WARNING! TRIGGERS AND JUST CRAPPY FEELINGS ALL AROUND
AN: Thank you so much for your reviews! I'm glad you guys are liking it so far :D Here's another chapter! Sorry for being so late! I got slammed with work :( Hope you enjoy this one!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!
Chapter 5:
"The course is about a kilometer long, with various traps and obstacles you will need to get over. I will start the timer whenever you begin, so you may start when you are ready." Iruka said this with an encouraging smile and nod as he moved slightly to the side of the first obstacle.
Nodding I looked at the first obstacle which was a tall wall about fifteen feet tall with a few logs at the top disappearing off into the trees. With a deep breath to center myself I held myself loosely as I sprinted towards the wall and hoisted myself up after a chakra enhanced jump so my fingers could reach the top. The next two minutes involved a fast paced sprint through the various obstacles making sure to flow around obvious traps and being sure not to trip any wires.
Reaching the end I breathed heavily with my hands on my head looking over to find Iruka-sensei looking at me in astonishment. Looking back to be sure I didn't trigger anything I looked back with my eyebrows furrowed. "Did I do something wrong?"
Iruka-sensei seemed to shake himself before saying, "No, no! Not at all. I've just never seen a student who has never seen the course run this so fast without tripping any wires or traps! Very well done! If it wasn't required to at least have one year of attendance I would graduate you right now. I would put your skills to be at least mid genin level, and if you are half as good at wielding your swords as you are at taijutsu that would raise you to high genin, really low chunin. Keep up the hard work Harusame-san. This was a very impressive show of your skills! I will recommend that you be put into the graduating class to the Hokage. On Monday when you arrive at 7:30 come to my classroom as I have that class this year. I look forward to seeing you grow Harusame-san. I will see you Monday." Bowing towards him I watched in slight bewilderment as he made his way back to the academy with a backwards wave.
Rubbing my face tiredly I limped my way home favoring my side from where his kick had gotten me. Pausing in the doorway I looked down the hallway where I could feel the largest chakra I'd ever felt, it felt like sunshine and hope but with a tinge of sadness and longing. Ignoring the almost magnetic feeling drawing me towards it I entered my apartment to shower and change before heading to the hospital.
Stepping onto Okaa-san's floor I nodded at the nurses before making my way to her room. Jerking to a stop with my hand on the doorknob I took notice of two extra chakra signatures. One was the odd/dangerous shinobi from before, and the other was a sad/lightening chakra I had never felt before. Okaa-san's chakra felt muted with drugs, but panicked as well, so awake but not liking whatever the two talking were saying and apparently had been given enough medicine to not have an episode, but not enough to put her to sleep.
Hearing murmurs followed by Okaa-san's panicked angry voice yelling, "What did you do with my Raiu-chan? I didn't bring her here to trap you! She's mine! You didn't even want your own sensei's kid. I won't let you make Raiu-chan feel unwanted, give her back! What did you do with my baby?"
Deciding enough was enough, I pulled out the life like doll with a seal on the back of the neck that I had bought with Inori-san's approval. I applied the illusion to make it look like a sleeping baby with my hair and eyes. Ignoring the fear that was threatened to overwhelm me, I opened the door with a barely there, "Excuse me, the nursery is closing for the day Oka...Harusame-san. I have brought back Raiu-chan for the night." Ignoring the two now stock still shinobi with their wide eyes I made my way to Okaa-san's tearful side.
"Thank you so much! I thought something awful had happened to her. I woke from a, a terrible nightmare and then, these two were here. I didn't know what to think. Mama's here Raiu-chan, my little star." Watching Okaa-san start to rock and hum to a doll she thought was me caused my eyes to burn and my throat to close up.
Clenching my hands I cleared my throat before saying softly, "Please leave. She does not need any added stress, which you two are clearly causing her."
"But Raiu-san!" Maito-san cut off when I flinched back from his outstretched hand. Watching with slightly panicked eyes as the silver, like my own, hair stiffly pulled him back with a pained expression in his one eye showing above a mask fitted over his face. He nodded at her and pulled Maito-san behind him as they quickly left. Looking back to Okaa-san when the door clicked shut behind them I swallowed the lump of fear and moved to sit beside the bed ignoring how the two were lingering outside the door.
Pulling out the intricate blanket I was working on I spoke softly, "Harusame-san, I am ready for my next lesson. Which stitch should I use for these designs again? I want to add seals into the designs as well if possible."
Okaa-san exclaimed happily and the next three hours passed with her gentle coaching and humming to the doll. The two shinobi left after about fifteen minutes though the sad/lightening chakra had grown progressively more grim and pained listening to us and seemed to sadden further every time I stumbled over calling Okaa-san by Harusame-san.
I hugged Okaa-san and gave her the finished blanket inscribed with the calming, warmth, and durability seals as "thanks" for the lesson. A few tears escaped when I felt her arms squeeze me just like she used to. With one last wave I closed the door behind me and sagged against the door covering my face tiredly. Straightening up I jerked when suddenly there was a sad/lightening/grim chakra right in front of me. A pained sound escaped me when he made as if to steady me, but his hand stopped mid-air and slowly lowered back to his side, his chakra going unnaturally still as he stood looking slightly lost on what he should do next.
With a slightly trembling hand I rubbed at my mouth trying to erase the tenseness from it before giving it up for a lost cause. "I wouldn't have rejected you. We, your Okaa-san and I had a drunk conversation when I was not at my highest point. If," here I shook my head and put my hands up to stop him.
Breathing slightly frantically I couldn't really focus on anything he was saying as he was standing too close. "Please. Please step back." My voice trembled and shook before I swallowed. His mouth snapped shut as an intense look was shot my way before he carefully and deliberately took two, then three steps back. When I stopped shaking so badly he looked slightly confused before his chakra shot through with pure devastation as he took in the way I stood with my arms hugging my arms hugging my middle, side to him, and eyes darting towards all exits. Hearing a pained sound I took stock of myself before realizing it was him that made the noise. Scanning him I looked for any injuries before realizing he was staring at my posture in horrified realization.
Shame exploded within me as I realized he had somehow figured out what had happened. Setting my jaw I tilted my chin up and stiffly regarded him as he noticed me staring at him. His chakra went on lock down causing me to twitch away slightly. "I apologize. I did not mean to cause you any distress." He shifted as if not knowing what to do with his newfound realization. Looking at him I realized he couldn't be more than 26 or so. That's two years younger than I had been before I wound up here. Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding I relaxed my shoulders slightly, "It's ok. It's just been a very long day. How may I help you?"
He nodded before hesitantly asking, "Would you be willing to meet up after you have had time to settle in? I would very much like to get to know you if you are willing? There is a very well known BBQ Restaurant near the Hokage's Tower owned by the Akimichi Clan that I can make a reservation at?" Noting how he sounded so sincere and seeing as it was a very public place within close proximity of the Hokage, I carefully nodded. "Would, would tomorrow for lunch be acceptable?" The hopeful lilt to the question caused me to begin nodding before I thought too hard about it. Getting what looked to be a smile he carefully stepped back and waved, "It's settled then, I shall see you at Akimichi BBQ at twelve o'clock tomorrow. Thank you for giving me a chance. Have a good night Raiu-san."
Blinking after him I didn't know how to feel, sensing Yamanaka-san's calming chakra I turned lost eyes towards where she had seemingly appeared from no where. "Do you mind following me to my office? I have something to discuss with you," Nodding I followed her quiet footsteps in a slight daze. Finding myself sitting in the big squashy chairs in Inori-san's office I allowed myself to sink into them. Looking up I took note of her sad eyes before she blanked them and stated, "I have received your test results back and Hatake-san is indeed your Otou-san. What you do with this information is up to you." Here she hesitates before slowly saying, "I'm not sure what happened between your Okaa-san and Hatake-san so long ago but he is a good man. If you ever have any questions or worries about him, feel free to ask me whatever. You can probably ask just about any other shinobi about him as well."
I nodded my head, bowed and excused myself. Wandering back in the direction of my new home lost in thought I didn't sense the huge chakra rocketing down the hallway towards me as I stopped in front of my doorway, until it slammed into me that is. Thinking quickly I stuck to the person using chakra and flipped us so instead of crashing to the ground we flipped completely over and landed back on our feet. There was a confused pause before the chakra shot through with nervous anticipation and slight fear, "Ah! I'm so sorry! I didn't expect anyone else to be here!"
Pausing as I waited for my panic/fear to kick in my eyes widened as all I felt was warmth, it was a slightly familiar warmth, strangely reminding me of my Suna friend with green-sad eyes and hair as red as the brightest fire. When the blonde boy in front of me started to back away saying, "I really am sorry. I'll just, go now." He looked really dejected as he turned to leave.
Without thinking I reached for his hand, "No, please wait!" Looking down in bewilderment as the warmth, so familiar, completely enveloped me as soon as I made contact soothing my frayed soul in a way I didn't think possible anymore. Tears of relief filled my eyes and spilled over causing the blonde to flail his other hand and panic a little. Smiling at him gratefully I bowed while still holding his hand tightly. "I'm so sorry, but do you mind staying with me for a little while? I didn't think I'd ever be able to hold someone's hand again. Especially one so warm." I blinked then went over what I said. Letting go quickly I blushed mortified at how I, a grown ass woman, had clung to a child in desperate hope, ignoring how without his hand I grew so cold again. "Ah, ah I'm so sorry please ignore me, today has been very trying, I should not drag you into this Sunshine-kun."
Turning to flee into my apartment I heard his confused mumble, "Sunshine-kun? Eeh?!" Before just as I was stepping into my apartment his warmth grabbed my hand again and he said, "It's okay! If we become friends we can hold hands all the time Hime-chan!" The absolute hope that encompassed him caused me to blink in surprise then squeeze his hand.
"Hai! I would very much like that Sunshine-kun. My name is Harusame Raiu, I am very pleased to meet you." Holding his hand still I turned and smiled at the one person who had managed to drag me out of the darkness with just a touch.
With a blush Sunshine-kun sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Ah, my name is Uzumaki Naruto, and I am going to be the next Hokage dattebayo!" Though he was still smiling she could feel the nervous expectation of rejection already filling him.
Tilting my head to the side I said, "I look forward to the day you do. I will help you train to the best of my ability." With that said I held out my pinkie solemnly, his eyes went wide before a giant grin split his face as he hooked his pinkie with mine, and that is how I met the boy who saved my life. With him near me that night, after we built a fort of pillows in my living room, I let myself begin to heal, both from the brutal rape and from being blown to pieces with all of my friends lying in pieces around me from before. With his hand in mine I cried and laughed and allowed myself to just be. I explained how my Okaa-san and I had been hurt real bad, and how she was in the hospital and didn't remember me, how I was so scared and worried over meeting with the man who was supposed to be my father the next day, and he told me about being kicked out of the orphanage at six. How the Hokage found him, and how he was in his last year at the academy and would definitely graduate this time, and painfully explained how he had already failed twice. The awe I felt was equally mirrored in his chakra letting me know for whatever reason, he needed this friendship just was much as I did. Falling asleep with our hands still intertwined I let a relieved smile cross my face, we would be okay. Things would work out, especially now that we had each other.
AN: Done! I hope you enjoyed it! I'm up to 49 out of 100 pages handwritten, it just takes me a little longer to type it out as I don't always have access to a computer. Thank you for being patient with me! :D
