Chapter 4: Slowly, Entwining
"…When our path cross each other, I am always the first to turn
Making me indulge more in my selfish way
One more chance tripped by memories
One more chance we cannot choose our next place…"
One more time, one more chance – Masayoshi Yamazaki (Soundtrack of 5cm per second)
Sasuke tsked impatiently as he roughly shoved away from the desk, his chair rolling on its wheels and he thumped against the cubicle wall with a loud bang. A few curious glances were thrown his way but none dared to approach, Sasuke being known for his acid tongue and cutting gaze.
Massaging his eyes tiredly with the palm of his hand, Sasuke let out another sigh again. He didn't know what was wrong with him! He had never felt this distracted or lethargic before. He didn't like this feeling. It was as if he was waiting…He quickly shoved that thought away, letting it rot, never to see the light of day again as he grimly squared his shoulders and dove towards his paperwork again, this time he was determined to finish it.
"Sasuke-tan!" a cheerful voice called out. Sasuke didn't stop, just continued walking knowing his uncle would catch up to his soon. He felt Obito glomp him, his upper body thrown forwards as Obito proceeded to maul him with his glomp. Sasuke seriously didn't need this right now but after 2 days of restlessness, worry and denial, he simply didn't have the strength to resist.
Obito swung himself in front of Sasuke, peering into his nephew's face, taking note of the dark circles around his eyes and the tired droop of his shoulders. Letting his arm sling around Sasuke, he asked softly, "Work?"
Sasuke shook in negative and shrugged listlessly at Obito's questioning gaze. Obito looked lost for a moment before suddenly brightening up, "I know what we need, we're going HUNTING!" and proceeded to drag off a groaning Sasuke towards the nearest bar.
And that was how Sasuke found himself sitting between 2 harpies rubbing themselves against him while he nursed a beer with rabid dedication. Obito was happily flirting up a storm and Sasuke was left to wallow in his miserable fate. Ignoring attempts made by the harpies to engage him in a conversation, Sasuke sulked (contemplated, Damnit, Uchihas' do NOT sulk!) about the same damn thing he had thought relentlessly for the past 2 days.
Why had Naruto not written to him? Had something happened to him? Was the time capsule no longer working? Impossible, he had just tested it out a couple of times, sending a packet of ramen, another mousetrap (a vindictive punishment for daring to ignore him) and a taunting note. All in vain. The things had disappeared but nothing had come back. No letters, no notes, no nothing, zilch.
Why did he even bloody care? That was what had caused him to go round in circles, denying that he was feeling despondent because of the lack of correspondence and the sheer disbelief that he was hooked on a ramen topping of all things! They had only started writing a few weeks ago and it wasn't even as if his notes were particularly clever or anything and…
And that was the crux of the revelation he had come to in that dingy bar sandwiched between the 2 walking, talking, breathing boob jobs; he actually missed Naruto and he had liked writing to him and receiving his stupid letters. Groaning, he let his head thump down on his arms, still nursing that same pathetic beer.
How could he, the Prince of Ice, have gotten attached so quickly?
There had to be a logical explanation, he reasoned grimly. All his life, he had always strove for his Father's approval and his older brother's undivided attention. He had been deprived of both although he knew his family did love him. Years of striving had always left him coming short when compared to the family heir and prodigy. Acknowledgement from his father was sparse and never lasting in the endless drought of his heart. He was used to being cold, aloof and presenting a front to all except to his closest friends and family and even then, there was a limit he could open up about himself.
Then Naruto comes along in a hurricane of impossible feats, a blast from the past, literally. Except that Naruto didn't know him, didn't know him as an Uchiha. He was not an Uchiha, second to Itachi, forever banished in the shadows, never good enough. For once in his short life, he had something Itachi didn't. For once, he was not being seen through the shadows of his older brother nor with the heavy chains his father wrapped around his throat. He was simply Sasuke.
So, that had to be it. He missed that idiot because he was able to be himself, to be Sasuke, without a care in the world because Naruto's impressions of him were not tainted and purely him.
The daze in his head cleared and Sasuke felt relief flood through him, as he finally understood. A simple childish desire to be acknowledged.
Standing up, he barely gave Obito a farewell and managed to escape. Sasuke felt more alive than he had for the first time since he could remember when he had been a child and he walked briskly through the crowded streets, eager to hail a cab and be home. He would make that idiot reply back even if he had to figuratively pull his ass back into the letterbox.
…
Dobe,
Hope you're not dead.
Or you'd better hope you're really sick or else I'll kick your ass.
Idiot.
You still need to figure out who I am, remember?
U.S.
(27th July 2000)
…..
Bastard,
You're such an asshole, seriously! I was literally on the verge of death because of your stupid idea, dattebayo! Ugh, my head hurts, my nose feels horrible and it leaks all the time and its sore and my whole body hurts. I can't stop sneezing and it's all your fault, dattebayo!
The Greatly Sick and Ailing Naruto
P.S. Appreciate the ramen (thanks, 'ttebayo!) and you're a bastard for sending the mousetrap again. Luckily Iruka's finger was not taken off although I got told off for leaving the mousetrap in the stupid box and leaving ramen in there as well. I told him I was delicious, that's why, hehe~
The Great and slightly better Umino Naruto
(02/10/99)
…
Dobe,
How is it my fault that you have the flu? Stop whining, baka.
P.S. I think you meant you were delirious, not delicious. Somehow the thought of you being eaten as a stew by your guardian is not a pleasant thought. You sure Iruka's not a dobe eating dolphin?
U.S
(29th July 2000)
…
BASTARD,
You EVIL spawn of the DEVIL! You're really horrible! First you make me sick, yes, it's your fault 'ttebayo! You were the one who taunted me about not being able to swim and said I couldn't do it! So I jumped into the water, nearly drowned in the freezing water and took 20 years off Iruka's lifespan according to him as he beat into my head afterwards. It still hurts, my head, I mean, dattebayo. But I wasn't expecting to simply sink like that, I mean, I thought I would float at least? o_O?
So the both of us came down with a terrible case of the flu, barely able to survive! Bleagh! I had to take those horrible pills too, and eat disgusting oatmeal! Old people food! DATTEBAYO, I was suffering! The second thing I need to yell at you about is that stupid last comment about Iruka! I couldn't sleep after that, you're EVIL! I had nightmares about Iruka cooking me in stew! T_T
But I forgive you slightly for those EVIL deeds because you sent me 4 packets of ramen, ~hehe, thank you even though the noodles were slightly crushed in the small box. You can be really evil and bastard but I think you're alright coz you're kind too underneath all that and I really like that. ~Hehe, I'm glad I met you coz it's more interesting this way, ya know.
Sorry I babble like this all the time every time I write to you. Hey, why don't you tell me about yourself, 'ttebayo! It's only fair, he~?
The Great and Ramen Appreciating Umino Naruto
(03/10/99)
P.S. Something suspicious happened while we were sick, 'ttebayo. I nearly forgot to mention this, a broom headed pervert came to visit us (although Iruka mostly yelled when I called him that coz he had this ABOVE 18 ONLY labelled book and Iruka threw it out, hehe, should have seen him nearly cry~ ah, but the most suspicious part was that he kept on making Iruka squeak and blush with funny stuff he was saying 'ttebayo, something about making love-love injections with his dolphin~ If that pervert wanted to be a vet or something, he should have gone to the zoo, dattebayo! Although, what kind of injections are those? Anyway, he's very suspicious, do you think you can find out more about this guy for me 'ttebayo? Here is a picture I drew of him The Great Umino Naruto is thankful for your help!
….
Dobe,
I most certainly am NOT kind! I just happened to have spare ramen and since you got your moronic self sick, I sent those to you. Hope you at least benefitted from that MSG, heart attack inducing crap.
I'm not that interesting. I come from a big family and I have an older brother. I have been living in this house for about roughly a month now. It's pretty good here since I won't be regularly disturbed by my knuckle head uncle, O. He's older than me by 4 years since he was born pretty late to my paternal grandmother. He's my oldest and best friend since I was born and we are in the same line of profession.
I have a female friend called S.H. She used to be my fan girl when we were younger and she was a pain too but she has grown up since and she's one of my closer friends too.
I don't have much to say about myself. I tend to keep to myself a lot and I hate unwanted attention.
I like tomatoes and Onigiri.
U.S.
(30th July 2000)
P.S. You're a real idiot if you had nightmares about dobe eating dolphins. Your drawing really sucks by the way. All I could make out was this scarecrow. Is that even a real person or is he part of your demented imagination?
Hn, you really are a dobe if you don't realise that that pervert wants to get in your father's pants.
…
Oi Bastard,
GAAHHH, you really make me wanna tear my hair out, ya know? I mean, I ask ya to tell me more about yourself and all you have are these "hn" phrases. Like even your life, the way you say it is soooooo robotic!
Well, I am DETERMINED to squeeze out all the details from ya anyway, dattebayo!
HN, unlike ya, I'm not a stingy bastard, so here goes!
I am the GREAT UMINO NARUTO! My father's Iruka Umino and the both of us migrated to the Village of Konoha from the Village of Sand where we lived for almost 23 years there. Iruka says that he had grown up in the Village of Konoha so its like being back home for him but he says that the village sure has grown and spread out a lot more than when he was last here! Hehe, he got us lost the first we came here coz he was so awe struck by the massive amount of people but I got us back to right way due to my amazing map reading skills, 'ttebayo!
I have a best friend named Gaara Sabaku back in Sand. He's red head and really cool and ya sorta remind me of him coz all he says most of the time is "hn" too! But unlike ya, he's not too much of a bastard! We went to school together and he's a really great guy, I tell ya! The first time we met in kinder, we got into a fight but I beat his ass hands down (although Iruka gave me a spanking later on for fighting in school, sucks when your dad is also friends with your teachers!) and that's how we became blood brothers! Hehe! And this is the first time we've been apart for so long, I mean, I miss him but he's going to come down this summer when he's got a break from his apprenticeship with his father. Ah, did I mention? He's learning to be the next in line for the Hokage-ship in Suna. Unlike here in Konoha, in Suna, they most base their future successor through means of heir, not elections and stuff.
Have ya been to Suna before? It's 4 hours train ride away if ya take the express train! Iruka and me took the express train from Suna to Konoha and it was a bit boring at first but I got really excited when we neared coz ya could see the changes in the landscape as we got nearer Konoha.
Sand's mostly desert, ya know so the colour slowly started to change from brown to green and I really like the change of scenery, dattebayo! I mean, sure Suna was fun, like those times when me and Gaara and Kankuro and Temari would bunk from school and go out to the edge of the village where there was a lot of cactuses and play hide and seek there! Ah, Kankuro and Temari's Gaara's older siblings and they're really cool too! Hehe, we would get caught by Iruka and then get detention again! Bleagh!
One thing I miss is the night sky in Suna. I swear ya'll never see anything like the night sky in Suna, dattebayo! Gaara and me, sometimes Iruka would go to the highest point of the Village at the east end where there's a plateau and have a sort of a midnight picnic. The Village was smaller than Konoha and so from the top there, you could see the Village spread out, lights dimmed softly. Nights get cold in the desert and as you stand at the edge and look up, ya would feel the brilliance of the stars shining down like huge diamonds in the inky blackness…
Ah, gomen, I'm prattling again, aren't I? Iruka says I tend to do that a lot, 'ttebayo! Anyway, ya should try that in Konoha too! I've already been up on top of the statues of the Hokages' monument and although it's not as good as Suna, the view's pretty fantastic too. The lights from Konoha seem to outshine the stars but it's still beautiful and the huge-ness of the Village suddenly hits ya.
Have ya been there though? I bet ya have since ya have practically grown up here, ne?
Hm, I like foxes, orange colour, ramen, ramen, Iruka, ramen, Gaara, Temari, ramen, Kankuro, ramen, gardening, ramen, meeting new people, ramen, did I mention ramen? Hehe~
My birthday's on 10th October which is very near! I'm really excited about it too since Iruka's planning a surprise for just the 2 of us since the guys back home can't come but they've already sent presents! Hehe~
When's your birthday?
Gah, I hope the letter fits into the letterbox since I've practically babbled away the whole time. But it's really easy to talk to ya, ya know.
The Great Umino Naruto
(5th October 1999 – 5 more days till my b'day! ^_^)
P.S. I think Iruka's pants won't fit that pervert since he's way fatter! I also included a drawing of my friends from Suna, since ya were sooooooo appreciative of that pervert's drawing~
…
Dobe,
You really prattle a lot. I am not stingy with my words, I just know when to use my words wisely. Hn.
I don't know what you are going to do with all these useless information but I see no harm in letting a dobe know.
My birthday falls on the 23rd July, it just passed. I dislike huge gatherings, which tends to happen quite a bit seeing I have a large family. I have mentioned my older brother and my favourite uncle, O. I have a lot of cousins around the same age as me but I do not get along with them very well. We are in the same profession and it's a family business, you could call it and competition is tough even within the family.
(Sasuke hesitates, pen wavering in the air above the blank paper. Should he? Should he? Biting his lip, he glances at the thick wad of paper beside him, the messy writing barely legible with a crude caricature of a blood thirsty panda and he could just make out the warmth emitting from the life Naruto's words seem to bring to him even across the impossible distance of time. Lips pursed in a thin line, he makes up his mind and starts writing again, the words almost flowing from his pen as if a dam had burst and he all but helplessly flowing along.)
I have never gotten along with my family, sad as it sounds. My father, I think, is proud of me but sometimes it is hard to tell. It is hard to discern whether he sees me as simply his son or whether he sees me as a back for my older brother. Whatever I have accomplished, my older brother has already done so and with much greater effect than I could ever hope to achieve. I have always lived in his shadow and I had grown bitter to that, under my father's cold approval.
My older brother has tried to be a brother to me. I remember when we were younger, how he doted on me and he would tease me, but I think I resent him for that too. I want to hate him, to let the darkness simply blame him too for my father, his indifference and all the stupid things in the world but I know I am simply being foolish. It was I who turned my back to him, refusing to acknowledge his affection for me, our father a driving force between us.
I knew that I could not go on living like that and so with great difficulty, I managed to convince my father in letting me move out and here I am a year later, living in Il Mare. When I think back in the past year how I struggled to even move forward, I feel much more at peace. The bitterness is still there but I am beginning to feel like myself again, not a mere shadow of a man whose brilliance I was blinded by.
(Sasuke grimaced as he forced himself to stop spilling his guts out on the blank paper. Damn Naruto, damn the stupid glasses of wine he had, damn the stupid gloomy evening. Making as if to crumple the letter, he stopped himself. He carefully tried to sooth the crumpled edges, his words glaringly naked, his emotions visible to this person he had slowly begun to open up to. He would be brave, he would move forward.)
I have always lived in Konoha and I have never seen the desert except in pictures, I am afraid. I do not do well in heat as I wilt (as silly as it sounds, I am afraid that is the only accurate descriptions I can give). I prefer autumn and winter, the chill making me appreciate the warmth of an open-hearth fire or a kotatsu. I have many a good memory of family vacations in the far country in the Village of Grass where we have lodgings in the midst of winter, the snow stretched out as far as the eye can see.
If you're not careful, the snow can cause temporary blindness in the day because the light reflects in your eyes. The crunching of footfalls when you walk on the snow, the silence that falls softly blanketing the landscape, the shock of a lump of snow falling on you as you walk under a tree, the warmth of the dark chocolate drink as you sit lazily gazing at the large bonfire; those are the things I love and I have experienced with my family in the Village of Grass.
I do not think that you have ever seen snow before but towards the end of 1999, it will snow for the first time in 20 years in Konoha towards the end of the year. I remember because I caught the influenza due to the exceptional cold weather that year. I remember standing out in the family compound, amazed at the whiteness falling down like sugar icing and you would probably be doing the same, I not knowing of yours existence but you fully aware of what I had been doing at that point of time.
Amazing, isn't it?
U.S
(2nd August 2000)
P.S. Ask Iruka about what getting into someone's pants means, baka. And was that your friend or did you mistake a blood-thirsty panda for your friend?
…
Hey bastard,
Sorry about the long wait! Hehe~ I had to make arrangements for you! I know I missed your birthday shy of a few weeks BUT since you did not inform me in time, I have decided that the Great Umino Naruto will still go ahead and surprise ya, dattebayo!
Now, you have to follow my instructions TO THE TEE! No cheating or anything, alright? It took me AGES to get this right so that even a year later, you will still be able to follow it! ~Hehe, but please don't tell anybody I did it ok? It's a secret between you and me…^_^
The Great Umino Naruto
(9/10/99)
P.S. Iruka turned a funny horrible colour when I asked him about why Kakashi wants to get in his pants. Said it had something to do with birds and bees. No idea why though.
…
Sasuke grinned at the last part of the short letter and muttered "Dobe," under his breath, shaking his head in exasperation. He put the letter down and sure enough in the envelope, there was something else there, something orange. Raising his eyebrow, he shook it out and out fell a hand phone accessory, a mini fox (cute, cute, cute, his mind snickered). The small tinkle of a bell chimed when he raised it to eyeball level, staring amusedly at the wide grin the little fox gave out. A short note fell out together with the fox and Sasuke carefully pocketed the little fox and began reading the notes, eyes excitedly skimming through the instructions.
Dear Teme,
Since it was your birthday and I couldn't think of what would be a good present, I decided on this "Walk with me". Now, I want you to prepare some sandwiches and a thermos of dark chocolate just the way you like it and make sure to dress warm! Now, follow the fox!
…
Author's Note: Haha, its been almost a week since I updated. Trying to plan a good surprise for Sasuke! Thanks for the reviews so far and I believe this answers ur qn as to what happened to Naruto n why he didn't answer for some days, Angelofdestruction17!
Please kindly R&R n point out any mistakes to meeeeeee if ya see any….
Enjoy!
