A/N: Hi hi! This little bit was inspired by the music video for Because I'm a Girl by KISS. SO GOOD, watch it.

Title: Mismatched

It didn't fit, his new eye. Honestly, it made him cringe. It made him sick how well it worked, how perfect the transplant occurred. How his vision now, was better than ever, made him want to rip it out and burn the accursed thing. It wasn't his and he would never see it as his.

She needed to move faster, needed to get out of the red zone. His life was hanging on by a thread and her chakra was depleting fast. Her fatigue was starting to set, and she couldn't let that happen while out in the open. First and foremost, she needed to find shelter.

It came a mile and a half later, a cave hidden behind the falls. It would do for now.

He meandered his way through the throngs of citizens, his slouch more pronounced than ever. He ignored his friend's cheerful waves, their surprised looks, and their attempts at conversation.

The sun sat high in the sky but he felt nothing but the chill within his bones. Nothing made sense anymore, especially not life.

She was quick to set up camp. She worked through her exhaustion by sheer force of will. Propping her bounty against the cave wall, she hurried to change the bloodied bandages. Sighing, she ran her dirtied fingers through the muddied, gray locks.

"How troublesome." She muttered, moving away to the other side. Foraging through her bag, she pulled out her last ration bar and single chakra pill. Her last source of energy, and it could literally make or break her.

Jeweled, cerulean eyes shadowed with fatigue looked over the prone figure across from her. Her mind made up, she tore the wrapper from the ration bar and viciously bit into it.

"You're being called to the Hokage's office, Hatake-san." The woman behind him, hidden beneath an eagle's mask, spoke forcing him to look away from his mismatched eyes once more.

"I'll be there." He looked from the ANBU back towards his crimson eye, noting how it clashed against every one of his features.

"Immediately, Hatake-san." She dipped her head in apology, peering through the mask.

"I said I'd be there!" He barked, cringing as his head swam with the riot his emotions were causing him. "Now, leave."

She could feel it, the fast acting pill taking effect the moment it dissolved. The ration bar cleared her head, if nothing else. Giving her just a tad bit more energy, enough for her to complete her final task. Pulling a kunai from her pouch, she worked to tear the already bloody bandages from his face.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi." She whispered, bringing the sharp edge to the flesh over his wounded face. "I hope one day you'll come to forgive me." Her voice shook, but her hand stayed steady. Her free hand took on a soft, lavender glow as it came into contact with the fresh cut.

He was at the memorial stone, again. Taking in the newly added name, another death he couldn't prevent.

"You can't blame yourself, sensei."

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, watching as her pink hair danced with the light breeze. He didn't answer her, didn't acknowledge her even as she came to stand beside him.

"She was a good ninja, and an even better medic. Shishou is kicking herself over this loss." Kakashi's scoff brought the late teen out of her speech, he didn't want to hear it nor did he care.

"That's all she'll ever be remembered for, isn't it?" His derisive tone had his student flinching. "Nothing more?" He sneered, turning away from the woman and leaving her in shock at the stone.

His head hurt and his ears were sensitive. The smell of freshly spilt blood assaulted his nose just as his senses worked to fully take in his surroundings. The sound of metal clashing against metal was the first thing his mind fully comprehended. Pulling himself up, he walked along the cave wall towards the entrance, cautious, as the sounds of conflict got louder.

She was fighting, tooth and nail. Blood pooled from a gash on her face, where he couldn't pinpoint from this angle and distance. He jumped into action as a kunai pierced her side, eliciting a sharp yelp.

With her chakra depletion and various injuries, she was down for the count.

But, that was okay. Kakashi was okay.

He was angry, and it showed through the fire in his normally hooded gaze. He eyed each and every face within the Hokage's office, taking note of the grim looks he was receiving.

"How long do you plan on acting this way, Hatake?" Tsunade was the first to break the silence, commanding attention and control of the room. He tossed her a bland look, telling in it's own way. Sighing, Tsunade continued. "I need you back on the frontline. The team that ambushed you is still out there, and they need to be put down."

"Send someone else." He shrugged, turning to leave.

"God damn it, Hatake! How long do you plan on blaming me for this?!" He didn't answer. "Contrary to your beliefs, I didn't send her after you." This new bit of information caught his attention. "She loved you, you were just too blind to see it. She disobeyed a direct command from her superior to rescue you, you dolt!" Tsunade's rage came with random items taking to the air, unsurprisingly aimed towards him. "My best field medic, and you think I would've sent her on a mission so close to the heart? You're dumber than you look, Hatake."

He ran two fingers up the slender slope of her neck, satisfied as he found the pulse. Slow, and unsteady, it caused him a great deal of discomfort. Lifting her thin frame towards his chest, he bounded off into the tree line.

Normally, he'd pace himself. But there was no time; he was running out of time that he didn't have. Flying through the trees he was nothing but a passing shadow to all those on the forest floor, his tunnel vision allowing him to push himself to the limit.

"Ka…shi…" He glanced down, taking in her bruised face and bloodied lip, and her unbloodied eye peered up at him.

"Hush, we'll be back at the village soon." His grip tightened and he quickened his pace.

"What…what was Obito's saying again?" She smiled up at him, numb to the blood trickling down her cheek.

He spared her another glance, sighing inwardly at the fact she was ignoring his advice. "Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their friends are worse than trash." He iterated the words carved into his every being, forcing him to push his legs harder.

"Good words to live by." She commented idly, her bloodied face turning up towards the light peeking through the foliage. "Never forget them, neh?" He grunted in response, unwilling to spare his much needed oxygen. "See the world for me, mkay?" Her shaky voice had him glancing towards her once more, his breath catching within his chest at the peaceful smile she aimed towards the clear skies.

"You're talking as if you're going to die." She didn't respond, merely looked to him with startling clarity. Before he could react, she grabbed hold of his collar and forced him to meet her half way. Eyes bulging, Kakashi was forced to a stop at the softness of her lips. The hungry passion she exuded had him answering back in kind. Reluctantly, he allowed her to pull away.

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is." Tsunade sighed, the weariness of the day coming upon her ageless face. "She was a damn good ninja, a better medic, and an irreplaceable friend. Kakashi, I understand your loss but, you can't allow those bastards that did this to her get away."

He looked away from the blonde's piercing caramel eyes. "With all due respect, she was more than just that, Hokage-sama." Tsunade sighed, allowing her age to dim the brightness of her gaze.

"She was a woman who loved life and cherished every waking moment." Tsunade's soft timber held Kakahi's wavering attention. "But she gave that all up, for you. Keep that in mind, Hatake. The attack squad will be at the gates at dawn. You have until then to make up your mind."

His lips tingled from her touch and his mouth watered at the reminder of her taste. He wanted more and hoped, at some point in time, he might get seconds. But, at the moment, he pushed aside those wants and focused on the task at hand. The gates to Konoha should be approaching soon and with it should come the security of safety.

"Hold on." He whispered, unwilling to look towards the woman within his arms. "We're almost there and they'll patch you up. My student, she's one of the best." His spoken words brought little comfort to his heart, for the woman in his arms was oddly still and the small panting breaths were few and far. Determination fueled him, allowing him to pick up the pace as the proud and prominent gates came into view.

"We're almost home, Kagome."

It was a habit of his, one he never thought necessary to break. When his thoughts were in turmoil he allowed his mind to wander and his body to move on autopilot. It was usually how he ended up at the stone that housed the names of deceased warriors. Eying the new name etched onto the stone, Kakashi kneeled before it. His fingers smoothed over the names, flowing past the ridges of her name.

Kashi … The phantom voice echoed, causing his stomach to curl.

"Why?" He whispered brokenly into the night, his tone despondent. "Why me?"

See the world for me, m'kay?

"Why couldn't you just follow orders?" He hissed brokenly, ironically, pausing in wait for a response that would never come. "Why couldn't you just leave me to die?"

"It was never in her nature to allow those she cared for to suffer." Kakashi straightened at the voice, his hand reflexively moving towards his pocket.

He eyed the male standing away from him, his molten eyes fixated on the full moon. "Sesshomaru-sama." He dipped his head in greeting.

"Do not take what Kagome has gifted you for granted." Sesshomaru's attention left the night sky and moved towards the stone, a sadness hanging over the stoic lord. "Remember her not for her accomplishments, but for the woman she was." His words pierced Kakashi. "Her love knew no bounds…" Sesshomaru's eyes drifted towards the copy-nin, pinning him with his gaze, "as you well know."

"Sakura!" He bellowed the moment he passed through the hospital doors, startling the quiet receptionist out of her seat. Said woman came running with a hospital bed in tow.

"Over here, sensei." She called before commanding the wait staff to set the prone woman up in immediate care. Her probing hands moved carefully over his form, seeking out the injuries he sustained from his journeys.

"I'm fine." He brushed her hands away, ready for the anger he was sure to come.

And like clockwork, her malachite orbs met his, fiery and with the promise of pain. He never imagined that she'd falter, or for her anger to wipe cleanly off her face. "Sen…sei…your – "

"Fine." He cut her off, pushing the pinkette way. "Now, go and help the one who needs you."

Her temper flared once more at his words and his flippant attitude towards his health. "Am I the medic, or are you?" She hissed, grabbing hold of his wrist and dragging him down the hall. Pushing him into an empty room, she glared at her former instructor. "Now, be a good sensei and stay here until I come back."

Surprisingly, he did as she asked. He waited, not for the examination to come but for the diagnostics of the woman he brought back. An hour had passed and still he waited, impatiently, for the rose haired medic to return to him. And when she finally did, he was about ready to pounce.

"How is she?" He asked as she made her entrance. Green eyes glanced his way before she moved towards the counter that housed the numerous supplies nurses usually cared for.

"Sit back down, sensei." She ordered, pointedly ignoring looking at the man.

"Sakura, please." Kakashi grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her to face him and away from the box of cotton pads she'd given her attention to. Green eyes hesitantly flitted up to meet his, and her flinch did little to comfort him.

"Your eye, sensei." Kakashi let her go, his head tilting in confusion.

"My…eye? The sharingan? It's fine."

Sakura shook her head, tears pooling. He watched as she continued rummaging through the drawer, stopping only when she pulled free a handheld mirror. "Not that eye, sensei. Your new one."

Kakashi scrambled for the handle. With shaky hands he brought the mirror up. A single blue eye peered back at him.

He met the team at the gates. Kagome's eye lent more than just the gift of sight; it acted as his courage to take on the world once more. In the face of such tragedy, Kakashi had no choice but to continue forward.

He would see the world, for she never could.