My ramblings are SO much fun aren't they^_____^
I had to hold back this chapter because I had to make posters for my school… dun ask
Anyways^^ Not much to say this time…
Well the disclaimers of course^^
Noooo…. I DO NOT own Naruto for obvious reasons…. Or I would NOT be sitting here writing fanfiction when I could be making huge bucks off my manga…
Also, this is dedicated to SLOTH!! Because sloth is just SO KOOL!!! ^___^ I went over your website like fifty times and tried to leave a message but it didn't work^^;;
I would LUV to see your pictures, if they are as amazing and beautiful as you others ones^^ U like Kakashi ne? Anyways! U RULE with your wonderful art!! I felt like I didn't give you much earned appreciation in my last chapter!
Eh^^ Feels embarrassed to have u review my story, u know what?? I actually went to u website before u reviewed me and u were like one of my artist idols!! *starry eyes* LOL^^
This is ALSO dedicated to Wusai and Nora D(She's reviewed every single chapter since I started^^ *feeling proud of myself*) Thanks 4 ur help!
And to my ever special beta Koganei!! Cuz she works her ass off beta-ing my stories… which I'm sad to say I'm too lazy to edit myself!! *glomps her* U R THE BEST!!!!!
Special thanks to my reviewers,
Sw, faith, sloth^^, NoraD:P, Renn, Moon Klutz, Annachan, Mimi, Kinu-uni^_^, L-sama, Kon-kun, RyogazGal(Who reviewed A LOT of my chapters at once^^ It was a shock to see), kyaate, Aya and Maki!! (I'll be glad to send u an e-mail whenever a new chapter is out)
Reviewers will always have a special place in my heart!!
READ ON!!!
Warnings: Beware of homosexuality, RAPE and other dark (well not so dark) themes that will be presented in the story… and no flames plez… just constructive criticism!!
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Sasuke awoke to a light tapping on his door, rubbing his eyes before pulling his legs onto the ground. He crinkled his brows and he sought to find his slippers in the dark room as he called to the impatient visitor.
" Coming." Sasuke said loudly, finally finding his slippers. He deftly slipped them on and strided towards the door.
He swiftly swung the door open, immensely annoyed at whoever visited him at such an early hour. He was normally a morning person, but 3:00 am was way out of hand.
He swallowed a gasp though when he saw a sheepish Naruto standing on his doorstep. Wondering momentarily if it was a dream, because Naruto coming to his home at such an hour was nearly impossible, he blinked twice.
For a second, he stood there drinking in the mere appearance of the mildly shy boy. The moonlight softly pooled over his hair turning it a mysterious silver, and his eyes glowed a bright blue with a childlike innocence; Sasuke saw that he detected a small hint of fear there.
Biting his lip as he came to the conclusion that it was very much real, he moved aside to allow the boy in. Sasuke led Naruto in without a word and sat him on a small leather couch.
Sasuke raised two slender brows at the blond-haired boy, who was currently playing with his hands nervously and staring down at the ground as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. Sasuke took in a deep breath quietly; he knew that Naruto wouldn't come to his home at such an hour with out having a good reason to.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Naruto interrupted.
" I bet you're thinking right now why I'm sitting in your living room only hours before the sun rises." Naruto said quickly, his eyes still downcast. Sasuke was perplexed at the suddenly timid boy.
" Uh… well yes." He said carefully.
Naruto didn't lift his head, but Sasuke saw the small smile that played around his lips.
" I really don't know either. I mean, it seemed like the reasonable thing to do before but now that I'm actually in here and facing you… I think I've made a horrible mistake." Naruto said slowly, finally lifting his head up, Sasuke saw a faint blush of pink on his cheeks and nearly smiled.
" What's wrong?" Sasuke asked almost kindly, though it wasn't really in his nature to do that.
Naruto paused at the concerned tone of his voice, apparently caught off guard as well, but his eyes continued to linger on Sasuke's pale handsome face. Seeming to think a bit before speaking, Naruto hesitated at his words.
" I… I had a dream."
" A nightmare?" Sasuke asked instantly. Naruto paused at his words, he was still unsure of whether he would classify it as a "nightmare." Of course, Naruto pondered, his dream did seem to have nightmarish qualities, even though he didn't remember it quite well.
" I'm not really sure. I can't even remember it that well… It just kinda chilled me, like there was something important I missed or something…"
Sasuke peered at him curiously, but Naruto had caught the disbelieving look in his dark eyes. He suddenly realized how stupid he must look, coming to him in the middle of the night because he had some nightmare??
" I mean umm… What I mean is you know how Iruka once told us that dreams can sometimes tell the future, or like just be really weird and stuff??" Naruto stammered.
Sasuke nodded wisely. " Dreams can be interpreted in many ways, it was told before by men that it told us of the future or of the unknown. It was thought even to be a gateway or window to other dimensions."
" So could it be that where we have dreams in could be in an entirely different world?? Or dimension of something?" Naruto said softly, his face was shadowed so Sasuke couldn't see his features well.
" That could be possible."
" Then would it be possible that someone could control what happens in that world, so kind of like control a person's dreams??" Naruto pressed on eagerly, though he wasn't too sure what he was getting at.
" Some would say it would be possible. There has been many stories throughout the ages about how people have accidently stumbled upon an entirely new world." Sasuke said slowly, contemplating on why Naruto would be asking these strange questions.
Naruto frowned, not because he wasn't getting his answers but rather because as together everything sounds, the pieces didn't seem to fit.
" If someone… tried to harm me through my dreams… would it be possible?"
Sasuke immediately shook his head firmly.
" Our dreams are only in state of mind, our physical forms cannot be harmed at all because it is not what has ventured into the world. But it could be that your mental state and stability could be harmed and such, there have been severe cases of that."
" What happened."
" There have been cases throughout history about how people would commit crimes and blame it on being hypnotized, sleeping and that they were not in right state of mind. Scientists have concluded that this generally happens when a person is half-asleep…"
" So 'if' someone could control your dreams, they might be able to control your actions in the physical world by doing something to your mind." Naruto said, his eyes glazed with thought.
Sasuke caught on quickly and stared icily at Naruto.
" What are you getting at?"
There was a pause and Sasuke could see Naruto thinking quickly.
Naruto quickly shook his head and grinned brightly. He leaned over to slap Sasuke on the back, ignoring the incredulous look the other boy shot him.
" I'm sorry. It's just that…" Naruto froze. " Nothing…"
No… He couldn't say anything to Sasuke. Sasuke was the one who caused this problem. Sasuke was the main issue. Naruto quickly changed the subject and looked around.
He wasn't surprised to see everything perfectly neat and tidy. There was not a speck of dirt in sight not was there even ONE perverted magazine. Naruto raised sceptical eyes towards Sasuke.
" Uh, nice place. I feel like I'm in some hotel room tended by a maid obsessed with cleanliness of something." Naruto laughed.
Sasuke glared at him darkly, annoyed by the fact that Naruto had changed the subject.
" You are in no place to say that, I've see your home before slob."
Naruto ignored his comment and got up all of a sudden, pushing his chair back with an ear-thundering screech. He began to walk around the room, inspecting it as though he was trying hard to find something. Sasuke watched him carefully, unsure of what exactly Naruto was doing.
Naruto looked around, stopping every so often as though he had found something interesting, but walking along again a few seconds later. Sasuke stared incredulously at the boy, wondering to himself why the hell he wasn't telling him to go away.
Because… Sasuke realized… he wanted Naruto to stay.
Naruto suddenly paused at a book-filled shelf and Sasuke saw that he was staring at the hundle of photographs in frames on top. Flinching when he heard Naruto cry gleefully, he jumped forward to push the photos down. But paused when he saw Naruto's awe-filled face.
Sasuke's eyes swept over the familiar faces of his parents, their features looking so much like his. He felt a wave of hurt and anger flow through him as always when he saw it.
" WAH!! Your parents!! I've never seen them before!!" Naruto reached out excitedly and clutched the photograph. He brought it close to his face and scrutinized it carefully, a smile still flat on his face.
Sasuke fought the urge to swipe the photo out of Naruto's hands and watched him instead. He frowned when he saw Naruto's expression turn to one of confusion.
He saw that Naruto's face was directed towards the shelf once again, at the two frames that were lying facedown. Unable to take the frames away in time, he watched his alarm as Naruto picked it up and glanced at it.
" GIVE IT BACK!!" Sasuke hollered angrily at last, leaning over to take the pictures away from Naruto. Naruto quickly jumped back, concern in his eyes.
There was a brief silence, where only a harsh panting from Sasuke was heard as Naruto's bright blue eyes glowed eerily at him.
Sasuke tore his dark eyes away from as Naruto glanced at the picture the other boy wanted so much to keep him from.
There was a soft intake of breath, something Sasuke had expected as Naruto saw the younger version of the man… the man Sasuke vowed to kill.
" Your brother…" Naruto said quietly.
He looked down at the picture in his hands, of the man and the woman happily tending with a boy on a bike while a smaller younger child stood behind the bushes, staring at them with sorrow-filled eyes. He lifted one finger to carefully brush it over the surface of the picture, over the smaller child's face.
He peered up at Sasuke with puzzled eyes, and found that Sasuke was unable to look into his eyes directly.
Sasuke didn't say anything, Naruto saw that his fists were clenched tightly, the white of his knuckles glowing in the moonlight.
Naruto walked forward, peering at the other boy curiously. He stopped when Sasuke flinched back and didn't know what to say.
" This is you isn't it." He finally said. Naruto lifted up the picture, pointing towards the small child at the back.
Sasuke nodded miserably.
There was another short silence, tension hanging in the air. Naruto longed to place his hands on Sasuke's trembling shoulders but was afraid of what would happen if he did.
Sasuke's face was downcast, so Naruto couldn't see his face.
" Sasuke?"
Sasuke chuckled darkly.
Naruto continued to stare at him intently.
" Tell me…"
Sasuke took a deep shuddering breath before a hoarse voice that didn't sound like Sasuke's at all began to speak.
" My parents always favoured my brother more." He started softly, startling Naruto because he never really expected him to speak.
"He was the smart one, the brilliant one, the genius. He was the child anyone would be stupid not to be proud of. He was so amazing; there was no one better than him. He was the gem of the village and of my family. Uchiha Itachi, graduated top of his Academy class at age 7, had mastered the Sharingan by age 8, became a Chuunin at 9 and was already an Anbu captain at the age of only 13.
"He was a miracle, the strongest of the strongest. My parents showed him love they never did for me." Saasuke continued quietly, his head bowed and his dark bangs shadowing his face.
He chuckled, a bitter-filled sound that made Naruto shiver.
" Well… guess what?" Sasuke paused, a slow bitter smile forming on his face, though Naruto didn't see.
" Guess what…" Sasuke repeated darkly.
"He turned on them! Their precious little boy, the one they loved so DAMN MUCH!!" Sasuke raised his voice, lifting his head to reveal dark eyes glinting with venom.
" While poor me, poor Sasuke stood by. I always tried to make them proud, I did everything I could do!! But I could NEVER compare of my brother! No. He was the amazing one, NO ONE can be better than him. I'm just Itachi's younger brother, the weaker one!" Sasuke spat bitterly.
Naruto took several steps back unconsciously, shocked at the sudden outburst. He had a feeling Sasuke's been want to let this out for a long time.
" My parents never cared about me. But I always worked hard to make them show me the love they showed Itachi. For them to gaze at me with those proud eyes they always had for Itachi." Sasuke spit out his brother's name as though it was a dirty word.
" And- And and…" A shuddering breath.
Naruto helplessly watched Sasuke, seeing his flawless pale features twist as the boy fought to keep control.
" Even after they FUCKING DIED!!! I tried so damn hard to make them proud! To show them that I'll fucking kill their astounding son for vengeance!! But you know what???" Sasuke breathed heavily, his voice choking with such despair that Naruto wanted to wrap the other boy in his arms. But he stood still, waiting for what was to come next.
" They're probably laughing at me right now!!!" Sasuke laughed crudely. " Of course you can't beat him Sasuke!! You're not good enough for that!! Because your brother is just so FUCKING WONDERFUL AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT!!!!" Sasuke yelled loudly, panting.
Naruto watched the eyes that glowed with such passion and rage, turned towards him but not even seeing him. Just seeing all that violent hatred in front of him, unable to pull himself away from the clutches of the past.
Naruto saw all that and felt the urge to cry, because Sasuke had tears glistening at the corners of his eyes and Sasuke wasn't supposed to cry.
" And… and…" Sasuke seemed so tired now, his voice haggard and softened, but the bitterness was still there.
" I can't do anything… I'm useless… my parents are right… I've been working towards the goal of beating Itachi my entire life, training myself endlessly… And I do meet him… Then my heart stiffens and everything feels so unreal when he beats me so easily…" A huge wracking sob tore out of Sasuke's throat.
" All those times… before when he would comfort me and tell me mom and dad didn't hate me at night… and when he would train me and smile that smile of his… it came back to me in one huge torrent and I can't bear to believe that it was all fake… everything was a lie…." Sasuke ended softly, his eyes wide with innocent disbelief.
Suddenly, in such movements Naruto would never have recognized it in himself. He strode forward, pulling Sasuke into his arms into a tight embrace.
He wrapped his arms around Sasuke's torso, and held him tightly. Limp arms and shoulders shook against him and Sasuke's face was pressed against his shoulders, the cloth there getting damp and wet. Soft muffled whimpers and sounds that Naruto would never have expected from the cool Sasuke sounded from his shoulders.
Naruto felt a painful tug at his heart and pulled the boy closer.
Sasuke… Sasuke was a normal boy as well, despite the fact that he seemed so perfect. He was lonely as well, and Naruto felt the overwhelming urge to get rid of that loneliness. He fought to find words of comfort.
" It's alright. We'll kick that bastard's ass." Naruto murmured softly, silently cursing the man that caused the boy so much pain.
Sasuke suddenly pushed him away with such force that Naruto fell back.
He immediately felt chilled at the cold anger that was in Sasuke's dark eyes. Eyes that burned with raw fury Naruto felt pain to know it was directed towards him.
" GET OUT!! You don't understand!!!" Sasuke hollered fiercely, his pupils dilated as pointed an accusing finger at Naruto.
Naruto backed off, he couldn't help but feel hurt by the rejection; Sasuke may be delirious but there was no mistaking the twinge of disappointment that threaded his heart strands.
" I-I didn't mean…" Naruto stammered, unsure of what to do in such a situation. The normally cool and stoic Sasuke was actually expressing his fury now, and Naruto wasn't mentally prepared enough for such a change in the boy.
Sasuke whirled around in rage, his eyes flashing and flung a book in his direction, Naruto stood still as the book skimmed the surface of his cheeks as he whistled by.
His eyes were just as wide as Sasuke's, but hardly holding the same degree of hurt and confusion that reflected in the other shiobi's.
" GET OUT!!!! You don't get me!! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME!!!" Sasuke yelled. Naruto caught the brief glimpse of a lost and frightened Sasuke before the boy ran into another room and shut the door with a loud bang.
Naruto stared at the door in silence for a few minutes, then bent down and picked up the other frame on the ground that Sasuke had knocked down in his anger. It was the other picture of the two that had been put face-down. The glass was shattered into pieces, but the picture was not harmed.
On it was a young dark-haired boy, beaming estically with the strong lean arms of his brother with a smile that was equally wide, around his shoulders.
Naruto realized that… he really didn't understand Sasuke at all.
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Iruka knocked slowly on the door; the dull thud was almost synchronized with the beating of his own heart. The door opened gently, and Iruka held his breath as a blond head peeked out of the small crack of the door.
" Iruka-sensei…" Naruto said dully, his eyes empty and tired. Iruka smiled warmly at the boy, hoping to spark up some of the eager boyish activeness in the boy. He was surprised when Naruto grinned brightly back, a wide Naruto grin. Although it was worn and tired.
Could Naruto be… could Naruto be back to normal?? Was he still mad at Sasuke?
"Can I come in?" Iruka asked hesitantly, peering at the boy with hopeful eyes. He sighed in relief when Naruto continued to smile and let him in.
Iruka walked in, once again feeling uncomfortable in his alien surroundings. This time, he took seat on a couch without been offered to first and felt suddenly shameful. Naruto didn't notice, and sat in front of him as well.
Iruka noticed that the boy's mind was elsewhere and waited patiently.
As though he had just noticed Iruka was there, Naruto jumped with a gasp when he glanced into Iruka's direction. He smiled sheepishly. Iruka coughed.
" Umm… Naruto, I'm came because I wanted to talk to you…"
" Naa~… I wanted to speak to you as well…" Naruto said quickly, waving his hand. Iruka stopped talking, he was honestly surprised. He had come to Naruto's house prepared to face the cold nerve-wracking boy he had before. Iruka leaned forward anxiously, his elbows on his knees.
" What's wrong?" Iruka asked worriedly.
Naruto looked away; seemingly uncomfortable with the genuine worry that was in his former teacher's eyes.
" It's about Sasuke." Naruto said softly, his blue eyes shining with something Iruka did not know of. He was relieved though, that there didn't seem to be any anger in those eyes. He asked anyways, just for good measure.
" Are you still… mad at him??" Iruka asked unsurely.
Naruto quickly turned his head, his eyes wide with surprise.
" No! Of course not!" Naruto said quickly, but stopped right after, blushing at how immediately he had replied. Iruka stared at him curiously, a hint of a smile peeking at the corners of his lips.
" That's good to know, me and… Kakashi were really worried about you." Iruka said. Naruto looked touched.
" Aa- eto…" Naruto muttered madly blushing as he looked away, but he still looked oddly nervous.
" Naruto?" Iruka asked slowly. Naruto cocked his head back towards Iuka.
" What about Sasuke?"
A pause.
" Iruka… could it be possible that you can tell me about Sasuke's past??" Naruto said quickly, his blue eyes pleading.
Iruka looked stunned for a moment before he shook his head sadly.
" I'm sorry. But that information is to be kept confidential."
Naruto pouted. " That's basically what Kakashi said as well." He said depressingly, looking so down Iruka wanted to laugh.
" Why are you so curious?" Iruka said casually, nearly expecting the blush that flushed Naruto's cheeks red once again. He held down a laugh, the look on Naruto's face was rather comical; very much like a love-sick school girl.
" Sasuke's really sensitive about the issue… and… he's been doing a lot of strange things lately that got me to think maybe it had to do with his childhood or something." Nauto shrugged.
Iruka stared silently at Naruto for a moment.
" I've been meaning to ask you this for a long time, but Naruto… what exactly did Sasuke do to you?"
Naruto didn't seem surprised at all at the question, though he was uncomfortable. He explained the situation quickly, and in brief un-detailed points. It was more than obvious that Naruto wanted to stay away from the issue, even though it was plainly important Iruka realized.
Despite the fact that Iruka didn't get the whole story, he knew that Sasuke was definitely acting strangely. While if it were another, he would probably have though of it as a prank. But Uchiha Sasuke was not one to play pranks.
Iruka rubbed his chin in thought while Naruto anxiously watched him, expecting an answer that would most likely clear his problems. His face fell when Iruka shook his head.
" I really have no clue about what's happening. But like you, I have a bad feelings about this." A pause. " Naruto, if you have any problems…' Naruto noticed the desperate look in Iruka's eyes and knew the issue was far more than serious. " Promise me you'll come straight to Kakashi or me??" Iruka pleaded.
Naruto stared at him dumbly.
" Really Naruto, you must come to us." Iruka repeated again, before Naruto cleared his throat and nodded slowly. Iruka-sensei hadn't helped at all; Naruto thought in despair, he had only made it worse.
Iruka seemed satisfied enough with his reply though, because he immediately smiled and stood up. There was still a concerned look in his dark eyes though.
" Naruto… how do you feel about Sasuke?" Iruka asked gently. Naruto was shocked by the question, face turning a brilliant shade of red.
" I- I…" Naruto wanted to tell the man that he hated Sasuke, or that he found the other boy annoying, or even so that he disliked him… but he wasn't even sure himself anymore… and he wasn't sure about the words that would come out of his mouth. Things have become so confusing and such puzzling emotions and feelings that arise at the sight of his rival made Naruto's head hurt.
How exactly DID he feel about Sasuke?
Is it normal to feel nervous and self-conscious, yet comfortable and relaxed in front of someone you didn't care about?
" I- I'm not sure… I" Naruto said quietly, his voice barely audible. Iruka raised a brow but did not question the boy further, somehow, he knew the answer already. So he interrupted quickly to save the boy from embarrassment.
" I'll think I'll be leaving now… Kakashi wants me to bring him to some weird restaurant since I owe him from last night…" Iruka suddenly blushed, obviously letting out information he would rather have kept secret and Naruto decided not to ask.
Iruka began to head for the door. Naruto stood up as well in politeness and followed Iruka to the door.
He stood still as Iruka opened the door and walked out. Iruka looked back and smiled worriedly.
" Naruto, there's a small celebration tomorrow in honour of your class for achieving so much. Promise me you'll attend? There will be a dance and refreshments and everything." Iruka said kindly.
Damn! I couldn't worm my way out of that one! Naruto winced, feeling uncomfortable.
" I- I don't do well socially…" He said quickly before Iruka interrupted him.
" Just come Naruto, it wouldn't be the same without you."
Feeling overwhelmed, Naruto nodded silently, before Iruka bid his farewell and walked down the steps. Naruto watched him until he couldn't see Iruka anymore and walked back into his home, closing the door gently behind him.
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WEE. Another chapter!!! ^_________^
How exciting ne??
The plot is pretty much going to come together in the next few chapters!!!!
YAY!!!!!!! YIPPEEE!!!!!!!
Ok… enough excitement.
Sorry about the whole Sasuke overreacting thing, I was just DYING to get them to have some physical contact or something. And how much do you want to bet Naruto wouldn't hug Sasuke for no reason for a hundred bucks?
Emotional distress always helps us be less of the uncaring bastards we are.
Also, Sasuke SHOULD be rather sensitive about the whole issue…..
O yes!
WARNING WARNING WARNING…. Be careful of Sasuke acting normal again next chapter like my characters do all the time:P
My story SO does not flow.
The next chapter will come out before March Break, because I'm going to Florida YET AGAIN for the week… ya… my like fourth time going 0_o
I guuuuess…. I should be happy……. But no computer for a week ____
So review please! I live on them!!
CIAO!!!!!!!!
