Reason I Breathe

Chapter13

Pein stood in front of a door, scowling. He rechecked the clear hallways before pressing his ear to the door. The room beyond it sounded empty. He clenched his fist, crumbling a piece of paper in it. He sighed, and pulled away from the door. He smoothed the paper out before sliding it under the door, then stuck his hands in his pockets and walked smoothly out of the apartment building. He stood watching in the shadows as his little kitsune approached the building hours later. He was latched onto the arm of some kid with a ponytail. He was laughing freely as the other boy looked away, blushing. Pein growled low in his throat as he turned down the alley and disappeared. Naruto was the first through the door of the apartment, and the first to see the paper. He picked it up and opened it. Confusion and curiosity turned into fear. The paper fell from his hands and he lowered himself onto the floor.

"What’s wrong?" Shikamaru sounded worried.

He shook Naruto’s shoulders lightly when the blonde did not answer. His blue eyes looked blank and emotionless. Shikamaru saw the paper, and picked it up to read it. The paper slipped to the floor once more, as Shikamaru picked Naruto up bridal style, and carried him to the couch. He found Naruto’s cell phone, and called Kiba. He gave Kiba firm instructions to find his way to the apartment as quickly as possible while he held Naruto close.


*****

A picture of Naruto’s mother lay on the coffee table. She was bound, gagged, obviously crying, naked, and beaten. Kiba paced angrily.

‘If I know where you live now, what makes you think anything you care for is safe?’

The only words written on the paper the picture had been taped to sent chills of fear through every boy that had read it. Naruto had managed to snap from his daze after Shikamaru had called Kiba. He was still in Shikamaru’s lap. His tears had dried shortly after his friend had entered the apartment. Kiba growled and pulled at his hair before sitting on the edge of the couch.

"What does he want, Naru?"

"He wants me," Naruto whispered.

"He can’t have you!" Kiba declared, standing up again.

Shikamaru stayed quiet and hugged Naruto. The blonde was trembling slightly as he clung to Shikamaru’s shirt. Everyone knew Naruto had made up his mind. The only way to save the boy was to find a better plan.

"He’ll go to Pein," Shikamaru said finally. "We’ll follow them very carefully. The only way to bust him is to catch him with the shit he sells."

"That’s too big a risk. Naru might get hurt," Kiba snapped.

"Yeah, I might. But I’m going regardless, so I’ll definitely get hurt going alone," Naruto pointed out.

Kiba punched his fist and kept walking around the living room. Naruto separated himself from Shikamaru and looked at his watch. He stood slowly, and went to change into warmer clothes. Shikamaru folded his hands and rested his elbows on his knees.

"We’ll get this guy. I know these streets, Kiba. I won’t let anything happen to him."

"No offense, but I really just met you. Forgive me if I can’t trust you," Kiba’s words were harsh.

"I’ve been watching Naruto for years. No one’s ever taken notice to me. I never wanted them to. But I’ve watched him evolve into the person he is now. I love him. Maybe that’s too soon for anyone to hear it, but I really do love him. I will kill anyone who ever hurts him again."

Kiba watched Shikamaru. Anger danced in his eyes. His knuckles were white as he held his hands together tightly. Kiba nodded slowly. Something on Shikamaru’s face, or maybe the way he was sitting - but definitely something - screamed his seriousness. Naruto walked back into the room with a smile.

"Thin walls," he said as he hugged Shikamaru’s neck. "Let’s go, if you still wanna come. I’m done sitting around, and the sun’s set."

The boys left the apartment together. Shikamaru kissed Naruto hard with passion and desperation, before letting the blonde slip downstairs and out of the building. They watched from a window as he rounded a corner before following him. Naruto calmed his breathing as he walked. He begged his heart to stop beating so fast. He rounded corner after corner, and finally stopped at an alley, taking a deep breath before entering its shadows. Before his eyes could adjust, a strong arm encircled his waist.

"Good kitsune," Pein mumbled into his ear.

Naruto shuddered and closed his eyes tightly.

"Don’t hurt my mom," he begged.

"Your mom? Oh, you misunderstood," Pein laughed. "That picture was several years old. I only meant to show you what I could do."

Naruto’s blood ran cold. He struggled to pull away. He opened his mouth to scream, only to find a hand closed over it.

"I will knock you out again, Naruto. You should just cooperate. Don’t you feel much better when you’re using?"

Naruto clenched his fists quickly to tighten his resolve. He nodded, defeated. Pein released him. Naruto turned to the man.

"It has been too long, Pein. You’re right, I can’t stand this!"

"Then come home with me, kitsune. I’ll fix you up."

Naruto beamed, and followed the man out of the alley and down the street. Naruto allowed Pein to hold his hand as he was lead quickly down streets and towards the better parts of Konoha. Naruto took in his surroundings. He wanted a mental map of Pein’s house, just in case. Pein lead Naruto into a nice neighborhood on the edge of the slums. His house sat in the back of the neighborhood. Naruto whistled low as they entered the building. He grinned over his shoulder to Pein.

"This is really nice!"

Pein let his coat fall to the ground, and nodded to Naruto. He led the boy up a flight of stairs and into a familiar room. Naruto threw himself on the bed and pulled off his shirt. His grin faded when Pein descended on him, and then tied his wrists together. Memories of his last encounter with the man drained the color from his face. Pein kissed Naruto’s neck as he finished tying his hands.

"I had much more fun with you bound."

He reached for a syringe, and Naruto began to struggle. Pein placed a knee hard in the boy’s stomach and then in his chest to hold him down. Naruto cried out as the needle found its way into his veins and the liquid inside swam into his bloodstream. Pein released him. Naruto felt himself floating. Pein became nothing more than a blur. He was vaguely aware of the actions performed on him. His head was swimming, trying desperately to make sense of anything before his vision went black. He heard yells and the sounds of a fight before he lost consciousness altogether.