A/N: Last chapter ! I can't believe I'm on the last chapter! Thanks to all of you who read and reviewed and will review! It really has been a pleasure reading all of your comments! Now, I will say for the last time: Enjoy the chapter!

screamingcrazyproctorlady

Chapter Ten: Finding the Real Me

It had been three weeks since Anko's return to Konoha, and there was no doubt that she had been traumatized. She wasn't like her old self at all. She distanced herself every one, including Kakashi. It was as if she had gone and left a new Anko in her stead.

There was a special place in the woods that was secluded, peaceful, and serene. The trees there rose high, as if they wanted to touch the sky. This beautiful place was where Anko now spent most of her time. When she felt weak, overwhelmed, or tired of everyone's concerned stares, she went to this place.

Today, she was overwhelmed. Tsunade had insisted that she start seeing a councilor. Everyday, the dumb maggot made her relive her experience with Itachi. Everyday, she wound up near tears. So she came here.

She stiffened. She had heard the crack of a twig. NO! He's come back! He's going to take me away again! Anko stood. This time, she was going to fight. This time she was ready.

When a figure finally approached, though, it was not Itachi she saw, but Kakashi. A feeling of relief swept over her-she was safe!

"Kakashi? What are you doing here?" she asked as she made her way over to a tree stump.

"I was looking for you, and I thought you'd be here," Kakashi replied, an unreadable look on his face and in his eyes.

"Why were you looking for me?" Anko asked.

"I was worried about-" Kakashi started.

"There is nothing to worry, I'm fine!" Anko yelled, a little bit of her former self shining through.

"Yes there is! Ever since that day in the hospital, you haven't even looked at me," Kakashi said, Anko could tell that he was upset. "You don't talk to anyone, all you do is sit in silence!"

"You don't know what it's like!" Anko screamed at him, tears gleaming in her black eyes. "You don't know what it's like to have everything taken from you, to have nothing but pain inside of you; pain that sets the inside of you on fire!"

"I don't?" Kakashi asked solemnly. "Let me tell you something, when you were captured, we looked every where for you; I was desperate to find you! Then, Itachi showed me that you were dead and…I completely lost it! It was like my heart broke in two and someone had tossed both pieces into the fire!" Kakashi now had tears in his eyes.

"I'm not worth all of that," Anko said quietly, her black bangs shielding her eyes from view.

"You are to me," Kakashi said gently. He walked over to where she was sitting and lifted her face so that he was looking straight into her eyes.

"Anko, you're going to have to move on, I know it will be difficult, but you have to. I'll be with you every step of the way," Kakashi said, his tone expressing everything, importance, perseverance, and love.

"Why are you doing this for me," Anko asked, she had not yet torn her eyes from Kakashi's.

"Because I love you," Kakashi replied simply. Anko felt a bunch of emotions rush around inside of her, but the one that overshadowed them all was love. Love of a certain silver haired Jounin.

"I…I love you too," Anko whispered. Then, Kakashi moved forward, tucking a hair behind her ear. They were inches from each other now. Kakashi filled the small gap between them, planting a sweet kiss on Anko's lips. Slowly, she lifted her hands up, running her fingers through his hair.

"Anko had finally found what she was looking for, herself. She couldn't erase what Itachi had done, she couldn't completely go back to the person she was before. Kakashi was right, she would have to move on, move on to become a better person, move on to be…her.

A/N: The End! I can't believe I won't be updating! Thanks to all of my consistent reviewers and any of you who reviewed every once in a while. If you want me to right a sequel say so in your review! Thanks to you all!

screamingcrazyproctorlady