Chapter 5
Don't Cry, Shinobu! The Milestone of A Young Girl's Life
§
Mid November XX, 1998, on a Saturday night
|The night before the special day at Hinata-sou|
Keitaro Urashima explained to the girls, with Ruto having a 'monkey' (that is Kaolla) on his back, that he's really a prep-school student for the entrance to Tōdai, because he unfortunately slipped his mind that he didn't fully tell them the complete and honest truth.
(Shinobu is in the kitchen with one of Ruto's doubles, preparing dinner; so she heard about the news through the hallway.)
It wasn't that he was trying to hide the fact, so he stood firm and started talking. The results are...
"I know all along that there's something definitely not right here," Motoko declared as she pointed her blade at the ronin, "A villain like you doesn't deserve to be a student at Tōdai!"
(Kaolla)» "No, no!"
"So, trying to fraud us with more of your lies, huh?" Kitsuné questioned.
(Kaolla)» "Frog and fries‽ That won't fill my stomach up much-ya!"
Keitaro was backed into a corner while Naru gave him a doubtful look and Ruto then said, "Might as well tell them, Aniki. You can't wiggle your way out of this mess."
The ronin broke down and confessed, "I'm sorry! I'm still trying to get to Tōdai! It wasn't my intention to deceive you for the trouble I gave to you and I was about to tell you sooner. Hina-obaachan did call us to come over, but she left so suddenly before we even got here. Please forgive me!"
Ruto moves closer to his brother and sees that he is contrite for his shortcoming, So he turned to the girls and asked, "Can you girls give my brother another chance? He admitted that he's sorry, so can you at least show some mercy to him, just this once?"
Just as Motoko was planning to cut off Keitaro's head with her blade, Naru stepped forward in front of the group and said to her roommates, "If he makes it to Todai this year, he won't be such a liar. But there's a catch; Keitaro, you have to at least pass the qualifying tests for the next 3 months."
"No problem," Keitaro obliged as he kowtows, "I hope..."
Then, the residents hear a horn blaring loudly throughout the hall and hear Ruto's double shouting, "Dinner is served! I repeat. Din-ner is served!"
-LNH-
|In the Dining Room|
Everyone in the residence, sans Keitaro, is looking at the food that Shinobu cooked and prepared (with a little help from Ruto's Ninpo).
(Kitsuné)» "Wow... This is delish! Unlike a certain somebody's cooking."
(Naru)» "And who is that certain 'somebody' that you're referring to, Kitsuné?"
(Ruto)» "This is great, Shinobu-chan."
(Shinobu)» "Thanks, Ruto-kun..."
The residents said their grace and began eating. Kitsuné is munching some food with her chopsticks and asks Naru, "What do we have in mind for the weekend?"
"Aren't you always bored?" Naru retorted.
(Kitsuné)» "Well, I am a freelancer. Don't treat me like I'm a fool. Besides, my dates are lined up until next year."
Motoko said nothing as she ate her meals.
"Hey, Shinobu. What are you planning this Sunday-ya?" Kaolla asked her classmate.
"Me?" Shinobu nervously replied while eating her share, but then she was lost in thought until Motoko asked, "What's wrong, Shinobu-chan? You seem to be out of it."
"Wha-? Oh, nothing much," Shinobu replied with a blush. Actually, Shinobu is minding her own business as she was listening to her roommates talking while Ruto is wondering what is on Shinobu's mind.
Elsewhere, Keitaro is eating ramen (and humble pie) on the 3rd floor and was forced to miss out on the big table and banquet again. "Compared to them, I'm always left out," the lonesome loser sobbed to himself, "And Shinobu-chan still hasn't opened up into talking to me after that one incident in the baths. Is she still mad at me? *sigh* All this studying with flashcards makes me feel tired. Maybe I should go take a bath..." But while the landlord was about to prepare himself to go to the corner bath hall, he bumped into Shinobu and she was knocked to her seat, with the laundry scattered on the floor.
"Shinobu-chan‽ Sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going," Keitaro apologized, "I'll... I'll pick it up..."
"No... No thanks," Shinobu said while picking up the clothing and then, she hastily ran away.
Keitaro felt downhearted, thinking that Shinobu still doesn't like him. But then, the landlord found an article of clothing left behind. Much to his bad karma, it was a pair of bear-print panties with her name on it.
That was when Ruto came from behind to see what was the rumpus about, "Aniki? I saw Shinobu-chan rushing by. And why are you holding a pair of girl's underwear in your hand?"
Keitaro thought fast and gave the bear-print panties to Ruto and told him to give it to its rightful owner. As soon as the blond Urashima left the hall, Motoko and Kaolla came by asking him about what the devil was doing and why Shinobu was crying again before the landlord got his "just desserts".
-LNH-
|At Room 201, Shinobu's Room|
Shinobu had just finished sorting the clean clothes and found that one of her articles was missing. Just then, she heard a knock on the door and it was Ruto in front of her. He asked his classmate if she had dropped her piece of clothing (her underwear). She blushed slightly and thanked him for returning her possession. Then she asked Ruto if she would meet in the upstairs bath hall, in private.
"Why over there? My brother is taking his turn over in the baths," Ruto stated.
"I need a helping hand... on talking with your... older brother," Shinobu answered, "I just want to talk with you, alone. Nobody else. Please?"
(Ruto)» "If that is what you want, but can you convince Naru-senpai and the others? They'll be suspicious if they see us together like that."
(Shinobu)» "I'll... I'll find a way, some... somehow, Ruto-kun."
And then they decided to wait until Keitaro finished with the bath session.
-LNH-
|Later, at the Corner Bath Hall|
Ruto and Shinobu are alone in the upstairs wooden bath. They shyly undressed themselves as they were about to go into the water. During that time, Shinobu saw Ruto and his swimmer's physique: the back, muscular chest and abs, the hind, and most surprising: a brief look at his manhood. Ruto tried his hardest not to see Shinobu in her naked beauty, even though he saw it once before... by accident. The students of different genders washed themselves with their sets of shampoo, conditioner, and soap. And then they rinsed themselves before they got into the hot water in the wooden tub, back-to-back, without much clothing to themselves.
Ruto then asked his bath-mate what the real matter was. Then Shinobu said, "The truth is, my birthday is coming up. I don't know if our roommates know about this."
"Yeah, it's also a shame that your parents couldn't come tomorrow," Ruto replied as he slowly held hands with his girl-friend's own, "Look, Shinobu-chan, don't blame yourself just because some people didn't know about your birthday."
(Shinobu)» "But what about your brother? Will he know about my birthday?"
(Ruto)» "Don't give up hope, yet. When my bonehead brother figures out about your special day, I'm sure he'll come, 'ttebayo. And I'm also certain the other girls will want to join in on the fun."
Then Ruto felt that his back felt something soft(er) as he saw Shinobu turn and hugged him, feeling grateful for her best friend for supporting her. Then she asked, "Ruto-kun, can you turn around and see me?"
"You sure we want to do this?" Ruto asked, "I don't want to break the trust between us and our friends."
(Shinobu)» "Please, Ruto-kun."
Stop, stop!
What you're about to read is somewhat graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Keep in mind that Ruto and Shinobu are close off to 13 years old and possibly in love. They won't go that far into crossing the line into having sexual ideas. (At least, not yet.) I'm sure of it.
Viewer discretion is advised.
Ruto turned around and saw Shinobu get out of the water in her naked glory showing in the moonlight. From her bob-cut ebony hair, to her obsidian black eyes, to her pretty... no, beautiful face, and her growing and changing body. Her bust is still in progress as they are small, yet not really flat and her nipples are rather inverted and in a slightly dark pink color. Her hips were a bit wider since he's known her for a while. And her womanhood that is showing, is also still in progress, yet they are beginning to form a mound in a current Ψ (psi) shape and there is little to no sign of hair covering the area. Last, but not least, she has a 'forbidden diamond' that defines her legs.
Ruto begins to wonder what the beauty of a woman is like in front of him. Then he asked Shinobu, "Then do you trust me, Shinobu-chan?"
Shinobu consented and then she saw Ruto, a boy her age, get out of the water himself and show his swimmer's built physique in front of her. She sees his unkempt blond hair, his baby blue eyes. the foxy expression, his muscular chest and arms, the abs, and his manhood. His was more presentable than Keitaro's and his penis is uncircumcised. (Shinobu's nose was almost about to bleed out from imagining her boy-friend's member being aroused.) And there are little signs of brown-to-red wild hair covering his manhood.
Then suddenly, their teenage hormones are starting to rage inside their bodies as they slowly clasp their hands together. Ruto begins to question, "Before we go any further... I want to ask... Will you be my official girlfriend?"
Shinobu noticed that this was a hard pill to swallow, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, "Ruto-kun, are you sure that Kaolla-chan, Motoko-chan, want to know about this as well? I heard what they had said about you seeing them naked. Is this true?"
(Ruto) "Yes. It was the time I was finishing the clean-up at the onsen, 'ttebayo. I was for certain to have a sign telling them to be no entry, but then Kaolla-chan and Motoko-sen- - uh... -chan came by just as I was briefly resting my aching feet. And Kitsuné-oneechan sometimes likes to flirt and mess with me. If they want to join in, then that will be their wish."
He told Shinobu about how he ended up being stuck with 2 naked girls (of completely different cultures) being washed and cleaned before bathing in the onsen and just as he was getting out of the water, Kaolla yanked off his towel and exposed his manhood to them. However, Motoko fainted from her personal issues, something involving turtles. After that, he gave his brother a whipping for carelessly taking down that sign. Shinobu couldn't help but laugh at Ruto's story.
And then, Ruto asked again if she could be his official girlfriend and Shinobu consented. Then the suspense is building with the young teenagers' hearts beating louder. Just as she was starting to kiss her now dubbed "boyfriend" (with no space marks) on the lips, they heard Naru calling for Shinobu from the downstairs onsen.
"Shimata (Dang it)!" Ruto grumbled and he carefully guided his girlfriend out of the water and said to her, "We'll have to cut this short, since it's late. And I promise that I'll bring a gift to you tomorrow. You'll understand. Right, Shinobu-chan?"
And he kissed her on the forehead, promising them that 'heaven' can wait for the 13-year old students as Shinobu quickly got dressed and said good night to each other.
The blond Urashima sank back into the tub, contemplating from what his parents had taught him from 'The Talk' and is thinking if one day when some girl or girls will return his love and then become a family man.
"Guess my parents were right. The best of the good things will come to those who wait, believe it," he said to himself as he grinned.
-LNH-
|The next day, in Room 201|
Shinobu (wearing her hoodie that is long enough to be a one-piece dress) is up rather early, with a lot of things on her mind. She is worried that her roommates, except Ruto, have probably forgotten about her birthday. So to get her something to do, Shinobu decided to do the laundry. And Keitaro was passing by at the same moment Shinobu was leaving the room and they bumped into each other by accident. She remembered what Ruto had said and then told him, "Senpai, I'm sorry, but I got laundry to do. Excuse me." And she left the hallway, leaving the ronin utterly defeated.
|Hinata-sou Roof Access|
Shinobu took the laundry from the washer and folded them into the basket before hanging them out to dry on the platform. Keitaro came by and tried to help the younger student by holding the laundry rod and insisted that he can help her with the laundry. But Shinobu doesn't want any help until the ronin goofed up and the clothes-drying rack fell to the ground.
"Nice going, Aniki," Ruto sarcastically said as he climbed the access stairs, "You ruined the act! Better let me help Shinobu with her things."
"But... but, Nii-san! I didn't mean to..." Keitaro tried to explain, but Ruto said with a glare, "Aniki, today's an important day for Shinobu-chan. Pray that I don't alter this day any further, you get me?"
And Ruto helped Shinobu reassemble the laundry drying rack while Keitaro 'turned to stone' and felt crushed from what his younger brother had said. What's so important for Shinobu to have a special day specifically for her when one's honor is on the line? Keitaro thought to himself as he retreated down the stairs.
-LNH-
|Later, on the Hinata Streets|
Ruto and Shinobu managed to help split holding groceries from the local supermarket. Things were swell until she noticed that one of her sacks started to fall apart and the fruits and vegetables, all in plastic holders, spilled on the sidewalk. Thankfully, nothing but a little washing won't fix the produce, thanks to some plastic packaging and produce sacks. As they picked up the groceries, Ruto can't help but feel impressed that Shinobu, who is still in the 1st Year Junior High (7th grade), already knows how to cook a feast and does her own laundry by herself. This reminded Ruto of himself, especially with his skills of cooking and handling laundry, among other things. Both students are what they called themselves independent.
Thankfully, he managed to have an empty tote bag in his hand for just such an emergency. And Shinobu is grateful to her boyfriend for lending her a hand.
-LNH-
|Meanwhile, back at the Hinata-sou, Room 204|
Keitaro is having conflicting emotions on why Ruto is helping with Shinobu and says that it's her special day. What in the world could the attraction be? So then the landlord/ronin looked into the profile book on its residents and stopped on Shinobu's page and the inscription reads:
Room: 201
Shinobu Maehara
Birthday: November 15, 1985
Blood Type: O
Lives here in Hinata-sou due to family problems.
It must be hard for a young girl like her to be living alone at such an age, and she's been a good friend to Ruto-niisan for a while.
Hm? Wait a second. November 15th‽ Why, that's today!
Wake the kids and phone the neighbors! Keitaro has a lot to do, making up with his tenant.
So he climbed up in the hole on the ceiling (yes, the one with a wooden covering and a Liddo-kun doll on top); and tried to have a talk with his upstairs neighbor, Naru (who wears her gaudy autumnal clothing). She was in the middle of her studies when Keitaro asked her if she's busy, but she didn't want him around, thinking that she would catch the landlord's jitterbug of failure. But Keitaro said, "No, it's not that! It's something about Shinobu-chan!"
Naru stops and listens to what he has to say.
-LNH-
|Later, at Hinata-sou Roof Access Platform|
Shinobu is feeling awfully sad that her friends have forgotten about her birthday as she watches the sunset from the railing. Then she hears a voice that sounds familiar. "Shinobu-chan? Are you all right? I was worried that you would catch a cold or something."
She turned and saw that it's Ruto who had just come by from the stairs and began to run towards her friend and started to sob on his shoulder and he slowly hugged her to give her some comfort.
A few moments later, Shinobu was given tissues from Ruto to clear her sinuses and her tears. She also has a case of the hiccups from crying so much. She meekly and stammeringly said, "Ruto-kun... I... I..."
"Shh, easy there, Shinobu-chan," Ruto softly said as he looked into Shinobu's tear-stained eyes, "I know it's sad for you that you're having a birthday party all by yourself. So I decided to join in with you, if that is all right."
"Thank... thank you, *hic* Ruto-kun," Shinobu said as she slowly regained her countenance. The blond Urashima then pulls out a present from the hood of his jacket and shows his best friend an orange topaz necklace and earrings and says to her, "Happy birthday, Shinobu-chan."
Shinobu was surprised to see that Ruto didn't forget her birthday after all. And then she was about to give him a kiss, when they heard a sound of party poppers going off and then the residents said in a loud voice, "Surprise! Happy birthday!" / "Congratulations, Shinobu-chan!"
Both 13 year olds were definitely surprised as they embraced each other from the excitement. (It even scared the hiccups out of Shinobu.) They see Motoko, Kaolla, Kitsuné, and Naru holding the used party poppers and Keitaro finally shows up for the occasion. The girls said their condolences to their youngest roommate in the dorm and Shinobu thanked them in return.
"Actually, Keitaro was the one who figured out about your birthday and dragged us here," Naru explained, "He did try very hard, you know."
"Oh, it's nothing, really," Keitaro chuckled from the flattery.
Ruto then said, "Well, come on, Aniki! Hurry up and apologize!"
Keitaro took a deep breath and said, "Shinobu-chan, I'm sorry. Even though I'm uncertain that I'll make it this year, I'll do my best to get into Todai to make it up to you. So, cheer up."
Shinobu felt determined from her senpai's encouragement. "I will, Keitaro-senpai," she cheerfully said.
"Oh, yeah. I brought you a birthday present," Keitaro said as he brought out a wrapped present. He's glad that he has a brother to cover for him, especially when it involves a pair of bear-print panties.
The only tears that Shinobu is crying right now are nothing but tears of joy.
§
To be continued…-»
Omaké
Naru's and Kitsuné's Reminder of Their Past
The day after the birthday party, Naru was watching the scene below from the balcony and saw Ruto with Shinobu and Kaolla by his side. That's when Kitsuné came by and asked her former schoolmate what was on her mind.
"*sigh* Kitsuné, does this scene look familiar?" Naru questioned as she pointed out the younger tenants having fun outside.
"I dunno," Kitsuné replied, "I keep thinking about a certain teacher from our old school whenever I see the younger kids being together."
That's when Naru remembered an old crush of a teacher that she used to know before he moved to Tōdai as a professor. She briefly has glimpses of a picture of him with Haruka and a beautiful blonde woman being around with him and a young blonde-headed girl, who is the splitting image of her mother, that also hangs around with the said person, like he's a parent figure to her; she's probably in 1st or 2nd grade by now.
Just when Naru and Kitsuné were about to figure out who their teacher was, Motoko came by and asked Ruto to help her spar with their fighting prowess. To which he consented.
That's when it clicked.
"Oh, my gawd, Ruto-kun's too much like Seta-sensei!" Both girls exclaimed at the same time.
[[*Suspense*]]
Backstory
How Naruto and Shinobu Became Close Friends
Before Kaolla Su came along into the daily lives, Shinobu and Ruto had just met before the 4th grade, although they frequented the Hinata Inn now and then, before it became a dormitory. But before they start the new school year, one such affair started on a night in March when Shinobu's parents and Ruto's family (including Keitaro)...
(Keitaro)» "Huh‽"
...were in the teahouse trying to have a conversation with the inn preparing to close its doors and the kids are not to leave the inn, so the boy is responsible for his new friend's safety.
So Shinobu and Ruto were playing around in the halls, thinking what kinds of games they could play. They decided to go to the roof access to have fun on the platform and rooftop. Shinobu is enjoying herself for a while at the roof, but then suddenly, she missed that one step and sprained her ankle and then started to tumble down the roof, knowing that this could be her doom 3 stories below. It would have been so, if it hadn't been for Ruto and his quick reflexes that kicked in from the sudden danger as he grabbed her from the ledge and with all his current strength, he managed to save her life. Shinobu had a swollen ankle, and a few scrapes, but otherwise, she's okay.
After the sudden rescue, Ruto carried the crying Shinobu on his back, over the platform, while trying to look for assistance. But there's no place to let her rest, except for Grandma Hina's room. By the time he easily lets her down, Ruto finds a first-aid kit and some ice for the sprain. So, remembering the techniques that he read from his giant scroll, he utilizes the Shadow Clone Art to find the required items and notify their parents of the incident. The doubles obeyed the original while Shinobu was surprised that her friend is more than what he seems. A few minutes later, the items were brought and the original Ruto tended to Shinobu's wounds. The doubles were then dispelled with a *poof*. Shinobu thanked Ruto with a hug and a kiss on Ruto's cheek; it was his first experience that a girl gave her gratitude that way (other than his baby-sitter).
After a few minutes of waiting, the parents of both families and Grandma Hina came by and saw that the kids were unscathed. But the Maeharas scolded their daughter not go to near the rooftop ever again and when they looked at Ruto, Yasuharu suddenly slapped the boy out of anger, but then the hand of the striker felt that the boy was like a wall of solid steel and busted his fingers and part of the palm and the Maeharas saw that Ruto was guarding his left side; the boy didn't take kindly for Yasuharu's actions. However, he generously fixed Mr. Maehara's fingers (the hard way).
To settle the matter, Grandma Hina decided to give Ruto the penalty of cleaning the onsen before the next group is ready; her grandson willingly took the job... in 10 minutes flat (thanks to Shadow Clones and thorough inspection).
After that, Ruto is joining with his family, along with the repentant Maeharas, for a mixed bath. While the adults were chatting and Kanako is having a bit of a 'rebellious phase' about getting into some sap's pants, Shinobu and Ruto are in one side of the pool, with having their towels on and are blushing madly at each other after being in the onsen at the same time. But, slowly but surely, the two kids broke the ice of awkwardness and talked about their livelihoods and school life.
Ruto is a smart student in his class and helps his classmates whenever the need is necessary. Shinobu, on the other hand, is a timid girl with emotional issues and her grades are average. Then the steam of the onsen from being in the water too long is starting to get into the kids' heads and they confessed their secrets to one another; Ruto tries hard to not let slip of his tongue of his ninja secret, but Shinobu confessed to him of being a secret fan of Ruto since 1st grade and his charismatic courage to make her feel more determined. Ruto didn't know that Shinobu is an admirer of him, but didn't feel quite like it's on the term "stalker". He wonders if in another life, he would have experienced it the same way with a particular young girl.
But then he snaps back into reality, just like the sound of a record discordantly scratched, Shinobu felt woozy from the steam and fainted Ruto's shoulders after seeing his 'boyhood' under his towel that suddenly got bigger. The blonde Urashima called for his parents for help getting Shinobu to the dressing room to help cool her off.
Shinobu later woke up with a cold washcloth and found herself in the lap of Ruto waving a fan and was relieved that Shinobu didn't suffer heatstroke from being in the onsen steam. In fact, she's almost like a boiled lobster. Shinobu was covered with a dry towel to cover her innocence (while she was resting) and then she hugged him after he saved her life from more than just a simple embarrassment.
A few days have passed, when the new school year orientation for 4th Grade has started, Ruto and Shinobu ended up in the same class together. After a few hardships, the two grade school students are the best of friends, despite their differences.
A/N: Now don't you worry about Naruto raising the bar so soon, he'll be in a deeper relationship at a later date. I must confess that I was sorta borrowing some elements from other fanfiction stories to inspire this scenario; particularly that one with the DBZ stories with a Gohan/Videl pairing and the Naruto/DBZ crossover with a Naruto/Hinata/Sakura pairing by the same author. DbzpreteenGohanfan87 was the name. Yeah, that's the one. You should try reading some of the author's stories and you'll find how good those stories turn out. Be warned that the romantic scenes are not for the faint of heart.
That's all... for now that is.
- blukmage19
