"Kakashi?" I couldn't muster anything else but letting out his name in a silent whisper. I stopped, strictly leaving proper space between us pointlessly trying to read his expression. But before I realized it, he smiled to me, genuinely and relieved. I found that very confusing; what was he up to?
"I knew you had it in you." He said in relief, actually sounding kind of casual as if he had witnessed the most common thing in the world. He began to walk towards me, locking me in place as if he had some mystical power. Nonetheless; I couldn't believe his words, it was almost surreal to me. My heart began to race, banging against my chest as if it could make a whole through me in any second. Kind of made me light headed, taken that I wasn't used to dealing with this kind of emotion - this happy emotion. It wasn't like an adrenalin rush (well maybe in the same category) but more like… well that lame phrase called 'butterflies in the stomach'. He friendly laid his hand on my shoulder.
"But you're stronger than I thought." Even though he sounded genuine, it was like he still had something in mind.
Besides that; I was sure I was going to react to his touch, but absolutely nothing happened. I didn't jerk, I didn't jump or move repulsed away… Just nothing except for at slightly tinkling – sort of burning – sensation. Once again, like in the teashop, I just stood there like a moron completely incapable of pressing a word out. He removed his hand seeming to be a little confused about my silence as the kids came running over again.
The rest of the way to the grass village was actually quite easy compared to the rest of the trip. Mai was safely returned and the mood in the team was much better than before. Now there was no more walking behind the group but I was actually being a part of it which suited me surprisingly well.
Perhaps the home trip was a bit awkward even though the kids were quite enthusiastic and happy about the whole thing. Kakashi ACTED casual even though it was clear to me that something was sticking under. I noticed how his jaw clenched and tightened rapidly and that he didn't say much. Maybe it was just me who was being just a tad paranoid; I mean he didn't talk much in general unless necessary. The trip home was naturally quicker and after some running and jumping the gates of Konoha came into sight in the brightness of the day. A foreign feeling swelled up in me as if I was home… What was going to happen now? Maybe that was why Kakashi was so silent; because he didn't know what was going to happen to me. My stomach turned a bit by the thought of prison and I gulped.
"Finally home!" Naruto said when we were all standing in front of the gates. He yawned and stretched his arms behind his head and began to trudge through the gate.
"Before you go to the ramen shop we have to go see the Hokage, Naruto." Kakashi said, honestly looking like he'd rather skip.
But just getting the Hokage-visit over with was all I wanted. The sun was already setting when he reached the building and the hokage seemed genuinely pleased with the success of the mission (a few details left out). But nothing was certain yet. First of all; Kakashi had to deliver a report about the mission and me, which I was so lucky to get to watch him do at a teahouse in midtown. Everything had been kept strictly none-physical, I was aware of the space between us. Bottom-line, I knew that I had to enjoy my time out as much as I could.
"Actually I had no idea that you were THAT strong." Kakashi said suddenly after some time of small talking, on our way to prison, just after he had delivered his report. He sounded serious and didn't even look at me.
"Sorry I didn't tell you." I said with a shrug. There wasn't much I could do about it anyway. A shot deep growl escaped his throat as he glanced suspiciously over at me. My eyes flickered back and forth at him as we walked like that for a few moments, and I became more and more uncomfortable with his thoughtful staring.
"You're hard to figure out." He declared dryly at last.
Relieved that he didn't say more I just looked away and kept walking, watching how the sky turned dark purple. Sand and stone crunched under our feet, casually finding the sound soothing somehow. All of my worries were forgotten for a short period of time as we stroll casually down the streets, but came smashing back as soon as the prison was in sight.
"Here we are." He said and dug his hands further into his pockets. I could tell that there was something uncomfortable about him. Or maybe he was just tired?
I'd actually forgotten how depressing the prison was and sighed heavily to prepare myself for the darkness. The heavy doors cracked open as we entered and I was as usually greeted inappropriately by a guard.
"Greetings Master Kakashi… Setsuko." Standard greetings from a guard would normally be being ignored, but due to me apparent increased status because of being Kakashi's 'apprentice' they actually could muster to say my name. Not that I cared. I knew they were jealous; what right did I have to be a criminal, reluctant to receive training and then come under the wing of Konoha's most respected and notorious ninja? If you asked me it was actually quite a waste of talent to put Kakashi up with me (put away some pride to admit that). Unless, of course, it took a certain talent to get through my thick skull. Nonetheless, being his prentice at the moment only bred more hate towards me. I really hoped it would get better when I got to move out.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Kakashi said and scratched his hair tired as the guard closed the door to me cell.
"Yeah I hope so." The words spilled out of me in an annoying happy way… Like flirty (in my own, probably to others, not very flirty way).
I could've slapped myself hard if I wasn't already trying to cover up my embarrassment, all the while Kakashi just looked a bit dumb-founded and amused by my positive choice of words. The door clicked shut, and I turned around to take a look at my familiar cell. The past days events seemed far away now. The cool temperature hit my skin like a cold wind and the cement floor seemed to seep into the sole of my sandals. It was now dark outside, and the moon stood high in the sky, illuminating streaks of light at the floor and my bed. I sighed and plumed down on my bed, trying desperately to block out the feeling of abandonment. But I couldn't help but think about what the others were doing outside. Maybe the kids were eating nice warm ramen, and perhaps Kakashi was reading his book in his big apartment. I'd never seen his apartment but had always pictured it to be big, all the money he makes considered. I was the least of their concerns right now. I took off my sandals and hung up the heavy green vest and the only hook in my cell. I brushed my face a bit frustrated and growled tired. It wasn't like me to think like this. I lay down in my beloved clothes and pulled the cover over my body to warm myself up. But I couldn't sleep. Pictures of what I'd seen in Kakashi's mind kept drifting around in my mind as pictures.
"Dammit!" I cussed and punched the bed with my right hand, dust swirling up from the madras and into the moonlight. Like I hadn't seen worse memories…
I opened my eyes to the sunlight and shone in though my window the next morning, and as usual it took some time for me to be clear in my head. The fine metal slats by the window made a striped figure over my body, and I could feel every inch of my body where the sun hit me. A nice summer breeze brought in wonderful scents of grass and flowers. I was always very aware when I was half awake. But as the first thought of Kakashi traveled to my consciousness I snapped awake. He could be here at any moment. I sat up quickly and still a bit drowsy, waiting for the blood in my body to adjust to me position. I'd sat up to quickly, woops. It was a bit too cold, and I pulled the cover more over my body and saw that breakfast had already been served. A piece of bread, butter, jelly and milk. The most boring breakfast you could get. I rubbed my eyes and walked over the cold floor to take my food, and began to eat drowsily. After that I was actually quite quick to regain some energy and waited impatiently for Kakashi to come.
An hour flew by, the next hour and next. I began to get annoyed; I knew that I'd risen early but they would usually start training in the morning. But I didn't lose hope, he was known for being late. I had my eyes locked at the door, and listened with excitement for any footsteps that sounded like Kakashi's. The morning turned to afternoon and the afternoon turned to night and I knew he wouldn't come at night. A bit disappointed I gave up and lay down on my bed again. Maybe they were all taking a day off to enjoy themselfes. None of them just hadn't thought about how limited fun was here. To think that my day had just gone by like that.
And so the pain began. The next day I woke up quicker than usually, energized and excited to come out. But just like yesterday, nothing happened. All day I waited and went disappointed to bed. The following days weren't any better and I became more and more miserable. My thoughts began to wander. Why didn't he come? Was I too strong to be a Konoha-ninja after all? The flower of hope that was whenever I woke up became only a small seed of hope. I felt hollow, and couldn't stand the sandpaper thoughts that graded on my sanity. I stopped putting on my ninja clothes and stayed in the white prison clothes. My cell began to scream of emptiness and I lost count of the days. I still refused to use prison showers and therefore was dirty and nasty again. The abandonment filled me up, being used to deal with it I'd forgotten it after many happy days. I should've enjoyed my last moments with Kakashi some more. I should've taken full advantage of the trust the team had given me in the beginning. I pulled my legs up and hugged them as my face cringed of the thought of Kakashi's expression after I'd entered his mind. I should've known - I should've paid more attention to his behavior, foreseen that this would come. I saw his younger face in front of me again, and realized that I somehow pitied him and wished that he hadn't experienced such things. It began to prick behind my eyelids and naturally my lips curled back over my teeth. Why didn't I see it coming? It was obvious that no one came close to him; he claimed to have lost all his loved ones coursing some reluctance to let others get close. He still endured great pain from his past. How could I even have thought that his 'interest' in my development was genuine? I was a mere criminal, last in line to get close to him. Stupid stupid stupid stupid! I sighed; he had seemed so genuine on the mission. It was like he had given me a taste of something really delicious and then taken it away, saying that I would never get more. I shot my head upwards and took a deep calming breath in as everything in me melted into anger, hate and betrayal. In a jump I was up from my bed, panting hard in shock of a sudden pulse of Eien's chakra.
I opened the door to my cell a bit aggressively, deciding for the first time to go outside in the yard. The hallway was silent except for a guard who looked up with slight surprise before he continued with his soduko. A breeze ran through the hallway having entered from the door to the yard. It brought a fresh scent of summer, grass, flowers and leafs. I followed the hallway ignoring inmates that walked past me. Light streamed from a door and I could barely tell what was on the other side. It had been a long time now since I'd been out in the sun and I had to hold a hand over my eyes to block the sharp sun. Everything was too bright and big a contrast right now. The weather was a good temperature not too hot and not too cold. A fine shadow pattern lingered on my skin, and I looked up to see a fine fence above my head. I sat down under the shadow of the wall waiting for my eyes to adjust to the brightness and was happy that I'd made the decision to go outside. Inmates were working out in the sun, standing in small groups. The ground was sandy and just outside the fence, luxuriant grass grew wildly, untouched by the prisoners. I wished I could lay in that grass… Either way, the sun seemed to help a bit in my aggressions. The few clouds in the sky flew fast today, there were probably a lot of wind up there.
It's hard to tell if I doze off a bit, I probably did, but as something in front of me blocked the sun and I opened my eyes to gaze up at a tall figure of a broad and muscular, balled man.
"You're that kid who never comes out of her cell, aren't you?" his voice was raspy as if he had used it too much in his younger days. I moved my head a bit to the side to see around his legs and saw his gang keeping a good watch of us. No one in prison bothered others unless they had their gang watching their back. Annoyed and slightly offended cause he called me a kid I took a hand to my forehead to see him better:
"Yeah. So?" I said indifferently.
"You spent your days in there waiting for somebody, don't you? Well you better get used to living here, cause we all got plenty of time." He smirked and didn't look very intelligent.
"I'm not waiting anymore, so quit bugging me." I answered, getting more and more annoyed by his very presence. This provoked an outright laugh from him.
"You're just like all the others! Waiting for someone to bail you out." He grinned. I tried hard to keep my expression plain
"Well then, meanwhile you and your baldy head can just bail from me." I snapped, my voice dangerously low.
"Well, I wouldn't be wrong to say that a pretty girl like you could get some good offers from a pimp or some inmates with contacts." His expression was the wrong kind of pervy, and I had to keep my temper from boiling.
"I would never sink that low." I answered.
"Tale as old as time. You probably got what you deserved." He grunted and looked down at me superiorly.
"Taken that you probably know who I'm waiting for, I can't judge your pathetic condescending." I said and released a good amount of Eien's chakra that had been building wildly up in me.
Amused by the sudden burst of wind he looked around and came to the conclusion that I was up to something. Suddenly he flung his large fist right for my face, and it took me slightly off guard and I barely moved my head enough before he crushed the brick wall behind me. Quickly he pulled it away and launched for me again but this time I reacted quicker and rolled into my back and swung myself up in standing position by his right side. He was too slow to notice and crushed the wall again, but turned to me with a;
"Why you!". I stared at him blankly; this was exactly why I avoided this area.
"I'm going inside." I said indifferently and turned around to stroll inside again. Everyone here was just lame. But he was very predictable. Attacking from behind, come on? That was pretty clumsy of him. I dodged and spun to my hands and swung my legs up in a furious double kick and hit him twice in the chin. Weak as anticipated he stackered to the ground and landed with a hard grunt, as his gang came running as backup. I could hear guards approaching as well, and took defensive stance with clenched fists held up in front of my face. I landed a few good hits at his mates, before I was tackled to the ground by shouting guards like I was the bad one.
"Hold her!" one shouted by my side and pushed me head hard into the ground before I was pulled roughly up by the arms, a guard standing closely in front of me to push me further backwards. My temper was boiling so bad that I went completely numb like the silence before the storm.
"That bitch was picking a fight with me!" the inmate winced and brushed some blood away from his lips.
I didn't get to hear much more before I was dragged roughly through the hallway, barely able to get my feet to the ground. This was standard presidio for the guards and I smartly followed without one word. They bashed in the door to my cell and basically threw me inside and barely caught my balance.
"NO fighting." A guard shouted at me, and I recognized him as the guard that usually stood in my hallway. Unable to focus, adrenalin pumping through my veins I flinched when they shut the door harshly locked.
I was infuriated. I wanted to get out the prison. Konoha couldn't hold me if I didn't want to. But what right increases Konoha to act as judge in question of how I organize my life, and what principles and values define their internal system? The answer to that was: with the right it rests with the strongest, who we must all conform to. Quite simply Konoha's Hokage declares me vitally important to the Land of Fire's interest. Who was I to deny the laws of a greater power? I started from the bottom of the system and had to fight my way up to be accepted into it. I was the one who had to wait longer than the rest. Many sleep in the rain but I was going to be awake in the storm.
There was fire in my heart and a riot about to explode into flames. Eien was now in my head, and I had to sit down on my bed to control my violently shaking body. I hugged myself tightly in an effortless attempt of trying to hold myself in place. But I wanted to badly to break out and feel the overwhelming surge of power that came by landing a fist at someone… Or even better; feeling the ripped flesh around my teeth.
"Hello…" Eien's voice echoed through my head, breaking the intense silence and I knew that I couldn't control my instincts anymore.
"What?" I choked already knowing what she wanted. She wanted that chakra release just as bad as I.
"Just giving you someone to talk to." She answered her voice bitter sweet and intoxicating. I kept silent even though she could hear my thoughts.
"You know you're strong enough to get away Toshi. You can do it. He's not coming back, you have to get out there yourself. And now you're healthy enough to break away. Or would you rather stay in here and die?" she was getting to me.
"Wh-why wouldn't he?" I stuttered. There you go, I still had some common sense left.
"Why WOULD he?" her voice became increasingly louder and her question had lingered in my head for some days now. I sat there for a while hoping that I could calm down but it was for no use. My anger and frustration only got worse. I wanted to just let this prison burn up, and adding Eien's inputs of ideas I wasn't able to hold back anymore.
It was like my soul flared up, unable to fit the room and I jumped to my feet with such force that every loose object in the room flew into the air and fell down. I couldn't take it anymore… I had to get out, now! Frustrated and confused I allowed Eien's chakra to unfold inside of me and I transformed into the lion-form. I roared in relief and frustration, untammed bashing through the thick metal door as I roared ferociously. The door and I flew to the opposite wall of the hallway, bumps engraved in the thick metal from my huge paws. Still clinging to the door I jumped to the cold floor, eyes wide open and stressed. I scratched deep marks in the cement floor to stop myself as I looked at the guard who had dropped his soduko and stood completely petrified, looking at me.
"S-stop!" he stuttered, failing in sounding confident.
"Get out of my way!" I roared. His eyes flickered insecurely and it looked as if he was glued to his place. Too bad for him though. Indifferently I opened my jaws and jumped to the wall at high speed before clenching my jaws around his shoulder, crushing his shoulder before dropping him to the floor. I was already by the entrance to the lobby when the pain sunk in and he screamed in pain. I bashed through the locked door and entered the lobby, aware of everyone in there and ready to kill. Shuriken flew at me but with a blast of wind and chakra I dodged them. Papers flew around the room and the guards were knocked to the ground.
"Setsuko Toshi! Stop!" A guard roared. As if he could frighten me. But I didn't even react to my name anymore.
Out of pure instinct I roared and send the guards up against the wall of the room. My claws left deep marks in the floor as I lashed for the doors of freedom. The fresh air hit my like a honey breeze. It pricked behind my eyelids, but the tears came out as rage towards everyone. Naturally I jumped to a tree looking for the quickest escape. I'd already started up a big uproar. The power I drew from Eien was like a drug, and I was already addicted. I jumped to a roof followed by the next ahead. Jump by jump I was nearing the borders of Konoha, emotions controlling my every move. I created fierce winds to dodge my attackers. It came naturally to me when I was in Eien's form and I sent ninjas flying one after another. I kept it short and uncomplicated. I felt misplaced and hallow as I forced myself forward taking pleasure in the enormous powers I was given. The forest stood green in the horizon, biding me to come.
"Finally." It came out as a relieved whisper when I touched the surface of the large wall which surrounded Konoha.
But in that same instant I felt something was wrong. I felt as if a ball of sudden fear came stuck in my throat, and blood rushed to my head. But it wasn't for the ninjas far behind me, and actually I had no time to think about it.
Forcefully I was crushed to the ground with an elbow planted solidly at me neck, pushing me along the ground of the forest outside Konoha's great wall. Dirt and mud gathered as a wave over my back as I roared in pain. I knew Kakashi had taken me off guard. I knew that I didn't want to fight him. He had come for me and I didn't know if it was as friend or foe.
"What are you doing Toshi?"
My ears were ringing from the crush as I twitched to get out of his grip around my thick neck. I didn't want to put my claws in him and tried desperately to avoid his close body, though he was strong enough to push my down to the ground.
"Relax!" He groaned
Hearing his voice properly was like getting washed away every cloud in my mind. I stopped moving, breathing heavily from my struggle against him as all my hatred seeped out of my body. I was only left with pity for myself and a desire to talk him into forgive me for whatever I'd done to make him keep at bay. I couldn't help but being at the verge of tears; just looking at him – his eyes, they way he hovered, his grip… It made me all the more humble and pitiful. He was in town after all, having left me to rotten in my cell. I sighed deeply as he scanned me, and felt how I turned into my real form.
"Toshi…" He released his grip the slightest, allowing me to rest on the ground, facing him. He shook me a bit to make me snap out whatever trance I was in. I could read in him, that he was very alert for any unpredictable actions.
My eyes flickered at him when I came back to reality, and my mind began to race all choices of word through. His eyes changed the slightest, and looked worried down at me softening his pressure against me shoulders. His sudden change in behavior dug up the friendly and happy feelings I'd had just one and a half week ago.
Kakashi realized that she wasn't running away as 'planned', but that something else had been the course of her actions.
"I… I-I can't stand it any longer." She whimpered and he could barely hear it. She looked scared beyond comparison. Her body was shaking, but she wasn't moving one muscle. She felt weak and fragile under him… Somehow desperate.
"What? What is it you can't stand?" he asked, having difficulties with keeping his voice under control. He shook her softly again, making and intense eye contact to get her to speak. She gulped, obviously trying to hold back tears that made her breath shaky. He was confused beyond comparison by the sight of her in this state and couldn't figure out what had trickered this out of her. It almost looked as if she was afraid of HIM…
"The-the." She stuttered, her eyes flickering insanely at him. I felt several ninja's arrive to help him, even though he had her under control now and was about to take a hand up to stop them, but was too late as they swooshed her away from him, dragging her scared form away from under him.
"Nice job Kakashi, we'll take care of her now." A ninja groaned through gritted teeth while he tried to hold the now kicking and twitcing Toshi down.
"I can't stand to be in there when you're out here. I can't stand the loneliness for so long!" she cried in a desperate attempt to make him understand.
For the first time in years Kakashi didn't know what to do. Taken back by the situation he watched her become more and more and agitated while he just stood there on his knees locked in the same position she had left him in. Five ninjas hovered over her now, trying to hold her down to the ground but she gave heck of a fight.
"No, wait!" Kakashi finally said.
"Don't worry we're getting her under control." A ninja who he recognized to be one of the guards from her prison, as he tried to hold her wrenching and kicking legs. She looked furious and angry now, and it was only a matter of time before she overpowered them again. To think that she could get that fired up in just a few seconds! He suddenly felt guilty for being such a lazy ass, forgetting to tell her that he had to go on an urgent mission. She was now ruined yet again. He was afraid that he would have to start all over with her again, and he wasn't even sure that he was allowed to train her anymore after this.
I was slammed to the cement floor of the lobby in the prison. Using a strong teleportation jutsu this was as far as they could get me. I was in my lion form yet again struggling against six ninjas who was pressing me to the floor. After having met Kakashi and being ripped away from him brutally I had no more common sense left. I couldn't hear one thing around me because of Eien's constant growling and roaring inside my head. I was clear to me though that they were speaking agitated to each other trying to hold my body and legs without getting in the way of my mouth and claws. I tried desperately to get free, digging my thick claws into the cement. I felt like a stressed out animal, as more ninjas came and it all became very chaotic. I snapped towards the man holding my head without any luck and triggered even more ninjas to cast themselfes at me.
Exhausted I fought for some time before a man stood out in the crowd and bowed down to look me in the eyes. In just a few seconds I took in the sight of him; blonde long hair, tied in a ponytail and blue eyes. He looked agitated down at me, as if he had been in a hurry to get here. One inch more and I could bite his nose off…
"It's time that you went to sleep." I could barely hear him in the small gap of a roar inside my head. The man by my head strengthened his pressure at me as the blonde reached out to put a hand over my eyes…
Kakashi ran as fast as he could towards Konoha prison – A-ranked division. Taking contact with the hokage was the first thing he had done, to inform him about the uproar. He knew that the scene she had coursed was going to be discussed, not only by the hokage, but also by his fellow ninjas.
"Kakashi, I heard what happened." Kakashi glanced to his side, seeing Gai jumping along and thanked god for letting Gai be in a serious mood.
"Yes. I'm on my way to see her now." He said, glad that Gai wasn't the judging kind of guy.
"I see you're putting your heart and soul into this girl! That's good! I can't wait to meet her when she one day turns into a fine young lady." Gai began to blab. Okay, maybe Kakashi shouldn't have been thanking whatever-greater-force so soon. Right now, he couldn't picture her becoming anywhere near ready to meet Gai. He would just scare her away.
"I'm not going to just trash her. I've spent a lot of energy on her." Kakashi answered simply, yet again feeling a ball of guilt build up for not having told her about the urgent mission.
"Don't talk like that about a youthful person! The both of us have energy enough for at least 50 people, Kakashi!" Gai said, enthusiastically picking up his speed.
"If you want to see her, Gai, I'd preferre that you keep a distance when I take her out. She's probably not in a very good condition." Kakashi said as the prison came into sight. Gai looked a bit offended but then (thankfully) nodded and disappeared to somewhere – Kakashi didn't really care.
Followed by several guards, he was lead along the hallway and into the isolation area of the prison. For some reason he began to feel nervous; what condition, what mood would she be in? A lot of tension lingered between the guards which made gave Kakashi a reason to be all the more nervous. They walked silently, their steps creating a painfully tensed echo through the hallways. They stopped by a larger door of metal spattered over with big bolts to keep it in place.
"I can't guarantee anything. She might go crazy again." A guard said looking as if someone had sucked all life out of him.
He ripped off a seal with a quick pull and opened the door slowly, every one of the four guards peeping over Kakashi and the one guards shoulder. Kakashi pushed himself in front of the guard who had opened the door, his curiosity getting the best of him. The cell looked completely empty and inanimate like a ghost lived in there. The only thing in there was a madras and a crumbled up form sitting on it. Startled by the sad sight his eyes widened a bit. She was sitting up, hugging her legs tightly and her beautiful face was hiding between her arms and legs. He didn't even know if she had noticed them and felt the guards getting a little impatient behind him, as if they wanted him to go inside. He could see that she hadn't been eating properly and had lost some muscle tissue. She was also dirty, like the day he'd picked her up by the prison for the first time except that she had lot of bruises. To keep it short; he was slightly overwhelmed by her looks. It all seemed like a bad dream, surreal and incomprehensible. He had to stand and stare at her for a moment before it got too much for one of the guards;
"Yamanaka Inoichi (Ino's dad, to those who don't know) made her fall asleep. She must still be a bit dizzy." The guard closest to him whispered, afraid of triggering something. Kakashi only mumbled in response, trying to figure out how he should approach her.
"Toshi—" he said her name, careful not sound negative in any way—"How are you feeling?" he added.
At first nothing happened. Had she even heard him? He took a step into the cell, making sure not jump to any conclusions. But suddenly her green eyes looked fiercely up at him like small lights in the dark. The guards gasped and moved instinctively a little bit away, moving curiously forward again not a moment after. Kakashi laughed nervously at her glare and rubbed the back of his head to ease the mood.
"What's the reason for all this uprising?" he asked, doing his best to keep his voice calm and soothing.
She raised her head up from her arms, keeping his eyes in lock. It was no wonder that the guards were scared of her. It was like she this dark aura around her, keeping everyone at bay. But calmly she removed her eyes away from his, her jaw clenching and tightening agitated in a perfect rhythm.
"Toshi?" he barely said her name before she reacted to his previous questions.
She slammed her fist backwards into the brick wall behind her releasing a burst of roaring chakra and cracking the wall behind her.
"Because! I wasn't going to sit in here waiting for you if you weren't going to come! I thought you gave up on me!" she shouted at him staring intensly at the opposite wall, and he found himself glad the she wasn't looking directly at him. But he felt guilty and couldn't remember the last time he had been this insecure about what to do.
My boiling temperament got the best of me once again as I'd just made a hole in a wall. Kakashi was standing there, so calm and collected as he was trained to be. I still couldn't figure if he was friend or foe. Perhaps the guards had figured that he was the only who was capable of talking to me without I would blow up. I wanted to cry, I wanted to kick him hard in the crotch and scream 'you know why!'. But after my battle 'against Konoha' I was exhausted and numb. I'd wasted too much energy on nothing. I looked over at Kakashi again when the silence had been going on for too long and saw that his eyes had softened. I felt myself soften immediately just like when I'd met him outside. I clenched my jaw tight, cursing him for making me want to be his friend and for beginning to be a soft spot in me. I tore my eyes away from him again, feeling the burning pricking behind my eyelids.
"Toshi I didn't abandon you. I was on an urgent mission and I just got home today… Luckily." He explained and moved carefully towards me like I was some kind of animal.
My head began to spin in confusion though. Had he just been on a mission? And here I'd been thinking all kind of bad things about him! My heartbeat began to pick up speed and my breath as well. I brushed some hair away from my sweaty forehead with a quivering hand. I felt how my eyebrows began to quiver as well and furrow over my eyes. It was the worst toture I'd ever experienced and for NOTHING.
"I-I thought—" I quickly placed a hand over my eyes when my voice broke. I wasn't used to these emotions and therefore I was bad at holding them in, even though this was what Eien had been trying to teach me all of my life. I didn't want to cry! Not now! With effort I manned back the tears and took in a deep breath to regain my voice.
"I just can't stand to be in here! It's so depressing and lonely!" I spat, my breath beginning to quicken again. My hands shook violently and I basically just wanted to erase everything I'd done this day. I wanted him to forgive me, cause forgiveness removes fear and that was what I felt at the moment. I wanted him to pull me into a comforting hug, knowing that such a thing would never happen.
"It's so lonely in here." I muttered. Seriously, I was pathetic. And for the first time in my life I felt as if I was crying genuinely. One salty tear streamed down my chin and I pressed my hands to my face to cover it away, sniffling like some pathetic loser all the while I took in the burning gazes of the guards.
Something touched my bare foot and instinctively it reacted like a rocket and kicked the chin of Kakashi who had moved over to me without I'd noticed. My eyes rose up to him as I gasped and gripped my foot as if it had its own will.
"Hey!" the guards were on their way immediately but Kakashi held up a hand to pacify them and tell them to stop.
"Don't. It's okay. I guess I deserved that one." He said rubbing his jaw a bit. I stared at him with big eyes. He was sitting so close in front of me that I barely dared to breath afraid the he could hear how shaky my breath was.
I tried hard not to sniffle and to keep the next tear behind my eyelids. I could feel the warmth of his hand that rested beside my other foot and suddenly longed for it, like the day he'd taken my hand outside the Hokage's office. He seemed to scan my face with worried eyes.
"What's going to happen to me now?" I whispered loud enough for him to hear. I rubbed my hands nervously together, also to warm them up.
Kakashi sat in squad position in front of me, silently watching me. I felt his eyes to intensly at me that I began to feel slightly uncomfortable because of silence too.
"We'll talk about that later. I'm going to get you out of here as a starter." He said as his eyebrows furrowed a bit.
A gasped of his forgivnes. Was it really that easy? Why was he so good to me? I'd done many stupid things, so how could he still want to help me? My sudden guilt was so intense that I felt like puking it away. He stood up in front of me and without any warning he leaned over me and dragged me gently up by my upper arms. His hands were warm and pleasant against my cold skin, it almost felt as if it was burning under the skin. Decently he lead my arm around his shoulder to support me and likewise he put his arm around my waist. I was quite startled by his actions, and startled that he could tell that I was in a weak state. Even though I didn't feel very well, I felt super aware of how we stood. It was like we were good friends, helping each other. I don't think I'd ever been that close to a person before. Both mentally and physically.
"Ugh." I moaned when my legs ached and put all my weight over at Kakashi.
"Kakashi I don't think this is such a good idea." One of the braver guards said, and stood protectively in the door way, a hint of insecurity evident in his features.
"I'm taking her to the hokage." He answered and smiled insuring to the guard. As anticipated the guard obeyed Kakashi with no hesitation. I still didn't know how he so easily got away with things.
"Come on." He added and steadily began to walk.
The feeling of being exhausted was beginning to get on my nerves. I'd finally gotten over my wounds on my back and now I was just about as weak again. I tried hard to live up to his strong figure beside me when we walked even though I knew it was pointless. He'd already figured how weak I was, and I would've fallen right on my nose if he hadn't been supporting me. As we made it outside I began to lean more into him and take advantage of his support. I began to relax in his presence and felt that I could allow myself to walk a bit in my own world. I felt nice to just rely on someone else and let them carry your burden for a while. Why'd I never realized that? I would never have guessed that it was actually possible.
The sun stood high in the sky as it usually did in this part of the land in summer. Birds sang in the distance and life in Konoha continued casually outside the prison. I took in the sunlight, closing my eyes and rested my head lightly by Kakashi's shoulder. It was like all the despair I'd felt was far away.
Kakashi noticed that she was lighter than before and worst of all; when seeing her in sunlight her bruises and dirty skin was even clearer to him. But at the same time he could feel that she was finally relaxing, taking his offer of support. Perhaps he had not lost her after all.
"Where're you taking me?" I asked, finally breaking the silence. I just noticed now that we weren't going towards the hokage's office.
"I'm taking you to the hot-springs first." He said, his voice warm and caring. Well, that was a very polite of him. To say that I was filthy without really saying it. He stopped and tightened his grip around my wrist and my waist and jumped to a roof top, carefully making sure I wasn't hurting.
"I guess I'm a bit grimy." I muttered.
I found it very comforting to sway up and down without really doing anything. Actually I was so comfy that I wanted to fall asleep right then and there. Maybe I should start to learn the concept of the bond of a friendship and not panic whenever I was not in their presence.
I didn't take long for Kakashi to transport me to the hot-springs. Still supporting me he walked me to the entrance of the ladies room and stopped just outside.
"Even though I would like to walk you further, I'm afraid that this is as far as I'll go." He said with a grin. For a second I enjoyed the friendly warmth from his eyes.
Taking my time I pushed away from him, regaining my own balance. He stayed until he was sure that I didn't stagger anymore. I walked inside and breathed in the heavy familiar, scent of herbs, relieved that there weren't anyone in the room. I felt a bit sick in stomach and prayed that it would go away when I entered the warm water. I could imagine that it would make me even sicker, and puking in it would be beyond embarrassing. I sat, bummed, down on the bench with a sigh and began, with effort, to pull my arms out of my sleeves. I could hear the running water outside, nice and calming. I think I began to doze off a bit before the door slid open and I gasped a bit startled and saw a woman enter, silently beginning to take her clothes on again. I couldn't muster to take mine off, so it took me twice the time. A door slammed and apparently the woman were finished and I was still sitting with my shirt half off. Perhaps it was about time I began to gather some strength to take it properly off. However, I soon found out why Kakashi had thrown me into this hot-spring. Damn I smelled bad! And to think that I first realized that now, when I'd gotten it off. How embarrassing; I mean how could he even have been so close to me? I checked my arms for blue marks and small bruises here and there, and they were all stinging a bit because of my filthy skin. I shook my head in disgust over myself and took a thick piece of soap to scrub my body.
I quickly changed into the small bikini-thingies which was for borrow completely ignoring the dizziness of suddenly rushing things through. I choose to be nice to the towels and grabbed one by hand instead of wrapping it around my body. I opened the door and was met by the thick steam rising from the warm water. It embraced my body with warmth and I looked to both sides to check if the coast was clear as usually. I strode over the big tiles to the edge of the water and dipped my toe in it to feel the temperature. The lighting was a bit dull because of the large wooden walls and the trees so it was hard to see the figures in the water. I put the towel in a larger stone slowly sank myself into the warm water. At first it bid and gnawed a bit in my bruises, but I forced myself to walk through the water. It stung a bit as I looked for my usual spot under the small bonsai tree and found that my back didn't hurt anymore. But I was still very much on my guard. Taking bath these kind of places was the most vulnerable thing I could think of. I stiffened when I heard Kakashi clear his throat somewhere in the water and automatically plumped my whole body into the water. Not again! I thought and cursed a bit at myself. Muttering to myself over my misfortune, I made it to the bonsai tree and sat down with gritted teeth. The past days misery dwelled in me like a big stone of regret as I enjoyed the warm water for some time. I washed my with soap and after that my arms.
"I knew I could find you here in the darkest corner." Haha, very funny. It was Kakashi who was speaking. He'd never had a problem with socializing half-naked, to my great annoyance. He probably knew he had a great body… No, he didn't have a great body!(I didn't just think that.) Suddenly flustered over my own thoughts, Kakashi took place beside me, luckily (of my notion) not noticing that my cheeks had gone a little bit redder. This was my third time being in the same hot-spring as he and as the previous times I began to tense uncomfortably up. I didn't realize either that I was twisting my hair in my hands at the right side of my neck. I stopped myself abruptly knowing that he would take my hair-twitching as a nervous sign.
"So. How's the water working on you bruises?" he asked and pointed lazily with his finger at my arm. I glanced over at him, making sure that he wasn't moving any closer. Per usual he was wearing one of those ridiculously small towels over his face. He looked handsome with wet hair bending over his forehead and not to mention how his trained chest was visible just above the surface of the water where he rested against the stones and—
"Toshi?"
I quickly snapped out of it. I hadn't just glanced at him but literally been staring without giving him any answer. I looked away immediately taking a sudden interest in the water. God I was such a perv! Since when had I become that?
"Um, what'd you say?" I asked flustered.
"How's the water on your bruises?" he asked, cocking his head a bit while burning a hole in me with his eyes. I was confused and felt clouded in my mind under his intense staring. Why'd he stare so much? Did I have something in my face?
"Um… What?" my brain capacity didn't work any further than this. Kakashi sighed and removed his gaze on me, to my relief.
"You're so distracted right now. Such an unusual girl." He mumbled the last thing to himself and the moments after was followed by silence apart from two women who was small talking somewhere. I began to feel a bit more comfortable and leaned more into the water and rested my head at the stone behind me.
"I thought that you had given up on me." The words spilled out of me like vomit. Stunned by my honest words I manage to keep a calm façade.
"Hn?" Kakashi glanced over at me and seemed to suit himself up against the stone edge behind him. He then stared into the steamy air as if he was thinking something through. I bit my lip of silence and immediately regretted my words.
"Honestly… At first I thought that I'd just have to return you to the city and to have nothing to do with you. But then the hokage assigned me to take care of you, obviously knowing that you were going to be a good handful, but still young enough to change." He paused and glanced over at me, his eyes suddenly fierce and cold as they were when he was in battle.
"It was quite a bother. You didn't fit into my schedule, and yes I have one… in my head. I just had three new students to take care of—" I suddenly felt disappointed and wished I hadn't started this conversation. He continued.
"However… " his eyes softened when he saw my expression—" I realized how quickly you were accepting others to be around and how you learned a new way of thinking. Before I knew of it I actually began to care and put my heart into helping you. Not so I could get it over with but because I could see that you were beginning to bloom." He smiled acknowledging to me.
Startled and more flustered than before, I this time couldn't look away from his eye(s). No one had ever before said something like that to me so I had no idea of how to comprehend it. I began to stumble over my words and make awkward sounds that was supposed to come out as words.
"Don't worry. You don't have to say anything in return. At least what I meant is that you don't have to be so paranoid around me anymore." He said, saving me from complete failure.
"… T-thanks." I mumbled and tore my eyes away from his and looked at the blank surface of the water.
I honestly didn't know what to say. And felt a bit bad about just sitting there, saying nothing to him.
"I've also noticed that you can sufficiently control and conserve your elemental chakra into actual wind. That takes quite some skills. And for what I've heard you don't even use hand signs to perform the jutsus." He looked at me a bit more seriously now and I was actually quick to answer his question.
"I don't know what my element are, but Eien's is wind. When I use her body she performs the special signs inside me, and therefore it looks like I don't do anything." I looked at him seriously cause I've always questioned this topic myself.
"It has always come easy to me to control, although I never learned how to locate my own element. When I'm in my normal form, I have to make certain movements to perform the same jutsus as Eien." I said, and saw Kakashi's interest grow.
"Really? It comes naturally to you? So I presume that, that has something to do with your origin?" he asked cocking his head slightly.
"Um. I don't know. I don't know where I'm originally from." I looked away from him thoughtfully. I'd never considered it to be in my genes.
"Can you show me what you do?" he asked politely, with an undertone of curiosity like the day by the waterfalls.
"Um—" I wasn't really comfortable getting up from the water, or showing this to him, knowing that he would remember every little movement—"sure." I muttered.
Hesitantly, I watched him wary as I lifted my upper body up from the water and stood up in the water. I looked ahead coolly, afraid of seeing some pervy side of him. But knowing myself enough, I glanced over at him to see if he was following and tried to reach out with Eien's mind jutsu to see if I could pick up any trace of emotion from him. To my relief I couldn't feel anything and lifted my arms up. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the air around me and the element within. I then began to move my arms through the air in a (to Kakashi probably) foreign wavy way as if I was dragging and stretching the air around me in smooth and elegant movements. I knew how this freaked out others, cause molding chakra means to extract energies from both the body's cells and the mind's consciousness, then mixing them together within, but changing the physical properties of chakra into an element was something else in this matter.
She suddenly looked foreign to him. She looked like an ancient young woman, dancing with her arms as if she could perform magic. He felt suddenly teased and startled by the movements. He shook his head to focus and what she was actually doing and was tempted to use his sharingan. He had never before seen a way like that to use elemental chakra. Where could she have learned that? Hesitantly he opened his red eye to see her flow of chakra.
"I've never seen such movements before." He said as she blew a mild wind across the surface of the water.
"But I see how your elemental chakra flows out of your body and connect with nature's wind-chakra. I didn't know such a jutsu could be performed. It's like it's in a whole other level." He added mesmerized by her.
I looked to the side to see his expression. But he was half up from his seat, and I immediately felt threatened by the red eye that pierced me so deeply that I wanted to yelp. He straightened more up and walked through the water and over to my side, keeping a good distance. Daring to take the chance I kept doing the same movements as before, afraid of showing any signs of distrust.
"Like this?" he asked and then took the same stance like me with legs wide apart, one leg bent and one leg stretched out behind him. He began to move his arms with near perfect accuracy of my movements. Like performing a dance we moved in perfect rhythm except that nothing happened when Kakashi had all the seals performed.
"Yeah. I guess." I said, feeling a bit weird about seeing someone else do the movements. But the movements suited him... and his upper body. For once it was nice to see him do something that took time and calm mind to perform and not super-human speed. It was a bit like seeing him meditate I guess.
"Nothing happens. I know I don't have the wind-element but I should be close with my lightning element." He said, starting to look a bit irritated.
"And I can't make my chakra do the same thing as ours." He added. I stopped and watched him do the movements over and over, starting to feel a bit sorry for him because nothing happened. A small spark erupted from his hand.
"Hey it worked." I said plopping into the water, trying NOT to look at his damned chest.
"No, it was just me forcing too much of my own chakra into my palm." He said and stopped with a sigh.
"Maybe you need other movements to perform it with the lightening element." I said thoughtfully and began to move back to my seat.
"Maybe it's only you who can perform it. Maybe it's your kekkei genkai. I just don't understand why I never have seen or heard about these movements before." He said looking like he wanted to relent. He moved back to our old spots though sitting down with a thoughtful expression.
"Does... Um Eien know anything about it?" he asked.
"No. She says I was the one who taught her. But I don't get that." I said with a shrug. And then everything was followed by silence.
I'd sure made Kakashi's brain work more than what it usually did. After some time, I began to doze off a bit, staring at the circles in the water. I didn't want to think about where I was from or if I had a kekkei genkai. It was too much of a bother and gave me a headache. Plus it would be such a lame cliché if I had a kekkei genkai on top of having Eien inside of me. I mean, you hear about these lame stray ninja's who doesn't know their origins and it turns out that they have some kind of wonderful, mind blowing kekkei genkai and then they save their village and find their true love. Ugh, come on give me some slack here.
"Toshi? Could I perhaps take a look at your back again. I just want to make sure that it's healing properly." Kakashi broke the silence and ripped me out of my thoughts. He was facing me a bit more now and looked gladly at me, every sign of concern and thoughtfulness gone in his face. My heart rate doubled. Why, o' why did he have to ask that stupid question? Like, the last time I felt almost violated by it except that this time the feeling was a bit more... tickling than disgusted. I had to swallow a huge amount of pride in order to answer yes, cause that was the only thing I could say.
"Um... Sure." I mumbled insecurely.
"I don't get how you can just change your mind like that." I said geniuenly. Kakashi was silent for a moment as he examined my scars.
"If I can't change when needed to, then how can I expect others to?" he answered. I chewed a bit on that one before answering while I turned around to bare my back to him.
"I've always believed that the individual selects and acts freely and is therefore solely responsible for the shape of its existence. But I'm slowly realizing that your friends also play a major role in the form of your existence." Kakashi didn't reply on that one but I felt him move closer, fixated looking at my scarred back.
I bit my lip, getting the feeling that the simple gaze of his eyes touched the surface of my skin and I suppressed the rising feeling of chills that rose under my skin. By every little inch he moved closer I was sure that I could feel the heat of his body getting more and more intense as he neared by the smallest inch. What was up with me anyway? Why was I so madly vulnerable to normal physical contact (which, right now, wasn't even physical). Just the thought of his eyes on my back was just as 'good' as physical contact for me. Jeez.
In a sudden surreal moment I felt the light touch of two of his fingers on my skin. I bit my lip harder, resisting the urge to react to the touch and trying to hide the chills that had already spread on my arms. Due to my good acting skills I presumed that Kakashi noticed that I was unaffected by his touch. The touch became heavier as his two fingers rummaged skilled over my skin feeling every weakness of the scars. I took myself in enjoying the touch on my fresh skin, closing my eyes while falling into the trace of his fingers. It was like everything around us disappeared only leaving the feeling of the touch to be felt. I don't think that I'd ever in my life felt such a pleasant feeling before. The chills kept growing as his fingers moved upwards toward my neck where I was most sensitive. I felt him stop hesitantly by the pearl in my neck and quickly grew annoyed that he stopped his movements.
"Do you mind if I take a look at—" I think I answered his question a bit too fast and a bit too eager, but it just spilled out of me.
"No, go ahead, just don't touch the pearl." I answered and closed my eyes with a sigh.
"Oh." He sounded a bit surprised but I couldn't do anything but to shrug it off.
I felt as if the feeling was doubled around the pearl, that area being extremely sensitive. He took a grip of my shoulder as he moved his face closer to peep at the pearl while his other hand searched the skin around the pearl. He began tracing around it and again I had to suppress kind of spasm that ran through my neck which only made me bare my neck some more. I wanted to bad to lay down and relax so I could enjoy the feeling. I felt my mind cloud and I didn't care whether or not if I was enjoying this. Round and round and round the pearl he kept tracing and I felt as if I was in a trance.
"If I'm not mistaking you're enjoying this." His voice was dangerously close to my ear and that was just about enough for me to realize the situation.
I snatched away, ashamed that I had been enjoying it so obviously. Turning around quickly while I cleared my throat, trying to look as cool as I possibly could, I snapped at him;
"Are you finished?" I glanced sourly over at him and crossed my arms stubbornly.
He looked at me, a bit amused, his hand still lingering there where my back had been. I narrowed my eyes a bit more before turning a shrugged him off, trying to avoid his eyes.
"Why are you always hiding your face anyway?" I asked bluntly.
"Why do you care?" It was the same answer I always got smacked right back in my face, and as usual I had no good answer.
Kakashi, suited himself up against the stones and seemed to relax a bit more into the water. I mumbled something incoherent as I leaned more into the water, irritated and mad at myself. Almost all of my pride was gone with that back-rubbing!
After a few more moments in silence, I think Kakashi's patience had reached its end. The well trained ninja rummaged a bit in the water before he straightened himself some more.
"Well, we better get going. We have a few things to catch up on." He said and stood up, water drops hugging his skin in small streams down his upper body.
I only glimpsed at him, knowing what could happen if I looked for too long… Not that I would ever do that…
"Okay, I'll see you outside then." I said with a sigh and glanced to his eyes briefly. He didn't reply, but momentarily looked like he was about to do so, before he turned around and walked silent out of the water.
Not before I was sure that he had gone inside the bathouse, I choose to get up. I put on my smelly clothes with disgust; unbeleiveable that my clothes had become that smelly. And being clean at the same time only made me more reluctant to take it on again. My hair was now smooth and clean again as I walked outside and I enjoyed the feeling of the wind playing with it. As my body was more relaxed now I could also feel how weak it was and I suddenly realized how blood was rushing to my head due to the sudden cold wind that hit me, compared to the hotness of the bathhouse. Blackspots formed before my eyes, and I felt a bit wobbly and desperately began to search for a railing of wall that could support me.
"Easy." It was Kakashi's voice. He grabbed my upper arm and supported me once again. I fought the urge to snap my arm away as my stomach suddenly let out a long awkward growl. The silence after was a killer. I blushed a bit of the awkwardness, I was pretty much busted.
"Um, judging from your loss in weigh and that long awkward growl I suppose that you are hungry." Kakashi said, and I could hear how he was suppressing some joy in his voice.
"I guess." I muttered and my mouth turn up in a crooked smile.
A delicious smell reached my nose from the street. Having walked more into the center of the town I knew where that scent came from. The small wooden stan, nicely placed in the middle of the street made my mouth water.
"It's cheap and good, even Naruto is a loyal costumer here" Kakashi dodged his head as he pushed aside that paper pieces that hang down from the ceiling… Not that Naruto's food standards were very high I thought.
I pepped inside and was almost blown away by the delicious scent of ramen and beef. I could seriously feel how hungry I was now. The sound of the street was a bit lower inside the stan and I could hear the calm sound of boiling water, the puzzling around and the slurping from another costumer who was enjoying a bowl of ramen.
"You should see yourself right now." Kakashi said, already having taken a seat and gladly watched my amused face.
In one stride I sat in one of the tall chairs, picked up menu and scanned hungrily. Sweet homemade ramen; o' how I would give anything to have my own money so I could buy a bunch of bowl to slurp down.
"Toshi?" I looked up from the menu, searching for the source that had interrupted my precious thoughts. Kakashi looked expectantly at me.
"What? Eh, oh!" My eyes flickered to the menu when I realized that he had asked me what I wanted.
"I'll just take the…" oh man, this was hard. I wanted one with a lot of ramen, and with a lot of meat and vegetables. But it would be rude to order something expensive. No one had ever treated me food before, so what was I supposed to do. I gulped, suddenly struggling with my thoughts and decided to order the cheapest bowl of ramen with some reluctance.
"That one." I pointed to the ramen that was at the top of the menu card, which was ramen with nothing but some chicken taste.
The man behind the counter glanced over at Kakashi suspiciously, giving him a that's-not-how-you-treat-a-lady-look. He laughed nervously and rubbed his neck and quickly grabbed the menucard out of my hands as he looked apologizing to the old man.
"Always joking around Toshi—" he snickered nervously "I think she'll have this one." Kakashi pointed to the Ghetto Yee Min ramen which was one of the most expensive ones. It was with delicious Bok choy and Chinese brokoli, oyster sauce, beef and I could keep going!
As I grew more and more impatient by watching the man rummage around behind the counter, I felt a headache beginning to emerge. I was so hungry that I felt sick, and it wasn't like the scent of ramen helped much. I began to fidget impatiently with my fingers wanting to start hurrying at the old man, but manage to keep my mouth shut because of Kakashi beside me, who by the way was sitting as if he had no worry in the world.
At last when I was handed a bowl of ramen, I began to stuff myself with the tasty noodles. I slurped it in me rudely as if it was my last paid meal, which it very likely could be.
"Aren't you going to eat that?" I asked, my mouth half stuffed as I pointed to the bowl of ramen beside Kakashi.
"No, I bought it for you." He answered with a smile. I stopped chewing, looking genuinely grateful for the deed or whatever you could call it.
"Oh… Thanks." I answered and blinked twice before I pulled the bowl over to the security of my side. After my third bowl, Kakashi cleared his throat and got halfway up from his seat.
"We have some unfinished business with the hokage… We better get going." I drank the last si of soup from the bowl as I looked at his serious face. This wasn't going to be good at all.
"Oh, okay. Well thanks for the meal. Might be my last one." I said.
The story will soon be updated. Please leave a comment ;) Thanks