A/N: Hello again, everyone! I'd like to give a shout-out to LurvirsLuvvie, Harco8059, Emirri, roboguy45, Shane, sky6craZe, Panda, skylerr, Baby-A, The Yaoi Pimpette, BadButt94, izzy1229anime, arenha, and He11'sDomain. Those whose names are bolded have been repeat reviewers, which makes me very happy!
To skylerr: Thank you kindly for your kind words! I'm a huge stickler for details when it comes to food, so I'll sometimes even get a little carried away thinking about food while I write... :D
Also, as an aside to the reviewer Panda, I do appreciate you leaving your feedback, despite your discontinued readership. I know Kakashi is slightly (if not totally) OOC in this story, but it's just the way it is. By the way, that type of review is definitely not "crappy", but rather, an expression of your own opinion. I fully encourage that type of honesty, especially if it gives me insight as how to formulate future stories.
But anyway, this chapter's a bit shorter than usual. I've just been super stressed with classes, and I'm currently not doing as well in my darn accounting course. Even so, I feel that I've been making you all wait too long between updates, so I will try my best to close the time gap between chapters so that you don't get too out-of-touch with the story.
So I present to you the next chapter!
Though I'd like to warn you all in advance that the scenes toward the end of the chapter are super fluffy...forgive me.
Kakashi's absence during dinner was enough to brighten Sasuke's mood to new heights. As he and Naruto shared a peaceful, carefree dinner filled with chatter and jokes, the elf did not think things could get any better. He had only thought of taking refuge in Naruto's room on a whim, but the result would be more than satisfactory.
"You seem to be in a good mood," his master noted as he reached for his tea cup.
Even Naruto had noticed. Sasuke just could not help himself. The day was going so well, despite what had happened in the early morning...
But he shook his head and refused to think about it any more. What had happened was horrible, and it would be in his (as well as Naruto's) best interest to disclose the attack to his master. However, it was something that Sasuke knew he could not simply blurt out on impulse. The relationship between Naruto and Kakashi would be strained, and that might go as far as to compromise the important mission his former master was leading.
No, he couldn't simply accuse the man and drive him out - not when he was such an important figure in the fight against traffickers of his people. And he couldn't bear the thought of burdening Naruto. After all, the man had barely recovered from nearly-fatal wounds. It wouldn't do to stress his master out any more than necessary.
Besides, the elf was more than capable of taking care of himself. He had been Kakashi's slave since he was born; no doubt he had picked up some of that man's expertise in covert operations.
At the very least, Sasuke would have to be more tactile in his maneuvers, to avoid any further assaults. He would also have to be careful not to arouse any suspicion from Naruto that there was anything strange going on between him and Kakashi.
And asking to sleep in Naruto's room, well, that was a stroke of genius that Sasuke had to give himself credit for.
"Perhaps my good mood stems from a slight case of delirium," Sasuke responded properly to Naruto, "Would it be all right if I moved my things to your room?"
Naruto grinned at him, then nodded as he reached over to pick up his sake cup, "Set up my futon too, will you? I'm feeling a bit under the weather as well, so let's sleep early."
Sasuke nodded, then got up from his seat and nearly skipped to his room to check up on his washed sheets. They were nearly dry, but not quite dry enough to use comfortably for the night. Taking it as a minimal loss (since he would much rather sleep with the comfort of knowing he wouldn't be molested), he went over to the cabinet and bent down to retrieve the folded futon.
"Running off to your master, are you now?"
Sasuke froze as he heard Kakashi from the doorway. The silver-haired man had a way of sneaking up on unsuspecting people. If the elf was not more careful, he would not be surprised if Kakashi would one day silently come up behind him and slit his throat. His heart left pounding, Sasuke slowed his breathing and turned to face his fear.
"What do you want?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he meandered into the room, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so. The elf stood his ground, making sure not to flinch or wince when the other male came a little too close. It was a test of not only his courage, but of Sasuke's resolve as well. He did not want this man, however involved or not he was with the past, barging in to his present life.
Sure, Sasuke was still a slave, and was still considered a second-class citizen at most. However, in comparison to when he was under Kakashi's "care", Naruto was a saint. And now, the very fact that Kakashi was back, haunting him like a troubled apparition would, Sasuke was having this throwback to worse times he did not want to recall.
"Oho, you really have gotten bold, Sasuke. You must be so glad your master tolerates your kind. But you were lucky this time. What will you do if your precious master decides to get rid of you?" Kakashi asked as he grinned that Cheshire smile, "Will you come running right back to me?"
A rough hand reached out to touch Sasuke's face, but the elf turned his head away. No, he would not allow any of this tomfoolery to start. In fact, Sasuke was so intent on stopping it all that he slapped away the hand that neared his face.
"You don't have the right to touch me, Kakashi."
Never before had he ever called this man by his name, and never had he called anyone with such contempt. Sasuke glared hard into those grey, apathetic eyes. For years, he had to endure everything this man had dished out to him. And for the first time, the elf realized that he didn't have to cave in anymore. With Naruto, he was under no obligation to fulfill any of this sick man's needs...or wants.
But even with this newly found resolve, his heart had never beat harder or faster. It felt as if he was staring Death in the face.
Death grinned, turned his head to the side, then thumbed the sword at his waist. "No, I suppose you're right. But I can always take that right from your precious master, if I so please."
That damned sword - Sasuke felt himself freeze up at the thought of that merciless, sharp piece of metal. No, the sword itself wasn't evil, but Kakashi, at this moment, was emanating a sort of murderous aura that completely rendered the elf frozen with fright.
He recalled the time when Kakashi had effectively roused his phobia of swords. Back when Sasuke still had his mother, they were cleaning around the house for Kakashi's return from a long mission. However, when he came back he was completely drunk out of his mind and came stumbling into the house.
"Sasuke, keep cleaning in the kitchen. I'll bring Master into his room," his mother had told him.
They hobbled off towards the bedroom and she came out within minutes after tucking him in. Sasuke and his mother went to bed soon after, sharing a battered hand-me-down (of about five times) futon.
In the middle of the night, a still-drunk Kakashi had stumbled out of bed and stood over the sleeping elves, pointing a sword down at them and mumbling strange things.
Sasuke awoke from all the racket and, when he realized he was mere inches away from being sliced, panicked and screamed, scrambling away from the sword and causing Kakashi to give him a quick nick in the thigh. Despite the shallow wound, it blood had splattered all over the futon and sheets. Sasuke's mother had awoken by this time and was wrestling the sword out of their drunken master's hand until his grip had loosened.
Sasuke did not take a particular liking to swords after that. Kakashi didn't exactly remember that incident when morning came, but he had noticed the elf's phobia and began using that weakness as a way to put the elf in his place whenever he got even a little too rowdy. Suffice to say, the elf had not been the same since.
All the same, even despite his lifelong fear, Sasuke was more than intent to keep Naruto safe from harm. Even with his terribly beating heart, he was under no obligation to listen to this disturbed man. In fact, he was determined to make his own intentions clear - something he had never been able to do.
"Don't you dare touch Naruto," Sasuke hissed as he puffed his chest out, making himself appear larger than he was.
Kakashi's eyes glimmered, and he seemed to be enjoying himself as he continued to stroke the hilt of his god damned sword. Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, there you are. Kakashi, do you want me to heat up your dinner?" Naruto asked as he came into the doorway.
Breaking his stare and turning to face Naruto, Kakashi responded, "I was just telling your elf what type of food I would like brought to my room, actually."
Turning right back to Sasuke, the silver-haired man winked. "I expect a hearty meal after my bath."
And with that, he turned on his heel and left the room, Naruto following after him to help set up the bath. Sasuke went right back to getting his futon and walked into his master's bedroom.
The elf scrunched his nose as he set down his futon and prepared Naruto's. He was disgusted by the way Kakashi looked at him, as he if were some piece of meat to devour.
It made him absolutely sick to the stomach.
oooOOooo
Sasuke didn't even wait for Kakashi to answer when he knocked on the guest bedroom door. With a composed mind, he slid the door open, walked in, set down the dinner tray, and made a beeline out the door. He didn't look over at the half-naked man who was resting with his back against the wall with a book in one hand, with the other hand ghosting over the tented towel around his waist...
Just steps away from the door, however, the elf began to slow, and his head, as if moving in slow motion, turned the slightest to look over at the grey-haired man. To his surprise, Kakashi was staring right at him, with his half-lidded eyes and lips parted open as his chest heaved.
"Sasuke," he moaned before shutting his eyes again and undoing his towel.
The elf stopped completely, having been taken over by the lust of his former master. The room suddenly became too hot. Sasuke's body suddenly became too hot.
It was suddenly becoming too dangerous for him to remain in the room. By the way Kakashi was looking at him, the longer he remained in the room, the more likely he would be attacked.
What are you doing, you idiot? Get out of here!
It took all of his might to stumble out of that room, his body completely uncooperative, despite his mind's pleas to flee.
As soon as Sasuke shut the door behind him, he did his best to flush out Kakashi's deep moaning and groaning. He shut his eyes, only strengthening his hearing and amplifying those dirty, dirty sounds. Much to his despair, Sasuke could feel his lower regions heat and almost instantaneously, his cock was hard.
"No, no, no, no," Sasuke whispered in panic, keeping his eyes shut as he forced his palms over his ears.
Slowly, he made his way to the bathroom and locked the door behind him. It was still steamy from Kakashi's bath, and the added heat was making Sasuke more and more delirious.
He moved to the powder chair and nearly ripped his kimono off when he sat. The smooth material of his kimono slid over his sensitive body and he shivered at the feel.
Ashamed of himself, Sasuke gripped his cock at the base and gave a hard squeeze. His entire being shook violently. With just one full stroke, the elf's body was covered in sweat, and he seemed just about ready to pass out.
It was shameful. Sasuke could hardly bear the thought that he was touching himself after staring into his former master's lustful face. Gritting his teeth, he continued to stroke himself, punishing himself with the overbearing feeling of pleasure and pressure as it built up more and more by the second.
After a minute or two of feeling himself up, Sasuke realized that, attached to the powder table was a large mirror. Staring straight into his reflection, he was surprised - and nearly repulsed - at the type of lascivious face he was making.
Sasuke shut his eyes in response and continued to touch himself. Flashing images of Kakashi encouraged his pleasure further, as he thought of the larger man above him, using him as he wanted. This sick, twisted scene, replaying in his mind as if it was still fresh, as if he was still Kakashi's slave.
But occasionally, the images would flicker, and flashes of yellow hair would play in Sasuke's mind. The sudden warmth engulfed his body - his mind was surely playing tricks. But all the same, he could see glimpses of Naruto's warm, warm body and gentle face.
"Naruto," Sasuke whispered shakily as his strokes became faster and deeper.
He didn't even give himself a pause to think through his sudden calling for his new master. It had all been so sudden, being bought by the blond male and sharing his living space. Sasuke was so preoccupied with getting accustomed to his new living situation that he had wholly neglected his physical need to release.
Sasuke almost offered himself to Naruto on one occasion - well, he had considered , but backed out at the very last second. Why had he been so afraid to say it? For fear of rejection? Or was he still reluctant with the idea of bedding another man other than Kakashi?
The bumbling tornado of scattered thoughts came to a still as Sasuke began to succumb, more and more, to the building pressure in his cock. He attempted to still his breathing, but it was becoming increasingly difficult as his orgasm came closer and closer to completion.
Mixed images of Kakashi and Naruto filled his mind, and Sasuke let out one last, guttural groan as he shot his seed into his hand and onto the top of the powder table. Riding out the last of his orgasm, the elf's entire body shook from the remnant electric shocks through his body.
Breathing hard, Sasuke slumped back into the chair and shut his eyes, suddenly feeling as if all his energy had been drained.
oooOOooo
Naruto was lying on his stomach, reading up on a recent mission report Tsunade had given him to look over. It wasn't the most interesting report, mostly because there was little to no anomaly - according to the report. But gosh, whoever wrote it had to be one of the driest people ever.
With the text starting to make less and less sense, and with his eyelids becoming heavier, Naruto eventually succumbed to his tiredness. He set aside the (boring) scroll and rested his head on his pillow, turning to sleep on his side. As he shut his eyes and started to drift off, however, Naruto could hear the door open.
Always apprehensive, even during sleep, it took little time for him to sit up and reach for the knife underneath his pillow. When he saw that it was just Sasuke, who barely looked fazed from the sharp edge glinting from the dim candle light, Naruto tucked it back beneath his pillow.
"Oh. It's just you, Sasuke."
The elf shut the door behind him and, like an apparition, glided over to the futons. He dropped to his knees and lied down on his side, his back facing Naruto.
"Oi," Naruto called out as he cocked an eyebrow, "are you all right?"
Sasuke exhaled a shuddering breath and, bringing his limbs close to his body, curled up into fetal position. "I'm fine."
Naruto sat up straight and craned his neck to try to sneak a glance at Sasuke's face. But when he figured out that it was impossible to do, he scooted closer to the other futon and bent his neck. The elf's eyes were opened, but they were dreamlike and were staring off to something distant.
Despite his prior liveliness, the Sasuke lying here now seemed wholly dispirited. He didn't even look up to acknowledge Naruto as he probably would have, if he was in a sound state of mind.
Something had happened when he fetched Kakashi's dinner. Even though Naruto offered to deliver it - the elf seemed all too spooked whenever they were in contact - Sasuke, in the end, insisted that he fulfill his duties around the house.
Whatever had happened, though, he figured it was best to leave Sasuke be until the elf decided to disclose his discomforts out of his own volition.
And speaking of discomforts...
"Oi, where are your sheets, Sasuke?"
The elf fidgeted a little, scratched his arm nervously, and cracked his toes before answering. "In my room. I washed them earlier and they're still wet."
Naruto sighed. He got up and went over to the drawers and attempted to find extra sheets. However, as expected, there were none lying around. He had given his only extra set of sheets to Sasuke, which were, according to him, still wet.
"You don't have to get me anything," Sasuke said softly.
The blond male turned and spotted the sliver of skin from Sasuke's slightly-opened kimono. He inhaled through his nose sharply and pursed his lips. Damn Kakashi, for putting awkward thoughts in his head.
They need the sexual release just as much as we do, if not more...
Turning his head away to stop himself from looking any more, Naruto reluctantly said, "We can share our sheets for tonight, then...just until your sheets are dry."
He briskly and stiffly made his way back to his futon. Sasuke was staring strangely at him, and it was only a moment or two of silence before Naruto snapped his neck to the elf and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Well? Come over here. We'll have to share the futon as well, since the sheet isn't large enough to cover both futons."
Naruto didn't quite know why he was being cranky all of a sudden. It wasn't as if Sasuke had done anything wrong, and it certainly wasn't fair for him to take out this spike of frustration on him. The elf bowed his head and scooted closer.
The blond scooted to one side of the futon and lifted the blanket as an invitation for the elf to join him. As Sasuke got under the covers with him, Naruto could feel his body and face heat up. Was he embarrassed, perhaps? After all, the blond hadn't so openly shared a bed with the intention of anything other than sex before.
They sat awkwardly next to one another with the sheets covering their legs. Sasuke, with his hands folded in his lap and his eyes looking down at nothing in particular, and Naruto, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he turned his head away to look anywhere else, said nothing.
But it was Sasuke who broke the pregnant silence, with his soft, gentle voice, "Th-thank you, Naruto."
And with that, the elf lied down and snuggled into the sheets before turning to sleep on his side, his back facing Naruto.
With a smile gradually forming on his face, Naruto followed suit and snuggled deep into the sheets himself. But instead of turning his back to Sasuke, he curled his entire body so that the smaller body was nestled into him.
"Naruto, what are you doing-?"
"Please, Sasuke, if you don't mind, I'd really like to try sleeping like this for the night."
It was a purely instinctual reaction for Naruto, to completely spoon Sasuke's body. He didn't even think twice about it. Not only did it seem right, but also, the heat emanating between them and getting trapped in the sheets was all too comfy to not do.
So sleeping like this, Naruto reasoned, was a perfectly practical arrangement.
Perfectly practical...
oooOOooo
In the morning, Sasuke was the first to wake. He had barely gotten any sleep, on the account of having had those terribly vivid, terribly intimate scenes involving Kakashi. The sun had barely begun to rise, and the cool dawn nipped at his toes as they stuck out from under the sheets.
However, his body was completely warm - and was, perhaps, a little too warm. He felt the strong, tanned arm wrap tighter around him as Sasuke attempted to get up from his spot. He momentarily forgot his sleeping arrangement, and looked down at his master to see that he was still fast asleep. Naruto mumbled a couple things, then went right back to lightly snoring.
Sasuke remained still as he waited for the perfect moment to get up and not disturb Naruto. He shimmied right back underneath his sheets to wait it out, but it was just so damn comfortable sharing this futon with his master...
...that he fell right back asleep.
