A/N: Back for another shot guys! xD First off, I want to thank the three people who took the time to review my story, I'm sure you know how much an author appreciates it when they get positive/constructive feedback from people who actually took time to read what they have done.Thank you! Below are responses to what you guys said.
Quixotically: First off, thank you a whole bunch! My first chapter.. I didn't spellcheck, proofread (Well.. I tried but you know how that goes), nor did I have a beta reader. I did for this chapter however reference back to your review! I kept checking and seeing if I messes up, although I probably still did. You helped me a bunch, and you were my first review, so much thanks! Oh, and your FMA story is really good. oo; I envy your writing talents. Thanks for reviewing me again!
loser81: You know, I found your review ironic. I'm actually in the process of writing out an angsty one shot about Sasuke and Naruto, lots different than the usual 'happy ever after' ending. This story (HWC)will be long, and I don't plan to throw Sasuke and Naruto together in the first few chapters, I too do grow tired of that in fanfictions. However, I also do adore the SasuNaru pairing, hence the story, so they will end up together..eventually. Happy or not? You'll just have to wait and see!
Hiei Girl 003: So very sorry for not updating sooner! I'll try to get my chapters up sooner than this one. I couldn't figure out how to start this one exactly, thats why it took a bit longer. Thanks for reviewing!
Well, now thats all said and done, it's time to get on with the show! Here's the second chapter to Handle With Care. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: ... still not rich. Naruto's still not mine.
--
Handle With Care
Anime: Naruto
Chapter 2: Confusion, Confrontation, and Ramen?
Author: Morbid Dreamer
Rating: M
--
Naruto's common logic told him that he was still face down on that cold floor, still drowning in his own self-pity like the fool he was, yet his thoughts were wrong for once. Not the floor, but the comfort of a bed greeted him when he awoke this time. Infact, he realized it was his own bed after giving it a few extra moments to sink in. It was dark now.. so apparently he had been out for a while. He rolled over to peer into the seemingly empty room of his,thoughts working double-time in attempts to recall all that had happened. He swallowed hard, his eyes closing tightly as hands balled into fists that grasped the bed sheets. Sasuke.. his hands on his body.. his lips brushing against his skin.. Sasuke had.. touched him.. but.. why..? Sasuke of all people..Sasuke, the boy who could have any girl or guy he wanted, had picked him to fucking harass.. and Naruto had let him do it. He hadn't put up any sort of fight at all..he was going to let that bastard do whatever he wanted to him..the thought itself was disgusting.
"You're lonely..aren't you Uzumaki?"
He visually shuddered in his blanket cocoon, almost sure he could still feel Sasuke's heated breath on his neck as those words kept pounding in his head. Had he.. enjoyed it? Not the act of course.. just the attention. The feeling to be desired by someone, the feeling to be wanted. Was that why he didn't try to knock his ass flat? Was he that sick? Well.. whatever happened was done and over with, and there was no sense in worrying about it.. right? Sure,that was a good explanation for the time. Pushing the comforter away from his body, Naruto sat up, a heavy breath escaping his parched lips as he ran a hand back through his hair. For the first time now, he noticed the condition of his body. Someone had changed him from his school attire, leaving him to sport nothing more than a pair of sweat pants. Someone had also taken the time to bandage the wounds on his arms and chest as well. Other than that bastard, someone had seen the shame written across his flesh. He ran a hand across the tainted purity of the bandages covering his torso, eyes saddening to a dull glaze. Rising out of his bed, he went looking for his so called 'savior' before doing anything more.
--
He grunted in the darkness, a toe stubbing against the side of a misplaced stool as he staggered through the living area. Why did he have so much random crap laying around? There was a shifting sound in the darkness, clearing up his question to if anyone was in the room with him. Getting to a lamp, he clicked it on and illuminated his surroundings. A groan came from the revealed body laying on his couch, the head burying itself in a nearby pillow as a hand rose in his direction, waving in protest to the new glow in the room.
"Hey come on," murmured a familiar voice, the hand growing weary of its waving gestures,tucked itself behind silver locks of hair. " Would you Turn the light off? I'm trying to get some rest here." Naruto blinked, a bit confused by the presence and actions of his new found guest.
"Kakashi-sensei? Why...um... are you.. on my couch?" The groggy teacher looked momentarily over his shoulder in his general direction, mumbling a bit before he turned to where he could say something audible.
"That's obvious," he started, casually rolling over to get comfortable again, " I got tired, noone was on your couch, so here I am!" He flashed the blonde a goofy smile, causing him to sigh and shake his head.
"Okay.. but that still doesn't explain why you're on my couch. You only live two floors down!" Kakashi stared at him for a moment, blinking almost it would seem in confusion before flashing one of those calm smiles again.
"Well I really couldn't just leave you up here by yourself. You looked pretty ruffled when I found you.. " It was funny really how Kakashi seemed to work. That goofy smile seemed to fade into a serious stare down as he spoke, the tone of his voice shifting to match his features. "What happened to you, Naruto? Did you get in a fight again?" Naruto looked away from Kakashi's piercing gaze, biting down on his lower lip as he thought of what exactly to say. He couldn't tell him the truth.. but then again he couldn't lie to him as well. Kakashi always seemed to know when Naruto was flat out lying. They had known each other for God knows how long, I guess it was only natural for him to know stuff like that.
" Um.. h-hai. Hai. I got.. well it really wasn't a fight.. I mean.. I just.. ", the blonde fumbled around on his words, causing Kakashi to grow irritated. Growling, he pushed himself up to sit, the book he always seemed to keep in his hand going to rest on the coffee table as his complete attention was focused on Naruto now.
"Naruto.." he grumbled, his head leaning on his palm as continued to stare him down, " Either you will tell me, or I'll find out by other means. Your choice. You telling me now would probably be alot less..messy to say the least." There was a silence in the room, Naruto shifting back and fourth uncomfortably as the impatient teacher watched his movements. The air had stiffened quite a bit before the akward tension between the two was broken by the blonde's response.
"Uchiha Sasuke.. we got into an argument after school today.. I guess I made him mad and well.. I didn't win obviously. But its..it's nothing to worry about, honestly. " Flashing the platinum haired man one of his usual sugar-coating smiles, Naruto converted his stance, still knowing that Kakashi was staring a hole into his back. He walked away from the man, taking a seat in a chair across the table from him. "..arigatou, Kakashi-san. I'd.. probably still be at school if you didn't find me." A full out laugh emerged from Kakashi's body, his hand swiping a few strands of silver away from his dual-colored eyes before he stood to his feet, stretching briefly then making his way toward the kitchen.
"Of course you'd still be there," Kakashi said ,stifling another laugh as he began to shuffle through the contents of Naruto's cabinets. "Not alot of people go around looking for unconscious people in locker rooms. You're just lucky I came by there when I did...and do you not have anything besides ramen here? Geez.. no wonder you're getting so fat. Noodles aren't good for you. "
"Hey! I'm not getting fat! I'm perfectly healthy!" Naruto barked back, standing up as well as he followed his teachers steps into his kitchen. Kakashi grinned and chuckled again, pulling out a couple of instant ramen cups. Grabbing the little teapot nearby, he filled it with water and sit it on the lit burner to let it heat.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Naruto. "
" I'm not fat, Kakashi!" he flailed his arms in a childish manner before replacing an angry scowl with a pout, his body slumping as he fell back into a kitchen chair. Kakashi turned to look at him, a genuine smile playing his features as he leaned against the countertop. This was the Naruto he had watched grow up. The happy child-like boy who had not a care in the world, this was the real Naruto. This was the Naruto.. that wasn't generally around anymore. Time had taken him and reshaped him into the sad, lonely face that was his usual side now. Kakashi partially blamed himself for this, for not paying more attention to Naruto through the years. His mother dying, his father well.. he wouldn't go into that The boy had been through so much, far more than someone his age should have been so early in life at least. Kakashi's smile diminished as his mind wandered from the past to now, his eyes moving across the blonde's battered body. Though most of it was covered by the bandaging job Kakashi had done himself, the older scars had been left for all to see. His mouth opened to say something about it, but was immediately interrupted by the sharp whistling sound coming from the boiling water in the teapot. This caught Naruto's attention as well, his puffy cheeks deflating as his eyes moved from whatever he was looking at to the new source of sound in the room.
"Ah! Looks like the waters done!" Naruto said with a chipper tone, oblivious to the tense darkness Kakashi was giving off. He clapped his hands togeher and grinned, "Almost time to eat now! .. if I'm not too fat that is." He glanced over at Kakashi and stuck his tounge out at the man, causing him to chuckle faintly once more.
"You let yourself get too worked up too quickly, you know that?" Kakashi rose, making his way over to the teapot, removing it from the heat and pouring the steaming water into the contents of the insulated ramen cups. Resealing the temporary paper lids, he shifted the cups back and fourth to move the water about to moisten all of the dehydrated food. After that 'long' three minute waiting period, Kakashi peeled back the lid on one of the cups, glancing it over before sitting it on the table infront of the boy. " Here..just think of it as an early breakfast? Or maybe a late lunch?"
"Atwhatever time it isin the morning? Yeah, whatever you say." Naruto said sarcasticly, rolling his eyes at the taller man before reaching behind him and grabbing the pair of chopsticks on the counters edge. Kakashi soon joined him at the table as the two proceeded to eat ramen..in silence..at one in the morning. A slupr or two was heard from Naruto's direction every so often, indicating that he truly was enjoying his late night snack, but that was about all the noise that flourished in the room.
"So are you ready to tell me what really happened now, Naruto?", Kakashi said, practically out of nowhere, his eyes gradually shifting to look in his direction. Naruto made a choking noise before he decided it was a good idea to actually swallow his ramen before he tried to speak. He returned Kakashi's glance in a sutle gaze before looking down into his cup, apparently finding them much more interesting now.
"I told you all there was to say, Kakashi-sensei. We got into a fight and he roughed me up a bit."
"Liar.", Kakashi said in a rather flat tone, leaning a hand on the arm that rested upon the table. "You take me for a fool or something? I thought you knew better.."
"I'm not lying!" Naruto snapped, slamming his hands down on the table as he stood to his feet. "Why do you have such a problem with believing me! It's the truth!"
"I have a problem believing you because you're not telling me what I want to hear. And what about those?" Kakashi snapped back coldly this time as he grabbed Naruto's wrist, bringing his scarred arm up for both of them to clearly see as he stood to face the boy. " Did Sasuke do this too? God Naruto, I thought you were past all of this.." Kakashi sighed, his eyes glowering over the wounds that he could still see around the unbandaged areas. Naruto's eyes ignited in a firey rage at those words, causing him to jerk his hand harshly out of Kakashi's grasp.
"Why do you start caring all of the sudden! Why now! You don't care what the hell happens to me! None of you give a damn! You don't have to feel obligated to take care of me! Just.. go fucking take care of yourself Kakashi! Leave me alone!" Naruto stormed past the stunned teacher, growling under his breath as he fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. He stopped not far from where he had started though, his body tensing sharply as he felt a strong arm drape across his shoulders in a concerned manner, he supposed. It wasn't really a hug..more or less just an action, a movement to show the lonely boy some sense of comfort from the elder man. Naruto swallowed hard, his head hanging from sight, almost sure now that those tears would spill over any moment.
"Naruto.." Kakashi said, his voice low and soothing as he looked down at the boy from behind. "..gomen nasai, Naruto. If it upsets you so, I won't force you to tell me what happened between Sasuke and you. And I..shouldn't have said what I did.. it came out wrong. I do care, Naruto.. you should know by now thats true. I don't like seeing you in this condition.. thats why I spoke out. It wasn't my place to do so though.. forgive my ignorance." Kakashi paid attention to the boy fully, watching, hoping for any sign of a response.
"Kakashi... onegai...just.. leave.." Naruto said to the man, barely above a whisper. A bit stunned by his rejection, Kakashi respected the boy enough to comply with his wishes. Releasing him without a word, he returned to the kitchen, cleaning up the mess that was left and a few other things so Naruto wouldn't have to do it himself. A heavy sense of guilt ran across Kakashi, guilt and anger with himself for being that stupid. He should have never said anything. He threw away what was left of their meal, assuming that the boy wouldn't eat anymore after that. Getting everything at least halfway clean, he started to go back and check on the boy who had disappeared to his room..but he decided best to leave him alone for the time.
"I'm leaving now, Naruto. You know where I am if you need me." Kakashi paused, almost half expecting to hear an answer from the boy..but he was only responded to with the sounds of an empty room. Sighing, he turned and made his way towards his exit. Naruto sat with his back against the door of the bathroom he had secluded himself too, his head laying against the top of his quaking knees. He was trembling, reluctant but none the less aware that Kakashi had 'opened old wounds', not to be ironic, of course. He listened to the shifting and moving about in his apartment before it dissolved away, returning to the silence he was familar with. Alone with his thoughts again, he began to wander off into the darker aspects of his mind. Those 'voices' began to come back, the ones he had actually grown familar with, they were always there after all.
--
Kakashi dosen't care.. why the fuck should he?
Noone cares..
You don't deserve to be cared about..
You're noboby, a loser, a fool.
You. Are. Nothing.
--
Hours seemed to pass sitting in his misery before he showed any attempts to move again. His head lifted slowly, his eyes glazed over as his mind sorted through what those voices in his head were saying, what they were telling him to do. This darkness was familiar now, he'd miss it if it were to disappear. In some aspect, it was comforting. The voices were comforting. They gave him something to ponder, even look forward to. Yes, he desired those voices, needed them to be there. Slowly, he pushed himself up off the floor, his stance wavering slightly before he felt stable. He walked to his medicine cabinet and slid it open. There, on the top shelf, a small knife. His release. Taking it in the grasps of a quivering hand, he stared at it for a moment, almost as if he was finally reluctant of the idea of what he had been doing so long.
He pressed the blade to a bandaged area, pulling it down in a quick and percise manner, flesh and bandaging ripping together. The first new wounds were painful, but they soon grew into a dull sense of relief. New pain would end the old, or so he told himself. Gash after gash, drop after drop, a twisted grin formed underneath wicked mad blue eyes as he watched the crimson pour down his frame. A gargled laugh escaped his throat as he stumbled backwards, hitting against the tiled wall behind him. That laugh kept escaping him, the blade dropping from his grasp to the floor, his body sliding against the wall he fell against until he was on that floor as well. Empty tears streaked down his face as he ran a hand across his newly carved torso, fingers digging into the wounds as they grazed past them. Fuck Kakashi.. he didn't need his pity.. and it was none of his business what Naruto did. Besides.. it wasn't like he had a bloodlust or anything like that. No, he was in full control of his situations. Everything was fine.. what he did was okay.. His eyes traveled away from his body to the window after he had taken it all in once more. Dawn was leaking across the horizon, morning had come to taunt him once again. His hell was preparing to start all over again..
--
Not a whisper, not a cry
Just stand right there and watch me die
One more drop, one more tear
One more gash for you my dear
The wounds won't heal
The pain unreal
A reality only I will feel
But don't you worry,
Why won't you see?
That I won't beg,
No I won't plea
So stand right there
But don't you cry
Just stand right there
And watch me die
--
A/N: xD;; Don't make fun of my crappy poetry! xD I felt like it needed something extra at the end since this chapter was shorter than my last one. o.o; Also, I picked Kakashi over Iruka just..because I like him better. xD Gomen ne. Iruka fans! I alsodidn't mean to make it sound so KakaNaru either. xD;; Its' not, just for everyone's reassurance. This chapter is pretty much just another character development chapter for Naruto's character in this story, since he is OOC and not following the traditional anime SL. The next chapter will be for a Sasuke character development and then.. plot development! Dun dun dun.
..review me? xD I love hearing from you guys. Until next time!
-Morbid Dreamer