Runa here.
Well, there are just a few pairing of Naruto Alice out there. So why I'm not giving it a try. Also, Alice has been one of my favorite characters even after the series ended, and not watched it after like months. She is just so likable you know, strong and beautiful. But, never got the protagonist's heart (I always respected Kirito Asuna alright). That's why I may take things more interesting to put Naruto here. lol.
P.S: The perspective changes after line. I put this so you not confused later.
Here it is. Just a simple story. It may have 3 chaps.
Happy Reading.
Blue and Yellow
"Bro, this is so damn freezing."
A baritone voice could be heard, more to himself, while he wrapped more heat of his dark orange sweater under the unforgiving cold. He cursed himself more when forgot to bring his own scarf. Didn't matter. A mist of white in front of his face followed by periodic breath, he cursed more. The more he thought of today, more he wanted to shake himself.
Afternoon orange sunlight must be filled the horizon at this hour, or so he thought. The rampant cloud dam up that color like tempting him. And this damn weather not lifted his mood in the slightest. He wondered though, winter could be this cold without snow, but when it was? Probably die, chuckled by the presume.
'Well, at times like this I wish I had a kotatsu, but this thing had to be done first.'
His feet quickened. The man perked up when the small structure he wanted to see the most, came into the view across the street. His blue eyes shined a bit, eagered to passed through that automatic door. But good things come to those who wait. So he thightened the sweater once more and almost running. Chill wind passed between his blond hair, shaking along with every move.
Same sun. Same town. The wayside of the main road never leave behind by some people. Young or old, male or female, crossing this side minding their own business. Never been the idea of care the other. Same with very girl.
Her blond braided hair shining like proud crown, could be mistaken with gold by some person just with the silhouette. But those bright blue eyes were not in same state, shaded with some gloom in a sense if some ask. Described so clearly what she felt and that was enough to gave someone the cold shoulder. Her gaze locked down, always two steps ahead. Once in a while, she tried to close her shaded eyes, but those flash images or memories ran wild, making she opened them again all over. Held her breath, she feeling the pain. Wanted to cry. Could the winter freeze her every drop?
Hiding that just good for her, not for others.
She walks usually in steady pace, but today on different route. Taking detours was easy these days. The reason was also there. While the pace steady, the balance apart from that. She didn't care enough if her tottering goes bump one or two, or she could always made fun of them. So desperate she was to cling onto that to grasp happiness. She desperately needed that.
In the corner of her eye, a convenience store came into her sight accidentally. It's just across the road, so take her time in there was no problem then come back home, she thought. Also, outside in front of it was filled with many empty seats. Maybe for those who wanted to enjoy after purchase. Well, what's wrong with nice snacks anyway?
Without a second thought, her feet brought her inside. A sheer warm came to her senses after that, but not her heart. She took a cup instant noodles and then immediately to the payment counter. The cashier seemed still on his back sorting some things behind the counter, never noticing her presence. But she didn't bother and didn't care. Just didn't want to talk right now. The blond was just too deep inside of her head to paid attention to these 'little things'. Of course, after a while the man of counter finally took her fully with apologizing tone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Err..all is 120 yen. You want anything-Eh?"
That small reaction not to be missed by her even though those blue eyes never focused. What's wrong with this man? Or was it a boy? The golden haired lifted her head for the first time this afternoon for closer look. He seemed young, maybe same age as her. But that height was like a foreigner. Couldn't see the face because of black mask, and those eyes surprisingly almost same color as her. But more shiny sapphire. Hair too, her was gold blond and his was vivid yellow. Still called blonde though. Unconsciously familiar with the figure.
"Is there a problem?" She also opened her soft voice for the first time this afternoon.
The young man in front of her froze a bit. "N..no, sorry. You want anything else?"
"Hm..I want this noodle cooked and warm tea please." It's almost a good thing japanese convenience store provides everything.
"One warm tea and one cup instant noodles. So, all is 250 yen. Want to deliver to the table while wait?"
"Hm.." She nodded.
Past through that automatic door, or more like he inside of the structure he desired after felt like ages, he in bliss. His body melted every second, the feeling addictively good somehow. Well, freezing to death was almost hilarious to him. Very not his wish to die like that either. A little joke.
"It's good to see you, Naruto!"
Not long after, he turned his head. Meet with expected, a man older than him obviously just by the figure. He smiled there, behind the counter. Naruto got that happy energy, reflecting almost same smile on his whiskered face.
"Yo, Ao-san! See, I never late."
"I said it before, you don't have to do that, I mean the early attendance is good and all. But your standard for time is..well..respectable."
"Heheh, you don't have to worry about me. I got you. But this is me."
The manager gave a faint smile. Naruto was likable person in manner, but deep down he also knew the reason behind that trait of his. Another time for that. Now he came, it's all it matters. "Alright, you can get ready. The counter is yours."
"Aye aye Captain! Oh, yeah. Can I wear a mask? I can't stand the cold!"
"Hmm..okay. That's fine." Followed with some chuckles.
Long story short. Naruto quickly changed and was ready behind the counter. His mood had never been this high before, despite this morning. He is one of type people who believed, every cloud has a silver lining. Once more, he didn't want to recall those. Just a bit embarrassing story. Involved a cat. And he can tell, that's not a fun ride. Some of his friends were in same scene too. Making him worried about his future, joke again.
'Agh, damn! I just want to disappear right now! *sob'
Several moments passed and became quiet. The blond took his time to care some products for behind the counter. To make them most appealing to buy. It can be anything, some could cigarettes, or some may be beverages. All and all, sorting and tidying could take a whole moment. After Naruto snapped back to turn his entire torso. A girl waiting to be provided by his service.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Err..all is 120 yen. You want anything-Eh?"
'Alice?' he thought. Whoops, that accidental retort slipped. He shouldn't do that! But the whiskered man wasn't wrong with the sight in front of him. She indeed Alice. A flock of gold hair braided ran down behind her slim figure, stray hair that tied on both sides of her attractive face. And also the white lace covering above forehead, which he hardly forgot about her. But his attention changed when Naruto saw those. Those sky blue eyes. Emitted some black depression, and he hated that. Because he wanted to care.
"Is there a problem?" Surprisingly. Her face still sent out small expression behind the gloom. Still.
"N..no, sorry. You want anything else?"
Afterward, the man wondered why a sigh relieved from his lips. Naruto filled the noodles cup with hot water while preparing for tea, so he took another cup. Though, all that process failed to distract him from whatever a matter happened to her. He means, everyone could tell Alice is like make some walls just for herself. The way she spoke also notified another thing, Alice was tired, because of something. He was sure of it.
Naruto released another sigh. "Why is she like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Wow! Ao-san, don't scare me like that!" Despite worry, Ao seems amused. But it can be saved for later, he wanted to straighten some things first.
"So, what's the matter with you son?"
Naruto tightened his lips, but gazing far. Focusing on a very person outside. The noodles almost ready. The manager of his is one of people, who cared for him and very good in heart. Ao took the notice, the girl was indeed a beauty. Took another interest to the boy beside him.
"That girl, is she same school with you?" Just the guessed by the uniform in one sit. Dark blue-to-black blazer and same color short skirt. She wears white stockings, maybe to prevent some cold. Added simple black shoes fit perfectly to her.
Naruto nodded. Of course she's a friend, never in same class. More like he in same club as her, kendo. The art of sword with shinai. But not more than that. It's just Naruto always takes chances to talk to her every so often which she was so okay with that too. He always talks to his friends and that was his quirk. Although for her just another special reason.
Naruto brought the two requested items to the table. Her gaze never leave the base. Even after he put the two so carefully in hope for Alice noticed them. The gold flocks still immobile which made him worry more. So, he just cough a bit and say "Please enjoy." then finally those blue eyes perked up with miniscule startled motion in her body. Focusing on the steamy product in front of her.
"Thank you." And he accepted those words happily.
Back inside, Ao as if rooted to the spot attentively observed the girl, caused the blond to knit his brow. "What's up, Ao-san?"
"Well, is she the one you ever told to me?"
He must be impressed by Ao's deducing, or was it he could so easily read like open book? Whatever it was, he got the meaning of the old man. And his face heated up, almost uncomfortable somehow happy inside. Naruto scratched his own trademark whisker. He throwed his gaze outside like crazy. "Eh? Really?"
Ao pretty much chuckled in every conversation. And so this one, "I'm right then. Never expected you can like some women."
"Don't give me that. Of course I am! Don't worry I'm not rainbow person."
"Hey, that joke is irrelevant now. Besides that point, do you like her?"
Always failed to shake off the feeling in his cheeks, his sapphires locked in Alice who at moment blow some steam out of tea.
"Longer than you know."
'That's youth for you.' Ao smiled nearing ear to ear to the younger man.
"Well, it seemed she's slightly down."
"You think so too, Ao-san?"
"Oh, you took notice?"
"I'm not that dense alright!?"
At least her body found a certain amount of warmth thanks to the tea and noodles, one of them still in her grasp, craving more heat. Alice didn't take a look before the taste of the noodle containment was actually miso.
'I don't know if this is ramen. Still, noodles are noodles.' Take a bite once more, sensing the flavor in silent. A fragment of memory inside her just drifted back, toward some time after school. She also knew the exact hour, end of kendo training.
"Asuna, do you want to going out with me?"
"Do you mean in a serious way?"
"O..of course. Kind of like that."
"I happily accept, Kirito-kun!"
Alice just stood there, couldn't even move a muscle. Kirito graciously verbalized his feeling without missing a beat. Those sentences also never have been unclear through the earhole. Her vision became blurry. Maybe this the third time for a day. Mustn't be in tears now, but she didn't care. Her chest tightened.
A moment later Alice came to her senses, actual dark color disperse every bit of horizon. The mist from her lips thickened. The noodles and the tea run out not leave any behind, took the signs where night becomes colder in mere of minutes. How long she's been here? One? Two hours? The golden haired really forgot her initial plan.
'Come to think of it, about ramen. Is he actually..'
"You're not back yet?"
Well, speak of the devil. That deep voice somehow had pleasant vibe in him. She turned over her head. The youngster who just cross her mind in front of her, hands in his dark orange sweater. The boy just has resemblance of the sun. The boy who really love ramen.
"Naruto?"
"Still here, after all? Didn't you catch a cold?" There, a tone of worry at edge of his utter.
Alice became dead mouth. Naruto indeed wear the sweater with his school black trousers. The bag clung nicely behind his, and that black mask..
"You..at the counter?"
Naruto wanted to hide his chuckle, however he lost it while pulling his mask. "You just realize, Synthesis Thirty-chan?"
He poke fun of her, it's usually like this. Yet she never blamed the small laughter in between them. Just the timing in her consideration at present. "I told you before. Don't call me that. I'm not in the mood right now."
"I know."
"What?"
Alice stared at her only companion in puzzled by his answer. Make her wonder further when she only got the smile from his. Despite that, his smile was more comforting rather than kidding. And she couldn't lie to herself the smile actually did something on her.
"Let's take you home. It's getting late."
Same sun. Same town. The wayside of the main road never leave behind by some people. Young or old, male or female, crossing this side minding their own business. Never been the idea of care the other. Same with these two.
Alice finally agreed for the offer. Which became another joy rather to him. Alice also told the story that was stuck in her head for awhile. He was one exception, another bliss. Besides, the girl declared she knew Naruto will not break a promise for the small secret, which additionally true. Her intuition.
"Kirito and Asuna, so it's them.." The whiskered mumbled. Gripped his hand inside the sweater. Naruto ached his heart seeing his crush like this, on the other at same moment he hated it when Alice said she actually like Kirito. But he could change that, probably.
Certainly he knew who they are. The couple moreover were very same club as him. Unlike the blond, Kirito was so gifted in kendo make he forfeited every chance he get when the club do some spar for each member. Another note he recalled, the black haired boy was kinda ladies man. The thing that also made him dislike the man, same with Sasuke. But the latter was actual close friend, and never flirt.
For Asuna. Well, let's say he knew something going on between the couple these days. That thing alone made every single member of the club aware as well. Just took some time before anything happened. And that happened today.
"It's nice when you listen. Thank you, Naruto."
"Anytime. Feel any better?"
"Yeah, the burden is like gone now." She pulled an amused expression between her soft voice. And for him, got things done for Alice was like winning a million dollars. A while later, they got to the destination.
Alice turned for the last time before the door opened revealing a woman in her thirties with short dark green hair. He noticed that the woman is rather pale maybe because worried about Alice. Though there was a relieved sigh escaped her lips.
"Where have you been, Alice? Did you know I'm so worried about you?"
Naruto relaxed in between the scene. "You never said anyone would wait for you home, Alice."
"I'm sorry Koujiro-san! I just stopped by the convenience store and didn't know I got this late." Koujiro soften hearing that, "At least you're safe. So, who is this?"
Unconsciously Naruto straightened his form, and from the perspective of the woman was kinda funny. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I just take her home, umm.."
"Guardian of Alice, it's Koujiro. Thank you very much for taking care of her."
Not her mother? He thought. "No problem! And now is time for me to leave, Alice." With a last glance at his crush, Naruto turned. The two standstill after the youngster left. "This Naruto, is he..err never mind."
Koujiro shook her head as depart from the door. Alice knitted her brow, wondering every possibilities what her guardian was going to ask. 'Weird.'
TBC
Please let me know what you think in the review section. Aight laters
Runa was here!