NOTE: There will be discussions of assault,/sexual assault in some of these chapters. If you are sensitive to this, please take caution. They will not go into detail, but we all have different types of sensitivity levels. I will note those chapters at the top of each one.

The Sun sat high in the sky as Hatake Kakashi and Karasu Chiisai made their way through the busy streets. Chiisai reluctantly allowed him to hold her hand as he led her through the market, and once every few minutes he squeezed her fingers to pull her out of the villagers' dreams.

"Just don't make eye contact," Kakashi reminded her. "And at least try to look happy."

She gave him a glare, and he chuckled. Her glare might as well be her smile- at least that was what he wanted to believe. After all, he knew without a doubt she loved him. Would she ever realize how much he loved her, how much he needed her? His unfortunate life had taken so many loved ones.

"Are you even listening?"

"Hmm?" The jonin glanced down at Chiisai, who still wore her trademark glare. "What did you say?"

Sighing, she tugged on his arm and pointed, "Can we go in there?"

His eye followed her finger to a building. Odd, he never noticed such a place before. It was a homey, quaint house, but he didn't need his keen vision to see the cracks of paint running up and down the walls, or the weeds overtaking the front.

"Why would you want to go in there?"

"I want to meet them," she replied. Kakashi frowned and glanced back at the house. The doors were now made of glass, and his eye widened at the people inside. His father, mother, Minato-Sensei, Kushina, Rin, Obito; they were all there.

Chiisai pulled on his arm, but Kakashi didn't move. The others smiled as they ushered Chiisai to them, beckoning her to them. Kakashi wanted to run to them, to get inside and finally be reunited. But he knew that such a thing was impossible. He would remain on this side of the glass for a long time.

However, Kakashi did want Chiisai to know them. Shouldn't someone he cherished meet others he cherished? But something was wrong. No, this wasn't the right time for them to see each other. Maybe one day they would all be together again, without any wars or failed missions. For now he still needed Chiisai with him.

Kakashi sighed and patted her on the head. "You've already met them in their dreams, Small Tiger."

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "But it's not the same as meeting them in person." With a soft smile, Chiisai gave him a peck on the cheek and said, "It'll just take a second. Besides, they're already waiting on me." She pulled away and started toward the worn house, glancing back only once to give a reassuring smile.

"Wait-" He lunged for her, but his feet sunk into the dirt. Cursing, Kakashi adjusted his movements, knowing each second wasted could cost him. The wooden stairs creaked under her small weight, pushing Kakashi to work faster. But by the time he freed himself it was too late. She was already inside, smiling, laughing, being welcomed like an old friend.

Kakashi was instantly at the door. He tried multiple times, but it didn't budge. Frantic, Kakashi beat his fist on the glass, causing it to rattle against its frame. "Open the door!"

But Chiisai wasn't listening. No one was. His father gave her a hug and ruffled her hair before Rin took hold of her hand. Chiisai followed without resistance. No, she didn't belong with them! She belonged with him!

"Chiisai," Kakashi yelled, "don't you dare leave me!"

They already had their backs to him. Kakashi slammed his fists again and again, and even as his knuckles bled the door didn't give. He rammed his full weight into it, but the old house was deceivingly fortified. Their time together had been too short. Chiisai was slipping away from him like all the rest. But wasn't that how it always was?

It was no use. Why had he let himself become so attached so easily? Hadn't he already learned that attachments only led to heartache? This battle he could never win in the end, he realized. Even with that knowledge his heart still called out to her. But just like the rest of them, she was never coming back. Kakashi sank to his knees as he watched them fade.

"Please," he whispered raggedly, "don't leave me."

"Sorry, Farm Boy." Her warm voice grazed his ear before pain burst through him. Eye wide, breath gone; Kakashi gaped down at the bloody blade protruding from his chest. Pain kept him from moving, from thinking. Her small arms wound around his neck while she leaned against him. Her soft lips caressed his masked face as she whispered, "I love you. Remember that, okay?"

The pain was too far inside him, too deep to get away from. It twisted within him, crushing him like a heavy weight on his chest. But this was no longer from physical pain. She didn't have to stab him for Kakashi to feel this suffocating burden. She was abandoning him like all the rest. No, her words were enough to have him spiraling into the darkness he had fought for so long.

He found himself falling into it, finally accepting the end.

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Lord Danzo regarded the ninja before him. "Uchiha Itachi is much more troublesome than I thought possible. What are your thoughts concerning he and Chiisai?"

The ninja removed his mask. He stared down at the the green stripe that came to a halt at the nose. Even as an experienced ROOT member, Fu found it difficult to comprehend the events he had witnessed.

"My patience is wearing thin."

He nodded. "Itachi used his advantage in battle to persuade her to join him. Chiisai was the one to stop the fight before she overtook Hoshigaki's body. Itachi then used his Sharingan on her once they secured a location, and within a few moments she reacted to his jutsu. Hatake and the rest later arrived and assumed Itachi was attacking her, however, the Uchiha seemed…Very fond of the girl." The memory of the S-ranked missing-nin cradling the girl continued to cut across his vision. Itachi was a cruel, heartless ninja who had massacred his entire clan, but seeing him with Chiisai-

"What else?"

Fu shook his head, knowing Danzo would not be pleased. "I am afraid much of the events happened within her mind. After everyone went unconscious, the Uchiha was the first to awaken." Bowing his head, he said, "I am sorry my lord, but I cannot verify what he did to her before or afterwards, but his Sharingan was greatly weakened. Even when I had a head start with the girl, Itachi was able to intervene."

There was a moment of silence as the tension built. Danzo intertwined his fingers as he rested his elbows on the table. "And he still defeated you?"

He nodded, feeling no guilt or anger. It was as it was, and nothing could change that. "Yes. He wanted me to relay a message to you."

That caused the elderly man to raise an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"You should be careful what you wish for. What you think you desire may be too much for you to handle."

The Uchiha really was playing this game, it seemed. "So that is why he let you live."

"Hai." The Uchiha's ferocity during their swift battle still sent shivers down his spine.

Danzo gazed down at the file on his desk. It was all of the information his members had gathered on Chiisai, and there was still much to know. The Uchiha's threat was already fading in his mind. He would become Hokage, and he would do it at any cost. "Given the circumstances," he said, "I believe this might turn in our favor. Lady Tsunade will have trouble explaining this to the council." Indeed, how would she even be able to tell Kakashi about their mishap with the girl? "Now, dismissed."

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"It's good to finally see you awake."

Kakashi's muscles yelled in protest as he moved his head to the sound. His vision blurred, but he knew Kaori's voice. At least he knew he was in the hospital, and with the way he felt, he must have been in one hell of a battle. His eyes widened at the thought, and his memories came rushing back. Kakashi took in a harsh breath as a new pain flooded his chest.

His throat was raw as he asked, "Where's Chiisai?"

For a moment the woman's eyes constricted, as if she were overcome with emotion. She quickly recovered and said, "I need to get the Hokage."

Gathering all strength left in him, Kakashi extended his arm and grabbed her wrist. Was she shaking? Fighting the nausea rising in his throat, he forced out, "…Chiisai. Where is she?" He wasn't sure how long his mind could endure without that knowledge, and he had only been awake for less than two minutes.

It didn't take much for her to pull away. "I don't know, I'm just a nurse." She headed towards the door and added, "The Hokage might tell you."

Fear washed over him at her quiet tone. Did that mean Chiisai was alive? Or had Lady Tsunade taken it upon herself to tell him what he didn't want to hear? Kaori had acted strange, as if she were ashamed. Kakashi took several deep breaths, aiming to calm his heart rate. No, he was trying too hard to find something wrong. Confined to a bed would only elevate his worry. But with the last memory of Chiisai resurfacing…If she truly had given him the last of her chakra, then there was definitely a need to worry.

It didn't take five minutes before the Hokage entered. Shizune followed and shut the door behind her. Neither one seemed eager to talk. Even Tonton appeared distressed.

"Genma beat you by two days," Tsunade noted. "You've been out a week."

"Chiisai."

The two women exchanged glances before the Hokage replied, "I need to know what happened first."

Though his throat was sore from lack of use, Kakashi forced himself to ask again, "Where is she?"

"We can discuss that later."

"Damn it." Their hesitance meant bad news, and his heart seemed to already prepare for the inevitable. He met Tsunade's gaze, his eye like a storm. "Where. Is. She."

Lady Tsunade rubbed her temples and took a deep breath. She replied, "The team I sent found you all unconscious. Sakura was able to use the Chakra Transfer Technique on Chiisai in time. She was alive, but barely."

He closed his eye as relief washed over him. It was as if a hefty weight had been lifted off his shoulders and even the ache in his muscles seemed to lessen. Alive. His heart seemed to proclaim it with each beat in his chest. He wanted to laugh, to jump, to do something besides besides laying in the damned hospital bed.

Lady Tsunade said, "Rest, and when I come back I expect you to relay everything that happened." Turning to the door, she finished, "Genma was somewhat at a loss to explain." In fact, the ninja had known little about what happened, but he had mentioned Hitoshi's death, as well as the Akatsuki.

"When can I see her?"

She shook her head and smiled, "Don't get too ahead of yourself, Kakashi. You can't even lift your head up off the pillow. Just focus on recovering for now."

Once the door closed, Shizune turned to the Hokage and whispered, "We're going to have to tell him the rest. Delaying it will only-"

"I know," she replied. Her frustration at the situation meant she'd need more than one drink tonight, but she couldn't even waste time for that. "Resting is the only thing he needs to do, and if I tell him the truth…" Sighing, Tsunade closed her eyes and muttered, "It's times like these when I especially hate my job."

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"You never talk about the girl."

Itachi closed his eyes. This was the third time Kisame had brought Chiisai up, so ignoring it seemed fruitless. "She is of no importance."

The ninja cocked his head to the side as he observed the Uchiha. Kisame remembered little from the event, but he did remember a few things. "I don't believe that."

"Then don't."

Kisame cocked an eyebrow and adjusted Samehada on his shoulder. "You think she's still alive?"

"No," he replied without emotion. Whatever Chiisai had done to his comrade had left its mark. Of course, she had controlled his body for a period of time, which might have left some side effects.

"Hmph," he frowned, "I was hoping to meet her again." That scrawny mess of a girl probably had interesting information on Itachi. And then there was the dream he had, where she told him that blue wasn't a bad color at all, that it in fact was her favorite color. But why should Kisame dwell on such things? So what if he wasn't good with the ladies- he was a killer, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

Itachi's voice broke through the silence. "Your sudden interest baffles me."

Kisame snorted and said, "She called you an asshole. That racks points up in my book."

The Uchiha continued to walk through the forest. He was thankful his cloak hid most of his body, or else Kisame would be able to see his muscles tense. "I suggest you move on. She is dead."

Kisame couldn't help but pester the young man. It wasn't every day he had something to pester him about. "After all that fun and you didn't find a thing about the jinchuriki. I shouldn't be surprised that you killed her."

With a tone like ice, Itachi replied, "Sometimes you can't afford to leave loose ends."