Disclaimer: I don't own nor have I contributed to Naruto in any way! Nope! None!
Sky-eyed Kitsune: Heheh……this fic is getting a bit dark, ne?
Gomi-kun: -–.—'''
Sky-eyed Kitsune: Well, my lappy Juko's (yes, I named him) motherboard 'sploded, so now I'm had to usethis bitchy version of an old laptop of Gomi's. And now Juko is FINALLy back! Yay!
Gomi-kun: --.--
Sky-eyed Kitsune: YOSH! --flames of youth--
Reviewer Replies-
To Asian Tinkerbell: Gomen...it had to be done. T.T And believe me, it was an emotional strain for me to write. ;( Will Zaku die a terrible death? Hmm...I was thinking of it, but I'm not sure. Aha! What a wonderful poll idea! Arigatou!
To knute314: Thanks for not being upset!
To NiChee: You want Naruto to kill him, eh? Hmm...revenge...me likie! Muaha...
To Sutzina Zion: --sigh-- I'm going to have to torture Naruto more...gomen! And unfortunately Itachi is half fangirl and half serious older brother in this fic, not a physco T.T
To Dreamergirl667: Y-y-your science teacher sound creey! O.o Gomi-kun: Thanks. I'm underappreciated and held here doing yaoi against my will T.T
To Second Storey Stairwell: Thanks for doing the poll, and yes, I was sooo drained!
To cluelessninja65: Naruto feels betrayed by Temari because she said that he could live with them after he left Jiraiya, but as soon as he opened the door to Temari's house, Sasuke (aka the person that hurt Naruto terribly) was standing in the living room. The fact that she let in his worst enemy was like betrayal to him. Sorry to keep you waiting!
To Dizzykins: Gomen, but Naru is going to be in for alot more pain T.T And Sasu won't be forgiven yet!
Moonlit Dew: Thanks moonlit-chan! ;) We get alot more from Sasuke's side than last time here, and thanks for not throwing anything! Huggles!
To no name: Hopefully, but not anytime soon unfortunately!
To Yanita24: So true, but do think he will view Naruto as tainted or too much trouble when he finds out? ;(
To Shinigamii-Ji: That question, "Am I ready to die yet?" is really something that Naruto juggles with in this chapter. While living can be a privlage, does he really have anything left to live for? Then again, no one could possibly break him more. Arigatou!
To greatstars: Yays! Your are correct! Orochimaru owns the mansion, but that's not stated until a little later. Good guess! ;) Where is Kyuubi? Hmm...I dunno...heh
To Chronos guardian: The question is rather WHEN will Naruto get out of Zaku's grasp? I'm such a mean writer...T.T
To blusum: Yes, the sad part is that we all know deep down they love each other, but Sasuke is such an asshole...--sigh--
To algerlanny: Thanks so much! You made me smile! O.O COOKIES...OMG...i can has them now? --pouts--
To frizzy197: Thanks for staying loyal even through my abusing of Naruto!
To Ninjalicious Babe: Er...it's good for the story, but bad in real life...is that what you meant? Hehe...
To LAzy L0ve: Sorry I didn't update sooner; this went through alot of editing and ate up time! T.T
To The Only Love for Soujiro Seta: True, Naruto is kinda NarUKE in this fic, but his friends aren't into him that way thankfully! Ah yes, Itachi. Fangirl and serious older brother. How the hell did that happen!? Yes, the lemon was onesided on purpose, but thankfully that won't happen again with Gaara! Zaku is icky...I kno...:b And yes, Sasuke has trust issues since Naruto lied to him about who he was. That, and he's also a bastard. -.-
To Gosangoku: --huff huff-- Oh, my hand T.T Answering all these reviews makes my hands hurt T.T --pant--...Three days!? Why have you been up so long!? O.O Kurochi means "black blood". It's also a term for a blood disease in Japan, but I'm just going with the literal form of "black blood" here. Oh heavens my hand...I so sorry I'm complaining! T.T Lovely review! Huggles for you! (Hello Gosan-chan's kitty!)
POLL RESULTS!
Should Sasuke in my story "See With Different Sight" be forgiven for what he did to Naruto?
-Yes! Poor Sasuke! Give him his uke! --14 votes
-No way. --9 votes
-Noooooooo! More torture I say, moooooore! --3 votes
-Don't care. --2 votes
-Sure, why not. --1 vote
My answer to your pole is...no! Sasuke shall not be given his uke yet! There will be much more to come first! Prepare yourself Teme!
Inspiring Songs:
"Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
Closed off from love
I didn't need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you're frozen
But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone's looking round
Thinking I'm going crazy
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling
But nothing's greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I'm going crazy, maybe, maybe
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
And it's draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I'll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
Chapter dedication: So many reviews...my hand hurts...X( Anyways...this one is for The Only Love for Soujiro Seta, algerlanny, and Gosan-chan's kitty! Onward!
Chapter Nine: All the Rest
--
Gaara shoved his fists into the pockets of his jeans.
He didn't run because he knew that it wouldn't make a difference.
It wouldn't help Naruto; he was already a captive by his mind either way, whether or not he was really in trouble.
The winter wind nipped at Gaara's pale and uncovered neck, and he pulled the collar of his jacket up more in an attempt to shield it from the chill.
Naruto felt the air around him closing in on his quivering form, threatening to swallow him up if he dared to move.
He listened to the sound of his even breathing, feeling it sweep in and out of his body as if trying to mend his newly earned scars; both the inner and the outer ones.
Naruto knew the truth though.
He would always remember what happened not even eleven hours ago.
Naruto didn't open his eyes.
He didn't want to see the room around him in which the past evening's nightmare had taken place, for fear the image would be burned into his mind forever.
He didn't want to get up and feel the new aches and shots of pain ripple through his tainted body.
He didn't want to wake up and see the person lying next to him.
Naruto didn't move as he felt the sheets beneath him shift, and a hand pulled him backwards. The same hand that had clutched his wrists so tightly against the bedpost the night before until blood flowed from his skin.
A low purr of approval reverberated in Zaku's throat as he pulled Naruto to him, the blond's warmth stretching over his own satisfied body.
Naruto bit his lip as Zaku's hand pressed over the bullet wound on his stomach, crusted over with dried blood and four red lines running along beside it.
Zaku could have sharp nails when he wanted to.
Naruto wished he could cry.
Crying always seemed to wash away everything; all the pain and the noise, every memory burning a hole through the back of his mind.
But he couldn't.
He had no more tears left to give. Like his life, he had nothing left to cry for, because nothing mattered anymore.
Ino paced back and forth outside of Sunagkure High, bringing her cupped hands close to her lips every so often to blow warm air into them and rub them together.
Kiba sat on the bench with Sai, biting his fingernail and staring hard at his feet. The other raven had his head tilted up to the sky, his eyes closed as his short black hair fell around his pale face, fluttering now and then with the wind.
Tenten sniffled, holding a tissue to her nose as she blew into it for the thousandth time. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and the hair from the usually well kept brown buns atop her head were messy with strands flying everywhere and hanging in her face.
The group looked up as they heard the crunching of footsteps over the grass, glazed over with early morning frost.
Kankuro met the eyes of each member of Kurochi, the fear for their blond friend and leader reflected evidently in their miserable stares.
"Ok," Kankuro said. "We're all splitting up. Kiba and Tenten, you two go to the east of town. Sai and Ino to the north. I'll head out to the south where Itachi will meet me to help. Gaara is searching around the west and near downtown. Temari and Iruka are looking near Konoha and the outskirts of the city."
"What about Sasuke?"
The group's surprised gazes flicked to Kiba. No one would have thought him to ask about Sasuke, seeing as he was the one that hated him the most.
"Sasuke's done enough already," Kankuro said.
"That bastard should be out here breaking his ass to find Naruto!"
"If you were Naruto, would you want Sasuke to be the one who found you?"
Kiba opened his mouth, then shut it and looked to the ground.
Kurochi exchanged glances with each other, and then sped off in their different directions.
Naruto didn't move as he felt the weight beside him shift once again, and this time rise from the bed.
He heard Zaku yawn, and after a few footsteps, the door closed and the sound of footsteps was replaced with that of running water.
The first rays of the sun were peeking through the clouds, and somehow had managed to fight their way through the curtain covered window to dance over Naruto's closed eyelids.
Naruto wasn't sure of how much longer he could torture himself.
He opened his eyes slowly and sat up.
The room around him was bare apart from a desk, some bookshelves, a walk in closet, a dresser, and a large circular window on the opposite wall from the bed.
Naruto hissed in pain and let his body fall back onto the mattress, digging his nails into the sheets beneath him.
He felt the space under his stomach become wet, and he knew that his wound had been ripped open and he was bleeding again.
Naruto ignored the sensation of the hot blood oozing down his skin and seeping into the gray sheets as he tried to think of something…anything else in the world to his mind away from this place, this room, this bed…
"Haku."
The thought came to him instantly.
Naruto closed his eyes and willed his weak and fragile memory to transport him back to once-upon-a-time.
Flashback—
"Hey, Haku!!"
A amber-eyed brunette looked up from his place on the ground where he was lying comfortably, and let out an "oof!" as he was tackled back down.
"Haku! HakuHakuHaku!!" Naruto yammered excitedly as he pinned Haku down to the chilly earth beneath them.
"Hello Naruto," Haku said, pushing Naruto off of him gently and laying back down again.
"Whatcha doin' Haku?" Naruto said, taking a seat next to the brunette.
"Just waiting for it to snow…" Haku said, smiling a bit.
Naruto scrunched his nose in confusion.
"Man, what is it with you and snow? It's just a bunch of ice and stuff!"
"I suppose so, but…" Haku's small smile faded a little. "I feel sorry for it I guess."
"Huh?" Naruto said, lying down next to his best friend.
"Everyone is always so excited when Spring or Summer comes around because it gets warm and the snow melts," Haku explained. "No one ever likes the snow. People think it's cold and dreary during the winter and don't ever acknowledge it. It's a shame that no one never stops to just watch the snow fall, even for a second, because underneath all of the dark clouds and cold wind…it's so beautiful."
Haku turned his head and smiled at the blond beside him.
"Just like you, Naruto."
"Eh?" Naruto said, blinking. He scoffed.
"You must have been laying out in the cold for too long Haku, 'cause you definitely can't be talking about me!" he said, grinning.
Haku smiled.
"No, I am talking about you."
"I don't get it. You think I'm beautiful, Haku?"
Haku laughed and Naruto felt his insides become warm against the chill of the ground. Haku never laughed for anyone but him and his brother Zabuza, and it was one of the most beautiful sounds Naruto swore he would ever hear in his life, even though he was only thirteen and Haku one year older.
"Of course Naruto," Haku said. Naruto's breath hitched in his throat as Haku sat up and cupped his scarred face in his pale porcelain-like hands. "You're always beautiful Naruto, even on your worst day. You're the only one who makes me laugh."
Naruto's eyes widened a bit as Haku leaned in closer to him, their faces only a few inches apart.
"H-Haku?" Naruto said uneasily.
"Close your eyes, Naruto," Haku said softly.
Naruto took a deep breath and did as the brunette said.
Suddenly though, his eyes flew open as he felt something warm and soft press against his lips.
A rush unlike any other cascaded through his body, sending a stream of colors over his eyes and causing his pupils to dilate.
Haku was kissing him…Haku was kissing him…Haku was kissing him!
Naruto's brain had just caught up this much when the sensation left him as Haku pulled away.
Naruto blinked as the brunette flopped back down onto the ground and looked up at the sky once more, his hands behind his head as he watched the clouds move as though the past ten seconds hadn't existed.
Naruto touched two fingers to his lips and blinked again.
And again.
Wait for it…
"HAKU!! You bastard! You stole my first kiss!" Naruto shouted, flailing his arms wildly.
"As you did mine," Haku said, smiling.
"Yea, but I didn't steal it! I mean-...that was your first kiss too?"
Haku stood up and grinned at Naruto.
He laughed nodded.
"Why...Haku, why would you give me your first kiss?" Naruto asked softly.
Haku smiled again, and it reached his amber eyes and made them glow brightly.
Naruto abruptly looked at his hand as he felt something cold touch it, and he lifted his eyes to the sky, small white flakes falling from it in soft waves.
"I had to leave you behind something meaningful after I'm gone."
Naruto looked back at Haku.
"'Gone?' What do you mean, 'gone'?"
Haku chuckled and moved forward, and Naruto blushed as the brunette's pale face was suddenly only inches from his once more.
Haku flicked Naruto's nose.
"It's a secret," he said, smiling as Naruto pouted and rubbed his abused nose.
--End Flashback
Naruto gripped his shoulders tightly and curled into a ball on the bed as he felt his stomach pull into a suffocating knot.
He understood now.
Haku's final gift.
Naruto shut his eyes, and to his amazement, he felt a tear slip down the side of his cheek.
Haku knew that he was going to die.
Sasuke shut the door to the Sabaku household with a satisfying slam.
It didn't matter if they hated him and didn't want him out looking for the blond. It didn't matter if he was or wasn't the cause of what had happened to Naruto. It didn't matter that the city was huge and the one person they were looking for out of a thousand could already be dead by now.
All that mattered was what had dawned on Sasuke previously two weeks ago that he had thrown to the back of his mind, and was now making itself more apparent than ever with every step he took.
He loved Naruto.
God...he loved him.
Sasuke knew that he would never be able to compare with what Naruto had gone through, but if he were in the blond's place…he wouldn't have trusted anyone either; even someone he supposedly felt feelings for.
Even he wouldn't have told the truth about who he was.
Sasuke pulled his jacket closer to him as he ran out into the streets.
"Dobe…you better not be dead."
Zaku stretched his arms up, his back making a pleasing cracking sound.
He shook out his wet hair as he grabbed a towel from the rack beside the shower and tied it around his waist.
He opened the door, letting out some steam from the hot water, and walked across the hall back into his room.
He grinned as he closed the door.
Naruto was standing up, his back to Zaku as he stared out of the wide circular window across from the bed.
His chest was bare, and in the early morning light pouring in through the window Zaku could see the red bleeding fingernail marks he had left over Naruto's spine and golden skin.
He wore the pair of black skinny jeans ripped at the knees that he had sported when he was kidnapped, his shirt too bloody from his bullet wound to put back on.
His hair was messy and spiked up all around; a typical hairdo after waking up, but bed-head had never looked so good as it did now painted in gold.
Zaku walked over soundlessly to the blond and slipped his hands around his waist, smirking when Naruto stiffened under his touch.
"Ohayo Naruto-kun," he said, letting his hands travel up his chest.
He purposefully let his fingers glide over the bullet hole in Naruto's stomach, and was surprised when the blond only flinched.
"Ne, Naruto," Zaku said, leaning his head on Naruto's shoulder. "You want those bandages now?"
Naruto swallowed.
Zaku was teasing him….the bastard was teasing him.
Naruto opened his mouth to say no, just to protest against what he knew Zaku wanted him to say, when he suddenly felt a sharp jolt from his stomach and he collapsed to the ground, his hand gripping over his wound.
Zaku chuckled as Naruto managed to pick himself up enough to lean against the wall, his breathing none too light as sweat began to gather in small droplets on the back of his neck.
God….
God it hurt so bad….
"Well?" Zaku said expectantly, crouching down in front of Naruto.
Ever fiber of Naruto's being shouted at him to say yes, to give his body the relief he so desperately needed, while his pride—no, his heart—spurred him to say no.
Naruto shuddered as he felt Zaku's fingers dance up his naked arms, defying the brunette's rough nature as they delicately swept over the golden skin beneath them hypnotically.
"No."
Zaku's finger's froze.
He didn't speak or lash out like Naruto thought he would. No, in fact, his face was covered with an air of concentration, as if he was contemplating which action to take next.
"You know…you're going to die if you don't get that bullet out of you and stop the bleeding," Zaku finally said, his expression blank, but voice laced with the thinnest layer of concern.
Naruto didn't even notice it, his senses weakening as he sat there and his vision becoming obscure as the room tilted on its axis and seemed to turn upside down.
"That's…that's the point," Naruto breathed.
Zaku's pupils dilated a bit.
Naruto coughed, blood splattering onto the dark brown wooden floor beneath him.
"I've had enough……there is nothing else you or anyone else could do to me at this point…to torture me more," Naruto said. "I give up. It's not worth it…it's just not worth it anymore. I would have liked to die somewhere else…somewhere where I wasn't held against my will…but I guess that's the way my life has always been. Not everyone gets what they want….right?"
Naruto lifted his head to look back up at the light filtering in through the window, smiling sadly.
"It feels as if I have been living for so long..."
Zaku gripped Naruto's arms tightly.
"You can't die yet," he hissed.
Naruto's eyes fluttered shut, then opened halfway.
"If you won't let me die…I'll kill myself."
"You're not going to get the chance to do that."
Naruto gasped as he felt immense pressure slam against his bullet wound, and he fell forward.
He blacked out the moment he hit the floor.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"…hello?"
Sasuke let out the breath he had been holding as Neji picked up the line.
"Neji, I need you to get Shino and Lee. Naruto is missing," he said.
"Is this the same Naruto that you've been depressing over for weeks because he lied to you about who he really was?"
"Hn."
"He probably just went away to find some seclusion for a bit."
"This is serious! All of his friends are out looking for him! He could be dead by now!!"
"…..you really are in love with this guy, aren't you?"
Sasuke didn't answer as he felt his throat become dry, and his insides tightened to the point where he felt like screaming.
"Yea…" he croaked, for once in his entire life sounding helplessly weak. "…I really am…"
Let me please take this time to remind you all who are waiting for me to turn this around into a happy ending soon...
This is not a fic for the weak of heart. If you want a definite happy ending to come quickly and surely, then please, spare your heart the trouble and find another fic. Please! I won't be responsible for tears! The happy ending for this fic will not be coming anytime soon, so all of you still on abord, strap on your seatbelts cuz you're in for a wild ride!
Oh, and btw, if anyone is curious as to what's happening with my other fics, see my profile and go down to the new section I have added that displays the progress of each one! There's also a new pole up on my profile concerning this fic, so vote away! Arigatou!
Sky-eyed Kitsune
Translated by Gomi-kun