After The Storm *Kakashi Hatake* (Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter 16

My mind was racing with thoughts. I thought she was dead. What is she doing here? 

"Sakana..." I whisper taking a small step foward, but stopping hesitantly. 

Her eyes are wide and vulnerable, "Yokina," she chokes out in a raspy voice. 

With out thinking I slowly begin running towards her, some of the ninja in the room shift uneasily, but I barely pay attention to them as I finally reach Sakana. I pull her into a tight embrace as my eyes begin to shine with tears. She's already crying, but lets out a small chuckle none the less.

I lean back and take a strand of her hair, giggling slightly, "What happened to your hair? I thought your glourious blonde locks were off limits?" I joke trying to bring up the mood. 

She smiles sadly, "There is a lot to explain I suppose." 

The smile fades from my face, "What happened to you Sakana?"

"That discussion is for another time," she says quietly. 

I stand then, a bit angrily, "What did you do to her?" I hiss at the ninja around us, questioning them about her interrogation. 

The ninja begin taking fighting stances, but Yamato steps foward, not at all on guard. 

"Yokina, we found her at the borders of the village, a few ninja coming back from a mission spotted her and brought her back... we had to take precautions to make sure she wasn't an enemy. Since she was already weak when she arrived, the Hokage had us go straight to her memories instead of sending her to Ibiki..." he explained in an urgent tone. 

I looked at him quizically, judging whether he was telling the truth or not.

Satisfied with his answer, I replied with, "Well if your done, she can leave right?"

A reluctant expression spread across his features, "... Well I'm not so sure--"

"What else is there to see?" I cut him off icily.

He sighed tiredly, and I almost felt bad for giving him trouble, just now seeing the bags under his eyes.

"I will go speak to the Hokage," he says quietly.

He then looks around the room and I guess decided that, with all the ninja here, there really is no reason for me to come with him. I sit back on the floor to wait, Sakana gives me a small smile.

"Don't worry, the Hokage is a good man, he'll let you go," I say reasurringly.

She gives a small nod and her eyes begin to droop, she slowly, unconciously, begins to lean her head against my shoulder. I let her, considering she must be exhausted, then realize how malnourished she is and worry builds inside of me.

Only about 15 minutes later, Yamato comes back into the room, a serious look on his face, my heart falls at his expression The Hokage must not have agreed to let her go.

But, as he reaches us, his lips spread into a grin and his hands go to his hips. 

"The Hokage has agreed to let Sakana stay, and has put Kakashi and me in charge of the two of you," he says quietly, considering Sakana is asleep. 

I fight the urge to jump for joy, and smile widely, then I slowly get up, causing Sakana to stir, "Here, let me," Yamato says, then gently picks up Sakana. Her eyes flutter open for a few seconds, making eye contact with Yamato, pink powders his cheeks, but her eyes just close as she relaxes again, not processing anything in her exhausted state, she unconciously snuggles closer to his warmth.