Here's chapter 4- let me know what you think.
I don't own anyone but my characters.
Chapter 4- Crista's Diner
"Leader, what do you suppose happened to her?" Konan asked, gazing down at the bruised face of the sleeping girl who'd taken them in.
"I don't know. My guess would be it had something to do with her father. She did mention him briefly.
"You are correct leader." Zetsu said, slipping into the room.
"The child is asleep, she complained to us all about her 'evil daddy'. She's quite worried." He said, for once both sides in complete agreement with each other.
Everyone in the room turned back when the girl whimpered in her sleep. Her face was creased in pain. She shifted uncomfortably.
"Tobi feels bad for her! Can't we help?" Tobi asked, looking at the other kittens who were gathered.
Pein hesitated, he did feel guilty that she was injured in the first place.
"Zetsu, go get Sasori. We'll see if he's able to still use his chakra." Pein decided.
Zetsu nodded and left. Moments later Sasori appeared in the doorway.
"You wished to see me, Leader?" he asked.
Pein nodded. "I want you to see if you are able to use you're medical ninjutsu on her to heal some of her injuries, or at least alleviate her pain. Since she's providing us a safe place to stay, it's the least we can do." He said.
Sasori nodded and crossed the room to the bed. He hopped up and placed his paws on the girl's chest. Konan and Tobi flinched when she whimpered in pain and tried to shift. Sasori tried calling on his chakra and a faint green light splayed out from under his paws. He focused and after a moment her breathing steadied. Sasori pulled away, panting a little.
"That's all I am able to do. I apologize." He said.
Pein nodded, "You helped her pain some. That is enough." He said.
Sasori nodded and literally collapsed next to the girl.
"You ok Danna?" Deidara asked, sounding a little worried.
"I'm fine, just tired. I am not used to a mortal, living body." He responded.
I woke up some time later. Surprisingly my body felt a lot better. I stretched a little, being careful to not bump the kittens who were curled around me. I slipped off my bed and padded out the door. I smiled when I saw Sara, sound asleep with the rest of the kitten's curled around her protectively.
I headed to the little kitchen area. Yes, the hideout has electricity. When I was five my mom had showed me the hideout. The land I lived on has been in the family for years so it had been my mom's hideout when she was little. She showed it to me the first time Dad attacked and beat her. She wanted me to be safe. She had electricity and everything except toilets installed. Don't know why not toilets. Anyways, I walked to the kitchen and started pulling out ingredients to make pancakes and eggs. I decided to make some bacon and ham after a moment. The kittens could eat that.
As I started cooking I started singing quietly.
The song was Whiskey lullaby. I know it's a sad song, but I was feeling a little depressed.
She put him out, like the burnin end of a midnight cigarette.
She broke his heart, he spent his whole life trying to forget.
We watched him drink his pain away, a little at a time.
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind,
Until the night,
He put that bottle to his head, and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away her memory.
Life is short, but this time it was bigger
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees.
They found him with his face down in the pillow
With a note that said I'll love her till I die.
They buried him beneath the willow
As the angels sang a whiskey lullaby.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la,la, la.
I noticed that the kittens who'd been in my room were now seated around the kitchen. They seemed to be listening to my singing. I smiled at them sadly.
"Shh, don't wake up Sara, ok?" I murmured. I noticed that the kitten's surrounding Sara were awake also.
I turned back to flipping pancakes and bacon and continued singing softly.
The rumors flew, but nobody knew how much she blamed herself.
For years and years, she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath.
She finally drank her pain away, a little at a time,
But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind.
Until the night,
She put that bottle to her head, and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away his memory.
Life is short, but this time it was bigger
Than the strength she had to get up off her knees.
They found her with her face down in the pillow,
Clinging to his picture for dear life.
They buried her next to him beneath the willow,
As the angels sang a whiskey lullaby.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la.
I finished the song just as Sara woke up.
She came up to me, rubbing her eyes sleepily. I smiled down at her.
"Morning, sleeping beauty. You hungry?" I asked, ruffling her hair.
She smiled up at me and nodded. I fixed her some pancakes and eggs before making little plates of eggs, bacon, and ham for the kittens. I put them on the ground and filled several bowls with water. After I was done I fixed a plate for myself.
We ate in silence, the kittens finished before we did and Tobi hopped onto the table to try and lick Sara's nose. She giggled and tried to dodge him while eating. I laughed and watched the goofy kitten's actions.
After we were done eating and cleaning up all the dishes Sara played with the kittens and watched a movie while I worked on a drawing I was preparing to do.
I sat in the middle of the floor covered in chalk dust. I'd been smashing pieces of chalk and mixing colors to create the colors I needed. Ash and Sin were watching me curiously. I wiped my forehead after I finally finished and looked up. That always sucked.
Looking at my watch, my face paled, I had to go, now.
"Sara! I have to go kiddo. I'll be back a little later, don't go home without me, ok?" I said, rushing to get into my work uniform.
Sara waved bye to me, too occupied with her new friends. I ruffled her hair and dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head before rushing for the entrance. To my surprise Shadow and Joker followed me.
"No, you guys need to stay here. I'm going to work and they don't allow kitties inside." I said, stopping to pet them for a second.
I rushed out the tunnel, as fast as I could crawl at least, I happened to look back and rolled my eyes.
"I told you guys to stay here." I groaned in irritation.
Shadow and Joker ignored me, instead taking a place on each side of me.
Obviously I wasn't going to be listened to. I began the trek to my work, Crista's Diner (yes, I made this up…don't think it exists at least)
The pay was crappy but I managed to get pretty good tips.
While walking I glanced down at the kittens who were keeping pace with me. I smiled, this was going to get quite a reaction once I got into town.
Twenty minutes later, I was outside the building.
"Wait here for a second, please?" I pleaded with the animals. They looked up at me for a moment before Shadow nodded. I shivered and went inside. Creepy kitty.
"Crista! I have a favor to ask!" I hollered at the top of my lungs.
"Yeesh, honey. No need to yell" Crista came out of the office. She was an older lady with caramel colored hair that was beginning to grey. Her sharp grey eyes were soft with amusement.
I threw my arms around her, grimacing internally at the contact. I was a little sore yet, and didn't like touching people in the first place. But Crista had been friends with my mom so she knew me way to well that if I didn't pretend, she'd know something was wrong. She was already suspicious of my father.
"Criiiistaaaa!" I sang in an annoying tone, looking up at her with puppy eyes.
"What is it, Chickie?" she sighed.
"I found some kitties yesterday. They seem to be going through separation anxiety so two of them followed me here. And, it's so cold outside, and they're well behaved, soooo" I dragged out, smiling up at her hopefully.
She sighed but gestured for me to open the door. I grinned and did so. Joker ran in right away and curled around my feet purring loudly. His eyes glinted with mischief. Shadow walked in slowly, looking dignified despite the fact that he was shivering. He shot me a glare.
"Well, aren't they just handsome" Crista said, crouching down to examine Shadow. She offered him a hand and he looked at her for a moment before seeming to sigh. He rubbed his head against it for a second.
She smiled and gently stroked him once. Standing up, she clapped her hands together.
"Alright! Time to get back to work. The kittens can stay in the main seating area as long as they stay out of the way of the customers." She said.
"Thank you Crista!" I said, smiling up at her. Shadow and Joker looked at me suspiciously.
After Crista left my smile faded. I looked down at them and sighed. Bending over, I carefully picked them up and headed for the front of the restaurant.
"That, kitties was a good friend of my mom when she was still alive. She's known me since I was born so I have to be careful how I act or else she worries." I plopped them down on the window seat.
The rest of the night was fairly uneventful. Everyone adored the addition of the kittens, who were on their best behavior. Once I was off I stopped at the house for a second to see if he'd come back yet. Thankfully he hadn't but I knew we'd have to go back for a little while tomorrow. I wasn't looking forward to it.
Once back at the hideout I smiled at the scene I walked into. Sara was in the middle of the floor, blankets, coloring books, and kittens al piled up on each other. I gently picked Sara up and carried her to the bed. The kittens who'd been sleeping by her earlier followed and curled up around her again.
I made my way to my room and gently shifted the rest of the kittens out of the way as I lay down. They all shifted closer and I smiled as Shadow and Joker claimed a spot as well. I fell asleep once again to the gentle warmth surrounding me.