Ahhh Ok let me start by saying this will be a longer than normal author's note so hang with me for a bit. First off I read this story on Fanfiction on a whim. BIG FUCKING MISTAKE. Lemme just say I found every possible fucking typo in the world and just contingency errors. What the hell this story is so damn bad! So, once this is completed I'm going to go back through it and fix those mistakes so people for years to come won't feel their eyes bleed.
Second, I really shouldn't write when I'm typsy goodness gracious that chapter made little sense! I totally stopped that wack ass tense. WTF. Gomen! Imma fix that up. I thank everyone who's reviewed, favorited, alerted, clicked on this story. I truly appreciate you giving this a chance. I haven't gotten any flames yet and that's good (I probably jinxed myself). Sorry for my colorful language I'm probably going to get flamed for that alone xP
Anyway here is the next chapter. Its a bit of a filler but then it isn't. :3 Oh yes and if you have the chance read my story "Meeting Myself" I love it :D (Shameless self promoting oh yes!)
Disclaimer: This literature is purely for recreational purposes. I gain no profit from the story. I do not own any rights to 'Naruto'.
Last Week: "Why did you leave?" Iruka asks. Sasuke glances at the floor.
"I had to see Itachi." He mutters. Iruka sighs.
"I suppose we can come to some type of compromise. After your first week of school, I'll take you to see him." Sasuke looks up shocked. He expected to get yelled at, not special privileges. Iruka understands the expression.
"I see now how important it is for you to see him." Iruka explains. With that, Naruto picks him up to carry him. He's carried to Iruka's car just like the policeman had. He decided not to tell them about the pale man in the alleyway. He doesn't realize how big of a mistake this is.
It'd been weeks since Sasuke ran away and the teen was making leaps and bounds each day. Once he'd recovered from his fever Iruka had begun to tutor him. It was simple things at first but Sasuke picked it up so quickly that he advanced. By now, Sasuke was learning the things Ino and Naruto had learned last year.
Iruka was proud of the boy. He was improving so quickly academic wise. His attitude was another thing entirely. Sasuke wasn't as shy but he had trouble outwardly displaying his emotions. Iruka found it increasingly difficult to read the teen. When he had taken Sasuke shopping, the teen had pointed out nothing but darker colors. No matter what they bought. It was almost as if he was mourning something. What that something was, Iruka could not figure out.
Iruka sat back to watch Sasuke as he worked through the math problems he had just given the boy. Only a few minutes pass before Sasuke handed the paper back to Iruka. The man quickly reviewed the answers.
"Nice job Sasuke." Iruka smiled and ruffled Sasuke's hair. The boy tensed but nodded in satisfaction. Iruka sighed inwardly. Gone were the days when Sasuke would crack a smile or show that he even felt anything. The teen used to be expressive with his eyes and now they seemed hard and dead.
Iruka shuffled though his papers as the Uchiha waited there patiently for his next lesson. The man managed to make eye contact. He looked into Sasuke's dark eyes. The teenager glanced away and begins to absentmindedly play with his pencil. It tapped on top of the table in a slow rhythm.
"Sasuke," the addressed boy nodded his head to indicate that he's listening. "You know you can talk to me right?"
Sasuke nodded again, still tapping his pencil. Iruka quickly quelled the irritation that threatened to overtake him.
"What's wrong?" Iruka had to ask. Sasuke had been particularly crabby this week. He watched as Sasuke snapped his eyes toward him. They had so much emotion in them Iruka felt his breath catch. Sasuke tightened his hands over the table in a white knuckled fist. Then, the emotion is gone and Sasuke had reverted back into his impassive self.
"Sasuke?" he asked again. Abruptly, Sasuke got up.
"I'll show you." Iruka rushed to follow the boy as he led him into the living room. Iruka watched with mild interest as Sasuke accessed the TV recordings. He scrolled through the cartoons Naruto recorded last week until he got to the local news channel. Iruka's heart raced as Sasuke clicked on it. The man was sure he had been careful. He never saw Sasuke look at any TV programs. Iruka fought down his panic as the video loads. Maybe he was just overreacting.
The news report began on the large TV. Iruka's stomach dropped.
"Breaking news in Konoha," the female news reporter began, "infamous criminal Itachi Uchiha has finally been brought into custody."
Sasuke fast forward through the report until it was another day.
"Itachi Uchiha trial to be held today."
Sasuke fast forward again.
"Uchiha Itachi sentenced to life in a mental institution after pleading insanity. More news at 5."
Sasuke abruptly turned off the TV.
"After my first week," Sasuke began wetting his lips as he looked at his reflection in the black screen, "I get to see him." Sasuke's hands slightly shook. He was normally not this straight forward but this was something he had to do. After the dream last night he knew he needed to see his brother. Now that he had an inkling of where he was, Sasuke had to remind Iruka of that fact.
"Sasuke," Iruka sighed. What was there to say? He had promised the boy. He nodded. This was what was bothering Sasuke all week. How long had it taken the teen to summon the courage to say something?
"I did not know Itachi was famous." Sasuke smiled softly, the first positive expression Iruka had seen on his face in weeks, although it was a sad little smile. Sasuke knew Itachi made his life Hell but he had no clue he was affecting the whole community. Sasuke still couldn't believe it. A part of him wanted to think Itachi got framed but then he thought about all the beatings he got. Many memories float about in his head. Sasuke shakes his head as if to rid himself of the thought.
The two descended into silence.
Later, Naruto entered the house boisterously. Sasuke was in his room reading one of the books Iruka lent him while said man occupied the kitchen, cooking dinner.
"I'm home!" he hollered. Sasuke winced. He heard heavy footsteps ascend the stairs. Suddenly, his door flew open and he jumped slightly.
"I come bearing gifts!" Naruto bellowed as he held up shopping bags in the room doorway. Sasuke put down his book and looked up, there was a faint hint of curiosity lighting his dark eyes.
"School supplies!" Naruto grinned, throwing the stuff down on the bed. Sasuke folded up his legs to avoid being hit.
"I got you a black book bag." Naruto chattered on, ignoring the blank look he was getting from Sasuke. He threw the backpack at Sasuke and the teen evaded it. Once it landed on the space beside him, Sasuke picked it up thoughtfully.
"Open it!" Naruto pressed. Sasuke winced at Naruto's volume. He still wasn't used to the level in which Naruto thought appropriate to talk. Luckily, it hadn't caused him to relapse, as Iruka would say, and he was hoping it stayed that way. Sasuke reached into the bag to humor him and felt something cold and hard. He pulled it out.
"It's a cellphone!" Naruto cheered. Sasuke stared at the slim technology in his hand.
"Why?"
"Well Iruka had been planning on gettin' you one for a while so I picked one up today." That doesn't answer Sasuke's question at all but for some reason the teen felt too shy to tell Naruto so.
"Thank you." He said instead. Naruto beamed at him and Sasuke feels his cheeks heat up. Naruto sits on his bed.
"So are you ready for school?" Naruto asked with a slight grin. Sasuke thought for a bit. Yes, he was ready to see Itachi and if school was going to allow him that then he would do it.
"I suppose so." He finally answered.
"Me and Ino are gonna show you to all of our friends when we get to school. I can't wait I'm sure they'll all love you." Naruto prattled. Sasuke felt nausea at the thought. The last time Sasuke had met one of Naruto's friends it ended badly. Naruto does not notice his unrest.
"Hey Sasuke." Sasuke glanced away from his new phone to the teen beside him. "Do you like us? Y'know Iruka Ino and me?" Sasuke felt his heart rate speed up a bit at the teen's question. He was too close and his expression was too endearing. He glanced back at his new phone.
"Sasuke." Naruto whined when Sasuke doesn't respond. He'd gotten even closer than before, leaning forward to get in Sasuke's face. Sasuke turned his head and looked into Naruto's pleading eyes. His breath caught as they make eye contact.
It was like they were just discovering each other. Sasuke moved his eyes away from Naruto's blue eyes and takes in the healthy tan upon his face. The six whisker marks only heightens his attractiveness. The golden hair he so adored was messily framing his face as it fell over his ears and forehead.
Naruto looked back with the same amount of interest. He looked at the small teen in front of him. The boy's complexion appeared much healthier than when he first met him. The ivory skin made him look younger than Naruto guessed he was. His cheekbones weren't as pronounced as before. Iruka had made sure he'd gotten his nutrition. Naruto notices a scar on the side of the teen's face but it does nothing but enhance his looks. Naruto looked at the hair so different form his. He found himself envying the raven strands.
Self-consciously, Sasuke licked his lips. Naruto's eyes flicked down at the movement. He wet his own lips and leaned in. Sasuke stared at him, wondering what he's doing. He got a bit closer curiously. Naruto felt Sasuke's calm breath as it danced across his face. He leaned in a bit more-
"Boys! Dinner!" Naruto jumped as if Sasuke had burned him. He scrambled off the bed.
"Guess its dinner time." Naruto laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. He was out the door before Sasuke could respond.
Sasuke sat on the bed unsure of himself, unsure of what had just happened. It felt as if he was frozen and caught in some spell. Naruto's behavior was weird and Sasuke really couldn't understand it. He decided to ignore it for now.
At the dinner table, Iruka noticed something odd about the two boys. Well, Naruto specifically. Sasuke sat there silently like usual, eating his chicken politely. Naruto ate his food spastically.
"Naruto." Iruka called the teen's attention over to him.
"Yes?" Naruto almost screamed out as he threw the rice on his fork into Sasuke's hair. Sasuke flinched as it makes contact but doesn't move to take it out.
"Are you alright?" Iruka asked in concern as he reached over and picked the rice out of Sasuke thick hair. He deposited the bits onto a napkin.
"Perfectly fine!" Naruto lied. Iruka looked at him suspiciously before he dropped it.
"Ino is staying at a friend's house tonight." Iruka told Sasuke as if he's asked. Sasuke nodded anyhow. Iruka smiled at the teen. His manners were impeccable. They finished dinner in silence.
That night Sasuke lay in bed restlessly. He'd had another nightmare with Itachi. It was unlike any he had before.
Sasuke sits up in bed reading a novel Iruka had lent him. Suddenly, the door bursts open. His brother stands in the doorway. Sasuke feels as if those bloodshot eyes pin him toward the bed.
"Look what I've brought you." Itachi says dangerously, brandishing a gun. Sasuke gulps as the steel shines mockingly. Itachi glides over to the frightened teen and clucks his tongue.
"So disrespectful." The man sighs. Sasuke is unsure of what he's done wrong. In a blink he's on top of the teen. Sasuke tries not to breath with his nose. The smell of alcohol strongly wafts over them both. Sasuke grimaces.
"Sasuke do not forget me." Itachi says as he trails a hand down the teen's chest. Sasuke lays there silently, too frightened to move. Itachi narrows his eyes and licks the teen's neck.
"Have you forgotten me?" Sasuke shakes his head from side to side rapidly, his hair ruffled from the friction.
"You won't forget me." And suddenly Itachi is biting his jugular.
Sasuke fought to calm down his heart rate. He warily watched the bedroom door, waiting for someone to come through and attack him. Sasuke sighed and got out of the bed. He rifled through the first bureau drawer until he grasped onto a piece of paper. He grabbed the cell phone on top of the furniture and got back on the bed.
He found the contact list and his lips quirked ever so slightly in what could have been a smile. Naruto had already put his, Ino and Iruka's number into the contact list. Sasuke shook his head and added the new number. He would call it tomorrow after school.
Sasuke felt an old familiar fear engulf him at the thought. He hadn't been to school in a very long time. Having to meet all those people and be in public that long was very daunting to him. He swallowed thickly. What would Itachi say? Sasuke missed the man deeply. The dream he'd had just proved to him that he was becoming too comfortable. Yet, he had so many questions to ask the man.
The next morning, Sasuke got up sluggishly. He hadn't slept much last night. If it hadn't been for the alarm on his phone he wouldn't have gotten up at all. Sasuke assumed Naruto had set it. He silently thanked the boy. He got up out the bed and gets ready for school. He wasn't sure what that required but he was bright enough to pack up his back pack with all of the school supplies Naruto had left him.
He took a quick shower and dresses. He chose slim fit black faded jeans and a black shirt with a high collar. This was his favorite outfit after all and he felt his first day of school. Sasuke hoped he wasn't being silly.
Sasuke made his way downstairs into the kitchen. Ino sat at the island stools. Iruka stood by the stove, stirring something in a pot. Sasuke sat next to Ino.
"Morning Sasuke." Ino greeted with a smile.
"Ah Good Morning." Iruka turned around and smiled at the teen. Sasuke blushed faintly at the attention but that was the only sign he gave that he was affected.
"Good Morning." He muttered.
"Are you ready for school, Sasuke?" What was with that question? He looked at Ino.
"I suppose." He said, repeating the words he had said to Naruto. Ino was cut off before she could respond.
"Ah! So early!" Naruto entered the room with a whine. His clothes resembled a balled up piece of paper and his hair was all over his head. Iruka sighed but didn't comment. He placed three bowls in front of the trio. Naruto immediately dug in. Sasuke and Ino followed suit more politely.
Once they were finished Iruka handed them pre-made lunches. Sasuke eyed it in confusion.
"It's for lunch." Iruka said as he felt sorrow in his heart at having to explain. Sasuke nodded at him but still didn't seem to understand. Iruka knew Ino and Naruto would take care of him but he was still worried. He watched from the window as the teens, no his teens, his kids, got into Naruto's car and pulled away from the house. He just hoped Sasuke's first day of school went ok.
That's it for now! Next chapter Sasuke goes to school for the first time in years! Oh shit.
Questions To Consider:
1) Can we get some Ino action PLEASE? (I've been slackin on the Sasuke/Ino haven't I? But don't worry you'll like what I have planned!)
2) What is Itachi in for? (Probably being just too damn sexy!)
3) What's Iruka's profession? (He works that pole! ...Just kidding)
4) Naruto is kind of obnoxious... (Not a question but it's true!)
5) Any love for Iruka? (Hey suggest a pairing I may decide to put it in!)
Please Review :)