Chapter 9

Even into the night, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that settled into his stomach. Part of him was afraid that something would happen to Itachi, making that part of him that loved the man ache. He was scared that he would love the object of his affections to the illness that ravished his body.

"So how's Itachi-san doing?" His father's voice made him want to jump but kept the urge away from his nerves.

Meeting the sapphire eyes of the older Namikaze, Naruto tried to force a smile onto his face but felt like it shouldn't be there. It had to be his feelings toward Itachi dying. It just made him realize more and more that he was losing that last link to Sasuke.

"Naruto? How's Itachi?" Minato repeated as he waved a hand in front of his son's face. Getting nothing from the blond, his eyebrows connected and looked at the auburn haired woman that wa siting beside him.

"What? Gomen. I was just thinking about something." Naruto said in a sulking manner. Looking at the two that were looking at him with a bit of worry laced in the sapphire eyes, he tried to smile once more but got nothing.

"How's Itachi doing?"

"In the hospital. He got fluid in the lungs the other day. He should be getting out soon, I hope. He also said for me to tell you guys hi and that he misses dengaku from you oka-san." Naruto repeated what was stored in his mind. Looking at the two, seeing the eyes still looking at him with worry, he sighed. "Maybe I should go."

Kushina shook her head and grabbed a hold of her son's arm. Watching her youngest look back, she tried to smile with it coming out as weak. "Naruto we're just worried about you. That's all."

"Nande?"

The Namikaze woman sighed and looked at the table that separated her from her baby. At least that's what he was to her. "We're just concerned since Itachi's health is declining. We don't want to see you in a depression like Mikoto-chan."

"Are you trying to say that you're afraid of me committing suicide or something? I won't do that! I refuse. I'm not desperate to end things like that. I want to see what I have in the future. I might be able to find someone to spend the rest of my life with and possibly have a family with them."

Minato knew that Naruto would rather spend his time with a guy instead of a woman. He had to listen to his son rant at him when he was in high school. It was like the younger blond was afraid that he would not be accepting by his own father. Sighing, he wanted to lay his forehead against the wooden surface but didn't do it.

"We're just worried that's all. You're really close to Itachi-san. We know that."

Naruto took a breath to calm himself before snapping at the two people that raised him. Luckily he had parents that understood him for who he was. They knew that he was unique in his own way, which included falling in love with the same sex instead of the opposite gender. "I hope so."

Kushina tried to smile when she heard the front door open and her head turning to take in the auburn hair that was cut to the point it was a shaggy. It covered his ears, hiding them while his brunette eyes stared at the three of them. "Thanks for joining us Kurama."

Naruto whined in his throat at the thought of his brother sitting at the table. He never really got along with him. He enjoyed pulling pranks and gardening while Kurama spent his time looking at business and other things that seemed boring to the blond. Watching his brother sit down in the seat next to him, Naruto felt an itch in his skin at the thought of his brother being next to him.

"Why did you want me here exactly? All you said was it was important and hung up." Kurama complained as he ran a hand through his hair. Blinking and glancing at his sibling from the corner of his eye, he tried to not comment on how his life was going.

"Because wouldn't it be nice if we had a family get together every once and while instead of us having dinner at your place one night and at Naruto's the next." The older Namikaze commented as he closed his eyes. It felt like today was going to be long.

"Fine. Find anyone yet Naruto or are you still sulking because of Sasuke-kun's death?" Kurama questioned as he looked over at the blond that was a few inches shorter that he was.

Whining, Naruto gripped his pants and tried to avoid looking at the man that he wanted to look up to but couldn't. It even pissed him off when the older Namikaze went to the point like Sai but it seemed meaner than the guy he worked with.

"Well?"

"Its fine." Naruto muttered and looked to the dinner that made his stomach roll. He didn't feel like eating any more because of the fact that his brother was there.

"Let me guess. The girl dumped ya." Kurama commented.

Naruto rolled his eyes and rose from the table, excusing himself. He had to get away from the auburn haired man before he felt like he was going insane. Closing the door behind him, feeling the tickles of the breeze, Naruto felt his body relax again.

Kurama didn't know what was going on in his brother's life because of how strained the relationship was. Even though they were brothers, the blond haired man couldn't tell his brother the truth that he preferred dicks. Sasuke's death made it harder because of the fact that Kurama didn't see eye to eye with Naruto on the issues of gay rights.

"Naruto. Something the matter?" Kushina chimed in as she poked her head out to look at her youngest son.

Turning back, the sapphire eyed man shook his head. He didn't want to lie to the woman but at times it seemed best to.

"You know you can tell me what's going on. Is it about Kurama being here?" She pipped in with an eyebrow raised. She had a feeling that her son was scared of letting his brother know that he didn't enjoy women's company in the bed. "It has to be about Sasuke, right?"

"Oka-san. I'm just scared. Yeah, I know he doesn't really care about gay rights but what would he do if he found out I was gay? I'm afraid that he'll shun me more than ever. I don't want anything of what Sasuke had to go through to happen again. But it is."

She pursed her lips a bit and walked out, closing the door behind her. She didn't know what to do because she barely knew her oldest child. Wrapping her arms around Naruto, feeling his body relaxing, she smiled. "You have to remember something. Being gay isn't a choice. It's a bodily function that people go through. Be happy. Live your life for you and Sasuke. I'm sure he would want that."

Naruto nodded and looked at the sky that was painted a multitude of colors by the setting sun. He'll have to trust his mother on that. He'll have to trust the words that she said to him, hoping that they didn't come as the opposite of what she was meaning.

"Now let's have dinner like how we used to."

"Like we used to was when I ate at the corner because Kurama scared me so much. He still scares me." Naruto blurted out as the memories of dinner with his family filled his mind.

Sighing and letting her shoulders fall, she grabbed hold of his shoulders and forced him back into the house. Inwardly she was worried about this since Naruto had a point. It made her wish that the two would get along but it never happened.

Settling down in a chair, Naruto kept his gaze away from his sibling, hoping that he wouldn't turn his attention to the blond. The only thing he wanted to do was see how Itachi was doing, wanting to be next to the Uchiha. This feeling he had when he thought or was near the sable haired man made him feel like he was dizzy.

Part of him wished that he forgot about the man because he knew that Itachi was out of his league. Then again, he never let that stop him before. He'll just have to hope for the best; the best being that Itachi got better instead of worse.

A bit of a slow, fillerish chapter. I'm not sure why I made Kurama Naruto's brother. Please review, fan art, favorite, and/or alert.