Ok, new chapter! I'll be sending my computer in for repair, so it'll be a while between updates :(
The next morning, Nori woke up feeling slightly better than she had the night before. She had managed to make peace with Itachi, although most of that was his doing. There was no doubt in her mind that it had truly been him in her dream the night before, although maybe dream wasn't the right word. However, she was still uncertain if she could let go of Iruka or not.
As she slid into fresh clothes and went about her morning rituals of brushing teeth and hair, she thought about the words Itachi had said to her the night before. If what Itachi had said was true, then she would never see Iruka again either. As she dressed, she channelled her thoughts to Iruka. 'Iruka...honey, you'll never believe what happened to me last night. I met Itachi again in a dream. He apologized for everything he did to me, and he told me that Kakashi is supposed to be my life-partner. He said that I would never see him again after last night, and he told me that I'd most likely never see you again either because you were on a higher level of heaven than I would be. I believe him...but...I can't give you up yet. Maybe I should, Iruka, but I can't. I'm only human. It's in my nature to hold on, even when I should be giving up.'
She paused as she slipped a netted shirt on and slid a dark green tanktop on over it. She looked down at Itachi's ring and thought, 'If he can come to me, Iruka...why can't you?'
Sighing slightly, she jumped into her pants and headed out the door, arriving at the village gates a few minutes earlier than she had to. She was alone for a few minutes until Kakashi arrived. "Yo."
"Yo yourself." She smiled.
Immediately, he noticed that her smile was brighter than the one she had given him the night before. She reached a hand up to brush her hair back behind her ears, and his eyes were drawn to the ring on her finger. His eyes widened as he identified it as Itachi's and from the Akatsuki. Before he could say anything to her, though, her eyes caught Naruto and Jiraiya walking towards the gates. Naruto caught sight of her and began to run.
"Nii-san! You came to see me off!"
"Of course, Naruto. You are my little brother, aren't you?"
He grinned. "You bet I am!"
"Well, Naruto, are you ready to head off?" Asked Jiraiya.
"Yeah! I've been ready for years!"
"Naruto." Nori said, getting his attention.
"Yeah, nii-san?"
She knelt down in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders, looking seriously into his eyes. "Take care of yourself, Naruto. I know how you like to push yourself, but don't do it. I'm not saying not to try, I'm just saying that you need to tone it down a little." Then, she pulled him into a hug. "I'll miss you, kid. Take care."
Naruto nodded.
Then, Nori stood and glared dangerously at Jiraiya, sizing him up. "And you. I'd better get him back in one piece, or there'll be hell to pay. I don't care if you are a sannin. If my little brother gets injured while he's under your protection, your ass is mine."
Jiraiya looked down at her, then cringed at the look in her eyes. "O-ok, Noriko-san, I'll bring him back perfectly intact and stronger than ever."
Satisfied, Nori nodded. Then, she turned to Naruto and handed him a package. "Here you go, Naruto. Now, don't open it until you get out of the gates, ok?"
"Ok, nii-san!" He said excitedly.
She stepped back to let him and Jiraiya pass, and they left the gates together. Kakashi and Nori came together in the middle of the path to watch them leave. Naruto was ripping into the brightly colored package Nori had given him excitedly.
"RAMEN!"
Nori smiled.
"And...a book? Aww, nii-san..."
"You'll have to train your brain too, you know! And I'm thinking Jiraiya's taste in books is a little too adult for you, so that'll have to do!"
"What did you give him?" Asked Kakashi.
"It's called Eragon. I slid Eldest in there as well. I'm sure he'll like them, and they're right at his reading level, maybe a little bit higher. I know he can do it. Especially because I left a note telling him that I'm expecting him to understand them both by the time he gets back, and I'll have the third ready for him."
"Hey...nii-san, what is this?" Yelled Naruto, holding up a scroll.
"Just some tips on how to integrate training into daily activities!" Called back Nori.
"YES!" Cried Naruto. "You're the best, nii-san!"
She smiled sadly. "Thanks..." She whispered, knowing that Naruto couldn't hear.
Kakashi began to get the feeling that part of her happiness was just for show. A very large part. He realized that he had imagined the genuine happiness in her smile earlier because he had wanted it to be there. Today she was only slightly better than the previous night.
But still...it was a start.
Jiraiya turned slightly to look back at Kakashi and Nori. They were standing close together in the gates of the village, watching Naruto walk off. Kakashi noticed immediately when a sad expression crossed Nori's face, and he slid an arm firmly around her shoulders. She looked up at him in surprise and, while she didn't lean into him, she didn't push him away, either.
Jiraiya looked from the two of them standing together, watching Naruto walk away, to Naruto, who was looking interestedly at the cover of Eragon. He smiled. 'Looks like you've found yourself some parents, kid.' He cast one last glance at Nori and Kakashi, and he shuddered. 'Good luck, Kakashi. You'll need it. She's scary when she's mad.'
Nori looked up into the sky, so bright and blue on such a depressing day. She sighed. "Makes you wonder."
"Hmm?"
"It seems like the weather is always the brightest on the saddest days. It kind of makes you wonder if the world doesn't feed on human sadness."
As if in response, the sunlight glinted on Itachi's ring, blinding them both for a second.
Kakashi looked down at Nori and removed his arm from her shoulders, stepping around in front of her, crossing his arms, and staring down intimidatingly.
"We need to talk."
Wooooooooo! But not :( cuz u gotta wait for the next chapter a while:(
BD333, out!