Next chapter up! I do not own any of the other characters but Katsa and any other non-anime related character. Please read and review! Thank you for reading! and thank you to my cousin for correcting my work.

-Haiban Hollow

Chapter 4: Laying in Comatose

Around 12 O'clock. Midnight.

"Yaaaawwnn…" setting down the book on your chest, your mind's working over time remembering every delightful detail and making new conclusions and ways the story could of turned, but you wouldn't have it any other way. Jiraiya's writing perfect. The plot was perfect.

Looking over at the alarm clock the numbers blink 12:04. "I should get some sleep..." Setting the book on the desk with a bookmark saving your place. Pulling up the navy blue bed sheet you turn your self to the wall. Clothes, plushies and extra blankets line the wall and the mattress.

Reaching out and feeling around your pillows, that you seemed to have an abundance of, you finally find what you're looking for. Pulling it in you curl up around it.

Images run vividly through your mind as you read the most detailed 'mature' scene you've ever read that just enhanced your already quite vivid imagination. You have to hand it to Jiraiya. He's a very skilled writer.

Finally having your eyes fixed themselves to the darkness you could finally make out the eyes and symbol on your plushie's headband. Brushing back its gray hair, you kiss it lightly on its masked visage. A cooed, "good night Kakashi…," is all that you could get before the realm of dreams takes you into its grasp.

All other senses shutter out only leaving touch and hearing. The feel of a warm fingertip brushes back a stray hair. Reaching out, you try to grasp the warmness back but to no avail, your fingers only brushed against cool fabric. Hand retracting back with no prize in hand, like an expensive crane game. You could only look at the stuffed animals inside but you could never seem to grasp it. After several attempts you either finally win or keep trying until you have no more money to spend. But most often you just give up completely and never try again. Like you did on your first and last relationship. You cringe back to where you first began before you ever reached out. Tears form unknowingly as you close in tighter around your small savior only wishing for the warmth of the real one.

The bloody bastard couldn't even support one thing, plus he was merely an oversized child. Always spending everything on toys and games with money he didn't have. You may do the same thing now, but on a much smaller scale. Besides you do actually have the money. His life was a dream that was impossible to live in. His own family suffered for his poor choices and you decided to turn back before you were in too deep. Before the vine was just out of reach in your spot in the quick sand. It may have only lasted three months, but it was also five thousand dollars fed to the fishes. A gamer ate your college fund. Whoop-de-fricken-do. Reason being why you are still single, with only a high school diploma, and being a twenty-two year old (virgin) shop owner.

He was definitely not one of your best choices, but sadly you can't control your past. Time just doesn't work that way. You can't change something from 4 years ago.

Nothing but a lone soul lay with you. Not visible to the naked eye but still there all the while, barely making contact in the realm of the living and awake.

"She's finally asleep." Staring down at the sleeping face that appeared to be in complete peace with the place that no troublesome man roams. Looking up from your face he stares at the black haired feline guardian sitting on a shelf overlooking the scene. "Thank you for letting me be here, but how do I give here my message?" Jumping down from the shelf, the feline landed on the other side of your slumbering body. Placing its front paw on your fore head it bent forward and kissed your spiritual place, the sixth chakra. A light appeared and disappeared as the guardian rested her paw on the head of the woman who saved many including himself and Kinu. Copying the motion he was sucked in and left floating among fog. The feline was waiting for him as it stopped, turned back and motioned for him to follow.

The fog finally cleared, a tree line appeared as soft light shown through the branches revealing their silhouette. Stepping between two trees a field of flowers shows a fight between the girl (you) and a male teen. About to interfere the cat put out a paw before him. "She's in a training session." That cat spoke with a strong female voice.

"A training session for what?" Looking closer at the swords you are wielding. "I've never seen those kind of swords before. They're being used in unison." 'That doesn't make any sense.'

"They're called dual Dao swords but it's technically one sword. Wielding this type of sword makes your fighting more precise and makes it agile. Perhaps you should learn it too sometime. She could teach you a few other things also."

"And what would those 'few other things' entail?" Kakashi asks razing an eyebrow at the feline standing next to him.

"You'll have to find out on your own." Walking out onto the field the fight was at a stalemate. He noticed the boy has a scar over his left eye much different from his own. It was an old burn mark that went far enough back to covered over his left ear, and his shaggy hair framing his face wearing a red tunic his eyes the color of gold.

His movements were swift and precise, even if the scar stifles his eyesight. The scar looks to be old but the boy still young. 'He couldn't have been more than thirteen when he got the scar. How could this be? Who would dare give such a scar to a child so young?' Looking past them, an old man sat pouring tea into the cups that sat on a wood tray.

"You can stop practicing now. It's time to take a break plus we have guests." You both stop immediately and turn to face the feline and Kakashi. Her face lightened up instantly.

"Kakashi!" she literally lunged and hugged him making him topple over to the flower covered ground. "Ah! I'm sorry Kakashi," getting off of him you brush him off, "How are you feeling?" Curious worried blue-green eyes stare into his one black and one sharingan ones.

Looking away he answered, "I'm doing pretty well, but could be better." He couldn't handle holding the stare. It just made his mind go numb as his heart started to beat faster in his ears making it impossible to think. He could feel the blood running into his cheeks unseen by others because of his mask. 'Sheez… what's wrong with me.'

The one good thing about having a mask, you can hide your embarrassment.

"Miss…there's something I need to tell you. I-" you abruptly pull him up and start dragging him over to the small group of people sitting down as the cat follows behind unnoticed at the moment.

"We'll talk over tea. How does that sound?" You tilt your head to the side a little.

'How does that sound?' "That sounds absolutely great." A smile spread wide under his mask. His walking more willfully now instead of being dragged. 'Something semi-normal sounds really great right now.' Sitting down with the girl next to him he looked around the circle. 'Even if it is with strangers.' The cat waltzes into the center after the tea is handed out by the scarred teen.

Coughing into its paw it gets the attention of the whole group. Kakashi's still looking a little out of place since everyone already knew his name but him not knowing theirs "Aren't you going to do introductions?" The feline looked at the girl next to him. And she instantly let go of the cup she was already about to place back down.

Smacking her forehead there was a red handprint where her palm made contact. "Ugh! How stupid can I get?! I'm sorry I completely forgot!" Her face help exaggerate even more.

"No. There's no reason to be sorry. I never asked for an introduction… so who are all these people…," looking around the group of people and then finally to the cat. "…and feline?"

The girl picks up the cat and put her in her lap and starts petting her. "This is Katsa. She's an old friend and pet of mine." Pointing to the old man with a very large gray beard. "He's Iroh and the one next to him with the scar is his nephew, Zuko."

"Prince Zuko." The teen said confidently as to correct her.

"My bad princey, but last time I checked you're still banished until further notice."

"Why do you have to remind me? Do you really want me to hurt you?" Once setting his cup down his hands immediately became fists.

Leaning forward, Katsa jumped off her lap. "Is that a challenge I hear, Zuzu?" She cupped her ear in taunt. A grin spread like butter upon her face in seeing his reaction.

Grabbing is dual Dao swords he stands and walks back to the spot they where practicing at earlier. In one motion he takes a fighting stance. "You bet your ass it's a challenge. Give me all you got. I dare you." A smile played across his once frowning face.

"I'll take that bet." Swinging around you grabbed your own swords and ran at him with a playful smile.

Iroh, Katsa and Kakashi watch them fight like small children in a playground as they sipped tea.

"Why are they acting like that?" Kakashi asks.

"Like what?" Iroh asked about to pour some more tea into his and Kakashi's cups.

"Like…kids." Kakashi stared in awe as the two of you fight as if he was watching the small children chasing each other in the park.

Iroh sets the teapot down and hands Kakashi his cup back full of rich tea. "They both lost out on most of their childhood." Iroh takes a sip.

Kakashi looks at Iroh seeking the information of the girl's past. She didn't have any pictures in her room of much significance but of an old shot of her family in a small frame on her desk from when she looked about sixteen. "How so?"

Taking a deep breath and releasing it Iroh started to explain. "Zuko was thirteen when he was banished from the Fire Nation. About three years before my son died during the war." Despair showed in the eyes of the old man next to him. "Soon after my younger brother, Ozai, tried to inherit the throng next because I have no heir. Father did not agree with Ozai, he ordered him to kill Zuko so he would know the pain of loosing your first born, you must sacrifice your own. Before Zuko was supposed to be killed my brother and his wife planned and had him killed before the order was finally made. That same night was the last night he saw his mother. She's supposedly still alive but we don't know where." Iroh stared off into the distance. "Zuko's father always looked down upon him. Even his younger sister, Azula, did. He always had a saying. 'Azula was born lucky. Zuko was lucky to be born.'" Iroh looked back at Kakashi with watery eyes, filled with sadness. "I'm all that Zuko has left. I'm more of a father then his own blood parent. He is all I have left in this world too. He is my son." A tear roles down his cheek as he watches Zuko. Wiping it away, "I'm too old for this."

Kakashi pats Iroh's back sympathetically. "Just be glad you have each other because it's even worse being alone."

Iroh sniffs and takes another sip of his tea. "That's true." Smiling a little then he frowns once more. "Ozai banished him for caring for others lives at a war meeting. They had planned to sacrifice some novice troops just so they could use them as bate on a fishhook. Zuko had spoken out and had dishonored a general and forced to face him in an Agni Kai. When he turned around he found it was his father was the one he had to duel. He surrendered to his father because he didn't want to fight him. His father clamed he was even more dishonored by Zuko's action and burned his left eye. It was then, that Zuko was banished, sent supposedly on a 'fool's mission'. Having to capture the avatar, the only way to regain his honor and to regain his rightful heir to the throng. Once he had found the avatar in the South Pole he'd been chasing him ever since." Leaning back and looking up at the sky. "It's amazing how his once enemies became his allies and now even his best friends. Only recently has he realized that he's supposed to teach the young avatar fire bending. His new goal now is to teach Aang fire bending before the comet arrives and to end the war between the four nations. With all the things going on, he has no time for games in this time of need. This," waving his hand to the landscape of the realm around them, "This is the only time and place he has to be himself." Looking back to Kakashi. "That is why Zuko is acting like he is now."

Kakashi nodded in acknowledgement. "But why is 'she' acting like a child?" He watches as you duck under the blades being swung and barrel role out of reach.

"She's also grown up to fast." Katsa says after asking Iroh for more tea. "She was teased when she was younger for her weight and her looks. Most of her childhood was shadowed in despair. She formed a shell around her soft heart. But it was not enough. She became stronger by mussel but her heart still weak and easily hurt. People looked down upon her as well. So she hid her face in books most of the time, away from society. Art is something she took-up to express her feelings that were hidden under her mask, and things that she yearns for. Comic books also became a part of her. She sees them as the life she wishes she had. Her friends and family had come close to becoming her only social contact. She'd finally let herself be a kid in the real world when she met Trevor. He was always in this little realm of his own where he was a kid twenty-four seven. She was drawn to him simple because of the yearning to be a child once more. Her friends told her he was a bad influence and that he didn't deserve her being eighteen and shaped better then most of the twiggy, under one hundred twenty pounds, girls in her school and with a very kind soft heart who was both talented and strong. I myself agree with that. She's like a mother, treating her friends like as if they where her own kids. Always having her guard you if there was ever a time to fight to protect her friends and family since she had no one to protect her in her time of need. For that her little sister would always have someone that she could trust and protect her. She learned the way of the sword and kendo to protect what she holds dearest to herself and others. She never has time to let her guard down in fear of others. She is the person to trust when there is no one else you can trust. Remember that Kakashi. She'll always be trust worthy... even if Pakkun thinks other wise." Katsa roles her eyes at the though as she takes a small sip of the tea from the cup placed before her.

"Ya. I know I need to talk to him about that." Kakashi said scratching the back of his neck from his best ninken's thoughts about the girl. Mostly just from embarrassment.

"You still haven't told her about your 'issue'." Katsa says to Kakashi about his current status. His inability of getting back into his own body.

Iroh hears this as he sips his favorite tea with a smile. "Mistress," Iroh calls out. The two had stopped their fighting and now trying to catch their breath as they lay on the grass. Even if it is a dream they can only use so much energy. A raspy 'yes' is heard from her place in on the ground. "Kakashi has something to speak to you about."

Getting up you stretch your arm and legs and walk away from the resting Zuko over to the group drinking tea. Sitting down, "What you need, Kakashi?" you curiously look at him.

Kakashi blushed a little at the childish look on you, a grown woman in no more than your early twenties. This quite literally was a dream but now his own be this woman's dream. "I won't be up in the morning."

"YOU MEAN YOU'RE DEAD!?" You were about to pull your hair out when he grabbed your hands.

"No. That's not what I mean…," he says placing your hands in your lap and letting go when you stopped fighting his grip. 'She has no reason to worry about me also. I can't tell her I'm in a temporary comatose. All there's left to tell her is...' "It's just I'll be up for dinner but not for breakfast. So please do make me something and take care of my ninken for me till then. I didn't get a chance to eat last night so please make it something big." A small smile played under his mask.

"Okay!" Pulling out a small note pad from you pocket and a pen, flipping it open and clicking it. "Anything specific you want to eat?"

"Anything but ramen please." 'I've treated Naruto a few to many times to help Iruka with his empty wallet.' You scribble it down and then they both vanished.

Giving a laugh, "Naruto's pleaded to you to many times?"

"Sadly, yes. I swear that boy has a bottomless pit for a stomach." He shakes his head at the disbelief of how many bowls the boy could eat in one sitting and still not look like Chouji.

Laughing even louder. "I've got my own Naruto, but she consumes so much sugar that I'm surprised she's not shitting sugar cubes."

The mere thought of someone having sugar cubes come out their ass made him grab his sides for laughing so hard. Even Iroh was laughing at it. Zuko walks over hearing all the laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"What Aang would look like in a dress."

Zuko just kind of stared blankly. You could see the clockwork turning in his head, and when it hit noon a smile spread at the thought. "He'd probably actually be able to pull that of if you add a wig." He starts laughing maniacally it the image he built in his mind.

"With you next to him in a tux," you add.

Hearing this Zuko blushes madly and face turns to disgust. Glaring, it started to burn as they set on your face for only a few seconds. His face looking sour. You can almost see steam coming from his ears.

"What?" You ask childishly.

Zuko seemed to burst. "You know I do not role that way." It was close to yelling but threw clenched teeth.

"What, I can't imagine you as his 'best man' at his wedding? Sheeze Zuko. Why would you jump to that conclusion? Besides I'm not even done with the joke."

Zuko looked dumfounded then asks, " Then what's the rest of the joke?"

"Having Aang wearing the bride's dress, Toph comes down the isle in the groom's tux."

"Why's Toph wearing the tux?" Zuko tries to make sense of the joke.

"Because She didn't want to wear the dress! And Aang didn't mind because he's use to a breeze!" You exclaimed as if it made perfect sense.

Only Iroh laughed having Zuko not understanding the joke and Katsa and Kakashi either not caring or not knowing what you were talking about, but it didn't matter to you. People didn't understand your thinking process any way. They'd often mistake it for rambling and ignore it.

"The man of wisdom under stands at least." Rolling your eyes.

Iroh calms down soon after. He became alert and faded in and out. Before he fades out completely, "Have a good day to both of you." Smiling he fades and doesn't come back.

"The joke doesn't make sense still," Zuko remarks with a small frown trying to think when he vanishes without a good-bye.

"Why did they vanish," Kakashi asks noticing Katsa also disappeared somewhere along the way.

"They woke up so they vanished."

"They're real?"

"Yep. They're as real as you and I. They are also from a different realm. We're all from different worlds. But in this realm we're all connected by the same similar wavelength. I'm amazed you didn't know that." Looking at him you smile at knowing something he doesn't.

"I never know it worked that way." Kakashi stores the new information away for his plan to get word to Tsunade about the Akatsuki and their plan.

"I hope it will help you get word back before their get a hold of any of the other ninken. Or else the city all call home will be in more danger than even an atomic bomb can do to our peaceful city. Before they destroy anything else." Darkness scraped at the light of happiness. Tears start to drip down your cheeks.

"Don't worry." Kakashi pulls you into a hug. Your face to his shirt covered chest. "I won't let them do get as far as to hurt the once you love." Your tears staining his shirt.

"But they already did." Hugging him back you dig your face deeper into his chest.

"What do you mean?" He pushes you away to see your face to look you in the eyes. "Who did they hurt?" His eyes search your face for the answer. Giving a shake he asks, "Who?" He shakes your shoulders harder. Shaking you into awareness of the music starting to play loudly.

The shake yanked him out of your dreams into the world of the awake where you open your eyes that still pouring out tears as you hit the snooze button on the alarm clock. Sitting up you hold the plush to your chest hoping he would hear your answer to his unanswered question. "It's you they hurt, Kakashi. It's you they hurt." You repeat between sobs waiting for the alarm to start back up notifying that five minutes has past. That it was time to collect your emotions and continue the day until further notice.

Time to dress. Time to feed the two ninken and yourself. Time to wait the day away watching people and cars walk by without notice of you or the shop. Waiting for the time to close the shop again. Waiting for Kakashi to awaken from his slumber... to see him active in the realm of the awake.

Kakashi stands there in disbelief that this one not girl, but woman was crying over him being hurt. Her, someone he didn't even know, she, someone who had to be strong for others, was crying for him. He never knew that one person could worry so much… for him. He only wishes he could wipe away the tears and tell her everything's all right.

His hands shake at wanting to hold her now. His lips quiver at wanting to kiss away the tears that stain her beautiful visage as where to his is covered. Showing no stains that seemed to stay under the flesh even if he never shed them to begin with. All he could do is wait for night to come quickly again to let him back into him back into his body.

End of chapter. Please Review now! Thanks!