MEGA IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE
I just posted my "Summer Schedule" in the Current Updates section of my profile.
Tuesdays are when More Than Useless will be updated
Fridays are when Aseptic Vitality will be updated
Saturdays are when Dissonance will be updated
Sundays are when Hanging by a Moment will be updated
This starts today (obviously) and will continue into August. Sometimes I may post early or late, depending on vacations, but it will always be within a week's time, I hope.
Dissonance
Chapter Twenty-One: Christmas Gifts
There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good. (Edwin Denby)
Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. (Dave Barry)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
December 23rd, 2007
Minneapolis, Minnesota
For the several days, Naruto avoided Itachi.
It was maddening. Every time Itachi would try to call his house, Naruto would be taking a shower or be too busy to talk at the moment. He'd gone to Naruto's friends – the little Hyuuga and the lazy genius, both of whom had just given him looks and told him to hash it out with Naruto himself. He'd even gone to Akatsuki and waited there for hours, just to see if Naruto would show up. Itachi was starting to get a little frustrated. He hadn't thought that when Naruto said he needed time, he needed them to stay completely away. Itachi had thought he'd at least still have Naruto as a friend, even if he couldn't have him as a . . . . well, as a lover.
Itachi shook his head at the thought. It was still new to him, this whole business of liking Naruto as more than a friend. He'd known that he had a soft spot for Naruto, and that being with him made Itachi happy in a way that he hadn't been since his family's death. But it hadn't even been until that night in the car that he'd come to the true realization of how much he liked Naruto.
Seeing Naruto sitting in his passenger seat, crying silently and looking vulnerable and tired . . . . It had made Itachi want to help him, in any way that he could. Before he'd even known what he was doing, he'd leaned forward and taken his lips in a kiss, and then he couldn't stop, because Naruto's lips were bliss. He hadn't tasted of cotton candy or popsicles (all Itachi could remember of the taste was the distinct edge of salt), and it had been obvious that Naruto hadn't kissed much in his life, but it had been wonderful, nonetheless. It had been in that moment when Itachi realized that, yes, he'd been harboring a crush that had steadily grown into a kind of infatuation with Naruto for quite some time.
This just proved Itachi's theory that all geniuses were stupid when it came to emotions.
Still, he hadn't expected Naruto to spout of romantic poems back at him, but he'd been hoping for . . . . something. He'd withheld his disappointment at hearing that Naruto needed more time because, to be honest, Itachi needed a little time to process what he was going through. But it had been five days, and Itachi was more than willing to start talking things out. Except Naruto kept avoiding him. It was starting to get a little ridiculous. Out of the two of them, Naruto was always the spouting out his feelings, and now that Itachi wanted to do so, he found himself being rebuffed over and over again.
On the day that marked the five days since their kiss, Itachi decided enough was enough. He got into his car and drove to Naruto's house.
When he rang the doorbell, an older man opened the door. Itachi assumed this was Jiraiya.
"Who're you?" Jiraiya said, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Itachi," Itachi answered. Jiraiya's eyes lit up in recognition. "Is Naruto here?"
Jiraiya hesitated. Itachi tensed and waited to be told that Naruto had just left, or was too busy to take visitors or something like that. Instead, Jiraiya sighed and held the door open for Itachi to enter.
"Look, I don't know why he's avoiding you," Jiraiya said as he led Itachi into the living room. "But if you did anything to hurt that kid, don't make me regret letting you into my house." He gave Itachi an impressive stare. Itachi was almost intimidated.
"I won't, sir," he said quietly. "Where is he?"
"Upstairs," Jiraiya said, gesturing to the nearby staircase as he sank into a chair. "Just follow the music," he added with a chuckle. Itachi didn't respond, already halfway up the stairs. Jiraiya watched him go and shook his head.
"That kid's got it bad," he said. Itachi, on the stairs, heard him.
You have no idea, he thought, but didn't stop to voice his opinion to Jiraiya. Instead, he continued up the stairs. When he heard the soft playing of music from behind one of the doors, he smiled, just a tiny bit. It was time to make his move. Silently, he moved to the third door down the hall and cracked the door open, drinking the music in. He hadn't heard Naruto sing in several days, which was the longest he'd gone without it since meeting the blond. Itachi had never realized how happy hearing Naruto sing made him feel.
"You could be my unintended
Choice to live my life extended
You could be the one I'll always love
You could be the one who listens to my deepest inquisitions
You could be the one I'll always love."
Itachi crept inside. Naruto was on his bed, his eyes closed and his voice up in a lovely falsetto range that Itachi rarely heard him use. Itachi took him in, glad to finally look his fill after two weeks of absence. He didn't move as Naruto shifted back, his eyes opening. They widened when they saw Itachi, but Naruto didn't stop singing.
"I'll be there as soon as I can
But I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before."
Naruto stared at Itachi, music still pouring out of him, but the shock had been replaced by a sort of strange defiance. Naruto's chin lifted, and the lyrics changed from a song he'd just been singing for the fun of it to a pointed message.
"First there was the one who challenged
All my dreams and all my balance
She could never be as good as you.
You could be my unintended
Choice to live my life extended
You should be the one I'll always love."
Naruto's voice wavered a bit on the word love, and Itachi had to suppress the smile he felt floating up. He raised an eyebrow, almost as a silent challenge, and Naruto's hesitation vanished immediately in the face of it. Instead, he smiled brightly as he finished his song. Itachi's heart ached a little bit. He didn't like to think how much he'd missed Naruto after only several days. How much more would he miss the blond if he was gone for longer?
"I'll be there as soon as I can
But I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before
I'll be there as soon as I can
But I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before
Before you."
The last note trembled out and Naruto took a deep breath before he spoke. "What're you doing here?" he said evenly. Itachi snorted.
"You were avoiding me," he said plainly. "I believe it is time we talked."
Naruto frowned, tensing. "I thought you were going to give me time, Itachi," he said. "It's only been a few days!"
"Five days," Itachi corrected, then considered how exactly to word his answer. "I didn't expect you to completely avoid me, Naruto," he said quietly. "I thought we could still have our friendship, if nothing more." Naruto turned red.
They were silent for a few moments. "I'm sorry," Naruto said finally. "I didn't mean to keep blowing you off like that. But I just . . . well, I needed time to think over, that's all. And I felt like if you there, being all . . . ." he gestured, as if that said enough about what Itachi was. Itachi smirked.
"All what?" he asked, his voice nearly a purr. Naruto's blush deepened.
"I dunno!" he cried. "Tall and manly and mysterious! I'll have you know, it's quite attractive." Itachi couldn't stop his lip from twitching when Naruto, of all things, pouted at him. "I felt like if I was around you, my judgment wouldn't be that great."
"So you can't trust yourself to say no to me?" Itachi asked, feeling amused by the concept. Naruto looked away.
"Not really," he said quietly. Itachi's humor faded.
"Naruto," he said seriously, drawing Naruto's eyes back to his face. "If you still wish to wait, I won't pressure you. But promise me we can still be friends while you are figuring this out."
Naruto bit his lip for a moment, and Itachi was worried he was going to get denied. It was a new concept. He'd never been denied or rejected his entire life, but now this short blond had all of his happiness in the palm of his hand.
"Alright," Naruto said and Itachi sighed in relief. Naruto grinned at him. "But no funny business, mister!"
Itachi smirked. "Hn," he said, and had to stop himself from smiling when Naruto puffed up and began to rant about Uchihas and their Hns. He had missed this.
Akatsuki always held a party on the day before Christmas Eve, when they would shut down. Ino and Sakura were determined for Naruto to go.
"But—But—I promised Jiraiya I'd play Parcheesi with him!" Naruto protested as Ino marched into his room with dark clothes hanging off her arms, prepared to drag him there kicking and screaming.
"No he didn't," Jiraiya said, leaning against the doorway and looking amused. Naruto glared at him, but Jiraiya just grinned. Traitor, Naruto thought, pouting.
"Look, Itachi will be there, but it won't be awkward at all!" Ino said, setting down the clothes that she had apparently brought for Naruto on the bed. "It'll be the perfect opportunity for you to kiss and make up!"
Naruto shifted uncomfortably. "Well—"
"Wait," Jiraiya interjected, frowning, "isn't Itachi the boy that came over yesterday?"
Ino swirled around. "He came over and you didn't tell me?" she demanded. Sakura hid a grin behind her hands as Naruto shrunk before Ino's wrath. "Give me the details, now!"
"Uh, there's not much to tell," Naruto said, trying to inch away from the angry blonde in front of him. "He came and we agreed to just be friends for now." By the door, Jiraiya frowned and wondered what Naruto meant by just be friends. He knew that Itachi kid had seemed pretty hung up on his charge, but he hadn't thought that they had acted on it. Jiraiya's narrowed thoughtfully.
"That's it?" Ino said. "You guys kiss—"
"What!" Jiraiya yelped in shock. Sakura had to turn away to hide her laughter.
"—and avoid each other for nearly an entire week," Ino continued, ignoring Jiraiya, "and you just decide to be friends?"
"You kissed that boy?" Jiraiya demanded to know. "When? Why? Do I need to beat him up?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint your needs," Naruto told Ino dryly, "but I still needed more time to decide on things. Yes, I kissed Itachi," he said to Jiraiya, "it was the night of the winter concert, and he kissed me. No, you don't need to beat him up, he was a perfect gentlemen, you overprotective mother hen." Naruto sighed and looked over at Sakura. "Thanks for not helping," he told her and she waved a hand in welcome, still laughing.
Jiraiya pouted. "I am not an overprotective mother hen," he said. "See if I ever act concerned about you again."
Naruto laughed. "Alright, an overprotective father rooster. Does that make you feel manlier?"
Jiraiya thought about it. "Yes, it does actually," he said, adopting a haughty tone just to see Naruto laugh again.
"Whatever gender you assign your guardian doesn't matter!" Ino cried, interrupting their banter. Jiraiya choked on a laugh. "Why didn't you tell me all of this happened the minute he left?"
Naruto looked at her. "I didn't know you wanted to be told immediately," he said.
Ino sighed. "Well, of course. Your love-life is fascinating, Naruto!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I think I prefer being dressed up like a doll to this," he groused, eyeing the clothes he was going to be forced into warily. "Wait a second, those aren't leather, are they?" he asked with apprehension, already knowing the answer.
Ino grinned evilly, reveling in her revenge at not getting the scoop two seconds after it happened. "Oh yes," she said. "Not only that, but Shikamaru helpfully submitted your size to me, so I decided to go one smaller."
Naruto paled. Damn you Shikamaru, he thought. I'll get you for this. "Why?" he questioned weakly.
Ino beamed. "So they'll be painted on, of course! After Itachi sees you in these, he won't be able to keep his hands off of you!"
"Okay, that's about as much as I can take," Jiraiya said, walking away with his hands over his ears. He didn't want to think about Naruto getting someone hands on him ever.
Naruto groaned and covered his face with his hands. "You know, for a lesbian you have a strange fascination with me getting together with Itachi," he muttered into his palms. Ino, however, seemed to have supernaturally sharp hearing.
"What, I can't find two guys together hot?" she demanded. Sakura shifted uncomfortably and decided not to mention that she found it a little hot too. "I'm a lesbian, yeah, but I'm not blind. You two are very pretty together, I'll have you know, and I happen to appreciate it when two pretty people get together, no matter what gender they are." She glared at him for extra effect.
Naruto blushed a little, but made a mock-surrender gesture. "Alright, alright! Just give me the clothes!"
Ino and Sakura exchanged looks.
"Change into them," Sakura said, "and then we'll work on your make-up and hair."
Naruto paled. "Makeup? Hair?" he whimpered. "Oh God, just kill me now."
"No can do," Ino said cheerfully, steering him towards the bathroom. "The blood would get all over the carpet."
Akatsuki was crowded with people when Naruto, Ino and Sakura arrived.
"I see Shikamaru over there!" Ino said in Naruto's ear, taking Sakura by the hand and leading them both to a table near the stage. Naruto felt his face heat up when he noticed that Itachi was there, and watching him.
"Nice clothes, Uzumaki," Shikamaru said, smirking a little. Naruto glared at him, discomfort fading in the face of indignation.
"I'll get you for this, Shikamaru!" he cried. "What were thinking, giving my size to them?"
"I was thinking free entertainment," Shikamaru said. His eyes flickered to Itachi. "And that maybe I'd be helping you out like you helped me."
Naruto sighed. "I didn't need any help," he said, his eyes moving subtly towards Itachi. "I already helped myself, thanks."
Shikamaru's eyes widened the tiniest bit, and then he smirked. "Oh did you," he murmured.
"What are we talking about?" Neji said, sliding into a seat next to his boyfriend and holding a soda in his hand. Naruto was blushing red and Shikamaru was smirking at him. Neji raised an eyebrow. "Something interesting then, hm?" he drawled.
Naruto groaned, hiding his face. "You two are both evil, especially when you join forces."
Neji and Shikamaru looked at each other with identical smirks. Sakura, looking amused, patted Naruto sympathetically on the back.
"We're just looking out for you Naruto," she said kindly. Naruto sighed and took his face out of his hands. His cheeks heated up again when he realized Itachi was watching him. Itachi's lips twitched and Naruto was certain that the Uchiha was laughing at him, in his own Uchiha way. His eyes narrowed, but before he could accuse Itachi of smirking at his pain, he was interrupted.
"Hey gang!" Naruto looked up in surprise. He usually only saw Kiba during Music Theory class, where he sat next to him. They talked quite a bit, actually (to Mr. Uchiha's disapproval) but Naruto had come to quite like Kiba, despite his brash attitude. They'd even become semi-friends, despite the fact that Naruto never really saw him outside of that class. Well, until now, that is.
"Kiba," he said with a smile, standing up to greet him. "What're you doing here? I've never seen you at Akatsuki before."
Kiba, to Naruto's immense amusement, started to blush. "Well, uh—" He cleared his throat. "You're friends with Hinata Hyuuga, aren't you?"
Naruto took in Kiba's flustered look and bright red face and put the facts together instantly. "Why? Does dog boy have a little crush?" he teased. He'd heard the stories of Kiba's "many conquests" in class, but he'd always thought that Kiba boasted too much. To see him blushing and stuttering to talk to little Hinata Hyuuga was hilarious. Kiba blushed brighter.
Neji looked up with narrowed eyes. "What was that?" he said in a low, dangerous voice. Shikamaru put a hand on his arm, looking vaguely amused. Kiba, on the other hand, looked ready to tuck tail and run. Naruto laughed.
"Stop being such a mother-hen, Nejiko," he said. Kiba choked on his own spit and Ino burst out laughing. Kiba looked at him in horror, probably expecting Neji to take his head off. Neji, however, was still glaring at Kiba, so there was no chance of that. "He's harmless." Kiba managed to get over his own shock long enough to be indignant about that comment.
"Hey—" he started to protest, then saw the look on Neji's face. "Uh, I mean, yeah, I'm totally harmless," he stuttered instead. "Totally, completely, utterly harmless." Sakura giggled and Naruto choked on a laugh. Kiba gave them a side-glare, but he didn't say anything about it.
Neji eyed him closely for a moment longer, then relaxed. "Alright," he muttered. "But if you get close to Hinata, just know I'll be watching you Inuzuka."
Kiba gulped. "Duly noted, Neji. Hyuuga. Sir." Naruto half-expected him to salute.
Naruto laughed. "Hinata should show up soon, Kiba," he told his friend. "You can just hang out with us until she does, of course."
Kiba looked at Neji and then back at Naruto. "Uh, I'll come back later," he said. He gave an awkward wave and disappeared into the crowd. Naruto turned to Neji, grinning.
"You didn't have to be so mean!" he said, although the laughter in his face told that he didn't mind as much as he said he did. Neji scowled.
"If he wants to date Hinata, he needs to take care of her," he growled.
Naruto smiled. "A little overprotective, aren't we?" he said mildly. When Neji gave him a look, Naruto held up his hands in surrender. "It's alright, I am too when it comes to Hinata."
"She's such a delicate little thing, it's hard not to want to watch out for her," Ino commented, watching the byplay with interest. Sakura nodded in agreement.
"I am sure that Hinata can look after herself," Itachi said, speaking for the first time since Naruto arrived. Naruto looked over, locking eyes with him. Itachi's eyes were very dark, Naruto noticed absently. They were the type of eyes that a person could get lost in, if they really let themselves go . . . .
"Naruto."
Naruto shook himself out of his daze and turned to see Gaara staring at him. He grinned and launched himself at the red-head.
"Gaa-chan!" he cried. "You came!"
Gaara's eye didn't even twitch at the nickname anymore. "You asked me to," he said blankly. He moved back to the table, with Naruto still clinging to him.
"Well yeah, but I know this isn't really your scene," Naruto said, gesturing to the packed dance floor and the girl on stage who was wailing out a Pink song and only hitting about half of the notes. Naruto winced and turned back to Gaara. "I didn't really expect you to show," he added.
Gaara just shrugged. His eyes went down to Naruto's clothes. Naruto sighed and tugged on the tight dark blue button-down Ino had forced on him.
"It's all their fault!" he said, pointing at the girls, who were busy whispering in each other's ears and ignoring him. Naruto pouted down at his tight black leather pants and combat boots. "I could barely fit in these things," he complained to Gaara. Naruto's eyes narrowed when he saw the slight amusement in Gaara's face. "What? You find my pain amusing?" he said with a pout.
"No, just your complaining," Gaara said, unperturbed by Naruto's suddenly pissy tone.
"Thanks a lot," Naruto grumbled. The group's attention was diverted by Deidara, who was on the stage, speaking into the microphone.
"Next up is Haku Hyoton! Please give him a warm welcome, everyone!" The claps sounded muffled because of how many people were packed inside Akatsuki. Naruto straightened up. Haku? He thought, frowning. That names sounds familiar . . . .
His face brightened when he saw it was the boy he'd met a few weeks earlier, the one who had played the amazing prank. He was followed out by Deidara, who took a seat at the piano that had been rolled out a few moments earlier. Haku smiled a little as he stepped forward toward the microphone. Naruto heard a few whistles throughout the crowd and assumed that they were from people who had been there the night Haku had performed the first night.
"Hello," Haku said, a little shyly. He turned to look back at Deidara, who gave him a nod. Turning back, he took a deep breath. Naruto leaned forward as the opening chords played, his eyes intent on Haku's face.
"I am colorblind
Coffee black and egg white
Pull me out from inside
I am ready, I am ready
I am ready
I am taffy stuck and tongue tied
Stutter shook and uptight
Pull me out from inside
I am ready, I am ready
I am ready
I am . . . fine."
Haku was singing more deeply than he had the first time, but this was a song meant for a man's voice so it only made sense. His face didn't reveal anything, but Haku's eyes shone darkly under the bright lights of the stage, shimmering with some strange emotion. Naruto pressed his lips together thoughtfully. What are you hiding? He thought. What is hurting you?
"I am covered in skin
No one gets to come in
Pull me out from inside
I am folded, and unfolded, and unfolding
I am colorblind
Coffee black and egg white
Pull me out from inside
I am ready
I am ready
I am ready
I am . . . fine
I am . . . fine
I am fine."
No, you're not, Naruto thought as he watched Haku bow to claps and head off-stage. The question is, should I find out why? He was already on his feet before he'd made a decision. Naruto couldn't stand to see people in pain, not if he could do something about it. Since he'd moved to this city with Jiraiya, he'd found more hurt people than he probably could in a lifetime, and he'd helped as many of them as he could just by being there for them. He wanted to do the same with Haku.
"Naruto?" Itachi questioned quietly, eyes following the blond who was making his way around the table. Naruto paused, looking back at Itachi.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. He looked at the rest of the table. One by one, they met his eyes and nodded, some smiling, some rolling their eyes, some showing amusement in their own subdued way. Naruto's friends knew him. The thought warmed Naruto more than he thought it could.
"Alright," Itachi accepted. He watched Naruto walk away. If they drifted a bit up and down the blond's body, he was the only one to notice.
Ino leaned over to him. "His ass does look delicious in those pants, doesn't it?" Itachi sighed. No one to notice except for Ino of course.
Naruto, unaware of how delicious his ass looked in his leather pants, hurried to the side door where he knew the performers exited from. He got there just as Haku was going out. Haku stopped in his tracks when he saw Naruto, his eyes widening as he took in the blond.
"Naruto," he said hesitantly. "What are you doing here?"
Naruto smiled. "My friends dragged me here for the party. And because they wanted to dress me up," he added, tugging on his button-down. Something in Haku's face shuttered at that sentence and Naruto's smile faded. "Why don't you join us?" he suggested. "We didn't have much time to talk last time."
Haku smile was tight and fake. "No thanks," he said. "I should be getting home. My father . . . worries."
Naruto bit his lip. "Haku," he said gently. "I know we don't know each other well and that it's really none of my business . . . . But I can tell that you're in pain." Haku's shoulders tensed. "I don't know why or what kind it is . . . but if I can, I'd like to help." Naruto smiled gently. "I seem to make a habit of it, actually."
Haku lips tightened. "Thank you for your concern," he said, trying to be gentle, but failing to hide the bite behind his words. "But you're right – it really is none of your business."
Naruto sighed. "Will you still sit with us?" he asked. "We won't ask about it or anything."
Haku eyed Naruto for a moment. His dark eyes thawed a little. "Alright," he agreed. "But I can only stay for a little while."
Naruto grinned at him. "That's fine," he said. He led Haku back to their table. Sakura and Ino had both vacated the table for some reason or another, but Hinata had finally showed up, looking gorgeous in a black dress that Naruto was sure she wouldn't have worn a few months ago. Naruto grinned when he saw her.
"Hina-chan!" he cried, and grabbed her in a hug. Hinata laughed, hugging him back just as tightly. "How's my favorite Christian rock-star?"
Hinata smiled brightly. "I'm fine, Naruto," she said warmly. "And how have you been?" Her eyes darted to Itachi, who was watching them both.
"Oh, I'm fine," Naruto stressed. He didn't know if he was amused or annoyed that all of his friends seemed determined to patch things up between him and Itachi. "Hinata, everyone, do you remember Haku?"
The group all exchanged hellos with Haku, trying to make him feel welcome. They each knew it was entirely likely that Naruto would be having a heart to heart with the teen in the future and that, eventually, he would become a part of their group.
When the introductions had died down, Naruto turned to Hinata. "You know, Kiba came by earlier and said he wanted to talk to you . . . ." he said innocently, delighting in Hinata's startled look and blush. "Why don't you go find him and talk?" he suggested, winking. Hinata hit him playfully on the shoulder, laughing even as her blush deepened, and got to her feet.
"Hinata," Neji said as she started to leave. Hinata turned to look at him, a dark eyebrow raised in question. Neji hesitated, then sighed. "Be careful, alright?" Hinata looked startled, but then smiled brightly at Neji.
"I will, don't worry," she said and then turned to disappear into the crowd.
The table was silent for a moment until Naruto crowed, "Aw, you're so cute when you get overprotective Nejiko!"
Neji sighed again. "Will you ever stop calling me that?"
Naruto beamed at him. "Nope."
Shikamaru leaned on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Just give up," he murmured. "It's too troublesome to argue with him."
Neji smiled. "True," he agreed.
Naruto eyed them suspiciously. "Why do I get the feeling I'm being mocked here?"
"Because you are," Shikamaru told him bluntly. Naruto mocked a gasp and put his hand over his heart.
"That hurts Maru-Maru," he said. "Right here."
Shikamaru snorted. "Sure it does," he said sarcastically. "I can hear your heart breaking from here."
"Naruto!" Ino came up to the table, interrupting their snark-fest. "Aren't you going to dance with us?"
Naruto blinked in her in surprise before rubbing the back of his neck a little sheepishly. "Well, I'm not that great at dancing . . . ."
Ino grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet. "C'mon! It's easy!" She turned sly eyes on Itachi. "What about you, Itachi? Do you know how to dance?"
Itachi inclined his head. "Deidara made sure I knew how," he added dryly. Ino's smirk made him almost regret admitting to the ability.
"Well, you come too! Naruto will need a partner." Itachi met Naruto's eyes, questioning silently. Naruto smiled, nodding, and Itachi rose to his feet.
The dance floor was crowded with people. Naruto got knocked into more times than he could count before they reached a clearer space where Sakura was already dancing. Naruto smiled as he watched her. He supposed that she had about as much practice as he had at dancing; her movements were somewhat awkward and she looked a little self-conscious. As soon as Ino approached her, however, she brightened and relaxed, showing that she was actually a decent dancer.
"Just move with the beat, blondie!" Ino called out, making sure she was heard over the music. "Follow Itachi's lead!"
Naruto turned to Itachi, feeling a flush climbing up the back of his neck. A little while back, this wouldn't have been as awkward, but knowing Itachi's feelings for him, not to mention Naruto's own confused feelings for Itachi made it about twenty times worse. Itachi, however, looked a little amused at Naruto's discomfort and pulled him closer. He leaned down to Naruto's ear.
"Feel the music, Naruto," he murmured. "And then move."
Naruto relaxed a little bit. He took a deep breath and listened to the music. For once, there was no singer, only a few of the employees onstage, playing an instrumental song together. The deep, heavy bass and drum background made the beat easy to find, and the lighter guitar riffs made it pleasing to the ear. Naruto found his hips moving almost without his consent, rocking to the beat. Naruto's torso followed suit.
As Naruto became more and more comfortable, his body moved more fluidly. He didn't think about how he was on a dance floor, surrounded by dozens of people – instead all he thought about was the beat, the music. He drowned in it, unaware of anything else. At least, he was until he felt Itachi's fingers at his moving hips. His eyes snapped open (when had they closed?) to see Itachi smirking down at him, inches away. Naruto's movements faltered.
"Naruto," Itachi murmured. Naruto was barely able to hear him over the beat. "Dance."
Naruto took another deep breath. It was just Itachi. He had nothing to feel awkward about. Even so, Naruto closed his eyes again. It took him a few moments to recover his focus on the music, but eventually he managed to find the same awareness of the beat and how to move his body to it. Eventually, he even stopped noticing Itachi's body, moving in synch with his own. All he could hear was the music.
Shikamaru couldn't see Naruto in the mess of customers crushed on the dance floor, but he had managed to glimpse Itachi's distinctive ponytail a few times and figured Naruto wouldn't be far away. He smirked a little as he imagined how his friend was coping with dancing with the person he'd kissed not so long ago. He turned back to the table. Since everyone had left, it was only Neji, himself, and the newcomer, Haku, who was looking very uncomfortable.
"Well, I'll just go," he said finally. He started to stand, but Shikamaru laid a hand on his arm.
"Why don't you stay?" he suggested gently. "Naruto will probably want to talk to you when he gets back."
Haku sent an uncertain look towards the dance floor, but he sat back down. Shikamaru eyed the other boy quietly, taking in his uncertain expression, the pale and beautiful features, and the trembling hands he was trying to conceal beneath the folds of worn jacket that he was clutching. Naruto had an eye for these things, Shikamaru decided. This boy was in pain. But Shikamaru wouldn't question why. He wanted to know and he wanted to help, but he was well aware that Naruto was better versed in the art of empathy than he was. The task of convincing Haku to confess his hurts would be laid at Naruto's feet.
"Have you known Naruto long?" Haku asked, apparently curious about the nosy blond.
"For a few months now," Neji interjected. "He started school with us in the fall, and we all met him then."
Haku looked surprised. "Such a short time? I thought you all had known each other for much longer."
Neji and Shikamaru exchanged looks. "Naruto makes us all feel comfortable with him and with each other," Neji concluded. His lips turned up into a wry smile. "And he has a habit of playing matchmaker."
Haku's head tilted to the side thoughtfully. "Those two girls – Ino and Sakura – they're together?" he mused out loud. Shikamaru was surprised he'd been able to come to that conclusion so quickly.
"Yes," Shikamaru said simply. He waited to see if Haku would figure the other couple out. He could feel Neji tensing beside him – his boyfriend hadn't expected Haku to figure out who he was talking about. Serves you right, he thought to Neji. Never underestimate someone's intelligence, not unless given the evidence that proves your prejudice. He wondered what Neji would do if Haku called them on their relationship. Neji was still uncomfortable with people knowing outside of their group. Shikamaru hoped that he could wean Neji out of that discomfort in the future, but for now . . . .
Haku, however, didn't say anything more. But his eyes were thoughtful as they darted between Neji and Shikamaru. Shikamaru smiled a little. Sharp, he thought. I think I like him. He always appreciated smart people.
He looked up when he heard laughter approaching them, and his smile deepened when he saw a sweat-drenched Naruto, Itachi, Ino and Sakura approaching them, all except Itachi laughing. And he's even smiling, the unemotional bastard, Shikamaru thought, eyeing the fond smile on Itachi's face with no little amazement.
"That was amazing!" Naruto gushed, sitting down and wiping his brow free of sweat.
"You were amazing!" Ino crowed, pulling Sakura close to her side. Sakura blushed, looking shyly at Haku. Haku, however, just smiled at her. "You both are such naturals!"
Sakura smiled up at her girlfriend. "I had a good teacher," she murmured quietly. Ino beamed down at her. Naruto watched them both with a fond smile before turning to Shikamaru and Neji.
"So, how are you two?" he said, still wiping sweat from his forehead. "I haven't asked yet."
Shikamaru shook his head. "We're fine, Naruto," he said fondly. He looked at Neji, wondering if his boyfriend would tell Naruto tonight. The news had come only a few days ago, and while Neji had informed Shikamaru right away, he had yet to tell any of their friends. Neji met his eyes, then nodded.
"I've decided to step down from the Orchestra," he announced. Naruto gaped at him. All of their friends looked just as surprised. "Not completely," Neji assured them. "I'll be a fill-in pianist. But I need to focus on my exams in the spring, and with our extra concert I just won't have enough time to do so." His lips turned bitterly. "And also, my father insisted on it. He felt that I was becoming a little too deeply attached to something that I cannot pursue after high school."
Naruto leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What?"
Neji fell silent, so Shikamaru spoke for him. "His father has always intended for Neji to take up the family business, especially now that Hinata has been disowned. He's . . . forbidden him from becoming a professional musician."
"What?" Naruto exploded. A couple of people nearby shot their table startled looks. Naruto didn't care. "He's making you give up music? The no-good, dirty, shit-faced bastard—"
"Naruto—" Neji tried to interrupt.
"—how dare he try to tell you to give up what he wants just for his own plans—"
"Naruto—"
"—stupid religious fuckface—"
"NARUTO."
Naruto finally shut up and turned to Neji, still visibly angry. Neji's eyes softened when he saw how upset his friend was. He leaned forward and took Naruto's hands. The rest of the table, excluding Haku, was surprised at how affectionate Neji was being. Usually he never invaded personal space.
"Thank you for your support," he said gently, "but I've already accepted this. I've expected it for years now." His hands fell away from Naruto's. "I suppose you could call it my fate."
Naruto's lips thinned. He stood up from the table, visibly trembling. "That's it then? You're just going to give up?" he demanded. Neji looked at him.
"What would you have me do, Naruto?" he said. "I love music, you know I do, but how can I go against the family that took me in after my father's death?"
"Hinata managed it, and he's her biological father," Naruto said angrily. His eyes turned to Shikamaru. "And it's not like you're not already going against them."
Neji closed his eyes. "Yes, and I don't even have the strength to tell them about that, Naruto. I just . . . I don't have the will to do that. I don't have Hinata's strength."
Naruto slammed his hand down on the table. "Damnit!" he exclaimed. He breathed heavily for a moment, before looking up at Neji again. "You do have the strength, Neji," he said, quietly and intensely. "I just hope you figure that out before it's too late." He looked at the rest of the table, who were all watching them with wide eyes. "I think it's time to go home," he said heavily. "I'll see you all after the holidays."
He stalked away from the table. Ino gave Neji a hesitant smile before hurrying after him, Sakura on her heels. Neji watched him go with a heavy heart. He'd had a feeling that Naruto's reaction would be intense. The blond loved nothing more than music – to see someone give it up so easily, especially one of his friends, would hurt him deeply. But Neji just didn't know what to do. He didn't have Hinata's strength – he couldn't give up his family, not even for music. They were convoluted and flawed and blind – but they were his family. But at the same time, he was already involved in something that would earn their disapproval . . . . Neji stood abruptly. He knew Shikamaru was watching him, but he didn't look at his boyfriend as he moved away from the table, moving toward the main doors for fresh air. He needed to think.
Naruto huffed as he hurried towards his door. Sakura and Ino had both been talking to him in the car, trying to convince him that Neji's decision wasn't as horrible as he made it out to be. But they didn't get it. For a long time of his life, even continuing into the present, music was all he had. It took the place of family, of friends, of love. It had been his constant companion for years. For Neji to just give it up, without fight or fuss . . . it broke Naruto's heart. Neji had so much potential as a musician. He could do so much as a professional. But he was throwing it away. Naruto supposed that if he'd had family after Kushina who had asked him to do the same thing, he might understand. But as it was, he didn't, and he couldn't understand.
Naruto stopped in front of his door, breathing heavily. He needed to calm down. It wasn't his life. Naruto closed his eyes. He had to think of Neji, of how much his friend must be suffering. Naruto knew Neji loved music dearly. To have to give it up for his family . . . . And what about Shikamaru, Naruto wondered. Neji had already defied his family there. Would their relationship remain secret, just to satisfy the Hyuuga homophobia? Or would Neji regain the strength that Naruto knew he had in order to defend his relationship and sexuality? Naruto didn't know.
Naruto had never met any member of the Hyuuga family beyond Neji and Hinata, but he found that he already disliked them quite a bit for what they had done to his two favorite members. Naruto sighed and opened his eyes, his anger dispelling. He had been wrong to yell at Neji and condemn him. He should have supported him instead. He would have to call Neji tomorrow and apologize. Decided, Naruto started to open his door, only to have his foot hit something solid. Frowning, he knelt and picked up a covered glass jar sitting in front of his door. He hadn't noticed it because of the dark. Naruto eyed it warily. Was it something else from Minato? Or another gift from Kyuubi?
Naruto hastily unscrewed the top. He glanced inside and stared in puzzlement at the substance inside. Slowly, realization dawned. Bile rose up in his throat until he threw the jar to the side and fell to the ground, heaving in the snow. The jar was full of stale semen. Naruto had no doubt about whom it belonged to. And, to make everything ten times worse, he caught sight of the unscrewed top he had dropped in his disgust.
It said, Thinking of you.
There wasn't a signature.
As Naruto heaved in the snow, tears trickled down his face, freezing to his skin in the cold temperature. Why couldn't Kyuubi just leave him alone? Why couldn't the nightmare just end? As the heaves stopped, the sound of sobbing came into the air, muffled by the blankets of snow surrounding him.
Unbeknownst to Naruto, a pair of black eyes watched from the house next door. Sasuke Uchiha turned away, his job over, and tried not to feel any guilt as the sounds of sobs followed him.
Author's Note: So . . . that was Kyuubi's big surprise. Yey? I don't know about you guys, but if I got a jarful of spunk from a man who had tortured me as a child, I'd be a little disgusted too. Blegh. I was disgusted just writing it. Hopefully the Neji situation makes sense. Haku's secrets will be revealed sometime in the next few chapters . . . . And Itachi and Naruto will have more moments in the future, promise! Please leave a review!
MEGA IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE (for those of you who ignored the one at the top)
I just posted my "Summer Schedule" in the Current Updates section of my profile.
Tuesdays are when More Than Useless will be updated
Fridays are when Aseptic Vitality will be updated
Saturdays are when Dissonance will be updated
Sundays are when Hanging by a Moment will be updated
This starts today (obviously) and will continue into August. Sometimes I may post early or late, depending on vacations, but it will always be within a week's time, I hope.
Songs Used in This Chapter (in chronological order): Unintended (Muse) and Color-blind (Counting Crows).