A/N: Merry Christmas everybody! This is my special surprise to you all, I wanted to post this chapter as a Xmas present and I'm glad I managed to respect my own deadline for a change ^^'
*Cough* don't expect too much of this chapter though. It's pretty simple.
Unbetaed 'cause I have no life and no time. Sorry in advance for the horrible typos you might find along the way, I promise I'll try to fix them as soon as possible.
A special thank you to my dear and talented Solochely who commissioned the end of this fic, otherwise everybody would probably be waiting for it for another thirty years *sweats*
Many thanks to the lovely Noodlepower who donated a Ko-fi, and again, to all the previous Ko-fi givers that have spiked up my will to write. I'm really grateful!
Thank you to all of you who left Kudos and took the time to comment. You all make my day a lot brighter and I deeply love and appreciate all the love and support you have given me and this story
I hope you all enjoy the chapter, simple as it may be!
It's Not Fair
Chapter Twenty-five: Planets Align
Sasuke was shocked to find that the 'friend' Itachi had been working with at the farm was none other than their renegade third degree cousin, Shisui.
Much like Itachi himself, Shisui had been a promising young man from which the whole Uchiha family had expected great things. He and Itachi had been the best of friends ever since Sasuke could remember, but at some point Shisui had decided that he didn't want to go to college to instead travel and find something out there that would make him genuinely happy. Unlike Itachi's family, though, Shisui's parents hadn't been as understanding, which had led to Shisui's sudden disappearance a few years back. Apparently, he would call his grandmother once in a while, and this was what allowed the family to know that he was alive and doing somewhat well.
It had been quite a long time since Sasuke had even heard of the name 'Shisui', let alone actually see the guy, so knowing he and Itachi had been working together all along was quite a shock.
Shisui was older and a bit bulkier now, but his messy black hair was still cut short as before, and he was just as energetic and kind as Sasuke remembered, welcoming him with open arms and a blinding smile. Sasuke had exchanged a look with his brother that had demanded answers. Itachi had simply smirked.
Apparently, a few years ago, when Shisui had been travelling with nothing but a backpack and the clothes on his body, he had come across that farm, inhabited by an old man - a widower - who had become too debilitated to properly work the fields and take care of the animals. Things had been going downhill by the time he accepted Shisui's help in return for food and a roof over his head. Shisui's hard work had brought the farm back to life, but the old man would die soon after. The man's daughter, who lived in the capital, had tried selling the farm as it was for a few months while Shisui was still living there to keep things in check, but since it was located in such a deserted area, it had been hard to make business. Shisui had proposed that he took care of the farm and the animals for the time being while giving her a percentage of the profits of making business with the closest towns, and that was settled. After a while, Itachi had joined him, and together they had been taking care of the farm as they could, at least until they would eventually be forced to leave if someone were to purchase it in the meantime. Still, there was no denying that Shisui's sense of entrepreneurship was making things go smoothly.
Shisui manifested the desire to purchase the farm himself at some point, and somehow, Itachi hadn't rejected the idea - only they didn't have enough money, and probably never would. But these definitely weren't things that they worried about. Sasuke thought that it was nice that both Itachi and Shisui trusted and relied on each other so much that their uncertain tomorrow didn't seem to scare them the slightest bit. Then again, those two had always been the family's prodigies - there was no way they wouldn't pull off whatever it was that they'd eventually decide to do.
'One Day at the time' Shisui always said, always with a kind, carefree smile. Itachi agreed.
Life with Itachi at the farm was exhausting, but strangely peaceful as well. They always woke up with the rooster's cry, had a hearty breakfast and immediately started working the fields and tending to the animals. There was always work to be done, and even though he protested, Sasuke was grateful that Itachi kept him constantly busy, otherwise he'd probably get bored and start agonizing about things he shouldn't.
It was strange that he still managed to have fun. It felt even stranger, for him, to see his highly intelligent brother, who was supposed to have become a surgeon, look so at ease doing what most people would call 'dirty work', but truth was, it was evident that he loved the animals and was passionate about all the elements of his daily life – even Shisui, Sasuke suspected.
It wasn't like his brother and his cousin had exactly showed anything revealing; it was just certain things Sasuke noticed when they casually touched or looked at each other. Those two even slept in separate rooms. However, Sasuke was now knowledgeable enough to understand where the lines between a strong friendship and something more started to blur, even between men. It was no secret that Itachi and Shisui had always been close, but Sasuke knew his older brother enough to know that some kind of line had been crossed already. If Sasuke was selective of his friends, Itachi was the complete loner type, so each and every person in his life had to have a deep meaning to him. Shisui had always been as important to Itachi as Sasuke and their parents, and that was saying a lot.
Sasuke wanted to ask his brother what the deal was, but he guessed that said line was maybe a little ambiguous still, otherwise he was certain Itachi would've told him about it already.
Not that Itachi spoke a lot about himself, it simply wasn't in his nature. He was the quiet, wise type who would rather listen to others than let them concern themselves with his personal affairs. Plus, Itachi had a way of living, and a firm mindset, so nothing he ever did would ever not be cautiously premeditated. That was how Sasuke knew that, no matter what happened, he would be perfectly fine.
It was easy for Sasuke to fall in love with the new things he was learning and experiencing. Apart from all the work he had taught Sasuke how do, Itachi had also taught him how to ride a horse, and this was nothing short of exhilarating for Sasuke, who had been excited, yet hesitant at first. However, he was a fast learner so he had become confident rather easily. Never would he have expected to come to love horses this much.
Things were good day in and day out, with Shisui's seemingly never-ending good moods, deliciously simple meals with fresh fruits and vegetables, and peaceful nights spent with casual talking by the fireplace in the kitchen.
Sasuke had only told Itachi and Shisui a few things about how things had gone with Naruto and Karin and, of course, his brother had guessed the part where he and Naruto had already had sex. There was a bit of teasing, but Sasuke didn't mind - he should've known Itachi would always seem right through him. Still, he tried not to talk about it too much since his own brain was already exhausting him enough when it came to said situation, and thankfully, the other two didn't pressure him.
Sunsets at the farm were, however, what Sasuke always looked forward to the most. He would always sit on the wooden swing in the front porch and watch the colours shift from hues of orange to hues of purple that would darken to eerie tones in that immense scenery as the sun disappeared in the vastness of the horizon. The spectacle was something that had moved Sasuke greatly during the first few days, and he had watched it without interference, his mind so filled with fascination he could barely think of anything else. A part of him had wanted to take pictures, but he knew they'd never do the sight any justice. Bringing Naruto there someday was something he promised he'd do, regardless of the type of relationship they'd come to have.
It was at some point by the end of the first week that Sasuke felt somewhat compelled to write during those peaceful late afternoons. He didn't really have anything in mind, so in a black covered notebook he had brought with him, he just wrote whatever came to him. Sometimes, he wrote texts, other times poems. More often than not, it was just random blabbering about whatever train of thought he was having at the moment, but regardless, the words always seemed to have a strange poetic and flamboyant feel to them. He didn't show any of it to Itachi out of embarrassment, but he found that writing was a relaxing, yet deeply emotional and soul-changing experience - something like meditation, he supposed. It also gave him clarity to think about himself and the things he should be doing from now on.
As uncertain as his future was, somehow, he wasn't scared.
Phone calls were something he only did when they went to the 'nearest' towns to make business with the shops Itachi and Shisui supplied for since there was barely no connection at the farm that allowed him to use his mobile phone. Sasuke would take the opportunity to call his parents, and would try to find free Wi-Fi so he could try and talk to Naruto through WhatsApp or Facebook. Talking to Naruto, even if just a few casual words, always made his day.
During the second week, Sasuke decided to finally get rid of his wedding ring – something he hadn't really worn since the night at 'Secretus' with Naruto, but that he had carried around like a precious reminder of how things had changed.
There was a small spring of clear water at a hill about thirty minutes away from the farm if one went by foot that Shisui had once shown him, so as soon as Sasuke had a bit of free time, he took a trip there alone.
He had actually hesitated at first, wondering if it would be alright to throw his wedding ring away like this. Maybe he should keep it as memento, but didn't think Naruto would appreciate finding it - even if he would understand. Some people – Neji for example – would even say he should at least sell it to get some profit. However, neither of these options were sitting well with him, and giving the ring back to Karin would just be insulting. Besides, if he had to be completely honest with himself, he didn't want to keep it, least of all if he was to, at some point, start a new relationship with someone else.
Being with Naruto was a choice he had made. Letting go of every shackle so they could belong to each other had been hard, but he had done it, just so they could be together with nothing standing between them. That ring represented something in Sasuke's life – something that had lasted, something that had been filled with mostly good memories – so letting go of it was strangely difficult, even if he had so shamelessly thrown everything connected to it away. Sasuke had not planned on being this conflicted.
However, he really wanted to turn the page on everything that represented his life before Naruto. He was writing his own story now, and in this new one, his marriage would be nothing but a fleeting mention of an event belonging in the past. His love for Karin, and the cherishing feelings he still had for her would be enough, and they'd stay with him forever.
His hand was steady as he dropped the golden ring in the crystalline water, and since the spring wasn't deep at all, the adornment hit the pebbled bottom quickly. Sasuke watched its shape undulate with the running motions of the sparkling water, and it seemed to gleam under the morning sun.
It was a beautiful sight that left Sasuke with the most wonderful, yet solemn feeling of finality.
000
Leaving France and the dream-like life with Itachi and Shisui had been rough. Sasuke had grown to enjoy his days at the farm, and going back to the loud city where he would definitely have to start doing something for himself didn't sound very appealing. Nevertheless, he had a clear vision of his next move, so this didn't make him feel queasy at all.
Parting with Itachi was always emotional, and yet, now that Sasuke had been able to see first-hand how he lived and how content he genuinely was, somehow, it made it easier to say goodbye. Itachi was living the life he wanted, being true to himself, and for now, that was enough.
His parents and friends were more than happy to see him. He visited Jiraiya, too. Being able to talk to Naruto more frequently thanks to the internet was a blessing.
Oddly enough, Sasuke only had to look for two weeks before he was lucky enough to be accepted at a publishing company. He was a rookie and barely knew enough of editing and how that world rolled, so he worked hard and gave it his best, especially since he preferred to keep himself busy and his mind occupied rather than feeling constantly on edge, wondering when Naruto would return. He genuinely enjoyed his job, though, and was grateful that he had finally come across something steady and with promising career development.
Sasuke tried to talk to Karin a few times but she never picked up her phone. Even if he called from work or a number she didn't know, she would hang up as soon as she heard his voice. It always stung no matter how many times he got rejected.
Talking to Suigetsu about it was useless since he always told Sasuke he wouldn't pressure Karin into doing something she clearly didn't want to do, and she wasn't ready to talk to him yet. Maybe she never would.
In spite of their rocky relationship, Sakura had tried talking to Karin as well, to let her know how things had gone and to try and vouch in Sasuke's favour. However, Sakura also managed to make things worse by letting Karin know that both she and Neji had known about Naruto for months. Sasuke was exasperated, but he supposed at least Sakura had left out the fact that Itachi, too, had known. Although, maybe that wouldn't have made a lot of difference since Itachi had always had his reservations towards them getting married to begin with, and Karin had been aware of this.
In spite of how things were left between them, Sasuke thought that he and Karin should meet face to face and calmly talk things over. In a way, it wasn't like they had anything forcing them to interact anymore – they didn't even have to meet to sign the divorce papers – but somehow, after so many years of them having a relationship, it felt wrong to move away from each other like this.
Sasuke knew that he hadn't been tactful when he had asked for a divorce, and he had been brutal in several ways, too. Not only had he confessed to cheating and lying, he had also basically shoved his feelings for Naruto in Karin's face, ruthlessly letting her know there was no turning back.
For a woman who thought they loved each other and had never in a million years suspected him of cheating, being hit with the fact that Sasuke wanted to leave her because he was in love with another man (and having an affair, too) was sure to have had quite a violent impact. Sasuke was aware of this now, and it didn't lessen his guilt towards this whole situation. Now that he had thought it over, it almost sounded like he hadn't given a damn about her, and even if he had claimed to love her, the way he had put things, it was as if he hadn't loved her enough to try to work things out between them. She must've felt like the worst piece of trash.
But Sasuke had tried. He'd given himself to Naruto wholeheartedly, but had also done everything he could to work on his marriage and still see Karin as the person he wanted to be with - at least until it became useless. At a certain point, though, his feelings for Karin and Naruto had contrasted far too much, and he had unknowingly let it show.
If only he had explained things properly to Karin, maybe they wouldn't be in this situation right now.
Karin was still important to him, and even though Sasuke knew that what he had done was reason enough for her to never want to speak to him again, that wasn't what he wanted, nor how he wanted to leave things between them. Karin had the right to further vent her sadness and frustration, had the right to insult him, hate him, anything. He was willing to take it all if it meant they could settle things between them.
Unless her wanting to disappear from his life was her way of getting her own little revenge, and if that was so, there was nothing he could do.
A part of him simply needed Karin to know that he loved her and that he was genuinely sorry. There was no erasing the fact the he had disrespected her, but he didn't want her to feel like he had done it all on purpose just to hurt her.
He needed Karin to know that, in spite of his actions, he wouldn't simply give up on her.
Whenever he talked to Naruto about this, it was clear that the man felt sorry for Karin, and yet, he always told Sasuke to be patient because it was only natural and he had to accept things as they were for the time being.
Of course, Sasuke was aware of this, but he would never stop himself from wishing that things had turned out differently.
~Three Months Later~
Sasuke's palms were sweaty inside the pockets of his black leathered jacket as his feet kept shifting restlessly without his consent, every muscle in his body tense with anticipation. The weather was chilly outside of the airport at the 'Arrivals'' exit, and yet, it wasn't the cold that made him shiver.
His stomach was in fucking knots. He desperately craved for nicotine to help him keep his nerves in check, but it had been little over a month since he'd last had a cigarette, and he wasn't going to fuck it up.
Naruto's plane had already landed a while ago and it was only a matter of time before said blond man emerged from the crowd of people exiting through the wide doors of the airport to either meet their ride and grab a taxi or another means of transportation available.
His dark eyes avidly searching the sea of people, Sasuke tried to get a glimpse of Naruto's form but couldn't see a damn thing.
He wanted to see Naruto so badly he had already tuned out everyone and everything around him. It had been almost four months since they'd last seen each other, but it had definitely felt like longer and it had sucked. Sasuke had definitely kept himself as busy as possible and did everything he could to get his life back on track and do something for himself, just like Naruto had been doing. The longing had been there daily - sometimes hourly -, though, even if they did video chat every two days or so.
It was strange how distance hadn't helped his feelings for Naruto subside at all – if anything, it had only made him want Naruto more, and it was already suffocating.
By now, he was more than accepting of the fact that he had it bad for the other man, and was more than done fighting against his own ego because of that.
With an impatient huff, he pulled the sleeve of his jacket slightly up with the opposite hand to check the time on his watch. What was taking Naruto so fucking long?
"Sasukeeeee, you motherfucking bastard!"
His head snapping up to meet the offending, yet overly excited yell, Sasuke's heartbeat skyrocketed as he quickly scanned the crowd in front of him in search of the source of the familiar voice. However, a heavy body collided unexpectedly against him with full force, causing him to stumble backwards with the impact as a pair of strong arms wrapped around his neck and squeezed him breathless. Luckily, his legs were strong and he managed to keep himself from falling on his ass.
It didn't take long for the shock to wear off for him to recognize the shape against him as the otherworldly scent he had been longing for all along assaulted his senses.
Naruto.
His chest felt about to explode from emotion and a happiness too strong for him to be able to handle at the moment as he quickly wrapped his arms around the torso pressed to his and held back just as tightly. He felt the warmth of a cheek against his before several eager and chaste kisses were pressed to his neck, making him release a small laugh.
"Shit, Sasuke," lips uttered shakily against the back of his ear as he was squeezed further if that was even possible. "You're actually here!"
"Of course, I'm here, silly," Sasuke whispered, his nose buried in Naruto's shoulder as he inhaled deeply. "I told you I'd come for you, didn't I?"
A content, relieved moan was released by Naruto. Sasuke's hands fisted the thick fabric of Naruto's dark green parka as they hugged in silence for a few seconds, simply unable to let go. It had been so long, and yet, the warmth and familiarity of it all was the same as Sasuke recalled – only it felt better after so long of being away from each other.
They leaned slightly away from each other at the same time, and Sasuke was able to finally see Naruto's face properly. Naruto's ridiculously blue eyes were watery as they looked back at him, and there was a huge but emotional grin on Naruto's face that took Sasuke's breath away. They had spoken via Skype so many times, and he had seen Naruto's face almost every day, but somehow, this was so much more real.
Biting down on his lower lip, Sasuke smiled as he noticed the black hood on Naruto's head and the way blond strands of hair (that had gotten a bit longer from what Sasuke remembered) peeked out messily from the woollen adornment; he looked both adorable, ridiculous and handsome at the same time, and the sight made funny things happen to Sasuke's stomach.
Their gazes lingered on each other unblinkingly. Then, their open mouths were connecting heavily before either could think about doing anything else, and it was both desperate and clumsy, but soothing in inexplicable ways, and while Sasuke had missed all of it, now he could feel how much he had hungered for Naruto this whole time.
His lungs felt constricted and he could barely breathe as his lips urgently moved against Naruto's, their tongues sliding against each other easily as they quickly re-adapted to each other as if they hadn't been apart at all.
To feel Naruto's presence under his fingertips didn't even feel real, and his very soul seemed to find relief in the fact. Naruto was finally there, and Sasuke wanted nothing more than to kidnap him so they could hide from the world for at least a month so they could make up for the lost time.
"As touching as this reunion is, it's not very responsible to leave your luggage unattended," a deep, familiar voice said next to them, causing them both to start and pull away only to see Fugaku carrying Naruto's suitcase – the one he had obviously abandoned somewhere so he could run to Sasuke.
Naruto seemed a little taken aback by the sudden presence of an unknown man to him, his scanning Fugaku from up and down without letting go of Sasuke. Sasuke watched his expression with a fond smile as Naruto seemed to make the connection rather easily, his cheeks reddening suddenly, and his eyes becoming huge.
"Oh," Naruto said softly, his arms slowly slipping from around Sasuke and turning slightly to the man. He put some proper distance between him and Sasuke, and awkwardly took off his hook to reveal his messy golden hair, that now seemed to be sticking in every direction possible. "You're… Sasuke's dad," he mumbled, with an embarrassed and nervous chuckle before extending his hand towards Fugaku. "Sorry about that! I'm Naruto. It's nice to meet you, Sir."
Fugaku put Naruto's suitcase down and offered him a nod without smiling, grabbing for his hand to shake it. Sasuke noticed his father assessing him carefully with his intelligent eyes, and while it was amusing, he certain hoped Naruto wouldn't feel intimidated by it. "I'm Fugaku, indeed, Sasuke's father. It's a pleasure meeting you, as well."
"Sasuke, he's so handsome!" Mikoto said excitedly, appearing behind Sasuke with her arms stretched out towards Naruto before going to him and hugging him shortly. She pulled away with her hands on his shoulders while Naruto's eyes remained opened wide as he stared at her in awe. "Naruto, I'm Mikoto, Sasuke's mother! We've heard so much about you!"
"I… of course you are!" Naruto exclaimed with a nervous laugh, his eyes questioningly turning to Sasuke, who shrugged in amusement. Naruto looked at Mikoto once more and his smile became a little less strained. "He's the spitting image of you. No wonder he's so look good-looking."
"Oh, he's a charmer, Fugaku," Mikoto said to her husband, with a smile.
"My spoiled brat; it's been months and you don't even notice we're here!" A grumpy and mocking female voice said, as a busty blond woman – Tsunade, Naruto's Godmother – approached them to place a kiss on a shocked Naruto's cheek, leaving the mark of her red lipstick behind. Sasuke snorted at Naruto's dumbfounded expression.
"What did you expect, all he sees is his lover boy here," Jiraiya said teasingly, coming closer as well with a huge grin before putting his heavy head on top of Naruto's head, ruffling his hair and messing it up even more.
"Guys!" Naruto said, torn between confusion and happiness as he looked from Jiraiya to Tsunade. "You're here, too!" Again, he looked at Sasuke for answers.
"Well, I told both our families that I would come to pick you up, and it seemed like everyone involved was dying to see you," Sasuke explained, apologetically. "Everyone thought it was the perfect excuse to meet, I guess."
"I hope you don't think we're imposing on you, but your godparents agreed to come over for dinner tonight," Mikoto said, smiling sweetly at Naruto. "But of course, we can reschedule if you're tired!" Her smile turned to a knowing smirk. "Or if you want to spend some alone time with Sasuke."
"Ah, not at all!" Naruto said, waving a dismissive hand as he blushed heavily with the embarrassed laugh of someone who'd clearly been caught. "Having dinner with you guys would be great!"
He still exchanged a look with Sasuke that expressed his obvious disappointment that they wouldn't have time for each other yet. Sasuke himself had been a little crestfallen when the suggestion of a get together right upon Naruto's arrival was made, but he supposed they would still manage to be together, not to mention that they'd definitely have time for each other from now on.
From the side-lines, Sasuke watched as Naruto hugged his own family and made small, rather awkward talk with Fugaku and Mikoto. Somehow, the sight made Sasuke's heart beat frantically inside his chest as warmth filled him from head to toe. This was a scene he had been envisioning for the last couple of days, and it sure as hell was perfect in every sense of the word.
"Dude, don't just dash off like that; what the fuck!" a male voice said, causing everyone to turn around to see Kiba and Gaara emerging from amidst the crowd, both dragging their suitcases behind them.
"Ah, sorry man!" Naruto apologised as his friends approached them.
The two boys greeted Tsunade and Jiraiya - threw a nod in Sasuke direction - before the rest of the introductions were made, and for a couple of minutes the group engaged in a fast paced and loud small talk. Sasuke couldn't draw his eyes away from Naruto's smiling face if he tried, the scene in front of him almost dreamlike, as if this moment was a hallucination rather than reality. He was already regretting having agreed to the family dinner.
"You guys want a ride home?" Jiraiya asked Gaara and Kiba at some point.
"Thanks, man, but I've already arranged for my sister to come and pick us up," Kiba said with a dismissive gesture - it became clear that he was more than familiar with Naruto's family. He got on tiptoes, searching the road behind them to check for any familiar vehicles. "Where the hell is that woman, anyway?"
"We should get going as well, it's getting really cold," Mikoto commented, rubbing her hands together before turning to Sasuke and offering him a knowing, devious smile. "Shall we give a ride to Jiraiya and Tsunade and the both of you go on Naruto's car?"
"Oh, you guys brought my baby?" Naruto intervened, immediately excited at hearing about his beloved Ford.
"Your boyfriend here brought your baby, yes," Tsunade confirmed, pointing at Sasuke.
Naruto's wide eyes turned towards Sasuke. "Are you serious? When did you get your driver's licence?!"
"While you were away, of course," Sasuke said, with a smirk. "I wanted it to be a surprise. Don't worry, your baby is safe and sound."
Naruto's chin fell. Sasuke felt very pleased indeed.
After saying goodbye to Kiba and Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a few words with their families and arranged to meet at Sasuke's parents' place. Naruto stuck his tongue out at Jiraiya and Tsunade as they walked away towards Fugaku's car while making not very discreet suggestive gestures and faces and pointing at Sasuke, who could only shake his head in amusement.
Together, he and Naruto walked over to where the old red Ford Fiesta was parked and put Naruto's suitcase away inside the trunk.
"I'm sure you missed it," Sasuke said, after closing the trunk, extending the car keys to Naruto.
"Nah, you drive," Naruto offered, with a mischievous grin that didn't show any sort of fear. "I wanna see how poorly you do."
"I passed everything on the first attempt, for your information, so don't underestimate me," Sasuke teased, reaching out a hand to grab for the zipper of Naruto's parka and giving it a small tug.
"Oh, I wouldn't dare, Mr. Genius," Naruto replied, not being shy in taking a step further so their bodies came closer and their noses brushed. His hand touched Sasuke's arm, and when he spoke again, his quick but soft breath brushed his lips. "I'm really happy to be home. I'm happy you were here to welcome me."
"Along with both our families," Sasuke muttered with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm sorry about that, by the way. Everyone was just too excited about this whole meeting, and seeing you, of course."
"I was a bit overwhelmed because I was hoping for something else, but I'm happy, so don't worry about it," Naruto assured, with a soft smile. "Plus, even if it's nerve wracking, I'm glad your parents were so eager to meet me."
'Eager' didn't even begin to describe Fugaku's and Mikoto's feelings, but Sasuke wasn't about to scare Naruto by letting him know.
Their foreheads touched briefly and they stood motionless in silence for a few seconds, both glad that they had a moment to take in the fact that, after almost four long months, they were together once more. Those months had felt eternal and ethereal. The now felt unreal, too, and yet, there was no illusion to the warmth of Naruto's body.
It felt to Sasuke like he had waited for decades.
When Sasuke leaned further in, Naruto was ready to receive the chaste peck. Sasuke had to take a deep breath through his nose to not let his composure crumble under the much longed for intimacy, so he pulled away before things escalated.
"Let's go," he mumbled. "We'll have time for disgusting emotional moments later."
Naruto laughed, before sighing. "You'll be spending the night with me, won't you?" he asked, hopefully. "Just a pyjama party, of course, with junk food and booze while we watch some Disney movies. I won't take no for an answer!"
"Watching Disney movies is actually the last thing on my mind to do if I have you all to myself in a room; but sure, whatever you say," Sasuke retorted, half-jokingly.
Naruto bit on his lower and took another breath, his hand tightening around Sasuke's arm as he brought himself closer still. "Maybe I'll just kidnap you right now and we'll ditch everyone else?" he uttered suggestively.
This time, it was Sasuke who laughed.
000
Dinner was loud and frankly awkward, but only to him. Sasuke's parents had no chill whatsoever, and that mixed with Tsunade's and Jiraiya's unfiltered personalities made it all the heavier on both him and Naruto. Dirty questions were asked, the teasing was never ending, and tales of them as children were exchanged. Sasuke knew his parents could be really entertaining when they wanted to despite the seemingly traditional vibe about them - that he had learned to dismiss since he had told them about his situation with Naruto - and add a bit of good company and good wine to the mix and the party mood was guaranteed. It was hard to decide whether Sasuke was glad both his parents and Naruto's relatives were hitting it off or intimidated.
Through it all, Naruto seemed comfortable, happy even, easily engaging in conversation with Fugaku and Mikoto and joining the teasing like it was no big deal, but thankfully, no one was insensitive enough to bring up unpleasant parts of their past together as a couple while Sasuke was still with Karin. He was sure that, at some point in the future, these things would be approached with more ease, but for now, he was thankful that his relationship with Naruto was being treated as a cherished novelty.
It was similar to the excitement of when his and Karin's parents had met, only a lot less formal. It felt strangely better, even if it still forced Sasuke to keep his guard up, his eyes constantly trained on Naruto to make sure he was hanging on.
There was a sense of calm and happiness within Sasuke though that were unlike anything he had felt in the last few months, and yet, he still felt a restlessness he couldn't quite place.
Naruto was back, and they were finally meeting again after that painfully amazing day when they had made love and almost shattered the fragility of their relationship at that point. Sasuke now knew that, if he hadn't asked Karin for a divorce, he would've lost Naruto as a lover after that. Maybe it would've been months before they could see each other again and be friends. Because Naruto had left for England to get away from him, and after having given in to Sasuke once and taking it too far, he wouldn't allow himself to make the same mistake twice - Sasuke knew him well enough to know this.
Looking at Naruto, Sasuke knew he was wanted, but couldn't help but wonder how things would be from now on. He knew Naruto was happy to see him, knew Naruto wanted to be with him, but…
What was going to become of them? Was Naruto still hurt? What did Naruto want from them at this point?
Sasuke didn't regret getting a divorce, not for a second. Yes, life had been hard, and he'd been terribly lonely, dealing with legal matters and trying to sort his life out by doing something for himself, all alone, without really knowing where to turn to. Karin still wasn't talking to him at all, Naruto had been away, and while they had spoken and exchanged words that promised more than friendship, there was no denying that Naruto's resentment had still been there.
It hadn't been easy, not one bit, but Sasuke had held onto the hope and conviction that what he and Naruto felt for each other would lead them to where they were supposed to be, together. For that, he would wait for as long as he had to, if needed.
Since they were sitting side by side, Sasuke took the liberty of taking hold of Naruto's hand, happy when he felt fingers intertwining with his. Naruto wouldn't let go.
000
After dessert, Mikoto and Tsunade went to the kitchen together to make some coffee. They were both a little tipsy already, so they were laughing about something one of them had said, but Sasuke had stopped listening to the conversations around him since the topics were now changing at the speed of light. Jiraiya and Fugaku seemed to be immersed in some deep fiery and (not really) intellectual debate about whether erotic novels could be considered literature. Naruto was resting his chin on his wrist while eying the two with apparent interest, but Sasuke could see his eyes glazing over, giving away that his mind was definitely elsewhere entirely by now.
Sasuke took the chance to excuse himself to go the bathroom. Naruto threw him a smile and nodded when he got up, so Sasuke touched his shoulder gently, glad when a hand was placed over his for a moment of acknowledgement.
When he went upstairs, though, Sasuke didn't go to the bathroom and instead took a quick trip to his room to retrieve three items he needed from the first drawer of his commode - an envelope, a black notebook and a small package, gift wrapped in shiny silver paper. In the semi-darkness, he contemplated them and vaguely wondered if Naruto would be happy or, again, mad at him. It seemed that surprising Naruto was something he wanted to do constantly in order to bring him joy, but sometimes he went about it the wrong way. Well, Naruto hadn't been upset by only finding out now that Sasuke had gotten his driver's licence in secret, so hopefully this would also be a nice welcoming surprise.
He certainly hoped so. Jiraiya and Tsunade thought so, too.
Taking a long, deep breath, Sasuke put the envelope between the pages of the notebook and looked around at his room, wishing he could show it to Naruto but wondering if it would be inappropriate at this point, so he just left the room and closed the door behind him before going back downstairs. He was glad to know that the coffee wasn't ready yet, so he took the chance to go to Naruto and lean down behind him to whisper in his ear. "Come with me for a second?" he asked softly, clutching the items on the hand he had hidden behind his back.
Naruto turned his head to look at him inquisitively over his shoulder but nodded. When Naruto got up, Sasuke extended his hand to him, who took it without a second thought. "We'll be back in a second, we're just going outside," he informed his father and Jiraiya, who both simply dismissed them with matching dismissive gestures and continuing their conversation.
"Tch, thanks for not caring," Naruto said, faking hurt, more to himself than the two men, rolling his eyes. Then, he allowed himself to be led through the house by Sasuke.
They found themselves outside. Sasuke left the front door open because he hadn't brought his keys; plus, they wouldn't be taking long.
Outside, Naruto casually leaned his back on the wall between the door and the window and crossed his arms over his chest, watching as Sasuke moved to stand in front of him. It was cold, but since there was no wind, it was considerably bearable. "You wanted company for a smoke?" Naruto asked, with a lopsided smile.
"Not really," Sasuke replied, looking into Naruto's eyes. "I quit smoking a while ago."
Naruto's eyebrows rose. "Are you serious?" His face contorted in scepticism.
"I figured me smoking has been a bad influence on you since we met," Sasuke explained, shrugging his shoulders. "You had stopped before, and then went back to smoking because of me. I guess I was always a bit… upset about that fact. I actually don't really like it when you smoke, even if I always found it rather sexy."
Naruto's blue eyes didn't blink as he pursed his lips together, becoming silent for a while. Then, he heaved an exasperated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck in slight annoyance. "Damn it Sasuke, why do you always keep me in the dark until the very last moment? You should tell me these things, you know!"
"I just want to surprise you when you least expect it," Sasuke said, sincerely.
"Well, surprises are always pretty complicated when it comes to you," Naruto mumbled, with a small pout. "Although, I'm… really glad you stopped smoking. Stops me from getting tempted as well."
Sasuke smiled a bit at him. "Thanks. It was tough; quitting, I mean. But I'm all good now."
The atmosphere between them was a bit tense now that the heat of reunion had dissipated. There were many things they needed to talk about, and many things they wanted to say to each other, but that wouldn't be today, and maybe not even in the next couple weeks. For now, they just needed to adjust to each other once more and find out what to do from here on.
In spite of wanting Naruto, and knowing Naruto wanted him back, there were… things between them that needed repairing. It wasn't as though their love had anything to do with it, but Sasuke was aware that he had to thread carefully. He'd hurt Naruto greatly - had nearly ripped what was left of his hope and faith in him - so now he had to do everything he possibly could to mend it.
He hesitated for a moment before extending Naruto the gift he'd gotten him, keeping the notebook hidden behind his back.
Naruto eyed the small package. "What's that?"
"An early Christmas present."
"For me?"
"No, obviously for me," Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. "Of course, it's for you, dumbass."
Naruto frowned at him. "You wanna pick a fight, Uchiha?"
"Just open it, already," Sasuke mumbled, pressing the package to Naruto's chest, which forced him to take it.
Naruto stuck his tongue out at him, playfully so, before carefully opening it. Curiously, he took out two identical leather bracelets, one brown, and one black. He examined them as he lifted them at eye level.
"Are these… these are exactly like…" Naruto made a disgruntled face. "Wait, are these the bracelets I gave you?!"
"Don't you think they look too pristine to have been used already?" Sasuke mocked. "Idiot. I bought those for you."
"Oh, shut up, asshole, it's dark here." Naruto lowered the bracelets and looked down at them, his expression softening. "You still wear them?"
"Always," Sasuke replied. "I thought you'd notice I'm wearing them now."
Naruto didn't reply, rubbing his thumb over the bracelets almost affectionately. "Matching bracelets, huh?"
"Too soon?"
"No." Silently, Naruto folded the package in his hand before putting it away inside the pocket of his jeans. Then, he put the bracelets on his own wrists - the brown one on the left, and the black one on the right - before lifting his hands up as if to show the effect to Sasuke.
"They suit you," Sasuke complimented, with a nod, trying to keep his voice from faltering. There was something very moving about seeing Naruto wearing something he got for him, and Sasuke couldn't explain it, but it filled him with warmth. An irrational part of him had feared rejection, somehow.
"Thanks, Sasuke." Naruto offered him a small, sheepish smile. "For these, I mean. I appreciate it."
Chewing on his lower lip, Sasuke allowed himself a few seconds of deliberation. He was excited, yet slightly nervous. "I have something else for you," Sasuke ended up saying, now extending the notebook he had hidden behind his back towards the man in front of him. "Rather, something I want to show you."
Naruto actually seemed hesitant. "Am I supposed to read it?"
"Just check it out briefly. You can read it later if you want."
Sasuke tried not to think too much of the fact that Naruto actually gulped before grabbing for the notebook. Slowly, he opened it, his beautiful eyes scanning the pages attentively but quickly. He turned a few more pages and did the same. "Are these… poems? Lyrics?"
"I suppose that's what they are," Sasuke confessed, shoving his hands inside the pockets of his jeans, unsure of what to do with them. "I'm no good at making music though."
"You won't know until you try," Naruto said, without looking away from the words on the notebook. "But these are… these are really beautiful."
"I wrote them as I was thinking about you."
Again, Naruto gulped. Then, the tip of his tongue licked at his upper lip. "These are really good, Sasuke," he said, his voice low, filled with barely suppressed emotion. "I'm almost envious. I didn't know you had such a poetic vein in you."
"They're for you, so you can keep them and do with them as you please." Naruto didn't look up, sniffing slightly. It tore at Sasuke's heartstrings, but he was glad Naruto didn't seem to be crying. "There's also something else in there I want you to see."
"I swear I'll punch you if you make me cry," Naruto protested, looking back at him with a frustrated expression now. "What is it now? I don't want more surprises."
"I promise this is the last one."
Not looking like he was convinced, Naruto still flipped further through the pages of the notebook until he found the thin envelope "Is this it?" he inquired, showing the envelope to Sasuke.
"Yeah."
Taking a deep breath, Naruto closed the notebook and tucked it under his armpit before impatiently pulling out the folded piece of paper from the already opened envelope. He read the words there as quickly as he had Sasuke's lyrics and poems. His hands shook unexpectedly, as if stricken by an invisible force, and his fingers clutched the paper.
"Oh…" he breathed, shakily, blinking at the paper repeatedly.
"Before you ask, I got it about three weeks ago," Sasuke interrupted, knowing that it probably wasn't the right the thing to say, but breaking it down all the same.
Naruto blinked up at him in silence. "You just have to keep everything from me to the very end, huh?" He finally sighed, tiredly. "Fucking hell, Sasuke. What am I supposed to do with this?"
"I'm not expecting you to do anything; I just wanted to let you know I'm officially divorced," Sasuke explained, tensing awkwardly. "I really suck at this, don't I? Are you upset?"
Eying him for a second, Naruto snorted softly. "You don't suck, you're just trying a bit too hard," he said, shoving the paper back inside the envelope.
Sasuke watched him as he put said envelope back between the pages of the notebook.
There was an odd atmosphere between them, then, and it became hard for him to interpret Naruto's mood. Sasuke supposed the man was upset in some way, but he had simply wanted to make him happy, to show him that the path was completely clear for them.
All he wanted was to see Naruto smile, and yet, the man seemed to have become oddly solemn.
Feeling a little agitated all of a sudden, Sasuke took a cautious step towards the other.
"Listen, I'm just glad you're here, Naruto, and that our families have met." He chose his words carefully now, decided to pouring his heart out but not giving in to the monster of greed inside of him - the one that wanted to reach out and simply have everything after so long, because he was better than that now. "But I'm not going to pressure you. I did what I did because I wanted to. I got a divorce because I was… am... in love with you, and yet I can't seem to do things the right way without pissing you off you. But just... know that I'm here now, and will always be, no matter what you decide you want for the time being."
Hugging the black notebook to his chest, Naruto contemplated him. Then, he reached out a hand and slowly wrapped it around the back of Sasuke's neck, gently pulling him close. His body reacting automatically to the much yearned for proximity, Sasuke leaned into the man in front of him, feeling an immediate sense of peace and relief, he couldn't quite place.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist, feeling every nerve in his body tremble slightly at intimacy.
Being like this made Sasuke feel like he finally belonged, reached his goal, as if during all those months that Naruto had been away he had been adrift. It was so simple, yet it felt like so much.
Reverently, he placed a kiss on Naruto's head. Somehow, this simplicity felt unique.
"You keep putting all the blame on yourself, but we both know that's not how it was," Naruto whispered against him, almost sadly. "I should've walked away before things got fucked. I seduced you. I willingly made you think about me as something more than a friend because I selfishly wanted you. I know I'm not innocent, and not once did I ask you if you were alright. I'm so sorry, Sasuke. I'm sorry my selfishness brought you so much pain, too."
"Naruto, stop," Sasuke cut, not letting him finish. He wasn't going to let these kinds of thoughts haunt Naruto when they were in this together. They were both to blame, and yet, they couldn't really be blamed for having let themselves be carried by their overwhelming feelings for each other. "I don't want you thinking stupid stuff like that. I'm fine, and this is how it was supposed to be. I don't regret any of it, and if you don't, either, then everything else doesn't matter. We'll be fine."
All but nodding, Naruto released another small sniff. He didn't speak for a while, simply nuzzling his face in the curve of Sasuke's neck, seeming more than content to stay in that position indefinitely. Sasuke could relate to the feeling all too well. There was nothing quite like finally having that man in his arms, willing and free.
"I love you too much to regret it," Naruto finally said, leaning away slightly so his watery eyes could look into Sasuke's. "I'm sorry. It just doesn't seem real. I can't believe it's finally just the two of us."
"If you don't include both our families and our hysterical friends, then yeah, that leaves you and me, basically," Sasuke said sarcastically, bumping his forehead against Naruto's. He hesitated for a moment, feeling his throat suddenly dry. "For as long as we can put up with each other, at least."
Naruto all but flashed him a hopeful smile. "It would be nice if we could put up with each other forever," he said lowly. "I… I don't want us to ever be away from each other now that we got to this point. I know I can't guarantee that this between us will work but… it would be very nice if it could."
"Well, I'm not going to make vain promises anymore," Sasuke replied, seriously. "I feel like I'm starting my life over because of you, and that's fine; it's actually the first time ever that I feel free and unburdened by an unknown invisible force I only took notice of since I met you. I'm looking for my place in this world, with you, and I'm happy like this."
Naruto bit on his lower lip, his hand tightening possessively at the back of Sasuke's neck for a moment before his thumb rubbed at the skin there.
"I know you love me," Sasuke proceeded, struggling with his words because he wanted to put Naruto's mind at ease, for now, even though, eventually, more serious things would need to be discussed. "And I feel the same way about you. I'm so grateful for what we have. It doesn't matter if it's going to change eventually, because it makes sense right now. Right now, I want to be with you, and make you happy; be happy, with you. I have no idea what the future looks like, but I know I can see you there, many years from now, and that it'll be fine. So, I'm not worried. Even if it never comes true, just the fact that I can picture it now is precious to me. And that's all. Just this chance to try, with you… that's all I've ever wanted."
During those seemingly endless months since he had parted from Naruto, Sasuke had envisioned how their reunion would be - how they would interact, what they'd say to each other and how - but now that it was happening, he realized reality was very different and that there was no way he could have planned for this in advance.
Naruto's breath seemed to catch for a moment. Then, he chuckled, letting his head fall to Sasuke's shoulder.
"So, what, you wanna live a life with me and grow old with me?" he asked, almost teasingly in Sasuke's ear. "No matter how rough it may be. Is that it?"
"That's exactly it," Sasuke confirmed in a whisper. "Weren't you the one who said that you believed in us; that you knew this was how it was supposed to be?"
Again, Naruto paused.
"I think… this is a little scary," he confessed. "I sometimes feel like I know your feelings; like I can read your heart. And it's scary that I feel exactly the same way you do, and I wonder if the way I love you is even healthy. If me not wanting to ever let you out of my sight is okay. If me wanting to own you forever is even natural. Everything we went through, all the things I idealized and hoped for, who I was to reach out to you, everything you've done for me… Sasuke, that's scary. It makes me wonder if we're terrible people, somehow."
"No, we're just selfish and greedy human beings, but it can't be helped," Sasuke assured him, with a smile he knew Naruto could hear. "I can't be troubled to care if I was the one who made it so things reached this kind of ending. I don't think anything is unhealthy as long as it fits 'us'."
At his words, Naruto tensed slightly. "I just...want us to be 'us'," he muttered, with a sigh. "Just Naruto and Sasuke, starting over and trying to figure out what the fuck to do from now on. You think that'll be enough?"
Sasuke all but held him tighter.
"It's more than I could've hoped for, Naruto."
TBC…
Okay my lovelies, I am sorry for such a lame chapter, but as much as I wrote it and rewrote it, this was the outcome. I had planned for so much stuff to happen, but when it comes down to it, this story is about Sasuke and Naruto and I thought it was best to not add too much. I Hope you guys can find the heart to enjoy it all the same ^^
Next chapter will officially be the last one. I had planned for an epilogue, but I don't think it's necessary. the way I've arranged things, I'll be able to incorporate the things I couldn't in this chapter into the next one and still find place for the final scene. Let's hope I can post it before this year is over!
Next chapter is one that is very special to me, and will have… a special different feel to it ;)
Ah, my boys make me so emotional. Writing this was still very heartwarming for me.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!
Don't forget to review!