o7. heaven:
Haku's world was full of snow. And, in his death, it ripped at the seams and poured down, like so much rain.
Until, in the middle of July, the world was tainted white. With Zabuza's still form lying, in a pool of his own blood, in the middle of the bridge.
"He's gone now," Naruto tells him. "Up to heaven with Haku, probably."
At bedtime, his momma tucking him in and kissing his forehead, Inari finally gathers the words to ask. Zabuza's vacant, clouded over eyes still so fresh in his mind.
"Mom," he whispers. "Is heaven always so cold?"
.
o8. innocence:
"Go home," Kakashi says over his book.
It is well past sunset when Inari finally catches up with the ninja from Konoha, almost literally falling on them when he stumbles across the clearing, sweating and short of breath.
"Your mother will be worried about you." Kakashi continues, and turns a page. Never looking up at the heartbroken look on the boy's face.
"You're too young."
Inari is close to tears, and glances furitively at the bedrolls for help.
Sakura clutches her pillow close, frowns in sleep. Sasuke tosses and turns at every sound. Naruto listens, awake.
Inari is suddenly lonely.
.
o9. drive:
There are foxes in the underbrush.
"Demons," says Naruto, who would know, keeping his distance.
But Inari walks right in, holding back branches as he peers down. "They were holy," he remembers. "Messengers." His mother named him after one. When he was young he used to dream about soft gold fur.
I'm human, Naruto thinks. He will have nothing else. "Then they wouldn't be here on earth."
When Inari looks up, confused, his eyes are small and dark as the foxes.
But Naruto won't meet the gaze. Too much of him human, he turns and runs full-tilt for his team.
.
10. breath again:
Inari can smell his own sweat as he runs to Naruto's team on the bridge, feel his own blood as he drops his mother's knives before he even gets there.
Inari is late, so he lifts the crossbow higher. The weapon so old, the bolts are rusted to it.
But the shinobi are still there, even if barely standing.
They are fighting for their lives.
Inari runs to the edge, knowing he won't make it. Knowing he's not good enough. Not caring who follows.
His whole life he has been searching for something.
On the bridge, Inari finds surface.
.
