(A/N: Summer school started next week Monday and that's a good/bad thing because I have more time to type! :D R&R my people!)


Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto or anything else relating to the work of Masashi Kishimoto.

Warnings: Language.Hints of a sex scenes but no actual lemon. Sexual Content. This is Yaoi, I think… so if you no like, then be gone!

Title: Wavering Hearts

Chapter 4:


Mikoto blinked awake, surprised when there was noises downstairs. She quickly turned her head to find her husband frowning grumbling nonsense in his sleep. Itachi momentarily popped in her mind, maybe he was back. Itachi had yet to make an appearance yesterday.

Mikoto wasn't worried that much, it didn't really surprise her anymore. Itachi used to disappear days on end, not telling a soul, coming back when you least expected it. Before, it used to bother her that he never told her where he was going.

She sighed blinking the rest of her sleep away, Mikoto got out of bed, careful not to wake her still sleeping husband. Curiosity got to her, Itachi never had this much noise in the morning, he boy could walk right past you without making a noise.

Slowly walking down the hall and down the stairs, she popped her head through the opening to the kitchen to find not Itachi but Sasuke. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke's head quickly turned to the voice he heard. "Mother?" he bowed apologetically. "Sorry for waking you, I was looking something to eat before I leave…"

"Leave? Where?" Mikoto said raising an eyebrow. This was going to be full of surprises, she could tell already.

"I must be heading to Naruto's." he said once again turned to search for a quick breakfast.

"The sun isn't even out yet. How far is it?" Mikoto asked getting amused.

"It's enough to take a while…" Sasuke muttered unsure how far it was, he wasn't exactly fully concentrated when they were heading back. Mikoto giggled quietly noticing the blush creeping on her son's face.


"I wonder what I'm going to have to do..?" Sasuke said on the way. "Whatever it is I'm going to do my best." He said determined.

Arriving to his destination somewhat tired Sasuke knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he tried again, louder this time. Nothing.

"I'm coming in!" he yelled. Entering the cabin, it was silent. "Naruto?" there was no response. Gaining courage Sasuke ventured further in, and went to Naruto's room in the back.

There was a note on bed, it read, in one could say very colorful penmanship;

Tsunade I'll be at the docks,
I will be gone by noon so,
tell Sasuke this is his challenge
live without me and tell him to forget me
-Naruto

Crumpling the paper in his fist. "That… that… bastard!" at the moment he didn't care that he was going against the promise he made to his mother when he was little.

"He was going to freaking leave!" Sasuke huffed angrily as he stomped out of the household.

"There's no way that idiot's leaving without me..." he said gritting his teeth, un-crumpling the paper he notice the ink was smeared. "I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."

Sasuke started running towards the docks it was just going down mountain, through the village, following the dirt road behind the Yamanaka shop.

"Does that idiot really think he can fucking do that to me and just leave?!" Sasuke clenched his fist even tighter. "Like I'm some kind of play thing!"

Gaining speed almost tripping over a stone, he made a quick turn and saw the roof tops of buildings in the village edge.

Running through the village he drew more attention than he would have liked. Mentally checking off the important buildings to pass, the market, the well, the fish mongers, and then the, "Yamanaka Shop…"

Sasuke quickly ran past it and started down the dusty path. "Sasuke! Where are you going in such a hurry?!" he heard a voice yell.

It sounded like Inochi's daughter, Ino. It's not like he just wanted to ignore her, she was a nice girl, but she wasn't the one he going to marry. He was going to marry the stupid blonde idiot Naruto and nothing was going to change his mind now.

"I'm going to get my husband!" Sasuke smirked knowing she would stop her advances on him. His smirk grew when he heard a high pitched squeal.

"Who is it?!" he heard Ino yell. "What does he look like!?"

"In time!" Sasuke yelled back speeding up again. He heard a faint, 'Tell me everything when you get back!'

Coming to an abrupt stop he noticed the smell of fish, cooked fish, smoked fish, everything edible that was brought in from the fisherman. Panting Sasuke squinted his eyes looking for the head of golden hair.

Sasuke noticed a person removing their hood to radiant bright yellow hair in the sun. Whisker-like scar adorn in each cheek, there was his idiot, the freaking prick. There was a black hair man with a ponytail almost the same height as Naruto, talking to him.

Quickly taking deep breaths he jogged down the small hill to the dock, noticing another man walking off a ship approach the two. This one was taller than the ponytail guy but still smaller than Naruto, red fang-like marks on each cheek. Sasuke felt bubbly inside for finding a giant to love and protect him. No, bad Sasuke, focus, he reminded himself.

Naruto threw the knapsack he was carrying to the man with red marks, which he poorly caught dropping it on the wooden planks below.

"Kiba you dog! Pick up my shit!" he heard Naruto yell then ponytail guy started glaring at him.

"Naruto not here… these are good people…" Sasuke heard the ponytail guys grumble. "Now get on the ship. Temari is mad at it is for leaving her behind."

"Nar'to I don' know wot the 'ell ya carry'n in this bag… The Kiba guy said glaring at Naruto picking up the bag lunging it over one shoulder, "…but it's a 'eavy load alright."

Sasuke was good while away, not really sure what to do next. But he's first objective was to get on that ship unnoticed then give Naruto an ear full when they leave.

"Yeah, yeah don't dress in knot." Naruto said calmly leering at Kiba.

"Ya wan'na start sum'thin?" Kiba cocking his head.

"Ladies… Ladies…" the ponytail guy said walking in between them. "Both get on or when we get back I'll tell Hinata you dimwits almost caused a scene." Both parties swallowed loudly, getting nervous.

"Now Shika we don't want to do anything that rash…" Naruto stated. "Truce, Kiba?"

"For now," Kiba said quickly and walked on the ship. "Now hurry the 'ell up! Akamaru's wait'n!"

"You two are so troublesome…" Shika said sratching his chin hair lazily. "If we leave now we should make it back to Temari's in about two days' time, Neji told me he was tagging along on the way. I've already re-stocked the supplies for a week's trip. Temari said she feels a storms coming…"

Shika yawned tiredly walking on the ship as well. "Naruto you take us back now, you're the captain after all."

Naruto was the captain; he was supposedly a wanted criminal. Not that he really cared now, he was going to be his husband whether he liked it or not.

"It can't be help I suppose…" Naruto yawning. "How many? Does it work here? Never mind on stocks you've told me."

Shika looked back momentarily. "Enough. It should, not so sure don't come here often." He continued walking up the board. "I'm going to sleep…"

Naruto began walking behind him. "Now…" Sasuke whispered to himself as Naruto disappeared in to a doorway, running up the wooden board connecting the ship with the platform. The ship's deck was wider than it set out to be.

There was a few men walking about doing things, he wasn't so sure what they were doing. Avoiding any unnecessary confrontations he dashed down some wooden steps that led deeper in.

The air was heavier in the room but he need to stay in a place to hide before they left. It was darker; the only light coming was from the steps and small glassed windows on the sides.

There was more steps leader deeper, on the other side of the dark room. There were hammocks to the sides and men's belonging underneath them. Footsteps, men grumbling and loud noises were heard above. Deciding to go deeper, he walked across the room quietly.

The next room was darker and there was fewer windows, again more hammocks. The steps leading deeper were once again across the smaller room. There was yelling and running above, and then the ship began to move.

There was no wind today and it struck curiosity to Sasuke how the ship was moving, he didn't see oars on the sides either. Sasuke's thought were interrupted by the strange noises resonating from the floor below.

Sasuke thought it sound like panting, but it also sounded dangerous. Naruto was dangerous so might as well get used to it, starting by figuring out what was making next room was close to being pitch black, mind the three windows on the side, and it smelled like dog for some reason. Sasuke walked forward and looked out the small window; he could see the port on the distance.

They were pretty far now, and then it occurred to him. He was leaving, without as so much as telling his Mother or Father or anyone what he was doing, it couldn't be helped he decide.

There was growling and Sasuke turned around to face the larger shadow moving. It was shaped like a wolf or dog, but it was bigger, -way bigger than any wolf. He swallowed nervously as it approached, a giant white paw stepped out from the shadows, followed by a head another paw and then the body.

The dog-wolf-animal thing was huge, almost if not as tall as he was. The animal stopped growling and bared its teeth at him, the sharp canines aligned in rows, looking as if they could break skin by just touching them.

Sasuke's heart was hammering against his chest, threatening to make its way out. Without really noticing there it stood in front of him, Sasuke skin crawled feeling the dog's heavy breathing, it stunk.

Sasuke swallowed, and reached his hand out to touch. His mind telling him to not touch to run away or it was going to kill him if he didn't but his curiosity was killing him now, was its fur soft or was coarse? Stupid curiosity was going to get him killed.

His breath stopped and he shut his eyes, when the dog's head moved. Sasuke felt a cold nose poke his palm and he slowly opened an eye. The giant dog then started rubbing the bridge of his nose on his palm. It whined and started panting, licking his hand in the process.

"You're not going to kill me…" Sasuke smiled, running his hand on its fur. It felt soft around the face but it felt coarser around the ear and neck. "Ew… gross…"

Sasuke cringed when the dog began licking his face. The canine took about two step forward knocking Sasuke down and began licking him. "Stop that! It tickles!" Sasuke yelled laughing as the dog continued his licking assault.

"Akamaru, down." A voice said top on of him; the dog stopped and sat down panting and Sasuke scurried to his feet. "Who the 'ell are you?"

Sasuke mouth ran dry, and couldn't find his voice. "I-I'm…" Sasuke momentarily forgot his name; he closed his eyes, not wanting to see the man in front of him, who was starting to scare him. "…S-Sa…suke…"

"Wot?" Kiba said louder making Sasuke flinch. "Wot's ya name?"

Sasuke took in a deep breath and tried again. "Sasuke… My name's… Sasuke…."

"So ya can speak!" the man started chuckling and Sasuke opened his eyes. "For a mom'nt I thou't ya were a mute!"

"So the 'ell you do'in 'ere?" It was Kiba, the red marks on his cheeks being the key evidence. "Akamaru there us'aly don like people, it's why he stays down 'ere…"

"What is he…?" Sasuke asked, it wasn't anything you could find home.

"He's a mix breed, between wot I dunno… My Ma gave 'im to me w'en I was a lad." Kiba said walking over and petting the beast named Akamaru.

"I like ya, not many people can pet my boy 'ere wit'out be'in bit." Kiba grinned shaking his head. "Poor suckers, lost 'em self sum fing'as…"

Sasuke wasn't so sure why that was so funny, those people lost fingers, right? Kiba's speech was unique.

"Ya did'nt answer me ques'ion." Kiba finally said narrowing his eyes.

"I followed my idiot, Naruto, the prick was going to leave!" Sasuke yelled remembering why he was there in the first place. "Where is he? I got a few thing to say asshole."

Kiba momentarily remember something Naruto said, he was coming back because he got himself in mess with one of the natives. That they were going to demand marriage and he didn't want to bring him into his bigger mess.

"So yar the bloke…" Kiba nodded. "You're a looker, I'll give ya that."

Kiba walked past him and began climbing the steps. "Come on, don ye wan ta say sum'thin ta Naruto?"

"Of course." Quickly petting the beast again he followed behind Kiba. "The stupid, freaking, handsome, dumbass, idiot, asshole…"

Kiba grinned; this was going to be fun to watch. Sasuke seemed pretty pissed, judging by the all the things he was calling and there was some pretty interesting ones like sexy or along those lines. Quickly taking a glance back Kiba saw the blush on Sasuke's cheeks.

Kiba stopped at the captain's room, Sasuke accidentally bumping into Kiba, falling down on his butt. "Ya got pretty face but no strength, there S'uke." Kiba laughed. "Naruto! I've rescued ya damsel in destress!"

"It's distress! You dog!" Naruto's eye began to twitch; Kiba's voice annoyed him to no end. He got up from his seat and stalked to the door. "What the hell are you talking about a damsel in…. distress…."

Naruto's voice died down when his eye set on the glaring ones that were Sasuke's. "Sasuke what the hell are you doing here?! You're supposed to back at the island!"

"You fucking asshole!" Sasuke charged forward to punch Naruto in the chest, not that Naruto seemed to react, in which enraged him further. "This was stupid challenge!? Abandoning me while you left and… and… what the fuck were you going!?"

"Back to the island… I'm taki-"

"You're taking me with you… you… fucking prick!" Sasuke yelled beginning to run low on oxygen.

"I don think Shikamaru would like that…" Kiba said grinning. The few people on board momentarily stopped what they were doing to watch.

"Shut it dog! When do you ever think?!" Naruto yelled glaring at Kiba, he was right. Temari would have their asses if there was any slight delay. "And you!" he said looking at pissed off Sasuke.

"What am I supposed to do with you now?!" Naruto asked exasperated.

"Is there a bed?" Sasuke asked innocently. Kiba almost choked laughing.

"No I'm not having sex with you." Naruto said amused.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Sasuke's blush came back in the ten folds. "I-I meant sleep! I'm fucking tired!" Naruto laughed when Sasuke hid his face in Naruto's chest. "You bastard! You're making me look stupid!"

"I'm making you look stupid?" Naruto asked simply pulling Sasuke closer to his body. He should get too comfortable around Sasuke, no matter how fuck-able he looked.

"Yes…" Sasuke muttered in his chest, his face couldn't feel any hotter. "I want to go to sleep, now freaking get me to bed, now!" he demanded against Naruto's strong welcoming chest.

"So needy…" Naruto muttered hoist up Sasuke over his shoulder.

"Naruto put me down!" Sasuke pounded his back with his fist. Naruto turned around and entered the room. Sasuke saw the laughing face looking at him. "Stupid Naruto…" and he shut the door behind him.

"What the hell is with all that damn yelling?! I'm trying to get some sleep, it's either you idiots let me sleep or I'll fucking make you help me with Temari!" Shikamaru yelled bags forming under his eyes, hair down.

"Temari is fucking expecting soon and she's been worse with the mood swings, the crying, the yelling, the fan hitting, now either shut up or I'll make it the worst experience, you'd prefer hell.." the brunette said close to losing all sanity.

"But Naruto got h'm self a bitch to fuck." Shikamaru heard it half-heartily prefer to lay down and go to sleep right there, the floor was practically yelling at him.

Sasuke eyes shot open and a dark aurora began emitting from him, Naruto shook his head. "Fucking Kiba… Don't kill him S'uke…" Naruto muttered handing him the handle to one the axes he was currently making.

"I make no promises." Naruto looked up when Sasuke took the weapon from his hands. For a moment that sound like a demon in the making. His eyes followed the raven's back when he disappeared through the door.

"I'm his bitch, huh?" Sasuke said making Kiba turn around.

"Oh you heard tha-" Kiba words were cut short when something made impact on his jewels. "Fu-" Sasuke smashed the handle on top of Kiba's head as hard as he could, knocking the dog out.

"I'm a bitch huh?" Sasuke rapidly smashing the weapon anywhere he could reach on Kiba's body. "This bitch can kick your ass dog!"

Sasuke discarded the weapon and pouched on the unconscious body, straddling his back he grabbed fist full of the tough locks of Kiba's hair and began smashing his head on the hard floor. Naruto ran out quickly to try and stop Sasuke from causing any more damage in Kiba's head.

"Sasuke that's enough." Sasuke continued glaring daggers in the back of Kiba's head.

"No… I'll fucking show him what a bitch can do when you get them mad…" Sasuke picked the discarded weapon and raised it in intent to smash Kiba's head to a bloody pulp. "No! Naruto let me go! I'm not done with him yet!"

Naruto struggled to pull back Sasuke, it wasn't this hard before was it? "That's enough; at least what till he's awake before you go at him again."

Sasuke slowly stopped struggling. "Right, then the dog can feel my wrath." Sasuke smiled evilly. For a moment Sasuke didn't seem like the Sasuke he deflowered, -multiple times, back in the island.

Naruto hesitantly let Sasuke go and stood unsure of what to do with the body. Sasuke calmly brushed off his clothes and went back into the captain's quarters. "Naruto I'll be trying to get some sleep…"

Naruto ran a hand through his hair and shrugged his shoulders when he met the eyes of those watching. "He's going to fit in just right…" he grinned shaking his head. "What the hell you doing loafing around! Go!" they all scurried

"So… this is the one who's got you wrapped around his finger?" Shikamaru asked amused, this was definitely worth being woken up. "Sasuke, was it?"

"Yeah…" Naruto said kicking the non-moving body gently. "Get up, dog I know you're awake. I've seen you get knock out before, you get up like nothing, there nothing but air in that head of yours…"

Kiba started growling. "Oh shut it!" The brunette stood shaky, wiping the blood pouring out of his nose.

Shikamaru snorted noticing the brunette's face was cover in bruises, and cuts, bleeding from different areas. "Taken down by someone twice as small as you are, I see… I bet Hinata would love to hear about this…" he said smirking.

"I'm sure Temari would love to hear the things you say about her behind her back." The smirk died, and Shikamaru glared at Naruto. "You wouldn't dare…"

"Try me." Naruto said boredom laced in, turning around thinking how he was going to dealing with this dangerous side of Sasuke. "I see you to fix whatever isn't already damaged…"

"Oi! The 'ell you try'n ta say!" Kiba roared feeling woozy.

"Good luck, I've see you're going to have your hands full with… Sasuke." Shikamaru finished turning around yawning. "I need some shut eyes… I've run out of tolerance." then he left.

Kiba stood there, one arm holding his nose from leaking out any more blood. Turning to look at Naruto, who had already closed the door behind him. Then at Shikamaru who lazily walked down the steps to the lower floors.

Kiba decided it was safer to go after Shikamaru, he didn't have a crazy person latched to his side. "Oi! Shika! It won stop bleed'n!" Kiba stopped for a moment at that thought; well Shikamaru didn't have her with him at the time being.

"I want to have sex." Sasuke demanded crossing his arms when Naruto entered the room. The said person only blinked a few times.

"Not right now." Naruto said calmly; walk over to the cluttered desk shuffling through papers..

"I don't fucking care what you're going to do, I want to have sex right now." Sasuke stated leaving no room for arguments.

"No." Naruto said looking up from the paper on his desk, meeting the cold eyes.

"I wasn't asking." Sasuke lifted the potential weapon in his hand, he hadn't notice that he still had it. "I'm telling you what to do."

"Well that's too bad now isn't it?" Naruto sratched his golden hair and walked over to Sasuke till he was standing in front of him.

Sasuke scoffed. "If your trying to intimidate me try again later, I'm not in the mood to deal with it." he said glaring at Naruto's form towering over him.

"I'm not trying to intimidate you nor am I giving you what you want..." Sasuke's frown deepened. "...I am merely compromising."

Sasuke lifted an eye brow. "Compromising? I don't know if I like the sound some that."

"Take it or leave it." Naruto said crossing his arms, turning to see what else he could distract himself with.

"I want sex now." Sasuke repeated reaching the end of his wits.

"I said, -Sasuke what are you doing?" Naruto said surprised when he felt arms snaking around his waist and into his thick pants. Soft hand grabbing hold of Naruto's soft member and he gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm getting what I want." Naruto breath hitched and Sasuke smirked feeling Naruto's react to his touch. "I see you're enjoying this."

"S-Sasuke..." Naruto cursed out his damn bastard for back stabbing him like that, resisting the urge to thrust in the hand as it stroked him agonizingly slow. Clearing his throat, "Sasuke... stop this... I said no."

"But this..." Sasuke giving the hard twitching arousal a good squeeze. "... says yes..."

"Sasuke you-" Naruto grunted as the teasing hand sped up it's works."... you sick bastard..." Naruto attempted to remove the hand before he lost all sense of control, in which was a bad move. Sasuke now had a death grip on his aching cock. "Sasuke... I need that..."

"Well I want it, now we all can't have what we want now can we?" Sasuke ran a thumb over the tip feeling it was already moist and he licked his lips. "You know you want it Naruto..." he was just about to undress Naruto right then and there and freaking ride him if he didn't say yes already. "...just say yes, and enjoy yourself... I'll let you do me is which ever position you want..."

A shiver ran down Naruto's spine, and he swallowed licking his lips. "...No." Naruto was so close to his limit, he released his breath he hadn't realized he was holding when Sasuke let go.

"Naruto you fucking asshole!" Sasuke yelled crossing his arms. "You fucking were going to leave me!"

"It's not safe for you out there." Naruto said trying to calm himself down.

"I don't fucking care!" Sasuke lashed out punching Naruto in the chest. "I want to be with you!" he fisted the heavy fur coat Naruto had on. "I love you..." Sasuke shut his eyes close preventing the tears from coming. He wasn't going to cry, he wasn't going to be a child, he was going to be a man.

Naruto saw Sasuke restraining himself hard from crying. His stomach churned at the sight, Naruto didn't like the feeling, nor the current Sasuke. Naruto liked him more when he was happy and well and safe. Carefully prying the hands of Sasuke off of him, earning him a teared-eye glare and he lifted him up.

Sasuke while still glaring wrapped his legs around Naruto's waist and his arms around his neck. Neither didn't say anything when Naruto placed Sasuke's head in the crook of his neck. Sasuke closed his eyes breathing in Naruto's scent soothed him. The blonde ran his hand down Sasuke's back as he walked them to the small room in the back.

There was a bed that took up half of the space, and there was a window that opened to the end of the ship looking out to the sea behind them. Naruto sat them down his still running down the other's back.

"Sasuke..." Naruto whispered as he began to kiss his neck. "... you're going to be the end of me you that right...?"

"Good," Sasuke muttered in his neck inclining his head to the side. "Stupid asshole..."

"Your language has really... spiced up since yesterday, now hasn't it?" Naruto said quietly into Sasuke's ear.

"It been like that..." Sasuke started. "... I just refrain from using them... as you haven't noticed my family are well mannered, though there are exceptions..."

Naruto smiled nibbling Sasuke's earlobe. "What about yours? You certainly speak more decently than that dog... why is that?" Sasuke inquired.

"Well..." Naruto was unsure if he shoulld. "...growing with just my Pa was tough because he didn't really care about learning how to speak or write, just fighting. That was all he cared about. So starting when I could walk properly he pushed me to my limits...

He once left me out in the wilderness with a small axe I could barely lift, a day supply of rations, and a heavy coat so I could learn the hardship of living and to learn how survive on a limited supplies...

My first attempt at trying to catch a hare turned to be deadly, I was unaware that a bobcat was after that same damned animal..."

"Is that why you have those scars on your cheeks...?" Sasuke interupted as he thought he connected the pieces.

"Actually no, I was born with these... for other reasons..." Naruto mumbled placing a hand on his cheek, running a finger over one. "Anyways I think you've already it out but I was attacked by it and I being still a child flailed the axe around like no tomorrow, I didn't know what I was doing but I wanted to live...

I never succeed in killing the beast nor capturing my food, my Pa came in and killed it for me. He told me I was still too weak, that I was just like my mother, that I needed to learn how to kill or else I'll be killed, that he wasn't always going to be there to fix my errors..."

Sasuke listened quietly to the story, he didn't know what to say even when Naruto went quiet. Naruto took a deep breath before continuing.

"He was a cold man, my Pa... but I never hated him for anything he made me do..." a small smile grew on Naruto's lips. "I knew that he cared for me, that he wanted the best for me, he was just doing that to protect me, even when he struck me. He was telling me without words what not to do in certain situations.

I grew up looking at his back and with just that I pushed myself even harder to become better than him. The first time he praised me I started to cry, though he struck me again for crying over small things. 'Emotion can be either a strength or a weakness, that it was up to me whether I was going to be stronger or weaker,'

I was was young when he couldn't care for me any more that his past mistakes finally caught with him, he told me he had to leave me behind, that I was on my own from then on. I remember crying telling him to take me with him, that I wouldn't be weak anymore, that I would grow stronger, and I wouldn't complain or fuss about anything..."

There was a sad smile on Naruto's face. "He still left and I was on my own from then on. I promised myself I wouldn't get too attached to anyone and yet..." Sasuke wanted to say something but kept quiet when Naruto continued talking.

"I spent a few years I think by myself before I found a small group of people camping, the food they were making smelt delicious so I attacked them for it. Little did I know there was a monster admits them, she pummeled me real good... damn that Tsunade..." Naruto said grinning.

"Anyway she took me in as her own and raised me on the island. She taught me how to speak the language, to write and read it. She taught me disciplined and taught me manners. I after her lessons I continued training myself, honing my skills with an axe, strengthening myself. As soon as I could beat a hit, she didn't hold back on her strength, terrifying woman."

There was knocking on the door, a a voice rang, "Cap?"

"Who let you in?" Naruto said tone darkening.

"I called and ya didn't-" it started.

"So what is it?" Naruto interupted.

"Th're sum'thin ya should see..." it said.

"I'll be out there in a moment, dismissed." Naruto said prying Sasuke off his lap.

"I'll be back..."