Boruto wandered the forest. The Sun had gone down some time ago and it was dark, it was a completely different experience to be wondering the dense foliage when there was almost no light. The only thing keeping him from wandering around in complete darkness was the moonlight shining through occasional patches.

It wasn't like he was scared or anything but this was the first time he had been truly alone. He hadn't noticed before because of the adrenaline that had rushed through his system when he had first run off, but now that the adrenaline had worn off he felt cold. He was completely alone…

He didn't know what to do or where to go. He hadn't really thought things through, he had run off in the heat of the moment after all, but he'd be damned if he would crawl back to his parents with his tail between his legs.

As this angry thought passed through his mind a familiar voice grabbed his attention.

"Boruto?" a cold hand took a hold of Boruto's shoulder and on reflex he pulled out a kunai and tried to strike.

His kunai was met with another kunai, the friction between the blades causing a spark to ignite.

Mitsuki was there smiling at him, a bit entertained by the fact that Boruto was enough on edge to attempt to attack him.

"Don't pop up out of nowhere like that!" He held a hand up to his chest grasping the cloth over his heart, "What are you doing here anyway?" Mitsuki arched a brow a smirk almost playing at his lips. But he opted to smile instead.

"I could ask you the same question~." the teal haired teen smiled as he saw Boruto blush in embarrassment.

"It's kind of a long story..." Boruto scratched the back of his head as he looked away from Mitsuki's piercing gaze.

"I have time." Mitsuki smiled at Boruto in a reassuring way making the blond feel safe.

"It's a big mess, I'll explain later..." Mitsuki nodded accepting Boruto's response, for now, "What about you, why are wandering around in the forest at night?" Mitsuki seemed a bit surprised by the sudden questioning.

"I'll explain about that later." Boruto narrowed his eyes at the answer, yes he had said the same to Mitsuki but he had asked a question, "How about you, shouldn't you be at home right now? I thought you were grounded."

"I still am..." Boruto shoved his hands into his pockets, "But there's no way I'm going back." Boruto sat down cross legged on the forest floor as he crossed his arms, showing his unwillingness to change his mind. Mitsuki found this entertaining.

"Where will you spend the night?"

"Beats me…" Boruto looked up at Mitsuki, "all I know is that I'm not going back." Mitsuki smirked at the preteen's bold statement.

"If that's the case, then stay with me." the teal haired teen held a hand out for the blond preteen to take.

"Are you sure?" Boruto took the offered hand and stood, "Won't your parents ask questions or think I'm imposing?" Boruto dusted his pants, it wasn't like he actually cared if he was really imposing but there was no way that he would get thrown under the bus by some nosy adults he had never met.

"You're not imposing and no one will question why you're at my home." There was no further explanation offered to Boruto besides that small piece of information, "Let's get going." Mitsuki grabbed Boruto's wrist, but before the teal haired teen could start dragging him, Boruto pulled his wrist away all the while looking troubled.

"I have to do something first." Mitsuki nodded and didn't pry any further. He followed Boruto silently.

...

It wasn't a big surprise for Mitsuki to see that Boruto had gone home.

"Wait here," was whispered into his ear as he could feel Boruto's warm breath tickle his ear.

And just as he was told he waited outside the Hokage's home for the blond preteen to return.

…

Boruto sneaked into the house through a window and tiptoed to the kitchen smiling once he reached the fridge.

He looked at a photo of Himawari on top Naruto's shoulders with Boruto and Hinata holding his hands. He let out a quiet sigh as he placed the note he had written on his way home on the fridge and held it up with a dinosaur magnet - this was all too sad for him, the little dinosaur magnet had been bought by Himawari for Boruto's birthday. She had given it to him as a present.

"Brother…" a small voice called out. He had thought maybe it must have been the nostalgic feeling that had made him imagine things but he knew that the small steps he had heard were real.

Boruto turned around to see Himawari standing behind him. She had her stuffed panda in hand, "you're home!" she smiled brightly as she ran upt to Boruto and embraced him. Boruto accepted her embrace and he kissed her head.

"I'm sorry…" he frowned against her hair, "but I'm not staying" Boruto shifted as he cried onto her shoulder and held her tighter. Her small heart shattered as she heard her big brother's words. She stumbled back as tears filled her eyes.

"Boruto…" she gritted her teeth as she activated her byakugan "I won't let you leave… I can't!" She took her stance and activated her eight trigrams. Boruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Himawari, I love you too much to hurt you, so I ask you as your brother, please go back to bed." Tears threatened to leave his eyes but her fought them back. The emotions he was feeling at the moment were overwhelming him, he needed to stay strong.

"But if I let you leave… I'll never get to see you again!" she retorted knowing very well that she was right. She was young but she wasn't stupid. Himawari had heard plenty of stories of the relationship his father had with Sasuke, she didn't want her brother to run off like her uncle had. She lowered her stance and walked towards her brother wanting to embrace him once more.

"I don't want you to leave again, please don't go" she had hated how he had left during dinner. It had been unbearable even if it had been for only a few hours. There was a deep dark feeling looming over her brother that she just couldn't shake. She cried as she fell into Boruto's arms. He held her close and kissed her head, trying to convince her to let him go.

"I'll write you letters, I promise, but I need to do this… I need to think..."

"Can you at least stay until I fall asleep?" she begged as she wiped her tears on his jacket. He nodded slowly and picked her up. He walked upstairs and tucked her in bed as he sat at the edge.

"I love you brother…" she said as she yawned and held her brothers hand.

He sat at the edge of her bed and held her hand until she finally fell fast asleep. Tears long dry on her cheeks, one of the only clues he had been here. The other piece of evidence being the note he had left on the fridge.

"I love you too." he whispered sweetly before he stood up and walked towards his own room.

…

He heard a small subtle cough behind him as he packed his clothes.

"Boruto…" Boruto turned around to see his mother standing behind his father, holding his arm, looking like she was holding some thoughts back. Boruto sighed heavily, he didn't need this right now.

"Don't stop me…" he finished packing and threw on his backpack.

"Be careful sport" Naruto lifted his fist to Boruto and gave him a small smile. Boruto fist bumped his father and glanced at his mother. The tears won the battle as they escaped their prison, Boruto embraced his mother and cried on her "I love you mom."

...

Boruto jumped out his room's window and walked along the roof's tiles trying to be careful and make as little noise as possible.

He was only carrying essentials in a backpack slung over his shoulders. Hs jumped off the roof landing next to Mitsuki with a soft thud.

"You're all done?" asked Mitsuki as he pushed himself off the wall on the side of Boruto's house's walls he was leaning against.

"Yeah."

"Then let's get going." With that said they left at a fast pace. Boruto spared the house a last glance before he chased after Mitsuki.

...

The two entered Mitsuki's apartment for the night as Mitsuki made Boruto a makeshift bed from the couch, it was only a spare pillow and a blanket.

"We'll sleep here and leave first thing in the morning" Boruto stated as he placed his bag near the door.

Mitsuki ignored him as he entered the kitchen "Hungry?" he asked as the fridge opened. Boruto shook his head and lied down on the couch "nah."

With that the pale boy closed the fridge and crept in his bed, both of them drifting to sleep by the sound of the wind outside.