Warning: Well if ya read chapter one and your not a yaoi fan or MPreg and you want to be converted I INSIST you stay. If you have no desire then… your probably gonna flame me later for juicy lemons, cuteness (all from Ito and Naruto of course!!) and evil possessive Uchihas. Also, this is not one of those Sasuke left Naruto and now the blond seems to fall for his brother. It's totally different. If you're a yaoi fan then I think we'll be on the same page…. Unless you're an imposter!!! Gha!! Okay I'm done blabbering. Enjoys the story… err chapter.
Beta-ed by Adela Nightmoon
Disclaimer: Trust me if I owned this show it would not be on Cartoon Network... more along AdultSwim
Summary: In chapter One.
"Talking"
"Thinking"
Chapter 2: A Withering Blossom
Ouykuu
Kind brown eyes seemed to have smiled as they watched the luxury SUV pulled into the small, but seemingly homely parking space. The twinkle in his eyes seemed to have loset it's spark as he saw the face of the boy he thought as a son.
As soon as the face was seenthere it seemed as though the sky had gotten darker, conveying the true emotions of the miserable being outside.
Mean while inside the caroutside Naruto was trying to get himself together, as he began to open the door to get Itoshigo.
The said toddler looked at his mother with and asked with an ingenuous voice, "Okaa-san are we coming to visit Uncle Iruka?"
Naruto smiled at his little child, giving him a kiss on the cheek, causing the miniature redhead to giggle.
"Well Ito we're gonna be gone from the house for a very long time," he began, but it seemed as though Itoshigo choose thise time to voice his thoughts.
"Yeah! Can we stay away from there please," he begged ", Gaara is so scary, and Neji is always there. He thinks he has such pretty hair, but only Okaa-san has the most beautiful hair!"
His mother's attitude dropped immensely at the mention of the two names, but he quickly put it aside and smiled at the hidden compliment.
"Thank you Ito. Come on its been a long time since you've seen uncle Iruka. I bet he's been dying-"
"Oh no Iruka is DYING! Hurry up I gotta save him!" Ito tried to unbuckle his seat belt, ignoring his mother's cute giggles.
"Let me help you Ito-chan," he said assisting his son. He watched as Ito ran to the front door knocking as loudly as his little hands would allow him.
A man with tan skin, short brown hair tied up in a ponytail, and kind brown eyes answered the door, Itoshigo went flying onto him.
"Iruka! I came just in time," Ito wailed as he squeezed his uncle's neck for dear life.
"What do you mean Itoshigo," Iruka sputtered.
Iruka got up from the ground trying to seize the smaller boy so he could get him off of him. He was crushing his wind pipe!
"I think I can explain that," said a beautiful blond man Iruka recognized.
"Naruto," he greeted.
"Itoshigo, why don't you go to the living room so that I can talk to Iruka okay?"
Itoshigo simply nodded his head and ran out the room, yelling something about ninjas.
Iruka finally waited until Ito was out of sight, and decided to turn his concern back to the blond.
"Naruto…" he trailed, reaching his arm out to the shaking boy.
"He made a promise Iruka. Those words were so sweet; I never thought it could get like this." Naruto opened his watery blue eyes, so many emotions swarming in them. Iruka offered the tired blond a seat and sat right across from him. He wanted to let Naruto feel security; the mother's heart was in need right now.
XxFlashbackxX
Naruto awaited patiently inside his room for his long term boyfriend Gaara to come back from a meeting with his father. He said that it was important business, and his father had requested his attention immediately.
Naruto ran his nervous fingers through his hair, tense at the fact that Gaara and his father were not exactly the closest. Gaara's father had never once been a kind man, but his deep loathing for everyone, ran even deeper for Gaara. He was positive the child was nothing to him.
He gave the boy no love, support, or any type of stability that he could hold onto. Gaara and his father, both inplus the same room equaled mayhem.
"Gaara, what's taking so long?," he questioned himself as he further paced around the room. The blond colleage student finally sat himself down, ashamed by his own behavior. He shouldn't have to worry about his koi, everything should be alright… But still there was a little part in the back of his mind that was growing louder, now almost roaring at him to go and save Gaara.
'Okay I can't take this anymore,' the thought hurriedly. He grabbed his keys and was ready to set out only to find his blue gaze mixing with black brimmed aqua marine.
"Gaara," Naruto whispered, not sure how to approach the situation. Gaara silently entered their home/apartment and gave Naruto a sweet kiss on his forehead.
"Gaara," He repeated "I just wanted to know if everything was alright."
The soundless red head had turned back to Naruto and gave him a smile, a smile that belonged for only his blued eye love to see. He walked up to his blond and embraced the boy, encircling his arms around the small waist.
"Naruto do you really love mee?," Gaara asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
"Yes I do," Naruto said hesitantly due to Gaara's strange behavior.
"Say it again," the red head demanded softly. Naruto looked up into Gaara's eyes, his face contorted in confusion.
"Why? Yyou already know the-" Gaara had silenced his protest as he claimed his plump pink lips with his own pale ones, savoring the sweet taste of the soft lips. Gaara pulled away from the simple kiss listening as Naruto repeated it just as he wished.
"Naruto would you support me if I had taken something that I should have told you about first," Gaara's voice was hushed down to a tonlevele atin which Naruto almost couldn't pick up.
"Well," Naruto laughed "it depends on what you hadd taken Gaara."
Gaara unlocked the embrace, and began to take Naruto to their bedroom, shutting the door behind them in the process. Gaara stripped himself down to his boxers and told Naruto to lie next to him.
"Gaara what is this all about? You can tell me anything," he spoke reassuringly to his boyfriend.
Gaara sighed again and wrapped his arms around his uke, pulling the covers above their heads creating a tent that caressed their bodies.
"My father," he hesitated "asked me to take over the company. He said Kankuro was not suitable for the job, and he wanted me to take over."
Gaara spoke again, hushing whatever comment that Naruto was about to say.
"Just think about it Naruto, I can give you everything you want if I take the position."
Naruto cupped Gaara's cheek and smiled underneath the covers.
"But Gaara I already have everything that I could ever want. All I need is you, that's all," he whispered feeling old emotions resurface to the brim of his heart.
"Naruto I want to spoil you."
"Gaara I need not to be spoiled," he saiddejected.
"Naruto please, I'm begging you right now. I love you with all my heart; just diminish all doubts you have in your mind. I promise you, nothing bad shall come of it."
Naruto and Gaara stayed in silence, but in the end Naruto had trusted Gaara. Something in the back of his mind beat him up, but his heart was speaking louder to him.
Later on Naruto watched as Gaara had opened the door for him to enter the office of their new beginning.
Too bad it was actually the end…
XxEnd FlashbackxX
"They seemed like words of an angel," he sniffed "but I guess they were really whispers of the devil. I let him into my heart, I gave him everything, yet he betrayed me so badly."
Iruka watched as Naruto began to break further in front of him, watching as a tear was struggling to be released. They wanted to be free so badly, so they could break the chains that subdued them so long ago.
"I gave him my soul, body, heart, and bore him a beautiful child who he hates within the deepest depths of his soul," his voice said shakily, his tears yet to spill over.
"Yes Naruto you did, but don't blame this on yourself," the brown eyed man spoke. He knew Naruto always used himself as the scapegoat.
"But Iruka what did I do wrong?" He demanded as his voice began to quiver. "OBut one of the worst things that Gaara ever did to me was let that man into my house. We ate together, talked together; he even played with my son." Finally Naruto could take to more as the chains broke once more, letting his tears of sorrow run down his cheeks.
"I cooked," he wept as he counted with his delicate fingers "I cleaned, I left friends behind, and I gave him my body disregarding my own pleasure Iruka. Yet it wasn't enough to keep him safe within my bed. So tell me what did I do so wrong to the point where he left me for another man?"
Iruka got up from his seat and pulled Naruto into a tight embrace rubbing smooth circles into his back.
"What did I do wrong," Naruto asked so pleadingly. Iruka just shook his head, the blond in his arms used to be so strong willed. Now he was crumbling before his very eyes. A boy's foundation was indestructible… yet it all came crashing down.
"Naruto," he whispered "I'm sorry, what Gaara has done was absolutely down right wrong. But I cannot give you words that will do nothing to mend your heart. I know I cannot stop that pain residing within your heart, but I can support you. You must stay together for Itoshigo. That child loves you to death, and if you loose yourself you won't be the only one to fall," Iruka guaranteed.
"But I can't help but love him Iruka," Naruto reasoned.
"He was the first one to actually accept me, he was there with me. He's basically all I know."
"That's not true Naruto. You have me, your father, and so many others to support you and help you," Iruka smiled.
Naruto wiped his tears with the back of his hands, and smiled back at his actingplay- mother.
"Now Naruto," Iruka said seriously "how long do you plan on staying? I mean my house is open to you and Itoshigo any time, but you can't just keep Itoshigo here forever."
Naruto looked back at Iruka and pondered back on his thoughtsIruka's words.
"I was planning on staying here until I found a place to settle. But it won't be long I assure you!"
Iruka waved Naruto off and smiled reassuringly to him.
"Naruto there's one more thing we need to be concerned about. What about the divorce?"
The said blond let a big sigh escape his lungs, his mind had never drifteding to the subject. Divorce; was Naruto truly ready for a divorce? Was he ready to let go of the only remaining bond that bound him and Gaara together?
Was he truly ready to let go?
"I-" but as soon as he tried to respond, he was interrupted by a 5 year old red ball of energy.
"Okaa-san! I missed you so much," Ito sang jumping into his mother's lap, his joy seeming to spread quickly through his mother.
"Ito it hasn't been that long," he countered.
"No," Ito dragged "Okaa-san. Look outside, the sky is dark, and has a lot of sparkles! They're pretty! They remind me of Okaa-san when he's happy!"
Naruto's luminous smile brightened the room, his eyes sparkling just as Itoshigo had claimed. Iruka smiled as he saw the portrait of a beautiful son and mother happily together.
It perplexed Iruka how Gaara had changed so much. The boy's love for the blond knew no boundaries, and had been clearly head over heels for Naruto. Gaara had cherished Naruto; the blond had become his everything.
'Naruto you'll find someone. I truly believe that,' he thought to himself watching the pair run up and down the stairs, and into the guest room.
XxXx
"Okaa-san," said a sheepish voice, the figure snuggling deeper into the figures arms. Naruto gently put down the book, and looked down at his and Gaara's son.
"Ito you sound really tired. You should rest." Naruto ran his fingers through the tousled crimson hair feeling Itoshigo shift around, snuggling closer to his chest.
"Okaa-san what about Ito's goodnight kiss?"
Naruto giggled, and gave his son a peck on the forehead, smiling further when he heard a loud yawn sound through the room.
Slowly pale eye lids began to close slowly, shutting off its vast oceans of blue.
"Okaa-san… won't have to…cry anymore… Ito will be here," finally saying after he drifter to sleep.
Naruto tensed under his son, feeling a pang of guilt well within his heart. Maybe that was why Gaara had left him? No it was not time to think about the past Naruto scolded himself! It was time to think about Itoshigo's future.
XxXx
Many autumn weeks had gone by, theyit some were some of the hardest on Naruto. Physically he was perfect, mentally he was considered okay, at times he did have his stressful moments, but nonetheless he was overall well. Except on one account.
His emotional well- being was a total different story.
His emotions had gone through an emotional rollercoaster, one moment he seemed to zone out, then he would laugh, and then he'd suddenly break into silent tearscries making sure that Ito wouldn't hear him.
"You need a break right now," Iruka demanded.
"But Iruka… I have to finish this up soon," he whined. In the past weeks Naruto had opened up a catering business, it was small but it gave him an income money. He had done small events so far, but for those he had received standing ovations for his culinary skills.
"Yes Naruto that order isn't due 'till' Monday, and it's only Thursday. You need a break, besides Itoshigo would like to get out of the house." Iruka smiled triumphantly when he saw Naruto's resolve beginning to crumblebling, he played his weak points well.
Naruto sighed; he was defeated, all on the account of his adorable son.
"Okay you got me Iruka. Ito," Naruto called loudly. Just a second later his son appeared in the room before him.
"Yes Okaa-san," Ito replied, his big blue eyes staring in wonder.
"Go get dressed, okay. We're gonna go to the park."
Itoshigo smiled brightly finally glad that he was getting out of the house. Iruka laughed at the toddler's excitement, seeing that Itoshigo was racing up to the speed of that when he's on a sugar high.
"Well I'll get going Iruka," Naruto said following his son, but in a much more normal manner.
"See youYa. Don't forget to have a good time!"
XxXx
It was a serene day in the park for the figure of isolation. The figure flipped the page of his book his pale hand turning the page delicately.
This man was the very person who drove his father's name almost into ruins, watching in satisfaction as his father, Fugaku Uchiha, began to grovel at his feet.
The man was the epitome of elegance ad overall grace. He was very tall, about 6'4, with skin so perfectly pale that often under the moon light it would create an unearthly sight. It contrasted perfectly with his long raven hair that was usually kept at the nape of his neck, tied with a white ribbon and, with his bangs framing his strong yet delicate features.
His eyes were the color of rich red wine, aged perfectly. They were hollow, bottomless pits whose vast wake caused admirers to fall in drunken pleasure.
They were so perfectly clearempty, so clearempty that they build a defense mechanism to keep them from breaking.
Itachi however,though did not wear a mask… no he wore a shield- something of a fare worse caliber. A mask served one purpose; it was to conceal or hide and was very predictable. People could break through the cracks… but a shield was much more horrid.
The defense mechanism served many purposes- it was to protect and repair. A shield was left open and was highly unpredictable, often at time would be let down for only ones dear to its user. A mask could be shattered in a moment, but a shield took time to take down.
Itachi began to read further the contents of his book.
Bounce, bounce, bounce…
Itachi shook off the noise and kept reading further into the plot of the novel, keeping his full attention on the…
Bounce, bounce, bounce
Itachi silently cursed in his mind at the annoying noises of the bouncing object. Itachi began to get up until he was the very object that began to disturb his solitude came closer, watching as the round red ball began to comenear towards him and finally stopped at his sleek black leather shoes.
Itachi raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow and went to pick up the ball until he saw a toddler in a red jacket, black jeans, and a red scarf running down. He had to admit, whoever conceived this child must have had beauty beyond the heavens.
The child had a mop of crimson hair, pale skin, and deep innocent blue eyes.
"Mister… can I have my ball back," the child asked.
XxXx
Naruto frantically began to look around the park shouting out his son's name. Just a few moments before he and Itoshigo were having a lot of fun, and Naruto had watched as Ito threw his ball too far, then seeing him disappear in a different direction.
When Naruto found that he had not yet retrieved his son Itoshigo within the last 45 minutes, he began to panic just as any caring mother would do. He asked park goers, but was yet to havefind any luck in the search of his son.
"Itoshigo! Please if you hear me come back," Naruto yelled, speeding off in a new direction.
"Please," he begged to himself, " just come back. You're all I have left."
XxXx
Itachi looked….
And looked…
This child didn't seem to be afraid of him, unlike every other child before his presence.
"Ano… could I have my ball back please," Ito said staring back at the tall stoic tacit man. Compared to his Okaa-san's 5'6, (and a half Naruto always insisted,) hHe was almost as tall as a statue! Compared to his Okaa-san's 5'6 (and a half Naruto always insist.)
"Well I guess I shouldn't talwk to strawngers… My name is Itoshigo. You have pretty hair, almost as nice as Okaa-san's!"
Itachi raised his eyebrow, that was the first time he was ever second best.
"Really now," Itachi finally spoke, his deep voice causing Itoshigo to snap his attention back towards him.
"You're weird," Itoshigo said blankly. They both stared at each other, until they both found one another smiling slightly at the another. Itoshigo looked at the raven, he was barely smiling- it was almost invisible, but it was a smile nonetheless.
"Itoshigo!"
Itachi turned his head in the direction of the sweet voice, watching as a beautiful blond woman began to run towards him, her black trench coat blowing hecticly behind her.
"Okaa-san," Itoshigo smiled and walked towards the blond, now identified as his mother. The silent raven watched as the mother sighed in relief as she embraced Itoshigo.
"Itoshigo please don't run off again please," Naruto said in a low, but worried voice to Itoshigo. Itoshigo became sad; he had worried his mother greatly. The toddler did not like seeing his mother sad, especially if he was the reason.
"I promise Okaa-san, please don't be sad. Ito didn't mean to…," he sincerely apologized to Naruto. Ito and Naruto embraced for a long time until he remembered that strange man. He never got his name.
"Hey mister what's your…" Ito chose at that moment to stop, he was just speaking to the autumn breeze.
"Ito I thinks it's time to go home, it's getting late and I'm just too shaken-"
"Okaa-san where did that man go." He interrupted his mother with the question. Naruto looked at his child strangely; when he had gotten there he had not seen this man Itoshigo had interrupted him for.
"Where did he go? I wanted my mom to see his hair!" Ito thought to himself angrily, which turned more into a cute pout.
Naruto looked blankly at his son, but snapped out of it quickly and gently took his hand to guide them back to the car. The silence in the air was uncomfortably awkward. Naruto wanted to ask his son something, but he didn't want Itoshigo to feel pressured or cornered. All the while Itoshigo wanted to apologize to his mother again.
Naruto's blue eyes looked down at his son and smiled, pulling his up and into his warm arms.
"Okaa-san you scared Ito!" he gasped, clutching his heart to further the effect of his exaggeration.
"Gomen Ito, I didn't mean to. Ito what do you think about staying with Iruka?" Naruto put Itoshigo down and opened the car door. Ito went into the SUV and buckled his seatbelt.
"I really like it, but I would rather have our own place Okaa-san," he said his eyes finding something outside the window very interesting.
Naruto looked into the front view mirror and sighed feeling the same way on the matter himself. He felt as though he was invading Iruka's home, with his job and all, hbe was quite busy.
"That would be nice, but I don't want anything big. I wouldn't want you hurt," the blond said his motherly spirit showing through in his voice. Naruto made a quick turn, merging to the next lane, which had a red light.
"Okay, Ito won't get hurt."
XxXx
Some place else where, Itachi smiled to himself when he saw the For Sale sign next to his condo. He was a person of seclusion, so he went to any lengths just to have the placid setting he was so use to.
Ah yes, silence and Itachi were indeed great friends. Itachi had time to himself, when there was no one else around. A great thinguse when he wanted to enter his mindscape, and clear his mind.
Just as he was doing right now, remembering the child… Ito if he recalled, and the beautiful blond woman who was calling his name so loudly. He put down his papers for a moment and leaned back into his chair.
It was silly to think at the moment, but Itachi never came second to anyone- even with his hair. He scolded himself and went back to his work. He needed to finish the proposal for Hyuuga-san by the end of the night. He had a long night ahead of him.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT!!!!!
There is a contest kinda thing going on right now.
There are 3 sub plots within this chapter. The first three people/ reviewers to get them correctly shall help me with the plot of the next chapter.
Oh I suggest you should get prepaired for more heartache.
I dedicate this entire chapter to my reviewers. I usually like take a month, hell I don't even type 3,500 more words.
Well I hope you enjoyed it.
Gosh I feel so evil. I said Itachi would be introduced, never that he and Naruto would actually meet face to face.
Oh and thanks for all the love 33 reviews!!!!
I respond to everyone, but if it's anno. or unsigned. please leave your email adress. And about the mistakes for the last chapter, I am very new to the beta idea and I messed everything up. So it is I to blame. I'm trying to get better at writting, so please if you have any advice tell me. My goal is to be atleast to a somewhat advanced, and link my plots together.
