A/N) I'm not dead, just a really bad mix of writer's block and lack of time…
Disclaimer: I hereby claim that I the author of the fanfic below do not in any shape or form own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Rosario + Vampire and Rosario + Vampire capu2. However the ideas and storyline are mine.
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Chapter 7: Cherish
"No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories."
― Haruki Murakami
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"I feel it too, it's definitely from within this barrier." Kazeshi said.
"It's…familiar isn't it…?" Miyuki whispered.
"It is…" Kazeshi said. The energy he felt, they felt, was too similar to their own. It wasn't just another phoenix's signature. Their thoughts immediately flew to one of their daughters. They had never found her body after their home's destruction…maybe…
"Are we entering now?" Kazeshi asked. Miyuki had found the area a day back, and had signalled then.
"No, this barrier is stronger than the others around here, so I'm not exactly sure. I've been preparing an infiltration seal that's three times quieter than the pre-made ones we've been using. Though, the snowy ground is making it hard to set seals properly." Miyuki said, as she pointed to the kanji and lines she had ingrained into the ground. She had had to draw and solidify her markings within seconds to make them stay on the snow, but because of that the soft ground kept interfering. She didn't even dare use clones, lest the barrier had a sensory function. Compared to setting ink with youki, which used very little, almost negligible youki but required a lot of concentration, creating clones would be like setting off a flare with the large amount of youki she would need to use.
"I'll do the setting then." Kazeshi said, with a tired sigh. Precision was always far more difficult compared to brute-forcing with sheer power.
They didn't need a signal, bar Miyuki's thankful nod. They had been together so long, as a couple, as a team, that their coordination with one another was practically effortless and automatic.
However, with the added problem of cold and harsh winds packed with snow, they'd probably be able to make a large enough gap in the barrier only by the end of the week at the careful pace they were going.
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"Calm yourself first Naruto, then concentrate fully on the fire, now focus on the energy you're using to sustain it." Tsurara said, as sat cross-legged across him.
She watched the flame burn steadily in his hands, starting mere inches off his palms. She had learned a great deal from Naruto's guardian during their mental chat. It turned out that manipulating youki was generally the same for all types of youki on a fundamental level. Releasing the unique traits of each youki type was undoubtedly though, different, so she wouldn't be able to coach Naruto in that aspect, but considering that he could already release some evident from his flame, it wouldn't be too big of a problem.
"Now picture that flow of youki, maybe like a river. Try to constrict the flow, to reduce it as much as possible without stopping it and extinguishing the flame."
She noted the stress signs. Tensed arms, slightly scrunched face and too rigid breathing. Focusing her own attention to the flame, she had to admit, Naruto had talent. The flame was now smaller than her thumb, heck, it was smaller than a fifth of her thumb. From what Kurama had told her, there was a comfortable volume of flames Naruto's kind could produce, what kind of youkai Kurama didn't say, and when they were in their comfortable zones they required very little energy and effort to produce fire. So little, that Naruto could theoretically sustain a fire covering his entire body indefinitely. However, as they reached pass their comfort range, the difficulty got exponentially harder. For a small flame, the difficulty came from maintaining the small yet steady and precise flow of youki. For a large flame, the difficulty came from control and youki cost. Too little, and the flame died, too much, and it'd burn out of control.
Naruto had definitely gone past his comfort zone.
The flame flickered, then it suddenly enlarged.
In the next second, it died.
The rising frustration was easy to spot.
"Take a rest, it's easier to let youki flow when you're calm and relaxed." She said.
His hands suddenly dropped, before he let go of a tired sigh. He had been training for at least three hours now, if the position of the sun was anything go by. After nodding his acceptance to Tsurara, he leant back and let himself sprawl onto the floor.
The sky was still as blue as it had been in the morning, but now his body ached. His arms felt worn and his whole body felt weak, as though he had just finished a really long and painful jog.
Then an incessant tingling in his head just really, made it all that much worse.
It was like something was calling for him, but the feeling would be there one minute and gone the next.
Shaking his head lightly, he refocused his thoughts.
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She stared at the afternoon sky, freely falling leaves came by with the occasional breeze. It was a nice day… a really nice day.
Her mind flickered back to a certain blonde, and a faint smile formed on her face. Then, it went away as soon as it came as she noticed another leaf fly past her window…
She was stuck… inside…
More like confined to her bed…
Somehow, she found herself envying the leaf, eyeing it as it flew behind the wall and out of her sight.
She sat still for a second. Then with a huff, she sat up.
Somewhere in the back her head, she just knew that she was going to get it from her mother later. Still, that faint reminder didn't and certainly wasn't going to stop her.
Opening the window, she stood still as the colder outside air greeted her.
Already she felt better. A small grin played on her face. Fluidly climbing outside, she dropped. She landed on the snow with a soft thud, and without looking back, she ran.
Sure, she understood that her mother just wanted to make sure she was really healed, but really, she felt fine. Her wounds had left only a faint line on her arm where she was cut the deepest, even the phantom pains she had felt after waking up no longer plagued her. Forced bed rest had just about made her stir-crazy.
So in her mind, there was that utter boredom induced stupidity she could blame. Without consciously doing so, her mind slipped a picture of the blonde into her head once more.
Her time in bed wouldn't have been nearly as bad had Naruto been with her, they could have played games at least. But when her mother had asked Naruto if he wanted to start his training three days ago and he had come to ask her first if she wouldn't mind. She had stupidly stupidly said no.
She hated herself now, she really did.
She paused for a moment, where should she go? Her mother knew pretty much all her favourite spots, no… her mother knew all of them.
But should she really try to hide from her mother? She'd only make her punishment later worse…
Her shoulders dropped, before she shook off a nervous laugh.
Then she froze, before another grin fitted on her. Shaking her head slightly she stifled another laugh, apparently being Naruto put her at risk of picking up some of his habits.
Looking around she thought, maybe if she choose the nearest one… her mother wouldn't be too angry with her later…
Another second of deliberation later, she turned her direction and ran.
All of a sudden she stopped again.
This time a soft stupid self-realising grumble escaped her.
Geez, Naruto really did rub off on her.
It wasn't like he was here, she didn't have to hide.
Focusing a little, a piece of streamlined ice formed below her. As she sunk her grip into the nearby snow though, she frowned.
She owed her friend an apology.
With a sudden throw of her hands, she went from standing still to speeding through trees flashing by her eyes.
Very quickly, a careless grin replaced her frown.
Making her way to her spot, her thoughts suddenly turned to her mother… she couldn't shake the feeling that something…something felt a little iffy…
Her mind briefly wandered… what did she look like from above? Maybe she was like a small shadow speeding on the icy terrain, ducking beneath the occasional tree. Ahead, she slowly grew closer to a small patch of green.
A hot spring in the area that was enclosed by a large and thick ring of trees. It was probably because the hot spring were the biggest she had ever seen though. Although it was actually multiple springs that happened to be in the same place, they had merged and were the size of decent lagoon.
Unknown to her, ahead, her mother had planned a little something… for her. She really should have remembered one little thing about her life.
It was always either fate, or her mother.
Together, they guided her lift, and out of the two, her mother was the closest and probably the more scheming one.
And so, came her predicament, when she finally got to the small clearing in the middle where the water was.
Fire…
His eyes went to her for the total of a split second, before they were closed once more as he concentrated on what he was doing between his palms.
Mizore had always stayed away from heat. From birth she was thought to do so, her own nature as a being of ice only cemented the notion. All around her, her whole life had been a frozen tundra of snow, ice and familiar cold. Her own powers were a reflection of it.
However, life had gave her a bad hand and for years she had no friends like her. Then the first she made after years of isolation simply had to be a fire youkai.
Still, that had hardly bothered her at all. Heck, his personal warmth actually felt comfortable to her… though she had been very surprised. Then he had gone and developed his powers that had consisted of him literally shooting and making fire, and still, she had not paid it much attention.
After all, to her, it had been but a small price for friendship.
However, she had never thought that she'd ever, ever, end up looking at fire in the different light.
Was it possible to get drunk and high on friendship? Another grin formed on her face as she stared, she'd been getting them a lot recently…
Another breath was stolen from her lips.
Maybe…
"It's beautiful…" she heard herself whisper. The dancing lights flashed from palm to palm, flowing in intricate patterns that arrested her awed eyes.
As though there was a crescendo building, the tempo of the fire followed. It shrunk, then expanded, then it flew up before flying back down, all between the hands of Naruto whose hands were held with his palms facing each other.
The fiery performance grew, amassing to a climax, swirling, flowing in faster and smaller circles until it turned straight up. The light reflected off her face followed the same pattern.
Then it rose and rose, and finally came to its peak. In one beautiful burst, it released sparks that twinkled softly, making her mesmerised eyes all the more enraptured.
She hadn't even realised her breathing had slowed somewhere during the show.
"I wish I could do something that beautiful with my powers..." Mizore whispered softly.
Previously taut with concentration, Naruto's face slowly relaxed. To bend and guide fire in such patterns was wondrous for his skill development and mental ability as he focused entirely when he performed. His mind could become nothing but a blank, no thoughts, just a pure focus over his powers. Although, at the moment it pushed him to the edge of his control over his powers.
Exhaling a large breath, Naruto opened his eyes and slowly the creases on his face relaxed. Blinking once, he then looked up cheerfully.
"I know you can. You just haven't done it yet." He said, smiling lightly at her. Her response was to look at him dumbly, before a soft blush formed.
"Do you really think so?" She said.
"Yeah. In fact, you could even try it now, maybe make a shape with your ice? A star maybe?" Naruto said encouragingly.
She chewed lip absently as she twiddled with her fingers in thought.
"Okay…" She whispered, before lifting both her hands up before her. Commanding her power, she briefly imagined a star. Within a second, a small, crude and odd-looking ball with spikes sticking out appeared.
A certain level of horror bubbled.
"Try again?" She heard him say, and like a switch, she dropped the disfigured ball before trying to make a star once more.
A ball, tinier than the first formed, this one looking as though some creature had taken a messy-painful bite from the side.
A different feeling returned. She was disappointing Naruto wasn't she? She thought in trepidation. An urge to look up struck her, but she refused it. She didn't want to look at his probably disappointed face.
"Try taking it slowly Mizore, imagine it forming slowly, instead of immediately picturing it. Take your time." Naruto gently said, reciting what Tsurara had said to him when he failed earlier.
So she tried, doing as he said, a small ball formed between her palms first. Yet her eyes were squeezed shut as the small ball grew. The ice growing and jutting out in places trying to accord to her mental image.
It took a total of ten seconds, before it finally rested in its final form. Almost worriedly, yet hopefully, she cracked her eyes open.
Her stomach sank.
The ice was bigger than the previous two, and it looked more formed she could tell. However the five points that should have made a star weren't even five and the points simply jutted out at odd angles and at disproportionate heights.
She'd gone and lied to him, have that lie ripped out into the open during a painful battle, harmed him to boot and he had forgiven her. She hadn't even apologised and here she was, unable to do even one thing he asked off her. She felt … unworthy.
The ball dropped, her tiny hands fisted. She glanced upwards, Naruto was frowning.
"I'm… sorry." She whispered.
"I just can't," Mizore added.
There was no response at all, not even a movement to tell her than he had acknowledged anything. Why? Was he mad? Mizore thought.
"Mizore, transform." He suddenly said.
"Wh…what?" She stared up at him in question.
"Yeah, transform, it'd be easier for you to use your powers in that form right?" He said again, head tilting curiously to the side.
She knew that Naruto had said that he didn't care that she had powers so young. She knew that but yet, she also knew that she still couldn't find it in herself to be comfortable while transformed, especially before him. She had injured him in that state after all, she never wanted a chance to do such a thing again.
"Mizore," She met his encouraging eyes at her name.
But…
"Transform," his tone warm with affectionate encouragement.
So, she did.
She let her inner energies flow, she felt her hands become frosted over while her hair became ice.
"Now try,"
Taking a deep breath, she held her hands up again. Willing her youki to flow, she slowly let her eyes close. This time it felt right, it felt much more connected and real – the form in her mind.
Then it was over, she felt it, knew it. Opening her eyes slowly, what greeted her was a breath-taking star.
"See?"
A little shakiness found its way into her breath, but the edges of her lips gradually tugged upwards as she slowly, cautiously, ran her fingers across the smooth ice in her silent awe.
It sparkled ever so occasionally, like it had been masterfully sculpted with a hammer and chisel, and it stayed smooth and flawless, with not a single crack as far as she felt or could see.
A certain feeling sprouted in her. It wasn't entirely describable, a little overflowing, somewhat happy dance that just seemed to make the world that much brighter and her that much more alive.
Within a moment, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Naruto in joy.
It wasn't just that she had made a star, oh no, it was far more than that.
For her, her powers had always been something she hated, something destructive and deadly, the thing that made her so horrible different.
She had never thought fire could be beautiful, she had never thought her own power could be beautiful.
That little euphoric wonder that filled her, it made her want to cry, to laugh, to just simply cry in joy.
"Thank you," she whispered, half shouted.
"Heh, you're welcome, Mizore." He said with a slight blush on his face, gently returning her hug. For him, as long as his friend smiled, so would he.
Still…
It didn't take them more than a second to split apart either.
"Ahh, there you are Mizore."
A soft squeak, and a slightly louder cry erupted from the pair as they both stumbled to meet Tsurara.
The slightest hint of a tease flitted by on her face, but neither child noticed.
"So, Mizore, would you like to explain why I didn't find you in bed?" Tsurara asked, with but a smile that really, only made Mizore squirm.
Mizore swallowed, as she played with her fingers.
"Ah…because…I'm here?" She said, but her own body language was nervous – her mother read body language better than anybody…
Tsurara's bright demeanour never faltered. She wondered, would her daughter realise? Or would she be too young to understand?
Running her eyes over them both, she pointed her eyes back at her daughter. She was in her transformed state, that was… rare.
Raising a mental brow, she glanced back at Naruto, then at her daughter. Apart from their red faces, she continued and let her eyes wander to the star held in Mizore's claws.
It seemed that her gaze had been noticed by them too.
"Erm…about this… I was helping Mizore?" Mizore almost choked as Naruto raised the end of his own sentence.
"Mmm, I think I see with what too. Can I look at it closer?" Though she had asked it, Mizore knew, simply knew that it wasn't a question.
Shuffling forward slowly, Mizore held the star toward her, presenting it to her eyes.
Unnoticed by either child, Tsurara's eyes widened for a brief second. Then, she started laughing, almost hysterically so, in her mind as she struggled not to let her smile twitch.
Everything was proceeding according to her plan, no, everything was proceeding faster than she could plan, yet, everything still headed in the direction she wanted.
"It's beautiful Mizore. You made this? With Naruto's help?" The ice star, it wasn't simply flawless in the sense that it had no cracks or edges.
A hopeful look mixed with the nervousness in both their faces. "Yes." Her daughter's eyes lit up at her, her previous excitement returning.
The star, had neither cracks nor flaws, not because of Mizore's skill, no, that still needed improvement.
"Then…" Tsurara started, as she lifted two fingers toward the star.
The actual reason that the star was perfect, was really, quite simple.
"I guess you do have a good reason to be here … since Naruto can help you this much…. You must be quite healed already." Channelling some of her youki, Tsurara pushed it into the star. Slowly, it gained a bluish glow.
The star was one single ice crystal. Something only possible when a yuki-onna was true and sincere in intention.
"We don't want this melting now do we?" Gently nudging the star back to her daughter.
Pure, childish joy filled her daughter's face. Something she hadn't seen very often for a very long time, and by her daughter's side, Naruto face mirrored her daughter's.
She could only smile.
"Now then, since you seem rested enough Naruto, do you want to find out what else you can help her learn Naruto?" She said.
She cracked a hidden smirk, the surprise on Naruto's face lasted but a moment before an eagerness overflowed.
"Let's get started." Mizore's mother grinned.
If only Naruto had seen the sudden look of horrified last-second realisation in Mizore's face.
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Kazeshi's eyebrow twitched.
"I hate this place."
He was responded by his wife's laughter.
She was met with an annoyed, betrayed look.
She only laughed harder. Gripping her sides slightly, she tried to stop, really, she did, but the moment she saw his pout, it all came rushing back.
"You know, I'm starting to think that it'd be less trouble to simply force our way through…." Kazeshi muttered with distaste.
Miyuki understood his plight though, it was a shared plight really. Of all the places that she could have stopped at, she had wondrously started her seal works on top of hole that had minutes ago been covered by a sheet of snow and ice.
But then, the weather simply had to go be a pain…
It started hailing, and it wasn't small pieces of stone either. The pieces of hail had been ludicrously large chunks, some the size of her head. As they fell, you could expect a large crater where they landed.
One simply had to land right in between them and right in the middle of the ice sheet over a hole. Expectedly, it had given way and they found themselves at the bottom of a small hole. Better yet, all their painstaking seal work had been undone.
Muffling the last of her laughs, she paused to catch her breath.
Looking at her husband with her twinkling eyes, she said with mirth. "You know, it's been a very long time since I've seen you pout. "
Her husband responded with a look of shock, before his features softened.
"Yeah, it has been too long hasn't it? Kazeshi replied sombrely with a saddened smile.
Their eyes stayed with one another for another second, then with a sigh, Kazeshi picked himself up and set himself by his wife.
"How long has it been Miyuki?" He asked, a sliver of old tiredness laced within his words.
"3 years? 5? A decade?"
"Heh…you're making me feel old again…" Miyuki breathed, as she gave him a light smack.
"We are you know? We are…"
His wife formed her own pout, as she fixed him a glare. In a single quick movement, he pulled her over, wrapping his hands around her waist and sitting her in front of him.
The sudden look of shock that had flashed onto her face matched her indignant shout, but before she could form any other response, she had to stop as air rushed out of her lungs in giggles.
Thrashing in her husband's grasp, laughter escaped her as Kazeshi's fingers ran over her sides on a teasing tickling war path. Leaning forward she tried to escape, only to be pulled back roughly with her arms pinned under his. He gave her no time to rest.
"Sto…stop!" Her giggles blurred her plea as she twisted and struggled.
In a last ditch effort, she twisted herself as much as she could to the right and thirsted her right elbow back.
"Omph…owwww…"
His tickling stopped as his arms went slack, draped lightly around her form.
"Did you really have to do that?" He asked.
She responded with another.
"Agh…sheesh, okay okay!"
He nursed his stomach gingerly with an arm, a light playful smirk still worn on his face. In a second, with both his hands he had his back to the wall and his wife pulled along with him.
"Hey!"
"Har-har…" Quickly, but gently, his arm circled her by the waist while his other laid near her top, gently twirling her hair.
"You wouldn't hit little old me again would you" He teased, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Don't tempt me."
He grinned.
They stayed where they were, tenderly embracing each other's company. That bond that they shared, it hadn't felt so alive for so long, their faces both bore small smiles, each matching each other's breathing.
When the sun had finally gone down, they still sat on the icy floor, their auras keeping them warm. Basked in the slowly coming moonlight reflected off the glittering snow, they could hear each other.
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She couldn't help the small frown on her face. Despite all the giddiness she felt from the small inkling she had of what her daughter was going to do… she still felt worried, if her daughter was heading where she thought she was…
Quietly stepping on the snowy ground she tailed them. Hidden from their sight, she watched as Mizore excitedly pulled Naruto forward.
For the past five days, Mizore had been training extensively. When Mizore had approached her she had been sure that she had died or fainted somewhere and was dreaming. Throughout the many years her daughter had lived after her powers had developed, Mizore had never once come to her for training. She had had to force it on her daughter every time. Then…she had come and asked her for training…
Her daughter had actually approached her, for training!
Hence, after a minute of mute shock, she had replaced her shock and granted her daughter what she wanted in joy. At first, she had asked Mizore what she wanted training in, and she had offered many things.
Imagine her surprise when her eyes widened at her daughter's response.
Mizore wanted to learn control… one of the duller aspects of development. Still, her daughter had had a look of pure hope and hope, and she couldn't bring herself to do anything but oblige her.
Even when she begun the description of she would have to do further develop her control over her powers, detailing the many boring hours she'd need to spend focusing and meditating, her daughter had not lost the determination in her eyes.
She had been sure Mizore wouldn't go through with it… she had been very sure. For despite Mizore's quietness, she knew her daughter didn't like to sit still and do nothing for long hours.
Then… by the end of the first day, she had managed to destroy whatever scepticism she had had.
Even when she had left in the late mornings for her work, she'd return in the late evening only to see Mizore still dutifully following her instructions.
Though, the oddest thing her daughter had done during those few days had been to stay clear of Naruto during her training. Even going as far as to use another spot to train. She'd know… She'd had received more than a few cries of boredom from Naruto who spent a few hours each day helping her at the resort of how he hadn't been seeing Mizore as much.
She'd simply say Mizore was planning a surprise for him.
After all, while it had seemed odd to her first, she had known a little hunch from the second she saw the shape her daughter was trying to make, and it had done more than bring a wide almost loopy grin to her face. It had almost made her start jumping in joy. She had only held back to avoid letting her daughter discover her presence then. It was not a comparison for yesterday evening either, when her daughter had almost broken down their house door, rushing into their home like a pack of wolves were on her tail with her hands cradling her precious parcel.
At that moment, she knew. Even as she explained to her daughter later on what she truly intended to do with more than a bit of trepidation, she somehow already knew from her daughter's expression. It was simply a matter of when, it happening was never a question.
She stopped on a branch as Mizore and Naruto reached a small clearing. Her eyes widened slightly. Her hunch had been proven right. It would be today. She grinned- mother's intuition.
Part of her hunch anyway, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her fear had been unfounded, she wouldn't have to worry about anyone else finding them and making Mizore's day anything less than what it would be. Her daughter had found another field of snow whites. This field was perfectly untouched, unlike the one that the village usually used, this one was denser, more covered… it was like a blanket of Snow Whites covering the snowy ground.
She chuckled, she could see the sheer wonder on Naruto's face as well.
Now, the only thing that could have made her day better was if she-
Wait…
She grinned.
Click…, click-click-click.
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It wasn't an average day. She knew it so. She had woken earlier feeling quite startled, or was it excited? Maybe it had been due to a dream she couldn't remember, or maybe… she didn't care why.
The cold winds blew past her face, tickling her, cooling her. Winds she were so familiar with, yet felt so different on this day. There was this feeling in her, and she couldn't quite pin it. Joy? Glee? Hope?
She didn't care.
What she did care about, was that she had finally done it. Her hands shook with excitement-maybe exertion as she held her prize in her hands.
A beautiful crystalline Snowflake.
A weary smile pulled at her lips. She was excited, overjoyed, gleeful, so-she stopped short; too many feelings she couldn't describe filled her very being. She shuddered… not from cold… she was simply euphoric-like she was about to burst.
She won't ever ever be alone again.
Mother always told her so. If she ever found the one person she wanted to spend forever with, the one person who'd she never dream of letting go…Naruto… then she must perform the ceremony with.
The Snow White ceremony. A promise. To be together, forever.
All she needed was the person-check, a field of snowwhites-check, and a small crystalline ice sculpture-check.
She looked at the snowflake again, lovingly gazing at it, looking over it in joy. Then, her smile dropped. Something, didn't feel quite well.
What if he didn't like it? What if it was too simple? What if-, she viciously destroyed her train of thought.
He wouldn't.
Would he?
Her eyes narrowed. She zeroed in on the snowflake, scrutinising every single. last. detail.
She was sincere, she was honestly painfully so and she'd be damned if she messed it up with a shoddy piece of ice.
It looked simple, perfect and… so so plain.
Her hands trembled.
It wouldn't show her sincerity, her effort, it looked too easy, too uncomplicated, too clean…
NO!
She wouldn't be alone again, never, ever!
'Think!' She yelled at herself.
How could she, Mizore Shirayuki, a mere snow-girl, convey every last bit of her emotion through a piece of ice? How?
Her eyes squeezed shut. Her hands focused over the piece of ice in her hands. She scrunched up every last bit of memory and wisdom she could, every last note and tid-bit she could recall.
Images, symbols, sounds, smells, which could possibly be useful?!
Slowly, but almost surely, the snowflake in her hands changed. It changed in reply with her wish, in respond with her need, in resonance with her soul. She felt a warm sensation envelop her right hand, almost as if a comfortable presence had decided to grace her there.
When she finally stopped, she finally breathed. When had she held her breath? She wondered. She dallied no more than a second, before she opened her eyes. Why was she on her knees?
In that moment, she suddenly felt herself relax, and in shock, she fell.
A silent yelp, almost audible, very quickly left her as the split-second shock ran through her system.
'What?'
'Wait.'
She pried her fingers open one by one, hesitating as her fingers left unsurely, as if something had changed. Then she saw. Her eyes opened in wonder, and her mouth in a silent gasp.
If it had been beautiful then, it was almost assuredly beyond that now. She spent another minute, simply gazing in wordless amazement at what she held.
Then, her legs sprang.
She didn't keep track, but it felt far too long had passed when the familiar brown wood of her home door had finally come into view.
She threw it open and a bang resulted. Somewhere in her mind an image of her mother scolded, but it was dwarfed easily by her main goal.
"Mother!"
Small relief filled her when a reply graced her.
"Mizore?!"
The alarm in her mother's voice went unnoticed. The second she heard a footstep, she moved.
"Help!"
Almost recklessly, she saw in horror, she held the snowflake in hands she threw toward her mother. The flake jumped. Her heart leaped. Instinctively, her fingers grasped it, and relief surged for but a moment.
Her mother merely stood. What? Why wasn't she helping?!
"Mother?"
Her mother's eyes met hers, worry and concern evident. Then she realised; it was like a jolt. Her awareness returned.
She noticed now, her panting, her probably dishevelled worrisome state. By the window behind her mother, her lips were dry, her hair all over, and her face a frantic glow of red.
She looked like a mess.
Seconds ticked by, before she suddenly realised her mother's plight. A slight, somewhat sheepish smile etched onto her face, while overshadowed by her worry, it was still quite noticeable.
"I…
She suddenly paused, she wasn't sure why, yet… something made her stop. Why?
Suddenly, as if struck, her face whirled around, and she saw. Usually the face represented joy and fulfilment, but this time, it wrought forth a very different response.
"Eeeep!"
She jumped, and her face became redder. Then as if it wasn't enough, the sound she made only then registered to her and her blush deepened further, if even possible.
She imagined the slowly dawning look of realisation of her mother's face, the self-knowing smirk and grin that always marked one of her mother's plans.
Looking down as her face burned, she hastily snatched onto her mother's sleeve and pulled.
"Mizore?"
Oh no. She was too late!
"Ye-yess, Naruto-kun?" She choked.
She swiftly folded both her hands behind her. Hiding her precious work from his sight. Briefly looking up, she noted his form.
Bright golden blonde hair, with the glow of the evening sun reflected majestically off it. The dirty state of his orange shirt and black pants, as well as the messy scarf he wore around his neck.
"I… I haven't seen you as much usually." She almost jumped-his voice shook her from her studying.
"Is everything… alright?" He asked, laced with worry and a tinge of sadness.
It was a like a punch straight to her gut.
Guilt welled in her, burrowing its way up from her stomach and into her heart then throat. She looked into his eyes, apologetic, sorry. Did he understand? Oh Kami, she had hurt him hadn't she? In her selfish selfish attempt the past few days, she'd been pushing away her only friend. And all for a piece of ice?
"Naruto, I-
A pair of hands on her shoulder suddenly stopped her, threatening tears and words.
"She's fine Naruto-kun, she's just been working on that surprise of hers the past few days remember? Seems like she overworked herself today. I'll be helping her freshen up a bit before she rests okay?"
He didn't seem very convinced, yet he accepted still as he gave a small unsure nod. The guilt only built. With a final worried look sent at her, making her almost advert her eyes, he turned and walked past the corridor. She herself was gently nudged away into her mother's room.
The door closed with a resounding click. Then, arms warped around her and she was once again in a familiar embrace. Her mother's.
"Don't worry, Mizore. He'll understand, I promise." She sniffed, pressing herself into her mother for a moment. Breathing, her mother's familiar soothing scent filled her nose. Then, she nodded.
"So, what did you want?" Her mother suddenly asked, though as she thought about it, it didn't seem very sudden…yet…
She lifted her arms again and showed her mother her prize.
"I don't want it to melt."
For a just a moment, she basked in her mother's awe. Her mother's amazed eyes, and her mother's silent gasp as she looked at every tiny wondrous detail.
Then, her mother's face softened, before her gaze reached back to her eyes. Searching, seeking, it was as though her mother was seeing her very soul.
Her mother smiled, yet… it was tinged with just the slightest hint of worry. Why?
A small dark fear gnawed at her.
"I think, no-, Mizore, it's time I explain to you, what the Snow White ceremony really is."
'What…?!'
She nearly dropped what she had spent so much to make.
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A/N) In case you didn't get what 'click click click' was all about, I was implying a camera.