Reason I Breathe

Chapter7

Shikamaru looked down at the paper in his hand. Directions were scribbled on it, along with a badly drawn map. The street sign matched the address he had been given, so he pressed on. He looked back down the street to make sure the cab was still waiting for him. He strengthened his resolve, and continued down the street. Naruto watched from the back seat of the cab as Shikamaru headed for his house. He had told the boy he wanted to wait somewhere else in case his dad was around. The man had enough sense not to knock around strangers. Shikamaru wandered the neighborhood for a few minutes before locating the large house. He approached the front door and rang the doorbell. He was not kept waiting long. The door opened slowly, and scared blue eyes appeared from behind the wooden door.

"Mrs. Uzumaki?"

"W-who are you?"

"My name is Nara Shikamaru. I’m Naruto’s friend. I came to tell you he stayed with me last night."

Mrs. Uzumaki opened the door quickly and smiled at the boy. Her concealer did a horrible job of covering the cuts and bruises on her face. Shikamaru saw the bags behind her.

"Take care of him. His dad has been like this since we found out Naruto is gay. Tell him I love him. I’ll find him when I’m settled."

Shikamaru nodded. He walked in the open door and followed the woman to her son’s room. His things were already packed. He gathered the bags and hauled them downstairs. Mrs. Uzumaki watched him with sad eyes. He had noticed her labored breathing, and he was amazed she was still standing with the pain he knew her to be under. He thanked her and started to leave the house.

"H-how is he?" she asked suddenly.

"He’ll live. He seems determined to keep using. You should hurry and finish everything. He needs you."

He never turned to face her. He heard her choke on her tears as he left. He drug the bags down the street and back to the waiting cab. Naruto got out when Shikamaru came into sight and attempted to help. He took his school bag and opened it. He found two credit cards and a large sum of cash where his box should have been. He cursed and returned to the cab. He gave the driver an address.

"Thanks," he mumbled to Shikamaru.

"I’ll go in with you," Shikamaru sighed.

"You don’t owe me anything but what you took," Naruto said darkly.

Shikamaru refused to answer him. They rode in silence to the hotel. The driver removed the luggage from his cab and took off quickly. Naruto was pocketing his cash as he picked up a bag and slung it on his shoulder with great effort. He muttered something about leaving the bags outside and headed in to get a room. Shikamaru stayed with the stuff until someone came to retrieve them. Several minutes later, the boys were admiring the room Naruto had paid for. When they were alone, Naruto turned to glare at Shikamaru and held out his hand.

"My box too."

"What box?"

"Don’t fuck with me, Nara. I’m not at your place, so hand it over! Or do you want me to believe my mom took it?"

Shikamaru pulled the small bag from its hiding place and threw it onto the bed. Naruto leaped after it. He was smiling like a kid with candy as he rubbed the bag against his cheek. He failed to notice Shikamaru follow him. Naruto turned around to sit on the edge of the bed and found himself facing the other teen. He blushed and tried to scoot back on the bed.

"Why do you kill yourself with that stuff?"

Was Naruto imagining it, or did Shikamaru sound sad? He shook the thought away, and put on a scowl.

"I appreciate your help. I’ll help you out; Mom gave me enough money to live on my own for awhile. But we aren’t really friends, now are we?"

Shikamaru displayed no real emotions. He looked bored as he kneeled to look Naruto in the eyes. He was making the blonde shift uncomfortably on the bed. The pain in his sides prevented him from moving very far away.

"I’ve watched people kill themselves down there. I choose to live there because I’m sick of rich kids getting away with everything around me. I don’t have friends, they’re bothersome. So why do I care so much about you?" he seemed to be talking to himself more than Naruto.

Naruto blushed. There was no denying the sadness in the other’s voice, now. Shikamaru sighed, and stood up. He headed for the door.

"I suppose one friend couldn’t hurt. See you later."

With that, the door was shut, and Naruto was alone. He sat silent for a moment. He was left very confused. Shikamaru did not quite explain anything at all.

"What was that?" he asked the empty room.

He laid carefully on his side on the bed. He stared at the powder he still held. He was not in dire need of the stuff just yet. He let it fall from his fingers. He made up his mind to save it for the next day. He would need some help making it to school.