"I'm not eating something that comes in a styrofoam cup."

Naruto clutched at his head in frustration. "I already told you that that it comes in a cup because it's cup ramen."

"If we're going to have ramen, why can't we just have that Ichiroku place again," Sasuke said stubbornly.

"Ichiraku," Naruto corrected with a sigh. "And we can't go there. If I went there every night, poor Gama-chan would be empty." He held up his frog-shaped wallet and shook it for Sasuke to see.

The other boy blinked. "So…we're poor?"

"Dirt poor," he agreed with an emphatic nod. "Unless you have a pile of Uchiha gold sitting around somewhere."

Sasuke glanced at his cup of lukewarm ramen, then pushed his chair back and started for the door.

"Where are you going, dattebayo?"

"To the store for ingredients and then I'm going to cook dinner."

"Do you even know how to cook?" Naruto asked. "It's not as easy as it sounds, you know."

Sasuke shrugged. "For you, maybe, but if I ask someone for instructions, I'll figure it out. Luckily for both us of, I'm not an idiot."

Oh, so that was how it was going to be. Well, two could play at that game.

"Hey, jerk," he called. "I think you're forgetting something." He flashed Gama-chan with a triumphant grin. "Not such a genius, now are we?"

Sasuke scowled and held out his hand expectantly.

"I don't think so," he said, pocketing the wallet. "There's no way I'm trusting you with Gama-chan. I'm coming too."

The Uchiha rolled his eyes. "Do whatever you want, idiot."

Naruto took them by deserted backroads and alleys, but once they arrived at the marketplace, he couldn't avoid it any longer. There were people everywhere. People with eyes that would devour him if they got a chance.

"I'll, uh, just stay out here," he told Sasuke, shrinking back into the shadow of the alleyway. "Come back when you have the stuff and I'll give you money."

Sasuke looked at him for a long moment, but finally he nodded and left without a word. Naruto leaned against the wall to wait, but he hadn't even had the time to get comfortable before the sound of tearful sniffles drifted to his ears.

"Ma…ma." A small boy was crouched down at the other side of the street, crying pitifully. "Where…are you…mama?"

Naruto teetered at the edge of the alley for a moment before heaving a sigh and striding out into the open street.

"Hey, kid." He knelt down in front of a sobbing boy who couldn't have been more than three or four years old. "What's wrong? Did you lose your mom?"

The child nodded tearfully, his nose dripping with snot.

"Come on." He held out his hand. "I'll help you find her, ok?"

He pulled the child to his feet, holding him securely by the hand. "So, where was the last place you—?"

"Shota!" He was cut off by a woman's shrill cry.

Before he even had time to blink, she had yanked the child away, clutching at

him protectively. "You," she hissed in a low, threatening voice. "Stay away from my son!"

"I was just trying to help, dattebayo!" he protested, gesticulating wildly.

"Come, Shota darling," the woman cooed. "We have to get home—papa's waiting."

She sent him one last withering glare before walking away, dragging her son along with her. Naruto hung his head and started back for the alley…only to run straight into Sasuke.

He felt his insides grow cold. How long had he been standing there?

"Uh…hey, Sasuke." He chuckled nervously.

If the other boy thought anything was strange, he didn't comment. "I need money." He

held out his hand. "28 ryo."

"R-Right…" He rummaged through his wallet and counted out the sum. "Here."

As soon as Sasuke was gone, he fled. Away from the whispers and stares and back to the safety of his alley. He paced back and forth in the shadows, mind racing. Maybe he hadn't seen, he tried to reassure himself. But if he had…

He stopped and buried his face in his hands. What was he going to do…?

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! The next chapter will be up tomorrow, but in the meantime, please leave a review to let me know what you think of the story so far!