Warnings: psychological explanations woven into the text. Angst. Some curse words. Sex behind the scenes...
Disclaimer: I don't own it, I don't, so leave me be, please. Kishimoto has all rights (I hope), and silly companies get everything else.
Edit: 2:04, July 28, 2005...Thursday...still... So. Um. I forgot about the last scene...so for the third time, I updated this. It's kinda funny.
Edit: August 14, 2005. Restructured chapters.
Edit: 10:08PM, August 23, 2005. It's Tuesday. Started classes, still working, wrote a new scene, so read it...it's just after Sasuke and Naruto brainstorm places to go for school trip.
...I'm going to be tired a lot, now, so...uh, encouragement is good...
Author's note: Don't forget about the art contest! See website for details... (it ends Monday the 29th!)
this section wasn't in my original outline (not up to the last scene of this section, anyways). Taise wanted to see more of Jiraiya, so I wrote the ol' geezer into it. And then there were some people who were confused about Naruto's "dreams," so I decided to give one explanation.
There's more than this possibility. I'd love to hear any other explanations you can think of, but this is a more "scientific" (psychological) explanation.
Go to my footnotes page to get more information on the disorder discussed.
Thankies to all of you who review! You give me ideas, you inspire me, and I love hearing from you.
Thankies to Meghan and Pai and Taise and Silver and redjediknight. You guys make my job easier, and you help the readers so much…
I need to get in contact with you again...I'll see what I can do...
愛 Something of Love: Ai no Koto
の
事
Chapter Twelve
Kakashi poured the tea slowly as he methodically twirled the leaves with slow, circular motions. He sighed quietly, and he looked to his elders. It was only their second pot of tea, and they'd exhausted all possibilities of small talk.
It looked like there was no choice. "I'm worried about Naruto." He said finally.
Jiraiya sighed noisily and rolled his long pipe around in his mouth. Kakashi didn't blink. "I thought as much." The old man replied; his weathered face relaxed from a rough grin to a more humble, concerned expression. "He worried me, too." He noted and tapped his knuckles on the low table.
Of the three seated at the table, the apparently young woman was the most serious. "Kakashi-kun," she murmured, and her smooth, low voice was filled with unnamed emotions. "It's not natural for—healthy—children his age to pass out…"
"Tsunade-sama," Kakashi inclined his body in the fashion of a seated-bow.
Her blonde hair, unlike Naruto's, was a deep, natural blonde that framed her face beautifully. Her eyes were clear and deep—brown to Naruto's blue—but hardened with age and sorrow. She was an old woman who looked to be Kakashi's junior, but in reality, she was closer to Jiraiya's age.
"It seems strange that he'd say such a thing…" she sighed as she swirled the cup of green tea. "And then forget the conversation completely."
Kakashi's black eyes lifted, and he thought, if anyone can answer our questions, surely you can. Tsunade-sama.
Jiraiya sighed and shifted in his seat. "You don't think he remembers, do you?" his voice was pained. Tight with emotion the old hermit rarely showed.
Tsunade shook her head, doubtful. "It's highly unlikely he'd remember that, but…something else. His childhood wasn't exactly easy." She tapped her long fingernails against the wood.
Even that slight pressure was enough to scratch at the wood. Kakashi's eyes etched the performance deep into his heart. Very few have that kind of control…he noted.
"So what was it?" Jiraiya's temper was growing short.
Tsunade shook her head, not quite certain what to say. "Dissociative amnesia." She pressed her full lips together regretfully. "It's a mental problem, Kakashi, not a physical one. I can't help you."
Kakashi looked to Jiraiya.
The old man had shut his eyes. "Dissociative…" his eyes closed. "Amnesia." Jiraiya sighed. "Like repression?'
Tsunade smiled weakly, unsurprised by the acclaimed genius' sharp mind—if lack of book knowledge around certain terms. "Similar. But instead of forgetting an event completely, his subconscious selects bits and pieces that could hurt him, and blocks those off. However, certain triggers pull memories back, and the stress is unimaginably hard on such a young mind…
"While remembering, he's probably regressed to a younger age." At Jiraiya's slightly puzzled expression, she backtracked. "Regression is when someone mentally goes back to a time when they were younger—whenever the trauma happened. To Naruto, whenever he remembers something traumatic, it's as if he's living in the past."
Kakashi's hand clenched the leaf-inscribed cup too hard. "…there's nothing you can do?" he asked quietly as he looked up to meet the woman's eyes.
"No." she breathed out, heart heavy. "I'm afraid not…" she drained the cup of tea like one might drink foul sake, Japanese rice wine. "He's got to come to terms with it on his own."
Jiraiya breathed a long trail of smoke. "He could talk to someone," he noted offhandedly, and he looked pointedly at Kakashi. "Someone—"
Kakashi shook his head. "I don't want him talking to a psychiatrist."Kakashi leaned onto the table. "Naruto wouldn't take well to someone trying to read him."
Jiraiya laughed gravely. "Nah, he'd hate some shrink trying to tell him what he thinks. But it might help if someone talks to him—"
Across the hall, the outside door opened. Tsunade stood abruptly and nodded to Kakashi. "Thank you for the conversation," a formal reply. With that, she made her way to the kitchen and out the back door.
It would be like Tsunade-sama to bring two pairs of shoes…Kakashi thought. One pair that was left at the main entrance and another tucked in her bag in case she had to make an unexpected exit out the side door.
He returned Tsunade's cup—gray brown with a rectangular red piece in the center—to the kitchen. He paused to hear Naruto's voice.
His hand closed around the fox-detailed cup.
He waited.
Naruto opened the door and called, "Tadaima!" I'm home.
A wrinkled, old face framed with long white hair popped into Naruto's line of vision. "Okaeri-na." Welcome back. The old man grinned like a cat—showing all his freakishly white teeth, the pervert, Naruto thought.
Then his mind caught up with errant thoughts. He dropped his bag. "You!"
Jiraiya's smirk deepened, and the old man affectionately ground his hand into the kid's unruly hair. "Yep, me, the lovable ol' hermit."
Naruto dodged the upcoming hug. He scowled. "You got one part right." He smirked right back at the perverted hermit. While he smiled, Naruto delivered the meaning. "You're definitely old."
The old man laughed for a moment. The noise came forced. However, he soon interrupted himself with a stern frown. "Who said you can treat your elders like that, huh?" and he cheerfully pinched the boy's cheeks. Naruto flailed helplessly. "I'da thought Kakashi's brat'd be more respectful!" he laughed uproariously as Naruto's guardian returned from the kitchen.
Naruto's attention shifted from one to another, and Kakashi called a quiet, "Okaeri." I see you're back. The tall man smiled wearily. "Naruto."
Unconsciously, Naruto found himself beaming in response. He nodded and murmured, "Tadaima." Yep, I'm here. He watched Kakashi pour some tea.
Kakashi's eyes returned to Jiraiya, moreover, he nodded slightly. Definitively. "Thank you," and, "For a bit, I think I'll go enjoy the night air…"
Naruto blinked, confused. "Aaa…" okay, I guess. He watched his guardian leave.
He seems so sad…
Jiraiya cleared his throat. The playful expression had disappeared. "So," he pulled out a pipe and started to fill the end.
Naruto sighed. "I'm gonna take a bath." He mumbled, but the pervert-hermit caught his shoulder.
The two streaks of red lined the man's face.
Like…tears…
"How've you been, kid?" the soft, caring voice was the last thing Naruto expected from the rambunctious, sake-loving geezer. Naruto looked at the other strangely.
Kakashi's thoughtful, resigned expression flit across Naruto's vision. Kakashi had seemed awkward since Sasuke had accompanied the boy home; the older man seemed torn between emotions that Naruto couldn't quite grasp.
Oh. He thought. He almost smiled. Kakashi…he's never been in a serious relationship before, has he?
Naruto's mind returned to the present.
The patient, strong eyes of Jiraiya were out shown by the lines of red.
Red like blood. Naruto thought.
He studied the wrinkles in Jiraiya's brow. There weren't really that many, Naruto found. His thoughts found other avenues, but he tried to concentrate on the face in front of him. Kakashi's worried about me, he decided. And so is this ol' guy…What could they know about Sasuke?
The thought irritated him. "I'm fine!" Naruto scowled at the old man. "I don't need your stupid pity or whatever. Just leave me alone!"
Jiraiya put up his hands defensively and tried to wave Naruto's accusatory words away. "Calm down now, kiddo. I'm just asking." His smile was nervous.
Damn it. Did Kakashi put him up to this?
A wave of irritation covered any feelings of happiness towards the adults' concern. He stewed quietly for a bit before it occurred to him. Hmm. Naruto smirked for an instant—too quick for Jiraiya to notice—and resolved himself. I guess all I hafta do is play along, huh?
"Homework's kinda sucky." He ventured.
Jiraiya's eyes got bigger. Then they closed, and the old man nodded affirmatively. "Yep, it was like that when I was a kid, too." He puffed on the pipe.
"And no one pays attention to me."
Jiraiya's hands twitched at that. "They didn't like to listen to me, either." His calm expression twitched to one of irritation. "But I sure as hell—"
"—made 'em, huh? I do that sometimes." He rolled his eyes. This is kinda fun. "But my teacher always gets me in trouble—and stupid Sasuke never has to do anything worse 'n usual."
Jiraiya laughed at that, and replied, "Yeah, they're all biased, huh? That bastard, Oro—"
Naruto's eyes widened. His breath caught.
That…
…name…
Jiraiya's chatter stopped instantly. His eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed as he glared at the young blond. "Here now," he grumbled. "It's not nice to lead an old man on, ya little brat!" He pulled Naruto into another hug.
Naruto couldn't breathe.
"I'm just trying ta talk to ya, you silly kid." The man murmured, and pressed a light kiss on the top of Naruto's head.
Naruto laughed uproariously, surprised, happy, aggravated, and generally confused. "You're real easy to fool then, ar'n'cha?" he mumbled, and his reward was another mind-numbing hug.
They're both worried about me…
The door opened again, and Kakashi stepped back into the house. Naruto wondered if he'd gone very far—maybe he sat down on the step.
When he looked up, Kakashi was smiling.
It was a sad, determined sort of smile.
The kind that made Naruto want to cry.
Sasuke glared at Naruto.
Naruto, in turn, returned the glower with equal passion.
"Let's go to the Golden Pavilion." Naruto insisted, and he jabbed the map.
"No." Sasuke's voice was firm. "We're going there with everyone."
Naruto scowled. "Don't you wanna see it alone—"
"We won't be alone."
Naruto's scowl deepened, and Sasuke's eyes roamed over the map. "Why don't we go temple visiting…" he suggested, and Naruto sighed.
"Whatever." He grumbled, and contented himself with watching Sasuke's long fingers. They had been discussing their school trip for the past half hour in the comfort of Kakashi's sitting room. Occasionally, the blond's guardian would make an appearance, offer something to eat or say, and then they'd be alone again.
Frankly, Naruto thought it was pointless to schedule anything. Their groups were strictly in-class, and any sleeping arrangements made would be with a group of at lest four other boys. School trips really weren't meant to be dates, after all.
Naruto rolled his eyes when he thought Sasuke wasn't looking. The Uchiha brat glowered back at him in response.
"What?" Sasuke snarled.
Naruto's lips twitched into a fox-like smirk. "Well," he leaned forward. "We don't hafta spend every waking minute of our school trip showing everyone else—"
"You think there's a problem with us?" Sasuke's voice was low.
Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. "I'm just saying that the important parts of life aren't exactly meant to be shared with half the school…"
Sasuke held up one hand. Naruto stopped talking and resumed an irate expression. "Naruto." The blond twitched at the all-too-common way to get him to pay attention. "We won't have any 'important parts of life' together if you keep acting like a fucking bastard."
Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Who said any of my time with you is important?"
Sasuke didn't seem to know what to say to that. He settled for glowering.
Naruto winked, and looked back at the map of Kyoto. He pulled out the list of interests his group mates had put together earlier and tried to concentrate on the task at hand. He bit his lip and glanced at Sasuke.
…I wonder if he ever feels anything like me…? Naruto wondered.
Naruto didn't quite know what to make of the trip. He wasn't entirely certain he wanted to leave Konoha—even for a week—in the company of two hundred of his 'closest friends.'
Yeah. Friends.
Right.
The thought of leaving Kakashi for so long made his insides feel too small for cavernous insides. The thought of being with Sasuke for so long made his heart jolt.
Life, Naruto decided, is confusing as hell.
The classroom door opened slowly, pulled in tiny jerks—amateur work at sneaking in, the students thought. Asuma, having long been a math teacher at Minami Ko, was used to such behavior. His eyebrow twitched, and he bared his teeth in undisguised irritation. Just as he suspected, a messy, untamed head of blond hair breeched the entry, and all could see Uzumaki Naruto enter.
Asuma growled deep in his throat. "Uzumaki…you're late." He paused. "Again."
The boy laughed and an embarrassed flush spread across his fair features, accenting the three thin, parallel scars on his right cheek. The lack of mirror scars on the left made Naruto's face seem unnaturally balanced, but it also brought a sort of charm no other student could claim.
"Uhh…" Naruto glanced hurriedly across the room. Towards his proclaimed rival, Uchiha Sasuke, and acclaimed love, Haruno Sakura, Asuma noticed. The teacher had a difficult time determining which student had so grabbed the boy's attention.
The girl, or the boy…?
"Next time you do this, I'll have you run laps around the school!" he barked, and he made a silent note to remember that threat. The boy winced noticeably, and he clutched his books close to his body like a shield.
But strangely enough, there was no rebuke, and thus, no need to use the aforementioned punishment. In fact, the blond held his head high, and though he walked stiffly, he carried himself more like a condemned prince—rather than the Fool-like character he'd appeared the past. Curious indeed… Asuma thought.
So as he taught the children about proofs and trigonometric theories, Asuma half-pondered the Naruto enigma. For the most part, he simply taught Math. And during the last fifteen minutes, he finally released the students to their respected groups. He waited halfheartedly for Naruto to bluster.
However, despite expectations, a peculiar thing occurred.
Naruto spoke to Sasuke in even tones, and neither looked at their assignment. From Naruto's anxious clenching of hands and Sasuke's close proximity, Asuma judged the interaction to be something outside of their normal boundaries…and the lack of clear stopping and starting points was clearly bothering the smaller blond. But he met Sasuke's gaze squarely, and Sasuke smiled.
If, Asuma thought, such a dangerous smirk could be called a smile, and not a leer…
"No!" Naruto whispered, but his voice was even louder amidst normal level voices.
I wonder if they've actually stumbled across an argument important enough to insure quiet battles? With blades in simple words' guise...that could hurt far worse than an instrument of metal.
"Just quit, Sasuke!" his voice rose a notch there, and Asuma busied himself with straightening his papers. After all, it was much simpler to supervise the pending fight from the front compared to the students' midst. Fortunately, no one begged questions, and Asuma was allowed a moment's peace.
Sasuke's voice was low and smoky, and there was a touch of venom in his words. The rest was a cloying and smooth as honey. "You don't have time to see me…so what's wrong with escorting you home?" the boy's face was devoid of true emotion. Only a calculated smile, a touch of water-like transparency about this carefully schooled expression, only these were noticeable.
Sasuke, it seemed, was trying to persuade his partner of a…study session? No, of course not…Sasuke would rather try on his own, wouldn't he? No matter how much better Naruto is…
Naruto's strength would drive him away…
"That's not funny, Sasuke…" Naruto whined, and Asuma slowly observed the rest of the class. The third years, he noticed, paid the two no mind, but the second years to a man had eyes for the bright and dark pair. Even lazy Shikamaru eyed the blond, and his expression was far from placid.
If the tiny scowl indicated anything, the lazy student was irate at best, and angry otherwise. Ino and Sakura looked similarly annoyed, and the Hyuuga girl seemed more anxious than Naruto himself.
Asuma turned his gaze back to the feuding pair. To the older man, the tension between the two second year students was thick enough to stand upon, but mysteriously, no third years took note.
"You don't have a choice, Naruto…"
"Like hell! Of course I do ass—" Naruto cut himself off with a blush and stood to impose his presence on the smirking boy. "You're not my—"
"Friend?" the word was harsh and yet it fell silently beneath the third years' notice.
Strange, thought Asuma.
"—master." Naruto concluded. "You're not."
And Sasuke laughed…and laughed. Finally, the surrounding students lifted their heads; they started at the uncharacteristic mirth, and a few even jumped. Naruto fidgeted.
He's as anxious as ever…and still hiding behind that ridiculous façade… Asuma thought bleakly. Students, it seemed, were hard pressed to change.
"Fine, fine," Naruto hissed, and the classroom noise quieted to a dull murmur. Finally, even the still whispers faded to silence. "But not right outside of school," Naruto's was the last to die, so that all heard the strange proclamation.
Curious, the teacher thought again. Curious indeed…
And that was that for class. Sasuke and Naruto, the tall man was amazed to find, accompanied each other out the door—and nary a complaint was heard.
After school, soon after the meeting at Naruto's house, Sasuke declared that he would escort Naruto. Said blond had insisted the other meet him a good distance away from the school. Normally impassive Sasuke seemed a bit put off by these conditions.
He's radiating hate. Naruto thought.
Naruto glanced awkwardly at Sasuke. Those unexpected circumstances had left Naruto unwarrantedly anxious, hot-headed, and generally irritable. As a result, Sasuke's behavior had taken a turn for the worse. He was silent, moody, and almost aggressive in his walking.
Naruto threw the door to his house open with undue force; it clattered noisily and threatened to spring back. In moments, Naruto's shoes were against the step—abandoned—and the agitated blond crossed into the washitsu that served as his room.
"You said you needed dinner." Sasuke's voice was icy; his smile could have been one of Itachi's. "Why are you in your room?"
Naruto whirled around, ready to strike the other. "Who the hell said it was your business? Out—get out of my room!" he pushed Sasuke harshly. It was enough to send the boy stumbling backwards. Furthermore, the startling action nearly forced an unwanted meeting between the floor and the taller boy.
But Sasuke was too quick for that.
In a moment, his balance was regained. He smirked as he stepped forward. Within a second, there was almost no space between them—Naruto's nose was nearly pressed into Sasuke's chin.
Almost touching his lips…the thought came unbidden. He's just trying to remind me how much smaller I am.
…it's not that big of a difference…
Sasuke's arms snaked around Naruto's back to pull him forward. Within seconds, their warm, soft lips met in a rush of feeling so strong Naruto's thoughts stopped. His mind hummed and clouded over with the sensation.
Naruto closed his eyes.
Warm, wet, inviting, Sasuke pushed against him. His eyes snapped open, and Naruto struggled to keep his mouth shut.
He shoved against the other—and for an instant, his mouth opened—as they fell apart.
Naruto's fingers brushed against his face. His heart pounded in his ears, and his eyes didn't seem to work properly. "What the fuck are you trying to do." The question came out like a command.
…I don't get it…I just don't—
The same smirk. The same arrogance. "What do you think?"
Naruto flushed with rage. He snarled, "Well, you'd better stop, all right?" he took a menacing step towards Sasuke.
Sasuke cocked his head; his hair fell against the white skin with amazing contrast. "Stop what."
Naruto had to force his thoughts into order. "Why are you here?"
He has such beautiful eyes…
Damn it, that's not what I meant…
Sasuke's laughter was smooth and low. "Where's Kakashi, Naruto?" the words were silken, amused.
Naruto regarded the other warily. "At work."
Sasuke leaned against the doorframe. For a minute, he simply observed the conflicting emotions on Naruto's face. Naruto fidgeted under the other's gaze and tried to think of a way to push Sasuke into a fight.
Fighting I can do.
I get that.
But Sasuke made the first move. He covered the distance between them almost instantaneously, and before Naruto could realize what happened, Naruto felt two warm hands press against his cheeks. The black eyes were blazing. "Don't faint this time." Sasuke murmured, and their lips met again.
Naruto moaned inaudibly.
Intrigued.
He felt Sasuke's arms around him while his hands moved to the other's back. He rested one just on Sasuke's hip, and the other trailed up smooth skin to touch silky black hair. His heart skipped a beat and his body felt too warm.
His cheeks burned, but he pressed forward. Forced Sasuke to give a bit—tasted the bitter, fresh warmth of Sasuke. Part of Naruto was ecstatic. The rest of him didn't know—couldn't know—what was going on. His
eyes
burned.
Naruto felt the other smile and tried to pull apart. His hands clenched tightly. Sasuke's ruthless treatment did not persist. Agitated, Naruto twisted his fingers into black hair, pressed too firmly against the soft, supple skin. Sasuke only smiled harder, and returned every bit of discomfort he received.
Naruto would have laughed, if his mouth wasn't busy. He pushed against Sasuke's tongue, closed his mouth around yielding lips.
Naruto barely felt the roaming hands—scraping, bruising, clutching, needing.
Naruto gasped. He tried to push Sasuke away, tried to make his lips obey him and coyly tell the other to get the hell away but the only noise that escaped him was a soft, quiet little laugh.
His head was light and too far gone, his
head
was heavy and
full
of fear.
Naruto was confused.
Naruto was enthralled.
It was as if someone pulled a veil around them. As if someone kept Naruto's voice captive, kept Sasuke's decisive, harsh, lifeless movements to a well-practiced role. Naruto's mind was on pause. His mouth knew better than his fingers, his hands knew better than his feet, and his skin didn't mind the rough pattern of tatami pressed against whatever skin showed. When
more
skin showed, he didn't notice. Didn't say anything worth hearing except when he heard his
voice
call,
"Sasuke…"
His head hurt.
His eyes
hurt
His heart
hurt.
In the end, Sasuke pressed his heavy head against Naruto's bared chest and Naruto felt the hot breath on tense, terrible muscles. Terrible
—me—
warmth against him that made him feel all too known. All too welcome. He wrapped his arms around Sasuke's shoulders and gently massaged circles into stiff shoulders.
Nevertheless, Sasuke did not rest long.
Naruto pushed his heavy body to a seated position and stared incredulously as Sasuke gathered his garments. Watched wordlessly as his classmate made his way to the kitchen and rummaged around.
"I…" he started. "…hate…" Sasuke didn't even pretend to listen. "…you." Naruto finished lamely.
He got up.
In minutes, Naruto was leaning heavily against the door, eyes narrowed and expression obscured with irritation. "Fuck you." He replied, when Sasuke handed him a hastily prepared bento.
Naruto's legs ached when he reached for the bundle.
Sasuke only smirked.
Naruto didn't say a word as they walked—stumbled—to his work. Their shoulders touched, barely.
Naruto stopped in front of the doors to 7-11 and glanced at Sasuke. The other met his gaze temporarily before he turned away. Naruto watched his back for an instant—half waited for a wave of goodbye, at least.
None came, and Naruto went inside.
Kabuto waved a little from behind the counter—there was a tight smile on his face. Naruto realized he was late for work by a good fifteen minutes and rushed into the backroom.
As he counted in, Naruto tried to catch Kabuto's mood. The other seemed a little tense, to be certain, but not overly concerned. "Hey," Naruto greeted. Licked his lip before he continued. "Sorry I'm late."
Kabuto murmured something unintelligible to tell Naruto he'd heard the words.
I was kinda hoping he'd say 'it's okay…' Naruto thought, and said, "I, uh, ran into someone on the way home…needed to make dinner…" he cursed quietly as he dropped a handful of change. "I hate hi—that…"
Kabuto smiled weakly at Naruto, but by the time Naruto was counted in, Kabuto was done with his customer. He'd gone away to go stock items or clean, undoubtedly.
For a while, Naruto lingered behind the counter. Tired. Finally, it occurred to him that he could sweep—and thus use the broom for support.
Minutes passed as Naruto pushed pieces of dust into a corner. Even with a good deal of his weight on the broom, however, Naruto found his lower body aching. He'd had just barely leaned against the counter—just wanna rest for a minute—when the door opened. "Irashaimase…"thanks for coming in, he called lazily and shifted his weight onto the broom he was holding.
From the side of the store, Kabuto called a similar, "Irashaimase!" that cut through the dull music.
"You." The baritone voice was familiar; filled with a heavy emotion Naruto had no trouble placing. The blond turned to see the tall, beautiful student he'd glimpsed days before.
Oh, yeah, the one who knows Sasuke...the one who's not part of my school.
Naruto nodded coldly, and the other's pretty features seemed to be swallowed by a half fearful, half-outraged snarl.
In less than a minute, Naruto found himself directly in front of the taller student. The heated gaze made him step back against the counter—Naruto pressed against the stable structure to shift his weight. The brown hair, Naruto noticed, was dyed. His hair would be the same as Sasuke's, otherwise…coarse, smooth and not nearly as fine or soft as Naruto's. But the golden highlights were beautifully suited to the teen.
The boy's nostrils flared.
He doesn't look nearly as pretty when he does that, Naruto noticed and grinned cheekily at the boy.
Black eyes flew up and down Naruto's disheveled clothes—and the other's mouth opened slightly—as if to taste the air around Naruto.
"What's your problem?" Naruto grumbled.
The boy struck out suddenly. Naruto's broom clattered to the floor as the other leaned in. He looked as if he wanted to take the blond by the shoulders and shake him roughly—but whatever scent the boy's senses caught seemed to keep those feelings at bay.
"You disgust me." The boy snarled. His lips quivered, and Naruto watched in amazement as black eyes sparkled with moisture not caused by sadness, joy or regret.
...but why else do people cry...? "What're you talking about…?" the words were useless; Naruto already knew.
"I told you to be careful," the boy snapped. His eyes danced fearfully around the room. His heart was audible even to Naruto's untrained ears.
"You trust him?" the boy demanded, and shoved Naruto hard against the counter. "Do you wanna?"
Naruto stared.
Flushed.
But he didn't lower his gaze. "I don't know what you're even talking about." He replied levelly.
The boy laughed, sad and angry and righteous all at once. "Uchiha Sasuke."
Naruto's lips twitched. "You still goin' on about that brat?" he asked and tried to keep his expression nonchalant. "He's not a bad guy—"
"You don't know him!" the boy hissed.
"And you do?" Naruto smirked.
Laughter again. Strained. Hurt. "A hell of a lot better than you do, apparently."
Naruto took a step forward. The boy was forced to move backwards, or feel their chests move together. Repulsed, the boy took more than a few steps away. "Watch it." Naruto purred.
"You want to be raped?" the boy laughed harshly. "You wanna?"
Naruto's eyes flashed. "Don't even try to say that Sasuke would—"
"He would."
"Liar!"
"He did."
"Shut the fuck up!" Naruto's voice had grown louder with every word, spoken and heard. He flung himself at the taller boy—the boy with the laughing eyes who couldn't control his mirth then—and he drew back his arm. He felt his fist connect with the boy's cheekbone, felt a hand come into the soft part of his stomach and pull upwards.
Naruto gasped.
He hurt, but he ignored the throbbing in his thighs and lower body as he swung his leg up in a kick that would have sent the boy flying. Unfortunately for Naruto, the kid knew how to fight. He dodged faster than Naruto could recover and sent the blond flying with his own momentum. Naruto crashed to the floor and managed to pull his opponent with him, kicking, punching.
They growled, struck, exhausted themselves just as footsteps crashed into Naruto's hearing.
"Naruto-kun." Kabuto grasped the smaller boy's shoulders with surprising strength. He pulled the two up and apart with an easy movement, and moved to stand between the two. "That's enough."
"Kabuto-niichan…" Naruto mumbled. "He said—"
Kabuto's eyes were harsh behind flashing glasses. There was no anger; it was only disappointment. Hurt. "I said that will be enough, Naruto-kun." He nodded towards the other boy. "I'd like you to leave, sir." He murmured with a slight bow. "You can come back when you've got your temper under control."
Naruto could have hugged Kabuto.
The boy shook his head mutinously, and exited.
Naruto sagged against Kabuto's arm, exhausted. With a cry of alarm, Kabuto caught the boy. He made a face as he breathed in. "Naruto-kun…" he propped the boy against the counter. "Try not to come here smelling like sex." He suggested calmly. "It will only infuriate those who'd otherwise tolerate you…"
Naruto smiled wearily. "Yeah, yeah…"
Thanks…I guess.
tbc…
School started, and Itachi is weirding me out, so...the next chapter will come when it comes...soon, hopefully...
Don't forget about the art contest! the due date: Monday the 29th!
(:
Footnotes:
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