Shadows within a Dream
By: Kisu
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! My first yaoi fic isn't bad at all! ^_~
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
WARNING…YAOI….RAPE.._; ..ah..the rating went up. (finally some action! Syke!)
2.4: Broken Reality
For the next two days, Naruto couldn't keep anything down. He had finally given up on eating anything and Sasuke was worried about the weight he was losing. On the third day, he had found Naruto missing from his bed and the window was opened. He looked outside to see him lounging on the branch of an apple tree in his backyard. He was relived to see some color back in Naruto's complexion. Sasuke went to the kitchen and made some weak rice porridge for him and before walking outside. Naruto's eyes opened when he heard footsteps approaching and glanced down.
"I made you something. You need to get something back in your system." Sasuke commented, staring up at him.
"I'm not hungry." Naruto told him. "But I did manage not to throw anything up today. Not like I have anything to throw up."
"Come down here." Sasuke ordered, placing one fist at his hip. "Or do I have to get you down by force?" Naruto, who was obviously not listening, turned his gaze back to him and a puzzled look crossed his face.
"Did you say something, Sasuke?" He asked. Sasuke closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Picking up a rock, he hurled it at Naruto who fell from the tree and landed hard on the ground.
"Oops." Sasuke commented, not feeling apologetic at all.
***
This has got to stop happening. Naruto glared at him as he tapped his bandaged head. Sasuke plunked a bowl of rice porridge in front of him and Naruto picked up his spoon. He squeezed it so hard that the metal bent in two and Sasuke calmly replaced it with another one.
"Itadakimasu." Naruto said, calmly. He took two spoonfuls into his mouth before setting it back down. "Thanks for the meal."
"What?" Sasuke glared tapping the table. "You hardly touched it."
"I'm full." Naruto replied. "Besides, I told you I'm not hungry."
"Idiot." Sasuke frowned. "What if I got you ramen?"
"Unh…no that's okay." He smiled. "Thanks for offering." Sasuke's jaw almost hit the ground, but of course it didn't because of his dignity. Naruto was refusing ramen? "I'm off to train!" He waved as he got up.
"You can't train, like this." Sasuke pointed out. Naruto scratched his head thoughtfully.
"I guess you're right." He smiled, softly. "But everyday I don't train, I feel weaker. I won't stress myself. Thanks Sasuke." He waved before bounding out the door. Sasuke sighed before clearing the table and washing the remaining dishes.
***
Naruto brushed the dirt from his hands as he surveyed his handiwork. Traps and wires were hidden in the trees and shrubs to help him test his reflexes and agility.
"There you are." Sasuke commented as he walked into the clearing.
"Sasuke! Stop!" Sasuke looked down as his foot stepped onto a wire. This triggered a mass of shurikens that Sasuke leapt to avoid. His foot brushed against another wire when he was rolling and this triggered multiple kunais that flew in from all directions. Sasuke avoided all of them at ease but missed one. He turned to see Naruto standing behind him, holding onto a lone kunai that was in his blind spot. "Not bad. You have to work on this side." He began picking up all the fallen shurikens and kunais and removing them from the trees. Sasuke lent him a hand in the search for the missing ones that had flew farther away.
"Is this normal training for you?" Sasuke asked.
"Jiraiya-sensei usually makes me train on top of water. Once in awhile he tests my ability to fly." Naruto told him as Sasuke handed him the last shuriken and gave him an incredulous look. "Thanks." He placed them in bag and tied it up. "Well, since we're both here. Let's spar."
"I don't think so." Sasuke replied in a wary voice. "You haven't fully recovered."
"I'll manage, just light sparring?" Naruto asked. With a careless smile he balled his hands into fists. "I'll start." He said as he vanished from sight. Sasuke shrugged and stood anticipating the blonde's move. It came from behind him and Sasuke easily avoided him but was caught up in a close hand-to-hand combat. Sasuke drew up his arm to block a kick that Naruto directed to his head and his eyes narrowed slightly. His arm had temporarily gone numb from the impact. Naruto's eyes had darkened to a deep blue and his face was set in an expressionless mask. His game mask. Sasuke realized. A fight between two shinobi is always a game and they had both played this game many times. This game was the game of life and death. There would always be a winner and a loser.
As Naruto continued an assault of punches, Sasuke blocked while looking for an opening. He ducked a swing and landed a good punch on Naruto's face. But this gave him a powerful kick to the chest and he slid back.
"Light huh?" Sasuke muttered. He wouldn't be surprised if Naruto's kick had broken a rib or two. Sensing his chakra, he jumped straight up into the air and approached Naruto who was perched on a branch, looking down on at the ground. He swung his head back when he sensed him at the last minute and raised his arms to block the kick he had aimed for his back. Sasuke's kick sent Naruto off his branch and he fell to the ground below. Sasuke dove after him and realized that Naruto's eyes were closed.
His eyes widened.
"Naruto!" He yelled, trying to get the blonde to wake up. He pushed off a tree using his chakra to increase his speed. "Naruto! Wake up!" His arms circled the blonde and they hit the ground in a giant cloud of dust.
***
"Pervert Sennin!" Naruto yelled as he ran over to the door. "What took you so long?" He swung it open and stared open-mouthed at the figure standing in the doorway. Uchiha Itachi. With a gasp, he proceeded to swing the door shut but Itachi intercepted it with a foot. Still expressionless, the older Uchiha pushed the door open and forced Naruto to step back. Itachi advanced on him and Naruto shook with fear. When his back met the wall he mentally cursed, he had backed himself into a corner.
Slowly, Itachi knelt down and reached out running his calloused fingers down the side of Naruto's face. He stroked it thoughtfully and Naruto jerked his head back. "What do you want?" He gasped, hoarsely.
"Forgiveness." Itachi said almost serenely. He met his eyes with his sad dark ones. "I want to apologize, we seemed to have gotten off the wrong foot."
"Like hell we did." Naruto snapped, trying to push him away. Itachi stood back and got up before proceeding to the window. Naruto stared at his odd behavior and frowned. "Are you all right?" He asked, timidly.
"Your heart is pure." Itachi smiled, slightly. "That's why I don't want to kill you to release the Kyuubi." He turned and met his gaze. "I came to ask if you would voluntarily control the Kyuubi for me and for the good of the future and the shinobi. I want you to help me fulfill my mission."
"Mission? What mission?" Naruto asked, supiciously.
"A better future for all us. A future that honors the way of the ninja." Itachi said, simply. He smiled. A genuine smile that made him look years younger. "Will you help me?"
"I-" He began, his eyes widening.
"Naruto."
He glanced around. Was that Sasuke's voice?
"Naruto, wake up." Sasuke's voice was much clearer now. "Naruto." He watched before his eyes as Itachi's sad expression vanished and the room vanished. The village vanished and everything became a plane of light.
***
His eyelids flickered and they slowly opened. He was on his back and staring up at the sky. The sky was darkening from the setting sun. Sasuke crouched next to him with an annoyed look on his face.
"What happened?" He asked.
"You collapsed." Sasuke said, plainly. "I told you that you weren't ready for all of this. You should take it easy until you get better." Naruto sighed and clucked his tongue.
"Hai, hai." He replied, good-naturedly. Reaching up, his fingers brushed against his cheeks feeling the wetness of fresh tears. "Was I crying?"
"Yeah." Sasuke replied, watching him. Naruto closed his eyes and dropped his hand back to his side.
"I remembered something sad." He replied as he sat up and drew his legs closer. "I lost a friend." Sasuke sat down next to him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, pulling him close. Naruto leaned back into his embrace. He looked up at his face and blinked. "You're still taller than me."
"Let's keep it that way." Sasuke replied. "Are you hungry?"
"No." Naruto told him quietly.
"Well you have to eat something." Sasuke sighed. Naruto didn't respond and he looked down at the blonde, realizing he was asleep. "What happened out there, Naruto?" He asked softly. "I want to know. What took away your happiness?" But the only answer he received was the sound of a breeze blowing through the trees.
***
"Itachi!" He yelled. Desperation welled up inside of him and his hands balled into tight fists. "You lied to me! You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone!"
"Promises are made to be broken." Itachi responded, his eyes glowing red. Naruto clenched his jaw and a torrent of angry tears fell from his eyes.
"I hate you!" He screamed. "You were just using me!" Itachi rushed up to him in a blink of an eye and silenced him with a kiss. "Itachi!" He gasped in horror when he pulled away.
"I want you." He whispered huskily in his ear. "All of you." He slipped a hand underneath his shirt and Naruto shook in fear.
"No!" Naruto yelled, his eyes wide with terror. "Itachi! No! Stop!"
***
Naruto jolted up and stared at his surroundings. He turned to his side and dropped on all fours before throwing up. The acidic aftertaste lingered in his mouth as he sat back, trembling all over. It's just the nerves. He repeats to himself. It's just the nerves.
"Naruto?" Sasuke opened his eyes and pulled himself up. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." He said, trying to stop himself from shaking.
"Naruto." Sasuke frowned. "You don't look fine."
"I had a nightmare." Naruto told him, wrapping his arms around himself. "My nerves are a little jacked up." He bit down on his lip. "I need to find Jiraiya-sensei."
"Naruto." Sasuke reached out with a hand and Naruto avoided his touch. They looked alike. Itachi and Sasuke. They had the same eyes. Those damn expressionless eyes.
"Sasuke, I need you to find Jiraiya-sensei for me." Naruto repeated. His shaking wasn't getting any better.
"Let's get you back to the house first, your lips are turning blue." Sasuke said, gently. He helped him up and held onto his elbow firmly. Naruto swallowed thickly. There was no way he could go back to the Uchiha estate.
"Sasuke, let's drop by Iruka-sensei's place." Naruto said, keeping his voice calm. Sasuke nodded and released his grip. It did make sense after all. Iruka's place was closer than his house.
They walked to the apartment through the middle of the night and Sasuke kept a worried eye on Naruto who was trailing behind him. They approached Iruka's apartment and Sasuke knocked on the door. A few moments later, Iruka opened it wearing nothing but pajama bottoms.
"Sasuke? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Iruka asked with concern. His eyes slid to where Naruto was standing. "Naruto?" Naruto was trembling all over. He walked out and approached him.
"Iruka-sensei, I need Jiraiya-sensei." Naruto whispered as he walked toward him, unsteadily. Iruka gasped as Naruto fell forward and he quickly grabbed him before he touched the ground.
"Iruka?" Kakashi appeared in the doorway. Sasuke eyed him with interest and Kakashi raised an eyebrow at his student. His gaze slid to Iruka who was holding up an unconscious Naruto. Sasuke went over to help him. "Let's bring Naruto inside. Then you can explain everything, Sasuke."
***
"Well, what happened?" Iruka asked after they finished tucking Naruto into bed. Iruka had put on a shirt and he was sitting in a chair and Sasuke was sitting opposite of him. Kakashi had gone out to ask if Tsunade knew the whereabouts of the frog hermit.
"Naruto just got over the stomach flu. But he hasn't eaten anything in days." Sasuke explained. "Naruto wanted to spar lightly but lightly to him was like beating the crap out of you and leaving you alive." But he collapsed in the middle of the fight and when he woke up he seemed fine. The second time he woke up, he told me he had a nightmare and he was shaking all over. Then he repeatedly asked me to find Jiraiya."
"I'm sure Kakashi will be back soon. He's really good at finding people." Iruka assured him. "Naruto should be waking up soon, it's been at least an hour." Sasuke frowned and stared at the floor. When he had met Naruto's eyes, there had been a flicker of fear but it had quickly disappeared. He thought he was imagining things but when Naruto avoided his touch, he was able to verify it. Why was he afraid of him?
***
"Itachi! Stop it!" He yelled, his voice hoarse. He tried to push him away but Itachi's grip was deadly. Still expressionless, Itachi slid his shirt off of his head and proceeded to plant kisses from his neck to his navel.
"You have been a dream of mine ever since you were born." Itachi whispered, as he pulled Naruto's pants down. Naruto was helpless. He was frightened beyond belief. This couldn't be happening.
"I trusted you. I thought you were my friend." Naruto snapped, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Itachi paused before resuming his task of stripping the clothes from his lower body.
"Gomen." He said, solemnly. Naruto would have believed that he was sincere, except Itachi pressed him down onto his stomach and pain exploded his senses.
***
Naruto gave an ear-piercing scream making Iruka and Sasuke jump. His eyes flashed open and ripped the sheets away from him. Sasuke ran over to him and Naruto lashed out, punching him in the face. Sasuke reeled back and clutched his bleeding nose. Iruka quickly tossed Sasuke a clean rag and crept up to the thrashing Naruto.
"Get away from me!" He screamed in horror, his blue eyes wide and unseeing. "Get away!"
Kakashi appeared in a swirl of smoke with Jiraiya. "Nice entrance." Jiraiya commented before realizing the state that they were all in. Kakashi checked to see if Sasuke's nose was broken as Jiraiya rushed up to his charge.
"Naruto!" He bellowed, his voice was like thunder. "Naruto." He gripped Naruto by the shoulders and shook him. "Naruto, you called for me?" He asked, quietly. Naruto blinked and his eyes showed recognition. He started to tremble all over and he latched onto the frog hermit.
"Sensei! I remembered again." He cried, burying his face into his teacher's shirt. "I remembered! I don't want to remember, Sensei!" Jiraiya calmly placed a hand on the young man's head and turned to their audience.
"I'm taking Naruto away from the village." He told them, calmly. "I'll tell Tsunade tomorrow."
"What?" Sasuke blurted out, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Why so sudden? What happened to him out there!?" He asked, angrily.
"I can't tell you. Naruto must be willing to tell you himself." Jiraiya said, sadly. "But the first step to recovery is to lent it all out, right?" Jiraiya patted the shaking boy's shoulders. "Naruto has kept it bottled up inside of him for so long, pushing his memories back into a corner. They must have been unraveling ever since he came back." He shook his head. "Naruto would train when we were out there. Train so he was exhausted and unable to think about anything else. He slept little so he wouldn't dream but when he came back to Konoha, he caught up on his sleep and the memories started unraveling while he was unconscious." His hand continued to stroke in soothing circles on Naruto's back and he closed his eyes in regret.
"I couldn't protect him. I got to him too late. The damage was already done." Jiraiya sighed, softly. Kakashi, Iruka, and Sasuke stared at him in alarm. "Maybe if I had gotten there sooner." He patted Naruto and shook his shoulder lightly. "I'm going to have a word with Tsunade and get some preparations ready. You'll be all right here with Iruka right?" Wordlessly, Naruto let go and Jiraiya poured a cup of tea, adding a packet of white powder into it. "Drink up, it'll calm your nerves." He said, holding it for Naruto. The blonde's eyes blinked sleepily before he completely passed out. Jiraiya put him back into bed and ruffled his hair. "He's a good kid." He smiled. "Maybe he'll tell you when he wakes up if you ask nicely." He smiled, tightly and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
TBC…unexpecting isn't it?