Title: Kremlin Dusk
Author: sky75rk
A/N: Guys… thanks so much for still supporting this story… sniff.. Although not too many people review this, the number of hits and the readers who put this story in their favorites or alerts makes me cry… sniff… I suddenly realized that it is not in the number of reviews that makes a story great… It is in the number of those appreciating the effort put in each chapter that determines the excellence of it. I know that there are many more stories that are greater than mine, but still, I do appreciate every encouragement you give me… so forgive me please for the late chapter… but I'll try to update regularly from now on… thanks so much!;
Standard disclaimers apply.
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Tenth Channel: When heartache begins
In the large living room of the former orphanage, Shizune sat across from Hyuuga Neji, the person she holds her hopes upon. The person wherein she is willing to gamble Naruto's trust just so they could keep the family together.
Neji looked at her with such eyes full of concern, of apprehension. This is Naruto's effect on people. She told herself as she suddenly remembered the days where he would only see empty, white eyes from the Hyuuga boy. Before everything happened, there was nothing but distrust in those beautiful eyes, a mark of a distinct past he couldn't leave behind. But now… now there was no trace of that, only a light of salvation that was never there before; a radiance of loyalty and friendship that he had found in the blonde boy.
She sighed.
She knew that the boy in front of him will do anything she asks of, because it determines Naruto's safety. She knew that he would do what she asks of him, because his loyalty far exceeds the boundaries of friendship. Because behind the façade of amity, there lurks a sentiment willing to break free.
"Shizune…san?" Neji calls out again to her, and she closed her eyes in resignation. Her decision will ultimately affect her relationship with the blonde she considers his little brother among anything else. "Is there something I can do for you?" she heard Neji continue, and then she opened her black eyes and stared at the boy before speaking, carefully choosing her words that she will say, not leaving any of the details out.
"Neji," she started. "What I will ask of you is far more delicate than any other thing that I could ask of. Before you agree on helping, please listen first to the entire story, from the very beginning until the last word that will come out of my mouth. Do you understand?"
"Hai,"
"I will, therefore, continue," she said, the first part of her speech coming smoothly. "As you know, this house is formerly an orphanage; an orphanage that houses street children and abandoned ones. The children living here are from different places, different families,"
"A few years ago, almost no one comes here to adopt children, mainly because the resources given to us by the government are very limited and it resulted in a dirty place and poor clothing. Married couples do not seem to find this place a pleasant one to adopt children, although the kids are very much behaved and good. The children, themselves, became attached to the people here and decided that they did not want to be adopted. So, being government owned, Tsunade-san asked for an appeal to strip this house of the orphanage title and took everyone under her wing. There was a condition, however," Shisune took a sip from her cooling green tea.
"The government stopped providing us money for our expenses. Instead, the older ones took part time jobs while the younger ones take care of those younger than them. Tsunade-san and I work at a clinic during the days. Naruto, as you know, works at several different jobs that tire him out, while he continues to study. Two others, Kei and Ryu, are already married and help out in any way they can. Currently, almost everybody in the household is going to school, and the expenses at getting tighter and tighter everyday,"
Neji nodded, listening at every word. "Naruto does not know this, but we are under a large debt. We weren't able to pay the tuition of the children yet so before Naruto notices and works himself to death, Tsunade loaned money from the bank, and gave the house as collateral,"
"Tsunade wanted to pay the debt immediately, before the interests got high, so she gambled, without our knowledge, which led us to more debts. She forgot her luck in betting games and she wasted what was left from our loaned money and even managed to borrow from the casino," Shizune laughed at the predicament, but Neji failed to see the humor in it. "The boss is threatening to take everything away from us if we don't pay what we owe…" at this point, silent tears were weaving down Shizune's already pale cheeks. "I-if we fail to pay, nothing will be left…"
Neji understood at once, but he only paid attention to one detail and one detail alone. If they don't pay, Naruto will be separated from me. Making up his mind, he stood up and prepared to leave. "I'll take care of everything," he told the black-haired lady.
He heard a sob and a sigh of relief. "Thank you. But please don't tell this to Naruto. You know that his pride won't allow this. He will work himself to death just so he could pay for everything himself and not let you pay for it. I promise that little by little, we will return what we owe,"
Neji shook his head. "Just knowing that Naruto will continue to be near me is payment enough," he said simply. "You'll hear from me soon," he said, leaving the room and shutting the front door quietly.
He drove back to the university leisurely, his mind mulling over the things that they talked about. Of course, this will be the only secret that he will keep from the blonde's knowledge. The thought of him leaving makes him shudder in anxiousness, and Naruto's health always comes first and foremost in his mind. He would not allow anything to happen to him, and he would also not allow him to overwork himself for something that can be easily settled.
He parked his car at a lot next to the building of his next class, hoping that he will see Naruto there. When he entered the class, he saw none of the blonde hair that he loved and he sighed, sitting in their usual place and glaring at every person, man or woman, which even thought of sitting to the spot that was especially reserve for the blonde.
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Naruto walked back to his class in a daze. What happened with a certain Uchiha embedded in his mind. He can still feel the want that Sasuke transmitted through that one short kiss. But what he couldn't understand was how Sasuke could ever want him, why, all of a sudden, he was being chased by one of the most popular person in school, when he didn't give a damn about him before.
Everything was so sudden. He hadn't done anything to make Sasuke like him. The only thing he did was to play his partner at the film they were making. Did he come to like me during the filming? He asked himself. Or is it just a momentary madness? Naruto wouldn't deny that he there is something that attracts him to Sasuke. Something he can't explain thoroughly yet, but somehow, he knew that it was a thing they both have.
It's the loneliness. He told himself, when he remembered Sasuke's serious face during one of the filming breaks. It's not that I'm unhappy with the family I have now. But what happened to either our real families, or our none existent one at that… he trailed off.
He walked automatically, letting his feet lead him to his destination. He reached his next class, and sat down the nearest chair to him, his vivid blue eyes still lost in thought.
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Neji must've some sort of 'Naruto-radar' installed in his body, because the moment the said blonde was near the classroom, his head whipped towards the door, as if expecting him to come inside at minute. He wasn't failed by his radar, because the next couple of seconds was spent watching Naruto come inside the room, and he waited silently, watching the blonde's every move, for him to sit beside him.
He was disappointed, however, to learn that Naruto failed to notice him, didn't even raise his head up to meet him in greeting. Yet, he released his disappointment when he saw those blue eyes troubled.
Neji stood up and walked purposely to Naruto, his usual measured steps now quickening. He stopped short in front of the blond, standing beside him silently, before making up his mind. He wanted Naruto to feel his presence first.
But, the blonde didn't. Instead, he continued to lock himself up inside that thought of his, ignoring everything else. Well, at least it isn't just me that he's ignoring. He thought, and then he reached out, clamped his hand onto tanned wrists and tugged.
It was only then that Naruto realized Neji was there. But before he could protest or do anything, he found himself being dragged away for the second time that day.
-Continued-
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