Absolved.

I need you.

[Song: We Found Love - Jake Coco and Corey Gray]

When Asuma and Shikamaru left, Kakashi and I got into a fight about what I was planning to do. It was the first fight we had, and it hurt.

"If I can learn Lady Chiyo's jutsu I can save Naruto!"

"By giving up your own life?" He scoffed. "Are you insane?"

"Naruto is going to be somebody, you know that!" I whimpered, pressing my forehead against the cool window.

"You think his life is worth more than yours?" He asked, the anger drained from his voice.

When I didn't answer him I heard him sigh, that's all I heard.. But he had gotten up and walked over to me all on his own. I felt him put a hand on my arm, and then he dropped it. "You think every life is worth more than yours?"

I swallowed hard, narrowing my eyes to try and hold my emotions down. "It doesn't matter."

"It does." He growled, grabbing my arm again and spinning me around to face him. "Kairi, you matter."

"His story is bigger than mine.." I failed at holding back the tears. "Gaara needs him."

He was silent for a while, just watching me cry. I couldn't look up at him right now, I just couldn't bring myself to see the look on his face. "You're needed."

I half laughed, shaking my head.

"I've been there Kai, I have felt this before.." He brushed a tear off my cheek. "those voices inside you, they lie."

"The world needs him." I choked out.

He sighed, frustrated that he wasn't getting through to me. He hit his fist against the window, not hard enough to break it, but it made me jump. "Dammit, I need you."

I looked up at him now, seeing my fears come alive at the tears on his face. "But I'm no--"

Kakashi was so quick when he wanted to be.. I hadn't even seen him pull his mask down.. But his lips were pressed against mine, he had one hand tangled in my hair and the other wrapped around me, holding me to him as he kissed me. This kiss was different than the ones we shared so long ago, this was urgent, frustrated and rough.

Once he'd realised what had happened he went to pull away but I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back to me, closing my eyes as I kissed him this time. He hesitated at first but he kissed me again.

My memories had not done justice to what it was truly like to kiss Kakashi Hatake, not by half. Everytime we broke apart, my lips were left feeling swollen and stung, the way he smelled overtook me, I was both hyper aware and completely oblivious at the same time. I'd waited for so long to have a moment like this again.. And I wanted more.

"Kairi.." He breathed between kisses. The way he sounded, so rough.. It spread goosebumps across my skin.

I don't know what came over me in that moment.. I lifted myself into the window sill so that I could pull him closer, so I could feel his body against mine.. I opened my mouth to take a breath but his lips were right there again, his tongue touched mine softly at first, and then more confidently. I felt like I couldn't get enough.

Kakashi finally seemed to gain control of himself as he took my hands in his, pulling them away from his shirt as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "I am sorry.." He whispered, his breath against my face.

"Quit saying you're sorry.." I breathed, still trying to catch myself.

He kissed my forehead again, and then tucked his knuckle under my chin, lifting my head to look up at him.

My breath hitched in my throat and I was frozen in place.. He was staring at me with his own eye and his sharingan, a sly, victorious looking smirk lighting up his boyish face.. Holy shit..

I don't know what I was expecting to find under that mask.. But he was stunning to look at. His face was narrow but sculpted, with strong bone structure.. I couldn't get over how young he looked..

He pressed his lips once again to my forehead, still holding my hands in his.

"I won't let them take him.." He whispered softly. "And I won't lose you again.."

There was a knock at the door and Kakashi pulled his mask up, giving me another look that melted my insides before he let go of my hands and stepped away to a respectable distance. "Come in."

"Alright Kakashi..." Naruto was backing into the room, sounding like he was struggling with something. "I'm going to stay here until it's time for my training!"

Kakashi groaned, making his way back over to his bed as Naruto dragged in his pillow, blanket, and an overnight bag.

"Oh hey Kairi." Naruto smiled as he noticed me and set his stuff down. "Your hairs kind of messy."

I dove into the bathroom before my face could turn any redder.

When I came back from fixing my hair and splashing some cold water on my face, Kakashi was looking fully annoyed and Naruto had made himself comfy in the cot I'd been sleeping on.

Naruto smiled when he saw me. "Kairi, tell Kakashi Sensei that I am not an idiot."

I looked from him to Kakashi who was looking amused as he read his book.

"You guys are idiots." I laughed, earning a glare from both of them. "Naruto, are you not going to stay at our apartment?"

"Well you weren't there last night and I had a nightmare.. And I want to be ready as soon as Sensei is recovered to train me."

"Alright, movie night it is.. I am going to go find a tv.." I laughed, leaving before they could object.

I'd found a television on a rollable stand and stolen it for our room, I was discouraged to find that the only films there were medical documentaries.. I picked one about the medical possibilities of zombies and popped it in for the boys. We'd pooled all our pillows and blankets together on the floor, and it wasn't along before Naruto had put his own pillow on my lap and fallen asleep there. I gently brushed the brat's hair back from his face, smiling a little as I watched him sleep.

"That didn't take long.." Kakashi commented from where he was propped up against the wall.

"He must have been exhausted from their mission." I nodded, gently moving him off my lap.

Naruto slept like a rock, I was able to pick him up and carry him over to the cot that had been mine and he'd barely so much as twitched. I tucked him in, and gave him an extra pillow that he quickly grabbed onto and cuddled.

"Not so annoying when he's sleeping.." Kakashi laughed, he'd already stood up and was remaking his own bed.

"I'm going to go stay at the apartment tonight.." I said softly, looking out the window and up at the moon.

Kakashi looked at me, surprise in his eyes as he'd already added two pillows to his cot.

"I don't think I want to explain it to Naruto if he wakes up to us cuddling." I smirked, turning to him. "You didn't have that awkward conversation with Sakura.."

His laughter gave me butterflies. "Alright, alright.. You got me there."

We said our goodnights, he kissed my cheek and I left through the window as usual. I didn't get much sleep that night though, the apartment just felt empty and hollow.. My mind was elsewhere and had been since I left the hospital. I had found a pen and paper in a box of my things that I had never unpacked before I'd gone back home.

Gaara,

I wanted to thank you for sending me back here.. I'm starting to feel.. Different. It is hard to explain right now, everything is too new.. I have friends here!

Anyway... the reason I am writing you isn't as happy as that. The Akatsuki have been active throughout the lands, and I hear they are getting closer to the Land of Fire. Naruto is in danger, Gaara.. I need you to do me a favour.

I cannot come home right now, but I need some information from Grandfather Ebizo...