Gaikokujin

:a whole new world:

Chapter Twelve


Author: shutupandsing

Rating: M

Summary: Backpacking through Southeast Asia with thirteen other strangers wasn't Sasuke's idea of a stress-reliever. Especially after meeting one jaded Westerner who can't seem to accept his own culture. NaruSasuNaru, AU.

Comments: This has been a long time in coming. I apologize.

Mood Song: You Won't Know by Brand New

Disclaimer: Please refer to your browser and read. Thanks.


Day Ten

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand had a completely different smell to it altogether and Sasuke could see the change it had in Temari and Kankuro, and to some extent, Gaara. It was almost as if the regal grace they had been suppressing before was finally showing itself. Temari held herself taller and surveyed the commoners in the town they were passing through with a stark, yet gentle, indifference.

Gai, on the other hand, apparently wanted to make a Grade A fool of himself, because he was singing out at the top of his lungs some showboat tune dug up from the prehistoric ages.

Everyone started to laugh at his antics and join in, causing Naruto to jolt awake from his nap next to him. Disorientation quickly sped into annoyance as he detected the owner of the squawking cries.

"Am I seriously the only one he's getting on the nerves of?"

Ino leaned into their seat from in front of them, unknowingly displaying a full frontal shot of the tops of her breasts to Sasuke. "Actually, I'm starting to get a headache myself," she giggled.

Naruto must have caught the lecherous glint in Sasuke's eyes because a rough pinch was delivered to the soft flesh of his through his shirt.

"Ow!" Sasuke jumped, rubbing the stinging spot immediately. Ino looked confused and glanced between the two.

"Lover's spat?" she questioned, raising a delicately plucked eyebrow at them.

Naruto actually squeaked in denial, shaking his head with such force that Sasuke felt that any moment it was going to come rolling off his shoulders. Sasuke rolled his eyes and playfully put an arm around Naruto, pulling him closer.

"What do you mean "no", Naruto? Of course we're together, baby."

Naruto paled in comparison to his normally tan complexion and Ino laughed out loud at the stricken expression on his face. "Ah, I gotcha!" she whispered enthusiastically, getting up and moving to the front of the bus to talk to Hinata and Temari.

"It's not like that!" Naruto yelled desperately, reaching his arm out in an effort to bring her back. "Why did you do that?! Now she's going to believe you and tell everyone!"

The look on the blonde man's face was too much and Sasuke let go of him and started to laugh.

"It's not funny!" Naruto shot back, frogging him in the shoulder.

"It really is too funny and you'll laugh about it later."

Naruto glared back, huffing in exasperation. "Well if it's so funny and we're together and all, then I guess it's okay to do this." His tan hand came down lightly on Sasuke's leg, bunching up the khaki fabric of his shorts as the hand moved slowly upward.

"Doesn't bother me none," Sasuke smiled back. Two can play this game, after all. He knew Naruto didn't have the balls to make good on what he was doing and actually go so far as to make a move on him.

"How about now?" The hand on his thigh inched slightly inward, ever closer to the place he was teasing so much. Sasuke could feel himself begin to stir within the confines of his shorts and dropped his hand to cover Naruto's, lightly running the pads of his fingers over the other's knuckles.

"Don't start something you don't intend to finish," he murmured to the other, staring the other down without a hint of teasing in his eyes.

Naruto pulled his hand away, sighing heavily. "Pft, whatever."

Sasuke immediately missed the warmth and weight of the other's hand and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. A large part of him wished that Naruto hadn't pulled away and just gone with it. Things weren't that simple though. It seemed Sasuke would have to be on the brink of death to get an ounce of sensuality out of the man.

Thoughts of putting himself in harm's way flashed through his mind before he realized how utterly ridiculous he was making himself out to be and banished them away. If Naruto wasn't going to show the interest in him that he had two days before, that was his own problem.

Even so, Sasuke yearned for the closeness they shared while lost in the jungle. The mutual urge to survive brought them closer than anything else in the trip had and he would be lying if he said he didn't want that back for himself.

"Listen," Naruto began, speaking quietly so as not to clue in the others around them, "I know you're wanting a lot of answers to questions I don't even understand myself. There's something, okay Sasuke, but I don't know what that is yet. You're a man and I'm a man and those two variables don't exactly add up right in my head. I'm really confused right now, that's all."

Sasuke nodded. "I...think I understand."

Naruto went quiet, biting his lip in concentration and turning away from Sasuke to stare out the window. Nothing was said after that.


The siblings' house lived up exactly to how Sasuke pictured it. In Bangkok, there happened to be a beautiful white palace with gold roofing and trim.

Go figure.

"What I don't understand is if they're this freaking loaded, why would they agree to go on a sight-seeing trip and stay in run-down hotels when they could travel to all these places and live like kings? I mean, more kings than what they already are, 'course," Kiba questioned as they approached the wide entrance doors.

"Maybe they really, really like us," Naruto supplied, staring in awe at the intricate trim around the door, depicting dragons spitting golden flame.

Once inside, Temari went into princess-mode, and at once, nicely-dressed servants came and took their luggage, rolling them away into an adjoining hallway.

"Ah, big screen tv, I've missed you so!" Kankuro cried from a room near them. Temari rolled her eyes as she led the group into the room. It was fairly spacious with plush dark wine divans spread out in front of a giant plasma screen that Kankuro rubbed against good-naturedly.

"Don't make me find the water bottle," Temari threatened her younger brother.

"I'm not one of your cats either," Kankuro retorted, smiling wide.

"There's cats here?" Naruto broke in suddenly, scanning the room for the aforementioned felines.

"Yeah, I have two tortoiseshells. Are you allergic?"

Naruto frowned. "No, I just don't really care for them."

The man was quiet next to him as a middle-aged woman in a blue smock led them down a lengthy hallway, pulling open the wall-to-floor shutters that lined the whole right side. Sunlight streamed in and created a golden bask that illuminated the three of them and in this setting, Sasuke likened Naruto to a Greek god, bruises and all.

"Have you noticed we're always roomed together? Like, that's just how it's split up amongst everyone; Sasuke and Naruto get this room.." Naruto suddenly exclaimed. The maid in front of them cocked an eyebrow funny but Sasuke didn't think she could speak very much English.

"Yeah...does that bother you...that you're always stuck with me?" Sasuke ventured, wondering where Naruto was going with this. By this time, the maid had stopped in front of a heavy oaken door and pointed before turning on her heel and walking away. The blonde man faced the windows, staring off into the distant heat they could just feel penetrating the thick glass.

"Sometimes, and don't laugh at this, but I feel like it's how it's supposed to be. I don't know why, it just is. I don't remember why I singled you out from everyone that I met when we first started. Do you believe in destiny, Sasuke?"

Sasuke approached the glass and slid down it, resting his back against its warmth. "I don't know. I don't think I should believe in it. It hasn't been very kind to me over the past years."

Naruto looked down at him, expression blank. "What did it do to you?" Sasuke shrugged in response, not really wanting to open up that can of worms just yet. His parent's death wasn't something he could talk about easily; it never had been. Even Suigetsu didn't know the whole story, just chopped up pieces he heard from Sasuke and weaseled out of Itachi.

A deep sigh sounded in the hallway and Sasuke couldn't tell if either he or Naruto expelled it.

"Are we friends?" It was tentative and questioning and all of a sudden Naruto seemed a thousand years older, an old man trapped in a young man's body.

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, dropping it after a few seconds with a loud sound into his lap. "We're something; friends sounds familiar but I don't think we're exactly that." It was the best answer he could come up with. Although he related to Naruto and felt they were bonded together in more ways than a person could; friends seemed so juvenile and...hopeless.

Naruto pushed off the glass and Sasuke recognized the look of irritation that crossed his features so many times in the past couple of days.

"What do you want me to say, Naruto?" He hadn't meant his voice to rise that much but then again, maybe he had. Naruto was stalking off towards their room now, his boots making hard, angry sounds against the wooden floorboards.

"Go ahead, say it, you're leaving!" Sasuke yelled, thankful that the house was large enough that their voices were lost amongst the way. "You've done nothing but run away your whole life. From Japan, from your hardships, from me! Well, you're not leaving now; you're not going to be a coward anymore

"Who are you? Thinking you know me and the things I've been through!" There was a flash of defiance behind his steel eyes and Sasuke briefly saw the anger that coursed through his body. Quick strides brought his boots to his side and Sasuke contemplated the excuses he could use to make Naruto kicking his ass look like an accident. 'Oh funny story, I got this by running into the doorframe in my room.'

"You were the one talking about destiny, Naruto. Isn't yours the one where you always leave; escape the things you can't control? You knew those men in Cambodia, didn't you? You knew them from before, when you lived in Japan, and you pissed them off. So they came looking for you and you dragged me into all the mess!"

Sasuke was on his feet now, the anger and frustration bubbling up in his stomach. Naruto's eyes had widened with that last comment; a look of intense regret settled over his expression.

"I'm so sorry; I hadn't meant for any of that to happen. I didn't know they would be looking for me..."

In a swift move, Sasuke had spun Naruto up against the glass, trapping him there like you would a moth against a wall. He held one of his wrists near his head to prevent him from running away.

"I've killed for you, Naruto! Tell me how I'm supposed to live with that kind of guilt!"

Naruto sighed heavily, turning his head so he wouldn't have to face looking at him in the eyes. Sasuke wasn't having any of this and caught a hold of the man's chin, turning it so he was forced to look at him.

"Anytime now."

Naruto's nostrils flared and in a blink of an eye, Naruto leaned forward and kissed him. Any other time, Sasuke would have ducked away and thought, oh no, not doing this again when you're in a tight spot. But he was frustrated at everything in the world and the only way he figured he could fight back against their "destiny" was to shut his eyes and press back just as hard.

It was rough; nothing like before and Sasuke reveled in the power he was getting from being able to gain dominance so fast through his anger. Just like fighting but without fists. Naruto made a sound against his mouth that sounded like something in between a sigh and growl and he pushed his body forwards.

Sasuke felt his mind blow at the barely-there contact and wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist, fingertips grazing along his lower back. Opening his eyes, he began slowing the rushed kisses, barely connecting their lips so that when he pulled away, he smiled at the sight of how Naruto kept leaning slightly forward to have him back again. The heat that radiated off the window soaked through the both of them, leaving them dazed and drowsy as Sasuke pulled back.

Naruto's breathing was surprisingly quiet. "I said there was something. We can't fight and make up like that. It's not fair. You've got to listen to me and understand and I'll do the same for you. Kisses and sweet nothings don't fix anything and I won't settle for that."

"I'm not going to sob out my life on your shoulder and I'm not going to forgive you for getting me kidnapped and almost killed," Sasuke replied, pressing his nose into the other's forehead.

"I'm not something you can fuck and forget."

Sasuke leaned backwards, a mask of horror on his face. "I would never...I promise, Naruto...I'm not going to fuck you." I only do that to someone I want to be done with. And I don't ever want to forget you," he cleared up, wrapping his arms around the other male and bringing him closer to him. "We need to get out of this hall, before the maid comes back and sees us."

Naruto's bubbling laugh against his throat made him feel a million tons lighter; like he was back in college and experiencing his first love. Naruto gently pushed him off and away just in the nick of time, because Ino suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"There you two are! Come on, come on, we've all decided we're going to camp out in the living room tonight and watch scary movies and get fat eating popcorn and chips."

Her eyes briefly locked onto Naruto's and Sasuke felt something pass between them, something small and barely recognizable, but in that moment it was obviously clear. She knew. A slow smile crawled across the lower portion of her face and she cut her eyes at Sasuke knowingly. For some reason, he didn't think this secret was going to be kept between the three of them only before the night was over.


"So, what movie is first?" Naruto exclaimed as he flopped down on a cushion of pillows at the foot of a long divan at the back of the room and Sasuke followed, much more gracefully than his blonde counterpart. The smell of sandalwood and lavender permeated the air around them and at once, Sasuke felt a sort of drowsiness weigh him down. He was much more tired than he first realized.

"Kankuro, we are NOT watching Feed. I'm sorry, I love you, but I can only stomach that movie every once in a blue moon and especially not in front of guests," Temari berated her brother as he held up a DVD.

Naruto curled up into the pillows around them, snuggling closer to Sasuke than he figured he would in front of the others. Warm air curled around his ear-lobe as Naruto began to quiet down.

"Hey, you going to sleep already?" Sasuke nudged the other gently, running his hand over the curve of the man's bicep.

"Just resting my eyes."

"You better not, because I'm not carrying your ass back to the room." Naruto grinned, eyes closed. "I'm serious Naruto, don't fall asleep."

"I'm not, I'm not, hush you." The reply wasn't very convincing and Naruto's eyes didn't open after a few moments. Sasuke watched as his eyelids fluttered in sleep and his lips parted slightly with his breath.

He honestly didn't mind; he'd carry him all the same. It was weird, come to think of it, that he wouldn't think twice about doing that for someone else. Maybe a girl, but even then, just maybe. The movie the others were watching was only ten minutes in and yet, Sasuke felt like if he stayed just a few seconds later, he'd be in the same position Naruto was in.

"Hey guys, I think I'm going to call it a night. Naruto's already wiped out."

Ino glanced back, smiling softly in the blue glow of the television screen. "Okay, see ya in the morning, Sasuke."

Using his knees to prop himself up, Sasuke carefully slid an arm behind Naruto's neck and back, pulling the man to sitting position. From there, he carefully helped the other to his feet, wrapping one of the arms around his own shoulders. Rousing the man enough to get him to walk with him, Sasuke helped Naruto out of the living room until the reached the long windowed hallway they were in earlier that day. By now, the sun had disappeared completely and a sharp contrast of moonlight was filtering in through the glass. Bending sharply, he swung a hand underneath Naruto's knees and lifted him, cradling the man to his chest.

Naruto let out a soft mumble in his sleep, eyelids flicking open a few times, before he succumbed back to unconsciousness. He was a lot heavier than he looked but Sasuke made it to their room without much trouble. There was only one giant bed in the room and Sasuke softly set Naruto down on one side of it. He knew that he would have to undress him so he wouldn't be so uncomfortable once he woke up and despite his experiences and matured state, he found himself growing warm with the thought.

Quietly, he slid the man's shoes and socks off, dropping them on the floor behind him. Next he pushed up the other's t-shirt, slipping each arm through the hole and finally lifting Naruto's head to remove it fully. Sasuke fidgeted above the other, staring unabashedly at the tan smooth skin before him. A light trickle of blonde hair ran from the man's navel and spread at the hem of his jeans and likewise on his chest.

His dark-wash jeans were lying loosely on his hips and Sasuke deftly unbuttoned and brought the zipper down, quickly pulling them down Naruto's legs and throwing them also onto the floor. His boxers were a simple plaid, yet Sasuke left those, fearing that unveiling too much of the man was taking a large part of his dignity and privacy away, even though he had seen Naruto nude more than once before.

Quelling the rising desire inside him, Sasuke quickly made back the bed and brought the sheet over the other, resting it loosely on the other in case he got hot during the night. Switching on the overhead fan, Sasuke quickly undressed himself and slid into the sheets on the opposite side. The faint chirp of crickets made themselves known outside the window behind their heads.

The sheets crinkled too unfamiliarly above him and Sasuke finally resolved that the only way he was going to get to sleep is if he was near something that wasn't foreign. Turning his head, he caught sight of Naruto rolling over in his sleep, drooling a bit onto the pillow under him. Would he mind?

Carefully, Sasuke slid closer, first intertwining their legs to test the waters to see if Naruto would wake. Upon realizing the man was completely dead to the world, Sasuke took a deep breath and snuggled as close as he possibly could, curling into Naruto's side until and pulling the man's arm over his head until they almost became one being. Sasuke hadn't dared to get this close to someone else in so long; it was only something he did with Suigetsu maybe, when he had one of his long nights of missing his mother.

Naruto smelled distinctly of male: sweat, cologne and earth and Sasuke found comfort in it. Before long, another deep state of exhaustion washed over him and this time he did not wake.