Nanny or Mommy
Chapter 6: Goodbyes Aren't Forever
Disclaimer: I Don't own Naruto.
The car ride was silent until Naruto cleared his throat. "So uh did you actually enjoy the tour?" She turned away from the window to observe the strangely nervous blonde.
"Yes I did like I said earlier."
"Sorry just trying to start a conversation." Sakura chuckled softly to herself. The only reason she didn't say anything was because she was trying to think of ways to quit her current job.
"It's fine I'll be honest I can't wait to start." He grinned happily at her. He and the kids were able to convince her that being the nanny was going to be fun. And with Bolt starting Kindergarten very soon she was going to be a lot of help.
"I'm sure the kids can't wait either." He thought about how happy they were today. The last time he has seen Bolt so happy was when Hinata was still...here.
"I can't thank you enough for giving up your time to take care of-"
"Don't you dare. How could I say no Bolt and Himawari are just too cute to resist." She interrupted. Her excited expression was even able to get him excited. He honestly couldn't wait to have someone else staying in the mansion.
"We're here." She looked at her phone and saw she only had about 5 minutes to get to class.
She yelped and quickly got out of the car saying a quick goodbye to them. Both Kiba and Naruto watched her run away. "Things are looking up don't you think boss?"
Naruto nodded in agreement they definitely were. "Take me home Kiba I promised them I'll come home." Kiba smiled once those words left his boss's mouth.
.x.
After class Sakura slowly made her way back to her dorm to change into her work clothes. She was not looking forward to heading to the dorm knowing Ino was most likely there to question her.
Still, she kept going since she would rather deal with Ino then deal with an angry Anko. Once the door opened Ino was immediately there waiting on her with eager eyes.
She could tell that the blonde was going to burst if she didn't ask her questions soon. Somehow Ino was able to hold off until she set her bag down.
"Well, what happened?"
"If you must know it went well better than I expected." Ino gushed before insisting that she give her details.
"Maybe later Ino I have to get to work." Ino groaned as Sakura changed out of her dress and into her work clothes. The work clothes were cotton candy pink almost the same color as her hair. The clothes consisted of a pink skirt with white frills the shirt was a button up blouse that was tucked into her skirt. Black leather heels were on her feet. Anko wanted to go with a more cutesy look to get more customers. Believe it or not, it worked well.
"That outfit is so cute I can't wait to work there. Don't forget Sakura put in a word for me." Ino winked as Sakura trudged out of the room.
"I can't wait either." She mumbled while trying to pull down the unnecessarily short skirt. Ino chuckled as Sakura slammed the door behind her.
"Good luck."
...
"Next!" The pinkette yelled over the loud chatter of the customers in the bakery. She's been at work for about four hours serving, working the cash register, cooking, even washing the dishes. She was exhausted and cranky all while trying to maintain her awkward fake smile.
"Could I get 3 glazed donuts one filled with chocolate and another filled with jelly." Sakura mashed some buttons on the register to ring the customer up.
"Your total is 7 dollars." The man handed over the money and to her relief, it was the exact amount.
"Sakura." The pinkette shifted her bored look to false happiness when her boss walked up to her.
"Y-yes boss?"
"My office now." Sakura quickly followed internally jumping for joy at finally being away from that register. Even if it was just for a minute.
Once in Anko's office, they both took a seat in their respective chair. "As you may know you're my best employee things have been running smoother than it ever has been. You've proved time and time again how competent you are to be the new assistant manager." Sakura's whole body froze at the announcement that seemed too loud in her own mind.
She couldn't believe that Anko basically just asked her to be the assistant of the bakery. She knew her hard work would pay off sooner or later but why when she already accepted a different job. "I...I don't know what to say." She was being honest, speechless would describe how she was feeling.
"Easy maggot say you'll accept the position." Oh, how bad she wanted to say yes but she already got the other job.
"I..I...I can't." Anko was sipping possibly sake which went all over her desk when she spit it out.
"How can you say no to this fine deal?" Sakura took a deep breath and slid her chair away from Anko just in case. She was at least hoping to make it to Friday without telling her but life had a funny way of throwing things in her face.
"Well, you see Friday was going to be my last day working here since I got a new job."
"What?" Anko stood up quickly anger evident on her face. The glass she was tightly grasping cracked then shattered all over the place. Sakura herself was also standing up in a makeshift defensive form. "Who's paying you more?!"
"Uh n-not...you." Like a wild animal, Anko hissed before pacing back and forth.
"I'm sorry Anko but I know just the person to replace me. I can even train her for the rest of this week I'm here." Anko couldn't believe it she was losing her best employee and in her place, an inexperienced fuck up. If she ever met Sakura's new employer she promised she'll give him or her hell. On top of that, she had a feeling she knew who the newbie would be but still, she asked.
"Who?"
"I-Ino." A minute went by the next thing she knew 5 minutes went by before Anko said anything.
"Sakura you have 5 seconds to get out of my sight." It only took Sakura two since she feared for her life.
She was receiving strange looks from everyone because of the way she ran in. She smiled as if nothing was wrong and went back to her job. Throughout the rest of her shift, she kept looking over her shoulder to make sure no one snuck up on her. Anko didn't come back out of her office for the remainder of the day.
She almost felt bad but it was about time she moved on to bigger and better things. Yeah right as if being a nanny was better then being an assistant manager. On the bright side, the pay was amazing.
...
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Well, do I have a job?"
"Well, I'm unsure and I almost lost my life today." Ino lifted an eyebrow thinking she was being a bit overdramatic.
"Um, an interesting day I assume?" Sakura sighed heavily and set her bag down on her bed.
"What do you think?" She sarcastically replied back.
"I'm sensing a lot of hostility." Ino watched as Sakura grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. She stayed like that for a minute or two before her air supply ran out.
"She offered me the assistant manager position." Ino cringed Sakura has been asking for that open position for about a year now.
"And you didn't take it?" Sakura shook her head no. Even if she wanted to she liked those kids more than a silly job position she's been asking for.
"You should have seen her face she was livid." Ino was sort of glad she didn't see her face she was sort of having second thoughts on the job now.
"Do you think Naruto would let me be the assistant nanny?" Sakura chuckled she couldn't believe Ino was chickening out of the job.
"Nope." She wasn't actually sure if Naruto would have allowed that. "Relax as long as you don't fuck up then Anko won't say anything to you."
That didn't make Ino feel any better. "Geez, I'm supposed to be comforting you.
"Well the only thing that will comfort me is some food so who's cooking?"
"..." Both of them were horrible cooks the other two roommates were the cooks, not them. Too bad they weren't there right now.
"Um how about we go out and eat." Sakura rolled her eyes she already knew she would be paying for everything.
"Fine but I get to choose what we eat." Ino shrugged and followed the pinkette out the door but they quickly came back in when they realized Sakura was still in her work clothes.
.x.
"Daddy, can you read me a story?" Naruto spun around in his chair to see his daughter standing there with a book in her hands. It was now night time and like he said he spent the rest of the day with his kids. First, they watched a movie then they played a board game and then they ate together.
He couldn't remember the last time he read one of his kids a story that was usually his wife's job well with Bolt. "Alright, I'll read you a story."
Himawari jumped for glee and rushed back to her room to get settled into bed. Naruto got up and walked out of his study before reaching Himawari's room he stopped by Bolt's room to check up on him.
Instead of being asleep like he was supposed to be he was playing with his toys on the floor. "Bolt what are you still doing up?" The blonde looked up shocked that he got caught. Usually, Bolt didn't get caught staying up past his bedtime since he didn't check up on Bolt a lot when he got home.
"I-I couldn't sleep." Naruto was going to reprimand him but he came up with a better idea instead.
"Come on follow me I know exactly what will help." Bolt hesitantly followed his father into Himawari's room. He saw his little sister settled into bed happily waiting on them. Bolt wasn't sure what was as going on nonetheless he did sit on Himawari's bed staring at his father curiously.
"By request, I'm reading Jack and the Beanstalk." Himawari clapped happily being the one who requested it.
"Jack and the Beanstalk?" Bolt never heard that story before so he was interested to hear what it was about.
"Yep, hopefully, this will help you two fall asleep." Naruto sat down on one of Himawari's tea party set chairs.
He began the story using different voices for each character. The kids took in every word he said looking on very attentive. Once his final words were uttered it was like a spell over them was broken. Their tiredness caught up to them and they were out like a light.
Naruto looked at both of his kids with love in his eyes. How he never gave them the time of the day was a mystery to him. Naruto thought it would be more comfortable for Bolt to be in his own bed so he picked up the five-year-old. But before he left the room he made sure to peck his daughter on the head and tell her goodnight.
He didn't remember Bolt being so heavy then again...when was the last time he picked him up?
"I haven't been the best father but I promise you I'll try harder." Naruto pecked him on the head and tucked him into his bed. "Goodnight Bolt."
.x.
The last few days before Sakura would move into the Uzumaki household went by quickly. It was Sunday afternoon and Sakura was saying her last goodbyes to Ino. "Oh come on Ino-pig it's not like I'll never see you again just not as much."
Ino looked a mess with makeup running down her face. Sakura's side of the room was empty with only boxes containing her stuff left. "I'm not going anywhere we can still see each other around campus." She tried to cheer the blonde up but could tell it wasn't working.
"It's going to be so lonely around here without you. Now who's going to drag me home from parties?" She sobbed causing Sakura to sweat-drop.
"Self-control helps." That statement awarded her with an angry glare.
Throughout the last few days, Sakura was able to get Anko to agree to hire Ino as long as Sakura trained her of course. On Friday her last day of working at the bakery they threw her a going away party after hours of course. Believe it or not, Anko was the one to come up with the idea.
She called Naruto on Saturday telling him to pick her up at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday.
She was snapped out of her musing when she felt her phone buzz. It was the text she wasn't looking forward to getting so soon. She texted back telling Naruto she'll be down with her things. She didn't read his reply but instead focused her attention back on her emotional best friend. "Help me?" Ino gave her a look that said 'do you even have to ask?'.
They took her things downstairs with the help of a cart and elevator. They immediately noticed Naruto due to a crowd surrounding the shades-wearing blonde. Kiba saw them and took over pushing the cart. "Such a gentleman," Ino muttered sarcastically to which Kiba ignored.
Naruto finally finished up pleasing the crowd with photos and signatures. He walked over to the trio who were packing the car up with Sakura's things. "How are things going?" Ino quickly turned towards him to most likely fangirl over the man. Good thing Sakura spoke up before she could.
"It would have been better if you actually help." Naruto chuckled and helped them pack the stuff in the trunk. The process went by fast with the four of them working together.
...
"This is it Ino." The two best friends hugged one more time for maybe a while. Sakura will be busy with class and when she's not busy with that she'll be taking care of the kids. Ino will also be busy with classes and her own job.
"Stay out of trouble for me Ino." Sakura wiped away a tear that escaped her watery eyes. She wasn't expecting to get so emotional over being separated from her best friend.
"No promises." They would still be able to text each other but it wouldn't be the same since the two woke up and went to sleep to each other faces.
"You go be the best damn nanny there ever was." The two girls chuckled and exchanged (another) one last hug.
"And you be the best baker there ever was." A heavy silence settled over them as the realization hit them. They were parting ways for the first time ever. They've been best friends since they were in diapers now look at them.
"Jaa mata." The two stepped away from each other slowly backing away from each other.
"Mata ne." With those last words, the two parted ways..
"Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting."
-J.M. Barrie
End
Honestly, I wasn't expecting this chapter to be like this. The goodbye wasn't supposed to be that dramatic and the Naruto, Himawari, and Bolt part was basically chapter filler. It took way too long to get this chapter finished but it won the poll fair and square.
Hopefully, I can get back into my mojo and post faster but the way my classes are going I doubt it.
Translation
Jaa mata - see you
Mata ne - later
Revised: 12/9/18