Disclaimer: I do not own any 'Naruto' characters! Even though I want to... I'm just joking Masashi Kishimoto-sensei...
A/N: Just keep on reading, don't want to bother you with my looooong talk. Don't forget, review to those who wants to! Arigatou to those who done it!
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Chapter 10: Five Days.
Alnho Kakashi – or as we know as Kaka – stared towards the fire in front of him. He was deep in thought until Umino Iruka appeared in his usual ninja uniform under a thick fur cloak appeared right at the entrance of the cave from the blazing snow at the outside.
"It's confirmed, the enemy base," Iruka said. Kaka still kept staring towards the fire, not saying anything as Iruka took a seat across him.
"So, as plan then, Kakashi-senpai?" Uchiha Itachi – wearing his Jounin uniform and a thick fur cloak – asked. Kaka didn't say anything, just giving out a slight nod.
Uchiha Itachi had happened to be a Konoha betrayer and was always on the run. But a few months ago, under some unknown reasons, he surrendered to Konoha. Because of his willingness to accept any punishment – including death penalty – and his brother Sasuke somehow had forgave him, he was put under Konoha's pardon and a very strict watch of Kaka. And the Hokage had kindly put him into a new team consisting of Kaka and Iruka. Currently, they were on their latest mission.
Kaka then took out his kunai and began to toss it into the air and caught it before reaching the ground. He repeated the action several times until he somehow failed to catch the kunai at the handle; instead, he caught at the blade. His hand began to bleed slowly.
"Kakashi-san…,"Iruka began to approach him but Kaka shrugged him off.
"What is this uneasy feeling?" Kaka thought while staring at his cut, "Mizu, daijobu ka?"
Suddenly, the fire was blown out by a strong wind and before they could react, a hit behind Kaka's neck caused him to black out.
She continued to walk through the snow even though her freezing feet screamed in tiredness. She stopped for a while, taking her breaths. She then continued to walk. Even though she didn't knew what was happening, she knew that she had to de something important, really important to the point of risking her life...
She looked up and saw a white tower. On its door, a huge bluish-white circle was carved with a dark blue water-drop shape in the middle of the circle. She began to run towards it, feeling great relief for some unknown reasons. Then...
First day…
"NIICHAN!" Mizu woke up with sweats poured down her face, breathing heavily. She took her necklace out and looked at the bluish-white circular locket with a dark blue water-drop shape in its centre.
"What a dream…," she murmured. She began to lie again when she saw someone stood at the door. It was Nadare.
Mizu hastily sat up straight and looked around her. She was in a small room on a soft bed. And Nadare still was standing at the doorway, staring at her. Mizu then remembered that the fact she was kidnapped by Nadare and now, who knew what would happen.
"Wake up at last," Nadare started, still staring at her with his icy eyes. Mizu looked away, feeling that she couldn't withstand Nadare's stare.
"Now what?" Mizu asked, "What are you going to do to me?"
Nadare kept silent for a while, and then he started to walk away, "Nothing at all…"
Now, Mizu's eyes widened in both curiosity and surprised.
Second day…
Nadare kept his words. Apart from seeing Mizu during mealtime and engaged in a really brief conversation, he let Mizu did anything she wanted, except for escaping from him. And after several failed escaping attempts, Mizu was 'given' a chakura-sealer by Nadare that was worn on her abdomen. Like it or not, since she could do nothing to put off the chakura-sealer, Mizu decided to stay put. After all, Nadare didn't try to harm her.
Currently, she was enjoying the snow scenery when Nadare suddenly stood beside her. Mizu was startled by his sudden appearance but kept it hidden. None of them talked for a while…
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Nadare broke the silence.
"What is beautiful?"
"The scenery. The snow makes it beautiful."
"I guess so…"
Nadare then started to walk away but stopped when his hand suddenly bleed when brushing against the stone railing. Mizu hastily approached him and took his bleeding hand.
"Mizu-san, I-"
"Stay put," and Mizu took out bandage out of her pouch and began to bandage the wound neatly. In the process, Nadare just stared at her with surprised eyes. When it was done, Mizu unconsciously smiled towards Nadare, "Done!"
Again, Nadare was surprised by Mizu's smile. He kept silent, and then hastily started to walk away. He stopped for a while, "…Arigatou," and started to briskly walked away with a slighter redder face.
"Nan desu ka?" Mizu wore a rather questioning look on her face.
Third day…
Since yesterday's incident, Nadare seemed to be a bit friendly towards Mizu and even told her about his childhood past during breakfast.
"I mean, as a five-years-old kid, it wouldn't be a surprise that I fell for the dumb toaster monster story. And it took me months before Okaasan could actually convince me that toaster just a harmless non-living thing. Otoosan really got me at that time," Nadare spoke as he took a toast, "Otoosan would say 'I'm coming for you, Nadare-kun!'," and he forked the toast and moved it into the air towards Mizu, "And that would made me immediately took for cover behind Okaasan…"
"No way that you actually fell for that!" Mizu giggled softly, "Isn't that obvious the toaster and toasts could do no harm to you?"
"Who knows what had gotten into my mind back then…," Nadare smiled in amusement, "I'm just a stupid kid back then…maybe until now…"
"You're not stupid."
"Huh? It's just a spontaneous talk… Don't take my words seriously…"
"You-are-not-stupid. Say it."
Nadare stared at Mizu for a while before broke into a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Mizu asked with a questioning look.
"Nothing, it's just…," Nadare smiled again, "…you're interesting than I thought before," and he stood up, walking away.
Again, Mizu wore a questioning look, "That smile… Why on Earth he smiles like that for? Something good happen to him?"
Fourth day…
"Hold on a bit, I'm coming usagi-chan," Mizu carefully walked against a stone railing to rescue a snowy white rabbit that somehow stuck on a broken wall. The path she walked on was narrow – only about three inches – and really slippery – because of the ice. And if she's not careful, she might fell into the forest about a hundred meter below her.
"Only a little bit…," her left hand tried to reach the frightened rabbit, "Don't afraid of me usagi-chan…"
The rabbit first just stared at her reaching hand and then slowly, it approached her hand and Mizu immediately took it into her hold.
"Got you!" Mizu silently cheered but as she did that, suddenly a strong wind blew and caused her to lose her balance and her feet slipped from the narrow path. She began to fall but someone hastily grabbed her right arm.
"Nadare-san!" Mizu called out, seeing Nadare grabbed her arm tight.
"I'm going to pull you up," Nadare said and slowly, he pulled her up and placed her onto a walkway. He looked at her, "What on Earth are you doing out there? You're supposed to walk on this, not the other side of the railing."
"Gomen ne, Nadare-san," Mizu showed him the rabbit, "It's just this little fellow wants some help."
"Whatever then," Nadare sighed.
Mizu smiled and tried to get up but failed. A pain feeling attacked her right ankle.
"Nan desu ka, Mizu-san?" Nadare asked.
"I think I've sprained my right ankle…"
Nadare stared at her for a while then he crouched besides her, taking out bandages. He then pulled off Mizu's right sandal and immediately started to bandage her sprained ankle.
"Ano… Nadare-san…," Mizu started but Nadare shushed her hastily.
"Done," Nadare said shortly, examining the neat bandage.
"Err… Arigatou ne, Nadare-san…"
"Can you stand now?"
"I'll try...," Mizu tried to stand but she nearly fell again. Nadare quickly caught her in time and supported her.
"Nadare-san…"
"Just walk."
Mizu stared at him for a while and then unconsciously smiled, "You're so kind, Nadare-san."
Nadare shrugged her off but his reddening face aroused Mizu's curiosity.
Fifth day…
"Wow…," Mizu looked towards the starry night sky, "Amazing…"
"Do you like it?" Nadare suddenly spoke from behind.
Mizu turned around, "Hai! Daisuki desu!"
Nadare kept silent and stood besides her. None of them spoke a word. Only a soft breeze broke the silence between them.
Nadare stared at Mizu, "How much I wish we meet in a rather different situation… If possible, I don't want to fight you…"
"Eh?"
"Mizu-san…," Nadare's right hand touched her left cheek and his face was near to her, unconsciously smiling, "…for me, you're like the stars of the night…"
Mizu didn't said anything but she realized that Nadare's icy eyes now had some hidden warmth behind them…and looked alive to her, which was to her amazement.
"Oyasumi…Mizu," and Nadare began to walk away. Mizu looked at him until he disappeared with a rather confused expression.
"He just calls me 'Mizu', ne? Does something happen without my knowing?"
"So, this is it. I hope no one forgets what they should do once in temple."
All of the Konoha ninjas nodded to Kashi's words. After a few moments, they disappeared into their own way in the forest. Only one thing was in their mind: rescue Mizu at all cost.
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A/N: ...