When I woke the next day, I was disoriented a little and confused by my surroundings. It took a second to realize where I was and to remember the past few days. I shook my head dazedly and laid back down. I put the back of my hand against my forehead with a heavy sigh.

I had no plans for the day and a part of me wanted to stay in the apartment all day and do nothing. I could realize that in a way I was a tad depressed and didn't really have a purpose right now.

I normally got up for my patients; I got up for the people who needed me. I got up for my friends and family. I could feel silent tears gather in the corner of my eyes and I thoughtlessly wiped them away with the back of my hand as I stared listlessly at the ceiling.

Finally, I dropped my hand heavily back onto my bed and just laid there for a few minutes. Eventually, I heard a knock on my door and got to my feet quickly. Not many people knew where I lived, so I was concerned about who may be on the other side of the door.

It could have been a former friend like Kurenai, Gai, Asuma or Genma, or it could be from the Hokage.

Quickly snatching a robe from nearby and putting it on, I opened the door to an ANBU at my door. I looked up at the cat face and crowded against the door a little more at the imposing mask. Fear churned in my gut, but I held it back and stared the strange person in the eyes.

"Can I help you, Mr. ANBU?" I asked in a polite, but concerned voice. I was aware I was just in my pajamas and robe and felt incredibly naked.

"The Hokage would like you to visit with Inoichi this afternoon. There is an appointment set up at one. Please be at the Hokage building fifteen minutes early." The voice was toneless with no inflection. They waited for an acknowledgement and after a moment, I nodded at them. They disappeared in the next second faster than my eyes could follow.

Dread roiled in me and I could feel a hard sinking in my stomach. My body had heated up and I was frozen staring at where the man had been. My fingers curled tighter around the wood of the door as I wondered what I was going to do.

I didn't know why she wanted me to see Inoichi. It didn't sound good, though. At least I wasn't escorted there. I took another deep breath before gathering my courage and looking at the clock I had hung in the room. It said it was nine in the morning, so I had time to get ready. However, I knew that the more time I had to think, the worse I'd feel.

I headed back inside and tried to ignore the anxiety building inside me. I decided a small breakfast would be a good idea. While I wasn't sure I'd keep it down, I wanted to try. It wasn't a good idea to go through my day on an empty stomach.

I quickly cooked a breakfast for me and ate quietly in my kitchen as I leaned against the counter. I wasn't sure where this was going to go and I only had the story I created. I had no choice but to stick to that same story and if anyone pushed, just repeat it. If he tried to enter my mind, I had no idea how I would spin things after that.

When I finished my food, I didn't feel any better and the anxiety had only grown. I washed the dishes quietly and left them out to dry as I wandered over to the bathroom to clean up. I went through the process of getting clean and dressing up.

I could see the paleness of my cheeks as I stared at myself in the mirror despite the make up I had put on. My face was pulled into a grimace as I studied my image staring back at me. I certainly didn't look innocent right now.

Eventually I shook my head at myself and patted my cheek twice lightly. "Snap out of it." I rebuked myself under my breath.

By the time I had finished making faces at myself in the mirror and chastising myself, the clock said it was ten thirty and I found myself to be more anxious the longer I lingered at my apartment. Deciding fresh air would be the best thing for me, I headed out of the apartment and locked it behind me.

Wandering down the streets was still nerve wrecking because I had many people staring at me and watching me closely. People I didn't know were looking at me inquisitively. My story had apparently spread and people were unsure what to think of me. I tried not to let it bother me as I continued walking down one of the paths in the village.

I had no certain destination in mind; I found my feet pulling me along as I wandered listlessly. My mind had spaced out and I was only barely aware of my surroundings around me. As I walked, I was avoiding bustling people pushing by thoughtlessly and stepping aside for running children.

When I came back to myself, I was aware my feet were pulling me in a certain direction and I followed along when I realized where they were taking me. I followed the path to the training grounds and paused at the memorial stone.

My eyes drank in all the names and passed down them all, locking in on names I recognized here and there until I reached Obito's name. I stopped there and scrunched my eyes closed.

"Why, Obito?" I murmured aloud and wrapped my arms around myself as a breeze of wind hit me. I opened my eyes as I shivered and glanced to the side towards the three stumps and smiled to myself as I remembered the significance of this spot.

I turned towards the rustling of the trees to my right to watch as the leaves swayed with the wind when a color caught my eyes; the leaves were green and it wasn't fall, so why was there orange peeking through the leaves?

As that thought started to filter through, I could see the orange color move slightly, but not with the leaves. When that thought hit me, I felt adrenaline course through my veins with in the next second. My body practically vibrated on the spot and without a word, I took off at a sprint back towards the village.

I wanted to look behind me, I wanted to check to make sure I wasn't being followed, but I didn't dare. I sprinted and didn't look back. As I did that, I could make out the sounds of a fight breaking out and to my despair, I knew that someone was going to get hurt and possible die because of me today.

I stumbled briefly over a rock on the grass and felt terrible for my cowardness as fright kept me running from the man who haunted me. The sounds of fighting seemed to be growing stronger and before I knew it, there were blurs passing past me to join into the fray.

I kept running even until I reached the main part of the village and made my way towards the Hokage Tower. Before I knew it, someone yanked me out of my mind and pulled me close to them, stopping my sprint as I gasped for breath. I immediately began to pull away and a scream started to build in my throat until I saw a glimpse of green out of the corner of my eye.

The person who grabbed me was wearing a bright green. I smothered the panic as I realized whose arms had grabbed me. I looked up at Gai's severe face as he stared over towards the fighting. I could feel myself trembling in his arms, but his presence was comforting and I never would have guessed Gai could make me feel that way.

His hands were warm and rough as they held me tightly and securely. A girl peeked into my line of sight with buns and a name came to me before I had truly thought it: TenTen. Her face was concerned as she held her hands up at me in a way to signal she was peaceful.

I swiveled my eyes around and realized that the former team Nine, or now Team Gai was surrounding Gai and I staring at the fight aside from TenTen who appeared to be trying to calm me down.

I breathed heavily as I gathered myself mentally and actually relished the feel of Gai's calming presence. I had never thought of Gai as a calm person, but I could see it now. In the face of something scary or impossible, he was calm. He wasn't scared.

"Are you okay?" I heard TenTen ask gently.

I nodded quickly if a bit jerkily in response. "Y – yes."

I could feel Gai's hands tighten around my arms.

"Rin," I looked up at Gai as he stared intensely at me. "We need to go." He said without any preamble and I allowed him to lift me up and hurry towards the Hokage Tower with our protection circle of Neji, TenTen and Lee.

I felt like I should be insulted or offended that people kept picking me up to travel faster, but in this moment I understood: I was extremely out of shape for a ninja or kunoichi and time was of the essence. I felt the air get colder and brush past us faster as they took to the roofs.

I tried to calm my racing heart as I knew the unfortunate truth that I had caused this fight. I had brought Obito here. Maybe if I hadn't escaped? Maybe if I had tried to reason with him, he would have eventually changed his mind? Would he have come back to Konoha happily? Would he have given up his plan?

The questions swirled through my mind a million miles an hour and I desperately clung to Gai like a lifeline.

For the second time today, I felt tears come unbidden to my eyes as I tried to fight them back. I burrowed my face into Gai's shoulder to hide my face from sight and clutched him all the tighter.

I couldn't believe Obito would be so bold as to appear in the village like that and try a kidnap attempt when I had ANBU following me. Not to mention, in the village where everyone would hear a fight. I realized I had underestimated Obito and his fear and obsession.

Finally, Gai and his team landed on the Hokage Tower and quickly jumped into the Hokage's office without a word. Despite being in a safe place – as safe as it can be – I didn't want to let go of Gai. He didn't try to put me down, either, and held me tightly in his arms like the weight was nothing.

"Thank you, Team Gai." I heard Tsunade say in a tense tone. I glanced back at the source of the voice and saw her looking out the window towards the battle. She turned to face me and caught my eyes. Hers were unflinching and hard as she held my shaky and tearful ones. "Set her down in the chair over there, Gai," She finally turned away from me and pointed to a couch on the side of the room.

Gai quickly obeyed and set me down carefully on the couch and I automatically curled my feet under me and held my head in my hands. He didn't leave my side, but I didn't care as I began repeating over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

I could feel my body shaking with each word as I begged for forgiveness. I didn't want this! I wanted to go home! Why was Obito so obsessed?

I looked up as Tsunade spoke my name. "Rin," She said in a stern tone and I looked up at her immediately. Her face was set in stone and her eyes fierce. "This isn't your fault." She said in an almost harsh tone. "It never was from the beginning. We take care of our own in Konoha. You've been abandoned for too long already; let us protect you now."

Her words sent another wave of shame through me as I shuddered and tears spilled down my cheeks. I reached out instinctively for her and she grasped my hand in hers with a grounding hold.

"I'm sorry," I said again through tears. "Thank you."

She squeezed my hand once and made to turn away from me when the door to the Hokage Tower was thrown open. We all looked up and in my case jumped as someone hurried through the door. I was surprised to see Kakashi in a frenzy as he burst into the room looked disheveled and like he shouldn't have left his hospital room quite yet.

"Kakashi!" I yelled and he turned to me quickly. I leaped from my seat on the couch and threw myself at Kakashi. He caught me immediately and I could see relief spread through him as his body slumped under my weight. He pulled me in close and held a hand behind my back and my head as he clutched me tightly.

I fisted the back of his shirt in my hands as I pushed myself closer into his embrace.

As he held me, I realized I was caught between two men in a sense: Obito would never stop seeking me out, apparently, and was unafraid of what a scene he would cause and how many people would get hurt and die. I was caught between him and Kakashi – or Konoha – as they both held trauma over my past life's death and wanted me in their lives.

It was a mess. Now that Kakashi knew I was alive, he wouldn't let me go so easily, and now that Obito had brought me back after 17 years of being missing, he was going to do anything to keep me around. Dread curled in my stomach as these thoughts went through my head.

Maybe I should have just stayed with Obito? Maybe I should have just tried to change his mind? I knew I would have been afraid, disturbed and unhappy with him if I had stayed, but would I have avoided more deaths and suffering that way?

"What's going on? Who's after her?" Kakashi asked in a strained voice.

Tsunade didn't respond right away. "I wonder how you knew someone was after her and where to find her." She didn't give him the answer he was looking for and I could feel Kakashi's body tense at her response.

"Ah…" Kakashi paused and I looked up to see him looking very uncomfortable under our looks. "I may have had one of my dogs keeping an eye out on her…" He didn't look me in the eye and continued to look at Tsunade as he asked his question again.

I was flabbergasted and removed one of my hands from its clamped position on his back clothing to smack him backhanded in the arm. He grasped the area briefly and finally looked down at me in surprise.

"Kakashi! You were stalking me?" My voice raised an octave higher in my disbelief and franticness.

"No!" He said hurriedly and his eye opened wider as he tried to appease me. "I was just keeping an eye on you. To make sure you were okay and no one was giving you any problems." He demurred in a placating voice.

I shook my head at him. "I can't believe you!" I pulled away from him, but his hands kept me close to him despite pulling away.

"It's not like that!" He rushes to calm me down. I huff at him unhappily, but decide that I'll give him leniency at the moment only for now because he does look extremely freaked out. I had to remember that he has a lot of trauma and doesn't have healthy coping skills.

"We'll talk about this later, Kakashi!" I warn him as I allow him to pull me back into his body. He again repeated his question to Tsunade who looked minutely amused at the back and forth before she grew serious again and explained that they didn't know who it was, but assumed it was the Akatsuki leader I had spoken about. In Team Gai's presence, she didn't say "Madara," but I could see the four tense all the same at the thought of the Akatsuki leader coming to Konoha.

I grumbled in my mind about stalking and overprotective men in my new life. I was not going to be one of those girls who think stalking is "cute" even with his trauma; he and I would have a serious talk in which I would make it clear that it was not okay.

If he wanted to keep an eye on me, then he could reach out to me everyday like an ordinary person. I could recognize how my sadness and fear had dissipated with Kakashi's presence and his explanation for knowing where I was.

Feeling vindictive, but remembering that Kakashi needs to be handled carefully, I said aloud, "You know, Kakashi…I warned you not to leave the hospital without a med-nin's permission."

I could feel his body freeze under mine and he went silent.

"Did you get permission?" I asked as innocently as I could.

I knew that Kakashi realized the danger he was in because he said, "Yes," in a strangled tone.

"Liar." I accused him. I turned to Tsunade and asked, "Is he cleared to be out of the hospital?"

Her face became slightly amused again as she said, "No, he isn't."

I shook my head at him in a disappointed fashion and announced, "Sounds like I'm going to have to go through on my threat, Kakashi."

He groaned in response.

Whatever was going to be said next was interrupted by an ANBU appearing in the room and Tsunade turned to them. "Report." She barked and the ANBU stood straighter.

"The invader has retreated and we were unable to follow. Three casualties, six critical injuries and five minor injuries. The injured were taken to the hospital following the battle."

I gasped in horror as it hit me once again just what I had caused; what Obito had become, and what he'd done. I grasped onto Kakashi tightly as I tried to wrap my mind around Obito's twistedness. How far Obito would go and his apathy for others' lives.

I couldn't understand. In the show he wanted the Tsuki no Me to end fighting and war, to end pain and suffering and death…so why? Why would he contribute to it, to the cycle? Obito felt like a constant contradiction; what did he really believe in? What were his true beliefs?

I felt Kakashi pull me closer to his body as Tsunade continued to converse with the ANBU, but I spaced out. Would Obito try again and again? When would he stop? Where is safe? Will I bring death and destruction wherever I go when he follows me everywhere I go?

I felt myself being pushed towards the door exiting Tsunade's office.

Before he got me all the way out of Tsunade's office, she told me in a strained voice, "Meet Inoichi at the hospital tomorrow at one, Rin, I want you to go through therapy for your time when you were held captive and any lingering feelings you may have from your death."

Kakashi led me through the Hokage Tower and I didn't comment as he didn't travel down the path to my apartment, but instead towards the hospital. I wanted to question Kakashi, but decided that as long as Kakashi went back to the hospital to finish his time healing, I wasn't going to complain.

When we got back into the hospital, Kakashi was greeted by the front desk receptionist's deadpan look at his escape and reappearance and when Kakashi muttered a sheepish apology, he was rewarded with an exasperated shake of the woman's head.

He guided me towards his hospital room and when we got there, he climbed back into bed after he led me to a seat at a chair in the room. I studied him as he seemed to try to go back to his aloof characterization as he pulled out his Icha Icha to read.

"Kakashi?" I asked hesitantly.

"Hmm?" He hummed back tersely.

I paused before shaking my head. "Never mind." He accepted that and turned away from me.

I decided that now wasn't the time to talk about what happened. We both needed time to calm down from the scare and I would think for a while before bringing it up with Kakashi – along with the stalking.

We were quiet and I tried not to focus on the adrenaline starting to slowly pull away from me. I wondered what would happen now? Would I go back to my apartment and live on my own again? Would the village consider me a liability or be upset with me for getting people killed and injured?

I sighed despondently and eyed Kakashi as he silently read.

I shook myself and realized that while important, it didn't look like Kakashi was about to have this conversation with me. I wanted to be kind and not push him when he couldn't vocalize what he needed currently and didn't have good coping skills, but I also knew that I needed Kakashi – perhaps not as much as he needed me right now, but I did.

I thought about how I would entertain myself while I waited for the right time to bring up my questions. Tapping my fingers against my thigh, I finally smirked.

I decided now would be a good time to get payback. I pulled out Icha Icha from my pocket and pulled it up to read so it covered my face. After a few seconds I heard a strangled choking noise. I lowered the book and looked at Kakashi questioningly.

"What?"

The part of his face that showed was flabbergasted as he stared blankly at my book.

"It's surprisingly good," I commented nonchalantly. "However, I would say that Jiraiya needs to learn how to write better dialogue. Some of it sounds childish like a teenager wrote it." I hid a smirk behind my book as I lifted it up again to hide my face.

Kakashi made an offended noise this time at my words. I lowered my book again.

"What? You disagree?"

Before he could respond, his hospital door was shoved open and a young male voice shouted, "Kaka-sensei!"

I could hear Kakashi's groan and I giggled and parroted back, "Kaka-sensei?" I eyed him as a faint blush started to dust his cheeks from what little I could see of his face. "Oooh. I think I might use that, too."

Kakashi's blush began to spread and he shoved his book in his face to hide it from view. I held back a snicker as Naruto bound into the room with Sakura just behind him.

"Ah! Who's this Kaka-sensei?" Naruto yelled boisterously. "She's got one of Pervy-sage's nasty books like you do!"

Kakashi didn't remove the book plastered to his face, nor did he respond in any way.

I sighed loudly. "Is that anyway to greet your students, Kakashi?" I chastised him. I could see Kakashi shrink in himself. I shook my head before turning to the two students and putting away my book, I greeted them. "Hello, I'm Rin. I was one of Kakashi's teammates when he was younger. It's nice to meet you." I bowed shallowly at them.

Sakura's face showed surprise, but it was Naruto who responded. "Kaka-sensei had teammates? Since when?"

I gave a slight laugh and waved it off with a hand. "I've been indisposed for a while. I just got back to Konoha and I've been keeping Kakashi company. I had no idea he had students. You have to tell me who you are." I smiled gently at the two.

Naruto picked up where I left off quickly. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm going to be Hokage!"

I nodded at him. "I'm sure you will be, Naruto. Only an attitude like that will get you the hat." He paused at my response before beaming brightly at me.

"Sakura Haruno," Sakura introduced herself to me.

"Nice to meet you both." I replied sweetly.

"Any embarrassing stories of Kaka-sensei?" Naruto asked slyly. I grinned at him and gave him a conspiratorial side-eye.

Before I could respond, Kakashi snapped his book closely loudly and gave me a desperate and exasperated look that said, "Please control yourself."

I shrugged sheepishly at him with an apologetic smile. I turned back to Naruto. "No, I'm sorry I don't." However, I added a wink that Naruto brightened at and I could feel Kakashi's disappointed stare on me.

Sakura gave a small giggle at our antics.

Kakashi turned to Naruto tiredly, his body sagging, "I thought you had a mission you were supposed to go on." His tone was screaming, "Leave, leave, leave!"

Sakura seemed to have caught on because she looked between Kakashi and I quickly and replied, "We're leaving soon. We were postponed by a few hours because of the intruder. We're leaving in an hour. Naruto just wanted to say goodbye."

I tried not to flinch at the reminder of Obito storming Konoha. I turned to Kakashi and he eye-smiled at the two students and said in a fake-jovial tone: "Good luck."

The two had matching smiles on their faces and I almost shook my head. Poor kids.

"Now, it was nice to meet you two, but Kakashi and I have some things to talk about. You have a good mission and stay safe, okay?" I ushered them gently towards the door.

"Oh, yeah! Thanks, lady!" Naruto shouted back at me as he left and Sakura added a small thank you and goodbye as she left as well.

I shut the door behind them and turned on Kakashi. Just a few minutes ago I had thought I'd give Kakashi time and that it could wait, but I could tell how much this was bothering him. The way he was tensed like he would have to strike, the way he spoke and acted was horribly fake and I could sense the tense atmosphere.

I realized then that I had gotten that part of him wrong; if I didn't approach him about it now, he wouldn't ever bring it up. He wasn't going to approach hard topics close to him. He wasn't going to acknowledge there was a problem until it faced him dead on.

He looked up at me and I stared him down sternly. "I think we have a lot to talk about, Kakashi, like what happened earlier." He eyed me in a concerned fashion although he tried to adopt an aloof and unconcerned body posture.

This wasn't going to be an easy conversation.

So, like, this was not planned? I sat down to write something else and out of nowhere Obito was like, "Surprise!" and I was not ready for it. But yeah, I hope it's okay? I wish I had someone to bounce ideas off of, but let me know what you think please. Thanks for all your support!