I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 8

Shikamaru woke as the sun was setting and looked at the sleeping girl on his arm.

"What a drag," he murmured at the thought of disturbing her peaceful expression. "OI, Yuma, wake up."

Her stunningly rust colored eyes fluttered as they slowly focused on him.

"Hai, Shika-kun?" She whispered, rubbing her eyes. He smiled.

"It's getting late, you better get home. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

She nodded, smiling sleepily back.

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

They parted ways, Yuma heading towards Kakashi's house yet again and Shikamaru going in the opposite direction, both children looking wearily pleased with themselves.

Yuma's mind was groggy as she stumbled in the darkening streets. She almost didn't hear the footsteps rushing towards her. She jumped out of the way just in time as an old friend slashed at her with a katana, though the tip of the weapon had nicked her cheek.

"Oh, hey, Lenny," the grey haired girl giggled at the angry man. "Don't you know that it's dangerous to play with knives?"

Len, who had just threatened to be the cause of her death a week before, glared at the young girl before him. The girl he knew he could not live without killing. All he could think about how murdering this child was the best possible thing to do. It would save multiple lives, surely.

He grit his teeth and rushed her again, but Yuma was ready. Giggling and grinning, she danced out of the blade's reach.

"Stay still or fight back, dammit!" Len snapped. And Yuma stopped dodging, a great smile creeping onto her face.

"I'll fight," she said quietly before leaping forward. Len lashed furiously across where her neck was. Was, for she had dove between his legs before kicking the back of his left knee. He fell to the knee as he tried to return to his feet, only for a small body to tackle him to the ground, a minuscule hand ripping the katana from his grasp.

"That was fun, Lenny," Yuma giggled before plunging the blade downward, right through his lower back. He screamed in pain, and Yuma smiled. She shifted the blade, blood spurted from the wound, splattering on her face, and he screamed again. She got up, removing the katana and kicking Len over.

"You should have thought more before ending your life this way, Baka," she giggled, licking his blood from the katanas blade. Her eyes glowed and her hair slowly began turning back. "You thought you'd just kill me," she continued, her voice higher, strangled, as if she were holding in tears. "Just like them, all of them. You thought killing me would fix it all!" She lifted the blade, right over his nose.

He was paralyzed from the previous hit to the spine. All he could to was watch in horror as deep red blood slowly began to trickle from those demonic, crazed eyes as though they were tears.

"But I'm not going to die," Yuma said, giggling creepily. "You will!" She brought the sword down.

The tip had pierced his nose before stopping, flying from Yuma's hand as a sliver blur appeared.

Kakashi held Yuma tightly, his hand holding her head to his shoulder. He had heard her strangled, traumatized screams from his house, seen the blood drip down her face like tears, and saw the blade enter the mans face, though it was only his nose, before he had gotten there to stop her. Now, the man lay screaming for help on the ground, but Kakashi focused on the trembling child in his arms, knowing she was on the urge of a full out breakdown.

"It's okay," he whispered softly. "You're alright, Yuma."

"Why do they think killing me will help?" Yuma whimpered, clutching the back of his shirt as the blood streaming from her tear ducts soaked his shoulder. "Why is it me who they want dead?"

The ANBU who was supposed to be watching Yuma had finally shone up, and had immediately taken the screeching man to treatment.

"He tried to kill me first," Yuma said weakly.

"I know," Kakashi muttered, stroking her hair. "I know he did. You attacked in self defense, you're okay now, I got you."

"Why does everyone want me dead?!" Yuma wailed.

"Lets get you to bed," Kakashi said softly, picking up the sobbing child. He bounced her on his hip lightly, whispering soft assurances in her ear as he walked to try calming her. It worked.

Ten minutes later, Yuma was holding limply onto his neck as he carried her to her room, her eyes once again the color of rust and her hair back to soft grey. He gently laid her on the bed and tucked her in, something hadn't done for her before, something nobody's ever done for her before. Then, he got a wet towelette and bandaid from the kitchen and carefully cleaned the streaking blood stains from her face and tending to the small cut upon her cheek.

"Do you think grampa will be angry?" He heard her whisper as she stared at the ceiling.

"I think he'll just be glad you're alive," Kakashi said softly, putting her stuffed rabbit under the covers with her.

"I hope he dies," Yuma growled, though a teardrop of blood slid down her cheek. "I really just hope that stupid Lenny dies. I hope I killed him! I hope he suffered!"

Kakashi wiped the blood away with a soft sigh.

"Get some sleep Yuma," he said gently. "Don't worry, you're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you."

He got up to leave, but a small hand seized his.

"Kakashi," Yuma whispered. He looked down at her. She was giving him a watery smile. "Thank you."

Kakashi smiled comfortingly, even though she couldn't see it through his mask.

"While you're living with me, I promise I'll protect you, Yuma," he said before pushing back her bangs, bending down, and planting a fatherly kiss to her forehead.

Yuma looked shocked as he pulled away, but exhaustion was taking over, and quickly.

"Protect......?" She barely whispered before sleep had captured her mind again.

Kakashi heard a knock on the door and stood quietly, leaving the room and heading for the entrance to his home, where he was sure the Hokage stood, ready to ask questions.

However, one thought ran briefly through his mind, making him smile through his exhaustion.

She said Kakashi, not Bakashi.