Reason I Breathe

Chapter9

Naruto scratched his head as he looked around his hotel room. His jacket appeared to be missing. The temperature had dropped surprisingly low for still being summer, but the date told him that fall would arrive very soon. He traded his shirt for a thin sweater and set out. He told himself he was going to see Shikamaru. It would not be his fault if he saw Pein on the way. Satisfied, he left the room and locked the door. He checked the cash in his pocket. He would try buying if saw Pein. His ribs were in no mood to be abused some more. He was walking the slums in an hour. Night had fully set in when he rang Shikamaru’s doorbell.

"Hi hi!" Naruto beamed.

"What?" Shikamaru groaned.

"I came over to talk. And see, I can be downtown and not looking to score," Naruto bragged as he pushed past Shikamaru.

"Why are you here so late to talk?"

"Well, I made a promise! So, what do you look for in a guy?"

Naruto fell gently onto the couch. He stretched out, and grinned widely. Shikamaru sighed as he sat down next to the blonde.

"You aren’t going away, are you?"

"Nope!"

Shikamaru sighed again. He closed his eyes. What could it hurt to answer the blonde? With any luck he would think it impossible and give up.

"Happy. And someone good looking. Maybe athletic and strong. He’d need a good attitude about life. I’ll not have someone bringing me down all the time. And no drugs. Get enough of that around here," Shikamaru scowled.

Naruto frowned as he thought seriously about the people he knew. Shikamaru smiled smugly as the boy struggled.

‘My perfect guy is right here. If he can figure that out, maybe he’ll save himself and me.’

Naruto pondered the problem he had created. After several minutes he groaned and rubbed his forehead.

"There’s no way someone like that exists around here."

"Exactly," Shikamaru whispered.

"Then why’d you say that?" Naruto frowned.

"Huh?"

"I heard you. If you knew there was no one around like that, why’d you say it?"

Silence. Shikamaru refused to look at Naruto. He felt said boy scoot closer. His face turned five shades of red when he felt Naruto pressed against him.

"I can be all that. And you know it, don’t you?" Naruto breathed into his ear.

"B-back off, Naruto," Shikamaru gasped.

Naruto gently touched the side of Shikamaru’s face and turned his head. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips against the other teen. He ran his other hand across Shikamaru’s chest. He heard the other boy moan as he gave into the kiss. Shikamaru ran his fingers into the bright blonde hair. Naruto snaked his tongue into Shikamaru’s mouth to explore, and when Shikamaru responded, his head started spinning. He saw fireworks behind his closed eyelids. He responded with a moan of his own. He let his hand run up Shikamaru’s shirt. He was rubbing the muscles when Shikamaru pulled back, gasping.

"No. I’m not doing this," he muttered.

He stood up and turned his back to Naruto.

"I can do it. I promise I can. I can quit…."

"Then do it. Show me. Then come back."

Naruto heard the longing in his voice. He felt the guilt sweep over him. He shuffled around, and pulled the money from his pocket. He threw it onto the coffee table.

"I was hoping to see Pein on the way here. I know the other way home. Pein doesn’t mess with those streets. I’ll see you tomorrow, Shika-kun!"

Naruto stood and headed for the door. He waved as he started out. Shikamaru watched him go, quietly. He wanted to stop him. He wanted to run out and call his name. But he could not. He groaned, and headed for his room. Naruto had stopped to rest next to the door. He counted slowly to five. When no one came after him, he set off for home. True to his word, he avoided the usual route. He regretted leaving his cash when he saw a cab drive by. He had not been walking long, when he started laughing. He looked up to the stars.

"If there’s anyone up there, or wishes on stars, please hear me out. I want to change! I want to be everything this boy wants and more."

He smiled and set off at a jog. He rounded a corner and found himself on his butt. Looking up slowly, the color drained from his face. He pushed himself back as fast as he could. Pein’s hand tangled in his blonde locks and hauled him up.

"Little kitsune, you can’t get away from me. I imagine you’re out by now, aren’t you?" He teased.

"I’m done!" Naruto shouted, struggling to get away.

He stopping breathing when Pein slammed his fist into Naruto’s stomach. Naruto hung by his hair until he got the air back in his lungs. As soon as he could, Naruto ripped away from Pein. He left the man with only a handful of blonde hair.

"No! No more, Pein," he whispered.

"You’re done when I say you are. Or maybe your mom needs to score? It has been a long time since she’s come looking for me," Pein sneered.

"Mom’s gone. You’ve got nothing over me now," Naruto said boldly, pulling himself up as tall as he could.

His spirit earned him a hit to his jaw. He stumbled back into a wall. He bit his lip. He refused to scream for the man ever again. Pein pulled him by his shoulder and threw him on the ground. On the way down, Pein lashed out. A sharp pain, and seconds later, Naruto was lying unconscious on the cold concrete.