My Lover's Keeper

Naruto had gotten home unusually late that night. The moment the door clicked, an angry Iruka was in front of him.

"Where have you been?! Curfew is nine. Do you know what time it is?"

"It's currently 11:30pm." Naruto replied nonchalantly. "I was at the cemetery and I lost track of time,"

He stood at the entrance removing his shoes, he was soaked head to toe. His umbrella didn't seem to do that good of a job against the rough winds and it consequently broke.

Iruka didn't say anything else to the teen about the matter. He instead got some towels. 
"Come on lose the clothes" Iruka handed him the warm bathrobe to wear after he'd gotten naked.

He rubbed the small towel on the wet blond locks of his son. "Kakashi, can you make him some hot tea?" He asked as he guided him to the living room, helping him sit in front of the fireplace.

"Already ahead of you" the english literature teacher had brought the tea to the teen. "Here you go, Naruto"

The blond drank it in silence, his tears crashed on his lap absorbed by the material of the bathrobe. 
"Naruto-…."

"I know...I know...you said it a hundred times before...it doesn't change anything...they're gone." His voice vulnerable, seeking comfort.

Arms gently wrapped around him. 
"Kurama's still here...we can go see him tomorrow after school ok?" Iruka calmly reminded him and the boy sniffled.

He visited the cemetery, today was October 9th. Tomorrow's his son's birthday. Probably why he had remained in the cemetery longer than he usually does.

It didn't take long for the blond to fall asleep right in front of the fire place.

Iruka casually took the clothes to clean, wiped the water and looked at the yellow umbrella. The same umbrella he had found him and Kurama hiding under years ago.

The redhead was around eleven or twelve. He had long straight hair, a slender face with the harshest set of purple eyes a child could ever have.
Naruto was a mere toddler, hiding behind his older brother, tears in his big blue eyes. 
Seeing them both choose to live on the street rather than a foster home, triggered something inside of Iruka's heart and he decided to adopt them.

The umbrella was torn but Kurama held on to it still. So Iruka fixed it knowing it meant a lot to them.

He could still just see the joy that was on their faces when they both saw it almost brand new. 
Then after Kurama's accident, it seemed to be the only thing keeping Naruto from sliding into insanity.

"Did it break again?" Kakashi wondered as he joined after tucking Naruto in bed.

"Yeah...probably why he lost it too. I can fix it" the man smiled. He worked for hours making it as sturdy as he could. He glued the layers, that he had added every time it broke, together. Then he assembled the whole thing.

It was three am by the time he had finished but he was proud of the outcome.

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Naruto opened his blue eyes, seeing yellow. It was his umbrella, yellow top, red handle with the initials U + N carved in its handle. which he knew were the initials of his parents' last names. It worked well as initials of his own name too.

He got downstairs with the umbrella in hand and hugged him so tight. 
"Naruto I got a hot pan in my hand!!" The adult panicked, being careful as to where Naruto was moving so he wouldn't accidentally burn himself.

"Thank you thank you thank you!!" He pulled from the hug. "I'm gonna go get ready"

"You're welcome." He smiled at him and tousled his hair "okay and you better not take too long you didn't have dinner yesterday,"

"Haaii" Naruto pulled away and gave him one last hug before running upstairs, "g'morning Kakashi-nii" Naruto said as he saw a flash of grey hair by the front door.

"Hey kiddo," he saw him holding the umbrella and smiled knowing his husband had fixed it.

"Ha Kakashi," Iruka peered from the kitchen "did you have breakfast yet?"

"Yeah, I just need some more coffee" he sighed "I don't know how Naruto gets up so energetic every morning but I am jealous"

"You're just lazy" the brunet man stated as he poured him a glass of black coffee.

On the other side of town, Sasuke was just woken up by his mother to breakfast in bed. 
It would have been nice hadn't he woken up with an upset stomach.

Her voice could be heard in the background telling him how ungrateful he is as if it was his fault feeling sick. 
If the medical bills weren't taken care of by the state, he was sure they'd have thrown him away ages ago.

"Your father and I are busy today, you can walk yourself to school and then we'll pick you up a bit early for your doctor appointment" the woman stared at her perfect nails.

Her voice was clear and stoic, speaking in a monotone. It was a contrast to how she would have reacted had there been someone else in the room.

Sasuke had tried telling Itachi just how awful they were. But the older Uchiha thought his baby brother was exaggerating as always. After all, aside from being told they should be more grateful, Itachi has never been abused. Whenever Itachi was around they only showed the utmost care for the younger one.

They were right to think no one would believe a sick dying little boy who was in pain from medication. But when Itachi didn't believe him, Sasuke really didn't bother with telling anyone else.

He got dressed and left the house. A few steps from the house, he lifted his eyes to see his older brother. 
"Itachi!" He hugged him immediately.

"Sasuke are you walking to school?" The man asked, looking at the driveway he couldn't see the two cars.

"They had to leave early...it's not the first time." Sasuke shrugged.

"I'll walk you then, okay?" Itachi forced a smile but the hint of worry that lingered there was evident to the younger brother.

They walked together, Itachi kept an arm protectively around his brother. 
"How's school?"

"Fine...it's the usual....a daily pity-party for Sasuke" the young Uchiha replied darting his eyes towards the passing car. His eyes just about catching Naruto with the English teacher in a car together.

His eyes widen as he stopped walking altogether. "You okay, little brother?" Itachi stopped immediately after. "Want to take a little break?"

"No...I'm fine...I just thought I saw someone I knew" he collected himself "that clown still haunts me sometimes"

"Well..." Itachi chuckled "he made you smile throughout the hospital stay...so if he is haunting you and making you happy...I wouldn't mind"

"He definitely did not make me smile," Sasuke blushed hard.

"Let's see here..." Itachi got the wallet getting the picture collection from it and going through it. "You're smiling in each one"

They were all clearly taken without him even noticing. 
"And the biggest smile...the day he brought you Dangos" Itachi looked at it a little while longer, his eyes watering and tears crashed on the picture.

"Nii-san" Sasuke never knew how much his illness had effected his brother.

"Sorry, Sasuke" the adult wiped his tears "I just haven't seen you smile like that since you were a kid. It just makes me happy knowing you still enjoy little things like these," 
He kissed his brother's forehead "I'll be there for your doctor appointment today, okay?"

"They...let you come this time?" Sasuke resumed walking as his brother nudged him to.

"You're my brother...they can't keep you away from me. Specially not at times like these"

Sasuke said bye to his brother as he got to school. There was a certain boy with a yellow umbrella waiting for him by the gate. Sasuke was not carrying one at all and before Itachi could offer him his. The yellow umbrella was shielding his brother from the pouring rain.

"I was right to wait for you" the croaky voice was none other than Naruto's, then he lifted his eyes seeing Sasuke's older brother "ah..Itachi-san" the blond bowed.

"You still remember my name" the older Uchiha felt embarrassed. "Sorry...I'm really bad with names...you're the clown boy right?"

"Hai, Uzumaki Naruto, dattebayo?" The blond chirped.

"Yes, Naruto that's it. You go to the same school?"

"Same class even" Naruto smiled.

"I'm going" Sasuke sighed not liking that his brother found out about this. He stepped away and Naruto just wrapped up the conversation to remain close to Sasuke. 
"Why do you insist on my making my life hell?"

"I'm just sharing an umbrella because you forgot to bring yours." Naruto stated the obvious but soon enough the rain stopped "would you look at that...my services are no longer needed..." He pulled it close, walked away not even saying another word.

"Weirdo"

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The bell rang and the students rushed out of the classroom. 
"Are you ready, Naruto?" Just like clockwork the voice called out of the hallway and the blond got up taking his stuff and leaving.

"So who's that?" They all looked at Sasuke who for the first time since he got to their school had opened a conversation with them "he looks older"

"That would be Nara Shikamaru, he's a year older. I've seen him fight ten guys all by himself" Kiba stated.

"Is he...dating Naruto?" Sasuke asked, the question seemed to make them laugh and he felt embarrassed.

"Do you like that loser by any chance?" Neji raised an eyebrow, intrigued to hear the answer.

"No...it's just....I've seen him...with Kakashi sensei being...real close...like talking to each other on first name basis. And this morning he was in the car with him...they looked...real-friendly, you know?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Sakura joined the group pulling a chair.

"How Naruto's fucking our English teacher" Sai oversimplified and exaggerated the statement. But, that is indeed what Sasuke had implied.

"I knew it! No wonder he always comes first...he never even attends any classes..." Sakura almost jumped from her seat.

"We all knew Kakashi sensei is a closet pervert..." Neji ate silently before he stopped "shouldn't we tell someone? Naruto's a minor..." He was genuinely concerned.

"If we're being honest...it's probably Naruto that started it either ways....he's a fuck boy..." Sakura rolled her eyes.

Sasuke didn't realize that when he had spoken those words at that table at lunch, it would spread like wildfire.

After lunch, Naruto snuck inside quietly from the back door and bowed to his teacher as he was late. He only got a subtle nod from his math teacher as she did not even stop her explanation.

Sasuke looked beside him and saw his messy outfit, the shirt tucked out of the pants. And the pants not any better as the belt buckle was lazily closed.

The raven's face heated up noticing how the blond was sweaty and breathing somewhat heavy. 
"Naruto" Fūu's voice called and the blond lifted his head, he was lost in thought and didn't realize she was beside him "is everything alright?" 

She was holding a paper bag in her hand, just in case Naruto was hyperventilating for any reason.

Sasuke could so easily hear the conversation between them two. But his mind was stuck in the gutter after having imagined Kakashi and Naruto in compromising positions.

"Hai..sensei, I'm sorry for being late" he semi bowed to her and then they heard a ruckus right beside them.

Sasuke had bolted out of the classroom. Naruto followed right after and Fūu Sensei ordered the rest to remain seated and do their homework, she remained by the door seeing the two boys down the hallway, she called the school nurse on the phone.

The raven knew he wouldn't make it to the bathroom, so he threw up in the bin at the end of the hallway.

He couldn't bring himself to stop emptying the confines of his stomach. He heard coins tossed in one of the vending machines nearby. He hated when people saw him like this. He slid on the floor still feeling nauseous.

A thump sounded from a nearby vending machine, registering the purchase of something heavy, and then he felt arms around him. The Uchiha could barely stand on his own. His vision blurred but he held on to whoever was helping him.

He could feel the cold air hitting him. It was refreshing and it helped slightly. He heard the small amount of air make a hissing sound as it escaped the pressured bottle.

"It's some ginger tea, it'll help with the nausea" the voice was all he needed to know it was Naruto. Of course it would be him, who else would have worriedly ran after him?

He held the bottle himself and took a small sip. The drink was cold, the taste of ginger lingered long after each sip. 
The nurse had gotten there, though she did not know what else to do that Naruto hadn't already done.

Sasuke, hotheaded as always, refused to go home. He instead stayed by the window sipping his tea. 
"I'm fine, you should go back inside...the others will start talking,"

"I don't care what they say," Naruto shrugged.

"But I do," Sasuke deadpanned.

"Then you go back inside first," the blond shrugged yet again. His classmate simply walked back to the classroom, drink half full.

As soon as he opened the door, the entire classroom turned towards him. He didn't know how Naruto was so stealthy. He sat down and waited, waited and waited...his clown of a classmate never returned.

The bell rang and he was left alone again. Sasuke got his stuff and exited. His eyes lingered some more on the yellow Umbrella as he closed the classroom door.

"Sasuke, sweetie are you okay? Your friend told us you weren't feeling well" his mother wrapped arms around him in a fake hug.

"Ha...I'm fine...just the nausea" he pulled away a bit angry at who told them but then he saw the distinct pink hair. She had a smile on her face too, like she had done something to be proud of.

His father held his bag and they walked out with him and Sakura; saying how nice she is and how they both would make a cute couple.

'Like I would ever date a girl.'

On their way out, he saw Naruto walk inside the building probably to get his stuff. Sasuke got in the car and buckled up, not talking to anyone, not his parents and not Sakura whom they offered a ride home.

He looked at the bottle in his hand; still half full.
"She's way nicer than that kid that was with you yesterday..." His father stated as they dropped her off.

Sure she was, everyone appeared nicer than Naruto because he wasn't faking his niceness.

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Outside the school gate, Hyūga Hinata sat on the bench by her lonesome. Her cousin had taken her umbrella and told her to just wait there that he would send someone to pick her up.

Earlier that day, Sasuke had told them that a while back Naruto waited with him in the rain. Of course they told him it was out of pity because he was sick. So he said Naruto told him he'd do it for anyone.

Only problem was, none of them was brave enough to actually risk being wet just to prove him wrong. So Neji put his beloved cousin as a sacrificial lamb and they watched from across the street in the warmth of a café.

Naruto was about to leave when he heard a soft sneeze and turned around. He saw a girl with long blue hair, eyes that resembled that of his classmate. But he didn't know this girl.

"Do you mind if I stand here?" Naruto asked standing close so the rain wouldn't pour on her.

"Not...at all", she sneezed again. If Naruto hadn't gotten to her when he did; she would have been drenched. The drops of water dropped hard and fast.

Kiba, Neji and Ino struggled to see anything from the window. 
Outside, however Naruto had given her his coat.
She looked at him in disbelief, air condensation escaping both their mouths "Wha-..."

"It's not gonna keep you warm by looking at it, dattebayo?"

"Hai" she took it and wore it immediately. "Thank you"

"Don't mention it" he stated. "so are you waiting for your parents?"

"The driver is gonna pick me up, you?"

"Ah...a friend," Naruto nodded to himself proud of the lie he just told.

Then nothing but the sound of heavy rain. They both stood there for hours, no driver...and no friend though even Hinata knew that was a lie.

"He's still waiting there with her?!" Ino shouted in disbelief. All they could see was the outline of the yellow umbrella.

But Naruto kept checking his watch. 7:30pm, visiting hours end at 8pm. He didn't have a phone so he couldn't call Iruka to tell him anything.
"Excuse me-..."

"Hinata...my name is Hinata" she informed.

"Hinata-chan, where do you live?"

"Sapporo street, why?"

"That just happens to be where my friend lives...I think he might be preparing something for my birthday and got caught up...I can walk you home and then go to his place, dattebayo?"

"Are you sure that's okay? It's very far" she argued back, she thought that he was lying bout it being his birthday too just to not make her feel awkward.

"Yeah...yeah it's fine...I'm going there either way," he waved her concerns away.

Hinata walked beside him, sharing the umbrella in silence. Inside the café they finally saw the yellowness disappear in the distance. 
"Your cousin is still under the rain",

"So?" Neji raised an eyebrow at the blondie next to him.

"That's mean, Neji" she took the umbrella and got out, running under the rain but she didn't find anyone there so she rushed back. "Hinata's not there,"

"That's not funny, Ino."

"I'm not joking...call her!" Ino panicked and only when he realized how serious she was that he knew he would be in trouble with his dad and uncle.

He called her but she wasn't answering. He was left there panicking with the others drawing out sorts of scenarios where Naruto had kidnapped her under the cover of the rain.

"Thanks for the hot cocoa, Naruto-kun" the Hyūga girl smiled at him as she drank it while walking.

"My pleasure" he enjoyed his too as they walked together. He hated to admit that he was cold but that didn't bother him as much as not being there to see his brother. It was already past 8pm.

At exactly 9pm they were at the gates of her house. Naruto knew exactly the type of houses that were in Sapporo street as he had been there before.

They walked through the gate of the mansion, and to the front door where she got her keys out and unlocked the door.

"Lady Hinata!?" The maid called "Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama is home!"

Her father rushed outside, he was convinced his daughter was kidnapped.
But seeing her there wearing that orange coat, he couldn't help but cry.

"Tou-san" she froze, it had been long since he had hugged her.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"They?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Neji said he saw a man with a yellow umbrella take you away...it was raining too hard and he didn-..." He stopped as he saw a teen with the yellow umbrella.

"Neji told me he would send the chauffeur. I sat there waiting for hours...Naruto-kun walked me home,"

"He goes to school with you?"

"Yeah...he goes to class 4-B" she smiled "Naruto-kun, this is my father Hyūga Hiashi. Tou-san this is Uzumaki Naruto"

"Pleasure to meet you," the blond bowed to the stern looking man.

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter, please come in."

"No it's fine...I should get going. I was happy to help" Naruto smiled bowing again before he turned around to leave.

In hindsight he forgot to ask for his coat back and Hinata was too overwhelmed from her father's hug to remember that little detail.

Naruto was going to hear it from Iruka, he was late for the second night in a row.