Chapter 11: Home Sweet Home
The two had awoken and gotten ready for the day. They set out to go apartment hunting once again. With the few they had left, they were drawn towards the center of the village. They hit up a handful of apartments, each time failing.
They took a break for lunch and started again. There were only four apartments left to check out. If they couldn't get one of those to work; they would have to look by the Hyuuga compound. Three of the candidates were total duds. They were at their last chance. It was a smaller building, it didn't look too hopeful.
Naruto rang the doorbell like he had done at all the previous times before. The two of them stood there waiting for the manager to come out.
"Hello?" an elderly woman came to the door. She had long grey hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail. She was bending over a bit, making her a little shorter than Naruto. She was stout, but not overly big. She looked like she could be Choji's grandmother.
"Ah, hi," Naruto stumbled.
"Can I help you two youngsters?"
"Right." Naruto handed her the packet of information. "We are looking for a place for Akemi here. She doesn't have any money and isn't from the Leaf but Granny Tsunade has given her permission to live here." He had started his speech.
Akemi quickly shut her eyes and tried to stop listening. This was the point where all the previous managers had shoved the packet back to Naruto and said some choice words before shutting the door in their faces.
"Oh?" the woman had asked. She had actually opened the packet and was reading. After a few minutes she looked back to the teens. "You poor dear! Your whole village was destroyed? Of course you can stay here!"
"Really?" both Naruto and Akemi asked together.
"Of course!" the woman said again. "Although the only open room I have is usually only for Jounin, but I believe it should be ok. The Hokage has given you permission to stay wherever you can find a room, so I don't think she'll mind."
"That's great!" Naruto examined.
Akemi couldn't get as excited, "But I don't have any money."
"Don't worry deary," she said as she started to go back into the building. "Come on in and see the place." She led them to the third floor and the room at the end of the hall. She opened the door as stale air came flowing out. "It's been awhile since anyone lived here so it will need to be aired out."
She led them into the room and started a tour as she opened windows. There was a small living room. There was also a small table right before a good sized kitchen. There was a small hallway to the left. The first door lead to the bathroom, which was larger than Naruto's.
"My name is Kaede, dearies," she introduced herself as she walked to the second door.
"My name is," Naruto started.
"You're Naruto and the girl is Akemi," Kaede finished for him.
"How?" Akemi asked.
"It was in the report, sweetheart," Kaede explained. She stopped at the door. "Boy's aren't allowed into a girl's bedroom."
"What?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Go wait in the living room for us," Kaede instructed strictly.
Naruto looked confused but did as he was told. He sat down on one of the couches present.
"Come now," Kaede called as she opened the door.
Akemi walked into her new bedroom to see a single bed in a room about the same size as Naruto's. There was a large window with a small platform outside of it.
"The window is designed so Jounin can easily leave if they are called," Kaede has noticed Akemi staring. She went to a sliding door on the side where the bathroom was. "This is your closet. A little small for a girl, but it works."
"Thank you."
The two of them had gone to join Naruto back in the living room. "As long as there is no trouble, there won't be any rent." Kaede explained.
"Really?" Naruto asked happily.
"Males are not allowed in the building before 8 am or after 9 pm." Kaede was explaining the rules. "The front door locks at 11 pm and is unlocked at 6 am. If you have any problems please let me know. I have the first apartment on the first floor."
"Thank you granny Kaede," Naruto thanked her, a little shocked at the strict rules.
"Now why don't you two go fetch Akemi's things while I finish airing out this old room?" she had gone from strict landlord to caring grandma.
"Alright," Akemi responded.
They went back to Naruto's apartment and grabbed the small bag of borrowed clothes and returned to Akemi's new home. When they got in they found that the kitchen was fully stocked with food.
"Was it like that before?" Naruto asked as he dug through the cabinets. He found what he was looking for as he pulled out a cup of instant ramen.
Akemi giggled, "I didn't really look before."
"Granny Kaede must of done it," he said over the running water.
A noise came from the bedroom. "I'll be right back…"
"Okay…" Naruto was more focused on making his ramen.
Akemi opened her bedroom door to see Kaede closing the closet door. "Hello."
"Akemi," Kaede said in surprise. "I didn't expect you back so soon."
"I only have a few things. What are you doing?"
"I expected that," Kaede sat on the bed. "That's why I thought that I'd give you some new clothes."
"Why? How?"
"I have a daughter," Kaede started. "She wasn't a ninja like you but she was a smart girl. She was about your age when she ran away with a man from another village. She writes me from time to time. I just haven't been able to make myself throw away all of her old things she left behind. I thought you would get a better use out of them. Otherwise they would just sit in storage."
"I can't…" Akemi started. "They were your daughters…"
"Of course you can sweetheart!" Kaede said happily. "I'd be honored for a ninja to use them. You look a bit like her, actually."
"Really?" Akemi was hopeful, but then thought things through. "My mother was a ninja…"
"It's alright deary, I already knew that your mother wasn't my daughter. She didn't go to a hidden village with her husband." She had gotten off the bed.
Akemi ran up to Kaede and hugged her tightly. "Thanks."
"No thank you." Kaede hugged her back.
The two walked back to the living room. "Remember the rules," Kaede said sternly to Naruto, who was halfway into his instant ramen cup.
"Right," he tried to say with a mouth full of noodles.
"Akemi," Kaede addressed her again, "sometime you will have to have dinner with me. You can count that as your rent."
"Alright Kaede-San."
"No." she responded angrily.
"What?" Akemi asked surprised.
"I won't have that. Call me granny."
Akemi smiled, "thanks granny."
"There you go sweetheart. Sleep well." And she was gone.
Naruto had finally finished his mouth of ramen. "Welcome home Akemi!"
A huge smile played across her face. She spun around once to take in her surroundings. This place was actually hers.
