I'm broke. I'm artistically challenged. I'm recovering from surgery. Do you really think suing me would get you anything? The only things having to do with these characters that I own are this story and two, that's right, two volumes of Naruto. I can't afford to by any more manga right now.

A/N: Oh my goodness! I got so many reviews for the last chapter, and they're long too! Today I opened my mailbox, and I was in a really bad mood, but then I read all of my wonderful reviews and I was so happy! I was gonna wait another few days to start this chapter, but I just had to start after reading all the reviews I got. Speaking of Which, I'm going to respond to them now! Or rather, I'll respond to them after writing my warnings.

Language. OOC. Future boy on boy action involving Sasuke and Naruto. If this bothers you, I hold great hatred for you and your bigoted kind, and I hope you all go to hell. Unless you like YAOI and just don't like the SASUNARU pairing, in which case, I only think you're crazy. But anyways, whatever the case, if you don't like, don't read, and really, you should already be gone by now. Now! It is time to thank the reviewers! Oo

Sasunaru-fangurls: Much and Many great thanks to you! I'm glad you love my story, and I'm sorry you were confused. I know how that goes. I once thought I reviewed a story and never did. I was quite dismayed when I discovered the truth. Anyways! Thank you for reading and for your review, I have a gallon sized tub of your favorite flavor gourmet ice cream. ;) Keep reading, and keep reviewing. Thankies! Thankies!

Kaiou-hime: I LOVE your long reviews! They always make me happy. I don't particularly like Sakura either, as matter of fact, I really dislike her, but I didn't want to bash her in this story because I think she'll paly an important role, like I said in my author's note. Or did I? I can't remember. Anyways, I though it might be cool to have Sasuke and Sakura be friends. I don't know how she'll react when she discovers Sasuke's feelings for Naruto, but then again, I don't know how Sasuke will react yet, so! Thanks o much for this lovely, long, and constructive review! Here is a tray of supremely yummy, soft and gooey, triple fudge, Mississippi Mud brownies. ;)

Hieisbestbuddy888: I'm glad you liked it! But you should do your homework. Oo (I say that, but you know I'm writing instead f doing homework, so, you can ignore me.) Thanks for the review. Here are some chocolate covered strawberries, including dark, milk, and tuxedo chocolate!

SasuNaru-kun: Oh no! I can't believe your muse stole your lemon squares. It's a good thing I have extras from m last batch to give you as a replacement. I know it was sad, but I had to make it sad to get my point across. I hate being mean to Naruto, but it had to happen! :( Thanks for reviewing, and in addition o your replacement lemon squares, I have some gooey, chewy, tasty and delicious cookies for your eating pleasure. Enjoy.

Kyuubi-kun: Well! I'm glad you enjoyed, and I thank you eternally for rationalizing my OOC for me! Anyways, thanks for review, and here is a three layer cake of your favorite variety. Thankies for the lovely review!

Tiffyki: You leave me with nothing to go by! Interesting Good or Interesting Bad! How can you not tell me. I'll go crazy! Ahhhhh! Anyways, thank you for the review, despite the fact that I am unsure if it's a good review or a bad review. I have a box of fresh and assorted chocolates for you. I hope you like.

Juu: I must say, I have never been compared to potato chips. I don't particularly like potato chips, but since most people do, I will appreciate as the compliment that it was. Thank you very much. I know it's all crazy and weird, but, Hey! Whatever. Anyways, thank you so much for the lovely review, and for your troubles, I will give you a pan of freshly baked lemon squares with extra powdered sugar. I hope you like!

ewon: Thanks so much for your review, and I promise I'll start being nice to Naruto in a little while, though not in this chapter, and there will definitely be some happy comforting done by Sasuke some time in the near future. Thanks so much for your reviews. Here's some Jello with extra whipped cream for you. (Unless you're one of those people who think Jello is really nasty, in which case, I sincerely hope you'll change it into something better.) I'm having trouble coming up with new treats to give. So, next time you might get something you've already gotten before. I hope not, though. Thanks for reading. :)

And now, after lots and lots of author's notes and reviewer thanks! Thanks for baring with me. On with chapter seven!

But Home Is Nowhere...: You Don't Care That It Haunts Me

Naruto woke shivering and cramped, the violent stench of milk gone bad stinging his nostrils cruelly. He groaned and sat up, noting with great sadness that he was sticky, his black shirt tinted milky grey. Someone had poured the entire half gallon of milk over him while he'd slept. "How the fuck did I not wake up?" His voice cracked, his throat dry and raw from the crying he'd done earlier.

It was as this point, remembering that he'd been crying earlier, that Naruto realized that it was dark, the moon sitting full and proud in a black sky. He'd probably been sleeping out there on his front step for hours, and no one had bothered to help him. He shook his head, attempting to fight off another bout of tears as he stood. 'I just need to figure out a way to get into my house. Then I'll be okay.' His mind was desperately trying to be strong, willing his spirit into complacency. "Just go around back. I'll just go around back and see if the window is open."(1) Deciding this was a good idea, he grabbed the two bags of non-perishable groceries as well as his backpack and headed around the side of the house.

Once he was standing directly below the window sill, he reached up as far as he could and began pulling one half of the pane sideways. At first it didn't move, and Naruto was just about to give up when he was sent flying to the ground. Apparently the window, like the door, was just jammed. He stood up slowly, bracing himself against the wall and grabbing his grocery bags. He threw the sodas in first and then his backpack, followed by the ramen, hoping he wouldn't squash the precious noodles when he landed.

He then proceeded to brace his hands against the brick of the outer sill and hoist himself up. He winced as the harsh stone bit into his palms, planting his feet against the wall and heaving upwards again. He cried out as he tumbled forward and onto his floor, his arms being jarred as the entirety of his weight came down upon them. He could hear the skin ripping from his shin as it scraped against brick, then metal, then wood. For a moment, the blonde did nothing, lying still on his floor staring at his grocery bag, tears blurring his vision.

When he was finally able to move, he looked down at his left leg. "Crap." His jeans were ripped lengthwise, and there was a six inch strip of mangled and bloody skin. The sight of it somehow caused the pain to register in Naruto's brain, and suddenly he was sobbing and attempting to pull himself up with his weakened arms.

He stumbled slowly into the bathroom, tripping over his pile of dirty clothes, and then over a pair of discarded shoes before entering the small room. Flipping the light on, he slowly stripped out of his jeans, carefully peeling the pieces of torn denim from the deep gash and turning on the faucet in the tub. When the water was warm enough, he sat down on the edge of the tub, and gingerly began splashing water on the cut.

He winced in pain, and decided that the process was much too slow, sticking his leg directly under the flow of water as he reached into the cabinet behind him for the peroxide (2). Frowning, he gripped the lid a spun it off, bracing himself and drying the water from the cut with a small hand towel. He bit hard on his lip as he rested his heel on the soap holder that stuck out from the wall and began pouring the clear liquid over his leg. He watched it bubble up and drip off his wound, and tears of pain seeped from his eyes as blood and dirt mixed with the water flowing down the drain.

He sat there for about five minutes, watching the chemical work, and then, unable to take it any longer, pushed his leg back under the faucet, almost sighing as he felt the peroxide wash away. After he was sure the wound was as clean as it would get, he turned off the faucet and dried his leg once again. The towel he was using would definitely have to be tossed along with his jeans. He frowned at the thought, realizing that he didn't have enough money to buy new jeans, which meant he would be left with one pair for the next few months. He shook his head, not in the mood to think about it. "I'm just going to shower, and then put some Neosporin on this thing, and then go to bed," he said quietly, his voice shaking as if he were going to cry again, but his mind and body to exhausted to let him.

He moved slowly, unable to force quick movements as he pulled off his shirt and boxers, turning the shower head on and waiting once again for the water to warm. His arms felt like jelly, still weak from the jarring he'd given them in his unceremonious landing, and he'd dropped the soap five or six times before the shower ended. His body ached as he stood, and he nearly collapsed when he stepped out onto the grungy tile floor, drying himself with a clean, but rather ratty towel and walking into his bedroom. He picked up a pair of boxers that he'd only worn once already, and a no-sleeved undershirt of the same status and pulled them on, noting that he still needed to do laundry.

He then threw the towel back into the bathroom and grabbed the Neosporin off the counter, applying a generous amount to the wounded area and then throwing the tube back down. He grabbed three giant band-aids from the drawer by the sink and spread them across the medicated area before turning off the light and stumbling back to his bed and collapsing, unable to prolong sleep any further.

TBC...

A/N: I hate being mean to Naruto! Waaaahhh. Anyways, I'm sorry if this is short, I can't really tell right now, and I'm too lazy to compare and contrast. It's really late, and I have to get up early tomorrow. :( Anyways, I can't really think of anything to say right now other then, next time there will be some juicy stuff about the past, and we will find out what Sasuke was doing while Naruto was sleeping on his porch and breaking into his own house. So, yeah. Stay tuned! Thanks for reading, and please review.

-Mercury Bohemian Out-

ISAN:

1. Okay, I know he should have thought of this earlier, but he was busy being sad. He probably would have come up with it when he was done crying, but he fell asleep, and thus only just now came up with it.

2. Is this what you call the stuff you pour on really big scrapes? I can't remember. If this is wrong, sorry! Please forgive me. ;)

P.S. The Chapter Title is from, "But Home Is Nowhere..." by AFI. (That would indeed be the song for which this fic is named, and all titles thus far are still completely irrelevant. But, you should really listen to this song, it's good. I love AFI! ;))