Swept Away from the Ashes

By: Mishka-chan

Chapter Three: Old rival, old friend, lasting love

Warning: Boy/boy obvious in this chapter… Ino's reaction downplayed (I think so) and some other stuff that might offend. Really short chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own it, I just smex it up… later on.

A/N: Wow, I just kind of spit this one out! Well I am trying to make each chapter one page longer… you know work my way up. However this one will be really short… The next few chapters after this one will be flashbacks. Really short.

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"I'd thought I'd never see you again." The golden boy said, a wrinkle marring his forehead.

"I promised, didn't I?"

"H-hey, what's going on? You know him?" Ino screeched obviously freaked out.

"This is the one they took from Itachi and I." Sasuke answered never taking his eyes from the young boy.

"You asked his name."

"I had to be sure. I'm still not, it's been so long, Naruto." Naruto took one step closer.

"I kept my promise. I did as you asked, Sasuke-teme." Sasuke smiled softly at the old nickname.

"Thank you, Naruto." Another fumbling step was taken forward.

"Did you keep yours Sasuke? Are you going to keep your promises to me?"

"I did; I will." That last step, grasping hands gripping Sasuke's shirt.

"My God, I've missed you!" he cried out, falling into Sasuke's arms. Ino stood stock still not moving, enjoying the look of warmth and love that she had never seen on Sasuke's face before. She smiled softly before taking her leave and going to find Kakashi. She had some questions. Neither boy took notice of the blond as she slipped out of the room. Sasuke reached down and tilted Naruto's chin up. Naruto's face was now drenched with tears. Sasuke leaned down slightly and caught Naruto's lips in a gentle kiss. Not too demanding, not too passion filled, just enough to get the point across.

'I missed you.' Sasuke's lips admitted. 'Are you still mine?' A gentle tongue swipe conveyed the doubt that plagued Sasuke's mind.

'I am.' Naruto's pliant lips answered. Of course, one staggering feeling was conveyed throughout this silent transaction.

'I love you.'

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Kakashi cowered in the over-bearing temper of the blonde girl.

"Why didn't somebody tell me that Uke-chan was taken?"

"Well, it wasn't really our story to tell, Ino." Kakashi said, smiling disarmingly, at least she thinks he was.

"It would have been nice to know that our charge was Sasuke's lover! Now they will be doing things I don't think I want to hear… unless I get to watch…"

"I don't think you understand the situation Ino." Kakashi said, for once actually glaring. Ino felt properly cowed. "Sasuke and Naruto, those two, it has never been easy for them. I also doubt it is going to get easier. You have heard the story where Sasuke's father disowned him, ne?"

Ino nodded, confirming that she remembered the story. "The boy Sasuke kissed was indeed Naruto." Kakashi continued. "It wasn't an accident, and it wasn't curiosity, even then they knew what they had was stronger than any friendship previously conceived. They had both read books and understood the capacity of the action they were doing. They were in love. They couldn't call it that yet, but that is what it was. The time they were caught wasn't the first time, nor was it the last, however they can never go farther; until they are able to get Naruto out of here."

Ino looked confused momentarily, and then asked a question that seemed to be consistently asked in her mind. "Why have I never heard of Naruto, seen him around town, most nobles are plastered on pictures everywhere?"

"You see until yesterday he hadn't been out of that room in roughly 9 years. Except once three years ago."

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Naruto laid his head on Sasuke's shoulder. Taking in the presence, the scent, the feeling he had missed for so long. Naruto felt Sasuke's hand trembling on his hip; they were older now, those hormones that weren't easily suppressed in the past were even more difficult.

"We could…" Naruto mumbled.

"No."

"How long? How long are we going to wait, Sasuke? Almost nine years of nothing, but kisses and tentative touches. How long are we going to play their game? How long will we only talk of our love and not consummate it?"

"One month, one month, and this time I promise we will make it out."

"You always did keep your promises." Sasuke smiled and ran his hand up Naruto's side, checking for injuries he was almost sure would be there. He saw the telltale twinge of slight pain in Naruto's face.

"Extent?"

"A crack." Sasuke sighed softly, breathing deeply to calm his anger.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke mumbled. "I should have been there."

"You couldn't be. I remember."

"I do too."

"I was so scared." Sasuke stared at a piece of Naruto's hair unable to stare into those eyes. "They pulled you away, I was afraid they would kill you. I screamed so loud. I screamed so loud, my voice died, but I kept screaming. I could hear you screaming too. Were you scared?"

"Of course, I thought I would never see you again. They exiled me for that, but soon forgot my name." That was a mistake, a grave mistake. Sasuke would come back, killing off the nobles as he saw fit. He was smart; he had down in since he was twelve. He knew how to make it look unrelated. Who would have thought a twelve-year-old boy, could have such cunning? "Itachi thought of a way to bring me back."

"How is Itachi?"

"As infuriating as ever." Naruto laughed, and Sasuke smiled at the sound he thought he would never hear again. Naruto turned and walked away across the room.

" I have lessons now… you need to leave."

"Don't lie, don't lie to me. I know he is coming, isn't he?"

"I never could lie to you, please leave." Sasuke sighed and walked out. He stood hopelessly outside the door; his only comfort was that the man could not touch him sexually yet. Walking into the shadows he watched as that disgusting beast slithered his way into the room that his Naruto was in. Sasuke looked down at his hands as he felt them become slick. Noting that he had clawed into his hand. He turned and went to find Kakashi.

He walked down the long, winding, treacherous stairway and finally landed at the foot.

Taking off at a run once reaching the bottom as he heard a loud crash from upstairs. He felt the tears wet his cheeks and was instantly reminded of all the times he had to do this before. All the times he had stepped out and ran away. All the times he had to sit and do nothing. He ran into Kakashi's room in the soldiers' quarters. Kakashi and Ino looked up at Sasuke who was crying.

"It's him isn't it?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke nodded, looking slightly ashamed.

"Who is he?"

"Orochimaru, a noble Naruto's father Arashi had never trusted, but his tutors had thought him respectable. They allow Orochimaru to do what he wishes with Naruto as long as he doesn't touch him in a sexual manner. At least, until his first time, with someone he loves. They tried to force Sasuke. When Arashi Kazama died, they changed the rules; it is now until Naruto's first time, which has been sold to another noble. It will be in a month's time."

"We can't allow that!" Ino screeched. "We have to get him out of here."

"You think we don't know that!" Sasuke yelled "Damnit!" He kicked a stool and jumped up and down clutching his foot. "Fuck!"

"Today just isn't your day, is it Sasuke?" Ino said setting him on Kakashi's bed and looking at his foot. The tears were still streaming down his face.

"No, I got to see him today, today was good." Sasuke mumbled. "I wish Itachi were here."

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Itachi walked through the house silently, just as he did everything. He tripped on a whetstone on the floor. "Sasuke, get your crap out of the floor." That was when he remembered that Sasuke was not there. He went to his room staring at the scrying pool in the corner. He went to it, whispering "Sasuke." Hoping that his brother was okay. He saw his brother yelling and kicking a stool, hopping around erratically while crying. Okay maybe not so good. He heard the whispered words "I wish Itachi were here." And that was all that was needed.

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Roughly half an hour later, Itachi strolled into the room that still housed Sasuke, Kakashi, and Ino. "How did you get in, Itachi?" Kakashi asked hushed.

"That is for me to know, and the castle guards to never find out." Itachi walked to his brother's side. In the thirty minutes it took him to arrive, his brother had cried himself to sleep. He leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I will do what you wish." Itachi whispered.

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Sasuke dragged himself up the stairs and held Naruto's crying, bruised body until they both fell to sleep. When they woke, Itachi was back home.

In the morning Orochimaru was found dead three miles from the citadel.

A/N: Next are the flashbacks. I struggled to get this to six pages; I just couldn't do it though! Cries…. But the next will be!!! The POWER OF YOUTH will be with me!

Please review!