War Torn {A Naturo Fanfic}

Page 32

"I'm not." I told him, not making reference to any part of his question, though my answer went for the mother and alone part.

"Daddy's in there then?" He nodded to the secluded building I was leaning against.

I thought of Ginkaku. "Something like that." Nao move closer to me. The man stepped very close and leaned in to my ear.

"Then what do you say you put down the brat and we have a little fun before he gets done." He suggest, making my skin crawl. I wasn't worried about this man, so it wasn't a surprise when he was yanked away from me and onto the ground. Before he could snap Kakuzu kicked him so hard in the head it broke his neck, killing him. Nao gasped and buried her face in my neck while Kakuzu went to cash his second bounty of the day.

"Who's that man?" Nao asked me, sounding frightened.

"That's Kakuzu. I guess he's kind of scary, but he's really smart." I told her, trying to make it seem like he wasn't that bad. He wasn't too me, but Nao's three. Most s-ranked criminals aren't good with children and don't like them. Well, isn't this going to be an interesting little adventure?

"Well he's defiantly scary." Nao said cutely. I laughed and Kakuzu walked back out with a second wad of money.

"You should stand outside of bounty offices more often." He told me while counting his money. I rolled my eyes and set Nao down, holding her hand as we walked. We were in no hurry now because we knew Hidan would be a while at the temple.

Nao glance soundlessly at Kakuzu and then ahead and then back at Kakuzu. She stayed her distance from him and I watched her fingers flex. Kakuzu caught her looking and she looked away.

"Hold her hand." I whispered to him so she didn't know I was helping her out.

"No." He refused.

"Yes Kakuzu. She needs to know you're not going to hurt her like everyone else." I suppose I shouldn't have expected it to work, but what was the harm?

He ignored me and I figured that was the end of it. It wasn't surprising. However, after a few minutes of silence he held his hand out to her. She looked at it and then up at him before smiling broadly and taking his hand. I gave him a "you like krabby patties don't you Squidward" look and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Can we get ice cream Kakuzu-san?" She asked him with the cutest, biggest eyes I've ever seen.

"No." He refused instantly and emotionlessly.

"Come on Kakuzu. She's had a terrible day and I want ice cream too." I said, just as hopeful as Nao. I just want to do something normal for once and Nao was my perfect excuse for that.

"Yeah, please Kakuzu-san, please, please, pretty please?" Nao begged and let go of our hands to hug his leg, in which case we had to stop.

He growled and looked away from her. "Fine, if it'll get the two of you to shut up." He finally agreed and picked up Nao, setting her on his right shoulder. She hugged his head.

"Thank you!" She exclaimed and then looked at me. "What kind of ice cream are you getting ane-chan?" She asked me. It's too bad for Maeko and Chiya; they still have to call me Etsuko-sama. That's more respect that Nao gave Kakuzu.