Author's Ek-ek: I'm sorry for the long delay. After an unfortunate accident to my computer cause by my brother, It was inevitable. It crashed resulting for all my previous hard worked writing to go poof! And because of that, it was really hard for me to start writing again.
Warning: SHORT chapter ahead.
Disclaimer: I do not own NarutoSummary: There's a certain blue eyed blond who always did have a soft spot for underdogs.
ORANGE AND LEMONSIt's hot.
The sun beating harshly down on him, Naruto run towards the woods to find shade and sanctuary. From where he's at, hidden among the thick leaves, he peered through the open spaces and gazed on the children accumulated at the square with envy.
It's not fair.
The man at the center of circle of children laughed as he handed down Popsicle's to each and every child reaching up to him with greedy hands. Coupled with high-pitched giggles from the young ones, Naruto wished that he had some magical power to snatch one of those cold sweets without anyone knowing.
Like…like super speed or something.
It's not fair.
He gritted his teeth when the man made a exaggerated notion of mock fear as more children came running towards him. Naruto grounded his teeth, his hands clenching tightly from his hold at the branch of the tree he's on. Oh, how easy it is to hate them and yet he could not help but watch them wishing he's one of those kids. With sticky cheeks coming from the ice scream consumed messily, with sticky hands from the melted cold sweet, with an empty and done Popsicle stick still on his mouth, sucking on it till the taste of wood is gone. It's not fair.
Of course it's not fair. You foolish boy! When has it ever been? Foolish, stupid, little, idiot boy.
Naruto gave a last look before darting away to the shadows of the forest.
…………..
"Oi, fish cake. What are you doing over there? Don't you want a ice cream? It's good!"
Naruto raised his head to have a wildly grinning Ino with a half-done stick of ice cream at hand meet his vision. It's her again. Why does she keep on coming to me? He pondered as he wiped the moist from his eyes.
The blond girl tilted her head to the side curiously and blinked. "Ahhh! You've been crying again!" Naruto quickly rubbed the rest of his tears away and turned his head away, muttering an 'am not' at the same. Ino's face crinkled in suspicion. "Hmmmmmm? You lie. Liar. Fishcake is a crybaby."
The blond boy's brows met, a slight unconscious pout forming at his lips as he stubbornly kept his head turned away. "not a crybaby."
A slow mischievous smile crawled up to Ino's lips, " Crybaby! Crybaby! Crybaby!"
He whipped his head angrily towards her ready to snap at her when he felt something pressed at the gap between his eyes. Ah! cold! He stared dumbly at the cold treat pressed at his skin making him cross-eyed. She grinned. "It's a good thing I got two. You look like you need one."
Eh?
He tried to look at her but with a thing pressed between his eyes, the task seems exceptionally more difficult. He blinked and slowly raised his hand taking the treat away from her hold. Once more she was looking very much like a minx. He touched the skin between his eyes and realized, It's sticky.
At that thought a small smile appeared from him without his knowing. Ino grinned even wider and resumed her quest of finishing her own treat. He muttered a soft shy thank you as she down beside him at the grass.
The birds above them chirped as they watched the children playing at far off. The contemplative silence blanketing them off, Ino pulled her knees to her chest and rests her chin on them. "You know… you shouldn't look so sad all the time." Naruto gave her a sidelong glance, watching her at the corner of his eyes.
She continued, "Papa said that it would make others think you're a pu…pusch….pushover," she stumbled at the word. "… and make fun of you more. So! So!" She turned to face him with a grin so wide that her eyes are reduced to crescents. "You should always smile! Be happy!" Her grin died down as a soft look adopted her features. "I feel sad too when either Mama or Papa are sad. So, so… don't cry anymore and smile okay? Promise?" She asked with a somewhat stern expression on her face that she saw her mama wear to papa sometimes.
With the Popsicle still in his mouth, Naruto turned his head toward her and gave the most solemn nod he could. At that, she shook her head furiously like the child she is, "Uh, uh! No! We have to pinky swear on it! No cheating." She raised her free hand and curled her fingers, her pinky outstretched expectantly. "Promise?"
Naruto pulled out the ice cream in his mouth and tried a smile as wide as hers. It came out awkward clearly out of practice, turning out much closer to a grimace than a smile yet he still tried nevertheless. He raised his hand and curled his pinky around hers, "Un. Promise."
I'll try.
…………………………….
"Bye bye! Don't forget tomorrow okay!"
Hearing the loud voice of her daughter. Mrs. Yamanaka raised her head to look outside the window. Ino was waving wildly at a young Uzumaki boy far off who answered a small shy wave in return. He seemed to be hesitating for a moment before a wide awkward smile blossomed at his lips. A second later it was gone and he ran swiftly away.
It was near dark, Mrs. Yamanaka turned back down at the flowers she was arranging with a soft smile adorning her face. She took one of the white flowers from the basket, closed the lights and closed the shop. Her husband is already waiting for their daughter at the door.
Ino ran happily towards her father with an extra bounce on her steps with no plans of slowing down. Inochi chuckled as he caught her, picking her off the ground and swinging her around making her burst into a fit of giggles. As soon as she was settled down at her Papa's shoulders, her mama tucked a white flower behind her ear and reached up to peck her at the cheeks. "So how was your day?" she asked.
"It was fun! Naruto-kun was …." Ino related her story excitedly as the three of them walked home, with her mama holding Papa's hand and Papa holding her securely at his shoulders. The street lamps just stirring to life.
