Reason I Breathe

Chapter8

Naruto slid carefully into his seat. He focused on breathing. Then, he turned his smile to Kiba. The other boy was frowning at him.

"So, she just left you alone?"

"Yeah. Shika-kun was with me, so it's okay!"

"Shika-kun?"

"Ne, Nara Shikamaru. We’re friends," Naruto beamed.

Shikamaru looked up at the sound of his name. Naruto waved to him. He rolled his eyes and raised his hand in return. Kiba continued to frown.

"You aren’t seriously going to live in that hotel are you?" he demanded.

"Nah, I’m going to get an apartment. I’m not sure how long it will be before Mom is ready. And I can’t stay near Dad."

"Just stay with me."

"Can’t. You know that."

Kiba crossed his arms and huffed. Class started, and Kiba was forced to wait before talking to Naruto again. He was denied his chance at lunch, as Naruto walked outside to find Shikamaru. He sat on the grass beside his new friend.

"Are you clean?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Heh, why wouldn’t I be?"

"Are you?"

"…. Not quite. I used the last of it for the pain."

"What do you want?"

"Are there apartments around you?"

Shikamaru sat up at the question. He studied the emotionless mask on the blonde.

"No."

"Damn. They’re cheaper than these uptown."

"And closer to Pein."

Naruto remained silent. Yes, they were closer to Pein. Naruto wanted to say he would not go looking for the man. He wanted to say it and mean it. But he could not. He slowly nodded, and made to stand up. Shikamaru sighed and pulled him back down by his arm.

"When did you tell your parents?" He whispered.

"Huh? That I’m gay? Three years ago."

"No. About the heroin."

"Oh. I didn’t."

Shikamaru thought about Mrs. Uzumaki’s reactions.

"How’d you start?"

"My mom does it. I found it one day and decided to try it. When I was caught looking for more, I told them about being gay to throw off suspicion. So, I found my own ways to score. Mom’s stolen from me before. I know what she does to get it, so I figured better me than her."

Shikamaru laid back down. He wanted to ask, even though he was sure he knew. He had been watching the blonde for a year. He always saw the pain.

"I know it’s hard. My parents ran off to Europe when I told them I was gay," he sighed.

Naruto jumped slightly. He paid for the sudden movement with his sides. He grabbed at them and bit his lip.

"Y-you’re gay? And they left you?"

"Beats your parents."

"True. So very, very true."

Naruto looked to the sky and thought about the words exchanged between them. He blushed, remembering the recent actions of the other boy. He edged away subtly. He found himself wondering if Shikamaru had a crush.

"Why are you telling me?" He decided to ask.

"You understand. I’ve never had the friends to tell."

Naruto chewed on his lip. He watched the clouds with Shikamaru for several minutes before making a decision.

"Alright! You’ll sit with us from now on. My friends will accept you ‘cause I say so."

"I don’t need fake friends," Shikamaru replied coldly.

"Not fake. We’ll be your friends for real. Just give it a try. Ne, maybe you’ll get a boyfriend!"

Shikamaru blushed.

"Wh-who said I wanted one?"

"Ne, ne, don’t you?"

"…. Maybe."

"Alright! I promise I’ll find you someone. Friends do that stuff."

Shikamaru blushed more. He sat up quickly upon realizing what he had just done. The blonde was nowhere to be found.