p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Chapter 6/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""So you threw strongknives/strong at her?!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi was slumped at his desk with his head in his arms. A scowl had fixed itself on his face from the moment S had started to talk. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I only nicked her. I would never actually hurt her," Itachi ground out. S laughed once, shortly. His face was still twisted with anger and incredulity. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You said you loved her and didn't want her to leave and as punishment, you threw knives at her?!" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I get that you're upset-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi, you don't get anything! You could go to strongjail/strong for this! You could have seriously hurt her!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"At this, Itachi sat up and turned to S, glaring. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm rusty, but not that rusty. The knives go where I want them to go."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm talking about the fact that you used knives at all!" S exploded. "Oh, don't look at me like that," S hissed at Itachi's reddening eyes, "I was scared of your goddamn face the first couple of times, but you haven't killed me yet, have you?" Itachi slouched back into his desk while S whirled around and then steadily beat his forehead against the window. For a moment, the only sounds were the dull thud of S's head on glass, the gritting of his teeth, and the vibrating of a radiator that had switched on./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Your head sounds hollow."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Oh, shut up." S heaved a sigh, walking away from the window. His brow was furrowed as he wandered over to Itachi's desk, picking up a glass paperweight. "Hey, Itachi..." Here, he hesitated, and Itachi picked up the end of his sentence. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't need help."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""But you adopted her without a second glance. Even if you had that crazy fighting arena in common, it wasn't necessary to take her in as your own. You go psychotic if she leaves for a couple of minutes. You cuddle with her and kiss her and that's not normal guardian behavior, Itachi. You're trying to replace him. You're trying to make it up to him."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You need to talk to someone about this. It's been too long. You were hurt in some profound, difficult way that I can't even begin to make sense of."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not asking you to."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I think she's been hurt, too." Itachi considered this silently. "She stronghas/strong to be hurt, considered she puts up with your craziness as if it were normal. You treat her like she's six years old and she let's you do that. Both of you have some severe abandonment issues-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm trying to let her grow up again, the right way. And I don't. Maybe she does. I'll ask the school psychologist for the name of some therapists." S sighed again and squatted so that their eyes were level./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi," he said gently./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Momo," Itachi replied, half-mockingly./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""What happened to him was not your fault. If you try to make up for him, you're just going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It wasn't your fault."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You can cry, Itachi. It's okay."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You-" Just as Momo placed a hand on Itachi's hand, the door opened and Choko walked into the classroom./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sensei-" She looked up sharply, sensing another person present, and froze when two sets of eyes stared back at her. "Is... am I interrupting something?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Only my fiery and passionate love for Itachi," said S as he stood up, his bones creaking, "Right, lover boy?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Did you need something, Choko?" Itachi ignored S's fake look of despair, "Did something happen?" She looked at S, unsure of whether she should speak. "Don't worry about him. What happened?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Somebody put glass in my gym shoes," she said slowly. Guilt flit across her face, just as it had last time, and Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was going to ask for your phone so I could take a picture for proof."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And then?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And then force the glass down the throat of whoever did it."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You can't do that!" Two confused faces looked at him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Why not?" Choko demanded, "She hurt me, so I'll hurt her back." Itachi's face mirrored her expression and S looked helplessly back at both of them. How could someone explain that hurting was wrong to two fighters? How could someone tell them the world had not been fair to them but they had to be fair to the world? It was against their nature to endure./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""If you hurt her very badly, Itachi might be jailed for being unable to raise you right and you might be sent to a foster home. In any case, you two will certainly be separated." Choko turned her turquoise eyes to Itachi, asking him a question, and he nodded imperceptibly. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Then should I go tell the principal?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""That would be the right course of action. But I'll take care of it." With one last uneasy look at the two of them, he walked out the door and shut it carefully behind him. Itachi stood up immediately, locked the door, and pulled down the shade./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sit down," he ordered. Choko sat, shaking, as she gingerly pulled off her shoes. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongOh, little girl/strong," Itachi said sadly when he saw the bottom of her right foot. The white socks were heavy with blood. He pulled out his first aid kit and cut the socks off with a pair of scissors. Only the upper part of the bottom of her foot was cut and even then, most of the lacerations weren't very deep, although they were bleeding heavily. However, there was one area where the glass had embedded itself into the flesh, almost being lost in the flood of red. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I never got cut in the ring." Her eyes were tearing over in pain and she clutched at his shirt. He made soothing sounds as he pulled out the glass with tweezers. "They never caught me."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongYou need to calm down, child./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongIt hurts./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongI know./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""How do you know?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He answered with a swab of alcohol at the bottom of her foot and silence. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Momo will make sure to find whoever did it," he said when her foot had been completely bandaged. "And he isn't called S for nothing. Whoever did it will get a severe punishment. Can you stand?" She shook her head, but Itachi took her hands./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongDeep breath, Darling./strong You kept your pride intact until now. March to the principal's office for your permission slip to go home. I'll be waiting outside. Don't let them see that they've hurt you." She nodded and limped a couple of steps. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi turned her around and kissed her on the forehead. "strongChild/strong," he breathed into her hair, eyes closed, "stronghead high/strong." A glint of knife steel echoed in her eyes as she nodded. Opening the door, she walked down the hallway as if nothing was wrong, her footsteps echoing softly./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"But by the time she came out of the doors to the school, her face was white with pain. As soon as she saw him, she walked into his outstretched arms and sobbed as he picked her up and started towards home. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It hurts," she cried./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I didn't do anything wrong."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Bullying is wrong."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know, child. I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""This isn't fair."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know." And with one final hiccup, she quieted down. Itachi walked smoothly, with the smell of strawberry shampoo surrounding him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I cried on your jacket."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'll get it dry-cleaned. And I have others."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It hurts."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Do you want to go to the hospital?" She shook her head and snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. "Where's your backpack?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Elizabeth said she'll keep it in her locker for me until I come back."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""So you are making friends?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Acquaintances."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Is she nice?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""She's nice to everyone."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And you?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Not to everyone. Sensei, it hurts."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You might as well call me onii-chan now." This was a sufficient distraction from the pain, as Itachi had hoped. Choko's grip around Itachi's neck loosened and she looked at his calm profile. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan?" she said, tasting the sweetness in her mouth./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Just like that."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Not onii-sama?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He simply kissed her nose in response. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan," she whispered. Her tone rose when she resumed, "Are you sure?" she warned, "If you're family, you'll never be able to get rid of me, even if I hate you or you hate me." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Even if we weren't family, I would never want to get rid of you."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Why?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Because-" and suddenly, Itachi realized he had never had a legitimate reason for taking her in, for caring for her, for loving her to this extent. And suddenly, he understood what Momo had said and even as he did, struggled to reject what it meant. He tried to grasp the reality of this girl in his arms, and not the memory of another child he had held just like this. "You and I will be flesh and blood. I will always be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"And he knew that it had been the eyes that had pulled him in the first place. Though different in color, he had seen, before, the same look reflected in onyx eyes at a higher height, the heat of fire locked in ice. But these eyes were the color of the ocean and the lashes that framed them were sun on water and the tears sparkled on them. She was light and he had been darkness, but he couldn't believe how similar the two were./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She cuddled back into his shoulder, her fingers tight against his neck so that she didn't cry anymore. But her voice yelped in pain when Itachi jarred her too much, and he responded with a comforting murmur. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Let's change your dressings again," he said, when he had locked the door behind him and set her down on her bed. He retrieved one of the many first aid kids stashed around the house and gently started to dress her foot again. Accidentally, she moved her foot forward, which made the bandage drag across the wound. Her leg kicked automatically, and Itachi jerked his head back to narrowly avoid the kick./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sorry!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It's fine." The bandage had rolled under the bed. "Let me just-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""NO!" Choko's hand shot out and grabbed the end of Itachi's ponytail. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Ow! Choko, let go!" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""NO! DON'T LOOK UNDER MY BED!" She pushed him, and because he was off balance, he rolled away from the bed, letting her drop down to block the space under her bed. He was up almost instantly and flickered towards her in a speed that seemed inhuman, but she held her ground, grabbing his wrists and forcing him away from the dark space. Following the tide of the years of experience that pushed through his bloodstream, he twisted to the left and then to the right, almost getting past her when she tackled him to the ground. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi felt his pupils constrict and his body seize in reaction, needing to kick off the danger, the body contact, the closeness that meant certain death in a fight. The only thing that stopped his hands from snapping her neck was Choko's own spasming, which Itachi felt. Her mind forced her body to be close to the threat, trying to forget the fear that swept through her and her arms locked tight around his waist./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Gradually, both hearts slowed and Choko, who was face down on Itachi's chest, felt the dull thumping. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""That was dangerous," he warned. "You, of all people, should know not to grab someone like that."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm sorry."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Are you hiding something?" Itachi asked./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It's a secret." Her voice was muffled. "It's just a secret. I'll tell you someday. You have secrets, too."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Did you hurt your foot again?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He checked his watch and started to gently smooth down Choko's golden hair. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Should we go out to eat lunch?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't think there's anything to eat at home."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Then, can we order a pizza?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"So they did. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi no longer argued when Choko decided stubbornly to finish an entire pie herself; he knew she was fully capable of doing so. They had a pie each, her injured foot carefully propped up on a pillow./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Are you going to sleep here again?" Choko was doing a worksheet that Itachi had handed out that day./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi was laying down on the wide bed, eyes closed and arms behind his head. The polished headboard shone a rich brown behind him, but other than that, the room was still a bland white. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Mm, I'm here to answer your questions on the worksheet. You should be thankful."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't usually have questions."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You will today." Her eyes flicked back to the worksheet and scanned quickly through it. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""A poem?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Shared to the entire class?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan, this is heartless." The new title hung in the air, tasting the atmosphere, then settled like a cat, purring. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Choko, what does it mean to feel empowered?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She thought briefly, as she usually did, to give the best and most accurate answer./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It means to feel brave and strong and happy. Maybe not happy. But not just brave and strong." She thought some more. "Electric. Like lightning is lapping at your veins." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And rich. It means to feel brave and strong electric and rich with emotion at a moment, place, or time. And it's hard to capture the feeling in words without making it overly obvious but I have faith in my students."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Even me?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"At this, he opened his eyes./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongEspecially you, my little girl./strong" He closed his eyes when he saw her glow of happiness. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I have a question."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I told you so."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""How long is it supposed to be?" His eyes snapped open again./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Shit, emthat's/em what I forgot to tell them." Right on cue, his phone pinged with what was a start to a flood of chimes all saying that Itachi had received a new email from every single student in the English classes he taught. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Choko's phone pinged a couple of times as well; all were students asking Itachi how long the poem should be. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I have your backpack!" Choko read the text from Elizabeth out loud. "I didn't know if it was safe in my locker, so I just took it home. But while it's here, could I borrow your biology notes? You know much a emadore/em learning about male anatomy." Here, she paused to smile. "That was sarcasm, in case it didn't translate well over text. Also, can you ask your super duper evil ani to stop giving us assignments without telling us how long they should be?" Another ping sounded as soon as she finished reading the text. "Oh!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""What?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I wasn't supposed to read that to you." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi suppressed laughter. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Tell her that it has to be long enough to get the idea across. I don't want a vague, two line poem but there is no size minimum or maximum. And tell her that I have a very selective memory and I will forget that she called me evil if she does well on the assignment." He focused on sending his answers to his students, apologizing for his forgetfulness and postponing the due date by one day. When his attention shifted back to Choko, he found her staring at a blank sheet of paper, tapping her pencil against her mouth. "It's just a rough draft. It doesn't have to be perfect."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Does your foot hurt?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""A little."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Do you want more painkillers?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She shook her head and resumed thinking. He dozed in her bed, having nothing to grade or prepare. Idly, half-asleep, he thought about having pizza again for breakfast tomorrow. He vaguely felt the lights in the room being turned off and Choko curl up against his side. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Don't you need to change?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He shook his head./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes, you do," she said crossly. He palmed the back of her head and pulled her closer to him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Some time later in the night, a light hand touched his face and his chest./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Is something wrong?" he asked quietly, waking up immediately. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Nightmare?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't have those," she said haughtily. Then she hesitated. "I just like to know you're still here."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm always here."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""But when I sleep, I feel like I disappear." He could feel the drop in her voice. "I don't like the feeling. I don't want you to disappear, too, onii-chan."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I won't," he said. Or at least, he thought he said, because in the next moment, he was lulled to sleep by her warmth. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""So you threw strongknives/strong at her?!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi was slumped at his desk with his head in his arms. A scowl had fixed itself on his face from the moment S had started to talk. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I only nicked her. I would never actually hurt her," Itachi ground out. S laughed once, shortly. His face was still twisted with anger and incredulity. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You said you loved her and didn't want her to leave and as punishment, you threw knives at her?!" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I get that you're upset-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi, you don't get anything! You could go to strongjail/strong for this! You could have seriously hurt her!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"At this, Itachi sat up and turned to S, glaring. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm rusty, but not that rusty. The knives go where I want them to go."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm talking about the fact that you used knives at all!" S exploded. "Oh, don't look at me like that," S hissed at Itachi's reddening eyes, "I was scared of your goddamn face the first couple of times, but you haven't killed me yet, have you?" Itachi slouched back into his desk while S whirled around and then steadily beat his forehead against the window. For a moment, the only sounds were the dull thud of S's head on glass, the gritting of his teeth, and the vibrating of a radiator that had switched on./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Your head sounds hollow."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Oh, shut up." S heaved a sigh, walking away from the window. His brow was furrowed as he wandered over to Itachi's desk, picking up a glass paperweight. "Hey, Itachi..." Here, he hesitated, and Itachi picked up the end of his sentence. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't need help."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""But you adopted her without a second glance. Even if you had that crazy fighting arena in common, it wasn't necessary to take her in as your own. You go psychotic if she leaves for a couple of minutes. You cuddle with her and kiss her and that's not normal guardian behavior, Itachi. You're trying to replace him. You're trying to make it up to him."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You need to talk to someone about this. It's been too long. You were hurt in some profound, difficult way that I can't even begin to make sense of."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not asking you to."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I think she's been hurt, too." Itachi considered this silently. "She stronghas/strong to be hurt, considered she puts up with your craziness as if it were normal. You treat her like she's six years old and she let's you do that. Both of you have some severe abandonment issues-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm trying to let her grow up again, the right way. And I don't. Maybe she does. I'll ask the school psychologist for the name of some therapists." S sighed again and squatted so that their eyes were level./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Itachi," he said gently./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Momo," Itachi replied, half-mockingly./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""What happened to him was not your fault. If you try to make up for him, you're just going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It wasn't your fault."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You can cry, Itachi. It's okay."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm not going to hurt her."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You-" Just as Momo placed a hand on Itachi's hand, the door opened and Choko walked into the classroom./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sensei-" She looked up sharply, sensing another person present, and froze when two sets of eyes stared back at her. "Is... am I interrupting something?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Only my fiery and passionate love for Itachi," said S as he stood up, his bones creaking, "Right, lover boy?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Did you need something, Choko?" Itachi ignored S's fake look of despair, "Did something happen?" She looked at S, unsure of whether she should speak. "Don't worry about him. What happened?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Somebody put glass in my gym shoes," she said slowly. Guilt flit across her face, just as it had last time, and Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was going to ask for your phone so I could take a picture for proof."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And then?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And then force the glass down the throat of whoever did it."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You can't do that!" Two confused faces looked at him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Why not?" Choko demanded, "She hurt me, so I'll hurt her back." Itachi's face mirrored her expression and S looked helplessly back at both of them. How could someone explain that hurting was wrong to two fighters? How could someone tell them the world had not been fair to them but they had to be fair to the world? It was against their nature to endure./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""If you hurt her very badly, Itachi might be jailed for being unable to raise you right and you might be sent to a foster home. In any case, you two will certainly be separated." Choko turned her turquoise eyes to Itachi, asking him a question, and he nodded imperceptibly. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Then should I go tell the principal?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""That would be the right course of action. But I'll take care of it." With one last uneasy look at the two of them, he walked out the door and shut it carefully behind him. Itachi stood up immediately, locked the door, and pulled down the shade./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sit down," he ordered. Choko sat, shaking, as she gingerly pulled off her shoes. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongOh, little girl/strong," Itachi said sadly when he saw the bottom of her right foot. The white socks were heavy with blood. He pulled out his first aid kit and cut the socks off with a pair of scissors. Only the upper part of the bottom of her foot was cut and even then, most of the lacerations weren't very deep, although they were bleeding heavily. However, there was one area where the glass had embedded itself into the flesh, almost being lost in the flood of red. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I never got cut in the ring." Her eyes were tearing over in pain and she clutched at his shirt. He made soothing sounds as he pulled out the glass with tweezers. "They never caught me."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongYou need to calm down, child./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongIt hurts./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongI know./strong"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""How do you know?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He answered with a swab of alcohol at the bottom of her foot and silence. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Momo will make sure to find whoever did it," he said when her foot had been completely bandaged. "And he isn't called S for nothing. Whoever did it will get a severe punishment. Can you stand?" She shook her head, but Itachi took her hands./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongDeep breath, Darling./strong You kept your pride intact until now. March to the principal's office for your permission slip to go home. I'll be waiting outside. Don't let them see that they've hurt you." She nodded and limped a couple of steps. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi turned her around and kissed her on the forehead. "strongChild/strong," he breathed into her hair, eyes closed, "stronghead high/strong." A glint of knife steel echoed in her eyes as she nodded. Opening the door, she walked down the hallway as if nothing was wrong, her footsteps echoing softly./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"But by the time she came out of the doors to the school, her face was white with pain. As soon as she saw him, she walked into his outstretched arms and sobbed as he picked her up and started towards home. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It hurts," she cried./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I didn't do anything wrong."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Bullying is wrong."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know, child. I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""This isn't fair."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know." And with one final hiccup, she quieted down. Itachi walked smoothly, with the smell of strawberry shampoo surrounding him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I cried on your jacket."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'll get it dry-cleaned. And I have others."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It hurts."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Do you want to go to the hospital?" She shook her head and snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. "Where's your backpack?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Elizabeth said she'll keep it in her locker for me until I come back."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""So you are making friends?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Acquaintances."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Is she nice?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""She's nice to everyone."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And you?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Not to everyone. Sensei, it hurts."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You might as well call me onii-chan now." This was a sufficient distraction from the pain, as Itachi had hoped. Choko's grip around Itachi's neck loosened and she looked at his calm profile. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan?" she said, tasting the sweetness in her mouth./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Just like that."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Not onii-sama?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He simply kissed her nose in response. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan," she whispered. Her tone rose when she resumed, "Are you sure?" she warned, "If you're family, you'll never be able to get rid of me, even if I hate you or you hate me." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Even if we weren't family, I would never want to get rid of you."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Why?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Because-" and suddenly, Itachi realized he had never had a legitimate reason for taking her in, for caring for her, for loving her to this extent. And suddenly, he understood what Momo had said and even as he did, struggled to reject what it meant. He tried to grasp the reality of this girl in his arms, and not the memory of another child he had held just like this. "You and I will be flesh and blood. I will always be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"And he knew that it had been the eyes that had pulled him in the first place. Though different in color, he had seen, before, the same look reflected in onyx eyes at a higher height, the heat of fire locked in ice. But these eyes were the color of the ocean and the lashes that framed them were sun on water and the tears sparkled on them. She was light and he had been darkness, but he couldn't believe how similar the two were./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She cuddled back into his shoulder, her fingers tight against his neck so that she didn't cry anymore. But her voice yelped in pain when Itachi jarred her too much, and he responded with a comforting murmur. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Let's change your dressings again," he said, when he had locked the door behind him and set her down on her bed. He retrieved one of the many first aid kids stashed around the house and gently started to dress her foot again. Accidentally, she moved her foot forward, which made the bandage drag across the wound. Her leg kicked automatically, and Itachi jerked his head back to narrowly avoid the kick./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sorry!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It's fine." The bandage had rolled under the bed. "Let me just-"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""NO!" Choko's hand shot out and grabbed the end of Itachi's ponytail. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Ow! Choko, let go!" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""NO! DON'T LOOK UNDER MY BED!" She pushed him, and because he was off balance, he rolled away from the bed, letting her drop down to block the space under her bed. He was up almost instantly and flickered towards her in a speed that seemed inhuman, but she held her ground, grabbing his wrists and forcing him away from the dark space. Following the tide of the years of experience that pushed through his bloodstream, he twisted to the left and then to the right, almost getting past her when she tackled him to the ground. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi felt his pupils constrict and his body seize in reaction, needing to kick off the danger, the body contact, the closeness that meant certain death in a fight. The only thing that stopped his hands from snapping her neck was Choko's own spasming, which Itachi felt. Her mind forced her body to be close to the threat, trying to forget the fear that swept through her and her arms locked tight around his waist./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Gradually, both hearts slowed and Choko, who was face down on Itachi's chest, felt the dull thumping. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""That was dangerous," he warned. "You, of all people, should know not to grab someone like that."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm sorry."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Are you hiding something?" Itachi asked./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It's a secret." Her voice was muffled. "It's just a secret. I'll tell you someday. You have secrets, too."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Did you hurt your foot again?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He checked his watch and started to gently smooth down Choko's golden hair. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Should we go out to eat lunch?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't think there's anything to eat at home."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Then, can we order a pizza?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"So they did. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi no longer argued when Choko decided stubbornly to finish an entire pie herself; he knew she was fully capable of doing so. They had a pie each, her injured foot carefully propped up on a pillow./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"-/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Are you going to sleep here again?" Choko was doing a worksheet that Itachi had handed out that day./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi was laying down on the wide bed, eyes closed and arms behind his head. The polished headboard shone a rich brown behind him, but other than that, the room was still a bland white. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Mm, I'm here to answer your questions on the worksheet. You should be thankful."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't usually have questions."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""You will today." Her eyes flicked back to the worksheet and scanned quickly through it. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""A poem?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Shared to the entire class?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Onii-chan, this is heartless." The new title hung in the air, tasting the atmosphere, then settled like a cat, purring. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Choko, what does it mean to feel empowered?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She thought briefly, as she usually did, to give the best and most accurate answer./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""It means to feel brave and strong and happy. Maybe not happy. But not just brave and strong." She thought some more. "Electric. Like lightning is lapping at your veins." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""And rich. It means to feel brave and strong electric and rich with emotion at a moment, place, or time. And it's hard to capture the feeling in words without making it overly obvious but I have faith in my students."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Even me?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"At this, he opened his eyes./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""strongEspecially you, my little girl./strong" He closed his eyes when he saw her glow of happiness. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I have a question."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I told you so."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""How long is it supposed to be?" His eyes snapped open again./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Shit, emthat's/em what I forgot to tell them." Right on cue, his phone pinged with what was a start to a flood of chimes all saying that Itachi had received a new email from every single student in the English classes he taught. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Choko's phone pinged a couple of times as well; all were students asking Itachi how long the poem should be. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I have your backpack!" Choko read the text from Elizabeth out loud. "I didn't know if it was safe in my locker, so I just took it home. But while it's here, could I borrow your biology notes? You know much a emadore/em learning about male anatomy." Here, she paused to smile. "That was sarcasm, in case it didn't translate well over text. Also, can you ask your super duper evil ani to stop giving us assignments without telling us how long they should be?" Another ping sounded as soon as she finished reading the text. "Oh!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""What?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I wasn't supposed to read that to you." /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Itachi suppressed laughter. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Tell her that it has to be long enough to get the idea across. I don't want a vague, two line poem but there is no size minimum or maximum. And tell her that I have a very selective memory and I will forget that she called me evil if she does well on the assignment." He focused on sending his answers to his students, apologizing for his forgetfulness and postponing the due date by one day. When his attention shifted back to Choko, he found her staring at a blank sheet of paper, tapping her pencil against her mouth. "It's just a rough draft. It doesn't have to be perfect."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I know."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Does your foot hurt?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""A little."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Do you want more painkillers?" /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"She shook her head and resumed thinking. He dozed in her bed, having nothing to grade or prepare. Idly, half-asleep, he thought about having pizza again for breakfast tomorrow. He vaguely felt the lights in the room being turned off and Choko curl up against his side. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Don't you need to change?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"He shook his head./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes, you do," she said crossly. He palmed the back of her head and pulled her closer to him. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"Some time later in the night, a light hand touched his face and his chest./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Is something wrong?" he asked quietly, waking up immediately. /p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Nightmare?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I don't have those," she said haughtily. Then she hesitated. "I just like to know you're still here."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I'm always here."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""But when I sleep, I feel like I disappear." He could feel the drop in her voice. "I don't like the feeling. I don't want you to disappear, too, onii-chan."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I won't," he said. Or at least, he thought he said, because in the next moment, he was lulled to sleep by her warmth. /p