Disclaimer: Naruto manga rocks…but I, unfortunately, do not and will never own Naruto…a pity…
This chapter will feature brief crucial events that happened in Natsume's life when she was still a he at a young age.
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Chapter 14
16 years ago…
Two figures walked to the entrance of an orphanage, it was raining, and the two then looked at each other for assurance on the idea. A lightning struck as both of them nodded their heads in agreement. They then placed the two year old child on the curb, and ordered the other older sibling to stay there and ask for a place to live here. The older child was sensible though at the age of only ten, he nodded and waited at the curb for someone to come out. It took awhile but the boy stayed on, approached by a startled face. The friendly owner of the orphanage greeted them in, the wait was worth it.
The boy spent the most of his time taking care of his younger brother (that time Natsume was still Naruto) attentively. He made sure that his only sibling had the best possible nurturing. He tended to his every need when he was still a toddler, but when Naruto reached at about the age of eight, he taught his sibling how to be self-reliant. He then decided to find a job himself and earn some money.
"Nee-san…where are you going?" Naruto asked.
"I'm going to work…I need to earn money, you'll never know when a crisis will arise…it will also teach me to be even more independent"
"Please don't go to work Keiro nee-san…stay here with me…"
"Nope…you must learn to be alone by yourself, this society is stranded by so many modern day obstacles…be good okay…"
"Alright then…jaa…"
"Jaa-ne!" Keiro said, smiling and waving good-bye to his younger brother.
A year later…
It was raining that day, Naruto peered out of the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Keiro's silhouette. Naruto patiently waited till dinner but that did not deter him from waiting. Naruto quickly gobbled up his dinner and went back to the same spot. Eventually, at twilight, the sandman still managed his way to Naruto and engulfed him in the sands of dreams.
The next day, Naruto jutted up from his sleep, he had a nightmare. He dreamt that the grim reaper from hell appeared in front of Keiro and launched his scythe. Keiro's head rolled over to Naruto and the head spoke, "Don't cry when I'm gone, forget me and live life happily…"
B/G: (And when I'm gone, just carry on
Don't mourn, rejoice
Everytime you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that, I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And i didn't feel a thang
So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back
And when I'm gone, just carry on
Don't mourn, rejoice
Everytime you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that, I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And i didn't feel a thang
So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back...)
-When I'm gone (Eminem)
Naruto shook his head to get rid of the wooziness, he then continued to look-out for his brother. After a couple of hours, the nine-year-old Naruto saw a man walking to the door of the orphanage. Just before the man reached for the door-bell, Naruto opened the door.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking for a Naruto, I have a matter grave importance to tell him"
"Yea…I'm Naruto…"
"Okay…kid…take this calmly and in your stride okay…don't take this too hard little fella'…"
"What is it?"
"You see, your brother worked in the mine right? He met with a little accident and it cost his life…"
"What accident, what happened? Tell me…"
"An explosion occurred and your brother was taken by the flames of hell…my sympathies to you young one…"
After saying that, the man left, leaving Naruto to absorb what he had said. Naruto cried till he slept that day, even in his dreams, he was crying. He cried and cried and cried till a river was formed, Naruto then floated at the surface of the river and was picked off by the current. He floated until what seemed like an eternity when suddenly the alarm clock rang and he woke up. The alarm clock was the only present his brother gave to him, the day that Keiro got his first pay, he bought Naruto an alarm clock. Naruto looked at the alarm clock then began crying again. It took him awhile to get over those dark days and when the days of depression was finally over, Naruto made up his mind and decided to heed his brother's words and live life happy. This had spontaneously created Naruto's ever happy, ever optimistic personality.
Another year later…
Two people walked up the steps and pressed the doorbell. The owner of the place opened the door and invited the two people in. After some talking with the owner, the owner of the place led them to Naruto.
"Where's Keiro?" The female figure spoke.
"You see, during the time you were gone, Keiro died in an explosion whilst working in a mining site…"
"Oh my god…" The male figure said, holding the woman in his arms, with the woman crying.
"Come on Naruto, let's bring you to a proper home and get you fatten up" The man said.
"Who are you and why should I listen to you?"
"I'm your father and this here is your mother, I know it's a lot to take in at once but we are your parents and nothing can change that"
"Okay…but why, why did you have to leave Keiro nee-san and me by ourselves?"
"You see, back then, we were too poor to even fend for ourselves so in order not to drag both of you down with us, we decided that leaving both of you to an orphanage would be the only thing to let both sides survive on and since now, we both have a job and a house, we've come back to take you back with us"
"Hn…okay…I get the whole picture…just promise you'll never leave me again…"
"It's a deal…" Naruto's parents chorused, and then leaned forward to hug Naruto.
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Gomen…I know this chapter is a bit short…XP…also, answering Hikory's question, it's a community college…that solves it…oh…and most importantly, REVIEW!
What will happen in the next chapter? Hold on a second…what's that song I hear? (B/G: Olay olay olay olay olay…etc.) Yep that's right, it's the soccer season (return back to the present, people) and Natsume's a soccer fanatic? And what's more to come, she's does what? To find out what that 'what' is, wait patiently for the next chapter of 'ONE WISH'!