REVIVAL
"We meet so many people in life, but we connect to the heart of very few!"
― Avijeet Das
Chapter II: The Trauma Counselor
Did she even have a next-door neighbor? A week in and Tenshi has no clue. Ms. Hiroshima must be bluffing.
Every day, she leaves around 8:30 AM ready to work at the clinic right beside the hospital. She gets off a work at around 6 PM, sometimes even later when she's caught up in the paperwork. She shoots a look at the door across hers with no fail, searching for signs of life. Or even just a footstep. But none. Good as cold.
One thing that definitely stands out to her in Konoha is how badly their shinobi are having it. She's never seen so many serious cases that downpour ceaselessly. It's barely even been a week and she's already having regulars in.
Life, to say the least, has been hectic. Hari has always been the one who thrived in these situations.
He's never going to forgive me, she thought the familiar painful twang in her chest bears itself again, for the empty cot he woke up to that morning.
Another thing that's hilarious to her is how her first friend is a genin with whiskers on his face. She's been treating Naruto to his favorite ramen place and at some point, it became a habit. The boy has countless stories and even introduced her to the father-daughter duo running the place, Teuchi and Ayame. Somehow, the anxiety that occupied her mind upon entering Konoha are fading away. Thanks to an 11-year-old who has an unhealthy obsession to ramen. And they understood each other because after all the laughter and a full warm bellies, they would return to their cold apartments. They were both alone.
"Tenshi-san," Aoi calls out. She's been a big help, far too responsible and rigid for her taste but is a great sense of order in her otherwise scattered habit. Papers would be all over the place had Tenshi been in charge. But she always knows where everything is anyway despite the clutter. "Kurenai-san has arrived for the 3 PM appointment."
The electric fan blasts to the highest level in the hot tent heat, orange light illuminating the barely opaque canvas tent. It never fails to shock her how much these shinobi actually still book her with appointments despite it.
"I'll be right with her, just got to finish this report."
"Hai."
And she was alone again in her barely-an-office. Most days, her job is the most fulfilling thing in the world. She would hear stories, watch as people slowly peel open themselves for her with each appointment, and treat them where it hurts. Plus, the pay is actually pretty great. Especially with gigs like these. Konoha is absolutely rich to acquire their services for three months and it always shocks her when these hardened villages actually seek help for things such as mental health. They are fulfilling indeed, most days.
This is not one of those days.
She pushes through however. Had the Group been around, someone would easily shoulder this for her. But she wants to do this. She needs to do this.
Reading the pre-appointment notes, Kurenai seems to have gone back from a mission and came back alone. Two subordinates died on her watch. Taking deep breaths, she prepares herself and says a mental note of prayer to have the energy to actually go through with this intact. Rising from her seat, she pulls the curtain over to the next room with a ready smile on her face.
"Good afternoon, Kurenai-san. Shall we begin?"
The entire afternoon passed by in a painful slow motion, barely even getting as much as a five minute break.
"I'm going to head home, Tenshi-san," Aoi says in hushed tones, eyes stoic.
"Thank you for your hardword, Aoi-chan. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye Aoi Neesan!" shouts a husky voice from across her, the sound of slurping trailing afterwards.
Piles of papers up to her neck sit atop her desk, an abandoned — and now cold — cup ramen on the corner.
"…then Sakura insisted that I should be reading up scrolls about the basics because I could barely understand the fancy lingo she and Sasuke use! Good thing Kakashi-sensei is coming home tonight because I'm going crazy with all the antics my teammates are forcing me to do!"
Naruto is definitely someone that some people are going to need some getting used to but she genuinely enjoys the kid's company. He's like a radio on infinite loop, so full of energy and stories. In fact, he doesn't seem to mind that she's not listening just that he has someone to talk to. But she does listen to all his stories. No matter how insignificant it may seem.
She nods at his story and utters a monotonous 'that's great' at his statement, eyes still glued to the mountains of papers on her desk.
"Say, Neesan," he says, voice lower and more thoughtful. It was enough to capture her attention to glue her eyes on the boy.
"Yes, Naruto-kun?"
He scratches the back of his neck, a sheepish grin on his face. "I really look forward to this every night," he rubs the back of his index finger under his nose, "it's just-I don't really have anyone-"
"-Me too, Naruto," she smiles at him, "Me too."
The look on the kid's eyes is pure joy. It breaks her heart even more. How long have you been alone, little guy?
Switching off the lamp, she checks her desktop clock: 8:14 PM. Well, time to go.
"And then, Zabuza killed almost all of them! With his mouth!"
Her lips part and eyes widen as she listens to his story on their walk home. Naruto's boisterous voice echoes along the empty denim road, the full moon high above them like a subtle spotlight.
"No, way! Your teammates are really impressive for a bunch of genin," she says, "and that Kakashi-sensei of yours sounds just as admirable, too. He must be like one of those ninjas when you meet them you just know they're absolutely powerful."
"Well," Naruto taps his chin, looking pensive, "I wouldn't say that about Kakashi-sensei."
"Why's that?"
"Ah, we're here!"
The faded yellow building was barely recognizable in the darkness. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Naruto-kun. Go home safely, okay?"
"Yosh! Good night, Neesan," he grins.
"Good night to you too, Naruto-kun."
Tenshi stands by the doorway to watch the orange figure disappear into the darkness before she carries herself upstairs. The entire day has just been nonstop with patients and reports. Those darn reports.
Reaching the landing right outside her door, she hears a creak from behind her. Shooting a glance at the darkened hallway, she squints to get a better look. I finally got you! The excitement of finally solving the case of her mysterious jounin neighbor has been eating at her all this time. She figures she must be extremely bored if she's finding all of this far too exciting.
White and green.
Wait a minute, she thought, it can't be!
And it can.
"Oh," he says, barely giving her any attention more than a bored glance, "hi."
"Y-you're that guy," she points a finger.
"Hm?"
"Stay there," she says as she unlocks the door to her apartment, rushing to get it from inside. Oddly enough, the jounin stood right in place just as she commanded, confusion on his visible features.
Walking up to him, she meets him at eye level. They were almost the same height give or take half an inch. She holds the orange pocketbook in between her fingers and waves it at his face, brows furrowed.
"You left your little pocketbook in one of my pots," she says, "and I have read it because everyone in the store seemed so concerned for me when the cashier waved it around and asked me if I wanted to buy the advance tickets to the movie!"
"O-oh," is all he could say, face burning up a shade of crimson as he retrieves the book in a careful motion. He chuckles in embarrassment, "Sorry about that."
"Sir, I don't like to judge. And from what I hear from Hiroshima-san, I'm sure you're a very nice man. But," she pauses, finding the right words to say to not sound too harsh, "please don't walk around, you know, in public with such a-an…interesting - you can say the least - book. Yes?"
"I'll try to be more mindful. I'm sorry again, Ms…?"
"Tenshi. And you are Mr…?"
"Hatake Kakashi."
It immediately rang a bell. "Naruto-kun's sensei?" she says, holding her voice back from reaching a few octaves.
"You know Naruto?"
Ignoring his question, she immediately says, "Hatake-san."
"Hm?"
"Please, don't ever read that book around Naruto-kun."
Morning came and she couldn't help but laugh at herself as she takes one final look in the mirror. Just my luck, indeed. The silver-haired jounin was surprisingly pleasant despite his odd insterests. After their brief encounter last night, she concluded that he was a decent enough person.
Locking her door, keys jingle from behind her. "Good morning Hatake-san."
"Yo," he waves two fingers at her in a casual salute, "Please, just call me Kakashi." A upwards curved eye greets her back. It's difficult to believe this jounin has already done things she probably doesn't want to think about.
"O-of course, Kakashi. And just call me Tenshi then, never really cared for honorifics anyway," she responds with a smile. After working with all kinds of different people, Tenshi can spot one from a mile away. Albeit, Kakashi hides it much better than the others, she can still sense it. Drooped shoulders, friendly but aloof disposition. It was textbook. Kakashi Hatake is burdened, sad. "Would you want to walk together?"
His eye lights up a slight before returning back to looking bored. "Sure."
Nose stuck in his orange pocketbook, they walk in silence. Types like Kakashi need their space.
"So," he starts, "what do you do?"
"I'm a Trauma Counselor."
"I see…so you work in that tent beside the hospital?"
She nods. Second floor.
"Naruto mentioned that you were off in a mission, how was it?"
"Same old, same old."
Lie. But she decided not to push it any further.
"I heard the Chunin Exams are coming up soon. I hope Naruto gets in."
"He's going to do well, I'm sure." A small fond smile lights up his face. "You should come watch the finals, they're usually very interesting."
"I'll be looking forward to it then," she smiles back at him and this time he returns it. He opens the main door and gestures her to step outside first. "Naruto hasn't stopped talking about it since you gave him that pass."
"They'll be starting tomorrow, actually."
Tenshi stops on her tracks, Kakashi looks at her in inquiry stopping as well.
"I'd like to invite you all to some Ichiraku Ramen tonight then. On me."
Patients came and went throughout the whole day. Compared to yesterday's mess, today was a breeze.
"Now remember, Maito-san," she says as she walks with the Green Beast as he likes to call himself out of the tent, "it's completely normal to be vulnerable here. I'm always here to listen if you need anyone to talk to."
"Indeed, Tenshi-chan, you are as kind as you are pretty," he blasts, Tenshi's face turning red at the commotion he's causing, "I shall bring my Eternal Rival here. We shall see who wins at therapy!"
Aoi watches them with mirth in her eyes as the ladies exchange glances. "Again, Maito-san, no one wins at therapy."
"Challenge accepted!"
She sighs, "Very well then, just pencil in an appointment with Aoi-chan. We will be more than happy to accommodate you and your 'Eternal Rival'. This person springs up a surprising amount of times in our talks. Are you sure he's your rival?"
Nighttime comes around and the cool summer breeze enters the tent. The ladies are deep in conversation about tomorrow's appointments when a loud familiar voice shouts, "Tenshi Neesan! We're here!"
Tenshi looks over at Aoi and asks her to join them, the younger lady declines exhasuted from the day. New faces greet her as she exits the tent. A girl with pink hair, the lovely Sakura-chan, she suspects, that Naruto talks incessantly about. And the Uchiha boy, Naruto's rival. She and Kakashi share smiles as they greet each other.
Introductions were made as they walk to Ichiraku. Naruto walks beside her and chats about his day as usual, although bragging a little bit more since his crush is around. Sadly enough however, the girl seems to be hung up on Sasuke. Poor Naruto.
"Tell me, Tenshi-san," Sakura says as she slurps her noodles in a careful manner, "what's being a Trauma Counselor like?" This seems to have caught the interest of the kids, even their silver-haired Sensei.
"Well, it's never boring that's for sure. It's kind of like being a medic nin but for your mental health, but unlike bodily injuries, you can't see where it hurts so you have to do some gentle prodding before you can come up with a diagnosis."
"Woah, that sounds so interesting!"
Tenshi smiles at the eager young lady. "It definitely is, you can come over if you want to observe," she winks, "And I don't just extend that to anyone so you can consider yourself a VIP."
Sakura's eyes gleam at the invite, the child going on about how 'she won't regret it' and that 'she'll be on her best behavior'. Locking eyes with Kakashi, the man smiles with gratitude at her. He's obviously very fond of these kids, she thought in relief, Naruto is in good hands.
"You should see Tenshi-neesan when she's working, Sakura-chan! She's super cool," Naruto interjects, "You're like an entirely different person, Neesan!"
"Well, I try to do my best," she chuckles, offering a small smile at the Uchiha boy, the latter regards her with a small smirk. Just like Kakashi, she didn't push Sasuke into talking too much other than the casual questions she throws at him. The boy is much more polite than Naruto reports.
Once everyone was done, Tenshi reaches for her wallet to which Teuchi says, "No need, Tenshi-chan. Kakashi-san has already paid for the bill."
"Kakashi, you didn't have to. This was my idea after all."
"Mah, mah, I've been planning on it anyway."
"Yeah, Tenshi Neesan," Naruto says from beside her, "let Kakashi-sensei take care of it. That guy's such a cheapskate! It's a miracle he's treating us now."
"Naruto!" Kakashi says in gritted teeth, cheeks pink.
Everyone laughs at the exchange, even the Uchiha boy chuckles.
This group's going to make it far. Do your best, Naruto-kun.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying the chapters I've been putting out so far. This story has been in my mind for quite some time now and I hope I can continue to at least offer you something easy to pass the time with through this pandemic. Hope you're staying safe! Please favorite, follow, and leave me a review! I'd love to reply and interact with you guys as much as possible. :)