M-4-M: This chapter is starting to get the feel that I want it to have... the first chapter was to start off, this second chapter is to establish feelings and some atmosphere. The third chapter is where we start getting down to business.
Many thanks to those who reviewed my first chapter. You three get your ice cream and cookies! --doles out goodies to dutiful reviewers--.
Warnings: Self-mutilation, angst, depression, shonen-ai, and anything else my sick and twisted imagination conjurs.
Disclaimer: If it was mine, there would be more angst and fluf than one could stomach.
Tenuous Hold:
Siege
Naruto knew he should go see Sasuke. Sakura herself had come to ask him to go see the defiant black-haired boy.
But he wouldn't. He wasn't ready to deal with other's problems quite yet... and the Uchiha just might get the Uzumaki to talk.
.o.
Sasuke had always been on the brink of collapsing, letting loose, breaking, being destroyed, but he had still been there. And of course, Naruto had originally thought Sasuke an enemy. One of the people who hated him, who thought he was an idiot that would do nothing in life. Later, Naruto had learned to be friends with the stoic-incarnate boy.
.o.
Sakura, Naruto knew, could be the kindest, most open-hearted person. It's why he loved her, both in the romantic sense, and later, in a sisterly sense.
Why need to remember painful memories? Why remember the times when all he needed to live for was his team, ramen, and the possibility of catching some sleep at his teacher's house?.
Why remember the times when Sasuke questioned him about the consistent bruises, why remember things that never were and never would be again?
.o.
Naruto was drifting in and out of conciousness, dizzy spells overtaking his vision, leaving him incapabe to move from his spot on the floor. Perhaps he had gone too far this time? There seemed to be too much blood on the floor, this time. In fact, there had only been blood on the floor once. He was always careful about letting blood getting everywhere... people would become suspicious.
.o.
Naruto heard shocked gasps and blearily opened eyes that didn't want to, a hideous headache greeting him from the result of his blood-loss.
It was Sakura.
The void of unconciousness overwhelmed him... leaving him with blanks.
.o.
.o.
.o.
Naruto sat up weakly. He was in his bedroom, and with a rush, he remembered. Ko coming in to extract the fees... and leaving... then his legal guardian coming to teach the daily 'lesson' --the one Naruto learned everyday--, nearly passing out... and Sakura coming in... to lose to the darkness.
Sakura was sitting in the chair by the desk, looking out the window. After a minute, looking up at Naruto with a teary smile, "Glad you're alright. You should be more careful with kitchen knives..."
Why? Why choose this route?
She started sobbing into her hands pitifully, make-up sure to run, revealing nasty secrets. Naruto stumbled out of his bed and haphazardly hugged his pink-haired friend, "You should be more careful on missions with bright pink hair like yours." He gestred half-heartedly to some scratches on her face.
Why? Why choose that person?
They sat and cried in front of Naruto's empty desk, in the barren room with its leaking ceiling.
It was raining outside and they were all alone, hugging each other in a sodden chair.
.o.o.S.o.o.
Naruto stared at Sasuke as he entered his house. What was Sasuke doing here?
Naruto realised he was still bleeding under his bandages. Sasuke approached the usually hyperactive boy, and glanced down at the white muslin strips stained red with all that was left to him. Suddenly far too close for comfort, Naruto backed up, to only have Sasuke grab his hands. He ripped off the fabric and started sucking on the cuts, renewing the slow bleeding with vigour. Sasuke needed this and Naruto had just found his latest and greatest fix.
Horrific, vampiric fantasies. Not what we really wanted in the first place, but a loser's compensation for inadequacy.
Passionate kisses from hands ran up his sides. Fondling the hair, scratching spots that awakened desire.
All to forget for one moment.
To forget all that happened and was happening and would happen.
Tears came far too easy for Naruto these days, usually in his isolation. Water leaked out the corner of his eyes as Sasuke pressed up against him, up to the wall, licking at his wrists, "Crying... crying does not help ease the heartache..." Sasuke's voice sounded hoarse.
Half-sobbing, Naruto continued, " it only makes you feel it worse."
.o.
Done feasting upon Naruto's blood, the last Uchiha looked broodingly into the golden boy's eyes and left, leaving Naruto the loneliest he'd ever been; waiting in the maddening solitude, hoping someone would come, and hoping someone wouldn't come.
End of Tenuous Hold:
Siege
The flavors of next chapter:
Chapter 3: Fight.
Naruto with an umbrella.
REVIEW IF YOU WANT MORE!
Prizes:
1st person to review this chapter gets sneek peek at shonen-ai moment next chapter.
10th person to review entire story gets sneek peek at latest chapter in the works.
REVIEW TO COLLECT YOUR COTTON CANDY AND BUTTERFINGERS!