Disclaimer: I won NOTHING except my character
AN: This is my last chapter until I get off my holiday, so enjoy and comment if need to.
Humble Weekend
All day today, Sasuke didn't come back to class and he didn't show up the next day either. Now it's the weekend and since I got out, Naruto and Kiba have made sure that I chill and let my body 'rebuilt' itself so I can start on my practices. So far it's been good, Naruto kept me company as we watched Kiba train with his sister or play a puzzle game with Shikamaru when he's not in snooze land and it's good…but it's tiring.
I know I'm supposed to be relaxing and taking it easy…but DAMN! I need to train and need it now or else I will lose my mind.
Went I got home that first day of coming back to class, the wall is built for my room and when I saw my closet, I almost fell to my knees: it was HUGE! The old closet is pushed to the outside of the wall to my room into the main room and I got giddy with excitement because now I can go shopping for clothes. To the side of the front door, are left over lumber but those can wait another day.
It's Saturday morning, 4 in the morning to be exact, earlier then I like it to be but I have a goal to set and gain: sneak out and train somewhere secluded so I won't be disturbed. I may have been out of it for 3 days but I don't usually heal like most people and only needed a good day to get back into rhythm. Then again I didn't like hearing Naruto whining and arguing that I need to rest and take it easy. Ugh!
Anyways I'm strapping some weights onto my ankles and wrists when I heard a quiet knock on my door, very quiet, as if they weren't really sure on knocking and that made me wonder.
I knew it wasn't Naruto because I told him last time to actually sleep in like I do except this time, I'm awake and he's not.
Walking over to the door, I opened it to see nothing on the other side, just an empty hallway and the slight breeze of the morning air. Shrugging, thinking it's probably nothing I turned to closed the door but something red caught my eye and I looked down to see a small package wrapped in red paper and tied off with a white bow. Bending down I picked it up and turned it around to see if there is a card with it. Not seeing anything, I brought it with me inside and closed the door. Walking over to my room, I sat on my bed as I kept looking at the small package and for some reason, I have no idea why, I sniffed it. I smelled the scent of vanilla and orchids.
I know this scent, but my mind could not for the life of me figure out where I've smelt it before.
So, cautiously, I open the package slowly and not tear the wrapping as it is a good shade of red, remind me of the color of blood and not wrinkle the bow either. With the item unwrapped, I now held a small flat box with a cover and it felt light. Opening it and looking in, I almost dropped it.
Inside the small box laid a pair of long fingerless gloves that I knew are water proof and wear proof that could withstand anything, and they don't come cheap as it is made of real leather. Holy Shit!
Picking them up with one hand, I dropped the box onto the floor and held up the gloves with both hands for a close inspection to see if they are the real deal. Turning them over and over, I see a tag on the inside lining and checked it out.
'Shinobi issued top grade gloves, wear, tear, water and shock proof' Holy Crap it is the real deal!
Who would drop this off, at my door no less and why?
I wanted to think on this but I had a time limit for my secret training and I had to go now if I didn't want to get caught by anybody. Stuffing the gloves in my night stand, I grabbed my shoes and adjusted the weights on my ankle and wrist. Heading to the door, I stopped mid-way to opening it: what am I doing?
Turning back around, I open the window and climbed out to stick to the wall as I closed the window again and jumped right off to fly through the air. Chakra lined feet cushioned my fall and sped off to the training ground, without a sound as I ran for it.
When I got to the specific training ground, I stopped to look around for any guards minding the area and when I found none, I leaped high in the sky and summersaulted over the barb wired fence. Landing quietly over the other side, I kept running until I am now deep in the forest of the Training ground # 44, the deadliest training ground and the largest. It's also known as the Forrest of Death and I like it. I had my eye on this place since I heard about it and without anyone around; I can finally train in the midst of this place.
Scanning the area for any chakra signatures, I started to stretch and do warm ups when I felt nothing in the 10 km radius of where I am.
When I found out about this place I was ecstatic to train here: I overheard some Chunins talking about this place in hush tones and I got the name of it when I checked out the list of training grounds in the school.
Finishing my warm up, I produced one clone and asked it to start slow as I am just getting back into my rhythm and my feet but didn't need to see the docs anytime soon.
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4 hours later and I'm almost exhausted but did get an awesome work out, I didn't get tired as quickly as I thought I might be but I did sweat a great deal and so am now running back to my place for a quick shower then get back into bed before Naruto comes over for another day of relaxation.
I'm proud of myself that I'm able to do this and will keep doing this, even on a school day until I get back on my feet and back to my original training. I know soon enough Naruto is going to come around to asking if I'm ok to start on his exercise and I'll be more than ready for that.
Climbing through the window, I undressed and slipped off the weights on my way to the bathroom and turned on the shower to warm and got in to ease my tense muscles with the spray of the shower.
15 minutes, I'm dressed in pajamas, picked up my discarded clothes, stashed the weights so I won't rouse suspicion and am about to crawl into my comfy bed when I heard the knocks of Naruto. I groaned out loud, went to the door, open it and went back to my room to fall into bed.
"Roxanne?" my answer is muffled by the soft comforter and softer pillow as Naruto came closer to my room doorway.
"Hey Roxanne, you're up right?" a muffled reply is his answer again.
"I know it's early but I heard your shower on and so thought you be up, I guess I got it wrong" I peek out from my blanket and pillow to see him standing there in a comfortable looking clothes, so I waved him over to me. When he got closer to the bed, I quickly grabbed his hand and hauled him over me. He yelled out but didn't struggle and I rolled him over so his back is to me and held on to him.
"I'm tired Naruto, let's just sleep for a bit then we'll do whatever you want when we wake up, ok?" I snuggled in the warm that is Naruto and I actually felt him blush, his face is probably red as a tomato right now. A squeak of 'ok' came from him and I for one got more comfortable when Naruto relaxed.
Soon sleepiness came and we are both flying into dream land with small smiles on our faces.
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Back in training
If I had an alarm clock ticking away right now, it'll tell me we've been asleep for more than 5 hours and we need to get up but it is so comfortable to even try to get up. Sometime during our sleep, Naruto turned around and my head is resting nicely on his chest and his arms are around me, holding tightly but not too tightly. I like it.
I kept laying there with my eyes closed and just enjoying the warmth that Naruto's body has to offer until I felt him stirring to wakefulness. Trying not to groan from disappointment, I pretend to sleep and when Naruto finally woke up and realized that we are tangled up together, well, I felt his temperature rose as he blushed deeply.
Slowly yet surely, Naruto tried to untangle us without waking me up, so he thought, and I wanted to smile at the gentleness he is providing. As the last of my limbs is finally off him, Naruto then sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window, while I looked at him when his back is turned and didn't know I was awake. Naruto then stretched out his limbs is when I turned to my sides and stifled a yawn.
Might as well get up…but it is so comfortable to do so and I just snuggled back into the pillow, sighing away the need to get up. Naruto, though, did get up and went to the bathroom as I closed my eyes and let the last remaining sleep take over for a while.
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I awoke to the smell of bacon, eggs and hash browns, and it was totally working. Stretching my entire body and yawning away the last sleep, I stood up and did the little morning exercise I usually do. 50 sets of pushups, sit ups and side to side punches, is when Naruto notices I am awake but didn't say anything as I made my way to the bathroom.
Freshly washed but still in my pjs, I went into the kitchen and sat down, watching Naruto as he move, surprisingly, gracefully in the kitchen getting everything in a plate and pouring juice. Setting a plate in front of me with juice and set another up across the table where he is sitting, Naruto then grabbed some napkins and finally sat down, handing me one.
"Good Morning, slept well?"
"Very well and thank you for the breakfast, it looks delicious" He nodded and picked up his fork as I copied him. A forkful of eggs with hash browns, I am humming with approval and Naruto's eyes lights up with gratitude.
"So what's on the agenda for today, Naruto, taking a walk, shopping, chilling with the boys or watching a movie?" I wanted to know.
"Um, I was actually thinking of doing a bit of training, light training today so we won't get behind in our practices" my fork clattered on the plate as I looked at Naruto in stun silence. Did I hear him right?
"You want to train, what happen to all the bull about me having my rest and whatnots?" did he really want to?
"Well, we have been taking it easy since you got out of the hospital and that was like 2 days ago, I think, and it'll be good to get back on track, don't you think?" I actually didn't hope for it to happen right away but happy nonetheless.
"I think…it is an awesome idea, so when do you want to start?" Taking a bite of his breakfast, Naruto mulled it over in his mind for a good second before answering.
"After we're done" I nodded and tried hard not to speed up eating but kept a shit eating grin on my face at the news of being able to go out in the open, so to speak, and train back my routine. A slip of thought came across my mind when I realized that I did train earlier and hopefully won't outdo myself later on.
30 agonizing minutes came and went as we walked to the training grounds instead of running for it but I get the gesture: Naruto did say light training so I guess this is included.
Getting there, we kept going until I found a good grassy clearing and sat down, gesturing for Naruto to go for it. He hesitated for a bit but walked over to some of the taller grass and concentrated on his chakra to line his feet. Sitting cross legged and leaning against the base of a tree, I watched for how he did this technique but kept quiet, so Naruto can try and remember what I said those days ago.
After a few minutes of concentration, Naruto lifted his foot off the ground and let it hover above the grass before pressing it down firmly. The grass gave way but only for a second and then held it place, not being crushed from Naruto weight. He smiled at that and let the chakra go to his other foot to try it. When both feet are like 2 inches off the ground, Naruto turned to me to say something but ended up crushing the grass underneath his feet and he moaned in disappointment.
"Naruto, like the water and tree technique, you have to keep concentrating so the chakra could stick AND keep you afloat at the same time. Remember, combine both techniques somehow and you'll do great. I'll just be right over there practicing my katas" I pointed off to the side somewhere and got up just as Naruto called up his chakra again.
Another clearing, I stood in the middle and took a deep breath as I did a series of stretching and short exercising. Finished, I did the hand sign and a clone popped up, already in a defensive stance. I smirked and got ready. This morning's nap might have done me good because I am pumped up with extra energy and started this fight with a swift kick.
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A Crash into a massive tree shook it to the core and some leaves fell to the ground, but that did not interfere with this practice fight that went from being slow and steady to fast and hard. I am loving this!
The sweat on my brow, the slight aching of my legs and arms, the adrenaline pumping in my veins and my heart beating a calm beat like the outside is not affecting me one bit. Three days out of commission and two days of 'relaxation' have nothing on me as I dodged a 3 hits to the midsection and flipped backwards to kick the upside of the clones head.
This is where I'm supposed to be at and this is what I'm supposed to do, I live for shits like this and I dream it too. Running to the tree, I jumped off it to launch myself at the clone but it is waiting for me as it grabbed me by my shirt and threw me over its head to almost crash into another tree. Twisting in midair, I landed at the base of the tree on all fours and ran head on to the clone, while unsheathing a kunai from my holster.
It jumped back and dodges every swing of my knife from left to right, up and down. Quicker and faster I sliced as it backed up to the tree behind it and with a spin kick, I slammed it up against the wood and plunged the knife in its midsection making it popped out of existence.
Wiping the sweat off my brow, I sheath the knife back in its holster and stretched my muscles as my bones cracked and popped from overuse. Doing a short exercise to cool down my body temperature, a slight breeze sweep over me and that helped…until I caught a scent.
Right away my sense shot to high alert and scan my surroundings. Reaching out with my chakra, I caught something to my right and so jumped up high to the tree branch and tried again. Sniffing and scanning, the scent and something vanished right away. I stayed up in the tree for a good 15 minutes before I relaxed a bit and jumped down to the ground.
With one more look around, I began my walk back to where Naruto is and kept myself alert, just in case.
Getting to the clearing with minimum noise and leaning against a tree, I watched Naruto as he is actually trying to walk on the grass. Nodding my head to no one in particular, I sat down and just watched. Naruto hasn't noticed me yet, so I rested my head against the tree as Naruto crushed his next step and he exclaimed in a pissed off fashion but began again. Smiling at his antics and quickness of his emotions, I felt my eyes getting heavy and thought it wouldn't hurt to rest them for a bit. Closing them, I listened to Naruto's steps and breathing, as well as the forest around us.
A shaking of my shoulders woke me up from my surprising slumber as Naruto kept calling my name and shaking me lightly. Sighing, I open my eyes and looked up at Naruto's face looking at me with concern.
"Roxanne, hey you alright, I think you fell asleep for a bit there" Stretching my arms above my head, I held out a hand for Naruto to take and he hauled me up.
Yawning and shaking my head, I rubbed the little sleep I had in my eyes and looked up to the sky to notice it is getting less light. Not saying a thing, I wrapped an arm around Naruto's shoulders and started walking; yawning more times than I can count and realized that I must have over done my workout.
Naruto didn't say anything and didn't need to when his arm wrapped around my waist as we walked in comfortable silence to our building. The evening rush at the market is lively but I'm tired to really look or care. Then Naruto stopped for some reason and told me to stay put for a minute while he rushes into a grocery store. Indeed a minute later, he come back out carrying a bag and holds it up for me to see.
"I'll be cooking tonight, so you can take a nap when we get back, ok" I nodded and again wrapped my arm around his shoulders and continued walking, leaning a bit on Naruto.
Soon I'll be back to my spunky self but right now I just want to crawl into bed and rest while Naruto cooks a secret meal.
When we did get back, Naruto got to work but lead me to my room first before starting anything. When my head hits the pillow, I'm out again and this time on my soft pillow while Naruto takes off my shoes and goes to the other side to begin.
'Damn I'm tired' is the only thought that went through my mind as sweet darkness claimed me.
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Admitting
The aroma of cooked food filled my room and my nose that lead me to unconsciously sit up and sniff the delicious smell before stretching and opening my eyes. Looking towards the window, I see that it is darker now and less noise coming from the open window, that Naruto open I assume. Swinging my legs over to place my feet on the floor, I stretched one more time before standing to walking out to the main room and saw Naruto twirling and sliding from one spot to another, like this morning.
Smiling, I went to the bathroom to wash up before Naruto call to let me know that dinner is ready.
Washed and clean, I quietly made my way to the table and sat watching Naruto 'dance' to the sound of cooking. A twirl here, a twist there and a slid to end it all, to have a plate in front of me filled with delicious food and to have more set down on the table before Naruto poured us a cup of warm tea. That is when he sat down and I clapped to show my appreciation and admiration to his little talent. He smiled and blushed at the same time.
Picking up my fork, I stabbed a piece of meat and put it in my mouth, only to realize an explosion of different taste filled my mouth. The sauce is a masterpiece and why hasn't Naruto done this before. I hummed my approval and Naruto started on his as I tried the veggies.
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After dinner is finished I got up to start on cleaning the dishes, but Naruto stopped me, sat me down and said he'll do it, and with a smile no less so I had to comply. Sipping on my tea and sitting with my legs up on my seat, a thought crossed my mind and I voice it.
"When did you learn to cook?" Naruto's hand faltered for a second before resuming what he is doing.
"I learned when I was tall enough to reach the oven…I think…or was it when I was old enough to go grocery shopping" he scratched his head for a moment and thought about it.
"Yeah, when I was old enough to go shopping is when I learned" continued to wash the dishes.
"I learned when I caught and killed my first rabbit" sipping some more, I noticed Naruto stopped his movement and turned his head towards me. I just nodded and he went back to washing.
"I was really young and by myself at the time, so I had to watch and learn first from others before I attempted it. Turned out really good and then tried my hand at frying fish" I smiled at the memory. Draining the water and drying his hands with a dish towel, Naruto sat across from me and picked up his cup of tea.
"Why were you by yourself?" Sipping, he looked at me for any small movement, which I did not make.
"It was complicated back then, people didn't understand and so I had to be by myself for a bit. It's a story of what it was like for me back in my old village but a story not yet ready to be told, ok Naruto" He nibbled on his bottom lip for a bit and then nodded.
"Today really tired you out, huh, must have been a hell of a work out to be that tired" He jokes with me and I laugh a bit, at that and at the change of subject right away.
"Honestly, it was but it's because I went out this morning" He sputtered the tea out and looked at me with wide eyes while he wiped the spilled tea off the table with the dish towel.
"You went out, without me?" I nodded and sighed at his chest fallen expression and so reached over and held his hand.
"I went out because I needed to, Naruto, if I didn't I would of snapped and be a bitch about it. I didn't want that. So I went out, did a light training session and got back by 8, is when you heard the shower running and came over" squeezing his hand, he squeeze back but won't look at me.
"But why, we went out and did that, you could of waited"
Sigh "Naruto, I didn't know you were planning on asking and I went because I needed to. My whole life, I have been training and if I don't, even for a day, I get sort of antsy to move and fight. What happen had made me take 5 days off and at first it tired me out but after a bit it got easier to exercise, so I thought if I did what I did then I'll get back to my rhythm quickly so when you asked, I'll be good and ready to go. I over did it today but I didn't get injured or hurt in the process. Naruto (I lifted his chin) I need to train, not because of the exams but because it's in my blood to fight and train. I've been training since I could walk and being out of commission, got kind of boring for me, so I went. Sorry I didn't tell you"
Bringing my hand down, Naruto mulled it over as I sipped my tea.
"It's not that because I thought you would get injured, it's that if you asked I could of went with you so I can watch or work on my techniques. You train in an amazing way, Roxanne, like art and I wanted to watch" He blushed and I just smiled at the cuteness of it. So I got up and went around to hug the life out of Naruto, who 'eep'ed but hugged back.
"Next time I try to get in an early exercise, I'll include you but if you're there, then you will have to do what I do, ok. It won't be easy, not one bit and it'll be long. Ok"
"Alright" one last hug, I let him go and went over to my room to grab something to show Naruto that I had almost forgotten from the day's activities.
"This morning, before I left, someone knocked quietly on my door and I knew it wasn't you because of what I said before about getting up late on the weekends. Anyways I opened the door and there was no one there. So I was about to close the door when I spotted something on the floor and picked it up. It was a small package wrapped in red paper and white bow. I sniffed a scent on it but for the life of me, I can't figure out what it is and so opened it up. You wouldn't believe what was in there"
Coming back in the main room, Naruto is up and I have my hand behind me to hide the gift.
"Well what is it?" I chucked it at him and he caught it, but when he saw it, he gasped and looked closely.
"Are you serious, do you have any idea how much these things cost?" I nodded and sat back down on my seat to sip my tea.
"Of course I know how much they cost, Naruto, those kind of shit is expensive, at least a month worth of groceries…maybe more" Naruto then plopped down on his seat as he kept looking at the gloves on different angles as if it will tell him who it's from.
"No note?"
"Nope"
"But you said there was a scent"
"From the wrapper"
"Where is it?"
Getting back up and going back to the room, I grabbed the paper off the night stand, where I threw them, in my hast to get out of there and came back to the table, handing the piece to Naruto.
Setting the gloves on the table, Naruto then Looked at the paper closely and sniffed it even that made me laugh. Standing up, I refilled my cup, added sugar and sat back down, continuing to watch Naruto in his, I guess detective mode or something.
"You know I've never seen this kind of paper before and you're right, the smell is sort of familiar but I can't place it anywhere" turning upside and over, Naruto looked for any sign of remembrance.
"Yeah, well whatever, it's a mystery for another day" Looking at the time, I see it's only 8 in the evening and I did get some sleep as I am not tired yet.
"Naruto, will you stop that" looks up from his sniffing of the paper
"Let's play a game of cards, I'm not tired yet and it'll keep you busy while something is happening. Is your place locked?" Confusion marred his features when he shook his head and I smirked.
A hand sign and 5 clones popped out, they all stood by and waited for instructions.
"Take those (I pointed to the left over lumber to the side) go up to Naruto's and make an exact copy of my closet. We need room for the clothes that will be there, now scoot" I waved them away and they all picked up the lumber and thundered their way out and upstairs.
At first Naruto didn't say nothing since his eyes were bulged out of their sockets but the noise from upstairs woke him up and he sputtered before catching his voice.
"Closet, why do I need a closet for?" Giving him a look that clearly states 'Really' and then gestured to the 5 chests of clothing lying by the wall of my room
"Do I have really have to explain to you the need to store your clothes in a reasonable space and hang them up so they don't wrinkle as much?" Scratching his head in a thinking pose
"Um…no"
"Alright then, I'll get the cards and we can start while everyone else is busy doing what they got to do" To the closet and back, I shuffled a deck of cards and started to deal out a game as we listen to the bumping and shuffling of movement from the floor above us.
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