Empath, Prankster and Ninja Lessons

Chapter One Gentle Hands

He ran off again. Away from the adults that ignored him or worse, away from the children who avoided him or scorned him.

He couldn't understand why they were like this. Why he was treated this way. He couldn't remember a time when someone hugged him besides the old man. He never knew a time when someone treated his wounds or kissed him good night.

He just couldn't stand to be in that place any more, within the walls of the orphanage where he was treated like a pariah. But even running from those walls, those people, he couldn't escape from the looks, the scorn.

He made his way, fighting back tears of frustration, sadness and pain through streets unfamiliar to him and farther from the orphanage then he's ever been. These people unfamiliar but their actions the same.

He was so confused! His emotions were so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe! He just wanted to scream! Do anything to make them stop! To understand why! To have someone, anyone who'll just look at him with something even remotely positive!

Naruto stopped amidst the crowd of people, a wide berth around him. Fists clenched, body tense, face tight with emotions and feeling this overwhelming urge to just run! But before he could do that, a gentle hand settled onto his shoulder and he jerked in surprise and a bit of fear.

He turns around hurriedly, out of the persons grasp and looked up to see a young woman on her haunches smiling gently and her eyes beseeching. "Hello."

Naruto was still tense, unsure how to respond, what to do, as he swallows a bit fearfully. "Hello"

"I'm Aika (love song)" the woman introduces, holding out a slim pale hand.

"Naruto," he mumbles, unsure whether to take the proffered hand or not. Hope warring with fear.

"Naruto," Aika smiles invitingly, slowly reaching out to take his hand and shake comfortingly. "I am happy to meet you, Naruto."

*****EPaNL*****

"So, the people at the orphanage blamed you for something you didn't do and kicked you out just because the kids you were trying to stop said you did it." Aika whispers chewing on her stick of pocky. "And they wouldn't even listen when you tried to explain."

Naruto sniffs loudly, his own stick of pocky hanging limply in one hand as he tried to wipe the evidence of his tears off his face.

After Aika-neechan introduced herself Naruto broke down and cried. She had panicked a bit but in the end carried him to a quite park bench where she held him until he stopped crying. As soon as he did, she sat him beside her, handed him a snack and asked what was wrong. He was so overwhelmed and happy to have someone, anyone, care that he just let it all come out.

Aika pulls a handkerchief from her pocket, gently pulls his hand away and carefully begins to wipe his face. She pinches her lips together and looks a bit dazed but focused. "That isn't fair at all." She whispers.

"Why do they hate me so much?" Naruto asks, not really expecting an answer but desperately needing to ask.

Aika stops her ministrations and looks down her fist clenched and trembling. "I..." She whispers, voice quivering before biting her lip and looking up determinedly. "It's because they don't know you. And because they're too stubborn to learn."

"I don't understand," Naruto says, eyes brimming with new tears.

Aika's looks at the boy regretfully before gently running her fingers through his golden hair. "Maybe one day you will, Naruto. I'm so sorry that you have to shoulder such a burden and I hate to ask you this but please Naruto, please be strong and don't bow to the burden you carry and please, find it in your heart to forgive us all."

"Forgive?" Naruto asks incredulously. Why was she sorry? Why did he have to forgive her? She was so nice to him, she never hurt him.

"It might be hard and it might take time but I hope someday you will." She whispers tears trickling down her face.

Panic twists his stomach as Naruto watches Aika cry, his throat tightening with his own desire to cry. "Don't cry Aika-neechan! I forgive you! You're so nice to me so please! Please don't cry!"

Aika sniffs gently, a watery laugh following. "It's okay Naruto. Sometimes you just need to cry. I'm all right."

"Are you sure?" Naruto sniffs, his own tears beginning to build.

Considering his own heart felt expression, Aika smiles gently and holds out her hand. "Will you hold my hand?" She asks, taking in his stunned and rather timid expression. "It'll make me feel better."

Naruto bites his lip and slowly reaches out to take her hand. As soon as he does, Aika gently squeezes it before relaxing her grip so that he could pull away any time.

Naruto blushes and his hand trembles but he keeps his hand there as they cry in the empty park.

A/N: So. I'm not quite sure what possessed me to do this but I decided to try it out any way. Welcome one and all to my very own first published fanfic. Don't be to hard on me but I would like to hear any helpful criticisms. Thank you for taking the time to read this and (hopefully) review.

I don't own Naruto by the way. That's all that needs to be said in the disclaimer.