Summary: Happily ever after is usually found at the end of a fairy-tale and rarely at the heart.

Chapter X

Hanabi had just made breakfast and everyone was sitting at the table waiting for their food. Naruto at the head of the table. Sora following to the left side, Yoruki to the right side, Kaji next to Sora and Hanabi next to Yoruki.

"So uncle Naruto…ready for your date with Neji-san?" Kaji asked amusingly while taking a sip from his orange juice.

"Papa's dating sensei?!" Sora screamed excitingly.

"Are you gonna marry him daddy?!" Yoruki asked just as excited.

"Its only friends hanging out!" Naruto protested while blushing.

"Don't be shy Naruto. And don't worry about coming home early. Stay out as long as you like." Hanabi winked at Naruto who blushed a darker shade of red.

After Naruto left for work Hanabi took Yoruki out for some girl time which left Kaji and Sora home alone. They had just finish taking a warm bath after a water balloon fight in the back yard. They were now watching Dragon Ball GT on DVD in the living room.

"I'm glad you're here Kaji. I missed you. Your really fun!"

"Thanks kit. Your great too. I've missed you like crazy. Grandma Mikoto is worried sick about you and Uncle Naruto. Mom and dad an gramps and gran gran and even grandpa Fugaku think everything will be alright soon. But we still miss you."

Sora's smile faded as he looked at his cousin. "What do you mean by 'everything will be alright soon'?"

"That soon things will go back to normal and you'll return to Konoha," answered Kaji.

"NO!" Sora stood up rapidly, "NO! going back to normal means going back to that horrible place with that stupid spoiled brat of a sister of mine and that….that…monster of a mother I was damned with! No! I don't want to go back. I want to stay here with papa and Yoruki and Hanabi!"

"Sora…you can't mean that." Kaji told his cousin sincerely.

"I do mean it Kaji. I hate them and I never want to see them again!" Sora retorted without hesitation.

"But they want to see you. They miss you. Both of them." Kaji wasn't saying this for Sasuke or Yue but for Sora. Sora needs to feel loved and never be hated.

"That's a lie!" Sora protested.

"Its not. I go visit them often. I see how they act ever since you've left. Yue actually wore overalls and pigtails. She asks about you and Uncle Naruto whenever I go over." Kaji looked over at his cousin who still hadn't said anything. But Sora still looked angry. Then suddenly Kaji remembered something, "You left Mr. Bear in Konoha. Once when I went over aunty was asleep on the couch with him in his arms. He was holding it tightly and protectively. And he almost never lets go of it…because that's the last thing he has to remember you by. He misses you."

There was a short silence before Sora answered in a voice dripping with malice, "Well with any luck, papa will marry Neji-sensei and I won't ever have to worry about papa ever returning to that…that…Uchiha!"

As Friday night got closer and closer Naruto just got more nervous while Sora avoided being alone with Kaji. Spending as much possible time with Naruto, convincing him how good Neji was for him . Naruto suspected something but didn't act on it. Finally the big day arrived and everyone wished him luck. Naruto took his time getting to Neji's. He was still very nervous. But once he picked up Neji and saw how Neji was just as nervousas him and decided that he needed to be calm about it if he wanted this to go anywhere. But as the night went on the tension in the air disappeared by the minute.

The movie was good. Naruto decided while driving that it's be more relaxing to go to one of those drive in theaters than to be in a room crowded with immature teenagers and really young adults. The movie playing was a horror one. 30 days of Night. Now this is an awesome vampire movie. The kind where the vampires are what they were before twilight. Blood hungry monsters that die with the sun. There were a few parts, that weren't really as much as scary as just surprising, that Neji had suddenly grabbed his hand. He looked over and saw him blush and quickly retreated his hand. Naruto retook his hand and gently held it and gave a gentle squeeze.

The ending was worth talking about for a very long time. It was just…wow. When they had finally arrived at the restaurant they had finally fully discussed the best parts of the movie.

The dinner was simple even though Naruto insisted on taking Neji to a 5 star restaurant. The conversation was light and relaxing. It seemed like they were in their own little world where nothing but them mattered. But finally they finished and on their way home. Naruto parked in front of the Hyuuga estate but no one made a move to leave the car. They were in silence for a good five minutes just sitting there. Finally Naruto decided to break the silence

"Hey Neji…how do you feel about surprises?"

"I find them unexpected and I love them, why?"

Naruto smirked and put his car into drive. They drove for a while until they ended up at the beach. Naruto and Neji stepped out and Naruto led Neji to the sand. He told Neji to hold still for a moment as he went to collect a few things. Naruto gathers some stones and sticks and used some dry grass and his lighter to start a fire. Then Naruto sat next to Neji.

"Look at that moon," Neji commented when Naruto sat down. Naruto looked at the sky and observed its beauty. It was barely a little after dark or the sky wasn't black yet but a dark blue getting darker. The moon was out though and boy was it full.

"Sometime when I see the moon like that I feel sorry for it," Neji said.

"I don't think you should. The moon attracts people outside to look at it. So even when the stars are missing the moon isn't alone. Besides look," Naruto said as he pointed next to the moon where a single star was shining, "Its not alone tonight."

There was a pause before Neji asked, "Was that how you felt when you first ran off with Sora?" Hanabi forced Naruto to tell her everything and she then told Neji later on.

Naruto stole a side glance at Neji and then stared at the moon. Thoughts of Sasuke and Yue flooding his mind. Naruto had always been Sasuke's sun and Sasuke had always his moon. Seeing the moon alone with a single star near it made him think of his family that he felt in Konoha.

"No…" Naruto took in a breath before continuing, "I felt very isolated. Like I was back to being a kid in captivation. Cold and unable to trust anyone. I swear I would've gone insane if it weren't for Sora. I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed him. As my anchor and reason. If not I would've ran back to Sasuke on my knees and begged him to be with me. But I can't. it reminds me too much of…" Naruto couldn't continue. No matter how much time has passed words about that time and place always died in his mouth.

Neji sensed Naruto's discomfort and looked into his eyes. "This is the first time you've said so much about your time as a child isn't it?" Naruto nodded.

"It might be all the years and training from the Hyuuga elders but…maybe its time you talk about it. I'll listen. I won't judge you no matter what you've been through. This is something that has a tight hold on you Naruto and its causing you pain. Only when you've let everything out can you really move foreword." there was a pause and Naruto remained silent. "Please trust me Naruto."

At that Naruto took a deep breath and closed his eye. He leaned his head on Neji's shoulder, not that he minded. It took a few minutes for Naruto to say anything. Finding the words to describe that hell…they seemed to be found in a language not meant for humans. But slowly he collected his thought and memories that up until now were forbidden to appear in his mind. And he began.

"I…never knew anything but that horrible place. As a child and younger he would have someone else look after me but he would always be there. I wasn't allowed outside. Or anywhere near that lead outside. The place was like a dungeon or basement or something. Apparently I was quite popular because he was very jealous when it came to me. As I got older less and less people we allowed to come in contact with me until finally he was the only one I saw…

"I was always treated better than most prisoners. That is until I became 9. Apparently one of the guards wanted to have their way with me and he caught wind of it…" Naruto paused and Neji learned that when he says he he's talking about his kidnapper, unable to yet say his name. "He called an assembly and made everyone there watch as he tortured the guard to death. It was horrible but none of us were allowed to look away.

"After that I was ignored more than usual. Afraid to make too much contact and be punished my him. I actually did the stupid mistake and told him I didn't like being alone. That I wanted my family and to make friends. I cursed my stupidity for years. That same night he dragged me to his room…he demanded to know what I was missing. What he was denying me of. Didn't I get 3 meals? Didn't I get clothes? Wasn't I sheltered? What more could I want…

"I wanted to go outside," Naruto let out a deep breath while Neji kept silent and then he continued, "Everything turned to hell after that. He slapped me across the face. Then he…he abused me. Sexually…physically…and mentally.

"Instead of being allowed to roam around like I used to I was placed in a cell. It had four walls, one of them being the bars. The cell was empty besides me and a cot. He'd come in every night and…" Naruto let out a shaky breath and stopped for a moment.

"I was different from the rest," Naruto continued, "I was more rebellious. More outspoken. Mostly because I was favored and had special benefits that were stripped from me at this point. So naturally whenever he said something I didn't agree with I would speak out. And that got me beaten up. I remember having broken arms, legs, wrist and being purple…It was horrible…

"But even after all the physical pain I think the mental abuse was the worst. He kept telling me how he found me abandoned because no one wanted me. That he was all I had because no one else would want me. Who would want me? A demon? His pet name for me. He told me how I could sit there and wait but it'd be useless. Why was I hoping? Who was I hoping for? I didn't know anyone from the outside. I didn't know the outside! He told me to stop hoping because it'll just be a bigger disappointment when I end up rotting in that cell. After that it just got very inhuman. He had me chained up to the cell so all I could to was wallow up in my own filth and sorrow. The only time that I was allowed to wash myself was when they were too disgusted to do it themselves!" Naruto yelled in anger. Neji didn't know what to say. He knew that Naruto kept his past taboo and never spoke about it so all anyone knows was that he was kidnapped. But to hear the events themselves…Neji was holding back tears. Neji heard Naruto give off another shaky breath and knew that Naruto must feel so…confused. Not knowing how to feel. Angry, relief, depression, hope, worthless…and the list goes on. Neji hugged Naruto to him as close and as tightly as he could. Naruto was reluctant at first but finally gave in and cried. Neji didn't care how long he held Naruto but Naruto's aura was so depressing and relieving at the same time Neji cried with him.

After what seemed like an eternity Naruto and Neji began to recompose themselves. Naruto wiped his tears and scoffed, "God, look at me. 26 years old and crying…"

"Its not healthy to keep negative emotions bottled up. And from what I saw you haven't dealt with your past in a long time."

"Actually this is the first time since I've escaped. I haven't cried consciously in 17 years, besides the time I was 15," Naruto stated.

"Consciously?" Neji asked.

Naruto nodded, "I would sometimes wake up from a nightmare and I'd feel something wet on my face. And sometimes, when I'm alone, a feeling of true melancholy overcomes me and I start to cry. But its so off to me that I don't register it as crying until I see myself with tear stained cheeks."

"It is weird. You seem like a very emotional person but with what you've been through it only makes sense that you would reject emotions like that," Neji mused.

"Yes. Though the beach helped," Naruto said which caught Neji's attention.

"The beach?" Neji repeated.

"Yeah. One of my cuffs was loose so I managed to break free. And one of the guards took pity on me, everyone knew how evil he could be, so just imagining what it was like to be his favorite…" Naruto sighed deeply, "Anyway he left the cell open for me and whispered to me how to escape. I was beyond grateful. When I ran outside for the first time in my life, the sensation…it was amazing! But I couldn't enjoying. I knew I had to run and that's what I did that night. Because we were specially trained I was able to run farther and longer than most common people. And when I stopped I ended up at a beach.

"I had run all night. And because that place was underground there wasn't ever any sunlight. Believe it or not I was paler than you. That was the first time in my life I had seen the sun. And a sunrise at a beach no less. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Sitting in the warm sand completely exhausted, the sun rising, it was nothing to me but a big ball of fire. The lights in the sky that it caused were amazing though. Reds and orange, pinks and purples too. And blue. The way the waves crashed on the shore creating foam and then pulling back. And the way the sunlight would hit the water making it glitter and shine. It was empty and perfect. It made the beach my ideal happy place. So whenever I had problems I would always find myself at a beach.

"I basically lived on a beach for the next 6 years. Running, playing and just soaking in the sun. Does a body good. Even during the winter I could just sit on a rock and watch the frozen water."

"I remember hearing from Hanabi that when it came to personal health you didn't really care," Neji commented.

"I wasn't taught to look after myself. I was taught survival techniques but not the way common society taught. And I guess I adapted. But I had help. Shikamaru was there standing next to me ever since he met me. About a year later. First it was just curiosity but then we formed a bond that really mattered to me. He was my first friend. And he was loyal and trustworthy." Naruto said and Neji nodded in understanding. They had separated when Naruto began to explain his experience after he had run away. But they scooted closer and Naruto wrapped his arm around Neji's waist while Neji leaned his head on Naruto's shoulder.

"What now?" Naruto asked.

"Tell me anything and everything about you. What makes Naruto Uzumaki tick." Neji said.

"There's nothing really. Besides Shikamaru the only thing left was my family. Shikamaru helped me find them. It was so…awkward."

"Tell me about it." Neji said.

"I had been friends with Shikamaru for a few years now and we both knew how intelligent the other was. I never really thought about my future much but I knew Shikamaru worried. What I didn't know was that he was looking for my family. One day he takes me to the police station and tells me to wait there. No matter how much I asked me never told me. Suddenly and blonde man barges in and screams, "WHERE IS HE?!" over and over until someone leads him off somewhere. that's when I look over to Shikamaru and see him smiling ear to ear. Finally he says, "I found them Naru, I found your family!" I didn't know what to say until they lead me to the same room as that blonde man. When we were in there I knew immediately we were related. We looked alike, especially the hair. Neither of us knew what to say and we slowly approached each other. And like a puzzle everything clicked together and made sense. We hugged each other and cried. He kissed my cheeks and forehead so many times. I asked so many questions that were awkward to asked.

15 year old Naruto was taken to the hospital for his first check up since birth. His father never leaving his side. While the doctor left to take the blood and urine tested it gave both blondes a moment alone.

"So…dad, what's your name? what's my last name? is my name even Naruto? The one you wanted for me I mean?" Naruto's head was bursting with questions. He looked at his father who appeared ready to cry. Naruto thought he said the wrong thing and bowed his head in shame and bit his lip.

The older blonde cupped his chin and forced him to look up at him, tears running nonstop. "My name is Minato. We are Uzumaki and yes your birth name me and your mother wanted for you was Naruto." Naruto heard his father speak with such sincerity that he understood that the tears were for joy not pain. But then suddenly it clicked, "Mother?"

"Yes mother. You'll be meeting her shortly. And your brother." Naruto just got nervous. He was going to meet the rest of his family. What if they didn't like him? Would they not want a child with so much drama? Would they accept him?

"They'll love you." Minato assured him. "Your mothers name is Kushina but call he momma or mommy. She's a thing of beauty. Long red hair and amazing green eyes. Your brother, Kyuubi, takes after her. He older than you by a few years. And as you can probably tell you take after me."

"Then I guess I must look pretty good after I'm clean," Naruto joked and Minato chuckled.

Soon the doctor came in and told them the results would be back in a few days but they didn't find a reason to keep Naruto in the hospital. Plus they knew that there was a reunion to be made. They just gave him a few antibiotics and he was discharged.

On the drive home everything was so unreal. His family was apparently rich. His dad's car was amazing and the house was even more amazing, it wasn't even a house it was a mansion. But as the car came to a stop he held his breath.

"Everything will be fine." his father assured him and they stepped out and made it towards the mansion. His father opened the door and let him in. immediately he saw two beautiful faces. Again it seemed like time had stopped because nothing and nobody moved. He came back to reality when the redheaded woman, his mother, embraced him. He felt safe in her hold. Something he's never felt before. He cried along with her with the occasional yelps of, "mommy". after they'd calm down Naruto was introduced to his brother, Kyuubi Uzumaki.

"Being reunited with Kyuubi was the most emotional probably. He felt so bad that he wasn't there for me. He promised me he'd never let anything bad happen to me ever again so with me going through a divorce like this has probably affected him more than anyone else."

"Wow. Does anyone else know about this?" Neji asked.

"No, you're the first." Naruto said and Neji smiled. He looked up at the sky and saw it was getting lighter. He looked towards the ocean and can began to see where the sun will begin rising.

"I can't believe we talked all night. I've never done that before." Neji confessed.

"I'm sorry." Naruto said.

"Don't be. I liked it. Especially because you opened up to me," Neji said and kissed Naruto on the cheek.

Naruto smiled and held Neji tighter as they watched the sunrise together. By the time they were ready to leave the fire was already out but just as a precaution Naruto put some sand over it. They got back in the car and Naruto drove to Neji's house. Once there he walked Neji to the door step and kissed him lightly on the lips. Neji blushed and asked, "You want to come in?"

"I really shouldn't," Naruto replied.

"Want to do it anyway?" Neji asked with a coy smile. Naruto smirked and walked in.

Two weeks passed and soon Kaji was on his way back to Konoha. He enjoyed his time with his Uncle and even stuck around for the time Neji came over for dinner. He had to admit that they made a nice family. He mentally wished his aunty Sasuke good luck but most of all he wished happiness for his uncle. He waved to all of them as he got on the train. It was a very long ride but when he finally got off and headed towards the platforms full of people he was tackled into a hug by his father. His mother followed by inspecting him and asking him if he was fine. Followed by his father asking about the trip and leading him to the car while carrying his sons things. Kaji was about to start answering when he see's his aunty Sasuke holding Mr. Bear in his arms and cousin Yue next to him waiting near the car with his grandma Mikoto.

I'm sorry for any errors, This was finished and posted around 2:50 a.m. so I'm not that awake and capable to catch all mistakes. But I really wanted to Updates.

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