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Well, I managed to update again... Domo argatou, Yuki-oniichan...
Enjoy...
Chapter 23: Play Our Cards
Uzumaki Naruto
I was totally excited. I'm having a drink with my oji-san at his flat! It's going to be a blast, I could see it already. He finished his business first before approaching me and slinging an arm around me. I mirrored his gesture and we both walked to the liquor store. There he bought two huge bottles of tequila, a bottle of brandy, a bottle of gin and a few cans of beers for our chaser. With the alcohol, he also bought us some chips and some snacks that we can nibble on while we drink.
"Ne, oji-san… Are you a hard drinker?" I suddenly asked him while he was paying
"Ma ne… I drink occasionally. Though I don't know if I could keep up with you." He said, taking his credit card from the cashier and pocketing it with his wallet
"I think I can't drink that much… I've got a low alcohol tolerance."
"Come on… Don't play with me… Now, help me bring these bottles. It's kinda heavy…"
He handed me the two giant towers of tequila and the extra bag of chips before picking up the rest of the things. We then went outside and called for a cab. He told the cab driver the directions and we both sat back and relaxed. The driver maneuvered through the busy streets, swerving from left to right to avoid traffic. We soon arrived at a tall building at a almost secluded part of downtown Tokyo. Not that it's the only building in the middle of a bed of trees. Oh, wait. That's what it is.
"Ne, oji-san… Where are we?"
"Jinchūriki Towers. Just a place one of my friends own. I have a floor here all for myself. So, we can hang out there and no one would bother us."
He then broke me from my mesmerized state and dragged me into the building. He then pushed the 30th elevator and leaned back on the railings. He told me to hold on, and now I really felt why. The elevator zoomed up so fast that I felt my body being pinned down by mere gravity. As soon as the elevator stopped, he then stepped out. Following his lead, we went to a somehow not-so-noticeable staircase and climbed up two flights. Finally, we reached the top floor. He pushed the door open, revealing a really lavish suite.
"Awesome…" I said, with my mouth gaped open.
And who wouldn't? Marble flooring, elegant chandeliers, 65" plasma TV with a huge stack of DVD collections, PlayStation 3 with cool games and a wicked couch over a plush white carpet. And boy, it doesn't end there. It was really a high class loft. We then set everything down and I immediately headed to the couch, slumping on the fluffy couch, almost drowning on the throw pillows.
He then placed all the bottles down on the coffee table in front of the couch and speeded off to the kitchen. He came back with two tall glasses, a really big pitcher, some powdered iced tea and iced water. He then sat on the floor, opening the brandy and the gin at the same time. He poured half of the bottles into the pitcher, some of the iced tea and water. After mixing it, he poured some on the two glasses and handed one to me.
"Bottom's up!" He said, holding out his glass
"Could I handle this stuff, oji-san?" I asked, quite uneasy about the mix
"Don't worry… You'll be fine… It's good, by the way, so you better drink up!"
I gulped down the whole contents of the glass. I squinted my eyes close to let the liquid flow down my throat. Hey, I didn't feel anything. The drink didn't do anything to me. I kept on coming glass after glass. It was really addictive. The taste is different from what I usually drink. I was surprised that I finished the pitcher's contents all by myself. Oji-san mixed up the other half of the batch, emptying the brandy and gin bottles. I kept asking for more. I wanted it. I could feel my body heat up. And I like it.
Akatsuki
Rai knew that anyone who has low alcohol tolerance would be knocked out after a few drinks of his mixes. Uzumaki was already getting the flushes. His cheeks were already tinted with a faint red stain. He could barely feel the slight warmness of the younger blonde's skin. Glass after glass, he let Naruto drink up the alcohol. Rai didn't drink much. He wanted Naruto to experience the full blown effect of the drink.
"Hey… Oji-san…" Naruto slurred
"What is it?" Rai asked
"I want more… Do you have any--"
"Of course… Hey, Naruto… Do you want to try something different?" He asked
"What is it?"
"Just wait a sec…"
Rai then got up and ran to the kitchen, slicing up a few lemons and brining the salt with him. When he sat in front of Naruto, he noticed the dazed look in his eyes. His breath reek alcohol and his speech were clearly incomprehensible. Rai then handed and thin slice of lemon to the blonde and a little salt on his other hand. He then poured a small amount of tequila into the glass, roughly about a shot.
"Now, I want you to put the salt into your mouth and sip some of that lemon…" He instructed
Naruto did as he was told. Rai then took this cue. He drank the tequila but left it in his mouth and then cupped Naruto's chin and pressed his lips on him, letting the hot alcohol run from his mouth to the younger boy's. He did so carefully, not letting any drop spill. Naruto gulped down the liquid, burning his throat as it went, but he didn't pull out from Rai's kiss. In fact, Naruto wrapped his arms around Rai's neck and pulled him closer. His tongue pushed past Rai's lips and cleaned the inner of Rai's mouth with his tongue, licking the drops of tequila that was left. The need of air finally arose and it was Naruto who pulled out, gasping and breathing for air.
"Hey, you're looking kind of sick. Are you alright?" Rai asked
"Dizzy…" It was only what Naruto was able to say
Carefully, Rai dragged Naruto into a dark room, fairly larger than the previous room he was in. A big computer monitor decorated the center of the room. He laid Naruto and the center of the room and tied his wrists down with a piece of wire and a rope over it. Naruto was far too dizzy to utter another word. As soon as he was finished, Rai snapped his fingers, and in a flash, 9 other people emerged from the darkness.
"Welcome, Naruto… To the Akatsuki's headquarters." Rai said, with a sadistic grin on his face.
Uchiha Sasuke
For the past hour I've been slashing God-knows-how-many bodyguards. Sheesh, Akatsuki knows where their enemies lie. Every nook and cranny of the building was taken into consideration. I was in the hideout of Taka. According to Deidara, this organization betrayed Akatsuki for money. They were the former suppliers of weaponry and were really up-to-date in terms of technology and machinery. They asked for a higher pay, but Akatsuki refused. They then decided to split from the main group and started their own. Now I'm really wondering why Akatsuki wanted them dead.
I took my sword and held the hilt tight. Slashing my way to the winding staircase, I finally made it through the huge metal doors. I assumed it was where the heads of this organization lie. It was after all, the last door that I haven't checked. I took my stance and slashed the thick doors, kicking them open after making a slit through. Cautiously, I went into the huge and spacious room.
It was dimly lit with a huge monitor wall on the right hand side. It reminded me so much of the Akatsuki headquarters. I walked in, calling out for the leaders to face me. I then heard footsteps from behind and I quickly turned around, a sword came clashing with my blade. From the corner of my eye, I saw a fist coming and managed to block it with my free hand. Realizing that I was in a tight fit, I immediately jumped up and evaded the other blade that was about to skewer me.
"Three to one, eh? Life could really be so unfair…" I muttered
My opponents were dressed like ninjas. Black clothes and straw sandals with matching face masks and a pouch for their kunais and shurikens. I saw the three pairs of eyes, one was flaming red, another was pale blue and the last one was a light shade of orange. All were familiar to me. It's like I've seen them somewhere, but I just can't remember where. They took their stance, and were ready to attack me. I, too, readied myself.
"Uchiha Sasuke… You won't be able to kill us..." One of them said. From her voice, I could say she was a woman.
That voice… It's so familiar.
"Come on, Uchiha! Give us your best shot…" Another said. It was a deep voice, probably the big guy at the back of the two
I've heard this somewhere… I know it… It's just in the back of my head…
"If you won't attack… Then we will…" The last one of them said
They then ran to me, all with swords at hand. I closed my eyes and blocked their attacks. Swords danced as we fought. I used the scabbard of my sword as a makeshift blade, attacking and defending the three. With some kicks and punches, I managed to send them flying across the room. The three were already panting hard. They might be amateurs. They can't even stand a ten minute battle.
I approached them and began to attack. Slashing their face mask, I want to see their identities and their facial expression. It was easier for me to fight people who revealed their faces to me. But as soon as their covers were ripped to shreds and fall on the floor, I stood in plain bewilderment as my eyes met theirs. I knew the three. I know them very well. They were…
"Suigetsu… Karin… Juugo…" I uttered softly
Three pairs of eyes looked up at me. They were my apprentices. I taught them everything they knew. We were a team before. Hebi to be exact. We did assassinations together, fought together, and killed together. We were like a family, a family which all of us never had. I didn't expect them to break their sworn loyalty to Akatsuki. But, if they did, aren't they supposed to be dead? Aren't traitors killed dead on?
"How come you're…" I asked, but Suigetsu cut me in
"This ends here… Uchiha…"
"Why? Why did you break off from the organization? You had a future in Akatsuki…"
"Stop blabbering and start attacking…" Karin spat
"But… You're… I can't… Juugo… Karin… Suigetsu…"
"Alright… Juugo, take the right side. Karin, take the left. I'll take the front." Suigetsu said
They stood up and ran to me, attacking me from all sides. I knew their moves by heart, so I easily dodged their attacks. I countered all of them, using the back of my sword to hit the throat and knock Karin down, I punched Juugo squarely at the abdomen and chopped the back of his neck and I swiped Suigetsu's leg and grabbed his arm, throwing him over my shoulder. I stowed my sword and attached it on my belt. Slowly, I approached them, wanting answers. Straight answers.
"Why did you break off from Akatsuki?" I asked again. They fell silent. "Answer me…"
"We were kicked out by the Akatsuki… They let us go…" Suigetsu began
"The truth…" I said, my eyes narrowing
"We were just…" Juugo tried to lie again
"Are you going to lie to me again, Juugo?" I said. "I know you too well… You hand tends to jerk when you're trying to tell a lie again…"
"But… We are really…" Suigetsu tried to retort
"You're really using that whining tone on me, Suigestu… Another excuse?" I said
"Enough… Both of you… Uchiha-sensei knows us too well…" Karin finally said. "We're sorry, Uchiha-sensei… We attacked you and we disrespected you…"
"Tell me why, Karin… What was the reason?" I asked her, helping her stand up
"Pein asked us to pretend we were a different organization so they can send you to assassinate us. They used us as a diversion because they are planning to do something concerning you…" Karin began
"And what was this plan about?"
"Some certain Uzumaki Naruto… He told us that he needed you out of the way so he can finish their preparations." Suigetsu continued
"But, how about you? They asked me to assassinate you. They want you dead. Is that alright with you?"
"We were afraid, Uchiha-sensei… But we had no choice…" Juugo said
"Then everything was a lie? About Taka… About you three…"
"Yes… You should go to him, Uchiha-sensei… It might not be too late… They told us they needed the time to break him and make him hate you to the point that you wanted him dead…" Karin replied.
"Arigatou, Karin… Juugo… Suigetsu… You don't know what this means to me…"
I then ran to the exit, making my way to the Akatsuki headquarters. Blood rushed through my veins. I was angry because the Akatsuki was plotting against me. I was mad because they used my former students as bait. And I was annoyed because all of this happened right after Naruto and I made up. Naruto…
Don't worry Naruto… I'm coming to save you… Wait for me…
We're already reaching the climax... Ooh... I like it...
I like the cliffies... I like the suspense... And I like making you wait for my updates... -evil laughs-
Anyway... Thanks for the answers you gave me...
I certainly had an brilliant idea with those answers...
I pity Naruto and Sasuke...
They became my pawns to the twisted story of mine... :p
Reviews please!!
maiden.blooddragons