Kaito meets two new people. Trouble always follows him.

Chapter 3.2

Huff… huff…huff

Kaito was holding his knees and rapidly breathing from the recent sprint, sweat was running down his temples and his clothes were unpleasantly clinging to his body.

He looked around.

The three-story white building with red rooftop, the paint on the walls was chipped showcasing that it existed for a considerable amount of time, numerous marks in a form of small shoes were visible on the building. It felt like a hoard of children ran up and down the walls betting who could leave more prints.

Academy hah…

It was not a Hokage Tower, but he at least knew where he was now. There was not a single person in courtyard, seemed like they cancelled lessons because of the festival.

Maybe it will be a place where he will study later.

In general orphans like him did not have much in prospects of career choices. Unless children had some serious health problems most of them chose Academy. Everyone from Matron to visiting guests at the Orphanage always implied that it was in their best interests.

Who knows if it is really the case.

It was not like being a civilian was not an option for orphans but usually one needed to have connections in that field or be talented in some aspect. For example, most crafts were passed down only from generation to generation in specialized families who perfected their skills for decades if not longer. So, the point was that they wouldn't be able to get in some line of work even if they wanted to. It was not impossible but wasn't that easy either.

Kaito remembered how his mother was always busy jumping from one job to another and toiled morning till night and still did not earn that much.

Honestly not ending up in a brothel was already pretty good. It happened more often than one would think, it almost happened to him. When he first came to the Orphanage Matron appraised him like some prized horse and said that he would fetch a pretty penny. She had some secret dealings (everyone actually knew but kept mum) with a Madam* (a woman in charge of a brothel) to send suitable brats for grooming and in return get a hefty sum. He had to claw and bite the fuckers before grabbing the scissor and threatening them, after that he was considered to be more trouble than worth it.

Anyway, he still had months before he needed to tell his decision of where he wanted to go to Matron.

Kaito turned to the direction that he felt was right and headed there trying to rely on his non-existent instincts. Near the stadium he heard some shuffling and labored breathing.

The boy in green spandex suit and orange scarf was slowly moving forward on his trembling legs.

'Is he an Academy student?'

"YOSH!" The boy around his age loudly slapped his cheeks with both hands the resounding sound of flesh meeting flesh swept through the clearing.

Kaito winced from experiencing the phantom pain.

"Two more laps!" His speed increased a bit. Previously he was like a snail now he was like a fast snail. Maybe if he hit himself one more time, he would become the fastest snail.

'Should he ask him directions?'

It was not like he could have asked it from those psychotic caretakers.

'I was asking just from curiosity definitely not planning anything. Haha.' They would have beaten him up just for being bothersome and wasting their time. He also didn't want to share his intended location with his friends, he didn't have a habit of needlessly worrying someone, they also might have stopped him. He wasn't sure that they would but he rather not deal with that. Asking from random strangers especially adults was dangerous, his mother has beaten this knowledge in his head with her own hands.

But he never listened and to him this peer of his seemed kinda silly and naive.

'Let's give it a try.'

Kaito went to the small wire fence and jumped on it. He observed him for some time legs dangling in the air head tilted to the right side. Like a cat lazily watching his prey.

The guy was barely crawling.

Oh, he also had orange warmers on his legs. At least they matched with his scarf. Such colorful assembly blinded his eyes.

He reminded him of Red-eyed tree frog vibrant green body with orange feet. To avoid predation, they will flash their bright red eyes in an attempt to dazzle them.

'Maybe that's why he is wearing something so bright?'

He was also hopping right now just like a little frog. If he was Uchiha he would really fit the bill to a tee.

Kaito jumped down from the fence.

"Hello student-san!" He said with big smile on his face with a cheerful tone.

The kid blanched from the sudden shout and then turned his head towards him.

"Hello!" He answered with the most blinding smile. "I am not a student yet though." He clenched his fists. "But I will definitely be one when new year starts and then proud jonin of Konohagakure!" He loudly shouted with determined face.

'Don't know about his physical capabilities but his lungs sure are something else.'

"Oh, okay. Then good luck with that!" There was not a hint of sarcasm in his words.

Considering the fact that he was training here when everyone was having fun at the festival; it would mean that this guy already had plans for the future and was tirelessly chasing after them. Kaito truthfully thought it to be quite admirable.

The kid's smile played genuinely across his lips, it was too sincere to the point of being distracting with its brightness, he could only match his enthusiasm with the one of his own.

"Then future shinobi-san, this little helpless civilian-" the teasing tilt in his tone was unmistakable, "-is in need of your assistance. Would you be so kind-?" The play-pretend of client and shinobi taking a mission was fun. He folded his hands behind his back body slightly tilted to the front he playfully balanced first on one foot then the other. The enthusiasm and incandescent joy were coursing through his body.

The face of his partner in this conversation became slightly red from being addressed like that.

"Of-…of course!" He stammered. "What do you need me to do?" Kaito saw literal rainbows and stars above his head, and he had to blink couple of times to make them go away.

His smile lessened to some degree becoming more subdued. "Future shinobi-san do you happen to know the direction towards cemetery?"

The previous joy of the child suddenly dimmed like a blinding sun that got covered by clouds. "It is quite some distance away from here." He took a step towards him, and his legs almost gave out, but he steadied himself before he could fall.

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Kaito asked tentatively.

"No, I am fine. It is results of my hard work," he waved his hands in the air.

"I can explain the way to you, but I don't think I will be able to accompany you."

Suddenly he bowed to him. "I deeply apologise for being unable to help you to the best of my abilities."

Kaito got flustered and tried to get him up. Damn, he just asked casually.

He would have rather been cursed at, he didn't know how to respond to such thoughtfulness and kindness from the guy.

After some flaying, back and forth apologies, and some tears from both parties he finally got his answer.

And name of his somewhat peculiar helper.

Might Guy.

He will remember it.

The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The sky was ablaze with vivid colors painted in gold, purple and orange. There was not a single soul at the cemetery except for him. No one would come to a such place during joyous festival. Kaito silently stood before the tomb. His hands were clutching the hem of his shirt it did not prevent them from trembling.

It was the first time he came to this place to see his mother. When she did not return home from work he ran to his neighbors in tears. Next day he was whisked away from his flat and ruthlessly thrown to the Orphanage. The only explanation he got from tired looking social worker was 'Your mother died, get over it.'

If he did not visit the cemetery once with her, he wouldn't even have known that it existed in the first place.

What he wanted to do now was to collapse on the ground; to beg for her to come back; to tell her how much he missed her; angrily shout until his throat hurt about how she could leave him all alone like that.

His eyes were red, Kaito was on the brink of tears but he wasn't crying.

Not now. He will do it later.

What if his mother was watching him, he did not want to worry her.

In loving memory of Shimizu Hana.

Just some piece of rock and couple of engraved words summed up his mother's entire life.

He sat crossed legged on the cold ground and animatedly waved his hands as he told her about his life.

"-and Anko suddenly sneezed because some flour got in her nose. Can you imagine?! I was so scared!" He dramatically clutched his heart.

"I thought for sure granny in kitchen will wake up. But somehow, she just slept through all the ruckus that we created." Kaito said bright smile plastered on his face like it is the only thing that keeps him afloat keeps him functioning keeps him alive.

"Matron was absolutely livid." Smug grin stretched wider across his face. "-because she wasn't able to find out who has stolen it. But you know somehow that food was way tastier than the one we usually eat. Hahaha."

He looked up at the sky it was gradually getting darker.

It was time to go back.

"So, you need not worry about me. You know me. I am living to the fullest." He carefully caressed the headstone.

It almost didn't feel like a lie.

The evening chill penetrated deeply into his bones. His flimsy clothes were not able to keep him warm for long.

His smile that was usually firmly attached to his face was nowhere to be seen. He looked miserable- hunched shoulders and feet dragging on the ground.

Kaito did not care about the frosty wind; he did not care about the cold that he will definitely get tomorrow; he didn't care how his body was shivering and his lips were slowly turning blue.

He did not care about anything at all at that moment.

Too numb. And hollow. And exhausted. And empty.

And just plain tired.

Too tired to care about anything.

Continuous measured steps forward.

One step after another.

His mother would have whacked him on the head for mopping around like that. That thought brought small but genuine smile to his face; but soon it disappeared like mirage.

His long shaggy hair which was covering his face was swaying wildly in all directions in the wind. It annoyed him immensely always getting in his eyes. But his mother told him to keep it that way when he was around other people. There was probably a reason for that. He hoped at least. He wouldn't put it past his mother to say it just to screw him over and secretly laugh at him that he actually bought that nonsense.

But something deep inside told him that it was not mere joke, the atmosphere was too serious for that. He could hardly remember the moment when she told him that. But there was deep rooted knowledge that he should as he was told.

No one was around him right now, so he finally combed his hair behind his ears.

Kaito inherited his mother's beauty. The tip of his nose was delicate and nose bridge high; his face was pale and white like a porcelain doll, but his red lips showed that he was indeed alive. Upturned navy-blue eyes accompanied by a little scarlet mole on the outer corner of his eye added a touch of gentleness to the already stunning visage.

His appearance itself was very colorful and bright but at that moment his expression and eyes were numb. This contrast made the boy's aura look particularly mysterious.

But all of this beauty was not able to hide his bony frame and hollow cheeks instead of the ones that contained baby fat that were natural for a healthy child of his age.

Sigh.

He looked up at the now grey sky in a daze. It was so beautiful not long ago- so dazzling and mesmerizing. And now it was so dull, cloudy, and gloomy.

Was it pretending? Just like him? And now it showed its true ugly colors?

The drop of rain fell on his face.

Of fucking course.

It really couldn't be worse.

Suddenly big leaf was violently ripped from the branch of the tree by merciless wind and loudly smacked him right in the face. It was not painful but it certainly did nothing to improve his mood.

Kaito started giggling his shoulders were shaking; soon it turned into full blown laughter. He sounded and looked absolutely deranged. His body bend forward at the waist; arms firmly hugging his sides; trembling fingers desperately clutching at his clothes. Soon choked sob was ripped out of his chest.

Short shaky gasping. Tears streaming down his face that gradually were washed away by the rain.

He looked like a total wreck red eyes and soaked clothes; he desperately needed a hot shower and steaming cup of tea, but he didn't want to return to the Orphanage. To the place where he would get punished for something so inexcusable as simply breathing.

Kaito loved being around people, loved being around his friends but sometimes it could be too much, so he needed some time alone from everyone else. Naturally, he couldn't get any privacy at the Orphanage. Just the thought of his friends bombarding him with questions or fussing over his state when he returned was already exhausting him.

At the end of the day what he wanted did not matter, he simply didn't have any other option. So, he stood up and clapped himself on the cheeks like Might Guy did previously.

His cheeks stung.

Red handprints were visible on his face.

He wondered whether there would be some miraculous effect from this nonessential ritual.

There wasn't.

Only if the pain was considered to be some sort of miracle.

He doubted it.

Constant pitter patter of the rain created a truly unique song, steady and rhythmic but at the same time soft.

Regrettably, Kaito couldn't appreciate its beauty.

He was soaked through from the rainfall; his clothes and hair were sticking uncomfortably to him. Icy-cold torrent of water was coming down on the roads making them muddy and slippery. This downpour created numerous puddles which made walking on the ground quite challenging.

No one was on the streets; it was secluded forest zone on the outskirts of Konoha. Even if it weren't that far away from the hustle and bustle of the Village, he wouldn't have met anyone anyway. It was natural for everyone to be already either at their homes or talking shelter somewhere under the covers.

After all nobody liked being wet at least in the Land of Fire. Maybe some Kiri nins did?

The trees were hiding away whatever meagre light there was from the already cloudy sky they were creating horrendous illusions with their twisted brunches and shadows forming in the darkness. They were sending chills down his spine. A strong wind blew through the trees, and he shivered in the cold of the forest rubbing his arms to try and regain warmth.

He knew that there was nothing hiding in that dense thicket, at worst only some small rodents but still his palms were sweating from the fear and growing panic, soon his pace gradually turned from the walk to a slight jog. The sound of leaves shifting against each other as the cold drops of rain kept sliding down his body and dark clouds hovered in the sky made him feel on edge. His concentration stayed firmly on the road like he was hypnotizing himself that 'if he didn't look at those illusions, they also wouldn't notice him either.'

Suddenly he heard low growls. Behind the trees there was a pack of stray dogs.

Kaito did not dare move, their sharp fangs were glistening in the darkness, thick saliva falling from their mouths.

Fear had frozen his body.

He stood stock-still watching them while they were watching him in return eyes not moving away from their target.

Their scrawny bodies were covered with festering wounds dark red blood and suspicious looking pus were oozing out of them. It was difficult to say the color of the fur because thick layer of dirt, grime, and filth covered it completely. Protruding ribs were showcasing the fact that they were in condition where they would do anything not to starve to death.

For adults these weak malnourished dogs wouldn't pose much of a threat but for a child of short stature just one bite from them could bring them on a brick of death.

Abruptly one of the dogs barked loudly. Kaito flinched and stepped back.

Oh no.

His eyes widened in panic his heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

Anyone who encountered similar situation knew that the last thing you should do was to show your fear and run away. One's status in the eyes of a wild animal would automatically fall from equal and possible threat to a mere prey.

But one's instinctive reaction (fight or flight response) is not something people can control as they please.

The muscles in their bodies tensed in preparation to launch themselves at Kaito. He bolted out from that place adrenaline and panic coursing through his veins. His heart was racing almost ripping out of his chest. In what direction he was heading - he had no idea; the only thought in his head was to get away from the dogs… get away from that damn forest.

'Run… run-! … get away from those monsters,' his mind screamed at him.

Kaito could hear rhythmic thumping of the heartbeat in his ears. All his senses were heightened. Trees and his surroundings were but a green and brown blur in the periphery. His eyes were zoomed only on path forward with unwavering focus.

Kaito's vision had never been as clear as it was at that moment he could see even tiny ripples formed by the rain in the puddles despite the darkness that enveloped him and everything around him.

'Where to...? - it didn't matter. Far away-… -as far away as possible!'

Kaito ran and ran, he didn't look back because he was feeling that the dogs were close. He jumped over a puddle body moving faster than his brain could even form a trajectory for the next series of actions.

"Leave me alone!" He screamed at the top of his lungs childishly hoping for someone to hear him even though he knew that rain would silence his voice and that there was not a single soul in the vicinity.

At the moment of landing his feet slipped on the muddy ground. Kaito fell to his knees with a hiss his clothes and fragile skin got torn, he could feel small stones and shrubs digging into his scrapes and cuts. Still, he did not react to the stinging pain of the newly created wounds, too high on adrenaline. Only small groan escaped his lips.

He could hear barks and sound of countless paws closing in on him.

Whoosh.

The only indicator of incoming attack was the sudden blast of the wind near his neck and unbearable stench of the wet fur.

Kaito immediately flipped over his back hitting wet ground with a heavy thud. His nostrils were filled with the scent of blood, dirt, and grass.

The sound of snapping jaws just above his ear woke him up out of the daze vanquishing the dizziness that he acquired during the fall. If he did not move just now that damn mutt would have been on top of him, probably reaping his throat out. Shivers went down his spine. While the dog was bewildered from the unsuccessful attack, he gathered whatever strength he had left and managed to kick it in the direction of its approaching friends.

He got shakily to his feet and decided to run in zigzag between the trees to lose the dogs rather than in straight line in the more open road like he did previously. Now that he actually used his head it was so obvious that they would be faster than him, creating obstacles was the only option for him.

Kaito felt strength leaving him only willpower was carrying him further.

Huff. Huff… huff.

'Those stupid mutts… how come they didn't get tired already?' Unlike him who was gasping for air…-They looked one step away from death with those protruding rib cages. Why did they have so much stamina?!

Small branches and thorns from the bushes were scratching and hitting his face, his legs were getting weaker and weaker from continuous running, his breaths were coming in short rapid gasps, with every second his steps were slowing down.

If Kaito did not have the previous experience from being constantly chased by one angry victim of his prank or another, he would have already been panting on the ground from exhaustion.

To be honest, he really really really wanted to do it. He did not need warm bath or hot cup of tea to calm his frazzled nerves, just lying in a dirt would be amazing already.

Still, he didn't regret visiting his mother today even if he would eventually get bitten by those stupid dogs.

Kaito dove behind one of the trees trying to confuse the dogs, heart slamming against his ribs, he gulped at the air. Suddenly instead of seeing the bark of the tree like he expected he was met with a figure who didn't seem to be the part of the same world as him.

Standing just in front of him was a child who should be around the same age as him. He had eyes blacker than the night sky and the prettiest silver hair that Kaito has ever seen. In one hand he was carrying something small wrapped in a fabric and in the other a simple paper umbrella. He was dressed in black yukata, green scarf with shuriken prints was tied around his neck, half of his face was hidden away behind the mask.

Kaito had to blink couple of times before he realized that person in front of him was pretty much real and that he was still bulldozing in his direction. In attempt not to collide with him he ungracefully moved to the side with flailing in the air arms. He almost wanted to sigh with relief, then suddenly his foot got entangled with one of the tree roots.

Mysterious guy easily sidestepped him with minimum movement- just one small step back -not showing even a hint of surprise at sudden meeting with the stranger who was literally flying straight at him.

He gaped with his mouth wide open at the abrupt turn of events and inelegantly slammed face first right at the feet of this boy. He winced from the pain injuring his scraped knees once again dirty leaves and wet sand entered his mouth and nose, he immediately spewed them out.

'It was miracle that he didn't knock his teeth out,' Kaito thought bitterly.

Bark.

He finally woke up from his dazzled state and remembered why he was running so fast. He immediately got up, but it was already too late.

The dogs were cornering them from all sides as their backs were against the tree trunk. Kaito took a step forward and lifted his left hand in front of the chest of his companion. He was trying to shield him away; after all it was his fault that he even had gotten in this situation.

Kaito stared fiercely at them desperately hoping they would back off. His hands and legs were trembling as he was already on a brick of exhaustion and knew that he could not fight them off even at the peak of his strength, not to say anything about now. He was reading himself to experience gruesome pain.

All of a sudden, he saw from the corner of his eye how the bundle in that guy's hand started squirming.

Cute little pug poked his head out from the blanket. He lazily blinked and swept his too intelligent eyes over other dogs from his elevated position like a king looking down at his subjects from his throne. They visibly tensed from that cold gaze, instincts warning them of immense danger.

"Scram," the gruff voice of middle-aged man who smoked for at least a decade ringed in the clearing.

Kaito's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He saw the pug's mouth moving but it was probably coincidence.

Right?

He searched around with his eyes for the man and there was no one else here. It was not like he had never seen talking animal there was the whole clan where every member had at least one ninken some of them talked some didn't. What surprised him that it came out of this cute little creature, ah!

Wasn't the contrast a bit too much?!

Surprisingly or maybe not the dogs whimpered, pawed unwillingly at the ground and then dispersed. Kaito was standing stock still not moving an inch from his position and watching in stunned silence like those strays which were giving him so much trouble were retreating after literally one word.

"Can you move away already?" The boy looked completely unimpressed with Kaito's protective stance.

'He has a pleasant voice,' was the first thought in his head at that moment.

"Ah?" He slowly blinked in a trance hearing the words and not understanding the meaning, too shocked about what just happened.

Only a minute passed from the moment when he was last running alone from those creatures to now where everything was solved in the blink of an eye.

"Ah right." He moved his hand away and stepped back still a bit out of it.

Finally, he gathered his wits and bowed to the person with pug in his hands. "Thank you so much for your help." He said with a tired smile.

"I don't know what I would have done without you." His eyes were wet and red-rimmed and his mouth trembled with the effort to keep his breathing steady.

"You are really my savior!" Kaito grinned and laughed brightly as he folded his hands behind his back slightly leaning forward to look at the pug and mysterious stranger a bit closer. The mask of fake cheerfulness returned to him.

Because people smile when they are happy. So, if he smiled it would mean that everything was okay.

Right?

Smile smile smile, no matter how fake and one day maybe he too will believe it.

His smile was the only thing that he had after all. If he lost it, wouldn't it mean that he had nothing in this world?

The stranger's pupils widened a bit and he stiffly turned to the side. "No need."

"Hmm? I wasn't thanking you though? I was saying thanks to your ninken," he said it a bit mischievously with a cheeky grin. The guy's eyebrow was twitching, and his pug snorted. "Huff…Alright brat."

The boy turned around angrily and was about to storm off when he started furiously whispering with his dog. Loud sigh escaped him.

"Here." He took off his scarf handed it over to him and left. He did not even have time to refuse or at least ask the reason for that when mysterious guy had already disappeared between the dense trees.

Warmth filled his chest; his smile was small but genuine at this time.

Kaito looked down on his battered hand with dirt all over it, there was a clean cloth with the heat of its previous owner in it. Suddenly he felt ashamed of himself he wanted to be remembered as cheeky kid at least instead of the idiot who face planted on the ground. Abruptly he realized that he looked like some homeless urchin, that was probably why he gave him his scarf.

The taste of the soil in his mouth made him queasy and he spat all of it out on the ground. Kaito froze for a second in realization. Didn't he just smile with all his teeth?

Oh wow…

That must have looked particularly nasty. No wonder he ran away so fast.

He wanted to leave good impression, but it seemed impossible now. He probably won't meet him ever again anyway, so no need to dawdle on it.

Kaito plopped on the ground, his tensed nerves finally relaxing. Tears started uncontrollably pouring down his face, chocked sob ripped out of his chest.

He was so scared.

He thought he was going to die. It was mere luck that he did not.

Kaito tied the scarf that smelled like ozone and dog fur over his body and continued forward on his trembling legs.

He looked up.

The rain finally stopped.

Anko's shoe flew straight up at his face. "In what dump did you bath?!" She pinched her nose and looked at him in disgust.

"I thought I was letting in some monster not a human."

She pressed her lips in a hard line. "Damn. Now my shoe is also dirty, should've thrown a broom instead." She looked genuinely regretful.

'Ah he loved his friends,' Kaito had such thought and then hugged Anko intentionally smearing filth on her.

That night and every night after that he fell asleep hugging the stupid green scarf with shuriken prints on it.

Author's Note

Honestly i wrote and rewrote this chapter so many times and i am still not satisfied with how it turned out.
i dont know ages of anyone, lets just wing it.

the thing about dogs happened to me once, but it was only one and i didnt ger bitten.
still scary shit for a kid.