When Everything Changed - VII

[autumn_glory]

Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Kakashi x Sakura
Rating: T

= When Everything Changed - Part VII =

Kunikida's body began to spasm on the table, bringing Sakura's attention back on him. She called for help as she tried to assess what was happening inside. Even after all the work she had done, after relieving his body of so much poison, he was still dying. As a ninja and a medic, one of the hardest things for her to do was to admit defeat, to give up. She remembered what Kakashi had said, but he hadn't seen his wife's tears or known about the child that would be born into this world without knowing its father. She had to keep trying.

She poured her chakra into him, doing all she could to lessen the pain and pull the toxins from his failing organs. Even when his body went limp and resuscitation failed, Sakura still stood there with her chakra-infused hands pressed to him, trying to save him.

"H-Haruno-san," one of the nurses muttered in a timid voice before reaching out and placing a hand on her arm. "He's passed, Haruno-san, please stop."

The nurse jerked back as Sakura glared at her, face red and eyes angry and brimming with tears.

She tore away from her and stormed out through the back and into the fresh air. She paced around in a tight circle, still allowing her failure to sink in, and when it did she plopped down onto a tree stump, hanging her head. What was she going to tell his wife?

Walking back into the clinic after gathering herself, she turned her eyes from Kunikida's body and headed to the front. Panic struck her when she saw the nurse relaying the bad news to his wife; she felt she should've been the one to tell her.

The young woman looked up at Sakura as she approached, fat tears rolling down her face. "Wh-what happened? You were supposed to save him!"

Sakura motioned for the others to leave and then stood before her. "I'm sorry, Kunikida-san."

"Sorry?!" she sobbed. "What am I supposed to do now? Sato..."

Sakura squeezed the woman's shoulder as she broke down, trying to keep her own emotions in check. "If you'd like to see him, you can."

The woman only shook her head and cried harder. The small group of people that were waiting for information on their own loved ones were watching them with a sort of low-spirited interest, so Sakura helped her to her feet and led her into an examination room.

Handing her some tissue, she sat across from her. "What's your name?"

Dotting her eyes, she sniffled as she replied, "Aimi."

"This may be difficult for you to hear, Aimi, but your husband wasn't sick. He was poisoned."

Wide eyes turned up to her. "Poisoned?"

Sakura nodded. "This so-called sickness that's been spreading is actually poison. Your husband was the worst case I've seen."

"I don't understand," Aimi said through shuddering breaths.

"I think whoever came for him yesterday was the one responsible. If there is anything you can think of, that you can tell me, it might help us find them."

Shocked at this bit of news, Aimi sat back, hand moving subconsciously over her stomach. "He had been helping the men the village hired. Those are the only people besides our friends that he had been out with. That's all I know."

"Aimi, I'd like to examine you and the baby, to make sure you're both alright."

She nodded as tears came again. "Okay."

Sakura's hands lit up as she reached for her, but Aimi stopped her. "Will... it hurt?"

"No, it might be a little uncomfortable, but it won't hurt."

Aimi relaxed back in her seat and let Sakura do her work. A few moments later, Sakura looked up at her with a small smile. "The baby's fine."

More tears streaked down Aimi's face. "Thank goodness."

Sakura's brows furrowed; this was odd. There were no traces of poison anywhere in her system. "Aimi, you're fine, too. Tell me, were you collecting water from the well in town?"

"No, Sato always brought it to me in the morning," she answered before a sad smile pulled at her lips. "I'm only a few months along, but he said he didn't want me putting any strain on myself. He did everything for me..."

Sakura pulled away from her, trying to keep her face neutral to the news. He knew all along. That's why they killed him.

A knock echoed before the door opened. "Haruno-san, a medic-nin is here looking for you."

"I'll be there in a minute." As the door closed, she turned back to Aimi. "You're welcome to rest here for as long as you'd like. I'd actually prefer it if you did. I have to go meet my men, but I'll come back and check on you."

The woman nodded and Sakura stood, casting one last glance at her before leaving. As she entered the lobby, she was pleasantly surprised to find three medics waiting for her.

"Haruno-san," they greeted in unison with a short, respectful bow.

"Come with me, we have a lot to do," she ordered. 'And fast,' she told herself. After all, she had Kakashi to catch up to.

.x.X.x.

Kakashi made his way through the surrounding forest to meet with Pakkun, his feet carrying him with a silent swiftness. The pug turned to face him as he drew near.

"What's happened since I've left?"

His nose twitched. "Everyone came outside; the man you scrapped with caused a scene. There's four of 'em in there and they decided to take turns keeping watch. Take a look."

Kakashi peered through the foliage and noted the man pacing around the front entrance. It was one that he hadn't seen before; he was young like the man he encountered. From what he heard before, he knew he was one of the men that had a hand in Kunikida's poisoning. He'd probably be brash like young ones usually were, too.

"So, what are you going to do now that you no longer have the element of surprise?" came the gruff question.

"I wouldn't quite say that. Go to Sakura and give her the exact location."

The ninken grunted as he stood. "I'd tell you not to do anything stupid until she gets here, but I have the feeling I'd be barking up the wrong tree," he muttered before running off.

Kakashi created another bunshin and watched as it disappeared into the trees to close in on the house. He spotted his bunshin on a branch that hung above the patrolling man just mere seconds before he jumped down onto him. There was a swing in retaliation before he was taken out of commission with a well-aimed kunai.

The bunshin flashed him the signal and Kakashi made his advance while the clone moved the body. The Copy Nin froze as the door opened and the young thug he encountered before emerged. His long curtain of dark hair swished as his head whipped from side to side.

"Ryota? Ryota!"

The other men came to the door, alarmed as well, before they sent him out to find their missing man. Perfect. They were making this too easy, really. It wasn't long before the bunshin allowed himself to be spotted.

The young man's cat-like eyes narrowed; his voice was laced with an unmistakable loathing. "You!"

The bunshin tilted his head in nonchalance, eyes attuned to any and every move he made. "Me."

With an angry cry he charged at Kakashi - metal ringing out as the blades of their kunai met. Just as before, his fighting was sloppy and controlled by his anger. No wonder he had relied on surprise up-the-sleeve attacks. But Kakashi wasn't going to fall for it again. His body jerked and swayed as he dodged his attacks, and just like last time, the ninja fired out a flurry of senbon from inside his sleeve.

Kakashi evaded the attack and managed to take hold of his hand, twisting the arm behind his back, and shoving the man's head down essentially immobilizing him.

"Who are you working for?" he growled.

"Fuck you."

"Wrong answer," Kakashi replied before slipping a kunai from his holster and finishing the job.

His eyes went wide as metal suddenly sank into his skin and he turned to see the elderly man who only shook his head at him. But then the Copy Nin disappeared in a poof of smoke and the real Kakashi had the man's location. He let his kunai rip through the air, each one making its mark - the man falling to his knees before slumping forward.

'One left,' he told himself as he approached the house.

The front door opened revealing the lone survivor, the one that had led him to this place. They stared at each other in silence, both ready to make a move if the other did.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Kakashi's lips pressed flat. "Isn't that my question?"

"You've already killed my men, so leave this place so I can see them off to the other world properly."

"Why are you poisoning the people of this village?"

Unmoving in the doorframe, the man merely sighed. "That's not your concern."

"I've been assigned to make it my concern."

"Shall I pay you to make it disappear?"

Kakashi obviously took offense, eye narrowing. "I can't be bought off."

"All ninja can be bought, or do you just conveniently forget about those paychecks you get? There's no room here for your politics. Take your medic and leave here before you force my hand."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

The man lowered his head, muddy-red hair shadowing his face. In a flash he was gone and then at Kakashi's side, fist flying toward him. He brought his hands up to block, taken back at his speed. This man was nothing like the others. He was on him again, wasting no time in striking out over and over. When Kakashi finally caught an opening, he retaliated, making contact with his gut and getting some distance as he spun, his foot aimed right at the ninja's face.

However, the man eluded his attack and countered, but that was exactly what Kakashi wanted. He hooked his foot behind the man's weak leg and using his momentum, brought him down. In one fluid motion, as he fell with him, he retrieved the poisoned needle from his jacket and plunged it into the man's chest. Brown eyes went large as he stared up at Kakashi in disbelief.

Kakashi sat up on top of him. "I told you I couldn't do that," he muttered before pushing himself up to his feet. He glanced back at the house; he had to get inside and dig around. Maybe he'd find some plans or the poison they were using so he could take it home with him to hand over to Tsunade.

A low grunt had Kakashi turning back around, watching as the ninja was getting back up on his feet. He threw the senbon to the ground with an amused chuckle.

He stalked up to the Copy Nin, staring him down as he advanced. But the Leaf nin was ready, slipping his finger into a kunai. The man jumped at him and Kakashi thrust a kunai into his chest. He stared down at it for a moment before turning his gaze up to Kakashi's lone one. He smiled and shot his hand out, a cloud of red dust enveloping him.

Realizing a little too late that this, too, was poison, Kakashi couldn't control the immediate changes he felt. His vision blurred and he coughed, seemingly unable to breathe through the thick cloud. His ears began to ring, all other noise slipping away as he fell to his knees. He swung at the set of legs that stopped in front of him, but he missed and fell over, heavy.

"And I told you that you'd force my hand if you didn't listen," he growled as his foot flew at his face, contacting with a thick crunch. He shoved his hands under his body, taking hold of him by the shoulders and began to drag him to the house.

.x.X.x.

Having three extra sets of capable hands really helped Sakura get the villagers treated and sent on their way. Haruko came up with an ingenious solution to restoring the water to its natural purity, and she was running the final tests to ensure it'd work.

One of her senior nurses, Kiku, was creating a large batch of the antidote, while Naoya worked with Sakura on diagnosing the patients and doing any extractions that were necessary.

In the short amount of time that they had been there, Sakura could already feel that the load had gotten a little lighter, and she was feeling optimistic.

At least until a little brown pug came darting in, the startled cries of the staff echoing behind him.

She knelt beside him, brow creased with worry. "Pakkun? What are you doing here?"

"Kakashi sent me."

"Come with me," she said and then led him out back while ordering the others to remain on task.

"Actually, Sakura-chan, I need you to come with me."

She looked down at the dog with questioning eyes. "What happened?"

"He found the place those men were staying at. He told me to bring you. You know how Kakashi is, he won't sit still for long."

"Shit," she sighed. "Alright, give me a second."

She went back inside and gathered her weapons, placing Naoya in charge. She gave Haruko the go-ahead if the water treatment worked. Then after a show of thanks, she darted back outside.

"We gotta hurry," he told her, his tone urgent.

She nodded. "Let's go!"

She leapt after him, the greenery of the forest becoming a blur. Please be okay, Kakashi

Pakkun filled her in on the situation as they traveled and they slowed as they reached the other side of town, the cabin coming into view.

"Damn it," Pakkun growled. "I left him right here."

"Can you find him now?"

He snorted at her as if he couldn't believe she'd ask such a silly question. "This way."

They followed his scent all the way to the house. Sakura's heart was pounding from all the adrenaline as she crouched at the back. "He's in there, isn't he?"

Pakkun nodded. "And he's not alone."

"Then who's with him?"

"It's just one man, the ninja I smelled earlier."

She regarded the pug. "Can you tell what Kakashi's condition is?"

After a moment - that felt far longer than it actually was - he shook his head. "He's not so hot."

"But alive?"

"Yes."

She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "Thank you, Pakkun."

She stood and stared at the house, taking deep steadying breaths. She tightened the glove on her hand, the leather protesting as she balled it into a fist.

'Get in, neutralize the threat, get Kakashi, get out,' she repeated to herself.

She pulled her fist back, charging it with chakra, and then shot it forward, crumbling the wall and sending dirt and debris flying.

The chair Kakashi had been secured to toppled over in the blast. In the midst of dust settling he thought he saw a head of pink, but he wasn't entirely sure because he still felt stiff and groggy. He thought he recognized the sound of a scuffle as he'd never fully be able to forget the sound of metal flying through the air with deadly intent.

There was a female's warrior cry and another rumble through the floor before he felt his restraints go slack.

"Kakashi?! Kakashi can you hear me?"

He wanted to say yes; that voice was so lovely he wanted to tell her to keep talking, but he couldn't seem to get his mouth to work.

His eye fell closed as green light became too bright, but it was warm and comforting... and then there was pain, like a part of him was being broken down in the most excruciating way possible and then being drawn out of him.

After the pain though came a sense of clarity. His chest felt lighter, he could breathe easier, and his head didn't feel bogged down.

A hand settled on his chest. "Lie still for a moment, okay. Even if you were to try to move, your body might not respond right away. Give yourself a little time."

He struggled to open his eye and he managed to do so for the briefest of seconds. "Rin?"

Sakura's brow creased as she stared down at him. She was so happy that he was alive, but a small part of her she supposed was a bit disappointed that he thought she was someone else.

"You'll be alright, Kakashi," she whispered.

His hand gripped her arm. "Don't go again... stay... Rin."

"How touching."

The gravelly voice startled Sakura and she jumped to her feet, primed to attack. This wasn't the man she had just defeated. He was less put-together: blond hair shaggy, clothes grimy and a sword at his hip.

He examined the rubble of the house with little interest and then walked over, kicking the downed man. "You saved me the trouble of having to pay him, so I guess I should thank you."

Her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "You're one of them, those bandits."

He let out a single laugh. "Something like that."

"I'd say you're exactly that."

He leaned to the side, looking past her and to Kakashi. "I believe he's mine."

"Wrong."

He jabbed a finger at the dead ninja. "Yuu told me he had captured the elusive Copy Ninja and offered him to me. I'm just here to collect."

"Seeing as how he's dead, I think that makes your little deal void."

He shook his head. "Not how it works in my book."

Sakura slid a foot back and brought her fist up. "You're not taking him."

"I really hate it when people want to do things the hard way," he commented as he unsheathed his blade.

Sakura had to get him away from Kakashi, and she had to get out of the house to unleash her strength; she couldn't risk bringing it down with him still inside. She lunged at him the same moment he moved for her. Her kunai slid up the length of his blade as she closed the distance between them. Crossing her free arm over in front of her, she took hold of his wrist, rendering any counter with his katana useless, and spun into him to attack with her weapon. But he blocked, pushing it back. She dropped her kunai, but she didn't really need it as she turned back, her knuckles connecting to his face. The sheer force of her hit knocked him out of the door he came in.

With a clatter behind her, she spun and found two other bandits were trying to pick up Kakashi and make off with him.

"No you don't!"

The one holding his feet let go to defend against her oncoming foot, but he went flying into a wall on impact, breaking the crudely made shelves, and then slumped to the floor.

Fierce green eyes turned to the other man as she stalked towards him. She growled, raising her fist, but then Kakashi sprang into action, twisting out of the man's hands. The surprised goon cried out in pain as his arm snapped in two before a fist struck him square in the face, laying him out cold.

Sakura couldn't stop the smile from breaking out as she dashed over to him. "Kakashi! You're okay!"

He swayed a little and she put her hands on his shoulders to help steady him. "Not quite worn off yet, is it?"

He made a tiny noise as he shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "I think I'll be alright," he said as he looked up at her.

"Let's get out of here."

His eye widened and then all of a sudden Sakura felt herself falling as he pushed her to the side. Kunai hit his body and Sakura was vaguely aware that she screamed out his name. She watched in horror as he collapsed back into the debris. Complete shock left her rooted to the ground, her entire body trembling.

"Damn it!" the familiar voice groaned out. "I wanted him alive!"

Sakura's head snapped over for her to look at the blond bandit who was stepping into the house again. Her anger rose and pumped through her unrestrained. Tsunade might have chided her for giving in to such emotion so easily, but then again, given the circumstances, she might have encouraged it.

She didn't even stop to think, her body moved on its own, charging at him. He raised his katana as she neared. She dodged it, the razor sharp blade cutting through her jacket and barely slicing her side. She didn't feel the pain; she was too focused on bringing it.

Fingers spread wide and lined with chakra, she palmed his face and leapt onto him, using all of her weight to smash him into the ground. She felt his bones break under her, could hear his anguished scream, and then silence as he went still.

Her chest was heaving as she stood, averting her eyes from the bloody pulp that was once his face. She only had one priority now and she ran back inside, sliding to her knees beside Kakashi. He was staring up at her, doing his best to keep his breathing steady. She tried to keep the panic off of her face, but he knew he was in bad shape.

She stared at the kunai lodged in his neck just above the collarbone, and the growing patch of crimson around it. "I'm sorry!" she cried and then bit down on her lip to try to stop the tears before they came out.

He lifted his hand and brought it to her face. "S'okay."

"Don't talk!" She pressed her hand near the wound to assess the damage. His hand remained pressed to her cheek, warm and trusting. She closed her eyes; it was bad, but if she was quick enough...

She wrapped her hand around his, squeezing his wrist before meeting his gaze. She was on the verge of crying, but she couldn't allow herself to.

"This is probably going to hurt," she choked out as her hand curled around the butt of the kunai.

He stilled and closed his eyes, bracing himself for the pain. A deep growl flew from his mouth as she pulled it out. She went to work immediately as blood began to spill rapidly from the gaping wound, coating her hands. She felt overwhelmed for a moment, doubt slowing her fingers, but she could almost hear Tsunade yelling at her, pushing her.

His body was twitching beneath her and she could feel his pulse slowing, so she pressed harder urging the artery and muscle to mend faster.

"Please Kakashi! Don't die!"

It wasn't until she could taste the salt of her tears that she realized she was crying, inhaling them with every shaky breath.

His body became still as she neared completion, the skin growing back together under her healing touch. She took his face in her hands. "Kakashi? Kakashi!"

He coughed heavily and groaned, eye cracking open to look at her. His voice came out weak and tired. "Let's not do that again."

She nodded with a smile, but then broke down as uncontrollable sobs wracked her body.

"Sakura..."

"I was so scared," she admitted between whimpering breaths.

His hand pushed through her curtain of hair to caress the round softness of her cheek. "You did great," he told her and then pulled her down to him.

She cried into his chest, feeling secure in his embrace. She felt ridiculous, too; after all he had been the one on the brink of death. But she was just so damn happy and relieved that she couldn't stop it from coming. She'd apologize later.

A/N: I swear that's the last time I go to bed on cold medicine. I dreamt that I was being chased by giant ravenous cucumbers. Sounds more silly than frightening, but if you were up against a 7-foot cucumber with rows of teeth like a shark you might freak out, too. I've been up for hours already. But at least it prompted me to finish this installment. Thank you for reading.