A Little More Than This (Discontinued)

Chapter 16

Zetsu sighed and walked back to the half conscious girl. They refused to let themself smile, and only fixed a slight frown onto their face.

"Hello..... Why are you here?" White Zetsu asked, hurt and sadness flowing through them as Mei looked hurt at their tone. But she quickly covered it up and beamed up at them.

"I'm here because Kakashi saved me!" She replied happily. A sudden pleading look came across her face and Zetsu knew what she was going to ask. And they knew they had to break her heart and lie.

"If you're alive then-"
"No. You and us are the only ones alive. Everyone else died in the building"

Mei's eyes clouded with sadness and for a second Zetsu feared they had caused her to cry. Mei hung her head and sighed, a soft gentle hand ran through her hair as comfort.

"We are sorry. But we can't lie to you" they responded, pain shooting through their stone-cold heart. Mei nodded, understanding Zetsu's frown. She was a reminder of what happened.

She stood and hugged Zetsu, surprising them. They ran a hand through her orange hair, wishing they could take her away and bring her home, but they couldn't. Not now. Not yet. Kisame wasn't ready and neither was she.

"MEI!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!" A worried voice cried. "I gotta go. Bye bye Zetsu-Nii" Mei cried, running off to her friends.

Zetsu felt dirty and like a lair. He didn't deserve to be called 'Zetsu-Nii'. They refused to move for several hours, just torturing themselves with happy memories.

'We missed you so much you shouldn't have left Sugar'

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Mei was happy, way too happy. Kakashi noted that. He also noted the tear streaks on her cheeks. He knew that Mei wasn't someone to cry over a battle or an injury no matter how bad the injury was. So he was constantly sending worried glances at her.

So, as it appeared, was Sasuke. He was the one who lost his cool the second she went flying and went running after her, but was cut off by Zabuza. Sasuke was sitting next to Mei, ignoring Sakura and mainly focusing on said Tangerine. Kakashi sent a swift glare at the boy, which stopped the act right away.

They arrived at the bridge-builders home in the early hours of the morning. Tazuna let himself and the rest of his traveling companions in, showing the four 12-year-olds to their room and walking into the kitchen to talk to Kakashi.

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Mei yawned loudly and poked the blond ninja off of her leg, and there was drool all over it. She sat up and stretched her arms before leaving the small room and walking into the kitchen, where Kakashi and a tall dark-haired woman were conversing quietly.

She walked up to the table and tiredly hugged Kakashi. "Hello, you're up early.... Naruto wake you up?" Kakashi asked. "He drooled all over my leg! Hey! Hey! Miss! Who are you?" Mei asked, raising a weary eyebrow at the woman.

"My name is Tsunami how are you?" Tsunami asked, smiling kindly at Mei. "What happened to Zabuza Tou-San?" Mei asked, waking herself up a little.

"Killed, an ANBU killed him and took him away...... but I think he's still alive" Kakashi replied, a dark look dawning onto his masked face. Mei nodded, her happiness confined to her mind.

"Go wake up the others, I need to train you for the next time we meet him and his companion" Kakashi instructed, pointing at the door she came in. Mei nodded and left as Kakashi sighed loudly.

"What's the matter Kakashi?" Tsunami asked. "I have a bad feeling. I know she's hiding something but I don't trust myself to dig into it. What if it's serious? What if she stops trusting me because of it?" Kakashi asked, banging his head on the table.

"You're her father. She'll understand she's a bright one. She'll know it's for her own good" Tsunami replied, understanding his trauma.

"I really hope so"

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Mei danced around on the branch, Naruto and Sasuke pouting to one side while Sakura danced with her. They had mastered the tree climbing technique first and Kakashi had offered happy praise for them.

"Weren't we talking about someone becoming Hokage? It seems as though the girls have more chance at that. And maybe the Uchiha clan isn't all it's supposed to be~" Kakashi said.

"Shut up sensei!!" The girls replied at the same time. Sakura for Sasuke's sake and Mei for Itachi's.

"Buuuut Meiiiiii~~~~~ your not supposed to stand up for boys~~" Kakashi whined, running up the tree and trying to catch Mei. Mei ducked and ran off, quickly losing him in the foliage.

She wondered around for a little before stumbling across a young person with long brown hair and big brown eyes. Recognising who it was, Mei ran over to the boy and jumped on his back.

"Hello Mei. How are you?" Haku asked calmly. "Aww~~~ you're no fun!!!!!" Mei whined, sliding down and inspecting the herbs he was collecting. "You'd sure make a pretty girl ya know" Mei giggled at the boy, poking fun at his feminine features.

"So I've been told countless times. By you nonetheless" Haku responded, a slight smile on his lips. Mei poked his cheek. "You're smiling~~~ why?" She asked, tilting her head. "Because I can" He responded curtly. "Fine! Be like that" she pouted. Haku's smile only grew wider. He was eventually beaming at her and laughing quietly.

"Whaaaaaaat????????" Mei asked. "You're still as naive as ever. Shouldn't you be with your teammates?" He asked. "Fine... Hey promise me you won't hurt them till ta have too?" Mei asked. Haku nodded softly, crossing his heart with his finger and placing his left hand in the air. "I swear on my honour as a shinobi!" Haku said beaming.

"Shinobi have no honour" Mei whispered, jumping back into the trees and hurrying off to her friends.

'You're too right about that... I wish not to hurt you when we meet again'