Hello everyone and welcome to the next chapter of Underwater. I know you all probably want to pelt me with random flaming objects, but I implore you to reconsider as I've brought you this fresh update straight from my bleeding fingers. LOL. Just joking. On to the story! Oh...And this is Part 2 of the last chapter, so there will be no month-time skip.
Disclaimer: I only wish I could draw as well as Masashi Kishimoto. Seeing as how I cannot, however, it must be obvious to you that I do not own Naruto. And the song "Alive" belongs to the band SR-71, so I don't own that.
Warnings: Somewhat OOC Sasuke. He's changed since Naruto left, remember?
Ages: In case anyone wanted to know:
Sasuke: 18
Naruto: 18
Itachi: 21
Iruka: 25
Kakashi: 27
Sai: 19
(I just decided to go with the ages after the time-skip for all characters. I don't know Iruka and Kakashi's age after the time skip, so I made up their ages. Please don't be mad. I live in America, not Japan, and I haven't seen Shippudden yet.)
Chapter 12. Alive
'All she's asking is for a little more time,To walk away from his anger and leave the bruises far behindShe won't talk about it...she's made up her mindBut as the front door shuts behind her she whispers "give me a sign."'
"Shouldn't he have woken up by now? He's been unconscious for an entire day and then some."
"Shut up, Sai."
"Sasuke. Are you sure it was a good idea not to take him to the hospital? He did just try to..."
"Sai, I said shut up."
The owners of the two voices looked back down at the unconscious blonde who was lying in bed with his arms above the comforter. One of them, his left, was bandaged from wrist to elbow. The white was stained dark red with blood from the cut.
"He needs stitches. I could tell when I saw them. Please...trust me on this"
"Sai..."
"Sasuke..."
"I took him to you because I thought you would do the right thing. Was I wrong?"
"Sai...Please. Look, he's coming to."
Naruto moaned and cracked open one blue eye feebly. The voices floating down to him sounded like a harsh discordant mixture of sounds. Wincing at the bright light as it pierced his vision, but at the same time welcoming the pain, he forced his other eye open. The world around him was fuzzy, blurry, and two indistinct figures with dark hair met his solid blue gaze.
He couldn't remember where he was, or what had happened. Suddenly it all seemed to come at him like a freight train derailing. Running away from Itachi...the nine-tails speaking to him, telling him to rescue an orphan named Yuuri...Drowning, drowning in waters deeper than blue and colder than ice...He couldn't tell if he was dead or alive...He felt like he was drifting somewhere far out in the ocean.
He struggled to sit up and became aware of a throbbing pain in his right arm. Suddenly there was pressure on his shoulders. Someone was forcing him down below the water. Fear sent adrenaline rushing through his body. The drug made him lash out with his good arm, trying to push whoever was trying to drown him off and away.
"Damn it, Naruto. Calm down, it's me. Mmph, sonofabitch." Sasuke swore as said blonde managed to punch him in the eye rather hard.
The other male rubbed at his eye before blinking rapidly.
"It's me, Sasuke." Sasuke spat contemptuously.
Naruto stopped struggling; his blood ran cold at the sound of Sasuke's voice. Slowly he turned, blinking to clear the fuzzy film from his eyes. Slowly he was able to make out the details of Sasuke's figure. The color drained from his face as he realized where he was. Still...he had to know for sure.
"Where am I?" he asked softly.
"Where do you think? You're at my home, thanks to Sai, who you found...or rather...ran into."
"Oh."
His own voice sounded strange to him, sort of like he was speaking underwater. It sounded foreign...distant to him.
"You did a number on your arm. Where have you been all this time? Did you decide to come back to the village?" there was hope in Sasuke's voice, a hope that Naruto, in spite of no longer liking him, had no desire to crush.
"Sasuke...I don't think you should be––"
"I need to know, Sai. And I don't have much time. If Kakashi finds out I'm missing, he'll come here looking."
"I needed...I needed..." was all Naruto could say desperately. He couldn't find the right words to say, though he searched every crevice of his mind for them.
"What do you need, Naruto? Did you come back to the Leaf? You know, Iruka-sensei hasn't been the same since you left."
"Iruka?" Naruto heard himself ask.
His heart was suddenly heavy with grief and guilt. 'I left him...I left Iruka and Kakashi because of my own selfish desires.' he thought, his mind already twisting and warping reality. 'And he hasn't been himself since. I have to leave. Have to...'
"Don't even think about teleporting. Your chakra is holding dangerously above absolute zero." said Sasuke. "Push yourself and you'll..."
"I need..." Naruto began hopelessly.
He wanted to cry out in frustration. Wanted to return to his lover and beg on his knees for forgiveness. Depression returned to force him below the surface again. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. He could only sit there as Sasuke continued speaking to him in senseless words he couldn't understand.
"Let him rest, Sasuke. You better go home before you're caught. I'll watch him till morning, okay. You need sleep."
"I'm fine," muttered Sasuke, running a hand through his raven hair.
Naruto's cerulean gaze caught on the thick white lines marring Sasuke's wrist. He turned away, rubbing his own bandage absently. Sasuke seemed to notice this and stopped Naruto, who hadn't realized that he had begun to squeeze the wrappings tightly. The genin pried Naruto's hand loose from it and glared at him reproachfully.
'And feels the power of the engine as she climbs to 65Every piston sounds like freedom, every white line says goodbyeShe'll find strength in her anger and the truth in his liesWhen the last scar finally fades she'll have a new life'
"I need." Naruto whispered quietly.
He turned around and buried himself under the covers of which, until then, he'd been oblivious of. A single tear trickled down his cheek. He was tired. He wanted nothing more than to go to a place of blissful oblivion, and he achieved that by shutting his eyes tightly and willing himself into unconscious slumber.
Sasuke, meanwhile, was just about to walk out the door when Sai caught him by the wrist.
"I promise I won't let him out of my sight. I promise, okay." he said reassuringly.
A brief smile of warmth flashed across Sasuke's face. He nodded before heading out into the snowy, slushy streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. Wrapping his thick navy coat further around himself, he stifled a yawn as he made his way back to Kakashi's home.
After fifteen minutes of walking alone in the dark past taverns and motels, apartments and houses, Kakashi's house came into view.
'Good.' he thought when he saw it. 'Kakashi-sensei is still asleep.'
Kakashi's house was a simple one-story plot with two bedrooms, two bathrooms (which meant Sasuke got one all to himself), a kitchen, and a small living room. He didn't know for sure if Iruka-sensei was sleeping with Kakashi tonight, but he wasn't taking any chances by going through the front door.
His room had a window that could be opened simply by pushing up against the glass. He'd left by that same window and planned on entering his room in a similar manner. He walked around to the back where his room was, pushed open the window, and climbed through it.
Undressing in the dark was rather difficult, so he found, but his eyes quickly adjusted to the blackness and he was able to put his pajamas on easily. Then he folded his clothes, set them back atop the plain wooden dresser, and was about to crawl into bed when a faint sound caught his attention. Hesitantly, he made his way to the door, any noise cushioned by the carpet beneath his bare feet.
Using one hand he pushed the door open just a crack and peered through the gap with one eye. He had a clear view of the kitchen table, and from his position he could see a brown-haired man sitting at the table with a cup of something steaming, presumably hot tea. Said man was currently gazing out through the small window above the kitchen sink. Occasionally his shoulders shook and something akin to a choking sob escaped him.
'Iruka-sensei...' Sasuke thought, feeling a tug at his heartstrings. 'He really hasn't been the same since Naruto left.'
Sasuke knew what he had to do, and even though he wanted to demur, his heart got the better of him. He pushed the door open the rest of the way and winced as it creaked. Iruka seemed not to hear the noise, for he did not so much as turn around toward the source of the noise.
As Sasuke grew closer, he could sense that the man was in great distress. His shoulders were shaking almost continuously and breathy sobs emanated from him. Profound sorrow radiated from him, almost tangible in the enclosed atmosphere. The genin even noticed that the other man's hair, which was normally held up in a ponytail, hung down loose and tangled.
"Iruka?" he called forth into the dimly lit kitchen.
He received no response other than another sob. Sasuke sighed inaudibly and walked around behind Iruka. Then he went forward and put an arm on the man's shoulder, drawing him from his reverie. Iruka hastily wiped his eyes and turned to face Sasuke.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke. Did I wake you? I was just about to go back to sleep, so you can go back to bed."
Sasuke's charcoal gaze met Iruka's own tearful brown eyes and locked on them. Iruka's eyes were incredibly bloodshot, which meant he'd been crying to himself for some time. Sasuke also took notice of the deep purple bruise-like bags under his eyes. It was obvious that he hadn't been getting enough sleep in the past view weeks. He felt a momentary flash of anger directed at Naruto, but it quickly faded, replaced by a solemn pity for the man sitting before him.
'Say goodbye to Mr. RightLock the door, turn out the lightPack your bags, leave this trapRun away, don't look backSee another day with each new sunYour life has just begun'
"Are you...okay?" Sasuke asked tentatively.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. I'm sorry if I woke you. I'm going back to bed now."
Sasuke couldn't help but disbelieve him. Iruka made no move to dump his cup of tea in the sink. Instead he sat there, staring at him with bloodshot eyes.
"You're not okay." Sasuke stated.
'What should I do? I don't know what to do. Should I try to comfort him?' Sasuke was at a loss.
"I'm fine." Iruka said, lying through his teeth.
He felt bad for waking Sasuke from sleep, but at the same time he was slightly grateful. He felt more alone than he'd ever felt before in his entire life. and he wanted company. The weight of the grief he bore daily was enough to give any man a breakdown, but not him. Not Iruka. He shouldered the burden alone, without Kakashi's knowledge, without Sasuke's knowledge, and walked on pretending that he was happy.
"You're not fine. This is third time this week you've been up crying at night. Kakashi doesn't know."
"Sasuke..." Iruka began tiredly.
Sasuke made a decision. He pulled Iruka to his feet and steered him over to the living room, where he sat down and motioned for the older man to do the same. Iruka sat down numbly, and Sasuke, not knowing what else to do, sat there, thinking of what to say. Finally, he made a decision.
"Talk to me about it?" he asked.
"Sasuke, there's nothing to talk about. I'm going to bed." Iruka replied, but despite his promise of returning to bed, he made no move to get up.
"Don't treat me like I'm twelve, Iruka." Sasuke said somewhat angrily. "I'm eighteen."
"I know you are. This is just...I don't want to burden you."
"Iruka, I've been living with Kakashi for two months. And you've been living here for a month. That's long enough for me to notice that you haven't been the same since Naruto left."
As he said that, he felt Iruka stiffen beside him.
'So that's what this is about...Naruto. Damn you, Naruto. Damn you for hurting everyone who loved you by leaving. But you're back now. If not to stay, then why come back? You were with my brother. Did you leave him?'
"I...miss him." Iruka admitted quietly.
Sasuke wanted more than anything, for some reason, to comfort the man who had somehow gradually become a father in his eyes. Because of this, the words "But Naruto came back." were on the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't bring himself to say it. He didn't want to admit that the genin who had broken his heart had returned for an unknown reason. More than anything, he didn't want to give Iruka false hope. Yes...He would wait until he knew with certitude why Naruto had come back to the Hidden Leaf Village.
'You'll see another day with each new sun
Your life has just begun
She can still feel the touch of his handNot just the violence, but the warmth of her man'
"I miss him." Iruka repeated, a tear trickling down his face.
"I miss him too." Sasuke immediately admitted, surprised to learn that he did indeed miss Naruto in spite of knowing that he and Itachi were lovers.
They continued to talk into the wee hours of the morning until Iruka finally suggested that Sasuke get some rest because he looked tired. Sasuke got up, watching Iruka's pale, haggard face, and returned to bed. Iruka himself crawled into bed and fell asleep just as Kakashi was waking up.
Kakashi rolled over and saw his boyfriend sleeping peacefully. He smiled as he quietly got to his feet and gathered his things for a nice hot shower.
'I'll let him sleep.' he thought as he turned on the faucet for the water. 'He's been so tired lately. I hope he's alright.'
...///...///.../// With Sai and Naruto///...///...///...
Naruto stirred beneath the oppressive heat of the blankets, moaning softly in his sleep. Sai watched him with captivated interest.
'No wonder Sasuke fell in love with him. He's very attractive.' he thought as he continued to observe Naruto.
The blonde genin moaned again, biting his lip in his slumber. The pain woke him and he sat up, feeling refreshed in spite of a guilt-ridden sleep.
'Itachi's...not going to love me anymore...Not after this. But I couldn't tell him I wanted to go back to Konoha.' he thought.
"Who are you?" he asked, turning to face a teen who resembled Sasuke in many ways, with dark hair (though it didn't have the same luminescence as Sasuke's) and eyes that reminded him of an inkwell.
"I'm Sai." replied the dark-haired teen. "And you're Naruto." he added matter-of-factly.
Just then Naruto heard the voice of the Kyuubi-no-kitsune growling lowly in his head, as if to remind him what his purpose was in Konoha.
"Is there an orphanage around here?" Naruto asked suddenly, earning a strange look from Sai.
"Why, actually, there is one. Why?"
"I need...to go there."
"But it's barely seven in the morning. I doubt the inhabitants are even awake yet, but I suppose your request isn't too unreasonable. Let's go, as long as you promise not to teleport, though I doubt you'd make it far as your chakra hasn't fully returned to its normal level."
Naruto stood and waited for the world to right itself before heading to the door. Sai tapped him on the shoulder and he turned, confusion in his eyes.
"It's March. Here." was all Sai said while holding out his own jacket.
Sai himself was dressed in nothing but baggy black pants that matched his eyes and a too-short t-shirt that revealed his midriff.
"You won't be cold?" Naruto asked, making Sai remember that day back in the hospital when Sasuke had asked him the very same thing.
"No." replied Sai. "Follow me."
Sai led Naruto down the dark cobblestone streets that seemed achingly familiar to him and across to a ramshackle old building that brought back childhood memories. He used to play with kids from the orphanage, for they had no parents to warn them of the dangers associated with playing with a demon child.
They were about to knock on the door when a young lady with blonde hair and bright green eyes came out from behind the building carrying a toddler and scolding him while she walked to the door.
"Oh..." she said, somewhat surprised to see two people standing by the orphanage's doorstep. "Come right in. It's a bit cold outside."
She held the door open while they walked inside. "Have a seat anywhere you'd like. I was just...Oh, you'll think I'm a terrible person if I tell you, so never mind. My name is Yukirin." she said, rambling on. "And I'll be right back. I have to get Yuuri here changed again."
Naruto felt his heart skip a beat.
"Yuuri, you said? Is that the little one's name." he asked.
Sai looked at him strangely.
"Yes." Yukirin replied from the other room.
Five minutes later, she returned with Yuuri, who was wearing a light blue nappy that contrasted beautifully with his dark eyes. His hair, although damp from who knows what, probably snow, was combed neatly though it still hung in limp strands about his face. Looking at him, Naruto felt something stir within his heart.
"He's been here almost nine months, which means he's past the seven-month mark. I'm just an assistant working here all the time because the woman who works here is on vacation. I promised..." she broke off rather tearfully. "I promised the owner that he'd be adopted before she returns, but she's coming back tomorrow...She'll send him away."
"No!" said Naruto, almost shouting and surprising both Yukirin and Sai. "I'll...can I hold him, please?"
He took Yuuri from Yukirin and held him in his arms. The little boy weighed about seventeen pounds, but seemed every bit as light to Naruto as a feather.
"Hi." said Yuuri, tilting his head to one side. "Won't...I...bad...no...?" he added, stringing together all the words he knew, then adding one he'd learned recently, he said. "Dad?"
"Wow...I didn't know you could talk there, little guy."
"He's been saying those words since he was seven months old." said Yukirin proudly. "Though 'dad' is a new one."
"Impressive." said Sai, speaking for the first time.
Yukirin smiled brightly, but then a shadowed look overcame her eyes. "I'm afraid..." she whispered. "He must be adopted today, or else..." she trailed off reluctantly.
"When can I get started on the paperwork?" Naruto asked, rocking Yuuri back and forth.
Yuuri grinned brightly, the tips of a few teeth visible in his small mouth. He giggled softly as Naruto ran a finger down his cheek.
"You...You want to adopt him?! Really?! Really?!" Yukirin burst out excitedly. "How old are you, though?"
"Eighteen, so I'm legally an adult. But..." he stopped. "You don't adopt to gay couples, do you?"
"The owner of this shop forbids it, but as of currently, it's under my jurisdiction. I can make that decision. I'd rather have someone adopt Yuuri than have him go to another orphanage in another Land. I'll do it." she said, happiness evident in her bright emerald eyes.
'Say goodbye to Mr. RightLock the door, turn out the lightPack your bags, leave this trapRun away, don't look backSee another day with each new sunYour life has just begun'
"Wes!" declared Yuuri.
"Even Yuuri's happy. That's how he says 'yes'." Yukirin added, literally glowing with jubilation.
Yukirin went to the back room to retrieve the paperwork, but came back empty-handed.
"Just take him." she whispered. "The owner will be glad that he's gone. Do you live around here?"
"No." replied Naruto.
"Good. Take him with you and give Yuuri the home he deserves."
"Wes!" Yuuri chimed in.
"Oh, Yuuri, I'm going to miss you!!" Yukirin declared as she went forth to kiss him on the cheek.
Yuuri gurgled happily.
"Bye, Yuuri!!" she said as she led the duo to the door.
"Bye." Yuuri mimicked, waving a fist in the air.
"Oh, let me get his coat." Yukirin said as she ran to the back room and returned with a tiny jacket.
She slipped it on him carefully and zipped it up before putting the small hood over his head. "There you go." she said sniffing tearfully, though it was more that she was crying in happiness rather than sorrow.
Sai and Naruto slipped outside and Yukirin watched them go until their figures blended in with the darkened streets.
"So..." said Sai. "You came back to Konoha to adopt?"
Naruto didn't respond.
"Hello...Anyone home?" asked Sai.
Sai turned just as Naruto teleported away.
"Naruto, no!!" he called out, trying to grab Naruto's sleeve.
Sai stood there for some time in bemusement. He could have sworn he'd seen a look of genuine happiness on the genin's face right before he'd disappeared.
'He took my jacket...' he thought, at a loss. 'Oh, well.'
Sai returned to the Uchiha Manor to wait for Sasuke, whom he was sure would not be pleased when he learned of Naruto's disappearance yet again.
'The night she never felt so aliveeven though it feels so cold outsideIt's the first time I've ever seen her smile.'
Woot!! Ten-and-a-half pages!! Cha, I rock. Happy birthday to me!! Happy birthday to me!! Well, this is my Christmas gift to you all. I personally think I should have updated Into the Darkness, as that is my most popular fan fiction. Oh well. I'm working on it. I really am. I've got like...three pages typed on that one. Eh-he. (sweat-drops). Anyways, reviewers get cookies of their choice today!! So go ahead, take a cookie and leave a review. Until next time. – Bottlecaps.