~Warning/Disclaimer~
Naruto and the characters don't belong to me; they belong to Kishimoto. *sigh* I want a demon fox. ^_^ anyhoo—started a new fic that spawned on me one morning. It's a welcome change to the other Naruto fic and will help me keep focus.
Rated R for dark themes, future…situations and the usual yaoi-ness. ^_^
Side note – this takes place after the Chuunin exam, but Sasuke never leaves for Orochimaru, and the two never fight (but they know their skills), and Kakashi still trains the three of them. and occasionally Jiraiya.
Think age 15!! If you've got questions, I'll try to answer them as best as possible.
Enjoy!
Division
~three~
The morning begins differently for Sasuke, who's used to waking slowly and alone and as normally as a fifteen year old shinobi can wake. He's not used to sleeping in a room with other people; it's been too long and he finds it hard to fall asleep.
But on the eighth day of his 'babysitting' job, Sasuke wakes to the unusual sensation of warmth, of bodies, and cracks open his eyes a fraction. He chooses to sleep on the floor for convenience (and to cover the discomfort of sleeping with other people) The floor hasn't changed—
—but a deeply asleep Naruto is curled up with hands curled near his face. Against him. They brush against Sasuke's chest. Closer than expected. Sasuke peers at him for a moment through his dark lashes, confused, musing at how young Naruto seems while he sleeps, how innocent and helpless and normal. Then he thinks how utterly freaked he's going to feel when he wakes up completely, because he's got to admit this is weird, because…
Naruto's there…so where is…?
Sasuke opens both eyes in surprise and gut-clenching shock, tries to inhale but he can't move. He doesn't dare move because there's another body pressed up against his back, knees and legs curving to match his own and the nudge of a forehead into his shoulders.
…what?
Kyubi stirs behind him with a strange sound. Sasuke tenses when he hears it, thinking of it as a growl, as a threat even as the head nudges against him slowly. The sound vibrates through him and he can't help the tiny shudder that jerks through him.
What the fuck? his inner voice is shrill. What is that?! What kind of sound is that? Humans can't make that sound!
Sasuke stares through the sleeping face of Naruto, thought-flashing of the differences and how they look so similar and nothing could be like the demon, knowing it was the demon against his back and cuddling him or something—he doesn't like it, tells himself that he doesn't like it one bit because to the fox it's just a game to mess with people's heads. But it's the fox. The demon. Purring. So he doesn't move, and tries hard to keep the small instinctive tremors away, tries to keep calm and relax.
There's got to be a good reason they migrated to where he was sleeping in the middle of the night, right? There's got to be some reason they would do that—
He's right there! Right there! he thinks, and the sound Kyubi makes is soft and barely audible but he can feel it all the way to his bones. Sasuke can also feel his heart slamming against his ribs. Is he awake? Is he doing this on purpose?
And a tongue scrapes warmly over the skin on his neck and Sasuke flinches with a squeak. Instinct and fright lend him speed—he almost knocks himself out when he flings himself at the wall, pivoting like a startled creature to stare at the demon who licked his neck. Licked his neck.
His neck.
His mind is incoherent gibbering as he crouches with his back to the wall and just stares, watching as Kyubi's form shifts to the absence of his body. Awake? Awake? Not awake? Then the demon's arm reaches out and hooks the material of Naruto's pajamas and pulls the boy closer, but Naruto doesn't wake—or if he does, he doesn't seem to mind wrapping himself in the demon's embrace.
They were so fucking close! Sasuke thinks with his skin all goosebumpy and the hair standing on end. So close!
What the fuck? he thinks and slides down the wall and pulls his knees to his chest, trying to keep his heart inside and his emotions gone and just stares. If anything happens, if the demon moves or tries to…to…whatever…he'll be able to do something.
Even if it's just running away, even if the mere thought of running sends his spine crawling and burning tight…
Because there's no way that ever happened.
~@~
Naruto isn't used to waking up on the floor, except for when he falls out of bed, but that hasn't happened in a while. So when he finds himself loosely draped around a demon-boy-thing that still purrs in the back of his throat, on the floor where he definitely remembered not falling asleep, he's confused.
It's understandable. He can sense a bit of Kyubi's sleepy amusement and turns his head to look around.
Isn't this where Sasuke sleeps? How'd we get over here? Why are we over here?
By the way the light enters the room Naruto can tell that it's mid-morning, and a moment of concentration tells him that Sasuke is around but not near them. Probably in the kitchen.
Which meant he had to have woken up with Naruto…and Kyubi…
Yawning, Naruto sits up and pushes away the heavy arm and rolls Kyubi onto his back. "Hey. Wake up. Why are we on the floor?"
"Mgh…don' care." Kyubi snuggles up to his leg with a throaty trill. "Was warm."
"Are you trying to freak Sasuke out? He's not the touchy-feely type, you know." Naruto waits for a moment then comments blandly, "You're an asshole."
The demon doesn't answer, but the blond can feel the grin against his leg.
"He's too serious for your games," Naruto whispers in case Sasuke wanders by. "I mean it. He's got…issues, or something."
"You're an issue. He has no sense of fun. Wanna bite him. Bite….mmm…." Kyubi yawns.
"Well, whatever. Just be nice." Naruto pulls away and stands, avoiding the demon's automatic grab for his foot. He heads for the door, intent on the bathroom and then an early breakfast.
"I don't do nice," Kyubi calls after him. "I've got a reputation. Nice just doesn't work for me."
~@~
By late afternoon Sasuke found himself in a severe funk. The strain of keeping tabs on the demon—who decided to spend most of the day outside doing whatever—and dealing with Naruto who wasn't Naruto but was—
But it didn't help matters to have Kyubi unexpectedly appear in his flashing red chakra, scowling, and throw him through a door and a window and cracking two walls. For no reason.
No, that wasn't true. Sasuke knew there was a reason—he knew that he needed to keep better control over his temper on his bad-mood days, because yelling at Naruto for scratching the linoleum in the kitchen with his kunai wasn't the best way to deal with the situation.
Neither was yelling at him for being too loud. Or just because it was familiar to scowl and ignore the blond and insult him—
—and provide the demon with enough incentive over Naruto's wide-eyed gaze to scare him half-to-death—all without a scratch or damage to Sasuke, merely proving that the demon enjoyed his little shows of strength and sheer power. That Kyubi apparently didn't care about anything but preserving the health of the sealed blond.
Or that Sasuke really needed to work on his communication skills.
It's only been eight days, his mind scorns him. Eight days. You can't handle that? Gonna go crying home to the Hokage because you lost your temper and can't handle a demon?
So by the time that an early supper would have been started, Naruto decided out of the blue that he wanted ramen. Sasuke refused to make it, and did it while speaking politely, but the blond wouldn't hear of it.
So now they were headed out to the village, bad tempers and food cravings alike, but Sasuke pushes that thought away. It would be the first day that Naruto would be among those people again, and he doesn't know if Naruto can handle that. He considers Naruto as a fragile type right now, although he doesn't dare speak that thought aloud.
Sasuke doesn't know if Naruto is nervous—in all respects the blond is acting almost like his loud annoying self. Which would be good, but it's possible that it's a mask of its own and since he doesn't know for sure, he has no clue on how to bring the subject up.
Sasuke endures the excited ramblings with an absent and customary scan for the elusive red chakra.
"I wonder what the special is—maybe it's miso! I hope it's miso—do you like that kind, Sasuke?"
He's still outside, the search tells him as he pulls on a long-sleeved jacket over his teeshirt and jeans. Sasuke sends off a fervent 'thank you' to the gods that kept Kyubi outside in the yard for most of the day, glances up at Naruto and shrugs out an answer.
"Come on, we're gonna miss out!" Naruto tugs briefly at his sleeve.
Pulling away, Sasuke crouches and slips on his footwear. "Where's the fox? Isn't he going to come with us?"
Why are you asking? he thinks, horrified. You don't want him around, do you?
"He said he doesn't like people. Didn't wanna come. Let's go, Sasuke!"
Odd. Sasuke lets a flash of frowning curiosity run across his face. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah—he wants to…" Naruto pauses and 'hmms' with a finger against his lips. "Wants to stay outside. Or something. Come on, let's go!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down," Sasuke scowls and shoves his hands into his pockets, and decides that while the Kyubi's mindgames can be a foolish thing to lose track of, his whereabouts were unimportant. Sasuke tells himself that he doesn't care; the fox can take care of himself.
Especially if he was gonna be twisted about it. Very twisted. So Sasuke doesn't care one damn bit.
Baka, the thought glides into his conscious, his fingers rubbing at the back of his neck. You're asking for it…
~@~
People stare at them; Sasuke can feel it. Half the time it isn't unusual, Sasuke is used to getting funny looks because of his past, his potential and attitude of 'loner.' Because he's smart and too pretty. He was also used to having Naruto draw looks like daggers and silent curses, used to having the boy shed them like rainwater and go on ignoring the world.
But this…
This is different and Sasuke doesn't like to dwell too deeply on the meanings.
Like how a woman ushered three children away before they had finished their meals and visibly adjusted the weapons hidden under her sash. How a man sitting across the street with a gray bottle of sake merely watches them with eyes narrow and bloodshot; even now the promise of violence glimmers in that dark gaze, and the man hasn't moved. Sasuke doesn't look at him twice, but the movements of his arms give a clue to the hidden kunai the man is running his fingers up and down.
Even the owner of the Ichiraku watches them nervously, despite the welcoming smile he has for Naruto.
If the other was here…
Sasuke doesn't like thinking of how clever the fox is. How smart he is, how inhumanly and how cunning the creature is. He knows that to have the red-eyed demon join them tonight, with things as unstable as they are, would be bad. It didn't matter he had a human appearance. It would draw more than just stares, even if he was sitting with the Uchiha heir, or the smaller blond. The people seemed to know these things.
A part of Sasuke wonders if it's because he's a demon that he watches and thinks ahead. That everything is a potential tool and trap, that words are just a game. That they must seem so slow and stupid to the fox.
Sasuke glances at Naruto as the blond picks at his food carefully, glad that one thing hasn't seemed to change…even if there's a wide difference between the old Naruto and this one.
~@~
The moonlight feels wonderfully cold against his super-heated skin, washing over him with heavy sweetness. He digs his feet against the earth and breathes deeply of the night-scented air. His eyes shine crimson in the shadows, his face upturned to the moon.
The mouth moves against the air. "…damn you," Kyubi whispers fondly to the moon. "Too long. No time."
He's careful to make sure Naruto can't skim too deeply into the inhuman urges of his soul-part, the natural feelings of the human body while he revels in the wash of light; he knows there are moments where it slips through, when his guard slips—but he also knows that Naruto is innocent. Human. Young.
…edible…his mind thrills and flashes to the pale skin and dark eyes of the kit's companion. Sasuke. He didn't question why Sasuke was kept near; the human provided some measure of comfort even to him, but for his human-half, Naruto…Sasuke was a safeguard. Hokage's gift, of sorts. A control.
Humans had such strange rituals.
They don't know. They never know.
His teeth bare themselves in something like a smile. Another inhale and the demon swallows the throaty sound that rises through his chest. Patience. Patience and possible—no. Maybe. Too human, too cold. Already chosen.
But he's me, and we. We. It should be we. Me. I? Us? I want. want-want-want. Me and we and him.
Him.
He knows the moon is calling him, pulling him beyond his control and wraps his mind carefully behind the wall of dark shadowy thoughts. He doesn't like it, not as human as he is, but he doesn't care. He hasn't felt it in years, hasn't been able to hear the moon so clearly. And there's a small stubborn part of him that settles in and digs thorns into his rising urges, cautions him and holds a tenacious leash on his conscious.
…already chosen. not yours. not yours, not for us. Forbidden.
Because he can't. Because no one will be chosen, not for this, this simple physical lust. Because there has to be counter-feeling and he isn't sure—he thinks it might be there, but…he doesn't know.
Because it's not his choice.
The demon doesn't know how long he's stood in the moon-dappled darkness, under the sky and stars and cool night air—in the absence of his fine-tuned control. He can't bring himself to care, as the moon rises further.
…because it's calling him.
…and he can't help following.
~@~
"Thank you for the ramen!" Naruto smiles at him after they leave the stand and slip through the shadows. Sasuke doesn't have to turn around to know that the people watch them with the bright hostile glare of fear, of hate. He is still struck with the differences from past to present so he doesn't answer Naruto with words, just a brief nod. Not loud, not boisterous, just calm and happy and…
…and kinda cute. Appealing.
But he doesn't think things like that, he tells himself. It's dark now, long past sunset. The full moon has risen with silent beauty; the night is still and cool, with pinprick stars splashed across the sky. Sasuke spares only a moment to acknowledge the beauty; they still had a distance to cover before they reached the isolated house and Sasuke feels strangely uneasy in the darkness.
He feels eyes upon him.
Sasuke looks to Naruto to see if he feels the oddness in the air, but the blond is watching the moon through the leaves. The patterned shadows slide across his upturned face and shoulders and Sasuke takes a moment to watch him—
—and sees the moment an awareness sparks in the eyes and he mimics the Naruto's slow stop. The blond lowers his head with an expectant expression, curious and surprised.
Sasuke turns his head to follow the blue-black gaze and sees Kyubi has come to stand a few feet away, enveloped by shadows. His face and skin reflects the light of the moon, his eyes are black. The expression on his face is flat, as if he's watching something particularly uninteresting—
He did come after all…
—But his eyes, Sasuke thinks, are dark with something else and gives away the mask for what it was.
"Where have you been?" he questions and flicks his eyes down the body to check for irregularities. Blood—no, not blood. Dirt?
Kyubi's head lolls unexpectedly back as the male turns his face to the moon. "Running. No killing, just running."
"Running? Running where? I thought you were gonna stay by the house." Naruto bounces on his toes, arms up behind his head and his voice too curious.
"Mmmm," the demon breathes out and closes his eyes. "Ran. With the moon." (1)
As Sasuke draws closer, he can smell the dirt smeared across his clothes and bare feet, the muddy smell mixing through the natural scent. His mind flits to the words 'No killing, just running,' and he shivers.
"No killing," Sasuke repeats, and draws away to the side. "What do you mean?"
The eyes gleam red for a fraction as they pause on him. A lazy swirl of amusement, of alien and mocking thoughts skim just out of reach in those eyes. Icy fingers brushed his skin as his instincts coiled.
"Sasuke," Kyubi sighs, the sight of his grin is strange in the moonlight. "Are you going to run away? You shouldn't run. I could just devour you if you run…"
Sasuke flashes into a memory of a tongue against his neck and he glares in defensive anger. "Why would I run from you?" he sneers and hunches slightly. He can hear the sound of the bare feet against the earth, the grass and leaves, as Kyubi steps forward slowly, one foot at a time, can see Naruto glance at them with that bright surprise. Sasuke has to dig fingernails into his palm to keep himself from stepping back because the red-eyed demon is getting way too close—
"Because you want to run. I want you to run," the fox whispers. He leans in close, that terrible bared-teeth grin on his face. "Run, Sasuke, run."
Sasuke catches a glimpse of Naruto's annoyed scowl from the corners of his eyes, and then he hears the blond speak.
"Knock it off, he doesn't want to play."
Play? This is play? Sasuke thinks, heart knocking towards his throat. What does he mean, play?
Kyubi doesn't pull his red-black stare from Sasuke's face, nor does he move a comfortable distance away. "I think he does," the demon murmurs, tilting his head in that curious fashion.
In an unexpected display of his temper, Naruto steps forward into Sasuke's line of vision, into Kyubi's vision with his brows drawn tight and his eyes set. It's his stubborn look, his old look that gave the impression that whatever would happen he'd kick ass.
And he was giving that look to the demon, who was quite capable to destroying the both of them on a whim.
"I said knock it off," Naruto said irritably, chin jutting forward and his hands on his hips. "Sasuke doesn't know that kind of stuff."
What kind of stuff?
"I could teach him," the demon purrs with a strange little huff. A laugh, Sasuke realizes, as the body coils—he's going to spring or jump or push him or bite him or rip him apart—
I don't know if I want to know—
"No," Naruto says slowly. "Not tonight. Go back to the house."
The eyes flicker to Naruto for a brief second, giving Sasuke time for a lightheaded inhale while the demon isn't looking at him.
"Fine, stupid kit!" the demon snaps, chakra lashing around him—
—and then he's gone, and Sasuke shivers down the length of his spine, cold and clammy and hating the sense of confusion he can't seem to shake around the demon. He glances towards Naruto. "What…?" he begins hesitantly.
The blue-black eyes avoid his gaze as Naruto stares in the direction of the house and finally speaks after a long pause. "I'm sorry…He's gonna be moody for a while. I think it's the moon…" he explains, shrugging as his eyes flicker towards Sasuke.
"The moon," Sasuke drawls. "He's moody because of the moon?"
"He's trying to behave—he just doesn't understand some things yet. He's trying," Naruto looks at him intently, worriedly. "Are you freaked out? Are…are you going to leave now?"
"No," Sasuke waits a second before his finds his voice. "I'm supposed to help you, remember? It's okay…I know he's not…like us." And it makes it easier to speak calmly because he knows that Naruto can't see the shudder ratcheting down his back.
Naruto smiles at him, the expression childlike and innocent and heart-twisting warm and then it's even easier to ignore the tiny accusing voice that the Hokage's orders are the only thing that keeps him here. Not the innocence of the blond Naruto, not the problem that stretched before them. Just orders.
~@~
"Are you coming inside?"
For a long moment Sasuke waits for an answer from the shadowed figure seated on the last step. It's late, almost midnight, and he knows that Naruto is already in bed.
A part of him is a crystal-thin murmur that without Naruto he's easy prey. That the demon can finish whatever he was intending back on the path. The moon is still out, still bright, and Sasuke knows that whatever 'mood' the blond demon feels is still effective.
It's the reason why Sasuke forced himself to open the door and call out to him. There's the need to prove he's not frightened of that lurking darkness in the crimson eyes, that he's not afraid of the demon. That he is afraid, but he can't help it and hates it all the same.
"Well?"
"You don't want me inside right now," the demon breathes. He turns to look over his shoulder, and his face is devoid of emotion, devoid of humanity and no matter how hard Sasuke looks, he's not sure he'll find it.
"Because of the moon?" Sasuke raises a brow.
"Yes. Can you feel it, human? Her call…bright threads in my mind…"
"Whatever. Naruto's in bed and I'm going to sleep. Don't be noisy if you come in later." Sasuke pulls away to let the door shut, relieved that he wasn't coming inside and just a tiny bit worried that he was going to stay outside.
"Sasuke…" Kyubi murmurs too low for the other boy to as he moves out of sight. Then he grins slightly, to himself, and turns his face to the moon. For a second a brief glimpse of patience, of frustration, passes through his eyes.
Then it's gone, and the demon is content enough to merely watch the moon, conscious of Naruto's words, of his own lack of control, and stubbornly waits. The dawn would bring another day and he would have an entire month to decide his course of action.
Or less, considering what he knew of the Hokage had said…
Either way, Kyubi wouldn't lose. Not to this.
~TBC~
A/N ~ just a few things, here. Near the middle, you might be confused by the mention of Kyubi throwing Sasuke around---well, Sasuke lost his temper, Naruto felt..upset? and Kyubi reacted. Nothing more. I didn't want to go into a lengthy scene detailing all of this. ^^;;
1: some of you might be familiar with Stephen King and Peter Straub (sp?) collab of "The Talisman." That's the idea where running with the moon came from…*sigh* good book. lovely good book.
Lessee…um….i planned to have more in this chapter, but I'll be putting it in the next. Might take a bit. I'm still in school, mind you, which means I can't drop everything to work on fiction. Anyhoo—hope you enjoyed!