Strife666 – Thank you for your support! Hope you like this chapter too!
Himeno Kazehito – We'll see how the story goes on, as you can see I have changed many things, for the better (I hope). Thanks for the compliment, I kinda suck with the fight scenes but if you say I'm good at it, I'm happy.
Thomas Drovin – Thanks for your support! Sorry for being a bit late but here is another chapter!
Kasai no Oni – You figured it out? Oh, pm me then. I want to know if you really know it. :p Thanks for the review, appreciate it.
So not happening!
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By Angelbloodlover
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~ All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring.
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Chuck Palahniuk
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Chapter 9: Picnics and New Friendships
The following three days were spent training and sparring with the two Uchiha's. Itachi, the prodigy boy, kept asking (Itachi doesn't demand) for a rematch and we developed a small rivalry, which consisted of five-four for me. I may be better than Itachi at the moment but he was called a prodigy for a reason, my bruises could confirm them.
And I can tell you that Itachi has some nasty punches and kicks.
The memory of it made me rub my bruises, which didn't go unnoticed by the smirking Itachi. Scowling, I placed the blanket on the lush green grass. Stupid Itachi with his stupid smirks. Who did he think he was? Today I had planned a nice picnic with us four, no outsiders, only Shisui, Itachi, Naruto and I. But that aside, this was the moment I had to take their blood samples. This was my last day in Konoha and if I would return empty-handed who knew what that snake would think or do? I had to stick to my plan and take their blood samples, I knew it was stupid, cowardly and did I say stupid again? I would destroy their samples after I was done with Orochimaru. Taking a deep breath, I took out the food from my basket, which I had bought with stolen money from the Red Light District. People who went there were very rich and very prone to getting tricked.
"Keiko-onee-chan!" came Naruto's voice from the distant and next to him was Shisui walking towards us, with a grin on his face.
I smiled at the two and waved, "Hurry up, the food is getting cold."
When they sat down next to me, I giggled at Naruto's expression when he saw vegetables and oh look more vegetables. "Naruto-kun, you need to eat vegetables so you would turn into a big handsome young man as strong as the Yondaime. Don't you want to look like the Yondaime?"
"…I do." He confessed sourly, eying the vegetables with pure hate.
Chuckling, I ruffled his hair, "Then you need to eat vegetables, lots of them."
"Shisui-nii, did you eat lots of vegetables?" Naruto suddenly asked the older Uchiha who grinned at him, "Sure do, squirt."
Still, not believing the older Uchiha, he turned towards Itachi, "Itachi-nii, did you eat lots of veggies too?"
"Yes, and I still eat them." Itachi replied with a slight tug of his lips.
Naruto looked torn between the three of us and then back at the vegetables, sprawled neatly on the plates. Before all of you start thinking that I might have cooked this, I didn't. I just took the lazy path and bought them, of course, I made pancakes since they didn't know it here.
We all started eating, "Itadakimasu." The quietness was most pleasurable on their part but for me it was stress. I waited and waited and ate as they took bites from their food. The sleeping pills were crushed and then brewed together with the food so the smell and taste would be covered. But what I didn't account for was the fact that Itachi suddenly looked straight at me, eyes narrowed. "Keiko, after this you'll have to help me with something."
I could only nod my head in bewilderment and watch him eat the rice with vegetables. One day he would be the death of me. Sighing, I continued eating, praying that things would go according to plan.
Surely though, after twenty minutes of eating non-stop, the three of them dozed off towards dreamland and I took out two needles, taking their blood and healing the wound so it wouldn't be noticeable. Though outwardly I looked calm as I wrote their respective names on it, inwardly I was having a heart attack. Here I was, having a lovely picnic with Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi who were drugged, taking their blood samples for Orochimaru. I was a complete nut-case and yet I was too afraid for not doing it.
Sighing deeply, I hid the samples inside my kimono and collected the plates as the two of the three were snoring deeply. I had to drug Naruto too or else he might question about it and I didn't feel like explaining to Shisui and Itachi why I was injecting them with a needle. I was sure that they would never trust me again, hell, they would send me straight to T&I department.
Once everything was cleaned, I slept next to Naruto, hoping that nothing would go amiss.
When I woke up, I met the three pairs of eyes; two pairs of onyx black and one pair of azure blue. Blinking my eyes open, I raised my eye brow, "Is there something I can do for you three?" I stood up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
"In fact, you can." Itachi answered me.
Shisui nodded, "Yeah, we need your help with something." He rubbed his chin, thinking, "It was even weird we slept."
I suppressed twitching my fingers, no need to let them know anything.
"Uh-hu, I slept too because there was nothing else I could do."
Itachi slightly narrowed his eyes at me but I didn't comment on it. Stay calm. Itachi knew nothing. He knew nothing, he was sleeping, I had checked him, I think… Shit did I check, I can't seem to remember. Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Stay calm, no need to worry. He knows nothing. Nothing at all.
Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention to Shisui who was speaking about the horrors of fan girls. Stay normal. I sighed irritated, "Shisui-kun, why don't you tell them you don't like them? Or say you already got a girlfriend or whatever." Was this what Itachi wanted from me? It could be.
Shisui and Itachi froze on spot, looking at me in a creepy way. I shuffled closer to the confused Naruto who patted my arm in a comforting manner. "It's alright, onee-chan. I'll protect you from the mean Uchiha's."
Twitch. Twitch.
Creepy smile. Twitch.
"Keiko-chan, I've got the perfect solution for this case." Shisui yelled like he got some divine intervention, making me gulp as fear embraced the very bones of me.
"S-rank mission started." Shisui said darkly, Sharingan activated as he advanced upon me.
When I turned around Itachi had already appeared behind me, restraining my hands tightly. "Itachi-kun! Not you too!" I whined softly, squirming in his tight grip.
An evil smirk was his only reply as he started tying me with ropes.
"Onee-chan, this game looks fun!" Naruto declared loudly, a playful grin on his face, making me groan in irritation.
"Naruto! You traitor!"
Shisui chuckled in amusement, "Now, now, Keiko-chan, we can't do this mission without you." He scolded in a motherly tone, hand on his left hip.
I glared daggers at him, making him feign a pained look on his face as he dramatically held his heart. "Ouch. That hurts, Keiko-chan."
"Fighting is useless, we've got you captured." Itachi murmured in my ear, making me shudder in pleasure? What the fuck! Lowering my head in shame, I sniffed quietly. I was becoming a big pervert and a pedophile. I'm doomed!
Itachi misunderstood it and tried to soothe me by placing a hand on my shoulder. "If you cooperate it will go faster."
-:-
"…I'm doomed!" I declared loudly, using the same words twice, as I looked at the two boys next to me. Naruto was still in our clearing, training with my clone since he obviously couldn't come on this mission. …For obvious reasons which you'll see in a second or in my case feel.
Shisui grinned widely, "Now, now, Keiko-chan, how bad can this be?"
I stared at him for a long moment, moved my eyes to the shrieking horde and then looked back at him, as if telling him if he was stupid or what. I winced as one particularly banshee yelled loudly, making my poor ears bleed in pain. "I'm too young to die." I whimpered as the mass of screaming girls came closer and closer… until they all stopped talking as they looked at me – insert gulp – with venomous glares as they released a small bit of killer intent.
Another whimper.
Itachi nudged my back, prompting me to start the mission.
I shook my head stubbornly. "I will not sign my death."
"Hn."
"Keiko-chan, come on!" Shisui whined quietly, nudging me harder, making me almost fall face-first on the ground.
"No."
"Keiko-chan…"
I refused again, crossing my arms around my flat chest, ignoring the imaginative daggers that were trying to bore a hole, many holes in my skull.
"Fine, if you don't do it then I will."
My eyes widened and before I could turn around and run away from this place Shisui grabbed me and smacked his lips on mine, clumsily kissing me. When he stopped kissing me, I looked towards him in shock, not knowing what to say. He had just took my first kiss. "...That was my first kiss." I whispered quietly.
"This is Keiko, our girlfriend, isn't it right, Itachi-kun?" Shisui said sheepishly, a cute blush on his cheeks as he looked at Itachi with a meaningful stare. Do it already!
Itachi sighed, murmured a quiet apology, a small blush on his cheeks as he pecked me on the lips. "…Keiko-chan is our girlfriend."
The killer intent increased as all the fan girls were shrieking loudly at the unfair ordeal, denying the truth.
"That's not right!"
"Itachi-kun, drop that girl and come with me!"
"Shisui-kun, marry me!"
"Itachi is mine!"
"No, he is mine!"
"I want Shisui, he is way cuter than Itachi!"
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…
As my shock wavered slightly, a tomato-red blush appeared on my rosy cheeks. I glared at the two Uchiha's who looked away in embarrassment. "I'll castrate you both for doing that. That was my first kiss you guys stole!" You liked that. My perverted voice lulled into my ears. Of course I liked that but they were eight and ten years old... I'm twenty-five! I could get sued for this...
Advancing towards the two Uchiha's I stiffened when Shisui suddenly proclaimed my death. "The one who can defeat Keiko will be our new girlfriend!"
All the girls kept their mouths shut as they looked dreamily at the handsome Uchiha's and then turned their death glare towards me, making me yelp in fear.
"Get her!"
"I'll defeat her and then I'll have both of the Uchiha's!"
"She is mine!"
I gulped as I took nervous steps backwards. "Shisui.. Itachi?" When I looked behind me there were no Shisui or Itachi. That's when realization hit me.
They fucking ditched me!
"GET HER!" And the chase started.
I ran with full speed towards the market square, dodging the shocked villagers and ninja alike as I ran for my life. Those two would pay dearly. I thought darkly, plans to eradicate the two Uchiha's forming in my head.
-:-
I heaved out a shuddering breath and plopped ungracefully on the floor. "Never thought those weak fan girls could make me run like that." But it was worth it. If Shisui and Itachi would see what I did they would be beyond furious. Giggles escaped my mouth until…
Sound of clapping reached my ears and I turned around, wide onyx black eyes locked with yellow eyes.
"Keiko-chan, what a coincidence."
And the emotions were locked in a dark chamber in the midst of my mind. "Fancy meeting you here, sensei."
He smirked at me, eyes glinting with something weird. "My, my, Keiko-chan, and here I thought you would love to see me again."
I suppressed snorting in disgust and stared at him with cold calculating eyes, "What are you doing here?"
He chuckled darkly, "You have something that I want, my little flower."
"…"
"Give it to me." He held out his hand, waiting.
I stood up fluently, walking gracefully towards him as I searched in my pocket for the two vials of blood. When I dropped them on Orochimaru's hands a pang of guilt started to rise from my throat towards my heart.
TRAITOR!
I ignored that loud voice in my mind, waiting for Orochimaru to say something.
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…
…
"You did a very good job, Keiko-chan. As for your reward, I'll give you some time so you can say goodbye to that Kyuubi brat and your lovers because when we'll get back a surprise will await you there. I except to see you in the same location you came from. Don't be late." He disappeared within the shadows, his laughter cornering me in, choking me. I dropped on the ground, staring like a zombie as tears flowed down my eyes.
What have I done?
TRAITOR!
TRASH!
YOU DISGUST ME!
I misused their trust and for what…?
PITIFUL!
Go cry in a corner… Go and weep in self-pity!
How did he even know about my friendship with Shisui, Itachi and Sasuke? That dirty bastard was spying on me?! Fucking good-for-nothing snak- "Keiko…?"
I gasped loudly as black onyx eyes locked with another pool of black. "Itachi!" Wiping the tears away with the sleeves of my dirty kimono. "It's nothing, I'm fine." I assured him as I smiled weakly at him.
Itachi didn't look convinced as he crossed his arms.
"I need to go to Naruto. I'll see you later." I spoke softly as I started walking away.
"We can help you if you'd only let us."
I stiffened, my shoulders rigid, eyes wide for fear of being found. "What do you mean?" I asked hurriedly, trying to formulate ways to tell him that it wasn't my fault, that I had no choice in that matter, that I really didn't want their blood but Orochimaru…
Itachi sighed softly as he walked towards me, his eyes somehow looking with sympathy towards me. "I mean that you can tell us the truth."
"What did you see?" I asked nervously, eyes shifting from him towards the shadows.
He quirked one of his eye brows, "…You crying. Is there something I should've seen?"
I cursed myself for letting that slip out of my mouth. "…No."
He narrowed his eyes, hands tightly on my shoulders as his face was inches from mine. "Keiko."
I gulped, my hands sweating uncontrollably as I tried to look away but couldn't. His eyes were holding mine in place.
Kuso!
"Keiko-onee-chan?" Naruto voice sounded nervous, followed by Shisui's outburst of outrage. "Itachi-kun, don't steal my girlfriend!"
"Onee-chan is not your girlfriend!" Naruto shouted in annoyance.
Shisui nodded, crossing his arms, "She is. You can ask her."
"LIAR!"
I tuned the two out as I looked at Itachi right in the eye. "I can't tell you everything, only that I don't want to be Keiko. I'll tell you when the time is right." That sounded way too cliché.
His eyes looked, searched to find something in my eyes, a meaning behind those words. "One day, I'll except an answer."
"I will, Itachi-kun." I promised him, my words never wavering.
With a nod, he slowly pulled his hands back, dropping them next to his body.
Sniffing, I looked at the duo that was fighting playfully, "Guys, I have something important to tell."
Itachi stared with such an intensity it made me flinch slightly but I refused to lock eyes with him again for fear that he might discover my darkest secrets. The fighting ceased and they all looked at me with serious confused expressions, seeing my pained look.
"…I-I.."
I tried with all my might not to sob but once the river of tears started I couldn't stop them, lowering my head in shame at my pitiful state, I tried to speak but my voice wouldn't work. Damn it! I didn't want them to see me like that.
"…"
I hid my face as sobs echoed throughout the clearing. This was too much for me, I couldn't handle it anymore.
Black spots appeared and blocked my view, my heart ramming against my chest, my fingers digging in my hand palm, drawing blood out as I sobbed quietly. I had to go back to Orochimaru, back to that hell-hole where loneliness was my only company. …Please, somebody help me. I don't want to go there.
"Onee-chan." Naruto's voice jerked me back to the cruel reality as I looked at his watering eyes. "Don't cry, onee-chan."
Another hand on my shoulder made me look at Itachi, who was sending his words through his eyes that betrayed the emotions in his eyes. I yelped softly as I was pulled into a somewhat firm chest that was in his developing stage. Sandalwood scent invaded my nostrils and I recognized him immediately. "Don't cry, Keiko-chan."
Shisui.
Itachi.
...and Naruto.
"We're here for you." Naruto spoke again, voice firm and resolute.
I let out a shuddering breath and smiled warmly at the three of them. That's right, even if I fall, I'll always stand up. I'll never give up.
"…Thank you. I needed that." I whispered softly, eyes filled with gratitude.
The silence gave me time to think this through. I had to leave them and Kami knew when I would come back. I had to set their view of peace differently. Sure, I wanted to help them both but now I was determined to help them not because I felt pity for the pain that they would go through but because they were my friends. A serene smile appeared on my face as I thought about that.
Friends.
If someone would've asked me that I would be friends with Uzumaki Naruto I would somehow believe that person but if someone would've said that I would befriend Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi then I would've stared, blinked, stared and laughed crazily, refusing to believe that fucked-up imagination. …But now, imagination became reality and I couldn't- no, I wouldn't let them get hurt over some stupid coup d'état and fucking Shimura Danzo.
And then Naruto, what would I do with him? Surely, I couldn't leave him alone like that. Even the orphanage kicked him out, maybe I should have said something about that to Hiruzen? I groaned when my head was pounding like a bitch. "…Oh man." Clutching my head, I tried to force the pain away until some soft and yet calloused hands pushed my hands away, letting something warm seep into my head, easing my headache.
"Shisui? You know Medical Ninjutsu?" I asked in shock.
He scowled at me, "It's not that shocking."
I raised one of my eye brows.
"..Fine, I learned it with my Sharingan."
I grinned widely, feeling all my worries fade in the shadows of my mind. For now.
"Onee-chan, are you leaving us? Are you leaving me?" Naruto whispered with a pained look on his face, his eyes begging me to say no but this time I couldn't tell him any white lies for I would be lying for real.
I clenched my kimono tightly, my lips pressed tight, not wanting to give an answer. But those pleading ocean-blue eyes never left me, making me choke again. "N-Naruto-kun, I-I.."
"Say that you won't leave me, onee-chan!" Naruto cried out, hiding his face in the crook of my neck as he sobbed loudly. "Don't leave me… I don't want to be alone… Not again…Please…" He pleaded silently.
Shisui and Itachi glanced at each other, grim expression on their faces as they watched the painful scene of a boy who would lose his one and only precious person. The one who loved him above else.
"I-I ha-ave to leave-" Sobbing grew louder, "But I promise you, Uzumaki Naruto, that I'll come back and I never go back on my promises." I looked with a burning determination at Naruto who looked up, hearing that statement.
"Where will you go?" Itachi asked softly with his smooth voice.
I stiffened again, something that didn't go unnoticed by the two shinobi. "Somewhere where Keiko needs to be." I spat in disgust, feeling the hatred clouding my mind, though I did supress it, it kind of leaked out. Standing up, I picked Naruto up, rubbing his back affectionately as his sobs grew quieter and quieter.
Turning around, I looked at Shisui, feeling the lump increase in my throat, "Shisui-kun, I-I'll miss you. I want you to train harder because next time I come I except you to be stronger also I want your Shunshin no Jutsu to be perfect." I smiled fondly at him, moving closer to his face, making him blush cutely. He really was a sweet boy. A soft kiss on his cheek made him blush even more.
I turned my attention to Itachi who was looking stiffly towards a tree, refusing to look at me. "So you're leaving." He stated as a matter-of-fact but with a hint of anger.
"H-hai." I whispered softly, moving in front of him, looking at his eyes I noticed that his Sharingan was active, his tomoes spinning wildly. That made me gasp in shock and without another word Itachi took my hands in his, holding it firmly in place. "I still want a rematch." I don't want you to go.
"Next time, Itachi-kun." I promise I'll come back. "Stay safe."
I pecked him on his cheeks, squeezing his hands in comfort. "I'll miss Naruto-kun," Looking at the two boys, I smiled gently at them, "Can you guys watch out for him. People don't want to see what I- no, what we see. He is such a sweet, caring, loyal boy with a heart so pure and innocent. Can you watch his back, please?" I pleaded, my eyes begging them to do this small thing for me.
"I promise. Naruto-kun sure is different." Shisui spoke firmly, his face softening as he looked at me and the small bundle in my arms.
"…As will I, Keiko." Itachi promised softly, eyes never wavering from mine.
I felt my cheeks blush at their stares and smiled at them, gratitude clear on my face. "…Arigatou." I looked down, seeing the small bundle fast asleep, his fingers still clutching my kimono. "I'll always watch out for you, Naruto-kun." I spoke in English, kissing him lovingly on his forehead, inwardly grinning seeing the two Uchiha's quirk their eye brows in confusion. I handed him over to Shisui, who had to open his clutching fingers with a bit of force and cradled him closely to his chest, a sad smile on his face as he looked at me.
"I guess this is it." Shisui spoke softly.
I nodded, taking a step backwards, memorizing their facial features, their odd quirks, their gentle smile (yes, even Itachi had smiled slightly at me!), their scents and finally the good times we had spent together. "I hope I'll see you guys soon." I quickly turned around, my back facing them as I ran in the opposite direction, towards the park where Orochimaru and Sasori were waiting for me. But I couldn't leave them behind without saying what I did for revenge. So I glanced at them over my shoulder, yelling loudly, "I left a surprise behind for the two of you."
I ran away, laughing and crying at the same time as I heard Shisui's yell of "Wait up!" and could practically imagine Itachi's annoyance as he replied with his famous words, "Hn."
I relished in the fond memories of Naruto, of sparring with Itachi, of joking with Shisui because after this I had to close off my heart.
...Or I would lose it. Or maybe I lost it but those three found it?