Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

33 | Stitches

"Where is she?! Where is she?!"

Kakashi was frantic and demanding answers as he ran through the hospital doors. Asuma was leaning against the wall, his head down in his hands. He jerked his head up to see Kakashi enter the building, flustered and panicking. He had never seen Kakashi in such a state. His cool exterior was a thing of the past as he rushed in.

Asuma watched as Guy and Kurenai followed in behind him quickly, trying to grab him and calm him down. When it became apparent that Kakashi was going to be too much for them, Asuma moved over to help hold him back. In the end it took, Guy, Kurenai, Asuma, and a few other jonin to hold him down long enough for a nurse to force a sedative into Kakashi's veins.

When Kakashi felt the small needle prick his skin, he was immediately that much angrier. He wanted, no, needed, to see [Y/N]. To tell her that he was a fool and that he loved her. To let her know that he always would and that he wasn't ready to let her go. Yet, even hard as he tried, his body grew heavy and his eyelids heavier.

When he was finally out, everyone that had been holding him sighed in relief. Kakashi alone put up so much a fight that they didn't think he'd ever actually be out like that. Asuma realized that the reason Kakashi was fighting them so hard was for his sister. He looked up and made eye contact with Kurenai (and silently thanked God that she was okay too) as they tried to catch their breath. "I guess he really meant it then."

When Kakashi came to a few hours later, they had him sitting on the ground, propped against the wall in the lobby. He looked up to study his surroundings, trying to ignore the pounding headache he had. In a chair on either side of him was Asuma and Guy. Across from Asuma sat Kurenai and next to her was Genma. Shikamaru stood leaning against the wall next to Asuma's chair. Izumo and Kotetsu sat on the other side of Genma. The lobby was full of people all around. Some were waiting to hear about their own family members, but some looked like they were there to see if Sarutobi's daughter pulled through. Of course, a few were there just for the gossip on her condition, but many of them were [Y/N]'s friends.

"Well, well. Look who finally came back to us. Please don't try and fight us again." Guy said, looking down at the silver haired man. Kakashi looked up at him confused. "Fight you?"

Asuma laughed humorlessly. "Well damn Kakashi, you put up that tough of a fight and you don't even remember it?"

Kakashi shook his head and immediately regretted the motion as his head swam in circles. He closed his eyes and put his head back against the wall as he stretched his legs out. "What did I do?"

"You came running in here like a damn bat out of hell yelling for [Y/N]. It took six of us to hold you back long enough to get a sedative in you." Asuma grunted, trying to light a cigarette. "Even then I didn't know if that would slow you down."

"How is she?"

"She's got it rough, Kakashi. Real rough."

Kakashi opened his eyes and looked up at the man next to him. Asuma had just lost his father, he can't lose his sister too. [Y/N] had to pull through. For her brother. For him. He cleared his throat. "What happened?"

Asuma stood abruptly and stalked away toward the nurses desk, asking for a lighter. Kurenai quickly switched seats and turned to look down at Kakashi. "He's upset and he's really worried. Forgive him." She glanced up to where he now stood in the doorway, puffing smoke into the evening air. "She was on the wall when it collapsed. They think part of it fell on her leg and she must've taken a good fall. The doctor thinks her ankle is broken."

She sighed as Kakashi listened intently to every word she said. "A few of the other jonin said that she still got up and fought with them after the wall collapsed. That kind of stress on her body, along with the chakra she must've used... she had to have been so tired. I think that's how he got her."

"He?"

"A sand ninja. I think she must've been too tired to sense him coming. He got her in the side with a kunai. It pierced her lung and came just short of her heart. She lost a lot of blood before they found her and got her here. She's been in surgery for a few hours now..."

Kakashi sat back against the wall and let it all soak in. He felt a tear prick his eye when he realized that she might actually die. She couldn't go now. She just couldn't. He had too much to say. She had to know that he loved her. Kakashi sighed and closed his eyes tightly, leaning his head back against the wall. From the doorway, Asuma watched his best friend falling apart inside, only knowing because he was doing the same himself.

It took about another hour before the doctor came out searching for Asuma. He had finally returned to sit with his friends, though he still didn't speak again until the doctor called out for him. "Sarutobi!" 

Everyone glanced up and the entire group followed Asuma to gather around the doctor in the corner. At first, he tried to argue, saying that he only needed to see family. When no one budged, he grunted and pulled his clipboard closer. Finally, Asuma had had enough. "Look. This is her family. No one is leaving. Now you can get on with it or we'll just have to do this the hard way."

The doctor furrowed his eyebrows but continued anyway. "[Y/N] Sarutobi suffered extensive injuries. Her ankle is broken and she has three cracked ribs, not to mention a head concussion. Additionally, she had a punctured lung, which caused it to collapse, and a small laceration to her liver. She lost a lot of blood. Given the circumstances, she had a very long and difficult surgery. However, the surgery went well and I have assigned nurses highly trained in medical ninjutsu to work on her injuries for continual improvement. We believe that with time, she will make a full recovery. She is now awake and in a private room. You may visit her, one at a time, quietly." With that, the doctor turned and went to file his papers at the front nurse's station.

Everyone stood there and let the new information sink in for a moment, relief washing over the group. Asuma turned to face everyone. "I'm going to go and see her first. I need to tell her about our father." Everyone nodded and went back to their seats. Kakashi ached to join Asuma as he walked down the hall, but sat still nonetheless. He would see her soon enough.