Don't Look Down

Don't Look Down


Chapter 2 The Needed One
Beta byItaNarulover


"No! I can't believe you brought me here!" He turned his head away from the broken neon light sign.


Itachi couldn't believe this kid; he didn't know what the boy's problem was. "Kid, I don't know where to take you besides here."


"I told you already I hate shelters! Besides, I can't go and live here, I have to stay with you so you don't get hurt." He turned away from the taller male, crossing his arms. "You're so mean." He whispered.


He lifted his arms, "Who's going to hurt me?" He twirled around with his arms still up.


"No one as long as I'm beside you."


Itachi lifted his hands in front of him, his hands moved like he was pushing away someone that was standing too close. "Kid, I don't need a stalker."


He balled up his fists. "Stalkers don't save your life. They mess with it; send you crazy letters, and cut their hair to look like you. I'm not a stalker!"


He raised his eyebrow. "If you're not a stalker then go inside."


He shook his head. "I can't save you if I'm in there!" He moved away from the sign and now stood in front of the paler male. He lifted his hand, "Take me with you."


His lips furrowed, his shoulders slumping. "I can't take you with me! I don't even know where I'm going!"


"THAT'S IT!"


The loud shout made Itachi jump back. "What?"


He smiled and pointed both indexes at the stunned raven. "I'm going to find a home for you to live!"


"I don't want a home!" He grunted out.


Blue eyes widened a bit and moved around. "Okie. Do you have a home?"


The raven head bobbed but didn't speak.


"A family?" He spread his hands out from his sides.


He scoffed, "Reason why I won't go home."


"So I have to give you a family and a home to put them in...that sounds easy!" He threw his arms to the side with a happy aura around him. He cocked his head to the side as he lifted his shoulders, still looking at the raven.


"I don't want it." He shot back.


"Then I have to save your life." The younger boy argued, not liking that the raven wasn't helping him in trying to give him a better life. "Why won't you let me help you?" He stepped forward, moving closer as the males shoulders bunched up.


He brought a hand and moved it behind his neck and gave a good scratch, still not answering the boy. It seem like the boy and himself were stubborn when given what they wanted. "I don't care to have either."


The tan face scrunched up, his mouth squeezed together. "Then what do you want?"


"Absolutely nothing."


"Everyone wants something."


A bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Both heads shot up. "It's going to rain."


He didn't seem shaken about this turn of event, he lower his head and found the raven still looking up. "So kid with a puppy, where are we going?"


He got his attention. He closed his eyes and tried to think of a solution. "We have to find a shelter."


"Cool, where?"


Itachi looked nervous; his mouth stretched to one side. He scrunched his eyes and cocked his head. "Well..."


"No! Nonononononono!!"

'Home Sweet Shelter’


"Welcome to Konoha shelter for the homeless!" A pink haired girl babbled on at the place. She guided them for a short tour, where the beds were to where the bathroom was. "Now!" She turned around; cupping her hands in front of her, giving the two newbies a big big smile, showing them that they could make it in the world and that it wasn't so hard. "How long have you two been homeless?"


Itachi looked over at the younger boy, seeing him hunched closer to his arms with his head turned away from them. "Well...today for me." He gestured to himself, he then turned his head, seeing that the blond wasn't going to speak he shoved him with his shoulder.


"Three years." He said quickly and to the point.


"Okay. Your names?" She asked in a sweet voice making the blond flinch. This is why he hated it here, people like her didn't know the real life only their rich ways or some junk like that.


"Do you need that information?"


The bubble gum girl smiled. "Yes, from everyone that comes here, I have to find out how long they're homeless and add their names so we can record it in our books."


"Itachi." He said low and softly.


"Naruto." In fact he hunched down even more. He couldn't stand being in this place, he shyly glanced over at the now identified raven. Itachi was a cool name and it went well with his looks.


"Naruto!" The girl shouted making both blond and raven flinch and step back. "There are a lot of people asking about you."


He huffed and turned around, giving them his back to watch. "Yeah well, tell them to take a hike!"


"That's not nice 'Naruto'." Itachi commented as Naruto continued pouting.


He mumbled under his breath. "Says the mean slash weirdo."


"Alright." The pink-haired girl took out a pen and a notepad from her apron that allowed pockets in the front. She wrote their names down and then stored the note and pen back in her pouch. "Now let's get you both settled in." She turned and with a skip in her step, led them to their beds.

'Home Sweet Shelter’

"Another reason why I hate shelters." Naruto fell onto the stained bed with no sheet or pillow case. Itachi was at his bed that was right next to Naruto's, sitting at the front, watching people try and sleep. Some coughed; others were awake crying in their beds. "Depressing, isn't it?"


Itachi turned his head around to stare at the laying kid. "But you live like this every day?"


He huffed as he shifted on his side away from Itachi. "No, I don't live here! I live out there!"


Itachi moved his eyes to look at the other occupants. "What's the difference?"


"People crying. You can't sleep with almost everyone crying."


Suddenly the lights over their heads were turned off.


"Goodnight Itachi." Naruto's voice echoed into the darkened room.


Itachi pulled himself backwards as he was now lying all the way on the mattress. "G'night, Naruto." He called back as he shifted on his side facing Naruto's cot. He tightly closed his eyes as he heard the cries become louder. This is going to be a long night.

'Home Sweet Shelter’

A snore was vibrated through his chest covered by clothes, a spot of sunlight aimed right at one of his closed eyes. He hunched forward, a warm solid object preventing him from rolling onto his stomach. He tightened his eyes before forcing them open, he glanced down and found a mop of blond hair and a face pressed against his chest feeling hot air blow onto him.


Somehow, in the middle of the night, Naruto got out of his bed and was laying in Itachi's arms and Itachi was keeping him there judging by how tight his arms were around the smaller form. He heard loud steps and then pots banging together.


"Time to get up and have breakfast!" They were banging a long metal spoon against the turned over pot, waking everyone in the building.


Naruto was pushing himself up onto his knees; a fist came up and rubbed at his sleepy eye. "Sorry." He yawned out. "It got cold last night."


He grunted softly as he sat up, he threw his legs over the side as Naruto did the same on the other side; they got up and stood there. They watched everyone else move to the front where they could be served. Itachi looked over at Naruto, "What do you want to eat?"


"Don't we have to eat slum from here?" He lifted his arms, bowing them as he stretched while he stood on his toes.


He scoffed. "No, we don't. I have plenty of money for the both of us." He did some arm stretching before moving to the front, but not in the line, he went outside and stretched his neck. He worriedly looked back and found Naruto walk behind him. "What do you want?"


He gave a shrug, "It's your money."


"Dango sounds good about now." Naruto stepped up beside Itachi, looking up at him with still sleepy eyes.


Naruto nodded as he lowered his head.


"Alright." Itachi soon lead them to the place where they could have a good breakfast.

'Home Sweet Shelter’


Naruto was now bouncing around as he had food in his belly and a new friend. He couldn't believe just a day ago he was robbing a shopkeeper. Things were a lot easier with a friend to talk to. After they'd eaten, they walked towards a bus stop where Itachi knew a place where they could stay. While Itachi sat, Naruto was behind the benches with his hands gripping their backs.


"So who's you friend, Itachi?"


Itachi tilted his head back, "His name's Kisame. We met a long time ago."


Naruto hmmed. "Why don't you like your family?"


Itachi stagnated; he patted his pants as dust gathered. "They're all disgraceful. They want power and I know what power can do to people." The sliver bus shined as sunlight hit it just right. "This is the bus."


Naruto stepped over the bench back and jumped on the cement floor, he grinned as the bus came to a complete stop, the doors pulled to the side.


Itachi stepped onto the bus, "Come on, Naruto." He sat in the front row; he scooted as Naruto sat down with him.


He let out a sigh as he looked around the long bus. "How far is his place?" Naruto shifted his jacket off and laid it across his lap.


"Maybe thirty minutes." He replied as he stared out the window.


"Is…" He drawled out the word, "he like you?"


He shrugged, "He's nicer than me, just don't stare at his face or his teeth. And don't say anything about his looks."


"I'm not the type of person to harp on other people's looks! I'm not that mean!" He slumped in his seat and drew his knees up to press into the seat in front of him.
'Home Sweet Shelter’

Naruto had his head laid on a soft and firm shoulder; he was drooling down the side of his lip. Itachi glared at the drool that was getting close to his shirt, he couldn't just wake the boy up. He knew the kid didn't get much sleep last night; he just couldn't bring himself to roll his shoulder to knock the boy's head away.


Luckily Itachi didn't have to; he saw their stop just ahead. He brought his hand and laid it on top of the blond head. He tousled his hair, feeling silk being threaded in between his fingers. "Wake up Naruto. We're here!" He pushed his shoulder up and let the head move back as his neck supported its own head.


Naruto shifted to his left as he felt a jerky motion, as the bus started appealing the brakes. The smaller of the two stood up and moved to the front, as he stepped onto the ground he looked around to get familiar with the new environment.


Itachi moved pass the blond and went to a building that was covered in moss. He went beside a panel with black buttons, he pressed a button and a buzzing noise came and went. Soon there was another buzz that lasted until Itachi pulled the door open, he went inside and held the door open for Naruto.


They were walking up a level and then down a hallway. He stopped at the end of the hall and knocked on the door, Naruto stood right next to him as he waited for Itachi's friend Kisame.


The door opened and a blue figure grinned as he saw his old friend.


"Oh my God! A shark!"


Itachi slammed himself on the forehead. "...Naruto!" He whined, but at least it couldn't get worse than this...right?


TBC

ItaNarulover I would like you to be my beta! I will send you all the chapters I have :)