So I am a fantastic procrastinator and I started writing this little… thing, at about 3 pm today. I really want to do my share in NH Month, but I am having trouble being inspired by the prompts. I know it's pitiful, but that is my excuse for the brevity and otherwise lackluster performance of this piece today. Hopefully I'll get into the swing of things as the month continues. For now, here it is.
NaruHina Month: Day 1
Sunshine
Naruto scuffed his boot in the gray snow, kicking a lump of slush away from him as he leaned against the gatehouse. With his hands buried deep in his pockets he lifted his face up to the murky sky, the blank gray canvas doing little to improve his mood.
He had always hated winter, ever since he was small. It was cold and dark and even going home had given him no respite. Winter was a time of friends and family, a time meant to be spent together and coming home to an empty apartment had only increased his lonliness. His small cold apartment had been very little comfort.
He would try to occupy himself with hours and hours of training, slipping and falling on frozen ground as he tried to master basic forms. Tired and sore he would return to his cold apartment to find that his heat had been turned off again. At the time, he hadn't known it was intentional, a cruel act from a spiteful landlord. He had simply added it to the list of reasons to despise the season.
No, winter held nothing but bad memories for him. It was almost as if the season had been designed to make him miserable. Even the sun abandoned him, disappearing behind drab gray clouds.
A misty cloud puffed out of him in a sigh as he watched big downy flakes begin to drift down from the sky. He hunched his shoulders against the cold and glanced back at the gate, still waiting.
She was different. She loved winter. She loved the cold and the snow. She loved the quiet peace outside and the beautiful white world the snow created. She even liked the longer nights.
Far down the road movement caught his eye and he leaned away from the wall. There she was! Her genin flanked her, all three trudging toward home. They were making good time, eager to get home and Naruto stepped through the gate, just as eager to greet them.
Before he knew it she was there, in his arms and he buried his cold nose in her hair. His arms clamped around her, holding her to him tightly and he smiled when her quiet voice greeted him sweetly. He ignored her genin rolling their eyes at them.
He drew away far enough to see her gorgeous face and saw the sunlight glinting off of her long hair. He couldn't hold back his grin. She always brought out the sunshine, even in the winter. Light attracted light, he mused. And she was the brightest light in the world, a million times better than any sunshine.
He supposed winter wasn't so bad. Not if it brought out that incredible smile.
XXX
Dismally pitiful, I know. I am afraid most of my submissions are going to be short like this one. Hopefully I will be able to get something for one of my other stories though and I'll get something else up soon too.
As always, please let me know what you all think!
Happy reading! Tenneyshoes