"Are you planning on turning mute?" Naruto joked at Elena after the waitress left. They were still getting strange looks from the other customers but not as much as before.
Elena was silent for a few seconds before shaking her head. Then in a low tone that only Naruto could hear, she replied, "I used to be a very frequent customer here. I am afraid that if she heard my voice she might recognize me"
Elena's voice sounded less hoarse than it did before and was slowly starting to sound melodious again. Moreover, she didn't show any shyness when talking with Naruto now. The current her was a great improvement from how she was before. Something that Naruto noticed. However she still had a way to go before she could be herself again outside her comfort zone.
"Well good for you. But she might have just mistaken you for a mute" Naruto sighed when he heard her word. He could completely understand Elena's situation. It had been a while since she last left the house so this was her way of slowly assimilating back into society. Once she feels that the time was right she would rise again like a Phoenix from the ashes.
"Well it's better that way. That means that she will talk to me less." Elena sighed. Although their situation had already been taken care of, they still couldn't change the fact that her family had once been the jest of the city with many people calling them different kinds of terrible nicknames. She couldn't see herself returning back to such a society.
The only good thing that came out of all of this was that she now knew the darker nature of human beings. There were nothing but backstabbers and benefits seeking oaf, as soon as you no longer have anything more to offer they would immediately cut you off. It was now that she finally understands the phrase, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Although Naruto had only helped them out in exchange for payment she was forever indebted to him.
She stole glances at Naruto as he drank a glass of water.
Unaware of the inner thoughts of the woman besides him Naruto continued to make small talk with Elena until their foods arrived. But to the people around because they couldn't hear Elena's voice they assumed that Naruto was talking to himself.
After serving them their meals Lin Ming retreated behind the counter to observe the two of them. Most especially the hooded figure she wanted to see if she would take off her hoods but she was soon to be disappointed.
As to how she knew the other person was a female she had seen her painted fingernails when she dropped off her bowl of special ramen. Although there were men who loved to paint their fingers as a form of fashion especially during this age when there were different types of gender. Only a female could have small and delicate hands.
Naruto's eyes lit up as he stared at the bowl of miso ramen. He hurriedly picked up the chopsticks and took a huge bite out of the ramen. His eyes lit up as his taste buds was assaulted by different kinds of flavor. Although he couldn't remember the taste of the ramen he ate as a kid, he was certain that this one definitely wouldn't lose to it.
Unlike Naruto, Elena didn't immediately dig into her food, instead she stared at it. Watching the toppings swimming inside the bowl of ramen.
She hesitated for a while before finally picking up the chopsticks with one hand while she brought the ramen closer to her face with the other.
She sniffed it, inhaling the delicious aroma, while other couldn't see it she had a huge smile on her face as she stared at the bowl of ramen. She slowly ate the ramen, savoring every inches of it. She let out a satisfied sigh after she finished the bowl.
When she looked up again she saw Naruto staring at her with a meaningful smile on his face.
Elena blushed at this and hurriedly reached for her hood and pulled it further down her face to hide her blush, not that they could see it to begin with.
"You seem to enjoy your bowl of ramen a lot, should we order another one?" Naruto asked with a mirthful smile.
"No, no. I'm okay. We can leave now. I have a place I want to visit" Elena replied as she reached into her hoodie's pocket. Naruto realizing what she was about to do Immediately pulled out money from his wallet and dropped it on the table.
Elena who was about to do the same frowned when she saw the cash on the table. She turned to Naruto and said in a slightly displeased tone. "I was going to pay"
"Well to bad for you I beat you to it" Naruto stuck out a tongue at her before getting up to leave. There was no way he would let her pay for his meal if lady ever found out about it he would be given a good tongue-lashing.
Deciding to let it be, Elena stood up to follow him. The reason she wanted to pay before was to thank him for saving her family. But if he wanted to pay himself then there was nothing she could do about it.
Naruto signaled to the waitress as they walked out of the bar. Lin Ming walked up to the table to clear it up, she watched them as they walked out the exit. However her eyes never left Elena's back, she just couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity she got from that person.
She didn't have enough time to think about it as new customers walked into the restaurant and hurried off to attend to them
….
After the two of them left the restaurant they continued their stroll through the city with Elena taking him to all her favorite places. They continued to wander until their journey eventually led them to a small park. It was already dark by the time they arrived at the park. Naruto and Elena sat down on the swing as they watched the sun setting in the horizon, painting that part of the sky deep orange.
The two of them sat in silence, enjoying the view in front of them.
"I used to come here every evening to gaze at the sunset. It was one of the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life. I used to come here whenever I wanted to escape from my rich life" Elena reminisced with a sad tone. What should have been a happy memory, now only brought sadness to her heart. Since it was dark and they were both alone she had her hood down allowing Naruto to see the sad smile on her face.
Naruto stared at her for a few seconds before returning his gaze back to the sun that had almost disappeared beyond the horizon. He sighed, sitting on this swing brought back unpleasant memories. Memories that he wanted to keep buried.
"What about you?"
"Me?" Naruto turned to look quizzically at Elena.
"Yes you, what did you do before all of this? I meant before the whole devil hunting business?" Elena rephrased her question. She wanted to know more about Naruto. Although they were nothing more than employee and employer. Even though she knew that Naruto would be gone once his job is done she felt that Naruto has a story to tell.
Naruto mulled over the question for a while not knowing how to answer. The memories of his time before he met Dante wasn't pleasant. His life has been a living nightmare. Worst than she could have ever imagined.
After thinking about it for a few seconds he decided to answer truthfully.
Naruto didn't shy away when he felt Elena's expectant filled gaze on him. With his eyes now on the silhouette of the moon up in the sky, he replied.
"To be honest with you my life was the same as yours. I was also hunted by a demon when I was a kid. People hated me thinking that I was possessed by that demon. I spent the rest of my childhood alone before I was rescued by a devil hunter who took pity on me"
After Naruto said those words a pair of slit red eyes glowing in a dark room was filled with guilt and sadness before it closed completely blending in with the darkness. Maybe it was for the best.
…..Sorry kid.
.....
Power stones!