Hey there, everyone!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry for pretty much abandoning "Better Having Met You". I swear, I tried like three times to continue that fic, and I just can't. I think I don't like the direction it's going in anymore and I kind of lost heart with it. A lot of you wrote wonderful reviews, and I thank you and am so glad you enjoyed it. I hope you all like this fic, and hopefully it makes up for BHMY.

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There was just something in the way Tenzou's almost oblivious smile blazed at him that made Kakashi want to snuff it out. He knew it was twisted, and that it potentially (definitely) signaled some serious emotional issues that were chewing up his psyche, but there it was. Whenever Tenzou was nice to him lately, it made him want to be mean. It made Kakashi want to see Tenzou frown. To see him hurt.

"Great work in the sparring ring, Senpai!" Was his subordinates greeting as Kakashi entered the locker room, genuine praise shining in his bright eyes. The rest of the team had insisted in staying out longer since they were 'sick of getting shown up by a 4 foot rookie'. The Mokuton could be a tough thing to beat.

"It was the same as always." Came Kakashi's cold answer, though it did not have the effect it was supposed to. Tenzou continued to smile and his good humour did not waver, as if he was expecting that exact response from his leader. It made Kakashi that much more determined.

"Have you been debriefed on our next mission yet?" Tenzou continued without wavering, twisting around to strap his sword to his back as he spoke.

Kakashi opened his locker and tossed his towel in it before he answered shortly. "Later."

"Hmm." Was the distracted answer. Tenzou towelled off his hair without skipping a beat, Kakashi's sharpness rolling over him like smoke. Something twisted painfully in Kakashi's gut but he immediately snuffed it out. The jounin knew it was guilt; guilt laced with a thousand other things, but he refused to acknowledge it.

He'd been a pretty shitty friend lately.

It had been two years since Tenzou had bravely left Danzou to join ANBU -to join HIM- and they'd continued to grow closer as friends. Not only was it glaringly obvious that Tenzou was 100% loyal and devoted to Kakashi, but the young shinobi was even honest about it himself. He smiled brightly, with absolutely no embarrassment, and called Kakashi his 'Senpai'. Tenzou was an incredible ANBU who completed his missions without falter or failure, never second guessing an order, no matter who gave it to him. However, there was something different about his relationship to Kakashi. He trusted him without borders, without thought. It was as natural as breathing. Kakashi had brought Tenzou into the world, into the light, and the younger ninja made no efforts to hide what that meant to him.

And it was starting to 'get' to Kakashi.

Kakashi knew he was messed up. He knew it and yet, despite the time that had passed since his many tragedies, had made no efforts to try and steer himself onto the emotionally 'right' path. Kakashi preferred to keep people 'out', as it was much easier than losing them. But for some reason he STILL could not comprehend, his sense of justice and his genuinely warm heart had won over his crippled self esteem and he'd snatched Tenzou from Danzou's clutches and now he had him forever.

It's not like Tenzou actually annoyed him. On the contrary, he made great company. He, unlike Kakashi himself, had grown enormously since his escape from Root. He was much more social, liked by everyone he came across, and seemed to have some pretty solid leadership capabilities. Tenzou was, by all accounts, a stand up guy.

Which.

Yah know.

Was probably part of the problem.

"I got the plan-of-attack layout from Hiruzen-sama, if you'd prefer to have it sooner rather than later."

The words frittered through Kakashi's senses and snapped him out of his revere. He clenched his fists around his change of clothes and tried, with every ounce of his inner strength, to control himself.

"Thank you. Just leave it on the bench."

"Sure." Tenzou answered. Kakashi could hear the wrinkle of paper as his friend bent over and gently placed the scroll onto the metal surface as he had been told.

He was so good at following orders, that Tenzou. Danzou did a stand-up job hammering that concept into him. Ask no questions; just do. Kakashi had rubbed a lot of that training out of his friend the first few months they'd been together, but old habits die hard.

As Kakashi knew far too well.

"I'm going home now, Senapi. Do you need anything else?"

Perhaps it was remembering their bond, where it had started from and how deep it ran, that triggered his attitude to flare up again.

"No." Was his firm, chilled answer. So firm and so chilled that it caused Tenzou to stop dead in his tracks. Kakashi cursed himself internally for being such a floundering idiot.

"...Is everything alright, Senpai?" Tenzou asked quietly, as if he knew the likelihood of an honest answer.

Kakashi was silent for so long he was surprised Tenzou hadn't given up and left by the time he answered. "I'm fine, Tenzou. Sorry."

The apology seemed to do the trick. Tenzou knew Kakashi did not apologize frequently, so when it came, it was meant. The mokuton user smiled faintly to himself. "Alright, Senpai..."

Tenzou trailed off, as if he wanted to say something else, but didn't know if he should. Kakashi silently begged him to leave. Just leave it be before he did something he'd really regret.

"Ah...if you really do need anything, you can come to me, you know."

Kakashi ducked his head on instinct, as if physically moving would allow him to dodge the conversation. Something BAD was happening inside of him and he didn't know how to deal with it. He felt a dark cloud shift over his heart, one that was steadily growing larger.

"Thanks." Was his dead tone reply.

Tenzou seemed to hesitate for just a moment longer, but he had the good sense to know when he should go, and go he did.

Kakashi stood against his locker for a full minute, practically shaking. Something bad was happening. Something was breaking, something black and awful. He felt it crawling, clawing its way up his stomach, along his spine, right into his brain. It was as if he literally saw black. He felt his sanity slip away.

Tenzou was to blame.

Kakashi didn't know how, but he knew it. He knew it was Tenzou. He didn't need anyone complicating his life, he didn't need anyone at all. Who did he think he was, hanging around all the time? Why was he trying to worm his way into Kakashi's heart?

Go after him, a voice said. Kakashi tried to ignore it. What would that do? No, this was insane. He needed to control himself.

Go after him.

Go.

GO.

He did. He was running at full speed before he could process what was going on. In seconds, he saw Tenzou's back as his young friend headed down the hall. The next second he was on top of him.

Tenzou felt the presence blast up behind him seconds too late. He whipped around, and as he did, a fist connected with his jaw so hard it sent him flying backwards. Instinctively, the mokuton user went into defense mode. He spun, landed in a low crouch, and whipped out his katana. Panting, poised for battle, he stared down his attacker.

He almost dropped his sword.

"Kakashi-Senpai..." he whispered, his large eyes wider than ever. The hurt, confused look that dominated his features was almost enough to stop Kakashi. The copy-nin faltered as something gripped his heart painfully, but he was too far gone to back off. Not yet.

Again, he attacked.

Tenzou stared in shock for a second as his Senapi came towards him. For that one horrifying second, the part of Kakashi that was still conscious thought that Tenzou wouldn't fight back. That he'd be responsible for beating his friend senseless, a friend who wouldn't lift his finger against him.

But Tenzou was far too well trained for that.

Kakashi's vicious kick was blocked, and his next hit, and his next. Tenzou's taijutsu wasn't as sharp and honed as Kakashi's, but it was good enough.

"Senpai!" he panted, leaping back to avoid the next flurry of attacks. "Stop! What are you doing!?"

"Shut up." Kakashi hissed as he flew at him again, his eyes cold and dead. Tenzou utilized the split second he had to form his wood release. Smacking his fist into the ground, the brunette called up a wall of wood that crashed up from the floor and sent Kakashi whirling back to avoid the impact. He scaled the wall easily on his next move, and to Tenzou's absolute horror, blue lightning surged from his fist as he stood looking down at his comrade.

Their eyes met. Tenzou's hurt confusion had magnified by ten. "Is...is someone controlling you?" he gasped as his eyes darted to the chidori surging from his Senpai's side. Tenzou knew there was no way anyone would be able to replicate Kakashi's signature move, so it couldn't be an impostor.

"Can't you tell it's me? Aren't we friends?" Kakashi spat, barely recognizing his own voice. The absolute ridiculousness of the situation was slowly starting to become clear to him as he realized what he was about to do, and how he sounded. This was literally insane. He could be arrested for this, if anyone walked in on them right now. He could lose Tenzou's trust. He could lose it forever.

He could lose HIM.

Tenzou seemed to have no response, words lost to him. Kakashi's hesitance had started to slowly melt the tension in the mokuton users body. Whatever fucked up shit was happening inside of Kakashi's subconsciousness picked up on it and decided that was the que to strike.

In a flash, he rocketed off the wall and made a bee line for Tenzou, his chidori fist extended. In a whirl of hand signs Tenzou created a ball of wood as wide and thick as he could make it.

A crash, the twisted, splintering sound of thick, sturdy wood cracking. Silence.

Luckily for both of them, Tenzou had experience fighting Kakashi. His defense was wide enough that even though Kakashi's chidori had penetrated it, he hadn't been able to reach his target. Kakashi lay motionless, his arm extended, his fingers a mere foot away from Tenzou's face.

They stared at each other.

Whatever had come over Kakashi was gone. His eyes were wider than Tenzou had ever seen them. Shock, pure shock seemed to wash over him. Tenzou stared. He stared and he didn't know what to do. He didn't know if he should still be scared for his life. He didn't know what he did wrong.

"I..." Kakashi started, his voice strangled. "I...don't know what came over me..."

Tenzou remained silent, eyeing Kakashi, assessing him, assessing the threat levels, trying to figure out if it really WAS him.

"Why...?" Tenzou croaked.

Silence greeted them. Tenzou tried to search Kakashi's eyes, but he only found shock and pain.

Kakashi swallowed before he answered. "I...I don't know..." He ripped his arm out, jumped back a couple of steps. He stared at Tenzou in his wooden cocoon, the only thing that had potentially kept him alive. Kept him from Kakashi.

"I'm sorry." The copy-nin whispered, his voice thick with emotion Tenzou had never heard from him before. He was gone in a flash.

It took Tenzou a few shaky moments to withdraw his wood release as he stared numbly at the ground. He could barely process what had just happened. He could tell something was off with Kakashi in the locker room, but for him to blindly attack him like that...all Kakashi had ever done was try to protect him. He'd never raised a hand against him that was unprovoked.

He had to figure out what was going on. Kakashi was at large and he was NOT himself.

As Tenzou whirled around to chase down his elusive Senpai, he nearly jumped back in shock. Two ANBU soldiers were standing in the hallway, arms crossed, as if they were waiting for him to notice them. Panic seized him. Had they seen what happened? What would they do with Kakashi?

One of them extended his arm to Tenzou.

"Please come with us." he asked gently.

Tenzou complied.

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They lead Tenzou to the Hokage's office in silence. The mokuton user found it strange that they weren't grilling him for details, but perhaps they were leaving that for Hiruzen to do. He still didn't completely understand the kind of relationship the ANBU had with the Hokage. It seemed very...trusting and friendly, which he still wasn't used to. Perhaps they intuitively knew what Hiruzen would want.

When they reached the doors to the Hokage's chambers, one of them knocked and entered while the other waited outside with Tenzou.

The poor brunette was beside himself.

He was scared for Kakashi, he was scared OF Kakashi, and it felt like someone had performed an entire dance number on his heart he was so pained that his Senpai had wanted to hurt him. The look in his eyes had been...murderous. It was clear from the aftermath that Kakashi had not truly meant him any harm, but it was hard to believe when that furious face was etched into his brain.

He jerked his head up when the ANBU returned from the Hokage's chambers. He looked directly at Tenzou when he spoke.

"Kakashi-taichou has turned himself in. He was already in there when we came. The Hokage says you can go home for now, Tenzou-san."

Relief washed over him and he barely controlled a deep sigh. At least Kakashi was somewhere safe, where he couldn't really hurt anyone. Now, however, came the issue of what would happen to him. He knew that Kakashi and Hiruzen were close, so perhaps there was safety in that. The Hokage would not act rashly, and if anyone could help Kakashi with whatever was going on, it was him. Tenzou squeezed his eyes shut long enough to get a grip, then nodded and bowed to his escorts. "Yes, ANBU-san."

"The Hokage wants you to return in the morning when you are ready; he'd like to have a word."

"Of course." Tenzou answered steadily, still deep in his bow. When he stood straight, the two nameless ANBU turned to face the Hokage's door, obviously switching roles and finished with Tenzou. The mokuton user took another shallow breath before he formed his seals and teleported out of the Hokage's office.

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"Hnn. And then what happened?" Hiruzen murmured around his pipe.

Kakashi knelt before him so low that his forehead practically connected with the rug. Truth be told, Hiruzen could barely understand what he was saying. He wanted to ask him to lift his head, but the unparalleled amounts of shame wafting from the ANBU's body told the Hokage it may not be physically possible. So he just listened REALLY closely.

"I lost control. It felt like I was possessed. I attacked him with the intent to kill. If he was even slightly less skilled than he is, I might have." the jounin whispered, his voice low and ragged. Hiruzen had never seen Kakashi so visibly low on himself. He knew the copy-nin had enormous gilt on his shoulders, but he'd never seen it brandished so brazenly.

"How did you feel when you attacked him?" the Hokage asked quietly.

For the first time in their little meeting, Kakashi was silent. Hiruzen cleared his throat gently. "Kakashi. This is a serious incident; if you are not honest with me, I cannot help you."

That seemed to do the trick. Kakashi swallowed thickly before he spoke again. "I...was angry. Confused. I can't...decipher what else."

Can't or won't? Was Hiruzen's automatic thought, but he kept it to himself for the time being. "So, Tenzou provoked you?"

"No." Kakashi answered quickly. "No, Hiruzen-sama. This is me. It's all me."

"What made you angry?"

Again, Kakashi was silent, but the Hokage could tell he would continue.

"I can't." Kakashi muttered quickly, looking away from the Hokage, as if the mere idea of answering burned him. "I...I'm ashamed. Of the answer."

"This is a safe place, Kakashi. I am not judging you, I only want to understand what happened. I'll remind you; if I don't know exactly what happened, I cannot make an appropriate decision."

The ANBU took a long, deep breath before he was able to speak. "He was being nice."

Hiruzen's eyebrow shot up. "Ah. Well. You two are friends, are you not?"

"Yes." Kakashi answered steadily, and he felt his heart swell as he realized how much he meant that.

"Were you confused as to why Tenzou being a good friend made you angry?"

Kakashi's face turned so red he actually perfectly matched the decor of the room. Hiruzen found the entire situation slightly entertaining if he was honest with himself. The pieces were starting to come together wonderfully and it was actually hilarious, especially since Tenzou was still in one piece.

"No..."

"Then, why were you confused?"

"..."

Kakashi actually looked like he was going to throw up at any second. Hiruzen waited patiently. "I...I can't. Hiruzen-sama..."

"Tsk, tsk..." Hiruzen tutted, standing straight up out of his chair. Kakashi's eyes followed him, slightly round at the turn the conversation had started to take. "Well. If you won't co-operate, I have to use the information you've given me already. What I have so far, is that you became enraged at a friend of yours for being nice to you. The only conclusion I can draw from that is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, in which case, I will have to have you removed from the roster permanently."

"NO!" Kakashi shouted instinctively, leaping up from his crouch. Hiruzen expertly held back a grin while Kakashi adjusted himself from his outburst. "I apologize. That was uncalled for."

"It's quite alright. I know how dedicated you are to your craft, Kakashi, but if you are mentally unfit to go on missions-"

"-It's how he makes me feel." Kakashi blurted out. He smacked a hand over his mouth, his eyes betraying his absolute mortification. Hiruzen allowed himself a coy smile.

"Ahhhh. Well, now we may be getting somewhere. So, I'm assuming this is not anger you're speaking of. Allow me to understand the situation more; tell me, how does he make you feel?" The Hokage asked around a knowing grin. Kakashi's eyes narrowed in frustration.

"I don't know how to describe it." he answered stubbornly, since it was becoming quite clear Hiruzen knew exactly how Tenzou made him feel and was determined to make Kakashi embarrass himself.

"Homicidal?"

"No..."

"Depressed?"

"No..."

"You're not making this any easier. I'll have to go with my first judgement-"

"-I dont want friends." Kakashi ground out. "I want to be on my own."

Hiruzen suddenly looked worried. "So you tried to get rid of him so you wouldn't have any friends?"

Kakashi actually stuttered in confusion. "N-no! I didn't want to hurt him. That's the last thing I want to do; I'd kill anyone who touched him. I just...it's all in my head, all the time, it's been getting worse and worse. The closer I get to someone the father away I want to run. I was just...I just snapped. Something came over me...he seemed to be the source of my pain, and I just..." Kakashi was clutching the sides of his head and slowly back stepping away from Hiruzen as he talked, clearly distressed. He dropped his hands and looked up at the Hokage, his eyes tired and sad. "Maybe I do need to be Grounded. I'm a danger to everyone..."

Hiruzen, his eyes serious, stepped forward and placed a calming hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "No. You're not a danger, Kakashi. However, you do need to rest. I think I know what happened. You're really only a danger to yourself. I don't believe you would have killed Tenzou, so let that burden lift from your shoulders. If you really wanted to, he would probably be dead."

Kakashi dropped his head. "I don't deserve companionship."

Hiruzen 'tisked' again and walked back to his desk. "See; this is the source of the problem." he murmured as he scrawled something quickly over a scroll. "Your own insecurity and self loathing is the source of your actions. Despite how much you are going to hate me for this, I am assigning you to six months of therapy after two weeks vacation."

Kakashi's head jerked back up. "What?"

"Yes. That's right. And you will go to EVERY. SINGLE. SESSION. Do you understand the orders you are receiving?"

Kakashi stared in absolute horror. Hiruzen stared right back. They stayed like that for a full minute.

"...Really, though?"

"Yes."

"...Six months?"

"At least."

"AT LEAST?"

"If your therapist prescribes you more, you will have more."

Despite the mask he wore, Hiruzen could see the outline of Kakashi's jaw dropping. The Hokage stalked right up to him and handed him his scroll. "You will present this to the guards waiting outside of my office. They will take you to the Human Relations wing of the ANBU building. I'm certain our lead psychiatrist is till in the office. You will register with her, and then you will go on vacation. Two weeks, no more or less. Do you understand?"

The tone in Hiruzen's voice made it very clear he was being absolutely serious. These were official, legitimate, ANBU orders. Kakashi closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and bowed to Hiruzen as he accepted the scroll. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Go, then. And please, Kakashi. Not only for your sake, but for the sake of those who are important to you; take the therapy sessions seriously."

Kakashi felt immobilized by Hiruzen's words. Suddenly, he realized he was acting like a child. He had almost killed Tenzou and probably irreversibly damaged their relationship. And now, what? He was too proud to go to therapy? For almost blindly slaughtering someone who trusted and looked up to him? When the hell was he going to grow up?

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kakashi whispered. He ducked his head in a sign of respect and acknowledgement. He would do as he was ordered.

Hiruzen was smiling as Kakashi walked out of the office.

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Okay, so that was a LITTLE morbid, but don't worry :D Tenzou's unscathed, that's all that matters, right?

Riiiiiight.

Hope you liked the first chapter!