Misery Loves Company

Author: Ladelle

Rating: M

Comments: Thank you for all of your reviews! Tons of people faved me as an author too, which was kind of crazy. But still, very flattering!

Hooray for fast updates too. This has probably been the busiest past couple weeks of my life, but writing just makes me feel calm. So, here's chapter 21!

Chapter 21:

The ride to Nivae was long and eerily silent. Haku would say something every once in a while, and Kotetsu would make a few comments about the golden tall grasses that sprawled as far as eyes could see; but a tension had filled the vehicle, one so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Naruto's elbow had long been discomforted against the window of the car, but he couldn't bring himself to pull his eyes from the passing scenery outside. His stomach felt queasy and a headache beat at his temples, a pain which he attempted to remedy by closing his eyes.

The smell of the car was hot, and the thick scent of heated leather and crowded bodies made him feel even sicker to his stomach. The constant lull of the car's engine made sleep tempting, but the darkness wouldn't seem to come. The second he felt the familiar urge to let his thoughts go, Neji would drift into his mind, and also Morino.

Neji and Morino were arrested.


Naruto's stomach turned.

He and Danzo had made a deal, and no matter what Naruto knew the truth to be--that he had no choice but to leave the airport--Danzo would see it differently. Like Naruto had betrayed him; gone back on his word. Tested him, maybe even escaped in an effort to challenge him.

And now Neji and Morino were going to have to pay for it.

How he knew that, Naruto wasn't sure. But if there was one person he truly feared, it was Danzo. And it wasn't that he was afraid of Danzo himself, more that he wasn't sure what he would do to the people Naruto had left behind.

His hand slid over the smooth cotton material on his stomach as butterflies began to spin in it again. He could feel Gaara's arm brush his own, and even felt the heat of it through the fabric of his jacket. Without meaning to realize it, Naruto felt clammy.

"Are you alright?"

The voice made Naruto glance over to Gaara, who was watching him rather intently. Naruto felt a bead of sweat trickle to his cheek and he wiped it away, catching Sasuke watching him carefully from the other end of the vehicle.

"I'm fine," Naruto lied, and from the front of the car, Kotetsu peered back. His amber eyes lightened a little before he turned to Haku.

"Can we stop at the next station?"

Haku turned to Kotetsu a little surprised, before attempting to twist in his seat to gauge Naruto. "Yeah," he said. "Are you sick?"

His attention returned to the skyway ahead, and Naruto felt his stomach upset more as the car jerked to the side. He let out an agitated breath. "I need to get out."

Suigetsu, who was asleep against Sasuke, mumbled as the car went downwards. Gaara braced backwards at the descent, and Naruto clenched his eyes closed again, only feeling slightly alleviated when the car touched ground. He grabbed the handle of the door and almost fell out as he pushed against it, jumping out of the car as if at any second it might explode. The world spun before him and he sunk to his knees, holding his nauseated head between his hands, taking slow and even breaths.

"Naruto—" It was Haku's concerned voice, but it didn't get very far.

"You still get sick?" Sasuke was by his side suddenly, and the disparity of the voice surprised Naruto, enough that he looked to the side, if only to meet the charcoal eyes scrutinizing him. The stare was too much, it brought back too many memories.

Naruto settled his head between his knees and didn't answer, just felt relief wash over him as the congestion in his head began to clear and his insides didn't feel like mush. A cool breeze made him shiver lightly, even with the sun beating down from above.

Finally, after he was sure Sasuke hadn't expected him to respond, he did. "Not lately."

"You haven't slept in a couple of days," Gaara's voice was steady from behind them. Naruto felt Sasuke bristle at the comment and let out a deep breath. A moment that may have been saved for him and Sasuke was deviated, and with a small bit of irritation in his voice, he replied to Gaara's comment.

"I haven't had the opportunity, no," Naruto said, and he heard feet shuffling from behind him, beside the car. Kotetsu let out a whining sigh, cutting of a displeased retort that Sasuke was about to make.

"That man can sleep through anything!" he exclaimed. Naruto tilted his head back a bit to see who he was referring to, he noticed that the only person not enjoying a break from commuting was Suigetsu.

Oh yeah, Naruto thought wantonly. Suigetsu. Between his clearing head and Sasuke's presence, he had almost forgotten about the other man in the car; the boyfriend that would surely be discomforted to see Sasuke so close to the man he once—and maybe still—loved.

"That man wouldn't be happy about this," Naruto said quietly, motioning towards Sasuke's hand on his shoulder. As if Naruto had become fire, Sasuke's fingers were gone, and an irritated expression replaced one that was unreadable.

"You're an idiot," Sasuke stood up after a minute, shaking his head. Naruto immediately regretted that he had commented too freely, and buried his head in his hands again. Knowing that Sasuke and Suigetsu were together from a distance was okay, but being there, right next to them…

He couldn't control the possessive thoughts in his mind. The ones that he had over two years ago now, the ones that encouraged him to fight so hard to come back to the future and create a life with Sasuke Uchiha.

And somehow, again, even with his best intentions, he had ruined it somehow.

"There's only a little ways left to go," Haku was speaking to Kotetsu, and pointing up to the skyway. Apparently Kotetsu had never been there before, and Haku was almost too happy in explaining how different it was from the city. Sasuke had disappeared from Naruto's side, and the breeze felt good against his skin; he remained crouched down long after he became well enough to stand.

"That kid is relentless," Gaara's voice was low and heady, and as soon as Naruto realized the comment was directed at him, he also noticed he had no idea who Gaara was talking about. He twisted his head backwards and raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

Gaara's eyes were greener when there was lush grass in the distance to compare them to, and they were set in such a way that he barely looked interested in the conversation he himself had brought up. "The one in Nivae," he said coolly. "The one who saved you."

Naruto frowned. The one who saved him? Squinting his eyes, he did his best to remember. The time he and Gaara had first met, the time the redhead had tried to kill him. The alley near Shikamaru's old bar-tending job, the rough pavement beneath him, and warm hands pulling him away; Rock Lee's hands.

"Lee?" Naruto guessed, though Gaara's expression didn't give away if he was right or not. He must have been though, because the other man continued.

"When you left he thought I had killed you," Gaara stated plainly. "He came looking for me. He found me."

Naruto stared. Rock Lee leaving the eco village seemed a bit like a jellyfish attempting to build a home in a tree. His frown slipped lower. "He…went to find you?"

Gaara nodded passively. "You're strange," he said, and the comment seemed almost thoughtful. "Everyone you meet seems to always want to protect you."

Something clicked in Naruto's head. Was Gaara trying to cheer him up? That's the only conclusion he could come to. And still, the words weren't quite enough.

"I don't need protecting," he said shortly. "Considering I tend to get everyone I meet nearly killed or vanished by the government." He stood up and turned, pocketing his hands and facing Gaara, feeling the boiling anger begin to brew in his mind again.

Neji and Morino.

Because of me.

Gaara's expression soured a bit, and from behind him, Naruto saw Sasuke emerging from a convenience store in the distance with bottles of water. His mouth watered a bit at the sight, but Gaara's voice brought his attention back.

"It's not like you to give up."

The phrase stuck in his mind, feeling like a verbal frying pan that had been slammed against the forefront of his mind. His fists clenched a little, and he let out a breath before giving a response.

"I haven't given up," he stated. "I've just never been good at prioritizing."

Sasuke shoved a water bottle at him, and Naruto murmured a thank you, all before everyone else got handed one as well. Haku took a long gulp and looked at his icon, saying that they should leave soon. Kotetsu agreed, and Gaara remained silent and impassive, leaning against the frame of the sleek black air car.

Taking one last glance inside the car in order to see Suigetsu's sleeping form, Naruto spoke up. "Can I have ten minutes?"

Haku looked at him, a little surprised at the request, before glancing down to his icon. "Of course. What do you—"

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's wrist and pulled him away from the others, ignoring the initial hesitation that made him feel more like a tow truck than a man desperate to speak. Sasuke's resolve lightened, however, and Naruto led him to a small sitting bench that sat abandoned by what looked like an old dirt road.

He was slightly thankful a pile of red-rocks blocked them from everyone near Suigetsu's car, and he slid down onto the seating, patting a place next to him in order for Sasuke to follow. Naruto even looked up, squinting a little as the sun caught his eyes, watching as Sasuke's stern glare hardened. The corporate mogul did not sit.

"It's like cat and mouse with you," he said instead, and Naruto frowned.

"I could say the same about you."

There was a short period of silence before Sasuke turned away. "If you didn't have anything to say to me—"

"Don't be that way. Sit down," Naruto said, though his voice wasn't demanding. It actually sounded desperate.

He hadn't expected Sasuke to follow his directions, but, as unreadable as always, the bench beside him creaked as Sasuke's weight met with it. For a small moment, Naruto enjoyed the feeling of Sasuke's skin so close to his own. He was always warm. He always had been.

"I'm only going to say this once, since somehow over the past year you've become even more stubborn," Naruto said, and he sat back into the wood plating of the bench, looking up to the sky, unable to meet Sasuke's eyes.

"Everything I've done up until now has been for you, whether you believe it or not. I've had to make hard choices, just like you have, and I'm not going to sit back when you try and tell me that I've been selfish, or worse, done nothing." The comment about Itachi still gnawed at him.

Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, but Naruto turned to him. His expression was harsh enough that Sasuke didn't speak at all. "Please let me finish."

Silence. Sasuke pursed his lips.

Naruto continued. "I get it, you're with him, you have new responsibilities." He wasn't waving it off, he just couldn't bring himself to start an argument.

"And still, after everything, my feelings haven't changed." Naruto trailed off. "But Sasuke…as long as you're with him, you have no right to tell me what I can and can't do."

Sasuke looked genuinely surprised. Naruto let out a breath and stood up, feeling a tiny bit relieved that he could at least say this. "I'm going to stop them, for good."

He looked down to Sasuke, completely serious. "I'm sure you've realized it too. I'm the only one that can."

Sasuke was up faster than Naruto could think possible, his eyes finally flaring to life, looking eager and upset all at once. "Don't say stupid things. This isn't some game—"

"I know it isn't," Naruto interrupted. "It wasn't a game two years ago either, when I was sent back and left without the one thing that seemed to make everything about my life okay."

When Sasuke stared at him questioningly, Naruto shook his head. "You, Sasuke," he clarified. There was something that flashed in Sasuke's eyes, and, not knowing if he was being unfair or not, Naruto spoke again. "But I'm not a home wrecker, and I certainly can't make any promises when I've got the entire world after me, which is why I don't have the energy to fight with you anymore."

He felt more serious when he looked at Sasuke. "I…can't."

What he was trying to say, not even he was sure. It had something to do with wanting to protect Sasuke and even more to do with the fact he wasn't sure how long it would be before he wouldn't stand a chance of putting Sasuke in danger. It wasn't that he was giving up, or that he wanted to give up, but that for the first time since he had been in the future, he had to make choices.

And he had to make them on his own.

The wind blew and a leaf tickled the pavement of the gravel road beside them, lost in the cool fall air and also to the distance. Sasuke was in front of him before he could even notice the small piece of nature, and when Naruto was yanked forward by his wrist, he could barely get any words out.

"Don't—" Sasuke stared at him, his eyes full of a misplaced rage. "Don't say that."

Despite it being a completely serious comment, Naruto choked out a small laugh. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, looking offended. "You think it's funny?"

Naruto shook his head before taking in Sasuke's expression again. "Of course not. You can't have everything Sasuke, or everyone."

"I don't' want everyone, I want—"

A crumble of rocks drew their attention sideways.

"I'm sorry guys, but…we need to get going. Some police are headed to the Nivae stop point…or so Haku's icon said…" Kotetsu looked like a small child who happened to interrupt an argument between his parents: extremely guilty.

Naruto bowed his head slightly, his heart having rushed a little, wondering what the next words from Sasuke's mouth were going to be. Wondering…and also scared to death to hear.

Because, Naruto realized, he had no idea what he was to Sasuke anymore.

"Alright," he said, and he stepped forward, past Sasuke, not able to bring himself to see the expression on Sasuke's face, the disappointment, or even worse, the possible lack thereof.

Kotetsu looked back and forth between them as Naruto walked away, and when Sasuke's eyes met his own, he felt his own heart drop. Even as he walked back to the car himself, he wasn't sure why; all he knew was that if anyone deserved happiness, it was Naruto.

"Morino…I have a question." Neji was huddled on the floor of the cell he had been placed in, and he spoke quietly enough that he would have been lucky if Morino, locked next to him, had even heard at all.

"They're expecting us to talk," Morino said sharply, and Neji knew it was true. There was probably a guard nearby, hoping to catch an admission of sorts, or maybe even cameras hidden as well.

"I know," he said sternly. His lip was bruised, and it burned a little as he spoke, his teeth rubbing uncomfortably behind it. "Do you know what Danzo's talking about?"

It was a question that had been on his mind since their interrogation had begun, and one he couldn't hold in any longer. Even though he had been one of the first people for Naruto to be reacquainted with when he returned, he had never bothered to ask just how Naruto had done so. And if anyone would know, it would be Morino.

"There is a time machine," Morino said flatly. "Danzo already seems to know about it, so pretending like I don't know would be pointless. But…Naruto is the only one who knows anything else. He said he'd get rid of it…"

Neji didn't need Morino to say the rest; his own mind finished the sentence for him. Naruto hadn't gotten rid of it. It was still out there, somewhere, and somehow Danzo knew about it.

"And it works?" Neji asked, not really expecting an answer. Morino remained quiet, and the realization settled with Neji that he didn't know. Only Naruto did.

"Naruto…" Neji said to himself, quietly. "What have you gotten yourself into…?"

There was a brief period of pure quiet, and when Morino spoke, he sounded more like a father than he did a commander.

"Doesn't it…strike you as odd that Naruto didn't put up a fight?"

The question hung in the air like a foul odor, making Neji flinch. It was something that had been on his mind, but it was a thought he hadn't had much time to think about. From the way things looked, Naruto had gone along with Kisame of his own free will.

Something that didn't make sense, or rather, something he didn't want to believe was true.

"He wouldn't betray us," Neji said firmly, believing his own words. Naruto was the most honest person he knew. If he couldn't trust him, he couldn't trust anyone.

"I didn't mean it that way," Morino said softly, almost to the point that Neji had to strain his ears to catch it.

What other way could it have been meant?

Why else would Naruto leave with the Akatsuki; the very people out to capture him?

Unless…

"Danzo," Neji breathed. "It's all because of him."

Puzzle pieces began falling into place. Naruto wasn't a liar, he just hadn't been upfront. After all, Kisame couldn't have escaped without the help of someone on the inside, and if that someone wasn't Naruto, it could only be—

"I've had a feeling that Danzo and the Akatsuki were working together for a while now," Morino said, and Neji's breath caught. He wanted more than anything to know what lies Danzo had been feeding Naruto; what was compelling enough to make Naruto leave with the very people he detested.

"But then again, I've also had a feeling that Naruto was getting tired."

Neji's head twisted at this, trying to find Morino's expression through the concrete wall that separated them. He frowned. "Tired of what? Us?" He sounded offended.

Morino cleared his throat. His reply was simple. "Tired of running."

Oh.

"He came here because he wanted to start a new life, one with Sasuke," Morino said a bit dully. It was obvious he wasn't a romantic. It was also pretty clear he didn't know about Neji's feelings for Naruto, because he continued. "We forced him to become an officer, we shoved him into the lion's den with Kisame, and we were too naïve to keep him hidden from Danzo. To be honest, I'd be surprised if he has any faith in us at all."

Neji scrunched his nose. "Naruto's not like that. He wouldn't think that way. He just wants to do his best—"

"Even if Naruto does everything by the book, it doesn't guarantee him the future he wants here. That's why I don't understand him. Why I don't understand travelers. The grass isn't greener, no matter how hard you squint."

"For some people it is," Neji countered. His outburst was sudden, and Morino chuckled a little.

"Did you find her?"

There was a looming silence before Neji nodded, but he pulled his knees to his chest as he spoke. "Yeah."

"That girl, Tenten? You saved her all those years back. It's amazing she's still on your mind—"

"She went back."

Silence.

"After Danzo sent Naruto back, he sent a lot of the others back too. She was one of them." Neji frowned, realizing for the longest time he hadn't wanted to accept it. She was the first person he had saved; the first traveler he had ever met. He had felt indebted to her, in some way, and had used a lot of his spare time trying to find out where she had been sent back to.

"Did you like her?" Danzo asked, completely serious.

Neji frowned and rolled his eyes. "No. I just liked the idea of having someone to protect."

And that was the truth. That was why he fought for people as an officer, and why he had guarded Naruto for so long. It was a strange realization, and it made him feel like a new door had opened in his mind.

I want to protect Naruto.

"We can't let him down," Morino said, as if he had been reading Neji's thoughts. Neji nodded.

"I wasn't planning on it."

Morino seemed to agree, because their conversation ended in silence. An iron door at the end of the hallway groaned as it opened, and Neji's grip tightened around his legs, knowing that another interrogation was about to go underway. He was strong, he could stomach it, he would for Naruto's sake.

Danzo's shiny black boots caught his eye as the older man came to stand in front of his cell, and Neji didn't bother looking up at him. He didn't deserve it.

"I've come—"

"We don't know anything about a time machine," Neji said coldly. "You're wasting your time."

Danzo snorted at the interruption and let out an irritated breath. "I have a different question, this time," he said, his voice like ice.

This time Neji did glance up, eyes narrowed. "Whatever it is, you already know my answer." The words were practically spit in Danzo's crinkled old face.

"What is it?" Morino said loudly, as if trying to distract from Neji's stubbornness. Danzo glanced over, catching Morino's eyes.

"It seems Naruto is much like a cat," he said thickly. "And he's used a fair share of his nine lives and managed to escape yet again."

Relief surged through Neji. That meant Haku and Kotetsu had found him.

"I'm going to give you two hours to come up with plausible locations as to where he could be. If you don't comply, I will be forced to ensure that you can't refuse."

Neji's frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed. "And how do you plan on forcing us?"

Danzo smirked. The room felt heavy and cold, and knots churned in Neji's stomach.

"I won't lie, you did a good job hiding her after I sent Naruto back," Danzo stated. "But the moment Hinata heard you were in jail…Let's just say that she's on her way here."

Neji's eyes bulged and he was on his feet, gripping the wall next to him.

"Don't lay a finger on her—"

"It's really up to you," Danzo said lazily, picking off imaginary lint on his coat.

When Neji was silent, his smile deepened.

"Two hours."

Neji heard Morino curse from the cell beside him. Danzo left the room. Neji sank to the floor and buried his hands in his hair, feeling as desperate as he was nervous.

He had no idea where Naruto could be.

a/n: I'll try to update fast again, but I can't make any promises. My birthday is this friday and this huge and gigantic project that determines if I'm going to graduate on time is due next Tuesday, so...er...I will do my best.

Spoilers:

OMG! I'm seriously wondering what's going to happen with poor Naruto! I'm thinking...Ma and Pa have something up their sleeves, Sasuke will come to the rescue...or maybe Kyuubi will kick in?

I can't bear to think of what will happen if he really :is: caught.

...