AN: Short update. I've been really stressed and haven't written much lately. I'll try to write more.

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Kakashi only ran a couple blocks, and he felt silly when he stopped. After checking to make sure that Anko wasn't following him he headed back toward the Morenos' house, walking slowly so he could think.

Anko's neighborhood was rough. Prostitutes watched him from corners, and one even spoke to him. "Hey cutie," she said. "Wrong neighborhood for a little ninja. You want a walk home and your nappy changed?"

"Thanks, but I don't do elephants – too many wrinkles," he said, repeating something he'd heard a ninja say once.

Her sneer left, and she scowled at him. "Little shit," she said. "I bet your father isn't so picky about now."

He ignored her and walked on. Even the meth-heads think they're better than us now, he thought.

He left the whores behind and entered a warehouse district. Dark grey buildings surrounded him, and the street lights were few and far between. He heard footsteps behind him, and he sighed.

Does some civilian thug really think he can mug me? he wondered. It wasn't even really necessary to elude the man. He could have taken him with one punch, but there was always the chance he might accidently kill him. He'd never killed anyone unless it was necessary, and he didn't want to start now.

Hubris had its own price too. It didn't pay to become so proud that he forgot the random knife still had the power of death in its cheap metal.

He ran a bit – just to shake his follower, and then he ran some more, because it felt good. He loved the release of physical activity, and he decided to run home and enjoy the night air.

He turned a corner and saw a woman leaving the back of a warehouse. He'd been too distracted to notice what was going on, and he couldn't stop in time. He furiously dug his heels into the ground and leaned to the left, but even as he did he could tell he would hit her.

She turned just before he hit her, and they fell onto the pavement, with Kakashi lying squarely on top of her. She lifted him above her, easily holding him. Her arms squeezed her massive, almost exposed breasts, and he stared open-mouthed. He'd never really noticed breasts before, but they seemed important now.

"Hello, Tsuande-himi," Kakashi said. "Long time no see."

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked.

"Just running," he said. "Seemed like a nice night for it."

She stood and sat him on the ground. As she brushed off her clothes her breasts giggled, and he stared again.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she said. "I forget now. What was your name? Crow or Frightening or something silly, wasn't it?"

"You know my name is Scarecrow," he said, blushing. He didn't know why she always insisted on this game, but he didn't mind tonight.

"Eyes up here sweetie," she said, lifting his chin.

"Sorry ma'am," he said.

She laughed and belched. "Oh my. I think I drank too much."

Kakashi hadn't paid much attention to the man in the doorway behind them. He wasn't a threat, and there was the new attraction of breasts to consider.

"I don't need attention," the man said. "The game is over. We'll see you next week."

He shut the door, and they were left in almost total darkness. "Come on, kid. I'll walk you home," Tsunade said.

"I'm staying over at the Morenos' house," Kakashi said.

"Really? Since when?" she asked.

"Well, you know – the stuff with Dad happened, and he thought I should move out."

"O you poor kid," she said, pulling him to her. He let her hold him against her, his heart beating wildly as he felt the warm skin of her chest against his face.

"I'm ok," he said when she let him go. "I don't like it, but it's probably a good idea." He didn't really, but he didn't want Tsunade to know how much he'd been acting like a kid.

"I haven't really talked to Sakumo in years," Tsunade said. "I'll go over and pay him a visit. I'm sure he could use some cheering up."

Kakashi wondered why she smiled when she said that. Women are so weird, he thought.

She stumbled a bit and giggled.

"Are you ok, Tsuade-himi?" Kakashi asked. He'd smelled liquor on people before, but he wanted to be polite in case she didn't want to admit she was drunk.

"I'm alright, kid," she said. "I just had a little too much sake."

Kakashi wondered if he should be the one walking her home, but he'd seen her fight once. She could probably still beat almost any ninja in the village, even drunk.

When she left him at the Moreno's house he watched her walk slowly and unsteadily toward his house. It's a little late for visiting, he thought.

Kakashi wondered if the Morenos had a curfew. He didn't want to get in trouble when he'd just moved in.

Akihiro was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a hunting magazine. "You're late," he said without looking up.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi said. "I fell asleep at a friend's house. I'll leave word if I'm going to be out late again."

Akihiro put down the magazine, smiling at Kakashi. "Are you always this polite?"

"No sir," Kakashi said. "I try though. My father raised me that way."

"You're not in trouble," Akihiro said. "After dealing with Ibiki you're kind of mild."

I'm not mild, Kakashi thought, but he couldn't imagine trying to keep up with Ibiki – at least not the Ibiki he used to know.

"So you were sleeping at a friend's house?" Akihiro asked. "Have you been having trouble sleeping here?"

Oh crap, Kakashi thought. He didn't want to give away Ibiki's secret.

"Just a bit," he said. "It will get better."

"Mother has a warm drink she makes when we have sleeping problems," Akihiro said. "Would you like one?"

"I don't want to bother her." Kakashi said.

"She likes doing things like that," Akihiro said. "She's reading right now. I'll get her."

Kakashi sat in the kitchen, watching her warm milk and put something in it. "It's just vanilla milk," she said, "but it helps people get some rest."

He drank the drink, and he wondered if this was what it would have been like to have a mother.

Kakashi noticed that her eyes were red and had dark half-circles under them. "Are you feeling ok, Mother?" he asked. "You look tired."

"I've been a bit out of sorts lately," she said, and she tucked a bit of thinning gray hair behind an ear. "I get that way sometimes. Don't worry about it."

He hoped she hadn't been worrying about him. This isn't going to do anything, he thought, but just a few minutes later he felt himself nodding off. He thanked her and went to bed.

Ibiki leaned over the side of the top bunk. "Where have you been?" he asked.

"If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret," Kakashi said.

"I'll keep yours if you keep mine."

"I'm already keeping a couple of yours," Kakashi said.

"So tell me already", Ibiki said. This was the old Ibiki – the one who loved telling or hearing a good story. He loved anything with some good fun involved.

"Ok, but don't tell anyone. I don't want Anko mad at me."

"Oh. It's about Anko?" Ibiki said. "I thought it was going to be interesting."

"I kissed her," Kakashi said. Technically, she kissed me, but it doesn't matter.

"No way," Ibiki said. "How did that happen?"

"I fell asleep over at her place, and when we woke up I kissed her."

"You slept with her?" Ibiki asked.

"Well yeah," Kakashi said. "I mean, that's not weird. I've done it before, on missions."

"You slept with Anko before?" Ibiki said. "You're lying."

"It's not a big deal," Kakashi said. Why is he making such a big deal about us sleeping together? Kakashi wondered.

"It's a big deal," Ibiki said. "You slept with her and kissed her. That means she's your girlfriend now."

"Does not," Kakashi said.

"It does," Ibiki said. "You have to buy her dinner and stuff now. That's what happens."

"I buy her dango when she's angry," Kakashi said. "It keeps her from yelling."

"So what was it like?" Ibiki asked.

"A gentleman never kisses and tells," he said, remembering something he'd heard his father say once to Jiraiya.

"Fine," Ibiki said. "Don't tell. I don't really care."

Kakashi heard him huff, and Ibiki lay back down.

I have to get some sleep, Kakashi thought. He still didn't feel safe around the Interrogator.

He summoned Pakun. "Keep an eye out tonight," Kakashi whispered to his favorite summon. "I'll explain tomorrow."

Pakun nodded and settled in, surveying his surroundings.

Ibiki leaned back over the side of the bed. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I summon Pakun at night sometimes," Kakashi said.

"Oh my god! You've got to be kidding!" Ibiki said, laughing so hard he snorted.

"What?" Kakashi asked. "My uncle uses his summon for security at night while he's on missions. It's the same thing. I feel safer with him around."

"The big, scary Jounin uses his summon like a teddy bear," Ibiki said.

"I do not," Kakashi said.

Ibiki snickered. "Don't worry," he said. "I won't tell anyone."

Kakashi pulled Pakun close to him, and he heard the pug chuckle. "Not you too," he said.

"It's ok to be a kid sometimes," Pakun said. "I'll keep an eye out tonight."

Kakashi finally slept well, dreaming of Anko and dango.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was 2 am, but Sakumo had taken to keeping night hours. He had less of a chance of seeing people, and he just did what little shopping he needed to do at the local convenience store. He only had to go out occasionally during the day for his low-level missions, and people had quit bothering him. Most people didn't talk to him, but they didn't harass him anymore.

He heard a knock at the door and pulled his kunai. He couldn't think of any good reason for someone to be here this late. He created a clone and stepped back into the shadows.

"Who's there?" the clone asked.

"Just little old Tsunade," he heard from outside.

She sounds drunk, he thought. He let her in, and she put her arms around him.

"I ran in to Kakashi earlier," she said. "I think you might need a bit of cheering up."

She kissed his clone sloppily, and it smelled liquor on her.

I shouldn't let her do this, it thought, but Sakumo had never been one to resist a pair of magnificent breasts. He took the place of his clone and kissed Tsunade, but just as he was about to reach for her shirt she passed out and slid against him.

He lowered her onto the couch with a sigh and cursed his father for making him such a gentleman. He covered her with a blanket and went to bed, frustrated. At least she'd come by for a visit.

"You want to play Shoji?" he asked his clone.

"Sure, why not?" the clone said.