Last bit of Chapter 14:

Naruto could feel the warmth of Sasuke's skin and his own began to tingle. His heart was racing; he could feel the other's hot breath as Sasuke gently pulled down Naruto's gag, the material pressed between his teeth.

Sasuke was so close.

The tingles had reached Naruto's fingertips and toes.

Without a single thought, almost shaking, Naruto moved down the centimeter or two he needed to make their lips meet in a kiss.

Chapter 15:

Blood rushed to his face. For a moment his heart stopped.

There were soft, soft, tentative lips against his and his body was simply acting without him.

Before he knew it, his tongue was against Naruto's. In Naruto's mouth. Warm and wet.

His eyes were open.

They were looking at each other.

Shit.

That's all the heir to the Uchiren Empire could think.

Shit. Its really nice.

He felt each heartbeat, and the space between each heartbeat, but most of all this mouth against his, in his. He didn't know if he'd stopped. He didn't know who drew back. But suddenly they were looking at each other with wide eyes and drawing in shaky breaths.

Naruto began, 'Sorry, I've neve-'

Sasuke leant forward and shut him up in the best and, incidentally, the only way currently possible.

Every part of him was absorbed in the action, every single nerve alert and scared and on fire and not caring.

Naruto had kissed him.

Shit.

The door swung open.

Fuck.

Haku was not prepared for the looks of deepest, blushing, hatred that swung to face him. He looked from one to the other uncertainly and whispered, 'I've told Kakashi where we are. I'm going to unchain you. All right?'

They still glared, neither having heard exactly what he said.

'Kakashi's already on his way,' Haku continued even more uncertainly, 'Do you want to meet him?'

Sasuke gave his head a shake, 'What, um, yes!' Sasuke could still feel Naruto on his tongue - he didn't want to talk too much, because it might go away.

Haku undid their chain – only unable to get Kakashi's off them. Naruto and Sasuke hadn't yet looked at each other again. Sasuke couldn't bring himself to – he spoke to Haku instead, as the long-haired boy gestured for them to leave the hold.

'Change of heart?' he asked warily. Could they trust him?

Haku gave him a side-long glance, 'Your brother gave his response.' He looked down. 'I did not expect an answer like that.'

It had become a habit to look at Naruto when they had to make a decision – when he did so now, he saw Naruto look away hastily, his cheeks pink.

Shit.

Did Naruto regret it? If only they were still chained and awaiting certain death. No, wait, he didn't really want that, did he? And Haku was probably misinterpreting their silence. He should say –

'Thanks,' Naruto pre-empted, now talking to Haku's feet so as to be certain to avoid Sasuke's gaze.

Damnit, was it too much to ask to be locked up in a room with him again? Was their survival really that bloody imperative?

'Sasuke?' Haku asked uncertainly, 'Will you come?'

Sasuke supposed that, as a second option, he had to accept getting out alive and then talking to Naruto.

'Yes, let's go.'

xXx

Gekko Hayate looked side-long at his captain and asked, 'Wouldn't it have helped to bring Jiraiya along?' They were both watching Zabuza's ship get larger and larger as they sped toward it. 'That, um, taod of his was quite useful.'

'Yes, but we need some survivors from this ship. And he's ensuring we can catch up – helping Kurenai and Asuma keep the whole god-damn navy at bay.' Bloody \general Aher, ridiculous man, its like trying to shake off a limpet.

'Sir?'

'Yes?'

'Why are you laughing?'

'Memories. Anyway – ready the transition ropes.'

'Sir.'

Zabuza's crew was waiting for them, silent.

Hayate was back. He gave a cough and asked, as they waited to fly the last few meters, 'Does he really train them to kill as he does?'

The captain gave a single nod.

Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist – the leader of an assassins' guild tucked away in the mountains of the Mist Country. No one, incidentally, had ever found it – hence, um, the name. They took in promising orphans and trained them in the art of silent killing – through this they became feared lords of the underground.

The ship was close now. They had to act quickly and leave, as Kakashi's ship had been damaged in the fight with the navy.

The Captain patted his ship fondly and felt a mist begin to encircle them. It had started.

xXx

Ten minutes later.

Naruto, Sasuke and Haku snuck along the dim corridors of the hold, to the sounds of crashing, shouts, clangs of swords and the smell of fire-smoke.

'Your ship must be here,' Haku whispered, and climbed a ladder and lifted a trapdoor.

Naruto looked to the side: Sasuke watched Haku climb. He watched Haku lift the door open. Sasuke tried to look outside.

Naruto frowned.

Sasuke had not acknowledged anything.

Damnit.


 Had he done something wrong? Bad? What was happening? He opened his mouth, but they were already climbing the ladder. Sasuke's dark blue boxers and loose shirt disappeared onto the deck and the chain pulled him up.

Just when Naruto was halfway through the door air compressed and debris flew in the wake of an explosion. His feet were jerked off the ladder, but a pale hand gripped his immediately and pulled him up and behind protective crates.

They fell against each other for an instant – their bodies touching – before they both pulled back, stiff-limbed, and shared glances that darted away from each other.

Why was everything like this now? Sasuke had kissed him back. But he hadn't said a thing about it. Or done anything since. Nor had Naruto though . . .

Argh! Too much!


 He wanted to run, but they were bloody-well chained together!

He realised Haku had spoken and looked up in question. The long-haired boy's face was drawn, his expression hesitant, bone-weary and tense. 'I apologise for betraying you, and I don't expect to be forgiven. Just please accept that I will help you.'

Sasuke and Naruto stared in distracted incomprehension for a moment until the blond managed, 'Oh! That . . .' Naruto waved a hand, 'Don't worry about it.'

Haku looked from the blushing idiot to the dignified blushing idiot.

Then two rapid shadows descended, cracking the boards of the deck as they landed to a deafening clash of their swords.

The smoke dissipated to reveal Hatake Kakashi's white hair and the young dark-haired man – both masked.

Naruto could swear he made out green crackling light down their swords and when they struck each other again, he realised what had been causing all the explosions.

Damn, he thought, feeling something come off those swords.

Zabuza's sword was as tall as he was, and had to be a colossal weight to lift or move. Kakashi's cutlass met it blow for blow.

Haku grabbed two swords off very surprised members of Zabuza's crew, who he had unconscious with the hilt of their own blades before they could fight back or even shout.

'So, um,' Naruto guessed, 'You're sticking with Kakashi from now then?'

Haku turned with a delicate frown, handing them the swords, 'No, I will come back here.'

'But, um . . .'

'I will accept whatever punishment is given. My place is here, with the Hidden Mist and Zabuza.'

xXx

Captain Hatake Kakashi saw the mist thicken, and recognised the throbs of magic within it. He raised an eyebrow; both Zabuza and Haku were concealing their actions.

He was surprised at the boy's abrupt turn – Kakashi expected the betrayal, but not the sudden help. The boy was considering more than his Hidden Mist protectors – something very new. The Assassins' Guild did not deserve such a person; Kakashi knew that from his own youthful days there.

Deflecting another blow and saving another of his crew members from a deathly swipe of Zabuza's ridiculously large sword, the captain sniffed disdainfully. The young man waved that thing around like a maniac.

He no longer had time for this utter lack of finesse. He could feel that Naruto and Sasuke's chain was back on his beautiful Icha Icha Paradise and his pack had picked up that Kurenai and Asuma were almost there.

He whistled, jumped up, cut a piece of rigging, swung over the void and was on his beloved ship before he'd finished the thought.

'Hayate! Ready the towing ropes, they're picking us up!'

Hayate looked into the impenetrable cloud, but did as he was told, knowing the captain was just strange in that way.

'Pakkun? Relay the situation to Kurenai and Asuma. And Bull, make sure my crew's off Zabuza's ship!'

They both set off.

The Captain heard a sickening crunch and a snap and he flipped round as Zabuza landed on his deck, already having cut Hayate in half.

'Running, Kakashi? I wouldn't have thought you the type to run.' He drew himself up, and rested his sword across his shoulders with a dark chuckle. 'You left the Guild, and now you don't even have Royal protection, what are you going to do? Really run?'

'Get off, Zabuza. Don't make me lose my temper.'

'Hand back the brat, Hatake.'

'Haku's heading back by himself, Zabuza, I couldn't stop him anyway.'

'Not that one! The Uchiha! I will drag your ship down to the earth if need be, but I will get what I came for!'

Zabuza's eyes widened slightly at Kakashi's silence and then further as he watched him lift his bandana to reveal his other eye.

Zabuza took a step back as lightening began to gather down Kakashi's cutlass. Hatake's eye flashed – it was red, with three comma's around the pupil – drawn to the centre.

Zabuza spat, 'Royal bastard. Is that how you got your name in the Hidden Mist?'

Zabuza's face showed nothing but anger, but he retreated back onto his ship, as Kakashi flickered forward, his eyes locked onto Zabuza's, stony.

There was no way Zabuza could dodge the blow – Kakashi was too fast – the shadow of a blur as he struck.

Zabuza's eyes widened.

A drip of blood echoed. The mist thinned and the crackling of lightening dissipated.

The Demon of the Hidden Mist looked down. He was unhurt, and Haku was in front of him, Kakashi's blade through his heart. He stumbled backwards and caught the silent, falling boy. His expression froze in disbelief and shock before it turned blank. He sank to his knees, his eyes empty.

'Hatake! Captain!' The cry came from Icha Icha Paradise, 'We're pulling away!'

Kakashi turned slowly, his face solemn. Haku's blood dripped off the end of his blade. He sighed as he returned to his ship and saw Naruto and Sasuke run to the railing, both pale and wide-eyed.

'Is he . . . ?' Naruto started, 'Did you . . . ?'

'He was too fast even for me to stop.'

'But . . . but he helped us!'

'It was his choice to act. I meant to kill Zabuza.'

The ship was being pulled away quickly now and they saw the remaining navy ships swarm onto Zabuza's stationary vessel. The man did nothing to fight against them; he simply held Haku's body, one hand against the boy's cheek.

'What'll happen to him?' Naruto asked as it faded into the distance.

The Captain glanced at Sasuke. 'The same thing that happens to all pirates who are caught. He'll be hung.'

xXx

In silence, Kakashi's crew made its way to Kurenai's ship – closer than Asuma's and in much better repair than Kakashi's.

Sasuke wore a frown. Naruto's face was troubled: Sasuke's frown deepened, he hated it when Naruto was troubled. The urge to latch onto him increased.

Neither of them had been able to stop Haku or had even seen him move in time. By the time that had gotten out onto deck, Haku was already dead.

A gangplank bridge had been set up between the ships for the injured and able crew members alike to cross.

For some reason Kiba was already on it, running toward them.

'Running?' came Hinata's incredulous cry from the far deck, 'You coward!'

'Of course I'm running!' he shouted back, not slowing, 'She's in labour, Hinata! You deal with it. You're equipped for that sort of thing!'

She was on the gang-plank now, catching up fast. 'There's no way I'm doing this by myself, you useless first mate! She's screaming for you!'

'Exactly!'

By accident, of course, Kakashi tripped Kiba up and Hinata caught hold of him – quite the death grip.

No one was spared the girl's efficiency.

'Kakashi, get Mookie and Iruka! Naruto and Sasuke – help me get this lump back there!'

Kiba let out plaintiff cries: 'Betrayal! Betrayal!' as they bundled him along.

xXx

hehe - Grand Prince Sasuke half-naked in an enemy pirate's hold and not wanting to leave because noodle-boy had his tongue in his mouth . . . ah, love - sigh

It's a little crazy how your priorities change so suddenly - one minute life's at the top of the list, the next minute it's saliva exchange :P - It happens to the best of us (Big and Little Pirate nod sagely - oh so worldly-wise)

hope you enjoyed the chapter - the next one will come much sooner - we promise! Writing this long distance is tricky, but we'll do anything and toil against any odds for those wunderbar ppl who write wunderbar reviews!

thank you plenty plenty

(Big Pirate's been working with Austrian students for three weeks, it's creeping into her vocabulary . . .)('Nein!' she tries to deny)

Anyway (hypno-eyes) - REVIEW!

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MWAHAHAHA!