Chapter 18: Coming Together

Chirp chirp. Mitsuki opened her eyes partly, then closed them again. Hmm? She opened her eyes once more and sat up. "Ah, my head…" She rubbed her head as she looked around. "A forest? Wha?" She looked down at the person sleeping on her stomach. "Oh, Kabuki…" She smiled warmly and hugged her child. "You're okay, I'm so glad."

"Glad to see that you're awake…"

Mitsuki jumped up and unsheathed her katana. "Come out!"

Kabuto came through the bushes. "Ugh, put that away."

"Ka-Kabuto!" She dropped her katana. "What…What's going on!"

"I saved you and your kid," he replied as he stretched.

"What! No!"

"Uh, yeah. The tower we were in last night collapsed."

"Where's Kakashi?"

He glared at her. "Him! Screw Kakashi!"

"Kabuto! Where is he! Where's Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura!"

"I don't know okay! Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!"

"Kabuto!"

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm not gonna argue with you. All of us got separated at the tower. I don't know where he is, alright?"

"…Kabuto…why did you…?"

"Mom…Mommy…I want…I…" Kabuki mumbled in her sleep.

Mitsuki looked back at Kabuki. "Kabuki…" She walked over to her and felt her head. "What is sweetheart?"

"I want…rice balls…"

"Wha?" Mitsuki and Kabuto said in unison.

"Ice cream…Miso soup with eggplant…Ramen…Okonomiyaki…The Ichiraku Noodle Shop down the street…Fooooood…"

"Is that all she thinks about?" Kabuto asked.

"No, of course not!"

Kabuki opened her eyes. "Ugh…M-Mommy?" She yawned.

"Yes?" Mitsuki answered.

She gasped. "Mommy!" She threw her arms around her mother's neck. "Oh mommy! You're okay!"

"Kabuki…"

"Mommy?"

"Yes dear?"

"I…I'm hungry…"

"What did I say?" Kabuto said with a smirk.

"Sh-Shut up!"

"Hey, it's you! Kabuto!" Kabuki said. "You're still here?" Her keychain turned into Fenrir again. "Fenrir?" He whined. "Yeah, me too."

"What did he say?"

"He said that he's hungry."

Kabuto sighed. "Here." He held up three fish. "We can cook these and eat them for breakfast."

"But what about Fenrir?" The wolf barked. "Hmm? You sure?" He barked again. "Well, alright…" It ran away.

"Where's he going?" Mitsuki asked.

"He said that he would find his own food."

"Oh…"

XXXX

Mitsuki finished the last bite of her fish. "Kabuto…Why are you doing this for us?"

Kabuto looked away. "I…I don't know…"

"You don't know?"

"It's just that…When I look at Kabuki I…" He shook his head. "Who cares? It's not important!" He got up. "Come on, we have to keep moving."

"Why?"

"Let's just go!"

"But where are we-"

"Otogakure."