It was a calm, early fall night. The kind that allowed everyone to sleep deeply and restoratively. And Kakashi was one of those people, for once. His nights were usually filled with nightmares and restless tossing and turning.

He lay asleep in his one bedroom flat. His left arm was draped over his eyes and Pakkun was curled up against his right hip. The rest of his ninken were spread through out the apartment, sleeping away.

Kakashi jerked suddenly awake. Years of ninja missions and training came to him as he tried to find the sorce. His front door rattled slightly, as someone tried to open it. He grabbed the kunai he kept under his pillow and feigned sleep, waiting for the intruder. Kakashi rolled onto his side to face the door, keeping one eye cracked open.

His door slowly opened and the person stepped into the room, carefully shutting the door behind them. As a last thought, Kakashi pulled his cowl on his face while their back was to him.

"Mishi?"

The young girl froze, still facing the door. She turned to face him, her hands folded infront of her. Even in the dark shadows of his apartment, Kakashi could see the red flush on her face at being caught sneaking in. He sat up and moved the blankets from his body.

The dogs woke up when he cut the lamp next to his bed on. They lifted their collective heads to watch the two humans.

"What's the matter, Mishi?" Kakashi grew worried. She'd never snuck over in the middle of the night like this. During the day, it was normal for her to visit with him and the others, but this was the first he knew of her doing anything like this. He looked over at the glowing red numbers on his clock, "It's 2:54 a.m."

"I'm sorry, Kaka-san. It's just..." She seemed to squirm under his mix-matched gaze. "Gai-Otou has been gone for two months now."

"And you miss him?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, but it's more that when I'm alone at night, I have nightmares."

Kakashi's eyes softened with understanding. Since taking her in, Gai had been able to get neighbors and families of her classmates to let her stay the night or to have someone stay with her when he left for missions. Even sometimes with Kurenai. This was the first time that she'd actually been alone for more than a few days.

"Come sit." He patted at the mattress next to him.

She quickly scurried over to him, like a small mouse. He wrapped her up with his green blanket and draped his arm around her shoulders. Kakashi could feel her shivering against him. He took in her simple linen pajama top and bottoms and knew that in this cool night air, they couldn't be very warm.

He rubbed her upper arm to try and warm her. "Remind me to take you shopping when we get up."

She lifted her head to look up at him, confused, "When we get up?"

"Yep." He said, matter of factly, clapping his hands on his knees before standing up and walking to his closet. He opened the door and started shuffling things around in it before he pulled out an extra pillow and blanket. "From now on, when Gai goes on a mission, as long as I'm home, you're gonna stay with me."

Her forehead creased with more confusion. "Why would you do that?"

Kakashi tossed the blanket down on his couch and stood in front of her with his fist on his hips. "Because I know what it's like to be haunted by memories. To not be able to sleep from fear that I'll be trapped in a nightmare. And if having someone with you while you sleep helps easy some of that pain, I'm glad to have you snoring on my couch and stopping me from walking around naked in my own apartment."

He chuckled as her face turned beet red. "I could have done without that mental image, Kaka-san."

He shrugged, "And I could use a million yen, a lifetime supply of sake, and a best friend who doesn't invest in spandex."

That succeeded in bringing a smile out of Mishi. "You're so weird."

He plopped down beside her and gave her his best eye crinkle. "You still love me though."

The look she gave him said she did, and that she was grateful for what he was doing for her. She lifted her hand to try and stifle a yawn. She rubbed at her eyes as they watered.

"Tired?"

She nodded, then yawned again. He pressed his hand on her back to gesture her towards the couch. She got up and went over to the couch, patting Bisuke and Shiba on their heads as she passed them. She laid down and, to her surprise, Kakashi was there pulling the blanket up onto her shoulders.

He rubbed her hair affectionately, then went and climbed in his bed. He watched as she scooted down into the couch cushions. He reached up to turn the light off. His dogs were now setttling back down to sleep. "Good night, Mishi-chan."

He got a gentle snore in return. Chuckling, he turned off the light and covered himself up.