Others Ch 8

I felt kinda bad about the seriousness of last chapter. Then I read all your rave reviews and start grinning. I love you all~ You guys are amazazing!!! I giggle whenever I see that I've gotten more reviews.

Likes to Smile: Yay! I'm glad you like it so much~~ I try to make him believable. XD

ShamanicNinja: ^^" *cries happily* You're too sweet~ And I dunno! Crazy amazing reviews like yours keep me writing crazy amazing!

SnowsShadow: Heh-heh-heh, maybe! I didn't really mean for it to be serious… XD Shino is the KING of knowing things!! …It's the glasses.

cheeky half-demon: Thanks! I had a lot of fun writing that part!

XxRainbow-DarknessxX: YAY! *collapses into happy sobs* I was starting to think about Mexico and out came that! It's delicious, especially paired with suspense and creepiness! I will thanks to reviews like yours!

Thanks to Tendou123 and Zanyx for the favorite!!!

Just a head's up, this is probably going to be another sirius chapter. (I'll give a cookie to anyone that can recognize the pun in that sentence! XD) And I have good news! I have gotten enough reviews for a CONFETTI CANNON! ^w^ I just ordered it and it should be in by the time I get Stupidity updated~ Whoever gets the pun can help me test out said cannon.

Our long weekend in the woods passes quickly, thank Kami. I hate camping as I mentioned and I'm still feeling a little bit shaken from the Others attacking.

That and Kakuzu being a Protector but that's just cool.

I haven't seen him since he saved me and I hugged him…I'm really starting to regret that hug. He probably thinks I'm a needy freak or something… Clingy! That's it, clingy. Like some annoying little lap dog.

I hate lap dogs that think they're the sole reason you're alive. Stupid mutts…

"Wakey-wakey Kumori!" My mom sings swooping into my room like some sort of deranged bird. "It's MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRNNNNNNNNING!"

"Nng," Translation: Drop dead before I come at you and claw out your vocal chords. Or get out. That would be nice.

"And it's-" She takes a deep breath, belting out the word "MOOOOONDAY!"

"Nng!" Translation: Didn't you just hear me?! Are you f**king deaf or something?! OUT! NOW!

"Monday, Monday, Monday, MOOOOONDAY!" She's dancing. I can tell because of the vibrations from her footsteps are causing the trinkets in my room to vibrate.

"MOOOOOOOOON-DAY!" She bellows in a low baritone.

"GET OUT BEFORE I CUT YOU INTO LITTLE PIECES AND FEED THEM TO MY VENUS FLY TRAP HANA!" I shriek bolting upright. She stops in mid-step, looking slightly surprised. A thump from outside interrupts the silence.

"I'm guessing that's Ryuu coming home from his shift." She says grinning like an idiot. "Get up, honey, you need to get ready to go." I shake my head and roll my eyes as she dances out of the room.

"Cheerful b*tch,"

I glance out my window, trying to decide what to wear. Sprawled out in my tiny bit of grass I call the backyard…is Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu!" He looks slightly dazed. "Holy sh!t Kakuzu are you okay?!" He stands up and brushes the grass off his pants.

"I'm fine," He bends his knees slightly and I step back as he lands lightly in my room. My eyes are huge and round, his calm. I don't think he even brought his heart rate up doing that.

"What are you doing in my yard?" If you could even call it that.

"I was passing through the neighborhood and you shrieking threats at your mom surprised me into falling off your roof. You're lucky I don't sue." He says in a total deadpan. I start giggling and I swear I see a smirk on his lips for a split second. "If you hurry up I'll walk to school with you,"

"Sounds good, I just need ten minutes," I say grabbing my clothes and darting into the bathroom to change, leaving him in my room. I come back out ten minutes later and swear loudly when I look at my watch. "Kya~ I'm gonna be late!"

"No you're not." His green eyes look at me coolly. "Meet me out front. And bring me a waffle," He jumps out the window before I can ask anymore questions and I run down the stairs.

"ByeMomloveyouI'llseeyouafterschoolthanksforthewafflesbye!" I say all in one breath as I grab four toaster waffles, my backpack, and run a brush through my hair as I race out the door.

"Bye sweetie!" She says, not looking up from her tea and paper. "Have a good day," I skid out into the front yard and run straight into Kakuzu. He catches me in what could have been mistaken as a hug in order to keep me from falling back on my a$$.

"How are we not going to be late?" I pant, watching him chow down on the waffle. A car screeches to a stop in front of us. A very expensive-looking silver mustang.

"Get in," The window opens a crack and Kakuzu grabs the door as I shove the rest of the waffle into my mouth, cheeks chipmunking. Normally I wouldn't get into strange rich people's cars but I'm late for school and with Kakuzu. I should be safe.

Music is blasting so loudly I can barely think and the car is in motion before the Protector is all the way in. It's really huge, actually, from the inside. It's like a limo on the inside. One seat is open and the others are filled by who I'm sure are either Kakuzu's friends or other Protectors.

I'm praying they like me, seeing as I fall into one's lap thanks to whoever is driving's bad skills.

"Watch out," The blue man says chuckling a little. Kakuzu slides into the open seat and buckles in.

"Um…"

"I'm Kisame," He says interlocking his fingers on my hip. "You can sit here,"

"Thanks," I say with a sheepish smile. "Sorry,"

"Oh it's fine," He says grinning a pointy grin.

"Sh!t," The guy with silver hair closest to a window says looking out the back. "Hey! Drive faster!" He leans over me and pounds on the window dividing us from the front of the car. A muffled "shut up Hidan" comes back as a response.

A few more of the people in the cab glance out.

"Didn't think he could run that fast, yeah," The blond says with slight amusement.

"He's catching up" Kisame says chuckling lowly. I giggle as well, feeling the vibrations vibrate through my body.

"Who's he going to sit with?" Kakuzu asks making the laughter stop. We come to a stop at a red light and the door flies open. A guy who looks like he bailed out of a Cub Scouts meeting flops in by our feet and I bring my legs to my chest so I don't stomp on him.

"Tobi found caught up!" He says panting. I'm sure he'd be smiling if it weren't for the mask. "Tobi had to run fast but Tobi is a good boy and caught up!"

"Isn't really worth it," Hidan snorts. "We're almost to school,"

"We were so close, un" The blond 'tsk's and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Sempai! That's so mean~" Tobi has chibi tears running down his face. "Be nice to Tobi!"

"Yeah Deidara-chan, be nice~" I have now decided that Hidan has worse mood swings than I do and Deidara is scary.

"Everyone out who's still in school," A deep voice says from up front and I flinch.

"Yeah, yeah," Everyone grumbles something along the lines of that as they get their bags. They clamber out until it's just me, Kisame, and Kakuzu.

"Ladies first," Kisame says pushing me off his lap gently. I blush and Kakuzu steps out, handing me my bag.

"Thanks," I mumble finding the ground in front of me very interesting. "I-I'd better get going" I add lamely when Kisame gets out.

"Nice meeting you Kumori," He grins clapping me on the shoulder. My knees buckle. "Kakuzu's been talking about you a lot. Hopefully we'll meet again," My face burns red again and I nod.

"See you after school, Kakuzu?" He grunts and shoves his hands into his pockets; I take that as a yes. I wave over my shoulder and hoist the strap of my backpack up a little as I walk towards the school. My mind is whirling with the thoughts of everyone in high school.

Did I do all my homework? I have Asuma first period today, right? Do I look okay? Ugh~ I probably looked like an idiot sitting on Kisame's lap. I didn't even have time to put on too much makeup… Were they Protectors? They seemed nice…

That's because they think we're hot! Cha! Inner Kumori punches the air, rousing herself from whatever slumber she might have been in. I sigh and shake my head a little, trying to shake her back into her corner. There's a scream behind me and some shouting but I ignore it.

Another cat fight or some jocks. Or two preps meeting in the hallway. Kami they're shrill I roll my eyes mentally and keep walking towards the doors in front of me. Weird…the scream hasn't stopped. Must be one helluva cat fight…

Glancing behind me, I'm curious to see the fight or meeting. My blood runs cold when I see what's happening. Chaos has broken out and people are running everywhere. Some people are bleeding, some are just screaming. The PDA is crackling overhead but nobody is listening. I do what we were taught to do in the drills.

I drop my bag and run like I'm on fire.

The same phrase runs through my head over and over.

Find a place to hide, find a place to hide, find a place to hide. Then it's over taken by a better idea. Find Kakuzu. He's a Protector. They're trained to deal with Other attacks.

People are running through the halls and faces are blurring with panic. Nobody knows exactly where to go. The lights are flashing, the exit signs lighting up and proclaiming themselves dramatically. My heart is pounding as I push through the crowd. I see an empty hallway and run down it as fast as my legs can carry me.

Papers are scattered on the floor and I slide a few feet on one, straight into a wall. Multi-colored dots fly in front of my eyes and I stand up, feeling a new cut forming above my eyebrow. Thank Kami it wasn't any lower. I shake my head like a dog trying to get water out of its ears before I start running again.

My head is spinning as I run. The rooms and windows blur around me and I have no idea where I'm going. Suddenly something catches my arm and I'm pulled into a classroom. Screaming and flailing are my first instinct but they're hushed when a hand goes over my mouth.

"Kumori, it's me," I open my eyes and see Kakuzu standing in front of me. My eyes fill with tears and I throw my arms around him.

"I. Was. So. Scared," My body is racked with sobs and with the strain of running.

"I know," He says putting a hand on the back of my head. "It'll be okay, they're not going to hurt you," The Protector lets me cry for a little bit before he pulls away. "You're going to go with Tobi now, okay? He'll take you somewhere safe and I'll come find you once the coast is clear. Don't come out for anything or anyone. Others can take the shape of people if they're more powerful and higher up on the ranking. It's going to be okay," I nod and he turns me around gently. The masked guy from before is bouncing on his heels in front of me.

"Tobi will keep Kumori-chan safe for Kakuzu-san!" He says saluting.

"You'd better," He growls and turns around. I smile reassuringly at his back and Tobi gently takes my arm.

"Is Kumori-chan ready?" He asks and I nod. I'm pretty sure he's grinning behind his mask brightly before he picks me up bridal style and starts running. I wrap my arms around his neck and close my eyes, trying not to throw up. I get motion sick easy. My protector (it's meant to be lower case) stops suddenly, skidding a few feet.

Standing in front of us is an Other. A very hungry Other, let me say. A very tall, hungry Other.

"Set the girl down and make her walk towards me. You'll walk out of here alive if you do." His voice is even more gravely than of the first Other that attacked me. I whimper when Tobi sets me down but he doesn't take his arms off me. Instead he steps in front of me and glares fiercely at the Other.

"Tobi won't let Kakuzu-san down," He says, his cheerful tone slipping away. "Run Kumori-chan! Tobi will make sure Kumori-chan gets away!"

"But-"

"Kumori-chan," He glances back at me. "Tobi said run." His tone is so cold it scares me. I nod.

"Be careful Tobi!" I shout over my shoulder as I start running. He flashes me a peace sign.

"Tobi is a good boy! Tobi will be right after Kumori-chan!" I close my eyes and nod, mostly to myself as I run. My head is pounding from the cut. It's pulsing and it hurts like a mother.

You wanna know what hurts more?

Running blindly into an Other. Yeah, that really hurts.

"Glad to see you decided to come easy, Kumori-chan" The voice is taunting but I recognize it as the silver haired guy's… Chaboto or something… "My master has been waiting for you. And he doesn't like waiting,"

"This has been one helluva Monday," I say to my feet, trying to find a way to get out of this.

So far I'm not seeing any.

The sharp jab to my neck comes quickly and I'm still cursing the Monday-ness as I slip into the welcoming darkness.