Oh…aaa….Oh dear. I didn't realize my fic has similarities with the other. I promise that I don't plagiarize anything. It is all original, well the characters aren't. But it is really, really an accident. I hope Mr./ms writer won't be angry at me if she/he happens to read this fic. Cause that would really suck. GOMEEEEEEENNNN. I'm really sorry if my fic has some likeness to yours which I didn't even know until now.

Oh darn, that's the first time that happened to me. Hope it would be the last.

Thanks for the reviews. I appreciated it a lot. Please enjoy this next chapter and let me know your opinions. In other words. "REVIEW"

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine

Summary: There's a certain blue eyed blond who always did have a soft spot for underdogs…

Orange and Lemons

Chapter II

The sunlight shining through the shade of leaves lighting up the forest floor in dots and holes of light, Naruto lies in his back with his legs outstretched at the ground.

Chirp…

Chirp…

The birds above him, he moves in a much shadier part of the tree in fear of getting pooped on. He raised one of his hands and looked at his smooth tan skin and sighed.

It isn't there anymore.

Why is it that he heals so fast? Earlier today he had picked up one of the broken shards from his window to cut his wrist. He heard that it was a way to relieve emotional hurt and maybe an easier way to die. He heard it by accident though as like any other things he had learned in life.

Though of course, he didn't hear that 4 year olds aren't suppose to think of self-mutilation and death. Then again even if he did hear about it would it made any difference? No body wants him around so why not make others happy and spare himself the pain of being hated? He had tried it a few hours ago at his apartment.

Needless to say, he didn't like the experience. It took him many tries to actually make himself touch his skin with the sharp glass and when he did try it really hurts.

Of course it would hurt. You didn't expect it not to be did you?

He just made a very small cut and almost already bawled his eyes out and threw away the shard deeming it as an evil, evil thing. Adults are evil people except maybe the old man with a weird hat and dress. He bets that maybe they knew that he was there and might be listening that's why they talked about the subject. The funny thing is though, aren't boo boos supposed to last longer?

Naruto stretched his hand and picked up the fallen apple at the ground, contemplating whether it's still okay.

Yeah, still okay.

He wiped it with his shirt and took a bite. Incidentally he remembered the girl carrying oranges yesterday.

Naa…she's weird. Her eyes have no pupils.

They say that people with have no pupils are without souls and are demons. Why doesn't anybody hate her though? A few seconds later he grimaced and turned to the side. He vomited the few bits of apple he was previously munching upon.

Maybe then, you shouldn't always believe what you hear.

He continued to vomit, fully disgusted as the bitten apple rolled and showed a color of browns and black and a few worms to top it off. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hands before glaring at the rotten fruit and throwing it away.

Yuck

He dusted his dirty shorts that didn't help to make it any cleaner as he stood up and sneak his way back to the village using the dark and abandoned alleys.

………………………………………..

"See you later mama! Papa!" Ino waved her hand as she ran away from the shop. "INO! Taku…That girl. I was going to make her watch the shop for me." Mrs. Yamanaka had her arms in akimbo her eyes narrowed at the open doorway.

A low chuckle sounded behind her and she sighed as arms wrapped around her waist. "Maybe she left because she knew that. Let her be, she's still a child. She supposed to play not work."

She huffed and ignored her husband's teasing kisses. "You spoil her too much. It is suppose to teach her responsibility." She pushed his face away from her neck with her hand and turned around. "And what about you? You're an adult. Work now, play later." She teased.

"Aww...Honey. I don't wanna go to work." Her husband mocked a sad tone only to get spanked at his butt. "Ara, ara. Go now. Shoo. Scram. Men and flowers don't mix."

He chuckled as he dipped his head and smiled through the kiss he gave before turning into a cloud of smoke. Mrs. Yamanaka shook her head in amusement and tied her apron on. The bell in the door jingled.

"Welcome."

………………………………….

"Good morning!"

"Mornin'"

"Ino! Wanna play jump rope with us?"

"Ah. Maybe later."

"Not watching your mother's store today ino?"

"Iie."

She continued to run happily all the while grinning like a little minx. A group of young girls carrying tire floats waved a greeting. One cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Ne Ino, Wanna go swim at the river with us?"

Ino contemplated a moment not breaking her stride. "Okay! Race you there!" She hastened her pace.

"Ah! No fair!"

"You're already running!"

"Cheater."

"Last one is an ugly wrinkly old woman!"

Nevertheless they ran after her laughing all the while, Ino flashed a peace sign and sticks out her tongue as she continued to accelerate her steps. Suddenly something caught her eyes. She slowed down until she fully stopped.

"Ne, what's wrong Ino?"

One of the girls from the groups stopped as the others continued on running. Ino shook her head and laughed. "It's nothing. I just remembered something that I have to do. I'll follow you guys there okay."

The girl tilted her head to the right in curiosity then she smiled. "'kay, only remember you are an ugly old woman now Ino!" With that she made a face and followed the others laughing.

Ino shook her fists and stomped on the ground. "HEY! I'm NOT A GRANDMA! Mou!" She huffed and crossed her arms to her chest. Her anger dissipating in seconds, her form relaxed as she remembered what had caught her vision earlier. She turned around and found herself facing the gate of the academy.

She stepped inside.

…………………………………………….

Naruto glared at the ground as angry tears rolled down his whiskered cheeks. He is sitting at the swing. His swing under the maple tree because nobody wants to be tainted by the bad boy.

Is he really so horrible?

Stupid adults.

He glared even more wishing himself that he has the power to squash them like bugs. Don't they think he hears them? He knows what they are saying. He knows what their children are whispering about him. He could hear the mean remarks about his supposedly low I.Q. He notices how the teachers pick on him. And the adults even have the gall to display the closeness off their bonds with their children in front of him as they pick them up. Maybe it is because they knew that he is watching and hearing them that's why they do that.

Right. Pick on the orphan. Stupid mean adults.

He knows he is smart. He knows that if he runs away now he would not live even 15 minutes outside. He knows that the reason that he could not catch up from the lesson is because he is purposely held back. He understands that because no one properly taught him how to read and write contributes much at his academic state. He also knows that if he dies now, grandpa with a weird hat would be sad.

He likes to think that grandpa needs him because the old man wanted him to be a ninja. Yup, it's only for the old man he's doing this.

He sniffed as he felt a new set of tears starting to build up at his already red and puffy eyes.

"Nande Naiteru no?" (why are you crying?)

A quiet yet curious voice sounded just right near him startling him in the process resulting him to fall back at his back.

"AH! Daijobu ka? (Are you okay?)You are so clumsy."

Itai!

He winced and opens his eyes. His line of sight blurred by the salty tears, he wiped them at the back of his hand. He could just make out a familiar shade of yellow and blue only with a concerned face to match this time.

It's the same girl. The girl with oranges.

He immediately looked down at the ground and mumbled, "I'm okay. I'm sorry about the orange; I forgot to give it back to you." He stood up fidgeting. Looking for a quick escape, ready to bolt any moment.

This is bad. I already ate it and I don't have the money to buy one.

The girl frowned, not that he can see of course. "Oh yeah that's right. You're the guy who is standing there doing nothing at the crowd yesterday. It's okay. It's just a fruit anyway."

It's okay? That orange fed my stomach yesterday.

He partially looked up only enough that he could see. His eyes are still hidden behind his bangs. He sniffed again and wiped his snot with his shirt.

"Dame! (Stop) you should use tissues or hankies when doing that."

He looked at her curiously as she rummaged around her pockets only to fish out a handkerchief. "Here it is." She held his chin with her fingers and pushed his head upwards and rubbed his nose and cheeks somehow ignoring the way he flinched.

Hanase! Don't touch me.

He pushed himself away. Touch is foreign to him. He could not understand. The girl pouted and threw the hankie to his face. "Blow your nose with it so that it won't continue leaking out."

He blinked at her confusedly before nodding. "Ah." All the while the girl sat at his previously occupied swing staring at him making him feel uncomfortable. He turned to his side and tensed.

Ah. This is embarrassing.

He hesitantly blew his nose in multiple short periods hoping it would minimize the noise. He could feel the girl smiling behind his back.

Mou! Stop making fun of me. How long before it would empty already! Moouuu!

He tries to lower the sound if that was even possible when he heard an amused giggle behind him. He lowered his head feeling shame tinting his cheeks.

"What are you doing? Blow hard and long so it is already done." She giggled and Naruto nodded. He blew his nose hard making a loud honking noise at the process. The girl giggled even more and he felt a small smile creeping to his lips before it was one more gone. He wiped his nose again for a good measure before turning back to the smiling girl.

"That's better."

He made another small nod, not looking up as he concentrated at her feet instead. "Thanks." He mumbled.

"No problem!" The girl chirped. Her feet made a small push making the swing move back and forth a little.

Naruto stayed where his at, fidgeting and still tense. Not knowing what to do.

Um… isn't this the moment where her parents would show up and say mean things about me now? Or she would run away?

She didn't which made him uncomfortable at the first place. Naruto never felt so confused in his entire life. He fidgeted again as if waiting for a dismissal cause he kinda felt bad just leaving her there.

He almost jumped when the girl started talking again. Talking to him?

Of course. You're such a silly boy Naruto. Who else is she talking to when there is only two of you? Silly.

"Ehhh… that's wrong. You shouldn't be always looking down. You should also speak louder. Ok?"

He blinked and looked up at her for the first time. "Uh, Hai? (yes?)" She tapped her chin with one of her fingers as if thinking of something very hard. "You shouldn't always frown and stare of to space all the time either."

He blinked again. Ah. The confusion. "…alright."

"I can't hear."

Blink…blink. Blink. "Alright."

She grinned at him. "See that wasn't so hard was it? I'm Ino. What is your name?" He tensed and his shoulder slumped, he looked back down, his feet kicking the dust. "Monster." He muttered softly already forgetting the lesson the girl named Ino taught him.

"What did I say earlier? I can't understand you right and I can't see you."

Naruto's back stiffened as he raised his head and talked in a much louder voice though his eyes are looking at a different direction. "Monster."

"Eh?" Ino tilted her head, "why are you named like that?"

"It is what others call me."

Ino pouted. "Ja (then) what is your real name?" He turned to face her with his eyes wide.

She seriously wants to know me?

"Naruto. My name is Naruto."

She broke to a smile. "You're named after a fishcake? That's weird." Naruto narrowed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. "Well, you're weird too! You have no pupils."

"Hey! I'm not weird! It's not polite to say that to a lady!" She blew back a raspberry. Naruto scratched his head, question marks practically hovering over him. "It's not?"

Ino, taking advantage of the boy's ignorance nodded her head furiously. "Yeah! It's not a nice thing. Bad things would happen if your do that."

Really? I didn't know that.

He wondered though why she is giggling if what he said was impolite.

"Whatever Fishcake. Wanna play swing with me?"

Naruto frowned. "You can call me fishcake but I couldn't call you back in another name? That's not fair." He made an indignant huff. Ino grinned even wider. "It is because you're a boy. So beh! Now push me. NOW!" She ordered. Naruto rolled his eyes and complied as she squealed in delight. Unknown to him a small smile was blossoming from his lips.

……………………………….

Ino jumped off the swing and turned to look at the golden haired boy, her hands clasped behind her as she smiled brightly at him.

"I got to go home now or mama and papa will be angry at me." She actually forgot her previous appointment but it is okay. They already knew that she has the habit of not appearing at meetings.

Naruto nodded solemnly. Already? I didn't realize it was that late. What…what am I thinking? This is only a one time thing. She would learn about me from her parents and she would never speak to me again.

"Ok! Bye bye fishcake!" With that she began to run away. He offered weak wave in return as he watch her retreating back. He was about to turn to head back to his apartment when he was stopped by the same voice that talked to him earlier. He looked back.

Once again Ino was smiling like a minx. "Oi! Naruto-kun, my hankie better be washed and return to me okay? Also boys don't cry!" with that she made a final wave before dashing away again.

Confused yet again, Naruto just shrugged and continued his walk unconsciously humming a happy tune. It has been a long while when he felt this good…………. and confused.

Maybe I should talk to the old man with the funny hat. Girls are really weird.