A/N: I don't have a Beta so read at your own risk. Wait, was that a hiatus for me? lol, okay. Idek, here's this chapter...R&R. Naruto Shippuden's ED (Kotoba no iranai yakusoku), LISTEN...I mean, read the lyrics and meaning and Listen. T_T [Credits to original creator for cover image art.]

P.S. You have no idea how close I get to making this into a crack fic each time I write. But I won't do that. Neither am I killing anyone. I'm not Inhuman, not like that anyway. Heh.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any relative characters. They're property of Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning: Slash. IDK. More Uchiha-ness. You no Like, You No Read!

Chapter 11 ~ Unexpectedly, Momentarily.

Naruto walked forward, rubbing off some leftover sleep from his eyes and pulled the doors open. He stood frozen for a second as he took in the fact that Itachi was standing there in what appeared to be yesterday's clothes. He swallowed his anxiety but it was hard to control when he was being stared at with those captivating eyes.

"Uhm…" He was still waiting for him to say something. There was no way he was letting him inside.

Itachi took in Naruto's appearance with a simple tilt of his head and raised an eyebrow. Something passed between them and the blond pouted, there was no way he was going to be the one to speak first. He tapped his foot, impatiently, one hand ready to close the door. Itachi did a mental roll of eyes and sighed.

"Naruto…I know this is bad timing." He began…

"You think?" The blond knew it was snappy but dammit he deserved time to recover.

Itachi dared him to not let him finish this time and the blond shrank visibly. He was curious to see what he was up to anyway. "This is important."

"You have 30 seconds before I close this door." He had narrowed his eyes and Itachi put one hand at the edge of the door.

"It's not about us…"

Naruto looked at the Uchiha quizzically. He needed some sleep all right. 'Just what was he doing here at this hour anyway?' He scanned the Uchiha's bedraggled state again and sighed letting him in.

"Mention anything about us, and I won't hesitate to push you out." He was serious, Itachi could tell by his tone. Naruto closed the door behind him and motioned for him to sit on the couch. All traces of sleep were gone; he was wide awake as he watched Itachi take in the surroundings.

The Uchiha was impressed with the décor of the house but what caught his eyes was the bowl of cereal and Naruto's suit jacket on the couch. Something didn't match up indeed; to affirm his previous notions he looked at the blond questioningly.

"Did you really—?"

"Yes, I thought it was a work day." Naruto passed him a look of distaste.

A smile tugged at Itachi's lips recalling the blond's foolishness that he had witnessed before as well. He loosened his tie from around his neck and looked up to Naruto who was now offering him water.

"I can offer you coffee but I think you need sleep more dearly." It didn't go unseen by Itachi how the blond's fingers escaped his touch as he was handed the glass.

"Hm, okay. Do as you please." He spoke with a strange contempt and smile as he downed the glass of water; shifting on the couch sitting across from him. Then his expression took a more serious turn. "Naruto, have you heard from your parents?"

Naruto gave him a bizarre look. "What do you mean, they must be at work." Itachi was still staring at him. "I know it's their day-off but they take work seriously, it'd be no surprise for me…"

"Well, let's just say your parents aren't the only ones missing."

"What?" Naruto slammed his hands at the table, refusing to believe that something had gone awry. He pulled out his phone and started dialling for their numbers. It went straight to voicemail. His brow furrowed when the fifth call didn't get through.

"I'm sure it's nothing serious." The blond was poorly concealing his own concern. "Did you try anything else? Does Sasuke know? We should check their office." He knew that it must be serious if someone like Itachi was concerned about it; besides, he wasn't one to prank people like this.

"Yeah, I was supposed to meet Father personally to deliver reports from our meeting…" He paused, it seemed Naruto remembered how exactly the meeting had ended. He cleared his throat to pull him out of his reverie. "But he wasn't there at our inland house, what's strange was that all the papers pending were just lying on his desk. He never leaves work pending, except…"

"Sasuke isn't picking up." Naruto dialled his number in hopes of reaching him but he was either dead asleep or ignoring him because of his blind date. Itachi watched the blond stare at the phone in his hands with disdain.

"I wouldn't want to worry Sasuke until I have a solid grasp on this. You're the only one I could come to eventually. Although, I'm sure my secretary is fretting right now due to my unexplained absence."

"Then, at least tell him where you are." Itachi sighed, giving in. He gave it no further thought and flipped out his phone sending a hasty text. His calm and controlled demeanour was slipping.

He spoke carefully with his eyes fixed on something distant. "I don't think we should make this a public matter." He shifted his gaze to the blond who was caught staring at him, he flinched. "Let me check properly first."

Naruto nodded, shying away and scratched his cheek nervously. "Then, we should call Kakashi, he is the head of PR and security. Also, he's a family friend to both of us." Itachi nodded his approval; he didn't seem bothered at all.

…

"He's taking the next flight home. I think he'll be here in a couple of hours." Itachi pressed the end button, glad that the situation hadn't digressed into a worst case scenario. He rolled a shoulder to ease his pain.

"Okay, now that that's done." Naruto shifted in his seat and got up without a word. He returned with a change of clothes in one hand and thrust them to his chest, he caught it awkwardly. "Go take a shower,… or something..." He scratched the back of his head and retired to his own room. "I'm going to take a nap before the closet pervert gets here." He waved lazily, hazy with lack of sleep.

"Okay..." He said, his voice barely reaching the retreating blond. Itachi looked at the clothes in his hands and stood rooted for a few minutes. He was never told which room to use. And there was no help to be found in the house. So he wandered around shortly before he found one – it was Naruto's bedroom.

Itachi walked in with padded footsteps, crossing rooms to find the blond snoring lightly, slumped on his bed. The peaceful sight of him sleeping on the bed brought back memories of their house when he'd watch him sleep. His lips curved in a soft smile as he watched entranced. Eventually, he walked up to him and gently caressed his head; his hair was as soft as ever between his fingers. Naruto shifted in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible and the Uchiha backed away slowly.

He didn't want to disturb him so he silently apologized and thought it best to use his shower quickly as possible. He came out minutes later wearing a black cashmere sweater, white shirt and beige pants. He found them quite comfortable and less orange than he remembered. He ran one hand through his slightly damp hair, he shook them loose as he scanned the room and found a plush chair across the room.

He sat back, and thought of the recent string of events. He had confessed to Naruto but apparently it was lacking something. 'Hm.' His heart told him he should keep trying. Naruto was the only lover he saw fit, he was willing to offer him all his trust but he didn't know how to go about it. He couldn't act recklessly; he could see the blond was at his limits. He sighed, watching the blond from a safe distance. It felt like he would break the trance if he woke him up. The sigh was so serene for once he felt free from all worries. Seeing him sleep so peacefully always calmed him down. Right now, he felt what he was missing those days without him. Something he couldn't place his finger on. But, he knew now.

Itachi looked around briefly; there were a couple magazines and newspapers lying on the nearest table. He blinked, turning his head at the sight of a familiar blond he caught on one of the tabloids. He found it hard to concentrate since sleep was taking over. He hadn't slept properly ever since the blond had eloped with the majority of his heart and control with him. He smiled at that thought but it faltered when his eyes landed on the newspaper, it was Naruto…in the arms of someone else. Someone Else, looking at him with those eyes. He rubbed his face with one hand; his eyes were drooping with lack of sleep. He blinked trying to keep his focus but before he could form a proper response, sleep took over.

…

Naruto was roused from his sleep by his sleep by the sound of someone raping their doorbell. He rubbed his eyes. 'Ugh…' "Wait!" It struck his half-conscious mind that it would be none other than Kakashi. He jumped off the bed and ran to get the door, slapping himself awake. He yelped in shock when he saw Itachi on the chair, sound asleep. A frown marred his pretty face and he blinked furiously. 'What..' "What in the world?" He murmured grabbing a light blanket from his bed and walked up to the Uchiha with bare feet on the linoleum floor.

Naruto leaned close to the raven with his lips tugged in a confused look. The doorbell sounds were pushed to the back of his mind. The blanket clutched in his hand, he stood rooted on the spot and heaved a sigh. After he had tucked him in, well he had just draped him with the blanket but it felt the same to him, he straightened himself and went to get the door.

…

"Yes, Kushina-san." Kakashi laughed nervously, tapping his foot as he stood on the doorstep of the Namikaze mansion. "I'm at the door right now, don't worry…"

There was a strict response on the other line with a sickly sweet threat and he gulped. 'Women can be really scary sometimes.'

"No, I didn't forget to tell them." He rolled his eyes and responded weakly; one hand was still busy ringing the doorbell. "…Yes, rest assured." He sighed and shook his head as the call ended.

The sound of the door opening caught his attention and he perked up. "Well, if it isn't Naruto!" He reached for a hug with the joyful curve of his only visible eye. Naruto ignored the hug with narrowed eyes and waved him in.

Kakashi took in the familiar atmosphere of the house. Though, it felt empty. Everything seemed to be in order. Well then, he couldn't afford to disappoint Kushina so he plopped down on the couch and pulled out a novel. Naruto was ticked off and watched him with his arms crossed across his chest. He had just deposited his duffel bag on the couch and was staring at him pointedly.

Kakashi propped his feet on the table, ignoring the glare and flipped a page. "So, where's Itachi?" Naruto looked away but it was seen by his previous mentor. "He's sleeping right now…"

"Hm, he must've been tired from all that…" The gray-silver haired man continued while gesturing the blond. "Oh, and it's really not my fault but…" He raised an eyebrow as his phone rang from his pocket. He pulled it out and watched Naruto stalk off to check on the elder Uchiha, probably.

"Sasuke, what an unpleasant surprise."

"Are you asking for help or are you providing help?"

"Well, I never would've known…is that what you think? I'm fully aware, also I'm at the Namikaze's right now."

"Yes, both of them are here."

"…"

"Well then, make haste."

With that, Kakashi turned off the phone and buried himself in his book once more.

…

Naruto stepped inside his room once more with a glass of water and some medicine. He cursed himself for being too considerate and left it on the table beside the chair Itachi was still sleeping in. One hand was grazing the surface of the table, he tucked it back inside. Itachi was stirred from his sleep in the process and he blinked up at a nervous blond bent close to him.

"Um, here." Naruto reached for the glass on the table and offered it to the quite drowsy Uchiha who graciously took it. He stepped sideways and stubbed his toe against the table leg. "Ah fuck." He keeled over, examining the seemingly fatal wound. Itachi raised an eyebrow, he proceeded to get up but the blond saw this and straightened up. "It was nothing."

"Are you sure? Need me to kiss and make it better?"

Naruto pursed his lips. "Don't get cocky with me Uchiha." He couldn't help his lopsided grin as he made his way out. Naruto looked back once to meet brown eyes gazing intently. "Kakashi's here…" He drummed his fingertips on the doorframe irritably and Itachi nodded getting up. That was his cue to follow blond's lead and get out of there.

Itachi was about to leave when he realised he had stepped on something. He picked up the newspaper with raised eyebrows; it was the tabloid he was looking at before he had fallen asleep. He glanced at the date, gears whirring in his mind. It was the same day when Naruto broke up with him. His tight grip scrunched up the newspaper. What was the meaning of this? Here he was about to trust him. He brought it close to his face, staring at the hazy image that showed Naruto's face. Konan had told him to look closely and think carefully. He knew by his face that Naruto must've ingested copious amounts of alcohol for something like this to have happened. He recalled the night at the club when he they had first met. There was no doubt about it; he had low tolerance for liquor anyway. But, who was this red-haired person holding him so close? He made a mental note to look into it. If he were to trust Naruto with everything then the blond would have a few things to explain as well. Thinking so, he finally moved ahead, exiting the room.

…

The trio was sitting on the L shaped couch and Naruto was glaring his mentor to death. "What do you mean you can't tell us?" He was enraged all right. Itachi eyed him curiously.

"Now, Now…you don't wanna spoil the surprise, do ya?" The blond huffed at getting no answers and sat back crossing his arms across his chest.

"Kakashi-san, just tell me they're safe?" Itachi seemed unaffected by his antics.

"Well, of course they are…I mean it's a family get—" He stopped midway. "You got me good there, I'm not letting out more, Kushina's orders." Saying so, he slung his duffel bag on his back and walked towards the front door.

"What? Where are you going?" Naruto was frustrated by this point. The assurance that his parents were safe was enough get one boulder off his mind but there was still a big heap of problems to deal with.

"Hm?" He turned around, posing flashily and spoke with a grim expression. "Gear up boys, we're going on a road trip."

…

EXTRA: Soon after, Kakashi was pelted with house items by a maniacal blond but Itachi managed to hold him back somehow. Itachi suspected it was his allure that made Naruto turn mushy in his arms. It went easier from there, with the blond keeping safe distance from the Uchiha to avoid a repeat of defences being broken down. No way, he hadn't learnt his lesson, he wasn't letting him back in. That's what he thought as the three of them drove off with Naruto lounging in the backseat of his Dodge, catching up on some sleep. He couldn't quite place the reason why he was able to be sleep so easily now. But he knew it had something to do with the smirking Uchiha in the front.

A/N: Tell me what you think, I swear I wasn't half-assing anything it just came out this way. I was stuck in some parts but *phew* hopefully it'll come out better. Y'all better pray that I have a good Final Result (they come out soon). Then I can continue writing, yeah, that's why. Laters, Gators. :]