The Lost Uzumaki (Kakashi x OC)

Chapter Five- Eternity

Meilani let out a deep exhale through her nose. Her fingers tapped against the bench she sat on, the mailed book excerpts she was glossing over were weighed down by a kunai. Her eyes darted across the scenic views of the town, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.
Naruto was in his 2nd day in the Forest of Death. While she knew his skills and that of his teammates, her protective instincts were screaming at her.
"I don't want to interfere... Maybe just a peek."
She looked over at the unfinished excerpts and purses her lips.
"After finishing this chapter."

~~~

When Master Jiraiya discovered Meilani first reading his book, he nearly had a heart attack. He had been asked by Minato to meet the child who found them in the forest. It was almost a month since the incident, and she has not spoken a word.
"She's very scared, by what happened and by her kekkei genkai. I don't think she knew anything about genjitsu." He explained quietly. Jiraiya rubbed his chin, observing Kushina playing with two dolls in front of the 6 child. Her blue-green curls reached just above her shoulders, with such volume that strands stuck out in almost every direction. Kushina managed to tie the top half of her hair into two small ponytails held by white ribbons.
Meilani looked away from the dolls and off in the distance, her brown eyes empty as she stared at nothing. Her eyes wandered while the red head changed the doll dialogue to a battle scene. Brown orbs passed the table and chairs and blue walls to the couch. Her right eyebrow twitched up, she didn't notice a stranger came in. Jiraiya saw the grief in her eyes, and offered a warm close-eyed smile. Meilani observed it, and then his face paint, his hair, and then his clothes.
"Not interested in dolls, I see." He pointed to the one discarded in front of her lap. Young Mei quickly stood, tripping over her blue dress before throwing herself onto Kushina's lap.
"Hey, it's alright. That's Jiraiya, I know he looks scary, but that's because he's just an old man ya know?"
"I am NOT old." Jiraiya huffed, earning a giggle from the couple. Meilani watched the white haired man through Kushina's hair, her brown eyes darting between him and Minato.
"Jiraiya is going to watch you for a few hours while Kushina and I go on a mission. We won't take long, I promise." He walked over and patted her head that she shook profusely. She grabbed his and Kushina's hands, grunting but still refusing to talk.
"Hey," Minato kneeled in front of the child, sticking his pinkie out. "I swear to you that we'll come back. Believe it."
Meilani hesitated, and locked her tiny pinky around his. Before he released, Minato felt her pinky's grip tighten. She then stuck her thumb out and bit down on it gently and waited. He chuckled, and repeated the motion. The left corner of her mouth twitched up for a moment, and then Meilani let go and opened her arms to Jiraiya.
"Sensei's been here for 5 minutes and she's almost smiling. I never realized how great you are with kids."
"Because they're intuitive," Jiraiya chuckled, tossing Meilani in the air before placing her on his left shoulder, holding her steady with his large hand. "They can sense the good hearts from the bad. I'm gonna go fill her up with sugar, that should get her to talk."

~~~~~

Jiraiya watched a hyperactive Mei run around the playground, holding her 3rd sea salt popsicle for the day. He smiled as she let out a giggle. No words yet, however the village children welcome her quickly and paid no mind to the quiet one running along. Jiraiya made sure she understood that the way she's been communicating with Minato and Kushina is not the way to communicate with everyone. A simple nod from her confirmed that she knew and understood.
Meilani stood upon a rail and paused to gain her balance back. Jiraiya watched her feet follow along the railing as quickly as she could without falling. The afternoon sun was beginning to retire when he had another idea, and called the child over.
"Hey, would you like to go to the beach?"
She tilted her head in a puppy like motion, her eyebrow perking up.
"Now, wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you haven't been to the beach, at all?"
Meilani's cheeks turned to the slightest shade of red as she shook her head.
"We have to change that! Come with me, kid. If we hurry we'll make it an hour before sundown."
Meilani struggled to keep up while holding his hand, while the sage acted aloof.
"Hm? Did you need something, little one?"
She grunted, lifting up her arms.
"Do you think you can say 'up?'"
She thought about it, gulping. He knelt beside her, ignoring the whispers of passing civilians trying to take a peek at the child that peaked the legendary sanin's interest. He noticed her eyes shifting between most of them.
"Pay them no mind. I don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of a legend around here."
He couldn't recall a child that could express themselves so easily with only their face. He continued to walk as she scurried beside him, listening to his tales. Meilani wasn't sure why, but his presence and voice was comforting to her. Listening to him made it easy to ignore everything else around her, and get more insight on the ninja world. A world she never even knew existed, as she rarely ever left the farm lands.
Jiraiya didn't notice her stop until he was a few strides closer to the stairway to the beach's warm sands. Her mouth hung slightly open while she viewed the vast amount of ocean in front of her. She could nearly taste the salt in the air, and each cool breeze that brushed her face sent a warm tremble down her spine. She held herself as she shivered.
"You'll warm up on the sand, I promise."
She hurriedly followed him and climbed down the steps as fast as she could, determined to do it by herself. Once her toes almost touched the sand her foot hovered for a moment. Jiraiya watched with anticipation as she jumped down the step and traced her hand along the grainy texture, her fingers leaving tiny lines behind. She did that for a few minutes, and then lifted her head to observe the rest of the scene. The sun was now much lower, not quite on the horizon but enough to where the sky began to change color.
"I like to take off my sandals and walk along the water. Your pretty dress will get dirty though."
Regardless, she waddled her way through the sand and picked up the bottom of her dress slightly to her ankles. A tiny yelp escaped her lips when the cold water rushed past hers and Jiraiya's feet. He sighed deeply as he looked at the view.
"Beautiful, isn't it? Don't go any further than this. I'm going to be reading right over here." She turned her head to see exactly where he'd be, and only faced forward when he settled in. Meilani watched the different wave sizes and shades of blue. The background noises of the town were drowned out by the crashing of waves and the wind, and when she had enough of the water Mei sat beside Jiraiya and continued to observe.
The sage, however, was so invested in his novel that he didn't notice the girl take out his 'Makeout Paradise' manuscript and begin flipping through. While Meilani did not know how to read full books, she picked up how to put together a few words in the sentences.
"I remember once I saved a lovely woman from drowning here. She- GAH!"
He snatched the delicate paperback and quickly skimmed through the passage she was reading. Her wide eyes stared at him in confusion, what did she do wrong?
"This, uh.... This is a book for grown ups. It's, uh... Well it's about...."
"Love?"
Jiraiya sucked in a breath. She asked so timidly, had he not been beside her then the waves would have drowned out her voice.
"Well, yes and no." His heart rate quickened. He couldn't dismiss her, it would diacourage her from talking again. But how to explain the novel to a child.... "It's about..... Two young people, figuring out what love is and.... The best ways to express that love."
Meilani ingested the words, looking at her hands in her lap.
"My mommy would bake for me."
He felt a tug in his heart.
"What was your favorite thing she would bake?"
"Castella." Her bottom lip quivered, and she choked back tears. "She added cinnamon and lemon to make it taste better."
"That sounds delicious." He pulled her to his lap and held her as she cried. "It sounds like she loved you very much."
"So why did she leave me?" The girl sobbed. "And why hasn't daddy found me?"
Jiraiya rubbed circles around the girls back, her sobs racking her entire body. She gasped, trying to regain control of her breathing. He soothed her in a low tone, humming a song until she calmed down again.
"I'm afraid I don't have all the answers. Sometimes, people carry so much pain without the ability to express it. And the pain can hurt a lot. But I promise you, she loved you all the same."
"And Daddy?"
"The world is a big place. I'm sure he's scouring every corner of it."
Truth be told, he had no clue if that was true or not. There had been no clues, traces, or records of a man searching for a lost child matching her description. It's possible that he was harmed, or worse. As for the mother... He thought to himself. It's also possible her death isn't what it seemed to be.
"No matter what happens, kid. Once love exists, it never goes away. It stays here." His index and middle finger tapped his chest, directly over his heart.
"Always?"
"For eternity."