"Taiki-sensei, I'm going for a walk." I said grabbing my pack before walking away.

"Be back before nightfall eh!" Taiki said the food in his mouth spewing everywhere. Ayumu wiped off a piece of food that had gotten on him. He stood up and strolled next to me.

"I'll come." He said "I can't stand to watch Taiki-sensei eat anymore." I frowned but I let him come anyway. We were almost out the door when we heard a shriek. I glanced back at the table Taiki and Kichiro were at. Kichiro was screaming and flailing around. Taiki smiled and shoved his chopsticks into something. Kichiro ran over to us still screaming. He jumped into Ayumu's arms. I gigged at the action. Ayumu dropped the boy and slapped a hand over his mouth to stop him from screaming more.

"Shut up!" Ayumu hissed. Kichiro looked up with tears in his eyes. I grabbed Ayumus hand off of Kichiros mouth so he could talk. I dragged the boys outside of the restaurant before asking what happened.

"I-it was alive!" Kichiro wailed grabbing onto Ayumu. Ayumu's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. I was defiantly going to ask him about that later.

"What was alive?" I questioned. Kichiro pulled his face from Ayumus shoulder and said "Taiki-senseis food!"

I gagged. I could imagine it; a grey lump on a plate struggling to move away. Taiki stabbing his chopsticks into it and shoving it into his mouth, chewing happily.

Ayumu mumbled something and ripped Kichiro off of him before setting off. I turned to Kichiro with a questioning glance.

"He said he was going somewhere and not to bother him." He said with a shrug. I grinned evilly and grabbed Kichiros scarf.

"Well we just have to follow him now don't we?" I asked with a laugh. I pulled Kichiro behind me as I set of in the direction of Ayumu.

"Uh, Nami-chan. I don't think we should be-"

"SHH!" I hushed Kichiro. We were on one of the roof tops of the building watching Ayumu. Now I guess that not very smart considering this building could collapse at any moment.

Ayumu was walking down the street muttering something to himself. I was too far away to heard him. "Let's move closer." I said.

I jumped from the building with Kichiro close behind. I hid behind a food stall and watched. Ayumu glanced around and headed off into an alley. I ran to the entrance of the ally and motioned to Kichiro to follow. Ayumu stopped in the middle of the alley and spoke. "I know you're following me."

Kichiro gasped and was about to reveal himself to Ayumu but I stopped him. Kichiro gave me a questioning glance but stayed where he was.

A small girl who could only be about five walked out from the shadows. She looked like everyone else in the village; dirty and starving. Ayumu turned to her and gave her a hard look. "Why were you following me?" He asked.

The girl fiddled with her sleeve not answering. Ayumu took a step towards her and she stepped back.

"Are you a ninja?" She asked her voice small. Ayumu froze, his eyes widening. "You're here to save me from the monster right?" Ayumu relaxed and swatted next to the girl.

"Yeah, don't worry. I'd protect you." He said putting his hand on her head. She frowned and shook his hand off.

"He's big and scary and he killed everyone!" She exclaimed.

Kichiro and I froze. 'Wait what? It killed someone? That's not a c-rank! What's going on?" Kichiro ran forward into the alley with me on his heels. Ayumu jumped slightly when we arrived.

"What do you mean it killed everyone!" I yelled. The girl shrunk at my voice.

"Um well, I'm the only one left." She murmured.

"The only one left but there are a bunch of people here." Ayumu said.

"I'm the only kid." She frowned. My eyes widened. That's why I couldn't see any children when we first arrived. suddenly I remembered the doll. I set my bag on the ground in front of me the little girl jumping at the sound. I pulled the doll from my backpack and handed it to her.

"I guess this is yours then. Sorry I kind of cracked it." a smile broke out on the girls face. She hugged the doll to her chest and thanked me over and over again.

"Can you tell us more about this monster?" Kichiro asked. The girls smile instantly vanished.

"The monster is black with a red face and he's really fast! One minute he's far away then the next he's right in front of you!" Tears flowed down her face. "He told me I was useless anyway so there was no need for me to die." I hugged the small girl and let her cry in my arms. The alley sudden turned dark and the girl froze.

"It's the monster!" she whispered. She broke free from my hold and ran off. Kichiro and Ayumu both grabbed a kunai and jumped in front of me. I formed the proper hand seal and water flew out turning into a spear. We all starred at the entrance of the alley waiting for the monster.

"Hey guys it's time to- WHOA HEY HEY PUT THOSE DOWN!" Taiki yelled and hid behind a dumpster. I sighed and my water flew back to my canister. Kichiro and Ayumu dropped their weapons.

"Taiki-sensei! Don't do that!" Ayumu shouted.

"Y-yeah! You scared us." Kichiro frowned. Taiki emerged from his hiding place with a sheepish look.

"Eh, sorry 'bout that." Taiki said rubbing his neck. "It was getting dark so I came to get you."

I walked over to Taiki and stood in front of him with my hands on my hips.

"Sensei what happened here?" I said. Taiki frowned.

"It's classi-"

"I don't care. Something happened here. A little girl just told us a monster killed every child!" Ayumu yelled.

Taiki sighed and sat on the ground. "Killed everyone huh? It's worse than I thought."

"What's worse?" I asked.

"This town has many secrets. Secrets only jounin and up should know but I guess I brought this upon you. I didn't know the animals here got this bad."

"Animals? The little girl said it was a monster with a red face." Kichiro muttered. Taikis head snapped up.

"What? No, it's just a pack of ninja wolfs gone rouge." Taiki looked at us in confusion.

"Do ninja wolves have red faces?" Ayumu asked.

"No."

"Then what killed all the children?" Kichiro asked his voice shaking in fear.

"I don't know."

A/N: Ahaha cliff hanger! I got this chapter up finally. What do you guys think of Kichiro and Ayumu? Is something going on? Who knows!
Again the poll is still up so please vote and don't forget to rate and review!
-Irishcream-cupcakes