Okay - I've been a bit side tracked recently with school crap and Branded another FanFic I'm doing - it's about vampires!! Woo!
I would do a Disclaimer but in all honesty there's no point since it's a FanFic…you know - because I'm a Fan…?
Anyway, so he's chapter three! And thankies for the reviews!
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Chapter Three
Sasuke hadn't mentioned anything further about seeing his brother to Naruto, but in Naruto's case that was okay, if Sasuke didn't want to talk about then he clearly didn't have to, Naruto wouldn't force him…but the fact that Sasuke thought he'd seen his older brother disturbed Naruto slightly…certainly since he had been told that Sasuke's brother (along with the rest of his family) was dead.
A month had passed since that day, and Sasuke hadn't brought it up again, and as usual they mentioned nothing of it to either Kabuto or The Snake himself, there was nothing that could bring them to doing it - no matter the circumstances.
Sasuke and Naruto went to and from school like they had in any other city they'd lived in. Their talks would be minor and mostly about school work - which gave Sasuke some comfort that there was some normality between them - and that seemed to be where their social status ended.
Sasuke had become rather popular as Naruto had suspected he would, but that time it was different for Naruto, and instead of being bullied, he found that he was usually left alone with his work whenever he found himself in a class where the teacher had not been present - and there was no Sasuke around to protect him. Naruto found some hope in this aspect, that maybe it was going to be okay in Sound. Maybe.
Going back to the mansion and Orochimaru was a difficult thing to do, but every night now it had become like a routine, and over the first Sunday Sasuke had ventured out when Naruto had been sleeping after another long session, and had found another way to and from the train-station, which meant that they could take a longer walk before they'd arrive back. Naruto was glad of this; he could hardly say that he was all too pleased about their short walk home either.
The little things that had happened that week it seemed to show Naruto that things were getting better. Orochimaru had been away a lot, and only that Sunday had he come back to see Naruto again for another session, leaving Kabuto with Sasuke to make sure that the events of the month passed wouldn't occur again.
Naruto was glad that at least for now, Sasuke had vowed to stop cutting himself…and even though Naruto was still faced with so much pain now and again, he knew that he could deal with it - he knew that he could put up with the pain and the experiments as long as he had Sasuke to go back too. As long as he had Sasuke, everything would be okay, because Orochimaru wouldn't separate them; he couldn't - although Naruto couldn't think of anything worse.
Things were going better than usual. Sasuke even thought so - it was mostly because Orochimaru had been away a lot - but he knew that being there at Sound was a little different to all the other places they had been before…he'd even thought he'd seen his brother. Even though Sasuke didn't know what it meant, he knew that now all he had was Naruto, and he would take care of Naruto and do anything he could to make him happy…and Naruto seemed happy…and even though it still didn't really reach his eyes, Naruto was smiling more…and all they would have to do would be to do homework together.
On the Wednesday morning Kabuto had informed them that Orochimaru had gone away again and wouldn't return until the coming Sunday. Sasuke simply nodded with a typical "Hn," as a response, though Naruto's face remained as blank as a slate as he half hid behind Sasuke, gripping unconsciously onto his hand. Sasuke would squeeze back as always, and when they turned to walk away, a smile came to Sasuke's face as he glanced down at Naruto to his right…that means no more experiments for at least another four days…
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Much to Naruto's taste, school seemed to drag on that day. Work was difficult and the lessons seemed longer, and he was sure that the teachers didn't like him very much, but that was all good, lunch would be coming up soon, and then afterwards he would have Literature with Sasuke.
As usual he sat at lunch with Sasuke, eating their bento's outside that day, somewhere that Sasuke didn't think he'd be swarmed by girls so that he could have a quiet meal with Naruto…even though - also as usual - they barely said a thing.
The time flew by, but then they had Literature together, and they also sat together, Naruto let Sasuke sit by the window and he sat next to him to stop the fan-girls from getting too out of control before the teacher got there. Soon it started, Naruto got out his books, but Sasuke seemed to be preoccupied with something and was staring out of the window, his face looked blank.
Naruto didn't say anything to Sasuke just then, and allowed him to carry on even as the teacher began to speak. Naruto smiled at Sasuke's lack of discipline, although he could hardly say that he was all too cooperative no matter how hard he tried, it wasn't that he fought back…he just didn't seem to listen.
"Anno…Sasuke?" Naruto whispered, the teacher was facing the blackboard and was scribbling something down. He smiled at Sasuke's lack of response; he knew how much the Uchiha really disliked that lesson. "Psst - Sasuke…" but still nothing.
Naruto placed his elbow on the desk and forcefully nudged Sasuke's arm, the one that his chin was balanced upon. It fell and Sasuke's head dropped slightly before he turned to Naruto with his eyes still half-cast…"Aa?"
"What are you staring at?" Naruto said, a small smile still upon his lips as he stared up at the 'I'm-seriously-not-assed' face of the Uchiha aside him.
"Mmm, nothing, just thin air, I suppose." Sasuke replied in the same hushed tone that Naruto had been using.
"Oh, something interesting then." Naruto said and stared back down at the open page of his Literature book.
"Mhm…guess you could say that…" Sasuke smiled half-heartily, his black eyes watching Naruto openly as his tanned fingers skimmed over the page of the book, searching for what the teacher was pointing out to them. Sasuke didn't bother with his own copy, just watched Naruto until his hand came to a sudden stop on the page - but it wasn't because he'd found the right place.
Sasuke looked directly to Naruto and saw his blue eyes were broad, his left hand clenched shut as his right hand shook as it hung just above the page. Sasuke's black eyes went broad as he leant closer to Naruto, it was clear from such a distance that Naruto was shaking, and shaking terribly, trembling in fact, his eyes broad and it seemed that his breath was caught in his throat.
"Naruto?" Sasuke whispered with urgency. "Naruto?" Sasuke moved closer and placed his hand over Naruto's, he could see tears as they began to collect in the corners of Naruto's glassy eyes and he knew it for certain that something wasn't right.
Naruto could feel that burning pain rising in his chest once again. It was burning badly that time and right in the middle of a lesson too. His fist remained clenched as his trembling hand hung over the book and his brows creased. He could feel his heart beat racing in his chest, and thudding in his head…he didn't want to cry…but he could hardly hold it back.
"Come on," he could just about hear Sasuke's voice, he could feel the cool touch of Sasuke's hand over his and he knew that Sasuke was taking him out of the class room. His fingers clutched tightly onto Sasuke's school jacket as his arms were around Sasuke's neck. He pressed his face into Sasuke's back hearing annoying yelling coming from behind, knowing that the teacher was calling after them.
Naruto's breathing had hastened and small whimpers passed his lips, his eyes shut tightly, tears running down his face. Sasuke moved on, holding Naruto closely to his back as he ran, ignoring the annoyed yells of the teacher and continued away from the class room. Whatever was wrong with Naruto, Sasuke could guarantee that none of the teachers would be able to help.
Seconds later, once outside, Sasuke lowered Naruto off his back and leant him against a tree. He quickly turned back to Naruto who latched onto him and buried his head into Sasuke's chest, whitened fingers not about to let go of Sasuke's jacket. Sasuke was quick to wrap his arms around Naruto as he whimpered and cried in pain into his chest, and the amount of pain that Naruto was in was clear to Sasuke…he hadn't seen Naruto cry for years.
His arms remained firmly around Naruto, hoping that it would just pass, but the longer that Sasuke sat there with him, the anger burning within him, the more and more he knew that he needed to get Naruto back to the mansion…that Kabuto may know what was happening, that he may be able to stop it.
Sasuke then made the decision. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the cell-phone that he'd been given just encase of such emergencies. He looked down at it for a few moments and then back to the shaking creature he held against him, and how violently he was shaking…trying to fight back the tears and the pain, and Sasuke knew that he had no other option.
He held the device to his ear after selecting the number and listened to it ring before a voice sounded on the other side.
"Well, well…I never thought that you'd be man enough to actually ask for my help, Sasuke-kun." Kabuto sounded abnormally smug with himself from the other side. Sasuke scowled and his grip around the silver device tightened.
"Just get here…Naru…Naruto…he's -,"
"Got it. I'll be right there, wait for me around front."
Sasuke put the cell back into his jacket pocket after he'd hung up. He held onto Naruto, and once again found the strength to lift the boy onto his back. Naruto continued to cling and didn't let go, and Sasuke carried him to the front of the school, and hid around the entrance where he waited with Naruto in the trees for the big black car that would show up momentarily…and sure enough, ten minutes later - there it was.
Kabuto stepped out and Sasuke wasted no time in rushing over with Naruto. Kabuto took one look at Naruto and showed Sasuke to take him into the back of the car, though once inside Kabuto took out a syringe from the briefcase he'd brought along with him, and much to Sasuke's distaste pressed the metal into Naruto's neck, releasing the liquid into Naruto's blood stream.
"What did you -,"
"It's a sedative…look, see he's calming down." And sure enough he was. His whitened fingers let go of Sasuke and he was carefully lowered down onto the back seat, out cold within an instant. Sasuke looked over Naruto's suddenly peaceful form and the anger boiled within him…how could something like this happen? They'd gotten rid of The Snake for a few days and now what happened…Sasuke was not pleased.
With his fists clenched he turned at the smug medic as he was packing away the syringe and pulled out his own cell phone. Sasuke was about to open his mouth to scream at the asshole, but Kabuto's words stopped him.
"Go back into school, Sasuke-kun, and come home at the regular time."
"But - what about Naruto?!" Sasuke protested. "I won't -,"
"You will. Do as you are told. Go back into school and finish the day. Naruto will still be asleep when you get back…I shan't touch him." Kabuto may have been slime, but his eyes, they told Sasuke that he meant what he was saying. Sasuke - filled with uncertainty - looked back over Naruto's motionless body as it lay across the back seat, and looked at the remnants of tears upon his paled cheeks and quickly glared at Kabuto.
"Go, Sasuke-kun."
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The rest of the day seemed empty without Naruto.
People seemed to eye him oddly in the corridors and he knew that words of his actions had reached the ears of the students, but he could hardly care less, all he could think about was Naruto.
He'd never seen Naruto like that before. He'd heard some horrible things, he knew how much pain Naruto was in whenever he saw him, but nothing like that, not in the years that they'd been together had Sasuke witnessed such a thing…and he hoped that he would never have to again.
The walk to the train station wasn't the same without Naruto, it was strange that he wasn't there, that Sasuke found himself alone once again, separated from the person that meant most to him in the world, and that pain hurt as much as anything.
He dawdled along, he didn't know why though, the sooner he got there the sooner he could see Naruto, but his legs wouldn't carry him much faster, he was too distracted by his thoughts…he could barely concentrate on where he was going.
It wasn't long before Sasuke's shoulder collided with a tall passer by. Sasuke didn't take heed of whom he had hit, only mumbled a half-hearted, "Excuse me," and walked on…but upon hearing the response…
"You seem preoccupied, Sasuke."
Sasuke stopped where he was, his eyes wide for a moment staring ahead of him…almost too scared to turn around. His hand that clutched onto the strap of Naruto's back-pack tightened, and he trembled slightly…he knew that voice.
"Aniki…" Sasuke whispered to himself, still uncertain whether he should turn around or not.
"Yes, Sasuke?"
Sasuke turned around quickly, and there he stood. Of course he was taller, and his hair was longer than Sasuke remembered, but there was no doubt about it…it was him, it was Itachi.
Sasuke's fingers uncoiled from around the back-pack and it dropped to the ground as Sasuke - without another moment pause - ran at his brother and threw his arms around him, pressing his face against his chest.
Itachi looked down at his brother and a small almost invisible smile came to his lips as he wrapped his arms around Sasuke…he'd barely changed since the last time they'd seen each other…he was taller and maybe a little under-weight but he still looked like Sasuke, his little brother.
"Aniki - how? How? I don't…I don't understand…I thought -,"
"Its okay, Sasuke. You don't need to understand." Itachi replied soothingly, able to feel Sasuke's fingers as they clutched onto the back of his coat. "How have you been?"
Sasuke shook his head into his brother's chest…no way, no fucking way…this can't be happening - it can't be…why now?
"Sasuke?"
"I'm okay…" Sasuke made a point of saying; his brows furrowed as he pulled himself away from his brother, and stared up at him, almost angrily. Itachi looked down at his brother, at his eyes, and knew that wasn't the type of greeting that he'd expected.
"I really am okay…" Sasuke said again, his brows still furrowed. That look could not reassure Itachi, but his face remained stern and blank, just like Sasuke remembered.
"Where - where have you been all this time? I mean - where were you? Why was I told that you'd died…?" Sasuke mind was filled not only by questions but the urge to actually run away, this confusion was unbearable, though he could hardly understand what was so confusing…
Itachi looked slightly away, Sasuke caught the sudden flare of pain in his brother's eyes, but he held his ground and waited for the answers.
"I've been here and there, looking for you. Orochimaru…he moves around a lot, it made it difficult for me to keep track of you…I didn't actually think I would get to see you again for a lot longer." There was a distant look in Itachi's eyes, one that Sasuke didn't really recognise, one that told Sasuke that Itachi had been through a lot since that night…
"It's a long story, Sasuke." Itachi put in. "Come on, lets go, we'll talk about it later." Itachi reached forward to take Sasuke by the arm, but hearing those words Sasuke pulled himself away and shook his head. Itachi lowered his arm and stared at his brother blankly. "Sasuke?"
"No - no I can't go with you…I can't…" Sasuke shook his head, backing away. His foot hit Naruto's back-pack and within moments Sasuke held it again. "I…can't leave Naruto…if I go…" Sasuke shook his head, a firmer look on his face this time.
How could such an opportunity befall him now? Now of all times? Why not yesterday when Naruto had been with him - why then? Itachi almost looked distraught but he seemed to contain it well as he had always done…Itachi hadn't really changed very much had he? Sasuke couldn't get Naruto out of his head - he couldn't get out of his head what Orochimaru might to do Naruto without him around…no! I can't leave him! I won't! I won't!
"Uzumaki, Naruto." Itachi said. Sasuke looked up; that tone was almost robotic…how much did Itachi actually know?
"Itachi…not now - when Naruto gets better…when he starts coming back to school…please…I can't leave him…" Sasuke practically begged…why the Hell is this happening? Why is he here? Naruto…
"Aa…Orochimaru is planning on leaving here again within a week, Sasuke, to a city called Suna. I can't meet you there, but if the week is out and Naruto still hasn't come then there's nothing I can do."
"Huh? Itachi?" Sasuke shook his head…what the Hell is this? How does he know all of that? "Wait? The Snake is going to move us again? So soon?"
"Aa." Was Itachi's simple answer.
"Wait - Itachi - what's going on?" Sasuke wondered.
"It's a long story, Sasuke. If I sound urgent then I'm sorry, you should get going if you're not coming with me, you'll miss the train." Itachi replied…he sounded so…detached…what happened to him?
"Aniki -?" Sasuke took a step forward, he stopped as he caught sight of a tall, looming figure dressed in black at the far end of the lane…he watched them, Sasuke watched back…this guy looked strange, his skin looked like it was a pale shade of blue, he must have been seeing things.
"Gomen, Sasuke." Itachi said looking back to his brother. "I'll be here for the rest of the week; if he's not with you by the last then we'll have to talk."
Sasuke couldn't really understand it, he was confused. Why was Itachi acting like that? Who was that guy in black that was watching them? How did Itachi know all of that about Orochimaru? How much did he really know?
"Be safe until then, okay. Don't do anything irrational." And he began to walk away, leaving Sasuke stood there, wide eyed and confused.
"Irra…tional…?" Sasuke said quietly to himself. And like that Itachi had gone just as quickly as he had arrived. And he'd walked off with that man…Sasuke watched with wide eyes for a few moments longer…did that even happen…?
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Hmmmm, Itachi's rather strange, huh? Well I think he is…it wasn't intentional; actually he was rather difficult to write…
Hope I didn't disappoint anyone! Yeah, so Sasuke is a good friend - surprise! Mwhahahaha couldn't make him leave Naru-chan now could I?
Review my pretties! Review! Let me know what your minds think! Let me know!!