Wunderlindia: "H-heeeeey, erm, people. Sorry I didn't update, I honestly didn't mean to make you all suffer so long... sorry. So, uhm, please enjoy, this chapter, thats almost two months late... yerp."

I do not own Naruto, well, I mean, if I did, then the entire universe would probably be full of abuse and hot yaoi smex... and well, Masashi Kishimoto is a genius, I'm merely a rip off.

Skikaku Nara POV

The small waif that his son had been friends with for awhile, was….strange to say the least. He was dirty, well that was to be expected, but it seem intentional, the jacket that lie on the table was dark, something that probably helped when he'd pull the tricks his mother and he had been so very found of. My eyes practically melted when I saw just how nervous he was the blue eyes that held shadows, ones that no child should have, the eyes that just couldn't keep eye contact. His hair was long and shaggy, it looked as if it hadn't been cut for a couple years, falling almost to his shoulders in uneven waves, it's bright yellow colour dulled to a mousy brown by the use of dry dirt, the colour one that belonged to one of my best friends hidden to avoid being recognized. Being that I'd arrived while the bandages were being taken off, I knew that it was for necessity, but that's just it, why should this be necessity?

'He's just a child.'

I could also see the meticulous cleanliness, one that was telling. It was something that you could glance over, I could see it his desire to be cleancleanclean, but instead all he got was painpainredredred and all I wanted to do was murder the bastard that had done this. He was also tiny. Not to say that it wasn't expected, they'd never been that tall, but at this age, malnutrition was the only explanation, and he should've been being fed by the orphanage, or given a fund monthly for food till he was able to take missions, I mean, for the Log's sake, he barely came to Shikamaru's shoulder, and I was well aware that Shika was not very tall at all. 'He has her face.' I realized, the overall femininity of his features just reaching me, actually, he could've been mistaken as a girl, it wouldn't surprise me. As I gazed upon this child bowing before me, wanting us not to take action for the wrongs being dealt to him, I felt a crushing feeling of failure. This village that he'd loved, had failed his own son, and I hadn't even known he'd had a son.

Before I knew it, I was bowing before him, this tiny foundling. "Sumimasen. I will not arrest those responsible, I apologize for pressing on this matter."

Uzumaki Naruto POV

I was shocked. But had easily found the loophole, and honestly I didn't mind, he wasn't arresting them publicly for their crime, and he wasn't lying to me. I was more shocked that he'd bowed to me, no matter how clear the guilt and sadness in his expression had been clear, this was not something I'd ever imagined he'd do. I realized that my lip had been drawn into the sharp edges of my teeth when Shika sighed again, this time exasperated at my completely predictable action. Startled, I realized that Shikaku-dono was still bowing and bowed in turn, "N-Nara-dono, please don't bow… um, no apology was needed? I mean it was…." I trailed off as I started rambling, Shikaku-dono stood back up , and I followed. He had a scary glint in his eye, one that made me wary. "Oh? And I don't believe I've properly introduced myself, my name's Nara Shikaku, please just call me Shikaku, no need for formality." I blinked, then scrambled to introduce myself. "A-ah. My name is Uzumaki Naruto, nice to meet you, Shikaku-dono." I couldn't resist adding the honorific, and I swear I saw his eye twitch, making me cackle internally.

I saw Shika shake his head at me as he strolled over to me, patting my head as he got closer. Yoshino-sama had walked up to the space beside Shikaku-dono and when my focus shifted back to them, she decided to introduce herself. "Maa maa, Uzumaki-chan, no need to tease my husband, my name is Nara Yoshino, incase you hadn't figured. And please just call me Yoshino, as well." I bowed to her in respect. Once I was standing straight again, it was slightly awkward for me, the three Nara staring at me as I wondered if I'd be able to escape Shika's inevitable overprotective mother hen reaction having me stay the night. "Ru-chan," I turned to my best friend who stood next to me "You will be staying here. Indefinitely." I blinked, surprised at the fact he'd truly meant it, he really wnted me here, forever, then shook my head "No I'm not." He pushed his face closer to mine, irritation showing in his furrowed brow, the glint I'd learn meant that he would not take no as an answer, and then, when he spoke, his voice held the cold protective edge that was honestly terrifying. "Yes, you are. You will even if I have to lock you in the house."

My eyes slid to the adult pair who actually radiated approval, though, Yoshino-sama had a predatory look in her eyes. Steering my thoughts from the odd mother, I turned back to Shika, only to be caught in a death trap. 'That's just not fucking fair.. foul play I declare!' He'd pulled the trump card. The kicked puppy begging eyes. His normally sharp or bored eyes were now shining, the pupils dilated and his lips were pulled into a pout. I looked down as soon as I could, but it was too late, I'd been defeated. "S-shika, s-stop that! F-fine, I'll s-stay, but stop." I could practically feel his grin as he pat my head again. "I win." Fighting the urge to jab him in the side I narrowed my eyes at him. I would not be forgetting this anytime soon, 'Watch your back Shika.'

My inner cackling and plots of vengeance were interrupted by Yoshino-sama ushering us out of the room, toward a doorway in the hall. I could smell the lemon products used in the room as we left the kitchen, was already resigning myself to my fate as the door opened to reveal a pristine bathroom. "Now then, time for a bath boys." Shika sighed in false exasperation, and I just sorta stood there, trying to work up the courage to undress, not wanting them to see just how extensive the scarring was. Apparently, I'd spaced out, because Yoshino-sama and Shika were staring at me "Ru?" Shika looked concerned. My face warmed in embarrassment. "Oh, u-uhm, s-sorry… i- uh I s-spaced out a-a little.." Shika gave me a searching look, but soon turned away to undress and rinse off, wrapping a towel around his waist, Yoshino-sama however, she stood in front of me with a gentle, but sad look in her eyes. "Ru-kun? Would you mind terribly if I stayed to wash your backs?" Her voice was submissive, as if I would snap any second, but I didn't exactly mind, it was… calming? "Yo-Yoshino-sa-sama, I, I, I am not very, uhm, comfortable u-und-d-dr-ressing, -ttbane…" I saw her eyes sadden at the sound of the verbal tick, and mentally I kick myself for letting it happen. "Ru-kun, it's okay, Shika-chan won't look, it will be just us." She attempted to placate my worries.

I wrung my hands, nervous, my teeth once again abusing my lips. 'She has that look, the that Shika had gotten when I said couldn't show him my house. Suspicious... sad...' "H-hai, Yoshino-sama… ttebane" I slipped off the singlet again, and then undid the string that was wound around my waist. Grasping the sturdy material in my had so it wouldn't fall, I looked once more to the Naras in the room. Yoshino-sama had averted her eyes politely and Shika's back was to us as he scrubbed at his hair. I grabbed a small towel, and before I let my pants drop, I tied it 'round my hips. I now stood with only a towel preventing my nudity, my arms crossed in front of my stomach and eyes turned to the ground. "Yo-yoshino-s-sama.. uhm, wh-what do I do now, ttebane..?" Her gaze focused on me as I quietly inquired on my next course of action. "Ru-kun.. have you… have you never bathed?" She was slightly incredulous, and sounded so heartbroken, and, well, I tried what I thought was best, y'know, damage control...y'know...

"W-well, i-it is i-in a p-place s-so w-well, uhm, sophisticated..?" I trailed off as her gaze got sadder, 'I, how do I fix this? Fuck! I am not prepared for this! Fuck!' My internal panic was interrupted by being engulfed in warmth 'er, le wut?' She, was hugging me. "Yoshino-sama! D-don't, you-, you'll g-get d-dirty!" I struggled against her hold, uncomfortable with the concept of such a loving touch. "Naruto….. I'm so sorry, so sorry…" her grip grew tighter around me, and I settled for hesitantly placing my arms around her. 'She's, why is she touching me?!' I shook with anxiety… my motion was restrained, I was, caged, caged, 'caged... let me out... oh, oh, please, let me out of this trap! Tasukete! Tasukete kudasai! Stop that! Painpainpain..'

"Stop. Stopstopstopstopstopstopstop." She had immediately let go, but I couldn't breathe, I fell to my knees, my arms were crossed on my chest, by my hands were at my neck, clawing at invisible hands. The room blurred, bright spots clouded my vision. I heard static… no, it was the deafening silence. My throat ached, hot, burning, the feeling of bruises under irritated bug bites. I was back in that alley, the smell of metal filling my senses. And, and the pain. 'Pain! I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. Make it stop. Please! I can't take all this redredredredredredred. I can't breathe! It's filling my lungs! Tasukete.. tasukete.. kudasai…save me…'

"-u.. Ru.. Ru?.. Ru!... Naruto!" My ears cleared. Someone, was calling for me? A warm hand pulled at mine. My left arm froze. Another hand grasped the captured right arm. Small. Barely marred. Nails cut neatly. Short. "Ru." His voice was steady. "…ka?... shika.." a hand left my arm to gently lead my left arm away. "Its over Ru. I have you. You are safe." I took in a shuttering breath. "Sa…fe? I… I-I-I…." My vision cleared. I had backed into a corner, Yoshino-sama had backed away, and assumed a submissive stance. Shika was in front of me, his eyes looking into me, full of gentle sadness. I looked down at our hands. He had a hold of my wrists, not daring to touch my bloody fingers. But, he wasn't restraining me, it was like… he was encouraging me not to move… not forcing me not to. "I'm sorry." He blinks, "For, for overreacting, for-f-for, for for." I was pulled into his shoulder. "Ru, everything is okay now. Breathe." I took in air.

Yoshino slowly crept forward, but, even so, I flinched as she reached for me. Shika hummed, a slow sound, familiar. "…'m s'rry.." A hand stroked my shoulder. Soft, but muscled, callused. "Yoshino-dono, I apologize." She merely patted my shoulder blade. A gentle, understanding touch. A mother's touch. We sat there for a few minutes. My head resting on my best friend's collarbone as he held my bloody hands humming a slow tune from a past I thought I'd forgotten as his mother slowly stroked a comforting pattern on my shoulder. Yoshino let out a quiet cough, "Well boys, I suppose we should clean up, hm?" She sighed, as if she was asking us to go run around the village, "You can leave Okaa-san, I'll handle this." The hand left me, and a small breeze let me know she'd gotten up, then the quiet slide 'swish' of the door sounded. "Ru. It's time to wash up. Are you ready?" Strange question, yes, but I knew what he meant. Was I ready? To forgive myself? To take time to recover? 'Do I deserve this chance?' I sat up on my heels, and looked my friend in the eyes. "Y-yes."

Wunderlindia:

Well, thank you all for reading this, even though i should've uploaded it a long time ago. And before someone starts a pissing match about the behaviors shown thus far, this is centered around a man who did things that would get allot of the world's population sent to an asylum, and then, is taken from a piece of innocence that he'd taken to love, and sent to a new life, knowing he'd never be able to see what he'd sworn to protect, and then becomes one Uzumaki Naruto, a pariah, who I've portrayed as extremely abused in more ways than one, and he's also in a child's body, full of different feelings and hormones, ones that he'd never experienced before, (which will most definitely be explained later), so he developed a coping mechanism, self harm, aka his compulsive mutilation. I have plans regarding that too, so yep. Buuuuut, i do have something i would like your guys' input on. Ships. Yerp. Ships. I want your ideas, but keep in mind, this is a yaoi fic, the protagonist in only interested in males. So give me your reasoning for your otp and put it all in a review, this'll be taken into account, and you have plenty of time to make your case, as at this time, the main characters are 8.

Seeya next time.