A/N: Hi everybody! Before we move on, I want to clarify something. People asked about Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu, and why he didn't use it to muscle Kakashi's couch up the stairs. Honestly, I never thought about it, but when I did, it physically couldn't happen. 2 jonin a couch and a hyperactive genin are all that would FIT in the stairway. Multiple Shadow Clones would not have been able to help - there would have been no room. But now that some of you have mentioned it, I may have to put them to use later on in another story. Time to get going. I hope you like this opening paragraph. I had a picture in my head and I tried to describe it the best I could. Try and see it in your head too - you'll like it all the more that way. Oh, and we're going to learn a little bit of Japanese culture in this chapter too. This will be the "educational" chapter then. Ready? Let's get going then. Enjoy!

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Morning came early to a certain shinobi couple involved in what could best be described as a naked ninja pretzel. When the alarm clock went off, Anko tried to slap at it, but found that what she thought was her free arm, was in fact not. She was actually laying face down on top of Kakashi's outstretched left arm, and his left hand was actually holding her right arm. His right leg was thrown over her left leg and his right ankle was actually UNDER her right shin. His "everything else" was pressed against and around her left side.

She struggled for a minute, but when Kakashi didn't move, she said, "Kakashi. Wake up. I can't move. You've got me in some sort of "love lock" or something.

He inhaled sharply and then started to release her, rolling onto his back. He said, "'Love lock.' Now I like that."

Anko slapped the alarm clock and said, "We've got to get moving. You've got your appointment in about an hour and a half."

Kakashi stretched, "Are you coming with me?"

"Did Tsunade say I couldn't?"

"Nope. Never mentioned anything."

"Well then I'm coming."

"Good. You sure I couldn't tempt you to be late?" He patted the bed next to him and bounced his eyebrows at her.

"Get out of bed Hatake or I'll drag your ass out of it."

"I love it when you talk tough."

Anko turned to him and said, "But do you know what I'll drag you out of that bed by?"

Kakashi remembered how she'd grabbed his "boys" yesterday to get what she wanted. She hadn't hurt him in any way, but he couldn't imagine being dragged around by his favorite body part. He protectively covered his crotch and said, "I'll get up, I'll get up!"

"That's a good boy. I'll start the breakfast."

After Kakashi got out of bed, he showered and changed quickly. Anko had already cooked and eaten some breakfast for herself and she left his on the table for him. She then occupied the shower and dressed. She thought as she was dressing, we didn't even plan this schedule this morning and it worked out just right. Living together isn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Anko went into the kitchen and said, "So, are you ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." They both left their apartment and began the journey to Korekimi's office where Kakashi would be evaluated and either granted the title of "OK" or "NOT OK."

As they walked through the streets, more people noticed that Kakashi was home. He got waves from men, women, children, and everyone in between. He whispered to Anko, "When will this stop?"

"You just got home a day ago, everyone's glad you're back. You're pretty important around here you know."

"It's freaking me out though."

She took his hand and said, "You're pretty important to me too. Don't worry, they'll forget about your before you know it."

He sure hoped so. He leaned over to her and said quietly, "Just imagine what they'd be like if they knew we were engaged."

Anko quickly elbowed him and yell/whispered, "QUIET! It's our secret, don't mention it in public!"

"Oh yeah. I just can't help it that I'm proud of my fiancé."

"I swear to God, if you don't quit it, you can go to your appointment without me!"

Kakashi smiled. He loved teasing her, but just a little bit. He didn't really want to piss her off. He just loved getting a reaction out of her. He said, "Alright, I'm done playing. Let's get this over with." The two shinobi walked into Korekimi's office where they were greeted by the same desk girl that had been there when Kakashi had his first appointment.

"Good morning. How can I help you today?"

Kakashi said, "I have an appointment with Korekimi at 8:30 SHARP!"

The girl looked at the clock on the wall and said, "You're a little early, she should be ready for you in a few minutes. I'll let her know you're here."

"Thanks."

The girl left the office and went to find Korekimi.

Anko said, "She seems helpful."

"Yeah, seems nice enough." They both sat down in chairs in the lobby and waited for the girl to return.

A few minutes later, the desk girl returned, "Korekimi will be right with you. You're Hatake Kakashi right?"

Kakashi said, "That's right."

"And you are?" the girl asked as she looked at Anko.

"Mitarashi Anko. I don't have an appointment. I'm just here for moral support."

The girl said, "Sure, no problem. I'm not sure if Korekimi will want you to go back with Kakashi; but you're welcome to stay here if you like."

Anko looked at Kakashi and nodded, "Ok, if that's the case. I'll wait here."

"She should be right out. I've given her your file. She's reviewing it now."

Kakashi said, "Ok." And they waited another ten minutes before Korekimi came out to the lobby.

She looked almost exactly as Kakashi remembered her except for she had a different business suit on. She walked into the reception area and said, "Kakashi. Welcome back. It's good to see you again."

Kakashi and Anko stood up and approached her. Kakashi said, "It's good to see you too. This is Mitarashi Anko, my fi," Anko turned quickly and glared at him, "my girlfriend."

Anko stepped forward and extended her hand to Korekimi. She said, "Thank you for helping Kakashi. He seems to be much better now."

Korekimi said, "It's nice to meet you Anko. I'm going to take Kakashi in the back now and go over things with him. This should take a while, you're welcome to wait, but I need to work with him one on one to make sure he's where he needs to be if he wants to be an active productive shinobi of this village again."

Anko said, "I'll wait for him then. Tsunade didn't give me any assignments today, so I'll wait around if you don't mind."

Kakashi smiled at Anko. He was glad she was staying – she was there for him. Korekimi noticed Kakashi's demeanor and said, "That's fine. We'll try and get everything done as soon as we can. Kakashi? Let's get started."

Kakashi said, "Alright. I'm ready."

Korekimi led Kakashi back into the offices that he was familiar with from the last time he met with her. As soon as he entered the office, he was tempted to flop down in the comfortable chair he'd occupied the last time he was there, but instead, sat on one side of a couch. Korekimi sat down next to him on the other side. She began quickly, "Kakashi. When did you get back from your sabbatical?"

"Two nights ago."

"So you were gone that long. Your Hokage was very excited to have you back. That's why she wanted to get you in to see me as soon as she could. I'm glad you're back too. I'd like you to tell me what happened on your sabbatical, and what, if anything changed while you were out there."

"Ok, you may want to take some notes. This is going to take a while." Kakashi then told Korekimi everything that happened to him while he was on his sabbatical. From the time that he left, cut his hair, and traveled mask less to create his tributes to his fallen loved ones, and forgive them for leaving him alone. He told her of the symbolic things that had happened as each one was forgiven, and how each time that they happened, he felt lighter. All except Rin. Nothing symbolic happened when he finished her tribute, but Kakashi just attributed that to the fact that since he really didn't know what happened to her, the quiet that followed was the symbolic gesture itself.

He even told Korekimi about the times when he stopped at inns and how he'd talked Pakkun into delivering messages to Anko. Then he went into detail about how he finally figured out that the only way he was going to gain control over himself again was to fix himself FOR himself, not for anyone else. When that realization came to him, he was confident enough to believe in himself again.

Korekimi asked him, "Any nightmares or anything since you came to that realization?"

"None. But there's a little more I need to tell you." He then told her about how he raced home to Anko, going straight to her apartment. How it was late at night, and how when she opened the door, she was in a fit of rage. He then told her that when he saw Anko he knew that one of the best ways not to lose her was to pull her closer to him. So he proposed, and she'd passed out.

Korekimi stifled a small laugh. "Oh that poor woman. She was probably in sensory overload. Going from anger to elation in a brief moment. But please continue. What did she say?"

Kakashi said, "Before I tell you the rest, I have to be sure that you will not repeat this to anyone."

"Kakashi, Dr.-Patient privilege cannot be broken. Your information is safe with me. The only person I can discuss your personal private situation with is you. Please, continue."

"After Anko came to, and we had time to talk, she actually asked me to move in with her. Which I did that very minute. Finished moving my stuff over today."

"That sounds like a step toward permanence. Stability in your life. You've made excellent progress."

"Thanks. Also, she did eventually accept my proposal, but she wants to keep our engagement a secret until she is ready to be married."

"She's not ready to be married, but she's accepted your proposal?"

"Yeah. We're technically engaged, but we're not letting anyone know." Kakashi paused for a moment. Korekimi noticed.

She asked, "Have you had a yui-no?"

"I just got back, so we haven't planned one. Plus, neither one of us has any family, so I don't think we will. And on top of that, we'd need a go-between and nobody knows."

"Have you asked her if she'd like to have one?"

Kakashi hadn't thought of that. Hmmmm . . . maybe the whole marriage idea wouldn't be so bad if we did that.

Korekimi continued, "I think it's a good show of permanence if you have one, but that's just a suggestion. She may not want one, and that's her choice. But if you want my advice, just offer and let her decide what she wants to do."

"Yeah, that's probably best. You don't know Anko. If she wants a secret kept, I'll keep it."

Korekimi looked at Kakashi and said, "Does she scare you at times?"

"Absolutely."

Korekimi laughed again. "But you love her."

"With all my heart."

"You two sound perfect for each other. I wish you luck."

"Thanks."

"We're just about done here. Let's finish up and I'll write up some notes and send the results over to Tsunade later today. Off the record Kakashi, you've made amazing progress. I'm amazed at what you've accomplished in the short amount of time you have. You did well."

Kakashi smiled to himself. He remembered all the hard work he'd done, how much he'd suffered. Everything he did, and it was all worth it.

Anko waited in the lobby area for over two hours. She tried to busy herself with magazines, and then she got lost a bit in her own thoughts. He's fine. I know he's fine. I knew as soon as he came home that he was fine. I just hope Korekimi thinks he is and she doesn't send him out on some unfinished sabbatical thing he may have to do yet. I just got him back. I don't want him to leave again so soon.

Shortly, Kakashi and Korekimi were back. Korekimi said, "You're free to go. I'll forward a copy of my results to Tsunade today. It was nice meeting you Anko."

"Nice to meet you too."

Kakashi stopped and said, "Thank you for everything. The suggestions you gave me really helped in the past, and I think I have one more that I may use yet."

Korekimi smiled and said, "You do that. Let me know what happens." Kakashi nodded, and finally turned and walked to Anko.

"Let's get going," he said. Anko smiled at him and they walked out the door.

Korekimi went back to her private office and began to compile some notes about Kakashi's progress. She wrote extensively in his file about the trials he'd put himself through. She wrote that he was progressing positively in turning his life around and was actually living with, and engaged to the woman he loved. She even wrote there how he was keeping their engagement a secret at Anko's request until she was ready to marry him. Then she wrote up her diagnosis. She pressed the intercom button on her phone and said, "Shinju, can you come back here for a moment?"

The desk girl replied, "Right away Korekimi." She got up from her desk and went to Korekimi's office. She said, "Did you need something?"

"Yes. I've finished my diagnosis on Kakashi. Please copy it, put it in an envelope and have a courier deliver it to the Hokage tower immediately."

Shinju said, "Will you need the file any more?"

"No, you can file it when you're finished copying the diagnosis."

"I'll take care of it then," and Shinju left Korekimi's office and proceeded to copy Kakashi's information. She put it in an envelope and contacted a courier to have it delivered to Tsunade.

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A/N: Ok, now I know you're going to ask, "What the hell is a yui-no?" It is a traditional Japanese engagement party where both the prospective bride and groom's families meet each other and have dinner together. Also, the families give the future married couple very traditional gifts that are given sincerely and are very symbolic. So there you have it! You learned something new today!

Next up: Back at work, Kakashi chooses from his backlog of missions which one he'll take care of first. And then, at the end of the chapter, this story puts on it's right turn signal. See you soon!