Connection
Author's Notes: I have countless apologies to say. I wanted to update fast last time at March…then I stalled to April…now to May. I managed to update today, a few minutes into May 7th, my set goal day, which is my birthday! it's a birthday special update (or this would've taken longer) it's actually a sad excuse for a chapter that took so long to write but turn out to be no longer than the other chapters. It's not writer's block. It's the lack of inspiration to write. Again, thank you all for the wondrous reviews! Forgive me if you feel neglected, it's really just my slow ways of updating.
Disclaimer: Naruto and its character are owned by Masashi Kishimoto-san
He was alone.
Not really.
The sunny day in Konoha was bright and beautiful. Underneath the clouds was a specific store called the Ichiraku Ramen Stand. The entrance to the shop was the simple lining of pale white sheets. They were hung from the ceiling a distance away from the stand counter. It covered only the top half of the shop, allowing easy movement in and out of the shop. Smoke rose from a pipe by the side of the stand, indicating that the ramen shop had already started serving.
A nervous smile.
"I don't like…this kind of tempura…so much…" He spoke with a small, uncertain smile. His green orbs darted to the side shyly, uncertain of his comment.
The blond boy besides him had already slurped down half of the contents in his bowl. Iruka had paid for the two bowls of ramen, but it seemed that he had forgotten about a meeting for the Academy teachers and had to leave early. Deciding that he couldn't wait for Naruto to finish his entire meal, he asked the cook to put the overall money on his tab, as per usual.
Naruto swallowed his mouthful of steamed noodles, seemingly unaware of anything else. Gaara's uncertain words had not reached him until he swallowed another whole mouthful of his utmost favorite ramen. It was only then did he digest the words.
"Oh, that's fine. I'll eat that bowl for you." The boy displayed a semi-grin and waved a careless hand. He then turned to the man over the ramen stall and waved his left arm frantically. "Yo! Old man! I want another bowl! A this-type-of-tempura-less one!"
The cook chuckled at his favorite customer. As much as he tried to prevent it from showing, there was always this affection whenever the little blond boy came over. He had already prepared a new batch of noodles ready to be boiled. It was expected. Naruto never left his favorite ramen shop without having more than one bowl of noodle. "Another bowl already? You haven't even finished your first one!"
Naruto slurped another mouthful of ramen down before giving the cook a pout. "Mou. Can't you see? It's for Gaara!"
The said boy sitting on the stool besides Naruto blushed. His eyes instantly diverted to the counter of the ramen stall. His hands nervously grasp the hem of his poncho. Hesitantly, he spoke with a feather-light voice "No…It's okay…I can eat it. It's just that…it's fine…u-um…"
"No! No!" Naruto propped up in his seat, grabbing both the attention of the cook and the redhead boy besides him. Using his chopsticks as a pointer, he directed it in front of Gaara's surprised face.
"It's better for me to eat it down happily than for you to eat it down sufferly…err…unhappily." Naruto halted for a dramatic pause. The cook took the time to think about the boy's childish use of vocabulary. Naruto had not changed. Whenever he saw him, the boy was always alone. It couldn't be helped. After all, what was in him had never been appreciated in the village. At times, even he would feel sympathetic towards him. However…
The ramen shop owner directed his gaze to the redheaded boy. Gaara's eyes were widened and surprised. The corners of the cook's lips tugged upwards. If there were more children like this one here, then Naruto would've had more companions. Little did he know that Gaara also had a similar fate.
The Suna child stared at the grinning boy with a surprised expression. His pupils soon resized to normal. The edges of his mouth curved upwards into a smile. "Thank you."
Slurp
Gaara paused, ingesting the long noodle from the new bowl that the old man served. He blinked, eyes opened semi-wide. In an amazed whisper, he said: "Oishii"
"Told ya it was good!"
-Shard-
Yashamaru was a kinsman of the current Suna Kazekage. To be specific, he was the brother-in-law of the village leader. But even with the supposedly close relation, he remained distant from the Kazekage.
That was why others were surprised when he accepted the job of caring for his nephew, the demon child. He was a child who bore the remains of the sand demon, the tale that still brought shivers when heard. Yet Yashamaru, despite his far relationship with his in-laws, made it his personal duty to look after the youngest son of the Kazekage.
Some thought it was because of their blood relationship, and they pitied him. Others saw it differently.
"Accursed man" They whispered behind him.
"Dishonor to his sister." Others glare at him from afar with betrayal. Had his sister not suffer enough? She was screaming to her death cursing the village. He was not responsible for that, they knew, but he was responsible for his actions now. It was one thing if he were connected to Gaara by fate, but another if he took it to his hands to make that connection.
He was kind to the demon, betraying his own sister whom he loved so much. The demon had possessed him.
He heard them all. But he had a face of smiling indifference.
Walking down the hall alongside the Suna representative, he kept a pleasant smile while thinking back. Thoughts of the past, cursing of the villagers, those voices passed him by, but he never faltered.
Soon, he thought. Soon they'll all see all my intentions.
Soon, I will prove that I never betrayed my sister.
-Shard-
"Eto…"
"Nani?"
"Naruto."
"Nani?"
"W-why are we back here again?" Gaara clutched the bear and look around nervously. The two had arrived back at the tree before the Academy, where they had met in the morning. It brought some unpleasant memories back from the previous hours.
"Don't worry!" The blonde boy had a carefree smile on. He ran to the unoccupied swing and jumped atop of the seat, swaying it in the air. Gaara jogged behind and stopped a distance away so he wouldn't get hit. The blonde grinned, "C'mon, don't you wanna swing?"
"Swing?" Gaara blinked.
Naruto hopped off and gestured Gaara to sit on the seat. The Suna boy complied hesitantly. But when the Konoha boy tried to give him a push, he yelped and slipped off the seat. He was unused to anyone giving him a shove, even if it was friendly.
Naruto frowned. For a moment, Gaara was afraid that the other boy might think he was strange, stranger than he already was, that is. But Naruto simply crossed his arms and put on a "thinking mode" expression. "Hmm, this is hard."
A light bulb flashed.
"I got it!" Naruto pounded his fist to his palms. He pulled Gaara onto the seat, making sure the redhead had both hands grasping the swing ropes. He then picked the purple toy and settled it near the trunk before Gaara could react. He wasn't aware how protective Gaara was over that stuffed animal. This was another first. Gaara recalled the last time someone took it from him. He remembered getting upset...and a little angry as well, then…the redhead blinked in confusion, he didn't remember what came afterwards.
A sudden movement of the swing made him gasped and clung tightly to the ropes. He shut his eyes firmly when he felt the seat sway forward. It took a few swings before he was able to open his eyes. It was strange, no one pushed him, and he certainly didn't push off ground himself.
He started when he noticed a close presence behind him that he was unaware of before. He tilted up enough to see the smiling face of Uzumaki Naruto standing behind him. When he had just gotten on and was unaware, Naruto had hopped onto the swing seat along with him and started swinging.
Naruto's feet were one either ends of the swing. He leaned backwards in order to put more pressure on the swing and let it swing higher. "What do you think? It's double swinging! I always wanted to swing like this, but Iruka sensei is too heavy!"
Gaara blinked in wonder, and then shut his eyes again when they swung forward. He heard Naruto laughing, "C'mon Gaara! Open your eyes! It's a good view from here."
The redheaded boy snuck a glance and shut his eyes again. He took a hasty breath and opened his eyes, looking at the whole new view before him. He took a breath in. From his point, he could see over the Academy building.
They swung like that for awhile. Double swinging. It's with Gaara sitting down on the swing and Naruto standing on it, controlling the speed of the swing. It stayed like this until Naruto spoke, "Hey, wanna switch?"
"Huh?"
"Eto…ehe, it's getting tiring swinging like this." The blonde grinned sheepishly. He stopped putting pressure on the seat in order to slow it down. Gradually, the swing swung slower.
Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on Naruto's face. He moved back to the edge of the seat stealthily. With a cry, he leaped over the redhead and slid on the dirt ground before him.
One would wish Naruto doesn't strive for attention so much all the time. If he didn't, then he wouldn't have ended up on the ground, like he is now. It doesn't take much for a person to figure out how the blue-eyed child ended up on the floor. Some slide marks here, a stone there, a fallen Naruto near it. One could pretty much get the answer looking at such evidence.
Gaara's eyes went wide, but he couldn't loosen his hands from the rope, especially not after this. So he waited until the swing gradually came to a stop before coming off. Unsteadily, he got off. Without his toy by his side, he held onto the swing rope with tight fingers, bringing it along with him as he walked.
"Are you…okay?" Unknowingly to himself, Gaara had trembled. What if he fell down and got hurt? Would he blame it on him? He didn't want it to be like that. He had been scapegoat for long enough, taking responsible for even the things that he was not involved in. Slowly, he extended a hand towards the blonde boy.
-Shift-!
The kitsune child shot up to sitting position, making the redhead jump back immediately as a reflex. As a result he fell into sitting position and released the swing rope. Gaara watched through widen orbs and remained frozen, shocked at the other's sudden fast movement.
Naruto turn to his direction and held up his palm as a greeting. "Yo!"
"Eh?" The green-eyed child blinked with abnormally wide eyes. His expression did not change even when the blonde boy stood up. Naruto grinned as if nothing had happened and patted the side of his pants. It was just then that the released swing happened to sway by and knock right into his forehead with bull's eye aim.
The grin faded and he collapsed back to the dirt ground. Gaara blinked. He had been sitting on the ground. The swing had swung over his head but, thankfully, did not touch a hair on his head. He remained still for a moment, then registered the situation and panicked. Gaara looked around frantically. Finding no one near him, he resolved by trying to wake Naruto up himself by fanning him wildly.
He never knew of often these kind of knock-in-the-head-and-faint situation happens to the blond boy.
Nor did he realize how fast Naruto recover from them.
He was sent into another wide-eyed state when Naruto jumped onto his feet and glared at the swing. He waved one arm frantically and pointed at the swing accusingly…only to have it swing back to hit him once again.
-Shard-
"Ano, Naruto." Gaara hesitated, this being the first time he ever called the blonde boy by his name.
"Nani?"
"Ano…gomen ne."
"Gomen? For what?" He blinked. He recovered from his third, and what he had hoped the last time, to be hit by the swing. Is it because he always played with it? That's nothing bad. Sure, he damaged it a little, maybe had to change the ropes and few times, the seat a couple of times, the nails countless times, but that's all beside the point. He fixed it in the end anyway. With Iruka-sensei's help, that is.
"Well..." Gaara look aside. "For staying with me and spending time with me…ano…"
"Why are you sorry about that?" Naruto frowned. He closed his eyes for thought, going into his lined-eye thinking mode. He remembered something like this before.
Light bulb.
"Ah! I get it!" Naruto shot open his eyes and hit his fit to his palm. "You mean thank you right?"
"Eh?" He hadn't heard this one before. Not used this way. Shouldn't you only say that if someone aided you in your benefit? That's what Yashamaru said. He was still unsure how to use the words.
"I know! Iruka-sensei taught me that! If you have nothing to be sorry for, then don't say sorry, instead, say: Thank You!" Naruto grinned. He stood up and spread his arms. Unknowingly, he just knocked something into motion, but he was too absorbed in his own words. "I used to say that sometimes, but nothing good really comes outta it. Iruka-sensei taught me that. Well, he really only said that I should apologize when I need to, and that at other times I can just say thank you…or something like that…I kinda forgot…but you know –Ack!"
Naruto fell face-flat onto the ground, the swing seat flying overhead. It missed the froze-up Gaara once more, passing just an inch above his red hair. The unfortunate blonde child murmured. His voice unclear, "That swing has something against me. I know it!"
Gaara's wide eyes dimmed into twinkling ones. His shoulders shook lightly as he began to laugh.
Naruto, who was currently on the floor, took the turn to stare wide-eye at him. He assumed that Gaara could show carefree expressions, but it felt surprising to witness it.
The redhead's laughter stopped abruptly. Gaara halted when he saw that Naruto wasn't laughing at all. He looked down at his lap and said 'sorry' that was similar to a squeak.
Hearing that, Naruto suddenly grinned and laughed heartily. It was Gaara's turn to stare in wonder. But it didn't take long before he resumed his previous actions and laughed along.
Two boys laughing in harmony.
Two demons sleeping within.
Response
Kerii-chan: 100th review hit!
Laura J Rie: Glad you like it. It's the chibis ne?
Kitsune-Demoness: I'll try to update as soon as my lazy self can!
I luv pie aka mousie girl: MOUSIE! Did you plant the sunflowers?
Raskanii: Thankyuu!
Storywriter10791: No promises on updating, but I'll try!
Elionor: Yep, trying to keep it light and simple, for now.
Envie: Gaara really does act so different when he's a chibi as comparison to now
Shinimegami7: I agree, I try to avoid cliché things, though the themes may be similar
KinOfDragons: Yashamaru's in the manga and anime. I'm pretty sure he's a guy.
Mazi: I'll try, Mazi! When's the inspiration gonna hit?
Shadow Kitsune67: I was feeling teary in that episode where they flashed Naruto and Gaara's backgrounds.
Galance: Looks like a lot of people were confused with Yashamaru's gender. I, for one, am convinced that he's a male, but he does seem like a female…
Shadow-Sensei: Hai Shadow-sensei! Welcome back to the review world this is pretty late now, since I update slow)
Isthisparadise: Thanks for faving!
Llamachick: Timid Gaara is cute and an easier model for characterization.
Dragonist: Chibi popularity! And they met!
HyperFoxChild: Patience, kitsune-child, lol. And sankyuu!
Falcon Zanbandia of Nightmares: Thanks! Gaa, I feel loved and guilty when reviewers want the next chapter. (Carry on, it might aid in me updating faster…hopefully)
Sariachan-KokiriLeaf: I thought since Yashamaru was the guardian of Gaara and Iruka is the guardian of Naruto, they're good examples to compare with.
Random Holiday: Thanks for the review :feels loved:
Andromeda Nymphetamine Nemesis Baddacelli: Chibi-thanks x infinity
Joyce: I know! That's why I wrote this, to get a perspective of them if they were to meet up as children.
Chuni Luni: The chibi portraying is definitely getting loved.
Elijah Snow: "Connection" is alive, after a large gap due to my procrastination. I'm glad that you have my story in your memory. It seemed that this story will have a little up and down hills hidden behind the seemly light exterior.
Jaz7: Enjoy!
Hiei's Cute Girl: Confusion over Yashamaru. I still think Yashamaru is male, but some thinks he/she's a female. I myself am getting confused, but Yashamaru will stay male in this. That's the only certain thing I can say now.
boredathome: I liked the pound from Iruka too. Things always get comical when it focuses to him and/or Naruto, doesn't it?
BasicallyAnIdiot: Naruto will feed him ramen! He will not survive without trying ramen!
Logger456: Gaara an insane ramen eater? Ah…:mischievous smile: He'd get too attached to ramen then, not that it's a bad thing…hehe…
kakashi'sdaughter: There will be scenes for other characters in future chapters.
Fic Slayr: No, I won't focus on the OCs, they're usually there for one or two chapter mention purposes. The only reason I named him was because Naruto was having a difficulty pronouncing his name.
FairyQilan: The bullies probably won't be mentioned again. Thanks for the review!
SensiblyTainted: I haven't decided on the ultimate end for the story yet, so, keep an eye out!
Skittles the Sugar Fairy: Enjoy your reading, forgive me if it's a little short.
deviltwit: Thanks Vicky!
Mistress DragonFlame: I didn't know that! I'm not that good in my Japanese. After going through my previous chapters, I did find some necessary changes that I should make. Thank you for reviewing!