Childhood days [Part-8]

'A couple of days have passed by already. It feels like all I do is either remind myself of Lily or distract myself through Naruto or Kaka-san.

How incredibly weak I'm becoming...'

Sighing, she closed her book and looked towards the bright boy heading her way. He looked particularly excited today so Veronica was curious as to what happened.

"Yo Veronica!"-Naruto

She pulled herself out of her thoughts as she put on a bright grin.

<Hey!>

"Wanna come visit my pa with me?!"-Naruto

Her whole body went tense for a second before she forced herself to relax and gave him the same smile she had before.

'What... the... fuck...?

'AM I IN SOME OTHER VERSION OF NARUTO HERE? HOW IS HIS DAD ALIVE?! He's supposed to be dead! I F***ing read the whole manga and watched the anime. How is this possible?

Wait, could this be a butterfly effect? Or maybe someone else was also 'rebirthed' here. I'm guessing they're either dead or are just getting old by now. I don't think that they would be on the Akatsuki's side cause then why interfere with Naruto's father's death. Then again, maybe they could be on the Akatsuki's side.'

Her mind was racing as she tried to figure out why an essential character who was supposed to be dead is alive. This wouldn't ruin her plans but she would need to be careful to not step on a landmine if the fourth hokage was alive. She knew almost nothing about the man.

<Why doesn't your father live with you?>

"Oh well, he's in a coma... I always need an adult like Iruka-sensei to visit him though. But sensei should be free tomorrow so we can go together!"-Naruto

Veronica guessed the reason for that was either that Naruto was a jinchuriki or the fact that his dad was the fourth hokage. But she wondered why Naruto hadn't said anything about his dad being hokage or even realized it. Perhaps the boy had been told that his father just looked like the Hokage.

Right now though, she only hoped that the ANBU which were hidden around Naruto wouldn't find her actions suspicious. Although it had only been a slight movement but if someone thought about it then it would raise questions as to why someone, more specifically a child, would tense up out of nowhere at the mention of Naruto's father. And ninja were paranoid.

<Oh! Well then, I'd love to meet your father!!! And stay for dinner today!>

She had managed to fool the boy as usual. The ANBU seemed to make no moves so she could only guess that she hadn't managed to make them suspicious.

"What will you be making?!"-Naruto

<Curry!>

"YAY!!! You know, I can't wait for your voice to get better then we won't need that book you always carry with you!"-Naruto

He seemed so hopeful for her. She almost felt guilty for always putting on a mask around him even though he was like a brother to her now.

<Yea! I can't wait either!!!>

Veronica sighed thinking of the report she had gotten while getting a check up. She had hoped that this wasn't some permanent damage and would heal soon enough. But it seemed that luck would never be on her side.

She was shocked to find out that she had either been 'cursed' or her vocal cords had been 'messed' around with. She realized that someone had probably done this to her so she wouldn't scream when she was being tortured or whatever the person would be doing to her. Her only hope was surgery. But there were no doctors who could say that there was even a 50% chance of success. She could even have to get another surgery done because the first one messed up her lungs instead of bringing back her voice.

It was depressing. She wouldn't be able to speak. She wouldn't be able to sing.

Thinking of this, she remembered the time when Lily was always asking her to sing for her. She didn't have the best voice but she would always try to connect with every song she sang. Her voice had emotions. Her voice was something she could always remember Lily and her happy face by. She remembered how she made her sing when Lily's mother passed away, how she said that her voice took her back to a time when she was a little girl playing in her mother's garden.

She wanted to cry sometimes.

She glanced at Naruto's happy face. She realized, quite late, that she was moving forwards with Lily. She didn't like that. She couldn't forget Lily, not after everything she'd done for Veronica. That would be an insult to Lily.

*I don't know what hurts more, letting go or holding on.*

Focusing on her breathing, she put up her perfect mask. Her smile, the one which she knew that Lily hated, was put up on her face as she pretended to be just fine.

She got back to cooking while Naruto was just waiting and getting bored. Although he tried to read Kakashi's book once but Veronica decided to snatch the book out of his hands.

She needed to distract herself. Smirking, as a new idea ran into her mind. She looked at the innocent boy with a wicked smile.

<The books about these people who...>

Seeing his curiosity, Veronica decided to summarize Kakashi's 'books' for him. It would be fun to see his reaction.

"NOOOO!!! I DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT THIS ANYMORE!!!"-Naruto

<But I've only told you about the first 5 pages. There's still like 300 more pages left.>

Naruto was as red as a tomato and ran into Veronica's room and locked himself in. Veronica just sighed, and after finishing up called him for dinner.

"Izn'd Kata-swan toning?"-Naruto

<He'll come a bit late. Also don't speak while eating.>

"Hai~!"-Naruto

As if on cue, Kakashi came back as well. He was about head in his room to wash up but noticed the two kids eating dinner. He just sighed while having a small smile plastered on his face and went to wash himself.

<So you see the guys then stri->

When he came back however, Kakashi was shocked to find Veronica telling Naruto about his Icha Icha paradise, page 206, his favorite part of the book.

Kakashi snatched the book out of Veronica's hands. He was comparable to a boiled octopus and so was Naruto. Veronica just smirked seeing him while Kakashi visibly flinched. She grabbed the book back and introduced Kakashi. It was quite an awkward dinner after what had just happened but Veronica didn't seem to mind.

<Oh right, Naruto will be staying over. It's not good to send him out so late at night.>

Kakashi POV

Didn't you come back around this time from Naruto's house yesterday though...?

*Sigh* Whatever.

Third person POV

'Kakashi looks quite tired of me right now. I guess I would be too if I was in his place.

I should probably tell him about how we're going to see Naruto's dad. Minato was Kakashi's teacher. He could maybe say something that could maybe provide a clue as to what's happening.

Then again, he is a seasoned ANBU, I doubt I'd be able to pick up anything from his face and body language. And he barely says anything so there's that.

Oh well, no harm in at least trying.'

Maintaining her expression, she passed him a small note. He looked at it and Veronica saw him freeze for a second before going back to normal. Or, pretending to go back to normal.

<We're gonna be visiting Naruto's dad tomorrow with Iruka-sensei!!!>

"Oh, well that's great, enjoy."-Kakashi

'So he feels guilty. I should've expected that from him to be honest.

I don't even know if I can help him.

Why do I even want to help him? Oh right, I'll feel guilty if I don't. If I didn't know myself I'd probably say something like, 'I won't get attached to him.' Too bad I know I will get attached to him. Then again, I think we both know that he wil-

We will never be able to move on.'