I watched them. It was a strange encounter. The most popular boy in that grade had ran into the outcast. All they did I was look at each other, then contemplate their situation, before going on with their lives. As different as their situations may be, they are the same. They both wished to be acknowledged. Although I hardly know their background, their eyes have the same look. It was frightening how the look was on the face of a child instead of an adult. They walked past each other and continued on. But I continue to watch the boy who was an outcast. He stopped walking after a few feet and looked back at the other boy. They expression on his face was strange. Then he turned around and continued on his way.

My best friend landed beside me. Without looking, I can feel his stare. I glanced down the street toward the back of the other boy. I knew what he wanted without even asking.

"Don't worry," I said. "I will look over him."

He didn't say anything. All he did was looked at me in the eyes as if he was trying to look into my soul. He was always like this, silent and calculating. But, he was the type who would go to extremes to protect someone. He finally looked away and then left me on the roof tops. Although I consider him my best friend, I don't know what I am to him.

I haven't seen him for a few weeks now and just yesterday, news of the massacre of a dominate clan in the village spread like wildfire. Apparently, all but one member of the clan survived. The survivor was the boy from a few weeks ago with haunting eyes. He's currently at the hospital in a coma. Rumors said that a prominent member of the Uchiha clan had rebelled and killed their own kin. Actually, it was a fact for higher ranked shinobis. Only that boy survived because he had arrived at the compound after the massacre had occurred. The coma he was in is said to be self-induced when the boy had witnessed his own brother killing his entire clan.

I opened the door to the boy's room. Hanging on the frame of the bed, the clipboard stated his name, Uchiha Sasuke. That was a name everybody should've heard at least once. He was the second child of Lord and Lady Uchiha. His brother was well known enough. We worked together several times, once upon a time. I looked at him as he laid there in his comatose state. It's funny how they bore a resemblance to each other. Of course, they were brothers. I changed the water of the flowers in the vase. Not many people had visited him besides me. It would be a shame if he never woke up.

I put my hand on his forehead and reached into his conscious. I found him wrapped up with feelings of betrayal, hurt, and vengeance. A boy, not even near adult hood has already developed those evil feelings. As a child, he should not be experiencing this.

Wait, why am I thinking like I'm older than him? We are about the same age and yet I'm thinking like I'm not a child myself. I brushed these thoughts aside and reached into his conscious again.

'You should wake up,' I thought. 'You're not getting any stronger laying here in bed. This self-induced coma is pathetic.'

Maybe he heard me but I felt him stir. I brushed his hair aside and waited. He should wake up soon. I ran my hand through his hair and smiled when his breathing changed. Onyx eyes met scarlet ones. I brush his hair away from his eyes before leaving.

I left the hospital without anybody seeing me. I headed home. There were no missions today so there's no rush. The streets were close to empty. It seems like dinner time have claimed most of the usual people who were roaming the streets. I passed by a civilian shop and stared at my reflection. Scarlet eyes stared back. I took in my reflection and sigh. A child of a demon, which was what people, claimed me to be. My silver hair contrasted with my unusual tan skin. My scarlet eyes completed the demonic image. On nights like this, they glow like embers in the dark.

I looked away from my reflection and continue on home. I wasn't surprised when I found spray paint all over my apartment door. Standing in front of it was him. He was still wearing his hat signifying who he was. He turned toward me and gave me the kind smile he had for everyone. Rarely do I ever see him angry.

"I must say, those kids should know that they are spray painting Yurichi's property." He smiled. I walked up to him and focused on the paint. Then I drew out the earth from them to take the paint off. After all, the paint consisted of earth which gives it its color.

"Don't worry about it." I said tossing the controlled earth over the balcony. All that was left of the paint was the water that stained the wooden walls.

"I see," he mused. "Miyuki is cooking tonight. Why don't you come over for dinner?"

I didn't say anything. I knew from experience that some things were questions. He chuckled and begun to walk.

"I'm going to leave you behind if you don't catch up." He said. I caught up to him in seconds.

When we got outside the neighborhood he lived in, he told me to go ahead. Just because people were not in town don't mean that they were not out in the neighborhood.

The stares were there as always. Hushed voices always surround me whenever I came here. I knew I was not welcomed. I was just a stray dog the Hokage decided to pick up on the side of the street one day. The only good thing was that I proved myself to be useful. Only on his request would I become the perfect tool, but he had never requested me as such. Maybe that's why Konoha is peaceful.

I walked toward a gate of one of the houses and opened the gate. I closed it behind me and entered the house. I was surprised when a saw a pair of shoes that didn't looked like it belonged to the Sarutobis. It was smaller than Miyuki's shoes and I knew there was no way it was Konohamaru's. I took off my sandals and set them aside neatly. Then I walked in. I slide open the screen that separate the hall way from the dining room. There was already someone sitting at the table besides the usual faces. It was that strange boy from weeks ago.

"Kira!" said Miyuki walking into the room with a giant hot pot in her hands. "I'm so glad you can make it. This is Uzumaki Naruto. Ojii-sama invited him."

I stared at him. He was dirty and he did nothing but sat at the table staring at his hands. His clothes were old and there were small scratches and bruises everywhere on him. The expression he had on his face was complex. A mixture of sadness, confusion and anger were all there. I walked up to him and tapped is knuckle. He looked down at me from his seat. Confusion filled his eyes but his facial expression stayed the same. I took on of his hands and opened his fists. Then I put my hand in his and tug on his arm.

"We should clean up before we eat." I said slowly leading him away from the table. I felt Miyuki watching us as we left the room.

I took him to the restroom and sat him down on a small foot stool. Then I filled a brass basin with warm water and grabbed a wash towel. Then I began by wiping his face. I noticed small distinct lines on his cheeks. I ignored them and continued to wipe the dirt off his face. He winced whenever I was a little rough on the bruises so I made sure to be careful. Then I began wiping his arms and hands.

"You know," I started as I carefully wipe down the scabs he had on his elbows. "Miyuki-sama is a very good cook. I don't know anyone else that can cook better than her."

He didn't respond. Honestly, I knew he didn't care about what I had to say. His eyes had turned dead like his expression.

"And Hokage Ojii-sama is really nice. He took care of me ever since I first met him. But right now, I don't need him to look after me anymore. I can look after myself."

I was done with his hands when I realized how dirty his feet were. I changed the basin of water and rehashed his hands before starting on his feet.

"You know, I've seen you around. You're like me. People in this village do not like us."

He looked up at me when he heard this. Those eyes, I recognized the look in them. They were similar to the onyx eyes from earlier. The loneliness in them was so much greater. I finished cleaning him and put up the basin and put the wash towel in the hamper. Then I helped him up and put the foot stool where it belonged.

"My name is Kira. I hope we can be friends."

We walked back to the dining room. Oji-sama had arrived and was waiting for us.

"Now that everybody's here, why don't we get started?" he chuckled.

Once again, I took his hand and unfurled his fists. Once again, I put my hand in his. Then we left the house of Sandaime Hokage-sama.

"I'll take you home." I said to the boy. "Where do you live at?"

"I don't have a home." He said quietly looking down at the stone street. I looked at him as he dropped his hands and it fell to his side. Once again, I took his hand and begun to unfurl his fists once more.

"Come." I said leading him down a street.

The night was young but that didn't stop people from looking at us with those hated eyes. I could feel them just as he can. They only reason they do not say anything is because of me. Even among the civilians, they know not to ever mess with a ninja of any caliber, especially someone who is considered a demon among shinobis. Without even to have seen my face, they knew to watch out for any child that has silver hair and tan skin.

When I arrived at my apartment, I opened the door and lead the boy inside. I locked the door behind me and took him to the bathroom.

"You can take a shower. I have some clothes that may fit you." I said.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked just when I was about to close the door.

"Because we are friends."

I pulled out some of my pants and some tees. I heard the water running in the bathroom so I walked in the place the clothes on counter along with a clean towel. On the other hand, I got ready for bed. I sat in the living room waiting for him to get out of the shower. Soon the door opened and he came out with his hair dripping wet. He was wearing the clothes I prepared for him. I grabbed a clean towel and begin drying his hair.

"You're going to catch a cold." I said. "So I thought about it. Why don't you stay with me? I don't want to hear you say that you don't have a home. And it's dangerous to stay out at night."

There was silence once again. One word slipped from his lips.

"Why?"

My hands stopped moving. They automatically came to a rest on his shoulders. Why? That was a question that I would like to ask myself. Usually I wouldn't even bother. So why have I asked him to stay? Then, my lips seemed to move on its own.

"Pretending to be strong will not make the whispers stop."

I took a step back and turn away.

"You can take the bed tonight. You are the guest after all."