These are side stories my story CTBT? These specials elucidate the childhood relationships that led to the possible future couples and/or current couples in my story. Can be Naruto characterxOC or Naruto characterxNaruto character. This is a sneak peek of one of the couples that hasn't yet been acknowledged in the story (but will be shortly for those who read CTBT?). First up: Naruto and Hikari.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I never will, you dream killers. -cries in emo corner-
Can They Be Trusted? !Special!
"It's Naruto and Hikari's oath, believe it!"
Fourteen year old Uzumaki Naruto strode cheerfully down a path leading to the park he had often played at as a small child, orbs bluer and vaster than the ocean itself gazing up at the orange-pink tinted evening sky. An easy smile settled on his lips as he enjoyed the peace of the fading day and the light breeze caressing through his spiky blonde locks. Days like these were the absolutely wonderful. He loved how he could just relax and take pleasure in the beauty of nature after a long, tiring training session with Kakashi-sensei and his teammates. Speaking of teammates…Naruto's hand clenched into a tight fist and he growled thinking of his long time rival who always tried to get a mileage out of him whenever possible, regularly succeeding in doing so.
"That teme…I'll beat him next time, dattebayo." he assured himself with a confident grin, nodding. "He won't know what hit 'em!"
Naruto continued on his way to the park with an extra bounce in his step after his self pep talk. Before he knew it, the pumped up knuckle head ninja (now a Chūnin) had arrived at his destination. He glanced around the old and slightly worn playground, remembering both fond and dour memories. The blonde sighed bearing a half smile, sky blue eyes softening. "This place sure is nostalgic…"
His smile grew larger when he caught sight of the slide he used to, well, slide on. Ready to let out his inner child (like it already isn't, lol) , the blonde was about to dash over to it when his sharp ears caught a soft sob; he blinked a few times, the noise, throwing him off guard. "Huh…" Is someone here? I could have sworn I looked around here well…looks like Kakashi-sensei was right about me needing to be more observant…
Naruto took a more scrupulous look around the play area and his gaze soon resting on a girl wearing a summery white dress; she was sitting on a creaking swing with shoulder length dark brown hair hanging limply from her bowed head. She was listlessly pushing herself back and forth with the tips of her toes on the swing and an arm was wrapped around the chain of the swing. He was severely reminded of himself as a child and without a moment's hesitation, he ran to her, sensing the recognizable, lonely atmosphere encompassing her being. He wasn't good at the comforting girls' thing but that's the least of his concerns; right now he had to do something.
"Oi!" he called out to her. The brunette didn't reply or look up, even when he'd reached her and stood directly in front of her. "What's wrong with you?"
Again the doleful teen girl said nothing her but lowered her head shadowing her face even more with her lengthy bangs. That's when Naruto noticed tears dripping from her chin onto her bare thighs and the occasional sniffles escaping her. And all over again, he was reminded of himself when he was always alone and cried to himself. Back then…that was all he could do to keep the loneliness at bay, but he was older now. The young Chūnin grimaced, eyes narrowing with empathy and compassion.
"You don't have to cry you know." he murmured quietly. "It won't solve anything."
"…I know that…" she finally whispered in a dejected voice.
Naruto started at oddly familiar voice. This girl…is she…?
"…Are you…?" The lugubrious girl raised her head up and looked at him with tearful faded rose colored eyes. "H-Hikari?" he gasped astonished.
The blonde knew her and her two other siblings through Sasuke because the Uchiha lived with them and he'd introduced them to himself a few weeks after they had been put on the same squad. Naruto and Hikari got along well; they'd even gone to eat ramen together (she'd even pay his way, how could he say no to that?!) and been over to their house a many times for dinner (her parents were even nice enough to let him sleep over when it got too late). Hikari was usual very cheerful…he was used to seeing her with a smile…
"…Yeah I know…" she muttered, smiling up at him through her tears. "It's not like me to cry…I usually…can contain myself…i-it just happened when I walked by here…" More tears filled her eyes unconsciously as she lowered her gaze to her feet. "Memories of h-him…"
Naruto stared down at the eldest Takara, perplexed. "Who was he?"
The fragile smile trembled slightly, but stayed in place all the same even as her voice cracked, overflowing with emotion. "…He was…someone I thought I could t-trust…someone I believed felt the same thing I f-felt towards him…and someone I thought I u-understood most importantly…"
Reticent hot tears slipped out her eyes and rolled down her pale cheeks. She could no longer smile as the dark shroud of melancholy encompassed her and embittered words past through her lips. "But I was wrong Naruto!" she wept resentfully, covering her face with her hands, sniffles escalating into heartbreaking sobs. "I was completely wrong and my family and others I cared about paid the price!"
Sapphire eyes widened at the sudden proclamation. After her outburst it was silent, the only sounds coming from the crying girl before the kitsune, echoing in the small area.
"…Hikari…" Naruto's eyes traveled to the ground but then snapped back up to the lachrymose teen girl, expression brightening with an epiphany. "Oh, wait Hikari, I know what will help!"
She lifted her forlorn face up and looked at Naruto, who was giggling happily, nonplussed by his change of behavior. "Huh…?"
"Hikari, I'll be back!"
And he took off towards wherever leaving a stunned Hikari to stare strangely after his running, dimming outline. Minutes later he returned back, a hand behind his back in an attempt to conceal who knows what, grinning excitedly. The brunette was perplexed to say the least. "Uh…Naruto…?"
"Close your eyes!" he insisted loudly in a jovial way.
Hikari looked hesitant but sighed meekly. "…Ok…" She shut her eyes and held her breath in quiet anticipation. Fingers brushed against her ear and pulled her hair back and then something soft lightly grazed the side of her face.
"All right…open them and check it out."
Hikari complied and glanced sideways only to utter a hushed gasp of surprise. A beautiful faded pink blossom was tucked behind her ear; it had been the remarkably large petals that had gently brushed against her damp cheek. She looked with wide burgundy eyes at Naruto, who was grinning goofily, blushing bright red.
"I-It's a chrysanthemum. I, uh, thought it'd cheer you up cuz girls like flowers and all, so I've heard from Sakura-chan." he said amicably with a nervous grin, rubbing the back of his head gingerly.
Hikari blinked several times just staring at him, not knowing what to say. Naruto continued on though in a jumpy tone.
"…A-and I also gave it to you c-cause…um, w-well I thought you'd…" He laughed uncertainly, avoiding any eye contact with her. "L-look…uh, cute with it, ehehehe…"
Both teens flushed darkly after his intrepid statement and looked anywhere but at each other for a split second before Hikari finally wiped the remaining traces of tears from her eyes and smiled at the embarrassed blonde warmly. "Naruto…"
"Uh…yes?" he asked anxiously, returning his gaze on her. Oh no…I hope I didn't make her feel worse…I've never been good at comforting girls…
Naruto was completely dumbstruck when she beamed brightly at him.
"Thank you so much."
Cerulean eyes blinked disbelievingly and he shook his head to make sure he wasn't dreaming or imagining this moment. But Hikari was still there, smiling happily at him. He'd actually done it; he'd comforted someone and a girl no less. That was something to be proud of. "Heh," The blonde laughed with poise and folded his arms behind his head as if he hadn't been a nervous wreck at her initial reaction beforehand. "I knew that flower would help."
She shook her head slowly. "No, it was you Naruto…you made me feel better. And it means a lot to me."
Hikari stood from her swing and wrapped her arms around the younger teen's neck, much to his astonishment, but he quickly returned the embrace. "I'll never forget this…" she whispered into his ear.
Naruto's whole face went blood red and his eyes glazed over with unrestrained joy. Hikari…
For a moment it was peaceful and serene, Naruto and Hikari in each others' arms until…"Nee-chan and Naruto sitting in a tree!" Said teens sprung apart like they were freaking electrocuted with 1,000 volts and whipped their attention in the direction of the mocking voices.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" laughed Junko along with Natsumi, both pointing at the mentioned "couple" audaciously.
Hikari was not amused at all.
"I suggest…" she said in that dangerous tone of hers, cracking her knuckles ominously. "You both start running…" Junko and Natsumi look at each other and emitted a piercing scream, taking the advice and dashed the heck out of there.
"YOU'RE BOTH TOAST!" roared the enraged older sister, getting ready to chase after them before stopping in her tracks and turned back to the blonde. "Naruto…you should come over for dinner with us tonight."
Naruto blushed and grinned. "Sure Hikari, I'll be there, dattebayo."
The brunette cocked her head to the side with a sweet, soft smile. The hyperactive blonde stared disbelievingly. Never had a girl smiled like that at him before. Sasuke was always the recipient of these from his admiring fan girls. He felt his heart lift up at the simple sight.
"Great! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with my spying siblings!"
"H-Hikari, we didn't mean it!!" they cried, sprinting home as fast as they could, Hikari hot on their tails already.
"Even so, you're still going down, RAAWR!" 'Naruto…' she thought even as she raced after her annoying siblings. 'I'm making a promise to you now…'
The blonde teen was still standing in a daze, the striking smile on Hikari's lips occupying his thoughts. A fatuous smile spread across his face until he remembered the forlorn and dejected look on her face when she had first looked at him on the swing; his right hand curled into a fist and he raised it up to his chest. Those sky blue eyes lifted to the evening sky, features set in a hardened determined expression.
Someone who always smiles shouldn't have to endure that much internal pain alone like I once did…Hikari…I promise you…under this sunset…
That day Uzumaki Naruto and Takara Hikari both made a promise to themselves meant for each other; the vow to always stand by the other's side, no matter what.
That day also, Naruto realized Sakura was no longer the only girl he liked just as Hikari became aware that Uchiha Itachi no longer occupied her heart alone; there was now a spiky blonde boy with a goofy grin there too.
Me: Evidently Hikari partly blames herself for the Uchiha Massacre; she believes she could have stopped Itachi if she had been able to read him better (who could read that guy? it's like trying to read a freaking brick wall) and try to get through to him (phfft, yeah right). She also feels responsible for Natsumi's injury Itachi gave her. Ah…self-blame is very out of place for you Hikari.
Hikari: -sighs- It's all my fault…-huddles in a corner, a gloomy mess- Itachi why?!
Believing in tomorrow: -sniffles- My fave OC of yours is turning emo!
Me: Ugh…you're the one who came up with this idea of this story; you even wrote the dang outline for me.
Believing in tomorrow: Oh that's right!
Me: I really don't understand how you made it through high school…-shakes head-
Hikari: I feel like crap now.
Me: Btw, As you know, Naruto was 14. Natsumi is the same age as Naruto and Hikari and Junko are both 15 in this.