FINALLY the awaited SasuNaru! author bows thank you...thank you...ahem. Anyway, this particular chapter is dedicated to all my reviewers out there that whined incessantly about having a jealous Neji by means of Sasuke. And ESPECIALLY YOU, Momochi Zabuza!
The Caged Bird: Sheesh, you leave for a week, you come back, I've married Neji to Sakura. Wait and find out what happens next. I promise you, Sakura will come to one sticky end.
Chapter 9: The SasuNaru begins! Man, you people and your rants...just kidding. Another Joins the Game
He didn't know what prompted him to take a walk on so cold of a night; he figured it was intuition, but he was not sure. Sasuke walked fluidly down the streets of Tokyo, blending in perfectly with the shadows. He walked on, not knowing where he was going, only knowing that his feet were taking him somewhere important. He rounded a corner and froze at the sight before him.
A man had just slid a knife into the neck of the person in front of him. What was supremely strange though, was that the person being attacked didn't resist, falling silently to the ground. Sasuke shrugged it off. Crimes were common in the streets of Tokyo. One more deceased being mattered not to him. He was about to change direction to avoid the grisly scene when the moon shifted overhead and a beam reflected off the hair of the victim, hitting Sasuke full in the peripheral vision with a tuft of blonde. Whirling suddenly, the Uchiha ran to the body and turned it over. It was just as he'd feared. The boy laying on the ground was none other than Naruto, the Hyuuga's little bitch.
His reaction was instantaneous. Dashing madly to the murderer, he wrenched the knife from the surprised hand and embedded it deep into the man's throat. With a gurgling choking sound, the man fell to the ground, writhing in agony before lying still, rigor mortis quickly settling in. Sasuke turned and ran back to Naruto's still form, gently cradling the body as if the blonde were made of glass. Picking up the lifeless form, he ran quickly back to his mansion, thanking whatever twists of fate there were that made him stroll to this particular scene.
Waving away the servants that bustled around him to take his coat, Sasuke made his way to his room, laying the body gently on his bed. Tearing a long, white strip from his shirt, he pressed at the wound, praying hard that the knife had missed the carotid artery. Thankfully the gash wasn't deep; it was more of a scratch, but if left untended could kill the blonde. He breathed as sigh of relief at the slow up-and-down movement of Naruto's chest, grateful to whatever gods there were that the blonde was alive.
His eyes roved over Naruto's still form, noting the white tuxedo and the tear streaks that emblazoned trails of white over the blonde's cheeks. So the Hyuuga had gotten married. Lips pressed together in a scowl and Sasuke slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a prominent dent in the wood. The goddamned fool and gone and broken this boy's heart. Long had he known that this one was in love with the Hyuuga, and it pained him to see him now in the sad, sorry state he was in. If the Hyuuga was so fucking stubborn in his ways, refusing to see and accept the love the blonde was radiating, then Sasuke would just have to take him for himself.
Back at the Hyuuga Estate
"Kiba, have you seen Naruto?" The Inuzuka shook his head at Neji's question, making up an excuse of the blonde being tired.
"I do believe he's quite worn out from the events of the night. He must've turned in early." Neji nodded.
"Thank you." Kiba turned away, then paused.
"And by the way….you two make such a lovely couple." Neji was instantly shocked by the underlying current of sarcasm in the boy's tone of voice. Sakura herself didn't seem to notice the meaning, but the Hyuuga had, and it puzzled him to no end.
"What do you mean?" Kiba smirked.
"Forgive me….it is rather late, and I'm quite exhausted myself. If you will excuse me, Neji-san." With that he sauntered off to the servant's quarters.
Entering the room, he called for the blonde, a bit puzzled by the lack of answer.
"Naruto?" Silence met his call. Kiba grew worried. Naruto always answered to him no matter what his state of mind.
"Naruto!" This time the silence that responded was almost painful.
"Naruto, where are you?" Kiba dashed out of the room and back into the ballroom only to witness the guests departing for their homes.
"NARUTO!" Still the blonde didn't answer him.
"Damn…."
Kiba closed his eyes and concentrated. His mind quickly conjured the images of his faithful dogs, snuffling the ground for any tasty morsels in small spurts of sniffs. Following their example and lightly sniffing the air, he threaded through all the scents of perfume and cologne left from the guests until he picked up the blonde's scent, a mixture of mint and soap that was uniquely his. Locating the faint smell, he inhaled in the air with shallow sips of sniffs, closing his eyes and letting his feet take him in the direction of the scent. It wasn't until he collided head on with the door that he stopped. Sniffing again, he lowered his head and ran his nose along the handle of the door. The strong smell of Naruto completely overwhelmed him, sending shockwaves coursing through the Inuzuka's body. If Naruto had last been against this door…..Kiba's eyes widened in horror.
No. It couldn't be. Naruto….Naruto had run away. Kiba barreled through the door and out into the street, sniffing wildly as his feet propelled him through the streets of Tokyo. Dashing rapidly down the many twists and turns of the sidewalk, he finally came to a stop, completely frozen in terror. There on the ground was a solitary lily, splattered with blood. Kiba gasped. The lily….it was the very same lily Naruto had threaded through the buttonhole of his tuxedo. Fearing the worst, the dog-boy snatched up the flower, sniffing frantically at the petals. The coppery-metallic scent of the blood assailed his nostrils, sending the Inuzuka reeling. Naruto…yet there was another scent as well. A scent he was all too familiar with…
Kiba turned and ran like the wind back to the Hyuuga estate, caring not for the searing pain that shot across his muscles. Almost getting plowed by a passing truck, he hopped nimbly over the many fences and walls that obscured his path, stumbling wildly to the entrance of the Hyuuga mansion. Once in, he made his way up to Neji's bedroom, caring not a whit if he caught the newlyweds in a compromising position.
Sakura sighed and leaned her head against Neji's chest, lazily playing with a strand of his hair. The Hyuuga wrapped his arms around her waist, squeezing gently. Sakura smiled blissfully and walked the two of them to Neji's room, pulling the Hyuuga down on the bed. Neji chuckled, seeing the pleading look on her face, and claimed her lips, nibbling gently on her lower lip. Sakura moaned, her fingers finding their way to Neji's shirt, deftly undoing the buttons. Neji trailed minute butterfly kisses down her jaw before planting an open-mouthed kiss on her neck, tasting the slightly salty skin. He halted briefly, unconsciously comparing her neck to another specimen he had the privilege of examining so long ago (the other sample was far more delicate and sloped; it made the appendage he was currently ravishing seem dull) before continuing his journey downward.
Neji paused halfway down her cleavage, another surge of doubt rushing through him, this one so large there was no way he could deny it any longer. It overwhelmed the Hyuuga, stopping his every attempt to go further, and somehow Neji knew that if he disobeyed its wishes, he'd leave feeling more corrupted than he ever had felt before. Sakura arched her back, urging him to continue, but the nagging guilt prevailed.
"Neji…what's wrong?" The words came out in a low, throaty whisper. Sakura looked up at the Hyuuga, her eyes still glazed over with naked desire. Neji averted her gaze.
"Nothing…." Sakura pulled the Hyuuga down to her once more.
"Then why do you stop?" Neji gently extracted himself from her arms.
"Perhaps some other night, love….I'm extremely exhausted as of the moment, and won't provide you as pleasurable results as opposed to when my stamina is fully replenished." Sakura pouted.
"It's our wedding night," she protested. Neji smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.
"My apologies, but I simply cannot." Sakura sighed, defeated.
"Very well then. But you have to promise me sometime this week." Neji smiled and was about to answer when a sudden crash was heard and Kiba burst in his room, eyes wild and maniacal. Sakura shrieked and covered herself with the blankets, while Neji stood.
"What is the meaning of this rude interruption?" Kiba staggered over to the Hyuuga and presented him with the bloodstained lily as a reply. Neji took the flower and examined it, puzzled.
"Why disturb my rest with such a useless object?" He asked. Kiba practically screamed his reply.
"Are you so blind? This is the very same flower that Naruto was wearing in the buttonhole of his tuxedo. It was found in an alleyway five miles from here, and is covered in blood. I found no trace of Naruto anywhere." Neji's eyes widened in horror.
"No…"
Bolting from the bed, Neji dashed from the room, clenching his jaw so hard that it hurt. Violently dragging Kiba by the wrist, Neji spun him around, his eyes blazing with a mixture of worry, regret, and guilt. Grabbing the boy painfully by the shoulders, Neji stared deeply into his eyes, a wild, untamed, almost crazed look in his own. His face was colorless rock, his eyes both spark and flint.
"Where did he go?" Kiba winced at the pain in his shoulders.
"Naruto ran out as soon as the wedding procession was over. The scent is quite fresh, so I'm assuming he was assaulted not too long ago."
Neji abruptly cut the boy off and bolted down the hallway, Kiba in tow. Whirling out the front door, he ran off into the night, commanding the Inuzuka before him to lead. Kiba sprinted quickly to the site, knowing every second could cost Naruto his life. He loped around a corner and stopped at the scene, Neji not far behind. The Hyuuga slowly bent and immersed his fingers in the crimson liquid that spattered the ground. He raised the digits slowly, examining the shiny substance.
"It's definitely blood." Kiba nodded.
"Naruto…" With his free hand, the Hyuuga enveloped his face, his body wracked with guilt and regret.
"There is still another scent here that may uncover Naruto's whereabouts. The residue of the Uchiha is faint, but present." Neji's head snapped up, his eyes flashing fire.
"Uchiha! Why did you not say so before? I must go…"
Neji whirled and sprinted in the general direction of Sasuke's mansion, commanding Kiba to stay back at the house for further news. The Inuzuka watched him go with apprehension, concerned not only for Naruto's physical state, but his mental well-being when he confronted the Hyuuga.
Mmm…warm…I feel so warm…
Cobalt blue eyes graced the ceiling with their stare. Naruto winced at the pain that coursed through his neck, sitting up stiffly in the bed. The bed….he'd never seen a bed like this in the Hyuuga mansion before. Where was he…? A sudden noise made the blonde turn, only to view the Uchiha. Sasuke quietly closed the door, padding softly over to the bed and sitting on the edge of the mattress.
"You seem to recover quickly." Naruto rubbed his temples.
"I assume this is your house?" Sasuke smirked.
"Quite right." Naruto moaned at the fresh wave of pain that surged through his neck.
"Why am I here?" Sasuke sighed.
"You were attacked," he stated matter-of-factly. "Surely you know better than to walk unattended down the streets of Tokyo in the most godforsaken hours of the night. But then again, how could you tell, your vision being blurred by tears?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"How…how did you…"
"…know? Please, there were streaks of liquid down your face when I found you lying half-dead on the ground." Naruto nodded slowly.
"What happened to me?" Sasuke shifted slightly.
"A man came up from behind and stabbed you in the neck. Don't worry, I disposed of him quick enough." Naruto lay down once more.
"Why didn't you leave me to die?" Sasuke's reply was tainted with disgust.
"Must you whine in that melodramatic way? Kids these days….it's either one gets one's wish, or suicide." Naruto frowned.
"No, I'm asking why didn't you let me die? I don't matter much to you…." Sasuke looked over at the blonde with a soft look in his obsidian eyes.
"Oh but you do…more than you'll ever know."
Naruto gasped as Sasuke slid his hand over his cheek, softly caressing the locks of his hair before moving down to stroke his bottom lip. His touch…his touch was gentle…so gentle…Naruto closed his eyes lazily, enjoying the feel of the cool skin on his. He leaned into the touch of the other, matching the rhythm of the stroke with his own. The word slid out of his mouth in a breathy, almost unfocused manner.
"Why…?" Sasuke's tone was just as absent.
"I…don't know, really….but you captivate me with your sheer impudence and your loyalty. Rare have I seen such dedication in one. And I seem drawn to you, somehow…I feel like I've known you for many years, though we've only just met." Naruto smiled.
"Likewise."
Suddenly the Uchiha disappeared. Naruto whirled around quickly, alarm filling his eyes, but felt Sasuke appear again right behind him. Fast….the Uchiha was so fast….Naruto started to turn around, but he'd gotten no farther than an inch when suddenly he felt that if he turned around….if he turned around, his life would never be the same again. As to why, he didn't know, but the feelings that had just surged into his poor, tattered brain frightened him beyond anything that had ever frightened him before. Yet these feelings were not unpleasant; quite the contrary, he thought, as the tingles ran the length of his spine. But he knew that in some…weird…way, he was forbidden to turn and face the countenance of the being behind him.
"Naruto…"
Sasuke's voice had changed. When it was but a normal tone that the Uchiha had possessed before, it was now a low, husky whisper, emanating from the very depths of Sasuke's throat. While it was absent before, now it cajoled the blonde, begged him, entreated him, pleaded with him to turn around in a sultry yet beseeching tone. Yet Naruto stayed rigid, adamant at staying put. It was so incredibly difficult to stay immobile like he was, but he was completely determined.
"Naruto…." If the blond had thought Sasuke's voice could go no lower, the Uchiha proved him wrong. He had to strain to hear the raven-haired youth and the next words he spoke.
"Naruto….turn around." The words not only slid from Sasuke's lips, they wafted out…almost as if the Uchiha was only exhaling fog. Nevertheless, Naruto clamped his eyes shut and stayed rooted to the spot.
It was then that he felt a cool sensation somewhere where his arms were supposed to be located. The sensation felt much like water…but no, water was never so solid. It slid down his arms and rested on his hands, pulsing gently, then made its way up his arms once more and started playing with his neck. What was left of Naruto's mind vaguely registered that Sasuke's hands were the source of the feeling, but the blond didn't care, or couldn't care; as to which one, he did not know.
The feeling slid up his neck and onto his face, playing with his hair and sliding over his forehead, his nose, his lips….and then it lingered on his lips, stroking the bottom one with a slow, side to side motion, fingering it in a soft, gentle way. That was it. Naruto couldn't take it anymore; he tentatively cracked open one eyelid, but it was closed again by a finger; he felt the Uchiha shake his head.
"Not now…keep them closed."
A faint pulling sensation tugged at his head; he felt he should resist, but his body didn't obey and he turned, eyes still screwed shut. The cool sensation was back once more, but this time it was not so cool; no, now it was remotely warm. Trailing over his face, the feeling stopped briefly on his nose, and then—so slowly it antagonized the blond to no end—stopped on his mouth. There it stayed, pressing gently on his lips, and somehow Naruto felt it was time to open his eyes.
It took him a full five minutes for the realization that the Uchiha was kissing him to sink in. It took another five minutes for his reaction, and surprisingly, he didn't push Sasuke away. His body seemed to move on its own, leaning ever so slightly into the kiss. The blonde's hands slowly roved over Sasuke's shoulders, locking themselves behind his neck. The Uchiha left them there for a brief moment, then gently pulled away, looking at Naruto with a sad look in his obsidian eyes.
"You have the same sort of loneliness in your soul that I possess. We are much alike." Naruto pressed further into the palm of the Uchiha that had now descended to the skin below his collarbone.
"There are plenty more fish in the sea than the Hyuuga, you know. And this particular fish loves you with all his frozen heart." Sasuke spoke softly. Tears fell down the blonde's eyes. Here at last was someone he could trust, someone who loved him enough to say so himself. Perhaps…perhaps he could learn to love the Uchiha in return.
Leaning over to the onyx-eyed youth, Naruto reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. At first, Sasuke's eyes showed surprise, but then the Uchiha responded, claiming the boy's mouth and pressing himself against the other. Sliding his tongue along Naruto's lips, he felt the access being granted, and slowly explored the mouth of the other. The tangy sweet taste of Naruto's mouth sent the Uchiha into the throes of bliss and he unconsciously drew the boy closer, bring the level of passion to a deeper, more heated measure. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's neck and pulled him onto the bed, trailing small kisses down the other's jawline. Sasuke nuzzled the other gently before nipping at Naruto's neck, sliding his tongue over every inch of the soft, creamy skin. Naruto whimpered and clung almost painfully to the Uchiha, hands full of his hair.
"You're not leading me astray, are you?" Sasuke smiled against Naruto's neck.
"Of course not….I see no reason to." Naruto disagreed.
"I do."
"And what is that?"
"I'm Neji's servant." Sasuke chuckled and kissed the tip of Naruto's nose.
"That matters not to me." Sighing, the Uchiha removed his hand from its place on Naruto's collarbone.
"Get some rest. You still need to heal." He made to turn away, but was stopped by Naruto's hand on his sleeve.
"I don't want you to leave." Sasuke smiled and complied, sitting in silence at the boy's side. Long periods of time passed, not one or the other wishing to disturb the peace. Sasuke finally spoke.
"I'm curious to know…who exactly did Neji marry?" Naruto gasped.
"How did you know he got married?" Sasuke smirked.
"Please, I'm not blind. You were wearing a tuxedo when I found you more dead than alive on the streets." The Uchiha turned away thoughtfully.
"Also…I noted the tear marks on your face." A flush came over the blonde's cheeks and he turned away. Sasuke smiled sadly.
"You love him, don't you?" Naruto hesitated.
"Yes, I do. At least I think I did. But I can't do anything now, since he's wedded to the Haruno." Sasuke's eyebrow immediately shot up.
"Did you say….Haruno?" Naruto snorted in disgust.
"Yeah, Haruno Sakura, the total bitch. She reeks of fake innocence." Sasuke clenched his jaw.
"A few weeks ago, she came here and tried to seduce me." Naruto gasped.
"Seriously? She's more of a slut than I thought." Sasuke nodded grimly.
"The bastard….how can he not see through her façade? I thought Neji was smarter than that." He paused.
"Unless….unless she really is in love with him." Naruto nodded bitterly.
"I think so. Anyway, they seem quite happy together. I shouldn't meddle in their affairs. And even so, I would've left had they gotten married or not. Neji's the heir to the Hyuuga line of business. He needs a child in case something happens to him. If he were to love me back, we'd be completely dishonored." He turned to Sasuke, only to witness the raven-haired youth muttering under his breath.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke shook his head.
"Haruno….Haruno…where have I heard that name before?" Turning, he called softly into the hall.
"Kabuto." A silver-haired man wearing spectacles immediately entered, bowing slightly. He had a regal aura about him that rather intrigued Naruto, giving the blonde the impression of a very soft-spoken man.
"You called, Sasuke-san." The Uchiha beckoned to the man with a delicate finger.
"Tell me, what data have you on a girl called Haruno?" Kabuto merely looked at the Uchiha as if he were a drastically interesting specimen.
"Haruno…..Haruno Sakura?" Sasuke nodded.
"Your memory is as fine as ever." Waving off the compliment, Kabuto got straight to the point.
"Ah, young miss Haruno. A very fickle girl indeed….she was suspected of participating in a drug-run a few years back." Sasuke nodded gravely.
"She's still at it." Kabuto raised a pleasant eyebrow.
"I see." Naruto spoke up.
"How did you know?"
"Sakura has a habit of clinging to others for dear life. I found a strange white residue on my sleeve after she left me. I ran a few tests….it seems she's partaking of a large amount of opium." Naruto gasped.
"I knew there was something wrong with the girl. She called at one in the morning a few weeks ago sounding thoroughly stoned." The Uchiha sighed.
"Does Neji know?" Naruto shook his head.
"If he knew, he wouldn't have married her in the first place." Sasuke stood up and started pacing the room.
"I don't think Sakura's marrying him out of love. She wants to use the social status she'll gain by being his wife to manipulate the accumulation of her drugs." Naruto looked grim.
"Well, we have to stop her then." Naruto nodded.
"Yes….yes we must." Just then a crash was heard, and a servant burst in the door of the room. Sasuke spun around.
"What is the commotion?"
"Sasuke-sama, Hyuuga-sama has just arrived." Sasuke bolted from the bed.
"Seems he's come to claim what is his. Very well, I shall greet him. No, Naruto, you stay here," he said, pushing the boy back down on the bed.
"You're too weak both physically and mentally. I'll talk to him." He made to leave but was stopped by Naruto's hand on his.
"Just don't hurt him, okay?" Sasuke nodded and departed from the room.
I originally planned for this to be NejiNaru, but since there is SasuNaru, I don't know which person Naru should end up with now. I need you guys to vote: Either NejiNaru or SasuNaru. Put the vote in your reviews. VOTE FOR NEJINARU OR SASUNARU! Or it can be a situation where Neji and Sasu share Naru like my last fic. Vote. Please. I need to know.