Disclaimer: Naruto and company is property of Kishimoto-sama.
Mahami-sama, Sitta-chan, Koshika-san and of course 'braid-man' belongs to me.
Pairing: SasuNaru
Warning: Shounen-ai moments. Probably some spelling errors, please don't pay attention to them. A great deal of OOC-ness.
Thank you once again for your great support. I'm sorry that some of you lost their trust and affection for my story though, but hey… I can't please everyone. It's my story and I'm not going to change my plot because some think that it should be that way, or this way.
Maybe Sasuke's too OOC or maybe he's too weak sometimes for your preferences but I'm not forcing you to read it and I have warned all the readers, many times, that it'll be OOC-ness. Don't like don't read, it's as simple as that. So please don't waste your own time telling me that it's too OOC, because that's the way it is. Otherwise it wouldn't be my story and my plot.
Anyway! To stop with the boring and trivial stuff… I love my reviewers and I highly appreciate every one of them (when they don't ask me to change the plot or my characteristics). If you still like me after this, please review: )
Now… on with the show and the next instalment of Go with the flow, chapter (friggin´) nine!
Fighting Spirit
Maybe it was pure instinct. Perhaps it was fury.
Probably though, it was the realization. The quantity of shame that pulsated his body each time his skin made contact with the other's brought him out of his reverie. Humiliation of what he, himself, had become terrified him and the thought of ever meeting Naruto, the one who looked at his as a worthy rival, felt uncomfortable. How could he show this side of him to the one he compared himself to? How could he let Naruto down and reduce himself and his capacity to this extent? What ever came over him? Why am I so weak? How could he be so rude to act this pathetic when the blonde boy expected so much more of him? It was as if he literally mocked the blue-eyed for ever believing in him.
So, almost certainly, it was the shame that provided him the strength to bite down hard, sinking his canines, into braid-man's neck. As the man, wounded and screaming while harshly pushing the boy away to clutch onto his bloody neck, Sasuke spit the blood out of his mouth. On the spur of the moment he jumped back up on his feet, staggering back to get away from the furious man while inside of his head congratulating himself for the great result. His body was shaking but for once, in long time, his mind was clear. He had heard of victims of rape, of how they shunned and could easily break by the mere memory of the incident. He had never known though, that he himself could end up in that sort of situation without even being raped. He guessed, while inspecting his injured party, that even the heartless have weaknesses and that no one can decipher the outcome of the victim's damage after molestation. It was something time had to tell.
Knowing, though, that he himself still had a chance coming out of this unhurt he quickly jumped over the man, landing perfectly on the ladder and started climbing for the trapdoor. Yet, a hard tug on his ankle send him soaring down to the floor, hitting his side and knocking the breath out of him. Ignoring the possibility of a cracked rib he spun around on his stomach just in time to evade the heavy body of braid-man when he jumped for him. He hurried on his feet again and was just about to reach for the ladder again when he heard braid-man's laugh.
"Where do you think you are going? It's locked…" The man rose gingerly, balancing himself against the wall with his hand. "And the key is not in your possession, if I am correct."
Sasuke sneered. "Do I look like I care?"
"As a matter of fact, no… but you should", braid-man said and walked over to him. Instinctively Sasuke position him in fighting-stance, something he had long ago forgotten he was capable of. It was as if everything was coming back to him.
"What's this change of character?" braid-man laughed. "You are a weak boy, don't let anyone fool you. You melt by the mere touch of my fingers. Otherwise, you would not have let me play with you all this time. If we exclude the time you were drugged that is."
"Hand me the key now", Sasuke growled so similar his normal manner that he almost shivered with enthusiasm. How had he forgotten about himself? How could he let himself get so affected by this man? He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man's figure. "I can kill you…", he snarled more to himself than to anyone else.
Braid-man looked taken aback at first but quickly found himself again. "There is no key to hand over", he mocked.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What are you saying?"
"You are pretty, smart and so tempting… but deaf." Braid-man advanced, delicately rubbing his throbbing wound. "And you are harmless… you hear that? What do you think you are, some-"
"Shinobi", Sasuke snarled. "And I'm killing you if you come closer. Where is the key?"
"A shinbobi?" he laughed while scratching his pointy chin. "You must come from one weak village if you are considered a shinobi." He leaned closer. "I know all about the shinobi world, prettyface. I have been doing business with them for a long time and I know good ones when I see them."
When braid-man reached forth his hand to caress the boy's cheek it was brutally flung away by a furious looking Sasuke. "Where is the key?"
"If you are a shinobi you should know by now… or, you should already have killed me. Why haven't you? Why are you letting me live if you are such a powerful shinobi?"
"Give me the key!" he yelled.
"A real shinobi would have figured it out. You are pathetic for even thinking that you earn the title."
"I don't need your estimation of how a shinobi should be, because your judgement is insignificant, and irrelevant to say the least."
The man began to laugh again and smiled vastly. "Then, if you consider yourself being one, you should know that the only way of getting to know were the key is by letting me live."
Sasuke furrowed his brow in irritation. "But there is a huge step between living and actually living", he threatened. "Heard of torture?"
"Ho ho", braid-man scoffed, irritating Sasuke even more. "Your torture would probably only stimulate me."
That did it. His fuses had burned out. It was almost as if a flow of bustling remembrance surged through his body as he went in motion. It was instinct and at the same time something he was pleased to have back.
His fighting spirit.
The only thought he had in his mind when he struck braid-man hard in the face was how he slowly, but getting there, made up for all of his weak spots to the only person which opinion he really cared for. He couldn't stop either, when he saw how braid-man with that slim body crashed into the wall. He dashed at him again, bringing a spinning kick to the man's jaw which caused him to tumble down head first. He was sure not to hit too hard, he still needed the key.
Hunching down on one knee next to braid-man he grasped the braid, tugging his head up and glaring at the half-closed lids. "Spit it out", he commanded, the rush of power overwhelming him.
"Spit what out?" he panted, sweat prickling his soft skin.
"You swallowed the key. I'll force my fingers down your throat if you don't do it yourself."
"While you're at it, force your little manho-"
Sasuke positioned himself behind him and grabbed hold of his jaw. "You've only yourself to blame then", he growled and forced two of his fingers into the man's mouth and down his throat to make him gag. It didn't go as planned though. Braid-man bit down hard on his fingers and Sasuke's scream echoed through the dark passage which continued into nothingness.
"I hate you!" Sasuke screamed furiously while tending to his hurt fingers, glaring at the man from beneath his bangs. "You made me weak! But now you've made me bloody mad!"
If there had been on another time, in another situation… preferably during a real fight between equals or even between him and another greater power which deliberately forced him to use it, it would have been expected. At least allowed. If he had cared, even the slightest now when his mind had clouded over with anger instead of fear. If he had minded the injustice he was to inflict on a person he would rather send off to the hounds or someone who was allowed to punish him. If he had not forgotten Naruto's dislike for the eyes of his, he would not have let him be pushed that far as to using them. But he hated himself for letting himself be fooled by this mere… man! He was in a rage.
He pulled the man to him harshly, bringing a knee to his stomach. Braid-man doubled over but Sasuke didn't mind. He hit him fare and square across the face with his uninjured hand, spraying a little blood on his own clothes. A busted lip and sore nose later, braid-man shuffled over the cold floor. Sasuke wanted so dearly to kill the man, but kept himself in check.
Not giving a damn about the sight before him proved coming to him effortlessly. Braid-man's frightened look didn't effect him the slightest as Sasuke calmly drew his hand through his hair, smelling the damp air as if it was for the first time. He listened in an unimpressed manner to the man's futile attempt to get away, using the ladder to stand up. Sasuke more or less laughed when he suddenly heard the gagging sound. He turned his eyes leisurely back to the man, after had being inspecting his wounded fingers shortly. The man stood hunched over, one grip to his wrist, steadying the other as it was stuffed in his mouth. Gagging himself with two fingers, making himself vomit by the indisputable disgusting affect one single pressure could cause just by pressing onto his inner throat. Forcing the reflexes into action. Sasuke, fed up after a while, with the braid-man's unsuccessful effort walked up to him and grabbed the braid once again. Forcing the man to look up and the hands to fall down his side.
"It won't come out", braid-man whispered hoarsely.
Sasuke rolled his red eyes. "I've noticed."
Braid-man's eyes looked the other way, not wanting to meet Sasuke's. "What are you?"
Shocked by the question he raised his eyebrow. "The same as always, although angry."
"But I never hit your eyes, why is it blood in them?" he asked, looking back as if analysing them.
"It's not blood and I'm not in the mood for chitchat", he growled. Sick and tired of staying in the darkness of the tunnel he pushed the man away. He'd decided to check the trapdoor and after a short clamber he confirmed his suspicion. It was not only locked but too heavy to budge with his damaged fingers and what he now realized indeed was a cracked rib. Oh, how he hated adrenaline sometimes.
"Is there a way out?" he snarled at the man who was tending to his jaw.
"You know, red looks good on you. Remember the dragon you had on you the first time we met? It made the black depth of your black eyes seem even more bottomless. Now, when they are red…" Sasuke saw how the usual sneer was back on the man's face. "You get all in one."
"You are not getting anything", Sasuke snarled angrily. "You are showing me the way out."
"But no, shouldn't you try screaming for help first? I may help."
Sasuke glared. "Screaming won't do me any good. Now tell me, before I hurt you, is there a way out?"
Braid-man rose to his full height and stretched, irritating Sasuke and pushing all his buttons. He had to keep himself in check not to kill the man. "There is a price for everything and I can guarantee you that I'm not cheap", braid-man said while thrusting his hands in his pockets.
Sasuke was furious to say the least, but somehow he was madder at himself. The man was mad; Sasuke was not and should therefore be able to handle him. But he was new to the whole thing. He had never handled a sex-crazed man before. Stuff like that wasn't taught in the academy.
"What's the deal then?" he said, tipping his head upwards to meet the green eyes. He was not feeling up to the task of wandering helplessly in tunnels even though the man in front of him surely knew the way out. He told himself to use him but still, in a small part of his body, he was feeling unsure being in the man's company. What if the touch of braid-man paralyzed him again? He had no way of knowing. Unknown to himself, the Sharingans faded and only black eyes stared at the green. Sasuke made up his mind to stay away from the man as much as possible, only punching clothed areas. I'm being silly, he though, but it's for precaution.
"The deal?" braid-man questioned and whipped his braid back onto his back with a sharp twist of the head. "The deal is that you, mighty shinobi, doesn't kill me", he taunted further. "And of course that I get some sort of satisfactory."
"Then there is no deal. The deal shall be on my terms not yours. You get me out of here and I'll let you live, no more and no less." Sasuke remembered suddenly how often he had negotiated with Naruto over things as simple as ramen or vegetables. Sasuke always lost.
"You need me more than I need you", braid-man mocked. "I can just follow you around, looking at you and fantasise what we could be doing instead. You can't force me to tell the way out."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Okay… the deal is that you show me the way out, I don't kill you and you…", he bit the inside of his cheek, "… you get a reward."
"What kind of reward?"
"Which way is out?" Sasuke countered, he wasn't planning on giving him anything.
"I guess we are on same terms then", braid-man said and jeered at the boy. "This way, follow me."
Sasuke smirked when the man turned around and started walking down the tunnel. Just keep your distance, he told himself while he trotted after. He had no idea for how long they were going to walk or where to they were heading and he was sure that the man wouldn't answer even if he asked. So he kept his mouth shut, which wasn't that hard of a task, and stared at the man's back while walking.
He hadn't the slightest idea how long he had been down there. Nevertheless, after some time of walking thoughts of Naruto began popping up every time he tried to focus. Luckily for him, braid-man didn't notice. He seemed occupied with finding the right way since the tunnel divided plenty of times for even Sasuke to lose his sense of direction. He didn't like the fact that he had to trust this man who just wanted to do unthinkable things with him. Naruto though, the simple thought of him… Sasuke blushed in the darkness. Why was the blonde easing him so much? Why was he the one to lighten his nervousness and turn it into another sort of edginess?
Then Sitta-chan's face appeared in his head. He didn't even know if he was dead or alive and it was unbearable to even think about it. The fact that no one had found him yet tore at his heart even more. What were they doing? Where's Kakashi? He was almost too deep in his worries to realize that braid-man stopped dead in his tracks.
Sasuke stopped himself just in time not to go crashing into him. "What?" he snarled. "Why are you stopping?"
Braid-man turned around quickly. "You are so easy to deceive." Before Sasuke had the time to even understand what was happening he felt the cold lips of braid-man on his. Staring widely Sasuke pushed him away, wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand.
Braid-man snickered and put one finger over his lips to silence him before even thinking of speaking. "You didn't really think that I was that stupid to think that you and your shinobi-friends would let me go when we reach the surface, or did you? I'm too experienced with the likes of you to fall for that." He smiled at Sasuke's shocked expression which he obviously had forgotten to hide amongst all of his other hidden feelings. "That's why I'm taking my departure…"
"Wha-!"
Braid-man retrieved a round ball from his pocket and raised his arm in the air. "You were delicious and I'll be coming for you again, but under different circumstances of course. " The man smiled mischievously and threw the item on the ground right in front of Sasuke's feet.
Smoke erupted in the tight tunnel in a loud batter and a wheezing sound as it went off. Sasuke leaped back, not to lose himself in the mist. As the smoke travelled in all directions and filled every space, all sight disappeared and Sasuke quickly became conscious that braid-man was nowhere to be found. Sasuke swore under his breath and tore of a chunk of his shirt, pressed it against his mouth and nose to not inhale the smoke. As soon as he had seen the round item closer the realization that it was a smoke-bomb had hit him. It was the kind of bombs shinobis used in battle, and Kiba in particular was the one Sasuke came first to think of.
He knew the smoke would clear but he had a gut feeling that braid-man would be gone by then. That would mean that he was alone. Something inside of him cherished it and welcomed the independent feeling, as well as the knowledge that he wasn't in direct danger of braid-man's advances. Although, everything wasn't all dandy… he had no idea where he was and how to get back. It hit him hard that braid-man probably, and obviously, had led him deeper down or to a dead end. He was lost, sure as hell.
He quickly activated the sharingan and scanned the area, trying to see past the aerated smoke. Braid-man was gone and all that was left was empty tunnels in every directions. Which to choose was unknown to Sasuke as he gritted his teeth in annoyance. He sat down to think, since the smoke was going to take its time evaporating. Going back was useless, there was no way he'd be able to open the trapdoor even if he found it. The cracked rib ached tremendously and was only increasing in pain, and his fingers throbbed with pain as well. He knew the chances of finding the way back was close to none as he had paid no attention to his surrounding as well as trying to mark his track with chakra or even something simple as hair. He had been quite distracted with worry and anxiety as he had followed braid-man. Mostly over Naruto and Sitta-chan. It wasn't him to lose focus like that and he scolded himself.
Now he was stuck. Forward then? Choosing a tunnel at random had to be his alternative. By the time the smoke cleared he would try to locate the one braid-man had taken, but something inside of him told him that the man had cloaked his way pretty darn good. He's a business man, what can he do? But damn, he couldn't agree with himself. Maybe he had picked up on some tricks when doing business with shinobis? But tricks shouldn't affect me! He sighed and bowed his head down between his legs. The smoke gave him a throbbing headache, but he knew that the smoke would clear soon.
The fact that braid-man had made his escape flawlessly without even a protest from Sasuke gnawed on his pride. The reality though was that Sasuke was glad braid-man had left. He had been close to killing him back then, he had really felt like it, and he had regained lots of his former manners. But he had still felt weaker than usually. He didn't know when braid-man's touch would paralyze him the next time or if he would get stuck in remembrance once again. He had been on the edge… not knowing what to do as he didn't trust himself in braid-man company.
Things had gotten so out of hand. Normally he wouldn't even budge by peoples' remarks and words, especially when it concerned him. Braid-man though… he affected Sasuke more the boy accepted. He had never been around perverse men, with eyes locked on himself. It was something new and he had no way of knowing how to handle it. It wasn't like fighting and badmouthing, it was completely unfamiliar to him and no one had taught him how to deal with it. That's why he'd frozen on the spot.
Sasuke gritted his teeth and tore at his hair frantically. The memory of braid-man's dripping sweat and the heaviness of his body rocking on top of his own assaulted his mind. Why did he have to experience that? Why did such a man live and for what? Sasuke's sudden yell echoed through the tunnels. Frustration and melancholy had taken over him. He had to live with the fact now, that braid-man was waiting for him, to take him and make him his. He will be back and I don't know when.
Exasperatedly Sasuke slapped his face clear of all worries and stood up carefully. The smoke had cleared and he confirmed that braid-man hadn't left any traces of himself. Why was he so skilled? Sasuke smelled the ground for the exceptional aroma braid-man carried but found none, since the smoke had camouflaged it. Sasuke had never been one to wait for rescue, and since he highly doubted anyone would find him anytime soon he started walking. He chose a tunnel at random and thrust his hand in his pockets, rolling his eyes despairingly at his own choice, which wasn't that clever in the first place. His friends and teacher could walk aimlessly in the tunnels for days, not finding him, unless they had something to go on. Therefore he let loose his chakra, for them to pick up, but it was hurting so much that he could only perform the trade for a couple of minutes at a time. He just hoped they would notice.
Naruto was probably going mad right about now, he concluded almost humoured. That look on his face when Sasuke had told him to escape with Sitta-chan had baffled him, but now he knew that the blonde genuinely cared for him. Sasuke sighed contentedly. He was happy that Naruto had become such a good friend, without even confirming it out loud and just let it be so and didn't question it. That would have made things harder, as Sasuke wasn't one to discuss feelings of that such. The friendship he had with Naruto was all that he had… Sasuke confirmed dismally as he walked, and what he felt inside whenever the blonde touched him made him question it. Was friendship supposed to feel like that? It hadn't before… maybe he wasn't my friend then? Was it normal to think ones friend is beautiful… and the heart to start racing just thinking of obtaining the attention of that beauty?
While Sasuke worked furiously on solving the puzzle of his own feelings, time flew past. He didn't come up with a conclusion, not even the source of the problem. Luckily though, Naruto kept him away from thinking of braid-man. Naruto almost lit up the tunnel for him and made it less uncomfortable. Sasuke had his light… and that made him blush. Friends my ass, I'm going to kill him when I see him… confusing me like this, you baka!
During his long walk, passing by one dark tunnel after the other, his mind trailed off once again. Where was he exactly? He didn't even know if he still was beneath the house or had travelled further away… yet; the answer would graze his petty mind really soon. An impetuous sensation coursed through his body with one meagre realization. Light.
He felt like shouting with joy when he saw the faint glow and quickened his steps. What confused him was that it seemed he wasn't coming any closer. He hadn't been himself if he hadn't, so he started running even though his rib and pelvis shouted at him to stop the madness. But all he wanted was to get out. The joy of seeing Naruto and something else than darkness and cold tunnels overpowered his senses.
It took him some time to reach his goal and although his body throbbed excruciatingly in pain, it was well worth it. He panted heavily when he leaned against the wall, next to him, for support. The faint light he had seen was coming from below a door, and Sasuke almost smiled when he reached forward and pulled the handle, realizing that it actually wasn't locked. It creaked while he swung the door open in one swift motion. Light poured over him and he quickly brought a hand over his eyes to shield from the sudden brightness and when his black eyes adjusted to the midday light he couldn't help gasp as a result of the strange sight, it was something he definitely hadn't expected.
"A square?" he mumbled, eyes wide with surprise. It seemed to be in the middle on the day, the streets were busy and people were running around doing their business and attending whatever normal people do on a normal day. Sasuke was flabbergasted, to say the least and he leaned against the doorframe for support. He had, in the darkest corner of his mind painted a picture for himself of how it would look on the other side of the sinister door in the even more depressing tunnel, but this wasn't what he had imagined it to be at all. It was bustling with energy, with people and open shops with their swaying signs which proudly publicized their opening hours. Bells chimed discretely, albeit homelike as Konoha's when festivals were in the making, when door to cafés and shops swung closed and open. It was such a different place to the first glimpse he'd had of the town, the first day they'd arrived.
The town had been dead.
The streets he, Naruto, Sakura and Sitta-chan had walked didn't look anything like the either of the two with, oh so different, appearances. The business street, the ones geishas had to walk to get to their receptions were not so often crowded by the general public, such as commoners, but more of buyers and men like braid-man. None of these, living, people seemed to be acquainted with the activities which took place in the town, if it did not concern them. Maybe they didn't care or maybe they looked pass it. Sasuke didn't know, and had no desire to scream out that he was a lost geisha in desperate need of guidance back to Mahami-sama's house. The profession of a geisha didn't suit the lively townsfolk and he was sure that they would turn their backs' on him if he proclaimed himself to be one of "them".
Sasuke slowly stepped out from the tunnel completely and turned around to see where he had come from. He frowned when his eyes caught sight of the ramshackle shed. A secret passage, leading to Mahami-sama's wealthy house, could be found in an inadequate, tattered, shed? He threw the door closed with an angry curse. Anyone could have walked in on them at anytime. He was furious by the fact that apparently, braid-man could have come and claimed him whenever he'd wanted because the man, without doubt, knew the tunnels by heart. Sasuke felt upsettingly exposed by the conclusion, and it led him to the matter; where is the man now? Something inside of him told him that he didn't want to know and hoped to never see the man again, yet… one part wanted to stand up to him and to prove that he wasn't as weak as the older man believed him to be. If it meant to hurt him, then it had to be done.
He frowned and scratched his head. For now he needed to get back to his team-ma…
"DOKE DOKE DOKE! OUT OF MY WAY!"
A nasal tone of voice, yet surprisingly familiar and extremely high in volume, cut through the crowd and Sasuke simply stared stunned as the perfect scenery was destroyed. Carriages were thrown to the sides, men idly carrying large barrels and packages lost their footing and the items flew in the air. Men were thrown to the side by the hurricane of the owner of the nasal voice and women screamed in sheer horror as their humble lives were turned upside down. Children ran to take cover as dust took over the square. It was havoc and Sasuke didn't know if he should roll his eyes or be scared. In a matter of seconds the purity and homelike atmosphere had been wiped out and due to the approaching screams and angry protests of the inhabitants it seemed as if the owner of the havoc was drawing near him. Sasuke considered going into hiding but re-evaluated his choice when a mass of orange bypassed him.
He blinked absentmindedly, and then blinked again before he realized what it was. "Naruto?" he asked surprised to no one in particular as the havoc continued on, pushing people out of his way. "NARUTO!" he said again, but this time yelling as loud as he could muster and the blonde chaos stopped abruptly to simply say over his shoulder: "Can't stop, got to find Sasuke!", before running away again.
Sasuke gritted his teeth in annoyance and took off after him. Although, he didn't get very far since the orange clad boy suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Sasuke almost ran into him but brought himself to a halt just in time. He just about noticed how the shocked people around them glared angrily but went back to mind their own business really quickly, ignoring the previous event. That would never have happened in Konoha, Naruto would have been slaughtered… or at least chased and refused ramen for a month. Sasuke didn't even know what would have been the worst doom for Naruto, death or a ramen prohibit.
Naruto swung around, blue eyes big with bewilderment.
"What have you been doing, you big idiot?" Sasuke snapped and referred to the disaster he had made on the square. He didn't get an answer though as Naruto suddenly threw himself around his neck, clutching his back and nape of his neck, squeezing him really hard to his body. It was as if Naruto hadn't seen him for a whole year and the pressure to his hurt rib was becoming a bit uncomfortable. Sasuke jolted when the warm breath tickled his neck but realized quickly that it undeniably was Naruto, and not some sex-crazed man. He sighed and savoured the warmth from his pillar of support once again.
"I've been searching for you, you bastard", Naruto spoke into his neck and sighed. Sasuke couldn't even imagine why he felt so good in this boy's arm when, firstly; his rib was hurt and secondly; he had been physically as well as mentally abused. The fact that it was Naruto by the way confused him as well. But he knew, overlooking all the boring and trivial facts, that Naruto had become his light… and Sasuke blushed, squirming out of his grip to look him in the eyes.
"Is Sitta-chan okay?" he inquired and tried not to think about how good it might feel to have those arms clasped around him once again, skin to skin this time. Naruto gave him a quick puzzled look but then a huge smile.
"He's actually fine! I took him to Kakashi-sensei and then Sakura tended to his injury, but it wasn't as deep as it looked… and Sakura really did a good job", he trailed off. "He's alive… but unconscious for now, Sakura's with him and…"
A large weight had been lifted off his shoulder. The cross-dresser was alive and he couldn't wait to see him again, even if he would never admit it out loud.
"… and Kakashi-sensei is out hunting for that man again."
Sasuke's ears perked up. "Does he know where he is?" he gasped and felt how his pulse involuntarily increased. "I lost him in the tunnels so I-"
"Kakashi said something about feeling him but then he took off", Naruto looked away. "It wasn't long after that when I felt your presence and ran from Sakura as well, but I didn't get very far when I lost track of your chakra. Since then I've kept running like mad but haven't seen or heard anything from Kakashi-sensei…"
Sasuke bit his lip in confusion and crossed his arms over his chest. "We should search for him…"
"Who? Braid-man?"
"No, Kakashi-sensei… we should get out of here. Better to just go home, don't you think?" Sasuke said solemnly.
"Hn…", was all that Naruto said and quirked a brow.
Sasuke was tired of everything and wanted to go home, even if it meant to his lonely apartment. All this… the geisha labour, braid-man, Sitta-chan getting hurt, murder of Mahami-sama and now a disappeared Kakashi. He was so sick of everything and refused to lose himself again. He wanted out before it was too late. They could find braid-man some other time… preferably when he, himself, gotten even stronger… mentally that is.
Except, Naruto put him out of his miserably thoughts when he advanced, slowly bringing both hands up to close around Sasuke's crossed arms. That bundle of warmth and protection is so close, he thought while relishing Naruto's sudden closeness.
"Sasuke", Naruto said with concern written in his eyes and shaking fingertips. "Did something happen? Where were you? What did he do to you?"
Sasuke watched his friend's features; the black stripes on each cheek, the small nose but huge mouth and how it moved with each word, spotting a pink tongue now and then and he couldn't help but noticing how Naruto's eyes wandered as well over his own face. Sasuke cleared his throat, almost lost in going over Naruto's characteristics as he had done many times before.
"He took me down in a tunnel", he simply said with a weak voice. "I couldn't do anything, it was as if I was drugged again… but I wasn't. He tried, you know… that… but I found myself again and fought him off me."
"That's good, Sasuke…", Naruto encouraged suddenly, pushing him into talking more.
"We made a deal that he would show me the way out if I let him live", he didn't think that telling he had promised to give the man a reward was necessary. "But he didn't trust me of course, and threw a smokebomb-"
"Smokebomb?"
"Then he disappeared and I couldn't find him again, so I just kept walking."
"Well, I'm sure Kakashi-sensei will find him and when he does… somebody has to have some mercy on that bastard since neither Kakashi nor I will be easy on him. I know, I know… you wanted him by yourself… but damn, I hate him too and I don't care if you try stopping me 'cause I'm kicking that man's ass anyway! You can kill him afterwards…"
Sasuke tried to hide an impetuous smile. "Think it'll be hard finding him though… he seems to know this area pretty well."
"We are shinobis, Kakashi-sensei is a Jounin and I'm the future Hokage! We'll get him… he's just an ordinary man… with soooome amount of perverse manners", Naruto laughed loudly.
Sasuke's face darkened and he looked away. "Then we should have been able to stop him a long time ago. Braid-man slips between out fingers every time and I'm useless against him. It's as if he has power over me. In the tunnel was the first time I felt good enough to fight him off, but I never knew if it would be enough…"
He saw from the corner of his eyes that Naruto was thinking hard. "You know", Naruto mumbled and Sasuke's attention was pulled towards the blonde once again. "I see where you're coming from… I'm not saying that I know how it felt but I know how it feels to feel weak. Now you have to pull yourself together, seize your fighting spirit again and catch him before he hurts someone else."
Sasuke nodded meekly, contemplating over Naruto's sudden wisdom. "So you're not hurt?" Naruto changed the topic quickly.
Sasuke smiled internally. "Uhm… I think I broke a rib and he bit my fingers, but otherwise I'm fine."
"A BROKEN RIB!" Naruto hollered and shook Sasuke madly. "And here I was hugging you…. Ah damn, now I'm shaking you!" he quickly let go and staggered back from his black haired rival, who was rolling his eyes. Naruto gesticulated his finger angrily at him. "You bastard, pretending I wasn't hurting you when it really did hurt… you, idiot?"
Sasuke suddenly smirked, caused by the pout on Naruto's face. "Some things are worth enduring a little pain for…"
"What?" Naruto's face fell in confusion and Sasuke immediately realized what it was that had slipped from his lips. Did I just say that? "Why are you blushing?" Naruto all of a sudden sniggered, crossing his arms pompously over his chest.
"Nothing", Sasuke made clear with his precious stoic voice and challenged Naruto's determined look.
Raising an eyebrow, Naruto advanced. "Since when does Sasuke blush?"
There you go! Don't fuss over the slow pace, that's just how it is. To my faithful readers I humbly bow and excuse myself for the lateness of the chapter. I know… I updated much more often before but it came to me easier then. Now my mind is occupied with boring stuff as school and future. I hope you still continue reading on and review though because you make me so happy and I want to slap myself for taking this long providing you with the chapter.
Please give me your opinions and the tenth chapter will get typed. : )
Yours truly
/Tsuki no Kitsune