Disclaimer: I don't own KHR or Naruto
Fran
The following day they departed, the caravan head of the one Fran had been with the last few days was glad to say goodbye to Fran. He didn't seem too upset when their sensei had gone to speak to him about them taking Fran out of his hands. However, soon Shisui, Itachi and their sensei had found themselves regretting taking in the kid with them.
"Oi. Weasel-san, shouldn't weasels be on the ground instead of the trees." Fran said in his usual manner. Itachi didn't say anything but that repeated comment had begun to annoy him. Shisui had found it funny until he also got the same treatment, as did their sensei. They were irritated with having the brat around.
"Yume-nee, why is a sloth your sensei? I thought sloths were too slow to be able to teach anyone." At that Yume smiled and patted Fran on his head as they continued to travel through the trees. They had learned how to climb trees while using chakra, as well as water walking a few days before taking the mission. This had helped them with applying chakra into their legs to help with their tree jumping. However, this didn't mean they didn't over calculate from time to time how much chakra and force they applied, and ended up missing a branch here and there.
Fran had been piggybacking on Yume, and she had taken the responsibility of taking care of him. Though the change wasn't too obvious it was apparent that Yume seemed a lot more happier than she had been feeling lately. They had also seen that she was very protective of the child. Itachi wanted to ask her about him, but thought better of it. It didn't seem like the right time to ask, especially since she had just introduced them yesterday and had given them a brief explanation of who he was.
Apparently, he was family to her, but the details were too complicated to explain, even for her. He sensed that she wasn't telling the whole truth, just as she didn't tell the whole truth to them about a lot of things pertaining about her. She was kind and friendly to them, yes, but there was also this feeling of reluctance to become close to them. He knew that if he confronted her now, she would not give him an answer, so like many other times, he didn't ask her. 'Yume-san...why do you keep us from getting closer to you...'
"Oi. Weasel-kun." Itachi's eye uncharacteristically twitched. 'On a more important matter, how much longer do we have to spend around that kid. Suffice to say, the arrival back to the village couldn't come any sooner to all three males of Squad 11.
When the Hokage had expected Squad 11 to arrive back, he had expected them to have achieved their mission without fail. He however, didn't expect for them to return with a new addition. He saw that it was a child of about three, perhaps older, if he was just simply small for his age. The child in question, he noticed stuck quite close to the only female of the Squad and that she had a protective air around her. He had a feeling that if he tried to separate them, even though he could do this without much problem, that it would not end in a peaceful way. Her time around Naruto had helped her a little but not much, and he noted that she had been able to help Naruto in small ways, even if she didn't realize that.
He looked at the child and noticed that he stared at him without much emotion, however he sensed mischief, and something else in those childlike eyes.
"Daitaro-san, I didn't expect for you all to come back with an extra person." He said humorously as Daitaro came forward and handed in the completed mission scroll.
"Yes." Daitaro, had said in a strained voice. "It certainly was unexpected." He said, recalling when he had spoken with Yume after Itachi and Shisui had left.
Yume looked up as she sensed her sensei approach her and Fran. She immediately wiped her eyes and held Fran close to her. She wouldn't let herself be separated from him. No matter what, she would not and would even resort to escaping if it meant she could stay with Fran. She knew she'd be leaving a lot behind but that wouldn't matter at the moment. She finally had someone from her home, and she was not going to lose him. Fran had merely taken to watch her sensei approach, not saying a word.
"Yume." Her sensei began to speak as he stopped in front of them. "Is everything alright?" He asked as he looked at her tear stained face. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and he knew she hardly cried. No matter how many times she got hurt during training, or was snubbed by others because of her personality. She came close to at times, but that was during when her eyes held a glazed, sad look in them. However, at the moment he noted that they didn't hold any sadness, but rather held a determined, defiant glance as she held onto the unknown, green haired child with markings under his eyes. The child just merely stared at him calmly, not even bothering to be scared or freaked that his student, who he thought had never seen that child before.
"Hai, sensei. I'm fine."
"That's good...It wouldn't be nice if you were hurt in any way." She nodded but didn't release her hold on Fran.
"...Yume, you know the child?" At that she nodded.
"Yes...he is family."
"Ah?" He asked as he looked dubiously between both her and the child, with a lazy look in his eyes.
"Yes...Not related by blood but family nonetheless."
"And how can you be sure he is family?" She then pointed to a ring held in the boys hand. It had inscribed the numbers 666 on it.
"That ring...the markings under his eys and his hair color. I remember Fran as a small child." She said not expanding on everything without, adding a lie. While she had no doubt she could lie to a civilian, it was doubtful she could bypass a lie through a Jonin.
"I see…" He then sighed, knowing that with or without his consent the child would come with them or there would be consequences he wouldn't like to face. "...Just come back towards camp Yume and don't go off by yourself. We're a team, and we are to work as such." He said scoldingly. "Also, the child will be your responsibility not mine."
"Hai, sensei."
Her eyes had then shown happiness and gratefulness to him, while the child hadn't even bothered to talk. Now that he was back to the village, he had wished the child had remained that way. Looking back towards the Hokage he elaborated. "It would appear the child is related to Yume-chan. However, she has told me that they are not related by blood, but she recognizes him as family because of the ring he owns, the hair color and the markings under his eyes." He said.
"Hm...I see." The Hokage said as he looked at Yume as she stared at him defiantly. He wasn't surprised due to the fact that she had an air about her that screamed protectiveness. Not exactly subtle, but he now understood why she seemed protective. "Then you shall have to take him to register for citizenship. I'm afraid that shall take a while, so it would appear you will have to take care of him Yume-chan." He said as he looked at her.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Yume said as she bowed. Fran tilted his head as he heard the word Hokage. "Why are you called fire shadow, old man? You're not on fire, and you are not a shadow." He asked.
Everyone in the room sweatdropped at his question. However, Yume responded to Fran's question. "It is a title Fran-kun."
"So does that mean he turns into a shadow that's on fire?"
"No, it's a title given to the village leader."
"Oh." He had spoken all in his usually calm manner, even if his question could have been considered childlike and normal.
Yume smiled and patted Fran on his head and noted that his eyes had begun to droop. She then turned to the Hokage and her sensei. "Sensei, Hokage-sama, may we be excused? I'm afraid Fran-kun needs a nap." She then looked back at Fran who was trying to keep his eyes awake while standing up.
The Hokage chuckled at that, knowing that children his age got like that at times. "Of course, you all may go now."
It had been morning when they had arrived back, and she knew Naruto would probably be out doing some sort of prank at this time. He had begun to prank people a few weeks ago, and she didn't bother to stop him. It brought the child amusement and it was a good way for him to burn off energy. She also knew that he would not be back till around four, and by then she would begin making dinner for Naruto, Fran and herself, and Naruto never knocked on her door to come over. So it was a surprise to her when she heard a knock on her door at around three in the afternoon. By now Fran had woken up from his nap and was roaming around her small apartment, often making remarks on how shabby and ugly certain things looked.
She chuckled as she recalled that. It wasn't something to get upset over if she knew it was true. So as Fran kept remarking over certain things she went to open her door.
"Yo! Yume-chan!" Shisui said as she stared at him unamused from her doorway. "Heheh, don't worry I'm not going to stay here for long, but Mikoto-sama wished for me to invite you over for dinner."
At that she frowned slightly to herself. 'Well that's not a problem but..' "I'm afraid I may not be able to go Shisui-sempai. If you have not noticed I have to take care of Fran-kun, as well as my other charge."
"Eh, no worries. Mikoto-sama won't mind. She also told me that it was alright for you to bring your charges with you. She said she wanted to know of the children you were taking care of and hope they became friends with Sasuke." He said cheerily, although his smile faltered a little as he looked at Fran who had appeared next to her.
"...Alright. I accept her invitation for dinner. It shall be at six, correct?"
"Yep."
"Okay, thank you for letting me know Shisui-kun." She said with a small smile as she waved by at Shisui. She then closed the door in his face, just because it was amusing to hear what he would say next.
"Hey! How dare you close the door on me!" He yelled in a sulky tone. She laughed, and shook her head in amusement as she looked at Fran. She then noticed that he was wearing rather plain, earth colored tones that didn't suit him at all. She would have to take him shopping soon but first, "Fran, we need to talk about a few things."
Fran at that had looked at her expectantly. "Okay Yume-nee."
"Fran...what happened while I was gone?" She asked nervously as she sat on her couch with Fran doing the same.
"Ah...Shishou and the Vongola guardians have been trying to find a way to locate you Yume-nee."
"Eh? Even Mukuro?"
"Hai, although I think it was more to pay back the favor of taking care of me, when he got mad at me a lot."
She sweatdropped. 'Of course. He and Hibari don't like to be indebted with people.' "So they have been looking for me.." She said quietly to herself. Happy to know that she wasn't forgotten and that they were trying to get her back.
"Hai...but Yume-nee has been gone for only about three months, so I'm not sure how you could be so used to all of this place Yume-nee." At that Yume tensed.
"Ah...about three months you say?"
"Hai."
"...Fran...I haven't been here for three months..I've been here for about three years…" She said quietly as she realised why it was taking so long for them to come for her. There was a time difference between both worlds.
"Eh?" Fran froze and realized what that meant. "So...what Yume-nee is getting to, is that we'll be here for a much longer time than we think because one month back home equals to one month here?"
"...Yes Fran. It would appear that is the case."
"...Yatta." Fran said in his usual tone. "I get to be away from Bel-sempai longer now. I wonder...how should I celebrate my vacation from that stupid prince."
"...Pfft." Yume began to laugh at that comment. It had been so long since she had heard Fran say comments like that, and she realised that she had missed them a lot.
"Yume-nee, are you ok? Haven't lost your marbles have you?" Fran asked as he watched Yume hold her stomach as she continued to laugh. Yume smiled, as her laughter began to die out. "Ye-Yes Fran..I'm heh, I'm fine." She grinned as she hugged him. "I've just missed hearing your comments."
"Yume-nee you're weird."
"Heh, I know." She smiled as she then went to her savings. "Anyways, Fran-kun, we've been invited to dinner. I think we need to buy you some new clothes before we go there. That color doesn't suit you at all."
"It's an ugly color."
"Indeed." She said amused. She also recalled that she her other charge was also in need of new clothes. "Okay, Fran. Let's go. We're going to have to pick someone up before we head out to dinner with the Uchiha's though."
"Ah, Who Yume-nee?"
She merely smiled at Fran and shook her head. "You'll see soon enough Fran-kun." She said in an amused tone, as she thought of Naruto meeting Fran.
"Eh. Okay."
M:Yay! I finished another chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it
animagirl: Yes it was Fran. I love the little guy. As you can tell, her behavior has change but it won't be too drastic around Itachi and Shisui. After all, people have many faces to show around different people, and it will take time for her to fully open up to Itachi and Shisui.
