Bitz and Bites: -Struggles into room looking like zombie.- Merph.. you folks are lucky, I got on a writing binge and I present to you the second chapter of my story several days in advance. Please read, and I hope you enjoy! Oh! As fair warning to people who happen to miss the giant WARNING.. this chapter will most definately contain yaoi in all its worshiping glory. Have fun!
WARNING! This story contains yaoi which is male x male pairings! Some scenes may not be suitable for younger readers or those that do not enjoy this genre. IF you do not find yourself drooling and creating a fan club over Naruto male pairings then please, do not read and try your best not to flame.. last I checked everyone was entitled to their own opinions. You have been warned, and for those of you that enjoy the lovely lemony mush.. ENJOY!
Manditory Mumbo Jumbo: I do not own Naruto, neigh. Masashi Kishimoto, the god of all gods, does.. -Worships.- However I do own, the story and if you wish to incorporate any ideas from this plot.. please give me credit. Nothing upsets me more than thevies.. -Brandishes scythe at the scoundrels in the shadows and marks their impending doom.-
-Summary- Uzumaki Naruto has always found it difficult to be accpeted in society, but as of late the world seems to look down on him. Forced through many hardships and now twice that many.. will our "loud-mouthed" shinobi survive what has to be one of the toughest chapters in his life?
"SPEECH", THOUGHT, FLASHBACK
Curl up with your mind set to adore, and enjoy Chapter Two!
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Forgotten But Found
His voice was soft, and sounded almost startled as he stared into pools of teal blue-green that belonged to the one they called "Gaara of the Desert". There was a small smile on the taller boys lips as they stared at each other for a moment, remembering their past experiences. It was only when a soft clearing of a throat sounded beside them, that the two were knocked from their held gaze. "Its time for the ceremony.." Sasuke stood there, staring between them, his tussled black hair falling before equally silver-black orbs. He was unsure what to make of the sudden closeness between his two former rivals, but for now he'd push it aside, there were more important matters than who his teamate was thought to be snogging.
Both boys nodded, suddenly losing the light that had once been in the eyes and becoming rather sullen. Turning lightly on his left foot, Naruto slowly made his way to the throng of black dressed villagers, all of which were holding white flowers that looked much like orchids. He was a little surprised when he found Gaara following close behind him.. So he came for the funeral as well, I wonder.. The Kyuubi thought curiously, but he quickly shook the thoughts from his mind as he stood in the front row of the crowd, now holding his own white petled flower.
He started at the sight before him; the many pictures of the lilac eyed girl and the casket that they rested behind them, coated in a soft and shining silk now wet from the rain.. his eyes began to tear. She had always been there for him when he needed her most, and even when he didn't. Over the years, Naruto remembered watching her change from that of a little girl to a young woman and he watched as her courage grew with proud stride. He remembered that fateful day when she told him over lunch about her career decision..
-/-
"Nartuo-kun.." Hinata's voice was soft and almost worried, as she spoke to the golden haired man before her who was currently wolfing down his beloved ramen. She smiled lightly, her pale features glowing in amusement before she tried once more to knock him from his eating frenzy. "Naruto-sama.. I-I need to tell you something.." Her hands were clenched tightly as she figited relentlessly, causing it to reveal her uneasiness.
"Hm?" Naruto's head shot up, ice blue orbs coming into contact with that of his companions soft purple one's. He noticed immediately the uncomfortable stature she was in and arched a brow curiously, "What is it Hinata-chan? Is something the matter?" setting his chopsticks down, the Kyuubi folded his hands on the table top and stared at her questioningly. For some reason, he knew, that what she was going to tell him next would either make him explode in anger or jump and whoot for joy..
"I've decided- I've decided to become a medical nin Naru-kun.. and work with the team on the Orochimaru mission.." Hinata closed her eyes tightly as she felt her friend's aura flare in anger, she knew what would happen when she told him her choice and she waited for it expectantly. Sure enough, it came, like a typhoon.. Naruto's rage reared its head.
"NANI?! Where would you get such an idea Hinata?! I thought you were going to stay in the village and work at the shrine as a villager healer, NOT GO OUT AND GET YOURSELF SLAUGHTERED BY THAT SNAKE BASTARD!!" Almost as soon as he had erupted, Naruto stopped and sat back down, ignoring the bowl of spilt ramen on the floor. "Its about someone isn't it? Someone is going into battle with him and you-.. you don't want them to get hurt. Tell me Hinata-chan, who is it?"
She looked up startled, eyes wide and surprised. How could he have possibly figured it out that quickly? The Byakugan user knew then, that her golden haired shinobi had changed much over the years. Sighing in defeat as she stared into those adorably cute puppy dog eyes, she revealed her secret. "Shino-sama.. I don't want him to get hurt, I don't want him to die. So I'm being selfish and I'm going into battle to be his guardian angel.. I'm so arrogant.." She lowered her head slightly, causing dark blue colored bangs to hang before her eyes and shadow them in sadness and shame.
"Hinata.." The Kyuubi rose slowly and walked to her side, crouching down before her form and placing a hand over her own, squeezing them gently. "It is not selfish to love someone.. what IS selfish is not telling that person how much you love them. Trust me I know.." Squeezing her hand a second time, Naruto looked hopefully into his admirers face and was glad when he saw her smile gently.
"Right, as always.." Hinata sighed lightly. She then slid a hand out from under his grasp and stood, pulling him to his feet in the process. Staring into his sky blue eyes once more, she rose the question that had been on her tounge from the start of the whole conversation. "Will you allow me to go, and protect him.. Naruto-sama?"
Naruto blinked in surprise, why was she asking him for acceptance? Still, by the look in her eyes, she would not leave without his answer and so he did the one thing his heart wrenched to do.."Hai.. go, and tell him you love him or so kami help me I will tell him myself and that won't be pretty." Smirking he stepped forward and hugged her gently, "Please, be happy, you deserve it." He muttered softly into her ear and then he pulled back and moved to walk away, however he was suddenly stopped by a hand who tugged him back and yelped lightly when a feather light kiss was placed on his cheek by his loving friend.
"Arigatou-gozaimasu Naru-kun.. I will not fail you." With that said, Hinata pulled away and walked briskly from the shop, leaving her best friend to stare at her retreating back..
-/-
His eyes became more and more fogged by the tears that threatened to fall, and Naruto was desperately attemtping to silence his gentle sobs whilst trying to calm his now trembling body. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. The Kyuubi knew his compainions that were surrounding him had begun to look at him sadly and he did not want anything to do with their pity. Thus, when the villagers were called upon to place their flowers, Naruto walked briskly to the front alter. Placing his flower beside that of another he whispered something that no one in his hometown would ever hear before proceeding to turn heel and flee from the dank occassion.. not noticing another was in hot pursuit.
Sprinting with all the power he could muster, Uzumaki Naruto raced down the mud-slicked streets to his home. His eyes were stinging painfully and the cries of anguish he had tried to smother were causing his throat to ache uncontrolably, as he rounded the last corner to his abode. Taking the stairs two at a time, the golden haired shinobi tried to reach his destination faster, only to realize that when he reached the door.. he would not make it inside.
After struggling for several minutes with the key, his hands shaking so violently that he could not hold the dammned piece of metal, Naruto collapsed to the concreate floor sobbing heavily. Drawing his body into a fetal position he tried desperately to drown out the world and thus, could not hear the footsteps that drew closer to his manic form. It was only when he felt a pair of muscular arms embrace him and he felt the warmth of another body that his crying slowed, looking up to see who his comforter was. Gasping softly, Naruto found himself once more, lost in the those seafoam colored orbs that belonged to his second most long time rival.
The Kyuubi began to struggle patheticly to remove Gaara's arms from his body, but it seemed the Raccoon would have nothing to do with it and only tightened the embrace. Struggling still, Naruto was praying that he could get away from this pity, only to realize as he was drawn into the maroon-haired man's body and cradled there, that he was not going to leave. Thus, the cries of pain returned and Uzumaki found himself shedding his sorrow into the chest of the one man he never thought would understand his despair.
"Shh.. kitsune it will be alright, just relax.. its alright." The sand demon began to stroke the young man's hair affectionately and continued to mutter words of caring into his ear as he cuddled Naruto closer to him, realizing with a deep frown that the small rain storm was escalating into a full thunderstorm. Gaara was slightly surprised when he felt his depressed companion jump at the first clap of thunder he heard, and was even more startled when he heard a soft whimper be mumbled into his black button up shirt. Knowing what needed to be done, the Raccoon carefully pulled Naruto into his arms and stood slowly, bracing himself under the newly added weight.
Then skillfully, Gaara nuged the fallen silver key with the toe of his sandal and in one swift movement kicked it into the air and into his out-stretched hand. Just as he was about to insert the key into the lock he felt Naruto shift slightly, the boy was sleeping.. Smiling gently, the sand shinobi unlocked the front door and slipped inside, closing it with his back before locking it once more and placing the key on the kitchen counter.
He then proceeded to walk as soundlessly as he could to the boys bedroom, and upon seeing a slightly ajar door he nuged it open. The sand demon was not the least bit surprised to see the state of the room..It looks like a bloody torando ripped through here.. Gaara thought amused, as he crossed the trenches of dirty and what looked some fresh clothing to Naruto's bed. Even the young man's sheets and quilt were in a jumble as though he'd never bothered with making it since the day he moved in, a tattered scroll lay beside the Kyuubi's pillow and the teal blue-green eyed shinobi could not help but chuckle.
Cautiously, the maroon haired boy placed his former rival on his bed and gently pulled the sheets around, figuring it would be best that under such emotional strain Naruto rest. Gaara could not help but become fasinated by his sleeping kitsune.. his mouth was open in a small 'o' shape, his golden locks were skewn here and there along the pillow like a river and his bangs lay shadowed over delicately closed eyes.
Swallowing hard, the sand demon turned away from the heavenly sight before him and headed for the bedroom door, once more careful not to step on anything. Slipping out silently, he exitied the abode entirely, acting as though he was the shadow no one saw. As he trugged down the hallway and then down the small set of stairs, Gaara shoved his hands into the pockets of his black dress pants and frowned deeply. He remember how close he hand been to Naruto just before the ceremony. How he seemed to hide his emotions so well to the fact that one his best friends was no longer on the land of the living.. but then, for some reason the Kyuubi broke down. The sand shinobi wondered faintly what happened in that jumbled mess of thing his power-match called a brain to cause such a problem, before he rounded the corner toward his own home and disappeared in the shadows of the alleyway.
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The rain had slowed considerably, becoming a light mist as it washed its way over the villages rooftops and dirt ladden streets, making them twice as goopey with mud than before. In the midst of the incoming fog, which billowed like a protective ghost over the ground and swirled its way around anything it touched as though attempting to suck the life from it, a shadowed figure stood. Beneath the onning of the well known ramen shop, arms crossed and crimson coated orbs glinting through the white-ish gray smoke with peircing gaze, stood the former childhood prodigy of Uchiha Sasuke. A deep frown was set on his face, his glowing blood red optics watching as his once red-headed rival slinked from the apartment home of his unhappy teammate. "What are you up to, Shukaku-kun..?" The black haired boy whispered softly, his lithe and pallid form pushing from the wall and his knees bending, allowing the muscles in his calves and triceps to tense and cord before he sprung forward and landed upon the rooftop of the ramen-devouring kitsune's abode with a single movement.
Cream white coloured fingers, shone with a soft glow that revealed the ridges of calicum that made up several calluses, from what felt like aeons of work and toil. If the moon rays could reveal past memories, they would shine through his worn appendages to create a kalidoascope of crimsions that so many called bloodshed.
Stalking much like a black cat over the roof, he reached the edge where a balcony sat. Quickly his legs pushing out in a 'v' shape Sasuke lent toward the edge of the roof shingling. His fingers gripping the evestrough gently as he allowed his lower half to bend like one of those physcotic gymnists over his plevic area, and with a face as straight as day Sasuke gracefully flipped forward, landing with a soundless plant on his feet on the paved balcony. Reaching upward with his right alibaster coloured hand, the Uchiha brushed the annoying strands of his ebony sheened bangs from his optics before that same hand reached outward for the handle on the balcony door.
To his surprise the door slid away from its frame with the simplest of tugs, and this caused the prodigy to give a grunt of discomfort which sounded much like "dobe" before he slipped through the verticle space and into the golden crowned boy's home. From there Sasuke slunk much like a shadow through his teamates living room, knowing exactly where his companion most likely was. His sandaled footsteps not making a single noise as he krept down the hallway for Naruto's bedroom, the door somewhat ajar and giving out its presence due to the moonbeam which slipped through the gap and onto the hardwood flooring beneath Sasuke's feet. Streeking into the room like a black wind, the Uchiha bearly moved the door from its resting place.
Trouble was what he came face to face with, was not what he expected.. most definately not..
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Rambling Of The Lunatic: Welp.. that was problem one of my first times writing a serious "air" in a story. Sorry this chapter was shorter than the last, but I just had to leave it there! You gotta love cliffhangers! -Malovent grin.- I have many thank you's to give out this time 'round, but first and foremost is my good buddy UnerasableSin for her help in editing and wonderful support! ALSO! I would like to thank these wonderful people for enjoying and reveiwing my story! I do it for you guys!
Kori Nibiki
EvilCloud
Third Degree Run
Thanks so much! Oh! And please give consideration to clicking that pretty little reveiw button and leaving your thoughts and opinions on my open canvas! -Saunters off dreaming up third chapter before falling on her face and crawling off.-