Chapter 3
Chapter 2: The Boy
Tsuki smiled, stretching her arms above her head as she walked to her apartment. As promised, she'd had dinner with the Uchihas, and she was surprised how much they reminded her of her aunt and uncle. She missed them.
-/\-Flashback-/\-
"Tsu-Tsu? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home?" The little girl smiled sheepishly up at her aunt.
"Kaasan says we don't have enough food to feed all of us." The older woman barely refrained from scowling, knowing that would only scare the poor child.
"Well then, I suppose you best come in, and eat with us." She smiled instead.
"Are you sure Oba? I don't wanna be a burden." The girl fidgeted with her fingers.
"You could never be a burden sweetheart. Now come in, it's freezing." The child beamed.
"Thanks Oba!" The woman smiled at her niece.
-/\-Flashback-/\-
Tsuki was drawn out of her reminiscing by a near imperceptible signal from her companion. She followed Tera's gaze, and saw the small blonde she'd asked him to keep an eye on before. He was shivering, and his eyes were looking around, despite his clear exhaustion. Resisting the urge to frown, recognizing the type of fear he held, she cautiously approached, the way she might an injured animal. He tensed when he saw her, so she stopped, crouching now, and gestured for Tera to hand her a coat. With a light toss, she threw the coat over to the boy, smiled reassuringly, then turned and went on her way, making a note to keep an eye out for signs of abuse. To her surprise however, she heard light—too light—footsteps following her. Smiling slightly, she slowed her pace just a tad. When she arrived home, she casually left her door open just a sliver, before she slipped into her kitchen. Soon after, she heard her door creak, just as she suspected it would. She ignored it.
-20 minutes later-
Now bearing food, she headed back into the living space and looked around a bit before she found the tiny blonde curled up behind her couch. Smiling again, she carefully placed a plate in front of the boy, and placed a stasis seal on the edge. Taking the other two plates in hand, she moved to tracking down her companion.
It wasn't until nearly noon the next day that the boy woke up. Settled comfortably on her couch with a book, Tsuki clearly heard him discover the food she'd left for him the night before. First there was a moment of panic when he realized she knew he was there, and then a quiet pause as he registered that she knew he'd snuck in, and he hadn't been thrown out. Finally, she heard him begin to eat. Tsuki zoned back into her book for a bit while he did so. When she noticed him shuffling around, presumably in an attempt to get more comfortable in such a small space, she spoke.
"So do I get to know the name of my guest?" Tsuki said amicably. She sensed him stiffen, before a quiet voice answered.
"Naruto, Miss."
"Call me Tsuki Naruto-san." She said gently.
"O-okay."
"How are you feeling? Do you want a blanket? You seemed pretty cold out there."
"I'm alright." The small voice said. She smiled sadly.
"I'll grab you one anyway," She said gently. There was no response, not that she really expected one, and she was already getting up. Unfortunately, she didn't make it far before she was stopped.
"Tsuki." Tera said. She sighed.
"What is it this time?" She asked wearily.
"There appears to be an ongoing search for your new roommate." He told her. She huffed, annoyed.
"I-I'm sorry. I'll go." Naruto said.
"You don't have to." Tsuki said immediately. The motion behind her couch paused.
"I don't?"
"Not if you don't want to." She said firmly, but soothingly. The rustling of too-thin clothes resumed, but not for long.
"Okay." The little boy said. Tsuki ran a hand through her hair.
"I'll run over to the Hokage's office, let him know his ward is safe and sound. Watch the apartment for me?"
"Of course. What kind of guardian would I be if I wouldn't do that automatically?"
"The kind that's actually my childhood best friend." Tera chuckled at her rapid-fire response. With that, she moved to open the nearest window when she heard it.
"Thank you." It was barely a breath, but she smiled anyway. Progress was progress. And then she was gone.