The door slammed open and Kiya found herself face first on the ground in front of the couch where smoke was fading. Kakashi had barely had enough time to use a jutsu to disappear from the room as Sakura and Ino barged into the room. Kiya let out a quiet groan as she finally moved and sat up, rubbing her nose and forehead, planning on yelling at Kakashi when she saw him next. He was one of the more skilled jounin in Konoha and still had some of the clumsiest moments. Wondering on if he managed to successfully appear where he wanted to or if he landed awkwardly, Kiya started giggling at the thought of Kakashi being so clumsy.

"Hey, are you okay? Why are you on the floor?" Sakura appeared in front of her, green chakra glowing as she touched her head. "You have a concussion Kiya, what happened?"

"Who was that who disappeared when we came in? When you were dancing, it was as if you knew your stalker," Ino demanded as she sat gracefully, still wearing her purple gown, mask on top of her head out of the way.

"Go away," Kiya groaned as she let herself collapse forward on Sakura's knees. "You two are exhausting."

"Are you drunk?"

"The better question is who isn't intoxicated," she giggled. "Tsunade did take control of the drink stand. Stalker he may be, a drink came to claim us both, so tea was a must."

"A haiku, really?!" Sakura scoffed.

"I didn't get that stupid bastard's name," Kiya shrugged as she sat back up and got back on the couch. "He wasn't very good at a dramatic exit of it threw me to the floor and gave me a minor concussion."

"Would we know him?"

"I don't know, maybe. He said he lived in one of the nearby villages and saw me returning from Suna. Guess he became so obsessed that he found where I lived. Looked like he was maybe in his early twenties, but acted like he was twelve. Who knows, could have been some kid practicing a transformation jutsu."

"He left his mask and jacket," Ino frowned.

"Guess he'll have to get a new one, because it's getting thrown away when I take care of my trash," Kiya lied. "Now, it's time for you to leave. I have a shift over at the hospital tomorrow and I would like to get some sleep."

"Disappointing end to the stalker mystery," Sakura sighed as she got up. "Come on Ino, you can stay at my place tonight. We'll see you later Kiya, maybe we can go out for lunch sometime this week."

"Okay," Kiya smiled as Ino followed Sakura out and the door shut quietly that somehow survived Sakura's strength.

She got up and locked the door before anyone else tried to barge in and stared at the jacket and vest for a minute before picking up the two pieces and carried them to her room to be hung before they got wrinkled next to her bagged dress. Jerking the pins out of her hair, she wandered to the bathroom and washed her face. Leaving the dishes made from tea for tomorrow, she crawled under the covers and sighed.

If Gaara hadn't kissed her or if she hadn't told Kakashi, would he have done the same? Knowing her discomfort at the situation, he gave her space but also gave subtle hints. As if knowing that she had questions, there was a quiet knock on her bedroom window. Glancing over and seeing the silver-haired stalker, still in his suit crouching on the window ledge, she couldn't help but laugh as she got up and opened the window.

"I'm sorry for disappearing," he spoke quietly to not disturb her neighbors.

"You realize that you are clumsy and gave me a minor concussion because I fell off the couch," she scolded playfully and his one open eye widened.

"Are you okay?" He asked as she let him into her room and she sat on the edge of her bed.

"Sakura healed me after she stormed in and found me face down," she chuckled. "Are you going to do that every time some knocks? I'd rather be a little more prepared so I don't hurt myself."

"That's for you to decide, Kiya," he spoke seriously as he knelt on the floor in front of her. "Of course, you have as much time as you need to think about this, but until we know if we will be only friends or more, some situations may call for the disappearing act."

"At least try and give me a warning then," she asked earnestly. "I can heal my own concussions, but I would prefer not having one in the first place."

"I can't promise, but I will do my best."

"My turn for a question, Kashi," Kiya spoke as she crossed her legs under her and he got up and sat beside her on the bed. "Why me?"

"You really do misjudge how much people are drawn to you," Kakashi smiled as he pulled down his mask. "You are an amazing person, Kiya. You are smart and even in strained situations, you are always planning ahead. You are kind, loyal, but so feisty and not afraid to speak your mind. Then on top of all that, you are beautiful. I've been trapped."

"If this doesn't work… how would it still work being friends when you're saying things like that…?"

"There is only one line that we cannot cross until you know what choice you will make."

"That makes sense. It would be pretty awkward if we did that then it didn't work out," she mumbled, knowing what he was talking about and felt some heat spread across her cheeks at how normal he sounded talking about sex.

Even thinking about her hidden stack of Icha-Icha because she had been curious about the books Kakashi read, made her blush. She was young and owning books that were explicit unrated and heavy on sex, was probably frowned upon. Kakashi was right in saying that there was good plots but if you skipped the sex scenes, you'd miss almost half the story.

"Did you really throw away my jacket and vest?" he asked and as she glanced at him and saw the concern she laughed as she shook her head.

"No, I figured that you'd remember eventually that you left them." She got up and walked over to her closet and pulled them off the hanger and laid them on her dresser. "If you heard me lying to them about your jacket, then you were close enough to hear me say that I have a shift at the hospital in the morning."

"What time do you usually get a break when you are working there?"

"What are you thinking?"

"It is harmless for friends to bring food for each other or maybe get food somewhere nearby. Team practice is in the mornings and usually ends around lunch time," he smiled innocently as he stood up and walked over to where she was leaning against the dresser. "After all, to everyone else, I never made it to the social fundraiser and support my teammate and friend, an apology lunch sounds fitting."

"You're incorrigible. Now the question is, would you be on time or would the path of life sweep you away?" Kiya snorted.

"Now that sounds almost like a threat," he breathed as he reached behind her slowly and she forced herself to not move even though her heart felt like it was starting to beat a little faster. "What could possibly make such a delinquent like me work to be on time besides being able to meet with such a beautiful woman?"

"Perhaps one would simply have to keep hostage the things you have forgotten," Kiya mused as she reached behind her and held onto the two pieces of fabric as she felt them start to move in his direction. "Or keep hostage something a little more valuable."

"And what leverage could you possibly have against me?" he smirked, his face a few inches away from hers.

"A suit jacket isn't really the best place for literature of a specific nature," she smirked back, amused that she had found the small book in his jacket when she had picked it up.

"Such literature should not be in the hands of such an innocent young woman," he frowned in surprise.

"But games of cat and mouse seem to be the most fun to play, my dear," she whispered and saw his eye widen as he realized that she was quoting a line from Icha-Icha. "You should get going, it's getting late."

"And the prisoner?" he asked as she let go of his clothes and he pulled them on, not even backing up as he did so.

"Only when the ransom is delivered will the prisoner be let free."

"I guess I'll have to be on time but before I go…" he smiled and she tried to move away from him when his arms trapped her against the dresser. "One final parting gift to end the night."

"And what kind of gift would require me to be pinned to my dresser?" Kiya narrowed her eyes suspiciously and he chuckled before he leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek for only a second before backing away.

"Have a good night, Kiya, I'll see you tomorrow," he smiled gently before disappearing in a poof of smoke.