.:Life is One Big Book

Chapter 7: The Truth

True Love, Konoha High

Obito was walking down a street after school was let out. He thought endlessly about countless things, or so he claimed. "Okay so today's homework was," he tried to keep his mind clear of any other thoughts besides things that related to school but, "Who am I kidding. I can't think straight." Not only was his best friend the one who got a girl before him, but the girl was one of his friends, not to mention the girl he had had a crush on for many long years.

He could still feel the excruciating feeling of having to watch those two. It was just something he knew he couldn't take much longer, but he knew that he was helpless in the situation. He knew she was happy, but that was what hurt the most. He sighed, "What am I going to do?"

He continued to walk almost completely alone down the street with the occasional car or bike passing by. The trees rustled in the wind while the creaking of house fences could be heard. Not only was it one of the quickest ways home, it was also one of the scarier parts of town. Gangs hung around there, druggies, and homeless people pretty much made up the whole neighborhood's population.

"I don't even care about this street anymore." He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice that there was a group of guys on the other end of the street talking. Head hung low, Obito walked almost straight into one of the members of the group.

"Sorry," he mumbled without taking his eyes off of the pavement. As he tried to pass, he felt a sudden yank at his collar and he immediately found himself staring at a dirty scar-covered face whose mouth carried a cigarette. To his surprise, his emotions didn't react the way they would have if someone else were in his position. He kept nothing but a straight face and stared into the eyes of the stranger.

"Don't you know how to at least show respect, punk?" His breath sprayed all over Obito's face. The apprehender saw a glimpse of the insignia on Obito's shirt and chuckled with a low and dangerous voice. "Hey boys, I see we have a rich kid with us." All of the other thugs came and circled the two, eager to find out why there was a new guy in the crowd. The man who seemed to be their leader was currently holding Obito almost completely off the floor. "Do you guys still remember how we treat rich kids around here?" His voice was dripping with a sort of sarcasm that intertwined with a teasing like tone. One of the men took Obito's bag and immediately rummaged through it for any sort of object with particularly high value; just like the way a hyena would scavenge for food in the wild.

Throughout all of the happenings around him, Obito stayed still knowing that he would soon be beaten for the sake of those sick thugs' amusement. He didn't care. Nothing could compare to the pain he was feeling inside so he might as well have an appearance that would suit his feelings. "Just do what you have to do." He said with no cracking or hesitation evident in his voice.

"Oh, he speaks," teased one of the guys. The leader tightened the grip on Obito's collar and brought his face ever so much closer to his. "You really are asking for it, aren't ya punk?" He raised his fist high up in the air, preparing for the first strike. Obito close his eyes and waited for the blow to come.

But it didn't.

He waited a little bit longer, thinking it was only a small delay. He opened his eyes only when he heard someone speak. "Wait." He heard. Who would want to save him at a moment like this? At a moment like this, he was all alone.

He looked over into the shadows and there stood a figure, far enough to tell he was human. Obito heard him speak once more. "He shows no fear, yet fear is what most people would feel. Why is it that you don't show any fear at times like these?" To Obito, this guy sounded like the most intelligent of them all. He decided to speak since no one else was breaking the ice and clearly the question was directed at him. "I just have a lot of things going on," Then he added, "and it's not like I know you guys enough to tell you."

"How dare you talk to our leader that way!" Obito's oppressor suddenly spoke up and lifted his arm back into the air, in preparation to strike.

"Stop." He heard that same man's voice give an order again. "Leave him be. He is one of us." Obito looked as confused as all of the other men. "But sir, how—" Before one of the men could finish his sentence, the leader interrupted. "He is my kin, a fellow member of the Uchiha." All of the men looked towards Obito with an expression of both shock and fear.

Throughout all of that, Obito stood still. He was very confused. "You're name is Uchiha Obito, is it not?" the man questioned him as he walked out of the shadows. "How do you know my name? I don't know you," Obito said nervously. "I have my ways." He replied with double the malice that any of the men could muster.

He then began to step out of the shadows. Obito could see a long black trench coat and red eyes. "You may stay as long as you like. You are like family amongst us here." Then he addressed all of the men. "We're always looking for fresh meat, right?" Indeed the gang was looking pretty small now that Obito thought about it.

The man in the trench coat watched as all of the men began to introduce themselves. It was slight, but it was surely there; an evil grin that without a doubt meant there was more to his invitation.

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"You'll see us soon enough." Then they walked away.

The envelope stayed almost entirely forgotten in my hands as I stared into the distance at the two men I had wished to never see again. Why hadn't I seen it before? I scolded myself. "He had an eerie resemblance to him and not to mention his last name was the same."

The envelope had ceased to exist in my memory as I shoved it into my jacket pocket. "She should be there - it's still a babysitting day." I began my amazingly fast race to the park. I ran passed many busy people while running across the streets, dashing through alleys and backyards as well. "Hisakata, please be okay."

I felt my heart skip a beat. Finally, people I recognize had decided to grace my vision with their presents. I skidded to a stop before the boys. "H-hey guys, do you know where Hisakata could be?" I bent over, hands on knees, breathing in and exhaling rapidly. "Who's looking for me?" I spun around with a turn that could have created a tornado. "Hisakata!" I grabbed her into a shaky embrace. Thank goodness she's safe, I thought. "Hey, hey, why the sudden worry stricken face? I only saw you like..." She trailed off but I took this opportunity and broke the hug. I looked at her then chuckled, a chuckle bursting with relief.

I felt a tug at my pant leg and my gaze fell down to the two little boys. "Come play with us!" They both grabbed at my arms and dragged me towards the swings. A smile immediately tugged at my lips. "Alright then," both of them got onto a swing each and I went behind and began to gradually push them harder and harder. "Yay!" they both screamed and giggled.

Everything seemed to go well; it appeared to be another normal day. I let my eyes trail back to Hisakata after one more push and my eyes widened and my world stopped. "Oh, hi Sasuke!" I saw with my own eyes how he hugged her and the flowers that he had gotten her. "Hey, these are for you." He said with a small smile.

My body was as still as a statue. It was like I was watching something out of a television screen. It was like they were behind an invisible wall and I could only stand and watch. That was a concept that my body could not endure.

Within a blink of an eye, I was standing in between Hisakata and Sasuke, eyes burning deep holes into him. "Wha-hey!" Hisakata said after almost dropping the bouquet of flowers she had just received. "Glenn?" he inquired. His confusion was written for all to see. "What do you want?" I could hardly believe that I held the power to growl with such an icy tone. I could tell that he was taken aback by the sudden question.

"Did you're brother send you? Where are the rest of those filthy men? Are they just waiting to ambush us? Hmm?" Question after question, I glared at him.

"Glenn, what's going on?" I stepped forward and he put his hands up in defense. "I didn't do anything, and how do you know my brother?"

I took another step towards him, driving him back slowly. "Oh? You didn't know? Your brother and I go way back, but I don't want to waste my breath explaining anything to anyone who has to do with that monster." My eyes continued to torture him with searing intensity.

I saw Sasuke flinch. "My brother and I are both completely different people! Why take this out on me. I have nothing to do with my brother!" His anger and irritation grew with every sentence.

"W-what's going on?" Hisakata's small hand was placed gently on my shoulder. I peered back to find scared and worried eyes lock with mine. I turned back to Sasuke. "Whether you and you're brother are both completely different people, you are still his brother." I stood up straight and turned around to face Hisakata. "You are to never see him again, you hear me? He's dangerous," Without sparing another glance, I grabbed Hisakata's wrist and lead her to the twins. "Stay away from him." I looked down at the boys, "Come on guys, it's time to go."

"W-wait! Why? What's going on!" Hisakata resisted and tried to pry her wrist out of my grip but all effort was in vain. "We're going."

"Going? No!" She sustained her resistance. "Sasuke? What?" Sasuke looked back with still eyes, as black as night but somewhere, sadness and regret filled him. This didn't go unnoticed by Hisakata as she pleaded with him to explain, to the point where tears were forming at the corners of her eyes. "Please…" her form began to cease resisting and all she did was stand there, waiting for an answer. "I'm sorry, this isn't my fault." He said. "My brother's past isn't my past. My life is my life." He looked at me then his expression changed. "Get that into his head will ya?"

He bent down to pick up one of the flowers that fell out of the bouquet and slowly, he headed for Hisakata. "I told you to stay away from her!" I stepped protectively in front of her. He continued to walk. When he was just a few feet away he stopped and reached out with the flower in his hand. There was silence for a while before he decided to put it down and turned to walk away. "I hope you liked the flowers Hisakata."

He began to disappear as a fog soon made its way to the city. My grip was broken out of as soon as he vanished from sight. She ran towards the flower and picked it up. Tears flowed freely as she looked at the flower that hadn't bloomed yet, as if to hide from the fog.

She got up abruptly and I stared in surprise. "What was that all about?" she half yelled. I winced at the tone but then straight away, I stood my ground. "I was only protecting you." She stomped her foot angrily. "Protect me? From Sasuke? He's been so nice and I feel ashamed to know that you of all people would treat him that way." She took the hiding flower and placed it into the bouquet from which it had slipped away.

She went over to the kids taking one in her hand and the other beside her. She looked down apologetically. "I'm sorry for yelling guys, let's go home." She glanced at me for a mere second and then began to walk away, leaving me, myself, and I in the fog encased park.

I couldn't believe I couldn't say anything to her, and indeed I felt a sort of guilt that wretched through my body. There was no proof of him doing anything wrong so why did I act the way I did? I thought as I stared at my shoes. Could it have been pure impulse? Or maybe it could have been a trigger of memory, even long forgotten pain. I was alone yet again; no one to hear my thoughts and sorrows but then again, no one to add to those treacherous happenings in my mind and body.

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Not once in my life had she gotten so mad as to not let me into her apartment nor even allowing me to talk to her at all. I said I was sorry for as long as I had been standing outside of the beautifully designed apartment suite. Maybe it didn't work since it was only a half-hearted apology. My mind was still firm on the concept of Sasuke being a dangerous person.

"Please let me in. I just want to talk about it, explain it to you." To my relief I heard the doorknob turn but I also heard the clanging of chains. The door opened revealing a small slit with a chain that seemed to be stopping the door from opening any wider. "I gave you the time to explain to me at the park," she said eyes as cold as ice. "You didn't use that opportunity so why should I give you the chance now?" Damn, she was being really hard about this.

I was about to talk when I heard a different door open in the same hallway. I looked over, only to be hit with a bottle cap in the forehead. "Will ya keep it down buddy? Some people are getting a bit annoyed here!" I rubbed the spot on my forehead and smiled sheepishly with an apology.

I took my attention back to Hisakata. "Cause people are going to start throwing things at me and beating me with brooms if I don't go inside."

She seemed to think upon that thought, giving me a glimmer of hope, "Good, I think I like that better," which was immediately crushed as my world blacked out again. I was going to argue with that but when I was about to speak, the door closed shut and I heard many locks turn and click leaving me completely shunned out. "Hey! Hisakata, come on."

An empty water bottle was chucked at my head, making a loud hollow sound that echoed along the hallway. The same person who had thrown the bottle cap looked at me with hazardous eyes. "I said shut up in the nicest way possible and you're still making noise." I backed away slowly towards the stairs. "I'm sorry, look I'm leaving now, sorry to have disturbed you, it won't happen again." I put my hands up in defense.

"I'm going to make sure you get out of here knowing full well not to come back with such a loud mouth!" I saw him grab a broom from behind his door and come waddling after me. I ran for it, my getting out in one piece being first priority.

I was running down the sidewalk making sure that the very angry man was way behind me. It wasn't that bad. I got out with a few bruises and a few stares from strangers. Not bad at all. The only thing that made it worse was that Hisakata was mad at me. She hadn't been mad at me for many years now. This was a first in a long while.

I looked through the store windows, not knowing why I was doing such a thing since I had no intention of purchasing anything. Maybe I could find something to cheer Hisakata up or at least get her to talk to me again. It was worth a shot, I thought, since everything else I tried didn't work. I knew I had to face with this kinda thing during my lifetime but it's a lot harder than I had ever thought it would be.

I spotted a stuffed animal that caught my attention at first glance. It was a dog that was of hugging size, head pillow size maximum, with a brown body, a white muzzle, white paws and a pink nose. It reminded me of the first plush toy she had gotten for first birthday. It looked almost the same but it was a bit smaller and the colours were different. I could still remember the look on her face. It made everything else around her light up.

I went inside the store and bought the stuffed animal right away. I made my way back to the apartment while thinking about something to say to make her listen to me. It wasn't going too well.

I made my way, as silently as I could, to Hisakata's door. I knocked loud enough for her to hear it. Once again, it was like déjà vu, a small slit was revealed to me and she was right there. "What do you want now?" my hands were behind my back as I searched for words that wouldn't make me look like an idiot.

"Well, you see, I…" I fumbled with my words while my feet began to tap the floor nervously. I didn't want her to shut me out again like she did last time. That would be disgraceful on my part; I came back only to be ignored again. I had to make this one count.

"Here," I took the stuff animal out of hiding. I heard her gasp lightly hoping it was a good thing. I winced as the door shut on me again. I was ready to give up and go home but I heard the locks click. Soon the door swung wide open. "Aw! Where did you get this?" she took the stuffed animal and examined it with a happy expression on her face. "It looks almost the same as the one I have in my room."

"I know I'm supposed to be an expert with words but that last moment was pathetic." He said and in return received a giggle. "I can never stay mad at you." Thank God, I said praising the heavens that she still had that trust in her. "If you have something you have to explain, come on in."

We walked to her living room and we sat on opposite couches. She put her feet up on the couch and hugged the stuff animal. I smiled lightly; what I saw before me was what I had been seeing ever since she was little and I was happy that I had a chance to see her grow up.

I motioned towards the flowers that she had gotten earlier that day. "Those flowers are proof that you and Sasuke are getting closer and closer as the days go by," I started off. "But I really don't know if I can trust him, not quite yet." I shifted my position and leaned back on the couch. "If he can show me that he can be trusted, then I might consider."

"I've actually been seeing him more often since I heard of Naruto being in town. Turns out he was a very close friend of Naruto's." she said, fiddling with the stuffed animals paws. "I haven't seen anything that would make him out to be dangerous."

I sighed; I honestly didn't know what to believe about that kid, I didn't know him long enough. "Look, I'm just concerned."

"Like you always are,"

"Not true, I let you live by yourself didn't I? That was a big step on my part."

She giggled. "I know and that's why, I think you can accept the fact that I might get another boyfriend, one that you hadn't set up for me."

I sighed once again, this time it was filled with a sort of defeated tone. I knew what she was saying was true, that I would have to accept the fact that she was getting older. "You're just growing too fast you know? It's hard for an old guy like me to catch up. I don't know if I wanna let you go that easily, you know?"

She got up and took a seat beside me. She leaned on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her. She chuckled, "See, we'll always be like this no matter how old I get,"

"Since this is my apartment and obviously it doesn't have cameras or anything, it's safe to call you dad right?" I chuckled. "Yes, yes. But just for today ya hear?"

"Yes, dad." She looked at me awkwardly. "You know it's been so long since I've called you that. I've had to call you Glenn and what not because of your stupid rep."

"Hey, you know it's not just rep, I told you the story, didn't I? Past problems ring a bell?" I returned the odd look. "I know I know, don't have to explain again."

We sat in a comfortable silence for a while, the sun was setting making the sky a beautiful clash of orange and purple which was clearly visible through the wide open class window.

"You know what?" I asked breaking the silence. "Hmm?" Her voice seemed to scratch and slur sounds together, as if she was slowly drifting off to sleep. "I started working on my book again."

"Hmm…" she cuddled up closer as to get into a more comfortable position. "That's great," she was getting more and more sucked into a deep sleep. "And this time, I'm not going to put Glenn Ray Martin. I think, in honour of our bonding tonight, I'll put in my real name." I soon closed my eyes and sank into the couch with her still clinging to me.

Whether she was still awake or off in dreamland, I murmured a few last words before sleep overtook me like water closing over my head. "Hatake Kakashi."

To everyone who reads, yes I finally revealed a big secret in the story. Finally eh? I didn't think I was going to get to it this early but I duno, it fit best in this chapter so I thought it would be okay. REVIEWS PLEASE. Sorry chapters take so long. High school is a real pain in the ass. Ways of relaxation always slip away. Hope you like this chapter! Next chapter will be coming…soon enough anyway.

- --writingzeaL