Hatake

12

I arrive at the location and wait.

Kakashi didn't specify a time.

I sit and rub my face. Trying to pull myself together.

"And I thought I'd be the one waiting all day." I hear and look up.

I jump to my feet and crush him with a hug.

He places his arms on me when I begin to sob.

"Kakashi." I say in between crying, "I'm sorry."

"Hey." He says and pulls away to look at me.

"You look tired." I say.

"You look skinny." He says.

I smile at him.
"Orochimaru doesn't feed me much at all."

His hands trace down my arms to my hands.

He gets shocked and pulls it away.

"You have chakra control?" He asks.

I furrow my forehead.
"No."

"Your hand is freezing." He says.

I think back to all the times I have felt cold.

"How did Orochimaru fix your leg?" He asks taking another step away from me.

"Kakashi..." I say.

"What has he been doing to you?" He asks his tone becoming more serious.

"He helped me. He saved me." I say trying to close our gap.

"He fixed me and made me strong again. He's protecting me against them." I add.

"He's experimenting." He says disgusted.

"He is the one who helped me. Your leader could not!" I say.

He's still trying to keep space between us.

"Don't!" I say tearing up again.

He lets me come closer to him.

I place my hand on his masked cheek.

"I want to come back to you... I can't now." I say.

"Why?" He says.

"He's protecting me from them. He's training me. I am in debt to him." I say.

He rests his forehead against mine.

"You have to stay here at your village. Teach your students..." I whisper.

"I will earn my freedom soon." I say hopefully.

"I can take you back. We are stronger than Orochimaru." He replies.

I shake my head.

"There has to be a way. I won't..." he says.

A kunai thuds on the tree behind me.

"Well well isn't that sweet. Akari let's see how Lord Orochimaru thinks about you sneaking off to see a brat like him."

"Kabuto." I say standing in front of Kakashi.

"A little time in a cell should fix that rebellion." Kabuto says swinging another kunai in his finger.

"Back off." I tell him.

"Funny thing is our lord only wishes to bring you back." He says.

I take a step forward.

"I will return on my own." I say.

The second kunai lands itself in Kakashi's knee.

"Ah ah ah, now Akari. Or else he will have a rather difficult time walking back to the village." Kabuto says pulling another kunai from his pocket.

I walk over to Kabuto.

"That's right." He says then flings the third.

Kakashi manages to catch that one.

"Tell your leader to..." Kabuto stops and laughs, "tell her to not expect to see Akari anytime soon."

I trudge ahead past Kabuto.

He quickly catches up to me. Matching my stride.

"Did I anger you?" He says mockingly.

"Were you sad your time with your little boyfriend was cut short?" He asks.

I don't answer.

"You were! Too bad that silly mask was in the way of kissing him goodbye." He says.

I stop but he pulls me by my arm.

"You fool. Did you not think I would know? Lord Orochimaru would skin you alive for something like this. I on the other hand can be understanding at times." He says.

"Now is not the time. Now is probably the worst time!" He whispers at me, pulling my arm harsher.

"You should stay in a cell as curfew punishment. Don't say anything!" He adds as we enter the hideout.

"Ah Kabuto, Akari. I was beginning to wonder if you encountered trouble." Orochimaru says.

"Nothing at all she was just being stubborn about returning from the fresh air." Kabuto says giving my arm a shake.

"Alright then." He says.

I walk back to my room.

I sit on my bed then lay on my back.