Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 23

"Iruka-sensei gives way too much homework!" Kaori complained out loud, pounding his fist into his palm angrily. "How can I study and still be able to get as strong as my father?" Hisoka nodded in agreement as he shifted the heavy books in his arm awkwardly. They were walking through the hallways of the Academy during break. It was a lovely spring day and Hisoka sniffled a bit due to his allergies.

"Kaori-kun!" A small squeaky voice called out from the distance. Kaori looked up and saw his little sister sprinting towards them. Her long blue tinted black hair flew behind her as her sharp blue eyes sparkled with happiness.

Kaori grunted, "Miki, I've told you not to say 'hi' to me when you see me in school!" He hissed, shoving past her. Miki's face dropped and looked at the floor ashamedly.

"I'm sorry…" she muttered under her breath, her bottom lip trembling. Hisoka felt a sudden pang in his stomach, and instantly felt bad for Miki. Though there was only a five year difference between Kaori and Miki, Kaori felt it necessary to enlarge that age gap by far whenever they crossed paths at school. Hisoka could understand where he was coming from though, Kaori was nine years old! What nine year old wants to be caught hanging out with their four year old little sister? Kaori did have a reputation to keep up with; he was one of the most popular kids at school.

Hisoka reached into his bag and pulled out a piece of candy that his mother usually packs for his lunch. He waved the candy in front of Miki's face. Once she took notice of it, her smile grew ten-fold, revealing her two missing front teeth.

"Oh! Thanks Hisoka-kun!" she squealed. She gave him a quick hug and then ran off with some girls that happened to just have passed. Hisoka smiled after her, and jogged to catch up with Kaori. Once he did though, Kaori was scowling. Hisoka's eyebrow rose.

"You shouldn't spoil her like that." His light blue eyes narrowed. "She'll turn into a little brat." Hisoka shook his head in defiance.

"I'm just saying." Kaori suddenly turned his head towards him and eyed him suspiciously. "I've never asked you this before, but why don't you talk?"

Hisoka paled and looked away from him, shrugging his shoulders. Kaori stared at him a moment longer and then turned his head angrily. "It's kind of annoying."

Hisoka shrugged again, keeping his eyes glued on the hallway before him. Dozens of kids passed them in a hurry with snacks in their hands, and more than half of them greeted Kaori with smiles, most of them girls though.

"You're my best friend Hisoka," Kaori started, "But if you keep acting like this then you're not cool. Don't you want to be cool like me?"

Hisoka made a scoffing sound and then stopped walking. Kaori took an extra step and turned back to look at him in surprise. "What is it?"

But then the bell rang signaling the end of break, and Hisoka turned his heel and headed towards class without saying anything.

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"We are who we are…"

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Hisoka threw some books into his bag at the end of the day, while Kaori waited impatiently besides him.

"You're so slow." He whined. Hisoka fought the urge to roll his eyes, and flung the bag over his shoulder, nodding his head towards the door. Kaori sighed and headed towards the door when suddenly it opened and two boys stood in their way.

"Yo, you that Uzumaki?" The tall, bulky boy asked.

Kaori paused and glanced at Hisoka, but then returned his gaze at the boy. "Yeah."

"You know Arini?"

Kaori nodded. She was about two years older than him, and often said hi to him in the mornings. She was very pretty with lovely jet red hair that bounced when she walked.

The boy smirked. "Interesting. She's my girlfriend." The boy cracked his knuckles. Hisoka gulped and sneaked a look at Kaori who was staring back at the older boy without fear, but Hisoka knew that his best friend was scared shitless.

There was another boy that didn't speak much yet was still as big as the other guy and scarier than his companion. He pointed his thumb towards him.

"Leave." He ordered his voice unusually deep for a twelve year old. Kaori then looked fearful because he knew that if anything were to happen, Hisoka would at least have his back, or be a reliable witness. Then the older boy came before him in what seemed instantaneously and grabbed his navy shirt. Hisoka struggled against his grasp. "What you can't speak Uchiha?"

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Kaori ordered tossing his bag at the boy's head.

The boy turned his head and glared at him, but tightened his hold on Hisoka, "Stupid brat. Wonder why Arimi has taken any sort of interest towards you?" With Hisoka still in his grasp he walked over to the window and opened it, the soft cherry blossom scent filling the empty classroom. "Ginta! Hold that blonde rodent down, we'll teach him a lesson to not mess with our girls!" He then tossed Hisoka out the window and Hisoka fell to the dirt ground face first. He pushed himself up, his nose and mouth leaking with blood. The boy looked at him and spat on the ground near him and then closed the window tight.

Hisoka sat there for a moment longer, slightly disbelieving what just happened. He looked around outside to see if anyone had just noticed the disturbing scene, but of course the entire school yard was completely empty. He stood up and wiped his nose with his sleeve, knowing there was no way he could help Kaori in this condition (even though Kaori was turning out to be the biggest asshole in the world), and the first person that came to his mind that could actually help him rang clearly in his mind.

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"Because I would catch a grenade for you…"

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Sasuke chucked his weapons onto the floor near the door as he trudged his way into the kitchen. He had just returned from another mission, or in other words, an Itachi hunt. He came back empty handed of course, but tried not to keep his mind on it too much. The trail he had had worn off and he didn't want his disappointment to creep through his 'father' shield so that Sakura would actually notice that something was up. He was opening the fridge and poured himself some ice cold water when he heard the door slide open.

He glanced at the clock. It was almost four and Hisoka should have been home already.

"Father!"

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed when the unrecognizable voice reached his ears. He slowly placed the glass on the counter and walked out into the halls. And to his greatest surprise, Hisoka stood there in dirty, bloody clothes and panting hysterically.

"Father, you have to help Kaori!"

Sasuke froze.

Wait…Was he…talking? Sasuke bit his tongue just to make sure he wasn't fabricating some kind of awkward dream. At this exact moment he wouldn't be surprised if Itachi walked in with some kind of blue bikini.

"Father! Come on!" he pleaded, snapping Sasuke out his trance, and grabbing Sasuke's hand. "It might be too late by the time we get there!" Hisoka's eyes watered as he tugged and pulled harder. His tiny arms shook with fear when he realized that Sasuke wasn't budging. Sasuke squirmed his hand out of Hisoka's grasp and knelt down very slowly to meet his eye level, wiping the tears that had freshly fallen.

"What-" Sasuke stumbled over the right words. "…What are you talking about?" What he really wanted to ask was "How the hell are you talking?"

Hisoka sniffed. "Kaori's being attacked by some big bullies!"

Sasuke sighed and reached into his pocket for his handkerchief to clean the tears and dried blood from his face. "Calm down. Uchiha's don't cry."

Hisoka puffed his cheek in attempt to repress his sobs which made him sound like he was chocking and gagging at the same time. He limply nodded his head. "O-okay, F-fa-father," he used his fist to wipe the tears from his eyes.

Sasuke felt a familiar pang in his stomach when he heard Hisoka repeat the forbidden words of 'father' but shoved it down. They've wasted too much time already, and who knows what kind of trouble Kaori could be in.

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"Six feet under scream, but no one hears a thing…"

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"Fuck you!"

Kaori gritted his teeth as another hard kick came flying his way and aimed perfectly at his face. He heard a boisterous cracking noise that really could only have come from his nose. He grunted in pain, as he slid down the wall and cradled his face in his palms.

"Stupid Uzumaki brat! Thinking you're all powerful cause your Dad's the ninetails fox and your Mom's a dirty Hyuuga!" One of the boys literally spat the words at Kaori, and Kaori cringed when the warm wet saliva hit his arm. He tried to fight back, he really did, but there's only so much a naïve nine year old can do against two massive twelve year olds.

Kaori tasted a bitter liquid on his tongue, and then realized that he, Kaori, was crying. That's one thing he doesn't do, cry. He was strong, independent child. And to become the eighth Hokage, following right after his father, he had to become as brave as him. Everyone always tells him what an amazingly brave child Naruto was; saving people from bridges, helping them find their destinies and defeating demons. And all he wanted to do was to be just like that, just like his father. So one day he could look up amongst the Hokage wall and see his face carved next to his father and his grandfather's.

"Look Ginta," Kaori heard someone speak, "the little brat's crying."

Ginta chuckled, "Think we hit him too hard?" Ginta asked while elbowing Kaori in the stomach and grabbing his golden locks. "Do you think he's learned his fucking lesson?"

The other boy smirked, "I don't think so."

Ginta pulled down on Kaori's head so his head jerked up involuntarily. "I want you to remember the face that fucking pulverized you." He pressed his fingers harder against his baby smooth skin, piercing it with his uncut nails.

"That's a lot of talk from a scum even lower than Genin."

All three boys looked up in unison and towards the window that was now opened. Leaning against the window pane was none other than Sasuke Uchiha himself. And he brought back that son of his.

"S-Sasuke-sama?" Ginta instantly let go of Kaori's hair and brushed his hands against his shorts as if he was trying to wipe away the evil deeds.

Sasuke didn't say anything but used his eyes to signal what he wanted. His eyes moved from the boys to the door, and then with a slight nod of his head the boys gathered their bags and scampered out the door. Once the door slammed shut, Hisoka ran over to Kaori and helped him stand up by wrapping an arm around his neck.

"Are you okay?" Hisoka asked carefully. Kaori nodded limply and then felt another pair of cool arms hoist him over their shoulders.

"You should rest. Sakura will take a look at any injuries." Sasuke ordered, positioning Kaori on his back in a comfortable position.

Hisoka agreed, "Yes, my mother's going to fix you up real quick!" Kaori nodded again and then it hit him.

"Are you talking!" He gasped out loud. Hisoka ignored him and picked up his scattered books on the floor. After some moments the room became significantly darker as the sun set over the horizon. Sasuke signaled with finger for Hisoka to follow him and he quickly obeyed. Sasuke leaped through the window, while Hisoka carefully climbed out of it. Sasuke, careful with where he stepped (he didn't want Kaori to be in any more pain than he had to be in), slowly jogged through the streets, heading towards the hospital. "Hisoka…" Kaori started. He turned his head and looked at the poor Hisoka that was literally sprinting to catch up with Sasuke and him.

"…?"

"I'm sorry for being such a jerk." Kaori mumbled, slightly embarrassed. "And, thank you for getting your dad and everything." Sasuke slowed his jog just a bit more so that Hisoka wouldn't strain himself trying to keep up, and slightly curious to what kind of conflict Kaori could have had with Hisoka in order for that little boastful brat to say 'sorry'. He heard Hisoka take a deep breath and exhale carefully into the air.

"Friendship needs no words."

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"What are you waiting for…?"

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"But this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night
And I'd go back to December
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you-"

"Hey."

Miki stopped singing and spinning in her room. Her light pink dress twirled to a slight stop once she stopped. Her shimmering black hair landed softly against her shoulders and as she looked up at the door in shock.

"Hisoka-kun?" She smiled happily. She glanced at the clock and that red '9:09' in giant red numbers. "Why are you here? Kaori-kun is still at the hospital."

Hisoka nodded respectively, "I know, but my mother said I should drop his homework." He handed her the book and Miki took it and placed it on her bedside table. She spun around once more and then fingered a tiny silver necklace around her neck.

"You're a hero! You saved my brother!" Miki exclaimed randomly. Her eyes lit with excitement and did a little jump. Hisoka bit his bottom lip and looked at the ground.

"No I didn't. My father did."

Miki's eyebrow raised, "So? If you didn't call him those boys could have killed him!"

"No," Hisoka shook his head, "They couldn't have. They wouldn't."

Miki shrugged. "I still think you're a hero."

"Hero's have to be strong, I'm not strong."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No."

"Ye-"

"Miki!" Hisoka snapped. Miki slightly jumped, quite surprised that his voice even got that loud. "Stop it. I wanted to bring his books, and that's it." Hisoka shook his raven locks and glared down at the floor. "Don't say I'm a hero, because I'm not."

Miki's eyes watered up, but nodded her head limply and turned the necklace that she was playing with around in her fingers. She climbed onto her bed and Hisoka walked over to her bedside and switched her bed lamp off. Hisoka turned to walk out of the room when he heard a tiny voice call out his name from within the darkness.

"Yes Miki?" he asked tiredly, turning his head slightly before he closed the door.

Miki pushed herself up and propped herself against her pillows, still fingering her necklace. "I like your voice."

Hisoka stood there for a moment longer and then relaxed his onyx eyes. A soft smile crept across his face and he shook his raven locks out of his eyes. "You have a nice voice too. You should keep singing." Even though she's only four, she had signs for an amazing talent. Miki's smile soon matched his and even grew beyond that, glistening in the night.

Hisoka sighed again and closed the door, "Good night."

"'Night Hisoka-kun!"

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AHHH! THIS IS SOO LATE. I KNOW. I KNOW.

MY BAD. MY BAD.

Umm…this is kinda a sucky chapter, I'm aware…but I had to get it out if my story is going to MOVE ON! Ughh. After this chapter….there's one more fluffy chapter (kinda…there's some simple drama) and then the CONFLICT arises again. It's just gonna be like BAM! Where'd that come from! So exciteddd!

Reviews would make me warmer…'cause it's so freaking cold!

xooreoxo