Chapter 22: Pretending
1458 Words
They were still practicing, I hadn't seen the two of them since this morning. No doubt more than determined to perfect this. I, however, haven't been doing much recently, more like just hanging around Shouko being a f*****g i***t, her house is pretty small believe it or not, her mother also had the same medical issues, which meant Shouko must've been born deaf. The thought of that made me somewhat pitied her, I mean, she doesn't even know what music sounds like. She had taught me a few sign languages, mainly the alphabet. I mean, yeah with Ninjutsu but it doesn't mean the same thing. Those hand gestures are summoning Jutsu. Definitely not the same thing.
However, it was getting late now and Shouko's mother would like some sleep, but Shouko begged her mother for just so I could stay over for a slumber party. Quite literally, begged. On her knees and everything, and even though the scene was amusing, I agreed with her mother. I don't think I could handle Shouko's energetic persona for any longer. So, she saw me out.
"Goodnight, Shouko. Get some sleep, seriously, don't be bouncing around your room all night long." I waved, and she only let out a giggle before bowing deeply causing me to jerk back from surprise at the sudden gesture of respect. Sweatdropping as I whisper-shouted for the female to stand up straight, the abrupt action honestly startled me for a second. I had no idea why she did that.
"Tank youuh" She slurred, while I, still in a daze, just dumbly nodded. She must be thanking me for my save earlier, and with that, a smug grin graced my lips as my posture straightened, showing off my new found confidence, no doubt about to tease the girl.
"Well, duh, you looked like a cornered puppy." I bantered, and the corner of my eyes never failed to miss the blush that flared her cheeks with a bright red. She seemed embarrassed that I saw her extremely vulnerable. "Besides, you seemed nice. I would've felt like a b***h the whole day if I did nothing, anyway."
Finally, she looked up at me like a little puppy. I nearly jumped back in surprise at the hope and admiration glinting in her eyes. Seriously...what is up with this chick? My hand twitched, so I yield to the temptation to pet the girl, my hang ruffling through her strawberry hair while she squirmed a little at the sudden contact, whining after I pulled away she pouted and glared at me. This girl really is like a puppy, and I voiced it. "You really are just like a puppy."
I rose an elegant brow at the unfamiliar hang sign, my eyes darting between her and her hand as she giggled at my cluelessness and used the alphabet, which I had managed to learn today.
'C'
'A'
'T'
"Cat?" I dumbly mumbled under my breath, staring cluelessly at the cackling girl who had her hand held in front of her mouth to mask her smile. It took my brain a few seconds to register exactly what she was trying to say until I realized what she meant and I flushed a soft pink. "Hah?! You calling me a cat?!"
"BYE!" She slurred. Loudly. Slamming the door right in my face, I deadpanned at the piece of wood and glared holes which almost drilled holes into the door. A cat? Excuse her, but I am so not like a cat. I'm more like a ghoul if you ask me. While on my way to the old man's home, again, I grumbled on and on about the puppy trying to pick a fight with me. Oh, I'll show her a 'cat', alright. I had to boat back to the old man's house. I kicked at the dirt and just as I see the house growing in the distance, my entire body stilled at the sound of two very familiar voice giving out a loud battle cry at 11 PM, nearly midnight and those two are screaming. The shushing sound coming from me stopped the boys and they turned to me, however, the distraction seemingly gave Sasuke the leveraged while Naruto stopped to say a few greetings to me, however, whined when Sasuke dashed away.
"Where are you two going in the middle of the night?" I inquired, suspiciously. Naruto seemed to confuse with my inquiry for a second. Like he was completely stumped on how to answer, but I jerked back when he suddenly lit up as if he just remained of something important.
"Oh, right! They forgot to tell you! We're going to the old man's house for dinner!" He shouted nonsense, I mean, he was speaking so fast I could barely hear the boy.
"O...kayy..- HEY!" Before I could even react a pair of surprisingly strong hands gripped at my wrist and pulled me into a full on sprint. I shouted words of restraint and threats in Naruto's direction but he simply laughed it off and informed that we had to hurry before Sasuke gets there. However, I was fully aware Sasuke was already there so I burst his bubble. The thing is; he completely f*****g ignored me! I growled but panted as I followed behind and once we came to a stop inside the large house I huffed and puffed dramatically. Though it was all an act, it takes a lot to get a ghoul like me tired, I just prefer being lazy. I greeted the people in there, only to notice the boys were already wolfing the food down like a bunch of wild animals before I could even react, I gagged mockingly, gaining Sasuke's attention for a second but my mocking didn't seem to faze him as he went back to his food abuse. I grunted but nevertheless, complied and sat down on a chair reserved just for me.
"Took you two a while," Sakura mentioned, and I nodded.
"Yeah, thanks for giving me the heads up, douchebags."
"Hey!"
"Hmph." I pouted, staring at the plate full of rice and chicken. As mouth watering as that looks, I pushed it back. Knowing fully well how awful that goddamn food would taste once my tongue even makes the smallest of contacts with it.
"This is really fun!" the old man rubbed the back of his head, avoiding eye contacts. More specifically, mine. "It's been ages since we've had a meal with this many people!" I leaned back on my seat, merely resting my head before a lady loomed over me with a full-hearted smile, and since I was in a good mood, I returned a half-hearted smile. My nose twitches once the scent of the plate she put down filled my nose and I stared at the human arm in surprise.
"I didn't want you to feel left out, so I asked the Hokage..." She informed. I nodded.
"Thanks, but remember. Secret." I placed a finger firmly over my lips with a wink, and the two nodded in agreement. The lady returning my secretive gesture, smiling and returning to her dishes.
"Seconds please!" the abrupt exclamation took me by surprise and I stared at the two with a piece of the arm in my mouth, everybody in the room seemed uncomfortable with me and avoided eye contact. What I didn't expect was for the boys to turn to their sides and throw up all the food they had just recently shoved in their mouth. So, with that being said a few eyebrow twitches from both Sakura and me, Sakura slammed the palm of her hand against the table and screamed.
"Stop eating if you're going to vomit!" She has a point.
"No, I'll eat." Sasuke quickly added, looking up to shoot a challenging glare into Naruto's eyes. The competitive glare was enough for me to exhale loudly through my nose.
"I have to eat even if it means enduring. I have to get strong as quickly as possible, so.." Naruto was interjected by Sensei in the middle of his very dramatic claim.
"Yes-yes. But vomiting is different." he quickly added, nudging towards me to say something. Anything. I looked around and noticed that Sensei's eyes were set on mine, So I sighed and released the hold I had on the piece of the arm which was secured firmly between my teeth. It fell on the plate with a sickening slap. I didn't even bother to rid my mouth of the blood which surrounded it and gave me a cannibalistic appearances, not like it was wrong. Kinda what I wanted to look like for what I'm about to say next.
"If you idiots don't stop being idiots I'm going to eat your faces."
- Writer
