Shizi dropped her bag just inside her bedroom door and rolled her shoulders to release the tensions in them. Kakashi stood towering over the brunette behind her, watching the teen to be sure she wasn't going to have a mental meltdown. Shizi has had one already on the return trip to Konoha and Naruto had to piggyback the frozen girl halfway back before she even blinked.
"You going to be okay, Shizi?" He cautiously asked and she slowly nodded before walking over to her bed and sitting on the foot, staring at the walls she has covered with drawings and paintings she's made over the years. Kakashi followed after her and knelt down to her eye level, trying to catch her gaze and attention but she looked blankly onward into space.
"Shizi, please look at me." He cupped her chin in the palm of his right hand. Her stormy eyes gazed up into his visible onyx orb, blank and void of any emotion. He hummed sadly and his thumb rubbed gentle circles on her cheek.
"I am truly sorry you had to find out like that. But you shouldn't let it change you like this. You're not a monster, I promise you Shizi. The Hell's Wildcat is securely sealed and it can't hurt you or me or the village so please don't do this to yourself. This is a dangerous road, one I cannot follow you down to keep you safe. If you can't do this for you, do it for me and Naruto and Sasuke and Sakura and everyone who's ever been your friend. Do this for Kandahar if you must." Her eyes flashed angrily at the Master Reaper's name.
"He's the reason I'm this damned monster why would I fight for him!?" Kakashi sighed in loss, he can't seem to win here.
"Because if not for him, you'd be a lost child or possibly even dead." The fire in her eyes dimmed in remembrance and she broke eye contact with Kakashi. "You might feel hurt that he sealed the Hell's Wildcat in you but I'm sure he had a reason for it." She lightly snorted in indignation.
"What possible reason could someone have for sealing something so evil in the body of a six-year-old child!"
"I don't know, Shizi. But you need to trust Kandahar. In all the years you spent traveling with the Master Reaper, has he ever purposely endangered you?" She lightly shook her head no and her sigh vibrated Kakashi's hand. The man hummed and surprised even himself when he leaned forward and pressed his fabric covered lips to her forehead sweetly.
"You'll be fine, Shizi, trust me. I think you should do something to take your mind off the Hell's Wildcat."
"Yeah, I think I'll go see Whitefire for a bit. Probably go riding for a while." Kakashi gave her a closed-eyed smile and stood, telling her to be home before the sun was too far down. A small smile lifted her lips and she quickly hugged the Jonin before she jogged out the door and over to the medium-sized pasture that housed her long-time friend.
The silvery steed caught sight of the girl and galloped across the grass whilst tossing his flowing mane happily. Shizi jumped the fence and met the stallion in a mass of happy whinnys, laughter, and snorts. When the happy reunion was finished, Shizi stepped over to pick up the black, leather bridle.
She placed it over the silver steed's head and launched on bareback, jumped the fence once more, and headed for the gates to go to her favorite meadow outside the village about a mile. She was just passing through the training arena when a familiar voice caught her keen ears.
"Shizi! Wait up!" The mentioned brunette twisted at the waist to find the source of the voice and spotted Naruto running across the dirt towards her.
"Where are you going?" He asked through heaving pants.
"Riding out about a mile. Want to come along?" He cracked a wide smile and Shizi gave him a hand up onto the silver back of her stallion. He sat behind her and she instructed the Uzumaki to wrap his arms around her waist or he'll fall off. Once he was secured, she signals for Whitefire to start a canter the rest of the way to the gates.
"Going out again, eh, Shizi?" Asked the usual gatekeepers as she slowed to a stop at the massive opening. She smiled and nodded before they gave their repeated warning to be back before they closed the gates. She turned towards the South and wove through the wide trunks until they reached the large meadow that was half the size of Konoha.
"Ready?" Naruto nodded whilst smiling. "Alright, might want to hold on." She smiled deviously and kicked the steed into a long-legged gallop. She leaned in closer to the silver neck and so pulled the blonde down with her. They had galloped over half the meadow before Shizi slowed down the horse to a smooth trot.
"You alright, Naruto?" She looked over her shoulder at the windswept Uzumaki, who was smiling widely.
"That was fun!" Shizi laughed and she turned the steed towards the highest hill. She turned the horse to look over the wide meadow as the sun slid below the treeline. Her sharp ears caught the light sound of Naruto gasping in awe.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The Uzumaki nodded in stunned silence.
"How'd you find this place, Shizi?" They slid from the silvery horse and Shizi took them to the pond at the far edge of the meadow. She tied off the end of the reigns to a low hanging branch and sat under a wide shadetree, Naruto following shortly behind.
"Came here when I wanted to be alone and to think. I was riding and stumbled onto this place." He nodded and looked out over the fiery surface of the pond as it reflected the sunset. Shizi took a deep breath and let it out in a tension-relieving sigh.
"Are you still scared of the Hell's Wildcat?" Shizi nodded sadly and fiddled with the grass beside her feet. Naruto lightly sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder in comfort.
"Don't be, you've got all your friends to help you!" His smile was so bright and happy it was infectious and so Shizi's lips too curled in a wide smile. He pulled her to his chest in a soft hug.
"I'll always keep you safe, Shizi, even if it's from yourself. Believe it."
YOU ARE READING
Beautiful Monsters
Fanfiction"The true measure of a Shinobi is not how he lives, but how he dies..." Shizi Yemao's pretty smile hides her secrets and her pretty eyes have cried too many tears. It's scary what her smile has come to hide, and she has gotten better at hiding the...
