Cyclamen

Disclaimer: Though some of the ideas are mine, I do not own the characters or main plot of Naruto.

/Kyuubi speak/

'Thought'

Flashback

Naruto continued in the direction of his small, one-man apartment, but was forced to stop as he heard his name. It was strange, distant, as though someone was talking about him and not calling out to him. His first reaction was a groan, not wanting to hear what anybody thought about the demon child, but the voice was familiar, soft and young. It took a moment for his mind to reorganize itself, separating demon from human. Large purple eyes stared down at his hands as he willed the claws to shrink back, and paused even longer for the eyes to return to their blue pigment.

/Oy, it there a reason you suddenly feel like stuffing me away, brat?!/ The Kyuubi's signature growl and sarcasm floated up as though from the back of Naruto's mind.

'Sorry, going to have a chat with some normal people and I don't want you scaring them off!' Naruto quickly pushed the Kyuubi away from his conscious, knowing he'd have to hear all about how ungrateful and weak he was the next time he tried to borrow chakra from the demon.

It took him a second in order to recall where he heard the voice from, and then he jumped to the roof at his left and down to the street, following sounds of construction and the slight tussle of two men on their lunch break. He looked up at the old building that had been concealed and tucked away behind larger building. Maybe if he had remembered what lay in this area he wouldn't be too quick to rush towards the speaker and get a look at the old orphanage.

Naruto didn't look long, he turned around and tried to find the person who could have spoken his name. He spied an old woman and a construction worker who appeared to be having a pained conversation, but they could never have been the voice so he didn't bother listening in on their words. He turned a little further before spying an agitated Ebisu lecturing Konohamaru (who did NOT appear to be listening as he held his hands over his ears).

Naruto ran forward, sneaking up behind the genin and tapping him on the shoulder. "Hey, did somebody say my name?" he asked with a smile.

Iruka wasn't the type who felt guilty, he wasn't mean to anyone in particular, and he figured watching his parents die, being forced into an orphanage because nobody felt like bothering with him, and then all 

the crap with his team and still trying to be a ninja was excuse enough for him to be pissy every once in a while.

Today was completely different though, last night he had been an idiot. Leaving a kid alone outside at night in the cold was cruel and ridiculous. True, he'd been kind enough to give him the shirt off his back, literally, but you can't ditch a, what, five or six year old? It's unethical to be drunk enough o abandon some poor kid outside the orphanage that was supposed to be his shelter.

Then again, the little tyke probably would have been mentally and emotionally scarred had Iruka brought him home. He could see it now, little kid needs to see therapist after watching a bizarre, drunk teen pass out in bed after doing god knows what in that crazy state. Plus, leaving a kid alone in a room filled with scrolls and kunai would never exactly be bragged about among baby sitters.

Not to mention it was just plain dangerous to be around an intoxicated ninja to begin with.

And he felt so guilty! He never felt guilty! What he did to other people they deserved, they asked for his pranks and his smartass remarks, so he never had to feel guilty about them or anyone.

"Oy! Open the bloody door you sons of-" Iruka had probably never been in more haste to get into the haunted building, where children were treated like crap because nobody else would have them. Well Iruka had never been physically abused, but that didn't mean he adored the 'fucking hell hole.'

"Ruka-kun? Well don't you look like something the cat dragged in, crazy son of a bitch. I don't suppose you've come to rescue me, sweep me off my feet and elope with me have you?"

"Akiro? What are you doing here?"

Iruka was stunned, he hadn't thought he'd be running into Akiro today.

"I live here, you know, parents don't love me anymore and all that. What are you doing here?"

"Where's the blonde kid?!"

This has to end here because something is happening to my program and it's indenting every line after the first, which REALLY pisses me off. I don't know how to undo this! I didn't even press any buttons!! GRRR!

And PLEASE review! Plus, check out my page since I always have a poll going on which will usually influence my stories and writing a great bit! You have a voice my readers, now vote!

-Alika613

PS: This chapter is really short, isn't it?