Amaya Uzumaki POV
I couldn't tell how long I hugged Shisui, just holding him until all the sadness and pain I was feeling finally came out.
He asked me to lie down next to him, so I did. He only started to calm down and pull himself together when exhaustion began to take over.
Shisui kept his eyes closed and stayed like that. His breathing gradually evened out. I watched him for a while as he held my hand.
So this is why Akemi asked me to look after him, I thought. Even though Shisui has a strong mind, even he can reach a breaking point...
When I noticed his breathing getting slower and heavier, I carefully slipped my hand out of his. I should let him sleep now, I figured. I need to get back home too; I never did tell Kakashi where I was going earlier.
I sat on the edge of Shisui's bed and watched him for a moment. I wish I could help you more, nii-san... I admitted silently, running my hand through his hair.
Since I didn't want to leave Shisui's house unlocked, I used his bedroom window to leave. Even though his room was on the second floor, I could use the tree right next to it to climb down easily.
I carefully closed the window behind me, leaving it just slightly open. I climbed down the tree skillfully and landed on the ground without a problem. There weren't many people on the street anymore, which meant it was probably pretty late.
I took a few shortcuts I knew through the village to get back to the Hatake compound faster.
And that's when it came back to me.
Those eyes... I'm sure I've seen them before, but... Where? And also, what are they?
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When I got to the Hatake house, I saw only a faint light in the living room. I stopped in front of the door and opened it quietly. I was about to speak, to announce I was home, but I stopped immediately.
Looking at the sofa in the room, I saw Kakashi there. He was curled up in his blanket, already asleep. Did he wait up for me? I wondered with a weak smile. You've surprised me in a way I never expected...
I left my shoes at the entrance, next to his, and went over to him. He was sleeping peacefully.
I need to get him to his room, I thought. He can't spend the night on the sofa, or he'll wake up in a bad mood tomorrow. But I don't think I can carry him by myself, at least not without waking him up. I paused for a moment. Maybe I can use one of the jutsus I've been practicing...
I usually train with weapons and taijutsu in the Hatake dojo, but for ninjutsu I go to the open fields, since I'm not sure how much damage I might cause. I'm still not great at everything they taught me in the lab.
One of the techniques I managed to master not long ago was the Shadow Clone jutsu. It's a jutsu with the same origin as the basic Clone Technique, but unlike the one taught at the Academy, these clones have physical form, so they can attack and defend.
And unlike normal clones, they require much more precise control and a considerable amount of chakra to perform. That's probably one reason they don't teach this technique at the Academy.
Because of my Uzumaki and Uchiha heritage, I have a huge chakra reserve at my disposal. I'd looked into it after being surprised by how long it took me to even get close to running out of chakra.
I formed the hand seal to create two clones, and they appeared beside me. I looked at my clones, and we all gave a weak nod at the same time. Carefully, they picked Kakashi up and lifted him from the sofa, carrying him to his room.
I turned off the living room light and headed for the room I share with the boy. When I got to the door, I dispelled my clones and grabbed my pajamas. After changing, I went back into the room and, before trying to sleep, looked at Kakashi sleeping peacefully. You look less grumpy like this... I noted silently and gave a quiet laugh.
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I could hear a voice in my mind, but the words were jumbled, like something was blocking me from hearing them clearly.
"Don't let them..."
"If they manage..."
"Stop them at all costs..."
Then, several scenes flashed quickly before my eyes. I saw myself fighting that boy with hair like Inoichi's, and when he gave me his memories.
Right after that, I was back in the lab, fighting another child again.
No, I thought, I don't want to remember, I know what happens here...!
But unlike other dreams, it didn't just jump to me killing that child.
It seemed like we were... talking? I said something to that child while we fought, and she stopped. I did the same and gave a weak nod.
What were we talking about? I wondered. Why can't I hear it or remember it properly? What happened?
The child in front of me gripped the dagger in her hands and turned it on herself, stabbing herself with it. In that same moment, I rushed towards her, knocking her down.
I held a kunai, and when I looked at her, I saw her eyes clearly: Red like the blood flowing from her self-inflicted wound.
This child's eyes... I realized, stunned. They're just like Shisui's!
The child with those crimson eyes seemed to be screaming at me, and a second later, in a quick movement, I slashed at her eyes, tearing them out without hesitation.
Kakashi Hatake POV
I woke up feeling the sun on my face. Damn... I complained, feeling lethargic. I left the bedroom curtain open again, that's why the sun's in my face... I stopped my train of thought and quickly opened my eyes, sitting up where I was.
I glanced around briefly, confirming I was really in my room. Wait a second... Yesterday I was waiting for Amaya in the living room. How did I end up here?
I saw Amaya's bed was made, as usual. I got up without delay and went to the living room. She's not here either, I confirmed, scanning the room. When I looked towards the kitchen, I saw the door leading to the back of the house was half-open.
I went over there and, upon opening the sliding door, saw Amaya sitting on the edge of the veranda, looking into the distance. I stopped beside her, but it seemed like she hadn't noticed I was there. Her expression was clearly empty and distant.
– Hey... – I said in a low tone, calling her, and crouched down next to her.
I touched her shoulder lightly, and only then did she look at me. The Uzumaki stared at me for a moment, visibly confused.
– Are you okay? – I asked, even though it seemed like something wasn't right with her.
– Yeah – The redhead gave a weak laugh – Sorry, I was just thinking too much... – She lowered her eyes for a moment – And sorry about yesterday. I ran off without explaining, and you still waited up for me until you fell asleep.
– Of course I was going to wait, I was...! – I stopped before finishing my sentence.
Wait, was I about to say I was worried about her? I thought for a moment. No... No way.
– You were...? – She prompted me to continue my sentence, and I glared at her.
– Well, I couldn't lock the house, or you'd be stuck outside, and if you caught a cold because of that, I'd be the one stuck listening to you complain – I deflected, and she gave a weak laugh.
– Don't worry, it's pretty much impossible for me to catch a cold anyway.
– I'm not worried – I said quickly – I just don't want to hear you complaining...
– Sure.
– And speaking of which, you... – I started to speak but wasn't sure how to ask – Well, was it you who...
– Carried you back to your room? – She voiced my question, and I glared at her, nodding – Yes.
No way, I denied to myself. I might not be that heavy, but she couldn't have carried me by herself, at least not without waking me up in the process.
– No way... – I said – How did you do that? – The Uzumaki showed a subtle smile.
– Where's the fun in telling you? – Was all she said, standing up.
– Hey! Amaya-kun! – I could hear her laughing and choosing to ignore my question.
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Amaya had spent most of the day quieter than usual. I hadn't managed to ask where she went the other day, since some of our female classmates were chasing me.
I tried to escape to where the Uzumaki usually hung out, but she wasn't there during break, so my attempt to scare off our classmates just turned into a nightmare.
When I was heading back to the classroom, in one of the hallways before reaching the room, I heard the redhead's voice. Finally found her... I thought. However, when I went to approach her, I ended up stopping.
She was at the end of the hallway talking to a jounin I'd seen a few times with my father. I think his name is Inoichi... I pondered.
Amaya seemed to be explaining something to him, while he listened attentively. He said something to her briefly, and she nodded. The jounin's expression looked worried, while the redhead remained neutral.
He's part of the Analysis Team, I recalled, he's the team coordinator. Why would Amaya be talking to him? I interrupted my own train of thought for a moment, remembering the redhead's behavior this morning. Did she remember something important?
I ended up going back to the classroom before she or Inoichi saw me there, but the thoughts in my mind kept swirling. Does the fact she went out yesterday afternoon have something to do with this? Or am I just overthinking it?
Class had started again, and Amaya still hadn't returned to the room. It took about twenty minutes before she did, accompanied by Inoichi. The jounin spoke briefly with our sensei at the classroom door, and the Uzumaki returned to her seat.
Class continued as usual after that, and Amaya's behavior seemed normal again too. When school ended, I quickly got up from my seat and went over to where the redhead was.
– Kakashi-kun... – She said, visibly surprised by my sudden approach, and looked at me – Forget something?
Another thing was that, normally, Amaya and I didn't talk in class or leave the Academy together. She said it was better that way, so there was no risk of the other students finding out she was staying at my house.
– I need to talk to you – I informed her – So we're leaving together.
– But what we discussed... – I interrupted her.
– I don't care – I said without hesitation, leaving no room for denial – Let's go, alright?
– Baka... – The redhead quickly packed her things.
– Weirdo – She gave a weak laugh.
The moment we stepped foot outside the classroom and the other students saw Amaya next to me, the whispers started. Looks like these busybodies will have something to talk about for a good while... I thought.
– So... – The Uzumaki said as we walked out of the Academy – What did you want to talk to me about... Is it related to me coming back to class with Inoichi?
– Partly – I said – You remembered something important, didn't you? – She looked at me – That's why you were so out of it this morning and were talking to him, right? – The redhead gave a weak laugh.
– If I didn't know you, I'd say you're turning into my stalker.
– No, I'm not... It's just that... – I stumbled over my words, making her laugh more.
– Are you always this articulate? – She asked teasingly, and I glared at her, slightly annoyed.
– Shut up... – I muttered, and she laughed again.
– Yes, you're right – Her eyes turned forward – I think I remembered something important, and I decided to talk to Inoichi during break to see what he thought.
– And does that also have to do with you going out yesterday afternoon? – She looked at me.
– Well... No. That was actually... – But she didn't get to finish, because someone called her.
– Amaya-kun!
We stopped a little ways from the Academy, and I saw that same boy who had come looking for the Uzumaki the other day.
– I'll be right there, okay? – Amaya said quickly and hurried over to the boy.
She stopped near him, with a slightly worried expression. He's a genin, I noted, looking at the headband on his forehead. One or, at most, two years older than us. A member of the Uchiha clan, judging by his clothes.
Since when does Amaya talk to anyone besides me, my dad, and the other adults? She doesn't seem like the type who would socialize, at least not with someone like this boy. And also, why would he socialize with her?
The boy talked to her for a few moments, then handed her something. Wait... I thought. That's her notepad. She had taken it with her when she ran off yesterday afternoon. So that means she was with him?
He said something to her briefly and gave a weak smile, making her smile too. He moved closer to her and gave her a quick hug, making her laugh. Kami-sama... Who is this guy? And why is he so familiar with her?
It was only then that I paused for a moment.
And why the hell do I care so much? I asked myself. It's not like I'm jealous or envious, is it? I closed my eyes for a second.
Okay, so she's the only person my age I don't feel like ignoring and who's also relatively on the same level of knowledge and skill as me... And that doesn't mean she can't have other friends, but...
Ah! What am I even thinking?! I put a hand against my head and sighed heavily. I'm burning my brain cells for nothing here...
– Kakashi-kun? – I heard Amaya's voice near me and opened my eyes, seeing her in front of me – You okay?
– Yeah – I agreed quickly and cleared my throat – Yeah, of course. That was the boy from yesterday... – She nodded.
– Yeah, that's Shisui – The redhead explained – He came to return my notepad. I forgot it at the hospital yesterday.
– Hospital? – I asked, and she looked at me.
– Ah, yeah... – She said – I didn't get to explain – Her gaze turned to the path we were walking – I rushed off yesterday when he came to find me because of his mom – I saw her expression become slightly sad – She died yesterday, and I didn't want him to go home alone, that's why I got back so late.
His mom died? I thought, looking ahead for a moment. And she was with them? So that's who Amaya was with when she went out sometimes on days off from the Academy...
– So, are you two close? – I asked, and by the time I realized I'd asked, it was too late.
Damn... I complained to myself. Amaya looked at me for a moment, then turned her attention forward again with a smile.
– We are... Friends – She announced and gave a weak laugh.
I stared at her, not understanding. Why that disguised little laugh? I thought. But I didn't ask her anything else, not wanting to put my foot in my mouth again like before.