(38) Reluctant friends and allies

⚠️Warning⚠️

- Mentions of panic attack

??? POV

I've seen blood and death but it shocked me that this little girl maybe a few years older than my little sister slit this guy clean. Granted it was in self-defense but the confused and scared look she had. I wish I could've intervened but it was too fast I couldn't keep up with my own eyes.

She was perplexed bit scared but I also saw her eyes shine darkly with a twisted glee and satisfaction, which kinda scared me a bit. She seemed to snap out of her trance and start to retrieve her knives and daggers. Not soon after she noticed me, cautious and warily "you're from the village" she muttered, narrowing her eyes "Have you been following me? How much have you seen?" She questioned

"No" I replied quickly raising my hands in surrender and to show her that I am no threat. It reminds me of dealing with hostile wildlife. "I haven't seen much, I swear"

She scoffed and broke out a little staring contest "I guess your no threat. But that doesn't mean I should trust you, I don't even know you so if you want to then you have to give me a reason to."

"H-hey, let's start with an introduction, yeah. To get to know each other. I got nothing to hide." I said a bit warily. Her eyes seem to scan me for any hint of deception "I'll start, I'm Ryuji, Tanaka Ryuji." I introduced

"Why should I just give myself up to? Am I just supposed to trust you? You-you've been spying on me, haven't you." I noticed that she started to get a shaky breath, her eyes were still frantic.

'Oh, great, the paranoid type...She's afraid. But of what? Is it cause of the kill?' I questioned "No, just a crazy coincidence that's all" I cautiously say "But…I know who you are" I add

"I'm not what you think. I'm not a monster." She said warily

"No, I didn't say you were; You had to do what to do to survive. They deserved your damn wrath." I say truthfully

"Y-you saw?" She muttered, I nodded, her eyes widen to the size of dish plates, still flooded with fear then started to flicker around frantic once more.

"You kill the guy? Yeah, but he deserved it for what he and his gang were doing to you." I replied

"But it's still murder and I…" she shook her head, Swift, fiercely "I promised I wouldn't become a monster." She said beginning to cry hysterically.

"But your not. Why would you ever say something like that about yourself?" her breathing became more rapid

'Hyperventilating? She's having a panic attack…Godamnit she's having a panic attack!'

" It's an okay kid. It's okay, just focus on my voice." I try to assure you. I don't know if it was from killing the guy or seeing his lifeless and bloody body firsthand that made her go into shock but it looked like she was having an internal battle with herself and going through an internal crisis of some sort. She was so much in that state that she must have passed out from the sheer stress of it.

Reika's POV

Ok, to be frank, all I remember is following some bird as if it was a rabbit leading me to wonderland. Oh, I'd go for some escapist fantasies right about now in my life. And then I was ambushed by some thugs, blood, and a blonde guy -Naruto?...No.

"Hey kid, kid..." an echo-y alto voice said "Kid..."

"I have a name" I groaned as I regained consciousness

"Your awake, thank god you're awake." He let out a sigh of relief

"Who are you?" I questioned as a scowl plasterer itself in my face and my brows knitted into a semi-skeptical semi-hostile look.

"You must not remember me. You had me at a damn heart attack, it looked like you were going through some sort of internal crisis before." He explained "Right after…" he paused "-right after an assault of yours died" he finished

"Death isn't a new concept for me" I replied monotoned my face expressionless "Now answer the question: Who are you?" I demanded once more.

"Tanaka Ryuji and I helped you. See after your fight with those men near the waterway you were in massive shock-"

"-From killing them" I finished my downcast eyes found my lap very interesting.

"Yeah" he nodded "But he freaking deserved it they all did if you asked me my damn opinion."

"Shut up." I growled lowly "Just shut up!" I could feel them flicker with the surge of my untamed emotions, I just hope he's stupid enough to miss it. But at this point, I think he knows that there's more than meets the eye.

"Why are you out here alone, you were almost hurt?"

"That's none of your business. Like I said at the hotel it's complicated. I'm here for reasons that frankly don't concern you." He pressed his lips into a small frown

"You need an attitude check. If you want to gain anyone's trust you need to open up so others trust you easier as well. Trust goes both ways"

"If I wanted to open up I would have." I huffed, glaring at the sandy blonde teenager "And I didn't need your help. I still don't need it."

"Drop the arrogant attitude that will be your downfall"

"You don't think I know that! I may be young doesn't mean I'm smart. Don't you think I know that?" I retorted letting out an exasperated sigh

"So..." he spoke up again after a small pause "Your an Uchiha if I'm correct," He said, I think I visibly stiffen at the comment

"What?!"

"So it's true?" he replied "Back at the town your eyes, they were a fierce scarlet. And again just moments ago when you were fighting"

"So if it is, What's it to you?!" I retorted a bit meaner than attended "Maybe I am, maybe I ain't, either way, I'm not telling some nobody like you."

Ryuji POV

This kid is infuriating me with her condescending back and forth; you try and help one time and instead you get into an argument with a bratty pre-teen. *sigh* Well she's not the most annoying person that I've met before. have you ever tried and hold a conversation with a guy without them talking about death every effin second I mean damn there are other things besides how to kill someone 100 alternative ways. But it seems more like she's very defensive and very hesitant on giving a straight answer. 'I know what I saw that was the Sharingan I saw, no doubt that makes her an Uchiha I swear my eyes weren't playing tricks.' I deiced to put my theory to the test, tho I doubt I'd get a straight answer.

"So...."You're an Uchiha if I'm correct"

I hit something, because her form visibly stiffened up on the spot "What?!" She said as she glanced over her shoulder, her onyx iris made it harder to see the fact that they have enlarged, and flooded with panic and worry.

"So it's true?" I calmly replied, I didn't need her to reply, her expression gave it away. "Back at the town your eyes, they were a fierce scarlet. And again just moments ago when you were fighting"

"So if it is, What's it to you?! Maybe I am, maybe I ain't, either way, I'm not telling some nobody like you."

'Hey rude much' My expression twisted into a slight frown

"So that's a 'yes' I suppose," I say with a roll of my eyes, arms crossed over my chest. I annoyed that she's being 10x difficult than necessary.

"How do you know?"

"I don't it's a hunch (But you just told me), usually when one has glow-y red eyes they usually are an Uchiha." I explain in a nutshell

she let out a defeated sigh "And how do you know you can keep word from getting out, to my knowledge everyone knows of only two survivors. Or at least the two have a big spotlight on them unlike me which I want to remain that way. I would want the unnecessary attention." she huffs 'I wonder why's that is? and to my knowledge, there's three, but she's right with the part about big news and rumors mostly being about them.'

"So you haven't given your name, you know it's damn rude for someone to not introduce themselves when the other one was generous enough to do so."

" calls me Rei...and yes I'm an Uchiha." She finally introduced with an exasperated sigh

Reika's POV

"Calls me Rei, and yes I'm an Uchiha." 'And not at all related to Some guy who should not be named' is what I wanted to add. 'They're dead to me why should I give two craps on their well-being, they wouldn't for me?! -ah curse my big heart.' Sometimes I think I'm too caring for my good, even if they're dead to me I don't want them dead, mostly. Err, I'm getting off track ain't I?

"Rei."

"yeah, it's short for nareiki." I lied but if the boy was he'd catch on then he'd know who I am.

"I like it, either way, it's a pretty name" he flashed a small grin

"Thanks," I said a faint blush rose to my cheeks from the slightly embarrassing and awkward moment "I don't usually get a lot of compliments" I muttered

"That's bullish-er crap," he replied

I just shrugged "What can you say I don't." I said nonchalantly

"C'mon I bet your friends compliment you all the time"

"I don't have many, but I guess so." there was a short pause before I spoke once more "Uhm, sorry for being rude to you earlier." I said brushing the back of my neck a bit stiffly I uh, don't trust so easily so..." I trailed off

"No. I get it you have to be tough out here or else bigger fish will get you."

"But still, I shouldn't have treated you with that much hostility; after I know your not a jerk, you're actually a decent guy."

"Arigatō. You know you remind me of my sister...well besides the whole blood-lusted thing."

"I'm not a monster" I muttered, hugging my knees up to my chest

"I didn't say you were, just because we have to do bad things doesn't mean we are bad people." I glanced back up at him "Sometimes we have to do things we don't necessarily like to survive. It doesn't make you any different."

"I just thought if I would ever kill that then it means that it turns me into something I'm afraid to be." I honestly don't know why I'm opening myself up to this stranger, don't have a clue, But I misjudged him because he just makes me feel calmer and safe for some reason. I just know that he isn't a threat...yet.

"Fear is your greatest enemy, you must conquer the fear that lives in your heart."

I stare at him for a second before giving a curt nod "That is wise-"

"Yeah, I use to tell my sister that when faced with fear, the best way to conquer it is to confront it and free yourself from it."

"-but not always easy as said. It could also be our downfall"

"C'mon, stop being so cynical." he said lightheartedly, laughing, and punched me lightly in the shoulder, making me feel a hint of a strange feeling I haven't felt in a while "Lighten up, you Uchihas need to lighten up a bit and not be so stiff all the time." I gave him a look cause how he said that last sentence, was too casual, as he knew us; And still that doesn't mean we all act the same either. But I didn't act on it. I'll just keep that thought in the back of my mind for now.

"I can't promise anything but I'll try and tone down the cynicism a bit." I truthfully say

"So what brings someone like you out here?" I asked, changing the subject

"My sister. We got separated and I'm looking for her."

I subtly bit my lip, I can't believe 15 minutes of knowing the guy and I'm already seething green with envy and I don't know why it is. I cut that off, mostly; everyone except for a few exceptions, tho I don't know of their options and how drastically they could've changed over the time. *scoff* Like I care. Lie! I care even if I don't exactly admit it, even to myself.

"I'm sorry," I say sympathetically "At least you have someone, I have no one but myself." I said my eyes glazed over. 'Well it's technically not a lie. At least you have family, I don't think no one cares for me, they're all dead one way or the other'

'And you know what, all they are is dead to you, they did nothing for you why should you do the same?' The voices in the back of my head argue.

'Yeah! But that's not all true…'

"That's even sadder"

"Spare the sympathies. It's been like that for half of my life. I don't care, it's better to be ampathetic, it makes it hurt less to say the least." I said my voice empty and my eyes still glazed over as they find the ground real interesting.

I felt a gentle finger swipe at something and with the other lightly squeeze my opposing shoulder "Well your tears say different. Damn I know that feeling."

"Do you really. That feeling you feel is not the same as mine, so don't say it is." I say coldly while swatting it away. "….But if you want I can help…"

"Really!" He said in utter shock

"Why so shocked? You shouldn't be, I'm happy to help. I can sympathize with that." I say truthfully

"Arigatō! Arigatō!" he gleefully cheered trying to smoother me in a hug with I resist and push away his advances

"Just lay off a bit on the touchy-feel-y stuff." I muttered a bit annoyed

"Sumimasen" He replied sheepishly

"Yeah. just don't make it too big of a deal, ok." I huffed and crossed my arms. I don't exactly trust him all the way but I feel sympathy for the teen.

What's your opinion on Ryuji love him hate? him comment your thoughts on him.