Chapter two: The stages of grief.
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Naruto collapsed into his 'bed' when Sakura dropped him off. The mattress sank to the left and was so lumpy. A spring was stabbing him in the side. But it had been free and that was what mattered. For someone living on their own off handouts, he couldn't ask for too much. And he spent 6 nights a week at Sasuke's place where his brother welcomed him openly.
Despite the crappy bed Naruto woke up not feeling much better. Thirsty as hell, he made it slowly to the bathroom. Slowly because his ass was still on fire. He brushed the disgusting taste from his mouth and glanced for the first time in the mirror. His breath caught.
He hadn't thought much of his soreness because he was sore all over, but when he finally took a survey his stomach did a flip. He looked terrible. He had deep bruising on his jaw like he'd been punched, slowly forming. It probably hadn't even been there when Sakura was giving him a ride home. On his neck was a harsh bite mark.
Feeling like he shouldn't, but doing so anyhow, Naruto stopped and looked further down his body. Everything was damaged. Bruises on his ribs, deep angry red handprints on his thighs, even forming marks on his throat. And judging by the amount of semen that was starting to pool out of him he knew that he hadn't been put through just one round. It was like he'd been fucked with the intent to hurt. Nothing like Sasuke normally did.
He even checked his throat, to find it as red as he felt. Pressing his head against the mirror he couldn't help but laugh. A laugh that was transitioning him from denial to anger. He was pissed. He had originally been planning on trying to talk things out with Sasuke but it was so apparent now that Sasuke meant everything he'd said. Nobody held their lover this way. Naruto was tough, he could take a lot and he healed fast, but this was too much even for him.
Fuck Sasuke.
If he wanted to pretend three years of happiness and love never happened then so be it. Naruto would fucking play along. He punched the mirror.
He wouldn't forgive this.
Naruto's anger simmered down but was ever present the next week in high school. He had a lot of glances and questions about things. Everyone already knew about Sasuke's breakup with him and that opened up a door for a lot of students to get the king's attention. But Naruto was nowhere near over Sasuke.
The other question was about his bruises. They noticed his jaw and neck and wondered who had been able to kick his ass like that. Naruto refused to tell them, he wouldn't be victimized, and would laugh and say, "You should have seen the other guy."
Apparently, Sasuke could feel remorse. Becuase once after gym just three days post-breakup, when Naruto was stepping out of the shower Sasuke stared at the bruises. They looked a lot worse than they were, entering that ugly purple/green phase. "Naruto… your body, those bruises-"
"Fuck off."
And that was the last contact they had.
Eventually, anger simmered away. It took three months and their graduation to make it dissipate. That was when Naruto realized he wasn't getting Sasuke back.
Then came the third stage. Bargaining.
Naruto went a little insane. He'd switched schools to his original first choice. A school of the arts, made for artists, singers, musicians, that sort of thing. Something that would provide him with the resources to explore sculpting. It was something he'd taken a liking to since he was 10 but he never dreamed of making a living from it. Without sasuke, he felt like there was nothing to lose.
He would never have fit in at the law school Sasuke was going to, he'd only ever agreed because it was the love of his life and he didn't want to be separated. He'd been willing to give up his dream for Sasuke.
But maybe it wasn't enough. Naruto started to pick apart every word Sasuke said and despite being preached to the contrary by literally everyone else. So he watched his mouth. That's right, Naruto loudmouth Uzumaki was watching what he was saying. Which meant he kind of stopped talking. It was the only way he knew to not be annoying.
Talking wasn't the only thing he stopped doing. He also stopped eating. Because just in case Sasuke came back he wanted to show him he could be different. That he was losing weight and becoming attractive again. He even started to revisit their old hangout places in case they ran into each other by pure coincidence. Maybe if Sasuke just saw that he was trying to change-
But he couldn't do anything about the scars on his cheeks. Sasuke knew that was a sensitive subject for him. He'd started to accept the deformity after Sasuke had originally assured him they were hot as hell, but he'd been lying. Of course, he had…
Months passed like that, and soon he was going into his second year of university. He was debuting as a sculptor. Dark and gritty works that had him out of school and all over the country for exhibits. Then the world. It happened so fast and it was such a good distraction.
A distraction from the depression that held his hand until his graduation. That he could mold almost tangibly into his sculptures. Suddenly he was 23 and had everything he ever wanted. Money, fame, popularity, a cult following that loved him. They called him the Kyuubi. The ten tailed demon. They called him Jinchuriki, for the human sacrifice he seemed to pour into each sculpture.
He had everything he wanted.
But he wasn't happy.
Beep Beep Beep Beep.
"Good morning Tokyo! This is your 8:00 wake up call coming at you live from tower 109. It's Saturday, November 25th, 2017. Let's start out with the new hit single from Akatsuki to wash away the morning blues-"
Naruto slammed the off button with a groan. While he didn't have anywhere to be early he had a strict schedule. Up at 8:00. Because he wasn't the lazy slob he used to be, changed for reasons he could no longer admit without burning cheeks.
But today was an important one. He was moving to a new apartment in Minato, closer to his studio. He waded through an empty apartment, everything already packed up and hauled off by movers, and got a bottle of water out of his fridge. 'Breakfast'.
God, he was tired despite just waking up. He flipped through a stack of mail he'd neglected on the counter as he sipped the refreshing liquid. "Fanmail, fanmail, credit card, garbage, garbage, fan mail." He sorted the envelopes. He put the fan mail in the keep file and the junk mail in one to be disposed of. When he came to one with a stamp from his old high school he raised an eyebrow.
"A 5 year Reunion?" he flipped it over curiously. Wow, it had already been 5 years. 5 years since graduation and since he- since he'd dated anyone. It would be fun. He was popular enough and Sasuke was too antisocial to attend those sorts of things. It would be cool to reconnect with old friends.
With that decided and December the 16th marked a 'do-not-book' date, he got ready for the day. He was just grabbing his keys off the counter when someone knocked at the door. Curiously Naruto checked the camera before opening it with a grin. "Hey, guys!"
Neji, a senpai he'd met at university who came from a long line of potters and Sai, his calligraphy master of a friend he'd had since high school, stood with passive looks in the doorway. "Are you all packed up? We figured we'd come with you and help you unpack."
"We thought you might need help finding your new place in such an expensive complex. We were wondering if your brain was as lacking as your dick."
Naruto felt his eyebrow twitch at Sais' comment. How many times had he punched the lights out of that guy? He just didn't learn. "Good to see you guys too," he grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess I could use the help."
They started walking down to the car and Neji put a hand on his shoulder. "Sai told me about a school reunion of yours?"
Naruto raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Yeah. there's a lot of people I miss."
"And someone you don't," Neji challenged. "I'm only saying this because I'm concerned. That guy from before, he really fucked you up. I mean," he motioned to Naruto's body but the blond didn't understand.
"That guy wouldn't go. He's too busy living a lawyer's wet dream right now-"
"-Naruto are you following up on him?"
Looking affronted Naruto busied himself with climbing into his Lexus. "W-what? I just saw it in the paper is all."
"Since when do you read the paper."
"Since it became your business apparently," Naruto fixed a glare, signaling the end of the conversation.
The truth was he did keep track of Sasuke. Short of looking up his address and stalking him, Naruto knew everything. He knew Sasuke had graduated top of his class. He knew he was living in Tokyo. Which was why Naruto had refused to relocate to New York when asked.
And he knew Sasuke was seeing other people. Many other people. He had accepted he'd never get a chance with Sasuke again. But he still refused to completely forget about him. He was his first love, and those were hard for everyone. Naruto took it harder because he'd grown up so long without love when someone finally returned it he held on too tight. And nothing could fill that gap.
Today, though, would be a good day. They pulled up to the beautiful Toranomon hills. It had a hotel, restaurant, spa, gym, pool, literally everything he'd need in one building. And his apartment was one of two on the 46th floor. A spa took up half of the floor but there was still plenty of room for the spacious apartments. Naruto was going from living in a 1LDK to nearly a penthouse. It was a splurge but one he could afford at his young age. He didn't know why he was moving into something so above his class. Or, what he still felt his class was.
Maybe he just wanted to be more like him.
The elevator ride was short. The boys stepped inside and put down the bags they were carrying, full of the last little bit of Naruto's stuff. Glad to have hired an interior designer to cut out all the decorating crap, Naruto stepped inside and whistled.
The other boys did their own quiet sweep of the impressive entrance. Even Sai was speechless.
"You sure this is the right place?" Naruto asked, hesitant. "Neji?"
Neji nodded. "Yes, I told you I would pick out the best place with your budget. Though now that it is decorated it brings a new appeal."
Yes, It was going to be a good day.
