Beautiful People

Chapter 12: Somehow I'll Trust You'll Make Me, Sasuke

Beta: beta'd by strawberries and napkins

...

Sasuke had the early morning shift, so when he was shaking my shoulder for me to wake up, it took me a moment to realize that it was too bright outside for it to have been at least five in the morning. He had let me sleep in, and yet when I was about to mention it, he sent me a silent glare that shut me up.

I suppose this is his way of being nice to me, so for the sake of us at least getting along, I didn't say anything.

When we traveled we hardly ever took more than ten-minute breaks, so I doubted that I'd have any time to write in my journal. But the sun was bright, the air was clear, and I could tell we were getting closer to our targets because their techniques were getting sloppier. Their tracks were becoming easier and easier to spot, so it probably meant that we were gaining the distance we had lost.

When I told Sasuke this, he merely grunted at me, but then he made the mistake of stepping too hard on a weak branch and began skyrocketing downwards fast, and without a sound. I stepped down as fast I could, and caught him in my arms right before he hit the ground.

Wow…he's so…light. I blinked and almost marveled at how tiny his body really was for a boy.

And he had his eyes pressed tight together, and it took him a moment to stop bracing for the fall that didn't come. When he opened his eyes and saw me looking over him, I might have imagined he was blushing when he snatched himself right out of my arms.

"Are you alright?" I murmured and reached out to touch him and I guess it was too soon because he slapped my hand away.

He growled back at me. "Don't touch me. I'm fine."

"Why do you always have to be such a jerk? I was trying to help you!" I snapped and cradled my stinging arm. My eyes began to sting, but I could tell I wasn't about to cry. I was feeling the beginning of something dangerous, like my body was already warning me to disable the conflict, but I couldn't stop.

"Ever since this whole thing started you've been acting like an asshole and I haven't even done anything, just grow up! And while we're at it, you need to stop being so mean to me just because I've dated Naruto before you!"

I could see his body tense and his teeth were clenching behind his jaw. My heart stopped. I was really doing this.

"Whatever happened between Naruto and I is between us! Not you! So stop acting like a baby and get over the fact that what we had was spec-"

Ouch.

He slapped me across my left cheek so hard that my body even moved along with the swing. It hurt badly, but I wasn't crying. I turned back at him and glared. He wasn't even scowling. He looked impassive, like it was nothing.

"Don't you ever try to compare me to Naruto and you, you're nothing." He was growling at me and his eyes seemed to glow dangerously in the sunlight. In the middle of the forest ground, it seemed dumb to fight like this. I put my good hand to my stinging cheek and the anger swarmed right through my heart.

I activated my Byakugan. "That'll be the last time you'll hit me and get away with it."

Then I pounced, and tackled him by the torso, effectively knocking the wind out of him and hurriedly hit two points in his arms, disabling them long enough for me to return the favor by slapping his cheek. He winced and kicked me in the stomach, sending me on my back. He pulled out a kunai, so I did the same.

We took turns, biting, scratching, and using our weapons, our Kekkai Genkai. It was like a real fight. I could feel myself bruising but I wasn't bleeding yet. It was the same for him, and yet a part of me was so satisfied seeing the purpling tinge underneath his eye.

My footwork was quicker than his, and as soon as I was able to trip him with my feet, I pounced on his body, sending him crashing down on his back. With my kunai raised above his head, he recognized his defeat. I had finally won.

"So," he snarled at me with a hard stare, "what the hell are you waiting for?"

I paused, and I kept staring right into his bottomless eyes, searching for something, anything. But I couldn't find it. No fear, no doubt, not even anger. There was no encouragement for me to finish, and nothing inside of me wanted this.

"I…"

"What? Shouldn't you be mad? I took Naruto from you, didn't I? You're alone now, you're unhappy."

He's right. I am alone, and I am unhappy. I should want to hurt him, and make him feel the same way I do but…

But…

"It's not your fault…that I'm like this..." I whispered, and I slumped right against his chest and cried, kunai totally forgotten. I think, for the first time, I was crying for someone other than myself. And I'm not saying that Sasuke deserves my pity. But I know it's not easy being with Naruto, and I haven't been making it any easier. But I don't know how to tell him that. But when I felt his limp arms around my shoulders, I could tell that he'll be patient enough for me.

"Get off me before you drip snot on my clothes…" he murmured and I nodded and lifted myself off of him.

He waited until I got my wits together and then grabbed my arm, and together we walked silently at the bottom of the forest until the end of it, and I had to gasp at the fact that we were less than a mile away from this old village, where even in late afternoon was almost completely deserted. There were grain fields everywhere.

"Stay at an i-inn for the night?" I offered, and for the first time, Sasuke had nodded his head limply and started moving.

My Byakugan had worked well, and I had already grown accustomed to the chakra signature. They were definitely in the town, but it was late, and Sasuke and I were clearly exhausted. I thanked Sakura for the few lessons she had given me in medical jutsu, because it was enough to heal both Sasuke and I. But I was tired and it was hard to crawl into the cot and wait patiently for Sasuke to fall asleep before I began to write.

I imagined what I would've written, about the fight and how somehow I feel closer to Sasuke than I've ever felt closer to anyone, maybe even Sakura. Because even though Sakura went through my troubles with me, Sasuke was experiencing them now, so we understand each other. Even though it hasn't been said, we understand.

But the funny part is, I didn't get a chance to write that day at all because Sasuke had reverted back to his dream-talking, and grabbed my loose hand, holding it close. I couldn't tell if he was imagining Naruto, or Sakura, or even me, but he needed support.

So I intertwined our fingers together and finally allowed myself to go to sleep because, honestly, I needed the support too.

Sorry, I kinda finished this in a rush, so if you find any mistakes, drop a review and let me know so I can fix it, ahaha. Sorry if I've been updating late, midterms have yet again knocked my off my usual, and I just got kicked out of my home, so I'm moving in with my grandma. Give me time, I'll update, I swear! Oh and please, don't yell at me, this is still a yaoi, there will be NO SASUHINA. Uh, yeah, so please review!