The Flower That Blooms in the Darkness

I finished the sushi and stood over it proudly.

"Dinner!" I called. People practically ambushed me for it.

When Kisame-kun saw what was tonight's main course, he frowned. "I think I'll skip out on this one."

I laughed.

Wait, Kisame-kun's back. Then that means...

Itachi-chan's back, too!

Oh shit.

I looked around and saw him on the couch, smirking at me.

Clearly, he didn't fully understand what happened between me and Dei-chan.

Thank God.

And I don't think Dei-chan fully understood what I was trying to say.

So I'll need to do a one on one conversation.

Great.

I sighed, and ate my sushi.

When I was done, I towered over Dei-chan's shocked form.

"My room. Now."

He looked scared, so I sighed.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

Not physically, anyway.

I held my hand out to him. He hesitated, then took it.

I led him to my room, and closed the door.

"Dei-chan...."I started, then noticed we weren't alone.

The boy was sitting up in my bed, looking around warily.

The blue chakra-energy had disappeared.

I gasped.

It should've taken him at least another two days to recover!

If he's normal, that is.

I looked at him with even greater interest, now.

What powers do you wield?

I walked over to the bed. He didn't notice me.

"Hello." I said softly.

His head snapped over to me, his body tense.

Then he seemed to recognize me, and he relaxed.

"You remember me?" I asked, surprised.

Wow. His eyes were so empty then. It's amazing that he can recall our first encounter.

He nodded, then saw Dei-chan behind me.

"Don't worry; he won't hurt you. I won't let him." I promised.

He stared into my eyes, then nodded again.

"So...I'm Kuragari Natsumi. What's your name?"

I never saw a name-tag like mine on his cage.

He looked away.

"Listen, she asked you a question -- " Dei-chan began, but I held a hand out, signaling for him to stop.

Maybe....he can't talk?

Emotional scars left him mute?

"You simply....can't talk, can you?" I asked gently.

He nodded again.

Then, his stomach growled.

He blushed.

"Well, Let's get some food in you, then." I smiled at him in encouragement, and held out my hand.

His reaction was the same as Dei-chan's.

My smile expanded.

I led him into the family room, and it got quiet.

The boy blushed.

I ignored this, went into the kitchen, and got a plate for him.

"Now, which one would you like? No, wait -- I'll let you decide."

I stepped back, and he examined everything. Then he grabbed a single piece of sushi, and stepped back to where I was.

"You don't have to be shy, take as much as you want!" I smiled again.

This time, he took one of each.

He nibbled one cautiously.

"And you don't have to worry about it being poisoned, because if that were the case, I've just poisoned the whole Akatsuki!"

I heard sounds of gagging in the family room, and laughed.

Then I heard a small noise beside me.

He had laughed!

He looked up at me, I'm guessing to see if that was okay.

My smile broadened, put his plate on the counter, and I hugged him.

"You're so adorable!"

I let go.

He was blushing a bright red.

"And listen, I don't want to keep calling you 'boy', so I'll make a name for you until you can tell me yours, 'kay?"

He nodded.

"Hm......I think Mamoru sounds good. But we'll call you Mamoru-chan!" I exclaimed.

Dei-chan chuckled at me.

I whirled around to face him.

"We're still going to have a talk later, you know." I said sharply.

He sighed, and hung his head in defeat.

I looked at Mamoru-chan. He was still eating the sushi.

He seemed to like it.

Mamoru.

To protect.