SasuNaru, yaoi, m-preg, OOC, OCs and unbeta-read
Standard disclaimer applies.
To all reviewers: Thank you for your reviews. It is because you that I got this far.
To Chichi: No, Yuuzuki, Akemi and Miki had already figured things about Naruto and Sasuke. But just like Kisho, they had assumed that those bedtime stories were just stories.
------------------------------- because the horizontal bar still doesn't work ------------------------------------------------
Chapter 48: Snatches of eternity
At the strike of 4:45, Uchiha Sasuke-one of the most skilled captain of a high-rank ANBU cell, a member of the highest echelon of ANBU; one of the ninjas who were believed to be the deadliest and the head of the prestigious Uchiha clan, woke up to silently observe his sleeping wife. And because he and their kids had no mission for the day, he could observe Naruto to his heart's content.
His long fingers brushed through golden locks feeling its softness before twirling the strands around them. His eyes leisurely wander over his face, memorizing his facial angle before moving downwards to rove all exposed skin, mentally kissing them. With a smirk, he lightly caressed the hickeys and bite marks that littered his chest, shoulders and neck while planning where he'd put them the next time. He watched the steady rise and fall of the tanned chest and he adjusted his breathing so they would breathe together.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.
Before he knew it, golden light had outlined the mountains at the same time smeared the dim sky. It was now morning to everybody but him.
Minutes later, sunbeam filtered through the window and crawled towards their bed. It didn't take long for the column of light to settle on Naruto's face.
When it did, the blonde stirred and stretched his body as much as possible, aware but not minding the appreciating predatory eyes. He moved his body towards Sasuke's to nuzzle his face against his husband's chest. Looking up to that handsome face, he childishly rubbed his eyes with his fist before settling his blue eyes on obsidian orbs. He smiled sleepily before his hand curled around Sasuke's nape to pull him closer so he could pressed their lips for a gentle morning kiss.
"Good morning, Sasuke-bastard," he greeted.
It was only when he heard the affectionate morning greeting and received his morning kiss that Sasuke's day would start. Beautifully.
They spent a minute or two cuddling each other while mentally preparing for the day's activities. After that, Sasuke handed to Naruto his yukata. There were times when the blonde would feel conscious that he'd wore it as he moved towards the bathroom and Sasuke would mentally undress him. There were also times like now that he'd turn down the offered wear and strut his way towards the bathroom, hungry obsidian eyes following him attentively.
And since Naruto did the cooking, Sasuke always let him use the bathroom first. While the blonde was taking a shower, he arranged their bed. If the sheets carried evidence of their passion just like that day, he changed them. He put on his yukata and took the dirty sheets to the laundry room. Then he spent the rest of his waiting time, reading scrolls.
-SasuNaru is love-
When Sasuke stepped out from the bathroom, there were a change of yukata and his complete ANBU gear on their bed like always. He didn't have to go over his standard-issued belt-bag and weapons pouch to check if his mask, scrolls, medical kit and his choice of weapons were there. He trusted Naruto's efficiency when it comes to that because it meant his life and the blonde was aware of that.
Donning the yukata, he made his way to the kitchen and made two steaming cups of coffee. While his was coffee-concentrated, Naruto's was sugar-concentrated coffee.
After offering Naruto his coffee, Sasuke took a seat on the kitchen table savoring his coffee while reading the morning paper.
-SasuNaru is love-
Few minutes before Naruto would be done on preparing their meal, Sasuke would silently set the table without Naruto telling him and without Sasuke asking the blonde. It had been like this for a long time, whether in or out in the battlefield, their combination was finely tuned that words were not needed anymore. It didn't matter that the tempo of battle and that of marriage were different because they could always keep up as long as they have each other.
By the time he was done with the table, Naruto was already preparing Kisho's lunchbox. Sasuke created two clones to call their children who were either still in their room or at the training grounds.
-SasuNaru is love-
Sasuke watched as their children partook the sumptuous meal on the table and noticed that there was a rip on Kisho's shirt. It must be from a kunai or shuriken and it looked like it reached the skin but since all of them were fast healers, there was no need to worry. But it gave him an idea together with the dirt on their shirts that they had trained together. He took a sip of his coffee before he leaned forward to ask, "so who got beaten up by who?"
"Guess," Yuuzuki said but the answer was in his mirthful eyes.
"But we're going to beat you next time ne, Kisho?"
The youngest nodded, "we'll beat you pretty good over and over again."
"We'll look forward to that," Akemi replied. "But first you need to coordinate your power."
Yuuzuki nodded, "you guys looked more awkward working together than I thought. If this continues, you'd end up dead."
"Good partnership doesn't develop overnight," Sasuke stated to cheer up Miki and Kisho. "You need to put in a lot of effort."
The four siblings nodded for different reasons. Yuuzuki and Akemi in agreement while the other two in understanding.
"By the way Kisho," Akemi said as he regarded their youngest, "your aim was pretty off."
"My muscles are still sore after yesterday's training," was the reply.
A grinning Miki pat his back, "leave that to me."
"Here you go, Kisho," Naruto said as he placed his lunchbox already wrapped with cloth, on the table.
"Thanks."
It was only when Naruto joined them did Sasuke allow himself to eat. The conversation dwelled on training for few minutes or so before it shifted to another topic.
When breakfast was over, Naruto created three clones to wash dishes and do all household chores while everybody started preparing for their appointments.
"I'm leaving," Kisho almost hollered from the genkan.
"Take care," Naruto answered, "Would you like me or otousan to pick you up?"
"No, I'll meet you at Amaguriya," saying that he left for school.
"I'm leaving also," Yuuzuki said from his parents' doorway.
"Don't forget-"
"I'll see you when I see you," cutting off his otousan. With a short wave, he disappeared in a poof.
"Sasuke, I can't find my black belt," a slightly annoyed Naruto said. "Where did you throw it last night, anyway?"
Sasuke pulled out the item from behind the headboard after he had freed Naruto from it last night. He tossed it towards the blonde who caught it while muttering of never doing slave-master once more.
Before Sasuke could say something about Naruto being the one suggesting it, Miki had entered the scene.
"Got a message from the med research dept.," she informed quickly, "something came up and they need me to deal with it."
"Does that mean you won't be able to join us?" Sasuke asked.
"Of course I will. If they called me instead of Tsunade, Shizune-neechan or Aunt Sakura then it's not really that big."
"Then see you later," Naruto said.
"Sure."
Akemi had been so engrossed with his scrolls that he didn't know his otousan had entered the room and had been talking until he felt a hand on his head.
"We're leaving," Sasuke said and his wandered over the boy's notes. "You're not yet done with that technique?" Referring to the latest technique Akemi completed a week ago. For some reason, the boy found passion to create techniques. He thought that it was interesting and challenging especially that only few people managed to do so without quitting.
"I decided to improve it," informed the boy.
"How about you use the bird sign to balance the equation?" Sasuke suggested.
"Sasuke, we've to leave now," Naruto called out from the hallway.
"But it has a negative effect on its longevity," Akemi stated.
"Sasukee," Naruto called out.
"In the left side of the farthest bookshelf in our library, you'll find very old scrolls that might help you."
"Really? Thanks."
Sasuke nodded and then quickly made his way towards the front door.
-SasuNaru is love-
Side by side, Naruto and Sasuke walked together with the former carrying most of their conversation. But Naruto didn't mind as long as he had Sasuke's attention all to himself.
Since Naruto would have a meeting at the ANBU headquarters, the blonde didn't take his usual turn but tag along with his spouse. Once it a while, they let their hands brushed against each other, softly like a butterfly caress.
One block from their destination, the two shared a small smile before they morphed into what they were as servants and protectors of the village. Naruto put on his serious face and donned his hokage hat. Sasuke, on the other hand, had his face devoid of any expression and let his hokage walked two steps ahead of him before he resumed walking while maintaining the customary distance of respect between them.
Work and professional relationship started the moment the transformation was completed.
-SasuNaru is love-
"What took you guys so long?" Yuuzuki, on behalf of his three siblings, asked their parents the moment they appeared in a swirl of leaves.
The two looked apologetic. "Something came up in the meeting, dragging it longer than planned," Sasuke explained.
Just then a voice boomed from the southern park followed by blaring music.
"Carnival festival just started," a grinning Naruto said.
"Then let's go," Kisho said.
Sasuke was half-amused to see Naruto's eyes darken with childish excitement.
At Kisho's request, they went to the house of mirrors. Seeing the mirrors all lined up reminded Sasuke of Haku and his brush with death.
That had been the time he realized that his hatred towards his blond teammate wasn't as deep as he had claimed. He had been confused at that time for what he did- unhesitatingly throwing away his life, the same life he had dedicated for vengeance just to save Naruto. But that confusion had receded as he saw his teammate safe, in fact the latter was holding him, his blue eyes looking troubled and pained. That was the moment he realized that he wanted to protect the other boy.
Sasuke turned to his side and saw Naruto looking at him, obviously remembering the same incident. They held each other's gazes until their children's laughter broke the trance they were in. Sasuke watched as the blonde bounded towards them.
Do you have a precious person to protect?
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto's heartbeat seemed to roar in his heart and his skin crawled even when he was still five steps away from the entrance to the Horror house. As ridiculous as it sounded, his fear of ghosts had remained even after all these years. While he was adamant to enter what he thought to be the cause of death, he couldn't say no in front of those puppy eyes his children seemed to perfect.
"Don't worry. Like always, I'll protect you," Sasuke said in a low voice.
"I'm not scared," Naruto countered too quickly to be considered as a truth.
"Hn."
Before Naruto could say anything, he was plundered into darkness and hair-raising coldness. He was about to flee when Sasuke took his hand.
"I'm here."
In reply, Naruto squeezed his hand.
While Naruto felt like his vocal cord would snapped into two with all his screaming, Sasuke felt like his ear drums were now damaged. Not only that he had been subjected to suffocating hugs and death grips too many times than he liked. So when they finally stepped outside, he felt relieved.
"You okay, chichiue?" Akemi asked when he noticed how pale his blond father was. Three more pairs of eyes gazed at him.
"C'mon, let's grab some dinner before we go our separate way," Naruto said never bothering to answer the inquiry. It was too embarrassing anyway.
-SasuNaru is love-
Sakura let out a deep sigh of disappointment. "It's too quite," she commented, "if only everybody is here with us." She looked at her former teammates and then at her husband.
"It's too bad that they are on mission or have already made plans," Lee added.
Naruto giggled, "Sakura-chan, enjoy the night with Fuzzy eyebrows." With that said he pulled Sasuke to his feet and left a blushing couple.
"Hey! Dobe, where are we going?" Sasuke asked as he was being half-dragged through the crowd. They were completely going against the flow of people.
"Hey, dobe!"
Naruto just threw him a smile over his shoulder. He found his answer few minutes later when they reached an overlooking cliff.
"We'll see the fire work display better from here," Naruto explained as he led his husband to the sole tree growing near the edge of the cliff. "And," he continued, "we've privacy."
Sasuke arched a fine eyebrow as the blonde pushed him against the trunk and kissed him leisurely. With a moan, Sasuke pulled him closer, fitting their bodies perfectly with each other.
-SasuNaru is love-
When Hisayuki told Yuuzuki that they'll watch the fireworks, the latter thought 'they' meant him and Hisayuki. However, the Hyuuga had other plans. He had left the dark-haired youth with his secret love after giving an excuse of meeting his ANBU team for the next day's mission.
He took a discreet glance at his lady companion who was just staring ahead, seemingly uncomfortable with the heavy silence.
"I'm surprised you aren't with your friends, Yukina-san," he commented while rocking his brain for an interesting but casual topic for them to discuss.
The girl chuckled and replied indifferently, "you can leave me if you want to."
Yuuzuki's eyes widened, "I didn't said that. I was just wondering why someone as outgoing as you is spending this night alone."
"They have dates and although they invited me to join them, I don't want to be a third wheel," she replied. Then looking at the ANBU member meaningfully she added, "However, I'm not the only one who doesn't have a date or am I assuming too much?"
This time, Yuuzuki was the one who chuckled and shook his head. He took another furtive glance, wondering and hesitating.
When it comes to Yukina, Yuuzuki always found himself hesitating whether asking her to go out with him or confessing his feelings for her. Because of this, his love life was as exciting as a dead rock and that amused at the same time irritated his best friend. What was so hard about courting a girl? Hisayuki had asked him over and over again and he would reply that it was harder than fighting enemies, getting out from sticky situations and thinking of battle plans. But he himself also thought of why courting was so hard anyway except that he had no answers. He just felt that way, no questions asked.
Yuuzuki was now aware that his best friend had created another chance for him but he didn't know how one should confess one's feelings. Were there some guidelines he needed to follow or...
Capturing her gaze with his own and feeling bolder than he usually was, he said, "Yukina-san, I like you," just as a firework exploded in the sky, its sound almost drowning out his confession.
Light brown eyes widened in disbelief and she felt that it was her heart that exploded.
"Why me?" the words flew from her mouth before she could stop them.
"Why not you?" he answered a bit confused and scared that he failed to follow the guidelines in confessing one's feelings. If he did, that was expected because he had no idea what those rules were.
"Why not me?" she repeated while wringing her hands for few seconds. She liked him also but she believed such feelings were forbidden and would only bring her pain. After all she was a nobody while he was somebody in the ANBU circuit as well as in the village. They weren't compatible. They were so different and world's apart.
"Because you're an Uchiha while I'm just an adopted child. There are others who are more suitable to be your gir-mmph..."
Yuuzuki had kissed her right there and then. It was a chaste kiss meant to stop her.
Yukina's eyes remained opened and staring at the sky painted with different colors as the firework exploded. She felt that the beautiful display of light was happening from another world.
"Don't be ridiculous," Yuuzuki said after he pulled away but he was still cupping her upturned face. "I want you," he said then immediately corrected the seemingly perverted statement, "I want you to be my everything. But if you refuse, you can walk away. I won't force you to stay." He was bold for some unknown reason but he wasn't forceful.
Yukina gave him a weak smile before she took two steps backward and walked away.
When she did so, Yuuzuki was heartbroken and he wanted to go after her but he had given his word. His parents had taught him to be a man of his word so even if it hurts him, he'd keep his word. He watched her getting farther while thinking that loving was the hardest thing in life. Why must love exist in life when it was meant to hurt?
He gasped when a body collided against him and when he looked down he had his arms full of a smiling Yukina.
"I give up," she said, "I couldn't take more than seven steps. I'll be what you wanted me to be in your life." For her love's happiness, she'd risk her heart. She'd risk everything she had and would have.
In his happiness, he kissed her and Yukina responded. This time the beautiful lights she saw were behind her eyelids.
And as he shyly deepened the kiss, he thought that indeed loving was the hardest thing but its rewards were the greatest.
-SasuNaru is love-
"Your idea is brilliant, Akemi although dangerous," one of his friends commented.
"It beats sitting anywhere on the ground. We could see the fireworks better," another one added.
"I told you it is going to be a great view," was Akemi's reply.
Of course it was because they were on the top of the Ferris wheel infrastructure. And just to make sure they won't fall, they had directed their chakra to their feet.
-SasuNaru is love-
Kisho gave Makoto a weird look as he giggled once more. His amethyst eyes glinting with insanity.
"How many cups of coffee did he have?" he asked.
"Five or more," Shigure replied.
The three sighed. They should be careful next time when they are near the booths selling drinks.
"Kisho, let's drink coffee."
"Makoto, nine-year olds don't drink coffee and they don't invite six-year olds to drink with them," Kazushi reprimanded.
Before Makoto would start throwing a tantrum, Kisho rendered him unconscious. Perhaps the act was not uncommon as the two gave him grateful smiles.
"Finally, peace," the doll-looking Kazushi murmured.
-SasuNaru is love-
Miki sighed, unable to endure the awkward tension between her two teammates. She had hoped that they had settled their 'problem' when she met them that night but apparently, she hoped too much.
She placed her arms on her teammates' shoulders and drew them closer.
"I'm happy that the three of us are spending this night together," she started, "but I don't like it when both of you use me or the team just so you could see and spend time with each other."
Both of her teammates blushed and Kazuo opened his mouth to deny it but Miki cut him off.
"Why don't you guys be honest with each other and convey your feelings properly? With that said she left but not before patting their backs in assurance.
-SasuNaru is love-
Pearl-eyes drank the natural grace her body was exuding as she moved through the crowd. He loved her. Truly love her even at such the young age of fifteen. He loved her not because she was beauty personified but because she was different from all the village girls. She spent her effort and time towards her dream. She didn't mind getting dirty. In fact, she'd prefer to get dirty as long as she'd able to spar at her heart's content against opponents who see past her appearance of a fragile-looking girl. Those who didn't, she made them see through her punches that she won't allow anybody to take her lightly. She was beauty, strength and haughtiness. And he loved her.
"Shouhei-kun?"
The voice of his goddess snapped him from his daze.
"Good evening, Miki," he greeted warmly.
"Rare to see you without your teammates."
Shouhei smiled, "they're on mission. I got my ankle injured..."
"You always push yourself too hard whether during missions or trainings."
The lad continued smiling. She didn't have to know yet that he was doing this to make himself worthy of her and his family name perfect enough for her to use. Everything was for her.
"You off somewhere?"
Miki shook her head, "No idea. I just ditched my teammates."
The Hyuuga didn't ask why. It wasn't significant to him. What mattered was that both of them had no companions in this lovely night. Hm… the possibilities.
Watching the colored lights splayed on her face, he asked casually, "Wanna continue watching the fireworks with me?"
"I don't mind. Let's watch it from a less-crowded area."
"Let's get some food first."
Miki agreed. It never crossed her mind that she had just been asked to a date. She was too young to understand Shouhei's gesture and too innocent to realize that she had been marked as the sole candidate for Shouhei Hyuuga's bride.
-SasuNaru is love-
When the Uchiha couple decided to go home, the streets that would take them to their residence were now empty. The activity had ended almost two hours ago but they had stayed longer at the cliff, sitting and basking on each other's presence. It had been a long time since they did that- just sitting in a comfortable silence without talking or touching each other.
Just then a scene came to Naruto unbidden. It was of Sasuke.
If giving this body of mine to Orochimaru meant accomplishing my goal then he can have my life and my after life for that matter.
Sasuke didn't know why Naruto stopped all of sudden. He was about to turn around and inquire when he felt himself being embraced from behind. He could feel sadness exuding from that lithe form.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"I don't know if I'm going nuts or just plainly obsessed and I don't know when this started. All I know is that I'm having random flashes of you from when you were still a kid to up to now," Naruto said quietly, "It's like I'm a walking comprehensive Sasuke-archive. Not that I mind, actually but sometimes the memories were painful and sad."
Sasuke's warm hands covered Naruto's. "What did you see, Naruto?" For Naruto to be like this; for his blonde to love him like this, it was almost too much for him. It tugged his heart in a painful at the same time good way.
"The time when you said letting Orochimaru have your life and afterlife…"
Sasuke closed his eyes as he remembered that time.
"I am as hurt as I was back then. You looked so determined to accomplish your goal; so uncaring with your life and so lonely that it left me heartbroken."
"I'm so-"
The embrace tightened as Naruto shook his head, "I don't want your apology, Sasuke. I don't need that. Just let me talk."
The dark-haired man nodded.
"That time you looked at me like I was nothing but a pest. You were what? few steps away from me and yet you're as far as the sky is to the ground. You're unreachable. If my words can't reach you then my actions definitely won't and I was wretchedly weak and I understood why you looked at me like I'm nothing."
Sasuke leaned against Naruto as he stared at the star-encrusted evening sky. "But you aren't nothing. You represent Konoha… you're the reason why I should be in Konoha; why I should go back to Konoha; you're a reminder that what I did was wrong," he explained. "Every time I see you or hear your name during my time as a Sound ninja, you made my heart beat and distract me from my goal… that's why I needed to kill you. With you gone, then Konoha would just be another village and I would become a heartless man. Every time my resolve to kill you is resolute and I have my chance to do so, something or someone would interrupt me. It's frustrating actually."
Naruto slowly turned him around and just as gently caressed Sasuke's left cheek in a loving gesture. Standing on his toes, he leaned up and brushed his lips against his husband's before looking up to intensely stare at those black pools.
You have me… all throughout…
"I really, truly love you," he said because love was the closest thing that could ever describe his feelings for the man in front of him.
A pang of fear thundered within Sasuke and resonated throughout his body. The way Naruto said his feelings and the way he was acting today… it was as if-
Sasuke gathered him in his arms and hugged him tight. "Don't leave me."
Naruto chuckled, "I've no reason to leave you, silly."
"But I get this feeling that we're going to be separated once more."
"Sasuke, there is always something that tears us apart from each other," and Naruto could name a few like Orochimaru, Akatsuki…. "But we always manage to gravitate towards each other. That's one of the rules of the universe."
"But what if our orbit is destroyed and this force between us is gone?"
"Then we're going to make a new one."
"And what happens if we can't make a new one."
Naruto leaned back and smiled, "That happens when the universe is no more and eternity ends."
His blonde looked so optimistic and convincing that Sasuke could only smile and murmur, "Dobe."
To have you… for you to be mine…
And whatever comeback Naruto had, it was swallowed by Sasuke's talented mouth.
-SasuNaru is love-
When Sasuke and Naruto stepped inside the house, they had never expected to see a skeleton floating in the air causing Naruto to jump in Sasuke's arms while the other man immediately, in reflex, threw a kunai to its direction and watched as the weapon rip its way through it. It was just a cloth. A black cloth with skeleton painted on it.
Seconds later, they heard muffled laughter and Sasuke reached for the light's switch. Naruto immediately climbed down from Sasuke's arms and he together with his husband glared at their four children who were few steps in front of them, laughing. Kisho was sitting on the floor, unable to stand on his feet, while Akemi and Miki were leaning against each other and Yuuzuki was holding his stomach.
"Sorry but we just couldn't help it," Yuuzuki said and the others apologized also but the sincerity of their words was lost in their laughter.
"It wasn't funny," Naruto said so dangerously that it dampened their mood a bit. "What if I have a heart attack?"
"You're healthy, chichiue," Miki replied.
"I don't mind you guys playing jokes on us but this went overboard," Sasuke said, "I expect you to clean the Uchiha premise by Saturday. You won't leave the house until you do so."
That had stopped them from laughing and knew they couldn't argue or get out from this situation.
"If your teamwork managed to make this joke amusing to you then you'll find that teamwork useful this weekend. I'm sure the task will be done before the day comes to an end." With that said , Sasuke went to the room to take a bath.
"We are sorry," all of them said with a bow towards Naruto who nodded.
"Just don't do it again. You really scared me."
-SasuNaru is love-
"What are you chuckling?" Naruto asked as he let Sasuke towel his hair dry. His husband didn't answer but he didn't have to because the former now knew the answer. He glared at the dark-haired man and said, "You find their prank amusing."
"C'mon, you looked cute when you were so terrified. You're scared of something that doesn't exist. You should be scared of the living, dobe."
"Bastard, for your information ghosts exist. I had enough mission that dealt with them."
"Hn."
"Really." And Naruto proceeded in telling him all about his missions that had ghosts in them and Sasuke found the stories something close to boring or perhaps he was just tired.
"You're not listening," Naruto said in a melodious voice that belied his irritation.
"I'm or was," Sasuke replied as he decided to stretch on their bed. Naruto smiled and lay down beside him, his face hovering above Sasuke's.
When Sasuke yawned, he immediately inserted his pointer into his mouth causing his husband to growl. Naruto just giggled childishly, that was until Sasuke decided to bite his finger.
"You deserve it," Sasuke murmured before pulling Naruto's face down and kissed his forehead, the tip of his nose and then finally his lips.
"Goodnight, dobe." A greeting that mark that Naruto's day ended and made him realized how tired he was.
Naruto smiled, "good night, Sasuke."
And while his husband slept, he watched and observed how peaceful a sleeping Sasuke was. Chuckling, he brushed his lips against Sasuke's and placed his ear against his chest to listen to his beating heart. In a way, the gentle and relaxed thumping of Sasuke's heart was his lullaby.
Our ties would never be broken. Evolve, yes but will never be broken.
TBC
------------------------------- because the horizontal bar still doesn't work ------------------------------------------------
You might call this a filler but I wanted to write even one chapter when things between Sasu and Naru are ordinary. In hopes of this, I decided to write something about how they spent their day with a carnival festival thrown into it. It's so fluff and sweet that I'm worried if you guys ended up having tonsilitis. Hahahaa