Kakashi glared coldly and said, "I could ask you the same thing."
Ling said sweetly, "here to see my girlfriend."
The flash of Ling with a gun flitted in my mind, then Karin with a machine gun. I stood and barked, "Duck!"
Grabbing the handle of the pot of hot food I threw it like a boomerang. Kakashi hit the ground and it hit Ling right in the face. He screamed as the food burned and I yelled, "Close the door!"
Kakashi kicked it closed and I screamed at everyone, "Get down!"
I hit the ground as everyone dove for cover and all hell broke loose when bullets began to ring around us. I heard Naruko screaming and I army crawled towards Kakashi who was covering his head by the door. Reaching him, I grabbing his ankle and drug him back the best I could until we got out of line of fire and he drug me behind the couch.
Then the bullets stopped and I heard Karin yell, "PAY BACKS A BITCH! ARIANA! YOU DIE HERE! AND YOUR PATHETIC FRIENDS!"
I felt a vein pop on my forehead and I shoved Kakashi off and rolled out from behind the couch and stood by the door as it opened. I grabbed my wooden bat I always had there and listened carefully. I waited as Karin and Ling stood side by side, both pointing their guns at my friends.
Karin snapped, "Where the hell is she!"
I shoved as hard as I could and the door slammed into her and she slammed into Ling. She screamed and tried to swing her gun around when she saw me. But I wasn't about to let her get a shot off. Swinging my bat down swiftly I slammed it into her arm and it snapped.
She dropped the gun with a painful scream and I shoved my fist, still holding the bat, into her nose. She fell back with a whimper and Ling roared, coming at me with blind fury. I raised the bat and swung hard. Like hitting a home run I cracked it across his chin, hearing a snap and he slammed into the wall. He whimpered and said something like, "Ybuoo bigghtt."
I leveled my bat like a sword at him, about to get my phone out and call the cops. Karin lunged to her feet with a yell and ran at me. She didn't get far before Kakashi appeared at my side and kicked her down. I gave a disgusted snort, flicked out my cell and called the police. I felt sickened that they had almost killed everyone to get to me.
Itachi and Kakashi restrained Ling and Karin and Naruko put a hand on my shoulder as the police arrive. Kakashi yelled furiously at them for letting this get so bad and they apologized for this and for loosing Ling in the first place. I shook off Naruko's hand once I was sure the police were gone and stepped out. Kakashi asked, worried, "Ariana?"
I ignored him as I used the bat like a cane and went outside. Thunder rolled across the sky and threatened rain. I went up to the dumpster nearby and stood glaring like it was the cause for all this. I heard someone behind me and glanced back at Kakashi.
I looked back at the dumpster and said coldly, "I should be fired. Causing so much trouble over something so stupid."
I hit the dumpster half heatedly with my bat. A voice not Kakashi's said, "Why? This isn't your fault."
I glared back at Itachi and said angrily, "Because of my bad choices, everyone is in danger."
I hit the dumpster harder. A drop of rain hit my cheek and I said, "Because of my freakin bad luck, I'm a cripple who can't protect anyone! I can't even protect myself!"
I swung and I thought I heard the bat crack, "They could have killed all of us!"
I swung the bat as hard as I could and my bat shattered. I tossed the handle into the dumpster and spun on Itachi, "I'm useless! Why keep me around?"
It was pouring now, mingling with my tears. I was shaking, but not from the cold. To me, this was all my fault. Itachi moved up to me and I yelled, "Why dammit? Why now?"
He gently put his hands on my shoulders and said softly, "None of this is your fault. You can't have everything on your shoulders."
I looked up at him fearcly and he pulled me into a hug, "Ariana, no one blames you. None of us could do anything to prevent any of this."
I felt myself sag and I hugged him back. I whispered, "But you'll leave again. You'll get sick of looking after someone like me. You and Sasuke. Naruto and Naruko. Kakashi and Iruka. Everyone. I'll be all alone again."
He pulled away to look me in the face, "Is that what this is all about?" I looked away stubbornly and said, "Maybe. I'm just, I."
I hesitated and he asked, "what?"
I whispered, "Maybe, I feel a tini tiny bit useless."
I looked down in shame and he shook his head, "Ariana, you're an idiot."
I looked up at him angrily, "Am not!"
He looked at me with a bit of a glare and said sternly, "You beat the crap out of those two as a cripple! You saved us all Ariana with that advanced warning. So your not useless."
I snorted and he looked up at the sky as if asking for patience. He shook his head making water flick at my face, "Don't argue with your boss. Now come on, before we both catch a cold."
I smirked, feeling better, "Fools can't catch cold."
he growled and Kakashi came from from where he waited at the bottom of the stairs and scooped me up, "Come now! Time to eat and talk about your idiocy!"
I gasped and pinched his cheek, "I am not an idiot!"
He growled, "Ow." he tried to hold me with one arm and use the other to stop my torture of his face. I just moved to his ear. When I glanced at Itachi, he was looking very amused. And looked even more amused when I wrinkled my nose at him.
We came to the apartment as I tried to pull out Kakashi's hair next and he was saved when I was taken by Naruko to be dried off and dressed again. She hugged me and whispered when I was dressed, "Glad your ok."
I smiled softly and when we went out I saw Naruto shake his head at the door and the damage the bullets had made. Itachi said, "I'll have someone clean this up tomorrow."
Sasuke dialed for pizza and I grimaced as Iruka asked me, "How did you know they were there Ariana?"
Kakashi looked at me and I know he was thinking the same thing. Glancing at Itachi, his face showed nothing but he was worried. Taking a deep breath I shrugged and told them about the visions. Iruka's jaw dropped and Kakashi stared. I felt my cheeks turn bright red and then Kakashi exclaimed, "That's how!"
I jumped, nearly toppling over when my crutch slipped. He laughed and Iruka grinned, "We thought you were a spy or something. How you knew things that would happen before they did."
I laughed, more in relief then anything and Itachi relaxed. The Pizza arrived and the delivery boy's jaw dropped. I said comically as Kakashi paid, "I just decided that I hated everything!"
Kakashi winked at the boy, "Girls got vision."
I snorted at his wording, causing him to smirk. The boy ran as fast as he could. Kakashi chuckled and we sat anywhere that we could. The table was shot to bits and some chairs were not very stable. But the couch and table was untouched. After pizza I grinned at Naruto and Sasuke, who tried to hide their smiles. Everyone left and Iruka decided he had to clean up at least the kitchen and Kakashi had to flirt. I sat on the couch, wondering what I did to earn such good friends.
Leaning back I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt two forms sit on either side of me and Iruka asked, "Are you ok Ariana?"
I said dully, "I just had a break down, ruined my bat and I ache. I'm just peachy."
I opened my eyes and leaned over to rest my head on Iruka's shoulder, "And I freaked out in front of Itachi too." Iruka hugged me and Kakashi said, "It's a good thing, he got to see your sensitive side."
I moved and put my legs on his lap and Iruka glared at Kakashi as I grumbled, "Thanks, I feel so much better."
Iruka said, ignoring Kakashi now, "Ariana, if your childhood friends, then this isn't the first time you've yelled at him or cried in front of him. Right?"
I thought about it and nodded, "Yeah."
Iruka smiled at me and said, "It shouldn't be that big of a deal then, and you need some sleep. I have to teach school and Kakashi has to go over things with Itachi tomorrow. Will you be ok?"
I nodded, feeling better and trying not to grin that my plan would work out great, "Fine. Thanks Iruka."
He smiled and Kakashi said, "So bedtime. You'll need your strength tomorrow to do nothing."
I sighed and stood, "You just want to snuggle with Iruka right?"
He grinned and I shook my head, smile on my face and went to bed. Sighing in relief when I lied down, it took a bit for my body to stop aching enough to sleep. But when it did, I passed out completely.
