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When they got back to his apartment Kakashi opened the door, decided that for once maybe he should actually use it. This was probably the first time.

He set Indi down gently on the couch and went into the kitchen, opening a cupboard.

"You want anything to drink? I've got plenty of options." He called to the other room.

Indi got up off the couch as he disappeared through the door, following him. She had her work cut out for her if she wanted to get him to stop trying to pretend that she was a china doll. Or helpless, but that was a little different. She found she didn't mind him being protective. Indi smiled at his back.

"Water's fine, thank you Kakashi."

Kakashi shrugged and turned around. He handed her a cup and pointed to the sink.

"There you go. No problem." He got himself a glass of milk. "So what should we do now?"

She took the cup over to the sink and filled it with water, contemplating dropping it on the floor, just to see how fast he would come to her rescue. She would have too, if it meant that he would hold her again.

If she had dropped the cup and her uncle had been there he would have laughed and gotten her a pair of shoes and wept up the glass shards off the floor while telling her about the newest addition to their library. She missed him. Indi turned off the water after the cup was full and blinked back her tears at the comments her uncle would have made if he could have seen her before she turned to face Kakashi.

"I don't know. Whatever you want to do if fine." She told him honestly.

Kakashi watched her fill the glass with water, noting her grace and perfection with keen interest. No one in the village looked anything like her. She was thinking about something and when she turned around Kakashi quickly slid his gaze away from her, giving no hint that he had been watching her. He leaned back slightly against the fridge and assumed his naïve expression.

"Well, that was kind of why I was asking you. I have no idea what to do."

Indi looked at him for a moment, trying to gauge what his reaction would be before walking over to him and putting her arms around his neck. She gently untied his headband and removed it, trailing her fingertips across his jaw through his mask and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, moving to step back.

Kakashi blinked and before she could escape he grasped her wrist and pulled her firmly back against him. All innocence gone from his face he returned her kiss.

Indi gently freed her wrist and put her arms around his neck again, relaxing against his strong body. She sighed softly.

"What would I do if I didn't have you Kakashi?" She mused, mostly to herself.

The said man frowned. "I have no idea, but the real question is; what would I do if I hadn't met you?" His arms came down and rested around her waist

"Mmm… You'd probably live out your life, never knowing what you'd missed out on." Indi said, finding it more difficult than it should have been to form coherent thoughts.

Kakashi hesitated. "No, that wouldn't happen. Are you tired?"

"Why not?" she asked curiously, after a brief pause adding, "No, I'm not tired, though I wouldn't mind laying down for a bit."

Indi rose on her toes and rested her weight more fully against him, trusting him to hold her up as she brushed her lips softly against his cheek, a feather-light caress.

Kakashi swept her up into his arms and walked back into his bedroom, setting her on the bed. "You should get some sleep."

Indi's lower lip pouted slightly. "Only if you're here with me. I can't sleep without you. Besides, I'm not tired."

Kakashi smirked. "I can do that. And if you're not tired, then why did you fall on me?"

"I didn't fall on you, I was leaning against you. There's a difference." Indi said, neatly avoiding answering his question. She moved over on the bed to make room for Kakashi and lay back with a sigh, patting the mattress next to her.

Kakashi slipped out of his sandals and crawled onto the bed beside her, moving around a bit to get comfortable.

"You didn't answer my question. As far as I can tell falling and leaning are barely different." He said, his voice slightly muffled by a pillow.

So he had noticed she liked it when he did that. Indi sighed contentedly. "I did it because I felt like it. There, not I've answered you. There's a big difference between falling and leaning. Falling is not being able to support yourself, therefore having to rely on another to support you. Leaning is choosing to allow something or someone you trust to hold you up because for one reason or another you'd rather not do it yourself."

She rolled onto her side and relaxed, allowing herself to gently stroke his hair.

Kakashi nearly dozed off with her fingers running gently through his hair.

"Mmm… That feels good." He said, his tone deep and content.

Indi smiled softly and the man who was, slowly but surely, stealing her heart. "I'm glad." she whispered, listening to his quiet breathing. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

Kakashi opened one eye and glanced t the woman in his bed beside him. I was correct when I said that she was the most beautiful woman in the world, but now I think that even that may have been an understatement.

"Good." He said out loud.

Indi slid a little closer and cuddled against Kakashi's warm chest with a small, very contented sigh. The Hokage seemed nice enough I suppose. I'm glad she let me stay with Kakashi. I'm not sure what I would have done if I hadn't been… No, it can't be. I hardly even know him. I will absolutely not fall in love with a perfect stranger the day after my uncle was killed. She thought stubbornly. The annoying, dark little corner of her whispered, rather smugly, 'Too late.'

Kakashi sighed and Indi opened her eyes, pulling away slightly, frowning. That hadn't sounded like a happy sigh.

"Is something wrong?" she asked quietly. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable but if she was doing something he didn't like she would rather know now.

Kakashi didn't answer, simply pulling her back against him. "Its not you." He said gently.

Indi relaxed against him again, enjoying the feeling of his strong arms around her, protecting her from the evils and nightmares of the world. She marveled at how she always felt so safe with him. It would be bad again when he left her and she knew from her own experience and from all her reading that he would eventually leave her. She wasn't the kind of girl that he would want to spend the rest of his life with. She would take what she could get while she still had him. Indi tilted her head so that her forehead was resting against his chest.

Kakashi closed his eyes again. "It's not you," he repeated.

How can I get him to let me stay? He says it's not me but… why is that what first come to his mind. It is me.

Indi wrapped her arm around his waist, worming her other hand underneath him, her hands meeting behind his back. She interlaced her fingers so she wouldn't give herself away by clutching at his back, taking a deep breath of Kakashi-scented air to dispel the tide of panic that threatened to rise at the thought of being alone in a strange world. Again.

Kakashi opened his eyes and looked down at the woman. She seemed distressed. "Is something wrong Indi? You look upset."

His voice held concern and care, his hands unconsciously making small circles on her back. He breathed in her heavenly aura, accidentally speaking aloud. "Wow you smell good." He was glad that his voice had been low. Maybe she hadn't heard.

Indi did her best to suppress a gentle moan as he rubbed circles on her back. "I'm alright Kakashi." She said, giggling slightly as he echoed her thoughts. She looked up at the handsome ninja with a small, slightly bittersweet smile. "I'm glad you think so. You do too." She whispered.

Kakashi heard the faint moan that escaped her. "Thank you." He said as he continued to rub her back, his fingers trailing down to the small if it then back up again. "Does that feel good?" He asked, his voice deep and soft.

"Yes…" She breathed, her bones completely dissolving into a motionless mass. She bit her lip slightly as she remembered that she hadn't had a shower since just before she had been kidnapped. Had that really just been yesterday? But no wonder she felt like she was still defiled by her uncle's death. She pulled away slightly from the strong man holding her.

Kakashi's hands stopped moving and he gazed down into Indi's eyes. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

"No, no its not you." Indi said, appalled that he thought he had done something wrong. "I just haven't had a shower since before… I can't smell too great…"

Kakashi relaxed again. "Why do you say that? You smell wonderful." He said, his words soft and barely audible.

"Thank you. I'll stay here for now then, if you really don't mind…" Indi replied with a slight blush, her words just as soft as his had been, her arms tightening slightly around his back.

"Why would I?"

Indi giggled and snuggled closer. "I l-" she quickly stopped herself before completing that particular thought. Her blush deepened. If she hadn't stopped he might have gotten uncomfortable and left. Or worse, asked her to leave. He seemed like a man dedicated to his job and she wasn't sure what a ninja's home life was like. She didn't know the culture and didn't want to intrude on him any more than she already had. Not if he didn't want her to.

Kakashi glanced at her, looking confused, "You l- what?" She looks like she's still in school. This is a bad idea.

"N-nothing. Nothing at all." She said, hiding her face again from his perceptive eyes by tucking it against his chest. She wouldn't tell him what she had been about to say, it would go away with time. Right? It was probably normal for her to have strange feelings for her only source of comfort and warmth after a harrowing experience like she'd had. Right? Somehow she doubted it would fade but she pushed that thought aside. She was almost seventeen. Girls used to get married at fifteen and sometimes younger. No! I'm supposed to be convincing myself that I don't love him, not thinking about marriage. He probably wouldn't have me anyway. Suddenly a very unwelcome thought struck her. What if he already has a girlfriend? What will I do then? Her fingers tightened on Kakashi's back, betraying her.

Kakashi felt her anxiety and placed two fingers under her chin tilting her head up so he could see her face. "What's wrong Indi? Please tell me."

"Nothing's wrong." She lied, turning her head away from the painfully handsome man gazing at her. She pulled her arms away from him and rolled onto her other side so her back was to him, hiding her emotions as best she could. Indi closed her eyes and took a breath, holding it, cold now that she was out of Kakashi's warm embrace.

Kakashi didn't give up. Not yet. He moved over a little too, placing a hand on her arm. "Can you at least tell me the context?"

Indi blinked several times, trying to dislodge the speck of dust that must have gotten in her eyes. She wouldn't cry over something as little as him putting his hand on her arm. She was stronger than that. Wasn't she? She wasn't sure of herself anymore. He was the only person in the world that knew even a little about her, she couldn't afford to alienate him. "I'm scared." She whispered almost silently. "I don't know about anything here. I don't want to be a burden to anyone." She shivered, resisting the urge to take his hand off her shoulder and wrap it around her again. That would qualify as being a burden, not to mention weak.

"You're not a burden. Whoever told you that is a liar." He paused for a moment. "Indi, I- I really like you."

Indi's eyes closed, a lone tear slipping down her nose. "I really like you too." She said, wanting to say more but not daring to.

Silence reigned for a while, then Indi looked over at Kakashi. His eyes were closed and he hadn't moved for some time. Maybe he was asleep. She moved back over to him again, curling up half on top of him, her head resting on his chest. He stirred slightly and murmured something that didn't quite sound like words. He seemed to be asleep so she shifted the rest of the way onto him, moving into a more comfortable position. Her eyes closed and she relaxed into sleep.

After she was asleep Kakashi opened his eyes and looked down at the young woman. He wondered about her past and looked around the room as he sensed someone else there. He spotted Pakkun and his eyes narrowed. "What?" He breathed.

The dog stared at the strange sight for several more long moments before shaking his head.

"I don't want to know. Iruka's looking for you."

"Tell him I'm occupied but I'll find him as soon as I can." Kakashi hissed, doing his best not to wake the girl.

Pakkun muttered something and disappeared, giving Kakashi one last disapproving look.

* * *

Indi woke slowly, gradually becoming aware that she was on top of someone. She opened her eyes. Kakashi. He looked so angelic lying there. She was a little cold and she spotted a blanket draped over the headboard of the bed. She shifted so her knees were on either side of Kakashi's waist, just below his ribs and braced herself with one hand next to his head, having to stretch to reach the blanket. It was farther away than it had looked.

She shifted back, the blanket in hand noticing that Kakashi was very still. He was awake now and she blushed as she realized where she had been in relation to him. Or rather, where her chest had been.

"Sorry." She murmured, starting to settle back down again.

Kakashi stopped her and rolled her gently to one side. "I think that's the most… pleasant way I've been woken up in… a long time."

Indi blushed even deeper as she realized why he hadn't wanted her on top of him.

"Here why don't you put your back to me." Kakashi suggested as a good alternative. Indi nodded and did so. He took the blanket and spread it over her, tucking it carefully between them before wrapping his arms around her.

Indi's arms settled over the top of his and she relaxed again, warm now.

"Sorry." She repeated and Kakashi closed his eyes, humming softly.

"That's okay." He said before resuming his humming.

Indi narrowed her eyes slightly but knew that he probably didn't know what it did to her bones when he hummed like that. She didn't want him to stop. Ever.

Kakashi smirked and hummed and mysterious sounding tune that he'd heard a few years ago.

Indi's eyes closed and she rank in the sensations she was receiving through her bones as the clever man continued to hum. She could feel the song.

Kakashi paused momentarily, grinning at the mew of protest from the limp woman in his arms. "I need to go into town for a little bit. It alright if I leave you here?" he asked, whispering in her ear then resuming his tune just to see if she would be able to answer coherently.

"Kashi, I wan-" she stopped abruptly, twisting around. "You doing that on purpose, you evil man!" Indi accused as she rolled onto her stomach and away from him so that she could think and/or talk. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked at Kakashi with narrowed eyes.

Kakashi smirked, satisfied. He stopped humming and feigned innocence. "I'm not evil… Well, not completely."

She scowled at him. "You really were doing that on purpose! Yes, fine, go."

He chuckled and got up, pulling on his gloves, headband, vest, and shoes in record time and he was gone.

Indi's scowl faded as it dawned on her that he was gone. She was alone. She slowly got to her feet as well and set the blanket back on the bed. She would shower and then see if she couldn't find some food somewhere.

Indi sorted through Kakashi's clothes, feeling a little guilty for not really asking first before she found a clean pair of his pants and a shirt that he had maybe worn once so it carried a trace of his scent on it. She noticed the corner of something orange and book shaped sticking out of the mound of clothes and she pulled it out. Make out Paradise. She shrugged to herself. Any book was better than no book and it wasn't like she hadn't read romances before, though she wouldn't have pegged Kakashi as the sort of man that would read those.

She set the book on the bed to look at later and went into the bathroom, quickly locating the towels and soaps.

Indi was careful never to close her eyes for more than a moment or two, unsure of what she might see behind her closed lids.

When she was more relaxed and clean she turned the water off and got dressed in Kakashi's things, wrapping the towel around her hair.

With a sigh she went out into the kitchen and rummaged around in the cupboards, getting out another glass and finding a shelf of instant ramen in the small pantry. That would work. She heated up some water, made the soup, found a spoon and carried her meal back to the bedroom, curling up amid the pillows and rumpled blankets with her food and the book.

She opened the book and started to read, at first not really paying attention to the words, more just letting the text and weight of the book comfort her.

Two pages in she choked. Her eyes narrowed. Two pages was not proper set-up for a romance novel. She flipped through the book, stopping at random pages here and there but as far as she could tell it was all… smut. She supposed that it made more sense to find a book like this in his room than a real romance.

With a sigh she closed it and noted the author. She would remember that name in case she ever went to a bookstore here.

Note to Self: No books by 'Jiraiya'

She curled her lip with distaste and got up, putting the book back where she had found it and shaking her hand off for dramatic effect.

Indi went back over to the bed and burrowed under the covers. She stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes before an idea struck her. She got up again and found another shirt that smelled like Kakashi (he really needs to do laundry more often) and put a pillow inside it. She crawled back into bed and draped her arms loosely around the pillow. It might work. She closed her eyes. Nothing. A small smile passed over her face and she managed to doze off.

* * *

Kakashi came back several hours later, entering silently through the bedroom window. He was halfway to the bathroom for a shower before he registered that Indi was having a nightmare. He reluctantly went back to the bed. He had really hoped to shower before she woke up.

The woman's face was twisted in agony and she was trying to murder one of his pillows that had been put inside a tee shirt. Or maybe she was desperately clutching it in her fear and pain, needing something to cling to. He was almost sure he hadn't dressed up his pillows before he'd left which meant she'd really missed him.

Kakashi wasn't sure whether he should be glad she so obviously liked him or not. If this kept up she wouldn't be able to sleep when he went away on a mission.

He touched her shoulder and she woke with a muffled cry, her eyes wild, breathing raggedly. She recognized Kakashi and clasped his hand, slowly calming. He sat down on the edge of the bed and she put her arms around him, relaxing a bit more.

After a moment she stiffened again and pushed his away, eyeing him with revulsion. He let her go.

He'd been to Jiraiya's and, even if you didn't partake in anything, you came away reeking. Kakashi mentally cursed Iruka and the Hokage for making him speak with Jiraiya tonight of all times.

He sighed and got to his feet again, going into the bathroom to get the smells off his skin, but not before he noticed that Indi smelled even better and was wearing his clothes.

Please