Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, or any of the characters.
Author's Note: This will most likely be a short chapter fic, meaning 10 chapters or less. I hope you enjoy it.
Yuushi-chan
-X-
Can't Get You Out of My Head
Chapter 1
It had been just over a year since the Fourth Shinobi World War had ended. Maito Gai was thirty one years old and starting to feel his age. He would never admit to anyone that he was lonely or was beginning to feel old, especially not to his eternal rival Hatake Kakashi. So much had changed since the war ended. Team Gai had been disbanded, each of his students were on their own missions now and rarely were assigned to work with him. Kakashi had changed, the events of the war had taken a toll on his mind, and Gai felt that he was losing his best friend. Kurenai and Asuma's daughter was now a year and a half and the cutest little girl Gai had ever seen. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he wanted that. He wanted to get married and have a family, and be surrounded by friends. It was the first time in nearly twenty years that he felt lost.
Gai walked around Konoha, greeting everyone who passed him. He would never let on that he was feeling down. He had to be cheerful and brighten other people's day because in turn it made him feel good about himself and made him happy. Gai walked past the Hyuuga compound as Neji was walking out.
"Hello there, Neji!" Gai's voice boomed.
"Hello, Gai-sensei," Neji greeted. "How are you doing?"
"Oh, just fine," Gai answered. "Where are you off to?"
"Just getting ready to meet up with my team. I'm leading an escort mission to Sunagakure. I need to get going," Neji finished. "I'll see you around."
"Be careful, Neji." Gai said as a goodbye. He continued walking through the streets, somewhat aimlessly. He was lost in thought, wondering how Tenten and Lee were doing, when someone bounced off of him.
"Watch where you're going, Moron," A woman yelled up at him from her place on the ground, her round, dark brown eyes smoldering.
"I am so sorry, Miss!" Gai yelled his apology. He reached out a hand to help her up. She accepted it and Gai pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks," she said somewhat grumpily as she dusted off her clothes and threw her long black braid behind her back.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Gai apologized again.
"It's fine, no big deal," the woman answered.
"Could I buy you lunch?" Gai asked.
"I'm already eating," she answered, but looked down at the ground. "Although you did just cost me my lunch, so why not."
"Wonderful," Gai smiled. "What do you like to eat?"
"Curry," she answered.
Gai smiled feeling like his day was about to get much better, "anywhere in particular you like to get your curry from?"
"Sometimes Ichiraku, and sometimes from this little tea house near the East Gate. The little old lady who owns it has been using a recipe created by her great grandmother for years," she told Gai.
"I guess you should lead the way, then," Gai smiled at her.
They started out for their destination, walking past busy shops and restaurants, children playing in the park. Gai glanced at the woman walking next to him. She was a sight for sore eyes. Gai assessed she was nearly five feet, two inches, so little compared to his big frame. She wore an olive green dress, similar to the one he saw Saruka wear, with tight brown shorts underneath, a dagger strapped to her right hip, and her weapons pouch resting on the left. Her hair was a shiny black, tied in a braid that dangled at her lower back. Gai noticed a few long burn scars along her left shoulder and forearm, silvery marks that stood out against her tanned skin.
"They're from the war," she said catching him looking.
"What's your name?" Gai asked her.
"My name is Aya. You're Gai, correct?"
"You know me?" Gai asked surprised.
"You did a lot in the war," she smiled. "And your self punishments are no secret to anyone in the village."
Gai laughed loudly, "I need to keep myself in shape, keep my youth, and challenge myself every day!"
"You'll have to give up your youth someday, though, won't you?" Aya asked.
Gai's smile slipped slightly as he had those thought that had been plaguing him so much lately. He thought about Kakashi, his best friend, who had been keeping to himself a lot more now as he began rethinking his life. He thought about his own loneliness.
"Gai, we're here," Aya's voice shook him out of his thoughts. He looked up at the sign in the entrance way. It was a faded wood sign, with the family name on it. The letters were so scratched he couldn't read it. The smell of spicy curry wafted to his nose. It smelled delicious.
"It smells wonderful," Gai spoke out loud.
"It tastes even better than it smells," Aya said a grin on her face. She grabbed Gai's wrist and pulled him through the doorway and up to the counter. The little shop was big enough for eight people to sit at the counter at one time. The little old woman standing behind the counter merely needed to turn around to stir the pot of curry or take an order. "Konnichi wa Daka-san."
The little old woman turned around her eyes squinted to see better and a smile broke out on her face, "Oh, Konnichi wa Aya-san. Ogenki desu ka?"
"Hai, I am very well," Aya smiled. "This is Gai-san. He's treating me to lunch today."
"What a nice young man," Daka-san said turning to look at Gai. "He's sturdy and handsome, too."
Gai felt heat rise to his cheeks. He was almost never complimented on his looks and he never really learned how to take a compliment. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled back at the old woman.
"What can I get for you?" Daka-san asked.
"Spicy curry and steamed rice," Aya answered right away.
"Always the same," the old woman said to herself. "Why do I even ask?"
Aya just shrugged and then looked at Gai waiting for him to tell the woman what he wanted.
"What's the spiciest curry you have?" Gai asked.
"Oh, a risk taker, I like that in a man," the old woman said. "That would be the atomic curry."
"I'll have that and steamed rice," Gai said grinning.
"Don't tell me I didn't warn you," the old woman said leaning in close. "You may wish you'd never chosen the atomic curry. So, are you sure?"
"Yes!" Gai said confidently.
"Okay, coming right up!" Daka-san announced.
Within five minutes Gai and Aya had their rice and curry in front of them. Gai inhaled deeply before saying "Itadakimasu!" He dug in. On the first bite, he savored the sweet, spicy, and delicious curry. He took a second bite and looked over at Aya who seemed to be enjoying her curry just as much. He finished his whole meal before Aya was done with half of hers.
"You're done already?" Aya asked in surprise seeing Gai push his empty bowl back.
The little old woman turned around smiling at him, "So, what did you think?"
"It was delicious! Some the best super spicy curry I've ever had!" Gai exclaimed.
"I've never seen anyone so calm and happy after eating my atomic curry," Daka-san told him. "You like food spicy all the time then?"
"I do like my food very spicy, but I can't really say no to any type of food," Gai laughed.
Aya looked on as Gai and the old woman continued their conversation. Gai saw her out of the corner of his eye and when he turned his head she looked down at her food. Gai saw her bowl was empty now.
"Are you finished?" Gai asked her.
"Yes, thank you for lunch," she said.
"Of course! It's the least I can do after knocking you over earlier," Gai grinned.
"Goodbye Daka-san," Aya said as she stood with Gai. The little old woman waved as they left. Gai and Aya made their way back towards the center of town.
"You must eat there a lot," Gai said.
"At least twice a week," Aya answered. "The old woman is very nice and the food is good."
"You said you were in the war, what rank are you?" Gai asked.
"I'm a jonin," Aya said, "I've thought about becoming a teacher, but I don't think I'd be very good."
"Why do you say that?" Gai asked.
"I have very little patience for children," she said. "They get on my nerves too quickly and I just don't think I could explain lessons very well. I have a hard time relaying information to people my own age."
"I love my students," Gai smiled remembering when he first met them. "They've grown to be great shinobi."
"Who are your students?" Aya asked.
"Hyuuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee," Gai smiled. He missed seeing them every day. He looked over at Aya and saw her smiling. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing," she answered. "Just thinking."
"Do you know any of them?" Gai asked curios.
"Oh, I know all of them," Aya said grinning. A little chirp went off from the watch on Aya's wrist. "Listen, I have to go. Thanks for lunch."
"Any time," Gai said. "Can I see you again?"
Aya cocked her head obviously not anticipating the question, "I think that would be fine. What were you thinking?"
"Maybe tomorrow night, dinner this time," Gai answered feeling a little nervous.
"Where do you want to meet?" Aya asked and glanced down at her watch.
"I thought maybe I could come get you and we could decide from there, but then I remembered I don't know where you live, or what your last name is."
Aya laughed out loud at the statement, "Pick me up at Lee's house?" She turned to leave already walking away from Gai when he called out to her.
"Why Lee's house?" Gai called.
"Because he's my little brother!" She yelled back before disappearing within the crowded streets.