Got my first chapter done! It's a little shorter than I normally aim for, but it'll do. I actually came up with a decent title for this story too! I'm so proud! The meaning behind the title will probably become clear as more chapters are posted. Hopefully, I'll do more work on this fanfic because I'm currently ending up with a lot of free time at college.

Enjoy! =)

Chapter 1

It felt like he'd only been asleep for ten minutes before he heard the bedroom door slide open. Uchiha Itachi listened carefully to the sound of little feet as they moved into the room. A quiet sniffle had the ANBU slipping his arm from his still slumbering wife's waist to prop himself up.

Obsidian orbs picked up the outline of his daughter standing by his bedside. As his eyes adjusted, Itachi was able to see that Hoshi's small hands were clutching her blanket and she had tears in her eyes.

"T-Tousan," she whimpered.

Careful not to disturb Hana, Itachi threw his legs over the side of the bed. Reaching out, the Uchiha pulled the four year old onto his lap and held her to him in a comforting gesture. Itachi could feel the blanket brush against his bare chest as thin arms wrapped around his neck.

"What's the matter, Hoshi-chan?" he whispers softly.

The grip on him tightened as Hoshi explained why she came to him so late at night. "I-I had a dream t-that a monster came to take me a-away. I called for you and Kaasan, b-but you couldn't hear me."

Raising from the bed, Itachi whispered words of reassurance to the little Uchiha as he threw a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure Hana didn't wake. After seeing his wife's peaceful form, Itachi quietly walked out of the room and down the hall toward Hoshi's room. The pair passed Hideo's door on the way and the ANBU took a moment to peek inside to be sure the young boy was sound asleep. Sure enough, the six year old was out cold curled up beside his puppy. Everything certainly seemed in order…

…except for the shaking four year old in his arms.

"Don't worry, Hoshi. It's okay. It was just a bad dream. Everyone has them once in a while," Itachi murmured in reassurance.

Hoshi sniffed a few times before lifting her head to look her father in the face. "Everyone? Even you Tousan?"

"Sure. Sometimes, I even have trouble falling back to sleep afterwards. But they aren't real," the Sharingan user replied as he entered Hoshi's room. He placed her down on the bed gently and tucked her beneath the covers once more. "You know I would never let anyone take you away. Nothing would be able to stop me."

After placing a light kiss on her forehead, Itachi picked up a stuffed wolf from the floor and handed it to Hoshi. The brown haired girl gave a small smile in response as she hugged the stuffed animal.

"Will you stay here with me, Tousan? Just till I fall back asleep?"

Itachi simply couldn't refuse his daughter's innocent request. "Of course. If that's what you really want, I'll stay a little longer. Now close your eyes and get some rest."

Hoshi did as she was told and settled herself under the covers. Itachi sat quietly on the edge of the bed for a few moments before Hoshi's soft voice was heard again.

"Tousan?"

"Hm?"

"If I have Yoru-chan to hold when I have a nightmare, what do you have?"

The raven peered over at the stuffed wolf Yoru, or Yoru-chan as Hoshi so lovingly called him.

"When I'm home, I have your mother beside me," he responded with a smirk. "And when I'm off on a mission, I think about you, Hideo, and your mother waiting back here for me to return."

"And that helps?"

Itachi made a noise of agreement in reply. There was a yawn from Hoshi's direction.

"Goodnight Tousan," she murmured.

"Goodnight Hoshi. Sweet dreams."

True to his word, Itachi remained in the room until his daughter's breathing evened out and he was certain she was back to sleeping peacefully.

Inwardly sighing, the man straightened and ventured back to his bed. Exhausted, he crawled under the covers and settled himself behind Hana. His right arm returned to its position around her waist. He was far too tired to react when her body shifted beneath his arm. Her breath ghosted over his lips briefly before his drowsy mind registered the light pressure of her lips against his.

The contact was short-lived and then Hana's head was positioned under his. Her scent met his nose with each breath he took and Itachi soon found himself drifting off once more.

It happened again. Another nightmare. But this time, Hoshi was determined not to go to her father for comfort. She knew none of it was real. She was in her bed, not in a large lake struggling to keep her head above the waves. She wasn't choking on water as something tried dragging her down.

Still, the sensation of drowning had been so vivid that the nightmare was hard to shake. Hoshi's heart was pounding in her chest because the fear had not quite faded yet.

A muffled bark was heard from the floor which caused Hoshi to jump slightly. Looking down, the young Uchiha found her red and brown puppy holding Yoru between his teeth. Seeing Kazuki with the toy wolf is certainly a cute sight, but it does little to ease Hoshi's state of alarm. It just helped reassure that she had returned to consciousness.

The year old canine hoped onto the bed and placed the stuffed animal in the girl's lap. He nudged it with his nose a few times for good measure. The act made Hoshi give a shaky giggle.

"Thanks Kazuki," the brunette whispered as she picked up Yoru. Her hand then went to the dog's head and rubbed the base of his velvety ear in appreciation.

The puppy shook his head and licked at her hand in response. Hoshi smiled at him and could've sworn that he smiled back. The little dog then jumped off the bed to take his normal place on the floor.

Hoshi watched as Kazuki got comfortable on the wooden floor. She'd had the puppy for a little over a year now so this wasn't the first time he'd helped her after a nightmare. But the brunette had decided that tonight would be the first for something.

"Kazuki," she called softly as she leaned over the edge of the bed.

The canine lifted his head only to receive a kiss on the nose. The fur along Kazuki's shoulders and neck rose due to his surprise by the action. He jerked his head back and blinked up at the girl in astonishment. Ignoring his response, Hoshi reached down and lifted the red puppy from the floor. Placing him on the bed right next to her, Hoshi adjusted herself on the mattress and arranged the blanket over them so only their heads would be uncovered.

Kazuki seemed positively stunned by the turn of events. His body was tense as Hoshi curled her form around his and hugged him to her. While she wondered why the dog was so uncertain, she pet him a few times to show him this was acceptable.

"Goodnight Kazu-chan," she murmured as she rubbed her face into her partner's soft fur.

The scent of her companion's fur would lull her into a peaceful sleep on many more occasions in the future. His presence would quickly be necessary for her to sleep. Yoru would be replaced as a source of comfort and security but not forgotten. Instead of having a spot on the bed, he would be moved to a shelf so girl and dog would have more room.

It was her worst nightmare that month. Sweat clung to Hoshi's flesh as she clutched her head and panted. Her eyes were wild with fear. Kazuki barked a couple times from the bedroom doorway, but didn't enter. He was desperate to help his master, but knew tonight there would be no room on the bed for him.

A hand on the twenty-one year old's bare shoulder made Hoshi flinch.

"Hoshi, why do you put up with this?"

"Shut up," the Uchiha replied while she took deep breaths.

Kane chuckled causing Hoshi to glance at him. He wore only a kind smile with the bed sheet pooled at his waist. The raven's glasses were resting on the nightstand beside her bed.

"I'm not in the mood to listen to another lecture," she murmured. "I just want to sleep. No thinking. Not tonight."

The Tsuki sighed before pulling the young woman into his chest. "Okay. Fair enough. We can save it for tomorrow." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Is there anything I can do now?"

"If you even have to ask that question, I might as well kick you out and let Kazuki in here."

Kane chanced a peek at the doorway to find said canine pacing restlessly and staring at his partner. It was clear that Kazuki wanted to aid the Uchiha as he normally did. Hoshi's distress was causing her companion anguish and it was Kane's duty to ease them both. Just like every other night Hoshi had one of her nightmares in his presence.

He pulled Hoshi tight against his form and began rocking her slowly. Her arms wound around his torso and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. His lips would brush her ear as soothing words passed them. Every so often, Kane would feel the Uchiha shake and before too long, he felt a drop of moisture on his shoulder.

If it hadn't happened before, Kane would have been stunned that Hoshi was shedding tears. But the pair had grown closer since Hideo and Akari got together three years ago. A little over a year ago, Kane and Hoshi even decided to give dating a shot and had been seeing each other ever since. They had yet to go public, but Hoshi promised Kane that it would happen soon.

"Suki desu."

Hoshi's quiet declaration caused Kane's heart to beat a little faster. Each time the Uchiha verbally expressed her affection for him, Kane felt a burst of happiness and pride.

"Suki dayo," he whispered back.

The twenty-one year old didn't doubt her lover's sincerity in the slightest. She trusted no one more than he with the exception of her blood relatives and Kazuki. Because of that, Hoshi let Kane sleep beside her. She allowed him to see her at her weakest. And she depended on him to help her through the images that haunted her mind.

The pair moved so they were both lying on the bed once more. Hoshi was positioned with her body pressed against Kane's and her head pillowed by his shoulder. Kane's left arm was wrapped around her figure and his fingers traced random shapes on her bare flesh. The brush of his fingertips eased Hoshi's mind and slowly, her eyelids grew heavy. The Uchiha's fear of sleep could only last so long under these conditions and before too long, she had drifted off once more.

So Hoshi has trouble sleeping. I figured it would be an interesting character trait for her. And yes, Hoshi and Kane are together! I like their relationship and what I have planned for them. I hope you all do too. Let me know if you have any suggestions for this story. And please take a look at my poll! It's up on my profile.

Comments, Compliments, and Complaints are all welcome so review! They motivate me to keep writing.