Thank you very much, dear readers! I wrote this next bit rather quickly - to a certain someone who was disappointed in the lack of Naruto last time, there is plenty of him this time. Poor Sasuke seems to have a rough time in this chapter and things begin to really get complex. If some are you leave this chapter going 'WHAT? Ahh!" then I'll feel I've done my job. I'll keep updating as soon as I get through the chapters. Please feel free to review, send me a message or anything like that.
"I haven't a word in the world to say to you," growled Sasuke. He could feel the infamous Uchiha temper rising within him, setting fire to his nerves and curling his fingers into fists. The sensation was coupled with a profound sadness the likes of which he knew that he would never be able to express or receive closure to - his was a tale that ended in tragedy, surely. The weight of this rage and pain forced his head to drop upon his chest, but he did not squeeze his eyes shut against it all - would not give in like that.
In the distance a bird dared to chirp and he'd reached his limit; the former aristocrat turned on his heel and began to leave before he gave in to the temptation of the steel upon his hip, though if asked to say he did not know whom it would be directed at. His mind whispered bitterly of his family. Stupid, stupid Kakashi. A man he had respected and depended on, once.
All the while the man drawn in shades of grey chuckled softly, apparently unaffected by whatever Sasuke was suffering from. To their side, fresh-faced Sakura had taken a step back, presumably in fright; the atmosphere between them was crackling in its intensity like lightning. Sasuke kept his head down even then - it was said that his eyes were as black as a bottomless well because no light existed therein, and whatever the fox Naruto had done to change that earlier that day was slipping away from him again.
"You two know each other?" the girl asked in a soft voice of incredulity. "I thought, Kakashi, I thought...Everyone in the place where you used to live had died?" Her jade green eyes turned anxiously upon the retreating back of Sasuke as though she were seeing a ghost - in a way, he was.
Kakashi's smile slipped from beneath his mask only the merest fraction of an inch, but that was enough for a man as unreadable and unpredictable as he was. As it was, Sasuke did not see this look which spoke volumes, would not turn to face his former mentor. "Everyone did die...except for a pair of brothers." There was no tightness to his voice, though it should have been there. It was not fair, what the Uchiha brothers had suffered through. It was a story as tragic as the old tales of lovers jumping to their death over ocean cliffs or samurai being run through by their most trusted advisors - yes, just like that, a tale as old and true to Japan as to be a very piece of the fabric of their oral history. Kakashi was certain that if anyone were allowed to actually know the story, it would be so.
Sasuke shook with anger at these words - Kakashi dared to say these words! - to the point where he almost sank to his knees - except that he would not give in like that, had not yet given in to the world crumbling within himself, not for all the exhaustion he bore that sleep would not fix, not for all the unfathomable truths he had yet to properly face. He turned back to face Kakashi, a man he'd once respected. Rage bubbled up within his throat and his voice came out as a hiss: "I do have a word to say to you: traitor." His voice was unrecognizable even to himself.
If Sakura had thought that the two men might come to blows before, she was likely certain that they were about to fight to the death by now. Her hand came up between them and Sasuke overlooked it completely until she addressed him: "I thought you wanted to repay Chouji for his kindness."
Sasuke could have screamed. His sense of decorum battled out the savagery within him and he wondered why the ridiculous girls couldn't just have given him some food and let him go - this village was unbearable. Kakashi was staring at him very, very seriously and yet he did not seem to feel it; all he could hear was the wind rustling in the trees, the sound of wood being beaten into shape for the upcoming festival, the distant shrieks of laughter. His eyes swiveled about to regard the pink-haired woman and the young, green colour of her kimono spoke to him of an untainted soul - whatever problems he had, he would deal with them. Alone. "Yes," he managed in a weary tone.
"My team," she began softly, "Was Team 7. In the past few years we have lost members for...reasons and I have been unable to do guard duty like the others in this village. When Kakashi came along we became a two person team - he's been very helpful to me and I am grateful, however you may feel about him. If you decide to join us for guard duty tonight, you will be paid fairly for your efforts." Her voice spoke of determination, that same curious switch from flaky to serious in the blink of an eye.
Kakashi was absolutely nonchalant.
Sasuke loathed the idea of saying that he was on the same team as Kakashi, but duty-bound to repay his debt. He weighed the options, looking around at the massive homes surrounding them, reminded once again of his own birthplace, now in ruination. Through the trees he could swear that once again he saw blue eyes and in that moment he was convinced to stay. If there was a chance that he might see Naruto again, he would take it. He needed the balm of the playful god's presence once more, if only once. "We split up, correct?"
Sakura smiled at his tone - he knew for himself that it was all business. He'd learned it from his father. Ah, his father. "Correct!"
"I'll take the direction of the shrine then," he said. When they raised eyebrows at him he added, "I don't know either of the other directions." He wouldn't even know how to begin to explain how he'd actually seen their (their?) shrine's deity. Sasuke scowled at Kakashi again as he thought of the new life the man had made away from his broken home. "See you in the morning," he said pointedly by way of a good-bye.
"Sasuke," came the now stern voice of Kakashi. "I..." Never betrayed you was what he seemed to be trying to achieve, but changed course: "Please consider well what happens when you determine the facts without checking your sources first."
Sasuke's dark eyes widened at this - did Kakashi know how it had turned out in the end? Did he know what had happened to Itachi? Impossible...no, it was impossible, it had to be. With a dismissive grunt and a well-practiced, elegant bow, Sasuke disappeared into the trees to the hot spring and, with any luck, the fox.
One phrase played on his mind: Betrayal on the face, obedience in the heart.
Itachi...
By the time Sasuke had navigated his way through the throngs of people the sun had begun to set in the sky; golden remnants of light sparkled down through the leaves of the trees and everyone was beginning to greet one another in the village, gathering here and there to give thanks for a hard day's work and enjoy the excellent company of people they'd known since they were born. In the far, far distance he could hear the rich, resounding bell of an unseen temple and was amazed at how much the grand forest had hidden. Upon a small pedestal at one end of the village, a girl with deep blue hair and eyes like mother-of-pearl quaked and quaked and Sasuke wondered why she was up there until she began to sing in the clearest, most beautiful voice he'd heard in a long, long time.
The sky is softly glowing with the setting sun, night is drawing near
The bell of the mountain temple has just begun to ring -
Hand in hand, let us all return home
With the flight of the crows, let us return
Since his mother, he'd supposed. His eyes followed her with curiosity even as he continued, jostled this way and that by people too wrapped up in their conversations to notice even a stranger in their atmosphere of the village was so warm and inviting - truly a home. Sasuke was unspeakably jealous; he felt as though he were a beggar peering through the shoji doors of a family home. Shaking his head, he continued on almost desperately towards the shrine. Every note of the girl's song was a sharp pain; a needle in his heart.
As the children returned home at the end of the day
And the great round moon rose so bright
Then the little birds began to dream
And the stars glittered golden in the sky.
The last streaks of muted pink and gold gave way to twilight and the first stars of night as Sasuke crawled up the steps of the shrine and threw himself down upon the platform there, his eyes dry but aching and raw with effort. It's just as I thought, he said to himself, being with people is too much for a man like me.
"You can't possibly mean that!" laughed a familiar voice; if 'blond' were a sound, Naruto's voice would surely have captured its essence. Sasuke forced his lips to curve a little at this, though it made the muscles he was clenching in his cheeks hurt. "People are wonderful, Sasuke Uchiha."
It was the second time the boy-god had called him that and he was beginning to feel as though Naruto was forcing him to remember his family name, to live with what he wanted to forget. As though he hadn't been trying to do that very thing. The golden puff of hair that covered the fox's head came into view as the youth stepped from the doors of the tiny shrine, away from whatever sacred objects were enclosed within. He was wearing a white kimono now with a navy blue hakama tied at his waist. Though the spirit was indeed beautiful in these young shadows of night, Sasuke couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"I would have never chosen those colours for you," he mumbled in amusement as Naruto sat down by his side. Caramel-coloured toes swung to and fro over the edge of the stage, bare this time.
"Oh?"
"I would have chosen something more obnoxious for you," Sasuke teased. Was he actually attempting to make a joke?
"My favourite colour..." Began Naruto, looking around as though it were a big secret. He leaned over Sasuke's splayed out form and whispered in his ear, "Is orange."
The same warm puff of moist air tickled along Sasuke's cheek and he shivered. Turning his head to look up at Naruto, he realized they were but a hair's breadth away from touching cheek to cheek. He regarded the crystal clear blue eyes, dark like Chinese bell flowers in the dim light; he held that gaze as long as he could bear it - tried to ignore the warm, nervous feeling curling within him.
After a moment he scrambled up with a gasp - the release of a breath he hadn't known he was holding. He settled down by Naruto's side and let the sandal straps dangle from his own toes, swinging back and forth as he was lost in his thoughts. He nearly did a double take when he noticed that the navy blue over-skirt had now become a burnt orange. He expressed this in words with a thoughtful "Hn" while in his mind, he reminded himself that he was becoming obsessed with a fox - exactly what he'd warned himself of in the beginning.
They sat in silence together for a few moments, Sasuke not needing to speak in order to enjoy the presence of Naruto, but his eyes kept straying to the young man - how soft he looked, how clean and pure and lovely, how warm he'd been, how fast his heart had beat within his human-looking chest. But you really aren't human are you, Sasuke thought as he considered the orange hakama.
By his side, a pained look came over the boy's features - a tightening of the corners of those fluted lips, a dimming of those shining blue eyes - and it occurred to Sasuke that Naruto had been listening in on his thoughts again. He blushed at that, tucking his face against his chest to hide the warmth of his cheeks. With a bright, almost convincing smile Naruto was back again, poking Sasuke in the side and full of sudden energy. "I thought you were on guard duty!"
"I never told you that," Sasuke returned wryly.
"And I," cried Naruto, "Never said I wouldn't read your mind! Jerk," he snickered.
A god had just called him a jerk. A god had just called him a jerk. Sasuke was incredulous. He was torn between being polite to deities and rising to the challenge - and felt his more basic instincts kick in. "I'm a jerk, but you're a brat. I think that's worse," he harrumphed.
"Ass."
"Loser."
"Um...um...jerk!"
"You said that one already, stupid."
"So?"
And so it continued, the two young men (if either could truly be called such) baiting and pestering one another like old friends or childhood enemies; like brothers; like companions. Like two people who were dear to one another despite the short time that had passed since they'd met.
Sasuke sighed, the last waves of quiet laughter ebbing from within as he stood to take his leave. "At the very least, I should make a round of the area and check to make sure that everything is all right. I take my work very seriously."
"You can't," breathed Naruto. There was desperation in his voice and his smooth, tan fingers clutched at pale wrists. "Not right now" His gaze went beyond Sasuke's shoulder, off into the black mass of trees, into the humming of night insects and the whistling of the breeze and if the dark-eyed traveler was not mistaken, there was fear in those eyes. The earnestness in Naruto's voice shocked Sasuke and he turned to look, the sound of an eerie music reaching his ears just as Naruto yanked him into the confines of the shrine's single room, shutting the door tight behind them.
The beating of drums and tinny scream of a flute drew closer and with it a myriad of voices, cackling and yowling as though in evil laughter. It sounded as though and endless parade of demons was approaching the shrine and Sasuke was certain he would have been petrified if it weren't for the quaking of a fox by his side. "Naruto?" he hissed softly. It was nigh on pitch black within the tiny room and all he could see was the faintest glint of wide blue eyes. "Naruto!"
"Shhh," pleaded the boy.
Why? thought Sasuke, but no answer was forthcoming. The inhuman laughter grew louder still; whatever it was - whatever they were - was outside the door now. Long, pale arms drew instinctively to shield the shivering blond creature by his side. One arm held the boy tight against him and his sword-hand rested on his katana, ready for action. He waited, barely daring to breathe. A sour, putrid odour of blood and sick and rotting meat wafted in from the creatures and still their voices rose in a great din until some unseen gesture brought everything to an abrupt halt. In the background the slow, singular beating of a drum set the rhythm fot the conversation that followed:
"How clever we are, dear brothers, dear sisters!" rasped a voice like steel screeching upon rocks. Sasuke shifted on his haunches, resisting the instinct to back away; even if he'd wanted to, there was no where to go. "We shall eat a feast this year, oh we shall eat a feast!"
"Clever us, clever us," another voice joined in - one that could only be described as a sustained and blood-curdling scream.
"Clever us to blame a fox," giggled another that might have been easily mistaken for that of a human child. It made Sasuke feel sick inside.
"Soft and juicy, red, red meat!" said yet another.
"The most scrumptious food to crunch and munch!"
A cacophony of twisted laughter arose as the group congratulated itself until the human hiding in their midst was dizzy with it all. He longed to cover his ears but could not leave his defensive stance. His calves burned from crouching and Naruto's head was buried in the folds of cloth upon his chest.
Naruto, thought Sasuke - Naruto, are you listening to me? A rustle against his chest told him that he was. What is this? What is going on?
"Do you suppose it will be as delicious as last time?" came a curious, scraping voice. They all seemed to fall silent then, pondering this question very seriously.
"I can't imagine anything could be so delicious," another murmured in so far as it could do so. A few others growled in agreement.
"It doesn't matter!" cackled the first voice in vicious glee. "We will feast and feast again!"
"Hurrah!" came the nightmarish refrain.
"But let's be sure that Akamaru doesn't find out," cooed the childlike voice.
"Hear hear! Let no one ever tell Akamaru!" called another, "For he is the only one..."
A yell interrupted whatever was coming next. "The moon is low in the sky and someone approaches!" With that, even the drum ceased to drone and the voices - the smell - vanished. Sasuke loosened his grip on Naruto and fell to his hands and knees. He had honestly never been so frightened in his life, never been so overwhelmed barring the day that his parents had died... There was no room in is panicked thoughts to even begin to wonder what great warrior Akamaru might be.
There was indeed another approaching though, as the creatures had said - Sasuke froze again, knowing that if he was found within the area otherwise offlimits to normal folk, things would not bode well for him. Moreover, nearly the entire night had passed like some madman's dream and he hadn't patrolled as he was meant to do. How could it have been so long? Only the aching of his stiff limbs told the tale.
"Naruto!" called a strong, youthful voice just as tiny streams of sunrise began to creep through the cracks in the wood. Sasuke blinked - all this time he'd thought he was the only one - he hadn't mentioned Naruto in case he turned out to be quietly insane.
"Naruto! Somehow you're in there, aren't you?" this voice, a decidedly human voice and male, sounded hopeful. Dark eyes fought to adjust to the scraps of light within the tiny, dusty room. In the back of his mind he realised that there were jars all around them, but he was too busy listening to this unseen visitor.
"Somehow you must still exist," continued the young man from beyond the shrine doors. His tone had sunk into the depths of regret now. "Please listen to me, Naruto. It's me, Kiba. It's me." And from within, tanned fingers pressed softly against the doors but the fox spirit did not answer. The blue eyes that Sasuke marvelled in were shut tight with pain.
"Naruto!" cried Kiba hoarsely...whoever he might be, he was begging now. "I know you're there, you've never come to say goodbye to me, though you and I were best friends so I know..." and here the voice collapsed into sobs, unnatural and slow in coming. Whoever Kiba was, he was not a man who knew how to let himself cry. At times he even sounded like the whining of a dog. Fists banged against the shrine doors and slid down in despair. "I know that you haven't left. Maybe you don't want to talk to us and I understand that my friend, but they're going to take Hinata this time and she was promised to me! She might have been in love with you but she was promised to me! I can't let this happen, Naruto, not to the woman I love. Please! Help me!"
Sasuke sat back helplessly. His lungs were bursting from holding his breath and all he could do was observe the exchange in two halves - one silent, the other unseen. Eventually the pounding turned to desperate scratching; human fingers clawing at the doors as though waiting to be let in. In time that too died down and it became clear that the mysterious Kiba had left.
Dark eyes peered out of the doors as they creaked open slowly, scanning the area to make sure that the coast was clear before he made his exit. With his hakama gathered close to his body, Sasuke crept out of the shrine and in a heartbeat Naruto was beside him. As his black, black hair floated up like feathers on the morning wind, as he sucked in lungfuls of cool, fresh air instead of dust and heat, as his almond eyes stared silently into the distance, he did not bother to turn to the fox at his side.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "Don't you judge me," he bit out. "You don't know what you've seen."
"No, I don't," admitted Sasuke. His voice was flat and dull. "How can I judge a god, anyway? ...If that's what you are."
The custard coloured hair of an angry fox god stood on end as he seethed. A red aura seemed to crackle through him - there was a gossamer outline of crimson lightning over Naruto with twitching ears and nine writhing tails, though Sasuke could not find it within himself to react. He had run the gamut of human emotion that night and had nothing left to give.
The crimson lines died away and once again Sasuke found himself next to Naruto as he ever was - as he had known him in their brief acquaitance - as he hadn't known him at all.
"How can you be like that?" Naruto sighed exasperatedly. "You, the man who never tells a story, are mad at me for not telling mine!"
"You could drag my story out of my brain at any time," the wayfarer replied softly. "I couldn't do the same for you."
"And another thing, you're the only one I could tell!"
"So tell me," Sasuke suggested.
"Someday...not now. Not this year, not this month, not this week." Naruto whimpered; it sounded more like a request than a statement.
If he'd had it in him to do so, Sasuke would have laughed. "Someday! When? When I pass by these parts again and I'm an old man and you're... you're whatever you are?"
"I thought..."
A heavy sigh drowned out any intention Naruto might have had of finishing his sentence. The boy looked about ready to start a fight; Sasuke should have known it was all a very bad idea to stay.
"You've seen sides of me that no one, I mean - I felt a bond with you, Naruto. I wondered, I wondered what the hell that was all about and now I think I know." Sasuke's deep, quiet voice came out in a long rumble; he couldn't remember himself ever feeling so inclined to speak before, let alone passionately. "You could hear all the things I couldn't bring myself to say. I just didn't realize how one-sided it all was." His features twisted bitterly. "I don't even know why I'm telling you now!" How could Naruto just leave him in the dark about these things? How could a spirit - a whatever he was from an obscure shrine reach out and literally touch him but not say a word of explanation or defense?
"Sasuke," whispered the fox, scrubbing his fists over his dry and tired eyes like a child, eyes that hadn't blinked for a second through Sasuke's speech. "Please understand me, I'm not trying to, didn't want to...I can't bear to say it all out loud." The sentence carried an unspoken 'I'm like you' at the end. And just like that his mood changed wildly again, his voice sounding more and more like a boy and less like a man. "Besides, you didn't have to protect me back there, you jerk! You're the one who needs protecting!"
Sasuke stared at him in disbelief and still Naruto's blue eyes were so very charming, unlike anything he'd ever seen before. He didn't try to reply, but Naruto continued. "And I'm not the only one who knows your deep dark secrets, anyway!"
Pale pink lips that once upon a time had looked like sweet and innocent like those of a wooden doll dropped open in surprise. He blinked and in that short space of time Sasuke found that he was once again alone, standing without his companion upon the steps of that accursed shrine that had drawn him back like an addiction. His features settled into his characteristic Uchiha frown and as he looked down along the path before him he witnessed the approach of one Kakashi Hatake, so-called teammate and former teacher, come to collect him from guard duty. Though it was in bad form at such a sacred location, Sasuke could not help but curse.
