Ethelia's pov

I can climb trees.

Without hands.

Apparently, that's all that needed to happen for me to become a ninja. I was skirted off to the Hokage's office the second I was able to walk up a tree without making dents in it, which took well over a week. During that time, Obito had bought me a whole lot of food, and my dad had gotten fired from his teaching job. I wasn't surprised: just disappointed. I had... I had hoped he'd turn around before that could happen, but I guess I understand. He's scared. I am too, honestly. 

"You can stop walking me home now, you know." I noted to Obito. My disgusting feelings towards him have gotten worse. I enjoy being around him. Not only that, but touching him isn't as revolting as it was before. I've found myself complained less and less when he insists on hanging out. I think he's dumb enough not to have noticed, but he will eventually. It will hit him one day, and I'll never live it down.

"Hey, I bought you dinner! I can do what I want!" Obito retaliated with a grin. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. 

"It's not like I made you by me food. Besides, this headband means I'm a ninja now. I'll just blow anyone who tries to mess with me up." I shrugged. The headband was tied securely around my forehead. It felt oddly... right to have it there. Yes, I know that's cheesy as hell, and I probably need a reality check, but I don't know. It's like I'm a part of something for once. Like I'm no longer the odd one out. It's... sort of nice, but I also want to burn it. It's a thin line.

"Come on! You like walking with me, don't you?" He pouted. I raised an eyebrow.

"Is this one of those times I'm supposed to lie to protect your delicate emotions?" I asked bluntly. He burst out laughing. Honestly, it's cute how he thinks I'm kidding. Really, nobody takes me seriously these days. They think I've become a team player. They're only half right.

"Goodnight, Ethelia." He said, amused. "I'll be here to pick you up in the morning!"

"Please don't." I sighed, shaking my head.

Third person pov

Obito watched with a light and happy heart as Ethelia entered her home. He enjoyed his time with her. She was the only one who took him for who he really was. She didn't care that he'd been branded the black sheep of the Uchiha, and she didn't compare him to Kakashi. She saw him for who he was. She saw him as Obito, and to him, that was absolutely everything.

Ethelia had warmed up to him quite a bit, from what Obito could tell. Their meals spent together bordered on dates. Obito felt more content than he ever had before. Unlike when he had a crush Rin, Ethelia actually acknowledged him, and gave him the time of day. That's not to say Obito particularly blamed Rin. She liked someone else-- Kakashi-- so of course her focus would be on the Hatake.

He felt like he should wait. He didn't know why, but he stood in front of Ethelia's house anyway, staring at the door. A sense of foreboding overtook him as he stared at the silent house. He strained his ears, folding his arms uneasily over his chest, and tapping his foot. He wasn't sure what he was so readily anticipating, but it was something. He could feel it in his bones. Like some sort of freaky gut feeling.

He wasn't sure how long he lingered outside Ethelia's house. He hadn't realized he could stay so still for so long. Then again, his foot was tapping like crazy. It got faster every minute, his anxiety increasing by a tenfold. Something was wrong. Something had to be wrong. Why else would he feel like this? Was Ryuki back in her house, maybe? Had he brought friends?

A loud crash from inside the house, and the sound of shattering glass, snapped Obito from his thoughts. He jolted forward, darting for the door. The screen popped open easily enough. He heard screaming inside the house; it was most definitely coming from Ethelia's father. He jiggled the knob. It was locked, of course. He cursed under his breath, pounding his fist on the door. "Hey!" He shouted. "Open up! Ethelia?!"

There was another crash, and what sounded like a yelp. A yelp that had come from a girl, for sure.

Obito felt rage well up inside him, and he broke the doorknob without a second thought. It hadn't been as hard as he thought. Maybe he was just being driven by his anger. He didn't know, and at that moment, he really, really didn't care. If Ethelia was hurt, he was going to kill someone. For real. He'd slit the throat of anyone who dared touch her. 

"Ethelia!" The door nearly flew off its hinges from how hard Obito slammed it open. He spotted Ethelia immediately, and his blood boiled. She was sitting up against the wall, her eyes wide. Her headband was in her lap, and one side of her face was covered in blood. The cut was near her hairline. Shards of glass surrounded her. It was clear her father had been throwing dishes.

"You'll die!" The man was sobbing heavily, but the rage in his eyes contrasted against it harshly. He had a bottle of booze in one hand, and the other was braced against the couch. "You'll... you'll die..."

"Dad..." Ethelia's voice cracked in a way that made Obito's heart stop.

"Ethelia, let's go." Obito rushed over and crouched down next to her, pulling her to her feet. "You can stay with me."

"But-" She stumbled a little, her eyebrows furrowed as though she couldn't quite believe what had just happened. 

"No. I'm taking you out of here." Obito glared at the girl's father. "And you... you're a piece of shit, you know?" 

Obito didn't say anything further, picking up Ethelia. The cut was bleeding a lot, but didn't look deep enough to need stitched. Obito frowned. He didn't think Ethelia would appreciate going to a hospital anyway.