Authors Note: I did it again. I set a deadline for myself and life hit the fan. I swear it happens every single time I try and stick to a deadline. *sigh*
Anywho, this chapter was actually one of the first I wrote. By the time I reached it chronologically the story had evolved so I had to go back and edit it a decent bit to make it fit the current story. It is still one of my favorite though. Hopefully you guys will like it too. ^^ It is not beta'd by the way so let me know if you find any typo's.
CHAPTER TWELVE: A FOX TAKES ACTION
The image of Sakura, leaning one tense hand against the bar, pink glossed lips pulled down in a permanent frown, seemed out of place. I blinked a few times and realized I didn't remember much of the past few hours. I was downtown I think. Maybe. So perhaps it wasn't that out of place. Who knew.
"That is your twelfth beer Naruto. You have to stop drinking."
The words Sakura insisted on speaking to me sounded far off; not part of the reality I had created around myself. Thus, it seemed fitting to simply squint up from where my face lay smushed against the countertop. She looked distorted and unrealistic through the empty shot glass resting next to my eyes. She was totally not real. Probably just another figment of alcohol poisoning.
The cold smooth surface beneath my cheek felt real. I tried to remember the bar it belonged to but I failed. Judging by how out of it I was, this place was probably just one of the many dad had left me in his will. I couldn't be bothered to remember them all.
Sakura said something else and this time, I couldn't hear her, let alone understand her. I kept looking at her though, I could do that much.
Then she moved closer to me and began shouting. I ignored whatever it was she was yelling about in favor of smashing my hand around for another cup of liquor. With each thump of my hand I grew closer and closer to a coherent state of thinking. If Sakura was fake, she would be in a bikini or something. not her nurse scrubs. So that meant this Sakura was real.
Well, whatever she wanted to say could wait until I felt better. Alcohol aside, my head throbbed and complained in agony. The past few weeks had been a mess. Waking to a dead body, though not my first time, had been unpleasant. Unpleasant but tolerable, I'd seen my fair share growing up.
My conversation with Uchiha however—that took the cake. Malicious, horrible Uchiha.
What kind of sick bastard just dropped a corpse in their neighbors room, belittled them, and then left? That had been fun trying to get rid of. Finally had to resort to calling Sai in for a favor. I hated asking the creep but he owed me and luckily, operated one of the many crematories in the city.
Still, Itachi Uchiha must be the devil incarnate.
Lucky devil, my drunken fueled lust whispered, supplying the commentary with full erotic images of Sasuke. Him naked and eager, his face flushed and blissful, those larger hands running up his body… Itachi's hands, not mine.
My desperate fumbling along the bar counter finally managed to reward me the whiskey bottle I had ordered sometime ago. Raising it to my lips I downed what remained. If I could still think I wasn't drunk enough.
"What happened to you? I mean really, you smell worse than you look and trust me—that's pretty bad. You don't drink and when you do, its not ever this much. Tell me what happened. I need to know so I can help you. Or at least go admit yourself to a hospital. You haven't left this bar in days."
I don't blame Sakura. She cares about me and just wants to help, even if she is wrong. I don't need to tell anyone. How could I? Where would I even start? Hey Sakura, I fell in love with Rapunzel and her evil-stepbrother who by the way, has sex with her, dumped a dead body in my living room? Yeah right.
I set the whiskey bottle back on the bar flicking it with my finger, watching it roll around. "No Sakura I don't need to do anything."
My hand reached out to grab another drink a ways down the bar when I felt her fingers close around my wrist.
"You are not getting another cup until you tell me who you met and why it has left you drunk. For two weeks."
Groaning I muttered an agreement, glad to have her release the iron grip on my poor wrist. If I had to talk then I would give as little information as possible. Sasuke didn't need the cops trying to break down the place. Besides, if I did report something I'd just be sending the poor cops to their death.
"His name is Sasuke," I mumbled, already feeling my cheeks heat up at the mention of him.
"He? That is a new one. I thought you had decided you liked girls better."
I groaned, his face floating up in my head. Those perfect lips, deep eyes…that hair and skin… "If you saw him Sakura you would know gender doesn't matter. He is perfect."
"Alright so you found your soulmate. That doesn't explain the copious amounts of alcohol. Does he not like you?"
"I dunno, he hasn't ever actually met me."
"What? Since when have you been shy?"
Now that I had opened my mouth I was finding it harder to keep quiet about Sasuke. Still, like I mentioned before, I couldn't say much. If I let on that my soulmate, as she dubbed him, was locked in his own house, she might call the authorities. Even if they managed to come back alive, getting his brother locked in prison probably wasn't the quickest way to Sasuke's heart. Or killing him but you know, hard to repress the angry urge when Itachi so deserved it.
"I'm not. He…he is a shut-in. He refuses to leave his house." That would work, no mention of a possessive incestual brother or Rapunzel syndrome.
"A shut-in?" I could see the interest in her eyes. Here we go, another subject for Sakura's psychological practice. "For how long?"
"Um, his whole life. I think. We haven't talked much. He doesn't have a phone."
"No phone? A computer then?"
I doubted Sasuke even knew what a computer was. I had a feeling Itachi had kept him in the dark about anything he could use to contact the outside world. "No."
"How have you contacted him so far?"
My blush came creeping back. "P-paper-airplanes through his window…" It sounded really lame when I said it out loud like that.
Sakura broke out in a big smile. "That is so cute!" she gushed.
I knew at this point I was completely red. "Yeah well, we only talked a couple of times." The image of Itachi kissing slowly down Sasuke's throat flashed through my mind. "He has a lover," I grumbled.
"A lover? Well at least that means he likes guys," Sakura perked, ever the optimist.
Yeah, I thought to myself, his brother. Not exactly a good start. "Even if he does like guys it doesn't matter if he won't like me. He is like, really in love." I remembered the look on his face, the way Sasuke's long fingers anchored themselves in his shirt.
"Naruto, if his lover is the only person he has ever seen, of course he would be totally in love. He hasn't had the chance to fall for anyone else. He may not even know what love is supposed to be like."
I felt my eyes widen, my head slowly turning to stare at Sakura as her words sunk in. Of course! It made perfect sense! Itachi had complete control of Sasuke's world. It would have been easy for Itachi to manipulate Sasuke into falling in love with him. Why had I not thought of this before?
I felt my hands around the cup tighten. How could he do this to Sasuke? It was so wrong. Itachi would see justice done. I would get him myself.
"Naruto, hey, let go of the cup! You are going to break it!"
At Sakura's words I looked down at the glass in my hand. Swearing I let it drop to the counter. Sure enough a long crack had formed at the rim.
"Look, you have it easy Naruto. Just find a way to meet him then sweep him off his feet. If you can help him get over whatever is causing him to stay inside his house then I guarantee he will fall for you." She gave me an affectionate punch on the shoulder.
Overcome his inability to leave? That was easy. I just had to get Itachi out of the picture. He was the reason Sasuke refused to leave. If I got him to believe Itachi wasn't right then he would leave the house and we could live happily ever after. It was perfect!
"Thanks Sakura! You are the best!" I gave her a big hug before dropping a wad of twenties on the bar and dashing out the door.
When I got back to the apartment building next to Sasuke's house, I ducked my head out, checking for notes. Maybe he had missed me.
I forced the guilt stuck in my throat down as my eyes fell upon the five knives stuck in the boards of the house. Wait, I missed the last one nudged under the window sill. That made six. That was all he owned. My heart sank. He had indeed, been trying to reach me.
Frantically I stuck my hand out to grip the cold steel handle. A few quick jerks had them out and into my room. My fingers shook with the anxiety as I scanned the notes.
Can you get in the house Naruto? I need to see you. Please try. Can you bring some medicine for fevers?
He wanted to see me? Was this the first note? The last? I tore off the next paper.
Naruto, something happened. I need to talk to you.
You didn 't get my last note. What happened? Are you mad? If you can't get in just please respond. I need you.
I felt my chest constrict with each note I opened. He sounded so desperate. What had happened? Was Sasuke hurt? Did he need my help? Had Uchiha hurt him? I remembered the body, cut up and brutalized. Itachi had said Sasuke had killed the guy but if he had been lying? Would he do that to Sasuke? I needed to see him, make sure he is okay. Maybe I wouldn't be too late. I had to try.
It had taken me this whole time but I was pretty sure I'd nailed down a way to get in. There was a skylight falling over top what I guessed was their bedroom. If I could cut the power to their house without Itachi getting alerted of my attempted break in, then I could fall in through the sky line and all would be great.
There was a transformer about a block down from their house. If I blew it up, then Itachi wouldn't think it was anything but a natural, unfortunate occurrence. Knowing Uchiha, he would have a backup generator for their house. I'd have a small window of time before the security cameras and alarms would work again. Assuming I got in, then all I had to worry about was cameras inside the house. Hopefully there weren't any. And if there were? Well, I was desperate enough I'd take that risk.
It took me the rest of the day and the next morning to get things set but by noon I was ready to go. I looked at my wrist watch, watching the hands tick. From my place atop my apartment's home I heard the small explosion, saw the smoke down the street and knew it was now or never. With a jump I threw myself off the roof of my building, trusting the parachute on my back to carry me to Sasuke's roof. I was right and with a cry of success I landed atop the skylight.
One minute and thirty seconds before the generator would kick on. Hooking my fingers under the skylight I lifted it up. In one smooth motion I threw the lid up and slide in, barely making it before the lid fell shut behind me.
With a grunt I landed on the carpet. Suppressing my wince, I looked up then stopped, my surprise freezing my breath behind my lips. He was there. Sasuke was right there, standing in front of me. My mind could barely register my surroundings—a small landing of sorts—I was so preoccupied with finally seeing him face-to-face. His dark eyes had widen to an impossible size, almost as if he had seen a ghost. But man was he beautiful.
Somewhere in the back of my head I knew he was probably going to start screaming. My mind couldn't seem to get over being there in front of him. I didn't think myself one for vanity but I couldn't take my eyes off of him. It was if I was staring at the painting back at the firm, expect not. I couldn't describe it.
"H-hey," I managed to stammer out.
He blinked several times before stepping back. The bowl in his hand dropped to the ground, shattering. Sasuke's eyes grew even wider and his mouth opened. It was about this time I noticed he was shacking. His whole body seemed to be trembling with the force of his fear. I wasn't that scary. What had caused this? Did he not recognize me? Come to think of it, were those bags under his eyes? And his clothes, they looked like he'd slept in them a few times over.
"I won't hurt you, I promise." The words left my mouth before my mind caught up. It was a good thing to say right? I wouldn't hurt him of course. He reminded me of a doll. A beautiful, fragile doll. The little voice in the back of my head, the one that Jiraiya kept insisting was important, whispered that something was not right.
"Get out." He stated. It started out soft but he repeated it, each time rising in volume. He began looking around and I knew he must be looking for an alarm button.
"Hey, hey, calm down," I told him softly. "I'm a friend okay? It's me, Naruto." To prove my point I shoved my hand in my pocket to pull out the small picture of a fox he had drawn me.
He looked at it a moment then back up at me. Man, those eyes were amazing. Like the sky at night. And his hair, oh man, it looked so soft. The low florescent light of the landing made it look almost blue. I really wanted to run my fingers through it.
"Naruto? You—you're him? And you are here?" he sounded so confused. Relieved.
Standing slowly I lifted my hands, palm side up, to either side of my head. I didn't want him to get scared and do something bad. Like scream. Or hit me. He wasn't built per say but his arms looked muscular enough to make a few punches hurt. And supposedly he had killed someone…so yeah. Didn't want to get hit.
"You are really here?" he asked slowly.
I smiled big at him, letting all my excitement show. "I did. It took me some time, sorry. You sounded so frantic in your notes. Are you okay?" I remembered the message I had received earlier, before I had stopped coming by. Hurriedly I pulled out the small bottle of medicine. "I got the medicine you asked for. Why do you need it? Are you hurt?"
He started shaking again. Then he just…crumbled. His legs gave out beneath him, he fell in a heap, his hands falling limp in his lap.
My legs moved on their own and in a moment I was next to him. He wasn't okay. Something was wrong. My heart beat widely against my chest. I was so excited to see him—hold him—but he was hurt, scared. Who had done this to him? I found myself battling with feeling exalted and angry. I hadn't ever felt this conflicted before.
Trying to keep my emotions hidden for Sasuke's sake, I carefully wrapped my arms around him, pulling him tight against my chest. He smelled so good. I let my face bury itself in his hair, relishing the feel of it. It was as silky as I thought it would be.
That was when I heard it. A cough, followed by some wheezing. It wasn't coming from Sasuke so… Wait. Was Itachi here? I felt panic settle in. I was dead. There was no way I was going to live through this. He would kill me or have me nailed for trespassing.
In my arms I felt Sasuke move. He was up and running in an instant. Somehow he remembered to grab the bottle I had held out to him before his legs gave out. He pushed the door open, revealing what must be the bedroom. I could easily see the bed from where I sat. There was a dresser on each side and a chair pushed right up next to the bed. Where Itachi was laying.
"Sasuke, I heard a noise and the lights went out for a moment." That was Itachi's voice. It sounded so weak. I could barely make out the words. "You sounded scared. What happened? Are you hurt?" His voice was hazy and slow. Something must have happened to him. Was that why Sasuke needed the medicine?
"It is okay big brother. The lights came back on. I just dropped a bowl. I am going to go get you another okay? Stay there please. You need to rest." Sasuke sounded so sad and gentle. If I got hurt would he sound like that for me? I would go break a few bones to get him to nurse me better.
"Here, take these." I saw him bring a cup to his brother's mouth. Itachi must have drank the water because Sasuke set the cup down atop the dresser.
I froze as I watched Sasuke lean down and place a gentle kiss on Itachi's lips. It hurt a lot, seeing him do that. I had to remind myself of what Sakura had said. He probably didn't know any better. After all, he hadn't had the chance to fall for anyone else. He only knew Itachi, it was natural. I just wish it didn't hurt so much.
Sasuke walked backward, closing the door behind him. He turned to look at me and I saw the pain, the sorrow. As much as I wanted to give him a reason to kiss me, he looked like he needed a friend to talk to.
"Sasuke, what is wrong with your brother?"
He gave me a look and I realized that at my volume Itachi would hear me. That wouldn't be good. I nodded my understanding in the same moment his hand grabbed mine. His hand were rough and calloused instead of the smooth I had expected but they till gave me butterflies.
With a gentle tug he led me down the staircase and past a door into what I assumed was the rest of the house. Wooden paneled walls, tile floor. A kitchen and table were tucked away in one corner. The rest was what I could only assume was the studio Sasuke had talked about. I felt my eyes widen as they took everything in.
There were paintings on the floor leaning up against the wall. Some on eisles; others were hanging from the wood paneled walls. As my eyes wandered among them I noticed a trend. A very, very strong trend. Sometimes it was obvious, other times it was subtle and harder to tell.
But nearly all of them were of Itachi.
I felt that sick feeling in my stomach clench tighter. I remembered Itachi's face as I mentioned the artist, remembered the quick silent anger. Remembered the gentle kiss from moments ago and the heated ones I had watched weeks past. And all these paintings… All they saw were each other. He didn't care about anything but Sasuke. Why would he lock him up like this if he wasn't scared stiff of losing him?
I had been around enough to recognize part of my anger as jealously. It was hard not to be. It took a special sort of love to be this obsessed.
It was wrong. No one should be obsessed with each other. Not to this point.
But I still wanted to be a part of it.
I turned around to talk to Sasuke. He sat on the floor, next to the big red couch in the studio. He had his legs drawn to his chest, his black hair spilling across the blue fabric of his jeans. I couldn't see his face, I wasn't sure if I wanted to, judging by the way he was hugging his calves.
Slowly I walked over to him. I was careful to sit on the couch close enough to hear but not touch. I didn't think either of us could handle touching right now.
"Itachi, he, he." Sasuke was crying. I felt my heart break. I didn't ever want to see him hurt and here he was crying. "My brother came home and he was bleeding. Bleeding so bad and I can't do anything. I tried to stitch his leg up and get his fever down but I didn't know what I was doing. I mean, I read books teaching me how but nothing real." He looked up at me, his big black eyes glistening with his tears. My breath caught in my throat. He was beautiful, so very, very beautiful. He understood so little yet still cared about everything with such fierce passion.
"I can't leave Naruto. Even if I could, I wouldn't know what to do or where to go. Where do you buy medicine?"
His voice was breaking with the force of his desperation and all I could do was stare at him. I knew he needed me to listen but I just couldn't seem to. He sat there, huddled and crying and repeating the same phrase over and over again.
All I could do was think how beautiful he was.
My body seemed to have designs all its own, and suddenly I was there, my hand brushing his bangs away from his face, my lips gently falling to press a kiss against his temple. He immediately scooted back, his pupils dilating to that impossible size again.
I tried to smile.
"I—I'm sorry, I probably should have asked permission first huh?" My throat gurgled out a feeble laugh. It sounded hollow even to my ears. He just kept staring at me. I swallowed hard, sitting back down on the couch. "So, uh, ahem." I stood up, sheepishly rubbing at the back of my head. "Uh, about Uch—Itachi. Yeah, that's his name right?"
At the mention of his brother's name Sasuke seemed to reconnect with reality. He stood up, wiping his face with his sleeve. "My brother yes, Itachi. He…he is going to be alright, isn't he?"
I hadn't a clue. Not one freakin' idea. For once I regretted not listening to Sakura rant about her med homework more. I had to say something though. "Y-yeah, I think he will be. I mean, he is a strong guy right?" He certainly terrified me enough. "I would offer to take a look at him but I don't think he'd be too happy to see me."
That one got a smile out of Sasuke. Score one for Uzumaki!
"Yeah, I don't think he would either. Itachi can be a bit protective."
I had to bite my tongue to keep back the response begging to come out. A bit was a drastic understatement. The guy had Sasuke kept under house arrest for what? A decade? His whole life? I wasn't sure but it was certainly way too long.
Our little talk seemed to do a lot for his mood. A teasing half smile on his lips he walked over to sit on the couch next to me. I could feel his body heat radiating off of him. It was addictive. My hand scooted closer, falling to rest in-between him and I. I was sweating. No helping it, not with him this closer. I wanted so badly to hold his hand or maybe rest our shoulders together. Something, anything that told me I meant as much to him as he did me. When did I get this bad?
My tongue swept across my lips, moistening them to ease my nerves. "So, Sasuke, I gotta say its nice to finally meet you face to face." I smiled at him. The big cheesy kind that made my eyes disappear.
"Yeah…yeah it is. I am excited, I am sorry if I don't act like it. I am just so worried…"
I reached out, my hand covering his own. He looked up at me in surprise. I really didn't want him running away again so I reached out with my other hand, covering Sasuke's completely. "Please don't pull away again Sasuke, I am here for you. Please, let me help you feel better."
He looked at our hands then back to my face, my lips, then our hands again.
"Naruto, is that what friends do? Comfort each other?"
"Yeah, it is. We are friends aren't we?"
He nodded absently, his attention focused on my hands. I opened them, palms up. He withdrew his hand then gently, with one finger tip, followed the lines on my hands. They were scarred and thick from use—not so different than his.
He stopped for a moment. All air seemed to freeze, my breath left my body as he leaned his head forward toward mine. His lips, red and bruised from crying, were suddenly there, pressing up against my own. I stopped thinking. My hands rose to cup his face, my thumb rubbing across his soft cheek. It felt amazing. Hands down the best kiss I ever had.
Then he pulled away slowly, just far enough away to lock eyes with me. "Comfort me then. Naruto."
That was permission wasn't it? My hands still on his face I pulled him toward me, our lips meeting in a deeper kiss than before. My mouth moved against his in a sensual dance that me more turned on than I ever remember being. My palms swept across his shoulders, his back, his stomach, they couldn't hold still. I wanted to feel every inch of him. He was so perfect.
His hands haven't moved yet, still placed firm against the fabric of the couch. That was probably why, when I pushed gently forward, he let himself fall against the couch until he lay there on his back, looking up at me. My stomach immediately cramped up, tensing and twisting into a knot.
I couldn't do it. I just couldn't. He would let me, I know he would. He would let me kiss down his neck, across his chest—wherever I wanted. Let me caress his body, pulling it against mine until the friction of it drove us both mad.
But I couldn't.
I sat up. My hands clawed themselves into my hair, digging at mys scalp till it burned.
"Naruto? What is wrong?"
I couldn't keep the dry, humorless chuckle back; it came spilling out, bounding off the walls.
"Naruto?" he sounded so confused. I am sure he was. How couldn't he be? For heaven's sake he understood so little. This was probably how Itachi comforted him, how Itachi kissed him. Held him.
Made love to him.
My hands balled my hair up tight. I was furious and that knowledge—that understanding I couldn't ignore—screamed at me that I was only mad because I couldn't have it. I couldn't shake the fear that I was a replacement, not an original.
Oh but how I wanted it. Wanted it more than anything I had ever wanted before. Something deep and primal made me want to take him, leave my mark to warn everyone else away.
Sasuke was there next to me now. Looking up at me with his eyes furrowed. "Did I do something wrong? Do…do you want to leave?"
Did I want to leave? Of course not. I never wanted to leave. I wanted to hold on to him forever. Was this love?
Not love. No. This was the beginning of something far more twisted.
Obsession.
My conscience had my stomach clenching into a stone, sinking into my gut with each horrified realization, each resurfacing memory, proving to myself of what I had become.
I didn't have long to sit in self-hate. A sudden clicking noise to my left and a loud, echoing statement of my name jolted me to my feet.
"Naruto."
Itachi was there, leaning against the wall with a handgun pointed at my forehead. I hadn't even heard him come down the stairs.
"You were warned."
His voice was ice.
I was going to die. He would shoot me here and now and I would die.
"Brother—no, please—don't hurt him. You told me you wouldn't!"
Itachi didn't look at Sasuke, preferring to freeze-glare me to the floor. "He broke our arrangement Sasuke."
"Not, he didn't. I asked him Itachi. I asked him to come here."
That did it. Itachi finally shifted his stare from me to Sasuke. "Why would you do that?"
Sasuke looked upset again now, fists balling at his sides. "Why?" he echoed. Suddenly, I wasn't sure this was about me anymore. "You were hurt Itachi! Really, really hurt. I needed help, I couldn't handle this on my own."
"I was perfectly fine."
"Fine?" Sasuke leaned forward, balling Itachi's collar in his fist. "You came home covered in blood—your blood! You told me you wouldn't ever let that happen and you did! You broke our promise!" Sasuke shoved at Itachi, not enough to move him but it sent the message. "Don't get mad at Naruto for breaking his promise when you couldn't keep yours."
Sasuke made it to the bottom of the stairs. He turned to look at me, a wryly, tired smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "Go home Naruto. Thank you again, for everything. I am glad I got to meet you." He marched past me to a door in the back of the studio, presumably a bathroom. He slammed it shut behind him.
Itachi stared after Sasuke. For a moment, I managed to see his eyes pull tight, his lips thin. Then the regret his face showed was gone, leaving behind it the same robot he always was.
He hobbled down the stairs, obviously favoring one leg over another, until he reached the front door. After pulling free a key around his neck he unlocked the door, holding wide open for me. He didn't say anything, just stared at me.
I got the message. It didn't mean I was going to do what I was told though. "Who hurt you?"
His lips thinned again. "That is no concern of yours Uzumaki. Now leave."
"No concern of mine? No concern—oh shove a cork in it Uchiha! Anyone who can hurt you that bad is a danger to Sasuke. I don't care if you fall over dead but I'm not about to let Sasuke follow suit." I grit my teeth, hating the next sentence that followed. "You know he would too. He couldn't live without you. If you die—he dies and there won't be a damn thing I can do to stop it."
He stared at me long and hard, saying nothing. We probably stood there for a good ten minutes, neither of us wiling to back down.
"Leave." He finally said, the words spoken sounded more weary than angry.
My fists in the pockets of my pants I stalked forward, pausing as I reached the doorstep. I tilted my head back toward him. "Don't take him down with you. If you love him as much as you claim, protect him. Let me help. I can do more than you think."
He slammed the door in my face.
I honestly should have expected it and stepped back further but I didn't. So I stood there, rubbing my bruised nose and swearing. My heart hurt. Twisting, cramping, sinking—every kind of pain possible. What I cared about most was so close yet I couldn't reach it. Couldn't have it. Hell, if Uchiha had his way Sasuke might not be there for long. He could get hurt or worse.
No.
No.
I wouldn't let that happen. If Uchiha wouldn't help me then I'd figure out how to protect Sasuke my way. With or without Uchiha.
Authors Note:
First off, I know the whole scenareo of how Naruto got into the house is a little lack luster but I couldn't come up with a better way _ I tried, like a dozen times. So please just gloss over it and move on~
So after I got done with my last edit of this chapter I made a decision that I swore, when I started this years ago, I would not do.
I will write the next chapter in Sasuke's pov.
I was trying to avoid that as a big part of the reason I wrote this fanfiction was to try and portray the main character purely from the pov's of other people. I wanted to see if I could do it. As I finished copying and pasting this I realized that Sasuke was demanding to say his piece. So instead of doing it as a one-shot in the Imperfection-verse I will add it is as intermission chapter. That way I won't interrupt the pattern I have thus far established.
As always, thank you so much for sticking with me through this. If you find any typo's please let me now.
