Author's note: I do not own Naruto. This is a work of fiction.

I thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart. I really couldn't stop thinking about all the emails I got. I was in uni on my phone reading all the comments grinning like an idiot, unable to stop as I read throughout all the comments: once, twice, three times, ten times XD

There were some Asian people across me and when I looked up they were watching me curiously then they started chatting with each other in their language, looking at me periodically then away. Just been branded as crazy :P Oh well. It was bound to happen XD

Enjoy and please let me know what u think ( ps: Kit, thanks, I've reviewed the chapter and tried to improve in this one)

4. News

The wind blew softly to him, ruffling his hair and billowing his curtains, bringing in a cold breath of the night. It was quiet here, yet the distant buzz of activity could be heard from far away. People would wake soon for it was almost dawn. The noise of a stray dog digging in some heap of trash for some food sounded like a boom on the empty streets. The dark lifeless buildings seemed oppressive with their moulded concrete walls and falling plaster, their balconies full of monsters and mysterious black windows.

Naruto exhaled watching the smoke swirl and dissipate quickly, killing his finished cigarette in the already full ash tray. He's been sitting in the same spot for the past three hours and his feet were already numb, starting to hurt. But he didn't mind it for it kept him awake, waiting. It's been two weeks now and there were no news. Keeper said he'd be updating him tonight but there was no sign of him.

Well, he couldn't sleep anyway, working on staying awake for as long as possible in order to sleep peacefully later on. It's been 5 hours now and he was wondering if his friend would show up at all.

The nightmares got worse since that incident at the college some two weeks ago and now it was now the third night since he last closed his eyes. He would wake horrified pulling his gun from under his pillow and alert looking for anything out of place in his room or any person that might be there. Those dreams seemed so vivid, and he was scared he would accidently shoot his neighbours through the thin plaster walls of his house in a fit of panic. So he chose to stay awake. Soon he would fall dead from exhaustion and then it would be blissful peace, his mind too tired to remember.

In the corner of his room some five or six paintings were waiting to be finished. He's been working on the simultaneously, after each one tortured him with their vision, one more horrible than the other. It was a fight with the Stone group, who wriggled their way in this town and took over some of the brothels. At the beginning there was a peaceful cooperation, but then they broke some of the other places, stole some 200 kg of cocaine from Mr Blaze. The group was butchered and some money had to be paid in order to maintain the peace between the two major groups. Despite the fact that they were scum just like him, they were still human, and that mass of blood, flesh and broken bones was something he never wanted to remember. Yet that guy in his college brought it all up to the surface again.

He hasn't been so distressed since those days when he first witnessed the killings and then was forced to pick up the knife and dig in people's chest. Those were the times he overdosed taking everything he had, but even so it wasn't enough to kill him. His keepers made sure to never give him more stuff than he could handle. Later on they would then beat him awake, leaving him to crawl in pain, as the effects wore off. He would then beg for another fix for he was barely able to move, while they would laugh at him mockingly. He would get no more than the daily amount. And if couldn't wake up to get it personally, he wouldn't have even that little bit.

He sometimes wondered how he survived those times, mostly not sleeping, always being alert and paranoid, doing anything or a fix. The pain that followed after he escaped was unbearable for he couldn't go to the hospital without being tracked and he had nobody to turn to for help. He prepared his house beforehand, blocked his windows and had a clean bed and water and food to survive for 2 months without going out and be tempted, then had Keeper send someone to lock him in. The disaster that came during those times was incredible. He broke all the china he had in the house, desk, furniture, bed, he ripped the mattress, scattered the food and water, and broke the sink and toilet and so on. At the end of the first month he finally started to gain control over his senses and he wasn't trembling as badly anymore. Luckily Keeper sent someone to repair and clean the place when the time was up and he stayed in a hotel. What he did was almost suicide since he didn't take painkillers and he didn't eat with days, only drinking water. But he had survived on pure will, always telling himself that it was nothing compared with the other people that died and he will make it through. Even today he strictly refused any sort medicine like sleeping pills or relief. Let them dreams torture him; it was a small price to pay for his sins.

He couldn't stop wondering what made that guy in his class so special. He could still remember those eyes that spoke of so much loneliness and fear that the bolder in his chest that was called heart, stirred. Those eyes tortured him, reminding him so much of himself as a child. Still, he had nothing in common with Sasuke. He was even a bit intrigued, for the other was always surrounded by people and love, that the thought of loneliness almost seemed impossible. He even felt the urge to hurt the other because of this reason. But this person looked like it had experienced enough pain already. What was his problem? Was this the reason why Sasuke was interested in him, could he have noticed Naruto's darker nature and been drawn to it?

Naruto hadn't felt like this in a very, very long time.

Guilt. That would be a good way to describe this aching in his heart for every time he thought back about the incident, he couldn't help but feel self conscious. How could he have had such messed up thoughts? How had he dared hurt someone so innocent? He was filthy, tainted and being around other people who were nice and innocent only helped him see the dark soul he possessed, making him feel miserable and useless. Still those eyes looked so forgiving, so hopeful and yet scared. What was the brunette hoping to get from him? Was he really in love with him, despite the fact that they were both guys? Of course, for Naruto, it never made a difference, because of the world he lived in. But it seemed like Sasuke really liked him, regardless of his gender or his nasty personality. That person's heart was pure gold and something that he had no right to claim. He had no right to be loved by the brunette.

Still, when they were so close, in that moment, he couldn't help but hope that he could find forgiveness, despite the fact that there was no place for people like him in this world of light. Deep inside him something stirred and perhaps that was another reason why he was so shaken and all those memories that he tried so hard to burry, came back to him. Perhaps he could turn back and perhaps there was a normal life waiting for him if he gave it a chance. How could that guy have gotten between his barriers and cracked his impenetrable facade? That hope needed to be crushed before it flourished and broke the stone wall around his heart. There was no true love. Yet Sasuke believed in him blindly, despite the fact that they only talked once. He wanted to break that trust but just couldn't and he didn't know why.

In the same time he was afraid of what might happen if he gave in and just accepted the love, for all his life he has been beaten, feared, abused, until he earned some respect. But even then he had to always bare his fangs at anyone to keep those after his neck away from getting to him.

This guy has gotten to him so easily, using the most basic of weapons and one he never learnt to defend against. He could never fight against love. Maybe he has gotten soft in the past year, living in a world without danger. But even if he wanted, there wasn't an underworld to return to, at least not for now. He cleaned it and for a short while, this town has been more peaceful. He did occasionally beat one or two bullies whenever he went out for a walk in the more derelict zones of this town, one of which was where he lived. But nothing really serious. Still, Keeper assured him that they will come back. It was a big town.

The soft beep of a message disturbed the silence of the room and startled the blond out of his dark thoughts. The computer screen on his desk came alive slowly, displaying a small window where a message flashed, asking for attention. Naruto was on his feet in one fluid move, walking with grace between the various things in his room, finally reaching the desk and checking if what he hoped for was real. The message was short, noticing him that Mr K has entered the chat room, followed by another short sentence.

"Hey F. U there kid?"

A smile spread over his lips and whatever frustration he felt over waiting for such a long time melted. Keeper still thought of him as a kid after all these years. His messages always started with the same line.

He quickly type in an answer.

"Hey Keep. Sup?"

"Nothing much. Just finished a report. How come u're not sleeping, kid?"

" U know I was never ur average kid anyway. Also, please don't "kid" me.

"U been training? Eating enough? Putting some weight?"

Keeper has arranged that he go to a local gym to keep fit and that once a week someone came with a bag of groceries at his door, most them being fruits and vegetables. He was never a vegetable addict, but he likes the fruits so he ate as much of those as he could, giving the rest away to neighbours in exchange for a bowl of noodle soup.

"I'm still alive hence, hence I'm eating. No, i haven;t put any weight. How do u want that to happen when I'm training?"

"U're gonna get anorexia, kid"

"It's fine, don't worry. Any news?"

"Depends what u wanna hear" came the swift answer.

"Everything u got, please."

A short break before the other launched typing giving the details while trying to not giving away anything important in case he was bugged.

Keeper was a spy. He was a good friend with Naruto's father but unfortunately, gone on a dangerous undercover mission when he learnt of his friend's death. As much as he wished he could come back, he risked his own life if he left at the time. So he came into contact with Naruto two years later, after the boy had come into the service of the Red Fires, one of the major mafia organisations in the country. After bringing in the files on Mr Blaze that his father discovered before his death, he lied that he found them, and thought of them as the best way for him to join. The files for accepting him in the gang. The info was dangerous at the time and despite the Boss' guys trying to find anything on him or about the info, nothing was there. In the end, they just accepted the files and took Naruto under their "protection", the Boss being impressed by the kid's determination to join. What followed was hell. Despite Keeper's wish to help, Naruto kept away from him and refused any help. They fought at the beginning, Keeper determined to get the boy out of there. However Naruto threatened to take his life if any action was taken. Keeper was on the other side, trying to do the same thing as the kid and bring the killers of his best friend down. So in the end, they came to an understanding, Keeper accepting to lend his help despite the fact that he was totally against leaving Naruto on his own in that world given his young age.

Naruto quickly became known as one of the cruellest and the sliest people in the organisation. He would do anything to stay alive while also completing his missions. After killing Slash, he came into the attention of many other underdogs throughout the organisation for despite the fact that the madman was a weak insect; he still worked directly under the boss. Many wished to claim his position but were to chicken to do so. Now that he did it, many thought they could win for he was just a kid. But he survived and was named Fox by Mr Blaze himself, the official honour of becoming a fully fledged member at the age of 14. A year later he worked under the boss himself, managing the brothels and the selling of drugs on the streets.

"There's some people being put together to check the situation and one of them is a really good one, B's personal advisor, second in command. The big man himself was seen a few weeks back in a town close to you. I have reasons to believe that they'll soon be sniffling in the area. "

"I still can't believe he's alive."

"He's still under heavy medication. "

"How much time till they start?"

"Maybe another month."

" I should prepare myself properly."

"Well first of all they might not be searching for you. My sources say that the old man thinks nobody survived for he personally checked all remains. But if they recognise you and research properly, it will still take time to have solid proof."

"As if they'd wait for that. They would kill me without a second thought if they thought I was the rat."

"That too. But if they investigate, u still have a solid cover that might not break. And if they do, u'll still have 6 months until they piece the info."

"6 months and u say it's solid. If they connect the dots, I might not be safe anywhere in this world. If the old man would have gone, I would have broken them down for good. "

"U did a good number on them, F. But I've been doing this for the past 20 years and no such luck. Indeed you would have had an organisation less, but there will always be someone to start it again."

"It would still give u a chance to stop it in time.

"True enough. But even the police have worms. But it's good to hope."

"Well at least u have a partner now."

"You have a partner, F! And the moment u let that childish stubbornness go, u might get another chance to live tomorrow."

Naruto smiled at that. The old man was still frustrated to be left out of the whole operation and the fact that the blond has put his life in so much danger.

"You are so lucky to have escaped that number alive, F and u don't even know that.

"If I go fighting, K, it would be a good way to go. I won't be missed by many people"

"That's not the answer kid. Besides, eliminating them doesn't always solve the problem. You have to cut at the root of the problem: money, drugs, women, guns. But u've done enough kid. Take a break for a while and try to live"

Naruto smiled proudly at his praise.

"U've done more than me K, so quit the flattering. If I survive the next round, it will be something to brag about. "

"Pray the next round never comes"

Naruto bit his lip, thinking about his most pressing matter at the moment. He could ask his friend what he thought, for he would know the best thing considering all the goods and bads he did. But on the other hand the answer will be biased for Keeper has always been protective towards him and would say anything to get him to go back to being normal.

"Hope they never find you F. Time's up kid. Get some sleep and I'll be in the mail with more info and some names.

"Keep..."

Pause.

"What is it kid, spill it out, I'm overtime."

"Do u think I have a chance to come back? Do you think I'll be accepted given what I was? Will I be able to escape the past and forget?"

There was a long pause, Keeper probably blinking several times thinking that what he just read was in his imagination. Just as Naruto thought that they lost the connection, a new message flashed up.

"Yes yes and yes. Kid, I'm happy u're thinking about this, it's about time. It's gonna be hard, F, but not impossible. Somewhere out there, there's a person who's just for you, who'll accept you for who you are and will forgive you and love both your good and bad parts. But for that you need to come back to being normal and stay alive."

Naruto smiled sadly, typing his answer.

"Thanks, K. I'll try my best. Take care."

The screen went blue again and his computer restarted and rebooted. Naruto just stood there, absent minded, thinking.

"Perhaps that person found me first" he murmured.