Chapter 21

Tsukasa arrived promptly on time the next day to drive Naruto to school. Entering the apartment, he was surprised to find Naruto dressed and sat on the couch waiting for him. He kindly greeted Kyuubi as he walked over to Naruto. He kept his hands inside his pockets as he looked at his headache for the day.

"You sure you want to go in today?" He fixed his eyes on the dark bruise circling Naruto's eye that was now uncovered.

"What else would I do stuck here at home?" Naruto took a step forward, his chest almost brushing against Tsukasa's. "Just the two of us alone doing nothing, bored out of our minds, who knows what might happen." He grinned when Tsukasa gently pushed him back.

"Make today easy for me, will ya?"

"No promises."

"Give me your wrist," Tsukasa said, his hand stretched out.

"What for?"

"Do as you're told." Tsukasa held Naruto's unflinching gaze, his hand held out still waiting, and when Naruto saw he wouldn't budge, he gently took hold of Naruto's offered hand and wrapped the small aluminum bracelet around the dainty wrist. "There, nice and snug."

"What's this?" Naruto moved his wrist around, tensely observing the slim metallic band.

"It's a tracker. Let's me know where you are at all times," Tsukasa explained, smiling when Naruto frowned up at him. "You got a problem with it, take it up with Sasuke." He held up his hand. "Oh, one more thing, only I can take it off."

"I'm not a fucking dog, you don't get to keep me on a leash." Naruto held out his wrist. "Take it off me right now."

"Like I said, take it up with Sasuke." Tsukasa turned around, hiding his amused smile. "I'll be waiting outside. Hurry up."

"Tsukasa!" Naruto scrunched up his nose when Tsukasa ignored him and quietly left the apartment. "Fuck." He walked over to the couch, lifted his backpack and swung it over his shoulder.

In the kitchen, Kyuubi wiped over the counters, folded the kitchen towels neatly on top when he was done. He looked around the now spotless kitchen, the dishes washed and dried, the plates packed away in the cabinets, the floor tiles luminous and spotless. He smiled, satisfied with his hard work. He looked up to see Naruto approaching him with an irritated look on his face.

"What's the matter?"

Naruto held up his wrist. "Sasuke has me on a fucking leash. As if having Tsukasa shadowing me everywhere wasn't overbearing enough."

Kyuubi lifted his arm up and showed his own matching bracelet. "It's just an extra precaution. Don't think too much about it."

"I didn't sign up for any of this." Naruto again tried to slide the bracelet off, cursing under his breath when the gadget wouldn't budge. "I don't like this."

Kyuubi walked around the island and placed a gentle hand over Naruto's shoulder. "Just don't think about it. In a little while, you'll forget it's there."

Naruto moved his shoulder, shrugging off his brother. "That's not the point." He sighed. "Look, I gotta go." He looked at Kyuubi, saw the sad look on his face.

It still felt somewhat strange, standing so close to his brother and not feeling the urge to rip his head off. He wanted to reach out and hug Kyuubi, tell him how worried he was about him leaving. How scary this whole thing was. His body wouldn't move, his mind unwilling to let go of the past. His conscience urged him to do the right thing, open his arms and embrace their newfound understanding of one another. His body wouldn't move.

"So, I guess when I get back, you won't be here."

Kyuubi nodded. "Yeah," he said softly, swallowing back the tears. "I have my phone so you can always call me if you need anything. I transferred money to your account so you should be okay for a while. You also have Sasuke in case you need anything else. Keep in touch, okay? Stay out of trouble. Take care of yourself. Make sure you eat, go to school, do your homework, clean the place. Don't make it get too untidy."

"Anything else, mom?"

Kyuubi chuckled, slowly shook his head. A single tear fell and he quickly wiped it away. "Can I hug you?"

Naruto stretched out his hand. He saw the sadness that flashed through Kyuubi's eyes as he reached forward and held his hand, gently shook it in an awkward handshake.

"Good luck with everything," Naruto said. "Starting now you're living for yourself. Not me."

Kyuubi nodded and reluctantly let go of Naruto's hand. He trailed behind Naruto as they walked inside the living room. Jay sat on the couch watching his morning cartoons. Naruto bent down, combed Jay's bangs out of his face, looked into those big brown puppy like eyes.

"I'm going to school now, Jay. I'm leaving a little earlier than usual today."

"Why?" Jay asked, taking a sip out of his juice box.

"Um, something boring I gotta take care of," Naruto said, a small smile pulling at his lips. "I'll be stuck at school while you get to go on a fun adventure with your dad. You're so lucky."

"Come with us."

Naruto had to tilt his head back to keep the tears from falling. He blinked them away, clearing his throat as he became emotional. "No, I can't miss school today. But when I get back, you can tell me all about it, okay?"

Jay eagerly nodded his head. "Okay, Naru."

"Here, let me show you something. Put your hand up." Naruto raised his hand and Jay did the same, looking intently at his uncle's gestures. Naruto folded down his middle finger and ring finger and Jay mimicked him. "This means I love you in sign language. When you're on your adventure and you get scared, if you do this, I'll know and I'll do the same thing back. It'll make you brave because this will let you know that I'm thinking of you and that I'm missing you like crazy."

"Really?" Jay giggled. "That's funny. Can I tell Kota?"

"Yeah, of course you can."

Naruto opened his arms and his nephew joyfully jumped out of the couch to embrace him. Naruto held him closely, his heart breaking as he hugged the child to his chest. He didn't want to let go, couldn't bring himself to pull away, not until Tsukasa knocked at the door and insisted they got a move on.

Naruto pulled back and held his nephew at arm's length.

"I love you, Jay," he said, eyes filled with tears. He laughed, playfully tickling the boy when he saw Jay's lips begin to quiver with the sudden knowledge of something he wasn't meant to know. He listened to his nephew's giggles, treasured the sound of them knowing he wouldn't get to hear them for a while.

"Be nice to your mom and dad, okay? Listen to everything they tell you. Don't give them a hard time."

"I promise I won't."

"I know you won't." Naruto leaned forward and kissed Jay's forehead, his hands combing through the boy's soft hair. He stood up and swung on his backpack. He raised his hand and did the sign, and he smiled when Jay moved his hand and returned the sentiment.

"Take care." Naruto said by the door, looking over to his brother.

"You too," Kyuubi said softly.

Naruto looked over to Asumi by the living room, her packed duffle bag beside her feet. "Take care of them."

Asumi nodded, her face stern. "I will."

Naruto looked around as if for the last time before he finally willed himself to open the door and leave the apartment. Outside, Tsukasa waited for him twirling the car keys in his hand. Naruto looked down at his feet, his back pressed against the closed door.

"Ready?" Tsukasa asked.

Naruto simply shook his head, his eyes still watching his feet, unwilling to look up and meet Tsukasa's watchful gaze.

Tsukasa has come to learn Naruto didn't like to be vulnerable. He always had this feistiness to him, this attitude that the world was against him, this attitude that he didn't need anyone. Tsukasa knew this was a hard time for Naruto, and he also knew Naruto wouldn't express his feelings about it to him even if he asked, even if there was something he could do to help. So, he wouldn't ask.

"Let's get going."

Naruto followed behind Tsukasa down the hall. He pulled out his cellphone, looked at the time. He unlocked it, went into his messages, his finger hovering over Kiba's contact. He pressed down on the name, saw the last few texts exchanged between them. He stared at the keyboard, not sure what to say, not sure what to type. He sighed as he locked the phone, pushed it back inside his pocket.

The whole ride to school Naruto said nothing. He kept his eyes on his phone, kept opening the messaging app, kept his finger hovering over the keypad. He hoped Kiba would text him, text him about anything, give him a reason to text back. He didn't want to be the first one to reach out, and he knew Kiba was just as stubborn to not do the same. So, they both played the game, looking down on their phone, waiting to see who would be the first to break.

—

It felt strange leaving everything behind. Kyuubi thought packing a small suitcase would have made his nerves relax a bit. It would have felt a like a vacation, he could have pretended it was a vacation, force himself to believe it was. All he needed was to look at his suitcase and envision the clothes packed inside, like back in the day when he would accompany the Uchiha family on their annual trips to Italy.

Except, it wasn't like back then. This was no vacation, and he had no bags packed to convince himself otherwise. Itachi had thought of that and made sure Kyuubi understood the severity of the situation. Leaving empty handed made it seem like he had something to return to. It also made it seem like he was leaving everything behind, as if he would not return.

Was that the truth? Was he not returning after this trip? Was it his last day here in this home he purchased for his family. In this home he furnished himself, began a new life inside.

Kyuubi held on to the doorknob. He would not be sleeping here tonight. He would be sleeping elsewhere, perhaps at a hotel, maybe Itachi's home. Was Itachi's home going to be his new home after everything was over? Would they live together as one happy family? Was that the life awaiting him? The life he had dreamed of since the day he left Konoha, the life he has longed for.

Kyuubi became startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around, relaxing when he saw it was only Asumi.

"Everything is ready," Asumi said, a warm smile on her face. "It's time to go now."

"Right." Kyuubi nodded, forced a smile. "No turning back now, right?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Okay." Kyuubi gently pulled the door shut, pulled out his keys and locked it. He twisted the knob, exhaling a deep breath when he felt the resistance. He turned to Asumi. "Ready."

Asumi stepped aside, ushered Kyuubi forward with her hand. "After you."

Kyuubi walked ahead and Asumi dutifully followed behind him. They waited patiently for the elevator and when it arrived, they both stepped aside as the doors slid open. Kyuubi took a step forward, stumbling back when he nearly collided into someone. He looked up at the familiar face. It was the man from before. Kyuubi felt the same unnerving feeling return.

When the doors had slid open, the elevator appeared empty. He hadn't seen anyone inside. He didn't understand how someone could have been there and he had not seen him. Was it his nerves again getting the best of him?

"Sorry about that," Kae said, a sheepish grin on his handsome face. "I don't know why we keep meeting like this."

Kyuubi opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked at Kae, his big round eyes that looked so innocent, his deep dimples adorning his smile, his tall stature that loomed over him. Kyuubi saw him take a step forward and he instinctively took a step back.

"Something wrong, Kyuubi?" Asumi asked, observing the strange look on Kyuubi's face. She called out to him again and she furrowed her brows when Kyuubi turned to her frightened. "Are you alright?"

Kyuubi brought a hand to his head. He shook his head trying to clear his mind, trying to rid the nerves. "I'm fine," he whispered.

"Do you know this man?" Asumi asked, taking an attentive step towards Kae. She kept her eyes on him, meticulously analyzed every inch of his face, the small scar arched over his forehead. She looked at Kyuubi, did the same, searched his eyes for something she can work out for herself. "Kyuubi?"

"I don't know why I'm acting like this," Kyuubi said, running a hand down his face. He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath then slowly exhaled. He opened his eyes, looked at Kae, saw him smile. "I'm sorry. Will you please excuse me?"

Kae stepped aside, allowing Kyuubi and Asumi entrance into the elevator. He walked away, turned around as he heard the doors closed. He stopped midway in the hallway, pulled his hands out of his pockets. He grinned, eyes scanning the walls up to the corner where the security camera was prompted, the same spot as on each floor. He stared directly at it, waved his hand at it as he pulled out his cellphone and brought it to his ear.

Downstairs in the lobby stood Yugito dressed casually in a pair of blue jeans, white top paired with a leather jacket. She waved her hand to Kyuubi and Asumi as they approached her. She quickly embraced Kyuubi when she saw the anxious look on his face.

"Don't be nervous." She pulled back, held Kyuubi by his shoulders. "You're shaking," she said, face full of concern.

Kyuubi shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"Alright, well, car's outside. I got two of my partners with me. They'll be driving behind us just for extra security. Though, I doubt we'll need it, but just to be safe."

Kyuubi followed Yugito outside, the bright sun causing him to squint. He saw the two black cars parked right outside the tall building, the two women standing beside each car. He walked over to the one with the door open, his son sat inside swinging his feet as he played over his iPad, his small sunglasses worn over his face.

"Jay, time to go." Kyuubi took the tablet from the boy, situated him properly into the car before pulling the seatbelt over his small body. Kyuubi made sure he was comfortable, made sure he had his lunch bag packed with his favorite snacks. He placed the tablet down next to the bag, again tugging on the seatbelt to make sure it was secure. "You okay, Jay?"

"Yeah mommy," Jay replied softly, his face serious as he waited for his mommy to get in the car and sit beside him. "Sit next to me, please." He patted down on the leather seat.

"No, remember, mommy is going in a different car." Kyuubi held his son's face, combed his hair back behind his ears. "Listen, I'll be in the car right behind you. You'll be with Asumi. You like Asumi, don't you?"

Jaron nodded. "Yeah, I like her a lot."

"Good, that means you need to listen to everything she tells you, okay? She will take you to meet your father and mommy will arrive a little while after, okay?"

"Okay mommy," Jay said, smiling. "Then, Naru will come?" he asked softly.

"Yes, then we will see Naru." Kyuubi leaned down, pressed a tender kiss to his son's head. "I love you so much, Jay."

Jay raised his hand and did the sign his uncle thought him. He grinned, giggling to himself. "Love you too, mommy."

Kyuubi did the sign back, again kissing his son before he reached over for the shark stuffed animal and handed it to him. He watched as the boy cuddled the toy to his chest. He gently closed the door, looked inside as Jay reached for his iPad.

"He's going to drive you crazy with that thing."

Asumi walked around to the driver's seat. "I'll take good care of him, Kyuubi." She bowed her head, a sincere look in her eyes.

Kyuubi could do nothing but nod and place her full trust in the woman's capabilities, his faith in Itachi to entrust their son in her care. "Call me as soon as you arrive."

"I will."

Kyuubi stepped back as the car started up. He knocked gently on the window, getting his son's attention. He did the sign and he smiled when his son did it back. The single tear rolled silently down his face as the car pulled off into the street, the second black car swiftly following behind. Kyuubi kept his eyes on them as they drove further down the street until both cars turned out of his view. The sob choked out of him, racking through his body as he cried.

Yugito rushed over and held him, allowed Kyuubi to cry into her chest. She soothed him with assurance that Jay would be alright, that he was in the best care. He assured him they would soon be reunited, and that the sooner they got a move on, the sooner he would be with his son again.

She ushered him to her patrol car, opened the passenger door for him. Yugito looked out to the other two patrol cars, nodded to her officers and when she received nods back in return, she got into the driver's seat.

The siren sounded as the car turned on. She silenced it, quietly maneuvered out of park and drove into the street, her officers following behind her. She looked over to Kyuubi, saw him wipe under his eyes, his leg that wouldn't stop shaking beneath the seat. She opened her mouth to say something just as Kyuubi turned to her and cut her off.

"Were you able to look into the guy I was telling you about before?"

Yugito pressed her lips down in a tight line as she slowly shook her head. "There wasn't much to find. Clean record without so much as a parking ticket. The guy's legit."

Kyuubi forced his shaking leg to stay still. "Are you sure?"

"Why, did something happen?" Yugito kept her eyes on the road.

"I saw him again today," Kyuubi said softly. "I get this feeling every time I see him. It makes the hairs on my arms stand. It freaks me out. He creeps me out. Are you sure there is nothing to be worried about?"

Yugito continued looking out on the road, tapped her fingers rapidly against the steering wheel as she slowly drove the car up to the red light. "You're on edge about a lot of things, Kyuubi. Try to relax." She smiled, smiled at nothing then glancing down, turned the dial of the radio. "How about some music to help calm you down?"

Kyuubi swallowed down the lump in his throat. He felt his heartbeat surge as if a warning from his own body as he continued to stare at the woman in the driving seat, the smile on her face, a smile that didn't quite reach her ears. Then the slightest quiver as it struggled to stay on her face. He felt a shiver down his spine when her eyes fell on him.

He was afraid. He was afraid of his best friend. Something was wrong, an impending danger that the knots in his stomach were warning him against. He felt the same goosebumps as before when he saw Kae, the same uneasiness that left his mouth feeling dry.

"Still afraid to sit in the front seat of a car, I see," Yugito said with the same unnerving smile on her face.

"Yeah." Kyuubi glanced down at his legs, saw them trembling beneath him. Maybe that was just it, his fear of being in the front seat of the car.

Yeah, that was it.

That's all it was.

The nausea swimming in his stomach begged him to reconsider.

—

The principal sat in his large chair behind his large desk, a frown over his face as he read the file in his hand. The two students he had requested to have a meeting with this morning sat across him, each respectively in their own chair as they watched him, keenly observing and waiting for him to start the meeting. They had been sitting there for the past fifteen minutes in silence as the man in front of them simply sat there looking through files and pretending as if they were not there.

Naruto exhaled tiredly, his leg twitching in anticipation. From the corner of his eye, through the fashionable sunglasses worn on his face, he caught a glimpse of Kiba, saw him sitting there with his chin resting on the back of his hand. He barely moved, didn't make any noise or protest for the principal to get on with his lecture and whatever punishment he saw fit for them. After all, this wasn't their first time in this office, definitely not Kiba's. He was so frequent his name might as well have been printed over the chair.

Naruto knew this ticking time bomb experiment the principal was using on them was a part of their punishment. Sitting in silence, unable to speak, unable to move. It was torture, like counting down the seconds until detonation. Sarutobi wanted them to think about their actions, the consequences that came with their actions, the negative image it was painting on the school, on him as the face and head of the institution. Naruto knew the man was livid, absolutely at his wit's end with them.

Half an hour went by before Principal Sarutobi finally placed down the papers in his hands and acknowledged them. It was fifteen minutes until the first morning classes would start.

"Do you know what I was doing just now?" Sarutobi said, voice stern and face solemn. "You see, these papers I have scattered here are all emails I have received from parents, angry and questioning whether this school is a safe environment for their children. Parents wanting to know why they shouldn't remove their child from this school, questioning the school's effectiveness in its ability to protect their children against violence from other students. Students like you, Mr. Inuzuka. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Kiba did not respond, simply sat up and removed his hand from under his chin, stared ahead affirmatively at the principal.

"Parents are concerned, and they are not the only ones. Teachers, faculty staff, some who have witnessed your constant harassment against Mr. Uzumaki, you and your gang of terrorists. Do you deny any of the claims I am making?"

Again, Kiba said nothing, simply stared with a now condescending look in his eyes.

"Open your mouth and answer me when I am speaking to you," the principal demanded.

"Yes," Kiba said firmly.

"You have not only endangered a student at my school on more than one occasion. You have single-handedly brought down a clean reputation I have worked tirelessly to establish for this school. You have disgraced the principles adhered to my institution, principles you and every student here read and signed in agreement to. I am not only appalled and petrified by your behavior, I am also highly disappointed and baffled that you, such a promising student both academically and athletically, would risk everything over what? Your disagreement towards a fellow student's sexuality? That is what have been circulating around on social media, along with a video of Naruto Uzumaki limping through the cafeteria, battered and bleeding at the cause of your hands!"

"Sir," Naruto said softly. He closed his mouth when the principal faced him, his look alone speaking volumes.

"I will get to you next, don't you worry." Sarutobi swiveled around his desktop, pressed down haughtily on the space bar. On the large screen showed a camera recorded video of Naruto walking through the halls beaten, students horrified as he walked passed them. This is now the reputation of my school thanks to you. The first time this incident occurred, we were able to sweep it under the rug, gave you a pat on the wrist, allowed you continuous attendance at this school with the promise from your own mouth that this would never happen again."

Sarutobi turned off the computer, stood up from his seat. "Well, listen to me and listen to me clear now. As of this moment, you are expelled from this institution. A letter has been emailed and sent out to your guardians and teachers. You are not allowed 50 feet near this building and if you are caught by any student or staff trespassing the premises, the proper authorities would be contacted, and you will be charged. Now, go gather your things from your locker and you will be escorted out of this building. Good luck finding a school that will accept you with the reputation you have built for yourself. Get the hell out of my sight."

"Sir, it's my fault," Naruto interjected as soon as Kiba stood up. "Please, listen to me." He stood up too, eyes pleading as he looked at the principal. "I hit him first, he was just defending himself."

"Sit down and be quiet, Mr. Uzumaki!"

Naruto swiftly ran out of the door after Kiba. By now, students had begun to fill the hallways moving along to their first classes. They all stopped, intrigued as they looked at Naruto, their fellow student yelling hysterically after his attacker. The students exchanged looks as they watched the scene, some pulling out their phones, others whispering to each other on their suspicions.

"You're not gonna defend yourself?" Naruto stopped running when Kiba finally stopped and faced him. "You're just gonna go? What about soccer, everything you have worked hard for?"

The chilling silence in the hallway surrounded them, all eyes watching the scene as if a movie. Kiba slowly stepped forward, walked over to Naruto. He doesn't say anything as he slowly raised Naruto's head into a kiss. He kissed Naruto, mouth against mouth, in front of everyone's eyes, the cameras that recorded them. His friends that were standing not too far away, the principal with his head in his hands.

Kiba pulled back, a proud smile on his face as he stared at Naruto, looked into his wavering blue eyes. "That's all you ever wanted from me." He looked around, raised up his arms and shrugged his shoulders. "I kissed a boy. Who's gonna touch me?" He scanned the faces of his peers, daring any of them to say something against him. No one so much as muttered a word, some refraining from direct eye contact with him. He scoffed. "That's what I thought."

"Kiba," Naruto pleaded.

"Fuck this school." Kiba raised his nose up into a snarl as he looked at Naruto. "And fuck you too."

Naruto watched him walk away, the students clearing a path as Kiba walked down the hall. He saw the security guard trailing after him, escorting him to his locker. Naruto felt his hands trembling, helpless as he stood there ignoring the cameras that still recorded him. He saw Tsukasa push away a student who got too close, heard the principal's thundering voice as he instructed students to get to their classes.

"Mr. Uzumaki, I am not done with you." Sarutobi shouted. "We still need to discuss your situation."

"You don't fucking care about my situation." Naruto felt his shoulders shake, the rage building up inside of him. "You didn't care because he was your star athlete. He brought glory to your school, won you championships. And now you want to discard him like garbage when he leaves a stain on your pristine reputation, when the parent association questions your effectiveness as a leader."

"You need to get your priorities straight, Mr. Uzumaki."

"Fuck you!"

"Silence yourself or you can follow your boyfriend out of that door!"

Naruto stepped forward, removing Tsukasa's arm when he tried to hold him back. He stood toe to toe with the principal, daringly looked him in the eye and challenged him. "Throw the victim out after you turned countless blind eyes as I was humiliated, assaulted, and bullied. I will sue this school to its last fucking dime."

"This is your last warning, Naruto Uzumaki."

Tsukasa grabbed Naruto and pulled him away. He respectfully bowed to thd principal before forcefully dragging Naruto away. He shoved Naruto in front of him, forced him to continue walking.

"Don't embarrass yourself more than you already have, kid." Tsukasa again shoved Naruto when he opened his mouth to undoubtedly be defiant. "Don't say anything. Keep walking."

Naruto forcefully tugged at the bracelet on his wrist. "Get this fucking thing off me, Tsukasa!"

Reaching the classroom of Naruto's math class, Tsukasa opened the door and stood aside, waited for his troublesome assignment to walk through the door. Naruto brushed past him and he quietly followed him to his seat in the back. For the entire class, Tsukasa silently observed Naruto adamantly try all his efforts to get the secured band off his wrist.

Tsukasa had thought eventually he would grow tired, bored of his inconsequential trials. The more Naruto pried at the bracelet, the angrier he got, more determined to release the self-determined leash off his neck. Tsukasa saw the frustration on his face, nervous when Naruto had stabbed the point of his pen at the small opening and screamed when he had dug the pen too hard down and had stabbed the delicate skin beneath.

The class turned around when Naruto had groaned too loud, turned their eyes away when he had yelled obscenities at them. Tsukasa grabbed hold of the pen, forced Naruto around as if a parent about to scold their petulant child.

"What's up with you, huh?" Tsukasa held him firmly when Naruto attempted to turn away. "Give it a rest, will ya? This thing is meant to protect you. Why are you so determined to take it off?"

"I'm not a fucking dog." Naruto was seething as he roughly smacked Tsukasa's hand off his blazer. "What part of that do you not fucking understand?"

"Mr. Uzumaki!" the petite English teacher called sternly. "If there is a problem, please take it outside."

Tsukasa shook his head and abruptly stood up to his feet. "Don't be your own worst enemy, kid." He quietly pushed the chair under the desk. "I'm going to the bathroom."

The wind moved past the branches, the leaves gently flowing in its motion. The bird sat on the branch looked at Naruto, tilted its head, opened its mouth and chirped, then in a flash spread its wings and flew away. Naruto swiftly pulled out his phone and looked at the time. It was now a few minutes past noon.

He stood up, swiftly grabbed his backpack and rushed out of the class. He looked down at his phone, confirmed the Uber ride only two minutes away from his location. He ran down the stairs, wincing with each step until he was finally out of the school building. The Uber rounded the corner, and he ran before it could reach the front of the school, meeting the driver halfway.

—

By the time he arrived at Kiba's house, Naruto had already received two unanswered calls from Tsukasa. He called Hinata, asked her for a favor he knew she owed him. He knew his plan would probably fail, but he hoped it would offer him the time he needed to do whatever it was that he was about to do. He was walking into a lion's den defenseless, without so much of a care, without so much of a plan.

Naruto rang the doorbell. He rang it again, then again, ten times, and still the door went unanswered. He called Kiba, cursed out loud when he's directed to voicemail for the fifth time. He knocked against the door, then thunderous bangs when all his efforts went ignored by the person he knew was inside.

"I'm not fucking leaving. I'll break down your fucking door and you know I will!"

Naruto stepped back when the door's wrenched open. Inside stood Kiba, his shoulders squared and arm rigid as it extended to slam the door shut in Naruto's face should the thought occur to him.

"Can I come in?" Naruto would get on his knees and beg if needed. The desperate look in his eyes was enough for Kiba and he moved aside, allowed Naruto entrance inside his home.

Naruto kissed Kiba, threw his arms around him, held onto him with all his strength. Kiba stumbled back, his large body against the closed door.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Naruto felt Kiba's arms hold his waist, for a moment held him close, then roughly pushed him away. Without a single glance, he walked away into the dimly lit living room.

Naruto slowly followed him, saw the mess surrounding the space, suitcases opened with clothes and shoes messily thrown inside. "You're leaving?"

Kiba scrunched up the shirt in his hands before carelessly throwing it inside his father's spare suitcase. "What's left for me here?"

"Where do you plan on going?" Naruto flinched from Kiba's cold stare, felt the instinctive reaction to instantly apologize. He took a step back, sat down on the armrest of the sofa, gazed down between his legs, his backpack dangling from his fingers. "You can't leave."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I'm not. I'm just..." Naruto didn't have to look up to know Kiba's eyes were narrowed, glaring at him, daring him to say something else stupid. "I don't understand how it's so easy for you to just let go of everything. All your hard work. You're just throwing it all away. I don't understand why you're not fighting for it."

"That's the thing," Kiba said, wringing the shirt in his hand as if filled with water. "You don't understand."

He threw the shirt aside, chuckled as Naruto looked at him with those same wavering eyes, those same eyes as yesterday, tremulous and frightened, the distinct shadow of bruises on his face, bruises caused by his own fists. He frowned as he grabbed the remaining of his stuff and began throwing them inside the bags.

"Kiba."

"Look, just keep your mouth shut, alright?"

"Think for a second what you're leaving behind."

"Which is what exactly?" Kiba started towards Naruto, watched him stand up and slowly back away from him. "Caring parents who'll wonder where I've gone? I don't have that, remember? My mother is locked up in some fucking asylum thinking God knows what. Probably thinking of some way to escape and make my life a living hell. My dad? My fucking dad is somewhere overseas too busy fucking some whore half his age to worry about what his son is up to."

Naruto swallowed down the lump in his throat. "But, what about soccer? Your friends?"

"Soccer?" Kiba ran a stressful hand through his hair. "You, more than anyone, should know that I did it all for him. To make him proud. Where was he? When was he ever there? My friends? I fucked up their chances at a championship. I fought my best friend. Went against everything they stand for. All for you! Everything I've done, everything I've lost, I've lost them all because of you."

Naruto shook his head. "That's not fair."

"And you know what?" Kiba reached forward and held Naruto's face, grinned when the tears gathered in his eyes. "I don't regret a fucking thing. It's always been you who's been there and fuck, if only you'd been born a female." Kiba reached inside his pocket and took out the silver wolf pendant necklace and casually threw it to the ground. "Your boyfriend wanted me out of the picture. Tell him he got what he wanted."

Naruto looked down at the necklace before quickly looking back up at Kiba. "Do you really think I'd be here if he was my boyfriend?" He glanced down at his phone, saw the countless missed calls, saw the time, knew Tsukasa would be arriving any minute. "You can't leave, Kiba."

"I told you, don't tell me what to do."

"Well, what about me, huh?" Naruto asked him, walking towards Kiba with determination in his eyes. "I have to live with the guilt that I've taken everything from you. That I was another messed up thing in your life. How am I supposed to handle that kind of guilt?"

"I'm not asking you to."

"No, but you want me to." Naruto broke down, felt the tears rush down his face. "What am I supposed to do without you?"

"I'm not good for you."

"No, you're not good for me and I'm not good without you." Naruto cried, again looking down at his phone. "Fuck, I don't have much time." He began pacing, felt the air around him begin to suffocate him. "You know what I'm like without you. You know what I'll do. I gave up my fucking family to be with you."

Kiba took a step forward. "Come with me."

Naruto shook his head. "I can't."

"Why?" Kiba held his face, forced Naruto to look at him. "We can go anywhere. With your money, we can rent our own apartment somewhere, somewhere far away, away from everything that's so fucked up. We can start new, just the two of us."

Naruto held onto Kiba's hands, shook his head. "I can't leave."

"Why?"

Naruto raised his hand and showed Kiba his wrist.

"What's that?"

"It's a tracker. It lets Sasuke know everywhere I'm at. He'll find us. He'll kill you."

"Take it off."

Naruto shook his head. "I can't. I've tried everything. It won't come off." He winced when Kiba grabbed his arm, held on too tightly as he examined the bracelet.

"There's a small opening." Kiba roughly pulled Naruto into the kitchen. He shoved him aside, searched the drawers for something before returning to stand beside Naruto. He frowned when he saw Naruto again staring at his phone. "Why do you keep looking at your phone?"

"I have to go. Tsukasa will be here any second." Kiba roughly grabbed his wrist. His heart raced when he saw the sharp knife in Kiba's hand, the blade glaring from the light bouncing off it. "What are you doing?"

"You said you want it off, right?" Kiba pinned Naruto's wrist down on the counter. "Don't move."

"Are you crazy?" Naruto screamed as Kiba hovered the tip of the blade over his wrist. "Kiba, stop!" He kept his eyes on the sharp end, helpless as he waited for it to slam down on his arm, pierce through the band, flesh and bone. "Kiba!"

The door burst off its hinges, slamming into the wall behind it. Tsukasa strolled inside the kitchen full of rage, anger twisting his features into a terrifying snarl that Naruto has never seen on the man's face. Naruto tried to hide behind Kiba when Tsukasa stalked towards him. His arm was gripped and he's pulled forward by Tsukasa's firm hold.

"Get in the car." Tsukasa shoved Naruto out of the way and took a threatening step towards Kiba, then stopped when the knife was raised and pointed at him.

"You got some fucking nerve barging into my house like you own the place."

"Kiba, what the hell are you doing?"

Tsukasa took notice of the quick glance from Kiba's eyes to Naruto. He swiftly moved forward, twisted Kiba's arm with the knife inside until the knife fell from his hand. Tsukasa took hold of the knife and skillfully brought Kiba down, pinning him to the counter. He pressed the knife against Kiba's throat.

"You ever raise a knife to me again and it'll be the last thing you do. I'll slit your fucking throat." He discarded the knife into the sink, walked away and grabbed Naruto by the collar, forcefully dragged him out of the house. "I've about had it with you and your disrespect, kid."

"I was just-"

"No, you think everything is a fucking game!" If Sasuke heard him talking like this now, he was sure he would fire him on the spot. "This isn't a joke. This is my livelihood. I'm not your fucking friend and I'm not your fucking babysitter. I am being paid to watch over you. You ever pull a stunt like this again, you're on your own."

"I had to make sure he was okay." Why was that so hard to understand? "I knew you wouldn't let me go. I'm just trying to do the right thing."

"Which is what exactly?" Tsukasa wrenched the car door open. "You don't think. You don't think about the consequences of your actions and the effect it has on people around you. You wanna do the right thing? Get in the fucking car and stay out of the way."

The tires screeched against the concrete as the car swerved into an intersection. Naruto wiped the silent tears from under his eyes as he glanced over the dim screen of his cellphone. He sent the short text message to Kiba, asked Kiba to wait for him, affirmed it with a promise that he would go with him.

The seatbelt secured him to the seat as another abrupt turn was made, the car speeding through the empty streets. "I want to see, Sasuke."

Tsukasa muttered something under his breath that Naruto doesn't quite catch. But if he had to guess, he imagined it'd be something along the lines of him regretting his job, regretting the day he was assigned as his guardian, and the more likely one, how soon this whole shit show would end and he'd be finally free of his assignment.

Stay out of the way, Naruto thought. After tonight, he'd be out of everyone's way.

—

Thank you for reading. Hopefully, I'll update soon.