Chapter 1: "Friendship"

"Minato! Minato let me out of here!"

A young teenage girl slammed her fist against the invisible barrier that barricaded her away from the fight. Dressed in her typical ANBU uniform she pounded at the barrier with all her strength but it did not budge, the other shinobis beside her shouted, pleading the hokage to let them out.

A blond man turned around and walked up to the barrier, "I'm sorry… but too many lives have been lost… I can't make you sacrifice your life for me… Sorry Isamu, this is for your own good."

In a flash he left hundreds of screaming shinobis inside the barricade as he faced the 9 tailed beast that trashed Konoha. No one could see anything but the huge creature trashing forest and houses, leaving Konoha in shambles. The black haired girl, for the first time in a long time felt tears flow down her cheeks as she fell to the grass, still pounding on the barrier.

"MINATO!"

Takanashi Isamu jolted from her bed.

It was just a dream.

She rubbed her eyes, shielding it from the bright sunlight that seeped through her curtains. The 18 year old girl got up from bed and made her way to the bathroom where she caught a glimpse of her reflection.

Her usually thick, wavy pitch black hair was a mess and she brushed her fingers through her hair, moving her bangs from her eyes. Her body was muscular and toned, a result of many years of training. But scars donned her slightly tanned skin, one prominent scar slashed through the back of her shoulder until her ribs- it had healed over time but as she touched it she felt a bump of skin that would never go away. A constant reminder of war. She stepped into the shower, washing away the sweat and letting the high pressure hot water press against her skin bringing a sigh from her lips.

After she had finished her usual morning routine and at noon she took a stroll to the hospital where she volunteered. Dressed in her usual loose, ¾ sleeved black shirt and a pair of black loose pants she put on a white coat and got to work. The hospital wasn't as busy since the war was now over- she remembered the hospital being so full they had to put patients in the reception area. Back then, no one smiled and nurses were rushed back and forth with dark circles under their eyes, piles of clipboards in their arms and blood stains on their white uniform.

But everything was different now.

The war had ended a few years ago, 5 years to be exact and the village was now back to normal. Now civilians walked around happily without the thought of war looming over their heads and children were being children, playing in the playgrounds instead of fighting in war. Konoha was once again the warm and happy place that Isamu remembered.

After a few hours the head doctor, Yamamoto-sensei handed Isamu a clipboard, "This is your last patient of the day, good work to day Takanashi-san." He said respectfully even though the girl was much younger than him.

She looked at the clipboard and sighed, making her way to room 102. She slid open the door and there was a familiar face laying on the bed with half his face covered. His silver hair was almost camouflaging with the white pillow, he gave her a smile from underneath his mask and waved, "Yo."

She sighed, "Kakashi, hospitalised again?"

He let out a laugh, "Yeah, sorry, I overdid it again."

Isamu placed the clipboard on the bedside table and moved the blanket from his body, placing her hand over his chest. A green glow coated her hands as she felt Kakashi's body unwind and his tense muscles relax. He had nothing broken, it was just a simple case of overused chakra- a common diagnosis for Hatake Kakashi.

After 30 minutes Isamu wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand as Kakashi sat up, "You're getting much better at medical jutsu."

"I've been practicing…" Isamu replied. She wasn't the best healer, she could heal simple things like wounds, sprains and cracked bones but healing broken bones was difficult for her and she wasn't very skilled at internal bleeding. What she was good at was poisons and antidotes but her expertise in that area wasn't needed much nowadays.

"Can I be released today Takanashi-sensei?" Kakashi teased and the girl responded by swatting his arm.

"You can but your chakra took some damage, I'd recommend you to take a few days off missions, I'll get Yamamoto-sensei to sign you off."

"Alright, I'll see you at the entrance in 10 minutes?"

Isamu nodded and left the room to find the head doctor. Kakashi was waiting for her at the entrance as promised and the two exited the hospital.

Isamu took in her surroundings, even after five years of peace in Konoha she still found it strange. She had lived through the war and had seen what war did to the village, it drained colour and warmth from everyone. The war instilled coldness and suspicion into the villagers who now did nothing but smile, laugh and bask in the sunlight. The recovery of Konoha was remarkable. To Isamu, it was a miracle.

"You still can't believe it can you?"

She nodded, they had walked along the road, passing the academy before Isamu stopped, "Hang on Kakashi."

He looked at her line of sight to see her staring at the small children being let out of the school. They were still young, around 6-7 years old and their little feet ran as fast as they could out of the school with smiles on their faces as they ran into their parents' arms.

Coming out of the academy last was two boys, one boy with dark hair and dark eyes ran into the arms of his brother who embraced him tightly. Uchiha Sasuke. The other boy who walked out of the academy with his hands in his pockets was a blond young boy with blue eyes as bright as the afternoon's sky. Uzumaki Naruto.

Isamu's eyes trailed the young boy until he turned the corner and she felt a pair of eyes on her, Uchiha Itachi. She gave him a small nod of acknowledgment which he returned as he left with his younger brother on his back, clinging to his neck.

"You still keep watch of Naruto?" Kakashi asked as Isamu turned her back on the academy and continued walking.

"Yeah, he has Kushina-san's temper." She stated making Kakashi chuckle.

"That is true, I heard that he hasn't been doing the best in school."

"Mm, I heard Uchiha Sasuke is doing quite well."

"I thought Itachi was being deployed today? Why was he at the academy?"

"He asked the Hokage to push it back a day so he could pick his brother up from school. He didn't want to break his promise to Sasuke."

"So the two of you will be leaving tomorrow? How come I didn't know anything about this?"

"Yeah I am, I leave tomorrow. You were supposed to be there but because you injured yourself your mission has been cancelled. Hokage-sama didn't tell you because you were already deployed on another mission."

Kakashi protested, "Shit… I feel fine, I can still g-"

"No missions for at least 3 days, understand?" Isamu interrupted to which Kakashi pouted.

"No fun."

"You could use some rest, you look tired."

Kakashi had been looking tired recently, the bags under his eyes had grown darker and darker. He looked like he could use a good night's rest, his posture was even slouching more than usual but the man could only stare at the girl beside him.

"Talk about yourself, have you been getting enough sleep? Have you been eating?"

Kakashi's visible eye was drawn to Isamu's also dark circles that she hid with makeup. She had lost weight, an average person would think that she looked fine but Kakashi knew her better. The memories of war, even after all these years would never leave them- especially those who had been on the front lines. The ANBUs suffered the most, especially Isamu who had been an ANBU for a long time, being promoted when she was just a child of 11 years old. She had faced more horrors than anyone Kakashi knew, even after many years had passed, he knew she was still haunted by them. War was terrible and it made people do terrible things. It made monsters out of kind hearted souls.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not… are the nightmares back again?"

Isamu flinched, Kakashi was right. The nightmares had stopped briefly but they returned and each morning she woke up in cold sweats with her heart racing out of her chest. But the nightmares had gotten a little bit better, at least she didn't wake up screaming anymore.

"I'll be fine Kakashi. I always am."

"You always say you are but you're not. I'll come over tonight, you should at least have a good night's rest before your mission."

The silver haired man couldn't help but worry about his friend even though he knew she could take care of herself. She was strong, perhaps even stronger than he was but physical strength doesn't equate to mental strength, he knew she was suffering and he wasn't about to let her suffer alone.

"No you don't have to-"

"I'll see you at 7, I'll bring dinner."

Kakashi waved her goodbye before going back to his apartment. Isamu sighed, there was no arguing with Kakashi. He did what he wanted. Isamu went back to her apartment to prepare for her mission with Itachi, they were to track down a Konoha traitor named Aoyama Hideaki who was a double agent for the Kirigakure.

As Isamu was packing her bags and supplies she heard a knock on her door, time had flew by and it was already past 7pm. Kakashi let himself in and began setting the table for dinner as Isamu packed a few last minute things.

"Thanks for the food."

"No problem."

The two ate in silence, occasionally talking but to Isamu the silence was comforting. This was almost routine for the pair of former teammates. Kakashi would always come over and bring her food and vice versa, ever since the loss of their team they had nothing but each other. Isamu reminded Kakashi of the past and the both of them clung onto that memory. The memories of happier times with Obito, Rin and their teacher Minato when they were young and together. Even though for Isamu the memory was short it was one of the few things she had to cling onto.

Kakashi washed the dishes as Isamu brought out a towel and an extra pair of clothes for Kakashi to sleep in. He had kept them in her house just in case he needed to stay over, even though he didn't stay over as much as before, she still kept it.

As Kakashi took his turn in the shower Isamu sat on her couch reading Kakashi's book: Icha Icha Paradise

During his late teens he had taken a liking into the book series and constantly had it on him when he wasn't on missions and because of his busy schedule he didn't have much time to read it. Isamu thought the book was strange, she didn't read many novels much less romance novels, the only books she read were medical books or non-fiction. But the bright covers intrigued her and she had picked it up from Kakashi's pouch that hung on the living room chair.

"W-What are you doing?"

Isamu looked up from the book, "I'm reading your book. You always seem to be reading it so I want to see what's so interesting."

"T-That's… it's inappropriate!"

"Is it? I know what sex is Kakashi, I'm not a child."

"B-But…" Kakashi tried to protest and snatch his book back but she was quick and he couldn't reach the book in time.

He knew she had every right to read the book but he couldn't help but blush at the sight of her reading it. He had known her since she was a child and it was hard to imagine the once tom-boyish girl had grown up. Sometimes Kakashi still saw her as a kid and he mentally groaned. He didn't want her to see what he was reading but his blush got worse as she read a sentence out loud.

"Kazu pulled Mitsu towards him and she felt the heat of his body rush through her body, she moaned-"

"Don't read it out loud!" Kakashi exclaimed, this time, successfully snatching the book from her hands.

Isamu looked at Kakashi with her eyebrows raised, "What? I was getting to the good part."

"Don't tease me Isamu…"

Isamu hid a chuckle as she stared at Kakashi's red face which he tried to hide in his hands. When he was around her he didn't wear his mask and instead of his Konoha hitai-ate that covered his sharingan he used an eye patch instead.

"I should go to bed anyways, I have to get up early tomorrow." She said, getting up from her sofa as Kakashi shoved the book into the pouch that he had placed on the chair.

"Alright, I'll be on the couch if you need anything." Kakashi said.

Isamu crossed her arms, "You aren't coming to bed?"

Kakashi gulped and looked away, embarrassed by her frankness.

They had shared the bed many times when they were young, when both of them had nightmares every night, the presence of Isamu had calmed Kakashi down and vice versa. But it was when they were kids and young teens. But now Kakashi was 19 years old and Isamu was 18, she no longer had the boyish figure, she flourished into a voluptuous woman standing at 167cm.

"I mean… we're a bit old to share a bed don't you think?"

"No," Isamu said. "What's wrong with that? You don't have any feelings towards me and you did offer to stay over tonight."

"I guess…" Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head as he walked into her room.

Isamu took her side of the bed, laying on her side as Kakashi slipped into the blanket and turned around with his back touching hers. He closed his eyes as he felt her shuffle under the blanket, she had turned so she was facing his back and he could feel the coldness of her hands seeping through the shirt on his back.

"Do you still get nightmares?" she whispered, her voice breaking the silence of the dark room.

"Yeah… but they're getting better…"

"How?"

"Less… brutal," He replied, he opened his eye. "I'll be here if you wake up, don't worry."

"I don't worry."

"Yes you do."

"Maybe a little…" She sighed and Kakashi could feel her warm breath against his back. He reached for her hands and brought it over his waist. The warmth of his hands was a contrast to her cold ones, he gave her hands a small squeeze. He turned just so he could look at her only to see her lying on her side with her pitch black hair spread out on the pillow, contrasting sharply with the white pillowcase. He could barely see any of her other features in the almost pitch black room but her hauntingly beautiful red eyes almost glowed in the darkness. She removed her hands from his to tuck her hair behind her ear. Kakashi turned so he was completely laying on his side.

"Get some rest Isamu."

"Good night Kakashi."

Isamu closed her eyes. Isamu's presence had always brought a sense of serenity, a reminder that even though he had lost almost everyone he cared for, she was still here, alive and well, breathing next to him. He closed his eyes, listening to his own heartbeat almost merged with hers as he was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sounds of her breathing.

Takanashi Isamu was all that Kakashi had to cling to the past and he had decided he would never let harm come her way.

He couldn't let another person he loved die.

Not again.

A/N: Hello everyone! thank you for reaching the end of the first chapter~ I know I have other stories to complete but I don't like how the characters pan out and the story is meh so I will start a new one! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and keep reading. Please, please, please review :) I know it'll be easier to click away but reviews are great, they give me your opinions and I like getting feedback on the story. I hope you will stay for more chapters to come!