Chapter 8 [It felt the same...]

                                    

                                          
'Now let's see where am I?' I thought as I deactivated my sharingan. I looked around and started walking.
                          
After awhile of walking I saw a house, I decided to ask for directions. They should be at Tazuna's house resting right now if I'm not wrong. Since Tazuna is pretty famous around here, they should know. 
                          
I went to the house and knocked on the door. A lady came out to open the door. "Is there any thing I can do for you?"
                          
"Yes. May you tell me the directions to Mr Tazuna's house?" I asked, forcing a smile onto my face. 
                          
"Oh it's right here." She said shocked of the coincidence. 
                          
"Did konoha ninjas come and visit?" I asked, looking pass her to have a look inside. 
                          
"Yes. I'm going out soon with Sakura. There's one more inside that room over there." She pointed, moving out of the way so I could see. 
                          
"Thanks." I thanked, running into the house, entering the room without knocking the door. Well, I forgot to. 
                          
"Knock the door- Ikeri?! I was worried sick. Where were you?" He yelled upon seeing me entering the room. 
                          
He should've been. Because if I go missing it will be his fault since he was tasked to take care of me. The hokage would've blamed him. 
                          
"At Zabuza's. Haku kidnapped me but I managed to escape. I even have some information." I said with a big grin on my face. 
                          
Kakashi had a shock yet glad expression. "I'm glad you managed to escape. It's nearly impossible I don't know how you did it but you said you have information? Mind sharing them? And where did you get that katana, only the anbu gets those kind of katana." 
                          
"Zabuza is alive. He will be attacking again in a week or so. He can't move now. But attacking him now isn't an option. Haku is with him and Haku is strong. Gato hired them but Gato isn't really pleased with their progress." I said. "And Haku gave me this katana. They wanted ne to join them, they probably didn't expect me to escape so they gave me one."
                          
"Oh. Thanks for the information Ikeri that'll be good help. As for the katana it's yours so you have to learn how to use it. I can train you for now if you want." Kakashi suggested, holding on to his crunches, exiting the room with me. 
                          
That wouldn't be a bad idea. Papa never got to teach me how to use swords so I'm not so good with the them. 
                          
We went outside and started our training. Kakashi told me I had to master chakra control first before he would teach me how to use my katana. 
                          
I already mastered chakra control a long time ago. But to fake it I made it look as if I didn't know how. I fell a few times on purpose and made it look like I managed at my 5th try. 
                          
"Well done Ikeri. Not bad at all." Kakashi praised before moving on to our sword practice. 
                          
Kakashi said I was good with swords, especially katanas. We ended our training before night fall and went back for dinner. Before dinner Kakashi helped me wrap the wounds I got from training. It wasn't a lot only my right hand, my left leg and my stomach. Perhaps it looked like I was in a fight, Sakura, Tazuna and Inari's mother all asked me about it. Well, I was having spar with Kakashi. He was strong despite the fact that he was wounded. 
                          
We waited for Naruto and Sasuke to come back but they didn't. Sakura was going to volunteer to go look for them. That was when they entered. They were all beat up. By the tree climbing practice I suppose. 
                          
"Ikeri! You're back! What happened to you?! Did they beat you up?" Naruto came yelling. 
                          
Were my wounds that obvious? Well, my t-shirt was exposing my stomach area which was wounded and they could see my hand and legs so I suppose it was obvious. 
                          
"No. I was training." I replied. 
                          
Sasuke noticed the katana and gave me a look before speaking. "Training until you get this wounded?" 
                          
I ignored him. What's so good about him that papa loves him so much?
                          
Naruto and Sasuke seemed to have made each other their rival because they had a eating competition during dinner. Which was a waste of food since they puked it out. 
                          
After dinner Naruto was resting his head on the table and I was just finishing up my food. Seeing how hard Naruto, Sasuke and I worked with all those bruise and wounds Inari said something.
                          
"But why... All this stupid training is just a waste of time! Gato has a whole army and they'll beat you down and destroy you! No matter what you say, no matter what you do, the strong will always win and the weak will always lose!" Inari bursted out. 
                          
"Why don't you shut up. That may be how it works for you but not for me." Naruto said, not even glancing over at Inari. 
                          
"Why don't you just be quiet! Just looking at you makes me sick! You're just butting in! Always laughing around, you don't know what it means to suffer and get treated like a jerk!"
                          
"What was that?" I said glaring at him. "You don't know what it means to suffer. A person may look happy but you never know what's inside. You still have your mom and your grandfather. You still have them! They're still with you! At least...at least...you're not alone..." 
                          
Sadness filled me. I was going to cry soon. I knew it so I ran out. I ran into the room, locked the door and sat in the corner, hugged myself and cried. I miss papa so much. I didn't care how Kakashi needs to come in to sleep. 
                          
Kakashi POV 
                          
I was shocked at what Ikeri said. I never would've expected her to say that.
                          
After Ikeri left the room, Naruto snapped. "Listen to yourself, always complaining like some sorry little victim! You can whip for all day for all I care. You're nothing but a coward!" He glared at Inari and left the room too. 
                          
"Naruto! You went too far" Sakura said. 
                          
I went out and had a little talk with Inari. "You know, no matter how harsh it may have seemed. Naruto probably told himself that a hundred times. Well as for Ikeri... I'm not sure what happened to her in the past, but she's right, you're lucky to have your mom and your grandfather with you so you should appreciate them. I'm going back to the bedroom now, have a nice night." 
                          
He didn't reply but he nodded. His face was still buried in his knee. He was trying not to cry I suppose. 
                          
I went outside the room. I could hear sobs. Ikeri... She's crying...? I tried opening the door but it was lock. I guess there's only one last way. I went outside and went in the room through the window. Not the best way but the only way I've got. She obviously wouldn't open the door for me now would she? 
                          
I went in the window seeing Ikeri sitting at the corner. She was hugging herself, she stopped crying but she was staring into space. Her eyes looked dead. She looked dead. 
                          
I went towards her. "Ikeri..." 
                          
She seemed as if she didn't hear me at all. She didn't even bother to look up at me, she didn't even move a muscle. 
                          
All of a sudden, tears rolled down her eyes again and she started crying. I hugged her tight and didn't let go. Me hugging her seems to have calmed her down. Her crying slowly softened and lessened. Until in the end she stopped. I still continued hugging her though. I wanted to let go but her hands would hold me and make sure I stay there. 
                          
After awhile, she spoke softly. Her voice was fragile as if she could break any moment. 
                          
"Kakashi...Are you awake?" She said, her voice softer then ever. 
                          
"Hm?" 
                          
Silence fell for awhile until she spoken again. 
                          
"You know Kakashi... It...felt the same..." She said softly, putting her hands on my hands again tightening my hug. 
                          
What felt the same? I asked her but she didn't reply. She fell asleep like that so I didn't wake her up. 
                          
I guess I'm not figuring out any sooner. She seems to enjoy being hugged like that because she wouldn't let me let go the whole night.