Not another AU fic! Oh no!
Oh well, this is a good one, and for once it ISN'T ANGST! No wai, me? NOT angst? Kankurou? Gasp!
...Enjoy!
"Where do you go at night?" The man asked, his dark brown hair hanging in his face, worry lines and bags under his eyes clearly visible in the dim light provided by a refrigerator that was being raided by a teenager.
"None of your business," the teenager, who looked distinctly like the man, replied. He sighed heavily and closed the door, sealing off the light. "Why the hell don't we ever have food, here, eh?"
"I wouldn't know, Kankurou. Maybe if you'd get a job and help me out, we would have something."
"It's not my fault mom took the car and the cash an' we got stuck with the shitty house!"
"Don't drag that into this. This is about you, Kankurou. Now answer me: Where do you go at night?"
"And I'll tell you again! None... Of your goddamn… Business."
"Oh please. Spare me that, and just tell me the truth, for once."
"Okay, I go into a dark alley, do cocaine, then get molested by Ronald McDonald. I'm going to bed."
"Kankurou, you come home every night smelling like smoke and booze and God knows what else. I'm worried about you, can't you see that?"
"Well, don't be. I'm sixteen, dad. I can take care of myself!" And with that, Kankurou ran up the stairs and into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Jeez," sighed Yondaime, running a hand through his hair, "That boy… This has to stop." He walked back to his own room and sat down on the bed.
"Maybe if he lived with his mother a while… But no, I can't call Karura. She and Gaara have enough to deal with…" He put his head in his hands, obviously deep in thought. "But wait… There is one place he can go…" A smile played across his lips. "Yes. I'll call him in the morning."
-La la la-
The next day at school, Kankurou fumbled with his locker combination. "Stupid thing…" He slammed his fist on it and it creaked open.
"Hey, Kank." A tall boy with long, dark hair approached him. He was wearing black trousers and a pinstriped coat over a black collared shirt, with a small blue rose pin attached to the lapel of the coat. His hair was held in a ponytail at the base of his neck.
"What's up, Shika?" Kankurou said, straightening up. He was wearing similar clothing: a pair of grey trousers, a black collared shirt, and a pinstriped tie with a small violet rose pin attached to it.
"Not much. Tenten told me she's bringin' a new girl to the club tonight."
"I dunno if I can go," Kankurou replied, picking up his books and slamming the locker. "My dad's been real weird about me going out every night. Thinks I'm committing felonies or somethin'."
"Damn. That's bullshit." They began walking down the hallway.
"Well if you didn't smoke a pack after every set…"
"Hey, hey. Don't blame me for this… My folks are too busy fighting with each other to even notice when I leave… Or when I come back four hours later smelling like booze."
"So?"
"So at least your dad cares."
"Psh. He just doesn't wanna lose me like he lost mom and Gaara."
"Mm. Hey, you ever miss them?"
"Hell naw. She's a bitch and he's a little freak. My dad's a bit better."
"Yeah, I guess. I hope if mine split up I get to live with dad. Mom's a megabitch."
"Tell me about it. Alright, see you at lunch."
"Yeah." Shikamaru grinned and strode to the back of the science lab. Kankurou kept walking to the end of the hallway towards the English room.
"You're late," the teacher said, without looking up from the book he was reading.
"Sorry, Mr. Hatake. My locker wouldn't open. Again."
"Always excuses with you. Siddown and prepare for an overload of Edgar Allen Poe."
"Sweet," came a mutter from the back.
"Shut yer trap and read, Uchiha!" Mr. Hatake snapped.
"Yes sir."