Chapter Note: FluffFluffFluffFluffCuddlesFluffFluffFluffAngstFluff

*Engawa: Essentially the "wrap around porch" surrounding most older Japanese homes. Usually just extended flooring made of wood or bamboo.

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The next morning, the sun was shining softly through the window and Avurin buried herself in Kakashi's chest, soft snores coming from the man clinging to her. She was comfortable and she was happy. She let herself close her eyes and just relaxed in his hold, listening to him breathe while his heart beat under her ear.

This wasn't a dream, was it? She'd been surprised at his willingness to help her and was still surprised. She wasn't ignorant. She knew she was letting him get too close, too fast. She needed to establish herself and see her friends again. She couldn't be attached to Kakashi every second of every day, she needed to be self-sustaining and live the life that was gifted to her. She appreciated Kakashi and knew she had feelings developing for him too, but she couldn't just come to the village and be swept off of her feet so fast. She was used to being alone and she could feel herself becoming uneasy with the sudden closeness. Yet, she was drawn to him and she couldn't imagine giving away this warmth. A deep sigh from the man under her head distracted her from her thoughts.

"Good morning," Kakashi whispered, the pitch of his voice was so low that it was almost a rumble next to her ear. Grumbling, he pulled her closer, obviously still tired from the mission that he had just come back from and he was enjoying being in his own bed.

"Good morning," she whispered back, despite knowing he was likely asleep again with how slow his breathing had dropped and the light snore she could hear coming from him. She tried to lift the arm he had over her to try to slip out of bed so she could get moving for the day. The offending arm just tightened more and a low growl came from Kakashi in his sleep. She sighed. This couldn't continue. While she did appreciate his protective nature, both in battle and in front of the Hokage just the day before, she still felt like she shouldn't be worth warranting this reaction when she was just trying to escape his embrace. They barely knew each other and had shared a futon to ward off the nightmares from the mission they had been on, yet Kakashi was acting like she was his to protect from the rising sun.

Trying again, being slightly more forceful with her push, she found herself rolled onto her back in a quick jolt, Kakashi on all fours above her, both eyes open and the tomoe of his Sharingan eye were lazily spinning. She was almost entranced by the eye, however the current position they were in quickly brought her attention back to reality. A blush threatened to rise to her cheeks.

"Where are you going?" Kakashi asked, a dangerous glint in his eye. His breathing hitched as she adjusted herself. She crossed her arms to put a barrier between them as she tried her best to glare.

"Well, I believe we had plans today and I don't intend on being in bed all day." Kakashi hummed at her response and sat back on his heels, still watching her with the Sharingan.

"Mah, I just wanted a little extra rest and didn't intend to keep you in bed as well. I apologize for keeping you." His voice sounded polite and to-the-point but Avurin noticed a slight slump in his shoulders. Was he that bothered by her trying to get out of the bed? She huffed as he moved back to his side of the bed and flopped back down on the bed, pressing his face into his pillow and keeping his hands to himself. She swung her legs over the side and walked out of the room with only a glance back at Kakashi.

In the kitchen, she started preparing tea while she was checking the cabinets and fridge for food to make for breakfast. She was successful in finding eggs, seasonings, and rice, however the rest of the kitchen was rather sparse. Setting the rice to cook in a rice cooker she found in the cabinet, she poured herself a cup of tea. Taking a deep breath, she took a moment to bask in the peacefulness of the morning despite Kakashi's strange behavior. She enjoyed the comfort of being held at night, but when she needed to get up in the morning, she needed to be able to leave the bed without activating the man's wolf-brain.

She set her cup down and started making fried eggs that were only lightly cooked so the yolks would be completely runny after cooking. She was making a comfort food that she loved to eat as a child when her parents were on missions. The rice cooker went off and she prepared a bowl of rice, seasoning it with the few seasonings she could find in Kakashi's kitchen and adding two of the fried eggs she had made right on top. Pouring some soy sauce on top, she brought the bowl to the table along with her tea. She looked at the hallway and raised an eyebrow as footsteps padded down the hallway, revealing a yawning Kakashi as he walked into the kitchen. He was keeping his Sharingan eye closed now and she was starting to have her suspicions about that eye. She knew when he used it, it took away large amounts of chakra. Yet, she didn't know the specifics of his casual use around her.

"Help yourself. Rice is in the cooker, there are two eggs on the plate next to it that I just finished cooking, and tea in the pot on the stove." Avurin told him as she picked up her chopsticks. Kakashi just hummed and scooped the rice into his own bowl along with seasonings and the eggs. Pouring a cup of tea for himself, he joined her at the table. She finally popped the eggs sitting on the top of the rice and gave it a thorough mix until the rice and egg mixture was fluffy. Kakashi opted to just cut into the eggs before eating the pieces and moving on to the rice.

After she finished, she sat back in her chair with her cup of tea in her hands, completely content and happy with her meal choice for the morning. Kakashi still hadn't said much and she felt like something was bothering him despite his casual demeanor.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, finally breaking the silence. Kakashi avoided her eyes.

"I'm fine," he said simply. She huffed and set her cup on the table, glaring at him.

"Bullshit. What's wrong?" she demanded. He almost visibly flinched and she forced herself to soften her gaze. She was just worried.

"Ah, really it's nothing. Just not quite feeling like myself today. I find myself lost without Icha Icha Paradise in my hand these days." He waved her off and she saw through his blatant attempt at humor as a distraction.

"Look, if you're worried about this morning, don't. I get it. It's instinct. We do still need to address it, but I'm not upset with you. I do think we both need to start learning to sleep on our own again for a little while so I'm eager to visit your family home and determine how we're going to do this. I also need to decide if I want an apartment instead. I need to get back on my feet in the village first before exploring… this." She gestured between the two of them and watched him closely for any hints that would betray his feelings on the subjects brought up. He simply shrugged, almost robotically.

"I understand. Thank you. I'm still sorry, but thank you. We can go to the Hatake estate anytime so whenever you're ready, we can visit. I do think you'll choose to live there, however. There's something I want to show you there that I think you'll like. As usual, I respect your decisions either way." His voice was devoid of much emotion, speaking as if he was discussing mission details with the Hokage. Her eyes narrowed but he didn't give in. It was the best she was going to get. With a sigh, she took her bowl and cup to the sink. She was just about to start washing them when she felt herself being gently nudged out of the way.

"I'll take care of the dishes. You cooked. Go get ready." Kakashi told her with a small smile as he started washing the dishes. She nodded and went back to his bedroom. She changed into her usual gear quickly, pulling on her arm sleeves and finishing the outfit by tying her Konoha headband around her upper left arm. She decided to follow her normal routine in strapping her katana to her waist and slinging her bow over one shoulder. While it may not be normal for a Konoha shinobi to flaunt their weapons on the streets, she felt safer this way.

She met Kakashi in the living room who was somehow already fully dressed and ready to go. He tended to do things quickly without anyone noticing and she was curious as to when he did these things. The Genin had been grumbling about his eating habits when he didn't want anyone to see behind his mask so it had to just be a strange habit.

His mood was significantly improved and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as he locked the apartment door behind them. He hadn't even said anything, he didn't need to. It was almost like she could feel the air around Kakashi change with his attitude at this point. Had they been around each other that much over the last few weeks?

"So, the Hatake Compound is close to the outskirts of the village. I don't live there due to family history that I'm sure you can figure out on your own. I pay a team of cleaners to visit every month to keep the place clean so everything will be clean for you if you choose to move in. There is plenty of property for training, however try to avoid changing the landscape of the place. The compound has been in my family since the founding of Konoha with the other Founding Clans. At the end of the day, the decision will be yours. However, there is something I want to show you before you decide." As Kakashi spoke, she realized what a big deal it was that he was just casually offering the home to her for as long as she needed it. She knew about the White Fang's death and she knew it likely occurred in the very home they were about to visit. Kakashi had even implied that the event was the reason that he didn't visit. Would moving in at the compound force him to stay away from her? She didn't want him to actively avoid her when she was there just because of the home.

They arrived at the gates which were sealed shut. Kakashi simply hopped on top of the fence and she could see through the gaps in the fence that he had tampered with a seal on the other side before calling her to do the same. Hopping the fence, he pointed to the seals around the interior of the fence every few feet from each other.

"These are wards to protect the home from intruders. They're old but they're very strong. There are some pretty invaluable clan belongings still in the home. I'm going to add your chakra to the wards so you can come and go as you please. Can you prick your thumb for me?" he asked. She did it without asking questions through sheer force of will. She had a lot of questions, however she wasn't the one giving the tour. One of those questions was why he was giving someone he'd only known for a few weeks complete access to this home when he'd made it obvious it meant so much to his family and even contained heirlooms and antiques inside. She kept her mouth shut. He took her hand and pressed her thumb against one of the seals.

"There. You can come and go as you please now. If anyone crosses these wards that aren't registered with the wards, both myself and you will feel it. No one enters the property without us knowing." She nodded along with his words. She felt safe with that information. At least the place was secure. They walked towards the main house of the compound and she couldn't help but admire the extensive land on the property, she couldn't even see where the fences ended. They walked through the front door and they were greeted with a fully furnished home that almost looked lived in with bookshelves full of books, blankets neatly folded and laid on the ends of the couches, and tables that had small worn spots that had obviously been used for years.

"This is the main house. I don't visit it often and we won't tour the rooms inside but if you ever want to come here, you can." Kakashi stated with a quiet tone, his hands shoved deep in his pockets as he stared at a particularly bare corner of the room. She could tell he was reminiscing. This must have been the home he'd grown up in. She didn't move from the spot she was at as she observed the home.

"So, what is it that you wanted to show me when we got here?" she asked, trying to distract him. His body fell into the familiar casual slouch she was used to as he sighed.

"Ah, well, this compound has more than one house on it. There's a particular home I thought you might like when I proposed my family compound as a potential living option for you. If you follow me, I'll show it to you and you can decide if you would like to use it for the time being." He directed her towards the sliding door in the back of the home and she walked out onto the engawa wrapping around the home.

The main home extended in a U-shape surrounding a small, well-kept courtyard. They followed the stairs into the courtyard and he led her out of the back of the courtyard to reveal a few small cabins a short distance away from the main home.

"I think you'll like this one in particular," he told her as he led her to the small cabin furthest away from the main home. They climbed the stairs to the engawa wrapping around the small cabin and he opened the front door, directing her to where she should take her shoes off as they stepped into the home.

It was a more classic home than her own little cabin, but she could easily tell why Kakashi thought she might like it. The living room and kitchen were only separated by a waist-high counter coming from the wall, making the main portion of the home feel very open. The windows in the living room were large, letting natural light fill the room which complimented the neutral light gray and white colors of the home. A light green mat was spread across the ground, adding a pop of color in the living room where a couch, bookshelf, and a low coffee table were positioned to face the windows and sliding doors leading to the area behind the house. A kitchen table made of dark stained wood sat in an open portion of the kitchen with room to seat four people.

"Yes," she felt herself saying after only a moment of consideration.

"You haven't seen the rest of the house yet." Kakashi teased with a soft laugh. She turned to look at him and smiled.

"I don't need to. This one is perfect. It reminds me of home." Her eyes burned with unshed tears but promised herself that she wouldn't cry over this. The kindness that Kakashi was giving her was more than enough to owe him a thousand favors, but she couldn't let this kind of opportunity slip through her fingers when the little home brought such a great feeling of belonging and comfort just from seeing it for a few seconds.

"I'm glad. I had a feeling you would like it. I don't think it was ever really used, it was built just after the clan started to dwindle and may have housed a visitor or two, but the family never expanded enough to use it. You can make it your home unless you decide to move elsewhere at a later date. I don't usually visit the compound and it's out of the way so you shouldn't have any unwanted visitors dropping in. It'll be good to have someone here to use the home and property instead of continuing to let it sit empty…" he trailed off. She turned back to the room in front of her and crossed her arms.

"I'll be happy here, Kakashi. I'm still shocked by your kindness but I appreciate it more than you know. I hope my being here brings you around the compound more often. After being on my own for so long, I'm excited to rebuild my life here in Konoha and I'm glad you convinced my stubborn ass that this was an option for me. Thank you." She took his hand and pulled him towards her. Wrapping her arms around his midsection, she gave him the most comforting hug she could muster, hoping to draw him from whatever thoughts were bothering him in that moment. His arms slowly wrapped around her and pulled her close. She could feel him rest his chin on her shoulder, taking a deep breath before relaxing.

"I'm glad you chose this. I'll come visit anytime you want me here." His voice was low next to her ear and she felt herself gently pulling away from the hug. She wanted to stay in his arms but she also knew that she wanted to establish a boundary on touching each other in such intimate ways until she was stable. She had a feeling that Kakashi's genetics wouldn't allow him to do things like this halfway if he got too close. Attachment was already difficult for humans without enhanced instincts and he'd not only emphasized those instincts when he'd told her about them, he'd reinforced the emphasis on them when he protected his pups in a life or death battle. She was making a lot of assumptions, but she hoped those assumptions would help Kakashi keep his patience in the matter of their relationship until she could make a decision on what she wanted from this without the emotions of being back in Konoha clouding her judgment.

"Let's go get lunch. I'm starving!" She told him, hoping her distraction wasn't obvious. His slightly narrowed eyes told her it was but he nodded.

"Let me guess, cold soba noodles again?" he teased. She laughed and shook her head.

"There's plenty of things to try in Konoha. I think we should try something else today. What do you think? Is there a place you prefer to go to?" she asked. He contemplated the question for a moment.

"I do like a particular barbecue place that sells meats and vegetables you can cook at your table." She nodded enthusiastically. It sounded perfect for the day they were having.

"That sounds great! Let's get going!" She ran back to the front door and put on her sandals as Kakashi followed casually, almost laughing to himself.

"You remind me of a certain headstrong Genin I happen to have on my team when it comes to food," he commented as she practically dragged him out of the house and started a brisk pace to the gate of the compound. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Hey, just because I like food from great places doesn't mean I'm driven by my stomach like your cute little student." Kakashi just laughed at her as they hopped over the fence and he led her towards the direction of the restaurant.

"Really? I couldn't tell." His casual teasing had Avurin grinning as they walked back into the bustling streets of Konoha.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they found that it was surprisingly not busy and were seated quickly. She didn't protest as Kakashi sat next to her instead of across from her, seemingly boxing her into the booth they were seated at. She had a feeling it was to protect her from prying eyes considering she was still a new addition to the village. Kakashi ordered for them both as she sat patiently, sipping at a cup of tea that had been placed at the table when they sat down. The peace was short-lived, however.

"My rival! How surprising to find you at such a place that serves large portions of food! I must challenge you to a contest to see who can eat the most at such an establishment!" A loud voice cut through the quiet restaurant. In a flash, Kakashi was physically blocking Avurin from the intruder. A low growl had escaped from him but he didn't seem any more tense than anyone else who had just been surprised from a sudden yell. SHe didn't bother to peek over his shoulder to know who was on the other side of him. She knew that voice.

"Gai, I'm afraid I'm preoccupied today. I can't take you up on any challenges." Kakashi told him, visibly relaxing. Avurin couldn't help herself, tempted with the idea that one of her childhood best friends was right next to her as she carefully looked over Kakashi's shoulder.

"Ah! I see! Our famous bachelor has a lady friend with him! Kakashi! You must reveal the amazing woman that has you embracing the true spirit of the Springtime of Youth!" Gai exclaimed loudly, not lowering his voice at all. Avurin tapped Kakashi on the shoulder and he turned back to look at her. She just nodded, telling him it was okay. He sighed and moved out of her way, getting up to stand next to the booth. Avurin lowered her eyes.

"Gai… I can explain."