Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Title: I think I better leave right now - chapter 18
Author: Purrfectly679 - e-mail
for comments and suggestions. Feedback highly appreciated.
Rating: PG-13, angst, bad language. SakuSasu, SasuNaru
Notes: No spoilers. This is a revised repost. Thank you so much to
everyone for the reviews...!
Previously: Sasuke and Sakura are about to have the talk - while Naruto is on the outskirts of Konoha... With ...?!
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Sakura sat nervously on the couch as she waited for her fiancé to make an appearance. Just what the hell was taking him so long? After much contemplation the night before, she had finally come to a universal conclusion – that there was no way that she was going to let the Uchiha slip through her fingers that easily. And now, all she had to do was simply let him know…
She sighed in apprehension. How in the world did things manage to fuck up so badly? As if discovering about Sasuke's affair wasn't bad enough, she then had to find out that Naruto had known all along…? Her eyes turned cold at the thought of the blonde. She trusted him… How could he… Just… Just how could he? How could he betray her like that? After all the times she had run sobbing into his arms… After all the times she had broken down crying in his presence… He had probably been laughing all along… Laughing at her stupidity, at her patheticness…
She shook her head roughly to dispel her wavering thoughts. No – she couldn't think about him now… She had Sasuke to sort out. She had to let the Uchiha know that she wasn't taking his shit no more. She was in control. And believe it or not, she still wanted him, despite the bitter betrayal of trust that he had inflicted upon them. Forgiveness was another matter – she definitely needed time - but she knew that deep inside, she still truly and madly loved him. And love transcended beyond all, right?
So it was time to take control, time to stand up for herself. As Kakashi said, she couldn't keep letting him walk all over her… She had given up too much for him, she had devoted too much… She couldn't just give up upon him…! She was a woman damn it! She had needs as well…!
And it about time that Sasuke grew up and faced the damn music.
A soft shuffle of footsteps informed the pink-haired girl of the raven-haired boy's arrival. She felt her breath hitch in anticipation and fear. It was now or never…
"Sasuke…" her voice was steady and clear, betraying her own anxiety writhing underneath. "We need to talk."
Sasuke looked at her stonily, his expression easily reverting back to its former impassiveness.
"Hai."
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"Sasuke, what the hell are you doing here?!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise, as he finally regained control of his own body, including the use of his voice. He flinched inwardly as he gazed at the stoic boy, standing ever so calmly… He looked as if nothing would ever faze him…
God, just when did Sasuke become so strong? His aura… So much killer intent…
It's terrifying…
"I followed you," the voice was soft, and assured, as if following the blonde was the most natural thing in the world. Naruto shivered as the red gaze was once again focussed upon him. Why did Sasuke have his sharingan activated? Were they in some kind of danger?
"H-How's your head?" he stammered, unable to think of anything else to say. The Uchiha had only been drinking the night before… So what the hell was he doing here? And how the hell did he find enough energy to follow him? Shouldn't he at least have a hangover or something?
He wasn't superman you know!
"It's fine." The answer was short and curt, typical of the raven-haired boy and yet so different from the emotional person that had recently opened up to the blonde. Naruto swallowed heavily. He had never felt so afraid in the Uchiha's presence before… Just what the hell was going on?
He didn't even realise that he had been retreating away from the other boy until his back encountered the oak tree he had been sitting under. He collided with the wooden trunk heavily, emitting a loud and resonating thud.
Suddenly, two arms were slammed either side of his head, trapping the blonde tightly against the tree. Blue eyes widened in fear as the taller man loomed over him. What the hell was Sasuke doing?! Was he still drunk?!
"S-Sasuke?" he stuttered uncertainly, as his blood pounded furiously through his head, roaring in his ears… Something was wrong… Something… Something wasn't right… His stomach clenched in trepidation… For some strange reason he found that he couldn't tear his gaze away from the pair of crimson sharingan eyes, no matter how hard he tried...
So red… As red as blood…
"Sasuke, what the hell-"
A pair of lips swiftly descended and efficiently silenced the blonde.
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Sasuke froze in mid-step.
"Sasuke, are you even listening to me?" Sakura glared, her voice bitter and full of impatience. What the hell was wrong with the boy? Here she was, trying her best to sort out their dysfunctional relationship, and all he could do was choke up and look stiff?
Just what the hell was wrong with him?!
She sighed wearily. Maybe it was too early to start talking… Maybe the alcohol was still affecting his system, causing temporary lapses in his concentration… What other explanation could there be? God, she had never thought it was actually possible for the Uchiha to be so damn inattentive…
"Sasuke?" she repeated, as she struggled to keep her voice steady and composed.
Desperate ebony eyes spun around to meet her green ones.
"Something's wrong…" the raven-haired boy croaked. Her breath hitched in her throat as she realised that the usually unruffled boy was actually trembling…
Sasuke was actually trembling!
"What's… What's going on?" Sakura enquired weakly, her eyes wide in apprehension, as her stomach began to clench and unclench uncomfortably… She sighed bitterly – just as she thought that things couldn't possibly get any worse, a new scenario just had to arise and slap her hard across the face… Just what the hell was going on now? What the hell managed to cause such tremors to ripple through the Uchiha?
God, why did everything have to go against her?
"No…" Sasuke seemed to freeze on the spot, before his eyes widened in dread. "I… I have to go…"
"Go?" Sakura repeated in a semi-state of panic. "Go where?" Was Sasuke leaving again? But they had to talk damn it!! Just what the hell was he up to now? Her voice brimmed with utter frustration – god how she hated being kept in the dark about things!
"I have to go Sakura… I… Something's wrong…" Sasuke began to pace erratically in nervousness. An almost wild look entered his eyes, as if promising a painful death to anyone who dared to stand in his way…
"Sasuke, what's wrong-"
"I have to go now!"
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell's going on!" Sakura yelled, as her anger returned full force. She felt tears brim her eyes in frustration. She had been with him for 5 years now! 5 whole years! Why the hell was he still keeping things from her? God, they were supposed to be getting married for fuck's sake! They were supposed to trust each other!
Why wouldn't he still tell her anything?
"I have to go, I have to go…!" Sasuke's voice was hoarse with trepidation. He ran his trembling hands through his black hair roughly, as an almost hysterical look entered his eyes. He began to stumble unsteadily to the front door, but a pink figure instantaneously blocked his path.
"Tell me what's going on!" Sakura demanded, her voice surprisingly calm and clear, concealing her inner turmoil thrashing violently underneath. She knew it was risky to place herself in the Uchiha's way, especially when he was in such an desperate condition … He seemed almost out of control…
And yet she felt as if she had to know… She had to know what managed to faze the usually stoic boy so much… She had to know why he was so damn intimidated…
She smiled bitterly. It was now or never, right? If their relationship were to work, then she'd have to start standing up for herself pronto… No more secrets, no more lies… She would make him trust her, no matter what it took…
Sasuke paused hesitantly in front of the pink-haired girl, as an agitated silence descended upon them. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally lifted his head to meet hers. Sakura flinched as she saw the evident fear and dread within his black eyes…
He swallowed heavily – his voice hoarse and barely audible.
"Itachi's back."
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Naruto mind went immediately blank as a pair of soft lips descended upon his. Soft, butterfly kisses were placed all over his jaw, as blue eyes widened in shock. What the hell was going on now? Why was Sasuke kissing him? This was wrong! He had to sort things out with Sakura-
Naruto stiffened as he felt the taller boy's arms wrap around his torso, pulling him closer into a tight embrace. He could feel the steady beat of the Uchiha's heart, throbbing steadily and almost lazily compared to his own frantic pulse. It was wrong, he had to go –
But he was so warm… So coaxing… So intoxicating…
He didn't waver as a warm tongue prodded the opening in between his lips. He opened his mouth willingly and accepted the wet intrusion without a moment's hesitation, allowing the familiar yet strangely enticing taste of the raven-haired boy to once again fuel his raging senses…
Yes it was wrong, yes it was immoral…
But he smelled so good… So warm… So safe… So Sasuke – with a extra spice of danger…
And never before had danger seemed so enticing… So alluring… So tempting…
The Uchiha kissed him tenderly, caressing his tongue ever so gently, as if he were fragile glass that could be effortlessly shattered with one wrong touch… Naruto found himself kissing back, as the voice inside his head scolding him and telling him to stop became fainter and fainter…
Involuntarily, his arms snaked around the dark-haired boy's neck, his fingers weaving themselves into the mass of dark hair, pushing the taller boy's head closer to his own, crushing their lips closer together… He felt almost desperate for more contact, to taste more, to delve deeper into the sweet confines of the other boy's mouth…
He had never felt so needy, so reckless…
The Uchiha kissed him back with equal passion, with equal vigour, as the blonde's heart threatened to burst out of his chest… Furious and conflicting emotions rushed through his mind, confusing him, overwhelming him… It was so wrong, yet so right at the same time…
Fiery tongues battled it out for dominance, as frantic hands began to explore hot skin in desperation… Naruto clenched his hands tightly in the raven locks, forcing himself deeper into the Uchiha's moist mouth, tasting more, needing more… His knuckles became almost white with tension, as if he were afraid to let go…
As if afraid to lose him all over again…
The Uchiha's hands raked harshly over the blonde's body, causing a few inadvertently emitted whimpers of pain. Yet the pain was welcome – it confirmed his existence, it confirmed the situation… That this wasn't yet another dream… Not just another obsessive hallucination…
Naruto was playing with fire…
…And never before had burn marks seemed so enticing…
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"What do you mean he's back?" Sakura whispered in horrification, as she felt her entire world crumble and collapse for the nth time that week. Itachi back? But he couldn't be! He just couldn't be! Not after all the violence… Not after all the blood… After all the cold and unforgiving blood…
He was fucking dead damn it!
"I… I can feel him…" Sasuke whispered, his voice hoarse with barely restrained emotion. "I can feel his presence…"
"Shut up Sasuke!" the pink haired girl shouted vehemently, a hint of hysteria coating her voice. "Listen to me! He's dead! You killed him! He's not coming back… Itachi can't be back!" The words rushed hastily out of her mouth, and it was painfully obvious that they were stated for her own benefit…
And yet, even then they didn't sound convincing, even to her own ears…
"But I can feel him-"
"You can't fucking feel people damn it!" Sakura was on the verge of collapsing. Why was Sasuke saying all this? As if their engagement weren't laden with enough problems already, he now had to bring his psychotic brother back into the picture? Why couldn't he just let go? His brother was dead damn it! Dead!
And he wasn't ever coming back!
"Look…" desperation was apparent in the Uchiha's voice. "I can't explain it… But I know it's him… And I really need to go… Now!"
"You're not going anywhere!" Sakura yelled, tears springing into her eyes as she obstructed his path with her arms flung wide. He couldn't just leave! Not just like that! Not again! They had to talk damn it! Was this just another excuse to delay the inevitable? Did he really hate her that much that he had to use his dead brother as a ploy to get away?
Was he really that sick?
"He's dead! Dead, Sasuke!" she sobbed, emphasising the word dead. "People don't come back from the dead! He's not back – and he's never coming back!"
Almost immediately, a small light of understanding seemed to glow in the raven-haired boy's eyes… Steady black eyes met green, as the Uchiha's body relaxed and ceased its violent trembling. Sakura bit down upon her lower lip – although Sasuke was still obviously rattled, there was also a small glimmer of hope in his dark pupils…
Maybe he would finally see some sense…
"Sakura…" Sasuke murmured, his voice grave and tense, contrasting harshly with the near hysterical atmosphere only a few moments before. His dark eyes captivated hers with such severe intensity that it made her skin prickle uncomfortably. "Listen to me… Remember that day you found me? After the final battle with Itachi…?"
Sakura managed to nod mutely. How could she forget? After seeing all that blood… After seeing Sasuke's pale and lifeless body sprawled awkwardly upon the ground… After seeing all the wounds, all the injuries… She thought that he had died…
The scene still haunted her, still plagued her nightmares to this very day…
"What did you do with the body?" his voice held a touch of desperation, his eyes pleading her to say the things that she knew he wanted to hear… Pleading her to tell him that she buried it, that she got rid of it...
Sakura felt her blood freeze. Her eyes fluttered wide open in pure terror, as her mind began to spin furiously… Body...? But... But...!
"There was no body…" she whispered weakly.
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Naruto whimpered slightly in discomfort as the soft lips finally terminated their assault upon his mouth. His mind screamed for more contact – the rational part of his conscience had all but shut down, leaving only his hormonal urges to spur his rather passion-driven actions…
And now his body demanded more…
"Sasuke…" he whispered, the need and desire apparent in his voice. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore – not their precarious circumstance, not even Sakura… As far as he was concerned, nothing else existed in the universe apart from the Uchiha's embrace, the Uchiha's scent, and the Uchiha's lips…
The oh-so deadly lips…
Sharingan eyes gazed at him carefully, with a barely concealed glint of amusement within them. But Naruto didn't care… He didn't even wonder why the boy had his sharingan activated to begin with – especially since it was obvious that there was no danger lurking nearby… His mind had gone way too far into the depths of lust to be thinking straight…
"Kiss me…" Naruto moaned, irritation gracing his hoarse voice. He tried to pull the raven-haired boy tighter into his arms, tried to crush their lips together into another intricate dance, but the dark-haired boy calmly pulled away with yet another amused smirk gracing his fair features…
"Why won't you kiss me?" Naruto pouted, as his arms went limp around the Uchiha's neck. His eyes were clouded and dazed, his mind still foggy with the mixed and conflicting emotions rushing through his body…
Why was Sasuke being such a tease?!
Almost immediately, the Uchiha's lips descended upon the sensitive nape of the blonde's neck. Naruto threw back his head in ecstasy as burning sensations wracked furiously through his body. His heart pounded frantically as soft lips caressed every curve and nibbled every inch of his skin…
More… Want more…
Naruto moaned loudly as a hot tongue was introduced into the lethal combination, sending his mind into a higher state of euphoria. Strong hands gripped messy hair, forcing the blonde's head further backwards to reveal more skin around the neck… He didn't even notice – didn't even register the pain - as the back of his head was slammed violently against the trunk of the tree… Repeatedly…
Pleasure dominated his senses, rendering him completely vulnerable and oblivious to everything around him…
He didn't even notice as his own blood began to trickle down the crook of his neck…
…Nor the malicious sneer flaring within the sharingan eyes…
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"There was no body Sasuke… You got rid of it… You got rid of it remember?" Sakura was hysterical, the confusion pouring out of her voice. She gazed at the Uchiha boy for assurance – for any assurance - but all she saw was the same desperate gleam in his eyes…
Mixed with a look of utter hopelessness…
"You got rid of it Sasuke! There was – n-no body w-when I got t-there…" the pink haired girl hiccupped unsteadily, as extreme fear and recklessness surged through her system. Itachi couldn't be… He just couldn't! Sasuke killed him!
He was dead damn it!
"I passed out immediately after the battle…" Sasuke whispered hoarsely. "I thought you-"
"There was nothing there!" Sakura yelled, interrupting him in frustration. "There was no one but you…" she trailed off in horrification as memories of that ruthless day flashed up into her mind… So much blood… The presence of death… It was so strong…
'I thought you had died…'
"So he is alive…" Sasuke murmured, as a disbelieving look seemed to engulf his expression.
"No he isn't!" Sakura declared vehemently, her fists clenched tightly in a state of panic. "You killed him Sasuke! You said so yourself! You checked his pulse right?"
Tense silence descended upon the two.
"You checked his pulse, right?" Sakura screamed in impatience, as anger overwhelmed her fear. "He was dead! You confirmed that he was dead! Right? Right, Sasuke?"
The Uchiha nodded weakly.
"I checked his pulse… He was definitely dead…" the voice was soft and hesitant. "I'm… I'm positive I checked it… He was definitely dead! But… But what happened to the body?"
Flashing wild eyes met fearful green. "Dead people don't just disappear, Sakura… Maybe… Maybe I was wrong… Maybe he's alive-"
"He's not alive Sasuke!" Sakura yelled in desperation, although she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince anymore. "Just say… If… That's if he were alive… He would've attacked us ages ago…! Why the hell would he show up now? What could he possibly achieve by attacking us now?"
Desperate green met black for confirmation. She was right, wasn't she? It couldn't be Itachi… It just couldn't…
But what she saw made her blood freeze…
Sasuke was as white as snow… Panic and terror completely dominated his features, making her speculate whether the stoic boy was really standing in front of her… Where was the usually cool, calm and collected individual? Where was the person that was renowned for effortlessly mastering the art of concealing all emotion?
"Naruto…" the Uchiha whispered, in a barely audible and broken voice.
Blank, soulless eyes met hers, rendering her immobile and gasping for breath… An icy chill ran up her spine. Sakura blanched - she had never ever seen him that frightened before… Not when he knew he had to face Itachi… Not even when he was on the brink of death…
But Naruto…?
What did Naruto have to do with anything?
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The soft lips continued their furious assault upon the blonde's neck, rendering him utterly and completely breathless. His mind blanked into a perfect void – where nothing mattered apart from the Uchiha standing before him… He writhed uselessly under the strong body that towered over him, his limbs pinned effectively against the trunk of the tree…
"Sasuke…" he gasped, as another spasm of pleasure jolted through his already trembling body… He squirmed then tilted his head back, granting the taller boy even more access to his highly sensitive skin…
"You're so sexy, you know that?" the Uchiha murmured softly, his hot breath brushing against the nape of the blonde's neck. Blue eyes fluttered in ecstasy as the rumbling throat sent tantalising shivers down his trembling spine… "You're all mine… My little kitsune…"
"My beautiful Kyuubi…"
A sense of confusion briefly flitted across Naruto's features. Sasuke had never called him Kyuubi before… And what did he mean by 'mine?' And why did he sound so weird when he said -
A slight stinging sensation threw the blonde straight back into the wild throes of passion, his earlier suspicion immediately forgotten. The raven-haired boy had pierced skin with his teeth, causing a shallow wound just above the blonde's right shoulder blade. He then began to suck violently upon the gash, lapping the trickling blood away with an expression of rapture…
"You taste so good, my little Kyuubi…"
Naruto managed to frown slightly, even over the smouldering haze of lust that was efficiently clouding his mind. He did it again… Sasuke called him Kyuubi again… Was that a new nickname or something?
And there was something about his voice… It sounded strange-
A sharp stab of pain immediately brought the blonde out of his thoughts, as a small whimper escaped his lips. The Uchiha had bitten him again, this time puncturing his skin a little deeper, causing blood to spill a steady stream of crimson.
Almost immediately, the gentle lips and hot tongue began to massage the wound, dulling the pain away to a slight throb. Naruto found himself moaning again, as pleasure once again overwhelmed his senses…
Uncertainty never entered his mind again…
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"I've got to help Naruto!" Sasuke's eyes widened in complete terror as he realised the grave severity of the situation… Itachi… Itachi was back… All this time he had been alive, and none of them were any wiser… He was back…
And he was after Naruto!
"Naruto?" Sakura rubbed her eyes in confusion, her voice on the edge of hysteria. "What's Naruto got to do with anything?"
"Itachi's after Naruto!"
"What do you mean-"
"I've got to go Sakura…!" Sasuke interrupted, pushing past the shocked and temporarily immobile pink-haired girl. "If I don't go now, I'll never forgive myself…"
"No!" Sakura screamed, as she finally regained control over her body. She threw herself at the departing boy, clinging desperately to his arms. "You're not leaving…!" She sobbed frantically, her chest heaving in furious attempts to obtain more oxygen. "If… If what you say is true… If Itachi's really alive… Then you stay away from him! He'll kill you Sasuke! He'll kill you!"
Her words seemed to work. Sasuke froze. Then he spun around and glared coldly at his fiancée.
"If I don't go, Naruto will definitely die…"
"So what?" Sakura screamed, her eyes wild and sparkling with unshed tears. "I don't care Sasuke! I don't care if he dies! I know I'm selfish, but I'd rather he die than you! Don't you understand? I love you Sasuke! You can't leave me again!"
Sasuke glared at the floor as anger began to overwhelm him. How dare she? How dare she try to stop him from saving the one person – the only person that he had ever grown to love? She had no right to decide whose life was more important…
She had no right to sentence the blonde to an imminent death!
"Are you listening to yourself?" he shouted in frustration, as impatience and anxiety gnawed at him painfully. He had to leave now! He had to find Naruto before Itachi did…! Who knew what that psycho would do…! He winced as memories of his last conversation with his brother flooded his mind…
/ "What about rape, Sasuke? Think that'll break him?" Itachi smirked maliciously. "What if I raped him, pretending to be you? That would crack him wouldn't it? His best friend… His teammate… Making him scream, making him bleed… Violating him in such a shameful way…"
"It's not hard to be you Sasuke…" he whispered, with a malevolent glint in his sharingan eyes. "After all… We are brothers… And appearances can change a lot over 4 years… It'll be easy to fool him, don't you think?"
"And who knows – maybe I'll get some fun out of it as well… He seems like a good fuck, don't you think?" he laughed dryly, before shaking his head in amusement. "And who said that you couldn't mix business with pleasure?" /
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly to clear his thoughts, then growled possessively – if he even dared to touch him…
"I'm asking you Sasuke! You'll die if you leave! Don't go – just don't go!" Sakura cried, interrupting his wandering thoughts, as she clutched the Uchiha's arm in an almost painful death grip.
"I can't leave him…" he croaked, as he attempted to shrug her off.
"Why not?" she became hysterical. "I've given you everything Sasuke! Everything! And I've never asked for anything in return! And now all I ask is for you to grant me this one thing… Just one thing Sasuke… Can't you even give me that?"
The raven-haired boy hesitated, as he felt severe guilt surge through his body. It was true – she had been nothing but supportive throughout the whole Itachi ordeal… She had been there, by his side - tending, worrying, caring… She had given up everything just to be with him… She had even stayed when he told her to leave…
He knew he had been a bastard to her… He had treated her like crap since the day they met… He had never considered how his cold actions would've affected her feelings… Never considered how she felt when he disappeared for a few days… He never opened up, never told her how he felt… Never held her tight… Never even thought about her…
It wasn't her fault that he didn't love her…
It wasn't her fault that he couldn't love her…
And it definitely wasn't her fault that he loved someone else…
"I'm sorry…" he whispered, his words full of sincere regret, and his eyes full of raw emotion… But he knew that he couldn't stay – no matter how much he owed her, no matter how much he was indebted to her… He couldn't leave Naruto… He just couldn't leave him! Not after everything they had been through… Not after the hellish journey he had travelled just to realise his own feelings for the hyperactive blonde… Not after he realised that he loved him…
He couldn't leave him. Even though his feelings weren't reciprocated, he still couldn't leave him…
He would never leave him…
"I don't understand!" Sakura yelled, tears streaming profusely from her eyes as she sobbed her heart out. "You're going to die! If you confront him, you're going to die! Don't you understand?"
"I can beat him-"
"No you can't!" she sobbed in desperation. "You couldn't beat him the first 3 times Sasuke! What makes you think that you can do it now? You're not as strong as you were the third time you faced him – you have a hangover, you haven't trained… You're definitely not prepared!"
The Uchiha clenched his fists in frustration. "So what am I supposed to do?" he bellowed, anger replacing all his earlier guilt. "You want me to sit and wait while he kills Naruto? While my brother kills another one of my important people?" he hesitated as he tried to restrain his irrepressible rage. "Don't you care about him at all? How the hell could you be so fucking hostile? He was our teammate – he was… He IS our friend!"
"But there's nothing you can do!" Sakura argued back, tears streaming down her pink cheeks flushed with anger. "You can't do anything Sasuke! If you go, you'll die! Please, listen to me Sasuke!" she groped his arm desperately. "Listen to me! We can go somewhere else… Where your brother can't find us! Then you can train again, get stronger, then beat him! That's the most sensible thing you can do right now!"
Sasuke roughly shrugged her hands off him, his cold sharingan eyes flashing briefly. Sensible? When were they ever sensible? "What happened to you Sakura?" he muttered dangerously, his voice bitterly cold and edging rage. "How could you even suggest abandoning him? You know he would never ever give up on you! No matter how dire the circumstance, he would've always at least try to save you! So this is how you repay him?"
The raven-haired boy was furious. This wasn't the Sakura that he knew… When did she become such a cold hearted bitch?! How could she even think about deserting the blonde? Especially when he needed them the most! Did she really hate him? Just because he didn't inform her of his forbidden affair... Just because he was trying to protect her…
Could she really hate him that much?
"But I love you Sasuke!" she cried, as she collapsed, sobbing furiously upon the floor. "Don't you understand? Everything I've ever done is for you… I love you so much…" her voice trailed off into a whisper. "I'm sorry for being selfish, but I can't… I can't let you leave me… Not again…"
The raven-haired boy clenched his fists as conflicting emotions overwhelmed his senses…
"Please don't go… Please don't make me live without you…"
"I'm sorry…" he whispered, before striding purposely towards the front door.
'I'm sorry Sakura... I'm sorry for everything… I'm sorry for leading you on… I'm sorry for using you as a purpose to stay living… And most of all, I'm sorry for being unable to love you…'
"So that's it?" the pink-haired girl murmured softly, tears still steaming down in small silver rivulets as she sat stiffly upon the wooden floor. "You're going to leave now… Just like that, you're going to walk freely into your own death…" she paused to stubbornly swipe the liquid burning her strained eyes. "But why Sasuke? For what reason?"
"Why are you so eager to die?"
Sasuke smiled softly, as he pushed open the front door. An image of a blonde angel flashed up into his mind. The truth could be so simple sometimes… And love could be so uncomplicated…
"Because I love him."
And then he was gone.
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Itachi grinned evilly to himself as he continued his harsh ministrations upon the Naruto's neck. This was definitely worth the delay… All that waiting to choose the perfect moment had finally paid off… And what moment could be more perfect than this?
He grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and jerked it harshly, causing a small cry to escape the boy's lips. He sneered maliciously – at this rate, he wouldn't have to do much to break the boy… He had never seen anyone look so lost before… So empty, so soulless…
So dead…
He pulled away from the blonde's neck, and ran his tongue over the huge and painful looking red welts with glee. It was deeply satisfying to know that he had been the one to tarnish him, to touch him, to spoil his otherwise flawless skin… To mark him, to own him… He tasted so sweet… His blood intoxicating, addictive…
He was perfect – the Kyuubi was perfect…
The dark-haired man smirked inwardly. No wonder Sasuke cared for him so much… Sure, it had been a shock when he had caught them kissing the night before, but somehow he doubted that the influence of alcohol could single-handedly be held responsible for their actions… It had been a little too passionate for a simple drunken mistake… A little too full of fervour…
He grinned. Who'd have guessed that his little brother was a fag?
"You're so beautiful…" he whispered against the blonde's sensitive skin, and was awarded a small whimper for his contributed remark. And he wasn't lying – Naruto was beautiful… His golden skin and his wild mass of unruly blonde hair was truly a sight to behold… His body was lean and powerful, and yet his skin was surprisingly soft…
He was so innocent… Too innocent for the destructive powers that accompanied the wrath of the Kyuubi… So unlike what he had ever expected…
And yet he was so perfect…
Itachi purred contentedly as he buried his face within Naruto's neck, deeply inhaling the sensual scent of the other boy. He smelled faintly of his delicious blood… He licked his lips hungrily. It was a shame really… If only the boy didn't hold the power to the infamous demon fox, then maybe things wouldn't have had to turn out this way…
Things could've been soo good…
The Uchiha shrugged inwardly to clear his thoughts. No point thinking about such frivolous things… He growled and once again attacked the delicate skin upon the blonde's neck, creating an even deeper wound than the one before… He lapped up the sweet crimson blood eagerly as another deep moan erupted from Naruto's throat…
He smirked inwardly. Who would've known that the kitsune was so… So responsive? Acting on impulse, the raven-haired man grabbed the blonde and crushed their lips together in a furiously demanding kiss. His hot tongue pried open Naruto's mouth and roughly attacked his tongue, causing the other boy to visibly tremble. He pushed the smaller boy harder against the trunk of the tree, as his hands roamed lower and lower…
Excitement surged through his body, urging his actions on. The Kyuubi was so close to being his, he could almost feel it… He could almost taste it… Just a little longer – just a little while longer – and everything would be his… And he would finally possess the ultimate power that he craved…
This was turning out to be a lot more fun that he had anticipated…
And definitely a hell of a lot more pleasurable...
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"Shikamaru!" Ino complained, as she half dragged the unwilling boy behind her. "Come on already! You're so damn slow, you know that?"
The dark pony-tailed man merely shrugged and reluctantly let himself be towed along. He sighed – he really did NOT want to see the Uchiha's… Not now, and probably not ever… Well… Sakura he was ok with… But Sasuke…? Damn, just thinking about the cold glare that was directed at him at the engagement party was enough to make him shiver all over again…
Damn Naruto. This was all his fault.
He was so troublesome.
"Shikamaruuu!" Ino whined in frustration, as she stomped her feet upon the ground angrily. "You've been up for over 2 hours already – and we're really behind schedule… Can't you at least be a little more co-operative?"
The lazy ninja grunted.
"Shikamaru!" the blonde haired girl warned with a dangerous tone of voice.
The dark-haired man rolled his eyes and grudgingly complied, although he did begin to stomp on the ground a little more forcefully than required. He sighed - why did everything have to be so troublesome?
To be more precise – why did women have to be so damn troublesome?
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Hinata smiled happily as she walked away from Kiba's apartment. She couldn't believe her luck – she had just arrived in time to witness the birth of another new litter of puppies to add to their ever-growing family! Four completely healthy looking pups were born – 2 male and 2 female. And they had just been so adorable!
Hinata stifled a chuckle as she recalled the ecstatic expression crossing Kiba's face upon discovering the news. His adoration for dogs could become quite amusing at times… But bless his heart - she had always liked his company… His incessant chattering and inability to tolerate silence kinda reminded her of a certain blonde haired and blue eyed boy…
Glancing down at the invitations still in her possession, her cheerful mood immediately faltered. She still had to face the Uchiha's… She bit down hard upon her lower lip in trepidation – she just hoped that Sasuke wasn't in another one of his weird moods again…
Suddenly, a blurred outline rushed by, causing a gust of wind to brush sharply against the dark-haired girl… Before confusion could even begin to set in, the figure stopped abruptly in front of the dazed Hyuuga, emitting a raspy sliding sound as feet met bare ground…
Startled eyes glanced up…
Sasuke?! Uchiha Sasuke?! What the hell was he doing here?!
"Hinata, I need your help!" the Uchiha's voice trembled with nervousness and desperation. Hinata continued to stare in shock, as another part of her silently wallowed in her bad luck. She sighed inwardly - why Sasuke?! Why did it have to be the one person she was trying to avoid?! Out of everyone in the whole damn village – why did it just have to be him…?!
"Hinata? Are you listening?" the raven-haired boy was frantic – an expression that she normally wouldn't even have dared to associate with the impassive boy. Her mind rapidly snapped back into place.
"What's wrong?" she asked anxiously, as a deep feeling of apprehension set in. If something managed to unsettle and faze the usually unruffled boy so much, then it must be something serious…
Her stomach clenched uncomfortably – did something happen to Sakura?
"I need your Byakugan!" Sasuke was almost hysterical, his eyes wild with reckless abandonment. It would've proved a very effective method in scaring the smaller girl – that is – if she hadn't been scared shitless already…
Hinata scrunched up her face in confusion, then opened her mouth –
"No time to explain! Please just trust me!" the Uchiha interrupted rashly, his voice becoming hoarser by the second. "It's Naruto – I need your help in finding him!"
At the sound of the name Naruto, Hinata immediately perked up. Naruto? Why was Sasuke looking for Naruto?
"What's going on?" the dark haired girl whispered, her eyes widening in horror. Was Naruto in trouble? Was he in some kind of danger? Is that why Sasuke's looking so frightened?
"Hinata, no time, I-"
"No you shut up Sasuke!" Hinata snapped, anger, worry and trepidation overwhelming her commonsense. She didn't care that she was rudely cutting off the notoriously feared Uchiha Sasuke – one thing she wouldn't have even considered doing if she had been in the right state of mind. All that mattered was Naruto! And if Naruto was in danger, then she bloody well wanted to know about it damn it!
"Tell me! Why are you looking for Naruto? Is he in some kinda danger?" her words were rushed but steady, concealing the raging anxiety deep inside. Her confidence rose as her fear for the blonde's wellbeing increased… So deep was her apprehension that she didn't even realise that she had ceased to stutter…
"If you don't help me now, he could very well die!" Sasuke roared, as the hopelessness seeped into his unusually bright eyes.
Hinata gasped audibly. Naruto die…? No… No…! NO!! That can't be true! What the hell was Sasuke on about?! Not Naruto! He couldn't die! He's too full of energy – too full of life…
Naruto couldn't die!!
"Please…" Sasuke choked painfully as emotion welled up in his throat. Hinata was already too shocked to gasp as glittering tears began to form at the corners of his dark eyes. "I need to help him… I… I can't leave him… I can't leave him again…"
He clenched his fists in pure desperation.
The dark haired girl's mind suddenly cleared. She still didn't know what the hell was going on, but as long as it helped Naruto… That's all that mattered right? She would do anything to help – anything to ensue that the Uchiha's predictions of his death would never come true…
And now her help was required. Nodding assertively, she activated her Byakugan and scanned the surrounding vicinity. Almost immediately, the chakra patterns of thousands of people that inhabited Konoha village assaulted her. But fortunately for her, due to the steady decrease in ninja professionalism over the years, many of the visible chakra patterns were actually quite faint.
But she knew what she was looking for – instead of the light blue colour of normal chakra, Naruto had his own unique shade – a deep hue of purple. This was partly due to the demon fox that resided in his body shortly after birth. Although the Kyuubi's chakra was originally a sharp red, over the years, the two individuals had somewhat merged, producing another unique trait for boy and demon united.
It was still a mystery – just how did the two spirits manage to bond so well?
"I see him…" Hinata murmured softly, as she finally caught sight of a faint purple pulse. She focussed upon it, as her heart pounded furiously. "But… His signal is weak…"
"Kuso…"
Her eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated harder. "There are others with him… I can't be sure… But I think it's more than one…" she paused to catch an unsteady breath. "It… It has to be more than one… Too much… There's too much chakra for one person…"
"Where?!" Sasuke demanded, his eyes blazing with impatience. "Where is he?!"
Hinata pointed towards a north-east direction as she felt her heart drop into her stomach. "Near the outskirts of the village…" she bit her lip as waves of fear and trepidation assaulted her head on. God, she hoped that Naruto was alright! Whoever the people were, if they even dared to hurt him, she would never forgive them!
Almost immediately, the Uchiha took off in a furious sprint into the direction that she had indicated. She watched in silent amazement – she had never seen him look so determined yet desperate at the same time… Did he even know where to go? And all that she had given him was a vague direction – was that all he needed?
Was he really incredibly gifted or just plain stupid?
"Stay! Don't follow – look after Sakura!" was all she heard, as his lithe figure disappeared rapidly into the distance.
Hinata sighed, wondering whether she ought to trail the dark haired boy or to abide by his instructions. He would need her help later on, right? He may have a strong sense of direction, but that didn't guarantee anything… He'd be bound to get lost on the way!
And those people – those people around Naruto – either they were very strong, or there were a lot of them… And neither scenario was exactly promising or hopeful…! Yes Sasuke was strong, but it would be impossible for him to take them all on alone…
Hinata shivered in fear. Never before had she observed such a strong chakra reading…
But what about Sakura? Maybe she was hurt! Maybe she was in danger as well…! Why else would Sasuke tell her to go 'look after her'?
Making up her mind, the dark haired girl decided to check up on the pink haired girl before following the Uchiha in his frantic pursuit. Maybe she could find some back up while she was at it… After all, judging by the amount of chakra detected near the blonde, there must be a lot of people present…
A lot of strong people present…
She grimaced slightly but quickly replaced the look of defeat with a bitter look of defiance. "Hold on Naruto…" she whispered, with determination gleaming in her eyes. She'd help him – she'd help him if it were the last thing she did…
And she'll be damned if anything happened to the one she loved…!
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End chapter 18
La la la... I hope this chapter cleared things up... Oh there are only 2 chapters left by the way...
P.s. If there are any plot holes, they WILL be resolved!! I hate plot holes so don't worry!!!
Sorry if Itachi seems OOC... When I wrote this, he hadn't made an appearance in the anime, and I haven't read the manga... And now I'm just too lazy to go back and change him... Gomen ne!!
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Please review and thanks for reading! Ja ne!