A/N: ... OK, what happened to FF's layout? It kind of bugs me. .

Erhem, anyway, for this chapter I have, again, a recommendation for a song to play on the background in order to create the right atmosphere for this chapter. Be warned, however, as the atmosphere in this chapter is kind of dark, so if you don't like somewhat creepy music, don't play it. Lol.

The recommendation for this chapter is a soundtrack from the movie Watership Down called "Fiver's Vision". If you've seen the movie, you'll probably know the degree of disturbingness in that song. It is, however, perfect for the first half of this chapter.

So look it up on YouTube: "Fiver's Vision". It should be the first video you come across.

Enjoy!

Where am I? What happened?

Kaede opened her eyes, but only found darkness around her. Finding some strength to sit up, her eyes never rested, desperately looking for something to see in this empty space.

She stood up – but what was she standing on? There was nothing below her feet.

She wandered around, hoping to find… anything. She didn't want to be alone in this darkness.

She walked, and walked, until finally…

She didn't know what that distant sound she heard was, but she ran towards it. She saw light in the distance. She ran towards it.

"Hey! Help! Where am I?"

Suddenly, something stopped her. A strong tug at both her arms. Kaede tried to see what it was, but the distant light could not reveal who or what was restraining her. She struggled, trying to get free.

"Let me go! Help!"

After a short moment, she was free, only to bump into what appeared to be a wall. She stepped back and found…

Her reflection.

It was a mirror. She could see herself in the faint light, looking scared and insecure.

"Who am I?" she heard her own voice echo, but she didn't recall speaking.

She reached out her hand, touching her reflection's fingertips. The smooth surface of the mirror was cold. The fingertips of her reflection were cold. The fingertips, the hand… The eyes.

Cold eyes were staring at Kaede, looking so much different from her own. It couldn't be her reflection. It couldn't be her.

"You're not me!" she yelled at the mirror. Her reflection was shouting the same thing simultaneously at Kaede. Kaede averted her eyes – and was distracted by what was running down the mirror. A dark liquid, creeping slowly down the surface, masking parts of Kaede's reflection. Then she saw what it was.

Blood…

Her reflection was staring at her, not at all affected by the blood running over her.

A sudden feeling of panic took over Kaede.

"What is this place?" she yelled. Her voice echoed loudly, the repeating of her own words making her dizzy. "How do I get out of here?"

Her reflection no longer mimicked her movements.

"I only did it to protect you," she heard her own voice echo again. But it wasn't her who said it. It was her reflection. "If you die, so will I. I want to live."

Kaede's heart skipped a beat.

Is this…?

"You… You killed them," she spoke softly. "Iwao and… All those other men… You killed them!"

Kaede's reflection stepped out of the mirror as if nothing were there. Half of her body covered with blood, she embraced Kaede. Kaede found herself frozen with fear. Why did she have to face this horrific sight? Was this really her other self?

"I oppressed the memories of my crimes so that you could live on peacefully," she said over her shoulder. "But you're so weak, so naïve. You kept falling for men's tricks, being taken advantage of again and again. I exist to clean up the mess you get yourself into. And I hate you for it."

Kaede pushed her other self away. Now she was covered with the same blood that stained the face of her reflection.

"If it weren't for me, you would've been long dead by now!" continued her other self. "Or you would've gone insane, even more messed up than you already are!"

"I never chose to be like this!" shot Kaede back, gathering all her courage. "I never chose to be a murderer, like you!"

Her other self glared at her with eyes wide-open.

"I was only four!" continued Kaede. "I'd rather have been killed than become what I am today!"

"What have you become, then?" asked her murderous side. "I am the one who killed them, you never committed a crime in your life! The only thing that's wrong with you now, is—"

"That you live inside me," finished Kaede. "And that's why I've become so messed up!"

"You used to blame Hatake Kakashi for being who you are right now!"

"It was not his fault! It wasn't! It's you! If you weren't here, I would've been able to lead a normal life!"

"If I weren't here, you'd be dead!"

"Rather dead than having you as a part of my own being!"

For a second, Kaede thought she had crossed the line and her alter ego was going to attack her. She certainly looked like it. But she wasn't attacking. Instead, she turned around, her bloody half out of Kaede's sight.

"You're right," she said calmly. "I've always been too obsessed with killing and destroying. Because that's what I was created for. But 'killing is not the answer'. That's what Hatake Kakashi told me. And he was right: killing is wrong. I know that much." She looked at Kaede from the corner of her eye. "He's come after you. That means that even if I hadn't come out, he would've saved you instead. And a life would've probably been spared. But I was clouded with my lust to kill, and almost harmed the only two people who can protect you in my stead."

"You never protected me," replied Kaede. "The way things have become now, I'll probably get locked up, or even killed by the hand of law. What if I get sentenced to death? Will you kill the Hokage and the shinobi of my hometown? Even you won't be able to pull it off, anyway."

"How can you accept your fate so easily?"

"Because it's just what I – no, what you, too, deserve."

"You're giving up then? After all these years of struggling?"

"I have to face the consequences of what happened. After all, it was my fault that you were created inside my mind. That's something I'll always regret."

Kaede's alter ego turned her head to look straight at her, apparently shocked by her words.

"I am here," she said. "I'm existing. And as long as you're alive, I will always be a part of you."

"Then I'll lock you somewhere in my mind where you'll never come out again," said Kaede. "You'll never harm anyone, ever again."

"And how will you do that?"

"With the help of the ones I love. Naruto and Kakashi will help me. I won't let you take control over me anymore!"

The two stared at each other for a long time until the distant light finally got brighter and brighter, until it was almost blinding. Kaede squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel something warm on her face, but didn't know what it was. A shallow, hot wind touched her cheek lightly.

And then she realized…

I've been dreaming.

She was in a strange bed in a very bright room. Blinking against the light, she slowly managed to open her eyes. A blurry figure was hovering above her.

… Above her? On a bed?

Kaede reacted instinctively, reaching out for a way out of the bed.

"No… NO!" she screamed, struggling bewilderedly against the sheets that were constricting her.

"Kaede! Kaede, it's me! It's ok!"

She knew that voice. It made her stop moving and look up. She was relieved to see the onyx black eye, gazing at her with something that always seemed to soothe her. The ever-messy silver hair was almost hiding his closed eye.

Despite her relief, she felt a blush creep up her cheeks.

"You startled me," she said softly. "What are you… doing?"

"You were frowning in your sleep," replied Kakashi. "And you seemed uneasy. So I was trying to calm you down."

Oh, right… I must be in the hospital again.

Kaede then noticed that her lips were tingling. She touched them with her fingertips.

"Did you… kiss me? In my sleep?" she asked carefully.

Kakashi nodded slowly.

Adrenaline kicked in as realization struck her, making her sit upright in the bed. Kakashi drew back, looking at her in surprise.

"You bastard!" snapped Kaede. "Taking advantage of the situation like that…! Pervert!"

"Ok, calm down," sighed Kakashi. She could hear amusement in his voice. He gently slid his fingers over her shoulders, making Kaede shiver with a strange sensation somehow, and pushed her back onto her pillow. Kaede lied back down obediently. Kakashi's hands rested on her shoulders just a little longer before he slowly – it seemed almost reluctantly – withdrew them. The places where he touched her were tingling and cold now.

"At least you finally woke up," said Kakashi softly while sitting down on the chair that was standing next to the bed. "I was afraid you wouldn't come out of it very well."

"What do you mean?" asked Kaede. "Have I been sleeping for that long?"

"A week," replied Kakashi.

"A… A week?" repeated Kaede.

"Yeah," answered Kakashi. "You got us pretty much worried," he added with a forced smile. He smiled for only an instant before he gave her a serious look. "How are you feeling?"

The memory of the dream Kaede just had, flashed before her eyes. She sighed.

"I'm glad I'm awake now," she whispered, rubbing her temples.

"… That nightmare?" asked Kakashi understandingly.

Kaede nodded.

"Wanna talk about it?" asked Kakashi.

"Do I have a choice?" asked Kaede. She felt a smile tug at her mouth. She looked at Kakashi. "If I said 'no', I'd have you worried, wouldn't I?"

Kakashi smiled back at her.

"Where's Naruto?" asked Kaede in an attempt to stall time.

"Sleeping nextdoor," replied Kakashi. "99% of the past days he's been here to watch over you, the other 1% I've managed to get him to get some sleep." He paused. "He told me to wake him up as soon as you were awake."

"Shouldn't you be waking him up now, then?" asked Kaede, a short, quiet giggle escaping her.

"Yeah, I should," said Kakashi simply, but he didn't make a move. "But I'll let him be for a little longer. He's finally really asleep. I doubt I'm even able to wake him up. Anyway, tell me about the nightmare. What was it about?"

Kaede sighed again and looked up towards the ceiling.

"It wasn't just a dream," she started. "Well, it started as one. But then I…" She closed her eyes, deciding to get straight to the point. She opened her eyes and said: "I met the… other me."

Saying it out felt as a relief, but the long silence that followed had her worried. She looked at Kakashi, searching for a reaction. Kakashi was frowning, his gaze now digging into hers, searching, asking.

"I-I'm ok," said Kaede with a forced chuckle. "Really. I am. Of course, I was really scared… I was scared out of my mind. But… I'm glad I faced that side of me. Now I want it to disappear."

"Kaede…"

"I'll do anything it takes," said Kaede, feeling a strong determination whelming up inside her entire body. "And if I can't make it disappear, I'll lock it away where it can never come out again. And if that won't work…" She paused as she felt like something was stinging in her chest. "… then I'll be prepared to die."

A/N: No, Kaede is not suicidal. You'll see what happens next in the next chapter (duh...). :) I know, I'm mean and I'm really really sorry for that! D: