A.N. And, like I promised, this chapter is dedicated to ZepphyraSnowStorm for the sweet reviews and the continued support :)
Chapter 6 – Wherever I may roam*
Luca POV
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking a few times and just staring at the dull white ceiling. This wasn't my place; wasn't my bed. The body next to me moved. This wasn't the man I wanted.
The pain returned and I felt sick. It wasn't because of the alcohol – in the end I had barely drunk anything last night. It wasn't because the sex with a stranger – I'd had one-offs before and I dare say I was smart enough to use protection every time and even so get myself tested at least once a year. The sex itself wasn't so bad either. It was what led to it that made me feel sick.
It hadn't helped me forgetting what I saw last night. It hadn't lessened the pain. I was broken and nothing I was able to do could fix me. It was time to face the facts. It wasn't that I didn't have a chance with Hajime because he was straight – he was obviously okay with blokes as well as girls. It was just that he didn't want me.
The blonde next to me moved again, about to wake up.
Time to hit the road then. Get away. And not just from this unknown apartment, but Konoha as well. But before I left, there were a few things I had to do.
"How long?"
I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
"I don't know for how long, Mom. I just have to get away for a while."
"Is that what you want me to tell your mother?", Sakura asked, her voice sharp.
I winced, closing my eyes. Ino had always been the more emotional and delicate between the two. Sakura was the tough parent; no matter what it cost her she put up a strong front, hiding how actually worried about her kids she was. Ino… Ino was more prone to fussing around us, openly worrying and nagging and when she couldn't hold it – openly crying. That's what I feared the most. And Sakura knew that. It was a mean thing to play this card on me, but it only showed how desperate she was to keep me here, nearby.
"I promise to call…", I offered weakly.
"And can you promise me to stay out of trouble?"
Well, if I had to be honest… "No."
"Luca… just…"
"Bye, Mom, I'll call you soon", I hurried to put an end to the conversation before she had resorted to actually asking me to stay. I sighed deeply and my fingers shook a little as I called one more person.
"Hey, kiddo…"
Hajime POV
"Take a taxi. I won't be around for a while."
I frowned at Luca's brisk message, somewhat annoyed that I had to catch a taxi to get to school, somewhat curious and somewhat worried what had happened to him.
Asking Keita didn't provide more answers.
"Dunno, man. He just said that he had to get away for a while."
"Any idea why?"
"Nope, none. We went clubbing last night and this morning I got that message. Someone mentioned he looked upset when he left last night…"
"Huh", I frowned. "You said you went clubbing?"
"Yeah. In "The Pole."
"Yeah? Strange that we didn't see each other, I was there too…"
Keita was suddenly on edge; he tried to sound nonchalant about it but he was certainly on edge when he asked,
"Really? Did anything interesting happen?"
"Nah, just some fooling around", I waved it off.
"With?", he insisted.
"Some bloke? I don't know, someone. What's the matter with you?"
He cursed quietly, left some money for the bill and ran out of the café.
"What the fuck…?", I muttered.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Luca.
"The number you have dialed cannot be reached right now…"
I groaned and ended the call. Something was definitely up.
Izumo POV
"Yeah… yeah, I will. Look, I'm sorry, Sakura… For… for everything. I'll do everything I can. Yeah. See you…"
Kotetsu's back and shoulders were tense as he hung up. He must have sensed me behind him because he said quietly,
"Luca's gone."
"What do you mean, gone?", I frowned. "He ran off…?"
"No, he called Sakura and Karen first, told them he had to leave for a while."
The silence was even tenser than his shoulders.
"It's time you face it as well, Zu. He's in love with our son. And now he's heartbroken and he's walking the same path I did 17 years ago."
"Here you go again…", I sighed.
"Sources say he was last seen in a club where our very same, very idiotic, supposedly heterosexual son was making out with another guy." He turned around, looking pained. "We know the boy since he was in his nappies. We saw him growing up, never leaving our son's side. How much more evidence do you need?"
"Being his best frie-…"
"Damn it, Izumo!"
I felt my shoulders sagging, finally admitting defeat. I sighed.
"So it's real."
"Very."
"And now he walks the same path you did. All those years ago…"
"Yes. But Ares and his training doesn't seem to be enough for Luca."
"Ares can be brutal."
"And if he isn't enough…"
The look we shared said everything.
"I'm calling all friends…", he began.
"You can't re-activate an ex-ANBU unit because of a rebellious teenager, Kotetsu, no matter how much he means to you."
"Watch me."
Luca POV
I looked up slowly at my own reflection; droplets of water fell down in the sink as the man I didn't recognize looked back from the mirror. He looked older. Tired. Beaten up; literally. His bottom lip was split and so was his eyebrow. He had a nasty bruise on his jaw, but no black eyes. Some would say it was a "bad boy" kinda look and I've heard some girls loved it. Not that I've even given a damn about that. Once I would have wondered if Hajime would like it or hate it. Now the thought of him only made me feel numb from the inside, like I was high on painkillers.
Painkillers I should probably take for all those literal body traumas. Fuck it. Pain distracted me from thinking too much. About anything.
I walked out of the café's toilet and sat back at the table by the window. The waitress came to refill my cup, smiling widely. Ah, probably a fan of the "bad boy" look then. Whatever.
I looked out of the window. I liked this town. I had met some… interesting people here. Interesting new hobbies. Pity my time was running out.
I looked back at my cell phone and my Mom's message. "U had ur time. ANBU's coming for u."
So. Going back on my own or waiting for the black op-s to drag me kicking and screaming?
I guess it was never really a question.
But first… one last time. One last fix.
А.N. Wherever I may roam is a song by Metallica.
