The Harem Jutsu

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto series.

Chapter 7: Where's Mizuki?

...

He knew it. He found her standing in front of the memorial stone he showed her last night. He slowly walked towards her, until he was about two metres behind her. Mizuki didn't look behind her.

"Rin-chan, too," she said. She looked at Rin's name carved in the stone. Kakashi took a few more steps and laid his hand on her shoulder. It scared Mizuki: she quickly turned around and took a step back when she saw Kakashi was right in front of her. Kakashi was a little surprised by that.

"It's ok," he said. "It's just me." Mizuki didn't say anything. Kakashi felt sorry for the fact that she didn't trust him. "Let's go back," he said. "You're not supposed to be outside in the first place—"

"I'm fine," Mizuki said. She just didn't want to go back to Kakashi's apartment. She didn't feel comfortable there.

It was like Kakashi could read her mind. "Then let's go find some shelter over there," he said.

They sat underneath a big tree when it started to rain more and more. They could still see the memorial stone. They stared at it for a long time.

Mizuki was shaking. She was completely wet. Kakashi looked at her. He took off his vest. When Mizuki saw that, she nervously asked: "W-what are you doing?" Kakashi took off his sweater. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath it. His mask was apparently attached to this shirt.

"Ka… Kakashi?" Mizuki asked with a nervous smile.

Kakashi gave his sweater to Mizuki. "Take this," he said friendly. "You'll catch a cold."

Mizuki looked at him like she didn't understand. Slowly and carefully, she took the sweater. She kept watching him as she wrapped it around her. She immediately felt a lot warmer. "Thank you," she said. "But what about—"

"I'm fine," Kakashi said, smiling underneath his mask. "Don't get sick again, OK?"

Mizuki blushed and smiled a little. This was new for her. Until now, she had lived a lonely and miserable life. Kakashi had just met her after 15 years. She was mad at him, and still he was so kind to her.

Kindness. Friendliness. She hadn't experienced those things for a very long time. Why was he so kind to her? She didn't deserve it.

Kakashi's voice woke Mizuki from her thoughts.

"Remember what you used to call me?" Kakashi asked. Mizuki remembered indeed.

"Kakashi… niichan," she said. Kakashi laughed. "You really did think of me as your big brother," he said. "That's what your father always told me. And to be honest, being a big brother felt great," he added with another smile underneath his mask.

Mizuki smiled too. Kakashi was probably telling her this to comfort her; to tell her she didn't have to be scared of him.

"I've missed those times," she said. "They're the only good memories I have."

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something else. But before she had the chance to ask Kakashi something, he said: "I'm sorry that things turned out so awful for you."

"It's not your fault," Mizuki answered, "even though I thought it was. I should be the one apologizing to you." Kakashi shook his head. "They lied to both of us," he said.

They were quiet for a while. They were both staring at the memorial stone again.

Mizuki hesitated. Should she ask him or not? Did she even want to know the answer?

"Can… can I ask you something?" she asked before she knew it. Now she couldn't go back.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked, looking at her again. She didn't look back at him.

"I just remembered… well…" she tried, but she couldn't help but feel like she didn't want to know the answer.

"What?" Kakashi asked, but he thought he already knew what she was going to ask. She just needed to finish the question, he decided. She had to want to know, before he could tell her.

"Well…" Mizuki tried again. "My… my mother… I remember her… being pregnant."

He knew it. He kept quiet for a few seconds before he said: "Yes. She was."

Now Mizuki looked at him again. "Then… what about…" she asked. She didn't finish the question.

Kakashi was actually hoping she would ask that question later. He had to figure out how to tell Naruto, too.

The rain had stopped. Kakashi stood up.

"Kakashi?" Mizuki asked, still waiting for an answer.

"I hate to say this, but…" Kakashi started. Mizuki got a bad feeling. Then Kakashi finished his sentence: "I owe you the answer to that one."

"What?!" Mizuki asked. Kakashi turned around and started to walk away. Mizuki stood up, wondering why he didn't just tell her.

"Why?!" she yelled. Kakashi didn't answer and just kept walking. She went after him. "Kakashi!" He still didn't answer. Mizuki stopped.

"If the baby is dead, just say so!" she yelled. Kakashi stopped and turned around. Mizuki took his sweater off her shoulders, walked towards Kakashi and gave it back to him. "It's dead, isn't it?" she asked calmly.

"It's a long story," Kakashi said. "There's something I need to do first."

"But…"

"Did you find a place to live in here?" he asked.

Mizuki couldn't believe it. Why was he acting like this, all of a sudden?

"Why are you changing the subject?" she asked.

"Did you?" Kakashi repeated.

It was no use. Mizuki gave up. "I'm staying at a hotel," she said. "Until I find an apartment."

"So you're staying here?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes," Mizuki said. "This is the only place I've ever felt safe."

Kakashi was glad Mizuki was going to stay here. He had lost everyone from his past, and got one of them back.

"Then I suggest you go to the Hokage," he said. Mizuki nodded.

"Well then, I'm off," Kakashi said. "See you later."

"But what about—"

POOF!

Kakashi had already disappeared, and left Mizuki with that one question: was her brother or sister dead or not? And why wouldn't he just tell her?

...

You can't really blame Kakashi. He's just doing what he thinks is best. In this case: make Naruto and Mizuki meet again. All about it in the next chapter!

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