Kin: -cry of anguish- I finally managed to update! Sorry about the long wait, you guys. I had writer's block. But now it's here!! Good news! -smiles- Bad news is, I don't know when I'll get to post the next one. I'm on my last college course term so things are gonna get REALLY hectic now. You'll have to patient with me again. You'll have had lots of practice, waiting for me. ^^;
Disclaimer I don't own Naruto!!
Chapter 9 – The Things We Do For Our Friends
tick.. tick.. tick.. tick.. tick.. tick.
After having spent the entire second half of the day in the Nurse's office, Sasuke could confidently say that he never wanted to be stuck there again.
He stared at the clock on the wall adjacent from his bed, willing the minute hand to move just one more time. Just one more... and he'd be free to escape from this place.
tick.. tick.. tick.. tick...... click.
Brrrrrrinng!
"Finally!" Sasuke ground out under his breath, pulling himself up off the head rest and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Getting up and being careful with his currently vulnerable appendage, Sasuke grabbed his bag with his unharmed arm from the corner of the room. Tenten had been thoughtful enough to pick it up for him.
He gazed over at the nurse, who had fallen asleep at her desk.
He didn't blame her. This place was pretty boring.
He cautiously leant out of the door-way, checking for any unwanted visitors who would hinder him from his departure.
To the left?
To the right?
The coast was clear.
He let out a relieved sigh, and began on his way home.
"Sasuke!"
Said Uchiha's body went stiff at the sudden calling of his name. He then realised, that he knew the voice. He settled a bit, and warily glanced at the brunet as he jogged to his side.
"...Kiba." he muttered, giving him an even look.
Kiba regarded him cautiously also, glancing down at Sasuke's arm which was now in a cast thanks to his recklessness. He then brought his eyes up to meet with Sasuke's obsidian ones. His lips were creased to a thin line and his brows were furrowed.
He looked like he had something to say, but didn't particularily want to say it. It was a pride thing.
Sasuke sighed, understanding the boy's pride. It was something the Inuzuka clan all possessed as he had learned through the years.
"If you have something to say, then say it. Nobody else is here." Sasuke told the brunet.
Kiba's brows furrowed further, and with a tsk, he folded his arms and looked away. "Look," he began, and paused, seeming annoyed, "You know already, that I care about Naru'," he said to Sasuke and the Uchiha nodded.
Kiba sighed, and looked down.
"We've known each other since we were five years old. Naru's a heck of a lot different from other girls. She's not girly, or a push-over. She's strong and fun, and she knows just how to have a good time, even if it means getting dirty! We've grown up together, and we care about each other. I care about Naru, and what happens to her. So if you ever hurt her... it doesn't matter whether you're her friend or not. I'll do much worse than that." He said, pointing to Sasuke's injured arm, "And I'll mean it!" he added with a glare.
Sasuke sighed.
Kiba has always been very protective of Narumi; he'd grown up putting up with Kiba's behaviour since he'd become friends with them. Even today, as they were all 15 years old, Kiba probably hadn't completely accepted Sasuke's presence. Though he doesn't show it, he's probably uneasy about leaving Sasuke and Narumi alone together.
It's a little sad... that even despite them being friends so long, that uneasiness was still lurking within their friendship. Something like this was enough to perhaps break the trust between them, which was so fragile.
Sasuke looked at Kiba, before sighing out again and looking out of the window, "Narumi is precious to me too, so you don't need to worry. I'd never do anything to hurt her." He said quietly.
The two regarded each other for a few moments in silence, ignoring any outside noises.
"Is that so? You'd better be sure," Kiba muttered, trying to repress a toothy grin.
"Like I said, don't worry." Sasuke said, smirking slightly.
"Ch-"
"HEY GUYS!! Sorry I'm late!" Narumi was suddenly between them, pulling them together with her arms around their necks and accidently ramming their foreheads together.
"GAGH!!" Kiba stumbled back in shock, covering his face.
"Narumi..!!" Sasuke snarled, pulling back and holding his head.
Narumi looked at them, blinking, "Ahh... did I do that? Sorry." She mumbled.
"Jeez, Sasuke, are you hard-headed or what?!" Kiba grumbled, nursing his head wound. Sasuke snorted.
"I could ask you the same." He frowned at Kiba, folding his arms and trying to look unaffected.
"What, are you guys still arguing?? I told you to make up with him, Kiba." Narumi looked at Kiba with a frown. Kiba held up his hands to claim innocence.
"I did! I did!" he said, and grabbed Sasuke around the neck to pull him into a 'chummy' hug, grinning wolfishly, "See? We're the best of buddies, eh Sasuke?!" he said eagerly, tugging on Sasuke slightly to ask for his recognition.
"Let me go, Kiba." Sasuke said flatly.
"Don't be so difficult!" Kiba rummaged around in his pockets for something and brought out a pen, "Give me your arm – we can sign your cast! Naru', you too!" Kiba said and Sasuke's eyes widened.
"What!?"
With a tired sigh, Sasuke closed the door to his apartment, dropping his keys in the dish below the plant pot beside the door and dropping his bag nearby. He paused to lean against the door, looking down at his splinted arm.
The messy scrawls of red and green marker covered the bandages now, decorating the dull white with colourful doodles and messages.
Kiba's were rather crude, and badly drawn doodles; one in particular a child-like illustration of Sasuke with a hen sitting on his head, a scrawl reading 'get well soon chicken-butt!' placed next to it.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at Kiba's immaturity.
His eyes slipped over to Narumi's message next, and he softened.
'So glad we're all still cool with each other even after this. And thanks for forgiving Kiba. I know he can be selfish sometimes, but so are you. And that's cool too! Get well soon! Being injured doesn't suit you.'
"Narumi..." Sasuke muttered, staring at the untidy scratches of her handwriting. He quirked a small smile, and got up off the door to walk towards his kitchen.
The next day, a solitary bush by Konoha Highschool had taken on the very important role as Uzumaki Narumi's 'base'. Cautiously peeking out from behind the shrubbery, she looked from left to right a few times, checking for any signs of Sasuke's fan-girls. She's be damned if she let them hound her first thing in the morning for something she didn't do.
From what she could see, she was safe to enter school for the time being; and upon realising that, she sighed out with relief.
"What are you doing, Narumi?" a voice came suddenly and Narumi jumped a foot into the air with surprise.
"SA-Sa-sa-sa-sa-sa—" Narumi stammered, clinging to a nearby wall with an anxious grin as she turned to the speaker.
"Sa...?" the speaker attempted to coax the rest of the name out of Narumi.
"Sa-Sa-Sakura..! Er..." Narumi trailed off, squinting worriedly at the pink-haired girl before her, "What will she do now...?" she thought, bracing herself for the worst.
Sakura sighed out, and smiled a little, "Take it easy, I'm not going to bite." She said, rolling her eyes at the blond.
Narumi paused, confused, and looked curiously at Sakura through her squinted eyes, "Huh?" she asked.
"My parents wanted me home so I didn't get a chance to visit him yesterday, but you probably did since you're his friend... Um, is Sasuke-kun doing alright?" she asked Narumi shyly.
Narumi sighed, "Oh I see... It's always about Sasuke." She nodded to herself, "They gave him a cast, which he'll have to wear for a couple of weeks until it heals. He's not really hurt, his pride is just bruised, Heheh!" she said to Sakura, grinning.
Sakura let out the breath she'd been holding, patting her chest, "That's good." She sighed, "But doesn't he usually walk with you?" she added upon realising.
She looked around curiously; her brooding crush was nowhere in sight.
"He came to school with Kiba-kun today. I'm trying to get those two to solve whatever difficulties they may've had. I call it the 'Best-Friends-Recovery' plan!!" Narumi added.
Sakura hummed, "Isn't it a little dangerous leaving them alone together? I mean, Kiba did break his arm yesterday..." she said, cautious.
"If they do anything, they know I'll kick their asses, so it's okay!" Narumi replied, folding their arms.
Sakura gazed at Narumi and then she smiled softly, "You three are really close, huh..." she muttered, and Narumi smiled a bit too, looking thoughtful.
"Yeah, well, we have been together, us three since we were little. It's only natural to look out for each other, right? It's what we do for our friends," the blond shrugged.
"Yeah, you're right." Sakura agreed, and lowered her line of vision, "Wish I could be that close to Sasuke... Though I think he's starting to lighten up around me so I should be grateful.." she thought to herself, clenching her hands against her emerald skirt.
"HEY!" Narumi suddenly gasped, and Sakura nearly jumped out of her skin. She was about to tell Narumi off when the blond continued, "There they are now!" she added and Sakura quickly turned to look where Narumi was.
Entering the school, standing at good distance away from each other, Kiba and Sasuke approached the two girls.
"G'morning you guys!" Narumi chirped.
"Naru, hey!" Kiba grinned at her, walking towards her quickly, ahead of Sasuke. He looked at Sakura curiously, who returned his gaze evenly. "Eh..? What're you doing talking to pinky? I thought you guys were arch-nemesis'..." Kiba questioned.
Sakura flushed, indignant, "You dare say that again, dog-boy!!" she snapped at him, "And my name isn't pinky. That's rude!" she added.
Kiba shrugged, "Whatever... So why are you and Naru talking to each other? You're not picking on her again, are you?" he asked Sakura.
"I'm not that cruel." Sakura shook her head.
"Are you sure?" Kiba asked her, and smirked as she glared at him heatedly.
"Kiba-kun. Cut it out." Narumi said with a frown, and hit his shoulder lightly. She glanced at Sakura briefly, "Though we were getting on pretty well just then. I wonder if... Sakura wants to be friends again..?" she wondered.
"I was just asking her if Sasuke-kun was alright after his accident yesterday..." Sakura said, pointedly to Kiba. Kiba flinched involuntarily, as Sakura turned to the silent Uchiha who was watching them, "Does... it still hurt? Did my first-aid help, Sasuke-kun...?" she asked him coyly.
"I think that much is obvious..." Sasuke mentioned with a shrug, looking down at his graffitied sling and cast.
"Ehh?? Who did this crude drawing!?" Sakura gasped at Kiba's message on the cast.
Narumi sweat dropped, "Ehh... Class is starting soon, right?" she mentioned, trying to avoid an argument.
Sasuke nodded, "Yeah." He agreed, gently tugging his cast from Sakura's grasp and walking past her. With that Kiba and Narumi began heading inside, Kiba chatting about the latest big game he'd watched on tv.
Sasuke paused on his way in, and glanced to Sakura. Sakura froze, surprised at his attention.
Giving a sigh, the Uchiha turned his back on her once more, and after a moment, he muttered, "Thanks for your help yesterday; and, for forgiving her," before heading inside the school, after his friends.
Sakura was still frozen in place, shocked. Sasuke had said thank you to her! This was surprising, coming from him. She hadn't expected one when she helped yesterday, but it was definitely a good thing.
Maybe he was lightening up to her? She couldn't ruin this. She'd continue the way she was now.
Sakura grinned broadly, and rushed inside as well.
School came and went for the students of Konoha High, and other schools in the surrounding areas and over at Kiri Cafe, Suigetsu sat at the counter, boredly polishing a glass with a hand towel over and over again. Since his tardiness the other day, his boss had been extra firm with bossing him around so there was no point of escape this time around.
...But it was just so boring!! If there wasn't money in it for him, he wouldn't have went for this job. He'd much rather hang out by the pool.
"At least," Suigetsu thought, looking up to the ceiling, "Kami-sama could be kind enough to send along some amusement for me, to cure my boredom." He finished with a sigh.
He then began to wonder what was taking Narumi so long....
With that, the front door to Kiri Cafe opened with a jingle of the welcome bell and Suigetsu looked up, fully expecting to see Narumi there, panting like a mad dog and apologising for being late for work.
But it was not Narumi.
A more amusing girl had arrived.
She stared over at Suigetsu, her dark eyes wide with genuine surprise. He face then took on a distasteful sneer, "What the hell are you doing here?" she asked him, frowning.
Suigetsu smirked, his eyes twinkling; he put a hand to his chest and feigned hurt, "Speaking so harshly? I'm almost offended!" he sighed dramatically.
"Shut up!! Answer the question, water boy." She said to him.
Suigetsu glanced back at her from his 'despair' act, and shrugged, "It's where I work. What's it to you Karin?" he asked her nonchalantly.
Karin scoffed, and turned on her way, "Another reason to leave this place for good!" she said, and just as she reached for the shop's door handle, someone grabbed it from the outside and the door opened once again.
Towering over her, the youngest Uchiha looked down at her in mild surprise. He sighed, "Not this one again..." he thought.
"And here's a reason to stay!" Karin gasped, going into fan-girl mode.
Narumi stepped in from behind Sasuke, frowning at her disapprovingly, "Agh, it's the fan-girl again." She muttered.
"Ha! Your words don't affect me." Karin smirked at Narumi, before preparing to sweet talk her latest 'target'.
"However, mine seem to work like a charm!" Suigetsu boasted, and Karin scowled at his voice, "Why didn't you stick around last time, Sasuke? You know I said to wait up so we could chat." He said to Sasuke.
"Had things to do." Sasuke shrugged. He brushed past Karin and headed towards the counter, "Where's the owner of this place? I need to talk to him about something." he said.
"Ah, sure just a sec'. I'll call him." Suigetsu said, blinking at the dark-haired one and then getting up to go out back.
Karin took this opportunity to pounce, pushing Narumi aside on her way over to Sasuke. She sat on the bar stool next to him and looked at him, pretending to be coy.
"So, Sasuke-kun, how have you been?" her eyes drifted from his dark facial features to the cast on his arm, "What happened to your arm?" she said, brushing her fingers over the cast.
Sasuke pulled his arm out of her touch, not looking at her, "Not your business." He replied.
Karin pouted.
"Shot down again, ha Karin?" came a smug call. Suigetsu had already returned.
"Why are you back so fast?!" Karin shrieked at him. Suigetsu chuckled, and lay against the wall cooly.
"Why do you want to know? Did you miss me?" the white-haired boy asked her, wriggling his eye-brows at her.
"Certainly not!" Karin scoffed, looking away as Zabuza and Haku came out from the back. Haku turned to Narumi, and rushed over to guide her back behind the shop.
"Come on, now, you're already late. Time to get into your uniform for work," he said gently. Narumi groaned. As she left with Haku, Sasuke and Zabuza faced each other.
"What d'you want, kid?" Zabuza asked calmly, his arms folded.
Sasuke returned the gaze stoically, "A job." He replied, surprising Karin and Suigetsu... and Zabuza.
"Ehh? Sasuke-kun, why would you want to work with this infuriating brat?!" Karin yelped, pointing at Suigetsu, who was pulling down on the skin under his eye and sticking out his tongue at her mockingly.
Sasuke ignored those two, and continued talking to Zabuza, "I heard from Narumi that the reason she's working here is to pay off a debt that her foster father racked up. I owe Narumi a favour so, I'd like a job here to help her pay it off. So what're the hours?" Sasuke said to him.
"For Narumi?! What is there between those two..." Karin thought suspiciously, seething at the not-present Narumi with jealously.
"Seems like you've convinced yourself that you've already gotten the job," Zabuza commented.
Sasuke smirked, "You need all the help around here as you can, right? If the girls at my school knew about me working here, they'd surely come." He said.
Zabuza's eyes hardened, "Cocky brat," he muttered, before loosening his shoulders as he sighed out, "However you're right about the needing help part." He added, and picked up an apron from the rack, "Consider this afternoon as you're trail run. You won't be paid for your work today but if you fit the bill, we'll hire you on board... Just know that this isn't just a plan to help your friend pay her bills. You're here until I say so, or you better have a damn good reason for quitting. Understand?" he asked Sasuke.
"Understood." Sasuke shrugged. Suigetsu hopped over the bar and went to wrap an arm around Sasuke's shoulder.
"Hey, now we get to work together!" he said, grinning toothily, "Ain't it great?" he added.
"..." Sasuke didn't say anything in response to that, however, he smiled a little, "Mission accomplished..." he thought to himself.
With two people working towards the same goal, the job would get done faster.
Kin: Once again, many apologies for the lateness. Next one will probably be late too, sorry! -sad face- Unfortunately, college work calls. Maybe your comments on this chapter will cheer me up...
