From Wells and Scrolls
Written for HalfBlackWolfDemon for the prompt "Special Summoning Technique"
Kagome had always been an open person. Open to new people, new things, new places, or new routines. She embraced change. That's why only she wasn't surprised by how easily she fell into place in the bustle of Konoha and the group known as the "Rookie Twelve". Even if she had come to understand how that twelve wasn't the original twelve, and most of the year it was actually eleven.
With their help, it hadn't been hard for her to find a job to occupy her time with, even if it wasn't one many of them were thrilled about. Except Naruto. In fact, if Kagome remembered correctly, he jumped for joy when she told him she was stepping in to help in Ichiraku Ramen. In whatever post-war time this was, the little road-side stand was experiencing a huge bump in popularity as it was cheap, filling, and delicious. Just what everyone needed after a long day of hard work.
And really… Kagome couldn't lie, she didn't have many marketable skills. All her schooling pretty much meant nothing in this world, and aside from making ramen, none of her skills from her quest applied because she couldn't be a ninja. And while she understood the basic reasoning behind why she couldn't leave the village, she didn't really want to. She had had enough of traveling and had been so ready to settle down in one village and marry.
The world may have changed, but that didn't necessarily mean her plans had to. Granted, she didn't think she was ready for marriage just yet or any rebound relationship, but settling in Konoha didn't seem so bad. At least there was running water and company that could come to fill some of the void left by her other companions. But never fill as no one could ever replace someone else.
That was something she could see in Naruto as he sat down with a heavy sigh. Without even asking him, she went to the back and put together the ingredients for his usual order, even though she had a feeling he didn't entirely come for the food. Through the months that she had been in Konoha and living with Sakura, she liked to think she had become friends with him more than anyone else. Even without that, she had always been able to tell a person's emotions, to a degree.
"You know, Naruto-kun," she said, "I have a hunch."
"Huh?" He looked bewildered as he glanced around him, then to the ramen in front of him, and finally back to her.
She smiled, then bopped him in the head with a set of disposable chopsticks that she then gave to him. "I said I have a hunch."
He paused only long enough to snap said chopsticks apart. "Oh yeah?" And for a second, she almost thought he would be like one of his friends and ask how much thinking it up hurt. But it was Naruto, so he said, "About what?"
"About why you always seem to come here when you're thinking too hard to enjoy the food."
He paused, then started stirring his noodles and fish-cakes. "I'm never too distracted to not enjoy the food here."
"Uh-huh." She clearly didn't believe him, but he was too oblivious or too lost in thought to notice. "I think you're not really hungry and you just come here so someone will ask about you and your problems." She smiled again when she saw him jerk enough to slosh some broth out of the bowl. "Don't think I haven't noticed. Even though we never really end up talking about you. So talk this time."
He grunted and went back to pushing his food around. "There's nothing to talk about."
At that, Kagome rolled her eyes. "Sure. OK. I'll guess then. Well, I know Sasuke has left the village again… But you've been moping even while he's here. Is it because he and Sakura finally hooked up?" And it went without saying that most of the others in his group of agemates were also hooking up as well. Ino and Sai. Chouji and Karui. Shikamari and Temari. But no one was really surprised by that.
In response, he only shrugged. And she sighed. "I can't help if I don't know what's wrong, Naruto-kun. And you obviously need something off your chest."
He stayed silent though, and after a few minutes she pushed away from the counter with a heavy sigh. If he wasn't ready to talk, then she couldn't really make him as he was more stubborn than she was. But as she was making a mental list of people she could talk to about whatever was up with him, he spoke.
"I'm actually really happy that Sakura-chan and teme have gotten together. She's been in love with him since we were kids. I did everything I could to save him and bring him back just for her. But…"
"But you love her too." For some reason, her heart felt constricted with that knowledge more than it should be. She hoped it was only because he was a dear friend, and that he was so very easy to like.
"Yes… And, well, no." When he looked up and saw her furrowed eyebrows, he started to babble. "I mean, I thought I did. She was, still is, like the prettiest and smartest girl I've ever known and I wanted to date her ever since we were kids. But, I don't know. Like I had more fun just being her friend through the years, you know?"
Kagome nodded. She hadn't experienced that, but it was easy to imagine. "So, you don't know how you feel about her? Or rather, how to feel about it?"
It was his turn to nod. "Yeah. I think. I just know I'm really happy for them both. They're both…really happy."
"Sometimes that's enough. That's all it needs to be."
"Yeah, but…" He paused again. "There's… You remember Hinata, right? Well, she risked her life twice to save me. And told me she didn't mind because she loved me. Me. No one's ever told me that before her. But I just don't…know her, I guess."
She sucked in a breath. He was almost more clueless than Inuyasha when it came to feelings and expressing them. "You don't know how to react to it, right?" She waited until he nodded. "Well, do you want to get to know her?"
"Yeah, I think. She's just always been this weird, shy girl. But she always knew how to give me the confidence I needed when I needed it. And then…" He took a deep breath and set down his chopsticks. "The second time she tried to save me? Her cousin actually saved her, and died for it. Died, Kagome-chan." And he paused again, this time like guilt had stolen his words.
This time, she took her time in replying as she thought over everything. "And you don't want her to think you're getting to know her or starting a relationship with her out of guilt. But, would you be?"
"I don't know," he said.
"Then don't do anything until you know."
"But how do I know that!?" He slammed his hands down on the table, then ran them through his hair. "I don't know how to tell if I actually feel something for her, or if it's all out of guilt because of what she's given me!"
Kagome could feel her heart ache at hearing his anguish and her eyes start to water. He was in such a sticky situation, and well… She broke the rules this once and went around the counter to hug him to her. She didn't care. He was a good friend, and he seemed so desperately in need of a hug. "No one can tell you that, Naruto-kun. You just have to do whatever you need to to figure it out on your own. Just try not to hurt her in the process, OK?"
He nodded against her chest as he wrapped his arms around her and it became him who was hugging her like his life depended on it. And she figured he needed it so much more than anyone else she had known, especially at this point. So she let him cling to her as long as he needed.
Like it? Love it? Hate it? Abhor it? Don't be afraid to let me know! And thank you to everyone who reviewed! I know many of you are confused as to why Kagome can't leave the village, but it will be revealed in future chapters.