A/N Finally! I really started missing this but using free time (revision time lol) in my Business class and the little time I get on the PC I'm writing this. Don't expect the happy Naruto and Sasuke couple to last too long. This won't be falling in love at first sight cuz as those are thrills sometimes they can get repetitive and boring. Also expect Kiba and Naruto to be best friends because I find that pairing adorable even if its not sexual. Man, it seems like forever since I've written.

Naruto's POV

"Nice to see you again." Craig said, smiling.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably in the clothes. Why he had come back was obvious but he rather be anyplace but here. Taking a deep breath he threw up his own smile.

"Yeah, the pay is too good to resist."

"You have about 15 minutes before your shift starts, try meeting some of the boys. You'll be stuck with them for a while."

Naruto searched those clear blue eyes and felt no menace. Craig seemed like a genuinely good guy. It made no sense to have him here.

"Yeah, k."

He watched him walk away and then looked around. There was barely anybody in here and he knew none of them.

"HI!" A voice chirruped in his ear.

Almost jumping out of his skin, he spun around. The first thing he noticed was the eyebrows. They were friggin huge. Once he got past that he was actually able to look at the guy. His eyes were black and wide with curiosity as he looked back at Naruto. He had black hair in a mushroom cut and emanated the oddest feelings of a hyper charged battery.

"Hi . . ." Naruto said hesitantly.

"My name is Lee, Rock Lee!" He said excitedly.

"I'm Naruto, I just started yesterday."

The other boy, if humanly possible, got even more excited, "So that means you need someone to show you the ropes eh? Well I surely can do that job!"

"Thanks . . ."

Lee froze, and looked behind him with wide eyes. Naruto noticed the room had hushed and turned to see a man entering the room. He walked like a predator and every step thrummed with leashed energy. His hair was a spiky tumble of brown strands. Black eyes surveyed the room with a wolfish hunger. Instantly Naruto was intrigued. As the guy walked over he noticed how Lee shrank away,

"Who are you?" The guy asked abruptly, facing him.

"Naruto Uzumaki," He automatically answered.

'Hi Kiba." Lee squeaked quietly from behind Naruto.

Kiba glanced at Lee with annoyance in his eyes, "Hey."

After that Lee slipped away and left Naruto with Kiba. Everyone else in the room seemed to be fascinated with the confrontation. It was a suspended silence and did nothing to help his nerves. He had enough on his plate as it was.

"So why are you here?" Kiba asked,

Careful with his words, Naruto answered, "It's not ideal but I do need some cash."

"Saying something like that is like sticking a 'One Night for Cash' poster on your chest."

His stare hardened and he answered stiffly, "Yeah."

Kiba looked at him like he was surveying an intruder in his territory, "Come here."

Naruto followed him to the back room but stayed close to the door, ready to bolt. He had already learned his lesson and didn't want to make the same mistake.

"Who did it?" Kiba asked, now that they were alone.

"What?" Naruto asked, caught off guard.

"You're wary and seem uncomfortable in your own skin. Also I heard you were working for that high roller Edrick." His intuition surprised him.

"Why do you care?"

"Oh I don't," Kiba said nonchalantly, "I was just making an observation."

Kiba sat down on one of the chairs in the room. Now that Naruto was really looking around this room seemed sort of like a rec room. Where Kiba was sitting there was chairs grouped around a table. At the back of the room there was a small fridge and a sink. Opposite of the chairs and table there was a flat screen on the wall with two couches in front.

"This is the room for the best employees." Kiba said, watching him look around, "We have about 20 minutes to kill."

Instantly Naruto backed up and clenched his fists.

Kiba snorted, "Sheesh man, not like that. What I meant was do you want to play the PS3 with me?"

He relaxed slightly and cracked a smile, "If you're ready to be beaten."

"Ever play Call of Duty Black Ops before?"

"Yeah. a little bit."

"What's your prestige?"

He stopped to think, "I dunno, I haven't been on in a while."

"So," Kiba said, smiling, "You barely play and you expect to beat me?"

"Pretty much."

Kiba laughed and got up, "What're you betting?"

"What do you want?" Naruto asked, walking over to the couch and sitting down.

"If I win you have to tell me what happened." Kiba sat down beside him and tossed him a black controller.

"Well if I win you have to tell everyone you meet that you got defeated by the almighty Naruto Uzumaki." He said sarcastically, catching the remote.

"Deal." He held out his hand.

Naruto shook it laughing at the guy in his mind. He had put in over 500 hours, pretty boy Kiba didn't stand a chance.

Ten minutes later he was proven sorely wrong. Turned out Kiba had put in way more hours and had the uncanny ability to get headshots almost every time. Naruto gritted his teeth as he was yet again killed.

"Fuck." He swore and switched classes.

"So who is almighty?" Kiba taunted.

"Evan." He said sarcastically, referencing Evan Almighty.

Kiba laughed and effectively killed him again.

"Shit, how are you this good?!" Naruto asked, hiding behind a pile of crates.

"Practice and natural skill."

"Die!" He screamed and jumped out of his hiding place, shooting at Kiba.

"Nice one." Kiba said, respawning.

"So why're you working here?" Naruto asked,

"The pay's good and I seriously doubt any dumbass could get the jump on me. Nobody has anything against me. It's not like I'm some little girl."

"You make everything seem simple."

"It is when you have nothing tying you down."

"Then you're lucky," Naruto glanced over at Kiba, "Really lucky."

"And you're not paying attention," Kiba said as he killed him again.

"We have to go anyways." He replied, quitting with enthusiasm.

"Wait," Kiba got up as he did, "What did Ed do?"

"Sexual harassment," He mumbled angrily.

"The old man is known for it," He sighed, "I'll go talk with Craig."

"Why help me?"

"Just because I feel like it," Kiba eyed him lazily, "Do I have to have a reason?"

Naruto looked away, "No."

"Good, now pull yourself together, you've got 5 minutes." With that Kiba left the room.

He watched the other guy go and felt something surprising; happiness. In the weirdest place ever he felt a small spark of friendship. It was like a warm hug from a friend when you're down. Kiba seemed aloof and uncaring but he was going to talk to Craig for him. Maybe the whole Ed thing would be smoothed out. Honestly he didn't know what he'd do next time he saw him. Mostly it was the shame of letting the man get him. Even though it wasn't his fault he was guilty about how he reacted.

Looking back at the game screen once more he threw his controller onto the couch and left the room. As he was entered the changing room Lee appeared.

"That was Kiba!" He squeaked excitedly.

"Um, yeah." Naruto was still unsure of what was up with this guy.

"He's the best host here!"

That explained the guy's swagger, "Really?"

"Yeah, he gets paid most and people are always requesting him." Lee was practically hopping.

"So he has more pull with Craig?" Naruto asked, spirits lifting.

"Yup," He chirruped, "If anyone can get something done around here its him!"

"That's good," Really good for him that is, "But he can be a real -"

"A real what?" Kiba purred, breathing in his ear.

"Whatheholyfuohitsyou!" He yelped in one breath, spinning around.

Kiba smiled with an eyebrow raised,"Even with all I'm doing for you, you're talking behind my back?"

"I was gonna say nice guy," He lied.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Kiba patted him on the shoulder.

Lee seemed to be freaking out and gave a loud gasp.

"What's up with him?" Kiba asked.

"I don't know," Naruto said, wondering if he'd have to call an ambulance.

"I, I gotta go places, like, I - work!" Lee fumbled with his words until he ran off.

"Weird." Kiba said.

"So how'd your chat with Craig go?"

"Really good actually, apparently Ed has been causing some trouble before. But, seeing as Ed is such a rich and important guy the best he could do was assign me to him with you."

It was better than he could have hoped for, "Thanks Kiba."

"No problem, just watch your ass. And in this line of work I mean that quite literally."

"How can you joke like that?!" Naruto burst out, "You laugh about it like it'll never happen! How can you be so confident?!"

"Easy," Kiba said, "I can fight, I know what I'm doing."

"You on the other hand," He grabbed Naruto by the wrists and slammed him up against the wall making him gasp in shock, "You're small, slender, and kind. That kindness that will get you killed."

Naruto strained against him but Kiba was way stronger, "Let me go!"

Kiba instantly released him, "If that was someone with bad intention you'd be done for."

"You ass, don't treat me like an idiot." He rubbed his wrists and glared at him.

"That's what you don't get," Frustration colored his voice, "You are an idiot for even being here. You can't fight, can't figure out when you're in over your head, and seem to have the knack of enticing the strongest men in the industry."

"What?"

"Craig told me that Sasuke Uchihahad been stirring up trouble with Edrick Murrin. As well as Gaara from the Karicha Corp. One of the greatest corporations aside from the Uchiha Corp. Not to mention you are on great terms with the niece of the woman who owns here. If you were smart you'd fake your death, change your name, and book it."

"Thanks for insulting my intelligence," He snarled, stung, "And even if I did leave they'd hunt me down and killme."

"Then kill them first."

He glanced at Kiba sharply but there was no trace of joking in his eyes.

"Wha-"

"Come on, you don't want to leave Edrick waiting." Kiba interrupted and walked out of the room.

Annoyed, he followed him out. It was loud as usual and the crowd was just as dense. People parted way for Kiba though and he followed behind with ease. He felt kinda diminished under Kiba's presence but when they reached Ed's table he was not unhappy about it.

The man was there, looking as cold and superior as usual. When his gaze fell onto Kiba though his nose wrinkled.

"Oh, its the head whore," He sneered.

Kiba looked down at the seated man calmly, "What would you like tonight sir?"

"Nothing from you."

Naruto was surprised at his change in attitude. He was clearly in a sour mood, which put him in a much better mood. Also Kiba's calm professional demeanor gave him a sense of security.

"Would you like your regular sir?" Kiba asked politely.

"Fine, you go get it for me." He gestured at Kiba.

As Kiba walked past Naruto he whispered, "Don't let him near you. If he makes a move towards you run and get me."

Naruto nodded but felt like he was being doused in cold water. He felt naked now that his only protection was gone.

"So you came back." Ed stated, his voice suddenly light and friendly.

He didn't get fooled, if anything he was even more wary.

"Yes sir."

"No need to be formal."

"Sorry sir," His voice stayed in that weird formal state.

Ed looked annoyed, "Do you want another lesson?"

"No sir," His voice cracked slightly.

"Here sir," Kiba reappeared at that moment and placed the same bottle and glass in front of him.

Ed glanced at him annoyed, "You know I'm starting to realize what bad hostmanship is practiced here."

"Anything else you'd like sir?"

All in all, Naruto thought as he was getting undressed back at home, the night went fairly well. Kiba had stuck with him the whole time and Ed didn't bother him that much. It was nice and made him feel happy and safe. The fact that Sasuke had stirred up trouble with Edrick also made him happy. He was excited to see him tomorrow and really hoped Sasuke would be at school. For once he wasn't dreading going to high school. People there had gotten nicer ever since he'd been seen with Ino, Sasuke, and Gaara. At least nicer to his face that is but it was good enough for him.

Still Kiba's words lingered in his mind. Maybe it would be better to just run away. Escape Itachi and the debt. Maybe he'd miss Sasuke but wounds heal with time. Or that's just what he told himself. Because lying to himself that everything would work out was much better than facing the cold fact that he was digging his own grave.

A/N FINALLY! I'm like addicted to music box versions of vocaloids. More improtantly though I'd just like to say that I'm back. My labby is going in to be fixed tomorrow so with any luck I'll be back to using it. :)

The three R's: Read, Review, Remember. :D