Beach: Naruto x Reader: Cramp

"I challenge you to a game of volleyball!" Naruto pointed a finger at Sasuke, eyes blaring with fiery determination.

"Hn," was Sasuke's reply. He didn't make a move to acknowledge Naruto was talking to him.

You thought it would be a wonderful chance for you to play volleyball with your long time crush, Naurto. It has been four entire weeks since you last played volleyball and you were dying to lay your hands on a volleyball.

"Can I play?" you hopped up to Naruto.

"But your foot… didn't you injure your knee four weeks ago and the doctor told you to rest for six weeks?" asked Naruto.

Right so four weeks ago, you though you'll show off by spiking but took the wrong step and dislocated your knee. Again. Fifth time this year.

"I can still play!" you hopped by twirled and landed on your butt. "Ow."

Naruto laughed and helped you up, patting you up and down to clean the sand off you. "Next time, dattebayo! Today I'm going to beat Sasuke! Let's see… Kiba! I'm going to compete against Sasuke to prove I'm better than that teme. You with me?" Naruto walked off towards Kiba.

You smiled longingly at the volleyball courts when Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke and another girl played volleyball. You watched Naruto's swift movements, the way he flexes his muscles when he digs the ball, when he reaches up to block the ball…

You sighed in satisfaction seeing your crush move so freely but you couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness crash over you when you realize your crush might never play volleyball with you when you keep injuring your leg.

You looked down staring at your knee cap. On the inside, you just wanted to slap it back into place.

--- Flashback ---

"Sublimation of the kneecap, more commonly known as dislocation of the knee. The knee is very hard to injure and once you injure it… you will only keep injuring it.:

You stared at the doctor but she didn't look at you. She kept her eyes on the MRI and CT scans.

"Is… is there a way I can get cured?" you didn't really have a point in asking this. You were prepared to know whether there was a treatment or not. Even if there is, your family would not be able to afford it.

"We can organize an operation," said the doctor, "that straps your kneecap to your leg," she dragged her finger from the kneecap to the side of your leg. "It will secure the kneecap."

""What… what are the chances of it failing? What is the recovery rate?" you asked.

"With the technology now, the surgery would most likely be successful. The recovery rate is around nine months…."

"I'll think about it."

When you got out and got into the car, you told your father the case. He shook his head. "Don't do it. Who wants a scar to show when they wear dresses or skirts in summer? And 9 months recovery… Who's going to take you to and from school?" The rest of the car trip was left in silence.

--- End flashback ---

"____-chan! ____-CHAN!" Naruto waved his hand in front of you and finally caught your attention. How long have you been daydreaming? Did Naruto win?

"Did you win Naruto?" you asked.

"Nah, Sasuke's girl tripped. Sasuke's taking her to the lifeguard tower to get ice while Kiba… he ran off when the game was called off. You up for a stroll?" Naruto shot his foxy grin. How could you resist that smile?

"Sure!" Every time you walked with Naruto, your heart will race your steps, your hands will go sweaty and sometimes you'll blush so hard, you're sure Naruto could feel it. You thought you'll get use to it but the more you stay around Naruto, the more evident these seem. Nevertheless you did not let this be an excuse not to walk with your crush.

You thought back. Why do you have a crush on Naruto? Why a person like him? He was more of a brother person. If a guy has a girlfriend, they should put the girlfriend before everything let alone everyone else! But no, Naruto would probably treat his girlfriend and his mates equally. So why him?

You turned around to see Naruto missing. You looked back and saw Naruto making funny faces to a young girl and probably her little brother. The little boy was crying.

You walked up to Naruto dragged one of his ears and hissed, "What did you do Naruto!"

"I was just…"

"Please don't fight!" stepped out the little girl. The boy had stopped crying. "I have to thank this guy because my brother stopped crying. A big man pushed my little brother and his ice-cream fell. Luckily, this guy," she pointed to Naruto, "promised to buy my brother a new ice cream and made funny faces to stop him from crying."

You slowly let go off Naruto's ear. You finally understood why you like Naruto so much. He was a caring person and would help everyone before himself.

"Is he your boyfriend?" asked the little girl.

Your eyes widened. Did she ask if Naruto was your boyfriend? You blushed. "He's not my boyfriend," you mumbled.

"Oh! Did you both break up because of my little brother and I? Oh please don't! you guys are like the loveliest couple here. Could you both please pretend nothing happened and…"

You squatted down and your calf twitched in protest. It was screaming you were putting too much pressure on it trying not to injure your knee but you ignored it. You put a hand on the girls shoulder. "Don't mistaken! we were never going out!" you smiled at Naruto but he was looking away. Was that a disappointed look? Maybe he wanted ice cream. "Now who wants ice cream?"

The two children cheered and you grabbed Naruto's hand. "A ninja must accomplish his or her mission no matter what right? Let's get these children ice cream!"

You dragged Naruto and the children towards the ice cream store not realizing the blush that seems to creep onto Naruto's cheeks.

"What flavor ice-cream do you guys want?" you turned around and asked, not knowing you were still holding onto Naruto's hand.

"Strawberry!" giggled the girl.

"Chocolate!" said her brother.

"Naruto," you shook his hand. "Are you alright?"

Naruto let go off your hand. You felt your heart break a bit. Your hand felt so empty…

"Yeah I'm fine… it's just… I… I think I like this girl but she just thinks me as a friend."

Your heart broke. Naruto likes a girl that thinks him as a friend? Sakura? It definitely wasn't you, your blushing and avoiding eye contact were direct hints you love him.

"Well…" you were heartbroken. Your stomach made a lurch. Your heart clenched and you didn't feel so well over all. "I guess it's not my business right? I'm going to leave your love life alone." You forced a smile onto your face. "I'm gonna have a swim. Buy these children ice cream and fulfill your ninja job!" you pat Naruto's shoulder and jogged off before Naruto could reply.

Within meters to the sea, you started crying. You quickly jumped into the sea, swimming out to the deeper waters where you know gravity could not take its toll and you think you could run and jump freely without breaking your foot. However, the tears wouldn't stop. So Naruto liked a girl. Probably Sakura. And he was friend-zoned. The more you thought about it, the harder it felt to keep afloat. Your legs were getting tired and your knee started to hurt.

'Shit,' you though, 'I should get back to shore.'

You struggled to swim back to shore but one final kick was enough to make your whole calf tense up. You struggled in the water as you swallowed and breathed in mouthfuls of water. You rolled around, writhing in pain. You tried to rub the tension away but you were slowly running out of air. You felt yourself slipping away.

You felt arms wrap around you and lifted you from the water. You gasped in mouthfuls of air you felt like vomiting after drinking so much water. Your esophagus felt like it had water left there ready to spurt out if one was to push into your chest.

Someone held you close to them in what it seems to be a hug. Your head felt heavy and you let it rest on the person's shoulder. Whoever it was, you were thankful: drowning is not a comfortable way to die.

"____! ____! Don't sleep one me! You have to stay awake!" screamed a familiar voice right next to your ear causing your brain to throb painfully against your skull and a high pitched ring to echo in your eardrums.

"Naruto?" you rolled your head up to see Naruto's sharp blue eyes stare into your eyes. You rested your forehead against his. "Thank you for saving me."

"It's OK! I'll do anything for you because I love you!"

"Hm…." You were drowsy and you blacked out.

--- Time skip ---

You woke to everything white. 'So I did go to heaven. And I probably dreamt Naruto saved me and proposed his love for me. How sweet… such a nice way to die.' You snuggled deeper into the blanket. 'So heaven had blankets, pillows and beds. I thought it would have been made up of clouds but I guess that's only what children would think…' you took a deep breath and looked to your left to see a yellow mop.

'The have toys in heaven?' you thought to yourself fighting back a giggle. You reached out to grab the yellow mess to check out what type to toys heaven offered when the yellow thing, or Naruto's head as you could see now, popped up.

Naruto rubbed his eyes and drew you into a hug when he realized you had woken up. "____! You woke up!" you weakly reached up to wrap your arms around him. You wanted to do nothing more but rest your heavy head on your crush's shoulder. So heaven let you dream of your crush proposing to you and allow you to 'live' with them…

"I love you Naruto-kun…" you whispered.

Naruto tensed. 'Oh no,' you thought, 'maybe heaven doesn't allow you to have everything… maybe I'm asking for too much?'

"I love you too," Naruto let go off you.

You panicked. 'He's not leaving me is he?' Suddenly your life in heaven didn't seem so appealing anymore.

"I'm so glad you're alive… I wouldn't know what to do in a world without you… especially in volley ball… what will volleyball be without your enthusiasm?"

'I'm alive?' you thought. You laughed at yourself. 'So this isn't heaven but the hospital! What am I thinki-'

You thoughts were interrupted when soft lips brushed against yours. It wasn't long before you closed your eyes and enjoyed something more passionate.