"Should I be...concerned?" The woman asked. She looked at his state of dress and then to Chiisai. He forgot he wasn't wearing a mask. "Chiisai doesn't usually invite people over."

How the hell was he supposed to explain himself? "There's nothing to worry about ma'am." He said. "This is strictly business."

"Uh-huh." A smile played on her lips as she took in the sight of his face. "Well, your "business" seems to have worn the poor girl out." She retreated back into her apartment, giving him a knowing look. "Tell Chiisai I said hello."

She closed to door, and Kakashi sighed. He stepped into Chiisai's apartment and shut the door behind him with his foot.

Had Chiisai been pulled into someone's dream, or was it the concussion?

Too many unknown variables shifted across his mind. Kakashi set her down on the couch and pulled his shirt and mask on. He needed to let Lady Tsunade know now.

Kakashi drew out a scroll from his vest. He bit into his thumb and summoned Pakkun, who appeared in a puff of smoke.

"Oh, hey Kakashi. Whatcha need?" Pakkun scratched the back of his ear.

Kakashi zipped his vest up. "I need to report something to Lady Tsunade personally, and I need you to watch someone."

"Babysitting duty. Alright." The ninken's gaze flickered to Chiisai. "What should I do if she wakes up?"

"Keep her calm, and don't let her out of your sight." Kakashi strapped his pouch along his waist and thigh. A couple of Chiisai's journals were still in it. Good, he'd need it.

A chirrup sound came from the entryway as Tori trotted in. His gaze fell on Pakkun, and he hissed, arching his back.

"I see she's a cat person," Pakkun noted. Tori sat down, fur bristled, as he glared at the dog.

"I'll be back in a few hours. If something happens, use a hound clone to get me." Kakashi slipped his shoes on and grabbed his headband.

"Did you spend the night at her house?" Pakkun asked in a curious tone. He looked around, sniffed, and added, "I'd never thought you'd go for a cat lover."

He shook his head. "Don't assume too much, Pakkun. I'm her health aide. She's sick."

"Well, it smells of pheromones in here," he replied. "On both sides."

Kakashi stopped and turned to Pakkun. His gaze flickered to Chiisai's sleeping form, to her toned muscles and soft curves. He muttered, "That makes it worse."

Pakkun shrugged and hopped on to the arm of the couch. "What's worse- taking care of someone you're attracted to, or knowing that she's attracted to you too?" He tilted his head to the side. "I'd say that's a good thing."

"It's only good if both parties want it. And currently, neither of us do." Though he wasn't sure how true that was, given Chiisai's earlier assumption. Either way, though, he knew they both didn't need any more complications to their current situation. There were enough problems as it was.

He shook his head and went to the door. "I'll be back soon."

"Sure thing, boss." Pakkun said. "Do you think she likes dogs too?"

"I'm sure you'll find out soon," he replied.

Kakashi sighed and opened the door. He'd been sighing a lot lately, it seemed.

He needed to get it together and speak to Lady Tsunade. There was no time to wait anymore.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Chiisai sat in the dream world and stared up at the sky. Orbs flickered like stars on a giant tree, containing dreams of those who hadn't awakened yet. Most of them were people home from the night shift, she assumed. Some, she noted, had been snoozers, and their orbs had flickered in and out in a matter of moments. She was starting to recognize them as they appeared.

She had managed to step out of the dream that pulled her under, but then her abilities had flickered out, and there was nowhere left to go.

She couldn't bring herself to manifest a kunai. She had tried five minutes ago, and her hand had started shaking at the thought.

Chiisai  rose onto the balls of her feet and pushed off the ground. Flying was fun, at least. Lucid dreaming did have some perks. Chiisai glanced at the floating orbs. They grew bigger the closer she got to them, and she was able to make out the images. Some were completely random and brief, switching from a toilet, to an animal face, to typing on a keyboard.

She needed to find a dream that was about to end. Maybe she could hitch a ride and wake up back in her body. That had worked before.

There- she could tell it was a dozer, someone who had fallen asleep by accident- the orb was flimsier than the rest. Chiisai shot towards it and placed her hand on it. The barrier melted under her touch. She easily stepped into it and fell into a dark forest. There was the sound of kunai's clashing, and a green glow drew her attention.

It was a medic nin with blonde hair. The woman was yelling at the person she was healing, and she looked up at Chiisai.

"What are you doing?" Lady Tsunade yelled. "We need help here!"

The dream version of the Hokage didn't even notice how Chiisai was dressed. Was the leader of the village really snoozing right now?

There was an explosion, and they both ducked. And then another explosion. The ground shook, and Chiisai readied herself as the dream fractured like glass.

Finally.

When Chiisai opened her eyes, she was sitting in a familiar room, though the furniture had changed. Not her apartment, with it's shelves of books, but a large room, empty except for the desk, two chairs, and stacks of scrolls and paperwork. And Shizune was towering over her with a pig in her arms.

A kunoichi skilled in medical jutsu, Shizune was known for her deadly fog in battle that poisoned her enemies. An easy way to get to her was insulting her deceased brother, Dan, or Lady Tsunade. Not to mention that she was an animal lover, so hurting any furry thing would put her in a blind rage.

Her most notable dreams were of her brother and of fighting in the Third War. Other dreams included chasing lost animals and failing her exams.

"Stop dozing, Lady Tsunade! Did you drink too much again?" She yelled.

Chiisai rubbed her face and sat up. She frowned and glanced down. Not good. Her nails were painted red, and these sizeable breasts certainly didn't belong to her.

She hadn't woken up in her own body, but in the freaking Hokage's.

Shizune cleared her throat. "Kakashi's here to see you. He says it's urgent."

Her gaze darted to the closed door. And there was Kakashi, fully dressed, holding her journals in his hand.

"I see," She said. Her gaze shifted to Shizune. What the hell was she supposed to do? Gods, this body felt uncomfortable. Her arms and legs were longer than what Chiisai was used to, and the heaviness of the woman's breasts had her resting her elbows on the desk to support their weight.

Once, in the dream world, years ago, she had asked Inoichi Yamanaka for help with a mind-transfer technique. He said adjusting to a new body could be difficult, at times, especially if it was the opposite sex, or someone with a large age gap. He had never mentioned breasts, though.

"Lady Hokage," Kakashi said. He stepped forward and held up the books. "I'm afraid we may have a problem."

"Yes, yes we do. Shizune," Chiisai said, "please sit down." There was no way of getting around this, and gods, Chiisai was tired. Too tired to keep the facade.

"What?" Shizune blinked in surprise, and Kakashi looked equally perplexed.

"Sit." She gestured to the chair across the desk. "You're going to need it."

Kakashi frowned. "Lady Tsunade?"

Shizune sat down, and the pig in her arms shifted.

Chiisai clasped her hands together, or rather, Lady Tsuande's, and said, "This isn't the Hokage, it's Chiisai. I may have woken up in the wrong body."

"Kakashi," Shizune said, "What's going on?" Her expression looked as if she was in the wrong room.

Chiisai understood the feeling.

"Chiisai," Kakashi's voice was hard, "get out of her. Now." He stalked forward with a look of anger.

"You think I wouldn't already if I knew how?" She fought to keep her voice level. "I'm in the freaking Hokage's body!"

"Kakashi!" Shizune yelled. "What is going on?"

He sighed and tossed the journals to her. "This weekend I discovered a woman who could step into people's dreams." He glared her way and added, "She was sealed years ago, but the seal is breaking, and she's not in control of her powers." He gestured to the Hokage and said, "Shizune, meet Chiisai. She stepped in Lady Tsunade's dreams and apparently woke up in her body."

"What the hell." Shizune flipped through the journal and looked up at Chiisai. "Is this really happening? Where's Lady Tsunade?"

"Yes," Kakashi said slowly, "that's a question we all would like to hear the answer to."

They both turned to her. She rolled her eyes and replied, "She's fine, she's just sleeping. Think of it as a Yamanaka technique, just long distance."

"Will my Sharingan push you out of her?" Kakashi tugged up his headband and opened his eye. "I don't detect you at all in there. It's unsettling."

"How did you find her?" Shizune asked. "We would have discovered her if there were any records left by Lord Third."

"He didn't keep any records of me," she said. "He thought I would fall into the wrong hands if word got out. And as for him finding me, it was pure dumb luck."

Kakashi nodded and added, "I saved her from a random attack a couple of days ago, and in her delirious state she had mentioned something about her seal. I did some investigating."

There was a knock on the door, and they all tensed. Shizune stood and walked to the door. Kakashi tugged his headband down and glanced at Chiisai.

Lord Danzo stepped in, and a chill ran down her spine as he assessed her. "Good morning, Lady Tsunade. Did you forget about our meeting?"

His expression was impossible to decipher, and his tone just the same. Chiisai fought her rising heartbeat and clenched her fingers under the desk.

"Of course not, Lord Danzo," Chiisai replied evenly. She met his gaze and added, "I'll be with you shortly, after I wrap up this brief discussion."

"Brief and loud," Danzo said. "I thought I heard Shizune yelling from outside the door." He nodded and looked at Kakashi. "And I thought you had the week off, Kakashi. Hokage's orders, despite the council's protest." He made a note of looking at Chiisai, as if she had done something wrong.

Sweat beaded her neck, and she swallowed. Had he heard everything? Had her secret been already let loose inside the Hokage's building? Or had he only heard Shizune?

Kakashi smiled and said, "I do. I'm just not one for vacations, you know."

"But he sorely needs it," Chiisai growled, feigning Lady Tsunade's temper.

"I see," Danzo said. His gaze shifted to Chiisai, and then to Shizune, to the journals in her hand. "I'll be waiting, Lady Hokage."

The door shut, and Chiisai breathed a side of relief.

"This is not good," Kakashi said.

Shizune added, "Kakashi, get her out of there."

Kakashi yanked his headband back up and opened his eye. "I hope this works," he said. "Now hold still. We're going to have a talk when I get back."

Chiisai nodded. "Tell her I'm sorry, alright?"

Before he could reply, they made eye contact, and then there was darkness. It was a simple genjutsu, one that was supposed to put the victim to sleep, which was perfect. Chiisai struggled to pull herself from Lady Tsunade's mind, and it was like peeling cling wrap off of itself. But when it was done, she stepped back, took a deep breath, and held up her hand.

That had been close to a disaster. She could pretend to be the Hokage, for, oh, maybe five minutes, but without being in control of the rest of her abilities, it was useless. She would have been found out in a moment's notice.

Nothing happened, and Chiisai cursed under her breath. She held up her hand and squeezed her eyes shut, praying for a miracle.

A portal appeared, and Chiisai stepped through it and back into her body. It was like sinking into a warm embrace, and Chiisai found herself back in her body, but unable to wake up.

Sleep Paralysis- a state of being conscious but unable to move. She hadn't experienced it in years, and she hated the feeling of pressure on her chest, the sense of being trapped without a way to get help. It could last seconds, or minutes, all the while being trapped in her own mind like a dark prison.

She thought back to everything that had happened this morning- of Kakashi, her seal, and Lady Tsunade. The fuinjutsu placed on her mind was top of the notch, and Lord Hiruzen had said it would take decades to break. So why hadn't even lasted ten years? If only she could remember her sealing.

But then suddenly, her body snapped back in place, and her eyes were open, and the pressure on her chest was Tori, who meowed in her face.

Chiisai frowned and sat up. Relief flooded her at the familiar book shelves and walls of her living room. Light flooded in through the two large windows, and she blinked, adjusting to the light. Gods, her body hurt. Her head and her chest and her wrists- between the stinging pains, the dull ache, and the throbbing in her brain, it was a struggle to stand.

There was a small brown dog sitting on her armchair, and he looked familiar.

"I'm Pakkun," he said. "Kakashi told me to watch you."

"You're his ninken," she replied as a matter of fact. "I'll...be right back."

She definitely wasn't going into work now, so she went into her bedroom and changed clothes. She put on her comfiest running capris and tugged on a hoodie dress. The material was soft and a bright blue, and it was perhaps the snuggliest thing she owned that didn't make her look like a potato. It had a cinched waist and it amazingly settled on the smallest part of her body. Usually, given her height, a dress like this hung in all the wrong places.

It was a hassle pulling it over her head, given her wounds. Perhaps a button up would be more appropriate. But she needed the extra boost of confidence the outfit provided. For some reason, it gave a small sense of control- something she desperately needed.

What did it even matter though? She had basically committed treason by inhabiting the Hokage's body, and now it was possible that Danzo knew something was going on. Even better, Chiisai had managed to cause both at the same time. There should be some sort of prize for such a stupid thing.

She grabbed her crossbody purse, and her body swayed as she bent down. She cursed under her breath and placed her hand on the wall to balance herself.

Chiisai took a deep breath and straightened. Her body was barely functioning, but she didn't care, not anymore. She pulled her purse over her shoulder and stepped into the hallway. The light was bright, so she stumbled back in, grabbed her sunglasses, and shoved them on. Pakkun sat in front of the door, waiting on her.

"Where are you going?" Pakkun asked.

"I'm going to eat something delicious. And then I'm going to order the most expensive dessert there." This was too much, and there would be consequences for what she had done. No one liked being taken advantage of, and especially not the Hokage.

"I can't let you out of my sight," he said.

"I'm not stopping you," she said. "Do you like bbq? I'll buy you your own round of short ribs." Thank god the medicine and the coffee were working. She'd need all the energy she could get.

Drool trickled out of his mouth, and he nodded. "Sure thing!"

Tori trotted up to her, meowing in concern.

I will destroy everything you hold dear.

She turned, her eyes scanning the apartment.

"Something wrong?" Pakkun asked. About the same time, Tori meowed again, rubbing against her.

Her hand rested on the doorknob, and a headache started to form. . "I...I just thought I heard something. It's probably just the concussion."

Chiisai opened the door. She took a deep breath, and though her body protested, she bent down and gathered Tori in her arms.

"Whatcha doing?" Pakkun asked.

"Tori is my fur child, my fluffer nugget, my lifeline to sanity in a world of chaos," she said. "And since this may well be my last day on earth, I'm taking him with me, because I love him. Right, Tori?"

The cat made a chirrup noise, and climbed up on her. She smiled and pat his head as he balanced on her shoulder, nuzzling her ear.

"Whatever works," Pakkun said. He walked in step with her as they left the apartment.

She may as well live out her last day of freedom while she still had it.