Chiisai had spent the better part of her morning attempting to put on airs- that she was alright, and there was no need to worry, and she definitely had the energy to go against the great Kakashi Hatake.

But now, being home, and having Farm Boy beside her, she finally realized just how complicated this was, and how injured she was. She hadn't even made the walk back to her apartment in one go, she had to stop a block from the hospital. Her legs had been shaky, and Kakashi had scooped her up like a child and brought her home through her balcony window.

She hadn't had the energy to fight him.

And now that she was home, she realized her apartment didn't look right- everything was neatly tucked away, and Kakashi Hatake was here, and her head felt empty and numb.

But questioning reality wasn't something she could afford to do, no matter how crazy this situation seemed.

She wanted to shower, to wash off the smell of sickness and disinfectants and the dried mud on her legs. But she also wanted to collapse in bed and sleep for a day. But then there was also the fact that her seal was breaking, which also meant she was scared to sleep.

Kakashi walked back into the room, he placed a steaming mug of coffee down in front of her. The cushion sank under his weight, and her body tilted to him.

Chiisai glanced to the window. The rain had stopped, and gray clouds covered the sky.

Tori strolled in and hopped on the couch between them. Chiisai scratched between his ears. She reached for her coffee and took a sip. The cup felt impossibly heavy in her hand, and she struggled to keep it level.

Kakashi watched her for a moment. After she set the cup down, he said, "You're book shelf is impressive."

She dropped her legs, and her toes didn't touch the floor. She wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and replied, "Thanks."

An awkward silence stretched between them. Finally, she said, "Well, you know where my journals are." She shakily stood and added, "Feel free to eat whatever you find in the fridge."

Before he could respond, pain split across the back of her head. Images blurred behind her eyes, of a sunny Konoha afternoon, and she struggled for breath.

Her stomach turned, and her eyes widened as she struggled to stand. But she was too late, and she found herself bent over and dry-heaving all over the rug. Hot pain seared her throat and she coughed, hurling again.

Kakashi crouched beside her and pulled her hair back.

She coughed, and groaned, and struggled to right herself. "I am...so sorry," she said as stars crossed her vision.

His tone was light as he said, "Up you go." He gently grabbed hold of her and gathered her in his arms. "Let's get you to bed."

Her arms and legs wriggled against his grip, but nausea set in once more, and she stopped. She didn't want to be near him, to have to rely on help she didn't want. Especially since the only reason he was here was to get information.

Her mind was in a thick fog, and her vision blurred, but she still managed to say, "Stop helping me."

Kakashi replied, "I'm your medical aid. It's sort of my job." He stepped into her room with Tori at his heels. "Fighting me will only make things worse, you know."

He sat her down, and she asked, "You're...not gonna kill me or something?"

It had crossed her mind more than once today.

His voice was lighthearted as he replied, "No, I don't plan on killing you. Yet."

Her eyes widened, but Kakashi smiled and waved his hand. "Joking, joking," he said. He opened his eye and added, "The contract I signed with the hospital was real."

"You're bad a jokes," she said simply. She blinked down at her hospital clothes and then glanced at her dresser, saying, "Um...Can you get me a glass of water? I need to change."

"Right." He left, shutting the door behind him, and Chiisai breathed a sigh of relief.

Chiisai started to pull off her pants, but realized that it was far too difficult. Which meant showering was definitely beyond the scope of possibility.

So she slowly crawled deeper into the bed and closed her eyes. Just for a moment, she'd rest.

This time, the buzz of images came alive like a movie behind her closed eyes.

It was Konoha, and Chiisai suddenly blinked as sunlight burst from a drifting cloud. The air was hot and humid, and Chiisai touched the back of her head. There was no pain or blood or stitches. Just dry skin under thick dark hair.

"Look at this!"

A young boy stood before her, and his spiky brown hair protruded from the goggles around his forehead. His blue scarf was so long it looked like he could trip over it at any minute.

Naruto, she recognized, stood beside him and grinned. "Hey Konohamaru, nice transformation clone!" He scratched his chin and added, "But she needs to be taller for the sexy jutsu to work! And less clothes!"

Chiisai flattened her eyebrows, huffed, and slapped him on the back of the head. Naruto had left the village, she knew.

Shock struck through her body, and she froze at the realization that she was in a dream.

Her seal really was weakening, there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Chiisai stepped away as Konohamaru yelled at Naruto. Instinct took over. A kunai manifested in her hands, and she aimed it towards herself. The weapon suddenly appearing meant she was lucid dreaming, which only confirmed her theory.

Chiisai stared down at her trembling hand.

She could do this.

"Hey, whatcha doing?" The kid asked. "That's dangerous you know!"

Naruto grabbed on to her shoulder. Below her, the ground shook as a voice spoke in the clear air. "Wake up, you slacker!"

Chiisai stumbled forward. Her eyes widened as the Hokage Monument collapsed to ash. It came like a wave as the dream disintegrated, and Chiisai continued to stare down at the kunai. Why couldn't she get her hand to move? A decade ago, she'd already be awake.

The dream collapsed, and Chiisai lost purchase as the child awoke to reality. The ground beneath her crumbled, and Chiisai fell into another dream.

This time, it was a woman's, and it was dark and smelled of smoke. The buildings around her were in flame, and the woman was stuck under a heap of rubble.

Chiisai ran her hands through her hair and took a cautious breath. She needed to get out of here. She extended her hand, relying on muscle memory. Usually, she could walk through dreams as if they were open doors. But no portal opened for her. She couldn't step back into the dream dimension, and she was left choking on smoke, watching the woman in front of her die.

Her feet stumbled through broken wooden beams and shattered glass, toward the woman. Burned bodies glowed in the fire raging around her, and she gagged on the smell. Was this what awaited her?

She could absorb the dream. Inhale all of its pain, and suffering, and take it away from the user. But she didn't want to feel that, to take on the burden. This was a nightmare Chiisai wanted no part of.

She had to do it. The kunai appeared once more, and she pressed it into the side of her abdomen. She stood frozen, unable to continue. Her heart beat quickly in her chest, and she swallowed the lump rising in her throat.

"This is a dream," she whispered to herself. "I should be in my room, with a concussion. I will wake up from this." A tear splashed onto the dark metal, and she watched as it slid along the kunai's blade. Against the flames, the tear turned bright orange. She watched as it slid to the tip and fell.

Then Chiisai squeezed her eyes shut and plunged the weapon into herself.