Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Sorry about the wait. Read and review please. Constructive criticism is fine. It helps me write better.
Here's chapter four
Kay had hardly slept that night. She woke up every hour and layed awake for what felt like eternity to her, feeling awful for how she treated her friend earlier that night. She planned to apologise as soon as she meet him in the morning.
When it was finally a decent time to actually get out of bed, she went to take a shower and braid her hair. Standing in the hot shower, feeling the water fall against her back, she relaxed for the first time all night. She felt considerably better as well. She no longer felt the need to cough, though she wouldn't run ten km. to prove it.
After stepping out of the shower, drying off, changing into her days clothes and braiding her hair, Kay had a small breakfast. She wasn't hungry and however much she relaxed in the shower was gone, replaced by the same guilty feeling she felt earlier.
The time flew by and she realized that she should get going or she would be later than Kakashi. Figure of Speech. It would be impossible to be later than that man unless you were really trying. She quickly slipped into her sandals and left her apartment, locking the door behind her.
Knock, knock. Kay was not in the mood to knock more than twice today. She could hear footsteps on the other side of the door and took a deep breath, preparing to apologising as soon as she greeted him.
Thump, thump, thump. Pause. Click. Thump... "Hey Kay." To her utmost surprise Genma came out of the room, shutting the door behind him. "So are you ready to go."
Kay shook herself out of her stupor. "Yah, ready when you are." 'Where is Hayate?' she asked herself, walking just behind and to the side of Genma. 'I hope he isn't to mad at me.'
When they left the building Kay took Genma's arm and continued down the street. Genma was trying to make conversation with Kay but when she did answer at all she became monosyllabic.
"I was talking to Kurenai last night after you left. She is going to take you to get a jacket today so you wont get sick again."
Silence
"So what did Kakashi teach you last time?"
Silence. Kay let go of Genma's arm and started to walk behind him. It was getting busier but Kay kept on him like she was with Kakashi except it was easier. Genma walked considerably slower than Kakashi.
"Hey, that's pretty good. You did all that yesterday"
"Um hm."
The rest of the walk was in silence. Genma was uncomfortable with it since what he knew of Kay so far was that she was a talkative, fun girl. Her being quiet meant that something was wrong. Kay didn't even really realize that she was being really quiet; she was thinking on how she was rude to Hayate last night and how to apologise to him.
Kay felt two other peoples familiar presences when her and Genma reached the bridge. One was obviously Kakashi's, and the other one was a women's, and the only women she knew was Kurenai so it had to be her.
"Hello Kurenai, how are you this morning?" she asked the older girl quietly as Genma started talking to Kakashi.
Kurenai smiled at Kay, "I'm not too bad Kay, how are you feeling, I heard you got sick."
"I'm feeling a lot better, thanks, but I can't wait to get a jacket so it doesn't happen again," Kay said, as they all started walking towards the clothing store. Since she was not feeling 110, she looped her arm with Genma as she walked. She didn't want to spend all her energy just trying to figure out where people were.
A few minutes later they exited the cold outdoors and entered a warm store. Kay changed from hanging on to Genma to Kurenai, who would be leading her around the store looking at jackets.
"Kurenai-san, may I help you with anything?" an enthusiastic clerk approached the group.
"We are looking for a jacket for little Kaylana here. Do you have any suggestions?" Kurenai asked the clerk. The clerk grinned and hustled away, motioning the others to follow her.
"We just got it in a few days ago," she told them. "It's the latest fashion right now, all girls her age are wanting them." She picked up a light pink fluffy jacket and showed the group. It was not just fluffy on the collar and cuffs, the whole thing was made out of long fluffy fibres.
Kurenai stared incredulously at the article of clothing, surely girls had better fashion sense than this! This was just hideous. "I don't think that this would work." Kurenai dead panned. Kay had reached her hand out to feel the material.
"Let me guess," she ventured, "It's pink too."
No one decided to answer her. Kakashi talked for the first time he got into the store, he'd mostly been keeping low key. "Look, it might be 'fashion', but Kay is a ninja! She can not wear something that makes her look like a fuzzy pillow! She needs something practical, moveable, and warm. And no pink."
The little clerk squeaked and made a hurried apology. Saying that she'd show them something under then new criteria. She ushered them into an area that had less fashionable stuff, but looked more like it would be worn by other ninja. "If you need any help, just call for me," the clerk said, before hurrying off to help someone else.
By the time Kay finished following the clerks movements, Kurenai was already grabbing various jackets that might fit her and Kay. She needed a new jacket as well. She had made two piles: 1 for her, 1 for Kay. Noticing that Kay hadn't really moved, she told her to get it in gear. "These jackets aren't going to try them on themselves." Kay jerked into action, grabbing the first jacket on her pile. Too small, she couldn't even get the buttons all done up. Next one was way too big, it looked like she was a small child trying on their fathers clothes. The next few fit, but didn't feel comfortable. Kurenai had found the perfect one for herself.
"It's a black button up jacket with red detailing," Genma explained for Kay.
Soon after, Kay found her own jacket that she really liked the fit of. "Does it look okay?" she inquired to everyone. It felt good, but for all she knew, it was the ugliest jacket the world had ever seen.
"Looks good Kay, I like it." Genma said. Kay beamed. Kurenai took a good look at her and reached forward to feel the material. It was a light fabric that would keep you warm but not be bulky at all.
"I like it too," Kurenai said. "It wont be too heavy when you work out or do a mission and its not too bulky. I also like the looks of it."
Kay had picked out a white half zip up jacket with a black stripe down each arm from the shoulder.
After paying for the jackets Kay put hers on immediately. She didn't want to risk getting sick again. And since she was just getting over being sick, Kakashi wasn't allowed to train her today. Kay was disappointed about not being able to train. In her mind she was falling further and further behind everyone. She was sad when Kakashi and Kurenai had to say goodbye to her and Genma as they went their own ways.
"Genma, can I ask you something?" Kay asked quietly as they walked home.
"Sure," Genma said, ready to answer any question. He could feel Kay get nervous.
"Is Hayate mad at me? After what I said last night? Cause I am completely regretting saying what I said." Kay stopped walking and held onto Genma's arm with both hands, looking up at him.
Genma sighed, what did his young roommate feel towards the girl who's face was pleading for answers. "I don't think he hates you, he's not like that. I just think that he's a bit disappointed on how you treated him last night. You didn't value his opinion at all when it was for your own good."
Kay sighed and started walking again. She needed to talk to Hayate when she got back to her apartment badly. She wanted to apologise for her behaviour last night but at the same time she was afraid that he would reject her. The rest of the walk to the apartment was in silence. After bidding Genma good day and thanking him for his help today, Kay went into her room and flopped onto her bed, mentally and physically drained.
A few hours later, Kay woke up. Still feeling tired and groggy, she forced herself out of bed. She need to go down to the lobby's front desk and inform the manager that her rent would be paid by the Hokage. Slipping out of her room, she quietly walked down the hall to the elevator. She was just about to press the down button when she heard the elevator go up inside the shaft. Sighing, since she knew it would take a while for it to get back down, she turned to the door to the stairs and started her way down them.
Trying as hard as she could, she carefully made her way down the steep stairs. Because she was so tired, her coordination was slightly off and sometimes she'd over shoot a step a bit and have to hold herself up by the hand railing that she was clinging to like a lifeline. About half way down, Kay had to stop and take a rest. Sitting on a step, she buried her head into her arms resting on her knees. She leaned slightly against the wall breathing deeply. She didn't trust herself on the stairs right now and she was scared. She didn't want to fall down them and hurt herself, but at the same time, she was cold and didn't want to sit there all night. She prayed that someone would come soon and find her.
Kay had lost track of time before she heard someone on the stairs. She tried waking herself up a bit so she could call for help. "Excuse me, help me!" she called to whoever was there. "I can't move on my own, I need help!" Waiting for an answer of some sort, she heard hurried footsteps running up the stairs in her direction.
The footsteps got closer until she could feel the persons presence. She knew this one too, it was someone familiar. "Kay! Oh my gosh, are you alright?" a very worried Hayate asked, bending down and grabbing her shoulders.
"I'm too tired, I don't trust myself to move on the stairs." Kay said softly. "I've already slipped a couple times."
Kay felt arms circle her shoulders, lifting her up, and then an arm came under her knees, picking her up to carry. Feeling a difference in height, she wrapped her arms around his neck to make sure she didn't fall.
"You're freezing!" Hayate noted as he climbed the stairs. "Why where you even coming down the stairs in the first place? There's an elevator for good reason."
Kay shivered in his arms. "I was going to, but I missed it, and it would take to long to wait for it, so I walked instead. I had to tell the front desk that the Hokage is paying my rent for me," she said with chattering teeth. "But I guess I couldn't do it."
In no time Hayate was using the key Kay gave him to open her door and carry her in. Using his foot, he shut the door. "Please don't tell Izumo about this please. I don't want him worrying about me more than he has to." Kay asked when Hayate placed her on her bed. She pulled her shoes off and, already wearing her pajamas, climbed into bed. Hayate went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea for her. He came back and she gratefully took the offered cup.
"So will you not tell him?" she asked.
Hayate sighed. "I will tell him." Kay's head snapped up with a 'oh please no' look on her face. "You've already showed that you don't care about people's opinions about your welfare, so why should we care about what you want!" Hayate demanded, raising his voice slightly. Kay shrunk back a bit.
"I'm sorry, I really am." Kay softly expressed her regret. "I've never had people really care about me before this way. I'm not used to it. I feel really bad about how I treated you, I wish I could take it back." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Please, accept my appology."
Hayate climbed forward on her bed and pulled her into a hug. Kay was surprised at the action and hesitantly returned the gesture. Between the hot drink and the warm hug, Kay was warming up considerably. "I can't stay mad at you, Kay. It's just not possible." Hayate whispered into her hair.
He pulled away slowly and got off her bed. "Good night Kay," he whispered quietly as he walked out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
Aww, wasn't that sweet? sorry about any glaring mistakes i might have made. r&r please.
