How I See The World (Menma Uzumaki Love Story) {DISCONTINUED}

Chapter 14: Lost and Found

Kitsune's POV

I ran as fast as I could as I continued to hear the villagers laughter and insults. I covered my ears, trying to block it out, but no matter what I did, I could still hear them. I wanted to get to the temple and hide there for the rest of the night. 

I don't want anyone looking at me. I don't want to see anybody. But finally, my feet got tired, causing me to stop and rest near a tree. I looked around and noticed I was completely lost. I have totally lost my way. 

Where's the temple? How far did I run? Where do I go now? I took my hands off my ears so I could think for a second, but immediately regretted it when I heard laughter again. They were louder than before and they were starting to hurt my ears.

"Please... Just stop... No more..." I whispered. I slid my back down the trunk of the tree until I was sitting in the grass with my knees pulled to my chest. "I'm scared... I'm scared... Menma... Please help me... Please..." I begged in a small voice. I hugged my knees as I hid my face in them. 

"I'm scared... Menma, please find me... Please... I need you... I'm so scared..."

Menma's POV

I followed Kitsune's tracks until they seemingly disappeared. I wasn't sure if she continued her run in the trees or she just stopped and headed somewhere else. Well, if she did head somewhere else, my best guess is that she went back to the temple. 

I headed there and searched the whole place, but Kitsune was nowhere to be found. "Damn it, Kitsune. Where did you run off to?" I mumbled. Taking her to the festival was a mistake. I knew something like this would happen, but I didn't think she would run off like this. 

I went back to searching for her in the woods. After searching for what seemed hours, I was exhausted. But I knew I couldn't give up. Kitsune needs me and I need to find her. Suddenly, soft sobbing rang in my ears. 

I turned my head in the direction of the crying sounds and followed them. I came to a stop when I spotted a girl lying against a tree with her head lowered and her knees pulled to her chest. My eyes widened when I saw the fox ears on her head. 

I walked over to her. "Kitsune?" I said. The girl lifted her head and it was definitely Kitsune. Her eyes were puffy from crying as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "Kitsune... It's me," I said, taking off my mask and revealing my face.

"Menma..." Kitsune said, sounding relieved. "Are you all right?" I asked. Kitsune quickly got up and hugged me as she hid her face in my chest. I gently hugged her back as she started crying again.

"What happened? I wasn't even gone for that long. Did somebody hurt you?" I asked, worriedly. "The villagers... They laughed at me. They shoved me, called me names, and started laughing at me." She explained, her face still hiding in my chest. 

"They laughed at you? And called you names?" I asked. But I didn't hear any laughter. "All of them... were laughing at the way I looked," She continued. "I thought they'd think they were fake, but they saw through them. They knew somehow." 

"Kitsune..." I started. "I regret doing this. We shouldn't have gone to the festival tonight. I'm sorry for pestering you about it, Menma. You have every right to be mad at me right now." She said.

"Kitsune, I couldn't never be mad at you for something as small as this. It's just meaningless. Secondly, nobody was laughing at you." I mentioned. "Yes, they were. I heard them. Every single one of them were laughing and pointing at me... I can still hear them." Kitsune said.

I gave a worried look as I felt her trembling with fear. "Kitsune, look at me," I broke the hug, gently took her face in my hands, and made her look at me.

"You were only having an anxiety attack. The shoving may have happened, but the name-calling and laughing didn't. None of it happened." I explained. Kitsune sniffled and blinked her eyes, causing more tears run down her face. 

"An... anxiety attack?" She repeated. "Yes. You were just imagining it. See? Look around you. There's nobody nearby. We're all alone. It's just the two of us out here. No one to hurt you, no one to laugh at you, no one to call you names. You're safe. After all, you're with me." I assured her. 

Kitsune sniffled again as her ears went down and I gave her a reassuring smile. "Come on, no more tears. I don't like seeing you so upset." I said, wiping her tears. "I'm... safe, right?" She asked. "When you're with me, always." I answered. 

Kitsune wiped her eyes and looked at me again. I smiled again. "Come on, let's go home." I said. Kitsune gave me a small smile and slightly nodded her head. I picked her up and set her on my back, giving her a piggyback ride. 

Kitsune hesitantly wrapped her arms around my neck and I started walking towards the direction of the temple. "Menma..." Kitsune said. 

"Hmm?"

"Thank you... for tonight. All and all, I had fun... because I was with you."

I glanced at her as she blushed slightly and rested her chin on my shoulder. I smiled at her and returned my gaze to the path in front of me. "Menma." Kitsune said. "Yes?" I answered. "You'll... never leave me, right?" She asked. 

"I'd never dream of it. No matter how far or wherever you may be, whenever you're crying and scared, I'll always come and find you. I'll make sure you'll never be alone." I said. 

"Promise?"

"I promise... with all my heart."