So here is the new chapter! It was originally 7400ish words and ended up being 8913 without author's notes! Can't wait for the next chapter and I am in the middle of the next chapter for 'Not the Place I was Hoping for'!
Sorry It took so long have been extremely busy lately. Amazing things have been happening lately. Will tell more in bottom notes!
Happy Birthday Jesrah!
Start Chapter 11
Zabuza felt hesitant to strike down the small green eyed black haired child. Something felt odd about them and he had always been taught that it was a bad omen to strike down those with such coloring. He had never seen such vividly green eyes in his life, possibly never even seen such a bright green, period. Those eyes made the hair on the back of his neck stand straight up and gave him the unnerving impression that was being dissected, that the child could see into the very inter-workings of his soul.
The smell of the child made him feel oddly protective and unwilling to harm it. Something in the back of his brain insisted not human, but that couldn't be. He had never heard of leaf ninja breeding with demons or anything else for that matter in the last few centuries, though all but one of the leaf smelled like they had a little not enough to have been bred in recently though... Except maybe the copycat. Trying to identify what the pretty little thing was muddling up the former Mist Shinobi's senses. Making it hard to concentrate on his favorite past times, instilling fear in others and killing.
Zabuza's instincts were going as far as insisting that he cuddle up the exotic looking child in cotton wool and hide it away. He completely avoided Harrison throughout his attack. Only focusing his attack on the others. His instincts far too insistent on keeping the little strange smelling child safe. Even as the child managed to temporarily disable his clone with a single sneaky strike of a palm after Zabuza trapped the copycat ninja he found himself unable to truly harm it. Knocking the child flying in an attempt to keep them out of the fight. He felt an odd gnawing anxiety in his gut as he did so. Wanting to go and assure himself the little one wasn't badly injured.
Harri had managed to catch himself midair after the half hearted attack. He wiped a thin trickle of dark blood from his lips, spiting the rest out with a grimace. He would possibly have to show some of his real power. Harri paled a little at that thought but swallowed it down. He didn't really want to get into a conversation about his weird abilities with anyone but he wouldn't let his teacher and teammates die because he was a coward. If he got to the water than maybe he could electrocute the part demon?
No, Harri was sure that he would have no trouble doing so but he couldn't guarantee that Kakashi would survive it! Harri grabbed his wrist squeezing in an attempt to force his hand to stop shaking. His mind rushed through ideas a thousand miles a second. His chest becoming tighter and tighter as a feeling of panic and uselessness squeezed him. If only he had more control. It didn't help that no one seemed interested in working together with him.
Harri looked up at the sound of his cousin's yelling. A windmill Shuriken flying from his out stretched hand.
His eyes widened as the shuriken split into another even as it was jumped over. One of them suddenly transformed into Naruto who throw a Kunai at the man attacking them.
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Harri had been surprised by the intelligent move that Naruto and his cousin had came up with to free Kakashi from the water prison. Maybe they really could become a good team? Harri tried his best to force himself to stay calm when water gushed over the ponds banks that the two elite ninja had been fighting on. Knowing that if he panicked that he could end up accidently electrocuting everyone else to death and not just the shinobi that his teacher had pinned against a tree with throwing knives.
Harri nervously moved closer and looked the snarling man in the eyes. Feeling a strange lack of fear that was almost concerning to him.
"W-what are you?" Zabuza whispered, almost looking terrified. He stared directly at Harri, completely ignoring Kakashi's questions. "Are-are you going to take me away?" He asked sounding fearful yet in awe.
"I'm sorry but I have no idea what you are talking about!" Harri said, confused.
"Can that magic eye of your's see that?" Zabuza hissed, seeming not to even hear what Harri had said to him.
Kakashi looked at the man like he was half mad. "See what, your end?" The silver haired ninja snarked.
How couldn't they see it? A beautiful haunting specter, twined like a barely visible physical shadow or mist around the green eyed child and looked almost like a dark outline of a canine. Writhing nervously behind it was not one tail but four, an omen of death he was sure. He was dying, it was the only explanation that he could come up with. That man could see the future, this would be his end. He had heard of things like that happening, but only in silly tales about the gods Black. A group of popularly worshiped gods from Mist to Tea and all the way up to parts of Snow country. Supposedly only those close to death could see such things. Zabuza had always been a rather loyal follower of one of the more obscure bloodthirsty of the bunch, Bellatrix. But had never been the strongest believer in religion otherwise, really he only idolized her as more of a possible powerful historical figure or something than a goddess. Thinking that such things were to be taken with a grain of salt. Could he have been wrong? Were the gods real? Was one near by? Even so why did this child have such a shade? Were the superstitions about green eyed black haired individuals true? Did the playful half mad, Sirius the Typhoon Bringer, favor this child?
Harri along with the other's jumped when throwing needles were suddenly sticking out of Zabuza's neck. Meaning an instant death.
Everyone had been convinced that he had died after that but Harri wasn't so sure. His chakra seemed to be there still. But maybe it took time to fade or something? He had always thought that life kind of snuffed out like a candle though, swiftly and completely in an instant when it happened. Not lingered the way it was. But he didn't really know much about death, not really it wasn't like he had ever killed anyone or anything. He had only really ever seen the after effects of death not during it, before.
Harri couldn't help but feel like not trusting the boy that was supposed to be the one that was supposedly hunting Zabuza down to esanginate him and destroy what remained of his body's secrets. Why would you move the body to get your job done? It wouldn't have mattered if they were there, they were leaving. Blood from the wounds on Zabuza's body could still be around. Why would you move from the area where you could possibly miss spots to clean up going back?
Maybe Harri was just way over thinking things? Yes, he had to be. He didn't know anything about that sort of thing! Maybe he had to take it somewhere to do something special or something in some sort of secret Mist ritual or something. Ugh he needed to stop being so judgmental! When did he become such an untrusting cynical person? That boy was obviously just doing his job! Harri pursed his lips at the thought.
"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto yelped in a panicked tone of voice as the man collapsed.
Harri's head jerked up, eyes widening in terror at the sight of the man crumpled to the ground. Only then did he realize the man's familiar chakra was weak, almost impossible to even sense. He rushed over crouching down to feel for the Shinobi's pulse which beat wildly but weakly under his fingers. "He must have used too much chakra!" Harri exclaimed, face full of worry as he and the other's surrounded their sensei.
"Help me pick him up! My house isn't far from here at all, we can carry him back to my place then you can all rest there." Tazuna explained crouching down next to the twitching nearly unconscious jounin.
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Harri was exhausted by the time it was deemed safe to go to bed. Both physically and mentally. The familiar heavy painful constricting feeling his chest got before a panic attack had sucked what little energy he had left in him after dealing with it for several long hours. Fearful that Kakashi may end up dying in some foreign place or be in such terrible condition that he would need to be taken somewhere for some real medical attention. Most of his problems thankfully seemed to be related to Chakra exhaustion and could be cured by a week or so of rest. Flashes of phantom pain in his side, the taste of iron on his tongue, the potent smell of gallons of blood and the start of decay, the whisper of a comforting voice tormented him as the local doctor had worked on Kakashi. Making him feel sick and desperate and confused. The fear of someone else he cared about leaving him was all consuming during the period the doctor had been examining his teacher. Harri felt so relieved, he would be alright as long as he took it easy. Harri would just have to make sure the man did.
"Harri, come on. He'll be alright. You're going to make yourself sick worrying all the time. I have the Futon out already let's go to bed. I'm sure you're going to want to mother hen him in the morning." Sasuke grumbled, leaning in the doorway of the room given to their sensei. Eying his teacher with a annoyed frown.
"Are you su're we should leave 'im alone? I can just sleep here." Harri said, worrying his lip. His head bobbing.
Sasuke full out scowled, glaring at his unconscious teacher, forcing himself to take a deep breath. "No, you're sleeping with me. The mist is setting in. You will catch your death with how cold it's getting. Even if it weren't cold... You're already pale... I want to... make... sure you're okay tonight. I don't like you sleeping without me... It doesn't feel right." Sasuke said in a evenly. A hint of a blush colored the bridge of his nose as he tried to express his feelings. The idea of Harrison sleeping without him, especially somewhere unfamiliar made him feel sick, his stomach clenched unpleasantly. Anxiety curling through it in a way that had become familiar to him since the death of 'their' clan. Something he would never admit to feeling to anyone else, a need for security. To assure himself that Harri was there and wasn't going to leave him, abandon him. That they were still together and Harri was his and needed him just as much as he needed Harri.
"But. What I- 'e wake up?" Harri mumbled quickly becoming less understandable as exhaustion flooded his system.
Sasuke felt the aggravation he had filled him, leave him. The tension left his body as a small smile pulled at his lips when Harri rubbed at his eyes. Reminding the older boy of when they were both small children. Harri was the cutest then and now. Of course Harri needed him! Who would take care of him if not Sasuke? "Hnnn. It isn't like he'll be going anywhere for a while... He'll be right here in the morning, promise. Now lets get you to bed before you fall asleep in some position that will cramp you up in the morning. It's ridiculously late and I doubt you want to be sleeping in on the first day in a different country the way you are." Sasuke said, rolling his eyes when Harri went to curl up on the floor, looking like he was contemplating possibly stealing the extra blanket laying near Kakashi's legs.
"Tired." Was all Harri managed to utter before curling up, trying to ignore how cold he was. The idea of trying to make a nest out of the blanket near his Sensei was pretty tempting as he nodded in and out.
Not even realizing that he had fallen asleep Harri was disoriented and confused when he was sitting up, leaning against something moving, his limbs weak and floppy from still being mostly asleep. "Lift your arms." Sasuke muttered, trying not to focus on his cousin's beautiful pale skin as he attempted to tug a navy blue night gown over his cousin's torso. He was having trouble getting Harri's arms through the arm holes.
"Kay." Harri mumbled not even really understanding what was going on. His head was to his chest and his eyes nearly closed. Harri hardly managed to get his arms above his shoulders as Sasuke struggled to pull them through the sleeves.
The older boy sighed in sleepy contentment as he finished up adjusting the gown, a blush burning his cheeks as he admired the Uchiha crest handstitched into the back of it. Now they matched like they should have from the beginning. Harri looked like a proper Uchihan princess.
Sasuke was never able to get him to wear anything with the crest on it, or his favorite color. Dark blue. He didn't know why Harri listened to everyone else, Harri looked gorgeous in it. When they got back home he would definitely need to push that more. He smirked to himself, maybe have a little accident happen to his currant wardrobe to replace it with things more suited to a proper Uchihan taste?
Sasuke adjusted the pillows just how he knew Harri liked them before sliding Harri to lay flat on the futon. He got up only for a moment to toss his shirt aside and turn off the light. After that he laid back down and pulled Harri over next to him, tucking the blankets around him and sat 'Paddy' against him like he knew Harri liked. Sasuke nuzzled his nose up against Harri's hair, enjoying his unique scent. He grimaced as that annoying ribbon got in the way, nearly making its way up his nose. He growled under his breath, pulling it from his cousin's Harri. He hated that thing. Why didn't Harri just get rid of it? It was ugly and now all it was to Sasuke was a reminder of Itachi, that monster. He crumbled it in his hand before throwing it across the room. His teeth gritted together. It didn't end up nearly as far as hoped and all that managed to do is frustrate Sasuke to no end. He forced himself to try and calm down, sticking his nose back in his cousin's hair, he wrapped an arm around him, spooning him. After several long minutes Sasuke could feel himself beginning to relax and his eyes began to droop as he obsessively petted at Harri's soft hair almost seeming to try and reassure himself that the green eyed boy wasn't going anywhere.
Sasuke still couldn't believe he had managed to trick Sakura out of the room so easily. What an idiot. All he had to say is that he really could use some privacy and she immediately moved her stuff out and said she and Harri would be fine sharing a room with Naruto for the night. He had nearly snorted when she overly eagerly announced that he could have the room so he could be alone. Like he would really make his Harri sleep out their, with them, all alone? No he just didn't want to be bothered by their loud mouths in the morning. That and Sasuke liked the fact that the door for that room actually had a lock so he didn't have to worry about everyone getting into his and Harri's private business.
No way did he want that dead last loser to find out that Harri needed constant warmth and decided to make a move or something. Innocently insisting that he was just trying to be nice then convincing his Harri to cuddle up in bed with him. Ugh, no way would that loser get ahold of his Harri. Harri was his and only his and they were meant to be together always!
"Night Harri." Sasuke whispered into his hair, pulling the blankets a little higher up on his cousin. The room was quickly becoming colder. The dampness in the air made the fridgedness almost seem to soak into every crevice and settle into Sasuke's very bones. An uncomfortable feeling he wasn't use to.
Their home had working heat and the leaf village was set in an area that rarely got very cold. Sasuke pulled the worn spare comforter that, Tsunami, insisted he took, over them carefully tucking it around Harri, making it as air tight around him as possible. He would definitely be finding some more blankets in the morning. He sleepily thought, even as his body began to warm making him drowsier. He couldn't risk Harri getting sick in a place like Wave country. They would not have the medical expertise or facilities in such a poor place to be able to take care of him.
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Harri woke up with his face uncomfortably cold but the rest of him nice and warm. A familiar feeling of weight from Sasuke's clinging limbs all over him like a possessive octopi. After a few moments of laying in the uncomfortable grasp of his pleasantly warm cousin's arms, pushed against Sasuke's chest, Harri began the tedious process of removing the tightly encircling limbs. Slowly crawling out from his cousin's hold so he wouldn't wake.
Sasuke was often particularly clingy in the morning and Harri really didn't feel like staying in bed another hour because Sasuke decided not to let him up. His behavior was already uncomfortable enough without him going into needy possibly what Harri was beginning to think was also... flirty mode. That normally also made Sasuke extremely possessive in a way Harri didn't want to really think about. He could handle that at home, having people to use as an excuse to separate them, but they didn't need their clients seeing what ever weirdness that Sasuke thought was going on between them.
Harri yawned, carefully beginning to run fingers through his hair. Not really caring that it was down. It was hardly even dawn yet. The sun just starting to make the sky fade into a deep dark purple through the paint pealed window. Looking down at the unfamiliar navy blue gown he was wearing, Harri felt his cheeks heat up. He had no doubt that Sasuke had 'helped' him into it. Harri forced down his discomfort and focused instead on what he would do that morning. Ignoring the feeling of his skin almost crawling.
After a quick trip to the bathroom he decided that first he would check on Kakashi then if no one was making breakfast, he would start on that. He wondered if they had anything that may take some time to cook so he could go out and practice for a bit? He had ate the quickly made meal of fish and rice the night before in the room with Kakashi instead of with everyone else so he wasn't really sure what they had stocked in the kitchen.
Kakashi as expected was still practically comatose. Harri could feel his chakra far better than before though and that was a relief. He was terrified as low as it was, how difficult that it had been to feel it the night before, that he would surlydie. It lifted a load from his chest knowing that the man was still alive and had noticeably recovered in only a few hours. Harri grabbed the spare blanket that was laying by the man's feet and carefully draped it over him. Poor Kakashi sensei. Harri hoped that he recovered his chakra soon. He hated seeing the man like that. Maybe he should see if he could find something to make some pudding or something for him? Oh yeah, he had some of that oatmeal the silver haired Jounin liked left. Maybe once Kakashi woke up Harri could make him some of that and find some berries or something to put in it?
Harri made sure to close the blinds before leaving Kakashi to rest, not wanting the sun to wake him sooner than necessary.
It took a few minutes for Harri to find the kitchen. As he predicted no one else was up. The kitchen was pitch black and Harri swore colder than the rest of the house. His feet burned as he stepped down to the cement floor in the room. Harri flipped the switch to the kitchen. He was pleased when the room brightened with a dull glow, slowly becoming brighter as the bulbs warmed up. Harri searched through the kitchen, trying to become familiar with its set up and what he had to work with. No beef or pork, just a bit of chicken and a lot of fish for protein to work with. Very little sugar as well. He would need to go out and find some fruit it seemed. Something that hadn't really surprised Harri. In all actuality he had been surprised by how well the place was stocked. They were likely better off then many in Wave country.
Being in such a poor place so far removed from the main land, sugar and large livestock animals would likely be a luxury. Harri decided that for breakfast he would make something savory instead of what he had planned. Rice with fish in broth and vegetables. He decided that he would have to head to town, something that he was nervous about with rogue ninja running around. Maybe he could try his hand at fishing? He doubted that anyone would go after him if he was fishing... But water. Ugh.
Harri hardly even focused on his task of making broth stock, trying to decide what to get at the groceries. After several days of travel his clothes definitely needed to be washed, he was sure everyone else's did as well. So he needed to get something to use to clean them. He was hopeful that he could find a few really nice large fish and possibly some onions and broccoli or something similar? Maybe some asparagus? Some fruit would be nice to or some good glutenous rice for some Mochi. It was normally made for celebrations but was about the only dessert type of thing that Sasuke would even touch. He noticed some loose floor boards as he was walking through so he should probably get some nails to and ask Tsunami if she would like him to get rid of that problem. Harri sighed in contentment at the idea of having so much to work his nervous energy on. How he loved projects!
Harri decided that once he was done with the task of beginning his broth he would train for a bit until it was ready. Maybe go exploring for a while.
Harri made his way up the squeaky stairs and back into the bedroom given to he and his cousin, trying not to snicker when he saw Sasuke cuddled up to Paddy, nearly completely snuggled underneath the blanket. If only those fan girls of his could see him. He nearly snorted. Harri grabbed the only Kimono he had left that he hadn't used more than a few times already, making sure it had a high collar to hide his necklace and slid it over the gown he was wearing, tying the sash to it, then grabbed his side pack, making sure to slip his wallet into a secret pocket in it's lining. Once done he left the room much warmer and happier than before. Checking on Kakashi briefly before heading back down the stairs and to the door in the kitchen slipped on his sandals then left.
The mist was thick making Harri's lungs feel heavy and his body chilled. He thought about going back in to get some pants but decided against it. The way he was, Harri had a feeling that he would likely end up huddled under the blankets the rest of the day if he didn't force himself to stay outside. He would never get any practice in if he let his dislike for the cold to kick in. A little physical activity would surly warm him up fast and Wave country seemed to be pleasantly warm when the mist lifted. He was sure once the sun came up fully he wouldn't have any issues.
Now he would just need to find somewhere where he wouldn't be disturbed. Harri decided that it would probably be best if he moved as far from town as possible so he headed for what looked to be a forest not far away.
After a few minutes Harri couldn't see a single reminder of civilization. Something he found to be relaxing. It was rare that he didn't feel anxiety around others. The older he got the harder it was for Harri to understand most people. He wasn't sure if it was because he himself wasn't a human or if it was because he hadn't been well socialized or taught how to properly socialize when he was younger(Something he often suspected) but being away from people was a calming experience for him. He had hated anything to do with training or learning jutsu when younger but he had found as he got older it to be something almost necessary for him to be a functioning person. His nervous energy sometimes being almost all consuming.
Deciding that it would probably be best for no one to see the evidence of his training Harri went a little farther in. Eventually he found a clearing full of large mature trees that he could practice on without fear of them being too badly damaged. After stretching for a few minutes Harri slid into a fighting position, allowing the familiar feeling of electricity to escape the surface of his skin. Today was going to be a good day.
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After practicing for no more than a hour Harri went back to the house. The sun clearly coming up over the horizon it had began to pierce through the sheet of fog.
After putting some of the broth in with some rice, he put in a pot, Harri tossed several of the small fish he had found in the refrigerator into the delicious smelling broth along with a few leaks and carrots. His stomach grumbled at the smells that filled the air. Harri untied his kimono and tossed it over one of the chairs at the table after his sleeve nearly fell into the broth's pot. As an afterthought Harri made up a quick batch of what he remembered Choji's mother called 'drop dumplings' which were just little balls of dough tossed in with the soup of sorts that he had made.
The sound of squeaky boards alerted Harri that one of the house's residence was up. Not Sasuke, he decided almost instantly. Sasuke's steps were so distinct and familiar to him that identifying him was like breathing after living their whole lives together.
"Someone's an early riser." A gruff voice said in surprise.
"Huh? Yeah, it's a habit I suppose. Are you hungry? I can serve at anytime." Harri said, checking his rice.
"Oh, uh yeah. Got any coffee or tea going?" t asked rubbing at his face. Smiling a little despite himself. He hadn't been very surprised to see Harri already making something. 'She' was going to be a great wife to someone someday. Didn't really seem to have the temperament suited to the life style she chose to live though.
"Sorry, I haven't been able to find any. I think you might be out." Harri said to the man nervously running a hand through is hair.
"Ah, well we're probably out then. Hopefully the store has some. We'll stop by there after work I guess." Tazuna said with a shrug, asking for a glass of water instead. Which Harri was quick to give him.
"Serving plates are on the top shelf, second cabinet." Tazuna pointed out, raising an eyebrow at the gown Harri was wearing but didn't say anything.
"Oh, okay..." Harri's eyes darted around trying to think of a way to get to the plates without making a fool of himself but he was way too short to reach and knew it. He would likely have to climb on the counter to get them...
"Here, I'll get them. Just get the table ready." Tazuna said, taking pity on the 'girl'.
"Of course sir." Harri squeaked, grabbing chopsticks and spoons from a drawer and quickly putting a set at each space at the table.
"Why are you a ninja kid? You don't seem like the sort at all you know?" Tazuna suddenly asked. An oddly serious look on his face as he looked at Harri.
Harri flushed stuttering. Before forcing himself to calm down. "I uh... You see... I didn't actually want to become one... I kind of got pulled into it all. Rest assured, it doesn't affect my work though."
"What does a squirt like you have to offer anyway. I mean the loud brat can make more of himself. The black haired one actually seems to sort of know what to do. And that girl is used to protect me.. So what can you do. No offence but you're kind of scrawny, even for a little girl!" Tazuna pointed out as he ladled the food into separate bowls and chipped platters.
"Well, I am both sufficient in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. I may not look physically very strong but I don't need to be. Speed and accuracy can be far more effective than strength if you know what you are doing... Which I do." Harri explained mentally adding a 'mostly' as he helped carry platters of steaming food to the table.
Tazuna raised an eyebrow like he wasn't sure he actually believed Harri. That frail delicate looking kid, how could she hurt a fly let alone an assassin? Though he had been amazed when 'she' had managed to have that brute double over, even if it was made of water. The other two hadn't managed to do that. But how did she do it? No way it was through strength.
"Oh, there you are. You should have told me that you were getting up." Sasuke grumbled, yanking out a chair and sitting down. He tiredly massaged his eyes.
Harri knew no one else would have recognized it but he was sure that he could hear a note of panic in the Uchiha's tone.
Sasuke's face went bright red once he got a good look at his cousin. He was prettier than he expected him to be in that night gown. His beautiful hair down just how Sasuke liked it. Harri was so unbelievably gorgeous. Being all domestic. Sasuke had to look away to keep him from making a fool of himself. The realization that someone else may see Harri looking that way made something in his stomach twist. "Hey, it's still kind of cold. Shouldn't you put something over that?" Sasuke asked, trying to sound causal. His teeth clench and he growled under his breath when he heard crashing around.
"How you up sooo early you jerk?" Naruto moaned, stumbling into the kitchen, nearly falling over as he tried flopping into a chair. "Wait, why's it smell like food?" He asked nearly slurring.
"Because it's sitting right in front of you dumbass!" Sasuke growled.
"Sorry I'm not some mystical Uchiha and am tired in the morning you bastard!" Naruto hissed looking ready to launch himself over the table at the other boy.
Harri sighed, rolling his eyes. He was becoming quite used to their behavior. He wished the two would just at least try to get along, especially since Harri was actually beginning to become fond of the excitable blond. Harri pulled several bowls from the cabinets and sat them in front of every chair at the table. Going back to fill glasses with water for them.
"Eew, I hate vegetables!" Naruto complained pushing his bowl away.
Sasuke stood with a furious glare. Completely over reacting. "Are you saying Harri's cooking isn't good enough for you? You sure seemed to like that cake Harri was nice enough to give to you!" He snarled.
"No vegetables are just nasty. I can't eat them." Naruto said, back against his chair, looking at Sasuke like one would a dangerous animal.
"Then eat around them, idiot. I'm not dealing with your pathetic ass when your hungry." Sasuke said from between his teeth, his eyes daring Naruto to argue with him. How dare he insult his Harri like that? Harri was a great cook! That moron was lucky Harri had made anything for them! If he had it his way they would have all starved!
Naruto immediately pouted after that, mumbling to himself.
Harri stood for several minutes looking highly uncomfortable. Two voices filled the hallway and the patter of feet became louder.
"What's going on here?" Tsunami asked looking around in confusion, tiredly tying her hair up. She glanced from the stove to the table which was already full of food.
"You didn't try your hand at cooking again.. Did you dad?" The woman asked in a worried tone. Setting her hand on he head of a nervous looking boy hiding behind her.
"What? Of course not! Do you think I'm stupid enough after that disaster?" Tazuna asked giving his daughter an incredulous look. "Nah, the early raiser of the group made it. Thank the gods as she's the only one I'd trust not to give me food poisoning out of the bunch!" The man said gruffly, picking up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and taking a bite out of it.
"Early raiser?" The woman asked. Sitting down at the table next to her father.
"The one with green eyes." Tazuna explained pointing at Harri with his utensils.
"Father, you made her cook? You're going to bring a cursed storm on us for that you know!" Tsunami said, huffing in disapproval and looking a little pale.
The young boy that sat down next to Naruto went gray at his mother's words.
The man rolled his eyes, "Don't listen to your Mother Inori. That's just superstition! Just because the girl is some noble with pretty black hair and weirdly bright green eyes doesn't mean she's got some spooky connection to or blessing from gods. Feeding into that sillyness will just cause a self fulfilling prophesy! Even if there are gods, I'm sure that they aren't petty enough to kill us all just because some noble girl with black hair and gods forbid, strange green eyes cooked a meal for us! We would have all been dead a thousand years ago if something like that annoyed the gods enough to do something to us!" Tazuna laughed.
Harri nearly chocked as the man spoke. If only he knew what was sitting right in front of him. Harri wondered how the man would react. How any of them would...
"That... is true. I still don't think that it is a good idea to tempt fate." The women said sounding exasperated, her eyes nervously darting over to Harri.
The man shrugged, "I doubt the 'gods'," Tazuna made quotation fingers, "would get pissed off because a girl made breakfast for people unprompted. I mean that seems pretty weird the gods getting angry because she wanted to cook." The man pointed out.
"Okay I've had enough of listening to you two bicker. What are you talking about gods getting upset because someone was cooking? Sounds silly to me!" Sakura suddenly spoke up, startling everyone. She stood near the doorway, her arms crossed glaring.
"Sakura, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Why are you standing over there?" Naruto said, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Yeah... Lurking is a disturbing habit Sakura." Sasuke added in an unimpressed tone of voice between bites.
The girl immediately went red grabbing onto the hem of her skirt while staring at Sasuke with hurt eyes. She slowly made her way over to a chair and sat down. Looking around at the food with a frown. So much starchy food. This was sure to ruin her diet!
"Dig in!" Tsunami said cheerfully.
"Oh thanks ma'am this looks delicious." Sakura said, politely smiling at the woman.
"Don't thank me I wasn't the one that made it." Tsunami laughed.
"Yeah, green eyes did." Tazuna said, smirking, knowing the girl couldn't stand the 'other'.
"Oh. Well okay." Sakura said in a clipped tone. Giving Harri a narrow eyed look. "What were you saying about gods anyway?" Sakura asked.
"You shouldn't be rude to that girl you know. You'll be cursed if you are!" The little boy sitting across the table suddenly said, giving Sakura a disdainful look. "You should say thank you." He insisted, eagerly taking another bite of food. His eyes repeatedly darted over to look at Harri. A look of shy admiration crossing his features.
"Are you threatening me brat?" Sakura growled.
"No, I'm just telling the truth! Sirius doesn't like anyone messing with his favorites, especially jealous ugly girls!" Inori insisted, glaring.
"Inori! That's enough!" Tsunami reprimanded.
"I'm not jealous! I'm a thousand times prettier than her anyway! She's dull, I've got green eyes to!" Sakura hissed between her teeth.
"Yeah right, you just look like some weird foreigner! With weird ugly hair and horrible watery eyes. You don't belong here! They shouldn't be here at all they're all going to die. You know that mom!" The boy insisted, forcefully pushing his chair out and jumping up, storming from the room.
"I... I'm going to go check on Kakashi sensei... I'll be back to help with the dishes once everyone is done." Harri finally managed to squeak. Trying to get out of the room before he passed out from his horror at how badly the situation had become. He was so beyond embarrassed he wasn't sure how he would be able to even face everyone again. He felt that he would probably have to hide out in Kakashi's room for most of the mission if it continued on like that.
"Wait, Harri but you barely ate." Sasuke pointed out in a worried tone of voice.
"I-I'll just bring it with me. I mean if that is okay with you ma'am?" Harri asked.
"Yes, that's fine." Tsunami said looking a bit dazed.
Harri practically sprang up after that snatching his bowl up and practically fleeing from the room.
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"H-Harri what are you doing here? Where are we?" Kakashi murmured, his eyes still hooded.
"Kakashi Sensei! I'm glad you have finally woke up! Everyone's getting all crazy acting without you." Harri said excitedly grinning at the man. He sat against the wall a nest of blankets around him.
"Not surprising... Back to the question though." Kakashi said.
"Oh, sorry, we are at the bridge builder's house... I'm kind of just trying to avoid being around everyone... Sakura is apparently angry because Tazuna's grandson thinks she is weird looking and doesn't like her because she looks too foreign? and apparently the locals have some superstition about people or maybe nobles? Not really sure... but anyway, they have some odd superstition about people with black hair and green eyes being blessed by gods or something and apparently they can't make them do anything or upset them or they get cursed with storms or something? I don't really know but for some reason Sakura is acting angry because of this? And I'm just trying to avoid her." Harri explained. "Also you need to take it easy for at least a week as you are suffering from extreme Chakra exhaustion." Harri said after Kakashi tried sitting up and was barely able to make his arms move.
"Oh... well that's understandable... How long have you been sitting there?.. Just curious." Kakashi said, taking in the room.
"Um... I'm really not sure... Most of the day. You have been out cold since the day before yesterday and I was sitting up her most of yesterday to... I guess probably a day and a half? It's okay though because I have reading materials..." Harri explained, showing Kakashi a book on chakra points. The scroll he had been reading was hidden under the layers he had nested in.
"Interesting choice... So... besides the disagreements between Sakura and the boy is everything going alright. No rogue ninja showing up? No bleeding?" Kakashi said giving Harri a meaningful look.
"No, I told you I'm fine. And there has been no rogue ninja... At least... yet." Harri said, trying not to sound exasperated.
A grumble rumbled through the room.
"I guess I'm hungry." Kakashi snorted.
"Okay, um, I'll go get you something to eat! You can eat right?" Harri asked, Immediately stumbling to his feet.
"Yeah, that would be appreciated. I could go for... really just about anything right now." Kakashi said in a humored tone of voice.
"Okay, I'll be right back. Tsunami, the lady of the house, saved some food for you earlier just in case." Harri explained, practically running from the room to get something for the man to eat.
"I'd like some water to if you don't mind!" Kakashi called to him. Getting a 'okay' yelled back.
After Kakashi was sure Harri was no longer in hearing distance his eyes immediately shifted to the pile of blankets. "What were you hiding?" Kakashi muttered, his eyes narrowed into fierce slits. He gritted his teeth together, his muscles screamed as he slowly forced himself to sit up, his body trembling with the effort. He scooted himself over, lifting the mass of blankets and smiled, grasped the scroll... his smile twisted into a flat annoyed look as he realized it was sealed... and looked to be the very same one that he had taken away from Harri. "Smart." Kakashi grumbled under his breath. He would definitely need to be having another talk with 'her'. How he hated doing that. He really didn't want Harri to end up getting hurt though. The odd gray cast she had to her skin was also a bit worrying.
Kakashi slid back onto the futon with an embarrassing amount of effort, tucking the scroll beneath the blankets to his left side. He tried to breath normally but was unable to control the pants that came out, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Your sitting up! Oh, um do you need any help?" Harri hurriedly asked. A steaming bowl in one hand and a glass with a straw in the other.
"No, I'll be alright. I'm just a bit tired still." Kakashi reassured, holding out a shaky hand.
"Careful not to spill! It's hot!" Harri warned his teacher carefully handing over the bowl of steaming broth and chicken.
He sat the glass of water to the side of the man's futon, curling back under his own nest of blankets after rearranging them a bit. After several minutes of obsessively rearranging his blankets all that could be seen was his face and a few stands of loose hair. Harri had been so focused on his task that he hadn't even noticed his teacher finishing eating at lighting speed nor that the man sat watching his odd behavior with a strange look.
"Are you cold?" Kakashi suddenly asked, sitting his bowl aside with twitch hands. It would make sense with the layers that he had seen Harri wear a few times, he had swore he saw goosebumps on Harri's arm before 'she' had handed over the bowl. The gray cast would make more sense as well. Blood issues could create circulation problems.
"I'm fine." Harri insisted, trying to ignore the pain in his limbs from the lethargia inducing cold that seemed to have settled into him and had tensed him up. A light fog had set into the area for the day and had been even thicker the day before. Tazuna said it was probably going to rain. Although the fog wasn't thick enough to be much of a problem for seeing through having most of the evening of the day before and the entire day made it cold. A type of cold that seeped into bones and joints and made people not want to do much, far more so for Harri.
"Okay, if your sure." Kakashi said not believing his student in the slightest. He couldn't help but feel a bit worried when Harri hardly mustered up the energy to even keep 'her' eyes open. Getting up for a couple of minutes shouldn't have tired 'her' out so much. "I'm actually also getting pretty cold. Is there anyway that could get another blanket?" Kakashi asked, changing tactics.
"'Umkay. I'll go find one for you." Harri said after a few minutes, forcing himself to his feet. He went to his and Sasuke's shared room and snatched one of the blankets he had found in the closet. Returning to Kakashi's room as quickly as possible Harri thrust the blanket at his teacher. "Here." Harri said, his feet already beginning to burn.
"Thank you." Kakashi said, snatching Harri's wrist, nearly making him fall forward onto the silver haired man. His eyes widened at how almost painfully cold Harri's hands were. "You're freezing! Harri why aren't you dressed in something warmer? You could end up getting hypothermia! You may already have it right now... You aren't shaking at all." Kakashi said, his tone much like a worried parent. It was chilly in the room but it wasn't so bad that someone should have been practically freezing to death from it!
"I... Don't shiver." Harri mumbled under his breath. Trying to slowly extract his arm from his teachers hands.
"Don't shiver? What are you talking about. Here.. Use this." Kakashi said, dragging Harri down to sit next to him. He immediately tried his best to wrap the blanket he had been given around his student.
"I.. Can't shiver... I can't regulate my body temperature properly... It's okay though, I'm drying my clothes in the kitchen, so I should have something better to wear soon." Harri explained in a tiny meek voice.
"What?! When did this start? You know that isn't normal right?" Kakashi nearly squeaked, panic filled the man's eye.
"I've always had that... issue. It's really not as bad as it use to be! When I was little I wasn't even allowed to leave the house on cool windy days or when it became overcast because everyone was afraid that I would end up too cold and that I would get sick. Shikamaru and I would stay in on those days. He'd wear an undershirt and some shorts and complain about how hot it was in the house while we played together it was so warm... So really I'm not that bad..." Harri insisted.
Kakashi gave Harri a pained look. "And no one thought to tell you that could mean underlining problems?" The silver haired man asked with an incredulous look.
Harri froze, not sure how to talk his way out of that one. His dad had told him that he had some health problems because sometimes issues occurred with the Black clan boys that were able to have babies and that Harri was actually really healthy for one and normally the boys got healthier as they got older. At least that was what he said he had read. A common health issue among them was the inability to control their body temperatures until they were much older or possibly never. Not exactly an issue he could fib around... Unless... well he had unusual chakra at least to humans. Maybe he could say that-
"Don't even try it Harri. That look in your eyes... I've gotten pretty use to it. You are trying to come up with... a... plausible lie. I really don't like you lying to me all the time... and I don't know why you and Sasuke seem to feel the need to do so anytime I ask a question... when it comes to you... but I would really like it if you stopped. I am your teacher and I'm trying to keep you safe. With you both lying to me all the time you are making that job immeasurably... difficult. Now, what is really the problem?" Kakashi said in a no nonsense tone of voice.
"I uh"
"What are you doing to my cousin?" Sasuke growled, nearly dropping the bowl in his hand. He eyes the shaky hand on Harri's wrist and blanket around his shoulders with a mixture of disgust and rage.
Kakashi looked between him and Harri rolling his eye, "What does it look like I'm doing?" The man asked in an apathetic tone.
"You-You how dare you so casually touch my cousin like that you pervert! Get away from him, Harri! Coming on to me!" snarled, ready to throw the bowl of pipping hot stew at the man. How dare he even think it okay to platonically touch his cousin?
"What?! No you idiot it wasn't like that at all! I was just trying to keep her warm because she apparently has circulatory issues I wasn't told about." Kakashi protested, immediately letting go of Harri's wrist.
"You sick Ichi-Ichi reading pervert! Harri come here!" Sasuke barked, snatching the heap of blankets from the floor with his free hand.
"'Kay Sasuke." Harri squeaked, feeling feint. He immediately got up and went to his cousin before Kakashi had the chance to regain his thought. This was just humiliating though!
"Harri, come back here! We aren't done talking young lady! I know that was just a ruse!" Kakashi yelled. Frustrated by his weakness as his arms gave out as he tried forcing himself to stand to follow the pair. "Damn it." Kakashi growled under his breath to himself. He was sure he had nearly had her talking, finally. Ugh, that annoying boy, always shutting her up. What was it that they were hiding? Couldn't the Uchiha wonder understand that hiding things could passably be killing his niece, cousin, what ever he considered her to be? Ugh he was really beginning to dislike that kid.
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"You okay?" Sasuke asked his cousin in a gruff tone of voice, nervously looking him over.
"I'm fine." Harri assured him. Trying not to grimace as his cousin practically felt him up with his eyes.
"Hn... You're freezing." Sasuke muttered, his warm hands almost painful against Harri's pale cold skin. The rage immediately drained from him. Sasuke practically drug Harri to 'their' room rummaging through the closet after handing the bowl of fish stew to his cousin. He grabbed the futon and rolled it out, quickly making the bed and pilling it with every blanket in the room including the ones Harri had in Kakashi's given room. "Lay down. I'll keep you warm." Sasuke demanded.
"You don't have to do that. I'm fine." Harri mumbled, fidgeting. Feeling highly uncomfortable.
"Liar. The last time I ignored you when you got this way you ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. Get under the blankets and eat your dinner." Sasuke hissed.
"O-Okay." Harri agreed nervously looking at the door. He was sure that he was going to get a 'talking to' by Kakashi once the silver haired Jounin managed to get up. He slowly sat down on the futon trying not to spill his food. The bowl was pleasantly warm against his palms as he sat trying to just absorb its warmth.
Harri sipped at bowl of stew, nearly chocking when Sasuke yanked him down beneath the blankets. "Sasuke! I could have spilled!" Harri squawked. Glaring at his cousin.
"Well it didn't." Sasuke shot back.
After finishing his stew Harri sat the bowl to the side. The warmth of Sasuke's body beginning to relax his tense muscles even as his behavior unnerved him. "I should get back to Kakashi sensei. I didn't get the chance to collect his bowls." Harri said.
Sasuke tensed. "Hn... No the losers can take care of him. I'm taking care of you." He insisted. Nuzzling his cheek against his cousin's hair and pulling him closer.
"You're so mean to them." Harri complained, yawning. Trying to ignore the uncomfortable prickle he was getting for his cousin's strangely clingy cuddly mood.
Sasuke huffed. "Just telling the truth."
"You should try to be nicer to them, their our team." Harri pointed out.
Sasuke snorted, "No you're my team." He muttered childishly.
Harri frowned. "No, they are all our teammates. Even the ones we don't like much." Harri insisted.
"Well I hate them. Not just 'don't like them much'. All of them, their loud and annoying and useless. Sakura is awful to you to." Sasuke grumbled. Not adding that they took up far too much of his Harri's attention.
"You do not. You like Naruto! I can tell. He's not so bad, loud but he's not useless." Harri pushed. Ignoring the Sakura comment.
"I hate him most!" Sasuke immediately insisted. Growling into his cousin's neck.
"Of course you do." Harri said, rolling his eyes.
"I do!" Sasuke muttered in a moody tone.
"If you say so." Harri relented.
"Be quiet and go to sleep before I change my mind and let you freeze to death!" Sasuke sniffed.
"'um kay Sasuke... Thanks by the way. For Kakashi." Harri said, snuggling in and pulling the blanket up around his chin.
"Hn."
End Chapter 11
So here is chapter 11! Hope you liked it! Can't wait for Kakashi to be up and moving. Evil grin*
SO I HAVE AMAZING NEWS! I managed to get into a super amazing art college! Milwaukee Institute of Art! Going to be starting in the fall, I even managed to get a Scholarship of 60,000$ so happy and proud of myself! Getting an illustration degree and possibly minoring in creative writing or marketing. I of course have no money though for tuition deposit or supplies or anything because I am eternally poor but my friend was nice enough to let me stay at her apartment in town so I will be able to make some money so I am going to be super super busy there and won't be able to update very often. I will be trying to update more on my deviantart though which is Yuvush. I will try and write as much as possible before school though since I will be going full time and I will also have to get a job since I will still have to get loans and need to pay for food and things.
I have a poll going on right now on my profile for who you want Harry with so vote on there if you want a say.
Not too long and we will be seeing Gaara again and meeting Neji!
Should I start a or something so I can afford to write and draw more for everyone or not while in school? Curious is all. I keep thinking about it, I had a page but it got deleted because I wasn't active on it a while ago because no one showed interest.
Next Chapter hint: Embarrassing wake up calls and the Market crawl