Disclaimers: I own nothing, just borrowing them to extract my minds' story and make it come to life.
A/N: It been so long since I looked in here, and thought "Shit! I gotta get back in my game and not let ppls hang in the cliffness of the story" and so here it is: Enjoys!
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Forgiveness or forgetting
I would say every day is the same since I got back: jog and exercise early in the morning, go to classes, hang out with either Kiba or Shika or both, head out for late afternoon training, head home and have diner before heading to bed.
Still needed a couple more weeks before this big exam and I've been working Naruto hard after he had finished his Floaty Technique quite early he showed me and as soon as he did, I told him his real training will start. If the weights he had started with are starting to feel a little light, I upgraded him and I do the same for myself.
During our afternoon training, we make clones and fight them, as I have allowed Naruto to begin in the intensive workout with me and that included being attacked by our clones. After that or before, which ever, we just chakra lined feet or hands to climb the tallest trees and hang on for as long as possible, while being attacked by clones. This helps in doing multiple things at once and works out both the mind and body.
Naruto has come a long way and in a short time too which had me impressed with his driven nature.
After one intense workout, we headed home and chatted aimlessly about this and that. Hell I even mention whether or not Naruto has noticed a little someone staring at him with dreamy eyes but he just looked at me like 'what'. It's cute sometimes that Naruto is dense but this is ridiculous. I know Kiba noticed but hasn't said anything about it.
Walking up the steps, Naruto kept asking who I meant and I was about to answer him when I just stopped on my floor looking towards my door in which had Naruto bump into me from behind.
"What?" I gestured for Naruto to see.
"Do you see what I see?" Looking where my finger is pointed, Naruto gasped and ran over to a big package sitting by my door.
"This is a big one and not like the other ones, open it" Standing there for a good minute, I shrugged and I walked over to open my door, went in, leaving the package behind.
"Hey wait" He picked up the big box with no wrapping but had a big bow tied around it.
Setting the box on top of my table, Naruto sat while I stood as we are looking at it.
"What do you think it is, Roxanne?" I just shrugged as walked closer to untie the bow.
"You know this is starting to be a little freaky that someone, we don't rightly know who, is always sending you things and very expensive things too, I might add" Nodding, I slid the box over to me as Naruto stood up and took the top off.
Sitting nestled in the box is a white bear, with a blue shirt on and a headband with the Konoha logo on it. Picking it up, I turned it around and around, trying to find something that will tell me who it's from.
"What's this?" Naruto says picking up a card at the bottom of the box and showing it to me.
"Can you guess now? What does that mean" I shrugged at the question and held up the bear facing me as I took a really good look at it and tried to figure out what the card meant.
'Click' just like a switch came on and just now I realized where or who it's from.
"Sasuke" Naruto head shot up quickly.
"What?" I turned the bear so it's facing Naruto.
"Who does this look like to you from our class?"
"Hmm" Taking the bear from my hands and examining it good, Naruto then exclaims:
"It looks like Sasuke!" I nodded and took the bear from him to set it in front of me on the table as I sat down also.
"But why" Really, is he asking me why?
"Why not, I think it a way of him apologizing with gifts and not words as you remember I told him his words are like ash to me. He's found out a way to say he's sorry without actually saying it"
"By buying you gifts, isn't that like buying your forgiveness?" Very good, Naruto
"Yes but the things he got me before were expensive and hard to find in a village like ours. This one is easy to find though and I guess the shirt and headband were self-made from materials he gathered"
"So what you going to do"
Yes what should I do, all the gifts I've been receiving have been thoughtful and useful, and yet I have no idea what to do: should I thank him or just play it dumb and pretend I don't know?
"It has been a couple weeks now since you actually spoke to him and from what we've seen from these gifts; he probably wants you to talk to him again. You know forgive and forget"
"It's the forgetting part I have a problem with, Naruto, how can I forget what he's done. What would you do if he did the same thing to you, if you had a tail that is?"
"Well…..I would have bashed his head in for even touching me and never speak to him again but that's just me, it wouldn't mean anything to him if I never spoke to him again. I know he doesn't like me or even wants to hang around with me" Down cast his eyes in silent as he said this and it sadden me to see him like this.
"Naruto, Sasuke is a…..how do I put this politely…..a douche, with an ego wider then this town and probably thinks he can get away with things because he's an Uchiha but" I walked over to where Naruto is sitting and knelt down so I am at eyelevel with him, lifting his chin with a finger.
"But he is nothing compared to you and your wonderfulness. If it is possible, he probably wish to be you right now instead of an Uchiha"
"Really?"
"I guarantee it" Smiling the thousand watt smile at me, I kissed his cheek and stood back up.
"Hypnotically, let's say that he does like you and wants to hang out with you so bad but did what he did to me to you, would you have forgotten what had happen and forgive him?" Naruto thought about this one for a while and while he does, I got up and started on a simple dinner for two of rice, diced meat and veggies.
Finishing the last touches and grabbing 2 cups of cool water from the fridge, I set a plate down in front of Naruto and sat down with my plate, with the water nearby.
"Um" are the first words I heard just as I am about to bring a spoonful of rice to my mouth and looked towards Naruto in question.
"I would have forgiven him but it would have taken a bit more of time to forget what had happen. To forget would mean that you erase the incident and I think it's better to learn from it then forget it. So I wouldn't forget it, just know better about it and get over it. It will take time, Roxanne but until then, I'd say give the boy a chance to redeem himself" Wow. A rare insight indeed of the intellectual that Naruto holds is amazing.
"Hmmm. I'll think about it for now" Smiling at him, I finally put the spoonful in my mouth and Naruto smiled back as he dug in his dinner.
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That night after Naruto left for the night, I set the bear on my night stand and sat on my bed, thinking of the revelations that Naruto bestowed upon me and in who is responsible for sending me these gifts.
Sasuke
When I think about him, I think of how I just noticed nowadays he's more secluded in class and the quietest. During our recess time, he just sits by a tree and looks around, the girls give him his space and that's pretty much all. Now that I think of it, he doesn't socialize with anyone and keeps to himself. When Iruka tried to engage him in class with a question, he just shrugs and looks out the window.
I have no idea what to think of this, I mean before the incident, Sasuke was always answering the questions asked of him and sometimes social with the girls or even some of the other boys, even participating in the class and recess.
Did my assault and insult batter him enough to cause him to burrow in himself and stay there until a light showed him the way back to society? Am I the light? Should I forget about the heinous act he displayed that caused me my injury?
I'm having trouble with the forgetting part but I can forgive him, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Is this sooner or later or mid later?
Swinging my tail around I brought it closer, rubbing the fur from the tip to the end and I did not feel anything. Keeping it wrapped around my waist has helped in the healing process but that was a long time ago, I think a day or two it was tender but after that my tail just felt normal again. Staring at my tail as I pet it soothes me for a good few minutes.
"Should I talk to him again?" asking my tail and I knew it won't answer me back, so I just let that hung in the air as I got ready for bed.
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Getting ready for Naruto to come by, I stared at the bear while sitting on my bed and for the life of me which I don't get; I have totally mixed feelings about this whole Sasuke thing.
Yes it was sweet of him to get those hard to find gifts, and yes they were beautiful and yet I don't know how to feel about this.
I just don't know and there's Naruto's knock so I yelled at him that it's open. Coming in and walking to my bedroom door, he leaned against and watched me as I stared at the bear.
"So what's the verdict?" I sighed loudly and ran a hand through my hair.
"I don't know Naruto; I don't know how I feel about it and whether I should. I can forgive him but"
"But"
"That where I get cut off, I can but….I don't know"
"You know what I think?"
"Please"
"I think you should but as a trial offer. Like a probation thing where if he screws up then that's it" hmmm…that is actually a good idea.
"Wow, that's actually a good idea, Naruto: a trial offer" and it is a good idea because then we'll know if Sasuke truly is sorry for his mistake.
"Now that is settled, let's work" Clapping me on the back, Naruto laughs and we take off for our morning routine of jogging and exercise.
Before it would of tired Naruto out on the 1.5 miles mark of our jog but after doing this daily, with weights no less, that mark has moved up to 4 miles and Naruto gets tired when we are 3.5 miles from the mark. Good, eh?
25 of every exercise we did before is now up to 50 and soon it's be higher or tougher, either way we are making good timing.
The cooling down part, however, is the same as always and walking back, enjoying the morning air is just as relaxing.
Getting home for a shower and change of clothes, Naruto is already in my kitchen setting the table with orange juice and fruits on a plate as I dried my hair. Letting it air dry and without gel, I decided to just leave it all wavy and whatnots.
Going in the kitchen, I sat down just as I slipped the tail-let back on and we had a pleasant meal in comfortable silence as I ate the fruits that Naruto cut up and took a sip from my juice.
Little did I know that what I have decided will have a huge impact on what's to come, but no thoughts of mine went there as I ate my fruit and smiled at Naruto across the table.
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Cloudy skies today but no chance of rain, it would have been nice to walk in a little drizzle today.
Coming up to the sights of the academy, it's surprising to see no one at the entrance area waiting and Naruto voiced his disbelief at the scene.
"Hmm, must be Monday but isn't there usually someone out here, girl or boy?"
"Must be one of those days where people aren't where they usually are and are in an unusual place"
"Unusual place, School is unusual?"
"Hands down, Naru, hands down that school is unusual. I mean come on: teachers, when you're not looking, want to bang their heads against their desk when class is a ruckus and would rather get a paper cut then grade our papers. So school is unusual with unusual teachers teaching unusual kids at unusual hours of the day"
"Hmm" Naruto scratches his head in confusion but shrugs nonetheless at my statement.
Opening the doors, I sighed in relief when I hear from a distance the loud arguments our class is emitting and Naruto laughs by my side.
"They are back and it's only been what, 2 weeks?"
"More or less" Shrugging, I open the door and the scene before me is as familiar as it was before:
The girls all yelling at each other on who gets to sit with Sasuke,
Sasuke with his head on his arms looking like he doesn't want to be here at all,
the boys sitting in their seats ignoring everything else around them.
"Isn't this nice?" I quietly say to Naruto as he tries to keep a straight face and nods.
Gesturing for him to go first, his straight face turns to a smile as he steps up the stairs and waves in greeting to Kiba and Shikamaru.
I, however, had a different course in mind when I stopped and turned to where Sasuke sits with his head on his arms as he hasn't noticed yet.
The girls did though, as did everyone else and silence rang through the classroom. Standing next to an empty seat next to where Sasuke sits, I cleared my throat for his attention and when he glanced at me, he had to do a double take to make sure I am standing there.
Giving a small smile directed at him had Sasuke staring at me with very wide, very surprised eyes and his mouth slightly open as he tries to stand on shaky legs. This amused me greatly and my tail sways behind me in joy at the boy's reaction but then lay limp over my shoulder, showing the jewelry very nicely.
Only when Sasuke stood, did I addressed him: "Good Morning Sasuke"
Quiet gasps and slight shuffling were the only sounds that could be heard, aside from Sasuke's hard breathing, in which I assume he is hyperventilating and so I must make this Very Short before he couldn't remember what I had said and passes out.
"Sasuke, I would like to thank you for the gifts you have given me in what I assume to be a way of apologizing for your disastrous actions some weeks ago" Numbly nodding and holding his breath "I have decided that I will forgive you (gasps and muttering as Sasuke releases his breath and smiles widely) BUT (quiet again) on a trial basis of course" Looks of confusion littered his face and every one else's. "It means that it will be a trial friendship, like probation and if you screw up in anyway, it will be terminated and we will never speak again. Am I clear?"
His head bobbed up and down quickly that it looked like it just might fall off; with a smile I nodded and turned back to the steps on the way up to my seat. Turning to my seat, Kiba had an eyebrow raised and Naruto had a small smile.
"A trial friendship" Kiba asked.
"My idea" Naruto answers and I smile
"And a very good one, look at Sasuke" They both turned to where I am looking to see the size of his smile.
"If he wasn't always compose, then he'll be jumping for joy and whooping" Watching him sit down, the smile never left his face, even when he looked up to see us watching him and waved at us in which we all waved back.
"He'll probably do it where no one will be watching or listening" Kiba countered and Naruto smiled a mischievous smile.
"Wanna bet" Kiba turned to Naruto with a smirk.
"I bet he'll do it when he asks to go to the bathroom" Naruto
"I bet he'll wait until after class lets out and runs off to somewhere secluded" Kiba
"And if one of you win?" I asked, intrigued
"Then the loser pays for the winner's lunch for a week" Kiba says and that statement had Naruto thinking.
"Do you agree with those terms, Naruto?" I ask as Kiba and I stared at Naruto for his answer.
"Deal" and struck out his hand to shake.
"Deal it is then" They shook on it and faced ahead just as Iruka walked in with the morning greeting.
"I'll decide who wins, be keeping an eye on Sasuke until such a time happens" I whispered and they both nodded in agreement.
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Naruto won!
Not long after class started, Sasuke asked to use the bathroom and I made a clone, discreetly, to follow him. When my clone puffed away, did I get its memories and I wanted to laugh.
What I remember is following Sasuke to the bathroom, waited outside and that when I heard it, so I peaked in and saw Sasuke whooping and jumping around. I had to cover my mouth to keep any laughter in and then puffed away.
My silent giggles did slip and got the attention of both boys whom looked my way in question.
"Naruto wins" I whispered but Kiba didn't keep quiet at all.
"What?!" and that got everyone's attention to us.
"Is there anything you like to add to class, Kiba?" Iruka asks the perpetrator in disturbing his class and scared him, but he won't admit it out loud.
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei, thought I heard something"
"Hmm….ok class back to the problem at hand…" and he trailed away as Kiba leaned over and repeated his outburst in a more quiet tone.
"Naruto won because I followed Sasuke when both of yous were distracted by the teaching of one Iruka-sensei. So I guess Kiba will be paying for Naruto's lunch for the entire week, wonder where should we go?" Laughing at Kiba's groan and the 'thunk' sound his head made when it made contact with his desk. Naruto smiled widely and crossed his hand behind his head, looking smug at the results just as Sasuke came back to class with a smile that almost had me laughing again.
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Recess came along shortly and once again, me and guys grabbed some mitts and started throwing the ball around. Making fault throws at any unsuspecting person within range and throwing it as fast as one would throw kunai or shurikans. A distance away sat Sasuke on the steps with his groupies on the side but he paid them no mind as his attention is to our little game of catch.
We decided to add a bit of fun to our catch game and it went like this: Whoever has the ball has a short time limit of 5 seconds to add 3 words to a story we are making up before they can throw the ball and if they can't come up with 3 words, they are out.
So far everyone is still in and laughing at the little story we are making up, for they are hilarious. Soon enough, Shika couldn't stand up because of laughing too hard and that ended up with him being out. Still snickering, he made his way to where Choji is seated and sat himself down to watch the rest of our little game. Having the ball in my hand, I walked over to where Shika dropped his glove and thought for a good moment before speaking.
"Sasuke" His head shot up so fast, it's possible he got whiplash but disregarding that, I waved the glove at him.
"Wanna join in?" I heard mumbling first before I heard someone running.
"Sure" Sasuke says with a big grin and I hand over the glove.
"Awesome, we are playing a little word game with our catches. The main thing is that you have to come up with a sentence of 3 words to go with the sentence of someone else to make up a story of sorts and the time limit is 5 seconds. You game?" He nodded and so I threw the ball at him.
"You're first up" walking back to my spot, I watched as Sasuke thought for a good second before coming up with the beginning of a story and threw the ball at Naruto.
When the bell rang, most of us were laughing again but this time with a crowd of our class laughing along with us.
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