Lady and Ghost (A Madara Uchiha Story) Naruto fanfic

Chapter 8: The Knowing

The sun had barely risen over the trees when resounding knocks came barraging from her humble little house by the edge of the village. Like a hiding witch.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted all over Ai's kitchen spilling to her living room. The curtains were pulled back and she was still in her pajamas. Ai's hair was in a tangled mess and she was barely able to out a robe on.

It was thick and fluffy and pink.

Two people were smiling cheekily. Endara and Naruto, smiles ripping from ear to ear. They were the first to stand by the door.

By then, Ai didn't even bother anymore and led them to her small living room. There was a deep red coloured rug. It had once been cream but after spilling luscious red wine all over it, Ai decided to dye the faux fur completely.

She sighed, fingers combing through her hair as she leaned back in her couch and crossed her legs coffee mug in hand. "You guys are early."

"We were excited!" Endara piped up, smile never fading. Ai imagined what it would've been like if the little girl didn't have a blindfold over her head.

Kakashi chuckled quite shyly, mixed in with an undertone of nervousness. He looked at her and politely said, "Sorry. I tried to stop them but they were waiting for me at the crack of dawn."

"It's fine." Ai waved one hand, her eyes trailing off to the twins. Something about them unsettled her. A scratching feeling at the pit of her stomach. Akin to the feeling of being watched, keenly.

It was a feeling that something was wrong but she couldn't explain what was wrong.

Endara's bright smile, her occasional snarky remarks and the unnatural beauty she possessed. Her doll like appearance was uncanny. Even as a child it was clearly evident, like a little spring fairy.

Her twin brother in the other hand, Arima, was quiet and although not withdrawn was quite cold especially for his age. Ink black eyes and deep blue hair reminiscent of a lake at night. Like a winter fairy.

"You look tired." Kakashi noted, seeing how messy her house was. It was clean but things were all over the place. Books scattered, a bottle of lotion and a jacket.

Ai laughed and then took a deep gulp from her coffee. Just a few moments ago, she was half awake and the coffee helped. Coffee was a ritual.

"Well, it was a busy night."

The book, 'Roses are Red' is hand written. Smooth and firm and written with carnal grace, deep onyx black ink like drops of shadows on white snow.

"It's a very neat handwriting." Ai noted, the tip of her finger running through the written letters. The fragrance of long closed pages wafting through the air that early morning.

'Who in their right mind would handwrite an entire book?'

"Miss Ai," Sakura spoke up. Her cherry blossom coloured hair looked brighter from the sunlight shining behind her. The window was open, cold morning wind blew by Sakura's exposed back.

"Yes?"

"I'm just curious but how do you know this language?"

Ai was stiff for a brief moment. Then she answered with a smile. "When I was young, I was interested in foreign languages so I learned some."

But Kakashi had a gnawing feeling that Ai was lying. His instincts screamed at him, telling him that she knew more than she let on. Still, she was always smiling.

Cheeky and sweet, flirtatious at times.

"Then, could you start translating it for us? I'll transcribe it." Arima's clear voice rang out, for a child his age he had a serious attitude. More often a straight face and a bored tone of voice.