Critical Moments-Volume 1

LIII

Chapter Fifty-Three

Angry hammering of the skull greeted Kakashi's return to consciousness, as did the sensation of his throat being dried out by air being forced in and out mechanically. His eye scanned the room, darting frantically as adrenaline surged through his mind. Lord Third! Minato!!! The memories flooded over him, right up to the point where he felt something stinging him in the neck. He needed to scream, but his vocal cords were blocked by the tube down his throat. He began flailing about in panic. Oh god!

"Kakashi!" a female voice boomed, "just stay calm; you want the tube out, right?" Hands firmly, but gently pushed him back down on the bed. All he could do was try to nod. "Okay," a loud click and the mechanical force of air in and out was replaced by his panting, "deep breath!" the woman commanded, peeling off surgical tape from his mouth. "Here we go!"

The sensation of the tube being withdrawn almost caused him to vomit he gagged so hard. A violent coughing fit ensued as his lungs took over control again. Despite the raw throat, he managed to wheeze, "Where am I?"

"Konoha Hospital," his eye finally focused to see the source of the voice – Shizune. Kakashi began feeling self-conscious at her presence. He wasn't wearing his mask, and she was staring at him with a smile. "How do you feel?"

"Lousy," he wheezed, "Lord Third?"

She shook her head, "I'm sorry Kakashi, he was long gone before medics could get to him."

"Orochimaru?"

"Slipped out somehow," she shook her head again.

"My team? Minato?" Kakashi sat upright to only have the hammers attack his skull again.

"Just relax, they're all fine!" she forced him back down. "You need to rest, Kakashi. You almost didn't make it!" She took him by the hand.

"Naruto? Is he?" Kakashi almost didn't ask. The kid had been damn sick when the evacuation had started.

"They just let him out of the ICU; his appendix ruptured. He's going to be okay," she reassured him.

Kakashi sank his head back into the pillow; he'd let everyone down again. As his eyes closed, he could see his fallen ANBU comrades, Lord Third's wife and assistant, Rin, Obito, and Father. Their eyes weighed on him, reminding him of his failure. Tears began leaking from his good eye.

As Shizune released his hand, there was a barely perceptible sound of paper sliding between cloth. The curious noise alerted Kakashi as he cracked his right eye. Even through the distortion of tears, Kakashi recognized the telltale envelope sealed with a red heart being pulled from the medical-nin's robes. As ill-prepared as he was to confront this situation, he knew it was now or never. He seized her by the hand as she moved to set the envelope down, "I knew it was you," he whispered as he captured her wrist.

"K-Ka-Kakashi!" Shizune shook as he held her by the hand.

"You had Tsunade leave the letter in Minato's office before the one meeting, and you dropped the letter as you left the infirmary in the stadium, didn't you," he guessed.

Shizune's lips quivered as she nodded. "H-how did you figure it out?"

"I had suspected Anko, but remember, I have a dog," Kakashi tightened the corner of his mouth into a smile, "Pakkun recognized the scent of cherry blossoms on you, on your lipstick to be specific. He matched it and your scent from the letter." He paused, considering for a moment, "You kissed the letter... do... do you really feel that way about me?"