Can Death Keep Her Away?

Chapter two.

A/N: Thanks' to WeHoldTheseTruths for telling me Shikamaru's mom's real name:) Here's Chapter Two!

Yoshino turned to the door. "Welcome back, Shi—" she then noticed the girl behind her son. "K-Keiko……?!"

"No." Shikamaru said. "This isn't Keiko. I found this girl in the field all bloody and Tsunade-sama forced me to take care of her until her voice came back. So troublesome….."

"But she could be….."

"No. The Keiko I knew would never cut her hair."

Yoshino smiled quietly as she looked at the short-haired girl. "Right." She turned around and continued to whittle at the potatoes she was making for dinner.

Shikamaru led the girl into the living room. "You can sleep here." He said, pointing to the couch. "And only until you get your voice back."

The girl nodded. She sat on the couch, glancing out the window.

"I'm going up into my room!" Shikamaru called to his mother.

"Alright!" Yoshino called back.

Shikamaru sighed as he went upstairs. So troublesome…..

After a few minutes, the girl walked into the kitchen. She tapped Yoshino on the shoulder.

"Yes?" Yoshino turned to the girl.

The girl held up a potato.

"You want to help?"

The girl nodded.

"Alright."

As they worked, Yoshino became engulfed in memories.

"Mom, I wanna help make the potatoes!" yelled Keiko, running into the room. "Can I? Plleeeeease???"

"All right then." Yoshino said, smiling.

After a few minutes of potato-whittling, Keiko shouted in pain.

"Ooooow!!!!"

Yoshino turned to Keiko. She had cut her thumb.

"Let me get a bandage for that." Yoshino said. "I'll be right back."

Yoshino sighed. She turned towards the girl and smiled. "You remind me of my daughter…."

The girl gave a little grin…..Before she cut her thumb.

"!!!" the girl held her thumb in pain.

"Oh….! I'll get a bandage for that….." Yoshino said, running into the other room to get bandages. Only when she looked in the mirror did she realize she was crying.

TO BE CONTINUED…..

I HAVE WRITERS BLOCK AGAIN. WHOO.

A/N: So! What could this girl be…? Could she be Keiko? Please review!