Disclaimer: Refer to chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 10: I care about you
Zeni's POV
"Zeni!"
"Zeni!"
I ignored the voices that were calling me. They sounded as though they belonged to Sakura and Naruto. I would've called out, but with the mood I was in, I didn't want anything to do with them.
I tried to lie back on the branch I was on. It wasn't the most comfortable spot to hide in, but hey. At least nobody would see me from up here. And that's what I wanted: people to give me my time and space now.
"Zeni?! Come on, Zeni-chan! Kakashi wants to see you! It sounds as though it's something really important!" I heard Naruto yell.
"Well, too bad," I whispered through gritted teeth.
"Please, Zeni!" Sakura said desperately. "We know you're there! This isn't a joke! Kakashi-sensei really needs to see you!"
I heard a rustle of leaves behind me. "Leave me alone," I yelled.
Naruto popped out of the trees, with Sakura trailing behind him. "But, Zeni-chan…"
"I mean it, Naruto!" I growled. My eyes flashed towards his direction. "I am not in the mood right now!"
"But, Zeni," Sakura tried to reason. "Kakashi-sensei said that we needed to find you quickly, so it must be important."
"If he really wants to see me, tell him to come get me," I said quietly. "If it's really that much of an emergency, then he should be able to come get me without hesitation, right?"
Naruto and Sakura looked at each other with a slight unease. "Fine," Naruto said. "Sakura-chan, could you get-"
Sakura nodded. "I'm on it." She left.
Naruto sat down and put his arm around me. "Zeni-chan, why aren't you happy?" he asked innocently.
I brought my knees close to my body and hugged them tight. "You wouldn't understand," I said just above a whisper.
"Sure I would," he said sweetly.
I turned my head and looked at him. He smiled back. I shook my head. "Naruto-kun, I don't feel like explaining it right now."
Naruto looked into my eyes. "Your eyes aren't smiling."
"Huh?"
"Your eyes aren't smiling," he repeated. He looked up above the tree tops and to the stars. "My eyes were like that too until a little while ago. Are you sure you don't want to tell me what's wrong?"
I nodded, afraid that if I'd start talking, I'd cry.
"Is it okay if I hold you Zeni-chan? Would that make you feel better?"
I nodded.
Naruto wrapped both of his arms around me and held me close. "Zeni-chan, I just want you to know, I care about you."
I buried my face into his orange coat and began to sob quietly. "N-Naruto-kun…" That's exactly what I wanted to know, was if somebody cared about me that was still alive. "It hurts."
Naruto rubbed my back, without saying a word. But, for some reason, I could tell that he knew what I was going through, even though I didn't tell him anything.
"Naruto, I'd like to talk to Zeni alone," I heard Kakashi say.
It didn't surprise me that Kakashi had shown up without making any noise. I gently pushed Naruto away.
"Are you going to be okay?" Naruto asked.
I nodded.
Naruto left and left me alone with Kakashi.
Sasuke's POV
Itachi…how does she know about Itachi? How did she know about how I wanted revenge?
Questions clawed at me, impatiently wanting an answer.
Something was strange about this new girl, and I was going to get to the bottom of this.
I leaned against a tree to rest. I had been running as far away as I could from my sensei. He always butts in on things. Why can't he just leave people alone?!
Maybe, I was a little too harsh on Zeni, but the past was in the past. Plus, she was asking for it. She knows something that I don't, and I want to know what.
I slumped against the tree and slid to my knees. Great, I probably scared her off for good, now she'll never talk to me about Itachi and what that little statement was all about.
I heard voices up above me. It was Naruto's. I heard a sob. What was going on? But, I didn't bother to look. What would the benefit of that be, anyway?
"Zeni-chan, I just want you to know, I care about you."
For some reason, my blood began to boil. What was that? Was Naruto in love with Zeni now? How could he give up on Sakura, just like that? It seemed that only yesterday he was drooling all over her. Wait- that was yesterday.
Why am I feeling this way? Why do I feel angry? Maybe, I'm coming down with something.
Next, I heard Kakashi's voice: "Naruto, I'd like to talk to Zeni alone."
I sighed. There he went again, butting into people's business. I know that it was supposed to be a 'private' conversation, but I didn't move. Maybe, this would allow me to know about Zeni's past and how she knows about Itachi and I.
Zeni's POV
"Zeni, I received a note from Hokage-sama a few minutes ago," Kakashi said slowly. "Your mother is dead."
I bit my lip, trying to stifle a sob.
"But, you already knew of this, didn't you?"
I nodded.
"Do you know who could've done this?"
I shook my head, though I knew who it was.
Kakashi gave me a look of uncertainty. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I-I didn't w-want anyone to w-worry," I choked.
"Do you still want to go on with the mission?"
"That's what Mom would've wanted," I lied.
"I'll write back to Hokage-sama then, telling him to preserve your mother's body for burial until you come back," he said gently. "Would that be alright?"
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I nodded.
"Is this all you want to tell me?"
I looked up at him.
"I know you aren't telling me the whole truth. But, if you still not want to confide to me about your mother's killer, you do know that many more people will die if he runs loose?"
I bit my tongue. No, he was wrong. As long as Itachi was kept as a secret from everybody, I should be fine, and so should everyone else around me. But, I nodded.
Kakashi stood up. "I'm going back to camp. Come back when you are ready."
I nodded again.
Kakashi left.
Sasuke's POV
Zeni's mom was murdered? I thought. Finally, it was starting to make since, even though there were still quite a few shady spots.
I stood up. I was going to confront her about this.
Reviewer Responses:
krn-kimbap: I'm really leaning towards pairing Naruto up with Sakura, though it will be hard for me to. By the way, I updated on Life!
Sara: Thanks!
Monkey Shoes: Thanks!
swt-angel-babi3: Thanks! And about the OOCness, I'm really sorry about that...oh well.
poyo poyo im cheez: Um...thanks!
xl-black-tears-lx: Thanks!
Demoneyes 14: Thanks!
saki-kun: Thanks! And thank you for telling me about the pairings you want! I'll definetly take them into consideration!
Rythmic: Thanks! Yeah...last chapter was really short.
Tis Irukapooka again! Ok, before anybody freaks out, this is still going to be a SasuxOC story, ok?
Sasuke: Then what the heck was that all about with Naruto and Zeni?!
Aw, he just cares about her. Don't worry though, they're only like best buds.
Sasuke: Oh! Ok!
Zeni: She also updated on Life yesterday, so stop by and check that out.
Yondaime: I'm a-
/clasps hand over Yondaime's mouth/ Sh! If they wanna know, they can read it themselves! Plus, what are you doing in this fic anyway?
Yondaime: /shrugs/
Zeni: Remember, the more reviews she gets, the faster she'll update!
Sasuke: She'll update next year.
All together: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Ja ne!