Okay…it's been a Loooooooooong time since we updated. We're sorry but we're lazy. We do have the story finished it's just …unedited and crappy. You're lucky too that one of us had a copy of it because both our computers died …more then once over the year. If it weren't on a CD backed up well, we wouldn't even exist anymore. So be happy! We decided to get the rest up in a timelier manner.
Again…sorry, sorry, sorry! We beg your forgiveness!
Here have a SasuNaru plushy…
Or you can go find Tegie-chan's deviantArt site, got lots of SasuNaru there to drool over. Should get the addy up on the author's page soon.
Foxed!
Summary: Due to a freakish accident while spying on Sasuke, Naruto is now sporting a fluffy orange tail with matching ears!
Warnings: OOC syndrome…although we were going for that so…yeah… This story should be tame compared to our other ones…but we're not making any promises! Also it is Yaoi! You have been warned!
Pairings: SasuNaru
Rating: PG13…for now…
Chapter 8 Lies, Truth, and Everything In-between.
Sasuke aimed a punch at the tree trunk but he had no strength behind it. Leaning against the uninjured tree Sasuke felt hot tears stream down his cheek. He had been such a fool! Why had he let the dobe worm his way into his hart only to have it torn to sheds on him? Why did he have to love the one who only wonted to hurt him?
Naruto stared numbly at the door, as if hoping against hope that Sasuke would come back...say he was sorry, he wasn't angry, he still loved him...
But that wasn't going to happen...He'd messed up royally and now Sasuke would hate him forever. He couldn't feel the tears anymore as he picked himself up off the floor and grabbed one of Sasuke's sheets to cover himself with. He couldn't stay here...he had to get home and...
And never come out of his room again...God he'd never felt so lonely before...it hurt so much he couldn't even remember how to hurt...
Sakura sighed as she hid under her umbrella from the down pore, Why Kakashi had insisted that they meet on such a miserable day, the pink haired girl had no clue. She was also kind of worried about her teammates...Sasuke was NEVER late, and it was already passed noon. Naruto wasn't ever this late either... it was just so wired.
She looked down the road for the hundredth time that morning...and still there was no sign of either boy. She was starting to become very worried...what could possibly have caused both of them to miss a meeting? Not to mention Naruto had been acting very strangely since he'd returned home...he wasn't his usual boisterous self, and Sasuke seemed more pissed off than usual lately...
Kakashi appeared in front of her and looked around. "So they didn't make it this morning..." He said without even saying a greeting.
Sakura recoiled with shock as her teacher appeared in front of her, although she really should have been used to it by now, Kakashi had a way of popping up when a person lest expected it. Recovering from her shock, Sakura was about to yell at him for being late but Kakashi was already talking again.
"Sakura, Go to Naruto's home and see if he's there." Kakashi paused as she nodded her head, "If he's there take him with you to find Sasuke." Again Sakura nodded her head and her teacher was gone in a poof of smoke.
Sakura was confused, but she did as she was told, and ran through the downpour to Naruto's home. She knocked on the door, but got no response. She pounded harder, and screamed at him to open the door but still got no answer. She could see the light on in the kitchen through the window though and figured he must be home, so she tried the doorknob. Surprisingly enough it turned easily and the door swung open.
"Baka, never locks his door...what if I was some kind of axe murderer or something..." She muttered under her breath as she took her muddy shoes off. Hay she might be annoyed with the blonde but she wasn't going to drag mud through his house...not that it mattered anyway. Picking her way through the piles of junk and garbage, Sakura couldn't help but think 'Bachelor'.
Naruto was not in the kitchen or living area, or the bathroom so that left his bedroom. She called to him and knocked on the door before she opened it but since she got no response she figured it was all or nothing. Hoping she wasn't going to come across some grisly scene...or the horrible scene of Naruto standing naked or something, she opened the bedroom door and peered inside. On the bed, under a thick blanket, was a familiar mop of blonde hair, but the occupant of the bed didn't seem to be moving much.
Not sure if he was sleeping or...well, dead, Sakura rushed to his side and began shaking him violently, "Naruto! Naruto BAKA! Wake up!" All she received from the blonde was a groan, but when Sakura stopped shaking the boy she noticed that his eyes were actually open and looking at her...why hadn't he said anything though?
Actually the way he stared at her was kinda creepy...it was almost as if he didn't see her or didn't care if she was there or something. His eyes were dull...devoid of their usual cheerful sparkle. She shook her head, she was thinking nonsense. "Naruto, you Baka, get up already, we have work to do!" she said forcefully
Naruto blinked at her, and she noticed the whites of his eyes were red. Without answering however, he simply pulled the covers over her head as if she would disappear if he couldn't see her.
Sakura blinked as darkness fell over her, then she twitched. Pulling the covers off angrily. Sakura was about to yell at Naruto, demand to know what he thought he was doing when her eyes widened and she saw a lot of tanned skin. Sakura blushed as she stared at Naruto's naked body as he got up from bed to find some clothing. Realizing that she was staring Sakura pulled the blanket back into place shielding herself from the sight of naked Naruto.
She held it there for a while as the sounds of Naruto moving quietly and slowly around and pulling clothing on reached her ears. When it all had died down, she lowered the blanket slightly to take a peek and see if he was dressed yet. Naruto was standing in the middle of the room, dressed...well sort of. He didn't have his orange jacket thing on and his feet were still bare. He watched her as if he was only mildly interested that she was there at all.
Sakura blinked and resisted the urge to hid back under the blanket, Naruto was really, really creepy today. But she had a job to do and she wasn't going to let creepy Naruto who was acting like the living dead deter her from her job. Throwing off the blanket Sakura stood up and grabbed his hand, dragging him to the door. She threw his jacket at him and watched as Naruto slowly put it on...what was he mechanical man now? His motions were all slow and slightly jerky.
She growled on the inside at the boy that was even weirder than usual, and stepped out of the house and into the rain as soon as Naruto had finally gotten his jacket on. She started to go down the steps when she realized that he wasn't following her. Irritated, she turned around to see Naruto standing in the doorway staring in front of him with a pale face. What was he, afraid of the rain now!
Sighing in irritation, Sakura waked back to Naruto and glared at him, "Baka, what's your problem today?" she demanded, "Your acting all wired and stuff." The pink haired girl waited with her hands on her hips for some kind or response from the blonde.
But she didn't receive one...well not one that she could hear anyway. Naruto's mouth was moving but only a whisper of sound came out. Straining her ears Sakura moved closer to him trying to catch was he was saying. Although she wasn't sure if she had heard right, Sakura thought she heard the words 'don't hate me.' in the blondes mumbled words.
She blinked. "I don't hate you, baka!" She complained, but Naruto didn't even flinch...it was as if he didn't hear her talking or something. "I just want to get you out of this stupid house so we can find Sasuke!"
That did it. Naruto's face drained of all colour and he seemed to sort of wobble where he stood.
"Will you get ahold of yourself, let's go!" Sakura grabbed his arm and tried to pull him outside.
Unfortunately this time Naruto resisted, and Sakura was not able to move the blonde an inch. Sakura stopped pulling and stared back at Naruto's wide-eyed, white face. She didn't know what was wrong with him but even she knew she was not going to be able to drag him out the door if he didn't want to. Sighing, Sakura let go of his hand. "Naruto...what's wrong?" she asked not shear what else to do.
Naruto blinked and his eyes actually turned to look at her this time. They were bright with unshed tears and Sakura was taken aback. "Sa...kura..." He whispered as the tears overflowed. His knees gave out from under him and he collapsed to the ground, shaking.
"Wha...Naruto?" Sakura knelt down in front of him but didn't know what to do as the blonde's small body was suddenly racked with sobs.
Sakura was uncertain what to do at first but finally she worked up her nerve and wrapped her arms around the blonde shoulders as he body shock with sobs. The two sat there in Naruto's doorway for some time, and the only sound that reached Sakura's ears was the rain now. Naruto's sobs had quieted but his shoulders still shook and tears still flowed from his eyes.
There was a small swooshing sound as Kakashi appeared on Naruto's doorstep and surveyed the scene before him. Yes, something bad had definitely happened...He cleared his throat and Sakura looked up in surprise.
"K-Kakashi sensei!" She cried and looked desperately at Naruto. "I-I don't know what's wrong with him, he won't stop crying..." She stopped as Kakashi approached them and squatted down in front of Naruto.
"Naruto?" Kakashi asked trying to get the blonde's attention. Naruto looked up when he heard his teacher's voice, it wasn't Iruka's but still it was a voice he did trust. Kakashi stared back at the swollen eyes of his blonde student, he did not want to ask this but he feared he had no choice. "Naruto...what happened last night at Sasuke's?"
Naruto's eyes filled with tears again and he tried to turn away but Kakashi grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him to look at him. "Tell me what happened!" He demanded.
Sakura stared, wide eyed at the display...wasn't Kakashi being a little too rough with Naruto? Obviously he had suffered something terrible to break him up this much...
Naruto choked. "He...he..." He swallowed. "I couldn't get out and...and he saw..."
Sakura blinked, that really did not make much sent to her at all, But Kakashi seemed to understand at least a little. Sighing, Kakashi shook his head, "What happened after he saw, Naruto?" Kakashi demanded more gently this time. Naruto shook his head as tears leaked out, "H-he ran away...his eyes...he- he hates me..."
He once more dissolved into sobs and Kakashi sighed and pulled the boy close to him to offer some comfort.
"Kakashi-sensei, what...what's going on?" Sakura asked. She was beyond confused. "Where's Sasuke? What's wrong with Naruto?"
Kakashi held up a hand to silence her and pushed Naruto back to arms length when the sobbing had slowed somewhat. "Naruto...Sasuke's gone..." He started.
Naruto blinked and stared at Kakashi, "G-gone?" he asked, voice hoarse form crying.
Kakashi nodded his head, "I've searched the Uchiha family grounds and the mansion but I can't feel Sasuke's chi anywhere." Even Sakura's eyes were wide with worry at this point, why would Sasuke run away? Well Naruto seemed to know but Sakura wasn't that cold hearted to beat it out of him at that moment.
Naruto hung his head. So Sasuke hated him that much that he couldn't even stand to be in the same town with him anymore...
Kakashi, noticing his student falling back into depression, shook him to get his attention. "Naruto, listen to me, we have to find him before someone else does...like his brother or someone else that wants to learn the secrets of his eyes...do you understand?"
Naruto's eyes widened and he nodded his head, Sasuke might hate him but Naruto didn't want anything bad to happen to his teammate. Especially not if he could help it. Seeing the sight spark return to Naruto's eyes, Kakashi nodded his head, "Get your equipment ready and meet me at the village gates in half an hour." he told the blonde then looked at Sakura. "You too Sakura."
Sakura nodded and the three of them split up to get ready for their search. Naruto frantically threw things into a bag, his depressed state from earlier giving way to fear. He was terrified...terrified that something might happen to Sasuke out there, that he would lose him forever...it was better to have him staring with eyes of hate than to have him dead...
He shook his head. No, he couldn't think about that, he had to focus...god this was all his fault...
But he couldn't brood about it now, right now he needed to get ready, throwing everything Naruto thought he could possibly need into a backpack he found himself running through the downpour to the village gates. He stood there panting, waiting for Kakashi and Sakura to show up...if he had a watch on he would have realized that he was early by 15 minutes.
He paced back and forth in the mud...what the hell was taking them so long, they had to find Sasuke before...A loud clap of thunder brought him violently back into reality. Sasuke was out there in that storm...and people might be looking for him and...
And Naruto couldn't wait any longer for his teammates. He shifted the backpack on his shoulder and dashed out the village gates and into the woods, searching desperately for Sasuke's chi, praying that he was ok...
Sasuke cursed as thunder flashed overhead, it was already raining why did it have to thunder as well? Hunching down at the base of a fallen tree Sasuke ducked his head down more trying to keep the wind and rain form getting at his exposed skin. The larger trees overhead provided some protection but not much.
He couldn't help but think he'd been an idiot to just take off like this, without so much as a match or a lunch or anything...of course he hadn't known it was going to start storming right away but...
He couldn't stay there...he wouldn't be able to bear the pain when Naruto broadcasted all of his weaknesses and secrets to the town. He could picture the blonde laughing as he did it...
Or was he just imagining things? He didn't know anymore...
Lighting flashed overhead again, and thunder rolled across the sky, this was the absolute worst day to decide to run away...also the he was sitting in one of the worst hiding spots...at lest he knew he wasn't going to get fried in case lightning decided to strike a tree near him.
Sneezing form the cold, Sasuke wiped his nose and shivered, why did Naruto have to play him for the fool? Did he hate Sasuke that much to hurt him in this way?
He should have known better...known better than to hope that maybe someday he could have said some magic words to make the blonde love him back...Ninjas weren't supposed to fall in love, it was a weakness.
Then he was weak...he still was...
He winced as another flash of lightning lit the sky...the storm was close now, the thunder rumbled almost immediately after. He closed his eyes and pulled the large collar of his shirt up to cover his face as the rain redoubled its efforts to drown him where he sat.
Naruto ran through the rain, it was coming down really hard and the blonde could barely see an inch in front of his face. But he had to find Sasuke, even if Sasuke hated him he had to find the dark haired ninja and tell him he was sorry. The tears that ran down his cheek were lost with the rain that pelted down on to him but Naruto ignored it all trying to sense a bit of chi that spelled Uchiha Sasuke.
He stumbled and fell to his knees in the dirt...what the hell was he doing? He'd never find Sasuke out here, he'd probably die or something...not that anyone would care if he did but...
Wait...Naruto's head snapped up. What was that it felt...for a second like Sasuke's chi, but it was hard to tell. He got to his feet, trying not to slip again in the mud and concentrated. There it was again!
It wasn't to far off...Naruto pushed himself forward against the wind, thunder cracked overhead and normally he would have winced at the loudness of it but right now he only had one thing on his mind. Naruto gritted his teeth as he pulled himself up onto a fallen log, Sasuke was near he could feel it. Opening his mouth and taking a deep breath Naruto tried to make himself heard over the wind and rain and thunder. "Sasuke! SAAASSSUUUKKKEEE!"
"What are you trying to do, make me deaf?" A quiet voice asked from very near him. Naruto blinked and looked down, and his heart caught in his chest. There was Sasuke, huddled against the very log he was lying on.
"Sasuke!" Naruto cried and pulled himself forward, tumbling off the log. He shook the dirt and water out of his hair and crawled over to him. "I thought I'd never find..." He stopped mid sentence. Sasuke was glaring at him.
"Did you have a good laugh?" Sasuke asked still glaring at Naruto who blinked in confusion. "Did you enjoy telling everyone that I'm some kind of sicko? That I'm gay and in love with the biggest loser in the village?" Sasuke's face was deadly calm as he asked this. He had not moved an inch but Naruto could tell he had wanted to run away so he did not have to look at the blonde again...the only thing that was stopping him was the fact that Sasuke was too tired and cold to even move.
"B-But Sasuke I didn't..." Naruto started and blinked back the tears that were forming from Sasuke's harsh words. If Sasuke could have seen them maybe he would have backed off but they mingled with the rain that ran down his face. "I didn't tell anyone..."
Sasuke humphed. "Yeah right, like I'm supposed to trust YOU..."
Naruto blinked, then his brows knit together. "What...What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He demanded.
Sasuke turned his head away, "Y-You were the fox... I told you things I haven't said to anyone..." Lightning flashed again as Sasuke turned back to look at the blonde. "You didn't care! You were just using me to get a laugh! I was worried about you and you were probably laughing your ass off at me!" Clenching his fists Sasuke stood up and glared down at Naruto.
Naruto's blue eyes flashed as the thunder rolled across the sky. "God your so full of yourself, you can't even see what's going on around you!" He yelled, getting to his feet as well and pointing at him. "Did it ever occur to you that I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Oh right, and I'm supposed to believe you just TURN into a fox for no reason whatsoever?" Sasuke yelled, his fists shaking.
Naruto blinked and was about to yell back that it was exactly how Sasuke had said when he remembered the first time he had changed...he had been sneaking into Sasuke's home to find something to blackmail the other boy with... Naruto blushed and Sasuke could see the guilt clearly on the other boys face.
"I KNEW it!" Sasuke yelled. "You hate me so much you don't even care if you hurt me or not, why the HELL did I ever fall in love with you in the first place!" He suddenly leapt forward and landed a punch on Naruto's face. Naruto stumbled backwards, unable to think. Sasuke was right...he'd hurt him and all because of some stupid prank...
But if Naruto did not fight back right now he was probably going to end up seriously hurt by Uchiha Sasuke...and Naruto really did not wont to end up in the hospital right then...also he felt bad enough as it was. He had come to apologize to Sasuke and he wouldn't even hear the blonde out at all. Growing under his breath, Naruto lunged back at Sasuke, landing a punch square in his eye. Sasuke slid back and held his brushed eye but that did not deter him form his rage.
Words were forgotten as the two of them took out their rage on each other. Both were angry at the other...both were angry at themselves...both were exhausted. The thunder rolled and shook the ground as Naruto once more lunged at Sasuke. Both were bruised, they were fighting out of anger and weren't thinking about blocking punches. Naruto, however, was dead on his feet, he didn't know what he was doing...his foot caught on something and he stumbled forward, and Sasuke grabbed him and threw him roughly to the side.
Neither one had realized that the ground ended just after the thick thorny wild rose blushes that Sasuke had thrown Naruto into until Sasuke lunged after Naruto and they both found themselves hanging in mid air. Rage and anger were completely forgotten as Sasuke's eyes widened in horror. Grabbing the blonde by the back of his collar, Sasuke tried to find a handhold but thorns and sharp rocks cut his skin.
He shot a desperate glance to Naruto, but the blonde's eyes were closed, he was knocked out cold. Sasuke thought that time moved in slow motion as they fell, because it seemed like an eternity that they spent suspended in mid air. At last they struck the side of the cliff, and Sasuke clutched the shorter boy to him as they rolled down together, and finally came to a stop somewhere at the bottom.
Sasuke lay there panting for breath as he held Naruto close to him. They were both covered in mud and little cuts...although Sasuke's hand seemed to have taken the worst of it. Holding his hand up to see the damage he had done in the dim light Sasuke winced, the skin was raw and little thorns were embedded deep. Lowering his hand, Sasuke panted for breath and stared at the sky that still flashed with lighting overhead.
He turned his head to look at Naruto's face. It was pale and bruised...very pale. Using his uninjured hand he clasped the other boy's wrist and felt for a pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt one...weak but it was there. He should have hated the boy so much that he didn't care what happened to him...he should have left him there and went to find help himself...but he couldn't...so he lay there in the rain, clutching the boy protectively to him as the storm moved over, his eyes clenched shut.
Sasuke tried to protect Naruto's body from the downpour but it was almost useless to try, they were both soaked to the skin and it was getting colder as the day wore on...Sasuke didn't even know what time of day it was, it was so dark because of the storm. But it must be getting late because it was colder. Grunting in pain Sasuke heaved himself to his feet and tried to pick the blonde up one handed...it was a difficult feat indeed.
Somehow he managed to swing Naruto over his shoulder and get to his feet at the same time, and he walked off further into the woods. His progress was slow with the extra weight, and he was exhausted, but something deep down kept him moving so he could get the blonde to shelter.
He didn't know how he'd found the shack in the downpour and darkness that surrounded him, but he figured it had to better than nothing and drug Naruto inside. The roof leaked in a lot of places but it was substantially drier than it was outside.
Sasuke sighed as he placed Naruto on the ground in the driest spot he could find. The place was covered in dust but at least it had not been vacant too long, there were some moldy blankets on the bed and a stack of wood by the fireplace. Sasuke wasn't going to even try putting Naruto in the bed...thing looked like it was going to fall apart just by looking at it. Actually, when Sasuke pulled the blankets off of the bed the frame just collapsed.
He shook the blanket out as best as he could and placed it beside the soaking wet, unconscious Naruto...he was going to have to get the boy out of those clothes or he would catch Pneumonia, but first he had to bandage his hand. Ripping the hem of his own shirt, he cleaned the wound with water from a small pot he found in a corner and wrapped it up tightly to stop the blood flow. It hurt like hell but he endured it.
With his hand bandaged but hurting like hell Sasuke set about the task of removing the blonde's sopping wet clothing. Removing his coat and shirt Sasuke had no problems, but when it came to Naruto's pants Sasuke found himself blushing like mad...and it wasn't because he was getting sick. Even if he was mad at the blonde before him he still liked him and blushed when he thought of ...certain things.
Somehow he managed to pull the pants off without falling into his gutter mind completely, leaving Naruto in nothing but his boxer shorts. He swallowed nervously and reached out, hoping that the shorts were dry and he wouldn't have to remove them as well. His heart caught in his throat when his fingers touched fabric nearly as wet as the one's he'd just taken off.
His heart hammered uncomfortably in his chest and he'd never blushed so hard in his life as he hooked his hands under the shorts and pulled them off, trying to keep his eyes closed as much as possible.
Finally the task was done and before Sasuke could ...lose control and sneak a peek he threw the blanket over the blonde's naked body and tucked it around him. Sighing with relief he set about stripping himself down to the bare bones as well...it was just as awkward to undress himself with his bandaged hand as it was Naruto. Finally Sasuke stood there naked as the day he was born, shivering in the cold, but he couldn't crawl into the blankets just yet. With teeth chattering Sasuke tried to wring out their clothing as best he could and hang them up to dry.
Naruto opened first one eye and then the other...where was he? ...And why was he very cold and naked? He could hear the howling of a storm all around him but he felt dry. Blinking, he turned his head, and had to hold back the gasp that tried to escape his throat. Sasuke was standing there, buck naked, hanging up his and Naruto's clothing on a beam on the roof of the shack or whatever it was they were in.
Naruto stared at the other boy in shock...what was he doing completely naked! Well not completely, he had a strip of black cloth wrapped around his hand. Naruto groaned and tried to sit up, he hurt all over...why did he hurt so much? Why was Sasuke's naked body covered in blue-black bruises and angry red scratches?
He stopped trying to move and lay back, trying not to look over at Sasuke's naked body, although it was a hard task to accomplish considering every fiber of his being wanted to just look and look and...
He closed his eyes and mentally scolded himself. 'Stop that' He told himself angrily. 'He hates you, remember?' With his eyes closed he heard rather than saw Sasuke move across the room to stand near him. He opened his eyes a crack in curiosity. The dark haired boy was placing wood in a little fireplace and trying to light it.
It was almost mesmerizing watching Sasuke kneel in front of the fireplace as he performed the hand seals and used a little chakura to make the wood burst into flames. Finally satisfied that he could get into the blanket and not get it wet or light the damn thing on fire Sasuke turned around and saw Naruto staring at him red faced. Sasuke's face also heated up as he realized that Naruto was watching him ...for how long he didn't know but he had been naked the whole time.
"D-did you get a good look?" He asked coldly, his eyes hardening at the blonde.
Naruto blinked, but didn't say anything back, he just blushed and looked away, trying to fight the tears that were welling up in his eyes. Sasuke still had those eyes...he still hated him...but still Naruto did not want to fight him anymore. It hurt him deep down inside to know that he had caused those bruises on Sasuke's body.
Not saying a word to the blonde Sasuke walked stiffly over to the other blanket and wrapped it around his cold body, he didn't wont to admit it but he wasn't feeling too hot right then. It was probably form all the bruises on his body as well as sitting out in the rain for god knows how long. Sitting himself down at Naruto's feet, Sasuke tried not to let his fatigue show as he tried to warm himself in front of the fire.
Naruto's eyes slowly moved back so they were looking at Sasuke...he was shivering, his face was red, and not from blushing...he winced as the boy sneezed and sniffled, wiping his nose half heartedly with the back of his hand. Sasuke was sick...probably from dragging Naruto's sorry ass to this shack and taking care of him instead of taking care of himself...
Feeling the guilt factor rise again Naruto tried to sit up, but a groan escaped his lips and Sasuke looked over at him his jaw clenched to keep his teeth from chattering. "W-What are you doing, dobe?" he demanded, voice a bit hoarse for some reason.
Naruto blinked but said nothing as he sat up and pulled the blanket around him as he inched closer to Sasuke. "S-Sasuke...I'm sorry..." he could only say in a whisper...his throat hurt too much.
Sasuke blinked and looked away, and Naruto's heart sank. He wasn't one to give in so he pushed on. "I...I know I probably don't deserve forgiveness..." He whispered. "I m-mean this whole thing started because...because I wanted to spy on you..." He hung his head. There, he'd admitted to it...He waited for Sasuke to explode at him, hit him, anything, but the other boy sat there still as a statue as if he wasn't even listening. Naruto could feel the tears well up in his eyes. "B-b-but...I didn't know then...I didn't...I didn't tell anyone, you have to believe me..." He sobbed and threw himself on Sasuke's arm, clinging to it.
Sasuke just stared in dumb shock as Naruto clung to his arm and sobbed, "P-Please Sasuke..." he whispered fearing that the other boy would push him off or something. Naruto didn't know what would happen if he was rejected again, he didn't want to find out. "Please don't hate me Sasuke..." Naruto whispered before passing out entirely, still clinging to Sasuke's arm.
Sasuke stared for a long while before he sighed and reached out to dislodge Naruto from his arm and hold onto him. He'd passed out from exhaustion and pain...but the words floated around in Sasuke's head, haunting, hurt, terrified words spoken by Naruto through his sobs. 'Please don't hate me, Sasuke...' What did they mean? Naruto sounded so genuinely heartbroken and sorry...could it mean that...that maybe Naruto liked him back after all? But if he did why had he tricked him by becoming the fox so many times?
Sighing Sasuke knew he was not going to get any answers tonight...not with Naruto passed out beside him and he himself fog minded and cold...he was really cold even though he was right beside the fire. Plus he wasn't that much of a jerk to block Naruto's heat, too…the best he could do was lay down beside the dobe and try to sleep...
Naruto opened his sore eyes and blinked into the total darkness that surrounded him. He could still hear the wind and rain outside, as well as the labored breathing of Sasuke lying beside him. He could feel the other boy shivering as he lay on the cold floor...Naruto was closer to the fire but even that was almost out. Naruto didn't know what Sasuke would do when he woke up but...he wasn't going to let him freeze to death, consequences be damned. He shifted closer, ignoring the pain in his body and reached out to pull Sasuke closer to him, snaking his arms around his middle.
Naruto nearly had a heart attack when Sasuke leaned into him, seeking the warmth Naruto's body gave off. But Sasuke was still asleep, eyes tightly closed and his body very cold against Naruto's fevered skin. Shivering a little, Naruto pulled the blankets close around both of them and hoped to god that Sasuke would stay asleep as he rolled the dark haired ninja over him so he could be closer to the fire. Naruto had every intention of letting the dark haired Uchiha go once he was beside the fire but Sasuke's own arms seemed to have snuck around his middle and held them close together.
Naruto could feel himself blush at the feel of Sasuke's cold, smooth skin against his own, and shuddered a little at the goose bumps that ran down his neck. He closed his eyes tightly and tried not to think about it...he'd never been this close to Sasuke before, at least not in human form and it felt...
No he wouldn't think about what it felt like that would only lead to problems.
Forcing himself to sleep was actually pretty easy in Naruto's case...after all he was exhausted beyond reason. Soon Naruto sighed and his snores filled the small hut.
Sasuke blinked when...nothing sounded in his ears...the storm must have passed. The only sound that reached Sasuke ears was Naruto's slight snores that were in his ear...his breath tickled Sasuke's cheek. Sasuke felt his face go hot…why was Naruto so close to him? Very, very close to him.
He squirmed a little but the blonde only twitched and clung closer to him, pausing in his snoring long enough to mumble something unintelligible. Sasuke remained totally still, his mind racing. His skin touched Naruto's skin and both blankets were covering the two of them...Naruto must have done this of his own accord...He just couldn't get his head around it, it was swimming with sickness, and with thoughts that were brought to mind when Naruto shifted his head a little so his face pressed against Sasuke's skin...
Trying not to think about or look at Naruto and the fact that was so very close to the blonde Sasuke's eyes wandered over to the only small window in the building. He could see the moon as it hung low in the sky. It must have been 1 or 2 in the morning by the look of it. Sighing, Sasuke let his eyes rest on the bright object, trying not to think about Naruto in his arms.
His eyes followed the sliver of moonlight that shone from the window and across the room...it was almost touching Naruto. If he were closer he'd be able to see Naruto's face...Sasuke shook his head and looked back at the moon. It was still nearly full...it had been a total full moon the night before, hadn't it? He tried to shift a little so he could see it better, and a stab of pain shot through him. He clenched his teeth and jerked back into position, jostling Naruto who moved a little so that his foot rested in the sliver of moonlight.
Naruto's eyes shot open as pain shot through his body. Beside him, Sasuke jerked back in shock as the blonde's eyes opened and he emitted a moan of pain as he began twitching and shivering. What was wrong with Naruto? Sasuke could only stare wide-eyed and in shock as Naruto's body began to shrink and sprout orange hair.
His nose elongated into a snout, and ears sprouted as well as a tail, and he continued to shrink. The whole process must have been incredibly painful because Naruto kept groaning in agony...that turned into whines as his body became more animal than human. Before Sasuke really understood what was happening, Naruto the fox lay near him on the floor, passed out from the pain.
Blinking down at the small animal that was now laying next to him Sasuke found that he was...very confused...Naruto had not done that on purpose...well Sasuke really didn't think that was the case, the small animal was painting heavily as it lay there obviously in pain.
"N-Naruto?" Sasuke asked leaning closer and pocking the animal lightly in the stomach... not getting a response, Sasuke moved his hand to the bottom of the small padded feet and tickled him lightly, "Naruto wake up..."
Naruto opened his eyes...he hurt so much...and someone was tickling his feet just to make it that much more worse. He whined and pulled his feet back against his body where the fur warmed them.
His eyes opened entirely. Fur? Fur? He looked down at himself, then way up at Sasuke, who was staring at him in obvious confusion. This wasn't good...Sasuke already hated him for changing into the fox and how he was doing it left right and center, and he couldn't even speak to explain himself. He whimpered and backed away, fearing Sasuke's wrath.
Sasuke stared down at the small animal that was Naruto, his ears were down and Sasuke bet he did not realize he had tucked his tail between his legs as he backed up. "Stop that Naruto," Sasuke scolded him and reached over, grabbing the animal by the scruff of the neck before he could run away. Naruto whimpered in fear... Sasuke could really hurt him in this form if he wanted to.
He screwed his eyes shut, waiting for the pain that was to come, but was surprised to say the least when he felt Sasuke press him gently to his chest, holding him close. His confusion only grew when Sasuke grabbed the blankets and carried him across the room to sit by the fire and throw more wood into it. He stopped shivering in fear...he hadn't even realized he'd been doing that...and looked up questioningly at Sasuke.
Sasuke blushed when he looked down at Naruto only to find the fox staring back up at him in disbelief. "Shut up you're cute, that's the only reason I'm holding you..." Sasuke muttered under his breath only half-heartedly. Naruto eyes widened when his sensitive ears heard that. Sasuke thought him cute? My god! The world was going to end! Well maybe not... Sasuke was cute when he blushed...
"Will you stop staring at me like that?" Sasuke asked, in an even less convincing tone than before. Naruto felt the skin under his fur warm up...he was blushing too...Sasuke didn't hate him for being a fox right now...did that mean he forgave him? That he understood? This would be the perfect time to tell him how he felt! But damn it he was a fox he couldn't talk!
Naruto humped and tried to think of a way he could tell the boy who was holding him in his arms how he felt. Then he got an idea, winning a little so he could get Sasuke's attention…it worked perfectly, Sasuke leaned closer and was about to ask what the heck was wrong with Naruto when Naruto's long pink tongue shot out and slid across Sasuke's pale cheek which soon turned bright red.
Sasuke pulled his cheeks away to stare down at the fox and he could swear...was he grinning? "Wha...what was that for?" He asked, as the blush crept all over his face, making him feel like he was glowing in the dark or something. Naruto rolled his eyes...this guy still didn't get it? He yipped at him and moved to place both his paws in Sasuke's hand then stared up at him intently, hoping he would get the message.
"Naruto... I don't speak fox you know." Sasuke said glaring at the small animal that rolled his eyes in a completely human gesture and yipped at him again in annoyance. "I'm not stupid," the dark haired teen said angrily and again Naruto rolled his eyes. Did this guy not understand anything? Apparently not... it was time for desperate measures.
Throwing caution to the wind...plus he was kind of annoyed that Sasuke was not getting this Naruto leapt up onto Sasuke and if the other boy didn't want his sharp little claws to dig in he was going to have to hold him...good thing Sasuke didn't want his claws to dig in. Sasuke blushed as he held onto Naruto who was ...smiling? Could foxes smile?
Naruto yipped again and wagged his tail, then pushed forward and drug his tongue across Sasuke's face again...but this time right across the lips. He pulled back and stared at Sasuke...if he didn't get that one then he was a complete moron...
Sasuke blushed red...very red, what was Naruto doing? It was almost like he had just tried to...kiss him...
TBC…
And we hope to update sooner this time!
Promise.