Secret Messages

Kerica missed Kimi and Kei, but she enjoyed sending messages back and forth to Sarrina and Rosemary. So far, they had learned that each other were Jinchuuriki, only Sarrina was wolf and Keri herself was a Tiger.

It was all so interesting! A lot of the things that were happening with them were the same, like no friends except Kei, Kimi, and their demons. They also had to have more training.

However, while Keri was home-schooled, Sarrina went to the Shadow Academy. Keri enjoyed hearing about Sarrina's day, and often gave comfort when the day was bad…which was unfortunately quite often.

Today, the Uchiha girl had gotten ambushed by several other students, and came home with bruises and a cut lip. Rosemary had to write the note for her.

Kerica wrote her response, 'I'm so sorry to hear that, and wish I could help, but all I can do is offer Kuro to stay the night. He is a great cuddle-buddy! He can go to the Academy, too, and keep Sarrina safe.' She rolled the paper up and attached it to Kuro's collar, sending the kitten off back to Sarrina's place.

Sarrina sniffed for the hundredth time. She hurt all over and couldn't talk because every time she did her lip would brake open once more. Surprisingly, Sin comforted his host, quite angry with himself that he didn't protect her.

'Hey, cheer up, kid. It wasn't your fault. If you want to blame anyone, blame me! I should have protected you.' the shadow wolf stated, his ears flattened against his head.

"No, it wasn't your fault, my dear friend…"

Rosemary opened the bedroom door with a small smile. "Sarrina-chan, Kerica-chan sent Kuro over!"

Sarrina tried to smile, but as soon as her lip stretched, it began to bleed once more. Rosemary frowned and opened the door wider to walk in, the small cat following close behind. The mother gently place a cloth from the side table onto the bleeding area.

"My poor little one. I wish we could have done something to stop this." Rose sighed and placed a gentle, loving kiss on the girl's forehead.

Kuro mewed and jumped up onto the bed, nuzzling Sarrina's hand and sat down, offering his collar to her.

Sarrina took the note from the male cat, and read it over. She smiled the best she could up at her mother as she began to pet Kuro's back.

Rose smiled down at the girl. It was such a nice change to see her daughter enjoying her 'conversions' with her new friend. She was afraid that Sarrina would never find a friend. Truth be told it worried her to no end many times.

The next day Rosemary expected Sarrina to ask if she could stay home another day, but the girl was dressed and ready by the time she came to wake her up.

"Are you sure you want to go today?" Rose questioned as she fixed the girl her lunch.

"Hai! Kerica-chan will want to know what today was like! And Kuro will protect me!" Sarrina giggled.

"Well, alright, but I don't enjoy knowing that my little girl might get hurt again." Rosemary sighed as she handed her the lunch and watched as the girl skipped outside.

Keri got permission from her father to walk around town, and she decided to go to the Academy and see if she could spot her little kitten. She stayed hidden from sight, and travelled closer to the charcoal black school. They were having morning recess, and she spotted the only white-haired girl in the whole crowd, and she suspected that was Sarrina. However, she could not see her face what with the way she was hiding and how the other children were going by.

Kerica whistled in a high-pitched tone only Kuro could hear, and she saw her cat bounding through the fence. She didn't forget her promise, so was quick to place the note in the collar and sent it back.

'I'm watching over you, Sarrina

Kerica'

Sarrina sighed quietly to herself, feeling a bit lonely. If her mother hadn't all but threatened the school about them protecting her daughter better or she'd have the Kage get involved. That only made things worse for the white haired girl. Now no one even spoke to her. Not that she liked being beat up, it still caused people to look at her. It was the only time she felt like she could be seen as the weak girl she was.

Another sigh escaped her before she reached down to pet the kitten belonging to her only friend besides Sin and her family. Her hand met with grass and dirt. Shocked, Sarrina frantically searched around for the animal. When she was about to called out, she spotted him. She grinned and picked the said animal up.

"You scared me for a second, Kuro!" she giggled, scratching him behind his ears. Her fingers brushed against a wad of paper.

Blinking, Sarrina unfolded the paper and read silently to herself. Her eyes widened and she looked around, but could find no one. A smile played on her lips as she pulled out a pen and wrote a response to the note.

'Thank you, my friend!

Sarrina'

Kerica smiled and tucked the paper in her pocket and sent Kuro back. She watched as the bell rang and everyone filed inside. Since it was unlikely anyone would pull something during class, she decided to go home for her daily training and learning. Around lunchtime she came back, and things were a bit lively. If it was good or bad, she didn't know. So she sat down and pulled out her peanut butter and peach jelly sandwich and bit down, examining the crowd and once she found Sarrina, she kept her eyes on her.

Whistling, Kuro came to her, and Keri wrote a note before sending him back and taking a swig of her chocolate milk.

'I'm still here, Oneesan

Kerica'

Sarrina received the note with a grin. She tried and failed once more at searching for her sister. Sighing in defeat, Sarrina resorted to drawing in the dirt with a stick.

Fairly soon school was released, and Sarrina skipped her way down the roads to her home. Half way she noticed a shadow move and stopped to investigate. She walked to the bushes, and slowly parted the plants.

A hand shot out and pushed her back. Sarrina cried out as she hit the ground. A laugh came from the very place where the hand had attacked her. The laugh wasn't that, 'Ha ha I got you, kind', it was that sadistic kind of laugh. Only one person that Sarrina knew of had that laugh.

Yutaka stepped out of the bushed with his crazed smile on his face. Neon green eyes drilled holes into Sarrina's as she stood up.

"Hello, Freak. Where is Kimi? I haven't seen her or your brother lately." Yutaka's slow, raspy voice chilled the poor girl too no end.

"She's not here! Now go away!" Sarrina demanded, stamping her foot.

"Sorry you brat, but no. Where is Kimi or…" Yutaka's eyes shot to Kuro, "I'll slice up your kitten into ribbons and tie them in your hair."

Sarrina snatched the said cat up. "Leave him alone! You meanie!"

With that Sarrina turned and ran as fast as she could the rest of the way home.

Kerica stepped from the shadows as Sarrina left. Her eyes burned sapphire blue and she hissed, "Unless you like to swim, Kimi's not around. A dead weight like you would drown anyway," she flipped her hair, "That was my cat you just threatened, by the way. I don't take to morons like you scaring my friends."

Yutaka's eyes slid lazily to Kerica. "So she's over seas……seeing how only two places are accessible by water, Kimi is either in Suna or Konoha. I know she has family in Konoha, so that is the most likely choice. Thank you, demon-girl, I know where my Kimi is now." Yutaka chuckled, suddenly 'poofing' away.

Kerica felt the color drain from her face and she bolted to Sarrina's house, looking through the window, and spotted Kuro. She whistled, and Kuro came to the door. She bent down to the bottom crack, "Kuro, get Rosemary…" she watched his little shadow disappear and then waited for Sarrina's mother.

Rosemary hummed as she waited on the cookies to finish baking. She felt a tug on her skirt. Looking down, Rose saw Kuro. With a smile, she bent down in front of the kitten.

"Hello, is there something you want, Kuro?" the mother of three asked sweetly.

Kuro mewed and used his paw to point towards the door before he ran off again. he sat at the door, mewing more.

Rose stood, and followed. Once there she saw a shadow under the door. Rosemary opened the door slowly. Upon seeing an unknown girl, Rosemary blinked.

"Yes? May I help you, little girl?"

"Rosemary, I'm Kerica. Please, I made a terrible mistake, and Kimi might be in danger," Keri begged and stayed hidden so Sarrina would not see her if she came around, "It's Yutaka," she continued, and once she said the name she obviously didn't have to continue.

Rosemary gasped as her eyes widened. "What did you do? Please tell me."

She stepped outside and closed the door behind her. "Did you hint at where Kimi is? Said something that he could figure out where she is?"

"He threatened Sarrina with cutting up my cat, and when Sarrina left I tried making a smart comeback…said that 'since you're such a dead weight, you'd drown anyway' but it didn't work out the way I planned," Kerica cried, "I'm so sorry!"

Rose hugged Kerica, "It is okay. Yutaka is horribly smart. Anyone else wouldn't have picked up on that like he did. Now I need you to go home while I contact my husband."

Kerica nodded and hugged her back, "Tell Sarrina I said hi," she said before hurrying off.