This chapter just about wraps the entire plot up… what you don't understand you may find the answers to in this chapter… and what other stuff you don't you will find in the NEXT chapter:P This is all I'm telling you!!
*bowsbows* GOMEN for the lateness… the TOTAL lateness of this chapter:p But it was extremely difficult to write, I can't deal well with plots^_^;;
THANKYOU 4 ALL of the reviewers, you will all have a special place in my heart always!! *blows kisses to adoring fans* *grin* Seriously! ALL of you!!!! I got a lot for the last chapter *feels proud*
O YAH!! Here's a WARNING you MUST NOT IGNORE!!! As I have said before, there were be dark themes presented in this story (pretty dark) so if u DON"T go for that stuff… I'd advise you not to go further than this chapter^______^;;
Yep… I'm not telling you guys anymore than that.
LOL!!! Thanks especially to my beta Koganei, who I have maintained contact with ONCE AGAIN!! *cheers* YES PPL! She's the one who wrote that HXH story we all know and love… and if you DON"T! Then go and read it, her account name is Killua Kiken na and she writes the most amazing stories… not all are on the same account^_^;; In fact, what brought us TOGETHER was my love for her writing!! SO YAY!!
Go read them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also to the whole Naruto_Yaoi group:p There's A LOT of fanfic writers and readers in there so I wanna give a shout to u too!! U GUYS RULE!!!! *laugh* Like err… I won't name anyone for fear of missing half the ppl in the group~.~' My memory is seriously THAT limited…
Lastly!! Horray for all the new fanfic writers!! I've been REALLY slow with the reviews:P But that would change in a while… You guys warm my heart though with your fantastic writing, so… KEPP WRITING!!
Sorry again for how late this chapter is… and how horrible it would be… may u be warned too that this chapter was done without the help of my muse… that's why it sucks so damn much!! ARG!! My muse is so damn unreliable!!!
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Sasuke stared after the entrance where Naruto had run out, a sad smile on his face. He felt a strange emptiness inside of him that made him want to drop down and forget everything. But he couldn't, because Naruto was not one you could easily forget.
" Naruto…" Sasuke sighed, loving the sweet taste of the name on his lips every time he said it. But this time, it left a bitter aftertaste, and Sasuke felt the strange tugging at his heart he experienced every single time he got rejected by the boy. Yet it was intensified by 10 times more than usual because he had finally realized why he felt this way.
Sasuke left his fingers to ghost over the keys, still torn by the fact that he should have run after Naruto.
He pressed down on a key experimentally, savouring the melodious music the piano never failed to produce. Like music, Naruto was not something he could give up easily either.
Sasuke finally took his hands away from the piano, letting one hand to faintly trail over his face and push back a dark lock of hair that had fallen in front of his face. His full eyes hardened just a little, because he hated the fact that he loved Naruto. He hated the fact that when his heart could finally open up to love once more, it was for one that could not possibly love him back. And he despised himself, for not staying strong and able to block himself from such emotions.
Sasuke finally felt his defenses drop back and buried his face into his arms, ebony strands of hair as black as midnight, like the smooth ebony keys of the piano, fell in front of his head and shadowed his face from view.
Sasuke gave a long defeated sigh.
Most of all, he hated love, that stirred up such a weakness in his heart that he would be willing to give up his life- to save a precious person.
**********************************************
Naruto continued to run, unable to stop because for at the back of his head, he was afraid. Afraid of something that should not be there to slowly rise from his heart. Naruto ran some more for what seemed like hours before he stopped breathlessly and fell to the ground heavily.
Naruto gasped for breath, his blond hair wet and matted flatly onto his head due to perspiration. Unfocused blue eyes searched around wildly for some clue of his location. Naruto suddenly saw that he was at Iruka's home, or near it anyways. Naruto dropped over onto his back, uncaring of the fact that he was in the middle of the road and shut his eyes under the bright glare of the sun.
Damn, it was so hot. He should have known better than to run in such scorching heat. His head seemed to be spinning around in circles, and his mind was hazy and unclear. Naruto continued to breathe unevenly and harshly; his muscles were sore and numb. He didn't think he could move a muscle.
Naruto threw an arm over his face, let his breathing slowly decrease back to normal and relaxed slightly. He frowned under his arm. He really shouldn't have left Sasuke there. Hell, it would cause even more misunderstandings between them. Naruto felt his heart beat just a little faster again, even though he wasn't running anymore.
He had really enjoyed that hug, the sincere care that radiated from Sasuke's firm warm body still left tingles all aver Naruto's skin, making his hairs prickle up at the thought. He enjoyed it so much it scared him; because he wasn't supposed to 'enjoy' it! He was supposed to feel disgusted and grossed out, not happily light and cheerful!!
Naruto shook his head wildly! Gah! He remembered before, how when Sasuke came leaning towards him and opening his lips as if to speak… How Sasuke's face seemed to be surrounded by little pastel flowers and an annoying rip-my-ears-out song was playing sweetly beside his head…
Naruto rolled his eyes, isn't that something you would normally see in some shoujo manga before some dazed couple kiss or something?? Naruto forced a half-hearted gag at the thought, then strangled out a laugh out of his throat that sounded more like a cat screeching.
Sasuke and him KISS??? Ugh, it was enough to make him throw up.
Naruto sighed deeply, feeling the heat of the sun beating down on him. It wasn't right though, that his heart should be racing at the mere thought of it… and the hell?? Was he freaking blushing??
Naruto was relieved Sasuke wasn't here to see it. But he felt a tingle of sadness and regret touch his heart when he thought about the young shinobi, sitting at the piano by himself quietly… and wondering what the HELL was wrong with Naruto to make him run out like some demented retard out of nowhere.
He knew though, that it wasn't because of Sasuke that made him feel extremely uncomfortable. But rather the music; it sounded so eerily familiar to him it was scary.
Naruto decided not to think about it, and swung himself up instead. Brushing the dirt and grass off his clothes, he made the choice of going to Iruka's house. He really didn't feel like talking to anyone, and he knew that the first place everyone would go search for him would probably be at his house. He could probably climb in through the window, boil up some cup ramen and just chill. Then Iruka would come home and Naruto would be up for some light-hearted talk…
Naruto took a deep breath and exhaled it out again, feeling a lot better and a hell of a lot less confused than before. Lying on the ground in the middle of the road really helps; maybe he should tell Iruka about it if the man was having problems with his boyfriend. Naruto laughed quietly to himself, and began to whistle a cheerful tune as he walked to Iruka's house.
There was an upside to his running out after all; he was finally away from that dratted party.
***
Naruto stared at the window for a moment, struck by a fleeting moment of memory- before everything got all crazy. Perhaps that was when it all started, Naruto remembered himself climbing into Sasuke's room, all ready for a prank when…
Naruto's brows crinkled up, was it then when it all started? Maybe it wasn't Sasuke that was acting strange, maybe it was himself. When did he EVER think Sasuke was PRETTY??
Naruto shrugged it off quickly, deciding not to go into the topic before he gets into one of his confusing phases again. He grabbed hold of the windowsill and was about to clamber in when Kakashi stuck his head out and stared at him.
" Arg!" Naruto yipped before he fell back heavily back onto the grass and glared angrily from the ground at Kakashi. The teacher's eye crinkled up in a grin, before he leaned forward at the window to grab hold of Naruto's outstretched hand and pulled him up.
Naruto dusted himself off and glanced suspiciously at Kakashi. " What are you doing here anyways?" Naruto asked. " Iruka isn't there is he?"
Kakashi shook his head, " Nope. He's at the party thing isn't he?"
Naruto sneered. " Yah, having the time of his life keeping us locked up like we were jailed."
Kakashi looked amused.
" And how did you get away?"
Naruto suddenly put his head down and smiled sheepishly. " I'd- rather not talk about it." He answered. Kakashi didn't look surprised. There was a brief uncomfortable silence before Kakashi broke into it with a light-hearted laugh.
" Stay there, let's take a walk. I have something to tell you." Kakashi said quickly, before he disappeared into the house and came out of the door a few seconds later. Naruto stared at him in question.
" What?"
Kakashi shrugged, " I tell you after we walk a bit but…" Kakashi looked at Naruto in concern, already starting to walk towards the dusty feet-treaded road. " But if you have anything to tell me, I'd be happy to listen to you…"
Naruto hopped after him, coming in step with Kakashi. " Hah! You wish you insensitive bastard! You'd only make fun of whatever I'd say." He laughed. Kakashi didn't say anything to the rude comment, but instead, he kept his gaze fixed on the road.
Naruto stared at him for a moment; a little perplexed about Kakashi's strange behaviour before he decided the man was going through one of his "moods" again.
" Kakashi, say something!" Naruto complained; they had been walking for a while. But Kakashi didn't answer yet, and Naruto realized then that they were heading into the forest where they had been in for their shinobi test a few days earlier.
" Eh? Why are we coming here?" Naruto asked quickly, a little nervous from what had happened the last time he had been there. Kakashi shrugged at him.
" I think it's a beautiful place to walk by." He answered simply. Swiftly, he tread into some unknown trail and beckoned for Naruto. Naruto paused hesitantly before he walked forward; why were his palms going sweaty??
" Eh Naruto, how do you feel about Sasuke?" Kakashi suddenly asked.
Naruto cast him a disbelieving look. " Wow, you and Iruka are really alike, he asked me the exact same thing!" Kakashi gave him a strange look before he coughed for Naruto to continue.
Naruto crooked his head sideways in thought, thinking about why everything he did and thought about these days were always surrounding the topic of Sasuke.
" I- I hate him." Naruto answered bluntly, knowing that it was wrong but not caring anyways. If Kakashi was surprised, he didn't show it, though there was a small stagger in his steps.
" Why? Sasuke seems to care about you enough."
Naruto nearly choked on laughter. " CARE??? Hah! That bastard hates me just as much as I hate him! Probably even more!" He laughed giddily, before he quieted from Kakashi's solemn stare.
" Are you sure?" Kakashi answered seriously,
before he quickened his pace and left Naruto to his thoughts.
Naruto suddenly remembered Sasuke helping him the last time they had been in the forest; he felt a flash of guilt, both for not appreciating the boy then… and still not appreciating him now. Now that he thought about it, how many times had Sasuke risked so much just to help him.
God… he even risked his life for him once… what did Naruto have to show for it?
Naruto felt horrible, why was he so mean to Sasuke anyways? Was there any valid reason that should have him hate the boy so much? Was he really jealous of Sasuke? Or more jealous of the girl's that flaunt themselves around him… because they could opening show their feeli-
Naruto choked out loud at his thoughts, causing Kakashi to throw a casual glance back. Naruto forced out a few coughs, and quickly grimaced when Kakashi looked away again. Feelings for Sasuke? Why was he having these thoughts anyways??
Naruto quickly ran up to catch up to Kakashi and stared at him.
" Do you really think Sasuke cares about me?"
Kakashi shrugged and gazed at Naruto levelly. " Dunno… that's why I asked you."
" Not SERIOUSLY! I mean… I know he has helped me a lot and stuff… but he tells me I'm an idiot all the time and uh…" Naruto stammered, a heavy flush turning his face red.
" I-I don't think I really hate him." Naruto said after a brief pause. " I mean, he's okay sometimes… tolerable I mean."
Kakashi's eyes crinkled up, and Naruto wondered of he was smiling. He never had a problem distinguishing Kakashi's facial expressions, but if he was smiling… it didn't seem all that sincere.
They walked in silence for a while, and Naruto began to really take note of his surroundings. He recognized most of it, the immaculate beauty was still there, seemingly untouched. But the wisps of sunlight were dimming to a hazy warm orange and Naruto knew the sun was about to set.
" Eh? Kakashi, it's getting late! I think we should get back now." Naruto said nervously. Kakashi continued to walk swiftly, not slowing down the slightest. Naruto suddenly stopped walking, feeling growing anger and apprehension swell inside of him.
" KAKASHI! We should go back!" Naruto hollered at him, stamping his feet on the ground. Kakashi didn't stop, and Naruto decided to sit down and wait for the man to come back. " Kakashi you bastard…" Naruto muttered with a pout, because only his teacher knew how to get back.
Naruto waited a little when he suddenly caught sight of a massive tree and walked over beside it. Climbing over large roots with damp green moss, he made a face at the green streaks it made on his pants. But running over quickly beside the tree, he touched the rough wizened bark gently. He recognized the carving Shikamaru had made and grinned in spite of himself.
" Ne ne~ Kakashi! Come over here! Shikamaru made this!" Naruto laughed, too caught in staring at the carving to notice anything else. " Can you believe he likes Ino??"
Naruto realized only after a little while that Kakashi had not made a sound since he had run away. He was just about to turn around to yell at him when a pair of strong lean arms wrapped around his waist.
" Caught you." A husky voice whispered beside his ear; a voice Naruto recognized as Kakashi's.
Yet there was something terribly wrong with it.
***
" Sasuke!! Have you seen Naruto??" Iruka ran towards him, breathing erratically as though he had been running a lot.
Sasuke stood up, there was such desperate worry in Iruka's eyes that he knew something was serious had happened. " Yeah, he was here a while ago but left." Sasuke tried hard to keep the hurt out of his voice, but Iruka noticed anyways and smiled gently.
" Naruto… is really oblivious when it comes to people's feelings." Iruka said softly, before he gasped like he suddenly remembered his true motive for coming to the boy.
" How long ago?" Iruka asked urgently. Sasuke peered down at his hands. " About 4 hours ago." He answered quietly. Iruka looked frustrated, he tightened his fists.
" Damn…" He swore under his breath. He drew a deep breath.
" What?" Sasuke asked.
Iruka stared at him for a moment and gave a haggard sigh. " There's something we have to tell you…"
" We?" Sasuke questioned quickly.
Then curtains behind Iruka fluttered up and Kakashi walked up from behind Iruka, peering at him seriously.
" Your brother… Itachi…" Sasuke's head whipped up with a fire burning in his dark eyes.
"Aniki? What's wrong?"
Kakashi and Iruka both watched him with grave eyes. " He has killed many of the members of Akatsuki a few weeks ago. The remaining are looking for him, we've found out from our sources…" They sounded unsure of telling this to Sasuke, and the boy suddenly figured out that it was supposed to be kept confidential from him.
" Akatsuki?" Sasuke demanded immediately.
" A group that Itachi is part of… the one who is bent on capturing Naruto." Kakashi ended softly, his eyes not leaving Sasuke's face. Sasuke felt bewildered, why did they want to capture Naruto?? Naruto was strong but… why would some group like Akatsuki want him?
" But… I mean if Itachi rebelled against them, then it means that he's joined our side again or..." Sasuke started, spark of hope flaming in his heart. It died out painfully when he saw Kakashi's grave expression, and he knew that he had known always that Itachi would never do such a thing.
" Why though?? What's happening, I don't understand! What's going to happen to Naruto?" Sasuke yelled out impatiently, an overwhelming feeling of protectiveness and a fear of the safety of the blond-haired boy made him think irrationally. His fist tightened up dangerously, the knuckles cracking distinctively and he felt anger burning through his veins.
" WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO NARUTO??" Sasuke screamed again when they didn't answer, demanding of the answers he has been kept from for so long.
Iruka stepped forward, pulling his hands up in attempt to calm Sasuke down. " Wait… that's the thing… we don't know." Iruka lowered his head sadly. " We don't know…" He repeated, feeling miserably hopeless. Kakashi put a comforting hand on Iruka's shoulders, his eyes shining with determination.
" But we'll find him Sasuke. We've already got everyone out to find him, and me and Iruka are going to go out now to look around for him." Kakashi told him. " He has to be nearby, there's no way… No way that Itachi could have reached him yet…"
Sasuke recognized the dying hope that was in Kakashi's voice… Kakashi wasn't even sure; he was just trying to console himself. Console himself while NARUTO IS FUCKING OUT THERE!!!!!!!!
Sasuke ran forward, shoving Iruka away and grabbing Kakashi by the cuff of his shirt. He pulled the man roughly towards him, eyes flashing with anger and confusion.
" Tell me… what the fuck is happening??"
Kakashi stared at him with empty eyes, though there was a trance of regret in them. He hesitated before he started, ignoring the urgent look Iruka gave him.
" Have you ever heard of the Nine Tails demon. How he was vanquished by the Fourth?" Kakashi said seriously. Sasuke nodded.
" Nine-Tails is not "gone". He was sealed. We couldn't destroy it, so there was no choice but to trap him and hope that he would never escape." Kakashi paused, and gave Sasuke a long hard look. " It was a young blond-haired blue-eyed baby we sealed it in."
It took a second for what Kakashi's head to sink in. No… It couldn't be… It can't be… Not Naruto…
" God…. No… no no no…" Sasuke muttered to himself, pushing Kakashi away and backing away to the door. He stumbled a bit and caught himself… " No… no no no…" Sasuke repeated quietly, before he pushed his palms against his ears and raced out of the room.
It all made painful sense now… all this mysterious chakra Naruto had always been able to push out sometimes, even though he was a second near exhaustion.
Sasuke couldn't stand the ear-thundering ringing that was in his ears, like the last times Naruto had been in near-death situations. When he had been sick in the forest… and when the boy named Haku had nearly killed him… There was the same ringing, except it was louder than ever now.
He needed to get away from it… get away from it all…
Get away from Naruto.
***
" Kakashi?? The fuck?? What are you doing?" Naruto yelled furiously, squirming in Kakashi's tight hold. Kakashi chuckled, a low cold laugh that made Naruto shiver from cold fear. Naruto tried to move his arms, but they were pushed to his body with such strength his struggles were futile. Naruto growled in frustration.
" Kakashi??" The low sinister voice whispered silkily beside his ear, his warm breath fanning against Naruto's earlobe and causing him to shudder. Naruto suddenly felt a hot wetness against his cheek…
" What the HELL ARE YOU DOING!!" Naruto hollered sharply, panic seeping into his voice. He tried again to break free from Kakashi's grip but failed to.
He couldn't see Kakashi's face, but he could see the man's long white hair softly brush against his eyelids. The man flicked a tongue out and began to drag it slowly upwards towards his ears. Trailing his lips there before opening his mouth to gently suckle on his ear lobe.
" The FUCK???" Naruto jumped. Using his anger to drive his strength, he shoved an elbow forcefully into Kakashi's stomach and broke free when the arms loosened from surprise.
" Get away from me!!" Naruto yelled, whirling around in fury.
He was caught in surprise though when he was roughly shoved against the tree and two strong arms slammed against the tree on either side of his head to prevent him from moving. Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously, but he stood still as Kakashi stared at him amusedly.
" What the hell are you doing Kaka- ." Naruto was cut off by his own shock and disbelief as Kakashi's fine features began to change.
Long tendrils of silver hair began to turn raven black at the roots, sinking back into the scalp to a shorter cut. The face began to smoothly change to a wider younger shape. The nose became more sharply defined and smaller, and wider dark eyes peered back at him… pools of the darkest night. The mask was gone, sinking back into the face as the usual grim line of the boy's face was pulled up in a sulty smile.
Naruto was stunned beyond belief.
" S-Sasuke…" He managed to choke out, before the taller shinobi's soft lips descended onto his and he couldn't speak.
***
Yay!! Ok… this chapter is choppy and horrible and it also took like FOREVER to come out… like TOTALLY!!! For those who guessed that Itachi had a huge role in this story… I will take this time to say…
Yes… Yes he does.
But like I said, sorry for the wait. I mean… a month and a half or what?? But here's the good news, the next chapter should come out in little time:P
O Yah!
I got lots of reviews for the last chapter and I was VERY happy!!
Let's make Cheryl happy again????? PLEASE??????? LOLOL!!!
Just review!!
One LAST thing!!!!!!! Yes… GRRR….
This story does NOT NOT NOT follow the natural storyline of Naruto… because if it was… Sasuke would be unconscious right now^___^;;
U see… When I started this, none of that stuff had happened yet (Sasuke falling unconscious and Naruto following whasit-name) so my original plan for the story has now turned into a what-if!!!!
So NONE of you may badger me about how… blah blah blah…
This doesn't make sense… Naruto yadi da… bleh bleh… I dun care!
O yah!! PPL??? For the story "Like an Angel" I must have had like half the reviewers tell me to write a the next chapter/sequal for it… AFTER I already wrote breath!!
HELLO??? THIS is the sequal!! READ THE SUMMARIES GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There… I've gotten that off my back now^___^;;
BYE!
