Funerals are supposed to be drab affairs; filled with weepy people and held under a
hideously grey sky.
At least, they're supposed to be.
While Iruka-sensei's send-off was bursting with full-blown mourners, the sky was bright
and sunny, as though all was well and the world never had to suffer from losses.
At least, that's what Sasuke thought.
He had overslept, which was unusual for the light sleeper, and was currently striding
quickly (but still at a respectful pace) toward the gathered mourners. Snaking his way through
the crowd, he bent his head in silence as he reached the open earth. Thank God he arrived
before the coffin was lowered.
Most of the people crying were just the sniffle types, because as models, they couldn't
afford to have their faces look puffy or their eyes to get blood shot.
For some reason that made him angry.
Damn selfish people.
One mourner, however, was in full-blown grief. Choking back sobs and shaking badly,
he was rubbing both eyes with fisted hands, like a child.
Curious, Sasuke glanced in the direction of the crybaby.
It was Naruto.
Even though he was decked out in a fine black silk suit and black patent leather shoes,
clothing that commands a respectable flair, Naruto's heaving sobs made him seem like a five
year old stuck in a twenty-five year old body.
After the initial shock, Sasuke couldn't help but watch Naruto in distaste. Really, Naruto
was always overly emotional. All the way back in their training days, even before they were put
in the same cell, Naruto had been infamous for his loud outbursts and temper tantrums.
(And I bet any minute now he'll go crying to Iruka-sensei...)
Oh, wait. Iruka was dead. Naruto's crying because of him.
And that's when it finally hit Sasuke. It wasn't the realization that Iruka was never
coming back, it was the sudden obvious fact that Naruto no longer had anyone to comfort him.
It hurt, and made him angry.
Why?
Sasuke clenched his fists in confusion.
(There's always Kakashi to help him.) He rationalized; referring to their cell mentor.
Looking at the white-haired man standing between him and Naruto, Sasuke doubted the
man would do that. He was always to spacey and distanced, and had held a glazed look for as
long as Sasuke had known him. Even now he didn't seem all there.
Taking some unknown cue, Naruto tossed a flower into the grave.
(When had they lowered the coffin?)
Standing over the open hole, Naruto shivered, then jerked away. A few hurried steps,
then Sasuke found himself the recipient fo a bone-crushing hug.
Standing in shock, it took Sasuke a few minutes to come back to himself. He looked left
and right, aware that he was in the middle of a huge spectacle. He wasn't aware of himself
wrapping one arm around Naruto's back, and patting the distraught blonde with the other.
Sasuke winced, and not because Naruto was crying and dripping snot on his hastily
chosen black suede suit jacket. The shaking and tears seemed to have gotten worse.
"Maybe you should take him back to his room or something." A voice piped up beside
them. Sasuke recognized the bubble-gum pink hair, even if it was in a different style.
(When did Sakura get here?)
Sasuke looked from here to Naruto, unsure of what to do. It was time for a little
reasoning.
1) It would seem disrespectful to leave during Iruka-sensei's funeral.
2) Naruto was barely holding it together.
3) The casket was already in the ground, so the ceremony almost over anyway.
4) He would have the added bonus o getting away from the onlookers' stares.
Once again, the pros outweighed the cons.
Nodding briefly, Sasuke took a few experimental steps towards the road. Naruto
complied easily, not letting up or letting go.
(He must really want to get out of here.)
They made it to Sasuke's limo easily enough, and a short ride later Sasuke was hauling
Naruto up the stairs to their rooms.
Although easy to handle during the trip, Naruto was anything but helpful when Sasuke
needed his keys to unlock the door. Searching Naruto's pockets came up with nothing, and
Sasuke couldn't help but wonder if Naruto had locked himself out or something.
Glaring his oh-so-famous glare, Sasuke had no choice but to allow Naruto to bunk up
with him. Pulling open the "Sasuke smells like cheese" door, Sasuke considered hucking Naruto
onto the bed like a sack of potatoes, but tossed that idea and carefully set him down.
Naruto fell asleep as soon as he touched down, unconsciously curling up under the sheets.
Sasuke pulled the whicker chair beside the bed, and settled into watching. While helping
Naruto, he couldn't help but notice a few changes in appearance.
When he had left, Naruto was still a few inches shorter than him.
Now they were at the same eye level.
Maybe it was just for the funeral, but Naruto, who had always worn loud outfits, now
wore a black suit with subdued colours.
But, as different as things become, others don't change at all.
The whisker-like scars, which made Naruto a shoe-in for the Q. B. Fox role, were still
apparent. Glancing briefly at Naruto's covered stomach, Sasuke knew the other scar was
probably still there as well. Guilt washed over him because of that scar.
Suddenly over come with an unnameable something, Sasuke leaned over and hesitantly
but quickly placed a small, chaste kiss on the blonde's forehead. Then reared back in shock at
what he did.
He sat in silence.
Why?
hideously grey sky.
At least, they're supposed to be.
While Iruka-sensei's send-off was bursting with full-blown mourners, the sky was bright
and sunny, as though all was well and the world never had to suffer from losses.
At least, that's what Sasuke thought.
He had overslept, which was unusual for the light sleeper, and was currently striding
quickly (but still at a respectful pace) toward the gathered mourners. Snaking his way through
the crowd, he bent his head in silence as he reached the open earth. Thank God he arrived
before the coffin was lowered.
Most of the people crying were just the sniffle types, because as models, they couldn't
afford to have their faces look puffy or their eyes to get blood shot.
For some reason that made him angry.
Damn selfish people.
One mourner, however, was in full-blown grief. Choking back sobs and shaking badly,
he was rubbing both eyes with fisted hands, like a child.
Curious, Sasuke glanced in the direction of the crybaby.
It was Naruto.
Even though he was decked out in a fine black silk suit and black patent leather shoes,
clothing that commands a respectable flair, Naruto's heaving sobs made him seem like a five
year old stuck in a twenty-five year old body.
After the initial shock, Sasuke couldn't help but watch Naruto in distaste. Really, Naruto
was always overly emotional. All the way back in their training days, even before they were put
in the same cell, Naruto had been infamous for his loud outbursts and temper tantrums.
(And I bet any minute now he'll go crying to Iruka-sensei...)
Oh, wait. Iruka was dead. Naruto's crying because of him.
And that's when it finally hit Sasuke. It wasn't the realization that Iruka was never
coming back, it was the sudden obvious fact that Naruto no longer had anyone to comfort him.
It hurt, and made him angry.
Why?
Sasuke clenched his fists in confusion.
(There's always Kakashi to help him.) He rationalized; referring to their cell mentor.
Looking at the white-haired man standing between him and Naruto, Sasuke doubted the
man would do that. He was always to spacey and distanced, and had held a glazed look for as
long as Sasuke had known him. Even now he didn't seem all there.
Taking some unknown cue, Naruto tossed a flower into the grave.
(When had they lowered the coffin?)
Standing over the open hole, Naruto shivered, then jerked away. A few hurried steps,
then Sasuke found himself the recipient fo a bone-crushing hug.
Standing in shock, it took Sasuke a few minutes to come back to himself. He looked left
and right, aware that he was in the middle of a huge spectacle. He wasn't aware of himself
wrapping one arm around Naruto's back, and patting the distraught blonde with the other.
Sasuke winced, and not because Naruto was crying and dripping snot on his hastily
chosen black suede suit jacket. The shaking and tears seemed to have gotten worse.
"Maybe you should take him back to his room or something." A voice piped up beside
them. Sasuke recognized the bubble-gum pink hair, even if it was in a different style.
(When did Sakura get here?)
Sasuke looked from here to Naruto, unsure of what to do. It was time for a little
reasoning.
1) It would seem disrespectful to leave during Iruka-sensei's funeral.
2) Naruto was barely holding it together.
3) The casket was already in the ground, so the ceremony almost over anyway.
4) He would have the added bonus o getting away from the onlookers' stares.
Once again, the pros outweighed the cons.
Nodding briefly, Sasuke took a few experimental steps towards the road. Naruto
complied easily, not letting up or letting go.
(He must really want to get out of here.)
They made it to Sasuke's limo easily enough, and a short ride later Sasuke was hauling
Naruto up the stairs to their rooms.
Although easy to handle during the trip, Naruto was anything but helpful when Sasuke
needed his keys to unlock the door. Searching Naruto's pockets came up with nothing, and
Sasuke couldn't help but wonder if Naruto had locked himself out or something.
Glaring his oh-so-famous glare, Sasuke had no choice but to allow Naruto to bunk up
with him. Pulling open the "Sasuke smells like cheese" door, Sasuke considered hucking Naruto
onto the bed like a sack of potatoes, but tossed that idea and carefully set him down.
Naruto fell asleep as soon as he touched down, unconsciously curling up under the sheets.
Sasuke pulled the whicker chair beside the bed, and settled into watching. While helping
Naruto, he couldn't help but notice a few changes in appearance.
When he had left, Naruto was still a few inches shorter than him.
Now they were at the same eye level.
Maybe it was just for the funeral, but Naruto, who had always worn loud outfits, now
wore a black suit with subdued colours.
But, as different as things become, others don't change at all.
The whisker-like scars, which made Naruto a shoe-in for the Q. B. Fox role, were still
apparent. Glancing briefly at Naruto's covered stomach, Sasuke knew the other scar was
probably still there as well. Guilt washed over him because of that scar.
Suddenly over come with an unnameable something, Sasuke leaned over and hesitantly
but quickly placed a small, chaste kiss on the blonde's forehead. Then reared back in shock at
what he did.
He sat in silence.
Why?