Okay! I'm so sorry it took so long for this update! I've been really busy with school so I haven't been able to write as much as I'd like to. I'm really, really, really sorry! I'm just behind in school and I only have 6 weeks to make up for that so I've been working non-stop to get everything done!
Warning: Yaoi/Shounen ai, rape, abuse, death, angst, OOC, and a little self mutilation.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto charters.
Main Pairing: Sasu/Naru Yay!
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Chapter 7: High up above or down below
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"Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't."
- Brett Butler, 'Knee Deep in Paradise'
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Sasuke and Naruto ended up on Naruto's hill again by nightfall to watch the fireworks in the city. They both sat on the side of the hill among the different colored wild flowers Naruto staring up at the stars while waiting for the fireworks to start and Sasuke just enjoyed being near the other teen. The music from the festival drifted up to the two along with the happy cries of children and the shouts of people in the streets. Suddenly the sky lit as the first rocket was sent into the air exploding with a burst of color. Naruto's eyes lit up the light casting shadow's on his face but making his eyes shine more then Sasuke had ever seen before. His huge grin never left his face and Sasuke found himself staring at him more then the fireworks.
After a minute or so of the display Naruto started to shiver as the wind picket up sending chilly night air against his thin jacket clothed back. Sasuke smirked wrapping his arm around the surprised Naruto and pulling him closer. Sasuke wrapped his cloak around the both of them letting his body heat warm Naruto up faster. Naruto stared as Sasuke silently for a few moments before relaxing into his hold and going back to watch the display.
After the finally, a rainbow of colors and different kinds of fireworks, the people down in the town cheered and clapped and Naruto joined in though no one else would be able to hear him. Sasuke rolled his eyes as Naruto cheered and tightened his hold around the younger teen's waist. "Wasn't that beautiful Sasuke?" Naruto asked absentmindedly beaming up at his friend his blue eyes shinning in the darkness. "I've always liked," Naruto yawned interrupting his sentence before continuing, "fireworks."
Naruto cudled closer to Sasuke making the older teen blush and turn his head away. "We should get back before you pass out and Ino sends out the all the palace to find us." Naruto laughed softly nodding his head though he didn't want to leave the warmth of Sasuke's cloak or his side. Sasuke started to stand pulling Naruto up with him. After taking off his cloak Sasuke draped it around Naruto's shoulders to keep him warm despite Naruto's complaining.
"Sasuke, your going to catch a cold! What kind of nurse am I if I let my charge get sick?" Naruto whined as Sasuke ignored him heading to the tunnel into the palace. "Hey, Teme, don't ignore me!" Sasuke just smiled as he kept walking knowing that the blond would follow after him still. Naruto jogged after him a pout in his face and his arms crossed childishly. "Fine whatever, Teme."
They had made it out of the tunnel and were heading to the oak tree when barking from around the corner stopped them in their tracks. Akamaru charged from around the corner happily barking at them and without stopping his charge jumped onto Naruto knocking him into Sasuke before all three of them tumbled onto the grass Naruto on top of Sasuke and Akamaru on top of them both. Kiba came speeding from around the corner pure relief written on his face when he saw the two unharmed except from the large dog keeping them both pinned in the grass. "Ino, their over here!" Kiba yelled around the corner of the palace where Naruto figured Ino was.
Ino came running around the corner follow by Hinata, Kakashi, and Iruka. Kiba dragged the hyper Akamaru off Naruto where he had been assaulting the poor teen's face with a wet kisses and helped the blond up. Sasuke stood on his own rubbing his head where it had hit the hard ground. "I-Iruka-sensei? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck and not meeting his teacher's eyes.
"He came a little before lunch to see how you were doing." Kakashi informed Naruto in a happy sing-song voice his eyes dancing with pure enjoyment and his smile clearly seen though the black mask.
Naruto spared a glance at his Iruke and instantly regretted it. Iruka's eyes were twitching clearing showing his pure anger and disappointment. Naruto braced himself for the yelling but was surprised when Sasuke stepping in front of the waiting blond. "It was my fault. I wanted to get out for awhile and Naruto insisted on telling someone but I wouldn't let him. So instead he insisted on coming with me just in case something happened." Sasuke said confidently knowing that no one would question him much about it.
Iruka seemed to calm down at Sasuke's words his eyes falling on Naruto. "Is that true Naruto?" Iruka asked crossing his arms and waiting with a vary patently like look on his face clearly reading 'tell the truth or you dead'.
Naruto looked away from Iruka's eyes not wanting to lie to the only person who had even been nice and caring to him despite what ever was wrong with the blond. "Iruka-sensei..." Naruto trailed off looking down at the ground like a scolded child. Iruka's face softened and after sparing a glance to Kakashi Iruka walked over to Naruto wrapping his arms around the boy.
"It's okay Naruto. We were just worried about you and Sasuke-san is all." Naruto nodded into Iruka's shouldered letting himself be hugged. "Now, Sasuke-san, if you don't mind I'm going to borrow Naruto for a little while. I'm sure Ino wants to talk to you anyway." Sasuke nodded watching as Iruka lead the blond away.
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"So where did you guys run off to? Did you go elope?" Ino asked as they sat in on the couch in Sasuke's living room. Kiba was laying on his back on the floor in front of the small coffee table his hands under his head. One leg was bent upward making a triangle between it and the floor will the other one was crossed over it. Though Kiba was staring blankly at the ceiling all his attention was fixed on the conversation.
"We went out." Came Sasuke's simple reply his eyes focused on the unlit fireplace like it was the most interesting thing in the room which to him it might have been.
"Oh, come on Sasuke! We've known each other for how long now? Why wont you tell me?" Ino whined pouting at Sasuke. It had already been 15 minutes and Ino still hadn't gotten anything out of the raven haired teen. "If you don't tell me I'm sure Naruto will!"
Sasuke scowled knowing that she did have a point there because Naruto didn't know how to keep his mouth shut for more then 30 seconds. "We... We went to see my mother." Sasuke finally sighed out after a moment of intense silence.
Kiba sat up and Ino just stared at Sasuke like he had grown horns or something. "You went to her grave?" Kiba asked slowly as if he could believe his ears. It wasn't only that the king had forbid Sasuke from going anywhere near the graveyard it was also that Sasuke would completely lose himself at the vary mention of Mikoto's death.
"Are you okay?" Ino placed a worried hand on Sasuke's shoulder only to have him shrug it off.
"I'm fine!" Sasuke snapped turning to give the girl a full out glare. "Why wouldn't I be? How the hell am I going to get any better with your two and everyone else in this damn place acting like I can't even sleep without the chance of being broken? Stop treating me like some kind of defective child." Sasuke turned away form Ino who's eyes had started to form tears and Kiba who looked like Sasuke had just killed his best friend.
"We just worry about you Sasuke.." Ino trailed off and Kiba's face darkened.
"Cech, whatever Sasuke. If you don't want us to treat you like a child maybe you should stop acting like one." Kiba growled at Sasuke standing up to face him. Sasuke glared at Kiba the tension in the room thickening.
Ino quickly jumped in between the two of them holding out her hands at both of them like a barrier. "Stop it both of you! Kiba, leave." Ino ordered when the dog boy started to protest Ino shot him a look that demanded obedience. Grumbling Kiba left and Ino turned to Sasuke not looking him in the eyes. "I know you feel strongly for Naruto, Sasuke, but next time you run off without telling anyone I wont be able to keep it form Itachi-sama... So if you want Naruto to stay here you need to be more careful." Without waiting for Sasuke to say anything Ino ran out of the room brushing past Naruto as he entered.
"What was that about Sasuke?" Naruto asked the older teen who had sat back down on the couch with a scowl. Naruto flopped down next to him ungracefully resting his head on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Why it is that..." Sasuke trailed off looking away from Naruto a deep frown on his hansom face. Sasuke stood suddenly going into his room and leaving the door open for Naruto to follow if he wanted and Naruto did follow him. Sasuke sat down on his bed.
"What?" Naruto sat facing Sasuke sitting on his knees and leaning forward his weight resting on his arms.
"Why is it that the only who makes me feel real again, makes me feel like me life isn't just some twisted game, is you?" Sasuke asked turning his confused black eyes on Naruto's wide blue ones.
"Sasuke I-" Naruto started but Sasuke lent forward pressing their lips together in a soft kiss. Naruto pressed forward his eyes sliding shut and his arms instantly wrapping around Sasuke's neck. Sasuke ran his tongue over Naruto's bottom lip and Naruto opened his mouth in a silent invitation. Sasuke's tongue entered Naruto's mouth both of them fighting for dominance before Sasuke won. Hungrily Sasuke explored Naruto's mouth as Naruto ran his hand's though Sasuke's hair. Sasuke pushed against Naruto with his body making the smaller boy fall back onto the bed braking their heated kiss to kiss down his jaw line and neck. Naruto let out a soft mew followed by a deep moan as Sasuke ran his tongue over the shell of his ear and nibbled on his earlobe.
Naruto closed his eyes his mind suddenly going back to his and Iruka's conversation just a couple of minutes ago.
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"Have you two done anything?" Iruka asked calmly having already gotten over the shock of find out about Naruto and Sasuke's growing relationship.
"W-what?" Naruto asked turning bright red and not looking his teacher in the eyes. "N-no we haven't."
"I think you should keep it that way Naruto. Sasuke-san isn't the most stable person and I'm sure Itachi-sama would like the thought of you two together." Iruka stated watching as Naruto's face changed from anger, to pain, then nothing. It turned completely blank as he turned to Iruka with a nod.
"Your right Iruka-sensei. I'll stop and tell Sasuke in the morning." Naruto's voice sounded so utterly emotionless and his eyes, normally swimming with emotions, were so empty that it made Iruka flinch on the inside and want to take back his words.
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Naruto's eyes snapped open as Sasuke ran his hands under Naruto's shirt his finger tips dancing across the heated flesh and suddenly Naruto didn't care what Iruka or Itachi would think. All he wanted was Sasuke and for Sasuke to feel the same way. Sasuke was real, he made Naruto feel again, and he was all that Naruto wanted at the moment. Even if it wouldn't last long Naruto just wanted this one moment where he felt human and he felt loved. How could anything that felt so right be wrong anyways?
Xx (Cutting it off there sorry! My sister has a habit of being noise and getting into my things so anything more and I'll never hear the end of it. Sorry again!) Xx
Naruto woke to screams of pain and the smell of blood and fire. Panicking he searched the empty room for Sasuke only to find that he wasn't in Sasuke room where he had fallen asleep. Instead he was in his room but the piano was gone along with all the unfinished painting. In fact his bed was gone and Naruto had been lying on the floor fully dressed. Naruto Stood up slowly the screams still echoing from outside and inside the palace. Naruto crept over to the dark window peering outside it to find the city burning. The fire had already spread everywhere setting the entire city in the glow of destruction.
Spinning around Naruto charged into Sasuke's room to find it empty of everything including the raven haired teen. Panic rose in Naruto sending his mind reeling with thoughts of Sasuke lying dead somewhere covered in blood. A loud scream, closer then the others, came from somewhere inside the palace and Naruto ran out of Sasuke room intent of finding him and his other friends.
Unfortunately Naruto found Ino first. The unfortunate about finding her was that she wasn't only dead, oh no, her once beautiful face was completely burnt the skin bubbling and eye lids scorched shut. Her entire body was deformed the only way Naruto was able to tell it was her was by the ear rings she always wore and the purple dress. Naruto turned away from the sight gaging on bile that rushed into his throat and holding back tears, no amount of tears could save and already dead girl. Naruto ran from the body the smell of death following him as he tried to get away from it but everywhere he ran Naruto saw the bodies of the ones he loved. Burnt, bloodied, and horribly disfigured Naruto found his friends.
Naruto burst of out the palace's front doors tears freely running down his ask streaked face mixing with the salty tears and stinging his already red eyes. Naruto panted in front of the doors hands resting on his knees eyes tightly shut in a failed attempt from letting more tears fall. After taking a moment to catch his breath Naruto looked ahead at the walkway, the Sakura trees were burning, the fire from beyond the walls high enough to see over the tall walls, and the fountain's water ran red making the dragon and phoenix look like they were shedding bloody tears. Naruto's world seemed to spin around him as he focused on was the tall figure standing next to the statues of the fountain facing the crying statues.
"S-Sasuke?" Naruto choked out taking a shaking step forward. "Sasuke!" Naruto yelled running forward to stand next to the fountain but Sasuke still didn't turn around. Swallowing his fear Naruto pulled himself onto the high ledge being careful not to slip into the blood below. "Damn it Sasuke-teme!" Naruto yelled wanting to get to the other teen but the sea of blood below warding him away. Finally Sasuke turned around slowly a soft smile dancing on his beautiful features as if he didn't notice all the chaos around them. Sasuke lifted his arms up, like he had before when he caught Naruto as he jumped out of the tree, and beckoned the blond forward.
Without hesitation Naruto jumped from the ledge flying across the red water and for a split second the fire of the trees behind him almost made it look like he had wings. Sasuke caught Naruto easily his arms wrapping around the blond as Naruto cried into his chest. After a moment of clinging to Sasuke like he was afraid that the other teen would disappeared Naruto looked up into black eyes just to make sure he was still there. Sasuke face turned into a vicious scowl as he suddenly pushed the blond away. "Who are you?" Thoughts words rung though Naruto's head as he slipped on the stone of the fountains tumbling into the sea of blood below. The last thing Naruto saw as Sasuke standing over him a demented smile on his features and the dark smoke above forming bat like wings around him.
Naruto gasped as he hit the water the metallic taste of the blood entering his open mouth filling his lungs with the deep red liquid. Dark water swirling around Naruto as he tried his best to reach the surface for air but unable to get anywhere. His lungs screamed in pain as his eyes burned from the effort to keep his eyes open and find the way out. Soon his energy left him and sliding his eyes shut Naruto relaxed into the warmth of the blood letting himself sink into nothingness.
Suddenly his body hit something hard and cold making his eyes jerk open expecting to see nothing but the dark water only to find himself face to face with a smirking Sasuke who was leaning over the side of his bed looking down on the startled blond. Naruto jumped hitting his head on Sasuke's forehead then shrinking back against the wall. Apparently he had fallen off the bed were he had been having a vary bad dream waking Sasuke in the process. "Itai!" Naruto whimpered rubbing his head small tears forming at the sides of his eyes.
"What the hell was that Dobe?" Sasuke snapped going to send a glare at the blond but stopping at the frighten look on his face. "W-What wrong?" Sasuke asked sliding off the bed to kneel in front the Dobe and wrapping the sheets around the shivering teen.
Naruto turned away his mind still processing that what had happened before wasn't real. It was a dream, no nightmare, that would never come true. "B-bad dream." Naruto choked out trying not the remember the dead faces of his friends then the vicious scowl of Sasuke's. The smell of smoke and death still clung to the air making Naruto want to throw up but he held back the urge.
"Sh, it's okay. Dreams can't hurt you Naruto. Come back to bed there is still a few hours until morning." Sasuke gently rubbed Naruto's shoulder reassuringly and Naruto let himself be led back to Sasuke's bed.
Naruto curled against Sasuke burring his face in the older teen's chest and deeply inhaling his sent to try and get rid of the smell of death and fire. Sasuke kissed Naruto's forehead muttering soothing words to the blond trying to get him to fall asleep. Soon Sasuke drifted away his deep breaths reassuring Naruto but no matter how head he tried he couldn't fall back asleep himself. When ever he closed his eyes he saw the crying statues, burning trees, and burnt corpses all around. When ever he realized he could still feel the smoke in his eyes or the thick warm blood surrounding him as he fell into nothingness. No there would be no more sleep for Naruto that night.
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That morning Naruto had slipped out of Sasuke's arms early heading over to his room to take a shower and change. he wasn't sure when Sasuke would be awake so he wanted to take this time to pull himself together. The smells had faded during the night and the images weren't as clear when Naruto closed his eyes but he could still fell everything and he could still clearing see Sasuke's angry face as the raven haired teen pushed him into the bloody water. 'Who are you?' still rung in Naruto's head making tears form at his eyes.
Sparing a glance at the sleeping teen Naruto slipped out of the room ignoring the pain in his lower back. After getting a change of clothes Naruto hoped in the shower letting the warm water relax his soar muscles and wash away all the thoughts of death. Eyes sliding shut Naruto let himself zone out feeling utterly relaxed and confident that the strange and frightening dream he had just gone though was nothing more then that. After a good 10 minutes of Naruto just standing there he started to wash his hair and body making sure there was no trace of his nightmare anywhere on his body.
Naruto stepped out of his shower rubbing a towel over his dripping hair before pulling on a plain pair of orange sweat pants and a lose white shirt. Kneeling in front of his bed Naruto pulled out the thick black book from before and flopped onto his bed with it. Naruto figured it would be another hours or so until Sasuke woke up giving him enough time to do some reading. With everything that had been happening Naruto hadn't gotten a chance to look at the book at all.
After bitting his thumb Naruto let it pool before a drop fell onto the book's cover instantly being absorbed into it. The book heated up like last time before bursting into flames and burning the title onto the cover. Naruto opened the tome once the fire died down and began to read where he had left off.
The Uchihas were born from the dragons their element being fire and their eyes a cold black turning to blood red when angered. The Uzumaki family came from the phoenixes their element being wind and their hair golden like the sun and their eyes bluer then the sky above. At first the two families were afraid of their new appearances and many died from the confusion. That's when two young men stood up to take control. For the Uchihas the King's son took control having a few brave humans teach them how to live and in return the King's son thought the humans basic healing magic for their sick and wounded. The phoenixes didn't have as much help at first the brave young man who took control having no ties to the humans. They lived like animals using was little they knew of the land world to survive.
When the dragons took back their kingdom the now King went back to the land across the river to befriend the phoenixes but it didn't turn out as he had planed. The phoenixes, confused and scared, had become vicious to anyone other then their races it being the only way to maintain themselves. They were on the brink of extinction but the Uchiha King didn't want it to come to that. He worked for a vary long time to befriend the Uzumaki family until he thought them how to speak and helped them cultivate their wind magic. It took awhile but he helped them built a kingdom much like his own and the Wind country was born. The King of the Wind country and the King of the Fire became close friends and the two countries lived as allies for years as the both countries power grew.
Soon other counties befriended them one being the Leaf and the other the Water. One powerful country, the Land of the Sand, refused to acknowledge the two countries preferring to build and changed the so called powers of the Fire and Wind country. Petty battles were waged between the three but it never became a all out war. For over a hundred years the battles were fought neither sides giving up.
Suddenly though a demon appeared in the Wind country called the Kyubbi, the Nine-tailed fox, creating destruction and chaos in the land. The Wind country was forced to withdraw from the battles to protect it's land from being destroyed and the Fire country withdrew asking the Leaf and the Water for help but only the Leaf country answered with tropes and weapons. The Water preferred to send aiding though money, It being a peaceful trading country.
Naruto's eyes shot up from the book as his door opened and Sasuke stepped in his smirk fading when he saw the book. "H-how did you..?" Sasuke started to say as Naruto sat up from where he had been laying on his stomach. "It's only suppose to work when a Uchiha uses it.." Sasuke didn't sound angry at Naruto only a little surprised and confused about the book reveling it's self for the other teen.
"I-I don't know why it works for me.." Sasuke picked of the book flipping to the cover to see the title. His face darkened as he opened the book back up reading a few lines before shutting it completely. Sasuke sat on the edge of the bed one lags tucked under himself and the other hanging off the side. "It's different from what's show to me..." Sasuke muttered as the title faded the pages turning blank again. Bringing the book up to his lips Sasuke blew lightly on the cover before throwing it hard across the room.
The black leather book stopped in mid air, only a foot away, and it started to spin in place. The cover flipped open the pages turning wildly as a mini tornado formed around the floating tome making the sheets on the piano and easels flap and the sheet music start to fly around. Suddenly the book closed the tornado forming in one place, much like the fire had, and made it's way over the over to make the title.
Sasuke reached out grabbing the book before it fell and showing the cover to the amazed Naruto. Instead of Uzumaki it read Uchiha in silver lettering instead of gold. "This book was made a vary long time ago when Magic was still practiced openly and was still vary powerful. Only the elements fire and wind or the blood of a Uchiha or Uzumaki can open it."
Naruto nodded gently taking the book from Sasuke and opening it to the first pages. "But why are the elements reversed? The Uchiha's element is fire yet fire opens the Uzumaki side.."
"It was to show the bond between the two families. No one else should be able to open it but maybe you have some Uzumaki blood and that's why it opened for you." Naruto nodded accepting that theory. "I noticed it right way after seeing you for the second time that you look like one. The blond hair and blue eyes. That's why I took it old thing out again to read about what happened to them.."
"I've never heard of them or the Wind country before and I haven't gotten vary far so what did happen to them?" Naruto asked absent mindedly as he traced his fingers of the name on the title.
"The entire Kingdom was destroyed by the Kyuubi a little over 13 years ago. The last of the Uzumaki blood line either died or fled when the capitol fell along with the King." Sasuke looked away from Naruto's slightly pained face. He finally found out that he might have family then that only hope was shattered by Sasuke's words.
"What about you guys? The Fire country and the Wind country are allies so didn't you try to help?" Naruto asked trying hard to keep the accusing tone out of his voice and failing miserably.
"We did but the Sand attacked while most of our troupes were fighting the Kyuubi. We had to pull back in order to save our country from being destroyed too."
Naruto reopened the book flipping though it until he got to the part about the Kyuubi. "What happened to the fox demon?" Naruto asked while reading about how Kyuubi had been too powerful and overcame the all the Wind countries defenses.
Sasuke would look Naruto in the eyes not wanting to tell him how they got rid of the demon. "The King, my Father, talked to The Wind King telling him of a way to seal the Kyuubi in the only way possible but... It took a human sacrifice. The sacrifice had to be the closet living member of the casters family. Since Kayaku's, the King, family had all but died in the battle the only one left was his son."
Naruto's eyes widened as his mind raced though all the information Sasuke had just given him. "He wouldn't would he? Kill his own son?"
Sasuke shook his head no turning to look at Naruto with burning eyes. "No he had to seal the Kyuubi inside his only son. To save his Country and all the people he loved he had to condemn his only son to the life of an outcast, a monster. In the process of sealing the Kyuubi in that poor boy Kayaku died. And my Father," Sasuke scowled venom laced in every word. "He didn't tell Kayaku that the sealing would kill him. Kayaku only agreed to sealing the Kyuubi inside his son because he thought that afterwards he's be able to protect him from the hatred of the people who feared the demon fox inside. He died thinking he was doing the right thing and all my Father did was murder an entire family."
Naruto hadn't noticed the tears forming in his eyes as Sasuke spoke of people he didn't even know and also at such hatred Sasuke had for his father. "W-where is Kayaku's son now?" Naruto asked the older teen curiosity taking over his sadness.
"You don't get it? Kayaku's son is-" Sasuke was cut off as Ino burst though the door a happy smile plastered on her face.
"Sasuke! Tsunade-sama is back! She came back early to take care of you." Sasuke's eyes widened as said woman appeared in the door way a soft smile on her face.
"Hello Sasuke," Tsunade's eyes traveled over to Naruto her golden eyes widening at the sight of the blond. "Naruto right?"
Naruto just nodded dumbly at the women all thoughts of Kayaku and the Kyuubi gone. 'If she's back... What happens to me?'
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I'm so sorry it took so long to get out! I've been having trouble getting on the computer to write n'stuff but I wont bore you with my excuses. I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can so please be patient with me! And if you really want me to update faster review to make me a happy panda who wants to write lots and lots! .
Next Chapter: King dies! (for real this time), Sasuke freaks out, Naruto leaves, and more Sasuke freaking out!