The doctor blinked down at Kaori, and his words were clipped as he said, "You lost my patient?"

"I'm so sorry, it's been so busy," Kaori said. "I had no idea she left. She shouldn't have been able to!"

The doctor, an older man, pinched the bridge of his nose. "She has a grade three concussion, a major head lac, and she's anemic. How did she even get dressed?"

Kakashi furrowed his brows. "You didn't you use a medic-nin?"

Kaori shook her head. "Her chart forbids any form of jutsu."

The doctor sighed and turned to her. "Check the cameras, ask the front desk, ask anyone if they've seen her. This is going to be a lot of paperwork I don't have time for."

"I'm on it," Kaori nodded firmly. She seemed eager to leave the room as quickly as possible.

Before she could leave, Kakashi said, "I'll find her." He tapped the side of his nose and added, "I know her scent."

The doctor hesitated. "You're not busy?"

Why did everyone think that? Kakashi shrugged. "I have the week off- Hokage's orders."

He replied, "Well then, any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I saw where you brought her in- did you find her attacker?"

Kakashi nodded. "He woke up this morning in a cell." There was a pause before he asked, "Is there anyone you can call for her?"

"No," the doctor replied. "She has no family left. I'm glad to hear the man's in jail though." The doctor shook his head and gestured to Kaori. "Let's get started on this paperwork before she gets back."

Kaori nodded, and Kakashi left.

He shook his head and strode down the hall. Even without using his nose, common sense told him she should have taken the stairs- the closest means of escape.

His suspicions were confirmed when he found a couple of strands of her hair on the stairs. Thank goodness she hadn't fallen, given her state. What was she thinking given her condition?

His steps didn't make a sound as he finished his descent and landed on the ground floor of the building. The hallway provided no side exit, and her scent led him through a "staff only" door and into a storeroom linked to the loading dock.

Down the main road and to the left, his steps were casual as he made his way toward the middle of the village. Not a lot of people were out today, given the downpour.

Her scent was fading quickly too, thanks to the rain. Given her injuries, he was surprised she had walked this far. Though she may not be Guy's type, she sure was as stubborn as him.

He turned around another corner, and there, under a covered awning, Chiisa sat on a bench, clutching her head.

He was surprised that no one had stopped her. With the bandages and dried blood all over her clothes, she looked like she was a victim in a horror movie.

She glanced up, and her eyes widened in recognition. She forced out, "Now you're just stalking me."

He stood in front of her and replied, "The hospital sent me. They weren't too fond of your little escape."

She furrowed her brows and muttered, "Please, like they can do anything. You're the one that brought me in, right?"

"Yes," he replied. He tilted his head to the side. Her clothes were soaked through, and the bandage on the back of her head was already seeping red. She seemed to have no memory of the attack.

He asked, "Why no medic-nin?"

She stared at the rain and wrapped her arms around herself. "I have a...condition. My chakra is a little askew, won't let me do any jutsu." She shivered and added, "It's uh, t-temperamental around others."

"Is that what the seal you mentioned earlier is for?"

She paused, as if debating the best course of action. Finally, she replied, "I don't remember that conversation. But sure."

Even more interesting. "Can I take a look then?"

She shrugged, not meeting his eye. He lifted his headband. And just as she had said, her chakra was a peculiar array of colors, and most of it spilled from inside her head. By the looks of it, a good amount more was leaking, and it wasn't done. She had a massive reserve like Naruto's.

He asked, "I assume your seal is centered on your mind?"

She nodded and touched her forehead. "I-I think so."

"Well then." He slid his headband down and said, "What ever seal you have on you is weakening. It's slow, but it will break soon."

"Shit," She muttered. She stood quickly and staggered. Kakashi caught her, sighed, and gathered her in his arms.

Her eyes widened, and she raised her hands over her face to block the rain. "What are you-"

"Whether you like it or not, you're severely injured." His voice had lost its gentleness. "You need medical attention."

"This is p-pointless," she said. "They'll only monitor me and give me pain meds. I know h-how this works." She winced and cradled her head.

His grip on her tightened as he jumped to the nearest roof. "That may be so, but you have a major laceration, and a grade three concussion. To be honest, you look like you're going to pass out any minute."

"I-I have work, and my cat needs to be fed," Chiisai struggled to say. Kakashi felt her heart beat faster as he jumped to the next rooftop. "Let me p-pass out at home."

"I'm sure your work will understand," he replied. He landed outside of the hospital and added, "And I'm sure a friend will take care of your cat."

"Unlike you, I don't have a Might Guy," she said.

His thoughts went back to their conversation yesterday. So her cat really was her only friend. And the doctor had mentioned that she had no family left.

"If you want," he smiled, "I can take care of your cat!"

"A-absolutely not!" She grunted and turned her face into his vest as he walked inside. She moaned and said, "I shouldn't have yelled."

His smile quickly faded as the hospital came into view. Every time she looked at him she appeared to be in pain, and it wasn't just from the injuries. He couldn't remember having done anything to her except help her. He asked, "Do you dislike me that much?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't want you to see my apartment! It's a wreck." Her eyes widened, and she placed her hand over her stomach. "Oh, gods, I don' feel-"

Kakashi was quick to react. He set her down in front of an open trash bin, and her face disappeared over its rim as she dry-heaved.

"There she is!" Kaori jogged over to them and crouched beside Chiisai. "Thank you so much for bringing her back."

"No problem," Kakashi said. He closed his eyes and smiled, adding, "A shinobi helps his village in any way he can."

Chiisai lifted her head from the bin. "Lies," she managed to say before she heaved once more.

Kaori stood and frowned up at him. She looked between them and said, "Wow, she really doesn't like you."

He crossed his arms and blinked down at Chiisai. "Lucky me."

Now he was sure she had some personal prejudice towards him. He couldn't remember seeing her before yesterday. Perhaps he had an overdue book? He was late with a lot of things.

Kaori rubbed Chiisai's back and said, "C'mon, let's get you to your room."

"I'm fine," Chiisai said. She pulled away from Kaori and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her knees straightened as she stood and leaned against the wall. "I'm leaving...once....I catch my breath."

"This is becoming a nuisance," he said. "You're making a scene."

A vein in her nose pulsed. She glanced around, and people stared at them from the waiting area. The room was packed, and one kid even held a bag of popcorn.

Chiisai leaned against the wall and struggled for breath. "I'm allowed to v-voluntarily leave medical care," she said. "You're the one causing a ruckus."

"You'll pass out on the street and end right back up where you left," Kakashi tried to reason with her. He had to raise his voice to drown out the rain. "I'm doing you a favor."

"Not if I m-make it home," she said. She tucked her hands under her armpits and shivered. "And y-you're just annoying."

"Look," he said, "genuinely, I'm sorry about this." He lifted his hands and made several hand signs. It was a simple genjutsu, nothing too fancy, but it would knock her out long enough for her to be treated properly.

"No you're not," Chiisai's voice was barely heard as she fell into his arms. Kakashi sighed and shook his head as he picked her up. She smelled of mud, and rain, and bile. Just like last night.

"We may need to restrain her to her bed," Kaori said. "Her room is this way."

"Sorry about that," Kakashi said. His shoes were wet, and made a noise as he followed her. Chiisai was small, and hated high-energy, but she herself was pretty spirited. She hadn't gotten hostile until he had mentioned her seal weakening. "I didn't expect her to put up-"

"You know, I could s-sue you for that." Chiisai's voice cut through his words.