I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. I only own Emma.

It made sense. A recluse like Kakashi would undoubtedly take care to remain undisturbed in his home. Still, she couldn't help feeling nervous. A young woman completely alone with a man in his home, she wasn't comfortable with that situation at all. She took comfort in the fact that she knew this man, somewhat. She knew that she would be safe around Kakashi. She was sure no harm would come to her in his care. Though, logic rarely stopped feelings from surfacing. She nodded to him and once again she climbed onto his back. She took care to hold on tight as she watched the village pass by. They soon came to an apartment complex. Skipping the stairs, they landed on the second floor balcony leading to two apartments. Kakashi set Emma down and opened the door on the left with a key he took from his vest. He stepped inside and closed the door after she followed him.

She assumed he would live in some sort of run down, weather worn, bachelor pad with barely enough space to be called an apartment. She was surprised to find a well maintained living space. It was stable and closed off from the elements. Currently she was standing in a large room that was divided by a half wall, marking the end of the living room and the beginning of the kitchen/dining room. In front of her she could see a hall way that undoubtedly lead to the bedroom and bathroom.

Kakashi walked past her and into the kitchen. Not wanting to feel awkward lingering at the door, she followed him and invited herself to sit at the table. She observed him as he stared into the refrigerator briefly before he started to go through his cabinets. She couldn't stop herself from letting out a small giggle. He looked around at her. She made a lousy attempt to force the smile from her face and she averted her eyes much too late.

"What's funny?"

"My preconceptions of you are changing by the second. It's strange to see you as a regular person I guess." Her brow furrowed in contemplation.

"What sort of preconceptions have you had about me up until this point?"

"More than you probably care to hear."

"There is another assumption you have made about me."

"I suppose you are right about that." She paused. "I'm not sure where to start. The show isn't specifically about you but it does go into detail about your past."

"Hmm." Kakashi indicated he was listening but he was also curious about what she knew. His friends knew about his past mainly because they were there to witness or hear about it. He never shared much with his team. He could never forget his past but he didn't want to bring it up either. He mindlessly brought out two containers of cup ramen and began heating water.

"I don't want to bring up a sore subject." It seemed she did know a thing or two about his past.

"Seeing as we will be spending a lot of time together I think it might be easier to clear the air now rather than later, don't you think?"

"You have seen so much death, your family and your whole team but you still survived. It makes you seem so incredibly inhuman and untouchable that to see you doing something so simple as looking for food," She shook her head. "It's just eye opening I suppose." Kakashi poured the water over the noodles in silence. He grabbed both cups and two pair of chop sticks.

"It seems you do know a lot about me." He sat down at the table, depositing her dinner in front of her.

"I know about what happened to you. I don't really know who you are as a person. I guess that is part of what makes you seem so inhuman." She grimaced slightly. "I'm sorry about earlier. You were only trying to help me and I was being rude."

"Considering you thought you were part of an elaborate kidnapping and practical joke, I think we can let it go." She smiled at him.

"When you first jumped up into the trees carrying me, I honestly thought I had gone completely mad." He gave her an eye crinkling smile.

"Tell me about yourself." She blinked and furrowed her eyebrows as she thought. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know. I think it's only fair when you know so much about me." She considered him for a moment as he tore off the top of his ramen cup. She followed suit with a shrug.

"I don't talk about myself much." She stared down at her ramen cup, not looking up at him. "But you are right. It's only fair." She let out another breath and stirred her noodles. "I live alone. Both of my parents are dead. My mother died when I was 5. I don't really remember her. After she died I was left with my father and he died a few years ago. I work as a secretary for a small legal office. All I do is push paperwork all day. When I'm not working I like to read or watch a few of my favorite shows. There really isn't much else to tell."

"What about your friends?" He asked from behind his book.

"I don't have any. I'm too much of an introvert I guess. My boss is the only person I really communicate with. I have talked to you more today that I have with her in a month."

"That seems surprsising."

"It's not everyday you get to meet a fictional character." She half laughed.

"One of your favorites if I remember correctly." She could hear the words coming though a smile.

"Did I say that?"

"It was one of the first things you said back in the forest."

"I guess you're right."

"Why is it you like me so much?" She chanced a glance up at him. His chop sticks were still poised over his dinner and his book remained over his face. She looked back down thinking on his words. It was a strange way to word the question. Then again, this was a strange situation.

"Through all the terrible things that happened in your life you still persevered though. You were so incredibly strong to be able to get through everything that happened to you. I envy that about you. I thought of us as similar in the aspect that neither of us had parents anymore."

"You had your father much longer than I had either of my parents." She made a small sound of acknowledgement into the cup before her. He looked at her briefly. Her eyes were turned downward wistfully. She was far too easy to read especially for someone used to looking underneath the underneath. "He wasn't there though, was he?" Her jaw locked up and her eyes widened as she looked up at him. She soon gathered her wits and remembered who she was talking to. Kakashi was probably the most perceptive person she would ever meet. There was no doubt that he would be able to know things about her that she didn't tell him. She also felt the need to divulge a few secrets about herself to the man before her. She had never had the opportunity before. Now, in a new world, with a person that would both be able to understand her and keep her secrets. She couldn't help but answer him. There was something freeing about telling a complete stranger all of your problems, knowing that the divulged secrets would never come back to haunt you.

"No. He wasn't. When my mother died he turned to alcohol in her absence. I was always thankful that he wasn't an angry drunk. He was always so blank. He just stopped being there mentally and emotionally. I had to grow up quickly so I could take care of him and myself. When I wasn't at school I was busy at home keeping the house clean. He still managed to go to work to make money. But after I turned ten I started to take up more responsibilities. I made sure the bills were sent out each month and I went out shopping, making sure there was always food in the house. It taught me a lot of things. I learned to rely on myself. I'm good with house work and organizing. I excel at mundane things like paperwork and calculations. I just had minimal interactions with other humans. That's why I love books so much. It keeps my mind busy and I don't have to talk to any one." She heaved a large sigh. "You are the first person I have told all of that to." He smiled at her.

"Probably because I'm just a fictional character that you like so much." She let out a hearty laugh. The cloud that seemed to loom over her dissipated instantly. She spoke through a smile.

"You are probably right." She blinked a few times and let out a large yawn.

"It's getting late. We should turn in for the night. You can take the bed. I will sleep on the couch." He disposed of their dinner in the trash.

"No, no, no. I will sleep on the couch. I'm not forcing you out of your own bed just for my sake."

"You will sleep easier in bed. I don't mind taking the couch." She sent him a glare and stood up. Taking that as a sign of surrender Kakashi started down the hall way only to realize she wasn't following. He heard a muffled thump and looked around to see her sitting on the couch, glaring at him in defiance. She was being stubborn, he would have to show her that he could be far more stubborn than herself.

"Emma, I'm sure you realize I can force you into that bed. So we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Something flashed in her eyes briefly. A rebellious bottom lip stuck out slightly before she smirked at him.

"Kakashi, are you really the type of man to force a woman into your bed when she so obviously doesn't want to go?" Her words may have been a double entendre but it only served to drive her point home. He shot her a glare before he continued down the hall to his bed room. He grabbed an extra pillow and a blanket and headed back to the couch. Handing them over he turned as she began to unfold the blanket and get comfortable. She seemed victorious and content. She may have won the battle but she had not yet won the war. She was stubborn but he was patient.

"Goodnight Kakashi."

"Night Emma."

He proceeded to his bedroom after flicking off the lights and began to divest himself of his mission attire. He cracked his neck after his weapons were put down and quickly unwrapped the bandages around his leg. He changed his mask and switched his standard jonin shirt and pants for a sleeveless shirt and baggy pants. Thinking he had wasted enough time, he padded soundlessly down the hall and peered over at his house guest. He was pleased to see her sleeping peacefully. Walking over to her, he pulled off the blanket and slipped his arms underneath her. She rest her head against his chest, making a soft sound of contentment, as he carried her down the hall to bed. He laid her softly under the covers and flipped the sheets over her. She rolled over and sighed as she sunk deep under the covers. Smiling to himself, Kakashi closed the door as he left. Feeling victorious, he laid down on the couch and drifted off to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

I hope you love this story as much as I loved writing it. Please review! It is wonderful to hear feedback about my stories. Thank you!