"So... why exactly were you so eager to have me stay at your house?" Kawai asked me. We were walking to my place. She had just gotten out of the hospital.

I shrugged. "Better than staying at Naruto's. His place is a mess."

She laughed. "I don't doubt it. He seems all over the place."

"That's Naruto," I sighed.

"Do you know what we're doing tomorrow for training?" Kawai asked.

I shook my head. "Kakashi likes to keep us guessing. He says he needs to keep us 'on our toes'."

"Great," she said sarcastically. "Hopefully it's nothing too boring."

"Hm. If there's one thing Kakashi isn't, it's boring."

A few minutes later we arrived at my house. It's nothing too fancy. One bedroom, a small kitchen, and a tiny living room with nothing in it.

I set Kawai up with some blankets and a pillow in the living room. When I was done, she looked up at me.

"You're not gonna try anything, are you?" she smirked.

"Really? Is that who you see me as?" I asked.

She laughed. "I guess not."

I walked towards my bedroom. "Goodnight, then."

"Goodnight."

My eyes flew open. I was in bed, and judging by the moonlight, it was the middle of the night. What had woken me?

Then I heard it. Someone was crying. It sounded like it was coming from the living room. But who was in there? Then I remembered. Kawai.

I slipped out of bed and tiptoed down the hall. I peered around the corner. It was definitely Kawai crying. She seemed to be having another nightmare. I decided to wake her up.

I walked over to where she was sleeping. Tear trails ran down her face, and she was trembling slightly.

"No," she whispered. "No!"

I gently shook her. "Kawai, wake up," I said. Her eyes blinked open. She sat up so fast her forehead hit my chin. "Ow," I muttered.

Kawai looked around. "Where... Oh."

"That was a pretty bad nightmare," I said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she answered quietly. "I'm sorry for waking you."

I got up to go back to bed. "Are you gonna be all right?" I asked.

"No." Kawai rolled onto her side.

"What if I slept in heretonight?" I ventured. "Would that make it better?"

She looked at me and nodded.

"Okay. I'll bring my stuff in."

So I got some blankets and slept on the floor next to her. I felt so weird. And not because I was sleeping next to a girl. I hadn't reached out like that in... a long time. It felt kind of good.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please suggest your favorite character in a review for my next Naruto Fanfic!