Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Songs are: I Dare You to Move by Switchfoot and I'm Still Here by John Rzeznik. The other one is just a song my mom used to sing to me. It's kind of like Clementine and You Are My Sunshine; just another old children's song except less morbid.
Chapter Twenty – Fighting Back
Sasuke managed to slip away from Naruto around ten o'clock. He wasn't sure how long Naruto would sleep, but he wanted to have everything he needed for when he woke up. He dressed quietly and snuck out of the room. Grabbing an apple he made his way quickly to Naruto's place. Gakarui launched himself at Sasuke as soon as he opened the door and he picked him up for a minute. "Hey little guy. Give me just a few minutes and then we'll go see Naruto." He placed the purring kitten on the ground and walked over to Naruto's CD collection. Almost immediately there was a knock on the door. He sighed and went to see who it was.
"Oh. Sasuke. I didn't expect to see you here so early," Hinata said with a smile. "Is Naruto in? I heard he was upset and hadn't come back yet." Her smile faded and he saw the worry there.
"Naruto's fine. Please tell Tsunade that as well. Actually he's asleep at my place. Showed up around three in the morning. I'm actually here to get some of his stuff so that when he wakes up I might be able to make him feel a little better. Does he have a particular CD for times like this?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm glad he's back at least. And no, not really. There are many songs I could think of, but none on one CD. Did you have something specific in mind?"
"Well, I figure the song I Dare You to Move might be good at a time like this."
"Yes, that is a good one. I actually know of a CD that has that and something I think will really get through to him on it. Let me see," she said as she searched through the stacks with her eyebrows furrowed. "Here it is!" she announced happily. He took it from her and looked over the songs it contained.
"Mockingbird? As in Eminem?" he asked skeptically. How would that make him feel better?
She giggled a little. "No. It's actually a recording of his mother singing a children's song that happens to be called that. Eminem's song is loosely based on that. It's not the traditional song though. The first written rendition of that song is from a father's perspective and has a few differences. Everyone changes it up though, and the fact that it's his mother's own makes him happy. Then it has the song you were talking about. Also there's I'm Still Here, he likes that one a lot." He nodded. There were a few other songs on here, but hopefully those three would be enough.
"I was also thinking of taking him something Jiraiya had given him, but I don't think he'd want chakra blades or writing materials right now. Do you know of anything else?"
She thought about it for a few minutes and then went over to his secret stash and opened up the cavity. After rummaging through the stuff for a few minutes she stood up and presented him with a folded quilt. "He bought a piece of cloth at the first shop they went to in every town they visited during the time he was training him and on his first day as a Genin he gave him this. I'm sure it will help."
"Thanks Hinata. I think that's everything then. I have the CD, the quilt and Gakarui. Anything else you can think of?"
"Nope. I'll tell Tsunade she doesn't have to send out a search party. Good luck." She smiled softly at him before leaving. Sasuke made sure everything was as it was supposed to be and then locked the door behind him. This time the kitten seemed to behave better in the box.
"When we get there, I'll have to let you out in the living room until you settle down and then you can see Naruto, okay?" he murmured to the white fuzz ball. He passed Itachi on his way in and caught the "Good luck" he muttered as he walked in the opposite direction. Did that mean Naruto was awake already? He sure hoped not. He was relieved when he reached his room and found a sleeping blond. He let Gakarui out on the couch and he sat there calmly, looking up at him. Maybe the cat knew that it had to behave right now. It wasn't out of the realm of possibilities. Cats were smart after all. He scooped the cute little creature up and placed him on his shoulder while he went in search of that CD player that Itachi had placed in his room the other week. It was almost ten minutes before he found it. It was in the fourth closet he checked. He set everything up and spread the quilt out over Naruto. He stirred a little and Sasuke hit play. He got down on his knees and started feathering kisses all over his body, starting with his face and working his way down. Naruto woke up looking groggy when Sasuke kissed his lips and then made a slight noise of protest when he pulled away. Sasuke was pleased by the way he relaxed as soon as the raven's lips made contact with his neck. He continued to kiss him all over and felt the tension grow in him as the events of the previous day came back to him. He made a rough sound in the back of his throat and put his hands over his face. Sasuke could tell he was listening to the music though. He had to admit that the tune was soothing.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring is brass, mama's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass should crack, mama's gonna buy you a jumping jack. And if that jumping jack won't hop, mama's gonna buy you a lollypop. And when that lollypop is done, mama's gonna buy you another one. When that lollypop is all eaten up, mama's gonna buy you a real live pup. And if that real live pup won't bark, mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart. And should that horse and cart fall down, you'll still be the handsomest boy in town." The woman's voice was amazing and it was easy to see where Naruto had gotten his musical talent. He realized that the tune was the one he'd been humming in the cave. Naruto was looking at him and Sasuke felt a pang at the emotions he saw in those azure eyes. He kissed him on the mouth again as the next song began.
"Welcome to the planet. Welcome to existence. Everyone's here. Everyone's here. Everybody's watching you now. Everybody waits for you now. What happens next? What happens next?" Sasuke broke away and sang softly with chorus, the words being the ones he himself wanted to say to Naruto. "I dare you to move. I dare you to move. I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor. I dare you to move. I dare you to move. Like today never happened. Today never happened before." He went back to kissing Naruto and saw some flicker of recognition enter his gaze. "Welcome to the fallout. Welcome to resistance. The tension is here. Tension is here." He broke away again, singing the next words. "Between who you are and who you could be. Between how it is and how it should be. Yeah. I dare you to move. I dare you to move. I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor. I dare you to move. I dare you to move. Like today never happened. Today never happened before. Maybe redemption has stories to tell. Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell. Where can you run to escape from yourself? Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go? Salvation is here. I dare you to move. I dare you to move. I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor. I dare you to move. I dare you to move. Like today never happened. Today never happened. Today never happened. Today never happened before."
The next song started. "Come on, Love. Sing to me," he prodded.
The first few lines came out as little more than a wobbly whisper. "I am a question to the world, not an answer to be heard, or a moment that's held in your arms. And what do you think you'd ever say? I won't listen anyway. You don't know me, and I'll never be what you want me to be." His voice picked up a little here, but it was still very soft. "And what do you think you'd understand? I'm a boy, no, I'm a man. You can't take me and throw me away. And how can you learn what's never shown? Yeah, you stand here on your own. They don't know me 'cause I'm not here. And I want a moment to be real. Wanna touch things I don't feel. Wanna hold on and feel I belong. And how can the world want me to change? They're the ones that stay the same. They don't know me, 'cause I'm not here." His volume really went up at this part and Sasuke got goose bumps. He knew he was singing this part directly to Jiraiya. "And you see the things they never see. All you wanted, I could be. Now you know me and I'm not afraid. And I want to tell you who I am. Can you help me be a man? They can't break me as long as I know who I am. And I want a moment to be real. Wanna touch things I don't feel. Wanna hold on and feel I belong. And how can the world want me to change? They're the ones that stay the same. They can't see me, but I'm still here. They can't tell me who to be, 'cause I'm not what they see. And the world is still sleeping while I keep on dreaming for me. And their words are just whispers and lies that I'll never believe! And I want a moment to be real. Wanna touch things I don't feel. Wanna hold on and feel I belong. And how can they say I never change? They're the ones that stay the same. I'm the one now, 'cause I'm still here. I'm the one, 'cause I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here."
Naruto closed his eyes as the song ended. "I'm still here even though he's gone, and I can't just stop doing what needs to be done because I'm hurting. There's still a lot that needs to be done and Jiraiya wouldn't want me to be sad. I know that. I was actually coming back to the village to go to my office last night. I figured I'd do everything that I could in order to make sure his death was not in vain. I guess I just wasn't ready to face life though because I found myself on your doorstep when it came down to it." He sighed. "Time to start living again, huh?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd come back to me," Sasuke said with a nod. Naruto sighed again and started to sit up, but his eyes widened and his face paled as he felt the pain in a very not nice place. "Easy. Not just yet. You were a little reckless last night," Sasuke said gently, pushing him back down.
"Dammit. I thought I'd never have to deal with this again. Sometimes I really hate it when I go into one of my moods because I always end up doing stupid things." He sighed and reached up to brush his fingers across Sasuke's cheek. "Sorry about last night."
"It's okay. I'll survive. I was just really worried about you." He rubbed against his hand.
"No. I made you do something you didn't want to do. I saw how much it hurt you to hurt me. I just wasn't thinking. All I knew was that when you were doing that to me I couldn't think about the other pain and that was what I needed. Thinking back on it now though, I pretty much raped you."
"Don't say that. I would never be completely unwilling with you. You're right, I did hate hurting you. But I didn't mind making love to you. I just wish we'd gone more slowly." Sasuke leaned down and kissed him. "Are you hungry yet?"
"Not particularly, but I need to eat. I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday." Sasuke nodded and got up to go make him something light. Maybe some toast and a bowl of soup. He heard him cussing under his breath and turned around to see that Naruto had sat up again. "I thought I told you to take it easy?" he admonished.
"It doesn't hurt as bad the second time around," he lied. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, calling him on it. "Okay, so it hurts like a bitch. But I made that decision and I have to live with the consequences. I can't be bedridden until I get better you know."
Sasuke shook his head. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But you could have at least given yourself a break until breakfast was ready."
"Nah. Besides, Gakarui wants some attention," he said with a small smile. Sasuke hadn't even realized that the kitten was no longer on his shoulder. He'd actually forgotten he was even in the room. He had a right to be distracted though, so he didn't let it bother him. He made them both a light meal and sat with Naruto's back snug against his chest while they ate. Naruto sighed. "Time to jump back in. Are you ready?"
Sasuke nodded. "I'm ready. It's not me that really matters though. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," he muttered. He stood up with a grimace and gave himself a moment before he started moving. He winced for the first few steps. When he bent down to pick up Gakarui he let out a colorful string of profanities.
"You really are kind of dense sometimes Naruto," Sasuke said ruefully. "You could have just asked me to get him."
"I didn't really think about it beforehand," he admitted through his teeth. When they got to his office the people there were obviously relieved to see him. Tsunade, Kakashi, Gaara, Neji, Kabuto, Sai and Hinata were all waiting in Tsunade's office and they gave him suspicious looks when he came limping in. "Don't ask," he growled as the heat crawled across his cheeks. Tsunade laughed and Kakashi gave him a perverted look. Gaara and Neji grinned at each other. Kabuto raised a curious eyebrow. Hinata was blushing.
"Someone likes it rough," Sai said callously.
Naruto glared at him as several people in the room snorted with laughter. "Thanks Sai. I missed you too."
"I'm sorry. I was just stating an observation. I didn't realize it was inappropriate."
"Well I don't make a habit of it, thank you. It was just a momentary lapse in judgment." Naruto's face was on fire now. Sasuke was snickering beside him.
"We're glad you're back," Hinata said, finally changing the subject.
"Thanks," he said, looking at her gratefully. She gave him a small smile. He turned to Tsunade. "Alright. What was the message he sent?" he asked in complete seriousness.
"Well, we're still decoding it. It was a series of numbers and we can't crack the code. It seems like the message would have been aimed at one of us. You're the only one we haven't asked yet," she replied.
He nodded. "Call Shikamaru in with the code and I'll see what I can do." He walked a little stiffly into his office and spent a good five minutes trying to sit down. He let out a frustrated growl when he finally managed it. He hadn't realized that Shikamaru was already there and he was giving him a weird look. Sasuke was in the corner with his hand over his mouth, trying to smother the sounds of mirth coming from it. He sent him a glare. He was so going to get it later. "Don't say a word," he said to Shikamaru, over-pronouncing every syllable. The brunet just shrugged and brought over the pictures of the code.