Bet you all thought this story had been abandoned. Well you were right until now.

And now without further ado I give you the final part of 'The Village'

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Kakashi was still asleep and hadn't moved much since he'd left. He was flushed and hot to the touch. "Great, a fever, just what we need now." Asuma growled. He ripped a piece of cloth from the musty curtains and ran it under the water to place on Kakashi's forehead. He didn't know any medical jutsu and his basic first aid was just that, basic.

Asuma sighed, they'd survived war and psychotic ninja and a little flood had brought them down. They'd probably never live this down when they got back to Konoha.

As Asuma was debating wether or not he should break into the store later and steal some cigarettes the people in the next room started going at it like bunnies. "Perfect!" He stood. "That's it I need nicotine!" He muttered as he hopped out the window.

He dashed down and across the street in the pouring rain to get to the store. The store was just what you'd expect in a small town, basic non-perishable food stuffs, and alcohol, lots of alcohol, and blessedly enough cigarettes.

"I'll have a pack of cigarettes please." He said to the man behind the old beat up cash register. He was prepared to use some sort of forbidden jutsu to get his nicotine fix.

"Right." The man said and handed Asuma a pack.

"Oh thank you!" He felt like he could cry.

The man shrugged. "Paying customer's a paying customer."

He lite one up the moment he stepped outside, took a long drag, and sighed contentedly. That hit the spot.

Further down the street the boy from earlier was watching him from around the corner. Asuma sighed. "Might as well find out what's going on." He stepped out from the cover of the store's door jam and appeared right behind the kid. "What's up?"

The boy nearly jumped out of his skin and turned. He recovered quickly enough and glared at Asuma. "Are you gonna help my village or what?" He demanded of the shinobi before him.

Asuma shrugged. "What pray tell does your village need help with?" He asked.

"Don't play dumb!" The kid growled.

"You've got quite the set of balls for such a small little boy." Asuma chuckled. "But since my partner and I might just be stuck here for a while I suppose I could do something about those wannabe shinobi and their sugar daddy."

The boy nodded. "Good, 'cause they just waltzed in here acting like they own the place just 'cause their stronger and richer than us and that sucks."

"Well said boy." Asuma snorted. "Where can I find them?"

"There's a farm house just north of here, that's where they are when they're not out here pushing us around." He pointed to the north.

Not too much later Asuma found himself knocking at the door to the farmhouse. It was answered by one of the thugs from earlier. Asuma grinned. "Can I barrow a cup of sugar?" He asked.

The thug slammed the door in his face, he could hear much yelling and stomping about inside. He gave it a three count before he kicked the door open and stepped through. "That was rather rude!" He called out as he walked further into the front room.

A pair of white boxers was held up from behind an over turned table and waved about like a flag. "We don't want to fight you." A voice called out weakly. "We were just being paid and our boss just ran off out the back."

Asuma sighed and sent a doppleganger off to capture the so called boss.

After tying everybody up and dragging them all back to the bar Asuma snagged a bottle of scotch from behind the bar, much the displeasure of the old bartender, and took a long drink. He glared at the old man when he tried take the bottle back. "This has been a very long and very frustrating mission." He said calmly.

"Now then." He clapped his hands together. "Could somebody please throw these guys in jail?" He gestured to the seven men bound and gagged on the floor.

"There's no jail here." The bartender said.

"No Jail?" Asuma asked.

"No Jail." The old man confirmed.

Asuma felt like hitting himself in the head, instead he took anther drink of scotch. "Then what do you do with criminals?"

The old bartender shrugged.

Asuma downed the rest of the bottle and slumped over the bar. The door opened and he rolled his head over, wondering what new hell he was about to receive.

In walked Shiranui Genma and Namiashi Raidou. "Asuma what are you doing here?" Raidou asked.

"Considering asking for a raise, you?" Asuma muttered.

"Just passing through on the way home." Genma said. "You look like shit."

"Thank you." Asuma said. "Kakashi's passed out upstairs, fever, nasty gash, possibly infected. This lot needs to be taken to some prison somewhere." He gestured to the men on the floor. "This village doesn't have one."

Raidou went upstairs while Genma tied the prisoners together with a length of rope.

A few moments later Raidou came back down the stairs with a fully clothed and full unconscience Kakashi draped across his shoulders. "Let's go."

Wordlessly Asuma handed the empty bottle back to the old man and followed his comrades out the door.

As they left the village of Ikidomari Asuma heard somebody yell 'Thank you!' from one of the roof tops. He turned to see the kid waving at the them, he waved back once and turned back to the road.

"Got yourself a boyfriend?" Genma laughed.

"Suck it Genma, I'm not in the mood." Asuma growled.

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The next afternoon found Asuma walking in the warm Konoha sun sucking on a cigarette. He was on his way to the hospital to visit Kakashi. Upon arrival he stepped on his cigarette butt and jumped up to the window he knew Kakashi would be on the other side of.

The silver haired teen was sitting up in bed filling out his mission report. Asuma sat down heavily in the chair next to the head of the bed. "You know, I think the Hokage would forgive you if your report was a little late."

Kakashi grunted in response.

Asuma rolled his eyes. "How 'bout some gratitude, I did pretty much save your life."

"Thank you." Kakashi dead panned.

Asuma started to get up to leave when Kakashi grabbed the front of his vest and pulled him forward, kissing him soundly on the lips. After a moment he was pushed away just as suddenly as he was pulled forward and Kakashi was once again focused on his report.

He stared at Kakashi for a moment before laughing and messing up the already messy silver hair, Kakashi didn't pull away. "I'll see you later." Asuma said as he walked out the door.

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A/N

Don't worry only 'The Village' arc is over, but there's more to come eventually.

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