Angel's Touch

Artemis: Wee…the Halloween special was super fun. It’s amusing how many of you have questions AFTER the special. Geez. I told you to ask before the special. XD anyway, that’s what reviewer responses at the end are for. Well, time to return to the story at hand.

And yes, a dropped hints in the special for you all. But not too much. And no, the you-know-who isn’t Gaara. It’s someone else. And yes, a lot of people either crush on or fall for Naruto in this story. He’s just too adorably loving not to. XD

But sadly, I felt bad for you guys still having no real update so I updated quick for you. ^^ Don’t hate me to much for this. But I don’t want to immediately jump back into fluff after what happened. That sort of swift change ruins stories, so we’re going to gradually return to fluff but have…dun dun DUN…character development. XD

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Chapter Seven: Pushed Away


Someone was crying. Soft, gentle sobs that filled the winter air with sadness.

“Freak!”

“Demon!”

“Loser!”

“Monster!”

Bruises that healed fast, but never went away. Scars cut deep…but unseen.

Alone…

Why were they so mean to him? Why did they say those cruel things?

He’d never done anything to anybody. He’d just wanted to play like every other little boy did. But they hated him. They all hated him…and he didn’t know why.

Tears fell to the soft white ground below, making a small indent in the pure snow.

Alone…

Naruto’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, before he opened his eyes and slowly looked around him. His body felt slightly stiff, but no worse for wear. He was in his bed in his room, in his pjs to, with the window open slightly to let in a gentle sunny breeze.

Frowning in confusion, Naruto pushed himself up carefully and slowly checked his body for bruises or wounds. Forgetting the sad dream he just had, he tried his best to recall what had happened. Hadn’t he…hadn’t he been fighting a demon possessed Neji-baka a moment ago? What happened…how had he gotten here?

“So you’re awake.”

Naruto’s head shot up and his eyes widened, jaw dropping slightly at the figure standing in his doorway. “K…K-KAKASHI-SENSEI!?”

Kakashi smiled behind a half-masked face, saluting Naruto lazily, “Morning.”

Naruto struggled to get out of bed, but got caught in the covers and fell on his face with a surprised yelp. Kakashi dropped the salute and cocked his head slightly, looking exasperated. “Geez, Naruto. You haven’t changed a bit.”

Naruto blushed and finally got free, jumping to his feet and hugging his former teacher happily, “KAKASHI-SENSEI! Man am I glad to see you! You’ll never believe what happened to me. There was rain and darkness and demons and I didn’t panic once!”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this, “Oh? Well…you certainly must have owned the enemy.”

Naruto grinned happily, nodding his head. Yeah…he’d stretched the truth. But a little white lie never hurt now and then.

“Are you feeling any better?” Kakashi asked.

Naruto blinked and took a step back, thinking about the question before nodding. “Y-Yeah…I think.”

Then it came back to him. Neji’s attack! The stadium………SASUKE!!

“Sasuke! Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke’s-“ Naruto started, already started to tear up as the thought settled in.

“-all right,” Kakashi interrupted, smiling at the suddenly shocked and confused blonde. “The attack just knocked him out…it didn’t kill him. Though it is rather surprising that he was able to survive a direct hit like that. Both he and Neji are out of the hospital now. Just a few wounds, so don’t worry. You’ve been out of it for a few days now yourself.”

Naruto was already running towards the door.

Kakashi jerked, caught slightly by surprise, “Naruto?”

“I have to see Sasuke!” Naruto called back without looking back, quickly running out of his apartment and nearly crashing into Sasuke’s door, banging on it. Sasuke was ok. Sasuke was ok!!

Naruto waited, banging on the door again after a bit. Please open up, Sasuke. Please…

Naruto was just about to sink into sudden depression when the door finally opened, a healthy and living looking Sasuke standing on the other side.

Naruto stood there gawking for a moment, before saying something that came out as a squeak instead and then proceeded to deliver the biggest glomp he’d ever delivered to the other boy. Impressively…and oddly, Sasuke barely budged against it. Naruto was to busy hugging the other and reveling in the assurance that Sasuke really was alive to notice.

“Sasuke…you’re ok! I was so scared,” Naruto whined, burying his face into Sasuke’s neck. “Sasuke…”

Sasuke kept quiet, letting Naruto hug all over him for a moment. Part of him wanted to hug back but…

Sasuke let the door go and reached up, prying Naruto’s arms from around his neck and pushing the blonde away from him.

Naruto blinked in confusion and frowned, not understanding why Sasuke had just pushed him away. “S-Sasuke?”

Sasuke avoided looking directly into Naruto’s eyes, keeping his expression neutral. “Naruto…while you were out…I’ve been thinking. And I’ve realized that this is a huge mistake. I don’t want or need a guardian angel.”

Naruto’s eyes widened, his expression falling slowly as Sasuke continued.

“I’m fine on my own. And honestly, I’m happy without you around. I don’t need an angel to wake me up at ungodly hours in the morning, burn everything in my kitchen, or make huge messes that I always have to clean up. I’m sick and tired of your loud mouth and stupid grin. How you’re always screwing up and how you always jump all over me regardless of whether I like it or not. God, usuratonkachi, you can’t even confront a demon without pissing your pants and then getting yourself beat up! Rather then guarding me like you claim you’re supposed to, I’ve just ended up guarding you. And I’m tired of tolerating it.”

Naruto stood there, not knowing what to say. Was this a bad dream?

“I’ve got bruises and sores because of you, on top of all the headaches. Hell, I’ve lost ten pounds from starving to death just because you can’t cook worth shit. My mock exam grades turned out disastrous…and I’ve already missed three days of school lying in a hospital bed! Naruto…I think we should call this whole thing off. In fact…I know we should. I don’t want you around me anymore and I don’t want to see your stupid face again. Go back to heaven where you belong or find someone else to annoy. We’re through.”

Naruto bit back a sob as Sasuke turned with an air of finality, slamming the door closed with an audible click of the lock. He continued to stand there dumbstruck, Sasuke’s harsh words taking their time to sink in. Sasuke didn’t…he didn’t want Naruto anymore. He’d just wanted to…to protect Sasuke. To make him happy. But he hadn’t done that… He’d just made Sasuke hate him!

Naruto’s hands shook as he tried to contain the tears, the thought that Sasuke hated him hurting far more then he’d ever thought.

“S-Sa…suke…”

Kakashi stepped out of Naruto’s apartment, taking in the sight of the shaking tearful blonde and frowning. He’d heard the whole thing. Unsure of what exactly to do in this kind of situation and rather uncomfortable, Kakashi scratched the back of his neck and tried the friendly smile optimistic approach.

“He probably just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. People do that all the time.”

Naruto didn’t look convinced.

Sighing, Kakashi tried another awkward approach…the change of subject approach, “By the way, the counsel has decided to further your training a little under light of new circumstances. I’ll be moving into the apartments here under the instructions to deliver that new training. So…how about you come with me and help me unpack, and then we could make some ramen or something?”

“No thank you…” Naruto chocked out, closing his eyes and tightening his hands into fists.

Kakashi frowned, realizing he wasn’t being much help here. He fished around for a hopefully cheerful joke among his arsenal, “You know, Sasuke is a rather girly guy…maybe he’s just on his period or something?”

Naruto shook his head, his tone pained, “He’s not in a bad mood, he’s not pmsing…HE HATES ME.”

“Naruto…” Kakashi stepped towards the angel.

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Naruto shouted, smacking Kakashi’s hand away and turning, spreading his wings and flying off in tears.

Kakashi stood there blinking, then sighed and rest his palm against the temple of his forehead, “Oh boy…”

He turned, looking at Sasuke’s door with a solemn expression.

Naruto couldn’t care if anyone saw him right then and there. All that was going on in his head was this new kind of pain and the tears. Had he failed that miserably? Was he that bad of a guardian to Sasuke? But he’d tried so hard! So very hard…

After almost crashing into a tree, Naruto landed on the ground with the distant knowledge that he was going to hurt himself trying to fly when he was crying. He pulled his wings back in and sank to the ground, letting his head fall and the tears run freely. He didn’t really know where he was and he didn’t care. Sasuke hated him and that was all that mattered.

Passing by, a young girl and young man stopped and took in the sight of the miserable blonde.

“N-Naruto-kun?”

Naruto started slightly and slowly lifted his head, looking up past his wet eyelashes at Hinata. Neji was also with her, alive and sporting nothing worse then a bandaged arm and a band-aid on the bridge of his nose. They both looked surprised to see Naruto and worried to see him in that condition.

“Naruto-kun…what’s wrong?” Hinata asked, walked over slowly and kneeling by him.

Naruto swallowed thickly and tried to gather himself to speak, but ended up sobbing again. Neji frowned, realizing the boy was in to much distress to get a word out and walked over to the two. Kneeling, he pulled Naruto close in an embrace and looked between Hinata and Naruto.

“You know…there’s a small café nearby. It just opened and I heard it has some great cakes. How about we go there…my treat?”

Hinata frowned at that, then caught on to what her cousin was trying to do and nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. Naruto-kun?”

Naruto didn’t feel like eating, honestly. But Neji was already helping him to his feet and leading him to this café.

“Trust me, Naruto. Besides…I do owe you,” Neji coaxed, acting surprisingly gentle next to how Naruto remembered him a week ago.

They entered the small café and Naruto was led to a table by the two Hyuuga’s, sandwiched between them in the booth once they sat down. Hinata rubbed soothing circles into his back while Neji ordered for them all. Naruto was starting to calm down some, the cool air in the café and the gentle touch helping a lot. After a while, he was able to breathe more easily and was no longer shaking as badly.

“So…mind telling us what put you in this condition?” Neji asked, turning calmly to the blonde.

Naruto whimpered and wrapped his arms up on the table, burying his face in them. “S…Sas…Sasuke…he…he hates me!”

Hinata blinked and glanced at Neji, then back at Naruto with a troubled frown, “Naruto-kun…Sasuke-kun doesn’t hate you.”

“Yes he does! He…he told me to go away! To go back to where I came from,” Naruto sobbed, trying to keep from crying again.

Neji frowned and looked at Hinata. Hinata caught the look before turning her gaze downward, nodding softly. She got up with a soft excuse and started for the door, pulling a cell phone out from her jacket pocket. Neji watched her leave the building, before draping an arm over Naruto’s shoulder comfortingly. He felt strangely fond of Naruto. He had so since he’d come to in the hospital.

“Hey…listen, Naruto. Sasuke’s always been a prick since as long as anyone’s known him. It’s no surprise he’s acting like an ass right now.”

Naruto sniffed, shaking his head softly. “He’s not to me…”

Neji huffed, tilting his head and glancing at the window, seeing Hinata outside talking on her cell. “Bull…Sasuke is Sasuke. He’s always been that way. Don’t let him get to you, ok? Angel’s shouldn’t cry like this over bastards like him.”

Naruto bit his lip and sniffed, his mind slowly registering Neji’s words. When they did, he looked up over his arms in surprised, tearful confusion. “How…how do you know I’m an angel?”

Kakashi-sensei had been in his apartment, so that should mean everyone at the stadium save Sasuke and him should have had their memories wiped.

Neji caught Naruto’s train of thought and smirked softly, snorting, “Yeah. You’re angel buddy wiped my memory all right and gave me some crack story about falling down the bench stairs at the contest. But apparently he forgot about Hinata-chan. She told me about you being an angel…and how you saved me from myself.”

Naruto blinked and blushed lightly under the sudden gentle smile that came over Neji-baka’s face, turning his gaze down on the table shyly. He wasn’t used to others smiling at him like that. But Kakashi-sensei hadn’t wiped Hinata-chan’s memory? Figures…his teacher called him a blockhead at times, but apparently the older angel was no better. He’d probably made his dogs or something do the job so he could read those books he always read back at the academy.

“You protected Hinata-chan and helped her learn to cook. She won the contest by the way. The judges liked her cake…even without that special spice,” Neji continued. “You also saved me from the demon possessing me. You kept me from hurting people. I even got to meet my father for a moment…back in the hospital. It was just a dream but…it felt like it was really him. He told me that it was really his desire in the end to save his big brother. So…you were right after all. I’m sorry for being a jerk…I just wasn’t myself.”

The waitress arrived, setting down their drinks for them. Naruto untangled his arms and sat up a bit straighter, feeling a little better from Neji’s words of praise. He pulled the drink set in front of him closer, finding it to be dark brown and warm with something white and fluffy on the top.

Neji removed his arm and noticed Naruto’s puzzled look, chuckling slightly. “It’s hot cocoa. You’ll like it, trust me. The stuff on top is whip cream.”

Naruto’s eyebrows drooped slightly, “Thank you…”

He blew softly on it before sipping slightly, finding the taste very good. It was chocolaty and warm and the whip cream was cool and tasted like vanilla. It seemed to warm his body up slightly and he felt a little bit better.

Neji smiled a little bit more, watching Naruto drink. So this was what angels were like? Or at least what heaven must be. Guess he’d been wrong all along. There really was something out there after death. Was a shame something so cute and gentle had gotten stuck with that asshole Uchiha Sasuke. Neji felt something stir in his stomach slightly at the thought, taking a sip of his latte and narrowing his eyes at no one in particular. An angel like Naruto deserved someone better.

Hinata returned with a glance at Neji, a silent way of letting him know she’d made the call. She sat down and smiled softly, seeing Naruto in better spirits now. She’d known her Neji-niisan…her real Neji-niisan…would handle the situation well. Feeling happier, she helped herself to her milkshake.

“Hinata-chan and I were going to go shopping. Why don’t you come along?” Neji offered. “I’m sure Hinata-chan won’t mind.”

Naruto nodded gently. He still hurt from Sasuke’s harsh words, but after hearing Neji talk he was sure he wasn’t such a bad guardian angel after all. Maybe there was a reason behind all of this. He just wasn’t sure what it was.

“Will that be all?” A soft voice spoke up.

Naruto looked up to see who’d spoke, his eyes widening at the male waiter standing before their table. Neji suddenly hissed and held his hand to his head, looking at the waiter with a strange look in his eyes.

“You! W…What are you!?”


***reviewer responses*

Schala - well. hope this chapter answered your question about Hinata. ^^ And Sasuke doesn't remember what happened after he fell unconscious. As for the saint beast/jinchuuriki question.....not saying. ^^

TimeFlys - You-know-who is not Gaara. And I'm more of a best friends/brothers Gaara/Naruto fan then a yaoi coupled fan. I prefer Gaara/Lee. =3 But its all good. And yes, Neji's developed a crush on Naruto. *chuckles evilly* In fact, lots of people in this story have a crush on Naruto...so Sasuke needs to stay on his toes. XD

Anna - lol. You're not the only person that killed Sasuke. XD I'm glad you enjoyed the special. It was fun to type and the chaos come so easily thanks to everyone's funny questions. XD

mirandler43 - lol. Wrote a book there rather then a review. ^^ But I enjoyed ready all you had to say. So glad you liked the cliff hangars. Those come naturally to me. It's like...OH! There! Perfect! That kind of thing. XD As for the closet scene...yes. Hard to type that without messing up the situation/atmosphere but my favorite to. ^^ I was definately going to bring Kakashi in sooner or later. I simply love Kakashi to death. =) With Kakashi, I'll have so many opportunities to rub Sasuke's growing feelings for Naruto into Sasuke's face. XD As seen in the special. ^^ There was also no way I was going to ruin Kakashi's wonderful personality just cause he's an angel. =P And Lee definately will come in later, because I love Lee. I didn't like him at first when he popped up...cause I was like the other characters thinking...wow...what a weirdo. But you can't not fall in love with his strength, heart, and personality. ^^ He's such a sweetheart. ^_^

Nomme de Plume - thank you. ^_^

Yuri-san - *is huggled* O.o You weren't the only person that killed Sasuke. Luckily Kakashi was there. XD And the herbal essence thing, I couldn't resist when you asked that. XD And Neji has developed a crush on his savior as this chapter has started hinting. =)

Carla - The you-know-who isn't Gaara, actually. It's someone much worse. *cackles evilly* Actually, a lot of people develop a crush on Naruto in this story. How can you not? XD

DaedricFire - I love the way sims find to kill themselves. XD Speaking of which, I did have a sim that burnt cereal. Oo It was Itachi sim though. XD

miko spirit - thank you. ^^

innerchild - I love mythology and demon/angel and magic and all that fun stuff. So that always ends up in most of my stories. takes research though, specially with the folklore. and I always make sure to explain things so no one gets to lost. ^^

Donedin - Hee hee...Kakashi was so bummed. But Iruka can't say no in the end. =) I love responding to reviews, and I love when authors respond to reviews because it makes me feel like they read and appreciated my effort to review. I hated how Fanfiction.net one day told us we couldn't respond to reviewers in our stories. That's one of the reasons I left, and joined AFF and now love it here. ^^

bloodyrose - I updated! I updated! lol. ^^ Sasuke jealous deserves s 11/10. XD In my opinion. I love jealous boyfriends. It's so cute. ^^ And Kakashi is perverted but not to much, he's also still a teacher and Iruka won't be completely uke-ish. I try to keep their character personalities best I can. ^^ And yes...Shino/Kiba is da bomb. ^^

commgonn - thank you! ^___^