Once again I own nothing and thanks for the reviews. Also looking for a beta reader. email me if you interested.
Chouji was bored, he has long since counted the tiles in the ceiling and the ninja soap operas have way to much angst for his liking. He was thinking about asking the nurse if they had a Go board laying around when there was a knock at the door.
"It's unlocked", yelled Chouji. In came Ino pushing a wheelchair.
"Come on Chouji time for lunch, my treat."
Chouji eyed her wondering what was going on with her, he was going to say something but he wanted see maybe if Shika was right. Chouji of all people know despite being a genius Shika was wrong once in a while. Like the time Shika thought him and Chouji could out run Shika's dad shadow bind after breaking a window. Being forced to spank yourself was not fun.
Chouji sat up and turned to get out the bed, he swung his legs over the edge and went to put his weight on them and promptly began to fall on his face. Or would have if Ino hadn't caught him. With great speed she had crossed the room and managed to catch Chouji before he hit the floor.
Chouji groaned," Thank you, guess i am still kind of weak, hey when did you get so fast?"
"Since you have been in the hospital and Shika been doing chunin stuff, Asuma has had me training with Gai's team when they are not running missions. And when sparring with Gai's team you either get fast or you get hurt bad. And it gives me a chance to learn Neji's sercets. "
"Secrets of the gentle fist?"
"No, on what he uses to keep his hair and skin looking so good. All kunoichi are jealous of him for that."
Chouji and Ino shared a good laugh at that. He forgot how musical Ino's laugh sounded, something to add to list of the things he never wanted to take for granted again..Being this close to Ino he couldn't help to notice she smelled faintly of jasmine, he liked it.
"Enough chitchat lets get something to eat." She said as she helped him to the wheelchair and wheeled him out the room."
The trip to the hospital cafeteria was spent in silence, Chouji sneaked glances back Ino a couple of times and was happy to see she was smiling. That and the smell of edible food put him at ease. Ino wheeled him to a small table by the a open window.
"I will return with the food, ok ?"
Chouji and turned to look out the window. The cafeteria was fight next to the garden so Chouji and he took the sight of several butterflies as a good omen. The smell of food heralded Ino's return. Chouji turned around expecting a feast and was disappointed to see a big bowl of noodles and a stack of rice cakes on a tray.
"Where is the real food?"
"I spoke to Hokage-sama and she said you are a very strict diet until your metabolism corrects itself. Noodles in a light broth and rice cakes is a good start. I and the Hokage talked at length about your treatment and i assured her I will have you back at a hundred percent in no time. A Yamanaka never abandons a teammate."
Chouji sighed he knew from past experience when she is like this it is best to weather the storm and wait until something else to attract her attention. He reached to the chopstick container on the table to grab a pair, but found his fingers didn't have the dexterity to grasp them. He got angry and smack the container off the table and was about to put his fist through the table if Ino hadn't grabbed his arm. Chouji looked up into her eyes expecting to see pity but he was shocked to see understanding and compassion .
"Sorry, I might not be good at a lot of things but i always were good at feeding myself."
Ino cleaned up the wasted chopsticks and put the container back on the table, "It's ok , I am hear to help you."
Ino got a clean set of chopsticks and moved a empty chair closer to Chouji and sat down, she stabbed the sticks into the bowl of noodles and got a good helping on the sticks. She looked at Chouji and smiled, "Now Mr. Genius open up", shoving the noodles laden sticks in Chouji's surprised mouth.
Author notes:
Yeah this chapter is kind of weak, i was trying to show budding romance without being sappy. I had the scenes in my head but they got lost in translation. Now if you want to read a good fic read legends of the fox by my good buddy patient mountain. He needs to boost especially since i torched his bike.