Kakashi
I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. I had just finished a shower and getting prepared. It was still early but nearing the time to head out. I heard the knock again and sighed feeling no urge to get up. Yesterday had been emotionally draining and my dreams were filled but nothing of repeats of the other day.
"Come in!" I called and the door gently clicked open. Rin stood there in the gear as yesterday only this time she had on her headband, the slash still through it and scrolls hung from her belt. I noticed the Katana on her back, the silver and black handle that had the kanji in silver for lightning on it.
"That's new" I noted and she shrugged.
"Sasuke destroyed the one you gave me." She replied simply still not meeting my gaze. I sighed.
"It's still a few hours before we have to, why are you here so early?"
"I'd assume that you'd want to discuss a plan or whatever since we're both now leading this mission." I raised an eye.
"They're letting you go?" she shrugged.
"I'd have gone anyways, besides Kankuro insists that I have to be there and without me, you have no way of finding them. So shall we talk or should I just get a head start?" I sighed as I motioned to my bed.
"Sit down" She walked forward then, and I felt the weight on the bed shift slightly when she sat down with one leg hanging off the side her foot barely grazing the floor. She pulled one of the scrolls from her belt and slipped it open showing a layout of the land. She pointed to a black circle that sat at the end of the two rivers.
"That's where they are. I already calculated the fastest route and marked it here in blue. Baki told me that a second team was sent and if I'm not mistaken by now they'll be about here." She explained pointing to a yellow circle.
"If you send one of your ninja dogs now then they'll meet here," She said pointing to a purple circle.
"Then we'll cross paths here and even if my calculations are a little off we'll all end up in the same place" I stared at her as she closed the scroll and finally she met my gaze.
"What?"
"Nothing just wow I guess" She smirked then.
"C'mon Kakashi, I've spent years training what did you expect?" She responded as she slid the scroll back in her belt and got to her feet. I caught her wrist when she tried to walk off.
"You're not going to yell at me again right?"
"No"
"Kakashi..."
"I'm sorry" I interrupted.
"Me too" She replied. I let go of her wrist, taking her hand as she turned to face me. Her fingers seemed to tremble as they touched the edge of my. She pulled down the mask, smiling when she saw my face. I started to lean up, her hand rested on my cheek.
"Hey Kakashi sensei...what are you doing!?" Rin reacted faster than I did. In less than a second, my mask was up and she had quickly stepped away. I could see her face flush red as she turned to hide it from the intruder.
"I know Rin's presence was unexpected but have a little control here, we're on a mission." I sighed as I sat up and Sakura stood at the door.
"It's nothing like..."
"I'm going to wake Naruto, I'll meet you guys outside" Rin interrupted before briskly leaving the room.
"Wait Rin..." But she was already gone. I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair.
"I have to send out a ninja dog, you should make sure you have everything prepared Sakura."
"Um okay, sorry for you know barging in..."
"Don't worry about it" I assured her and she smiled before walking off. I sighed as I let my head fall into my hands. It seemed I lost any sense of control around Rin. If Sakura hadn't interrupted then what would have happened? Before in the leaf, our relationship itself was just to figure things out, to not go fast and just learn what we might be or could be. I had to admit that it was different now.
Rin
I started pacing then stopped and started again. How could I be so stupid? I needed to focus on saving Gaara, not on Kakashi. It had taken me off guard though when he stopped me and his stupid face. I shouldn't have taken off the mask. I groaned and hit my forehead, stupid, stupid, stupid it was common sense; without his mask, Kakashi was near irresistible. He'd deny it and try to convince you otherwise but I can assure you one hundred percent that he's lying.
"Rin, what are you doing?" I stopped pacing and looked at Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. I felt my face flush and quickly looked away. C'mon Rin you're a trained assassin, get a grip already. I guess two years from any male contact that wasn't Akatsuki members, target, siblings, or just creeps really took its toll.
"Nothing, I'm just worried about Gaara" I finally replied and released a steady breath to calm myself before turning to face them. I noticed the puzzled looked on their faces and raised an eye.
"Are we ready, were wasting time here guys" Kakashi nodded in agreement pausing only when a set of footsteps came running towards us.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" I glanced at Temari and the team she had put together. Not very strong ninja except for herself.
"Temari I'm sorry but you can't come with us." She seemed to stumble back in surprise and I could feel all eyes on me.
"Look Baki and I already discussed this last night. You can't..."
"But he's my brother!"
"And I understand a sibling bond better than anyone, but you can't come" She was about to fight back, I could see it in her eyes that she was ready for an argument that was until another person jumped down beside us.
"The Princess is right." Both of us turned to look at Baki.
"Temari you and your group are to stay here and patrol the perimeter"
"Are you kidding me or what!?"
"They're orders from higher up, if other villages were to discover that the Kazekage is missing then they may take it as an opportunity to attack." Baki tried to explain.
"Don't you get it!? That's why we have to get back as quickly as possible. Look at these leaf ninja they left their village and came all the way here to rescue Gaara and Gaara's not even their leader. He's our Kazekage and the sand shinobi should be the ones to save him!" I rolled my eyes frowning slightly; we were wasting time.
"Well, I'm going!" I turned to look up at the building.
"If a sand shinobi is needed then I'm the one to go!"
"Granny Chiyo" Temari breathed and I sighed hitting my hand lightly against my forehead. This was getting ridiculous, I could move faster on my own. Their arguing was starting to get to me, it reminded me too much of Hidan and Kakuzu and finally, it got on my last nerve.
"Just shut up already, the old lady can come if she can keep up because honestly my one concern is Gaara and all you guys are is back up, so if you're coming then let's get going!" They all fell silent as they looked at me and the old lady, Chiyo or whatever, stepped up.
"Who are you?" I sighed.
"That isn't important, we..."
"Who are you?" She persisted and I crossed my arms.
"Rin Uchiha, an assassin of the Akatsuki can we go now?" I persisted.
"Assassin of the Akatsuki eh, do you know of my grandson, Sasori?"
"Yes, he's a complete jerk. He's Deidara's partner so chances are very high that we'll see him now can we go" She nodded slightly seeming to think of my answer and I groaned in frustration before I turned. It happened then, like that night I left the hideout with Hidou after my argument with Pein but unlike then I knew what was about to happen and so I let it.
**Vision**
I slammed into the ground groaning slightly when I pushed myself to my knees. Why did these always start with falling against something hard? I released a breath and got to my feet freezing at the first thing or rather the person I saw. Gaara was being held in the air but what looked like a mass of blue chakra while red chakra seemed to seep from his mouth and eyes into the mouth of the statue. Each of the statue's fingers had the projection of an Akatsuki member above it, all but one that was meant for Orochimaru and two that had the real forms of Sasori and Deidara.
"Gaara" I breathed. I ran forward and slammed into an invisible wall. I felt the panic bubble inside me and slammed a fist into the wall.
"Gaara!" I shouted but as the scene began to fade I knew it was pointless. He was fading and I was running out of time.
**Finish**
I nearly slammed my head against Kakashi's when I shot up. I felt one of his hands on the small of my back and I took his other when he offered it.
"Are you okay?" I wasn't used to so much concern and it made me a little flustered.
"I'm fine but we have to go, now. We're running out of time." It must have been the obvious panic in my voice; he had to have noticed it because in a second he had pulled me to my feet and ordered the others to move out. Temari promised that they would catch up soon for back up but I was already walking off before she could say anymore and the moment I heard the other four begin to follow I broke into a run. Just hold on a little longer Gaara, I'm on my way.