Author's Notes

- Thanks so much to everyone who read!!!

- This is the result of late night boredom and writer's block.

- Enjoy ! ... hopefully :)

Story Notes

- Still set within the TI storyline.

Warnings: Some SAP, a little angst (very little)

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Childhood Comfort

Iruka remembers when he was four years old, walking through the empty house, guided by his father's hand on the back of his head. He had been there before, but now the cheerful atmosphere was gone. The house felt cold. They came upon the big man with white hair and his father spoke to him in hushed words, their voices like sleepy bear rumbles and hoarse winter winds. Iruka was gently pushed into an empty room as his father and the big shinobi headed towards another part of the house.

There was the subtle hint of incense hanging in the air, heavy and cold despite the spring weather warming the outside. Doe eyes swept the room from corner to corner, finally stopping on the silver haired boy sitting in front of the far wall. Iruka scratched his leg with the opposite sandal, standing like a dumpy baby crane in the elegant tatami room. He couldn't quite remember the little boy's name, he never played with Iruka when his parents brought him over, instead sitting somewhere just out of reach with his pert nose stuck in a scroll.

The boy didn't acknowledge Iruka as he stood there. Shifting from one foot to the other, the Umino child studied the pretty candles and decorations covering the small table that sat before the other boy. The chrysanthemum petals spidered out of their short glazed vase, their color as white as the big man's hair. There was a picture of a very pretty lady in the center of the shelf, the lady that had given him cookies last time he was here. Iruka knew the little boy had eyes just like hers. Tired of standing in the threshold waiting for the other boy to say something, Iruka wandered forward and sat next to him. Chubby hands came to rest on chubby knees. The brunette sat quietly, looking at the pretty lady and wondering where she might be and if she would give him more cookies.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when there came a slight sniffle from his neighbor, the pale hands trembling on the darkly clad knees. Iruka turned his large eyes towards the waif like creature and was shocked to find tears streaming down the drawn face. He studied the picture, then how the child stared so sorrowfully at the framed photo. Iruka did not fully understand, but he knew the silver headed boy was sad because of the pretty lady. Always the empathetic soul, the little Umino leaned to his right, laying his tousled head on the frail shoulder. A brown hand crept into the other's lap and took hold of the ivory hand, dark eyes grew wet with emotion.

Iruka sat silently, while the other little boy sobbed.