PART 1
Prologue: How it Began.
Naruto sat on his bed and yawned tiredly. With his elbows on the window sill and his face perched up onto his hands, he looked out of the large window beside his bed and relaxed at the sight of a hazy bright orange globe that hovered slightly over the horizen, bathing the town in it's yolk-yellow rays. It had been a long day, after tiring hours of tending to his guardians store. He had nearly dropped to his knees in exhaustion.
It wasn't as though he didn't enjoy taking care of Iruka's small bakery, it's just that people were so boring these days; actually it was more that his life was so boring these days. Day after day, it was the same old routine over and over again. There was no spark or excitement to actually make him look forward to the mornings to come.
Naruto gave a long haggard sigh, as he tilted his head to one side. The locks of golden hair was turned to a deep fiery orange against the sunlight.
The small bakery was set on a tall hill, so that his window was able to overlook most of his home. Naruto's eyes flicked over the small village; small but pretty in it's own way. Small cottage-like houses scatted it selves here and there, and a small paven road twisted like a snake out to a small opening in a forest adults have long warned children to never go into. Naruto watched the town, knowing that he loved it and the friendly people it inhabited, but he also knew that he couldn't be fixated in the same pattern, same routine for long.
Naruto's eyes caught sight of the forest once again and his mouth quirked up into a small smile. How long has it been? When he would catch himself dreaming of venturing into the forest and finding out what was the very thing the villagers were so afraid of? Those towering bright green trees that should have stood menacingly in front of him like they were guarding a small treasure from him or beckoned his attention closer.
He longed to find out what was there; his curiosity was something the villagers knew well of. As well as his lack of regard for rules, which was why he was also considered a threat to them. Naruto knew that some of those bitchy villagers and neighbors would come daily to badger Kakashi and Iruka, telling them that their queerly intimate relationship was hardly any good on him.
Naruto frowned darkly, he was never bothered by their relationship, though he had to admit to himself it was quite a shock when the guardian whom had taken care of him for 4 years came to him and brought out a tall young fair-haired man by the name of Kakashi. It was 9 years ago when he was six. Naruto liked him well enough, though the man constantly teased him for his disregard for anything people tell him.
" Naruto, someday, me and Iruka would come into your room and find your bed empty. Because you'd would be gone, following your own curious ways and we would have to come and rescue you once again." He told him once too often. Naruto had often gotten annoyed by that. Because he knew that Kakashi and Iruka had helped him out of various situations many times. But he didn't like to be thought of as someone who needed someone to be taken care of.
Naruto's eyes continued to linger at the opening of that forest, seeming to welcome him yet at the same time warning him. His heart longed to go out there and explore what was a vastly large world in front of him, yet his heart still belonged to his home. And he knew that he wouldn't be able to leave and be weighed down with the burden of the guilt that he had leaved his loved ones behind.
" Naruto! Dinner!!" A distant voice from downstairs called to him impatiently, and Naruto suddenly awakened from his dreamlike trance.
" Coming!" He yelled back, scrambling up onto his feet. He bounded down the wooden staires heavily, hearing it creak and whine under his weight. His house had three stories, the roof belonged to Naruto alone, a small room with the wooden ceiling arching upwards like the shape of the roof.
The bottom level was the bakery, where the stoves and ovens were, and the small café at the front was. A delicious aroma of dough baking to a golden brown wafted out always, something Naruto considered a smell he knew he would love for his life.
The middle was Iruka and Kakashi's room, where Naruto was ordered to not go into. Though he had entered the room often enough in the middle of the night when he was younger, when nightmares still haunted him every night of his parent's death. Of course, Iruka and Kakashi would at first scold him gently for disturbing them, but they would always let him snuggle into the small bed with them anyways. He would be squashed in the middle, but he would always sleep soundly, because the weight of the two men's arms atop of his was always nice.
Naruto felt a sorrow wash over him momentarily, he seemed to be drifting farther and farther away from the two men with every dream. Even if he were able to gather up the courage to leave the village, would he ever be able to leave Kakashi and Iruka? Naruto sighed, it was all for the best if he was to live as he did now.
Naruto entered the kitchen where five large black stoves were stacked at a side of the room and dozens of long silver trays carried breads of all kinds. Naruto quickly grabbed a warm bun just fresh out of the oven before Kakashi who had been walking in as well grabbed it out of his hands swiftly and sunk his teeth into it before Naruto could get it back.
" Slow." Kakashi muttered out of the corner of his mouth, so that Iruka wouldn't hear. Naruto glared at him and was about to grab another when Iruka's hand descended on his with a hard slap. Naruto quickly jumped back and rubbed his hand sorely.
" Iruuuuka!!" Naruto whined before Iruka gave him a sharp glance.
" It's dinner time people, don't fill your stomachs up with bread before you get a chance to try out my newest dish." Iruka explained, then walked to the stove to carry a large bubbling caldren of some kind of greenish yellowish mush.
Naruto and Kakashi groaned together as they sat at the small table in the center of the room.
" Ugh. Can't we ever eat normal food like pasta or sandwiches or something??" Naruto complained, his nose wrinkling up at the sight of the poison Iruka called dinner.
" Iruka," Kakashi started patiently, his eyes getting the same look as Naruto, the kind that screamed 'save me!', " You know we both love a lot. But you can't help but admit that you don't have much of a talent for cooking."
Iruka stared at them blankly before he smiled a slow smile that made both Naruto and Kakashi shiver. " I've been feeding you two for how many years now? And you still complain?? I don't see you two finding the time to cook! Besides, my food can't be 'that' bad!" Iruka said angrily. Before he grabbed a wooden ladle and scooped a spoonful of the 'stuff' to prove his point. Naruto and Kakashi both gulped nervously, silently praising Iruka for his courage as he stuffed the spoon into his mouth and chewed experimentally.
They both watched intently, watching Iruka's face turn several shades of different colours and fought the urge to laugh out loud.
" It's uh- very good… I dunno what you're saying…" Iruka said slowly with his mouth full, but his eyes betrayed what he though anyways. Iruka swallowed with obvious difficulty and coughed several times before he poured the whole mess into the sink.
He turned around to catch sight of Naruto's knowing smile and Kakashi's raised brow. Iruka raised his eyebrows innocently.
" What?? It went bad! So what?" He said defensively. Kakashi got up to pat him on the back.
" I think it was bad from the start." He said, speaking out everyone's thoughts. Kakashi then pecked at Iruka's cheek when he saw his crest-fallen face. " I still look up to you with great honour for your bravery and courage from eating that crap." Kakashi tried to make him feel better.
Naruto made a face at them. " No lovey-dovey stuff with the cool guy in the room."
Kakashi made a point of looking around the room. " Cool guy? Where??" Naruto shot him a playful glare. Kakashi threw his arm over Iruka's shoulders and grinned at both of them. Iruka suddenly stared pointedly at Naruto with a strange expression on his face. Naruto took several steps back, he knew that look very well.
" Naruto- I met this young girl named Sakura today. Pretty little thing, smart too, I think you'd like her…" Iruka started and Naruto forced down a groan.
Kakashi grinned behind Iruka's head, flashing him a *V* sign. Iruka looked at him hopefully, and Naruto almost felt sorry for him. Iruka's been trying for the last few months to hook him up with some other girl and even though it was fun at first, Naruto was beginning to tire of it and find it annoying. He knew Iruka did it for his sake, wanting him to feel the love of a relationship like he and Kakashi had, but Naruto for now was content with just being with them.
" Iee~ Iruka!" Naruto whined. " No more no more!!"
" But Naruto! You've got to find someone soon before you die to be some lonely old guy!" Iruka argued back.
Naruto shook his head, desperately trying to find a way out of this without hurting Iruka's feelings.
" Uh… a-eeto… I…" Naruto suddenly thought of something. " I already found someone!!" He blurted out quickly, hands a little sweaty.
Kakashi raised a brow, surprised yet amused; but Iruka clapped his hands happily and smiled warmly at him.
" That's great! That's great!!!" Iruka seemed overjoyed, and Naruto let out the breath he had been holding. Kakashi glanced at him suspiciously before a grin lighted his face, not one that Naruto liked at all.
" Where did you meet this particular person Naruto?? What is she like?" Kakashi asked casually, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. Naruto glared at him when Iruka turned away but quickly covered it when Iruka looked back at him curiously as well.
" Ahh! I want to know too??" Iruka said excitedly. " Is the person nice?? Romantic?? Pretty??"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, hating Kakashi for this.
" She is uh… very nice… and pretty… and kinda romantic too." Naruto words stumbled out clumsily. Iruka looked down for a moment because he expected a little more on the mystery person, but he smiled anyways and tugged away from Kakashi's arm to grab the keys on the table.
" To celebrate this wonderful occasion, we're go out to eat- my treat."
Naruto perked up exceptionally.
" Ramen?" He asked instantly.
Iruka laughed. " Sure."
All three of them, linking arms walked happily out of the small house that spelled home. Naruto realized then that- there really is no place like home.
*
" Naaaruto!! Come back here and pay me back for that apple!!" An angry voice hollered out as Naruto quickly leaped over onto his bike and began pedaling away as fast as he could.
" Put it on my tab!!" He called back, his bike jumped a little on the uneven stone path that ran downhill.
" You must owe at least 50 dollars from your goddamn tab already you little fuck!" The storekeeper yelled afterwards, though there really wasn't much malice in his voice. Naruto grinned, swerving away from the many wooden stands along the walls of the narrow street selling foods and clothes and such. There were many people bubbling around the street. He continuously had to scream at the people to get out of the way as he rolled down the steep road at a nearly uncontrollable speed.
Finally, he pulled himself to a stop when he neared his destination and hopped off the bike. Pulling the bike to the side and perching it against the brick wall of some shop, he took a crisp bite out of the apple and chewed thoughtfully before he spit out the skin. Naruto walked along the wall before he found a crooked green door and opened it. Sliding inside stealthily so that no one could see him, he began to walk through a small dark alleyway. He paused briefly to look up, and smiled at the sight of the thin strip of blue sky along the two towering walls on either side of him.
Finally, walking forward a bit more, he stopped at a small wooden door on the end and pushed his way in. Naruto loved the smell of incense, the kind that overwhelmed him every time he stepped into the store.
Naruto took a look around, small queer little things were everywhere- from stacks upon stacks of thick old-smelling books with faded spines but still retaining it's honour with it's gold rimmed edges, to the small yellow canary in the large golden cage that sang a greeting to him.
There were two window in the far end of the room, with dusty coloured panes where light poured through and set hazy swirls of brilliance onto everything in the room. Despite that, the place was dimly lit, so dark actually that Naruto had to feel his way around before he felt a metal beaded string and pulled on it. All of a sudden, a warm tangy glow spilled onto the room from the large lamp near the entrance. Naruto took a deep breath, enjoying the lovely musty smell that only things that often held many memories could emit.
" Hello??" Naruto called uncertainly. His voice echoed through the room eerily, and Naruto squinted his eyes to see the back of the room, which was so dark all he could see was a stark blackness. Suddenly, a light switched on at the back for Naruto to see someone emerge from the beaded curtain at the back.
" Saae?" Naruto asked, unsure because the person was too shadowed for him to see who it was.
" No, Gaara." A soft voice piped up, before a young boy the same age as Naruto walked into the light. Naruto gave him a warm smile, which Gaara return before Gaara peered at him curiously.
"Grandpa needs to do something today, is there anything I can do for you?" He asked gently, and Naruto felt himself relax.
" Uh…" Naruto pulled out a large book with yellowed pages and a thick leather cover and handed it to Gaara. " Here- Your grandfather lent it to me last week and I wanted to return it." Naruto answered nervously, scratching the back of his head. He doesn't see Gaara very often, most kids at school told him he was a strange kid who rarely talked to anyone and mostly kept to himself. They rarely spoke of him in a friendly manner.
Gaara stretched out a pale thin hand so fragile Naruto was afraid he would be unable to hold up the weight of the heavy book. But Gaara set it aside with an uncanny ease and Naruto found himself raising his brow in surprise. Gaara peered back at him blankly.
" Is there… anything else I can help you with?" He asked softly. His eyes bore into Naruto's and Naruto found himself looking away blinking uncomfortably.
" Um… I came to ask your grandfather about the forest at the side of the village..." Naruto muttered. " But it's okay."
Gaara smiled at him, though the intention was to be kind, Naruto found it rather chilling.
" I actually know a lot about the certain forest you speak of. I may be of help to you." Gaara said quietly, before he led Naruto to two couches that once were probably bright in colour but had faded throughout the years. Naruto dropped onto the couch, wheezing slightly when a cloud of dust floated up from the chair. Gaara sat gently beside him.
" So- Could you tell me about what it is??" Naruto asked with slight hesitance. Gaara stared at him, his eyes glowed eerily because the lighting in the corner was dim.
"I'm sure many have told you that- oh perhaps- there are many evil things that lurk in the forest waiting to devour you and such?" Gaara said in both a bemused yet spiteful manner. Naruto nodded in answer, wondering at the back of his head whether Gaara could actually see him in the dark.
There was a light intake of breath.
" I'll tell you of an old English folklore that has been passed down for generations for family members." A pause.
"Delve into the forest of dark and light,
where truths might be lies yet wrongs may be rights.
And in the deepest deep, there is no such light,
And consciousness and knowledge is swallowed by night.
There lives an ageless of wisdom and might,
that stuns you momentarily with merely a sight.
Thee devours all answers and keeps as his own,
never a borrow, never a loan.
He is of kind, of hatred yet hope,
he is of one that much cannot cope.
A stranger of mystery, of power; one said;
he is the living, the immorta,l the dead." (C-chan: I suck with rhymes^^;;)
Naruto stared at him, confused. " Wow…" He said a little unsurely. Gaara continued to smile at him, and now both his eyes and teeth glowed as thought there was light itself in them.
" It's been translated in many ways, not many know of this, and those who do do not know of what it means."
" What does it mean?"
The smile grew wider.
" It's been told that there was an evil socerer who lives deep in the forest, he was once a man who lived in the village himself, yet so many horrible occurances happened that people began to blame it on him and his powers. Therefore, he was banished from the village and instead lived in the forest alone. This was over 2 centuries ago though, and many still say he's alive, retaining his youth for he holds the darkest powers." Gaara explained.
" But my ancesters were said to have been friends with him, and it's been known in our family that it is in fact that he is not at all a harmful man. But rather a kind caring young man…" Gaara's smile slowly returned to a sad frown. " Even if he still lives, it is most likely that he is not the man he was before, his heart must be frozen due the years of solitude and the pain the village has inflicted on him."
Naruto listened as though in a trance, his eyes widening in interest. Once again, he found his dream of exploring the world rekindled again and it was a wonderfully warm feeling that sent tingles down his spine.
" The sorceror then… it could be that he is still there?? After so long??" Naruto asked quickly, his eyes brightening with excitement. Gaara nodded.
" Not many have seen him, but many have disappeared into the forest and not come back. It is what makes the fear of the village grow."
Naruto smiled dreamily. " This is so cool, who knew out boring town would have such an exciting history." Naruto laughed.
Gaara chuckled as well, though there was still a hidden darkness behind the laugh.
" Who knows… I'm not even sure what I believe anymore. My grand father have told me many times that the man was good, but my faith has started to deteriorate already. There has been too much that had happened, too many coincidences, that everything just can't piece together easily." Gaara's voice leveled to such a softness Naruto had to tilt his head slightly to listen better.
" He may be a good man, but after so many years, the heart of one's who has not blackened must be a strong one." Gaara ended lightly, his eyes moved up to look distantly over to some window. Naruto shrugged.
" Maybe all of us are too much of cowards to actually figure this out!" Naruto said loudly to regain Gaara's attention. " I've been thinking about it a lot lately, for such a long time about whether I should go and look into the forest myself… but…" Naruto swallowed. He suddenly remembered the kind villagers, Kakashi's sarcastic but caring manner and Iruka's warm loving nature. Perhaps he was a coward himself as well. If being unable to leave loved ones makes you a coward… then he was as much of a coward as it can get.
" I-I…" Naruto froze and suddenly shivered, he felt the cold fingers of fear lick at the nape of his neck. Naruto stood up urgently. "I'm sorry, I have to get home now. I have a feeling something's gone wrong." Naruto said in a hurry, before he thanked the boy quickly before racing out of the room.
Gaara placed his pale hands on the book Naruto brought back, and glanced sadly at the closing door. Giving a long tired sigh, he lifted thin hands to his eyes and rubbed them gently.
" He can be saved…"
***
Naruto raced home on his bike, not minding the harsh screams at him when he nearly crashed into several people and not caring about the bloodied scratches on his face when he rose through the shortcut where thorned thickets covered the area. He knew that something was wrong.
Naruto felt a sharp pain suddenly hit at his chest, then melt to a numbing one. Naruto bit his lip, and mentally ordered his legs to go faster even though it probably wasn't possible.
When he finally got to his home, he swerved past the tall trees that surrounded his home and jumped off his bike. Naruto slammed through the back door quickly and froze at the sight.
Kakashi was on the floor, his back was towards Naruto but his shoulders were shaking visibly. Naruto walked towards him slowly, bracing himself for whatever horribly thing that had happened.
" Kakashi??' Naruto questioned softly, and held his breath as Kakashi turned already slowly.
" Naruto!!!" Naruto swallowed a startled gasp as Kakashi glomped at him. " You're home you're home!!" Kakashi said joyfully. Naruto shoved him away with both an amused and disgusted look on his face.
" Arg!! Get away from me you pervert!!" Naruto yelled loudly, glaring at Kakashi. Kakashi grinned at him mischievously and carefully revealed a small book that was in his hands. Naruto quickly grabbed it out of Kakashi's hands and look over the title quickly.
" 101 ways to please your lover?" Naruto said raising his brow. He quickly flipped to the first page.
" The first and most important way to please your lover…" Naruto tore his eyes away from the page to stare at Kakashi incredulously.
" – is to make sure that he or she must feel loved and cared for in the most passionate of ways. For example, you must show your affection for him or her in the most exeuberantly when they come home per-say from a tiring day of work. Make it known that you have missed him or her a lot and you are extremely happy to have him or her by your side once again…" Naruto trailed off silently, amazed at the lameness of the book.
Naruto hit Kakashi on the head with the book and crossed his arms over his chest.
" Kakashi, let's try 'not' showing your affection for me most exauberantly when I come home." Naruto said sarcastically. " I'm not Iruka, bastard. Save that stuff for the real thing."
Kakashi shrugged before he grabbed the book back out of Naruto's hands slipped it back into his back pocket.
" I just needed a little practice, that's all." Kakashi laughed. Naruto stared at him in question before he scanned the room quickly.
" Where is Iruka anyways?"
Kakashi shrugged again. " He went out to pick flowers."
" Seriously."
" Some pretty flowers for me."
" Kakashi…" Naruto said warningly. Kakashi grinned.
" He went out to the forest to find mushrooms or something." Kakashi said just as the bell rang. Kakashi walked quickly out of the room to the bakery, Naruto followed him.
" What do you mean? I thought we weren't allowed to go there!"
Kakashi went over to the counter where the cash register was and nodded quickly at the two new customers. Naruto stood by the door patiently as Kakashi tended with them.
" Two loaves of bread? Ah- coming right up."
Kakashi strode his way back into the kitchen and took a brown paper bag from the table beside the door to shove two fresh warm loaves of bread into it. Swiftly grabbing some tape and sealing the bag with it, Kakashi went back to the customers with Naruto trailing behind him.
" Yah, but this is important. Iruka's grandfather- oh, two dollars 50 cents please- you have met him before right?? Well he- Here's your bread madame- He has gotten deathly ill and Iruka has to brew up some kind of cure for him… Here's your change, thank you and please come again." Kakashi flashed a warm smile to the customer, or at least Naruto thought so since the scarf Kakashi wore all the time just about covered every faciel expression he could show.
Naruto put his hands on his hips, knowing the nagging feeling inside of his head that something was presently wrong was still there. Naruto stood there in silence for a moment, and Kakashi suddenly noticing it watched him closely.
Kakashi frowned deeply and looked at the watch on his wrist. " He should have been back a while ago though…' Kakashi started. " But I didn't think much of it because he was a grown man that could take care of himself… but…" Kakashi suddenly looked uneasy, obviously realizing now the seriousness of the issue.
Naruto was about to strangle him, his steely cold blue eyes glared dangerously at Kakashi. " What the hell?? How could you do that! Iruka's your lover, you should have taken better care of him than to let him out by himself into some forest where anything could happen!!" Naruto yelled.
Kakashi glanced coolly back at him, and a cold silence swept through the room as two eyes locked together.
The silence was interrupted by the bang of the door.
Naruto and Kakashi quickly broke out of their glare and walked quickly to the door, each stride synchronized in their hurry. They both rushed through the door to see a sweaty and bloody Iruka there, still breathing haggardly from his journey.
" Guys…" Iruka smiled weakly at them before falling from exaustion.
" Iruka!!!!!!!" Naruto yelled as Kakashi was by his lover's side in a split of a second. Kakashi quickly pulled Iruka into his arms and walked over to another from to place him on the couch.
" Naruto, go and get a bowl of warm water and a towel, and get the bandaging cloth too!" Kakashi ordered calmly, although there was an urgency in Kakashi's voice Naruto seldom heard that was usually only reserved for Iruka. Naruto paused only for a second before he rushed out of the room to grab the supplies and went back quickly.
Naruto passed the supplies to Kakashi and gazed at Iruka.
" He's ok, isn't he?" Naruto asked Kakashi, his brows pushing together in extreme worry. Kakashi remained silent, only dabbing the towel into the warm water and pressing it gently into Iruka's wounds. Iruka suddenly jumped, pain startling him out of unconsiousness and hissed at the pain.
Kakashi caressed Iruka's face tenderly, love evident in his eyes. Naruto blinked at the sudden intensity of emotion and felt uncomfortable.
Iruka smiled at them, before he lifted himself up slightly, teeth clenching in pain.
" What happened Iruka!! Why were you gone for so long, why are you hurt like that!! Why did you go into the forest like that!!" Naruto asked abruptedly, worry and curiosity getting the better of him.
Kakashi glanced at him sharply and Naruto quieted immediately.
" I-…" Iruka stopped, and Naruto glanced at him in concern.
" Kakashi, Naruto, I'm sorry but I have to leave you guys…"
Everything was quiet at the sudden declaration.
" Just- I love you a lot, please don't forget that." Kakashi's hand suddenly stopped at mid-caress and he started incredulously at Iruka. Naruto opened his mouth several times before he stomped over to Iruka.
" What the fuck are you talking about! Leaving us! You just friggin' came back and you didn't even explain what happened to us." Naruto cried angrily at him.
" Shit Naruto. What makes you think I want to leave, but I am not one to break a promise." Iruka said harshly.
" WHAT?? Are you sick?? Are you going to die?? What are you saying!!!" Naruto screamed, wondering if Iruka was just joking with him and he was making an idiot of himself. There was a ringing in his ears that disrupted all coherent thought in his shock at Iruka's words and all he could do was wish to God that Iruka was joking.
Iruka gave a hoarse cough, his eyes looking tired. Yet they held no contempt. From a pocket, he took out a small leather bag and placed it into Kakashi's hands.
" The mushrooms… give it to grandfather for me?" Iruka asked quietly to Kakashi, his eyes pleading. Kakashi hesitated for a moment, before his eyes softened in understand and his palm closed up without a word. Naruto stared at the exchange in confusion, feeling like he was missing on a lot.
But before Naruto could open his mouth, Iruka had begun to speak once again.
" I'm sorry Naruto. But I owe the man that had helped me when I injured myself. He healed most of my fatal wounds even though I had stepped into his property and stolen his mushrooms. He wants company in return and that is all I can give. I promised him I would go back to him after I bid you guys farewell." Iruka said tiredly, but his decision firm in his voice. Naruto stared at him mouth agape, unable to believe how much could change in a matter of minutes.
" What?? Can't you just stay here?? What kind of bastard is he?? Asking for you to stay with him?? Is he some psychotic dude or something??" Naruto yelled angrily at him, surprised at how easily Iruka could take this.
" He saved my life Naruto, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't even be here. It's the least I could do in return. I have to leave and meet him in the forest tomorrow, he already let me visit you guys once more." Iruka said stubbornly, the hard look in his eyes told Naruto that he would not be changing his mind. Naruto felt his insides shattering, disbelief on his face. But on the inside, he knew his guardian's morals well, but he felt like crying in spite of it.
Naruto felt a prickling at his eyes and fought the urge to let his tears fall, the man who has taking care of him for so many years has just suddenly decided to leave him forever? That was just too much to take! Naruto's face crinkled up in confused loneliness and pain and suddenly ran out of the room, wishing Iruka and Kakashi not to see the pain that was breaking his heart.
In the room, neither Iruka or Kakashi moved an inch, eyes locked on the door Naruto had ran out of. Iruka gave a long haggard sigh, he had expected the reaction but he never expected how hard it would be to leave Naruto. He truly loved the boy a lot.
Kakashi patted him gently on the shoulder, his kind eyes so full of understanding Iruka knew at once just why he loved the man so much as well. He lifted himself up slightly to wrap his arms around Kakashi's neck and gave him a hard hug.
***
Naruto ran up to his room, trying to force down the sobs that were threatening to burst out of him any moment. A hard look was regained in his eyes before he paused in mid-step and swore quietly under his breath. Suddenly, he collapsed against the stairs and fell down to the floor, leaning against the wall.
" I can't… I can't let him do that." Naruto told himself. He desperately tried to think up of ways to stop Iruka from going but nothing came to mind, He felt so helpless.
" I-… that bastard wanted some company!! What the hell is that??" Naruto said to himself, anger taking place of sadness. But hopelessness was still there, a growing emptiness that filled him as the realization of Iruka never being there anymore hit him with the strength of a tsunami. Naruto shook his head, and wrapped lean arms around his knees. What about Kakashi? What would happen between him and Iruka?
" They don't deserve to be separated." Naruto told himself firmly, knowing that the love between the two was too great for one to leave the other. Kakashi loved Iruka so much, it wasn't fair that this should happen. Naruto knew that out of everything, what he wanted most was happiness for the two.
" I-I…" Naruto dropped his face onto his knees. If that bastard wanted some company, then Iruka didn't deserve to be the one to go.
Naruto made his decision. He'll go instead, for the sake of Kakashi and Iruka.
Naruto lifted his head, biting his lip in determination. He would go in the place of Iruka, and he'd have to go instantly before anyone could stop him.
Without even caring to take anything with him, Naruto quickly walked quietly up to his room and and stood in front of his window. Casting a ghost of a smile towards his room, the sadness inside of him overwhelming. Naruto leapt out of the window, and landed gracelessly onto the ground, nearly breaking his arm in the process.
"owww.." Naruto whined softly, hoping Iruka and Kakashi hadn't heard his little accident. Naruto jumped back up and without looking back, he began to run towards where the entrance to the forest was.
He wanted this… Naruto told himself… he wanted this, he's been wanting to get away from his boring life in a long time.
But… Naruto paused in midstep to touch his cheek briefly, why were his cheeks wet? When it wasn't raining?
***
Naruto
This story is experimental, which means if it doesn't go well, I'll just delete it and take it off the net. LOL^_^
This basically follows the storyline of Beauty and the Beast (I REALLY hated the story but it was well-suited for Naruto)
Next chapter:
" You come in the place of Iruka?" A smooth tenor voice rolled out to him, and Naruto nodded, answering with a bitter glare at the man. The hooded man watched him intently as if studying the boy intently. He nodded slightly before pulling his hood down so that Naruto could see his face.
Naruto swallowed a startled gasp as his eyes quickly scanned over the delicate features of the boy that surprisingly looked near his age. Pale flawless porcelain skin that contrasted starkly with raven dark hair, and eyes that carried the wisdom of centuries. Black pools that held an air of cool indifference, yet holding a constant and distinctive awareness of everything around him.
He was… beautiful.