I warn you guys, there may be some major OOC-ness. Which I will explain in my little rant at the bottom. Don't skip ahead or else it'll ruin the surprises. Anyways, I couldn't help but write, it's so addicting! So you better like the chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, guys!
Disclaimer: Heheh...I forgot to mention, I don't own Naruto.
"Breakfast is served," I woman said, putting covered dishes on the table and lifting the silver domes off to reveal steaming eggs, sausage, bacon, waffles, and pancakes. She put down a large bowl of fruit then left them to eat. Iruka answered his ringing cell phone, talked for a minute, then frowned.
"Bad news, Tsunade got a call from the hospital and had to go in. And Jiraiya's too drunk to drive," he said, putting the phone back in his pocket.
"Where's…" Naruto asked, cut off by the slam of the door.
"Why didn't anyone tell me little bro was home?" a voice boomed from the top of the stairs in the entrance way. There was the sound of fabric sliding against wood as someone slid down the banister then the clomp of heavy boots on the wood floor. They stopped on the threshold to the room, the slight sound of a gasp.
"You look just like your big brother!" the clomps came closer and an arm was thrown around Naruto's neck, pulling his head against a warm chest.
"Hi…Pein…" Naruto gasped, trying his best not to crack a smile.
"You still have the one I gave you when you were five!" Pein said, touching the ring dangling from his ear. "Did you use all of the ones I gave you?" he asked, counting his piercings. "You have a few extras, where'd you get 'em done?"
"Hinata did them for me," Naruto said, indicating Hinata.
"She doesn't look like someone who would be into that kind of stuff," Pein noted, looking her up and down.
"You've never seen her at a party. She wanted to look good for mom and dad." Pein snorted.
"You're still calling Iruka mom, huh?" he looked at the brunette and laughed again. "Mind if I join you guys for breakfast?" He didn't wait for a response; he just sat down and served himself. The others did the same, Hinata getting food for Naruto. Pein observed the phenomenon silently, eating his food as he did.
"I don't remember you mentioning you had an older brother," Hinata said, eating her food.
"I've been in Antarctica since I turned twenty. That was about three years ago. I travel a lot with my parents." Hinata gave him a confused look.
"Pein knows his birth parents. They're world scientists and take him to a lot of places. They couldn't take him when he was younger." Naruto supplied, cutting a sausage.
"There's no reception in Antarctica, so I haven't been in contact since I left. Anyways," he said with a sigh. "What's up, little bro? This your girlfriend?" Pein teased, winking at Naruto. The blonde laughed, shaking his head.
"She's just a friend from school; she's…traveling with me."
"Where you going?" Pein asked.
"Here. I moved to Tokyo two years ago. I came here to visit."
"I really have missed a lot," Pein said, staring at his brother. "You'll have to tell me everything when we're done in here. The rest of their breakfast was relatively quiet. When they were done eating Iruka and Kakashi gave Hinata a tour of the house so that Naruto ad Pein could have some privacy. Pein led the way to the living room, noticing that Naruto was moving slowly and pausing to wait for him. When Naruto had taken his seat on the couch, Pein sitting in a chair across from him, Pein looked at him closely.
"How many of those are fake?" he asked, eyeing the piercings.
"All but the one you gave me," Naruto said, smiling at his brother.
"There's something different about you, Naruto, you won't look me in the eyes anymore. He watched as Naruto took off the fake piercings, stuffing them into his pockets, leaving the gauge hanging from his ear. He shrugged off the sweatshirt then leaned back in the couch, staring at where he guessed his brother was.
"If I could I would," Naruto said. "But I'm afraid I don't know where they are."
"What do you mean?" Pein asked, leaning forward. Naruto told Pein everything that had happened, pausing several times to compose himself. He had left a few choice…intimate parts out when he had told Hinata what had happened. But Pein would understand, he had a right to know everything.
"When did you get home?" Naruto asked when he was done explaining.
"Yesterday," Pein said, staring at his blind brother. "You don't really act like you can't see. You act like the same old idiot," Naruto threw a pillow, successfully hitting Pein in the face. He heard the puff of laughter and smiled.
"How was Antarctica?" Naruto asked, smiling.
"Cold, barren, lots of penguins, a few elephant seals, I saw some sea lions."
"Why did your parents go there, anyways?"
"They were investigating the melting of the ice, they did a count before I was born and saw that the count had dropped. They want me to come with them on a visit to the rainforest and try to encourage the natives to replant trees."
"When are you leaving?"
"I'm not," Naruto's mouth dropped opened. "It's been three years since I've been home; I've missed you guys."
"You're starting to sound sappy, Pein," Naruto warned, trying to tell what Pein was up to.
"I just want to see you guys, they're leaving next month and that's way too soon for me. I promised them I'd come if they were still there next year." Naruto sighed, straightening when he heard footsteps.
"They're back," he said just as someone crossed the threshold onto the soft carpet.
"Did you guys have a nice talk?" Iruka asked, smiling at them both.
"Yeah," Naruto said, smiling. "Hinata and I are going back to the house," Naruto added, standing up and walking towards the source of Iruka's voice.
"Have fun you two," Iruka said, eyeing Naruto. The piercings had all disappeared.
"They're in my pocket," Naruto said, guessing what was on the brunette's mind. "I'll put them back in later. You can come by tonight if you want to party," then they were out of the house and on the sidewalk, Hinata hailing a taxi.
"Where to?" the cabbie asked. This was the fourth time he'd had to drive the blonde, it was a little weird.
"The supermarket, whichever one is closest." The driver nodded and the car slid into traffic.
"What's your name?" Naruto asked, directing his eyes at the cabbie.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked, sighing when the cars in front of him stopped.
"Because this is the fourth time you've had to drive me somewhere."
"Riiiight," he sighed again when the cars didn't move. "How troublesome."
"Come on, we're going to be here for a while. Just your name."
"Shikamaru, happy?"
"Sure, why not. Shikamaru, you sound like a smart kid, why are you driving a taxi?"
"It's an easy way to get money; all I have to do is steer around town all day."
"Shouldn't you go to school?"
"I fall asleep in all of my classes. Besides, I never learn anything new." Naruto shrugged. After another fifteen minutes Shikamaru pulled over, letting the two passengers out. Hinata stood close to Naruto, walking around and picking up the foods he listed. The minute they returned home Naruto helped Hinata put the food away then asked for her assistance with the speed dial on his phone.
"Who are you calling?" Hinata asked, opening the list of names.
"Gaara, I think he's fifth down, but I'm not entirely sure." He listened as she pressed the button a few times, paused, then pushed a different button.
"Here you go," Hinata said, holding the phone out to him. Naruto accepted it with a thank you then listened to the ringing on the other end.
"Hello?" a familiar voice said.
"Hi Gaara," Naruto said, pacing as he talked. Hinata went into her room, she didn't want to eaves drop. "It's Naruto," the blonde added when he didn't receive a response.
"Oh, I forgot how weird you sound on the phone. What's up?"
"Call everyone, I want them to come over tonight for a party. Call me back with a list of who's coming, okay?"
"Can I bring Sasori?" Gaara asked after a short pause. "And Kankuro? They both need to make friends or else I'll be stuck with them for forever." Naruto laughed lightly, running a hand through his now short hair.
"Yeah, I don't care who comes along."
"Right, I'll call everyone and let them know." Naruto could tell he was ready to hang up.
"Gaara, wait!" Naruto said, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard Gaara ask 'what?'
"Make sure he comes, okay?" there was silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Gaara sighed.
"I don't make promises I can't keep, Naruto. I'll try, but there's no guarantee."
"Thanks, Gaara, I'll see you later," there was a click on the other end and Naruto pushed the end call button before turning and knocking on Hinata's door.
"What can I do for you, Naruto?" she asked, opening the door to stare at the blonde.
"Can you find Pein's number in here for me?" he asked, holding out the phone for her. She took it and surfed through the phone book, stopping and pressing the call button when she found it. Naruto took it with a polite thank you and held it against his ear, listening to the ring on the other end. He heard Hinata step back into her room and hurried after her, hugging her gently. He could feel the heat emitting from her cheek, which was pressed against his, and smiled. There was a click and he heard someone inhale.
"Hi, Naruto," the voice said. Naruto smiled into the phone.
"You want to come to a party tonight?" Naruto asked, finally letting go of Hinata. There was a pause, some scribbling sounds.
"Sure, who's going to be there?" Pein asked, the scribbling still in the background
"A bunch of my friends, if they decide to come. We're going to hold it in the living-room. Bring you're CDs, okay?"
"No problem, Naruto, see you later," there was a click and the line went dead. Hinata's door had closed yet again and Naruto found himself leaning with his back against it. He sighed, turned his phones volume up all the way, then shoved it into his pocket and plopped down on the couch. He could feel a gentle warmth and new that Hinata had opened the curtains to allow the noon sunshine in to bathe the room. They would wait until late to have the party, draw all of the blinds so that the lights wouldn't escape the room. He wondered if his parents had renewed the sound permit they had, he used to have huge raves with his friends. No doubt Pein had told them of the party and they were out to renew it as he sat there, floating in the grey mist between sleep and wake, the warm sun's light gracing his face. For a moment he thought he could see, could recognize the colors and patterns of light dappling the carpet where a bush interrupted its perfect gold on the carpet. Then he saw an eight-year-old child running across the floor in socks, his blonde hair a nest of wild, red spikes. He was laughing loudly, his amber eyes shimmering in the sunlight. Arms reached down and plucked the small child from the ground. The arms were attached to a younger Iruka, smiling as the child squealed with delight.
"Come on, Naruto, come play with your brother," Iruka said, his voice strangely echoy. Naruto sat there, staring at his big brother being held by this strange man. There was another man standing near by, his arm loops lazily around the brunette's waist. Naruto angled his chin upwards in an obstinate refusal.
"No!" he said, which was all he had been saying since he had showed up there nearly a week ago.
"Naruto," he knew that voice and looked to his brother hopefully. "They're nice," Pein said in a childish lisp. He had hardly said anything else to Naruto since they had arrived. He seemed too absorbed in having these two…grown ups. Naruto shrieked girlishly when two hands slid under his armpits and lifted him into the air. He kicked and screamed, wriggling the best he could while suspended in the air.
"Listen up; we didn't have to take you both in. We could have separated you and Pein. You owe Iruka at least something more than a no." The silver-haired man said, carrying the blonde close to the brunette. Naruto stared into the brown eyes, looked over his shoulder at the silver-haired man, opened his mouth, and started crying.
"Mommy, help me!" Naruto said, closing his eyes and imagining the face he remembered vaguely, the red-haired woman fading into the distance. He hadn't realized that he was holding his arms out, reaching for her warmth. Something took him around the middle and held him close, rocking him slightly. When Naruto had calmed down enough he opened his eyes, surprised to see not his mother but the brunette with the bizarre scar across his nose. Naruto hugged him closely.
"Mommy," he said, hugging him. Kakashi was laughing when he heard something loud. His eyes flew opened and he gasped as if he were surfacing from cold water. He reached into his pocket, drew out his cell phone, and flipped it opened.
"Hello?" he asked groggily, rubbing the small grains of sand from his eyes.
"Hi, Naruto, this is Gaara," the voice on the other end.
"Mmm…What's up?" Naruto asked, trying to remember who Gaara was.
"Everyone's coming, and a few people are bringing friends. Do you need me to bring anything over?" Right, the party.
"Some CDs, I guess. I have food and sake over here, and soda. I think we'll be okay."
"See you soon. I told them we'd meet at nine, is that okay?"
"Perfect…what time is it?" Naruto asked.
"It's seven. We going to be hanging out in the living-room?"
"Yeah, I'll move the furniture and get out the snacks soon. See you later, Gaara," he hung up the phone, then went into the bathroom to urinate. When he was done he got Hinata and started preparing for the party. If everyone was coming he would get to talk to him. He really wasn't looking forward to it, but at the same time he was. His heart skipped a beat when the doorbell rang. Hinata rushed off to answer it. Whoever it was, they were fifteen minutes early.
That's it for now. See you again next chapter. My friends and I are working on a collab, if you want to check it out. It's the first link on my profile, so go and read it if you really want. Thanks for all the reviews, cookies for all! –passes out cookies- Oh yeah, the OOC was Pein because I'm not really sure how he acts. But usually people in orphanages find someone to be close to (in this case that was Naruto)