Dancing In The Dusk

Rating: M

Summary: Memories are strange things. They can make you stronger, or they can completely break you mentally.

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING DAMMIT! if I destroy the lawyers, I might, BUT I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! I really don't own Photograph, that belongs to Nickelback.

WARNING: This chapter contains rape towards the end. If you can't stomach that, watch for the last flashback, and skip it.

CHAPTER 4: PHOTOGRAPH

One year.

It had been one entire year since that...that...skank had shown up in Konohagakure. One year since they had moved out of that tiny apartment with all those kids, and built a mansion on the outskirts of town, as far away from the villagers as the could get. One entire year since that bitch had started making his best friend smile and laugh.

Although...Sasuke knew it was unfair of him to blame Raven for driving Naruto away from him. He had done a damn good job of that himself. That didn't mean he had to like the situation.

Before that day, he had barely acknowledged Naruto, except as an obstacle to surpass. He'd never even considered Naruto his friend— okay, scratch that. He'd considered the blond his friend, subconsciously, during the massive guilt trip he'd put himself through in the years he had spent with Orochimaru. But then the dumbass had saved him. Deadlast had had the nerve to come in, kill the snake-bastard, and save him.

Sasuke had frozen Naruto out in retaliation, thinking that the blond would eventually come for him, the same way he always had, but he'd been wrong. In fact, Naruto had stopped going out in public altogether, unless he was taking the kids shopping or he had a solo mission. In between the two, there had been no trips to the Academy, no stops at the ramen shop, no garish orange jumpsuits, no obnoxiously loud laughter, no scarred cheeks, no sign that the blond still lived inside the city walls.

Then one year ago, three years after he had come back, Tsunade had assigned him his first team mission. His teammates? Naruto and Sakura, of course!

-Flashback-

Sasuke was in Tsunade's office promptly at nine a.m. He slouched in, not caring why he was called, as long as it was for something good.

"Grandma...why did you call us here?" Sasuke's head whirled to face the owner of that honey-coated baritone.

Tall, broad body, a full head-and-a-half taller than himself. A black tee stretched tightly across tanned skin, disappearing into a well-used pair of jeans. Shockingly blond hair that barely touched the shoulders. Three whisker-scars on each cheek, just under beautiful violet eyes. Violet eyes! Could this..man-god...possibly be...Naruto? His Naruto?

Sasuke focused on Tsunade, hiding his shock under layer upon layer of ice. When had this happened? When did his annoyingly strong, wonderful, little sparring partner grow up into this? Could it...Naruto wasn't smiling. Why wasn't this Naruto smiling?

"He never smiles anymore, not unless he's with his orphans. His children." Tsunade replied quietly. Sasuke flushed, then noticed he was the only one left. He hadn't known he had spoken aloud.

"You know why he doesn't smile, don't you, Sasuke?" the Hokage inquired. "You know why he doesn't talk anymore, why he doesn't wear those hideous jumpsuits he adored. Right?" He shook his head.

"We haven't spoken since I came back. Let alone seen each other," he added. He congratulated himself for keeping his voice steady. Tsunade sighed.

"It's because of you. The day he woke up, after you tried to kill him, he stopped talking. The villagers thought it was him maturing, or something, and considered it a blessing in disguise. But we knew different.

"You succeeded in your intentions, Sasuke. You killed your best friend."

-End Flashback-

It had hurt him. That constricting feeling in his chest, centering around his heart. It squeezed at him, a crushing pressure on his lungs that wouldn't allow him to breathe. He couldn't understand why he'd felt this way, like someone had told him he was the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler, or, or, hell, someone just as evil! Naruto was alive dammit, he hadn't had the strength to take away the blond's life, to never see the glimmer in those wonderfully blue eyes of his. But he had anyway...he had never known at the time, but he did now.

Oh yeah. That hurt.

The mission had been fairly easy, handing off a scroll from the Hokage to the Kazekage of the Sunagakure. Even now, he didn't understand why Tsunade had brought Cell Seven together for such an easy mission, but he had been glad when it ended. Sakura had hung all over him the entire time, had thoroughly insulted Naruto every time he stepped into the room, and had completely pissed Sasuke off.

Naruto's reaction to the girl in the forest had been the icing on the cake.

"Stupid. That is not a woman, that is a corpse. Unless you happen to have some sort of Lazarus serum handy, there is nothing that can be done for a corpse. Except to let it rot."

How had Naruto known? Sasuke had been so certain that the girl was dead, there had been no trace of a chakra signature at all! Even Sakura had agreed...but she hadn't even stopped to check the body. Once again, the medic agreed faithfully with anything that the Uchiha heir said. The medic hadn't checked the body, but Naruto had, and had stood resolute in his belief that she was alive, even as they had walked off. He had stayed, and Sasuke had been to angry to even consider that Naruto, who had changed so drastically since saving Sasuke, had the slimmest chance of being right.

Lo and behold, he had shown up in Tsunade's office, the violet-haired girl that Sasuke had thought dead in tow. She really had been alive, and Naruto had been right, and Sasuke had been wrong. Once upon a time, Sasuke would have thought the world would end, should Naruto ever turn out to be right in one of their arguments. As it was, Sakura had passed out when she saw the girl, after screaming something about demonic ghosts. Actually, passed out is the wrong phrase to use; she had fainted in fear when both Naruto and that girl turned identical Glares of Pain and Suffering on her.

Raven, his mind supplied nastily, her name is Raven, and Naruto likes her more than you. You were his 'best friend' for how long? And all you ever did was hurt him. She wasn't even here one single day, and she got a promise of eternal protection from him. She had him smiling and laughing, in public, in two months.

You gave him silence and depression for five years. So, princess, the question now is:

Who deserves him more?

"I don't deserve him," Sasuke growled out loud, "but I still want him. Mark my words, Raven Roth...

"Naruto will be mine."

(SS- I really did consider leaving it off there, but certain contributing factors :cough: my muses and Sasuke trying to kill me:cough: have led me to believe that it wouldn't be very nice if I did that)

Raven and Naruto sneezed simultaneously. The two shrugged, grinned at each other, and went back to making an obscenely huge batch of chocolate chip cookies.

"I guess someone was talking about us," said Naruto. Raven scoffed.

"Maybe someone was talking about you, but I sneezed because my nose itched," the pale half-demon declared, then giggled when her blond friend poked her, having seen right through the bluff. She used her powers to dump a bag of flour over his head in retaliation. Raven cackled with glee at his affronted, dumbfounded expression. It was priceless! She doubled over, holding her sides, while he narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, it's on now!" he exclaimed, grabbing a pair of eggs. Her laughter turned into shrieks as he smashed them onto the crown of her head. It was his turn to laugh now, as he watched the yolks run down her face. He failed to notice the obvious sign of impending danger, the ever popular twitchy eyebrow. He did notice when a ball of batter exploded on his face. The war was on!

And it was still going strong when Takao, Yusuke, and Umi came home half an hour later. They all sighed, and had they been anime characters, gigantic sweatdrops would have engulfed their heads. It never ceased to amaze them that their strong, fearless, wonderful parental figures, could act like the youngest kids whenever they were together. They had finished building this amazing house nine months ago, and had proceeded to 'cozy the place up'— Raven's own words— by having food fights, paint wars, or anything else that would make the family laugh.

-Flashback-

"You guys all managed to fit in here." Raven stated dryly. She was currently bouncing lightly on one of the mattresses that made up the living room floor. "I must say, congratulations on not killing each other."

Yusuke muttered, "Yeah, but not for lack of trying." He blushed when Ma— Raven hadn't objected when Takao called her that, so he guessed it would be okay— tilted her head back and loosed a full, throaty laugh.

"I don't see any reason why we can't build ourselves a place, on the outskirts of the village," she said when her laughter had subsided. "I mean, we have you, Naruto, some of the older kids, and now, me. If you still think it would be too hard, we could recruit some of your friends into lending a hand."

Naruto stared at her in awe for a moment, then whooped with delight. "That's an excellent idea!" he exclaimed. "We'll get started on it tomorrow!"

-End Flashback-

It had taken three moths, but the house had been built, and it was gorgeous. It had four floors, with ten bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a game room, on each of the last three floors. The first floor had a giant living room, a kitchen that was every chef's wet dream, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and the master bedroom, with a connecting bathroom that held a steam booth, and a Jacuzzi instead of a regular tub.

And they hadn't needed to go on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to do it.

Takao smiled fondly as he reminisced. Then, abruptly..."GAAHHH! MA, WATCH IT!" A stray cookie dough bomb had exploded on him. Raven pointed at the blond half-demon.

"Hey, don't look at me! That was all Naruto right there!" Naruto tried sputtering out protests, but to no avail. Raven was walking toward the group of three, gazing fixedly at Umi.

"How do you feel," she inquired kindly. Umi smiled, ducking her head down to her growing midsection.

"I...I felt them kick today." she whispered. "Mama, I think they're getting stronger." Umi felt a light touch on her chin, and raised her head. Mama was smiling so nicely, she always smiled nicely, but they had become extra special to Umi...ever since the attack.

(Warning: This contains a rape scene. Do not read if you have a faint hart, coz this will get graphic.)

-Flashback-

Umi whimpered in pain. She had been walking through Konoha at night, picking up some milk for Ma. He had caught her by surprise, had pulled her down into the alley, and pushed her harshly against the wall. The milk had been abandoned at the entrance.

"Where you been?" he demanded, "I been so lonely, and I ain't been able to find any of those little whores, ain't been able to find you. FOR TWO FUCKING YEARS!" He slammed her against the wall after each word as emphasis. Umi cried out, tears coursing down her face, but resigned to her fate. Nobody would come.

"My wife ain't been puttin' out lately," he snarled pushing his face close to hers. His breath smelled sour, rancid. "And since were the last good whore this place had, I'll just have to make this night one you'll never forget." Umi felt her eyes widen in horror as she watched him unsheath a seven-inch dagger. He grinned maliciously and pressed the sharp side onto the soft skin beneath her collarbone. At the same time, he pinned her with his lower body, permitting her to feel his rapidly growing erection.

"This'll only hurt a bit," he whispered sadistically, then slashed down. She screamed, knowing only a burning pain as the knife made its way down, carving up her side and freeing her breast. Then up each of her hips, destroying the remains of her dress, slicing through the seams of her panties. Then down once more, from the middle of her breasts to the top of her navel. The pain was excruciating to her, and the more she bled, the harder he got.

He fumbled with his pants, then finally dropped them around his ankles. "I'm clean," he whispered hotly as he tore her body with his massive length. "No STDs or nothin', so I don't need a damn condom." He dug his fingers in the bloody gashes he had created, relishing in her agonized screams. He hadn't lasted long, and came with a grunt, just in time to hear someone scream the whore's name. He was thrown off the bitch by an amazing force of power.

"What the fuck!" he screamed in rage. Glowing red eyes met his, and he wet himself.

"What's your name?" the voice snarled menacingly. He gulped.

"H-Hi-Hideki Tojo. Who the fuck are you?" he replied with a bravado that even he didn't believe.

"Die, Hideki Tojo." Something was squeezing his heart and lungs. He couldn't breathe, couldn't scream, couldn't even think. He blacked out, hoping he would be saved. But alas, no one mourns the wicked.

Umi felt strong, familiar arms surround her, comforting her with the scent of moonlight and lavender. "Mama?" she whispered, her voice cracking. She had come?

"Shhhh, Umi, shhhh. I got worried when you weren't back at eight. Don't worry, none of this was your fault. I'm here now. Things will be okay.

"You're safe and I still love you."

-End Flashback-

They had found out she was pregnant the next day. Everyone, had been there for her, had supported her decision to keep them, but Mama had done most of all. She had taken Umi to Tsunade personally for each check-up, had made a special to settle the morning nausea, had leaped with joy when they found out Umi was having twins.

She had been a real mama, and now, Umi would be a real mama too.

Naruto smiled fondly as Raven bustled about making Umi comfortable. He felt complete knowing Raven was here to stay, yet something was still missing, something Naruto knew he would need soon, if he didn't want to go crazy.

He needed a mate.

He needed Sasuke.

END CHAPTER 4

Shinigami's Sister/Notes- I wrote a rape scene? I wrote rape scene:whimpers: I am so going to hell.

Orochimaru- I'll put in a good word for you.

Kali- OO. When the fuck did he get here?

Athena- Don't know. :shrugs: Don't care. Wanna roast him?

Review Responses

kinguofdoragons- :beams widely: Thank you, being different is the only thing that keeps me from shooting up my school! Plus, my folks say I'm to young to handle Tomahawks.

duckyalchemist- Yeah, we made Naruto a total softy. Now we just need to melt Sasuke's impenetrable barrier of ice, just so we can make things steamy.

Sin Piedad- Thank you! Another chapter should be up soon.

cheerful-pinkstar- Thank you!

Athena- Wanna know what happens next? Please review, and you'll find out!

SS- I totally love Chad from Nickelback. If he weren't engaged, I'd kidnap him, drug him, make him love me by erasing his memories of his fiancee.

Kali- You know that's probably illegal, right?

SS- Indeed...

All- Bai-bai-buu!