I am a horrible author/updater =[. I'm so sorry that this took so long to update. School has been kicking my booty and I finally was able to write this out. Hope it's not horrendous.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Naruto, just my imagination of the characters doing naughty things *winks*
Keeping The Blade
Sasuke shifted in bed, groaning as pain shot through his head. He placed his hand over his face and laid in bed recollecting his thoughts from the previous night. Sasuke's eyes widened once he remembered and ripped his head in both his hands at how stupid he behaved. He could only imagine how awkward it would now e with Naruto.
Just as that thought entered his mind said blonde walked into the room with a towel around his waist. Sasuke watched as the tan man walked around the room, getting ready for the day. He saw as Naruto's muscles rippled while he put on a pair of boxer briefs and proceeded to put on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.
Sasuke continued to watch as Naruto looked for his iPod, assuming the blonde was going to go and practice. Naruto finally found his iPod and looked over at Sasuke's bed. Seeing the raven was awake he smiled at him as if everything was completely perfect.
"Hey sleeping beauty. Good to see you're up. I'm gonna go practice for a bit so I'll see you later," Naruto told him. Sasuke nodded in response while Naruto slipped on a pair of Vans and exited the room.
Sasuke couldn't believe it. Naruto was acting like nothing had happened the previous night even though Sasuke could CLEARLY remember everything. Was it that Naruto was regretting what had occurred the night before? Did he even remember what happened? Sasuke shook his head and sat up in bed. He was an Uchiha and Uchiha's didn't wallow or care about others opinions or concerns.
He steadied his breathing as his head swam and made him slightly dizzy. When he felt in control he got up from the bed and made his way to his closet to get dressed. Today he decided would b a day of work and exploration of the campus. If Naruto wasn't going to talk about it then he wouldn't even think about it.
XxXxXxXxXx
Sasuke could get away from Naruto. HE was doing his very best to avoid the blond, but to no avail the blonde was everywhere. It wasn't that he was running away from his roommate, he just didn't appreciate Naruto's nonchalance and disregard for what had happened. Sure, Sasuke was after all an Uchiha, and as mentioned Uchiha's don't wallow…but he couldn't help it if his pride was just a bit bruised.
Sasuke scowled to himself at such a foolish emotion. He shook his head and continued his trek around campus trying to get his mind off his current problem. Just as he thought that his phone rang in his pocket. Reaching in, he pulled it out and smirked at the caller ID. This was just the distraction he needed.
"To what do I owe the displeasure of you harassing me when you should be in class? Or better yet back at the company," Sasuke questioned answering his phone.
"Oh, come off it. I'm you're best and only friend. Can't check in on you?"
"Suigetsu, anytime you call me there is bad news, and I don't need to be checked on," Sasuke responded. He heard Suigetsu sigh over the phone and could imagine the slate haired man shaking his head.
"Do you truly think so low of me?" Suigetsu questioned feigning hurt.
"You and I both know you don't want an answer to htat question,"
"I'm going to disregard that comment. How's conservatory life going?"
Sasuke chuckled, "Wonderful. Everything my father would hate,"
For a moment there was a pregnant silence and Sasuke stopped walking sensing something was wrong.
"Actually Sasuke…there is something I need to tell you…"
Sasuke visibly stiffened and pursed his lips in anticipation, "Does it deal with my father?"
"Not necessarily. Just your family in general,"
"What happened that I haven't heard about Suigetsu?"
"Are you by a newsstand by any chance?"
Sasuke looked around himself and saw he was indeed near the store on campus that sold magazines and newspapers. He walked over quickly and picked up the first newspaper where the headline read:
"New developments in Uchiha case; Itachi pleading guilty?"
"He's pleading guilty?" Sasuke choked out.
"I'm assuming it's a plea barg-,"
"But he didn't do it!"
"Sasuke, you don't know that,"
"Excuse me?"
"You weren't there man…you don't know that,"
"He's my brother!" Sasuke hissed into the phone. Suigetsu stayed silent knowing there was nothing he could say to Sasuke in that moment that would change his mind.
"The newspapers are questioning it. They aren't even sure if he's pleading guilty or not…they probably just offered him the plea bargain,"
"Have you heard from my father?" Sasuke questioned him.
"No…why?"
"In case he questions about me or speaks to you about Itachi,"
"You know I won' say anything to him about you…don't worry. And Itachi? That's just bad publicity. It'll blow over,"
'Who's going to want to trade with a company whose head is a convicted felon!"
"When something bigger happens they'll forget this eve-,"
"You work for the company Suigetsu! You've seen corporations go under because of bad publicity! My father is just waiting for to see the final verdict before he's forced to start firing all of you!"
"Sasuke the case is still going on. He hasn't been convicted yet," Suigetsu sighed into the phone. Sasuke allowed himself a moment's reprieve and breathed. Itachi wasn't convicted yet. The ball was still rolling. His brother hadn't done it…surely the jury would see that.
"Okay…okay. Just so you know…he didn't do it Suigetsu," Sasuke spoke quietly.
"I know Sasuke…I know," Suigetsu responded to him slowly. But Sasuke could hear it in his voice. Suigetsu was like everybody else. Believing that Itachi was guilty. Not even giving him a chance to explain himself. Shutting him up before he even took a breath to speak.
"I gotta go Suigetsu. Need to practice,"
"Yeah…no problem. Take care okay?"
"Hn,"
"I'll let you know if I hear anything from your dad,"
"Hn,"
"See ya around,"
At that Sasuke hung up the phone and continued to stare at the newspaper. He stared at the profile shot they got of Itachi in the courtroom. He was in his crisp suit, hair pulled back into a low ponytail, his face void of all emotion and stilled into a firm stare. Lips thin and eyes completely vacant.
Sasuke put the paper back down on the stand and walked away back towards his dorm. He wouldn't be able to buy filth that defamed his brother. Condemned him when they didn't know the full story. Instead he would exert his energy and anger into dance. Something he could control.
XxXxXxXxXx
Sasuke stepped into his room, grabbing his things and heading over to the Naruto's mothers building. Subconsciously he had chosen that building, knowing Naruto preferred not to enter it. As Sasuke was walking his phone began to go off in his pocket.
He answered it without taking a look at the caller ID and immediately wished he had.
"Uchiha,"
"Have you seen the paper today?"
Sasuke froze hearing his father's clipped voice. This was the last thing he need or wanted right now.
"Yes I have,"
"I expect you will be attending the trial,"
"Of course father,"
As expected. We need one Uchiha who hasn't become a complete and utter disgrace to uphold the family name," his father stated. Sasuke clenched his fists in anger as he continued to walk. He of course couldn't say anything to go against his father because that went against what he was taught. One did not speak against their parents. For that reason Sasuke chose not to say anything at all.
"Have you thought about what is going to happen once Itachi is convicted? I expect you to step in as soon as possible," His father spoke again. Sasuke entered the dance studio and dropped his things, still holding the phone to his ear.
"I was not aware I would be taking Itachi's place in case of him being convicted,"
"Itachi was the eldest heir. You are obviously next in case he fails to adhere to his duties,"
"However, he has still not been convicted. One cannot assume that is going to be the ultimate decision,"
"Are you disagreeing with something that is being handed over to you?"
"…Of course not,"
"Then there is nothing left to speak about," with that Sasuke's father hung the phone up, not allowing Sasuke to give an answer. Sasuke pulled the phone from his ear glancing at it momentarily in slight shock. How was he going to get out of this mess now?
He put his phone away and went to his bag to take out the iPod inside and plug it into the sound system. He found the song he was searching for and pressed play. For the first few seconds as the song played he rolled his neck and then his shoulders waiting for the cue.
"The strings of the instrument continued to play as Sasuke steps away from his body with his right leg, leaning on it with his body, while pushing his left hand away from himself. His body moves along with the pull of the bow in the song; back and forth.
As the bow pulls again he drops his left leg in front f his right. He leans further on his leg so that his left side is completely crossed over his right. Lifting his left leg, his foot meets his right knee and he does two turns, ending in a squat. He sinks deeper into it, allowing his upper body to collapse slightly before he pops up, his legs straight and feet pointed.
Coming back down to the ground he runs across the space, leaping into the air, his legs scissoring as he turns his body midair to land on his right leg and bring his hands up his body so that he is standing once again.
Sasuke opens his eyes, not realizing he had closed them to begin with and scowls slightly when he sees a blonde head staring back at him in the mirror. Naruto waved slowly to him as he leaned off the wall, walking towards the raven.
"Beautiful scissor leap. Love how you changed direction at the end,"
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke questioned turning to face the other man. Naruto shrugged and continued to smirk at the other man.
"You sound like you don't want me here,"
"I'd thought we'd already established you're not my most favorite person,"
"Well, I just came by because I hadn't seen my lovely roommate all day and was wondering where he'd been hiding,"
"I haven't been hiding,"
"Sure you haven't…why have you been avoiding me?" Naruto questioned, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Sasuke turned away from the other man remembering that his iPod was still playing. He walked over to go turn it off and heard Naruto snicker behind him.
"Coheed and Cambria? Never though you would dance to them. You still haven't answered my question of why you've been avoiding me," Naruto stated smirking while crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke turned off the music not turning to look at him.
"The fact that you think you are so much of an importance to me that I would go out of my way to avoid you is astounding," Sasuke answered curtly.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, walking closer to Sasuke, "So biting. Any reason for that?"
Sasuke scoffed, putting his things away, "I'm always like this, just now noticing?"
"Sasuke, what's bothering you?"
"Besides you at the moment? Nothing,"
"So you have been avoiding me?"
"What part of 'leave me alone' do you not get?" Sasuke questioned, trying to sidestep the blonde until the other grabbed him by his shoulders.
"You won't even look me in the eye right now…"
Sasuke shifted his gaze to the others face in anger and saw a worried gaze staring back at him. However, Sasuke's anger didn't waver and he shook free of the hold the other man had on him.
"Why won't you talk to me? You've never been particularly social, but even this is weird for you," Naruto spoke softly.
"I don't want to talk. I just want to be left alone. Why do you even care if something's wrong with me? You don't know me at all,"
"But I want to. Let me know you," Naruto told him. He looked off for a moment and then back at Sasuke with a quirked eyebrow, "Is this by any chance about last night?"
Sasuke clenched his jaw in response not answering the other man's question. Sasuke was not prepared to talk about this right now. Not after everything else in his life just came to a screeching halt. So call him a coward, any word in the book wouldn't matter to Sasuke right now except for the fact that he couldn't deal with relationship/friendship drama on top of everything else. So sure…maybe he was running.
"Is that why you can't look me in the eye for more than 5 minutes?"
"Leave me alone Naruto," Sasuke sighed out feeling completely exhausted.
"I don't regret it,"
Sasuke returned his gaze back to Naruto at that declaration. Naruto's eyes softened as he smiled brightly at the raven-haired man. Sasuke on the other hand wasn't buying it. It didn't make sense.
"I'm not some cheap fuck Naruto. You've known me for a week tops…you don't know anything about me except for what they write in the tabloids,"
"I never said you were a cheap fuck. And I don't care what they write in those fucking tabloids. I of all people know that stuff isn't true or real. They write for all these other sad people in the world who have nothing to do and are bored with life. I want to get to know you which is why I'm speaking to you as opposed to reading today's paper,"
"It's the middle of the year. You really want to get tied to one person?"
"I've been here for a year already. I know all the self-centered, pompous, know-it-all's that go here. None of them are as interesting as you, and I haven't felt drawn to any of them like I am to you,"
Sasuke stared at him and tried to keep his features still as Naruto professed to him, "How do you know I even want to give you a chance?"
"At that Naruto smiled even brighter, stepping closer to Sasuke so that their foreheads almost touched, "Because you wouldn't have kissed me the way you did last night if you weren't thinking even the slightest same things about me,"
Sasuke held Naruto's gaze and felt his heartbeat quicken slightly at the intensity in the other man's eyes. Naruto cupped Sasuke's face in his palms, letting his thumbs rub against he flawless skin before him. Sasuke held his breath and continued to stare at Naruto who didn't move any closer or move back to give him space.
"So what do we do now?" Sasuke whispered, his lips so close to Naruto's the other could feel the breath on his lips.
"You tell me," Naruto answered him. Sasuke blinked a few times and leaned forward closing the gap between them. Naruto closed his eyes, snaking his hand to the back of Sasuke's neck holding his head in place. Sasuke grabbed at Naruto's arm as Naruto tilted his head, deepening the kiss.
Sasuke snaked his tongue outside, licking Naruto's bottom lip requesting entrance. Naruto opened his mouth, allowing Sasuke's tongue to find purchase inside. Sasuke tried to stifle a moan that slipped through as he attacked the roof of Naruto's mouth.
Naruto moved his hands down to Sasuke's waist pulling the other flush against his body. Sasuke gasped, allowing Naruto to map out Sasuke's mouth with his own tongue. Sasuke bit down on the appendage lightly, sucking on it as he pulled back from the blonde, gazing at him through the fringes of his hair.
Naruto stared at Sasuke in awe, eyes half lidded. Sasuke stared back at him and moved back slightly, Naruto's arms slipping slightly from his waist.
"Naruto this isn't going to be easy…"
"I'm not looking for easy,"
"I have a lot of problems, especially in my family,"
"I don't care,"
Sasuke sighed, "You're not going to give up are you?"
Naruto smiled, leaning close to the raven, "Not on your life,"
Sasuke scowled at the other man and moved out of his arms, picking his bag up. Naruto stared at him as he walked, wondering what Sasuke was up to.
"I don't do PDA, I'm still not going to be social, I don't like parties, I practice when I can and whenever I'm feeling particularly stressed, I may have to leave school for a few weeks at a time for things I can't really speak about. I don't have many friends and I like it that way, I like my sleep and don't necessarily like to be disturbed when doing so. My father does not know I'm here…" Sasuke rambled. Naruto smiled at him moving closer to him in the process. Putting his hands in his pocket, he leaned against the mirror and stared at Sasuke. Sasuke made sure he had everything and then looked at Naruto who was staring at him.
"What?" Sasuke questioned confused.
"Do you wish to tell me your dress size as well? Perhaps if you're allergic to anything or your favorite food?" Naruto suggested.
"Fuck off," Sasuke scowled.
Naruto laughed brightly, grabbing at Sasuke's arms, "I'm not asking to marry you…I'm just asking you give me a chance…that we be exclusive. That you feel like you can come to me and talk to me instead of avoiding me and brooding like your downright brooding princess self,"
"Stop calling me -,"
"A princess. Yeah I heard you the first 3 times,"
"I'm only telling you all of this so you know what you're getting yourself into,"
"Okay. I get it. Now…we should get something to eat, because I'm positive that you haven't eaten yet," Naruto told him.
"I'm actually not hungry," Sasuke, answered him, looking away. It was true that Sasuke wasn't hungry. He was still thinking about the problems from earlier in the day and his appetite hadn't exactly returned. Naruto could see in Sasuke's averted gaze that something was indeed bothering him.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Not particularly," Sasuke answered him. Although Naruto was trying to make him feel okay with their newfound "relationship" he still didn't feel comfortable to trust somebody else with personal information of his family.
"That's not a problem," Naruto told him. Sasuke walked with Naruto out the studio and walked towards the exit of the building.
"I think I need to take a nap," Sasuke spoke aloud sighing in exhaustion from the day.
"I'm surprised that you're even standing right now, let alone dance. You should have a raging headache to be honest,"
"I did…I got over it,"
As Sasuke and Naruto walked out the building Sasuke's eyes widened seeing mass of people with cameras. When he saw them and they spotted him he instantly knew who they were and ran back into the building in a very uncharacteristic manner. Naruto followed behind him as Sasuke slammed the door shut behind him.
"What's going on?" Naruto questioned as he could see flashes going off behind him and people trying to open the doors behind them.
"How did they find me? How could they have known I was here? I was so careful…"
"Sasuke wh-,"
"I hope my friends didn't scare you Sasuke,"
Sasuke looked up and scowled at the person in front of him.
"What's this about?" Naruto questioned in confusion.
"You have stooped to an all time low Hyuga,"
Neji stood before them and shrugged, "I'm sure your father would love to know where you're really attending school. Think of this as payback for what your brother did to my own family,"
At that moment Sasuke didn't hear anything, he didn't feel Naruto pulling him back, he didn't hear the screams coming from other studios where dancers were practicing and were witnessing the commotion outside. All he knew was that he saw red and that Neji's long hair would wind up on the floor in chunks, his nose broken, bloody and many bruises littering his skin.
XxXxXxXxXx
So there you have it =] Once again I'm TERRIBLY sorry for the long wait and any OOC that occurred in this chapter. I will try to update soon. =]
