By Jasmine Starlight
Full Summary: Yaoi/het. Neji/Sasu Sasuke's slightly mordant; Itachi just might be a sociopath. Maybe Gaara is from a broken home. Neji just may be in the closet. Maybe Naruto might be lonely. Maybe Kabuto needs someone to love. Maybe Kakashi might need someone to hold. Maybe Sakura might need real friends. Maybe Temari needs a reality check. Maybe Kankurou needs anger management. Maybe Jiraiya needs Tsunade. Maybe Orochimaru needs them both. Maybe Hinata needs freedom. Maybe Kiba might need acceptance. Maybe Ino needs confidence. Maybe Tenten needs medication. Perhaps Shikamaru needs love. Shino, quite possibly could need companionship. Maybe Tayuya is hiding behind her personality. Maybe Haku fears rejection. Maybe Kimimaro desires friendship. Maybe Lee is crying out for attention. Maybe Obito needs compassion.
My floppy is being gay and won't let me reread chapter 7.
I think my characterization of Obito is rather bland. I can't make him like Naruto…fuck.
What the fuck.
But I did prioritize studying for my math test to write this chapter…so maybe it will be out by Saturday morning?
Pairings:…Neji/Sasu…Kimimaro/Haku…Obito/Kakashi eventual…Itachi/Kakashi…then Itachi/Kabuto…perhaps I could stick some rape in there somewhere. Tenten/Kankurou…Naruto/Gaara…Orochimaru/Jiraiya/Tsunade…not sure about that one. Open to suggestions. I'm thinking of doing Ino/Shikamaru/Temari…but whatever works for you guys man…Kiba/Ukon! Zaku/Kin…Hinata/Shino…Eventual Ino/Chouji. Tayuya/Lee. Dosu/Kidoumaru…Zabuza/Haku…then…Zabuza/Kisame! Shisui/Sakon!
CHAPTER EIGHT
CLEANING OUT THE CLOSET
"Look to the stars
Let hope burn in your eyes
And we'll love
And we'll hope
And we'll die
All to no avail
All to no avail
This is the last time I'll abandon you
And this is the last time I'll forget you
I wish I could."
---Muse; Stockholm Syndrome
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I think life is encompassed by death and taxes.
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Shino-kun has been acting odd lately, whenever I ask him something he starts to scowl and then he runs away.
Is he mad at me or something?
Did I do something? I've been wanting to talk to Kiba-kun about it but he keeps disappearing after class ends. I'm beginning to get worried. But Kiba-kun has seemed happier lately.
Are they avoiding me?
Why won't my friends talk to me?
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I'm beginning to suspect that this whole "going out thing" with Neji has been a ploy to make someone else jealous.
How very high school of him. Although on some level I should be hurt, it doesn't bother me that much. Perhaps it's because subconsciously I knew from the start that it wouldn't work. I have a tendency to set myself up for failure.
Like swooning over Uchiha Sasuke in all of elementary and middle school. That was a gargantuan mistake. HUGE. Even bigger than starting the Uchiha Sasuke fan club. (That was before he became antisocial and anti-extra curricular activities) Now that you think about it, Sasuke became a social outcast as soon as we entered high school.
That was also the first time Ino went into Uchiha OVERLOAD. That was disturbing. Bordering on the side of traumatizing.
That boy showed no signs of ever wanting to be in a relationship with anyone. Ever.
I guess he's asexual.
Good luck to the dimwit who gets stuck dating him…
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Sasuke glared menacing at the locker which refused to relinquish its death grasp on his schoolwork.
"Come--" each word punctuated by a violent kick from Sasuke "—on--" Kick. "—you stupid--" kick. "—piece of--" Kick. "—shit."
Sasuke returned to his old standby.
"Runt! What the fuck are you doing?" Shisui asked smugly as he walked over to Sasuke.
"Mind over matter, Shisui. It's a concept your tiny mind wouldn't be able to grasp."
"I think you would be the tiny one here."
"Here we go with the height cracks again, couldn't you have gotten Itachi to write you some new insults? Or was he too busy with his new boyfriend?"
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I thought so. Unlike you some of us have to rely on grades to go to college, so I'm going to go now. Let's reschedule this little conversation for—I'm busy on Tuesday—never."
"You forgot your books."
"I hate you."
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"Neji-kun! Did you finish reading the chapters for Gai-sensei's test?" Lee asked as he jogged in place with his weighted book bag.
Neji looked up dully, "Huh? Oh that, I only got halfway through."
"I only achieved a quarter!" Lee said miserably, "I must do a thousand laps around the school—"
"Lee—"
"—carrying dumbbells—"
"—Lee—"
"—10 pound dumbbells?"
"LEE! Gai said he'd be giving a review anyway, so it doesn't matter."
"He did? Oh Gai-sensei is the most giving sensei we will ever have! Cherish these precious high school moments!" Lee's wide eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
"Lee, do me a favor?"
"Yes?"
"Go make out with Tayuya."
"Why?"
"Because it keeps you quiet."
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"You're late."
"Kurenai wanted to ask about my independent study."
"Of what?"
"The psychological trauma of sexual abuse in preadolescent children."
"Touché."
"Close the door."
There was a muffled bang sound as the door was slammed shut and locked. The bangs continued as desks shifted and squeaked on the linoleum. Then abruptly all noise stopped.
And so did the world on its axis.
§§§§§§§§§§§
"We need to talk." Sakura said somberly as she leaned against the lockers.
"So talk." Neji said plainly as he groped blindly in his locker.
"Neji—I think we should stop seeing each other."
"What?"
"I think that our relationship is superficial and without meaning or point--"
"Why?"
Sakura stopped talking and leaned a little bit closer. "I think that you just asked me out because you're trying to make someone else jealous—maybe you should apologize for whatever you did to him—"
"Him? How do you know it's a him?"
"It can't be any of the girls here."
"Why?"
"Because you've known them for too long. They're too close."
"So?"
"That's why you picked me."
"Where are you getting this from?"
"It's the truth. I'm not completely blind, I know how you act. How you've been acting. And how you will continue to act if I let this stupid and ill-thought venture continue."
"What are you saying exactly?"
"I'm saying: Stop hiding in the fucking closet, you stupid queer."
§§§§§§§§§§§
Obito pinched Itachi's nose until he started gasping for air. Obito was greeted with Itachi's scowl before he moved toward the board and began erasing his erroneous calculations.
"You fell asleep."
"Gee thanks for telling me." Itachi mumbled as sunk lower in his seat.
Obito said nothing. Itachi said nothing.
Nothing.
Their contest of nothingness was interrupted when Sasuke burst in the door. "Where've you been?" he asked harshly.
"Sleeping." Obito replied smugly.
"Why?"
"Because." Itachi said defiantly as he gathered his personal affects.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Now that we've had our perfunctory awkward moment, can we go now?" Sasuke asked impatiently.
"It's not like you have anything important to do, Runt." Obito said as he threw his keys into the air.
"Like you do?" Itachi asked contemptuously.
Obito seemed to think about it for a moment, Sasuke groaned.
"Obito—" Kakashi strode into the room lazily, "Are you having a clan meeting?"
"No." All three Uchihas replied incredulously.
"Right—what was I here for again? Oh yeah, Gai wants to know if you're coming for drinks tonight."
"Is he paying?"
"Pro--"
"Can you hurry up?" Sasuke demanded.
"Is that anyway to treat a sensei?"
"I'll treat you like a sensei when you start acting like one."
Itachi let his face relax into a small smirk—Sasuke could be amusing, rather than irritating—at times.
Kakashi had nothing to say in response to Sasuke—instead he turned to Obito and posed his question again. "Coming or not?"
"Go already! Itachi and I will walk."
"We--"
"When did you start making decisions?"
"When did you stop?"
"I--"
"What's with you? You seem more fussy than usual? Did baby not get to play with his favorite doll?"
"Baby? You're the one who was taking a nap."
"Oi!" Obito dragged his nails down the board, "Runt and Runty Weasel—shut the fuck up for a minute and let me think."
"I--"
"I--"
Obito brought his hand down a second time.
"Well Kakashi, I think I will join you." Obito said languidly.
Sasuke started to twitch, "But, so the kiddies don't have to walk home in the dark--"
Obito tossed the keys to Itachi.
§§§§§§§§§§§
Chat #49846489 has opened
UZImaki01 has entered room.
FanManAvenger! Has entered room.
UZImaki01: sup?
FanManAvenger: Nothing.
RedAsBlood09666 has entered room
UZImaki01: Hey Gaara!
RedAsBlood09666:…
UZImaki01: how come your away message is always on?
RedAsBlood09666:…
FanManAvenger:…maybe Gaara has other things to do then be annoyed by a Dobe like you.
UZImaki01: OI! What the fuck?
DeadlyPinkPetals has entered room.
DestinyIsDeath has entered room.
DeadlyPinkPetals: Hi guys!
UZImaki01: Sakura-chan! Sasuke's being an asshole again!
DeadlyPinkPetals: And you were probably being an idiot again.
UZImaki01: HEY!
RedAsBlood09666: Who's the other guy?
UZImaki01 has signed off.
RedAsBlood09666 has signed off.
DeadlyPinkPetals has signed off.
FanManAvenger: What the fuck…
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Chat #49846490 has opened
UZImaki01 has entered room.
DeadlyPinkPetals has entered room.
RedAsBlood09666 has entered room.
UZImaki01: Yo! What the fuck just happened?
DeadlyPinkPetals: We need to give Sasuke-kun some time alone…
RedAsBlood09666: Time alone with who?
DeadlyPinkPetals:…
UZImaki01: Sakura-chan?
DeadlyPinkPetals:…Sasuke-kun needs to talk to Neji for a little while.
RedAsBlood09666: Why?
DeadlyPinkPetals:…I'm not at liberty to say.
RedAsBlood09666: Are you matchmaking for Uchiha?
DeadlyPinkPetals: I guess you could say that.
UZImaki01: Can you speak normally Sakura-chan?
RedAsBlood09666: Apparently not.
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FanManAvenger: Who is this?
DestinyIsDeath: Who do you think it is?
FanManAvenger: Can you just answer the question?
DestinyIsDeath: No.
FanManAvenger: Why are you here then?
DestinyIsDeath: To talk to you.
FanManAvenger: And you couldn't have done this in person?
DestinyIsDeath: No.
FanManAvenger: Do I know you?
DestinyIsDeath: Yes.
FanManAvenger: Are you in my grade?
DestinyIsDeath: No.
FanManAvenger: Are you a Freshman?
DestinyIsDeath: Pedophilic much?
§§§§§§§§§§§
"Why don't you come over?"
"Not today." Kabuto coughed.
"Kabuto-kun, you realize that is not negotiable?"
"I'm sick." Kabuto replied weakly, as he twirled the phone cord around his fingers.
"Kabuto-kun I'm beginning to think that you're going back on your word."
"N-No! I wouldn't."
"Then I can't fulfill my part of the deal." There was a hissing noise on the other end.
Kabuto coughed again, "Next week. I swear I'll come."
"You'd better." There was a muffled click as the other end hung up.
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Chat room SUCK ON THAT has been opened
DeathisNoESCAPE: Fcuk.
RedAsBlood09666: What a great way to start a conversation.
Pearleyedgirl87:…
DeathisNoESCAPE: I'm having a bad day.
RedAsBlood09666: Do tell.
Pearleyedgirl87: Ditto.
DeathisNoESCAPE: I have a problem.
Pearleyedgirl87: I think we guessed that already, elaborate, if you please.
DeathisNoESCAPE: I think I'm being extorted.
RedAsBlood09666: You think?
DeathisNoESCAPE: I know I'm being extorted.
Pearleyedgirl87: By whom?
DeathisNoESCAPE: I think can't say.
Pearleyedgirl87: What do you need from us?
DeathisNoESCAPE: Advice.
RedAsBlood09666: What is he blackmailing you with? Scandalous pictures of you at a keg party? A video tape?
Pearleyedgirl87: What?
RedAsBlood09666: Never mind.
DeathisNoESCAPE: Not exactly.
RedAsBlood09666: Geez, if you didn't want to tell us you shouldn't have told us…
Pearleyedgirl87: Make sense please.
DeathisNoESCAPE: He's got dirt about my family.
Pearleyedgirl87: The nature of this dirt ventures in which direction?
RedAsBlood09666: Obviously down the shady and embarrassing direction or he would tell us more…
Pearleyedgirl87: Be quiet.
DeathisNoESCAPE: So he makes me do stuff for him…
RedAsBlood09666?
Pearleyedgirl87: Ditto.
DeathisNoESCAPE: …
Pearleyedgirl87: Like what kind of "stuff"?
DeathisNoESCAPE: Stuff.
RedAsBlood09666: The way you say stuff makes me sort of nervous.
DeathisNoESCAPE: Stuff makes me nervous too.
Pearleyedgirl87: What do you want to do?
DeathisNoESCAPE: I've been doing stuff for him for awhile—so I know some things…I want to know if I should call his bluff.
Pearleyedgirl87: …
RedAsBlood09666: Stuff for him or stuff to him?
Pearleyedgirl87: What's wrong with you!
DeathisNoESCAPE: No comment.
Pearleyedgirl87: How good is what you've got on him?
DeathisNoESCAPE: Good enough.
RedAsBlood09666: This ambiguity is getting annoying.
Pearleyedgirl87: Like what he has on you?
DeathisNoESCAPE: It's enough to get him in trouble with the law.
RedAsBlood09666: Then the coppers will have to know what you've been "doing for him."
DeathisNoESCAPE:…
Pearleyedgirl87: Not necessarily.
DeathisNoESCAPE:…
Pearleyedgirl87: How long has it been going on?
DeathisNoESCAPE: Awhile.
RedAsBlood09666: Tsk. Tsk. More details.
DeathisNoESCAPE: No.
DeathisNoESCAPE has left chat.
RedAsBlood09666: Well, there goes that.
Pearleyedgirl87:…sigh.
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Chat #7899415 has opened
SelfLoathersUnite has entered room.
OpaqueGlasses has entered room.
SelfLoathersUnite: Hey.
OpaqueGlasses: Hey.
SelfLoathersUnite: What's up?
OpaqueGlasses: Nothing. I need to see you.
SelfLoathersUnite: Why? Is something wrong?
OpaqueGlasses: No. I need you.
SelfLoathersUnite: When?
OpaqueGlasses: Now…
SelfLoathersUnite: I'm not sure I can get out…
OpaqueGlasses: Try. Please…I really need you.
SelfLoathersUnite: Where?
OpaqueGlasses: At the pier.
SelfLoathersUnite: Abandoned?
OpaqueGlasses: Yes.
OpaqueGlasses has signed off.
END
Tidal rabbit: Thanks.
Chibi-Crysti- Thanks.
KuraResa- Not many entries in this chapter. But plot development.
Bitenshi- Soon enough?
Lala to the power of 2- Never!
The Caged Bird- Some people have two screen names.