A/N: ZOMG! First of all I'd like to apologize. *grovels* Its been like more than a year since I updated. And for any of you who were waiting I'm so sorry * cries* a lot has happened in a year. And I received ur msg's asking if I was continuing the story. And I am. So yeah….I've made a new chapter…and I hope I won't take aaaages to update again. Things in life do suck, as my heart has recently been shattered into pieces…anyways…I hope that those who have read it, will resume reading the story again.

Chapter 10

A nauseating sensation began to stir itself, churning and creating the most unpleasant discomfort, in her mind, and in her throat. She immediately rolled over before her throat contracted and she found herself throwing up on an empty stomach. Sakura clutched her stomach in pain and relief at the same time, she was studying her surrounding since she last fell unconscious. She was on grass facing a gentle stream. She felt pains launching itself all over her body. She still felt slightly dizzy, but remembering somebody else made her turn to see him beside her.

The sight of the man before her, almost made her tumble back and it was likely she would faint again, from shock. Yes, he was quite badly injured. She knew once he wakes up, she would immediately be able to treat all the burns and deep cuts he received. But what surprised Sakura the most was the sight of Kakashi's face, bare for the rest of the world, and her to see.

Sakura couldn't take her eyes off his face, because he certainly was one of the best-looking men she had ever seen in this world. He could even beat Sasuke. Sakura stared at his smooth skin, his silver lashes, his straight nose, his thin lips, he was just beautiful. He looked barely older than Naruto and Sasuke, but a few lines in between his eyebrows separated that to show Kakashi's age and maturity. Even so, Sakura was in awe. How can the world go on without knowing Kakashi's hidden beauty? Then her heart gave a guilty lurch. She wasn't supposed to see this….

Now she felt she was betraying, and invading his privacy. It was obvious he didn't plan to be unconscious without his mask on. Everything happened in a quick blur last night. She was struggling in pain with what they had injected her, and Kakashi attempted to save her by sucking the poison out of her lip. She touched her lips, unaware of what she was doing. When he had the poison in his mouth, of course he knew it would start poisoning him too. Yet he still did it. She felt grateful how Kakashi sacrificed himself for her. So since he was in obvious pain, Sakura immediately made a start on healing him and taking the poison out. The poison had affected her sight last night, so she didn't realize his mask was off. That could have explained while she was able to find his mouth and heal it. Kakashi immediately fainted, after beating the poison, he wouldn't have time to think whether his mask was on or not.

Still, she felt the guilt eating her up, as if seeing him, was like seeing forbidden acts happening. She wasn't supposed to know, or see. She felt the panic button rising as she saw him stir from his deep sleep. She immediately turned around.

" ….Sakura?" Kakashi called.

Sakura didn't turn herself facing him, instead she continued to look straight ahead into the gentle stream. The mist had cleared up, which meant, it must have been past 7 or 8 in the morning. She ran her fingers through her soft pink hair nervously. Kakashi didn't know she saw his face…yet. She needed to tell him.

"…." Kakashi grunted. " Is there a problem?"

" A…Ano… Kakashi!....I…I." Sakura said nervously, she must look odd from his point of view. She should just spit it out now, he was going to find out. She was prepared to face him, or so she hoped. She shook her head, she had to tell him. " Kakashi!"

" You've called my name several times now." He said dryly.

" I'm…I'm sorry!" Sakura said loudly. " Kakashi, I saw your face. It was an accident I swear, I mean this morning when I woke up I just saw you like that. I'm sorry. I looked!"

Sakura stopped apologizing and just waited for his reaction. She bit her lip in worry. Was he going to be angry? Was he going to yell at her? She was prepared for anything. Maybe he won't talk to her for the rest of the mission.

" Sakura…" Kakashi called her name again.

" Nani?" Sakura called back. Her hands laced together, waiting for what was coming next. She scrunched her face as though she knew he was going to yell at her.

" It's…fine." He said.

" WHAT?" Sakura yelped. Did she hear him right?

" It's alright, Sakura. I …didn't think you'd see my face this early…but what's done is done." Kakashi said with indifference. " Reaaally. Sakura-chan."

" Shut up!" Sakura blushed. She quickly turned her front so she can face him. Noting, he already had placed the mask over his face. " I thought you were going to be mad at me… honto!" She pouted cutely.

Kakashi gave a small chuckle, then his hands began to scramble for his vest on the grass. Sakura took this signal to run to the stream to wash her face, before wearing her own vest. She did not forget, they were on a mission. They had faced quite a situation last night, and she thought how lucky it was that they weren't found. She believed, that the poison last night had caused both of them to entirely black out. So if the enemy were to attack them or kill them, they could do it with their eyes closed too. And so, now was not the time to let their guards down.

" So, Kakashi, what are we going to do? They've still got her…." Sakura asked her partner. She already felt the guilt gnawing at her sides, due to her recklessness she was forced to leave the person they were supposed to save behind. She wished she had thought out her actions with more caution and further scrutiny. Now that she looked back, the situation had come to dead end, literally, when she had gotten caught. Perhaps if she had avoided being poisoned, she might still have had a chance to save Hana. Sakura furrowed her eyebrows with frustration, remembering all the mistakes she had made. Now she was wondering what they were going to do. The most apparent fact was that Hana needed to be saved, but perhaps they should be more analytical, and think of a plan thoroughly, as to besides saving Hana, they could also maybe investigate further.

" The obvious. Save her of course." Kakashi said.

Yeah, of course! The man said it all. Inner Sakura still managed to give out a shout inside herself.

" But first, are you injured anywhere else?" Sakura asked, " now is the time to heal them."

Sakura walked promptly over to Kakashi's back and began to examine his body from top to bottom. Her hands glowed green with chakra, healing the wounds that she found.

" Sakura." She heard him shrug. " There's no need to waste your chakra on me. It's only a few scratches."

" A few scratches! Try a few broken ribs and I think there are some few places twisted." Sakura argued. " I think we were reckless…both of us."

Kakashi remained silent and waited for Sakura to finish healing him. She patted him on the back once she was done.

" Hmm." She turned around to show him her attention. " We're going higher up, at a higher point, it's advantageous as we're in a high area. From there, we can study our surroundings and perhaps…plan more thoroughly this time."

Sakura nodded at Kakashi's order. " Hai!"

He turned around to give her a look of recognition to show that now that both of them were ready, he was going to begin their travel. In a few seconds, his tall back had disappeared and Sakura immediately leaped up a tree to catch up behind Kakashi. They traveled from branches to higher branches, the air getting cooler as they were reaching further altitude. Despite it all, she still couldn't shake off last night. She knew it was not so nice, and she really shouldn't say anything since she too had made mistakes, major ones in fact. She had to admit, this time…Kakashi had acted reckless too. It was very unlike the man. It was definitely not the fact that he underestimated the enemy, she knew him too wise to underestimate the power of anybody. It was as though, there was something else on his mind, and it seemed to disturb him from his normal efficiency in handling missions. And his face, so handsome… Sakura immediately blushed and shook her hand, muttering silently to herself, hoping the silver haired man in front of her wouldn't notice.

And his lips… Aware, that her cheeks were turning pink again, however she let herself ponder. She was quite sure, but not too sure to tell anyone or admit it, but she believed she had been kissed last night. Okay, so it was not a kiss, Sakura corrected herself, it was more of his mouth sucking on her lower lip to take the poison out. There it was… it had to be done. She couldn't forget the feeling of how it happened, despite the horrendous pain she was in, she felt warmth and gentleness of his lips when it was tugging on her bottom lip. If not for such situation, where she wasn't poisoned to death, she might have found what he did, intimate. But that was the situation, she was in a life-threatening situation, that was why Kakashi did what he did. Really, she should think nothing of it. And yet she knew the thought would linger inside her for a while, and for that she blames her young passionate hormones, which was curious for touch and desire. We're on a mission damn it! Sakura tried to regain her composure. Focus.

She saw Kakashi's movement, which were several metres ahead of her began to slow down until he finally came to a stop at a small short grassy area.

" Whoa!" Sakura commented as soon as she arrived to where he stopped, and looked at the view before her. Kakashi had picked out a good spot indeed. They were on some sort of a small cliff, it was not a fatally dangerous one, but if one had a fall, they might get some quite serious injuries. When one looks from where they were standing, they could see a good view of the landscape of almost all sides of the area around them. She noted that Kakashi was silent and he was staring ahead. She took that example from him and realized she should scrutinize and study the area too. So that she too can have a good idea of the territory.

A few minutes silence had ended with Kakashi's voice saying clearly through the windy breeze.

" I'm summoning Pakkun." And with that he pulled out a scroll, made hand seals in a matter of seconds. A summoning chant, and a pop of smoke later, Sakura found herself facing the pug that was Kakashi's right hand pet.

" Sakura-chan. It's been a while…" Pakkun nodded as a way of recognizing her presence. Then he turned to his master. " So…what are we hunting today?"

Kakashi rummaged through his vest and took out a torn purple ribbon.

" Ah…Kahiko's hair ribbon. How did you-"

" You were right, we were both reckless at the time. And was much too involved with working or dealing with situations spontaneously, as we faced them, I had already figured that as I was on my way to try and rescue you and Ms. Kahiko. As there were too many of them, and with you being injured, I didn't think we could save Hana at the time, but I did manage to grab her hair ribbon so we could track her scent." Kakashi explained.

" Right." Sakura gave a small smile. " So…."

Kakashi gave the hair ribbon for Pakkun to sniff.

The dog's eyes focused on concentration before tracing the scent in the windy air. Pakkun slowly pivoted towards Sakura's place and sniffed the air in her direction.

" I smell it ….that way." Pakkun confirmed it.

" South east….quite a distance from the village. I suppose their location is not so far off because they needed access for supplies…with whatever they are doing." Kakashi mused out aloud.

" So, what exactly are we doing, senpai?'

" We'll travel to an area close to their location, and we'll plan from there…I doubt we've passed their area before. We came here from the west…and last night…I believe our meeting with them revolved around the north…" Kakashi pointed out.

" All right." Sakura agreed. She examined that she had everything in her vest and followed suit after Kakashi leaped off after Pakkun to follow the scent.

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The man stood above his prisoner. His prisoner lay, hardly conscious at his feet. A few more tears and a small whimper came out of her dry and flaky lips. Ms. Kahiko was bound in ropes, not that she was aware of it. These few days, or weeks, she had no knowledge of how much time had passed since she was taken captive. She had been drifting in and out between that black void of unconsciousness and the blurry and hardly distinctive real world, when she is awake. All she could do was wait and see what fate had decided for her. She cares no longer, as long as this pain is over…

A pitiful and slightly amused expression greeted the man's cruel features. He placed his weapons back inside his side pockets. Perhaps he had gone too far in torturing his prisoner. Not that he cared, it's what his order has been for days now. Continue to torture the prisoner until they give the knowledge that he is looking for. The prisoner had probably gone lethargic to his punishments for not answering his questions. Yet, despite his persistence and steel interrogation with his latest captive, he had a feeling that this one, and others, had been telling the truth all along.

The y do not know

They do not have the knowledge that they are seeking.

Obviously, it had meant that their search is far from over. He wondered what the leader was thinking, surely he knows, that these nurses and medics that have been captured, they have not been lying to protect something, their mouths have been only speaking the truth. Were they going to have to hold hostage every freaking hospital in this country?

" Oi!" A feminine voice greeted him.

" What is it now? Kodachi?" The man turned around to meet his comrade.

A petite woman stared back at him, haughtiness and snobbery were always the vibe he received from her. Her face was always painted like a clown, although he knew she didn't do it intentionally. It was just that the make-up she applied was too thick. She thought it was beautiful, he didn't know what the rest of the world thought. He doesn't think it is beautiful. Everything about her was overly made up, including her thick permed brown hair. Her physical features were not the only ones that he found disturbing. Her personality didn't help either…

" Do I actually have something new to report back to leader today?" The female shrugged, her red mouth pouting coquettishly, fingers playing with her curly brown hair.

The man sighed silently and chose not to answer the woman. Kodachi rolled her eyes and crossed her arms haughtily. He filled the silence by choosing to clean out his weapons while she stood there, arms still crossed. Kodachi approached the still woman that was left to lie in the centre of the den and eyed Kagami and her suspiciously.

" Hmph! Are you suuure you are torturing her hard enough? You probably thought she was pretty so you went easy on that slut. Didn't you?" Kodachi accused in her high voice.

" I know my job…and you should know yours." The man said slowly, not bothering to turn to the woman.

" Fine! Fine! Jeez, jeez. You're even more moody than usual today, Kagami. Maybe it's because you haven't got laid or something… come to think of it I've never seen you with a woman.." Kodachi babbled onto herself. Deciding that her stay proved to be no longer cared for, she made her way out of the place.

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" So when exactly do you think we should go for it? Senpai?" Sakura inquired to her senior.

" I smell only two scents…one must be the enemy..and the other one is Ms. Kahiko…the third scent had left this area around recently….about an hour ago I think." Pakkun used his nose to smell the breezy air once again.

They had arrived at the area they were planning to rescue Ms. Hana. However, to be cautious they decided to assemble quite a distance from the den, the enemy would be able to sense their chakras hovering nearby.

Sakura adjusted her vest and waited for Kakashi's answer.

" Sakura, here." Kakashi fumbled at the back of his pockets and gave her a handful of needles.

" Kakashi? "

" You know what to do, Sakura." Kakashi said. " About our enemy."

" Oh, right…yes!" Sakura understood what he was saying. He was cautious of the enemies' ability to sense their presence, or perhaps hear what they were saying. Sakura had figured. The needles were essential in their ability to counter the enemy's techniques. Sakura recalled that they were skillful in hand techniques. They were very good at aiming and fighting with the sharp weapons, and they were poisonous. She had planned on using hand to hand combat, but this will do. And she wouldn't have to make physical contact with the enemy.

She carefully took the needles and placed them in her own palms.

" I'll go first, senpai?" Sakura inquired, asking for his approval.

Kakashi gave a small nod and watched as Sakura leapt from tree to tree to their next objective. Pakkun leapt over on Kakashi's shoulder and they watched her form become smaller until it disappeared in the green blur of the forest.

Sakura's heart was beating a little faster with anticipation on what was to happen when she finally struck into action. Sure, she believed in herself, but in all situations no matter how skilled she was, there was always a chance that the side of the coin that will be flipped, it might not land on her success. Still, she mustn't let her fears take over her mind, it could prove fatal.

When she had arrived at the den, she immediately disguised her chakra presence as little as possible, she immediately made her way through the entrance which was below the ground. It was very slippery and narrow, only someone that possesses ninja skills would be able to get in or get out. Sakura pondered further as she descended slowly into the slippery hole. Even if Ms. Kahiko was able to escape within her imprisonment, her freedom wouldn't be very far as the next obstacle she would have to overcome is to get out of this den.

" Hang on, Ms. Kahiko!"

TBC