The Dream Devourer (Kakashi X OC)

A Mystery Develops

Kakashi blinked down at Chiisai. Her glare was like daggers into his eye.

It didn't make sense. A librarian, who supposedly couldn't perform any jutsu, was trained in breaking one. Not only that, but she broke it while being under its influence, meaning her chakra must have disrupted it.

Kakashi set her down on the bed and leaned forward until they were face to face. "I'm impressed, Chiisai. But I doubt you can counter my Sharingan." And he really was. His curiosity about her was increasing at an alarming rate.

Her eyes were cold as she stared up at him. He smiled, and she tilted her head away. "Fine," she muttered. "You win."

He drew back and replied, "See, that wasn't so difficult, was it?"

She turned away from him on the bed. "Whatever. Just so you know, I hate it here."

"Just so you know, I don't care," Kakashi replied. This was like dealing with Sasuke's piss-poor attitude back when they were training.

"Kakashi, thank you so much," Kaori said. "I know it wasn't easy getting her."

He rested his hand on his hip. "It's no problem."

Kaori pulled out a stack of blankets and laid them at the foot of the bed. She turned to Chiisai. "I'm going to have to change you out of these clothes. Chiisai?" Kaori leaned over and tapped her shoulder. "Chiisai?"

She shook the woman's shoulder, but Chiisai was sound asleep.

"Oh, now she's out?" Kakashi said.

Kaori laid a freshly folded hospital gown on top of a pile of blankets. "I know this is going to sound strange, but can you help me get her out of these clothes? We're a little bit overcrowded and spread thin, or else I'd ask someone on staff."

Kakashi tugged at his collar. "Uh, say that again?"

"Her shirt and her pants only, of course," Kaori said. "We have to do this sometimes with emergency patients. She's soaked to the bone, and the doctor will have my hide if I let her get sick."

He was thankful his mask covered his face. Why did this feel so improper? But why would he say no after bringing Chiisai all the way back?

"Of course, Kaori," he forced out. "What do you need me to do?"

"If you can just pull her into a sitting position," she said. "I can probably do the rest. I'm not strong enough to lift patients. Someone had to change her earlier. Once we're done, we'll move her to a dry bed."

Well, if that was all there was to it. Kakashi nodded and pulled Chiisai up. His gaze remained transfixed on the ceiling as Kaori took off Chiisai's shoes and pants. "Alright," she said, "the shirt will be a little bit- oh my!"

Kakashi's gaze flickered down to Kaori, and he paused as she lifted Chiisai's crinkled blouse.

Her torso was covered in scars. Vertical, horizontal, shallow and deep- they covered the majority of the terrain of her abdomen. They were from a kunai, and judging by the skin, old scars. Years old. Some were killing blows, and would definitely have needed medical ninjutsu to treat.

It would have given Ibiki's scars a run for their money, Kakashi thought.

A seal, unnatural chakra, breaking a genjutsu, and now battle scars? This woman couldn't be just a librarian. It didn't add up. And if she was something else, why get him involved? Was she a spy like Kabuto? Or perhaps she was a hidden weapon, given her chakra and sealing?

"Here, help me raise her arms," Kaori said. "Poor thing. Looks like she's seen more than just a concussion."

Kakashi replied, "Makes you wonder what all she's been through."

She pulled off Chiisai's shirt, and Kakashi glanced away. Kaori said, "Her file isn't very thick now, but what's there isn't pretty. I forgot until I found her chart, but we used to have theories about her family."

"Her family?" Kakashi asked. Kaori was always easy with conversation, especially since she had seen his face. He trusted that it would give him more information on Chiisai.

She grabbed the gown and placed it over Chiisai. "Here, lean her up."

Kakashi helped her arms through the fabric. Her skin was cold to the touch, and his fingers easily wrapped all the way around her forearm. There were scars on her back, too, but they were much more shallow.

Kaori said, "It was around eight years ago. Both of her parents went comatose a week apart. The mother had alcohol poisoning, but the father, well," her voice dropped to a whisper, "even Lady Tsunade couldn't figure out the cause! They had to pull the plug on him, I heard, and he had been perfectly healthy before. You want to know something else?"

"What?" Kakashi asked. This was more information than he had bargained for.

Kaori tied the gown on Chiisai and pulled away. Kakashi was careful with her as he carried her to the other bed.

Kaori grabbed the blankets and spread them over Chiisai. She said, "The girl apparently didn't know reality from fantasy. Even weirder, the Third Hokage took away the files on her psychological evaluations and forbade medical ninjutsu on her. And then he never said a word about it."

"You don't say," Kakashi said. He took a step back and folded Chiisai's old clothes. "That is strange, indeed."

Kaori shook her head as she tucked Chiisai in. "Half of the staff believe Chiisai saw something she shouldn't have, or even worse, was somehow the one responsible. The older staff was talking about it this morning- the medical case that even Lady Tsunade couldn't solve."

What a strange tale. What had Chiisai done to deserve such a tragic fate? Or had she done anything at all?

"Oh goodness, I'm rambling when there's so much to do!" Kaori took a deep breath and grabbed her clipboard. "Thanks for the help."

"Of course," Kakashi said.

Kaori left as Kakashi studied Chiisai. Why would the Third get involved unless Chiisai had been a threat? Perhaps he had been the one to put a seal on Chiisai. There was too little information for his liking.

However, he was good at puzzles, and he had an entire week to solve this mystery.