Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Spring's Shadow- The Tale of Izumi Kumori ❯ Chapter 4:: First Friend ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

High above the silence of the street, the two kids sat in silence. Gaara hugged his teddy bear, making sure it wouldn't go over the edge. Izumi looked over Sunagakure, thinking how beautiful it looked to her.
"Maybe that's because no one here knows you yet. They haven't gotten a chance to judge you..." she thought to herself. "Hmph...lucky me."
"Um...Izumi?"
Gaara's words made Izumi pay attention, forgetting about her own thoughts.
"Yeah?"
Gaara started, looking down at his knees. "If you don't like just sitting here, we can do something different...you know...if you want."
Izumi looked up at him. "I'm having a good time just staying here!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!"
Gaara gave the tiny hint of a smile. "Good. I don't want you to be bored."
Izumi smiled back at him. "I'm not bored at all! I'm having fun!" Then she looked at his bear more closely. "Is that your special bear?"
Gaara blushed. "Yeah, it is."
The two 6 year olds sat in silence for a minute. Then Gaara spoke up.
"Would...you like to see him?"
Izumi looked at Gaara. He looked so shy! No one had ever shared anything with Izumi. They always thought that she would "contaminate something of theirs" and that they'd "be possessed, too!"
"Uh...sure! That is, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind! Just be careful with him!" Gaara said, handing over the bear.
Izumi took it carefully in her hands. She ran her fingers around the bear's eyes, nose, and mouth. It was so soft! Izumi hugged the bear.
"This is such a cool bear!" she said. "He's really soft, and he just makes you want to hug him!" Then she handed the bear back to Gaara.
Izumi looked down at the ground. "I can't believe that I'm actually having a conversation with someone! Plus, this kid is so nice! Gaara might truly be my...friend!"
"Do you have one?"
Izumi looked at Gaara again. "What?"
"You know," Gaara said. "Do you have a bear, or a different animal? Did you play with it with your friends from your home?"
Izumi thought about her possessions. She never really had a stuffed animal. If she had asked for one, she probably would have gotten one. But, she hadn't wanted to ask her parents. She didn't want to become spoiled. Plus, she didn't think that a true shinobi would have one. But, now, these seemed like a lot of fun!
Izumi chuckled. "Nah, I really don't have one. But, I'd like to get one. They seem like they could be pretty cool!"
Gaara blushed.
Izumi continued with the second part of the question.
"Plus, I don't have any friends."
Gaara's face fell. He looked down at his feet. "Oh..."
Izumi saw his face. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she yelled at herself. "Why'd I have to go and say that?!"
"What I mean is, I've never had a friend before," Izumi tried, attempting to make her meaning clearer.
Gaara looked up. "Y-you've...never...had a...friend?"
Izumi chuckled a little. "No, no one wanted to be my friend." Then she stood up, and ended her statement with a flourish. "You're my first friend, Gaara of the Sand!"
Gaara's eyes got grew. "Y-you consider...me? Your...friend?" he asked.
"Of course! You're an awesome friend!"
Gaara's face turned red, and he looked down. Izumi's face also turned a little pink. Then Izumi looked even closer. Gaara's face held a giant grin, and a small little tear.
"Thank you," he said.
Izumi was a little taken aback. Why was he thanking her?
"Actually," he continued, "You're my first friend, too!"
That's when Izumi lost it. Tears started running down her face. "I have my first friend!" she thought in her head.
Gaara looked up at Izumi, saw her crying, and stood up, too. "Izumi? Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"
Izumi blushed. "No, you said everything wonderfully, Gaara." Then she dried her tears and tried to compose herself. "Do you want to come back to my place for dinner?" she asked. "We can play there, too! And maybe I can make myself an animal, too! That way, our animals can play together!"
“Yeah!” Gaara exclaimed enthusiastically. Then, he remembered his manners. “I mean, uh, that, yes, I’d very much enjoy going to your home...if it’s alright...”
“Of course!” Izumi said. Then, she grabbed Gaara’s hand. “Let’s go!”