Chapter Five

Itachi has been gone for so long…oh I wish he would come home. It's already been almost six weeks and still would be longer. Iruka and I were supposed to leave almost a month ago but Ibiki had been acting so much better so my kind-hearted father saw no reason to rush. The last few days Ibiki has been getting worse again and I'm just not sure I can survive next time.

"NARUTO! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE! NOW!!" I heard Ibiki's heavy footsteps coming up the stairs and I froze, oh god! As soon as I saw my doorknob begin to turn I thawed and ran. I was out of my window and down that tree in a matter of seconds.

"NARUTO!" I saw his head shoot out of my window as I looked back, never stopping.

I pounded on his window…I would have gone into the garage like I used to but Itachi had made me promise him I'd go to Sasuke if I had any problems. He rolled over, his movements heavy with sleep, probably hoping he was dreaming since it was somewhere around 2 a.m. When he saw me all of the tiredness seemed to melt from him and he ran to open the window.

"Naruton? What are you doing here?" his obvious surprise covered his face.

"S-sorry S-Sasuke, I n-needed to get o-out of that house. C-can I c-come in? It's f-freezing out here." My stuttering surprised us both and caused him to push his window open farther and help pull me inside.

"Sit down, I'll get you some dry clothes. How long has it been raining out there?" he tossed me some clothes then ran into Itachis' room to get me a blanket. "So not that I have a problem it, but why exactly are you in my bedroom at 2 a.m.?" he spoke as he was walking back into the room. Thankfully I wasn't shivering anymore but I still took the blanket gladly.

"I'm sorry I woke you up Sasuke, I would have gone into your brothers' room but he's not here and I couldn't stand to be alone." He looked deep into my eyes, a reflecting confusion and pain in his own.

"Just tell me what's going on, Naruto. You've been acting really strange since Itachi left." The jealousy I saw flicker across his face confused me.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, I just wasn't sure how. I still don't even really know where to begin. I never told you because I was afraid that it could happen to you too, but I guess it's safe enough now." I couldn't look him in the eye – I was afraid of seeing the emotions playing on his face. "I don't think he could hurt you anymore."

"Who is he?" Sasukes' voice broke into my memories.

"Ibiki. It really all started about a year after he and my dad got together. We were about nine then, weren't we?"

"Hn."

"Anyways the first year was great, Iruka had finally gotten over his abandonment issues that she had left him with; they were happy – Iruka was smiling more than I had seen him in years." I spoke quietly, not wanting to unveil my past, but feeling forced to.

"But then Ibiki started having problems at work so he started drinking, causing Iruka and I to realize he is not a nice drunk." I could see Sasukes' eyes growing larger as he began to understand how false my excuses for the cuts and bruises really were. "The first time Ibiki came home drunk he beat the living shit out of Iruka. After he was done he went to bed and we prayed it wouldn't happen again. Our nights went like that constantly until I was about fourteen; that's when it got even worse. After he finished beating Iruka one night, he called out to me as he was walking up the stairs; he was still angry. That was the very first time he turned on me." I started crying then. He reached out to me; I knew my hurt was covering my face. He'd never seen me like this before, I'd always acted so happy around him; I continued. "I only put up with him coming after me a few times before I started sneaking out and spending my nights in your garage. I just couldn't stay near that house anymore." Only a few more words and I could be done reliving this nightmare.

"So that's why I could never come to your house when we were kids." His voice was soft – strained. "But I'm still confused on something; how does Itachi fit into all this?" genuine worry, confusion, jealousy and concern covered his face and filled his eyes.

"One night a while ago when I got into you garage Itachi found me. He held me close while I told him all of this and he made me feel like everything would be okay." I could see the betrayal on his face. "Please don't be hurt that I told him before I told you. Sasuke, I was afraid he'd hurt you too." He looked so hurt – the pain in his eyes hurt me – burned me. "Well for the last six months or so Iruka has been seeing Kakashi on he side and the other night Ibiki found out that Iruka was not only cheating on him but also was planning to leave him. he wasn't even very drunk he was just so pissed."

"What? Is that why you took so long the other morning?" I wished the ache would leave his face.

"Yea – Ibiki cracked a few of my ribs and they've been a little sore, no big deal though. Do you think you could do something for me?" his eyes lit up in surprise.

"Anything you now that." I'd never seen that look before; he looked as if he really would do absolutely anything I asked.

"Would it be okay if I stayed here for a few days, just to give things at home some time to cool off?" I was so exhausted from everything.

"Of course you can Naruto, stay as long as you like."

"Thanks Sasuke, I'll pay you back someday."

I walked over to his mini-couch and laid down; I was just so tired. I curled myself into a comfortable position and closed my eyes welcoming sleep with eagerness.

well here is another chapter...told you i was on a roll. lol. anyway i hope you enjoy (yes it is kind of a filler but it is important) lemme know whatcha think!