Hello there,

here's my first story at fanfiction or I'd better say the first part of it. Italicized part are the direct thoughts of characters.

Darkness. He liked darkness. No, that's not exactly the word. The darkness fascinated him, frightened him but only when surround by it, he could feel tranquility, he could just disappear. Both darkness and his soul were filled with emptiness. That's why they matched perfectly. Inseparable. For life-and-death.

Formless nigritude has always been a voiceless witness of his solitude. To it had he confided his secrets, which he will never be able to talk about. Shame burns less in the darkness.

He felt firm but friendly grip on his shoulder. Itachi? He embraced arrived hand with his own. We're together, everything will be all right. From now on I will take care of you.

"Let's go home " one of his thoughts sounded stronger.

"We are home." The sound of worried voice has arisen him to the shores of consciousness. He was lying on wooden cot and above him he could see a blond crop of hair leaning towards him. He tried to comprehend the situation. It seemed he had been asleep and maybe even talked then. His hand still clung into fair-haired figure's hand.

Caught in a moment of defenseless. Deep blue eyes staring at him willfully. Whereas his own eyes opening wider and wider in a silent terror, the chin goes down turning his mouth into the shape of reverse U. Dudum – dudum –dudum it's his heart screaming loud in the grip of fear.

Minutes pass by. The time slowly creeps forward. Two existences are glaring at each other. In the end, lying body loosens up and its eyes put on their typical – inscrutable look.

The blond boy withdraws his hand from the other's shoulder. It seems that he understood just a little bit of what is happening now in the other's boy head.

He sits on shaky stool moved close to the bed. He lays his hand on his tights, spread them calmly, palms turn up, showing he has good intentions.

"I won't hurt you. I want to help you. " Oh, Naruto realized how terrible his own words must have sounded. Useless, meaningless phrases. No reaction from the another.

"So now, when you are finally with us, you'll see, everything'll be all right, I swear you that." he quickly poured out words after words feeling more and more uncomfortable. Why, oh why does he felt so embarrassed, while he should be the one controlling the situation, be strong and supportive for his friend.

"You'll see, this time I won't let you down…"

The laying boy slowly closed his eyes, it seemed it listened to this awkward, shy confessions. But maybe it is his interlocutor who wanted to believe that he had made a contact. The blond speak a long time to the temporarily calm body. How devastated it was. Emaciated shell hiding probably even more wasted mind.

Naruto observed his friend for a while. He worried about his condition, but deep inside ever since he got him back, he couldn't stop smiling. Everything became simpler. Naruto wasn't completely dumb. He realized there would be innumerable obstacles ahead of them, such that they cannot even imagine. THEM. Together they will make it. And today's meeting, although proceeding like always, seemed to foretell positive changes.

"I'll visit you again. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the next days too. Always. And when they let you out, I'll take care of you."

He stood up to leave. When he reached the door he knocked as to they open for him. He was constantly turning his head to Sasuke in hope to see any reaction from him, but only the raven's anxious look accompanied him to the exit.

...

[Two months earlier]

"Hey, Sakura-chan, let me invite you for ramen. It's my treat!"

Naruto and his friend were heading to their houses after a long tiring day. Like always they trod the same path in the labyrinth of narrow streets and like always the boy was trying hard to use that time to receive attention from beautiful kunoichi. However he never really succeeded.

Sakura had stopped getting irritated with her clumsy admirer a long tome ago. What was happening now had become a part of their daily routine, a form of private comedy understood only by the two of them. As long as they carry on with this game, each of them could make sure everything was in the right place and their team mate was in a good mood.

"Ramen again. Couldn't you be more creative once for a while?"

The cheerful banter continued as they approached Ichiraku's . The night had already fallen, loud groups of customers flocked before the stall lit with paper lanterns. All around in the air one could sense a delicious smell – a promise of the best ramen in the village. Was there anyone capable of not succumbing to the temptation? Surely not two young tired ninjas after a day of hard work.

When their orders arrived suddenly Naruto just lost all interest in his female friend. He gobbled up two bowls. Finally after he ate his fill he was able to set his mind on what was going around him. It was when he realized that he drew attention far more than usually. That surprised him – was there something on his face? The blond turned to Sakura to ask her that but noticed her reaction on being in the limelight – she was red faced! Oh , now he understood. Ichiraku's customers must think they're a couple. In their eyes, two ninja were a pair of beautiful young people experiencing great feelings.

Although it wasn't quite true, Naruto felt manly pride of his would-be girlfriend fill his veins. Should he do something? How about holding hands? Is it a live threatening challenge in case of Sakura? Just like a hunting predator creeps for their prey, he's slowly moving his hand towards the girl...

"Don't try anything stupid unless you want me to teach you a lesson " the girl hissed into his ears. What the hell? Is thoughts reading a part of women' s intuition?

"He he, well… you know.. pass me the soy souse."

"Hello guys, what a meeting. Can I join? " The salvation from embarrassing situation came in the shape of Captain Yamato. However the rescue had its price. It was exactly 630 ryos while that esteemed ninja, liable, mature sempai, Yamato was commonly known to be, shamelessly manipulated the teen to make him pay.

"Alarming news comes from other villages " he continued with anxiety in his eyes. "There wasn't much time we could enjoy the peace, and now it may start all over again… Well, well sorry, I'd better not bring up anything sad. So, how about you? How long have you been going out together guys, he?"

Betrayal! Why did you do his to me, captain? Jounin's words gave Naruto red face like he would be teen-year-old boy punished by a teacher to work with a girl. The blond scratched his hindhead in a way he always do when trying to cover the nerves. Then he blundered out:

"What? I and Sakura? Stop kidding, with her? " His voice intended to show surprise but it sounded rather as the idea of being together with the kunoichi disgusted him.

Sakura, in contrary to her image of mature, responsible girl (at least when compared to the stupid blond), also reacted quite emotionally. You couldn't guess if she was actually embarrassed, furious about the way Yamato made fun of them or at Naruto who just transformed from quiet admirer into a brat ashamed of his female friend. Somebody just need to be thought a lesson!

...

Naruto was coming home through park. He made summing-up of the day: 1 finished mission, 3200 ryos gone, 1 offended girl, 1 offended sempai – well at least it would be easier with him. He skipped counting up the bruises – that didn't concern him at all while the beast would heal him through the night.

He reached his house, dragged his tired body on the forth floor and sought the key in his pocket. He was one minute and a wooden door before spreading in comfortable bed, sleeping to the noon and messing around while tomorrow it would be his day off. At evening – of course ramen. And that's all what happiness is. Geez, He didn't understand people constantly searching for it whereas it lays at one's foot just waiting to be pick up.

The lockdoor creaked. Sunk in the thoughts Naruto entered, threw off a jacket onto the floor, not troubling to put it in a hanger.

But then sudden grip of fear put him on alert. Shit, something's wrong here. His whole body tensed in anticipation. Shit, light chakra signature informed Naruto that an uninvited guest has apparently paid him a visit.

Thanks for all of you who stayed with me till the end of the chapter :)