Chapter 15
I hope we reach the village soon, I think wearily. Spending all this time together was starting to annoy everyone. Saskue got quieter, angrier, and even more sullen. I felt bad for anyone who accidently caught his gaze; it was full of fire and hatred. Shickamaru got even less cooperative, shirking any kind of work at all. He preferred to hide away and stare at the clouds, or nap. Naruto and Kiba's playful arguments now threatened to boil into full fledged death matches. Sakura and I, after a few fist fights, decided that the best thing to do was walk on opposite sides, far away from each other as possible. That didn't prevent us from staring heated daggers at each other, however.
Well, to be fair, it wasn't really fist fights. We'd just argue and exchange insults until someone lost their temper and leapt at the other one. I lost my cool more often than not, and it usually took all the boys to pry us apart.
Naruto would get dragged into our battles too. He was torn between his team mate, and a girl he cared for. He'd always check on me after a fight, make sure I was okay, and go talk to Sakura to try and console and make peace with her. While he was busy with that, Kiba saw these as opportunities not only to hit on me but to simultaneously piss off Naruto. Kiba would always tell me that he was proud of how strong as I was, and how wrong and annoying Sakura is. He'd also try and hold my hand or put an arm around me. Naruto would be over with Sakura, and I'd be irritated with him, so I would sometimes grant Kiba permission to do so. Until Naruto noticed, and came back yelling and throwing insults wildly at Kiba. That, of course, just added to the heat of their arguments and the tension and drama between everyone.
Needless to say, we weren't sorry to see the village gates looming before us, welcoming us home. I stop and let the others rush by me, enjoying watching them so happy and excited to be home. Naruto is leading the pack, until he notices I'm missing and he comes bounding back to me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I smile. "I'm just happy we all came home safe and sound this time. I'm really tired from all that travel and fighting though, I'm going to head back to my tree."
"You're going to go to a tree? You can't keep sleeping there, come home with me instead."
"What kind of girl do you think I am?" I accuse.
He blushes. "No! That's not what I meant! You know that, cut it out."
I laugh at his obvious embarrassment. "Yeah I know. But I guess that tree is kinda like my home. Go home, get some food, get cleaned up, and get some rest. You'll see me tomorrow. Promise." I lean in and plant a kiss on his surprised lips before racing off.
Soon, I reach my tree. The sight of it doesn't do much for me. It doesn't look all that comfortable or welcoming. But in the end, I guess it's mine and that's something. I climb to my branch and lie back. I'm still dusty and hungry but I'm totally exhausted. I close my eyes and search around with my ears, trying to relax. I can hear the wind singing through the tree branches. Birds nearby are twittering sweetly, I can even hear children laughing in the village. I listen deeply to all the peaceful sounds surrounding me, before my tired body drifts into sleep.
With a jerk and a gasp I wake up. Some time has passed. When I closed my eyes it was noon and the sun was high and bright. Now it's dark, and the moon and stars do a poor job of illuminating the world around me.
I can't remember what woke me up. I listen carefully, but nothing seems out of place. But still, my body can't relax. I grab my kunai knife and leap out of the tree soundlessly. Holding my weapon out in front of me I quietly stalk forward.
I really must be losing it. There's no one around. I'm just paranoid and worn out. If I'm going to be this easy to scare, maybe I should consider not sleeping in the woods alone. Before I can lower my arm, from behind it's snatched and twisted, forcing me to drop the knife. Choking back fear and a desire to run, I spin towards my attacker leading with my first. Whoever they are, they're fast, faster than me at least. They block my incoming fist, but in doing so they free my arm so I can leap back and out of the shadows. My mystery assailant does not follow me however, and uses the darkness to cover their identity.
With a shaky voice I call out, "Come out before I make you."
I hear a frustrated sigh. "All I was trying to do was see you, without waking or scaring you." The voice is male, deep and familiar, but I can't place it.
"Why would you want to do that? Why won't you show yourself?" But before the voice can answer, I can hear someone coming in fast, crashing through to forest at top speed. Noticing my brief distraction, the shadow man tries to slip away. "Don't you run away!" I demand. I try to listen to find out who's coming for us. I can't concentrate because every time I do, the man in the shadows gets farther away. "Get back here." I say.
"Why should I listen to you? You're just a peevish little girl." The voice is amused now and chuckles.
With my anger seeping into my voice I yell, "I said, STAY." I feel something in my chakra stir about the same time I hear a body hit the ground.
"Very good, Red." The voice compliments me, sounding impressed rather than angry or hurt.
My skilled ears pick up the sound of Naruto's mind; it was him rushing through the forest at this unholy hour. "Go home." I try and press the command in his mind. I'm uncertain whether he can't hear me, or ignores me because seconds later he's crouched in front of me protectively, almost growling. "Come out and fight, creep!" He challenges the shadows.
"You idiot, go home! What are you doing here?" I shove him.
He turns on me, "You needed my help! You were scared. I could…feel it somehow. It woke me up. I could sense the fear but it wasn't mine, it felt separate from me. I knew it had to be you."
"What? Even if we do have some weird mental link, you can't come running every time you…feel something. Go home, Naruto." I'm starting to panic.
"Stop being stupid and worrying about the wrong stuff. Someone's creeping around you while you're sleeping, and you're in a panic about me knowing you're in danger? It's too dangerous out here alone and I'm not leaving until you do."
"You're the one being stupid. This isn't a game, Naruto. You need to leave; I'll take care of this."
He presses his forehead against mine and pushes. "And I'm telling you no." He crosses his arms as if he's settled the matter, the little snot. I snarl and push back, but the mystery voice interrupts.
"Can I go now?" He sounds utterly bored.
Naruto wheels at the sound of the voice, however, his eyes growing wide in disbelief. "Kakashi Sensei?!"
My first reaction is disbelief. My head whips between the shadow covering him, and Naruto. No way, no wonder the voice was so familiar to me. My next reaction is panic again. "You old pervert!" I screech. "Why are you watching me sleep?"
He steps out of the shadows. The one visible eye he has asses me, trying to decide whether he'll grace me with an answer or not. "I'm not trying to watch you sleep. I'm just trying to verify some information." He shrugs as if it's no big deal.
"What information? Did Sakura tell you Red snores? Cause she totally does." Naruto smirks at me.
I glare back. "I do not!"
"How would you know? You're always asleep when you do it." He shrugs, and the move ironically copies his sensei's.
"Liar!" I snarl again, enraged.
"Will you two stop?" Kakashi demands. "Naruto, go home. Red, come with me."
Instantly, I'm distrustful. All I can think about is his masked face. The thought forces me to take a wary step away from him. "Why?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
Naruto looks at my defensive pose, and tries to soothe me. "Red, that's Kakashi. He's not going to hurt you."
"Then why is his face covered up? What's he hiding?" I take another step away, preparing to flee.
Kakashi breathes another annoyed sigh. When I blink, he's disappeared. His ability to disappear so quickly unnerves me and I take an involuntary step backwards. I squeak when I realize I've walked back into Kakashi, and his arms are starting to wrap around me. I leap forward, breaking free. "Stay away from me." I gasp.
He makes another grab for me, but I push him back. Naruto has stepped aside and staring at me like I've sprouted nine tails. I'm so busy looking at Naruto that Kakashi's next grab almost catches me. Almost, but not quite, just in time I manage jerk away as I feel his finger tips brush my arms.
"Leave me alone," I cry as I bring up my fists, preparing to fight him off.
"Why won't you do what I say?" He asks exasperated.
"Why should I listen to you?" I mock him. "You're not even my sensei!" I add defiantly.
"Because I'm your older brother."