Naruto let him pull him up.  But then... "Ha! Whose cryin?!" he demanded. He jerked his arm away from Sasuke and wiped at his eyes. His fingers came away wet and he cursed and furiously scrubbed at them and his whiskered cheeks. This only made them appear worse, though. And it was embarrassing. Eyes burning and cheeks flaming, he trudged along silently after that. 

Why had he cried? That was so stupid! Just because someone his own age offered to feed him and smiled at him and touched him? That happened to other people all the time. It was nothing! And even if it wasn't nothing to him, it was nothing to cry about! He was so weird. He was going to ruin this! His heart began to pound. 

The whole walk he was oblivious to the crowd. He only focused on Sasuke. The other boy looked grim. Was he regretting this already? Was he going to change his mind? Or was it a cruel trick all along? If it was, Naruto would get him back. He swore to himself then and there that he would ruin Sasuke's life forever if this was a trick. But...

Sasuke's life was already ruined... wasn't it? The silence of the compound seemed to loom up even before they entered. You could sense how empty it was. And then once they entered... There was just... There weren't any dead bodies anymore but it somehow felt like a graveyard. 

But after a while they turned a corner and saw lights on. That must be where the onee-chan lived. Who was she again? Naruto wracked his brain but he couldn't even remember what explaination Sasuke had given about her. All he remembered was putting his foot in his mouth. 

When they got there Sasuke began taking off his shoes. Naruto was too busy looking around the home. It felt... kind of barren too. But not as bad as the rest of the district. And there was glowing light and music and a good smell in the kitchen. Naruto took a deep breath and then sighed.

Then Sasuke looked at him expectantly. Naruto smiled hugely. It wasn't a trick. He was really going to get to eat at Sasuke's house!

He hurriedly kicked off his shoes. He knew to do that much, because of school, and then he bouncey walked toward the kitchen. 

"Come in, boys!" 

Yura was just laying dishes out on the table, filled with individual portions of food. She had made the promised o-musubi, with pickled plums. There were also miso soup and tea. It was, again, simple fair.  But it was hot and flavorful and filling which is all you need for a good meal. 

Before Naruto could descend upon the food, Yura smoothly got in his way. When his head snapped up, suddenly looking worried, even fearful, she eased him with a smile and pointed toward the bathroom. 

"You boys wash your hands and then come eat. Welcome to my home, Naruto-kun." 

Naruto froze for  a second, not sure what to do. Then he hesitantly bowed and then rushed toward the bathroom.