Twelve Days - Day 4
title : Twelve Days
author : autumnwaters
rating : G
word count: 1063
pairing : ItaNaru
summary : Twelve days, twelve gifts. A nice thought isn't it? But Naruto's just wondering who's breaking into his apartment to do that.
Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto. That privilege belongs to Kishimoto-sensei.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4 : Secrets, Harbors, and Kimonos
While Naruto was a hard worker normally, the next day when he arrived at work, he was like a demon possessed. He pushed his team to digitize everything for the current project and get it uploaded and edited. Everyone in the department could not understand why the blonde was like that. They knew it should be finished today with final check tomorrow for the meeting, but Naruto was so out of character. He harassed them, pushed them, and finally snapped at a new pair of interns when something went wrong.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he shouted. “This is your fourth project since working here and you decide to mess up on the biggest one for this season!”
The two interns were nearly huddled in their seats, clinging to each other in fear. The blonde mentor was never like this. Even with mistakes he had always taken the time to tell them what went wrong and why. Their eyes strayed to the door where Sakura was standing along with their boss who had come to see what all the ruckus was about.
When the blonde took a breath, Tsunade stepped in. “Uzumaki, my office now,” she barked out.
The blonde man stopped and stared as if he just noticed his reaction and actions for the past hour or so. Staring at the still cowering interns, he took a deep breath and apologized before walking to Tsunade’s office, the door slamming shut.
“What’s wrong brat? You’re normally very patient with the newbies.”
“Nothing’s wrong Shachou,” he said, not looking into the concerned amber eyes.
The blonde snorted disbelief evident on her face. “You are never respectful when it’s just the two of us brat. Only time you ever try to is with clients. Has something happened?”
Naruto finally looked up. He knew his cousin meant well, even though they had just found each other, they were family. He broke down and told his cousin everything that had happened when he arrived home and ending with the gift from last night. Before last night, the gifts were just something weird though oddly nice, but last night brought to fore the memories he had suppressed for a long time since his once loving parents were sucked into working and became distant and then died in that accident.
“Ah brat,” she sighed and stood. Before the young man knew it, he was wrapped up in a tight hug. His eyes squinted shut. “Whoever this is most likely means no harm as you know yourself. It’s just making you come to face the past. Go relax for now. Sai can finish off the project and you can review it tomorrow.”
Naruto swiped at his eyes quickly. “That’s okay baa-chan. I’m fine.” He gave her a quick squeeze. “I’ll head back to work now.”
Tsunade only nodded, watching the door close with a sad look. Once it was closed shut however, her face turned into a scowl that could have removed the paint on the walls. That little brat!
***
A slender figure walked out of an open door, towel wrapped around his waist. The ringing phone was picked up. Nothing was said for a good moment as the phone was pulled away from his ear. The angry shouting could be heard from the speaker.
“What are you playing at Uchiha Itachi? Do you know how he showed up today?”
“Why good evening Tsunade.”
“Don’t you dare ‘why evening’ me you little brat.”
“Then do not shout Tsunade. Calm down a moment and tell me what’s ruffled your irritable feathers.”
There was silence as the woman on the line calmed and started talking. Itachi was listening placidly as he pulled clothes out of the closet.
“I understand. He is out for now correct? Good. Then good night.”
Itachi stood, having changed, and stared momentarily outside the window, eyes staring but not seeing. “How did you change so much?” he murmured before heading out of his apartment, several items in hand.
***
Naruto stumbled home late that night. Sai along with a few others in the department had dragged him off after work saying he had to relax. They had dragged him to a karaoke bar and slowly through the night, plied him with alcohol until he begged off and headed back to his apartment. He dreaded going home that night though. He did not want to see another gift that would bring back any sad memories about his parents. Naruto had thought that as time went on, he would be more accepting, but apparently not.
The door to his apartment swung open and a quick glance at the tree told him his visitor had dropped by. He still didn’t know how that guy entered, but figured changing the locks would be too much of a hassle to tell his landlord during this busy holiday season. Shuffling to the restroom, he showered and walked into his room, towel wrapped around his waist and one drying his hair. Picking up his sleeping pants on his bed, he felt a box underneath and turned on the lights.
On the bed was one of those boxes where clothes were usually placed in and a note was once again taped to the box.
I am sorry that I caused you any heartache over the flowers. It had reminded me of you during happier times, as does this gift. It reminded me of you.
Opening the box, he found a pale silver-blue kimono with juban, hakama, and a haori. On the back of the kimono was an intricate design featuring a harbor, the waves, and wind. There was even a small whirlpool woven in. Naruto didn’t know what to do. On one hand, he wanted to return this to that person, on another he wanted to keep it and cherish it. He knew that man had picked that design on purpose. From the previous gifts, he knew the man was not fickle and picked carefully. He didn’t know what to do. Setting the gifts back in its box, he wandered to the living room and picked up the card.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
The holidays are a time of love and forgiveness.
Don't hold your parents up to contempt. After all, you are their son, and it is just possible that you may take after them.
***
author : autumnwaters
rating : G
word count: 1063
pairing : ItaNaru
summary : Twelve days, twelve gifts. A nice thought isn't it? But Naruto's just wondering who's breaking into his apartment to do that.
Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto. That privilege belongs to Kishimoto-sensei.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4 : Secrets, Harbors, and Kimonos
While Naruto was a hard worker normally, the next day when he arrived at work, he was like a demon possessed. He pushed his team to digitize everything for the current project and get it uploaded and edited. Everyone in the department could not understand why the blonde was like that. They knew it should be finished today with final check tomorrow for the meeting, but Naruto was so out of character. He harassed them, pushed them, and finally snapped at a new pair of interns when something went wrong.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he shouted. “This is your fourth project since working here and you decide to mess up on the biggest one for this season!”
The two interns were nearly huddled in their seats, clinging to each other in fear. The blonde mentor was never like this. Even with mistakes he had always taken the time to tell them what went wrong and why. Their eyes strayed to the door where Sakura was standing along with their boss who had come to see what all the ruckus was about.
When the blonde took a breath, Tsunade stepped in. “Uzumaki, my office now,” she barked out.
The blonde man stopped and stared as if he just noticed his reaction and actions for the past hour or so. Staring at the still cowering interns, he took a deep breath and apologized before walking to Tsunade’s office, the door slamming shut.
“What’s wrong brat? You’re normally very patient with the newbies.”
“Nothing’s wrong Shachou,” he said, not looking into the concerned amber eyes.
The blonde snorted disbelief evident on her face. “You are never respectful when it’s just the two of us brat. Only time you ever try to is with clients. Has something happened?”
Naruto finally looked up. He knew his cousin meant well, even though they had just found each other, they were family. He broke down and told his cousin everything that had happened when he arrived home and ending with the gift from last night. Before last night, the gifts were just something weird though oddly nice, but last night brought to fore the memories he had suppressed for a long time since his once loving parents were sucked into working and became distant and then died in that accident.
“Ah brat,” she sighed and stood. Before the young man knew it, he was wrapped up in a tight hug. His eyes squinted shut. “Whoever this is most likely means no harm as you know yourself. It’s just making you come to face the past. Go relax for now. Sai can finish off the project and you can review it tomorrow.”
Naruto swiped at his eyes quickly. “That’s okay baa-chan. I’m fine.” He gave her a quick squeeze. “I’ll head back to work now.”
Tsunade only nodded, watching the door close with a sad look. Once it was closed shut however, her face turned into a scowl that could have removed the paint on the walls. That little brat!
***
A slender figure walked out of an open door, towel wrapped around his waist. The ringing phone was picked up. Nothing was said for a good moment as the phone was pulled away from his ear. The angry shouting could be heard from the speaker.
“What are you playing at Uchiha Itachi? Do you know how he showed up today?”
“Why good evening Tsunade.”
“Don’t you dare ‘why evening’ me you little brat.”
“Then do not shout Tsunade. Calm down a moment and tell me what’s ruffled your irritable feathers.”
There was silence as the woman on the line calmed and started talking. Itachi was listening placidly as he pulled clothes out of the closet.
“I understand. He is out for now correct? Good. Then good night.”
Itachi stood, having changed, and stared momentarily outside the window, eyes staring but not seeing. “How did you change so much?” he murmured before heading out of his apartment, several items in hand.
***
Naruto stumbled home late that night. Sai along with a few others in the department had dragged him off after work saying he had to relax. They had dragged him to a karaoke bar and slowly through the night, plied him with alcohol until he begged off and headed back to his apartment. He dreaded going home that night though. He did not want to see another gift that would bring back any sad memories about his parents. Naruto had thought that as time went on, he would be more accepting, but apparently not.
The door to his apartment swung open and a quick glance at the tree told him his visitor had dropped by. He still didn’t know how that guy entered, but figured changing the locks would be too much of a hassle to tell his landlord during this busy holiday season. Shuffling to the restroom, he showered and walked into his room, towel wrapped around his waist and one drying his hair. Picking up his sleeping pants on his bed, he felt a box underneath and turned on the lights.
On the bed was one of those boxes where clothes were usually placed in and a note was once again taped to the box.
I am sorry that I caused you any heartache over the flowers. It had reminded me of you during happier times, as does this gift. It reminded me of you.
Opening the box, he found a pale silver-blue kimono with juban, hakama, and a haori. On the back of the kimono was an intricate design featuring a harbor, the waves, and wind. There was even a small whirlpool woven in. Naruto didn’t know what to do. On one hand, he wanted to return this to that person, on another he wanted to keep it and cherish it. He knew that man had picked that design on purpose. From the previous gifts, he knew the man was not fickle and picked carefully. He didn’t know what to do. Setting the gifts back in its box, he wandered to the living room and picked up the card.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
The holidays are a time of love and forgiveness.
Don't hold your parents up to contempt. After all, you are their son, and it is just possible that you may take after them.
***