I have no excuse. none whatsoever. it's been forever and I know that fully well! But I've had almost no muse for this or anything else. . . but volia! It's an update! Sorry if it sucks or it's too short but yeah, the next chappy will be longer!

LOVE STORY

Chapter 11

If We Ever Meet Again

"Where did Naruto go?" Neji Hyuuga, Hinata's older cousin, questioned Tenten. His eyes flared, mouth narrowed, forehead creased while querying. He was angry, furious. It'd been two months since Naruto's 'disappearance'. Hinata was broken, crying continuously and constantly. It broke his heart to see her to pained – Naruto would pay.

"Psh, why should I tell you?" Tenten challenged as she crossed her arms, her defiance clearly showing. She wouldn't tell the Hyuuga-prettyboy anything. She'd sworn to Naruto she'd keep quiet, and she was going to! Even if they tortured her, ripped off her nails or injected her, she wouldn't talk.

"Because he's a traitor to the Hyuuga name!" Neji almost shouted, surprising Tenten. She'd never thought she'd ever see the Hyuuga so angry. Well, there was a first for everything it seemed.

"And I'd give a damn about the Hyuuga name because?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as she folded her arms across her chest. By now, the few people in the café had turned to stare at them and Tenten found this unnerving. She'd never been one to have her privacy invaded.

Neji didn't reply as he simply stared at her, or right through her as the sun began to rise above the Hokage Mountain. Neither said a word as the waitress brought their orders to the table and she didn't even bother to say a word to the two either.

Neither knew when the other would break, but they planned on finding out.

Truth be told, Tenten wasn't sure where Naruto and Sakura had run to. The sun-kissed blonde had merely given her an emergency phone number. So far, she hadn't needed it. It seemed that the Akatsuki were keeping it low. But Tenten knew from experience that it wouldn't last long.

Then, Neji broke their eye connection and took a sip of his coffee – black without sugar. Tenten was thoroughly surprised by his action and instantly raised her guard. You never knew with these rich snobs after all.

"Akatsuki's after him."

Tenten immediately froze.

How did he know this? Did he work for them? It would make so much sen-

"They threatened Hinata about a month back," he casually spoke, "But we sent them the divorce papers and they haven't contacted us since. But I have a feeling that they know where he is." Neji turned serious as he placed both hands on the worn wooden café desk. Tenten felt her mind begin to spin. Neji was on Naruto's side? But why?

"Why would you want to help him?" she asked, keeping her voice passive.

"Hinata made me. She still cares about him. Way too much for my liking."

Tenten sighed and hung her head. She'd gotten Naruto into this mess and so, she'd help him get out.

Tsunade had been shocked, to say the least.

Well, Minato and Kushina had been expecting it, since they had been 'dead' for the past few years, hadn't they?

They'd arrived an hour before and had then quickly located the town's nearest hospital, which was more of a clinic, and had found Shizune. The short haired medic had fainted upon seeing them. Luckily, when she' woken, she'd been more accepting and had taken them straight to Tsunade.

"I still can't believe you've been in hiding all this time…" Tsunade remarked as she scanned each adult. They hadn't changed much in the past few years. Both still looked too damned young for their age and had those mischievous smirks and teasing eyes. She was happy to see them.

"It was for Naruto's safety," Kushina said softly in response. Her voice had aged. "When Akatsuki had begun chasing us… we had to keep Naruto safe. If we 'died', then Akatsuki would stop their chase and the Hyuuga's would keep Naruto safe." The plan had worked.

"Until now, when Kakashi was chased here by the Akatsuki and he saw Naruto… No longer under the Hyuuga's protection," Minato then said, shaking his head. "I didn't really expect him to stay with the Hyuuga's forever, but I didn't expect him to get into street racing!" The handsome blonde sighed loudly as he slouched backwards in his chair.

"Like father… like son," Kushina joked as she stuck her tongue out at her lazing husband.

"Ha ha, and when his mother was exactly the same?"

"Touche Minato…" Kushina growled.

"As much as I love to hear you guys tease each other, don't you want to find Naruto and Jiraiya?"

There was something very familiar about the two people who'd just walked into the clinic and had gone straight to Tsunade-sama's office, but Sakura just couldn't place them. She was so sure she'd seen them somewhere before…

Then, it'd been even more strange when she'd seen them leaving with Tsunade… something wasn't right. And this unsettled her.

Yet, she tried to push it from her mind as she administered medication to a patient. It wouldn't put her in anyone's good books if she messed up. So, sighing deeply, she tried to erase the strange scene from her mind and continue working.

"Jiraiya works as a mechanic? And Naruto works for him?" Minato questioned as they neared the repair shop. He could've laughed at the irony, luckily, Kushina did so for him.

"Talk about history repeating itself…" the red-head spoke as she gently took Minato's hand.

He didn't speak, he just nodded as they continued to walk.

The town was small enough so that you didn't have to drive to get anywhere, unless you really didn't feel like walking, and so, that's what they did. Unfortunately, it just didn't seem as though they could walk fast enough. Minato and Kushina wanted to get to their son NOW, not in five minutes time.

During the journey, Tsunade began filling them in on how Naruto had come to the town and how he'd ended up working for the old perv. But the couple both felt that Tsunade was leaving out a few key details. How did Naruto even find this town? Why did he come?

They'd only find out by asking Naruto himself.

All too soon, the repair shop came into view and Minato and Kushina couldn't help but break into a run. Tsunade simply shook her head, muttered something under her breath and caught up with them.

When they were within five meters of the repair-shop, Kushina caught the sight of sun-blonde hair and immediately her heart leapt. She'd know her son anywhere, even from behind. As she neared, she took the time to study him from afar. He'd grown so much, so, so much. She felt tears welling as she observed his height, his muscles and the maturity that seemed to radiate from his frame. She knew Minato felt the same.

Then, he turned to look at the nearing couple and she caught sight of his ocean-blue eyes. Oh, how she remembered staring into those eyes when he was born. He was so beautiful.

She didn't stop running until she'd reached him.

"Naruto," she whispered as she'd engulfed him in an embrace. Holding onto him for dear life, she began to cry.

She cried for all the missed years and memories.

Naruto stiffened in her grasp and even though she was a little disappointed, she expected it. He hadn't seen her for years, he'd probably forgotten who she was and she probably wasn't even familiar to him.

Minato was beside her when she released him, her hands still on his shoulders, as he looked at them with raised eyebrows. He probably thought they were some crazed couple and she didn't blame them. Stifling a laugh, she turned to Minato and found joy in his eyes.

"Ummm…" Naruto began, wow, his voice had deepened! "Do I know you ma'm?"

"It's me…" she mumbled, "Your mother."

He dropped the spanner he had in his hands.

It fell to the ground with a loud clank against the concrete.

What?

"Don't you two wish you listened to me when I gave you the chance?"

"Never," Yahiko spat as he glared venom at the man before him. He was disgusted by the sight of the orange mask covering the demon's face and only leaving one eye open. The open eye gleamed red and he found himself keeping his gaze far from it. "Now release Konan before I rip you to shreds."

Madara's manic laugh filled the pitch dark room.

"Threats are never good bargaining tools."

Yahiko clenched his teeth when Madara's gloved hand caressed his cheek and then gripped his chin, forcing him to look into his menacing red eye.

"Love makes your eyes weak," Madara remarked, searching through the young, ex-leader of the Akatsuki. He would've been powerful beyond his imagination, had he only joined Madara when he had the chance. It was a shame really. Despite his cruel mannerisms, he didn't like using hostages. But the glassy-eyed girl was the only way to negotiate with Yahiko.

Yahiko didn't respond to his taunting.

"It's a strange abnormality… even though I've taken your power… your followers refuse to completely listen to me," the demonic man spoke, pacing the darkened room as though he could see perfectly.

"Even your lover didn't submit to me…"he knew Yahiko wouldn't be-able to see his smirk, but he'd imagine it. The look of pure horror on the youth's face was one of the most amusing sights Madara had ever seen and next time, he'd be sure to catch it on camera.

"Damn minx even managed to make my neck bleed," he knew his taunts would cause the youth to unravel. "But I like her, she's a real screamer."

Yahiko's anguished bellow was enough to wake the dead.

"Just a little more…" she whispered to herself as the stream's gushing water came into view.

"Just a little more…" the ground cut her bare feet and tears whipped her almost naked body as she struggled onward, her resolve the only thing keeping her moving. She had to find help… to save him… she just had to.

Even if it killed her, she'd find help.

That damn bastard might've had his way with her, but she'd be damned if she let him touch Yahiko.

It'd actually been fairly easy to escape.

He'd thought that he'd broken her will and so he'd left her in that forsaken room with nothing. But he hadn't broken her. He would never be-able to.

So, after a day of recuperating, she'd scrounged some clothes from the room and escaped. It'd only been made easier when he'd assigned Sasori to guard the door. He'd let her free without so much as a blink. He'd told her that she could use the nearby stream to escape without being seen.

"Find the famous Yellow Flash… he'll be-able to destroy the monster."

is what Sasori had told her.

And that's exactly what she planned to do.

'Hold on for just a little more Yahiko…'

- was her last thought before she plunged herself into the stream.

I hope that was at least a little worth the wait?

Lorey

Xoxo