Rated M for Adult Themes
Part 4/6
'He knows.
He knows.
He knows.'
Naruto buried himself into the mattress, mangling the sheets with his fingers, burrowing further and further into the bed
as if he could dig himself a grave.
Chapter 4: Ashes to Ashes
There were times during the night when he woke up screaming, crying like a child, gasping desperately in the darkness. He'd bury himself deeper into the bed, his heart gripped with fear, his mind flooded with nightmares. Every time he closed his eyes, images of that horrible night would play repeatedly in his head. He could see them like parts of a film imprinted at the back of his eyelids, playing again and again. They all felt so vivid, so real. So sickeningly real.
There were noises everywhere. Like background music, he could hear them so clearly in his head. Those gruff voices echoing in his ears. As if they were close to him again, coaxing him, whispering words into his ears. Mumbling words he could barely understand.
And he could feel them on his skin. There were wet, warm lips grazing his face, licking the side of his neck, teeth biting and scraping the skin of his throat. Large, rough hands circling his waist, going down slowly then resting on top of his knees. Those were the same rough hands forcing his knees apart. He could feel those fingers squeezing the inside of his thighs…
And there would be pain. That throbbing, scorching pain splitting his body in half. He's going to break. He's going to break.
"Stop! M-make it stop. Make it stop." Crying. He could hear his own desperate cries for help, feeling his pillow moist with tears. It was like he was in that room again, explicitly reliving every detail, every second of the ordeal. These nightmares felt so real.
"…Naruto."
And then, amidst all of these, he would hear him. That deep, soothing voice cutting through all the noises in his head – overwhelming everything else.
The Uchiha leaned in further, hugging him closer to his body, his long arms enclosing Naruto into a strong embrace. The blond could feel the raven's heat through his clothes, the large hands drawing circles on his back. The touches felt so soothing, so terribly gentle. So warm.
-he knows. Sasuke knows everything now.
"But I..."
And despite the fears and uncertainties in his heart, Naruto found himself sinking further into that tightening embrace, burying his face deeper into the other's chest.
"I'm here. I won't leave you."
The cold lips murmured words against his forehead, the raven's heated face flushed intimately against him.
"I will protect you."
["…I will do everything in my power to protect you."]
Sasuke kissed his cheeks and eyelids over and over again, brushing his lips gently against the other. It was a slight peck at first and then it became more intimate, more heated. The raven's parted lips forcing the blond's mouth to open, cold hands grasping his jaw firmly.
"I love you."
Against his skin, he heard the raven said.
One final tear escaped his eye.
Naruto curled in his sleep, the monster in him desperately hoping that tomorrow would never come.
It was the first time Hiashi Hyuuga had seen the child – and for his 15 years of servitude in the Tokyo Police Department, nothing could have prepared him at the sight that greeted him.
They found the child kneeling in the middle of the lavish room, surrounded by mangled and decapitated bodies of grown men. Human entrails were leaking out of the dissected bodies of the dead. Limbs were spread on the floor like broken toys. The child was the only one in the room seemingly in one piece. With only a necklace, he was visibly naked and every part of his body was bathed in blood. From his viewpoint, Hiashi could see that clasped in one tan hand was a single shard of vase, steadily dripping with blood.
The interior of the room was in disarray. Along with the lush carpeting of the room, the luxurious king bed at the center was filled with blood. Bed sheets were splayed-out on the marble floor, along with broken pieces of glass and porcelain. There were also emptied syringes and a few used condoms scattered everywhere. The large windows of the room were open, allowing the cold, bitter wind to breeze through the room.
Everything looked and felt like chucked-out of a horror film. It was all so gruesome, and even his men have visibly shuddered at the sight. No one spoke for a very long time. They were all transfixed at the scene before them.
Then, Hiashi cleared his throat. Very slowly, he made his way towards the child. His men have tried to follow him but he raised his hand, giving them a mute signal to just stay where they are. He felt that had to go alone first. Any dubious movement from their part might alarm the child, and indubitably worsen the situation.
As he neared his target, Hiashi noted that the child appeared to be the same age as his son. He suspected that the boy must be 13 or 14 years of age. The frown on his face deepened at this realization.
Very carefully, the older man knelt before the child. The child did not move, seemingly unaware of the other's presence.
With their close proximity, Hiashi realized that the child was indeed blond. His eyes were blue and his complexion was darker than a local. Hiashi assumed that he must be a foreigner. But what made the boy's appearance more striking were the symmetrical scars lining his face. The scars were new, plump and reddish at the seams, and blood still oozed from them.
"Boy." Hiashi started, as he slowly grasped the younger boy's hand to take away the piece of the vase. But as soon as their skin made contact, the child panicked.
The reaction was instantaneous. The younger boy flailed his arms wildly, screaming incoherent words. He pushed himself backwards and continued moving away from the older man until his back met the wall. The boy's movements were clumsy and he winced every time his rear touched the floor. His bruised knees were trembling as he hugged them closer to his chest. His blue eyes looked wild and desperate. The once vacant expression on his face has morphed into a heaving, despairing kind of look.
"P-Please. Let me go." The boy said in between sobs. "Let me go. I want to g-go home. I want to go home."
The boy repeated the words, not looking at anyone. His hands are still in front of his face, trembling, along with every part of his body. It was like a seizure. There were tremors everywhere.
"H-home. I want to go home. Let me go."
The boy continued to push himself further to the wall, as if he could carve up an opening to swallow him whole, all the while murmuring words the others could no longer understand.
"Calm down, kid."
Hiashi has stood up from his kneeling position and is now slowly walking towards the boy. Even without looking, the child felt the movement and started screaming again, frail arms waving in the air as if pushing an imaginary figure away from him.
"G-get away from me! Leave me alone." The child's voice was shrill and the words were gasped out in the end. "Go away—"
Just then, the boy started to cough, spitting blood and spit on to the carpet. The child placed one hand on his chest and the other on the carpeted floor as his body slumped forward. He was panting, appearing as if he has trouble breathing. The overwhelming panic must have strained his heart severely.
"A-aniki…" The boy uttered one last word before his eyes rolled to the back of his head, finally losing his consciousness. Hiashi charged forward immediately and caught the boy before his body touched the floor.
The older man cradled the boy's head on his arms. He gently removed the shard of vase embedded in the boy's palm and wrapped a towel around the naked figure. He observed the boy's face in his arms, feeling a sting in his chest when he realized he was right. The boy is approximately the same age as his son. He closed his eyes for a moment and gave out a very tired and heavy sigh before looking back at his men.
"Get the medics." Hiashi ordered in a hard tone.
Uchiha Fugaku pursed his lips together as he looked at the entrance of the famous hotel. Policemen were crowding the entrance, as well as a huge mob of onlookers and media men. The medics were scattered around the entrance, a few of them paving a way for the hospital stretchers to go in.
"Uchiha-sama." Fugaku heard Kakashi say as the latter opened the door. Fugaku gave a slight nod and straightened his coat. Before exiting the car however, he glanced at his son.
"You don't have to come inside, Sasuke. There are still," Fugaku paused, a tad uncomfortable talking about this kind of incident to his son. He then cleared his throat. "There are still bodies there kept for investigations. You can just stay here and wait for me."
The 13-year old boy sitting across from him tore his gaze away from the window and looked at his father. His expression is blank, head tilted in mild curiosity, and not a hint of fear or anxiety in his eyes. "Don't worry, Father. I will be fine." The boy's lips curved up a little, a small smile gracing the pale face. It was a rare smile and was meant to be a reassurance but for some reason, Fugaku felt a little disturbed.
It had barely been three months after his wife died and since then, his youngest son has become more of a recluse. Sasuke had always been a silent and serious child, but after his mother's death and his brother's disappearance, it became worse. Excluding him and Kakashi, the boy had never talked to anyone or showed any emotion.
Fugaku had tried sending him to various psychiatrists for counseling, but they failed. The youngest Uchiha had remained severely withdrawn and apathetic to everyone around him.
And now, staring at his son's dark, piercing eyes, Fugaku can't help but feel… worried.
"Fine." The older Uchiha sighed, shaking his head a bit to get rid of the bad thoughts. "You know the protocols. Don't touch anything and don't talk to the press. Am I understood?"
The boy dropped his smile and nodded. "Yes, Father."
"Good."
Fugaku alighted from the car. Immediately, the press spotted him and made their way towards the Financial Minister, barraging the latter with questions. They did not get close though as four suited body guards blocked them and paved a way for the politician.
"This way." Kakashi guided the politician and his son inside the hotel.
They passed by the vast reception area and walked towards the elevator. Once the three of them were secluded inside the elevator, the Uchiha patriarch looked at Kakashi. "Give me a briefing."
Kakashi took out a small notebook from his breast pocket.
"According to the reports, there were five people in the room when the police force arrived. Three of the bodies were already dead. One was in critical condition but he died later as well. There was only one survivor."
"Survivor? Is it the governor?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. The governor, along with three of his bodyguards did not survive. The only one alive in that room… was a child."
Fugaku looked mildly surprised, somber eyes widening for a moment. Even Sasuke was looking at him now, a glint of interest in his eyes.
"A child? Who…?" The elder Uchiha asked.
Kakashi stared back solemnly at the patriarch. He did not say anything anymore but his eyes were meaningful.
It did not take long before the Uchiha realized the implication. He looked away, unconsciously clenching his fists. There have been rumors about the governor engaging in… rather 'disgraceful' acts. But as a man who has never believed in rumors, Fugaku let it slide. He was not interested in such baseless allusions. But now, he's realizing what a great mistake it was. He should have been more involved in the lives of his officials.
"It is true then?"
Kakashi nodded. "They found a hidden camera attached to one of the furniture of the room." He placed the notebook inside his pocket before continuing. "They've studied the contents and… they confirmed it."
"What a disgrace." Fugaku grated out. It was quite a rare sight. Sasuke watched his father trembled in fury, his blank expression a stark contrast to the older Uchiha's. After a moment, the boy then focused his attention to the assistant.
"What's the cause of death?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi's visible eye blinked. He glanced at the older Uchiha, mutely asking permission if he should proceed. "Well…"
Fugaku gave a slight nod as a response.
The assistant heaved a sigh. 'What a family.'
"Severe body mutilations." Kakashi answered, trying to sound as monotone as ever. He really shouldn't be discussing this with a child.
But to his surprise, Sasuke did not even bat an eyelid and continued with his queries. "What of the child? What happened to—?"
The boy was interrupted when the elevator gave a soft "ding", signaling them of their arrival to their chosen floor. Kakashi inwardly gave a sigh of relief as he stepped out of the elevator.
"Follow me please." He murmured, once again guiding the way. The hallways were massive and were filled with doors in every direction. In spite of this, it was not that hard to locate the room, given the amount of policemen and medics crowding one area. Kakashi proceeded to the location, followed by the two Uchihas.
As they neared the room, one of the police officers noticed their presence. "Minister-sama!" He shouted. This got the attention of everyone, especially the Chief.
Hiashi moved towards his superior. "Minister-sama." He bowed a few times respectfully. "You really should not be here. We can handle this. Rest assured, we will send a report of our findings to you as soon as possible."
Fugaku raised his palm. "It is fine, Hyuuga." Coldness gripped his voice. "I am just here… to observe. You can proceed with your duties."
The Hyuuga gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. "H-hai, Minister-sama." He bowed a few more times and went back to his men.
The situation became more harried when the medics started pushing the stretchers carrying the dead bodies out of the room. The bodies were covered in white blankets, blood seeping through the thin cloth. There were parts of limbs peaking out from beneath the covers. The bodies were long dead but the stench of blood and mutilated flesh remained strong.
Beneath the mask, the assistant scrunched up his nose. It was indeed a grotesque sight and there is no doubt that the media would feast on this. Even more than the massacre, the governor's 'private' life will be exposed.
"Take care of my son, Kakashi." Fugaku ordered, his gaze focused on the man who has just arrived. It was Vice Minister Shimura Danzo. "I need to talk to the vice minister."
"Hai, Uchiha-sama."
Kakashi watched the Uchiha approached the other official. Briefly, he wondered why such high-ranking officials are gathering in this place. 'Why are they all interested in this case?' Heaving a deep sigh, Kakashi shook his head. This is not his concern.
Refocusing his attention on Sasuke, his heart gave a mild flip when he found out that the boy was not where he should be.
"Ah shit."
No one saw the raven-haired child enter the room.
No one was paying attention. Everyone is caught up in their own business. The officers are still gathering evidence and securing the area. The medics, on the other hand, are busy collecting human limbs and entrails scattered around the room.
The child stepped further inside. His steps are cautious and quiet as he paced towards the only stretcher left in the room.
Strapped to the bed was a sleeping blond child with thick gauzes on his cheeks. Most of his face is hidden beneath an oxygen mask. Except from his bandaged arms, his whole body is covered with a white blanket marred by some patches of blood. Though the child appears to be injured, he does not look like he's in critical condition.
The young Uchiha paused at the side of the bed, pale hands resting on top of the covers. His observed the sleeping child in odd fascination. Then, very slowly, his fingers moved up, ghosting over the bandaged arm, then to the other's necklace. He traced the crystal gem in his hand, feeling the smooth contours of the jagged gem.
He stopped when he heard the blond murmuring in his sleep. The raven strained his ears closer to the sleeping child.
"Nii-san… Itachi-nii…"
"…."
The raven's fingers were shaking, his shoulders trembling. His jaw clenched painfully.
"How…?"
The Uchiha gripped the gem tighter…
…and ripped the necklace away.
"By sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground. For out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return..."
The priest paused after the last line, head bowed. He kissed the small book and brought it down to his chest. Bony fingers clasped the golden cross hanging around his neck as he gave his last prayers for the dead. The people followed suit, lowering their heads in silence.
After a brief moment of quiet, one of the altar knights handed a small bottle to the priest. The priest took it, raised his thin hand in the air and sprinkled holy water onto the coffin, all the while murmuring silent prayers. His immaculate white robes danced in the air as he waved his hand, the Bible still held close against his chest.
The mood was solemn and quiet. It complemented the grim-looking clouds hanging above the burial grounds. The heavy downpour of the late afternoon has now receded into a light drizzle. The gentle sound of the raindrops tapping on the umbrellas of the guests has provided a soothing sound for the ceremony.
It was a grand Christian funeral – simply one of the grandest in years. It could have been a traditional Japanese burial, but the remaining relatives of the deceased man have insisted on a Christian memorial service. There are a few Conservatives who opposed the integration of such a foreign belief to a funeral but it would not matter anyway, since the man himself was not a religious. The old man's loyalty has never been attached to any religion, culture, or man. It has always been a strict and rather unhealthy devotion to the country – to the endurance and progression of Japan.
But traditions aside, no one can argue that the lavish memorial service was indeed very suitable for one of the most famous and enduring public figures of the Japanese government, Vice Minister Shimura Danzo.
A lot of prominent people from the government and the media, complete with their entourage, have attended the luxurious memorial service. Distinguished members of the Japanese military were also present in the ceremony.
Elegant and detailed flower arrangements lined the path towards the venerated coffin. The exterior of the casket itself is made from mahogany, plated with pure gold and brass decorations and silver linings at the side. After the funeral, a mausoleum will be built to enclose the burial grounds of the esteemed vice minister.
However, if truth be told, no one really paid attention to such grandiose details. The ambience was not only dark. It was also plagued by suspicions and allegations. Everyone's thoughts were centered on one thing: the truth of the vice minister's death.
According to the media reports, the high-ranking official died of a heart attack while on a travel to Hokkaido. He supposedly died in a train. His body guards have called on the paramedics when the man remained unresponsive for so long. Nothing could have been further from the truth – if the missing right arm, gouged eyes, and battered body would be taken into consideration. In actuality, the old man's mangled corpse was found swimming in an old sewage in downtown Tokyo. The autopsy revealed that the old man died of massive bleeding because of the critical injuries he suffered.
The discovery of the body was the day after the new Prime Minister's inaugural party. But of course, these accounts were not disclosed to the public. The concealment was intended by the higher authorities as the last homage for the revered leader. It would be highly disgraceful if the manner of death was exposed to the public. Including the media, all the few people who knew the truth were paid off to keep their mouths shut.
A series of highly classified investigations had been commenced regarding the case, but as of now, everything was off the record and only the higher authorities would be notified of the developments in the case. This was to ensure that no unsolicited information would leak out.
Indeed.
Uchiha Sasuke had made sure of this.
The youngest Uchiha gripped the black rose in his hand before tossing it away to land on the lowering coffin. "My deepest, sincerest condolences." The raven muttered in a dull voice, his gaze fixed on the elaborately decorated casket. But there was no sympathy or any sign of bereavement on his face. His expression remained vacant, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the coffin.
"Uchiha-dono." Kakashi called to his superior, nudging the umbrella closer to the raven. "We should go."
Sasuke nodded. He turned around and went back to their designated place. He sat next to his father.
A few minutes passed before his father broke the silence.
"Where is your brother?" Fugaku asked.
"I believe he's still in the car, father."
"I thought," Fugaku leaned in closer to his son, his voice lower, "I told you specifically to bring him here, not leave him dawdling in the car. This is unacceptable, Sasuke. This is a ceremony. It requires his presence as an Uchiha. That boy should be here."
"I apologize." Sasuke intoned, his tone less than apologetic. "He's… not feeling well."
"Too much to drink last night, I presume. All those partying and late-night sessions…" Fugaku's expression hardened. "Really, that boy. His behavior is really upsetting." The old man sighed heavily. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
"Don't worry, Father." Sasuke finally tore his gaze away from the burial grounds and looked at his father. "Leave him to me. I will talk to him."
The young Uchiha's lips curved slightly upwards. It was almost a smile but the fervor did not even reach his eyes.
"Hm." Fugaku hummed at the reassurance. He looked back at the throng of people leaving the funeral. He seemed deep in thought.
A few minutes passed and the two Uchihas were escorted out of the burial grounds. They left the service without even glancing back.
Naruto dug his index finger into the rubber padding of the car windowsill, uncaring of the dirt accumulating in his fingernail. He repeated the process, burying his finger deeper into the padding as he stared dazedly at the people outside the car. They were leaving. The funeral service must have finished, he thought vaguely.
'No need for this fancy suit then.' Naruto mused. He loosened the black tie under his neck and tossed it somewhere. He has this urge to take off the dark blazer too, but it would be too cold. His polo shirt isn't really that thick.
Nonetheless, he took it off.
Cold. So cold.
Suppressing a shiver, he leaned back further into his seat. He fixed his gaze on the tinted glass of the car, letting himself be distracted by the droplets of water trickling down and pooling in the window frame.
It was Danzo's funeral.
-stop it. don't think.
Naruto clutched his stomach as he felt another bile rise in his throat. Clenching his lips, he swallowed it back.
Even now, his breaths smelled of vomit. His vomit. He couldn't remember how many times he hugged the toilet bowl that morning. He just kept on throwing up. His eyes watered and his throat ached at the relentless heaving. It just went on and on. He couldn't even look at food anymore without cringing. Everything felt so disgusting. Everything felt so dirty.
Naruto heard the car door opened. He immediately closed his eyes, not bothering to glance at the other.
The seat was wide enough, providing a significant distance between the two brothers, but Naruto still felt cornered. He resisted the urge to push himself further to the edge. He just crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head away from the other.
For a very long time, no one talked.
The entire car ride consisted of silence.
"Here we are." Kakashi said, finally breaking the unbearable silence that reigned in the car. He glanced at the rearview mirror.
Naruto hesitantly opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings. Blinking a few times, he swallowed hard when he recognized the place. They are in the entrance of the National Diet Building. The huge pillars at the center and the off-white, brick architecture made it easily identifiable.
Outside the car, there are many people crowding the area, most of them are reporters and their posse. Huge cameras were almost glued to the car window, raring to take pictures of the first family.
"Why are we here?" The blond abruptly asked, confusion lacing his eyes. He struggled so hard not to talk but his curiosity just has to override everything else. He can't help it. This is just rather strange to say the least.
In his two years in the Uchiha family, he has never been brought here – or anywhere near a public office for that matter. Although his adoption to the aristocratic clan was widely broadcast, his adopted family has made certain that that would be the only publicized thing about him. They exerted efforts and resources to make sure that his whole image and person would be secured from the prying eyes of the media. In short, he was kept hidden from the public.
Receiving no response, Naruto asked again.
Sasuke did not answer and instead signaled his guards at the front. The guards moved fast and a tad forcefully. It didn't take long before they cleared out the way, providing a path where they can walk literally untouched by the press. Without the people blocking the view, Naruto saw a lush red carpet lining the entrance steps of the building. Everything looked so… magnificent. And for a short moment, the blond stared in awe.
Kakashi opened the door beside Sasuke. There was a pause before the raven finally looked at Naruto.
"You're coming."
It was not a question, nor a request. It was an order, and the blond balked in displeasure as he stared back at his brother.
"Like hell I will, bastard." Naruto crossed his arms over his chest, daring the other to make a move. He straightened his back and looked directly at the older Uchiha. "I'll stay here for as long as—"
A pale, cold hand suddenly grabbed Naruto's and pulled him forcefully outside, effectively stopping his speech. Due to shock, the blond stumbled on his way out, knees almost scraping the smooth concrete. He cursed rather loudly as he pulled himself up, his only support being the cold hand gripping his own.
The blond tried tugging his hand back but the raven did not let go, did not even glance back as he continued walking, practically pulling the other with him. And Naruto, despite himself, followed.
It must look like an unusual sight – the two of them walking hand in hand at the center of so many people. Normally, Naruto would bask in the amount of attention, but now, he can't even lift his head. His head remained lowered, eyes fixed at the carpeted pavement as he walks.
-these people… they will know. They will know. Everyone will know.
Naruto raised his other hand to cover his face. The flashes of the cameras were blinding. They were too bright; the people too loud. Everything looked and sounded so chaotic. Huge microphones were almost hurled at his face. In the background, he could hear people asking him questions, saying things he could not understand. The words were muddled in his ears and the faces of the people appeared distorted in his sight. Something twisted in his gut.
-He saw Danzo's eyes gouged out in front of him.
His hands grew clammy. He felt something rise in his throat. Something bitter rolled on his tongue. He gagged. Naruto clamped his hand on his mouth, but it was too late. Before he knew it, he started throwing up again – right in the middle of all these people.
Naruto crouched down as he emptied the remaining contents of his stomach on the lush red carpet. He felt his own vomit flowing down to his neck, then to his clothes. He knew people were staring; knew that that the cameras were still flashing; but at this moment, he can't help himself.
A figure loomed over him. He closed his eyes shut, teeth digging into his lower lip. He shouldn't have been brought here.
Something warm enveloped his body. Confused, Naruto opened his eyes.
Sasuke has knelt before him, his own coat removed and cloaked on Naruto's body. He could feel the raven's lingering heat surrounding his entire back. It felt wonderfully warm. And for a moment, Naruto relished in that warmth, lost, and gazing at his brother's dark eyes.
An arm made its way around his back, bracing his upper body. He felt a gentle tug and then, he was standing up, supported by his brother.
There were muffled voices in the background, but this time, Naruto was not paying attention. Everything blurred around him. Sounds and sights were reduced into mere drones and shapes. The only thing he could feel, the only thing that mattered right now, was the comforting warmth of the body next to him.
They walked slowly towards the entrance.
He splashed a bit of water on his face, shivering at the cold feel. He shook his head slightly and rested his hands on the edge of the gold-plated, marble countertop. In dazed fascination, Naruto watched the droplets of water dribbling down slowly from his face to the smooth surface of the sink, swirling around the drain.
Then slowly, very slowly, he lifted his head and gazed at his reflection on the huge mirror in front of him. His stomach clenched. He removed his gaze immediately.
Naruto opened the faucet again, drank a mouthful of water, and spat it out. He repeated the process until he could no longer taste the familiar bitterness lingering on his tongue.
The blond gripped the collar of his brother's blazer, bringing it close to his nose. The strong scent of Sasuke's perfume filled him. Naruto hugged the blazer closer to his body, letting himself drown in that scent. It soothed him for some reason.
After a while, Naruto turned to the door.
"Kakashi-san, I know you're outside. You can come in, you know."
There was a pause then a soft click was heard. The white-haired assistant stepped inside the gaudy lavatory. He closed the door silently.
"Uzumaki-dono."
The blond narrowed his eyes, putting his hands on his hips as he faced Kakashi directly. He looked slightly annoyed. "We've talked about this, Kakashi-san."
"Oh." The assistant raised both hands, as if in surrender. "I mean, Naruto-kun."
"Much better." The blond made a thumbs-up sign, smiling at the older man.
Kakashi smiled back. He advanced towards Naruto, offering the blond another coat, but the latter declined, and unconsciously hugged Sasuke's coat closer to his body.
"I know you're supposed to keep an eye on me but you know," Naruto mumbled as he turned towards the faucet again to look for a napkin. "Try to make it a little less creepy."
"Creepy?" Kakashi asked, looking genuinely confused.
"Yeah you know, that 'shadowing method' of yours. Seriously, stop that. It's really making me uncomfortable." The blond started drying his face with the napkin. Once he's done, he tossed the napkin towards the trash bin, smiling when it slid through neatly down the hole. "You can just come with me, walk with me or something."
Kakashi stared at the blond for a while. Then he nodded his head, smiling beneath his mask. "I understand."
Naruto's grin grew in response.
"Can I ask something, Naruto-kun?"
"Sure."
"Why are you here?"
Naruto's eyebrows shot up on his forehead. "You're kidding, right? You're asking me that?" He smirked. "Should I have you hold my balls when I pee? Am I no longer allowed to piss on my own?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Yeah I'm sure." Naruto leaned his hip against the extensive countertop. He crossed his arms over his chest. "The bastard's just being too paranoid."
"Maybe he is, Naruto-kun, considering the fact that you've been hiding here for almost an hour."
"Oh come on, Kakashi-san. His speech is outrageously long and boring and I don't understand half the words coming out of that bastard's mouth… using all these big words and shit." The blond looked away. "I'm not needed there anyway. Heck, I'm not even supposed to be here. Why did he bring me here anyway?"
Naruto's voice became lower at the last part. He doesn't really understand why the Uchiha felt the need to bring him along. Was he looking for companionship during these boring meetings? Is this his only means of "reconciliation", perhaps?
"I'm not letting you out of my sight again."
Naruto swallowed hard, remembering the last time Sasuke looked him in the eye and said those words.
They had not really talked since the inaugural party. What happened that night became something of a taboo topic between them.
Naruto was just glad they were not talking about it. He doesn't know if he'd be able to have the strength to talk about it to anyone, most especially with Sasuke. He had already buried those memories long ago. He doesn't want to be reminded of them again.
"Perhaps, he just wants your presence." Kakashi replied.
The blond blinked, forgetting the train of their conversation. "Oh. Yeah. I highly doubt that, though."
"May I ask why?"
"Oh I don't know. Sasuke's such a bastard when he's with me. But when he's talking to someone else, he becomes all-professional and polite and… gentle."
Kakashi laughed a bit. "I assure you, Naruto-kun. He's only gentle with you, don't worry."
"Really? Huh. Hard to believe that." Naruto interlaced his fingers behind his head. "So, is the bastard finished? 'Cause I'm not going out of this room until he is."
The assistant nodded. "He is, Naruto-kun. That's why I'm here – to escort you back."
Naruto groaned, his shoulders slumping dramatically. "Where to?"
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. "Just some place. I'm sure you'll like it, Naruto-kun."
The blond raised an eyebrow in curiosity but he did not ask anymore.
Beautiful. There's simply no better way to describe the lavish interior of the famed restaurant. Despite his slight repulsion to food nowadays, Naruto still couldn't help but admire the splendor and the intricate details of the traditional Japanese-styled diner. His eyes raked over the shadowy walls, the luxurious wooden furniture, and the scenic images painted on the partitions of the elaborate diner.
"Idiot."
The blond blinked at the deep voice. He focused his attention on his brother who is currently staring at him from across the table.
"Quit staring and just eat."
Naruto touched his chopsticks but he did not lift them, merely running his fingers on the smooth surface of the metallic utensil.
"I'm not… really hungry Sasuke." The blond looked at the table again. If it was any other day, he could have relished in the delightful and massive feast in front of him. But at this moment, there was not an ounce of appetite in his system. All this food just appeared nauseating to him. He hates it.
The blond gave a small grin. "You know, we could just have a take-out. I'm sure the people in the house would appreciate all of this."
"…."
Sasuke brought his chopsticks down, resting them neatly at the side of his plate. A short pause, then he looked at Naruto. "This is for you, idiot. You haven't eaten since this afternoon."
Naruto refused to meet the other's gaze. He kept his head lowered, playing at the hem of his sleeves. "I'm fine bastard. I'm not hungry."
"I'm not asking if you are hungry, Naruto." Sasuke said, impatience lacing his voice. "I'm asking you to eat."
The blond bristled at the obvious tone of command.
"Well I don't want to."
"Naruto."
The blond clenched his teeth beneath his lips. He knew that tone of voice. Hard. Imposing. Cold.
Sighing heavily, Naruto finally looked at his brother. He was supposed to say something really rude but his words died in his throat when he looked at his brother's eyes. They were almost… gentle. Not angry or intimidating. The raven seemed like he's just a bit annoyed and worried.
"Fine." Naruto swallowed hard. He fingered his chopsticks and dug it into the broth. "Just one bowl, okay? I don't want to meet all of this stuff again in the toilet bowl."
"Hn."
The raven picked up his utensil as well. He was almost smiling. Almost. If that small upward twitch of the lips could be called smiling.
Naruto was stunned for a moment at the sight, strands of noodles dangling from his slightly open mouth.
Noticing the stare, Sasuke asked. "What?"
The blond gulped the contents of his mouth before speaking. "You're smiling."
"…."
"The great Uchiha Sasuke – actually smiling." Naruto grinned. "I should have brought my camera. The pictures could have sold millions, teme."
"Shut up."
The blond laughed.
"You know," Naruto said in between "manly" giggles, "if you weren't such a heartless bastard, you could have been attractive, you know, for a dude. Just keep smiling. It upped your looks a little."
At this, Sasuke stopped eating and gazed directly at his younger brother, one eyebrow raised.
"Really, Naruto?"
"What?"
"You think I'm attractive. Handsome, perhaps?"
The raven's smile, or smirk, grew.
"What—?"
Finally catching the implication, Naruto blushed. He felt his face and neck heating up. "That's… You…" He stammered, dropping his chopsticks and pointing rudely at the other. "I don't know what you're thinking bastard, but it's wrong okay. I don't mean that. You're not good-looking at all. Definitely not as good-looking as me. Just a bit… well… nice to look at."
Naruto buried his face into his palms. "Ah crap. That's worse. That's sounds creepy. That's not what I mean. Gah, why the hell am I spewing this nonsense crap. Bury it. Bury it."
"Naruto."
Too busy with berating himself, Naruto did not see the other stand up and made his way towards him.
The raven knelt beside Naruto.
"Idiot."
The blond lifted his head. A bit shocked at the sudden close proximity and the intensity in the raven's eyes, he moved his head back.
"B-bastard." Naruto murmured breathlessly before cool lips meet his own.
It was an open-mouth kiss. Naruto's eyes widened in shock but he did not recoil. He felt Sasuke pushed further into his lips, hands cupping his face hard.
Naruto gripped Sasuke shoulders in response, eyes sliding closed. These are the same cold lips that night, but at this moment, Naruto refused to care.
Overlapping lips pressed nearer to each other. Bodies almost melding. Thoughts in disarray and words left unsaid.
There's no air between them. No other world but each other.
Gradually, the long kiss ended. Both lips wet and heated.
They stared at each other for a very long time.
And then, without breaking eye contact, Sasuke fished out something from his pocket. It was a crystal gem necklace.
Naruto gasped. "No way. Where did you…? How…?"
This was the necklace he lost years ago. His parents' necklace.
The raven did not answer and instead placed the gem on the blond's chest, wrapping the silver chain around the other's neck. Naruto was too stunned to say anything. Slack-jawed, he could only look at Sasuke.
Once the raven locked the necklace, he looked at Naruto again. Slowly, he placed another kiss on the other's lips. The movement was unhurried, the raven tracing the blond's lips with his own. Sasuke was mumbling words into his mouth. The words were inconceivable at first but as the raven repeated them, Naruto finally made out the words.
"I love you…
…I love you."
Sasuke kissed him again.
Naruto's breath hitched in his throat. He could feel his face heating up again, a shiver running down his spine.
"I love you, idiot." The raven said again, placing his large palms on Naruto's shoulders.
"Sasuke, I…" Naruto murmured, unconsciously clenching his fists. "I…"
"Shh..."
Their lips connected again, gently, moving so slowly and gently. Gradually, the kiss deepened, everything blurred; the world around them beginning to dissolve into something so distant and unreal.
"You look… happy today." Kakashi commented as he dodged a kick to his side.
Naruto stopped attacking. He regarded the white-haired assistant with a confused expression. "Eh. What?"
"I said you look happy." The assistant replied, assuming a more relaxed stance. He faced the blond directly. "A bit different compared to the past few days. What happened?"
"I do? Really?" Naruto copied the other's stance, dropping his guard. He supposed that their spar for today is already finished.
The other nodded.
"How so? I mean I do look awesome everyday but how can you tell, Kakashi-san?"
Kakashi chuckled, unsure if he's going to negate what the other said or just humor him. Knowing the personality of the blond, the assistant chose the latter. "Indeed, you do look awesome everyday, Uzumaki-dono, but that's not what I mean."
"Oh?" The blond raised an eyebrow, placing both hands on his hips. "What then?"
"Well for starters, you're starting to eat again, stopped throwing up, and you look more lenient today."
"Lenient?"
"Calm. Comfortable. Laid-back."
Naruto looked peeved, lips pouting slightly. "I do know what lenient means, Kakashi-san. I'm just asking why you think I look more 'lenient'."
"Hm." Kakashi paused. He placed one hand under his chin, seemingly thinking. He then moved towards the blond slowly. "Well…"
"Well-what?"
The blond yelped when the older man suddenly tripped him and put him in a head-lock.
"What did I say about not dropping your guard, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto struggled to detach himself. "You cheat."
"Rule number 3: Diversion." the older man said, voice confident. "If fighting is not plausible, escape. Run. Get away. Sometimes, Naruto-kun, it's the best strategy. Use any means to divert the attention of your enemy."
"Diversion huh? Well that's good and all, Kakashi-san but are you telling me that what you said earlier – that's not true?"
"I do mean what I said, Naruto-kun. You do look happier today." Kakashi moved his head closer to the blond. He was grinning. "I may not know the reason, but I am relieved that you are better now. I really am, Uzumaki-dono."
Naruto smiled back, then glared at the other playfully. "Aw that's sweet, Kakashi-san. But quit with the stupid honorifics and I'll appreciate it if you release me now."
"Rule number 26: Head-lock breakout tactics…"
The blond groaned. "Oh come on, Kakashi-san. I wasn't paying attention with the lessons okay? I don't remember them, honest! So just—"
Naruto suddenly stopped when he heard something. It sounded like a static.
"Is there a problem?" the assistant asked.
Naruto shushed the other, straining his ears to the source of the high pitched electronic static sound. It sounded like when there is a disruption of a signal or when two highly-powered devices are near each other.
The blond lowered his head, his eyes briefly glancing to the necklace dangling from his neck. Then suddenly, something clicked in his head. His eyes widened. He looked back at Kakashi, brows deeply creasing.
"Kakashi-san, do you have your walkie-talkie with you?"
"Yes. Why?"
The blond's expression has hardened. Worried, Kakashi released the boy slowly from his grasp. "What's wrong, Naruto?"
"Can I borrow it? Just one second."
The older man hesitated for a moment. He was not allowed to do this. That was his only means of communication. What if the blond try something? The blond does have a creative mind – a mind that can almost rival the genius of one Sasuke Uchiha, unconventional his methods may be. Sighing heavily, the white-haired assistant gave in eventually. He handed Naruto the transceiver.
Naruto did not take it and instead, just unfastened his necklace and placed it close to the radio.
The static sound came alive again, this time louder.
Naruto gripped the chain, his blunt nails digging into his palm.
"That… bastard."
The blond stormed inside the raven's office, his steps loud and heavy. Seething in anger, he faced his brother directly.
"This is a fucking tracking device, you asshole." Naruto yelled, dangling the necklace in front of him. His fingers trembled slightly as he gripped the chain. "What? Your guards aren't enough? Keeping me jailed here isn't fucking enough?"
"Naruto." Sasuke brought his papers down on the table.
"This is a gift, you jerk. My mother's last gift for me. My real family, Sasuke." Here, Naruto's voice almost break. "I thought you retrieved this for me. I was so… Fuck, I was so happy when you gave this to me."
The blond looked away, eyes narrowing with mixed anger and hurt.
"H-how could you? How dare you do this? How dare you use it like that?"
Sasuke did not say anything and instead approached the blond, his steps barely making a sound.
Naruto sensed the approaching figure. He tensed. "Stop, you asshole. Stay away from me." The blond bared his teeth, his body tightening as he glared fiercely at the raven.
It did nothing to intimidate the latter though as Sasuke continued walking towards him. Naruto drew back.
"I said…" The blond grated out. "Stay back teme."
Seeing that the other remained unaffected by his words, Naruto turned to leave. "Fine. Have it your way. I'll leave then."
The blond turned his back on the raven and went towards the door. He grasped the door handle and proceeded to open it when the raven's pale hand suddenly appeared in front of him, resting on the side of the door close to his face. Another pale hand made its way on the door knob, covering the blond's hand.
Naruto did not dare turn around. He could feel the Uchiha's breaths brushing warmly at the back of his right ear. He cringed despite his anger.
"I don't care about your opinions, Naruto." Sasuke whispered into his ears, tone hard. "I am willing to do anything to protect you, with or without your approval."
"Screw you, bastard. I don't need your protection. I can fucking take care of myself."
The grip on the blond's hand tightened. Sasuke pushed his body closer to the blond's, the raven's chest flushed against Naruto's back.
The blond's jaws clenched, his own hand gripping the knob tighter. "I just need you to be honest with me." At this, Naruto turned his head to look at the other.
"I just need you to stop lying to my face."
"…."
"This." With his other hand, Naruto shoved the necklace to the raven's face again. "This is not for my protection, is it Sasuke?"
There was no expression at all in Sasuke's face but Naruto knew perfectly well that deep in that cool exterior, he hit a nerve.
"This is your last resort to find your brother."
"…."
"That if ever I ran away again, this little gift of yours will ensure that I'll lead you to him. I might as well be the bait. Right, nii-san?" Naruto smirked, despite the pang in his chest. He didn't know if he was right. He was just relying on pure instinct. Everything just suddenly clicked in his head. But deep inside, he sincerely hoped he was wrong. He hoped that his bastard of a brother would negate everything he said.
But Sasuke didn't.
The raven let go of his hand. Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke stepped back and moved away. The blond bit his lip hard, letting the pain drain away the sting in his eyes.
'I was right?'
"That was… true?" Naruto mumbled brokenly. He lifted his face to look at Sasuke but the latter's gaze was far away. "You really intended to use me?" It was Naruto's turn to approach the raven but he stopped mid-way when Sasuke replied.
"Yes."
Naruto was stunned. It felt like his heart had stopped. He stood there gaping at the raven, unable say anything.
"I still need to find my brother." Sasuke gritted out, clenching his fists. There is a dark shadow covering his eyes and his shoulders are trembling in fury. "And when I do, I'll kill him."
"…."
"I'll fucking end him." At this, Sasuke finally looked at the blond. "And I will need your help, Naruto—"
A necklace was thrown right at the Uchiha's chest. It fell down and landed on the floor with a soft 'clink'. The raven looked at the necklace, then at the blond.
Naruto stared back at Sasuke, widened eyes filled with disbelief and hurt.
Then, without saying anything, he turned around and left.
Naruto gulped at the height. It was a 30 plus-feet drop from his balcony. He looked around again, wondering if he had other alternatives. There were none. He frowned and tried to relax himself, remembering that memory from two years ago when he attempted the same feat.
It ended with him having a fractured clavicle, two broken bones in his legs, and a week-long detention in the hospital. 'Okay. Not a good memory apparently.' Naruto thought.
It was supposed to be just a prank but it ended wrong when the cord attached to the rope wrapped around his waist snapped and broke. He was not aware of how brittle it really was. That was what he got from improvising with unknown materials in the house.
His memories were quite blurry after that, but he remembered Sasuke shouting his name. It was the first time the raven had actually said his name. The very first time.
Naruto blacked out soon after and regretted the fact that he didn't even get to see Sasuke's face when he won the bet.
Naruto smiled briefly at the memory. He could hear the growing volume of noises inside the house. His smile grew. 'It's starting.' The final and greatest prank as he called it.
The blond paid all the attendants of the manor to run around the house dress like him, complete with a blond wig and scars on the cheeks. They have to do that for half an hour. For everyone else, it would seem like a prank, typical of one Uzumaki Naruto. But in reality, it was the blond's only means of diversion. So is to say, he'll take advantage of the confusion in the house to escape. Kakashi-san would be proud.
He just hoped it would work.
Naruto adjusted the ropes around his waist one last time before he closed his eyes… and jumped.
"If something ever happens," Itachi acquired a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to Naruto. "If, for any reason, we failed to meet at the rendezvous point tonight, this schedule would be our alternative."
Naruto glanced at the piece of paper, then back to Itachi. "This is a week from now, aniki. Why would it take me that long to meet you?"
"I know my brother."
"Sasuke? What do you mean? What does he have to do with this?" The blond gave a low chuckle. "Is he going to chain me to a bed? Put me in a vault or something?"
The older Uchiha did not reply. Instead, he looked away and took a long drag from his cigarette.
He said nothing more after that.
Now that Naruto realized it, Itachi's expression became more serious when his brother's the topic. When they were talking about Sasuke, the mood became darker, the replies more cryptic, and the ambience generally more uncomfortable. At first, Naruto assumed that it might be because of Itachi's longing for his family, especially for his younger brother. Maybe, he missed his family more than he lets on. But now, he wasn't too sure. His gut was telling him that something feels wrong here. Terribly, terribly wrong.
Naruto stopped running, shoes skidding to an abrupt halt. He looked around, surveying his current location. His surroundings seemed familiar but he couldn't locate their designated building.
It was almost laughable that he's lost in his own turf. He lived here for practically all his life and he's still getting lost. 'Damn.' Naruto cursed as he started walking in a random direction.
He chewed on his lip as he scanned the area, looking for any clues. He's seriously running out of time and if he does not meet Itachi today, he might never meet him again. If that happens, he would not be able to protect his family. As long as he stays here in this country, there will be people who will stop at nothing to ruin his family. Right now, he's the greatest liability of the Uchiha. His terrible past would certainly be their downfall.
A skyscraper in front of him caught Naruto's attention. He stopped walking, trying to remember the exact name of the building scribbled neatly on the piece of paper Itachi gave him.
A smile tugged at his lips when the names coincide. Naruto ran towards the building as fast as he can.
He failed to notice a black car looming in the distance.
Kakashi tightened his hold on the steering wheel as he watched the blond boy go inside the building. Beneath the mask, his lips pursed thinly. He glanced back at his lord through the rearview mirror.
Sasuke was polishing his gun while looking at the window, dark eyes narrowed and much colder than usual.
"Uchiha-dono." Kakashi started. "He just went inside. Should I contact the reinforcements now?"
"…."
There was no response and the assistant expected it. What he had not expected however was Sasuke unlocking the car door and sliding out of his seat. Before Kakashi could even blink, the raven was already outside, walking towards the entrance of the building.
Kakashi chased after the raven. He knew this would get him fired or in Sasuke's case, heavily injured, but at this moment he does not care. He needed to say this before something terrible happened. With more nerve that he could manage, he blocked the Uchiha's path.
"Uchiha-dono." Kakashi started again, exhibiting an unusually serious expression on his face. "I may not have complete knowledge of what's going on here but this I can attest to. Revenge destroys everyone. It would never heal your pain. It will only get worse. Please don't do something you know you will regret. Let us handle this."
"Kakashi." Sasuke muttered coldly. "If you do not want a bullet in your fucking skull then get out of my way."
Kakashi's fists clenched. He glanced at his student's dark eyes, trying to find something there but there was nothing but pure loathing. Nothing but pure hate swimming in those endless pools of black.
'How did you become like this?'
Eventually, Kakashi conceded and stepped out of the way.
Once the raven was out of earshot, the assistant grabbed his cellphone from his pocket and dialed a number.
"Instruct your men to go inside now. Please do take the necessary precautions," Kakashi stressed the word. "If it can be helped, do not, I repeat, do not hurt anyone. Bring back Naruto Uzumaki and disarm and capture his companion. These are direct orders. Copy?"
An affirmative crackled on the phone and Kakashi snapped his phone shut.
"Itachi!" Naruto shouted as he spun around on the rooftop.
"Itachi, where are you?" The blond called out again, looking for any signs of the older Uchiha in the area. But there was no one, nothing at all in the wide expanse of the rooftop. Not even clues. He glanced at his watch again. Two minutes left. Despite his earlier optimism, Naruto started to worry. He couldn't stand the thought that maybe he got the wrong building or worse, something bad might have happened to Itachi.
Naruto cursed in his head.
"Damn it. This is my fault. I should've…"
He stopped when he heard a distinctive and hard 'thump-thump' sound in the distance. Then it grew louder. He glanced at every direction, stopping at his left when he realized that the sound was more prominent there. He walked towards the direction and stopped a few feet away from the edge of the building, looking around the skies.
He heard that sound before. It's so familiar. 'But what was it?'
Aside from the familiar rotor engine sound, Naruto felt the wind getting stronger as well. He could feel his shirt and pants swaying and rippling harshly in the wind. He could also feel his body being pushed back a bit.
Instinctively, Naruto glanced down.
"What… the hell?"
Naruto whispered breathlessly when he caught sight of quite a huge helicopter ascending the 60-story skyscraper. Dumbfounded, he started staggering away from the edge, feeling his knees wobble at the force of the wind. It was taking all of his strength and weight to just remain standing and not get carried away by the wind.
Seeing the main rotor and the head of the chopper slowly emerging from the edge of the rooftop, Naruto halted in his steps and waited. The cabin was open. He felt awfully relieved when he saw the person he's looking for.
"Itachi!" Naruto shouted, flailing his arms above his head. He didn't realize it was wrong to do that, apparently.
"Get down!" Itachi shouted back, motioning with his hands. "Move back."
The sound of the spinning blades and the rotor engines were too loud, causing the blond to press his hands on his ears. He crouched down low and moved away.
The helicopter neared the landing area, its long metal feet hanging in the air for a moment before it finally landed on the concrete, the speed of the spinning blades slowing down, the loud engine sound beginning to dissipate.
The older Uchiha jumped down from the cabin and approached the blond slowly, crouched down as well. The blond however did not wait and rushed towards the other.
Naruto threw his arms around the raven, embracing the other like a lifeline.
"You. Damn you." Naruto mumbled against the other's neck. "Where have you been? You got me so fucking worried."
The raven's body relaxed. He patted the blond's head gently. "I should ask you the same question, Naruto-kun. You didn't call back."
Naruto did not answer and instead buried himself deeper into the other's chest.
One pale hand gripped the blond's shoulder and pushed away gently, creating a small space between them. The other pale hand rested on the blond's head.
Itachi ran his fingers through the blond locks, down to the blond's cheek slowly, then finally to the chin. The long fingers gripped the chin gently and lifted the blond's face. The older Uchiha stared into the other's eyes.
"What happened to you? Are you…?"
"M'fine." Naruto replied curtly, face tensing.
Itachi sighed then moved his face closer to the blond's. Their lips were almost touching, but then Naruto turned his face away.
"Sorry. I can't."
With a shaky voice, Naruto looked back at Itachi. "We can't do this anymore, nii-san. I'm sorry."
"…."
The blond closed his eyes. His lips were trembling and he could feel his eyes watering behind closed lids. "Sasuke and I… I know we can never be together. I know that he hates me now and whatever we do, we'll just keep hurting each other. But damn it, I still… I still love that bastard."
Naruto lowered his head. "I love him." He whispered brokenly, staring at the small blobs of water pooling beside his shoes. Vaguely, he wondered if it was raining.
"…I understand." Itachi said after a while. He placed his hands on the blond's shoulders again and pulled him closer, enveloping the latter into a firm hug. "I understand, Naruto-kun. I won't…"
"Get away from him!"
A shout alerted the two.
Naruto's body stiffened in shock, feeling as though his heart had stopped when he saw Sasuke aiming a gun at Itachi.
"Sasuke, wait!" Immediately, the blond went in front of the older Uchiha, his arms extended to protect the other, shaky fingers and all. His thoughts were all jumbled up. He looked at Sasuke, then to the gun, then to the bastard again. He forced his mouth to open.
"Don't shoot. God, Sasuke, put that gun down."
"Shut up." The raven moved forward, his gun still pointing at the two. "Move away, usuratonkatchi. This is none of your fucking business."
Tone so hard and gripping, Naruto almost pulled back. But he stood his ground.
"No, you bastard. The day you adopted me was the day you made this whole bull-crap my fucking business, so you shut up. I have enough of this—"
"I said, shut the fuck up Naruto." Sasuke bared his teeth at the blond. "You don't understand anything. You've never met your real family. Your real mother. You have no right to say anything here."
Naruto felt something stab his heart. He bit his lip, willing the sad thoughts away. "No, I won't. I won't stop talking until you put that gun down." Naruto stepped forward once, bringing his hands up in a placating manner. The raven remained undeterred, the gun still pointed at them.
"Don't do this, Sasuke. This will not solve anything. Just let us go."
"Back off, Naruto."
"No…"
"Naruto-kun."
The blond felt a strong grip on his shoulder and then he was being pulled away. Itachi has dragged him back. The raven is now in front of the blond, shielding the other.
Itachi turned towards the driver in the cockpit.
"If something happens to me, please take Naruto-kun to the designated place."
The driver nodded as a response.
"Itachi, what—?" Naruto was looking at the older Uchiha wide-eyed. "We're both leaving, right? What the hell are you saying now?"
Itachi did not respond and instead looked back at the other raven. "Sasuke." He called out, moving slowly towards the other.
"Itachi." Sasuke uttered, venom dripping in his voice.
"Do you want to kill me?"
The only response Itachi got was Sasuke raising the gun higher and pointing it directly to the older man's chest. But the latter did not waver and continued pacing forward, staring directly at his younger brother's eyes.
"Can you do it now, otouto? You failed to do it before." Itachi continued, no hint of fear or any other emotion lacing his voice. Naruto could only watch in fear as the older Uchiha closed in on the younger raven.
"…When mother died, you just watched me walk away."
A loud shot resonated in the area.
Sasuke has fired his first shot – the bullet grazing Itachi's left shoulder. The latter gripped his wounded arm, hissing quietly at the burning feel.
"Itachi!" Naruto ran forward.
"Don't." Itachi gritted out, glancing back at Naruto. "Stay where you are, Naruto." Even with the wound, Itachi's voice remained cool and imposing and despite his growing panic, the blond stopped in his tracks.
Itachi looked back at Sasuke. He straightened his posture and started moving forward again.
"You hesitated again." Itachi halted in his steps, the barrel of the gun now touching his chest. Sasuke was glaring at him heatedly, digging the gun deeper into the other's chest.
"I don't." Sasuke grated out.
"No, Sasuke." Itachi shook his head slightly. "In spite of everything you've been through, you still hesitate. Do you want to know why, little brother?"
The younger raven gripped the gun tighter. He did not respond.
"Because deep inside, you don't want to do this."
"…."
"You're not that cruel. You're not like me, Sasuke. You're still just a kid… afraid of letting go."
At this, Sasuke's eyes widened a bit, his hold on the gun unconsciously loosening.
Itachi continued. "You can't let go of anything. In your whole life, you only love very few things, otouto. And the less you love, the deeper you cherish them, the more you are protective of them…
…You have loved mother more than I could ever have. You have loved her so much that you can never let her go. Even with the pain she's going through, you cannot let her go."
At this, Itachi wrapped his hands on the younger raven's. Without batting an eyelid, he quickly twisted Sasuke's elbows, effectively dislodging the gun from the shocked Uchiha.
Sasuke dropped the gun to the floor. Wasting no time, Itachi kneed the other in the gut, forcing the latter to crouch down. Itachi weighed his hands on the other's shoulders. The younger raven gritted his teeth as he was forced to kneel down.
"That's why I did it, otouto." Itachi continued. "I let her go. I won't stand to see her suffer anymore."
"…."
"If you really love someone, Sasuke, you have to learn to let them go."
"No…"
"Do you love Naruto?"
Sasuke was stunned into silence. Though his guard remained, Itachi's expression softened. He already knew the answer but he still wanted to hear the younger Uchiha say it. "Do you love him?" He repeated.
The younger raven just stared back at him, unmoving.
"He doesn't belong in our world, Sasuke. In your world. You cannot protect him. He'll suffer too."
"…."
"Let him go, otouto…
…Let us go." Itachi said finally.
"…."
Gradually, Sasuke lowered his head. He stared at his hands marred by Itachi's blood, the deep dark crimson a stark contrast to his ashen skin.
Let us go.
Let him go.
Sasuke closed his eyes tight, jaws tightening and teeth clenching behind his lips.
Seeing the other distracted, Itachi turned around slowly and made his way towards the chopper. He failed to notice the younger raven opening his eyes again and slowly picking up the gun. He only noticed something amiss when he looked at Naruto's frightened expression.
Before Itachi could react, the blond was running towards him.
"I cannot let him go. He belongs to me."
A blur of orange and another loud shot echoed in the area, prompting a flock of birds nearby to fly to the heavens. They filled the skies with their frightened cries.
"Hey bastard, you don't ever smile do you?"
"Shut up. And get out of my bed."
The blond pretended he did not hear anything and sprawled his arms and legs more, relishing in the softness of the mattress. "I can't understand it. You have all these things, and you're still so lonely. Why?"
"I'm not…" Sasuke swiveled his chair to face the other, ready to deny what the other said. His words died in his throat though as the blond suddenly appeared in front of his face.
Tan fingers made its way on his face, gripping his cheeks. "Come on smile, teme."
The raven slapped the hands away. "Don't touch me."
"Aw. Little Sasuke doesn't like to be touched." Naruto chuckled softly. "How about a hug then for the lonely boy? No? A kiss then!"
"Get out of my room, orphan."
The blond smiled. He approached the raven slowly. Then, as if nothing happened, he hugged the other. "Smile. You're very blessed, Sasuke. You're very lucky. Don't you ever forget that."
And the blond let go. He gave the other a two-finger mock-salute before walking away.
"Have a nice night, teme. Beware of the spiders though." Naruto looked back at Sasuke, grinning. "I've put them under your pillows."
"You idiot! Get back here!"
"Oh I love you too, teme." The blond rushed out of the room, laughing madly in the hallways.
Sasuke dropped his gun, fingers shaking.
"Naruto!" Itachi shouted, grasping the blond's shoulder as the latter stumbled back. The raven sat down, bringing the other into a lying position.
Naruto was staring up into the skies, his eyes glazed over. He could feel nothing, just the heaviness on his chest. The bullet must have pierced a lung because it felt like he's drowning in his own blood, the insides of his mouth filling up with that coppery liquid.
"Hang in there, Naruto." Itachi tried to assure him, but even with a darkening vision, the blond could make out the dark look written all over the raven's face. Guessing from the other's expression, it doesn't look too good.
Naruto felt a movement near him. He squinted his eyes to his side and focused.
'Ah, Sasuke.'
"I'm sorry teme." The blond tried to smile, gasping and stuttering in between breaths. "I haven't said goodbye."
"Ssh." The younger raven was gripping his hand now.
"Try not to sleep, Naruto. Please do not sleep. Don't close your eyes." Naruto felt a hand under his knee and another bracing his back. Someone was lifting him. "We're going to take you to the hospital."
Itachi motioned to the driver who hurriedly opened the cabin. They went in.
"Please don't close your eyes."
"Sure." Naruto gasped out, eyes sliding closed.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted.
The single door of the rooftop burst open, several armed personnel rushing inside. They stopped when a heavy lash of wind assaulted them.
The chopper was already flying off into the air.
My body is a cage
that keeps me from dancing
with the one I love.
..
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though my fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
..
Still my heart beats so slow
Still my heart beats so slow…
"My Body is a Cage" by Arcade Fire
(TBC) Part 4/6
To everyone who supports this story, thank you so much. I apologize for the delays.