SasuNaru, yaoi, OOC and unbeta-read.

Standard disclaimer applies.

The silence that hovered above a familiar hallway every night was broken by a not-so-loud thud on the Uchiha's condominium door.

The blonde fished the door key from his boyfriend's front pocket at the same time, rubbed his arousal. The Uchiha moaned and slammed the blonde again, his impatience growing.

However, the blonde couldn't be blamed. His boyfriend was all over him, filling and teasing his senses. He fumbled for the lock, getting more desperate each second.

"So useless," the Uchiha mumbled against swollen lips before he grabbed the key and did the unlocking himself. The two immediately stumbled into the entrance.

In reply to his partner's insult, the blonde slammed him against the door and turned the lock in. "Useless, eh?" he murmured while leaving a wet trail on pale nape.

The Uchiha just grunted, already floating aimlessly on desire. His pants had become too tight that moving was painful, but that was because this titillating game they played had started the moment they left the party, a friend of his threw. Speaking of the party...

"I should be mad at you for spending too much time with those girls."

"As I recall Uchiha, you had a lot of girls fawning over you. You weren't exactly alone." The blonde moaned and clutched the hips grinding against his.

"If you call that fawning, what do you call what the girls did on you?" the Uchiha asked as he let his shirt be taken from him. He lowered his head and playfully bit the blonde's still clothed left nipple while his hand slipped under and touched the other nub. "You haven't answered me."

"I know," came the raspy reply. "But I can't think of an answer when you're- ah!"

"When I'm what?"

"Nngh... when you're... shit... making me dizzy."

The Uchiha looked smug. "Enough talking for now."

And the blonde nodded in agreement and pounced on his boyfriend who simultaneously pounced on him.

Chapter 26: Transient victory

Miete nai kotae ga aru to sureba
Kiete nai kimi no yasashii ude to
"Suki da yo" hoho ni sotto KISU wo shite
Eien wo chikai atta ano yoru
-"BURUU DEIZU", Ayaka

Gaara watched Naruto who openly watched Sasuke leaving the room after their last class had been dismissed. He grabbed Naruto's left wrist when his friend moved to follow his soon-to-be ex-lover.

"Don't go," he commanded quietly. He had spent his energy last night trying to convince the blonde from doing such stupid thing. He even threw in some punches in his convincing, but to no avail. Naruto was too stubborn.

"You don't understand," Naruto said before he tugged his wrist free and left.

Gaara sighed. Yes, Naruto was right. He didn't understand, because he wasn't stupid. The idiots were the only ones who let their most beloved go after winning them over. If he won the blonde over… he immediately quashed that thought, disgusted of himself.

"Karin, I-" Sasuke stopped when he looked up and found out it wasn't his secretary, but his dobe who entered his office. He scowled. What was he doing here? Yesterday, might be fine because it was his mother's work but now... it was too dangerous.

"Relax, bastard," Naruto said casually as he walked forward. He stopped in front of the Uchiha's desk. "After this, it will be okay for us to do anything we want."

Alarm and wariness prickled Sasuke's senses. Something was wrong. Something bad would happen... was about to happen.

"I'm letting you go," the blonde said calmly to the point of being indifferent. Hearing those words drained the life out from the dark-haired male. He gripped his arm rests. This couldn't be happening. No way!

Naruto wasn't finished yet. Knowing Sasuke, he knew the latter would demand a reason and he gave one, although it was a lie. "My application to a cooking school in Osaka was accepted." And the next thing he knew, a very furious Uchiha was squatting on the table and gripping his tie.

"Don't mess with me!" Sasuke said in biting coldness. What he felt was beyond fear, loss and anger. "You're just running away!" He tightened his grip on Naruto's tie, half-choking him while anger prevented any pleading words to escape from his lips.

With his breathing getting ragged, Naruto undid his tie and fell back. "I'm not! I think this is good for us! I hate to see you looking-"

"That's why I said you're running away! Be brave for once!" Sasuke shouted, not giving a damn who heard them.

"I'm brave enough to let you go!"

"I don't need that kind of bravery!" he snapped back, but Naruto had already turned to leave the room.

Sasuke leapt from his table and charged at the blonde. Unfortunately, the latter had planned his exit and executed it well. Sasuke just grabbed nothing but air. Naruto's words echoed through out the emptiness growing inside. He had enough. He went out to the common room at the same time when Suigetsu entered. "You're in-charge of today's meeting."

"Eh? H-hey wait-" Suigetsu trailed off because the other male was gone. He rubbed his nape and sighed. Karin would definitely hit the roof when she heard about this and he smiled because such thought was always sadistically pleasing to him.

On his way home, Naruto stopped from his lonely walk to stare at the setting sun. Not once, did he shed a tear today. He had shed all of them the other night that he was already as dry and barren as the desert. He looked into the setting sun and smiled bitterly. His first love although sweet, had ended bitterly... so much for his 'youthful passion' as Lee passionately put it. He chuckled dryly because that was the only thing he could do.

Goodbye, Sasuke-teme.

Without that bastard, cooking was the only thing he had closest to his heart now... and the Osaka lie wasn't so bad. He'd do it. He'd handover his letter of withdrawal to his teacher tomorrow.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke burst into his father's office. Without giving a damn if his father was paying attention or not, he announced, "I'm going to do whatever I want with Naruto and there's nothing you can do about it!" It was the burst of anger that gave him this courage and damned him if he won't take advantage of it. This was all for Naruto to stay and be with him.

Fugaku's head snapped upward from his documents. His eyes were cold as he looked at his son and inquired, "Is that a challenge, Sasuke?"

"No. I had enough of this! Why can't we be together?"

Why couldn't he and Arashi be together? Fugaku had and still wondered even now.

"Why can't you understand that?" Then Sasuke sniggered, "Of course you can't! You never felt this strong emotion towards the same sex!"

Fugaku scowled. Did Sasuke know of his struggles? Of a war he fought desperately and lost? Of the consequences of that loss? Of the pain of letting go? Of the vast emptiness he felt? Sasuke didn't know... would never know. He slammed his hand on the table, hard. "Silence!"

It wasn't his father's anger that made Sasuke stepped backward. It was his eyes... eyes that spoke with unfathomable loss and regret. It was almost similar to what Sasuke had seen in his reflection, but more intense… more painful. Unable to take more of those haunting eyes, he fled. What did that look mean? Was his father...? No, it could never be. His father was so painfully straight. So what did that look mean?

Rather than looking for answers, he pushed the questions at the back of his mind because at that moment Naruto was more important.

You're an idiot if you think I'll let you go.

-SasuNaru is love-

Naruto grimly smiled at his letter of withdrawal from school which still lacked his father's stamp, but he had nothing to worry about. His father would support him.

In a split second, the paper was ripped from his hand and he was pushed onto his bed. Whatever reaction he had, it was swallowed by the mouth desperately pressed against his and a tongue callously demanding and seeking.

'Sasuke!' he mentally said. His order for Sasuke to stop was engulfed by the kiss, totally unheard. He panicked when he felt hands pushing his shirt up at the same time unbuttoning his jeans. Sasuke was everywhere and it was-

'Rape!' his mind screamed.

But then again, was it really a rape when his body immediately melted into his touches? When he arched into him? When he turned them over and dragged his lips on pale neck, then hurriedly rid Sasuke's shirt to lay kisses on pale chest? When he was definitely, absolutely, utterly and completely willing? Could that be considered rape?

Sasuke growled low in pleasure, his body arching the second Naruto deep-throated him. He had come here to please Naruto, and yet here he was, letting the blonde please him. He just laid there savoring everything the blonde did and evoked in. For every suck, his stomach tightened painfully. He knew he was about to come, with a growl and with sheer effort, he pulled his lover up and initiated a kiss while changing their position.

Naruto gave a long moan and raised his hands to grab dark hair strands. Over and over again, he whispered Sasuke's name as if that alone would drag this passionate moment as long as they wanted. He choked when Sasuke had him in his mouth. As if sucking him wasn't enough of a torture, Sasuke rubbed his perineum while his other hand dipped lower following the wet trails the blonde's precum made. Naruto grimaced when he felt those intruding digits moving within him. It was uncomfortable, but it made him more aware of his lover… of their passion that destroyed whatever logic and reason stated for them not to be together.

His body arched tautly when pleasure shot through him from deep within. He shook his head refusing to completely give in to the raging and maddening sensations. Doing so would allow himself to come, and he didn't want that... not yet. Not when Sasuke wasn't inside him, possessing him at the same surrendering.

"Sasuke," he sighed, arms reaching out towards his lover, asking and pleading.

Understanding, Sasuke ceased his attack even if it made Naruto cry out. He positioned himself and Naruto's legs loosely wrapped around his waist. He guided his hard-on to that familiar puckered hole and pressed enough for his tip to enter and enough to drive his writhing lover more insane.

Because a part of him was still scared of his would-be loss, he did what he thought he had to do. "Tell me you won't leave me!" he demanded, because it was easier to do so than plead. "Tell me!" He growled when no answer came from the blonde, but Naruto couldn't be blamed because his brain was completely soaked in pleasure. "Tell me you're not going anywhere!" he said impatiently because he wanted to be buried deep into the blonde now… to meld their aching bodies together and seek solace in their brief union.

Naruto opened his eyes and cupped Sasuke's face which was strained with control. "I won't. I promise," he assured firmly.

The other male didn't ask for another assurance because he knew the blonde wouldn't break his promise. Ever.

Naruto cried out when Sasuke entered him in one full thrust. He clung unto him letting his lover thrust into him hard and wantonly. He matched Sasuke's pace. "More," he demanded. "Please." Everything he wanted, Sasuke embodied them so it was okay for him to beg and command; to writhe; to receive and give; to surrender and dominate. It was okay because this was Sasuke- his love. "Deeper."

Sasuke gathered the blonde in his arms and settled into a sitting position. "Naruto," he whispered while planting small wet kisses on tanned neck and shoulders. He gave everything he had for this moment and did everything he wanted to do. He gave, took and he savored all that the blonde gave him. He completely basked in this moment of their oneness.

Endlessly, they moved together. They pulled away and joined once more, moving closer to their pinnacle. They clung unto each other and clung more when their orgasms possessed them. Tightly.

Sasuke slumped back on the bed, taking Naruto with him. Almost unconsciously, a pale hand drifted onto his blonde lover's behind and massaged his lower back.

"Your father-" Naruto murmured sleepily.

"I told him to fuck off," Sasuke murmured.

The blonde slightly pushed himself up to gape at Sasuke. "You did?"

"In a way."

Naruto chuckled as he snuggled closer to his lover, and something told Sasuke that the former was proud of him for what he did.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke growled at the incessant knocking sound that made his head throbbed.

"Naruto? Naruto!" he heard Arashi urgently called out from the other side of the door. "Open this door!"

Sasuke looking at his lover who was in a deep sleep, sighed. Cautiously, he untangled himself and put on his pants.

Arashi knocked some more. Morbid and bloody scenes involving his son's body came to his mind. Did Naruto commit suicide? That was one possibility that came to his mind. Although Naruto was happy, Arashi knew too well of the loneliness gripping him. He had asked Tsudane to talk with his son, but Naruto continued his pretension. Did Naruto reach his limit and kill himself? "Naruto! Naruto!" Seeing that kicking the door was faster than getting the key, Arashi had stepped backward to gather momentum when the door opened. He blinked then blushed.

Arashi gaped at the half-dressed Uchiha. He wasn't surprise of the lad's presence because he was the one who let him in the house. He was more surprised and amazed at their courage or stupidity of doing it when he was in the house. Of course, he knew they did it. The hickeys on the younger male's upper body and the faint scent that greeted him when the door opened were the telltales.

"How was Naruto?" he asked just to make sure.

Sasuke smirked and mischief streaked through him. "Tired, but satiated for now," he answered.

Ah! Such pride and arrogance! A vein ticked at the side of the older male's temple. "Dinner is almost ready. I expect both of you downstairs in twenty minutes," he said authoritatively.

Sasuke nodded and closed the door. Arashi massaged his temples while walking away. Definitely... there was no way he could get used to the idea of his son's lover opening the door of his said son's room wearing a look that said, 'I screwed your son over and over again'.

-SasuNaru is love-

Itachi paused in mid-turn and looked at his father. "Pardon?"

Fugaku said, "It's up to you whether you want to be the Uchiha heir or not." A silent 'why ask now' was asked by his son. "Sasuke marched in here this afternoon and ordered me, in his own words, to mind my own business and his outburst made me think."

Was that the reason why when he walked in to deliver few feasibility reports, his father had such a faraway and thoughtful look, Itachi wondered. But why now? Were Sasuke's words that powerful that it made him think? Was Sasuke that forceful that he managed to knock some sense into their father's head?

A very tired Fugaku regarded his son. "I don't know if it's late or not, but I'm giving you the choice. However, it will be you who will find your replacement."

Itachi scowled. "Why me?"

"Because in my eyes, you'll always be the best candidate to be the next leader, so I can't choose anyone else. However, I'll accept anyone you will recommend." Fugaku shrugged his shoulders. "It can be Obito's son- Sai or it can be Shisui... anyone as long as the Uchiha blood runs in his or her veins." He turned around and stared at the setting sun through the window. "Your grandfather will understand one day that the tradition of having a leader from the main family dies with me."

Itachi stared at the back of the man who was more like his employer than a father, and noticed how stiff his shoulders had become… shoulders that had been carrying all the burden of being the leader of a clan so traditional it was pathetic.

"Excuse me," Itachi said and bowed.

At the soft click of the door, Fugaku sighed. Was he doing the right thing?

-SasuNaru is love-

Mikoto looked at her husband's reflection on her dresser mirror while she combed her hair. "I'm surprised, but happy that you will allow Itachi to do what he wants and gave him some breathing space."

Fugaku made a noise implying that he was listening.

"I hope that you'll acknowledge Sasuke's relationship with-"

"They're completely different," Fugaku snapped.

"I know, but I still hope," she replied instead of withering from the coldness of her husband's voice.

Fugaku just snorted before he walked out from their dressing room. Mikoto was too understanding, but would she show the same kindness if she learned that he had been intimate with a man who he still loved dearly even now? Would she still be so accepting of Arashi and Naruto if she knew what the former was to him?

-SasuNaru is love-

Itachi was bothered. No, not bothered. He was more like thoughtful. His father's words kept on replaying in his mind. Not to mention, the image of his father too. He looked so much older than his actual age and tired as if he wanted to have Death take him in.

He looked at his wrists and bent them. The shackles he always imagined to be there were loosening now. It won't be long before the cage would be opened and he'd fly where he always wanted to go- everywhere. However, it was obvious that it had to be him who had to open that cage, and to do that, he had to find a replacement. He thought of all the cousins he had, Sai and Shisui were the only ones who came close to his standards. However, Sai was too playful to give a damn on every responsibility an heir had. Not to mention, his usual trips to their grandmother for all the scandalizing activities he partook in would be damaging to the company's image. Shisui, on the other hand, was too close-minded and that attitude of his might put the whole company into a stagnant mode. So who could replace him? There must be someone better than him, someone who can do all the things he could and more. Someone- he paused when he heard footsteps getting louder as it neared his room then passed by before it disappeared into Sasuke's room.

Itachi smiled. There was no other perfect candidate than Sasuke, who he knew possessed the potential to surpass him.

Sasuke, his dear foolish little brother, was the key to his freedom. He looked at paper in his hand and with a crazy glint in his eyes, he wrote:

サスケ

TBC

And to those whose browsers don't support S-JIS characters, Itachi wrote Sasuke's name in katakana.

We're looking forward to read your reviews and guesses on what Itachi will do.