𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜𝚎

a bittersweet goodbye

A/N: question of the day: what is your favorite ice cream flavor?

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I huffed and puffed the entire way to my bedroom, distracting myself with thoughts of how stupid and pointless this all was.

My true thoughts on the situation? Complicated.

In moments like this, my hand finds its way to my blue crystal necklace. A necklace given to me by my parents.

Looking at the piece of jewelry always gave me a weird feeling, like experiencing nostalgia from memories that never existed. I always think of the parents I never had, where they were, and if they are alive now.

But, all of that is difficult to focus on, so I resort to thinking about the sole father figure in my life, Iruka.

He had taken me in from who knows where, and I don't even remember a life without him.

I didn't want to imagine a life without him.

I thought maybe he felt the same.

A wave of anger surged through me. Why would Iruka, who had me my whole life, suddenly give me away so quickly?

I mean, I always knew that it'd happen, but I didn't expect it to happen like this.

I clenched my fist around the necklace.

How could he?

I bit my lip as an all-familiar emotion took over the fading rage. My heart ached. My throat burned.

I swung my head as the door knob opened to reveal my stern caretaker. I frowned and wiped my eyes.

"Naruto..."

My lips were quivering. Even now, in my anger, my eyes threatened to release tears.

"Naruto, I know what you must think of me...and I just want to let you know..."

I didn't let him finish the thought.

"No!" I turned around and grabbed my suitcase by the handle.

Stomping to the doorway, I met Iruka's eyes to see his eyebrows furrowed in...what was it? Sadness? Regret?

I spoke, quieter. "I'm sorry, Iruka, I just..."

I hesitated. "I'll miss you" just didn't cut it. As I stood there, fumbling for the right words, Iruka put his hand on my cheek.

I looked up, expectantly, to meet his eyes.

"...This is something I'd always known would happen. But never did I want it to be this way."

I exhaled.

"I'll miss you."

Iruka said it first, and somehow, it sounded exactly how it was meant to sound.

I looked down at my suitcase, and to the creaky old mattress.

I took the stairs, one by one. I avoided the nail at the bottom, for the last time.

I still heard the other kids, and I began to worry for them.

As we reached the front door, I memorized the scent of the building one last time, and took my first step out.

"I'll miss you too."

Each step seemed to take a lifetime as I headed to the red car parked on the road.

I saw the old man that was to be my new caregiver, casually leaning against the trunk.

"Hey, kid! Let me get that suitcase for you." Jiraiya walked towards me and went to grab my suitcase. I let him with a respective nod of my head.

"Um...where did that lady go?"

He looked up to me. "Oh, she had an urgent matter to attend to. Someone came and picked her up."

I nodded my head. I didn't ask for more information; I doubted I'd ever see the woman again.

I looked back to Iruka to see him smiling. He nodded his head, and I sent an anxious smile back.

My attention was diverted back to Jiraiya as he opened the passenger's side for me.

"I wouldn't worry too much," Jiraiya said. "You'll get to see him again."

I hoped so.

"After you."

I nodded my head again, not comfortable enough to speak directly to him. I climbed into the leather seat and immediately felt out of place.

Jiraiya waved to Iruka and made his way over to the driver's side, getting in beside me.

I forced myself to stare ahead at the road, not wanting to look back.

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A/N: I'm super sleepy so this chapter was mega boring