Warnings: None.
--
C. Four;
Apologies, Introductions, and Bombs
Seidai
I was upset, disappointed in myself. To see that blond boy standing by the entrance of the tent with a... desperate? lonely? sorrowful look in his eyes. I couldn't tell Kiba. Kiba would be outraged to know that he had just stood there and invaded our privacy... but I know that the boy didn't do it on purpose. I know he was probably... worried? About me? Yes... I saw worry in his eyes as well. Poor boy.
-- Hinata
"You're a pig." Sasuke said dully.
Kiba glared at the man, trying to understand where that had come from. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Getting yourself caught with Hinata like that. You're smarter than that, Kiba."
"Come on, Sasuke. Like I knew he was going to walk by--"
Sasuke snorted, "You could have at least blown out the candle."
At that, Kiba stopped altogether. He was angry at the fact that Naruto had spied on them, especially when they were involved in something so personal. He kept asking himself why he would do that, but then again, Sasuke had a point. He was usually really careful about things like that. But then again, he hadn't had the time to worry about it. IT just... happened.
"I know, I know. But Hinata just got into so quickly, and I had no other choice. When would the next opportunity come along? Besides, man, that guy should have known what we were doing."
Sasuke shook his head. "Apparently he didn't. And don't go pushing the blame on him, either."
Kiba shot Sasuke a look of disbelief and yelled, "Since when did you care? Last I knew you didn't want anything to do with anybody! So since this guy has come along, you're gonna automatically take his side?"
Sasuke lowered his gaze to the ground. "It's not like I don't have a clue how or who he is. I know him more than you do. And I'm not just automatically taking his side. Trust me when I say he had no idea what was going on between you, because the look in his eyes when he told me about it was unmistakable."
"But dude--"
"Sasuke?"
Both men turned their attention to Hinata, who was holding Kawatta's hand. She didn't meet Sasuke's eyes, and hers held a hint of guilt. Kiba huffed at it. As far as he knew, they had no reason to be guilty about what happened last night.
"I... I wanted to talk to you... about what happened with Naruto last night," she started when no one answered her. "I... I'm sorry."
"Hinata, you don't have to--"
"We do, Kiba." Hinata said, cutting her husband off. "The look in Naruto-kun's eyes that you spoke of... I saw it, too. It... It nearly broke my heart. His eyes were so, so lonely..." She looked up at Sasuke. "I knew Kiba would get mad that he was standing there, but I know that he didn't mean to. It looked like he was frozen. It truly looked like he had no idea what was going on."
Kiba frowned. "Who doesn't? I don't see why we have to be at fault. Why did he even go looking for us?"
"He was worried about you two. After all, we're the only friends he has." Sasuke pointed out. "I had half a mind to say no, that you guys were fine, but then I knew he'd only fight me about it. You should feel grateful that he even cares."
Kiba shook his head as Hinata continued, "Kiba... we should apologize to Naruto-kun, too."
Said man gaped at her. "What the hell?! You're against me, too?"
The woman sighed. "Please, Kiba. It'd make me feel better."
For a while, Kiba said nothing. I shouldn't have to apologize to that little twit, he thought. And why the hell does Sasuke care about the guy so much? We just freaking met him!
But no matter what he thought, he knew Hinata would probably slap him if he said no.
... She was scary like that sometimes.
--
Naruto's bright blue eyes stared up at Kiba in astonishment. "You're... apologizing to me?" He asked. "W... Why? You didn't do anything to me."
Kiba had decided to 'apologize' to Naruto as Hinata told him to. He had found the blond at the waterfall that he had proposed to Hinata at, sitting with his feet in the water. "I know I didn't," Kiba started, sitting with him. "But Hinata said that I should. She also said that it was... foolish of me to get caught."
"What... What you have with Hinata-chan," Naruto started shakily while fidgeting his fingers, "is it... is it nice?"
Kiba gave Naruto a really long look. What had possessed him to ask something like that? To hell that Kiba would ever tell the boy what goes on between him and Hinata--
"I understand if you think that I'm an idiot to ask. But-But the look that Hinata-chan gave you - w-when she told you she loved you, and you said it back – made me feel jealous."
The brunette absently coughed. "J-Jealous? Of who? Of... what?"
"Of... love? Yeah. It looked nice to be loved. That's why I asked if it was nice." Naruto's voice was a whisper now. He felt foolish spewing his thoughts to Kiba, but if the man was a friend of Sasuke's, then he could be trusted, right?
Kiba sighed, and when he found himself looking at Naruto again, he couldn't help the softening of his eyes. Naruto was so innocent, and he no longer doubted the boy's confusion. He had seen the look that both Hinata and Sasuke had spoken of earlier.
"It is nice, man," he finally answered. "It makes you feel like you're on top of the world."
They sat in silence for the rest of the morning, and Kiba didn't notice the wonder and sadness mixed in Naruto's eyes.
--
"Ah, late afternoon. My favorite time of the day!" Kakashi shouted, heading to the refugee camp.
Now that his patrolling rounds were done, he was able to investigate the rumor of the new stranger. After snooping around for a little information, he had found out that the boy was with the Uchiha he had ran into. Man, would it be loads easier to get close to the new guy.
It was around seven when Kakashi reached the camp. It was still a bit dirty, and he had caught on to the slight stench. The poor souls that have to live with this. Kakashi personally didn't like to deal with the villagers. They were always asking him about the war; when it will be over, who's causing it, why isn't he doing anything. It got on his nerves. After all, he wasn't the new ruler of the country (poor guy). He was just a small police/peace officer. Why couldn't they see that?
Not only do the villagers bug him with their useless questions, they think it's always about them. 'Why am I going through this?' and 'Why do they hate me? What the hell did I do?' Them, them, them. And it disgusted Kakashi. He had come from a middle-class family, worked hard to go to law school. At first, he wanted to be a lawyer. When that didn't turn out well, he sucked it up and became a police officer, like his father. He had pride.
Kakashi didn't doubt that most of the occupants of the camp came from pretty good backgrounds, and that most wasn't little spoiled princesses. So instead of pitying themselves, why couldn't they cling to what good dignity and pride they had left?
... Like the Uchihas. Oh, how Kakashi envied them. They were the third wealthiest family in Seidai, and when the region was attacked by war (causing them to be robbed out of a good 79-percent cut in their hard-earned wealth to support the country), they sucked it up and lived with what they had, and even tried to build up on it again, little by little. Then the massacre hit. Jealous, poor villagers in seek of their money and other belongings. They had killed them all, except for the two who had managed to escape.
Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha. From what Kakashi knew, Itachi had raised his little brother since the massacre, and they were close. When the eldest Uchiha had fallen due to illness, Kakashi was the officer who had been assigned to keep a watchful secret eye on the young Uchiha heir afterward. Sasuke was too young to remember, and wouldn't believe Kakashi if he had told him. Sasuke was a good kid as far as Kakashi was concerned, and he fully deserved the Uchiha name, and wore it proudly.
When the officer had spotted the raven, at the camp, he had to do a double-take. Part of him felt relieved that the boy was alive and healthy, and checked his ID (he figured that with him being a descendant of the Uchiha clan, he'd have sense enough to carry an ID, just in case) to confirm it was the little boy he used to look after.
He walked around the camp for a while before spotting the Uchiha again, with a boy he hadn't seen before. Could it be the new guy? Sasuke had spotted him, and Kakashi chuckled at his frown. He signaled the men over. The stranger had bright blond hair and amazing blue, blue eyes. They were... breathtaking, even for Kakashi.
"Who's your new friend, Uchiha?" He asked teasingly.
Sasuke scoffed, "None of your damn business. Now what do you want this time? It's pretty peaceful around here."
Kakashi laughed. "I came for a little visit. I heard a rumor about a stranger who was a total nut case. Is it the blond by any chance?" Kakashi watched the boy, and felt a little guilty when he stiffened.
"Naruto is no moron. Don't even suggest it." Sasuke said, sparing a glance to the blond that was now clinging to his shoulder.
To be honest, Kakashi found it way too adorable. He couldn't help but to want to tease Sasuke a little more. He'd get the info about the blond soon enough, maybe even before he left. "So... you must be pretty close to him. Found someone to settle down with?"
Sasuke frowned. "No. He's a friend of mine."
Kakashi chuckled. "Right, Uchiha. Is he... your lover? Boyfriend, perhaps? If he's not your fiancé, then surely he's one of those."
Sighing, Sasuke rolled his eyes. "None of the above. Now go, officer. Every thing's fine here."
Kakashi cleared his throat, putting his officer mask on. "I needed to get some information on... Naruto was it? Just to be sure that he's no threat to us."
Naruto blinked a few times, his hold on Sasuke not loosening a bit. "A threat? What did I do now, Sasuke? Why does everyone always treat me like a disease?"
"I'm not saying you've done something wrong," the officer started. "I just need some basic information."
The blond swallowed. "O-Okay," he said shakily. Naruto didn't like the intimidating aura the man had swirling around him like smell. It worried him.
"Alright, Mister..."
"U-Uzumaki, sir."
"Ah, yes." Kakashi closed his eyes for second before reopening them. I've got to clear my head. "So Mr. Uzumaki... how old are you?"
Naruto hesitated. H...How old am I? "U-Um... around twenty-six?"
Raising an eyebrow at the boy's hesitation, he continued, "DOB?"
At this, Naruto blanked out. I... I don't remember that! Okay, okay. Think back to when Madara-sama said happy birthday to you and taught you how to use the calender... Got it!"October tenth."
The officer paused. "Place of origin?"
"Um... here?"
"Parents?"
"Don't have any."
"Siblings?"
"None."
"Lovers, anything of the such?"
"As if."
"... You do well under pressure, don't you?" Kakashi said with amusement in his voice.
Naruto smiled. "I guess. Easier than what I thought it'd be." Naruto paused for a moment. "So... am I okay? I mean, I'm not in trouble, am I?"
"No," the officer noted with a smile of his own, though it went unseen under his mask. "But you're innocence amuses me so. We need more people like you."
Naruto blushed at the comment. Sure he had been praised before, but not so genuinely. It made him feel warm inside, as silly as that sounds.
The silence lasted for a few more minutes, and was abruptly ended by deafening screams. Naruto clung to Sasuke in a death grip and the raven looked around to see people running blindly and in a panic. Kakashi heard the distinct, though distant, sound of bombs, and his eyes grew wide.
They were under attack, and this time with no warning.
Sasuke had caught on as well, for he held the blond protectively now.
Naruto had no idea what was going on, and was scared out of his wits. "Sasuke," he mumbled, "what's going on?"
"We're being bombed, Naruto. We need to find shelter."
The blond flinched as he heard the bombs go off, along with the screams of the people. Then it hit him. "W-What about Kiba, Hina, and Kawatta?"
Sasuke shook his head. "They'll be okay. Right now we have to worry about ourselves." He turned to Kakashi. "Aren't you going to do you job, officer?"
When Kakashi didn't respond, Sasuke sighed. "Whatever. I'll do it." He released Naruto, earning a worried stare from him. "Naruto, go to the cave where we found you. You should be safe in there."
Naruto shook his head. "Not without you, Sasuke-san."
"Naruto," Sasuke said sternly. "Just go. I promise I'll be with you as soon as possible. Take the officer with you. Someone has to help the rest them find shelter, too. I've done it before, so just--"
Sasuke was cut off by another explosion, this one in clear sight. It had struck the tents, blowing people near them to bits, scattering them to places unknown. Naruto started to cry at the sight of death, and the thought that Sasuke was going to stay behind in it made it worse.
Regardless, Naruto sucked it up and nodded. He grabbed the officer's hand, dragging him to the direction of the cave, also praying that Sasuke returned to him in one piece.
--
Silence. Darkness. Naruto wasn't sure how long he and Kakashi had been hiding, but he was sure that it was nearing five or six hours, seven at most. Sasuke should have been back by now, and that of course scared Naruto, but he had to force himself to think on the bright side. Sasuke would come back to him. He would.
For now, Naruto would sleep. His eyelids grew heavy, and the blond noticed that the officer had already drifted off. When I wake up, Naruto thought, Sasuke will be here. I know it.
And with that, he slept.
--
Sasuke's shoulder hurt like hell. It was burning, itchy, and he knew that if he lost any more blood, he'd more than likely pass out. He couldn't let that happen, for he had to make sure that Naruto was alive and okay. The boy was technically his responsibility, and he couldn't deny that his heart wanted him to be okay as well.
He had made it to the cave in one piece, and the first thing he saw was Naruto's sleeping figure. A wave of relief crashed over him, and he even allowed a small smile to grace his face. His eyes latched with Naruto's now open ones.
Tears had welled in the blond's eyes, and he ran to the raven, embracing him.
"What took you so long?!" The blond yelled.
Sasuke ignored the aching pain in his shoulder, thankful that Naruto couldn't see the extensive damage due to the dark. The moon was the only light source they had, and even that was scarce. "I'm sorry," he eventually said.
Naruto scrunched his nose at the smell of blood, and pulled back a bit. That was when he saw it. There was a huge gash in Sasuke's shoulder, and the blood had trailed down the raven's side. "Sasuke... what... what happened?" He whispered brokenly.
"I had an accident, that's all--"
"An accident?" Naruto nearly shouted. "You can die if it's not taken care of!"
Sasuke laughed softly. "Wake Kakashi. He should have some medical supplies on him. Hopefully the ones we'll need."
Naruto had caught the somewhat dead tone in his friend's voice. "What happened out there, Sasuke? Besides your shoulder. Did Kiba and the others make it okay?"
Sasuke tensed. "K... Kiba and Kawatta are... okay." He pulled Naruto closer to him, as close as he could. "But, Hinata... she..."
"She's not dead, is she?" When Sasuke didn't answer he started to panic, along with trying to break free of Sasuke's fierce hold on him. It can't be! No!
"Don't!" Sasuke shouted. Drawing his voice back to a calm whisper he added, "Don't pull away."
The blond sighed in defeat at Sasuke's tone. "How are you going to break it to Kiba?"
"... I don't know, Naruto," the raven whispered. "But for now, we have to take care of my shoulder."
Naruto nodded, and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around the man holding him, hoping that it's just what Sasuke needs from him right now.
--
Fixed some grammar. Hopefully I got it all.
