Hey everyone. I was really happy with the response from the last chapter. It made me so happy that everyone loved my poems/songs and sympathized with my GREAT ANGST life. Things are working out these days, which I'm grateful for. Nothing will be perfect again, but at least I'm not in the state that I was in. Wheee... anyways, thanks to everyone. Because of the great response that I've gotten, I'm working on having this chapter out sooner.
I Bleed Black
Chapter 34
Naruto stared at Sasuke, his mouth agape and eyes widened. Sasuke looked up from his previous hiding spot of his hands, a furious blush evident on his face.
"S-Sasuke... what? What did you just say?" the blonde asked, trying to bring his brain back to reality. Unfortunately for him, it wasn?t working all that will. Did the Uchiha just saw what Naruto though he heard? His mind was boggled, to say the least.
Sasuke had the look of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. "I didn't say anything," he growled out. The brunette was trembling with fear. How could he have let that slip out? How could he have lost control? Now Naruto would hate him forever! He had protected his secret diligently for months, and now one slip might have made everything shatter.
"Sasuke," Naruto repeated the boy's name, curious. He rose from his seat and walked around the table to where Sasuke was sitting. Placing a hand on Sasuke?s knee and the other on the tabletop, he peered into the Uchiha?s face, eyes searching Sasuke?s.
"I... I didn't say anything," Sasuke tried to say, but his voice cracked in the middle of his sentence.
"Sasuke...?Do you... do you like me?" Naruto asked. His heart thumped against his chest. How he prayed those words were true! How the blonde wanted, hoped the answer would be 'yes'!
He waited, not even realizing how he held his breath inside, how many emotions were flickering through his eyes. He didn't see it, didn't know what was happening.
But Sasuke did. Sasuke was almost entranced by the different parts of Naruto's eyes. The Uchiha only wanted to capture the blonde's lips in a kiss, and show him how much he loved him.
They were so close to. They were so close. He was leaning in towards Naruto's lips, not wanting this moment to end... wanting it to stand still for all eternity.
It was half a second later when his mouth pressed against Naruto's. Sliding his eyes shut, the Uchiha pressed firmly against Naruto's lips. His hands came up and cupped his love's cheeks. Naruto, subconsciously, was making the decision to kiss back.
Naruto's tongue slipped out, caressing Sasuke's lower lip. Sasuke held back a moan and complied to the unspoken order, opening his mouth so that Naruto could explore it with his tongue. The Uzumaki did just that.
The kiss continued for a few more moments, each seeming to last an eternity for Sasuke and Naruto. Both had dreamed of the day that they could kiss their roommate and now this it was finally coming true, they didn't want to stop.
When they did draw back slowly, not opening their eyelids yet, both basked in this feeling of completeness that swirled around them. Both hoped that it wasn't a dream. They prayed to whatever God or Goddess that might be listening that when they woke up tomorrow morning, this memory would still be with them.
Slowly, they opened their eyes, staring at one another in complete silence. Luckily, this silence was not an awkward silence, though, or else they would have already shifted uncomfortably from the tension that would be weighing down the atmosphere.
This silence was different from that, though. This silence was full of a sort of light-hearted feeling. This silence was like taking off a heavy burden and being able to stand straight and true once again.
It was Sasuke that broke the silence. His licked his lips, and said in a slightly cracked voice, "Does that answer your question?"
Naruto looked at him, as though analyzing him. But Sasuke didn't feel uncomfortable. He felt... relieved, surprisingly.
His feelings were out in the open. His heart was placed in his hand, which he was holding out to Naruto. The next step was up to Naruto. How the story would end was up to Naruto, not Sasuke. His part in this tale... his quest, had come to a stand-still. He was placing his sword in someone else's hands. Someone he loved, and trusted, above everyone else. Someone who knew how he cried, and how he laughed, and how he got angry and how he could be happy. This was his Someone.
He would do anything for his Someone.
But would his Someone do anything for him?
The question burned on Sasuke's mind, but he didn?t contemplate it. Now was the real test. Now was when he would learn... just how far did friendship go.
He stared at the stunned blonde, who was still recovering from their kiss. Naruto was staring at him, mouth slightly agape.
Sasuke proceeded to be silent. If he said anything, the moment would shatter and hurl his dream into a nightmare. And so he kept to being silent, knowing it was what was needed at the time being.
A few minutes had passed before Naruto spoke again.
"I... I..." he stuttered, drawing out pauses in between his words. "I..." The next part, however, was said very quickly that Sasuke almost didn't pick up on it. "IthinkImightlikeyoutoo."
Sasuke stared at him for a moment, hardly believing it was true. He smiled... a genuine smile that lit up the stoic black eyes with happiness and joy and love.
He accepts me, Sasuke thought, breathing out the breath that he had not been aware he was holding. He... accepts me.
Suddenly, the Uchiha stood up, hugging Naruto close to him, feeling something being lifted off him. A great burden had vanished with that one jumbled sentence.
It was funny how things like that could happen.
Naruto, hesitantly, moved his arms up to hug Sasuke back. He had tears in his eyes as he buried his head in Sasuke's shoulders.
"A-are you okay?" Sasuke stammered, not sure of what else to say as he noticed his shirt getting damp.
Naruto smiled tearily up at him, as the boy was a head and a half shorter than his friend, and nodded. "I'm just... really happy. I've... liked you for a long time... and its good to finally know that, that it wasn't all in vain."
Sasuke smiled and held the boy close to him, closing his eyes slowly. Finally... after eight months of looking after the blonde, worrying about him, keeping him from too much trouble, something had come out of it.
After eight months of heaven, hell, purgatory, and everything else... it was finally moving on to something new.
This meant that Sasuke didn't need Neji anymore. And that Naruto didn't need Sakura to be there for him.
They would be able to have it the way it should be... with just Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
The way that it began all those months and weeks ago.
Things like this were something that Sasuke only thought happened in movies. Now, he knew differently. Now, he knew the truth. The movies were dramatizations of real life... almost every part of it.
Including miracles.
Sasuke nuzzled into Naruto?s neck as Naruto gripped him closer. They stood like that for a long time.
"All right, class," Iruka called for silence. Unlike normal, with Sasuke in one corner and Naruto in the other, the two were sitting side by side. Both looked quite happy with themselves.
Kakashi grinned. At least this project had some positive effects, the man thought and almost had a nosebleed at the entire visualization of his two students screwing each other senseless. Must think... non-perverted... must think... non-perverted...
Iruka raised an eyebrow at his colleague as he saw the man gripping his nose in a deathgrip with a faint blush on his cheeks. Pervert, he thought to himself as he turned back to the class. He probably deserves it.
The class finally settled down and was looking at Iruka.
"All right, class, I hope you do realize that tomorrow your portraits are due."
Naruto made a small sound in the back of his throat. Sasuke looked over at him.
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
Naruto nodded and gave his Uchiha a small smile. "I have to start that thing tonight."
Sasuke chuckled. "That would be a good thing."
"What about you?" Naruto wanted to know. "Did you finish me yet?"
"Yeah, I did it on your birthday."
Naruto pouted. "That sucks."
Iruka had gone back to talking and the two decided to tune into their teacher one more.
"Since this is a Creative Writing class, I want you all to choose a poem that you have written in order to share with the class. When I call out your name, be prepared to have something ready."
Naruto and Sasuke both pulled out their sketchbooks, flipping through them in order to find something not too angsty. They barely listened to what was going on around them until they heard Iruka call, "Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke stood up. "My poem is more of a song, so I'm going to sing it."
Many of his fangirls nearly swooned at the idea of their manly-manly Sasuke singing.
Sasuke started his song, his voice a light tenor. It still held a deeper edge to it. His voice was mysterious, wanting, hopeful, fearful, and sent shivers up Naruto?s spine.
It reminds me of high school
I'm waiting for you
Can you see me in the shadows?
Look for me in the shade
I'm waiting in the darkness
Don't be afraid- I'm here
Welcome to the Darkside of the city
Don't scream or you?ll shatter the dream
We are here, shadows of nothing
We are here in Darkside
Don't mind the fire, don't feel its warmth
Embrace what you can't explain
Embrace an empty hearth
We don't need light in the shadows
Don't cry... you're not alone
Welcome to the Darkside of the city
Don't scream or you?ll shatter the dream
We are here, shadows of nothing
We are here in Darkside
I'm here, I'm waiting for you to come here
I'm sitting all alone
Won't you come with a smile?
I'll be here for you... always I'll be here
I'm waiting for you to step into the shadows
Look without your eyes
Step in to the shadows
You're in Darkside
Welcome to the Darkside of the city
Don't scream or you?ll shatter the dream
We are here, shadows of nothing- shadows of nothing
We are here, shadows of nothing, in Darkside
When Sasuke finished, the entire classroom was in silence. Nobody had expected the Uchiha to sing that well, to sing that kind of song. They were stunned, and they loved it. It started with one person.
One person clapped their hands together slowly. Then another did so. This system followed until the entire room was applauding the Uchiha's song. Naruto just stared at the boy dumbly.
Had he practiced that? Had he meant to sound... that damn sexy when he thought about reading, or even singing, it aloud?
Even Kakashi and Iruka were staring at the boy, amazed. Sasuke's cheeks lit up to a light pink as he clumsily sat down.
As soon as the rest of the class settled down, Iruka cleared his throat. Everyone turned their attention to him, as hard as it was.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he called. "You're next."
Naruto gaped at Iruka. Kakashi grinned at him as Iruka casually avoided eye contact. He fumed silently as he rose to his feet. The entire class was watching him. He knew Kakashi had set this entire thing up just to spite him. Gods, how he wished he could just hurt that damn pervert!
All eyes were on him, and he gulped, obviously nervous. Sasuke was obviously much better at presentations that he was! He didn't even stop to think about the logistics behind this as he read his poem. He didn't even give an introduction as he just plowed ahead:
Not all faeries are pretty and pink
With wings of golden brilliance
Some faeries hide in the dark
And only come out when you sleep
Some cannot escape the shadows
That bind them where they are
Such things many don't realize
But you can see it
In the eyes of a child
The child knows the faerie is near
The child realizes that not everything
Can be seen in two colors
But woe, for the imaginary friends are fleeing
As the child's wings are clipped
Nothing can stop the disbelieving
That the child now believes
There are no such things as faeries
Someone does dare declare
But where is the proof of such a thing?
It doesn't exist
It doesn't have any footing here
And one day the child will grow old
And with a sigh, they'll say
Not all the faeries in the land
Are pretty and pink with sunshine wings
Look for the other fae
The ones who aren't afraid
To hide in darkness and bask in shadow
For they are the ones that bring change
Again, there was silence. For nobody could quite comprehend what the blonde had whispered, as he had whispered. When it began to register in their minds what exactly had been said, they just stared. In a way, it was a repeat of what happened with Sasuke. They gaped, but now they were doing it to Naruto.
Naruto shifted uncomfortably. He didn?t know what to do. Hiding his face, he sat down, refusing to look around him. He didn't want to face the embarrassment he expected from his classmates. There was no applause this time, but people now had a different view of Naruto, even though their perspectives had already been changing in the past few months.
The bell rung, jarring Naruto out of his poor attempt at the fetal position. He jumped up, grabbed his bookbag and jetted out of the classroom before the rest of the students had even begun to stand. Sasuke stared after his... friend? Boyfriend? Roommate?
He didn't know, but that didn't matter right now. He had to admit, thought, that even he was a bit surprised at the blonde's poetry. It was much different from the dark stuff he was used to reading from the blonde. He supposed that this was because Naruto didn't want others privy to his thoughts much.
He followed the blonde, knowing exactly where Naruto was headed.
There really wasn't anywhere else to go, now that his other sanctuary had been... defiled. After all, Naruto used to find peace on top of the Arts Building. Now, after Orochimaru had... there was no reason to go down that thought train.
Naruto laid back on his bed, staring at the badly maintained ceiling. He should really put some posters up to hide all the cracks. Hmm... which ones, though? It was about twenty more minutes before his roommate returned and for Naruto, that had been long enough for him to become his normally boisterous self again.
"Hey, Naruto," Sasuke said as he walked inside.
Naruto looked over towards Sasuke and grinned. "Hi!" he yelled out. Without warning, the blonde ran over to Sasuke, putting his arms around the older boy's waist and placing a light peck on his lips.
"Welcome home, Sasuke," he told the Uchiha with a grin.
Sasuke smiled back, leaning in to claim the boy's lips in a deeper kiss.
Kyuubi-kun's Korner!
Well, since this was the chapter (chapter 34 people) when Naruto and Sasuke finally got together, I decided to include TWO of my writings in it. Sasuke's poem/song thingymajig is something I wrote this October called Darkside. Naruto's is something I wrote last week. It's called Changelings. I managed to scare several people with it. It seemed too happy for me. Damn people!
Anyways, here's review responses for chapter 33.
Chiikara: Thanks for the feel better soon note. Everything is better these days, luckily. I was actually able to make a happy chapter about it, neh? Whoosh. I agree with your Sasuke-angst idea and I hope to incorporate it soon. However, this chapter was just too happy for something like that. Yeah... poetry is definitely different when you actually feel what you're writing.
Sonic16: I don't think anyone's best moment would be in that song, y'know? Here's the next chapter.
Anukis-san: I remind you of a certain slightly-insane friend, neh? What about fully-insane?
KageKitsune16: But you'll find out later, neh? I mean... I kind of know who it was, but whatever. Thanks for the review! AAH SCARY FONT!
Yaoilover S: Don't die! I love your fics, so you CAN'T die! And I love how you explained it, actually. It made me feel warm and fuzzy, but also sad. Don't worry, it's a good feeling.
Ghostninja85: I got your email. Thank you very much for both reviewing and emailing! You're boosting my ego!
CitrusPeach: Everything luckily did turn out all right. Well, its still working out now, but hopefully its just another bump in the road. Another obstacle or what have you.
Danya2: Well, I ended it there mostly because I could. I don't think anyone was expecting Sakura to fuck Lee. Hell, even I wasn't expecting it, but it was the most believable, I think.
Yaoi-Rules: Here's what happens. Thanks for the review. Glad you like the story.
Truefightingwolf: Thanks for the compliment, you're making me blush. I'm not sure if that's good, but it feels good, so I'll say its good for now. And you continue writing as well.
Dancing Kitsune: I loved reading your review. It was long and hilarious. I agree, let's all kill Sakura. And you seem to have the battleplan mapped out. Sweet deal! It means I don't have to come up with it.
Elly Stormrage: Fluffy enough? I thought so. I almost gagged at one part, but I'm not saying which, mainly because I can't remember. But you're right. SasuNaruness is finally here.
Tyranimo: A good idea... but there are no beaches in my state. Goddamn Pennsylvania! RAWR. Anyways, thanks for the compliments and for boosting my ego very high up. Wheee!
Kionat: I hope this didn't happen in real life. I would pity and sympathize with whoever would be replaced with Naruto and Sasuke. And then I would go and beat the shit out of Orochimaru's gang and all. Hee hee hee hee
Fox: Wow, I made a non-poem person a poem-personish person. I dunno... I'm confusing myself. Thanks for the review. I hope to continue seeing your reviews.
Hogo-chan: thanks for the review, mate. I'm your hero? I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I'm a weird type of character, so yeah... I'm glad you liked my chapter. Squealy fool? Aww! How cute!
Kisu: I know I'm evul, but I can't help it. Honestly, it was too good of a cliffie to pass up.
Dark Mimiru-Chan: Here's Naruto, then, I suppose. WHEE!
Az-Strawberry: Weird or no, as long as you like it, why should that be a problem? (if it ever was, of course). Happy to see your review! Hope to see more!
DieChan: I didn't die... Wait... you thought I was dead?
Angelicattie Its not creepy, but I don't think my girlfriend would be too happy with you kissing me. Anyways, I'm glad you liked. Here's the next chapter.
Lord Zork: Lol, that's one of the reasons why I say Naruto and I are so alike. However, I'm very happy that you actually made the comparison. Don't worry about something if it sounds awkward, as long as the person understands what you want to say, its all good.
TrigunChic: Bah, even they went numb, I'm a pyromaniac so I'd burn them 'til they could feel again. Thanks for the review. You're right, I shouldn't change who I am just to conform. Conformity sucks anyway.
Kitsurobami: Kewlys! You actually have a band! Wheee! My band... we haven't done shit. We still need a bassist. Bah!
SasuNaru-kun: I'd be honored if you wrote music for it. I would, but I don't have much musical talent.
Xxphatxbaybeexx: do you know how to get in contact with an agency who would buy my work? I need extra cash, and I wouldn't mind given rock bands some of my lesser poems. Drowning I'm keeping to myself, however, for whenever my band does get off its ass.
Ann: My angst is almost gone, thank god, but I'm still glad that people were worried. It means they care, so its not like everything is at the end right now. In fact, it feels like the beginning all over again.
Kanemoshi: Wheee, PITCHFORKS! MWA! Thanks! Masterpiece? I don't know about that.
Alex?s little duckling: whoa, I think that's a first someone threw a temper tantrum to get me to update. Congrats!
Me: Thanks for the compliments on the poem. My favorite verse is either the first four lines of the first verse. "I'll take a photograph/it'll be my memory/I'll take one last shot/at what seems like history." I also like the last verse. "Got to hold on/but my finger's slipping/gotta be strong/but I'm still drowning." I dunno why, but those are my favorite parts. However, I'm glad that you liked it. Squee!
Kyuubi: Just go out and write, and that's how I started. I just picked up a pen and wrote on a piece of paper. Writing comes to the writer. Here's your update.
Toudai-ronin: Don't fail! That's not good! Just pass with a D and it's all good!
Heero2001: Well, now you know, neh?
Sasuke luveeer!: Here's more... please turn down the volume though, its scary! Just kidding, thanks for the review
Kin Uchiha: Thanks for saying you'd wait. That makes me feel special. I feel better, actually. Its been a much better week than the last time I updated. I agree. I shouldn't change what I feel. That would be untrue to myself and therefore regretful... no regrets -that's my life.
Thanks to all of you. You've been there to help me through good and bad times. I love you all. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.