Disclaimer: The day Naruto belongs to me is the day the world will come to an end.

Author's note: Whoa! What a response. Glad I'm still alive and well. Hmm…I wonder if anyone got the clue I dropped in that chapter. The title itself was a clue (and so was the song it was based on).

Most of the stuff here is the POV of other characters. I'm reserving the last parts of this chapter for Sasuke and Naruto's POV.

Lemon is postponed next chapter. I decide to split this chapter into two; it was too long and sad to be just one chapter. Sorry for the long delay!

To everyone who is wondering what the hell happened to Hisoka, read on, I suppose.

And yes, twisted-sheets, Naruto-kun (we're both October 10!) and chibi-onna1 (October 14) celebrated their birthdays not long ago!

In this chapter, everyone has to move on, but nobody said it was easy. In fact, it was downright impossible. Most of it will be in the POV of other characters, with Sasuke and Naruto's POV at the end.

And please read Chibi-onna1's fanfics (specifically Filling the Void)! She's really good.

Chibi-onna1: Chibi blushes and hides. You flatter me…

Warnings: Yaoi. Light Violence. Run away if scared.

Pairings: NaruSasu. KakaIru. ShikaIno, NejiHina, SakuLee…and a whole lot more!

For bookworm51485, because she's very perceptive. XD

Chapter XI: Walking Barefoot on Broken Glass, Part I

"There will be no funeral."

Sakura looked helplessly at Sasuke. The Uchiha leaned against the door of the bedroom, regarding Sakura with distaste. His voice was cool and calm, as brittle and as smooth as glass. "But Sasuke-kun–" she began.

Sasuke's cold expression didn't change. "There will be no funeral, Sakura. So long as there is no body, there will be no funeral, no headstone, nor will there be a memorial. Do you understand?"

Sakura felt a thread of fear at the unspoken threat in Sasuke's voice. The Uchiha kept his gaze on her, eyes narrowed into tiny jet black slits. She pressed closer to Lee and turned her gaze to Naruto, eyes filled with mute appeal.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke. Something seemed to pass between the two for a moment, then Naruto looked back at Sakura. His dull blue eyes never wavered as he said quietly, "There will be no funeral, Sakura-chan." In his arms, Hikaru made a whimpering noise and fussed about. Naruto gently rocked him to and fro to calm him down.

Sakura bit her lip and squeezed Lee's hand. Lee squeezed back, his eyes sad and lost.

They were in a room in the Hokage tower where Naruto, Sasuke, and Hikaru were temporary ensconced, as their apartment was neither the safest nor the most habitable place right now.

Sakura averted her gaze from the three and found her thoughts drifting back to the moment she saw them, just four days ago, when they came back from the chase. Her breathing had quickened when she saw them approach, wet, muddy, and pale. Then her heart broke when she saw the single bundle, stained with mud, instead of the two she had hoped to see. She looked at Naruto, who only gazed back at her with such sadness she had to turn away.

They searched for Hisoka. The river was still swollen, but they went on, scouring the riverbanks, hoping and praying, but they could find nothing. When the river had subsided, they looked, but again, found nothing.

"She's dead; the river probably swallowed her up," an ANBU who had been ordered to help in the search said unthinkingly after they finished searching yesterday.

There was no sound. In a blink of an eye, the said ANBU went flying and hit several trees, breaking them in half. Sasuke stood panting not far from the ANBU, with Kakashi holding Sasuke's right hand, which was cackling with the beginnings of a Chidori. Meanwhile, Naruto was just a few inches from the ANBU, fists almost connecting with the ANBU's stomach if not for Jiraiya holding his wrist in an iron grip.

Even until now, they cannot accept Hisoka's death. Will they ever? Sakura thought of her son, and she shuddered at the chill that passed through her body at the image of her Ryuuichi dead.

Sakura gave herself a mental shake. She'd come here to give comfort to her friends; she thought the funeral would help them give closure, to help them move on, so things would start being okay…how could she help them if they weren't cooperating?

Many of their friends had already visited the two to offer comfort and support, asking them if they were okay. While always polite, Naruto and Sasuke's dispositions when receiving them were less than friendly. Though Sasuke and Naruto were not outright hostile, the others all felt awkward around the two. Even Hinata remarked at how…chilly the two have been when she and Neji visited.

"Sakura-chan," Lee said, breaking into Sakura's reverie. "I think we should go now. Ryu-chan's waiting for us at home."

"But Lee–" Sakura's protests were cut off as Lee tightened his grip on her hand and gave her an uncharacteristic sharp look. She cast a glance at Naruto and Sasuke, both of them so still and quiet. The room had grown colder since she'd come in, and suddenly Sakura felt afraid again, though she didn't know why. Is this what Hinata-chan and Ino-pig felt when they visited them? She rubbed her hands together, which were already numb with cold.

She touched Naruto's hand, almost flinching at how icy his skin was. "We'll be going now, Naruto." Then she hugged him and Hikaru, unshed tears in her eyes. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be okay."

Sakura was startled to feel Naruto suddenly stiffen in her arms, and then she felt his shoulders droop. "Good-bye, Sakura-chan," he said flatly. "Thank you."

She stared at Naruto, who smiled wearily at her, though his eyes showed something else. A sliver of fear touched her heart at the sudden flare of fire in his eyes. "Naruto–"

"You can go, Sakura. Your son will be waiting," Sasuke said.

Defeated, Sakura nodded. Turning to Lee, they started for the door. But before she left, Sakura looked back. Sasuke still stood by the doorway, eyes boring into her. Sakura noted that not once during their conversation did he look at Hikaru. Shivering, she stepped out of the house, and quietly closed the door behind her.

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They would always be children in his eyes.

People always asked him why he chose to remain a Chuunin. While he was no genius like Kakashi, Iruka was a skilled nin in his own right, as swift and able as his namesake. He would have advanced as a Jounin if he willed it.

But teaching had been his passion, his calling for a long time now. Iruka was a child of war and death, and as a Genin and a Chuunin, he'd seen people young and old die.

Watching the young ones die was the hardest for Iruka. They were so young, so optimistic, all dreaming of the glory they felt they would surely get as ninjas, not knowing that at every corner, at every mission, Death awaited them, watching, waiting until the chance came up and Death would then reach out with his cold, ruthless hands and choke the life away from them, leaving only broken dreams and lives.

So when his teammates (oh, how young they were those days!) were killed during a skirmish with Mist shinobi, he vowed that he'd never let a child go unprepared. He would teach them, guide them, and protect them to the best of his abilities.

And now I failed that vow with the one I cared the most for, Iruka thought as he cast a sideway glance at Naruto, who sat beside him, his bowl of ramen untouched. The blonde's shoulders were slumped, his arms hanging limply by his side, hands closed into tight fists. Naruto had not spoken a word since Iruka arrived at the room and asked Naruto to share some ramen he had brought.

Things had been like this since Orochimaru threw Hisoka into the river. Every time Iruka visited, he would always be greeted with the numb, deafening silence of grief.

Today, Naruto had managed a tired smile when Iruka entered after passing through the ANBU guard. "Iruka-sensei. Thanks for coming by again." Behind him, Shizune gave Iruka a small smile, a warning and a plea in her eyes. In her arms was Hikaru, quietly sleeping.

He'd never seen anyone so drowned in grief as Naruto. His blue eyes were sunken and shadowed by deep eye bags, his face thin and gaunt. His spiky blond hair was mussed and uncombed, just as his jaw was unshaven, with little stubbles of hair peeking out.

And somewhere, he knew Sasuke was grieving as well. Kakashi would be watching him, making sure the Uchiha didn't do anything stupid, like go out on his own and hunt down Orochimaru.

My students. My broken children.

His heart went out for Naruto. Naruto had no family, and just when he had one, it was ripped away from him in the cruelest way imaginable. If Iruka had but the power, he would kill Orochimaru very, very slowly, savoring every agonizing detail of the Snake Sannin's death.

But now, he had to put his desire for revenge aside. But he was sure revenge was never far from Naruto and Sasuke's thoughts.

"Do you want to talk, Naruto? I know it doesn't do much, but it does help. You know I'm always here to listen."

Naruto didn't reply, and kept staring at his ramen. Iruka felt his hopes plummeting down. Naruto was getting more and more depressed each day and there was nothing he could do.

"Talk," Naruto suddenly said, startling Iruka. Iruka then found himself staring back at a pair of dark blue eyes, bright and feverish. "Do you know, Iruka-sensei, that that's all they do? Talk. Talk. Talk. They tell us they're so sorry, that they understand. They tell us things will be fine, that things will be okay. Okay," Naruto spoke the last word with bitterness.

"How can we be okay, Iruka-sensei? How can anything be ever okay? Why does everyone insist we'll be okay? Our daughter's gone. Nothing will ever be okay." Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, his fists tightening.

Iruka stared at Naruto, wanting to put his arms around the boy and tell him everything would be okay, but he knew Naruto would not want that. "Naruto, I can probably never understand what you're going through. Things might not be getting better, but you can't let it get worse, nor can you just stay still. You'll have to move on, or everything will be lost."

"I know, Iruka-sensei." Naruto sounded so weary. "But it's so hard. Everyday, I think of what happened, of what we could have done to prevent it. I dream of her crying out for me, but I'm too far to help her. And Sasuke…Sasuke's so distant nowadays. He wouldn't even look or touch Hikaru. And when he does, there's this look on his face I can't figure out."

"What?" He'd guessed Sasuke would suffer more, not only because he saw Hisoka thrown into the river, but also because Iruka knew Sasuke favored his daughter more than he liked his son. Daddy's girl, he'd teased them once when he saw Sasuke carrying Hisoka in his arms, a small smile on his face. Sasuke had always been a little…wary with his son. The thought of Sasuke being increasingly distant from Hikaru did not bode well for the future, and made Iruka feel strangely disquieted. "Have you and Sasuke talked about this?"

Naruto snorted, sounding for once like his old self again. "How can we talk about it when he's barely here throughout the day? He's off training somewhere. If it weren't for Hikaru, I'd look for him and drag his ass back here, but I can't."

"I see." Iruka made a mental note to talk to Kakashi about Sasuke's behavior.

"I should probably tell you, Iruka-sensei, that we'd be moving out of the tower soon," Naruto said abruptly.

"Where would you be living?" Iruka felt it would be better that the two stayed in the tower. It was well-guarded and safe. The Godaime Hokage would see to that.

"The Uchiha compound. Sasuke's old house." Naruto frowned. "Sasuke wanted us to move there when the twins were born, but I said no, because the place creeps me out. But now," he sighed, "we can't always stay here, you know." He looked up at Iruka, already anticipating his next question. "The old hag has too many things to do, and we can't be a burden to her. I don't like it there, too many ghosts, it isn't good for Sasuke or Hikaru, but I can't think of any other place we could stay that's safe."

But what about Itachi? Iruka wanted to ask, but decided not to. "Has the Hokage agreed to this?"

Naruto smirked. "Nope. She threw a fit when Sasuke and I told her. She even called us fools. Sasuke argued with her. You should have been there. The old hag wanted to throttle him so badly, but Ero-sennin and Shizune-neechan managed to keep her from doing so. In the end, she relented, but she got us to agree that Hikaru would be left with her and Shizune when we took missions. And that ANBU guards be posted in the compound."

"That was a wise decision of the Hokage," Iruka said. "Hikaru needs to be guarded."

"The ANBU guards didn't do much when Kabuto came," another voice, smooth and dark, said from behind them. Iruka suppressed the instinct the jump from his seat.

"I was wondering how long you'd stand there not talking," Naruto said casually, looking behind his shoulder. Sasuke stood beside the door, hair and clothes damp with sweat. Sasuke's face didn't change expression as his gaze fell on Iruka. The Uchiha gave him a curt nod, and then turned to Naruto. "I'm going for a shower." Without waiting for a reply, he strode across the room, barely sparing a glance at Shizune or Hikaru.

Naruto's eyes hardened as he watched Sasuke ignore their son. "You know, Iruka-sensei. I've been thinking of beating the crap out of Sasuke for being a fucking bastard, and I think it's time. " He rose from his chair, its legs scraping against the floor. "Shizune-neechan, would you–"

Shizune was ahead of him. "We'll take care of Hikaru-chan."

Naruto smiled slightly. "Arigato, Neechan. I'm sorry about being a burden."

Shizune smiled back. "It's all right, Naruto. We don't mind. I only wish we could do more."

Naruto then turned to Iruka. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei. For everything." He cracked his knuckles. "But now I think I need to talk to Sasuke-bastard about this now."

T.B.C.

Author's note, part 2: This got to be the most emotionally intense chapter I've ever written (and difficult, because I didn't want to be melodramatic or anything. Bleh, I've failed miserably at that). It's one rollercoaster ride, if I might say so. Please give some comments and criticisms about the fic so we can make it better. Are they OOC? Do tell!

Oh, be reminded that Sasuke and Naruto are just, what, 16, by this time. Mature in many ways, but they are still…young. So they still have those little quirks in teens.

And if the whole thing felt a little weird, things will be explained next chapter, promise!

Naruto and coping: He's coping rather well, thanks to Iruka. Thing is, Iruka listens to him, which I think is far more important than offering platitudes like "It's going to be okay." I'm rather annoyed when people say that to people who are grieving, because it's not always what grieving people like to hear. In a way, you're dismissing what had happened as something minor and easily overcome, as well as dismissing the person's feelings.

Iruka: I love him. If I could marry the guy, I will. (Chibi-onna1: Dude, you can't do that… Kakashi's gonna be pissed…)I've been neglecting him, but thankfully he's back. The thing about how he decided to be a Chuunin, well, that's just an invention. Ehe.

Security Arrangements: Let's just say Hikaru's going to be the most guarded person in Konoha for a very long time. I pity the poor guy. Naruto and Sasuke may be going to missions again, but that doesn't mean Hikaru's unguarded. Right now, he's with Tsunade (and by extension Jiraiya and Shizune) most of the time, and everyone, even Orochimaru, I think, would think twice before doing anything to Hikaru with her on guard.

Next Chapter: Naruto knocks some sense into Sasuke. As promised, the lemon. And yes, finally, the bit about the scroll will be explained.