Gaikokujin

:a whole new world:

Chapter Two

Author: shutupandsing

Rating: M

Summary: Backpacking through Southeast Asia with thirteen other strangers wasn't Sasuke's idea of a stress-reliever. Especially after meeting one jaded Westerner who can't seem to accept his own culture.

Comments: Three words: This is fun.

I think I got enough reviews and alerts and favorites in my inbox to be able to say I should continue this and actually be successful. I've also noticed that everyone's names are traditionally Japanese and not American, Thai or Vietnamese. Just bear with me and play along; I can't exactly change those. :D A special thanks to Anime Yaoi Lover for pointing out a scatter-brained typo I had in the first chapter.

Mood Song: Miseria Cantare by AFI

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto

Day One

Nha Trang, Vietnam - Dha Nang, Vietnam

The lone person whose flight was delayed turned out to be a cousin of Neji's, a shy, reserved girl with long, violet hair and a curvy figure. Hinata was her name. She was very pretty and Sasuke noticed that a lot of the men in their group took immediate interest.

This angered him for some reason. Being a male himself and subject to the common stereotype that all men were dogs, his fellow gender members weren't doing much in the way of redeeming themselves. He didn't even know the girl but he could tell by Kiba's long-eyed drool, he felt the need to protect her.

The Thai royalty were a whole different story. Before they even stepped out of their stretch limo, the kind that Sasuke wondered briefly how it made it through the terrain of the road that led them here, he knew that he was finally meeting someone of money.

The first to step out was a total bombshell; tall, curvy and sensuous. If he was an any lesser person, he was sure his eyes would have bugged out of his head. The aura she gave off was predatory and he knew immediately that this was no girly-girl but a tomboy through and through. Even if she did carry herself well as a lady.

The next out of the vehicle was male and by his features Sasuke could tell that he was related to the woman in front of him. The man was built, a trait that he quietly envied, himself being of the lean, lithe stature. The man's dark eyes scanned the crowd before him, looking thoroughly bored with it all.

The last to step out of the vehicle was redheaded and surprisingly shorter than his siblings, yet there was just something about him that made you immediately aware that he was the one in charge. Although being skinny, he also gave off the same predatory aura his sister had, except ten times as stronger.

"Ah, finally. The last three people to arrive and consequently, the ones we've been waiting for," Gai cried out in his untimely manner. "Now, this adventure can finally begin! After introductions of course… Now, now, let's not be shy. We'll all go around the group and say our name and our place of origin."

Being the over-achiever that he was, Kiba waved his hand in the air to start and then it proceeded clockwise.

"Kiba, Inuzuka. Alabama in the States but I'm living in Tokyo for the time being."

"Nara, Shikamaru. Kobe, Japan." His eyes drooped in boredom and a hand was thrown over the back of the neck, probably in the effort to keep his head from lolling due to jetlag.

"Akimichi, Chouji. Kobe, Japan." Sasuke wondered how he got that out around a mouthful of crackers. Did this kid ever stop eating?

"Maito Gai! The wonderful country of Vietnam!" He winced.

"Rock Lee. Country bursting with youth, also Vietnam!" Another wince.

"Tenten. China. Living here in Vietnam." Could someone sound any more bored and laid-back?

"Hyuuga, Neji. Laos." Straight-forward and professional, just like he probably always was.

"Hyuuga, H-Hinata. Laos." Adorable stutter.

"Uchiha, Sasuke. Sendai, Japan."

"Ino, Yamanaka. Sacramento, California in the US." A bit ditzy but still cute as hell.

"Kankuro. Hat Yai, Thailand." This was said around the quiet conversation he was holding on the other end of his cellphone.

"Temari. Hat Yai, Thailand." Her inky teal eyes swept the crowd before her mouth settled into a holier-than-thou smirk. Sasuke liked this chick.

"Gaara. Thailand." Okay. That had no emotion in it at all.

"Um, my name's Naruto Uzumaki. I live in Texas. United States."

Sasuke furrowed his brow at this. Naruto was clearly Japanese by his features, excluding the blonde hair and blue eyes, so why would he say he was originally from the US? Sure, it was possible that he might have been born a US citizen but wouldn't he still have brought up his heritage regardless?

Naruto caught him watching him and raised an eyebrow curiously. Sasuke quickly glanced away and watched Gai race back and forth from the little building with his own luggage. The bus they were going to be traveling in was absolutely ancient, much worse than the cars they took down from the airport. It resembled an old safari van with large bucket seats, -the leather peeling away from the foam-, and open sides all around except up near the driver.

Sasuke quickly batted away the thought of the millions of germs contaminating the vehicle and wondered briefly what the royals would think of the accommodations. Clearly, they didn't mind because Gaara was already boarding the van, picking out a seat at the back to slouch on and gaze unseeingly out at the trees. Weird guy.

Consequently, seating arrangements were pretty much first come, first serve, and Sasuke winded up somehow sitting next to Naruto himself. He had originally opted to sit next to Ino, just because, but he saw Kiba pout when he thought no one was looking and figured some guys deserve a break every once a while.

Naruto shot him a half-assed attempt at a friendly smile before turning back to his cell phone, fingers flying at mach speed against the touchtone buttons. Whoever he was texting had to be really impatient because as soon as his fingers rested for a moment, a sharp vibration shook the phone and a new text message popped up on the screen.

"Who're you talking to?" Sasuke questioned, confused at himself for being the slightest bit interested.

"Sakura. She's my girlfriend; the one I showed you the picture of," Naruto replied, not glancing up from his phone. After a few moments, he stopped and slid the phone into his lap and turned his attention to Sasuke.

"So, what do you do for a living?"

Sasuke blinked, not accustomed to people asking him who he was. His name was well-known in Japan, even if you have never visited the country. "I work at a firm as CEO."

Naruto gave a long gusty sigh and rolled his eyes. "Politician?" he whined, giving Sasuke a look that made the man's insides squirm in irritation. Despite the fact that wasn't even what he was.

"No. I'm a lawyer. I work in a law firm."

Naruto actually looked pained this time. "A stiff? Ah, that's worse. You should have lied and stuck with politics."

Sasuke gave a snort of annoyance, fingers gripping the seat in front of him till the knuckles turned white. Who was this kid to make fun of what he chose to do with his life? How dare he!

"You know, I was kidding, right?" Naruto murmured, amused. "You shouldn't take things so seriously. It has to make life pretty boring for you, don't you think? If you just let go and flow with what comes along, you'll find that you're going to be a lot happier than you were."

"You're starting to sound a lot like our hair-brained dumbass of a tour guide, you know?" Sasuke snapped impatiently.

Naruto gave a short, barking laugh before slouching in the seat, knees pressed up against the faded green leather of the one in front of them. "He seems happy enough in life being who he is."

"Why did you say you're from Texas?" Sasuke questioned suddenly, remembering what Naruto had said earlier about being born there and not bringing up his Japanese ancestry.

"Because…that's where I'm from," he replied, a confused expression flitting across his features.

"But you're Japanese. Why didn't you bring that up when we were going around and introducing ourselves?"

Naruto's face quickly morphed into something uncomfortable and he actually seemed a little put-out that he was being asked this particular question. "The only thing Asian about me is my name and my grandmother, okay? I'm an American, born and bred. I don't consider myself Japanese at all and I don't like when others do."

Sasuke wanted to ask why but it seemed this kid had a temper like a fuse on him and he figured it was best not to upset that delicate balance, Naruto being the only one so far he could tolerate for extended periods of time. The boy next to him slumped lower in his seat and resumed texting on his cellphone.

Sasuke sighed quietly and watched as Gai went through a mental checklist for everything they had, looking a bit stressed. The only sound that could be heard on the van was the crinkling of a potato chip bag as Chouji devoured them in front of him.

They were about to take off on the so-called adventure of their lives and no one seemed particularly excited to do just that.

About an hour after passing the line of Nha Trang, Sasuke was immediately hit with the humidity that pressed around them. Naruto didn't look the slightest bit uncomfortable but then again, he did live in Texas so he was probably used to this sort of heat.

Every so often, he glanced at the back of the van to make sure all his luggage was intact. Gai didn't seem surprised to see it all when everyone else made a point of teasing him about it. For that, he was eternally grateful. If something went wrong, Sasuke was prepared. Not like the rest of them.

Naruto's only backpack sat between his feet on the floor and Sasuke glanced over it, noticing the tears and rips, most of which that were covered in duct tape.

"Don't you think it's time for a new backpack?" Sasuke questioned playfully, wanting the boy to go back to the carefree mood he was in when Sasuke first met him.

Naruto glanced at him, the first time he'd done so in two and a half hours. He almost seemed startled that Sasuke was still sitting next to him. Smiling crookedly, he wrapped his fingers around the shoulder strap. "I've had this old thing for forever. It just seems pointless to get rid of it now."

Sasuke blinked back at him; that explanation didn't make sense at all. Then again, Naruto himself didn't make much sense either. Sasuke could tell that during this trip, he would be making two steps forward and Naruto would take twenty steps back.

It's not like Sasuke really wanted to be friends with him, not used to having to make them in his life. People who he had met either loved him or hated him. The only reason he had gotten lucky with Suigetsu was that they grew up together from early childhood, trailing behind their fathers on the golf course.

Quite frankly, people irritated him and Naruto was no exception to that. He was people. Yet, he wanted at least someone to understand or at least, talk to him on this trip and Naruto seemed the most likely candidate. So, ignoring the oohs and ahhs of the other people around them as they took in the breathtaking scenery, Sasuke swiveled sideways in the seat, facing Naruto, and rested his elbows on either seat.

"Tell me about yourself, Naruto. What do you do for a living?" His voice surprised him; he wasn't used for it coming out sounding actually interested.

Naruto's face mirrored his for a moment before breaking out in a grin so big that Sasuke wondered if sunlight was going to start shining out of his ass.

"There's not much to tell. At least, not anything you would find interesting, Mr. Big Hotshot. Let's see, uh, I've grown up just outside of Austin for as long as I can remember. It's always been home to me and I never had that gripping urge to leave like most people my age had. I live with my grandmother, the one I told you about being Asian, remember?" He paused, trying to sort through his thoughts that Sasuke knew must be running rampant in his brain.

"She's not really my g-ma, but she's been around since the beginning so I call her that. She's a crazy old bat, regardless, and her boyfriend writes porn for a living."

Sasuke's eyebrows raised at this but he remained silent, waiting for Naruto to finish his tale so the boy could go back to breathing.

"I used to work in the oil-fields but Tsunade hated having me coming in all greasy without having money to show for it so now I'm a bartender, which I guess isn't much of an upgrade but I like the night-life."

Naruto trailed off afterwards, looking a bit sheepish. "I talk too much, don't I?"

"Yeah, you do, "Sasuke replied, "but I was the one who asked in the first place."

Naruto smiled broadly, flicking his phone open and closed between them. "Well, if that's the case, for the remainder of this trip, everything I do is your fault."

Something glinted in his eyes when he said that and Sasuke wondered just how much trouble could this boy manage to get in thousands of miles from home.

Five hours later, Sasuke awoke from his doze to see people exiting off the bus. Ino brushed against his shoulder with her hip and Sasuke was immediately aware of the soft curve of her thigh and the excited smile spread over her face. Jesus, she was beautiful.

"Where are we?" Sasuke asked, rubbing his eyes and wiggling his feet to get the feeling back into them.

"I think it's called Marble Mountains. Gai said it would be really sweet to explore. But we're going to be left behind if you don't get your ass a-movin'," Naruto mumbled next to him.

Standing with a groan and popping out the numerous kinks along his spine, Sasuke exited the bus and trailed behind the rest of the group, who were already at the base of the mountain, ready to enter the dark cave that other tourists were coming in and out of. Gai was standing out front, gesturing wildly at the splendor behind him.

"These are the Marble Mountains. We're in Dha Nang, if anyone wanted to know, by the way. All five of these hills are made almost entirely of limestone and you guessed it, marble."

"They're named after the five elements: Kim, Thuy, Moc, Hoa, and Tho. Metal, water, wood, fire, earth, respectively. There's a lot of Buddhist sanctuaries among the numerous tunnels but please don't touch; they've just recently banned the extracting of rock and marble from the caves. Any questions?"

"Sooo," Shikamaru drawled, "can we go in now? It's hot as hell out here."

Gai's face lit up with a smile and he motioned for everyone to fall in line behind him and then his body was seemingly engulfed in the darkness of the cave. The whole place was so pitch-black that Sasuke could actually feel his pupils dilating in size.

"Your eyes will get accustomed to the dark in a moment, just keep the person in front of you in reach till then," Gai called from the front of his group.

Sasuke sighed heavily and felt a squeak next to him as his fingers brushed a smooth hand.

"S-sorry," a demure voice whispered and he recognized it as Hinata. The outline of her body looked hunched over in a defensive position and Sasuke briefly wondered if it was her time of month and those were cramps.

"T-this is going to s-sound stupid but c-can I hold your h-hand?" she stuttered out again. "I have t-this thing with the dark and I don't w-want to trip."

Sasuke smiled reassuring but he doubted she could see. Gently, reaching out with his right hand, he found hers in the darkness. Her palm was soft and he could feel the little pinpricks of her nails as she tightened her grip around his fingers.

"So, is Laos pretty?" he questioned softly, attempting to break the ice and hopefully also break Hinata out of her shy shell.

"It's b-beautiful. Very green. Lots of m-mountains," her quiet voice replied and Sasuke found that he could now see most of her features and the color of the shirts of the people in front of them.

Pretty soon, the whole cave was visible to his eyes and he got the feeling that this is what it must be like for a bat all the time. It was then that he noticed the large stone temple that the rest of the group had stopped at. Hinata let go of his hand and ventured forward to explore, not frightened anymore now that she could see.

Light footsteps to his left brought Naruto to his side, startling Sasuke that the boy had been walking behind him the whole time. "She's cute," he threw in, nodding in the direction of the petite Laotian girl who was gingerly tracing a guard statue that was sitting in front of the temple.

"So is Ino," Sasuke added, throwing a rare smile Naruto's way.

"I'll kick your ass." It was said in a playful manner but it also had the underlying hint of the truth behind it. Naruto, no doubt, wouldn't like it if Sasuke pursued Ino in the way he had been thinking; she was like a sister to him.

"It doesn't matter anyways. I'm not here for a relationship. I've come to get rid of stress, not gain more of it."

"You really think relationships are stressful? That must be just you cause I seem more carefree and happy when I'm with Sakura than with anyone else," Naruto called over his shoulder as he joined the group just as Gai began delving into a tale of how the temples had been built.

Sasuke scoffed lightly under his breath. What did Naruto know about relationships? He probably wasn't really even that committed to his girlfriend. Yet, something triggered in him and he felt waves of jealously sweep over his form, a feeling that was entirely foreign to him, having been given everything he had ever wanted in his life.

Why did someone as annoying as Naruto get to be so happy in life? What did some jaded American who thought he wasn't Japanese but obviously was know anyway?

"…the mountains were used by the war lords in the past to store their wealth and it was the responsibility of the monks to safeguard the treasures…," Gai's voice chimed in as Sasuke inched his way closer to everyone else.

Naruto was laughing happily at something funny Kiba had said and Ino glanced over her shoulder and gave him a look that quickly shut him up, but the hint of a smirk still lingered on his features.

Sasuke thought it was pretty clear right then. He knew nothing.

Author's Note: I hope that the characters are developing a bit more. To all those NaruSasuNaru fans out there, this isn't going to be one of those insta-love kind of stories. Love isn't like the coffee you drink in the morning; at least not this one. But it'll get there.