Chapter 5: Laughing Problems: Serve me Rose
I went to see Naruto at Ichiraku when Shino and Naruto came to get me. I was pretty surprised to the two together because they didn't really get along. At all. "Rose. Lady Tsunade wants to see us." Shino was standing perfectly straight while Naruto was catching his breath.
"Come on Rose! We finally got a mission!" Naruto was jumping for joy. We all went to see what this all important mission was. There was a women standing with Lady Tsunade and Shizuna.
"Oh good. Everyone this is Oka Nashgati. She has been asked to stay here for an agreement that will be settled between the Leaf Village and The Land of Gourds." The women was looking at me with a strange smile on her face.
"What is our mission?" It's not like I was rushing her ,but I was impatient to get going.
"Your mission is to her daughter Sera. She has been under the weather and we want you to cheer her up." Tsunade was looking very worried. There was more to this mission then just that.
"You see my daughter can't laugh. Literally. She has this condition that won't allow her to laugh at all. I want you to prove the doctors wrong and make her laugh. I made her laugh once ,but I forgot how." The women seemed to break down and I knew I needed to help her by completing this mission.
"I know you two are not the best at laughing ,but you're the only two I could get on short notice. Naruto can help you." Tsunade was right that we were not the best fun loving people. Shino never laughs and I have had rough times to learn not laugh at all. I loosened up since then ,but not that much.
"Yeah, he'll help a lot. We can just show the kid his face and she'll laugh herself silly." Naruto looked at me weird and Tsunade laughed so hard I thought she would fall of her chair. The women giggled a little and Shino smiled a little. At rare moments, only I could get Shino to smile at least. Once I made him laugh. Of course I promised not to tell anyone about those times.
"Thanks Rose. I'm touched." Naruto sarcasm at 12 o'clock. Besides the point. We needed to help that girl laugh.
"Lets go funny face." I drug Naruto across the floor and Shino followed. Naruto complained about wood burns ,but I was thinking about what might work on this girl. I know that Shino wouldn't be much help. He really isn't the type to make people laugh. Though he has sometimes ,but not on purpose. I walked over to the hotel where the girl was suppose to be. I knew I wouldn't be much help either. Naruto got up off the ground and he gave a angry look for not listening to him earlier.
"Now what?" Naruto was staring at the hotel just like me.
"We have to pick her up first." With that we went to the room and knocked. She opened the door and waited for a introduction.
"You must be Sera! I'm Naruto and…" He was interrupted by a door being slammed in his face. Nice. Naruto had scared our mission away.
"Sorry about him. Sera. It's ok we wont hurt you. We want to ask if want to play?" Sera opened the door and smiled. She wanted to play indeed. She walked up to me and asked my name in sign language.
"I'm Rose." I gave her hand a shake. She smiled and asked me to come in. We all went in to look at her home. It was very plain. The whole room was grey and white. I thought my body was losing its color. It was unbelievable. Her Mom wanted us to make her laugh when she lives in a jail cell. Then she brought me to her room. Now that made sense. Her room was colorful and very joyful. She asked me to help her pack.
"What is she asking?" Naruto was looking at the girls hand motions. He was definitely wondering what she was doing. He is so easy to read.
"She wants us to help her pack her stuff up. To come with us." The girl nodded her head and we helped her get everything she wanted. Shino stayed out of the girls room. Guess he likes the room that is quite. Oh well.
"There. All done." I was putting the last bit of clothing in her pack. The girl came up to me and asked me about Shino. She asked if he hated her. "No he doesn't. He likes quite places. It's not you." I wondered if he heard me. Oh well. He'll get over it. I took her hand and we all went to Ichiraku. Naruto was jumping up and down wanting me to hurry up so I could treat.
"Rose! Hurry up!" Naruto is really impatient. I went in and sat the girl into a seat. I wonder if she likes ramen. Slurp.. That answers that question. She's slurping up the ramen faster than Naruto. I looked over to Shino who was putting his chop sticks in the bowl. I wonder if he hates her.
"Sera. How old are you?" I wanted to get her comfortable around us. She held up seven fingers. "Seven huh. So what do you want to do today?" Lets see if she wants to do anything. She puts a finger to her chin then asks if we could go to a flower shop. "Sure Sera."
"What? Sure what?" Naruto was looking at me with big eyes.
"We're going to pay a visit at Ino's place." I knew Ino owned a flower shop and we could easily get what Sera wanted there. We finished our ramen and headed for Ino's flower shop. Sera was skipping along and humming a tune. Naruto had his nose up in the air. I think he was mad that I didn't treat. "Here it is." Sera looked up at the shop and smiled. She ran in and I followed. Naruto looked confused.
"Why would she want to go to a flower shop?" Naruto had his eyes closed and was scratching his head.
"Maybe she likes flowers?" I looked over to Ino who was looking at a magazine. "Hey Ino." I didn't want to make myself known ,but I had to be polite.
"Hey guys. What's going on?" Ino finally decided to pay attention to the shop. Sera was sniffing some daffodils.
"Were on mission. You?" Naruto decided that talking to Ino was better than not talking at all. Sera came up to me and asked to buy some flowers. I nodded yes and got out some money. I didn't pay any attention to what Ino and Naruto were talking about and Shino was standing near the entrance.
"Ino, Sera wants to buy some flowers." I put the money on the counter and went back to watching Sera sniff flowers and put them in her hand.
"Ok. Here's your change." Ino put my change in my hand and I went to grab Sera's hand and we would leave. Then Sera went up to Ino and gave her money for an extra flower and went up to Shino and gave him a blue carnation. She smiled and told me to tell him something.
"What she say this time?" Naruto watched the girl spell with her fingers.
"She wanted me to tell Shino that she's sorry that he has to take care of her." I looked at Sera then looked at Shino. Shino was staring at the flower and then nodded his head. Sera decided that Shino's hand looked inviting and we all went to see her mom.
"Now what? We need to make her laugh!" Naruto whispered in my ear pretty loudly. I had to look at Sera to make sure she didn't hear him. Man he's to loud for his own good! Thank god she did not here us.
"We need to take it slow." I wanted to tell him to shut up and watch. I decided to look at Sera instead. She seemed happy that Shino was holding her hand instead of pushing her aside. It's kind of weird ,but I think I'm kind of jealous. Oh well. Maybe I'm imaging things. We went to Lady Tsunade and Sera gave her the flowers. When I saw her look I knew she had something to tell us and we came at a good time.
"You three. I have an extension of your mission." Tsunade didn't look worried so it obviously wasn't that big a deal. "I need you to escort Sera to her home. In the Land of Gourds. Her mother had to leave sooner than she expected and asked me to ask you escort her."
"Yeah now that's what I'm talking about!" Naruto was obviously happy to have a mission worth his talents. I didn't really care as long as I got this kid to laugh.
"Good." Knock, Knock. "Come in." Tsunade didn't looked surprised that someone was at the door. It had to be someone she expected. Rock Lee walked in and he bowed. "Yes. Lee will be going with you as well."
"Yes maim." I didn't want Lee to come. Out of all the people she could have chosen, she had to choose the person I got along with the least. I guess I will have to endure.
"Lets go!" Naruto has such a very strong sense of RUSHING! I wish she would slow down for once. We all left the office and went to go and get the rest of Sera's stuff. I didn't want her to feel like she was just a mission ,but that's how I thought she felt. I left the hotel and decided to go get packed myself. Kikimaru wasn't there of coarse. No! I can't think of her right now.
"I wonder if the girl is lonely?" Why was I talking to myself? Oh well. I have to go and meet the others. I walked to the gate and waited. Maybe this mission would be a good chance to patch things up with Lee. I don't know but here comes the guys. Figures I would be surrounded by guys.
"Hey Rose! Ready to go!" Naruto was carrying Sera on his back. Guess she finally decided to give Naruto a chance. I walked over to him and picked her off his back and put her down. She seemed unhappy but I wanted to make a quick roll call. Naruto, here. Lee, here. Shino, here. Sera, here. Ok everyone's here. Now for the hard part. Getting started.
"Here Sera. Take my hand." She smiled and held my hand liked instructed. We went pasted the gate and Lee and Naruto decided to take it easy and talk about latest missions.
"Rose." I knew just what Shino was going to say. There was a rock on the side of the road. We have been on this road several times on missions. There was no rock there before. I put Sera on my hips and decided to talk to her in sign language. I asked her if she was lonely. She answered. Yes. She said her mom was never around and she never has time for what they used to do together.
"Hey Rose. What she say?" Naruto was used to looking at her hands moving. She looked at me in fear. I knew she didn't want me to tell him.
"She says that you have something in your hair." I watched as he pulled through his hair.
"Did I get it?" Naruto was looking at me with wide eyes.
"Yeah." I looked back at Sera. She was smiling and watching Naruto, who was still rummaging through his hair. I thought of something I could do to make her feel better. I said to her in sign language, You want to be my friend? Hey it worked for me ,right. She smiled and said yes. Right as said that I was tackled with kunai. I dodged and held Sera close to me.
"What the!" Naruto was throwing shuriken at a guy who was flying through the air. I watched as the guy fell to the ground and charged at me. Ok, not me. It was a shadow clone who was dodging that guys hits. I was sitting in a bush with Sera. She told me that if I had to go back into the action she would go with me.
"Right." I looked at her. She was smiling? In the heat of battle she was happy. She's strange one. I charged at the guy and hit him in the head. Lee was watching me because he was about to use his primary lotus. Woops…I dropped my guard to soon. The man dashed toward Lee and flung him to the cliff behind us. I let Sera down and ran to Lee. I caught him just in time. Lee looked at me for a second then smiled and gave me the thumbs up. I smiled back. Then the guy had been behind me and slashed his kunai at me. I threw Lee onto solid ground and rolled over so the kunai would hit the ground.
"Rose!" Shino was yelling for me. Why? Oh no! The cliff was collapsing from the blow. I felt myself fall through the air. The guy however would give me time for aw. He sliced at me through the air and I dodged and used my Iron Lotus to through him to the ground below us. A little to late. I crashed into the ground. I felt my body ache as the blow stung even harder. The ground under me was crumbling up and breaking up around me. I finally past out from the pain. I heard a lot of voices. One in particular stood out. Wait? I never heard it before. It's soft and barley there ,but I hear it. I opened my eyes.
"Rose?" It was Sera. The girl that was said that wouldn't be able to talk ever. "Rose? You…ok?" I shook my head. I think I said yes ,but I so dizzy I wasn't sure. Then I gave her the goofiest grin you could ever make. Sera laughed and then the others joined her. Shino of coarse stayed in the background, making sure the guy had no chakra left. I waited until we all stopped laughing to get up. I wobbled little ,but not much. We all walked to the Land of Guards. I was ready to tell the lady mission success.
"Oh my baby! Thank goodness your ok." The lady went and held Sera in her arms. I clamped my hand over Naruto's mouth so he wouldn't say anything about me.
"I would love to tell you mission success." I stood up straight and bowed. The lady looked at me and then at Sera.
"Mommy. I can talk." Sera got a big long look from her mom. I watched as she hugged the head of Sera. Then she decided I should get a hug too. I didn't mind as much as I thought I would. I waited for her to let go then I told her what happened. She hugged me again for protecting her precious baby. "Rose?"
"Yeah Sera?" I wonder what she wanted. She looked like she was sad.
"Will you have to go back to your village?" She looked at the ground. That surprised me. No one really cared if I came or went.
"Yes I have too." I wanted to say that I didn't ,but lets face it. I wanted to get out of there and leave before she asked me to stay. To late.
"Be my bodyguard Rose!" I looked at her for awhile. Her body guard? I would have to stay with her forever. I just isn't possible.
"I can't." I bent down to be eye level with her.
"I'll give you anything you want! I'll be your friend and take care of you!" She was desperate.
"I'll always be your friend. I'll come in visit how about it?" I wanted to make her feel better.
"Promise?" She was wiping away some tears. Promises are a big thing. Things that once you make them there is no breaking them.
"Promise." I took her pinkie and held it tight with mine. Naruto decided to join us and so did Lee. Heck even Shino decided to join the stack of pinkies. After we said our painful goodbyes we left for the Leaf. I made a new friend. I think she would be laughing for a long time.