Gerimis

Still in Iwa

'The quartet, three looking happy and one looking stoic, had dinner at a roadside restaurant less than fifty metres away from their hotel. Behind the restaurant was a small forest. Naruko ate her bowl of ramen ignoring Sasuke totally, but periodically nodded to Ino and Sai's lazy chat. Apparently the couple were spent from their activity at Agro Park that day, but still managed to share their experiences with their two travel mates.

"I have never looked at vegetables that monstrous. It was like, should I stab it before it eats me or should I chop it into itty bitty pieces and cook soup for the whole of Iwa," Sai said jokingly.

Ino chuckled, "That's city boys for you. But of course we don't make growing large vegetables a sport in Konoha. I've seen it in Suna newspapers though. Even a metro like Suna has their own vege sports. Konoha is a more laid back city I guess. Vegetables don’t excite us much."

Sasuke smirked and then wiped his mouth. "I'm heading to the back to look at the forest. Take the car with you."

"Ok," Ino and Sai said.

Naruko looked at Sasuke's disappearing back dubiously, it was like a normal thing to check out forests or something. She finished her bowl and nodded thankfully at an approaching waiter bringing her yet another bowl.

"Your stomach is endless." Sai said truthfully. "Even Ino, who eats everything does not down that many bowl of food in one sitting."

Naruko slurped down her seventh bowl of ramen. "I had to try their all of their best ramen, slurrrppp. It will be awhile before we return here. I mean, when I return later, if I return later." Her voice quivering in sadness, Naruko quickly slurped more ramen to finish it.

"Hey," Ino said. Naruko put down her empty bowl and wiped her mouth.

"Don't be sad. We will follow you the next time you come back here."

Naruko smiled, "Yeah, maybe next year or the next. Just to visit Chiyo and all. Not that she needed me anymore."

Truthfully, she had been a little affected seeing Chiyo's room full of gifts from all the old woman's former foster children.

"She told me someone wants her to live with them, like live in a real home. But she declined saying she will feel lonely there. Chiyo said, she had met someone there, a new but good friend and she had promised that they will live together at the nursing home until they died."

"That's sweet. Old people can get really lonely when the young ones they lived with go to work or away for studies or something. Maybe living at the nursery home is the best for her"

Naruko drank her water and stood quickly. Though Chiyo was on her mind, a boy had also made himself home in her mind.

Hesitantly she said, "If you guys don't mind. I was curious with what Sasuke's doing back there, like looking at the forest? Is he a forest ranger or something?"

Ino laughed while Sai looked confusingly at Naruko. Ino blinked a few times and smiled, "It was a quirk of his. Walking in the forest is like walking in a park for him."

"Yes, it is quite safe back there after all." A waiter appeared and joined in their conversation. She stopped to stand beside their table and asked, "May I clear the empty dishes?"

"Yeah," Sai said.

The waiter smiled and continues, "There are plenty of small mammals in the forest, but they usually shy away from humans. So chances of seeing them up close is none." The waiter moved away after collecting the abandoned dishes and glasses. The waiter placed it all on a trolley which they did not notice she was pulling along. She wiped some splotches on the table with a rag and then left them.

"Well, see you around?" Naruko said and walked towards the narrow lane with marble stepstones.

She was not sure what she wanted from Sasuke, but him being away started to feel odd. So before things get any odder, she decided to ask him about a few things. Maybe end all their supposed 'debts' and 'agreements'.

She walked following the stepstones heading towards a small garden at the back of the restaurant. As she reached the small garden she saw Sasuke glancing at her before disappearing inside the thick forest.

The waiter said it was harmless here, but this thick forest looked like a potential place to get lost. She thought.

As she came upon the 'wall' of the forest, she saw that there was actually a small clear path heading inside the thick plants. She could see Sasuke's dark head bobbing down the shaded path. She decided to walk briskly and follow him. She followed him for about five minutes until they arrived at a river. The river was about four metres wide and had no bridge to cross it. Sasuke was standing at the sandy river bank looking at his surroundings. Naruko stood about two metres away from him, looking directly at him this time. The place was private enough to begin talking.

"Just why were you acting friendly a minute and angry the next? Are you afraid that Chiyo wants to match make you with me?" Naruko asked Sasuke.

The boy looked at her and chuckled, "Do you want her to do that?"

Naruko chuckled and blushed, "I don't have time for studies, much less a boyfriend. She knew it was half a lie, having someone to love her would be okay, but she was not even sure if there was anyone out there capable of loving a penniless orphan, and uneducated like her. She knew that people who do care about that were shallow, saying that you need someone trustworthy, nice and can keep you happy.

"I thought so. I don't have time for a girlfriend either." Sasuke said looking directly at Naruko.

Naruko blinked and looked away, her heart fell twenty storeys down. Her feelings for the past few days were finally voiced out by Sasuke, he only wanted to be her friend but not her boyfriend or something.

It would have been nice to have a handsome boyfriend like him. Naruko sighed. Only for shows, I don't think that he is capable of being romantic or anything.

"The reason that I was cold towards you was, because of Sora." Sasuke walked towards Naruko and put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around? "Why do you let him come near you and talk to you like that? Do you trust him more than me?"

Naruko heart beat faster, but she managed to let herself be strong despite being touched by Sasuke.

"He's a friend. I knew him most of his life." That was a lie, she thought.

She decided to give him the truth, "I was surprised he was acting all friendly like that to me too. I am not sure, he seems like a good friend to have now."

Sasuke massaged her shoulder and placed another hand on her cheeks, "How about me? Don't I make a good friend for you too, now? Should I start showing how I care like him?" He asked earnestly.

Naruko was suddenly awakened from her confusion and pushed Sasuke's hands away. "No, not like that."

She trudged straight into the river without thinking, wanting desperately to escape Sasuke and run to the other side. She was ten large steps in the river, taking in the eleventh step when she felt her entire foot drop lower than she expected. It felt like her foot had stuck between some rocks in the muddy river. She tried pulling it up but fell down and felt her leg twist. The river looked shallow but was actually quite deep.

With half her body wet, she instinctively reached for the warm body as strong arms embraced her and helped her stand. Sasuke reached underneath for her foot and freed it from the rocks below. He looked down onto a frowning Naruko.

He picked her up and lay her on the dry ground, noticed her flinching when his hand brushed against her foot. They realized that with Ino and Sai already gone, they may need to hail a car to the hotel.

Naruko did not dare look at Sasuke again, keeping her face down underneath her now unravelled ponytail. She felt him curse, knowing that they both had cleverly left their mobile phones away while on holiday.

Sasuke looked down at her hidden face. "This is the second time I saved you, do you know what it means?"

Naruko shook her head without even looking at him.

"It means by far I have increased my chance at being your friend by 66 percent. The next time I save you, we are automatically friends."

She cringed again, plain as a day she knew there and then that she had fallen for him, bastard attitude and all. Naruko buried her head in her hands. She heard Sasuke chuckle.

He gently kissed her head and then lifted her. "Poor the guy who marries you, you are so annoying."

Naruko, despite her unawesome condition was quick to say her comeback, "Pity the girl who marries you, so assholish."

Sasuke just chuckled while slowly trailing the path back to the restaurant.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. She did not know what he did to her, the crush she felt on her heart was still strong. Maybe it's just a hero worship or something. He did save me twice so far.

Sora thought about his old friend and neighbour with a solemn heart. He thought they'd have a future together, seeing she was no longer with Iruka. But she returned with three new people from her new life. He wouldn't have a chance with her now. Especially with the cocky bastard who kept checking Sora out from the corner of his eyes.

He chewed on his straw angrily while he looked at hotel from his balcony. It didn't matter now that he had upgraded himself from a college dropout to cafe owner and estate co-owner, Naruko was not the old Naruko too. She had changed from a simple optimistic girl to a city girl. One he couldn't

comprehend being bound to her previous village, one who had seen beyond the simple life of Iwa.

He was now not even sure if Naruko had changed, or that was her suppressed personality coming out after all. She was often reprimanded for being boisterous after all. She did not fit the idea of an Iwa girl, courteous, loyal and domestic. She was more the opposite kind. He didn't care, what he cared was that he must try his luck on her. Since she was not fazed by his extreme make over, he hoped that she will be taken by his other aspects. One which he hoped to show her later.

Naruko looked at Sasuke who was perched on her bed, as Ino wrapped her swollen foot with bandage.

"Eh, you are so lucky that we are already on our last day of the trip. But can you make the trip back tomorrow? If not, we can stay another few days. Sai already made some arrangements with Kakashi, over your additional holiday. How about that?"

Naruko tried moving her leg, but it hurt too much. "This is the first time skipping work felt beneficial to me. Thanks Sai," Naruko hollered to the other guy. Sai just waved a hand.

She knew Kakashi had actually told her to take a week's leave, but she declined. She did not want to be at Iwa for longer, there weren't much beyond Chiyo here. But since she couldn't tolerate pain, she decided staying in Iwa for a few days more seems like a new idea. She was looking forward to having some quiet moment before heading back to Konoha too. Maybe about her next arrangement, maybe furthering her studies, taking a course or something.

"Well, I'm done. Let's go to sleep baby. I am soooo tired. We need to change our tickets tomorrow."

Ino and Sai left, and Sai looked at Sasuke who continued to perch on Naruko's bed.

"Go on Sai, I have a few choice advices for missy here."

"Okay," Sai said and abruptly closed the door behind him.

"Wait! Open the door!" Naruko said as the door closed.

She turned to Sasuke and asked, "What?"

"I want to say thank you to you for falling down, though I wasn't happy that you are hurt. So let me force this first wish for you, on me. One, we can't let Sai and Ino be holed up in here. So they will go on to some activity while I attend to you. So as the first wish, I will be your personal slave. You need to rest. Good night master."

Sasuke stood, walked to the front of Naruko and took her right hand. Naruko looked dumbly at him and then glared. He kissed her hand and smirked at her. Naruko forced herself to stay calm and let her body let him do what he wanted to do with her. She watched as he opened the door and left, slowly closing behind him.

Getting back to her senses, Naruko remembered to have the last line and shouted. "Don't think I am going to be an easy master, bastard!"

Naruko smiled as the door closed and lay back on the mattress. She did not care if the thought of Sasuke being her personal slave was something odd, straight out of a drama series. What made her heart jump was that she can order Sasuke around. She couldn't sleep but spend the next hour organizing her thoughts on what to do in the next few days, one of them was to visit Chiyo without Sasuke maybe.

More personal things to talk about.

Such foolish thoughts, but a sixteen year old girl always wants something beyond their grasp and Naruko was one such teen.

Brrrrrr brrrrrr brrrrrrrrr

Brrrrrrr brrrr brrrrrr

Brrrrr brrrrrrrrr brrrrr

Naruko wiped her eyes clear and swiped the nearby table for her phone. She looked at her phone and an unrecognizable telephone number from Iwa flashed. Thinking that it might be someone she knew, she took the call.

“Good morning Naruko.”

Naruko quickly sat up straight and looked at the wall clock. It was only 7 am and Chiyo was calling her phone. She almost felt panic, for a second there she felt like it was last year when she was still going to school and had woken up late on a school day. She smiled as she realized she was not in school and it was a Sunday.

“Good Morning, Chiyo Baa-chan, I forgot to save your contact number.”

“Today is your last day is it? Come and have lunch with me.”

“Sure Baa-chan, but I will be a little late. I sprained my foot last night.”

“How did it happen? Are you hurt?” Chiyo’s sounded panic.

“No, I am ok. The silly boy took care of me.”

“Say my thank you to him, If that’s the case then you don’t have to come and see me then.”

Naruko thought for a second and after constructing her answer, replied. “Well, because of my foot my friends asked me to stay back until I am well enough to travel. We decided to return on Tuesday or Wednesday after the swelling’s gone. So I have decided to spend the afternoon by visiting you, I want them to take a trip around Iwa without me holding them down. What better way than spending time with you again, Sasuke sending me there of course.”

“If you say so,” Chiyo said. Her voice sounding merry. “I could use some company today. Sora said he is away today and won’t be able to have breakfast with me like he usually does.”

“Sora visits you often? Is not he just a mystery benefactor?”

“Yes, he is still refuses to confirm that it was him. But, Naruko I have lived long enough to realize that it was he who had done it. He comes visits me on Sundays while the rest comes on Saturday or during the weekdays. Young people have their own agenda, I am just a relic of their past.”

“Don’t say that Chiyo,” Naruko got up and grabbed her towel which was draped on a chair right next to her bed. She did not feel the pain in her sprained foot at first, but when she started to walk the pain shot up. “Arghhh.”

“Are you ok Naruko?”

“I am ok Baa-Chan, but you know my pain toleration. I am just fresh from the fall, but I think I could manage it. So what time can I meet you?”

“Eleven is ok. I will ask Sora to deliver some food. He told me anything can be done from the telephone now, so in your condition let him buy the food. You don’t need to bring anything.”

“But Baa-Chan, I could ask my friend, Sasuke to buy from me.”

“Don’t worry Naruko. Just be here at eleven.”

“Alright, Baa-Chan.”

“See you later.” Chiyo ended the call and Naruko sighed.

Naruko had planned to buy the street food she ate yesterday, and do another round of Ramen tasting by bringing it to Chiyo. But her foster mother seem to favour Sora to do that part for her, and as an obedient foster daughter she just abided.

Hobbling towards her door, Naruko winced in pain as she adjusted herself to the swollen area. It was more painful than yesterday but somehow she could bear it now. She opened her door and knocked on Sasuke’s door which was opposite her room.

After the third knock, Sasuke came out wearing sleep pants and shower robes. Naruko couldn’t help but let her eyes roam at his washboard abs which peeked between the untied robe. She had never thought about a boy’s body like that before. Realizing that she was about to drool, Naruko quickly went into serious mode and asked Sasuke.

“Good morning pretty boy. Umm, I need you to send me to Chiyo’s nursing home before eleven. So, where are you going today with Ino and Sai?”

Sasuke yawned and looked at Naruko half awake, he smirked and placed a hand on his hip.

“I believe as your personal slave, I must be by your side all the time.”

“I want you to spend the day with Ino and Sai, you can help me around later. So?”

“Whatever you insist on Hime,” Sasuke leaned on his opened door still smirking.

Naruko found it hard to maintain her seriousness while facing the well built and handsome boy, so she decided that escaping to the bath is a must for now.

“Well then, let’s get ready and inform Sai and Ino that you will be with them, while I will be at Chiyo’s.”

Sasuke still smirking, bowed slightly to Naruko and waved her away. “Your wish is my command.”

Naruko quickly hobbled back into her bed and close the door behind her. As she reached for her bed to sit down and unwrap her bandaged foot, she smiled at the thought of her meeting with Chiyo later.

At Chiyo’s Nursing Home

It was half past twelve and Naruko was now sitting on the balcony with Chiyo. Sora had ordered from wherever he was, a spread of Western breakfast for them. It was a lot of food, for just the two of them. Chiyo ate a lot of croissants with the various fruit jams and munch on the grapes, leaving the pies and sausages to Naruko.

“So do you like the boy?” Chiyo asked as Naruko finished her lunch.

“Baa-chan, why do ask me questions like that? I am still a child.”

Chiyo laughed. Ever since Chiyo stopped taking care of Naruko, she had been acting more like a friend to Naruko than a mother.

“I think you need a companion.”

“I don’t and Iruka even left me behind since he know I can love alone.”

“Well, that was his mistake.”

“Baa-chan, I am almost seventeen this October. I have great friends and we all hang out most days. I was never alone.”

“Hmmm. I missed you Naruko. But things change, and I just want someone to take care of you. Since I heard that Iruka moved away less than a year after you moved in with him, Anko told me anyway. Well, I was worried but I couldn't do anything. If I had the money I would have visited you.”

“Don’t worry Baa-Chan. I am ok. Ino and Sai are like my a brother and sister to me. Iruka’s friend Kakashi-san, also my boss and Konan, my supervisor are there for me.”

“So, how long have you known them?”

“About six months now.”

“So, this Ino and Sai are getting married?” Chiyo asked.

Naruko smiled despite Chiyo’s interrogative questions, but she just smiled and answered, “Yes they got engaged last year. They told me they might marry next year.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I think it’s great that they found each other.”

“Have you found anyone?”

“No, Baa-Chan. Why, are you twisting the questions around. I don’t want to repeat the answer, but I think I have to. I am happy being like this Baa-chan. Since, I am only seventeen and being single is not a crime. You are single too now.”

“Ok, ok. You got me,” Chiyo laughed.  I am like the only mother you have ever know, so I need to do the prodding. But I see know that you are not like before. No wonder Sora said you have changed. You are different.”

Naruko looked at Chiyo, eyes wide. “You talked to Sora, about me?”

“He said he met you at the Hotel Iwa. He said he wanted to ask you for lunch, but thought otherwise when he saw your boyfriend.”

Naruko’s eyes bulged. “Huh?” She was sure Sora had actually asked for lunch the time they met at the hotel.

“Actually he did invite me to lunch, Baa-chan. Bbb… but I was in a rush. I didn’t want to abandon my friends. Anyway me and Sora weren’t really close before. So, I… Well, I invited him to lunch if he ever visited Konoha.”

Chiyo smiled wanely and looked away. Naruko was confused and blurted, “Why Chiyo? Anything wrong.”

The elderly woman looked at Naruko and said, “I am not your real mother but I think I should say this. At your age, maybe you are too young to marry, but maybe you could keep your options open. You know, you don’t have to say yes now. I knew since I was younger than you when I married the first time...”

Naruko stared at Chiyo, at first open mouthed and confused. However Chiyo did not notice her and kept on talking, “Well, you see a mother, or a foster mother gets worried. You don’t go to school anymore, and are working a minimum wage salary job. Why don’t you befriend Sora, first. See how it goes. There’s maybe a few years for things to change, think of it as a back up plan.”

At the mention of Chiyo, everything clicked.

“Baa-chan, first of all, you are as real as a mother to me.” Naruko sniffed. She always felt like crying when Chiyo plays the I-am-not-your-real-mother-card. But on the other hand, she had cherished her new life. She may not been thinking why she liked this new life, new friends, new level of trusts people had in her, new environment and Sasuke.

From afar she saw Sasuke walked towards her, though he was far away, she easily recognized the black leather jacket and the outline of his hairstyle.

Chiyo smiled, “And then, why don’t you hear me for a second here. Think of it as an option. You can always say No if there aren’t no chemistry. What’s stopping you?”

“Sasuke, err Chiyo. My friend’s here.”

Chiyo looked confused a second, but followed Naruko’s bulging eyes looking at the direction behind her. So Chiyo turned around and saw the boy whose name being blurted. Instantly the old woman knew that Sora lost even before he tried.

“Well, there’s your answer.” Chiyo said out loud.

“What answer?” Sasuke asked as he approached their table.

“The answer to the universe’s mystery.”

Sasuke nodded like he knew what Chiyo was talking and looked at the gaping teenage girl. “Sai sent me back here, saying they are renting another car so I can be of better service to your daughter here.”

Chiyo smiled at Sasuke and nodded, “Well, thank you young man. Naruko better cook you a nice meal when she gets better.”

“Anyway I am feeling a bit cold, will you send me to my room young man?”

Sasuke smiled, and Naruko almost fainted. Since when does the bastard can smile, didn’t he just smirk the whole time they were with each other.

While Sasuke was away, Naruko continued sipping on her tea, while she waited for Sasuke to aid her down the room to Chiyo’s. It seemed that the gravity between her and Sasuke were too strong to keep them apart. She contemplated whether she should just bear it with Sasuke, try befriending Sora, or just let them all be friends and continue life as if.

Naruko patted on her full stomach and wished she could have some ramen on the way back. She had a slave to order around after all. As if by magic, a pack of ramen take away descended into her view.

“Well, you are like a genie in the bottle. Is this the second wish? How’d you move so quick, Sasu…?” she asked. But following the pack of ramen take away was Sora.

“I was already on my way here when Chiyo-san asked me to order food for the both of you. Since the boss of the other company suddenly departed for an emergency case, I thought I’d made a quick U-turn and surprise you.”

“Oh, it’s you,” Naruko said.

“Why, you expected someone else?”

“Well, I thought it was…” Naruko thought about lying. “I thought it was Baa-chan’s best friend. Who knows they might surprise her, we were here for hours, someone should be searching for her by now.”

Sora smiled strangely but the strangeness was only glimpsed for a second, before it was replaced by an excited smirk. Naruko braced for Sora’s incoming whatever, maybe a question, maybe an invite?

“Chiyo told me you are staying back for awhile, why don’t you have lunch with me tomorrow? You can bring along your friends if you want?”

Naruko sighed inside, not again. I can’t evade it this time.

Without hesitancy she answered, “If you insist on it ok. You choose the place.”

Sora smiled and asked, “does your friend love flowers? I know a place where there’s delicious food, and flowers. They’ll like it.”

Naruko nodded and began unpacking the ramen, and started smelling the delicious steam emanating from the soupy concoction.

Inside Sora smiled and waited for Naruko’s nod.

“Ok!”

Jackpot! Sora shouted inside.