Thank you guys for the reviews/favorites/alerts! :D Sorry for the delayed update. I've been working like a dog recently -_-. Reviews do inspire me to post faster though (winkwinknudgenudge) just sayin ;). Anyways, enjoy the new chapter! :D

Chapter 8

"I think she's going to be okay," Miyuki said mostly to reassure herself as she healed Akahana inside their small room at an inn. They were still pretty far behind schedule, but if they sped up their pace tomorrow, they would be able to catch up. "I was able to heal all of her internal organs and put a temporary seal on her wound, but she'll have to go to the hospital once we get to Konoha, and she'll have to be careful…"

Akahana had been unconscious for a while, but now she looked a little healthier. She was still paler than usual but some color had returned to her face, enough to give all of them relief. Both Kazue and Kakashi were at Miyuki's side, in case she needed them to get anything, while Sango sat in the corner and tried her best to stay out of the way.

"Since I'm technically second in command, I think we should go back. We're only two days from the capital and at least a week, if not further, from Konoha. We should go back, get Akahana medical attention, and then try the journey again when she's better," Kakashi said, with Miyuki nodded in agreement.

"No, there's no way Akahana will fly with that," Kazue said quickly. "We have to finish the mission. Akahana won't go back, so there's no point in wasting our breath. Besides, Sango's wedding is scheduled for two weeks. If we go back, they'll have to reschedule and that could cause some problems."

Kazue remembered Akahana telling her about the process that went into picking a wedding date for important weddings like this. All sorts of people were consulted about what would be the best date that would appease the spirits and bring harmony and what not. If they turned back now, the fire country would have to go through that whole ordeal again. Also, turning back would look bad on Akahana and their entire team. Going back wasn't an option.

"But Akahana is really weakened now. If we get attacked again…" Miyuki's voice trailed off.

"Then we'll just be very careful," Kazue said sharply. "We don't have another choice. We have to keep going, so don't even consider turning back anymore. Now get some sleep. She's stable and we're here. The worst we can do is stay up all night in worry and not rest while we can. Also… Kakashi, you may want to go bathe…"

"What?" he asked, confused by what would inspire her to say that.

"You have a lot of blood on you," she said simply. He looked at his blood covered hands and arms that he hadn't even noticed. "Don't worry. Akahana isn't going anywhere."

This was the first time anyone had called Kakashi out on his feelings for anyone, and it brought a blush to his face. It was somewhat hidden under his mask, but it was creeping higher and higher up his face, so he excused himself to go wash up.

"Told you he liked her," Kazue said to lighten the mood. Miyuki smiled and Sango chuckled, getting up and lying in one of the beds.

"She will be okay though, right?" Sango asked, worried because she'd become somewhat fond of these shinobi in these few days. For the first time in her life, they weren't bending to her commands because she was a princess. They just told her to shut up and deal with it.

"I think so," Miyuki said with as much confidence as her voice could muster. "Akahana is tough."

"Yeah I am," Akahana grumbled from the bed, putting her hands over her bared breasts. "You guys couldn't get me a new shirt?"

"AKAHANA!" Kazue yelled, gently tackling her friend. "Oh my other half, I thought you were going to die!"
"You're being dramatic," she said, poking Kazue's forehead so she would get off of her. Not only was the girl a head taller and at least 30 pounds heavier than Akahana, but she was having issues breathing anyways. Being tackled wasn't helping. "Does anyone have another shirt I could wear and where's the boy?"

"I have an extra, but I think it won't fit your…. Chest region," Miyuki blushed and tossed her friend a shirt. She tried to put it on, but Miyuki had been right.

"Check the boy's things. Where is he?" Akahana asked again as Kazue hopped from the bed and took the opportunity to dig through Kakashi's stuff. She found an extra shirt he had packed and tossed it at her.

"He's washing up," Sango answered. Akahana nodded a "thanks" as she pulled Kakashi's shirt on. She tried to not let any of them notice her taking in the smell of it, which was very natural, like after a cool rain.

"How are you feeling?" Miyuki asked as Akahana ran her hands through her hair, which had dried blood in it.

"Oh, don't let my 'cheerful' disposition fool you, I feel like hell," Akahana admitted. She felt dizzy and weak from blood loss and hunger. She hadn't eaten since those dangos at the capital. Every time she took a breath, she felt like the seal Miyuki had molded on her chest would split open. "There's no way I could fight like this."

"Then take it easy," Kazue said. "We have three other able-bodied shinobi. You will be honorary 'I look scary but I will not fight' shinobi."

"So I'll be useless?" she asked sadly.

"A little, at least until we get to Konoha," Miyuki said. Akahana moved from those thoughts, so she wouldn't have to be disgusted by her inability to do much for a while.

"What happen to you all while I was fighting?" she asked, wanting every detail.

"When we heard the bombs, Kakashi went back for you," Kazue described. "After that, we hurried to get to the inn, but got lost because I can't read maps well. We did eventually find this place. Kakashi met up with us about an hour after we got here. Princess already ate and is taken care of for the night, oh, and I got you this." She tossed an onigiri to Akahana.

"Thanks," she said, reaching to catch it, but missing. Miyuki caught it for her and handed it to her. "Wow, I am useless."

"Oh come off it," Kazue said with irritation. "You and Kakashi fought all of those people by yourself. You're not useless."

Akahana just smiled at how Kazue could always make her feel better. She was one of those people who was just born with that ability to almost always be cheerful. The only time Akahana had ever seen her sad was when both of her parents had died on a mission, but that was understandable.

"You're awake," Kakashi said as he emerged from the bathroom, looking much cleaner. "And you're wearing my clothes."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but we made Akahana put clothes back on," Kazue joked, sticking her tongue out at Kakashi. Akahana chuckled, but would've laughed harder if it wouldn't have hurt. Sango smiled, her eyes drooping.

"Get sleep Princess. We're use to being up late, but you need to sleep," Kazue said as she pulled off her jacket and finally started relaxing. Miyuki pulled herself over to the bed and laid down too. "How who should I sleep with? Hmmm…."

Just to burst Kakashi's bubble, Kazue was going to sleep with Akahana and him that night, but something she saw in Akahana's eyes changed her mind. She wasn't looking at Kazue, but at Kakashi with a sort of fondness that she'd never seen before. There was no way that Akahana was actually falling for him, was there? No, it had to just be the fact that he saved her ass.

"I think I'll sleep with the girls. Boys are smelly," Kazue said as she stuck her tongue out again at Kakashi. He just rolled her eyes and Akahana smiled at Kazue, happy that she made that choice. The pair waited until everyone was surely asleep before talking.

"Thank you," Kakashi said, both of his eyes meeting Akahana's. She just smiled and laid her head back. "How can I repay you?"

"Can you wash the blood out of my hair?" she asked. Kakashi smiled and picked her up. "I'm not crippled."

"Irrelevant," he said, carrying her into the bathroom and filling up the bucket that Sango had soaked her feet in with water, rinsing it out a few times before sitting on the floor where he had set Akahana. He picked her back up and put her in his lap, making her flush. He didn't really notice because he was focused on this task, so he dipped her head back into the bucket and scrubbed her hair until the dried blood softened and came out. She felt like she was going to fall asleep right there because of how gentle he was, not tugging at the clots like she would have, but carefully running his fingers through them until they came out on their own.

"Thanks," she whispered, mostly because her chest was starting to hurt again and she was exhausted. He pulled her back up, supporting her back but letting her head lean back so he could wrap it in a towel before carrying her back. Instead of complaining, she wrapped her arms around his neck and crossed her ankles, watching them dangle uselessly to the side. "You are going to make your wife really happy one day."

"Hmm?" he asked, smiling. He knew he'd probably never get married one day, so the thought of it just made him smile. He wasn't the type to get married, and he had a feeling Akahana wasn't either.

"Never mind," she said, closing her eyes as Kakashi laid her back down in bed. "Since I'm on the 'brink of death', can I ask you something without consequences?"

"You aren't on the brink of death. Miyuki said you'll be fine," Kakashi reassured. "And yeah, you can ask me anything."

"What happened to your eye?" she asked as Kakashi sat down next to her in bed.

"Back when I first became a jonin, I was an idiot. It was during the war, and I was leading my team, but I knew nothing about teamwork. I ended up getting my eye slashed out carelessly," he said somewhat quickly. Akahana could tell she was getting the condensed version. "My eye now, is one of my old teammates. We never got along in life, but I have a feeling if we'd known each other longer, we could've been great friends."

"He was an Uchiha," Akahana stated rather than questioned. Kakashi nodded. "I was wondering why you had only one sharingan eye. You don't look like an Uchiha, and well, obviously your last name isn't Uchiha, so I was a little confused."

"Well, now you know," he said, lying back and relaxing. "Since we're asking questions about scars tonight…"

"The one on my cheek?" she finished. He nodded, looking back at her. "Not as heroic of a story. Back when I was promised to that guy, my family was visiting his house. I didn't want to sit downstairs and listen to them go on about my life that I couldn't control, so I asked if I could go up in the library. His parents allowed it, so I went up there to find a book. Their library was one of the most magnificent things… I remember it was the only thing that comforted me when I knew my engagement was steadily approaching and I didn't think I could escape it… Anyways, I had picked out a few books and he came upstairs to check on me. He asked what I was reading. I said it wasn't his business. He took the books from me and flipped through them, getting angry because they were books he'd never read and I was explaining to him that they were some of my favorites. He never really liked it much when I knew anything that he didn't know. So, out of anger, he threw them at me. I dodged the first two, but the third hit me in the cheek and left me with a scar."

"That's…." Kakashi just cringed. He never really could understand why people who weren't of royalty were given predestined marriages like that. To him, it made no sense. "Well, he sounds vile."

"Oh he is," was where Akahana left that. "I have another question."

"Alright, but last one. We need to sleep," he warned, unsure of the time, but guessing at least an hour past.

"Why did you come back for me?" she asked as she closed her eyes. "I specifically ordered you to take the princess and go. I could have you discharged for disobeying order."

"Shinobi who break the rules are scum," Kakashi said, "but those who abandon their friends are even lower than that."

"And that means we're friends?" Akahana asked after contemplating that nindo for a moment.

"I would say that," Kakashi answered. Akahana just smiled, rubbing her eyes.

"Well, then, Kakashi, my friend," she said, accenting friend. "Goodnight. Big day tomorrow of walking. It's going to be great."

Kakashi just rolled his eyes at her and laid down in the bed next to her, giving her space. She appreciated that and curled in on herself, trying to find the best way to sleep with a four to five inch cut in her chest.