Just A Kid

Chapter 37

Giggling, she began play fighting with Takumi as he snarled and bared his teeth at her. He looked mighty intimidating, but Araile knew Takumi would never hurt her. Takumi lunged, snapping his jaws at her arm. She jumped to the other side of the table, barely missing his teeth. She laughed as she noticed her friends stance: his rear was up in the air, tail twitching back and forth while a deadly growl emitted from deep in Takumi's chest.

"Oh yeah, you're as scary as my Ao-chan," she giggled as she straightened up from being underneath the kitchen table.

Takumi straightened also, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, tail still wagging.

Araile's stomach decided to make its demands known loud and clear in the form of a large grumble. Letting out a short laugh, she patted her hungry stomach and began looking around for something to satisfy her hunger. After not eating anything when she was sick, it felt like her stomach was eating itself from the inside. 

Nothing. 

Maybe the reason Kakashi left was to get groceries. Hopefully he'd bring some good things. Glancing out the kitchen window, Araile noticed it was getting dark. Scratching her head, an idea popped into her mind and she raced to her bedroom. Reaching under her bed, she searched with her hand until she found what she was looking for: a small piggy bank in the shape of a bird.

"I hope there's enough for ramen..I haven't had some in a long time," Araile murmured as she shook the poor piggy bank upside down.

Smiling to herself, she counted each coin that fell from the opening, before putting the stopper back in place. Just enough for one bowl! She slipped the money in her pocket and skipped out the door, yelling to Takumi that she'd be back later.

A bark sounded from within the apartment.

"Yes, I'll pick up something for you," she answered, and closed the door.

Grinning widely, Araile jogged down the steps and across the street. Following her nose, she finally found the ramen stand..and it was still open! What a lucky night for her! Paying the kind elderly gentleman behind the counter she ordered a chicken ramen noodle bowl, and waited patiently for it to be prepared.

Finally, he set the steaming bowl in front of the hungry girl. She smiled her thanks and dug into her meal, nearly groaning outloud at the richness of the sauce, the succulent taste of the chicken, and the crispyness of the veggies. Araile nearly wiggled in her seat in happiness as she thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Sadly, she finished the noodle bowl with a sigh. Thanking the elderly gentleman and his daughter behind the counter, she scooted off the stool and began the trek back home.

She stopped when the sound of voices floated through the air. 

'Those voices sound..familiar,' she thought to herself as she followed the voices to a deserted small street.

'Sakura? And...Sasuke? What are they doing?' Araile thought in confusion as she noticed the two shinobi talking to each other.

She slowly crept behind a large tree and silently watched them talk. Something was wrong...very wrong. She could feel her stomach form a cold pit as she watched Sasuke tell Sakura to go back to her home.

Eyes widening, Araile watched as tears tracked down Sakura's face.

'What's going on?' she wondered, a slight feeling of fear settling in her mind.

"We have different paths we must walk," Sasuke muttered.

"What are you talking about, Sasuke?" Araile whispered to herself.

More tears spilled from Sakura's eyes as she cried out her love for Araile's childhood friend.

Her hands gripped the tree bark as Sasuke turned to face Sakura, and in a teasing tone told her how annoying Sakura was.

Araile shrank back against the trunk as Sakura shrieked for him not to go and in an instant, Sasuke was behind her. As fast as she could blink, Sasuke whacked the back of Sakura's head, causing her to black out. Araile slapped her hand to her mouth as a small gasp escaped from her as Sasuke carried Sakura to the nearest park bench, gently laying her down.

"Araile, come out. I know you're here," he said as he turned around and stared right at the spot where the confused nine year old was hiding.

Araile peaked from around the tree and slowly walked up to her childhood friend, hurt and confusion evident in her eyes.

"You've grown," Sasuke stated with a small smirk.

"What are you doing, Sasuke? Why did you knock out Sakura? What's going on?" Araile asked quietly.

"You wouldn't understand," he answered, and started to walk past her.

Araile reached out and gripped his arm as he walked past her, trying to blink back tears.

"Go home, Araile," Sasuke bit out, and shook off her hand.

"No.." she murmured.

"Go home, Araile!" Sasuke snapped and slammed the palm oh his hand into her chest, forcing a surprised yelp from her as the blow knocked her back a couple of feet.

Landing on her back, her breath whooshed out of her. Araile laid there gasping on the hard ground, stunned and confused.

He hit her...her best childhood friend...had hit her.

As soon as she got her breathing under control, she sat up.

Sasuke was gone.

A cool wind blew around her as tears cascaded down her face. Brushing them away with an angry hand, Araile got up. Sniffing, she slowly walked home. With a heavy sigh, she opened the door. Takumi raced over to her, barking in excitement. Araile brushed him off, and headed straight to her bedroom. Once there, she closed the door and walked to her bed. She threw herself on the bed and landed face first. She dimly heard Takumi's nails click-clacking against the floor as he paced back and forth in front of the door. A couple of times a whine sounded from the other side of the door. Shivering, Araile turned her back against the door and pulled her pillow over her head. She didn't care if Takumi was out there and wanted in. She didn't want to see anyone.