Author's note: Sorry about the wait, I went to Hiroshima on break and that just kinda pushed aside the whole "I'm supposed to be writing now!" vibe for a bit. XD
This chapter is the first of Fox Magic's that's been beta'd. Much loves for the fantastic arcanetheorem, and thanks luv for putting up with my mood swings! XDD
Enjoy.
An odd, heavy silence settled upon the room as Sasuke hesitated, his fingers over a dark red scroll. With the strange feeling that the room itself was waiting to see what he would do, he picked up the scroll.
Immediately, a thick, terrible noise resounded in his brain, dark words that he couldn't understand pounding at his skull like a tempest. Beneath the words, someone was screaming, an ear-piercing wail that threatened to burst his eardrums, even though he knew it couldn't possibly be a real sound. Gasping, he dropped the scroll on the table. The voices receded, lowering to unintelligible whispers before disappearing entirely. Head throbbing in pain, Sasuke clasped his hands to his temples and squeezed his eyes shut.
Holy hell. What the fuck was that?? His headache gradually began to pass, and Sasuke gingerly peeled his eyes open again. The red scroll sat on the table, innocently and silently mocking him. Sasuke scowled at it, forehead throbbing just from looking at the damned thing. How the hell was he supposed to read these things if that terrible voice was going to drown him every time he touched a scroll?
A wet sensation began to tickle the skin beneath his nose, causing Sasuke to swipe at it irritably with his right hand. It came away bloody. Midnight eyes narrowed as he contemplated his red fingers. Obviously, my family wouldn't want anyone to be able to waltz in and take a peek at these scrolls. They must be sealed somehow. His scowl deepened. How could he unlock the scrolls? Glancing up, he noticed Naruto's shadow shifting its weight through the paper-lined door, but after watching the other man for a moment, he shook his head.
Even if Naruto knew how to open the scrolls without having the reader's head explode, this was something Sasuke needed to do himself.
Rubbing his soiled fingers together, he stared at the table. If he were going to lock the scrolls to protect it from spies, how best to prove that he was of Uchiha descent? The only way to do that was through his…
He glanced at his fingers.
Bracing his shoulders, Sasuke reached down with his right hand and deliberately smeared a line of blood on the red scroll. Snatching his hand away, Sasuke stared intently at the red paper. Light whispers began to fill the air, and Sasuke could almost swear he heard a flute playing as the scroll stirred minutely. Slowly, Sasuke's blood sank into the paper, spreading out like an infection until the entire scroll had turned black. Somewhat hesitantly, Sasuke placed his hand upon the scroll. When no words suddenly thundered through his brain, he picked it up and unrolled it. At first glance, the same unreadable characters he'd seen when looking over Madara's shoulder graced the page, but when he looked at them again, the ink strokes shuddered, twisted, and began to form words:
Greetings, Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke stared at the words, eyes wide.
Interesting. You have already bonded with Kyuubi no Kitsune, and yet this is the first time you have encountered these scrolls? You are a reckless boy.
Sasuke's jaw worked, but no noises emerged.
Stars above, boy, you aren't dumb, are you?
"I… What? No!"
Thank goodness. We would have to kill you, otherwise, and that requires more energy than we feel willing to spare.
Shaking his head violently, Sasuke took another look at the scroll, but the words were still there. Even as he watched, more words began to form.
A bit of luck, we should think, that of all the scrolls here, you managed to grab the only one capable of guiding you. And guidance, it would seem, is something that you need desperately.
Sasuke scowled, bridling instinctively at the insult. "Who the hell are you?"
A long pause followed his question, during which Sasuke could hear the echoes of a man's laughter. His fingers clenched the paper scroll automatically.
We are unimportant, boy. The question is, what is it that you wish to know? Do you wish to bend the Kyuubi to your will? He is a headstrong creature, it is true, but he can be broken.
The Uchiha heir's stomach clenched involuntarily. Broken? he couldn't help but think. To his surprise, the scroll responded.
Indeed. All of his previous masters managed to control him with the judicious application of corporal punishment. You cannot be soft on him, boy, or he will take advantage of you.
The paper crinkled slightly under the force of his grip. I have no intention of "breaking" him, thank you very much. And considering how headstrong he still is, I challenge your claim that he has ever been "broken" at all.
No response for a long moment.
Oh? Did you not come here with the intention of finding out more about his punishments? The laws to which he must adhere? The extent of his full power? You fool no one, boy. You are as power-hungry as the rest. We can guide you to this power.
Sasuke's heart was pounding. The scroll was lying. He hadn't come here with the intention of deliberately subduing Naruto. He just wanted to knowmore, to understand why the things that happened to Naruto occurred in the first place.
Foolish boy. Do you realize what power you have in your possession? The nine-tailed beast can level cities in a heartbeat, slaughter thousands upon a whim. It can, and it has.
No. That wasn't like Naruto. He wouldn't—
Wouldn't he? Do you honestly believe that his kind and playful exterior is his true self? The creature is playing a game with you, fool. Before his enslavement, he slaughtered humans for fun. He reveled in his power. Why should you not do the same? Turn the beast's power against him, use him to grow stronger. Draw upon the ring to feed yourself.
Unbidden, images of Naruto, eyes red and hair wild flashed through his mind. Visions of Sasuke sitting upon a throne of skulls, the ground beneath him soaked red with blood, while Naruto kneeled at his side. A small girl was dragged in front of him, screaming and crying, and with a nod of Sasuke's head, Naruto smiled. And killed her.
"NO!" Gasping, Sasuke shook away the images. They weren't real. Sasuke wasn't a tyrant, and Naruto wasn't the bloodthirsty animal the scroll was painting him as. It isn't true. Hands shaking, he scowled down at the paper. "Now listen, you. I'm tired of your fucking mind games. I want to know the laws that Naruto has to adhere to, and that's it. Now either tell them to me or show me where I can find them!"
The scroll paused before replying, filling Sasuke with an uneasy sense of dread. A twirl of someone else's dark amusement flittered through him, making him shiver.
Very well, Uchiha Sasuke. If that is what you want. Several nearby scrolls began to glow softly. These are the scrolls that illustrate the laws of his enslavement, and the accompanying punishments should they be broken. Read them well.
The words faded from the scroll, returning to the mangled characters they were before. Trembling, Sasuke set the scroll down gingerly, rolling it with care. In all his life, he'd never heard of scrolls that could talk to someone and read their minds. It was unsettling in the extreme. Just what kind of power could create something like this, much less sustain it over centuries? Swallowing hard, he glanced up at Naruto's shape in front of the door.
If the scrolls could read his mind, it was entirely possible that Naruto would have no choice but to read Sasuke's. It might very well be a stipulation he had to follow, one that he had no control over. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke reached for one of the glowing scrolls nearby, tearing it open. As with the previous scroll, words appeared as he began to read, though these didn't seem to have a direct connection to his thoughts.
The Kyuubi no Kitsune must adhere to his master's wishes above all else. No personal desires may be placed before those of his master's. In the event of the Kyuubi no Kitsune growing selfish, the following may be used as a means of punishment:…
His eyes skimmed the list of punishments, but instead of seeing the words, images of Naruto being put through the punishments raced across his mind's eye.
Naruto kneeled on a dirty floor, arms crossed and tied with thick rope to a post in front of him. His head hung, blond hair obscuring his face from view. As Sasuke watched, blood appeared in violent strips across Naruto's back, like he was being struck with an invisible whip. The blond's broad torso flinched with each invisible strike, but he made no noise aside from the odd grunt.
"Hold."
The whipping stopped at a short command from the unseen man behind Naruto. Slowly, the wounds seemed to half-heal, gumming up on his back to stop the bleeding.
"Proceed."
At the next strike, Naruto finally cried out. He tossed his head back, lips bleeding from being bitten to stifle the noises he'd made, face contorted in pain. Tugging uselessly at his bound hands, Naruto sagged forward again, flinching with each new inflicted wound.
The images stopped abruptly, replaced with darkness. Breathing heavily, Sasuke waited for an agonized moment before he realized that his eyes were shut. Slowly, he peeled them open, glancing once more at the words on the page.
Naruto sat in front of him, apologizing profusely with his forehead against the ground, fingers splayed and digging into the dirt on either side of his head. His apologies went unheard.
With a sickening crack, Naruto's arm broke and twisted, pointing the wrong way. Naruto started screaming. More bones cracked themselves, traveling up and down his arms, his fingers, his legs. One by one, they broke. Then they broke again. And again.
With a shout, Sasuke flung the parchment away from him, not caring where it landed. His stomach was churning, sweat was beading on his brow, and his panting breaths were harsh in the preternaturally quiet room. Swallowing back his nausea, Sasuke hung his head.
What kind of monsters could do that to another living being? More to the point, what kind of monster could read about such a thing, see it, and then decide that it was a good idea??
These were the kind of people that Naruto had been forced to spend generation after generation serving. God. No wonder Naruto had been distant ever since bringing him here. Had any of his masters even been sane after going through these scrolls? After studying them, possibly for years?
Sasuke lifted his head, glaring belligerently at the multitude of "educational" scrolls about him. There had to be a way to get through them without losing his mind. At this rate, he was either going to have to give up entirely, or resign himself to becoming the same kind of sadistic creep who liked this sort of thing, because he honestly couldn't see any other way to handle it.
Unsatisfied with either option, Sasuke folded his arms over his chest and sat back. There had to be a way. But what?
Scowling, he reached for the blood-stained scroll again and tore it open. With a slightly mocking air, the words began to form.
What is the matter, Uchiha Sasuke? Did you not find what you were looking for?
"Alright, you sadistic bastard, whoever you are," Sasuke snarled. "Forget this 'punishment' bullshit. I want a list of the rules that Naruto has to follow. No images, no hints, no commentary, just give me a goddamn list, or I'm going to set this whole room on fire. Can you manage that?"
Sasuke got the impression that he'd somehow startled whoever was controlling the scrolls, judging by the lack of amused undertones in his head. After a few minutes, the scroll cleared of all writing.
Rule #1…
Several hours later, the sound of the paper door sliding open startled Sasuke into looking up. His eyes stung from reading for too long, and he could feel a migraine threatening to shake his head apart, so it was with some measure of relief that he took in the unusually stoic blond who entered. Naruto paused, confusion flickering briefly across his face before it settled into that impassive mask from before.
"We've spent too long here," the fox demon stated gruffly. "Someone's going to come into this room soon, so we need to head back."
Sighing wearily, Sasuke lowered the black scroll. "Is there any chance that you can bring me back here later?"
Naruto blinked at him. "Yes."
"Alright then." Rolling the scroll with a mildly vindictive air, Sasuke set the scroll aside and stood up. He nearly ended up right back on the floor again as his legs abruptly gave out, but Naruto appeared beside him in a flash, holding onto one of Sasuke's arms. The Uchiha heir held onto the blond's broad shoulders, waiting for his tingling legs to stop protesting. Naruto's breath ghosted across Sasuke's cheek, and in a startled movement, Sasuke looked into the blond's deep blue eyes.
Despair.
Naruto's expression may have been walled off, but up close, his eyes clearly held a wealth of disappointment. Sasuke blinked. No doubt, Naruto expected Sasuke to start being horrible at any moment, mimicking all the countless masters he'd had before. Unconsciously, Sasuke scowled. He couldn't really blame Naruto for thinking that way, but dammit, couldn't anyone have a little fucking faith in him?
Unfortunately, Naruto apparently read something else into Sasuke's scowl, because after a quick, warm pat on each of Sasuke's legs, the demon hurriedly stepped away. The tingling stopped immediately, allowing Sasuke to stand on his own, but before he could open his mouth to protest, Naruto clutched his arm.
The world went black.
Several long, literally heart-stopping moments later, the pair landed in Sasuke's kitchen. Having appeared at the same time, Sasuke found himself clutching the fox demon's torso in an effort to keep from falling to the ground. Growling, he snarled into Naruto's ear.
"Dammit, do you think you could have given me some warning?"
A pair of strong arms pushed him away, holding tightly until Sasuke balanced himself. Naruto frowned at him, then released him and stepped away.
"I'm sorry." The blond glanced away, sticking his hands in his pockets. "We didn't have any time left."
Disturbed by how quick Naruto had been to distance himself from Sasuke, the Uchiha heir frowned. "Alright."
The two stood in awkward silence, Naruto gazing at anything in the room that wasn't Sasuke.
"…Did you find what you were looking for?" the blond eventually asked, his voice subdued. Sasuke's hackles went up instinctively at the fox demon's tone.
"To some degree, yes," Sasuke snapped. "It took me a while to get those damn scrolls to cooperate, but I found out some of what I wanted to know." Sasuke's mood soured further when Naruto visibly tensed. Grinding his teeth, he glanced at the nearest window—
—And started in surprise. The moon hung low in the glass, framed by a velvet black sky.
"It's night already?" Sasuke turned to Naruto, incredulous. "It was barely morning when we left!"
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes, it was morning when we left, but you spent several hours studying. I can't give you those hours back, because it'd be extending your life, in a way."
"And aside from keeping me alive in life-threatening situations, you can't do that," Sasuke murmured in agreement. Hundreds of arbitrary rules pounded through his mind, echoed faintly by a deep, dark voice. He shook his head to clear it. "You'd think that was geared towards keeping your masters from wishing immortality upon themselves and leaving it at that, wouldn't you?"
The blond stilled, lowering his hand slowly as he finally looked Sasuke in the eye. "What?"
Irritated despite himself, Sasuke folded his arms over his chest and glared at the fox demon. "I noticed something about those rules you have to follow. All of them look like they're tied to the master, to making your master happy and whatnot. They may have that effect, but that's not why they're there, is it?"
Now looking distinctly uncomfortable, Naruto began shifting his feet. "What do you mean?"
"Those rules aren't geared towards keeping your master happy. They're meant to punishyou."
Blood drained from Naruto's face, leaving a pair of wide blue eyes in its wake. "W-what…"
Making a low, discontent noise in his throat, Sasuke began to pace. "Whoever set those rules didn't give a damn what your masters thought. He, it,they cared only about making you suffer. The whole time I was reading those scrolls, they kept trying to convince me that punishing you was simply an eye for an eye, that it was all justified. They fucking wanted me to abuse you. Why the hell is that?"
Even as he spoke, he could hear dark laughter echoing in his mind, accusingly. He could hear whispers of the true power Sasuke could command if he put all of those rules and punishments to use. He shook it off again, agitatedly. His head was beginning to pound, and the nausea he'd felt in that cursed room came back. Sasuke wasn't like that. He was guilty of many things, and he was reminded of his guilt every time he saw a villager turn their face from him in disgust, distrust, and disappointment.
But he was no torturer.
In his agitation, Sasuke began making wider circuits before the kitchen table. Long minutes later, Naruto still hadn't answered his question, blue eyes tracking the Uchiha's erratic movements in shock. When Sasuke finally stopped pacing and planted his hands on the table to glare at Naruto, the blond stirred.
"I…" The fox demon swallowed, then tried again. "No one's ever noticed that before. Those rules are supposed to keep me in line—"
"Whose line?"
Naruto blinked again. "What?"
Another dark laugh in his mind caused sharp spikes of pain in his temples. Lifting a hand to his forehead, Sasuke pulled out a chair and sat heavily in it, glowering at the table. "If those rules really cared about what the master wanted, I wouldn't be able to hurt you inadvertently. I'd have to want you to be in pain." Shocked silence met his statement. "Those rules don't give a damn about me. They're all about you."
When Naruto didn't reply, Sasuke looked up at him. The blond had turned his face away, jaw tense with some emotion that Sasuke couldn't decipher. Fists clenched, Naruto ground out, "Would it bother you if they were?"
Sighing with frustration, Sasuke ran a hand through his raven hair. "It bothers me, Naruto, but not because I want the focus on me. It just doesn't make sense, unless…" He trailed off, staring at the blond man in front of him.
Naruto still wouldn't look at him, posture stiff as a board. "Unless what?"
Unless the whole point of the enslavement is to punish you. "…Never mind," Sasuke finished quietly. What could Naruto have possibly done to deserve this level of cruelty? He shuddered slightly. Was it possible that those scrolls were right?
Sasuke shook his head vehemently. Impossible. Nothing that could be done by someone as eternally friendly as Naruto could possibly justify retaliation to this degree. Nothing.
What about a vendetta? Maybe not something Naruto did, but something about Naruto himself that the people who enslaved him took offense to?
That, the Uchiha could see happening.
When Sasuke didn't continue the tense conversation, Naruto slowly began to relax. Blond eyes flitted uneasily about the room, glancing at Sasuke, then the table, then the floor, the window, and back to Sasuke. The silence quickly grew uncomfortable.
Someone wanted Naruto to hurt, he mused silently, carefully watching the blond man before him. They wanted to hurt him in the most cruel, continuous, and demeaning way possible. Sasuke's nausea grew stronger. And they wanted me to do it.
The very thought made him want to hurt something. He'd spent his entire life surrounded by expectations: his father's expectations that Sasuke would become a child prodigy like Itachi, his own expectations of making his older brother respect him, Itachi's expectations of Sasuke becoming stronger than him, and the village…
Until Sasuke had defected, Konoha had practically smothered him with affection. As the second son of such a prominent clan and as a boy following in Itachi's shoes, he'd been considered the darling of his ninja class. He had to be the best, no matter what he was doing. At school, he had to be at the top of his class. At home, he had to be a serious student who, if he didn't have the natural gifts of his older brother, was at least striving to accomplish the same merits or more than the other Uchiha. He was never allowed to relax amongst all of those hopes and aspirations, and could feel the weight of them wherever he went.
And then Itachi had slaughtered their family. Now, in addition to the horrifying loss, he was expected to destroy his brother, his idol, to avenge his clan. He'd never even been given time to grieve, bombarded as he was afterward by well-wishers and sympathizers. Half of those very people had expected Sasuke to turn out the same way, assuming that Sasuke would turn against the village. When he first ran off with Orochimaru, it hadn't bothered him that he was proving those old bastards right. Later, however, he'd had his epiphany. He didn't have to take the short route to defeat his brother. He didn't have to turn his back on everyone who'd supported him, the people who, even if he couldn't express his gratitude, had eased his burdens for a short while. He didn't have to plot and murder to become strong.
And when he'd returned, he'd found those burdens doubled. Now everyone knew him to be a traitor, a man supposedly without allegiances. For the first time, he gained openly antagonistic looks and chilling glances from people he didn't even know. The people who had adored him without question now hated him without question. Sasuke had thrown it off, telling himself that if he could defy his brother's wishes, the opinions of a few ignorant villagers couldn't matter much, either. His friends, such as they were, welcomed him, but it was clear in their eyes that they still expected him to run off again.
And through it all, he'd been so alone. Surrounded by his family, smothered by strangers, or distrusted by all, he was alone. Sasuke had been trained early on to hide his emotions away, because they would be viewed as a weakness. The villagers, all of them, had never learned that a lack of expression didn't necessitate a lack of feeling.
As had been his lot in life, Sasuke had simply coped with his social solitude and vowed to himself never to live by anyone's rules but his own. But then Naruto had come barreling into his life, sticking his claws in and dragging every hidden emotion, every smothered longing for closeness, every desperate desire of Sasuke's to the surface. Despite his discomfiture, the experience was unexpectedly refreshing, even freeing.
And now Sasuke was expected to turn on him. Granted, he hadn't liked the demon much when they'd met, but that didn't mean that he was willing to torture him for the sake of power. That was why he'd left Orochimaru's service—a lack of desire to destroy people for his own benefit. Sasuke may be a cold, detached bastard at times, but he wasn't a monster.
No matter what the villagers thought, no matter what his brother thought, no matter what Naruto or those thrice-damned scrolls thought—
Sasuke was not. A. Monster.
A sudden movement from the wary fox demon drew Sasuke abruptly out of his ruminations. Their eyes met briefly, but that short-lived contact only upset Sasuke further. Naruto was hiding it fairly well, but the distrust lurking in his eyes was poignant. Countless generations had mistreated this man. He was to be the next to do it.
FUCK that.
In the thick silence that had settled upon the room, Naruto fidgeted, opening and closing his fists. With a barely audible sigh, the blond turned and strode to the stove, squatting down to pull out pots and pans from the cabinet beneath it. Sasuke frowned at the familiar sight. Over the last several days, Naruto had cooked all of Sasuke's meals without complaint (or being asked, for that matter), waiting until the Uchiha had finished eating before making anything for himself. He never even sat at the table, just leaned against the sink and watched Sasuke eat.
Before Sasuke was even aware that he'd moved, he found himself yanking a pan out of Naruto's hands and glaring at the startled blond. Mounting fury at all of the unfair assumptions about him coursed through his veins as he looked at the fox demon. The images from the scrolls bombarded him once again, layering Naruto's startled face with visions of it twisted in agony. Sasuke tried to shake the images off, but found to his dismay that they wouldn't leave him. Headache growing, he pointed the pan at Naruto.
"It's my turn to cook. Go sit down." The terse statement seemed to freeze Naruto to the spot.
"…But I always cook," Naruto replied, confusion thick in his low voice. Sasuke shooed him away with the pan he'd stolen, pointing irritably at the nearest chair.
"Sit!"
Naruto hesitantly moved to stand beside the chair and pulled it out, but he remained standing. "Seriously, Sasuke, I don't mind cooking. I'm used to it."
Movements sharp with the images and frustrated anger running through him, Sasuke slammed the pan down on the stove and stormed over to the fridge, pulling out meat and vegetables and slapping them on the counter. Naruto fell quiet behind him as the Uchiha heir savagely washed the vegetables, placed them on his cutting board, and picked up the biggest knife in his arsenal.
Whack!
"You've cooked for me every damn day since you got here. That's going to change."
Whack!
"But I'm used to cooking! And I saw all of those cooking programs on the terribision, so I know I can do it the way you guys like to eat these days—"
WHACK!
"And you're not going to do it anymore! Not every damn day, like you're my fucking maid."
WHACK!
Naruto exhaled heavily, obviously frustrated. "Sasuke, look, if I've done something to piss you off, I'm sorry, but you know that I can't poison you or anything. Just let me—"
Because I'd HURT you for it, right?? Unable to contain himself any longer, Sasuke felt his anger finally bubble over and explode out of him.
"I don't need a fucking slave!!"
THUNK.
The knife went clear through the carrot he was haphazardly chopping, sticking out of the wood cutting board at an awkward angle. Placing his hands on the counter, Sasuke leaned forward and hung his head. His stomach was veritably churning, and the bitter taste of bile stung his throat. Naruto was silent behind him. Taking a slow, steadying breath, Sasuke continued.
"I don't need a slave. I don't want a slave. A slave is someone who will always resent me, always have their own vendetta, always be looking for a way to get back at me for the rest of my god damn life. Fuck that." Straightening, he gripped the knife and freed it with a grunt. "What I need is a partner. Someone who isn't being degraded to have anything to do with me. Someone who'll watch my back, period, instead of just making sure I don't get myself killed."
When Naruto still didn't reply, Sasuke resumed chopping his sadly mangled carrot with a bit more calm than before. He didn't have to be like his ancestors, and he didn't have to live up to the horrific ideal of his brother or the villagers. Now he just had to prove it. "So what we're going to do is trade off. If you make breakfast, I'll make dinner. I'll do my own damn laundry, and if we have time, we'll go out and get you some clothes of your own. I'm neat, so if you mess something up, clean up after yourself. But you're not my maid, you're not my chef, and you're not my bodyguard. And you're NOT my slave."
Sasuke heard the heavy thud of a body hitting a chair, hard. When he turned, he found Naruto staring at him in blank shock. He looked like his legs had given out from under him.
"…You're serious." The incredulity in his voice set Sasuke's teeth on edge. "You honestly want me to be a…partner?"
"I said I did, didn't I?" Sasuke snapped. Naruto continued to stare.
"Then why are you so upset?" the blond asked quietly. He still looked like his world had tilted on its axis. Anger built up again, mixed with the severe frustration Sasuke'd been fighting his entire life. Words burst out of him.
"Because I can't change what those bastards did to you!" Throwing the knife on the counter, he spun to face Naruto fully. "I saw what those sick fucks put you through. I'm not like them! I'm nothing like them, dammit to motherfucking hell! I don't even want to be!"
Breathing heavily, Sasuke spun back around and glared down at the counter. "I'm not going to treat you like some…deranged, rabid animal just because my ancestors did. It's sick! Maybe I'm the weak one in the family for thinking this way, but I'll be damned if you get treated that way ever again! I won't—"
A pair of warm arms stole around him, pulling him back into a tight hug. A face buried itself in his shoulder as those arms squeezed. Sasuke's eyes closed of their own volition at the unfamiliar sensation of being embraced, and his angry words fled from him. Emotionally wrung out from his outburst, Sasuke felt his body tense instinctively, but he didn't pull away. The two stood silently for a long moment, Sasuke's midnight eyes staring blindly at the countertop. Naruto just breathed into his shoulder.
Slowly, the unnatural warmth of the blond began chasing away the frightening chill that had rooted itself in Sasuke's spine from the first moment he'd heard Naruto's past master refer to him as "the creature." Gingerly, Sasuke placed a hand upon Naruto's left hand, feeling the cold enslavement band chill his skin. Sasuke's eyelids lowered, feeling his stomach churn again.
"I'm not one of them," he stated in a hoarse voice. "God, Naruto, I swear I'm not. I'm nothing like those sick bastards."
After a long moment, Naruto slowly nodded against his shoulder. "…I know."
As the embrace continued, Sasuke found himself growing more uncomfortable. Even as a child, he'd been rarely embraced, and as an adult, he never allowed it. Naruto as a fox was one thing, but as a man…the physical contact was more than a little unsettling. It was as if all of Sasuke's senses had been put on high alert. Even as he stood there, tolerating the touch, the broad planes of Naruto's chest suddenly felt well-defined, as if Sasuke could sketch it from memory just from the memory of its scorching heat upon his back. Discomfort growing, Sasuke swallowed hard and pulled out of the embrace, gently tugging at Naruto's arms until they released him.
Ignoring the strange, faint blush that wanted to rise to his cheeks, Sasuke pulled at Naruto's left hand and gazed at it intently. He could feel Naruto's eyes burning into his face, but the ring served as some manner of distraction. He frowned.
This one malicious piece of metal is what keeps Naruto in a constant state of doubt and fear. I wonder…
Lifting the demon's hand before his midnight eyes, Sasuke placed his free fingers lightly upon the ring. It turned warm at his touch, glowing a faint, warning red. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Whoever you are, Sasuke thought savagely, I'm not playing by your rules any longer. We do this my way from now on. Tearing his eyes, which had subconsciously switched into the Sharingan, away from the ring, Sasuke stared determinedly into Naruto's gaze. The blond's eyes had never remained blue for an entire confrontation before now, and the lack of the belligerent red gaze struck Sasuke to the core. Maybe the Uchiha heir was an idiot, and maybe most of the villagers and his brother would agree with that assessment, but he was going to get the snippy, snarky, irritating-as-hell fox demon back if it killed him. He wanted to erase the doubt and unease in that cerulean gaze.
While they stared at each other, Sasuke caught a slight flicker of hope in the depths of Naruto's eyes, darting about like a flame that was seconds from being extinguished. Just the sight of that faltering hope made the ever-present warmth in his chest burn hotter, and Sasuke grit his teeth decisively.
There was only one way to keep that hope alive.
"Naruto," he began. The blond didn't reply, but Sasuke could almost physically feel Naruto's gaze sharpening upon him. The Uchiha heir closed his eyes.
"I wish that I could feel the same pain from your ring that you do."
Naruto's heart stopped.
When several seconds passed, Sasuke opened his Sharingan-lit eyes again, complete seriousness contained within him. Naruto couldn't help it. He stared.
"You…what?" he managed to reply, voice hoarse with shock. As though dazed, but aware that it was running late, Naruto's heart resumed beating. Blood began roaring through his ears.
"If that damn piece of metal hurts you, I want to know it. I want to feel the same pain." Sasuke's grip tightened upon Naruto's left hand. "I didn't have time to study all of the rules you have to obey, and I'm not sure I could avoid them all even if I had. It's the quickest way to ensure that I don't hurt you."
Naruto needed to sit down again. "Sasuke, I…you…" Shaking his head violently, he pulled away from the brunet and tugged his hand free. "I…I appreciate the thought, I really do, but I can't grant something like that. Any pain you felt would double back upon me."
The other man scowled. "It isn't a thought, Naruto, it's a wish. I don't have the time I need to study, so consider this my crash course in dealing with that damn ring." Lifting a hand to his chin, Sasuke began pacing again, agitatedly. "Isn't there any way that you can grant it?"
It was too much to hope for. Sasuke couldn't be serious. In more than fourteen generations of human masters, not one, ONE, had ever wished to be placed on the same level as him, much less demanded that they become equal partners. It wasn't possible. He couldn't believe humans, even one as odd as Sasuke, would willingly give up that much control over him. They didn't think that way. They couldn't.
Abruptly angry, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's wrist and squeezed, hard. He could feel fire flickering underneath his skin, ready to lash out at the Uchiha, consequences be damned. Sasuke started, looking up at him with a furrowed brow as Naruto loomed over him.
"Sasuke, I swear," he rasped. "If you're playing with me, setting me up for a fall, I'll…"
A flash of memory darted past Naruto's reddened eyes, hearing screams and watching blood splatter walls that had long since been torn down. He shook it off.
Sasuke took the increased pressure upon his wrist without flinching, meeting Naruto's eyes with fire burning in his own. "I'm not. I want us on an even playing field, Naruto." His gaze sharpened, piercing Naruto through all the barriers it'd taken him centuries to build up. The fox demon flinched. "I don't associate with those who are beneath me. We'll go on as equals, or not at all."
Naruto's heart was pounding furiously. Was it really possible? If he were to find a way to grant Sasuke's wish, would he really continue to treat Naruto as a person? Could he really trust Sasuke that much?
Abruptly, his ring began to burn like the fires of hell itself, causing Naruto to hiss and pull away, clutching his hand to his chest. He caught a flash of an enraged, ethereal face in his mind, and then had to clamp his eyes shut to ride out the pain. Despite himself, he pulled a strained smirk.
If the bastard's pissed, I must be on the right track. Eventually, the pain receded, allowing Naruto to take note of the concerned hands on his shoulders and the irate master yelling into his ear.
"You see?? This is the kind of shit I want to prevent! What the hell did I do?" Sasuke's hands flitted over his back, patting him awkwardly. In a flash of intuition, it suddenly occurred to Naruto that Sasuke was attempting to heal him and failing miserably. Chuckling lightly, Naruto straightened and clasped Sasuke's increasingly wandering hands in his own. The blond smiled.
"Believe it or not, I don't think that one had anything to do with you." He paused, staring down at his apparently well-intentioned master. "You tried to heal me just now, didn't you?"
Amazingly, Sasuke flushed. "I told you that I'm trying to find a way to avoid punishing you. And what the hell do you mean, it had nothing to do with me? Are you telling me that the person who did this to you is still alive?"
Naruto snorted, still holding Sasuke's wrists aloft. "Oh, he's definitely still alive. I think everyone would have noticed if he died."
At the mention of his enslaver, Naruto's ring gave another painful twinge. He ignored it in favor of thinking, an idea beginning to form in the recesses of his mind. Technically, it would grant Sasuke's wish. But did he trust the Uchiha enough?
To his surprise, Sasuke's expression darkened.
"Fuck him. If he's still controlling you through that ring on top of all these damn rules, I'm going to find a way to stop it. You may be forced to answer to me, but I want you only answering to me." Looking away, Sasuke added darkly, "At least I won't treat you like shit."
Naruto blinked.
He was going to do it.
The fox demon didn't reply to Sasuke's bloodthirsty comment, choosing instead to stare at him with a bemused smile on his face. Sasuke scowled.
"What?"
Naruto shook his head, his smile becoming somewhat self-deprecating. "It's nothing." He took a deep breath. "Do you really want to feel the pain my ring generates?"
Frustration rose up in him. "I already wished for it, didn't I? Yes!"
"…All right, then. Come with me." With that, Naruto released Sasuke's hands and turned to walk into the hallway, turning left before Sasuke's bedroom to head towards the back of the house. After a moment's hesitation, Sasuke followed. The pair passed his washroom on their right, soon followed by the door to his father's study. Just the sight of it sent a strange, anticipatory shiver down Sasuke's spine.
What was Naruto planning?
When they entered the study, the blond went straight for the now-visible door between his father's desk and the bookshelf. Naruto pushed it open, glanced back at Sasuke, and gestured with his head to follow him as he proceeded down the steps. Seconds after Sasuke crossed the doorway, the door swung shut.
Their quiet footsteps echoed in the stone hall as they walked, though this time, Sasuke found that the impenetrable darkness wasn't so…impenetrable. As he scanned the dark walls, the stone jumped into his sight without the need for his Sharingan. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced at his companion to ask him about the difference.
And, with a start, realized that Naruto was glowing.
The man's red chakra swirled around him, skittering out to touch the walls briefly before pulling in again, bathing the pair in a soft, warm glow. Sasuke stared at him.
It's like he's my own personal lantern. Despite the turmoil of the last few hours, Sasuke found a smirk threatening.
"Naruto?"
The man didn't turn, but he tilted his head in response. "Hmm?"
"You do realize that you're glowing."
The blond glanced down at himself, eyebrows lifting in surprise. "Huh. Would you look at that?"
Sasuke shook his head. Clearly dismissing the phenomenon, Naruto shrugged and continued walking. After a few more steps, his chakra flung itself out sideways, lighting the pair of torches in a burst of flame. The blond stopped glowing.
Before them, the ornate wooden cabinet gleamed in the torchlight, almost as though it had been polished recently. The ruby spirals seemed even brighter than they were the last time Sasuke had seen them, practically dancing across the wood. With only a moment's hesitation, Naruto reached forward and tugged on two small, brass rings. The doors swung open.
Sasuke couldn't help it—he flinched. The last time those doors opened, he'd found himself surrounded by Kyuubi's notably powerful chakra, and he still wasn't entirely sure he understood how he'd survived it. Goosebumps rose on his arms at the memory, and Sasuke took a moment to rub them. Quelling an instinctive shudder, he stepped up beside Naruto and cautiously glanced inside.
Several ornate pillows and boxes lined the interior of the cabinet, gold and silver glinting in the firelight. The boxes all stood at differing heights—three resting upon a single pillow each towards the front, four resting upon two pillows each behind them, two large, gold-plated containers behind those on three pillows each, and one small structure that looked like a miniature shrine in the back center, standing upon a black wooden pillar. Several small cups with incense ashes were interspersed with the obviously cherished containers. Chains of gold leaf hung from the roof of the cabinet, each strand dangling lower as they reached the front.
Sasuke gawked. If he didn't know better, he'd say that he'd just been shown a personal shrine to Kyuubi. But that was impossible, wasn't it? His mouth worked, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.
Naruto stared into the cabinet for a long moment, sighing lightly. Shaking his head, he reached for a small, red wooden box in the front row, lifting it carefully off the center pillow. Clutching it tightly in both hands, he turned to face the bewildered Uchiha. His knuckles turned white.
"Sasuke…" Naruto took a steadying breath. "I've never shown any of my masters what I'm about to show you. None of them even knew that it existed." He stared down at the box in his hands, running his fingers over the unmarked wood. "The fact is, if anyone else had made the wish that you had, I would have claimed that I couldn't grant it and left it at that."
Sasuke's shoulders tensed involuntarily. "'Claimed'?"
Red eyes rose to meet his. "Yes. Technically, this is outside of the terms of my enslavement. I don't have to give this to you, but…" Naruto took another deep breath, his hands beginning to tremble. "I'm choosing to trust you, Sasuke."
Swallowing hard at the weight with which those words were delivered, Sasuke nodded. Naruto gave him an analyzing look, red eyes flickering back and forth between Sasuke's, and then lowered his own back to the box in his hands. Lifting his right thumb, Naruto transformed his human fingernail back into a fox-like claw. He drew the claw down the unbroken top of the box in a zigzagging pattern—down, left, down, right, down, left—until he reached the bottom of the lid. Both heard a soft "click" as he lifted the claw, the appendage melting back into a human fingernail. Naruto placed both thumbs atop the box, then looked up at Sasuke.
"Keep in mind, Sasuke, that this is a loan, not a gift. I expect it back from you." When the Uchiha nodded, Naruto pushed with his thumbs. The lid slid off. With one hand, Naruto placed the lid underneath the box and held it up, presenting the contents to the Uchiha heir.
A necklace lay inside the box on a red silk pillow. It held one small, light blue crystal, framed on either side by a small glass bead. A thin silver chain pooled upon the pillow, lying passively above the crystal.
Sasuke's mouth went dry. He lifted a hand hesitantly, but he didn't reach into the small box. "What is it?"
"A gift," Naruto replied in a low voice. "A woman gave it to me a long, long time ago, saying that it was mine by right, anyway." He paused. "She called it my 'heart'."
At those words, Sasuke's palms began to sweat. He stared at Naruto incredulously.
"You're giving me your heart?"
Naruto's cheeks flushed. "Only on a loaning basis, I told you. I'll want it back eventually." His cheeks grew redder. "And she was speaking metaphorically, I'm sure."
Sasuke slowly reached a hand into the box, running a finger against the cool crystal. It grew warmer with his touch. Clearing his throat, Naruto shifted his stance.
"If you wear this necklace, it'll basically override the ring I'm wearing. If it causes me pain, you'll feel it, too. If you decide that you really don't want me to feel any pain, I won't." His grip shifted upon the box, all of his nails growing to sharp points. "Don't take this lightly, Sasuke. If you turn on me, this necklace will make sure that I hurt far more than the damned ring could ever hope for."
Sasuke's hand froze, mid-touch. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet the angry, wary red orbs before him. Naruto was clinging to the box like it was his last chance at salvation, but determination burned in his eyes. Overwhelmed, Sasuke pulled his hand away.
"Why would you trust me with this?" he found himself whispering. Despite all of Sasuke's personal convictions, Naruto had no way of knowing how sincere he was. "How do you know I won't use it to hurt you?"
"I don't." Naruto closed his eyes briefly, then opened them to spear Sasuke with his normal, sky blue gaze. "I wasn't given a chance when I needed it the most. I won't make the same mistake with you."
After a poignant pause, Naruto held the box away from him, pushing it towards Sasuke's chest.
"Please. Take it."
Hands shaking, Sasuke reached into the box and cautiously removed the necklace. The crystal warmed instantly to his touch, flushing a light pink within the milky depths. Swallowing hard, Sasuke moved to place the chain over his head, then paused and stared into Naruto's eyes.
"I swear to you, Kyuubi no Kitsune," he stated quietly. Naruto straightened, eyes flashing red. "I swear on my family's grave that you won't regret giving me this."
Missing the slight furrowing of Naruto's brow, Sasuke closed his eyes and settled the chain over his head, starting when the burning crystal landed upon his chest. The glow he'd had under his breast ever since he'd released Kyuubi grew wildly, swelling in his chest and spreading down his arms. Gasping, Sasuke opened his eyes.
A woman, breathtakingly beautiful, sat before him at a loom, expertly weaving a tapestry. Light poured from her in blinding waves, choking Sasuke with her brilliance. As if startled by his appearance, the woman turned slowly to face him. Her clear blue eyes appraised him, ruby lips parting in a gesture of elegant surprise. One shining hand parted from her loom to point in his direction.
"He gave it to you?"
Tears streaming down his face, Sasuke closed his eyes. Even when he didn't look at her, her light poured through him, unbearable in its beauty. In a jerky movement, he nodded.
Despite his shut eyes, Sasuke felt her smile as clearly as if he'd seen it. A warm hand caressed his cheek.
"Take care of him."
"Sasuke??"
The Uchiha heir's midnight eyes snapped open and he doubled over, wheezing heavily. Tears were pouring from his stinging eyes as he fought for breath, sobbing. That woman…
A pair of gentle hands wrapped around him, supporting his weight. Trembling, Sasuke swiped at his tears and glanced up. Naruto was gazing down at him, concern written on his whiskered face. Unthinkingly, Sasuke reached up and pressed the back of his hand upon Naruto's cheek in a light caress. Blond eyebrows flew up in shock.
"Sasuke, are you alright? You looked a little spacey for a minute there."
Blinking, Sasuke abruptly came back to himself. He dropped his hand as if burned. "I'm fine." He winced internally at the tear-roughened huskiness of his voice. "I just…saw something I didn't expect to."
"Oh? What was that?" Naruto wrapped one arm more firmly about Sasuke's waist, tugging the smaller man against him. One hand now freed, he reached over to place the opened box back upon its pillow and closed the cabinet doors. Sasuke shook his head.
"With all the weird things I've seen today, I doubt you'd believe me even if I told you."
Unsteadily, Sasuke began walking back towards the chamber's entrance, still locked against the blond's side by an immovable arm. Naruto followed without complaint, gazing at him curiously. After a long moment, the blond gave Sasuke a small smile.
"You might be surprised."
As the pair climbed the darkened stairs, Naruto's hold on Sasuke tightened. Frowning, the brunet glanced over at him.
"You know, Naruto, I can climb these stairs without you helping me," Sasuke stated irritably. Naruto flashed him a weak smile, his glow—which had returned as soon as the torches had gone out behind them with their departure—fainter than it had been on the way down.
"I know that, Sasuke. Who says I'm hanging on for your benefit?" He sighed wearily, relief and exhaustion weighing down his shoulders. As soon as the necklace had touched Sasuke's skin, a shock of warmth and contentment had shot through the fox demon, enough that he had physically shaken for an instant. Sasuke hadn't noticed, busy as he'd been crying and looking like he was being possessed, but in that moment, Naruto knew that he'd made the right choice.
Even though he hadn't worn the necklace for several hundred years, he'd always felt a slight ache in his breast at the loss of it.
When the crystal had touched Sasuke's skin, that ache had disappeared.
That was good enough for him.
Of course, now that he, amazingly enough, didn't have to worry about Sasuke stripping his flesh off at any given moment, Naruto felt ready to just drop where he stood. Only the chakra exchange going on between their connected sides allowed him to keep moving.
Traveling two hundred years round trip would do that to a man.
At his comment, Sasuke stopped, turned, and gazed at him suspiciously, eyes roving over the fox demon's face. Too worn out to try and hide anything, Naruto simply watched his master—partner—whatever he'd made himself—in return. Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed.
"You're exhausted, aren't you," Sasuke accused, a scowl forming on his aristocratic face.
Naruto shrugged, eyes flickering down to the Uchiha's twisted lips. "I'm a little tired, yeah. But you know, now that we're equal and all…" Reaching out with his free hand, he touched his index finger to Sasuke's downturned mouth. The other man jerked his head away, startled. Weakly, Naruto smiled. "You really shouldn't scowl so much. It'll put lines on your pretty face."
Sasuke stared at him, face bathed in Naruto's red glow. The brunet's eyes narrowed before swinging away, and Sasuke resumed trudging up the stairs.
"What the hell did I say about flirting with me?" he muttered.
The blond's weak smile grew. "Aw, you're all bark, Sasuke. You like it, admit it. Even if you don't lean towards men, I'm still a pretty man." He batted his eyes. "I'll bet I secretly set your heart aflutter."
Scowling, Sasuke tried to pull away, but Naruto reeled him back in, drawing on a little of Sasuke's chakra to do so. The exchange, vital as it was, was still minimal enough on the human side that few of his masters had ever been consciously aware that he was doing it. The Uchiha gave in with a growl.
"You do not. And besides, aren't you the one who just gave me your 'heart'?" Sasuke smirked. "Maybe you're the one who's falling for me."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "You're going to get mileage out of this one forever, aren't you?" he grumbled. "I said that was metaphorical, and I want that necklace back eventually anyway!"
Snorting, Sasuke gave him a slanted look. "You keep telling yourself that, Naruto."
Naruto groaned, but he lodged no further complaints. Bastard will just keep snarking at me if I do. They finally, finally reached the entrance door—and whose bright idea was it to make his chamber a closet anyway?? Isolation or no, that's just insulting—and Naruto felt his glow shut off with a sigh of relief. Sasuke shot another narrow-eyed look at him.
"You're not just 'tired,' Naruto, you look ready to collapse." The Uchiha heir moved to put his arms about the fox demon's waist, causing Naruto to jump in surprise. Sasuke glared at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Well, two hundred years both ways is a bit of a long trip." Naruto shrugged, glancing away. "I wasn't sure how you'd react when we got back, having read those scrolls and all, so…"
To his surprise, Sasuke didn't respond, neither with the anger before nor his typical indignation. Glancing back at him, Naruto found those midnight eyes contemplating the floor of the study. Shifting with discomfort, Naruto awkwardly patted the Uchiha on the back.
"Of course, now I know that you're just going to pitch a hissy fit and cling to me. I won't make that mistake twice," he announced cheerily. Sasuke glared at him.
"Oh, shut up." Grabbing the arm about his waist and tossing it over his shoulder instead, Sasuke shifted to support more of Naruto's weight. Naruto somewhat doubted that the slender frame pressed against him could take all of his weight, but when he felt his ribcage hefted slightly without even a grunt, he changed his mind.
Ninja. Right. Shaking his head softly, Naruto allowed himself to be led out of the study, walking back along the hallway, past the kitchen, and straight into the living room, where Naruto could already see his beloved couch swinging into view. Separating himself from Sasuke, Naruto stumbled over to the couch and sank down upon it gratefully. Sighing, he tipped his head back against the lovely, soft piece of furniture, nearly groaning at the feel of the cushions. Almost immediately, the edges of his vision went black.
Sasuke stepped quickly into view, looking down at him with a mixture of exasperation and concern. Naruto weakly smiled up at him.
"Just gimme a minute, and I'll get up and—"
Sasuke stalled his comment by lifting a hand. "You're not going anywhere. Just relax for a bit and watch some damn TV. I'll make dinner."
Naruto wanted to sit up in protest, he really did, but his fatigued body would no longer cooperate. "But—"
"We're not having this discussion again, Naruto." Grumpily, the Uchiha swiped the terribision's remote off the coffee table and turned the magic machine on. He handed the remote over, placing it gently in Naruto's slack grip. Nodding, he patted the blond briefly on the shoulder and made his way towards the kitchen. "Just stay there. If you move and fall down, I'm not going to pick you up."
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto muttered at Sasuke's retreating back. He stared after the boy thoughtfully, touched by his obvious concern. Naruto honestly couldn't remember the last time someone was genuinely concerned about him, before Sasuke. His comrades in the wars of old were fiercely loyal, but that same unwavering belief in him kind of shot down any potential "concern" for his welfare. No one else really knew what he was, so he didn't really count their feelings. Sasuke, on the other hand, knew exactly what Naruto was and how powerful the demon could become.
And he was still mothering him, in his own pissy way, just because Naruto was tired.
Something in Naruto's chest loosened the tiniest bit. With a sigh, he ignored the terribision in favor of closing his eyes, listening to the unprecedented sounds of someone actually making a meal for him.
It was nice, being cared for.
Sasuke gazed solemnly at the perfectly cooked dish in front of him. The scent of sautéed beef and vegetables tickled his nose, proof that he didn't need to be a centuries-old demon to cook well. Without a word, he picked up the two plates and returned to the living room, where the TV was quietly playing. He placed his own dish on the table and turned to Naruto, ready to hand over the probably much-needed meal-
-And paused.
The blond was sound asleep, face tilted to the side with his lips slightly parted. His broad chest slowly rose and fell, deep breaths faintly audible even with the television going in the background. Despite himself, Sasuke found his expression softening as he watched the other man sleep. It was the first time he'd seen the blond unconscious, since he tended to switch to his fox form when he was tired. To fall asleep in human form, Sasuke couldn't imagine how tired he must have been.
The strange necklace he'd been given gave a light throb, sending a pulse of heat into Sasuke's chest. Unthinkingly, he reached up to clasp it for a moment. The warmth relaxed him automatically, much the way Kyuubi's heat tended to when the fox snuggled up to him in bed. Questions frothed on his tongue, but one look at the other man's exhausted face convinced him to let them wait for the moment. Releasing the crystal, Sasuke reluctantly reached forward with his free hand and gripped a strong shoulder, shaking it lightly.
"Oi, Naruto. Naruto!"
"Nmmh?" Sleepy blue eyes peeled open, looking up at him in confusion. "D'd I fall asleep?"
Sasuke found himself fighting a smile. "Apparently. I made dinner, and before you ask, no, it's not ramen."
Grunting, Naruto fought to sit up in what even Sasuke had to admit was an adorable fashion, arms and legs flailing. Smothering a chuckle, Sasuke set the plate down on the table and helped the blond sit upright. He was graced with a beatific smile for his efforts, simply proving that the fox demon was still out of it. Shaking his head, Sasuke handed Naruto a plate and a pair of chopsticks.
"Eat," he ordered quietly. Naruto's brow furrowed in concentration as he took the proffered items.
"I thought we were 'equals' now. Why are you still bossing me around?" the demon murmured in reply, taking a quick bite of the food. His golden eyebrows lifted at the taste, and he visibly grew more awake. Sending a smirk towards Sasuke, he took another bite. "Don't tell me that's how you actually talk to normal people."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Just shut up and eat. You need the energy."
Picking up his own plate, Sasuke sat beside the blond and began to eat quietly. Warmth slowly began to radiate from the blond as they ate, almost like the blond was a heater that Sasuke had poured propane into. Bemused, Sasuke shook his head and focused on the TV.
Naruto finished long before Sasuke did, setting the plate and chopsticks down with a happy sigh. "You may be a prickly bastard, Sasuke, but you're a good cook. I think I can live with that 'deal' of yours."
Rolling his eyes again, Sasuke slipped the last few pieces of beef into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "I'm glad you enjoyed," he stated dryly after swallowing.
Naruto shot him a cheeky grin. "I did. Maybe it was because you made it with loooove."
Sasuke glared at him.
"Intense like?" More glaring. "Somewhat like? Reluctant like with a hint of irritation and denial?"
"Naruto, shut up. Please."
Chuckling, the blond folded his arms behind his head and turned to face the television. Sasuke managed to finish his meal in peace, setting the plate next to Naruto's and leaning back. He honestly didn't know—or care—what nonsense was playing on the screen in front of him, but he knew that Naruto was probably enjoying it, so he left it on and refrained from commenting. Over the last few days, the blond had shown an appalling taste for soap operas, but it seemed that anything that flashed and made noise was suitable entertainment. Sasuke instead used the time to mull over the information he'd found in the scrolls.
Aside from the astonishingly long list of rules, the black scroll had made several references to the strength of their bond and unleashing Naruto's full power. Sasuke certainly had no intention of trying to wring power out of his reluctant "partner," but maybe if he asked, Naruto would tell him about it of his own free will. Sasuke could always hope, and they were going to be stuck together for an outrageously long time.
While Sasuke was lost in thought, Naruto began to fidget next to him. He brought his arms down from behind his head to rest them on his lap, then began tapping his knee, then began tapping both knees, and finally began bouncing his legs up and down. Throughout it all, he kept glancing at Sasuke.
Sasuke finally noticed the blond's increasingly erratic movements and looked over at him, lifting an eyebrow in question. Naruto's cheeks flushed, and the blond's eyebrows furrowed.
"Sasuke, I…" Looking frustrated with himself, Naruto trailed off and turned to glare at the TV. The Uchiha heir lifted both eyebrows in expectation, but when the blond simply stared straight forward, he eventually faced forward again. They sat in relative silence for several minutes.
Poof.
Starting in surprise, Sasuke looked down to find an irritated Kyuubi sitting on the couch next to him, tails swirling. Without a word, the fox clambered onto his lap and sat down decisively, glaring up at him with his ears flat against his head. Sasuke frowned down at him.
"Naruto, what…?"
The fox's eyes narrowed, ears pressing tighter against his head. With a low noise, Kyuubi placed both front paws against Sasuke's chest, leaned up, and looked Sasuke in the eye. The fox growled.
Scowling now, Sasuke lifted his hands to the fox's sides. "What the hell is the matter with you?"
Kyuubi shifted his paws, glaring at him menacingly. "I don't want to hear any grief for this."
Before Sasuke could ask what he was talking about, Kyuubi darted forward—
—And licked him on the cheek.
Blinking in shock, Sasuke stared down at the fox on his lap. Nodding sharply to himself, Kyuubi settled down and turned around, pressing his back against Sasuke's chest and determinedly staring at the TV. His ears were still pressed back.
After a long moment, Sasuke felt a smile steal across his face. Lifting a hand, he began to stroke Kyuubi's back. The fox relaxed immediately, leaning back against him and lifting his ears. Sasuke's smile grew.
You're welcome, Kyuubi.
The pair sat in comfortable silence, watching the blinking television while Sasuke continued to pet the fox on his lap.
Neither paid it any attention.