Portrait in the Attic
Naruto wept a frustrated tear away as he dusted the mantle of the fireplace in the hallway. Three months had passed since Sasuke got the job, and while things seemed to be going great for Sasuke, Naruto was seriously questioning how well their relationship was going.
Despite all the annoyance Sasuke had expressed about Naruto not sleeping in Orochimaru's old room, and the promises of moving into a new room once it's been furnished, Sasuke kept spending money for all of the other rooms. Naruto couldn't help but feel that maybe Sasuke really wasn't interested in sleeping in the same room. Sex was as infrequent as in the past few years, and while Naruto had often invited Sasuke into his room for some love-making, Sasuke would immediately leave the room once done. It made him feel like some sex toy. And the long nights at work had him questioning Sasuke's fidelity again.
Was Sasuke really working late or was he spending money on clubs again while Naruto stayed behind, cleaning and still fixing the damned mansion? Naruto looked up at the painting and touched the bottom of the frame. "I know the chances of you guys having married out of love were slim due to the times you probably lived in, but I hope you two were happy with each other. If you guys are still around, I hope you give us your blessing to lead a life as a happy couple. I mean, sometimes when I look at you, I feel as I'm looking at Sasuke and myself. Only... Sasuke would never pose for a portrait like this."
Something soft brushed down his cheek, like a finger caressing him.
Naruto jumped back, rubbing his cheek furiously as he looked up to see if he had missed some cobweb above on the ceiling. He saw none and frowned, continuing to rub his cheek at a slower and gentler pace.
Shortly afterwards, Naruto found himself up in the attic again. With most of the rooms now done, Naruto found himself spending some of his free time in the attic exploring all the old belongings of the Utamaki family. Going through the chests and wardrobes, he had found out that the couple in the portrait were most likely named Sai and Kushina Utamaki. But what was real strange was that there weren't that many smaller portraits and belonging of Kushina depicting her younger years. There were plenty of items of Sai, and of a young man named Rey Hatake. That was a rather interesting find. Naruto was blown away about how much Rey looked like him and how much he looked like Kushina. The only thing missing were the scars on his cheeks. There were also several sketches, mostly of Rey. And a few of them made him question the actual relationship between the three. Rey and Kushina had to have been siblings from how they looked. But several of the sketches, all signed by Sai, were of Rey in different stages of undress. Many of them showed him sleeping. Sketches of Kushina were rare.
He did find a diary and a journal belonging to Kushina and Rey, but they were locked. And because they were so old, Naruto really didn't want to break it open.
A phone call later in the day revealed that Sasuke was going to be home early that evening, and for supper to be prepared for the two of them. Naruto felt his spirits lift up as he set about cooking and setting the table. He put up the candles, the silverware and porcelain dishes on top of elaborate and beautiful place mats. He folded matching fabric napkins and placed them next to the plates. He then went back to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.
The phone rang once more and Naruto answered it, holding a box of matches in his hand.
"Uchiha residence," he responded, as he pulled out a match and held it near the box.
"I'll be home in a few minutes," he heard Sasuke say.
"Great! Food is almost ready. Just make your way to the dining room table and I'll take care of the rest." Naruto smiled as he hung up the phone and got ready to strike the match against the box to light the candles. Turning around, he saw that they were already lit. Naruto frowned and looked down at his hand. The match tip was burnt black. He didn't remember lighting it, or the candles, but maybe he had before answering the phone? Naruto felt frustrated again, this time about himself. He was bored being alone in this mansion all the time and he was positive that it was the boredom that was making him have these mini blackouts. Minor things that creeped Naruto out because it made him feel that something else was doing it. Many times he had thought he had closed a drawer, only to find it open, or even vice versa. Same with the lights being turned on or off, windows being opened or closed. Sometimes he swore he would put things down in one place and find them somewhere else. But he didn't dare mention it to Sasuke. The man would probably freak accusing Naruto of being a kid and believing in ghosts or accusing him of being crazy.
Naruto just shook his head and put the matches away.
Sasuke arrived fifteen minutes later as Naruto just finished serving the last plate.
"Looks good," Sasuke commented, placing his briefcase on one of the vacant chairs of the dining table and sitting down in front of one of the plates.
"You know I love to cook," Naruto responded with a smile, kissing Sasuke on the top of his head.
Sasuke dug in, and Naruto couldn't help but pout a little. Back when their relationship was still new, Sasuke always waited for Naruto to be sitting down as well. Now Sasuke just ate when he felt like it, and sometimes was done before Naruto could sit down. Naruto took the pan back into the kitchen and made his way back to the dining room. He sat down and quietly began to eat his meal, trying to figure out how to bring up the subject of being able to work or do something outside of the house.
"Sasuke," Naruto started to say quietly.
"The company wants to throw a party and I offered my house," Sasuke said abruptly.
"I... oh? But, but the house isn't completely finished," Naruto said. "Unless we're completely restricting on where they can go. The bottom two floors are fine except for the ball room."
"Yeah, about that. Look, I know I promised that the money coming in this month would be for the bedrooms on the third floor but we need to get the ballroom up and running in time for this party."
Naruto sighed, which of course annoyed Sasuke.
"Why is it bothering you so much to sleep in my room?"
"We've been through this before, Sasuke. Orochimaru died in there! Doesn't it bother you that you're sleeping on a dead man's bed?"
"It's been over three months. And besides, the bed is fucking nailed to the floor. I changed out the mattress and the bedsheets. Other than the frame, it's no longer his bed."
"So why don't we move some of the stuff into my room?"
"Why the hell should I sleep in a room other than the Master bedroom?!"
Naruto bit his lip.
"You're being retarded. I think I've been patient enough. I was just humoring you, Naruto. I mean, seriously. This is our house now and I'll be damned if I sleep in a room that is not meant to be the master's bedroom. No more fucking excuses. If you don't want to be with me in my room than maybe you shouldn't be with me at all."
"Sasuke..." murmured Naruto, feeling his throat tighten. Why was he letting Sasuke be like this to him?
Sasuke glared at him with cold eyes, and Naruto debated if maybe it was time to move on.
"That's what you've been trying to tell me, hasn't it?" Sasuke muttered, a strange glint in his eyes. "You've been trying to find a reason to leave me all alone again. Just when we're finally on the right track you want to give up on me?"
"No, you know that's not true!" Naruto protested. "I just really don't like that room! Well, the house to be exact but..."
"And what's wrong with the house? It's creepy? It's spooky? Bullshit, Naruto. You're a grown man."
Naruto felt himself getting angry. "Fine. Then will you accept that the house feels too damn lonely? I want to look for a job, Sasuke."
"No. I'm bringing in enough money for the two of us. You just need to keep this place up."
"God, dammit! I'm not some woman, teme! And even if I were, women don't just play docile little housewives anymore! It's lonely being here by myself every single day!" Naruto could feel the anger in him growing. For all these years he had catered to this man's whim in a very unbalanced relationship. He was done. Sasuke had to give something up for him or else.
"I know you're not some woman, Naruto. But why work? And you wouldn't feel so lonely if you didn't sleep in a separate room."
"Fine! I'll sleep in your damn room, Sasuke, but I won't give up on getting out of the house during the day. At least let me volunteer or something! I feel like I'm going crazy by myself in here. Things always seem to move around on their own, lights are off when I thought I had them on or vice versa, and I see shadows moving on the walls. It's so fucking quiet in this house that I imagine whispers and sounds! Sometimes I completely black out and lose track of time and things I want to do are suddenly done or things I thought I did aren't! I need to get out of house!" Silence reigned for a bit and Naruto mentally kicked himself for saying exactly what he didn't want Sasuke to know.
"Fine. Volunteer or something, but don't let it interfere with keeping this house in good condition."
"Seriously?" Naruto was surprised that Sasuke didn't comment about seemingly unstable memory condition.
"Whatever keeps you from running your trap with all that nonsense. Just don't forget to start working on the ballroom when I come home with the stuff."
Naruto felt mixed emotions. On one hand he was happy that he was finally going to be able to do something other than clean the creepy old mansion, but on the other hand it seemed that Sasuke completely disregarded his subtle plea for help. Naruto seriously wanted to believe that there were no such things as ghosts or spirits, but then that meant he had to consider the possibilities that something was mentally wrong with him. He had heard of mental disabilities such as schizophrenia and paranoia and multiple personality disorders and he felt that some of what was happening were symptoms to them. And he was still within the age range that they sometimes manifested in a person. For Sasuke to not even mention that, whether in seriousness or to mock him... but whatever. Naruto was going to have a chance of being free from the house.
"Thank you," Naruto said, and kept silent for the rest of the meal.
Later that night, Naruto kept his word and slept in Orochimaru's old room. Although he supposed it was more accurate to call it their room now. Sasuke caught him by surprise then, as he was rather forceful during sex. It almost seemed as if he were trying to release all his pent up frustrations. Not to say that the sex wasn't good, it was fantastic, but it would leave Naruto feeling awfully sore the following day. And completely tired.
Sasuke passed out almost immediately after he came, rolling over and completely clear of any wet spots on the sheets. Naruto, on the other hand, had to wait for them to dry since Sasuke was never really a cuddler. At least Sasuke had gotten the mattress that minimized bouncing. With Naruto tossing and turning while trying to find a comfortable position, Sasuke remained asleep, unaffected by the movement.
Unable to sleep, Naruto thought back to the portraits in the attic. Glancing over at the silently sleeping Sasuke, Naruto got up and slowly made his way up to the attic, wincing at the pain he was feeling in his lower back. He turned on the light and walked over to the corner he had set up in the course of the past twelve weeks. He moved several of the sketches around, trying to locate an actual painting of Rey he had seen before. Finding the one he was looking for, he held it up. The size was small compared to the one out in the main hallway. It was roughly 9x14 and it was a head and shoulder portrait. Just like the big one, the painting seemed so lifelike. Naruto couldn't help but feel mesmerised, slightly angling it in the light. Although the paint was dry to the touch, it shimmered, as if the hair were done with silk and the eyes and lips were moist. He still felt like he was looking into a mirror, if it weren't for the lack of scars on Rey's cheeks.
Naruto fingered his own cheek, trying to remember how smooth they use to be. It had always made him feel insecure, which might explain why he stuck with Sasuke for so long. The man had looked past the scars. Naruto set the portrait back down and turned around.
A figure stood in the opposite corner.
Naruto let out a small cry and tumbled backwards, papers flying everywhere. He scrambled to his feet and moved into a fighting position, fists raised. He blinked in confusion and then felt himself blush in embarrassment as he realized that the figure was just a wire mannequin with an outfit draped on it. He chuckled to himself and walked over to it. He had forgotten he had found this two weeks earlier. Once he was standing in front of it, Naruto paid attention to the outfit. It did resemble some of the sketches, and it looked handmade. Naruto wondered if maybe it belonged to Rey. Curiosity overwhelming him, Naruto gently took the coat and dress shirt off the mannequin and put it on himself.
It fit perfectly.
"Amazing," he whispered, and quickly made his way to where he knew there was an antique mirror. He yanked off the cloth that was protecting it and stood in front of the old mirror. He turned side to side, marvelling in how much he looked like Rey Hatake with the outfit. Something gently brushed the back of his neck, making him jump. Slapping his hand over the tingling spot, Naruto looked around and up. He could make out some webs, but no spiders. Shuddering in disgust, Naruto took off the coat as quickly but gently as possible. "Hope whatever that was isn't poisonous," he muttered to himself.
Putting the outfit back on the mannequin, Naruto let out a huge yawn. He glanced at the portrait and decided that he would put up the painting of Rey up on the mantle as well. But that would be tomorrow, as he was feeling too tired to go all the way downstairs and put it up.
A few minutes later, Naruto slid into Sasuke's bed. He glanced over and saw that the man was still sleeping, apparently not having heard the spill Naruto had taken in the attic. Naruto shook his head in mild exasperation. He settled down and lay on his side, closing his eyes as he thought of visiting the community recreational center to find information on any volunteering events. Almost falling asleep, he felt fingers run down the side of his hip in a playful caress.
Naruto chuckled tiredly. "Mmm... Sasuke. Too tired."
"Mm, what?"
Naruto opened his eyes as Sasuke shifted over to look at him from over his shoulder, his eyes cloudy and dazed and a frown on his face.
"Uh... never mind. Go back to sleep."
"Hn." Sasuke rolled back over and in seconds his breathing deepened again.
Naruto shivered involuntarily as he rubbed his hip. Nerves, he thought to himself. It's just my nerves or muscles twitching or something. Yeah, that's it.
Sleep came a lot later for Naruto that night.
tbc...