Chapter 14: Dark Trance

Amethyst: Yes, I changed my name! Anyway, this chapter contains character Death. There isn't any romance or anything like that between Sasuke and Naruto. If you understood the plot, it's more like they have an obsession with each other. I thank you for your reviews and all those silent readers out there. Enjoy!

He was so bored. He couldn't look out the either window since Haku was on his right and Deidara on the left. Why did he sit in the middle? Maybe he was being considerate, but he couldn't even turn his head. In the back of the car, there was their luggage yet it seemed like it had more space back there than up here on the seats. He sighed again for the hundredth time. He didn't have anything to do but keep his eyes on the yellow lines in front of the car. He even started a little game in his head, seeing how many he could count without messing up. That game didn't last very long.

It only occurred to him that he should be freaking out. Sasuke, Gaara, and Haku were killers. Cold blooded killers that have taken an interest in Naruto and Deidara. Naruto didn't know about Haku since the brunette seemed very quiet and only made noises of acknowledgement even with Sasuke. It was clear he wasn't that close to Sasuke like Gaara. They were in the car for almost four hours and there hasn't been a single establishment in sight. It was just straight grassland with a few low bridges that they drove over. In the back of his mind, he was frightened enough to piss himself but he knew Sasuke wouldn't harm him. Not much anyway.

He adjusted his position, noticing that Deidara was starting to fall asleep. He couldn't fall asleep since he was in the middle. He wished he was on his motorcycle right about now. He wouldn't have been in this position if he just left right after he talked to Ino. He doubted she lived very long after the visit. He grimaced at the thought. Why wasn't he mourning his friends' deaths? It wasn't right. It was like he lost the ability to feel the depression. A sign that he was damaged beyond repair. Why wasn't he screaming at Sasuke? Why wasn't he trying to escape? He shut his eyes tightly, trying to deny the sickness within him. It was a simple answer. He wasn't doing anything since it was Sasuke doing these things to him. He didn't mind it so much because it was the young Uchiha's fault.

He didn't love him. He didn't like him that much either. Actually, Sasuke scared him but when those dark eyes glanced at him all his previous thoughts would disappear. His body had a mind of his own and his emotions flew all over the place. What could he call this weird attraction? He didn't have a clue. He knew Sasuke had an obsession with him. He knew that his love wasn't a normal one. It was more like a prized possession type love. The thought itself sent a shiver down his spine. He was scared, a big guilty feeling was always there, an anger at himself for not fighting back, and could he dare to think it…he was content. There weren't any deadlines that he had to make. The wedding was called off. Well, his fiancée was killed to make sure there wasn't a wedding. He wondered what Inoichi was thinking after he found out his daughter went missing. It was all the result of Sasuke's so called love.

It was a big result too. He opened his eyes realizing that they were coming up to a small town. Finally, he could stretch his legs! He didn't catch the sign since the words were faded against the old pieces of wood. Sasuke sat up straighter and glanced at Gaara.

Gaara seemed to look at him at the same time, and then he nodded. Was that some kind of unspoken silent language he never heard of? Deidara was snapped up when Sasuke leaned back, firmly squeezing his knee. His eyes were as cold as ice.

"Don't try to escape again or I will make sure Gaara punishes you severely." He hissed with his lips in a thin line.

Naruto stared at Deidara confused. He tried to escape? Was that why he was so tired? He tried to escape, only to have his hope ripped away from him when he gotten a small taste of freedom. He looked like a broken spirit, trying to fix itself. The guilt hit him hard that he could hardly breathe. It was his entire fault.

"You are to keep silent. Is that understood?"

Deidara was visibly trembling at Sasuke's deadly stare. Naruto could feel his trembles since he sat right next to him. He didn't doubt that Haku felt a little bit of them either.

"Y-yes."

"Yes what?" he snapped out, his eyes narrowing low.

"Y-yes Ma-Master." Deidara stuttered.

Sasuke gave him a firm squeeze before letting go of the other blonde's knee. He glanced at Naruto for a split second, and then turned back around.

Naruto frowned. What was all that about? He thought angrily to himself.

Deidara was extremely scared of Sasuke since he remained trembling even after they parked in front of a small diner. Sasuke instructed Gaara to fill the gas tank up while he ordered a small lunch for everyone. All four of them stepped out of the car, and went into the diner. There were only two people there and three other people that worked there. Naruto glanced at the giant clock hanging above the kitchen counter behind the cash register. It was only two o clock in the afternoon. They still had a long way to go before they reached Sound City it seemed.

Haku went ahead of them and quietly spoke to the old waitress. She was smoking a cigarette while she rudely looked at all of them. She nodded a few minutes later and pointed to a table near the window. It was technically a booth, the seats looked dusty.

Naruto sat down reluctantly next to Sasuke while Haku sat on the other side of them. Deidara kept his head down, his light blonde hair covering his face. Naruto felt sorry for him. If it wasn't for him none of this would've happened. If he didn't try to forget Sasuke and marry Ino, no one would've died or gotten kidnapped. If he stayed to himself and only worked in a low class place where Sasuke could've found him easily, then Deidara wouldn't be in this situation. He wouldn't have been raped by Gaara. Itachi and Deidara would be living in piece and so would Tenten, Kakashi and Iruka.

He felt a hand rubbing lightly on his lap, breaking him out of his depressing thoughts. He looked down to see a pale hand and then looked up to the person attached to it. Sasuke was staring at him with a blank expression on his face.

"You're an open book." He whispered.

Naruto was more focused on the hand that was rubbing against thigh. It was causing delicious shivers to go throughout his body. He lightly whimpered. Sasuke pulled him closer, his hand releasing his thigh and snaking around his waist.

"Why are you so silent?"

"There's not much for me to say." He whispered back.

An eyebrow raised on Sasuke's face. "Really? That's different."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Even if I had something to say, I doubt you would listen to any of my suggestions."

Sasuke nodded. "Hn. True."

He bit his lip. "Why can't you let Deidara go? Why do you make him call you his…master?"

"I was going to sell him in the underground market but Gaara showed an interest in him at the last minute. He calls me master since it amuses me. He's only alive and well because of Gaara. You should be happy that I brought you a friend to keep you entertained." Sasuke's grip on his waist tightened painfully.

He winced at the feeling of strong fingers digging into his side. Then there was the waitress suddenly coming over with bottles of water and a big plate of sliced sandwiches. She was currently chewing gum and she blew a bubble quite loudly. "Can I do anything else to help you?"

"No. Thank you." Haku spoke out softly.

Sasuke released him. "Eat. We might not get a meal for another six hours. At the rate we're going we'll make it to Sound City by that time."

Naruto nodded stiffly, watching the waitress walk away with a sneer on her face. He knew since it was a small town that they weren't so tolerant of homosexual tendencies. He wasn't necessarily gay. Sasuke was the only male he has been with. Every other person he was with was a female. He was too scared to be with another male since Sasuke kind of ruined the images for dating males. He couldn't really call Sasuke his boyfriend or lover either. He didn't have a clue as to what Sasuke was. He put the thought behind him and concentrated on eating.

Sasuke allowed Deidara and Naruto to explore the town after eating. It was a simple reason and that was because Haku had to die. He could no longer be of use to them as a team. He also didn't want an extra mouth to feed. After leaving the diner, he made sure Naruto and Deidara understood that trying to escape or talking to the townsfolk for help would only lead in pain. They knew the consequences and agreed to stick to themselves and not to attract unnecessary attention. He wasn't going to make this a fast death. Haku was going to die slowly.

Gaara dragged Haku off and Sasuke quickly followed. He made sure the red head found a secluded place so they could do this in peace.

He pulled out his favorite knife, following Gaara into an old dusty house. It had plants growing from the windows and the floor. The wood looked unstable and it was clear the land was trying to take the space back. Gaara kneed Haku in the face, causing the brunette to stumble back. He tried pulling out his needles but Sasuke threw his knife in Haku's stomach.

"What's the meaning of this?" Haku asked panting in pain.

"Nothing. We just don't need you anymore." Sasuke said, coming closer. Gaara was circling Haku like the perfect predator.

"I did so many things for you. I helped you kill Orochim—

"Don't speak his name! He's dead and soon you will be too!" he spat out angrily.

Gaara looked at him while pulling out his own knife. He twirled it quickly in his hand. Sasuke just darkly chuckled while they advanced on the feminine man. There wasn't anyway that he would escape, especially after mentioning his name. He'll make him suffer for bringing that man up.

Naruto looked at Deidara with a small frown. The other blonde was still silent; the only sounds around them were birds chirping in the distance and cricket mating calls. The wind blew gently against his arms, causing small goose bumps to appear every so often. It was still warm but the wind's gentle caress was making him feel weird inside. They continued to walk side by side on the broken side walk, and Naruto saw a small tool shop ahead of them. He didn't want to anger Sasuke so he continued to walk past it. He wanted to stretch his legs.

He was about turn to Deidara but the blonde's head was still down. He was looking at his feet as he walked with his shoulders slumped in sadness. Shouldn't Naruto be feeling the same way?

"Why?" a weak voice asked.

"Huh?"

"Why does he give you special treatment? Why aren't you scared of him, Naruto?" Deidara asked looking up at him with tears in his baby blue eyes.

Naruto's eyes widened. "I don't know…"

"Yes you do!" Deidara snapped. "The way he looks at you. The way you act around him. You're in love with him aren't you?"

Naruto shook his head rapidly. "No! That's not true. When he was young, he promised me that he wouldn't harm me. I doubt that now since he's still angry over the fact I tried to marry Ino."

"What is it?" He gripped Naruto's shirt desperately as tears began to fall down his cheeks and onto the pavement. "What is it?" he repeated.

Naruto held Deidara's wrists gently. "I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out myself. This attraction has gotten stronger from the last time I've seen him. I know he's dangerous and could kill me in an instant, yet my heart beats for him. I don't love him. I don't hate him either. I used to feel sorry for him since no one understood how he was. He was closer to me than he was to Itachi."

Deidara let him go and Naruto let the smaller blonde cry. They were almost the same height but Deidara was lither than him. He truly looked like a girl at this very moment.

"If it helps, I'll try to get him to be lenient with you. He's actually being nice, considering…" he paused. "…he was going to send you to some underground market to be sold as a slave."

He watched him tremble in fear, wrapping his arms around himself. He shook his head and looked at Naruto. "Really?"

"Yes."

Deidara wiped his tears and gasped when his eyes saw something behind him. Naruto swirled around and gasped as well.

Sasuke and Gaara stood there a few feet behind them with their clothes covered in blood. They looked at them darkly for a moment.

"It's time to go." Sasuke said while holding out his hand for Naruto.

"You know I couldn't hurt you or kill you. Then why don't you just embrace it? I made sacrifices to come back for you. Embrace it!"

He kept hearing Sasuke's voice in his mind and he lost himself. Naruto fell into something like a trance, taking the steps to move forward in order to take a hold of bloody fingers. He could hear screaming in the back of his mind but his mouth wasn't functioning properly, he remained silent. He watched hazily as Deidara was pulled towards Gaara rather forcibly. They made a quick walk back to the car and then they were driving off.