Best Friend's Brother 27
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any character used aside from my OC.
After running into Sai, Natsumi's father pulled her along until he was certain there was a considerable amount of space between them and the pale boy.
"Don't tell me that was the young man Mr. Mitaka saw you with" her father said turning to his daughter as he came to a halt.
Natsumi narrowed her eyes at the man before turning her gaze to the side.
"Natsumi answer me" her father said in a commanding tone.
Natsumi could feel the cold stare of his dark eyes fall onto her.
"Well that depends on how close an eye you had him keeping on me" Natsumi replied dryly, making her father suck in a breath of air.
"Now's really not the time for back talk" her father replied in a threatening tone.
Natsumi looked up to meet his gaze, seemingly mirroring the irritated look he gave her but with her own dark orbs.
"Sai is a good friend of mine but he isn't the boy Mitaka saw" Natsumi replied staring up at her father.
The man turned away, starting to walk again while Natsumi released a deep breath before following. The pair walked in silence for a while before her father decided they would eat and they stopped in a small restaurant to eat. There was no discussion between the father and daughter during their meal and after finishing, the man promptly called for his car to pick up him and Natsumi.
The drive was silent. The dark haired teen kept her gaze directed to the window, taking in the passing scenery while her father preoccupied his attention on his phone. When they had arrived back at the house the driver pulled into the driveway and put the car into park before Natsumi's father spoke.
"I need to have a discussion with my daughter" the man stated as the driver nodded.
"Yes Mr. Nakamaru, would you like me to step out of the car?" the driver asked looking at his boss through his rearview mirror.
"Hn" Natsumi's father replied with a nod. "I'll knock when I want you to get her door" he stated earning another nod from the driver before he stepped out, leaving the father and daughter alone.
It was silent until Natsumi finally decided to turn her attention away from the window.
"I'm going to be brash with you Natsumi" her father said in a serious tone.
Natsumi looked at him wearily.
'When aren't you?' the teen thought as she waited for him to continue.
"I'm not happy" the man said.
'When are you ever?' Natsumi thought looking forward.
"I'm disappointed that all the potential you have seems to be being wasted here" he said making the girl's gaze snap back to him. "I can already tell from the friends of yours I have met, you are surrounded by people who may seem well reserved but the bottom line is they can only hinder you in associating with them" her father went on.
Natsumi stared at him in disbelief.
"I have no complaints about the Aburame boy, it's simple to go back and check everything he told me ... but that Sai, I can already tell you something is off about that kid" the man went on making the girl scoff.
"Stop" Natsumi said in disbelief, earning a look of astonishment from her father.
"Excuse me?" the man asked taken aback by the girl's tone.
"You don't need to fact check everything Shino told you; he's an honest person" Natsumi said sternly. "And even though Sai isn't the best with social cues, that doesn't mean he's not a good friend" Natsumi went on defending the pale boy.
"He's an orphan Natsumi, what good is a boy who has no family name to measure?" her father asked harshly.
"Why does that matter?!" Natsumi snapped back.
"Natsumi Nakamaru!" her father yelled making the teen girl jump in surprise at his volume. "Don't you dare take that tone of voice with me!" the man said as the girl looked at him, trying to maintain her calm demeanor. "I have told you more than once; there is a great importance in the name you hold. As a young lady it'll be hard for you to prove your worth when there is already a set price on your head, so you need to show pride in what you were given. The Nakamaru name carries a certain prestige but that'll only get you so far unless you tread carefully." The man lectured. "Do you really think associating with those who run the risk to tarnish your social standing will help or hurt you in the long run?" he asked.
Natsumi clenched her fists tightly, trying to suppress the anger within.
"Why would any of that matter? What's the point of the constraints of classes and names if all they do is keep us from trying to further ourselves?" Natsumi asked making the man sigh before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why must you be so difficult?" the man asked releasing a breath of frustration.
"I'm my father's daughter" Natsumi replied simply earning a scoff from the man.
There was once again silence between the two.
"Tell me your other associates dictate better manners" her father said after a while, making Natsumi scoff.
"Why? So you can place judgment on them and how they'll help or hurt the Nakamaru name?" Natsumi replied sarcastically.
"Don't start with me Natsumi" her father said in a warning tone. "You are the last one to talk about the matters of appropriate behavior. I'm merely concerned with regards to who you chose to spend time with." He replied making the girl crease her brows. "These friends make me worry ... and in all honesty I'm even more concerned in regards to if any of them have caught you interests ... romantically" he said making Natsumi notably stiffen. "Seems I've struck a nerve" he noted as Natsumi looked at him with wide eyes.
"We are not talking about this" Natsumi stated firmly.
"I'd prefer if you weren't dating but seeing as you are a teenager with limited supervision, I can't completely ignore the situation" the man said as Natsumi gave him a bewildered look. "Thanks to Mitaka's information I know you're rather close with a young man with dark hair, but from what I can tell he wasn't any of the boys I met today" her father analyzed making the girl feel her breath hitch in her throat. "I can take this as him being your potential interest or another simple friend" he went on making Natsumi give him a worried look.
'Dad's looking way too far into this' Natsumi thought furrowing her brows as her father looked back to her to study her response to his words.
"Yet the latter concerns me even more" the man said surprising the teen. "And the primary reason for this is because it could be someone else" he said as Natsumi looked at him curiously. "And I think I have a feeling about who it is" he said making her inwardly scoff.
'If he can't figure out Sasuke is the black haired boy I doubt he would even know about Itachi' Natsumi thought.
"It's that teacher of yours isn't it?" her father asked making Natsumi sweat drop.
"What?" Natsumi asked in disbelief.
"I don't like the casualness between you two" he stated. "It's not appropriate for you two to seem so close considering that he could use his position of authority to take advantage of you" the man went on making his daughter's face burn in embarrassment and anger.
"Why would you say that?!" Natsumi asked in alarm.
"I don't need the integrity of my daughter being brought into question" the man replied gruffly making the teen stiffen. "You're still just a child Natsumi and you have no idea how corrupt this world can be. I don't want to be disrupted at work to find out that you were actually involved in some scandal with someone twice your age!" the man went on making Natsumi's mouth drop open in shock. Natsumi felt the urge to storm off but she knew if she were to take her leave before her father allowed it, it would mean more trouble later on, so under the intensity of his watchful eyes she stayed.
"Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound?!" Natsumi asked in disbelief. "I'm not that stupid and Kakashi isn't that kind of person!" the teen defended her mentor.
"What?" her father asked in a low tone. "What did you just call him?" he asked making Natsumi's eyes light up in realization before mentally face palming.
"K-Kakashi-sensei ... isn't that kind of person" Natsumi replied wearily.
"You didn't say sensei before" her father said giving the girl a hard stare. "You don't actually think it's right for you to call him by his name outside of school do you?" her father asked as Natsumi bit her lip. "That's highly inappropriate and god forbid that any civilized person from Kyoto catch word of this ... could you imagine what it how that news would reflect on the company ... It would make it seem like the Nakamaru heir lost all etiquette upon leaving with her estranged mother" the man lectured making Natsumi fume in anger.
"This is all about the company?" Natsumi cut in making the man grow silent.
She scoffed as he stared at her.
"You know father, for a minute it seemed like you might've actually been worried about me" the teen said in a dry tone.
It was silent for a while before man spoke again.
"Is this about attention?" the man asked. "Because if it is, there are other ways to go about getting it Natsumi and I understand that acting out might seem like the best way for a regular teenager but need I remind you that you must uphold yourself to a different standard?" the man went on as Natsumi released a breath before shaking her head and turning to the side.
The man stared at Natsumi, waiting for a reply until being interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
"Hello" her father spoke into the device as he turned his attention away from his daughter. "Ah yes Mitaka ... I see ... well I'm actually in the middle of departing from my daughter but I will be heading to the airport right after ... What? ... That's ridiculous" Natsumi heard her father say in an irritated tone. "That won't do, I'm on my way now" her father said before hanging up and releasing a heavy sigh.
Natsumi looked over her father as he pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes while shaking his head.
"An issue came up with the company" he said after a while.
"Hn" Natsumi replied with a nod. "I guess you have to go now ... after all the company comes first" Natsumi went on catching the man's attention as he gave her a sideways glance.
"Now isn't the time for an attitude Natsumi" her father said in an annoyed tone. "I do have to go but I have a request before I do" the man said making Natsumi raise a brow at him.
'He means command' the teen thought crossing her arms over her chest.
"Tell me more about your friends" he said surprising the girl. "I want names and details in our phone calls from now on" he said making the girl scoff. "I'm serious Natsumi, and you could either comply with this request or I could place Mitaka in charge of your supervision" he said making Natsumi stiffen. "I assume this shouldn't be an issue especially if you really do trust the integrity of these friends of yours" the man said egging the girl on.
Natsumi took a moment to process her father's request, allowing her brows to furrow in thought before she released a heavy sigh.
"Fine" Natsumi said in a defeated voice while her father nodded.
'Definitely not going to happen though' Natsumi thought.
She watched as he knocked on the window behind him and moments later the driver opened her door for her to exit.
"I look forward to our next phone call" her father said as she stood outside the car before she turned to make her way to her front door while her father's car departed.
Natsumi felt rigid with anger as she stood outside her door. With her fists clenched so tightly they, turned white and her face burning red in anger, Natsumi released a frustrated sigh before bringing her hands to her face and releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Why is every part of my life so complicated?!" Natsumi asked still covering her face.
"Maybe because you're so annoying" a familiar voice said making her stiffen before turning to the source with an annoyed expression.
"Sasuke" she said in acknowledgment of the Uchiha as he walked up to her. "What are you doing here?" Natsumi asked annoyed as the boy scoffed before looking to the side.
"I heard your father was in town" he said sticking his hands in his pockets, still refusing to meet Natsumi's gaze.
"Ok and what does that have to do with you being here?" Natsumi asked rhetorically.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Sasuke I've had a really long day" Natsumi said in an exasperated tone.
"And so have I" the dark haired boy said walking closer to her.
The dark haired girl turned her head to the side in confusion before her eyes lit up in realization.
"Were you worried?" Natsumi asked in alarm as Sasuke's head snapped back to her.
"No" the boy replied making the girl smile to stifle a laugh as she watched him roll his eyes.
"Whatever you say" Natsumi said teasingly as she folded her arms over her chest while her gaze drifted to the side.
It grew silent between the teens as they stood in in front of one another looking in different directions.
"Where is he?" Sasuke suddenly asked breaking the silence as Natsumi looked to him again. "Your dad" he said as the girl nodded in understanding before replying.
"He just left" Natsumi replied awkwardly letting her gaze shift to the side again.
"Hn" Sasuke replied with a nod. "We should go to my house" he then said earning a confused look from Natsumi.
"Why?" Natsumi asked earning an annoyed look from the teen boy.
"Would you stop complaining so we can go?" Sasuke asked.
"No" Natsumi said stubbornly. "I'm tired Sasuke and after the day I've had I just want to be alone" Natsumi said making the boy scoff.
"You are so dramatic sometimes" he said making the girl's mouth drop open. "Do you honestly think that I believe that? I know you Natsumi and the last thing you need is to be alone right now, so stop being so annoying" he said making the girl scoff. They stared at one another in silence before Natsumi finally looked away.
"Alright fine" Natsumi said holding up her hands in surrender before the boy rolled his eyes. "Well can I at least change first?" Natsumi asked grabbing her arm.
"Whatever" Sasuke replied.
"Ok do you want to wait inside?" Natsumi asked pointing over her shoulder to the door.
"Sure" Sasuke replied before the girl turned around to unlock the door and led him into the home.
Stepping in the pair removed their shoes before making their way to the living room where Natsumi planned to leave Sasuke until she saw her mother curled into a ball on the couch. The teens made eye contact before the teen girl grabbed a blanket to drape over her mother's sleeping form and then motioning for Sasuke to follow her upstairs. The Uchiha gave a nod before the two made it up and he was led to her what he presumed to be her room.
"You can wait in my room and I'll change in the bathroom" Natsumi said earning a nod from the boy before she opened the door.
She watched as Sasuke looked around her room attentively before slowly stepping in. When the boy stepped further in Natsumi made her way to her dresser, pulling out a pair of black leggings and an oversized white t-shirt.
"Um make yourself comfortable I guess" Natsumi said turning back to see Sasuke standing very still as he looked to the wall by her bed. "What?" Natsumi asked going to stand beside the boy.
"I didn't think you'd have a shrine in your room" the boy replied making the girl scoff before she pushed him.
"It's not a shrine you jerk!" Natsumi retorted. "It's just a couple BTS posters" she said in an annoyed tone.
"Whatever you say psycho" Sasuke shot back earning a glare from the girl before he made his way over to her bed and took a seat. "It feels like their watching me" he said earning an eye roll from the dark haired girl before she abruptly turned to make her way out of the room.
After finishing changing, Natsumi was surprised when she ran into her mother when she stepped out of the bathroom.
"Mom" Natsumi said in surprise.
"Natsumi" her mother said in acknowledgement of the teen. "When did you get back?" her mother asked curiously.
"Just now" Natsumi replied making the woman raise a brow at her.
"I didn't hear you come in" the woman replied wearily.
"You were sleeping in the living room" Natsumi replied.
"Ah ok then, I thought I might check on you when I saw the light in your room, but when I walked in, it was just Sasuke in there" her mother explained making her teenage daughter roll her eyes.
Natsumi gave her mother a blank stare as silence befell the mother and daughter. After a few moments of silence Natsumi finally released a sigh before side stepping the woman.
"Well I think Sasuke and I are going to head over to his house, but I'll be back later" Natsumi said as she made her way past her mother.
"Oh alright" her mother said. "Did everything go alright with your father?" she suddenly asked bringing Natsumi to a halt.
"Hn" Natsumi replied with a nod.
"Did you want to talk about it?" her mother asked with concern evident in her voice.
Natsumi was silent for a moment before she decided to reply.
"Not right now" Natsumi replied simply before turning her head to the side to look at the woman. "Sasuke's waiting but we can talk more later" Natsumi went on as her mother's brows furrowed in concern.
"Alright dear" Natsumi's mother replied with a light smile.
"Well have a nice time, I think I'll get a little more sleep before getting dinner ready" her mother replied.
"Hn" Natsumi said with a nod before turning to walk off again.
"I love you" her mother said as she began to make her way to her room.
"I love you too" Natsumi responded as she continued on before making her way into her room where Sasuke waited while on his phone before they headed out.
...
"Hn ... that does sound pretty rough" Sasuke admitted after Natsumi finished telling him about the day she had had with her father.
Currently the two dark haired teens were sitting in the Uchiha's room. Sasuke sat at the head of his bed with his back against the head board and pillows, while Natsumi sat at the foot of his bed with her legs crossed in front of him as she squeezed one of his pillows closely to her frame.
"I feel like rough doesn't fully sum it up" Natsumi replied releasing a heavy sigh.
"Don't be so dramatic, it could have been a lot worst" Sasuke criticized earning a huff from the girl. "Honestly, it's probably best that the first people he met were Shino and Sai, since they aren't as annoying as Kiba or the dobe" Sasuke explained, making Natsumi hug the pillow tighter while her gaze shifted to the side in thought.
"I guess that's a good point" Natsumi admitted, before looking back to Sasuke. "Especially considering Kiba and Naruto were hung over" she said making Sasuke cock a brow at her in question before his eyes lit up in realization.
"Hn that's a good point ... idiots" Sasuke said with a nod as Natsumi smiled to suppress a laugh.
"Yeah" Natsumi said in agreement. "And I guess I should be grateful Sai only brought up the hormones thing and not the whole boyfriend and boy space friend thing" Natsumi said feeling her nerves began to settle before another thought came to her mind and a thoughtful look crossed her face.
"You alright?" Sasuke asked bringing Natsumi out of her thoughts. "You have this look on your face" he commented making the teen release another heavy sigh as her head dropped downward.
It was silent for a while until Natsumi chose to speak.
"I can accept everything that happened with Shino and Sai ... but what happened when my dad met Kakashi and Guy-sensei ... and what he had to say about Kakashi-sensei just ... I don't know, I feel like train wreck doesn't even begin to sum it up" Natsumi said with a depressed gloom starting to surround her.
It grew quiet yet again between the pair. Natsumi clutched tightly to the pillow in her arms as she kept her face down in hopes to hide the blush of embarrassment that she was sure crossed her face. After a while though, the dark haired teen began to feel anxious as Sasuke didn't speak, so when she looked up a surprised look crossed her face when she saw the young man smirking.
'Why is he doing this? This is serious' Natsumi thought furrowing her brows in frustration.
"Sasuke" Natsumi said not hiding the dismay in her voice.
Sasuke looked to the side before looking right at her.
"Who would've guessed your dad would be so spot on about you liking Kakashi-sensei?" the Uchiha asked in a teasing tone that made the girl stiffen before tossing the pillow she held at his face.
"Would you shut up?!" Natsumi asked angrily.
"It's not my fault you make your emotions so easy to read" Sasuke teased, making Natsumi suck in a breath of air.
"That's not true!" Natsumi argued feeling the heat rush to her face.
'If that was the case ... would Sasuke be able to tell how I feel about Itachi ... I really shouldn't be thinking about this right now' Natsumi thought looking down.
"What's wrong now?" Sasuke asked catching Natsumi's attention.
Natsumi grew silent as she contemplated a response to give Sasuke, before releasing a breath of air.
"You know Sasuke ... I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to me but ... this is a lot that happened and I haven't really had any time to process it on my own ... I don't know, I guess I just wish you'd let me take the time to come to you on my own" Natsumi said wearily, unknowingly making Sasuke stiffen.
It was once again silent between the pair, making Natsumi grow nervous as she thought her words had somehow offended the Uchiha.
"That's exactly what Itachi said" Sasuke mumbled out catching the girl's attention immediately at the mention of his brother's name.
"What?" Natsumi asked curiously giving Sasuke a confused look.
Sasuke turned his head to the side in embarrassment; the boy released a huff before deciding to speak.
"It's nothing Natsumi" Sasuke said dismissively.
"Sasuke it wasn't nothing" Natsumi said in an annoyed tone, making the boy shift his gaze to her in surprise at the change in her mood.
Releasing a heavy sigh, the Uchiha closed his eyes.
"Sasuke tell me" Natsumi demanded making Sasuke scoff.
"While you were with your father ... I ... I went for a run with Itachi" Sasuke said catching Natsumi by surprise.
"Really?" Natsumi asked with shock evident in her tone.
She stared at Sasuke in disbelief, before he turned to her with narrowed eyes.
"Stop looking at me like that, it's not like it's a big deal" Sasuke said angrily.
"Y-Yeah I guess but you have to admit this is a little out of the box especially considering how cold you are to him and ..." Natsumi trailed off as the intensity of Sasuke's glare, made her go silent. "Uh never mind ... I'm just a little surprised ... how'd it go?" Natsumi asked changing the subject as Sasuke's face returned to his usual stoic expression. "Sasuke" Natsumi complained making the boy roll his eyes before replying.
"He asked if I would go for a run with him to talk about homecoming" Sasuke replied, making the girl stiffen.
'Homecoming' Natsumi thought feeling her beat increase, as she waited for Sasuke to continue.
The Uchiha told her the events of their run and eventually how their time together came to an end after the small argument they had after Sasuke spoke with Shino and Kiba. It was silent between the two as Natsumi shifted in her seat to bring one of her knees to her chest and let her other leg dangle from the side of the bed.
"You're a real idiot you know that?" she said breaking the silence as Sasuke abruptly turned his gaze to her. "I know that you only acted out because you were worried about me ... and I'm sorry I'm such a burden to you sometimes, but even so you don't have to be so narrow minded when it comes to your brother just trying to help" she said making Sasuke stiffen. "He was only getting involved because he cares about you ... and I know that it's hard to see that especially when you get mad but do you really want to spend all your time and energy continuing a one sided war with your brother?" the girl asked rhetorically.
Sasuke stared at Natsumi unsure of what to say as his gaze fell downward. It grew silent amongst the teens before Sasuke finally ran a hand through his dark locks and released a heavy sigh.
"You're so annoying" Sasuke said in a calm tone that surprised the girl as she expected him to shout or yell in anger. "You're not a burden" Sasuke went on further surprising the teen with his words. "But everything that happened with Itachi isn't really any of your business" he said striking a nerve with the girl.
Natsumi rose from her spot of the bed, moving forward on her knees and taking a hold of the collar of Sasuke's shirt as she glared at him.
"Oh really because last I checked everything that happened with my dad today wasn't any of your business either!" Natsumi yelled. "But that didn't stop me from telling you about everything because even though you're an ass, I know you care and it's the same way for me too!" she said making the boy notably stiffen. "You have such a big ego sometimes and sometimes you're as reckless as Naruto because you know if it weren't for Shino telling you about my dad, then you and Itachi would've never gotten into a fight" Natsumi said releasing her hold on Sasuke's shirt as she sat back on her heels and allowed her gaze to drift to her lap.
It was silent as Sasuke processed her words.
"I think you should apologize to him" Natsumi said in a soft voice that caught Sasuke off guard with how it differed from her previous tone.
Natsumi seemed to be much calmer, earning a perplexed look from Sasuke before she slowly rose from the bed to stand.
"I'm going to get some water" Natsumi said turning to leave as Sasuke continued to sit in silence.
...
After Itachi finished his run, he then headed home to shower and take a nap. The older Uchiha wore a pair of black sweatpants and a long sleeved white t-shirt. He stepped out of his room closing his eyes as he stretched and yawned while making his way to the staircase, but when he felt himself colliding with another his onyx eyes immediately opened in time to see Natsumi.
"Oh Itachi" Natsumi exclaimed in surprise as she looked up at the older boy.
"Natsumi" Itachi said in acknowledgment of the girl as he watched her step back from him before bowing.
"I'm so sorry I should have been watching where I was going" Natsumi apologized before standing up straight and looking to the side nervously.
"There's no need to apologize Natsumi, I'm at fault as well" Itachi said offering the girl a reassuring smile but much to his surprise instead of seeing her look up at him, Natsumi simply stared at the ground. "Is everything alright?" Itachi asked in a concerned tone.
Natsumi immediately looked up giving Itachi a shocked look.
"Y-yeah" Natsumi replied waving her hands in front of her to wave off the subject. "I'm fine" she said dismissively. "It-it's just been a long day..." Natsumi said trailing off at the end.
"Hn" Itachi said giving the girl a nod of understanding as he turned his attention back to the stairs. "Are you heading down stairs as well?" he then asked curiously.
Natsumi opened her mouth to reply before shutting it and nodding.
As the pair started down the stairs they were silent. Itachi knew Natsumi to be a quiet person, but he could tell her silence was different now, almost uncomfortable. The older boy glanced to the young girl to see her looking to the side before glancing to him.
"Is everything alright?" Itachi asked in a worried tone making the girl jump.
"I-I'm fine" Natsumi said as they continued down the stairs.
"You're a terrible liar" Itachi said making Natsumi stiffen. "But it's not my place to pry" he said.
Not much else was said between the pair until they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Itachi?" Natsumi said gaining the boy's attention as he turned to look at her. "I ... I just wanted to let you know..." Natsumi began before running a hand through her hair.
'It's not like her to be like this' Itachi thought giving the girl a weary look.
"I know you and Sasuke got into a fight and I wanted you to know I'm sorry about how Sasuke reacted earlier, I know it was because of me but it doesn't make it any better that he took off the way he did and –" Natsumi went on before being cut off as Itachi placed a hand on top of her head again.
"There you go apologizing for my brother again when it should be the other way around" Itachi said smiling down at the dark haired teen to repress a laugh. "You don't need to feel like it's your fault Natsumi, you're a good person and Sasuke is lucky to have a friend like you" Itachi went on making Natsumi's face burn in embarrassment.
"But it's still not right Itachi ... I know he was worried but even so I don't want to be another reason you two are at odds" Natsumi blurted out earning a light laugh from Itachi.
"I appreciate the concern Natsumi but it's not needed since I'm not mad at my little brother for anything" Itachi said patting the top of the teen's head. "He was just concerned for his friend's well-being is all."
"Alright then" Natsumi said with a nod of understanding.
"Well I should be going, although the Akatsuki isn't meeting today, I still wanted to get some practice in myself" Itachi said removing his hand and turning to leave the teen.
"Hn I'll see you around Itachi" Natsumi called after the boy.
'She really is something' Itachi thought smiling to the girl and waving before disappearing from view.
...
Upon returning to Sasuke's room, it was silent between Natsumi and Sasuke. Not much was said for a while, until the girl finally spoke.
"You know-" Natsumi began before being cut off by the boy.
"I'll apologize later" Sasuke said making a surprised look cross Natsumi's face.
"What?" Natsumi asked in disbelief.
"I'm not repeating myself" Sasuke said giving the girl a stoic expression.
Natsumi looked at Sasuke with her brows raised before looking downward and thinking.
'Wow how odd'
"Whatever can we just drop it now?" Sasuke asked bringing Natsumi out of her thoughts as she looked back up to meet the gaze of his onyx orbs.
Natsumi blinked making the boy roll his eyes.
"Hn" Natsumi said nodding.
"Ok good" Sasuke said dismissively before standing from the bed and making his way over to the couch and using the remote to turn on the TV. Natsumi watched him begin to flip through the various channels before his eyes shifted to her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" the Uchiha asked bluntly. "You're so annoying" the boy scoffed as Natsumi didn't offer a response.
"Oh I'm surprised you're not used to it thanks to your fan club" Natsumi said sarcastically.
Sasuke turned his head to glare at the girl while she offered him a small smile.
'I have to admit, I'm glad Sasuke is able to get my mind off of things so easily ...' the dark haired teen thought before looking down and running a hand through her dark locks of hair.
The teens watched a movie before Sasuke took her home for the night. He dropped her off and shortly after sharing a meal with her mother, she made her way up to her room when it hit her.
Lying in her bed that night the many memories of the day flooded over the teen girl, greatly overwhelming her with a sense of negativity. Natsumi couldn't help but break down in silent tears as she stared up at the ceiling and the embarrassment, anxiety, and worry came crashing down upon her. With the feeling of her hot tears running down from her eyes and the immense pressure to her heart, the teen felt alone.
...
This feeling didn't escape her even as she went about spending time with her mother that morning as it was always gnawing away at her from the back of her mind and in turn left a certain gloom about Natsumi as she walked into school on Monday morning. With her head hung low, Natsumi trudged through the halls before stopping at her locker and opening it slowly. She took her time placing her books into her bag before dropping her head again as she sighed heavily.
'I wish I didn't have to come today ... I have no idea how I'm going to face Shino or Sai or Guy-sensei and especially Kakashi after everything my dad said' Natsumi thought feeling herself envelope in a dark gloom of anxiety. "I guess I should be happy he didn't say anything too embarrassing to Shino or Sai ... but what happened with Kakashi and Guy-sensei makes me want to crawl under a rock and die' Natsumi thought as she zipped up her bag and shut her locker as she placed her head against it. 'I feel awful and just knowing that he said Kakashi looked so young and unruly and Guy was incompetent makes me sick. What makes it even worst though is how supportive Guy was of everything father had to say. I hope he doesn't take anything too seriously. I would hate for it to effect his lessons ... the class would literally kill me if he assigned weekend homework on account of what my father said.' Natsumi thought beginning to lightly bang her head on her locker. 'Why did he have to say that to Guy-sensei? And more importantly why did he have to say all of those things to Kakashi then top it off by talking about my closeness to him? Are we really that close because I'm positive that we're nowhere near Lee and Guy' Natsumi thought continuing to bang her head against the locker and gaining the attention of on lookers.
"Um is everything alright Natsumi?" a familiar voice asked brining the teen's actions to a halt.
Slowly Natsumi turned to see Obito-sensei giving her a weary look as he stood behind her, holding a stack of papers.
"Obito-sensei" Natsumi said turning to the man with a blank expression.
"Uh are you alright?" Obito asked repeating his question.
Natsumi didn't answer at first instead throwing her bag over her shoulder and looking to the side sheepishly.
"Um I'm fine sensei" Natsumi lied readying herself to walk off until the man surprised her by taking hold of the girl's hand. "Sensei?" Natsumi asked giving the man a confused look.
"I'm sorry" Obito apologized releasing her hand and taking a step back from the girl. "... but I noticed you didn't seem to be having the best morning so if you want to talk about it I'm willing to listen so why don't you walk with me?" Obito asked before turning to the many curious eyes of the onlookers that watched the pair intently. "Nothing to see here, you should all get to class" he said looking to the other students that gathered around.
"I'm ok sensei besides I understand the hassle it can be to take time out of your morning and I'd hate to do that to you" Natsumi said trying to wave off the man's offer politely.
"Natsumi I know this might come as a shock but even if you aren't my exclusive aide, I still worry so I'd really appreciate it if you could humor me with a small conversation" Obito admitted making a shocked look cross Natsumi's face.
'I guess he's not uncomfortable around me anymore' Natsumi thought before contemplating her decision.
"Thank you Obito-sensei" Natsumi said giving him a nod of agreement that brought a smile to Obito's face.
It grew silent as they walked on in silence.
"You know you could tell me about even now" he said awkwardly as the girl turned to him before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Sorry sensei, it's just a lot had happened lately and I'm not too sure talking about it really helps" Natsumi admitted as they came upon Obito's classroom.
The man gave the girl a concerned look before awkwardly scratching the back of his head before opening the door. As they entered the room, Obito turned on the light.
"Natsumi, you know sometimes all you need is a good listener and sometimes you need someone who can offer advice too" Obito said.
"Hn" Natsumi replied with a nod as she turned back to Obito. "Usually I'd go to Kakashi-sensei about something like that, but that's not really an option right now" Natsumi said releasing a sigh of disappointment.
"I was actually talking about myself" Obito said awkwardly as he sweat dropped.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" Natsumi asked curiously as the man did an anime fall.
"N-nothing" Obito said dismissively. "I just thought you could talk with me since I am here to listen" Obito said giving the girl a kind smile of comfort.
"Hn" Natsumi replied with a nod as she looked down and it grew silent. "Ok if you're willing to listen"
The Uchiha motioned for the girl to pull a seat up to his desk, which she did before he leaned against it and looked to her.
"I don't know what to say" Natsumi admitted looking straight ahead.
"You can start wherever you like" Obito said in a reassuring voice.
Natsumi was silent as she contemplated what she might say.
"I have a difficult relationship with my father" Natsumi started in a weary voice. "He was town this past Saturday and we ran into a few people ... It wasn't so bad when he met Shino or Sai but when he met Kakashi and Guy-sensei ..." Natsumi trailed off as she looked down to hide the rush of pink to her face.
"He met Kakashi and Guy? I'm guessing this must have been during one of their little competitions" Obito said crossing his arms over his chest while his brows rose in question.
"You guessed it" Natsumi said dejectedly. "They were on a bike ride when Kakashi-sensei crashed into Guy-sensei to stop him from running into my dad and I" Natsumi said making the Uchiha's eyes widen. "Then he yelled at them" the girl said making Obito have a look of confusion.
"Hn" Obito said. "I can't believe your dad actually yelled at those two though" he said in disbelief.
"It gets worst" Natsumi said gripping the ends of her skirt. "He thought Kakashi-sensei was still in college and that Guy-sensei was his personal trainer" the girl said feeling her face burn in further embarrassment as Obito gave her a light chuckle.
Natsumi gave the man a blank stare until he looked down shaking his head until his face wore a blank look as well.
"I'm sorry" Obito apologized awkwardly as he ran a hand through his dark locks and Natsumi released a sigh.
"My dad said a lot of things I wish he didn't... For one him calling Guy-sensei incompetent as a teacher just because he thinks I'm out of shape" Natsumi said making Obito stiffen.
It was silent as Obito looked down at Natsumi, unsure of what to say.
"I just hope Guy-sensei doesn't take everything he said too seriously because if the class gets assigned more work or extra work on the weekend then I know it would have been my fault" Natsumi said brining her hands to her face.
"Guy-sensei taking something too serious?" Obito asked sarcastically trying to lighten the mood but only being met with silence. "Why don't you go on?" Obito asked awkwardly.
"And on top of all of that ... my father had a lot to say about Kakashi even after he found out he was my teacher ..." Natsumi said furrowing her brows as a distant look crossed her face.
Obito had a concerned look cross his face as he looked down at Natsumi. It was silent as the girl dropped her head down to her lap.
"What do you mean?" Obito asked suddenly breaking the silence.
Natsumi hesitated for a moment before answering.
"He doesn't think the closeness between Kakashi-sensei and I is inappropriate" Natsumi said making Obito's brows raise in alarm.
"W-Why?" Obito asked in surprise.
"I put a Band-Aid on Kakashi-sensei's arm after I noticed he was bleeding from his crash with Guy-sensei" Natsumi admitted. "And apparently he didn't like how casual we were when we spoke" the teen continued. "In all honesty I should have known better because I know how my dad can be ... everything he had to say made me so mad ... and now I know my dad is going to be investigating Kakashi-sensei and all my other friends ... I wish I didn't have to make things so awful for everyone, I'm such a burden and it's like no one understands how it is" Natsumi rambled before Obito surprised the girl by placing a hand on her shoulder.
Looking up to the man, Natsumi's eyes widened when she saw the reassuring smile he wore.
"Natsumi trust me when I say I know how it is being a burden, trust me" Obito said making the teen raise a brow in question.
"Uh huh" Natsumi said doubtfully looking away from man and noticing the time from the clock. "I'm going to be late for first hour!" Natsumi exclaimed rising from her seat. "I'm sorry sensei but I have to go" Natsumi said turning to leave before the man stopped her again by taking hold of her shoulder.
"I'll write you a note" Obito said releasing her shoulder. "Go ahead and take a seat" he said motioning the girl to the chair.
Natsumi sat before looking at Obito.
"Listen I'm not the best when it comes to explaining things but I know you shouldn't feel that way Natsumi" Obito said. "When I grew up with Kakashi, it always seemed like I was screwing things up by trying to outdo him when in reality I should've focused more on myself ... that's how I know you're not awful and you've never been a burden to anyone. I know you in some way and I might not be very close to you, but for as long as I've known you from being around Kakashi and I, I know you're amazing and you make everything better" he said offering the girl a kind smile before a thought struck him. "I mean amazing as in an amazing student and worker and you make everything better in the sense of making work easier since you're such a great worker" the man clarified scratching the back of his head as he nervously laughed.
Natsumi couldn't help the smile that crossed her face at the goofiness of her teacher. And she had to admit she did feel a bit more at ease.
"Thank you sensei" Natsumi said with a grateful smile.
"I understand if you still want to seek a second opinion, and even though you might feel embarrassed you should talk to Shino, Sai and especially Kakashi" the man said earning a nod from the teen girl.
"Talk to Kakashi about what exactly?" the calm voice of the silver haired male came catching the pair's attention.
Kakashi stood leaning against the wall by the door with one arm crossed over his chest and the other holding his usual book. Obito turned to look at Natsumi who notably stiffened before running a hand through her hair to look to the side and regain her stoic face before she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed with her eyes closed as the bell rang.
"I think I'll need that note now" Natsumi said turning her gaze to Obito.
"How about you skip the note and I walk you to class?" Kakashi asked putting his book away as he walked over to Natsumi. "It might give you the time to discuss whatever it is you need" he offered giving the girl his signature closed eyed smile.
Natsumi hesitated accepting his offer before Obito placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.
"Ok sensei" Natsumi said with a nod.
...
A/N: Ok that's the chapter ... I'm not too sure what to say. Um I'm sorry for updating a little late and I know not a lot happened but none the less I hope you are all enjoying the story. I really appreciate all of you taking the time to support me by reading and reviewing because whenever I get the notification that there's a new review, I can't help but smile. Anyways feel free to let me know your thoughts whether it's on the story or on how it makes you feel lol I'm sorry that sounds really cheesy but um please read and review and remember to stay safe I love you all
