Gerimis

Sasuke ran his gloved index finger lightly along the edge of his blade, careful not to let the sword's sharp edge slice the leather open. Humming in the background, a cacophony of sound, quietly they filled the night. He could identify crickets chirping and rustles of fauna moving on the forest floor, periodically interlaced with the hoots of an owl, must have been a fully satisfied one after a hunt, Sasuke thought.

It had been an hour since he arrived on his perch atop the highest tree in the area. He had laid his traps upon arriving, to ensure thay any intruder or intruders welcome be detected. It is only a matter of time now before any arrive and he continued to wait.

Another ten minutes went by when he heard the cracks of branches from the bushes below from his left side. He switched on his Sharingan. Both his eyeballs turning red, in each eye a single red tomoe swirled clockwise, this enhanced physical trait gave him the ability to predict movements and a sharper vision even in low light. He glanced to his right and tightened his hold on the sword, readying himself.

Three kunais flew from the front aiming for his chest, Sasuke swung his sword in time to deflect the kunais. Holding the sword he looked downwards and then swung his body to the left just as a shuriken came flying from below. It almost grazed his cheeks within an inch. Using the sword as defence he bent his body forward ready to pounce.

A shadow approached from his right, he let fly the sword aiming for his enemy but the shadow swiftly kicked the sword away. Sasuke turned around his body to receive the intruder with a flying kick and the body fell with a thud onto the forest floor. Just then from the left and right of the forest, alarms blared.

"Ok, we're done. Observation report after lunch," a voice boomed over the forest.

The dark jungle sky gradually lightened up and disappeared, the trees moved away by means of automated rollers and wires, all stored away to reveal walls of radioactive green colour. Sasuke glanced at the moving trees as the green room appeared around him. The green room aka simulation room was where ROOT's member came to practice battle or plan strategies as if they are out in an actual location. It was huge, it could fit 10 aircrafts easily. It depicts dry area, when huge landscape simulation are needed. The trees can be moved around, the lights brighten to a day like atmosphere or dimmed into nothingness, audio and effects helped with simulating the actual situation.

Sasuke looked around and grabbed for his pouch, he had hidden it somewhere among the 'branches' earlier but it now lay on the ivory floor.

"Nice beginners sword work, dark angel," said his opponent from below. The man laid on the ground amongst dead fake leaves and dirt, his hands on the back of his head made him look like he was lounging on a sofa rather than on dirt, even it was fake dirt. Sasuke jumped down from his just-now-moving tree and landed beside the guy gracefully. He held out his hand to the guy who took it to pull himself up to stand.

Yawning, Shikamaru continued "I read that back in the olden days ninjas don't really bring six kunais to the battlefield, they weigh half a kilo at least each. Troublesome."

Sasuke smirked, sheathed his sword back into its holster which swung on his back. Raven haired boy took out his towel and wiped away his sweat. He left for the weapons room. Tenten was manning the counter today.

"How's the baby?"

Sasuke opined to himself. For it's traditional and coolness factor, along with its ability to be used multiple time, it wins hands down to the guns he often used during his missions. He felt like a ninja, maybe he could ask Sai for a ninja costume later.

Returning the sword he pulled double thumbs up at Tenten who grinned giddily. That girl treats weapons like how a girl treat shoes.

CHUUNIN DINING HALL

"Yo red eyes sit here. I got something to tell you."

Sasuke paused, his eyeball swinging towards Kiba, who stood waving at him at the table on the far corner of the room. Sasuke walked towards him with his tray of food. Kiba sat down as Sasuke approaches, opposite him was Chouji, the CHUNIN chef and nutritionist in charge of their diet, next to Chouji was Hinata. She looked up at Sasuke and smiled, her light lavender eyes bordering towards white acknowledging Sasuke's presence. Sasuke took the seat next to Kiba. Just as he was sitting down, Kiba grabbed Sasuke's shoulders with his right hand and spoke in a hushed tone.

"Hinata told me that Neji is planning to do a match test with Tenten. He said he's making plan A for his future. Either he took Rin's lesson about human reproduction too seriously or that he has taken a leaf out of Guy's spring youth of eternal love thing. I thought the guy was all about fate and stuff. I did not take him for being the type to plan his love life."

Kiba released his hold on Sasuke so the guy could eat and continued, still in a hushed tone. "Me and Hinata, we're doing it too. But this is not Plan A for me and her, I'm just curious. Well, Hinata had agreed to it."

"Hnnn"

Of course Sasuke wouldn't ask for more explanation. He never pried about his teammate's private matter, unless it is stated in his mission as an order from CHUNIN and ROOT's higher ups. Collecting the dirt on a potential threat is his occupation, and a lot of that information proved beneficial towards the the accomplishment of his mission, but gaining information about his peers is an entirely different thing. Nothing benefits from knowing too much about other people's private stuff.

Sasuke started on his pita bread, containing juicy chicken, cheese, tomato slices - his favourite, olive oil and a tiny bit of ketchup and mayonnaise, also strips of onion and salad. He bit down and chewed with his mouth closed, wiping the edges of his lips to ensure none of the ketchup or mayonnaise smudging his outer lips. Ever the prim and proper guy.

Just then Sakura, Ino and Karin walked into the dining hall with their trays, and Kiba scooted towards Sasuke. Looking at Sakura, Kiba spoke. "Hey, don't you want to do your test too?" Sasuke noticing Sakura's entrance, ignored Kiba and continued eating. Kiba let the subject drop and continued with his sandwich.

Today's lunch was pita bread and sandwich buffet, along with spaghetti and salad. All healthy food for growing teens like them. Danzo preferred them gaining nutrients the natural way first rather than supplemental vitamins and other produced health food.

Later, after his two pitas finished, a full and satisfied Sasuke drank his glass of fresh milk and glanced at Sakura's table. Pink,red and blond, bobbing with animated chatting, the colours reminded him of ice cream, something sweet which he did not like. Just then Ino stood up suddenly and her chair fell backwards with a clatter, she threw her hands above her head. Her face a combination of surprise and happiness at the incoming person. Sai entered the room and everyone turned to see him stepping up to the blonde.

They closed the gap and Ino hugged Sai in a tight embrace. A touching reunion befit their circumstances, Sai coming back from a three month traditional weapons course while Ino busying with preparation for life outside CHUNIN, she's turning 21 soon. Sai had turned 21 a month ago but opted to serve CHUNIN as a trainer.

Finally Sai and Ino released each other from their hug, Sai let go of Ino's hands and stepped backwards. He unleashed his big ass scroll which he had carried on his back and fell on one knee, then he took out a brush and clicked the switch button of the brush. Sai scrawled something on the digital display of the big ass scroll. At the end of it double tapping the brush twice on the scroll, the drawing lighted up and a bunch of butterflies materialized into physical golden and white butterflies flying upwards towards Ino.

"Hold out your palms Ino" said Sai beaming. The cafe is now merely a background to the couple, Ino held out her hands to Sai. The butterflies descended onto Ino's palms flocking and bumping into each other for two seconds before flying upwards and dispersed into golden puffs. In Ino's palm now lay a golden ring.

"Dearest Ino, will you make an honest man out of me. I pledge to take care of you, through thick and thin, all your dreams becoming mine, and wherever you are, let it be my home. To love you when gravity steals our youth and bestow us saggy skin. When the kids became embarrassed at our make out session when we are at picnics by the beach. Sunshine and blue, black and white. Will you marry me?"

Ino squealed louder this time, walked towards Sai and dropped onto both her knees, kneeling opposite Sai. "Of course I would, I do" she half squealed to Sai. They gazed into each other's eyes and beamed. Kiba wolf whistled and Hinata blushed, Konohamaru high fived with Neji, Shikamaru looked at Temari with an almost smile, Suigetsu tried to hug Karin, but she flashed her fist at him. Kiba and Chouji started clapping, and everyone followed after. Sasuke was among the last to clap along with the others. It's not everyday you get CHUNINs marrying each other. They were too young to get married even on a universal standard but that did not matter when love mattered when life was fragile.

Sasuke glanced around, looking at his peers who have started pulling the lovebirds onto their feet and separating them so the congratulatory session can start. Hinata was already behind Ino now leaving their table for the happy lovebirds.

As Sasuke's eyes glanced around, he met Sakura's gaze. Sakura looked at him and smiled. Sakura had saved him a few times while out on missions, so he owe her his respect and his life. He nodded to her.

Sasuke stood alone at his table, while Kiba and Chouji followed the others to congratulate Sai. Feeling a little out of place in the midst of happiness, Sasuke exited the dining hall. He needed to finish his traditional weapons observation report while it was still fresh he reasoned.

Sakura watched as Sasuke exited the hall and then approached Ino. Karin was already hugging Ino in a death grip. Sakura was happy for Ino and Sai, who knew that she might be made bridesmaid she thought to herself. Maybe Sasuke was worried about being the best man, seeing how he is the closest to Sai compared to the other CHUNIN boys. Maybe that's why he left amidst the celebration, it must have been overwhelming for him. Sasuke was too mature for his age, too serious sometimes.

"My wedding is going to be a blue affair, but I want my bridesmaids to wear any colour they want. Karin, Hinata, Sakura, tell me what colour do you prefer?"

Sakura smiled as her prediction came true. "Any colour is fine, except the colour of camouflage, the colour we wear to battle. "

"Fiery red?" Karin in her red rimmed spectacles and red hair added.

Hinata just giggled.

"I prefer pastel" added Sakura, "any colour as long as it's pastel."

Karin grabbed Ino's finger to admire the engagement ring. And all four girls squealed in delight when Karin moved the finger around so the single diamond on the ring glittered under the dining hall's lights. They giggled like any normal teenage, or early twenties girl outside of CHUNIN would. They tried being almost normal girls, despite the fact that normal ordinary girls don't handle guns, weapons, possess technologically enhanced physical body parts - super power some would call, spying on people, covert missions and everything else. Definitely normal, living like tomorrow's going to end today.

Konoha Mall

It’s been a month since Naruko started working at the cinema. At first she was worried about getting up late to work, but a week in and she was comfortable in her new schedule. She also didn’t have to worry about transport as she carpooled with Iruka who was adamant at sending and fetching her to and from work everyday.

Today, Naruko's manager released her from work early so by 4.45 pm she was already in the locker room getting ready to go home. She stored her work sweater and name tag away for safekeeping inside her locker and got out her faded blue denim jacket for her ride home. For comfort she wore her new pair of orange and black sneakers bought with her first paycheck. Just when she was exiting the locker room she felt her mobile phone vibrate in her pocket jeans.

IRUKA I am going to be late, fetch a taxi home. Call one, don't hail one from the taxi stand. I'll text the number later.

Naruko Eh, taxi? What time will you finish?

IRUKA 9 pm, the headmaster asked me to attend dinner after the event. Pack some food from the new ASEAN culinary restaurant Kakashi kept talking about. I don't want you to wait for me to have dinner. About the taxi, I believe you are now able to navigate your way around town after four months. I trust you.

Naruko grinned at the word trust. She held the phone close to her chest while planning her next course of action. She had wanted to take a peek at the new movie showing at the hall next to the locker room, maybe today would be suitable. The movie was already thirty minutes in and she had another hour before it ended. Afterwards she could call a taxi at around 6.00 and still get home before sunset.

Just as she was about to text back Iruka, Kakashi walked across the locker room heading towards the office. He was holding a handful of rolled up posters. Kakashi seemed to have a problem balancing them when he kept shifting them in his hold in an effort to keep them from falling. Unfortunately some slipped off and came tumbling down, he was fast enough to catch two of them but the rest of the posters in his hands successfully escaped to the floor. Naruko laughed and jogged up to help him

"Thinking about working the night shift Naru?" Kakashi asked as Naruko handed him the fallen posters.

"Never will, you know Iruka would never let me" Naruko answered Kakashi.

"Awww. Going home now?"

"Nope, not yet. Iruka is busy he told me to get home by taxi."

Kakashi raised his brow "Taxi?"

"Yeah taxi. Apparently he finally accepted the fact that I am mature enough to ride a taxi on my own today. Anyway are these for the campaign?"

Kakashi nodded before adding, Maybe you want to join the campaign team prepare for the upcoming festival if you aren't going home yet?"

Thinking she could catch the movie later, Naruto agreed. "I'd like that. I'll take some of these posters from you. Where do you want them?”

“Take them to the office. Thanks. I'm swinging by the store for a sec.” Kakashi said while handing a few of the posters to Naruko and walked away. Naruko still standing unlocked her phone's screen and resumed texting, the posters under her armpits while she held the phone with her hands.

Naruko Kakashi's letting me wait at the office so I guess I'll be waiting for you here. I'll ask him to accompany me to the taxi stand later. For dinner I'll swing by that Asean restaurant later, fetch me ok.

IRUKA Ok. I'll text you a little after 8.45 pm. Send my thanks to Kakashi. See you tonight.

Naruko :D

Once or twice in a month when Iruka had some after school matters Naruko usually waited for him. She would spend the time checking on new things at the mall or working a few hours extra.

Kakashi is the Vice President of Golden Leaf Cinema, though if someone said he was a mercenary, Naruko would believe that too. He even came to work wearing an army helmet and a bullet proof vest this one night. From Naruko's teenage girl eyes, Kakashi on first sight is a man to be wary off. He always wore a mask to work, never showing his actual face, what with his silvery hair covering his left eye, he looked every bit the image of a vigilante. But since Iruka trusted Kakashi enough to leave Naruko with him, Naruko convinced herself that Kakashi was a trustworthy and they soon became like a sister and brother.

Naruko locked her phone and headed to Kakashi's office. At the entrance she almost collided with a woman who was holding two bags of books on one hand, while the other hand preoccupied with something on her phone. Naruko had expected the woman to notice her but she walked straight into Naruko. Sensing a collision Naruko stopped in her track and surprisingly the woman did too.

"My bad"

"My bad"

They both giggled nervously at the synced apology. Naruko gestured for the woman to enter the office first, and the woman smiled at her and entered the office. Naruko smiled back and entered the office after the woman. The woman deposited the two bags of books onto the guest couch right by the door turned to Naruko and asked. "You must be Naruko, right? I'm sorry about the near incident."

"Umm yeah, how did you know?"

"Well last week someone made fun of you at an evening event I attended, saying how you never participated at any night event because Iruka fetched you on time. I thought it was so adorable, that a guy takes care of you like a princess. But this person thought that you were too uncool and then Kakashi heard her talking about you to the others loudly and gave her a piece of his mind, since you know that Iruka is his best friend. But the girl's friend apologised saying that she was just drunk and did not mean no harm. By the way it's a common thing for people to bitch about you when they don't understand your situation. K told me to hand this to you. He said he was in the toilet when I texted him just now and you'd be here at the office to receive this. "Ohh. Sorry about almost colliding into you."

Naruko gritted her teeth "But, how do you recognise me. I don't think we ever met."

"Oh I asked Kakashi about you after seeing him defending you and Iruka. He told me you were blonde and blue eyed, just like me, that's why I remembered you easily. But I never get to meet you since I usually came here around 6 ish this past few weeks and he told me you took the day shift."

Kakashi walked in on the blondes' encounter and interrupted, "Aloha Ino, so you've met your look alike."

"Yeah, blonde and blue eyed, though her hair is much more sunshinier than mine," said Ino. Suddenly Naruko's tummy let out a low rumble. It was painfully loud and clear, even Kakashi's visible eye grew round hearing them. Ino eyes twinkled at the sound.

"Kakashi" she pointed at the bags on the sofa "Those are our samples and call me when you are finished with them. But can I borrow her for early dinner? I heard there's a new restaurant just a floor below. I won't be far, only a holler away. Iruka won't mind right? I want to have dinner with her please."

"Ummmm... Yes sure, I believe Naruko is free until 9 pm today as Iruka had something at his workplace."

"Great said Ino," she tugged Naruko out the cinema by the elbow while Naruko was speechless.

Outside the cinema, Ino let go of Naruko's arm and apologised. "So do you like shrimp? Any allergies?"

Naruko started "Ummm, we are going to eat together but I don't know your name or who you are exactly. But since Kakashi let you kidnap me and he is Iruka's best friend, I think I can trust you" Naruko said in confusion and bit her lower lip nervously. First she heard about someone from work bad mouthing her, and now this stranger is taking her to dinner. Who are these people?

Ino noticed the confusion in Naruko's voice and body language, so she smiled, "My name's Ino. I am sorry if I seem so sudden. But I am really hungry and you are so cute. And after hearing about you, I think we would be great friends. You are 16 right? Maybe sister friends, I am 21 and I work at Hokage Designs, I came to deliver our catalogue for your campaign's reference. I am actually heading out to dinner with my friend Sasuke, but meeting you upfront, I fell head over heels over your cuteness. You are adorable, almost like a sister I never had and I want to know more about you. Or can I bite you, because you are sooo cute. Sasuke told me he was going to be late and I can clearly hear your hunger from miles away."

Naruko stepped back and began to almost stutter "I... I am not sure how to respond to that. Mmm, thank you but Iruka... umm how do I say this huh?"

Ino placed her hands on her hips and laughed heartily. She then put one hand on her mouth to suppress her laughter before continuing.

"I am not hitting on you or anything but I already have a fiancee," while waving her engagement ring to Naruko. "Well, let's have dinner. I am starving. I just want to be your friend."

Naruko still in confusion, just nodded more confusingly. But the sight of Ino's engagement ring brought her to understanding. So Ino was just being over friendly. Carefully she replied.

"Ok..."

Ino placed her arm around Naruko's shoulder and dragged Naruko a bit so they were now walking towards the escalator. Reaching the escalator she let go of Naruko to hold on to the railings as they both ascend the moving stairs. They were silent until they reached the front of the Asean restaurant.

Ino turned towards Naruko and asked "You seem scared."

"I am not scared, just a bit confused. Well I don't have that many female friends… Then out of the blue you told me that someone talked behind my back. Truthfully, I am new here and I hardly have friends apart from Iruka and Kakashi, and now I have an enemy. Then you upfront tell me that I am cute and adorable and wants to be my friend… thanks for the dinner invitation. I think I should go home," Naruko said, turned away and headed to the elevator to get to the taxi stand. Escaping the confusing emotions seems like the best decision for now.

"Please wait…" Ino pleaded.

Naruko stopped and turned around. She looked at Ino.

"Ok, ok, I guess you are nervous right. Let's start over."

Ino walked towards Naruko who had walked a good ten steps away in her muddled brain situation. Ino held out her right hand to Naruko and spoke slowly unlike her previous chatter.

"My name is Ino, I am a friend of Kakashi. I want to be your friend, I am really hungry so can we do this friendship thing over dinner, what do you say?" Ino smiled warmly at Naruko.

Naruko looked at Ino's hand and slowly shook it. "I am really bad at this making friends thing. I am sorry," Naruko said.

"No worries, get in the restaurant and let us start eating," Ino said.

"Do they sell ramen?" Naruko asked.

“It's an Asean restaurant so they have all kind of noodles, except ramen, that's Japanese food. Naruko grinne, “noodle sounds good."

40 minutes later at 6.00 pm.

Ino and Naruko had finished their meal and are now enjoying their desserts. The previous discomfort and confusion within Naruko had disappeared.

"So you are an orphan like me?" queried Naruko to Ino. "Ever fantasize that maybe you could be the long lost heir of some emperor?"

Ino finished her last scoop of ice cream before continuing, "Yep definitely, and my mother was a lowly servant who worked in an orchard where the emperor happen to stop by when his horse was hungry for some apple." Ino said.

"Mine was that my mother is the daughter of the village's head and the emperor had stayed the night after his McLaren was hijacked, he stayed the night without telling my grandfather about his real identity. Then he became smitten with my mother's cooking and asked her to be his personal cook forever" Naruko and Ino rolled her eyes and laughed at their childhood fantasies.

"Sorry that I acted all cold and weird earlier. I was taken aback by the fact that a co-worker bad mouthed me" Naruko explained seriously.

"Ino, well that's a fact about real life. You can't really make everyone happy," Ino said.

"Sad isn't it. I spend my day serving customers so that they are happy, I stick to my part of the job and never get in my co worker's way. Then this person, I prefer you don't tell me her name anyway, bitched about me behind my back when I can't defend myself," Naruko grumbled stabbing at her chocolate cake.

"Yeah, but I think she had repented after hearing Kakashi defending you. Kakashi was mostly neutral you know, but when it comes to his dear friends he can be cruel. By the way, you won't be working here long anyway right?" Ino asked.

"Hmm yes, I am 16 and out of school for most of the school year now. I liked learning but I don't think I can get back into the normal class and homework routine, my mind's too rebellious for all that now," Naruko laughed and sighed. She continued in a determined voice "But I have been taking online night classes, that's why I get home on time so I could study from 7 pm to 10 pm daily. I study at night because I can't afford tuition and Iruka helps me when he is available after work."

Cutting a small piece of cake, she stabbed it with her fork and brought it to her mouth " I am thinking about taking my A levels next year so I can get into some colleges in the future."

"I can tutor you if you want" Ino said.

"That'd be great. I have to confirm with Iruka first."

Ino raised a finger onto her chin and tapped it a few times before telling Naruko "I may sound judgemental here but I think he is overprotective over you. Do you always run everything by him."

Naruko "Yes he is a bit, but that's not his fault actually. My foster mother and social service agent would devour him alive if anything happens to me... Sometimes I think he'd let me run around on my own if he could. Like today he let me call a cab as he was late. But of course the taxi company that I am supposed to call belongs to his former landlord."

Ino smirked. "Hey tell Iruka that I'll send you back today. But we have to wait for Sasuke ok."

Naruko, upon hearing about Ino's suggestion nodded and fished out her phone. She unlocked the screen and it displayed a notification of Iruka's message. She swiped it away and read the message.

IRUKA Sorry I forgot to give you the phone number, here's Greencab 089-11565687

She replied quickly.

Naruko Sorry back at you, I just noticed your message. I am having dinner at the Asean restaurant with Ino. I think you know her, Kakashi must have told about her. She wants to send me home, if that is alright with you?

IRUKA Ino, blonde and blue eyed?

Naruko Yep.

IRUKA Ok. Text me when you get home.

Naruko raised her eyebrow this time.

Naruko Easy as that?

IRUKA She is an associate of Kakashi, of course I trust her. You will be meeting her often in the near future, so why not get acquainted now.

Naruko Ok.

Iruka and her had something to talk about it seems. Hopefully Iruka would not be too tired tonight to talk about her future, where Ino is there too it seems. What is this future about anyway? If Ino is in it, it can't be that bad right.

Just then Ino's phone let out a cat's purr. She fished it out of her purse and unlocked the phone. A few seconds later she looked to Naruko. "Sasuke told me that he won't be meeting me today. So I guess that we are free now, let me send you back."

They split the bill and went to fetch Ino's car parked at the cinema's special parking. Ino unlocked her car and headed to Naruko's house as directed by Naruko.

Naruko entered the house at around 7.00 pm, locking the door as usual, setting her shoes on the plastic shoe rack next to the door. The house was dark as Naruko had bought a pair of red curtains with her second salary, Iruka had wanted to pay her back but she would not let him until he said he would treat her at her favourite ramen stall just outside their flat block.

She switched on the lights and wiped her feet on the huge fluffy floor mat the same colour as the curtains, she had bought those too. Plus the red floor mats for the kitchen, the striped red and yellow mats for the bathroom's exit to hers and Iruka's room and also the orange kitchen rags and some bath towels. Naruko had wanted to match the curtains with the mats with the sofa, hence she chose red. But her favourite colour is orange so she had splashes of orange around her room and the a little bit around the kitchen and living room. Her colour of choice for the accessories made the house smaller but she loved the screaming fiery colours. She had also bought a red bean bag, which she used when Iruka is at home. Naruko became uncomfortable from sitting too still on the sofabed if Iruka was present, but she could also never last more than 10 minutes sitting on the cold marbled floor thus she liked to bury herself in the polystyrene filled flexible chair. You can sit on it, lie on it and even be buried in it.

Feeling a pee coming, she headed to the bath. After a good shower, Naruko came out to the kitchen to drink a glass of plain water, folded some clothes and by 8.00 pm was already settled in front of the television to watch the news. She had done well on her mock online test last week so Iruka had given her a break of 3 days from night tuition, but she still flipped through her Biology book out of habit while watching the domestic news. Nothing major happening nearby.

Half an hour later she heard Iruka's footsteps arriving outside the door. Naruko sat up in attention while she grabbed for the remote to quieten down the television's volume. He was 15 minutes early than the mentioned 9.00 pm.

Iruka entered the house and smiled at Naruko upon noticing her presence. "Hi."

"Hi, how was dinner?" asked Naruko.

"Good. How was Ino?" asked Iruka.

"Friendly."

"Great. Well… I'm taking a bath. We need to talk later."

"Yes, I expected that," Naruko said looking down at her Biology book and back at Iruka.

Iruka's expression turned serious for a second but then he returned to normal and replied "Ok. Well then wait for me, don't fall asleep yet."

"Yeah."

9.30 pm, Iruka sat down on the table next to the sofabed.

"Do you want the sofa? I can take the bean bag," said Naruko, standing up to give way to Iruka.

"No. Naruko, sit down please," Iruka began. "I received an offer to work at Kumo University."

Still standing up Naruko squealed "Wow, I knew there's something good to be revealed tonight. Congratulations. Is it a teaching post?" She dropped herself onto the red bean bag, while Iruka stood up and took the sofa bed.

"Yes, I have to move in by next week, the present resident advisor had applied for paternity leave, something about suddenly having a baby. The post I am taking is as a lecturer plus as resident advisor to one of the male's residence there "

"Is it possible to have a baby without knowing your wife is pregnant?" asked Naruko naively.

Iruka thought and answered, "Yes it seems."

Thinking for a bit Naruko continued "So I need to quit from Kakashi's cinema by this week, right?"

Iruka looked directly at Naruko and no smile on his face, "How do I say this? You don't have to follow me, you can stay here and lead your own life."

"I… I… how am I going to take my A levels? Who will teach me about the other stuff? I am only a teenage girl," Naruko started whimpering.

"You are almost an adult. I believe you are ready to face the world without anyone holding you back."

"Can't I rent a house near your university and stay near you? I don't know about living alone."

Iruka looked at Naruko in surprise, "No, I don't think so."

They both sat in silence for a few awkward minutes.

Iruka broke the atmosphere with his words "I know a few great tuition center in town, where you can continue under great tutors. Some of them are my teaching friends. As I am not around you can study before you start your shift so you can rest at night. Don't worry about the fees as my future pay is almost double from what I earn now. It is a private university after all."

Suddenly Naruko stood up in anger, "I don't understand why you can leave me like that. What have I done to being abandoned again? I… I… I think I better go now before I be my stupid self."

"Ok"

Naruko waited for Iruka's next sentence but it never came, so she stomped to her bedroom and closed the door carefully not to show that her rage has overpowered her body.

Half an hour passed and Iruka was flipping through the channels looking for something interesting. Naruko opened her door and peeked at Iruka. Seeing that Iruka was still awake, she came out hugging her orange fox pillow.

"Iruka" she said softly.

"Hey" Iruka smiled at the teen while moving himself to the other end of the seat, making space for her on the sofabed. Naruko understanding the gesture, came to sit beside Iruka. There was a good space between them.

"I am not abandoning you, I want you to have your own life without having to follow someone else around. Can't you see that I am helping you, I need to do this for you." Iruka said.

Naruko looked at her feet and sighed "I am just not ready for this. I mean I am always taking care of someone else, so this feels like a rejection to me."

Iruka looked at Naruko and his eyes became wide "You talk like a grown up, are you sure that's you?"

Naruko looked at Iruka and glared "Well yes, I am living with an old soul aren't I? You taught me to use all this serious expressions in my essays and now I am like this."

Iruka snorted and looked at his feet. "I also lived alone when I was 16, and i thought it was a huge relief after years of people telling me where to live, what to do and after a dozen of foster homes. It was almost like being independent, although I was still dependent on the state for being under 21. Still it was a new beginning for me."

Naruko suddenly had a bold idea, she set aside her pillow and turned towards Iruka and cupped Iruka's hands. In one movement she is now face to face with Iruka. She hovered her body on Iruka's lap.

"May I kiss you Iruka?"

Iruka was taken aback, his eyes blinked rapidly. Naruko can feel his breath hurrying and his heart racing. But he was too stunned to speak.

"I have always wondered about this. Please let me do this for me?"

Iruka finally realising the situation held onto Naruko's shoulders and started pushing her away slowly. But Naruko maintained her position and continued "You wanted to help me right? Help me know what I want ok. Do this for me?"

Iruka let out a sharp breath and let his hands stay on Naruko's shoulder. Naruko resumed closing the distance between her and Iruka.

As their lips meet each other, Naruko's eyes fluttered close, Iruka's hold on her shoulder became tighter. When the kiss eventually happened Iruka's eyes closed and the softness of Naruko's lips caressed his slightly chapped ones. They stayed there unmoving for a few seconds before Iruka swiped his tongue across Naruko's lower lips. There was no response from Naruko so Iruka poked her lips with his tongue a few times until she opened her lips for him, letting their tongues meet. It was slow at first and suddenly Naruko had her tongue prodding Iruka's mouth with enthusiasm. They took quick swipes at each other lips before Iruka broke the kiss for a breath break.

With hands still cupping Iruka's cheeks, Naruko easily pushed a still stunned Iruka onto the red bean bag lying just below the sofa bed. She attacked his lips again, furiously kissing him with the skill of a first timer and during this second kiss Naruko's head suddenly got the message all loud and clear. Iruka's hands still holding onto her shoulders, but now her hands fisting the brown locks of the older man. After a while Iruka pushed Naruko away and smiled at Naruko who looked like she was stunned by the kiss this time. Iruka lay on the bean bag as Naruko sat with her chest hovered above him and her fingers now in his hair.

What is happening now between them? Will they like it or not?