I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 33

Yuma sat in a tree, well-hidden in the foliage, with her face buried in her knees.

What should she do? Kakashi is her cousin? Her family? How should she react to that?

She didn't have the best experiences with her family, yet, something deep inside her told her that Kakashi would not try to sacrifice her to some made up god.

Should she trust him? What reason did she have not to? They got off on a terrible foot, yet somehow they'd grown a stronger bond than she would've ever thought possible. He'd been so concerned for her well being, not because he was afraid of the demon inside her breaking free with the aid of her having a complete meltdown- she knew this now.

No, now she knew that he was truly concerned for her, because they were family.

Family! A word which she'd loathed for so long. A word that she laughed at the very concept of. A word that caused her so much pain and grieving and- of course- madness.

She and Kakashi were family. Should she be afraid? 'Of course not!' would be the answer of anyone who wasn't aware of her background. Yet she was, in fact, terrified. She didn't think he would hurt her, he'd given her no reason to believe otherwise, but...

How could she be sure?

She used to never think her parents would ever cause her harm, and look at where that landed her! She was at a loss, and she wasn't even certain that Shika could have the answer. Besides, why cause him even more trouble?

"Yuma?! Where are you?!" A scarily familiar voice called, causing her head to shoot upwards. "Please come out!"

Kakashi?! No! She had no idea what to do yet!

All she could do was watch helplessly as the head of spiky silver hair made its way under her branch and paused.

Don't look up, please, don't look up!

He didn't, instead sitting at the base of the tree with a heavy-hearted sigh.

"What do I do?" Yuma heard him asked no one. "Where is she? Please, Kami, let her be safe... Damn it!" He suddenly cursed loudly, causing Yuma to tense.

The small girl carefully, silently, peered down at him from her branch.

"How could I be so stupid!?" Kakashi growled, burying his head into his palms. "What if that damn demon kills her because of me? I'm such an idiot!"

He's worried, Yuma realized. He was seriously worried that she would die, and thought it was his fault.

"I wish I could tell her," Kakashi continued sadly. "Promise I wouldn't dream of hurting her. I wish she could hear me when I say that I love her as if she were my own daughter, and I want to protect her until and after my Death."

Yuma could feel a lump forming in her throat.

"I want to tuck her in every night, and wake up to her goofy smile every morning. I want to be there for her and chase away her nightmares. I want to threaten any boy she brings home, and tell him I'll kill him if he hurt her. I want her to laugh at my concern, and call me Bakashi."

Yuma bit her lip to keep in a sob as her eyes stung.

"I want to be there on her wedding day, to tell her she looks beautiful and give her away. I want her to make fun of me when I'm bouncing her babies on my lap like an old Grampa. I want... I just want her to be safe and happy..."

Kakashi finished his rant to no one, and felt something fall onto his hair. Reaching up, he felt a warm, wet substance and looked at his fingertips to see red.

Blood.

He looked up and saw Yuma, clinging to the branch she sat on as her crimson tears flowed from her eyes and her lip trembled.

"K-Kashi..." She sniffled.

Relief flooded through Kakashi as he leapt to his feet. "Yuma, thank Kami! Are you alright-?"

"KASHI!" Yuma cut him off, jumping from her tree branch.

Kakashi caught her before she could even land on the ground. He held her close, holding her head to his shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before," he said, pain in his voice. "And I'm so, so, so glad you're safe. You have no idea how worried I've been, Yuma."

"K-K-Kashi! I-I'm s-sorry! U-U-Uwaaaaaaah!!!!"

"Shhhh, it's alright, shhhhhh!" Kakashi soothed, rocking her.

"I-I don't wanna be killed by the demon!" Yuma sobbed. "I wanna live in Konaha with you and Grampa and everyone else and I don't wanna die!!!"

"I don't want you to die either, baby," Kakashi said, his voice thick. "It's okay, I'll protect you for as long as I can."

Yuma nodded frantically, even though she knew that he could only do so much. Eventually, she would have to step up to the plate and fight this monster within her with her own strength.

But, still, she accepted the comforting words.