Note: Not my characters, NaruGaa, AU, yaoi, lemons, I fucked with the ages big time, prostitution, a grown up Naruto who is kinda cool (which i love more than anything), some OOC-ness and a tiny bit of a love triangle.

Chapter Two

-Gaara-

I didn't have to open my eyes to know I was somewhere I'd never been before, to know I wasn't dying in the street. I felt warm... I felt safe. My eyes finally forced themselves open and I froze. Two big brown orbs were locked on me. The little boy smiled when my eyes opened all the way and waved happily. 'Where the hell am I? And how the fuck did I get here?' The last thing I remember, I was vomiting my guts out and passed out in a dirty alley. That left only three options. I was either picked up by someone really nice, or I had finaly wandered into my perfect fairy tale life... or some really fucked up weirdo had found me.

The toddler bit his lip and scooted himself forward on his chair. I shoved myself back quickly. He tilted his head bit and pushed a glass of water towards me. I sat up and moved away from him, careful of my still queasy organs. He straightened his head, smile falling a bit. "Where's your mom kid?" My hoarse voice made me wince internally. I sounded like sandpaper felt. Dry, scratchy, and painful.

"Me no mama," He gave me a giant smile. "but papa saser dink wa'er affer be ickies." He smiled brightly again. I didn't move. The kid seemed to get frustrated and ran from the room. "Papa!"

"Konohamaru," A gentle voice answered "don't yell so early in the morning. Sheesh." A high pitched giggle was joined by a deep chuckle. The child babbled on and on in a language I didn't even try to understand.

The window caught my attention, fire escape visible. I moved to get up, but my stomach tossed. My hand flew to my mouth and I swallowed several times. I couldn't puke here.

I couldn't.

My body could. I leaned over the side of the bed and vomited violently. I noticed a bucket someone had placed next to the bed and tried to get it all in there, but missed. Clear yellow stomach bile splashed loudly over the pale hardwood floor. I tried desperately to keep it quiet, but there's no way to silence that kind of shit. Seconds after I started, gentle hands swept my hair out of my face. "Go get a rag and a towel kiddo." I heard little feet running away and briefly wished I could follow them out and escape. Puking? Embarrassing. Puking in front of a nice guy? Ten times worse. I tried apologizing, but the second wave hit me and I couldn't breathe, let alone talk.

I sat there frozen after it all ended, afraid it was going to start again... Afraid to look up at the man behind me. The kid returned and held up the rag for the person behind me. "Tasstnok?" A tanned hand grabbed it.

"He'll be fine. Go wait at the table." The hand ruffled the kids hair, tossed the towel over my mess, then guided me back down. If I hadn't already puked... I would've from embarrassment at that moment.

The blue eyed beauty from the other night gazed down at me, concern filling his warm face. He wiped at my face with the soft green cloth, I would've protested against that in an instant if I had been in my right mind. I blame it on the fever, but I just laid there and drank him in with my eyes. His shoulders were wide and strong, muscles sleek and tight. The white tank top he wore played up his golden hair and brilliant blue eyes oddly, making one take notice of all the little details about him. The scars on his face. The crease between his eyebrows from worry. His long black lashes that created the perfect frame for those dazzling eyes. The slight off balance of his mouth that made him look mischievous. His long fingered hands worked at my face gently, obviously a father from the touch, while the eyes searched for something. My heart skipped a beat when his skin touched mine accidentally. The kid chattered on beside the bed. Even at this distance I couldn't make out a word he was saying. The man laughed, eyes closing slightly as his smile grew. My heart skipped another beat. "Quit being a weirdo and go sit down at the table."

"Leeoom!"

"Or the living room. I don't care." Little footsteps ran off somewhere and the guy smiled again, this time at me. "He likes you." He mopped up the sweat from my neck before using the cup of water to make it damp and laying it on my heated forehead. I shuddered. It felt really wonderful against the heat... at least that's the reason I gave myself. He grinned down at me gently before running the towel across the floor. "I didn't want to leave you out there, you really were burning up. You don't have to stay," He announced when my eyes glanced back at the window and fire escape. "but you've still got a fever and you're more than welcome to stay." He picked up the wet towel with two fingers and started for the door. "I'm Naruto and the little one is Konohamaru."

The door swung shut and left me in silence. I glanced back at the window before letting my eyes slide shut. 'He talks a lot.' The thought rolled through my mind lazily as I fell back into darkness.

-Naruto-

"Please tell me she was lying." Kiba announced as I opened the door. I raised one eyebrow and stood aside so he could come in. "Tell me the pink haired wonder was lying about you taking in some homeless guy." I rolled my eyes and shut the door. Count on Sakura to tell everything that would listen my business.

"Did the pink haired moron tell you the 'homeless guy' was a kid?" His eyes widened.

"So you did!?" His hands flew up into the air and he looked ready to bitch me out, but he stopped and looked at me. "A kid?" I nodded and leaned against the door as he unzipped his coat and let a pale puppy jump out. "Like a kid kid or a kid?"

"Once you decide the definitions for those terms I'll give you an answer." I grumbled and started for the kitchen. "He's a teenager, looks really young though... and he doesn't talk much, but that could just be because he's sick." Kiba threw himself into a chair dramatically.

"Oh he's sick too? That's lovely."

"Shut up."

"Make me." He stuck his tongue out at me playfully. "Now, daddy Naruto, where is my adorable brat of a nephew?"

"Keeping an eye on the kid. He seems to like him. I mentioned you were coming over and he totally didn't care." I felt Kiba glar at my back as I finished cutting up the tomatoes. "He's in the his room looking for that ball you brought over last time." I popped a tomato wedge in my mouth and set the plate on the table. Kiba made a face.

"Don't you feed the kid meat?" He poked at the vegetables as if they were going to jump up and attack him at any moment.

"Hey. He's the only kid I know who wants to eat vegetables. Don't jinx that dog breath." I smacked his hand away and bit into the carrot stick he touched. "Yuck. Keep your dirty paws off of it." I made a face. "I can taste every pile of shit you've rolled around in." Akumaru barked up at me and I tossed him the rest of the veggie.

"Chiba!!"

Kiba groaned loudly and smiled as the little brunette came running into the kitchen. He let him squirm onto his lap before lifting him high about his head. "Kid we've been over this a hundred times. It's Kiba. Kiba. Not 'Chiba'. C'mon. You can do it. Kiba!"

"Chiba! Owmaoo!" He cheered happily as the puppy jumped onto Kiba's lap happily. I had to smile at his happy face and loud ringing laugh. Konohamaru was growing up happily. That was all that mattered... Right? He didn't need a mom, didn't need someone he could barely tolerate running around, trying to tell him how to raise his pride and joy. That wasn't wrong at all... right?

"Okay. Eat your lunch then you can play all you want with Chiba and Owmaoo." Kiba sent another playful glare my way and set the three year old in the chair next to him. "So what brings you up our way today?" I asked as the little one attacked the broccoli viciously, as if he needed to hurry or Kiba would leave before he got done.

"Oh, y'know, pink haired monsters, cute three year olds and cars perfect for you." He listed off nonchalantly. He saw the look that settled on my face instantly and threw his hands up. "Don't say anythin'! I know what your gonna say. No it's not another iroc. It's my moms Mercedes. That black one she bought last year." I opened my mouth but he continued on. "I know what you're gonna say again. And yes you can afford it. She gave it to me for free, now I'm selling it to you for a reasonable fucking steal." He grinned up at me, seemingly proud of himself.

"You need money, don't you?"

His mouth flew open as if to defend himself before closing into a pout. "I do."

"So sell the car for what it's actually worth. Sheesh. It's only a, what, 2007? It's still worth a lot seeing as your mom probably never drove it very often."

"Listen yo-"

"Done!" Konohamaru shouted, hands flying into the air as if he had just won a race of some kind.

"Coolies. Maybe papa will let me take you to the park while he thinks over the generous offer Uncle Kiba has laid before him." Big brown eyes looked up at me hopefully. I really wanted to say no. It was still a bit too cold and the sun would be setting in a few hours. I really really wanted to say no... but those fucking eyes...

"Fine." I waited until Konohamaru's squeal of delight passed before speaking again. "But your coat and shoes stay on at all times. And you!" I turned and pointed at Kiba as my baby brother ran off to collect his things. "Don't call me papa. I'm trying to get him to stop sayin it and I don't need you aggravating it. Oh, and this time, please, if you value your life, keep your fucking cell phone on and in your pocket." He rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Sure sure."

"Pak!" An excited three year old shouted running up to me, holding his zipper out.

I smiled and quickly got him ready. "Hug?" I smiled as he ran back and jumped into my arms. "Kiss?" A quick peck was all I got before he began squirming to get down. "Coat and shoes?"

"Sta on." He smiled.

"Good good. Now go have fun." I kissed his forehead and watched the two of them run out the door. As soon as I heard the door click shut everything deflated, every wall collapsed and every color faded. My smile withered away into a stoic line in a matter of seconds. Taking Konohamaru from me was like taking away my reason to smile, my reason to live. Being alone just made the overpowering feelings of nothingness feel ten times worse. For there was no reason to even fake a cheerful demeanor. My head tilted back and I stared absently at the ceiling before getting up to clean the house, my mind wandering listlessly.

This is coming along... slowly but surely... Ha ha ha! Next update: Sometime this year. Ha ha ha. Is that a joke?