Disclaimer: I don't Naruto. If I did, Sasuke would have known the truth about Itachi before he killed his older brother. Stupid Kishimoto-senpai…
Chapter Two – Emails and Kitties and... Chewbacca?!
Now everything is new
And everything is you
And all I've learned has overturned
What can I do...
Nodoka could barely hit the right keys on the keyboard, she was typing so fast. She went straight to the "Anime Nerds" server and logged in. A little box came up asking for a password. She typed it in and entered as bloody_roses. Sure enough, secret180 was already there, waiting for her.
The following is an IM conversation between bloody_roses and secret180.
bloody_roses: Hi.
secret180: That was fast. Were you the one beating the poor keyboard up?
bloody_roses: I was typing that fast, huh?
secret180: Yah.
bloody_roses: …Awkward…
secret180: I don't think so. You're actually really cute when you're irritated or in a hurry.
bloody_roses: Cute as in…?
secret180: You kind of remind me of an angry puppy.
bloody_roses: Uh-huh. So you're an animal lover???
secret180: Maybe.
bloody_roses: Aw, come on! Just one tiny little hint? Please?
secret180: I'm a guy, and I can clearly see you from where I'm sitting.
bloody_roses: That's five people in here…
secret180: Take it easy on the poor keyboard. It's not its fault you're irritated.
bloody_roses: Oops. Sorry keyboard.
secret180: Lol, the librarian is giving you death glares.
bloody_roses: Which one?
secret180: The fat old woman with so many wrinkles that her face looks like loose-fitting cloth.
bloody_roses: There are two women like that. Is she wearing glasses?
secret180: No, although I see what you mean. The one with glasses is a little pudgy.
bloody_roses: I'm getting death-glared-at by Ms. Haggis? (A/N: I'm sorry; I just had to do that. XD)
secret180: Lol, is that seriously her name?!
bloody_roses: Yah. I heard a couple of Freshmen kissing up to her on the way in.
secret180: Stfu.
bloody_roses: Lol, chatspeak rules. X3
secret180: What was that, you're psychotic kitty-face?
bloody_roses: Be nice to the kitty-face.
secret180: And if I'm not?
bloody_roses: Kitty-face munna eat choo.
secret180: ????
bloody_roses: (Kitty-face will eat you.)
secret180: Lol.
bloody_roses: Do you hear screaming?
secret180: …Yah, I do. Who the hell is that?!
bloody_roses: I just saw the principal run after three kids.
secret180: Where?
bloody_roses: By the window behind Hisoka.
secret180: Lol, he's staring at you.
bloody_roses: I noticed. Ah! Come out and save me, dammit!
secret180: Save you?
bloody_roses: One of his fangirls tried to eat me this morning.
secret180: You sure it was a fangirl?
bloody_roses: Positive. Plus, he keeps looking at me whenever he's in the same class with me.
bloody_roses: It's really creepy. Ack! He's staring at me again!
secret180: Lol, relax. He does that to all the new students. It's like he thinks he's an alpha dog or something.
bloody_roses: Does that mean he pees on bushes, too?
secret180: What… the fuck…
bloody_roses: I'd turn to see who's laughing, but I think Hisoka's staring at me again.
secret180: "Pees on bushes"? Where did that come from?!
bloody_roses: A story I read on . It's called The Eccentric Files, and it's by Ren and Missa. (A/N: Go read it! Do it… after you finish reading this story…!)
secret180: Lol, I've gotta find that story.
bloody_roses: Hey, I wonder what Hisoka's typing. Any ideas?
secret180: Probably some essay. Guy's a damn bookworm.
bloody_roses: Hey! I'm a "damn bookworm"! Show some respect! DX
secret180: Sorry.
secret180: Lol, Haggis is glaring again.
secret180: Wow. I didn't think it was possible for her skin to get any paler. Nice job!
bloody_roses: Thank you.
bloody_roses: Damn, that was the bell. Talk tomorrow?
secret180: Sure. Oh, wait. Do you have an email?
bloody_roses: yah, it's dusk_to_dawn
secret180: Cool, then I'll send you an email tonight. Okay?
bloody_roses: Okay. Just one more hint? Please?
secret180: My eyes look black, but they're actually a very dark shade of green.
secret180 has signed off
bloody_roses: That narrows it down to two people… hmm…
bloody_roses has signed off
Like last time, Nodoka ran into someone on her way out of the library.
"Ow! Hey, watch where you're – !"
She stopped when she saw that the person she'd run into was Hisoka Uchiha, who regarded her with eyes that were amused, annoyed, and penetrating, all at the same time.
"Er, uhm, never mind, it was my fault anyway," Nodoka stammered, moving towards the door.
Hisoka kept pace with her and leaned to her ear, whispering, "Who were you talking to?"
"No one," Nodoka said, inching away from him.
"Why talk to someone you don't know?" Now Hisoka's lips were turned up in the infamous Uchiha smirk as his eyes bore into Nodoka's.
"Hey," the girl said, "it's better than talking to someone who stares at me all the time." And for the second time that day, Nodoka turned her back to Hisoka and walked away, trying not to walk too fast or too slow.
Hisoka was just a little creepy for her, and she hoped secret180 was right about the alpha dog thing.
Period Five – P.E. / Ms. Jigi (A/N: Jigi means "mere child's play")
"Dodge the ball, Nodoka!" the coach shouted.
"I'm trying to dodge the ball – ow!" Nodoka stumbled as yet another ball hit her in the gut. It really wasn't her fault. For one, the opposing team kept throwing the damn balls too hard, and the balls would either ricochet off the wall behind her and hit her in the head, or fly straight and hit her and the chest or stomach.
Second, why the hell was her team made up almost entirely of jokers and lazy bums?!
Ten minutes later…
Nodoka had finally gotten the hang of dodging the flying red missiles the other team kept throwing at her when she noticed Hisoka catch one of the balls Bakani had thrown. While her teammate moaned and complained, Nodoka had just enough time to see Hisoka smirk at her before someone moved in next to her.
"Here it comes," the boy muttered.
"Wha– ow! Son of a gun, that hurt!"
"Nodoka, take five. You should probably get some ice for your hand."
"Yes, ma'am," Nodoka sighed, glaring at Hisoka before darting out of the gym.
Period Five – Computers and Careers / Mrs. Johnson (A/N: Okay, two people whose names I won't change.)
"Oh my god," Ikoji whined, "This class is so boring…" The girl currently had her forehead on the desk and was attempting to drown out the teacher's incessant rambling with music from her new iPod. So far it wasn't working.
"Well, it could be worse." Shinbi, who sat next to Ikoji, was chewing gum and somehow getting away with reading a magazine while the teacher continued to lecture the class about classroom rules and behavior.
"I don't see how." On Ikoji's other side, Atsui sat in a similar style to Ikoji, texting to her sister in P.E.
"Well, we could all get in trouble for goofing off."
"I've already done that twice today."
"Wow, Ikoji. That must be a record or something."
"Nope. My record at the Leaf Academy was fifteen times in one day."
"You have issues."
"The models in that magazine have issues."
"Touché."
Suddenly, in the middle of Mrs. Johnson's lecture, Atsui's cell phone started playing the new-text-message ringtone.
And people say you dye your hair and wear tight jeans that doesn't mean that you can't scream or like loud noise; you've got a choice you have a voice…
"Hollywood Undead! That's their song Knife Called Lust!" Ikoji yelled triumphantly. (A/N: Yes, like me, Ikoji is a music nerd.)
…
"Oops…"
"Shinbi, Ikoji, and Atsui. You're getting referrals."
"Damn you, Ikoji!"
"I vote we kill her after school."
"Meep…"
Period Five – At the Uchiha residence…
"She did what?!"
Itachi started awake at the sound of explosions coming from the kitchen. When he heard his wife screaming at someone over the phone, he rolled his eyes and went back to sleep…
Meanwhile, at the Uzumaki residence…
"Not again! I was never this bad when I was her age!"
Actually, Hinata thought Ikoji was the mirror image of her father, but she wasn't about to say that out loud. Naruto might stop getting her ice cream otherwise…
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga residence…
"She was doing what in her computer careers class?"
Neji very wisely decided to leave the room. Tenten was a little dangerous when her voice got that low and even, and he didn't want to be there when things started spontaneously combusting…
Period Six – Biology 1 / Mr. Umino (A/N: You had to see this coming.)
"Biology is such a drag."
"Shut up, Netsuki."
"You shut up, Kaimin!"
"Let's just do our homework and go to sleep."
"Okay…"
Five minutes later…
"Psst," Nodoka whispered, "Kaimin! Netsuki! Wake up, the teacher's glaring at you guys."
Yawn. "But we're already done with our homework…"
"Are you serious?"
"Yep." Stretch. "See?"
"…Holy crap. Can I copy your answers?"
"Sure. Here you go…"
"Sweet…"
Period Six – Behind the Cafeteria again…
Once again, Aishi was sitting outside, leaned against the wall, eyes closed, waiting for the last bell to ring. She busied herself by listening to the absolute stillness of the campus, broken only by the occasional flock of birds…
"Aishi~!"
Well, so much for serenity.
"What?"
"You're skipping too? Oh-em-gee! We can, like, skip together!" Oh dear god, it was Ninkitori. Aishi groaned inwardly and did her best to block out the girl's high-pitched rambling, praying the last bell would ring very, very soon…
3:25 – End of School – In the school parking lot…
Nodoka, Kaimin, and Netsuki walked outside together, talking about a birthday party for Ikoji and Tereya. Apparently Kaimin and Netsuki were in charge of planning, but they were so lazy that they spent more time sleeping than planning.
Plus, parties weren't the strong points of either sister; their parents didn't tend to enjoy planning parties, and their father usually didn't even attend most parties. So the older sister, Netsuki, recruited Nodoka to help them out, which she willingly agreed to in exchange for being allowed to copy the answers to her homework assignments off of Netsuki.
The trio was discussing party colors when Nodoka caught sight of Hisoka and his two sisters a couple feet away.
"Oh, snap," she said, "It's Hisoka. Can we go the opposite direction from him? Please?"
"Why?" Kaimin giggled, "He's cute."
"He threw a ball at me in gym. And it made me throw up halfway to the nurse's office," Nodoka whined.
"He does that to everyone," Netsuki commented.
"Even the girls?"
"Well, on accident, maybe, or if they've made him mad."
"Oh crap."
"Yep, you're screwed."
"Oh, gee. Thanks, Kaimin, now I won't be able to sleep tonight. Do either of you know where I can get some mace?
"Nope."
"Not a clue."
"Damn. See you guys tomorrow, then."
"Okay, bye."
"See ya!"
After School – Nodoka's home…
Well, who cares about Hisoka, anyway? Nodoka thought to herself as she locked the door to her apartment. She threw her bag and coat on the floor and ran to her laptop. As soon as it was on, she went to her email. Somehow, night_has_fallen had already sent her an email titled "Hi."
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Hi.
Hi, Nodoka. It's secret180. Do you have Yahoo IM? If you do, I'll get on and wait for you.
If you don't, we can just email back and forth.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Hola.
No, I don't have the IM. Sorry.
So, can I have another hint? I've got it narrowed down to two people.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Ciao.
I'm an animal lover. And my favorite animal is any kind of cat or dog.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Aloha.
Still down to two people. What color is your hair?
Backup question #1: Is your skin dark or light?
Backup question #2: Where were you sitting at lunch?
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Moshimoshi.
Not a fair question.
Backup question #1: Not a fair question.
Backup question #2: Not a fair question.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Goddag.
Oh, come on! That's so not fair!
Fine. Since you won't give me any helpful hints, let's talk about music.
Have you heard any songs by an artist called Leonard Cohen?
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Eh. (Which is French for hello, apparently.)
Lol, you're so cute when you're mad.
Leonard Cohen? Uhm… What are some of his songs?
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Dag.
Broken Hallelujah, First We Take Manhattan, and Everybody Knows.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: …Okay, you win. I'm out of foreign words for "hello".
Oh! Yah, I've heard Broken Hallelujah and First We Take Manhattan. Those are my favorites.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: I was just typing random words. Do they all seriously mean "hello"?
I know, they're awesome, right?
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: …Wow.
Seriously.
Okay, you don't get to ask any questions, but will you answer some for me?
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Shut up! DX
Uhm, depending on the questions, sure. If you start asking things like what color my underwear is, I'm turning my computer off.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: N3v3r!
1. What's your favorite food?
2. What's your favorite animal?
3. What's your favorite color?
4. What's your favorite band/song?
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: XP
1. Anything spicy.
2. Wolf.
3. Any warm colors.
4. Nightwish/"While Your Lips Are Still Red".
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Lol.
Interesting answers… I'll have to find that song.
1. Fire or Water?
2. Fight or Flight?
3. Revenge or Forgiveness?
4. Love or Hate?
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Rofl.
1. Fire.
2. Flight, unless I can't run.
3. Forgiveness.
4. Love.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: RoflCOPTER!!!
Cool.
Oh crap. My dad just walked in… with my uncle…
This is embarrassing.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Lmao.
Sucks to be you.
Hey if they're reading this, do you think they'll hijack your computer and tell me who you are?
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: I'm going to hide under a rock now.
Gee, you're so thoughtful.
DON'T GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS!!! Those two are evil!
dlfhajkhd,/v.m
He's telling us we can only give you a hint.
He has a cat named Fang. It bites everyone but his sisters and him.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: I'm going to laugh at you.
I know.
Methinks calling them evil wasn't a good idea?
And that's not a very helpful hint…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: You're so cruel…
I GOTlhl the Keyelyboard bakckkkkkkkkk,/.
OUT!!! OUT, YOU FIENDS!
No more hints! You're so evil, Nodoka…
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Choo like me anyway.
What'd you do, chase them out with a chair?
And I'm aware that I'm evil. It runs in my blood.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: What the hell is "choo"?
Just about.
It's good that you're aware of that. Acceptance is the first step in recovery.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Choo is you in kitty-face language. X3
Do you really have a cat named Fang? That's… surprisingly adorable…
Isn't acceptance one of the steps to grief, too?
Hang on… there's something scratching at my front door…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Ah…
The cat isn't adorable, but I'm glad you find the idea rather cute.
Uhm… Maybe. Are we talking about getting-ready-to-fly-into-a-murderous-rage grief or getting-ready-to-commit-suicide grief?
And just let your parents get the door.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Lol.
I do! I think it's absolutely endearing to have a cat called Fang! It's like having a teddy bear named Chewbacca.
Uhm… those are both highly insane forms of grief… and I mean that literally…
Uhm, my parents are out for the week. They visit my grandparents in the Wind Country a lot. And anyway, I opened your last email after I got the door.
Oh, you won't believe what I found! I opened the door (did you notice it was raining? I sure didn't) and there was this little grey-and-white kitten on the doorstep! She was drenched and looking up at me with these big, pleading yellow eyes…
I went to my neighbors (which took relatively no effort, since I live in an apartment complex), but none of them recognized her.
I have named her Mikiri, and am attempting to see if she will eat some cat food.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: What the heck…
You have a teddy bear named Chewbacca?
You're right, but both seem like griefs that would stem from acceptance.
Who are your grandparents?
Wow. You're a sucker for cute, fuzzy things, aren't you?
Mikiri? Is the cat male or female? And give it powdered baby formula, not dairy milk.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: You'll get used to it.
Admittedly, yes.
Hm… You have a point… both, probably.
That's highly personal information.
Yeah. It means "forsaken". And she's a girl. What happens if I give her dairy milk? And how would you know how to take care of kittens?
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Meaning what?
Does it look like Chewbacca?
I win. Ah, sweet victory…
It's better than asking about your underwear.
If you give Mikiri dairy milk, she'll get diarrhea. (A/N: Oh, how I wish I hadn't learned this the hard way…) And I happened to raise Fang myself… with a little help from my sisters…
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Good question, mew!
Sort of… He's hairy like Chewbacca…
Okay, so he's a toy sloth bear. I was five when I got him – I was young and foolish.
I'm kind of paranoid. I'd like to keep my family a secret until I know for sure who you are.
You found that out the hard way, huh? No wonder Fang doesn't bite your sisters…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: What the hell?
A sloth bear?
Fair enough.
Yah, I did. I was on "diaper detail" for two days…
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: I had too much soda today, shut up.
Yah, I sent you a picture.
Thanks.
Lol, that would have been funny to see… Oh wait, I don't know who you are, so I couldn't possibly know that for certain…
Urgh. That's it, I'm assigning you a nickname.
…Just as soon as I can think of one…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: What are you, a junk food junkie?
…Why do they have to be so damn cute?
You're the devil… Please don't give me a nickname like "Cutie" or "Sir Hot". (Those are my sister's suggestions…)
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Maybe.
Because when they first evolved, they realized cuteness would help their case if they were endangered. That's my theory, anyway. X3
Am not… Look, I even have a halo!
You're sister's the evil one… I think we could be fast friends…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Oh come on, I saw you eating those Hot Cheetos in the library.
Wow.
I can see the horns holding the halo up. Which angel did you nick the wings from?
This is why I HAVEN'T told you who I am.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: DON'T JUDGE ME.
What? You got any better ideas?
Alright you caught me. I pwned some random angel and stole her wings. XD
Aww…
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: I wasn't…?
Uhm, maybe the cute looks were a trait they evolved to helpthem find food and survive the weather?
You evil, evil child.
That's right, be sad!
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Oh, never mind then… X3
You basically said the same thing. Loser…
Yah, I know…
Never! I refuse to let you pwn me!
…Oh! I know, I'll call you Secret! (ish feeling so proud of herself)
And Mikiri says "Hi".
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: You're insane…
Alright, fine, you win…
…Okay, you're on a massive sugarhigh right now, aren't you?
Secret, huh? Reasons being…?
Mikiri seriously just talked? I think you have a ninja cat…
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: You like me anyway…
YES!!! I LOVE winning!
Sort of. Is it that obvious?
1. You won't tell me who you are.
2. You won't give me any USEFUL hints.
3. Your screen name in the school chatroom today was secret180.
Ninja cat? Are you a druggie or something? Ew, if you are, I'm officially not your friend anymore.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: True.
No, not at all. You aren't by any chance screaming at your computer because I took so long to email you back, are you?
1. You have very little patience, young padawan.
2. See above; all good things take time… Or some such nonsense…
3. Something tells me you like my screen name… Or else you have absolutely NO imagination…
Yes, ninja cat. You know, like those ninken dogs ninjas use for summons?
And good for you. Druggies are no good for you.
And you didn't answer my question. Can Mikiri seriously talk? Or do you speak fluent cat?
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Crap, how is it already ten?
Uhm… No…
1 and 2: Are you a Star Wars fan, too?
3. I have an inherent interest in all things dark and mysterious… Which is why I have enough patience NOT to scream whenever you refuse to give me hints.
Oh, yah, those things! I didn't know there were ninja cats…
Yes, Mikiri can speak about five words in human. And yes, I speak fluent cat-language (we like to call it Meow-Mix).
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: We've been online a while, huh?
Why don't I believe you?
Yes, I like Star Wars. Jedi are awesome.
What's your star sign, by the way? That might have something to do with the preference for dark and mysterious things…
You're kidding me. Which words can she speak? (Meow-Mix? Are you serious?)
If you're tired, we can stop for tonight. I'll text you tomorrow.
To: night_has_fallen
From: dusk_to_dawn
Subject: Apparently…
Because you're mean.
Sweet! I'm not a total nerd after all!
Uhm, I don't know. My birthday's November 16?
She can say Hi, Bye, Mouse, Sad, and Happy. I'm trying to teach her Hungry and Litter-box. It'd make it easier to take care of her, you know?
I'm not tired, and I lack the luxury of owning my own cell phone.
To: dusk_to_dawn
From: night_has_fallen
Subject: Last email, because I AM tired…
Am not.
Yes you are, just like me.
Oh, you're a Scorpio. No wonder you like dark, mysterious things…
Cute.
Talk to you tomorrow at break, okay?
Nodoka sighed and snapped her computer monitor off. Mikiri, who had been sleeping on her lap, twitched at the noise and then nuzzled her nose into the soft blanket she was wrapped in.
Sleep-heavy footsteps dragged Nodoka to her bedroom, where she barely stayed awake long enough to comb her hair through before climbing in to bed.
When she woke the next morning, Nodoka would have no memory of the strange shadow that sat outside her window, or of the whispered "Sleep well" that seemed to flow into her room on a passing summer breeze…
KRKRKR (A/N: "Kayou Residence")
The alarm had time to buzz twice before a hand swiped it off the side table and into the wall across the room. A snarled mass of purple hair covered Nodoka's face as she dragged herself wearily out of bed, careful not to wake Mikiri.
Yawning, Nodoka dragged her way through her morning ritual, slowly becoming more alert as she completed each stage. By the time she was done eating, Nodoka was fully alert, ears and eyes tuned in to every small change in her environment.
Because she wasn't entirely awake before, Nodoka hadn't noticed the white rose lying on her desk until she sat down to do her hair. Now she picked it up and looked curiously at it, wondering who had put it there and why she hadn't sensed the intrusion in her usually light sleep. She knew she hadn't placed it there, since she didn't like buying pre-cut flowers, and couldn't grow flowers due to her innate ability to kill all things made of plant material, including a cactus she had managed to blow up by overwatering it during winter.
This is creepy. Someone got into my house without my noticing and put this where I would find it… But who?
………
"Secret!" Nodoka yelled, putting one and one together (she didn't like the number two). Mikiri yelped and fell off the bed.
"Sorry, Mikiri."
Mikiri glared and made a noise that sounded an awful lot like "Ow."
A/N: Wee, chapter two is out! (Ish so happy.) Sorry the ending sucks so bad, I got really tired about halfway through the emails. The lyrics I used are from "Lay All Your Love On Me" by Abba (an old but incredibly awesome group).
Trivia: Nodoka's full name, Nodoka Kayou, means "quiet song".