Disclaimers: I own NOTHING! NOTHING in the Naruto verse and never will! (Sniffs)
Author's note: I like this monthly uploads of chapters. It gives me a sense of accomplishments and not rush in my chapters. Anyways, Enjoy!
WARNINGS: mature contents, Fluffiness and OOC-ness. You have been warned! (Maybe some mis-spelling)
Chapter: Of Flames (Different levels)
Kakashi figured there is no need for nights shifts after watching the blaze for some time now and ushered them all to bed, but as a precaution made a clone to stand watch on the roof while he got some sleep. When the morning light came in through a gap in the curtains, Kakashi dismissed his clone and closed the gap to give his kids some extra time to sleep in. Padding down to the bathroom, he did his business and once finished, headed down for breakfast to break the news to Tazuna and his family.
They were shocked at first, then Tazuna laughed.
"Serves them right for all the trouble they cause!" thumping his hand on the table, Tazuna's laughter trailed on until a different thump hit him on the back of his head in which he answered with a hiss.
"Do not speak ill of the dead dad! They may have been thugs but they were still human beings" Tsunami reprimanded him but Tazuna waved it off.
"Whatever. Now everyone can get back to work and we can finish in peace" Sipping his coffee as he leaned back in his chair and sighed. "It'll be a good day today"
Kakashi sniffed but said nothing. Sipping his own coffee, his ears picked up movement above and told Tsunami to have breakfast ready soon for the incoming squad. Tsunami glared once more at her father before getting the food ready and just as she finished the last toast, the squad came in and said their good mornings. Kakashi nodded as the Genins took their places to his right and left, handed over the juice to Sakura who handed over the plate of eggs to Sasuke who smiled at his blonde when he put some bacon on his plate.
After a few minutes of chewing, sipping and utensils hitting the plates, Naruto spoke up.
"So what's the plan for today?"
"I'm going to get ready for work! It's going to be a great day!" Tazuna said happily as he drain his cup and skipped off to his room, humming away as he received looks from the squad and Tsunami.
"Putting that aside" a snort "Sakura and I will check out the area around the tower, find out what the peoples know and gather information. You boys will go with Tazuna like always and we'll meet you there when we're done"
"Should you inform one of the Kage on what happened here? If they think it's safe enough, we might be able to go home early" Sakura asked hopefully.
"Somehow I doubt that. I feel like we're in this for the long haul" Sasuke said as he added more portions of eggs to Naruto's plate in which he happily scooped up.
"Well, considering we're already this far into it, I'll still write them and see what they say" Everyone nodded and finished eating before getting ready for work. Naruto and Sasuke got dressed, put on their weights and went down to see Tazuna already waiting by the door.
"Come on kids, no point in wasting precious time indoors when the sun is shining on us today" He happily said and lead the way outside. Naruto quirked an eyebrow at the old man and turned to Sasuke who just shook his head and took his hand, following their client out. Kakashi rolled his eyes from his place on the table, took his last sip of coffee and stood just as Sakura came down, ready to go.
"Tsunami, we'll still have a clone stationed here just in case. We don't rightly know what happen and who did it but hopefully we'll find out soon enough"
Tsunami nodded from her place in the kitchen and watched as they left. A tap on the window caught her attention and she leaned over the sink to see that an upside down Naruto clone waved back at her. She smile and took a deep breath, relaxing and continue on in the kitchen.
She always felt safe when Naruto was the one watching over.
OOOOO
Earlier that same morning:
Arms tighten around them, breathing in the scent and quietly groan when their sleep induced brain registered whose scent it is. The body wrapped around them burrowed into their chest as their arms also tighten and breathe in. They stayed in this position for a few more minutes before a set of purple eyes looked up from their place on the chest and gave a sleepy smile.
"I've missed waking up to you" Zabuza quietly said as he nuzzled the bedhead of his bed mate. "I've also missed you wearing my clothes when we sleep" he added, earning a quiet chuckle.
Last night after watching the tower engulfed in flames, the group made their way to Zabuza's place, the clones depositing their carry on and popped out of existence. Zabuza set Roxanne down next to his bed and made his way to Haku's room where he relieved the boy of his outer wear and shoes before pulling a blanket over him. Coming back to the room, Roxanne still stood in place, Zabuza undressed down to his shorts and knelt in front of Roxanne. She smiled as she helped unwrapped the bandages from his body and arms. The headband on his head came next and when her hands made to go for the wrapping around half his face, Zabuza stopped her. Not saying a word, he undressed her, starting from her feet: slipping the shoes and socks off, then the belt and holsters came off. Roxanne lifted her arms so he can take her shirt off and tossed it to the side, her pants followed leaving her in her underclothes. Reaching a hand under his bed, he pulled out a black shirt and put it over her head, smoothing it down to her knees.
Once done, Roxanne reached for the wrapping around half his face once again and he let her. When the last of it fell to the floor, Roxanne caressed his face and brought his forehead to hers, closing their eyes as Zabuza wrapped his arms around her and lifted her. Pulling the blanket aside, they got in bed and got comfortable before falling asleep instantly, wrapped around each other like they have in the past.
That was how they woke up.
"I don't want you to go"
Roxanne sighed. "You could always come with me. Nothing is holding you here and Haku can come"
Zabuza snorted "And live in the Leaf village, taking on missions and earning a living as an upstanding citizen?" sarcasm thick in his question
She sighed again "I know. That's not you. But you could still leave"
"And go where?" rubbing her back at first then slowly caressing her sides down to her hips, over her thighs and under her knees before moving back up again.
"My house is always available to you" Zabuza stopped his caress and pulled his head back to look at the girl in his arms. "My nanny knows about you, I've told her about you and sent her a picture of you. And I gave her orders that if you decide to show up there then to let you live there as long as you want"
Bringing a hand up to his face, Roxanne caressed his bottom lip with her thumb as her hand rubbed his cheek. Opening his mouth, Zabuza took the thumb in his mouth, nibbling on it as he stared into Roxanne's eyes. Rolling over on top of her, straddling her thighs and with his elbow on either side of her head, Zabuza stared intently into violet eyes.
"You" he swallowed the dryness in his throat "You are giving me your house?"
Roxanne nodded.
"You. Are giving me your house?" he repeated again and again Roxanne nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I love you, I want to take care of you"
Zabuza didn't say anything and he didn't need to as Roxanne understood. He then wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up as he sat back on his legs and held her to him as she wrapped her legs around him.
"My Zabuza, you are mine and I take care of what belongs to me. My house will be your house for as long as you want it and need it" Tightening her limbs around him, Zabuza choked up as a single tear streamed down his face.
"Always yours" he whispered into her shoulder.
The moment last a minute before a throat cleared.
"From this angle, it clearly looks like you're having the ride of your life" came a voice and Roxanne peaked over Zabuza's shoulder to see Haku leaning up against the door frame with a flush to his face. Haku huffed before pushing off the frame and came to the bed, plopping himself down next to the pillow as he watched the two still embracing. Roxanne wiped the last of the tears from his face as Zabuza nipped at those fingers, earning him a giggle and a sigh. Slipping his legs from underneath him and crossing them, Zabuza placed Roxanne in his lap and rubbed her sides and back.
"I really don't understand all the petting you have been doing to them, Zabuza-san. Is it like a species animal thing or just needy physical contact? Because if it's just needy physical contact, I am here too"
"Them?" Roxanne questioned as she looked up at the stubble under Zabuza's chin and didn't hold herself back as she leaned up and nibbled at that piece of flesh, earning her a quiet moan.
"Oh, didn't you know? Zabuza-san has been pretty handsy when it comes to a certain blonde and his dark haired friend" said as casual as one can but Roxanne could see and hear the underlined jealously in those words and smiled at the boy. Zabuza rolled his eyes and nuzzled into Roxanne's neck.
"Call it what you want but once you come into my pack, then expect to be all hands on, if you know what I mean" with a wiggle of her brows and Zabuza chuckling into her neck.
"Oh, now you're calling it a pack now? Like I would want you and your lot smothering me" Crossing his arms and huffing, he failed to see the two sharing a look.
"Haku" he turned his head just a bit before a body pushed him down on the bed and held his arms and legs down. Haku tried to struggle and get out from under but Roxanne held him down with a firm hold. After a minute, he stopped and allowed her to do as she pleased which was to rub at his neck, sighing in mock defeat but jumped when he heard a sound rumbling from the girl on top of him.
"Aww, such a cute, weak little kitten you are" Haku bristled at that "See, this is what happens when you rely too much on your bloodline and not enough on your own strength" Squeezing his arms "What will you ever do? How will you ever survive solely on your chakra and not your physical strength?"
Haku stayed silent, he really had nothing to say to that when he did only rely on his chakra and nothing else. Roxanne smiled down at him.
"We are going to change that. Isn't that right my Zabuza?" a grunt as an answer. "The next time I see you, I want you to be able to use your actual strength and not the weapons you hide on your person or the chakra that flows through your veins. If I can carry a two hundred and fifty pound man across the country without breaking a sweat and if Naruto can run in a hundred pound weights in a short amount of time, Then damn rights I'm going to make sure you catch up as quickly as possible. Because in this family, we hold our own while watching each other's backs. Ok?"
Haku stayed silent as he blinked at the girl above him, trying to wrap his brain around the fact that this girl can carry a two hundred pound man without sweating.
"Hey!" fingers snapped in front of him "Ok?"
"Ok, ok"
Roxanne smiled as she let go of his arms and curled up on his chest. Zabuza sighed then laid down next to the two, adjusting the pillow and rubbed a hand on the back of Roxanne. "You are so much warmer now then last night" she said into his chest
"Yeah, about that, I've never felt this warm before" Haku commented as he looked between the two.
"Heat always melts cold. When I pushed my chakra into you, it went through your whole being, all the way down to your core where you keep your cold. You'll be a normal boy for a couple days for it to take your chakra back up to your normal levels"
Haku sighed. "So you literally turned me into a real boy with just your heat? Why does that sound sexual, like you took my virginity?"
"Whatever floats your boat, sweetie" Roxanne sat up, straddling Haku with her hands on his chest as he looked up at her "Don't worry, you'll be back to your old self soon. It's not like there's anything to worry about now"
"Speaking of which, shouldn't you be getting ready to leave?" Haku said as he pushed himself up on his elbows.
"And leave you two to decide if you want to leave too" She turns her head to Zabuza "My offer will always stand. Be it tomorrow or next year or in 10 years, my house is your house"
Zabuza sat up and picked up the girl off Haku and hugged her. "I'll send word when we decide. For now, we'll stay and watch over the boys until they leave"
Zabuza held onto Roxanne for another few minutes, committing to memory the feel of her and her scent just like Roxanne is doing. Haku sat by but held a hand on her knee to show the support both would need when they departed from each other. After letting go, Roxanne stood and quickly dressed.
When the sun broke over the horizon, Roxanne said her goodbyes to the two, holding onto Zabuza a bit longer one last time, kissed his face and nuzzled his neck before giving a salute and disappeared from the room.
"So" Haku started.
"She likes you" Haku turned his head "She put her scent on you and that means she likes you"
"What?" and lifted his shirt to smell it but found nothing. "There's no scent"
"Believe me, you smell like her just like I do and when Naruto get a whiff then he'll know too. Maybe even Kakashi" he chuckles at the thought. Haku snorted and shook his head.
"All you with a better sense of smell scare me. Does this means I'm part of the pack?"
Zabuza smiled and leaned over, picking up Haku and kissed his cheek "It means a lot more"
Haku blushed but wrapped his arms around Zabuza's neck as they got up off the bed to get dressed for the day and to make sure they scrubbed the scent off them to keep anyone from knowing that Roxanne made an appearance, even went as far as throwing the sheets and anything she touched into the washer. It'll take too long to explain and too many questions they rather not answer. Not that they couldn't, they just didn't want to.
OOOOO
When they got to the bridge, Tazuna cheered when he saw all the workers that had quit before are now back to work and clapped the boys on the back to show his enthusiasm. Sasuke side stepped the pat but Naruto allowed the old man to clap him so it can help him wake up a bit. Waving the boys off when they tried to start up on their normal routine of heavy lifting and such, Tazuna told them to relax.
Easier said than done when Tazuna took off with a skip in his step, Naruto scratched his head and Sasuke scoffed then went to find a tarp. If they are going to be doing nothing but sitting around then he'd like it to be sitting around under a nice shade from the shining sun. Finding one, the boys picked a nice spot and set up a makeshift tent with discarded lumber and some rope alongside the riling ledge. Sitting under the tent, Naruto took out a deck of cards and started dealing.
"You better not cheat" said to his right
"When have I ever cheated when playing with you?"
"I know you cheat, I just don't know how but I'll find out one of these days"
Naruto smiled at Sasuke and threw a card.
When Sasuke lost the first game, he took the cards and started shuffling while mumbling about genius blondes as Naruto watched with a small smile on his face.
And when he lost the second game, Sasuke openly glared at Naruto as he shuffled the deck and snickered at his friend.
The third game, having lost again, Sasuke threw the cards to the ground and grabbed Naruto by the scruff of his neck and raised his fist. Naruto, having been used to this behavior by now, laughed.
A throat being cleared followed by a click is what stopped Sasuke from punching the blonde's lights out and they both turned to a snickering Sakura with her trusty camera and an amused Kakashi.
"Let me guess: you think he's cheating?" Kakashi asked as Sakura pocket the camera and went under their make shift tent to have a seat by the boys (Sasuke's right and Naruto left), picking up the discarded cards and shuffling them.
Letting the blonde go, Sasuke sat back down "I know he is, I just haven't figured out how yet" and glared at said blonde just to be sure that Naruto got the message of his frustration.
Naruto smiled as he sat back down, smooth out his clothes and picked up his hand of cards. Kakashi sat under their tent and leaned up against the concrete ledge behind Sasuke and watched his kids play.
When Naruto won that game, you could actually hear Sasuke grinding his teeth together in frustration. Sakura patted the poor boy on his knee as she handed Sasuke his hand of cards, which he did while glaring at a smiling Naruto.
"So, about the tower" grunts in answer from the trio "No witnesses" Naruto looked up "No bodies" Sasuke looked up "Just ash. It's unnerving how quickly it happened and no one saw until the tower was completely engulfed in flames that even the firefighters didn't bother to go"
"I bet they were on the take too and since their meal ticket literally burned up, they saw no need to go and help" Throwing a card.
"What gets to me is that no one saw anything and it wasn't that late when it started. It's like someone went in and out then poof, up in flames" Sakura added as she picked up a card and threw one away.
"That's possible. Maybe one of them got tired of the hassling and took matters in their own hands" Sasuke said while picking up a card and throwing one.
"Or, and this is a big or. Or one of them got offered a butt load of money in exchange of getting rid of Gato" Naruto's turn to throw a card
"Then that would have left his goons free range of this village. Did you see any strange looking thugs?" Sasuke asked Sakura and picked up a card she threw away.
Sakura shook her head "No, we didn't see anyone like that. We searched the crowd that showed up this morning but no one stood out"
"Gin!" Naruto interrupted and quickly jumped out of the way of a punch. Back flipping away from the enraged boy, Naruto failed to see whose behind him and bumped into a solid body. But said body grabbed his shoulders to steady him and he looked up to see a half face smiling back at him.
"Zabuza-san!" and jumped to be caught in a pair of strong arms as he hugged the tall man. Zabuza wrapped his arms around the little body as he nuzzled into the neck, catching the blondes' scent and sighed. Naruto leaned back and noticed that Zabuza's bandages were cleaner then yesterdays', looking down, he also noticed the man wearing a better form fitting pair of pants and looking over Zabuza's shoulders, he didn't see the sword or weapons pouch. Looking to the side to Haku, Naruto saw that Haku was dressed differently, more casual with a long sleeve shirt under his robes and comfy pair of pants. No headband along with his hair down instead of tied up like he normally looks.
"You both look different" Naruto says out loud and get some brow raised at that. Instead of answering, Zabuza rubbed his cheek with the blondes and kissed it.
"Let me guess: you think he's cheating?" Zabuza directed the question to Sasuke who huffed, crossed his arms and turned away.
"I know he is"
Zabuza and Haku chuckled as they sat, Zabuza taking Naruto's seat as he adjusted the blonde on his lap and picked up the deck of cards to start shuffling. Haku took a seat between him and Sasuke, saying a hello to them all. As Zabuza dealt the cards, Naruto picked his hand up and leaned back against the man's chest as Zabuza leaned back against the solid railing of the bridge and Naruto threw a card. Haku, sitting next to Sasuke, leaned over to see his hand.
Kakashi watched from his side then spoke up: "So, you wouldn't happen to know what happen last night would you?"
"I actually passed out when the last of Gato's men showed up so I don't know what happen after that" Haku said and pointed to a card after Sasuke picked one up and he threw that one away.
"And I'm not going to let Haku stayed passed out in a tower full of men that will cash in their own sister for a spot up front" Zabuza added as he watched the blonde picked up a card and threw one away.
"Neither one of you were around to see what happen?"
"I saw the fire before falling asleep if that's any help"
"And that's it?"
"Yes, my hands are clean on this one"
Silence, except for the breeze flowing by.
"But, would you have?" Naruto asked as he looked up. Zabuza ran his hand through the blonde hair and leaned in, taking a deep breath before answering.
"In a heartbeat if it meant keeping you kids safe"
Nothing was said after that. Except…
"Gin!" and cards thrown down by a wide smiling Sasuke. Haku laughed by his side, Naruto looked gob smacked at the revelations and both Sakura and Kakashi giggled behind their hands.
"Finally! Finally after all this time, I won! I won! I won!" throwing his arms in the air, Sasuke laughed then abruptly stopped when a throat clear from his sides and wanting to show his gratitude, Sasuke threw an arm around Haku's shoulders and smiled.
"I mean We won!" Haku laughed at the boy hugging him then smirked at a stunned looking Naruto.
"It wasn't that hard if you know what to look for" Haku commented as Sasuke kept laughing.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! What can I do, how can I repay you for helping me beat the blonde dobe?"
"Hey!" a hand a card flew by his head but Sasuke ignored it and stared at Haku for an answer with his arm still wrapped around his shoulders. Haku just smiled then brought a hand up to the small of Sasuke's back and leaned into Sasuke's neck, making a show of trailing his nose up and to his ear, earning him a blushing Sasuke.
The other's reaction was complete opposite as two adults barely held back two enraged Genins.
Haku whispered something for a second then leaned back, looking at the blushing boy.
"That's it?" Haku nodded "okay, do you have a comb?"
The question stopped both Genins from tearing into Haku, giving a confused look as they watched Sasuke sat up on his knees and went behind Haku as Haku pulled out a comb from his robes, smirking smugly at Naruto.
"What does he want?" Naruto barely growled out as he watched Sasuke settled behind Haku and took the comb.
"I asked him to braid my hair" Knowing full well what his actions did to the Genins, Haku smiled and picked up the deck of cards to start shuffling as Sasuke combed through his hair to begin.
"That wasn't funny" Naruto said through clenched teeth as Zabuza loosen his hold on the blonde. Kakashi did the same with Sakura.
"It wasn't funny when you called Haku pretty right in front of me that time we first met him" Sasuke said as he ran the comb through the long hair, never once looking anywhere else but the strokes of his hand. Naruto looked to his friend but Sasuke kept his eyes on the hair in front of him and looked to the ground, bringing a hand to his chest.
"I'm sorry. I'll never do that to you again cause what I'm feeling now, I never want you to feel that ever again" he said quietly but loud enough for all to hear.
"Naruto" Sakura whispered.
Movement could be heard and when Naruto saw Sasuke kneeling in front of him, he looked up to see sad eyes staring back at him. Sasuke brought a hand up to Naruto's cheek and leaned in, pressing a kiss to the blonde's lips. After a moment Sasuke let Naruto go and connected their forehead together, rubbing the blonde's cheek.
"It's ok, Naruto. I'm sorry you had to see that" Moving back just an inch to look into the blue of Naruto's eyes, he smiled at the dazed look. "Yours" Sasuke whispered and gave those lips another peck before leaning back.
"Yours" Naruto repeated back and gave Sasuke a beaming smile.
And of course in their little bubble, they didn't hear the clicking of a camera or the squealing of a girl or the sighs and chuckles around them.
"Besides, neither of you boys are my type. I'm already spoken for anyways" Haku said as he dealt the cards and winked at the older man behind Naruto who chuckled.
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