I'm Not Alone {--Kakashi Hatake--}

{Chapter 14}

I woke up the next morning, not entirely sure where I was for a moment. I blinked, glancing around the room. A bedroom. But I thought I had taken the couch last night...

At least that's the agreement Kakashi and I had after a little bit of almost arguing over it. I distinctly remembered laying on the couch. How on earth did I get here?

I glanced next to me, and first noticed the silver hair, and then the black sleeveless turtleneck he was wearing. Of course, his mask was still on as well. I had technically slept in the same bed as him.

I was contemplating whether to freak out or try and act calm about it and I chose the latter. I got up out of bed silently, my bare feet barely making any noise on the carpeted floor.

I kept thinking of possibilities in my head, but couldn't come up with any reasoning. I figured I'd just ask the Jounin whenever he woke up.

In the meantime, I made myself some eggs and bacon. Once it was finished, I sat down at the dining room table and began to eat. I heard a door creak behind me and glanced to see Kakashi. I gave a smile as a greeting and said, "There's some left if you'd like any."

He didn't say anything yet, but accepted my offer and made himself a plate. He sat across from me, but didn't eat right away. I knew why. He didn't want to have to pull his mask down in front of me. I was pretty much finished eating so I got up, taking my plate and rinsing it in the sink. In the time it took for me to do so, he had already pulled down his mask, eaten, and pulled his mask back up.

I didn't mention it. I understood his...secrecy. I held my own secrets.

"Would you mind telling me how I ended up in your bed?" I questioned directly, looking over at him.

He seemed to pause, maybe trying to articulate what he wanted to say. "You were having a nightmare...about your team. I figured you needed someone so I offered you could stay in my room and you agreed."

I blinked, somewhat surprised. While I did have nightmares about that horrible day, I usually remembered them, and what I was doing afterwards when I woke up. Maybe all the stress I had yesterday effected me more than I had thought.

I nodded after a moment, just being able to say, "Oh, I see..." I stood awkwardly before asking, "You mind if I use your shower?"

He shook his head, "You're going to be staying here for a while, aren't you?" He rhetorically asked.

A small smile spread on my lips before I headed through his bedroom to the bathroom.

I got out of the shower maybe ten minutes later and I realized there was one thing I had forgotten. A set of clothes to change into. I couldn't change back into  the clothes I had been wearing because I had left them in the bedroom.

"Just great. Good job, Hayashi." I muttered, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around myself. It barely covered everything.

Why on earth would you have towels this small? I thought, before tentatively opening the bathroom door and sneaking out into the bedroom to get my bag. Just as I was about to grab it, Kakashi walked in, only wearing a set of pants and as always, his mask.

I had a deer-in-the-headlights moment as I looked at him, unable to not notice how muscular he was. I never thought he would be that ripped underneath a long sleeve shirt and Chunin vest. It seemed he was almost taken aback as well, and I tried to break the tension with, "I forgot my things." and I grabbed them before heading back into the bathroom.

Once I shut the door behind me, I breathed a small sigh of relief. Damn. I didn't even know what to think at that moment.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed.

"Oh, no." I murmured, bringing my hands up to my cheeks and feeling how warm they were. How could he effect me this much?

I quickly got dressed, and headed back out into the bedroom. At least now, he was completely dressed as I was.

I glanced at the alarm clock and noted the time. "Um...aren't we supposed to be meeting the Genin by now?" I questioned, glancing at him.

"They can wait." Was his simple answer.

I rolled my eyes slightly but couldn't help but smile a little. I had to admit to myself that I agreed with his response.

Eventually, we did make it to the spot we were supposed to meet the rest of the team. Needless to say, they were annoyed.

"Morning guys!" Kakashi exclaimed with a wave before excusing himself with, "Today, I wandered a bit from the path of life."

I just had to chime in with, "Admitted, I got lost too."

I bit back a laugh as Sakura and Naruto shouted to Kakashi, "You're such a liar! Would it kill you to at least pretend to be sorry?"

"In any case..." Kakashi stated, standing in front of the Genin now, "This may surprise you..."

That part made me feel a little guilty because I had pretty much eavesdropped on him earlier, but it didn't last as he continued, "But I've recommended all four of you for the Chunin Selection Exam."

First, they didn't say anything but collectively said things like "Say what?!", "Good one, sensei. You almost had us.", mostly statements of disbelief.

I couldn't help but smile as I held the applications out for them and Kakashi explained, "You have to fill out the applications."

Not a second later, Kakashi was glomped by a certain blond that was exclaiming, "Kakashi-sensei, I love you!"

"Get off...you're embarrassing me!"

Naruto did as he was told, now just chuckling to himself as he held the application form in front of him.

Kakashi began saying, "If any of you don't wish to compete, the exam is entirely voluntary. The choice is yours. You needn't turn in the application forms unless you want to. If you do, report to Room 301 at the school by 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. That's all!"

With that, he 'poofed' away, though he took me with him which I found surprising.

He had taken us back to his apartment and I stepped back from him.

"Uh, what's the reasoning for that?" I questioned, looking over at him curiously.

"I have something to explain." He answered simply.

"That being?"

"The Chunin Exam."

I nodded slightly, showing for him to continue.

"As you already know, it's available to three-man teams...so, in your case, getting to the rank of Chunin will be different from everyone else."

"...all right. What will that entail?" I asked as I leaned against the counter.

"While Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto are going through the exams, you'll be training with me to prepare for your own....personalized exam."