.: Letters :: To :: The :: Judge ::
By
[A/N: Basic Information::
Words: 7,897
Warnings:: (for entire story) cursing, pedophilia, non-consensual sex, rape, under aged sex, graphic sexual scenes, drug misuse, explicit torture scenes (really explicit), psychological/emotional/physical torture, angst, mentions of murder, death, suicide, contemplation of suicide, masochism, sadism, controversial issues, stands on ideas, crappy attempt at humor, weird formatting, extensive use of the symbols(separated by a semicolon): --; (); …; :: ; and other 'bad' and 'dark' things.
Some Scenes May Be Interpreted As the Following: incest (only if you squint, it's just a bonding moment, anyways, unless you want it to be), some 'gay' feelings (again, only if you squint, it was going to be more, but it got way to long).
Warnings for Part One:: cursing, sexual content, mention of murder, rape, and death, under aged non-consensual sex, violence, prisons, bad grammar. Attempt at bad humor.
Most Content Not Suitable For the Immature.
Do Not Read if Easily Sickened (It gets bad real fast)
Note: This was supposed to be thirteen pages, one part, really short, PWP. Why must the angst get me? Why?
Edit: Some breaks to show time, hopefully fixed, a bit better
Disclaimer:: (for entire story) I Don't own Naruto© which belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. If this fic is any example, they'd kill me if I owned them.]
.: Premier :: Fois :.
.: Letters :.
How the Hell Sasuke became a judge, he'd never know. Why he became a judge was pretty easy--he didn't want to go into the police force like his brother and father, and grandfather, and great grandfather, and… well, etcetera. So he went to law school, and got his degrees, and, eventually, he found himself here, at his house, just coming home from judging a relatively annoying case. Stupid arsonist, catching himself in the fire.
In his hands was a small pile of mail. Carefully, he sorted through them. He put the bills in one pile, a letter from his mother and brother in another pile. His father's letter was thrown in the trash. The shopping coupons were also thrown away. There was three other letters, from the local prison. That irked him. It was an odd feeling, an odd sensation, whenever he got what might as well be described as fan mail from people he had sent to prison. Well, not entirely him, the lawyers and jury did more than he did. He just called the shots from his bench, mostly. The mail he received was interesting enough, in the annoyingness.
He'd received fourteen different letters--in the past four months, mind you--from people he'd recently judged the cases of. Twelve of them were, creepy enough, love letters. Out of the twelve of them, three were from women. Nine of them were from men, he wasn't altogether sure were gay. He couldn't say if they thought he was a woman--he hated to admit it, but his facial features did come off as a little feminine. Though his shoulders where a bit too broad, his hips too narrow, he lacked the curves a woman should have, the soft lines, and round flesh a woman was usually characterized as having. He had a grace, a sweeping movement that was seen as aristocratic wealth and background, but more commonly seen as another feminine trait. His voice, however, wasn't soft and high and feminine, though. And he'd spoken words through all the trials. His voice was soft, it was a trait he'd acquired, seeing as he spent much time when he was a child with soft spoken, yet stern Itachi. Yet it was deep enough, he guessed.
Reluctantly, he grabbed the five letters addressed to him and sat in a chair in his living room. He settled himself down, before stretching his arms and opened the first letter, from his mother. He scanned its contents and let a sad almost smile pass onto his lips before he squished it off. His mother seemed to be doing well. She wrote that his father was sorry, and that she knew he threw away his letter--like he always did(there was a slight bit of disappointment or resignation there)--but could he at least communicate with his father somehow? And that his father's birthday was coming up, would he like to come over for dinner on that date? His father would be out of town for something or other, and she was cooking his favorite! More pleasantries and wishes were given and the letter was signed Mikoto Uchiha with the careful, restrained hand she has.
He carefully folded the letter and placed it down, then picked up his brother's letter and opened it. 'Dear Foolish Little Brother,' it started, the way it usually does. Although, Sasuke suspected a little bit of amusement here. Some more about mother wanting him to respond to father, a little understanding as to why Sasuke didn't want to respond to father, some condescending brother crap about letting go of foolish ideals and grudges--the hypocrite! He wasn't talking to father either, dammit!--and then more drabble on the birthday. The letters from his brother were short, annoying, and usually made him feel anger, indignation, sadness, loneliness, or just foolish. Usually a combination of them all. He'd continue reading them, though, because his brother was his brother and life wouldn't be the same without him. The letter was signed, 'Your Amused Brother.' Like it usually did.
The other letters he was wary of opening, most of the letters from the prison had horrible, ugly, disgusting grammar that made him twitch. He did, though. The first he opened, he almost threw away. He could recognize the handwriting as a pedophile snake whose case he'd judged over three months ago. The case had been unnerving for him, partly because the tall, pale, long haired man was being accused of being a pedophile--and he had a grudge against them--and partly because the said long haired man was staring at him throughout the trial with snake like eyes; not blinking, and almost hypnotizing him like a snake would to its prey, a familiar stare he'd felt when he was a child.
A brief scan had him wanting to get a restraining order, not so much because of what he said, but because of the man who'd wrote it, and the detail he wrote it in. And the grammar wasn't bad so he couldn't be distracted by that. Orochimaru was one of the men who knew he was a man. Although, in his eyes, he was more a boy on the cusp of manhood--he did look young, and the fine features may lead to being either effeminate or young. However, this was just more proof that Orochimaru needed to stay behind bars. He carefully folded the paper and put it next to the other letters. Later, he'd send it to the lawyer or something who prosecuted his case, a growing pile of evidence. He was of legal age, but the way the letters where written made it obvious the man looked at him as if he were younger. The thought made shivers spiral up his spinal column, and he shook his arms out.
The second letter, when he opened it, was from a woman who was not in prison. Surprisingly. She was in a mental hospital for rehab. Her lawyer had an easy time convincing the jury that she had acted without thought, under plea of insanity. She was eyeing him through out the trial with hungry, slightly feverish eyes. And her hair cut was horrid, an uneven balance of long a short red strands that almost but not quite resembled his own hair cut. She viewed him as nothing more than a man. An over testosterone charged man from a romance novel, but a man non-the-less. He would also, probably get a restraining order against her as well. She was obsessive and obstinate, and really, really aggressive. He folded her letter and put it next to Orochimaru's.
He opened the last letter and felt his spirits rise, just a little bit. This letter was from a man who had wanted no more then a non partial person to talk or vent to when he had written. Some part of Sasuke was--not happy, but content--that he'd been chosen as the correspondent. The man was not guilty. Sasuke was sure of that, yet he had no power once the jury came to a conclusion, and their conclusion was that he was guilty.
Naruto Uzumaki.
His father was a great man, but his brother and his mother were more often than not casting their images unto him. That was all the jury could see, the prosecutor could see, and probably the lawyers as well. The man hadn't even raised an eyebrow, or protested at the verdict. Many saw this as an admission of his guilt. Sasuke saw it for the resignation it was. When the man had first written, Sasuke was surprised at the normality of the letter. His letter stood out in it's awkward: 'uhm… SO, I don't know if you're going to read this, throw it away, or be wary of whether or not it's true. You might even, uhm, decide to call the Looney bin on me, because who in there right mind would write to you of all people the way I am, right? But I guess I just need someone to talk to, even if you never respond, or it's only an illusion…' among all the, 'When I get out here, your so out of this life, man!'s and, 'I can't believe how relieved I am you put me here! I probably would have done it again!'s and 'God, you were so beautiful, I fell in love! I can't help but imagine those lips on me as I touch myself,'s. It was innocent in it's need, and it held no disillusion of who he was to this man. Just a person to whom he could feel a strange connection to.
That's why Sasuke took the time to read and respond to the letter. The first letter he had responded to with a simple, 'Hn. Usurotonkachi.' It was quick, and hopefully the idiot got it. And he did.
The week before he had read that letter was a stupid week. He had tried reconciling with his father, for his mother's sake, and they ended up yelling at each other as soon as his mother left to get drinks. Of course, Sasuke started yelling first. His father was always so condescending, disapproving. They were trying to reach a compromise, what right did he have to bring up his disappointments in Sasuke's life? How could he just sit there and still--still--compare him to his brother with a blasé attitude?!
His mother looked at him with a sad resigned countenance. Like he had failed her as well, as he walked--stormed--ran--fled--out of the house and slammed the door to his car and drove away. His brother had merely laughed and called him 'foolish,' as he lay in the hospital bed because of an incident at his work. His neighbor had loud, unfettered, probably kinky sex with his long time partner in a mocking way as he sat, alone, in his dark house. Shivering because the heater broke again.
Then he received the letter . 'usurutonkachi?! What the hell does that mean, Judge?! I know it's not nice, you jerk!' And everything was almost… not right, it wasn't right. Not with his father scorning him, and his brother in the hospital, and his mother slowly fading. But it was better. So he read the letter and he responded to the questions, more often then not just writing the sentence over and then adding 'ahou,' or 'usurotonkachi,' or 'baka.' And sent the letter off.
The next letter was rather perceptive, and came just a week later. His brother was still in the hospital, his mother was still sad, his father refused to speak to him. The letter started with a, 'Hey, judge, you seem down. What's got the high and mighty Uchiha down in the slumps with the rest of us?' Among other questions, and venting. He was hesitant in writing what had him down. He ended up just writing, 'Nothing, usurotonkachi. You're an idiot. How can you manage to piss off the leaders of three different gangs at once?'
The reply: 'You should really open up more, Judge. You know, use this 'illusion of a link' to your own advantage. And I kicked their asses at basketball. The babies.'
So Sasuke did open up, just a little, because Naruto had wrote a little about his past. How his dad had taught him basketball, so of course he was better then some 'prison yard jock straps'. His little therapeutic session of 'opening himself up' didn't seem that therapeutic, so he kept it short. A simple, 'Family problems. Brother's a cop, got shot, is in the hospital. Father is a little disappointed in my career choice and Mother and Brother are the only things stopping him from disowning me. Same thing as always, really. You really have to not upset the pecking order of things in that prison. If you keep doing it, your going to be writing about the traumatic things they do to you in the bathroom.'
The reply to that was simple, 'Jerk. I don't go to the bathroom alone.' And most things were all right with the world. Because the moron hadn't commented on his family life, and he'd kept the banter up well enough to show he didn't see anything different about him. So his reply was a little longer, and light hearted. And he explained, just a little more about his family problems, but he really was concerned about the idiot's well being in the prison. Stupid idiot was going to get shanked because he couldn't go without one day of posturing like some kind of ape. And he told him so.
He was just getting the reply.
'Dear Judge,
It's not posturing, its defending the territory. You need to prove you're not some weakling animal to be ate at and spat at. (Of course, Sasuke thought, that's what you needed to do, but if you were annoying about it, like a fly, they'd just squash you and be done with it) And I'm not going to get stabbed--didn't know Your Honor would know a ghetto word like shank!--I have enough friends that are scary enough. There's Gaara. He's taken a liking to me, I guess. And he's freaking creepy as Hell, what with those insomnia rings, and that kanji on his forehead… and that black, murderous stare… What the hec did he do to get in here anyways, no one is telling me! (Sasuke knew that it was because he murdered his dad after his mom was murdered by said dad. It was justifiable to Sasuke, but not society, that's why he was behind bars)
And then there's Kiba. He's a dog, seriously. Sharp canines, beady eyes, red fang tattoos on his cheeks. Said he went ballistic at a hunter's lodge because they killed a wolf he used to talk to. I don't know why he's not in the loony bin himself. (Because he didn't kill anyone. Just seriously maimed and ravaged…)
So, yeah. No need to worry about me, Judge. (For some reason, the guy refrained from using his name. It was odd, but Sasuke liked not being addressed in such a formal way. It gave an illusion of friendship, or companionship at the very least) I'm all good and defended on this front.
Hey, so… do you know the story of this guy. Super long name, starts with an O or something… Yeah. Snakey guy, long hair, pale looking. Golden eyes. Really freaky-ass long tongue. Just 'coz I hear him talking, hissing about you to his freaky little tag-along's. It's really, really, really creepy. And, this is prejudiced, but he looks like a pedophile(No shit Sherlock!). And I really don't like how he talks about you. And he knows I know he talks. And he knows I write to you and you write back. He glares a lot.
I think he's jealous you don't write back to him.
NEways! Heh, that was fun, heh. NEways, I'm gonna be put on parole, in a few weeks! For good behavior, they said. Oh, it's October, now, right? At least when you get this? So I'm going to be 23 on the 10th. That's pretty cool. And the week after, I get parole, so Happy Birthday me!
Mmn. I don't like your dad. Or your brother, really. Your mom sounds fun, if she'd loosen up a bit. Maa, go to the party! Bring sake, sake, sake, and beer, and wine, and other such Japanese cuisine, and you are not very nice, Judge! Gaara told me what those words you're always writing mean, and, and, and…
You jerk!
An almost 23 year old Naruto.
P.S. Teme wa baka! (horrible grammar)'
But the effort made him smirk, a bit.
The reply was made quite easily, and written before he attempted his brother's or even his mother's.
'Newly Enlightened Usurotonkachi,
You consort with the oddest people. I'd tell you Gaara's case, but as that might offend you (And him) plus it's confidential, and could cause you to loose some of the protection I'm pretty sure your sorry ass needs, so I'm going to let him tell you. Let's just say he's psychotic. And rather resembling of a tanuki, if I remember correctly. A red headed tanuki… Tell him to get some sleep. The rings will disappear, and he'll be better able to squash the little uprising with your dog-breath friend as I know you'll be needing it. It isn't defending your territory if you don't have territory. Baka.
And Orochimaru. Stay. Away. From. Him. You're spot on why he was sent there, and he's going to stay there if I have much to say about it. I judged his case, he's possessive, ambitious, people viewed him as a genius, and he is freaking ass creepy. And anyway, you act infantile enough to be an easy target for him. Baka.
Twenty-three. On the 10th. Hn. That means I'm three months older than you. Well, as I plan to actually visit the prison, I'm thinking of stopping by to visit you. And yes, I'm actually visiting the prison, hopefully. If Brother gets out of the hospital when he's supposed to, then I need to get a message to his… friend there. Big dark guy with blue hair and sharp teeth. If you tell him you're a friend of Itachi's little brother, he'll watch out for you. Or scorn you, I don't know. He likes messing with me. Oh, wait, he might not recognize the 'little brother' part without the 'foolish' in front of it. Why Itachi insists on calling me that, I really won't ever know.
And Father is a bastard. But Itachi is Itachi and he had more pressure then me so ease up a little on your opinions of him. He's an ass too, but he is my brother. Bastardly, jerk, ass of a brother, but still. He's the only one who didn't look at me with disappointment when I said I wasn't going to be an officer. He actually threw a law book he'd been keeping at my head when I floundered for an answer on what I wanted to do.
Anyways, (not NE ways, moron) I don't drink Sake. Or beer, or wine. It's detrimental to your health.
Your Honorable Judge,
Sasuke.
P.S. You're a moron and your grammar is horrible. Romanized Japanese is horribly Americanized.'
Sasuke took a moment to read over his letter, and fold it precisely into sharp lines and slid it into an envelope. He paid express for it, and the guarantee that it'd get to where it was meant to go before the 10th, two days away. He felt oddly reenergized, and went to pick something up.
The last day was rather boring, he'd driven over to the hospital where Itachi was to pick him up. He was finally discharged, and then he drove him to their Parents' for Father's birthday. As Sasuke pulled into the driveway, he knew immediately his mother had lied and Father was, indeed, here like his brother had implied in his letter. Unfortunately, as his mother ensured that the letter would get to him to late to reply, he had to come or it would seem rude.
Sasuke watched as Itachi pulled himself out of the car and used his crutches to walk. Sasuke tucked the present he had gotten for his father under his arm and headed in. There was strained silence inside, and Sasuke stayed long enough to say hello to his mother, nod at his father, eat dinner, and stay for some after dinner conversation. When His father started bringing up achievements Itachi had made, and Sasuke had no hope of competing with, he shoved the box at the stern man and made a mad dash for the exit.
The present would most likely be met with scorn, but Sasuke thought it matched his father.
"What Hell is this?!" Sasuke could hear his father yell.
"It seems to be a pet rock, Fu," That was his mother.
"Foolish Little Brother," And there was his brother, his voiced laced in amusement.
The next day he found the letter that Itachi had wrote for Kisame, the man that Sasuke would see today, for him. For his own safety, Itachi wasn't allowed in the prison, it would rile the prisoners he had captured into a frenzy, so Sasuke did it for him. There was the added benefit of finally seeing his little correspondent as well.
He picked up an order from a restaurant and drove his car to the prison. He made his way in, went through the needed protocols, and sat at the chair across from the Plexiglas divider with the phone. A tall, muscular black man walked into the room and sat at the chair across from him. The man had a swath of really wiry blue hair and beady eyes, and really, really sharp teeth. Kisame smiled at him, more like bared his fangs, and picked up the phone. Sasuke did the same.
"Hello, little brother!"
"Hn."
"So, how's Itachi? What happened to the bastard who caught him?"
"Itachi is fine, obviously. And the guy who shot him was killed on scene by another cop. It was unavoidable manslaughter, or justifiable, or defense, or something."
"Cool, cool. So, did he bleed al--
"I wasn't there, I don't know,"
"Whatever,"
"Here,"
Sasuke flattened the note over the Plexiglas so Kisame could read what Itachi had written. The man smiled again, and Sasuke decided he really, really, didn't want to know what it said.
"So, what's the bag for."
"An acquaintance. Which reminds me, do you know Uzumaki Naruto?"
"Uzumaki? Blonde guy, on the short side, athletic, loud, annoying? Hangs out with the tanuki and the Inuzuka?"
"Yeah,"
"Yeah, he pissed off Deidara and some of his friends a little while ago."
"Well, just keep an eye on him."
"Why, is he dangerous or something?" He obviously didn't believe that.
"No, he isn't guilty at all, but the jury judged him as such. Just keep an eye on him. He's an idiot. Could get himself killed. And Orochimaru… Watch out for Orochimaru, too."
Kisame's eyes softened just the tiniest fraction. Kisame and Itachi were two of the very, very few people privy to the information to why Sasuke was known to be very harsh on pedophile cases, and why he had a grudge against Orochimaru. It was so long ago, and biased as well, but it had left a scar on Sasuke's mind and for a very good reason.
"Okay, okay. So your old man's birthday was yesterday, huh?"
"I got him a pet rock."
"What? Oh My god?! Really. Oh… My… God!!!" All this was said between laughing and guffaws, and a security guard slipped in the room to make sure everything was okay. Sasuke let his head drop onto his hand and he shook his head.
"What--hic--what did he think?"
"I didn't stay."
"What did Itachi think?"
"Foolish,"
For some reason, this sent Kisame into another spiral of guffaws. The guards decided that was enough.
"Good one, little bro. Good one!" He put the phone back on the hook and let the guard take him away, still laughing.
Sasuke was sitting on a fold out chair in front of the cell they kept Naruto in. His head in his hand, his cheeks still red. He had waved the guard away so he could have this little moment to feel embarrassed about how Kisame reacted to his behavior. It was highly ridiculous. The bag he'd brought was still steaming at his feet, giving just a bit of warmth to his leg.
"Oh, Judge! You're blushing!"
Sasuke's head shot up at the remembered voice, low, rough, and curious. The security guard had led Naruto back to his cell and was easing him inside, locking the door. Even if Naruto was a week away from parole, they didn't trust him with the Judge who had basically sent him there.
"It's not blushing, it's a reaction the body does when it gets to hot, temperature wise, for comfort."
"Whatever, judge. So, what are you doing here,"
"I told you I was coming,"
Naruto smirked, his tan face becoming a bit more devious as he ran his hand through his unruly yellow hair.
"I guess you did-- wait, what's that smell? I smell.. I smell.."
"You smell ramen, usurotonkachi. Happy Birthday, idiot." He took out a Styrofoam bowl and a pair of chopsticks and a fork--just in case--and handed them to Naruto through the bars. He looked at them hesitatingly, and then slowly grabbed them. Sasuke huffed when he finally grabbed them and opened the lid to the ramen. So, the fork and chopsticks could be seen as potentially dangerous weapons, but no need to act all suspicious. Sasuke knew the head of the security team pretty well--stupid fucking like a rabbit neighbor--and could get away with handing eating utensils to a friend.
"Mmm, ramen, I haven't had this in forever! Itadakimasu!" Naruto then ripped apart the chopsticks and started stuffing his face with the noodles.
Sasuke took out his own bowl and started eating a bit, much slower and neater then Naruto did, he noticed.
"What, did they starve you here or something?"
"Yes, yes they did! All they gave me was some white, tasteless goop in a bowl for breakfast--"
"That would be oatmeal,"
"And then some weird green things in more white mushy stuff for lunch!"
"Vegetables and mashed potatoes,"
"And this weird rubber like round brown thing in sauce!"
"Freezer dinner, salisbury steak,"
"Whatever,"
"So, why'd you come by?"
"I needed to give something to Kisame,"
"Oh. I heard him laughing, it was so loud!"
Red started to paint Sasuke's cheeks again.
"Oi, judge, is it too hot again, or what?"
"I told him about father's birthday celebration."
"Oh, oh! Well, what happened?!"
"We sat. Ate. Father started talking and I gave him my present and left."
"What was the present?"
"A pet rock,"
"A pet rock?"
"Yeah."
"What'd he say?"
"'What the Hell is this?'"
"Wow, what's your mother say?"
"'I think it's a pet rock, Fu,'"
"'Fu'?"
"Short for Fugaku…"
"Eew,"
"Yeah."
"What'd your brother say?"
"'Foolish Little Brother,'"
"Ooh. You're creepy when you do that."
"Hn,"
"What else?"
"What?"
"What else did you get him?"
"Er…"
"Come on, that red on your face is getting brighter, and I wanna know, Judge!"
"A sake set with some department store card that said loosen up."
"Really?! What happened?!"
"I left before he found that part…"
"Really,"
"Yeah,"
"Sweeet!"
"What?"
"I didn't think you'd have the balls, judge! You seem so restrained."
"He was getting on my nerves the last couple of weeks."
"I know. I'm so proud of you! You're growing up!"
"Under your influence, I'd rather stay infantile."
"Wh-what?! God damn, I need a dictionary around you!"
"Hn," It was meant as amusement, it came out like amusement.
"Where did you get the ramen?"
"Some ramen bar close to here,"
"Oh,"
"…"
"Well, hey, I'm 23 today!"
"I bet you don't even know spell twenty-three. I saw it when you spoke, you even think of the numbers instead of the words,"
"What the hell does that even mean, bastard!?"
"Hn, you're a moron,"
"Jerk! I can too spell 23! T-W-E-N-T-Y T-H-R-E-E! There! Jerk!"
"Moron, there's a hyphen between twenty and three,"
"Wha-what?! That doesn't make sense, how is there a python between 20 and 3?!"
"Baka! Hyphen, H-Y-P-H-E-N, the little dash mark."
"How am I supposed to spell a little dash mark?! T-W-E-N-T-Y insert-little-dash-mark-thingy-here-to-uselessly-connect-an-already-connected-word T-H-R-E-E?!"
"Tch," He was so very, very close to laughter and amazement.
"Soo, you came today?!"
"Yeah,"
"Do you have ramen?"
"Yeah."
"Not very talkative today, huh, Judge,"
"Hn,"
"Jeeze! What's got your panties in a bunch, bastard? This was a new jumpsuit! Standard addition to. The seams are double enforced so it won't rip if I get into a fight, and now its wet!"
"Hn,"
"Aw, come on. What has Mistew Sunshiney aw opset an' sawd?"
"Shut the hell up, Usurotonkachi,"
"Aw, just a ray of fucking sunshine, aren't you?"
"Hn,"
"…"
"…"
"If you just came to sit and brood and ignore me, you can leave! I'm not allowed to leave this cell if you're still here 'visiting' me,"
"Fine,"
"…"
"…"
"Well, that went well,"
"Ooh, ramen! Itadakimasu!"
"tch,"
"Oh, your staying today?"
"…"
"Okay, okay. I forgive you,"
"What?"
"I forgive you,"
"When did I ask for that?"
"Well, you came today and gave me ramen. Miso Pork, too!"
"And that is interpreted as my intention to get you to forgive me?"
"Yup!"
"Forgive me for what?"
"Aw, now you're just trying to be a bastard,"
"Tch,"
"Heh!"
"Itachi got some medal congratulating him for putting his life at risk in the line of duty or whatever,"
"Hmm?"
"He-he really didn't look like he cared one way or the other. Like, it was so easy for him to do that, that he just didn't care,"
"…"
"Father was ecstatic about it,"
"Oh,"
"Mm, and I found the pet rock I got him in the garden. By a tree. Chipped."
"Ah,"
"I mean, it was intended to be a gag gift, and I knew he was going to throw it away… but,"
"…"
"I couldn't find the sake set, but I'm pretty sure Mother kept it, if only because it was expensive and she can use it to entertain guests,"
"Nh,"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"When I was younger, after--after mother left and Kyuubi was still an older brother to me, my old man would take us to the park for our birthdays,"
"…"
"He wasn't very rich, his money was spent paying for the families my--my mother ruined. But he kept some aside to entertain us with. One time, though… I was really, really young and it was stupid…"
"Hn?"
"Heh, I would watch my friends get really awesome, expensive stuff for their birthdays. A new cell phone, an iPod©, the new hardback book that was just released,"
"…"
"One day, this kid asked me for my cell phone number--a girl, she was really pretty, and I had a crush on her--but I didn't have a cell phone number to give. She laughed, because the only other kids who didn't have a cell phone were Lee, because it wasn't energetic, and Shikamaru, because he was to lazy to use one,"
"…"
"So I dropped hints to my father about me wanting a phone for my birthday. I was so excited about my presents. I just knew he'd have gotten me one. But when I opened his gift, it wasn't a phone. It was a photo album."
"Tch,"
"Yeah, I got really, really mad. I told him how everyone else got phones, or iPods, or watches, or other things and I get a photo album of people I see everyday. He looked--He looked disappointed. Sad. Rejected."
"…"
"The next day he got me a phone."
"…"
"The girl didn't ask for my number again, and she didn't talk to me,"
"…"
"I lost the phone a month later."
"…"
"I never used it."
"Hn,"
"That… that photo album.. Dad kept it in the closet. I found it after-- after Kyuubi happened…"
"…"
"It has the only pictures I have left of him. Of us. When we were happy,"
"… Ar--are you not happy anymore?"
"No! I-I'm happy now. A-at least, I am when I t-talk to you! So, that's a good thing, right, right?"
"Tch, Usuro--Usurotonka-kachi,"
"Ba--bast--ard,"
"Ramen, ramen, ramen! Itadakimasu!"
"I'm starting to think you like the ramen more then you like me,"
"Aw, is Your Mighty Honorableness jealous? Don't worry, bastard, I still love you too!"
"And then you're back to the ramen,"
"So, it's good! I can't just let it get cold! You're already cold, I need energy to warm you up,"
"…"
"For some reason, your cheeks just got red, again,"
"Shut up, Moron,"
"Bastard! Hey! Wait! That's my ramen!"
"I'm the one who bought it!"
"But you never eat any of it!"
"Fine!"
"Thank you, jerk!"
"Your welcome, Idiot,"
"…"
"…"
"Ramen, ramen, ra--what the hell is this?"
"Yakitori.,"
"What?"
"Idiot,"
"…"
"What are you staring at?"
"You have… uhm on the corner of your mouth,"
"…"
"Uh, let me have one!"
"Baka, don't grab! The sticks are sharp!"
"Ah!"
"Moron…"
"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"
"Cleaning you finger so it doesn't get infected and fall off,"
"F--fall off?"
"Hn,"
"Mmn, o--okay, that's good! It's clean, it's clean!"
"Moron. Your cheeks are red,"
"Wh-what! It's hot in here, that's it!"
"Hypocrite,"
"Hippo!"
"Idiot,"
"Oh, hey, this is good!"
"…"
"Hey, so, I wrote to you, and Orochimaru wrote to you, who else writes to you? Or are we the only ones?"
"Hmm, no. You two plus another are the most frequent but I get letters all the time. They're really annoying,"
"Annoying? You saying I'm annoying? Bastard!"
"Hn. Not as annoying as Karin or Orochimaru. But they're only annoying in their repetitiveness. The rest just have really, really horrible grammar and it's really hard to take a threat or a love confession if they can't write the right way,"
"People write you death threats? People confess their love to you!?"
"Mm, it baffles me, too. They think I'm 'pretty' or something,"
"You are pretty, but, confessing their love to you through a letter? That's poorly though out."
"…"
"What? What? Why are you glaring at me like that?"
"I'm not pretty,"
"Sure you are, you have really pale skin, it looks all soft and smooth. And your hair is really shiny and thick, and kind of long for a guy, but hey, it's looks fine. And your eyelashes are kind of long, and they're thick,"
"…"
"Hey, is the room too hot again, Judge?"
"You--You're an idiot, Naruto,"
"…"
"…"
"Ramen, Yakitori, I don't care as long as it's from you!"
"Wh-what?"
"You bring the most awesome food!"
"Oh,"
"Why, what'd I say,"
"…"
"…"
"Hn,"
"Oh! No, no! I'd think a Judge would have a more reasonable mind! That's… that's…"
"Tch, usurotonkachi,"
"Not, not that I don't think you're bad looking or anything, I mean you're really pretty---I mean attractive--and all that! But that's not what I meant! It, I was talking about food!"
"Tch, your cheeks are red again. Should I crack a window?"
"You bastard!"
"Here,"
"Ooh, Ramen!"
"Idiot,"
"Heh, heh."
"I think I'm taller then you,"
"Usurotonkachi, I know I'm taller than you,"
"Your not taller then me! It's your stupid duck-ass hair! Makes you look taller,"
"'Duck-ass hair'? Or 'duck ass-hair'?"
"It doesn't make a difference,"
"I am taller than you, baka,"
"Oh shut up judge!"
"Hn,"
"At least I have a better figure,"
"…"
"Well, for athletics and stuff!"
"Whatever, usurotonkachi," Something remarkably like a chuckle escaped his lips.
"I guess I have to leave now,"
"Yeah… Well, I am getting out on parole pretty soon, so I can visit!"
"Tch,"
"Whatever, Judge, you're excited, you can't hide it!"
"Moron,"
"Jerk!"
"Usurotonkachi,"
"Teme!"
"Yes?"
"Wh-what?"
"Teme technically is just a rude way of saying 'you',"
"Whatever! Bastard!"
"See you,"
"Mmn,"
Sasuke got up and stretched, his muscles protesting for the long amount of time he sat there, talking--just talking--to Naruto. He turned to leave but--
"Hey, Judge, are you going to come by again?"
"When I can," He picked up the bag that held two empty Styrofoam bowls, two sets of separated chopsticks, and a fork. He brought ramen every time he came over, now. Just as Naruto asked, 'Are you going to come by again?' everyday, as if he was afraid that Sasuke would just decide to leave. Just as he would always smirk and snort when Naruto confused himself listening to Sasuke's vocabulary. It was a comfortable, new routine.
"Uhm,"
"Yeah?"
"Why do call me 'Judge'?"
"That's what you are, aren't you?"
"Hn… Not. Not when I'm talking with you,"
"…" Sasuke watched as bright blue eyes slowly blinked, then nodded in understanding. He was flashed a gigantic smile, "'course, Sasuke!"
"Hn," but a small smirk that almost looked like a smile appeared on Sasuke's face.
The hours he spent talking to Naruto just flew by, and was releasing tension this way, too. His brother said that he looked a little bit more relaxed. And that he didn't really seem uptight anymore. Hypocrite. That bastard was always uptight. Though, it might just be brotherly concern finally clawing its way through Itachi's brain.
He turned and brought his hand up in farewell as he started walking away. He felt, sort of content. After today, he felt a bit warmer, and looser, and definitely better then he did that morning. He almost allowed the contented smile to work its way onto his face, if he was any less of an Uchiha, he would have, but--despite what his father said--he was every bit the Uchiha so he denied the stretching of his lips.
He walked quickly, he was sure he spent longer at the prison then he meant, and he did have other things to do. They just didn't seem as important as they had a few hours before. As he was walking past a cell, a white hand shot out and grabbed his, yanking him to a stop and startling him enough that he dropped the bag. The leftover bits of ramen left behind spilled on the floor. Sasuke turned and faced Orochimaru, who slowly drew his hand between the bars of the cell. Swallowing convulsively--and involuntarily--he tugged his hand cautiously.
"No, no, my pet. I want to know what you were doing, talking to the fox,"
Orochimaru's voice hissed like snakes in his ear, faintly familiar from eleven years ago. From back when he was a helpless child easily influenced by the adults in his life. He closed his eyes and let fear wash over him for a while, basking in the foreign emotion, until he opened his eyes and rid them of any anxiety. He let his eyebrows draw downwards and hardened his eyes.
"I was talking, let go."
"Ku-ku-ku. Talking to the fox? That's strange for you, Sasuke-kun," He stretched the vowel noises out, and his thumb started rubbing a small spot on Sasuke's hand. Around and around the thumb went, making the skin on his wrist sensitive and tender.
"Let. Go. Orochimaru."
"Ku-ku-ku-ku, you were always such a quiet, stubborn child. Soft as well,"
Orochimaru let the nail of his thumb scrape against the tender pink skin of the skin on Sasuke's wrist. Sasuke winced at the suddenness of the action and tried pulling his hand again. Instead of loosing the grip of the clammy hand, there was a woosh of motion and he found himself with his head pressed against the bars of the cell, his cheek and chest pressed into the metal and his free hand gripping the bars, frantically trying to push away. It was useless, though, because another pale hand was gripping in his hair and keeping him in place.
"Wait for me, Sasuke-kun, because when I get out, I'm finding you, my pet. And when I find you, ku-ku-ku," That long, freakishly long, slimy tongue flitted out and tasted the shell of Sasuke's ear, then traced its way down to where his neck met his shoulder, and the ugly scar there that suddenly throbbed and Sasuke started trembling, his mind remembering eleven years ago, instead of focusing on the today.
His school teacher, a gaunt young man, twenty, maybe twenty-five, taught his class. With long, waist length, inky black hair and a voice that slithered like snakes. The man would constantly ask him if he needed any help, if he got that problem alright, would he like to spend time after school to understand this problem?
Sasuke always said no. Because he was an Uchiha and Uchiha don't need help from their teachers, or anyone. So it surprised him that one day, he was sticking behind after school ended, hesitantly waiting for Orochimaru to stop grading papers and pay attention to him. Finally Orochimaru looked up and beckoned Sasuke over to him, and Sasuke went. He set the paper--language, he'd never been interested enough in that--on the desk and shifted so he could face Orochimaru and the paper at the same time.
Orochimaru nodded, laughed, and responded at the right times throughout his rant and questions. Finally, Orochimaru pointed a long finger at the paper, and Sasuke leaned forward to see what he was talking about. His breath came out in a puff, and the paper flew across the desk. He leaned forward and tried to catch the fly away essay, but his hand came up short and it slid slowly off the desk. He was about to apologize and work his way around the desk to pick the paper back up, but a white hand over his arm stopped him.
"Leave it, Sasuke-kun,"
He twisted, just a bit, to see his teacher's face above him, smiling--smirking--baring--down at him. The smile twisted in itself, and Sasuke found his head gently pushed back down on the desk. He gulped and shifted, but stilled when he felt the warmth of his teacher's large torso covering his back.
"Ano sa… ano sa…"
"Yes, Sasuke-kun?"
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"Mmm. It'll feel good, I promise,"
Of course Sasuke knew what was happening. He wasn't stupid, he knew it. He also knew that he was really to small and to weak--at least against Orochimaru, the man was larger then him--so it wouldn't be a good idea to struggle. Or make a break for it. He also knew--or thought he knew, he only heard things, after all--that, despite what Orochimaru said, it would hurt. But his teacher was being very gentle, so maybe this was okay? He didn't know how this would work, but he knew it happened between his father and his mother, when they went to bed early. Itachi had told him, and he did have chapter nine in the Science book. Though, he didn't think it could work between two males. Not very well, and his stomach was kind of hurting, being crammed against the desk like that.
He shifted, trying to get his stomach in a better position and then started again.
"What--"
"Shh, shh,"
Something hard was being pressed to his back, hard and hot and kind of long. It was very weird and uncomfortable, strange. He was so focused on that, he almost didn't feel it when a large palm cupped his butt. He did feel it though. And it felt weird, not unpleasant, but not comfortable. The hand moved, stroking his butt-cheek and his thigh. He swallowed roughly, and jumped again as the hand brushed his inner thigh. The hard thing pressed into his back.
Slowly, the hand slid around his body and fumbled at the buttons to his jeans. Now, this, Sasuke was absolutely not comfortable with. He didn't want his pants off--he wasn't ready for his pants off--and he really didn't want his teacher to see him naked. He told his teacher.
"But I want to see you without your pants on. To touch you there. I'm your teacher, right? I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. You can keep your shirt on."
Sasuke felt as if he should know more about this. He knew what function private parts were used for. He got an A on that test. Females had essentially the same parts as men, only inverted and used to make eggs. Males made sperm. Male and Female did a sexual act--intercourse, copulation, sex--and the sperm entered the egg, made it fertile, and its now called a zygote. A lot of people did it. But in everything he'd ever read, watched, heard about, he'd never heard of it between two males. He knew it could happen, Father and Mother tried not to let him hear such things, and whenever he did Father would get angry. But Itachi told him it was possible. He was going to tell him how it happened, like he did when he answered Sasuke's question on 'how did I get here?' but Father caught him. Itachi didn't bring it up again.
So Sasuke knew it could happen, but didn't know how. He didn't know why Orochimaru was touching him, or why it felt good. Because it did. It felt really, really good. He was ashamed to admit it, because he didn't like Orochimaru, and his brother had stressed that he shouldn't do this with anyone he didn't like. So, in a way, he felt like he was disappointing his brother, by letting Orochimaru touch him. It was… odd.
Sasuke felt his pants crumble to his knees, and Orochimaru's knee was pressed between his own. He heard another zzzzziiiiiiiiipp, and there was something hot, and slightly damp pressing against his butt. It was very uncomfortable, and he shifted. Orochimaru groaned above him, and it sent shivers down his spine. He felt his butt-cheeks being spread, it was so odd. It was weird, like it wasn't his body, this wasn't happening, this was a dream. But it wasn't, he knew it wasn't, because once the tip of that hard thing--he knew what it was but he couldn't think right now--started to stretch him, it hurt. It hurt! Not like it hurts when he gets hit in the stomach with a soccer ball, or when he falls and sprains an ankle. It hurt like his tongue was burning from the too-hot piece of yakitori his mother cooked for him on his birthday. It hurt like his finger did if he accidentally touched the burning pan on stove. It burned.
With that though screaming through his mind--ItburnsItburnsItburnsItburns!!!--he jerked away from Orochimaru with a cry. Almost immediately a hand covered his mouth. A hand wrenched his head back, he felt breath on his neck and then wet, wet. Oh God it was a tongue! That long tongue that his classmates made fun of because it was so creepy and unusual. It--Orochimaru--licked him. Again. From the shell of his ear to his jaw, and God it was wet and cold. Cold. Very, very cold. He thrashed again, pain blossoming when his hair was jerked and that heavy thing was slipped out of him. He was brought up and slammed back down, forcing the breath out of his lungs and his head to go dizzy. He felt teeth where his neck met his shoulder and he screamed through the hand on his mouth, and screamed because that long, thick, hot thing thrust all the way through him, and God it hurt. It hurt so much. It hurt from where the teeth were lodged in his shoulder and it hurt from where Orochimaru was lodged in his butt.
If this was the pain that came with this act, no wonder--no wonder--Father was mad when Itachi wanted to explain it to him. No wonder it wasn't in any text books, or the tests he took. No wonder, no wonder, no wonder.
And then Orochimaru moved and Sasuke felt tears slide down his cheeks, and that wasn't good because an Uchiha didn't cry. Doesn't matter if it hurt. It didn't matter. He wouldn't be a weak girl like on the television shows Mom watched when she thought he was asleep. The ones who cry and sniffle and scream because the stranger touched them. Pushed them down on the ground.
He wouldn't, because he was an Uchiha, and Uchiha don't cry.
