-Anathema
"Sasuke, I've waited twelve years for you, and you never came back to me, how dare you show your face the night before I plan to propose to Sakura-Chan?"
o o o o o o o
"Kuso!" Naruto swore half-heartedly as he raced down moist rock steps. His hands grazed fluidly over the slick, dewy steel pole that was meant to help him keep his balance.
Beads of raindrops fell enthusiastically from his spongy blond locks and happily made their journey over his eyelashes, the bridge of his nose, his whisker-like scars, and finally dived off when they reached the energetic grin plastered on his face.
The young man raised his arms over his head in a futile attempt to create a makeshift umbrella, but he quickly abandoned that idea as he let his arms drop to his sides and increased his pace.
Lightning briefly illuminated the sky, its pale blue hue conflicting with the steady orange glow of the streetlights. A hungry rumble of thunder sounded deep in the distance forcing Naruto to steel a sideways glance in that direction.
'I wonder if I'll get home before the storm worsens'
The boy's goofy smile faltered momentarily as he caught sight of a shadow quickly receding into a nearby alley.
For a few seconds, blue eyes blinked in confusion before their owner turned his head and continued down the drenched path, his disposition, as resilient as ever, had taken no time at all to recover.
o o o o o o o
Warm fire crackled heartily when a freshly showered Naruto stepped into his living room with nothing but a fuzzy towel wrapped securely around his slim waist.
The young ninja stood staring blankly at the cup of hot tea occupying his left hand while he allowed his free hand to make its way to his abdomen. Long fingers carefully ran over taut stomach muscles and proceeded to trace their way daintily around the imprinted spiral.
He knew the path of the seal so well; he didn't even have to look to know exactly where the lines ran.
The gentle caress caused the boy to shudder and he moved closer to the fire, allowing the warmth from the fire to seep into his skin.
Naruto flopped lazily onto a soft couch and he busied himself with cooling his tea, blowing softly enough to let the wisps of steam escape and evaporate into the air.
Eventually, Naruto let his head rest on the couch and diverted his eyes to the oak desk besides him.
Things were just as he had left them that morning. Sakura's purse lay on its side; her possessions scattered erratically about. Next to her purse, a cup of unopened instant ramen sat invitingly, and next to that rested a decade old frame with a yellowed photograph pressed securely inside it.
Naruto shifted his position on the couch and drew his legs under his body while he leaned over to take a closer look at the old portrait.
He carefully scanned over the happy little girl, the grinning sensei and the two annoyed young boys.
His eyes lingered on the boy positioned on the left. Naruto noted the arrogant pout and the spiky black hair but he could no longer discern the snowy white skin from the yellowed photograph.
Naruto's eyes wavered for a second before he finally tore himself away from the picture.
Instead, he slid open a drawer built conveniently into the desk. His hands groped around until they felt the silky texture of a velvet box.
The blonde's lips parted into a smile and he lifted the box into view.
Daintily, he opened the box and peered into the crack. A hefty diamond winked back at him and a sense of satisfaction settled in the boy's belly. He nodded to no one in particular and continued smiling to himself.
The ringing of the doorbell temporarily dispelled the boy from his euphoria and he frowned until his thoughts settled.
Sakura-chan's here!
Naruto beamed inwardly and he flew off the couch and towards the door.
Cold rain from the outside washed over him as he threw the door open happily, his smile never faltering.
"Welcome home Sakura-chan! I hope you remembered to take an umbrella to work today due to . . ."
In a flash, strong arms were around his waist, holding him possessively and a firm chest was pressed tight against his own. The most jarring thing of all, Naruto realized he was not looking into soft green eyes framed by petal pink locks, but hollow black ones, that had been red on all previous occasions, accented by spiky, dripping black bangs.
"Hello Naruto, long time no see."
Before the startled ninja had time to respond, or think up a jutsu, ravenous lips were pressed against his and memories he had worked so hard to seal away began unraveling like a yarn sweater caught on some barbed wire.
Sasuke's kiss was the same as it had always been, like the first time in the classroom, the second time in the forest, the third time in Naruto's bed, the fourth in Sasuke's and the last one, at the entrance to the country of the sound.
Naruto noted how his kiss had remained the same; it was always cold and passionate. The blond had come to think of it as sucking on a sugared ice cube. It stole all the warmth from his mouth but left such sweetness that he always desired more.
Sasuke carelessly shut the door and backed Naruto into the nearest wall. His tongue prodded to enter Naruto's mouth while his rough hands slid lightly over Naruto's exposed upper body.
It took a seemingly infinite amount of time for the shocked boy to overcome his nostalgia. He started his return to sanity by shoving the dark-haired boy away from him and unconsciously wrapping his arms around his bare stomach.
"Uchiha Sasuke, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"
A knowing smirk was all Naruto got for an answer as Sasuke winked and disappeared in a blur of speed.
"Naruto! Sorry I'm late!" Sakura squealed as she burst through the door, wrapping her dripping self around Naruto's sensitive body.
It took a moment for the startled boy to recover and respond, but he finally lifted his arms to embrace her back.
"Something wrong?" The girl asked as she let go of Naruto only to lift her hand to his cheek and look into his eyes.
"You know, you smell different. I can't quite say what it is though . . ."
Naruto shook his head and laughed.
'Of all people Sakura, you should know this scent, right now, I smell like Sasuke'o o o o o o o o
Just a little something I whipped up, I don't expect y'all to like it, in fact . . .
Er . . nevermind
This is dedicated to Morgan-san (feathergurl), even though she's in Italy and had no idea I was writing something for her
R/R if you want to keep me from spontaneously combusting!