CHAPTER 4: FIRST DATE

For the next several weeks, Quinn's legs were able to move again as it was faster than the medical staff anticipation. A week after Quinn's release, Naruto appeared outside her house, ringing the doorbell. Mrs. Fabray opened the door and answered it.

"Who is it, mom?" Quinn said from the living room.

"Uhm, there is someone here to meet you," her mother replied. Quinn raised her eyebrow and looked to the door from her wheelchair as she rolled it to the front. She has a strong guess of who is it.

"Hi, Quinn!" Naruto greeted her. Even when she guesses who is it, it still surprised her that Naruto stand in front of her house in the same outfit he use when he visited her in the hospital. Is that all his clothes?

"Naruto! What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?"

"You know each other? Wait, Naruto? As in Naruto Uzumaki?" Mrs. Fabray asked in surprise. Here stand the boy –no, the man– who Quinn's always talked about when she was still six. Quinn nodded vigorously, confirming what her mother thought.

"How many people you told about me?" Naruto asked smirking. Quinn returned the smirk.

"I told mom when we were still kids. And Santana only know about you when you visited me at the hospital," Mrs. Fabray looked between the two and she knew already that these two are perfect to each other. She ushered them inside the house and tell her mother everything. After the revelation, Naruto asked Quinn to go out with him.

"Like a date?" Quinn's eye lit up for the implication.

"Sure it is," Naruto smile brightly as he pushed the wheelchair outside the house into his car.

"BMW Three? You sure have good taste, Naruto, an orange one to say the least," Quinn said looked to Naruto who scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, it suits you," Naruto took her bridal style into the car, then put the wheelchair in the car trunk. They drove to the city.

"How's your recovery? Any improvement?" Naruto asked while driving. Quinn looked at him.

"Well, I was able to stand up for a brief moment, the doctor reaction told me that it was a major improvement. I think," Quinn explained. Naruto unconsciously released a sigh he was holding.

Do you think it was due to us the other night? Naruto said to his tenant. A heavy voice answered it inside his mind.

Yes, the chakra accelerates her healing faster, just like Kakashi and Gai.

Good, she will be able to walk in no time.

Indeed. Now get out. Your girlfriend is calling you. Kurama's red eyes closed once again into slumber.

"...ruto? Naruto!?" Quinn shakes him from his musing. Naruto blinked and looked at her. "You spacing out earlier," Quinn said worriedly.

"Nah, it's ok," Naruto smiled.

"So, where are we going tonight?"

"There's a new restaurant just coming up, I bet you'll like it," Naruto replied. They drove for several minutes until they reach their destination. Naruto brought out her wheelchair from the trunk before picked her up and put her into the wheelchair.

"Thank you, Naruto," Quinn said as she pecked Naruto's cheek. The restaurant's name is Ichiraku 2.0.

"Hehe, no problem," replied a blushing Naruto as his hand moved to where Quinn's peck. "Now, let's go," he said as he pulled Quinn's wheelchair inside the restaurant. It was Japanese, Quinn noted, can be seen from Japanese written brochures and boards. It looked quite expensive she noted too.

"Don't you think this restaurant is expensive?" Quinn whispered to Naruto. He leaned down to her.

"Don't worry, It's ok, besides, I must treat my lady right, right?" Quinn giggled amusingly.

"Ah, boss! You've come! Who's this? Your date?" a young adult man with brown hair asked Naruto. Quinn was in shock again. Just how many Naruto didn't told to her.

"Yeah, Jeff, it's her," Naruto replied.

"Boss? You never said this when you visited me in the hospital," Quinn tugged his arm, a bit annoyed that he keep this kind of thing from her. They have known each other, well they just catching up recently, but that's not the point. Naruto sighed.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this. I just want it to be a surprise you know," Naruto shrugged his shoulder. He then turned to Jeff. "Prepare our table," Jeff nodded and quickly out of sight in instant. But as fast as he left, a shout can be heard.

"it's ready, boss!" and Naruto pushed Quinn's wheelchair to their table. It was a soothing sight. Candle and orange lights, table with two chairs facing each other, the view outside the window is breathtaking of mountains under the starry night. They sat down as Naruto moved the wheelchair to the table and Naruto sit opposite Quinn. The menu is already on the table. Both looked at the menu. Jeff standing waiting for them

"This is your restaurant, so what is your recommendation?" Quinn asked him as she looked from the menu.

"My favourite is Miso Ramen," Naruto replied.

"Me too," Quinn said to Jeff.

"Two Miso Ramen, coming up," Jeff said as he left the couple.

"When exactly is this Ichiraku 2.0 open?" Quinn asked.

"Not long after I arrived, I tried my luck. And luckily, this is it now," Naruto exclaimed. Before the conversation goes on, their order arrived. Two Miso Ramen. Naruto easily finished his part while Quin was a bit slower. It wasn't her favourite food, but it was certainly in her top ten favourites. "You know why I decided to open a restaurant?" Quinn shook her head didn't where this conversation going. "It reminds me of home," Naruto said melancholy. Quinn put her hand on top of Naruto's as he looked at her. Naruto smiled softly for the support.

"You still have me, big boy. Come on let's having fun this night, I can't have my boyfriend become gloomy, can I?" Quinn asked while Naruto grinning ear to ear. Sometimes Quinn doesn't understand how his mood can change quickly.

"Of course I can't, y'know! Now let's head to our next destination!" He scooped her from her wheelchair as Quinn's face turned red. "Jeff, we get going!" and they left.

"Yeah, right," Jeff said.

"Where to next?" Quinn asked when they were inside the car.

"Somewhere..." Naruto trailed off as he turned on the car and drove away from the restaurant. The next minutes were a comfortable silence.

"How long am I at the hospital?" Quinn asked more to herself. And Naruto answered it anyway.

"About a week or so, why?" He said raising an eyebrow but keep his eyes on the road. He took a glance several times.

"It looks like a long time,"

"Well, you have a concussion, it must have something to do with your brain," Naruto replied as she laughed light-hearted.

"You always have a way to lighten the mood, are you?" she told him. Naruto wasn't sure it was a compliment or a teasing. Or both? He chuckled anyway. Not long, the car stopped in a remote area. There are still lights nearby, but she didn't recognize the place. Maybe due to the night.

"Where are we, Naruto?" she asked confused.

"I want you to close your eyes, do not open it until I say so," Naruto asked her. Quinn close her eyes, she took a peek, "ah ah, no peeking, y'know," she smiled but closed her eyes again.

"Is this some sort of prank?" Quinn questioned his motive. Suddenly she heard the car door opened. "Naruto?" he didn't answer. Her door opened and she was lifted from her seat. "Naruto? Is that you? Come on, talk to me," Quinn asked worriedly. She felt a smooth kiss to her ear. "Ok it's you, it tickles though," she can hear his chuckles. Suddenly she felt a strong gust of wind as she if she jump far up. She was placed on a soft blanket on the ground.

"You can open it now," so she opened her eyes. Even though it was night, the lights of Lima, Ohio were still a breathtaking sight. The stars filled the sky with their shining lights, with the moon hovering over Lima. Various colours from the city ignited the light in the middle of the darkness of American soil.

"Wow, for all my life here, I never found this site," Quinn looked to Naruto who sat down beside her, knee to his chest.

"Well, actually, this is my landing point,"

"What do you mean?" then realization hit her, "This is where you arrived?!" Naruto nodded. "You pick a nice place to land," Naruto laughed followed by Quinn.

"Sure, I did," Quinn leaned her head to his shoulder and was content. It was a nice feeling to finally able to feel the gusting wind to your face.

She lifted her head and looked at Naruto, her behaviour turned into shyness. Is that a blush?

"C-can I sit on your lap?" Quinn asked embarrassed and looking away from Naruto's gaze. He grinning stupidly.

"Of course! Let me help you with that," Naruto scooped her over to his lap between his legs as Quinn sat between them. She snuggled to his chest as Naruto's arm at her sides. "You know, I'm sad when I know I was far away from my friends back at the village," Quinn looked at him.

"As I said before, You don't need to worry. From what you tell me, they should be they should have lived peacefully, no war-hunger, no power hunger, a mad man that will be the threat for them anymore," Quinn pointed to the stars as Naruto followed her fingers, "You see that? One of them is your home and as long as you don't stop believing in them, they'll be alright, now stay still and be my pillow!" not for long, she went to slumber with her head to his shoulder.

This date is a success! He fist-bumped to the air quietly, try not to wake her up.

Congratulation

You could at least a little be excited

Sure, sure. The Kyuubi snorted in amusement.