AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi, everyone! I'm sorry I haven't updated in, like – months and months? But I'm working on Tragedy's Child now! I try to post the next chapter by next week, or the week after that! I'm in the midst of my exams, see – so I don't have much time.
Anyway, this story is one of my newer ideas. It was inspired by a doujinshi I read, but I didn't copy it completely. The only idea I took from the doujinshi is the running away of Sasuke. But unlike in the doujinshi, the one who ran away doesn't come back in just three days or so, but disappears for three years. Arkansas is a state, and I recently read a novel that featured Arkansas. Somehow I've pathetically fallen in love with cotton and the extreme weather of Arkansas. I believe the novel was writing about cotton-picking conditions some years back (so it might be a little easier now), but just make do, okay? So yeah, this story has both these aspects.
The story idea for this is rather simple. Of course I'm not going to pour you all the details – but it's just that Sasuke left Tokyo three years ago (when everyone was fifteen), after a misunderstanding, which in this chapter, you'll find out is mainly because of something Naruto did. Sasuke ran, most unexpectedly, to rural Arkansas to live with the Akihito family. He rents his room. This story simply follows the lives of the both of them, and how they behave at such a long distance from each other, and if Sasuke still has feelings for Naruto and how they try to overcome the misunderstanding that caused such drastic effects.
(IMPORTANT) I don't mind if you don't read the above, but this is IMPORTANT. In this story, there is quite a number of outside characters, from Sasuke's side. This include the Akihito family, mainly featuring Akihito Jun. There are the twins, Ryou and Chiyuki, and their friend, Ben. Now, mind you – it's not that I like adding outside characters – but actually I always feel they get me lesser reviews. 0.0
(IMPORTANT) But I only added these other characters, because I cannot take anyone out from the Naruto show, to put them in Arkansas. Everyone from the show – including Rookie Nine, Neji and his team and all the teachers and some of the Akatsuki are in Tokyo, from Naruto's side of the story. I mainly added outside characters onto Sasuke's side is for the main goal of highlighting Sasuke's seclusion from his friends. It's to make the situation clear that he is pushed so far that he shuts himself away from everyone he knew. And Akihito Jun becomes somebody Sasuke slowly begins to like, which costs Naruto. All of this is for the idea that Sasuke and Naruto are really far from each other, and there are a lot of things pushing them further apart – not just the distance.
And so, ladies and gentlemen – I present to you the first chapter of Living in Arkansas!
Do remind to read and review. See you at the end of the chapter!
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Chapter 1: Continental Distance
Uchiha Sasuke rose from his bed.
It was hot, like any other day in Arkansas. The sun was high in the sky, supremely fiery. Sasuke rubbed at a small heat rash starting to form at his left forearm, and he looked out of the window.
The cotton fields were clean and petite. The ground was baked dry and everywhere was a flourish of fluffy white. He could faintly make out the shapes of cone-shaped straw hats. So the workers were already on picking the cotton. Sasuke forced himself out of bed. The sheets had fallen off his bed somewhere in the night. It had been too hot. Feeling a thin sheen of sweat on his body, Sasuke proceeded to take his cold morning shower.
When he had finished his washing, he changed in a thin white t-shirt, and shrugged on a pair of black khaki trousers. He checked his appearance in the mirror – making sure his hair was properly spiked up at the back. His complexion was still terribly pale – despite his attempts at tanning himself in the brutal sun of Arkansas. He only managed to faint from the heat, when he had stayed out for too long in the afternoon. He was annoyed at the clear lack of pigmentation in his skin. In Arkansas, the only pale people were the albinos, and there were few. The locals were all healthily tanned, and Sasuke stuck out like a sore thumb.
After making sure again that he looked presentable, Sasuke left his room, locking his door with his key. He started down the creaking staircase, his long, slender fingers brushing along the peeling paint on the walls. The banister felt rough and unpleasant, but Sasuke was used to it by now – so much he had begun to like the rickety, old house he now resided in.
Jun was downstairs, making breakfast. The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh eggs filled the air. Sasuke did not feel very hungry, but he slipped into one of the chairs anyway.
"Mornin'," Jun grinned. His voice had the heavy accent of the locals. Though ever since Sasuke had arrived, he'd been gallantly trying to speak properly. "Breakfast will be ready in 'bout five."
Sasuke nodded slightly. He reached out for the morning newspaper that set neatly on the table. He read it through briefly. When Jun was about to finish, Sasuke helped lay out two plates and two sets of cutlery. Jun tipped the food in, and they sat down in comfortable silence.
Sasuke examined Akihito Jun. A boy of eighteen, he looked incredulously like a fifteen-year-old still. He had a shoulder-length black hair, a pair of unsettlingly sweet cobalt eyes, and moderately tanned skin. It was Jun's father, Kousei, who was in the cotton investment. Jun attended school, and occasionally helped out at the fields. His ambition was not to be a farmer, but a lawyer. Sasuke whole-heartedly supported him. Nobody with capabilities in their right mind would want to work in such conditions.
When they finished, Jun announced his plans for the day.
"I'm going with Ryou and Chiyuki to the movies," Jun said. "Do you want to come? We're watching Fatal Night."
Uninterested, Sasuke shook his head. "I'll stay home. I need to finish a letter to my family."
Jun was quiet for a moment. Then, he stood up – about to go. "Okay…but if you change your mind, you can find us at town. You can hitch a ride with Ben later. He's headin' up to town at noon. He's got stuff b'fore then."
Sasuke nodded briefly. Jun took his keys and wallet, and then proceeded out of the kitchen. Sasuke heard the front door slam shut. It always had to be slammed – or else it wouldn't close.
He cleared the dishes. It had become an unspoken rule in the house. Jun cooked, Sasuke cleaned. Very simple.
He turned on the radio as he scrubbed the oily and soapy dishes. The minute he heard country music, he changed channels until he found one that wasn't singing oldies. Pleasantly enough, it was the morning news.
He listened to weather forecasts, news of the latest escaped prisoner, politics and news from the outside. Sasuke treasured whatever contact he had with the rest of humanity. The radio was one such device for communication. So was the television, but Jun didn't own one, and Sasuke never said anything about it. He kept quiet. He was only staying here and paying rents while he was at it – he didn't own the house. Jun and his father did. Even if they didn't have hot water, Sasuke still said nothing.
Sasuke finished washing in three minutes. He turned off the radio, and walked to the front door, slipped on a pair of rugged boots that he had claimed as his already, before stepping out onto the rough, dry terrain.
He looked up at the glaring sun, and felt the first droplets of sweat collect on his neck.
He stared at the seemingly endless expanse of cotton fields, and he began his chores for the day.
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Uzumaki Naruto shot up from bed, panting heavily.
Just a dream…just a dream…just a dream…!
He clutched his sheets, and shivered. It was so very cold.
He looked around his bedroom, and his eye fell on the only picture in the room – a picture of him and a handsome, ebony-haired boy around his age. Naruto tore his eyes from away said picture, to prevent the waves of depression that would soon follow after.
"Naruto!" a voice called out. It was Iruka.
Naruto scrambled off the bed, and yelled back, "What?"
"Breakfast is on the table! I'm going out with Kakashi! If you need anything just give me a call!"
"Okay!" Naruto responded.
When he heard Iruka close the door, and he heard the bolt slamming shut, only then did Naruto slip out of bed. He was still sweating profusely, the nightmare fresh in his head.
He stared at his double bed, and ran his hand down the left side.
He always slept on the left. He liked it, but…Naruto closed his eyes, but his fingers were frantic in the search for the warmth that used to be there.
He isn't here anymore.
And he isn't coming back.
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Sasuke sat under the ray of the sun, as he weeded Jun's mother, Isuzu's garden. Isuzu's garden was the main source of vegetables for the whole family, and something always seemed to be growing in it. Isuzu spent more time in her garden, than in the cotton fields – more than Kousei would like.
He worked away the hours of the morning. By lunch, he was worn and tired, and already considering hitching a ride with Ben. At least he wouldn't need to clean out the barn, if that were the case. Saturdays were free days for him – he could choose to do his chores or not. But Sasuke did not feel comfortable not helping Isuzu, at least. Kousei wouldn't mind if he skipped everything else. But Ben was a chatty, relatively noisy but friendly person, and Sasuke hated noise. Going out with Jun would also mean at least two hours at the stupid arcade, something Sasuke did not like. But if he didn't go, he'd be stuck on the farm for the rest of the day…
Annoyed with his options, Sasuke returned to his room once he'd finished weeding the garden.
He smelt awful, and he knew it. His white shirt was stained with crumbly dirt and soil, his body sticky and hot. The increasing temperatures weren't helping either. He would have to take another shower – a quick one.
He yawned, and settled himself down on his bed when he was finished with his shower.
He shoved the sheets off again, and turned on his fan. There were no air-conditioners, not in this rural area of Arkansas. He sprawled on his back in a white khaki sleeveless shirt and shorts, and forced himself to get a catnap, before he went down again for lunch.
And when he slept, he dreamed.
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"Naruto…thanks…"
"Yeah. No prob."
"Don't you have a…?"
"Yeah, but never mind about him. What matters most now is you."
"Thank you so much, Naruto."
Sasuke watched, from a small corner. His eyes were blank, but he said nothing. He did not come out, he did not attempt to hurt anybody. He just stood, thinking.
Goodbye, Naruto.
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Sasuke shot out of bed, and saw Jun standing at the doorway.
"Um, Sasuke? You 'kay?" Jun asked worriedly.
"Yes – yeah, I'm fine," Sasuke said. The dream was fresh in his head. The dream of that day…when he came home and saw Naruto and… "I thought you were out?"
"We're worried for ya," Jun said, smiling a bit sheepishly. "You've been cooped up 'ere for the whole of the week. Even if you didn't wanna go," Jun blushed. "Ryou and Chiyuki and I still wanted you to come. Ben, too."
"But you've finished the movie, haven't you? Are you going to the arcade now?"
"Naw," Jun smiled his crooked grin – one Sasuke was beginning to like. "We didn't do anythin'. We decided to spend our time at the arcade – though ya don't say it, we know ya don't like it. We decided to keep the movie for later, and cross our fingers you'd come with us."
Sasuke looked at Jun's sincere face.
"Naruto…thanks…"
"Yeah…no prob."
"Why," Sasuke said. His face betrayed no emotion, though had to admit he was touched. "Would you want me to come?"
Jun shrugged. "'Cause you've become one of us – y'know, friend, family. Stuff like that. And 'sides, we're really worried 'bout your health. You ain't got enough sun and games to keep ya tanned. We're startin' to thin' itsa medical condition."
"Don't you think I'm intruding on your family?"
Jun looked awkward and a bit shamefaced. "Well…at firs' I didn't like the looks of ya – y'know I don't really have a thing for prissy city boys, but…y'know, I've gotten to know ya – and you're not a bad guy. And ya ain't the least bit prissy or a pansy. Not the most talkative, no you ain't – but, still…ah, never mind 'bout that! Why are ya askin' all of 'tis?" Sasuke had to smile at that. He had come to know that Jun thought of most city kids as 'prissy pansies'. Every year, some city people would come to live on the farm – for a holiday. To see the sights and stuff. It gave the Akihito family some pocket change, but Jun hated being a tour-guide. The farm was even open to overseas and local school trips.
"Don't you have a…?"
"Yeah, but never mind about him."
Sasuke closed his eyes, thinking of past and present. And then he thought of a future.
A future clean without Naruto.
He rose from his bed and offered his rare smile to Jun. "All right. Let's go."
Jun grinned crookedly. He was pleased.
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Naruto could barely keep his eyes open. He was unaware that he had just spilled coffee all over a customer's table.
"What the hell!" said customer yelled out in rage. "I'm getting out of here – bloody kid."
"Naruto!"
It was a roar from his boss, Morino Ibiki.
Sighing, Naruto fetched a cloth to clean the mess, then picked up his tray, dumped it in the washer basin, and went to see Morino Ibiki standing at the back of the café.
"I pay you to serve, not drop coffee!" Ibiki roared. Naruto winced. He bet half the café customers and servers outside would be able to here this little…argument.
"Sorry, sir…I didn't sleep well last night."
"You don't sleep well every night!" Ibiki barked. "I've got good mind to fire you, or at least call Iruka! You're becoming too much of a handful, Naruto! You're more trouble than you're worth in my café!"
"Sorry, sir." Naruto was too tired to argue today. His eyes were heavy, and there were rings around them.
Ibiki's expression softened, and his voice lowered down considerably. "Alright, kid. I'll cut you some slack this time…what the hell, I cut you slack every time! Anyway, just get back out there, and try to stop dropping drinks…if you're really tired, you can take a half-day or something. No overtime for you today. Got it?"
Naruto nodded.
"Get going, kiddo."
Naruto left without another word.
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The boys were helpless with laughter.
Sasuke could not suppress a smile, as Ryou, who was helpless in laughter, hit Jun quite violently. Jun was clutching onto his seat in mad jubilee. Ryou and Chiyuki, being twins, seemed to always laugh out at the exact same time.
Fatal Nights was more of a comedy than a murder and detective show, and Sasuke even found some parts funny. He resisted the urge to burst out laughing, but the four boys next to him had decided not to resist the temptation. Ben had a hand over his mouth – thank heavens at least one person decided not to harass the rest of the cinema audience (which, by the looks of it, was very little, anyway) but Jun, Ryou and Chiyuki were off their rockers.
"Did you see that? Did you see that?" Jun choked out.
"See that, I did!" Ryou sniggered, and he burst out laughing again.
When the movie finally finished, they went out for a drink.
"Coke, anybody?" Jun offered.
"Me!" Ryou and Chiyuki said in unison.
"Me, too!" Ben said.
"Sasuke?" Jun asked, when Sasuke didn't say anything.
"Oh. Sorry. Um, water is fine."
"Jeez, Sasuke…"
Sasuke readied himself for the attack from Ryou.
"Haven't ya ever drank coke b'fore?" Ryou asked incredulously. Chiyuki peered curiously from behind his brother.
"Of course I have."
"Then drink it now 'gain! It ain't poisonous – it's got no venom in it. But ya avoid it like tha' plague Dad talks 'bout."
"It's not healthy to drink coke everyday."
"But you haven't drank it, not once since ya came!" Ryou protested.
"I don't like it."
Ryou looked even more incredulous – even to the point of being horrified. Sasuke would have laughed at his expression. Ryou was quite cute, really. A small boy for eighteen, but with untidy brown hair and boyish hazel eyes. Chiyuki looked exactly like him, except his features seemed more tender and delicate. They both had the natural tan of the locals, too. The twins' farm was next to Jun's. But the land between both families were shared. That meant they worked together. And so the twins often came over. And Ben was a boy from town who worked at Jun's farm most of the time – and stayed there for at least three quarters of his life. Sasuke never bothered to probe the matter. It seemed private.
While they walked back to Ben's jeep, the twins were telling Jun in high, sceptical tones of how Sasuke thought of coke as "unhealthy" and that he didn't like it.
"Can you believe the guy?" Ryou hollered in disbelief. Chiyuki nodded in agreement.
Jun looked amused, but not annoyed. In fact, he laughed a bit. Sasuke decided that his evasiveness towards the black drink they all liked so much was doing more good than bad, really.
"Don't mind the twins," Ben whispered to him.
"I know." Sasuke smiled. "In fact, I find their actions rather amusing."
Ben giggled. "You think so, too? Ryou's hilarious, ain't he? And Chiyuki's like a mouse. But they don't mean no harm. Y'know that, don't ya?"
Sasuke nodded seriously.
"Alright, people – hop into the jeep – it's time we went home!" Jun grinned maniacally.
"Please tell me you're not driving," Sasuke said with a sigh. Jun drove like a maniac.
"Ben took us 'ere, I take us back!" Jun gave his infamous crooked grin. Sasuke swore that sight was becoming more pleasing to the eye every time.
"Let's go!" the twins chorused.
Ben and the twins crowded at the back, while they forced Sasuke into the passenger seat next to Jun.
By the end of the ride, Sasuke was sure his guts had been left in town.
But by the end of the ride, Sasuke was sure, after three years of wondering and thinking, that these four people had wound their way into the deepest depths of his heart – a place that had been empty for quite some time.
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"Naruto, I think you need a doctor," Iruka said worriedly. "You look so tired everyday. Are you sleeping well? I think Kakashi should issue you some sleeping pills." Kakashi was a doctor at the high school Naruto attended, and Iruka was a teacher there.
Naruto shook his head. "No, really. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Really."
"Morino-san called me today."
Naruto kept quiet, readying himself for the possible yelling.
"He told me…he told me you weren't doing well at work lately," Iruka said softly. "Do you want to stop? I can easily support the both of us, and you can go without some extra pocket change, you know…if you're tired, don't pressurize yourself. And if you want, I can give you more allowance."
Naruto shook his head. He couldn't take money from Iruka. It wasn't fair.
"Well, then – Naruto, you better have an early night."
Naruto nodded. He reached the base of the stairs, before Iruka called his name again. He paused.
"Naruto? Stop thinking about him."
Naruto froze.
"He isn't worth the trouble anymore. He's gone. He left."
Without saying anything in response, Naruto returned to his room. He found his phone lying on his bed. He switched it on, and checked desperately for messages. But there was none. There never was.
Sighing, he fell flat on his bed, and began to text.
Sasuke,
How are you?
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Hello again! How was the first chapter, hmm? You might have noticed it mostly features Sasuke. I want to make clear his living conditions in Arkansas. It's important to open the story with this – since it's the most unknown part. But the in the next chapter, I will try to write more about Naruto!
Please R & R! Hope to see you at the next chappie, too!
Ja!