I'm sorry for the long wait! Please forgive me!
Here's chapter seven! I hope you enjoy it!
Drifting off in Thoughts of you
Chapter Seven- Good to see you
Ai sat on the couch, folding the clothes.
"Ai-Chan, you don't have to do that- you're a guest here!" Temari said as she walked through the door. Ai looked up and smiled.
"It's alright, I owe you guys," Ai replied, grinning.
Temari's eyes softened as she smiled warmly.
-Memory-
"Ai-Chan, why are you cooking? You're a guest here," Temari said, looking at Ai strangely.
Ai looked up at Temari and grinned.
"It's alright- we're friends! Friends help each other, right?"
Temari smiled and started helping Ai. Ai looked at her curiously.
"Friends help each other, right?" Temari said, smiling widely.
Kankuro walked into the kitchen to see the two little girls cooking.
"I'm hungry," he said, pouting.
Ai and Temari started laughing.
Ai looked out the window to see Gaara looking up at the moon. Temari's gaze followed Ai's and she smiled.
-End Memory-
"Temari-Chan, are you ok?"
Temari snapped out of her thoughts and sat down beside Ai. Temari began folding the clothes as well. Ai looked at her and raised her eyebrow.
"Friends help each other, right?" Temari said happily.
Ai smiled and nodded as they continued folding the clothes.
Natsumi stood in the kitchen, humming quietly.
"We're going out, cook your breakfast and go back to your room," Arisu said quietly as she followed Nori out the door.
Natsumi looked at where her mother had stood. She blinked in curiosity and turned to her breakfast.
'Okaa-San's been acting differently lately…' she thought with a shrug.
The phone began ringing. Natsumi walked out of the kitchen and picked up the phone.
"Takahashi Resi-"
"Natsumi-Chan- This is Emi!"
Natsumi grinned widely.
"Emi-Chan! It's so good to talk to you, how have you been?"
"I've been great, Natsumi-Chan. We haven't talked in a while- I was starting to get worried about you guys. How's Ai doing?"
"She's doing great," Natsumi said happily.
"That's good… Anyway, I just phoned to tell you guys to tell you that I'm getting married!"
Natsumi gasped quietly.
"Congratulations, Emi-Chan! Who's the lucky guy?"
"Akira, you remember him, right?"
"Of course I remember him! You've had a crush on him ever since you were little!"
Natsumi could hear Emi laughing on the phone.
"I'd love it if you and Ai could come to the wedding," Emi said, smiling.
"Of course we'll come, when is it?"
"In two weeks, on the 28th."
Emi told Natsumi where the wedding was going to be held.
"Well, I'd better go now," Emi began. "I've missed you so much."
"We've missed you too," Natsumi said, still smiling.
"Okay, well, take care- bye!"
"Bye," Natsumi said as she put down the phone.
'Okaa-San and O-tou-San aren't going to be back for another two hours… Maybe I could-…'
Natsumi looked out the window and grinned. She grabbed her sweater and ran out the door.
Natsumi slowed down to a halt and smiled. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.
Ai and Temari looked up as someone knocked on the door. Kankuro walked out of his room, packing his kunai knives and shuriken.
Temari got up from her seat and opened the door. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Temari-Chan!"
Ai stood up from her seat and walked towards the door. Kankuro stood quietly, trying to look at the person at the door.
"Imouto-Chan, what are you doing here?" Ai said, looking at Natsumi dumbly.
Natsumi grinned and hugged Ai tightly. Kankuro moved his head- his eyes widened. Natsumi grinned and looked around the room. She froze and stared at Kankuro. Ai and Temari looked at Kankuro, then back at Natsumi. Ai smiled and tapped Natsumi's shoulder. Natsumi snapped out of her trance and smiled at Kankuro.
"Hi, Kankuro-Kun," she said happily.
Kankuro stammered as his face turned red. Natsumi shifted uncomfortably in her spot. Temari and Ai resisted the urge to laugh. Ai covered her face and grinned.
"Imouto-Chan, is something wrong?"
Natsumi looked at Ai and shook her head quickly. Kankuro's eyes roamed over her body. He shook his head and walked past them.
"I'll see you guys later," he muttered.
Natsumi watched him walk away. She blushed and turned to see Ai and Temari looked her, grinning. Natsumi laughed nervously and scratched her head.
"Ummm… Hi," she said sheepishly.
Temari began chuckling as Ai giggled. Natsumi smiled at her sister's happy face.
"Oh, I came to tell you that Emi-Chan's getting married!"
Ai smiled and nodded.
"I know, she called this morning and invited Temari-Chan and Kankuro-San as well," Ai replied.
Natsumi muttered 'oh,' and smiled.
"Well, I guess I should come back home," Ai said with a frown.
"No," Natsumi began, smiling. "Don't come home."
Ai looked at her curiously.
"Why not…?"
"Just don't come back… Temari-Chan, can Nee-Chan stay here?"
"Of course," Temari said as she smiled.
"Imouto-Chan, are you sure…?"
Natsumi grinned and nodded.
"I should go back before Okaa-San and O-tou-San come home."
Natsumi and Temari nodded. Natsumi hugged them quickly and ran out the door. Ai and Temari glanced at each other and grinned. Temari looked up at the clock.
"I have to go, I have a mission!"
Ai nodded and Temari grabbed her fan and ran out the door. Ai closed the door and locked it. She plopped down on the couch and looked up at the ceiling.
Natsumi began running back to her house. She looked behind her while running, and slammed into someone.
"Itai-…" she muttered. She looked down and froze. Her eyes widened.
"K- Kankuro-Kun!"
Kankuro looked up at Natsumi. They began blushing furiously. A few people turned their heads and looked at them. Natsumi crawled off him quickly.
"I- I- I'm so sorry! I was just looking back and I didn't realize you were there! A- Are you ok? Did I hurt you?"
Kankuro stood up quietly. Natsumi looked at him nervously.
"K- Kankuro-Kun?"
"I'm okay," he muttered. Natsumi sighed in relief. She smiled sheepishly.
"Ah, I have to go home!"
Natsumi ran a few steps and stopped. Kankuro looked at her curiously. Natsumi turned around and ran back to Kankuro. She gave him a peck on the cheek and took off.
"Bye, Kankuro-Kun!"
Kankuro stood with his mouth open and his face burning.
Natsumi slammed the door and locked it. She looked around the house and sighed.
"Made it," she muttered. She quickly took off her jacket and threw it in a closet.
"And where have you been?"
Natsumi jumped and turned around to see her mother standing there with her arms crossed.
Natsumi opened her mouth, and closed it.
"Well, I…um…." Natsumi pointed to the door.
"I uh…Went to… Get dinner," she said slowly.
Her mother raised her eyebrow.
"And where is the dinner?" she asked, looking at Natsumi's empty hands.
Natsumi stammered as her fingers shook.
"Well, I ran into Emi-Chan! You remember her, right? She was in our group- you know for the teams- I mean- because we're ninja- I mean, not that I'm a ninja- I'm not a ninja anymore because of O-tou-San….," Natsumi began.
Her mother's eyes softened as she uncrossed her arms.
"Anyway, I ran into Emi-Chan, and we started talking and I completely forgot about dinner because Emi-Chan's getting married to Akira-San!"
Arisu smiled faintly.
"Natsumi… I'll cook dinner today," Arisu said quietly as she walked into the kitchen.
Natsumi looked at her questioningly.
"Okaa-San… Is something wrong?"
Arisu looked at her daughter and sighed.
"Come here," she said quietly.
Arisu walked out of the kitchen and up to her room. Natsumi followed her cautiously.
Arisu pulled out a bag from underneath her bed and handed it to Natsumi. Natsumi opened the bag and looked at the photo album.
"Okaa-San…"
"Don't look at it when your father is at home, okay?"
Natsumi smiled and nodded. She gave her mother a quick hug and went to her bedroom. Arisu smiled and walked down to the kitchen.
Natsumi opened the photo album eagerly and smiled at the first picture. Her eyes ran over the happy faces of Ai, Emi, their old sensei and herself. She closed the album and held it close to her chest. She looked out the window, up at the sky.
"Thank you, Okaa-San," Natsumi said quietly.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Review please!