夢 - 2021 rewrite

chapter twenty-four

うちはサスケ

"I, uh, know this isn't much," Hideki began, heaving in the boy's luggage. "But, you can stay here until the cleaners finish up...um, cleaning the compound. Okay?"

Sasuke avoided his eyes, staring down at his feet. He only offered a nod and, Hideki, understanding the language, dragged the luggage across the room and down the hall as the Uchiha followed silently. Satoshi, from the kitchen, could only watch warily.

"So, I, uh, cleaned up my room, cleared out a space in my closet, and, you can sleep here for the time being," Hideki commented, setting the thick luggage on his bed. Sasuke paused in surveying his sandals to gaze around the room, before resuming his scrutinizing gaze on his feet. "And, don't worry, I'll sleep on the couch." Hideki looked down at the young boy. "Sasuke?"

Pausing for a moment, Hideki crouched down to the boy's height, trying a soft smile. "Hey," he started, lowering his voice. "I-I know how hard this must be, losing everything in one night. And I know you may not want my--our help, with us being total strangers, but, it's either us or staying back there or...the orphanage. Sasuke, we want to help you, but, it's up to you to decide."

And through the drooped bangs and hunched shoulders, Hideki could see a face so soft and young and confused and lost, so he offered another smile and a shoulder squeeze before rising to his feet, waltzing out the door and adding, "We'll get lunch in an hour, so, uh, get cozy, Sasuke."

Hideki hurried out the hall, only to be met with Satoshi. "What the hell are you doing, Deki?" he whispered. "Go back in there!"

"He's busy," Hideki replied, hushing the boy. "Let's just leave him in there--"

"You're supposed to go talk to him!"

"What am I supposed to say? Everything is a one-sided conversation!"

Satoshi crossed his arms. "Well it's not any different than talking to you!"

"We are literally talking to each other right now!" Hideki groaned, pushing past the brunette.

"All you gotta do is go in there, ask if he's okay," Satoshi said, sitting on the couch. Hideki took the second one with a sigh.

"I did, when I picked him up," the raven responded. "And I tried making conversation, but he didn't say anything. I was like that for, what, a few months, I guess."

"A few months? Damn," Satoshi remarked, sipping his water. "You know what helps? A nice bonfire. Marshmallows. You know?"

"Where the hell are we gonna have a bonfire, Toshi?" Hideki groaned once more. "And I think a fire hazard isn't the way we should go with a traumatized child."

"Well, what do you suggest?"

"Waiting it out, duh," he responded and Satoshi scoffed. "He'll warm up to us, eventually. Didn't take me long to get used to you. But it's gonna be harder if Naruto comes and tries to visit us."

"Eh, let him visit. The first time we met eyes, we hated each other," Satoshi shrugged. "They'll just...hate each other longer. And I mean, what big of a difference does it make if they suddenly befriend each other?"

"A big difference," Hideki pushed on, sinking into the cushions. "Most of the stuff we did on missions had to do with how much we hated each other. You know, picking the most weeds, climbing the fastest, et cetera, et cetera?"

"Well, the faster they learn to get used to each other, the easier it is for them to bond together, you know?" Satoshi suggested. "Plus, it keeps them, well, together, longer than we've been, right?"

"Hm."

"Maybe you should bake him some cookies." He added with a sly smirk. "Teach him your baking skills, eh?"

"Dobe, I'm not gonna--"

"Did someone say cookies?" Came a frail voice, trudging down the hallway with Hideki's blanket over his shoulders. Satoshi eyes Hideki with a grin.

"I'll get on it," Hideki responded, bouncing to his feet and rushing to the kitchen.