Dawn came and she found herself sat on a bench outside the hospital, watching the sunrise down the long street, everywhere was still quiet, many still in bed, she smiled faintly to herself hoping that this place could be her home and she could be happy here, become a shinobi, find someone to settle down with. She was so lost in thought she didn't realise someone was walking towards her until his shadow covered her face, snapping her from her day dream.
" You really shouldn't be out here by yourself..." A familiar voice said, crouching infront of her, Shikamaru gave her a warm smile. "let me take you back up to the ward.. okay..? The Hokage will be arriving shortly" he said offering her his hand to help her stand.
She smiled taking his hand gently, Most of her strength had returned to her, more so after having a walk and enjoying the fresh air, she rose with him, the morning sun made her eyes shine like the gems they resembled when the light hit them. " Kiba was asleep when I left the room...I needed some fresh air..."
He sighed knowing that this woman would test the ends of his patience if she stayed in the village, not that he wasn't up for a challenge but in his opinion it was going to be a drag if she left. " Come on then before I get it in the neck for not keeping you out of trouble.." He said walking her briskly back to her room to find Kiba still snoring away. " Typical..." Reaching into his right pouch he retrieved a kunai knife, smirking as he threw it passed Kibas face and lodging it into the wood of the chair he was sat in.
Kiba's brown eyes shot open hearing the kunai being thrown in his direction. "Shikamaru! What on earth was that for..?" He snarled pulling the kunai from the wall. "were you trying to kill me or something..?"
"I'm glad to see years of training are being put to good use" The strong voice of the Hokage rang out behind Shikamaru and Luna. " Enjoy your little walk young lady..?" She said walking round to the bedside and picked up her medical chart. "Shikamaru re-laid the information you gave him yesterday...Welcome home Luna, I hope you will be happy here in the leaf, when you are better we can discuss your becoming a shinobi...does that sound fair.?"
Looking up at the blonde haired woman she understood why she was Hokage, she nodded. "Yes M'Lady that sounds fair" she said bowing her head respectfully before lifting her head, her bruises having faded from purple to pale brown yellow in colour.
"You're healing faster than I anticipated.. It's a good sign trust me.. We have had a place for you to stay made up for you, over time you can make it your own but for now it has all the basics you'll need.." Lady Tsunade said passing a scroll to Shikamaru. " I expect it won't be too difficult to drop her home Shikamaru..? Luna you will be expected to attend the academy and attain Genin status before you will be permitted to leave the village for any reason" she said before writing on Lunas chart that she was cleared for discharge.
"Of course M'Lady as you command" he said bowing his head in respect before turning to Luna" We should gather your things and I will show you home?" His face was blank, no emotion like a good little soldier doing what he is told and when he's told to do it whether or not he wanted to do it.
The Hokage left after wishing Luna all the best for the future and that she would keep an eye on her in the weeks to come, This sparked an ounce of hope in her that she hadn't felt in a long time, even the journey from the land of Lightning to the Leaf Village didn't give her hope, but now being here with people who would hopefully become her friends and fellow shinobi some day.
Luna nodded at Shikamaru, making sure everything was back inside her pouches, sighing when her other set of clothes were ruined and couldn't be repaired so dug out a spare pair of trousers from her back pack, pulling the screen across before putting them on to cover her bare legs to which Akamaru came over, sniffing her. "Hello.." she crouched down and fussed the hound, smiling when he licked her face. "Alright alright I like you too!" she said through her giggles.
"Sorry about him.." Kiba said whistling for akamaru to come back to him. "He's usually reserved around people he doesn't know.
"It's no trouble Kiba.." luna said letting her hair down out of the braid to brush it and put it up in a tight bun leaving her fringe section down.
"You ready to go..?" Shikamaru asked as he picked up her gear pouches having read the scroll the Hokage had given him. He looked Luna up and down for a moment, trying to figure out who she was beneath her walls.
"Yeah I'm ready.." she went to heft her pack onto her back but her wound was still too fresh to bear the weight. She winced and dropped her pack.
"Let me carry it for you, you still need to rest.." Kiba said picking the bag up off the ground. "You gonna be alright?" he asked seeing the pain on her face.
She stood up straight and nodded at Kiba, Grateful for his help. "Thank you Kiba, I guess I'm not as healed asI had hoped yet.." she said feeling a little embarrassed.
"Come on then, you can get some rest at home and sakura will come and check on you this evening.." Shikamaru said with a soft smile on his face, giving Kiba a nod to follow him. " I do hope you'll be happy enough here.." he said leading Luna out of the hospital with Kiba and Akamaru at her side.
She watched people passing in the streets, trying to make a mental map of the village for her own benefit. " I hope I will be happy here also.. It's been a long time since anywhere has felt like home" She said wrapping her arms around herself as she walked, looking up at the sky as some birds flew over thinking about getting a birds eye view. Without saying a word she scaled a circular building and leaped onto the roof to get a good look around, the view was incredible, taking a deep breath.
Kiba turned when akamaru stopped. "What is it boy..?" He looked up, Following Akamaru's gaze and shaking his head when he saw Luna up on the roof 3 stories up. "Shikamaru.. Want me to go up and get her down..?"
Shikamaru stopped when Kiba called him, raising an eyebrow before looking up at the roof, he could see her long fringe blowing in the wind and a smile on her face. " It's alright, I'll go." He said and set the pouches down next to kiba before leaping from building to lamp post then to the roof. "You know were meant to be taking you home right..?"
She turned her head and smiled. " and you always do as you're told i'm guessing?" she said challenging him privately. " detours never hurt anyone… I didn't know how big this place was..you've lived here all your life..?"
Shikamaru smiled. " You'll get used to it… now we better go before you hurt yourself anymore.." he closed the gap between them and picked her up, swinging her onto his back. " Now hold on.." He held under her legs and once he was sure she was holding on he leaped from rooftop to rooftop for her to see the village from above, knowing Kiba will follow behind them.
She held onto him tightly, leaning her head on his when she stopped near the river to catch his breath. "This place is beautiful.." but before she could say anymore he was off again, a moment later dropping down in an abandoned area of the village where the Uchiha clan lived before the massacre.
"Here we are… it'll be quiet here unfortunately, but this is where your father lived and sasuke before he left.." he said satting her down next to the house. " Everything you'll need is here.." he said retrieving the key from his pocket.
"My fathers house?" She looked at the house, it was nice and well maintained considering it hadn't been lived in properly for some time. " Thank you.. For everything.." she said picking the key up out of Shikamarus hand and unlocked the door, the house had been tidied for her. She walked inside, taking her shoes off at the door, leaving them to the side.
Akamaru got to the house before Kiba, with Luna's pouches in his mouth, setting them down before following her inside. WOOF!
"Oh Hello again.." she said and scratched behind his ears.
"You've lost your dog Kiba.." Shikamaru added with a chuckle when Kiba finally turned up.
"You traitor Akamaru!" He said catching his breath and laughing with Shikamaru.