I ended up writing again today anyways, 'cause previous plans were cancelled. Now I have spare time. I might as well make good use of that time, eh? [I'm not Canadian btw..]

Onwards with my sucky writing! &I still don't own anything by Keiko at this point. Time for some romance for pervy boy.(; Starting off with Keiko's P.O.V. just so ya' know. ^^ &Italics and all that are the same as the first chap., and are going to probably stay the same throughout the entire story...if I keep writing it. *shrug* &Underlined bold italic [yeah, that's a lot.] means Shadow's using his scary voice. D':


As I neared Kashi-kun's house, I tried to think about what to say.

I wonder if he'll be freaked out that I know where he lives...

Stalker!

I'm not a stalker! Don't be so mean..

If I'm evil...aren't I supposed to be mean?

Maybe..but you can at least be nice to me!

You're the only person I can be mean to!

Just shut it! We're almost there.

Kashi's house was more plain than I though it would be. I stood in front of the door, contemplating whether to knock or not. I decided to scare him instead and used a jutsu to get into his house without notice.

The house's interior was just as boring as it's exterior. Wooden floors, screen walls and doors, typical Japanese home. A lot of the doors were open, which made it easier for me to sneak around. I wandered aimlessly, looking at trinkets and pictures, until I found Kashi's room - with him in it. He was sleeping, or so it appeared, on his bed, near a window. I stood there quietly for a few minutes, watching him, when I finally noticed how awkward that was.

Oooh, you just want to hop on top of him right now, don't you Keiko?

Shut up! He's just my friend from when we were kids..that's it.

But you wish it was more. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. Say no more. I get it.

No, you don't. Now shut up.

You always tell me to shut up. Who's the meanie now?

You. Now shut up!!

Fine..meanie..

"Dammit Shadow!" I accidentally shouted out loud instead of thinking it. "Oops.."

Kakashi rolled over and stared at me with his exposed eye. I stared back, blushing.

"Uhh..." I tried to get words together to try and explain my actions. I couldn't.

...

Silence. Neither of us saying anything. Just staring.

"Shadow?" Kashi finally broke the silence.

"Yeah...uh...I should explain...shouldn't I.." I looked down to the floor as Kakashi nodded. "Well...Shadow's sort of like...uh...how to say it...you know how the nine-tailed-fox is sealed inside Naruto? It's like that..sort of. Except this isn't a tailed beast..and it wasn't exactly 'sealed' in me..it sort of grew..in there..y'know?"

"No, not really." He still had a blank expression on his face.

"Well...my mission lasted longer than intended because for quite some time I was..off track so to speak. I'd been taken in by another village as a trespasser, and, as punishment, this witch-like woman did this strange thing...she would take the darkness and evil out of the villagers and put it into...me. And that darkness eventually became Shadow...and caused the curse marks I've got..."

"Well that explains the marks you came back with.."

"Yup. Aha." I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my head.

He's going to think you're a complete weird-o now, you know that right?

Yeah..

"Ok. And now another question...why were you in my room watching me sleep?" He raised an eyebrow questionably.

"Aha. Uhh...was going to scare you...saw you sleeping...argument in my head....shouted..and this conversation..." I tried to explain.

"Uh..ok. Now that I'm awake, you need anything?"

"Not really. Just wanted to stop by..but I should leave you alone now." I began walking away.

"You already woke me up, so stay." He stopped me.

"K..."

More awkward silence.

"Want to go somewhere?" I tried making it less awkward.

"Sure. Where?" He wasn't helping out with the less-awkward thing much.

"Uh..well I just ate ramen so that's out.."

"How about the training grounds?"

"We're going to train?"

"I don't know. We'll find out when we get there, okay?"

"Okay!" I saluted randomly, returning to my usual more-hyper self.

"Okay." We began walking to the training grounds. I realized that we'd already been there that day, and that that day was most likely the longest day ever.

We didn't talk much during the walk, making it more awkward than before. I tried to start another conversation.

"What'd I miss while I was gone?"

"Not much. Just the usual cycle of things."

"Ok.." This was going nowhere. I'd made this whole day like this just by watching him sleep.

Dammit! I'm so stupid..

Yes, yes you are.

I didn't ask for your opinion...

We finally reached the training grounds. No plans for what to do there. Just standing around for now. I finally resolved to try one last time to make conversation.

"I missed you and everyone else when I was gone.." I looked down at the ground, instantly regretting what I'd just said. I felt embarrassed. Exposed.

"We all missed you too." His reply was brief. I really wished he'd just cooperate and help me out with my objective.

"What'd you do while I was gone?"

"Became a jonin. Went through team after team. This current team is actually one of the only one's I've passed."

"Nice.."

"Yeah."

Well that killed it. Damn it.

Ask him if he has a girl! You know you want to!

No! That's too embarrassing..

Do it anyways! Or I won't shut up! LALALALA!

FINE!

"Shadow wanted to know if you had a girl or whatever." I tried to make it sound as nonchalant as I could.

Not exactly what I meant but okay, that works too.

"I don't."

Inside, I cheered.

Yes! Now I have hope..

Why do you even like him? It's been a day.

It's been more than a day Shadow. You don't even know.

Well I know all your thoughts, so I suppose I should know, right? Right.

Ugh.

I know! Ask him if he has any girls in mind.

It sounds like you're the one who likes him Shadow!

Hey! I'm just trying to help you out here! You told me to be nice! Jeez.

Okay, okay. I'll ask.

"Now he wants to know if you have any girls in mind."

"Are you sure it's Shadow that wants to know all of this?" I could tell he was smirking under that damned mask of his. My cheeks turned bright, tomato red.

"Nevermind."

"Tell Shadow that I do."

Oh my, looks like you have some competition my dear girlie!

Ugh. Just shut up now Shadow.

Ask him who it is!

No!

DO IT! Shadow used his scary voice. I gave in.

"He wants to know who.." I mumbled, slightly hoping he hadn't heard me. But, of course, he heard. He always did.

"That's my little secret for now." I turned to look at him and saw that he was taking a book out.

I recognize that book...make out paradise?!

Ha! Looks like you've got a pervert on your hands!

"You read...that?" My eye twitched as I pointed at his book.

"Yeah. Are you a fan of Jiraiya's work?"

"No..."

When did he become a pervert? Ugh!

"So...." It was awkward. Again.

"Ask 'Shadow" why he wanted to know all of that."

Should I tell him the truth?

Yes.

No!

What? You just answered your own question.

Ugh. What should I tell him.

The truth?

No! Something else..think of something! This is your fault!

Uh..can't tell him I'm gay for him. Ew. How about...I've got nothing!

I'll just say there's no reason..

"He said there was no reason in particular."

"Hmph." My answer seemed to disappoint him. I sighed, looking back down at the ground.

"I think I should go get some things for my new house now..."

He replied with a grunt.

"Bye Kashi-kun."

"Bye Keiko-chan."

Kiss him goodbye!

No!!

DO IT.

Ugh. Scary voice. Dammit.

I crouched down next to where he sat and kissed him on the cheek. Seeing his eye widen, I "poofed" away. The rest of the day, I couldn't help but wonder what he thought of me after I'd left. I'd find out the next day though, whether I wanted to or not.


Ta da! Longer than the other one. :D And it's almost romance-ish. But most of it was talking with Shadow. D: Oh well.

And okay, I admit it, I sort of got the whole darkness-put-into-Keiko thing from watching the Grudge way too many times, but I already said I didn't own anything so whatever.

ALSO, if you recognize the "wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more"...I love you. :D

Okay. That's it. I'll stop now. And try to update again soon. _ BYE.