Summer Wind
Chapter 10

Naruto woke up. He didn't even notice the sound of the shower this morning, already becoming numb to what it implied. He sat up cross-legged and stared drearily at the crumpled bed cover. He had opened his eyes feeling like someone should have been beside him, but of course, he was alone. He looked up at the shelf by his bed, where the picture of team seven sat, carefully kept clear of dust. He sighed.

It was six months since Sasuke had finally returned, but the raven-haired boy stayed holed up in his own house. Naruto called him every now and then. He never answered. Naruto knocked on his door whenever he happened to be walking close by. He never answered. Naruto once saw him getting groceries at the store, looking pale and sallow, and called to him. He didn't answer, and for some reason Naruto had found himself incapable of chasing after him.

That night he had dreamed of Sasuke, walking away, only his back visible to the lonely, blonde boy. He had called to him, again and again, and he had never answered. Hands had tried to hold him back and he had to scream and fight to keep them away from him. Eventually the dream had faded in a wash of warmth; a nice change to the usual end of his waking up cold and sweating at some ungodly hour. But still, he had woken up alone…although his bed seemed to be possessed of a comfortable warmth this morning that somehow settled his writhing stomach.

Kyuubi came out of the shower, and Naruto glanced up. Kyuubi had stopped in the doorway to the bathroom, steam escaping and billowing out behind him, his yellow eyes fixed on Naruto.

"Sleep well kit?"

Naruto blushed, for some reason. "It wasn't the best." And why did he tell the truth?

Kyuubi face didn't change, for the gaze all along had been full of worry. "And how are you doing now?"

Naruto shrugged, trying to dismiss the attention he had not meant to get. "Better than usual."

Kyuubi seemed pleased, and finally looked away, going over to the dresser and pulling open the drawer designated for only his clothing (of which he now had several outfits).

"You still intend to find a lover?" Naruto asked.

Kyuubi looked sideways at him as he pulled on a shirt. "It is starting to look hopeless isn't it?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't really know anyone that fills your requirements."

"It's not like if you did you would say so."

Naruto smiled. "That's true too."

Kyuubi smirked. They ate breakfast in general, but not awkward, silence, and then they went out again. They walked down the streets with no real purpose, the dusty heat of summer beating on their shoulders, carried around to their faces by a lazy wind.

"So…you've actually been less volatile then I expected." Naruto said.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Well…you're Kyuubi…I expected you to be angry and mean…I mean, that's how you were any other time I talked to you…"

"For one thing I'm very weak now, so I have no place trying to be tougher than I currently am. And another, I was restless within you, compared to that this isn't so bad…I'm fairly content."

Naruto looked at Kyuubi incredulously but pressed the matter no further. Instead he brought up something else, flipping subjects happily in his badly-focused mind;

"You were wrong about Kurenai-sensei. She's not married."

"She will be. I didn't explain at the time, but it's not that she's married it's that she's found that one person I was talking about."

"Oh…I see I guess…how can you tell?"

"It's just a difference in her smell."

"How can you smell all this stuff?"

"I can't explain it. It's just how demons work…especially of my breed."

"Weird…"

"Not really."

Naruto was silent again, and Kyuubi watched him think with a small grin on his face. He let the boy keep up his silent reverie until his expression became more drawn. His gaze falling blankly on the street.

"What are you pondering so heavily kit?"

Naruto blushed, and tried to force some cheer into his face. "N-nothing…just the usual stuff."

Kyuubi face grew more serious. "Don't worry about him kit. That boy is horribly troubled."

Naruto looked away from Kyuubi. "Can we go home yet?"

"…Sure."

And so they went.

Hey, so, I realized I haven't gotten much critical feedback (which, in the long run, is good) but if anyone has some constructive criticism I'd highly appreciate advice! Either way, keep reading! I love hearing from you all!