Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to TwoTails, one of the best Anko/Kakashi writers I've found on this site, who has a fondness for angst and chaos. Hope this has enough for ya! :)

With my wide eyes
I've seen worlds that don't belong
My mouth is dry with words I cannot verbalize
Tell me why we live like this

Broken – VXIII

There were still a lot of things Anko didn't understand. But she'd given up on trying. She had almost contented herself to a life where she didn't know anything about herself, except for what a certain silver-haired stranger told her. But she was almost okay with living like that. She figured there was reason Kakashi hid certain things from her, and that was just okay with her. And besides, even without her memories, she could tell that she was a lot happier now than she had been before. So maybe it was just for the best that she didn't remember.

Still, the little snippets of memories that haunted her in her dreams were very annoying. Sometimes they were small things, involving the kids from Konoha (those two she had seen in the picture ― Rin and Obito ― were in a lot of those dreams). Sometimes they were bigger, worse. Those were the ones that scared Anko.

The purple-haired girl ran a hand through her spiky locks, her hand resting on her head. She had a terrible headache, courtesy of not sleeping the night before. She moved her hand down so it was on her cheek and rested her elbow against the windowsill, staring out the window. She had come to love these moments alone in the room she was sharing with Kakashi. They were her times to just relax, to think about everything that had happened since she had been released from the hospital. And to think about Kakashi.

A small smile played over Anko's lips as her thoughts drifted to the older teen. Despite the fact that she remembered absolutely nothing from before she woke up in the hospital ― had it really been a month since then? ―she was sure, completely sure of two things ― one: she had been very mistrustful before, and two: she had trusted Kakashi with her life. And though she didn't know the reason behind either of these things, she knew they were both true. And if that was all she ever remembered, she was really okay with that.

"You've been hiding in here all day." Minato said as he walked over to Kakashi, who was indeed hiding out in the art room. It was the only safe place from Anko, who couldn't stand even the sight of crayons or paint. And neither could he, really. But he needed a quiet place to think.

He probably could have chosen a better place than this.

"So what's up?" Minato asked finally. Kakashi sighed, trying to figure out the best way to say what had kept him hidden the entire day.

"I've been trying to figure out the best way to…ask someone something." He finally said lamely. Minato smirked.

"This 'someone' wouldn't happen to be a purple-haired, currently amnesic girl who lives here, would it?" Kakashi scowled. Why'd Minato have to be so damn smart? "So what are you going to ask her?"

"Nothing at the moment." Another smirk.

"So what are you going to ask her?"

"That is none of your business." Kakashi said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. Usually he had a lot of respect for Minato. But at the moment he just wanted to be left alone. Minato, sensing this, complied with the boy's wishes and started to leave, but not before saying,

"If you're going to ask Anko out, I'd say the best way to do it is to just blurt it out." Kakashi whirled around, but Minato was already gone.

"You-wanna-go-get-something-to-eat?"

It was amazing how it easy it came to Kakashi, just blurting something out. Kakashi, the boy who always planned ahead. Kakashi, who was always cool, always kept his nerves in order.

Anko was now staring at him as if he were insane. "Sorry…didn't catch that. What?"

She wasn't trying to be mean, Kakashi realized. He'd just spoken way too fast. Even he had barely understood it.

"Would you, uh…" Why was this so hard, why? "Would you like to go get something to eat ― you know, go out ― er…with me?"

It was obviously hot in the room. That was the only reason he was burning up under his mask. The only reason.

He closed his eyes, waiting for Anko to start laughing, as she surely would.

"Sure!"

His eyes snapped open. That wasn't laughter. "What?"

She frowned. "What, were you just kidding around? Too bad!" Her face broke into a mischievous smile as she grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the door. "Now you owe me whether you were kidding or not!"

Kakashi didn't say anything. He was too shocked.

Minato watched the couple bounce out the door. It was a real sight, watching Kakashi get pushed (or pulled in this case) around by a girl half his size. Minato sure was getting a laugh from it.

Those two are good for each other…

They were half way to a nearby diner when Kakashi finally realized that Anko had said yes to him asking her out. And, for the first time in a long, long time, he began to feel just a little excited.

He hadn't exactly planned what they were going to do. But Anko seemed to have taken that into consideration already. Once they had finished eating she said, "Want to go for a walk? The park's really nice at night. Quiet and stuff."

"How do you know that?" Kakashi asked suspiciously. Had she been sneaking out during the night?

Anko thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Dunno. I just do. Wanna?"

Well he couldn't think of anything else to do. So once they had paid, they left for the park. Anko was right, of course. With no kids around, the park was quiet. And peaceful. It gave Kakashi a minute to think. And all his thoughts were focused on the girl walking next to him. The one that had just slid her hand into his ― wait, what had she done?

"Toldcha." She said quietly, leaning against his arm. Every one of Kakashi's nerves were now focused on said arm.

Anko had never felt more at peace than she did right now. She had been beyond thrilled when Kakashi had asked her out ― at least, she was pretty sure that was what he had done. Words couldn't even begin to describe how happy she had been. And now here they were, away from the home and school, together. It could not have possibly gotten better.

But it could get worse.

"Hello Anko."

Anko jerked, surprised, and whirled around. She was sure the voice had come from behind her. But there was no one there.

"What is it?" She looked up and found herself looking into Kakashi's dark, concern-filled eyes.

"Didn't you hear…"

"Hear what?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Never-mind. Come on."

She pulled his arm to get him moving again.

"It wasn't worth it when all I had to do was get to you and have you convince them to return willingly. So much easier, you see?"

Anko nearly flew out of her skin as she heard the voice again. She looked every way she could turn her head, but she was fairly certain she and Kakashi were the only ones in the vicinity.

Kakashi watched Anko, concerned now. She was acting weird now, and it was beginning to concern him. "Anko? Anko, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"What do you think you're doing anyway? You can't stay there forever."

As much as Anko hated to admit it, she was frightened now. She looked left to right and left again, her eyes wide with fear. But even as she looked, sudden, sick realization entered her panicked mind ― this voice, whatever it was, was in her head.

"You're just a burden to them."

"Anko!" Kakashi grabbed the girl's shoulders, trying to get her attention. She was shaking under his grip, shivering, though it was hardly cold out. "Anko, what is it, what's wrong? Anko!"

She heard Kakashi's voice. He sounded worried. But before she could respond, more, unfamiliar voices assaulted her mind, right along with images.

She was three, and it was early morning. She stumbled downstairs to see her parents, only to find Orochimaru-sama.

"Where are Mommy and Daddy?"

"They're dead."

Anko's eyes widened further still. She brought her hands up, clutching the sides of her head tightly.

She was five. It was the first day of school. Already whispers followed her.

"My mommy told me about that girl. That weird guy that lives at the end of town, Orochimaru-sama, is her guardian."

"He's scary."

"She doesn't look very friendly either."

"She's scary too, I bet."

A low whimper escaped through Anko's lips. Kakashi was passed concerned now. He had done everything in his power to get her, short of hitting her. He would never resort to that.

Fists beat down on her, a foot connected with her side every now and then. She bit down on her lip, trying not to scream.

"Stop." She whispered every now and then. Why did she bother? It hurt so much, but she knew it would never stopped.

Kakashi didn't know what to do anymore. Wherever Anko was, there was no bringing her back. But he wanted to help her somehow. He did the only thing that seemed reasonable ― he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in. She was too far gone to push him away.

"Her name's Mitarashi Anko. She's in my class at school."

She looked up at the sound of her name. Oh wonderful. Uchiha Obito, the class idiot. What the hell was he talking about her for?

She tried to ignore him, but he kept going.

"She's weird." Anko's head snapped up as Obito's voice reached her again. "I mean, you haven't talked to her Rin, she's downright creepy. And you know that Orochimaru guy, the one that lives at the end of town? He's her guardian."

Obito. The sound of his voice, even in her head, even insulting, calmed Anko just a little. And as she heard his voice, she heard others.

"You don't sound like you like her much, Obito-kun."

Auburn hair. Chocolate brown eyes. Rin. Her voice rang in Anko's head along with Obito's. Quiet. Warm. Familiar.

Again more voices came. But now they were friendly, reassuring, helpful even. Anko's shallow, quick breathing began to slow a little as the din in her mind started to calm. The images that flashed before her eyes faded slowly. As she slowly entered her head again, she became aware of two things: one, she was crying, and two, she was wrapped tightly in a pair of strong arms. Kakashi's arms.

"Anko?" She heard him through the fog that was still in her head. "Hey, Anko, are you with me again?"

"K-Kakashi…" She stuttered out, realizing that she was shaking. Without warning, her knees gave out from beneath her. Kakashi tightened his grip on her as she sank into his grip a little.

"Anko?"

Her tears were falling faster now as her mind began sorting through all the images that had just been thrown at her. She could put names with faces, could tell where she was for each and every one of those events she had just been forced to remember.

Kakashi, unsure of what was going on and what to do, lowered himself and her so that he was on one knee. She was still in his arms. He wanted desperately to ask her what she had seen, remembered. But on the other hand, he wasn't sure he wanted to know at all.

"I won't let you." Anko blinked and looked up at him in surprise.

"Let me what?"

"I won't let you go back to him." Kakashi said, clenching his hands into fists. "I won't let him hurt you again." He shifted his gaze from his knees. Black eyes met brown. "I'll protect you. I promise."

"You promised." Kakashi blinked and looked down in surprise. Anko's head was leaning against his chest. She was still shaking, still crying, but her voice was amazingly steady.

"What?"

"I r-remember." She said quietly, gripping Kakashi's shirt tightly. He wasn't completely surprised by her words. "I remember what you said to me. You promised you would protect me…"

Here it comes, he thought bitterly. She was getting ready to laugh at him, to tell him exactly what she thought of him and his stupid promise.

"But it was never me I was worried about."

Kakashi blinked. As usual she hadn't done what he had expected her to. She was anything if not predictable.

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head, refusing to answer. Kakashi knew she'd talk when she was ready. And he'd be there for her until she was ready. He wrapped his arms around her a little tighter, drawing her closer, as if that was possible.

"It's all right." He murmured, running a hand through her purple spikes. He didn't know what else to say. He had never been good at comforting people. She accepted it though.

"Thanks." She murmured, closing her eyes.

She always did that. "I didn't do anything."

"Yeah you did. You always do."

Kakashi shook his head and shifted, leaning his back against a tree, Anko still in his arms. He didn't know how long the two of them sat there. He leaned his head back against the tree, his eyes closed. It was only for a second.

"Found 'em!" A light suddenly flashed in Kakashi's face. He jerked awake, confused, disoriented. Anko, who had fallen asleep still leaning against him, groaned as she woke up as well.

"Shit." Kakashi murmured, rubbing his eyes and looking up into the face of the police who had stumbled into them.

"You two from Konoha?"

"Yeah." Kakashi muttered, squinting at his watch, which was just visible in the officer's flashlight. His eyes widened. It was almost two in the morning. "Fuck."

"What?" Anko asked apprehensively.

"You've got a lot of people worried about you." The officer said. "Come on, up. Let's get you two home."

Minato was not happy. And that was putting it mildly.

"You fell asleep. In the park! I thought you were more responsible than that Kakashi!"

The silver-haired teen was getting his ass chewed out. It was no surprise. After Rin's disappearance (which no one still knew anything about), the nighttime rules had changed drastically. Curfew had been changed to eight-thirty, which was an hour and a half earlier than what it had once been, and they had been told that they were not under any circumstances, allowed to go through the park after eight. There were others. And Kakashi had broken most of them that night.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Sorry." Minato repeated, disbelieving. "Sorry wouldn't help if something had happened to you like it did to Rin, would it?"

Kakashi sighed. He had known Minato would throw that back at him. He had been expecting it. His eyes drifted over to Anko, who was sitting on the stairs, her head in her hands, eyes closed.

Minato followed Kakashi's gaze and, misinterpreting it, said, "Don't worry, I'll give it to her as well. She knows the rules, she has no excuse for breaking them."

"Don't." Kakashi said at once. "It's not her fault. I mean… it is, but…just don't yell at her, all right?"

Kakashi's words surprised Minato. He looked over at the purple-haired girl, sighing.

"Wanna tell me what happened?"

Kakashi sighed. "I don't even know myself, to be honest."

He couldn't explain what had happened. All he knew was that, somehow, she had remembered everything. And, just like everyone had predicted, it had nearly broken her.

"Go to bed." Minato said, sighing. "Get some sleep. But in the morning I want answers. Understand Kakashi?"

The teen nodded, and Minato, after quietly dismissing Anko as well, started down a side hallway, no doubt to the office to tell Sarutobi what was ― or wasn't ― happening. Kakashi waited until he was out of sight before going and sitting down next to Anko, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"You all right?"

She shook her head, not turning to look at him. He, in turn, drew her closer, and she rested her head on his shoulder. They sat like that for just a couple of minutes, but it was enough for her to fall asleep again. She was obviously exhausted. Kakashi sighed and took her carefully into his arms, carrying her upstairs. She looked so peaceful right then. He wished she could look like that forever.

Author's Note: Ready, set, review! -- Sam