Such a simple – okay, who was she kidding; profound – thing as showing his face to her opened up a realm of possibilities between them; the thing happening now between them directly resulting from it. The more she thought about it, the more she recognized that night for what it was: a very deliberate and conscious attempt by Kakashi to open up to her. Much like he was doing now.

She'd carefully roped him into staying overnight through careful conversation - because she hadn't liked his level of hydration. She suspected he'd only been persuaded because of already feeling quite unwell. And she'd kind of promised that Tsunade would not be sending him on any kind of what-have-you missions for a guaranteed two weeks if he went in for the night - just the night so that she could get his fluid intake up to acceptable levels. She'd been surprised when he'd agreed, concern setting in as she started to worry about what might really be going on.

There were things on his body she never would have thought - marks, scars, and mars by techniques of obvious torture - as they lay sprawled across his mattress in a sort of skewed post-hospital follow-up visit. Although the position they were in illustrated a picture where each was extremely comfortable and familiar with the other, his wall was still very high and posture tight with caution. Still, it was progress – on an unthinkable level.

Her medic eyes scrutinized every imperfection, every twisting of once pure skin, automatically cataloguing causes and remedies - what could have been done; what should have been done - her even more knowledgeable fingers brushing against the more foreign (or sickeningly familiar) wounds to further cement diagnoses in her ever expanding mind. His breathing never faltered, eyes remaining affixed on some distant point as she brushed over her current fixation of long ago burned skin; a searing kunai pressed to flesh. She didn't linger on it long before continuing. It was not the only one.

It had surprised her – or should she say disillusioned – to discover that he was not invincible; not nearly so much as she had held him to be in her youth and as she still caught herself doing so today. She should not have found it so unlikely for him to have been captured. She'd always prided herself on her inherent sensibility, but why did he always so easily escape its bounds? It wasn't unreasonable to fathom him falling into enemy hands. He was a superb ninja, yes, but not indomitable. And there were serious, serious consequences to be had in such events. Such was especially true at the levels he'd been at. He would say they resulted from when he was 'young and stupid', although she didn't know how much of that she was supposed to believe. A young Kakashi making mistakes she could easily see. There were some pretty sharp learning curves in life - and few more serrated than in their world - but she had her doubts about his supposed former stupidity.

It hurt her to see such things on him. Why, she wasn't entirely sure, but she suspected it had to do with the idea of what lay behind them being there: that he'd been seriously hurt; that he'd done things to get to that point; that he'd lived through them all to be with her here now on this bed, facing away from her and reclining in such a vulnerable state like some poor animal resigned to its fate, to let the invader have its way with it, accepting whatever would be.

It was things such as these that killed her.

He died a little every time as more of the perfect vision in her mind was chipped away, the true sculpture within being further revealed. She imagined someday soon all that would be left was a sad, lonely, broken human man in need of things she didn't know if she could give or he accept.

But…wait.

What was that?

What the fuck was that?

"Kakashi."

His eyes shot to look at her from the side, his body unmoving. There was something he didn't like in her timbre. He felt fingers creep under his side to that spot. Shit. Shit. He'd been on his back specifically so she wouldn't see that!

"What is this?" It was a useless question as they both knew from that tone she knew exactly what it was. Her fingers ran back and forth over it even as both hands pushed at him to roll over more to fully reveal it. He could feel chakra fingers all over it as well. She was probing deeply.

"You put three seals on it."

He didn't move, didn't deny or confirm her discovery. Her stony features wavered, a watery smile bringing misery to the surface. "That's an awfully awkward spot for a curse seal, don't you think?" she said, referring to the slanted marks just on the side of his lower back.

He sighed quietly, still watching her from the side, unmoving. He'd been bitten - right on his side - as he'd pinned the demi-god's head in an elbow lock. It had been a very desperate move for Orochimaru, he knew. And the last one he ever made before Kakashi had severed his head. Of course the question remained if that was enough to kill the snake or not, having been thought dead once before. When he'd regained consciousness, he'd no longer been where he'd fallen beside the body.

"I think he meant to spite me to death. I don't think he intended for me to live." He said it so glibly, a tight smile pulling at his lips as if an injection of morbid humor would lessen the blow.

Idiot!

"And what would you do if three weren't enough?" she said into the awkward silence, changing the topic out of nowhere. She'd had to. She'd had to because all she could think of was 'not again, not again'. She couldn't bear lose someone else to that again!

If the unthinkable happened…

"Kill myself."

She clenched her eyes shut. She knew he would.

There was a quick inhalation of air that he thought suspiciously close to a sniffle.

"You have got to be the most stupid genius I've ever met," she said in a tight whisper as she fought her emotions, eventually losing and collapsing onto his front as her arms wound tightly around him. The memory of losing any of her loved ones was too fresh.

He stiffened, every muscle contracting. It was quite the feeling with her atop him and the muscles of his abdomen pulled taut, the fabric of her clothes and heat of her body foreign in their proximity. But then there was a warm splash against his chest and a tightening of arms, a soft face desperately rubbing into his skin and his tension left him. His large hand atop her head only caused the actions to increase. He breathed deeply before letting his arm rest lightly across her waist as more tears fell against him. He would let her purge it from her system and turned back to gaze out the window.

He was…touched…that she would cry for him.

"Please," she said, slight exasperation already coloring her voice as her hands worked to correct his posture. Her left gave a hard poke to his shoulder until he turned towards her, the right turning his chin so that his gaze lined up with hers. "Look at me. The faster we get this done, the sooner you can go. Right?" she bargained raising her brows in question.

He sighed, glancing off to the side and slumping in his crossed-legged position. She wanted to try again and he didn't know why he shouldn't dissuade her attempt, but he did know that he really didn't want to go through with it. Not today. He just didn't want to see her put so much effort into something he knew would prove to be a fruitless endeavor. He didn't know how she'd conned him into it.

"C'mon, Kakashi. One more try. And if not this time, then the next." Damn it. She wasn't going to let this drop. Not today. Figures. The one day he really, really didn't want do this. She pleaded with large eyes meant only for his benefit. "You can't deny it would be a huge advantage on the battlefield." She batted them a few times. "Not to mention the convenience it would give you in everyday life." She even had the audacity to pout her lips at the end there.

He heaved a sigh not entirely for show and looked away, contemplating every thing that was being presented. Of course he saw the advantage…if it could be done. But he had a hard time rising to her level of belief that it could be. His head shook slightly in thought. He didn't think it could…

But what did he have to lose? He was just sitting helplessly crossed-legged before her with nothing better to do at the moment. Might as well, right? He met her much too hopeful gaze and nodded curtly, letting his eye fall half-lidded. "Once."

If it would help her eliminate this urge to fix him… The light that exploded in her eyes at that statement made his chest and shoulders fall in sorrow. She would be so disappointed.

"Alright, Kakashi," she said, scooting closer and patting the ground directly in front of her. "Come here." He obliged, closing the inches between them until the cross of his shins bumped her knees. He pulled the headband from his eye and over his head as she readjusted to his proximity. Setting it to the side, he sat up a little straighter as her palm flattened against his cheek, eye widening in moderate alarm. He didn't know if he would ever get used to non-violent physical contact.

Guess this was it, eh?

He took a deep breath, to steady himself more from the intimate contact than any impending failure – he'd already reconciled with that. Too close. Simply too close. It was an effort to control his breathing…and it shouldn't have been.

She drew breath to speak, the intake of air rushing in and almost overpowering his sensitive hearing. He squeezed his eyes shut – hard – briefly. He was far too sensitive at the moment. Such a gentle motion never should have tripped his senses so severely. Oh. Well… That explained it. Her chakra was already flowing through him. Once he figured that out, everything else made sense. Mostly, anyway… he thought. He questioned the breathing item, though.

"I'm going to try to pick up where we left off last time," she spoke softly between them, eyes having fallen closed sometime before. He'd missed that event. She exhaled. He could feel it tickling the hairs on his lip even under the mask. Hm. Still sensitive.

And pick up she did. He could feel the chakra flow in force through him, sweeping through his pathways and moving swiftly through his neural network, gaining a boost as it cleared the Gate to collect in a deep pool behind his eye. From there he could feel it sway back and forth in waves until a swell seemed to overcome the dam and rush into the eye itself. It burned like fire before it was suddenly dowsed.

He startled at a tap against the corner of his eye. "Open it."

He inhaled, preparing himself to face the disappointment written across her features. He could imagine his own shock when upon opening it her face was in perfect focus, color uniform throughout both eyes. His breath escaped him, released in an unconscious and forceful exhalation as his lungs lost control. He could see. He could see! His eyes flicked around her features, alight with mirthful amusement and joy, and he couldn't help the incredulous and amazed grin that broke out on his face. His smile widened as she bounced in short laughter at feeling his emotion taking shape under her palm.

What had she done? What had she done! It was fantastic! Her face; the grass, the leaves on the damned trees! Everything looked so…normal! The elated sound that broke past his lips was unexpected but he didn't think twice about it.

He was so…amazed; happy, even. He couldn't remember the last time he'd smiled so widely. And he couldn't stop himself from hugging her; really hugging her. And he was glad he did. He hadn't felt this thankful in many years. Many, many years. It took a lot of second-guessing before he went through with the impulse. Leave it to him to over analyze such a simple thing. He hadn't felt that close to anyone since the Fourth. It…was a bizarre feeling.

But as soon as her guiding hand lost contact, so did his average vision. The smile faltered a little, but it was okay. It meant something: this was possible. With a little more work, he could be normal again. Okay, okay, as normal as he had ever passed for.

He pulled away to arms length and looked her in the eye, his smile subdued. "Thank you, Sakura. Thank you."

And it had been many years since he'd last said those words and meant them as vehemently as he did then.

Pakkun was worried. Very, very worried. In fact, he was so overwhelmed with concern that he was very seriously considering abandoning any facade of counsel with his master outright to seek help in the form of his most recent pact-member… or pack member. Same thing, really. She was family, now.

…and decidedly more sane, he thought.

He threw another worried look to Kakashi, his wrinkled mug becoming slightly more pronounced as his frown deepened. The idiot would not stop smiling. Something was definitely wrong. He couldn't contain it any longer.

"Kakashi," he growled out, "what is wrong with you?" He continued to throw glances between the ground and the stranger-by-the-day man beside him, hoping to catch some insight as to why he was behaving in such a bewildering manner.

Kakashi's eye remained steadfastly creased in what he knew to be a smile. Pakkun only sighed, no longer expecting an answer.

"What?" Kakashi finally answered, word choice feigning ignorance but tone indicating that he knew very well to what the pug was referring.

"You're smiling," he ground out, indicating that in and of itself was cause enough for worry.

"Yes. I am." Kakashi was positively beaming, completely uncaring of how disturbing his behavior was right now. "I'm happy."

Pakkun paused, forepaw still in the air, the most unusual admission halting him mid step for a moment. Whaaaaaat? Kakashi was never happy. Less sad, less angsty, but never 'happy'. Not really. This admission made him think.

Was he telling the truth? What had happened? Was this really Kakashi before him?

He leaned a little closer and sniffed once. Again. Yes, it certainly smelled like him. A third time.

Had they finally mated?

He detected an absence of another's scent on him. Although, he supposed a thorough shower would remove most of that from his person – and he knew Kakashi of all people would know precisely how to rid himself of unwanted scents. He couldn't stand it any longer! "Tell me already, Kakashi. Not knowing is killing me."

"That's funny," he spared in an aside, "you look plenty alive to me."

Really… He was far too smug, Pakkun thought. Well, if he was gonna play like that…

"Hmm," he leaned into the barb, "considering what usually makes you 'happy', I'd say you had a good run in with some eager 'fan'. Or porn." Sparing a side glance, he felt no need to hold back. "Knowing you, the latter."

Although the look he shot to the dog was not amused, it did nothing to foul his mood. "I could see, today, Pakkun." Of course the dog only fixed him with a dumb look. He knew. "Really see. Like someone normal…" He sobered for a moment, hating himself for the traitorous feeling of relief. He didn't deserve it. Ever. He owed him everything, after all. "…before the Sharingan…"

Pakkun's wide eyes were easily felt, but he didn't turn to meet them. He was trying to save himself from drowning in the sudden onset of guilt. But he heard Pakkun's gentle utterance of his name.

Before anything else could be said, he threw another smile at Pakkun. They both knew how fake it was. "Maybe this won't be such a bad thing after all." And Kakashi shoved his hands further into his pockets and continued onward.

Pakkun couldn't bring himself to follow.

He quickly looked both ways before crossing the street amongst the midmorning market traffic. Dodging distracted shoppers, he kept his eyes on the goal as he padded beneath feet unawares. There was a small gate granting access to the property he was currently trying to infiltrate: closed, of course. He would expect nothing less. His life never had been easy. Nevertheless, he poked his head through and flattened himself out to let his shoulders slip through. It took some twisting and a sophisticated rhythm to wiggle his hips through.

"Look, mama!" a boy shouted, pulling on his mother's hand and pointing. "That dog just broke into somebody's house!"

"What?" she said, half laughing and looking around. "Don't be silly," she said after seeing nothing of the sort. "Besides, animals have a way of finding their way home again. Maybe he lives there." Her son did not look convinced at first, but began to doubt as he thought on it. "Now, then. Let's get going. We've lots of shopping to do yet."

Pakkun grimaced at the boy's shouts.

That had taken a bit longer than it should have to get through such a small space… And he should not have been seen. He should have been fast enough to have gone unnoticed. Hm. He may have to cut back on some of those treats Sakura gave him. He sighed as he crossed the tiny yard. That saddened him greatly.

But never mind that…for now. There was another matter to attend to. He hopped his way up to her residence, pausing outside on the small ledge to ascertain its occupancy. He gently pawed the window once, leaning forward to peer between the curtains. He pawed again. He could see a shadow. He decided to give her a few moments.

The shadow crossed the room again, oblivious to his attempts. He barked and was satisfied to see her pause and look at him, unseeing as the curtain obscured him. Watching as curiosity took hold of her he stood, tail wagging slightly. Its fervor increased as she drew the curtains and made eye contact with him and he smiled back at her.

Her eyes followed her hands as they unlatched the window and pushed it up. "Pakkun!" she said sticking her head out and looking around slightly. "Where's your master?" She moved aside for him to come in.

He grunted as he landed upon her floor. Shaking to settle his fur back in place, he responded grumpily, "Who knows?"

She only lifted an eyebrow at that response. Sensing her stare, he looked up. She met it, eyeing the dark hooded eyes underneath his rolls. They distinctly said, 'What?' She sighed. He could be just as bad as Kakashi.

"Never mind, I guess." She turned around to continue doing what ever he'd interrupted and he took a moment before following her. "It's just unusual to see you without him."

He let his butt fall to the floor and watched as she finished folding a shirt and placed it in the basket. He almost felt like he was interrupting something.

Sensing his presence near where he'd entered the room, she shot him a glance. He was completely transfixed with her chore. "Is something wrong?" she spoke aside to him, focused once again on her task. "Did you two have an argument again?"

She was slightly pleased to see that shake him out of his trance and he turned to look to the side. "No. Not really," she heard him mumble.

Placing another piece of clothing upon the pile, she started in on another, eyebrow raised at that statement. "Oh?" Didn't sound like it from that account. She heard his weary sigh.

"He…said something today that I've never heard him say before." He spared a moment to look at her - rather intently, she thought. "I just came to ascertain whether that was true or not."

Okay, now he had her attention. She placed her hand at her hip and turned to face him. What was this all about? Oh, now wasn't that intriguing? Pakkun was breaking eye contact with her.

"I… He said…he could 'see' like he used to." Here he tentatively met her eyes before looking away again. "Before…all that." He was looking at her wall again. His line of sight fell to the floor, his voice with it. "He'd said he was…happy."

She beamed. "Did he?"

Pakkun's eyes shot to hers. "Yes."

"Good." She was smiling so brightly.

He stood and took a few steps toward her, irrational emotion swelling within his tiny fluttering chest. She didn't get it. "You don't understand!" he said fiercely, lowly. "He's never been happy. Not even as a child."

She sobered a little but met his stare head on. "Then let him have this moment." Pakkun didn't move but she was aware of his fading tension.

He froze, unable to think clearly. What did that mean? Should he do as she said? Should he let it be? Surely Kakashi knew what he was doing, but what of it? What would happen? How would this affect Kakashi? How wouldn't it affect him? Would this change truly be for the better? Would…this hurt both of them?

He didn't want anything to happen to Kakashi or Sakura. He didn't. He liked them both so very much… But what did he know about human affairs? Maybe he should do as she said…

After a moment, he jerkily turned away from her - his uncertainty manifesting itself physically - and began to head for the window. His thoughts were still tripping over themselves. He paused, relenting to the logic that human business is best left to humans.

"Very well, then. I leave him in your care."