"Stupid Naruto!"
"Yeah, Naruto! You're soo stupid! Ha ha ha ha!"
I didn't understand. I couldn't. I was so young then, so my mind could not process why they treated him so badly. Then again... I wasn't raised like them.
My friends kicked and hurt him in any way they could whenever they saw him. They didn't really know him. They just knew that everyone hated him, so they felt they should too.
No. They were taught to hate him, ever since they could understand words. But I was taught to love. Even so I could not stop them. Could not tell them they were wrong. Besides, if they were taught to believe one thing, why would they believe another?
My friend, Baki gave one last kick that sent the boy crying out in pain and then turned to me.
"This is getting boring! Lets get out of here guys."
My friend, Rikku, nodded beside me. I, however, did not want to leave. I wanted to stay with the boy. He looked very hurt, and I wanted to help him.
"Nah, I-I forgot that I had to go to my grandma's house, a-and it's the opposote direction f-from your house. Heh heh heh..." I turned away from them and ran in the opposite direction from them, waving goodbye. As soon as I reached the bushes I ducked, waiting for them to leave.
I heard Baki snort. "Wierdo."
After I heard thier feet fade, I came out from my hiding place. The boy was still on the ground. As I walked up to him he tried to get up, but fell again. Crying out again in pain.
"Come near me... I'll... I'll tear your face off." I knew he was just acting brave. He couldn't do aything in his current state. Still, he struggled to get up.
"Naruto..." I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to hurt him, but I didn't know how to help him.
I stepped closer, "I don't want to hurt you. I just...I-I'm sorry that my friends keep hurting you."
His struggling ceased. For a second we both were quiet. Then he looked up at me."No one's ever apologized to me before.." Then he put his face back down on the ground."You're Haru, right?"
I flinched. No one had ever really paid attention to me before. I was always the quiet, unnoticed one.
He smiled at the ground. "Why don't you hate me like the others? Don't you want to hurt me too?"
At this I smiled, and stuck my hand out to him. "I was taught love. I can't hate you for something you didn't do or know."
He looked up at me, and I could almost see the tears in his eyes. But he tried to laugh them away. "I dunno what that means, but I'm glad you're not out for my blood."
We both laughed. I knew he was happy that someone cared. But I was happy that he was just laughing.
That night we laughed until were out of breath. And even then we were still happy. He went home that night with a smile on his face, same as I. Except, I knew that he was the happiest. He had found a friend in me. Now all I had to do was find a way to spend time with him more often, without him ever coming to harm again.