Disclaimer: I own Naruto. Several kunai zip merely centimeters from chibi-onna's cheek. Okay, Sasuke. I was kidding. Definitely not mine.
A/N: Whew! Another chapter done.... Thanks to all my reviewers!!! I have replies below.... Anyways, let's just sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show! Don't forget the reviews, though....
Filling the Void
Chapter 2: Over Ramen and Pancakes
"Ohayo, Naruto."
"Waaaaaiiiiii!!!! Iruka-sensei!!!!! Come in, come in!!!!"
The chuunin smiled warmly. If anybody else entered and saw the Number One Loudmouth's home, they would probably be shocked to know that the place was actually clean.
Iruka slipped off his sandals and put them in the shoe rack beside the door. His feet barely made a sound as he padded on the newly waxed wooden floor.
The living room was composed of a comfortable-looking couch, as well as a small coffee table in front of a 14-inch television set that was currently covered with a piece of white cloth. The T.V. was situated at a corner, so the couch was angled such that it was parallel to both the boob tube and the table.
A few paces behind the couch, a square dining table stood with four steel-backed chairs to accompany it. The table was set for two, and a pretty flower arrangement adorned its center. The bluebells swayed as a breeze flew in through an open window. Thin curtains fluttered. A wind chime pleasantly made a sound.
The older ninja sat on one of the chairs. Naruto then came out of the kitchen, balancing a plate of blueberry pancakes on his head as he used both his hands to carry a heavy-looking pot.
Iruka sweat-dropped. "Ramen again, Naruto?"
Naruto gave his teacher a trademark fox smile. "Of course, sensei! Ramen is the best!!! Besides, it's not too often I get to eat homemade ramen.... It always has to be instant so I wouldn't be late.... Unlike a certain idiotic rooster-head of a sensei...." He mumbled the last part to himself. Iruka heard it, though. A pink tint made itself known on his cheeks.
The blond took off his apron and sat across his favorite teacher. He looked up just in time to see the blush the latter was trying to will away. Naruto scrunched up his nose, seemingly trying to remember something. After a short while, blue eyes widened.
"I can't believe this!"
Iruka's train of thought immediately stopped at the intrusion. "Nani?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed into slits. Blunt as ever, he asked, "Iruka-sensei.... Are you going out with that pervert?"
This caught the young teacher off-guard. "W-wha--???"
"Just answer the question, sensei..." Naruto hissed.
"Ehehehe... Uhm... Etto...." He seemed to turn redder as seconds ticked by.
"Well?"
"Y-yes."
Naruto was shocked. He couldn't speak. His eyes grew wide again, and seemed as though they would pop out at any moment. Iruka sighed. It couldn't be helped. And the volcano will explode in 3....
2....
1....
"WHAT?!"
At that point, Iruka pinched the bridge of his nose. He was rather stressed from grading papers the night before, and the added noise wasn't helping him any.
"You wanted to know, right? I just answered your question." Truly, patience was a virtue.
Naruto sobered up a bit. "But I wasn't expecting I was actually right!!!"
It was Iruka's turn to ask questions. "How did you figure it out, Naruto?"
"Aside from Kakashi-sensei's most recent excuse, your blush earlier was a dead giveaway."
Iruka smiled uneasily. "Sou desu ne." A pause, then a frown. "Wait. What excuse?"
"He said something about having to take care of a dolphin.... It was subtle enough at first, but now that I've come to think of it, it's so damned obvious!"
"That idiot! At this rate, everyone will find out!" Iruka then started to imagine ways of torturing the jounin. Naruto was no mind reader, but he knew that when his sensei got the psychotic smile on his face, it definitely does not bode well.
The boy uncovered the pot, letting the steam rise, inhaling deeply before serving himself some of the delicious-looking ramen. "Itadakimasu!!!"
Iruka followed suit. It was a good thing he was hungry. He didn't know what else he would've thought up for his lover's future demise. He reached for the pancakes and piled some on his plate. "So, Naruto," the child looked up, "how do you feel about all of this?"
The boy assumed a thoughtful expression. Finally, he answered, "I don't mind, as long as you're happy, I guess," he shrugged. "But if he hurts you in any way, I'LL KICK HIS ASS!!!" That said, he proceeded to the tedious yet enjoyable task of eating his ramen.
Iruka chuckled at his charge's antics. Naruto was truly one of a kind. Who would've thought the boy could actually use his head when he wanted to? They all labelled him as an idiot. And other times as someone worse than the lowest form of life. A demon. Just because of the thing sealed inside of him.
The teacher sighed. People were full of prejudice. They were all narrow-minded fools who can't see past whatever's handed to them.
And it pained him to know he had once been one of them.
The rage he felt for the demon was unimaginable. His parents were lost to him that fateful night the monster decided to attack. That thing caused him to feel something beyond grief. He had felt emptiness: as if he had nothing more to live for. It was only by the Third's intervention that he refrained from joining his parents in the next life.
Blind hatred was all he felt for the demon and its holder until he, by mere chance, laid eyes upon a certain toddler with tufts of blond hair.
The child was sleeping peacefully in a crib. Drawn to the small figure, he stepped closer and reached out, touching the child's hand. Small digits wrapped themselves in one of his, as eyes of purest blue opened up to the world. A smile of happiness radiated from the boy. This took the newly promoted chuunin by surprise. He knew this child was the demon's vessel. The marks were there.
He so wanted to hate the boy with all his heart; but found that he could not do so. The child reeked of innocence. There was no way this child could have murdered his family.
He realized that all his hate had been fruitless: that it was all a waste of emotional energy. He could see it now. It was the demon, and not the child's fault. The child itself was a victim.
They are not to be confused. They are different entities.
A middle-aged woman entered the room. It was safe to assume that she was assigned to look after the boy since she was holding a bottle of milk. She was wearing an unpleasant scowl on her face. Upon the sight of her, the child's smile wavered. Young as it was, it seemed to understand everything about its immediate surroundings. The woman put the formula in the crib, within the boy's reach. She was careful not to touch the kid.
She was surprised that the young Iruka was there: she did not notice him when she came in. She saw the child holding the chuunin's finger. Immediately, she slapped the small hand none too gently and reprimanded the child, saying, "How dare you touch this boy with your filthy demonic hands!!!" She turned to Iruka, a warm apologetic smile on her face. "I'm sorry you had to be touched by this... thing," she looked at the blond disgustedly. "Hurry on, I'm sure you have lots of things to do..."
As she ushered him semi-forcefully out of the room, Iruka caught sight of the child. It was crying. Surprisingly, no sound indicated it doing so.
So young yet so strong.
Iruka made a promise to himself: he would take care of this child once he had the power to do so. Until then, he implored it to be as strong as it was now, if not stronger. He looked at the little boy one last time.
Until then, Naruto.
As if hearing his thoughts, a small hand waved goodbye.
Iruka looked at the boy, an expression of fondness crossing his features. How could he not love Naruto? He need not ponder on the thought. Naruto was his family now, along with his scarecrow, of course. That was all he needed to know.
He finished off his pancakes and drank his coffee. He closed his eyes in contentment.
"This is the life," he thought.
"Delicious as usual, Naruto," he smiled at the blond, "I'll never get tired of drinking your coffee." Indeed, it was a high praise, coming from an extremely picky caffeine addict.
Naruto blushed at the compliment. Although Iruka-sensei said it all the time, he could never get used to it. "Thanks, sensei..."
"Anyway, I have to go, Naruto.... I still have a lot of work to do," the chuunin stood up and hugged him.
Naruto crinkled his nose for the second time that day. "More paperwork. Yuck."
Iruka heartily laughed. "See you later, Naruto." Naruto's just too cute.
"Bye, sensei!"
The door was shut and Naruto started to clean up.
Sasuke looked at a piece of crumpled paper and stuffed it back in his pocket. He trekked down the dirt road leading to where his supposed rival lived. Sensing a presence up ahead, he became alert, but relaxed again when he realized it was just his former sensei.
"Ohayo, Sasuke," greeted Iruka who was a bit surprised to see the Uchiha.
"Ohayo, sensei," he answered.
"Off to Naruto's I presume?"
The genin nodded.
"Well then," he looked at his watch, "I'm going to be late for work... See you around, Sasuke."
The stoic boy continued his journey to the blond's apartment. He came to a stop at a rather old-looking building with its outside paint peeling off at random places. He checked the paper again and went inside.
The receptionist was busy cleaning her nails that she didn't notice Sasuke until he cleared his throat to get her attention.
"What can I do for you?" she smiled.
"On which floor does Uzumaki Naruto live?" he asked.
Her facial expression suddenly twisted to an unpleasant one. "Oh. Him. Fourth floor."
She went back to filing her index finger, as if the exchange never happened.
Sasuke glared at the girl and trudged up the stairs.
What's up with that attitude?
He almost didn't notice that he had arrived. He looked at the door in front of him and sighed. He raised his hand and pushed the doorbell.
A/N: BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! I AM EVIL!!!!! I'm leaving a cliffie.... Suffer.... Nah, I'm kidding, just review and you won't suffer as much.... Hehe... No, really, I need your reviews to help me direct my little show here, so don't be shy!
Replies:
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