Chapter 2

I was their entertainment. My suffering made them smile and brought them closer as a family. It was sickening, seeing them smirk as I got the life beaten out of me but it wasn't like I could do anything. A fist to the face here and knocking me senseless there, it was the story of my life. And strangely enough I got use to it.

It was the day of my 16 birthday and I was surprised with a morning thrashing. Thrown against the wall, my body tensed as Akane's laughter filtered the room. Her son, Sasori, gave me another good kick in the stomach before returning to the kitchen table.

I had prepared the family a ham and cheese omelet. To my eyes, the eggs looked inviting as my mouth watered for a morsel but before my fingers reached to take a bite, Akane had caught me in the act. The eyes that stared at me were blood shot and I could see her anger targeted right at me.

That's when everything went wrong. My morning was supposed to start off calm with only a little insult coming my way, but I got myself in trouble. I had tried to eat with out permission and now I lay on the floor. My body so limp I could hardly stand.

Although, my eyes opened to see Sasori's foot in the air as he was about to crush me. I didn't know what body part he was targeting but I shut my eyes in fear.

"Sasori…" His foot was halted as it hovered above my hand. Sasori faced his mother with a questioning look. "Don't crush his fingers. You know how I don't want any of you hurting his fingers."

It was on impulse that I curled my hand into a fist, coiling my arm against my chest. She saved me this time but I knew to well it was only for her benefit. If anything, she would want to see me cry, suffer and beg for mercy. That was the evil person that she was but I was still happy.

Aside from the foot that redirected itself to my ribs, crushing me further into the ground and making me grunt in pain, I was still smiling inside because I knew I was going to get out of this house in 10 minutes.

10 minutes seemed like hell to me but after all the beatings have been made and I'm out of the house, that's where I could spend 10 hours away from home. Which meant 10 hours away from Akane but not from Sasori and Deidara. No, that would be too much of a luxury to me and that was out of the question in her eyes.

Gripping my throbbing stomach, I breathed heavily as I got to my knees. I had to do the dishes and quickly. The school bus was coming in 5 minutes and if I didn't get them done, I would be staying home from school. That was one of Akane's little punishments for me but I made sure I did them quickly.

With a small smile, I had them done in 4 minutes and I packed up quickly to leave. I made sure the Uchiha three-o went out the door first. Like my daily routine, after getting weird stares and menacing comments from other students, I sat at the back of the bus while the Uchiha three-O was far away from me, sitting way in the front. They didn't acknowledge my existence but it was to be expected. It wasn't like anything was going to change between us. I was the servant and they were my punishers.

Although, through my childhood years of beatings and torture, some hope had shined before me. Orochimaru had passed away when I turned 10. How he died was none of my concern but I knew it was a blessing in disguise but as for Akane.

Well it wasn't to good for them or for me. It seemed like Orochimaru's money wasn't instated in his will and Akane didn't get his money. So the family was forced to move out of their estate and into a small, one story home. I had followed of course but, when I had turned 15, I had earned them enough money for a 2-story house.

You would think they would appreciate me more now that they live in some luxury but I was wrong. The money I had earned them wasn't enough for them to stop with the brutal beatings. Instead, Akane only found it in herself to protect my precious fingers.

Arriving at school, I made my way to the classroom where I usually kept to myself. I would either draw some sort of cartoon or lay my head down to rest. It was the usual thing but this morning was different.

I had raised my head to see Sasuke sitting in the front of the classroom. Usually we weren't left alone in the same room and he would always come when the summoning bell had rung, but now he sat there. He didn't look at me or anything but sat as he usually did.

My legs tapped profusely, eagerly wanting to stand up and talk to him but I was too afraid. My body automatically denied my desire and kept me plastered on my seat.

After remembering the time I had been discovered in the pantry with Sasuke years ago. I didn't ever want to be near him. My whole body would tremble in his presence, feeling the pain that was inflicted on me. The punishment left me with new scars and emotional distress that would never be repaired. I was a wreck after what Akane had done to me but at least I was alive.

But that time in the pantry made me discover something new. When Sasuke had given me those cookies I found out that not everyone in the family hated me. As long as one person worried about me then my life with the Uchiha's wasn't all that bad.

Sasuke gave me some hope and my hands pressed on the table to push myself on my feet. But I hesitated. It wasn't out of fear but it was the sight of Sasuke standing up. He was headed toward my direction and my eyes shifted toward my hands. With my heart racing, I concentrated on my hands. I was a wuss but just the sight of Sasuke coming toward me made a chill run up my spine.

"Hey Naruto." His voice was delicate just like the time in the pantry. With his hands deep in his pocket, Sasuke put on a warm smile as my eyes peered upon him.

"H-Hey."

He took a seat in front of me. The simple gesture made it seemed like we were old friends having a regular conversation.

His shoulders were slump as he casually looked at me. "So how are you? Are you hungry or anything? I could get you something in the cafeteria."

I waved my hands from side to side. "N-No! You don't have to! I'm not hungry at all!"

"Are you sure?" He raised a brow as a gurgle of my stomach came to ear. The sound was embarrassing as I quickly grasped my stomach in attempt to cease such a sound.

"Y-Yeah. I'm okay."

He laughed a little. "You're an idiot Naruto." He playfully teased. It was so funny how in denial he was but it was to be expected. After searching in his pocket for half a second, Sasuke lent out a closed fist in front of him. "Here."

Just like how we were little, Sasuke opened his hand and laid before me was 2 Oreo cookies. But unlike our childhood, I didn't take it and ravaged on the cookies, instead I just stared at it.

"Don't you want it?"

I shrugged. "I'm not supposed to eat anything today."

"That's stupid Naruto. What my mother does to you is stupid. I hate her! You shouldn't deserve all this and if I could I would—"

"Get away!!" I hissed with eyes of fear. "Just get away Sasuke!"

"Why?"

"You're brothers are coming."

"What?" Sasuke turned his head toward the door and like Naruto had said, Sasori and Deidara entered the classroom. From what Sasuke had heard, they weren't supposed to even be here.

"What are you doing Sasuke? Mom said you're not supposed to even be talking to the thing and now your feeding it." Snatching the cookies from Sasuke's hand, Sasori lifted Sasuke out of his seat, pulling him by the collar. "I know how much mom babies you but not this time Sasuke." Sasori shoved him away from me as if I was some kind of virus.

When he looked at me I looked away like an obedient thing. To everyone I wasn't alive anymore. I was some insignificant dirt to order around and gladly enough I took it. I just wanted them to leave and if I was obedient enough they would, but not this time. Sasori grabbed a handful of my hair, directing my gaze toward him.

"You want me to tell my mother that you talked to little Sasuke?" He threatened.

"N-No."

"Then hear me you little bastard. If you even take food from him or even look at him, you're dead." He let me go, crumbling the cookies upon my desk before leaving.

I stared at the bits of food, dusting it off my desk as hunger grabbed on to me. For 3 days I only had water to drink and now I was getting hungry.

I looked toward Sasuke who sat in the front row. I stared at the back of his head for a long while, the distance between us farther then I expected it to be.

"Naruto?" Sasuke had said, not turning toward me.

"Y-Yeah."

"Can you come here?"

"S-Sure." I was hesitant but soon enough I listened and stood in the front of his desk. Smiling up at me, Sasuke took my hand and faced my palm toward the ceiling. After a second had pass a paper bag was placed in my hands but I refused it. I just didn't want to get in trouble.

"N-No. That's okay Sasuke. I don't need anything."

Sasuke insisted. "Take it."

"I can't."

"Naruto." He warned, his smile fading away. "Just take it and hide it in your bag."

Without any choice I took it and sighed. From looking at the paper bag I knew what was in it. I didn't need to open it to see what it contained because I was the one that made it.

Waking up at 5 in the morning I made cupcakes, rice, pork chops and a piece a cake for Sasuke and the others to bring to school. I couldn't eat this but by the looks of it, Sasuke didn't want me to go against his wishes. So I nodded and went back to my seat.

At that time, as I put the lunch into my bag, my heart lightened. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders because I knew. That at least one person…one angel was looking out for me.

School was over and the fingers that Akane had protected were going to be put to work. Standing beside me was Sasuke but we didn't say a word to each other as the teacher stood in front of us. We were the only ones in the room but the watchful eyes of Sasori and Deidara was near, sitting in the back as they waited for our lesson to end.

"Naruto go into the 14th position while Sasuke stay at the 6th." Tayuya instructed as we complied. Lifting the bow in the precise manor, my eyes glanced at Sasuke who was having trouble. I wanted to help but the eyes that laid on me prevented me to do so.

"Sasuke how many times do I have to tell you as to where to place your fingers." Tayuya was a rough teacher and she reluctantly fixed Sasuke's position while I waited. I heavily rested the left side of my jaw on the chinrest of my violin. I treasured this item that Akane had bought me but like always, I paid for it with pain and sweat.

"So here we go. Let's get in position and start." We straightened up and played. Ever since I had started playing I loved it. It was like the music freed me from the horrors of my life and my mind eased with the melody that I was creating. Closing my eyes, I would picture my life with my own family, smiling with each other and having a wonderful time. It was my dream.

But when the music stopped, my heart stopped with it. It was like I was dead and nothing in reality could fix it except for what was in my hand. The violin was the instrument of my heart but in Akane's eyes, it was a way to make money. I hated that.

After practice Tayuya handed us 19 sheets of sonata's that were to be learned by next week. I grabbed it gleefully while Sasuke heavily sighed. I could tell he didn't like playing the violin and he would have stopped it, if it weren't for his mother.

Packing up my instrument, Sasuke went on his knees as he carefully eyed his brothers. Seeing that they were talking to each other, Sasuke turned toward me.

"Tomorrow." He whispered. " You have to finish breakfast early tomorrow because I heard mom talking. She's planning to punish you again but if you wake up early tomorrow and finish breakfast you can get out of getting hit."

I nodded. It was a surprise that Sasuke had warned me of his mother's intention but I didn't question him. I just agreed and stood up, making sure to let the 3 brothers go out before I did because I wasn't going home just yet.

After getting out of the classroom, I made my way down the streets of Tokyo. With my instrument in hand I turned a corner to the busiest spot in the district. This routine was done every day. As I set my instrument case down, opening the lid at my feet, I begun to play the music I was taught.

It was like begging for money as the tune brought people to surround me. For someone my age I was really good and people admired my talent as they dropped 20's, 30's and even 50 dollars into the case.

It was nice that I got so much money just playing on the streets but seeing that the money was going to go to Akane, my eyes cringed every time a dollar was dropped in but I loved the music. I loved playing and as long as my soul was in the piece, people could see the joy I got out of it. But what they didn't see was scars that were left after I played.

I had woken up 4 o'clock the next morning, preparing breakfast an hour early like Sasuke had said. I turned on stoves, stirred up batter and prepared lunches for everyone except for myself. But after that was all done and I had placed it on a heater. Ihad an hour to kill.

I sat at the table, staring at my arm as my stomach beckoned for food. I shook my head in refusal, remembering the time I had gone against Akane's wishes. The mere scar on my arm sent flashbacks that I really didn't want to remember and I shivered.

The time I was in the pantry with Sasuke and Akane had caught us, I never knew the punishment would be so gruesome. It left me to scream and fear for my life and I knew nothing was worst then this.

That day, my eyes were filled with tears and kicks and punches were received by Sasori and Deidara. I defended myself as I usually did, covering my face with my arms. It felt less hurtful when I did that and Akane saw that as well. That's why she had stopped her sons from beating me and pulled me to my feet.

I didn't know where we were going or what she was planning but I followed as she yanked me. The neighbors were out for the day and I could hear barking from the distance. Like the person she was, she didn't care as she barged into the neighbor's backyard and stomped on their garden. I had always admired those flowers but now, just like me, they were crushed by the devil's feet.

She let me go and a few inches away from me was a barking dog. Like the dog, it was a hellish creature and for some reason, it didn't attack Akane like it should have. Instead, the huge black dog beckoned for her to pet him and she did. Although, as she did, she held his leash and walked toward me.

My instincts told me to run and I had reacted enough to step back. "Don't you dare move! I'll kill you if you move!" It was the same threat but I followed that threat by heart as I glued my feet to the floor.

Sharp teeth snapped at me as the dog barked its way toward me. Akane had him by the leash, stopping him, as he was centimeters from me. For some apparent reason the dog hated me like everyone had. He gave me that some look Sasori, Akane, Orochimaru and Deidara gave me when I did something wrong. But I didn't do anything wrong. I was a good boy.

"You stay away from my son!!" She screamed as she let go of the rope. My eyes couldn't believe what she had just done but that was beside the point now. My arms reacted as they covered my face and the weight that suddenly hit me sent me on my back. I screamed like a girl, trying to get the dog off of me as it tried to bite my face.

He was like a monster attempting to kill me and eat me alive. Then, when it bit down my screams were muffled and I bit my lower lip. It was sinking in. His teeth were sinking into my arm and it felt like it was on fire. Red, black, blue, I could see all the colors forming on my arm as the dog twisted its head, trying to rip my arm from my body.

"No!! Stop!! Stop!!" I screamed to the dog but like an animal, it wasn't going to listen. Being thrown like a rag doll, my arm literally was being pulled out of its socket but before I knew it, I blacked out.

That time I never wanted to talk to Sasuke every again. I didn't want to even look at him because the next morning I was in pain. My arm was broken and even though the bite wound was wrapped with gauze, blood started to bleed through. But worst of all, Akane had ordered me to cook for her and the family. She was hell and in my eyes, I wanted to kill her.

"Hey, you okay?"

I snapped back into reality and instantly looked at the clock before turning back at Sasuke. "You're mother's going to be waking up soon."

"I know. Don't worry I won't get you in trouble."

I smiled, not really knowing what to say. Seeing Sasuke taking a seat beside me was uplifting. It was nice that he was the only one that really cared about me, like a brother would but I still was afraid of him. My eyes just didn't want to glance toward him.

Although, warmth touched my arm as Sasuke laid his hands on the bite mark that nearly killed me. "I'm sorry."

Naruto shook his head. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."

"It was my fault. If I didn't…"

"You don't have to worry. Sasuke I don't care what your mother does to me but I'll never blame you for it. If anything you're the person who really saved me and—" I wanted to talk more. To tell him that he was the reason I was still alive and smiling. But my lips were captured by a kiss.

With a hand slowly crawling to my fingers, Sasuke hand leaned into me, pressing his lips firmly on mines. The warmth I felt and the hand that held mines had made me feel safe. But for the reasons why he was kissing me was not understandable. But what could I say or do. Wasn't I supposed to beckon to the Uchiha's every whim? Wasn't I supposed to do what ever they say? But as Sasuke started to nibble upon my bottom lip, coaxing me to open my mouth, I gently moved my head away from him.

"Sasuke? I um—I."

He took my hand, leaning his head heavily on my shoulder as if he was depending on me. Like somewhere deep inside him didn't want me to let him go.

"Up on the roof." He incoherently said. "I want you to meet me up on the roof during lunch."

"Why?"

His eyes were so dark and yet they were filled with softness. I couldn't explain it but the smile that placed on his lips caused me to clench his hand tightly. Searching in his eyes, I knew I didn't want to let him go either but like an idiot, I still held that fear that couldn't be forgotten. The scar that he had touched was the one thing that held me back.

"Why do you want me to go up there Sasuke?" I asked once again.

He smiled, his lips centimeters from my own as he alluringly whispered. "Because I wanted to finish what I had started."

Here it is. The 2nd chapter. Well drop a review if you have the time and tell me what you think.