Nightmare

AN: Third installment of Nightmare. Chapter 4 shall be up as soon as my buddy Kaede finishes her section of it, I managed to beat the crap out of my writer's block but she's got double the trouble. Writer's block and Aritst's block. Horrible horrible bastards that they are. Enjoy and don't forget to take some time to review.
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Chapter 3: Dying Flames

"I love you, daddy....... You know that, right?" Kaede stared at her father's prone body for moment, then down to the kunai held tightly in her skinny fingers. The cold metal of the weapon reflected how she felt inside. She felt hopeless..... Lifeless..... And… Cold… Oh, so cold. It made her feel sick. "I don't think this is selfish of me. Do you think it is?" The only answer she got was the light beep of the heart monitor and the soft breathing behind her from Iruka. The teacher had made sure to check up on Kaede every day, mostly when she started to become even more noticeably unstable.

She turned the blade over in her hand, watching as the light caught its sharp edge. It was so promising, so teasing.....

"Don't hate me, daddy." Kaede's hand trembled as she leaned over the side of the bed and lowered the blade's point towards Kakashi's throat. Just a quick jab and it would all be over. But what if she missed? What if he didn't die right away? These questions swirled through her head, causing her sense to suddenly come back. Pulling away, Kaede dropped the weapon and stumbled back from the bed, her emerald eyes wide with horror. "What am I doing?" Her hands covered her mouth as she collapsed near the wall, staring at her father with shock. She had been ready to kill him, her own father. Hot tears staring to fall and Kaede's hands moved away from her face to wrap around her stomach as she doubled over and cried out, almost like a animal in pain. The noise caused Iruka to jerk forward, awake and alert. Almost immediately, he looked from Kakashi to Kaede, sitting across the room crying in a painful wail.

It was a heartbreaking noise to hear from a child so young.

Quickly, Iruka dropped down to the floor and pulled Kaede into a tight hug, hushing her and pleading for her to calm down. The little Hatake buried her face into Iruka's vest but those wails didn't stop as she seemed to cry harder. Iruka looked around the room, his doe-colored eyes dropping onto the kunai laying on the floor.

His eyes widened as his mind evaluated what had happened, or what was the most likely thing to have happened before she came to her senses. If it hadn't been for the continuous beep of Kakashi's heart monitor, he might have suspected that the little girl had managed to go through with her plan. But what had she planned? Had she lost so much hope that she was ready to end the Jounin's life? The life of the man that meant so much to her? Her father's life?

Iruka didn't want to think such a thing possible and he tried to make himself think more innocent scenarios, but that kunai, just sitting there, made them all impossible. "Kaede, just hold on a little longer. Please, just hang on for his sake." Kaede seemed to go limp in the Chuunin's hold, her eyes glassy and unfocused. When she spoke, it sent a chill of terror down Iruka's spine. It wasn't the voice of a innocent child. It was a voice of someone without hope, without emotion. "I have to save him. He's never going to wake up unless I do something, even if it means killing him."

He tightened his hold on the little girl, tears running out between tightly closed eyes. His voice cracked as he shook his head in denial of what she was saying. "Don't you dare… Don't you dare say that Kaede. Don't you dare think he's just going to give up or that he wants to just die. If you think he does.......If you think he wants to die..." Iruka gave a shaky sob. He didn't want to say this, but it had to be said. She had to know what......no......who she was starting to become, believing that only death would make the pain go away. "If you think he wants to die.....you're acting just like Sasuke." She went tense, almost as if she had been hit in the face. All Kaede could see flashing through her mind and in her vision was Sasuke. He wanted his brother dead, so the pain of loss would go away and she wanted to free her dad, so he didn't need to keep fighting..........She wanted the hurt inside her chest to stop.

"I'm just like him."

A wave of hopelessness washed over her and for one clear brief moment.......she wanted to die. "You can only be like him if you act like him. It's your choice Kaede. Please, bare with this pain for a little longer and hope and pray that your father wakes up. When he does, he won't want to see you broken or heartless. He'll want to see his daughter. He'll want to see Hatake Kaede." Iruka leaned back a little and gave the girl a sad look. "He'll want to see you."

She just hung in his hold, her eyes still unfocused. That was the second person now, who had told her it was her choice to act as Sasuke did. She shifted slowly in his arms, dropping her eyes, her head following their lead. Her green irises seemed to quiver as they once again started to flood. “I’m sorry…” she muttered, her usual tone trying to break through the barrier that had been thrown up. “You’re all doing what you can to help… and all I’m doing is giving up…I’m just trying to get rid of my pain in an act of fear… I’m sorry…”

Kaede leaned her head against his chest as his look softened. “Kaede, don’t apologize. It’s hard and you’re doing your best. That’s all that matters. You’re still trying.” The little girl just stayed silent, as her tears streaked her cheeks and she shook her head softly. He hugged her. “It’ll be alright. You’re dad wouldn’t give up on you, so don’t give up on him.”

Iruka leaned more against the wall and Kaede shifted, climbing from his lap and sitting beside him. She stared off towards the other side of the room, her eyes still kind of blank. Again, her usual shine tried to fight through as she opened her mouth slightly to speak. “Why do you think he did it?” Iruka looked over at her and then, looked away, scratching his throat softly. “Kakashi? Well, he did it to -”

The little girl shook her head softly as she cut him off. “No, not him… Sasuke. He had no reason… No real reason to hurt dad, did he?” Iruka’s eyes observed her as he gave a thoughtful look up at the ceiling. “You know… I think maybe it’s because he’s jealous.” The Chuunin looked down at the young Hatake. “ He probably sees you and your father happy together and become jealous because he isn’t able to grow up with his father like you are. At the same time, you were, and probably still are, a bit jealous of him for stealing Kakashi’s attention. He was probably only doing it to get the feeling he’s missing with his father.” Iruka looked back across the room. “Why he hurt him… Well, Sasuke only knows how to get rid of pain by take that thing that causes it out of his life. He takes away someone dear to someone else to make himself feel better. Maybe he went to hurt your father in hopes of killing him along with the happiness you two shared, so he wouldn’t be reminded of what was stolen from him.”

A silence passed between them for a moment and Kaede looked up at him. “…I’m…not like that, am I?” Iruka gazed down at her, his expression questioning the girl. “Hmm? What makes you say that?” The little girl looked down sadly, recalling a memory. “He told me that I was just as selfish as he was… and lately, that just seems true.” Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly in her emotional pain before she continued. “everything I seem to do and think just makes me seem more like him… Am I really no better than that…?” Her voice trailed off as her eyes looked off to the side a bit.

“Kaede…” Iruka started, but stopped when the little girl continued. “I guess my love blinded me… And I only really saw that happiness… I never saw what dad would have to do to give me that… He does everything for me and I’ve taken it all for granted.” She shifted slightly in her position as she shot a short look at Kakashi. “All he worries about is me and I never considered what could happen to him because of his worry… I am selfish…” She hung her head as she thought about it.

Iruka gave a soft chuckle. “You silly girl.” Kaede looked up, her eyes confused. “What?” Iruka returned her look, a playful smile on his face. “Don’t you see? Kakashi does all of that because he loves you . It’s not like you’re forcing him to do that for you. He doesn’t want you to worry about him, not like that. He doesn’t like seeing you that way. He only wants to see you happy.”

“But why does he -”

“He’s a parent. He’s like that. And you should feel lucky to still have that love. Many ninja don’t have a childhood with their parents. They would give anything to have what you have now , Kaede.” He gave her a soft smile, but Kaede could see that sad glint in his eyes.

She returned his smile as they both fell silent, their eyes traveling to the opposite wall. Neither said another word, but there was nothing really left to be said. Iruka had seen that sparkle in the young girl’s eyes. He sat with his soft smile as he chuckled quietly to himself. She was just like her father. They were both stubborn and determined. He looked down at her, watching her small movements.

The young girl’s eyes settled on Kakashi, their color soft as they rested on the man’s sleeping form. Her eyelids dropped slowly as she blinked, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, her ears drawn to the monitor’s beeps once more. In a way, it made her sleepy and her eyes slowly closed, her head bobbing down some. Yes… She would wait. Be it a day or a month, she’d do as he would for her. The little girl whispered a few silent words, hushed enough to where only she could hear them. “Take your time, dad… I don’t mind. I’ll still be here waiting.”

She knew he couldn’t hear her, but she didn’t care as she slowly fell asleep, her body going limp as she dozed off. She slumped over, leaning against Iruka, whose gaze shifted down to the sleeping child. He ran a hand through her soft, white hair as he picked her up and carried her over to her father’s bed. The Chuunin place her carefully besides the older Hatake and watched as she snuggled close to him. A small smile flashed on her face as if to say thank you and Iruka nodded softly in return.

A feeling filled Iruka as he watched the two. It made his heart light with happiness, but he could still feel that weight in the bottom of it which was jealousy. He sighed as his eyes narrowed some as he scolded himself on the inside for it. He stepped back and turned to leave and a medic appeared in the door, looking for the teacher. Iruka gave the two Hatake one last look before leaving, turning out the light, casting the room into a clam darkness.

The next afternoon, the little girl woke late and moved out of the bed once again to watch her father. After a while, Kaede rested her head on the bedside, her arms dangling limply over the edges of the chair. Her cheeks were slightly pink, a sign that the girl was either sick or tired, which she was a bit of both. She sniffled as she slumped backwards in her chair, her head hanging back as she stared at the ceiling. She counted the beeps as she gave a weak cough. The little girl mumbled something as she leaned forward, resting her arms on her legs as she stared once more at her still , sleeping father.

Her eyes stared at him tiredly, the green color glazed and hazy. Kaede leaned back in her chair, still watching him, still listening to the heart monitor’s beeps. They were always the same, day after day. The young Hatake sighed as her eyes drooped farther. “Dad…” Her head bobbed down slightly as she was taken away to her dream land once again. However, as her head dropped down, something caught her eye. It was a creamy color… Maybe it was Tsunade or someone… She couldn’t tell. Her eyes were probably playing tricks on her, but then, a voice spoke and she knew who it was immediately.

“Not like me, huh?” The voice chuckled darkly. “You really shouldn’t fall asleep you know… Who knows what could happen… While your eyes are closed.” Kaede looked up, full eyed, seeing Sasuke sitting in a chair on the opposite side of Kakashi’s bed. Kaede glared. “Sasuke!” she hissed, standing up defensively. He just sat there, that cold smirk plastered on his face once again. “So, you know what pain is now? Or shall I show you some more?” His eyes trailed over to the older Hatake, a gleam shining in the Uchiha’s dark eyes.

Kaede growled. “Leave him alone! Don’t you dare touch him! Whatever you want, settle it with me!” Sasuke looked back at her and cocked his head. “Hmm…Trying not to be selfish, huh? Well, sorry, I don’t feel like playing around with you… I’ll just finish what I started!” He made a move towards Kakashi’s life support and Kaede leapt over the bed at him, grabbing his wrist. She felt to the ground with a large crash, bringing him slightly along with her.

The white-haired girl looked up at him angrily as Sasuke looked down at her surprised. Suddenly, who she saw wasn’t who she thought. Her eyes were playing tricks on her… Who she saw, she couldn’t believe. It was… It was the one person she would never dream possible of doing such a thing, looking back at her doubly as shocked was no other than the most beloved teacher in all of Konoha. Sitting on the ground holding the cord that had been pulled free during the fall was none other then Umino Iruka.

Kaede remained still on the ground, her body rigid with confusion, and her eyes sparkling with fear. She opened her mouth to speak, but was lost for words. She didn’t know how to think and a furry of emotions had exploded inside her. Her heart was racing as she stared at Iruka, unable to clear her mind. Nothing was making sense. She wanted to scream, but the little girl was speechless.

Her eyes wavered on him for a moment before trailing over to her father. She felt her heart stop as she seemed to return to the present, sound filling her ears once more. The young Hatake wished it hadn’t. Her body was shaking uncontrollably in a strong, emotional pain. She simply was heartbroken. Kaede went to speak again and didn’t look back at the other man. Only one word escaped her lips. It was soft and sad, though anger bordered her tone. It was a feeling which was hard to explain. Her voice asked softly, “…Why…?”

Iruka stared at the object in his hand as if he wasn't sure what it was doing there. The room was silent now that the life support wasn't on. So quiet, so silent… Like death.

He let the cord drop from his hand to land on the ground with a light sound. Slowly, he placed his hand against the wall and pushed himself up to his feet leaning against it for a moment as if trying to understand what and why he had just killed someone he considered a friend. Finding no answer, he just stood there staring at the dark corner of the room. "You wanted to free him."

The words were emotionless and cold. "You tried to do something similar only last night." Iruka's dark eyes moved to look over at the prone ninja those same eyes widening in surprise as the Jounin's hands moved to curl around the material of the blanket underneath them. "Impossible." The lack of oxygen was getting to the unconscious ninja's body as that natural need to breathe was restricted by the tube down his throat. So Kakashi's body was conscious enough to know when he was starting to suffocate.

Kaede sat there, her head now dropped. Her shoulders now shook noticeably. She stared at the floor, her eyes completely flooded, the green color submerged under a heavy layer of tears which now started to fall to the ground. Kaede wanted to speak, but instead, shook her head, her hair swaying with each movement.

A strong gripping pain had seemed to taken over. She couldn't feel her body as her limbs went numb and her head start to hurt. Her emotions were uncontrollable and unpredictable and she started to cry loudly. Yes... she wanted to do something similar last night... but she had chose different... She had chose to hold on and now...

Her eyes suddenly narrowed as a strong twinge of anger grasped the girl. Her hands clenched, clawing slightly at the floor as they balled into fists. Kaede raised her head, her eyes narrow and dark. They weren't the eyes of an innocent little girl anymore. They were like bottomless pits, but one could easy see the drive behind them. The emerald orbs were hardened and solemn, though her tears still reflected near the bottom of her eyes.

Kaede stood, moving slowly and shakily to her feet. An angry determination had come over her and she shook softly with it. She glared at Iruka. She was angry... She was hurt. Kaede had trusted him and had believed in him. She took a shaky breath as those thoughts disgusted her...

Her eyes then trailed from him again to her father and her anger broke suddenly, leaving the girl just as fast as it came. In a strong, solid burst, Kaede pushed past Iruka and to Kakashi’s bedside. Her eyes scanned him up and down quickly, settling on that mask covering his face for a split second. Oh… she wished she had paid more attention to what Tsunade had said earlier about it… The little girl went to remove it, but stopped. She wasn’t sure what to do and her small hand gripped the blanket before she reached over and placed a hand on it, pulling it away from his face hesitantly. Kaede then shook her head and took it off fully.

It restricted him… She knew he hated that…

She dropped the mask onto the ground, listening to it clatter on the floor. Kaede shot a glance backwards at Iruka and that glint in his eye caught her attention. The young girl’s eyes widened as she turned. Maybe… her eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on her…

Iruka just glared at the Jounin as the little girl hurried around him. This wasn't right; he wasn't meant to be fighting. Kakashi was just meant to die. Dark eyes narrowed coldly as Kakashi coughed, half choking as the tube was pulled from his throat and the mask was pulled from his face. Slowly the Jounin's chest started to raise and fall, though not entirely even. It was struggled and a little raspy, but he wasn't going to die in the next five minutes.

Kaede noticed that icy glare, which made that angry air return back to hers. She stood protectively besides her father's bed, standing in a stance. The little girl wasn't going to let him come any closer. She knew that really wasn't Iruka. Her fists clenched tightly at her side as she returned his dark gaze. "Just who are you?" she demanded.

Iruka turned that glare to Kaede, a short cruel smirk crossing his face. "There's no fooling a Hatake, now is there?” In a puff of chakra smoke, the imposter was revealed. Kabuto placed a hand on his hip and fingered his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "This would have been a nice, clean death for your dad if he wasn't so stubborn, but then, I shouldn't have expected anything less from the Copy-cat ninja."

Kabuto glared at the two Hatake before smiling at Kaede, looking rather amused that the girl was standing in a ready stance. "Do you really think you can stand up against the likes of me?"

"Not sure, but then again, no one ever is until they try," Kaede answered, her expression remaining solid and solemn. It was rather strange... It looked basically like Kakashi's. It held the same determined gleam and the same hard, seriousness. Kabuto chuckled, entertained by the young ninja. His glasses shone ominously. "Fine, have it your way."

The Sound-nin took a step towards the little girl before looking up like a startled deer as the overhead light flickered on and a woman's icy voice sounded from the doorway. "Even if she can't, we can." Kabuto winced as if in physical pain at the sight of Tsunade, her hands on her hips and a cold scowl across her face. Standing just a foot or two behind her was Iruka.

It was the real Iruka, who looked as equally impressed as the Hokage. Kaede's eyes widened at the sight of the two ninja as she sputtered. "How did......did you know......?" A calm smile crossed Iruka's face then and she felt a sense of relief knowing this was the real Iruka. That he was still the kind and friendly man that would never harm her father. Those words though.......from last night, they couldn't have been Kabuto's words… They were heartfelt and truthful. So that meant.....

"After you fell asleep last night after our talk, I was informed by a medic that I was needed else where. I really thought nothing of it until later this afternoon when Tsunade expressed her puzzlement of seeing me here then at the ramen stand within such a short time." Iruka frowned at Kabuto as he concluded his explanation. "Obviously, we were confused until we turned up here and heard from a real medic that I was in here with you and Kakashi-san." Tsunade gave a sharp nod in agreement with the teacher.

"So, Kabuto, that answers why we're here and how you got in here, but what it has failed to answer is what do you think you're trying to do with my Jounin?" Tsunade's stare could have melted rock at this point and it didn't take a genius to know she was ticked off and not just a little bit. Kaede moved closer to her father's side, her own glare turning to the Sound-nin who chuckled in that annoying, bemused manner of his. "I thought that would be obvious Hokage-sama. I'm cleaning up the mess that Sasuke made."

He smirked towards the unconscious Jounin and Kaede moved into his line of view, making another chuckle escape the pale haired teenager. "Like father, like daughter is it?"

"You bet it is." That determined look had returned to Kaede's young face and even Tsunade had to take a second look at the girl. She was indeed a spitting image of her father, of Kakashi. The same dangerous, narrowing of her emerald eyes that the Copy-cat had; the same solid, serious look that promised to bring death to whoever stood between the Hatake and the things important to them, be it orders or in this case:

Family.

[Next Chapter: Broken Heart, Broken Hope.]