Night Rain

Night #5

"Shut up!" Kisame snapped.

Amaya gave him the most incredulous expression. She blinked a few times, wondering what was happening. Did she say something wrong? Was he angry with her?

"Kisame, is something—" Amaya started.

"No. Nothing's wrong." Kisame pushed past her roughly and stormed off.

"What...?" Amaya just stood there, confusion written all over her face. She rubbed her shoulder after he bumped into her. It was rougher than she had thought.

She watched Kisame walk off. Why is he walking off? Doesn't he want to talk to me?

She couldn't just let it be. She ran after him in a quick burst of speed, catching up in no time. She grabbed his arm firmly and pulled him to a stop.

Kisame turned to the side and pulled his arm from her grasp, frowning at her. "What? Why are you following me?" His tone was sharp and he glared at her with his dark eyes.

"What's the matter?" Amaya's tone was demanding, yet interrogative. Her eyes held his. She searched for anything that could give him away – anything. There was an indecipherable emotion evident in his eyes that perked her curiosity.

"Nothing! Why do you keep annoying me?! I told you to back off already!" He growled lowly through his canine teeth.

Amaya kept her calm. To her, it appeared as if he was reverting back to what he was like before they started hanging out together more. Why was that? What made him change? Did he not like hanging out with her anymore?

"Kisame, something's clearly wrong!" Amaya frowned and took a step forward, closer to the shark boy. He almost flinched at the closeness. "Tell me!"

Kisame sharply inhaled. His hands clenched into fists. His nails dug harshly into his skin and his toes curled. "No!"

"Why not?!" Amaya demanded, her eyebrows knitting together. "We can talk about this!"

"Shut up! Stop annoying me!" Kisame hissed, clamping his hands over his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Amaya stared at him with her mouth agape. He really didn't want to listen to her?

Wait...no...Amaya suddenly thought of something. Does he not want to talk to me or...is it something else? She observed his expressions. He seemed adamant not to listen to her as of now, but it looked like it was because of something else; like an inner confliction of emotions.

"But what...?" Amaya raised an eyebrow. What could possibly be the reason, if she was correct in her reasoning?

She placed her hands on top of Kisame's, making him open his eyes. She had a focused expression as she pulled his hands from his ears. Neither of them said anything as Kisame stared at a patch of ground to his left.

"Come on, Kisame. Let's go home." Amaya gently tugged at Kisame's sleeve.

He looked up from the ground to his sleeve, then to her. He had an impassive look. He was trying to act angry, and he was angry at a point, but that dissipated. He didn't want to drag an innocent family into his life, where he was sure bloodshed only happened.

"Kisame?" Amaya said softly.

The blue boy didn't say anything as Amaya dragged him by the sleeve to their houses.

Kisame debated whether or not to tell the girl and her father why he didn't want to get so close to them. Did he want to risk it? Would he be viewed as a monster? Would they come to hate him?

...of course they would.

Kisame frowned to himself. He glanced at Amaya and remembered her words.

Because I want to be your friend!

Could he trust her? He wasn't so sure anymore.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm right next door." Amaya told him. Her hand released his sleeve and she sauntered up to her house.

Do I?

The door opened to reveal Sho, who had been waiting for Amaya and Kisame's return. He greeted his daughter before seeing Kisame, who he gestured to come in.

"Kisame, why don't you come over for dinner tonight?" Sho suggested.

Kisame just stared at him, lips pressed into a thin white line. Did he want to get closer to them? After all, they are the kindest family he's met.

"Kisame?" Sho asked, worry laced in his tone. "Are you feeling alright?" He walked down the steps to where the younger boy stood, placing a hand on his forehead. "Oh, you don't have a fever...?"

"...I'm fine." Kisame turned to look the other way. He didn't want Sho to care for him any further.

Sho placed a hand on Kisame's shoulder, "Why don't you come inside for a cup of hot milk?"

"N—" Kisame started, about to reject his offer.

"Oh! Yes! Hot milk!" Amaya cheered and jumped out of the house. She grabbed Kisame and pulled him into the house, dragging him into the kitchen.

Sho let out a little laugh as he went back inside. He could hear Kisame's protests as Amaya was being her usual loud self.

Was the hot milk an excuse for her to drag him inside like that...?

With a cup of hot milk in his hands, Kisame stared at the opaque liquid. How had he ended up in this situation? He wanted to let out a deep sigh. He wanted to get away from them, but that proved impossible if they were to continue doing this. It didn't help that he lived right next door, either.

"Amaya, the milk's hot! You'll burn your tongue if you drink it too quickly!" Sho cautioned.

Amaya nodded and took a tiny sip, grinning to herself.

"So, Kisame, how was the academy today?" Sho asked, swirling his cup of hot water.

Kisame looked up but then back down. He felt Amaya's stare on him. He didn't say anything. He wanted to say something, to tell them why he doesn't want to be there, but at the same time, he didn't want to tell them, in fears that they would view him nothing but a monster.

"It was fine, daddy." Amaya replied for Kisame. She grinned at him, then at her father. "We learnt a few more tricks for throwing shuriken. We did a lot of theory. It sucked!"

"You've got to learn the theory if you want to be a ninja, Amaya." Sho chuckled.

"But it's so boring!" Amaya pouted.

Sho just smiled.

Kisame felt a lump form in his throat. Was he going to say it? Or was he not going to? He almost felt obliged to.

"...will..." Kisame's voice started small. It was so quiet that only Amaya heard.

"Huh? Will what?" She asked. She was interested as to what Kisame had to say. It would be his first words in the house today.

Kisame met her eyes directly. He forced his mouth to move, his voice to come out. They deserved to know.

"Will...will you listen?" Kisame asked. This time, his voice was a little louder, so that Sho could hear.

"Yes! I'll listen!" Amaya nodded her head furiously. Was he going to open up about why he was angry before? That was what she wanted to find out, but if it was something unrelated, then she was fine with it too. After all, friends talk to each other, regardless of what it is.

"Yes, we'll listen." Said Sho warmly. He nodded his head.

Kisame clenched his teeth together and gulped. His grip on the cup ear strengthened. Was he afraid to tell them?

Amaya tilted her head to the side. "It's okay if you don't tell us, Kisame. We're not forcing you."

"You need to know..." Kisame spoke clearly. He was surprised how his voice didn't become hoarse. "...why I can't get so close to you."

"Huh?" Amaya blinked a few times, uncertain if those were the actual words he said. When it finally registered in her mind, her dark eyes widened. "Why not?"

Sho listened and observed Kisame's movements. The boy was a strong little one. To Sho, it seemed as if Kisame was bearing a lot on his small shoulders. What it was, he didn't know.

"If...if I get too close to you..." Kisame was mainly facing Amaya, but his words were for both members of the Mizushima family. "...something bad will happen."

"Something bad?" Sho questioned.

Kisame was silent for the while. He felt like he couldn't say anything, but he knew he had to say it. He had to tell them the reason why. It would be unfair that a nice family like them are left in the dark.

Was he afraid? Yes.

Why was he afraid? Because he didn't want to lose them.