At dinner, I sat nervously. I mean, how many people narrowly escape what must have been an attempted kidnapping and then can rest easy and just continue with life? Well, I was TRYING to.

I dig into the meal. I'm not sure exactly what it is, just that it tastes good. Yataka made it. Now that I'm looking for it, I can few his chakra inside it. Worn out and secondary like it had been a flower left out in the sun too long, losing its colour, personality, and aspects of it that made it Yataka's chakra. But I try to ignore that because if I start trying to sense chakra remnants in the food, I may end up a vegetarian… by choice instead of the situation. Because who wants to sense something as personal as chakra in the meat they eat?

Sensing Proficiency level has Risen X2

Just what I need more feelings of cannibalism! Maybe that's how those crazy rumours started to begin with? Because chakra is such a personal thing, and feeling it in food is messing with me… and ok, I may be projecting just a little! But it's not my fault because Choji's leaving and I was nearly kidnapped, and Yota is gone, everyone's gone, and I'm about to lose Choji too and… breath!

I force myself to breathe to calm down because giving into a panic like that is a slippery slope. Too slippery, and there is every chance I could lose myself in it all. The deep calm is just that, calm, and it lets me keep eating in peace and not panicking… much… I'll work through that trauma another time.

First things first. I need to follow through with my decision, and I can't flake out just because I want to… and boy, do I want to.

"I'm going to miss you guys…." Choji sniffles after dinner, and we hug though Ami doesn't because they aren't that close, at least not that the two can remember.

"See you around, Choji-kun." I tell him, and his brow furrows at my strange words. I could see the gears slowly turning behind his eyes, but he turned to leave. It's better this way. It's better this way. It's better this way… if I think it enough, I might actually believe it.

Everyone is rushed to prepare for their departure in the morning, which makes the whole thing easier. "Come on, Chibi, I'll walk you and the purple brat home." Yataka says, and Ami squawks and I suppress a laugh. About time Ami gets an annoying nickname, too. I've already earned far too many for my taste.

"Just a second… I want to say goodbye to Natsumi…baasan, and Choza-san." I say because why do bonds and connections have to be so hard to break?

I move a turn, and Natsumi is already there. "Oh, no need to worry. We'll be back before you know it." She assures me, patting my cheek instead of pinching it.

I move past her after a bow that leaves her looking puzzled and head for Choza. I can sense his chakra in his office. I knock on the door, and Choza makes a slight humming sound turning to face me from some paperwork. I guess running an entire clan of hundreds of people WOULD involve that.

"Yes?" He asks, his face all scrunched up, and I feel my heart rate increasing under his gaze. It's easy to forget with all the time I've spent here that he is a ninja, a jonin, an elite.

"I…I…" I begin to say and steel myself. I've made my decision. No turning back now. "I just wanted to say… thank you… for everything." I say with a deep bow, thinking I might fall forward because of it. I rose, getting ready to leave, but then the large man was right in front of me!

"Let's close the door." He says, not bothering to ask my opinion as he does, and I feel a flicker of chakra enter the large entrance spreading out over the walls… seals… the question is, what do they do? Maybe privacy seals? Why would we need that?! "You know we're very fond of you. My family, that is." He says. His voice though soft, has a hard edge as he goes back to his desk, sitting down and gesturing to the seats in front of him. I hesitate for a second before sitting down.

"Thanks?" I ask, not sure if I am even supposed to respond.

"So tell me… you don't intend to stay a part of our lives. Why is that?" He asks, and now his voice is stern, and I stiffen. I had hoped to push that under the rug, soften the blow using their temporary absence to make it easier for all involved.

"I…" I begin to say, trying to figure out a half-truth that could work.

"Koharu-san is a difficult woman, isn't she?" He asks, and my eyes widen comically. Ok, not what I thought he would say. Does he know? Probably, Choza isn't an idiot. He probably figured it out after Koharu's little visit, if not… well if not sooner.

"I.." I try to speak again, but I doubt that my half-truths will work this time. Maybe… just this once, honesty might be the best solution. "I didn't want to… to betray Chojii," I whisper in silent admission. If he didn't have some idea, or if it was just speculation, then I've just confirmed the situation.

Choza smiles, nodding. "It was a difficult situation. I can understand that." Choza reassured me, but just because he 'understands' doesn't mean that he wouldn't be angry with a potential spy that he just let stay in his home for two whole weeks.

"I won't bother you anymore…." I mutter because that's what this probably is on his radar a bother. I'm ready to go, leave, happy to rather than being this on edge in a room I'm pretty sure no one would hear me scream in, prepared to go and feel sad at home.

"Do you want to stay friends with Chojii?" Choza asks, raising a hand and brushing off my last words as though they weren't even spoken. It makes me more on edge than I already am because this is not the reaction I expected. Information is good in the shinobi world. Surely he wouldn't risk a spy for no other reason than they wanted to stay friends with his son?

"Yes," I answer on autopilot as my mind begins to really analyze the situation. Everyone wants something. What does Choza want?

"Good. I want you to stay his friend too." Choza states, and THAT, that part seems genuine, at least. "You just need to do one thing for me." He says, and now every muscle wants to tighten, ready for flight or fight because… because… why?

"What do you want?" I ask, suspicion leaking into my voice and form. I'm sure he notices it but stays neutral. I have the feeling of being cornered, and I don't like it.

"It's simple… you tell Koharu only the information that I give to you. That way, everyone wins, right?" Choza states, and the world stops for me. Apparently, I am supposed to become a double agent. I don't want to be a spy one way. Why would I want to be it two ways? Anger fills me. I trust Choza, or instead trusted, and he… he wants to use me as Koharu does, and it hurts. "You wouldn't give me information…." He quickly states. There's a pause as I weigh my options. "Do you really think she will just give up if you say no?" Choza then asks, and I know that she won't, I want to reply, but I can't. Could I just 'think about it?' "I need an answer." Choza presses clearly less patient than Koharu. I shake my head lightly at the situation.

"Fine," I whisper, eerie acceptance filling me. This world never ceases to surprise me, this wasn't a good surprise.