„Where the hell is it? I could swear that ..."

I leaned against the railing in front of Naruto's apartment and watched intently the blond who was desperately searching in his pants pockets for the key. The tension before the coming almost threatened to overwhelm me. In the next few minutes, he would riddle me with countless questions, and I was more than unprepared...

„Here he is, I knew it." Almost triumphantly, he held up a small silver key. Hastily, and with slightly shaky fingers, he unlocked it and almost pulled me into his apartment.

When I entered it, he locked the door again behind me. „So, no one gets the idea of paying us a surprise visit," he muttered, more to himself than to me. Straight as a die, the blond walked past me, swept another packet of chips lying around on the floor out of the way with his right foot, and turned to me. „Sit down," he said, indicating a small table with two chairs. Just perfect for a conversation on my part not entirely voluntary. Relieved, I settled down on one of the chairs. Finally, I could squat again. The last few hours I had only been standing and now I felt how much my legs hurt.

A throat clearing sounded. „I'm waiting Tora." Oh man. All of a sudden Naruto seemed awfully grown up to me. The way he was looking at me right now with a hint of sternness on his face. I didn't know that about him at all. I sighed. Good, I'd probably have to bang the door down for him to give me his full attention. „Good, you want to hear the truth Naruto." Scrutinizingly, I looked at him, but he just eyed me steadfastly. Not for much longer

„I am the intangible."

Silence.

I could literally see my counterpart's features slip away. All at once, that expression reminded me terribly of Sensei Iruka's when he had found out. So, in a manner of speaking also only recently. A small grin broke out on my lips. He hadn't expected that.

„Why didn't you tell me?"

Disappointment and confusion resonated in his voice. I swallowed. This was a question I had actually been expecting. But the appropriate answer was difficult to formulate.

„I'll try to explain yes? For two years I lived on the streets. I stole a lot and made a name for myself that way. I always remained unidentified. No one knew how old I was, nor was my appearance known."

I cleared my throat.

„And then I met you. The moment you discovered me; I was exposed to the fear that you might actually think I was the intangible. But it wasn't like that. Instead, you saw in me the girl who once went to your class. And just as much as you, I wished for someone by my side at that moment. For two years I had been alone, had had no one to talk to. But ..." Naruto interrupted me.

„You didn't trust me." I shook my head. "That's not true, and you know it."

The blond grimaced. "Understand I was a wanted thief. And I didn't know how you would react to this news; I was afraid of losing a newfound friend and being caught by the ANBU afterwards."

Cautiously, I looked to Naruto, expecting him to doubt my words, but the blond seemed lost in thought. „Yes, I understand," he said, smiling cautiously. "I'm sorry I was so harsh with you, but I just didn't understand the world anymore." I nodded. „It's understandable too."

Afterwards, I told him why I had just been standing in the Hokage's office. At the point when I talked about the fight, Naruto jumped up. „You sure gave it to him. Honestly, I'm so glad you stood your ground and now he's in prison for eternity." His eyes gleamed, but then a questioning expression appeared in them.

„But ... what happens to you then? I mean, they're not going to hurt you, are they?"

I shook my head. „No not that but ..." Feigning sadness, I looked to the ground.

„But what?" he eyed me anxiously.

„I get to go to the academy with you, isn't that great?", I beamed at him.

Naruto was amazed. Quite a bit, in fact. That almost seemed to blow his mind more than the revelation that I was the intangible. „ For real now? You serious?" I nodded with a smile.

„That's awesome! I can't believe it, for real now." Faster than I could look, he had circled the table and hugged me. „This is super cool. Man, you're sure going to make all those hours in class a lot more interesting." I grinned into his shoulder. Yeah, and maybe that would keep him from causing so much trouble, too.

We talked for quite a while about the upcoming school weeks and also about the final exam that was coming up soon. I promised him firmly that I would support him so that he would certainly be able to pass. Another hug and an even wider beaming Naruto had been the result.

Shortly before midnight, we both went to sleep. Naruto had cleared the couch especially for me and laid out a pillow and blanket for me. After a short "good night" to each other, the Uzumaki moved towards the bed and I went to the couch.

It was quite unusual to sleep on a soft surface again after such a long time, but I would surely get used to it. Satisfied, I snuggled into the blanket and finally fell asleep.

I walked along a long, dark corridor. A few lamps provided light from time to time. Shadows danced on the walls, ominous and threatening. They seemed to be following me. My steps became faster and faster. I wanted to get out of here. I felt threatened and constricted by this creepy silence. A tremor filled my body. It was cold, freezing cold. But was it only the cold that made me shiver, or something else?

My arms wrapped around my upper body and I looked around frantically. There had to be an exit somewhere here. I had to get out of here, otherwise I would probably lose my mind. A noise made me jump. Footsteps. Footsteps sounded in the corridor. Not light-footed, but loud and powerful. Faster and faster my legs guided me. I just wanted to get away from here. No matter who was there, he certainly had no good intentions.

„Little murderess." I froze in my movement. No, not him.

Jerking myself out of my stupor, I ran down the narrow hallway, but still it felt like I wasn't going anywhere. I felt HE was catching up. Closer and closer.

Uncontrollably, my body began to shake. „You'll see that it's no use running away and now, you'll pay for it." My heart galloped in fear as I heard his breathing. He was almost with me. But still I ran, putting one foot in front of the other, not wanting to give up. But in mid-motion, I stepped on something smooth. Back first, I slammed into the hard stone floor. A sharp pain shot up my spine and I drew in my breath violently.

„I told you it wouldn't do any good."

I trembled under the creepy reprimanding tone and tried to crawl away. But I couldn't. I could not move a limb. And then a sharp pain shot through my back. It burned as if from thousands of small wounds.

And I began to scream.