Everyone is encouraged to review!
Will be Beta'd by Mad Mardigan
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. I do like little Taku, but I guess I own him in a way?
Chapter 6: Saying goodbye, again?
Naruto rolled out of bed with a thump, whomever was at his door was a persistent fucker. "Alright! I am fucking coming!" Naruto scratched his belly as he opened the door. He lazy brought his eyes up to meet obsidian ones. "Did you know that curse words is one of the easiest parts of the English language to pick up?" Naruto felt his face turn red as his eyes darted downward to meet small iridescent ones. "I'm sorry! I never expected for you to be here!" Naruto knelt down to introduce himself to the little person. "Hello, I am Naruto Uzumaki and you must be Taku Uchiha." The boy nodded slightly, a mirror image of his father who towered above them both. "It is a pleasure to meet you." The boy managed a small Uchiha like smirk. "I am ummm, happy to meet you. I found some old pictures in chichi's old room."
The little boy pointed at Naruto, his little finger touching the tip of his nose. "You and chichi kissing." The boy blew his bangs out of his eyes. "You are a boy and chichi is a boy and I'm just losted?" Sasuke smirked as his eyes meet with Naruto's confused look. "The word is confused, Taku." The boy nodded as Sasuke continued. "I told him that I wanted him to meet you and then I would explain from there." Naruto nodded as he stood. "Come in and just make yourselves comfortable." He smiled as he pushed some climbing gear on to the floor. "Sorry, I am getting ready for a trip to my family's cabin and I am trying to get my sh-stuff together." Sasuke nodded as he seat his little boy on his lap.
"Let me go put on a shirt and I will be right back." Naruto hurried down the hall towards his bedroom, he quickly pulled on his shirt, and rushed into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and ran a rough hand through his hair. Looking in the mirror, he took note of his appearance. 'I look okay. I cannot believe he brought his son! Maybe he wants to get serious?' Naruto shook his head. 'No! You are putting the cart before the horse! Just relax and see how you can help.' Naruto nodded to himself as he headed towards his living room, he stopped as he watched Sasuke interact with his confused son.
He was talking to his little boy with so much concentration. "I no understand! I am trying really hard, chichi." The little raven scratched his head. "We are just going to do homeschooling for a short time." The little raven began to pout, which was very un-Uchiha like. "You cannot go around dropping cherry bombs into toilets and not expect consequences." The little raven lifted his brow. "It was only a couple times and I apologized!" Sasuke smirked. "Taku. You and I both know that there are many other incidents that have lead to this decision. Besides, I think that it is best if you stay close to home for the remainder of the year. Do I make myself clear, Uchiha Taku?" The small raven simply nodded as his frosted eyes met blue.
"Good morning, Mr. Naruto." The young raven chimed as he swung his small legs in excitement. "Good morning, Mr. Taku." He sat next to the young raven.
"Can you explain now, chichi?" Sasuke placed his hand under his chin, deciding how best to explain. "Do you remember how your heart started to race every time you saw your classmate, Emily? And then I told you that meant she was special to you and it was sign that you really liked her." The young boy's cheeks flushed as he nodded shyly. "Well, that is exactly how it was for me, when I first met Mr. Naruto. I could hear my heart in my ears and I knew he was special to me." The young boy's brow knitted together.
"Okay, but he is still a boy chichi." Sasuke nodded in agreement with his son's words. "Yes, he is Taku. Emily is different from you and you friends, correct?" The little raven nodded his head. "Remember how your friends told you that you should not like her because she was different." Taku smiled like his father. "I told them that I didn't care because my heart liked her! That is what obaachan said, her said that the heart is all that mattered!" Sasuke smirked. "The same held true when it came to Naruto and I. My heart loved him and the rest no longer mattered." The little raven looked down at his hands, processing the new information. "You still love him too, huh chichi?" Sasuke looked over to his former lover and sighed in defeat. "Yes Taku. Yes, I do love him very much."
Taku's frosted eyes darted to the blushing tan male sitting beside him.. "Mr. Naruto?" The small boy waited until blue eyes met his before continuing. "Do you like kids?" Naruto grinned. "Yes Taku, I really do like children." The little raven moved closer to him. "Do you like me, sir?" Naruto chuckled as he nodded his head.
"Good! Because I like you too!" Taku climbed into the blond's lap, placing small alabaster hands on the contrasting tan face. "Chichi promised me panacakes with a smiley face! Can you come to Mr. Naru?" Sasuke was a little taken aback. Taku had never been know to take to anyone he had wanted to date or had dated. However, for some strange reason Taku had managed to find comfort in his first love. "Let me just change into some jeans and we can go!" Naruto hopped off the couch headed towards his room. He quickly found some denim and a pair of sneakers to pull on.
The entire morning was spent answering the questions of a curious six year old. Taku wanted to know everything, from job to friends and most importantly family. "You have two chichi's?!" The young boy asked excitedly as he pulled on Naruto's hand. Taku had taken to holding both Naruto and Sasuke's hand. The boy said it was just to make sure they were paying attention. "Do I get to meet them?! I mean…when you and chichi get married!" Naruto blushed as Sasuke cleared his throat. "Ta, aren't we getting a little ahead of yourself? Besides, I am otherwise engaged." 'Engaged?' Naruto thought to himself.
The little raven shook his head in protest. "He loves you and I know you love him! I think he can learn to love me because I really like him, chichi!" The little one spun around with a smile. "That means you don't have to love scary Sherry anymore! I really don't want you to marry her and she really doesn't want to be my mommy! Let Mr. Naruto be my mommy!" The little raven shook his head. "I mean my other chichi! Yeah, let Mr. Naruto be my chichi!" Taku giggled as he dashed towards the swings.
"Married?" Naruto questioned quietly. "I am sorry, I guess I forgot to mention it. I am engaged to be married." Naruto felt his heart do a swan dive into his stomach. "We are planning a winter wedding. She loves Christmas and Aspen is prefect in December." Naruto smiled weakly. "Congratulations! That is really great and I'm glad you found someone special." He felt utterly stupid for hoping to be loved by the other, again. "Thank you. She is a really nice woman and I think it will be really good for Taku to have two parents, again. He can be quite a handful." Naruto managed to push the pain into his stomach.
"Taku is just misunderstood. I think most of the things, he does is out of curiosity. I know that is why I did most of the things, I did." Sasuke chuckled at the blond man. "Really?" Naruto nodded his head. "I don't think he is a prankster, but I do think that his curiosity gets the best of him. I know what that is like, but then my dad got me into other things." Naruto smiled as he sat on the bench watching Taku swing. "I guess all that curiosity does need an outlet." Naruto nodded as the raven set beside him. "He is way to smart to just play sports and go to school." Sasuke lifted his eyebrow as he watched his son run across the park to the slide. "What do you purpose?" Naruto let his eyes fall on the others onyx gaze. "I don't know, maybe music or art. Art just like me! It is where anyone's imagination can explode!" Sasuke nodded his head.
"At this point I am willing to try anything, because this is his second expulsion in two years." Naruto grinned as he stood. He moved towards Taku and the young raven stopped in front of. "Mr. Naru! Scary Sherry is really mean! She says she is going to send me away as soon as she marries chichi." Naruto furrowed his brow. "Did you tell you dad?" The little raven shrugged. "No, because she makes chichi happy. I guess, but you make chichi really happy!" The little raven wrapped his arms around the tan neck.
"Taku, you know how you get in trouble a lot, at school?" Taku pouted, but managed a quick nod. "I think it would happen less if you find something that was your own." Taku cocked his head to the side. "Come on. I will show you." Naruto scooped the little raven into his arms as he headed back towards his apartment.
Naruto hurried up the stairs with an eager Taku in his arms and Sasuke, close on his heels. "This is your apartment!" Naruto nodded his head as he went up a small staircase, off to the left of his kitchen. "Where we going?" The little boy asked happily. "I am going to one of my favorite places in this city." He pushed through the door leading to the roof. "This is my favorite place and you see that small glass building." The little raven nodded, still cradle in tan arms. "That is where my imagination comes to life!" They made it to the small glass house and Naruto set the excited raven down. There was paintings everywhere. Every surface was covered in colors, white muslin lay loose along the floor, and wooden frames lined a wall. "What do you think, Ta?" The little raven blushed as he kissed the tan cheek.
"I want to try! Can I try, please Mr. Naru?!" Naruto nodded his head as he placed a white button-down on Taku. He rolled the sleeves loosely. "Now, the point is not to think really hard. You just have to do whatever comes to your heart." Naruto pulled a small easel out, placing a canvas, eyelevel for Taku. "You can do whatever you want right here!" Taku's eyes widened in excitement as Naruto pulled out some acrylic paints, color pencils, and china markers. "I want you to start with a huge idea! I want you to start with this." Naruto handed the little boy a china marker. "That is a china marker and I want you to draw your idea, it does not have to be perfect. It does have to be yours." Taku nodded as he took up the marker, he quickly pressed it to the canvas. Naruto stood and moved towards the other male. "I have never seen him so animated." Naruto looked up to see Sasuke's eyes flicker with astonishment.
"The problem with your family is that you are all calm geniuses, but sometimes a genius can be a little high strung. I think Taku is one of those high strung geniuses." Sasuke just smirked. "I think I'm done!" Taku chimed. Naruto walked over to the small easel. "Well, aren't we the talented little one." The little boy giggled. "Come see chichi!" Sasuke walked over to see a beautiful dragon fairy. The dragon reminded him of the eastern dragons, found in Asian fairy tales. "I want him to be red, with bright colored wings Mr. Naru! Naruto nodded as he pulled some brushes out.
"This brush is for detailing, you can roll it in the color and trace you drawing." The little raven nodded. "This is a filling brush, this can be used however you choose. While this brush can be used to either lighten or darken a picture. In order to change color, you stir it in the water and press the brush against the towel." Tai grabbed the brushes and stood in front of the colors. "Chichi! I think you should marry, Mr. Naru!" Naruto blushed as he stood away from the little raven. "You know Taku, Naruto is very special. He is special just like you." Naruto smiled. "Taku, we will be right outside if you need us and there are plenty of canvases that need a splash of color." The little raven nodded as Naruto lead Sasuke out of the glass house.
"You want some tea?" Naruto asked as they headed back down to his apartment. "You drink tea?" Naruto chuckled. "Of course! All grownups drink tea, right?" Sasuke simply nodded. "Naruto, your logic is astonishing." Naruto nodded in agreement as placed the kettle on the heated burner. "Taku pays attention to detail and he quite talented for a six year old. I couldn't draw a straight line at his age. I guess you have official found his creative outlet." Sasuke nodded as he crossed his legs. "For that I am truly grateful. This means I will not have to buy his way in secondary school, after all." Naruto laughed. "So that is how the other rich people, do it!" Sasuke smirked. "It does not matter how horrible the youth is, as long as the money is right. Even with the right amount of zeros, you can buy a degree." Naruto pulled two cups out, placing herbal tea leaves into each. "Damn! And here I actually earned my degree. What a freaking waste of time?" Sasuke chuckled. "Well, you could always buy your next one." Naruto grinned as he poured the heated water into the cups.
"So, how did you meet Sherry?" Sasuke looked up from his cup with a small smirk. "She was the spokesperson for a company that Uchiha Incorporated took over. My father liked her style, so we keep her on as acting CEO, and one night she approached me. We got together that following weekend and we have been together ever since." Naruto smiled weakly as watched the tealeaves swirl in his cup. "Taku seems to be firmly opposed to her." Naruto looked up from his swirling tea leaves. "Is there any particular reason?" Sasuke shook his head. "Not at all. Sherry has been nothing, but nice to him. I will admit that she sometimes fail to understand Taku and it frustrates the both of them to no avail. I think it is because she was an only child and doesn't have any children." Naruto nodded.
"Yeah, being an only child does make it a little difficult. By fate, I ended up with two younger sibling and a sunny deposition!" Sasuke nodded in agreement. "You know it won't last, right?" Sasuke tilted his head towards the blond. "What does that mean?" Naruto placed his weight on his elbows. "What I mean is that you live for your son. You live for his happiness and because he dislikes her, you two won't last." Sasuke lifted his eyebrow. "Well, aren't we so honest? I haven't seen you in ages and one of the first serious statements you say is…my future marriage is destine to fail?" Naruto shrugged uncomfortably.
"I didn't say it like that, teme! All I said was from what I have watched you all day. Taku is your life and if he is not happy! You make it so that he is happy!" Naruto bit his lip as he shook his head. "Sherry does not make him happy and if she doesn't make him happy. I see you just casting her aside to make him happy." Sasuke sighed. "I do have a tendency to center things around him. That is why I am marrying Sherry. He needs two parents and that is what I am going to give him." Naruto wanted so desperately to be Sasuke's one. He had waited so long but it had managed to slip away, again.
"Yeah, I guess I am just thinking too much. Your son is really special and I would hate for him to be lost in some way." Sasuke rested his hand under his chin. "Mr. Naruto! I did it! I done it!" The little boy jumped into his lap. "I want to move here! I'm happy that we are living here! Can I come visit with you sometimes?!" Naruto was confused by the jumble of verbs spewing from the excited six years old. "Taku, you have to slow down. Naruto did not understand a word of what you just said." Taku nodded at his father's suggestion, taking a deep breath he started again. "May I come visit you sometimes? Chichi is moving us here! He said something about, taking over the main ranch!" Sasuke chuckled.
"I am taking over the main office, which is located here. We move back in a couple of months." Naruto grinned as he nodded. "All you have to do is call me and I will be there. The entire day will be yours." Taku nodded his head excitedly as he wrapped his small arms around Naruto's neck. "Mr. Naru? Can I call you something else?" Naruto nodded his head. "What do you want to call me?" The boy placed a finger to his lips with a thoughtful look on his face. "I want to call you…umm…Papo! I like it and it is just yours!" Naruto chuckled. "I think that will be fine." The little raven looked over at his chichi. "Do you like it chichi!" Sasuke simply nodded. "What did I come down here for?" Taku smiled brightly as he remembered. "I was thirsty and I finished my first one!" He shook his head. "You can't look at it until I go away, okay!" Naruto nodded as he gathered Taku in his arms, he moved over to the fridge.
"I have juice, I think?" The little raven reached into the fridge pulling out the plastic bottle. "There you are sir. You very own juice." Naruto placed Taku back on his legs and he hurried back up the roof towards the glass house. "Papo, huh?" Naruto blushed as he placed his hand on the back of his neck. "I guess the kid likes me." Sasuke lifted his brow. "For the record, Taku has never liked anyone that I have dated or wanted to date. What spell have you casted over my stubborn little raven?" Naruto smiled. "The same one I had you under, I guess?" Sasuke smirked.
"One could only assume that there is some truth to that statement." Naruto shrugged as he moved back to his seat. "To bad the same spell doesn't work twice, huh Sasuke?" Naruto's eyes were met with smoldering black orbs. "I wouldn't go that far, dobe." Naruto closed his eyes letting the sweet breath move over his face. "When do you go back home?" Naruto asked with his eyes still shut. "We are not going home, but Sherry will be arriving in a week." Naruto opened his eyes, no longer feeling the presents of the other near his face. He looked up to find the other, placing his cup in the sink. "When are you leaving for your little trip, up north?" Naruto sighed. "I plan on packing all day tomorrow and then, Tuesday I am off! You and Taku can come over, help me pack or whatever." Sasuke nodded his head as he looked at his watch. "I have a conference call in an hour and we will see you tomorrow." Naruto nodded in excitement. He couldn't wait for tomorrow.
Thanks for everyone who is still reading and my love to people who are willing to at least take the time to read what I have.
Everyone is encouraged to review!