Please Believe Me
Chapter 11
Sitting in his car, Naruto finished off his cigarette as he watched the church across the street. His mind strangely enough caught up on the thought of Inoichi and his family. That tension he felt was undeniable. They were all upset and he could feel it. He just didn't understand why. They were generally happy the last time he saw them all together which was just around three months ago or so. How much could go wrong within that time frame? They weren't just mad, they were mad at each other. Frustrated would be a better word to use for it.
A family like that seemed nearly perfect. A two parent household, one child so no favoritism or friction there, what could be better? To top it off, they had just been through two nearly destructive situations that could have shattered their world. Well, technically three, one of which he assumed Inoichi and Kiori didn't know about. If they did, he would have thanked him for that as well. Near tragedies like that are usually great at bringing people closer. People appreciate what they have when they nearly lose it.
Of course what would he know? He's never had anything like that. Well, nothing like that specifically. There have been important people in his life he's loved and lost, but no one he's known from birth. That was a relationship he did not have the pleasure of experiencing. That was something he was not familiar with. There are an infinite amount of stories in this world. His just didn't involve that portion. Finished with his latest stick of death, he tossed it out the window and stepped out of his car. Shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, he crossed the lightly congested street when he could.
Stepping up to the church doors, he opened the heavy chunk of wood with little effort to see rows upon rows of empty benches. Towards the front, one person occupied a seat on the second row. Strange, almost gravity defying, silver hair jutted out of his head. Just who Naruto was looking for. He slowly walked that way, eyeing him the whole way. When he reached his row, he slid in until they were a person length away, neither of them looking towards or even acknowledging the other as they stared up towards the shrine of burning candles, illuminating the glass portrait of Jesus in a magnificent hue of beautiful colors.
Without looking his way, the man spoke to him. "He died." He said simply. Naruto glanced his way and he could see the troubled look on his face.
"My condolences Kakashi." He said simply.
The silver haired man simply nodded his head. "This wasn't my first failed exorcism." He said simply. "Had I started sooner I could have gotten to him in time."
"Look forward. Never behind." Naruto said in reply. "Words of my very own teacher." He said, implying it was him he were talking about.
He chuckled beneath the black mask he wore to cover the bottom half of his face. "Those are words of a younger man. When you get to my age, there's not much more to look forward to… looking back becomes a pleasured sight."
Naruto smiled and nodded his head in agreement. "Funny, you say that as if you're old." He said with a smile. Kakashi just chuckled lightly and stared up to the candle shrine some more. "… How did the family take it?"
The somber atmosphere returned. "As well as could be expected… It's not something most people are prepared to see… or believe rather." Naruto nodded again, knowing all too well what he meant by that.
"Care for a drink?" He asked suddenly. Kakashi glanced up to the glass mural in thought.
A few minutes later they occupied a fairly scarce bar, sitting at a two seating table towards the back of the establishment. A bottle of vodka between them as they took turns pouring their own glasses. An ash tray also between them as they smoked their lives away. Kakashi had put a small slit in his maskk where his mouth is to consume the alcohol and smoke his cigarette much to Naruto's chagrin.
"I spoke with Dokku not too long ago." Kakashi said to Naruto's interest.
"Really? How are they?" he asked.
Kakashi tapped his cigarette against the ashtray. "Good-.. good. He uh… he wanted me to let you know that Sister Kin has recovered successfully and they have had no further incidents."
Naruto nodded. "Great." He said simply. "Let him know if he would prefer it, I can take the other artifacts as well."
"Will do… so you find a space for it?" He asked.
"I did." Naruto said as he took another drink. "It's somewhere safe."
Kakashi nodded as he refilled his own glass. "And how are you feeling?"
Naruto flexed his body as if giving himself a check over himself. "Ah. I've been fine so far. Just tired."
"Well that is to be expected." Kakashi said. "How often are you sleeping?"
Naruto thought it over for a moment. "Well, that's all I ever do when I head home so… maybe three days every three weeks?"
Kakashi whistled and shook his head in disbelief. "Don't you ever miss it?" He asked, garnishing an unsure look from Naruto as if he didn't fully understand his question. "The good night's rest… in a normal bed…"
Turning back to look at the sea of people ordering drinks and having a fun night out he nodded slowly. "Yeah… yeah sometimes… but, when duty calls y'know?"
Kakashi chuckled and nodded his head. "So has your answer remained the same?"
Naruto glanced towards him. "It has and it will." He stated simply. "It feels as though you ask me that every time we meet."
Kakashi shrugged. "I'm just a little curious as to whether or not it'll hold up… So far it seems it has."
"I feel it a responsibility to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves." He said with a shrug. "Call it stupid or whatever you'd like."
The silver haired man shook his head as he took another hit of his cigarette. "I don't think it's stupid at all." He said. "You're doing great things Naruto… Your name has popped up within the Vatican ranks a few times already. They know of your work and they admire you." He informed him.
Naruto nodded casually as if he didn't actually care. "Well, that's nice." He said sarcastically.
"You're giving a good name to demonology and exorcists as a whole… I mean, before you came along we were all just a bunch of frauds to them. Even the Yuen's were seen as none trustworthy while they were trying to make it known through the media."
"I am very aware." He said as he nodded his head. "In honesty, I respect them for trying, but it was a stupid move on their part. They should know ignorance is intelligence to ignorance."
Kakashi shrugged. "It got the message out that there are people willing to help with stuff like that. Could you imagine having to deal with something like that for the first time on your own?" Naruto shot him a deadpanned look. "Well, not everyone is like you."
Naruto just shook his head. "Glad that's the case. That's the last thing this world needs."
"Someone else like you?" Kakashi asked. "I think it needs that more than anything the way things have been going recently."
Naruto didn't see it that way. "Mhm. Well, in my opinion the only way to make them like me is to send them to the person who made me what I am today."
Kakashi chuckled and waved him off. "Ah, I just taught you the tricks of the trade of exorcisms. I've been doing it for years and you've already far surpassed me. Besides, it's too late for me to be training anyone anymore." He said as he took another puff.
"Nah." Naruto said. "I'd say you've got a few good years in you."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that. "Got someone in mind?" Naruto thought about it but shook his head. "I'm not surprised. You don't see too many true visions out there nowadays. Not since you have I met another."
"Well, you rarely go anywhere." Naruto said. "Hard to find them when you're looking out through this little box of yours."
Kakashi shrugged. "So, you've found a few?"
Tilting his head from side to side, he ultimately nodded. "Yeah, a few here and there. None that really jump out as incredible."
Kakashi nodded. "Well, you didn't strike me as much when I met you either. Turns out you've got one of the strongest sights I've ever seen and the lack of fear to utilize it properly."
"So, in other words, I'm a perfect ghost hunter." Naruto asked sarcastically.
Kakashi shrugged. "Sure. If you'd prefer that." He said with a chuckle. "In truth you just had a very solid drive for what you wanted to do. You were already nearing my knowledge of religion and the bible when we first met, so there was definitely talent there."
Naruto chuckled as if he said something just completely ridiculous. "It wasn't talent. I was just a very lonely child who spent his time studying demons and religion in his down time for the hell of it."
"Call it what you will. I saw talent in you and you've proved me right with every step you've taken so far. I'm proud of you Naruto." He said much to the blonde's confusion and amusement.
"Heh. Well, you're officially drunk Father Kakashi, so maybe we should call it a night before Hanare kills me." He said as he prepared to stand.
Kakashi stopped him before he did. "Ah, we still have a quarter of a bottle left." He said gesturing down to the clear liquid between them. "A few more minutes couldn't hurt."
Naruto shook his head and retook his seat. "Alright Kakashi... alright…" They sat in silence for a brief moment as they both refilled their glasses, emptying the bottle. Naruto thought back to the last conversation he had with Deidara, and the conversation he had with Sasuke before that. They were both pretty sure he seemed lonely. This however was one man he knew wouldn't lie to him. Especially not with that liquid courage running through his system. "Kakashi?"
"Hmm?" The silver haired man said in reply as he turned towards him.
"… Do you think I'm lonely?" he asked curiously.
Kakashi looked at him for a moment as if he were trying to review his answer. "… well, you seem about how I was a few years ago when I was just starting out." He said. Naruto was unsure of what that meant. "So, yeah, I'd say you're pretty lonely… why?"
"..." he just shook his head as he stared down at the ground in thought. That was the second person who agreed. But, it being a drunk Kakashi it might as well have been God himself. "… How did you handle it?" he asked curiously. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the question, not sure exactly what he meant. "You said I seem like you a few years ago… so how did you handle it?" he clarified.
"… Well… I found a student." He said with a shrug making Naruto smile lightly. "… Then, I found this beautiful girl that for whatever reason decided to marry me." Naruto nodded along, very much interested in the wisdom this man has to offer. "Life finds the strangest ways to bring you to yourself Naruto… this you is not the you who will marry your wife one day… this you is not the you who will one day become a father. This is the you who is meant to help as many people as you can… One day you will fall into the person you have always wanted to be… whether you know it or not."
Naruto nodded, smiling lightly at the amazingly placed father like speech he just received from a drunken priest when he needed it most. It was some of the best advice he's heard in a while.
"When you first came to me, you were just… so desperate to find someone to believe you when you said you could see these things… no one ever did… When I told you I did, you were so full of joy… it was the happiest I had ever seen you…" he said with a reminiscent glint in his eyes. "… There is someone out there who wants the same thing. They just want someone to believe them just as you did all those years ago… just remember that, kid." He said as he finally stood up. "We really should be leaving. Hanare's gonna kill me when she finds out I went out to a bar on a Saturday night."
Naruto chuckled. "Church sounds like it'll be fun tomorrow." He said sarcastically as they left the bar, driving to Kakashi's house to drop him off.
As he drove down the road, Kakashi's words rang through his mind. They were sound words from someone he did view as a sort of father figure. He always enjoyed their conversations. They always taught him something, either about Kakashi, or about himself. He was learning even after his years of tutelage under the man. It was refreshing to know he had someone like that he could turn to for advice. Well, someone with actual advice instead a cold 'Hn' in reply like Sasuke.
Actually, his Uchiha friend has been rather helpful lately. He seemed a lot happier recently. Most likely do to that girlfriend of his. He's never truly sat down with her, but she seems nice enough. She's bringing about change to his usually stone cold friend, so there's some merit there.
Girls like that aren't easy to find in today's world. Pretty and nice rarely go hand and hand. It's usually one or the other. When that combination does exist, it's usually wasted as they prefer to play the role of a life changer, dating an attractive asshole as a sort of personal challenge to themselves to change him for the better, ultimately as an end goal of creating the perfect boyfriend. You can fix an attitude, but you can't fix ugly, so the nice ugly guys and girls are left in the dust, dreaming of what life would be like on the other side.
If the world were blind, love would be the most pure of all sensations. We'd have to fall in love with the words of others and words are but a beautiful song written by the soul, sung enchantingly by the heart. That's the ideal world that will not exist so long as we idolize beauty over love. Attractiveness over compatibility. That's what Naruto would like to believe he lived by. He wished he himself were above such a simplistic standard of beauty, but he wasn't.
He admires a pretty girl just as anyone else, but the difference is he doesn't chase after them with his tongue hanging out, or bang whichever one is dumb enough to stumble drunkenly into his bedroom. He is a firm believer in finding love one day. True love where it just seems as though the world wants you together. A true love where you always seem to find each other no matter how far away you may be. A love where any issue can be worked through with a pleasant conversation between the two of you. A simple love that is simply magnificent. Something that makes him want to live forever.
That was definitely the dream of a drunken lonely man though. Maybe one day it would come true. Not any time soon though. He's got miles to go before he's ready for that. So many things to do. So many people to help and too many lives to save. A complicated thing such as love must be handled with extreme care. That being said, so does saving a life. Those two things are not very wise to cross. Not unless the two of them are as serious about that particular goal such as Dokku and Shiseru Yuen. Those were people he admired.
He raised an eyebrow as he pulled up to the Yamanaka residence and saw Ghost sniffing around the front yard. Checking the time it was 1 a.m. As he drew closer, he could see Ino just taking a seat on the top steps of the porch which meant they just got out there. He parked his car along the side of the road and stepped out.
As soon as he shut his door, Ghost ran towards him, pouncing on him in joy. Naruto smiled lightly and pushed his head down. When he did, the pooch turned back to the yard and began sniffing around. Naruto just walked towards the porch to speak with Ino, and possibly find out what happened earlier that night between her and her parents. Not that it concerned him much, he was just very curious.
She noticed his car pulling up, but she wasn't necessarily expecting him to come and talk to her. She figured he'd just call Ghost into his car and wave goodbye on his way out. Instead he was heading straight for her and she had to force a small smile to hide her still slightly irritated mood from their fight from earlier and a bit more so from the more recent one they had when he left.
"Hey." He said kindly as he took a seat next to her a few feet away.
She twisted her hair between her fingers as a way to seem more comfortable. "Hi." She replied.
"He hasn't gone yet?" He asked, gesturing towards Ghost who was still sniffing around.
She shook her head. "No, he uh… hasn't gone yet." She said a bit awkwardly. "We just got out here…"
Naruto nodded. He then looked around the neighborhood. It was a quiet night with a bit of a cold breeze running through the air. Much too late for anyone else to be out and about. The night sky was absolutely beautiful with a quarter of the moon showing and a billion stars surrounding it. "Nice night out." He said drawing her attention. She didn't have a response so she just nodded her head, hoping he saw her in his peripheral view. "… How's the leg?"
"u-Oh it's uh. It's fine… it's great." She said, stumbling through her words as she answered the rather simple question.
He nodded his head in reply. "Good." He replied. "I'm uh… I'm no doctor, but I assumed it wasn't broken or anything."
"Yeah, I didn't think it was either." She said kindly, finding it nice that he was trying to prolong the conversation, actually wanting to talk to her.
He looked back to Ghost to see him still working heavily on trying to find that perfect spot to do his business. With no other form of small talk coming to mind, he decided he'd just go ahead and ask the question he was actually curious about. "… When I came here earlier…" he said grabbing her attention once again. "… what was that argument about?"
Ino was surprised. "h-… How do you know we were arguing?" She asked.
"It wasn't that hard to tell." He said with a shrug. "I could pretty much feel it."
She nodded in understanding. They probably didn't seem as normal as she thought they did. "Uh… my parents…" she said pointing back to the house with her thumb. She stopped herself, mentally wondering why exactly she was going to tell him in the first place. It wasn't necessarily his business. Regardless, she continued on. "They uh… they just treat me like a child still… I mean…" her voice fell through when she realized how childish she sounded out loud. "I'm twenty-one… but they act like… like I'm trapped here for the next three years, just to make up for the time lost or something."
"You don't feel the same?" he asked curiously. In truth he was trying to better understand the thought process of this situation a bit better as it was so foreign to him.
She slowly shook her head as if it were still something she was trying to come to terms with herself. "No… no I want to… I want to do something with my life." She said with a bit more passion. "I-… I don't want to be stuck here…" she ended solemnly.
"What is it you want to do?" He asked next, looking for a little more insight.
She looked around the darkened neighborhood in thought of how to explain it better than she had earlier that day. "I want to help. Help anybody… somehow."
"You want to help people… but you don't know how." He clarified more so for himself than her.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah… but, my parents… they just want me… here." She said with a frustrated tone. "… and I have no way of leaving."
"You were gone a long time." He said, offering some kind of an excuse in the missing party's defense.
"I know… I know…" she said, having already come to terms with that realization. "That doesn't mean my life has to stop… but, apparently, my dad doesn't think I can make it on my own… says I can't do it on the salary of a waitress at a dying diner." She said mockingly.
Naruto shrugged, with a nod, clearly agreeing with that sentiment without having to say it aloud.
"I know that too." She said as she rubbed her forehead. "Ok? I know, but… I don't know what I'm supposed to do… Maybe their right." She said softly, thinking out loud.
Naruto watched as Ghost finally found his spot. Another question came to mind. "What do you think you should do?"
She looked over to him, truly trying to come up with some kind of an answer. Nothing seemed to come to mind. "… I don't know." She admit begrudgingly. "I… I should just… listen to my parents I guess… I know they're probably right."
Naruto stared at her for a few seconds before he looked up to the sky above. "… Well… I think you should go for it." He said, giving his own personal thoughts on the matter. She seemed shocked and a bit confused. "You said you want to do something with your life. So what's stopping you?"
She looked at him as if he were actually insane. "Uh… the lack of money?" she said as if it were obvious. "I hate that he's right, but there is no way I can help anybody on the salary of a waitress… I mean… i-I work for tips and… we rarely have customers."
"So why not find another job?" He asked.
She responded rather quickly. "I've tried, believe me… but, there is no one within Konoha willing to hire someone as inexperienced as me."
"So try out of Konoha." He suggested much to her annoyance.
She looked at him with an accusing visage as if she assumed he wasn't even listening. "Tch. As if." She said dejectedly. "I'd never make it anywhere out there… I wouldn't even know how to start… Or what to do when I do…"
Naruto nodded and looked away. "So… you're afraid." He said simply as if he just figured it out.
She looked at him a bit offended by that. "What?" she asked, hoping he had some kind of elaboration that would shed a lighter tone to that statement.
Naruto looked over to her casually. "You resent the fact that you are still at home while your friends are moving on with their lives, but you're afraid you won't be able to make it on your own. Better yet, you know you can't. So, this endeavor of yours to 'help' people is at a standstill. You can't help people when you can't even help yourself." He said as if he were her psychologist or something.
She was getting frustrated now. "Wow. You sound a lot like my dad. Must be why he likes you so much." She said, her irritation very prevalent. "What do you care anyways?"
Naruto brushed her anger off with little effort. He shrugged and watched as Ghost came trotting over to him. "I don't really. But, like you, I genuinely enjoy helping people." He said with a shrug as he started rubbing Ghost's head. "Difference is, I have the means to do so."
"Great for you." She said with a snarky sarcastic tenor.
Naruto smiled lightly at her angry demeanor, finding it strange considering he's never seen her like this before. "… I used to be just like you y'know." He said as he gazed up to the sky. Ino looked at him, for some reason becoming entranced, waiting for whatever dickish comment was coming next concerning what was wrong with her. "I was… broke… homeless... and determined to make something of myself... Difference is, I didn't have all that you do… I mean, your father, your mother they're both… just great people… Very great people… They raised you well and all but…"
Ino waited patiently, wondering where he was going with all this. It sounded like a bunch of nonsense so far.
"In honesty, I agree with you." He said much to her shock. "You're not a child anymore… I can see you want to help people, and I know it's a sincere motive. Your parents are afraid, just as you are. You've been placed in the path of unnatural danger twice since your release from the asylum."
"Well, they only know about the woods…" she said gently.
Naruto mentally shrugged, figuring as much. "Even so… They're afraid because it seems as though you are always endangered. I'd assume as a parent that is something to be fearful of… But, as I said, I agree that you could likely make it on your own should you take that risk." He glanced over to her, to see a look that honestly confused him. It looked almost sad, but somehow overwhelmingly happy, all masked down into a visage of indifference. "You are not truly aware of the extent of that possession you underwent." He said much to her confusion. "When people as uh… ignorant as you were back then get possessed, it hardly ever works out in their favor."
"w-… What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
"Sai was an unintentional wanderer." He said, filling her head with memories of the boy who once occupied her body. "These are spirits that are unaware they have died. They themselves are unaware they have died, but the soul almost has a mind of its own. Like a… a moth drawn to light… a dormant soul will seek out any living conduit it can find. Sai's soul found your body and targeted you specifically because of your pure nature. Not because you were the weakest." He said, debunking the common misconception of the target of many possessed peoples being the feeblest of the bunch. "It saw how pure your own soul was and knew only a strong vessel could contain such a thing… you were targeted because you were strongest… not weakest."
She listened intently, unintentionally tearing up as she listened to him throw her casual compliments on something other than her beauty as most guys would. The fact that he was doing so for the sake of proving a point was lost on her.
"Even so-.." he continued on. "People that get possessed like that are usually gone within a year." He said, shocking her for what felt like the thousandth time in just this conversation.
"g-Gone?" she asked.
"Trapped within limbo… the middle ground between life and death… heaven and hell…" he stared at a random spot on the ground, almost as if lost in thought. "Forever floating within this place of utter darkness until your body dies. A body which at that point will have been taken over by the new soul… breathing life into the dead anew."
"So… the… the ghosts, they… they actually come back to life? Like… for good?" she asked curiously.
Naruto shook his head. "No." he said as he looked her way. "Well, yes and no." he corrected. "They come back, but the souls of the dead are like death itself… They maintain basic control of the body they are in, but that body belongs to a soul that is no longer there. In other words, it's a corpse and like all corpses it will begin to rot, shrivel, and whither over time until it ultimately deteriorates. This happens in the span of a year at best and for the new soul within it, it is a very… very painful experience."
"… So…. It's like a zombie…" she said in almost awe as she looked away, trying to imagine what that would look like.
Naruto chuckled and shook his head as he stared at her. "Well… they don't eat brains or people, but uh… yeah I guess so." He said with a shrug. "Point is, you are capable of so much more than serving food at a diner."
He stood to his feet, finally ready to leave. Before he took a step, he shoved his hands in his pockets and continued to look around as he leaned against the post of the shade above.
"You suffered for three years… You should have been dead after the first year, but… for three years, you survived a battle with a tainted soul… There's a lot to you that your father doesn't see, or possibly that he refuses to see." He dug into his inside jacket pocket and pulled his wallet out. "I think your dad's great and all… and maybe I'd be betraying his trust by doing this, but…" He said as he gave her a card with a different number on it.
"What's this?" she asked as she looked at it.
He pulled out his pack of cigarettes and popped one in his mouth. "It's my personal number." He said casually.
Her mind was running at ungodly speeds trying to understand what was happening. Her heart race was increasing dramatically and she could feel herself starting to blush. Was he?... Was he going to-..
"Finish this next week out at the diner to think about what you want to do. If you'd like to take the advice of your father which I'd definitely recommend considering, don't give the card a thought. But… if you'd like to take a leap in life… give me a call." He said as he began walking off.
Ino was left standing on the porch, watching as he loaded Ghost into his car and got in himself. He offered her a small smile and a nod as he got in and drove away. She remained there in her spot, now staring at the little white card in her hand with his number on it. In truth, she couldn't believe any of that just happened. Looking around, it was pretty late, so maybe she was just dreaming… yeah… maybe.
(3 days later)
Two full days of ups and downs so far. Ino aggressively wiped down the counter of the diner as she every now and then glanced to the only customer they had at the moment. It was only Tuesday, and the reality of the never ending cycle of her life was already hitting her like a ton of bricks. Over the weekend, she got to go camping with Tayuya, and she talked to Naruto. Those were two things out of the ordinary that she could say she rather enjoyed. Those two events gave her a sliver of hope that she would be fine staying here, staying home for a while.
Sunday was also a pretty solid day. A day of heartfelt apologies from both her parents and herself. For a few great hours of that day, they were a family. Then, Monday came around. Nothing bad happened, but then again, nothing good either. It was just a regular day where they all went off to work, came home, ate dinner, and then slept in preparation for the next day. Today's consistency with that pattern reminded her that this is what her life is like. Never more than this right here.
It brought up the thought of what Naruto could possibly be doing right now. Knowing him, there are a countless number of amazing things. Maybe horrifying and extremely deadly, but still. She wished… oh how she wished… It also gave her time to think about his offer. For one, she didn't even know what kind of job he was offering. After her conversation with her dad on Sunday, she found out he was rich. Incredibly so considering the fact that he bought their house. She learned he owned a few stores in Kiri. What if it was one of those jobs? Could she really just up and run off to Kiri? She didn't know yet, and truthfully she was still feeling a bit content with being at home, still on that high from her great weekend. Maybe she'd consider it again in a few more days.
(A few more days… 2 days)
Leaning over the counter, Ino stared into the little glass salt shaker before her, completely bored out of her mind. There was absolutely no one here. Their last customer left about an hour ago so it was just her and the cook, sitting around doing absolutely nothing. They didn't talk much, there was no television, and it was dead to the world. It was like their 'closed' sign was up or something. It was only 10 p.m. usually they'd still have a good amount of people, but not today. Today, they were bone dry.
She sighed and really reconsidered that proposition again. This diner is failing miserably, and today is a perfect example of what that looks like. She got eight tips in total today. None of which were over three dollars. All week, her father has been telling her to start looking for another job, maybe something 'low risk' like a fast food restaurant or something. That really showed his faith in her there.
That would get her more money than she makes now in all honesty. But, she was going to wait this storm out and see what Naruto was offering. If his deal was something unbelievable, she was going to heavily consider it. She had not told her parents about it for obvious reasons of course. This was something she was going to surprise them with. Completely hit them over the head with it.
In her thinking, the bell to the front door rang, signifying someone was here. Without even looking, she began spitting out her practiced greeting. "Hello, and welcome to th-.." She stopped when she realized who it was. "Oh, hey Tayu." She said as she went back to doing her task of absolutely nothing.
"Hey blondie." The redhead said as she bounded over, hopping up on the stool in front of her. "I've got some badass news dude! You remember I was telling you about trying to get that intern shit at that little fashion show thingy in Kiri?" she asked.
"Yeah?" Ino replied as she stood up a bit straighter in excitement. "You got it!?"
Tayuya smiled triumphantly and struck a half-assed pose. "You're damn right I got it!" She yelled happily.
"Tayuya! That's great!" Ino said as she nearly leaped the counter, embracing her friend in a hug.
The redhead accepted the gesture, feeling victorious at her recent achievement. "I know!" she said as they released. "I mean, I'm basically gonna be doing like basic secretary stuff like taking this professional assholes calls while he works and going on coffee runs and shit, but still! I heard his last assistant received a job doing the makeup for like.. three big budget movie sets just off of his recommendations!"
"So this is the break you've been waiting for huh?" Ino asked.
Tayuya sarcastically shrugged as if to say it was no big deal. "Eh, you know. It's something to go off of." She said as she and Ino giggled in uncontainable excitement. "I may one day be doing make up for Mei Terumi. Heh, could you imagine? My sister would just piss her little pants if that happened."
"uhuh Ok?" Ino said, really not liking that metaphor. "That's uh… that's great Tayu…" she said a bit more subdued as the situation really settled in, allowing her to compare their situations. This was yet another friend of hers doing bigger and better things in life. Of course, she only met her a short while ago, but even so. In that short time, Tayuya has claimed the spot of a dear friend. Due to Sakura's lack of contact with her, she may have even claimed the title of her 'best friend'.
Tayuya watched her curiously as she stared into the salt shaker, deep in thought. She knew something was up. "… Ok, what's up?" she asked curiously. "You're more spaced out than usual."
Ino looked back up to her, trying to shake away her slump. "uh-Oh. I'm sorry. I'm jus-… I'm sorry." she said as she ran her hand through her hair, feeling awkward that she was caught in thought that way.
"Ehuh." Tayuya said, still waiting patiently for the answer to her question.
Ino saw her look of over exaggerated attentiveness. "w-What?" she asked.
Tayuya gave her a deadpanned look and sighed. "Dude, I asked what's wrong… all you did was apologize." She said in a mocking tone. "So? What is it?"
Ino sighed and rolled her neck out in exhaustion. "Nothing its just… my parents is all…" she said shaking her head, trying to rid herself of the headache she had. "They're so… controlling sometimes."
Tayuya chuckled. "Uhuh, yeah dude. They're parents. That's what they do. But, need I remind you, you're a grown ass woman? I mean, shit if you don't like rules and shit, just leave." She suggested in her ever present Tayuya manner. "I mean, that's what my parents told me and my sister a few years ago. Look at us now." She held her arms out triumphantly as if displaying herself as a trophy of absolute success.
Ino smiled at her and shook her head. "Yeah, but… I can't do that right now…" she said sadly. "I mean, I won't even have a job here in a few weeks the way this place has been slowly dying out." She said as they both looked around at the deathly looking diner with the cook asleep at one of the booths.
"Ah." Tayuya said, stifling her laughter. "I think you guys are doing great." Her sarcastic tone taken with a small smile and a headshake she continued on. "Well, you're looking for a new job already though right?" she asked. Ino nodded. "Well, shit dude. I leave in like two weeks so maybe I can try and convince my boss to hire you down at the bar. A spot will be opening up and all."
Ino sighed and gave her an unconvinced look. "You're a bartender, Tayu. I'd need a license for that."
Tayuya gave her a sarcastic look that told her she knew that already. "Duh doofus! That's why I said I'd try and convince him." She said mockingly. "Or, better yet, I think one of our bus boys was coming in looking to be a bartender. Fully licensed and everything. If he's moved up, maybe you could take his job."
"Really?" Ino asked. That didn't sound too bad.
Tayuya shook her head. "Nah, I'm just talking. That is no place for a girl like you to work." She said, shooting down the blondes hopes. "You don't know how many assholes I had to slap for grabbing my ass while walking through gathering dishes. You're too nice for that."
Yeah, Ino agreed internally. In truth, she wanted to believe she would be brave enough to tell them off or something, but it just wasn't in her anymore. Maybe her bitchy self back in high school would be fit for it, but as she is now, she's too subdued for it. Naruto's deal was sounding better and better.
"So, what are you thinking of doing?" The redhead asked her curiously.
Ino sat in thought for a moment. "… Uh… well actually I've been uh… thinking about this proposition that… that Naruto made for me." She said, peaking her friends interest.
"Ooooh." She said in glee. "Did something happen?" She asked, looking for the juicy details. Ino shrugged and began telling her of the events that took place when she dropped her off the last time they were together. She told her of the argument with her parents, what she was feeling at the time and her conversation with Naruto. Well, most of it. "Wait, he's fucking rich!?" Tayuya asked in shock at that minor detail. "No fucking way dude. I swear, it's like he were made by clay of pure perfection… and then given a shit ton of money." She added.
Ino giggled and shook her head. "But… yeah, he told me to just… finish this week out to see how I feel and… if I still feel like I'm ready to start my life… give him a call." She said, giving the last bit of information regarding the tale.
Tayuya's brain was working overtime trying to fully comprehend the tale. Slowly, it seemed to Ino as if she were getting it, but in truth, her mind was elsewhere. "Wait…" she said as if she figured something out. "How exactly did he say that last part?" she asked curiously.
Ino cocked an eyebrow at the strange question, but thought back to their conversation. "He uh… he said uh… 'if you'd like to take a leap in life give me a call'… I think." She said, unsure if that were really it.
Tayuya's smile was growing bit by bit. "Dude… Ino!" she yelled a bit too loudly, shocking the girl. "He said, 'there's more to you' than your dad thinks!? You're too great to work at a diner!? You're strong!?" she yelled out, paraphrasing most of it. "He gave you his personal number!? He was totally hitting on you dude!" she yelled out in shock.
Ino smiled uncomfortably trying not to show that she sort of wished she were right. "Heh, no he wasn't." she said gently. "He wa-… no." she fumbled out.
"Ino, you dummy!" Tayuya yelled with an amused smile on her face. "He was totally trying to get at you!" She seemed extremely happy which confused Ino considering she was clearly attracted to him.
She was still adamantly denying the claim. For a brief moment when he handed her the card and explained what it was, that thought did cross her mind, but it was clear it was meant as a simple business proposition. "No dude, I think it's just about a job."
"Ino, no honey." Tayuya said mockingly as she placed her hand on top of hers which was lying flat on the counter. Almost as if trying to hold the attention of a child she were trying to explain something to. "If that were the case he would have given you his business card."
Ino still didn't seem too convinced. "n-… No I… he's just going to offer me a job if I call… That's it."
"You mean WHEN you call." Tayuya corrected her. "And I'm telling you dude, he wants you." She said relenting in the brief disagreement with a smug look on her face that said she truly believed she was correct.
Ino just shook her head, relenting as well. "… I'm not even sure if I will call though." She said honestly.
Tayuya seemed confused for a moment, but a look of apparent realization struck her. "Hah! That's a funny one. I'll take a cup of coffee though ma'am if you'd please." She said gesturing towards the pot behind the blonde.
Ino turned to get it for her. "I'm serious." She said as she began to fill one of the empty mugs. "I mean… I don't… I don't know dude." She sat the cup of hot coffee down before her friend and returned to her spot, leaning over the counter.
Tayuya was shaking a few sugar packages in preparation to open them. "I mean, why wouldn't you?" She asked, honestly perplexed by why this was such a hard thing for her to decide. "You already said you hate your mundane life, so what's stopping you?"
"I don't-… ugh…" she sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "I don't hate it… it's just…"
Tayuya smiled slyly. "You're afraid of going on that date with Mr. Sexy ass aren't you?" she asked in a knowing tone.
Ino chuckled and shook her head. "No dude. And it's not a date... he wasn't… coming on to me or anything." She said in defense. "And besides, I thought you liked him." She stated accusingly.
Tayuya rolled her eyes with a chuckle as if Ino was completely impossible to deal with. "You really are stuck in that little high school mind of yours aren't you?" she asked rhetorically. "I think he's hot. That's it. He seems too pretty boyish for me." She admit. "I need a more… I don't know…. expressive man." She said with a shrug. "But, you two would be fucking golden! I mean, literally you both look like what I'm sure everyone would imagine a Greek God and Goddess look like."
Ino chuckled and shook her head at the compliment. "Thanks, but I'm sure it's just about the job." She said, holding firm in her side of the argument. "And what if… what if that job requires me to move? All of his businesses are in Kiri." She said, not liking the idea of having to get a place for herself.
"… Hey…" Tayuya said. "Dude!" She yelled out, as if Ino was missing something completely obvious. Which of course she was. "…. All of his businesses are in Kiri!" Ino nodded mockingly, still not seeing her point. "I'm moving to Kiri for my internship! Dude, we could fucking live together!"
Ino almost slapped herself at the obvious convenience of that. That would be a lot easier. But, still what if her job didn't pay enough to cover a two bedroom place? "Yeah but…" There was also the fact that she really didn't know how to 'adult' her way through life period. She didn't know how to cash checks yet, as her mother has been doing it for her up to this point. She doesn't know how she'll get to work if they live too far out of walking distance as she has no car and no license to drive it if she did. There are still a lot of things she doesn't know how to do. I mean, she doesn't even have a bank account.
Explaining these to her friend, Tayuya simply waved her off. "Ah all that shit's easy dude." She said casually. "I could definitely teach you all that. But, of course I still think there's no need." She said nonchalantly. "I'm almost certain he's just gonna ask you out. Then, you'll start dating him and bam! You won't even have to worry about work." She said casually making Ino shake her head once again.
"No, It's definitely about a job." She said with certainty.
Tayuya rolled her eyes at her stubbornness, but relented. "Alright dude, if you say so. Don't be surprised when he takes you out to dinner and you're wearing a collared shirt and khakis thinking you're applying for a grocery store bagger or something." She said jokingly. "When are you supposed to call anyways?" She asked curiously.
Ino smiled at her stupid scenario, internally screaming at her for even putting that embarrassing thought in her head. "Tomorrow after work." She said with a shrug.
"What time do you get off?" She asked.
"Uh… I think early tomorrow. Around five-ish." She said.
Tayuya nodded and slapped a twenty dollar bill down on the counter. "I'll be here to pick you up then!" she said with excitement.
Ino rose an eyebrow at the bill and looked up to the girls retreating form. "You only ordered coffee!" she yelled out to her.
Tayuya made it to the door and turned back. "Yeah! But, you're the best damn waitress I've ever had!" She said dramatically as she made her exit. Ino chuckled and shook her head, collecting the money and the now empty cup.
(The next day at five-ish)
Walking through an emptied out house, Naruto followed an elderly man around as he pointed out some things that clearly needed to be fixed. "It's uh… It's a pretty old house… uh… there's not much I can do for her at my old age heheh… I uh… I can't really take anything less than… than $200,000…" the old timer said, clearly worried about how pricey that sounded regarding the house he was trying to sell.
Naruto nodded and continued looking around, watching as Ghost did the same. He had yet to say anything to the man and hadn't even asked him anything yet. He was just pacing around.
"n… Now I uh… I know that's a bit high uh… all things considered." He said, whispering that last part under his breath. "It's uh… I know it may not be ideal, considering the his-.."
"I'll take it." Naruto said sharply, cutting him off.
The old man looked very shocked. "y… You'll take it? f-…for $200,000?"
Naruto shrugged and nodded. "Actually, I think you're underselling it a bit old timer." He said kindly. "This is a beautiful home. A piece of history in its own right… How about $350,000?"
The old man looked as though he were seconds away from passing out. "Oh, I… Yes… Yes-yes that'll… yes!" he said as he grabbed his hand, shaking aggressively showing how happy he was. Then, in a moment he wasn't expecting, he wrapped his other arm around the blonde, giving him a hug. Naruto smiled and returned the gesture with a nod. The old man was repeatedly spouting out how thankful he was, vehemently.
"It's no problem at all." Naruto responded as he released him. "Just have the paperwork sent over to that email I contacted you on." He said with a nod. "I appreciate the find." The old man couldn't contain his smile as he bounded out the house in anticipation to tell his wife. Naruto remained within, still looking around at all the molded sections of the empty house.
Ghost was off somewhere, possibly exploring the rest of the house. Finally, as he had been seemingly waiting all day, his phone rang. His personal phone.
"Hello?"
"Uh… Naruto?" Ino asked as she sat in the car with Tayuya, her phone on speaker as she held it up between the two of them.
'This is he.' He replied.
Ino coughed to clear her throat. "Uh. It's uh. It's me… Ino." She said awkwardly, making a strange face at Tayuya who looked at her strangely.
'Yeah I know.' He responded. 'Have you thought about my offer?'
She nodded for no reason really as he couldn't really see her. "I did actually. I uh… I want to… take that leap I guess…" she said, her voice waning towards the end of that statement.
'You would huh?' he asked curiously. 'Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow at eight.'
Tayuya's mouth hung agape with a smile, in awe as she believed she was correct in her assumption. Ino saw the look but didn't entertain it. "u-Uh, tomorrow at eight? In-in the morning?" she fumbled out, trying to focus on the conversation over Tayuya's victorious dance of silent glee in the seat next to her.
'Yes ma'am. In the morning.' He replied. 'Unless that's an issue for you.'
Ino was still trying to wave Tayuya's excitement down so she could focus and not have to stifle her laughter. "Uh, no. No that's no problem. Sounds uh… sounds great." She said shaking her head at the last part.
'Uh… alright. Cool.' Naruto said in reply.
"Uhm. Alrighty then…" She replied back, not sure how to go about saying goodbye.
Tayuya seemed to finally calm down as she listened in for the last of the conversation. Before they hung up, a thought came to the redheads mind and she flagged her friend's attention down frantically. She started gesturing to her body, momentarily confusing the blond until she finally understood.
'Alright, well goodb-..' Naruto was about to say.
"u-Uh, w-what should I wear?" She stammered out, praying that's what Tayuya was telling her to ask. It seems it was as the redhead stopped and listened in.
There were a few seconds of silence that followed until he finally answered. 'Whatever you're comfortable in.'
Tayuya squealed silently to herself as she showed her excitement to her friend full force. "o-Oh. Alright." Ino replied, smiling at Tayuya's antics. "I'll uh… I'll see you tomorrow then." She said.
'Cool, see you then.' He responded as they said one final goodbye before hanging up.
As soon as the tone sounded, signifying the end of the call, Tayuya shouted out her excitement. "Fucking yes! Ino! We've got to find something for you to wear! Oh, and I'm coming over early as fuck tomorrow to do your make-up! Dude, I can't fucking believe it!" she yelled.
Ino listened intently, not refuting anything the redhead said. Was this real? Was this really a date or were they jumping the gun here? What if it wasn't and she showed up looking absolutely ridiculous for thinking it was? Or, what if it was and she shows up looking ridiculous for thinking it wasn't? God, whatever this was, it was stressful already. She'd have to plan for everything.
Author's Note: Sorry, another chapter of build up. Stick with me here.