Hey readers, thanks for the reviews, follows and favorites.

One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but can never be taken away unless it is surrendered. –Michael J. Fox

Question: Do you guys actually care whether or not an author thanks their reviewees or followers? Just curious.

Chapter Two

"You're a worthless boy! I hope you die."

Naruto rushed into his sister room as he watched her hit the doll repeatedly on her mini tea table. He walked up to her with a grim expression on his face, his bangs covered his eyes. She looked up to her brother, tilting her head to the side. This was a new expression to her, to see her brother look so grim. He grabbed her arm with the doll in it, startling her.

"Onii-chan." She whimpered out. He was squeezing her small wrist.

"Don't you ever say those words again!" Naruto shouted at her. "Do you hear me?" He spat out. He stared down at her, anger in his eyes. His eyes soon softened when he realized that his sister was crying. He dropped to the floor and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry." He said stroking her hair.

Naruko wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up and embraced her. He sat down on the bed and squeezed her tightly. After several minutes went by with crying and snot, Naruko finally calmed down. Naruto sat her on his leg and stared in her eyes. Being fearful, she turned her head to the side, but Naruto grabbed her cheeks and forced her to look at him.

"Naruko." He began. "Why would you say something like that?" he asked, trying to bring down the tone in his voice. She didn't respond. He sighed in frustration. "How do you think the doll felt when you said those mean things and hit her?" Her eyes lowered. "Sad, right?"

She nodded her head. Naruto rubbed her back in a circular motion. "Maybe the doll has feelings too." He said. "Go get the doll." He said standing her up. She ran towards the doll and brought it back to Naruto. He held the cutesy doll up. "Maybe you should say sorry and you won't ever do it again because you don't want to be a meanie, right?"

"I'm sorry." She said to her doll.

"Now give her a hug." He said.

She yanked the doll from him and embraced the doll. Naruto smiled as he rubbed her head.

"Onii-chan, when are we going to see mama." Naruko asked, her voice hoarse.

"I promise you we will see her Friday." He said.

Naruko smiled. She ran back to her mini table and sat down playing with the doll, nicely, for now. His smile soon faded once his sister's back was turn.

Friday

"And these are the signs of being abuse." Iruka-sensei spoke as he turned the light on. "Are there any questions?" The school had an awareness of domestic, violence, child abuse and neglection that is supposed to show the signs of anyone being abuse, or them their selves, to get the help needed.

"I think people should just speak up when they are being abuse." Sakura said bluntly.

"Well Sakura-san, it isn't always easy for a victim to speak up." Iruka spoke.

"Tch. So, what's the point of this?" Sasuke asked, with a sour look on his face.

Iruka smiled. "To be aware and know who they can go to for help."

"Well it's a waste of time." Sakura said nodding her head.

"You're so cold, Sakura-chan." Kiba said glaring at the girl. "Some people are afraid."

Sakura glared back. "Well speak! That doesn't give them an excuse." She continued.

"I agree with Forehead, just speak up. But it is his opinion, Sakura-chan." Ino said, twirling her side bang between her fingers.

Naruto rested his head on the table. He didn't want to speak up, but the class bickering was getting to him. He bit his lip. No longer being able to take it, he was stood up, but as soon as he did the bell rung.

"Well class you are dismiss." Iruka-sensei said.

Naruto gabbed his book bag and bolted out the door.

"What did they know? Nothing! So ignorant." He said to himself. He was getting angry. Who were they to judge? They didn't know how the person felt, how hard it was… is. He kicked a vending machine in frustration, but fell to the floor when a soda can had shot out and hit him his gut. He crouched over, holding his stomach.

"Uzumaki-san!" Hinata shouted as she rushed over to the boy who kneeling down in pain. "Are you okay?" she asked kneeling besides him, her hand on his back.

"Yes." He said winching in pain. Hinata helped him up.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. He limped towards the wall and leaned against it.

"Because you walked out of the class and Iruka-sensei wanted us to remember that we had our physicals next week." She said. "And you just suddenly rushed out the class." She said.

Naruto rested his hand on his head. "Gomen." He muttered out.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

Naruto looked down at her. "Okay are you a twin? You act so differently." He said.

Hinata's face reddened. "Sorry." She mumbled. "Are you okay?"

Naruto looked at her. "So let me guess you just pretend to be somebody else so hmmm your dad won't get upset about how weak you are?"

Hinata looked at him dumbfounded.

"Or are you trying to be the shy cute one at school so everyone will think you're that type of person to get attention, but deep down inside you're like 'I rule everyone'" he asked, a slight smirk on his face.

Hinata frowned. "Do I look like that type of girl?"

Naruto hummed. "Maybe… but yet again I barely know you."

Hinata was about to walk away, when Naruto grabbed her by her wrist. He didn't need to get a potential partner in his step father's business angry. He couldn't imagine with he would do.

"I'm just joking." He said jokingly. Hinata turned to face him. "But seriously, you have two complete personalities."

Hinata sighed. "It's not that." She said. "I am a little nervous, but when I'm with my father, I have to be fierce and strong, no time for a weak shy person… I don't want to be disowned." She said. Why was she telling him her business for? Perhaps to know that there might be someone who would understand how she felt.

Naruto nodded his head. "Say no more. I understand."

"Uzuma-

"Call me Naruto." He said.

"Naruto-kun." She gulped.

"Hinata-chan?" he questioned. This was awkward.

Hinata went to touch his eye, but he flinched, then looked down. She back her hand away. "Is that a bruise by your eye?"

Naruto touched his left eye. He laughed. "Like I said I'm actually a bad boy, so you know." He said.

Hinata couldn't help but frown. Somehow she didn't believe it. "I'm not trying to push your buttons, but… the bruises on your back…. Arms… face? Is your dad…

"Stepdad!" he shouted. Students who walked past them, looked their way.

He quickly calm down, when he noticed Hinata had flinched by his harsh voice. "Sorry-sorry." He apologized. "It doesn't concern you." He said. Naruto pushed past her and walked away.

Hinata ran up towards him and held his hand. "I got some cover up in my bag." She said. Naruto looked at her. She led him towards an empty classroom and sat on the chair.

"Are you going somewhere important?" she asked as she smoothed some foundation under his eye.

"How did you know?" he said with his eyes close.

"Well your hair is combed back, you smell really good, no offense, you put on cologne today, and you didn't put on the face powder around your eyes properly." She said, as she powdered around his eye.

"I'm going to see my mother." He said gripping his school pants.

"You can open your eyes." She said giving Naruto a small hand size mirror. He looked at his eye and couldn't believe the wonders Hinata had di on it. "Oh." She said.

"My sister wanted to see her." Naruto said giving her the mirror.

"I understand. My sister was like that."

"You have a sister?"

Hinata nodded her head.

"I see. I see." He said getting up. "Thank you." He said bowing. He walked towards the door, until Hinata spoke.

"If there's anyone you need to talk too, I'm here." She said looking at the doorway.

Naruto sighed. "What happens in the house I live is my concern and my concern alone, thank you." He said walking out of the classroom.

Naruko bounced happily in the car seat as she kept looking out the window. She was excited to see her mother after three weeks without seeing her.

Naruto looked at his sister and smile. "Naruko-chan." He hummed. She turned to face him. "Remember if mama ask about anything in the house, just tell her good." He said.

She looked at him confused.

"We wouldn't her to get sick again. She's almost feeling better." He said smiling at her. Of course it wasn't good to lie to Naruko, especially with their mother in the hospital, but he couldn't risk their mother's condition worsen. And of course there were many other reasons.

Naruko nodded her head. "Okay Onii-chan." She replied.

"Mama!" Naruko shouted as she ran up to her mother's bed. The red hair lady looked at her daughter.

"Oh my. Look how tall you've gotten." She said. Naruko climbed on her bed and laid besides her.

Kushina, their mother, looked at the door and couldn't help but smile. "Naru-chan! Look how handsome you look." She said beaming with joy. "Come here boy!" she practically shouted.

Naruto walked to his mother and kissed her on her cheek. "How are you feeling?" he asked. He sat down on her right side of the bed.

"The doctors said I'm getting better and I should be out of here no longer than two weeks." She chattered.

Naruto smiled. "I'm glad. He looked at the roses on her table.

I love you,

~Vincent

"Do you like them? Vincent sent them to me." She said smiling.

"They look lovely." Naruto said.

Naruko stiffened by his name. Kushina looked down at her daughter who was a splitting image of her. "What's the matter sweetie?"

"Naruko-chan! Go buy me a soda." Naruto interrupted. He gave Naruko some cash and rushed her out of the room. "And buy mama a big bear at the gift shop. That's your mission." He said kneeling down to her height. "Do you accept it?"

She saluted him. "I do! I will retrieve the goods." She said as she ran down the hall.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. He got up and walked over to the front of his mother's bed. "So I heard Vincent said you are of big help." She said smiling.

Naruto nodded his head. "He's showing me things in the company and I am meeting important clients of his."

"He's truly a nice man, don't you think?" she said dreamily.

"Mhm." Naruto said avoiding eye contact.

"Are you okay, Naru-chan? Is everything going good at home?" she coughed.

"I know I haven't been there in a while and I'm in and out of the hospital, but I'm making a full recovery." She said. "Thanks to Vincent I'm getting the treatment I needed."

Naruto smiled. "I'm glad."

"Naru-chan, can you give me that glass of water." She said pointing to the table. Naruto walked to the table and went to get the glass cup, when he hit the bottle lotion on the floor. "You're still clumsy I see." She said folding her arm, a grin plastered on her face.

Naruto smiled. "Mom!" he said staring at her. He kneeled down and picked up the bottle. Kushina looked at her son, her eyes widened. "Naruto. What happened to your back?"

Naruto quickly got up and stared at Kushina. "I-it's nothing. Got into a fight at school." He said pulling down his school shirt. Kushina shakenly got out the bed and walked over to him, her body shaking. Naruto stood their frozen.

"Mama! Get back in bed."

Kushina, who was shorter than Naruto, stared up at him. She placed her thumb underneath Naruto and started to wipe. Her eyes widened. "How did you get that?" She lifted up her shirt. She nearly collapsed on the floor, but Naruto caught her.

"Please mama, you're getting ahead of yourself." He said helping her back on the bed.

"Did Vincent did this?" she asked. Her eyes watered. "Why did you tell me?" she said, her head lowered.

Naruto sat on the bed next to her. "It's nothing. Please don't overthink it." He said rubbing her back. "Has he ever hi-

"No never! I won't let him do that to Naruko." He said.

"I'm back!" she said rushing towards her mother with a big bear in her hand. Naruto placed the bear on the floor and picked Naruko up, laying her next to her mother. Kushina wrapped her arms around Naruko, kissing her on her forehead.

"Naruto, go find a hotel to stay in for a while." She said. "I know I don't have enough money, I'll have to call someone…but who." She said trailing off. "How long has this been going on for?"

"It's okay." Naruto said.

"No! No it's not!" Kushina snapped. "Suppose he goes too far and ends up killing one of my children." Tears ran down her cheeks. "How could I be so naive?" Naruko buried her head onto her mother's chest. She was also crying.

"But we need Vincent!" Naruto retorted.

"I don't need no man that lays his hands on my children! Look at you Naruto. Your back is covered on bruises, your torso, stomach! Your face." She replied. She balled her fist.

Naruto got angry.

"So I want you to get your sister an-

"And go where!" It was his turn to snap. "And go where?" he repeated. Naruko jumped. "Like you said we have little money! He's practically paying for your hospital bills! We have a shelter, mom." He said. "You're getting better because of him! We can't afford to react now and besides who's going to believe us. Remember we aren't rich, mom." He said bitterly. "They may think we are doing this for his money and then we lose the case. You can't afford to take care of us ever since dad die, so they are going to take us from you and throw us into a foster system that doesn't care about us." He said. "Then Naruko and I'll will be split, never being able to see each other anymore and no telling which home they'll put either of us in." he said. "Vincent is our best shot." He said.

Kushina expression deepened. Naruto sat beside her.

"I'll find a job and make some money to save us so we can live off for at least two months, until we find another job in a different country." He said.

"Not leaving!" Naruko said. "I don't want to leave."

Kushina embraced her.

"Naruto…

"I won't let him touch Naruko-chan. Never. I promise you with my life!" he said.

Kushina stared at the ceiling, tears threatening to slide down. "I'm stupid. To think a man would want me with two kids." She said biting down her lips.

Naruto hugged her. "You're not. I love you, mama." He said squeezing her tightly. "Within two weeks you'll be out, then he'll stop…" he trailed off.

"Did this happen when I got place in the hospital?"

"Every time you left…" he said, not wanting to tell her anymore.

Monday

"Okay class, don't forget about your physicals, so please line up towards the gymnasium area."

Naruto's face grimed. He had forgot. His hand was inches away from turning the school door knob when he heard Iruka's voice. He turned on his heels and power walked out of the hall and hid outside behind the trees. He breathed heavily. This physical was going to take all day.

"I can look for a job in the meantime." He said.

"Can I come?" Hinata asked.

Naruto jumped. "Where do you come from?" he said. "Are you a stalker?"

"N-no..." Hinata said blushing.

Naruto looked at her. She had her head into a high neat bun. She wore a white school shirt, with a light brown cardigan and red plaid school skirt.

"Woah… what happened to your ear?" he asked looking at the tip of her ears, that were red. Hinata grabbed her ear covering it from Naruto.

He looked at her, she was staring down at the floor. "I-I… got in trouble with my grandfather is all." She said shrugging. She never bothered to look up. Naruto felt his heart sank.

'Does Hinata-chan get the same treatment like me at her house?' Naruto thought.

Naruto didn't know what came over him, but he hugged Hinata, rubbing her back. "Sorry." He said. Hinata wrapped her arms around Naruto's torso. She buried her head into this chest and inhaled his scent. Why was she acting like this all of a sudden? What had come over her?

"It isn't easy, huh?" Naruto said.

Hinata knowing what he meant, nodded her head. Her head was still buried into her chest. He felt his grip tightened on the girl. He wanted to protect her. Even though he didn't know hardly anything about her, except her status, he wanted too. Nobody deserve the pain that came with it. Was her sister getting abuse too? It made Naruto sick to his stomach.

Hinata felt little rain drops on her head, or so she thought. She looked up and saw Naruto crying silently. Her eyes softened and her heart sank. Little tear drops splashed on her cheeks, running down. She went on her tiptoe and wiped the tears from his eyes. This was the first time he had cried in front of somebody.

It was only a matter of time. He was like a bottle that could've only taken so much. He was overflowing. Hinata panic, she didn't know what to do. All she could've done was hug him until he stopped.

Now she knew- She knew she was not alone.

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