Honey, I can Explain Chapter 15A: Secrets
Hi all this is really a note to myself but whatever…
6 weeks pregnant.
This is the original chapter 15, I had promised to post it but I had forgotten so here it is!
"Hi Kyoko-chan, do you like playing with blocks?" Kushina asked sitting next to the little girl. She had been watching her for some time build a tower of blocks before knocking them over and repeating the cycle. Kyoko avoided eye contact as she continued to build a tower. For the past few weeks Kyoko had been extremely distant, and her small appetite had decreased even more. She rarely wanted to leave the "childproof" apartment that had been set up for her, which was a strange occurrence for the girl. "Kyoko-chan, are you okay?" Kushina asked placing a hand on the child's arm. Immediately the girl shrunk away holding her arm as if she was in pain. Whoever has been dressing her; has been making her wear long sleeve shirts and pants as if to hide something. Even though she can't live with us, I don't like this setup. She's here all alone and she's probably hurting herself.
"Kyoko-chan, did you fall down?" Kushina asked finally getting eye contact with the girl. The little girl stared at her briefly before going back to her blocks; stacking one on top of the other. "Kyoko-chan, look at me," Kushina ordered kindly tapping the underside of Kyoko's chin. Pausing Kyoko looked up at the woman with sad pained eyes that tore into Kushina's soul. Clearing her throat quietly Kushina let out a nervous reply, "Someone's hurting you…aren't they." Looking away Kyoko nodded before looking at the grief stricken woman painfully. Carefully Kushina rolled up Kyoko's sleeves to see them covered in bruises and carelessly bandaged cuts. "Honey, who did this to you?" Kushina asked quietly. Kyoko shook her head looking up at Kushina with big sad fearful eyes.
"Do you have more bruises? Yes or No?" Kushina asked nodding her head and shaking her head when she said yes and no. For about twenty seconds Kyoko stared at the woman before nodding. "You're not going to live here anymore," Kushina began to tell her, warmly rubbing Kyoko on the top of the head. "Let's go get your clothes, and your favorite toy. I'll have Minato get everything else." Averting her eyes Kyoko shook her head no pulling her knees close to her. "I don't want them to hurt you anymore, okay Kyoko? Minato and I want you happy and safe," Kushina replied. After another small staring contest, Kyoko slowly extended her arms to the hotheaded redhead to be picked up. The woman smiled, carefully wrapping her arms around Kyoko lifting her off her feet. Everything's going to be okay now Kyoko. You're going to be our little girl, Kushina thought hugging the girl tightly in her arms. She let a few tears fall into the girl's hair as she clutched her close. She broke out in a sob
It's almost midnight. Where could Kushina be? She said she'd be back five hours from now, Minato thought worriedly. Since she is carrying his child, he couldn't stop worrying about her. With a worried sigh he picked up his coat heading for the door. A couple of times, Kushina would spend the night with Kyoko because she couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. Just as his hand touched the door knob, it turned slowly in his hand gently pushing him away from the doorway.
"Sorry it took so long. Take her," Kushina said softly, handing over the girl in her arms. Surprisingly, she was sound asleep unlike most nights.
"Was she too frightened to sleep?" Minato asked quietly.
"Nope, she's going to live here with us," Kushina replied confidently, tossing the heavy bag of clothing next to the door.
"Live here?! I thought we agreed to her living in the apartment," Minato replied.
"Put her down on the bed, I want to show you something," Kushina sighed.
"What is it?" Minato asked, following his wife to the master bedroom. Carefully Minato laid the little girl down on the bed.
"Look," Kushina replied rolling up one of Kyoko's sleeves. "She has cuts and bruises all over her arms and legs. I couldn't just leave her there. She even says that someone is hurting her, but she's reluctant to tell me." Flicking her ears up to the sounds of their voices Kyoko stirred opening her big blue eyes.
"Hi Kyoko-chan, did you have a nice nap?" Minato asked before turning his attention to his wife. "I'll get her changed and into the spare bed. You get in bed."
"Alright, but she may fuss," Kushina replied.
"I'm going to be a father, remember? Come on Kyoko let's go get something for you to wear," Minato replied helping the girl off the bed. Groggily the girl stumbled to Kushina stuffing her face into the front of Kushina's dress. She was still very unsure where she was but all she wanted was to be close to someone she felt very comfortable with. Whispering a few comforting words to the girl Kushina turned the girl back to Minato. She wearily followed after him watching his every move like a hawk.
"So what do you want to wear Kyoko-chan?" Minato asked sifting through the bags of clothes. Blinking her tired blue eyes, Kyoko stood behind him wordlessly. Casting his gaze on her, she looked clueless and tired. "I keep forgetting that you don't speak. Do you want to wear something blue?" Minato asked scratching the back of his head sheepishly. He watched as the stationary girl came to life, stroking her long white hair, processing the question in her head. She gave a single nod before returning to her stationary emotionless position. "Is this okay Kyoko-chan?" he asked picking out a short sleeved pajama top and bottom. Without much hesitation Kyoko shook her head furiously allowing her long untrimmed white hair to flail about. Kushina's right, she does need her hair cut, or at least trimmed, Minato thought putting away the clothes that he chosen. Her face was hidden mostly by her hair giving her the appearance of a feral child.
"How about this?" Minato asked holding up a pink pair of frilly long sleeved pajamas. Kyoko could only look up and give him a "you-got-to-be-kidding-me" frown. Letting out a sigh he sifted through the bag trying to find something that she would agree to. Pulling out the last pair of pajamas he held it up silently not wanting to provoke another furious no. This last pair was yellow with long sleeves. She gave it some thought before nodding silently. Her hollowed sullen eyes followed Minato's every move as he repacked the bag of clothes.
"So Kyoko-chan, where do you want to go?" Minato asked reaching out to place a hand on the top of her head. She flinched slightly shutting her light blue eyes anticipating some type of injury to be inflicted on her small body. She should have stayed with us, Minato thought gently placing his hand on top of her head. "Don't worry Kyoko-chan, I'll never hurt you. You're a very special young lady to me," Minato told her lovingly. As his words sank in a look of shock and horror came about her face. Slowly tears of joy streamed down her face as Minato continued to rub her little head.
"Why are you crying? Are you happy?" Minato asked wiping the little girl's tears away. She nodded continuing to let her tears fall. Minato hugged the little girl feeling nothing but remorse for her. He had promised to protect her but he failed. He dressed her in the yellow cloth bringing her to the master bedroom. Lying her down, Minato gently brushed the little girl's head singing a few nursery rhymes to her in a soft and soothing voice. She almost instantly fell back into a peaceful slumber. Minato kissed her cheek leaving her asleep on the bed. He carefully shut the door being careful not to disturb Kyoko or to show his steadily increasing anger. How could The Council betray him in such a way?!
"I'm going to figure out the source of Kyoko's bruises," Minato answered angrily heading to the door. He couldn't stop thinking about what he was going to do to the council. They were the only other people who had access to Kyoko's apartment.
"Minato, I don't want you to do that," Kushina answered. She was oddly calm and relaxed. Minato was surprised that Kushina was trying to join him. Kushina was so overprotective of Kyoko, that even he was subjected to her maternal beatings every once and a while.
"Why not?! We allowed her to be tested on right under our noses!" Minato snapped. She let out a sigh closing her eyes trying to control her own anger.
"YES! But if you wanted to find out why she's being beaten you'll have to put her back in that situation!" Kushina answered. "We don't know for certain that she's being tested on either!"
"I know," Minato said looking away from her.
"And you're willing to do this to her?!"
"NO I'm not! We don't even know when this happens. I have to know what happens to her. If I don't know…I can't protect her," Minato answered. She had never seen him so angry in her life. They had some up and downs but he had never been this angry at anyone.
"Minato just calm down, I'm sure we'll find another way to figure out where Kyoko's bruises," Kushina replied standing up to pull him away from the door.
"There is no other way," he growled angrily. How could he be so blind and naïve?! The signs were so clear but they just thought of it as Kyoko just being home sick.
"Minato, don't do this to yourself. I think it's best if we leave this alone for once," Kushina answered hugging him from behind. "Please."
"We can't, not this time." His voice rose with anger. He only wanted to go to his office and investigate this situation. He didn't want to involve Kushina. This was already an emotional situation and the stress on her wasn't good for the baby.
"Now you're just being stubborn! Think about it from her perspective!" Kushina snapped.
"Kushina, I failed to protect Kyoko," he said softly.
"And HOW is putting her back in that situation protecting her?! Leave it alone Minato," Kushina hollered. Kushina flinched noticing a small shadow in the doorway. "Kyoko-chan we didn't mean to wake you. Let me take you back to bed." Kyoko's expression was a mixture of confused, tired and fearful. Kushina picked up the child kissing her cheek softly. "Minato if you do anything to allow harm to Kyoko…I'll…good night Minato."
"Minato what the hell did you do with Kyoko?!" Kushina demanded slamming her husband into a wall. "Why would you do something like that to her?!" I've never seen Kushina so emotional, Minato thought. Tears streamed out of her eyes as she continued to press up against the wall. Kushina's maternal side will get me killed one of these days, he thought as she pounded on his chest angrily.
"Kushina she's fine…she's right here," Minato shushed guiding his wife to Kyoko. She was asleep on her dog pillow using Minato coat as a blanket. "But something did happen last night," he said in a low voice.
"What?" she asked.
"Someone came in and took her while you were sleeping," Minato answered seriously.
"How did you know?"
"It was obvious. You took Kyoko and all her belongs without telling anyone. Kyoko wouldn't be able to do that on her own. Also the only logical explanation would be that one of us 'stole' her from the apartment," Minato answered.
Flashback
"How did you get in the Hokage's mansion? You know better than that. You'll be late for testing," an Anbu officer scolded the squirming girl. Testing? Minato thought lying as still as possible in his bed. Minato heard Kyoko bite his hand but she had little success. "Savage brat."
"Thankfully the Hokage is still sleeping. Let's get her to the facility, they're already behind in testing on her," an Anbu foot soldier said a low voice. Minato listen to the men leave with the fighting girl.
"Kushina," he whispered to his sleeping wife. "There's some urgent business at the office." He placed a hand on her side hoping that she'd stay in this state of consciousness.
"Don't be gone long," she answered rolling on to her other side.
"I won't," Minato answered kissing her forehead. Heading towards the door he looked at his wife before letting out a sigh. "I really hope this is nothing," he murmured.
"We've been doing this test for weeks now. And she hasn't created a barrier to protect herself. Are you sure she has this ability?" a doctor asked as they reposition the catapult. Hiding in an air duct Minato looked on angrily. Weeks?! How could he be so blind to recognize this?!
"I saw it with my own eyes. It created a barrier around itself when it was scared and a butterfly in the Hokage's office," Koharu huffed arrogantly.
"Yet she's only a little girl," the doctor mumbled. "She's so young…"
"You feel compassion for this beast?!" Koharu demanded. "It's a savage beast!"
"Yet she's a child."
"It's not a child. If you think of it as an animal, which it is, you'll be able to continue our tests. Proceed."
"Y-Yes," the doctor answered. Minato couldn't believe this. How could Koharu be so cruel to an innocent child?! Where was her compassion and maternal instinct?!
"I want you to aim at its head."
"BUT Ma'am!"
"It'll have to make the barrier then. I'm sure of it," Koharu answered.
"Y-Yes Ma'am," the doctor muttered.
"Also don't use arrows or kunais. Use iron cannon balls," Koharu said calmly. She stared down at Kyoko as if she was a piece of trash. Kyoko was expendable, meaningless and most of all she wasn't human. No human was as hideously deformed as her. Who could create such a vile beast?!
"Ma'am, what if the balls break through her barrier?" another doctor asked.
"At the distance we're at, it's unlikely," Koharu huffed. She motioned them to fire. Kyoko's ears twitched fearfully trying to figure out what would be hurled at her next. Tears streamed out of her eyes and her body trembled with fear. Her eyes grew seeing the black ball fly towards her. Koharu growled angrily as Kyoko simply shifted her head quickly to the left to avoid the ball. "Spray her with cold water. We need to teach her a lesson." The doctor obeyed turning on a set of high powered hoses. Kyoko fidgeted in her shackles trying to avoid the water. She let out a silent scream finally activating the barrier Koharu wanted.
"Kyoko I'm so sorry," Minato muttered to himself.
"Increase the pressure. I want to see how the barrier reacts," Koharu replied thirsting for more power. Kyoko could solve all of their security needs! She just needed to be trained and given the right type of motivation.
"Yes Ma'am," a doctor answered opening the valves more. She's so terrified…and I can't do anything right now. If I reveal myself they'd probably hurt her in some way, Minato thought angrily looking away from the little girl. He gaze returned when he heard the screams of several men. Kyoko had redirected the water towards the doctors and Anbu guards.
"Get control of her!" Koharu hollered. "Of course she'd have this ability." Angrily Kyoko redirected the water towards the observation deck with Koharu. Locking eyes with Kyoko, Koharu noticed the coldness in the little girl's eyes. "Knock her out." Unable to catch up with the Anbu Kyoko was easily knocked out by the men.
End Flashback
"She was so terrified Kushina," Minato muttered. "The blatant disregard for human life…they're the savages. Also the pure hatred in Kyoko's eyes, she was a completely different person."
"So they came in and took her?" Kushina asked but her husband seemed too quiet. "Minato."
"Yeah, you were sound asleep. I'm going to go to work now," he answered robotically.
"O…kay," Kushina muttered in a confused tone.
"Help me take pictures of her wounds," Minato said quietly.
"Minato, what are you planning?" she asked suspiciously as he gently pried the little girl from her fluffy pillow. He looked at Kushina bouncing the little girl emotionlessly. She was still asleep in his arm.
"I'll hold her," he said softly.
"Minato," Kushina said.
"You should let her play with Itachi-kun today."
"Minato, I don't like it when you're this quiet," Kushina said seriously.
"I'll be fine. Come take these pictures before Kyoko-chan wakes up," Minato answered.
"Minato, why is that savage staying with you and Kushina?" Koharu demanded. "I thought we'd advised you to place the little thing in protective custody."
"We took these pictures of Kyoko's arms and legs. Care to explain," Minato demanded tossing the pictures at them. "How did she get there bruises? I'm giving you this one chance to explain yourselves." Homura picked up the pictures looking through them carefully. He then handed the pictures to Koharu who did the same.
"It's a child Minato in an apartment with sharp edges. It's probably just bumping into different objects. We'll just put up a few rubber bumpers in the apartment and then the bruises on her arms and legs will disappear," Homura reasoned.
"What if she created a barrier around herself?" Minato asked glaring at Koharu.
"I don't know what you're talking about Minato," Koharu answered.
"What is your explanation for her wounds, Koharu?" Minato growled.
"Minato, why are you so angry? She's just a clumsy child. Every child gets bruises when they're young," Koharu answered. "Minato you're too obsessed with this child."
"No child gets bruises to this extent!" Minato hollered.
"Minato what has gotten in to you?! Homura snapped. Minato was never out of control. And why was he making these "false" accusations?!
"What has gotten into me?! What has gotten into you two?! Especially you Koharu!" Minato answered thrusting a finger in her face.
"Lower your voice Minato," Koharu ordered. "What is this child to you?!" Minato grabbed the necks of the older individuals thrusting them into a wall.
"Now she's a child?! What happened to, 'if you think of it as an animal, you'll be able to continue our tests' act?!" Minato hollered. Koharu stared at the angered man stunned. "If you harm her again I'll do more than throw you into a wall, I'll have your necks." Minato released the two elders returning to his chair behind his desk, "Get out of my sight."
We get to see Minato act very paternal for once! Also this is one of the sadder chapters of this story. First early morning posting!
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