Sorry for the wait. :3 This will be a long chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Sick Day part 2
Minutes before Ino went to see Naruto, she was at school heading to the club room. She was deep in thought about the score. Not anyone would get that score unless they cheated but she doesn't think Naruto is that type. So, the other theory would be he studied and was actually paying attention in class. Though, it's mind boggling since he looks like he was sleeping most of the time but if she were to think back. Not once, Iruka called him out. She stops in front of the stairs.
Iruka didn't have to wake Naruto up since, he already knows. From her view, it seems like he was sleeping but for Iruka. It might be the other way around. "Urrghhh...leave my thoughts!" she thought, shaking her head with her hands. She's thinking to deep into this. She has a club to go to, there is no point for her to think of possible answers.
"Hi Ino.." Anko spoke behind her.
"Ah!" Ino said turning around, startled. "...oh..Hey Anko"
"Is it bad hair day already?" Anko asked, seeing her hair look all over the place.
"Oh no.." ino said trying to fix her hair. "Just..having a hard time understanding someone"
"Usually its cause of poor communication" Anko states.
"Ya...but if the other person doesn't want to communicate with you.." Ino said with a sigh.
"Ah...your talking about Naruto" Anko said in a surprised tone.
"What...how did you know that?" Ino said shocked herself that she knew.
"Well for one thing...there shouldn't be anyone that wouldn't want to speak with the popular girl in school ...unless there Naruto" Anko exclaims.
"Heh...so you know Naruto then?" Ino asked.
"Yup...and I can tell you...it may be long before he would talk to you as a friend" Anko states with her arms crossed.
"What do you mean by that?" Ino asked.
"Naruto...doesn't act like a normal teen for his age...actually if he acted like one...he might gain popularity faster than you" Anko states.
"Him popular.." Ino said not sure if she can imagine that.
"Its true...and Naruto knows it….he's aware of it along with other things…" Anko tells her.
"So why does he look like a slacker in class and doesn't care about anybody" Ino said.
"Your kidding...he cares just he is able to organize what he cares about or who…" Anko said with a nod.
"Uh?" Ino said not understanding.
"It could be because his parents aren't around but..he is able to focus on the things that matter then what isnt which would be-"
"Being popular" Ino states.
"Oh...so you don't think it's important too.." Anko said. "Well..from what I can tell about him...he wants to become an adult faster leaving his teenage years behind…"
"Uh...so he ignores me because...I'm popular" Ino said not seeing the mature thing there.
"I'm just speculating…but who knows what goes through his head" Anko states.
"That isn't fair" Ino said clenching her hands. "Already judging me because of my status"
Ino didn't know what she thinks of Naruto now. First he was a slacker and now he thinks he's above everyone. He may think of himself as an adult but in her eyes, he isn't. Though, she's more pissed about how he is treating her because of her status. Instead of who she is. Her phone vibrates in her pocket again. She pulls it out.
"Where are you?" Sara text.
That's right, there's a club meeting. She looks at Anko.
"I have to go now" Ino said running up the stairs.
"Don't tell Naruto what I told you!" Anko shouts.
Ino reaches the top. She looks at the time on her phone. If she remembers, Sakura should already be making her way to his apartment. She enters the club room.
"Sorry for being late" Ino said to the two members.
"Its fine…" Sara states holding four cards in her hands.
"Hmm..do you have a 7?" Choji spoke staring at his seven cards intently.
"Go fish" Sara tells him, making him pick up a card.
"So you guys are playing go fish" Ino said taking her seat.
"Yup and like always…" Sara said with a smile. "I'm winning"
Ino chuckles and watches them play. She didn't want to interrupt their game plus, Sara seems to be close to winning. She smiles but she can't get rid of what Anko told her. The only thing she can think right now is having a talk with him and dealing with it or else, it might be difficult to reach her goal. She starts tapping her finger against the table.
Sara notice Ino doing that at the corner of her eye.
OOO
The club meeting ended early since there wasn't too much to discuss and a member is missing. Choji left first only leaving Ino and Sara in the room. Ino looked at her phone, seeing forty minutes past. Sakura should have already dropped the folder by now. Question is if Naruto opened the door for her.
"Ino.." Sara calls her.
"Ya" she replies.
"What are you thinking about?" Sara asked.
"Hm...nothing really" Ino said picking her bag up and walking out the door first before Sara.
"Hmm but that face reminds me when we met each other" Sara said locking the door.
"Eh" Ino said surprised.
"That time you didn't speak your mind...you kept staring at that tree" Sara said with a giggle. "But it's where you thought of the idea of making this club"
"Right.." Ino states looking the clubs sign.
She remembers that day, on her vacation away from school. There was something that was bugging her but can't quite remember what it was. That made her frustrated just like now and that's when that idea came to mind.
"I have an idea" Sara said with a smirk. "I planned to go alone but it might be fun if you came also"
"Uh?" Ino asked tilting her head.
OOO
"Don't think he will answer me" Ino said holding her phone.
"Figured...doesn't seem like you two are chummy as much" Sara states.
The two were walking to the apartment complex.
"Still..you think visiting him will be alright?" Ino asked unsure.
"Maybe not but…" Sara said with a smile. "Might show him that we care"
"Hm?…" Ino said surprised.
"Well look at it this way.." Sara said. "It might him make be more motivated in the club meetings...possibly"
"heh...I dont think so" Ino said in truth.
Sara and Ino reaches the complex. Ino stares at it. When Sara told her to come, she didn't want to but maybe, this might be her chance. Naruto's idea of her is wrong and she needs to force him to understand. She was interested in him since, he is the first person not being a fanboy around her but that wasn't a good thing either after hearing the truth. And she was beginning to think he was a nice person when he helped Sakura.
Sara enters the building first then Ino second. The two walked to the elevator and pressed the button. Sara realized something, she may know his floor number but not his door number.
"Ino...are you afraid to knock at every single door?" Sara asked.
"Why ask me that?" Ino said raising an eyebrow.
"I..may have forgot to tell you I didn't know his door number" Sara states with a nervous chuckle.
"...really" Ino said, placing her palm against her face. "Don't worry..I know it"
"You do?" Sara asked surprised.
"My friend, Sakura had to deliver his homework to him and his address was on it. I took a quick look and remembered what was written on it"
"That's you for you...if we ever play finding the match...no one can win" Sara said with a smile.
"Wouldn't say no one" Ino said closing her eyes with a smile.
"Oh...so did someone beat you?" Sara said, seeing the elevator doors open.
"More like…" Ino said opening her eyes. "Getting me into playing cards"
Ino walks out the elevator. This topic reminded her of her childhood.
Flashback
Back then she had shorter hair, easily mistaken for a boy. A huge gust of wind appeared and Ino was wearing a summer dress. The wind smelled fresh and felt good. Cards flew along it spiraling around her. She was amazed. It was like the cards were dancing around her. She looked at someone who through the cards. He had a big grin on his face.
"Hehehe..one is stuck in your hair" he laughs.
Ino felt embarrassed. She picked the card out of her hair and notice the suit.
"Queen of hearts" she said staring at the card.
Flashback ended
The sudden flashback made her realize, there was more to that day. Sadly, she was too young to remember his face and name but she feels like it wasn't just him. Thinking back, there was two other kids.
"Ino" Sara calls her snapping out her thoughts. "Just thought of another idea!...I'll be right back"
"Ok" Ino replies and stands in the middle of the empty hallway.
She turns her head to the left and notice she was in front of Naruto's door. She stares at it, not wanting to see him. She feels quite offended still and not sure if she can act nice around him anymore. She might at least text him to open up but doing that won't do her any good. Her ears twitch after hearing the vibration behind the door then whispers. Ino eyes widen. "oh he is here uh" she thought feeling something lighting her fire. Maybe, it can't wait until Monday. She raises her fist. She made it all the way here so…
"NARUTO!" she yells behind his door. "I know you're in there..I can hear your phone!"
She glares at the door, impatiently waiting for him to answer. She screams his name again and flinches when the door opens.
"Shhh!..keep it down" Naruto tells her, covered with his blanket.
"..right, he's sick.." she thought forgetting that this was the main reason Sara brought her here.
However, now she has another reason. She looks up at him.
"Let me in" Ino said not wanting to say what she has to say out in the hallway.
"No" Naruto said simply closing the door.
Ino stands their shocked but isn't going to let this slide. She knocks on the door again which opened but not so much like the last time. Ino was only able to see half his sick face.
"Naruto...let me in.." she said again in a serious tone.
"Can you see I'm sick...I had to use all my energy to walk over to the door" Naruto states, not completely lying.
"Oh...so you didn't get your homework from Sakura" Ino said not surprised, Sakura is popular so I don't think he would even answer the door for her
Naruto shakes but coughs right after. He looks at Ino.
"Yes...she slid it under my door" Naruto said weakly lying.
"Hmmm.." Ino replies staring at him. "Tell me...what do you think of me?"
"At the moment...annoying" Naruto states wiping his boogers with his blanket.
"Tch...Anko told me-" Ino said until Naruto stopped her.
"Anko…" Naruto said quietly with his eye twitching. "I understand now"
Naruto opens the door for Ino who hesitated to enter. She was nervous and not sure what to expect. When she entered, she notice everything was off. She hears coughing behind her.
"I don't feel up to it but…" Naruto said walking past her.
"H-hey..where are you going?" Ino asked, not sure why he didn't turn on the lights yet.
"Lets play a game" Naruto spoke walking back to the counter.
Naruto takes off his blanket and lays it over the counter. It shocked Ino. She hears cards being shuffled. After hearing Anko's name, Naruto knew her big mouth would tell her about what they discussed in private. This would make Ino lecture him but he's neither physically prepared or prepared to defend himself. He just follows what he thinks.
"If you win...you can say what Anko told you..but" Naruto said looking at her with a serious expression. "But if you lose...you leave"
"fine" Ino said looking serious. "..I'm surprised you even have a cards"
"I did say I use to play…" Naruto said wiping his nose with his sleeve. "But that was a long time"
Ino starts seeing the cards being placed over the blanket quickly. Five cards were place further from each other and two cards were in between the two. "This is…" she thought recognizing the format. Then she saw Naruto slam twenty cards in front of her.
"The game is speed" Naruto said taking his deck and slamming five cards against the blanket.
Ino was surprised with his speed and grabs five cards from her deck.
"H-hold on.." she said viewing her cards.
Naruto ignores her and slides his hand over the five cards he placed down. Ino watches him closely. She sees him take the five cards in his hand. She gulps getting nervous, Naruto was acting different. After mentioning Anko, she guess he figured out what she was going to say. Somehow, he also knew that she would agree to this card game. He's clever and still didn't turn on the lights. She wonders why but it seems like she is able to see her hand so no big deal.
Ino's hand
Jack of diamond
10 of hearts
8 of spades
4 of clubs
Ace of diamond
She ordered her cards so she can be prepared to lay it down. She knew the rules of this game already since she played it when she first started out. The person had to be fast and have no cards to be the winner. She started to get excited. She forgot the thrill playing this card game and this could actually..
"Ready" Naruto said looking at her with a serious expression.
It's dark but just by looking at his eyes. Ino knew he doesn't plan to lose. He's serious and a little scary. Plus, the way he picked up his five cards. It felt like he was intimidating her. She rubs the edge of her cards and reaches for the right card while Naruto reaches the other.
Naruto's hand
8 of hearts
8 of diamonds
7 of spades
3 of hearts
Ace of clubs
"3..2..1..flip!" Naruto said both flipping the cards.
OOO
In one of the rooms, Sakura was leaning against the door. She can hear two voices but barely. She knew one was Naruto but not the other. It went silent after. She can't believe Naruto put her in this room. It was dark so she couldn't tell what was in here. "Do I really have to wait here" she thought wanting to get out. She moved her leg and felt something hard. She was curious and picked up the item. It was heavy but not so much. It felt like it was made out of wood.
An idea pops in her head. She pulls out her cellphone and turns on the light. The item was revealed to be a wooden mask with eye holes and a creepy smile. Sakura didn't know how to react about this. She shined the light to the rest of the room and was surprised.
OOO
It was like time sped up. Her hands were moving so slowly compared to Naruto. She looks at her hand and than at his. He had four cards while she has three but, that's his last four. While she has a few to go. She bites her lips not wanting to lose.
"Can you go?" Naruto spoke looking at the cards.
The cards in the middle
4 of spades 3 of clubs
Ino's hand
6 of hearts
6 of spades
9 of hearts
Naruto
6 of clubs
7 of hearts
8 of clubs
9 of diamonds
Ino shakes her head and places her hand on the side cards. Naruto did the same. She needs to win. She's betting it all on this. She flips the card down along with Naruto.
10 of spades 7 of diamonds
"Yes!" she thought moving her 6 of hearts to that 7 but at the last second, Naruto went under her hand. He slammed his 6 then the rest, one by one.
"Speed" Naruto said.
Ino was so close but he was faster. A nervous chuckle came out of her. Now she remembers. There was a reason why she didn't first introduce this card game. It's different from the other card games which was, the skill behind it as well as the feeling of wanting to overcome the other opponent. This came makes the players get pumped with energy but it goes away after the winner is decided. Though, this game was not for fun in the first place. There was a deal attach to it.
"...let me ask you one thing-" Ino said to Naruto but gets pushed to the door.
"Uh ah...I win..so you need to" Naruto said trying to hold in his boogers that were slowly coming out from his nose.
"Just tell me...why do you not like playing card games...it seems that you enjoyed playing speed…" Ino said and feels his hands leave her back. "..you acted different when you play-"
"Hmph...it's the last game I played with" Naruto spoke in a low tone. "..my friends"
"Uh.." Ino said and turns.
However, Naruto opened the door and gently pushed her outside. He sneezed but covered his nose with his arm. He looks at Ino for awhile and closes the door.
Ino kept her eye on the door, not sure what she should think about first. Though, she seems like she discovered the reason why Naruto dislike playing card games. She doesn't bother to knock and starts walking away. She hears the elevator open and sees Sara, holding a plastic bag with something instead.
"Sorry i took so long" Sara said with a nervous smile.
"I-its fine..its just been a few minutes.." Ino said feeling that card game was done in under a minute.
"Well..lets see Naruto-" Sara said until she sees Ino shaking her head.
"I think i'm going to head home...I don't want to get sick because of him" Ino said walking past her.
"Oh.." Sara said softly not sure why she changed her mind.
"See you tomorrow in school" Ino said smiling in the elevator.
"Ya bye" Sara said feeling like there's something missing. "Wait a sec!..I still don't know his room number"
Sara panics a little and looks at the doors not sure what she should do.
OOO
Naruto coughs in his arm. That game was tough to play in his condition. His head kept spinning but seems like his planned work. He walks over to the counter where the cards are laid. The door slams open, drawing his attention to the angered looking pink haired girl.
"ok!...I have no idea what I just saw but...I'm not going to stay quiet for this long!" Sakura shouts. "Listen here...i came to deliver your homework and umbrella!..and you just hid me in a room full of weird...artifacts?..where do you even get those weird items-..also...why are the lights off!..I can barely see you..I'm not even sure if I'm yelling at you!"
Naruto flicks the switch. The lights turn on. It burn Sakura's eyes a little but went away quickly. She notice the cards on the counter over the blanket. They had a orange cover.
"Who were you playing with?" Sakura asked forgetting about being angry with him.
"No one" Naruto states walking over to the cards but Sakura went to them first.
She was staring at them deeply. Naruto wonder what she finds so interesting about the cards. Sakura moved some cards around.
"49.." Sakura spoke.
Naruto eyes widen in shock. "How did she…" he thought. Sakura continued to look through all the cards.
"Seems like your missing a few…" Sakura said plainly.
She looks to Naruto and was surprised to see his reaction. It wasn't an expression she saw from him. He looked, nervous. She looks at the cards in her hand then remembering the lights being off and a strange voice he was speaking to earlier. After collecting the ideas in her head.
"..you cheated-" Sakura concludes and sees Naruto open the door.
"Well guess you should be leaving now" Naruto tells her behind the door. "The more you stay...you might catch my cold"
"But wait.." Sakura said placing the cards on the counter and walked over to Naruto. "Why were you playing a game with only 49 cards...was it necessary for the game to be 49?"
"No…" Naruto simply answers.
"Then you told who you were playing with that-" Sakura said but sees his head looking down. "You didn't...your a cheater"
"Hmm.." Naruto looks away because what she said was true.
He knew his deck was missing three cards. Though, it would be easy to figure out if the opponent sees the cards being given out in the right amount. Since it was dark enough that Ino wouldn't have been able to count how much he gave himself. There was also another trick. In the darkness, Naruto was able to slip a few cards in without Ino noticing. He wanted to finish the game and win against her. He chuckles softly since, he doesn't feel like he won.
"Maybe.." Naruto said to her. "I lost three cards in my deck...a long time ago.."
Naruto leans against the door frame looking at Sakura.
"I know what cards were lost though" Naruto spoke, closing his eyes.
Sakura sense that there something more deep about these missing cards than them being missing. He could have bought a new deck yet kept the old one. She feels goosebumps crawl on her arm. He might share a piece of his life with her. That made her heart flutter but it shouldn't.
"Anyways...short story i hate playing card games so you can go now" Naruto said polity, opening the door for her more.
A few seconds later, Naruto is met with a fist at his head. It made his mild headache worse.
"Awoo!" Naruto shouts rubbing his head.
Sakura punched him and left his apartment with a pissed expression.
"Don't expect me to do this again!" Sakura states walking to the staircase.
Naruto sighs wondering why she hit him with a fist. A slap would make sense but the end result what matters, he's finally alone.
"Ohhh"
Naruto eyes widen hearing a familiar voice behind him. He slowly looks over his shoulder to see Sara with a big smile on her face.
"Hey Narutooo" Sara said with a evil smirk.
Flashback
A few minutes ago, Sara didn't know which door was Naruto until one of the doors opened. She heard voices. One being Naruto and a girl. She hid herself in a corner after seeing an angry pink hair girl leave his apartment.
"Sakura?" Sara whispers to herself.
She wondered why Sakura was in Naruto's apartment. She didn't think they were close. Then she remembers what Ino told her. Though, if Sakura was only delivering his homework, it wouldn't take this long. This made her curious.
Flashback ended
"...w-why are you here?" Naruto said feeling a chill go down his spine.
"Well.." Sara said turning her head to where Sakura ran off to but notice how sick Naruto was.
"Maybe I'll ask him next time...he doesn't seem too well" she thought and shows him the bag.
"Thought this might help you with the cold" Sara said with a smile.
Naruto looks in the bag and notice a bowl container.
"It's leftovers from yesterday...was feeling soup so I made some for myself but had some left over…" Sara said but half of it was a lie, she saved some for herself to eat the next day.
"Uh...and your giving it to me?" Naruto asked not sure what to think of this.
"Yup" Sara answers, giving it to him.
Naruto takes it. He was grateful for this even though he doesn't show it. There isn't too much in the fridge for him to make anything. He sniffs and stares at the bowl of soup.
"Thank you" Naruto said softly.
"Your welcome.." Sara said starts walking back to the elevator. "Get well so you can come back to the clubroom"
Naruto hears the elevator open then close. He closes his door.
OOO
Ino sits in her chair. She was taping her desk. The card game she played with Naruto was on her mind and what he said. She stops tapping and pulls her desk drawer. There was a deck of cards in it with a purple cover. She had this deck for a long time. It was one of her treasured possessions and yet, they haven't been used. It was neatly stacked against the side wall of the drawer. If she remembers correctly, she stopped playing around the time when she moved.
The house she is living now is her second house. Her family decided to move closer to the city since her father works for a company in the city. Saves him time and money. Plus, it's closer to the high school. She touches her deck and pulls it out from its spot.
OOO
Naruto had the soup in the microwave to warm it up. There was a minute on it. Naruto stares at it and can already smell the delicious scent. However, he was freezing. He turns to his blanket that was covered with cards. He sighs and walks over it. He starts collecting is cards by ordering them to past the time.
First was all the twos, threes, fours, fives, six's until he reaches jacks. He looks at the cards that are left. The Kings, Queens and Aces. A total of nine cards. He smiles a little and collects the rest. He hears the bing noise. He slides the blanket off the counter and wraps it around him like a cape.
"Eat time now" Naruto said walking over to the microwave.
OOO
Once Ino lifted her deck, she noticing something underneath it.
OOO
In another apartment, a teen sits leaning against his chair. He had his head back with his eyes closed. A knock echoed his room.
"Be prepared for tomorrow…" said an older light tone voice behind the door.
The teen doesn't answer. He plays with a card in his hand. He was swirling it around his fingers without looking.
"...your going to be reunited with old friends...Sasuke"
Sasuke stops playing with the card.
"Which one..?" he asked in a low tone.
"The two blonds"
The door clicks, slowly being opened. Sasuke eyes widen a bit and flicked the card to the person coming in. The light gets switched open and the card gets trapped in between two fingers.
"Itachi..what did I say coming to my room" Sasuke said turning his chair to him.
Itachi softly chuckles and looks at the card thrown to him. It had a orange cover. He turns the face to him.
"The Ace of spades" Itachi read the card.
"What about the third?" Sasuke asked with his raven hair covering his eyes.
"Hmm...still holding a grudge?" Itachi asked, flicking the card back to him.
Sasuke caught it in between his fingers without raising his head.
"Well...hard not to forget what he did.." Sasuke said and gets up from his seat. "Oh well…"
Sasuke stares at the card and places it on his desk.
"You guys were young.." Itachi said and turning to the door. "You're too old to carry grudges"
"Heh" Sasuke said and smiles a little. "Maybe...but I wonder...how he feels.."
OOO
Naruto begins sipping his soup without any sound bothering him.
OOO
Ino picked up an orange covered card. She turns it around. It was the queen of hearts.
OOO
"When he thinks...we abandoned him" Sasuke said clenching his fist. "But I know the truth...who was the one to blame"
OOO
"Urgh!.."
Coins dropped onto a table where cards were placed. There was a guy laying his head down on the table, sweating.
"Careful there.." said a playful voice on the opposite side of the table making a card house. "You were about ruin my castle"
There was students in the background wearing a different uniform than Naruto and Ino wear. The one making the castle had white hair that was dyed on. Some black hair can be seen underneath it.
"Zane...p-please..one more" said the guy raising his head.
"Do you have more money?" Zane said placing the last card on top of his castle.
"Uh..i-"
"Thats all I need to hear...come back when you have more.." Zane said with an uncaring tone.
His castle was done. He smiles looking at the top card which was different from the rest. While the rest had black covers, the top one was orange.
"The king of diamonds" Zane said grinning. "My lucky card"