible. He was the idiot who forgot how much things changed when he became Hokage and truly met Haruno Sakura for the first time. He forgot how much he now had to lose.

"Sensei. We have to get out of here before Naruto and Sasuke-kun come looking for us." Sakura's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "However wrong their information was on my relationship with Sasuke-kun, they aren't wrong that he'll still come for us."

Kakashi spared her a glance at the steel in her voice, and she looked back at him unwaveringly. "I don't know what they were hoping to gain by insinuating that Sasuke-kun and I were… involved. But I refuse to be used against him." She declared fiercely.

Kakashi hooked a hand under his chin and let himself ruminate over the scenario once more; going over all the details that seemed just a touch too convenient to have perfectly brought them to this moment. A dark – horrendously sceptical – part of Kakashi couldn't help but speculate that perhaps Sasuke's need for Sakura had been two-fold…

From the very beginning, Sasuke had wanted only Sakura with him on his mission, to the point of practical hostility. Had he wanted to be seen with her? He was planning on the two of them travelling alone, was he not? Perhaps even use her as a way to draw out his enemies? To establish their motives and identities? Invite a false rumour to entice his enemies into revealing themselves?

No, that couldn't be right. Sasuke had seemed far too distressed at the Inn that Naruto and Sakura had involved themselves even remotely in his life. He wanted to protect them just as much as Kakashi did… Then again, Sasuke had also asked Sakura to all but sacrifice herself for some unknown phenomenon, and was now conveniently missing when they had been ambushed after releasing the Seal.

Kakashi tore himself from the thought. No. He had seen the concern on Sasuke's face, as they all watched Sakura place her hands on that Seal. He had felt Sasuke's anguish when he was forced to leave her side. Sasuke hadn't planned this. He wouldn't.

Perhaps it was entirely coincidence and just an unhealthy amount of their terrible team luck. And yet, Kakashi had been raised to be suspicious by nature – a killer, a shinobi – and he knew by now to look underneath the underneath. Yukine had been right before; shinobi lie, and trust is transitory. Kakashi felt his doubt festering within him, like a poison. He was going to be sick.

"Kakashi?"

"You need to eat." He told Sakura abruptly, sharply closing the door on his spiralling thoughts. He couldn't afford to start suspecting Sasuke like that. Sasuke had his trust. He told the kid as much not three days ago. "And before you yell at me, I'll eat when I'm hungry."

He hadn't meant for it to sound so harsh, but judging by Sakura's smothered flinch, he'd failed at that too. Kakashi felt agitated; had been since the moment he woke up in the cell alone. He couldn't tempt himself to reach for deflection or hide behind humour now; not for his comfort, and not even for Sakura's. He needed to be stronger than that. He couldn't afford to show his hand again. Not when it could end up risking Sakura even more.

Kakashi closed his eyes and settled himself into meditation once he was sure Sakura had moved to follow his orders. He tried to work back some of the progress he had made in figuring out the frequency of the chakra inhibitor cuffs; tried to feel for what was familiar and inherent in his being. He withheld his frustrated snarl when all he felt was cold emptiness. His agitation pulsed into a searing frustration.

"Eggplant saury."

Kakashi snapped his eyes open at the quiet statement. He looked at Sakura as she sat, smiling sadly into her little bowl of half-eaten rice.

"Sakura?"

She looked up at him, eyes soft yet determined. "Can you make us some, when we get back home? I've had a craving for it."

Kakashi blinked, unsure of her abrupt change. "Sure." He found himself agreeing, frowning at her slightly. Perhaps her fever had worsened since she'd left? His hand twitched to touch her face, but he held himself back.

Sakura's small smile grew into a tentative grin and she brought her knees up to her chest as she glanced back at the despondent clay bowl in her hands. "I know I always give you crap about it and it's no tempura, but it's damn tasty."

Kakashi found himself nodding dumbly, "Better than ramen?"

He didn't know what compelled him to say those words, to keep the random conversation going, but Kakashi thought it was worth it just to see the way she twisted her lips and tilted her head back in thought. She glanced back at him with a guilty shrug and the corner of Kakashi's lips quirked before he could stop it.

"So fickle you are." He breathed into his chest.

Kakashi wearily knocked his head back on wall and wondered what he was doing. Wondered why he was letting himself be dragged back to their easy companionship, when he had already decided that he wasn't good for her. He drew a heavy breath and vaguely felt the displacement of air and body heat as Sakura shuffled closer; her shoulder just barely grazing his. The blanket he had folded under her head was dropped unceremoniously on his lap.

"Don't tell Naruto, but I could probably go for ten rounds of ramen right now." She sighed from his side.

His idle fingers fiddled with the blanket as he slid her a glance from the corner of his eye. "What happened to my saury?"

Sakura shrugged and gave him what could've been a cheeky smile if circumstances were different. "You're going to make it for me. And then you're going to summon all of your Ninken and I'll rub their bellies until I pass out. And I guess you'll be there too, reading your erotica or whatever. And I'll be in a Ninken-coma." She declared dreamily, wiggling her feet from beneath the blanket she had covering her legs.

Kakashi absently watched the movement, quietly pondering "Just whose fantasy are you having? Yours or theirs?"

"It can be both." Sakura said easily, looking beyond the iron bars of their cell. "Do you want to add yours into the mix while we're at it?"

Kakashi sighed and drew his head back to stare at the ceiling again. He wasn't sure what this conversation was doing to him. He couldn't tell if it was lifting his spirits or solidifying his resolutions.

"Maa, I think yours sounds pretty good to me." He ended up telling her.

"Hmm. I bet it would. That way you wouldn't have to leave your apartment, Hermit-sama." She nudged his shoulder, the contact lasting far too long, until he realised she wasn't going to pull away.

Kakashi closed his eyes, suddenly too tired to think anymore. "So says the woman demanding to be smothered in dogs."

"Not dogs. Ninken." She correctly on a yawn.

He waved a careless hand. "They shed the same."

"I want a dog." She said after a pause.

"Mm?"

"Yeah. I've just been… waiting for the right time I guess. Waiting for…" She trailed off, shoulders dropping.

"Wanna share mine?" Kakashi didn't know what possessed him to say it, but he couldn't take it back now. Not when he felt the way Sakura perked from beside him.

"Huh?"

Kakashi opened his eyes and looked down to her, studying the openness of her face. His lip twitched and he saw the way her eyes tracked the movement. He continued watching her, just as she watched his lips.

"They're all trained up, pretty independent, and good company. They can talk, which can be entertaining given the topic of conversation. You wouldn't have to go out of your way to buy a different shampoo." Kakashi saw her growing smile, whether from the novelty of watching him talk or the words themselves, he couldn't be sure. He licked his lips. "And besides, you're already pack."

Sakura's eyes flickered to his, surprise written across her face. "I…am?"

He tilted his head at her. "They don't let just anyone rub their bellies, Sakura."

"They – You… wouldn't mind?"

Kakashi shrugged. His Ninken had been pestering him about this long enough by now, he certainly knew their thoughts on it. His own… Kakashi shook his head. His own thoughts were irrelevant. "Like I said, you're pack… Team Seven." He tacked on carefully.

He wouldn't show his hand again.

Sakura flushed with her smile and he could see the pink of it now that most of her face had been cleared of her bandages. "I'd like that." She whispered looking down at her hands.

Kakashi looked down at her hands too, and wondered what she was thinking. He wondered if he could give back to her a fraction of what she had given to him… to their team. He wanted to hit himself at his entirely cowardly offer of his Ninken and 'Team Seven'. She already had that, them. He was just giving her the words that went with the unspoken bond.

'Your attachment to this woman will bring only death. Be it yours, or hers.'

The voice slithered back up his spine and entered his brain, and Kakashi turned his eyes away. No, he wouldn't forget this time – the reason he had long ago chosen to walk his path alone.

Kakashi stole a glance at the woman contentedly eating stale rice and smiling softly into it like she had the world to look forward to at the end of that bowl.

Well. At the very least, Sakura would have his pack to look after her. Even if he could never offer her the same of himself.

Ara dusted the ice off her shoulders as she ducked under the brick awnings of the old Samurai fortress. Her face twisted in annoyance when Hansai shook his mane out like a feral animal beside her, already mumbling to himself about all the things he wanted to do when he got to his 'pets' again. Tossing her long burgundy hair over her shoulder, Ara strode towards her destination, leaving Hansai in her aggravated wake.

Searching for the Uchiha brat and his Foxy friend had been a complete waste of her time. Meanwhile, Yuki had been hogging their precious gem of a captive. Ara licked her lips. She couldn't wait for the chance to get her hands in Sakura's pretty pink head. The things she could show her.

Perhaps it was the loud clack of her heeled boots in the otherwise abandoned building, or maybe it was the way her chakra sung in infuriated eagerness. Either way, it didn't take long for Yukine to find her.

Ara dug her red nails into the loops of her pants as she glared at the man effortlessly blocking her path. She knew he could sense her terrible mood and made no effort to conceal it from him in the least. Let him suffer my wrath.

"She is resting." Yukine informed her knowingly and Ara narrowed her eyes at his veiled command.

"The Princess has been resting since before we captured her. It's time someone woke her up." She defied, side stepping him.

"Atsuhiko-sama met with her." Yukine halted her with his smooth voice. "The first transfusion was a success."

Ara's flesh rippled with the revelation, and she slowly turned her flaxen eyes onto him. A strong spike of excitement, hunger and envy surged through her and Ara noted the way Yukine turned slightly from her in reaction.

"It worked then?" She breathed.

"The true extent of its success remains to be seen. But yes, Atsuhiko-sama's blood now runs through her veins."

Ara couldn't help but lick her lips, her pupils dilating. "So then now – "

"Now," Yukine interrupted, "we wait."

A/N: Thank you to all those still reading! I appreciate your patience and love reading all your comments!

This was chapter was originally a lot less angsty. But stuff happens. And now our unshakable Kakashi has been ruffled. Sorry not sorry.

Fun fact: The 'Dogs and Suary' convo is a two-toned passage. If you read just the dialogue it's adorable, but reading it with Kakashi's internal deliberation, it's a very different conversation. To Sakura it's a fluffy declaration. To Kakashi it's an insurance policy. :P

Both Sakura and Kakashi had a lot to unpack this chapter. And I don't think either of them really know where they've landed.
Otherwise, we got some bad news on Sasuke and his 'water poisoning'. Our poor TragicBoy can't catch a break. And Naruto has officially missed his anniversary with Hinata. :(

We also got some major info about Yukine (bad boy coming in swinging with Kakashi's silly questions) and our BIG BAD Atsuhiko. Bonus kudos to the people who called his connection to the Otsutsuki clan! (But don't try looking him up because I 100% took creative liberties with his existence haha).

Excited to hear your thoughts on this chapter. I know it was kinda a lot.
Much love everyone! :)