[Chapter 7: Once More, Be Here With Me]

"Are you mocking me?" I snorted at Sasuke's cold statement, the back of his duck-like haircut in front of me.

I let out an amused him, a hand under my cheek. "Now why would I do that?" I wondered innocently, eyes glancing up at the ceiling for just a moment. "I mean, mocking the arrogant and asshole Sasuke would be a sin!"

He let out a click of his tongue. "You are." It was then that he swiped his paw— I mean, hand at a glowing red dot, only to miss. I laughed at his cat-like curiosity, moving the small laser in my hand. Kyaah, it was totally worth buying this!

Honestly, I didn't plan much for today, considering that I wasn't even supposed to be here. So, I ended up just lounging in my dorm. It was early morning, in which only Sasuke and Sakura, who were eating breakfast, were awake. And due to my awesome purchase, I was able to experience such a familiar feeling.

Also known as teasing a certain Uchiha.

Hearing a low groan, I only had the chance to blink before a familiar pink-haired teenager snatched the laser from me. "Oi, stop messing with Sasuke-kun," She scolded despite my whines, tucking it in her shirt pocket. The ninja then sat down beside me, crossing her legs as she then... did nothing.

I turned to my side. "Now that I think about it, what do you guys even do when I'm gone?" I asked, pursuing my lips.

"Go on your laptop." I blinked, mouth slightly parted but then I closed it, narrowing my eyes. Why am I even surprised? They probably saw me type it that other time.

My head cocked to the side, pushing a strand back. "That's it?"

She nodded. It was then that Sasuke spoke up, sitting on the ground. "There's a thing called YouTube, Oh god YouTube, how I missed its terrible capitalistic ass. I peered in closer as if that would let me hear more. "It's... very interesting. It has a lot of videos."

I raised a finger. "That's cuz a lot of people are desperate for money or fame or whatever," I explained, waving up a hand as Naruto groggily entered the scene. "Heya, Naruto."

"Hey, Ashley..." Came his tired voice, scratching his tummy with small mumbles. I guess he's not fully awake. Turning his heel, he entered the kitchen. "Sakura-chan, did you make anything?"

"Why do you always rely on me

to make food for you?!" She shouted with a hand next to her lips, furrowing her brows. But then she slouched. "...I cooked chicken strips— there at the table."

I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with a hand. Aww... she cares. I then shrugged with a mental slap to my forehead. What am I talking about, of course, she cares— this isn't the original Sakura that was much harsher towards him. "Wanna give it back to me?" I whispered close to the other female, pointing at the cat laser pointer. She gave me a skeptical expression, in which I only smiled. "I wanna see if it works on Naruto."

She blinked, giving a small 'oh' before gingerly giving it back at me. Poggers, I thought. I guess she still has bias. And right on cue, the blond walked in, a chicken strip in his mouth.

"Mmm, this tastes different from the food from home— really... really seasoned?" I tried translating as his mouth was full. "Mm, seasoned."

"Naruto," I called his name, thumb pressing against the small rod. He turned his head— in which I strike. "Look over there!" Turning the laser on, I quickly pointed at the wall, a bright red dot appearing. I ignored how the other two whipped their heads right away.

The protagonist just decided to stand there and stare. "...Was I supposed to do something?" He questioned me after a moment, furrowing his brows.

I pouted, turning it off. "Damn."

Sasuke looked up from his seat, eyes back at us now that the red light was gone, "That just means that he's already an animal."

"Haaah?!" He gawked, back bent as his hands were out. "Oi, teme, I'm not an animal, dattebayo!"

"No, no, in hindsight, it makes sense," I suddenly thought, placing a hand under my chin. I continued before he could complain. "Like, I think a fox better fits you." Now that I think about it, did Kurama change as well? I pictured a cat-fox manifestation. Huh.

"Anyways, it's a shame," I let out a totally-not-dramatic sigh. "It just means that I can only do this." As soon as I pressed it on and pointed the laser at a wall, both Sasuke and Sakura stood up. "To these two."

As if a curse was broken, the two suddenly got out of their trance, glaring down at me. "Ashley!" I giggled at the kunoichi's accusing shout, only to yelp when she took back my laser.

"Maah, maah," Kakashi, who was somehow here, waved them off, lounging next to me with a closed eye. "No need to be feisty."

I laughed sheepishly as the pink-haired girl reluctantly scooted back, half-heartedly glaring at me. "Hey, Hey", I called out for the scarecrow. The said silver-head rose a brow, darting his eye at me. "Can I pet you?"

"Are you comparing me to a dog?"

"... Yes." I pumped my fists up. "Come on, it'll be cute!"

"Haah, I was defending you too," He sighed, slouching against the sofa, giving me a deadpan with a hand under his cheek. "Just because I appeared as a dog, does not mean that I inhabit its—" As soon as I held my hand out, he instantly placed his on top of it, giving a good shake.

"Ah."

We both let out at the same time, silencing the room. We— we just stared at our hands, dumbstruck at what just happened.

"Pffft—" I was the first to crack, turning my head away with a laugh. "Wh— what happened to not acting like a dog?" I struggled to say, shoulders trembling with amusement. Ahahaha, if only I was Megumi right now...!

"Hahaha!" Naruto laughed with an accusing finger at his teacher, a cheeky grin on his face. "Doggie teacher."

Feeling that Kakashi didn't want to talk any further, considering the bewildered expression he gave at his hand, I sank back against the couch. I took a deep breath, exhaling through my mouth. "Do you guys wanna go anywhere?" I suggested absentmindedly, eying them.

They all glanced at me. "Hm? Why do you ask?" Sakura spoke for the team.

"You guys have been cooped up in here," I explained, waving a finger in the air. Besides the one day that we went shopping, I added internally. "And I feel like you ninjas are the type of people who can't stay still."

"Nah," The jonin objected, face facing the ceiling. "The outside's full of scents and it messes with my head." And he says he's not a dog. I narrowed my eyes in amusement. "And besides, it's a dream to just stay inside all the time."

I feel like would beg to differ at the moment, I instantly thought— though I didn't really know why. "Even if we would go outside," The emo duckling started with a quick glance. "Where would we even go?" I looked away, pushing my lips together. "...You didn't think that far."

"What do you mean I— ok yeah, you're right." I sighed in defeat, puffing my cheeks out as I leaned against the pinkette. She tensed at my touch but decided not to do anything (whether it was cuz she's nice or simply thought that one punch would kill me who the fuck knows). "So no going out?"

Naruto, who finally decided to sit down, shrugged. "I guess. But there's nothing to do, dattebayo."

I let out a hum, furrowing my brows while placing a hand under my chin. Hmm... "Oh!" I pathetically tried to snap my fingers, only to clap my hands instead. I then whipped out my phone, my fingers rapidly typing down the password. "I think I have an idea!"

"I don't have any ideas."

If it weren't for the fact that I don't have any carpet and that 'wow, that would fucking hurt', my knees would've slammed against the floor. "Noo!!!" I whined with a fist pounding weakly at the wooden floor. "The only flaw in my plan!"

Kicking his shoes away, Tae-young rose a brow. "Was that seriously the only reason you called me here?"

Sasuke, who was leaning against the wall, crossed his arms. "Most likely," You know, I'm surprised that he was the one that bothered to come in. Maybe it's the character development?

Bruh, I'm not that simple-minded. Kinda. "But come in, come in!" I said, stepping behind him to usher him in.

"Yeah, yeah," He responded with a small smile, causing me to giggle. Walking in, he bobbed his head as the others came into view. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Alrighty then!" I announced, a hand on my hip now that everyone was crowding the live room. "Does anyone have any ideas now?" Dead silence. My stance faltered, letting out a sigh. "Guys, this chapter is going to get really boring."

"What."

"What?" I blinked. No, seriously what were we talking ab— oh yeah! "Ooo, I got it!" With a small bounce in my step, I rushed to my room, kneeling in front of one of my roommate's drawers. Sure, they might be at their own families for the summer but do I feel guilty? I looked down at what I grabbed.

...Nope!

Jogging back into the room, I waved the item in my hands in the air. "I got it!" I announced, watching as everyone's attention darted to me.

"You said that already," Oh shush. Sakura's brows furrowed as she processed my actions. "What is that?"

I giggled, settling down on the floor. "This..." I slapped the big boy. "Is Uno!"

"Oi teme, stop skipping me!"

"Get good then, dobe."

Oh boy, look at all this chaos. Was all I could think as everyone was tense. It's been approximately... 7 minutes? 7 minutes since we've started playing a match and uh, wow, people are already getting hectic. With myself sitting in between Kakashi and Tae, we had split up the cards evenly.

It just turns out everyone likes to cuck other people.

"Okay, I'll do this then," Sakura placed down a red 5. I can deal with that. I thought, rubbing my 6 cards that were stacked neatly in my hand. I placed it in a way that was hidden from eyes but not suspicious— gotta keep them guessing, even at this.

Now that it was my reincarnated friend's turn, he took one quick glance at his what seemed to be 8 cards. "Here," He placed down a red 3.

I hummed, tilting my head from side to side. "A red 3, huh," I looked at Kakashi, "Would you like a red?" I asked, smiling.

He eyed me suspiciously, though kept a calm face. "It doesn't matter to me." Lies. I immediately thought, noticing every single change in his posture, body language, and quirks. He's bothered.

I just shrugged, swiftly taking out my second card. "Oh well," I threw it down, revealing it to be a yellow 3.

Poor Kakashi, staring at his hand with a hard look. This was like, I don't know, the 5th time I did this? I stifled a giggle as he grudgingly sighed with a hand reaching out for another card.

"Another skip," Sasuke quickly stated.

"Oi!"

Aha, this will take a while.

And guess what? It fucking did— it took over 2 hours actually. At that point, we were all exhausted, it was hot— but no, these ninjas were fucking .

"Ah—" I darted my head at the Seong, gawking with wide eyes. "How could you?!" I pointed at the plus-2 he fucking decided to give me.

"I'm sorry???" He apologized with a questionable tone, waving his hands in defeat. "It's not my fault that Naruto reversed the reverse!"

I sighed, "Oh nooooo, whatever should I— plus four." I slapped down my card. In that instant, I finally gave in to the growing urge to smile. Kyahaha— suck on that, ya dum dum.

"No..." The scarecrow's lip (from what I could tell from his mask) trembled, staring at me with utter betrayal in his hopeless eyes. "You didn't."

"Sorry," I placed a hand over my mouth. Holy fuck— it's hot and I'm too focused to turn on the air conditioner. "But I don't plan on being last place. Also blue."

I saw the little life left in him fly out. "Nope, no, I'm out." And just like that, he tossed his 26 cards away. "I'm done— I want my dogs." Bitch, you the dog.

Turning away, I noticed how the Uchiha placed down a blue 5.

"Uno!" What the fuck?!

Adrenaline pumped in my veins at Naruto's sudden yet prideful exclamation, seeing that he, indeed, had one card left.

"Wha— how?!" Sakura shouted, clutching her 3 cards tightly, yet not enough to wrinkle them. She better not, it's not even mine. Her pink hair swayed as she then whipped her face at us. "Do you guys have anything?"

"No,"

"I, uh, may have wasted all my plus's on Kakashi...?"

The pinkette groaned, placing down her blue 7. "Cha..."

Tae grumbled, grabbing a card in defeat.

But I was not ready for defeat just yet.

No... I won't ever give up!

"Don't worry, I may not have any skips or plus cards left," I assured them all, watching as they all curiously looked at me. I smirked, raising my hand in the sky. "But what I do have." In dramatic effect, I slammed my hand down. "Is the legendary Exodia!"

"What the fuck is that?!"

So, safe to say, Naruto somehow won.

"Ne, can we get ice cream?" Naruto fanned himself, a wide grin on his face despite the heat. "It's hot!"

"We don't have any," I reasoned, finally getting up to turn on the AC. Ah— my legs lost circulation. I winced at the tingling yet stinging pain.

The blond groaned, "Then buy them!" He whined, leaning against the couch. "It's my prize for winning, dattebayo."

I exhaled through my nose with narrowed eyes. But then I averted away. Ice cream does sound nice... and it's pretty cheap... "Fine," As the main character let out a cheerful noise, I stretched my back, walking over to my room.

"Oh, I'll go as well," The dark-haired adult volunteered, causing me to stop with a raised brow.

Hm? "No, you don't have to," I assured with a small smile. "The convenience store is close by, it'll be quick."

"It's fine," He insisted, already standing up.

Wait, he really doe— and he's already putting on his shoes. I sighed after a moment, turning away. "'Kay, wait by the door— I'm gonna change and then we'll go."

Like I said, going to the convenience store was quick. We just walked in and straight away, got the ice cream. It was a bit relieving, I had to say because it was one of the few trips where I didn't almost die. Again.

I took one exhale as I relished in the cool dusk air, the darkness turning on the lights. My heels tapped lightly against the concrete, letting the cold bag in my hand clash softly against my leg. I stayed close to my friend, who held a hand out.

"Are you sure you don't want me to hold it?" He offered, raising a brow.

I giggled, taking a step forward. "It's fine, don't want you to do everything," I reasoned, going into a walking pace. The Korean strode up nice to me, shrugging as he kept up.

The walk wasn't much at first— after all, there wasn't any need for conversation. The streets were quiet as well, as now one would walk nowadays. All we could hear was the soft gushing wind and the distant traffic.

But... I glanced down to my side, eyeing a certain body part. I... I wanna hold it. "Tae,"

He turned away to face me, "Yeah, Princess?" I blinked at the familiar nickname, but I quickly dismissed it.

Taking a deep breath, "I wanna hold hands," I announced.

"Wha—" In an instant, his face burst into a pink mess.

I giggled, my head tilting downwards as he averted his gaze away, a hand reaching up for his nape. "Ehe, but if you don't want to, I don't mi—"

My voice interrupted by his hand reaching out. Ah. "Here." Came his curt yet flustered response. I halted in my tracks, staring at it. I... I glanced back at my hand— one so very different from Megumi's. I pushed back the lump in my throat— am I really getting nervous for something like this?

I resisted the urge to huff. Of course, I am. But... I felt my heart beating clearly in my ears. Like a soft, meticulous yet fast drumming. My feelings are stronger than that.

Gingerly taking his hand, my heart seemed to flutter as slowly, yet tenderly, our fingers interlocked. Kyaaaa...! I gushed, feeling the smallest of embarrassment pool my stomach. "Mm," I let out, examining the tiny details on his hand. It was much bonier than mine— yet not really skinny. Bigger than mine, at least. Well, men's hands are usually larger.

"Shall we go?" I blinked at the closeness we shared, his eyes staring deep into mine. His eyes seemed to glisten from the light from a nearby streetlamp. He... well... he looked like Tae— I didn't know how else to explain it.

Did I really need to?

My lips quirked up. "Yep!" We also don't want to have the ice cream melt, hehe.

The silence befalls between us again— though all that occupied on my mind was him: his very everything.

I was an idiot, thinking that just because we were back here, that he was somehow different. That I was just— just different.

It just wasn't true. My feelings were proof of that.

"Tae," I called out to him once more, a smile never breaking away. Though, it wasn't forced. No, it hasn't been forced around him for a while. My ears picked up a small grunt from the adult, allowing me to continue. "I enjoy doing these... just being together," I admitted, taking a deep breath. "Being with you, I feel relaxed."

I wasn't expecting a response, but then he opened his mouth. "I feel the same." He quietly muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. There was a tiny quiver in his voice, as if just the mere mention embarrassed him. My eyes narrowed with joy. "I... I want this to last more than a lifetime."

I felt the need to nitpick on his words. "Even past death?"

His chuckle was like the soft chimes of bells to my ears, his lips turning into a grin. "Yeah, even past death."

Despite my smile, I couldn't help but feel just the ever-growing guilt in my chest. I... I know that he likes me. I, Megumi or not, like him back. But— My stomach churned.

I just can't help but cower away.

My hands interlocked with his squeezed, giving me comfort when the dark-haired man squeezed back. I... I wonder—

If we never go back, would I have the courage to confess?

Does Ashley even deserve the right to? To hope for a happiness?

"Ashley," I hummed in response as we stopped at a cross sign, glancing up at him, only to get taken back. By the way, his brows creased, the small tug on his lips, how his eyes squished yet averted away— it was as if he was hesitant, pained to say his next words. "You..." His eyes darted around as if he was looking for the right words. "You know how I said that I did some... terrible things right?"

I blinked, confusion wrapping around my heart. "Yes...?" I felt a little unsure, the bag I held rustling at my side. Is— is he...