xxxFinal Chapter: Where Loyalties Lie (Part Two)xxx
Sasuke skidded to a stop when Naruto's scent suddenly surrounded him, the abrupt move scattering leaves around his feet.
He knew he had run far, far ahead of Orochimaru, but for some reason he couldn't really bring himself to care. His nose twitched constantly at the air, head pivoting and body twisting in every direction as he tried to determine exactly where the fox was hiding.
Amid the dog's frustration, Naruto sat quietly on his hands and knees on a high boulder above the brunet. His ears were flat as he lowered himself in preparation to pounce. He ignored the flips in his stomach while staring at Sasuke, seeing that he hadn't changed a bit.
Including his dangerous attractiveness, which drew Naruto in like a moth to a burning flame. Beautiful and deadly.
Sasuke's movements were becoming desperate, his haste to find the blond not allowing him to pause and focus or even think clearly. He suddenly stopped on one spot and hollered with unrestrained fury, "WHERE ARE YOU NARUTO?!"
And Naruto took that as his cue to reel back and jump.
Sasuke's ears shot up and he spun around in time to see a blur of orange tackle him to the floor.
They slid across the dirt and Sasuke felt a weight push down on him in an attempt to pin him to the ground, but he managed to blindly reach for the other's neck and roughly push him to the side so his cheek collided with the earth.
Naruto snarled and grabbed at the dog's hair, yanking him down as well and bringing a fist to smash into his pale jaw, which sent him back a few feet and put some space between them.
Naruto sat up halfway, panting and holding a hand against his reddening cheek. He glared at Sasuke.
Sasuke was in a similar position, only his hand was cradling his jaw, red eyes boring into the fox.
The silence was heavy, thick, deafening.
Naruto's body was tense as he awaited an attack. But when nothing came, he sniffed lightly and lowered his hand; "I saw your trophy room," he bit out.
Naruto noticed the other's muscles tighten and heard the grind of his teeth, but he continued despite it, "You're disgusting," he said. "You disgust me Sasuke." He didn't mean it; truly, it was Sasuke's actions that disgusted him, but that was what came out.
The words suddenly set Sasuke off. He bolted off the ground and launched himself at Naruto, who was too stunned by the sudden movement to dodge the larger male.
Naruto fell back at the impact and raised a hand to swipe at Sasuke's face. But the dog caught the attack and yanked the arm to the side so Naruto was flipped onto his stomach and Sasuke straddled him from behind.
Naruto struggled and pressed his free arm against the ground to push himself up partially. His head snapped to the side, the corner of his eye glaring heatedly at the other. "Get off," he growled in warning.
Sasuke ignored his command and instead harshly twisted Naruto's arm, emitting a loud yelp from the blond. He leaned down to the fox's ear, until his fangs scraped at it, making it twitch. "Whore," he growled.
Naruto jerked at the word. "What?" He sneered, and was suddenly yanked up. His palm immediately pressed against the ground to hold himself while Sasuke kept his other arm captive behind him. He felt the dog's hips push into his backside.
Sasuke's hand wrapped around Naruto's throat and forced it back, claws scraping at the skin there. "You heard me," he whispered before twisting Naruto's arm once again and earning another cry. "Damn whore!"
"Stop calling me that!" Naruto yelled.
Sasuke's hand quickly moved to blond hair and yanked it back with excessive force. "Shut up damn it!"
Naruto groaned loudly at the uncomfortable position and began struggling wildly when hot breaths trailed along his ear.
Sasuke's hand slid down from the hair, falling to Naruto's crotch. He cupped his palm against it harshly, and possessively jerked the fox back against himself. "You're supposed to be my mate!" he screamed a little too loudly. "Mine! And you're fucking whoring yourself for that fucking fox!"
Naruto froze, completely.
...Mate?
He gasped as Sasuke released his arm and groin and pushed forward, slamming his palms on either side of Naruto and holding him there, lips not leaving his ear. "I'll kill you Naruto! I'll kill both of you!"
Naruto could feel the erratic breaths across his flesh, and Sasuke's fury was sending convulsive shivers down his spine. "I haven't done anything with Kiba," he murmured.
Sasuke growled deeply, "Liar! Don't fuck with me!" He pressed harder, leaving no space between them. "I can smell him on you!"
Naruto's rage had long since dissolved into confusion and shock. Was Sasuke actually...jealous of Kiba? Enough so that he was hallucinating about something that didn't even happen? Even more confusing, Sasuke considered Naruto his mate? Since when? For how long?
But nevertheless, if that was the case...then that meant...that Sasuke still cared about him, even if it was as a possession.
And what about Itachi? Sasuke's promise? Did none of it matter anymore?
Naruto flipped the possibility over and over in his head, that Sasuke still wanted him.
But...how much did Sasuke want him? A sudden smile stretched his lips, his daring side coming a flare, and he looked back at the other male. "And what if I have, Sasuke?"
Sasuke's eyes flashed dangerously, and Naruto's smile grew. "What if I am fucking him?"
The dog's fingers dug into the earth. "Stop it," Sasuke growled softly.
Naruto began chuckling, knowing full and well that he was playing with fire. "Sasuke, what if I'm letting him fuck me?"
A frustrated yell tore from Sasuke's throat, and he pushed Naruto further to the ground, his body quaking with restrained anger.
Naruto shot up and twisted to lock gazes with Sasuke, a full blown grin on his face. "What if he's claimed me Sasuke? What if I let him claim me?"
"I SAID STOP!" Sasuke screamed.
Naruto knew that every word coming out of his mouth was a lie, but he couldn't stop. Sasuke's reactions were so deliciously hopeful, they showed that he still cared, and Naruto couldn't get enough of it. He leaned up, until their mouths were a breath away from each other, "Sasuke..." he whispered, "What if I choose him...over you?"
Sasuke seemed so overcome with his own storming emotions. His eyes were fixated on Naruto's mouth, on the words pouring out of it. "No," he said.
Naruto's eyes searched his warily. "What if I love him Sasuke?"
The blond winced as claws pierced his arm. "I'll kill him!"
Naruto stared at him and blinked once with half-lidded eyes, then opened his mouth slowly. "Sasuke...what if...I still want you?"
All motion stopped, and Sasuke sat with an empty stare as Naruto leaned in slowly, their breaths heating until lips brushed lightly.
But before Naruto could seal the distance through a kiss, Sasuke was suddenly shoved off of him, and he found himself being hauled off the ground and pulled into a run with Kiba in the lead.
Sasuke lay disoriented behind them for a moment before shaking his head and getting back on his feet.
Naruto quickly looked back to Kiba. "What are you doing here?! I told you to go back to the den!"
"And leave you there with an insane dog that wants to kill you?! Sorry if that's not my fucking way of doing things Naruto!" he yelled before abruptly dropping and squeezing into their den, dragging Naruto in with him.
They sat in the dark hole, panting heavily, until Kiba slightly pushed Naruto aside and peeked out of the den, seeing that dog coming to them, his master not too far behind.
"Shit," he muttered and leaned back before looking at Naruto. "But I don't think they can get in here, they're not-"
"You should've left me there! Damn it Kiba, I was so close!"
Kiba gawked at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Close to being killed that's what you were fucking close too! I saved your ass!"
Naruto shook his head quickly. "No Kiba, he still...we almost kissed and he-" A series of rabid growls cut him off and made them jump, turning their attention to the den's opening where they found Sasuke trying desperately to claw his way inside.
His red eyes were wild and fangs bared in a foamy snarl, it was a look of pure murder.
Kiba pushed himself back into Naruto, away from the dog. "Does that look like the face of someone who wants to kiss you?!" he screamed.
Naruto's eyes widened as he scooted back as well, his ears flattening.
Kiba felt the blond move away out of fear, and it ignited something in the pit of his being that set his face to determination. He jumped forward and lashed out at the animal; cutting his forehead and making him jump back with a loud cry.
Sasuke jerked back as that damn fox cut across his face, and he slammed right into Orochimaru who immediately shoved him back off.
"You left me behind Sasuke!" the pale man accused, infuriated with him.
Sasuke quickly turned to him, forehead leaking blood. "They're in there, both of them!" he said, ignoring both his master's complaint and his own wound.
Orochimaru's eyes suddenly widened, forgetting his anger. He looked at the small hole before circling it and finding another hole in the back.
The man snorted softly before bending over and grabbing a fistful of dry grass, then tossing it over the hole. He cradled the gun in the crook of his arm, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a matchbook. Orochimaru took one match out before igniting it along the small box and tossing it into the brush, starting a fire to block the exit.
He then went back to the front of the den and aimed the rifle at it. "This is their only way out now," he assured.
Sasuke stared at the growing fire for a minute before dropping back to his knees and again tried prying his way inside.
Naruto jumped as Sasuke came back even more angry than he was before, which seemed nearly impossible.
Kiba shook his head. "This guy just doesn't quit," he muttered and placed an arm in front of Naruto protectively, only helping to fuel Sasuke's anger.
The fox growled softly. "Quick Naruto, we gotta go out the back."
Naruto tore his gaze away from Sasuke to look at Kiba before nodding and turning to the back exit, only to be met with a flaming clump of grass that nearly fell on his hand.
He jerked back quickly, "Shit!"
Kiba's eyes narrowed. "Damn it..." He looked back out the other way, meeting Sasuke's eyes. "We're trapped."
Naruto's head suddenly fell forward, and he began coughing from the smoke of the fire that was seeping into the den. "Shit," he repeated. "Kiba, we've gotta do something!"
Kiba shot him a frustrated look. "You think I don't -cough- know that?!"
Naruto lowered himself to the ground, below the smoke, to help his breathing, his eyes watery and burning from it. He looked at Sasuke again for a moment before glancing at Kiba. "If we go that way, we die for sure."
Kiba was in a coughing fit, so his response was a nod.
Naruto's brow crumpled, he turned back to the fire. "Kiba...we have to jump through."
Kiba dropped next to him, his own eyes red and irritated as well, "Through the -cough- fire?!"
Naruto's gaze snapped to him. "We have to!"
"You're insane!"
"Kiba we don't -cough- have a choice! C'mon, on three!"
Kiba hesitated before turning to face the back exit along with Naruto and nodded.
Naruto took a breath, "One."
Kiba gulped, "Two."
"THREE!"
They both pushed with their feet and launched themselves through the hole without thinking, one right after the other.
The flames licked at their skin as they pushed through and landed on the ground, then, without missing a beat, burst into a run.
Orochimaru's eyes grew wide, "Impossible!"
Sasuke pulled himself out and quickly scrambled to his feet with utter disbelief on his face.
The pair stood shocked before composing themselves and going after the foxes.
x-X-0-X-x
Night had fallen now, and Naruto and Kiba ran madly through the forest, headed towards the side of a cliff that they could climb.
Naruto cried out as he felt something singe his stomach, and looked down to find that a small part of his shirt had caught fire. He hastily yanked it off his body and threw it to the ground, legs pumping beneath him.
Kiba reached the rocks and jumped on them, beginning his climb with the blond right behind him.
x-X-0-X-x
When Sasuke and Orochimaru caught up, they saw both foxes already pulling themselves over a cliff, and they quickly found a slant of land that would lead them in the same direction, although it would take a little more time.
x-X-0-X-x
Kiba tugged Naruto over the cliff, both of them collapsing on the stone ground.
Naruto sat up, his chest heaving as he placed a hand over it in an attempt to calm his heart.
Kiba finally managed to catch his breath and slowly stood up from the ground. "Fuck...what now?" he asked.
Naruto shook his head, looking around to see if there was someplace they could hide. He spotted a cave in front of a waterfall and pointed at it, "In there!"
Kiba smacked his hand away from the object, "You moron! That's a bear cave!"
"Well how was I supposed to know?!"
Kiba growled in frustration and looked back at the cave, and that was when he spotted the log protruding from behind it. He traced it with his eyes, seeing that it cut in front of the waterfall and led to another cliff. He pointed to it as Naruto had to the cave. "There! We can climb that and jump to the other cliff, then break it so they can't follow us."
Naruto eyed the wood, considering, when all of a sudden his ears stood up and he looked behind him, catching sight of Sasuke and Orochimaru coming closer to them, the pale man having his rifle pointed already.
His heart jumped and he hastily got his feet and grabbed Kiba. "Okay c'mon!" he yelled before they ran to their escape.
Sasuke cursed as he saw the two get up and run again and Orochimaru acted on impulse. He raised his gun and pointed at them, then shot.
Unfortunately, the pair was running right past a cave when he decided to shoot, and they dodged it, which let the bullet run straight inside.
The next sound that boomed out of that hole stopped Sasuke and Orochimaru right in their tracks.
It was a roar, and it sounded big.
Orochimaru stepped back with fear as an enormous bear slowly rose out of the cave and blocked the foxes from his and Sasuke's view.
It stepped forward, the gun wound red on its chest from the blood matted on its fur.
Orochimaru continued to step back as the creature advanced on him, rifle aimed at it and shaking in his hands. Until something bit painfully into his ankle that caused him to yell out in pain and fall back, dropping the weapon so it skidded across the ground.
He looked at his foot, and as fate would have it, it was a hunter's trap, jaws clamped tightly around him.
The beast growled at him, teeth gleaming in the moonlight as it came closer.
Orochimaru was frozen as the bear loomed over him, paw raised in preparation for a strike. His jaw dropped but nothing came out, throat choked with the pain from his foot and the fear in his eyes.
But just as the claw came down, something jumped onto the animal's thick neck, causing its head to tilt back with a loud roar and stumble away from the man.
Sasuke sank his teeth into fur and flesh, his feet slipping and pushing against the beast's chest to help him hold on.
When it tried to shake its head to throw him off, Sasuke clenched his teeth and brought his hand up to claw at the animal's eyes.
Its jaws tore open like a gaping black hole, releasing a blood curdling cry when Sasuke's claw found what it had been searching for, and the dog felt a warm fluid leak from the socket and run down his hand.
The bear began jerking wildly and reached up to grab Sasuke by the back of his neck, yanking him off and throwing him to the ground, emitting a yelp.
Kiba let out a breath of relief when he landed on the cliff in one piece. He turned back to Naruto, who was still on the tip of the log.
"C'mon Naruto!" he encouraged. "Just jump!"
Naruto's ears went down. He leaned forward a bit and peered over the edge, seeing a very long fall to the bottom and snapping back into place.
Kiba frowned. "I can't jump back Naruto!" he reminded him. "Just do it!"
Naruto teetered on the edge of the wood and nodded. He readied himself by crouching when a cry that sounded very much like Sasuke cut through the raging waterfall beside him and caught his attention, turning his head back.
His eyes widened as he saw a bear lower itself onto all fours and slowly advance on Sasuke, who was lying on the floor.
Naruto's chest tightened and he took a step backwards. But while he was turning, Kiba called out to him again, "Naruto! Hurry up!"
The blond snapped back to him, then to Sasuke. His heart was hammering within his chest as his eyes darted back and forth between the two.
Kiba's brow furrowed and he cupped his hands around his mouth, "NARUTO!"
Blue eyes flicked to his direction, settling on him and staring.
Naruto stepped forward.
Sasuke coughed blood as the bear slammed an enormous paw against his stomach and pinned him. His eyes faded in and out between black and red.
He managed a glance at Orochimaru, trying desperately to pry the trap off his foot. But a glob of saliva that splashed on his cheek pulled Sasuke back to the current situation.
The bear stood over him, snarling with red and white fluid leaking from its injured eye. Its teeth were shiny with saliva and dripping from its open mouth to land on and around Sasuke.
The bear once again brought up a paw to strike its first prey of the night, and Sasuke shut his eyes to brace himself for the onslaught he knew was coming.
But something unexpected happened.
Another roar erupted from the animal, and the pressure on Sasuke's chest lifted.
Coal eyes flew open to find Naruto latched onto the bear's head, his teeth clamped tightly around an ear.
Sasuke watched in awe as the beast stood up and tossed its head, throwing Naruto off and sending him flying to land by the cave.
Naruto quickly got on all fours, growling at the animal with bared fangs as it turned its attention to him.
Despite the gun wound in its chest and being blinded in one eye, the bear seemed unstoppable. It charged.
Its paw swiped at Naruto's feet, but the fox jumped at the last second so it swished right under him.
When he was on ground again, Naruto turned and ran back to the log, coaxing the bear to follow him and feeling satisfied when it did.
He placed a foot on the log and pushed himself on it, then turned and carefully began walking backwards.
The bear growled deep within its throat and climbed on as well, following him.
And suddenly, the log tipped.
Naruto's eyes widened with surprise as he dug his claws in to steady himself.
But the animal did not stop. It came closer, like it didn't even notice its weight straining the log as it cracked beneath them.
Naruto continued stepping back with fear, not having anticipated this. His plan had been to jump to the cliff with Kiba, who he had miraculously convinced once again to go on ahead, and have the bear fall between the jump when it tried to follow him.
The wood jerked again, and this time, Naruto slipped. But he was able to hook his arms over the log and hold on, his bottom half dangling and tail swinging side to side through the air.
Naruto gasped and tried to pull himself up, his efforts proving futile as the bear finally filled his view and the wood shook again.
His ears flattened when the animal slowly leaned down with a sinister snarl on its face, his blood running cold when it lurched at him in what seemed like slow motion.
But the moment it did, an earth shattering 'SNAP' could be heard throughout the forest, and Naruto's arms slid from the wood.
He found the wind pushing against his back, as if trying to slow his fall, while the star littered sky moved farther and farther away.
His mind was blank, hearing filled with the rush of air flowing past him and the crashing waterfall that watched him plummet.
Vision suddenly became clouded; faded into a meshed blur of black and pale smears.
x-X-0-X-x
Orochimaru's leg throbbed in pain as he limped to the river's shallow edge, finally having walked back down the cliff after freeing himself of the trap. A dotted path of blood trailed behind him.
Naruto lay in the shallow water, on his side with half lidded eyes, breathing softly. His cheek and the corner of his lip was hidden beneath the liquid. Arms were bent at his sides, hands palm up by his head, unmoving.
He was utterly shocked and so grateful to still be alive, and even in one piece it seemed. Though his body felt heavy, weak, and extremely tired. And his side was pulsing with light pain, making it a little difficult to breathe.
He wondered why the bear wasn't here, and assumed that it must have fallen into the river's current and been carried away.
But that was the least of his problems right now. He was barely able to feel his own heartbeat, and here was Orochimaru, looming over him with a rifle staring the fox in the face.
The man was heaving, his eyes wide with fury and boring into the blond. As if blaming him as the root source for all of Orochimaru's suffering.
And he could nothing but stare helplessly back.
Orochimaru pulled the hammer back with his thumb. "This ends now," he sneered, finger on the trigger.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as Orochimaru suddenly disappeared behind a veil of black, vanishing. But he could still hear the man, since he caught a growl that hadn't come from himself.
Blue eyes trailed up sluggishly, and widened when they recognized the back of a pale neck covered by black trestles. His arms were stretched out, and the tip of his dark tail brushed lightly across Naruto's stomach.
Orochimaru made a beyond frustrated noise. "Get out of the way Sasuke!"
Sasuke flinched, but after a moment, shook his head. He turned and slowly sank to his knees beside Naruto, then leaned forward and placed his hands beneath the water on either side of the blond's chest. He looked back at his master and "No," was stated firmly.
Orochimaru stepped forward, his gun still aimed. "What?" he seethed.
But Sasuke held steady, his eyes steeled and body unwavering. "I won't let you harm him."
"Have you forgotten who you're speaking to?!"
The dog's body tightened and he pressed closer to the fox. "No," he assured. "I haven't. But if you kill him, Orochimaru...be damn sure I'll kill us both."
The man jerked with shock.
Sasuke's jaw clenched and his eyes bled to red. "You and me, I swear I will," he promised.
Orochimaru stared with wide eyes, then seemed to get over the shock as they closed to slits. He took another step forward and pushed the rifle's mouth against Sasuke's forehead.
The dog didn't so much as flinch.
His master snarled and abruptly shoved the gun into his head, causing blood to leak out from the cut Kiba had made earlier. "Ungrateful, disobedient trash," he growled.
The harsh words did not evoke a single blink.
The man's eyes flickered between the two animals, and his face gradually fell from anger to indifference and finally, exhaustion. He let out a sigh. The gun descended, and the very second Orochimaru's hand landed on dark hair, Sasuke's eyes quickly receded to black, his mouth parting in surprise.
Pale fingers moved back and forth slowly, then switched to stroke and ear before pulling back. "Let's go," he ordered, then turned and began limping away.
Sasuke watched him go, stunned and completely speechless. Orochimaru had never...petted him before...and he was so sure he would have had to put up a fight to protect...
He stopped.
"Naruto," he murmured, turning his attention to the blond lying beneath him.
The fox was frowning at him, eyes bright with a mixture of curiosity and confusion, but still too drained to say anything about the situation.
Sasuke held his gaze, both glowing under the moonlight, and he licked his lips before slowly leaning down.
Naruto felt his heart jump, expecting Sasuke to press their mouths in a kiss. But he was a bit surprised to find those lips trailing to his ear, and whispering something he was sure he'd never hear from them again, "I love you."
Sasuke stood up, his clothes and fingers dripping with water. He gave the fox a long, hard stare before smiling slightly, then turned and walked away.
Naruto watched him leave, his stomach twisting painfully and shooting words up his throat, "I love you too," he whispered.
Sasuke stopped but didn't turn back, his ears high on his head. He stood completely still for a few moments, his ears flattening again, then continued his leave.
Naruto whined softly and took a deep breath, forcing his sore muscles into motion by rolling himself onto his stomach and, with a lot of effort, standing up.
He slowly came out of the water and onto dry land, holding his side with an arm wrapped around his torso.
Naruto lifted his head to look at Sasuke again, who was nearly out of sight between the dark trees of the forest.
He felt his mouth tilt into a smile, before he turned and began walking in another direction.
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The bear was the real victim here :(