Author's Notes: hiding behind a shield I'm so sorry everyone! I didn't give up on this story, honest! It's just too many things got in the way including an almost unbeatable horrible bout of writer's block! Hopefully you guys will think that this was worth the wait. "
Oatmeal and Calamine
Chapter Six
Attention Diverted
"Honestly, Sakura and her big forehead are gonna get it!"
"She really didn't do anything wrong..."
"Didn't do anything wrong?!?! Didn't you see her yesterday? She wouldn't let me near poor Sasuke-kun! And she was so violent!"
Of course the blonde girl failed to mention that she herself had gotten violent.
"I have to do something about her and her abuse of Sasuke-kun!"
"But I didn't see her abuse him..."
"Oh shut up Shikamaru! What do you know anyway?"
He was quite sure he knew a lot, but yet again, choosing to explain all of this to her would have been far too troublesome.
So instead, he simply rolled his eyes and chose to remain quiet.
Suddenly, with a low primal growl, Ino began to viciously preen a flower arrangement she had promised to fix for her mother. After all they were in her mother's flower shop.
Shikamaru and Chouji were there because they had agreed the day before to meet her there and then go train together. Of course they had agreed on this before the whole fiasco. But all she had done so far was complain about Sakura and had nearly preened her mother's flowers to death.
Shikamaru watched her clip thorns and leaves rapidly and still watched as innocent petals were caught in the line of fire as well.
"Un, Ino...."
"What?!?!"
A clanging bell alerted them to the fact that the store's door had been opened. He smirked and pointed towards it. "Customer."
Ino glared daggers at him before doing a complete three sixty with her mood. She was suddenly beaming, ready to greet the customer.
"Welcome!" She called cheerfully.
"Good morning." Was the very quiet almost timid response that reached her ears.
Ino knew that such a soft familiar voice could only belong to one person she knew. "Good morning Hinata-chan!" She responded with genuine cheerfulness, her anger forgotten for now. "What brings you here today?"
"I, um, ...I wanted to buy some flowers to keep in my room..."
"Really? That's nice, I like to keep flowers in my room too!" Ino responded encouragingly. She knew that Hinata was incredibly shy. She wanted to make her feel comfortable talking to her.
"Um, well, which one would you choose? I think all of them are pretty, but I don't have enough money to buy all of them...."
With a small laugh, the blonde girl nodded in understanding. "I'll help you find just the right one."
Once again the bell above the store door clanged and when Ino looked up, her eyes widened slightly.
"Hello Ino-chan."
"Oh hello! Thank you for dinner last night!" She responded brightly beaming sweetly at her.
"You're very welcome Ino dear."
"Um, how is Sasuke-kun doing?" Ino immediately asked frowning in worry at Sakura's mother.
"Well both he and Naruto-kun still occasionally run a fever and their spots still become a nuisance every now and then, but they are doing well. Nothing too serious."
Ino let out a breath of relief. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Ara?" Hinata questioned in a confused manner. "Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun are ill?"
"Oh. Hello Hinata dear, I didn't see you crouched down by the flowers. Yes, I am afraid both Naruto and Sasuke have the chicken pox."
"Oh my. Are ...are they staying with you?"
"Yes. Kakashi-sensei assigned their care taking to Sakura."
"Oh I see. If...if its not too much to ask for, do you think I could go visit them?"
"You silly, sweet girl. Of course you can! Have you had the chicken pox before?"
"Yes ma'am, when I was younger."
"So then I don't see any problem with it dear. Come on over whenever you wish. I'm sure they wouldn't mind some company."
"Oh, I would love to come visit again too!"
"Sure Ino, you're welcomed to come as well."
"Thank you very much, but we promised each other to train hard today." Shikamaru suddenly interrupted from his spot behind the counter where he had been lounging with Chouji waiting for Ino to be done.
In reality, he really wasn't in the mood to train, but he knew that having to go through another fiasco like the one they had been through the day before, was much more troublesome.
"Shikamaru! Don't you tell me what to do! I want to go visit Sasuke-kun!"
"What about Naruto?"
"Him too....I guess...."
"Whatever Ino, we're going. Come on Chouji, let's go."
Seeing Shikamaru so forceful had left Ino in a dazed state. When she snapped out of it, she called out to her mother that was in the back of the store to let her know that she was leaving and followed the two boys out the door.
Hinata chuckled softly at the scene before smiling shyly at Sakura's mother not knowing what else she could possibly say.
"Well Hinata dear, how about after we chose our flowers we head on over to my house?"
"Yes I would like that very much, thank you."
Back in the house there was a certain pink-haired girl who was yet again quickly becoming frustrated. "Naruto! I said no, both you and Sasuke-kun had fevers this morning. It's back to soup for you!"
"But your mom's ramen was sooo good." He pouted.
"I know it was, but that was just a treat. Until you're one hundred percent healthy, your sticking to medicine and soft foods."
"Aww, Sakura-chan! That's no fair!"
"Deal with it Naruto."
"Oh shut up, you loser."
"You're the only loser here."
"What did you say?"
"You heard me."
"Agh!!! Don't you two start, again! And you're always arguing about the same thing! Enough already!"
"Mou, you're always mad at me Sakura-chan." Naruto suddenly stated softly making Sakura stop and stare at him for a moment, her eyes softening slightly.
"No, I'm not Naruto-kun." She replied not really wanting to hurt his feelings and tell him bluntly that he irritated her easily at times. "I'm just kinda frustrated right now." She added.
Sasuke acknowledged this statement. "Why?" He asked bluntly.
She was thrown back by the fact that he cared enough to ask. "Well, um,....it's just that it doesn't seem like I'm being a good enough nurse to the both of you. I don't think you guys are getting better as fast as you could if someone else was caring for you."
"Don't say that Sakura-chan! I think you are doing great! I feel a lot better since I first got sick."
"So do I."
She beamed and seemed to radiate with her happiness. At that moment, it had been the perfect thing to hear coming from the both of them. "Thanks you guys.."
It was a rare moment. All three of them had never shared a moment like this before. It must have been because of their current situation......
"Naruto....you're not scratching again....right?!?"
"Mou, just because I feel better doesn't mean I'm a hundred percent cured. I can't help it I'm itchy!"
Sasuke shook his head and sighed before involuntarily coughing.
"I'll get you your medicine Sasuke-kun." She immediately said as she finished putting oven mitts on Naruto once more while he was distracted.
"I can get it myself..."
.....Or it may have been a glitch in emotions.
Sakura was about to argue, when she heard the distinct sound of her soup boiling over.
"Oh, no! Okaa-san will kill me if I get the kitchen dirty!"
Just as she ran to the kitchen the doorbell rang and she nearly cursed. "Naruto, will you get the door please?"
Ah, such a simple request....if he didn't have the oven mitts on again. A simple task such as turning a door knob took him a few minutes.
"Oh, hi Hinata-chan!"
"H-hello Naruto-kun..." The small violet-haired girl stuttered, a red hue tinting her cheeks.
"Anou, ...what are you doing here?" He then asked rather rudely making her turn even redder.
His reward for being so rude was getting smacked upside the head by Sakura who had come to see what had taken him so long by the door.
"Hello Sakura-chan." Hinata greeted sweetly.
"Come in! Come in! Don't just stand there,....why didn't you invite her in Naruto?"
"Anou....." Opening his mouth to explain himself, he began to cough instead.
"You're starting to cough too? Go to the living room, get out of this breeze."
Sakura then sighed running a hand through her hair. Hinata noticed the look of frustration on her face and sympathized with her.
"Would you like some help?"
"Oh, you don't have to! You're a guest!"
"No, it's okay. I heard from your mother that Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun were sick. I wanted to see how they were doing but if you let me, I was planning to help out as well...." She ended shyly.
"Oh , thank you! You're so sweet....wait you saw my mother?!? Where is she now, do you know?"
"She said she had some more errands to do."
"I see..."
Sakura then lead her to the kitchen. Showing her the two bowls of chicken soup she had been making. Wordlessly, Hinata understood and picked up a bowl, following her into the living room where the two boys were lounging.
Naruto was laying on his stomach on the floor watching the television with sleepy eyes. Sasuke was on the couch, amazingly enough watching the television as well instead of reading a book.
When Sakura handed him the bowl of soup, she smiled at the fact that he had begun to eat it almost ravenously.
The violet haired girl's cheeks were almost stained with a permanent red as she approached Naruto with his bowl. "Here you go...Naruto-kun....."
"Eh?" He questioned, looking up at her and snapping out of the daze he was in.
He saw that he really had lost the battle with Sakura when he noticed that it was chicken soup she was holding.
"Sakura-chan...." He began to whine.
"Don't start Naruto. I'm not in the mood right now."
He sighed dramatically as he attempted to take the bowl from Hinata. However, the mitts prevented him from getting a good grip on it. It almost fell, but Hinata was able to save it.
"That was great Hinata-chan! Thank you!" He exclaimed impressed by her reflexes.
"You're welcome..." She answered smiling brightly.
"Baka!!!" Sakura roared. "I swear, if you had spilled soup all over the rug and ruined it, I would have killed you!"
"....Sorry Sakura-chan..." He answered softly, slightly embarrassed at being reprimanded in front of Hinata.
"Just try to be more careful next time."
Naruto nodded and set to the task of trying to eat with mitts on.
"I'll take them off for you Naruto-kun."
"Thanks Hinata-chan! That'll be a big help!" Naruto replied happily holding out his hands towards her.
Hinata was just about to unfasten the mitts, when Sakura's booming voice shouted across the room, "Hinata-chan! No! Don't take them off! It's always near to impossible to get them back on!"
Blinking in confusion, Hinata turned back to the blonde boy who was trying to appear innocent.
"I'll feed you in a moment, Naruto." Sakura added. "So, relax."
"Um, ...if you want , I can feed him for you, Sakura-chan..." The shy girl offered blushing profusely once more.
Smiling knowingly, Sakura nodded. "It would be a great help, thank you."
Naruto watched the violet-haired girl warily. Being fed by Sakura had been somewhat enjoyable, but he hardly knew Hinata, and felt slightly uncomfortable about the fact that she would be feeding him.
Wrapped in her own emotions, Hinata did not notice his uneasiness. "Here you go Naruto-kun." She offered, holding out a spoonful of broth out to him.
Shifting slightly, Naruto stared at the spoonful while Hinata waited patiently for him to take it.
He finally did, and smiled at her as he swallowed. "Are you okay Hinata-chan?" He suddenly asked noticing that she was now an almost impossible shade of red.
"I...I'm fine Naruto-kun..." She replied while trying to hide her face by staring into the bowl of soup.
"But, you're all red..."
"Naruto! Stop pestering her! Weren't you complaining about your throat hurting you earlier? Its because you talk too much! Just eat your soup!"
"All right, all right!" He responded grumpily.
Feeling bad that he had been scolded, yet again, Hinata smiled encouragingly at him. He gave her a small smile in return before taking another spoonful of the broth.
After a few more bites and being half done with his soup, Naruto declared that he was done. "You really should eat some more Naruto-kun." Hinata protested.
Shaking his head, he massaged his throat. "My throat is hurting me Hinata-chan."
"It hurts a lot?"
Flinching as he swallowed, he nodded.
Remaining thoughtful for a moment, Hinata then turned to Sakura. "Sakura-chan, may I use your kitchen for a moment?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"Thank you."
Once in the kitchen, Hinata washed Naruto's bowl and then set to work on putting certain common ingredients together.
She then made some tea and added her concoction to it.
Walking back into the living room, she held out the tea to the blonde boy smiling sweetly. "Here you go Naruto-kun. This should make you feel better."
Surprised, he took it from her gently. "You made this for me?"
She nodded, her face threatening to change color once more.
"Wow! Thank you! ...Are you sure you're ok? You keep turning red...."
Sakura sighed, wondering if Naruto really was so dense. Sasuke was wondering the same exact thing.
"I mean really, if you aren't feeling well, you can tell us. Maybe you have a fever?"
"Just shut up and drink Naruto." Sasuke sighed.
Sighing as he quieted down, Naruto then smelled the tea, finding it to smell sweet. He then took a large gulp,.....which he quickly regretted.
"Augh!! That stuff is so sour!! And it burns!" He exclaimed after managing to swallow.
Unable to hide her soft chuckle of amusement at the face he had made, Hinata nodded. "Gomen nasai, I know it tastes horrible, but it really works. Your throat should feel better soon."
"I don't see how such a horrible tasting thing could help.....hey! My throat is feeling a little better! Wow!"
"I told you so, Naruto-kun."
"Thanks so much. This is great."
Sakura smiled. "You should bottle that and make some money on it, Hinata-chan." She joked good naturedly.
The violet-haired girl smiled and shook her head. "I couldn't even if I wanted to, it's an old family remedy."
"Ah, I see."
Naruto, amazed at how quickly the tea had worked on his aching throat, quickly offered some to Sasuke. "You should have some too, it really works!"
"My throat isn't bothering me, baka."
"Oh, well whatever then."
The day dragged on with Hinata trying to help out as much as she possibly could. However, it became painfully obvious that most of her attention was centered around Naruto. Although the blonde boy had not noticed it himself.
When it had come time to apply the calamine lotion , Hinata had shyly begun to help Naruto almost immediately as if Sasuke had not needed care as well. But he had not been offended since he had hardly let Sakura assist him either.
The girls had just finished cleaning up and were washing the dishes in the kitchen, leaving the boys alone for the first time that day.
Naruto sighed and sprawled out across the couch. "Oi, that Hinata girl is really weird, isn't she?"
"Why do you say that?" Sasuke responded, not really paying close attention to him since he had found a book on ninja techniques that interested him.
"Well she really can't finish her sentences with me and she really is always turning red! Didn't you notice? And how come every time I ask her if she is okay, Sakura-chan is always yelling at me?"
Sighing, Sasuke shook his head and closed the book. "You really are an idiot, you know that?"
"Hey!" Naruto countered defensively. "Why are you saying that when all I'm asking is a simple question?"
"I say that because the answer to your question is so obvious."
"Obvious? I don't think its obvious!"
"Obviously." Sasuke countered with an evil smirk.
"Tell me Sasuke-kun. Why does she act that way?"
"Figure it out yourself Naruto, its always better that way."
"Baka! Stop trying to be all wise and stuff when you know you're not. Just tell me!"
Sasuke stayed staring at him as if he was going to reveal a deep and meaningful secret while Naruto waited eagerly, his curiosity peaked.
"No." He stated simply.
"Sasuke! You're such a jerk!"
Without a word, the dark-haired boy turned and began to head up the stairs to their temporary room feeling the urge to lay on the bed and read rather than sit on the couch where they had spent most of the day.
Naruto watched him for a moment, but then quickly exclaimed, "Hey! Where do you think you're going? Get back here and answer me!"
"No."
"Sasuke!" The blonde boy nearly growled angrily as he began to follow him up the stairs. "Tell me!"
"Shut up you idiot, you're beginning to give me a headache..."
"If you just tell me why she acts like that I'll leave you alone!"
"Just think of me not telling you as your punishment for being so stupid and not noticing it yourself!"
"Shut up!"
"Fine."
"So, you're going to tell me?"
"You told me to shut up...."
"Sasuke!!!"
The two continued to argue all the way up the stairs and in to their room, leaving the girls behind in the kitchen.
Hinata reentered the living room shortly after, wondering if there was anything else either of them needed, but found the room empty. "Ara? I wonder what happened...." She stated clearly confused as to why the boys had suddenly gone.
"Sakura-chan..." She called out to the pink haired girl. "I don't think they would have wanted some of my ramen, they went back upstairs."
"Ah, maybe they got tired." Sakura replied. "Oh well, I was going to surprise Naruto with it, but I guess I'll just save it..."
A/N: Hehe aw, Naruto didn't get to eat his ramen again. Who would do such an evil thing to him? innocent smile But I wanted to write something like this because Sasuke always gets attention from Sakura and Ino. Hinata gives Naruto the same attention but she is too shy and it doesn't come off as the same way, and I think this is how it would have been if she had gone to visit as well. If any of them were out of character I'm sorry I hope it wasn't too much.
I haven't updated this story in such a long time that I don't know if this kept up with the essence of the other chapters I wrote and what you guys were enjoying about it, but I hope it did and that it was worth your wait.
To all of those who encouraged me and pleaded with me to continue, (you know who you are) I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Those encouragements meant more to me than you can imagine.
Also, I have been taking a Japanese language course and I had to fight the urge to type in certain words. I tried to keep it to the words that are most common because we hear it in the anime all the time. But I will make a list right now for those of you who don't know what they mean.
1.) Kowaii (in the last chapter, and I got a review from someone who didn't know what it meant. I'm sorry!) Scary
2.) Kawaii cute (just wanted to show the difference. One little letter makes a big difference, funny right?)
3.) Okaa-san- mother
4.) Baka- idiot
5.) Gomen nasai- I'm sorry
6.) Dobe- dead last
7.) Anou- Um... (No, I'm not saying "umm i dont know." I'm saying it literally means Um.. lol)
There I think those are the only words I have used in the entire story, but if I missed a word and you don't know what it means, just let me know and I'll tell you.
