Hi guys so a quick note before the story, as you can see I've not updated recently but I've been going through a rough patch to put it mildly and now that I have my AS exams I find myself lacking energy to do anything. I need to start looking after myself more before I get worse and wind up losing my job which I need if I'm gonna look after myself…
So anyway the past couple of chapters I've been trying to signify to strong bonds all of the characters have to each other starting with romantic attachments. I'm still debating whether to go into any further background info with relationships, I don't know if I'm going to do flashbacks for the main characters or just drop hints about their past.
With my lack of energy I don't know the direction I want the story to go…well I do towards the end but not how to get there…I have plans for later chapters if I decide to continue but not for now. I have one more chapter half written I'll try to finish it if I feel up to it.
I need help guys, any suggestions in which directions the story may take I will appreciate it sooo much. Please review it gives me encouragement to carry on and not that I'm wasting my time, anyway I'll let you get onto the story.
KDT out.
Chapter eleven: Confessions of an older brother.
1994 Konoha – age 16
Naruto groaned as he blinked himself awake his whole body tensing in protest, letting out a pained moan he lied back. He opened an eye and looked around the room frowning a little as he realised it wasn't his, he frowned again when he felt something shift next to him. Looking in that direction he saw a head of wild red hair next to him as he felt something nuzzle him gently, he smiled softly as his brother continued to nuzzle into his shoulder. Hissing slightly Naruto shifted his stiff legs wincing as pain flared down his side, biting his lip he turned his head so he could nuzzle the red hair lightly with the tip of his nose. Kyuubi hummed and snuggled closer to the blonde, arms tightening around him so he was pulled closer. Kyuubi smiled as he blinked awake looking up at his younger brother before resting his head on the blonde's stomach nuzzling the skin softly.
"Naru?"
"Yeah Kyuu?"
"Please don't scare me like that again, I was so worried about you. I'd thought I'd lost you," Naruto blinked and looked down on his brother with sad blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be out so late I just fell asleep." Kyuubi sighed and looked up at his brother a tanned hand reaching up to stroke his cheek, Naruto sniffed and looked away from his brother unable to look into his eyes. The red head frowned before pulling his younger to his chest in breathing deeply to inhale his scent.
"I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday. I wasn't really angry more like concerned, I just don't want to lose you." Naruto sniffed and placed his head under his chin.
"I'm sorry Kyuu I should have known better than to fall asleep on a boat but I suppose I lose my head when it comes to Sasuke." The red head chuckled closing his eyes.
"I know what you mean I used to be the same."
"No way!?" Naruto placed his hands on his brother's chest and pushed up to look him in the face.
"It's true I've done a lot of stupid things in the name of love"
"Do tell brother dear" closing his eyes Kyuubi leaned back against the pillows and pulled Naruto back to his chest.
*Flashback*
A sixteen year old Kyuubi walked down the almost empty streets of Sand hand in hand with his partner of a year Itachi, both smiled at each other as the turned into the abandoned square. Itachi giggled as Kyuubi jumped onto the fountain and began to dance around before extending his hand to Itachi who joined him in a slow dance. Kyuubi sighed happily as he stared down at his smaller partner and wrapped his arms around his waist before pulling him down to sit on his lap as they snuggled under the fountain.
"Kyuubi?" the red head hummed looking into the dark eyes "it's beginning to get late shouldn't we be getting back before you dad begins to worry?"
"We'll be okay, I'm sure he won't mind if we break curfew a little plus there's something I really want to show you." Itachi bit his lip looking up with worried eyes causing Kyuubi to smile softly and move a tanned hand to his cheek; the raven sighed softly and leaned into the touch. "It'll be fine trust me."
Ten minutes later saw both boys down by the dock Kyuubi easily manoeuvring in the almost pitch black whilst Itachi stuck to his side.
"Kyuubi" he whined "can we go back and you show me another day?"
"Come in Itachi, where's your sense of adventure?"
"Back home with the punishment we'll get for being late," the black haired hissed "let's go back please; I really don't have a good feeling about this."
"Itachi" the elder scolded "stop being such a worry wart, you're with me so it'll be fine." Itachi bit his lip and didn't meet Kyuubi's eyes as he turned his head away to peer into the darkness. Kyuubi rolled his eyes at his boyfriend's timidness before grabbing his hand and pulling him along despite the ravens protest. Maroon eyes gleamed as he saw the small doorway carved into the wall almost invisible unless you knew what to look for, with practiced ease he unlocked the door the complex pullies and weights opening the heavy stone door.
Kyuubi pulled the smaller boy behind him one hand holding tightly onto his to stop him pulling back whilst the other skimmed the wall looking for the torch. Finding the thick wooded handle the red head allowed his power to spark for a moment lighting the rag end on fire and lighting the hallway. Itachi winced as the sudden bright light hurt his eyes and he got his first good look at his boyfriend since it turned black outside. Itachi fiddled with the end of his shirt as he saw the childlike glee in his eyes, with a sigh the raven followed after the excited redhead. The torch was held high as the two made their way through the tunnel as they turned the corner Kyuubi stopped and thrust the torch into a pit by his side in a whoosh the flame travelled around the room bathing the entire thing in warm light.
"Wow" Itachi breathed as he looked around his hand running along the smooth stone wall and looked up at the high pillars that surrounded the room leading up to the arched roof. Kyuubi smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder leaning down to whisper in his ear.
"Worth coming with me now?" Kyuubi smiled before running off and using his arms to pull himself up and swing up onto one of the wooden beams that stretched across the roof. The red head grinned from his position on the wooden beam before hoping to the next one and swinging across before settling. Itachi looked up at his boyfriend who was swinging around like a small red monkey, he bit his lip as he looked up.
"Kyuubi, come down please it doesn't look safe up there," Kyuubi rolled his eyes before standing and swinging across.
"Stop worrying Itachi it's absolutely safe" the red head grinned swinging again as his feet touched the wooden beam a loud crack echoed through the room carried by the high roof. The world froze for a moment as Kyuubi's body was suspended in mid-air before he began to fall.
"Kyuubi!" Itachi screamed as his boyfriends body fell to the ground with a sickening crack.
"ARGH!" Kyuubi cried as his body hit the floor leg bending painfully, tears gathered in the corner of his eyes. His boyfriend ran over to him and fell onto his knees hand skimming over the tanned flesh before he let his eyes fall on the badly twisted leg. The red head bit his lip and hissed softly as he gripped the tops of his leg as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Kyuubi, breath honey breath," pale hands were placed on each cheek and dark eyes bore into tearful maroon ones. "Kyuubi I need you to work with me here okay love?" Itachi stood up and moved behind Kyuubi placing his hands under his arms "okay Kyuu I need you to put some of your jacket between your teeth and take a deep breath, when I count to three brace yourself." The read head nodded as he put a wad of his jacket into his mouth and bit down hard, Itachi nodded and let out a sigh before tensing his arms. "Okay one…two…three" Itachi pulled causing his boyfriend to scream as he was pulled along the floor. "You're doing good Kyuubi just a little longer okay? Ready one…two…three" with another tug Itachi managed to pull him so that he could lean against a stone pillar. Kneeling down he placed a kiss to his sweaty brow "you did brilliant Kyuu, now do you have a knife on you?"
"Boot" he managed to grit out before leaning heavily against the pillar. Biting his lip the raven gently removed the knife before cutting the left leg of the red heads trousers and tying it tightly around the top of his keg to stem the bleeding.
"Kyuubi I need to go get help okay? I'm not strong enough to lift you alone. Kyuubi looked with frightened eyes and gripped his boyfriends hand tightly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay Kyuu but I need to go now," the red head nodded and reluctantly let go of his hand before leaning back against the pillar.
"Please hurry" Itachi turned and nodded before picking up the discarded torch from earlier and hurrying back down the corridor. Itachi froze as he got outside realising that he didn't know the streets of Sand as well as the streets of Konoha, taking a breath he lifted the torch higher and began to walk the same direction as the had come from earlier. He allowed himself to relax a little as he got to the fountain and let his eyes scan the darkness beyond the torchlight, a noise to the side made him jump causing him to grab the torch with both hands.
"W who's there?" He asked glaring into the dark, silence replied and the raven stepped cautiously forward only to jump back as a cat caused a bucket to fall and ran off into the dark. Itachi let out a half amused breath and allowed himself to relax again until someone touched his shoulder causing him to spin around intent on hitting the person with the torch.
"Itachi?" the raven shook as adrenalin flooded his system as he looked into the face of his old friend hi tanned skin slightly red from the close call with the flame.
"Iruka" he breathed "thank goodness," for a second his rested his head on the older man's chest before smacking him lightly with his free hand "don't do that again you nearly gave me a heart attack." The older man chuckled bring a hand up to rub absentmindedly against his scar before his pushed his older student up and looked into his eyes.
"Where have you been? Everyone's been worried sick, where's Kyuubi?"
"He's hurt. Please I need your help," the teen begged.
"Okay wait here I'm going to get Kakashi and Asuma to help okay?"
"Please be quick," he nodded before the brown haired man disappeared back into the darkness to find his fellow teammates. A few minutes later Iruka was back with Kakashi and Asuma, Itachi nodded to both before taking the path that was beginning to get all too familiar. He passed the torch to Iruka before running down the corridor in a hurry to get to his partner.
"Kyuubi" he cried as he fell to his knees taking his boyfriends clammy head into his hands. "I tried to help but;" Kakashi's hand on his shoulder stopped him as he looked up with tearful eyes, the silver haired assassin smiled reassuringly.
"You did the right thing Itachi, now just relax and let us deal with him," the raven nodded and moved to another pillar letting his arms wrap around his shaking form only to find a cloak draped over him. Asuma smiled and headed off to help the others.
Half an hour later the four finally made it to the Uzumaki residence Iruka having gone ahead to make preparations, knocking on the door they were confronted by a worried Minato and a distraught Kushina. The red headed woman gasped as she opened the door and went to hug her eldest only stopping when Kakashi got in the way, passing the distressed woman they moved to the closest bedroom and laid the oldest Uzumaki down careful now to worsen his injury. Moving away they allowed Tsunade get on with her work, Iruka turned to Itachi pulling him down to it before looking over to Kushina.
"Could you please get Itachi something to drink?"
*End flashback*
Naruto looked up at his brother with wide eyes before hitting him lightly on the chest.
"You told me you broke your leg training," Kyuubi smirked before looking away and running a hand through his red hair.
"Well I wasn't going to tell you I broke it showing off to my boyfriend now was I?" The blonde pouted and stuck his tongue out, "although if it wasn't for Itachi's quick thinking I wouldn't have made it, the medic said it was a miracle I hadn't lost more blood."
"What happened after?"
Kyuubi chuckled "well I got a verbal lashing off dad, no allowance for a month, six weeks in a splint and worst of all Itachi had to be sent home and I wasn't allowed any contact with him till Christmas." The red head hugged his brother tightly "which is why I was so worried last night when you didn't come back it made me think that something had happened, that you could be lying out there bleeding and I wouldn't know."
"I'm sorry Kyuu. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again" the blonde murmured snuggling into his brother's chest.