Blurred Lines

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9

A week later and Sasuke privately acknowledges that living in two realms was exhausting. In the other realm, he was still training with Naruto and his family. On Earth, he was studying, hanging out with Taka, and stalking Kimimaro.

It was that last part that was the most exhausting. The silver haired man was quite perceptive when it came to his surroundings. Truthfully, it was almost impossible to follow him around without getting caught.

"Damn that was close." Sasuke whispers to himself as he hides outside of Orochimaru's office.

Kimimaro visited Orochimaru a lot. At first, Sasuke thought that maybe the old pervert had offered the beautiful college student a position as his research assistant. Professor Sannin seemed to have a thing for "pretty boys."

Sasuke hated to think of himself that way, but he knew that's how most people would label him. Naruto certainly seemed to think that he was beautiful. Orochimaru looked at him in the same way that a starving dog might eye a steak.

"You're late." Orochimaru says from behind the door.

So sadly, the youngest Uchiha had just decided to accept he fact that he was a "pretty boy." It annoyed him to no end, but facts were facts. At least, Kimimaro was in the same boat.

"I'm sorry. I was on a date with Jugo. I can't afford to blow my cover." Kimimaro reminds him.

His cover?! What the Hell did that mean?! Sasuke frowns as he listens to the two converse further.

It wasn't an easy task. The doors were shut, but he had always had exceptional hearing. That and there was no way that he was going to let Kimimaro hurt his friend.

"Of course. I worry that you are growing too attached to the human though. Are you going to be able to do what needs to be done?" Orochimaru hisses at him.

Too attached to the human? That didn't make any sense. Weren't they human as well?

"I'm fully capable of doing what needs to be done. Besides, there's no reason that we can't take him with us. I think that Jugo would quite like Eien No Yume." He suggests.

"I don't care. If you can convince Sasuke to take your new lover, I don't mind. Our priority is getting home though. If it comes down to him or returning to our realm, I need to know that I can count on you." The professor growls at him.

Sasuke hadn't imagined it. Kimimaro really was some kind of fairy. Apparently, so was Orochimaru. That or at the very least, he was also from Eien No Yume.

He didn't know how to feel about that. Suddenly, it all made sense. Kimimaro was clearly trying to get close to Jugo to get close to him. The fairy just wanted to go home.

"Hopefully, that's all they want." Sasuke murmurs to himself.

He could certainly understand wanting to go home. If that was the extent of their desires, there was nothing particularly malicious about that. Sasuke would be willing to give them a ride home. (Well once he figured out how to do so).

After all, he'd be really happy not to have to sit in Professor Pervert's class. It would work out rather nicely. They could go home and maybe Sasuke would get a normal psychology teacher.

"Of course, you can count on me! I'm offended that you would even ask me that!" Kimimaro snaps at Orochimaru.

Sasuke smirks. It was nice to see that the fairy was standing up to the other fairy (or whatever Orochimaru was). Nevermind. It was the principle of the thing.

"I'll tear your wings off, if you betray me. I swear it, Kimimaro. You'd do well to remember that. No one crosses the Goblin King!" He snarls at him.

The Goblin King?! Orochimaru was the Goblin King, but that wasn't possible. That was who had kidnapped Itachi. How could Orochimaru be here and have kidnapped his brother in the other realm?

At first, Sasuke thought that his professor was a Traveler, but that didn't make any sense either. The Goblin King wouldn't be so obsessed with going home, if he could get there himself. No, Orochimaru wasn't a Traveler.

"You aren't the Goblin King, anymore. You were banished years ago. In this realm, nearly all of your power has been taken from you. Even if you return to our home, there is no guarantee that you would best Danzo." Kimimaro snarls at him.

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY?! YOU UNGRATEFUL WORM?!" Orochimaru demands and it was at that moment that Sasuke kicks down the door.

It sounded too much like an actual fight was going to break out. He wasn't going to let Orochimaru actually hurt the fairy. Yeah. Kimimaro was apparently being manipulative, but he seemed to care about Jugo on some level. He cared enough to want to bring the other man with him.

"Stop it!" Sasuke growls at him and Orochimaru's eyes widen in horror.

How much had the other man heard? If he had heard everything, it was highly unlikely that Sasuke would be willing to take them back to Eien No Yume. Damn it! Kimimaro might have just ruined everything.

Meanwhile back in the other realm, Itachi sighs in the dungeon. He could only hope that his family wouldn't fall for Danzo's trap. Sadly, he was no longer entirely sure of anything.

"Your lover is the most irritating being that I have ever had the misfortune of encountering." Danzo seethes.

Hmm. Kisame was irritating the Goblin King? Well, that was just one more reason to love the man. It didn't take a genius to figure out what the merman was doing, but Itachi adored listening to Danzo's fury anyway.

"That's just one of the many reasons why I love him. Pray tell, how has he vexed you this time?" Itachi inquires.

"He damn near went and sunk almost half of my navy. HALF!" The unfortunately looking creature thunders.

The Uchiha couldn't help but smile at this news. That was Kisame for you. He was quite the determined individual and he was more than a little vengeful. Danzo had picked the wrong Traveler to kidnap.

"Less than half? Well that's a bit disappointing. I'm certain that by the time that this is all sorted out, you won't have a single ship left." The smoky eyed elf informs him cheerfully.

"You insolent brat!" Danzo snarls at him and Itachi smirks.

He knew that Danzo couldn't kill him. He'd likely beat him, but Itachi wasn't going to die. He was too important to kill and they both knew it.

"You ugly goblin!" The Uchiha retorts and Danzo's eyes narrow.

Itachi didn't know much about goblin beauty standards, but apparently it was a sore subject. Naturally, that's why he brought it up. He wanted to hurt the other man and it appeared that he had succeeded.

"I'll have you know that I am handsome! It's you who are the ugly one!" He growls at Itachi.

"Maybe, I am by your species standards. I don't care about that though. I already have someone who loves me. I care naught about anyone else's opinion about my looks. It seems that you do though. How unfortunate for you, seeing that you look like ancient tree bark covered in pond slime!" Itachi observes.

"I look forward to your death with great relish." Danzo snaps at him as he leaves the dungeon.

Itachi smirks. He had gotten under Danzo's skin. Good. Angry people were sloppy. If Danzo got sloppy, maybe he could find a way to escape.

"I just have to be patient." He whispers to himself.

That's when he heard the sound of hooves coming towards him. Hooves meant centaurs. Centaurs likely meant Sai. Oh this should be highly entertaining.

"You really shouldn't provoke him in such a fashion." Sai says with a cheerful smile.

That smile wasn't human. Of course, Sai wasn't human. That was besides the point though. The fact of the matter was that Sai's smile made even Itachi feel uneasy. It was just so fake.

"I don't care about what I should or shouldn't do. I'm not one of his subjects. Neither are you really." Itachi retorts.

"I've served Danzo faithfully for many years. I may not be a goblin, but I still serve the Goblin Kingdom. Since when are you such a speciest? You took a merman for your lover. I would think that you would be more open minded about such things." Sai taunts him.

"I would think that he would have gagged you by now. I hope you realize that he sees you as nothing more than a talking animal." The Uchiha states as his eyes narrow at the centaur.

He didn't like the other man bringing up Kisame. It was different than when Danzo did it. Danzo had actual emotions. This creature didn't. Danzo had likely long ago beaten them out of him and that knowledge was very unnerving to say the least.

Elsewhere Sasuke glares at Orochimaru. The other man looked rather shocked by his sudden appearance. Good, the youngest Uchiha thinks to himself. That would serve him right for attacking a defenseless fairy.

"So you're the Goblin King. You're lucky that you aren't the one who took my brother. I would have killed you for that. I suppose that this does explain a lot. I wasn't imagining Kimimaro's wings earlier, was I?" Sasuke demands.

Orochimaru mentally sighs. This was certainly not the first impression that he had been hoping to make on Sasuke. Well the first magical impression anyway. Sasuke had been his student for months, after all.

"You weren't imagining his wings. I am so sorry for this unpleasant misunderstanding, I would be more than happy to explain everything." The college professor offers.

Sasuke shakes his head. No. He wasn't going to listen to anymore of Orochimaru's lies or tolerate his deception.

He didn't necessarily think that Orochimaru was a bad guy. He could understand wanting to go home, but the former Goblin King certainly wasn't a good guy. Despite that, Sasuke needed more information.

"I don't like you. I don't trust you, but I know that you want to go back to Eien No Yume. If the two of you help me get my brother back, I will take you back. I don't care about your petty squabbles." Sasuke says.

"Ah how reasonable of you. Well I have to take back my Kingdom, of course. If Danzo truly has taken Itachi prisoner, I see no reason why I can not assist you in rescuing him. It would only be fair." Orochimaru coos at him.

Sasuke was disturbed by how the elder man was speaking to him. Orochimaru was likely trying to seduce him. Again. He didn't care for that, but decides to ignore the disgust that he felt in favor of saving Itachi.

"Good. Kimimaro?" Sasuke asks.

"I will gladly help you save Itachi. I do care about Jugo. That wasn't a lie. I didn't expect to care about him as much as I do, but that doesn't change the fact that my feelings for him are now sincere." The fairy assures him.

Orochimaru feels himself twitch. He couldn't believe that Kimimaro was discussing such things now. Now was not the time. Who cared about his love life? He had a Kingdom to reclaim!

"I'm glad to hear it. Perhaps one day, I will bring Jugo to your world. For now, I just want to save my brother. When I take you back, you must hide. I don't want my family, Naruto, or anyone else to see you. It will raise too many questions." Sasuke says.

"Of course. There are few species that are better at hiding than fairies." The silver haired man informs him.

"I have no issue with remaining unseen. It is a simple enough request to carry out. Thank you. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to us. We have both been stuck in the human realm for so long. It is maddening." Professor Sannin states.

Sasuke shrugs. He didn't need to hear Orochimaru's Thank Yous. What he needed was the older man's knowledge of the other realm, particularly his knowledge of the Goblin Kingdom. That was all.

"If you really want to thank me, you'll keep your word. If you don't help me find Itachi, I will kill you." Sasuke hisses at him.

Orochimaru smirks. The other realm was rubbing off on Sasuke. He doubted that the college student would have threatened to kill anyone at the beginning of the semester. Oh yes, such wonderful progress.

Unlike the rest of his family, Sasuke was relatively young. He could be molded. Granted, they weren't off to the best of starts. That didn't matter though. Once he helped the young man save the other Traveler, surely Sasuke would consider him a friend.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He replies with a sly smile.

Being friends with a Traveler was extremely advantageous. He could certainly find a way to make the most of this development. Orochimaru just hoped that somehow the damn fairy didn't mess this up for him!

"Come. Let us go back to your dorm room. I have just the serum to make you fall asleep instantly. We shall hold onto your hands. That will teleport us back to Eien No Yume." Orochimaru explains.

Sasuke sighs and heads off with them. The former Goblin King gives him the serum. Sasuke takes it and lays down on his bed. He was vaguely aware of the fairy and college professor taking his hands as he fell asleep.

Meanwhile Naruto sighs and goes to enjoy the royal baths of the Leprechaun King's castle. It was likely going to be awhile before Sasuke returned.

He missed him already. Hopefully, Sasuke would choose their world. He didn't want to think about what would happen, if he didn't. He would miss his Elf horribly.

"His family is here. That has to mean something." He whispers.

Sasuke liked him. Naruto knew that. They weren't lovers, but they were close. He didn't mind sharing furs with him. That was a start.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, Sasuke had just arrived back in Eien No Yume. He had even brought to hitchhikers with him. Orochimaru and Kimimaro.

"I need you to make yourselves scarce. I'm going to greet Naruto. Where will you be? We're currently in this world's Ireland. Do you know where that is? I understand that geography works very differently here than on Earth." Sasuke asks.

"We'll meet you at the waterfall. Ask any of the servants where it is and bribe them not to mention that you asked. We'll be waiting." Kimimaro says as he places some gold in Sasuke's hand to bribe a servant with.

"Thank you." Sasuke mouths as his two "allies" quickly head off.

That meant that the raven haired college student had to fend for himself. First things first, he had to find Naruto. He was going to have to come up with a good excuse to sneak off later. He was sure something would come to him though.

"Naruto?" He asks a few minutes later, after finding out that the blonde was in the royal bathing chambers.

"Sasuke! You're back! Sorry that I wasn't there when you woke up. I thought you'd be asleep for longer. Come join me!" Naruto says brightly.

Sasuke smiles wistfully. He felt guilty. He hated that he was keeping secrets from Naruto, but it was for his own good. That and he was tired of taking such a passive role in his own destiny.

He was a Traveler. So he should travel to the Goblin Kingdom and save Itachi. He didn't particularly care if Orochimaru ruled that place. At least he hadn't kidnapped his brother. So that was something of an improvement in the monarchy.

"Alright." Sasuke says as he quickly strips and gets into the water with Naruto.

He tries not to blush at the heated gaze the blonde gave him. Apparently, Vikings were always willing to share furs in more ways than one. That or at least Naruto was.

"I missed you." Naruto says as he pulls Sasuke against him and kisses him.

Sasuke smiles and kisses back. The Dragoon had a way of making him feel like he was the center of his universe. It was sweet really.

"I missed you too." He whispers after returning the very, heated kiss.

"Did you have a good day on the other side? You don't speak of it much." The Viking observes.

Oh that was right. He didn't tell Naruto much about his home. That hadn't been on purpose though. He had just been busy dealing with well everything.

"Yeah. It was a good day." Sasuke says, deciding that it was probably best just to summarize.

He couldn't tell Naruto the truth. Sasuke couldn't tell him about Kimimaro and Orochimaru. There was no way that his boyfriend would ever approve of the truly insane thing that he was about to do.

"Good. I'm glad. You alright. You look worried about something." Naruto says.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just wanted to go exploring on my own a bit. I should be safe in Ireland, right?" He asks.

"Well you'd be safer, if I went with you. King Bushy Brows does a really good job protecting his land though. You should be safe." The blue eyed Viking replies.

It was clear that Naruto wasn't exactly fond of the idea of having him run off on his own. Sasuke couldn't blame him. That didn't matter though. He was going to do it anyway.

"Alright. After our bath, I'm going to go explore a bit. I'll be back soon though. I really do want to get to know this world better." He whispers as he rests his head on Naruto's shoulder.

"Very well. Be careful though. I don't know what I would do, if anything were to happen to you." He whispers.

A few hours later, Sasuke heads off to the waterfall. Bribing the servant had worked like a charm. Once he arrives, Sasuke blinks at what he saw.

Orochimaru had transformed back into a goblin and Kimimaro's wings were now fully visible. It was quite the speculator sight to say the least. This was a very strange realm, Sasuke thinks to himself.

"Right. So we ready then?" He asks, trying not to stare at Orochimaru grotesque gray, slimy looking skin and yellow eyes.

Orochimaru's hair was much longer and his build was stocker. He walked hunched over, but seemed almost giddy. The man was clearly happy to be back in his true form.

"We're ready." Kimimaro confirms as he leads them to the shore.

"How are we going to get to the Goblin Kingdom from here?" Sasuke asks.

"Aoda." Orochimaru says simply.

Before Sasuke could ask for clarification, a giant serpent made its way over to them. It was purple with silvery blue eyes. The creature seemed happy to see them?

"Ah Master Kimimaro and Orochimaru. It's been far too long. How may I help you?" The strange being asks.

"We need you to take us too the shores of the Goblin Kingdom." Kimimaro explains as he gets onto the creature's back and Orochimaru follows suit.

"Very well. Do not fear, young elf. I will not harm thee." Aoda says and with that, Sasuke reluctantly gets on Aoda's back.

Aoda was fast. He was likely even faster than Naruto. Though he doubted either of them were going at full speed.

Still it was quite amazing. He was gliding across the ocean on the back of a creature that he supposed was somehow related to dragons. It was incredible and he was almost disappointed when they reached the shores of the Goblin Kingdom.

"Unicorns would be the fastest way to get there on foot, but they won't go near Orochimaru." Kimimaro says with a sigh.

Sasuke blinks. Unicorns? He didn't know why he was so surprised. Honestly, he probably should have expected it. Still the fact that unicorns existed in this realm stunned him, nonetheless.

"I can't imagine why they would avoid him. He's just so lovable and pure of heart." Sasuke says dryly.

"Careful, Sasuke. Your sarcasm-meter is about to explode." Orochimaru says with an exasperated sigh.

This was going to take a lot of work. It was going to prove harder to win Sasuke over to his side than he originally thought. Oh well. In the end, he was a prize, well worth the effort.

"Possibly. Well I could ride the unicorn. Maybe. If it'll let me go near it." The Traveler says.

He didn't really think that he deserved the chance to ride one, but you never knew. Besides, he was an elf now. If the horse tried to buck him off, his reflexes would save him.

"Alright. Let's give it a try. Stay here." Kimimaro says as he flies off to find a unicorn.

Scarcely five minutes later, the fairy returns with a pure white unicorn with a golden horn. It was beautiful. Sasuke idly notes that it really was something straight out of a fairytale.

"She's beautiful." Sasuke whispers in awe and even Orochimaru looked a little amazed at the beautiful creature's appearance. (Apparently, even Goblin Kings had a soft spot for unicorns.)

"Please take Sasuke to the Goblin Kingdom. He means to save his brother from the current King's clutches." The fairy says as he lovingly strokes the horse's cheek.

To Sasuke's astonishment, the unicorn appeared to understand the fairy. It really was a miracle. Sasuke had never seen anything like it before, but he unicorn trotted over to him and bowed.

She bowed low enough that he was easily able to mount the beautiful mare. This was amazing. He was actually going to ride a unicorn. Sasuke had never imagined such a thing was possible, but it was really happening.

"Don't worry. We'll save your brother. I've never really cared for that Danzo." The unicorn says.

"You talk!" Sasuke exclaims.

"Of course, I talk. Every unicorn talks. Honestly, you must be from another region." The unicorn says as she gallops off and Sasuke could only stare in amazement.

Not only was he riding on the back of a unicorn. The unicorn could also talk. Apparently, they all could.

"I give up. Apparently, anything is possible in this place." He says with a sigh as they race off towards the Goblin Kingdom.