Hi again! I know, my updates have been taking too long, sorry! I'll try to make sure the next one doesn't take me so long. Of course, reviews always encourage me a bit ;-) Speaking of which, Suguishi - your reviews are awesome! Thank you!!! Forgive me if this seems out of character or something but, given that you don't get to see the characters in love, it's all up to me to make it happen! Okay.....time to write, hope you guys enjoy this one!

Disclaimer: Why do I keep having to do this? Naruto and all characters contained herein are not mine.....but I'm going to play with them for a while.

Incubus Ch. 6

"It's so fucking hot! Kakashi-sensei, you're supposed to be a bad ass, right? Do something!" the loud blonde whined.

"And what do you suggest I do about the will of the elements, Naruto?" Kakashi asked with his usual amount of patience.

"Hnnn.....I don't know, I hadn't thought of it. Kick it's ass!"

"Naruto.....it doesn't work like that" Kakashi sounded slightly flustered as he looked down at his student, rubbing his forehead with one hand.

"Hey! Don't do that!"

Kakashi sighed inwardly

"Don't do what?"

"Rub your head in that 'Why am I, the brilliant Kakashi, forced to have such a stupid student' kind of way! I'm not an idiot!"

Naruto was full of energy, although, after all the noise he heard last night, Kakashi had no idea how such a thing was possible.

"I wouldn't do it if you didn't act like one" Kakashi smiled down at him as he caught the punch Naruto threw at him.

"Pay attention, you're supposed to be guarding Tazuna with your teammates."

"Like they need me! Sasuke could take care of him all by himself" Naruto smiled slightly as he eyed Sasuke from his standing point, delighted to catch the other boy's eyes raking over him with as much heat as they had the night before.

"Yes, well, he's a very eager student" Kakashi chuckled softly at his own perverse joke, knowing full well Naruto had no idea why it would be funny at all.

"Now go, you're distracting me"

With this said Kakashi perched himself on the railing of the partially completed bridge and settled in to read Icha-Icha Paradise.

Naruto walked over to where his teammates sat, staring at Tazuna, waiting for something exciting to happen. So far they'd only managed to catch some of the workers displaying some of their less attractive bodily functions for their own amusement.

Sakura sighed loudly as she sat with her chin in her hand

"This is too boring for words. I'd like to see some action!"

Naruto came and sat between her and Sasuke, his leg lightly brushing Sasuke's as he did so.

"Why? So you can sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else do all the work, like you usually do?" Sasuke replied coldy, glaring at her as he spoke.

Sakura, feeling hurt and insulted, turned her face away before slowly scooting her body around so that her back was to her two teammates.

"Sasuke" Naruto whispered "that was really cold!"

"I don't care, I got what I wanted" Sasuke said quietly.

Naruto's eyes traveled over Sasuke, who sat with his legs stretched out in front of him, arms crossed over his chest. The boy's eyes were closed and his face tilted downwards.

*Such arrogant posture.....kind of hot* Naruto thought to himself.

"I don't get it. What is it that you wanted, exactly? To make her mad or to get her to stop looking at you?" Naruto frowned, clearly bewildered.

"An Opportunity"

"Eh? Opportunity? For what?" Naruto asked him.

"This"

Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at Naruto as he placed one hand on the side of the young blonde's cheek and guided him into a kiss.

"S-Sasuke" Naruto looked down, blushing furiously "everyone's watching!"

Sasuke looked around

"No, nobody saw that....except Kakashi-sensei"

"K-KAKASHI-SENSEI?!!" Naruto sputtered, causing Sakura to look at the pair curiously over her shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" Sasuke glared at her again, causing her to turn her back to ignore them once more

"Calm down, Naruto. I know some things about him, too. He's not going to say anything"

Naruto was curious to ask what he knew but since Sakura was so close he knew he wouldn't get an answer.

"Time to go" Kakashi's voice came from behind them, causing Naruto to jump slightly "Work on the bridge is done for today. Naruto" he turned his head to face the blonde "when you come in tonight, try not to make any noise, I'm tired" he smiled at his shocked student, blushing as the boy nodded slightly.

After Kakashi left Sasuke looked at him, studying him carefully.

"Are you going with Haku tonight?"

Naruto shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, I hadn't thought about it. But, you know, probably. He'll be expecting me to"

Seeing the anger on Sasuke's face Naruto hurried to remedy the situation.

"I mean, I'll need to explain to him, Sasuke! I don't want to hide my relationship with you. Or, well, is it a relationship? It could just be....you know" Naruto blushed again, he was beginning to feel like Iruka. *Iruka must have some kind of secret too, and Kakashi-sensei must know about it, that'd explain why he always blushes when they see each other* the naïve little blonde thought to himself.

"No, it's a relationship" Sasuke stated firmly

Naruto looked up, his eyes shining with tears as he watched Sasuke, as he watched the sun setting behind him in a fury of burning oranges and reds.

"Sasuke.....I know that can't be easy for you to say...."

Sasuke only nodded and wordlessly laced his fingers together with Naruto's.

*From telling me I'm stupid to shyly holding my hand in public all in twenty-four hours? Sasuke, you never cease to amaze me* Naruto thought as he continued to study his lover's face.

"Do you....love him?" Sasuke's voice was strained as he spoke.

Naruto wished desperately that Sasuke wouldn't turn his face away, he wanted to see how he felt.

"Yes....I do...but, Sasuke" Naruto stopped mid-sentence as he took note of several small drops of water hitting the pavement under Sasuke's face.

"No! Sasuke, I love you too!" Now it was Naruto whose tears began to fall "I can't seem to make up my mind. I haven't had a lot of time to think about it. I never expected any of this to happen, I don't know what to think. But Sasuke....look at me!"

Naruto turned Sasuke to face him and looked into his tear-filled eyes.

*So Sasuke isn't really all that cold, is he? The last I know of him crying was when his parents died....that's the only time he ever admitted it.....that was a really big event in his life. Does that mean...I matter that much?*

Naruto kissed Sasuke deeply, ignoring the possibility that the remaining workers might see them.

"Sasuke.....I don't know much about what I feel right now.....but I know that I love you and I know that I don't want things to change now. You've been with me so much longer than Haku. I don't know him like I know you. I do love him.....but the circumstances are different. I just haven't decided how to handle it. But I'm not letting you go"

Sasuke laughed slightly as Naruto wrapped his arms around him and whispered in his ear "No matter what happens tonight, I promise I'll be coming home to you"

With that the two stood up slowly, wiping the tears off their faces, and began to walk home, teasing one another over their tears the entire time.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Tough-guy 'BOO HOO Oh please, pick me, Naruto! I couldn't endure it if someone actually DIDN'T worship me'" Naruto mocked in a whiny voice, laughing loudly as he watched Sasuke blush.

"Oh? And what about you?! 'Oh no, poor me, two guys are fighting over me, I don't know what to do! BOO HOO Please Sasuke, don't be sad, I love you too!' Dobe!"

Both boys grinned as they walked on, the stars just beginning to reflect off the ocean that stood at their backs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Naruto and Sasuke waited anxiously in their room, both staring at the window as their minds raced over the possibilities of what could happen tonight.

*He's probably going to sleep with him again.....but will it matter if he picks me in the end? I probably don't have any right to be so pissed, after all, I'M the one who interrupted a relationship. Oh but FUCK THAT GUY! I don't care" Sasuke brooded silently as he stared at the window. He wanted to be sitting next to Naruto right now but Naruto wanted to avoid a confrontation and he knew there would be one if Haku found out right away that they were involved now. *As if I'm not planning to kick his ass ANYWAY before this is all over?*

*What am I going to do? I don't see any way that this could end peacefully....there's no way out. I have to choose* Naruto thought to himself as he watched the window.

"Naruto" the boy turned to look at Sasuke as he spoke "you remember the plan, right?"

"Hmm" Naruto nodded and turned back towards the window.

*Be rational, don't avoid the subject, say what I want....what do I want? This is hopeless* his eyes dropped to his lap for a moment.

Naruto's heart leapt as he looked up again to see Haku in the window.

"It's time" he said, not knowing if it was for Sasuke's benefit or for his own.

Sasuke could only watch helplessly as Naruto opened the window and went out into the night with Haku.

"Naruto.....keep your promise" Sasuke whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Naruto looked around him - Haku's pond. It was a beautiful place, almost too beautiful for what needed to happen here tonight. He had to hurt someone, but who? Naruto looked at Haku, who was watching him intently. The two were sitting amidst the tall grass on top of a small hill that looked over the pond, facing each other, with their legs tucked under them.

*He really is beautiful* Naruto thought to himself *but what could there ever really be between us? But if he survives the fight and Sasuke doesn't....am I going to get the chance to choose at all?*

Naruto began to feel uncomfortable as he took note of how silent Haku had been since his arrival at his window that night.

"Haku, is something wrong?" For once Naruto kept his hands to himself, sensing something dangerous boiling beneath Haku's serene exterior.

"You smell like the Uchiha boy" Haku commented cooly before leaning in to kiss him "You taste like him, too"

"Haku....I..."

"No matter. You're the innocent here, I'll take this up with him"

"Haku..." Naruto began, only to be cut off again.

"The least he could have done was waited until I'm gone"

"Until you're....what? Haku, what are you talking about?" panic began to spread through Naruto's body.

"Until I'm gone. I've been thinking about it, Naruto, and...." Haku looked down and toyed with one of the tall pieces of grass he had absent-mindedly pulled out of the ground "I'm leaving you to Sasuke. It's the only choice, really."

"What do you mean the only choice?!" Naruto was frozen in place, staring in horror at Haku - who continued to speak as if the topic were the most natural thing on earth.

"As I said before, we can't both walk away from it. This fight....both sides have a lot at stake. If we're any good at our jobs we'll do whatever it takes to accomplish the task that's been given to us. Both sides....both sides will do whatever it takes. Someone will die."

"N-no! Haku! You and Sasuke...you don't have to fight! Just leave each other alone and everything will be okay!" tears started to pool in Naruto's deep blue eyes.

"No" Haku shook his head sadly "That would never work. Zabuza-san will be expecting me to fight. To the rest of the world we are still enemies. If I refuse to fight my enemies Zabuza-san will think I'm useless and, knowing that he has no need for a useless ninja, he'll kill me."

Naruto stared in shock as Haku continued

"After that, he'll take care of the job himself, Sasuke will die, I will die and most likely you will die as well."

"Well what's to keep him from killing me anyway?" Naruto asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

"A personal favor. If I do my job, you'll stay alive. The terms of the agreement are....nauseating. But no matter how it turns out, whether Sasuke dies or I do, you stand to live so long as I don't appear to betray him."

Naruto held his head in his hands, overwhelmed by all he was hearing. Haku reached out and stroked his hair quietly.

"Naruto, I need you to listen to me, okay?"

The blonde only nodded, still cradling his head.

"You don't need to explain this to Sasuke, his pride will get in the way. He and I....we have a score to settle. We're going to settle it. But he won't die, it will work this way. Naruto....he and I will fight until one of us loses consciousness. If I lose consciousness, Sasuke will kill me, you'll see to it that he does. If Sasuke is the one to pass out....you need to kill me. You have the potential, everyone knows it, it won't be too abnormal or suspicious. It's going to be a very hard day for you and I'm guessing that because of that fact Kyubi will come out to play whether we want him to or not. If Sasuke falls first, take advantage of that. I won't fight. Do you understand?"

Naruto groaned into his hands, this was too much.

"And how do you expect Zabuza to not notice Sasuke is not really dead? He knows all about all your tricks to make people look dead, if you're planning to use that"

"Zabuza-san will be too busy with Kakashi to take note of the specifics of Sasuke's condition, trust me. Besides, Sasuke will likely lose enough blood to be cold to the touch, that's usually enough for anyone. Just for back up, make sure to tell the girl that Sasuke is dead, her wailing should be enough of a confirmation. She's too foolish and emotional to look for signs that he's still alive."

"Why does it have to be like this?! Can't you beat him up and make him look dead and then leave?"

"No. If I was still alive it would be a sore spot between you and Sasuke, you two would eventually split up. But you couldn't come with me, either. If you did you would have to become a missing-nin, like me. And then what kind of life would you lead? Besides, as I said, this fight will not end until one side or the other is dead. To keep our involvement a secret we both must face each other as foes. It's expected that, even if the one who taught us is gone, we will continue on to finish the mission that was appointed to us. I've thought it all out, there's no way around it."

Naruto began to cry

"What about Zabuza? Don't you want to live for him? I know you care about each other, why do you want to leave him?!"

"I don't.....but Zabuza-san will move on. He is not so weak as to let my death keep him from accomplishing his goals. Besides....that is assuming he lives. Ideally, I'd like to live until I see Zabuza-san fall. I love him Naruto....but he's caused too many people unbearable pain. I believe Kakashi will win, I know he's the better fighter."

"So you're willing to watch Zabuza die, to die yourself, for me?! It's stupid! Haku, think about what you're saying!"

Haku's voice grew cold, his features twisted with anger

"I have thought about it! It's the only way. It's time to give rest to the souls of those Zabuza-san and I have so cruelly affected. This fight has to happen because all of us were appointed to this man, Tazuna, for reasons that oppose each other. If I don't fight the secret of our involvement will come out. You would be ruined. You can't become missing-nin like me and I know you would never forgive me if I killed Sasuke. No matter what you say, your heart speaks clearly, Naruto-kun"

Haku's features softened as he looked at Naruto's stricken expression

"Naruto, there are so many reasons why this has to be the way that it is. Please understand. Here with Sasuke you can continue to train under Kakashi and, one day, fulfill your dream of becoming Hokage. You can't do that if you go missing and you can't do that if you're dead. It has to be the way that it is."

Tears splashed down Haku's face as he turned and watched the sun rising over the lake he had so loved.

"I know this sunrise marks my last....I love you, Kitsune. Please don't forget me" Haku said softly as he stood up to leave.

Naruto grabbed his wrist, tears streaming down his face, as well.

"Don't go, Haku. I feel like I've waited forever for you"

Sadness washed over them both as Naruto pulled Haku back to the ground and hugged him tightly.

"All my life I waited for someone to pay attention to me the way you have. Someone to give a damn about me at all. And you're here....and you're telling me you're going to die so I can be happy?!"

"More reasons than just that. But, in a way, yes. I'm leaving you to Sasuke, who loves you and acknowledges you. Someone who I believe will care for you in a way that I can't. Someone who can be a part of your dreams instead of take them away from you."

"Haku...."

Haku sighed softly as Naruto kissed him, pulling him down, further, into the grass with him. Naruto smiled, taking off his headband, then Haku's, and tossing them aside. For now, they weren't opposing ninjas. For now they were, for the last time, lovers.

"One last time?"

Haku smiled through his tears, unpinning his hair as he kissed the boys neck

"Hai...one more time"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angst! ANGST! The angst part of the story finally came into play in a more serious manner. The decision has been made, the stage is set. The big fight is at hand! How's it going to play out? Is Naruto going to remember his promise to Sasuke?

TBC!!!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! : I'm taking a vote, based on your reviews, as to whether or not I'll let you all see what happened between Naruto and Haku on their last night together (besides the talking, use your imagination people!) Cast your vote!