__Sara Pov__

The scream from the back yard seemed to cut off as soon as it had started, yet I knew that wasn't a good thing. I dropped what I had been working on, all thoughts of Shika abandoned for the moment. When I looked out the window I saw three men, one was holding one of the kids with a sack over their head. I surveyed the yard and saw Junichi, Hibiko, Daiki, and Naoko standing there with readied kunai, so that means Ayaka was the one being held.

I didn't stay there and watch, and Shika, who was beside me, rushed out the door to take the stairs. I knew that would take to long so I backed up a few paces and threw myself through the window. Glass shattered around me, sounding almost like the faint tinkling of a thousand bells.

When I landed I immediately launched myself at the man closest to me, he reached behind him and pulled out a long, thin dagger. He cut in my direction and I lifted my arms, crossing them as I blocked. His arm connected with mine, but I didn't stop there. I took my right hand, closing it around his right wrist, the one that held the dagger.

After my grip was secure on his wrist I pulled him forward, stepping in with my left foot at the same time. Combining his momentum with mine I landed a harsh backfist on his exposed ribs, from there I swung around the arm and landed a knee into his face when he leaned over from the punch. At the same time I disarmed him and took the dagger in my own right hand.

All of this happened in about 5 seconds.

The man fell to the earth, and I didn't worry myself with him any longer. My attention turned to the other men, they immediately realized what had happened and the one not holding Ayaka charged me. I widened my stance and held the dagger up.

When he got within six feet of me his hands fell to his sides and came up with a blade in each hand. They were simple affairs, but couldn't be considered kunai exactly. The were made much heavier, so they couldn't be thrown. The blades extended about 6 inches and was sharpened on both sides, they were time worn, and you could tell he used them a lot. On each end, the thumb side, was a heavy metal ball that could be used to knock someone unconcious.

He came within range and we started to fight, one blade against two. I had a little trouble keeping up with his rapid series of movements, but while he focused mainly on using his hands, I was accoustumed to using whatever I could.

In a brief break in the fight I snaked my right foot out, the instep catching the back of his left ankle. He was caught by surprise, but wouldn't fall down with just that. Continuing the momentum of his fall I dragged my foot back and launched an elbow straight into his collar bone. He grunted in surprise and fell to the ground.

Before he could realize what had happened I pinned his left arm under my knee and using my left hand secured his right by pinning the wrist.

"What are you doing here?" I spat out towards his face in vehemance.

In spite of the situation he was in he just smirked cockily at me. Instead of answering he replied with, "Wouldn't you just love to know?"

In a split second I sliced with the dagger, severing muscles and tendons alike. Blood ran down the back of his calf and he cried out in pain. I looked him in the eye, and this time he could see my barely controled anger. "Why are you here?" I said each word dilibrately and slowly, without the anger it would sound much like I was explaining something to Naruto, but right now it just sounded deadly.

The smirk had long passed from his face, and he looked at me in sheer terror. "I-I'm not sure! Our mission was just a capture, I wasn't allowed to ask why!" He was lying, and I could see it. He wasn't nearly as scared as he let on, and while his face was masked well, his eyes definately weren't.

"You shouldn't lie," I growled in his face. I diliberatly pulled the dagger along his other calf, he wouldn't be walking for a while.

Unfortunately, a second before I cut into his leg my own left one had a blade imbedded into it. I didn't give him the satisfaction of crying out, it wouldn't do me any good, instead I bit the inside of my lip.

I stood up off the man, and he rolled over onto his stomache reaching back to inspect the damage to his legs. Wincing I pulled the blade out from my leg, falling to one knee as I did so. I kept my grip on the blade and reached over to grab the other one where the man had left it. Carrying both weapons in a firm grip I turned to face the last man.

He stood there silently staring at me, apparently his superiours hadn't told him about me, or if they had they didn't give him every detail. The man held Ayaka with one arm the other behind his back. He was about 6'8" and had a sturdy build. Dark blue hair fell around his face, framing it, with a clump between his eyes. Hard, hazel eyes met my gray-blue ones as we stood there.

Slowly, in what seemed like an hour, he drew out a kunai. Instead of throwing it however he held it up to Ayaka's throat. I glared at the knife and then back at the man.

"It seemes we have what would be considered an impasse." His voice was deep and scratchy. If he hadn't been threatening to kill Ayaka however, it would sound quite atractive.

"I suppose you could call it that." I stated calmly. Where was Shika? The stairs took forever, considering how I took a more immediate route.

"Now then, I'll be blunt. Let me and my comrades leave." His eyes flashed to the side, where I had knocked the first man down, and I saw approval flash in his eyes.

"Well you see, that could have been aranged," I paused while I swung my leg in a wide arc behind me. The man ducked under it, but I landed forward, hitting him with the blunt end of the weapon on his temple. He slumped unconcious. "But apparently you have to many hostile intentions." I glared at him over my shoulder.

"Now, now Sara, we can still talk this out. Can't we?" At the last part he deliberately pushed the knife closer to Ayaka's neck.

I spun around quicker than would be thought possible for someone who just got a knife stuck in their leg.

I growled at him and said in a low tone, "let her go."

"Seems like we're back to where we started."

I stayed silent, out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow extending from the tree towards the man. I was smart enough not to look in that direction though, I didn't want to give Shika away.

"So, here is what I propose. I'm willing to let the girl go, if you are willing to take her place." This shocked me into silence, but not for long.

The shadow reached him as soon as he finished the sentence, Shika calmly walked out of the shadow of the tree, the man took a few steps forward in response.

"Well, looks like back-up finally made it," I smiled over at Shika.

"Yeah," he said eyeing the scene, "but I'm not entirely sure the original forces needed it."

"Whatever, I needed you to capture him. I already knew it would turn out like a hostage situation."

"Considering the circumstances of course."

"Of course."

I walked calmly over to the man, Shika had made him drop the knife when he first fell under the jutsu. I held out my arms after I dropped my own weapons and Shika made the man drop Ayaka right into them. I hugged her tightly and pulled off the sack. I set her on the ground next to me after a minute, and turned to face the man.

Tears were still streaming down my face as my foot planted itself into the side of his head. He flew a good eight feet before falling to the ground unconcious. Just in time too, for right when my kick landed Shika reached his limit on the jutsu and it released.

Daiki ran up to me with some rope, unpertubed by the scene that lay before him. Junichi stayed with the crying Naoko and working with Hibiko tried to calm her down. I took the rope and tied the two men next to me up. Shika went over and tied the last man up for me.

I went to stand back up, but the sudden pain in my leg reminded me that I had been stabbed. I fell back down onto my knees, and Shika rushed over.

"Sara, are you alright?" He looked me up and down worriedly.

"Yeah, yeah I'm just fine." I waved my hand, signaling that it was nothing.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

He looked slightly exasperated at that reply. "Maybe you might stand up then? Walk inside the house?"

"Ah... maybe a little later..." I mumbled looking down.

Shika just looked at me and sighed, chuckling ever so slightly. He lifted me up bridal style and carried me inside the house muttering something about me being such a troublesome woman.

He set me down on the porch and the five kids sat behind me crowding around. "You know Sara, you look like hell."

"Just what every girl loves to hear!" I smiled dryly at him.

"Where's the first aid kit? I'll need to take you to the hospital after I get your leg to stop bleeding."

"It's in the hall closet upstairs," I looked down slightly at the thought of the hospital.

"Right." He disappeared into the house and I heard a crash, Daiki ran in after him to help and they reappeared a short time after that.

I watched as he tended my wounds. As well as the gash in my leg I had several smaller cuts from my encounter with the window. Jumping through glass? Maybe not such a great idea. He picked the glass out that he could see and made a small pile to the side, cleaning the wounds with alcohl. It stung and I made little wimpering sounds hear and there.

Shika noticed and decided to comment on it. "Imagine, a girl that can take a knife to the leg with nothing more than a grunt whimpering like a beat dog when I clean the wounds."

"Shut up pinapple." I turned my head to the side, my hair falling in front of my face to hide the blush creeping over the edge of the mask.

Finally he stood and gestured for me to move so he could carry me. I pretended I didn't understand the gesture.

"Sara, I need to carry you to the hospital."

"You know, you did such a great job and all. I feel a lot better, really! I don't think the hospital is really neccesary anymore." I looked everywhere except at him.

"No, we need to go to the hospital. I couldn't get all the glass out of your cuts."

"Ah... Maybe it will just fall out when I start to heal?" my voice desperate as I grasped at straws.

"We both know that won't happen," he stated bluntly.

"There's a first time for everything?" I stated weakly, making it sound like a question.

He shook his head before seeming to finally realize. "You wouldn't be afraid of the hospital, would you?" I turned my head to look at the sky. "You are, aren't you?"

"Not at all! Who would be scared of a hospital?" I spoke loudly, hoping to mask my near panic.

His blunt stare made me slightly uncomfortable. "Sara, you're going to the hospital."

"No way." I spat out immediately.

"You're going."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Not in this life!"

"Sara! You will go to the hospital!"

"Make me!"

He was silent for a while.

"Afraid you can't?" I challenged him.

His eyes lit upon the kids, and from that moment I knew I would end up at the hospital. "You know, you could die."

The kids, who had only watched until now started to cry and complain. They pulled on my sleeves and hung on my arms. I glared at Shika's smug smile, he knew he had won.

"Fine." The kids all cheered.

Naoko spoke for all of them, "Can we come with you?"

"Yeah, but you'll have to wait outside the room."

A groan interupted our conversations. It was emitted from the man I struck with the end of the weapon.

"What are we going to do about them?" Shika asked. I knew he wouldn't leave to turn them in. He knew I would hobble away if he did.

"Well... we could..." my eyes lit upon the approaching figure of Kakashi. He noticed and walked through his yard over to us.

"Yo." He greeted simply. His eye widened as he took in my state and the three men.

"Kakashi, could you take these men and lock them away? They attacked Ayaka and Sara took care of it." Shika stated simply.

"You'll take her to the hospital?" He eyed me and then the three men. Seeing the pile of glass he looked up to see the broken window.

"Yeah, we'll be going now."

"Are you sure we need to-" I was cut off by Shika.

"Yes, now come here."

I submitted glumly and he carried me off to the hospital. All five kids following us like an entourage.