A/N: Sorry for the wait

This chapter inspired by Love is Strange by Mickey and Sylvia and Gangsta by Kehlani

Usual apologies (lots of OOCness)

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Like most teenagers, Darui went through a rebellious phase.

Unlike most teenagers however Darui spent that phase actually learning something useful instead of getting drunk or turning promiscuous or getting mixed up in drugs the way most teenagers do.

Although, his productively rebellious teenage years weren't exactly spent in the confines of safety either. He spent them with a man; a man his father didn't exactly disapprove of but he didn't really approve of his son running off with either.

The same man standing in the middle of the room right at that moment. The same man that Darui couldn't find it in himself to look away from, no matter how hard he tried. But that didn't really seem to matter since the man just ignored him and pretended like he wasn't there, pretended like he couldn't feel the dark eyes burning holes into the side of his head. He still looked as cool and calm as ever with his entire form relaxed into a comfortable slouch and his hands shoved into his pockets as he spoke in that deep steady voice. Darui tried to ignore the shivers that ran down his spine as that voice continued to speak. It was the voice of his old master, the man that used to be his trusted teacher.

Zabuza.

"I got the news about it this morning, I figured you'd want to know so you could warn the families."

Ei seemed to sigh heavily from his seat behind the desk in front of the other man placing his arms on the table top as he spoke, "When are they moving?"

"From what I understand they already started. They should be arriving in Konoha by morning if they haven't already."

"I'll need to send word to Tsunade." Ei said softly as he thread his fingers together and looked down at his desk in thought, "Any idea on what they're after this time?"

"I'm still working on that. Kisame isn't as chatty as he used to be."

"Work faster." Ei hissed out with a glare but Zabuza only gave a snort.

"If I could I would but there are other variables at play right now."

"What kind of variables?"

Zabuza paused and for the first time that night made eye contact with the young man standing in the corner of the room. Darui tensed when those eyes locked on him but he tried not to show it, they were still as sharp as razor blades and dark as the night.

"Darui." Ei suddenly said with his eyes still on the man in front of him, "Give us a few minutes."

"But boss-"

"Now." Ei said with finality and Darui let out a soft sigh as he turned and left the room, feeling those sharp eyes track him all the way across the room until he shut the door behind him.

One deep breath.

Darui let his head rest against the thick wooden panel and shut his eyes for a moment.

It started ten years ago and ended seven years later. It started because Ei-because his father wanted him to start taking steps to learn about the family business. Darui was becoming difficult and Ei was desperately looking for a way to rein the boy in before he completely lost control over himself. He needed a way to teach his son some discipline, a little responsibility. Not that Darui wasn't disciplined and responsible enough already but he was starting to develop a mouth and Ei couldn't have that.

He had Darui sent away to train with a master swordsman. He didn't know the man personally but he'd heard many good things about his dojo and all the students that trained under him so he figured it would be good enough to keep his son occupied for one summer at least. It was sort of like martial arts summer camp. If nothing else then Darui would learn a little self-defense to help keep him out of trouble. He sent Darui off thinking that it would give him some time to work on his turf without needing to worry about his son since the trouble with the Akimichi family was starting to spill over and cause trouble in his territory. He needed to meet with leaders from the other academies to figure out a way to deal with Tsunade's incompetence since she couldn't reign in the families in her territory.

"I let my kids deal with their own problems themselves." She'd say.

Darui was sent away and everything was fine, until it was time for his son to come home and the teen just didn't.

Ei had word sent to the dojo but got no reply and then he sent some of his men to go and pick up his son only for the men to find the dojo burned down to the ground with scorched and dismembered corpses scattered around the area. Needless to say Ei was not pleased.

It took three days to find out exactly what happened, exactly five to find out that his son was still alive and well and then two weeks after that for Darui to actually contact Ei and tell him that he was fine.

See what happened was,

Darui arrived at the dojo where he was meant to start his training and spent the first few weeks there bored out of his mind. There wasn't much to do at the dojo besides, train and study and do chores; which is what he usually did when he was home anyway. The other students were nice enough but Darui didn't really care much for them. He quickly made it to the top of the class, quickly started surpassing other students and quickly started getting on the master's nerves. But thankfully that didn't last long.

A few days later the dojo was attacked. Darui still remembers that day; the fear he felt as the building burned down around him, the anxiety as he had to fight to find a way out, the rush of adrenaline as he faced a man three times stronger and faster than he could have ever hoped to be before the shock that quickly melted into relief after the man decided to spare his life.

All those years ago and he still couldn't forget the look in those dark eyes as he was pinned against the wall and the slow deliberate movement the man made to pull down his mask and expose those shark like teeth in a smirk of amusement.

"Not bad."

Darui was pulled from his thoughts when his ears picked up the subtle sound of movement behind the door and he quickly moved away, standing at the side just before it opened and out stepped Zabuza with Ei close behind him. Zabuza glanced at the younger man and Darui internally bristled at how easily the man could unnerve him with just one look.

"I'll see what I can do but it would be easier to contact Chojuro and see what he knows."

"You can't go see him yourself?"

"We have some unfinished business that we need to sort out before I can start asking him for any favors." Zabuza said easily not taking his eyes off of the young man standing beside the door and Darui could see him smirk behind his mask, "Send your boy. I'm sure Chojuro would much rather deal with him than deal with me."

Darui instantly felt his face flush at the comment and was nevermore thankful that his skin was too dark for it to show. Ei frowned as he looked between the two.

"And why is that?"

Zabuza shrugged as he looked away and started walking, "Call it a hunch."

Darui wanted to glare hard at the man but found himself trapped in his father's gaze so he just gave a snort and leaned back against the wall, "Beats me, but I'll still go if you want me to."

Ei paused for a moment staring at Zabuza's back as he walked away before giving a slight nod, "Kirigakure is far. Leave tonight and make sure you make it back to meet me in Konoha for the Kage meeting next week. I'll make sure Tsunade is informed when I go see her tomorrow."

"Exactly what information do you want me to get from Chojuro?"

"He's still in charge of the mist; find out if he knows anything about Hoshigake and the Akatsuki moving. Take Shi with you just in case you need some back up."

Darui nodded as he pushed off the wall, "Sure thing boss."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sasuke just let out a snort as he watched the two arguing on the other side of the room. Or rather he watched as Naruto attempted to make his case as he rambled on one explanation after the other while the redhead in front of him glared and glared hard.

Gaara came storming into his room a few minutes ago and asked in that dark and dangerous tone of his exactly what Naruto had deemed appropriate to do with his pet when he was showing him around that afternoon. Sasuke could tell that Gaara didn't know exactly what the blonde did with Lee but he knew Naruto well enough that he must have done something to Lee since Naruto always did something he wasn't supposed to do. Sasuke did nothing as the blonde tried to explain himself, just walked over to the bottle of whiskey perched on a table in the corner of the suite and poured himself a glass.

Gaara would get over it, he'd brush it off the way he did all of Naruto's transgressions and it would be like nothing ever happened, although he'd never let the blonde go anywhere near Lee again.

As for Sasuke he didn't really care. He wasn't upset or even bothered if anything he was amused.

"For the last time I didn't do anything! I just showed him around that's all." The blonde huffed with a pout as he folded his arms over his chest, "You'd think you'd know me well enough by now to know that I don't jump anything and everything that moves."

Gaara's eyes narrowed down at him before he looked over to Sasuke, "Uchiha, what did he do?"

"I didn't do any-"

"I caught him making out with your pet on the desk in my lecture hall." Sasuke said simply with a shrug and Gaara's glare turned back to the blonde who now stood gaping at his master.

"I knew it."

Naruto sputtered incoherently for a moment until he just let out a sigh of frustration, "Oh so what?! It's not like I tried to screw him into a wall."

"Naruto-"

"The guy was nervous; I was just helping him out!"

Sasuke gave another snort as he lifted the glass of amber liquid in his hand to his lips to take a sip.

He doesn't really have any restrictions on Naruto, other than the standard you're not allowed to leave me for breach of contract that most pets subscribed to anyway. He never really made a restriction that would force Naruto to stay faithful to him for any reason whatsoever partly because he didn't want to make it seem like Naruto had no choice but to be with him-despite the truth behind that phrase-but mostly because he's never really had a reason to. Since he bought the blonde about a year ago, Naruto's never really shown an interest in anyone other than Sasuke. So it's needless to say that he was more surprised than he let on to be when he found the blonde trying to seduce his way into the dean's pet right there in the middle of his classroom.

Naruto's never taken an interest in someone else before and surprisingly enough this revelation didn't upset Sasuke as much as he thought it would. He was honestly amused.

"It was like one kiss!"

"He had Lee pinned to the table while he tried to get him off." Sasuke interrupted with a sly smirk earning another glare from the blonde as he finished, "I have to say, you're boy's cute when he moans."

Gaara's glare turned deadly, this time it was turned towards Sasuke and the raven had to bite back the urge to laugh as he settled on the bed.

"Unbelievable-"

"Again I was just trying to help-"

"Help?"

Sasuke just watched as they continued. A few years ago this situation might have had him seething, but things have changed over the years. They changed because of the annoyingly stubborn blonde standing on the other side of the room right at that moment.

Sasuke met him a year ago on a trip to Kitsune when he and Sakura were going through some… issues.

Sasuke was spending all his time in Suna and he only came home when his father demanded it, Sakura was getting restless. Being married to the so called love of her life wasn't everything she'd thought it would be and it wasn't anything like Fugaku had promised. She was getting frustrated and Sasuke's indifferent attitude whenever she called him wasn't making things any better. But really Sakura knew exactly what she was signing up for when she married Sasuke; she knew why he was marrying her. His father wanted a guaranteed heir, but his older brother Itachi died at the age of 32 after he was killed in a car bombing years ago in Kirigakure which left Sasuke as the only one Fugaku could force to marry and guarantee an heir to the Uchiha Empire. At first Sasuke had planned on flat out refusing his father's demands, what with him being more attracted to men than women but then the older man used the memory of his brother to… encourage him into cooperating.

"He was in Kiri because of you and now he's gone." The man said not looking back at his son even once, "And because he's gone, it's your responsibility as my heir to ensure that our bloodline continues to thrive."

The mess in Kirigakure was-

A mess.

So he married Sakura to appease his father and try to ease his guilt but it only helped so much.

He still can't manage to look Ei's boy in the eye whenever he's sent to Kumo after what happened, not even after he settled the score with Zabuza and Haku. But then again the score was settled mostly thanks to Naruto's doing.

They met in Konoha.

Gaara had a meeting with Lady Tsunade and he needed one of the lecturers to come with him. He picked Sasuke since Kankuro and Temari were otherwise occupied and the Uchiha was one of the few people whose company he could stand to be in without becoming annoyed beyond all reason. What they didn't know, was that Tsunade was also a bit occupied at the time. There was a bid war going on at Kitsune over one of her pet maids and things were apparently turning ugly fast. On the one side she had the heiress to the Hyuuga fortune and on the other she had Mizuki the heir to some billion dollar company who'd met the boy when he was working in one of her clubs one night.

Normally it would have been a no brainer, if it had been under different circumstances she would have signed the boy over to the Hyuuga and been done with it. Especially since Naruto seemed to be more attached to Hinata since he'd met the girl several times and seemed to adore her. But the circumstances weren't different. Mizuki was a business man, yes, but he was also absolutely ruthless. He'd had a grudge against the Hyuuga clan for what must have been years and was just looking for a reason, any reason to pick a fight with the family. Tsunade wanted to avoid a fight at all costs. The other kages were still on her case after the last gang war; she knew Ei would never let her live it down if another one broke out in her territory. But then Sasuke arrived with Gaara and he laid eyes on Naruto for the first time.

They were in a boardroom, waiting for Tsunade to finish up her meeting when the doors suddenly burst open and the blonde came storming in with the older woman in tow. Gaara and Sasuke could only watch as the scene unfolded in front of them.

"Fuck this shit! I won't do it!"

He had golden blonde hair, cerulean blue eyes and tanned skin. For the moment that golden hair was ruffled in frustration, his skin was flushed with anger and his eyes were filled with rage.

"Watch your mouth brat," Tsunade said grabbing a hold of the boy's arm to turn him around, "Besides, what part of you don't have a choice do you not understand?"

"The part where I have to go home with that psycho instead of someone I know won't hurt me!" The boy said as he wretched his arm free, "You know what he's like-"

"I'm looking out for everyone's best interest." Tsunade said clearly, "We both know Mizuki is crazy enough to start up a war if I sign you over to Hinata. Hinata is more sensible than that-"

"So you're going to sacrifice me for your precious territory."

Tsunade sighed, "No, I'm not. Look, everything we were talking about in there… they were just options. Mizuki is a loose cannon I would never put any of my kids in his care and you know that."

Naruto's eyes widened a bit and he opened his mouth only for the other woman to cut him off, "But you can't go with her either."

"But-"

"The Hyuuga's do not want any conflict being sent their way, especially not after Hizashi's death. If they find out about this and Hinata tries to take you home they'll just send you back." Tsunade took a deep breath, "For now I think it's best if you just stay here."

Naruto sighed, "I'm going to be here forever now, aren't I?"

"Not necessarily." Tsunade said as she gave the boy a soft smile, "We just need someone from a family powerful enough to scare Mizuki off."

"You could let me go."

"Going out onto the street alone is too dangerous for you, you know that. We'll sort this out; just give it a little time." Naruto shook his head as he looked away and Tsunade's smile grew a bit more, "Would it make you feel better if I told you that I'll make sure the next one is good looking?"

Naruto folded his arms over his chest in a huff, "He'd better be."

Tsunade laughed and Sasuke couldn't help but snort when the woman's bright amber eyes suddenly snapped up to him and she smirked.

"Hey Uchiha, you interested?"

She was joking Sasuke could tell, but just then the blonde whirled around like he only just realized that there were other people in the room and Sasuke suddenly had those bright blue eyes on him. He was surprised then confused and then the blonde smiled. Something about that smile almost took Sasuke's breath away and he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Sure."

Tsunade's eyes went wide along with Naruto's, even Gaara turned to look at him with an arched brow.

"Sasuke I was joki-"

"Are you going to have the paperwork done or should I get my lawyer to do it?" Is all that Sasuke said with a bored drawl. Gaara let out a scoff of amusement while Naruto gaped. Tsunade looked away and put one hand on her waist with her hip out before she scoffed as well.

"I'll get it drawn up right away."

Naruto's eyes went even wider than before. "Wait, really?!"

"Go get your things ready kid. I'm allowing this because Uchiha's family has the second highest ranking outside of the kages."

The blonde looked back at Sasuke, "Seriously?"

Tsunade rolled of her eyes before looking up at Sasuke, "I'm assuming that you'll be leaving with him after our meeting?"

"Yes."

The older woman nodded, "I'll get right to it. Let's go-"

Before Tsunade could finish her sentence Naruto suddenly moved, going around the table passed the leather seats around it and Sasuke barely had a moment to react before the blonde suddenly turned his chair around and put his hands on both sides of his face. Naruto kissed him, full and hard on the lips and Sasuke just stared back at him, resisting the urge to sink into the kiss when the blue eyed boy suddenly pulled back.

"Thank you."

"Alright, there'll be plenty of time for that later." Tsunade called with an annoyed growl as she opened the door, "Uzumaki let's go."

The blonde gave him one more smile as he pulled away and hurried towards the door. Sasuke just sat there and watched him, not realizing that the redhead beside him was staring until he looked up and almost flushed.

"What?"

Gaara gave a snort, "Someone's going soft."

Sasuke glared, "Shut up."

True to her word Tsunade had Naruto's contract set up before they left, Sasuke signed it and they were all set to leave. They had to wait a few minutes before they left since Naruto insisted on saying goodbye to Hinata first. It was an odd scene, watching the blonde hold the girl so tightly before they left before she wiped the tears from his eyes.

They went back to Suna and Sasuke was forced to inform his father about what he'd done. Of course the older man hadn't been pleased but he let it be. Sasuke was married to a respectable girl after all, Fugaku could permit him to keep a pet as long as he produced an heir at the end of it all and he kept his toy under control. Plus Fugaku had, had his eye on Mizuki's family empire for a while, having an excuse to take over more than made up for his son suddenly blindsiding him with a blue eyed blonde pet.

The first night they spent together was something of a blur. He hadn't planned on sleeping with the blonde that first night but Naruto wasn't exactly one to be denied. The blonde was annoyingly persistent and stubborn and insatiable in his desires. Sasuke had been worried at first with how willing the blue eyed boy was to offer his body to a man he'd just met. Sasuke wondered if it was simply a case of this being what he was used to. The Uchiha knew that it wasn't the blonde's first time as a pet maid and he knew about the time that he spent working for Tsunade so he thought that maybe Naruto simply thought of it as him fulfilling his duty.

It bothered him since he could still remember that last day in Konoha, when the blonde had clung so tightly to the Hyuuga girl and shed tears before he left her. But Naruto cleared that up a month later when they were lying together in bed. There was no rush of passion and desire, no insistent need driving them. It was quiet and calm and Sasuke took the moment to just listen to the blonde breathing as he let his head rest on the raven's chest.

"She's a friend. She was just doing me a favor." The blonde sighed as he nuzzled the side of Sasuke's neck, "I mean I like her but…" Naruto tilted his head up and pressed a kiss onto his neck, "I think I like this better. Even if you're a complete asshole."

Sasuke only scoffed as he pressed a kiss on the top of the blonde's head and pulled him a little tighter against his chest.

It had only been a month and Sasuke was surprised to find that he already felt so attached to the blonde boy despite the fact that taking a pet back with him to Suna had never really been part of any of his plans. Sasuke's only priorities had always been to take over the family once his father retired, have a child to pass on the family name and live his life as peacefully as humanly possible. But Naruto seemed to lay all of his plans to waste.

Naruto was stubborn, persistent, bright, optimistic and just so beautiful that Sasuke found himself falling for the boy faster than he ever thought possible. There's nothing he wouldn't do for the blonde. The only thing he regrets is the fact that he can't have the blonde carry his child. He fully intended on keeping Naruto even after his contract expired. Which is why he never put any restrictions on Naruto; why he never made it seem like the blonde had no choice but to be with him. Regardless of the fact that Naruto being kissed or touched by anyone other than him drove him insane with rage.

Two months later Naruto ran into some trouble or rather Naruto's friend Haku ran into some trouble. He asked for Sasuke's help and Sasuke agreed; partly because he could never refuse Naruto something he wanted and partially since he remembered Zabuza's name when the blonde mentioned it and saw it as the perfect opportunity to settle their score.

Things were messy back then as well, but when has anything with Zabuza been easy?

Now a year has passed, Naruto's contract expires in a few months. Sasuke hasn't really talked to the blonde about what he wanted to do; he hasn't even told the blonde how he truly felt. Although he hoped-

"Just do me a favor and keep your hands off Lee. Understand?" Gaara hissed with a glare, bringing Sasuke back from his thoughts.

Naruto rolled his eyes, "You're being a little possessive don't you think?"

"Naruto." Sasuke called from his seat on the bed and the blonde looked back at him before letting out a sigh.

"Fine, I won't touch Lee." Gaara seemed to relax a bit as he pulled back until the blonde spoke again, "Unless he wants me to."

The redhead's glare returned, "He won't."

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Naruto said with a bright grin and Gaara's eye started to visibly twitch before he spoke.

"Why haven't I killed you yet?"

"Because I'm your best friend." Naruto said easily and Sasuke chuckled.

"Someone's going soft."

Gaara's glare snapped up to the raven before he let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't deal with this right now, I have a meeting with Tsunade tomorrow."

"Do you need me to go with you?" Sasuke asked and Gaara shook his head, "No, Kankuro's coming with me."

"Suit yourself."

Gaara turned to leave the room but not without pausing beside the door, "Naruto-"

"Jeez, I won't touch him. Relax already." Naruto said waving him off and Gaara only shook his head, the door closed behind him as he left.

"He's going to kill you one day."

Naruto looked up after Sasuke spoke and smiled as he walked over to the bed to crawl on top of the soft surface and gave the older man a kiss, "Maybe, but I have you to protect me right?"

"How do you know I wouldn't let him?" Sasuke asked as he returned the kiss, setting his glass aside to wrap his arm around the blonde's waist, "Any other master would have punished their pet for pulling a stunt like the one you pulled."

"Oh don't act like you didn't like what you saw." Naruto said with a smirk pulling at his lips as he straddled Sasuke's legs, "I saw you checking him out when we left."

Sasuke paused to drag a hand through those blonde locks before he spoke, "Do you like him?"

Naruto shrugged, "He's sweet."

"But do you like him?"

"I don't know, he's nice. I like spending time with him. Why? You gonna buy his contract for me when Gaara's ends?"

"Is that what you want?"

The blonde paused as he stared back into those onyx eyes, seeing just how serious Sasuke was before he spoke, "Gaara wouldn't let him go. It hasn't even been a day and I can tell he's already got it bad. Besides if I have him, then who'll take care of you?"

Sasuke chuckled and Naruto smirked as he leaned forward to press another kiss on his lips, "We both know you're hopeless without me."

"You're a brat you know that."

"And you love me." Naruto said with a grin, Sasuke paused leaning in to place a soft kiss on the blonde's forehead.

"I do."

Naruto blinked in surprise, staring back at Sasuke for a moment of perfect silence and Sasuke held his breath when the blonde wrapped his arms around the raven, to bury his face under the Uchiha's jaw.

"I love you too."

"Do you want to stay with me, after the contract expires?"

"Yeah."

"Good," Sasuke breathed out a deep sigh of relief as he kissed Naruto's head and inhaled a deep breath of his hair. "Cause I'm never gonna let you go."

"Good, cause I wasn't going anywhere anyway." Sasuke laughed since he could feel Naruto smiling against his neck but it was short-lived.

"What about your father?"

Sasuke almost froze but he was careful not to let the blonde feel it, "I'll take care of it. Don't worry."

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Zabuza took a deep breath hands shoved in his pockets as he looked up at the night sky just outside of the main building where Ei kept his offices at his academy. He ignored his surroundings despite the beautiful landscaped garden before him. There was ever green grass, lush trees and flowers that bloomed when the sun set and day turned to night, dotting the area in beautiful purples and white, with a cherry blossom tree right in the middle of it all.

He thought about other things. Like the twenty year old man attempting to sneak up on him right at that moment. Zabuza's never liked postponing on the inevitable so he moved before the man could take another step. Moving fast as lighting to slip a blade from the holster inside his coat and spun around to catch the other's wrist, earning a grunt of surprise when the figure was shoved against the wall with his hands restrained above his neck and a blade pressed tightly against his throat. The young man gasped and Zabuza only smirked.

"Sloppy. I thought I taught you better than this."

Darui quickly regained his composure though his breathing was still heavy as he spoke, "Sorry, but is it my fault I had such a lousy teacher?"

"Still got a mouth on you I see." Zabuza said as his head gave a tilt. He's changed, then again a lot has changed since the old days when he used to run as a… shall we say, a freelance mercenary. Before, a long time ago he used to love playing with this boy, loved teasing him and getting under his skin. He was loyal, learned quick and always knew how to play his position. Darui never questioned Zabuza or any of his decisions, never tried to make him explain anything he did despite how much of a cheeky brat he could sometimes be. Darui's world used to revolve around him and Zabuza took great pleasure in making the boy shiver at the mere sound of his voice. But things are different now. It's been years since he was this boy's precious sensei and although they had some good times together, he had no regrets about the choice he made.

"You should know better than to test me."

"You should've known better than to abandon me for that runt-"

"Watch your tongue, boy." The older man hissed as his eyes narrowed down into a dangerous glare and he could feel the other man tense ever so slightly in his grasp before he glared back and hissed, "I'm not your boy anymore. You have a new one now, remember?"

His voice was bitter and strained; Zabuza would have rolled his eyes in annoyance if he were less of a man. Haku is a sensitive subject for both of them. For Zabuza it's because he found a connection with the young boy. He found something that he couldn't really explain and never really tried to explain either. For Darui it's because he was replaced.

Still, despite their history or rather because of it, Darui should know better than to bring up Haku.

"We both know you aren't here to talk about me so what do you want?"

"That's what I want to know." Darui said eyes still set firmly in a glare, "What are you after?"

"What do you mean?"

"You brought up Chojuro, you're having my father send me to go see him. You wouldn't have done that unless you wanted something."

Zabuza gave a snort, "You seem awfully sure of that."

"After the stunt you had me pull with him last time, I'm surprised you'd even mention him as a source for information on anything."

"That was a long time ago."

"Not long enough."

"That's a matter of perspective." Zabuza said idly as he moved the blade from Darui's neck down to his shoulder and back, "Just be a good boy and do what daddy told you."

Darui's breath hitched but he kept his gaze steady as he spoke, "Not until you tell me what you're after."

"What does it matter? You go to Chojuro your father gets what he wants too."

"It matters because you know what they're after." Darui said clearly and Zabuza almost paused, "Don't try to deny it I know you were lying to Ei. I know you better than you think. You're keeping it from him because they're after the same thing you want. Now tell me what it is."

"Clever boy." The mercenary said before giving a shrug, "I'm looking for someone."

"Who?"

"You know who." Zabuza smirked, "Don't tell me you forgot. That last night in Kirigakure, it was pouring down and a shiny new Jaguar pulled up right beside you-"

Darui froze, Zabuza felt it almost immediately and his smirk grew under his mask as he spoke, "Remember now?"

"B-but he's dead."

Zabuza's gaze snapped up to lock onto his own, "Did they ever find a body?"

"No but-"

The older man clicked his tongue, "It's like I never taught you anything. What's the best way to deal with a body?"

"Make sure it's clean and make sure it's found." Darui answered almost robotically even as he swallowed hard and stared back at the man and Zabuza gave a slight nod, "Exactly, because a missing body makes people speculate. It makes people go looking in places where they shouldn't be. You make sure a body is found they only look where they found it."

"So he's alive."

Zabuza shrugged and Darui watched, "He's what they're after isn't he?"

"I knew I taught you right."

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"You didn't need to know."

"Like hell I didn't you self-serving son of a-"

The blade pressed harder into his throat, "Watch. Your. Tongue."

Darui swallowed hard, betrayal clear in eyes, "You need to tell Ei."

"Ei will find out when the time is right and you aren't going to say a fucking word to him understand?" Zabuza warned as he pierced the younger man in his gaze, "Just do as you're told. Go to Chojuro, get him to talk and come back."

"Fine, I'll go see him. But I'm not… I'm not going to try to manipulate him again."

"Why not?"

Darui looked away and let out a heavy sigh, "He's married now."

Zabuza arched a brow, "And your point is?"

"He loves her, he won't fall for the same thing twice." Darui said as he glared at the older man, "Besides I don't turn tricks for you anymore. You want your dirty work done then get your new boy to do it for you."

"I thought I told you to watch your tongue." Zabuza hissed out as he pressed the blade a little closer against Darui's throat, a drop of blood slid down the side of his neck. Darui didn't even flinch. "As for Chojuro, you turned him once you can turn him again."

"And if I won't do it?"

"You're going to do it." Zabuza said as he stepped back and released Darui, listening as the younger man let out a soft barely audible breath of relief as he continued, "You know better than to go against me. But to give you a little incentive how about this: do as I say, or I'll make sure daddy finds out exactly what happened in the Jaguar that night."

Darui's eyes went wide before he let out a hiss, "Should've known. You sent me there on purpose."

"I needed a job done and you did it like you always do. Now I need you to do another one."

"You abandoned me remember? You picked Haku over me. I don't work for you anymore."

Zabuza only laughed as he stepped forward and Darui instinctively stepped back against the wall, the older man lifted a hand to touch his cheek with the back of his hand as he spoke, "You'll always belong to me. It's only a matter of time till you accept that."

"Son of a-"

"Uh uh," Zabuza warned and Darui bit down on his tongue, "Get moving."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's been five years.

It was close to midnight. The room was dark with only the light from his phone casting a pale glow around the boy's face as he lay in the bed. Bright auburn locks sprawled over the pillow as he just stared back at the device in his hand. He ignored the darkness around him, the silence; he especially ignored the thing on the dresser opposite the bed despite the fact that he could almost feel it staring at him.

It's been five years since Choji saw him.

One day Sasori was there and the next he was just gone.

He woke up to find a small puzzle box beside his head; it was made from red oak with a desert flower carved over the top. The window overlooking his bed was open. Choji could tell that the covers had been moved while he slept; it wasn't the first time after all. Sometimes the redhead would sleep in his room. Nothing ever happened he just slept there sometimes.

Choji never told anyone since he knew that his father would take it the wrong way if he ever found out about it. Choza was always telling him to be careful around Sasori, he told his son not to get too attached. Choji never understood why. It wasn't like the redhead would ever hurt him so he never understood why his father was always warning him. So naturally in the way of the typical sheltered child he disobeyed and spent a lot of time around Sasori, sometimes with his father's consent but usually without.

Sasori noticed Choza's behaviors, Choji could tell but the redhead never said anything about it so he didn't either. He liked Sasori. He didn't spend time with the redhead out of spite or something silly like that, it's just…

The boy sighed, he isn't exactly sure why he kept spending time with Sasori he just needed to. When he was little it all seemed so innocent and so easy. Back then Choza didn't mind when Sasori hung around him.

Every morning he'd sneak into Sasori's workshop, although it was more like an armory. The redhead practically lived in there, spending his nights and days in the darkened room rather than spending his time in his own room upstairs.

The redhead made custom weapons. Rifles, shotguns, handguns, revolvers and even some hand held cannons. Every day he'd walk into the armory and find them all over the room, hung up on the wall or set down neatly in glass cases along the walls. There were always a few unfinished pieces on the tables, circuitry exposed and waiting to be welded together. Back then Choji didn't know what they were for, his father wouldn't tell him why they needed all those weapons and Sasori never told him either, he just knew he wasn't allowed to touch them so he never did. But it never seemed to matter since Sasori usually occupied him with other things whenever he came for a visit.

Besides the weapons he also made puppets. He told Choji that it was a hobby of his, a form of artistic expression. Sasori always talked about art, he talked about expressing your feelings in ways that people don't always understand, the freedom to be who you are without care. Sasori talked about love and passion and loyalty, losing yourself in a wave of emotion that runs from happiness to sadness, anger to depression. He'd always stare at Choji with those piercing red eyes whenever he talked like that; he always called Choji his muse. Choji would just blush and call him silly.

It was easy when he was younger and he didn't see what was happening around him. He didn't realize that his father didn't mind him staying in Sasori's workshop because the house was being watched by some new enemy that week. He didn't notice the weapons in the room disappearing every other day and how there was always a new guard at the front door when he left for school.

He didn't see the intensity in those piercing red eyes.

But then he grew up and he saw, he noticed and he understood and suddenly…

Things calmed down. Choza got control of his territory by the time that Choji was fifteen and he could even go to school without a chaperone. Because of this Choza noticed how much time Choji spent around Sasori; that's when the warnings started. Warnings that Choji ignored because he needed to despite the nagging feeling in the back of his head that told him it would be best to obey.

It's just that sometimes he forgot.

When he was younger it was easy. He barely noticed the guard that used to patrol the gardens of the Akimichi estate; the one with the bright green eyes and easy smile that ruffled his hair once and called him cute when he was taking a walk with Sasori. He barely noticed because he never saw the guard after that day. He barely even noticed how the other guards started avoiding him after that. But he got older and he noticed other things, he noticed how kids that teased him at school either went missing or completely avoided him, he noticed how Sasori seemed happier when Choji told him that he still couldn't manage to make any friends.

Still he ignored his father. He'd sneak into Sasori's workshop. He'd let the redhead spend the night in his room and hold him as he slept. He shouldn't have but he did.

Then Sasori left and Choji almost felt like he could breathe again, despite the heartache that throbbed in his chest. His father wouldn't explain why Sasori left, just that he wasn't coming back and then he warned Choji one more time.

"Don't go near him and don't let him near you."

Choji obeyed; mostly because he never saw Sasori after that, partly because part of him didn't want to see Sasori again.

It wasn't healthy. Choji knew it wasn't but he also knew that he wouldn't be able to obey his father if Sasori ever came back.

Time moved on and he almost started to forget. He had school and classes and his father was always checking up on him to see how he was doing. He had friends in Kiba and Ino. Ino was a little bitchy but she's also incredibly loving to those she cared about. Kiba's his roommate. He was spoilt and distracted more often than not but he also turned out to be a great friend. His lecturers were nice for the most part and lady Tsunade was always willing to listen whenever one of her students needed help. And Professor Nara-

Choji bit his lip in thought.

Professor Nara is incredibly intelligent and handsome and talented. Choji liked him a lot, but he wasn't willing to admit it out loud to anyone. For one thing it could mean trouble for both of them if it ever came out that he was in a romantic relationship with a lecturer, despite Kitsune's unconventional system. Not that he's romantically involved with Professor Nara to begin with but still. Another reason why he couldn't admit it was because of his position. His father expects him to take over some day, to have a family and carry on the legacy. Getting involved with another man wouldn't really help the situation.

Still despite all that, his life was fine.

Everything was going O.K.

That day he got back to his dorm room and found it empty. He figured that Kiba must have had some tutoring session with Professor Aburame. His father sent word that he'd be visiting Kitsune the next day for a meeting with lady Tsunade and Ino texted him to complain about one of her classes and some airhead she was forced to partner up with for her practical. Choji had dinner, he watched a little T.V and then he went to his room. That's when he saw the thing in his room.

It was on his dresser.

A desert flower in a small brown pot. It had crimson red petals and a white center. The thorns were trimmed away; it was watered and obviously very well kept. It was identical to the flower carved onto the puzzle box that Sasori left on his pillow all those years ago.

Then almost as if on cue, he got the text.

'I miss you puppet'

Choji turned around on the bed to face the window letting out a sigh as he stared at his phone's screen.

Puppet.

That's what Sasori used to call him. When he was younger he thought it was nice, when he got older he wasn't so sure. Choza always cringed hard when he heard the redhead call Choji that, like it meant something other than what it sounded.

He should have called his father when he found the flower. He should have tried to find some sort of way home when he got the text but he didn't. Choza is coming to Kitsune tomorrow and somehow Choji knew that he still wouldn't tell his father. He wants to, he knows he should. He knows something about Sasori is…wrong, but at the same time-

God he's so confused.

Maybe he should tell someone even if it's just to talk about it.

Lady Tsunade? No. She'd just immediately call his father. Professor Gai? No, he wouldn't understand, would he? Ino has enough on her plate and who knows where Kiba is.

Professor Nara?

Choji stared at the text for one more moment before taking a deep breath as he turned off the screen and tossed his phone on the bed to get up. He grabbed his jacket off the side of his desk and headed for the door.

And then he stopped.

He looked over towards the flower on his dresser and just stared at it for a moment. It looked beautiful even in the dark with its crimson petals now a darker shade of red due to the lack of light. It was beautiful just like Sasori was beautiful and for the moment just as dark. Choji turned back to the door at that thought reaching out to the door knob to open it when his phone suddenly started ringing.

The boy jumped, letting out a deep sigh when he realized what the sudden noise was before he quickly rushed over to the bed to snatch it up. He didn't recognize the number. Choji frowned as he swiped his finger over the screen and plopped down on the bed with a heavy sigh as he put the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Do you like it?"

His voice hadn't changed at all. It was still deep and rough; unnervingly steady as if every syllable was spoken with a purpose. He'd know that voice anywhere.

"Sasori?" The boy whispered feeling his body fold in on itself while his left arm curled around his waist. For a split second, he felt like he was seventeen all over again; nervous and shy and so insecure; he couldn't help but answer despite his better judgment. "Yeah, it's pretty."

Sasori chuckled low and deep and then there was a moment of absolute silence; Choji couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Come outside."

Choji swallowed hard, "Outside where?"

"Off campus. Near the back gate-"

"I-I don't know. I'm not supposed to talk to-"

"I want to see you."

"But-"

"Puppet," His voice lowered with the promise of a threat in his tone as he continued, "It's either you come out or I'll come in and get you."

A shiver ran down Choji's spine when the line suddenly went dead. The boy looked at his phone and stared at it for a moment before he quickly got up and rushed up to the door, right out of his room to the front door. Before he could open it however there was a knock.

One two three.

The slow deliberate knocks and then silence. A thrill of fear rushed through him and he wasn't sure why. He's never been scared of Sasori before, he's never had a reason to be afraid of the redhead. But time has passed. Choji has had time away from the redhead and he's learned some things. He knew what was normal and what wasn't; and Sasori wasn't normal.

One two three.

Three more knocks. Sasori hates repeating himself even when he was younger Choji knew this well. Though the redhead never got upset with him, Choji knew not to annoy him. He could open the door or he could leave it closed. The lights were off and Kiba still hadn't returned, maybe he could pretend like no one was home. Maybe-

"Choji."

A voice said on the other side of the door and Choji froze.

A/N: Sooooooo many crack pairings

Alright things might seem a little confusing right now but I'll try to explain more later.

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