Misery Business

Author: Ladelle

Rating: M

Comments: So many yummy reviews. Thank you for feeding my ego's appetite.

Chapter 21: Rescue

Naruto clawed through the crowd like a savage animal, tearing through the intoxicated masses with an adrenaline-induced strength that he had never thought himself capable of. His hands gripped at clothing and his feet stumbled through the tactless crowds as he forced himself away, desperate to escape the figure he knew was only a few feet behind him. His breathing was harsh and his lungs burned, and even though his mind had sobered through the actions, his body behaved as if he had never before had control over it.

He tripped over someone's foot and jogged forward in an attempt to catch himself, the thick feeling of rushed breathing making it hard for him to focus. He gasped as he felt a tug on the rear of his shirt and reached out, hoping that someone would recognize the desperate situation that he was in.

No one noticed.

The crowds were clustered and deafening, laughter ringing through them as if nothing could ruin the late night activities that were taking place. Beer spilled over Naruto's chest as a tall man laughed heartily, and Naruto grimaced as he felt himself being tugged backwards into a familiar darkness. An alley. A dark, secluded alleyway. The bustle of the street crowds was dimming in his ears and the full and powerful timpani beat of his heart was replacing it, drumming through his veins like a nervous plunger.

He twisted to view his assailant, only to hear a raucous crunch.

Pain seared through his cheek and he grunted as a swell of blood drizzled across his lips, and he fell backwards, slamming into the ground with a painful thud. His head hit the grated floor with a bone-splitting crack and his vision began to flash out of focus. His head pounded residually and he attempted to pull himself upward to defend his injured form. The black figure lurched his way but before he could pull his arms from the ground a firm hand took hold of his neck, pulling him up with a grinding force against a brick slated wall. Naruto hissed as the stone bit into the bare skin of his shoulders and coughed as the hold tightened, causing an uncomfortable pressure to form over the small of his slender neck. Blood spilled over his chin and onto Subaku's coarse palm and before Naruto could focus on the figure, their bodies were crushed togetherand the redhead was breathing hard against Naruto's bruised face.

"Don't struggle." The comment was simple and said in monotone; an emotionless timbre that made Naruto shiver. He struggled against the strong grip and pushed forward, crying out as Gaara brought his fingers in tighter around the sensitive part of his neck. He coughed as the lean figure brought a fist into his stomach and felt his consciousness begin to fade. He blinked, taking in the scene, a string of blood creeping downward from his matted hair which now rested flat against his forehead, soaked in perspiration.

Subaku was small. He was wiry and lean, his muscles flexing only where obvious strain could be seen, and his face was as passive as the smooth cold edge of an aged stone. Bright green eyes that glowed even in the dimly lit alleyway were blanketed under smoldering lashes, long black vines that Naruto thought looked like makeup. He blinked, his eyes stinging as a run of dark red liquid spilled into his vision and he pursed his lips as the boy knelt in closer so that their lips were only an inch apart. Naruto gasped as the boy lifted his form from the ground, his feet dangling like ornaments above the rough concrete, pulling him to match the redhead's height. Naruto felt his breathing slow, gasps becoming difficult to construct under the pressure of the man's firm grip. He let his eyes slide open, blurry vision invading his retina and felt the redhead slide a tongue across a bloody gash in his lip, drawing an uncomfortable stress in Naruto. His lip stung and his head was pounding, sending black figments through his vision like the flashing of a digital camera. He couldn't feel his neck and his stomach had curled into some sort of awful bruise, and with the last of his energy he shoved the boy backwards, not entirely conscientious about the compromising position he was in.

The force of his shove sent Gaara stumbling backwards, the stern clutch on Naruto's neck loosening and instead struggling for some sort of balance. The redhead crashed backwards, landing roughly onto the ground and Naruto, caught in an intense coughing fit in the release of the pressure fell rigid over the assassin's form, wiping loose trials of blood from his face.

In a quick realization that he had gained the upper hand, Naruto pulled a fist back and slammed it forward desperately, his tensed hand coming into harsh contact with Subaku's face. His fist stung in pain and Naruto grimaced as the other boy merely glared at him, even though the collision was causing a blue welt and trickle of blood to descend over his smooth features. Naruto scrambled to the side, his hands clawing desperately at the ground, climbing and crawling towards the light of activity that seemed nearly inches away.

A firm hand grabbed his ankle and he collapsed onto his stomach, a rush of air leaving him too soon for comfort. He breathed hard, his stomach squirming in discomfort and he felt himself being flipped over onto his back, the other boy effectively straddling him with a sharp object pealing at the sore spot in his neck

"Only one person has ever made me bleed before." The figure said, his expression dangerous. The knife sunk in lower and Naruto cried out, squirming under the friction.

"P-please…I…just, please…" Naruto's words were rambles and he couldn't think straight. It was becoming harder for him to keep his eyes open, the demanding prowess of unconsciousness clouding his mind. His tongue was thick with the taste of blood and Naruto wondered if he had bit his tongue in the ordeal.

"I-I need to…g-get…h-home…" Naruto's head fell back against the concrete pavement and he felt the pressure against him decrease. Interesting, he thought.

There was a slight pause, and Naruto was sure he saw the butterfly knife rise above him—but in an instant flash, the weight on top of him was removed. There was a groan and Naruto could only let his head fall to the side to see what was happening. His body was numb and he felt immobile, his eyes barely able to stay open and alert.

Someone had knocked Gaara off of him, and whoever it was, they were struggling on the ground beside him, the newer figure holding the advantage in the bloody combat. He was above Subaku, punching downwards and Gaara was effectively dodging each blow. The redhead pushed upwards, sending the lean figure above him across the alleyway—but the figure, a younger boy, landed perfectly on the platforms of his feet, landing in a stance that demanded hand-to-hand combat.

Gaara stood slowly and Naruto rolled to the side, immediately regretting it when a coughing fit overwhelmed his figure. His throat felt choked and his stomach clenched tightly within him and he felt tears roll from his eyes.

Naruto clambered to his feet, pulling himself towards the shining light of the alleyway, a thousand words of prayer beating through his head. He was nearly there. He needed to find Shikamaru—and above that, for some reason, he wanted Sasuke.

He was nearly feet away when his head pulsed and he fell flat against the ground, his breathing belabored.

I can't die here, he thought desperately as his eyes closed in submission.

"He's waking up." An unfamiliar voice. A concerned voice.

Naruto attempted to roll onto his side, but unyielding hands pushed him back into place. He groaned and felt his throat constrict, a painful bout of coughs overwhelming his system and he felt steady arms pull him forward into a sitting position. Naruto doubled over and let the last of his coughing fit leave his system, frowning as a deafening thud seemed to pulse in his head. He pulled his hands to meet the base of his skull, eyes prodding open as he realized that a huge bump extruded from the rear and hissing at the stinging contact. His eyes felt crusty and he rubbed them with his free hand, anxious to see where he was.

"Here, drink water." The cool rim of a glass mug met Naruto's chapped lips, and he felt the cool liquid alleviate the sore tingle in his throat. He pushed forward into the glass, gulping down the water with an acute sense of urgency, moaning in disappointment when the mug was pulled away. He peered up to the person who seemed to be taking care of him, and his eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.

"Is that better?" The voice was smoother than before, and didn't fit the face that Naruto bore witness to. Stark black locks framed a bowl-shaped face, with gentle features that seemed to support a rather wide-eyed gaze, whether natural or born out of curiosity Naruto didn't know. But the figure's eyes were large and intent, searching him with a motherly sort of concern, all while supporting him into his current position. Naruto cleared his throat and shook his head, causing a bout of blackness to swarm his vision.

"Ugh…my head hurts," he managed, and the boy pulled him forward a little further, into a position that allowed Naruto to support himself. The blonde crouched forward, head over thighs, taking in the full extent of his injury. His head was pounding and his throat felt like someone had fed him sandpaper, and as he contorted forward, a painful soreness seemed to tighten within his stomach. He hugged it tightly, a short feeling of nausea tugging at his throat and he groaned. A moment later, strong hands returned and he was propped up again, smooth fingers pushing pills into his mouth.

Naruto felt the cool rim of the drinking glass brush his lips and eagerly swallowed the cooling remedy, amazed at how soon the pain declined. He leaned backwards and the boy let him fall back into a resting position and Naruto took a few deep breaths.

"Who are you?" He said, his voice coming out in an hoarse wheeze. The boy leaned forward and smiled an unusually optimistic smile, one that made Naruto wonder if the boy was on medications himself. A moment did not pass before the boy answered.

"I'm Rock Lee, and I saved your life!" He seemed extremely proud of himself he gestured his thumb in a positive manner, giving Naruto a thumbs up. Naruto raised an eyebrow and felt a laugh escape his lips, the comic relief welcomed to ease his uncomfortable situation. He cleared his throat.

"What…who was the guy that attacked me?"

The boy sat back into a chair beside the bed that Naruto was on and drew a finger to his chin in contemplation. The bowl-haired boy then crossed his legs, shaking his head at the same time.

"I couldn't tell you specifics, but he was definitely sent from the Fang Corporation. His fighting style, or lack thereof, was a dead giveaway."

Naruto rolled his eyes in irritation. It figured that the one minute he left Sasuke and Shikamaru's protection he would get badly injured by the suspicious company. His eyes suddenly opened wide in realization.

"How long have I been here?" He didn't know where here was, but he could tell that he wasn't in the city. Bright light came in through a vacant window, surrounded by what seemed to be brick adobe walls, and he could smell hydrangea bushes and various flowers from outside. Odd noises sounded as well, and Naruto vaguely wondered if he was on a farm.

"Well, a little over a day. I'm actually surprised at how fast you've healed…normally a concussion of this magnitude would've sent you into a coma."

Naruto winced. That meant he had been missing for nearly a day, and with Sasuke and Shikamaru's hasty behavior, he wasn't sure what they would do. He felt a throb of self-anger clench his heart when he took in all of the events of the previous evening.

"They're going to think I ran away." He stated, recalling that he had run away, and the bartender had seen his act clearly enough to judge it as it was. He clenched his eyes closed and cursed. "Damnit. This is why I don't drink." I always do something stupid, he finished inwardly, clenching the blanket haphazardly crumpled on top of him.

"I would recommend that you call someone, but your Icon got broken pretty badly. Aside from that, we don't get any signals out here."

Naruto opened his eyes and narrowed them at the boy, his lips drawing downward inquisitively. "Where is 'out here'?"

Rock Lee grinned again, his pearly whites making Naruto nervous.

"Nivae 32, the best eco-village in existence!" He seemed to emphasize the word best, and Naruto shook his head and eyed the blanket which had become scratchy against his bare skin. "Let me guess, this is hemp?"

The boy smiled brightly and nodded quickly. "Are you an enviro-fre?"

"A what?" Naruto felt confused.

"Oh, I guess not. It's shorthand for Friend of the Environment. It's a big organization out here—no science, no nothing, everything environment safe."

Naruto sighed deeply. Given, he had gone to a fairly liberal college, but he wasn't sure what the realms of an eco-village were, especially in the future. He closed his eyes and let his mind settle. He was tired, and he felt like taking a nap.

"Hey, hey! No sleeping. Concussion, remember?" Naruto's eyes flew open as the boy clapped his hands. "I'm keeping you with the living, buddy!"

An annoyance crept through Naruto and he felt his stomach groan. It must have made a sound, too, because Rock Lee's eyes shimmered and he bolted out of the door ofthe tiny earth-swollen room. Naruto eyed it wearily, sleep pulling at his senses. He felt as if he was in a living play-dough structure, and it smelled like damp dirt.

He pushed the blanket off of his stomach as he began to grow hot and ran his fingers across the length of his belly, feeling abnormal ripples that weren't normally there. He peered down and bit his lip in aggravation. Cut marks. From a knife?

That's strange, Naruto ventured. I thought he only cut my throat.

He knelt forward to further examine the damage, and his eyes widened in irritation. A tattoo. A big tattoo. Arcs of foreign ramblings formed around his belly button, and he ran a finger across the mysterious etchings. He frowned.

A clutter of sound invaded his ears and he turned towards the door, surprised when Lee burst through carrying a platter of fruits and vegetables, and steamed rice. He nearly dropped it on the end of the bed, grinning wildly as he chucked Naruto an eating utensil and a plate. Naruto glared at the boy and spoke darkly.

"Why do I have a tattoo?" His voice was clearly disturbed.

Lee peered up from a bout of shoveling rice onto his plate before glancing at the said marking on Naruto's stomach, and then he nodded passively, his face glowing with energy.

"Ah, that's a prayer mark. Gai and I weren't quite sure you'd make it, so we made sure to get as much help as possible from mother earth!"

Naruto fumbled through his comment like a drunk man, trying to make sense of it. He felt his anger blossoming.

"You thought I was going to die so you drew on me?" The sarcasm was evident.

Lee laughed, oblivious to the blonde's fury.

"No, no. They're symbols of good health. And they worked, too—look at you. You should have died, but here you are, less than a day later, fine and well." There was a slight pause before he added. "Ah, the power of youth!"

Naruto shook his head, his mind trying to absorb the situation. He ran a finger over the markings, frustrated when they didn't wipe off. "Don't tattoos take hours to create?"

Lee finished with his portions of the steamed meal and nudged the tray towards Naruto. He shook his head and shoveled a piece of broccoli into his mouth.

"Um, not really. This one's an ink henna…Gai's an artist, my friend. He can do anything to anyone, anywhere, and in record time." The comment sounded strangely perverse, and Naruto ignored it. He simply grimaced and sighed.

"It's karma. It's always fucking karma." He pulled his shirt down over his abdomen, absently coming to terms with the canvas his skin had becomeas he ate vegetables and rice onhis tray. There were a few rolls buried in the batch and he grabbed one, breaking it open and taking in the fresh bread scent. He took a small bite, chewing cautiously and as he swallowed he let out a choked cough. His throat felt like it was closed.

"He almost crushed your trachea. Drink it down with water," Lee handed him a full glass of pure and clear liquid. Naruto heeded the advice and his tongue cried out for the delicious taste to repeat. In theory, the enviro-fre's were nuts, but on a lighter side, their food was brilliant.

He choked down another bite, and tilted his head upward, eyeing the bug-eyed boy.

"So…When can I get back to Sover? I have a friend, well a couple…and they're probably worried sick. They can pay you for your help, I think…"

He let his voice wander. The bowl-haired boy raised a bushy eyebrow and coughed.

"What? Not anytime soon. You've got a concussion, lacerations, a couple broken ribs…not to mention you can barely speak without your throat acting up." Naruto hadn't thought the other boy had noticed.

"You don't understand—I have to get back." Naruto knew that he sounded desperate and Lee narrowed his eyes.

"Well, let's make a deal. You tell me why Fang is out for you and I'll make the two-hour trip to inform your friends that you're alive and well. Deal?"

Naruto felt like a weight had been dropped on him. He weighed the options carefully, chewing absently on a carrot. On one hand, he could wait it out and escape…but with a two-hour trip, he was positive that he couldn't make it. On the other hand, if he told Lee, even more problems could ensue. But for the blonde, only two things at the moment seemed to matter.

One, Lee had fought against Subaku, meaning he wasn't an ally to Fang. And two, he had to inform Sasuke that he was alive and well before any drastic measures were taken, though of what nature he couldn't be sure. He leaned forward and swallowed, cringing at the tight feeling.

"Alright. But you're not going to believe me."

Lee looked intrigued and Naruto began his story.

A/N--> I'm sorry--I know all of my chapters are cliffies. It's like a habit...but I promise that it's a habit that is being alleviated. Starting with chapter 28 my chapters are about 3-4 pages longer and don't end as abruptly...so hopefully we can all make it until then.

On another note, I was so depressed that there wasn't a new chapter os Naruto this week. Another week to stew...hmmm. Oh, and even though I don't respond to all of your ideas for what could happen in the manga, I definitely take them in. I'm just trying to be considerate to those who haven't had the opportunity to discover the wonderful world of fan-subbing.

Hey, I do have a question though. I've heard that Kyou Kara Maou is a funny one and worth checking out. Comments? And also, where would I find it?

Thanks for the team effort! Hurrah.

Off to work (again) I go.