Just A Kid

Chapter 36

Back in Araile's bedroom, she shifted on her bed as she felt her stomach growl. She swung her legs over the bed, letting her feet dangle. Takumi, tongue lolling out of his mouth, watched his companion. Gingerly, she put some weight on one foot, and sighed in relief as her leg held. Gathering up courage, she took another step, and then another; a smile spreading wide on her lips. She walked to the small bathroom and quickly jumped in the shower, sighing in relief as the hot water hit her muscles. After what seemed like hours of scrubbing her hair and body, she stepped out and quickly got changed.

Blue shorts and black top for today it seems. With Takumi at her side, she silently walked to her bedroom door.

Grasping the cool doorknob, she opened the door silently and peered out to the hallway. She jumped slightly when she noticed Kakashi leaning against the wall, his mind somewhere far away. Walking up to him, Araile poked him in the arm and waited.

Nothing.

Poke.

Still no response.

Making an irritated noise at the back of her throat, Araile waved her hand in front of his face.

"Kakashi! Helllllllooooooo! Earth to Kakashi!" she said, with Takumi barking his bit.

Still nothing. An idea suddenly popped into her mind, and she slowly reached up with her hand towards Kakashi's face. Takumi whined and pawed her leg gently, as if to say this was a bad idea. He sat on his haunches as Araile looked at him, a mischievous smirk on her lips.

"Don't worry Takumi. Kakashi is off in la-la land," she giggled quietly, but that giggle was cut short when her hand was stopped halfway by a bigger hand.

Looking up, she saw Kakashi looking down at her, his right hand covering yours. Shrinking back slightly, a nervous laugh escaped from her lips as she realized her plan had been foiled. Clattering nails sounded, and Araile blinked. Looking around, she noticed an empty space where Takumi had been moments before.

'Takumi ditched me!' Araile whined in her head.

"Do you need something, Araile?" Kakashi asked in a deadly serious voice.

"Um..no! N-nothing! I swear!" she stammered, trying to pull her hand back from Kakashi's grasp.

"Oh? Are you sure?" he stated, turning to face her and leaning down.

"I swear!" Araile quivered.

"Are you positive?" he said in a deadly quiet voice, eye narrowing.

Araile nodded quickly, eyes wide.

"Okay, then I'll have to do this!" he exclaimed, and his left hand loomed closer to her side.

Araile let out a small shriek and squirmed to get out of his grasp. Kakashi let out a quiet laugh as he released the young girl.

"Well short-stuff, I have to go out now," Kakashi mused and walked out the door, hands in his pockets.

"Okay," she yelled as he closed the front door.

A little growl got her attention as Takumi padded out of her room, and rubbed his head against her hip.

"Some help you were," she muttered to her companion.

Takumi's tongue lolled out of his mouth as his tail twitched slowly.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you're hungry," she said and walked into the kitchen, Takumi following close behind.

Araile stopped suddenly, turned around, and made a grab for Takumi's front paws.

Takumi, sensing this, booked it around the kitchen table; Araile close behind him. As the hour passed, she spent it chasing her friend throughout the small apartment, through the bedrooms, up and around the couch, and under the kitchen table.