'Awareness is the greatest agent for change'
- Eckhart Tolle
~ • ~
Naruto facepalmed frustrated.
He had scared her off with his boldness, but he couldn't help it.
She had such a huge effect on him, and it was getting harder to control himself. Her reactions to him teasing her, the way she would smile at him… it made his heart ache.
And having her ignore him for almost a week was torture.
He had acted without thinking, and now he was left alone in his apartment next to the steaming pile of pancakes she had made. He didn't follow her, letting her have some time to herself seemed like a good idea. She would be home later, he hoped, and he would talk to her then.
Naruto ate in silence, pondering her responses over the time they had together so far. There had to be some connection between everything, something he was missing…
His thoughts were interrupted with a knock on the door.
He hurriedly walked towards the door, hopeful that Kaiya had come back only to be taken aback when opening the door.
"Oh, Hinata-chan," Naruto said with surprise.
Hinata smiled softly, "Hello N-Naruto, Can I come in? I have some things for Kaiya."
She gestured towards the duffel bag in her hand.
Naruto nodded, stepping aside as Hinata headed inside.
"Kaiya's not here at the moment," Naruto chuckled nervously, "Did you want to wait for her? I got some food left if your hungry."
"No it's f-fine, I'll just drop this off then, Ten-Ten and I realised she m-must not have anything of her own to wear since she keeps w-wearing clothes too big."
Hinata placed the large bag on the coffee table, turning back to him, playing with her sleeves.
"It's just some b-basics, nothing to f-flashy… and no skirts or d-dresses… she seems m-more of a tomboy."
"Thank you Hinata, that's sweet of you guys!" Naruto exclaimed.
"I-I hope Kaiya likes them."
"I'm sure she will," Naruto smiled.
Hinata's cheeks flushed before rushing back to the door.
"I s-should be going, Kiba and Shino are expecting me for t-training."
Naruto nodded in understanding, saying his goodbyes before closing the door behind her.
Leaving him alone in the apartment once more.
Hmm… two princesses.
'What are you on about Kurama?'
Just speculating… pondering…
'Spit it out ya damn fox!'
I look forward to what you choices you make
'Choices? Must you be so cryptic?'
Only a deep chuckle echoed through Naruto's head as the link faded.
At his window, a masked anbu flared his chakra to announce himself before entering.
"The Hokage summons you."
With a puff of smoke, both the anbu and Naruto left the apartment empty.
Kakashi shuffled his papers before looking up at Naruto and Shikamaru.
"You both are required for a mission to Suna," he said curtly.
"Details?" Shikamaru questioned.
"Unclear", Kakashi continued, "Kankuro merely sent word that you would be needed Naruto, and that Shikamaru should come with you."
"Is Gaara okay?!" Naruto yelled.
"Hush Naruto, I'm sure he's fine… but it was implied to be there urgently. It would be wise to prepare for anything."
Shikamaru nodded, "we'll leave immediately… Naruto meet me at the gates in thirty minutes."
Naruto nodded as Shikamaru disappeared into black smoke.
He paused before turning to Kakashi once more. "What about Kaiya?"
"Kaiya will be perfectly safe, I'll have Sai watch her while your gone, they seem to be close."
Naruto sighed "Too close in my opinion."
"Now now, Naruto, you must learn to share." Kakashi teased with a twinkle in his eye.
Naruto didn't like the idea of leaving Kaiya by herself, and with Sai to boot, but a mission is a mission.
Whatever was going on in Suna, he would be there for to help Gaara in any way he could.
He just hoped nothing bad had happened to Gaara.
When Naruto returned to his apartment to pack, Kaiya was home. He didn't see her, but he could feel her chakra flickering in her room. She still seemed frazzled but calmer then she was when she raced out earlier.
Naruto approached her bedroom door and knocked lightly.
"Hey Kaiya, can we talk? I don't have long before I have to go."
After a moment that felt like an eternity, the knob started to turn and Kaiya came out.
"You're going somewhere?" She queried.
"Yeah," Naruto smiled wistfully, "Mission, I'll be gone for at least a week, maybe two... it's hard to know."
Kaiya nodded, "I understand."
"Before I go, I just wanted to apologise for earlier... I overstepped and I don't want to ever upset you."
Naruto sighed scratching his head, looking to the floor. "I guess I went a little nuts from you being distant with me, and I'll.. um... miss you while I'm gone."
"I'm not upset with you," Kaiya replied quietly.
"You're not?" Naruto beamed, snapping his head up.
"No, I just..." Kaiya pursed her lips, "I don't belong here, and you shouldn't get attached to me... and I shouldn't get attached to you."
He continued to listen.
"I have to keep you at a distance, I can't let you in. It will be better for both of us... who knows if I'll even still be here when you get back."
Naruto frowned, "Why? Are you leaving too?"
"No, I don't... I mean maybe, I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know!" Kaiya yelled, and Naruto eyes widened. That was the loudest Kaiya had ever been.
She calmed herself and sighed, "You shouldn't miss me."
"I don't think that's up to you."
"You barely know me, Naruto."
"I've made friends with enemies in less time then I've known you," He smirked, "Time is fickle, especially for a shinobi."
"And I'm NOT shinobi." Kaiya hissed.
"That doesn't mean you don't belong here, this village has plenty of civilians."
"I'll have to go home eventually."
"Is that what you want? To go back to wherever your pain originated?!"
Kaiya stood agape at Naruto's words, giving him a chance to say his piece.
"You don't get to decide who I get attached to, that's up to me. Nobody gets to dictate who I care about, and I care about you."
Naruto pressed on without a breath.
"If you don't want to share your pain with me you don't have to, but you don't need to push me away, whatever happened in the past doesn't matter cause I'd never hurt you."
Kaiya's eye closed with tears threatening to fall. Naruto took her cheek in his bandaged hand and pressed his forehead against hers.
"You don't believe it right now, but when I get back I'll prove it to you..."
He felt one of her tears against his thumb. He could feel her emotions send her chakra waves all over the place and his own heartbeat was ringing in his ears in pace with hers, but he wasn't going to hesitate... He would not let things be left unclear while he was gone.
So with a deep breath and no stalling, he affirmed to her.
"You belong here... with me."
