'Love and red roses can't be hid'
- Thomas Holcroft
~ • ~
Naruto was wrecked from training. Even in peacetime a ninja must be at the top of their game, and training with a pissed-off Sakura definitely helped keep that in check. It didn't help that he was extremely distracted by a certain brunette who spent the entire time drawing and chatting with Sai… of all people, fucking Sai.
At least he got a few good hits in when he finally graced the rest of them with his presence.
When training concluded, the group ended up at Choji's family's restaurant for Bbq. Choji lead the charge piling the grill with meat with Ino and Shikamaru on each side. Kiba and Shino, along with a stammering Hinata, was at the other end of the table with the second grill trying to get some vegetables cooked while Kiba kept swapping them out for pieces of chicken. Between Ino and Kiba sat Sakura and Sai, who where already finishing off the first plate of gyoza and ordering a second.
Naruto and Kaiya were sitting opposite them, Hinata and Shikamaru on either side of them.
"I haven't seen Akamaru for awhile Kiba, is he still waiting for the puppies to arrive?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah, he's hanging around Hana's clinic like a bad smell," Kiba stated, "I feel bad for her having to kick him out every time a patient barks."
"He's just protective over what he cares about nothing wrong with that." Naruto said while smirking at Kaiya.
He swore he saw her blush before she looked down and focused on her food.
We're getting somewhere… Naruto thought to himself. Almost back to the point before Shika fucked it up.
Naruto was happily chatting up a storm, every now and then glancing at Kaiya, who was struggling to keep up with the food that kept getting put on her plate.
"Eat up Kaiya, I feel like you're wasting away over there!" Choji exclaimed, while adding on a pork chop.
"Really I'm okay, I've had more food then I can handle," she sighed in response.
"Leave her be man, she doesn't have your appetite," Naruto said protectively, "You'll make her explode."
He made a point to take her plate and pass it to Sai, who wordlessly took it with a nod.
Shino butted in, "yes, it would be nice not to kill the new girl," he said shaking his head.
"Right! I forgot to ask!" Ino chimed, "How are you finding Konoha so far?"
Naruto watched Kaiya think for a moment before responding.
"It's definitely different to where I'm from." She said with a small smile.
Small but beautiful.
"Oh? How so?" Shikamaru questioned with a raised brow.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at his at his friend. Really? Here? Shikamaru barely acknowledged him and focused only on Kaiya.
Kaiya who looked him with calculated eyes, only to dip back behind her mask, "It's just different, like a different world."
Shikamaru continued to stare at Kaiya, much to Naruto's chagrin, before someone else spoke to break the tension.
"I'd love to s..see your village Kaiya! I bet the people there are just as sweet as you." Hinata softly spoke.
"I bet the men are so exotic!" Ino signed longingly.
Naruto drew his attention back to Kaiya with a frown to match hers. She hadn't spoke yet, but she didn't need to for him to see it. Her eyes glistened slightly from a light film of tears she kept at bay.
Her people must have been the complete opposite of sweet, brutal bullies.
She might hide her trauma well from the others here, but not from someone like him.
Naruto placed his hand in hers under the table and gave a light squeeze. She didn't acknowledge it, but gently squeezed back.
Kaiya had calmed almost instantly, without so much as a hint to everyone else that she was even upset.
Kaiya turned and looked past Naruto to direct her answer for Hinata, and gave a polite smile.
"The people of Konaha are much kinder."
The walk back to his apartment was a quiet one. Naruto awkwardly walked in silence unsure what to say while Kaiya kept in step with him, hands in her pockets.
He still desperately wanted answers from her over her injuries and everything else, but also didn't want to spook her. Then there was Shikamaru with his misgivings that would sabotage his efforts gaining her trust.
He sighed, he wasn't good with subtleties. Naruto was bold, and wanted to be bold like he was with anyone when it came to getting to know others.
He wasn't sure if that would work in this situation.
But the silence was also killing him.
Say something coward the kubi growled.
"What were you and Sai talking about during training?" Naruto quickly spluttered out.
Kaiya startled looked up at him, "huh? Sorry what did you say?"
"At training," he continued less hurried, "you and Sai seemed to be getting along."
"Oh," she softened her shoulders, "we have similar interests is all, he liked my work."
"Your work?"
"Yeah, my drawings." She smiled with a nod.
"Can I see?" He asked curiously.
Without a word, she reached into the bag at her hip and took out a black book. She handed it too him with a shrug and Naruto opened it excitedly.
It was filled with sketches, some of buildings and of figures swimming, others of trees and of faces he didn't recognise.
These are really good he thought to himself, it's no wonder that Sai bonded with her.
Naruto kept turning pages before stopping abruptly.
There was one of him.
It was the last entry in the book, so it must have been what she was drawing during the training session. It was a spitting image of him, but also different.
This Naruto he was looking at was focused, with a slight curve up in the corner of his smile… filled with confidence and vibrato. He looked ready for anything.
I look like that?
"Wow, that's amazing!" He declared.
"You think so?" Kaiya beamed.
"Hell yeah… especially this one," showing her the one of him, "can I keep this one?"
Kaiya's cheeks reddened.
"Um, sure," she said quietly.
"Awesome!" He grinned while carefully tearing the page out, "I'll treasure it always."
It was then that Kaiya's whole face was beet red, and Naruto did his best to ignore every urge that was bringing out in him.
