Blinding Light
A Naruto Fanfiction, Sequel to "Wrapped in More than Kindness"
Warnings and Disclaimers: All Naruto names, places, and related indicia are copyright to Masashi Kishimoto. Only the plot, OCs, and writing style are mine. Also, this story is rated M for language, mature themes, and graphic sexual scenes. This story also contains yaoi or shounen-ai, more specifically a Naruto and Sasuke pairing. If you disapprove or are uncomfortable reading stories with these contents, please push the back button now.
And for those who are wondering, I am inclined at this point to make Naruto seme and Sasuke uke. I accept any and all comments, suggestions, and (most especially) reviews; you are most encouraged to review after reading. :)
To those who are planning to send flames, I'm not stopping you, but they will not deter me whatsoever in completing this story (and many more in the future). The more flames I receive, the more slash stories I will publish just to spite the whole lot of you, ha ha.
Chapter 4
"You're joking."
It wasn't even a question. It was more like a statement that needed only some sort of reaffirmation. It made Sasuke's eyebrow twitch dangerously. "Would I joke about something like this?" He aimed a glare at Naruto.
Naruto scowled right back. "How the hell would I know, teme? You've got one twisted sense of humor," he snarled. He stayed right where he was, by the door, just in case Sasuke did something…unexpected. Crossing his arms protectively over his chest, Naruto added, "This isn't payback for making you fall off the tree, is it? 'Cause you weren't even supposed to be there, spying on me."
Sasuke growled something unintelligible under his breath and raked a hand through his hair, making it look even wilder than before. "This isn't payback for anything," he said through gritted teeth. "Do you honestly think I'd be stupid enough to do something like this?!"
The impulsive answer 'yes!' was already at the tip of Naruto's tongue when he stopped to consider what Sasuke said. He studied him, standing a few feet away with his hands clenched into fists, his dark eyes sometimes shifting into the blood red and black swirl of his Sharingan. Sasuke must really be upset over this if he could not even keep it in check. Naruto clenched his own fists, feeling anger bubble in his stomach. He hated it when Sasuke was right. He took a deep breath and looked pointedly at Sasuke. "So…you love me?"
"Do the words 'accidental' and 'genjutsu' mean anything to you?" Sasuke snapped. His voice, Naruto noticed, seemed slightly higher pitched and high-strung than before. And his pale cheeks had a distinctive dusting of pink in them. "I fell in love with you, but I don't love you. There's a distinct difference, dobe."
Instead of arguing, Naruto scratched his head, thinking. He personally didn't see how they were different, but his guts told him it would be very bad to argue with a pissed off and very tense Uchiha. "So what are we going to do?"
Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "We?"
"Yeah."
Sasuke regarded Naruto stiffly. "We are not going to do anything. You," he pointed a finger at Naruto, "will stay away from me and mind your own business. I am going to find a way to remove this cursed technique by myself."
Naruto bristled, his blue eyes flaring up again. "You're talking as if I can do nothing but make things worse."
Sasuke didn't even bother hiding the smirk that graced his lips. "Oh, so you realized? I thought you never would."
Naruto took a step forward, his anger rushing through his ears. "You fucking teme, don't talk as if you're better than me!"
"Aren't I?" Sasuke snapped back, sneering at Naruto. "Between the two of us, who's the one who always gets left behind, eh usuratonkatchi?" At the back of his mind Sasuke knew he had to stop, to leave it at that, but a greater part of him relished in finding someone to shout at, to blame at for his predicament. He let out a bark of laughter. "You're a nothing, Naruto."
With a scream of rage Naruto launched himself at Sasuke at a speed the Uchiha did not think he possessed. Sasuke felt his breath forced out of him by the force of Naruto's impact against his body, and they both tumbled to the floor with a crash, Naruto weighing Sasuke down.
"Bastard!" Naruto howled, sitting up and grabbing both of Sasuke's wrists, pinning them to the floor on either side, his eyes twin furnaces of blue fire. He could feel his chakra spiking erratically with his anger. "You don't even know shit about me! You have no fucking right to…to…" Naruto's words faded as he stared at Sasuke. "W-what the…?"
Exactly what made Naruto stop from pounding Sasuke's face into indiscernible mush, he did not know, but the first thing he realized as the haze of anger cleared from his head was that Sasuke was not resisting. Naruto leaned back slightly. He was gripping Sasuke's wrists tightly in his own hands, his knees pinning Sasuke's body to the floor, but he was not struggling. His eyes made a slow trail from Sasuke's left wrist to his face. "Sa…Sasuke?"
Sasuke had turned his head so that Naruto could only see the right side of his face, but the vibrant reddish hue of his otherwise pale skin was very visible. His eyes were shut tightly, but his mouth was partly open, and he was panting for breath, as if he had just run miles. As Naruto shifted, he could almost swear he heard Sasuke moan. "Teme, what—"
Sasuke feebly opened his eyes, and turned slightly towards Naruto. "Get…off…me…teme." It sounded as if he was talking with great effort.
Naruto, being who he was, completely missed the unspoken desperation in Sasuke's tone. He frowned in slight confusion, his anger simmering down to annoyance as he leaned closer, trying to figure out what was happening. "What the hell's happening to you now?"
Sasuke tried to shake Naruto off, but slumped back on the floor, the redness of his skin turning a shade deeper. Naruto watched as Sasuke shut his eyes tightly for a second and gasped for breath, before opening his eyes again. There was a strange gleam there that Naruto could not identify. "Just get off. Now."
Naruto tilted his head. "Why?"
Sasuke turned his head until he was facing Naruto. "I warned you," he managed to say in a breathless rush, before arching forward, grabbing Naruto's lips with his own in a hungry, devouring kiss.
The kiss startled Naruto so much that he released Sasuke's wrists and tried to push himself backward. But Sasuke was too quick; he grabbed Naruto by the nape of his neck and pulled him closer, his other hand grabbing a handful of Naruto's hair, making him unable to break free.
Even to an inexperienced Naruto, it was pretty obvious that Sasuke had never kissed anyone in his whole life. It was insistent and demanding. The pressure of his lips insisted entrance into Naruto's mouth, which the blonde stubbornly did not give. Naruto suddenly felt Sasuke's tongue glide across his lower lip, Sasuke's breath ghosting across his skin, raw and hot and aching; something in Naruto kicked into gear, and he tore away from Sasuke's kiss with an effort, silently thankful that Sasuke had not tightened his grip on his hair any more than he already did.
"What the hell?" Naruto's anger returned, and along with it embarrassment, rushing to his cheeks. He was ready to pummel Sasuke and beat the crap out of him. But the look of Sasuke's face, a violent swirl of bitter anger and helplessness that was so unlike him, made Naruto stop. His anger dwindled into nothing, leaving only a curiously empty, dull feeling in his chest. His shoulders sagged. "This was what you meant?"
He felt, more than saw, Sasuke stiffen underneath him, before he gave the barest of nods. Sasuke seemed intent to stare at the wooden floor as he said, "The scroll said that physical contact only makes it worse." His voice was slightly hoarse.
Naruto immediately stood up and walked a few steps back. "I didn't know, Sasuke." He made to help his team mate up, but stopped when he realized he would have to hold Sasuke to do it. Instead he waited in silent shame as Sasuke picked himself up off the floor and sat heavily on his own bed. Naruto spoke up again. "This thing…it's that serious, isn't it?"
Sasuke gave out a short-lived, humorless chuckle. "You have no idea." His face was obscured by his hair, sitting in a crouched position as he was, with his hands together and resting on his knees. But the sharp anger and resentment in his voice was too vivid to go by unnoticed.
"Then why won't you let me help you?"
"Who says I need any help?" Sasuke finally lifted his head, and the usual arrogance and rock-hard stubbornness returned to the surface, as if the past few moments had never existed. "Even if I did, a dobe like you would be the last person I'd turn to."
Naruto knew it was just Sasuke's pride talking, but he couldn't help bristling at the words. He had heard enough. He had his own dignity, fuck him! "Fine," he spat, turning towards the door. "Do whatever you want. I don't care at all." He slammed the door, enough to almost tear it off its hinges, as he left the room. The sound rang in his ears as he stood out in the hallway, gritting his teeth.
I really don't care at all.
NxS NxS NxS
On hindsight, Kakashi thought it had been a very wise decision to have let Sakura have a look around town as soon as they got settled in the inn. He glanced at his door and sighed. Otherwise, she would have run to the boys' room as soon as she heard Naruto's angry shouts.
So this was what Tsunade had mentioned to him this morning. Kakashi turned a page of his erotic book, not really seeing the lines on the page. A genjutsu gone wrong…or in this case, gone right, and had terribly wrong consequences. Or maybe not so wrong, depending on how you look at it. It had taken very little effort for Kakashi to hear what his two gennin had been fighting about, since Naruto's voice had been on a constantly high decibel that was enough to be heard by the entire inn. It was a good thing Kakashi had enough presence of mind to block out the sound with a quick jutsu.
Kakashi chuckled as he remembered Naruto's particular words. Tsunade had explicitly ordered him to report Sasuke's activities on this mission. But maybe it would be better to watch for Naruto as well?
"I wonder what would happen tonight," he murmured with a smile as he turned his focus back on his Icha Icha Paradise.
NxS NxS NxS
That night, Sasuke did not sleep at the inn.
Naruto had half-expected this to happen; whenever Sasuke was upset or angry, he would usually keep to himself until it blew off. But this was not just another Sasuke-tantrum, and this certainly would not "blow off" that easily. He angrily shook his head when he realized he was staring at the Uchiha's untouched bed again, and shifted the backpack hanging from his shoulders. If Sasuke didn't want his help, that was just fine with him.
As he descended the stairs to the ground floor he saw Kakashi and Sakura already by the receptionist's desk, waiting. Sakura gave her usual, smiling 'good morning', her pink hair that barely touched her jaw line swaying. Naruto forced a smile onto his face and gave him own bouncy, loud response.
Kakashi turned to him just as he stopped in front of Sakura. "Where's Sasuke?"
Naruto inwardly flinched at the question, but managed a casual shrug. "Around," he replied, not quite covering the terse tone at the end.
Sakura tilted her head in question, frowning slightly. "What do you mean?" She looked up, and a smile broke through her face. "Sasuke-kun! Over here!"
Naruto cursed mentally as his shoulders unconsciously went rigid at the mention of Sasuke's name. He turned his head slightly; sure enough, at the edge of his peripheral vision, was a pair of hard onyx eyes and a pale, unruffled expression walking quite languidly in their direction.
"You didn't go back last night," Kakashi said quietly, his face betraying nothing as he studied Sasuke. Sakura's eyes widened in shock, turning first to Kakashi, then to Sasuke, worry slowly worming into her expression.
Sasuke grunted. "I was training."
Naruto cast a quick glance at Sasuke. He was scowling again, but this time he was avoiding everyone's gaze. His fists were clenched and thrust into the pockets of his linen shorts. It was just a glance, but Naruto could tell Sasuke was lying. He knew why Sasuke had not returned to their room last night, but he sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to tell Kakashi and Sakura about it. So Sasuke could take care of it himself, eh?
"Hey, aren't we supposed to be leaving?" he asked loudly, and two pairs of eyes turned in his direction. One pair was determinedly staring at something else.
Kakashi gave Sasuke one last, lingering look, before nodding. "Naruto's right. We have to be in Konoha by lunchtime."
"What? But we took almost three times that long to get here!" Sakura exclaimed.
Kakashi's eyes crinkled into a smile. "Well, then that means you have to run fast, don't you?"
"And tire ourselves out?" Naruto whined.
"What if I said I'll treat whoever of you gets to Konoha first with ramen?"
At the mention of ramen Naruto's ears perked up, and his eyes positively shimmered as he looked expectantly at Kakashi. "Ramen, Kakashi-sensei?! Really?"
"Why ramen?" Sakura asked with a half-pout, a hand on her hip.
"Then if it's you, I'll treat you to wherever you like," Kakashi replied.
An uncharacteristic gleam appeared in Sakura's eyes. "You're on, Kakashi-sensei."
"And you Sasuke?" Kakashi turned to his other student, one eye boring into him. "What would you like for a prize?"
Naruto saw Sasuke's gaze flicker in his direction before he shrugged, walking towards the inn's front doors. "Whatever."
"Whatever, huh?" Kakashi mused. His one-eyed glance flickered towards Naruto, standing beside him. "Did you two fight?"
Naruto only shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.
For a moment Kakashi's gaze turned hard and piercing, but when he shrugged his crinkled-eye smile was back. What would his two students do now? "Well, let's go back home guys."
NxS NxS NxS
"Hey, Naruto? Listen, um, can we go someplace we can talk?"
Naruto peeled open an eye and saw Sakura's face hovering above his, blinking at him. He covered the huge yawn that threatened to break his jaw and sat up. It was already late in the afternoon, probably an hour after he had decided to take a nap under the huge tree near the training grounds he used often. "What's this about?"
Sakura placed a hand on her hip and gave him a pointed look. "Is it really so strange if I try to talk to you?"
"No, not at all," Naruto answered hurriedly, not wanting to destroy Sakura's good mood and potentially put his own life in danger. He scratched the back of his head with one hand and looked around. "Well, we can talk here."
Instead of replying, Sakura gave him a small smile and sat down on the thick grass beside him, leaning against the huge trunk. He watched her face turn into a serious expression as she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "You haven't…haven't been keeping anything from me, have you?"
Naruto blinked, not sure if he had heard right. But he had extra-sensitive hearing, thanks to the Kyuubi taking up residence in his body, so he must have. "Keeping—?"
Sakura sighed and turned to look at him, her eyes probing and unwavering. "Have you two been fighting again?"
Now he was utterly confused. "Who?"
The pink-haired kunoichi made an irritated noise at the back of her throat and gestured sharply with one hand. "You and Sasuke-kun!"
Naruto frowned right back. "What the hell made you think we'd been fighting?"
Sakura sighed, her frown taking on a depressed look. "I notice things, Naruto. I may not be as quick or as strong as you or Sasuke-kun but—!" She looked at him determinedly this time. "I can see things aren't at all good between the two of you!"
Naruto sighed inwardly. He knew this was coming, but he had hoped Sakura wouldn't have noticed. It had been almost two weeks since their mission to escort the merchant's daughter, and it had been just as long since Naruto had talked with Sasuke. Oh sure they do missions together, but they never even exchanged greetings anymore.
To be honest Naruto was fine with it. Heck, he was happy not to have the teme on his case all the time! But as the days progressed worry began to worm through his indifferent attitude, and Naruto often found himself wondering if Sasuke had, indeed, found a way to dispel the genjutsu Naruto had accidentally cast on him.
There was no way for Naruto to know except talk to Sasuke, but the Uchiha heir seemed determined to keep his word, and never stayed long after training and missions to give Naruto any opportunity for conversation. It was like he was always there, but never really there.
Now Sakura had noticed Sasuke and Naruto's oddly tense and silent treatment of each other. And if Sakura did, then Kakashi surely had already. Naruto let himself back down onto the grass and stared up at the sky. "We're not fighting," Naruto said truthfully.
"You're lying." He could hear the accusation and the anger creeping into her tone. He frowned at the orange and pink hues above him.
"I'm not."
"Then what's going on, Naruto?" Her voice seemed on the verge of crying now, and laced thickly with pain. The silent question that was never asked hung heavily in the air. Why won't you two tell me anything anymore?
Naruto turned to his side, his back facing Sakura. He inhaled the scent of the grass and the earth, a cool afternoon breeze ruffling his golden hair. "I don't know," he said after a while, his voice uncharacteristically soft and contemplative. "Maybe you should ask Sasuke."
Sakura gave a bitter laugh. "Don't you think I've tried? The only thing I get out of him is a glare and a grunt before he disappears."
Naruto snorted softly. "And you think I have a better chance of getting him to answer?"
"Don't you?" Sakura shot back. Naruto could feel her piercing gaze behind him, and he gritted his teeth.
"We hate each other, Sakura-chan."
"Yes, but you're friends!" Sakura cried out, grabbing Naruto's arm and pulling him roughly so that now he was facing her. Her teal eyes brimmed with tears, but they did not fall. She gritted her teeth at him. "You always tell me how you hate him, but I know you both treat each other as friends! Sasuke thinks of you as a friend more than he ever did me, Naruto!"
Naruto could see the flash of pain in her eyes even as she said the words, all of them brutally honest. He was taken aback by how upset Sakura was with all of this, even if she had no idea what was happening. But Naruto knew why. "You're worried that Orochimaru's curse seal might be affecting him, aren't you?"
Sakura stopped and looked away. Jealousy and anger twisted Naruto's stomach, but he quickly stamped them down. He gave Sakura a smile. "Don't worry, it has nothing to do with the snake bastard's seal. If it did, Tsunade baa-chan would know, and she'd fix Sasuke up good before you can say 'hokage'."
"Really?" Sakura's voice had turned hopeful, and she looked at Naruto with glistening eyes. Naruto forced his smile to go wider, and he nodded.
"Definitely," he grinned. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll go and look for Sasuke and ask him."
Oh shit.
Naruto gave a surprised 'oomph' as Sakura rushed towards him, giving him a bone-breaking hug. "Thanks, Naruto," she whispered into his neck before releasing him. Her face was now beaming. "Yeah, that would be great."
He gave her a thumbs-up sign. "No problem!" he exclaimed with an energy he did not felt, as he mentally groaned at his own stupidity, and wondering why his luck was always seemed to get him into the worst case scenarios.
Had he done something so cruel to deserve such a fate?
NxS NxS NxS
End Chapter 4.