A/N: I had fun writing this chapter, which was probably why I finished it so fast. In addition, school is going to be a lot easier now, so I have more time on my hands. The next chapter is going to take me a little more time but I hope to put it up sometime between the last week of November and the first week of December. This chapter symbolizes the end of the second trimester so from here I'll start wrapping things up. I would like to that everyone who has reviewed this story or put it on their favorites/alerts. Also a big thank you to those who have put me on their favorite author list. ^-^ You guys rock!
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Ino would be the main female character, sorry Sakura. Sadly, I do not. However, I do own this story so, HELL YEAH!
Nine Months
Month Six:
The month of cravings
"Hey, Naruto," Ino prodded her snoozing husband as the expectant couple relaxed one evening on a Saturday night. The past couple of weeks had been a hectic blur, with all the shopping for the baby and whatnot. The tiny Uzumaki apartment was literally stuffed to capacity with all the items that had come off Ino's crazy lists. Poor Naruto had been pushed to the brink of exhaustion (and complete bankruptcy!) before Ino had finally deemed everything adequate and stated that all the "necessities" had been purchased. Since then the Uzumaki's had rested and planned for the future to come….as well as balanced their budget. For now, everything, even the financial situation, was stable. For now.
"Oi, Naruto. Wake up," Ino poked her husband again. Harder this time. The future Hokage of Konoha continued to sleep soundly on the couch that had become his bed. His old bed was too cluttered with baby items to be even remotely comfortable.
Naruto simply swatted a hand at Ino and rolled over on his side, mumbling nonsense,
"Too tired…must sleep…Ino…chan"
If there was one thing Ino hated was to be ignored….and swatted at!
"I said WAKE UP!" Ino screeched into her husband's ear.
"WAAAAAHHH!" Naruto screamed and rolled off the couch. "What the hell Ino? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? No need to yell!"
"For you Naruto, yelling is always necessary. Especially since you never respond when I simply talk" Ino smirked at Naruto who lay completely frazzled on the floor. She burst out laughing as he shot her a glare and offered out her hand. Naruto glared at it suspiciously, he could never tell with Ino these days. His wife gave him her most genuine smile and he relented, letting her help him off the floor.
Naruto settled back onto the couch, trying to resume his previous position but was disrupted by Ino who had crept closer to him.
"I was thinking that tonight we go out to eat," Ino suggested wrapping her arms around Naruto. He rolled his eyes. He should have seen something like that coming.
"Now don't roll your eyes at me. I'm not finished," Ino grinned broadly, "I was actually thinking that we go out to Ichiruka's. It's been so long since we've eaten out".
Naruto was about to comment that it was because of Ino's lavish spending and misuse of their money for unnecessary things such as baby education tapes, that they had not eaten out for so long, when what she said registered in his brain.
"….did you say Ichiruka's? As in ramen?"
"Of course silly, what else does Ichiruka's serve?" Ino chuckled.
Well the chef's daughter Ayame had gone through that whole soba phase for a while, but that wasn't the point. The point was the Ino, Uzumaki Ino, wanted ramen. It was a suggestion that Naruto never thought he would hear come out of her mouth.
For one thing, Ino hated ramen. Well not hated it (no one could hate ramen in Naruto's mind), but she did not love it. She was forever pointing out its unhealthy side effects and lack of nutritional value (Naruto scoffed and was offended at such talk). Ino overall disliked (not hated) the general composition of ramen.
Naruto shot his wife a suspicious look and examined her scrupulously. She appeared to look normal. Long platinum blond hair, baby blue eyes, that tiny nose that wrinkled slightly when she laughed, and about average height with an adorably round belly. Yep Ino definitely looked the same.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ino crossed her arms over her chest self-consciously, "what did I say?"
Naruto reached out and laid the back of his hand on his wife's forehead. Temperature was normal too.
Ino pushed his hand away. "What the hell Naruto? All I said was 'Let's go out for ramen'. Why is that such a big deal?"
"Because you hate, I mean greatly "dislike" ramen!" Naruto used air quote where appropriate, "You're always complaining about me eating it all the time and now you actually want to go out and eat it? Sorry Ino-chan but that's just not like you".
"Gosh Naruto, if you didn't want to take me out you should have just said so". Ino turned away from him and made a motion as if to wipe a tear. For extra effect, she pulled out a handkerchief that just happened to be in her pocket and blew her nose loudly. "We never go out any more. Sometime I feel so trapped in this place; it drives me crazy". Ino sniffled into the handkerchief.
Naruto's heart ached a little. "Oh come on Ino, it's not like I don't want to take you out. I would love to. And if it's ramen you want, it's ramen you'll get…even if you suggesting it is a bit strange. We can go now".
Ino whirled back around. All her tears had dried mysteriously fast. Her blue eyes sparkled, a brilliant smile on her lips. "Oh Naruto, that would be wonderful! Let me get my coat".
Ino leaned over and gave him a small kiss on the cheek then dashed off to retrieve her jacket.
Naruto let out a sigh and sunk a bit lower into the couch. He was such a softie sometimes…
It was still early evening but the streets of Konoha were virtually deserted, with a few stragglers here and there.
It had been only two years since the end of the war and the citizens were taking advantage of the newfound peace. Naruto could hardly blame them.
The war had lasted only for a year, but in that horrifying time, half the village had been destroyed and countless shinobi and civilians killed. In the end, Akatsuki had been virtually wiped out, it's last remaining members gone into deep hiding. They would be found some day, but for now, the village was still recuperating.
As for Sasuke, he was still out there. From time to time, news and bits of gossip came to the village concerning the last Uchiha and his group "Falcon". Always on the move, Sasuke had managed to evade Konoha's forces up until then, but of course, Naruto would never give up on his best friend. But at least for now, everything was quiet.
Naruto glanced down at Ino as they strolled down the vacant streets towards the haven called Ichiruka's. She was smiling, her pale cheeks dusted pink with a light blush that was brought on by the unusual chill in the air. Fall had come early to Konoha.
With his wife by his side, and a baby on the way, Naruto almost forgot sometimes about the horrors of the war, the friends he had lost, and the friend he was still yet to find. Just being with Ino, even when she was nagging and bitching and complaining, made everything feel...better. It was a safe feeling that Naruto wanted to hold on tight to, even if for just a second.
Ino felt her husband staring and looked up, her blue eyes flashing in the rising moonlight.
"What's with that face Naruto? What are you thinking about?" She asked softly, not to disturb the quiet aura around them.
"Hm, nothing really. Just a little nostalgia". Naruto grinned at her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tighter into his embrace.
Ino snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, the pair walking slowly, but happily towards their destination.
Ichiruka's stood like a solitary beacon in the darkening night. A symbol of warmth and good food.
Naruto's stomach growled slightly as the smell of ramen wafted past his nose. It had been too long indeed since he had had what he considered a "good" meal.
"Welcome!" called the chef's daughter Ayame as the couple entered and sat down. "Ah, Hello Ino, Naruto-kun! It's been awhile since I've seen either of you. What have you guys been up to?"
"Oh just this and that. Getting ready for the baby and whatnot. We've been pretty busy". Ino replied.
"Yeah, pretty busy wasting money," Naruto mumbled. To this he received a swift punch in the gut.
Ayame laughed lightly as Naruto keeled over on the counter, clutching his stomach in pain. "Oh you two. Do you guys need a minute to decide-I know you don't Naruto-or are you ready to order now?" Ayame asked.
Naruto straightened up and glanced over at Ino but she was nodding her head, ready to order.
Knowing his wife, Ino would probably get a bowl of broth or something light. Even pregnant, she was still over conscious about her weight. And it would be just like her to drag them out of the house, when everyone was inside relaxing, just to get a simple bowl of broth. However, her order came as a large shock to him.
"I'll have everything you've got". Ino stated calmly.
Uzumaki Naruto could safely say that he knew his wife well enough. It had taken him a few years but he had finally got a handle on deciphering her moods. Her favorite color, type of food, store, etc, he knew it all.
However, the moment those words came out of her mouth, Naruto was not so sure he knew her at all.
"E-e-e-everything you've got? Are you crazy Ino?" Naruto was nearly dying of shock. Even Ayame was surprised.
"No," Ino shot him an annoyed look, "I'm hungry".
Naruto's poor brain was nearing an overload and Ino's words continued to float through it. Everything you've got...everything you've got. What the hell, no, who the fuck was sitting next to him, because his diet crazy, slim obsessed wife would never say, everything you've got. In addition, although Ichiruka's was known to be relatively cheap, it was not long until the prices starting building up. Naruto had personal experience from childhood when his froggie wallet would be empty for days after he recklessly over-ate and Iruka wasn't around to pay.
The Uzumaki budget had been finally balanced following Ino's outrageous shopping sprees and now it faced another collapse.
Naruto swore he saw stars as he sat there, Ino's order still playing in his mind...everything you've got...everything you've got...everything-
"Naruto!" Ino harsh tone broke into his depressed thoughts.
"Huh? What" Naruto looked completely dazed.
"Are you going to sit there and stare all day or are you going to order?"
"Forget about me, Ino-chan, what about you? You do realize you just ordered 'everything you've got', right?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "I know what I ordered Naruto. I already said I'm hungry". She changed gears and gave him her best pitiful look. "You wouldn't deny your pregnant a good meal, would you Naruto-kun?"
He was tempted to do just that, but he saw the spark of danger in Ino's eyes and knew he would be a patient at Konoha Hospital for a week if he said no.
"Of course not Ino-chan," Naruto did his best not to cry. He gave his best smile and said, "I would never do such a thing".
"Good, now please order". Ino returned the smile.
Naruto sighed and looked sadly at Ayame. "I'll just take the usual, please". What else was he supposed to do? He needed to eat but he feared the new strain that would soon be on his wallet.
Still slightly shocked from Ino's orders, Ayame gave them a curt nod and disappeared into the back to prepare their meals.
"Are you sure about this Ino? You've never really liked ramen and then you go order the entire menu, what's up with that?" Naruto asked, thoroughly bemused.
"Honestly, I'm not really sure. I have just had these really bad cravings for ramen these past couple of days. I think it is one of those pregnant women things", Ino began drumming her fingers on the table, eager for their food to arrive, " I feel as if I don't get ramen now I'll just die".
Ramen cravings? Definitely a pregnancy thing.
This new explanation slightly relieved Naruto. It was good to know that this was only another phase in the pregnancy cycle. Hopefully, Ino would not be like this forever.
It took longer than usual for the food to arrive. Naruto did not blame the chef. Ino's order had been huge after all.
His wife did not possess the same patience. The whole time they sat there waiting, she fiddled around with her chopsticks or drummed her fingers noisily on the table. At one point, Naruto heard a ripping sound and looked to find her munching on some napkins.
"Don't look at me like that!' Ino angrily threw the half-eaten napkins at his face, "You have no clue how I feel. You try carrying around a baby for six months and see what happens to you!" Ino laid her head on the counter.
"Fuck I'm hungry".
Naruto said a slightly prayer in thanks that he was indeed male and that men could not have babies.
The food finally arrived, and Ino was halfway through her first bowl before Naruto could even say, "Itadakimasu!"
Naruto was known throughout the village as a rabid ramen eater, but he had never seen anyone eat ramen as fast as Ino.
He completely forgot about his own food as bowl after bowl, Ino engulfed hers. In truth, it was a fairly disgusting display.
Naruto feared his wife would choke at the speed at which she was practically inhaling the bowls of ramen.
"Uh, Ino-chan, maybe you should slow down a little..."
For the first time since she had started eating, Ino came up for air. She gave him a withering look and said simply, "Shut up", before she continued her eating frenzy.
Naruto said no more and quietly ate his bowl of Miso ramen, ever alert to the sounds of slurping besides him.
"Ah, that really hit the spot". Ino leaned back in her chair and patted her larger than usual belly.
"27 bowls...27 bowls of ramen, "Naruto could hardly believe it, "Ino! You just ate 27 bowls of ramen".
Ino gave him a satisfied smile, "Yes, I know. And it was delicious. I never knew ramen was so good. Now I know why you like it so much Naruto."
One part of Naruto was elated by this news. He knew no one could hate (dislike) ramen. The other part had fallen into deep depression. Those 27 bowls would be coming out of his wallet.
The chef and his daughter had watched the whole display with a mixture of disgust and joy. It was not every day you got such a good customer. Though it had been disturbing to watch, the rewards of Ino's mad eating would be sweet. Both turned to Naruto, their eyes sparkling.
"Here's your bill Naruto-kun," Ayame handed it to him, a large grin on her pretty face, "Please come back soon! And bring your wife anytime!"
Naruto glared at her last comment and examined the horrid piece of paper in front of him. Surprisingly, he did not have a heart attack right there and then. He had been through so much the past couple of months that even the frighteningly high ramen bill did little to faze him.
With only minor grumbling Naruto paid the bill, then took his over-stuffed wife by the hand and began walked home, his wallet completely empty.
"You know Naruto," Ino said as they walked up the steps to their apartment, "We should really go to Ichiruka's more often. That was great".
Naruto, who had said nothing the whole walk home only nodded but on the inside felt that he would rather be locked in a room naked with Orochimaru than ever take Ino out again. At least not until this whole pregnancy thing was over.
The next day, when Naruto came home hungry as per usual, he thought he had died and gone to heaven when he opened the doors to the cupboard.
All the shelves were stocked with ramen. From instant to gourmet, every ramen flavor was there.
"It's a cupboard of miracles". Naruto whispered to himself. He was on the verge of tears.
He could not believe that Ino had enjoyed ramen so much that she actually stuffed their cupboard with it.
It was times like this that Naruto knew why he loved his wife so much.
"Now, which one should I eat first?" Naruto reached out for one of the boxes for closer inspection.
Suddenly he felt something cool and sharp against his neck.
"Don't you dare", came the icy whisper of Ino's voice, "Touch that box and you'll be sorry".
"W-what the hell Ino-chan? Wha-"
Ino tightened her grip on her kunai.
"Back away from the ramen Naruto. Now!"
Fearing castration, mutilation (and all the other "-ations" out there), Naruto slowly back away from the cupboard of miracles until Ino felt safe enough to remove her weapon from his neck.
She then walked to the cupboard and scrupulously inspected the ramen he had been about to grab.
"What the fuck Ino? Were you trying to kill me or something?" Naruto rubbed his neck angrily.
Ino ignored him and turned back to the cupboard of miracles. She gave everything a quick once over then closed the doors. She then pulled a key from her pocket and proceeded to lock the doors as well.
She turned around and showed him the box of ramen she still held in her hand.
"Look here Naruto, "she indicated the bottom of the package. Naruto could see the black marker writing on the bottom, "It says property of Uzumaki Ino. Not Uzumaki Naruto. All the ramen in that cupboard is mine and that means you stay out. Or else".
She narrowed her eyes at her last line, an indication of the reality of the threat.
A threat from Ino was one to take seriously. Naruto gave a quick nod and scurried away before Ino felt any need to carry out her threat.
Though he was severely tempted, Naruto avoided the cupboard of miracles as much as possible. It wasn't that hard really, especially since Ino, who was on maternity leave from her job as an ANBU Interrogator, was usually around to guard it.
For the next couple of weeks Ino ate nothing but ramen. Whenever Naruto attempted to persuade her to try something new, she would accuse him to trying to steal her food, which would lead to threats and possibly pain.
In the end, Naruto gave up. He knew his wife and he knew she would get sick of the noodle dish eventually. That was just her nature, no matter what cravings the pregnancy brought on.
Naruto was not surprised, and slightly amused, one afternoon when he saw the cupboard of miracles was completely empty and all the ramen was in the trash.
He chuckled to himself and pick up one of the boxes. It was similar to the one he had attempted to grab weeks earlier.
Still fresh and unopened, Naruto prepared himself for a bowl of steaming hot ramen.
It seemed everything was somewhat normal again.
Hopefully it will stay that way during the seventh month...
A/N: Yeah another chapter done! And so ends the second trimester. Stay tuned for the third trimester, months seven, eight, and finally, nine.
Oh and in case anyone is wondering why I put that little dramatic piece in there, it was because I felt like it. That is all XD
As always comments are loved, critiques are appreciated.
-dancer