My Sunshine

Girl Time / Transplants - Haru

Haru was sitting on the couch, wrapped up in her pink blanket, like usual, when there was a knock at the front door. Iruka appeared from the kitchen with a dish towel still in his hands, answering it. Ino was standing there, along with another blonde woman. The other woman looked a lot less cheerful than Ino.

"Hey Sensei! We came over to take Haru out for a little bit of girl time!"

He opened the door wider, inviting them in.  Ino rushed over to Haru, who hadn't yet moved.

"C'mon, Haru! Temari and I are going out for pedicures and we want you to come along."

Temari smiled at her.  She turned to Iruka, who was now kneeling beside Ino so he could have eye contact with Haru, smiling.

"You should go out for a little while and meet some new people. I'm old and boring. And, if anything happens, Ino and Temari are more than capable of helping you."

Her heart was racing, but she nodded in agreement.   he took some money and placed it in her hand before Ino took her by the other hand and practically pulled her off the couch.  

"Come on! Let's go!"

Pocketing the money as the headed out the door, Haru turned to Iruka.

"I guess I'll see you later."

He smiled at her warmly.

"Everything will be fine. Go have a good time."

***

Haru had no idea where she was or what was happening when they entered the building full of women. It smelled like chemicals and everyone was chatting. She could tell that it was supposed to be a soothing place, but it really wasn't.  Temari stood next to her, as if she could read her mind.

"Yeah, I don't come here much either, But my anniversary is coming up and I guess I'll look nice for my hot springs trip.  Not that my husband cares."

Temari gave her a smirk and a little bump with her shoulder. Haru really liked these women; they made her feel at ease.  A woman greeted them and took them to a set of plushy leather chairs with buckets below them.  What in the hell was this?  She sat down and the woman filled the bucket with warm water.  It was actually kind of nice.

"So, how are things going with Iruka? I know you've only been there for a month, but it's got to be better than staying at the hospital."

"It's been nice. He's very nice and he's been very accommodating. I feel really safe there. But I'm sure I'm not very good company. I know I sleep a lot."

Temari grinned.

"But that's good though. Your body probably needs the rest."

Haru gave her a small smile back.

"It's the first time I can remember getting to sleep uninterrupted. On the island, I barely slept; I was always afraid of someone bursting into my room and expecting payment."

Temari looked confused.

"Payment?"

Now Haru felt a little sheepish.  Why?  Why did her conversations always come back to her shitty past?  She tried to change the subject.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, no. Now I want to know."

She sighed sadly.  It was too late.

"My father is the leader of the Dragon Island near the Crescent Moon Kingdom but he's not good with money.  Or there isn't enough of it.  Or he doesn't want to spend it. He would use me as currency for the men he owed payment to."

Temari's face turned to one of horror.

"Your own father?"

"He always told me that nothing in this world is free..."

"Yeah, but he should be paying his own debts! Not using his daughter!"

Haru felt embarrassed now, but she felt Temari's hand reach for hers, holding it. Ino watched on from Temari's other side: Haru was acutely aware that Ino was aware of the situation.  However, Haru was surprised by the look on Temari's face: it was unbridled rage. Temari looked down, shutting her eyes and speaking through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry someone who was supposed to protect you instead treated you like currency."

"See, that's what I don't get about this place. Nobody seems to want anything in return. I tried to pay Iruka with my body and... he covered me back up. He actually told me that sex is sacred to him, and that he can only sleep with someone he loves. And I've never heard anyone say anything like that before. And then, he cried in the bathroom. I guess I don't understand what the village could possibly be getting in return for taking me in.  And now, I'm oversharing to a stranger."

Temari looked like she might cry as well.

"This village is just really nice, Haru. I'm not from Konoha, either. I'm from Suna; my brother is the leader there. But, Konoha has taken me in as if I've lived here my entire life. This village has seen a lot of pain and heartache, and if they can help someone, they will. Maybe your presence here is payment enough. I know that in Ino's eyes, your your being alive is payment enough. She's been worried sick about you. A lot of people have been. It's not every day that a nearly dead woman is found outside of the gates."

"People have been worried about me? People from this village?"

"Well, yeah. Ino, for one."

Temari nodded back toward Ino, who was nodding her head.

"And Lady Mizuka, for another one.  Shikamaru, my husband, gives me an update on you every night that he has one."  I know Kakashi and Sai are worried about you.  And Sakura."

Temari ticked people off on her fingers as she continued.

"A lot of people have been pulling for you. Even Naruto has been stopping by since you jumped out of the hospital window to see how were. And Iruka's barely left your side after he returned from his mission. You are loved by people you don't even know."

All of this made Haru blush as she watched the woman paint her toes pink, the color the she chose. Temari squeezed her hand.

"Welcome to Konoha, my fellow transplant. This is a good place to land."