Disclaimer:
I don't own Naruto and all the characters, this is just a fan made story so don't sue me!
I would like to thankEl Cierto, SasuIno, Emoprincess21, Aya, Nwerni and for wasting their time (LOL) upon reading my pathetic story hahaha.. I love you guys! And thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. Again, I apologize for loads of grammatical error and bunch of wrong punctuation usage. , (sorry but that will not stop me from writing stories specially this one..lol) I'm currently looking for Beta reader who's kind enough to help me to fix my writing problems. hahaha
W-A-R-N-I-N-G!
I'm not a professional writer :D
My English Sucks
Chapter Four: A child's innocent Request
Ino let a small smile as she watches the two little angels sleeping silently on the crib next to her bed. She squints at her wall clock and quickly jumps off to bed, its five o'clock in the morning she have a lot of things to do. She walks straight to the kitchen to prepare food for their breakfast, she shot a quick glance at the couch just to notice that Neji wasn't there anymore.
"I thought he was still asleep, I wonder where he goes at this early."
She just shrugged at her thoughts and continued her work in the kitchen.
Since Ino got married, a lot of things had changed; she's not the same old Yamanaka Ino that can seen frequently at the bars around Konoha every week end nights, she's now more matured and responsible, she learned how to cook, do the laundry, clean their house and take care of her baby.
Yeah, sometimes still bitchy and loud mouthed when Sakura and her other friends were around, still preserving her little cheerful trademark. But ever since her husband died, she became less cheerful than she used to.
She sighs deeply as she slowly turns her eyes around her small kitchen, her heart aches when she landed her sight at the five sitter's dining set, the center chair reminds her of her beloved husband. How she hated this kind of condition, how she hated to be alone, and the pain of loneness is still killing her inside. She couldn't control the tears that suddenly welled in her eyes. She covered her face and weeps.
"I miss you so much Kiba."
She whispered between the sobs.
"You're burning the food Ino."
She automatically wiped her tears and turns her back, avoiding the Hyuga Prodigy's stare. She shook her head in disappointment, her omelet is completely wasted, and she relaxes herself, trying to eliminate her mortification for being caught from crying before and for burning the food. She took a deep breath to regain her composure before she turned to face him.
"Would you like some coffee Neji?"
He nodded, still standing and looking at her attentively, that made her more uncomfortable.
"T-take a sit."
She said and turned her back again to fix two cups of black coffee for the both of them. She held the cups and step forward to the dining table. She shortly stopped when she realized that Neji was sitting on the center chair. That was her husband's. She ignored the thoughts of dragging him out off the seat. She placed the cups on the table and sat next to him.
"Did you sleep well?"
"What a lame question to ask." she thought to herself, but she just wanted to have a little bit conversation with him to fight this awkward moment.
"Yes I did, thank you."
He started to sip his coffee.
"You caught me."
"I didn't mean to, I'm sorry."
She lowered her face.
"I miss him so much."
"It hurts like hell isn't it? Ino?"
She paused for a moment and suddenly her eyes softened as she felt the bitterness of his hard cold voice.
"Indeed."
She whispered, fighting her urge to cry again. She bit her lower lip as she realized that she should not act like this in front of Neji, his wife just died yesterday and his hurting too at this very moment.
"I'm sorry.. Neji."
"I don't know what to do Ino."
She was astonished to witness the confusions in his eyes. And surprised to his sudden confession.
"Things just happened way too fast… and I don't know how to start… again…without her."
Ino felt her heart crashed into pieces, she felt exactly the same when her husband died two months ago.
"You can, you're a strong person Neji, let the time heals, though it really hurts like hell I'm sure you can overcome the loneliness, Tenten left you a wonderful gift, start your life with your son."
She softly pressed his hand and gave him a soft smile.
"You have a wonderful son Neji, he is enough to be the reason for a good start."
Her heart warms in contentment as she saw his features lighten up and pressed his hand against hers.
"At first, it will be quite difficult to raise a child by your own self but I'm telling you Neji, for parents like us, there is no other thing in this world that can bring us joy and complete happiness but our child."
She smiled and gently pinched him on his nose.
"So let's be strong for the sake of our child."
Neji was about to say something when he got interrupted by the loud cries of the babies.
"Oh! The kids!"
Ino hurriedly ran to check the babies, she immediately get her son off the crib Neji did the same thing. She grabbed the feeding bottle to the nearby table and handed it to Neji.
"I prepared this for Kenji last night in case that he gets hungry, I can't feed two kids at the same time I don't want to end up drained like a dried fish in the market."
She chuckled jokingly. Neji let out a small smile, uttered his thanks and strides towards the couch and begins to feed his son. (With the feeding bottle of course)
"Neji you have to eat!"
She shot him a hurtful look when she noticed that he's not touching his food, she made a lot of effort to prepare those foods for him, and she knew that he never ate anything since yesterday.
"Look, if you don't like my cooking then you can get out and find something that you like!"
She sulked and continues to eat even though she already lost her appetite on his manner towards the food, she knew that she need to eat for her baby.
"I took a lot of effort to prepare these foods for you then you will just ignore it!"
"You look like starving to death and yet you didn't even bother to take a bite!"
"Why won't you taste it first before-
"Ino." He gasps
"You're so loud, the kids might wake up."
"Because you're too stubborn!" She pouted.
"I did not say that I don't like your cooking."
"Then eat!"
Neji just shook his head and started to eat, he was surprised that the bitchy blonde Yamanaka knows how to cook with flying colors. The first bite brings back his appetite and realized how hungry he was. Ino just smiled triumphantly.
After that wonderful lunch, they decided to pay a visit to the cemetery. They brought their kids with them as they visit their own respective other half. Kiba and Tenten's grave are about thirty meters apart, enough for them to have their own privacy.
Neji just remained quiet, he never spoke anything after their visit. They are currently walking on the main street on the way home. Ino did not bother to break the silence between them for she could sense the familiar pain on Neji's chest. She understands him, she knew he need a lot of time to recover and some time to be alone. She just patted him on his shoulder when she reached the trail going to her home. It was a silent goodbye. He just glanced at her and nodded then continues to walk.
"Thanks for everything…Ino."
Neji whispered as he stopped and look back at the blonde, watching her until she disappeared on his sight.
Ino lazily get off her bed the next morning, she grumbled, a bit annoyed in her body clock. She wanted to get herself into bed and sleep again but she knew that she got a lot of things to do before her son wakes up. Her eyes were still a little bit muzzy from her sleep. She slowly moves toward to the crib to check out her baby. She smiled, they are sleeping peacefully.
But wait! Her eyes opened widely in a big shock to realize that Hyuga Kenji is sleeping soundly next to her son. Then she noticed a small suitcase beside the crib, still puzzled, she kneel down and check it out.
"What the hell…"
Inside the suitcase are some baby dress, feeding bottles, shoes and some other baby stuff. She also found an envelope with loads of cash inside. Her heart pounded in sudden realization, she rushed outside her bedroom and checked the whole house. Searching for a certain person.
"Neji! Where the hell are you?"
Ino began to panic, she doesn't like the thoughts that keep on running on her head. She grabbed a new set of clothes on the closet and change quickly. She managed to carry the two sleeping babies and hurriedly ran to Neji's house just only to get more pissed off because it's all empty. She did not waste her time and leave immediately, feels like she's desperately chasing for something or someone. She found herself standing in front of Hyuga complex. She pressed the door bell using her elbow, so afraid that she might drop the babies that are surprisingly still asleep. She's starting to lose her patience as she waited outside almost breaking the door bell button in annoyance. The door suddenly opens and she was relieved when Hinata showed up.
"Ino!." Hinata's face paled when she saw her carrying Kenji.
"I'm sorry for bothering you this early Hinata, but I need to see your cousin where is he?"
Hinata did not answer her question right away but instead she let her stepped inside the house and asked her to sit down on the big couch, she gently laid down the babies next to her.
"You did not answer my question, where is Neji?"
Hinata let out a deep breath before she answers
"I heard that he's out for a long term mission."
Her mouth dropped in shock.
"And just abandoned his son like this?"
She gritted her teeth in rage, her heart crashes a million times as she landed her gazed at Kenji. Her fists clenched in anger.
"What kind father is he? How dare him to leave his son like this?"
"Ino… Neji is…" Hinata's voice started to stutter.
"Neji-niichan is still… hurting.. Please Ino try to understand him, Tenten just recently died and I think he's having a hard time to deal with her lost, I know that he's in grave pain, even though he's not showing his inner feeling I know… he's not yet ready to handle anything on his own right now."
"That's not an excuse to abandon his child like this! And what the hell Hinata? What the hell did he expect from me? He just left his son to my house with a suitcase and a bunch of cash! What is that for? Payment for my service as a nanny to his child?"
Her body is trembling in fury.
"If he's coward enough to face his responsibility as a father then why he's passing it all to me?"
"Maybe Neji-kun is desperate, confused, Ino…. He intrusted you his son, maybe that is the only thing that he is certain, that you are the only person that can take good care of Kenji-kun."
"The hell with him! He just leaved without a single note! Or don't even bother to ask me if it's ok with me to take care of his child while he's away! And wait? Why me? For pete's sake Hinata! He can go to hell and leave this child here! You and Hanabi can take care of him."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Yamanaka Ino but I won't allow that to happen!"
It was a very cold and high authoritative voice, her sight landed on the certain Hyuga Patriarch, quite intimidated to his featured, Ino just stare at him with a questioning look as he continues.
"I'm not tolerating his spinelessness! We already talk about that matter before he left, he asked me to take care of his son while he's away finding his piece of shit! But I refuse."
Ino laugh sarcastically.
"Funny that you chose to abandon your own grandchild Hiashi-sama."
"I-Ino.. please.." Hinata spoke nervously as she gazed on his father.
"Watch your tongue young woman and let me finish!"
She stopped and stared at him sharply.
"I told him that if he will choose to go away, I will never let his child stay here and never let anyone of my daughter to take care of his son."
Hiashi's face darkened as he looked down. Ino bit her lower lip as she comprehends his point.
"But that hard headed coward has chosen to go away to escape his responsibility."
They all stopped when Kenji started to cry, as if he's aware of everything. Ino took him to her hands gently swinging her arms to calm him. But the baby did not stop from crying; she turned her back and fed the little Hyuga.
"He's too young to be abandoned like this, this child needs love and this child needs his father!"
She turned her head to the patriarch.
"Isn't it fair enough to this child to be taken care of by his own clan Hiashi-sama?" She paused and throws Hinata a slight look.
"You guys should know your responsibilities in this kid as well, yes Neji decided to turn his back on him, but don't you realized that you're doing the same thing like his father."
"You really don't understand my point do you Yamanaka?" The old man raised his eyes to her.
"As a leader of this clan, I am the one who's responsible of all the members, Kenji is my grandson but that is not enough reason to tolerate my nephew's foolish choice. I must teach him a lesson, a lesson of his life that he will not forget." He said firmly
"And you're planning to leave this child custody to me?" She growled in disbelief.
"You see Hiashi-sama, I have a two months old son to take care of, sooner I'll be back to work in interrogation department I have a lot of responsibility in my life, I can't possibly make it."
"But you're the only one who is capable of doing that and Neji entrusted you to take care of him at the very first place."
"What if I say no?"
"Then I have no choice but to bring him to the orphanage."
Her eyes widen in shock, feels like she froze and her body got numb as she saw the seriousness of the Hyuga's patriarch form.
"Y-you … you can't do that to your own grandchild!"
"Yes I can, and I will."
"F-father!"
The sound of his voice seems so final enough to make her knees gone weak, she unconsciously tightened her arms around the child.
"How could you…"
She gasps weakly, as she stared at Kenji's face, his light lavender orbs are innocently staring at her and his little hands are clutching her robe as if telling her not to let him go. Her heart melted at his innocence. She couldn't stop her tears to fall, she slowly fix her robe and get Ichirou.
"I'm taking him away from this hell."
With shadowed face she marches toward the gate.
"I will provide you everything."
That was the last thing that she heard from Hyuga Hiashi as she get out of the mansion.
"Fuck you! Hyuga! Fuck you all from the main branch! To hell with your clan!"
"Mommy we have a surprise for you!"
Ino momentarily stopped from trimming her roses and face her three year old son, Ichirou.
"What is it this time huh?" She fondly mess his brown hair smiling at him sweetly.
"Close your eyes first!" She chuckled in her son's demand and closed her eyes.
"Kenji come on out! Mom don't open your eyes yet uh!"
She laughs as she nodded, the little Hyuga came out from where he's hiding, grinning widely as he walks forward.
"Now you can open your eyes mom."
Ino slowly opens her eyes, and her heart jumps when she saw her boys handling a small round strawberry cake with candle, their eyes are bright, cheeks are slightly blushing out of excitement.
"Happy birthday mommy!"
"Happy birthday auntie Ino!"
She smiled and messed their hair, very well appreciated their little birthday surprise.
"Oh, Thank you."
"Make a wish auntie before you blow your candle." The boys are still in their wide grin at her.
"Okay, I wish that my boys will take a bath as soon as I finish this little surprise because they both stinks." Then she blew the candle.
"Oh! Mom! What kind of wish is that? Oh well, Happy birthday! I love you."
Ichirou gives her a kiss on her cheek. She placed the cake on the nearby garden table and hugged her adorable son.
"I love you too my Ichi.."
"Happy birthday auntie… and… I love you.." Kenji said blushingly.
"Oh come here my little cutie." She grabbed him and gave him a warm hug.
"And I love you too Kenji."
"Mom let's visit dad today!"
She slightly pinched their nose and kissed them on their cheeks.
"Okay .. you two go upstairs your bath is ready, I'll just gonna pack our food."
"Wow! Were going out for picnic!"
The boys excitedly ran inside the house. She just can't help but smile, her boys definitel know how to make her day perfect. She could not even imagine how time runs so fast, It's been three years since her husband died and since Neji left his son. Her fist suddenly tightened when she thought about Kenji's father. Though she has no even a slightest regrets on taking care of that kid, she treated him like her own, but her rage towards his father doesn't change a bit, it's even getting worst every day. She chose to be honest with Kenji from the very beginning, when the kid started to ask things, she explained everything about his mother, told him that she's in heaven watching him every day, telling some stories about his mother, that her mom was kind, beautiful and loves him very much. He always asks about his father, he always keeps his dad's picture that she gave. She just simply told the child that he's on his long term mission and he will surely be back for him.
Hinata and Hanabi visits him more often, sometimes taking him and Ichirou on the park, to the ramen stand, playground and around the village. She heard that they are starting to train him to activate his byakugan in such an early age as Hiashi's order. And that is makes her anger gone bigger to their clan. Thinking that he's too young and have to enjoy his life as a kid. Though Tsume and Hana is starting to teach her son some of Inuzuka clan basic technique, but she made sure that their not pushing him too hard. They agreed to her request to give Ichirou his own nin-dog at the age of six, by then he is more ready to be trained. That was exactly what she likes to happen with Kenji. But she can't do anything about it.
"Auntie Ino.."
She looked down at Kenji, they are presently walking on the way home. She's carrying Ichirou on her back, he maybe got so tired of playing around at the cemetery, she's holding Kenji's hand as they walk.
"Yes?"
"Uhm.." The boy turns his gaze to other direction, she can read hesitation on his face.
"Yes Kenji what is it? Do you want to say something?"
The boy turns to face her with a slight sadness on his light lavender orbs.
"Can I call you mom?"
It was an innocent but definitely a heavy question, and that question made her feel too difficult to breathe.
"Kenji…."
"I wish that my mom is not dead, I wish that my dad is here…. But they are not…. Sometimes I feel that nobody owns me."
"Kenji that's not true! You still have me right? You have your aunt Hinata and aunt Hanabi, your grandpa Hiashi, we all love you… please don't think that way."
The boy stares at her closely. She gave him a warm smile and gently kissed him on his temple.
"I love you Kenji."
"I asked Ichirou if it's okay with him if I will call you mommy and we had a deal."
Ino slightly raised her brow.
"What deal?"
"He told me that he will let me call you mommy if I let him call my dad, daddy when he arrived from his mission." The little boy grins.
She was shocked, definitely shocked in this revelation, though she knew that Ichirou is looking for a paternal love, he's always fond of playing with Chouji and Shikamaru. But she never thought about it this way.
"Can I call you mom?"
His voice sounded like his begging to have a piece of candy, so sincere and yet so innocent.
"Yes Kenji.. Yes."
"Yessssss! I have a mom! I have a mom! You're my mommy! Yes!"
She could feel her heart was melting as she watches him running to the happily running to the street.
"Yes Kenji, and you're mine." She whispered to herself.
Alright! I know I'm such a bad writer!
I'm stupid
Poor characterization
I'm having a hard time to find a good beta reader to help me with this thing
Wrong grammar and punctuation usage
Lastly, too stubborn to give up on writing English stories even if it's killing me LOL
Please Review
P.S.
I don't mind Wild reactions and mean comments :D