The Boy in the Park

Chapter Fifty-Eight

He opened his eyes the next morning to the sound of the door closing abruptly. He sighed as he brought his right hand up to his forehead. So, Naruko had left that early in the morning? He supposed she'd be going for a jog and then return for breakfast.

Shinku walked downstairs, half-expecting to find the kitchen in tatters. He instead saw a message written and placed on the table with the unmistakeable Naruko calligraphy.

No need for breakfast, or bento. Signed: Naruko.

He frowned.

This cold shoulder treatment was perplexedly the strangest thing that had happened to him now. He couldn't understand the reasoning behind it, but unless he asked someone who was bound to know…

He opened the door and headed for the garbage bins of his house. They looked as if a raccoon had been working through them, so he just made a hesitant guess.

"Sakura? Hinata?"

The next instant, both girls were 'at attention' in front of him.

He sweat dropped. "Really," he muttered under his breath. "Did you two have breakfast already?"

"No, Aniki-san."

"No, Onii-sama."

"Come on in then," he shook his head in disbelief. He was starting to develop a sixth sense for these type of things. As he placed the water to boil for the rice and prepared the omelettes, he asked quietly.

"Any of you know why Naruko's like this?"

Sakura frowned. "Like how, Onii-sama?"

"She didn't act strangely at all with you?" he returned her gaze with perplexity.

Hinata was puzzled for a moment, before taking out her bloc notes. "I asked Neji-Nii, who went to help Naruko's team…but he said that nothing different happened. Then again he refused to take her tampons back from…"

The twin gaze of shock silenced Hinata. For her side, she believed complete and utter collection of everything Naruko-esque was perfectly fine but…oh well, she'd deal with the Heretics another day.

"The mission was…well, it was a bit difficult," Sakura acquiesced. "We met with Akatsuki and…it was tough. They took Gaara and for a while he even seemed to be…"

"What are you trying to hide, Sakura?" Shinku's eyes narrowed slightly. "You always hesitate when you try to avoid saying something bad."

"It's…It's nothing Onii-sama!" Sakura exclaimed. "Really nothing! Just…they were really tough and for a while Gaara even looked dead, but then he got back up because Chiyo-sama took care of it but…" she bit her lips, "She died after that…because of the strange technique she used."

"Someone died during your last mission?"

"Well, yeah but…she chose to and because otherwise Gaara would be the one dead and…" she fidgeted, "I…I got really close to dying too against Sasori of the red sand and—"

Shinku's arms hugged tightly on Sakura's head, as the pink haired girl made a startled gasp of surprise. He pulled away his arms when he realized Sakura was unzipping his trousers.

"Really you," he growled. "What do I worry about you to begin with?" he sighed in mock exasperation. "So, nothing else happened?"

"No Onii-sama," Sakura said with a light pout. "Why don't you ask her?"

"If she answered me, I'd try," he rolled his eyes. "I'll try anyway this afternoon. Hopefully I'll get a straight answer out of her."

"If you don't, don't worry Aniki-san," Hinata replied smoothly. "I will most certainly cross reference my Naruko-mood charts while examining her clothes and calling forth a spirit to ensure healthy child—"

Once more, the look of shock that settled on the heathens face perturbed Hinata. How could they not believe in the sanctity of her dark spells to ensure Naruko had a happy life? Really!

They were looking at her as if she was a stalker or something, and she wasn't a stalker. Never mind the mini transmitted in Naruko's pillow, so that she could hear her breathe when she slept…or the life-size Naruko plushie dressed with Naruko clothes she hugged at night.

"No, maybe it's for the best…I might just be exaggerating after all. It's not like she'd suddenly flip for no reason, right?"

"I don't know Aniki, but we're leaving tomorrow," Sakura muttered. "There's another mission really important coming up and…maybe you should try and settle things tonight?"

Shinku exhaled, and then nodded. He could manage that much, couldn't he!?

That night, he tried to strike up conversation with Naruko.

She disappeared in a flicker, without even giving him a spare glance.

That stumped him.

There had to be a reason why Naruko was now outright refusing to talk to him. It was as if she was but a ghost, coming and going from the window. She kept the door of her room locked and whatnot. Really! He was actually afraid for the state of the room, with no one cleaning it.

He couldn't just barge in though. He was her guardian, but…there was a limit to what he could do.

If the girl didn't want to talk, who was he to force her?

He didn't even have the will to cook. Since Naruko wasn't probably going to remain in her room, he decided to head over to the Ramen Stall.

"Another portion, Ayame-neechan!" Naruko's voice reached his ears then, just as he was closing in on the stall. So the girl had escaped to the stall, hadn't she?

Wait. So she was acting like that only with him?

What had he done now?

"Isn't Shinku coming tonight too?"

"Ah…yeah, Aniki's swamped with work right now," Naruko retorted.

Shinku clenched his fists.

"A pity," Ayame muttered. "So you're leaving tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah Ayame-neechan!"

"And you can't even spend the day with your Aniki uh, poor darling," Ayame said. Shinku could imagine her shaking her head.

"It's…It's not a problem," Naruko mumbled out. "I mean…I'm sure I'd be only a bother."

"Nonsense," Ayame chided her. "He should stop with his work and come right here to enjoy dinner with ramen."

Shinku opened the flaps of the ramen stall in that moment, "Why, it seems like a wonderful idea." He held a bright smile on his face as he sat down right next to Naruko, who stared at him slack-jawed and with her eyes just as wide as those of a doe caught in the light did.

"A-Aniki," Naruko blurted out, before returning to her ramen bowl.

"Naruko!" he exclaimed then, "Seems ages since we last saw each other," he smiled brightly.

Ayame carefully took a step backwards.

She had heard the stories of the Smiling Demon that inhabited Shinku's soul whenever he began smiling like that.

She didn't want to meet it. The stories said grown men cried, and perverts burned in hell after seeing that smile.

Teuchi on the other hand took over just in that moment.

"Ah, Haruno-kun, what will it be?"

"I'll have pork ramen," he pointed out.

He then gave a gaze to Naruko's ramen. It was the usual vegetable broth with just a pinch of salt…so that couldn't be the reason, could it?

"I'm sorry I was busy with work, Naruko," he said then softly. "I did manage to free myself in time though, so…how did your mission go?"

Naruko froze there and then.

She clenched her fists and then, calmly, through gritted teeth, she replied.

"Very. Well."

"Is that why…" his voice trailed off, not wanting to make a public scene.

"Oh! I forgot to water the plants!" Naruko exclaimed suddenly. "Have to go, bye Aniki, pay for me all right!?"

She tried to dash off.

"Hey!" Shinku exclaimed, but it was too late. The girl had already left.

"What just happened?" Ayame blinked from her spot behind the counter —and with a metal ladle between her and the Smiling Demon.

"I…I don't know," Shinku hung his head low. "I really don't know."

"It's just a phase," Teuchi whispered, with some sort of conspirator-like tone. "I'm sure she'll be back to normal by the next mission."

"I hope so," Shinku mumbled. "I really hope so."

He ended up simply paying for Naruko's share, before returning home. He was just about to head off to bed, when a thought struck him.

Well, it couldn't hurt to try.

He prepped a Bento in less than an hour, before depositing it calmly on the desk and leaving a note on top of it.

Scribbled on it were a few, choice words.

Good luck out there, Naruko.

The next morning, the contents of the Bento were in the garbage bin, and the note had another childish scrawl belonging to Naruko on it.

I'm not a baby who needs a packed lunch. I don't need a guardian worrying about me. I don't need you.

Shinku crumbled the note in his clenched hands.

Fine.

She didn't want to be babied.

Fine.

She didn't want to have someone worrying over her.

Fine!

If she didn't want him to fuss, then she just had to say so!

Wasting food like that…

He blinked.

The Bento was gone from the kitchen's bin.

Meanwhile, on a nearby chair, Hinata was munching with her cheeks swollen on the food.

She was sort-of like a squirrel in that, with her eyes wide open and staring back at him.

"Munch. Munch. Munch."

"Ehm…"

"Naruko touched it."

"It was in the garbage," he deadpanned.

"Naruko's trash is Hinata's precioussss treasure."

"You're licking the bento box."

"Naruko touched it."

Shinku nodded slowly, as he backtracked. "I'll be going then."

"Have a nice day Aniki-san!" Hinata smiled brightly.

With that…he left for work. Yet he couldn't help but wonder…was it really his fault?

Author's notes

Who understands women is good.

Who understands Gollum-Hinata should be checked for mental problems.