Nozomi: Chapter 9

9.

A burst of chakra flared out the window, and Nozomi sweat dropped.  So much for not being able to pull her chakra out.  Now she was bringing out too much at once.  

The brunette rubbed the back of her head with a sigh and went back to meditating.  ‘Not so much this time!’   After a few moments, tendrils of chakra burst forth, enveloping her body, and she growled in frustration.  

“Ugh!  Still too much!”  The girl let the blue energy dissipate and fell back onto her bed, feeling drained.  Chakra training was not supposed to be so tiring, but then again she’d been going at it non stop now, stopping only when she was ready to faint from over exertion; Even so, her sleep was anything but peaceful, and she’d be awake within mere hours, ready to go back to work.  

She had done her best to keep quiet about her practice sessions, but she was only human, and despite her best efforts, the late nights began to affect her during class.  A concerned Iruka had swiftly pulled her aside, quickly realizing the problem.  Nozomi had been forced to explain why she was getting so little sleep then, and although he looked unhappy, the brunette could tell her teacher had been proud of her for taking things so seriously.  She’d been let off with a warning, and sent home to get the rest she clearly needed.

Turning onto her side, Nozomi hummed softly and buried her face in her pillow.  It was true that she wanted to master her chakra control, more than anything, but that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t sleep.    Piercing blue eyes invaded her mind as she relived her last meeting with her roommate, and she pressed her ears flat sadly.  She hadn’t seen Saera since then, and while she knew the woman had been around, it was clear that she was avoiding any potential contact with her.  

Knowing just how badly she’d failed filled Nozomi with sorrow, and every time she closed her eyes she was engulfed in loneliness, listening to the wishful ideas of what could have been rustling through her mind.  If she’d only held her tongue and not said such stupid things.   This was what really kept her awake at night.  The extra work occupied her thoughts, and that alone was worth the bone tiredness she felt day in and day out.

A soft rumble caused the brunette’s eyes to flutter, and she glanced at the clock.  “Lunch time, huh?  I guess I could use a little break.”

She picked herself up off the bed and headed to the kitchen section of the apartment, peeking in the pantry.  She was debating what flavor noodles she wanted when loud knocking sounded on the door, and her ears perked up in surprise.  ‘I wonder who that is?’

The noise continued, rising in volume until she realized that whoever was there just might pound the door down, and she got up with a sigh.  “I’m coming, I’m coming!  Geez!”

Nozomi thrust the door open, prepared to go into a long winded lecture on patience, but the words died in her throat as she saw a pair of narrowed blue eyes.  “Naruto-kun…”

“Alright, Neko-chan,” The blond scowled, folding his arms across his chest.  “It’s been two weeks since I last saw or heard from you. Two weeks!”  He paused, throwing his arms up exaggeratedly.  “Where the heck have you been hiding?!”

“Hiding?” The brunette echoed, looking surprised.  “I haven’t been hiding.  I’ve just been here, or in class.” She stepped back to let the boy in, and he entered, kicking off his shoes and looking around.  

“Huh.  Well, what’s kept you inside all this time?” His brows arched up as he noticed the small cluster of boxes along the wall.   Was somebody moving?  Before he could ask, the brunette was standing in his line of vision, grinning.

“Here, I'll show you!”

Nozomi clapped her hands together and took on a familiar pose, squinting her eyes shut.  After a few minutes, a flare of bright blue chakra burst out of her body and she gasped softly, feeling her knees buckle a little.  She'd definitely used too much chakra that time.

Naruto’s frown morphed into a lopsided grin as he watched her.  “Hey, you're getting better with your chakra!” He grinned, flashing her a thumbs up.  “Great job!”

The brunette smiled and nodded, satisfied in spite of the fatigue she felt flooding her body.  “Thanks!  I’ve been working on it day and night.”  

Naruto’s grin faded slowly as he took in the girl's appearance.  She looked tired.  Had she just wobbled or was he seeing things?  “Anyway, it’s great that you’re getting the hang of this, but…”  He paused, watching her carefully.  She was starting to sway, and that made him worry.  “You’re not overdoing it, are you?”

“What?  No, of course not!” Nozomi gave a soft giggle, resisting the urge to grimace as her body grew heavier, her legs feeling as if they were filled with lead.  She was just about to ask what had prompted a question like that when the room began to spin, and without warning she fell backward.

“Nozomi-chan!” Naruto lunged forward and caught her, gently lowering her onto the floor with a frown.   ‘I knew it!  She is pushing herself too hard!’  

He knelt beside the unconscious cat girl and brought one hand to her face.  She felt warmer than normal, he thought, hurrying to the sink and wetting a washcloth.  Wringing it just enough to stop the dripping, he sat beside her, gently resting her head on his legs as he wet her flushed face.

After moments that felt like hours to him, the girl’s eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at him disorientedly.  “Naruto-kun?”  

Naruto removed the rag, watching with concern as she winced and sat up slowly.  “Hey, take it easy!” He frowned, resisting the urge to make her lay back down a little longer.  “I don’t know if you remember, but you just fainted!”

“I..did...?” Nozomi closed her eyes and exhaled softly, slumping her shoulders when the blond nodded.  “I’m sorry about that.  The room just started to spin suddenly, and...”

“You’re not taking care of yourself, are you?”

The question was unexpected, and she gave him a startled look.  “Huh?  What do you mean?  What kind of question is that?”  

Naruto’s mouth drew down into a scowl and she looked away, getting back to her feet.  She felt him mimic her actions, standing closer than before, as if afraid she would fall on him again.  Not that she could really blame him.  If she had indeed fainted, he’d have every right to act so concerned.  

A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the gnashing of Naruto’s teeth as he struggled not to explode at her.  The brunette was careful to keep her eyes trained elsewhere, knowing that if she looked at him he’d more than likely trap her in an intense stare down until she broke down and told him everything.  

Finally, Naruto could hold his tongue no longer, and he huffed loudly.  “You know what I’m talking about, Neko-chan.  You’ve been pushing yourself too much with this training, haven’t you?”  He could see the protests building on her lips and growled, narrowing his eyes.  “Don’t lie to me!  Standing this close to you, I can see how exhausted you are!  Why would you do that to yourself?!”

Well, so much for keeping her feelings to herself. Nozomi exhaled deeply, finally looking up to meet his gaze.  “I guess I have been overdoing it a little.” She admitted, wincing when her friend’s eyes hardened.  “Okay, okay!  A lot!”  She broke eye contact, wrapping her arms around her middle uncomfortably.   “...But, I have to.  Otherwise, there’s too much time to think..”

Sensing the change in her behavior, Naruto tilted his head, furrowing his brow.  “Too much time to think about what?”

“...Saera-sensei.”

“Oh...her.” The boy wrinkled his nose distastefully as he recalled his meeting with the woman.  Sighing softly, his face softened as he watched the girl before him. “What happened?”  He paused as a new thought occurred.  “Does this have something to do with the last time I saw you?”

He remembered plain as day how she’d come to him, crying and in spite of his concern, he’d forced himself to comfort her silently, trusting that she’d explain when she calmed down.  Only, somehow she’d neglected to tell him what exactly had happened.

Nozomi raised her eyes back to his regretfully, nodding.  “I know I never told you what happened, and I’m sorry.  I just...couldn’t.”  There was a pause as she collected her thoughts, sighing.  “Everything went wrong that day.  She confronted me and I lost my temper and went off on her about the way she ignores me.”  The brunette broke off then, biting her bottom lip to keep her emotions in check.  “Things haven’t gotten any better since then.  So...I’m moving.”

There was so much Naruto wanted to say suddenly, but the overload of information was too much, and he gawked at her.  After a minute, he motioned over to the group of boxes on the floor, pointing back to the brunette.  “So then, those boxes...?”

“Yeah, they’re mine.” The brunette nodded slightly.  “I don’t really know when I’m moving, but I want to be ready.  That way, when the Hokage has a place ready I can just leave.”  She sighed softly.  “I know this won’t solve the problem since I’m going to be working with her later, but I can’t take whatever game she’s playing anymore.”

“Yeah...I get what you mean.” Naruto replied, trying not to pout as he lowered his gaze.  He’d been happy to learn that his new friend lived so close by, but he had also been aware of her struggle with her roommate.  It wouldn’t be right of him to expect her to stick it out for his sake.  His inner musings were interrupted by a low rumble, and his eyes shot up to see Nozomi grinning sheepishly.  

“Uhh...You caught me just as I was going to make lunch.” She mumbled, heading over to the pantry with a soft laugh.

Naruto opened his mouth to make a witty comment, but his own stomach growled, louder than Nozomi’s had.  “Gee, I guess I’m hungry too.” He laughed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.  His eyes lit up as he got an idea, and he glanced back at the brunette, who was still rummaging through her cupboard.  “Well then, come have lunch with me!  It doesn’t make any sense to eat alone if you don’t have to -ttebayo!”

Nozomi jerked upward, smacking her head on the cupboard as she straightened out and turned to him.  “Oh, I’d love to, Naruto-kun. It’s just..” Her smile faltered and she averted her stare, rubbing her head where she knew she’d be getting a bump.  “I was gonna continue chakra training today, so...I can’t leave.” She gave him an apologetic look.  “Sorry.”

“Are you serious?!” Naruto’s brows drew together at her excuse, and he crossed his arms, looking unimpressed.  “You’d better be kidding me, cause you’re starting to sound just like Bushy-brow!” He exclaimed.  “You can’t keep pushing yourself so hard, it’s not good for you!”

Nozomi’s eyes widened at his outburst before her face settled into a small smirk, and she raised an eyebrow at him.  “This coming from a work-a-holic like you?  Do you know what a hypocrite you sound like?”

The boy’s expression softened at her words, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets, pouting.  “..Well, even I know when it’s time to take a break, Nozomi-chan.”

Hearing him use her proper name emphasized how serious he was, and the brunette folded her arms, looking anywhere but at him.  “Look, I’ll be fine.  I mean, you’re worrying for no reason.  I have it all under control!” Silence fell over them, and she dared a peek at the boy’s face, surprised to find that he was smirking.  “Wh-what?!”

“You’ve got it all under control?” Naruto snickered and shook his head, folding his arms thoughtfully.  “Hmm, what would’ve happened if I wasn’t here when you fainted?  How would you have handled that?”

Realizing what he was getting at, the brunette turned away, heat flooding her cheeks as she pouted.  “Okay, fine.  So I overdid it that time.  Still--!”  

Heaving a soft sigh, Naruto grabbed her arm and began dragging her to the door.  “Nope, you’re taking today off.  Let’s go!”

Nozomi grimaced at the blond’s forcefulness, squirming against his tight hold on her.  “Naruto-kun, let me go!  I already told you, if I don’t keep myself busy I’ll end up thinking too much!-”

“What kind of friend would I be if I just left when you’re hurting yourself?!” Naruto interrupted, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.  Did she always have to be so stubborn?!  After a brief pause, he sighed and slumped his shoulders.  “Look, I get what you’re saying, but...you don’t have to deal with this alone.”

He paused, allowing a soft smile to illuminate his features.  “We’re friends, aren’t we?  I’ll help you keep your mind off things!  Let’s go to lunch and then we can talk to Grandma Tsunade after.  Okay?”

The brunette just stared at him, not trusting her tongue as her thoughts ran rampant.  Finally she managed a small nod, the faintest of smiles gracing her lips.  “...Yeah.  You’re right.” She sighed softly, giving a forced laugh.  “I guess I could use a break.”  Pulling her hand free, she knelt long enough to put her sandals on before opening the door.  “Let’s go.”

Naruto watched her warily, taken by surprise at her sudden change of heart, but put on his shoes and headed outside with a nod.  He was starting down the stairs when he heard his name, and he glanced over his shoulder.

Nozomi locked the door and followed him, smiling sheepishly.  “I’m not really good at asking for help, but you’re right.  I need to remember I’m not alone anymore.”  She caught up to him and offered him a small smile.  “I’m sorry for being so stupid.  Can you forgive me?”

Naruto stared at her for a moment before smirking.  “Yeah, I’ll forgive it this once.”

“Okay, good..” Nozomi sighed with relief, only to gasp as she realized that he’d indirectly agreed she was stupid, and she scowled at him.  “Wait a minute!”

“C’mon, I’m just kidding!”  The blond threw out his arms to defend himself, grinning.  “You know I don’t think you’re stupid!”  He sighed inwardly, relieved when her face softened and offered her his hand.   “Let’s get to Ichiraku already!  I’m starving!”

……..

Nozomi glanced down at the bowl of ramen the old man had given her and exhaled softly.  To her right, Naruto was wolfing down his bowl, and while her stomach urged her to get on with it, she couldn’t help feeling guilty that he was once again paying for her meal.  If she didn’t graduate the Academy soon, she was seriously going to think about looking for a part time job.  Did this village even offer work for people her age?  

She grimaced when a soft rumble rose from her stomach and bit her lip, staring down at the chopsticks she’d been clutching for nearly two minutes.  No matter how she looked at things, Naruto was the one who’d insisted she come here with him.  She hadn’t forced him to bring her, so she really shouldn’t feel guilty.

‘Besides, I’m really, really hungry.’   

Deciding to just accept it for what it was, she broke the chopsticks apart and plunged them into the pile of noodles.  For several minutes, the ramen stand was silent, filled with the sound of noodles being slurped and the occasional sigh of contentment.

Suddenly, the flap bearing the ramen stand’s logo flew back, and a head of pink hair poked inside.  “Naruto!”

Nozomi’s eyes widened at the shrill voice behind her, and she nearly spit out her mouthful of noodles, pressing her ears flat as the newcomer yelled at her friend.

Naruto stared into the angry jade eyes of his pink haired teammate and cringed slightly.  “What?!  We had training today?!  How was I supposed to know that when I’ve been training with the Pervy Sage?!”

“You expect me to believe that?!”  The feminine voice roared, and Nozomi flinched as she heard a loud smack, turning in time to see Naruto double over, clutching his head.

This new girl intimidated the brunette immensely, but she hated seeing her only friend getting beaten for some sort of misunderstanding.  Who did that girl even think she was, coming in and disrupting the peace like that?

Before she could talk herself out of it, Nozomi spun around on her stool, folding her arms and glaring at the girl.  “Hey!  Back off, already!  If Naruto-kun says he didn’t know, then he didn’t know!  There's no way he would ever skip training on purpose!”

The pink haired girl watched a blubbering Naruto thank the brunette, pink eyebrows arching in confusion.  “Who are you?  I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”

Caught off guard by the suddenness of this girl’s question, Nozomi shrank back in her seat, feeling unnerved. This was why she’d told Naruto she didn’t want to meet any of his friends yet.  She had terrible people skills.  Sometimes she still wondered just how she’d managed to become friends with him!

Sensing her discomfort, and eager to repay her for defending him, Naruto jumped in, gesturing wildly.  “Oh, that’s right.  You two haven’t met yet!  Sakura-chan, this is my good friend, Nozomi-chan!  She’s new around here, and a ton of fun!”  

He paused, motioning to the pinkette in front of them. “Nozomi-chan, this is Sakura-chan!  She’s my teammate-- you remember her from the picture I showed you, right?  Well yeah, this is her!”

“Oh, I see now..” Sakura glanced between the two for a moment, grinning slightly. “Gee, Naruto.  I never would’ve pegged you to be one to skip training to take a girl on a date!”  

Nozomi sputtered, grateful that she hadn’t resumed eating yet; she would’ve either choked or spit out her food at that comment.  Her face turned a light shade of pink as she threw her hands out in protest, shaking her head.  “You’ve got it all wrong, Sakura-san!  Naruto-kun has been helping me train but it’s not like that!  He’s my best friend!”

She failed to notice the way Naruto’s face fell as she spoke, though it did not go unnoticed by Sakura.  “Naruto helping someone train?” Her green eyes glinted with amusement as they shifted back to her blond teammate.  “You’re growing up faster than I thought you would, Naruto!  And a girlfriend on top of that.”

Naruto pouted, folding his arms as she spoke.  “Of course I’m growing up!  What’d you expect?” He paused, flinching as her words fully sank in.  “Sakura-chan!   I’m telling you, it’s not what it looks like!”  

Nozomi narrowed her eyes and turned to resume eating, hoping they’d just drop it before anybody else overheard.

“Sure, it’s not.” Sakura snickered at Naruto’s reply and stepped back towards the exit.  “Oh well.  Now that I know what you’ve been up to, I guess I’ll go tell Kakashi-sensei why you didn’t show up.” She started to leave but paused mid step, glancing back.  “Oh, and Naruto?”

Said blond glanced up and she grinned, speaking in an exaggeratedly sweet tone.   “Next time you want to take your girlfriend out, check with Kakashi-sensei and make sure you’re not already busy!”

“Aww, c’mon, Sakura-chan!” Naruto groaned, blushing faintly and burying his face in his hands.

……..

“Um...Neko-chan?” Naruto sighed with relief as the brooding brunette glanced at him and offered her a small smile.  “Sorry about Sakura-chan.  I didn’t know she’d act like that.” He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as Nozomi shrugged, and they resumed their trek to Hokage Tower.  

“It’s fine.  She seemed nice enough.” The girl finally said after a moment.  Inside, she was still dying of embarrassment.  How dare that pink haired busybody just assume that she was Naruto’s girlfriend!  Hadn’t she even been listening to what she’d been saying?!  

A few minutes later, they reached their destination, and Naruto grinned, grateful for a chance to change the subject.  “Well, we’re here.”

Nozomi only nodded, and the two of them entered the large structure, navigating its hallways until they reached the door to the Hokage’s office.  The brunette was just about to knock when Naruto slammed the door open, barging into the room.

“Yo, Grandma Tsunade!” He greeted loudly, and the pale blonde haired woman glanced over, narrowing her eyes.

A stunned Nozomi stood rooted to her spot, wondering if he’d always had such poor manners.  She knew he did when it came to her, but she’d never expected him to be so casual with someone like the Hokage!  It wasn’t until the boy called her that she snapped out of her stupor, and she flashed a sheepish smile as she noticed Tsunade’s eyes on her.  “Hello, Hokage-sama.” She murmured awkwardly, moving to stand next to her friend.

Tsunade folded her arms across her chest, watching them with an unreadable look in her eyes.  “To what do I owe the pleasure of this….unforeseen visit?” She asked after a short pause.  She was slightly peeved at Naruto’s sudden entrance, but at the same time, she couldn't deny that Nozomi’s reaction had been amusing.

Realizing that it was her turn to speak, Nozomi looked up quickly.  “Oh!  I was just wondering if, you know, there was a place ready for me yet.” A hint of sadness flickered through her eyes briefly.  “I’m ready to move any time, so I just thought I’d ask.”

“I see.” Tsunade pulled out a folder and leafed through its contents rapidly, stopping near the back.  “Yes, it looks like there is one ready for you to move in now.” She pulled out the paperwork related to it and produced a set of keys, holding them out to the brunette.  “Here you are, and this is the new address.”

Nozomi barely managed to grip the load of papers as they were thrust into her arms.  She was curious as to why she hadn’t had this experience before, but shrugged it off.  Most likely, Saera had handled all the paperwork the first time.  Now that she was on her own, it made sense that she’d have to deal with everything.  She filled out the paperwork, and after a quick glance over by Tsunade, the two were dismissed.

……..

Naruto clenched his teeth as they walked, holding on tightly to the two boxes he’d insisted on carrying.  They hadn’t started out heavy, but after walking with them for this long, his opinion was beginning to change.  “How much farther?” He grunted.

Nozomi glanced back and gave him an apologetic look.  “It’s in here somewhere…” She frowned, looking around. “Oh!  Up there!”

Naruto followed her gaze up to the second floor of the apartment complex.  It was a corner unit, and small from the looks of things.  Not that she needed much space, he reasoned with himself.  “Alright, then!”  He turned to check on his shadow clones, who were also carrying boxes.  “Let’s get this stuff inside, you guys!”

Nozomi led the way up the stairs and unlocked the door with her key.  “Home sweet home.” She said quietly.  

She jumped to the side then to avoid being hit as five Narutos poured into the room, biting her lip to keep from laughing.  Counting herself, there were six people in the room, and it was clear that they were at maximum capacity judging from the uncomfortable looks on the clone’s faces. It wasn’t long before Naruto realized the issue and released the jutsu, his four copies disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Nozomi swiped her hand over her forehead, wiping the sweat off. “Thanks for your help, Kitsune-kun.”

Naruto nodded and she stepped back, surveying the room.  It was small, with the kitchen and living area all crammed together into the bedroom.  On the right wall was a sink and refrigerator, along with a couple other appliances.  At the end she saw a small cupboard, and, unable to suppress her curiosity, Nozomi peeked inside.  To her surprise, she saw a large assortment of ramen noodles.  There was a note on top, and she picked it up, reading its contents and smiling.

I’m leaving you these, but I trust you to eat variety whenever possible.

-Shizune

The brunette smiled slightly as the Hokage’s black haired assistant popped into her mind.  She’d definitely be paying her a visit soon to thank her for her generosity.  

After replacing the note, she turned around and was surprised to see Naruto grinning at her.  “Wh-what?”

The blond just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.  “Nothing.  You just look happy and that makes me happy.”

“Oh.” Nozomi nodded understandingly, smiling as she glanced around the room.  “I’m just so relieved to be here…”

Naruto nodded, unsure what else to say.  “So, um...do you want to unpack now?”

Unpacking now would help her feel more settled, but….Nozomi glanced out the window.  The day was still young, and Naruto had already sacrificed so much time to help her move.  She could always unpack later, but there was only so much daylight left, and she felt like she ought to spend some time with him.  It had been a long time since they just hung out.

Shaking her head, the brunette smiled softly at the boy.  “That’s okay.  I’ll do it later on.” She opened the door and motioned outside.  “Didn’t you say you were gonna keep me busy today so I couldn’t train anymore?” She giggled.  “There’s still daylight left, so let’s go do something!”

Naruto’s eyes had widened at her response, but his surprise faded quickly as he nodded and followed her outside.  As she locked the door, he snickered in a self satisfied manner, causing her to ask what was so funny, and he shook his head.

“Well, um..” He paused, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, a faint red coloring his cheeks.  “Leaving together like this feels like we’re going out on a date!”

Nozomi froze, nervous laughter escaping her.  “Oh--I-I see...Um..” She glanced at her toes uncomfortably.  How was she supposed to handle this?  She’d known the boy had some sort of crush on her, but until now it had slipped her mind.  She knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but she also didn’t want to discourage him, either.  What was she supposed to say in a situation like this?

Naruto assumed her silence to be hesitance about going out with him and chuckled, grabbing her hand.  “Don’t worry, it’ll be a good date!”

‘M-maybe I should’ve stayed home after all!’  The brunette sweat dropped as he led her down the steps at a breakneck pace, clearly eager to get to wherever they were going.  ‘What did I just get myself into?!’

……..

Several moments later, they came to a stop at a park, and Nozomi looked around.  A small playground was up ahead, while the rest of the area was open, with lots of space to run around.  Trees were strategically placed here and there to provide a shady rest stop for anyone who grew weary.  

Glancing at the blond who had yet to release her hand, she gave him a curious look.  “Kitsune-kun, what are we doing here?”  

The boy grinned back at her, but his reply was drowned out by a shout.

“Incoming!”

The two teens broke apart and jumped out of the way as a grey and white blur spiraled past, narrowly missing them.  As the obstacle came to a stop, Nozomi was surprised to see that it had been a dark haired boy and his puppy.  What kind of move was that?

Naruto, on the other hand, did not look impressed as he pointed a finger at the newcomers, glowering.  “Kiba!  Are you crazy?!  You almost hit us!” He exclaimed.

The white puppy climbed on top of the dark haired boy’s head as he approached, grinning. “Haha!  Sorry about that!  We didn’t see you until it was too late, and you know once Akamaru and I get going it’s hard for us to stop!” He reached up, scratching the pup’s chin, earning an enthusiastic yip.

“Yeah, I know.” Naruto groaned.  Normally he’d engage the two in some sort of competition, but right now he was trying to relax, and their energy was making him feel tired.  Glancing to his left, he noticed that Nozomi wasn’t faring a whole lot better.

Kiba had turned his attention to her and was in her personal space, sniffing her cautiously.  “Have we met?”

Nozomi’s body went rigid as she stepped away quickly, shuddering.  “Uh--no, we haven’t.  I’m--”

She jumped as something cold touched the back of her calf and glanced back, freezing as she locked eyes with Akamaru.  When had he gotten off of Kiba’s head and why hadn’t she noticed?!

The nin-pup sniffed her and barked loudly, wagging his tail.  Something about the way he was watching her made her feel nervous.  Like he was viewing her as his prey.   Akamaru watched her step away, fur fluffing up in fear, and when she spun around and ran, he took off after her.  

Kiba laughed as the brunette ran, screaming when the pup leapt forward and latched onto her tail.  “Hey, it looks like Akamaru really likes your friend, Naruto!” He snickered, turning to the wide eyed blond who was watching with concern.  “Who is she, anyway?”

Tearing his eyes from the screaming brunette, Naruto forced a smile.  “That’s Nozomi-chan.  She’s new here and--” He grimaced as a yell tore through the air and turned his attention back to Nozomi’s predicament.  “Kiba, can’t you call him off?  It doesn’t look like she’s having fun over there!”

Confused, the brown haired boy followed his gaze to the brunette, who was hanging from a tree branch and lashing her tail back and forth to try to shake off her canine captor.  

“Come here, Akamaru!” He called out, and the pup glanced at him before reluctantly releasing his prize and trotting to his master.  

Nozomi climbed onto the branch with a relieved sigh, watching warily as Kiba, Naruto and the pup came to stand under her tree, watching her.

“Haha, I guess Akamaru likes your tail.” The dark haired boy grinned, and she bristled.

He thought her getting attacked by his dog was funny!  Clinging to her branch a little tighter, she pressed her ears flat, pouting.  “Yeah, well I don’t like him chasing it.” She grumbled under her breath.

Akamaru whimpered, and Kiba sighed.  “Well, it doesn’t look like we’re gonna get anymore practice in with Akamaru acting like this.” He bent down and scooped the pup up, smirking.  “I’ll see you later, Naruto...and Nozomi-san?” He glanced up, locking eyes with the annoyed looking brunette and smirked.  “Something tells me you’re gonna be a lot of fun to have around!  See ya!”

Nozomi narrowed her eyes in response, only jumping down when the boy had gone.  Her landing was less than graceful, and Naruto hurried to help her up, watching with concern.  

“Are you okay, Neko-chan?  He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

The brunette grimaced, recalling the feeling of that dog’s teeth and shuddered.  “It’s nothing.” She mumbled, and although Naruto didn’t look convinced, he let the subject drop.

After a few minutes of silence, he turned to the brunette again.  “I’m sorry.  If I knew you were afraid of dogs we would have left.”

Nozomi looked at him in surprise before shaking her head.  “Well, I didn’t even know I was afraid of them!” She paused, frowning.  “Though, I wasn’t so much afraid of the dog as I was the way the dog was looking at me..” She raised her eyebrows as the blond snickered and frowned at him.  “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, just I don’t think you realize how much of a cat you really are sometimes!”  Naruto grinned at her mischievously.

“I am not a cat!  How many times do I have to say it?” The brunette retorted, sticking out her tongue in annoyance.

“Whatever you say...Neko-chaaaan.”  The boy sing songed, ruffling Nozomi’s ears and laughing as she swatted his hands away.

“Would you cut that out?!”  She huffed, moving out of his reach.   When Naruto lifted his palms in surrender, she sighed and let her shoulders sag.  “Anyways, before that interruption, you were about to tell me why we came here. Remember?”

Realization lit up the blond’s face, and he nodded, smacking his fist into the palm of his other hand.  “That’s right!”  

Nozomi gasped as he grabbed her hand and ran toward the playground, dragging her along.  When they finally stopped, she looked at him curiously and he grinned.

“C’mon, do I have to have a reason?  What if I just wanted to bring you here to play?” He paused, lowering his voice.  “You didn’t have anyone to play with growing up, did you?”  When she shook her head, he smiled softly.  “I didn’t either, so let’s make up for lost time!”

Nozomi opened her mouth and closed it again, surprised and touched by his offer.  “That...does sound nice.” She admitted, and the blond laughed, ushering her onto one of the wooden swings.

“I’ve always wanted to try this!”

Before Nozomi could ask what “this” was, the boy stood up on the swing behind her, placing his feet on either side of her to balance as he held onto the rope.  “C’mon, Neko-chan!”

The brunette stared at him for a moment before realizing what he wanted, and laughed softly under her breath, kicking her legs.  As they began to move, Naruto gave a loud cheer, and she beamed at him.

……..

As the sun slid lower in the sky, the two teenagers were forced to call it a day, and Naruto jumped off the swing, holding out his hand to the brunette.

She hesitated before allowing him to help her up, noticing that he didn’t let go of her hand after.  “Naruto-kun.”

“Yes, Neko-chan?”  The boy glanced back at her as they left the park, and she paused, suddenly feeling a little tongue tied.

“...Thank you for today.  I think this was just what I needed.” She frowned slightly, wondering why this felt so awkward.  It wasn’t like talking to Naruto wasn’t a normal thing!  So why?  Why was it so hard to talk just now?!

“See?  It’s good to have fun and relax now and then!” Naruto wiggled his eyebrows playfully, giving her a toothy smile.  “We should go on another date sometime -ttebayo!”

Just like that, the brunette realized why she’d been feeling awkward.  He had called the last portion of their day together a date, and whether she agreed if it had or hadn’t been one, it had added all kinds of pressure to the outing.

Not knowing how to respond, she slipped her hand out of his grasp.  “Well, it was really fun, but I think I’d better be getting home now.  I’ve still got to unpack, you know.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Naruto frowned thoughtfully.  “Okay, then.  I’ll take you home!  I wouldn’t be a very good date if I left you to walk alone.”  He grinned and took the brunette’s hand back in his, once more. “Or a very good friend, either.” He added as an afterthought.

Nozomi had started to protest, but let the issue drop.  It had been such a nice day, and it would be a shame to get into an argument now, just because she was feeling uncomfortable.  Besides, regardless of what he felt, he was her best friend, and she enjoyed spending time with him.

The walk home was silent, as neither of the two seemed to know what to talk about.  Truthfully, Nozomi didn’t really mind.  The stars were coming out and it was peaceful.  Talking wasn’t always necessary.  Though, she would have to talk to him about them.  She’d seen him sneaking looks at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, and the tenderness in his eyes made her feel so…awkward.  He was acting like he was her boyfriend or something..

Before she could figure out how to broach the subject, however, they were at her apartment, and she gave a silent sigh of relief as she fished out her key, unlocking the door.  

Naruto stepped back slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as he struggled to think of a way to stall.  “So….um….what are you doing tomorrow?”

The brunette turned to look at him and shrugged.  “Training and academy work.  What else is new?”  

Naruto laughed awkwardly, nodding.  “Well, you’ll get there.  Just keep training….but not too hard or I’ll make you take another day off!”

“Okay, I promise.” Nozomi laughed.  “Well, I guess this is it.  Good night, Kitsune-kun.”

‘Which means any minute I’m going to be completely alone for the night.’  She thought, frowning as she turned back to her door.  Why did that thought make her feel so lonely suddenly?

Naruto noticed the sudden tension in her posture and frowned.  Having grown up alone, he was all too accustomed to the loneliness that came with it, and therefore could recognize the signs of it in others.  

“Ne--Nozomi-chan!” He lurched forward, gripping the brunette’s shoulder and turning her around to face him.

“Naruto-kun?” He saw himself reflected back in her golden orbs as he moved in closer, encircling her in a tight hug.  

“I just wanted you to know, no matter what it feels like right now, you’re not alone.  I’m here!  So if you feel sad or just need somebody to talk to...No matter what time it is, I’ll be there dattebayo!”

Nozomi’s eyes widened as she took in his words.  ‘How did he know how I was feeling?’  Subconsciously, her arms wrapped around him and she rested her head on his shoulder, revelling in his embrace.  She may not know where she stood with him right now, but he was still the sweetest guy she’d ever known.  Somehow he just always seemed to know what she was feeling and how to soothe her.  She was jolted from her thoughts by a soft cough, and her head lifted to see the boy smiling warmly at her.  

“As much as I’m enjoying this, I probably should get home sometime tonight.” He smirked as the brunette practically jumped away from him, face turning pink as she sputtered.

“Ah!  S-sorry, I didn’t even realize I--” She cut off, gasping as his lips touched her cheek, and he grinned innocently, stepping back.

“Good night, Neko-chan.”

“G...G’night, Kitsune-kun.” The brunette responded softly, watching as he left.  When he was no longer in sight, she hurried inside, closing the door with more force than needed as she leapt onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow, muffling her embarrassed scream.

“Augh, Naruto-kuuuun!  Why do you always do this to me?!”

……..

A couple hours later, Nozomi crawled into bed.  It hadn’t taken long to unpack, and after dinner she’d still had time to kill so she’d run herself a bath.  The water and soap had been soothing, and just what she needed to help her unwind after the kind of day she’d had.  In fact, she’d gotten so relaxed that she nearly fell asleep in the tub, only coming out of her light doze when lukewarm water invaded her nose, causing her to sputter.  

Now, as she lay in bed, she closed her eyes, silently praying that she’d be able to adjust to being alone quickly.  A little voice in her head reminded her that she’d technically been alone from the start; the only difference now was the lack of a second bedroom.  

As her heart grew heavy, a voice echoed in her mind, as if reminding her she wasn’t alone, and she smiled, recalling Naruto’s words to her earlier.   True, she was on her own now, but that didn’t mean she was alone.

To be continued