Recovery: Chapter 5

Summary: He became heartbroken and wallowed in his pasts, letting himself go. But on the return of a certain unpredictable Kunoichi, everybody believes that she will be the one to save him. Will she help? How can one girl bring about the aloof man and save him from himself? Just when she wanted was some peace in her life. Good-Sasuke. Akatsuki not really going to be used. Just pure Drama and Romance.

XXXX

Naruto was slaving over the stovetop as Pakkun watched her from the counter. They had stopped discussing about the Royal Marriage once Naruto threatened to skin him and serve him to Kakashi for dinner. Pakkun thought she was kidding at first kill she tossed a kunai at his head and nicked a piece of his Hitai-ate. Pakkun looked outside. The sun had set almost an hour ago and Kakashi's curfew was due in a few seconds. Pakkun suggest 40 seconds at least and could tell by the way Naruto was hacking at the vegetables that she was worried for his summoner. "He'll make it, Naruto. Trust him."

Naruto sighed heavily and placed her knife down. "I do, Pakkun. I really do trust Kakashi not to trip up now. There will always be a part of me that will worry constantly about Kakashi no matter what. Especially after what I did to him last night."

Pakkun hummed in acknowledgement. Naruto had reluctantly told him what she placed Kakashi through last night, but he wasn't mad at her. Respected her actually for going so far as placing a genjutsu over the 'copy-nin' to test his will. She wasn't going in toe-deep, but head first into the torrent water that was Kakashi Hatake. Pakkun could easily tell that Naruto cared for Kakashi deeply, but was too stubborn to do anything.

Naruto and Pakkun stiffened when the front door handle twisted. Naruto wasted no time to rush over to the door and ripped the door open. Startling the Copy-Nin on the other side. Naruto sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're okay. I was worried, Dattebayo." Shocking Kakashi further as she pulled him into a tight embrace and held him tightly. "Damn, when I gave you a curfew, I didn't expect you to come right on the dot."

Kakashi released a guilty chuckled and patted her head as his other arm returned the embrace.

"Ah that would be my fault, Naruto." Asuma voiced from behind Kakashi as he poked a head over the copy-nin's shoulder and down at Naruto in his arms. "Yo, Naruto. Sorry for keeping Kakashi for so long. It had been a while since we last had a dude's night. If you must know, Kakashi was at my place the entire time, Gai came over with Genma and Raido and we all ate pizza and cola. No alcohol was served."

Naruto looked up from Kakashi's chest to Asuma and laughed. "I know Kakashi wouldn't drink. I was just worried that he'd return home three hours late. I trust Kakashi not to drink." Naruto released Kakashi and rushed back over to the stove before the food ruined.

Asuma whistled low and smacked Kakashi's back. "You've got a good woman on your hands, Kakashi. You take good care of her too, you hear."

Kakashi looked back at Asuma with a raised brow. "I don't know what you're talking about, Asuma and you didn't need to escort me back home. I know perfectly well where I live."

Asuma just smirked. He had noticed Katsumi stalking them as he 'escorted' Kakashi home, but Asuma could tell Kakashi wasn't up to par if he couldn't sense a civilian like Katsumi stalking them. "Hey, you can't leave a single woman at home alone and you have a curfew. I was just making sure you didn't get lost on the road of life." Asuma bellowed out in laughter at Kakashi's annoyance. Naruto was doing him good since he was more open like how he was before he dated Katsumi.

Kakashi shoved Asuma out the door and slammed the door shut on the bearded Jounin's face. It felt good.

"Did something happen?" Naruto took a peak from the kitchen as she was finishing up dinner.

Kakashi shook his head. "Just thanking Asuma for walking me home." heading over to Naruto when she held up her hand to stop him in his tracks. Kakashi paused mid-stepped and wondered what he didn't wrong.

Naruto smiled and shook her head. "Go clean up. Are you hungry?"

"Very. Pizza is not very fulfilling or delicious to eat constantly." Kakashi replied before he continued his way over to Naruto.

Naruto looked up at Kakashi once he was before her. She smiled and asked another question. "How was your day with the boys? Oh, I almost forgot too. Welcome home, Kakashi."

Kakashi felt his stomach churn as his mouth eased into a happy smile. "I'm home, Naruto." he patted her head and ignored Pakkun that sat on the table watching them intently. "I'll go clean up first and tell you all about my day." Heading over to his room first for clean clothes before heading to the bathroom. Ignoring that Pakkun had followed him into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Pakkun leapt up onto the closed toilet lid and faced Kakashi. "What was that all about, Kakashi?"

Kakashi pulled his shirt off and replied. "What was what?"

Pakkun snorted. "Don't play with me, Kakashi. How long have we known each other? Since we were both pups. What was that with Naruto? You never hug. Let alone return a hug before. What was that all about, Kakashi and don't screw me over. I'm not in the best of moods." Pakkun not caring that Kakashi was in the nude and watched him shower.

Kakashi sighed as the water hit his skin. "It was nothing, Pakkun. I worried Naruto and it's the least I can do for her." He heard Pakkun snort and turned to face the dog with an annoyed look. "What is it now?"

"Stop detouring and tell me straight like a man. Do you still care for Katsumi, Kakashi?" Pakkun almost demanded with his lazy and laidback voice.

Kakashi dropped the soap at the sudden question and went silent for a while. "We are not talking about this here or ever. Is this clear, Pakkun?!"

Pakkun didn't reply but nodded. "Tell Naruto I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow for training." Dismissing him-self before he got Kakashi even more hyped up. It was a low blow, but it was all a part of Pakkun's master plan. He needed Kakashi to start thinking, especially since the Royal Proposal had arrived yesterday and left little time. Pakkun was going to make sure his pack did well in his Master Plan too.

Kakashi sighed heavily as he dried himself and got changed into a pair of sweats and tank. Placing the towel around his shoulders and walked out of the bathroom and into the dining room where he sniffed the air behind his masked nose and hummed in content. The cooking smelt divine and delicious.

Naruto chuckled as she placed the side dishes on table and faced Kakashi. "I didn't know you purred, Kakashi." raising a teasing bow.

Kakashi moved towards Naruto and replied. "I do not purr, Naruto. I hum."

"Uhuh." Naruto looked unconvinced as Kakashi stopped before her. Naruto reached up to his damp hair and gave a tousle before finding his crown and rubbed gently.

Kakashi's spine shivered before he nuzzled closer to the hand and purred heavily. His eye snapped open and lightly-glared at the chortling blonde. "That's not far, Naruto. You're treating me like my pack."

"That's because you're easy to feed, clean and clothe like your pack." She teased him more before guiding him over to his chair. "Don't forget, we have training tomorrow with your pack, but before I go into detail about your training, tell me how your day went." Focusing her gaze on her plate as they ate and gave Kakashi his privacy.

Kakashi relished in Naruto's food and decided her cooking was his favourite. "Well after Asuma and I have some time to talk, he brought several, unnecessary, boxes of pizza and several bottles of cola. Gai turned up around the same time the pizza did with Genma and Raido with him. It was an odd male get together. We talked about the news around Konoha, our childhood days and the few crazy missions we've been on. It was a nice evening being able to be with the guys at ease and just talk and catch up. Everything was…refreshing."

Naruto had a smile on her face. His summary was brief and short, but he was talking. "It's good to hear you had a good day. Perhaps you should start doing this once a week to be around guys and not constantly being hounded by me." To her surprise, Kakashi hand slide his hand in hers and squeezed her hand.

"I don't mind spending all this time with you, Naruto. It gives me a sense of clarity." He finished his meal recently when his eye spotted Naruto's radio and stood up. Releasing her hand and placed his mask in place. Moving over to the radio and found a station that played soft and relaxing music.

Naruto took that as her cue to look up at Kakashi safely. He was looking at her with a hand held out to her. "You can dance?"

"I can do many things that you're not aware of Naruto. I'd rather surprise you like this than list them beforehand. Would you do me the honour of dancing with me, Naruto?" Kakashi asked and bowed slightly.

Naruto shook her head yet she slid out of her seat and walked over to Kakashi. Ignoring the clone he created to clear their dishes as she slipped her hand into his.

Kakashi lightly tugged Naruto to his frame and placed a hand at the base of her back and sway side to side as her hand landed on his shoulder. "How was your day today? Hopefully no pushy suitors while I was gone." He joked, but he couldn't restraint the slight edge in his voice. His reason…unknown.

Naruto released a small breathe as Kakashi took the lead. "It's troublesome. Being stalked isn't flattering at all neither is being watched constantly. Sometimes I just want to lie in bed all day and pretend they're not around. I feel drained whenever they're around." Naruto moved closer to Kakashi and rested her head on his chest and allowed herself to relax after a soothing exhale.

Kakashi hummed lightly with the music as he swayed gently with Naruto. "It may not happen now or right away, but I'm sure one day you won't be burden with those suitors of your, Naruto. One day, you'll find that caring husband that makes you feel safe in their arms and he will protect you from the world. I'm sure of it, Naruto."

Naruto's eyes were out of Kakashi's sights, so he never noticed them soften. 'If only you knew I felt safe in only your arms, but we can never be. Not after Katsumi. You're still not over her, Kakashi and that hurts my heart. I can only help and protect you the only way I know I can and that is as a friend.' Naruto mused sadly. She wasn't a fool. Naruto noticed the feelings she tried hiding all those years ago resurface and fester in her soul and heart. Kakashi could never know how she felt. Naruto didn't want to ruin the trust and friendship they were steadily building on the weak pillar. But Naruto was dead serious on keeping Kakashi away from a partner like Katsumi. Even if it meant the ultimate heartbreak of him hating her. Naruto whispered to Kakashi as the music stopped. "You're a good friend, Kakashi. I'm grateful I have you in my life right now." Pulling away from his hold and headed over to her room. "Good night."

Kakashi watched as Naruto closed her bedroom door as his body grew cold at not having her in his embrace. Kakashi was ecstatic that Naruto called him a friend, but at the same time there was disappointment welding within him. "Good night, friend." He whispered to nobody in particular and switched off the radio. His clone had dispersed a long time ago and it was just him within the living area. Kakashi turned off the lights and headed towards his room and slipped under the covers of his bed. Staring at the ceiling as everybody's words floated around in his head.

The words of Asuma.

The words of Pakkun.

The words of Naruto.

Kakashi didn't know how long he thought over everything till he was in a deep slumber.

2am

"AARRGGHH!"

Naruto bolted upright from her bed and went flying across her room as a fearful scream ripped into her ears. Flinging the door open and ran into Kakashi's room. Training her eyes and spotted Kakashi struggling with his blanket and bed sheets. "Shit. He's hyperventilating." Naruto cursed and quickly made work of the tangled sheets and blanket and tossed them across the room. Kakashi was still struggling and having trouble breathing as he was having a vicious nightmare. This was bad. Kakashi could harm himself.

Without hesitation, Naruto sent a quick prayer to Kami before dashing to pin Kakashi to the bed. He was physically stronger than her, despite his recovery and Naruto had to find a way to restrain him quickly. Naruto cursed when Kakashi lashed out at her violently and summoned chakra strings on her fingertips and tied Kakashi to his bed as she pressed her own chakra into his chest to circulate her calming chakra around his system. There was sweat building on her forehead as she tried her best to concentrate on converting her chakra to mix with Kakashi's without side-affects and kept the hard work up for a solid five minutes before Kakashi began to calm down.

Naruto sighed in relief and released him from the chakra strings and collapsed beside him. He was still whimpering which made Naruto frown. "You're so damn lucky I like you, Kakashi." Naruto muttered and grabbed the discarded blanket to pull over the two of them as she pulled Kakashi into her embrace and ran her fingers in his hair. Calming him down instantly as he began to sleep peacefully. Naruto sighed in relief as her exhaustion was catching up with her. "So damn lucky." Naruto didn't go to sleep thought. She wanted to make sure Kakashi was perfectly fine after handling him and hummed a light tune just like last night. Singing them both into a blissful and dreamless sleep.

Naruto never noticed Jiraiya or Tsunade watching across the street.

Jiraiya was frowning. "She's such a good kid. Perhaps too good for Kakashi."

"We cannot determine that, Jiraiya." Tsunade sighed lightly. "With the Royal Proposal, the suitors and Katsumi's planning, it will be a hard road ahead of those two, but these obstacles will also bring them together. Admit it already, Jiraiya. Those two practically belong together and it's time we stopped trying to find faults on those two not getting together. Naruto is able to support Kakashi physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Kakashi is able to pull Naruto completely out of her shell and be the wondrous woman she is. Time is moving Jiraiya and you have to admit that Naruto is growing up. One day, she'll get married and would want you to walk her down the aisle. She would want us to be the grandparents to her offspring and help lead her into being a better person for herself, Kakashi and this village."

Jiraiya was still frowning as he folded his arms. "They surly grow fast that it's almost unbearable. When, not if, but when those two overcome those hardships and end up together, I expect Kakashi to come to me for permission to be with Naruto. As Naruto's guardian, I won't be easy on Kakashi. No matter how much I like that brat."

"Before Naruto leaves for the lake cabin with Kakashi, I believe it's time for us to tell her about her parents. She deserves to know after everything she is doing and Kakashi wouldn't have to hold back around her anymore." Tsunade wasn't asking for Jiraiya's permission, but was rather telling him what she was planning with or without him.

Jiraiya just continued to frown. Naruto was growing up and it scared him a bit. He wondered if this would've been what Sarutobi-sensei or Minato felt about Naruto if they were alive and in his position. "Three chances. That's all that kid has before I send him six feet under."

Morning:

Kakashi woke up to something warm in his arms. Opening his eye slowly and found him-self wrapped around a slender woman's waist. Looking up and found the sleeping face of his helper as she was holding onto him tightly in a soothing embrace. Kakashi flushed in embarrassment and wondered what happened during the night that caused Naruto to sleep with him…in her embrace…again.

"Stop staring. It's creepy."

Kakashi stiffened as Naruto's blue orbs fluttered open to reality. He saw the tiredness in her eyes along with the thankfulness that he was okay. Guilt flood Kakashi's system at Naruto's current condition. What the hell happened last night?