"You'll be fine, Naruto, it will probably come back," the sweet, familiar voice said through the thick mist of his sleep. He tossed and turned, trying to remember what the woman looked like, but of course, he couldn't see her. There were other voices in the background, his parents, friends, other family. He could remember their faces, but he wanted most to see the woman whom he always dreamed of. He knew she sounded like a girl with red hair, pale skin, freckles, between 5' and 5'2", with a small gap between her front teeth, but he couldn't be sure if that's what she looked like. Finally he rolled onto his back, sat up, and stumbled through the dark to his bathroom. He was so used to the darkness that he didn't even have to feel for the toilet as he pulled down his pajama pants and relieved himself, listening to the loud sound of his urine meeting the water. He flushed, put the seat and lid down out of habit, then turned on the faucet and washed his hands. Again, out of reflex, he looked up at the mirror, but, as always, he couldn't see himself. He sighed and turned to dry his hands on one of the towels.
He was dressing when he heard someone knocking on the door. He pulled up his sweatpants and dashed for the door. His hand found the cold doorknob, turning it deftly to let in the clean scent of his neighbor.
"Good morning, Miss Hinata, how are you?" he asked, placing his usual smile on his face.
"G-good, Naruto. How are you?" she stammered as usual. Naruto had to suppress his laughter.
"I'm good, Miss Hinata. What can I do for you today?" he asked politely. He was never sure why he was so polite to her, probably because for years at school he had been painfully mean to her.
"The mail came, I wasn't sure if you would have noticed or not, so I thought I'd give it to you. We have a new mail lady and she doesn't know yet," she added, he could hear the smile in her voice and felt his lips bend painfully in response. He held out a hand and let her put the envelopes in it before thanking her. He was about to close the door when she said something else that caught his attention.
"Naruto, your shirt is on backwards." She was giggling and he felt a hint of heat flush his face as he felt the tag scratch at his chest. Strange that he hadn't noticed before.
"Thank you, Miss Hinata." He thought for a moment, Hinata was nearly at her door, it wasn't too late. "Miss Hinata, would you like to go to lunch later on?" he asked, listening to the scratching of her shoes as she made a roundabout.
"A-are you su-sure I wouldn't b-be imposing?" she asked.
"'Course not. So long as you don't mind ramen," he could almost hear her shaking her head, but she caught herself.
"NO!" she practically yelled. "I don't mind at all," she said, readjusting her voice.
"Good, I'll see you at one, then?" she said yes and he closed the door. He put the envelopes on the kitchen counter, readjusted his shirt, then sat on a couch, putting his head in his hands, wiping the palms over his eyes as he thought. The voices were getting more insistent. They echoed inside his head now, even when he was awake he could hear their feeble cries. The little girl, the boy, his friends, parents, his godmother and godfather, all of them speaking at the same time, creating a deafening din inside his head. With an exasperated cry, he pulled his hair then stood and began to pace.
"Good morning, Naruto," a sweet voice said, the sound of a door closing come to his ears. It was strange that he hadn't heard it open or noticed the sounds of her footfalls; he really was getting too caught up in his thoughts. If she noticed his helpless feelings, she didn't let on.
"How are you feeling today?" she asked, pulling the refrigerator opened and pulling out something.
"I'm not to sure, Sakura-Chan," he said, walking into the kitchen and washing his hands. "How about you?"
"I'm not here to talk about myself," she reminded him. He could smell the warm pancakes she was making, his mouth watering. "What's got you confused today?" she asked, flipping a pancake without looking at it.
"The usual things, mom and dad are telling me to go back home, the little boy and girl are calling me monsters, and…" he trailed off, not able to finish.
"He's still writing those letters that he'll never send to you because you didn't tell him where you are?" she asked, setting a plate down on the counter, the smell of the pancakes shifting as she did. He sat down and waited politely for her to do the same.
"I've told you time and again, Naruto," she said tersely, putting a glass of orange juice by his left hand and silverware by his right before getting her own food. "You don't have to wait for me. This is your house; you should eat when you want to."
"But I can't cook for myself; I need you to do it. The least I can do is wait for you to eat with me." It was the same tired argument they always had, but he never really got tired of it. "And I insist on hearing how your day was after you left yesterday afternoon, you came by late last night." He heard the nervous giggle and smiled as he drizzled syrup over his pancakes and cut out a triangular slice.
"I went out for the afternoon and met a cute guy," she said, her silverware clanking as she fumbled with it nervously. "He asked me out today, I told him I'd give him a call. I'll have to cut my date short though, I need to make you lunch."
"No, I'm going to go out for lunch with Hinata for lunch today, so you won't need to come back until dinner time. I'll make sure to eat enough so I won't be too hungry if you come in late." He smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. "You don't have to baby me so much, I'm growing up."
"You sure don't act like it," she replied coolly, taking another bite of her pancake. He just laughed, then went back to eating. He had consumed most of his second pancake when she spoke again.
"You know, you left the lights off again," it was a conversational tone, but it was laced with just the lightest of stinging tones. He winced; she was upset that he had forgotten.
"I'm really sorry, Sakura," he said, bowing his head. "I've had a lot on my mind lately."
"It's okay," he voice was lighter now, having seen that he truly was sorry. "Maybe you should go back?" she suggested, picking up her plate and glass and putting them in the sink, beginning to wash them. It wasn't very often that she finished before Naruto; there must have been something big on his mind.
"I think that would be the worst thing I could do," he said, finishing off his pancakes then putting his dishes into the sink. "I think I just need to…think." When she was done she left, turning the lights back off as she went. She knew Naruto liked it in the dark, the curtains were always drawn and he only turned the lights on for her sake. Half the neighborhood had thought the owner of the apartment was dead until she had coaxed him into coming out for a walk. He'd been living there, alone, for almost two years. His skin had lost its tan glow, shifting to a milky color. Maybe going out with Hinata would do him some good.
Their lunch was quiet, Naruto talked briefly of his parents and Hinata told him of her cousin, who she used to argue with largely but was finally beginning to get along with. When they were done Hinata drove back to the apartment complex, saying goodbye to him at the door.
He was alone again, let to listen to the voices in his head. Sighing loudly, he sat at hit typewriter and began to type without really thinking. He listened closely to the click-clack of the keys, trying to decipher what exactly he was writing. There was the sound of a door opening, the distinct click of a light-switch being flipped, and the quiet buzz of the electric current surfing through the bulbs.
"Hello, Sakura," he said when he felt her body heat behind him, the distinct smell of axe on her.
"Naruto, you know you're typing the same sentence over and over again right?" she sounded concerned.
"Yeah, but I couldn't quite tell what I was writing." He smiled.
"'Go back home.' Over and over again. Naruto, you can't leave!" Her voice was on the edge of hysteria.
"I'm beginning to think that's the only thing I can do," he laughed humorlessly. "Mom and dad want me to go back," he added, almost as if he were curious.
"Naruto…" Sakura said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Your parents–"
"Don't say it," he whispered, finally taking his hands from the keys. "I don't need you to tell me." His voice came out a little harsher than he had intended, but he didn't feel like apologizing. So he just sat there, his eyes angled downward. Finally Sakura broke the silence.
"What would you like for dinner tonight, Naruto?" He could tell she was struggling to sound normal.
"I'm not hungry," he said, standing and going into the living-room, her footsteps following him. "Why don't you call your friend and ask him out to dinner. I'll be fine until morning," he assured her, pasting on that same plastic smile that he always put on.
"Naruto I–"
"It's okay, Sakura, just go." She stood there for a moment, then turned and left, turning the lights off as she went. Naruto waited until he heard the engine of her car, then he went to his door, opened it, and knocked on Hinata's door.
"Come in!" she called, her voice slightly muffled. Naruto opened the door gingerly, peeking his head in.
"Hinata? It's Naruto," there was a clattering sound as a tin tray was dropped and the sound of feet as Hinata came running over.
"What's up, Naruto?" she asked, opening the door and leading him to the living-room.
"I need your help. I want to go back home," he said, looking away from her. "I need a ride, and someone to help me navigate the city. Do you think you would be up for it?"
"But doesn't Sakura usually take care of you?" Hinata asked, a little confused.
"We got into a fight. I don't think she wants me to leave." He was beginning to fiddle with the hem of his shirt, a sign that he felt completely vulnerable.
"I don't mind at all, Naruto. When do you want to leave?" she asked, touching the back of his hand to stop its jerky movements. I looked at her, smiling at her in relief. Hinata's breath whooshed out at the sight of the smile. It was the first real one she had ever seen on him. It touched his eyes, barely, but it did.
"I'd like to leave tomorrow morning." He said, running his hand through his long hair, swiping his bangs out of his face.
"Okay, I'll start packing tonight. Do you need any help?" she asked, standing up and holding out a hand to help him up.
"I'll be fine," he assured her, taking her hand and standing.
"How long are you planning on staying?" she asked, leading him into the kitchen. While they were talking she had noticed that his stomach was whining. It had been almost five hours since they had eaten, usually Sakura would have come by and cooked for him. But the fight must have prevented that. She guided Naruto to a seat, pushed him down into it, then bustled around the kitchen. When she returned she put a plate in front of him.
"Eat," she said, her voice so stern that Naruto wondered if maybe Hinata had left and someone else was giving him food. But it smelled too good to not eat, so he dug in. When he was done Hinata escorted him to the door.
"I'll see you at eight tomorrow morning, then?" He said, turning back to face her.
"Yeah, I'll come by to make sure you're awake."
"And Hinata?" she had been closing the door but opened it immediately when he said her name.
"Yes?" She nearly staggered back when he threw his arms around her, hugging her closely.
"Thank you," he whispered in her ear before pulling away and walking to his door. He slept fitfully that night, the same nightmare surfing through his psyche as he tossed and turned. He was relieved when his alarm clock announced it was time to awake. He got out of bed, used the toilet, climbed into the shower to rub his skin vigorously, then dried himself and dressed in the dark. He was careful not to put anything on backwards or inside out. He was putting on his shoes when someone knocked on the door.
"One minute!" he called, tying his laces swiftly then feeling around for his suitcase. When he located it he ran to the door, pulling the room key from his jackets pocket as he struggled into it.
"I'll take your bag, if you want," Hinata offered, watching him lock the door.
"I couldn't let you do that, Hinata," he said, locking the deadbolt before taking his suitcase and following her to the elevator. On the way to the door he stopped at the desk and talked to the woman who ran the apartment.
"I'll pay when we get back, okay?" Naruto said when he was done explaining the situation.
"Sure, sure. Don't spend all your money on ramen, Naruto," the woman warned, patting his head fondly. By the time Naruto was outside Hinata had already secured a taxi and was waiting for him patiently. She put his suitcase in the trunk then helped him buckle his seatbelt.
"Where to?" the taxi driver asked, looking at them via the rearview mirror.
"The train station," Hinata said, rummaging in her pocket for her wallet.
"I got it, Hinata," Naruto said, putting a hand over hers as he pulled out his own wallet. When the taxi came to a stop he pulled out the money and handed it to the cabbie, waiting for the change. When he got his change back he got out of the car, helping Hinata with the luggage. He waited for her to get the tickets then followed her to the platform. It was only a short wait until the train arrived and they were on board. The minute Naruto's butt hit the seat he was asleep, not waking until the lunch cart came around.
"What do you want to do first?" Hinata asked while they were eating. Naruto thought for a few moments, trying to decide what exactly he wanted to do the minute he got home.
"After we unpack and settle in and everything? I want to get a hair cut," he gestured to his shaggy, long hair. Over the past two years he had allowed it to grow out. The result was that most of it was shoulder length and he was constantly forced to push it out of his face. "And we'll need to clean the house up some. I hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all." Hinata said, smiling. When the train stopped Hinata led him out of the train. As she was trying to catch a second taxi, Naruto began to pace. While he was pacing he accidentally walked into someone.
"Hey, watch it!" the person said. "What are you, blind?" Naruto smiled bitterly and turned to look at him. He could hear the sharp intake of breath as he did so.
"Yes, I am."