And The Pain Ends

The next morning Taku woke up rested and completely refreshed. As she stretched and yawned she just had that feeling that everything was right in the world. She stood up and then realized she wasn’t in her room. It wasn’t a dream, she would actually get to stay here. She put on a smile as she put on yesterdays clothes. She and Chouji were going shopping today, and just like all other females on the planet Taku loved to shop. Then she remembered that Chouji had asked her to go to an upcoming festival. ‘No that wasn’t right, that part had to have been a dream. Chouji would never actually ask me out. He is way too sweet and great for me not to mention shy. In fact he will probably be going with Ino she would be a lot better for him. I still can’t believe I actually told him about my crush on him though. This is so embarrassing. Ill just pretend I don’t remember unless Chouji brings it up.’ After making her decision she went down to make breakfast knowing Chouji would smell the food and come running.


Chouji wakes up to the smell of chocolate and bacon. ‘Wow what a wonderful person. She probably forgot all about me asking her to the festival. Well I just wont bring it up unless she does. She was probably just trying to make me feel better last night. Someone like her couldn’t like someone like me.’ (denial anyone?) Chouji sighs and crawls out of bed. He gets dressed before going downstairs and seeing Taku making a mountain of chocolate chip pancakes and piles of bacon. ‘What a woman. Too bad she is too good for me.’ Before Chouji could reach her and make her aware of his presence she started singing with her back still turned to him.
She sang the same song every morning since her mothers death. Well actually, for a while it was two songs but after she got through her mourning phase she began only singing the second. Both songs had been by Evanescence. The first was “Hello” and the second was “Imaginary.” Unable to break the habit the words to Imaginary came to her lips.

“I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming
Monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops
As they’re falling tell a story

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

Don’t say I’m out of touch
With this rampant chaos- your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me

“That was beautiful.” Taku suddenly heard a voice behind her and turned to find Chouji standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

‘The smell of food must of brought him down here to hear me sing.’ “I’m sorry Chouji. It is kind of a force of habit. I have been singing that song every morning since I started visiting here. Its how I always felt when I woke in the morning, wishing I could come back.” Taku put all the food on plates and took them over to the table looking down and blushing.

“Its perfectly fine, I hope I get to wake up to your singing every morning it put me in a really good mood.” They both smiled and laughed as they heard a knock on the door. “Oh, man am I glad you fixed so much food I forgot today is the day Shikamaru, Ino, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke come here for breakfast.” Yet again you laughed.

“I knew Chouji that’s why I made so much, one of these pancakes fill up normal people but I have a feeling you Naruto and Sasuke will be eating more than that.” Taku said this while heading for the door.

As soon as she opened it Naruto stuck his nose in the house, “What is that wonderful smell?”

“Its your breakfast Naruto, so come on in guys.” Everyone crowded around the table and filled their plates. As always, they loved Taku’s cooking and it was a while until the conversation started up. For once though it was actually Chouji who started it.

“So Ino, have you found any entertainment for the Rose Festival, yet?”

Ino looked like she was concentrating very hard, “Actually, we cant find anyone to do it. Also, that reminds me. We decided to change the way its run this year we have had way to many problems with running out of red roses, so this year we are going to only allow the guys to get the red and we are going to go around asking how many they need and who its for so we can supply everyone with the right amount of roses, the girls will get one white and the rest yellow.”

“I think I have a solution to your entertainment problem.” Chouji says, “I woke up this morning to the most beautiful singing I had ever heard before. It was really amazing. I think you should have Taku sing for the festival.” Taku, Ino, and Sakura all almost choke on their food after Chouji’s suggestion.

“Well, my mother would have to hear her sing first so Taku you can come to my house after training to audition, that is if you want the job.” Ino smiled graciously and very falsely. “If her voice is as good as he says it is she could save my butt, the entertainment was my responsibility this year.”

“I would be honored.” You then gathered up the dishes and Sakura and Ino offered to do them. (Yes, Ino and Sakura have become friends again, remember people they are 17 now and not 12.) Taku were so happy they did because that gave her and Chouji time for shopping before they had to go train. She bought a few more outfits like the one she was wearing and then a few dresses in blue, red, and purple. She also got white black and brown pants to wear under them.

Finally, Chouji talked her into buying a kimono for the festival and she found the perfect one. It was a dark blue almost navy and had pictures of bamboo shoots in silver and lighter hues of blue. The most wonderful thing about this kimono was on the right shoulder it showed a picture of a black and blue butterfly, which reminded Taku of the episode she saw where Chouji was a young child and saved a butterfly from a spider’s web, it seemed fitting to the situation. The obi was a pale blue color.

After that they went to another store to pick up necessities like toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and underwear. Needless to say Chouji was waiting outside during this time. As he was waiting Ino came up with a clip board in her hand. “So Chouji, How many roses and who are they for?” Ino asked pen ready.

He sighed not really happy of the definite consequences of what he was about to do, “Just one Ino, and it is for Taku.” Her jaw dropped and she wrote down what he had said but before she left she looked him in the eye.

“Chouji, If your going to be going after Taku you are going to have a lot of competition, Nenji, and Kiba have already requested roses for her and your not exactly, well cute and skinny. I just hope you don’t get crushed. Bye, Chouji.” With that Ino walked away leaving Chouji feeling like a complete moron. After a few minutes of sadness the brightest smile he had ever seen popped out of the store he was standing by.

“Come on Chouji, lets get some Ramen for lunch, before we are out to train. When they got there she ordered a beef bowl, and Chouji completely out of character ordered only one and it was vegetable. “Chouji, is something wrong? I have never seen you eat less than two bowls and I have never seen you eat vegetable.” Taku looked at him worried. She knew he needed those extra calories for his family’s specialized Justus.

“Yeah, I guess my size is just starting to bother me and Ino suggested this and well I thought I would try it.” Taku looked at him and frowned. ‘His weight had never bothered him before, it must be Ino’s fault. That’s the reason he wont eat right. He might kill himself like this.’

After finishing their meal the two of them headed for the training grounds. Taku walked straight up to Shikamaru and asked if you could do one on one physical training with Ino. He agreed and sent the two of them to the other side of the clearing. Once Taku got in position her eyes looked more red than the purple they normally are. “Alright Ino, no Justus, or weapons this is going to be a purely physical fight fist to fist kick to kick got that?” Ino nodded and Taku began mercilessly attacking her. Ino couldn’t keep up with the speed and she couldn’t hear the other girl’s silent moves. After Ino was on her hands and knees exhausted and bleeding from the busted lip Taku leaned down and spoke to her. “Ino, what in the hell did you say to Chouji to make him want to diet, he could get himself killed without those extra calories.”

Ino looked up at Taku surprised. ‘No wonder she went so hard on me. I didn’t mean to make him think that I just didn’t want him to get hurt.’ “He requested a rose for a girl who is very popular with the guys. I was just trying to explain to him that he might get rejected because of his size compared to the other guys that like her.”

Taku was enraged, “Are you actually that shallow Ino? First off if this girl doesn’t like Chouji for who he is she doesn’t deserve such a sweet guy. Second its not size that matters its what’s inside and Chouji has one of the biggest hearts in this village. Third if you don’t go to him and explain this and get that stupid idea of dieting out of his head next time we train like this I will stick my hand in that tiny little chest of yours and rip out that sad excuse for a heart.” Taku then healed Ino’s body and walked away, she was going to make a huge diner to tempt Chouji into dropping this crazy idea of dieting.

Once Taku had left Ino walked over and sat under a tree waiting for Shikamaru and Chouji to finish their training. Once they were done she walked up to Chouji, I’m sorry Chouji I was out of line earlier but Taku straightened my thinking out. In her own words she told me what an idiot I was being and I quote: First off if this girl doesn’t like Chouji for who he is she doesn’t deserve such a sweet guy. Second its not size that matters its what’s inside and Chouji has one of the biggest hearts in this village. Third if you don’t go to him and explain this and get that stupid idea of dieting out of his head next time we train like this I will stick my hand in that tiny little chest of yours and rip out that sad excuse for a heart. end quote So in other words, she likes you for who you are Chouji and she really likes you. I have the feeling you will be the one getting that white rose at the festival.”

After his talk with Ino Chouji walked home insanely happy. When he walked through the door and saw the spread on the table his eyes bugged out. “Here Chouji, I already ate please finish off what you can then put the rest in the fridge I have to go audition for the festival entertainment.” With that Taku ran out the door and Chouji was left with the food. He was so hungry from not eating a healthy lunch (for him), that he dug in and ate twice what he normally would. He then put the rest in the fridge and did the dishes. After that he fell asleep on the couch waiting for you. (He was so tired from training without proper nutrition.)

Meanwhile Taku had sung the song Chouji had heard that morning and got the job. She then sat down with Ino and Ino’s mother to pick out the songs she would sing at the festival the next day. Taku would sing two sets of ten love songs and end with The Rose. They also insisted that she come over so they could do her hair before she started the next morning. Extremely tired she walked back to Chouji’s house to find him asleep on the couch. Taku went up to his room to get a cover for him. When she got back down she laid it over him and kissed his forehead. Then she went up to her own room, in Chouji’s house of course and got the stuff for a shower. It had been such a long day. She let the hot water cascade down her body. Then again, even long days could be good days. Also, after working the festival she could pay back part of the money to Chouji and start saving with the rest. After stepping out the chill of night hit her so she quickly dressed and went to her room. Taku snuggled under the cover replaying the events of the day in her mind. With one final sigh she fell asleep.