Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift ❯ Chap 8 ( Chapter 8 )

 

 

 

 

Chap 8

 

Night engulfed the quiet village that Naruto had dreamt up. A few of the nocturnal prowlers roamed in the forest and the patrol units were making their nightly rounds. Inside one of the larger homes of the village slept what most would call a family; a man, a woman, and a child.

 

In this village, however, that wasn't called a family, well not quiet, because everyone in the village was family. Everyone in the village was bonded and helped out in some way or another. Everyone in the village was welcome wherever they went and there was no true ruling force to dictate their every move. Like in any other family, in the village the older generation taught the younger and sometimes the youths taught their elders a thing or two.

 

In the large home where the supposed creator of the village slept, where there would normally be more than twenty children piled onto the bed, lay a single little girl with the person whom she loved the most.

 

Hatsu smiled to herself, snuggling in closer to him. Onii-san had been really happy after their dinner for some reason or another and when Hatsu reminded him of their deal Onee-san got really mad. Onee-san really wanted to sleep alone with Onii-san tonight but Hatsu would have none of it.

 

Hatsu smiled, grabbing a hold of Naruto and cuddling even closer to him. Hatsu loved everyone in the village, but she loved Onii-san the most. He had done so much for her and she could never repay him for it. She had friends now, a place to sleep and people that loved her. Hatsu had never known her father but if she had to have one it would definitely be Onii-san. A sad look crossed her face when she thought about having a father. `Momma…'

 

XXXXX (Flashback)

 

“Hatsu-chan. What do you want for breakfast?” Came a woman's voice. “Meat!” Called the smiling little girl. “Meat? Ok. Lets see what we have here.”

 

Hatsu beamed delightedly at the bowl of rice and the slivers of meat that were put in front of her. “Hatsu-chan.” Hatsu looked up from her food. “Do you know what today is?” The six-year-old shook her head, perplexed.

 

“It's your birthday Hatsu-chan.” Hatsu's eyes lit up and her smile widened. “Really?” The woman nodded smiling. “Silly Girl.”

 

Hatsu ran over to the woman and hugged her. “Momma. What did you get me?” she asked ecstatically. The woman frowned at her. “I'm sorry Hatsu-chan. I forgot.”

 

Hatsu pouted. “How could you forget to give me a present mommy?” Hatsu's mother placed a finger on her chin in a thoughtful way. “How about we go out and eat tonight Hatsu-chan?”

 

Hatsu's face brightened. “Yay!” Hatsu's mother put her down, brushing away her raven black hair with her work-worn hands. Her sunken eyes looked tired and she tried not to show it in front of her child but it truly was taking a toll on her. “Be a good girl today Hatsu!” Hatsu gave her a smile and ran outside.

 

XXXXX (Night)

 

Hatsu sat waiting patiently on her bed, looking eagerly out the window in hopes of seeing her mother coming. Hatsu and her mother lived in a small room that held all of their necessities from their stove to their bed. Hatsu crossed her arms and pouted. Her mother was late. Hatsu sat up straight and ran outside when caught a glimpse of her mother walking in the street below the complex.

 

“Momma!” She ran to her and Hatsu's mother had a sad look on her face when she saw her daughter. “Sorry Hatsu-chan. We can't go out tonight, here's some food.” She gave Hatsu a bag of a few rice balls. “Be a good girl Hatsu-chan.” Hatsu's mother turned and walked away, leaving Hatsu by herself for the night.

 

Night soon took over and Hatsu fell asleep, wondering where he mother was. Sleepily she turned over, grasping for more warmth from her mother but all she round was the white sheets. “Momma?” Hatsu looked around, searching for her mother because it was already morning. “Momma?” Hatsu looked to where the stove lay, hoping to find her there but she was no where in sight.

 

“Momma?” Hatsu went outside, hoping her mother was just getting some fresh air; she wasn't there. Fear began to take hold of the little girl. Hatsu walked to the old woman's home next door. “Momma. Have you seen Momma?” An old woman walked to the door. “Momma deary? No I haven't seen your mother.” Hatsu walked down the stairs of their building, looking around in hopes of finding her mother. “Have you seen Momma?” the man at the front desk shook his head. “She hasn't come back since last night.”

 

Hatsu left the apartment complex, heading to the place where her mother worked on some nights. Hatsu arrived at the gates of an old style wooden building where she began to look through curiously. Hesitantly she pushed the button the gate. Her mother had told her never to go here unless it was an emergency and Hatsu was curious as to why.

 

An older woman came to the gate with something strange on her eyes and Hatsu wondered if that was why she wasn't allowed to come here. “Can I help you with something child?” the woman asked annoyed because it was just a kid. “Momma. Is Momma here?” The woman put a finger onto her chin.” Ahh. Her. No. I haven't seen her.” She stated and Hatsu began to walk to her mother's other work place, shaking. `Momma. Where is Momma?' Hatsu stood shaking, as though she was cold, in front of the busy store. `Momma.' Hatsu's heart skipped when she saw her.

 

That long black hair swinging to and fro and that blue dress which her mother always loved to wear. Tears flew from her eyes as she ran to catch the woman. “Momma!” She caught onto her, making the woman turn and Hatsu's eyes searched along the figure of her mother and her fingers began to tremble when she got to her face. “Momma?” she whispered and the woman looked down on her kindly. “Hatsu-chan! What are you doing here?” It wasn't her mother but some other woman. Hatsu began to shiver all over and she remembered she hadn't eaten anything yet.

 

“Hatsu-chan. Have you had anything to eat yet?” the woman asked as through reading her mind. “Here you can have this.” The woman gave Hatsu some rice which he ate hesitantly but the question still burned in her mind. “Momma?”

 

A sad look crossed the woman's face as she prepared to speak. “Hey you! What do you think you're doing?” A fat little man ran over, scaring the woman. “What the hell are you doing? You know you can't do that! Punish her!” The woman shrieked as a man grabbed her, dragging her away.

 

Hatsu looked expectantly at the man. What was going on? Who was he? Maybe her knew. “Momma?” she asked tentatively. The man laughed coldly. “Momma? She's gone you damned little brat. That W#*%E is where she belongs.” The man smiled cruelly as Hatsu registered this information.

 

“Mom-” the man grew angry. “She's gone! Now get out of my face before you will be too!” The man grabbed her arm and threw her aside, glaring challengingly for anyone to help her. Hatsu walked around aimlessly with a blank stare on her eyes. Everywhere she went people turned away from her and any person who looked at her had fear in their eyes.

 

Hatsu tried to go back home but no one would let her in and even when she begged to get inside no one let in for fear of retaliation. Hatsu sat on the cold concrete of the alley, staring into nothingness. Her body screamed for nourishment and her mind lay shattered for the world to pound at. “Be a good girl Hatsu-chan.”

 

Hatsu's eyes livened and she looked around hopefully. “Momma?” Her eyes retuned to that blank stare, she wasn't there. There was not smiling face, no open arms or warm body to go to. Momma was gone.

 

Hatsu gripped her knees and pulled them to her chest. “Momma. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I asked for a present. Please come back. Please Momma.” She began to sob; rocking back and forth as she slowly put herself to sleep. She lived on the streets for months, finding the only way to get food was to dig through the trash because no one would give her anything, not even a scrap.

 

She lived in filth and famine, blanketing herself in trash in order to keep warm. She lived like that for months on end until he dared to go through that man's trash again. She had gotten a beating the first time but this man always had food in his trash and huger forced her to go. On that day when she was force by her body maybe it was god's way of helping her. Maybe it was just the light on the other side of the tunnel because on that day she met him. She had found him, no he found her and then…

 

XXXXX

 

Hatsu Hugged Naruto tighter. `Onii-san…' Naruto stirred. She loved him. She loved him more than anything in the world. It was not just because he gave her food and a place to stay but because he was so kind to her and because she felt special when he was with him but-but. “Temari-chan” Naruto whispered, sleepily adjusting himself. But he was in love with Onee-san.

 

She could see it when Onii-san looked at her, when he took her in his arms, and when he tenderly kissed her. She was special to him, something greater than all of the rest and that's what Hatsu wanted. She wanted to be special; she wanted him to love her. Hatsu buried her face into Naruto's chest. Was that asking too much of him? After all he had done was that just too much? Hatsu's grip on him tightened and again he moved, placing his hand on her head.

 

Hatsu's eyes widened and her body stiffened at the sudden contact. “You're such a good girl Hatsu-chan.” Naruto whispered in a daze. Hatsu relaxed, her whole body feeling lighter than air. Maybe it was just because she didn't noticed or that she did not what to see that she truly was special to him. If she wasn't then he why would have ever kept her; if she wasn't special he would have never hugged her or played around with her. Hatsu found herself fortunate to have everything that she did and she moved her whole body onto of him, crushing him in a full hug. She was happy. She was happy that she was able to spend her birthday with the one she would gladly call Otousan.

 

A little short thing. Thx for reading and I hope to put out next chap soon.