"Talking out loud"

"Thoughts"

"Naruto talking with Kyuubi"

"Kyuubi"

The bright full moon stood high in the sky shedding its light on the quite village of Konoha. Everyone was asleep except for a selected few that guarded its gates, but other than them, in a dark alley was a boy with whisker-like scarred cheeks laid leaning on a wall.

The blue eyed teen sat on a dark and narrow alley bloodied and bruised. His hair was dirtied with dirt and dry blood covering the shiny blonde color that rivaled the sun. His clothes torn and filthy with his own blood and sweat and his body was filled with new bruises and cuts that quickly fitted in with his body's old scars. So many scars that one would have to wonder where he got them all.

"How long?" The boy asked his voice horse and husky from being silent all night long a moment passed before a dark and sinister voice filled the air.

"Impatient brat… just wait another moment and you'll be fine, although your bruises will take me another night at most to heal."

The voice was filled with annoyance but Naruto found the concern hidden underneath all the anger his invisible companion's response. Shaking his head gently, as to not bring pain to his already aching body Naruto stared up at the full moon, his usual bright blue eyes dull and lifeless, so empty, so sold, and so full of pain that was unusual for a boy of his age to bear.

"Not that Kyuubi…" Naruto said gently finding himself tired. Naruto closed his eyes and found himself in a familiar hallway, a large golden cage in front of him holding a power so great within. Naruto stared at the nine-tailed fox behind the bars a single eye looking down his bruised and bloodied form.

"What is it kit?"

Naruto almost smiled at the tender tone Kyuubi used on him. He found it strange that the Kyuubi he once hated turned out to be a great friend…a great brother.

"How long will I be able to stand this village I call home?"

"I will always be here for you Kit."

Naruto smiled at the comforting words Kyuubi said to him. The fox rarely expressed what he thought so for him to tell Naruto this, it was really comforting.

"Arigato Kyuu-nii."

Naruto chuckled at the amusement he saw dancing in the fox's eyes. During his travels with Jiraiya, Kyuubi and him got into an agreement. Kyuubi would willingly help Naruto in his times of need, whether to replenish his chakra, to heal his wounds, or to just sit there and quietly listen to Naruto when he let loose of his hidden emotions.

"You rarely call me that nowadays." Kyuubi mused. Naruto had called him Kyuu-nii by accident and since then Kyuubi became Naruto's over protective and caring big brother who hid behind a cold mask that only Naruto can see through. Kyuubi wouldn't allow anymore hurt to come by his kit. By staying with Naruto, he had learned so much more and although he wouldn't admit it, he had come to love his vessel as a family.

"I'm sorry..." Naruto said and passed through the golden bars that held his dear friend and brother. Once he entered one of Kyuubi's tail immediately wrapped around him and brought his to Kyuubi's side.

"What are you thinking about kit?"

Kyuubi asked when he saw Naruto staring right at him. Naruto smiled faintly and shook his head.

"It's nothing Aniki."

"Don't lie to me."

Naruto chuckled darkly, just an empty laugh before looking at Kyuubi in the eye. His eyes making the tailed beast wince at the pain filled orbs staring at him.

"I can't stand it anymore." Naruto started feeling the tear prickling behind his eyes before slowly cascading down his cheeks. Burying himself deeper into Kyuubi's side he continued. "I want to leave, but I can't!"

Kyuubi gently tightened his tails hold around Naruto comfortingly before pulling Naruto off and transferring him. Now Naruto stood in front of Kyuubi as tears continuously falling down his face.

"Are you sure you want to leave Kit? You have your friends and our comrades here in Konoha." Kyuubi asked

"…I don't have those anymore...not since…" Naruto asked his voice suddenly void of emotion but Kyuubi saw the sadness hidden beneath the anger and sighed, he knew what Naruto was talking about.

"Kit, if you want, I can take you to my home in the forest; there no one will hurt you anymore. There we can live peacefully, untouched by any other…but is this what you truly desire?" Kyuubi said while he gently wiped Naruto's face free of tears with his tail.

"Naruto, do you really want to leave this place you call home?" Kyuubi asked and silence echoed inside his cage.

"Think about it and when you're ready tell me and we will leave. But for now go back to your apartment and rest." Kyuubi said soothingly and Naruto nodded thankful for Kyuubi's understanding.

"Can't I just stay here?" Naruto asked too exhausted to go back and face the outside world where anyone can hurt him.

"You'll only make your condition worse and I already have enough to deal with. Now go. When we get there you can come back here and stay with me." Kyuubi ordered and Naruto nodded knowing better than to defy Kyuubi before closing his eyes.

Naruto opened them again and saw Kyuubi gone, the walls of the dark alley greeting his return from the seal. Naruto begrudgingly stood up and held in his scream of pain as his body protested in moving. Naruto limped back to his apartment before running back halfway when some of the villagers threw some rocks and bottles of sake straight him that he barely managed to dodge with him beaten body thankful when they didn't run after him.

Finally reaching the safety of his home, a rundown apartment, he walked through the creaking floor boards, passing through the graffiti filled walls…monster, demon freak…the list went on and on but he passed on ignoring the words written on them. He walked to the most damaged door, one that would have shattered and broken down years ago if not for the enforced and strengthening seals drawn on them. The room was clean and well-kept and bare. A door leading to a bedroom with single bed was placed near the window, a study table beside it. A closet was on the other side of the room besides a door leading to the bathroom. On the far side of the room was another door leading to a simple kitchen and dining table. He locked his front door and entered the bedroom. Not even bothering to change clothes Naruto slumped back on his bed before going back into the seal's dimension where Kyuubi sat waiting for him. Entering the cage once again Naruto leaned against Kyuubi's side sighing as the warmth from the fox's tails wrapped around him quickly falling into a restless sleep.

DREAM…(what happened earlier)

In the night, a single scream pierced through the sky, the voice was quickly silenced, the boy refusing to let his tormentors have the pleasure of hearing his pain. Biting his lip until blood was drawn he held back another scream as he heard a crack from his arm. He held it all in as the punches and kicks rained on him feeling more of his bones shattering and his skin tearing upon the impact of clubs, feet, and fists on his body.

"Monster!"

"Demon spawn!"

"Killer!"

"Freak!"

The name calling and hurtful words cut deeper than the wounds inflicted on his flesh. He felt blood welling as a hard kick broke his rib puncturing his lung. Blood was still flowing, soaking his clothes through his chaffed and open skin. He sobbed silently praying for the pain to end but it only got worse. He opened his eyes and stared as his precious people appear, he made for a grab at them thankful that the pain was about to end but he was thrown of as he grabbed the arm of his team mate.

"Don't touch me! Mom and Dad were right! You are a freak, a murderer!"

"No, I'm not! You know that! We're team mates!"

"We let you live long enough but you're usefulness has ended!"

"Kakashi-sensei…you don't meant that…you can't!"

He felt tears gathering in his eyes as more of his precious people came…Sai, Hinata, Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Lee, Tenten, Neji, Iruka, Gai, Kurenai, Asuma, Tsunade-baachan, Ero-senin, Shizune, they came and gathered around him, taunting, screaming, adding more to the pain than anyone else did. Slowly they faded but the pain lingered…so much pain…he opened his eyes and met onyx orbs staring at him with so much hate he winced. He reached out for him only to be brushed and pushed away…"

"Let go of me you idiot!"

"Sasuke…no"

"Time to die!"

"NOOO!"

END OF DREAM (back to present)

"..it!...Otouto!...NARUTO!"

His eyes snapped open, eyes wide at the memory of a glinting katana. Sweat ran down his forehead, tear was running down his face, panting and eyes glazed over as if he could still see and feel the phantom pain in his heart, right where the scar was placed, right on top of his heart where he was hit by a chidori meant to meant to kill him by his best friend years ago. He finally snapped out of it when he was carried and he looked up to see the eyes of his friend, partner, protector, his eternal companion, but most of his brother. The bright crimson eyes staring at him with such intensity, with such concern, and the gentle handling of the tails holding him, so different from the phantom pain of the dream brought new tears to his eyes.

"It was just a dream otouto…"

Sobs echoed in the chamber for a long time but it finally died down leaving small bouts of hiccups sounding in the cage. Kyuubi wrapped his tails securely on Naruto and place the boys on his side.

"Sleep otouto…

"I…hic…cant…"

"You need to rest. I will guard your dreams."

Naruto eyes refused to close and his body refused to relax, terrified of going through the dream again. Kyuubi silently sighed, cursing the village of Konoha for what they did to hit kit. He curled around the form of his kit and waited, soon exhaustion took over Naruto, his eyes closing falling into a dreamless sleep.

"Oyasumi Naruto…" Kyuubi growled back soothingly, tightening his hold on Naruto. Kyuubi silently healed Naruto's cuts, sprains, fractures, puncture wound and all the other remaining fatal wounds, leaving the bruises for last while fighting of the blonde's nightmare, brushing a hair or two that fell on Naruto's face.