Chapter 9

"... top ... ou... an't... Go!"

I watch as the sun lightly glares down at the two figures lying on my bed.

"Wake up!"

Both Naruto and Sasuke grunt in annoyance as they mumble something about an annoying zombie.

"Come on, you guys are gonna be late!"

Another thing I had gotten used to very easily was Naruto and Sasuke's habit to sleeping. Here. In my apartment. Don't they have their own, oh, I don't know... Home?

Though I doubt the Uchiha compound can be called... Homey. I shudder. I don't think a place where people were being massacred is an ideal environment for children to grow.

There were probably some vengeful ghosts or something lingering in the compound, as they subtly whisper about revenge. It's a wonder if there's any kid who doesn't turn psychotic from growing up in that depressing place.

Anyways, as I was saying about their sleeping habit.

I'm probably making a weird facial expression right now, thinking it over. I have to wonder; of all places to go, why would Naruto choose here?

Not that I'm complaining or anything. No... What made you think that? Cough, it's just...
Truth be told, it makes me slightly uncomfortable to know that Naruto trusts me.

To be trusted.

I frown.

Flashback

The loud pitter patter of the rain drops at a vigorous pace as it washes out the streets, creating a haze of humidity. The raindrops had distorted my vision from the window, but that did not stop me from watching.

The clouds above shadowed from the darkness of the night, although they have parted for the cracks of lightening. The darkness was offsetted by the sudden intense sparks of lightning. It crackles above with the booming of the thunder.

The sound makes me jump a bit, but what really jolted me was-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Those incessant knocks seem enthusiastically keen on trying to break my apartment door down.

I was a bit skeptical to open the door.

Come on, who wouldn't? It's like three something in the morning and the booming thunder outside sure helps a lot to 'light' things up.

Snort. Right.

Anyway, since the knocks doesn't seem like it wants to stop anytime soon, I had to force my wobbly legs to the door. I can always slam the door back at them.

But when a familiar small sob reaches my hearing range, I run and stumble a bit to the door.

A pair of rain soaked kids greet me.

I have no idea how to react at that moment. But another booming thunder kicks my brain to a start. So I invite them to come inside and suggest that they change their clothes before any of them catches a cold.

The sound of clothes rustling dulls out the shock a bit, and thus brings me back to the real problem at hand.

I don't think outright asking the reason why they're soaked to the bone and huddling in front of my apartment of all things is gonna cut it.

I mean, Naruto's own apartment is right next to mine, but Naruto- no doubt- chose to come here.

"Uh... Y'guys can use the bed for tonight... I'll just... Be... Over here..."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, none of them had moved from the spot.

I decide to ask Naruto. I doubt Sasuke is in the mood to answer me. No, he actually looks like he would fucking murder me alive in my sleep if I as much as breathe the wrong way.

"... Um... S-so... Is s-something the matter?"

Naruto shakes his head.

Rubbing the back of my now stiff neck, I silently push Naruto towards the bed. He flinches at my touch, but makes no move to actually brush me off.

The soft pad of our footsteps lightly echoes on the wooden floor as we near the bed.

Naruto tugs my sleeve a bit.

I tilt my head to look at him.

I want to cry and laugh at the same time, because what had I gotten myself into now? Seriously?

He looks broken in more ways than one.

"Please..."

A small plea leaves Naruto's mouth. A sigh escapes me before I can stop myself.

I continue to push them lightly to the bed, and they relent. I watch as they make themselves comfortable.

A thought filters in my mind;

They're kids. Kids with traumatized backgrounds. They're not normal kids I admit, but they're still kids.

"It's okay Naruto... Just... Uh... Sleep."

I end up awkwardly patting both of their still damp hair. Two set of eyes stare back at me. One black and another blue.

"Sleep, tomorrow... Tomorrow's gonna be a new day..." I lamely attempt to comfort them.

I'm actually still in shock right now. Though, that's probably the best I can do with my sleep deprived mind.

I mindlessly continue to stroke their heads as they slowly but surely drift off into sleep.

Flashback end

The sky is beaming, the soft fluffs of clouds have whitened. As of now, what had happened in the past had become a distant memory. I see the bright cheerful colours as they swipe across the sky. Rainbows do come after storms, after all.

Nothing had been explained to me of course. But I can sort of guess what it was about, though.

Nightmares.

Moving past that event, that's how I ended up having a pair of kids making a nest in my apartment. They even brought their own futon. [It's a Japanese movable mattress, one could call it that]

Noticing that none of them look like they'll wake up anytime soon, I give up and just let them get up on their own.

I was about to prepare a breakfast that no doubt will wake those two.

But a firm knock- again with the knocking!- interrupts me. Annoyed, I practically stomp over to the door.

"Hello!"

The stranger- I think he had told me his name- greets cheerfully.

"... Hello."

"Here, Hokage-sama asked me to give this to you."

The stranger holds out a fancy looking scroll. I stare and continue staring. He doesn't seem to mind my staring, actually he looks like he's enjoying it.

My hands hover a bit.

In truth, I'm more than a little hesitant to take it. Somehow, my guts are telling me that it's a bad idea. Like if I take it, it means I'm signing my own death warrant.

Why do I always jinx myself.

a/n: huh xD was thinking something entirely different but I feel like i needed to write how their friendship progress from the time skip and also i doubt if theres a kid that have a traumatic past doesnt have a nightmare or two.

No much action in tis chapta~ patience is all i can say~ xD

moving past that if u notice this can be categorize as AU because in canon neither does Naruto or Sasuke had meet before the academy and their first meeting was as a sparring partner [based on wiki] but I changed that and thank you to those who continuously review thank you guys *.* -bows

and thanks who newly follows ;D

Beta - Maple