Ethelia's pov

I really didn't want to leave the house. Leaving made me feel vulnerable, especially without my hoodie. After what happened last night, I don't feel safe going out alone even during the day. My bacon is lucky Obito was there. Damn me, Rin and Kakashi would have saved their own asses.

"Fuck my life." I muttered to myself as I exited my house. I could hear Mark and my dad chatting as I closed the door, but I didn't care to listen in. I let my eyes sweep the lawn instead. I see no signs of pedophiles but you never know man. They could be in bushes. Trash cans, where they belong. Trees. Who knows.

The walk to the training grounds was short and tense, and every single noise was a threat. Seriously, a leaf fell and I almost screamed bloody murder. Those guys weren't fully taken care of. They didn't burn to death, and the police didn't catch them, which means they're still out there. Ryuki is still out there. It's freaking me out to be honest, and not much freaks me out. Save for wet food in the sink and the idea of a being friends with someone.

"Ethelia, there you are!" Minato crowed. To my surprise, Obito was already there. Early. This is a rare occurrence. Maybe there's a shortage of old ladies that need help crossing the street. I wish I could sleep in and then pretend I did something productive, but then they'd know because I'd be slightly more awake than I usually am.

"Hey." I muttered, yawning deeply. Rin blinked at me in awe. 

"Your hair doesn't look like a birds nest." She said. I might be upset if it weren't so true. My hair is an actual tangle of horror and despair most days. They've never seen it all combed out and nice, let alone put in a braid.

"Yeah, Mark broke in and did it this morning." I scowled at the memory. Mark is an asshole. A real, legitimate asshole. But I also think he wants to be a hairstylist one day. He's never said it outright, but he loves messing around with my hair, and experimenting with his own. Not sure why, but he does. I mean, if that's his passion he should go for it. Better yet, he should go to a hair... stylist school thing out of this village!

"Broke in? That weird kid?" Kakashi scofffed as though I were joking. I wish I was. Really and truly, not only for my sake, but for the sake of our fridge. He cleans that thing out far too often. My dad may be alright with it, but I'm not. That's my substinance. My will to live. And he just keeps taking it away. I don't think I'm okay with that. Not today, not tomorrow. I get hungry fast, so when I'm starving, he will be the one to pay.

Blood will be spilled.

"Yeah, he does that sometimes. Raided the fridge too." I frowned. "I also think he's stealing my socks, but I haven't accused him yet. I know sometimes he does my laundry... it could be that they dryer is eating them again." I pursed my lips in thought, flinching when Rin suddenly turned to Minato. Damn, I'm jumpy today. 

"Are we training again today, sensei?" Rin questioned. Obito inched closer to me, concern swimming in his coal eyes. The attention was turned away from me when Rin, Minato and Kakashi began to converse. Obito apparently saw this as his time to strike. He's dropping a socialization bomb on me, and I don't think I'm okay with that. But he did just save my life so I'll allow the explosive to meet its target just this once. Next time, though, I'll be deflecting it. Thank you.

"Are you alright? You seem jumpy." He said in a hushed tone. I looked at him, surprised.

"You can actually be that quiet?" I gasped quietly. "Since when?"

"Oh shut up." He snorted, punching my shoulder. I narrowed my eyes. So friendly. So touchy. So gross. I didn't sign up for friendly punches to the shoulder, and satan forbid he try to hug me. "But seriously, are you alright? That was pretty intense. And those guys are still out there... you didn't have any trouble on the way here, did you?" He looked down at me.

"What're you guys whispering about over there?" Rin laughed. "Come on! Didn't you hear Minato-sensei? Two laps around the village, and then we're going to try our luck with some more D-ranks! We better start now if we don't want to finish late again." She winked and then took off after Kakashi.

"Running? Again?" I scoffed, and Obito laughed.

"Ethelia, we run everyday." He put a hand on my upper back. Okay so, no. I will sprint straight out this bitch. That or I'll get uncomfortable enough to fly straight into the sun. I'd aim for that bright, burning start too. I'd rather burn up in the Earth's atmosphere than have someone being all friendly and friend-like to me. And then thinking it's okay. That's even worse.

"Ugh, whatever. Let's just go." I grumbled, taking off at a jog. Obito immediately matched my pace, and we began in a silence I knew wouldn't last. Not knowing him. He'll say something random or idiotic, and I'll be sarcastic and insult him or his dick. Same difference. Either way, this peace will not last. But one of these damn day's I'll be in shape and I'll be able to zoom my way straight out of and and every social situation.

We jogged for around four minutes, me wishing he's speed up already, and him simply enjoying the scenery. Konoha really was a beautiful place, but I also really didn't care. Being outside is not my favorite past time, and when you're running, everything seems a lot duller. Instead of thinking about how beautiful Konoha's moss covered walls are, I'm wondering how long it would take to climb it, and more importantly, if the fall would kill me.

"Your hair is really pretty." Obito said suddenly. I looked up at him, squinting. "Like, really, I really like it. You're looking extra cute today." He winked and laughed.

"Uh huh. I'm sure." I muttered. 

"No, really! I genuinely think you're a good looking person." Obito swore with that same, goofy grin plastered on his face. I gave him the driest look I could muster up. Flattery is not key here; food is. They say the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, well it's the damn same for me. So I will start showing him "the love" as soon as he feeds me.

"Compliments don't work on you." He pouted, and I snorted slightly. Glad he's figured that one out. I must of looked pretty uninterested if he somehow came to that conclusion. "Man, that's insane. What if I... I don't know!" He threw his hands in the air. 

"Mellow me out more. Then try to flatter my. I'm sure I'll turn into a tomato." Giving false hope is my favorite thing to do, and then watching them get crushed when they realize it isn't going to happen is what I do in my past-time, thank you.

"So if I feed you?" Obito laughed, and then it seemed to dawn on him. "Whoa, I should just feed you!"

"I will not complain." I said, my eyes wandering to the right as we began to pass some of the outer neighborhoods. The houses near the wall were large, with towering pillars in the front and stone columns expertly shaped. In short, they were mansions, with huge green yards and fountains. 

"What kinds of foods do you like? You strike me as someone who'd eat anything. I don't want to assume, though. Sensei once told me that's super rude. Hey, did you know that I really hate crawfish?" He rambled as my eyes scanned the houses. My eyes swept every inch of everyone, and then I found what I was looking for.

Almost unconsciously, my hand reached out to grab Obito's wrist. He stopped talking immediately, looking confused. "Ethelia, are you alright? What is it? If you wanted to hold my hand, you could have just said so." He laughed. I rolled my eyes. What an idiotic asshat.

"I'm holding your wrist, dolt, and look." I continued walking, but subtly nodded to where I'd been looking. Obito was dragged along when I tugged on his wrist. Still, he squinted at the houses. I saw his coal eyes search the homes. His hand twitched, the one that's wrist I was holding. His cheeks were flushed. What a baby. Is he getting embarrassed because I'm almost holding his hand?

"Oh, shit." He whispered when he spotted him.

Leaning over the railing of his balcony, unmistakably, was Ryuki. He was too far away to make out any of his facial features really, but you could definitely tell that it was him. I felt my heart rate increase nervously, and my nerves shot through the roof. I looked up at Obito with wide eyes, and he pulled his wrist from my grasp, putting the arm over my shoulder. 

"Keep walking." He muttered. "He won't try anything. Not after I almost burned him." 

"Shit man, I'm so pathetic." I whispered shakily. Thoughts of what could have happened last night flew through my head, and I paled. What if he tries again? Obito and I are alone right now, and Kakashi and Rin are most definitely ahead. We could get jumped or something. I don't want Obito to suffer because some guy has beef with my sorry ass.

"No, you're not. It's okay." He pulled me closer to him, looking over my head to glare at the balcony. "He's gone."

"Excuse me?" I pulled away slightly so I could better look up at him. "Hell no?"

"He really is." Obito said as we entered more trees. I glanced around nervously. Damn this isn't okay. I'm going to die. Obito is going to die too, and it'll be all my fault. This is some dumbass shit. I need to learn how to do shit, and fast. That way I can protect myself and Obito. I'm suicidal, but I can't die! What would my dad do?! And as much as I hate people, I do want the war to end. It's effecting everyone, even my dad. Income has been at an all time low since the war started. And he lost healthcare benefits he probably needs.

"Ethelia, it's gonna be fine. I'm here, and breathing fire isn't all I can do. I've got a few other tricks up my sleeve." He winked at me, and I took a deep breath. 

"Just don't... die, or anything." I felt my body become lighter, and it drifted up slightly. Obito kept his arm firmly around my shoulders, but I knew he felt the change in my gravity. He kept me in place with ease, and I took a deep breath. I'm being dumb. Nothing is even happening. Even last night, nothing happened to me. I need to calm down and buck the fuck up. 

It'll be fine.

Because one day I'm going to beat the ever living shit out of that annoying son of a bitch.