SasuNaru, yaoi, m-preg, OOC, OCs and unbeta-read
Disclaimer applies
Sorry to keep you guys waiting. Anyway, I'm doing my best not to break any English grammar rules but it's quite impossible so please understand. If I did commit any error, I'd be more than happy to receive corrections.
By the way, flashbacks, like thoughts, are italized. I didn't use "flashback" and "end of flasback" for a reason. I know you guys can differentiate thoughts from flashbacks anyway but still watch out. -winks-
Chapter 36: On his own
Yuuzuki glided towards Akemi's room, quietly and lightly like an apparition. Even in the dark that enveloped the hallway and the room, he didn't need his sharingan eyes to guide him towards his brother's bed. He knew his way like the back of his hand. When he reached his destination, he took in the sleeping form of his foolish brother then smirked. His brother hadn't changed which made it easier for him. In a split of second, a kunai glinted in the soft moonlight that flooded through the window as the weapon hovered above the younger boy. And like a flash of lightning, it sliced through the air, deadly and accurate as it moved towards its sole target – Akemi's heart.
Yuuzuki snorted as his weapon pierced the bed which had now become unoccupied. His smirked grew wider as he felt his brother's presence behind him. He raised his right arm to block the incoming punch. Unfortunately, he didn't realize the kunai coming from his left until it was too late, driving him to move away. He moved so fast that in an ordinary person's eyes, he disappeared.
"Impressive," he said as he stood by the window, his gaze meeting his brother's. "But you should move faster," he continued and nodded meaningfully to the rip of his shirt collar.
"This is my fave shirt," Akemi hissed in displeasure.
"More reason for you to move faster."
The younger boy sat on the edge of his bed silently studying his older brother who leaned against the wall. "What are you doing here at this time of the day?"
"To train you, of course," was the melodious reply.
"But you have a mission, stupid."
Yuuzuki grinned, "Yes, three hours from now."
Akemi looked at his bedside clock and grumbled, "It's still 2:30 am."
"Yes, I know."
Must his aniki be so insufferably calm? No idiots would train as early as 2:30 for pete's sake unless… This time it was Akemi who smirked. "You're just excited over the mission arrangement to sleep for few more hours."
He knew he guessed right if the older boy's sheepish grin was any indication. "That's why I decided to supervise your training like any day."
-SasauNaru is love-
Nervousness and excitement.
These were the emotions that bubbled within Yuuzuki's team. But such feelings were common among ninjas when paired with the best and most successful ANBU group – Sasuke's team - another reason why the youngest ANBU captain felt pressured to perform well. Although his otousan had commended him for his accomplishments and listened to his short but precise account of his battles during his mission, this would be the first time his parent would see him operate as well as the first time their groups would be collaborating together in a rescue and kill mission.
The people whom they were ordered to annihilate were those who kidnapped a group made up of two jounins and two chuunins. They knew the purpose of the abduction – information gathering. Unfortunately to the kidnappers, these ninjas had been under Ibiki for three years and had annually requested to receive simulations of this kind of situation and who was more qualified to come up with simulations than Ibiki himself? There was no man alive on earth who was crueler than Ibiki and no torture more effective than his. They were certain their comrades won't divulge any information but that didn't mean they could dilly-dally this mission. Each second counted because they knew that a man who remained silent even during torture was as good as a corpse.
Regretfully, what welcomed them were the grotesque corpses of the people they should rescue. Yuuzuki crouched and touched the pool of blood. "It's still warm," he announced through the heavy silence that hang in the air as they realized that they came too late. "From the way they were killed, it's obvious those assholes were pissed off," Ken commented.
Being the leader of the group, Sasuke coolly ordered to no one in particular, "Dispose their body properly. The rest will pursue the enemies. I'm sure they aren't far from here yet."
The rescue mission was a failure but the annihilation was another story. They would complete the second part of the order as a revenge for their fallen comrades. However, they need not pursue as burning arrows rained down on them. As expected from ANBU members, their reflex were fast and their movements as smooth as silk as they deflected their arrows in their own way. They were now engaged in a fight against some notorious rogue ninjas who survived in the wilderness. Weapons against weapons coming in contact, producing 'clank' sounds in the process; ninjutsu versus ninjutsu, each technique bursting with chakra and taijutsu against taijutsu, solid thuds as limbs came in contact with so much force.
For all the skills, power and intelligence Yuuzuki had, he still lack something -lots of experiences, the major deciding factor in the battlefield. Compared to others, what number of experience he had was little. So it wasn't a surprise when the boy found himself driven in a corner surrounded by his opponents. He effortlessly curbed his panic and watched in anticipation with his sharingan eyes for their attack.
They moved and Yuuzuki's muscles tensed, ready to block every attack while delivering his own. Like a bolt of lightning, it hit him as he felt the ground beneath him rumbling - the real attack was going to be from below. He jumped a second earlier before hands emerged from the ground. Airborne, the boy watched in relief while his hands moved quickly for his signature attack- the dance of the flame fox. He could feel the rush of his chakra -hot and powerful like real fire. Just one more seal and everything would be over, at least for his opponents.
Instinct and sharp intuition made him looked up and his red eyes widened in surprise as he saw a toad-faced enemy poised in an attack falling towards him.
How the hell…?
He wasn't able to finish his question as the answer immediately popped in his mind.
Chakra concealment.
And the man did it so well only the most experienced and observant ninja cod detect him and unfortunately, Yuuzuki wasn't in that level yet and certainly he couldn't be because he was going to die right there and then. With his body frozen and his mind already shutting down, he watched like a distant observer as everything around him moved in slow motion.
As his enemy closed in, his body braces for the impact with the sword and for the pain that comes with it while his memory of when he was rescued by his parents from his kidnappers flashed through him, mockingly. But he knew this time nobody's going to rescue him - his otousan and rest of the group had their hands full and were quite far from him and his chicihue was behind the hokage desk but he didn't mind. He had embraced his death, having no other way and he wasn't going to be bitter about it. His experience had taught him the weak always perish against the strong. He was weak. That was his last thought before all he felt and saw was the blood flowing freely like waterfall.
I am weak.
-Sasunaru is love-
Before Yuuzuki's team separated from Sasuke's after they returned home early next morning, the dark-haired captain placed his hand on the younger captain and said, "Don't mind what happened earlier."
And thanks to his mask, his father didn't notice the frown that marred his face. How could he not mind? But instead of saying what he wanted to say, he settled with 'thank you' because at that moment they weren't father and son but senpai and kouhai.
"Thank you for your hard work," they all greeted each other before Yuuzuki's team, as demanded by senpai/kouhai hierarchy convention, left for the mission building to deliver the report. The young captain found the task a delaying tactic from going home. He was running away, he knew that but it was better that way. He didn't want to face his parents especially his chichiue.
-SasuNaru is love-
When they stepped out from the building, Yuuzuki was more than convinced that his subordinates were once more seeing him incapable and 10 years too early for the captainship, if their silence was any indication. He had grown used to their teasing which were mostly made up of their age difference and now there was none.
The boy almost jumped when he felt a hand landing on his head heavily. He looked up to see Kazue. "Yuu-chama, we were planning to take you to a bar." he said and his close friend, Tomo added, "Of course for your age, you can only drink juice but no worries we'll make sure you can drink all you can! Then you can have any sweets you want."
Taiyou rolled his eyes at his comrades' poor attempt of cheering the boy up but honestly, this would be their first time to cheer their usually cheerful captain up and they found themselves lost because up until now, they had never seen him down even when they had mocked him of his position.
The three thought that having a female for a captain was the worst thing that could happen to them but their opinion changed when a mere 12-year-old was assigned to lead them. To them, having a boy for a leader was like foolishly marching towards their death. They disliked him because, despite having heard the boy's potential and strength, they couldn't accept yet that they had to follow someone who was more or less 10 years younger than them.
They called him 'captain' out of mockery rather than respect. Their obedience was nothing less and nothing more from what was required from them. They speak to him when necessary and in monotone manner but despite all of that, Yuuzuki smiled through it all and doubled his efforts to befriend them. It wasn't until the boy almost sacrificed his life to save them that they realized how shallow they were. They finally realized why he was promoted to the captainship. It wasn't only because of his bloodline limit, intelligence and potential but also because of his compassion, determination and commitment.
Since then their teamwork had improved and a friendship was established among them. They had stopped calling him 'captain' except during official meetings as they opted to call him Yuu-chama with a 'chama' a mixture of 'sama' to show their deference and 'chan' to show their fondness.
Taiyou moved closer to Yuuzuki and crouched in front of him. "Yuu-chama, we think that you did great. You had put up with those guys better than any ninjas I know so don't be to hard on yourself."
Yuuzuki wanted to smile but all he could manage was a grimace because his friends didn't understand the crime that he almost committed.
"I'll see you later, guys," he said and left his subordinates who felt helpless and useless.
On his way to Hokage Mountain, he was spotted by his uncle Sai.
"Welcome home, Yuu. Would you like to have breakfast with me and talk about your latest mission?" Sai said almost in a sing-song. He always looked forward to spending time with Yuuzuki.
"Perhaps next time," was the only thing he said before he disappeared in a 'poof'. Sai's genuine smile melted into his usual fake one. He stared at the sky and squinted at the bright soft light of the morning sun. "And I thought it's sunny day today," he muttered.
-SasuNaru is love-
Yuuzuki sat on the grassy slope of the mountain. For a moment, he watched as the grass bend towards the direction where the wind was blowing before he let himself relived his near brush with death…
As his enemy closed in, his body braces for the impact with the sword and for the pain that comes with it while his memory of when he was rescued by his parents from his kidnappers flashed through him, mockingly. But he knew this time nobody's going to rescue him - his otousan and rest of the group had their hands full and were quite far from him and his chicihue was behind the hokage desk but he didn't mind. He had embraced his death having no other way and he wasn't going to be bitter about it. His experience had taught him the weak always perish against the strong. He was weak. That was his last thought before all he felt and saw was the blood flowing freely like waterfall.
I am weak.
He wondered why no pain came when there was so much blood before he felt strong arms clutching him, protectively. "Get your act together," a firm voice told him filling the hollow silence within him. He looked up and met his otousan's blood-red eyes.
They landed on a tree branch and as the boy let his gaze swept their surrounding immediately. He saw the ninjas who surrounded him few seconds ago dispersed but on the ground where they used to stand was the body of his would-be killer if his father didn't intervene. The body was separated from his head by few meters.
"Get a hold of yourself!" he heard his father commanded before he left to deal with their remaining foes. He looked at the blood on his shoulder and knew it was still fresh. It wasn't the blood of his attacker but of his father. He was wounded because of him and Yuuzuki hated himself for that...
Yuuzuki sighed as the self-loathing he had felt at that time was still present. He believed it wouldn't go away as long as he remembered that his otousan almost got killed something that would make his chichiue cry. He couldn't fathom the depth and strength of their love but this he was certain: the death of one of them would be the demise of the other. Such was their dependence. Such was their unity and he of his weakness almost destroyed that. Worse, he had almost broken the vow he had made since the time he realized his powers- protect his important persons.
-SasuNaru is love-
When his schedule wasn't hectic just like today, Naruto would savor his time doing household chores all by himself instead of using clones. It was times like this that he felt more like an ordinary wife doing ordinary things.
After cleaning the house, Naruto proceeded in hanging laundry outside to dry. He paused for a moment to stretch his arms skyward and yawned. He felt so sleepy because a hyperactive Kisho had kept him awake until wee hours. At that moment, a part of him wished he could join Kisho who was still sleeping but that wish evaporated into thin air as he saw Sasuke walking towards their house.
"Hey, bastard! Welcome home," he greeted cheerfully. But his smile turned into a frown as he noticed his blood-tainted clothes. In fact his nose could pick-up the dull scent of dried blood.
Sasuke gave him a tired smile before he entered the house. Already in his automatic mode, Sasuke stripped his clothes and took a bath. He let the warm water loosen his muscles at the same wash away the exhaustion claiming him at that moment. As he stood beneath the shower, welcoming the water prickling him gently he let himself be brought back to the happening hours ago.
Sword against sword and kunia against kunai...
There were almost equal. Almost. But Sasuke knew he was better. In a whirl of leaves and sword, he defeated his enemy. But he wasn't allowed to take a breather as he was rained w/ kunai carrying explosives. He leapt upward perfectly and gracefully missing the explosion impact and the tear-inducing smoke. He twisted around to parry an attack and it was at that moment that he saw something that made his blood turn cold and adrenaline bursting like the explosion earlier. He ignored his adversary who looked surprised then insulted at Sasuke's rudeness.
Sasuke did a shortcut – interrupting other fights between the other ninjas, never paying attention of the cuts he received on his way. In a desperate move, he threw his body in the air and like the devil himself, he appeared behind Yuuzuki's attacker and with one quick arm swing he beheaded the man. His movement was so strong that he didn't feel the resistance of his flesh or the hardness of his neck bone. It was like he was slicing a jelly - soft.
Effortlessly, Sasuke grabbed Yuuzuki and brought him to safety. "Get a hold of yourself!" he ordered before he left to deal with the ninjas moving towards them. Sasuke met them halfway, clashing against them giving the other ANBU captain to gather his composure. Not paying to the sharp pain of the wounds on his chest, he landed on another branch. Unfortunately, his left foot slipped as he stepped on the slippery sap gathering on the bough thereby losing his balance and grazing his left leg against its jagged surface. The blunder took just a second but his opponent used it well. The man lurched forward, his kunai on his left hand poised to plunge into Sasuke's throat while the other for his heart. The dark-haired ANBU captain twisted his body in time saving his vital organs and then flinched as he felt the pain of his new wounds.
"Asshole," he hissed before he sent the man to Hell quickly.
When Sasuke stepped out from the bathroom, he saw Naruto sitting on their bed with a first-aid kit beside him. He stood in front of his wife, silently observing him.
Naruto let his gaze swept over Sasuke's chest and the moment he saw his deep wounds, he felt guilty. "Is Yuuzuki alright?" he asked quietly.
"He's not injured just like the others."
"That's good," the blonde commented. "Was the mission successful?"
Sasuke looked away, afraid that his eyes would show the answer that he didn't want to say. He didn't want to answer because he knew Naruto's reactions all too well and he couldn't bear to watch it.
Watching his spouse's lack of expression and the silence coming from him, Naruto knew of the outcome and another wave of guilt swept him. He looked at the face he loved and saw that it was marred with few cuts.
"Sasuke, I'm-" he trailed off as Sasuke brought his face closer to the blonde's. "I don't need it," he whispered with finality. When his wife opened his mouth to speak once more, the ANBU captain crushed their lips, swallowing the apology.
I don't want to hear it because I don't need it.
Naruto could no longer apologize nor speak as his mouth was being assaulted. When Sasuke switched to his neck, it was only then that he managed to suck his breath before he demanded for more – something which his partner was more than happy to oblige.
They needed this blissful contact, Naruto to assure that his love was alive while Sasuke needed it as it was the best way to comfort his dobe. The need that gripped Naruto; the lust that settled like a boulder within his stomach and the desire that wrapped around him like satin ribbon drove him to slam his lips against Sasuke's at the same pulling his head down so his tongue could drove and touched deeper.
Sasuke found himself beneath Naruto as the latter switched their position, effortlessly. He stared at those blue eyes that said, let me. In reply, he dragged the blonde's clothes as his cool fingers brushed against heated flawless skin. The blonde let out a breathless groan before he returned the favor. Where his eager hands wandered, his demanding mouth followed, pressing wet and hot kisses which left his spouse quivering and moaning softly. He let his tongue roamed on his skin, tasting Sasuke and desire. He moaned and his eyes were half-closed as long fingers teased his manhood, expertly. Their needy gazes met and Naruto cocked his head seductively before he grabbed a bottle of lube.
Sasuke couldn't help but hissed as the cool gel came in contact with his weeping erection. Bright rainbow colors danced at the edges of his view as he felt the lube losing its coolness under his wife's skilled ministrations. Urgently, he lifted Naruto's hips and steadied and supported him as his dobe lowered himself. In bliss, he moaned as he felt the tight ring of muscles slowly enveloping him, pulling him deeper at the same time welcoming his sweet intrusion. He was completely surrounded and it felt heavenly and exhilarating.
A deep groan ripped through the blonde as he felt pain and pleasure pulsating in him as his husband slipped into him, filling and completing him in a way their kisses always failed to do. There was a moment of stillness before Naruto started moving and Sasuke let him ride at his own pace. The eye contact that they established the moment their bodies became intimately connected was never broken even when toe-curling pleasure started to build within them. And each movement of Sasuke's hand on Naruto's erection and of their hips slapped them towards frenzy delirium.
"Sasuke..." Naruto murmured breathlessly between pants.
"I know," the dark-haired man breathed, his grip on the blonde's waist tightened as their rhythm became desperate and feverish, totally spinning out of control. All that mattered to them was each other's completion- that fleeting but powerful moment of mind-numbing ecstasy when the whole world around them had fallen silent and had turned pristine white as they reached the center of everything that was and will be.
With a deep guttural moan, Sasuke found his rapture. It was so intense that his eyes shut themselves involuntary. Few seconds later, Naruto followed, tumbling over the edge, falling gracefully.
Sasuke opened his heavy eyes and through pleasure-hazy vision the erotic scene- Naruto's body in a perfect arc, his head thrown back, his sweat-drenched face upturned in sweet release and his mouth open in silent scream, in front of him flooded his whole system with desire, awakening his spent body. The illogical hunger that swirled around him drove him to thrust into that moist and hot cavern, deeply amd powerfully. Within a minute, he came again. He caught Naruto as the latter slumped forward. And for a minute or two there were just gasps as they gently plummeted back to the ashes of their passion.
Naruto softly traced the wounds on Sasuke's chest. He disliked it when his subordinates get injured; hated it when they die and loathed it when his important persons get hurt because to him the casualties were his fault and proof of his failure as the commander-in-chief, friend, father and husband. Although most of the time, it wasn't him who came up with the mission's battle plans, he was always the one who selected the strategy from all the submitted ones so it was still his responsibility. His cross.
When Sasuke became aware of his surroundings, the first thing he felt was something soft pressed against his chest. He opened his eyes, looked down and saw his wife gently kissing each of his wounds and scars. He frowned when he spotted the tears gathering on the edges of those devastating blue eyes. He cupped his dobe's face.
"There're things that are beyond your control and this is one of them. Besides my wounds, although deep, aren't critical," he said fiercely, wanting the blond to understand. "But one day, your wounds would be and..." he trailed off not wanting to mention of his spouse's fall. He feared that a day would come when he'd just be like the wives or lovers of the fallen ANBU members- receiving Sasuke's porcelain mask together with the heartbreaking news of his love's demise from the ninja who took the task of disposing his corpse.
Looking at those cerulean pools, Sasuke continued, "As long as our children expect my return, I'll come home. As long as you need me, I'll continue to cheat death. I promise."
Naruto let out a derisive snort as he childishly wiped his unshed tears with his right hand. "Bastard, you can't do that," he said but his eyes were beginning to glow with happiness once more because somehow he believed in Sasuke's promise.
"Watch me," his spouse replied so seriously that it made him chuckle. "Thanks," he murmured before he kissed Sasuke, lightly. "Now, it's high time for me to tend to your wounds," he announced as he moved away from his husband.
-SasuNaru is love-
"The day is too great to spend it in sulking," a familiar voice said before he could hear footsteps approaching him. He looked at his chichiue who childishly and naturally flopped himself on the grass.
"I have a reason to sulk," he muttered, avoiding his father's soft gaze. He expected to be scolded. He deserved it as a son who endangered his daddy and as a subordinate for his naïveté. But here was his chichiue looking serene and offering him a box of white chocolate.
"Otousan did the right thing," Naruto said as he stared at the horizons.
Such statement made the boy frown. Even with his intelligence, Yuuzuki couldn't understand why risking one's life was right. In there profession, to protect teammates in a tight situation was called for. It was an obligation. Always an obligation but not the right thing. He shook his head in disagreement.
"No," he said. "He almost got killed because of me."
"There are things that are worth drying for."
"Won't you care if otousan dies?" the boy almost snapped in confusion.
"Of course I would but you are also important to us. I would have done the same."
Looking away again, Yuuzuki sighed. He leaned his forehead against his brought-up knees and mumbled, "To be saved like that… I'm weak."
His confession almost came out as a choke. It was so hard to say that especially from someone like Yuuzuki who performed so well in school and in battlefield and completed all of his missions. His accomplishments made him think that although he wasn't perfect, all the things he did were until that incident happened. Naruto was proud of his boy's courage to admit such things humbly albeit shamefully.
"Even ninjas as strong as otousan needed to be saved in and out of battlefield," the blonde commented, remembering those times when he had saved his husband. "Also," he added, his arm wrapping around the boy's shoulders for comfort, "nobody is weak. We are born with infinite strength but it is our task to awaken such strength and tap from it as we continue on our journey." His fingers tipped Yuuzuki's head back so their gazes would meet. "Otousan saved you not only because you're his kouhai but because you're his son. You shouldn't be ashamed of that."
"I' m not," the boy replied, "but I am ashamed of myself for being this weak."
"You're fourteen," his chichiue said, intentionally committing a mistake on his son's age.
"Twelve!" Yuuzuki corrected with annoyance lacing his voice.
The older man grinned, "See? You still have a long way to go." He tousled the boy's hair before he stood up to go to his office where tons of troublesome paperwork awaited him.
"Chichiue!" Yuuzuki called out, never bothering to look over his shoulder. "I'll get stronger."
"We believe you," was the blonde's reply before he tossed the box of chocolate to his child's direction. Yuuzuki's hand gracefully shot out in the air and smoothly caught the thrown item. He looked at the box of sweets and smiled. He would continue protecting his loved ones with his strength and power.
I'll get stronger than yesterday and today, he vowed to himself silently and he knew he would because he had the power to believe in himself once more.
TBC
This is all I could come up. I know this is the longest chapter in this story and all because I don't know where to cut the chapter. I hope its lenght didn't give you a headache or made your eyes ache.
Kouhai means junior and senpai means senior.