On this particular night, the emptiness of his bed keeps him awake. After a week of spending time with his lover, Kakashi finally returns home, his work schedule falling back into place like normal.

But now he feels alone in this completely pitch black room. He can't see the ceiling above him, nor his hand in front of him --- which is how he likes his room before he sleeps. At times, he wonders how [Name] sleeps with the soft glow of a corner lamp in her room. It took him a while to accommodate to the pale amber lighting, but alas, alone in this dark room, he misses the warmth it gave him.

He yearns for another body next to him. Preferably [Name's] warm, delicate body that fit perfectly in his arms. He loves pressing his nose to her neck right after her nightly shower. He loves the way she hums herself to sleep every night and smiles before rising from her peaceful slumber. But as much as he loves her and her company, he can't force himself to move in with her.

He's moved in with past girlfriends before. So why not [Name]?

Well, lately Kakashi feels he's not worthy of [Name]. He questions the validity of their relationship thanks to the secret he keeps from her. Isn't any relationship based on trust and love? He certainly loves her, but, does he trust her? Does he trust that she won't leave him after revealing to her that another woman --- Konan more specifically --- took him without his knowledge? Will she believe and trust his story? Will she think he cheated and came up with this bogus story to cover his disloyalty?

Will she ever look at him the same way?

These are the questions that keep him awake this night. The words Pein told him that unfortunate day still haunts him.

"If [Name] found out that the second man she fell in love with had sex with Konan, she probably wouldn't want to touch you again."

He never thought those words would curse him with this dread. This indecision. He knows that being truthful will earn him some good boyfriend points, but is it worth potentially losing [Name]?

A sigh escapes him as midnight suddenly turns to three AM. Kakashi pondered this decision for far too long. He'll just have to deal with it in the morning.

...

The morning comes sooner than Kakashi anticipates. He rushes to work, almost forgetting to feed Pakkun on his way out. The next nine hours of work is a blur of paperwork, patients, and schedules. In those nine hours, his mind clears up from last night's problem.

Before he heads home, he visits a patient that's been stuck in this hospital for a month.

"Hey Obito," Kakashi says as he enters the room. Obito opens his good eye and smiles at his childhood friend.

"I haven't seen you in a while," Obito says as he adjusts himself in his bed.

Kakashi steps in and closes the door behind him. "How's your health?"

Obito groans and rolls his eye. "You of all people should know how I'm doing."

Kakashi chuckles. His peaceful mind wanders as silence swallows the room.

"So, did you come in here for small talk or what?" Obito asks impatiently. Before Kakashi came in, he was going to take a nap and wait for his medication to kick in.

Kakashi realizes he came in without reason. Perhaps his reason is that he seeks company. Without [Name] next to him, he does feel alone. [Name].

"I'm having trouble with my girlfriend and I need to make a potentially harmful decision," Kakashi states bluntly. Obito is possibly the only person besides Rin to clear his head from any doubts or confusion and pushes him in the right direction.

"Ah, right. Your phantom girlfriend I have yet to see," Obito jokes, only to see how serious Kakashi's gaze is. His smile turns into a serious frown as he sits straighter in his bed. "Oh, you're serious? Alright, let's hear it."

Kakashi reveals the story to Obito, leaving no detail out. Once done, he prepares for criticism. He prepares for Obito to tell him how much bull that story is and doesn't make eye contact with his friend, someone he trusts.

"Did... did you call the police?" Obito asks, his eye bulging in shock.

"No."

"Why not? This is serious!" Obito says, his brows furrow and he clenches the thin blankets beneath him. He can't believe something like this happened to Kakashi. "Is someone after you again? Fuck, if someone is, you'll have to move-"

"Thanks for your concern Obito but that's not the problem. I just want to know if I should tell this to [Name] or not. That woman, Konan, she stole [Name's] ex-husband and I'm worried if I tell this story to her, she'll think I've cheated on her with the same woman and think I came up with this convoluted story." Kakashi begins to spiral in his abyss of worries. Before Kakashi can fall too deep in this pit, Obito stops him.

"Okay, okay. I get it," he says. "And, I think you should just tell her. Whether she believes you or not is up to her and how she feels about you so far. There's not much you can change about that."

"Tell her, you need to talk to her."

So here Kakashi stands. At the [Name's] front door. He hasn't knocked yet, for the anxiety is gnawing at his mind and telling him to turn back. If he did turn back, he'd be a coward.

He does three knocks in rapid succession. His heart pounds upon seeing [Name] answer the door, a curious look on her face.

"Kakashi? What are you doing here?" She asks. "Don't you have-"

Kakashi cuts her off with a kiss, his thin mask the only barrier between their lips. The kiss is quick, it conveys urgency. He needs to do this quickly before he chickens out. He loves her too much to keep this secret away from her.

"I need to talk to you. It's something serious."

"What happened?" [Name] asks as she pulls him in.

"I don't think you'll like to hear this but," he takes a breath before continuing. "Something awful happened to me a few weeks ago."

His eyes are downcast as he spills the story that's been a burden to him since it happened. He reveals all the gritty details to her, even exposing the secrecy he swore with Pein. With all that's laid out before them, Kakashi finally finishes his story.

A silence rings in his ears and he looks up to the woman he trusts and loves with all his heart. There's an anger in her eyes that burns with the ferocity of a thousand suns. He's seen her angry before, but never this angry.

With the cautiousness of a lamb, he places his hand on top of hers. He notices her skin is hot to the touch as he rubs his thumb over her palm.

"Will this affect us?" His voice is barely a whisper. He didn't want to ask that question but he has to know for sure if this will ruin what they have together.

[Name] closes her eyes and she looks away from him. His hand is comforting for right now, but it cannot console the rage in her. She pulls her hand away from his and into her lap. The sigh from her lips speaks a thousand words and projects the devastation she feels at this moment.

"Kakashi..."

...

A/N: Back on my bullshit. How'd you like this one? Like I've said before, writing for step-dad is like swimming through molasses. Slow, painful, and at some point, I'll give up and succumb to the goo.

Love Ya. Bye Bye.