A Lotus in Winter: A Rock Lee Love Story

Chapter 7: A Strange Appearance

No One's POV:
Tsunade and Kakashi listened to what she said and once she said she would consider taking off her mask for a medical examination, Tsunade gestured for Kakashi to leave them. The girl looked at him blankly and stated "He can stay if he likes. It doesn't bother me, I am no one. I am nothing but a tool my village used." Her voice was as flat as Sai's and the two adults questioned whether their training was exactly alike. Kakashi was going to leave as he really didn't care either way, when a giant furball flashed past him. Regaining his composure he looked around for the perpetrator only to see the largest ninja hound he had ever seen. It was black and tan with long shaggy hair and a mane. It was on the bed the girl was in, it stood with fangs bared and snarling, daring anyone to get near her.
The Hokage barely breathed, this sudden appearance shocked her as well as Kakashi. The girl showed emotion in her voice but her eyes were deathlike looking through the mask. She spoke to the beast "Down Hitsugi. They are allies." The hound backed down and lay on her trying to lick her face, whining all the while.
Tsunade: "So this is your Ninja Hound? He's truly an imposing boy."
Sayuri: "Yes m'lady, his name is Hitsugi. We were separated when I was imprisoned. I suppose somewhere he caught my scent and tracked me here."
Kakashi: "It's a good thing he found you. It will be a good thing to have a companion."
Sayuri: "We've always been together. He is the only family I have left."

Kakashi's POV:
'Well that was unexpected.' I looked at the girl and the dog, she had the briefest instant of emotion at his appearance, but I doubt she realized that was what it was. I pardoned myself and left the trio in the room. As soon as I left, I was bombarded with questions by Guy's student Lee, who had seen the dog run into her room. He was concerned for her. 'Does he like her or something?' I told him that she was awake and stable but still needed surgery. He seemed disappointed and left reluctantly, vowing to see her tomorrow. I was glad her companion found her, lookingv at her was like a mirror into my anbu life and I didn't like it. I was leaving the hospital when Shizune approached me, she gave me a scroll from lady Tsunade. I opened it and read. It was instructions to guard/ observe the girl covertly and try to learn more from afar. I sighed. 'I knew this would end up being work for me and not Guy.' I pulled out my book and continued where I left off, I would start my observation after Tsunade left her room. 'Wonder what she looks like? Oh well.'

Later that night I was obeying the hokage's orders and watching her. It was night and the only light came from her room where a small light was lit. She slept with her mask on and the dog was acting as her pillow. Everything was normal until I heard a muffled scream from her room. I jumped up but remained hidden. She climbed out of her bed and pulled off her mask, under it was a type of head wrap that showed only her eyes. In the pale light I could see the wind ruffle her hospital gown and she went to the sink. I could hear her heavy breathing as she said "It just won't go away. Why won't it wash off. What can I do? Why won't the blood wash off!" This crushed me. I knew how that felt, I had lived that nightmare. All anbu have at some point. I was going to approach her, but I decided against it. 'She doesn't want someone saying they know how she feels.' Her dog approached her and spoke for the first time around me. "You didn't do it master. It wasn't your fault. People die. Please try to move on." She nodded slowly and replied, "Death is all this world owes us, death and pain are all I deserve Hitsugi." I went and reported my findings, not knowing that she knew of my presence all along.