-1This chapter is especially for the only reader I seem to have! My constant reviewer vampire Anime lover…Love your love for the story. Coming up a disclaimer! Tension and conversation, also a little let up of the evilness. Oh heck I'll throw in some past history too. Oh and S.M…Not to OOC for you even though it's AUHRH. Ha ha. Read and Review.
You know what else? It's so hard finding endings for dialogue… Urgh!
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Of Struggles, Pain, Power and Battle
By Spirited Dragon
Chapter 5
On the rooftop staring at Caged Freedom
Throughout the day Naruto drifted between the dream consciousness that he had first discovered a few months back and the point where it was safe to say he blacked out. Of course no one took much notice because this was Naruto, the boy who slacked off in class, slept, ate and bunked off. No, nothing knew with his behaviour there then.
It also came to the point where sharing all his classes and assigned seating with the Uchiha became a down right nuisance. Every hour long period girls would flock to his desk never relenting on constant chatter and the occasional squeal and passing out. Sasuke may have become immune to such behaviour and pass it off with a grunt, much to the girls delight, but Naruto wanted some peace, peace. Peace with fan-girls was never a good combination due to that fact it wasn't possible. Such miracles didn't exist.
One final thing Naruto experienced was a bother of another degree. One that had "oh-so-lovely" hair and perfect this and perfect that left, right and centre. Uchiha seemed to have made it his hobby to watch, to the extent one could say he was bordering obsessed, Naruto. Striking many a similarity between a guinea pig and his scientist observer he snapped for the second time. He was no animal to be gawked at, this staring was going into the extreme. Oh and off the record, it was a little embarrassing too.
"What are you staring at?" Naruto growled.
"Why are you watching my actions?" Sasuke replied without wavering in his concentration.
"Don't answer my question with a question!" Naruto whisper shouted.
"I have no idea what you mean" Was the reply.
"You're a proper little arsehole you know that?" Naruto glared at Sasuke's head as he said this.
"And you're an annoying moron, did you know that?" Smirking at the way he was easily riling the dobe up.
"You're doing it again!" countered Naruto.
"Doing what?" chuckled Sasuke.
"Answering a question with a question. Stop it! Plus you've so moved off topic now," Rambled the blond teenager.
"What was the question to begin with?" teased Sasuke.
"See!" Naruto breathed in deep to calm his anger, "Why. Are. You. Staring?"
"Oh that," Sasuke turned to look Naruto in the eye as their teacher prattled on about something unimportant and whispered huskily, "You. Are. Interesting." Flushing red Naruto bit back a retort as the class ended. He choose the most appropriate action at the time. Pack his bag as quickly as possible and run. Unable to stop himself taunting Naruto, Sasuke said something that would later make his mind do cartwheels. "Why the rush? That afraid of the big bad Uchiha?"
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks.
How dare he accuse him of being a coward. He comes in all new from an easy life with no idea of what Naruto had to fight with every day. Just because he was "better" and more "established" than Naruto. NO. He again choose the most appropriate course of action. Punch his pretty boy face in as hard as he could.
Pivoting round he threw his fist towards Sasuke's face, a punch with all his weight behind it, half snarling he almost made a connection were it not for the fact Sasuke's own hand instinctively came up to block him.
Gripping his attackers hand in a crushing grip Sasuke's stoic face frowned, the class was silent as they watched the two interact. Breathing heavily and shaking Naruto tried to punch the boy with his other hand only to be blocked and caught again. Hands crossed in front of him he was lost as on what to do. So he kicked. Pushing himself backwards he brought his foot forward but yet again his plan backfired as Sasuke swiftly moved from his seated position and pulled Naruto forward to the point where their faces were almost touching.
Breath upon breathe he spat words at the trapped fox. "What is you're problem? Huh? Think you can take me? You're a looser and you'll always come last next to me." With those spiteful words he pushed his attacker turned victim as far away from him as possible which resulted in Naruto tripping and hitting his head on a table corner. Gasping in shock Naruto's hands reached out to the boy that pushed him and tried to say something but in his "condition" and the recent injury he had just sustained he felt his vision blurring and promptly passed out.
Sasuke, although the cause of the boys injuries, moved into action. The class around him irrelevant as they panicked and the teacher ran for assistance. He ran to Naruto's side and checked for vitals. He was well versed in such things. He gently moved his blacked out friend? No class mate, and picked him up bridal style. Walking gingerly yet at a speedy pace he left the class and left for the medical room.
The class he left was in shock, partly because of what had happened and partly because the Uchiha boy who cared for no one and no thing had shown flashed anxiety as he picked up his victim. As the teacher came back and the students filtered out it could be heard in muffled whispers that something was going on between the two and one particularly worried pink haired girl muttered to her friend "I hope they're both alright. I've never seen them like that."
"It's almost as if they bring out the worst in each other," her blonde haired friend whispered back whilst nodding gravely. Never let it be said that the female species are not observant.
In the medical office of the school lay Naruto on a bed well used and under-prepared. His breathing softly broke the silence of the room as the resident nurse, who fortunately was in on this day, checked him over.
Brushing her blonde hair from her face she explained in simple terms what was going on to the barely showing worry, boy who sat stiffly across the room.
"It seems he's suffering from fatigue, he must have been pushing his body to the limit recently, not resting, aggravating injuries things like that. The bump to his head just nudged him over the edge and his body has shut down to repair. He should wake up in due time. Now tell me, you're his friend right? What has he been like lately?"
"Friend?" came the confused reply.
"Yes, you did bring him in…" said the nurse.
"We're more just in the same class," Before the nurse could interject he continued, "He sleeps a lot in class but I've been told that's normal, he seems to have fluctuating moods, I mean one minute he's all calm, almost cowering, then the next his temper flares and he lashes out."
"Hmm, well there's a number of reasons why that could be, most likely the fatigue affects his mood." She ordered Sasuke to look out for him and left the room to contact Naruto's parents. Of which he had none but she didn't know that.
Said boy stirred from his black out and looked around to take in his surroundings. Panicking when he didn't realise where he was he jumped from the cot bed and ran out the door searching for some bearings. Sasuke chased after him of which he didn't realise. Realising he was in school he ran to the roof. The roof where no one else could be and no one else would bother him. He had almost got caught and if that would happen his friend come owner would have to go through more pain for him and through him.
Leaping up stairs flinging open the roof door, ignoring the no students allowed sign. He sunk to the floor to catch his breathe. Hearing the door slam open once again he turned only to suffer a head rush and fall to the floor. His shirt rode up in the process.
"Uzumaki!" No reply. "Naruto" Nothing. "DOBE!" the boy on the floor stirred to this remark and grimaced when he saw who had followed him.
"Go away, came to tease me about what a weakling I am? Huh, happy with the result you produced?" He breathily growled. Sasuke noticing angry red lines running the length of Naruto's abdomen swallowed his reply. He leaned down and pulled the boy, who had no fight left in him at this point to resist, and pushed his against the door he had just come through.
Pinning the flushed teens hands above his head he used his free hand to lift Naruto's shirt higher. What he saw made him stumble backwards and lock eyes with the victim. "What is that?.. What happened to you?" He didn't know why he cared or why he was so shocked at what he saw but now he was in this he had to finish what he started.
"It's nothing I can't handle, just leave." Naruto whispered, walking to the edge of the roof past the shocked boy he gripped the fence and murmured to the wind "I hate being caged. It sucks. Really." Not noticing his friend come attacker walk up behind him he shivered involuntarily as a hand was apprehensively placed on his shoulder. He felt the carefully constructed walls surrounding his mind tremble.
"I don't know what to say, I. I'm sorry Naruto," Sasuke said sombrely. He felt something pull at his heart when he got nothing in return and felt something inside him flare as his hand was slapped away.
"What would you know huh? Everyone worships you! Me, You know nothing about me, apologise if you have to, if that helps you feel less guilt. Go back to beating me if that's what you need because you wouldn't be the first to. Everyone around me, they…Just go." Naruto finished his rant with eyes glinting red and power flowing through his voice. The little voice in his head egging him on.
"Brat, you're weak, let me out I can give you power that can save you. Save the people around you. No one has to die anymore. Let me loose. Release the seal I can help. You can finally make them pay. I feel you're rage, I feel the raw emotion inside. Brat. Listen. Give yourself to me." Sensing something out of the ordinary Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes and saw the blankness residing in them. Blue out of the ordinary but so very lifeless. Spaced out and angry he winced when Naruto gripped his wrist digging nails into the soft underside. He winced when he was swung round and pushed against the chain link fence and he winced when for a moment a feral side to his, friend, yes friend; was revealed.
Naruto gave himself over to the voice, unable to stop the luring hold it had. He felt himself give over to instinct and leaned in to sniff Sasuke's neck. Feeling his prey stiffen he smiled a broad smile and let go and pulled back. Sasuke opened his closed eyes to see Naruto had once again passed out and lay in a awkward position. Recovering from his shock he picked the unusually light boy up supporting him as he stood and wiped the tears from his eyes. He was in deep now. He turned to see the sun lower in the sky as at least an hour had passed since school passed and murmured to the world "I'll set you free from your cage. I promise you that."
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Well I'm sorry for the slow progress of the story and if you haven't got the answers you wanted, in the next chapter Naruto wakes up to panic and interrogation and learns that sometimes there are people around you that share the same pain.
Read and Review. I own Nothing. Updates are weekly at the worst. WooOO00OOooo.
