Author Note: Hi, everyone. It's been a while and I'm just taking time from the night after work so I don't let you wait much longer. I'm writting ideas on my breaks when I have a minute or five before I have to go back. Its been really crazy at work and it will probably continue. I've been applying for a job that I really hope that I will get. The pays great, have to move though and I work 14 days straight but free 14 days afterward. I get to meet new people and can save up enough money so I can study abroad. So yeah... I really hope that I get it but so far my summer job is getting in the way. Well, I will work on... I have a really busy schedual to look forward. If anyone from work calls me tomorrow... I'm not answering. It will only mean they want me to come in working the same day and I need my single day off. Oh well, I'm beat but I will let you enjoy this story a bit longer. I realized that this story is still in the winter season but soon it will change, just hang in there with me... you don't want to miss any of the details. I hope this chapter will be a good addition to the collection. Still no spelling program, sorry. Happy reading anyway!
Special: Its mostly thanks to my best friend that I'm writting this story. It's also for her that I'm writting it, even if she will probably never read it. For her strong will even in the hardest of times and for being such a wonderful friend when I really needed her. I hope you've really found true love now, sweetheart. Thank you for being one of my few but most dearest and closest friend.
p.s. Thank you for all the wonderful and encouraging reviews I recieved on the last chapter. I'm infinit greatful to you fateful readers and reviewers, and new ones too of course. Without you this story would had probably ended by now like all my earlier works.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Pairings: Sasuke x Naruto. Itachi x ?.
Warning: This is a shounen-ai story. Boy loves boy. So I don't want those that hate this genre reading this story and then flaming it. Please leave quietly and do every other shounen-ai lover happy.
Read, Enjoy and Review. Any words of happiness, encouragement, constructive criticism and everything in between are welcomed.
Music In My Heart
By Monkan
Part 14
He watched them from a distance. That was all he had done recently. Normally he had been an important part of Naruto's life but now all he did was stand aside and watch. He was happy that Naruto had found such a good friend that he trusted so much but honestly... Iruka felt a little left outside. He had adopted Naruto and at first thought of him as his son, he still did but now it was more as a little brother too. And this "little brother" of his used to be depended of him in many ways. Because of Naruto's eyesight and that he rarely went outside the doors he had become the only conection to the outside world for Naruto. Now... their time together was much more less and he found himself feeling slightly angry toward Sasuke for that.
He even had felt jealous of Sasuke for he had never come so close to Naruto's heart as the other boy had managed to get in just three months.
Iruka knew he could never become the part of an important friend Naruto needed at his side. That was probably a hard thing for Iruka but he knew that Naruto could never trust him in such a way. Even toward him who were family there were things Naruto refused to open up to when they talked. He knew Naruto lied and hidded things from him but he didn't want to push the boy into saying things that would in the long run break them apart. Maybe he was just a coward for not doing it but he really didn't want to lose Naruto.
He didn't have anything against Sasuke, he was in fact really thankfull toward the rich teen but there was something about him that made Iruka nervous. It was the way he changed around Naruto, it wasn't much but he seemed like a different person. In a way that could hurt his little brother. That frightned him, he was scared that whatever those feelings were they would end up hurting Naruto more than anything. Even leaving him with emotional scars that couldn't be healed.
Whatever it was that Sasuke thought of Naruto, it was something Iruka didn't know. Just that... it was something that he needed to find out if he would be able to protect Naruto from harms way.
Yes, he wanted to protect Naruto. More than anything or anyone else Naruto was the most precious person in his life right now. They were family and Iruka would do anything to protect the boy for the rest of his life. Even if it meant pushing away all of Naruto's friends and make Naruto hate him.
He could live with being hated... as long as Naruto was safe.
-o-o-o-o-
Iruka walked up the stairs and stoped by Naruto's door. He could hear the soft sound of voices and the now and then random music note from Naruto's violin. It had been such a long time since he listned to Naruto play that he had almost forgotten the instrument. It held some sentemental meaning and brought back some really nice memories.
Iruak raised his hand and knocked on the door. Just a few seconds after he heard Naruto say "enter" and without hesitating he walked inside. Naruto was sitting crossleged in the middle of his bed and Sasuke in front of him in a similar manner. The violin rested in Naruto's lap. They seemed both quite happy and the room was bright with the window open, despite the fact that it was in the middle of winter but the sun was out and it brought a fresh air along with the snow.
"Sasuke, I just got a call from your brother that said, and I quote: "Get your ass home, mom is looking for you. It's IMPORTANT." Iruka finished with the same voice level as Itachi had used over the phone.
He watched as Sasuke sighed and then said that he would be back tomorrow. He then followed Sasuke to the door and saw him off before returning to Naruto's room where he found the teen packing down his violin in the case.
"For christmas, do you plan on inviting Sasuke?" Iruka asked curiously. Christmas was waiting and coming up in just two weeks and they had always celebrated it alone but this time Iruka wasn't sure if that would be the case.
"No. I haven't asked him." Naruto answered as he put the case beside his bed. He gripped the cover and moved himself toward the edge but didn't get up. He looked straight ahead, seeing nothing and no one.
They talked for a few more minutes about some christmas planing before Iruka realized that he didn't know what to say next. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. You can go downstairs in five."
"Ok." Naruto said.
Iruka took that as his leave and left the room, feeling better. Maybe it was just his imagination that something wasn't right.
Much later. After dinner and when night had fallen over their house and Naruto said good night, the door opened slowly and silently to Naruto's room. Iruka sneaked inside without a sound and left the door slightly open. He stood at one of the walls facing the short end of the bed in the room. He watched Naruto's peaceful face as he was dreaming of only God knew what.
He was probably in a happy place, with lots of friends and with no problem in the world. Probably after a succesful operation by Dr. Tsunade. With his eyesight restored he would be able to live an ordernary life. A life most would probably take for grantet. If only dreams were reality.
Iruka realized suddenly how it probably looked from an outsiders view. An adult standing inside the room of their son or brother in the middle of the night would without a doubt be connected to some perverted reason. There was no way he was intrested in Naruto in that way. If only to convince himself, he was simply there to watch him without such an objective. You could probably compare it to: little sister have a scary nightmare and searches sanctuary in her older sisters room where she feels safe.
He could admit it to himself, he was scared. Scared to death that Naruto would one day not need him anymore. That someone would become his all but he also knew that he couldn't keep him from the world forever. He couldn't chackle him down with chains just because he was feeling a little insecure.
"This is probably how a father feels when he marries away his darling daughter." Iruka just realized he had spoken aloud and his hand flew to his mouth. Naruto shifted in his bed but didn't show any signs of having woken up.
Taking that as his cue to leave he left just as soundlessly as he had entered.
-o-o-o-o-
He was running late. The afternoon meeting at the school had draged on forever and he was feeling irritated. He walked with fast footsteps across the grass as he reached inside his pocket for the key. He couldn't find it so he stopped to look more closely and search his other pocket.
For some reason he turned his head to look at the house of just for a fleeting moment his eyes caught sight of two figures inside. His eyes strayed back of course and he saw that it was Naruto and Sasuke that had caught his attention.
'I need to let them know I'm here now so I can start dinner if they are hungry.'
But before he could wave or get their attention his eyes widden when he saw Sasuke grab Naruto's shoulders and held him close in a hug. Iruka didn't have time to have another reaction to the scene before Sasuke planted a kiss on Naruto's forhead.
His eyes was still wide with shock and he was telling himself to calm down. Friends sharing a friendly hug and kiss on the forhead wasn't... that unusual. Well, mostly girls did it but what did it matter if two boys did it too? It wasn't that he was prejustic or anything just that...
All thoughts Iruka had had in his head stopped short when he became witness to Sasuke placing his lips on top of Naruto's.
No words could probably describe how Iruka felt at that moment. He would had gone inside and thrown Sasuke out and banned him from the house if it wasn't for the hand that grabbed his arm and efficently stopped him. Iruka turned around and came face to face with Itachi and a pretty girl standing behind him.
-o-o-o-o-o-
The three of them walking inside the Uchiha resident. Well... Itachi more like dragged Iruka inside and the girl followed.
The girl went straight to the kitchen and fetched them some water and glasses. Itachi grabbed one of the glass and threw it's content all over Iruka.
"Have you calmed down?" he asked with a mostly emotionless face.
It was only then Iruka realized that he had freaked out. Really freaked out as soon as they entered the house. It wasn't until now that he had come to realize his actions.
"Why..."
"Isn't it obvious?"
"What..."
"They were kissing!"
"Why..."
"Love. At least on one side."
"What?"
"Don't ask if you don't understand!"
"How..."
"The natural way."
"But..."
"Love is never easy!"
"Then..."
"Yeah."
"And..."
"Most probably. You will have to accept them."
"Why..."
"Because I'm not prejustic. Love is love. It's as simple as that."
"Why..."
"Don't know what they see in each other."
"No!" Iruka said with a slight giggle. "I wanted to ask: Why do you know what I'm about to ask?"
Itachi gave him a small smile. "Have you cooled down now?"
"Yeah!"
"You won't do anything rash that will hurt them?"
"I don't think so."
"Good. Even if you can't accept their relationship the least you can do is not push them away." Itachi sat down on the coach with his jacket and boots still on. Only the girl had bothered to take of her jacket and boots, and that was during the guy's little word play. "They will face enough prejustic in the future so lets give them some peace for now. Their feelings are new to them and they don't need others putting their noses in their affairs."
The girl sat down next to Itachi. She had long brown hair and eyes that matched. She had a frail built and her face was pretty. Her skirt ended at her ankles and her shirt hanged of her left shoulder. Around her neck was a silver pendant in the form of a theader.
Iruka looked at her from head to toe. "Who's this?" he asked, he didn't recognize the face.
Itachi put his arm around her waist. "This is Yue. My lover."
Iruka shook his head. "You've only dated girls so why are you ok with your little brother dating another boy?"
Itachi looked at Iruka for a second angrily. "As I said. Love is love. We can't choose who we fall in love with. I have a few friends that are bi and they are my most trusted friends. For me to be chained down by those old believes would mean I turn my back on some of the best friends I've ever had."
Iruka looked right in Itachi's face. There was no doubt what so ever in his eyes that he was lying. The older man let out a sigh and lowered his head, half in shame and half in defeat. "You've grown into a really brave and great man, Itachi."
"Thank you."
Tbc!