'Off On a Good Start'...
"Dreaming is an odd thing. You can have one awake or asleep. You can have dreams where you can control anything, or have absolutely no control whatsoever. You have good dreams, and bad dreams. There are even 'wet' dreams. But have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, shaking, sweating, looking around the room for shadows that aren't there? Or woken up feeling terrified?
"And I don't mean scared as in you just watched the movie 'Ghost Ship' and are boating near the Bermuda Triangle. I mean you're fearing for your life. Imagine the most scared you've ever been, and multiply that by twenty. That's how it is for me. Pure Terror. And it lasts for quite a long time.
"They are called night tremors. I've had them since I was a baby in my crib. What's worse is that I can remember what I was so scared of. I remember all the monsters. All the shadows. All the terrors. I think that's why I'm not so scared of the monsters out there... Because I deal with the worst of them in here." - Pip, age 12. 7th grade presentation.
Pip didn't know what's worse: Waking up in a hospital, or waking up in a hospital, screaming. You would think there isn't a difference between waking up and waking up screaming. There's only one: when you wake up screaming, you end up with a brigade of people surround your bed asking a bunch of questions that really didn't make sense in the realm of half sleep.
And that's exactly what Pip had to go through at 5:36 AM.
About five people walked in yelling questions at her, while others used murmurs to try and soothe her. To Pip, it was just a bunch of mashed up noise. Slowly her screams faded down, and after a bunch of false smiles and reassuring lies the team of nurses left her alone.
One nurse stayed behind. Gently grabbing Pip's arm, she inserted a needle into it. Pip didn't even feel it go in, or notice that she pulled it out for that matter.
"Sorry I keep doing that." Pip laughed, embarrassed. The nurse looked up and smile lightly. Pip suddenly recognized her from the day before. "I guess you must be pretty fed up with putting the needle in me all the time."
"No..." the nurse replied quietly. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"What's your name?"
"Shizuka." again her voice was very quiet. Pip smiled. She wasn't timid at all, she just had a quiet demeanor.
"That's a pretty name." Pip sighed plopping down onto her pillows.
"Thank you. Yours is too. It's different." Shizuka pulled some tape out of a pocket and taped the tube connected to the needle in place. "There, it should stay now."
"Different is a good thing." Pip smiled and twisted her arm a bit to get used to the feel of the tape and to test its' hold. Shizuka smiled and nodded.
"Very good." Shizuka ran a hand over her auburn hair and yawned, trying to push back the stay hairs from her bun in place.
"Tired?" Shizuka nodded.
"Someone called in and I volunteered to take his place." she pulled the blankets over Pip. Pip snuggled into the bed and felt around for Chozu to cuddle into, only to notice the absence of the furry creature. Starting to panic she turned to Shizuka and asked where he was.
"I walked in earlier to change your IV and he was sitting by the window, scratching at it." Shizuka walked to the window and pulled back the curtain revealing the open window. "I opened it and he shot out. I figured he'd be back so I just closed the curtain so no one would notice." Pulling the curtains back to place she looked to the girl in the bed. Her voice dropped to a whisper,
"Where not allowed to leave windows open." Shizuka smiled "But I'm sure your raccoon knows how to get in. He's very smart" And with that Shikuza left the room, closing the door behind her.
Pip gave one last look to the covered window and closed her eyes.
"This is... Impossible!" Ibiki reread the papers in front of him for the third time. "There are absolutely no records of her! Nothing in the Bingo books, nothing in the civilian records. And no missing person reports in any other countries." Ibiki let the papers fall in front of the Hokage.
"And there was absolutely no DNA matches!" Ibiki continued, "Not even a distant relative." Ibiki leaned against the Hokages' desk, his hands supporting his weight on the edges.
"It's like she just appeared out of thin air."
The Hokage took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled slowly. Setting his pipe down he looked at a rather flustered Ibiki.
"Do you think she was lying when she spoke earlier?" Ibiki brought a hand up and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No. I could tell she wasn't lying. She was sincere." The Hokage nodded.
"That's what I thought too." The old man leaned forward, "Now this rises an important question. What do we do with her. We can't ban her from the village, that's cruel." the Hokage gave a look to Ibiki, who lifted his hands in defense.
"She could apprentice with a craftsman. Gujin the Weapons smith is looking for one!"
"I don't think she has any prior experience, and Gujin is very impatient. He might throw her on the anvil!" The Hokage chuckled taking another drag from his pipe. Ibiki sat in the over-stuffed chair mulling over several ideas. He kept coming to only one solution.
"It could be a huge risk, with having no information on her, or that could be a blessing, but I keep coming to the same conclusion over and over again." Ibiki leaned his head back in an exaggerated manner, "She should begin ninja training." The Hokage set his pipe down and laced his fingers together, resting his chin on them.
"Do you think that is wise?" The elder man had came to the same conclusion, but wanted to hear Ibiki's side of it.
"It's a risk, for all we know this may be some ploy to infiltrate us. I mean with absolutely no information on her it seems too convenient, but if she were to become a ninja, we could keep tabs on her for a time." Ibiki took a deep breath to gather his thoughts.
Unfortunately, she'll be starting much later then any of our ninja's." The Hokage closed his eyes and hummed in agreement before speaking.
"She could have a private tutor. She may never reach our level anytime soon but I think that will be a good thing." Ibiki nodded
"Who would tutor her though? Ebisu is with Konohamaru, and all Jounin who requested a team received them... even Kakashi passed his brats."
"I see several solutions. One we could put her in the academy and hopefully accelerate her forward. We could stick her in a three-man squad. Or...," the Hokage looked straight at Ibiki, "We could find someone to teach her." Ibiki's eyes widened noticeably.
"With all due respect sir, but I'm not teacher her." The Hokage stared him down a bit before giving a light smile
"I know, I wasn't going to ask you, But you reaction was funny." Ibiki sweat dropped.
"You cruel." The interrogationist grinned manically before sobering himself, "Who's going to teach her then?"
"I am." Ibiki stood quickly
"That is a bad idea sir. We have no information on her. There's a chance she no harm at all, but there's also the flip side of the coin. She could be a spy, or an assassin! We need someone to keep tabs on her, if you teach her she could have the opportunity to kill you!" the Hokage lifted his hand to silence the man.
"I will put her in an existing squad, while also tutoring her myself." Ibiki began to protest but was cut short, "And if your so worried about watching her... You have a two bedroom apartment don't you?" Ibiki's eyes widened again at what the Hokage was insinuating.
"Actually I remade that into a gym months ago" Ibiki said, praying his little white lie would work. The Hokage smirked.
"I will give funding for an apartment close to yours, that way you both get privacy and you can keep watch on her." Ibiki let out a breath of relief. "But we still have more to discuss. Who's team will she be on?"
Ibiki felt tonight was going to be a long night.
Pip was having the most lovely dream. She was in a city and she was free running. She was running along the side of the wall and wasn't falling off, and with every leap she seemed to soar across the star lit streets. It was really incredible until she felt a rain drop her forehead. Stopping at the edge of the building she looked to the sky. Another rain drop landed on her forehead, then another, and another. Soon the world seemed to melt under her feet and the drops got more frequent and forceful until Pip opened her eyes...
To a raccoon smashing something on her forehead.
"Chozu!" Pip rubbed her forehead with her arm and picked up the raccoon. Squishing him close her chest, earning a happy squeal from the bandit, she smiled. It felt nice to hug the furry little thing.
Setting him down, Pip looked around. Her curtains were pulled back and the window shut, a fresh IV drip was present and her door was open. From the hall she could here the murmur of voices. On the bedside table next to her there was a note. Picking it up she read it to her self
Chozu came back just fine, and he brought berries with him. When you wake up you can order breakfast. The Hokage will be seeing you today as well – Shizuka.
Pip smiled and set the note down. Looking over to Chozu, she grinned. Chozu had brought the berries that he had fed her when she was trapped under the log. They were in a neat little pile next to Pip's legs. Chozu held one up to her, which Pip took happily. Hopping out of bed, Pip strolled to the bathroom. There was a baggie full of bathroom necessities; brushes, combs, soap, and so on, so forth. Taking out the comb, Pip started the very difficult task of brushing her hair, she had a habit of thrashing her head in her sleep. This led to what Kip would call 'Medusa hair'. Brushing through the massive knots was a breeze. Pip was used to the pulling and tugging that she almost didn't feel it.
Grabbing a green hair tie from the bag Pip began the difficult task of french braiding her hair. After about fifteen minutes of twisting she had a decent hold and from what she could see it looked okay. Tying the hair tie in place, she looked at her hair. Some of Pip's bangs had escaped the plaiting process and now hung in front of her face, but it didn't look too bad so Pip just let it be. Taking out the tooth brush and toothpaste, Pip brushed her teeth and washed her face. Her clothes didn't smell dirty but they did look a bit wrinkled. Nothing too bad though. Pip grabbed the bag and left the bathroom.
Chozu curled up on Pip's pillow, sleeping. Walking to the window, Pip opened it, letting a nice breeze into the room. Stretching Pip felt her back pop in several places, the further back Pip stretched the more it popped. Soon Pip was nearing a back-bend when she heard someone clear their throat. Pip twisted her body and stood up in one maneuver, earning little black dots to pepper her vision. Shizuka stood at the door with her hands behind her back. Kabuto was standing slightly behind her, giving off an ominous aura. Pip felt her spine tingle, but for the sake of social grace, tried her best not to glare.
"Morning Shizuka," Pip smiled "Kabuto." Pip nodded. Shizuka smiled lightly and waved, while Kabuto smiled and walked into the room. Pip, out of natural reflex turned to the side to make herself a smaller target, keeping her self on guard. A voice in the back of her head said he was not to be trusted, and she believed it to be true.
"I trust your feeling better?" His voice was smooth but had a slight edge to it.
"I feel much better thank you." Pip struggle to keep her voice even and not let any hint of accusation through. "I'm just a bit hungry is all." Kabuto nodded.
"Well send someone up with some food. Anything in particular you want?" Pip shrugged.
"I don't suppose you have grits and jelly do you?" Kabuto gave her an odd look.
"What are grits?" Pip almost cried.
"Never mind. Just send up what you think is good." Kabuto turned to Shizuka and said to bring up some food. Turning back to Pip he asked her to sit on the bed. Nodding but feeling hesitant, Pip sat on the edge positioning herself for an easy escape. Just in case.
"You don't like me very much do you?" Kabuto lift Pips' arm and looked at the clock on the wall while he placed two finger on her wrist.
"What makes you think that?" Pip laughed. 'Busted!'
"Well, you glare at me anytime you see me, you always have an edge to your voice when you talk to me, and when I got close to you stood in a defensive stance as if expecting me to attack." Pip sighed.
"I'm sorry it's just... I don't know I just feel out of place and everything is so strange. I mean ninjas? A-and your hand glowing, and...," Pip hung her head in shame "I'm sorry."
She always lived with really only one rule. Don't judge people. And she almost never did. Of course she had little slip ups here and there (in her defense they were usually just as she thought them to be), but this guy did nothing to her but take care of her.
Kabuto put a hand on her shoulder. Pip ignored the feeling of crawling flesh and looked at him. He had a sincere smile on his face but a voice in the back of her head was screaming bloody murder, saying 'Get away!'
"It's okay Ainfean, you're just confused. I think anyone in your position would be more then a little defensive." Kabuto removed his hand and reached for a thermometer and stuck it in Pips' mouth.
"I just think it's odd you only treated me like that." Kabuto had a hurt look on his face.
"Nu uh! I I threated Ebebkeh thuh thame way!" Pip wrinkled her nose at the way that came out. She didn't think a thermometer would obscure her voice that bad. Kabuto was laughing at her expression and removed the thermometer.
"What was that?" he raised an eyebrow.
"I said 'Nu uh I treated Ibiki the same way'." Pip shrugged her shoulders sheepishly as Kabuto nodded his head.
"So I've heard. You do know hes the village interrogationist. The best there is." Pip nodded.
"And? He really isn't that scary." Kabuto raised an eyebrow pulled a clipboard off a cart Pip didn't even notice was there.
"Really? We have criminals in jail that start to cry when they here his name." Pip snorted.
"Really? That seems highly unlikely." Pip grabbed the clipboard that Kabuto handed to her.
"I need you to fill those out. Name, age, sign, blood type, things like that." Pip looked up and quirked an eyebrow at him
"My sign? If I didn't know any better I'd say you were flirting." Kabuto rubbed the back of his head and blushed a bit.
"W-well you know, you very cute."
"How old are you?" Pip asked pulling a pen that was sticking out from Kabutos' pocket.
"I'm twenty-three." Pip began to fill out the papers
"Ah, sorry I'm seventeen." Kabuto looked shocked.
"You look older!" Pip looked up and laughed.
"That's a first! Some girl yesterday said I looked younger. As well as every one else I know."
"Oh... Well when Is your birthday?"
"Aren't you just going to read my file anyway?" Kabuto said a silent 'Oh'
"Well, Shizuka should be up any moment and unfortunately you aren't my only patient."
"Don't like your job?" Kabuto shook his head and pushed his glasses up that had slipped a bit low.
"Oh no I love it, It's just I wont be able to spend as much time with you." He gave that creepy smile again and headed for the door. As soon as he left Pip felt as if the room brightened up and the ominous aura left with the medic. Pip would try and give him a chance but she still felt something was off with him.
Pip sat for a few minutes filling out the papers until someone knocked on the door. 'Please don't be Kabuto. Please don't be Kabuto. PLEASE don't be Kabuto!' Pip opened a door to reveal a smiling Shizuka holding two steaming bowls.
"May I come in?" Pips' mouth watered while she stepped aside letting the nurse in. Shizuka set the bowls down and pulled two spoons from her pocket and stuck them in the bowls.
"I hope you like okayu!" Shizuka picked one up and began to delicately eat her food. She sat in the chair next to Pip's bed, while Pip walked over, sat down and tentatively lifted the spoon to her mouth. It was rice that's for sure but it tasted a bit sweet but it was very good. So while Shizuka ate her food delicately, Pip shoveled the food into her mouth without mercy. The poor food didn't stand a chance. After about five minutes of silence Pip burped rather loudly. Covering her mouth she looked over to Shizuka who was staring at her wide eyed.
Pips faced turned bright red, then she began to laugh at her embarrassing little moment. Shizuka began to laugh too, then out of no where she burped. There was an awkward silence again. Until both over them doubled over harder then before, laughing manically. They both failed to notice the Hokage and Ibiki enter the room.
Pip was having troubled breathing and was turning even redder then she was before and Shizuka was had tears in her eyes. Finally when the two began to calm down a bit more The Hokage cleared his throat, catching the girls by surprise. Pip looked over to the men and tired her best to sober herself up. Shizuka stood and grabbed the bowls. She bowed to the Hokage and left the room.
"I see you've made a friend." the Hokage smiled and took the chair that Shizuka was in previously. "As you may know, you can't live here forever. So Ibiki and I talked at length last night and came to a conclusion. You'll begin ninja training in one week's time. During that time, you will spend a day with a few of our Jounin and see which team you would prefer to train with. You will not be a part of the team officially, and will not go on all the same missions as them. You will also begin training with me." Pip was silent through this whole thing. She was absentmindedly petting Chozu, who was making a purring noise of content.
"Um, Mr. Hokage, I don't think I'm ninja material. Could I be a cook somewhere. I'm good at that!"
"Since you will not be doing mission on a regular basis, you must get a part time job. We will talk with the proprietor about your situation. We have picked out an apartment for you. It is close to Ibiki so that he may check up on you from time to time. If he deems you to not be a threat you may move out or stay. And you will also be allowed to be a full fledged ninja if you wish. I know you may not want to be one, but this is my decision. And it's final."
"Won't I be a few years behind? Didn't you tell me kids start training when they are like what, five?" Pip didn't like the idea of becoming a ninja at all. It sounded exciting but throwing herself into something as dangerous becoming a ninja.
"Not to sound as though I'm bragging, but I'm the strongest ninja in the village. The leader of this village. If I were to train you, you would excel far faster than anyone within my village." The Hokage had an air of strength about him, and for a moment, Pip swore she saw a younger version of him flash behind him.
"There's no way out of this?"
"No. I'm sorry." Pip sighed.
"So...When do I start exactly?"
The Hokage left after a giving Pip a list of thing to buy, money to buy the things on the list, as well as food to stock up in her new apartment, and instructions to her new apartment. Shizuka came by a little afterward to talk.
"Hello, Pip." She was quite as usual, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Hey! What's up?"
"I just came by to tell you goodbye. Your visitors from yesterday are here to take you to lunch."
"How did you know about them taking me to lunch?" Pip asked.
"The short blonde one was talking, quite loudly about it. Arguing with the other boy on where to take you I think." Shizuka closed her eyes and smiled. "I have a gift for you!" She pulled a wad of cash behind her back and held it out. "I got my paycheck today and thought you could use it more then me." Pip stood wide eyed at the gesture.
"I couldn't! Besides the Hokage gave me money to bu-" Shizuka interrupted.
"He gave you money to buy only the essentials. Food, some clothes, equipment I suppose too right?" Pip again looked shocked "News travels fast when Momichi is on duty. She has a habit of eavesdropping."
"Still it's you money an-" Shizuka interrupter again.
"And I choose what I want to do with it. Buy yourself something. Donate it. Put it in the trash. It's yours." Shizuka shoved it into Pips hand with a air of finality. Smiling at the quiet and generous nurse, Pip grabbed her into a bear hug, catching the nurse off guard.
"I'll repay you soon!" Pip let Shizuka go, who, with a gentle smile, left the room. Pip pulled her wallet from her back pocket and stuffed the money in the already full wallet. Walking over to Chozu she nudge the scrawny little thing awake. Chozu sat up, stretched, and scratched at the bandana around his neck, causing it to come loose. Pip smiled and retied the clothe around the bandits neck.
"Come on, Chozu. It's time we leave this room." Chozu squealed and clambered up Pip's arm to and curled around her neck like a fur scarf. Pip looked around the room one last time and headed out the room.
Heading down the hall she could hear a familiar voice shouting out, though she couldn't make out what they were saying. Quickening her pace to a jog she turned the corner to see a waiting room and the quartet from yesterday. Naruto was pouting as Kakashi scolded him about something, Sakura was standing next to the adult looking slightly smug, and Sasuke was... well just sitting in a chair looking bored as usual. He was facing Pips direction, so he was the first to see her there.
"Hey!" Pip said happily, drawing the attention of the group. Naruto's pout turned into a huge grin as he bounced his way over to Pip.
"HEY PIP! Are you ready to go? What do you want to eat? You should try this ramen place I know! Hey Chozu!" Pip couldn't believe how fast the little boy could talk... or how loud for that matter.
"Naruto, give her some air. This is the first time shes about to set foot outside of the hospital." Naruto backed away sheepishly at Kakashi words.
"So... Where are we going to eat?" Pip asked looking to the jounin.
"Where ever you want. It's up to you." Kakashi said, the tone of his voice made it seem like he was smiling.
"Well, I don't know what I want. I know for a fact the food here is completely different then from my home, so why don't one of you choose." At her last words Naruto began to bounce on the heels of his feet. Kakashi sighed.
"Alright Naruto, lead the way."
"ALRIGHT!" Naruto shouted and grabbed Pip's hand, dragging the poor ginger quite a ways with out stopping. Pip stumbled a few times and looked back to the others, who merely smirked, smiled, or sweat dropped at the scene. Poop Chozu was barely able to hang onto Pips' shoulder. After what seemed like miles, Naruto came to a stop at a two story building. The top looked like a house, while the bottom was open. Pip could see bar stools and smell something cooking. Beef broth and steamed vegetables. Pip couldn't help but drool.
"Here we are! Ichiraku Ramen! The best place to get ramen in the whole world!" Pip wasn't really paying attention. She walked past the banner and took a seat. There were two people behind the counter, and older man and a young women. Naruto bounded in and took the seat left of Pip, then Sasuke entered and took the only seat right of Pip. Sakura came in and with a look of disappointment and a glare at Pip, took the seat next to Naruto, who was beaming. Kakashi sat next to Sakura.
"If it isn't my favorite customers!" the old man had a bowl in his hand and was drying it off with a rag. "And you brought a friend." The old man smiled at Pip.
"Yeah! This is Pip! We found her in the forest! This is her first time out of the hospital so we brought her here to eat!" Naruto through his arm over Pip, who was completely flushed from embarrassment. The old man, turned to Pip with a scrutinizing glare, then held his hand out with a wide smile. Pip shook his heand.
"Well any friend of Naruto's is welcome here! Tell you what, you can order anything you want, on the house!" Pip shook her head.
"That's okay! The Hokage gave me some money so I can pay!" Pip pulled out her wallet and opened it to show her point. Naruto's eyes nearly popped out their sockets.
"H-he gave you that much?" Pip shrugged.
"Yeah. To buy weapons, and clothes, and food for my new apartment."
"Please I insist that your meal be free." the old man crossed his arm and smiled. Pip knew there would be no changing his mind. "Now what do you want?"
"I'll have a miso ramen, please." Sakura said.
"Me too." Kakashi added. He had pulled out his book at some point and was reading it.
"I'll have a shio ramen." Sasuke said. 'That's the most that I've heard him say!'
"Three tonkostu ramens for me please!" Naruto shouted out, slamming his palm on the bar. The old man looked to Pip.
"Umm... One shoyu ramen, please." Pip still felt very uneasy about not paying for the ramen, but decided to just leave an extra large tip. From her seat at the bar she had a clear view of the old man and younger women preparing the food. Pip couldn't help but smile at the proceedings. It was like being on Iron Chef America. It was Pip's dream to be a contestant. Pip was so with entranced by the flailing of knives and the smell of soy sauce and spices that she didn't notice herself rising out of her seat to get a better look, or Kakashi directing a question at her.
"PIP!" a voice yelled in her ear. Pip was startled, so much so that she lost her balance and fell onto the counter in a heap.
"Ow..." came her muffled voice. Chozu had jumped off Pips shoulder when they first sat down and was staring at Sasuke (much to the raven haired boy's annoyance), until he heard Pip's 'Ow'. He turned his body to Pip and made an almost human snickering sound, before petting Pip's head.
Sitting up she turned to Naruto, who was covering his mouth with both hands. His face bright red. Pip sighed.
"Go ahead. Laugh." Naruto busted out howling.
"We've been calling your name for five minutes now! You looked like you had stars in your eyes!" Naruto pointed to Pip, "Got the hots for the old man?" At his comment Sakura caught Naruto with a right hook. The blonde fell onto the counter just as Pip did. Even giving the same little muffled ow.
"Sakura-a-a-a!" Naruto whined. Sakura merely huffed and turned forward, ignoring the whimpering blonde.
"As Naruto said, we've been trying to get you attention." Pip Turned to Kakashi who had put his book away and was giving Pip his full attention. Chozu had moved to Naruto and was playing with his messy hair.
"Yes?"
"You said the Hokage gave you money for clothes, food and weapons. Are you going to become a ninja?" at Kakashi's revelation, everyon e turned an ear to Pip. Even to two cooks behind the counter.
"I have to. It's sort of like probation." Pip sighed. "I'm going to spend some time with each of the jounins and their teams. Then I'll pick one to train with. I will go on some of the same missions but not all of them. In that time I'll be working somewhere part time and also training with Mr. Hokage." the teams, as a whole, eyes widened.
"You'll be training with the Hokage!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Yeah. He says that if I train with him I'll learn quicker." Pip said, shrugging her shoulders. "Ibiki didn't seem to like the idea. When the Hokage told me about training he got the look on his face. Like he just ate a lemon." Pip imitated the face the best she could earning a laugh from Sakura and Naruto, maybe even a smile from Kakashi it was heard to tell from behind his mask and the headband thing.
"Here you go! Two miso ramens, three tonkostu ramens, one shio and one shoyu ramens." Pip gasped at the size of the bowls. How in the hell was Naruto going to eat all of that.
"Believe me, he'll eat all of that and more." Pip turned to Sasuke who nodded his head to Naruto before pulling apart his chopsticks, and eating his food. Pip turned to her food only to see Chozu's head in the bowl, chowing down on her noodles.
"Chozu!" Pip cried out. "Why are you always eating my food!" Chozu popped his head out of the bowl, a noodle was in his mouth and one was dangling from his muzzle. Chozu reached into the bowl and grabbed a handful of noodles out, reaching out for Pip to take them. Sighing but smiling, Pip grabbed them.
"I'll make you another bowl." The old man offered, turning back to his work.
"So where are you staying?" Sakura asked.
"Umm... I don't really know. All I know is that it's close to Ibiki." Pip said, watching Chozu slurp up her soup, occasionally pulling out a noodle or vegetable to hand to Pip, who would place it back into the bowl when the raccoon wasn't looking. 'I'm going to have to give him a bath. I'm going to have to go shopping... I don't like shopping' Pip began to think about the list of things she would need.
"I don't want to go shopping!" Pip cried out loud.
"Shopping?" Sakura asked. Looking around Naruto to Pip.
"I don't really like shopping. I wont go shopping unless I absolutely have too." Pip pulled the out of her front pocket and folded it it open. "I have to get weapons which I've never used. Then I have to go food shopping, which really isn't so bad because I love cooking. I'll know exactly what I want to get. But then the dreaded clothing shopping." Sakura eyes sparkled.
"I can help you out! I love clothes!" Pip smiled a little too wide.
"I don't think that would work, Sakura..." Sakura face fell.
"Why not?" Pip raised an eyebrow.
"Umm... Look at your style, and look at mine." Pip was wearing dark colours, while Sakura was completely covered in pink. Sakura said a silent 'oh' before turning back to her food, obviously disappointed.
"But I would appreciate the help." Pip said, earning a smile from the girl.
"Here you go." the old man had brought her another ramen with a smile on his face.
"Thanks! I'm sure it delicious, seeing as these two seem to love it." Pip gestured to Naruto and Chozu who were eating in much the same fashion. Shoveling it in there mouths.
"Thank you, Miss. I'm sorry but I heard you said you needed a part time job, correct?" Pip nodded. "Can you cook well?" Pip couldn't help but get a little smug.
"I've been cooking for me and my grandfather for five years now. If I was a bad cook, he would have told me so. Trust me, he really would have." Kip could be brutally honest.
"Well me and my daughter were talking and we could use an extra hand around here." Pip face lit up!
"Really? Please say your not joking!" the old man smiled.
"You can start next week. I'll have you on dish duty until you can prove you can cook." Pip did a rather girly squeal.
"Thank you!" the old man just nodded his head with a smile and returned to cleaning the rest of the bowls. For the next few minutes the group sat in comfortable silence, eating there food. An odd thought struck Pip after catching a glimpse of Kakashi in the corner of her eye. 'How does he eat with that mask on... Wouldn't he take it off?' Pip caught herself trying to see if Kakashi would take it off, only to be blocked by his book. Pip eventually gave up and finished eating.
By this time, Naruto had finished all three of his bowl and had ordered a fourth from the old man. It took him no time to finish that one either.
"Ahh, that's the stuff." Naruto smiled and put a hand on his stomach. "Wasn't that great Pip?"
"Very good. Where I'm from the only ramen you can get is instant. And it's not that great." Pip pulled out her wallet and left a generous tip for the old man, while the rest of the group paid for their food.
"Well I'd love to stay and chat but I have to be somewhere." Kakashi stood up and lifted his hand in a odd gesture. "Later." He disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Pip's jaw dropped at the scene.
"Lazy jerk." Naruto said behind Pip. "Come on Pip, We'll help you shop!"
"Really? First we better find where I live. I don't want to buy everything then loose it all sleeping on the street." Pip pulled out a map Ibiki had given her. It was an over view of the village, with merely a red circle signaling where she lives. The teens had from a semi circle behind, looking at the map over her shoulder.
"Some help he is." Pip heard Naruto mumble.
"That's about a mile from where I live." Sasuke said. Pip turned her head to him.
"Do you mind showing me the way there then?"
"Whatever." Sasuke put his hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant. Pip smiled widely and gave him a quick hug before turning to Sakura, who was giving her a pitiful excuse of a glare.
"Ready to go shopping?"
I'm so sorry for taking so long again =( I've been busy. Thank you for the reviews and for being patient. I know exactly what I'm going to do for chapter five so it will be very soon. This chapter is a bit longer to make up for the delay so I hope you enjoy.