"Foolish Hearts"
'Chapter Twenty-Seven'
Dirty?
Sasuke slowly got up off the bed, leaving the toy on a pillow -- deciding he didn't want the object to get dirty. Sasuke didn't know why the thought of grime irritated him; Sasuke hadn't really felt the bite of irritation at all until right then.
Hm...
Sasuke ignored it, rifling through the dresser and picking out some clothing that would hide dirt and muck well; A pair of black shorts and a tight black top was what he decided on. He ran his fingers through his hair; his black eyes flicking back into the room as he stood at the doorway -- looking to the innocent orange fox before he closed the door and started down the hall. Sasuke rounded towards the living room, then the kitchen -- he hadn't found Naruto yet.
…maybe he was still in the garden?
Sasuke started down the steps, his dark eyes sweeping the area and noticing the blonde kneeling in the center of the flowers.
Hm.
Sasuke approached the fox, keeping his distance from that possibly intimate space in the center of the ground. "Who's you're friend?" Sasuke asked, tilting his head but he hadn't yet found Naruto's eyes.
Naruto was quiet for a long while, his fingers slowly brushing over the soft petals of the flowers. "Someone I grew up with." He answered, "Someone I loved." Slowly standing up, he stepped out of the flowers and towards Sasuke, "Ready?" Naruto asked, he didn't care that he was wearing a white shirt and orange shorts -- dirt was dirt. "C'mon, we'll go the back way." He nodded to the rest of the garden and the small bit of forest that encroached on it. He'd have to be careful not to show off too many ninja moves. More moves could trigger more memories and memories weren't a good thing right now.
Loved?
Sasuke looked to the back of the blonde as he started down the path -- the Uchiha sprinting just a bit to catch up, unsure why he was compelled to look at the ring of flowers.
So strange…
Why did everything feel so familiar and yet so foreign all at the same time?
Sasuke tried to ignore it, tucking his hands in his pockets as he kept stride next to the Hokage-sama.
Naruto smiled as Sasuke caught up to him and the two walked easily through the forest, the fox barefoot. Once they got to the river, he could set up a jutsu to block out their chakra from being felt by others. "You excited?" He asked as they started to get closer to the river, he could hear the water flowing now.
Sasuke kept his smile, his dark eyes bright as they swept to Naruto's profile. "Yeah." Sasuke said, his smile bleeding into more of a smirk, as if he already knew he was going to enjoy the little bit of childish training.
Tree climbing had been fun.
Walking on water would be better.
The fox stepped into the clearing first, the sun reflecting off of him. The warmth of its rays made him smile, he looked back at Sasuke, "C'mon, we have all day to play." Naruto brought his hands together, starting to make the seal to keep their chakra hidden.
All day?
Sasuke stood at the edge of the river, looking back into the bright sun-lit clearing. He lifted his head, his dark eyes closing as he just basked in the warmth of the sun a moment. "Are you going to climb trees too?" Sasuke asked absently though he still didn't open his eyes; the wind picking up and ruffling his raven locks.
"Maybe." He answered after a moment, his hands dropping, he could feel the seal in place around them, they wouldn't be found. He started towards the water, he moved passed Sasuke a small smirk on his lips as he stepped off the bank, chakra channeled evenly across his bare feet, and onto the water. He walked out a few steps, before he turned and looked back at Sasuke.
Sasuke watched as Naruto ran past him right onto the lake.
He smirked a little to himself; just do exactly how he did with the tree!
Sasuke ran towards the water, leaping from the edge, planting his feet firmly as he fell from the sky. The water quivered under his feet but the Uchiha was standing easily on the surface. He grinned slightly, his dark eyes looking to the kitsune -- apparently hoping to impress the Hokage-sama by how second-nature this seemed to him.
Naruto smiled back at him, leave it to Sasuke to be able to figure things out that fast. He continued to walk further up the river, the bottom of his feet made a soft slapping noise as they touched the water. "Wow." He moved over to the Uchiha and set a hand on his head, "Very good Sasuke!"
Sasuke's cheeks flushed slightly under Naruto's proud gaze. The Uchiha parted from the kitsune in an easy run -- his movements a blur as his feet smacked loudly against the surface of the river. Sasuke was apt for Naruto to chase him, running down the choppy river -- glancing over his shoulder, a playful glint in his innocent eyes.
Naruto laughed as he started down the river, chasing after Sasuke. He was easily able to catch up to him, moving to wrap his arms around the man's waist and pulling him back against his chest. "Gotchya!" He hissed into Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke started as the Hokage gripped him firmly around the middle, holding him up from the river. He struggled uselessly in his grasp, laughing slightly as he attempted to squirm away. "You're too fast!" Sasuke nearly whined.
Naruto laughed again, but he still hadn't let Sasuke go. "I'm supposed to be fast." He reminded as he started to flex his fingers in Sasuke's sides, trying to find that one spot that would tickle.
"Ah!" Sasuke shifted his weight; his calves were on Naruto's hips, trying to hold himself stable as the blonde started to tickle his ribs. His hands were gripping hard at Naruto's firmly positioned arm, his head bowed as he tried to stop the laughter from stinging his middle. "Na…" Sasuke gasped between breaths, "S-stop!" But Sasuke just couldn't stop laughing; his body quivering back against the fox.
Naruto continued his vicious tickling, a smile on his lips, he loved the sound of Sasuke laughter; his Sasuke didn't laugh enough. "Never!" He called out; fingers still tickling despite the formidable defense Sasuke was putting up.
Sasuke wiggled his body, trying to gain leverage with his legs -- shifting his weight and finally able to find a break in Naruto's tough grip. He gasped for air, miss-stepping upon the water in a splash the Uchiha had fallen through the fragile liquid, his hair stuck comically to his face -- his cheeks flushed from laughing and his whole body jerking from the freezing water as he tried to correct himself. It was only waist deep here -- but Sasuke looked much like a wet cat as he gazed up at the smiling kitsune.
Naruto couldn't help the laugh that escaped him, a hand moved to cover his mouth, trying to stifle the sounds. He crouched down in front of Sasuke, his eyes playful and laughing. "You okay?" He asked laughter still in his voice.
Sasuke frowned slightly, feeling silly all soaked. He lashed out at Naruto -- not in an angry manner; just to make him stop laughing. He punched at Naruto's arm, the force not intending to be so bad -- but the Uchiha didn't know his complete strength at all.
Naruto fell back on his backside when Sasuke punched him in the shoulder, still laughing to himself. He sat cross-legged on the water, not caring that it was soaking his pants. "Awhs…its just water, Sasuke." He started, reaching down he gently flicked some water in the man's direction. "You're not going to melt."
Sasuke sloshed through the water, reaching out and wrapping his arms around Naruto's middle. His chin rested against his arm, his bright black eyes catching the sunlight. "I might." The Uchiha said playfully, sticking his tongue out at the fox.
The fox shifted so Sasuke could easily wrap his arms around his waist, the man still in the water and Naruto on top of the water. Naruto smiled down at him, "I don't think so."
"You don't know for sure." It was weird being attached to Naruto while submerged while the blonde was sitting easily on the surface of the rippling river.
Naruto easily ran his fingers through the dark, wet hair, his head tilting slightly. "If you were going to melt, I think you'd be gone by now." He explained as he gazed down at the childish Uchiha. "And you're still here."
"Mm." Sasuke parted from the fox, trying to focus as he touched the top of the water -- dragging himself out of the pulling current. He sat down next to the blonde, running his fingers through his wet hair -- trying to pull it away from his face.
--
Naruto watched for hours as Sasuke played in and on the water, and up in the trees. Occasionally they'd chase each other, and he'd join the Uchiha in the trees, but he mostly sat by the waters edge, just watching, observing...feeling...
He felt more like a mother than a playmate.
The sun was just starting to set, the orange, purples, pinks and reds filling the sky.
Naruto stood up and stretched his arms above his head, "Alright, time to go back home." He called out.
"Good Evening, Hokage-sama."
Naruto hadn't even felt anyone approach, a bite of fear running up his spine. Naruto's eyes widened, his body whipping around to catch sight of one of the younger council men standing just across the river.
Stay hidden Sasuke!
"Asaia-san." Naruto addressed quietly and apprehensively.
"I find it curious that you would have a barrier set up all the way out here." Asaia started, his golden eyes, which had always reminded Naruto of Orochimaru, scanning the ground, searching for something.
"We didn't want to be bothered." Naruto answered back, he felt tense for some reason, like something was going to happen.
"Curious." Asaia almost purred back, "And where is your precious Sasuke-kun?"
Naruto didn't answer, the feeling still hadn't left.
Sasuke, hide!
"In the trees perhaps?" Asaia easily walked over the water, closer towards Naruto, his black clothed form moved almost fluidly, as if he were on air. "Walking on water, using Chakra."
"It's a normal reaction for him to use it." Naruto countered, "He hasn't done anything wrong."
"Perhaps...but then again, perhaps not." Asaia smirked, "We'll be monitoring you very closely," He stepped up to Naruto, everything about the man screamed Orochimaru to the blonde, "Ho-ka-ge-sa-ma."
Naruto watched with a hard expression as Asaia disappeared in a swirl of smoke.
Sasuke had stayed rooted in the trees -- struck more by fear than anything else. Naruto looked unnerved, stony almost and the expression he had was something Sasuke hadn't seen before. The gold-eyed man had struck Sasuke to his core; something about him made Sasuke feel cold.
…he had been staring at him.
Like Asaia could actually see him up there in the trees.
Sasuke's back was on the trunk of the tree, his knees drawn up to his chest, his chin setting on them as his dark eyes gazed at nothing.
…he felt so very cold.
Who was that man?
Did he know him?
Sasuke clenched his eyes shut.
…he didn't like those eyes.
The fox was still for a moment, feeling for chakra, listening.
He slowly moved, turning from his place.
He needed to get Sasuke out of here.
Pushing off of the ground, the fox leapt up and landed just in front of Sasuke, the child balled up, looking fearful. Naruto slowly reached out and looped one arm under Sasuke's knees, the other somehow managed to get between Sasuke's back and the tree, "C'mon..." He murmured softly, "We're going home." He pressed a kiss to the pale temple, "We're fine...you're fine..." He tried to reassure, "He can't hurt us."
Easily lifting Sasuke up, the fox cradled him to his chest, and stepped off of the branch, before he landed on one just below them and pushed off, throwing them both into the air and through the trees. "You're okay." Naruto continued to murmur until he landed in their backyard; everything was pitch black.
Sasuke remained cradled to Naruto's chest, his dark eyes distant as he stared into the encroaching night. Sasuke's brain hurt, his whole body felt numb, something about that man struck a cord in him and yet he couldn't place why.
"I know him." Sasuke said with conviction; his voice smooth, almost like velvet. "I know I do."
He had to know him.
Those eyes.
The way he searched for him.
He was so familiar -- like a nightmare birthed in reality.
Naruto moved the two of them through the dark house, he managed to find his bathroom, and dipped so his shoulder could turn the light on. He used his foot to close the toilet lid and easily set Sasuke down on it, before he reached behind him to turn the warm water on.
Looking back at the troubled black orbs, Naruto moved closer to the Uchiha, "...do you remember where?" He asked quietly, his hands resting on Sasuke's thigh and on his hip. His cerulean orbs searching the dark eyes.
The hiss of water was a distracting noise in the background. Sasuke's dark eyes avoided Naruto's seeking blue orbs, trying to search his sealed mind for anything that would tell him more about that mysterious man. Sasuke frowned, his eyes clenching shut as he tried to pull at his memories but he came up with nothing. "I..." Sasuke's tone was strained, "I don't know..." He opened his eyes, his expression pained, "But I know I know him…I know…it…"
Naruto didn't question Sasuke; he wouldn't have been able to see Asaia when he was in the chambers, just before his mind was repressed. It bothered him that the memory Sasuke had of the man was one of fear.
Where had he seen him before?
Naruto reached up and gently cupped Sasuke's cheek, "It's alright you don't have to force yourself to remember now." He smiled gently at him, "It'll come to you when you least expect it, so it's just better to let it go for now."
Sasuke was still clearly shaken, it was like he didn't see Naruto's bright smile, didn't feel the fingers on his face.
Those eyes…
He knew those eyes…
Sasuke kept his slight frown, his black eyes staring off at the corner of the bathroom, feeling awkward and more confused than ever.
Memories were bad.
The fox sighed gently and slowly stood up, "C'mon, you need to wash up." Naruto reached out again and tried to rub some of the dirt off of Sasuke's face. "I'll go make some food." His voice was quiet, almost unsure if he should really leave Sasuke.
Sasuke didn't look up as Naruto left the room -- the sensation of the blonde's fingers still on his cheek and he was having trouble why it bothered him so much.
He tried to shake off the cold feeling.
Slowly disrobing himself, letting the dirty damp clothes fall to the tiled floor. Sasuke's black eyes caught his reflection in the mirror.
He was drawn to the pale white skin, his dark eyes picking out the scars. His mouth was a thin line as his dark eyes travelled down his own body -- fingertips brushing over the raised scars.
Then Sasuke saw them…
In the mirror!
Those same piercing gold eyes.
Could see something holding him, touching him, could see pasty white arms and feel the dark black wiry hair running against his flesh.
Sasuke might've screamed; he wasn't sure, he fell backwards from his own intense scare -- tripping over the bathtub and landing ungracefully in the tub.
The water scalded his skin; the edge of the tub had bit his head as he fell -- he felt dizzy, disorientated.
He could still feel them…
Those cold clammy hands…
Could still see those bright predatory gold eyes.
Stop!
Sasuke yelled; grabbing his head, fingers touching the hurt at the base of his neck; feeling the hot blood.
He whimpered, curling up in the tub, the water causing the blood to run, he could see the crimson liquid spread and swirl under his prone body.
Red…
Sasuke clenched his eyes shut -- he couldn't handle this!
Naruto was moving back to the bathroom the moment he heard the scream.
"Sasuke!" He pushed the door open and his eyes widened.
Blood was mixing in with the water -- where was it coming from?!
"Sasuke!" Naruto moved over to the tub and knelt down at its edge, he easily slammed his fist against the knob against the wall, turning the water off, before unplugged the drain and reached for Sasuke. "Sasu, c'mon, look at me!" He could see the blood trailing down the back of Sasuke's neck, looking up, he found small droplets against the tiled wall -- He'd fallen in?
Why?
What was going on?
"Sasuke?" Naruto rested his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, his other hand resting on Sasuke's near the back of his neck.
Sasuke seemed to struggle in Naruto's hold -- not feeling comfortable. The warm arms and the strong chest confused him; burned him almost.
"No..." Sasuke whimpered, holding his head and trying to push himself away from the blonde. His body limply laid up against the side of the tub, his fingers grabbing at his hair in an almost desperate manner.
Who was that?!
Sasuke was angry with himself; scared and confused, he didn't understand why he thought of that, why he had that horrible image.
Who...who was that man..?
"G-Go away!" Sasuke nearly yelled, his eyes still shut, smelling the scent of the fox as well as the stale metallic flavor of his own blood.
Naruto's eyes widened as he was pushed back, but he kept his tight hold around Sasuke, he didn't want him hurting himself anymore.
"Sasuke! It's Naruto!" He tried, his voice trying to stay even. He struggled to keep his grip on Sasuke as he continued fighting against him. "It's your Naru…you're Naruto."
Naruto..?
Sasuke's breathing was uneven, though his struggling had stopped; he remained limp now as Naruto's arms snaked around him.
His Naruto..?
Sasuke didn't understand why that stopped his quickly beating heart; why it made the cold start to leave his limbs.
What…was…happening to him?
Sasuke tried to control his breathing, his hands fisting on Naruto's sleeves as he turned his face up to the kitsune. His expression was pained, his dark eyes distant -- a weird wine color bleeding from the edges as he surveyed the fox.
Naruto...
It was…just Naruto..
Sasuke's brow quivered before he let his forehead fall against Naruto's chest, unsure why his throat felt so tight and tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
Naruto felt his chest tighten with an unexplainable pain.
Those wine eyes...they were so haunted…
The fox let out a slow sigh as Sasuke pressed himself back into Naruto's chest; he could feel the warm tears against his shirt.
"Shhh.." He cooed, "You're okay..." He murmured gently, his hand still resting over Sasuke's, the other running up and down the slick back. "You're okay." Naruto whispered, but it wasn't okay.
Something had happened in his mind.
Something had triggered something bad…
Something horrible.
But what had it been?
"Orochimaru…"
The name just came to him.
Like a sting of acid to his brain.
Sasuke sniffed, burying his head in Naruto's shirt, his head under the male's chin. He gripped harder at his robes as if he was trying to melt into him. "I…" Sasuke whimpered, unsure what he was attempting to say; his thoughts a big jumbled mess.
Naruto froze at the name.
Orochimaru..?
Why had those memories come back?
Had Asaia triggered them?
"He can't hurt you." Naruto murmured pulling Sasuke as close to him as he could on his bathroom floor, "He's gone…he's dead." He gently rocked the two of them, trying to soothe Sasuke, trying to chase away that horrible nightmare. "He can't hurt you."
"He isn't!" Sasuke growled with a conviction he didn't know he could possess right now. His head lifted from Naruto's chest, an angry frown on his face as he glared at the blonde, his eyes nearly completely red. "He..." Sasuke trailed, unsure what caused him to outburst like that. "...then why did I remember?" Sasuke's hold on the blonde loosened as he sat away from him slightly as if struggling with a passing thought. "Why..? He's..." Sasuke said softly, flicking his dark eyes up to the kitsune, "He is dead?" Sasuke said, trying to banish the raw fear from his voice. "You're sure?"
Naruto watched Sasuke pull away, before seeming confused again. He let out slow sigh, "Last we heard, he was dead." He explained quietly, "He can't hurt you here." He wanted to reach for Sasuke again, wanted to patch up the small cut and clean the blood. "I don't know why you remembered..."
Sasuke didn't understand why he was angry.
But he was just feeling so fucking mad -- wanted to make all these memories go away; and yet that childish part of him wanted to curl up in Naruto's arms and pretend the world no longer existed.
This…
It was so strange, so hard to deal with.
Why was he so mad?
Sasuke reaching up, his fingers brushing over the tender spot at the base of his neck, "...I'm sorry." Sasuke tried to quell the anger inside of him, trying to get rid of the weird pulse behind his eyes.
He didn't understand any of this…
"I…" Sasuke stared intently at the space between them, "I don't want to remember."
He'd said that before.
Make me forget.
Sasuke's brows knitted together.
When had he said that?
Naruto sighed before he shifted forward and easily gripped Sasuke's wrist, pulling it away from the wound. "Lemme see…" He murmured quietly. The fox's eyes narrowed in concentration, he might have to put a stitch or two in it. "Feel dizzy?" He asked as he reached for a rag and moved to turn the water back on. After a fall like that, he wouldn't be surprised if Sasuke had a bit of a concussion; which would only cause more problems for the already unstable mind.
"Mm."
Sasuke did feel dizzy, the room was slightly blurry at the edges but he was still trying to keep his horrible memories at bay.
God…
Those eyes…
"It's not that bad." Sasuke said in a clipped tone to try and cut off his own inner thoughts.
Naruto made a small face as he squeezed the rag and moved it to the back of Sasuke's neck, gently dabbing at the blood there. "Headache?" He asked, his eyes following the blood trail, cleaning it up as he went.
Naruto could talk to him about the memory later…
The pulse behind his eyes was more bothersome than anything; it was starting to drain him and he didn't know why. "...kind of." Sasuke offered, shifting so the blonde could better clean the wound.
Naruto made a small face, "Sounds like you knocked your noggin' pretty hard." He pressed the rag against the wound and reached for Sasuke's hand, "Hold it there for me." He easily was able to fish out the first aid kit from the cabinet just behind him.
…Orochimaru, huh?
Even in death the man still tortured Sasuke
Even Sasuke with no clear memory of him.
God, he wished he'd been the one to kill him.
"We'll get you cleaned up and then visit Sakura, just to make sure, okay?" Naruto murmured as he looked through the first aid kit.
Where were the needle and thread? And the hydrogen peroxide and the--
Oh that's right...
Sasuke destroyed the first aid kit months ago after he threw the porcelain shard into Naruto's shoulder, and he'd never gotten around to replacing it.
Sighing, the kitsune put it back and wrapped his arms around Sasuke, his hand taking the rag back; he pulled the boy back against him.
--
A/N:
What did you think? Next chapter should be up sooner; had to deal with a few real life issues so the update was slower than I wanted. Sorry that some of you think Sasuke is a bit too childish, but it's how we made it so, yeah, that's about it. Leave a review if you want to know what happens next, more drama to come I guarantee it! Thanks a million for all the reviews we have to far, we're almost to five hundred reviews! How cool is that?