When I thought of love, this wasn't anywhere on my list. That's probably because this wasn't love. This wasn't infatuation. It was obsessive. It was controlling. It was terrifying. And I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried, find out who it was. Six months, and no leads. Not even a shadow of one.

And I think that was the worst part, that he was smart enough to hide his tracks for six months. What else could he hide, if he really wanted to.

My Love, my darling Dove,

I saw you again today. You looked just as beautiful as you did the first time I saw you. I noticed you were looking at this, but never got it. You should learn to treat yourself more, you never buy anything for yourself. I decided I would treat you instead. I can't wait to smell it on you tonight.

With Love,

KH

I felt my knees shake beneath me as I opened the small box that had been sitting on top of the letter and revealed the expensive perfume that I had been eyeing in the mall earlier today. The same exact one. He had been there, watching me. I hadn't even noticed. Though did I really expect to notice a man I had never seen in a crowded mall? No, I didn't.

I looked up from the letter and. . . gift, my eyes wide as I searched around my home, looking for any open window or door. There had to be one open somewhere, because the letter and box hadn't been left on my front porch. No, they had been left on my coffee table, right in the middle of my living room.

But there was nothing. No sign of anyone having been in or around my home. Except for that goddamn perfume.

My Love, my darling Dove,

I saw the way your eyes lit up when you read my letter, and the way you shook with excitement as you thought of me. I feel the same when I think of you. I feel my whole body burn and the only way to relieve myself is to touch you, feel you against my skin, let my heat mingle with yours. I'm sorry I didn't get to visit you in person, but you never went to sleep. You really shouldn't do that, you know. It's not good to stay up all night. It's also not good to keep me from seeing you, I start to go crazy when I don't.

I hope I can feel you soon, and smell my gift on you. Please use it before you sleep tonight, or I will just have to put it on you myself.

You know you won't be able to stay awake again tonight, so please humor me.

With Love,

KH

My hands trembled with fear and anger as I ripped the keys from the ignition and unlocked my doors. I felt my eyes burn with white hot anger as I made my way to the police station doors, the two letters in my hands and the perfume box in my purse. This time, this time they would be able to do something. Surely.

I looked around the station, trying to find the familiar face of the detective that had first handled me when I made my first appearance here. When I came in to report the man who had been following me for nearly two months at that point. When I handed them the first letter he had ever written me.

My Love, My darling Dove,

My Heart, My Flower,

The One I Wish To Devour,

What I felt when I saw you, the way my heart leaped as I gazed upon your beauty, the way my body ached to be near you as I saw you smile, the way my hands trembled, wishing they were running along your body, I hope you felt these things too. Even now, I dream of our first encounter and my body reacts the same way.

Until now I have only been courageous enough to watch you from afar, to leave you small gifts and flowers, to dream that I would be the one you were going to see when you left your home. The home I wish to be ours. But I finally brought myself to be closer to you when I saw you left your kitchen window open for me. While that was very kind of you, My Dove, you really shouldn't do that again. Anyone could come into our home and do whatever they pleased with you. So after I sat with you while you slept, I made sure to close it again for you.

After our romantic evening, I don't think I can stay away from you anymore. And I don't want to. One day, I will have enough courage to speak with you in person.

Until Then,

KH

I spotted him leaning over his desk, speaking with his partner, Detective Yamato, who noticed me before the man I was staring at could. He pushed himself off of the desk and made his way over to me, reaching me in only a second with his long strides. His white hair fell slightly into his face and his mask covered the lower half. If I hadn't met him only when discussing someone that was ruining my life, I might have found him attractive.

"He's back again. He had been gone for nearly three weeks, I thought he had given up, but he's back!" I started spilling as I shoved the letter and the box into his hands.

"What are-" He started to ask.

"His latest letter, and a gift." I looked the man in the eyes. "He was in my house again. He left them on my living room table." My eyes glistened with tears that wanted to fall down my face, but I tried to hold them in for as long as possible. I had cried too many tears to this man, I didn't want to add more.

"Was there anything on the cameras this time?" He led me to his desk, one that was in the corner of the office. He looked at Detective Yamato and the other man stood up from his desk and walked to the make-shift break room, leaving his chair for me to use.

"No," I told him as he moved his chair closer to my own. He leaned on his knees and folded his hands, staring right into my eyes with his red one and giving me his full attention. "I don't know how, but somehow he knew my password and logged in on my laptop while he was in my house and deleted the footage. I'm never going to live in peace, am I?"

"We will catch him," He told me. "We just have to wait until he messes up and we have something to identify him. Once we do, I promise we will move so fast you won't even have time to say 'That's him.'"

"What do I do now? It's like everytime we come up with a plan, he already knows what it is and is five steps ahead... I don't know what to do anymore." I cried as I brought my hands to my face.

"I can station a squad car outside your home tonight, that way if anyone that even looks like they are paying attention to your home will go on our watch list," He set his hand on my shoulder. "We will find him."

My Love, My darling Dove,

I saw you with him, that detective. Do you really think that two police officers at your home for one night will deter me?

I have shown you so much love, and I have so much more to give. Why do you push me away? Why don't you just look at me, speak to me, it's like you don't even know that I am there! That I watch over you, showering you with affection from afar.

I know that on Sundays you like to visit with your mother, so please send my love to her as well. I know she has not been doing so well since your father passed.

With Love,

KH

I was tired. So tired.

Why me? Why must this man be obsessed with me, of all people? There were so many more things he could be doing with his life then sitting writing to me about how much he loved me.

And that was another thing, how can you love someone when you don't know them? And how could he expect me to return any kind of feelings besides hatred and fear when I also knew nothing about him. Besides that he was an absolute freak and should find some hobbies that didn't include stalking women.

I sat down in the driver's seat, my doors locked and my head on my steering wheel, thinking about running my car off of a bridge, when there was a knock on my window. My heart dropped what felt like 20 stories and my knees instantly began to shake as I slowly turned toward the window on the passenger side, where my neighbor, Alice, stood. I instantly felt all the air leave my body in one long sigh and I rolled the window down halfway.

"What can I do for you Alice?" I asked, sure that my voice didn't come out quite right as I tried to calm myself back down some more.

"Well you said a few days ago that... things... had been going good, so I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to dinner with us tomorrow, like old times?"

"That's really sweet but, uh, I got another letter." I told her.

"Really?! I'm so sorry, I really thought this would be the end. You hadn't gotten one for a long time, longer than he's ever gone before."

"Yeah, I know. I felt the same way." I turned towards my house, looking through the windows as my mind played tricks on my eyes. "You know, maybe it's time that I go with you guys again. Get some parts of my life back. I can't live afraid forever."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm positive,"

Alice's eyes lit up, "Okay! Yes, Okay! We'll meet at the usual spot! 6:30."

I nodded and Alice backed up, waved, and then ran into her house, one that was across from mine and two down.

I sat staring at the road ahead of me for a few more minutes before finally heading off.

When I reached my mothers house, I saw her standing outside her front door speaking with a tall man who she was trying to give a bouquet of flowers to. I parked and walked up the them, wondering why my mother was giving a man flowers.

"I'm sorry, but I know who these are from and I just can't accept them," She said, trying to shove the flowers into the mans hands.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but I can't take them back, I-" He started to say.

She looked over his shoulder and saw me walking up, so she pulled the flowers away from him and said, "Fine, I'll take them, just leave."

The man turned away and walked back to his car as my mother ripped the bow off of the flowers and threw them to the ground. I looked in her hands and saw a note in them, tucked behind the ribbon. I didn't need to read it to know who the flowers had been from. He sent them every time I visited, making sure to send my mother her favorite flower, lilys, which she had come to hate because of him.

KH

I watched her throw the card and ribbon into the trash as she turned to look at me, sadness in her eyes as she spoke. "So he's still not gone, is he?"

I woke up late the next morning, as I had fought sleep until I finally started to see the sun come up. My phone rang and I looked at the clock to see it read 2 p.m. My eyes adjusted farther and I looked at the number, it was one I didn't recognize. I felt myself hold my breath as I debated on whether I should answer or not, and after the fourth ring, I decided I should, just in case, as I had never had a call from him before.

"Hello?" I asked hesitantly.

"My Love, My darling~" A deep voice came over the phone, only to be cut off when I hit that big red X.

Usually stalkers started with phone calls, the ones where you would answer and you would only hear heavy breathing or it would hang up immediately. And then they would work up to more intense levels. But this one, this was the first time he had ever called, and he had answered right away. No delay, no hesitation, no weird stalker breathing, nothing. Just the same phrase he would use with every opening of his letters, so I would always know it was him.

I set my phone to silent and got up, wanting to go shower and maybe sit in the bath for a while before I had to get ready. Ready for plans I was now regretting. My body shook with every step and I almost fell onto the bathroom floor.

Maybe somehow he knew, and now he was trying got keep me from going, trying to scare me away from any social contact. It Made me feel completely alone and isolated from everyone I knew.

And if that was his plan, it was working.

As I made my way to the bathroom, I decided to check if there were any unwanted items left in or outside of my house. And thankfully, there was nothing. So I went along with my original plans of getting ready.

As 6:30 approached, I headed out the door and to the usual meetup spot of our group, my old group more like it. I pulled up and nothing had changed one bit. It was still the same bar that it had been one year ago, the last time I had been there. To be honest, I didn't really miss it. It was always full of the biggest jerks coming from other places so they could get served more, and the more they got to drink the grabbier they all became. But they had an awesome kitchen, so Alice and I would usually suck it up.

I sat at the bar, drinking something light, waiting for the other three to show up. And then I waited, and waited, and waited some more. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 7:45, and that was when I realized that I was being stood up. I felt my phone give a slight vibration in my bag, it was still on silent from this afternoon, and I dug through trying to find it, cursing myself for leaving it on silent.

Alice had called me once before, nearly 20 minutes ago, and now she was calling me back again, and I answered this time.

"Hey, are you there?" She asked through sobs.

I immediately froze. "Yeah, what's wrong? Where are you?"

"He said we couldn't go. He said we can't see you anymore." I heard her gasp slightly and then a man's voice came through the speaker.

"Tell her,"

It was that same deep voice that had been on the phone this morning.

"He said that no one will be able to see his Dove, only him- AHH!"

"Alice!" I screamed into the phone. Everyone around me turned in my direction, most likely wondering how drunk I must have been to be screaming at my phone like that.

"She's occupied... But she'll be fine. Only a few bruises. Enough to teach her and your imposter friends that I'm the only one you need. We don't need distractions, My Love." And with that he was gone and I was left alone at a bar, slowly falling down the stool to the ground, a hand on my mouth unsuccessfully trying to keep myself from letting the loud sobs come from my mouth.

I sat in my living room as I watched police and EMT's swarm Alice's house, watched as they pulled her and Jace from the house on stretchers. But I could see them both moving, so I was at least happy they were alive.

And no cops were knocking on my front door, so I knew neither of them had told them that I was involved, most likely from shock, or maybe because they were afraid this man would come back and hurt them worse next time. Thats what he said he would do. In his letter that had been taped on my door for me when I returned, after I had finally been able to stand on my own and control my limbs enough to actually be able to drive.

My Love, My darling Dove,

I'm sorry I must hurt you like this, but know that I do it for us. They were not your friends, they pity you and only speak ill of you behind closed doors. I knew that these were not the type of people we needed in our life, in our relationship. So I showed them that they should leave you to live your life.

Don't worry, I made sure to make them understand that if they were to say your name to anyone, it would not end well for them.

I believe it is getting closer, Our time to meet.

With Love, So Much Love,

Kakashi

I couldn't leave my house for a week, too afraid of what might be on the other side of those doors. What monster could be lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. I had called Detective Hatake, hoping he would be able to help, to do anything, to leave, have a squad car outside my home again, to bring me in for questioning about what happened to Alice. But he said there was nothing that could be done, as there was no evident correlation to my stalker and Alice.

I was now certain there would be nothing that could ever be done to help me.

When I finally decided I needed to go get food or I would starve, I cleaned myself and stood in front of the door, waiting for what felt like the right time. And when I did, there was a pile of letters sitting there waiting for me, along with one or two boxes and a bundle of flowers that were now dried and dead.

My Love, My darling Dove,

I know I have upset you, but please know it was for your own good. I wish you would atleast leave the house, if only so I could see your beautiful face.

With Love,

Kakashi

My Love, My darling Dove,

Please! Please come outside! I worry for you. You do not sleep, I can't even be by your side in your dreams. Why cant you see that I do these things for you?! I try to show you love but you push me away. You do not write back, you do not use my gifts, you leave my letter and flowers on the porch as if they are trash.

AM I TRASH TO YOU? ARE MY AFFECTIONS TRASH?

Do you not love me, yearn for me, wish to have me inside you? Do you not find my repeated gestures endearing? Do they not show how much I care? I have done these things with unreciprocated feelings for MONTHS, does that not show you that I am willing to do anything for you?

In Need of Your Love,

Kakashi

My Love, My darling Dove,

You have not even opened your door, my gifts begin to pile and my affections almost blow away in the wind.

I got this for you, mostly to weigh down my letters, but I also wish to use it with you, to see you underneath me with it, to watch you as you scream for me, to feel you next to me, unable to move once I am done with you and have you begging for me.

To have you lust after me as I do you.

With Love,

Kakashi

My Love, My darling Dove,

I was starting to believe you were dead, so I had to check on you.

You looked so peaceful while you were asleep, I'm sorry I couldn't wait until you were awake, but I couldn't help myself. I stole a kiss, and as our lips touched I could feel you move against me, your body wanting much more.

But it will come.

With Love,

Kakashi

My Love, My darling Dove,

I hope you love the plans I have for us as much as I expect you will.

With Love,

Kakashi

All I knew how to do was cry. I was helpless, not even the police could help me, my friends abandoned me, with good reason, and I was alone. The only one I had left was this crazy son of a bitch who couldn't take a hint!

I jumped when I heard my phone ring and Detective Hatake's number appeared on the screen and I answered right away.

"Hello?" I asked, hope in my voice for the first time that week.

"Hey, I need you to meet me at this location, we think we may have found the suspect. The problem is, we think he may have a connection in the station, that's how he's been avoiding us."

Shock ran through my body, a feeling I was starting to become more familiar with every passing day. I wrote down the address and ran through my front door, ready to finally have my life back.

As I walked through the doors, a sudden feeling of unease washed over me. The lights were off and I could see a tiny flame down the hallway. I went against every bone in my body and walked towards it. There was a small, inaudible click behind me as I walked toward the only source of light. As I reached the candle I looked over to see flower petals along the floor leading to a door that was slightly ajar and I could see candles lit inside as well.

It was when I took in the whole situation that I realized my fatal mistake. I would bet my life that Detective Hatake's first name, was Kakashi. This moment of absolute brilliance came too late, as before I could do anything, move, scream, run, cry, I felt something cover my mouth, keeping me from screaming. I reached back and tried to claw at anything I could, but Kakashi just tilted his head from side to side dodging everything I was throwing at him. My feet flew back but I only caught air and shin, as he was to tall for me to be able to reach anything the way he held me.

I felt his arm snake around my throat and he applied pressure as he whispered into my ear.

"It's alright, you're safe now," That deep voice, the one that I had heard so many times. How did I not place it as the same one.

I turned my attention to his arms, clawing and scratching, but before I do more than a few wounds, I felt unconsciousness take me away, and the last words that I heard from my attacker, my stalker, the one who ruined my life, were, "Don't worry, I'll make sure nothing ever happens to you. I love you and will always keep you... My Love, My darling Dove."

It was strange, because when I thought of love, I didn't think of this. That's probably because this wasn't love. This wasn't infatuation.

It was obsessive. It was controlling, terrifying.

It was suffocating. It was debilitating, murderous.

And I think that was the worst part, he was smart enough to hide his tracks for six months, he was going to hide me too.