Chapter 17: The Calm Before The Storm

'Get out.'

Kanna silently walked around the familiar confines of her home. Her presence eerily similar to that of a ghost, her steps non existent and presence that of a fluttering butterfly. She was a sight to see, all pristine white and clean, the sunlight pouring out from the windows bounching ethereally against her person. If one lays eyes upon her, they will not think that she's a child but instead some sort of light sprite.

The irony was not lost on that ridiculous sentiment.

The child continued her silent journey, eyes blank as ever and unblinking. Finally she halted and paused upon a single door. She was currently at the edge of the estate, a secluded part of the house not easily accessible to its non-occupants. Even Haku and Zabuza has yet to step upon its territory, not that they should be. A hand rose and tapped against the door thrice before migrating down at the knob. She twisted and the door opened with a click.

"..." Despite the darkness of the room, Kanna had no trouble seeing what lays inside and she stared at the lump currently in the middle of the spacious room.

Pointy ears twitched as the sound of something rumbling echoed along the room, bouncing and echoing. A strong, thick neck covered in pale fur stretched and shifted, red eyes glowing and meeting with Kanna's abyss.

A soft neigh erupted from the lounging beast and the void yokai came forth only to stop at an arms reach.

"Ane..." She whispered to the lump where Entei was curled around on, surrounded by pelts and fur.

A glowing eye peeked from underneath sooty lashes and she nuzzled deeper against the warm body of Entei, the demon horse reacting by curling more.

"You have not gone out nor eaten for five days now." A knot made itself present on Kanna's brow, signifying her concern for her sister. "Haku-san and Zabuza-san are worried." She recieved an amused snort at that and Kagome, despite the melancholy deeply rooted in her gut, cant help but to find the notion of Zabuza worrying undeniably amusing.

Kanna sighed but didnt really blame her clan head for her wry amusement. After all, Zabuza shows no affection to anyone except to Haku and oddly enough, herself. Although what she stated was the truth, the bandaged man showed a tiny concern when he had asked why the steel eyed girl was always absent during their meals. He had even cornered Haku into telling him what exactly happened during the first night of the festival.

Kanna looked back on that night and held back an amused smile at the memory of a ticked Zabuza.

Meanwhile, Kagome once more tried to merge herself with Entei and her pelts, wanting to lengthen her soltitude once more.

"Why are you here exactly Kanna?" her voice was a bit raspy due to her impromptu hibernation but she didnt exactly care.

Kagome opened her eyes fully when she felt Kanna's hesitation. What exactly is up to garner her straightforward sister the sense of trepidation?

"Your Team has been demanding your presence as of late." By Team she really meant- "Naruto." Kagome deadpanned and Kanna nodded. A deep sigh echoed and Entei leaned down to nuzzle the miko, crooning when the little female stroke his snout in affection.

Kagome pursed her lips as she sat up, Entei's head immediately taking residence by her lap. Kanna on the otherhand bid her farewell, merely there to notify her of her Team's possible unwanted entrance.

Left alone with her thoughts, Kagome pondered as her fingers wove themselves on Entei's flame like mane.

It was the truth that she refused to go out since the eventful night of the Obon, not even showing herself to Hakudoshi and Kanna. The moment they stepped on their estate, she had let Haku tend to her already healing injury and with not a single word, vanished. The yokai children understood her need of privacy and think little of her sudden disappearance, also aware that she had retreated to the part of the estate especially built to cater her bouts of emotional breakdowns.

It was in truth a special room made for Entei also. The wards plastered on all four corners created to douse Entei's yoki in order to not be detected by spiritually sensitive nins. The yokai horse was surprisingly docile, a startling thing considering how he was bred intentionally to serve a master of war and death.

After the emotional slap she had received the first night of the obon, Kagome decided to hole herself up in order to gather her thoughts. She had cried for two days straight, grieving her life and how it was suddenly so painful. After her tear ducts finally refuse to respond, the miko fell into some sort of catatonic state, her mind trapping itself around the cage of memories, reliving the times when her life was at its happiest.

Her soul had been at peace then.

But of course, she was harshly pulled back to reality when her memories became plagued with disasters, happy memories drowned amidst the sea of death and sorrow and anger. She celebrated the third day by clawing at her chest, trying to take away the throbbing pain by digging her shikon-influenced claws to her fragile skin.

She only stopped when Entei began burning with hell fire due to her upsetting him.

The fourth day was filled with grudging acceptance and biting blankness, her mind locking up her still grieving heart. She had passed the time looking at her skin, staring at the burn marks received from the seals.

And then the fifth day came and she's now facing a possible dilemma. Kagome knew she is still in no shape to humor her nosy team and only wants to pass the rest of the week still in soltitude. Thankfully, she cannot die from hunger due to her being above such type of demise, although she can still feel the uncomfortable feeling of her insides gnawing in itself.

The miko sunk against Entei, the yokai releasing out a rumbling purr to ease her distress.

All she can do is wish for the best and pray to the kamis that she is to be left alone.

The kamis, as usual, did not hear her request. It was near sunset and Kagome let herself think that she was safe for the day when her senses rang. She was not even given enough time to say threats when the door banged open and a ridiculously bright Naruto came shooting in like a comet. Kagome winced at the volume of his shout and sympathized with Entei when she felt him try to hide his head after releasing a high-pitched whine.

"I told you this part of the house is restricted Naruto." Not that it really mattered to the blonde who has no sense of respect to ones privacy. The miko refused to rub her temples as the jinchuuriki began yelling nonsense on the top of his lungs.

"You have to come with us Kaggy!" Naruto exclaimed as he pleaded to a glaring Kagome. "Its the best part of the festival! We'll have so much fun and we'll dance and we'll go eat whatever you want so pleaaaaaaaaaaseeee go with us! I wont bother you tomorrow promise!" It was the final day of the stalls and booths and Naruto will be damned if he'd just let her slip from his fingers.

"I dont want to Naruto. Can't you understand such simple answer?" The kitsune host frowned before a shit eating grin that made Kagome's hackle rising plastered itself on his whiskered face.

"Okay I'll just stay here then." He plunked down in a lotus position, meeting Kagome's irritated gaze with his gloating one.

"What exactly are you plan-"

ANO KOUSATEN DEEEEE MIN-NA GA MOSHI SUKIPPU WO SHITEEEE!

Kagome yelled and raised a hand to her ears, Entei reacting in a similar fashion by neighing loudly in pain. Naruto's off key singing/yelling a slow torture to both of their sensitive hearing.

PON PON WEI WEI WEI! PON PON WEI WEI WEI!

PON PON WEI WEI WEI PON PONNNNN~!

"Stop your screeching Naruto!" Kagome roared as her head bounced in pain at the blonde's infernal hollering. "I'll go out just STOP!" almost immediately, Naruto halted and wore a proud grin.

She was very much tempted to let Entei trample him at that moment.

"Get out." She bit out.

"No." Her eyes narrowed and she stood up, walked towards Naruto, and non so gently kicked him outside the room. She ignore his yelp and slammed the door close.

"Stay there I'll be out soon." Thankfully, that seem to shut the rambunctious young shinobi up and Kagome sighed.

She's sure she'll regret this decision. She can feel it in her bones.

Ten minutes later and a freshen up Kagome exited the room, donned in her usual outfit. She ignored Naruto's demand of an outfit change and merely walked to meet the others for she's more than sure that she was not alone on Naruto's terrorizing spree. She was proven correct when she saw Hakudoshi, Kanna, Haku and even Zabuza waiting by the gates.

"Finally done moping around princess?" The bandaged man greeted earning a hiss from Haku. Kagome narrowed her eyes at the man and turn to her siblings, pinning them with a stare that clearly blames them for letting Naruto reach her.

Silently, they nonchalantly ignored her and merely stared in any direction but hers.

"COME NOW LETS GO GUYS!" Naruto grabbed at Kagome and began dragging the obviously irritated clan head. "AHHHHH THOSE TEMES WILL LOSE THEIR SHIT WHEN THEY SEE YOU KAGGY!"

With a groan, Kagome counted to ten and back as she willed her emotions to calm and settle lest she reach out and give Naruto's neck a swift twist.

'I swear by the Kamis I will regret this.' the steel eyed girll thought not knowing that her words will soon be proven to be true.