Additional One-Shots

Manami [Painless/S&L] [*S*]

A/N: So, warning, if you pay close attention to this, this reveals a lot about a certain character in the series. Not everything is revealed, but I think it's rather easy to connect some of the dots, and through those it's possible, although I'm not sure how easily, to connect the rest. I just really, really wanted to post this because it was so fun to write! 

Anyways, it's a spoiler. If you don't like spoilers, don't read. If you do, however, read and perhaps comment with who you think the story is about! I'd love to know if you get it right~ His name is never once given throughout the piece. 

“Otousan?”

At the sound of her voice, he paused, hand lingering on the frame of the bedroom door. When she didn’t immediately continue, he carefully let his bag slip from his shoulder and drop to the ground. Then, without as much as a smile, he approached the bed, his eyes meeting her deep-blue ones as she adjusted the cover tucked over her shoulders. Her eyes were barely open, a soft yawn escaping her lips.

“Leaving?” she questioned, the mumbled word barely loud enough to be heard.

His lips moved into a smile, then, and he reached forward to ruffle her raven-toned hair.

“Otousan has a job to do,” he answered easily. “I’ll be back soon. You understand, don’t you, Manami?”

Her face fell, but she nodded, squirming out from underneath her covers to open her arms for a hug.

“How long does Manami have to wait?” she questioned, clinging to him when he wrapped his arms around her.

“A few days. Ojisan should be here in a few hours, I thought you’d still be asleep so I told him it would be fine to come later. You like Ojisan, right?”

He peeked down, watching for her expression. Manami pouted, but gave a small nod as she buried her head in his chest.

“Ojisan isn’t mean,” she agreed. “He said he’d teach Manami how to throw kunai.”

He chuckled, releasing her a moment later. Her pout twisted even further down, eyes almost looking like they might fill with tears.

“Be back soon?”

“Of course,” he agreed, straightening up and starting for the door once again. “What’ve I told you?”

Her frown turned into a tiny smile as she burrowed beneath the covers once again.

“Otousan loves Manami,” she mumbled.

“Good girl. Be good for Ojisan, and Jiichan.”

“‘kay.”

 

_________________________________

 

The mask was annoying to wear. It made seeing slightly more difficult.Yet it wasnt without benefit., seeing as it gave him a certain sense of detachment from everything he did.

The moment he stepped through the doorway, the soft thud of running feet hit his ears. A moment later a smile ghosted his lips as he leaned down to pull the little girl into his arms, Her red-hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back in tangled, dirty waves. As he situated her on his hip, her dull, brown eyes studied him, wariness beyond her age shining out from behind them. He couldn’t really blame the child- even he sometimes felt guilty over the things that she was put through.

At the same time, if it meant protecting Manami, it would do anything.

“Did you miss me, Maemi-chan?”