I sighed as I closed the door behind me. Looking at the empty apartment, I sighed again. What does Kakashi even do to only be able to get home late? Not that I've lived with him for long at all, but still. Walking to my room I started undoing my hair, letting the messy strands of white hair cascade down my back. When I reached my room, I walked in and closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment. I lifted my face and looked out the window. There was no moon out tonight, it was completely dark. The perfect night to do something bad, but I don't need to worry about something like that. If I ever wanted to rob the dango shop I could cover all of Konoha in darkness at noon, if I felt like it. I let my head drop and pushed myself away from the door. I walked to my closet and changed into my makeshift pyjamas. Laying down on my bed, I just stared at the roof, thinking.

It's been a good while since I last lived as a human. But things are so different now. The mundane details I used to pay attention to once. Once upon a time, I actually brushed my teeth and worried about weather it'd be warm or cold outside. Such things... I don't even need to worry about food or shelter anymore, forget caring about a few negative degrees. I suppose life is easier now, it's just that, I feel rather... empty.

I don't even really need sleep.

Sighing again, I closed my eyes. Tomorrow is the practical graduation exam. After school ended today, Iruka-sensei had called me to stay after class and gave a pile of papers. Tests, apparently. I passed with flying colors, and considering my "memories" plus the fact that I've watched the anime, failing would have been a struggle all on it's own.

Tomorrow, Naruto will fail.

My eyebrows furrowed slightly. I had decided not to interfere with his graduation, as that was how he got his signature jutsu, the shadow clones. So, for his sake, I'll just have to suck it up. But, I'll still curse Mizuki in my mind. Yep, definitely.

Satisfied for now, I evened out my breathing and tried to fall asleep.

Gradually, lights were put off as people went to bed. In the depth of the night, the world was asleep. No moon shined in the sky to illuminate the darkness as it covered the world.

And a pair of eyes opened.

Shining an intense, sinister purple color, the eyes had no iris, no whites. They were completely covered in flaming purple, like twin gates to hell. Slowly, the eyes blinked, and their owner rose. Nothing could be seen in the oppressive darkness in the room, but that pair of shining eyes that slowly turned to look at the door. The figure walked, or more like floated, towards the door, and slowly opened it. Stepping out of the room, it started quitely gliding over towards the only other bedroom in the apartment. Slightly opening the door, the shining purple eyes took a quick peek inside. Satisfied seeing the silver-haired ninja sleeping, the figure smirked, revealing sharp white teeth. It slowly retreated, and headed back to the room it came from. It walked up to the window and stopped. When it opened the window, a light breeze swept the room. The intense purple eyes hooded slightly, as the black figure neared the opened window. And fell out.

In free fall, a pair of ink black wings unfurled from it's back, instantly taking it into the air. Floating above the village, the purple eyes were looking around, a hunger shining in them. Until they froze, and snapped in a certain direction. Another sinister smirk appeared revealing the things teeth. With a flap of its wings, it instantly wooshed into the same direction.

Landing on a tree branch a few miles distance from the village, the dark figure's purple eyes flashed bright as it watched it's prey. A few branches below it, a team of ninja were moving at a fast speed, never noticing the presence following them.

Sound village ninja.

When the figure noticed their headbands, it's eyes narrowed in joy.

Orochipedo's friends, no?

In moments, shadows even more dark than the outside surrounded the figure, seeming to extend out of it, stretching desperately towards something. The figure continued smirking as the shadow amassed, gathering in monstrous amounts. And with a flash of the figure's eyes, the shadows sped away, chasing the ninja. The ninja, sadly, were no match for the shadows' speed. They screamed as darkness surrounded them, depriving them of their sight, hearing, sense of smell and touch. Their screams turned louder, downright hysterical when they could not even hear themselves screaming. They were empty shells by now. She had stolen their senses. She had taken everything. Everything that gives one context in the world.

The screams soon turned hoarse, before silencing completely. The figure walked towards the spheres of darkness, and as it neared, the darkness parted, groveling at its feet. Walking forward, it soon reached the corpses. Looking down at the husks, that looked as if they had been sucked dry and could be blown to dust by the wind, the figure smirked again. It reached out with its hand to touch one of the corpses. But just as its hand made contact, the corpse crumbled and pulverised, ending up as a pile of dust on the ground. The figure paused, before straightening and looking to the sky. The intensely burning purple eyes were filled with calm, like the still waters of a cursed lake.

Black wings unfurled from the figure's back, as the eyes continued looking into the dark night sky, watching. Waiting.

I was awake (amazing, I know) and making breakfast. Usually, I wouldn't bother doing anything until midday, but today Cei was graduating. I don't know how she'll do, but I want to show some support at least. When she finally walked out of her room, I narrowed my eyes at her. She seemed rather, how to say it, more energetic today. She practically skipped over to me, and tilting her head cutely to the side smiled joyfully at me.

"You made breakfast?"

Her voice was soft, gentle in her questioning. I was about to answer when I froze.

The smell of blood. Death.

My eyes narrowed again as I frowned and sniffed her.

Nothing.

There was no smell. No smell of blood, no aura of death. Just her natural smell of iris-flowers. What am I doing? Oh well, I must still be exhausted from that mission a few days ago...

I smiled a closed-eye smile and put a hand on her head, petting her. Still recovering from my earlier episode, I started absentmindedly stroking her, registering vaguely that her hair was divinely soft. Soon, a strange sound woke me from my musings, and my hand froze where it was as I looked down at Cei. Her face was completely red, and she had her hands covering her mouth. So cute. I got an idea, and started stroking her again. After a while, a purring sound was heard. I watched intently as her face turned redder and redder, while the purring got louder and louder, and her eyes started becoming hooded. Soooo cute. My stroking got more intense, more like rubbing, as I explored. The purring was soon accompanied by small whining noises, and those became especially loud when I rubbed at her neck. After some time, feeling satisfied, I reluctantly removed my hand and looked at the tomato red little girl with messy hair. She whipped her head up, her teary eyes boring straight into mine and her lips pouting.

"Kakashiiiiiiii"

I chuckled at her, dodging her childish attempt to pinch me.

"Well, let's eat!"

I exclaimed, diverting her attention. But she seemed to be very clear on what I was doing, because she gave me a long suspicious look before turning towards the table. I sighed slightly before following my cute temporary charge with a smile on my face.

I was sitting next to Naruto, patiently waiting for Iruka-sensei to come so we could start the graduation exam. Almost everyone seemed nervous, and even Naruto wasn't as talkative as usual. I sneaked a glance at Sasuke. The poor fella was seated between Sakura and Ino, who were both attacking his personal space.

It's okay buddy. Hang in there.

Turning away, I leaned onto Naruto. For better or worse, he was my parent's container, and physical closeness was really soothing. I could also feel the kyuubi's chakra calm down in my presence. It was so nice, so warm...

The sound of the door gliding open made me open my eyes and look at the front.

"We will now start the final exam. When your name is called, proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on, the clone jutsu."

When Iruka-sensei said it, I could feel Naruto stiffen immediately. I could practically hear his inner thoughts, but I just closed my eyes and leaned further into him. I knew my presence was as soothing for him as his was for me. I fumbled clumsily, before locating his head with my hand and patted it.

"It's going to be okay. Trust me."

I felt him calm slightly, and not long after I drifted off...

"Ceiren Yami!"

I slowly opened my eyes, smiled and gracefully stood before walking to the examination room.

It was light. A whole wall with basically only windows. A small table at the front of the class. Iruka-sensei sat at the table together with a white-haired ninja.

Mizuki. That b*tch.

"Okay, Ceiren. In order to pass, you'll have to make three clones of good quality. That's all it takes. Give it your best shot."

Iruka seemed to be trying to cheer me on, knowing that I hadn't been in the academy long and probably couldn't do it. It was so sweet of him. He's a really good person. But his concern was unnecessary.

I already knew what to do. Lifting my head, I gave them my specially-for-this-occasion-developed killing shine smile. I put all my charm into it, praying on the inside. When Iruka-sensei and the b*tch turned around in record speed, grasping their noses, I mentally high-fived myself.

I opened my eyes slightly, as my black mist pooled from my feet onto the ground spreading like ink. Soon, three forms seemed to form out of the shadows, all three soon clearing to become identical replicas of me. And I managed to do it before they had turned back around! I'm safe!

When they did turn, Mizuki that jerk had an expression of bewilderment and amazement. And I think Iruka's expression even had a trace of pride...so sweet.

He suddenly leaped out of his chair and gave me a blinding smile.

"You pass, Ceiren!"

I smiled again, and went forward to receive my headband. When I had turned my back to the teachers, the headband in my hand started changing. It was like the dark-blue color was seeping out of it, leaving a pure-white headband. Tying it around my waist, I walked back out. The rest of the students were staring at me with avid interest, but I just smiled quietly, saying nothing. I walked toward a nervous looking Naruto and patted his head, giving him a real smile.

"You're gonna do great, Naruto. You're one of a kind. And just so you know, don't let something as dumb as failure discourage you. These things... they just have a way of working themselves out. So go give em' hell, foxy."

He seemed to calm down as I ruffled his hair, and gave me his signature grin, no nervousness left in his expression.

"You're right, Cei-chan! I'm gonna become Hokage, and if they don't like it, well, I'd like to see them try and stop me!"

"That's the spirit!"

My smile widened as I gave him a hug, feeling my dad's chakra rushing up to meet mine, savoring our closeness before pulling away. When I pulled away from Naruto, I gave him one last reassuring smile before walking out of the academy and heading home.

So...what should I make for dinner?