Can I Call You Mine

Chapter 9

Naruto's eyelids flutter open to daylight streaming in from the windows. His room softly illuminating the warming mocha tones of his bedroom. He listened to the rain falling outside, making soft thuds against his window, the consoling rhythm making it hard to wake up. He took a moment to rub at his face to wake himself fully before rubbing at the distended dome of his middle that was already raising the sheets laying over his body. He stared up at the ceiling before glancing out the window, in wonderments of his life and how much it had changed since graduation; those days that were for the most part carefree, simplicity nonetheless peaceful.

And Neji...God bless that soul for his kind and caring nature. Here he was living in his friend's home, dependent on the successes of the ones he went to school with who have made something of their lives. Naruto knew that he would never be able to repay him, or do any of this without him.

He listened to the thunder that was rumbling off into the distance, feeling the unadulterated loneliness despite the company in the house and it didn't help that he still couldn't figure out his balance since all this has happened, leaving him a hazy mess. Regardless that Neji was home in the evenings for the most part or the freedom to visit his parents, it was an isolated sadness that was niggling in his heart and pushing against the regret of the if only he could go back in time when it was just the three of them; Sasuke, Neji and himself hanging out with no worries. Those simple times, in spite of the brief periods that were confusing growing up, were happy, content and peaceful.

He caressed the sides of his growing belly, feeling the twins having had another growth spurt overnight before slowly sitting up and letting the sheets pool around his waist. The blonde's lips and face pulled into a frown as he glanced at the wardrobe facing his bed, seeing the memory box on the top shelf, the only thing that he left with.

He'd usually open it whenever he had days like these; when he felt gloomy and blue, all of the contents being his source of comfort, the only things that he considered as his most cherished possessions.

He bit his lip again before tentatively getting out of bed, trying to ignore the morning aches due to the pregnancy and making his way to the wooden storage to retrieve the precious item.

Once he had it, he ran his fingers over the carving of the sun before returning to sit down on the bed, the memory of his father's voice sounding clearly in his mind.

...

'This box carries light.' His five year old self blinked up at Minato owlishly before he opened the box and found nothing but a chain with a blue crystal on it and a picture of a pregnant red haired woman with his father standing behind her and his arms lovingly wrapped around her. The older man was kissing her cheek while she laughed at something that must have been really funny.

'But there's no light in here daddy, just a pretty necklace.' Said the child that looks like a carbon copy of his father, who was furrowing his eyebrows whilst looking at his daddy as if he lost his mind.

Minato chuckled and ruffled his son's hair. 'Yes, it does. It's magical.' His father expressed, taking out the necklace from the box. 'This was your mother's and whenever I feel dark and gloomy I open this box and it lights up my entire mood.' Naruto just blinked again, trying to make sense of his saying. Minato sighed and gave a smile at his son. 'It's a memory box sweetheart. And sometimes all you need is a cherished memory to light up your day.'

'But I thought I light up your day.' Naruto said in a whining small voice with a saddening frown. 'Yeah you are. Your the best light in my life.' The little boy giggled as his father nibbled his cheeks and smothered his face with kisses. 'How about you and me make precious memories and put them in this box. Then every time we feel sad we open it and light up our days, hmm?'