Kokoro of Konoha
Chapter Three – Applesauce
The blue-eyed youth, lost in his musings, was oblivious of how the morning sun's warm rays were anointing his blond hair, creating a soft heavenly glow. Naruto turned back towards the girl, only to find her puzzled brown eyes watching him with a slight smile on her lips. As his blue eyes met hers, he flinched his head backward against the window, only to be propelled forward again for his goggles to collide with the staff being held in his left hand.
After some restrained muffled chuckles, she lost control and exploded in laughter. Completely embarrassed, Naruto scowled, rubbing the bump on the back of his head and looking at the floor. Smooth, real smooth, great way to make a first impression!
Finally catching her breath, "I'm sorry, it's just tooo… with the sunlight... and then… the window… you were..."Unable to properly explain the irony and sensing his embarrassment, she determined not to start laughing again. She valiantly muffled another chuckle. Don't lose it! She shook her head and tried to clear her throat, "Uh, um, I, uh-um, please, where am I and who are you?"
His mood brightened, eagerly ready to move onto another topic, "You're in the hospital in Konoha, the village of the Hidden Leaf. And I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"He noticed her voice was pretty hoarse so he pointed to a plastic glass of water that was sitting on the side table between them,"The nurses got you some water. Um, you want some?" She nodded yes and slowly sat up.
Naruto put her staff against the corner by the window and came to help her Not that he enjoyed pushing the button or anything, it was just that he knew how to work it and all. Finding her left hand bound into a sling, she then switched to her right hand only to get pricked by the IV whenever she attempted to close her hand around the glass. Frustrated by the pain and thirst, she let out an exhausted sigh. Why do I always get so weak & helpless?
Naruto may be dense, but he wasn't stupid. In one of his more inspired moments, he asked, "Ah, I'll get you a straw! You want an applesauce or ice cream, too?"She smiled wearily and nodded, "Yeah, thank you. Applesauce, please," and rested back into her pillows as the blond boy ran off to the kitchen.
Her curious brown eyes followed him out of the room and lost sight of him down the hall. She couldn't help but sense his lonely "heart" bubbling with happiness, curiosity and hope. She smiled as she heard his footsteps against the tiled hallway floor get louder as the hyper young blond came running back. I see, so I'm here for him. Not that the lightshow was a clue or anything, huh, Joutei?
Upon his return, her gentle brown eyes greeted his cheerful blue eyes and toothy grin as his footsteps skidded to a stop and scampered in. The orange-clad lad dumped a straw, spoon and 5 applesauces down on the table, swung it around to rest over her bed. (Luckily it was already high enough to miss her knees.) He stuck a straw in the water and held the glass up and straw still for her to drink from. She nodded and sipped the water.
Then Naruto sat down on the left side of her bed as he wrestled to open one of the applesauces and began to spoon-feed her as he began explaining his version of how he saw her arrive and a rundown on everything the ninja & nurses said about her. Embarrassed yet grateful, she ate and listened to the hyper boy babble on. By the time she finished the 5 cups of applesauce, he had brought her up to date on everything.
Wasn't hard to tell where he had embellished the story a bit, but she found it more entertaining and fun anyway, so she went with it. She was unnerved by so many people knowing her fears. The reaction to the chakra treatment is alarming. Didn't know that would happen. But, it seemed no one really suspected anything… yet. It's as though the unusual is normal for the people of Konohu.
She wasn't too keen on all the weapons in his bag, since those were the same types used in the stupid ninja trap. But he was so proud at how many he'd found, she graciously endured his "show & tell." Apparently, he was most excited about the "rare" shuriken.
The girl spied her own staff by the window as the eager blond finished putting said shuriken away safely back in his bag which was now on the floor, being pushed under her bed, Mmm, Bet he couldn't resist playing with the walking staff. Boys will be boys. Ah, yes, where are my manners? She politely bowed her head slightly, "Thank you very much for the food and bringing me back my walking staff. The ninja who helped me is right; it's the only thing I have left of my 'Teacher.' I really appreciate you going though so much trouble returning it back to me."
Naruto blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling, "It's okay, wasn't a big deal or anything." Unsure what to say or do next, he started gathering the leftover cartons to throw in the trash. Worried, she quickly asked,"Um… Do you have to go?"
His blue eyes snapped up towards her face,"You mean, I can... uh I mean... I was just going to throw these away real quick. I can stay a little longer if… if you want me to?"His heart flooded with relief as she nodded yes. He grinned and grabbed all the cartons and dashed out of the room again towards the kitchen; calling back, "Be right back!"
She closed her eyes as she leaned back against the pillows and softly replied, "'Kay". He really is like sunshine. It'd make a good nickname for him. So warm, feels like he's still in the room. She started to drift off, waiting for his footsteps. She stretched her right arm and legs to relieve the stiffness a little. Mmm, he's taking a while. What's he puzzled about? Opening her eyes again, she found him watching her partially from behind the room curtains, probably worried she fell asleep. "You are pretty sneaky; I didn't even hear you come back." She grinned, "Oh, I thought of a good nickname for you."
Naruto's eyes seemed to harden to ice as his fist tightened. She wouldn't, would she? All he could hear were the snide whispers of "demon brat", "that fox" and other cruel nicknames echoing in his mind. She's not like them. Right? Naruto braced himself for another verbal attack. Sensing his growing apprehension, she quickly continued,"Is 'Sunshine' okay?"
His blue eyes softened in surprise, "Huh?"
She bit her lip. Embarrassed, she answered shyly, "Well, I don't have a name, so I exchange nicknames with people; I try to think of really nice ones for friends."
He just stood there speechless, his stunned blue eyes staring at her, Did she just say she... We're friends? Wait, how can she not have a name? He could barely whisper in a shaky voice, "Why?"She couldn't feel anything but shock from him.
Dang! What's going on? Does he think Sunshine's girly or something? Nervously, she rambled on, "Ah, it's just that you're a lot like sunshine, warm, bright, hyper, er I mean 'full of life'. But if you don't like it, I can try to think of one that sounds cooler for a boy or more ninja-like."
Orange really is the best color. The blond smirked, "Yeah, Sunshine's fine," and shook his head while pulling a chair closer to her bed, "But I meant, why don't you have a name?"
Wincing at the chair squeaking on the floor and blushing,"Oh, that." Sighing and feigning a smile, "Well, I'm an orphan. And as long as I can remember, I've kinda always been on my own. If I had a name, I don't remember what it was."Naruto settled into his chair while listening to her. "But that makes me a 'Nobody', see. So, when someone says something like 'Nobody can do that.' or 'Nobody cares.' I can! Cool, huh?"
He nodded his understanding, but he could see through her smile. He made enough of the same kinds of his own. He tried again, "Didn't your teacher give you a name?"
She looked towards the walking staff, her voice softened wistfully, "Well, we did exchange nicknames. But, that was between him & me. And then, yeah…."She shook her head at the bittersweet memories and to end that topic. With a sigh and an irritated glance down at her hand, she lifted her right arm off the blankets."The blanket's kinda itchy and the stupid IV's driving me crazy! Are there some extra pillows around? Why are doctors always putting needles into ya whenever something's wrong?"
Naruto laughed and rolled his eyes in agreement. Glancing around, he noticed the other bed, jumped up, got a thin pillow from it and put it under her right arm, (adjusting it per her request). Her leg, arm and shoulder were beginning to ache more. Mumbling to herself, "Pain medication must be wearing off." A blond head looked up towards the IV pole and noticed 2 bags; the smaller one was nearly empty. "Your small bag's almost empty; the nurses will be coming soon. I better go."Her face paled at being left alone to face the voices.
He patted her shoulder, "It's okay, remember? They put you in here in the old east wing. Nobody comes here," Naruto rubbed his chin with the back of his hand, "well, except maybe me. A nurse or 2 isn't a crowd. It'll be okay."
She gulped and nodded. She didn't know what to say to make him stay. Logic and reason were on his side. She had no clue how far away she could sense &/or if she really was far enough from the other patients. Naruto was eyeing the door warily. Ah, I see, Sunshine's worried about the nurses finding him. He's not supposed to be here. I won't let him get in trouble for doing a good deed.
She looked into his heavenly blue eyes, inspiring her courage and smirked, "You're right, thanks, Sunshine." Sensing something, she closed her eyes, "Two people are coming closer. I'm not sure how far, but I think they won't see you if you leave now." Opening her eyes, she turned an odd look towards him, "Something's missing…. oh yeah, your bag."
Naruto gave her a toothy grin, "Thanks!"He crawled under the bed to grab his bag. Standing back up, he swung the bag over his neck and shoulder."Don't worry; I'll visit you soon!" She nodded and smiled back as he gently squeezed her right shoulder then sneaked off towards the far side of the hall; hiding in another room to leave when they came in her room.
Well, guess that's that. She sighed, closing her eyes while leaning back. Reaching for the bed button she tried to lower it back only for the IV to prick her from within again. If I'm lucky, they'll take this stupid thing out when they come.
Unable to drift off to sleep due to the increasing soreness, she lay there musing while listening to the "voices" that were walking down the hall. Must be quite a ways yet, no footsteps. Mmm, the one on the left feels like a guy, perhaps an older doctor? The woman is kinda younger than him, annoyed at someone or something and nervous of the doctor. Still no footsteps, they should be quite close now, how odd. Sunshine's not too far, perhaps a few rooms down, don't think that was the kitchen. If I remember, the kitchen was further down. Though, everything feels fuzzy and my distance seems off with Sunshine around. Was that a second heart in him earlier? Felt too dark and cruel to be human…
Author's Notes: Special thanks to my Beta Readers: my mom; our family's Spelling & Grammar Queen. And my fellow Hinata fan, YumeKioko: .net/u/2497446/YumeKioko.
Trivia Question: In chapter two, what was the connection between Hinata and Room #1227?
Answer: Her birthday is on 12/27.
