A/n: Yay! Reveiws. Sorry for all the grammatical errors. Again.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any one in Naruto's world. Just Kimmi.
Chapter: Seven
As soon as I walked into my parent's house I was met with smiles and 'Welcome home' and 'We missed you so much!'.
A much needed large amount of affection to help cure the pain still left over from that jerk.
No. Don't think of him.
Suddenly I crashed to the ground with a loud thump, two small bodies clinging to me. Mira and Natsu grinned identical smiles at me. Their freckles practically popping off their face.
"Kimmi!" Mira yelled happily, squeezing me as tight as her eight-year-old arms would allow. "I missed you!"
I squeezed her back, "I missed you too!"
Mira's twin pushed her off of me for his turn to hug. "I missed you more," Natsu declared loudly and then stuck his tongue out at Mira. She rolled her eyes. I hugged him just as tight and then lifted him off me with a laugh.
I then immediately went to my mother, who I know worried her self to death while I was away. I wrapped my arms around her, and felt almost better when she returned the gesture.
"How is everything?" I asked quietly when I pulled back.
"Fine. But better, now that you're home," she said with a watery smile.
"Ma, don't cry! You'll make me cry too!"
She sniffed. "You look so different."
I shook my head. "No I don't. I look exactly the same."
She reached out for one of my braids, "Your hair is so long."
"I know," I groaned. "You need to cut it."
"Oh," she frowned. "But it's so pretty."
I shook my head. "It's dangerous."
She sighed knowing I was right. "Later this week?"
I nodded and tuned to my step-dad, Isamu. "You've lost weight!" I said with a smile.
He grinned back. "Your mother has me eating nothing but cardboard, but it will be worth it in the end."
As long as I've known Isamu he's been a big guy. Standing around six foot seven, with a barrel chest and arms the size of my thighs, I'd always been dwarfed by him.
But since his retirement from the shinobi three years ago, he'd gained a little weight around the middle.
But now… Now he looked like his old self again.
"You look great!"
He nodded. "All to this pretty lady," he said and kissed my mother's cheek.
Natsu made a gagging sound from behind me and I laughed.
It was good to know things hadn't changed around here.
Isamu smiled at me, his dark brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good to have you home, kiddo."
I walked into his open arms as he leaned down to engulf me with a hug. "It's good to be home."
Ryoma kissed my cheek and fell onto the couch closing his eyes. We would talk later. Shin merely squeezed my shoulder before walking over to his pregnant wife, Choko, who was resting on my favorite overstuffed chair.
"Koko!" I yelled out the nick name I had given her years ago, when her and Shin were still dating. "You look like your going to pop!"
I counted the months on my fingers. She was just over eight months pregnant.
She grinned. "I know. I feel like some sort of cross between a cow and a duck."
I walked over and put my hands on her striped shirt covered belly. "No. You're too beautiful to be a cross between a cow and a duck."
Her dark blue eyes softened before she turned and smacked Shin in the arm. "Why cant you say sweet things like that to me, huh?"
He huffed and glared at me. "She took the words from my mouth, that's all."
Choko rolled her eyes and then placed her hands over mine. "It good to see that you're safe, Kimmi."
I nodded. "I'm so happy I'll be home for when the baby's born. Is it a boy or a girl?"
She shrugged. "We don't know. We want it to be a surprise."
I would want to know, I thought. I don't think I could stand not knowing. I smiled and looked around. "Where's Danno? And Nana Toki?"
Ryoma spoke up. "Nana's out back kicking Danno's butt around."
I smiled.
This was Danno's year to graduate at the academy. This was the year when he would be jumped by Nana at random times.
I remember the first time she jumped me. One kick to the back of the head and I was spitting out mud for hours.
I went through the kitchen and stood out by the back door and watched as Danno tried, and failed, to block Nana's kicks and punches. I winced as one connected with his jaw and he went flying into a tree.
Nana tutted and shook her head.
"Poor Danno," I murmured. "Getting his butt kicked by an old lady."
Nana turned to the house. "I heard that, Kimmi. You get over here and I'll show you old lady."
I waved my hands. "No way, Nana. I'm on leave."
She laughed. "Any excuse you got, huh?"
I laughed back and nodded. "Yup. I don't want any extra bruises. I'm going to look awful enough in my bathing suit as it is."
I walked over to Danno who was still sitting stunned against the tree.
"You alright, Danno?"
He smiled up at me. "Yeah. Just a little worn out. She jumped me as soon as I got back from sparing today."
I held my hand out to pull him up and he grabbed it with a grateful smile.
I was surprised to see how much he'd grown.
At 12 he was nearly eye level to me. Gods, he was going to be as tall as his father.
He laughed and patted the top of my head. "I'm almost as tall as you now!"
I stuck my tongue out and put him in a headlock. "Doesn't mean I can't still kick your butt."
I dragged him all that way back inside still in the headlock.
"Kimmi! Let go! You should be hugging me, not hurting me!"
I messed with his dark hair, making it stand up.
"Ugh! Kim! Stop!" he yelled and tried to push me and away and flatten his hair down at the same time.
I grinned. "Aw! Poor Danno… Can't get out of a simple head lock." I reached around and pinched his nose. "How are you going to be any good to the Leaf if you cant get out of your sister's headlock?"
"Well, it's kind of hard when your sister is part of the Black Ops." he growled and struggled some more.
I pulled him through the kitchen and into the living room, Nana following behind chuckling. "Well, I got everything I need. Let's get to the beach," I announced.
Ma smiled at me. "Why don't you grab the picnic basket instead of your brother's head?"
"Aw," I said and let Danno go. "The picnic basket?" I reached out and picked Mira up, throwing her on my back with no effort. "I think I'll take this instead." Mira giggled.
Ma shook her head. "Ryoma, grab the basket will you?"
He groaned from the couch. "Ma…"
"Thanks dear," she said and picked up a couple stray towels and handed them to Danno.
Mira squeezed me tight around the neck and sighed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
I could feel her smile against my neck. "Nothing. I'm happy. It's just that everything was starting to get weird while you were gone."
I raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her. "Weird? How?"
She shrugged and smiled. "It doesn't matter. You're home now. Everything will be better now."
I kissed her temple. "You bet."
We were half way to the beach and Mira was snoring against my shoulder. And something warm and sticky was slowly sliding down my back. I wrinkled my nose at the thought of her drool on my skin.
Danno was at my side whistling and holding towels when he suddenly spoke up. "How was the mission?"
I shrugged slightly. "It wasn't too bad." I grinned. "More dangerous than anything you'll be on," I teased.
He grinned back. "I heard you were with Neji Hyuga."
I raised an eyebrow. "Where did you hear that?"
He glanced around. "Oh, I don't remember… Somewhere."
I grinned. "You little eavesdropper."
He chuckled. "Always have been."
I shook my head and silently blamed Ryoma, who was famous for his eavesdropping skills.
"So… Is it true?"
I sighed, but didn't answer.
"That is so cool! My sister with the Neji Hyuga!"
I rolled my eyes. "He's not as cool as you make him out to be."
He gasped. "Have ever seen him fight?" His eyes were as big as saucers. "He's awesome!"
I snorted. "When did you see him fight?"
"This morning. Me and Tihu were down at the training grounds looking for a field to practice on and we saw them."
"Them? Them who?"
He grinned. "Guess."
I made a face. "How am I supposed to guess? There's like a trillion people it could have been. Just tell me."
He paused, for dramatic effect I suppose. "The Uchiha," he whispered.
I smirked. Danno made him sound so… Lordly. But I knew different. After all… I was witness to a very drunk Uchiha. "Sasuke?"
Danno grabbed my arm. "You know him?"
I smiled at his high pitched cracking voice. "Not very well. I just met him last night."
"Oh wow. No wonder they were talking about you."
I frowned. "What? Who was talking about me?"
"Hyuga and Uchiha," he stated.
"Are you serious? What did they say?" I demanded.
"They were talking about your fighting skills. What areas you excelled in. What areas you lacked in-"
"Lacked in? What did he say I lacked in?"
Mira snorted into my neck, slightly tickling it.
"Genjutsu."
I frowned. Well, I guess I really wasn't that quick on detecting genjutsu. But I wouldn't say I lacked in that area. I could throw out genjutsu with the best of them.
Kind of.
"What else did they say?"
He scratched his head. "I don't know. Something about finding a squad that was looking for a lieutenant. And arranging some meeting later today."
I sighed. "Great."
Obviously they were talking about me.
Stupid Neji.
"Wait. You said a lieutenant?"
Danno raised an eyebrow, "Yeah. Why?"
I frowned. Lieutenant? Why would they be talking about looking for a lieutenant? "Just curious." I sent a grin his way. "Race you to the water!" I yelled and took off, leaving him behind with a startled hey!
Mira woke quickly after I sped off and squealed as we passed the rest of the family and I jumped into the water, both of us fully clothed.
…
…
…
As I reached for my fifth hotdog Nana slapped my hand. "Don't you think you've had enough?"
I frowned. "No. I'm still hungry."
She gave me a crooked smile. "You're not hungry."
I grabbed the hotdog anyway and smothered it with ketchup. "Okay, Nana. What ever you say."
She grabbed my wrist before I could take a bite. "You're upset."
I sighed and looked away from Nana and out towards the water where Danno and the twins were splashing Ryoma. "I'm home. What's to be upset about?" I asked and put the hotdog back down on my plate before pushing it away.
She shrugged and ran a tanned, wrinkled hand through her short, snow white hair. "You tell me, honey."
I put both elbows on the picnic table and leaned forward. "I'm not depressed."
She shook her finger at me. "You're an emotional eater. You have been since you were a baby. You've always tried to hide your feelings with food. It's a wonder you've never been fat. And today you've had quite a bit to eat, don't you think?"
I rolled my eyes. "Nana. Maybe I've been starved these past months, and now I'm making up for it."
"With hotdogs?" she raised a thin eyebrow and pushed my plate towards me. "Honey. I know you. I know how you act. You're upset. You can tell me if you need to."
I hung my head. Who was I fooling? Obviously no one.
"I don't even know why I'm as upset as I am. I shouldn't be this upset."
I frowned down at the worn wood of the table. What I said was true. Of course I had reason to be mildly miffed about Neji transferring me to another squad. But I shouldn't feel like I'm being torn apart on the inside. I shouldn't feel this betrayed. Shinobi were transferred to other squads all the time.
What was up with me?
Nana reached out and tugged on one of my braids. "Tell me."
I sighed and looked up, glancing around to make sure no one was near enough. I don't think I could take my step-dad or brothers making fun of me about this.
"Okay… Well, I was gone six months, right? And it's a long time. Well, no. Really, that doesn't have anything to do with this. Maybe it does… Ugh."
How do I put this into words?!
She smiled. "Does it have to do with a boy?"
I nodded. "But now how you think… I think." I pulled at one of my braids. Gods, I was confusing myself. How was I supposed to explain this to someone else? "Okay. Um. So, for the last six months I was with one person. My Captain. We'll call him…" I glanced around. "Um, Blue. So me and Blue, just us, for six months. Me relying on him, him relying on me. He was the only person I could count on for the entire time. There was no back up if anything happened. And he's a great captain. Powerful. Worthy of respect. Which I do. Respect him, I mean. And even though he's more closed off than any one I know, and quite moody, he's actually a great guy when you get to know him. Which wasn't easy."
I thought of all the questions I asked. And all the half assed answers I got back. I sighed.
I looked up at Nana, and her eyes, so much like mine, were crinkled in amusement. "Alright. So far I got that you and Blue were together for six months, with no one but each other to rely on and that you respect him."
"And it was hard to get to know him."
She laughed. "And that too. Now go on."
I sighed again. "Okay. So, soon he starts to become more than my Captain. He starts to become my friend. I care about him. About what happens to him. And when I got hurt, he was there, looking over me. And when he was hurt, I was there for him."
I shook my head. My thoughts were so jumbled I didn't even know if what I was saying made any sense.
"So, we became friends." She nodded. "And last night he invited me out to unwind with his friends at a club in town. I had fun. We went back to my flat and he ended up staying the night."
She raised an eyebrow.
"No! Not like that, Nana! Nej- Er… Blue's not like that. He's a perfect gentleman. He only stayed because the weather was so bad."
She nodded. "That was a wicked storm we had last night."
I smiled at my Nana saying wicked. "Yeah, so…" I rubbed my nose. "Like I said, he ended up staying the night. But before we went to sleep, we drank some more, and talked and laughed. It was nice. Just me and him, completely relaxed, having a good time. He said some weird things that didn't make any sense, but I think that was just all the booze talking."
I smiled slightly as I remembered him throwing pillows at me. And when he let me braid his hair. And all the shots we did. And when his fingers ran through my hair. How nice that felt-
"Kimmi?"
"Ha- Uh. Yeah." I felt the blood rush to my face. "Well, like I said he stayed the night. Then this morning Shin and Ryoma show up and barge into my bedroom, where Nej- Er, Blue was sleeping and they started screaming like the idiots that they are."
She gave me that crooked grin. "Your room, huh?"
"No! I was in the spare room. We didn't share!"
She just gave me one of those looks. "Okay, Kimmi. I believe you."
"So I kicked Shin and Ryoma out and as Blue was leaving he was all like 'I'm going to the commander today and request that you be put on another squad'." I frowned and picked at the table with my fingernail. "And I don't know why. He wouldn't give me an explanation. He just thanked me for my 'hospitality' and left."
"I see."
I shook my head. "Do you? Because I sure don't."
"Well, no. Not really." She paused and looked at me curiously. "How do you feel?"
"Awful," I groaned. "It hurts. I feel betrayed. Like… Like…" I patted my chest. "Here. It hurts here."
"Like he left you?"
"He did leave me!" I sighed and banged my forehead on the table. "I don't know."
I felt her come around and sit next to me. She patted the top of my head. "What makes you upset the most about it?"
I didn't answer because I didn't know, so I just shrugged.
"Is it because you're afraid you wont see him again?"
I scrunched my nose. "I don't- Well… Yeah. That and… That I wont be there to protect him. Which is stupid, because he's more than capable. But…" I lifted my head and looked into Nana's understanding eyes. "I don't know. I'm so mixed up right now I can barely think straight." I rubbed my nose. "All I know… Is… Well, I don't want to loose him. But I don't even know what that means really…"
She patted my cheek, her hand soft against my skin. "Don't worry. Everything will work out."
I pulled my now cold hotdog towards me to eat.
I felt a little better now that I've told someone. But the pain was still there.
As I shoved the last of my hotdog into my mouth a small speckled sparrow landed on the table and chirped at me.
I turned my plate so the small bird could peck at the bread crumbs.
"You're being summoned?" Nana asked as she softly petted the tiny bird.
"It's not a formal summons, so no mission." I kissed her on the cheek and stood up. "Tell everyone I'll be back shortly."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're going like that?"
I looked down at my short light yellow summer dress and white flip flops. You can see the ties around my neck from my white bathing suit, but I don't think that I look indecent.
"Nana, if they decide to be offended by my clothes, then maybe they shouldn't have called me in on my day off."
She grinned. "And are you going to tell them that?"
I shrugged. "If they ask."
She laughed. "Well, hurry back."
I grabbed a handful of chips and walked off the beach to make my way towards headquarters. The small sparrow landed on my shoulder and nipped at my ear.
I sighed and glanced back at my family before taking off my flip flops and jumping up into the trees.
A/n: Pointless chapter? Maybe. But I still like it. Sorry it took so long.
I blame work. And a broken finger.
