Rent
By Batgirl
Disclaimer: Besides the plot of this story, I own nothing.
Beta read by Jan Lee
Chapter Eleven: Cakes, engagements and Pre-Christmas pt. One
Wednesday December 23, 2009
"All right, I'll see you guys. Merry Christmas!'' Kiba yelled up the stairs at his work place.
It had been a big day. They put out a fire in a building and had saved everyone in it, except the attendants' belongings. Kiba saved lives that day, and in return, they always thanked him with tears streaming down their faces. That was the best part of his job. Although at a young age, he was one of the best.
It was nearing five in the evening and he was on his way home. That morning he decided to walk to work, since it was only a subway ride away and from there, six blocks. It didn't take much time, at least not for a former track and field member back in high school.
Turning a corner, he bumped into someone he had thought he would never even see again.
''Oh, sorry,'' he mumbled.
He looked up to see the woman from the park yesterday. She was currently picking up her purse.
"Rei-san?'' he asked, wanting to be sure.
He knew how creepy it could be when someone thinks you're someone they know, but you're not.
''Kiba-san.'' She smiled and, hey, she even remembered his name!
He shoved his hands in his pockets as his black messenger bag hung on his left shoulder. ''Hi. How are you?''
''I'm fine. What about yourself?'' She re-adjusted her purse on her shoulder. As the cold, December wind blew, she fixed her scarf.
''I've been okay.'' He laughed. ''Will I be seeing you next week in the park?''
She laughed. ''I guess so. I'll see you then.''
''Great.'' He smiled.
''Bye.'' As she walked past him, his eyes followed her until she was walking behind him.
''Yeah…'' he mumbled. But what happened next not only shocked the young woman, but it shocked Kiba as well.
''Hey, uhm…'' She turned around, hearing his voice. ''If you're not in a hurry or anything, maybe we could get coffee somewhere, right now.''
''Now?''
He nodded, a few bystanders saw the scene unfold before them, but didn't do much. Kiba let out an embarrassed laugh.
''This is silly, you're married, I can't hit on a married woman. Sorry for the trouble.'' He turned to walk away, but this time, it was his turn to turn around, since he heard her call out two words to him.
''I'm not.''
"You're not what?'' he asked. He never really was a bright bulb.
She removed the glove on her left hand, and showed her ring-less fingers. She smiled, holding her hand up. ''I'm not married.''
''But, what about Akira's father?'' He was really confused.
''Why don't we talk about that over coffee? I know a place not far from here.'' She smiled, slipping her hand back into the glove.
Kiba laughed. ''Lead the way.''
''I can't believe that Dad dragged me all the way here just to sign under a piece of paper. I'm guessing the man hasn't heard of a 'fax machine'?" Gaara asked, before drinking his coffee.
''You know how Dad can be, Gaara. Why use a machine when you can drag your son's ass back to Suna, right? And besides, Mom missed you, and you know how she is during the holidays. She wants to meet up with everyone." Temari, his older sister, asked playfully.
Gaara sighed. ''Well, at least I leave earlier than intended. Where is he?" he asked, changing the subject.
He and his sister were currently sitting by a table in some local coffee house in Suna. Yesterday he arrived, this morning he woke up, with a headache. Went to his Dad's office to read over a couple of files and papers and now, he was here, with his sister, drinking coffee while waiting for their other sibling.
''Seriously, why are you in such a hurry?'' Temari asked.
''I just…" 'I asked my girlfriend to marry me and left her to think about it.'
"I want to get home, that's all."
''Since when did Suna stop being your home?''
''You know what I mean. Shikamaru's coming to visit you for Christmas, right?'' Gaara asked.
Temair drank her tea. ''Yeah, he'll be here tomorrow.''
''Who's going to be here tomorrow?'' a voice asked, not far from where they were sitting.
''Finally, you're here. I got you a present.'' Gaara gave him a blue colored bag. ''Merry Christmas[,]'' he said, bluntly.
''Please, Gaara. Hold your excitement," his brother, Kankuro, said sarcastically.
"Hn."
''You know, I still don't know what that means.'' Kankuro sat on the empty chair after kissing Temari on the cheek and ruffling Gaara's hair.
''Gaara-chan, here, wants to catch an early flight today,'' Temari filled him in. After Kankuro ordered his coffee, he looked at his brother, the question on his face.
''It's nothing important," Gaara mumbled.
''Are you sure?'' Kankuro asked.
Gaara nodded. ''Positive.''
Temari smiled. ''I don't think you are. Come on, Gaara. You can tell us anything.''
Kankuro nodded. ''Yeah, whatever you say will only stay between us, if you want it to.''
Gaara sighed. ''I'm not sure.''
His brother faked a gasp. ''Are you calling us a bunch of tattle-tales?''
''We're curious. Besides, it can't be that big of a news, right?'' Temari smiled.
''I proposed to Matsuri…and I don't even know the answer yet.''
After those words left his mouth, the three siblings were targeted with glares due to all the yelling the two older ones did.
''How do you think it's looking?"
''I think it's great, Sai. Thanks for helping me.''
He smiled. ''No problem.''
Ino and Sai stood in her living room. Sai was helping Ino set up her Christmas tree. For the past two years, it had always been Sakura, Tenten and Matsuri who helped her. They would all wear Christmas hats and listen to two songs: Last Christmas by Wham and All I Want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey. Sure they'd listen to other songs too, but these two were a must.
Since everyone was busy at the moment---Sakura being called into the hospital for an emergency, Matsuri was cooking dinner with Chouji and Shino, Hinata was working and Tenten was busy with business stuff---she figured everyone couldn't make it, so she asked Sai to help. And he'd been great. He wore the traditional red hat and listened to Mariah Carey's song and even sang along with Wham.
Although they talked, shared a laugh, and felt as if the little event that happened between them a couple of days ago never happened, they both were thinking about it. And they both knew that the other was thinking about it, they just didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
As they sat by the table in the kitchen, drinking something hot, Ino noticed there was something on Sai's mind. The look he wore told her everything.
''What's on your mind?'' Ino asked.
Sai smiled and shook his head. ''It's nothing.''
''What? Come on, Sai. You always help me when I have a problem. Now, I want to try and help you.''
Sai reached with his left hand for Ino's right that rested on the table. ''It's nothing, really.''
Ino sighed, giving up. Trying to get the Uchiha to talk was one of the hardest things to do in life. ''Fine, if you say so. Come on, I'm gonna put the star on the top.''
Ino pulled Sai along with her into the living room.
''Okay, so I'll give you a boost, since you can't lift me up.''
She raised a brow. ''Are you saying I'm weak?''
''No, no of course not…I was implying that you are.'' That right there earned him a playful punch. ''No, no, I'm kidding. I'm actually starting to think women like you are on steroids.''
Ino faked a laugh. ''Shut up and give me a boost.''
After putting the star on the top, Ino's feet touched the floor again, and now, Sai's arms were around her waist and her arms rested on his chest. As they stood there, their faces were mere inches apart. Simultaneously, they leaned in. As their lips met, it felt, for them, as if the whole world around them vanished and time stopped. As you can imagine, it was one hell of a kiss.
Sakura sat in the team meeting room, on the sixth floor. No matter how hard she tried, the tears just didn't seem to stop. Upon hearing the door open, she quickly turned towards the windows, desperately trying to wipe the tears away. Izumo walked in, a stethoscope hanging loosely around his neck. His tie was loose and the first two buttons of his white dress shirt unbuttoned. His breathing came a bit faster and his forehead was damp with sweat.
He slowly walked towards her, and no matter how hard she tried hiding it, her despair still showed.
''Haruno-san…'' he mumbled her name, sitting on the empty chair next to hers.
''It's not your fault.''
''I did my best.''
''I know you did, Haruno-san. Everyone could see you gave it your all.''
''And yet, like always, my best is never enough.''
Izumo laid a hand on her left shoulder. ''No one's perfect, Haruno-san.''
Sakura looked at him and locked eyes. ''He was seventeen.'' She turned away. ''You're not suppose to die at seventeen. That kid still had his whole life ahead of him. And now…he's just gone.''
''You go when it's your time. And maybe it was his time.'' He sighed. ''Death is something we can't escape. You did everything you could. In fact, I think you did everything humanly possible. And if you've tried everything humanly possible, and it still doesn't seem to change anything, then there's nothing else you can do. Beating yourself up like this won't bring him back.''
At this point, Sakura was crying on his shoulder, his arms her around her, in a comforting manner.
''Excuse me,'' a voice said from the doorway. Both doctors turned around to see young Uchiha Sasuke.
''Sakura…?'' he asked. The tone he used to say her name said: Why are you crying?
Izumo coughed awkwardly. ''I'll leave you two alone then. Are you gonna be okay, Haruno-san?''
Sakura nodded. ''I'll be fine. Thank you.''
Izumo flashed her a small smile before excusing himself and closing the door behind him.
Sasuke stood by the closed door, his hands in his pockets with a worried look on his face. Standing in front of her, after taking small steps, he pulled her in for a hug, slowly.
''What's going on, Sakura?'' he asked softly.
''I just lost a patient,'' she mumbled in his shoulder.
''I'm sorry.'' His voice sounded genuinely sorry.
She pulled away. ''What are you doing here, Sasuke-kun?''
He, again, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked around the room. ''Your Mom called me, since you didn't answer your phone and Naruto's phone was turned off. You were supposed to be at their place around three. Your mom even went as far as to think you were in a car accident.''
Sakura sighed. ''I guess I have to go home, get my bag and drive up-''
Sasuke shook his head. ''No, I am not going to let you drive [four] hours in this state. Call your mom, tell her you'll be there around noon tomorrow,'' Sasuke suggested, holding out his phone.
She shook her head. ''I told them I'd be home today. I promised.'' She walked out of the meeting room and down the hall and Sasuke walked behind her, but eventually caught up with her.
''Well, if you want to get there today, I'll drive with you.''
''Sasuke-kun, you don't have to. If you drive up there with me, you're not gonna be back here 'til midnight. Merry Christmas, Hikari-chan.'' Sakura smiled at the girl sitting behind the front desk.
''Merry Christmas, Dr. Haruno.''
''Sakura, it's fine. Either you're not leaving 'til tomorrow, or I'm driving there with you tonight.''
As they stood in the elevator, waiting for it to reach the first floor, Sakura turned to her left to see that Sasuke had already made his decision. ''You would do that?''
Sasuke nodded. ''Of course I would. You're…you're my friend and I care about you.'' He was struggling with the word friend. But who wouldn't when you're in love with that friend?
''Thanks, Sasuke-kun. I'll call Mom then.''
''And tell her what exactly?'' She sighed. ''I'll tell her I'll be there around noon tomorrow.''
Sasuke nodded. ''Hn. Besides, I don't think Ino and the others are ever going to forgive you on not going to the pre-Christmas dinner,'' he said, as they walked out of the hospital.
Sakura got in her car as Sasuke stood by the door. ''So, everyone's leaving tomorrow?'' she asked, buckling her seatbelt.
Sasuke nodded. ''I'll see you there.''
Sakura nodded. ''Yeah.'' He smiled slightly before walking to his car.
She sighed. 'Oh, Sasuke-kun...If you only knew...' She thought before starting the engine and driving away, with the young Uchiha on her tail with his car.
Kiba drank his coffee before asking her another question. ''So, Akira's six and you're twenty-two…and you had him when you were…sixteen?''
Rei nodded. ''Yeah.''
''Woah. So, he's a Juno kid.''
Rei blinked. ''I'm sorry?''
Kiba smiled before explaining. ''Akira's a Juno kid. Have you seen Juno?''
She nodded. He cleared his throat before continuing. ''See, Juno got pregnant at sixteen or around that age too, but she gave the baby away. But you kept yours…which is not the main subject right now.'' She laughed in between before Kiba continued. ''I mean, wasn't it hard? Taking care of your own kid at a young age?''
She sighed. ''It was hard. Really hard. There were days when I wished I as living someone else's life. But I'll never change how my life is. I'm happy how everything turned out.''
Kiba nodded. ''What about the father?''
''He was a college student when I met him. We thought we were in love. Eventually we started going out, without my parents knowing. It happened a couple of times before that one time….that one time when things weren't really…safe.''
Kiba smiled, nodding his head before she went on. ''Then I told him everything. At first, he freaked out. I didn't hear a word from him for three weeks. Then one day, he called me. He said he wanted to be involved as much as he could.''
''I'm guessing your parents were furious?''
She shook her head. ''Not really.''
Kiba almost choked on his own spit. ''What?''
''Well, they weren't angry, really...you know what the worst feeling you could get from your parents?''
She was answered with his headshake. ''Disappointment. That's the worst feeling you could get from your parents. My dad wanted me to get married and have kids but…it was just a bit too soon for that. Despite them feeling like I let them down, which I did, they still helped me through everything. And I'm grateful for that everyday.''
Kiba stared before letting a smile form on his face. ''You just told me one of the biggest things that has happened in your life, right? To me? The guy you just met?''
''Wow. I guess I did," she mumbled, before returning the smile.
'Oh my god. I think I like her!..Oh my god! I'm back in High School!' Kiba thought.
''So, is everything okay here?''
Kiba looked up to see Hinata stand by the table, an apron around her waist and wearing a smile that told Kiba what would be happening later tonight.
Kiba cleared his throat. ''Yeah, everything's fine here, Hinata.''
Rei nodded. ''Yes, thanks.''
Hinata nodded. ''Okay, you just let me know if there's anything else,'' she said, before walking back to the counter.
''So, how do you know her?'' Rei asked.
''She lives in my building. She just moved in and my friend's totally into her. But he's too scared to actually ask her out. He's actually convinced that she'll say no. And no matter how much the other guys and I try to convince him that she doesn't bite, it doesn't get through to him.''
Rei nodded. ''That sounds interesting. So, now that you know something about me, why don't you tell me something about you?''
He laughed. ''I guess that's fair, huh?''
She nodded. ''Oh, yeah.''
Naruto could feel the cold leave his body when he walked into the small bakery. Not because inside the bakery was warm, no. It was because of her. How she smiled at every customer. How she blew a strand of hair from her face when cutting a slice of cake for an old man. How she-
''Excuse me, son. Could you move?''
''Uhh…yeah, sorry, sir,'' he mumbled, before moving away from the entrance and sitting by the counter.
As he sat there and watched her walk to Kiba, he-
'Kiba?! What the hell is he doing here? And who's the girl?' Naruto laughed inwardly at himself. 'The girls are so hearing about this later tonight,' he thought.
He didn't see her walk back to where he sat, because he was already thinking what he would be eating. It was either the usual or maybe something new. This was one of the questions Naruto never liked asking himself.
''Hey, stranger.'' Hinata smiled, catching his attention when she stepped back behind the counter.
All he could do was smile and greet her in return. ''Hi.''
''The usual? Or do you want to try something new?'' she asked.
He thought for a moment. ''You choose.''
She nodded. ''Where are you parents?'' she asked, cutting him a slice of cake---a cake he'd never seen before.
He sighed before laughing slightly. ''I just had to get away from them for a few hours. They're redecorating my whole apartment. Christmas ornaments are everywhere. It became too much for me to handle so…here I am,'' he said, smiling and shoving a forkful of cake in his mouth.
Hinata nodded. ''I see. What do you think?''
''This is amazing. Why haven't you let me taste this before?'' he asked around the cake in his mouth.
''It's actually the first time it's out there.'' She shrugged her shoulders, and he almost choked. ''You mean, I'm the first person to ever taste this?''
Hinata smiled, but nodded.
''How come?''
''Because I made it.'' She took a few steps away from him to help a costumer who just got it. All Naruto could do was stare. There she stood again, helping an old woman, with a smile on her face.
''You mean, I'm the first person to taste this?'' he asked, as soon as she stood in front of him. She nodded before pouring him another cup of coffee.
''Neji hasn't even tasted this yet?'' he asked, his voice holding a certain...hope. She shook her head and that's what it took for Naruto to smile and finish his cake.
''This is amazing!'' he yelled, making Kiba look at him. Naruto caught his gaze and nodded in 'hello'. Kiba did the same before getting back to talking to the beautiful young woman.
''So, when do you get off?'' he asked. In his head, it sounded like a casual conversation. But when he said it out loud, it sounded like a pick-up line. And at that point, he panicked. ''No, I mean…you know… since it's Christmas after two days, maybe they're gonna let you go home a bit earlier than usual…just wondering.'' He looked away awkwardly.
Hinata giggled. ''I get off after an hour.''
Naruto nodded. ''Do you have a ride home?''
She shook her head. Naruto chuckled before slicing himself another slice of cake. ''You do now."
Here it is! Chapter Eleven part one. Sorry for the late update. Part two will be posted soon (maybe next weekend).
Little note: I am fully aware that Sai and Sasuke are not related in the manga/anime, but they are cousins in this story. I have always pictured myself Sai as an Uchiha :) Hope it clears up any misunderstandings.
Later!
Batgirl =)
