The Flower That Blooms in the Darkness

"Onee-chan."

Mamoru-chan was talking!

"Mamoru-chan!" I squealed and picked him up, twirling us both through the air, with me laughing and crying at the same time like some maniac.

He was blushing, as usual.

Kisame-kun and Dei-chan were laughing.

And Zetsu-kun was actually smiling!

Well, his white side was.

I set him down, and sighed with happiness.

"You actually spoke, Mamoru-chan! And you called me 'onee-chan'! I love you!" I then tackled him, laughing.

"Er...Natsumi? Are you feeling okay?" Kisame asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine." I waved off his concerns, getting up.

"Onee-chan, didn't you come in here to talk to Deidara-oji-chan?"

Kisame and I bust out laughing, and Dei-chan was blushing.

He may have called me Big Sister, but he's calling Dei-chan Uncle!

Then I realized he had a point.

I grabbed Dei-chan's hand and pulled him into his room.

"Kisame-kun, watch Mamoru-chan for me, will ya?" I called over my shoulder, and shut the door before he could answer.

"Dei-chan, let's talk."

"You're not going to hurt me again, are you, un?" He asked apprehensively.

"No, I'm not." I sighed. "But we need to get a few things straight, here. First of all -- "

"Natsumi-chan, do you think I didn't mean it when I said I loved you or something, un? Because you've been acting awfully weird since then, un."

"It's not whether or not I believe you; I'm talking about -- "

"Natsumi-chan, do you believe me, un?" He asked firmly, putting his hands on my shoulders.

I looked up into his eyes, and sighed again. "Yes. I do."

"Then stop playing around, un. Because I need to know if you feel the same way."

I avoided his probing stare, and pushed his hands off of me.

"I'm going for a walk." I muttered, leaving.

I can't do this to him, either.

Damn.