To Have a Mother [Slow Updates]

Episode Seven: Team Guy

After Naruto had left on his B-rank, Akari went back up to the apartment to clean. She was supposed to be on bedrest and was disallowed to go on any missions, so she had nothing better to do. Besides, the pilling dishes and mountains of trash and laundry everywhere were beginning to drive her absolutely insane. She decided to begin in the bedroom and separated all the empty food containers and wrappers from the dirty clothes, putting them in their respective bags. She took out the trash and put in the load of laundry with the little detergent left in the jug. It wasn't even the good detergent. It was a random brand she'd never heard of. Akari wasn't sure if Naruto was being cheap or this was just sheer ignorance of quality products, but she made a mental note to buy better detergent at the market.

Akari moved to the kitchen and finally washed all those dishes and put them away. She knew she'd managed her time well because the laundry was finished by then as well. Upon realizing Naruto didn't own a dryer, which she supposed wasn't too odd in the less fortunate parts of the village, Akari pinned the clothes to the line and simply allowed them to air dry. She made the bed and laid in it for a while. She knew she was tough and restless, but all the housework really tired her out. She buried her face in the pillow and sighed as she could pick up Naruto's scent. She wondered how it was possible to miss a child she'd only parted with a few hours ago.

***

Akari awoke some hours later, sat up, and stretched her arms out. She sighed, feeling refreshed, but couldn't help but feel a bit bored and lonely. Looking to the ceiling, she realized Naruto's clothes were dry so she began to take them down and fold them.

All the sudden, a cockroach fled from under the bed and onto her leg to which she shrieked and jumped to the bed. Not a moment later did she see a young man with a bowl cut and a green suit squatting at the bedroom window.

She stared at him in confusion. "Guy?"

"No, you are mistaken," the boy said. "I am not Guy Sensei. My name is Rock Lee. I happened to be passing by when I heard a scream. I wanted to see if you are okay."

Akari blinked before realizing that this boy was not her childhood friend after all. Despite a similar appearance, Lee was shorter and had a less defined face. His eyes were rounder, but were filled with the same life and conviction that Guy possessed. He must be the student Guy is so fond of.

She smiled, still short-breathed. "I see."

Just then, Guy and two other genin appeared at the windowsill. Akari was greeted by a young lady with two buns and a smile that seemingly hid a bit of anger. "Lee!" she scolded, whacking him with a scroll. "You can't jump to random people's windows!"

Lee turned to Akari with a look of determination that seemed to never leave his features. He bowed his head low in apology. "Please, forgive my intrusion."

Akari waved it off. "No, sweetheart. Don't worry about it."

"Hey, Akari," Guy spoke up, smirking slightly as he leaned against the wall. "You okay? Why are you standing on the bed?"

The Enomoto huffed and folded her arms. "I'll have you know that I live here now so I can stand wherever I want!"

Guy lifted an eyebrow. "Where's the bug?"

Akari hesitated before she whined and held out her arms. She spoke rather quickly in a high pitched voice. "It was on my leg, but I shook it off. Now it's somewhere on the floor and I don't know where it is! H-Hug me, please."

Guy laughed, kicking off his shoes and hopping to the bed. He held Akari to his chest and stroked her hair. She relaxed into his embrace, despite the fact that he was sweaty and gross most likely from subjecting himself to ridiculous exercises.