Moon Snare
Author: Ladelle
Rating: T-M
Comments: I've had the first couple chapters of this written for a while and my roommate wanted it posted as a Christmas present. So...ta-dah! LoL. Happy holidays to everyone, and the best of wishes for a wonderful and blessed new year.
"Tell me the story again," the young boy settled his chin on his brother's knee and stared up with dark and intent eyes. A fire snapped and threw sparks behind him, and the warmth had caused a flush to rise to the apples of his pale-pallored cheeks.
The older brother looked tired and worn. Dark circles clung to his eyes and his lips were dappled with patches of bright red, tiny slivers that had dried, cracked, and bled. It took him a moment to smile, and then he combed his fingers through his sibling's tousled hair.
"It's a legend. An old tale about two wolves. Do you remember how it starts, Sasuke?"
The young boy nodded vigorously and stared past his brother, as if his imagination was pulling forth the words that left his lips. "A fight is going on inside of me…a terrible fight between two wolves."
"One is good, made of happiness, hope, and love." The older brother looked to be gazing into the distance as well, and his tone fell. "The other is evil, full of anger, regret, and sorrow."
Little Sasuke tugged at a crinkle in his older brother's pants until their eyes met once again. "But which one will win the fight, Itachi?"
Silence sat like an unwelcomed guest before Sasuke's older brother finally responded. "The one you choose to feed, Sasuke. The one you choose to feed."
Chapter One
Wolves
The classroom had been released nearly an hour ago, but still Sasuke sat, hands curled over his ears, sweat clinging to the pale flesh of his forehead. He could still hear the distant echo of chalk scraping against the aged blackboard near the front of the room and smell the powdery residue it left behind. Hunching further over his desk, Sasuke panted, each exhalation casting a circle of condensation on the dark wood surface of his desk.
"Did you hear? They're going to be in the town tonight." A group of girls had stayed behind to study together, and even though they were whispering, from across the room, Sasuke heard them quite clearly.
"Did your father tell you that, Sakura?"
The girl that had first spoken, the spitfire daughter of the town's police captain, grinned.
"Yeah. He said they're gonna catch the killer tonight. The one who's been mauling the fishermen and eating them alive."
Sasuke remembered the images from the morning post, bloodied bodies mangled by the docks as if ravaged by wild animals. Since the town's animals were limited to livestock and hounds, it meant the deaths could only be murder.
"I heard that two pier workers were killed last night from my father," interrupted another girl, obviously eager to tell what she had been told. "He said it was the Outsiders. He said there'll be another death tonight, and then we'll know it's them for sure."
Sakura sounded vaguely irritated. "The Outsiders are coming tonight to catch the killer."
Sasuke sank lower to his desk. Their words were too loud, even though they were seated so far away and chatting quietly. Two weeks ago, anything involving the Outsiders would have interested Sasuke as much as any other student. But now, he was too troubled to care.
"Just watch," the second girl jeered. "They'll come into town tonight and two more people will end up bloodied and dead. Then we'll know it's them."
"Watch what you say," Sakura hissed, her voice snippy. "If the adults hear you making those types of accusations, you'll be in trouble for sure."
Sasuke snorted, but moreso because his nose was starting to run and his throat had gone dry. What Sakura had said was true. The Outsiders protected the town, but were shrouded in secrecy. The police remained in distant contact with them, but no one dared question the relationship. For the most part, the townspeople pretended as though the Outsiders didn't exist, except for the youngsters whom hadn't quite grown out of the curiosity.
Of the three girls circled and chatting, the third one finally spoke. "Why is Sasuke still here?"
Sasuke could feel their eyes on him, analyzing, breaking him down. A chill raced up his spine and he shivered even though sweat melded his shirt to his skin.
"He's been sick; I heard the teacher talking with one of the parents," Sakura said solemnly. She sounded concerned. "Apparently his brother—"
"Shh, he'll hear you," the second girl chastised. "I heard he yelled at the principal the other day. They say he was ranting on and on about wolves—"
"Don't help to spread those nasty rumors," Sakura interrupted.
Cringing, Sasuke couldn't bring himself to listen anymore. After all, they weren't rumors. The images had haunted him like a living, breathing nightmare and no one seemed to believe him. He hardly believed himself.
Sasuke lurched upwards, gripping the desk while he struggled to stabilize himself. His feet staggered to find footing because the room felt like it was spinning. He leaned down, summoning as much balance as he could manage, and grabbed his satchel from the floor. He tried to jam his pencil and notebook inside, but his pencil missed and skittered across the floor. He didn't bother going after it.
"Maybe I should offer to walk him home…" Sakura's voice was clearly addled with worry, and the second girl hissed.
"So unlike a lady, to approach a boy that way…"
Sasuke ignored the both of them and made his way to the door, and after a period of time, eventually ended up outside. He leaned against the brick mortar of his school building and huffed a few times. He wasn't sure what to do. His body was filled to the brim with pure energy, but couldn't handle the overload. He would collapse at any moment.
How long had it been since he had been normal?
Two weeks.
Sasuke had been like this for two weeks, and it had only gotten worse as the days progressed. At first, he had just felt numb. The wounds had hurt and he had treated them, but even after the marks had disappeared, his body ached. He could hear whispers and see the quickest of movements.
And he as hot. Always hot. His shirt, even now, on a winter day with clouded skies and an icy breeze, he felt like he was being scalded by an invisible heat. His feet tingled as though they had fallen asleep, and the tips of his fingers felt unusually sensitive. He choked down a swallow and stumbled against a wall, wondering, for the umpteenth time, if he had rabies.
A dog growled and it broke Sasuke from his thoughts. His attention snapped up and he saw it, a gritty canine that one of the market owners most likely owned, slobbering over a huge chunk of red meat. Another dog had appeared, and Sasuke heard the danger in their fierce growls.
It was a battle of dominance. A battle for the tenderloin hanging from pointed teeth, red and dripping with blood. Sasuke licked his lips and stepped backwards, not recognizing himself in his reaction.
The dogs circled each other, and at once, flew together.
Sasuke felt his heartbeat speed up. Normally, he would have run. Even kept dogs in the town could be dangerous, though not hazardous enough to account for the killings by the pier. But Sasuke didn't feel fear.
He felt excitement.
He could feel blood pulsing through his veins and he was breathing heavily through his nose and mouth, his fingers clenching to fists as he watched the dogs tear at each other, their lips pulled back and their eyes feral.
Sasuke felt himself lowering to the ground until his hands settled on the pavement. He knew where he'd attack—right below the neck. Then he would swipe at the other dog's chest, and wouldn't stop until he could see and taste the blood. He could gnaw on a leg, make it so the other pup wouldn't be able to chase him—wouldn't be able to walk. He could—
Sasuke jumped up and fumbled into the darkness of an alleyway next to him, clutching his head while tears flooded his vision and his breathing once again was reduced to painful pants.
What had he been thinking? That he was a dog? A common animal, ready to fight over a bloody slab of steak?
Sasuke wrapped his arms around his stomach and cursed his brother. If he hadn't followed Itachi—if he had stayed put, and not been so worried, this wouldn't have happened.
And now Itachi was gone and Sasuke was left all alone, wondering if he was going mad.
Night settled over the town too quickly for Sasuke, and as the mice began to pool from the darkest places, Sasuke still sat huddled in the alleyway, wide awake and too aware.
He had tried to sleep, but every noise was unbearably loud. The sounds of the street wagons pummeling over cobblestone, the chatter of passerbys, even the gentle ringing of chimes hanging above shop doors. Sasuke stared vacantly at the dirtied wall before him until a bright light made him nearly bark.
"Oi, what're you, a student? You best be getting home." Attached to the flashlight blinding Sasuke was an officer, and he was patrolling. When Sasuke didn't move, he spoke again. "It's past curfew. Where do you live?"
Sasuke decided that he couldn't return home with a police escort so he struggled to stand and slapped away the older man's hand as it attempted to steady him. The man backed up a couple of steps and held his hands up defensively, appearing surprised by Sasuke's aggressiveness.
"Can you make it home on your own?" The officer asked with a bit more caution.
Sasuke didn't answer the question, only sauntered past, running his hand along the wall of the building to help keep his balance. He could feel the officer watching him.
Sasuke's eyes roamed to the sky and he saw the moon, not quite whole as clouds attempted to swallow it. His skin was crawling again and he felt his lips drawing back, all before he struggled to regain some semblance of composure.
He turned to look over his shoulder. The police officer was gone.
But he heard voices.
He stopped trudging along and sat down on the second step leading up to the town's library, wondering if the voices were in his head.
"Come on, mom! This is booooooooring," a voice drawled. Sasuke heard footsteps and lifted his head when he caught two figures in his peripheral vision, both walking towards him. It took Sasuke seconds to realize that walking wasn't the correct description; it was more like they were prowling.
For a moment, Sasuke sat, frozen in place. The aura that rose from the duo was nearly crushing. Without knowing why he felt it, Sasuke wanted to cower or run. They were coming closer however, and he couldn't bring himself to move.
"Is that a boy?"
Sasuke saw the woman more clearly now. She was unearthly beautiful. The street lamps cast a yellow glint on her fair skin, and unnaturally long auburn hair spilled over her shoulders like tamed spring grasses over a supple hillside.
Sasuke's breath caught in is throat when she stopped in front of him. The boy beside her followed in suit, looking devilishly curious as to what they had stumbled upon. Sasuke realized that the boy was most likely around his age.
"Isn't he too young to be wandering around at night?" the boy asked, raising an eyebrow.
The tone of his voice was raw, and the sound of it sent Sasuke's skin tingling with an unknown attraction. His muscles tightened and his legs clamped together as the strange boy stared at him with bright eyes that rivaled the lightest blue Sasuke had ever seen. Hair as gold as farmhouse straw framed a young and angular face and the boy's skin was the color of caramel cream against the amaretto backlighting of the street lanterns.
"What are you doing out past curfew, boy?" The woman asked curiously. Sasuke glanced between the woman and her son, his voice caught in his throat.
They're not normal, he thought. But strangely, they were familiar. His gut twisted and he felt it wrench with heat. He gasped and buried his head in his hands, wishing the uneasiness away.
"Naruto, watch him. I am going to find a human." The woman ordered. Soon after, she disappeared around the closet street corner.
Sasuke felt chilled. A human? He peeked up at Naruto, who looked irritated. Did that mean that these two were Outsiders?
"You sick or something?" Naruto asked, and he pressed a hand to Sasuke's forehead, right before yanking it back. "Whoa, you're on fire!"
Sasuke didn't need someone to tell him that. He felt it. He pulled himself to his feet and started down the street again, dreading the idea of being escorted home by the beings he knew nothing about. Just the way the boy looked at him made Sasuke feel inebriated by nameless sensations.
"You probably shouldn't be wandering around alone," Naruto recommended with casual concern. When Sasuke glanced back at him, he saw that the strangely beautiful boy had pulled his arms back behind his head. He looked smug. "There's something nasty in town."
Sasuke frowned, felt another wave of something come over him, and then abruptly spun around. He walked a few steps towards Naruto, the feeling getting thicker within him, like syrup. He could feel the excitement balling up as he reached forward to touch the blond haired boy, but before he could make contact, the Outsider caught his wrist.
Naruto expression was playful, but also calculating. "Ah, ah. No touching."
"You smell different," Sasuke said breathily and he inhaled the earthy scent of the boy in front of him. He could feel his breathing grow shaky and he tilted his head forward, trying to get closer to the thick and alluring aroma.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, looking less playful as he suddenly stiffened. "Who are you?"
Sasuke couldn't answer. The feeling was overwhelming. He felt his body reacting before his mind could keep up, his blood pounding through his veins, his abdomen filling with butterflies, and his fingers trembling.
"Oi, I asked you a question. What's your name?" Naruto didn't like being ignored, it seemed.
"Sasuke," he breathed, leaning closer to Naruto. He was still sniffing, wondering how a person could smell so wonderful. He licked his lips. "I want to…bite you…"
Sasuke didn't get the chance to, even though his lips had curled up and exposed his teeth to the midnight air. Naruto's reflexes were fast, and in moments Sasuke's back was pulled against the other boy's torso and he was held there, restrained and unable to move.
"Mom!" Naruto whined. "This one's crazy!"
Sasuke tried to wiggle free, but between his delirium and Naruto's dominance, he felt immobile. The feeling was forcing out a plethora of thoughts, including his last memory of his brother, crying out to the moon before a savage animal took his place.
"He was a wolf…a wolf…" Sasuke whispered and he sighed heavily, panting as his fever threatened to suffocate him. He clenched his eyes closed and struggled to repress the unknown urge stifling his sanity.
Naruto paused in calling out to his mother before glancing down, his expression suddenly serious. "What?"
The grip on Sasuke loosened and he was sure he looked panicked; wide-eyed and losing control. He took advantage and tore himself away from the Outsider, darting off as fast as his legs could carry him. The humanity he felt bubbling beneath the surface of his fury was demanding for him to find someplace safe; someplace where he could be alone and terrorize no one but himself.
Footsteps echoed behind him, but the pounding of his heart was louder. He spun around a corner, his skin feeling like it was burning. His eyes were watering and he could feel his spit beginning to gather at the corners of his mouth as he sucked in ample breaths of air.
A familiar smell stung his nose, a delicate perfume that now seemed like a stuffy wave. He slammed into the source of the fragrance, a young girl, and she collapsed onto the ground below him.
Sasuke paused and stared down at her. She had cut her hand on the cobblestone below; he could smell the blood. His mouth hung open and he traced her flesh with his eyes, until he saw her face. It was familiar, angelic and feminine, with a thin nose and worried eyes. Normally he would have been irritated by Sakura Haruno's concerned expressions, but now, her reaction to him was fascinating. Especially when he watched the puddle of blood form beneath her slender fingers with appeal.
Sakura's expression turned to fear within a split second, and Sasuke wondered if his face showed his intentions. She didn't look like his classmate any longer. She simply looked like meat. He stepped forward and she edged back, and behind her a figure landed, having jumped down from the rooftop above.
"Oi." It was Naruto and he was standing with an air of superiority that made Sasuke's insanity retreat slightly. The Outsider glanced down to Sakura and then back to Sasuke. Whatever expression he saw on Sasuke's face made him frown.
"Sasuke. Play with me instead."
It was a tempting offer. Blue eyes stared straight through him and Sasuke felt the challenge in the stranger's tone. It aggravated Sasuke enough for his pent up energy to return, fueled by pride to take up the offer. He looked down to Sakura and felt drool drip off his chin, and saw her shaking. It made him excited, like closing in on prey, those last moments before-
His classmate was blocked from view as Naruto stepped in front of her. He crouched slightly, trying to steal Sasuke's attention. That alone couldn't distract Sasuke from Sakura's quivering form and the fear causing tears to flood her cheeks. So Naruto snapped his fingers, the sound finally drawing Sasuke's eyes to meet his own, and made a husky demand. "Me."
The hair on Sasuke's arms stood straight and he felt his blood boil with excitement. On some level, Sasuke understood. The girl wasn't to be touched unless he could get through Naruto first. So Sasuke lunged at him. Naruto deftly avoided the clumsy attack and jogged ahead, glancing over his shoulder briefly as if to make sure that Sasuke would follow. Sasuke didn't hesitate. They ran for a distance, until Sasuke dodged forward and took a swipe at Naruto's side, growling tersely when Naruto spun out of his reach. They both took a second to get their footing, and Naruto cocked his head back.
"There you go. I'm much more fun, right?" He slid his foot across the pavement below, lowering himself closer to the ground, not once losing sight of Sasuke's eyes. He looked like an animal, slouched forward just barely, relaxed enough to take whatever Sasuke would throw at him next. He raised an eyebrow when Sasuke started panting.
"You gonna turn?" Naruto asked, grinning.
Sasuke charged again, swinging his arms wildly. Naruto was good at evading, though one of Sasuke's jabs did hit its mark. Naruto huffed and let out an animalistic grunt before grabbing both of Sasuke's wrists and dragging him forward enough so that he would lose his balance. As Sasuke struggled in his new and uncomfortable position, Naruto watched him in confusion, and decided to egg him on.
"What? All bark and no bite? Turn already."
Sasuke bristled and felt his lips curve backwards. He could still smell the blood of that girl in the alley, and he couldn't even remember her name. He felt the threat that was Naruto before him; could see those piercing blue eyes that were hard to gaze into for prolonged periods of time.
Heaving a couple of breaths, Naruto released his wrists, and Sasuke crumpled onto the pavement below. He sucked a breath in and choked air out. Dirt filled his nostrils and mouth until his tongue felt like sandpaper. He was still as this brief moment of sanity settled over him. He clung to it, refusing to feed the insanity clawing its way back to power. He couldn't wrestle it for long.
Definitely not when he could smell the girl's blood—he couldn't even remember her name—and the perfume she wore leeched into his senses until his lust for flesh and play shrouded his logic once again. She should have been his—he had a right to her. After all, he had seen her first. He deserved to be the one to kill her.
Naruto was watching him closely. Too closely. He looked baffled, but he didn't ask any more questions. Sasuke didn't care. The moment Naruto blinked, Sasuke whipped around, bolted to his feet, and sprinted back to where he remembered the girl to be. The hunger was too much. It was all he could think of. There was nothing, except for the burning desire to sink his teeth into flesh and let the coppery tang of blood swallow his fever.
The body wasn't where they had left it, but her perfume lingered. Sasuke stumbled forward in an attempt to follow the scent, but a hand grabbed his hair and whipped him backwards. He howled and was suddenly on the ground, Naruto pinning him, enraged. He hadn't even heard the other boy follow; he hadn't cared enough to look back.
"Don't you know the rules? You're on my territory!"
A cloud smothered the moon and Sasuke felt some of his senses return, especially when Naruto's eyes bore holes into his own. Naruto gripped his wrists in a nearly bone breaking hold, and thrust them above Sasuke's head. "And then you dishonor me by fighting as a human!"
Sasuke blinked. Wasn't he human? The hunger was still clinging to his senses and he felt bile rise to his throat, but he couldn't bring himself to throw up. He hadn't eaten for days, and it seemed, for once, like exhaustion was taking control of the animalistic fury poisoning his mind. Naruto pressed closer to him and all Sasuke could see were his eyes; demanding, furious, and powerful.
Sasuke's last ounce of pride surrendered when he choked out a sob, and tears flooded his eyes. Crying was something he never indulged in and somehow, in this moment, he felt more himself than he had in a while. He could feel it now; his body unable to fight the disease plaguing his mind. He had been doing so well…he had fought it off until now. Could he fight it off longer?
Sheltering a wary concern, Naruto sat back, his expression now perplexed and tinged with apprehension as Sasuke spoke.
"Why did he attack me...why would he do it..."
It was a mantra that Sasuke had buried deep within, and now, as he fell apart, he couldn't keep himself from repeating it. His words were hardly intelligible from beneath the sobs that wracked his slender body.
Naruto sat silently above him and he raised an uneasy eyebrow. "Hey…"
Sasuke didn't look up at him, but he could hear the vague concern in the other boy's tone. The moment was ruined when Naruto's attention whipped away, drawn towards the entrance to the alleyway.
Sasuke glanced up, sniffling, and saw the Outsider above him grow more alert with each passing second. A good minute passed before Naruto lowered himself more so over Sasuke, so close that his unusual scent was like a blanket covering Sasuke's body. In a position that parodied intimacy, Sasuke felt claimed; it was as though Naruto was sheltering what was his.
There were light footsteps and Sasuke twisted his head to the side, looking past Naruto's arm to see who was approaching. An enormous white wolf was not what he expected, but it found them nonetheless, followed by a figure that looked no older than Naruto or himself. Sasuke blinked away the remaining tears in his eyes.
The hazy brown hue of a candlelit streetlamp helped Sasuke to see the stranger more clearly. The upward curve of a cocky expression on lips, the domineering glare of amber colored eyes. Dark hair, a face painted with strange red shapes, and clothes much too warm even for the crisp coolness of the night.
Naruto shifted and Sasuke watched his lips move. "Kiba. What are you doing here?"
"And here I was expecting a hello," he laughed and it wasn't a pleasant sound. "I'm here to get rid of the trash. You saved me the work, though." Kiba stared down at Sasuke and tilted his head jovially.
Pressing closer to Naruto unconsciously, Sasuke realized that he was afraid.
Naruto lowered against Sasuke once again. "It wasn't him."
The boy named Kiba laughed again, and Sasuke wondered what they were talking about. He felt safe where he was, kept under Naruto, satisfied that the intense gaze of the Outsider boy was directed at someone other than himself. Kiba moved and Sasuke inhaled shakily, watching him fearfully from the cage Naruto had become around him.
"Look at him. He's feral. 'Maru could smell him a mile away, the mutt." Kiba stepped closer and Naruto nearly barked.
"He's mine, Kiba," Naruto warned, and the tone of his voice sent chills down Sasuke's spine.
The other boy paused. He twisted his head backwards, as if hearing a noise that didn't exist, and after the wolf next to him did the same, it whined. Kiba frowned. "Kushina's with you?"
Naruto frowned. "Of course she is. It's her town."
Kiba sighed and looked vaguely disappointed. There was a silence that seemed to last too long, though when a female's voice cut in, the conversation continued from where it had left off.
"This is my town," a woman's voice flooded the condensed space of the alleyway. Sasuke watched as Kiba stepped to the side, allowing the speaker through. He recognized her, having seen her before with Naruto on the main street nearest his school. Her voice held little kindness this time, however, as she spoke vehemently to Kiba. "Which poses an interesting question. Why are the Luporri in it?"
The white wolf whined when the woman glared at it, and trickled back to hide behind the boy, who stood firm but couldn't hide the intimidation from his facial expression. He answered, and his voice didn't waver.
"My father sent me. You were taking too long."
Kushina said nothing, but Naruto scoffed. "I didn't even know you'd gotten back from the western villages yet!"
Kiba nodded in response, still looking wary of Kushina. "I only got back yesterday. The situation here seems to have gotten worse, and even the humans are beginning to question your clan."
Naruto's mother shrugged. "Not the Luporri's problem."
Kiba's lips moved as if to retort, but he pulled them tightly together after some thought.
Naruto's stance around Sasuke loosened and he raised an eyebrow. "You should have told me you were back."
Sasuke wondered whether or not Naruto was pouting.
Kiba smirked. "Did you miss me that much?"
Naruto smirked. "Of course. We should hunt soon."
Kushina grunted, and Sasuke felt Naruto retreat slightly, as if he had been reprimanded. His mother seemed eager to end the encounter as she turned her attention to Kiba and spoke firmly.
"This child isn't who you want. Tell your father that Kushina is taking care of the matter and that another unannounced visit will bring unwanted consequences to your people."
Kiba's smile disappeared and he frowned, but there was still respect in his eyes. "Right. Come on, 'Maru."
The white wolf trotted behind him anxiously as they left, glancing back as though at any moment Naruto or Kushina would attack. They didn't, and it was a while before either of them spoke, or before Naruto shifted his weight from Sasuke's frame.
Naruto broke the silence, staring at Sasuke wearily. "Mom, something's wrong with him."
Sasuke scowled, but couldn't help but agree. He knew something was wrong. He had known for two weeks.
Kushina hoisted Naruto up and Sasuke sat forward, staring intently at the dark cobblestone below him. He couldn't bring himself to look into Kushina's eyes. There was something about the action that seemed forbidden.
Instead of providing an explanation for Naruto, Kushina turned towards the street. "No killings will happen tonight. Both of you, come on."
Naruto obeyed, shuffling towards his mother, and he threw back a hesitant look towards Sasuke, who hadn't moved.
Kushina stopped and turned to face him. "Boy. Come."
Sasuke felt the urge to follow, an internal aching to obey her request. He looked up at her and met her eyes, an action that seemed to catch both Outsiders off guard.
"I want to go home," he answered haughtily.
Kushina's face was impassive, though Sasuke saw sympathy somewhere deep within her sight. "You would be a fool if you thought you had a home to go back to."
Sasuke thought of the empty house he hadn't visited in two weeks, and the only family member he had, disappeared with out a trace. Pulling himself to his feet, he pressed forward weakly, his muscles feeling like jelly now that the surge of feverish energy had passed. Naruto caught his arm before he fell, and Sasuke didn't have the energy to fight off the help.
"We'll head back. Tomorrow night's the full moon."
Even though this news excited Naruto, Sasuke couldn't help but notice that Kushina was staring solemnly at him. There was an undercurrent of emotion in her gaze that he couldn't quite place, and she turned slowly when a new figure shadowed their exit. Sasuke recognized him as the captain of the police.
"You found the culprit?" he asked, hope lacing his tone.
Naruto's arm cinched around Sasuke's waist, and Kushina replied. "No, just another victim. We'll be back in a few nights' time. There are some things we need to take care of."
She brushed past the officer, and Naruto eyed the adult wearily as they passed.
"You're taking him?" He asked, hesitantly. It was obvious he didn't quite understand, but he did recognize Sasuke. They had met on a few occasions before, after all.
Kushina didn't answer, so Naruto filled in the pregnant pause. "He's not yours anymore."
Sasuke didn't turn his head to see the expression on the elder man's face, nor did he try and decipher just what Naruto meant. He let his mind go numb as he was led away, to a carriage swallowed by the shadows of night, and from there, off through the treacherous roads that cut through the town's encroaching forest.
a/n: I can't promise regular updates because I am working on writing an original novel (wish me luck!) but I will do my best.