Disclaimer: Yea, I don't own Naruto.

This is where the M rating comes into play. This may be kind of dark for the first lemonish scene, but don't let this chapter let you think that this whole story will be about pain and violence. This chapter however will contain some bondage and darker sexual themes. The reason for the slow update is because I had a rough time writing this chapter…….Let's just say it got pretty deep…………..but please let me know what you think.

The Way Things Are

Chapter 3

Naruto felt his senses slowly come back to life. His arms twitched as he felt himself awaken from his unconscious state. The air was cool and he felt it almost all over his body. He didn't know where he was, or how he got there. His body was most concerned with waking up physically rather than letting his mind stir.

The blonde's arms jerked, trying to move, but something kept him from going anywhere. He tried to open his eyes, but found that everything was dark, black almost. Naruto fidgeted his limbs in frustration, finding that he could not move anywhere.

Naruto started to panic and his breathing quickened. His heart was pounding so fiercely that he felt it in his ears. He grunted hoarsely through a dry throat. Naruto managed to force a yell that hurt as it came out. He was checking to see if anyone was within earshot.

"Ah, you're awake." A voice hissed out from nearby.

Naruto shook his head freely, trying to get his blood to move throughout his body. He struggled in fear as he heard the familiar voice. He felt a sudden, searing pain from inside his chest, stomach, and arms. It was the same muscle lurching, burning sensation from before.

"Before!" Naruto's mind came alive as he remembered everything from earlier. With some conscious thought, Naruto was able to "feel" his position. He was sitting in a chair, blindfolded and restrained quite tightly. His hands were behind him and were roped together. Several ropes were also tied around the blonde's waist, keeping his body glued to the chair. A third set of ropes were keeping Naruto's feet firmly pressed against the legs of the chair. These ropes felt different from the others however. They had a silky, bumpy feeling to them. He felt one of the ropes around his feet contract, as though it had muscles. Naruto flinched in surprise as he realized that the bumps were actually scales.

"Snakes! There are fucking snakes around my feet! I gotta free myself." Naruto moved about again and felt a sharp pain in his ankle. One of the snakes had bit him. Naruto let out a quick, sobbing whimper from the pain and the realization of how helpless he was. His right shoulder tensed and tingled as he felt a hand lay itself gently upon it.

"Sa-Sasuke? What is this….. Why am I-"

"Shhhhhhhhhh." The sound came closer to him as Sasuke leaned his head towards Naruto's right ear. "Relax Naruto, You're sweating like a pig. I can hear your heartbeat from here." The Uchiha's voice was soft and dark. Naruto was surprised as he discovered it was soothing, terrifying, and sultry at the same time.

"You know Naruto, you said some pretty nasty things to me earlier. I didn't really appreciate them. You're gonna have to pay for your words." Sasuke's mouth twisted just barely; Forming a sadistic, almost unseen, leer of his lips as he inched closer to the terrified boy. The Uchiha's arm lengthened from its position on Naruto's shoulder and wrapped itself snugly around Naruto's bare chest. Naruto jittered as he felt the strange, warm sensation from the other boy's arm around his uncovered chest.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise from underneath his blindfold as he realized the final details of his ordeal. "He's touching my bare chest! He stripped me! Wait, he didn't completely. But why-" Naruto's thoughts were interrupted as he felt Sasuke's other free hand grip his tanned thigh. He let out a loud, airy gasp at the sensation.

Sasuke sneered and scoffed quietly at Naruto as though he were a child. He removed both hands from the blonde's body and walked around to the front of the chair. Naruto realized he was still wearing his black boxer briefs. He wasn't wearing pants and he was shirtless, but it seemed Sasuke was decent enough to leave him in his boxers. He felt more cool air stroke his extremely warm body as Sasuke passed by him. His ears and cheeks were flushed and beat red. He began to shake violently with fear and anticipation of Sasuke's next move. Naruto's chest heaved outward as he took a vast amount of air into his boiling, quivering insides.

"Sasuke………….. I just, I just wanna……" Naruto's lips trembled as he exhaled his air uncontrollably. The blonde was trying so hard to get his words out.

"I just want to talk to you…… Why are you doing this? Just let me go and talk to me." Naruto pleaded to his old friend in his last attempt to bring the old Sasuke back.

"You don't have to be like this. I know you, Sasuke. It's me, Naruto…….It's Naruto, it's me……..Please Sasuke…….." Silence was Naruto's only answer. "He's still in there somewhere. If I can just get him to talk or just to listen to me…….Maybe, just maybe he will……." Naruto's head bobbed downward in disappointment.

"Sasuke, please……………………….Please!" Naruto's words were stopped as one of Sasuke's hands pressed itself firmly to his shuddering lips. "hmmhmhpasuke……. Loht meh goh…..hmphisten toh meh!" Naruto's muffled words were silenced yet again.

"Stay quiet, Naruto." The Uchiha demanded in a low, commanding tone. He sounded like he didn't want to repeat himself.

"NOH! Mphgh- hyou caahnt doh-"

"QUIET NARUTO!" Sasuke screamed into Naruto's face as the hand covering Naruto's mouth swiftly moved behind the blonde boy's head and untied the blindfold quickly. After the immediate removal of the blindfold the boys' eyes locked. Sasuke's hand sliced through the air and rapidly came towards Naruto's unsuspecting cheek. Sasuke slapped Naruto's face with all his strength.

"Smack!"

The sharp sound pierced though Sasuke's ears as the blow landed. Naruto's head had turned due to the pain and the force from Sasuke's blow. Silence stretched through the room suddenly. Sasuke looked at his hand in slight confusion, anger, and satisfaction. He listened to Naruto's stunned, almost rhythmic breathing. The rhythm abruptly changed to harsh grunts. The breaths came in succession one after another. Naruto was obviously getting angrier. His head spun swiftly to meet Sasuke's.

"SASUKE! YOU BASTARD!" Naruto exploded and projected his voice throughout the room. "I SWEA-"

"SMACK!" Sasuke repeated his actions again on the blonde's already pained face.

"Ahwhhh……..ahhhh………." Naruto sobbed weakly after receiving a second strike in the same place. His eyes were full of desperation and he looked as though he were almost defeated. He took in sharp, whining inhales that sounded painful.

"Looks like I'm making some progress, huh, dobe? But it's so unlike you to just give in suddenly. Is something the matter?" Sasuke sneered at the other boy with a slight grin. "I must say I'm pretty disappointed in you dob-" Sasuke stopped when he saw Naruto smiling back at him. It was one of those silly faces Naruto used to where when Sasuke and he were together. Sasuke didn't know how to respond to the kind hearted face. He stared at the blonde, stunned.

"Haha. Go ahead Sasuke. Do whatever makes you happy. Its ok, really it is. Come on, hit me again. Please, Sasuke, do it." Naruto spoke cheerfully, but, Sasuke saw past Naruto's sarcasm. Still, Sasuke cringed at the words. Naruto was trying to make Sasuke realize how sick he was, and Sasuke had to admit it was almost working. Sasuke picked the blindfold off the ground and squeezed it firmly. He looked at Naruto who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Come on Sasuke! I mean people obviously don't mean anything to you, so why don't you continue? Who needs friends anyway, right?" Naruto's tone gradually became more serious and confrontational. "Go right ahead and destroy everything Sasuke. I want to see your hands covered in my blood when you kill me. I mean, you can do it on a whim, right?" Sasuke's face tightened at that remark. He tried to say something clever back, but drew a blank.

"Naruto, you know it's not like that………He's right though……NO! He's not! He's a smart ass dobe……… I'll show him, I'll make him…... ah, Naruto I really am messed up, but, it's too late for me……" Sasuke's ears perked and listened as Naruto Continued.

"You still there Orochima- I mean Sasuke?" Naruto's demeanor changed and he spoke fiercely.

"Now listen to me. I really believed that you were my friend once. I wanted to save you, to bring you back. You were my friend, Sasuke. I always knew you were a heartless bastard, but I thought it was just a front, or that you were just hard to get through to because of your past. But now I see how wrong I was. Jiraiya was right about you and your new master. You can't change! You were always evil and always will be."

Naruto's words ate at Sasuke like snake venom. "No, no! It was Itachi! He did this to me! Please, Naruto, can't you see?"

Sasuke's mouth suddenly broke open. "I'm not the bad guy, Naruto. Try and underst-" Naruto scoffed at the words.

"Then who the hell is Sasuke?! Aren't you the one that just spent the whole fucking day screwing around with me and torturing me?! Aren't you the one who is still doing it right here and now?!" Naruto was screaming loudly, determined to bring the Uchiha down. "You're a cold-blooded monster! You're just like your brother! It must run in your family!"

Sasuke retaliated, his eyes feeling the searing pain of tears and his face flushed with hatred. "YOU FORGET-"

"FORGET!? Nobody forgets, Sasuke! To hell with your past, I see now that it must have nothing to do with how fucking crazy you are!"

A third deafening slap quieted the room. Naruto cried out in pain, his cheek trickling with blood. Naruto quieted his speech. He spoke calmly, but with obvious trauma in his voice.

"Sasuke……….Can't you remember anything? All the fun we used to have when we were first becoming ninja? You, me, and Sakura. I remember when we first learned to control our chakra. You and I climbed those trees for days until we both made it to the top. Sure, we acted like rivals, but remember when you helped walk me back to Kakashi and Sakura?" Naruto laughed weakly, reminiscing and hoping he could get through to Sasuke.

"Ha, I was so tired and beat that you let me put my arm around your shoulder and you walked me back." Sasuke was silent, his fist clenching tightly as he tried not to think about the past. He wanted to though. "Don't you remember that?...Don't you? Don't you miss it?...Sasuke, didn't you ever like us, care about us? Kakashi, Sakura……….me? Any of us?" Naruto looked up, his eyes gazing into Sasuke's.

"We're not kids anymore." Sasuke glanced away, he spoke coldly. "Our lives no longer lie solely in this village." Sasuke took a few steps away from Naruto, turning his back on him.

"Oh-I must have forgotten. This is all dead now, isn't it? Silent. The voices and memories gone. Even the whispering forgotten." Naruto spoke sadly, but made sure his words were coated with spite.

"Tell me, Sasuke, in this unrelenting quest for revenge you have, does it ever gnaw at that cybernetic soul of yours that when you kill Itachi, if you kill Itachi, you won't feel any different then you do now? I know that you know you won't feel any different!"

"Stop it, Naruto." Sasuke's tone was powerful, but he was glad he had his back turned to Naruto. He was on the verge of crying.

"You won't! You'll always feel the same. Always! You'll drown in your hate and suffer the agonizing pain of rage and loneliness!" Naruto continued.

"He's wrong! Why is he being like this?! Hell, after what I did to him, I guess he has a pretty good reason." Sasuke was still angry. He knew Naruto was right, but, he would never admit it. "You're gonna have to stop now, dobe."

"Don't tell me what I have to do!" Naruto yelled. His next speech was slow and dug deep into Sasuke's mind. "What are you doing here now, Sasuke? What the hell are doing here in the village with me!? What is it deep down in your gut you hate so much about me? That I haven't gone crazy or become an obscene, nasty witness? That's what you are, Sasuke!"

"YOU'RE WRONG!-" Naruto didn't let Sasuke continue.

"How the hell much longer do you think you can go on living like this?!"

"As long as I want, that's how long!" Sasuke's reply was pathetic. Both Naruto and he knew it. Still, the hate in Sasuke's body made him continue and confront the blonde. He turned to face him. His face was scrunched up, and his voice was edgy.

"And what about you, Naruto? You stay here only because you don't want to be alone! After all the filth and wisecracks are scraped off is that what's underneath? You're pathetic! Don't you think I need anything!?" Sasuke didn't even know what he was saying. He was just trying to make Naruto feel as badly as he felt. He hated this whole thing and needed it to end. This was not the kind of reunion he was expecting. "He's different, like me. He's being so confrontational. He's even braver than before."

"No Sasuke! Why the hell would I think you needed anything? You've made it quite clear that you're fine on your own. You can't even hear what your saying, can you? You're not making any sense! Besides, even if you ever did need anything, I thought you just took everything you needed." Naruto's voice shook and cracked.

"Why are you doing this!? Is it for revenge? Do you have a grudge with me as well? WHY!? And for what reason!? For what? What is it you hate so much about me!?" Naruto cried out, his lip trembling. A tear fell from his eye. Sasuke noticed and got even angrier.

"STOP IT!" He charged towards Naruto and sat on his lap, so that their heads were facing each other. Sasuke reacted purely on emotion and had no time to think. Everything was happening so fast. He screamed in Naruto's face weakly. His hand struck the other boy once.

Sasuke slapped at the blonde again and again. "Stop it, Naruto! Stop it! Stop it!" Sasuke continued screaming at Naruto and striking him furiously. He kept at it until his hand hurt. He came to his senses and stopped. He ground his teeth together, holding back tears. He stared at his hand through blurry, wet eyes. It buzzed in pain, as though it would burst. Drops of Naruto's blood had coated it, smearing it with a dark red color. Sasuke glanced over, and watched as streaming tears fell from the blonde's eyes.

Naruto was wincing continuously but tried to stay as quiet as possible. His face felt wet and tense all over. His head shook involuntarily as his face tensed and tightened. He sniffed inward through a runny nose and turned towards Sasuke. The Uchiha's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Naruto's emotionally destroyed face.

"Why Sasuke!?" Naruto couldn't control his speech and attempted to speak through his contracting throat as he swallowed painfully. His breathing was unsteady as he sobbed and winced. "Why do you hate me so-" Naruto felt something slam against the corners and inside of his mouth. Sasuke had used the blindfold to gag him and was now tying it around the back of the blonde's head. Naruto did nothing to protest. He was weak after being emotionally and physically defeated.

Sasuke shifted himself slightly. He wrapped his legs around the blonde's waist and the back of the chair. He moved his chest closer to Naruto's bare one. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white rag. He began wiping the blood from his hands.

Naruto was wary of the way Sasuke positioned himself on the chair. Sasuke had nearly straddled the other boy with his legs. Naruto could almost feel the other boy's heartbeat against his own. Naruto thought to himself, confused about Sasuke's arrangement.

"What is this? What is he up to? Does he even realize how close he is to me!?" Sasuke's hand reached towards the other boy's face. He cupped Naruto's cheek with the rag and gently wiped away the blood. Naruto's eyes widened at this strange act of affection. However, he still scoffed loudly through the gag and jerked his head away helplessly. Sasuke looked down in disappointment.

"He's pretty pissed………… and upset………… This is my only chance to fix everything……… I have to show him I'm not the way he thinks I am…………I've screwed up so many times with him already………What if I lose control again……………Naruto……I've gotta tell him……..now or never." Sasuke's hand reached out and set itself warmly upon Naruto's shoulder. Naruto could feel the other boy quivering. Sasuke shuddered and bit his lower lip worriedly.

"I……… Naruto…… I don't hate you." Sasuke spoke genuinely. Naruto lowered his head in disbelief. Sasuke noticed and released his hand from the blonde's shoulder. He placed his hand under Naruto's chin and lifted his head slowly. Naruto trembled in Sasuke's grasp. Sasuke's thumb reached upward and wiped a tear away from the other boy's cheek tenderly.

"Naruto, stop crying……… don't cry…… I know it hurts just let me help……….." Sasuke tried again to wipe the blood from Naruto's cheek. The blonde didn't move this time, yet, still acted a bit indifferent towards the kind act.

"You're right about me…… Everything you said…………You were right………This is hard for me Naruto, you have to understand……….. I don't know how long it'll be before I get angry for some reason again…………Damn it…………." Another tear fell from Naruto's eye.

"No Naruto, don't………….I'm……… . Naruto, the reason I came………..well……….. You were wrong about that…… I never hated you… I came- I came for you, Naruto… To see you……… I know it must be hard for you to understand…I needed to see you, Naruto. But, when I got here, I didn't think about what it would be like. I just wanted to see you. But, it turned into this whole affair…..I'm sorry"

Sasuke took a deep breath before continuing. He grabbed Naruto's hair and pulled the boy's head back. He knew he wouldn't be able to look at Naruto after what he was about to say. Naruto's atoms apple bobbed up and then down as the blonde took a fearful gulp. His exposed neck enticed Sasuke's strange feelings for his old friend. "He's so………Vulnerable….."

Sasuke's mouth opened as sweat fell from his brow. "Naruto, you're so foolish…….. Why did you have to ask? Isn't it obvious why I'm here? Can't you see?" Sasuke's lips slowly approached Naruto's tan neck. Naruto's nerves tingled at the sensation. He let out a low moan very softly through the gag.

Sasuke's lips opened, sending soothing, warm breaths upon Naruto's skin. Both of the boys' chests were touching now. Their hearts were beating so hard and fast that it caused them both a small amount of pain. Sasuke's free hand stroked the side of Naruto's neck that Sasuke's lips weren't close to.

"Naruto, I………………….. I….I love you."

With that, Sasuke closed the little distance between Naruto's neck and his lips. Sasuke's lips pecked lightly at Naruto's vulnerable neck. He moved up along Naruto, until he reached his jaw line. His mouth opened and his tongue lightly massaged this area. He sucked at the skin for a moment before heading back down.

Sasuke's tongue traveled downward to the space where the neck and shoulder meet. Sasuke bit gently at this spot before opening his mouth wider and sinking his teeth into it even harder. Naruto fidgeted his hips slightly and bucked them at the pleasurable pain. Sasuke felt something stiffen from underneath him and he realized that Naruto was enjoying this just as much as he was.

Naruto had gasped rather loudly when Sasuke spoke several moments ago. Sasuke hadn't noticed and just continued with his fun. Naruto resisted at first, but, slowly closed his eyes in pleasure. He couldn't believe what Sasuke had said and was even more confused with how much he liked what Sasuke was doing. Sasuke sucked on the blonde's exposed neck at different spots. He moved his tongue around in circles, teasing Naruto. Naruto moaned as his body quivered, he was in a state of euphoria.

Sasuke's free hand explored Naruto's warm, gleaming body. It caressed Naruto's sides and obliques and rubbed at the blonde boy, craving for more. It wrapped itself around Naruto's back and waist like a snake. Sweat covered them both; their bodies were gleaming and flushed red with heat. Fingers danced gracefully about Naruto's supple figure as he inhaled in ecstasy.

Eventually, Sasuke heard Naruto gasp very loudly. He released Naruto's hair and moved his lips away from Naruto's neck. Naruto wasn't looking into Sasuke's eyes when his head fell to its normal position. Naruto's cheeks were flushed again and he was breathing fearfully.

"I………..Sasuke………..I can't see!" Naruto spoke desperately. Naruto felt a wave of weakness rush through his blood and flinched in shock. The Uchiha smiled as he realized what was happening.

"Ah, I see now. Naruto, forgive me, but, the poison must be finally going into effect." Sasuke spoke sadistically.

Naruto's muscles cramped and he felt an instant migraine. He began to shake fiercely. "What's happening? What does he mean poison? THE SNAKE!" Naruto remembered the snake on his ankles and felt the bite he had received when he first woke up pulsate and throb in pain. "No……………………….." Naruto cried weakly to himself.

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Naruto, relax. It was a slow acting poison. You see I didn't want you awake for too long. It may have some painful affects right now, but, it's nothing lethal. You'll pass out in a matter of seconds though." Sasuke placed his hand on Naruto's face and stroked the other boy with his thumb.

"I really am sorry, Naruto. And don't worry, once you pass out I'll give you the antidote and you'll be away from me. I didn't mean to put you through this………….." Naruto began to lose his sense of touch as he no longer felt whether Sasuke was touching him or not.

"Sasuke……………….." Naruto felt the world spin around him. His head rolled backwards, lifelessly.

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………………………………………………………………………………………." Blackness surrounded Naruto's mind. He drifted from perception and fell into his subconscious.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Naruto awoke slowly. His eyes flickered open. He felt warmth all around his body. His head was killing him. He moved his limbs and discovered that they were sore and cramped. His muscles were so numb and tense that he felt like he had been training for days. He noticed that he was back in his apartment, tucked into his bed. He couldn't move much, but, tried to sit up. He looked around slowly, scanning the room for an intruder.

"Nobody…….." Naruto fell back onto his pillow and sighed feebly. "Damn it, Sasuke………………..." He closed his eyes and felt himself fall helplessly asleep.