Thank you, Golden-Love-A :) I'm really anal about grammar- Grammar Nazi if you will, so I'm glad you noticed! After taking a trip down memory lane, I'm reading to write the next chapter!
Chapter Two.
"Pocky, I've missed you!" I hugged my Takigakure Malamute as he jumped into my arms. Tenten caught me before I fell down. Pocky licked my cheek and whined. "I know, I'm sorry!"
"Mr. Sutetchi said to be careful," Tenten reminded.
"I am being careful," I smiled. My tummy was filled with good food, ice cream, and now I finally got to see my dog.
While I was out, I quickly learned people stare at you weird if you're wearing hospital clothing outside of the hospital, and they think you're trying to run away. I guess we should have came back to my apartment first to change, but Wendy's was just down the street from the hospital.
Tenten's phone began to ring. "Yes?... Oh, you saw that?... Right. I'm on my way." She sighed and hung up. "That was my boss. My co-worker saw me at Wendy's and my boss is a little ticked off that I called in sick," she looked at Neji. "Nejiiii," she said with puppy dog eyes.
"Of course," he said, chuckling a little. "It's nice to know you're okay, Mika," he said to me.
"Thank you so much for everything! You're the best," I thanked Neji and Tenten. When they left, I looked around my apartment. No pictures of my ex to be found. I looked in the kitchen. There weren't any dishes to be washed. I looked back at Pocky. He was panting away and wagging his tail. He licked my hand and I pet his head. "It's nice to be home."
In my other hand was the note Kakuzu gave me. I'm not aloud to do anything physical, he said. Well, bummer. I can go on walks, but only for about five minutes. I sighed and left the note on the counter. Time to change into something else.
I carefully sat down on the couch. My side started to feel sore again. Kakuzu also told me that there would be medicine for me to pick up at the pharmacy tomorrow. All in which Tenten- or rather Neji- would take me.
So, for now. Just relax.
I turned on the TV and it was on the channel I left it on before I left the house that day. Cartoon Network. I like to watch the original Looney Tunes before going on my morning jog with Pocky.
"We can start to watch movies a little more now, Pocky," I said. He only looked at me with his big brown eyes.
"You're making progress. That's better than most people," Kakuzu said. It's been two weeks since I left the hospital.
I was sitting on the bed facing the doctor. He was wearing a grey lab coat this time, and his shoulder length, black hair was tied back in a little pony tail. His green eyes looked over his paper work, and then at me.
"Have you been depressed at all, or paranoid?" he asked.
I shook my head. He wrote that down.
"Are you still in pain?"
"Not since last week. I still feel a little sore in my side where the stitches are at, and my shoulders. My left arm gets a little weak sometimes too," I said.
He nodded and wrote more stuff down.
"Did you start your period?" I blushed and looked down. "I'm a doctor. I know these things."
I guess, but still. It was weird. "Yesterday. It's late though. I swear I'm not pregnant!"
"It's perfectly fine that it's late. You were in a bad accident, and it sent your body in shock. Your menstrual cycle might be early or late for the next couple of months," Kakuzu said.
I looked back at him and he was writing again. "Does your hand ever get a cramp?"
He shook his head. "Years of writing doesn't phase me anymore."
"When you said I can't do anything physical anymore, does that mean I can't babysit animals? I mean, I babysit dogs sometimes, and they need to go out for walks," I asked. That was my job. I needed to make enough for rent, and it was almost time to pay.
"It looks like those dogs won't be getting their exercise then," Kakuzu plainly said.
I just stared at him.
"Are there any other animals you can babysit?" he asked.
"Well yeah," I said, thinking about it. "But, I don't get as much money as I do for taking care of dogs."
Kakuzu looked up from his clipboard and sighed. It's not like anyone would hire me in this condition. "You can take care of my house while I'm here."
Wait, what?
"I work irregular hours. My house get's a little messy at times. When I think I have the day off, I spend time with some friends, and we make messes. Then I get called in, and no one is there to clean the house," he said. "But don't spend the entire time bending over and picking up stuff. Your side needs to heal."
I scratched my head. "Are you sure about that?"
"You need the money, right? My house needs the cleaning," he said.
A nurse came into the room. "Mr. Sutetchi, you're needed for a transplant in R-42."
"I'll be right there," he told the nurse. He looked back at me. "I'll give you my number since I'm assuming your cell phone was crushed in the car accident." Which it was. He wrote down his number on a piece of paper and handed it to me. "Do you have a house phone?"
I nodded.
"Call my cell phone at 7:30 today. It'll be my lunch break, so I can pick you up and drop you off at my house." He put his clipboard under his arm and walked out of the room. "Oh! And you have another appointment with me in two weeks."
It was awesome of him to save my life, but now this? Was he not married or something? And I can't just leave Pocky at home like that. I sighed and left the hospital. Tenten drove up and opened the car door for me.
"How'd it go?" she asked. Tenten has the car for now since Neji is working longer than she is today.
"Fine. I might have another job," I said, not too happy about it.
"Really? Doing what?" she pressed as she drove out of the parking lot.
"Being Mr. Sutetchi's maid," I groaned. "I told him about my current job, and since I can't do a big part of it, he's allowing me to clean his house for him."
"But, you're still sore," she said.
"I know," I leaned back in my seat and slouched. "He told me to call him on his break. I guess we'll talk about it then."
Tenten stopped at a red light. "You want to go visit Kiba?" she asked. "He's been worried about you."
Kiba Inuzuka. My old childhood friend from elementary school. We were really close friends until he got in a fight with my ex. Then we just drifted off and I haven't talked to him in months.
"Yeah, I've missed him," I said. It was true. I missed having my partner in crime around. Akamaru and Pocky are great friends too. "Pocky would be delighted to see Akamaru too. Can we go get him?"
"Yup! I'll just clean out the dog hair before giving the car back to Neji," Tenten said. She made a U-turn and took the freeway.
I wasn't sure if I should call him before coming over. He might not even be home for all we know. What was his mom going to say? She was probably wondering why I haven't been around for a while, and I didn't want to say it was over stupid drama. Pocky stuck his head out the window and enjoyed the wind rushing through his fur. I wasn't too sure if the people behind us enjoyed the drool that hit their window.
There it was. The familiar Inuzuka Residence golden plate drilled into the wall. The gate was open, so someone was home. Pocky barked cheerfully and went in. When we use to come here, just dashing in was how he made his greeting. I'm glad that didn't change.
Tenten and I walked onto the property and looked around. Kiba lived in a three story house and had a big front yard. There was a fountain and statues of dogs in his front yard. They were memorial statues of all the great dogs that his family bred over the years and helped with the Konoha Anbu Police.
A big white dog came around from the back yard and sniffed the air.
"Hi, Akamaru," I waved at him.
Pocky sniffed too, and moments later they were happily playing with each other.
Tenten and I walked over and I froze.
"Hey, Akamaru. Why'd you..."
Standing just a few feet in front of me was my childhood friend, Kiba.
There was an awkward silence between us.
"Uh, hey, Kiba," I sheepishly said.
He rushed over and hugged me. "You meanie! I've been worried sick about you!" His hug was warm and tight. I smiled regardless of the pain and hugged him back.
"I bet you did. I missed you too," I said. His hair smelled nice. "Did you just take a shower?"
"Yeah. I was going to go visit you at the hospital," he said. We separated from our hug and he and Tenten greeted each other.
We went into his backyard and the sweet smell of barbecue filled my nostrils.
"Smells delicious," Tenten said.
"Shino and I were making some food to take to the hospital. I had a feeling their wouldn't wouldn't be able to fill your need for meat," Kiba said.
"You know me so well," I nodded. "Their food wasn't the greatest in the world."
"Hey, Shino!" Kiba shouted. "Look who I found!"
Shino looked up from reading his book. He adjusted his glasses and waved at me. We all sat down next to the barbecue pit, and Kiba fixed me a plate of food.
We caught up on news after months of not talking. He was very relieved I broke up with my ex, and I apologized for how I made such a stupid mistake. Shino offered to send his insects after him, but I declined that offer. Karma will get him in the end. Kiba is doing well in the Konoha Anbu Police. He got promoted to wear the special masks now. He and Akamaru start working as the big guys tomorrow.
"You're a great cook, Shino," I complimented him after my third plate.
"It's only the grill cooking the food," he said.
"Oh, take some credit," Kiba said.
I just remembered about Kakuzu's job offer. "What time is it?"
Shino pulled out his phone. "6:47."
"I need to get back home. I left Mr. Sutetchi's number on my counter," I said. I picked up my other two dirty plates and placed them on top of my current plate. Kiba took the plates from me.
"It's nice to talk to you again, Mika. Don't be a stranger anymore," he said. We said goodbye and Tenten took me home.
"I'll clean out Neji's car later," she said as she dropped me off. I have to go pick him up now. Bye, Mika!" I waved at her as she drove away.
I could tell Pocky was in a pleasant mood after spending some time with Akamaru. He probably missed him. I found Kakuzu's number on the counter right where I left it. It wasn't 7:30 yet, but I had his number dialed so I was ready to call.
When the clock hit 7:30, I pressed call.
The phone rang for a few moments, and I thought I was too early. When I was about to hang up, he picked up the phone.
"Hello? Kakuzu Sutetchi here," he said on the other line. His voice sounded deeper on the phone.
"Hi. It's Mika," I said.
"You're very punctual," he said. "I'll pick you up from your house right now."
"Wait," I quickly said in case he was going to hang up. "What do I do about Pocky?"
"Your dog? Well, I don't allow pets in my home," he said. Well, damn.
"I'll see if my friend can take care of him for me then," I mumbled.
"I have your address still. It's in the data base. I'll be there in about twenty minutes," Kakuzu said. He hung up and I lowered the phone from my ear. Call someone? The only person who comes to mind is...
"Hey, Kiba?" I said quietly.
"Haha, calling me already? I see you miss me that much," he joked.
"It's about my new job. He doesn't allow pets. Could you watch Pocky for me?" I felt so bad asking him for a favor after just talking to him.
"No prob. I'll be there in a bit," he said.
"In case he gets here first, I'll leave the key in the usual spot," I said.
We hung up and that was that. Now, I'm ready to take on the new job.
