A fire's shadow

True happiness

On Saturday, Shadow was quick out of bed and eating breakfast. The memories of last night's events caused a smile to get plastered on his face.

He had followed Amy home and they both sneaked in through her bedroom window. He stayed with her until she fell asleep and then went back to the bounty.

He was going to meet up with her today as well, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't excited.

He was about to exit through the door when a voice caused him to stop in his tracks.

"Where are you going, bro?"

Shadow let out a sigh-mixed growl. Just his luck when it came to his family.

Turning around and meeting his brother's smug face where he stood in the doorway that leads to the hallway as he leaned towards the doorframe.

The black-haired ninja returned said smug smile and chuckled, "Out to meet with a friend. Why do you ask? Are you starting to get bored of hanging out with the others?"

Kai frowned, "No, but I have just noticed that you aren't home much anymore." He rubbed the back of his head and looked away from his brother looking a little embarrassed, "I guess I'm just worried that you don't wanna hang out with us anymore. I know that you want your own life and don't want us snooping around, but I can't help but notice how much you like to spend time in the city, living your other life."

Shadow stared at Kai with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, but then his expression softened and he started laughing.

 Kai looked back up towards his now laughing brother, "What's so funny?"

"It's just. You can be such an anxious person sometimes, Kai. Despite what others might think you can by far be the most anxious person I know sometimes, after myself of course. But you don't have to worry. I won't choose my 'other life' over you. Yes, I have friends outside this family but that doesn't mean I will leave you guys behind. And please don't call it 'other life' again, because that is not true. I use the time to mostly hang out with my friends and help people, so I wouldn't call it a different life."

The red ninja smiled at his brother, "Yeah, you're right, I'm just overthinking it."

Shadow chuckled as he turned around towards the door again, "I promise I'll spar with you sometime soon, but right now I have to get going."

"Heh, sure. But I'll beat you."

"Dream on, bro." He left through the door and used Airjitzu to get down onto the rooftops of the buildings.

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Shadow slowly made his way towards the apartment that Amy and her aunt lived in. But while making his way there he got the feeling that he was being followed.

Slowing to a halt, Shadow quickly turned around and saw no one. But the ninja wouldn't be fooled so easily.

Despite the fact that the ninja continued making his way across the rooftops, he would look over his shoulder every now and then to make sure no one was following him.

When he came to the apartment building that Amy now lived in, he saw her waiting outside for him.

Smirking to himself, Shadow slid down a pipe on the side of the building, landing without making a sound in an alley next to the building.

Quietly making his way up behind the girl, he held back a chuckled and whispered in her ear, "nice to see you again, Kitty."

Amy jumped and almost hit him as a self-defense reaction but he dodged before it hit his cheek.

They both stared at each other before bursting out laughing.

Amy threw her arms around the slightly taller male's neck and giggled, "Don't scare me like that, Flamey."

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." The ninja replied with a chuckle as he placed a soft kiss on her cheek causing her to giggle once more.

"Stop it." She smiled.

"What if I don't want to." He smirked.

"Then you just have to. We can't let my aunt know you're here. Plus, I need to go to the store."

"Why?"

"Because I'm out of candy, duh." Amy rolled her eyes playfully.

Shadow made an 'oh' with his mouth and then smiled, "Then what are we waiting for. Let's go."

Time Skip

After buying a bag of candy that the two teens shared, they both went to the park and sat down on the grass.

Shadow laid on the ground, his hands behind his head, staring at the clouds. Amy was doing the same except she had one hand placed on her stomach and the other was every now and then pointing towards the sky as she pointed out what the clouds' shapes looked like.

The black-haired ninja had a smile plastered on his face as he would every now and then hear a "That one looks like a bunny" or "those two looks like two people kissing". The edgy ninja would be lying if he said he didn't like having such a playful person by his side.

Amy saw the world in a different light than himself so it felt calming to him to have her around.

Reaching out a hand, grabbing another piece of candy and placing it in his mouth, Shadow could taste the sweetness of it on his tongue and the smile on his face grew wides almost reaching his eyes.

Amy's POV

I turned my head and looked at Shadow lying next to me, he turned his head to me and smiled, that's when I noticed the small spark in his eyes, a spark I had never seen before, a spark of true happiness.

He had always had a slight hint of worry or sadness in his eyes, but right now, that was gone. His eyes were sparkling all the way through.

It warmed my heart to know he was at peace.

Shadow turned back to the sky and sighed, "I've been meaning to ask you something, but I am worried you might get upset."

I heard the worry in his voice so clearly that I couldn't help but shiver a little, "Sure, I won't get mad, you can ask me anything...."

"Why do you live with your aunt and not with your parents?"

A/N Ummm.....sorry for it being slightly short, but the next one will make up for it, trust me.....It will not be emotional at all....nope, not one bit.

Amy: I know you're lying.

Me: Well what am I supposed to say, 'the next one will probably make you cry so get ready'!?

Amy: Yeah, pretty much.

Me: *sigh* Just, just go and wait for the next one.