Cold
This is a sequel to mithas' SasuNaru
(supposedly) sap. Well, I did manage to insert
sap, finally. And it doesn't make me cringe, which was the goal. But the other
part of the challenge of writing sap, especially a SasuNaru
sap, was to keep it IC. Tsk. And that IC bit just
flopped in the end, I think. T_T
So...I'm relying on the timeline, set a few years
(maybe 5 or less than 10) in the future, to defend the characterization.
Do tell if it's IC or OOC tho coz that's bugging me
right now -_-.
( edit ) : unedited. *waits for caillen
to edit it* ^o^
Title: Cold (sequel to Once Upon a Midnight Clear)
written: 20021226
For a long while, Naruto stared at the only source of
light in the room. The flame flickered while the shadows danced around it. As a
child, he was plagued with dreams of shadows around him. He would consider such
as nightmares if he was scared or if he felt an ounce of fear from it.
Something he never felt. He felt nothing.
Later on, he understood what the shadows were. Or at least, he thought so. It
was the kyubi in him that everyone feared and
loathed. If he was the flame then kyubi, its nine
tails, danced around him.
The nine tails kept the people at bay. And not even at an arm's length. They
were so far; they might as well not exist. Or he might as well not exist.
Whichever was the case, but it sure felt the latter more than anything.
From nothing stemmed hatred and sadness. Yet, sadness won over hatred, as he
grew older. The urge to reach out was so overwhelming that he ridiculed himself
to be recognized. Naruto lifted his gaze and turned
to the closed door of Sasuke's room. What Sasuke said rang true. In Sasuke's
case, it was hatred that won.
His hand left the comfort of the blanket and reached out for the fire. He ran
his palm through the orange tongues swiftly, then slowly, till he settled it in
the middle. It would burn anybody's skin if he kept it there too long but his
training allowed his body to tolerate this heat. Every ninja have a higher
toleration for temperature. But he wasn't that stupid as to watch his palm be
on fire. He just wanted to feel the flame.
After he removed his palm from it, he touched his other one. Cold.
Then warm. Did the fire know that it could give warmth? Stupid
question. Was it?
Naruto's face contorted to a frown as he put out the
fire. Turned around and headed for the rooms. And before he chickened out to
what he had in mind, he ran and banged Sasuke's door
open with a well-aimed kick.
Sasuke was already on his guard when Naruto came in. Surprised because it was Naruto and not some assassin. "You got the
wrong room."
"Are you cold?"
Without even waiting for a reply, Naruto closed the
door, locked it behind him and trudged to Sasuke's
direction. "Cold, Sasuke?"
Narrowed eyes met the question. Sasuke kept his guard
and gave the person in front of him a quick but thorough check, highly
believing that this was some clone. And failed.
Relaxing, "What's wrong, Naruto? This isn't your
room."
Doubt already clouded Naruto's mind and he wanted to
just do a stupid grin and apologize. This was embarrassing and he gritted his
teeth, already mentally banging his head against the wall.
All or nothing.
Grimly, Naruto walked closer to his adversary. And wrapped his arms around Sasuke
firmly.
This act undoubtedly surprised Sasuke. He froze and
couldn't even utter a word of rejection or anything. His senses came back quick
enough and he tried to push away. Naruto just kept
his hold, even tighter.
Again, Naruto asked. Slowly, softly, gently,
"Are you cold, Sasuke?"
This time, somehow, Sasuke understood.
"Come on, Sasuke, I can't cling like this all
night, you know."
Sasuke balled his fist and whacked Naruto. Then held the head against his
shoulder. "No, I'm not cold." Pulling away, he held Naruto's eyes with his, "Not anymore."
