Chapter 10: Hugging can give you hives

Me: I finally got this up… but I'm so tired~~!

Kuro: GO SLEEP THEN!

Me: What's wrong with Kuro?

Deidara: She's still angry that you killed her in the last chapter.

Me: o.O" Okay then, if anybody needs me I'll be in my study looking at important papers *walks off*

Kiba: So that leaves the disclaimer for us again?

Shikamaru: Yea, very troublesome.

Sai: *sighs* Then I'll do it. Peru doesn't own anything of the original Naruto manga or anime… whatsoever. The only thing she owns is the OCs that come in this chapter.

Kisame: Enjoy the chapter.

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Kakashi's POV

Naruto and Sasuke went outside to find Kuro. Sakura stayed with me, her thoughts was preoccupied with Kuro, it was crystal clear.

When did Kuro go out of the house when he was right in front of my eyes?

A few minutes later, Sasuke and Naruto arrived. Naruto was carrying something. No, he was carrying someone. And that someone was Kuro.

Kuro looked lifeless. Sakura gasped and looked away. Judging from Naruto's expression, Kuro's body was a dead weight. 'Was he gone? An eight year old, gone?'

"Bring him here, Naruto." I motioned Naruto to my side.

Naruto put down Kuro, gently. He seemed to look like he was sleeping peacefully. I brushed his forehead free from the strands of hair. 'His body heat is… rising?'

My eyes widen at the discovery I made. That's when I saw movement in the shadows of the room. I looked up and saw ice blue eyes staring at Kuro, and paid no attention to anyone else.

"Kakashi-sensei, it's hurt!" Sakura whispered. I followed her gaze and saw what she meant. This panther was about to die, yet it stays still in wait for Kuro?

Naruto was fidgeting. Probably getting ready to protect Kuro at the cost of his life. Sasuke was as calm and passive as ever. Kuro seemed to twitch under the gaze. Then he sucked air noisily, which made everyone look in his way. He opened his eyes, his fog-blue eyes surveyed the room. And his eyes met the panthers. There seemed to be a connection between the two; for Kuro got up and went over to it's side (he winced with pain but didn't really care, so I guess it was impossible to stop him), and it gave a cub to him.

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes staring into each others eyes. Then the panther left the house, staggering all the way, and then it was gone.

Kuro's POV

The panther seemed to give her cub to me, with her dying breaths. I looked down at the cub she gave me.

Then I remembered that I was brought into a house. I looked around and saw everyone staring. I hung my head, ashamed.

"Sorry everyone." I mumbled.

"For what?" Kakashi mused. I looked up and stared at him, in his one good eye.

"For being a snob." I hung my head again only to jerk it back up it again to see Sakura to hug me (Sasuke's gaze was really unbearable right now, it felt like someone was trying to murder me with a stuffed animal). 'What the hell!'

"Awww, Kuro-kun you're not a snob. Anyway who is this little guy?" Sakura changed the subject, and thankfully removed herself from me.

"This is the cub of the panther that just left." I look down at him. He was such a cute cub. His fur was a bit gray, but when he grows up it'll turn black. Like his mothers.

"What are you going to name him?" Naruto comes closer so he could take a better look at the cub.

I look at the cub one more time. Thinking up a name is hard, not to mention on how I thought up a name for my fish at home and ended up with Mik. 'Well if Kiba's dog is Akamaru, I could use, Uramaka. No that's too obvious. He'll notice. So how about… the word god? Then I'll go with my last syllable of my last name. Gami. I'll name him Gami.'

I smiled at the name and I said it aloud, so everyone could hear it. "I'll name him Gami."

"It's not creative. But I like it! Believe it!" Naruto grinned and patted Gami's head.

Sakura wanted to pat his head too. So I gave Gami for her to hold. Sasuke just seemed to stare at me. I look back at him, and he kept on staring at me. 'What's wrong with him?' I thought as I turned my attention back to Gami.

He was mewling. 'I think he's hungry.' I looked around trying to find a bottle of some sort. To put milk in. I found one on top of the small cabinet. I took it and ran to the kitchen. The drunkard was sitting there sipping his sake.

"Hey Mister? Do you have any milk?" I ask sweetly as possible.

He looked up and smiled. "Sure I do kiddo! It's in the fridge."

I open the fridge grab the milk. Pour it into the bottle and find a rubber sucker to put on. I then run to Gami's side. He was still mewling, and Sakura had a worried expression on her face. I chuckled as I too Gami out of her hands, and began to feed him milk.

"What are we going to do now sensei?" Naruto broke the moment of silence (which I was thankful for).

"Hn?" Kakashi seemed to forget the topic that he was discussing.

"About Zabuza?" Naruto urged.

"Oh right. About that I'll be training you guys, so you could take on at least some Jonins." He told them.

"WHHAAAA?" Naruto and Sakura both cried in unison.

"We're gonna fight Zabuza?" Sakura gaped.

I zoned out of the conversation, and continued feeding Gami. He finished suckling and fell asleep. I dozed off as well.

~xXx~

I look around and it's all pitch black. This must be a dream. I see light ahead of me and I walk towards it. I think it was two minutes of walking until I saw a flickering light. It sped past me. I decided to chase after it before it vanished.

It seemed like forever. It stopped abruptly, and I skidded to a halt. I just noticed that I was in front of the light that I saw in the beginning. I turned back to see gold eyes staring at me.

~xXx~

I woke up in cold sweat. It was dark and the sun didn't rise yet. I looked around and saw Gami sleeping soundly. I sat up and looked around. I listened to everyones' snoring.

I think I had a fever because my head seemed to be burning up. I guess going outside will help cool it down.

I got up and Gami stirred. He looked at me with his ice-blue eyes. I smiled and motioned him to follow me. We both crept to the main door behind us.

We walked in the cool night breeze, for a while we didn't say anything. I was enjoying the cool breeze, when I heard a voice.

Where is this place?

"It's the outside." I explained, then I stopped. 'Did someone just talk to me?'

I look around wildly to see who spoke. But the air didn't stir. Everything was quiet. I shrugged it off, thinking it was only the wind whispering. I thought wrong.

Why are we outside?

"Okay. Who's there? Come out, I know your out there." I was beginning to get creeped out. When I felt I felt a prod on my ankle. I look down and see Gami look at me curiously. Then the voice came again.

Who's out there?

I stare at him. "You can talk, Gami?"

It seems that you can hear me thinking. His ice blue eyes looked at me.

I smile. "So it was you who asked the questions?"

He purred in delight, that I understood. It's great for you to catch on that quickly.

"Ya, it is. I thought I was being Paranoid for a moment there." I sighed. Quite relieved that I wasn't.

Who is this Gami person anyway? His ears twitched with curiosity.

"Gami is your name." I giggled. It was so long since I last giggled. It felt good to do it again.

Then what is yours? His whiskers twitched.

"My name is Kuro. Kuro Shinigami." I patted his head and he purred.

Are you my mother? I looked at him before saying anything.

"I guess you could say that. But don't worry, we'll be best friends from now on to infinity." I smiled, keeping worry out of my voice.

Gami twitched his tail. So why are we outside anyway?

"My head was overheating. And when it does I go take a walk outside. It helps a lot. Ya." I explained to Gami, and he got it.

We talked until dawn broke. "Let's go back Gami. The others will be worried if we aren't there. Besides, I've caused them a lot of trouble as well."

Yes. Let's. It's getting chilly. He felt happy, and took the lead.

We arrived at Tazuna's house. Kakashi was leaning on a single crutch for support. He turned and saw us. "Where have you been?"

"Went for a stroll. It's a habit of mine. Ya." I was met with a huge hug. I swear I couldn't breath. Sakura let me go and started scolding me.

"Don't you ever go off like that again! You hear me! You almost gave me a heart attack!" I looked at the others and scoffed. What I saw would ruin my memories. Kakashi looked amused at how Sakura treated me. Sasuke's glare seemed to hit killer intent level, I swear I could feel it. Naruto - I guess he was jealous, yup I guess that's the word.

I looked sheepishly at them (what is it with Sakura and hugging… me?), and changed the subject to save my skin from being torn off me alive. Dying was horrible, not to mention the incident with one of Deidara's bombs. "Okay then! How about we start training?"

Kakashi nodded and led the way. I already knew what was happening. So I seemed to zone out when we got there.

I thought about home, I missed it dearly. My parents would be in quite a shock. School was no different, I missed my friends. Not to mention the crappy teachers. My heart felt heavy. I was about to burst into tears (who wouldn't?), but I felt a knock on my head. Instinctively, I snapped to the present. My guard was on, I looked around warily and stopped at Kakashi.

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei?" I answered tiredly. He motioned me away from the others who were already practicing on how to walk up a tree. He then turned to look at me.

"Kuro, I want to see your full skills." He said after a moment of silence.

I look at him questiongly. "What do mean by that? Ya?"

Kakashi sighed. "I want to know your true skills. And when I do know them, I'll set a training chart for you. Got it?"

I think it over. I didn't get a chance to look through the book after the ear/tail incident. But I guess I could learn and create a few jutsus of my own. It'd be worth it. I look up to Kakashi and smiled. "If you want to see painstaking progress then I guess I could show the 'true' skills I have."

Me: Finally finished… *yawns*

Naruto: Why are you yawning Peru?

Me: …Naruto my dear friend… I spent most of… of my sleeping time… to finish this chapter… … … …

Naruto: Oh…

Sai: I guess we better leave her alone.

Me: *collapses*

Naruto: *turns around* ?

Me: *snoozing*

Kiba: What the heck? She actually fell down?

Shikamaru: Troublesome…

Kuro: Well I guess we'd better go, review please!