Anger

The sun glared down from the baby-blue sky and a gentle breeze played through the air as the boys somberly buried the mangled body of Yuko. Why was the sun shining, the atmosphere so happy, when an innocent girl just lost her life? God, it was almost as though the weather was mocking them.

Naruto patted the mound of dirt under which Yuko was buried and sniffled quietly. "It's okay, Yuko-chan. You won't have to see any more of this fucked up world. You're where you belong…wherever that is."

Sasuke stood next to Naruto, his eyes completely dry. Now was not the time to cry; now was the time to think. They were in serious trouble here. Someone was watching them with a bloodlust. Someone wanted them dead.

'Sin…'

The three scarlet letters flashed through Sasuke's mind. Sin…what was it supposed to mean? He knew the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. But what did that have to do with killing Yuko? What did some part of some religion have to-

'Oh…my…god…'

It was although a light had gone off in Sasuke's head. The girl at the ramen bar, the gold necklace, SIN…

Some religious group was out to get them. And they could even be there at that exact moment.

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered, his body tensing up and his mind racing. "We have to go. Now."

Naruto looked back at Sasuke and slowly got up off the ground. "Sasuke, what-"

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm and began running away from Yuko's grave. "Naruto, we need to go somewhere safe and stay there."

Naruto didn't struggle and allowed Sasuke to drag him back to his house faster than he would've liked. Sasuke pulled Naruto through the door, slammed the door shut, and leaned against it panting. Naruto shook him off and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Sasuke, you have some explaining to do."

Sasuke took several deep breaths. "Naruto…someone is out to kill us."

Naruto cocked his head and unfolded his arms. "What the hell do you mean?"

Sasuke waited a moment before he continued. "Remember how I told you that girl at the ramen bar was part of some Christian group here in Konoha?" Naruto nodded and Sasuke went on. "When I found Yuko's body, there was a piece of paper next to it."

Naruto squinted. "Paper?"

"The paper had three letters: S, I, and N."

"Sin," Naruto said quietly. "But what does that have to do with Yuko and us?"

"Naruto, have you heard of the Seven Deadly Sins?"

Naruto shook his head. "Never heard of them, no."

Sasuke licked his lips. "Apparently, if you commit any of those sins, your spirit won't get into heaven."

Naruto thought for a moment. "Heaven…like that place where all those Christians think they will go?"

"Yes."

Naruto blinked a few times and slid down on the floor. "You're right," he whispered. "It all fits."

Sasuke nodded. "That's why I was freaking out so much about this before."

Naruto shook his head, not wanting to believe that his and his lover's life was in danger. The village had nothing wrong with their relationship before but…why now? What was wrong with loving who you wanted to love? Was it so much to ask to be able to be in an intimate relationship with someone, regardless of sex, race, or religion?

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked over at Naruto. "What?"

Naruto cleared his throat and looked at the pale ceiling. "I think…that we have the freedom to love whoever we want to love."

Sasuke smirked and touched Naruto's hand lightly. "I think so to. But there are some people out there who are just plain jacked up."

Michiko slammed the bloody knife on the wooden table and glared at her brother, tears in her eyes. "Naoki, why? Why did you make me do that?"

Naoki leaned back in his chair, twiddling with his thumbs. "What, was it really difficult to kill off a little crippled girl?"

Tears slid down his sister's face. "She didn't have to die! We could've gotten to Sasuke-san and Naruto without sacrificing more innocent lives!"

Naoki smirked. "Sasuke-san? Damn, you really want to get in his pants, don't you?" He fished a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. "To answer your question, that little girl was going to die anyway. She was just dirtying the world more."

Anger burst into Michiko's body and she slammed his fists on the table next to the tainted knife. "What the hell is your problem!" She screamed. "Why do you take peoples' lives so lightly, you sick bastard!"

Naoki frowned and raised his hand. A loud, crisp smacking sound rung in the room as he struck his sister across the face. Michiko blinked, stunned, and gingerly touched her stinging cheek, fresh tears welling up in her eyes.

"You will never speak that way to me again, you nasty bitch!" Naoki roared. "I'm doing this for you and your nasty, sick hormones, so don't you go and call me such names when I'm doing you a favor!"

He breathed deeply and relaxed back in his chair while Michiko stared down at the floor in shame, doing her best not to burst out crying. She had never seen her brother so angry and he had never slapped her before. When they were little, he protected her from bullies and kept her safe from harm. Yet now, he just hit her and called her a bitch. He was changing…for the worse.

Naoki broke the awkward silence. "Tonight."

Michiko looked up from the floor. "Huh?"

Naoki took out his lighter and lit his cigarette. "Tonight we'll tear those two boys apart and your 'Sasuke-san' will be yours. That little blonde bastard will be out of the picture for good."

Michiko hiccupped. "How?"

Naoki blew out some smoke from the side of his mouth. "I have an offer for them they can't refuse. They will have to choose between breaking up…or dying and going to hell."