Naruto Another

A great whirlwind of emotions hit Noboru like a ball to the back of the head. He was still taking in the musty smell of wood, and rain when the words wife and marriage tore through him. He took a short moment to consider the situation; looking up at Mikan to gauge a reaction, but all he saw was an impartial expression.

"I never got around to telling you." She said, her words stinging with indifference.

Noboru stayed silent mulling over those same words he heard often. Mikan had always done her best to watch over him and keep him safe from Sejin, the head of the Kosutta clan, and their father. Mikan was an incredibly successful Jonin who had awakened her doujutsu a few years younger than expected. She soared through the ranks and became a Jonin before she was 17. Compared to her, Noboru thought he was a disgraceful disappointment.

Noboru instinctively looked back at the girl in front of him.

'Purple hair, and golden eyes, So, they're Kusakyu.' Noboru thought.

Unsure of how to properly react he bowed to the girl hoping he was not offending her in some way. When he looked up at her she seemed to be smiling at him; her golden eyes peering into his soul.

Noboru had still been working things out in his head when Mikan and Kurime left, headed toward the back room leaving him alone with Chocho. It was then while staring at the girl that he remembered how wet he was from being hurried across Ame without an umbrella.

He wondered whether the girl staring back at him thought any less of him for it. It was only when the muffled sounds of chairs being pulled out from the other room did Noboru realize it had been a full minute, and neither he nor Chocho had said anything.

Noboru figured this was important to Mikan, so no matter what he had better leave a good first impression. He tried to say something, but she spoke first.

"I made you something," she said, starting to walk toward Noboru.

Her voice was lighter than air, so light it almost hurt Noboru's ears. But there was a tinge of nervousness in it that made him feel more comfortable somehow.

'That's right... this is new for her too.'

They were face to face now. He did not know why he looked away from her, or why he felt a tingling sensation in his stomach. Distracted, Noboru did not see her reach into her kimono, and he didn't see the arms that wrapped around his neck.

At first, he winced painfully, but he ignored that. Then he felt the cold chain on his skin, then something dangling just below his collar bone lightly touching his chest. Then he finally felt her soft fingers tighten, and then let go – she was still in front of him.

"A necklace," He said finally looking back at her; her golden eyes were beaming at him.

She giggled softly, "Aren't you going to look at it?"

"Oh, yeah," Noboru said, smiling stupidly.

He looked down at the pendant and saw a silvery crescent moon with the tips drenched in a deep red. Perched inside was a small bird with its head staring up at Noboru.

Noboru didn't know what to say. It was the first time he'd ever received a present from anyone.

It wasn't the Kosutta way to celebrate birthdays until they unlocked their doujutsu; but even then, most Kosutta chose to ignore it. Mikan never celebrated her birthday so why should he celebrate his? Though when he was younger, he did envy some of the other kids. The lead Jonin would throw extravagant parties for his son, and the Inuzuka heir had lavish parties as well; he couldn't help but be jealous of them.

But Noboru was older now, and he worried about other things. '

"What is this for exactly?" Noboru said shakily. He hesitated then continued, "Sorry, I've just never gotten anything like this."

"It's okay. You don't have to be modest."

"No... really," Noboru implored, "we don't do presents; everything we're given is out of necessity."

"Necessity." She repeated as if she didn't quite understand. "B-Bu That's terrible! Then how do you do birthday parties?" She asked.

Noboru shook his head, "we don't."

Noboru noticed a frown appear across her face. Moments later the girl carefully explained the importance of birthday parties, and how they're meant to celebrate life's greatest gift, life itself – Noboru thought this was stupid. She explained that it was a good way to get all your friends together in one place – which Noboru thought was dangerous. Then she told him about presents, which up until now Noboru thought was a waste of time.

"I'm throwing you a party," she said definitively.

"Well right now I'm just thankful to have this," Noboru replied, holding the necklace up again.

Chocho smiled up at him. Noboru could feel himself drowning in her golden yellow eyes. As he fumbled with the pendant something hit him like a sack of bricks. Chocho had made something for him, but what did he have for her?

"I have nothing to give you."

"That's okay. The fact that you're you is good enough for me. I-I was so worried about what kind of person you'd be – more than anything I'd hoped you were kind." she said flustered.

'You still don't know me.'

"You looked so silly when you bowed earlier, water went everywhere."

Without thinking, Chocho raised her kimono and began to dry Noboru's hair.

'She'll get wet too.' And 'I'll be going back out there anyway.' Were both thoughts that occurred to him.

It may have been the warmth of her kimono, or the generous act itself; either way, he did not object. As she finished, the door to the back room opened, and Mikan and Kurime both made their exit. Without looking at Noboru she called for Minori.

The Kosutta youth opened the door and stepped inside. Noboru had always been fond of Minori, he didn't have to worry about Sejin nearly as much as he did, and he was free to explore Ame as he pleased.

"Take him back to Sejin, I'll catch you up later," She said.

"Wait," Noboru heard himself say. "The marriage."

Chocho looked at him.

"And tell him what's going on."

This slightly quelled Noboru's thirst for knowledge, but he would've preferred to hear the explanation from his sister. Noboru looked back at Chocho.

"Bye," He said with an awkward wave. He wasn't sure how to act with his sister watching; he didn't know what was appropriate.

"Bye." She said, waving back. As Minori, and Noboru approached the door leading outside, the chunin looked at him.