The sixth night is filled with memories and screams.

He wakes up with blood on his hands.

Wolf drinks as much as their need for hydration requires. Kakashi, with the false tranquility that comes from having a dissociative episode, enters the bathroom and draws a bath with bloody hands. It's a comfortable temperature.

He could put his hands in the water. Could make it boil and melt off the skin. Wouldn't see the blood of others then. Wouldn't feel it.

Not only is it unprofessional to treat valuable tools in that manner, if he displays mental instability to that degree, their time out is at risk of extension.

Wolf summons their hounds. Their hounds go on alert. Pakkun takes charge.

"Right, let's get to it."

Their hounds take off their vests and headbands. Uhei comes closer so they can take off his bandages. Wolf takes off the bandages.

Kakashi focuses on the feeling. The bandages and the fur beneath are soft and dry. They aren't covered in blood.

His bloody hands leave no stains. That's wrong. There should be stains.

They're experiencing a psychotic break. The blood isn't real.

It feels real.

Pakkun grabs his favorite shampoo and adds it to the bath. The strong floral scent joins the blood coating his tongue.

Guruko and Urushi are the first in the bath. Wolf takes up position and starts cleaning Guruko by hand. Wolf takes care to make the experience as pleasurable as possible.

Kakashi focuses on the sensation. The fur, wet in a different manner than when clitted together by blood. The water, thinner and warmer than blood. The foam that smells nothing like blood.

He keeps wondering why his hands don't leave stains.

The blood isn't real.

Bull covers his back, a warm and unbloodied weight. Uhei, Akino and Shiba cover his sides. Bisuke jumps onto Bull and rests his head on Kakashi's own. Pakkun jumps onto his shoulder.

Urushi bites at the water flowing from the faucet. Guruko enjoys the care being given. The wagging of his tail makes the water splash in a different manner than blood.

Their hounds are worried.

"Why can't I ever go first?" Uhei asks with false annoyance. The false annoyance isn't beneficial but it isn't disadvantageous either.

"Cause you're slow as hell," Urushi says with a grin more forced than genuine. Forced humor is an unwanted stimuli. Wolf halts his work on Guruko and cleans Urushi's neck to make him respond with real pleasure.

"I am not slow as hell."

Uhei's offense is genuine.

"My bad," Urushi says, humor no longer forced. His tail is wagging. "You're a prissy diva. Better?"

"No."

"I'm with Urushi on this one," Bisuke says. His vocal cords vibrate against their head. It tickles. "You're a diva. Don't worry, Bull and Shiba are as well."

Bull changes position so his signing will be visible.

Beauty should be flaunted.

"Beauty takes time," Shiba says before passing on the dialogue to Uhei. As always, their hounds display exemplary teamwork. "Right, Uhei?"

Uhei responds with a display of annoyance more genuine than deliberate.

They're real. They're real and they're alive.

The blood on his hands remains.

"Hey, boss, boss!"

Kakashi doesn't respond to Guruko's calling. Wolf tilts their head to show they're paying him attention. The others wait to see what opportunities this interaction will provide.

"What do you call sleeping puppies?"

Wolf waits a moment to see if Kakashi will consider the question. Wolf expects no consideration but Wolf must make certain.

After becoming certain, Wolf acts in a manner crafted to get Kakashi back in working order.

"I don't know."

"Hush puppies!"

Guruko burst out laughing at his own joke. The barking is nothing like the cries of those dying. Neither are the sounds let out by the others.

Guruko's movements cause water to splash onto them. The water is foamy and floral scented. It doesn't remind him of blood. Wolf gives Guruko a firm backstroke. Praising him for providing the correct kind of stimuli. Sensory input that contradicts their hallucinations is the most efficient way to get rid of them.

"That's awful."

"That's hilarious."

"Boss, what's the coolest dog?"

Wolf waits a moment to see if Kakashi will consider the question. He doesn't. Wolf estimates that, with the aid of their hounds, it will require another twenty minutes before he starts becoming responsive. It will require another hour before he regains basic functionality.

"I don't know."

"A pup-sicle!"

Guruko barks with laughter again. The others respond as well.

All of them are alive.

Eventually, the blood on their hands starts fading. Eventually, Kakashi starts responding. When he acknowledges a question with a hum, his summons are relieved. They continue conversing in a less deliberate manner.

Wolf becomes capable of heating the cooled water back to a comfortable temperature. Wolf continues to provide the correct kind of stimuli. Kakashi slowly pulls himself together.

He's the one who washes the final two. The part of him that is Wolf fades to the background. Still guiding his actions but no more than usual when off duty.

It's that part of him which, after he finishes bathing his summons, makes him go get something to eat.

Pakkun leaves the bathroom first. Kakashi understands why when he follows.

The picture of his team has been placed down. Kakashi is grateful. Seeing them would ruin most of the progress he's made.

He eats. And remembers that he's supposed to treat his summons when they give him puppy looks. He shares the rations, feeling drained. Feeling hollow and so heavy.

When the part of him that is Wolf notes that their reserves are getting too low, Kakashi prepares to dispel his summons.

"Call us again before midnight, boss," Pakkun says. Kakashi gathers the energy needed to let out a sound of confirmation. His summons are pleased.

His summons are worried. They shouldn't be.

They should leave him. It's dangerous for them to stay. Dangerous for them to care.

If he had the energy for it, he would be considering how to break their contract. As it is, he can barely remember how he's supposed to dispel them.

Funny how he has no trouble remembering what Rin looked like. What Obito looked like. What Father...

There was so much blood.

Kakashi realises that his summons have been dispelled. He crawls into bed and closes his eye. He's tired.

He's alone.

He always will be.

If it were up to him, he wouldn't move at all.

The part of him that is Wolf keeps him mission ready. Kakashi lets that part of him move him around, uncaring of where it takes him.

It takes him to the Memorial Stone. Kakashi's eye traces the spots that once held the names of his teammates. They're no longer there, the slates holding their names have long since been added to the complex in the Hokage Mountain.

Kakashi doesn't need the original slates to see their names. Obito, Rin, Sensei. They're gone. They're dead.

They're dead because of him.

Kakashi should be telling them about what happened since the last time he spoke to them. Should continue telling Sensei about his son, should tell Obito that Naruto and Itachi's little brother held an actual conversation. Should share Guruko's awful jokes with Rin.

There's no point to telling them. They're dead.

He's alone.

The part of him that is Wolf takes him away from the Memorial Stone. That part of him is aware of his surroundings. It makes him act on that information.

Kakashi is barely aware of what his body is doing.

Promise you'll protect Rin.

Kakashi, kill me.

Don't worry, Kakashi. I won't leave you.

He becomes aware that his hand is doing something significant.

On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate his intelligence?

Why is he writing to her?

Because the Third ordered him to keep her from losing faith in the village. Kakashi is acting on instinct. Instinct makes him obey.

He places the note on the bookcase. Now, he should go outside until she responds.

He sits down out of sight of the window instead. Part of him knows that's wrong but he just doesn't have the strength to move. Not without Wolf making him. And for some reason, that part of him isn't taking him outside. Something to worry over later.

Kakashi absently watches as she helps Minato's son with his homework.

"What do we do when meeting someone for the first time?"

"The enlish check!"

"And what does enlish stand for?"

Minato's son touches his own face as he goes over the mnemonic.

"Eyes, nose, lips and..."

She kisses Minato's son's jaw and hair. Minato's son laughs.

"Shape and hair!"

Obito's hair was soaked in blood. Rin's mouth was overflowing with it.

Father was lying in it.

Kakashi becomes aware that he's writing again.

I'm sensing some bias here.

He wrote this in response to...

Eleven, and you better watch what you say next.

It's a good thing that conversing with her has become a habit. Keeps her from noticing something is wrong with him.

There's always something wrong with him.

He returns to his seat, vaguely wondering how much time has passed since he first wrote. Minato's son has finished his homework. That means a fair amount of time has passed. It's afternoon and the exact hour is at the back of his mind.

What does it matter how much time has passed? It's all the same in the end.

He's alone. He's a failure.

My little ninja pup. You're so strong.

He's never strong enough.

He keeps acting on instinct. Only when she extends an invitation does he take true notice.

Not exactly what I had in mind.

This... is difficult.

With an effort made possible only because of the orders he's under, Kakashi considers. Does he accept or refuse?

Refusal would lead to suspicion.

Acceptance would lead to the same. He isn't in a functional state of mind and it would require more effort than he can muster to hide that from her.

Energy spent, Kakashi lets his hand move as it pleases. Acceptance or rejection, it's all the same.

He wonders what he ate. Must have eaten something, he isn't hungry. Isn't thirsty either.

He'd been so thirsty after Obito...

Care to share?

It's only when she reads the response that he feels a spark of true worry. There is, in fact, a big difference between acceptance and rejection. Namely, one requires direct contact and the other does not.

He made a mistake. The problem, she's already read the note. And is responding to it.

I might.

This is bad.

Because he's in no condition to make rational decisions, Kakashi unseals Wolf's mask and puts it on.

Wolf considers. A blunt rejection will be accepted but will arouse worry. A carefully worded rejection will be accepted without worry.

Rejection won't improve his state of mind. Acceptance would lead to the kind of sensory input that is most effective in making him regain functionality.

Kakashi is almost surprised. This is not a reasoning he saw coming.

Wolf is not surprised by his lack of insight. He's performing at abysmal standards. Irrelevant when it affects only him, but Wolf's competence is significantly diminished as well. Wolf is not pleased.

Wolf considers the risks. There's no risk of discovery from her, but acceptance could lead to a sensory overload. This would diminish their competence even further. Wolf will need to take care not to allow the stimulus to become too great. Odds of failure, approximately fifteen percent.

Wolf leaves her residence and thoroughly checks for patrols and observers. Concludes the area to be free of interference.

Odds of their conclusion being wrong, approximately forty percent. Wolf is not pleased.

Wolf goes inside, takes up position in one of her blindspots, drops out of stealth, casts a henge on his hair and puts on the body language she's used to. Wolf speaks with the voice she knows.

"Tell me more."

She turns around with a yell. Wolf estimates it will take another three appearances before her response will fall within acceptable volumes.

Wolf is on the lookout for signs of her realising their behavior is out of the ordinary.

"Just for that, I should make you suffer."

Initial response implies she considers their behavior to be normal. Wolf remains on the lookout for signs of the contrary.

"Is that an offer?"

She grins and takes on a deliberately inviting stance.

"It might be."

"I might be willing to comply."

"Now it's definitely an offer. Not for tonight, though. Tonight, I was thinking doggy style."

The position is new and will limit her view of them, greatly lessening the odds of her noticing any discrepancy in behavior. Wolf moves in the manner she expects. She responds as intended.

"I like the way you think."

Wolf continues to avoid suspicion. Wolf touches her as she is used to. Makes the sensation pleasurable to them both.

Kakashi focuses on her touch, her warmth, her scent. Focuses on the sounds that are nothing like those that haunt him.

Wolf is careful to avoid a sensory overload. Wolf succeeds.

After the physical release, Wolf checks for and erases all incriminating traces left on her with a touch she won't find suspicious. Wolf leaves the room and goes to the meal prepared for them. She expects it to be eaten and it provides adequate nutrition.

As their physical response steadies, Wolf examines him. The sensory input combined with the hormonal effects of a release should have improved his mental state.

Kakashi is kind of worried. This... was dangerous behavior. He crossed an important line in doing this.

The improvement is significant. With continued care, they'll return to peak efficiency sooner than anticipated. Wolf finishes the meal, cleans the utensils, erases all incriminating traces left on their body, before entering stealth, leaving her residence and flickering away. Leaving immediately instead of performing another scan first is the wisest course of action. In their current state, they risk discovery more than they risk missing something of notice.

Wolf arrives at the residence. Wolf summons Akino and Shiba to check for signs of tampering. Akino and Shiba conclude the area to be safe. Wolf enters the residence. Their hounds perform another check. Their conclusion remains the same. Wolf takes off his mask.

The gravity of what he just did hits Kakashi full on. It's one thing to sleep with her out of want and spite, something else entirely to use it as a professional means to an end. That is a dangerous slip in morals. Konoha was founded by clans used to bloodline theft. One of the main reasons they agreed to work together is because it was promised this wouldn't happen among those that joined. Seducing outsiders with ulterior motives, yes. Seducing their own, no. It's one of their most sacred laws, one that's always enforced when uncovered.

Part of him wants to defend his actions. He didn't sleep with her for her genes, didn't even sleep with her to strengthen her loyalty to the village. He only approached her as a target because of the unstable state of mind he's in, and even then he kept things personal. So is this really so bad?

Yes it is. Ninja are taught to spy, steal and kill. They need clear boundaries to counterbalance that. Stealing on orders, yes, stealing for personal gain, no. Infiltrating a home in the name of duty, yes, infiltrating one out of curiosity, no.

Kill to complete the mission, yes. Kill because of feelings, no.

Without lines like this, Hidden Villages fall into chaos. Mist is the bloodiest example of that.

Justifying slips like this is what leads to people becoming traitors.

The mere idea of becoming a traitor makes every part of him rebel. If he still had his mask on, it would be even worse.

Kakashi resolves to avoid her until he's gotten through the worst of his mental crash.

He realises just how difficult that's going to be the next day.

The stew was a bit flat. You should use more spices next time.

Kakashi looks over the words he just wrote before he looks at his surroundings.

He's back in her home. Great.

She's writing. She hasn't noticed him. Because he's hiding from her senses. And has cast an illusion?

He realises he's folded the note and is placing it on the bookcase. Not good. He needs to destroy this without arousing suspicion.

Seeing as that cost more thought than he can currently spare, Kakashi puts on Wolf's mask.

Wolf places the note on the bookcase. Continued interaction fulfills their orders and aids his recovery - Kakashi takes off the mask, vaguely exasperated. This is not helping.

He closes his eye and forces himself to think. He needs to destroy this note. This note contains the exchange from yesterday. He needs to copy it and leave out the last thing he wrote.

With great effort, Kakashi grabs a notebook, silently tears out a page, copies the original note, places the copy on the bookcase and destroys the original with chakra.

He's exhausted. But he isn't finished yet. If he checks out now, he'll just write to her again.

Kakashi examines how his stealth is holding. Not well. If she wasn't a civilian, she would have noticed him.

He tightens it as best he can, before he leaves her home and flickers away.

He misses his destination. By how much is at the back of his mind but he's preoccupied with figuring out how to get to his place from here. It involves roof hopping.

He reaches his place, slips inside and drops out of stealth. With the last of his strengths, he summons.

Bisuke and Shiba answer his call. Their noses twitch and Bisuke tilts his head.

"Didn't you say you were going to avoid the lady?"

He forgot to get rid of the scent of her home. Not good. But, it shouldn't have spread. He was in stealth.

Kakashi lets out a sound of confirmation. Bisuke and Shiba exchange a worried look. They herd him to the bed. Kakashi lies down. When he feels Shiba next to him, he curls around him, focusing on the warm and unbloodied fur. On the strong and healthy heartbeat.

"Bisuke went to get the pup."

So that's why there's only one heartbeat.

"Don't let me go to her," Kakashi manages to mumble before checking out. Fleeting awareness rises when Bisuke joins him. Seems Tenzo is away on a mission. That's... significant. Another thing to consider after he's gotten through the worst.

Another moment of awareness rises when he starts moving to dispel Bisuke and Shiba. Kakashi halts his movements. He needs them to stay. Can't remember what for exactly, but he knows he needs his summons with him.

"Boss?"

Kakashi acknowledges the question with a hum, more focused on figuring out what to do. His reserves are low. He needs to dispel the two if he wants to summon anyone tomorrow.

Bisuke sighs.

"We could really use the pup."

"Gai?"

"No, too much."

"Okay, but he needs someone."

"No."

Kakashi realises he said that no. And he said that because he doesn't want anyone. He can't want anyone.

Bisuke groans.

"You aren't making this easy, boss."

Being Wolf is easy.

Kakashi puts on Wolf's mask.

After confirming that they'll summon them again after waking, Wolf dispels their hounds. Wolf considers. Kakashi wishes to avoid further interaction. Given his current state of mind, the desire is a significant one. Wolf's initial conclusion is strengthened. Continued interaction could make him recover faster than normal.

Continued interaction could have a negative impact instead. Wolf concludes this to be an acceptable risk. Strategy can be adjusted should his mental state deteriorate further.

Wolf checks the security and arms it before going to her residence. Wolf performs a thorough check. Concludes the area to be free of observers. Odds of their conclusion being wrong, forty percent.

Wolf slips inside.

The stew was a bit flat. You should use more spices next time.

Wolf remains in her residence. In his current state, they cannot ensure they will remain undetected should they pass through the wards as frequently as usual.

Wolf observes. Wolf is on the lookout for signs of her being aware of his compromised state.

Be sure to keep that in mind when you make it yourself.

So defensive. I'm just offering some friendly advice.

See, when I'm the one who feeds you free of charge, it sounds less like advice and a lot more like criticism.

Not my fault you're so touchy about offers of well intended aid.

You do realise that I can cut you off whenever I feel it, right?

Well, we can't have that. Might there be alternative payment I can offer?

Wait. This is wrong. This is why he needs his summons. To keep this from happening again.

Wolf waits to see if he will take over. He doesn't. Wolf places down the note.

Now that you mention it, I do have a few ideas in mind.

"I'm all ears."

Wolf continues to avoid suspicion. Provides the correct stimuli. Returns to the residence. Checks for tampering. Concludes the area to be safe. Wolf takes off his mask.

Kakashi is worried. This shouldn't have happened. Wolf should not have acted like this.

He doesn't have the energy to figure out what caused this. But he needs to keep it from happening again.

With great effort, Kakashi comes up with a plan. He writes down that plan, sets his alarm and goes to sleep.

The next morning, after remembering why he set the alarm and going over the plan he wrote down, Kakashi summons Pakkun and Bull. They accompany him to her home. Kakashi writes a note, enters her bedroom and places it on top of her alarm. She remains asleep.

I'll be gone for awhile. Don't write or leave dinner until I'm back.

Kakashi slips outside and orders Pakkun to notify him when she reads it. Returning to his place with Bull, he orders Bull to keep him from destroying the note. Then he checks out.

He becomes aware when Pakkun arrives and informs him that she read the note. Kakashi is relieved. This should stop Wolf from contacting her. Doing so after saying he'd be gone for a while would be suspicious.

Now he can check out completely.

He has no idea how much time passess. There are moments of awareness but they never last long.

During those moments, a thought rises more and more.

He hates feeling like this.

After waking up from a nightmare free sleep, Kakashi realises his frustration has grown to be stronger than his fatigue.

He realises this because he remains aware of his surroundings. Oh, he still zones out, but he does so for minutes instead of hours. The fact that he can keep track of time is another sign of the worst having passed.

He still feels awful. Still feels like a failure. But now he can do things by choice again instead of needing instinct to guide him.

He can consider information again.

The first thing he does is go to headquarters. He needs to look up how his team was deployed during his absence. Tenzo is back on a mission already, and that's faster than should have happened after the training session they had. Either Cat isn't taking proper care of his body, or someone took advantage of Kakashi's absence to overwork his team.

Most of his team are registered a usual amount but for the past two months Cat has been deployed more. Most likely someone took advantage of Tenzo's state of mind.

Kakashi fills in a form that designates Tenzo as a preferred teammate on missions. With any luck, that will be enough for people to back off. If not, he'll have to take more direct action. Either way, he's investigating this more deeply after he's gotten himself back in order.

He takes a rest after, vaguely aware of what he's doing. Eating, training, and then taking a nap.

After the nap, he feels clear headed enough to consider the line he crossed with Mariko. Why did he do that? He's never slept with someone when crashing like this before.

He's never before had a lover that every port of him trusts to have no ulterior motives.

The explanation doesn't excuse his actions. No matter the reason, this was wrong.

He should break things off with her. Should have never started this actually, but that's something he can no longer change.

...Except his relationship with her is helping him recover a lot sooner than usual. Normally when he crashes like this, he can hide it enough until he gets another mission. By the end of it, Kakashi has usually recovered in full.

During it, Wolf isn't at his best. Wolf misses things he would otherwise spot.

Wolf can't protect his teammates as well as he should.

Kakashi is torn. On one hand, this is an enormous red flag. This is something he can't allow to continue.

He can't put his teammates at risk. Not when he has the power to prevent it.

Kakashi comes to a decision. He'll do as originally planned and keep sleeping with her until his time out is over. After that, he'll break things off. Part of him is incredibly uncomfortable with this decision, but it would be even worse if he decided to end things right now.

He will not keep sleeping with her as Wolf, though. That is a boundary he can't afford to cross again.

Decision made, Kakashi summons Guruko and lets his enthusiastic chattering soothe him.

It's afternoon when Kakashi realises that his decision requires reconnaissance. He hasn't seen her in days. Maybe something has happened.

Mentally preparing himself, Kakashi puts on a disguise and passes by the Dancing Dragon. He isn't planning to enter, just check up on her. Determine her state of mind, see if she's still willing to continue. Things like that.

He hears Naruto before he sees her.

"No it's not!"

Minato's son is indignant and defensive. A flicker of curiosity rises. What's making him act like this? Kakashi enhances his hearing a little to find out.

"I don't know, if you tilt your head just so..."

Kakashi can't stop his surprise from showing, so he turns his head to the side and pretends the reaction was caused by something he saw in the nearby thrift store. Walking towards it, he settles on a display of funny cutlery as a suitable source of interest.

All his attention is on the conversation happening between Naruto and Renji.

"It's not, dattebayo! It's a frog! It's not a bunny!"

"But-"

"It's. A. Frog!"

"Are you sure? Because-"

"A! Frog!"

Renji's voice is filled with genuine teasing, no trace of resentment to be found. This is new indeed. Did he and Tori get together already? Would explain the uncharacteristic behavior.

Kakashi examines the cutlery a moment longer, before continuing on his way. He passes the Dancing Dragon.

She's leaning on the counter with the smile only Naruto can inspire, and that smile is bigger than it's ever been. Three more steps and the show she's enjoying comes into view.

Naruto has made a drawing with crayons, and he's clutching the paper close while glaring up at Renji.

Renji, genuinely amused and with not a single sign of the hatred Naruto normally inspires, has lifted his hands with surrender. He's looking at Naruto with a grin.

"Okay, a frog it is."

"Damn straight, dattebayo!"

Kakashi almost doesn't catch a chuckle from escaping. Mariko has no such qualms, bright laughter erupting at Naruto mimicking her speech like this. It reminds Naruto that he has an ally, and he runs over and thrusts his drawing out to her.

Renji and Tori are laughing as well. The look they share reveals that, yes, something happened between them. Kakashi has four steps left to discover what.

As Naruto demands that she confirm his drawing looks like a frog, Renji walks towards one of the customers that are rather annoyed by Naruto's volume.

The walk reveals everything Kakashi needs to know. Renji and Tori slept together. And judging from the look they shared, they both plan on turning this into a full blown relationship.

Kakashi passes by the Dancing Dragon. He also realises that this won't be enough reconnaissance by far, and he curses his mental state for making him miss obvious things like this. Still, if he'd been clear headed, he wouldn't have seen this. And this was nice.

The fact that he can find something even a little nice, is a sign of how rapidly he's recovering.

He's nowhere near recovered yet. A fact driven home by how exhausted he is after getting out of range of the Dancing Dragon. Kakashi goes back to his place, takes a nap, and does some light training after waking up. Then he goes to her place. Hidden from everyone's senses, he watches as she and Naruto go about their usual routine.

She shows no signs of missing him. Kakashi is deeply relieved. Oh, he has no doubt that she misses him, but it isn't strong enough to have a significant impact. This is further confirmed after Naruto has been put to bed. She settles down to read because she wants to, not because she's trying to distract herself.

Despite being certain that her view on him hasn't changed, he still waits until she starts preparing for bed to make a move. Normally the waiting would annoy him, but right now it helps to have so little to focus on.

When she goes into the bathroom, he slips inside and write a note. Then he hesitates. He should go outside, but the risk...

No. He's crossed enough lines already. He doesn't need to add any more.

Kakashi slips outside and tries to ignore the part of him worried over being spotted.

When she walks out the bathroom, she doesn't look at the bookcase. Her discrete nature working against her. How ironic.

Kakashi slips inside, grabs the note and places it down the cabinet she's going to pass on her way to her bedroom. This time he does settle down to wait out of sight of the window. Remaining in a room when she isn't present, no. Remaining in the same room while chatting, yes.

Before passing by the note, she gives the drawing that Naruto made a long look, smiling all the while. Normally she hangs his drawings on the fridge, but this one has gotten a place of honor on the front door.

When she finally does notice the note, she halts with surprise. She hadn't expected him to be back already. And now she's wondering whether it's him or another Anbu.

He's right, it looks like a bunny. Or its mutilated remains anyway. Why hang it up there of all places?

She grins, ever so happy to have him back. It's a little uncomfortable to witness, but honestly, he would have been suspicious if she'd acted otherwise. He's the best lover she's ever had after all.

She walks towards the coffee table and grabs a pen, the sway of her hips letting him know she's already looking forward to where this will lead to.

I am never taking this down.

No she won't. The sentimental value of this drawing is priceless. It's a physical representation of the first time her beloved friend talked to Naruto without being reminded of what he lost.

The drawing is awful. Kakashi genuinely can't find a frog in that mess. Eyes, yes, a very long tongue, also yes. A frog shape, not so much.

That's really what you want to see every time you walk out the door?

It really is.

And you call me insane.

Rightly so. Sane people do not dissociate like he does.

You are. Completely.

Kakashi realises there's a smile tugging at his lips. For a moment he almost panics but then he realises just why he's feeling like this.

She doesn't know him. She has no idea of just how broken he is. She'd never call him insane if she did.

He can banter with her without worrying over what he might reveal. Kakashi does just that.

I'm hurt.

Her smile is amused, but the way she shifts her balance tells him she's ready to get things started. Kakashi is glad. Banter is fun but not something he can keep up for long in his current state.

Kakashi puts on his mask while she writes.

Wolf approves of his actions. Kakashi wishes he didn't. But for now, he needs to focus on remaining in control while wearing Wolf's mask.

Wolf will not allow him to arouse suspicion. They are under orders to keep her from losing faith in the village.

In other words, Wolf will only interfere if necessary. Best he can hope for, and good enough to continue.

Kakashi reads her reply.

So sensitive.

Wolf is watchful, but Kakashi is the one who writes.

I don't know how I'll ever get over this.

My deepest apologies. Whatever can I do to make up for this grievous injury?

Kakashi drops out of stealth, casts a henge on his hair and reminds himself to keep his voice animated.

"I might have a suggestion or two."

Despite expecting him to show up behind her, she still spins around with a startled yelp. It's no longer the yell it was before, though. Wolf approves. Kakashi does his best to ignore that.

She helps him keep things personal by admiring his form with unusual strength. It's only been four nights, yet she's already responding like this. Kakashi won't lie, it's flattering. And a little worrying but he can push that aside thanks to his mind being wrung out. He can only focus on a few things at a time, and right now he's focusing on keeping Wolf at bay.

"Are you ever going to stop doing that?" she asks like she isn't undressing him with her eyes. The way her gaze lingers on his ANBU seal tells him she wants to lick it.

"Never," he says, making sure his voice sounds like she expects it to. Without conscious effort, it would sound too flat.

She grins, for once not annoyed by him deliberately startling her. The way her hands toy with her clothes tells him why.

"So, about those suggestions..."

She has her own suggestions to add. Kakashi is not opposed. Following her lead is a lot easier than keeping track of everything himself. But bluntly stating that would arouse suspicion.

He straightens up. She responds as expected.

"Allow me to show you."

He knows this is wrong. Knows he's taking advantage of her, knows he's failing the village. Knows he's slipped significantly on the narrow path he always walks.

He knows Minato-sensei would be disappointed in him.

He has a lot of work to do after this passes. But that's fine. The worst is over, and the rest isn't far behind.

Two more nights and his time out is over.

NOTES: I managed to finish this chapter! And now I'm going to take a break. Been writing Kakashi for over two months now, and my creative juices need trecharging. I'm not abandoning this story, but it'll probably take a couple of months before my muse comes back.

Thanks to everyone who read and loved this. Thanks most of all to everyone who commented. I wish all of you safety and happiness.