Chapter 19: Breathless.
Parings: Naru/Sasu….duh.
Rating: K-T (first) M-NC-17 (later)
Disclaimer: I do not own the sheer genius "Naruto"; Shippuden of other. The honours go to Masashi Kishimoto and his genius brain that created this masterpiece.
Summary: Remember the summer camp you went to; that quaint place out in the woods, by a lake, sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories and eating s'mores? Well this summer school, sure as hell, isn't that. Three months, Sasuke, teenage delinquents, illegal alcohol, prescription drugs, annoying shrinks, escape plans, a Shitzu from hell, and new relationships; welcome to camp. NaruSasuNaru.
Announcement: The last chap was dedicated to 'thehotnerd' for her awesome artwork. If you hadn't seen it find it here; ' (slash) 0jOYGGW.' #squealsharder.
A/N: Plot snuffle: in the last chapter I wrote 'Hayate' as one of the teachers when Hayate is actually the lawyer; I actually meant to write 'Raidou' but for some reason my concentration had just up and disappeared on me; that said you can return to your regular programming...oh an 'Wild Card' is...coming...slowly but coming.
A/N2: Long ass chapter for you. XD. Recently I re-watched Nick Cage's "National Treasure, 'Book of Secrets'," and I couldn't get any of it out of my head. So I added a minor scene to this in deference of the awesomeness of that movie...and Ummmmm, you might not be interested but the theme song for this chapter is Nadia's 'Life of a stranger.'
He needed a cigarette.
Needless of the fact that he had abandoned that habit almost a year ago and that the fact that his lungs weren't in the best shape combined with the fact that his immune system seemed like it had taken a permanent vacation; he was in the crippling pangs of craving a menthol cig.
Glancing up bleakly to the drab ceiling from his still form on the bed he closed his eyes and sighed, mind replaying the words he had said two nights before, "I'm toxic Naruto."
For all its' detrimental intimations he was dead serious, he is toxic. At least that was what he had come to firmly believe upon his 'stellar' history with past relationships.
The darkness in the room was slightly consoling; one cold comfort in a world of chaos. He glanced bleakly over to the silent other half of the room as a tooth bit sharply into his bottom lip. The kiss had gone chipped a crater sized hole in the iron clad wall he had erected around his mind.
After that everything around him seemed to have morphed into high definition and psychedelic colour causing his concentration to be shot to hell. Even now small electrocuted shivers ran under his skin with a mere thought of the kiss.
For the past two days they had been...skittish around each other...well Sasuke was skittish, Naruto was mostly absent what with his walking up pre-dawn and leaving the room on the crack of it. Under all that Sasuke would be lying to himself if on occasions he didn't feel the rake of blue eyes over his skin; at meals, classes, cali. Needless to say their nightly spars had been indefinably postponed.
He flipped over again and sighed; no matter what position he was in he couldn't sleep.
He needed air but could he risk it? Naruto did sleep like the dead though.
Slowly getting out of bed he slipped the screwdriver out of its hiding place in his bed base and after a quick look over the other side of the room, silently made his way to the bathroom and in short order made his way to the roof. Revelling in the freezing cold air buffeting his face he settled down to re-map the escape route and plan.
Smuggling Pein under and out from the basement to the outer boundary and beyond was going to be a challenge; considering the facts that the guard rotation was so short, the fact that the fences were electrocuted and he still wasn't sure if the constant corroding of the metal would even work to inhibit the electricity. Still though, the key stone of the plan was to synthesize the paralysis inducing concoction from the Tantulla berries in precise concentration because a mere milligram over and the serum would kill Pein instead of inducing the paralysis as planned.
Breathing deeply he shifted to look at the power posts. The next stage was that the EMP would have to be placed and deployed on the master circuit in precise timing for the cohesive blackout to take place of the camp and that was more a problem of precision than anything else.
TenTen had assured him that she could build it, but she needed time and some specific materials; the list of which she had promptly scribbled and given him. She had said the simplest way to build it was to use a metal rod, cathode like, wrapped around with a copper wire and controlled with a flash capacitor(1); but he had told her that it also needed a pulse activated timer detonator. He wasn't going to lie; the grin on her face and the devilish light in her eyes made something unseen and deeply unsettling crawl up his skin. The good thing was that she hadn't even asked him what is was for and why he wanted it.
Turning around his teeth grit as an unusually sharp wind cut across his face with the realisation that he was going to commit a grand level, international rated felony.
The whole concept was a stack of dominoes; one wrong move and the whole thing would collapse like an elephant balancing on a pin. The only upside was that fact that, pulled off correctly, he would escape the stifling confines of his present situation and would be granted the opportunity to see beyond the walls he was currently in.
Pein had already promised him that; the promise had now morphed into a hunger; the hunger...the need to get out; to get out of the mundane; the sickening ordinary and the stifling limitations. Itachi could take care of himself and honestly his older brother would be better off without the hassle and stress of worrying about him constantly.
Sasuke leaned back, eyes hooded and dark. Surely there was more to life than...this. Unbidden a flash of blond hair and blue eyes and a wide grin sprang up before him; he went stiff.
Breathing deeply through his nose he sighed. Naruto was...beautiful; that was damn sure; beautiful in a 'diamond-under-the-rough' kind of way. Strong chiselled features; wide sapphire eyes and that blond hair that kind of fucked with the notion that he was Asian in heritage.
He had long ago dimly recognized that the blond was the polar opposite of him and it was...intriguing. He was book smart, Naruto was street smart; Sasuke couldn't make friends to save his life, Naruto drew people to him like a human magnet. Under all that though, Sasuke knew that tipping factor that drew him to the blond was what happened in the scavenger hunt; from that moment a bond, like titanium and iron, had forged Sasuke to Naruto and everyday it grew stronger.
His teeth gritted. He had lived the majority of his life trying his best to not be attached to anything; human or otherwise and under three weeks that had been shot to hell; seems like the last seven years had just been proved moot, didn't it.
"It's a what?" Kiba asked his expression ridiculous; one eye saucer wide the other closed almost into a slit, "We're doing a mountain climb?"
"Apparently," Shino said blandly turning away from the crowd, "...and Kakashi-sensei is the one supervising it...some more bullshit about teamwork or something."
He was about to enter the mess hall when he nudged Kiba and jerked his head over to the left where a seemingly desponded Naruto on the basketball court bleachers, ball in hand but was staring into space.
"What's up with your friend?" Shino asked.
Kiba shrugged, "Beats me...he's been acting like that for the last two days...my best guess is he and the Uchiha had a fall out or something."
Shino's eyes, behind his glasses took in the still form, "Yes, I agree but ...no...if I'm right...that's not all of it...there's more to it than that."
Wild brown brows over amber eyes arched, "As in?"
Somehow Shino (and it was a mystery how Kiba knew he was doing it) managed to, behind his glasses, pierce the Inuzuka with a cutting look as in to say, 'what-the-hell-do-you-think-idiot'.
Amber eyes flew open with the realization as he turned decidedly green and shivered, "Oh...OH!" he cringed, "Thanks fucker, now I have that image in my head."
"Racks, slings, quick-draws, HMS carabineers, wires, camming devices..." Kakashi called out walking along the line, "...helmet, rope, flashlights and harness." He said coming to a stop his own helmet under his arm, "Make sure you have them because I won't be responsible if any of you suffer some kind of concussion or... heaven forbid, die."
"You've all done the simulation on the obstacle course," he continued, "This is no different; the map you have all been given charts out your course. Upon reaching the plateau; there is a trail that will lead you back to the camp." The silver haired man said checking his wristwatch; "Its o seven hundred people; you have until thirteen hundred to complete this task; so get moving."
Sasuke glanced under half-mast lids to the blond beside him. A blanket of silence had descended on them from the 'kiss' episode and Sasuke wasn't going to do anything to break it.
It wasn't like he was scared or anything...right?
Facing their marked route, he glanced up at the stretch of rock; a slight...very slight ...wave of nausea washed over him before he swallowed hard and shoved it away. It was about time he got over that damn acrophobia.
"Just don't look down." Naruto offered eyes fully trained upwards.
Wait...how did he know?
"...thank you." he said was surprised when it came out...sincerely.
A quick surprised look was shot over to him then a slight toothy grin as he buried a pinion in the rock. "Let's go...is TenTen half monkey or something...she's moving like lightning."
(*)(*)(*)
"That's...strange." Naruto said approaching the bare protruding spit of rock at the zenith of the climb, "...it's not moss covered."
Sasuke squinted, "Should it be?"
"Yes," the blond replied absently, "The air up here is moist and saturated with water, combined the forest line just below here and the jet-streams that should carry spores and pollen up here; by all accounts this rock should be covered with moss; its basic science."
Stepping up to the rock himself Sasuke ran a hand over it and paused, "It's abnormally...smooth... like someone took the time to plane it."
"Hey Sasuke," he was called, "Look at this."
He turned to see the blond crouched down ripping handfuls of dead leaves away from the base of the rock, Sasuke joined him and his eyes narrowed. Carved into the base of the rock were symbols; faded and eroded but symbols nevertheless.
"What in th-" he started to ask when footsteps behind him made him turn around to see Shikamaru, hands firmly shoved in his pockets, making his way over to them.
"Have you guys seen that damn trail Kakashi-sensei was talking about?" he groused, "I've been searching for about fifteen minutes and haven't seen it."
"Why do you want to go back so early, Bambi..." Naruto teased, "...missed out on your beauty sleep?"
The Nara shot him a poisonous look, "For your information lack of sleep causes lower levels of serotonin, a brain fluid which regulates the ability to not be a complete idiot like you."
He smirked as the blond rolled his eyes, "Whatever genius; come take a look at this."
Sighing the Nara approached the blond and took a cursory glance at the carvings, then to the shock of the other two Shikamaru's brown eyes flew open with a manic light. Dropping to his haunches he trailed light trembling fingertips over the markings.
"D...d...do you know what this is?" he stuttered.
"Ummm, since my serotonin levels are low, no." Naruto chided earning himself a slap to the head.
"This is one of the symbols of the 'Wo' people...that strain of Chinese immigrants that migrated to Japan before the 8'th century. Not much is known about them but one thing is known...the fact that they were known for being deeply religious...this could be one of their shrines."
"...On a bare rock?" Sasuke asked incredulously, "I highly doubt it."
Shikamaru ignored him as he searched around the base of the boulder. There was nothing indicative of an opening. After a moment and a moment of pondering Shikamaru reached up, flattened his palm and moved it slowly over the circumference of the rock foot by foot. Five feet up he stopped.
"Air..." he leaned in and seemed to sniff, "...there's a hole." He pronounced, "...wide enough for my hand."
"Shika," Naruto said alarmed, "You're not going to-"
But it was too late; the Nara had already stuck his hand in the opening. Tense Sasuke stood watching the whole scene. "Well...what's in there?"
"It feels like a...latch." the Nara said, eyebrows furrowed then he yanked.
For a minute nothing happened and then a localized earthquake rocked the patch of earth they were standing on. Grabbing at the nearest thing to him, a tree limb, he watched, fascinated, as a slab or rock shifted for a second then fell with a thunderous crash before them.
A dark opening the size of a massive double door gaped at them. In a second Shikamaru was on his feet, mini flashlight in hand and approaching the hole. Reacting fast Naruto grabbed him and yanked him back just a secondary piece of basalt rock slipped from above and slammed inches away from the Nara's feet. Shaking himself the lanky brown haired hacker inched cautiously towards the doorway and pushed what seemed like an inner door away while shining his light into the darkness.
After a second, "Guys...you should probably look at this." The Nara's tone was...giddy.
Slowly approaching the door, Sasuke peered into the gloom and as the broad ray of light skimmed over the inside Sasuke gasped silently. The room was circular; in the middle was a broken, lopsided fountain like structure, it's basalt looking stones corroded and fragmented, and surrounding it, recessed in the walls, were statues of every height and shape; ranging from short stocky dwarfs to tall, graceful elf-like forms.
It was obviously an ancient pre-Shinto shrine. They entered slowly.
"Spirits," Shikamaru said quietly as if he talked too loud he would shatter them, "...of all the world's elements; earth, water, air, wind, light, lightning, metal, wood...all in harmony..."
"This is... freaky." Naruto said lowly glancing up at the clearly hand carved roof of what looked like hybrid animals, "...awesome but freaky."
"And probably forbidden." Sasuke murmured tracing over the detailed carvings in the roof, "don't these places have some kind of curse on them for uninvited intruders or something."
Shikamaru scoffed, "Urban legend Uchiha, most likely it some kind of airborne poison they might have left or some kind of tra-"
Creeeeeaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkk!
"Guys!" Naruto shouted spinning back to the doorway.
"It's going to close!" Sasuke yelled spinning around towards the hatch. In a blur Naruto grabbed at the closing wall and put his shoulder to it, pushing hard. Sasuke joined him in the next second. Shikamaru was frantically searching around the door's base.
The closing door slowed down imperceptibly. Out of the corner of his eye he could a frantic Shikamaru making a circuit of the room; running his hands over everything possible.
"You haven't looked at me since I kissed you." Naruto said hands bracing the quickly shutting hatch.
"Is this really the time to talk about that?" Sasuke grunted bracing the lower part of the door with his shoulder. Shikamaru was busily tracing the edges of the opposite wall. What the hell was he searching for?
The blond slammed a heavy boot on the nearby wall for leverage, planked his body and pushed, "Well no," he grunted "but since we might be locked in here until we rot I thought...hey... why not."
"It's not allowed." Sasuke grated pushing even harder, "...and you don't even really know me."
Something snapped; a high rafter. Sprinkles of sawdust like particles sprayed over them. Sasuke grunted and pushed harder.
"It's a tumbler system," The Nara shouted, "connected to a series of external weights. It's not going to stop closing and you're probably going to pull something trying to stop it...Let it go!"
Sasuke looked at him like he was crazy, "Trust me," Shikamaru implored, "Let it go."
Warily they both released the door and stepped back. Sasuke flinched when the door slammed shut.
"Uchiha," the slim teen said handing Sasuke the flashlight, "Hold this."
"Whatever you're going to do," Naruto said tersely scanning the dim room, "make it quick; this place doesn't have enough air for us."
The Nara nodded and set to work. Fist clenched Sasuke held the small device close enough that even he could see the maze like carved grooves in the wall.
"It's a puzzle." Shikamaru said grimly, pushing a small section of the wall; three separate squares on different heights in the wall then popped out.
"Of what?" Naruto asked tightly.
"I don't know...weight re-distribution maybe; though it does looks like an ancient prototype of the rubix cube ...give me some time," he answered tracing the small boxes, "I'll figure it out."
Sasuke went grim when he felt the tan body brushing up alongside him. "Don't do that." He hissed batting the hand away.
"You have problems..." Naruto said quietly brushing a strand of damp black hair behind an ear, "...it's kind of obvious...but Sasuke...have you ever considered that I might have the same problems as you do...that I do know you?"
"That's impossible." He snarled as quietly as possible to not break the Nara's concentration. Shikamaru was now twisting the squares and trying to fit them back in the spaces.
The blond smiled grimly; "How about that fact that when someone touches you it feels like you want to vomit, or how when you start something you can't rest until it's done even if you're exhausted and strung out like hell...or maybe how you can't trust anybody based on the fact that too many people had stuck a knife in your back the minute you turned away from them. Or how about, after trying your hardest to order your life and clutching to the things you think you know and could rely on until you're left up shit creek without a paddle and you can't find a way out."
Sasuke went still; he dimly recognized that his hand was trembling with every word the blond said, "...Like I said...problems."
They're attention was drawn back to the sound of rock grating on rock and the door popping open. Shikamaru stood up wiping his face, "You'd think that ancient people would have no idea how to make a puzzle that complicated...you'd be wrong...dead wrong...literally."
Stepping out into the dimming sunshine, Shikamaru grabbed a field knife and carved something in the rock face, and turned around, "I'm going to have to tell Gai-sensei about this. This is an archaeological and historical discovery that can't be ignored."
"Knock yourself out." Sasuke said gratefully staking a deep breath of fresh air.
****psychiatric session room 89, Sasuke****
"Okay Uchiha...I've decided to shift you up this time. How are you with an electronic violin?" Kakashi asked waiting for the nod then gestured to the violently blue violin propped up on the desk. "...that right there is 'Rou'."
"Trouble?" he asked slightly humorously while picking up the violin.
"Tell me it's not appropriate for you." The man challenged, perching himself on the desk's edge. "Oh..." he said throwing the word over his shoulder, "...just so you know Sai is getting probation."
Sasuke spun around eyes narrowing, "Why is that mutant masochistic psycho getting released?"
"Progress with his remedial treatment," Kakashi sighed, "...and he does need to finish his term here. Trust me; I don't like it more than you do but for peace sake...just try an avoid him. That said...go ahead...play."
He grunted. Picking up the violin he set to work, distancing himself from the disturbing news that releasing Sai was akin to letting Ted Bundy go, and swiftly picked up the bow, settled it on the strings...and stopped.
A minute passed and a silver brow arched. "...something wrong?"
Settling the instrument back on the table he sighed and leaned back, "Kakashi...what would you do if there was something you wanted just in front of you and you knew that if you touched it, it would break."
Silver head snapped up, "Come again?" he asked stalling while his mind raced.
"You heard me," he said eyes closed, "...just stop stalling."
"Just to clarify," the shrink said carefully; were his suspicions materializing? "...it is a something... or a someone?"
"What's the difference?" Kakashi was then seriously taken aback. Sasuke sounded...defeated. He would have to be very careful with his answer.
"Well...I would..."*)
"Here," Sasuke said handing the written note to Renjii. "I need these."
The junior operative took a cursory glance over the words and grinned, "You're building an electromagnetic pulse device...nice."
He rolled his eyes flipping up the cowl of his white oversized hoodie, "Can you get them or not?"
"Don't worry," Renjii said walking away after crushing the note, "This is practically done."
"She's your what?" Sasuke asked incredulously.
"My sister," Gaara replied lowly, eyes dulled with medication, "...media darling, St. Temari."
Looking at the approaching woman he still couldn't believe it; the female had blond hair...honey blonde hair. Yeah fine; the green eyes were homogenous, (even Kankuro had those) but how the hell did a family have genetic stains that produced children with fire red, honey blond and dirt brown hair.
Watching her approach was akin to seeing some kind of empress or a queen or something. The girl was decked out in a stylish grey suit, a feathered hat, conservative pumps and gloves. Gloves...who the hell in this century wore gloves?
She approached even closer and he saw her eyebrows arch at the fact that he was sitting by her brother. Green eyes flitted mischievously over to him as she sat down.
"Gaara."
"Temari-nee-san." The redhead answered blankly.
She sighed and then after glancing around the mostly empty room, plucked her hat off and ripped off her gloves, "Christ, do I hate wearing that shit." She swore.
Sasuke took a second to regroup, but was further stunned when she took a small box of cigarettes out of her Jimmy Choo purse and lit up. "Daddy dear sends his love," she paused squinting at the Uchiha, "...and since you are so not the type to make friends, I'm assuming this is your new boyfriend." She grinned.
"No." the bland responses were simultaneous.
"I'm just waiting for my brother." Sasuke clarified as the door opened and none other than Shikamaru stumbled into the room and flopped down at the nearest table looking half dead.
Temari went still; eyes squinted. "Is that..." she paused crushing the cig her tone slipping to hallowed reverence, "...Nara Shikamaru...the NASA satellite hacker?"
"The one and only...why?" Sasuke replied arching his left eyebrow, curious at the light that sprang into her eyes. He wasn't surprised when she got up and after shooting a merry wave at them she crossed the room to sit just across from the Nara.
Silence.
"You look troublesome." Came the irritated riposte from a still half faced down Shikamaru.
Gaara's head met his palms with a grunt of, "Buddha...not again."
"Care to let me know what the hell is going on?" Sasuke asked one eye watching the door for Itachi.
"Temari...has a ...bad habit. She goes for troublemakers...smart troublemakers." He answered shifting to let Sasuke hear him, "Her last boyfriend was an M.I.T engineering genius ...he built a machine designed to sense infinitesimal seismic shifts for the local university geology department but what they didn't know was that machine could also cause sound waves that would generate tsunamis. He was caught selling a prototype to an environmental terrorist; tried and sentenced and Father almost disowned her for smearing his campaign." He sighed glancing over to his sister with literal stars in her eyes in contrast to the pained expression on Shikamaru's face. "...seems like she hasn't grown out of it yet."
At that moment the door opened and Itachi stepped in. Sasuke stopped dead. His brother looks five years younger; all that unhealthy paleness was gone, leaving a light pink sheen to his alabaster skin.
"What. The. Hell." he asked while rooted to his seat. Shaking himself out of the reverie he got up and crossed over to his elder brother.
"Sasuke?" Itachi asked question apparent in his tone.
"Wow..." the younger Uchiha murmured, "...his dick must be the fountain of youth...you look five years younger."
Itachi aimed a slap to his head and Sasuke dissolved in laughter.
*****Teacher's lounge*****
"Iruka," Kakashi said slowly, "...I think my suspicions about Sasuke are true."
The sable haired man frowned and settled a cup of cocoa on the table between them, "You're suspicions?"
"Yes," Kakashi said piking at his chilli cheese fries, "...about him and Naruto."
Iruka gave it a moment before hesitatingly saying, "...the one about them developing a relationship?"
"Yes." He answered, "Today he asked me a question that if you were there, heard it and his tone you would instantly infer it was about some relationship." He munched on a fry, "a serious one...'Ruka...the fact is Sasuke simply doesn't care enough to be...despondent about trivial relationships but those that matters he goes all out for...you might not believe it but under all that bravado...Sasuke is a sensitive kid."
"Really?" Iruka asked leaning in. Umino took a moment to massage his temple, "That's goes against everything I've deduced about Sasuke."
"You should have known him when he was younger, Iruka." Kakashi sighed, "His father would sometime tell me that the sibling status seemed reversed big brother status had shifted to the younger one...at five Sasuke was more protective of Itachi who was almost eleven at that time. He might not look like it but he does have a heart."
"I hope so," Iruka said into his cup of cocoa. "...based on my assessments, I've found that those two boys have an inordinate amount of things in common...it's scary."
"Have you compiled a list of Naruto's attributes?" Kakashi asked.
"Actually, I have." The younger psychotherapist said
"Splendid," Kakashi said, "I also have one on Sasuke...maybe we need to compare?"
"Sure." was the reply.
The older psychologist grinned and waggled his eyebrows while preparing to dodge a slap, "...how about we compare with you on my lap?"
Sasuke watched as Kankuro moved from the farthest table in the mess hall, one by one until he was two tables away from them. Placing his chopsticks beside his unappetizing bowl of tofu as his eyes narrowed; the middle Sabaku was whispering something in Renjii's ear only to be rewarded with a single nod. The painted teen grinned and moved on.
"What is he up to?" he murmured, head perched on his fist.
"You wouldn't want to know." Naruto said quietly. "I don't think it's something you would... ummm...partake in."
Sasuke's lips quirked. "And that is?"
A sigh, "You know the alternate weekend two days' vacation the majority of the teachers take to just leave a skeleton crew to manage the camp...well the rumour mill has it that Kankuro is holding some kind of party in his dorm; combined with...party favours."
A.K.A: alcohol and drugs. "That's illegal." He replied a grin starting to form on his lips, "...how the hell did he get his...favours...anyway."
"You don't know much about detention centres do you." Naruto explained patiently, "...two words, 'underground trade'. How do you think people get shanks and cigarettes in here?"
Good point.
(*)(*)(*)
Kankuro's and Gaara's room was on the second story of Sparta, entering the darkened room was like stepping into an alternate world. The furniture was pushed up against the wall and pillows were scattered around on the floor in a kind of semi-centre formation.
"Wow," the older Sabaku said grinning leaning on the doorjamb, "...I'm honoured to be in the presence of Sasuke Uchiha; how may I help you, your highness."
"Booze." He said shortly, "...and where's Gaara."
"Therapy." was the short answer.
Sasuke's brows contracted, "Therapy...at night?"
The older hoodie-clad teen shrugged, "They're monitoring his sleep apnea...insomnia...or something; get in...you're kinda late."
They entered the cold room and were immediately struck by the number of people jammed into the room; and more surprisingly the percentage of females who were lounging inside; most notably Kin and TenTen were leaning on the wall nursing beers and chatting.
"Well," Kankuro said, "The stragglers have finally arrived and it's getting kind of boring in here; honestly I'd expected a room full of criminals to be more interesting sooooo... any activity suggestions?"
"How about an old classic," Kin offered from the wall, "...truth or dare?"
"Really," Sasuke drawled perched on the windowsill looking out of the dark horizon the two story room presented, "a prepubescent sleepover game designed to separate the cool kids from the nerds."
"Could be fun." Renjii said grinning swigging from a dark bottle, "...I'm pretty sure that we all have some serious secrets we don't want to share."
"That's the point of 'secrets', to be kept secret." Sasuke retorted. "Honestly, what was wrong with you people?"
Kiba pushed an ice cold bottle of beer in his hand, "Uchiha, please drink this and shut up."
Taking the bottle of Budweiser silently he twisted of the cap and took a drink; revelling on the flood of alcohol in his partially empty stomach.
"So if it's decided, I'll go first." Kin grinned, "Uchiha, truth or dare?"
He scoffed; like someone would ever get some 'truth' out of him, "Dare."
In retrospect Sasuke should have utilised his formidable genius to know that he was going to be humiliated.
"Put this on." She said reaching under her shirt and with two clicks unhooked her bra and handed it to him. Sasuke took the offending piece of clothing like he was handling a bottle of radioactive waste. "Tissues!" she yelled and was summarily handed a roll of toilet paper.
Five minutes later.
"You can all stop laughing, now...really." he hissed poisonously surveying the mass of bodies splayed out on the floor laughing so hard they had tripped into asphyxia.
"You know U...Uchiha..." Renjii who had just barely managed to control himself, "...you can be an awesome trannie."
Ripping off the stuffed bra he flung it back at Kin and glowered at Renjii, "Play in traffic Mizu...blindfolded."
The party continued with embarrassing questions like when Naruto asked Kiba "If your girlfriend was fused with an animal; and you had to choose the animal, which one would you choose?"
And surprisingly when Neji asked Shino; "Rate the five hottest people in the camp; girls and boys."
Shino had gone so red that Sasuke feared that he was having an cardiac attack, under his breath Shino murmured, "TenTen, Ino, Kin, Kiba and...Uchiha." the last part was mumbled so low he was made to shout it.
Sasuke felt minimally revolted while taking a sip of his beer, "Honestly Aburame, I don't know if I'm flattered of repulsed."
Shino, clearly halfway drunk snorted while sloshing his beer, "C...come on Uchiha...have you taken a look at yourself lately. I heard...t...that...after the trip in town...t...the local chicks...yeah...they started a fan-club for you."
"Typical." He grumbled.
"OKAY!" Kankuro shouted entering the room with a covered tray, "Time to step it up a notch." Ripping the cover off scattered over the tray were rolled up...wait...were those...blunts.
"Whoa...dude." Kiba said eyes popping "Are those..."
"...sweet Mary J..." Jokai said rubbing his hands together. "Give it here."
"Have you ever tried it." Naruto asked in his ear.
"A long time ago," he said, "...it ended up with me in the hospital...so this time I think I'll pass."
Soon the dark room was lit up by pinpoints of cigarette ends. Sasuke watched as the conversations stalled and smoke from the burning weed was congealing in the air with a cloying but semi-sweet smell.
The quiet darkness combined with the three bottles of beer; he was beginning to feel...relaxed. He was on his second Corona when:
"You're not picking up your old habits, are you?" the voice in his ear was Neji's.
He snorted, "...After my lung infection and two months in ICU. No. "
Neji was starting to say something when a fist banged on the door. Everybody went still as the grave. The bottle Kiba was sipping from slipped and a with a fast reaction from Renjii the bottle didn't end up smashed on the floor.
"Sabaku!" was yelled through the door.
Dead silence.
"SABAKU!" was yelled again.
With small motions for everyone to keep quiet he turned to the door and yelled back. "...Yes?"
"What is all that smoke coming from you room?" was asked in an extremely disinterested tone.
Kankuro looked panicked for a moment eyes wide. Shino slapped him and hissed something in his ear. The drug dealer then shouted back through the door; "M...my bath; the water's really hot."
Silence for a moment. "Okay...fine...just make you don't have three degree burns in the morning." Footsteps indicated the inquiring moving away.
"Well," the older Sabaku said sighing upending his bottle and draining it "...I guess the party's over."
"I'm d..d...drunk." Kiba said head rolling to the side raising a hand up towards the ceiling. "...N..Naru my fren', why's your eyes purple?"
The blond grimaced hoisting the inebriated Inuzuka up, "I told you to not touch the damn bong, but noooo, you can handle it; and now you're screwed six ways from Sunday."
"I'd rather screw Ino six ways from Sunday." He murmured eyes completely unfocused.
Naruto gestured for Sasuke to help him with Kiba. Sighing he placed his empty bottle on the nearest flat surface and grabbed Kiba's other arm. "Stupid ass."
Kankuro was peering through the blinds in the room and after a terse moment hissed, "All clear...go."
Pair by pair they snuck down the stairs, except Naruto and Sasuke who were bolstering a ninety nine percent unresponsive Kiba.
Getting Kiba to his room was a harder than the twelve trials of Hercules. He was completely undeniably stoned and since he couldn't stand up straight to save his live that left his hundred and seventy pound dead weight to be carried by the two. After the fifteenth trial of getting his keys out of his pockets; Sasuke sighed and grabbed them from Kiba, opened the door and dumped the blubbering Inuzuka on the closest bed.
Back in their own room, Sasuke was about to flop on the bed when he was spun around and his back met the room wall and then a hot mouth latched on to his neck.
"You smell like smoke." A husky voice whispered in his ear.
"We all smell like smoke..." he swallowed hard fighting down the flood of endorphins that immediately rushed to his brain "...what's your point?"
"Admit it." Naruto nosed at his neck, "Do you want me or don't you...answer me."
Sasuke debated for a quick second if he would verbally answer him or not. A burning hand slipped under his shirt and settled across his contracting belly.
Tired and frustrated with fighting himself Sasuke let every wall he had crash to the ground and grabbed at the blond head over him, and placed his forehead on the tan one. "If we do this..." he trailed off. The 'we-can't-go-back' hung on the air unspoken.
"I know." was the quiet reply, head tilted to the side. "...you still haven't answered me."
Lacing hands into the rough mop of hair he then clutched for a second; after a tilt of his head and a slight hesitation he then tentatively met the still peach lips before him.
Something unbelievably scary ran up his spine.
A wet tongue lapped at his lower lip just as he was suckling at the top one. Gripping hard at strong shoulders Sasuke slipped down to nip at the prickly edges of a dark six o' clock shadow that was coming in. The deep guttural moan he received from that made his active mind temporarily blank out. Seconds later he was pulled back up to be gifted with a blistering kiss, complete with lip biting. Pulling back Sasuke knew his thin lips were puffy bitten and swollen but he didn't care; after a moment he pulled back smirking; "How's that for an answer?"
****Ramai Hunting Lodge, Iwagakue****
Shucking his robe on Madara made his way to the small library and pulled the book down from the shelf; it was an old leather bound photo album. He hesitated for a minute, running his deft fingers over the binding then snapping out of the reverie he started to flip the pages. Reaching the intended place he then stopped and stared at the leaf's content for a minute.
He plucked the large photo out from behind the protective cover. Smiling slightly and with a swift scribble on the back dropped the picture in the envelope.
On the flip side of the brown package he wrote in flowing script; 'To; Uchiha Sasuke.'
TBC.
Madara...Madara...Madara...what are you up to?
(*)(*)(*)
(1) "use a metal rod, wrapped around with a copper wire and controlled with a flash capacitor"... it's actually real people...but if you do attempt it please note I will not be responsible for any of you stupid ass mistakes or the resulting damages. XD
And there you have it: THE ULTIMATE BEGINNING!
REVIEW DAMNIT!