A Grief Observed
Naruto lay on his stomach, his arms curled beneath his face. The sheet covering only his lower half lay tangled toward the end.
Sasuke smiled softly at his lover. Not like the midday sun, but a soft smile; as if the sun were just waking.
The raven sat up, letting the sheet fall on his lower half, not caring for the soft chill that engulfed his bare torso.
Kami, he loved him. He loved him like the poet loved the dreamer. Naruto was beautiful; intriguing; powerful. There was just something about him that allowed him to conquer Sasuke and fascinate the raven.
He was the life of any room he was in. Sasuke heard his lover tell the same stories over and over, though in each rendition, they became just a little bit more sensational. These tales of ordinary deeds and everyday humour became so tall that the truth became buried by Naruto's silly fiction.
And above being able to control Sasuke in a passionate manner, and having an unstoppable character, Naruto was breathtaking.
Naruto could have all the scars in the world upon his body. Naruto could be dirty from work all day. But Naruto was so beaten and bruised that he was beautiful.
And Sasuke could never look away. There was just something ugly about the flawless.
As if reading his thoughts, A blue eye peaked open from its slumber. Naruto gave a lazy grin and it made Sasuke blush heavily.
"Nē." He whispered in a soft murmur, his grin crooked.
"Hey you." The response came out huskily and croaked from a long sleep and Sasuke blushed even more as the images from yesternight clouded his vision.
He stood with a smile and began dressing, feeling blue eyes on him. "Leaving me this soon?" Naruto smiled.
"You must wake as well. We have a busy day. Besides, Konohamaru will be arriving soon."
"I promised I would train him starting today." Naruto murmured, now remembering. He groaned and turned over and Sasuke knew he was tired.
The Uchiha grabbed a bowl of ink and a feather from Naruto's dresser and moved toward the bed. He smiled and leaned down.
"I will send him here if I do not see you up by the time I have walked this entire ship."
Naruto chuckled. "Daijōbu. Daijōbu. I'm up."
Sailed kissed him and left the cabin.
NSNS
He smiled as he placed a small label above the Ōgonkan fruit using animal adhesive. The note simply read 'Golden yellow Ōgonkan,' but the man felt proud of his work.
He went on to do so for the other foods in the area, including the Hebesu, and foods that were uncommon.
When that was finished, the man moved out by the weaponry.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?" He turned, staring at Umeji who had spotted him.
The raven turned back, sticking the 'red' label on a beautiful dagger. "I am creating color labels."
He could not see, but he knew Umeji was giving him a very odd look. "Color labels? Why would you do that?"
Sasuke have him the craziest look. "Do you not know? Naruto cannot see color."
He turned once more, partially surprised that Umeji did not question why Naruto would wear mismatched clothing and pick up a Date when asked for a Prune.
Umeji moved forward. "What colors can he see?"
Sasuke sighed. "His color blindness is the most severe, so he can only see shades of grey, black, and white. He has a complete inability to differentiate colors, severe light sensitivity, involuntary eye movements, and central depressed vision."
He thought the conversation was over and that he would be let alone, but Umeji's next words made him halt.
"And how does the crew trust him to be captain of this vessel?"
Everything about it; the tone, the words, him; Umeji was challenging Naruto's rank and authority.
Sasuke sneered. "A charming man, but a brutal one no less. Being raised by a murderer has made him that way. You will do well in concealing your dislike toward him."
"Are you saying he will discharge me?"
Sasuke shook his head in fear, having seen Naruto's battles and anger. "No. I am saying he will kill you."
Four months later
Naruto grinned big as he grabbed hold of the sail. "Arise, arise my seamen. Early morning. Man the sails and the seas!"
He put a horn near Kyuubi's mouth. "Do the honors, friend."
Kyuubi growled into the horn and the terrifying sound echoed around the vessel. Naruto laughed. "Good boy."
He began to climb one of the ship's very high poles as the crew watched in high amusement.
"Oh! Soran, soran, soran
soran, soran, soran!"
Hinata raised her sword. "Yes! Yes!"
Naruto smiled down, happy that some knew the old song Kakashi would sing as they pretended to be pirates.
"When we hear the jabbering of seagulls on the high seas,
we know we can't give up our fishing lives on the ocean!"
Konohamaru jumped below. "Put your backs into it! Heave, ho! Heave, ho!"
"Heave, ho! Heave, ho! Oh! Soran…"
Kisame jumped up, beginning to climb another pole. "Boss, I tell you, the size of this catch of herring
is different from all the others. And it's all MINE."
"Oh! Soran…" Naruto laughed, so intrigued with his crew now.
Now Inari. "Even if I row four and a half metres,
I couldn't get that girl's attention."
"Oh! Soran…"
And Hanabi finished with "A flighty seagull twitters in excitement
As it sees my bare skin, glistening with ocean surf."
Naruto laughed loudly and jumped down. He finished with an extravagant roll and the crew cheered as he bowed in charming arrogance.
Across the deck, Umeji watched Sasuke as the raven stared at his lover with wonderment, amusement, and a silly grin.
"He is a charming one, he thinks?" Umeji murmured in envy and sadness.
Sasuke, sensing that the show was over, went back to training. "No. It is not that he thinks. He knows."
"You think he is charming?"
Sadie's eyes narrowed. "Of course. I cannot think worse of him because worse is not possible."
Umeji said nothing more of the subject, but instead ordered Sasuke to hold up his sword.
The Uchiha's eyes scanned the man and he sneered softly. "I want you to stop. If it does not, I will contact Naruto. I do not understand your pain, but I am faithful to him."
Umeji stared for a moment. "Very well."
"Sasuke. Umeji."
Both turned to see Naruto running over with a large grin. Once there, Umeji bowed clumsily and Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the purposeful action.
"Kyaputen."
Naruto dismissed the small notion. "How is Sasuke coming along with his training? I always thought he'd be a natural at it."
Umeji nodded graciously. "Sasuke is very skilled. In a few weeks, he will not need me."
"Then I am able to borrow him if he is this good." Naruto smirked. "You can focus on the weaponry without him being a big distraction."
The master Gunner looked to Sasuke, stared, blinked, and then back to Naruto. "Yes, captain. Right away."
As Umeji hurried away, Naruto watched Sasuke's scolding eyes follow the man.
"You do not enjoy his company?"
"He talks a lot." Sasuke murmured.
"But he was your friend as a child." Naruto countered, now confused by Sasuke's very annoyed tone.
"Moreso some sort of guardian."
A full year after Suigetsu's passing, the mourning had not run its course. The heaviness was in Sasuke's limbs as much as his mind.
Things he used to find funny now only caused a deepening of the pain. Sue should have been there to laugh with him, or at him, or just near him. He should be making his jokes in that damn expensive voice and complaining about the price of paintings.
He should be gawping at pictures of sails on the seas and planning what to spend his future on.
But most of all he should be there to hug Sasuke goodnight and laugh about sensei. The raven missed all that. Now there was just a graveyard, a stone that bore no name and his cold bones beneath the soil.
Sasuke had always been agnostic, but now he put all her faith in God to care for Sue and reunite them when his life was done. Nothing and nobody that good could simply disappear; he was waiting, Sasuke could feel it.
"Sasuke, why are you in here this late at night?"
The boy turned, fearing that someone would see the tears in his eyes, but sighed upon spotting Umeji.
The other would not judge him or tell another soul. He lifted his hands.
When the words would not come, the tears did. The mourning was supposed to be something dignified and stoic, but he cried like a child, noisily, with running snot and choking sobs and he was not ashamed.
Umeji's eyes filled with concern. "Oh, Sasuke." He murmured, coming over and holding Sasuke like the raven had seen a mother do in a book.
Sasuke looked away from those blue eyes. "He is infatuated with me."
Naruto's head went up with shock. "Oh." He proclaimed loudly.
And suddenly, for no apparent reason, Naruto felt painfully out of place, like a prince that had mistakenly made his way into a lowly village.
He felt that this matter wasn't his and he felt bitter that it should have been. Because Sasuke, the mysterious power, and Umeji had a history he knew nothing of. He felt awkward and heavy all of a sudden and his words clomped together, too thick to come out.
He just continued to stare upward wild-eyed, as a damned soul in purgatory might look at Satan passing in regal splendour through the seventy times sevenfold circles of hell.
"Does that bother you?" Sasuke murmured.
Yes, he wanted to say. That another man, my own subordinate, is fascinated by you.
Naruto smiled lighty. "Not if you aren't infatuated with him. It doesn't bother me at all."
Sasuke smiled too. "Good."
With a hesitant step, Naruto put his hand out. "Have you ever seen the lower deck, Quartermaster? Where you can see the sea?"
Sasuke took it. "Why, captain, I haven't."
His smile was beautiful to Naruto. He was so beautiful that it hurt the blond man. Sasuke's beauty was frightening. "You, Sasuke, are a nightmare from which I am trying to wake. Come."
He led the man down to the lowest level of the ship, where there were just boxes and hay and food for the livestock.
The blond drug him behind a few boxes and stopped by a makeshift cot. A candle was lit but the most astonishing thing was the glass that displayed a large part of the ocean.
"Wow." He whispered. Naruto followed him and both stuck their foreheads against the glass, watching the ocean with interest.
"Look!" Sasuke proclaimed with delight. "an Isonade."
Naruto stared at the large sea monster as it passed the ship. "I've never seen it before. Tell me...what color is it, Sasuke?" He whispered.
Sasuke smiled sadly. "He's a bright yellow, love. With purple fins."
He watched the blond close his eyes, and he imagined that the man was trying to remember those colors.
"I remember those colors."
Sasuke laughed quietly. "Naruto." He called. The blond looked. "Everything on me is exactly how you see it. My pale skin. My dark eyes and hair. I will always be exactly how you see me."
Naruto moved closer. "And for that I am grateful." Reaching a hand up, he moved some hair from Sasuke's face.
He began to lay Sasuke down on the cot as he stared intensely.
The moment was heavy, but beautiful.
Naruto loved him, Sasuke realized. Maybe even more than Sasuke did he. The raven knew. He was there. He saw the great void in Naruto's soul, and Naruto saw his.
When they were finished, Naruto dressed Sasuke with great caution, treating him as if he were a fragile glass. He smiled and stood when the blond began dressing, opting to look at the blue sea.
It was beautiful really, and mysterious. The sea was like love and nothing else mattered.
No other things made a difference. Love was the strongest thing in the world. Nothing could touch it. Nothing came close. If people loved each other, they would be safe from it all. Love was the biggest thing there was. And the sea was full of it.
"Do you see that?" Naruto asked aloud, now dressed and looking out with him.
Sasuke looked out, but could see nothing. "What?"
"The sea is all grey to me," Naruto murmured, "but there is a darkness back there."
Sasuke looked then, really looked. And in the blue, he could see the faint shadow of something thin. "Oh. I see. Probably just some fish."
Naruto smiled. "What kind of fish do you think it is?"
Sasuke squinted. "It looks like a tentacle. Could be a squid or octopus."
They stared until it disappeared. Eventually, Naruto's brows deepened and he looked at Sasuke with great thought. "It's odd that we witnessed a single tentacle from that far away, no?"
Sasuke just shrugged. The matter wasn't so pressing to him, for he could not understand the queerness. Yes, it was far away and could somehow still be seen. But this was the great vast ocean. What other odd things would they meet?
Suddenly, the room was consumed in numerous shades of grey and white and black. It looked like the sun abruptly burned out, leaving nothing but shadow in its disappearance.
Both men looked back toward the window, finding it completely covered by a large sea creature. To Naruto, gray. And to Sasuke, orange.
Sasuke stepped away, not understanding what the creature was, but more so frightened that it was moving and still, all he could see was orange. "What is that?"
And as if it heard the inquiry, it stopped right before the window, now staring with an enormous brown iris inside.
"Naruto." Sasuke murmured. "It is big and orange. Do you know what it may be?"
He watched in horror as Naruto's eyes widened with shock. The blond stepped back steadily. " Daiouika." He whispered. Giant Squid.
Naruto bounced on his father's lap with excitement as the man read the book to him.
"But no legendary sea monster was as horrifying as the Daiouika. According to stories, this huge, many armed, creature could reach as high as the top of a sailing ship's main mast. A Daiouika would attack a ship by wrapping their arms around the hull and capsizing it."
Naruto gasped at the picture of the large squid pulling down the ship nearly as big as an island.
"He was a great sea creature larger that two vast ship's, orange in color with eyes bigger than me.
The ship creaked dangerously as waves thrust forward in great amounts of power, allowing small glimpses of the cliffs just up ahead. You could almost hear the song of the mermaids as the ship was pulled down into depths of the watery hell known as "Davy Jone's locker." As the muses played their sounds of death, salt burned the lungs of the ones daring to cross Bermuda's path. The squid teased the boat and threw it about like an infant would a rag doll. The wind mocked the pirates in their attempt to escape the oceans hunger."
Naruto looked up at his father. "So it can attack a big ship, daddy? The Daiouika?"
Kakashi smiled. "Worse. It can sink a whole ship "
Before Sasuke could question him, something peculiar happened. The brown iris that stared and stared blinked.
Naruto raised a hand. "Sasuke. I want you to leave this roo-"
The ship shook; not due to the wind or the seas. But because outside, the creature had growled so softly.
The glass broke as it's eye smashed against it. As water began to pour around their knees, Naruto grabbed Sasuke.
Five cannon shots broke the stillness of the water, and above deck a horn went off. An alarm to warn the crew. The alarm was an ear-splitting wail. It rose to peak and then ebbed and rose to a peak again, undulating like a wave and all the while ringing their brain out like sponges.
"Man the guns! Man the guns! The Daiouika is attacking."
When they reached the main deck, another cannon shot fired and the ship rocked again.
Naruto put out his hand toward Umeji, who was manning the weapon. "Cease fire!"
His holler reverberated around the vessel like a clap of thunder, such was his rage. It was a roar of pure anger.
Umeji stared in confusion as did the other crew members. "But, captain. We have fallen in the eyes of the Daiouika. He will sink this ship."
Naruto put his hand up and dodged a large tentacle that wrapped around the ship, cracking it's delicate wood.
"Not if I can help it. If I stall him, Neji can move us from his territory. Daiouika is prone to attack if he hears the sound of metal. A brutal creature, but a poised one no less." Naruto murmured. "If he were human, he would favor a sword."
Neji, having listened well, moved to the front of the ship and began ordering the sailors of where to move.
Umeji sneered lightly as the ship once again rocked. "Are you saying that he will hurt us if I fire? That this ship will be sunk?"
Naruto moved back, staring at a large tentacle moving back and forth violently near the highest sail. He unsheathed his sword. "No. I am saying he will destroy us."
With that he jumped upward on the edge of the ship, running alongside it with a devilish smile. Sasuke watched in anticipation and worry as the blond sliced a tentacle.
The Daiouika made a terrorizing noise, as if his cry of pain were as strong as his rage. The tentacle, which had been hitherto wrapped in a hug around the ship's hull, raised high in the air, sinking back down.
Two more raised and Naruto's brows narrowed. "Keep this vessel moving, Neji! Konohamaru, cease fire on any guns!"
The young boy saluted and ran with determination to the cannons, nearly shooing Umeji away. "My pleasure, boss."
Suddenly, the arms of the squid Naruto could see disappeared back into the ocean. Upon seeing this, the ship and its occupants stilled; quieted; calmed.
But it was not a good calm. Calm should have been the forest right after the dawn light kissed the colors into being. But it wasn't.
They were in the eye of a vast tornado. And when the pointed mantle of the creature rose; when that large eye stared directly at Naruto, he knew the tornado would end soon.
"Tenten; Temari. Take the children into my cabin. Leave Konohamaru. The boy can hold his own."
He held himself in a pouncing position. "Hinata; Sasuke. Unsheath your swords."
Sasuke nodded and stepped forward, as did Hinata. Naruto raised his sword. "Daiouika! I know not what may come, but be it what it will, I will go at it laughing!"
The creature's head swayed from one side to the other and he let out a heavy scream, sinking back into the water.
His arms came back up, trying to wrap around the moving ship and hold it still, but Hinata and Sasuke moved faster.
They lightly sliced at the heavy limbs, creating more yells from the creature. The way it shrank back made Naruto smile lightly.
With hope, he turned. And with hope, he found that they were just outside of the harbour of an island.
He could hear the sounds. He heard the horn Hanabi began to blow. He heard another horn call back. He heard the peace flag being waved. The Daiouika moaning in pain, ready to retreat. The steady drumming of his heart. He heard all the sounds and that made him smile.
Everything was terrifyingly simple until it was not.
Suddenly a cannon-shot resounded; a ball of metal whistled above his head, and carried off into the morning, right to the retreating squid.
No, he whispered. He turned around quickly, watching in horror as Umeji loaded the large weapon again. He heard the moaning of the Daiouika, but this time the pain had been replaced by anger and determination. A tentacle arose from the sea and ceased him and only him.
With the sinking ship finally rendered impossible, the beast's main hope was to kill the arrogant man that started it all. His sword dropped and he struggled to remain from squirming. But the tentacle was so tight around him that he wanted to scream.
A second ball sounded and this time went straight into the water, hitting the giant squid and rocking the boat.
Naruto was released and dropped to the deck on his bruised ribs. And though there was so much pain, there was an even greater fear for the gunshots that sounded.
Each one wasn't simply loud, it cracked into the air and echoed around the water, magnifying the feeling of their vulnerability.
Hinata helped him up and he hid his grunt. "Everyone." When he spoke, everyone looked. And when he spoke, he did so with a warning tone. "Brace yourselves. This ship will fall."
And they would have surely moved to their captain's command had one of his own not spoken.
Umeji stared confused. "Why? I have saved everyone's lives and the monster is gone."
Naruto growled and the man jumped. "Just do as I s-"
He flew. He fell to the side of the ship where the Daiouika, that large unforgettable monster, had not struck it. And Naruto grabbed hold of his closest crew member and pushed them onto the floor, hoping to save their life.
"Someone, help me pull the anchor!" he pulled the heavy chain, straining his broken body even more to stop the sliding ship.
He did all he could, but he knew it wasn't enough. For as the ship was sliding to it's unspeakable doom, he watched the island's citizens running.
Naruto shut his eyes, bracing himself for the crash. He knew he would faint when his stomach gave out. It felt like his innards were being replaced by some kind of black hole. Then nausea crept from his abdomen to his head and the world went black.
When Naruto arose, only seconds had passed. He blinked slowly and then quickly. With ease, the man stood, searching first for the state of his crew, and then for the state of his vessel.
But the ship's death was too vast to overlook. It lay in the sand, slanting to one side. It was in two halves, separated by a jagged, broken area that could have been made by a storm.
"Is everyone alright?" He spoke over his own breathing. "Report your status to me immediately."
He looked around as the crew stood and muttered or yelled loudly, reporting their state as best they could.
"I am well, captain." They would say. "We are okay."
He helped Sasuke stand and the raven nodded. "I am well, captain."
"Captain." The voice that called upon him was gloomy and solemn like a cloud lost from the sky. He turned toward the saddened Asuma.
And immediately, his eyes clenched shut. The boy that lay limp in his arms was young, raven haired. And he looked heavy.
And immediately, he wondered how it happened. Not exactly what took place, but the emotions that ran through the boy as he died. Because he looked heavy.
There, between the back of Inari's head and the front, was the wood of the hull, snapped apart during the crash. The boy had went down and he went down with an exceptional burden.
More than fifty pounds of wood, plus the clothing and sword and blood and all the rest, plus the unweighted fear.
"Inari…. He is…"
Naruto lifted the small child from Asuma's hands and cradled him; as if Inari were afraid; as if Inari was still alive.
I am sorry, he meant to say. How sad, if I pass through life, and never see it through the eyes of a child. But he could not say. Instead, he gently laid Inari upon the sand and removed the wood from him.
"We will mourn him and then we will bury him at sea."
"Aye, captain." They murmured.
Someone from behind cleared their throat. "There would be more deaths had I not fired the cannon."
Naruto tensed at the sound of Umeji's arrogance. The surrounding area grew silent as he stood. Turning to Umeji, his eyes were narrowed, cold, hard, and rigid. The master gunner stepped back and Naruto stepped forward. "I told you not to fire. You deliberately disobeyed me."
"I saved your life." Umeji countered. And Naruto watched those grey eyes widen as he himself managed to tilt his head back and slam it into the other man's.
Blinks of white scattered his vision, but Umeji's sharp cry of pain was enough to shake it off and blindly kick out.
In less than a moment's pass, the other man was upon his back, Naruto's sword against his throat.
"I told you that the Daiouika would attack if he heard the sound of metal. We were safe until you endangered us."
Umeji shook his head, licking his busted lips. "I saved your life."
Naruto growled, raising his sword with both hands. "Those words will be your las-"
A searing pain went through his ribs as someone knocked him over. His sword now gone, the man sat up, ready to fight. But he froze. As strange things have happened, he should have known even more would come.
Sasuke stood shocked at his own actions as the rest of the crew pointed their swords at him. Kyuubi jumped next to Naruto and lowered his shoulders too "Lay down your weapons. I am Quartermaster." He growled lowly.
"You are a threat." Neji countered. "You may have power, but the captain is king."
Naruto growled and Sasuke jumped in fear. He saw the anger in Naruto's eyes and he felt horrible. When someone looked at one like that, eyes holding total anger, it hurt; but when that someone held your heart in their hand, it killed. Even if you deserve it, sometimes especially if you do, the loss is a fine pair of concrete boots and your own soul is a cold river.
That's what Sasuke felt as Naruto stared in anger. "What are you doing, Sasuke?"
Sasuke shook his head. "You cannot kill him. He is our Gunner and we need him."
"You are defending this man after your life has been put into danger because of him." Naruto whispered, moving closer.
Sasuke sneered. "He saved your life."
"He killed Inari!" The scream echoed throughout the island. "And as a child, Inari's life was more important than any adult upon that ship, even mine."
"This was about us. You and I."
Naruto shook his head. "How can you be so selfish? Yes, we must be together, but this is about saving the world from Danzo. We are a team with the same goal and therefore we all matter. A child of my own has lost his life because of man's stupidity, and I am beginning to think that it is freedom itself that chokes you, Sasuke."
Before he could scold his lover even further, pain seared through his abdomen better than a branding iron, his mind conceding to the torment, unable to bring a thought to completion. Without meaning to, Naruto's body curled into something fetal, something primeval and all the while, the pain burned and radiated.
He could hear Sasuke scream his name and he looked up as the raven stepped closer. The crew's swords drew up even further, blocking the Uchiha's path.
Sasuke growled as he pointed toward Sakura, who stood directly before Naruto as a shield now. "I sleep with this man night by night! I ordered you to lay down your weapons!"
And after moment of silence and obvious hesitation, they did lower them, giving Sasuke enough time to help his lover up.
Naruto growled at the pain in his torso, wishing it stop. "My stomach." He managed to say to the worried Sasuke.
Sasuke nodded and grabbed the hem of the cloth, pulling it up gently and gagging at the sight.
The scrapes and bruises had already began to rot, leaving Naruto green with an undertone of blue instead of purple. His entire torso was shifted more to the right side, telling Sasuke his ribs were indeed broken.
"Naruto, your ribs are broken."
"I am fine. We must continue our journey before we become vulnerable. Hinata, Konohamaru, you will venture with me into this town so that we may get a new ship and bring back better healing supplies for Sakura."
Sasuke shook his head. "What?"
Naruto pointed to Kakashi. "Father, Hiashi, Kisame, watch that imbecile and pray that I find a new master gunner so that I may kill him. The only thing worse than death is pride."
Umeji still lay down, shaken that his life was almost taken. He flinched when Naruto pointed his sword. "You have been demoted. And you are still alive because my lover has lost his mind at sea, cabin boy. Whoever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot."
Sasuke found his own sword in the sand. "I will go as well. They do not know how to care for you."
Naruto looked to Sasuke and shook his head. "You will not go. I cannot risk you throwing Hinata and Konohamaru into danger because you believe this world belongs to just you and I. I need a warrior and I will not risk my most important child being near Umeji at the moment."
A harsh yell came. "I am Quartermaster!"
"You are lost!"
The Uchiha flinched and Naruto turned away. "We will return soon. Temari, guard the children. Come, Kurama."
The four of them walked in silence through the village road. They passed the greengrocer with his window full of apples and oranges, and the butcher with his bloody lumps of meat on display and naked chickens hanging up, and the small bank, and the grocery stands, and then they came out at the other side of the village on to the narrow country road where there were no people any more. Where a citizen had told them the village healer resided.
And sure enough the man did. He sat upon his grass, looking upon it. Naruto pulled on Kurama as he walked forward slowly, careful not to hurt himself.
"A moment of your time." He called and the healer looked up.
He watched Naruto with intense eyes and Naruto wished he knew the color.
The healer rubbed his nose. "With a walk like that, I believe the bones in your torso may be badly broken." He stood, trying to hide his forbidden smile. "I am Haku, the village healer. Come."
Naruto turned toward his crewmates and Haku coughed. "All are welcome inside my home. Even the Kitsune."
Naruto smiled as Kurama ran forward, following Haku into his home.
There was a small mat with tea and a book upon it. Next to the fireplace was a bed with soft sheets that made Naruto think of Sasuke.
Haku's pale hand was ushered. "Please lay upon that bed. I will get my healing herbs and tools." He turned with a smile to Hinata, Konohamaru, and Kurama. "Please make yourself at home."
And a peculiar thing occurred. Haku watched the fox eagerly run to Naruto's side and lay by the bed, almost as if he were guarding the broken men.
A musical sound escaped his lips and he covered his mouth in soft fear. "I am sorry." He murmured.
Naruto smiled wide at him. "It is quite alright, doctor."
Haku nodded with a smile in return and left the room, leaving the crew in silence. They did not expect themselves to speak after the days events. For they knew the journey would not he easy, but the world failed to remind them it would be this brutal.
Naruto watched his silent first mate stare blankly into the fire place. It wasn't a cold stare, but a vacant one. As if Konohamaru had passed away but his body didn't realize it.
"Hey, kid." The boy lost track of his own absence and looked toward him, not saying a word, but not looking away either. "What's wrong?"
Finally, the boy looked away with a shake of his head. "I'm not sure. Inari, I think. He was a child like me. He had dreams like I did. Only difference is he never got the chance to grow and become different."
Naruto hummed. "You know, As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood. So maybe he would have been the same."
"Still, he had waited all his life for something, and it had killed him when it found him."
The silence swallowed Naruto's hopes of making the boy feel better. And there were no better words than those that came next.
"Kid…..it gets worse. It really does. The problems you have as a kid will seem ridiculous when you get older because larger problems will come along. But you will learn to deal with them easier as you grow up, or, like me, you'll just stop caring about the bad. So yes, it gets worse, but you know what gets better? Your tolerance for life."
Konohamaru listened to those words and he grimaced in agony as he accepted them.
Had Naruto not been so bruised and broken, he would have hugged the boy. He wanted Konohamaru to know that no matter what, Inari would always be with them. He wanted Konohamaru to know that no matter the situation, he would always be shielded by Naruto. He wanted Konohamaru to remain strong for just a few more days. Because youth had no society for grief.
Konohamaru nodded, looking back at the fireplace. "He has been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing."
Once his statement was made, Haku returned with a small box and he sat on the stool next to where Naruto lay.
"Easy with me now." He murmured as he began to raise the blond man's shirt. The wounded groaned as he was lifted and sofly shushed by the doctor.
"It's alright." He grabbed a bowl and a bottle from his box. Stirring the contents as they were poured, Haku grabbed another bottle and poured it within the bottle.
To Naruto, he could not tell if the contents were being mixed because the liquids were the same color. And it would feel humiliating to ask and admit that he were color blind to a stranger.
Pushing his pride aside, the man opened his mouth as Haku poured another bottle into the bowl. "Are they the same substances?"
Haku looked to him with an expression that Naruto could not read. "No. The green liquid is from my garden. The purple was made from crushed petals. And the clear is normal alcohol with no preservatives."
"Oh." Naruto. "I asked because…. Because I am colorblind. It is that…. I remember seeing colors once and then I lost them."
Haku's brows furrowed, showing his confusion. "It is odd that you did not lose color completely at birth, bit after you had grown used to them."
"I don't understand it any more than you do, but one thing I've learned is that you don't have to understand things for them to be."
The silence that followed and sat comfortably in the room was soft and pleasing; as it would be when one learned something new.
"So, where are you from?" Haku murmured.
"I speak as you do. How do you know I'm not from this land?"
"This is a very strict village and I have seen you smile and laugh freely since you have arrived. The fact that you are living is peculiar."
Naruto laughed at that notion then because he did smile freely and it was peculiar.
And so he told the doctor of his life, of his love, of his struggles, and his journey. He told him of the emperor of Konoha and the odd love he held for Naruto. He told him of the slave Sasuke he'd met. He told him of death and the traveling wizard. He told him of the Daiouika and the death and the hope that he would be fixed again.
Haku had been listening the entire time, his mouth opening in awe at some moments. "What a fascinating journey. Although, you need not tell me about Death and the Traveling Wizard. For those are tales I know all about."
"How do you know it?"
Haku smiled big and moved back, pulling back his sleeve to display a swirled fan. "Because captain, slayer of Shiba, I was raised by it. And the resistance is all I know."
Naruto tried sitting up, but his torso hurt too much. "You know me?"
"The world knows you. Naruto Uzumaki; son of Amaterasu's descendant; slave of all men and none; forbidden boy."
Naruto smiled as the man continued.
"From what I hear, you are mad. Crazy even. Off your head. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."
Sasuke paced the shore as his crewmates called out. There was a man by the name of Gato who sold not only weaponry, but mass ships as well. Not only livestock, but monuments. He had a large reputation of owning part of the city.
But a man with a reputation like such required his fortunes to be just as high. The vessel and the weapons they would need to set sail again cost so much. However, thanks to the royal Hyuuga family, it would only cost half their fortunes.
"Quartermaster." Someone called. "What to do with the animals that are of no more use?"
Sasuke rubbed his head. "Sell them. We must sell all that we do not need."
He watched Kisame smirk as the man walked by. And with rhythm, his hands outward, he said "or we can eat them."
And despite his saddened mood, Sasuke's lips trembled as he fought a smile. "Or we can eat you. It'll surely eliminate extra weight on our new vessel."
"I'm flattered, Sama."
The Uchiha laughed at his crewmates silliness. It lightened his mood just the slightest because he was hurting. And hurting he would remain until Naruto forgived him.
The man looked into the distance at the dawning sun and sighed in defeat. "Hiashi, please be sure that everyone is working. I am feeling tired and will go rest."
"Yes, Quartermaster."
The man landed on Naruto's soft bed with a large huff, smelling Naruto's scent with a deep inhale.
And he knew the moment he started to cry, Sasuke was alone. He cried slowly, with tears dripping down his temples and the soft hum of his own voice echoing throughout the room. He knew he existed and breathed. It was as simple and beautiful as the strumming of an instrument. Yet, he felt like he meant nothing to anyone. He was alone, sinking deeper and deeper within her own music.
The rest of the world could be seen, drifting farther and farther away as teardrops made up his ocean. They fell into his parted lips and stuck to his eyelashes. He could taste them, rolling down his parched throat. He was alone.
He had lost Naruto.
He had lost himself in an endless ocean.
Naruto laughed when Haku made an odd face when recalling his oddest life moments.
It was a laughter that he could feel in his lungs, so hard that it took his breath away. The lack of oxygen didn't matter. All the anguish of the day melted like snow in a heat. The laughter created a small vacation, a blessed relief from all the distress that shoved its way into his brain. For a single moment Sasuke defending the man who had not only betrayed Naruto, but was infatuated with him didn't matter. He lost the tightness in his chest. The muscles in his neck relaxed. After all that had occurred, he felt hope. And hope felt good. With hope came the thought that "things would turn around," that somehow, "Someone in the great Somewhere" had stepped into this arena as his champion. He felt joy ride into his life alongside the laughter. And Naruto knew, that when the laughter left, this joy would stay with him.
Haku laughed with them. "I am serious. That is what happened."
Naruto rubbed his healing torso and wiped his eyes. "That is very funny."
It seemed that Haku was going to laugh until he froze. "Shh. Do you hear that?"
Naruto tried sitting up and grunted in response, but he could hear the boots. He could hear the sound of marching. Hinata unsheathed her sword and grimaced. "Troops."
Haku stood in agony. "We must leave, Naruto."
The blond frowned. "What's happening?"
"You have a bounty from Konoha all across the lands. I know I should have warned you, but I knew I could protect you."
"Protect me?"
Haku did not answer, but instead hurried to his bookcase. To their own surprise, they watched the man push the bookcase to the side, revealing weapons, more rifles and pistols than swords.
Hinata's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
Haku smiled and bowed to them graciously. "Haku of the mist, doctor by day; master gunner of the resistance by night. At your service."
Konohamaru cheered. "Alright! Look at all these guns, boss. Ooh. Can I have this one?"
"Konohamaru!" Naruto warned and the boy blushed heavily. "You will not use firing weapons until you are ready. Now we must leave."
Haku and Hinata helped him stand as Konohamaru stuffed a bag full of weapons onto Kurama's back.
"How will we escape, Haku? And I must get back to shore. My Sasuke is there and if I am in danger, he surely is."
Haku stared intensely at them all. "The only way we can leave is if you all trust me."
They said nothing, but the gunner took that as an agreement. He turned with his two pistols and hurried to a backroom. Naruto followed with Hinata holding him upright.
"This will lead us to Sasuke. It will take a few days, but it is the only way."
Naruto nodded. "Very well." And when the door was opened, he gasped. Not in fear, but in wonder at how dangerously beautiful the forest behind the house was. It was dark out and the only light that gleamed were those of insects here and there.
Naruto bit his lip. Deep into that darkness, he stood there; wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal had ever dreamed before.
Sasuke tried not to cry as he hugged Naruto's sheets around him. He groaned as the nightoved on, wondering if Naruto prolonged his journey just to be away from him.
"Quartermaster." The man jumped and turned, finding Umeji standing in the doorway. The green haired man fell to a single knee. "I am sorry for the trouble I have caused."
Sasuke wanted to stand and hurt the man for defying Naruto's orders. He wanted to kill him for getting Inari killed. But Sasuke was selfish and he wanted Naruto to outlive any life upon that wrecked ship.
"Because of you, Naruto is alive. Granted, Naruto wouldn't have had to be saved if you had not fired, but he is important."
Umeji looked away feigning a sadness that Sasuke could not notice. "I hope Naruto is not bitter with you. Is this why he hasn't returned?"
"He….he will return to me- us. He is healing and then he will return."
Umeji stepped in, closing the door. "Quartermaster? Do you think he was right? It it not chains, but freedom that chokes you?"
A soft gasp in response and Umeji moved closer. "How can freedom choke me?"
"Because I can see it, Sama. I saved your life because I knew it could be saved. I saw it in your eyes and I still do. You are popular, Sasuke. You are mad without sexual fantasies and physical contact. And that is why you feel this way. Naruto should see it. You are a living pleasure slave. You need pleasure."
Sasuke believed him. Sasuke believed he did need contact and sex to function properly. He was going out of his mind because Naruto wasn't there to hold him safely.
"No." Umeji murmured, stepping even closer. "He is bitter with you and is punishing you."
Sasuke's mouth opened in shock. "You're right." He felt cheated. He felt bitter and angry and he wanted to show Naruto he didn't need the blond to survive.
He did not realize Umeji stood behind him until he felt strong hands upon his shoulders, rubbing and relaxing him. The man sighed in pleasure, his eyes drooping for a moment.
"You must calm down, Quartermaster."
The man looked up to Umeji. They stared and the other man leaned down, kissing him gently.
And Sasuke let him. It was a great misfortune that solitude could quickly destroy reason.
He laid upon the bed in ecstasy as Umeji removed their clothing and he signed as one would.
He moaned when Umeji kissed his penis. "I get he doesn't treat you like this, Sasuke."
Another moan from the raven.
"Tell me, Sasuke. Tell me I'm better."
An image of Naruto watching them bitterly went through his mind. And finally, from so little sleeping and so much worrying, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind.
"You're better." He whispered.
Naruto's held his ribs in agony as they cut the leaves in their path. "This forest is so dark, I cannot tell how many days we have been traveling." He inhaled. "I cannot tell if Sasuke is okay."
He indeed missed the man and he hoped that he wouldn't be angry with him for leaving him behind.
He felt Haku, who led them ahead, smile sadly. "You indeed love him, don't you."
"Of course. He's different than life. He's the only thing that keeps me sane. And in this time, he may be angry with me, but in this life, he will always love me. No matter what."
"Well than I wish you both the best. And I hope today he is doing fine and holding on just a little more."
"Thank you."
Sasuke glared heatedly at the man. "You seduced me. That is not love."
"I made love to you." Umeji responded, angry. "Naruto punished you and I freed you."
"You seduced me because you are greedy. You are jealous that Naruto has so much more than you can ever offer." His eyes trailed down Umeji's body. "Even physically." He growled.
Umeji huffed like a child would and Sasuke gagged. "I don't know why I split myself open for someone who would never even bother to show me the thread."
"You cannot tell Naruto about this."
"I know my love. I know he is irrational when angry and I know he will be bitter with me. I have messed up and I regret it with my life. So he will not know.
"But this foul relationship ends here. It will not happen again."
But Sasuke would later hate himself for his weakness to temptation. He would hate himself for the next days.
He had been chosen as a pleasure slave for good reason.
He would hate himself for letting it happen again. He would hate himself for enjoying the sin and wanting it to happen again.
He would hate himself in the future for the affair Naruto knew nothing of.
Sorry this is late guys. Anyway, if you read this chapter well enough, you will not only see the faults of Sasuke but the faults of Naruto as well. I named this chapter to show how everyone is dealing with Inari's, an innocent child, death. Review please and if you have any questions, let me know.