A/N: I'm back (for now).

There wasn't a word or even a simple flick of eye contact as the duo's fingers grazed each other, pausing only for a moment to exchange money for substance, then flying back to their owner to place themselves in pockets as to hide away from the naked eye. Then the two continued on with their day.

A small, shaky breath escaped Uchiha Sasuke's lips as he paused in the snow to glance above his scarf down to the small packet containing three pills he had slipped slightly out of his jacket pocket to affirm he had gotten what he paid for.

Perfect…

A smile dared to touch both cherry lips behind the thick navy scarf, but backed off as he realized the severity of what he was doing and inevitably glanced around him, undeniably paranoid. A few passerby gave him an odd look as they went about their Christmas shopping, but ignored him, nonetheless.

"Sasuke?"

The boy jumped at the sound of his name, practically spilling the contents of his pocket in a frenzy, but managing to catch them at the last second as he whipped around to find the culprit.

"…Don't do that, dobe." Sasuke growled, placing a hand on his chest to calm his racing heart. A set of cerulean blue eyes and stray golden strands glittered to the side as the teen before him cocked his head curiously, brows furrowed.

It was the first time they had seen each other in an entire month.

"Um…" Naruto started, biting his lower lip as he searched for the right words to express himself. Sasuke sighed, not wanting to listen. "How are you?"

That was it? A simple 'how are you'? He couldn't believe his ears.

"Fine." Was all he said. A short inquiry deserved a short response. Naruto nodded, swaying back on his heels a bit as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"Hmm, that's good. Um, how's life on your own, huh?" He continued his pointless babbling, piquing Sasuke's nerves.

"Fine." The Uchiha repeated in a lower, warning tone. The blonde took a step back, cautious.

"Good, good…" He bit his lip once more, raising a brow at the other. "You, um, thinking of coming and living with us again any time soon?"

A pause enveloped the two as Sasuke took a long breath and closed his eyes.

"No."

"Oh…" Naruto breathed, swallowing in an attempt to wet his dry throat. "So, then…you're really never coming back to school?"

"No."

Another pause took hold of the already stiff atmosphere as Sasuke looked away. Naruto felt his heart clench.

"Oh…" He whispered, not taking his eyes off the other. It could very well be the last time he'd ever see him. "…why?"

"Why should I?"

The blonde balled his fists at his side, resisting the urge to punch his friend. "Oh, no reason, just so you can get an education, get a job and, gee, I dunno, maybe have a life?" He snapped desperately, attracting the attention of several passerby. Sasuke swallowed, hearing his heartbeat in his head as he took a step back. He couldn't handle any more emotional stress. "Well!?" At the sound of Naruto's persistence, the raven-haired boy turned.

"Go home." His voice was icy, each toxic syllable dripping with a fevered annoyance.

"NO!" The blonde advanced on his friend from behind, tugging the boy's arm roughly out of his pocket, the small packet of pills that he had been holding flying out of his grasp to collide with the stark white that was snow. Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto stopped, slowly releasing the boy as both cerulean orbs became glued to the small bag. "…Sasuke…you…"

In a panic, the Uchiha leapt at the clear plastic, snatching it up and running in the direction he was facing, opposite of where he had originally planned to tread.

What happened? How did this happen? What have I done? Why? Why, why, why!?

Rabid thoughts ate at his mind as he rounded a corner, paying no heed to the sharp, cool wind slicing into his exposed pores like needles.

"You givin' up already?" Jiraiya's voice cut through the darkness, causing Sasuke to jump. He had thought, at one in the morning, the old man would be asleep. Yet, there he was on his rocker…as though he was awaiting the teen to flee.

Sasuke said nothing, pausing for dramatic effect, as though daring the elder man to stop him.

"Why are you running?" The creak of the rocking chair lifted in pitch as Jiraiya stood, not advancing on the other, but merely walking casually to the lamp on the far side of the room and flicking the switch, illuminating the two in a dull, florescent yellow.

"I'm not." Sasuke's voice cracked as he countered the man weakly. Jiraiya smiled, the wrinkles around his mouth shadowed in a deep black.

"Then what are you doing?" He inquired, sitting now on the couch.

"…leaving." It took Sasuke a moment to reply. He hadn't been expecting to answer any questions so he hadn't any responses ready like he normally did. Jiraiya chuckled.

"And where will you go?"

The Uchiha stiffened defensively. "Wherever the hell I want." He hissed, charcoal eyes narrowing at the implied accusation of not being able to take care of himself.

A lengthy sigh escaped Jiraiya's lips as he repositioned himself on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. "All right," He shrugged. "Go on."

Sasuke's eyes widened back to normal at this. Go on? That was it? No further question? No trying to stop him? No…nothing?

"Go on?" He whispered aloud, shocked. The elder of the two perked the side of his lips in a smirk.

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" The man got to his feet once more. Sasuke shifted slightly, wary of the elder's intentions. As they neared each other, the Uchiha flinched as Jiraiya raised a hand before opening his eyes only to see a handful of money before him. "Take this, though…you'll need it."

Slowly, Sasuke held out a hand and allowed the money to be poured into it. There was a significant amount- no doubt Jiraiya's life savings. As his lips parted, the teen looked up, eyes filled with question and brows furrowed with curiosity.

Small puffs of condensed air formed about the outside of his mouth as he ran. He hadn't a clue where he was going, but he took the path of the sidewalk, regardless of not knowing it's outcome; dodging people and dogs.

He only narrowly caught the source of the ringing of bell- a charity foundation asking for donations.

That's right…it's almost Christmas…

Images of himself and Itachi fighting over who got to open presents first under the tree filled his head. His mother baking, her sweet voice as she sung along with the radio whilst the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies filled the house. His father smiling…the only smiles they'd ever get out of him.

Tears stung at the edges of his eyes as he rounded another corner, finding it harder and harder to breathe as he pulled the salty droplets into shaky breaths as to resist them pouring out and hardening into ice on his cheeks.

The door swung closed behind him as Sasuke exited the warm, inviting house. He looked back one last time, not knowing when the next time he'd get a chance to see it would be. Turning, the teen began his descent down the porch stairs, laptop case around his shoulder and a small bag of items in his hand.

He hadn't a clue where he was going or how he was going to survive. For now, though, he just had to get someplace warm. It was getting to be winter. The signs of it were inevitably evident with the frost gently blanketing the grass and crystallizing the dew to ice.

He was going to do it. He was going to prove to the entire world he could take care of himself and he didn't need the likes of his mother and father.

He was going to prove he didn't need anyone.

The snowfall seemed to thicken as Sasuke spotted another corner. He didn't look this time, closing his eyes to keep from crying, as he rounded it, almost slipping on the snow, but managing to catch his balance at the last second, only to run smack dab into the abdomen of someone taller than he and fall backwards into the wet snow.

The teen cringed at the feel of colliding with packed snow and let out a small groan as he placed a hand to his head.

"Sasuke?"

The boy's eyes shot open at the voice. He knew that voice. He knew it all too well. He hated that voice. Hated it with such a passion…that man. He hated that man. The man that had taken advantage of him.

He kept quiet, not daring to look up to confirm his suspicions. He knew he was right. He didn't need to look up to know that.

"Sasuke, where have you been? You've been out of school for over a month now."

A hand grabbed the boy's wrist, pulling him to his feet.

"The entire staff is worried and-…" There was a pause as the bearer of said voice pried the teen's fingers open to reveal a small bag of ecstasy.

Sasuke didn't stop him from looking. He simply didn't care. Not anymore.

"Sasuke-kun…" The man's voice was hollow as the name grazed his lips. It was only then the Uchiha looked up, breathless and on the verge of tears.

As both sets of eyes met, Sasuke confirmed his suspicions.

It was, indeed, Doctor Hatake Kakashi.

A/N: I apologize for my writing skills…they seem to have diminished.
So, for this poorly written chapter, I sincerely apologize. I'd do it better if I could, but I haven't the talent. I'll try to better the next one. I promise.