A/N: Ok, now that I'm done bitching about my work, here is the next chapter. I'm mixing it up a little so I hope you like it. Enjoy!
I also made this one longer because you've waited so patiently to read it .
Cerulean Change Chapter 7
There is a pub that sits near the bay, clinging on its wooden poles to the shifting sand below. It stands alone as a friendly safe-haven for the wary traveler. A warm atmosphere coats itself on the air inside, beckoning to those who need only a temporary resting place to sit and enjoy good spirits and good company.
Inside this pub, with its average working class patrons lives a local legend; a girl with spiky blue hair as deep as the sea and with eyes to match the night. She lives and breaths the atmosphere as if there were nothing more to life. She seemed to live vicariously through the laughter of her customers, each one smiling at her with glazed over eyes hoping she'd pay them a second glance. This beauteous woman stuck out like a soar thumb among the dirty commoners and alcoholic bums; and yet, she fit right in to the mix as if she owned the place.
Her life wasn't, however, as glamorous as she displayed it… She wished day after day that she could take off her façade, and remove the mask of happiness shielding her true feelings. This wasn't how she wanted to live; this wasn't up to par with her aspirations. It was a dirty job that required her to do what she hated most; entertain the paying customers. And yet, as long as she had a roof over her head and food in her belly, she counted herself lucky and smiled on…
"Hey, Anko-babe! Mind whipping me up another one of your special brews? The night is young sweetie! And your beer is makin' it younger, HA-HA!" Anko rolled her eyes at the man sitting lopsided in his wooden chair, grizzly hair over his face before plastering a cheery smile back on to hers.
"Of course, Horace! How can I deny a handsome face like yours?" She wanted to puke, that's how.
The drunken Horace laughed merrily and waved her off with a shaky hand, desperately trying to focus on the task at hand as the world spun beneath him.
"Nahhh, I'm just kidding, honey. I'm fuckin' broke anyway."
Anko continued to smile at the patron until he got up and slinked completely out of the door before she went back to her thoughts—her wondrous thoughts that took her away from this dump she called work. But even in her reveries she couldn't escape the noise and babbling of the pub around her as the dirty men talked of useless things and why life sucked. It was truly depressing to here to bigots' talk of life and work and women. Luckily it was late, so half the bastards were drunk off their chairs and didn't speak English anymore…
'Zenny, Anko, just remember you're being paid zenny for this crap.' With a sigh and another quick look around the place to check for empty glasses Anko made her way into the dusty back room to tell her employer she was going home.
Her boss was a fat-cheeked man of small stature and wide frame. He stood barely above Anko's chest even at his full height. But his size didn't fool anyone at all; he meant business. To him, the sheer love of money, or zenny as it was dubbed drove this once simple man into a time-obsessed weirdo who lost everything dear to him so he could live well off with his pub money. Anko didn't much care for the man, but kept that to herself as long as he used her talents to his satisfaction-and gave her a sustainable amount of money in return. Not to mention all the under-the-counter tips she received daily for her upbeat attitude and warm smile. He couldn't not hire such a valuable waitress.
And there he was, as busy as he could be cooking and filling out food orders for the customers waiting to get full. He ran about the small, humid kitchen in a constant jog to find spices and ingredients to appease his dishes. In his mind-set he didn't even look up from his fevered chore to see Anko staring at him from the doorway until she got his attention with words.
"Hey Ali, I'm heading out, ok? It's been a long night and things are dying down out front." Ali stopped shaking out salt and looked up at her with his usual "It's already 3 in the morning!" stare.
"Fine, Anko. I'll wrap it up tonight , but you better stay tomorrow till close or I'll fire you faster than I can cook this omelet, d'you hear?" Anko knew it was a sad bluff but didn't try to fight it as she waved nonchalantly over her exiting shoulder.
'…Boy, what I wouldn't give to take a bottle of Vodka to that old bastard and put his lights out.'
Walking back to bar, she said her goodbyes to the customers who waved to her and quickly stepped out into the cool night air, escaping the heated musky building. As she felt the wind play with her hair as it danced about, Anko couldn't help but feel sadness wash over her and claim her good mood. Everything had stopped in her life after she decided to get a job. Her skin was slowly aging and there was nothing to do to turn back the clock. Even the sandy beach only gave her mild comfort as she idly walked by it in dawdling pursuit of her home a few miles ahead. Anko sighed heavily at the prospect of going home.
'I know already I won't be sleeping tonight... Hell, I knew that yesterday and the day before. I need to unwind…And I think I will do just that! ...Oh, Anko, you're too old to be spontaneous…You hag, you.'
Turning to the right, Anko walked gingerly onto the cool sand and took off her pesky work shoes. She walked thoughtfully towards the silvery Moon ahead, hoping to mirror its peaceful glow with her footsteps. Finally, Anko contented to sit down at the shoreline, letting the tiny waves lap at her feet gratefully.
"Oh gods, please take me now… I don't think I can take pouring one more shot of Whiskey for one of those bums."
Anko let out a deep breath; hoping the sea would drag out her limp form and take her to far away to lands that held something in store for her, something new or surprising to get her out of this rut. It wasn't until her sensitive ears picked up noises only twenty feet away that she moved up from her depressed reverie to see who or what had disturbed her rest.
Ahead of her, rocking in the shallows was a small fisher's boat containing two forms; both were very visible in the grayish light. The first, a beautiful teenage boy with dark hair, lay against the side of the craft clutching another boy in shaky arms, barely awake himself. The second boy looked less fortunate than the first… The bloody body was curled shivering to the first boy's chest, blonde locks of hair protruding from the top of his orange-red form. He didn't look conscious, and could be dead for all Anko knew. She sat back in momentary shock before coming to her senses.
'No…It can't be…It can't be him!'
Standing on her feet in a flash, Anko jumped into the freezing water, hoping with all hope that the blonde boy was alive. She waded out frantically nearing the waking craft.
The first boy warily looked up at her, unable to move from the fatigue of rowing for hours. Even in his altered state he managed a small triumphant smile at the blue-haired angel before closing his eyes once more to rest. Anko reached the boat in no time and flung herself aboard to save them.
"Wake up! Wake up! Who are you? Are you hurt? Speak to me!"
Sasuke re-opened his eyes slightly and looked at his savior questioningly with a frown. Realizing the situation, he moved to turn Naruto around shakily, showing her that the boy was wounded badly. He didn't have to wait long to get a reaction out of the young woman, as her eyes widened once more in blatant fear at seeing the unconscious boy.
Anko screamed inside of her head, not believing what lay in front of her eyes. The black-haired boy had turned his friend around with the last bit of his strength and revealed to her the most horrifying thing she could hope to see.
"Nar….NARUTO!"
Anko couldn't help but scream in shock at seeing her long gone Naruto, especially in such a state. Without any hesitation she took action to save her injured friend by collecting him in her arms and wading him back to be laid on the sand. She quickly repeated the same action for the other boy until they were both safely on land. Everything happened so quickly and Anko didn't give herself time to think about anything except rescuing the tattered teenagers. She swiftly used the strength not many knew she possessed to lift both boys onto her shoulders from their resting spot and ran home as fast as her aching muscles would let her, leaving no regard for the boat behind her…
-
Draconis stood at attention with his brother, Darco. Both men didn't dare move a muscle while under the inspection of their supreme general-their Sultan. They stood stark still in the hallway in front of the Sultan's quarters awaiting the quietly furious man to think, and then address them. They waited in uncomfortable silence as the man scrutinized their faces as if to catch in their eyes any sign of a lie in their story. He waited for a long moment, long enough to make the soldiers shiver slightly with high nerves at the situation. They knew their report wasn't a good one, they even expected the old man to yell at them to his heart's content…But he didn't. The silence spoke many more words to them than any lecture ever could-they were in it deep.
Finally, and with a cough to clear his throat, the Sultan Hokage spoke to his subordinates with a fire in his eyes as if to say "this better work".
"I understand the situation now, Draconis, and I deem it best to do something quite unorthodox. I've decided to let the boy go—for now. I want him to feel, see and smell true suffering until the bitter taste of adventure clears itself from his tongue. I want him to finally appreciate what he has…"
Turning around to face the window, Hokage continued as he gazed at the world outside his walls.
"Sasuke will never stay here and be satisfied with this life until he gets what he wants… Still, I can only imagine what will happen with that Naruto-peasant accompanying him."
Hokage turned around and look resolutely at his troops before speaking his final piece to the quiet captains.
"So, for now, we let him go. For some odd reason, and I can't explain it, I trust he'll be okay… Oh, and I want you to notify Mizukage immediately of his presence in Camnio. I am sure he is there."
Both soldiers nodded briskly, not wanting to add any more waves to the tense situation, and left.
Draconis, when finally out of earshot of his Sultan turned angrily to his brother.
"You fucked this up, brother, So you get the pleasure of notifying Camnio immediately." And with that, he walked off loudly to perform his usual duties.
Darco smiled to himself. He had his own idea of what he'd do…
-
Little bits of sunlight kissed the blank white sheets. The folds of clean pressed material mirrored the yellowish glow, bouncing into the small room a warm light to signal morning's arrival. Even Sasuke's fluttering eyes couldn't deny him wakefulness as he opened them gingerly, acclimating himself to his new surroundings…
New surroundings! Last Night!
Sasuke sat up from his bed in sudden horror and scanned the room for Naruto. He had to know where the boy was! Naruto was his only reason to be alive and if anything had happened to him he couldn't go on… The girl. Sasuke remembered the blue-haired angel who rescued them. He remembered being saved, and gathered into strong arms… He remembered her voice—her calling out his loves name…Naruto.
"Morning!"
Sasuke's head flipped around in fright, only to be met with a bright smile and a plate of food. The woman holding up the tray he recognized from the night before. And before he could get one word in she plopped the tray onto his frozen lap.
"Y'know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If you don't eat it, you'll waste away faster than a sea-crab without a shell!" Sasuke wondered if this smiling creature was the same woman as from the night before.
Anko continued smiling as she waited patiently for the boy to find his voice. He looked down at the food, then back at her, then at the food again. Only one word escaped his mouth when he found his voice finally.
"Naruto…?"
Anko furrowed her brows, and then laughed merrily at his unbelieving face. This one would take some hard work to break in, she thought.
"Oh just eat your food; your friend Naruto is just fine in the other room." Anko proceeded to place her hands on her hips like a mother hen.
The raven-haired teenager on the bed nodded, placed the tray on him at his legs and removed himself from the warm covers. He threw a quick thank you over his shoulder as he made his way out the door to see his friend and make sure he was ok.
'Gosh, he seems really determined to see Naruto… I would be too, I guess.' Anko shrugged and stared out the window marveling at the sun just above the waters edge.
-
Sasuke walked right into the room next to him in search of his love, and immediately his breath was stolen away… Basking in the morning sunlight lay Naruto, so peaceful and quiet on the bed with white sheets strewn around him lazily. On his face played a happy expression that told only of good dreams and happy thoughts. And in that moment, Sasuke felt like he had met the boy for the first time.
All that had happened before; the castle, the get-away-the sexual contact… None of it mattered anymore. All he wanted to do was stare at Naruto forever and feel his love radiate onto him. He was perfect; unflawed, like the blue sapphire gem hugging itself to his heart. Sasuke knew it-he loved Uzumaki Naruto and would do anything in his power to protect him and help him live the wonderful life he deserved…All of this realized-at one glance.
Sasuke didn't dare move to wake the sleeping boy when he knew he needed the rest so much. He also noticed with a sad face the patch of bandages wrapped around his shoulder to heal the arrow wound. Looking at the small pool of blood leaking to the outside of the bandages, Sasuke's good mood vanished. Fear struck in his eyes and he immediately felt all the guilt and pain of causing the injury and all the trouble from the last two days. Sasuke knew that it was his own selfish needs that brought them to where they were and he couldn't help but feel a need to make amends.
'Naruto… I can't even believe you are lying there right now. We hardly know each other and yet you trust me… Trusted me. I wouldn't be surprised if you never wanted anything to do with such an asshole prince like me after last night… Damnit, this is not how I wanted our adventure to be and I get it now… This isn't some fucking fairytale, and I'm not immune anymore to death or pain. I can't treat this like a vacation anymore; for your sake and mine.'
Sasuke looked longingly once more at Naruto as he lay resting before going back to his room to properly thank the strange girl who saved them both. The answers to their problems would come later, he thought…
Anko still stood in the guest room, lost in space when she heard the rustle of someone behind her. The teen boy who had left the room now stood before her once more, bowing in thanks. Rare words escaped Sasuke's lips as his eyes watered in sadness and in gratitude.
"Thank you so much for rescuing my companion and I. My name is—err— my name is unimportant…But thank you. We are alive because of your efforts." Sasuke rose.
Smiling briefly, Sasuke returned to his bed and began greedily eating the food set out for him. Anko frowned good-naturedly at her guest and chuckled.
"Oh, so you are too good to name names, huh? Well, oh prince of names, MY name is Anko and you are in my house now. I did indeed find you two poor boys half dead last night. And you both are lucky it was me who found you and not some of the other scum who live in these parts; you'd be dead if it was anyone else. I appreciate your thanks, and you are very welcome. But there are a few other reasons why I helped you that will be explained soon."
Sasuke cringed at the word "prince", but regained his composure quickly and thought of a fake name for himself to reply to the question. He wiped his eyes and spoke once more.
"Err, my name is Kino. Akinara Kino." Anko smiled again.
"See? That wasn't so hard! It's nice to meet you Kino… Now, you finish your plate! And I'll go tend to Naruto." Sasuke's eyes widened when he heard her speak his companion's name.
"Wait…How do you know his name? I haven't told it to you yet…" Anko smirked at the question before answering.
"Trust me kid, I have known that boy since before you were born…"
-
I love cliffhangers… They make me want to read more! . Please review… I'm actually going to start doing the stupid "five reviews and then I'll post" thing… I know, it's really stupid, but I want to hear your comments—they truly help make this story better!
Thank you for reading and sticking with me, I promise I'll post faster.
Love
CA
