Chapter 16: Daily Life
Hikaru looked up at her ceiling and waited. She didn't know what exactly she was waiting for, but she was waiting for SOMETHING...
Closing her eyes a little she let her thoughts wander... How much longer of a stay do I have in my home? She pushed that thought away and squeezed her eyes shut. Think about...happy things. She thought about her birthdays with Ikuto, and the ones she had, had with her blood family. Sadly, those particular thoughts brought tears to her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away.
She thought about how much she loved sweets and fruits...anything to keep the bad thoughts away.
There was a knock on her door and she sat up to look at it. "Come in." She called. When the door opened it was Shikamaru. He looked bored by his expression, but Hikaru could see that he was thinking hard on something.
"Hey Shikamaru, what's up?" She said with a smile. She scooted over and patted the spot next to her.
Shikamaru shook his head and leaned up against the door frame, and looked out the window. "A question crossed my mind...why is it that you went back to Konoha...but then came back here?"
Hikaru winced at the question. She brought her knee's to her chest and locked her gaze on the floor. "I couldn't stay...would you stay in a place where someone wants to kill you?" She looked up with tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face.
"I don't blame anyone...really. I just should've died when I was supposed to." She looked at the wall. "That man had said I was supposed to die. He said I wasn't supposed to live as long as I did...he said things should be different."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't talking about a man. We were talking about why you ran away from home..." HIkaru froze at how stupid she had been for letting the fact about the man slip. "But this man...did he hurt you?"
Hikaru's breath quickened at the memories...blood...hurting...screaming. She shook her head violently to banish the memories...
"It doesn't matter...Kurai...she helped me...stay the way I am." She whispered and she stiffened. Hikaru had not meant to let that slip...she had not meant for Shikamaru to hear about Kurai.
"Hikaru...who's Kurai...?" His voice showed to sign of pressing, but Hikaru knew better.
"A friend."
"A close one?"
"Yes."
Shikamaru nodded and he exited. Hikaru looked after him, with a look of distraught. What was going to happen now...?
Shikamaru closed the door behind him and he took in a deep breath. He couldn't simply believe that just asking her about Kurai would get the information out of her. She obviously doesn't want anyone knowing about Kurai.
Shikamaru sighed and he placed his hands behind his head. He walked by the door of the room that Sasuke and Naruto were sharing. He listened carefully, but didn't hear anything.
With a sigh he continued on, and walked down the stairs. What kinds of jutsu's could split someone apart...? Shikamaru wondered if there was a place to research this kind of thing. Well that man must have learned about the teqhique somewhere...
He heard water running and he walked into the kitchen to see Maieko washing some dishes. Shikamaru waited patiently, in no particular hurry, and thought about the differences between his mom, and this woman.
He shivered just thinking about it, and he shook his head and looked around the homey-type kitchen.
"Oh, Shikamaru. Is there something you need?" Shikamaru looked in the direction of the voice to see Maieko smiling at him while whipping her hands on her apron.
"Is there a Library I can visit?" Maieko looked a little worried, and nodded. "Yes...why would you want to go to the library?"
Shikamaru looked at something else. "Just some research."
"I see..." She said and nodded. "Well, I could take you there...but I bet a strong Shinobi like yourself wouldn't want to be seen being escorted by the ex-wife of an evil man."
Shikamaru raised his eyebrows, but kept his expression bored. "I think I'll be fine either way. All I need are directions. I can get there myself."
Maieko nodded. She told him the direction to get to the main library. After giving her his thanks, he went on his way. As he made his way through the villagers he noticed that everyone was laughing, or smiling. Some boys ran into an ally a group of girls following them. Shikamaru couldn't help but smile at the innocence of these people. They truly don't know what it means to be in a hard time...this place truly is a safe haven from the world's trouble's.
The Shinobi placed his hands in his pockets and continued on. Occasionally a villager would say hello to him, and he would nod.
Shikamaru looked around for something...anything out of place. Occasionally he would see the oddball unhappy villager, but that was normal. People were cranky.
He reached an old style building and he entered. Inside it was dusty...light strams could be seen very clearly in the dust, of the dimly lit place.
"Oh...may I help you?" An average height woman with gray hair entered. She had a wise, and friendly face. Shikamaru shrugged. "I'm looking for the Jutsu section."
The woman gave Shikamaru a quizical look. "You must be the Shinobi from Konoha." The tone held no hostilaty, but it wasn't exactly a friendly tone. "I'll show you the Jutsu section."
She began to lead Shikamaru through the maze of bookshelves. Calling it a maze was an understatement, but Shikamaru could make his way back when he was ready.
"Here...we have different sections in this division. Each are labled. If you need anything, just call." She then left Shikamaru to his own devices.
With a sigh, Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck. "Well..better get started...this could take a while." Shikamaru reached out for a book, and slid it out from the self. Opened it, and began his search.
At the house:
Obito was putting away the dishes, when a ruffled Naruto stumbled in. He looked exhausted. Obito grinned. "So...how was it?"
Naruto glared at Obito, but then got a sly grin. "I could always show you." Naruto began to step towards the Uchiha, and he rased his hands up, still holding a frying pan.
Obito pointed the pan at the blond. "No way Naruto...you keep your hands AWAY from me!"
Naruto still made his way to Obito. "Awww but I thought you were SOOO curious!"
Obito backed up. "It was just a fricken question! I do NOT need a demenstration!"
A new voice broke through their antics. "What the HELL are you two doing." Each head turned to look at an fairly relaxed Sasuke...who wasn't wearing a shirt. He walked in the kitchen and opened the fridge. He took out a few ingrediants.
"Maieko said I could cook something to eat. So I'm doing that. If you two would like to go somewhere and-"
"Sasukeee!" Naruto whined. "You don't even care that I'm messing with someone else?"
Sasuke glared at Naruto. "Of course I care, but obviously you have better things to be doing than messing with other people after what happen in the bedroom." His cold demenor affected Naruto physically and mentally. Obito laughed a little.
"C-Come on guys...let's not get to hasty-" but it was too late. Naruto snapped.
"So now that our feelings are exposed to each other means that you get to act like an ass, because I want to have a little fun?"
Sasuke didn't react much. He began to prepare his ingrediants for his food, and Naruto continued. "I bet you even think you have the right to boss me around!"
Sasuke didn't make a sound and sat at the bar in eating his meal.
"Teme! Don't be so agrogant! Tell me what the hell is going through your head." Obito saw the emotions running across Naruto's expression. He looked hurt...like he had been betrayed.
Still there was no reaction. Naruto growled, and reached for a knife.
"Naruto! Put the knife down...don't act so irrationally! Calm down!" But his words didn't reach Naruto's ears, and his eyes were red...very red.
"Answer me!" He threw the blade, but Sasuke moved aside. Naruto widened his eyes just in time to see Hikaru standing behind her brother. The knife was wedged in the wall...beside her cheek.
She was shaking, but didn't make a sound. Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks, and Obito was the first to react. "Hikaru!"
He rushed to her side and began to wipe the cut of the slight blood that had spilled, but Hikaru didn't seem to hear, her eyes were trained on Naruto.
"Please...don't fight..." She whispered, and the tears fell. "You two love each other...I know you do..." She was shaking now, and Obito supported her so that she wouldn't fall."You two should cherish each other..."
Sasuke looked at Naruto with a stern expression. "Overreacting doesn't show you cherish me Usuratonkatchi."
Naruto frowned and looked at the floor, squirming under Sasuke's gaze. "What do you say Naruto?" Sasuke whispered...but not the kind of whisper to comfort. It made Naruto jump a little. "I-I'm sorry..."
Sasuke sighed exasperated. He walked over to the blond and lifted his chin. "Sorry about what." Sasuke's voice was growled out slightly, and Naruto looked away. "I'm sorry for getting mad over a stupid reason...and hurting Hikaru because of it."
Sasuke relaxed a little and flicked Naruto on the nose, then sat back down. Naruto yelped in pain and held his nose. "What de 'ell!" Naruto said. "Wad you do that for?" He spoke through his nose and Obito sighed. He supposed they were back to normal, but Hikaru was still a little shaken up.
"Come on Hikaru...let's get you're cut cleaned up and bandaged."
The Uchiha girl nodded. "The first aid kit is in the closet." She said, wiping away the last of her tears. "It's kinda funny...isn't it Obito..."
Obito was looking through the things in the closet. "What's funny?" He asked.
"Sasuke loves Naruto so much...he's willing to stand up for me now." Obito returned with the first aid kit and opened it up, taking out the antiseptic. "What do you mean?"
"I mean...Sasuke never cared for me, until Naruto was being nice to me..."She looked at the two of them eating and Obito sighed, he poured some antiseptic onto a cotton ball.
"Careful...this might sting a little." He began to dab at the cut, but she didn't even flinch. Obito brought his eyebrows together in confusion, but shrugged, and continued. "I don't think that's the case." To Obito... it seemed that Naruto encouraged the best out of Sasuke. Carefully he placed a band-aid over the cut.
"Then what is the case?" Hikaru asked with the innocence of a child and looked at Obito, who smiled at how cute she was being, he patted her head.
"I'm sure he's gone through a lot that has caused him pain...a lot of it too. So it's caused his heart to close. I think what's happening is that Naruto is helping that closed door...open."
Obito kissed her forehead. "Thus, causing Sasuke to care for your well-being."
Hikaru smiled and touched Obito's cheek,"Thank you Obito..." She leaned forward and kissed his opposite cheek, and giggled when the blush encased his cheeks.
"I'm going out now~" She called out to whoever would listen. "I'll be back as soon as I can!" She then made her way towards the door.
Obito was trying to comprehend on what she was saying and yelled. "W-wait! I'll come with you!"
Hiya everyone! It's been a while...kinda on a busy, and erratic schedual. I hope you guys aren't dissapointed with my story thus far. I really am proud of it : ) Life just likes to keep testing me. I'll keep updating as soon as I can! See you next time~