Naruto drearily stared out the window at the torrential downpour casting the world in shades of grey. While his unfocused gaze caught sight of the ocassional unlucky sap caught in the rain his mind ran over the words from the bartender at the lounge he had found the week prior. "Somethings bothering you sochi. You might as well tell me what it is." He was broken from his train of thought by Kushinas voice and turned his gaze to focus on his mothers worried face.
"Thinking about something someone said last week, not something bothering me" Naruto said turning his gaze back outside. "Something they said in conjunction with Nagato won't seem to go away. Given it won't just leave me alone I'm giving those two things a bit of thought." He scowled a tiny bit as he closed his eyes and let a sigh escape his lips. "I'm surprised no one has felt the compulsion to remark on my lack of drinking this week" he said opening one eye half way only to scowl darkly as a happy laughing couple that was soaked to the bone ran past the window.
"We didn't feel it necessary to comment" Konan said entering the room. The very slight rounding of her stomach told a lot as Kushina held in a girlish squeal only for it to silenced with a look towards Naruto. "You've been quiet this last week foxy. Too quiet."
"I've been doing a lot of thinking. Its all the rage these days you know? Instead of doing things recklessly you take a moment to consider all the external facts so you don't end up doing something you regret. Its surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it" Naruto replied sarcastically. "So has he proposed to you yet or is he still pussyfooting around?" His eye turned to glance at the blunette and the slight pudge made him roll the single open eye. Of course he was right about her being pregnant and pretty early on if she was only starting to show now.
"Nagato proposed last night actually. He wants you to be the best man" Konan said placing a finger in her ear to keep from going temporarily deaf from Kushinas squeal.
"I'll pass but I'll give him a call later to thank him for the consideration" Naruto said not missing a beat. He didn't miss both his mothers and Konans jaw dropping at his refusal. "Weddings were never my things to begin with." He couldn't hold the bitterness from his voice and cursed that fact since it would tell why he refused without a seconds hesitation. Just because he wasn't drinking, for the moment at least, didn't mean he was any better than the last few weeks prior.
"We haven't even begun to plan the details out yet and you're refusing?!" Konan asked with a twtiching eyebrow. If there was one thing she hated was people who did things to piss people off and Naruto refusing was falling into that category. Of course part of it was the changes in her hormones to support the development of a growing child and she accepted that but the majority of her anger was justified under her long held pet peeve.
"Yes. Weddings like funerals, a milestone not a true mark of lifelong accomplishments. Besides, knowing you it'll be a small affair anyway. Your parents, his parents, some friends and a couple of other family members from both sides. If it was going to be a big affair then I would consider it since theres less chance I have to interact with people I don't know or be pestered by women asking if I'm single. However since it is destined to be a small affair by virtue of both yours and his nature I have to refuse. Its too troublesome and I despise the whole expectation for the best man maid of honor to 'hook up after the reception'" Naruto said resting his head on one hand hiding one half of his face behind his fingers.
"Thats not a good excu-"
"Sochi, thats not being reasonable and you know it as well as we do" Kushina said in a calm tone as she motioned Konan to reign in her temper. "The whole best man and maid of honor hooking up is just an old womans expectations that got worked into superstition. Besides, you make it sound you aren't happy for your friend or cousin."
"On the contrary" Naruto said shaking his head. "I am happy for them. Shes loved Nagato since we were kids and hes had the biggest crush on her since we were teens. Even if she wasn't pregnant I'd have expected him to propose since they've been dating for nearly six years. I mean they practically act like a married couple as is." He snorted in amusement as Konan huffed at that statement and glared lightly at him. "Finding someone you love is something truly special to be cherished. Its just societies fixation on making a big deal of turning a pure concept into some kind of pony show makes me think the act of a wedding as a societal practice is pointless. If you love someone why do you have to show the world in some grand way? Its wasteful to me. Buy a couple of rings, have a small private ceremony with close family and friends be done with it.There no no need for people to throw massive parties, its not a society wide dick measuring stick for who loves their partner more by spending more money on a ceremony and reception than others. Unless you're an Uchiha, then its the expectation" he said with an exasperated tone. "I just really don't like weddings and you all know this. Nagato has a bunch of guys he can ask that know you and him as well I do. What makes me different from them?"
"Its a coin toss between you and that bastard Sasuke" Konan said. "That stuck up bastard is not ruining my wedding by turning the best man speech into some Uchiha monologue bullshit."
"Well tell Nagato to pick someone else than" Naruto said with an exasperated sigh. "Sasori, Itachi, that religious freak Hi something, hell even that money grubbing shrew asshole knows you two as well as I do. Tell him to pick one of them but I just can't."
"You mean won't" Konan said with an even look.
"I'll be there as a guest but I can't be involved in any capacity of the planning or wedding party" Naruto said standing up as he stretched the kinks out of his back. "I got to go." He reached over grabbing his coat off the coat tree and slung it on over his button down shirt and slacks.
"Go where? Its raining cats and dogs out there" Kushina said with a scowl. "You'll get sick if you head out there."
"Four Aces Lounge. I replaced the last guy who played the piano that quit on them for one dumb reason on them" Naruto said grabbing his umbrella. "I got to go or Im going to be late. This conversation is done with." He left the house and flagged a taxi before it sped off after he gave the address.
"Hes still not back" Konan said with a childish pout. She was surprised with herself with how quick the moodswings was putting her from mad to childishly upset.
"No duh" Kushina said rolling his eyes. "He used to like weddings. There was no joy in his voice about playing for the lounge." She stood and grabbed her jacket before tossing Konan hers. "Come on, we're going out" the redhead said grabbing the younger womans hand.
"Going where? Kushina I'll get sick and then have to deal with a grumpy Nagato going all protective fiancée on me" Konan whined tugging her coat on.
"No you wont because we're taking my car and the lounge Naruto just said he plays for. If nothing else, hes back to playing the piano again even if its off sheet paper of something people already know. Its a step in the right direction for him to recover" Kushina said hitting the electronic starter on her car keys.
"I hope it is" Konan muttered to herself following the older woman out to her suv with a sprint. The ride to the lounge question was shorter than she would have expected as the ride took only roughly ten minutes. 'Here I thought he would actively seek a place farther out' she thought running under the awning while Kushina parked.
Once both women were situated inside the lounge Kushinas eyes drifted to Naruto seated at the bench of the baby grand piano flipping through a book of sheet paper. "Well hes definitely playing again" she said to herself.
"What can I get you two ladies?" a blonde server asked pulling a pad and pen from her pocket. She noted the eyes looking at Naruto and laughed slightly. "I'm sorry but hes not on the menu. Naruto-kun is a fairly reclusive person for recently starting here and does not take kindly to advances from women."
"Naruto-kun huh? You seem awefully familiar with my son to be calling him so familiarly" Kushina said leaning forward. The young woman sputtered and blushed before regaining some semblance of her composure.
"No-nothing of that sort ma'am honest. He might be new but I think of him as a friend. He gave me some advice a few days ago and it really helped out my relationship with my boyfriend so I think fondly of Naruto as a friend is all" the girl said biting her lip. She saw the redheaded woman and bluenette exchange a glance before shaking their heads. "I swear its not anything more I.."
"Thats not what we were shaking our heads about" Konan said. "Hes the way he is due to things that we have no right to say unless he wishes to talk about it and he never does. Thus he warrants helping others even if its giving sound advice to distract himself." The grimace that crossed the blonde servers face made the bluenette curious about why she seemed to care but didn't ask. "Cranberry juice for me."
"Gin and tonic" Kushina said. "If I may, why do you seem to care so much about why my son is the way he is?" she asked steepling her fingers on the table and resting her chin on them.
"Because... I can tell hes a nice guy with a big heart and a lot of good to show the world but its like that big heart has been shattered by tragedy so hes locked all the broken shards away. I can tell hes trying to fix himself but its not working. Its like hes trying to fix a mirror with tape you'd use to put a picture on a mirror frame and the shards just keep falling apart he doesn't know what to do about it but hes too proud to ask for help" the server said as the first notes came from the piano "and the only times he seems to be able to be able to ask of when he plays. But he doesn't realize it when he does. Theres so much heartbreak, sadness, grief, anguish and longing for something or someone to help him. But everyone here knows he won't take it. It sad... Hes so strong, gentle and kind doing everything to help everyone who needs it yet hes the one who needs help the most its like hes afraid to take it.." she said looking at her fellow blonde with sad eyes.