What Came Down the River

Chapter 9: Our River Trip

Half a week goes by rather quickly. Naruto and Kakashi seem to be busy with side missions that they don't really come and stop by for long. Which is alright because I'm used to being alone. And I'm not supposed to try talking anyways. But I have the nurse for company which is reassuring. Although I haven't really...asked her name. I know she is probably wearing it on her tag, so I don't want to feel dumb asking her. Not like I can, now anyways. She's been cracking down on me whenever I try to talk. Not too harsh though because it's not like I can handle much. Plus that and I still have random PTSD attacks when I think about what I endured to get to this point in time.

         During the week Naruto had still been stopping by either super early in the morning to say hi before his mission or super late at night to say goodnight. It's nice to know I'm not completely forgotten.

         And the few times Kakashi stopped by he introduced me to more characters and helped me remember the sounds. He also says that though the hokage hasn't met with me yet, he seems pleased that I've grown close to a few people. So he told Kakashi watching over me isn't his priority mission. Yet he'll still be assigned to my case because 1. He was the one that found me and suggested to get information from me and 2. He's one of the only people I've come to mostly trust. I guess I can't feel too bad, the only reason Kakashi was watching me in the first place was because he was told to. He didn't do it because he wanted to or out of curiosity. I won't lie, the thought made me a bit sad, but I tried not to show it when he came around.

         "What's wrong?" He peeped over his bright orange book up at me. I was sitting crisscrossed with the journal in my lap. Shaking my head, I look up at him, raising an eyebrow.

         "It's just...you haven't been writing with as much enthusiasm as you normally do. I don't know, you seem to be thinking about something. Or could I just be over examining it?"

         I just want to know more about you before you have to leave. Now that you're going on missions I realized that you really only come here to pass time and because you promised to teach me how to write...that probably makes me a burden on you. I can see you're tired...you should've just let me stay in the river.

    Putting my hands up defensively, I shake them and give him a small smile. "T-tired!" My voice has still been aching every time I try to say a full sentence.

     "Didn't get much sleep?"

       I look down at the book, but don't write any further. Do I really deserve to stay here? Do I want to? I don't have any people I can rely on or call friends, except Naruto maybe. But he could live without me. He's only been my friend for about a week or so. Without even noticing my face becomes hallowed and filled with thoughts that even Kakashi can read from the surface. I hear him place his book down on my bed and place his hand on top of my head. Gradually, I reach my hands up to hold his hand there and let it grab my pieces floating in space, placing me back together.

         "It's going to be alright. I promise." He leans down a little so that we meet eye to eye. I shift our gaze up so he doesn't have to lean down anymore, and we stare at each other for a moment. I can tell he genuinely means it.

         "Let's take a break from writing today, okay?" The cloth over his mouth creases into an outline of a grin, at the same time he closes his one visible eye in the form a smile. Unable to help myself, I return an equally energetic smile and nod, letting his captive hand free.

        "Want to go somewhere?"

          I hold my hands tightly as I look over his facial features. He's definitely tired. My smile fades slightly and I shake my head.