Sorry! I know that this is SUPER LATE but we all have lives…so you should understand (I hope…)
I think this chapter makes sense. If it doesn't, let me know…:D
Same warnings and disclaimer applies!
Thanks to all of my wonderful reviewers! You're comments make me smile! XD
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Chapter Thirteen
As the two figures slept cosily side-by-side the morning hours ticked steadily away, bringing them into another day. Sasuke shifted slightly in his gentle sleep, while Naruto's eyes steadily began to open…crimson orbs staring out upon the ivory skinned youth who lay right up against him.
A smirk appeared upon Naruto's face, those deadly crimson eyes holding within them a power that was not visible in Naruto's azure stare. Those were the eyes of the demon that shared Naruto's body. Kyuubi.
With slightly enlarged fingernails, blackened and strong, Kyuubi lifted a hand from beneath where it had rested against his chest, and stroked the long black strands of hair away from Sasuke's sleeping face to get a better look. He thought it over in his mind, running through all of Naruto's memories, and he realised at once that this was the Sasuke that had pained him so badly all those years ago. Of course on some level Kyuubi had known all along since Naruto did, but Kyuubi tried not to invade on Naruto's life too much…this time would have to be a little exception.
This was the Sasuke who had made Naruto so unhappy…made Naruto want to forget the past, to block it out completely to an extent that some of the time he didn't remember anything at all. Kyuubi did not like Sasuke because of the way that he made Naruto feel…but also Kyuubi did like him because he knew that he wanted to get Naruto to talk about the past. Naruto needed that. Naruto needed to be told; he needed explanations, even if he pretended not to.
Of course there were other reasons why Kyuubi didn't like Sasuke…but he felt that he wasn't at liberty to think or discuss them…with anyone…
As he continued to look over the fine body of the youth aside of him, Kyuubi's lips curled into a devious smirk as his fanged teeth rested upon his bottom lip. Sasuke was stirring in his sleep, any moment now and he would open his eyes and Kyuubi might get his chance to speak with him without Naruto knowing.
Gently with a small tired sigh, Sasuke half opened his eyes to see the hazy - and very much awake - form of Naruto watching him. He shut his eyes once more as he yawned and stretched a little before opening his eyes again. Except that time he wasn't exactly happy about what he saw.
Those two crimson red eyes that stared out at him were not the eyes of his Naruto.
"You," He gasped as he jumped back from the surprise, tumbling backwards off the bed and hitting the ground with a solid thud. Sasuke winced as his backside hit the floor, but he regained himself almost at once as those red eyes followed by the body lolled over the side of the bed on his stomach looking down over him. The smirk that lined his face made Sasuke highly nervous, though he swallowed it back and matched stares with this creature.
"Well…" the golden haired creature smirked, Sasuke noticed the differences at once. The muscles that covered this deeply tanned and well built body…the darkness of the hair the difference in the facial expressions right down to the change in the facial markings on the side of his face. Naruto's body, his face seemed far more dangerous and strong, and far more feral.
"I'm at least glad that you can tell the difference between us…Naruto and I." He purred his voice surprisingly smooth, it held a little less malice than it had the last time that Sasuke had met this part of Naruto.
"This is Orochimaru's fault isn't it…" Sasuke breathed, his brows knitted into a frown. "He did this to Naruto, he made him like this."
"Of course…unless you know of someone else who would be capable of such idiocy…you don't, do you?" The creature raised an eyebrow as the smirk toyed with his lips, sharp rows of fanged teeth showed in one moment as those crimson eyes coyly scanned Sasuke's pale body.
Sasuke at once snatched up a second blanket and pulled it to cover himself before once again glaring at the creature upon his bed. "Who are you? Does Naruto know about you?"
"One question at a time," The creature sighed. "To answer your first question, I have been dubbed - by the Snake himself - as the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Uchiha Sasuke…although by the soreness of my behind, I think that we already know each other pretty well, don't you?" Sasuke felt a sudden tightness within him as his lips pressed together in a thin line.
"What the hell are you? A split personality or something?"
"Wait; don't you want me to answer the other question?" Kyuubi wondered, rolling around onto his back as he held one hand above his head, his tongue toying with his lips.
"Fine, then tell me, does Naruto know about you?" Sasuke asked, immediately flustered.
"Yessir, he most certainly does. We get along pretty well. I scratch his back, he lets me eat. We have a great thing going on at the moment. And as for you other questions," Kyuubi continued with a yawn and he stretched out over the bed. "I am not a split personality. I am Naruto."
"That makes you a split personality." Sasuke raised an eyebrow and swallowed hard, his heart was beating so harshly in his chest that it almost hurt.
"Well sort of…I just don't like to be called that. I'm artificial after all. Naruto didn't make me up or anything, I'm the genuine thing. So don't be mean to me, I'm dangerous." Kyuubi winked playfully as he sat up and with one clawed hand reached out and took hold of the sheet around Sasuke's waist before he could move far enough away.
Sasuke gasped, but held his breath as the somehow suddenly larger Naruto, pulled him right against him. Sasuke stared right into those deep red eyes and found himself unable to move. "And I'm only telling you this because Naruto likes you…I - on the other hand - I really, really don't…you, Uchiha Sasuke, are not only bad for him but you're just as dangerous…I can smell it all over you."
Dangerous? The word echoed in Sasuke's mind.
Sasuke winced as those clawed fingers roughly took hold of a scruff of his hair and yanked hard. He scowled at once but made sure he remained quiet; he'd already made enough noise as it was. "And yet, Uchiha Sasuke, I am willing to put all of that aside because of Naruto…he likes you more than I ever could or will. And…and I need you to do something for me."
"And…why should I help you?" Sasuke hissed through gritted teeth, feeling that second hand as it slipped down behind the back of the sheet. Sasuke could feel that warm hand as it ran down his back…but hated it because this wasn't Naruto.
"Because, idiot…whatever helps me, helps Naruto, and vice versa." He grinned, surprised by the Uchiha's lack of reaction as he ran his clawed fingers along backside as the sheet fell from around his form. Sasuke simply glared at him, a horrid and yet meaningful glare. "So, are you willing to help?"
"What…what do you want me to do?" Sasuke finally asked, his hand balling at his sides as those bloody eyes watched him, scanning lower and lower…his hands seemed to be working their way down too.
"I want you to tell Naruto the truth, Sasuke…he needs to know the truth about what happened in the past. He won't say it, but I hear it in his head…you need to talk with him, even if he doesn't want to hear it." Kyuubi was suddenly serious. He let go of Sasuke and allowed him to fall away and get back to his feet as he watched him with powerful eyes.
"But I've already tried," Sasuke sighed, pulling the sheet around him once again. "He won't let me talk about it…he says he doesn't want to."
"I don't care if he says that, that's not what he means. He's just afraid that Orochimaru is right. He doesn't want to know because he doesn't think it makes any difference, but we both know that the past is the only thing that's stopping Naruto from moving forward." Kyuubi folded his muscular arms and rested himself back in the bed.
Sasuke ran a frustrated hand through his messy hair. A sudden pain shot through him at the thought of it. The hell is going on here…? What is this? "How am I supposed to…he…he won't listen to me…he won't let me talk…" Sasuke sighed, tired and agitated there seemed to be a tightness and maybe even the threat of tears in his voice.
"I'll do all I can, Uchiha," Kyuubi stated, caught off guard by the strain and weakness that suddenly shone through in the boy. He would never show Naruto that kind of weakness. "But I'll expect the same of you."
Sasuke nodded at once. He had so longed to tell Naruto about what had happened that day. He'd thought about it for so long. He had never really understood why Naruto hadn't wanted an explanation…It was because he doubted me, he didn't want me to tell him that I had left because I wanted to…he didn't want Orochimaru to be right…how could he think that for one second…
Sasuke felt his throat go dry. He could have understood it before…but now? Now after we've met again and still he thinks that…he thinks that I'd left him of my own will…
Kyuubi watched the youth in contemplation. The pained look upon his face, that look would hurt Naruto a lot, Sasuke looked as lost and confused as Naruto was. Who would have thought that Sasuke had it in him anymore?
Kyuubi's careful eyes fell away for a short moment. Though in the time that it took for him to turn and look back for Sasuke, the dark-haired youth had already headed for the door and was out of the room, holding his pants in hand. Kyuubi raised a blonde eyebrow but could think of nothing more to say and fell silent once again as he allowed the sleeping mind of Naruto to once again reign over the body.
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Sasuke stared hard at his reflection for a little longer. The creature's words were running in circles through his mind, and the throbbing had begun again. The tomoe wasn't hurting as badly as it usually did although he could feel his tired body straining from it.
His black eyes stared back at him from the mirror, hidden by obsidian bangs and eventually a hand as he held his head whilst pressing his back against the cold bathroom door.
How could Naruto think that…how could he think that Orochimaru was right? Honestly Sasuke couldn't understand it. And the very thought of it hurt him so much, he almost couldn't stand it. He didn't even know what he was saying. It only hurt him, and hurt him deeply that old wounds seemed to tare open. He didn't want to believe it. He honestly didn't want to believe it.
He knew that he couldn't blame Naruto. That would be more than wrong of him…but how could he think such a thing? Does he even know that he's thinking it?
He didn't want to think about it much more…he would try his best. He had listened well to what that creature had said to him. Kyuubi no Kitsune. That was what he had called himself wasn't it? Sasuke shuddered. This thing had been what had tried to kill him before. It had strangled him in school when he'd confronted Naruto…and yet as he reasoned now - attempting to clear his mind - he sort of realised that maybe that creature really was trying to protect Naruto. Though how could he trust a thing like that?
Sasuke sighed and folded his fingers behind his neck, setting his head back. Opening his eyes he thought about it for a moment longer. What the hell should I do about this? He knew that he still needed to explain to Naruto what had happened all those years ago…he wanted Naruto to know…and he wanted himself to know what Naruto had been through. He needed to talk to someone. And Sasuke so much wanted to be that someone.
Rubbing his tired eyes Sasuke took a deep breath and finally gathered himself together. He would do anything that he could. Anything and everything. He wanted to make him feel safe…he didn't want Naruto to doubt him. He wanted only the best for him. He wanted him to finally be safe and away from the Snake.
Sasuke lifted himself from the ground; the mark on his shoulder still throbbed. He ignored it that time; it wasn't as bad as it had been recently and he could deal with it, but there was a shadow of a doubt upon his mind at that time. He couldn't believe how he felt, his body shaking slightly…feeling maybe a little hung over…some events of the night before circling in his mind. Half of them seemed new to him.
He shut his eyes again as he rested back against the door, trying to recall some of the finer moments until this had come along. His heart was beating a little too quickly for his liking, he needed to calm down - think of something else…yet all he could think about was Naruto…and even if the images in his mind made him smirk, they still kept his heart pumping rather quickly.
He took another deep breath, deciding on a glass of water and so went to fetch one from the sink. Yawning, still tired Sasuke stretched his arms above his head and reopened his eyes again once at the mirror.
With broad eyes Sasuke remained still as he stared upon his reflection on the smooth surface. His arms were still poised above his head from as he had yawned…and now in the subtle glow that filled the room from the small window Sasuke felt his heart pounding further. My…my eyes? He remained still a little longer, thinking that maybe it was just the trick of the light. He was tired after all.
Leaning over the sink Sasuke scowled as he attempted to take a closer look. He raised an eyebrow as he drew his hand to his face and took a better look. He must have only been seeing things…that was the only explanation for it…but for a moment or two, his eyes had seemed red.
Sasuke turned around and headed back out. He didn't really feel like that drink so much anymore.
Naruto was fast asleep again when Sasuke appeared back in his room. He gently shut the door behind him and sat down on the side of the bed. Naruto lay down on his front, with his arms tucked beneath him; Sasuke remembered that he had used to sleep like that before. Either like that or rolled up in a neat little ball.
Sasuke couldn't help himself. He leant closer and lay down upon his side, his eyes watching the rise and fall of Naruto's body as he breathed, his lips parted slightly. He reached forward and gently ran his fingers along the curve of Naruto's jaw and ear, feeling the beautiful heat coming from his body.
Naruto's eyes gently fluttered open although Sasuke hadn't intended upon it. Those tired blue eyes looked at Sasuke for a moment as if it hasn't registered where he was or who he was with…though it only took a few moments for a smile to appear upon his face and he began to sit up on one elbow, much as Sasuke was propped up next to him.
"You feeling okay?" Sasuke whispered softly, longing to feel Naruto's hair upon his finger tips again. Naruto made a small muffled sound before he nodded his head sleepily.
"Have you been awake long…?" Naruto spoke equally as quiet as he bought himself to sit up with the sheet wrapped around him to keep him warm.
"No…not too long." Sasuke replied watching Naruto rubbing his tired eyes. "You can go back to sleep if you want?"
"Neah…" Naruto grinned. "I'm good." Naruto looked over Sasuke's solemn form; he always looked so serious, even now. His eyes were looking away momentarily, Naruto realised that Sasuke was thinking…from that look Naruto somehow thought that maybe Sasuke was troubled. "Thinking about something?"
"Many something's…" Sasuke smirked, resting back against the pillows and placing his arms behind his head. Naruto crossed his legs after lifting the sheet to wrap it around his shoulders and dropped down aside Sasuke on the bed. "Are you…okay with this?" Sasuke asked almost suddenly, looking away slightly as he felt heat rising within him.
Naruto looked up at him with wide cerulean eyes. "With this?" Naruto wasn't so sure that he understood what Sasuke was really asking. "You mean with…us?"
Sasuke's eyes once again met Naruto's, he could read the sadness within them suddenly and his throat went dry. He hadn't meant to hurt Naruto by saying that. "It's just that…a lot of things are still happening…things still need to happen…I was just worried that this might be too soon…"
Naruto smiled and shifted his body so that he came to lean over Sasuke and brushed those heavy bangs once more away from his face. Sasuke's eyes met with Naruto's, the sadness within them all but vanished. "It's not too soon for anything…" he leant closer, trembling somewhat still slightly nervous as his lips trailed gently above Sasuke's. "If anything…it's probably about time."
Sasuke laughed and gently shoved Naruto away. "You know - I never realised how much of a pervert you could be…"
Naruto grinned broadly, loving the shade of red that Sasuke's face had become. "I guess I never really had much of a chance before." He replied as Sasuke shifted himself on the bed again coming to sit up. "I'm not really perverted though…am I?"
"Hell no." Sasuke scoffed. "You're probably the least perverted guy I know!"
Naruto smiled for a short moment, his lips pressed together in quiet contemplation. Sasuke noticed the seriousness on Naruto's face and a small crease formed between his brows at the daunting sight. "Sasuke, could I ask you something weird?"
"Something weird?" Sasuke echoed, and with a shrug agreed. "Go ahead."
"And don't worry…I won't be offended by what you say…I'm just curious." A pause fell between them once again and Sasuke awaited the question. Naruto's eyes met with his, an almost pleading sight that made Sasuke's throat go dry. "Have you…have you always felt this way about me?"
Sasuke took a deep breath and thought about it once more. He knew that this question had been in his mind for a good time now, and yet he hadn't really been able to think about it too much. When they had known each other those years ago they were more or less children…and although Sasuke had felt something for Naruto…he didn't really think that it was that kind of love.
"I loved you." Sasuke replied slowly after a short time of thinking. "But I don't think that I was in love with you…that's just what it became." He looked at Naruto with total sincerity. His lips curled at the sides into a small smirk that was only meant for Naruto. Naruto smiled too.
"I think I was always in love with you." He told Sasuke with almost brutal honesty. But the smile on his suddenly cheerful face softened the blow that maybe shook Sasuke more that it should have. Why does that make me feel so bad?
"Was that wrong?" Naruto questioned almost silently.
"What? To be in love?"
"To be in love with you."
Sasuke paused again and looked away as Naruto drew the sheet up towards his chin. Sasuke didn't know what to say to that. Love wasn't wrong. Love could never be wrong. Could it? No…not this. We need each other, don't we? We want each other…
"Naruto." Sasuke said a bit too sternly. "I don't think that love is ever wrong…and we're going to be okay, right? We're going to get all this sorted out…somehow."
Naruto sat up once more and leant into Sasuke so that their torso's touched. Naruto felt almost idiotic…but this - whatever it was that was between Sasuke and him - it was the most real thing that he had ever known or ever felt before in his life. As real as any pain or hurt that he had suffered before in the past. He could forget it all as long as he had something like Sasuke to keep him going, even if a part of him longed for the truth…even if he wanted to the know the cause of the greatest pain he had ever felt. Of the day that Sasuke had left him.
Sasuke's eyes gently closed as Naruto leant upon him, his naked legs covered in the sheet as he almost smoothly straddled Sasuke's thighs, his hand gently rested upon Sasuke's pale torso. Naruto kissed Sasuke again as they had kissed so passionately the first time and the second and every other kiss that night.
There was no argument, no cry for dominance within the kiss, simply compassion and utter devotion. It was almost as though that was all that they needed.
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As the sun had begun to rise more officially Sasuke and Naruto headed towards the bathroom, Sasuke turned on the shower for Naruto and went to the doorway to listen around for sounds of life in the house aside from them. It was early and he doubted that Hazuki was out of bed yet…but that maybe Itachi had vanished already…Sasuke could barely keep up with it anymore anyway.
Naruto undressed and slipped into the shower under the warm water and allowed it to sooth his comfortable aches as broad grin once again captured his features. Here he remained alone for a short time, comfortably hidden behind the frosted glass until he heard the door handle turn.
Almost at once his body became stiff and his eyes broad as his ears listened out to the sounds around him. He was almost ready to scream as the he heard clothes fall to the floor. He held his tongue for a moment or so until the shower door slid open and a black pair of eyes gazed at him. Naruto almost slipped back and fell as his face became red with a heated blush as Sasuke stepped into the shower with him, a knowing smirk upon his lips.
Naruto almost choked as Sasuke's arm reached out to grab his wrist to make certain that he didn't fall. "Sa…Sasuke!" Naruto gasped in a small whimper as he pulled their bodies together.
"What?" Sasuke shrugged and let go of Naruto's wrist only to hold him closer, although the shower was clearly big enough for the both of them. Naruto felt his face flush once more, doubled from the heat that emitted from Sasuke's wet body as well as from the heated water itself.
"I was bored…" Sasuke sighed. "And I needed a shower too, so why not?"
Naruto looked away for a moment. He should find some kind of sarcastic yet true response, and yet as hard as he thought about it…nothing came to him that could be of any assistance. "Fine…" he sighed. "But don't complain if it's too crowded."
"Ne, Suki-chan, you in there?"
Naruto instantly froze and gripped hard onto Sasuke's strong upper arms in surprise. Sasuke laughed quietly and opened the shower door a bit. "Yeah, I'm in here, Hazuki-chan."
"Oh good! Well since we're all up would you ask Naru-chan if he likes fish? I'm making it for breakfast."
Sasuke looked back to Naruto with a raised eyebrow as his wet hair dropped over his face. "So? Fish?"
Naruto shrugged a little awkwardly and nodded his head. Sasuke turned his head once again towards the small opening and replied. "Yeah, he likes fish."
"Oh…OH! Well in that case - Naru-chan, would you like anything else with your breakfast? I'm going to be mixing some stuff up this morning…"
Sasuke smirked as Naruto flushed. "Um…fish…is fine. Thank-you."
"Okay then! Fish it is!"
"Do you think she -,"
"Yeah. I really think she does." Sasuke smirked as he recalled more and more from the night before, recalling that the both of them had fallen through the living room door as they had entered. Sasuke didn't think that Naruto really remembered. That would probably be for the best.
Right then Sasuke wanted things to go smoothly. Who knew - maybe they could actually get a few things out there, they could go out together somewhere a little more private with fewer distractions.
Naruto allowed his eyes to wander for a moment or two as he allowed the water to run over him, and once again stared down at those many scars that marred Sasuke's inner forearms. There was so many, never in the same place twice. Naruto wondered how he could even feel anymore. Sasuke noticed Naruto's sad eyes and took a step forward; closing the small gap between them as their naked bodies came together, causing Naruto to match eyes with him.
"What do you say that, after breakfast, we go out?"
Naruto smiled somewhat and nodded, though he had a request. "I know this is going to sound stupid…but…can we go to Orochimaru's first…?"
Sasuke felt a stab in his chest but it didn't seem to show. "What for?" he asked. "I'll lend you some more clothes if that's it." He shrugged, allowing his hands to gently move along the smooth curves of Naruto's slick body. Naruto bit his lips at the soothing contact, his eyes gently closing although at the same time attempting to answer the question.
"I…I have medicine that I need to take…that's all." Naruto replied, feeling a strange heat flood his limbs as Sasuke's inquisitive hands snaked smoothly lower and lower.
"Oh…okay then…" Sasuke whispered feeling more than comfortable as he rested his face carefully against Naruto's as his arms wrapped carefully around his neck to bring their bodies eagerly together.
"I'm really happy, Sasuke." Naruto whispered carelessly, the warmth within him shifted and his arms clung firmer onto the object of his affection. "I'm glad that this happened…"
Sasuke nodded, watching over Naruto's shoulder as the water ran down the smooth curve of his back. "Aa…" he smirked. "Same here."
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Itachi lowered his coffee to the table as his hand began to tremble, he glanced up through his reading spectacles to see if Hazuki had noticed, but she was busy with something as she usually was and hadn't seen it. He stared down at his hand for a moment longer. It happened less and less now thanks to the new treatment he was receiving, but it still wasn't good. At least his eyesight wasn't worsening.
"Ne, 'Tachi-chan?" Hazuki rolled around on her heel and looked over to her fiancé as his black eyes skimmed the newspaper. He hadn't been to sleep at all that night and it showed, and he was drinking his coffee black, which was never a good sign.
"Aa?" his usual response as he glanced up momentarily.
"Why don't you go back up to bed? The boys will be coming down for breakfast soon anyway so they'll probably go out afterwards." She pointed out, a small hidden smile upon her features as she ran through the reasons in her mind why Itachi had been unable to sleep comfortably that night.
"No…I'll be fine." He sighed and picked up the coffee cup again and took a sip. He made a quick note of the time. 7:38.a.m.
"Maybe we should talk though, before the boys come down? Don't you think?" Hazuki reasoned, trying to be at least a little bit more sensible. She took a seat opposite Itachi at the kitchen table and made eye-contact with him as he watched her from over the rise of the newspaper.
"About what?" Itachi quickly shifted his eyes back to the article. "There's nothing to discuss."
"Oh - there's plenty to discuss." She raised her eyebrows and reached forward to lower the top of the newspaper and pull it away from him. Itachi dropped his shoulders and made eye-contact with her again. Those inquisitive hazel eyes never missed a thing.
Itachi blinked.
"A-ha! I knew it…you're annoyed." She pointed a finger at him and sat back in the chair. "I should have known that you would be…but we have to think about this from their perspective."
"From their perspective." Itachi repeated blinking once again. He brought his hands towards him and placed his right hand upon his lap as it began to tremble again; not moving his powerful black eyes away from Hazuki's in order to keep her distracted.
"Yeah, and I'm not stupid, Itachi. I know a lot more than you think. I know that Naruto isn't just anyone. Sasuke…he was the boy that Sasuke always used to get upset over…wasn't he? The reason why he used to get so angry at you…" she had wanted to be more subtle, but after thinking more on it she hadn't been able to think of a simpler way of saying it.
Itachi lowered his eyes. "It's complicated." He informed her.
"Things usually are with you." Hazuki shrugged. "Well anyway, I'm not going to pretend that I know what happened before - because I don't. But I think I know that both of them…little Naru-chan and Suki - are both confused boys who have been through a lot." She paused for a moment. "And they have the same sad eyes as you."
Itachi looked up to meet Hazuki's sympathetic eyes. She got up from her seat and walked around the table towards him. Hazuki took his right hand in hers and placed it calmly upon her swollen abdomen, a little closer to the baby inside.
"I know you, Uchiha Itachi. You try and hide things away from people because you don't want them to get hurt. You would rather people hate you than to tell them the truth and watch them get hurt. You've suffered just as much - if not more - because you carry this huge burden. You need to forgive yourself. You have a loving family who care greatly for you, and soon you're going to be a daddy." She smiled as he came to stand, his hand still upon her abdomen able to feel the tiny movements. "So surely you can understand what those two boys are feeling, and why they are the way they are. I mean, I don't, but because I have faith that you do, I know it's all going to work out for the better, ne?"
Itachi leant forward and pressed his forehead against Hazuki's, placing a small passionate kiss upon her delicate pink lips. She smiled and stroked away his long bangs from his eyes and removed his expensive spectacles and placed them aside on the table.
"I don't care if you can't see." She giggled. "You look even sexier without them. And you should wear your hair down more often, makes my friends even more jealous." She winked and pecked him gently on the cheek. Itachi smiled softly as she moved away, and ran his fingers through his long hair. "Right then! Back to cooking!"
Itachi sat himself back down momentarily and took up his spectacles again from the table as he heard voices above as they descended the stairs. He sighed. He knew that he would have to sort this out before Sasuke got hurt again…but it was almost exactly as Hazuki said. He couldn't hurt Sasuke with the truth, not yet…he couldn't do it.
"A little longer…" he whispered solemnly to himself as Sasuke appeared in the living room followed by Naruto a few seconds later.
Sasuke's laughing stopped almost at once as did Naruto's as they noticed that Itachi too was in the room. Sasuke hadn't counted on that. He thought that Itachi would be working today again as he usually did.
"You're home." Sasuke stated as Naruto remained stood behind him, lowering his eyes to meet the ground.
"I don't have work until tonight." Itachi replied, taking up the newspaper and coming to stand. "I'll be spending the day with Hazuki-chan."
"Yup! Yup! I get him all day!" Hazuki grinned evilly as she appeared over Itachi's shoulder. "Now…what should I do to him…? Kukukukuku…"
Naruto smiled slightly, though it vanished once he noticed the stoic-ness of Sasuke's face. He really hates his brother…Naruto mused to himself. Of course Itachi was hiding things from Sasuke but Sasuke didn't know that, did he? No, it can't be that…
"I would voice my thoughts on the matter, though I think that half of my ideas are illegal in this country." Sasuke mumbled as he headed towards the kitchen as Hazuki moved along to serve out the food.
"So are mine…" Hazuki whispered to herself as she walked passed Itachi and tapped him on the backside. "Kukukukuku…"
Itachi's throat went dry as he glanced back and caught her devious smirk as she glanced up at him with narrowed eyes. "Here's the food, boys!" she smiled as she ushered Naruto to take a seat, Sasuke following like a good-boy. "Eat! Eat!"
"I'll be in the study." Itachi stated calmly before he headed off, taking his newspaper with him.
Naruto curiously watched Itachi as he walked away though Sasuke went about inspecting his meal that he would only pick at. Hazuki placed more plates of food upon the table and Naruto's eyes went broad. He'd not seen such an amazing variety in food for as long as he could remember.
"Well then, how does that suite you, boys?" Hazuki chirped as she ran her fingers through Sasuke's still damp bangs, the same thing for Naruto.
"Thank-you," Naruto grinned, Hazuki smiling broader at the sight. A smile on that boys face really looked perfect. She noticed Sasuke's side-wards glance and smirk at the grinning blonde's reaction and she felt a sense of pride and happiness swell up within her.
"You're very welcome! Now dig in! I'm going to go and be Itachi's loving fiancé for a while. If you two go out remember to take a spare key, Suki, just encase your brother and I go out too, okay?" she grinned cocking her head to the side for a moment before she pulled off her apron.
"Yeah sure, no problem. Thanks again, Hazuki." Sasuke nodded as he looked up at her with strangely spirited black eyes.
"See you later, boys!"
Naruto watched Hazuki vanish off into the study and shut the door behind her with a giggle. "She's really nice." Naruto smiled.
"Yeah, she really is. It confuses me though…why she's with Itachi." Sasuke prodded the steamy, well made food with a chopstick and broke apart some fish to put it in his mouth. Naruto glanced at him toying with his own chopsticks between his fingers…sometimes he just couldn't understand Sasuke.
"It's so real though." Naruto said calmly. "It's like…an ideal family. Any family. If anyone I would have someone like Hazuki as my mum even if she is a little eccentric."
"Though you'd have to get it from someone…" Sasuke smiled though felt Naruto's clean chopsticks as they assaulted the side of his head.
A few moments of silence passed between them as the both of them ate quietly before Naruto spoke up again. "This is going to sound stupid…but…sometimes I wonder…if I'm even real."
"You're right…that does sound stupid." Sasuke sighed as he leant back, placing his chopsticks aside as he lifted a small cup of tea to his lips. "Elaborate please."
Naruto smiled at Sasuke's laid back demeanour and gently shook his head before he continued. "It's just that I don't remember ever having a family…like having parents. And I have nothing to prove that I did. It's like I just fell out of the sky…"
"Maybe you did." Sasuke yawned. "Maybe you pissed off God somehow and he kicked you out of Heaven and so you were on your way to Hell and a Shinigami comes along and is like 'Hell no!' and kicks your butt up to Earth since they don't want you either. Like an annoying fallen angel." Sasuke grinned.
Naruto laughed playfully as he leant back into his seat. "That was awful." He snickered. "Cheesy and awful."
"Yeah…that's more than obvious. But I had to say something." Sasuke raised his arms in defence before he continued to pick at his meal, Naruto doing the same.
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Sasuke shrugged further down into his jacket hood as they appeared ahead of the mansion that they now had to enter. Naruto stood through the gate at the head of the drive without hesitation, yet as he paused he glanced back towards Sasuke whose eyes were blank as they looked up at the building.
"You can stay outside if you want." Naruto shrugged. "I'll only be a few moments."
Sasuke steadily looked down upon him and shrugged. "No, it's okay." He took a step closer to Naruto and waited for him to continue onwards which he did momentarily and lead them onto the grounds.
Naruto unlocked the main door and they entered, removing their shoes before they came to the step, Sasuke's eyes went straight to gaze at the building layout. It was almost exactly the same, the shape of it all to the colours. It made his hands ball at his sides and his insides churn almost painfully.
Naruto once again wandered off ahead for a few steps before he noticed that Sasuke wasn't following. Glancing back he was silent for a few moments longer as Sasuke stepped up into the entrance hall and came towards him. "You can come with me if you want or you can just stay here?"
"I…" Sasuke looked from the staircase and to Naruto and attempted to place a false sense of comfort there to stop Naruto from worrying. "I think I'll just wait here…if that's okay…?"
"Yeah…I'll only be a few minutes." Naruto nodded stepping closer to Sasuke he brushed his fingers gently along the back of Sasuke's fist. "We'll go wherever you want afterwards, okay?"
Sasuke lowered his head, his throat was dry and his heart was beating so quickly…I'm not afraid…I never have been…so why? Why do I feel this way?
"It's…it's just like all the other houses…" Sasuke whispered his eyes gently shut. Naruto moved closer to Sasuke as guilt swooned in over him, almost smothering him. He should never have asked Sasuke to come, that had been selfish of him.
"He's a creature of habit…" Naruto whispered as he took Sasuke's fists in his hands and placed their foreheads together. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah…" Sasuke smiled weakly, comfortable as they stood as they were his hands un-balling and he slipped his fingers around Naruto's with ease. "I'm just an idiot. Go ahead and get your medicine. I'll just hang around here." Carefully he pressed his lips against Naruto's, a small affectionate peck before their hands came apart and Naruto walked away from him towards another room.
Sasuke stood alone for only a few moments before his feet took him towards the staircase.
Upwards he climbed, images of the past flashed ahead of his eyes as he did so, his hand running gently along the banister rail, knowing that this was the house of the Snake. That this was the house that held Naruto captive.
Sasuke didn't think he could hate it more…yet the hate did continue to grow within him, hate that he was so weak. His heart was angry because inside he was so scared. He remembered those moments of pain; he remembered the aches and the tears and cringed as he reached the top of the staircase.
Falling to his knees, Sasuke covered his mouth with his hand, tasting the bile as it collected at the back of his throat…the memories of disgust…of his last few days with the Snake that he had spent unconscious.
His whole body felt disgusted…things that he hadn't thought about for years suddenly came back to scar him. Things that he had never brought into consideration. Only Naruto had mattered…Naruto had been through so much pain…he hated to compare his pain to Naruto's…it seemed so very wrong and too different.
Pulling himself to his feet, Sasuke tried to push away the images of the Snake's cold hands, of his pale flesh and that assaulting tongue…and the voice that made him do things that he didn't want to.
Sasuke stopped again and fell back against one of the walls as he laughed quietly into his hands…he brought his knees up to his chest and stared out through the banister ahead of him that overlooked the climbing staircase.
He felt so foolish, yet he was trembling as the disgust and memories began to flood back to him. He'd never thought that he'd had a problem before…he'd never seen what had happened between him and the Snake as something that could scar him…and yet now he couldn't stop himself from shaking.
Naruto came out into the entrance hall ready to leave, only to find it empty. His eyes went momentarily broad as they searched frantically around, his heart beginning to pound uncontrollably. Though his feet at once carried him to the staircase.
"Sasuke?" he called up as his eyes looked eagerly ahead. He sighed from relief as he saw the crouched figure sat against the wall. He headed towards him, coming to kneel down at his side; Sasuke's head was buried in his arms that were folded upon his knees. "Sasuke…are you okay?"
Almost like a small child Sasuke shook his head. Naruto leant closer into him but didn't want to touch him…not yet. "Come on…lets get away from here…you don't ever have to come back…"
"But…Naruto has to stay here…" Sasuke's voice was quiet; again it held a child-like quality that Naruto was more than worried about.
"I'll come away with you one day soon though…remember?"
Sasuke nodded his head and looked up, his dark eyes scanning ahead of him and meeting Naruto's eyes that instantly calmed him.
"I'm sorry, Naruto…" Sasuke whispered.
"Its okay, I shouldn't have asked you to come here…that was selfish of me…"
Sasuke shook his head. "No…" Sasuke began to pull himself up to stand as did Naruto until they were stood eye-to-eye again. "Never mind…lets…lets just leave…"
"Sure…" Naruto put on his usual fake smile as the both of them headed out of that building. Once outside Sasuke stood a few feet away as Naruto locked the door behind him and turned around after the key went into his jacket pocket.
"Where to next?"
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DO NOT GET MAD PLIS!! But I'm going to go on Hiatus for a while to give me a chance to catch up with my other fic Branded. That one should finish soon, then I can get back to this one.
I hope none of you are too angry at me.
Please R&R for old times sake, ne? XD
Lets talk soon! x x x x SabakuKyuu17x x x x