Author's Notes:
Hello again, everyone. I'm glad to have new followers and reviewers. You'll are adorable! I love you, guys! Thanks for the amazing support, and I hope my story matches up to your expectations. A million thanks coated with honey and chocolate to my wonderful Beta, XxDreaming of RealityxX, she again aided into making this chapter mistakes-free as best as she could, I seriously wouldn't know where I'd be without her, maybe in a ditch somewhere cursing my luck lol. Anyhow, here's the chapter. Enjoy~
"Sakuraaaaa~"
The pink haired girl blinked at the ball of yellow that came running andhugging her from her midsection, causing her to halt the next word she was about to speak. She sighed and peeled Naruto's face off of her stomach, as not to dirty her cute school uniform. For, after all, this shirt was too lovely to have Naruto's snot all over it. At the troubled, pouting face beneath objecting to her action and telling her what deep shit he'd put himself through again, she groaned and excused herself from her choir group; hurriedly dragging her friend to a quieter place where he could vent his agony without humiliating her.
The hill behind their school was the best place a person searching for privacy could hope for. Reaching the peak, she threw the peeled off blond to the ground and sat gently on the soft grass.
"Alright, Naruto, what's so important that's got you interrupt my serious conversation?"
Sakura was surprised when Naruto sat extra close to her after turning right and left, apparently checking on something. Her brows furrowed with worry.
"Sakura…I think I'm being stalked."
"Stalked?" She raised a fine brow, "What woman in her right mind would stalk you?"
"What's that supposed to me!? And I'm serious here, I'm being stalked!"
Sakura sighed and pulled her head back into the tree behind her, "Naruto, sure you didn't just misunderstand a situation or something? Maybe she was stalking Sasuke-kun not you, and since you two seem to be inseparable these days, it's not a farfetched possibility."
The venom in her tone was clear to Naruto's ears; he shook his head and came a bit closer,and with a horrified look, he said: "No, I'm sure it's me who's being stalked, I'm sure of it! Please, believe me!"
At the desperately terrified eyes, Sakura's cool attitude began to waver, and she was starting to accept that maybe Naruto wasn't pulling one of his stupid pranks at her.
"Say I do believe you, what makes you think you are being stalked?"
Naruto looked towards his shoes, recalling the events that had happened to him a few days back.
"You know how I'm now staying with Kakashi, Iruka's boyfriend?"
"Yes?"
"One morning, about two days ago, when I was coming back from shopping with Sasuke, I sensed someone staring at me, at first; I thought it was just Sasuke. But then there was someone else - agirl. I thought she was stalking Sasuke so I told him about it, but when he turned, she was nowhere to be found. It happened another time, but this time, Neji had agreed to remove the cuffs, so Sasuke wasn't around. And that girl again showed up. She was holding a puppet and a knife, Sakura; she stabbed the puppet right before my eyes while smirking evilly."
Sakura had to ease the chills out of Naruto's system.
"Yeah? Did anything happen after?"
"Yes. I could see her every now and then, and she was always holding something to threaten me with. I think she wants me to leave Sasuke."
"Leave Sasuke-kun? What makes you believe that?"
"I found a note on my bed, written in blood 'Stay Away or Die'. The only thing that fits her warning is my relationship to Sasuke. And just the fact that she was able to make her way inside Kakashi's apartment without anyone spotting her is bad enough."
Sakura sighed and said logically. "Well, there are some crazy chicks with amazing brains; who have a grudge against you since you came to school cuffed to their prince. But still…for her to make it past the front door into your room, she must be one mad bitch. Even though cuffing was a bad move on your part, I think her ways are still too extreme."
"It's not like I wanted to be cuffed to him! It happened against my will and you know it! It's all Neji-Senpai's fault!"
"Yeah, that's true. Yet, you said after Neji-san had un-cuffed you and Sasuke-kun, she came to you? How many times has that happened?"
"Can't remember really, three or four times. Sakura," He called with tearing eyes, "I know I'm a man, and I shouldn't be spooked out by this, to have an iron heart or whatever. But I'm soooooo scaaaaaaaaared! I can't even sleep from fright!"
Sakura patted her friend softly on the back with an understanding smile. She had been around Naruto long enough to know how much he hated scary things. The thoughts of ghosts and demons could make him hide in his room for days to come. She remembered their first horror movie together. Let's just say the movie theatre had never had a scream as loud as Naruto's within its walls. She sighed to the distant memory and voiced her opinion.
"Okay, have you spoken to Sasuke-kun about this? Maybe he knows the girl, could be an ex-girlfriend or something."
"No! I didn't and you wouldn't! Sasuke should never know about this!"
Sakura blinked at him and her brows puckered again. "Naruto, could it be you have more information than you're telling me?"
The blond cringed at her stare and looked dejectedly at her. "Umm…it's more of a thought than actual information but I think it's a lead to who she is."
"Then? Spit it out already!"
"You see, Sasuke's family has a crest. A fan. A red and white fan. I asked Sasuke about it once and he said that only members of his family are allowed to wear it, seems like servants and bodyguards are also included in it."
"And?"
"The girl who is stalking me, on her neck, the right side. I saw it tattooed."
"The crest?"
"Yes."
"You sure it was the same crest? Maybe a tattoo that looks like it."
"No, it was definitely The Uchiha crest. They tattoo it on their bodies, a sign of loyalty or something."
"So, the crazy chick had it tattooed on her own neck!? Gosh! Only a freak or a masochist would stand for that type of pain!"
Naruto wanted to retort to that 'cause Sasuke had the crest on the back of his neck also, but decided against it, for she already has labelled the raven an Ass, and with this, he'd become a masochistic Ass. Not a very good title for Sasuke to uphold. Naruto clapped his hands in front of his friend's face frowning to change the direction of her thoughts.
"Sakura, concentrate here! Her having the crest means that she is a member of The Uchiha household. And that's why Sasuke shouldn't know. He can't know what's happening!"
Sakura folded her hands over her chest.
"I don't understand, Naruto. If you told him, he'd work things out with this angry member of his family, and everything would be easily solved. Besides, why would a member in his family want you to either let go of Sasuke-kun or die anyway? Did you perhaps do something to offend them or Sasuke-kun? I know you have no proper curtsey and no respect for traditional family etiquette, Naruto. So, just go with him and apologize for whatever wrong you must have done."
Naruto shook his head sighing. "I've never met any member of his family, nor did I go to his house; let alone offend them. Sasuke…..he said that his family is dangerous and it's best not to let them know that we know each other or things won't be good for me."
Sakura's eyes widened at the new information that were kept from her. She told her feelings to calm down and focus on the trouble facing Naruto.
"Then what Sasuke-kun feared to happen had. I'm now one hundred percent sure that you should tell him!"
"No! No! No! No! If I told him, he'd shut me out and keep his distance to keep me save! Not a good idea!"
"Maybe that's the sane thing to do, I don't want to see you coming up behind a back alley dead just because you couldn't stay away from his royal ass."
"Sakura, Sasuke needs me. I can't leave him, and I need him. I can't imagine my days without him now. The time I spend in class away from him is as boring as hell. I can't imagine if he was two meters away from me and I couldn't speak to him, or him avoiding me like the plague. No, I'll take my chances with this one."
"Please Naruto, think with your head not you heart, Sasuke-kun won't want you to get hurt, and this one is off for your head!"
"I really don't think things would go off that far. She's just pulling some threats. I admit, I'm scared shitless. But even scared, I won't let go of his hand."
"Do you have a death wish!? You have your whole future ahead of you and you'll meet lots of people better than him and cooler in basketball, also. Naruto, if being with Sasuke-kun is going to end your life, you must let him go!"
Naruto sighed and pulled Sakura's hands in his own, calming her.
"Sakura, you're my best friend, and I couldn't be happier to have such an amazing person as my best friend, but I can't let go of Sasuke, and no it's not because he is good at basketball…I can't bring myself to part with him. So please, help me think of a solution that doesn't require us telling Sasuke."
Sakura forced her heart to stop quickening and to think rationally. With a puff to her cheeks, she suggested.
"How about telling the police?"
"Then Sasuke would know."
"Okay, then, tell Kakashi-san, you said he is Sasuke-kun's cousin, right? Then he should know what the right thing to do here."
"I'm afraid if I told him, he'd tell Sasuke. And he's already holding lots of stuff from Iruka because I asked him to, now if I tell him I'm being stalked by an angry female Uchiha sociopath; he'd so tattle me to Iruka…or worse, Sasuke."
Sakura rubbed at her forehead. "Then, what do you suggest we do, Naruto? We can't speak to Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-san or the police. Then what? What did you think you could do?"
Naruto looked with determined eyes at her. "Speak with the girl."
"Excuse me!? You must be kidding, Naruto! Why would you want to speak to someone who wants to kill you and have demonstrated that not one, or two times, but more!?"
"I thought if we speak to her, you and me, she won't do anything to me. You know, 'cause you are there. And we'd learn of why she wants me away from Sasuke. If it becomes something I can handle, then I'll try to persuade her."
"And if it isn't? What, let her kill you and get it over with!?"
"No, I told you, she won't do it."
"Because, I'm there? Naruto, if she wants you dead, she could kill you any other day when you're alone. Forget it, I don't like this. We should just tell Sasuke-kun and end this, let him be the one to take care of his lunatic family!"
"Sakura, please, I beg you. Sasuke shouldn't know. I know it's selfish of me, but you're my best friend, please, I have no one else to ask beside you."
Sakura cursed her weak self at the big blue puppy eyes shown to her. She sighed with anger.
"Fine! But if I smell anything fishy, I'm so taking your ass and leaving! And if it gets dangerous, I'll tell the arrogant Ass!"
Naruto smiled sincerely and helped his friend off the grass. "Thank you, Sakura. Really…thank you."
And Sakura hated herself with each word he spoke.
Sasuke crossed his arms and a frown resident itself on his lovely face.
"I don't get it. I always drive you home. Why now?"
"She said we haven't been hanging out together lately. And Sasuke, she's right. These past weeks, I'm always with you. I need to give her some time, too."
Sakura felt the glare pore at the back of her head, she answered with one of her own. Sasuke wasn't the only one able to launch death threats with his eyes!
Sasuke returned his eyes to the blond in front of him. "Does it have to be today?"
"Yeah, she doesn't have any club activities and nor do I. Don't worry, I'll get home safely. Just go back today without me." Naruto assured cheerfully with a pat to Sasuke's shoulder.
"I still don't like this. Something smells rotten."
Naruto sweat dropped at the words and tried to disperse them quickly before Sasuke decides to dig this one out. "Rotten? What could possibly be rotten with me wanting to hang out with my best friend for one afternoon!?"
"Then take me along."
"Um…that's not possible."
"Why not? Something really is going on then!"
Naruto sighed. "Nothing is going on Sasuke, stop being paranoid, it ruins your image. And we can't take you because Sakura is still having a hard time being with you after the harsh things you said to her the first time you two met."
Sasuke sent the girl another look and she answered with the same animosity. He 'hmph'ed and returned to the conversation with the blond.
"She doesn't look it."
"She's a wreck, but very good at hiding it."
"More like she wants to punch me unconscious."
"See! It's not a good idea to take you along. And besides, this is her and mine alone time. You can't interfere."
A vein inside Sasuke's forehead popped at the words, forcefully, he pulled Naruto to a shade under a tree where no one would be able to spot them and trapped the startled blond between his strong arms.
"Want to try saying that again?"
"Ummm….Sasuke, I didn't mean it like that. Sakura is just a friend. Can you please stop getting jealous over this? We hang out together all the time, and this is the first time she asks me for anything. And I kinda feel bad about it. She's my friend." Naruto avoided using 'best friend' as not to ignite Sasuke further.
"Gaara is your friend, I don't see him asking you for some alone time."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Gaara is too busy keeping Neji-Senpai away from him to pay any attention to me. Besides, Sakura is different; we have been friends for as long as I can remember. She knows everything about me and I kinda miss spending time with her."
Sasuke sealed those lips that were pouring all sorts of things he didn't want to hear with a kiss. Yes, he knew he was acting overly jealous and it wasn't good. But seeing Naruto happily laughing with the chick he used to hold feelings for wasn't really assuring, and yes they weren't lovers and he had no right to claim over Naruto, but God, he wanted to!
Naruto pushed against Sasuke and breathed a fresh air.
"I don't want to hear it! You don't need anyone beside me; I'll be your best friend, your brother, your father, and mother, anyone you'll ever want me to be! So, stop talking about some girl as if she's important to you!"
Naruto felt his eyes soften and gently, he started stoking Sasuke's cheek.
"Worrying really isn't good for you, Sasuke. It ruins your cool image."
"I don't care!"
"And I'm flattered to have you worry about me, but Sasuke, you honestly don't need to, my eyes are full of you. Sakura is just a friend. Believe me, trust in me. I'll never do anything to hurt you, not in a million years. You're far too important than her. So, even if I have thousands of special relationships with thousands of people, you should always know that there will never be something as special as the one I have with you. And I won't find someone as special as you no matter where I look."
Sasuke pulled Naruto's hand that was stroking his cheek and entwined it with his own, talking the blond closer to him.
"I don't feel right about letting you go now. My heart is telling me that something will happen to you."
Naruto pushed himself off the floor and kissed Sasuke gently on the lips. "Nothing would happen to me, I'm only going to watch a movie and hangout a bit with Sakura then head home."
"I'm still unhappy about it. Do you really have to go today?"
"Yeah…the next opening is next week and that's when we'll start our semi-finals. I won't have any time for her."
"Then, please, be careful."
Naruto gave a swift nod causing Sasuke to lean into another kiss, the blond kissed back with a faint smile on his lips. He was happy, Sasuke was happy. Why couldn't Sasuke's family just see that? Why were they trying to steal this happiness away from them? Was it because they didn't approve of him? Well, that was going to change now, since he was going to convince that girl to accept them. Which in his sight, was step one.
Nothing in this world mattered if Sasuke wasn't with him.
"Mnnmm….Sasuke, let…mnmm…go, need to go now!"
Sasuke sucked hard on Naruto's lower lip, gave it another chaste kiss and let go of the hand. As Naruto started waving bye to him, he didn't know why his heart suddenly sank; feeling like this would be the last time he saw the one who was making him display so many types of emotions.
Without intending to, he found himself shouting. "Naruto!"
The blond halted in his run and blinked in question. "What!?"
"Tonight, when you get back home, call me! There's something I need to tell you."
Eyes filled with confusion, Naruto said. "Can't it wait 'till tomorrow?"
"No. I'll have to tell you tonight!"
Sasuke felt his heart fly at the genuine smile he was given. He tried to mimic it, but his mouth could only stretch so far.
"I'll call the moment I get home, then. Wait for me!"
And that was the last Sasuke saw of his blond angel for three whole days after.
Sakura blew her running nose on the tissue in hand; she tried to tell her tears to stop. But every time she remembered what had happened, her eyes would water without her consent. It had already been three days. Oh Lord, this was the worst three days in her entire life. She had waited for Naruto to come to school, calling on the second day when her heart was telling her something had gone wrong with her friend, but there was no one answering and no traces of him either.
And that was when she had officially freaked out. But…but….she couldn't tell them. Even though she wanted to go off to Kakashi-san's apartment and inquire about Naruto herself, she had no idea where the apartment was and she couldn't call Iruka-san and have him worry. Naruto asked her not to tell them.
Sakura wiped the tears again, and hid inside the blanket trying to forget what had happened. Suddenly, the door to her room was being knocked; she didn't even bother with asking who it was.
"Sakura, sweetie, your friend from school has come to check up on you, he brought your missed home works, too."
"Take the home works and tell them thanks. But I'm not in the condition to meet anyone right now, mum."
"Sakura, it's me, open up."
At the nasty voice that has hunted her every nightmare, Sakura felt her body shiver. What did he want? Why did he come to visit her? Why, when she was in her worst conditions and there was no intention in her to fix herself up and wear some makeup, why did he have to show up?
Then an image of a smiling Naruto popped and her eyes grew teary again.
"Sakura, please, open up. There's something really important I need to ask you."
And she knew what he was going to ask about. Against her better judgment, Sakura walked towards the door and unlocked it, without any words further; Sasuke walked in, closed the door behind him and sat opposite her on the chair beside the bed.
"Naruto's gone. I can't find him anywhere. I and Kakashi have searched everywhere we know about, every favourite place for Naruto, we asked the hospitals and even," Sasuke swallowed hard, "the morgues. But there is no trace of Naruto. I want to know, what happened that day exactly."
Sakura's eyes started running and tears soon came out again.
"It wasn't supposed to end like this. He just went to get me the paper I left at the bench…it wasn't supposed to end up like this!"
Sasuke had to patiently wait until Sakura stopped crying and was able to get a clear answer out of her.
"Please, tell me the story from the beginning, don't fail to miss any detail, no matter how small."
Sakura nodded wiping her nose. "After we left you, we went to watch a movie. When it finished we headed towards a park where Naruto and I used to play as kids, we chatted and everything was going so fine…" She took a minute to control her dying voice. "Then as it was getting late, we decided to go back, but I had forgotten a sheet of paper on the bench, my next choir song. Naruto ran back to get it for me, I got worried when he didn't come for five whole minutes, so I returned to where the bench was supposed to be in, I only found my paper. There was no trace of Naruto."
"Didn't you search for him?"
Sakura glanced at her hands. "Not really, I asked one of the kids and he said that Naruto left with another blond man. So, I thought he ditched me and angrily I went back home. But when he didn't show up…I knew something was wrong."
"Did you ask the kid how this man looked?"
Sakura shook her head. "I didn't pay it attention at the time, I just thought that Naruto had walked out on me and didn't give the possibility that he was taken a thought."
For the first time in her life, Sakura saw the face of the Ice Prince crack with worry. She held her breath before gasping.
"Okay, did something weird happen to Naruto these days? I knew he was worried about something, but he refused to let me know and I didn't push him. He must've told you; do you know what was making him fidgety?"
Sakura avoided the dark gaze. "That's…"
Sasuke's eyes widened, he tried to stop the raging emotions that came flaring when he realized that there was a secret about Naruto that this girl knew that he didn't and had to extract that secret from.
"Sakura," The first step was to address her name, not the nickname that he so felt like using right now. "Naruto might be sitting in some pit waiting for us to rescue him. For us to do that, I'll need you to tell me what was worrying him."
"I…Naruto said specifically not to tell you, I can't betray his trust!"
And again, Sasuke felt like strangling the girl. Yet, he controlled his nerves and did number two, physical contact to let her know he wasn't an enemy. Well, to Naruto he wasn't.
Sakura was jolted at the soft touch to her hand, she felt her face flush and that feeling she'd felt when she hadn't met the Prince's true nature come to her heart again.
"You'd have to disregard everything that Naruto has told you, because this situation is dangerous. Naruto has been missing for three straight days, Iruka is coming back the day after tomorrow and we still haven't told him that his son is missing. Now, I want to wrap this thing up before he arrives here. I want him to come to find his son. So," Sasuke held the fork in his throat out and released between clinched teeth reminding himself that this was all for the sake of the blond. "Please…help me find him before it's too late."
And Sakura cracked like popcorn.
"He was being stalked, by a girl. She was frightening him, with death threats. Naruto said that she was a member of your family, that's why he didn't want you to know, he said if you did, you two won't be able to stay together ever again!"
Sasuke felt his heart drop. A member of his family, they had found out about Naruto. He bit his lip drawing blood.
"How did Naruto know it was a member of my family?" He calmly asked.
"Ummm…I think it was something about your family's crest. He said that he'd seen it on the girl's neck. Tattooed on the right side, I believe."
"Tattooed? Oh! The son of a bitch! I'll kill him!"
Before Sasuke went out in his sudden fit of rage, his hand was grabbed by a pleading Sakura.
"You! You know where he is!?"
Frowning at the contact, he said. "I may have a clue."
"Then please! Bring Naruto home safe I beg you! Bring him back!"
His only answer was a nod and then he exited her room; wiping his hands once he was out of Sakura's house with a sense of anger at how she'd dared to beg him to bring Naruto back to her. As if he'd do that! If Naruto was to come back, the only arms he'd come to were his own, he'd make sure of that!
Deidara raised both his hands defensively and let the angry tiger latch onto him, with a smile on his lovely face.
"You fuck! What have you done to Naruto!?"
"Who?"
Using half of his strength, Sasuke pinned the other to the wall behind them. "Stop playing games with me, bitch! I know you've been stalking him! Spill it before I crack your fucking neck! Where is Naruto!?"
Deidara's smile stretched into an amused one. "Sasuke-Sama, let's think of that threat of yours for a sec, shall we? Do you know what will become of you if you kill Danzo-Sama's right hand man? And let's hypothetically say I know this Naruto person you speak of, if said person disappeared, whose fault do you think that is? Who brought him into the family?"
Sasuke bit the inside of his gum, already knowing that it was his fault. But God help him if anything bad were to happen to Naruto, someone would be killed!
"Stop the idle chitchatting and spit outhis whereabouts! I know you've taken him, and God Help me, Deidara, if you even touched one strand of the hair on his head, I'll slaughter you!"
"Yara, yara, I'll just have to watch my back then."
Sasuke felt his blood boil; he swung his hand and delivered a punch right into the other's jaw, sending his flying into the other side of the restaurant they owned.
"You better!"
The long haired blond put one hand over his throbbing cheek and watched as the raven stomped his way out of the fancy main restaurant; bringing the customers attention to his fuming self. Deidara pulled himself off the ground and spat the blood out of his mouth alongside a broken tooth.
"That was a very wrong move to pull, Uchiha-Sama."
One of the workers helped Deidara to his feet since he started stumbling hazily to the punch that did more bad than he liked to admit and whispered to him. "Sir, you have a call."
"I'll take it in the backroom."
The worker nodded, bowed and excused himself. Deidara inspected the damage made to his beautiful face and glared hard. He could have easily dodged that lousy punch, but then, this game of theirs wouldn't grow to be any fun if he were to do that. He ordered himself a pack of ice while making his way to the backroom; already knowing who was on the other end of the line.
He put the white phone to his ear and chirped. "Hullo~"
"Why the fuck are you in such a good mood?"
"Eh? You could tell?"
"Of course I could tell. What happened?"
"Let's say the hawk fell right into the rabbit's trap, for a change."
"…is this about the kid you've been stalking?"
Deidara pouted on the phone. "How horrible! I don't stalk! I was just accompanying him whenever he went. Just without him knowing."
"Was it an order from above, as well?" The guy on the other end asked.
"Yep! Seems like Sasuke-Kun, our little prince, is highly upset about it, too. I've gotten a death threat. Do you think it's weird that I'm actually very happy to be getting one?"
The end on the other line went silent for a while, and when Deidara thought the line had been broken without him knowing, the sound came back again.
"No. you were always sick. Anyhow, our orders came. We've got some real problems at the moment."
"Problems? What kind of problems?"
"He's come back."
"He? Who do you mean?"
"Uchiha's Black Snake."
And Deidara dropped the line from his hands as a cold chill run down his spine; sucking all his happiness away.
Sasuke told himself not to get too pissed and to drive safely, it wouldn't help any of them if he'd gone and killed himself in a freaking car accident when Naruto was still missing. He threw a hit on the steering wheel, and took a turn as he cursed himself. Why didn't he stay away from Naruto when he clearly knew what would happen when his family's head, Danzo, learnt about him having a favourite? He cherished Naruto so much, and now, only God knew where his other half was.
"Just hang in there, Naruto. I'll find you!"
Sasuke pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex of Kakashi's apartment, and quickly made his way inside the elevator. Once he was before the front door, he rang the bell constantly, allowing Kakashi not a minute to ignore him.
"Coming! You don't have to burn my bell, you know!" Two black orbs glared at Sasuke.
"We don't have time for this," Sasuke pushed the door open with his hands and made himself inside. "They've got him, they've got Naruto."
Kakashi's eyes widened and a hand soon came to ruffle his messy hair, with a sigh he said. "I can't say I didn't see this one coming. So, do you know where they're keeping him?"
"Not yet," Sasuke sat on the brown sofa before the TV set. "Seems like Deidara's the one who's taken him."
"Dolls-freak-blond Deidara?"
"Yes. Looks like he was following Naruto for a while and about three days ago, he made contact with him at a park somewhere, according to a child that Sakura had asked, Naruto walked away with Deidara."
"Wait, if he was following Naruto, didn't Naruto see him? I mean you outta know when you're being stalked, and if Naruto had noticed, why wouldn't he have run away when Deidara made contact with him?"
Sasuke rubbed at his tired eyes. "From what bubblegum haired girl's told me, Deidara stalked Naruto dressed as a chick. But, when he approached him, he came as a male."
"C'mon! Naruto can't be tricked with something that stupid! He must've known it was the same person, or at least suspected it."
"Maybe Deidara caught him from behind, thus rendering him unconscious."
Kakashi pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit it. "No, that's not possible, for first, Naruto has a black belt in Karate, I doubt someone would be able to surprise him from the back. And second, you said the kid saw them walking out together. Not one dragging the other. So, that confirms it, Naruto wanted to be caught."
Sasuke frowned at the words. "But why? Why would he want to be locked up in adungeon somewhere?"
"I think you already know the answer to that."
Sasuke felt his brain freeze at the thought that came puzzling for him to accept. He groaned.
"He wouldn't do that. He'd be an idiot if he did!"
"He is an idiot. And because you're refusing to inform him about your family, he's taken it upon himself in knowing."
"I would've eventually told him. Just when I'm more in control over things."
"You mean after you kill Danzo."
Sasuke nodded with reluctant. "One way or another."
"Sasuke, killing him isn't the answer to anything. You should know that."
"But it'll heal some of my wounds. We both know he's the sole perpetrator responsible for destroying my family and killing my mother. I'll have to be strong on my own to be able to take revenge with my own hands."
Kakashi sighed and decided to steer the subject elsewhere before Sasuke's heated heart confirmed that it's a very brilliant idea to go around murdering people who ruined his life right this instant.
"Do you have any fixed plan to get him back?"
The cigarette in his hand was snatched; Kakashi glared but flared himself another one.
"I'm thinking of tailing Deidara for a while. He'll eventually lead me to Naruto's whereabouts."
"And? If you've found him and rescued him, that won't mean they won't kidnap him again. The danger to Naruto will only increase and I think you've exceeded the time to detach yourself away from him. Naruto is growing on you and you can't part with him."
"I'll try. I'll keep him safe."
"Running around helping him every time he is taken isn't really keeping him safe. Are you going to keep him inside a cage for the rest of his life?"
Sasuke blew the air inside his lungs, feeling relaxed and welcoming the return of an old caring friend.
"Then what do you want me to do!? Wait around while he is probably tortured?"
"I don't think Danzo is as stupid as to do that to a person outside the family. I'm sure Naruto ain't being ill-treated or anything."
Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "It's all my fault, if I hadn't gotten close to him in the first place…"
"I don't want to tell you I told you so, but I did. And there is no need to look back now; you've known from day one that this day will come. Right now, we'll have to think of something to do that will ensure that an incident similar to this never happens again."
"The answer is clear. They want me and Naruto to stay away from each other."
"Which you can't do, so, we wouldn't be able answer to that."
"…If it's for Naruto, I can stay away from him."
Kakashi had to roll his eyes at the obvious lie. "Well, he wouldn't. You know how hard-headed he is, he'd kill you before letting you go. And besides, you two are starting to love each other and I'm not talking on friendship basis."
"I don't know if its love, since I haven't experienced it before and I don't think my heart can experience it. But, what I know and am sure of, is that Naruto is special. No one can ever replace him."
Kakashi smirked. "Sounds like a love confession to me. And Sasuke, just because a person's heart has taken a lot of time in healing, it doesn't mean it's forgotten the taste of love."
Sasuke stood up throwing the cigarette stick in the duster and headed towards the door.
"You're not planning on stalking Deidara right now, are you?" At the silent replay, Kakashi sighed. "Sasuke, we agreed that it's not the best course of action to take."
"Then what!?You want me to sit here waiting for some miracle to bring him to me! That's not happening! I have to take a chance and when he's in my arms, we'll figure out what to do later."
"A day to day plan ain't gonna work."
"That's for later to decide. Unless you've something better to help Naruto, I'm going."
Suddenly the door to Kakashi's apartment was opened and a red haired man with perplexing dark brown eyes said as his right hand went to fix his dropping glasses.
"I may have an idea about how to rescue Naruto-kun."
Naruto glared hard at the piece of iron restraining his hands. He couldn't believe that he was free from Neji's inhumanly strong shackles to have a few days of celebrating, yet now he was given a new pair, just with a darker colour…and without Sasuke holding the other end of the cuff. He huffed in annoyance; honestly, it wasn't like he could freaking escape even if he wanted to! They were on Heaven-knew-what floor and the doors were packed with freaking guards! He wasn't a fucking James Bond to escape from such a security system!
He walked towards the dark shaded windows, and a sigh soon changed his annoyed features. Even though he was here, between the clouds, watching the beautiful scenery play beneath him, he didn't feel any happiness, excitement or a joy. Which was such a pity, too, because you won't come across such a beautiful scene every day.
Naruto tugged at the chains binding his excess to a limit and, as always, the wall didn't budge an inch. He slumped on the ground, glaring at his own weakness.
"I see you're still trying to move the wall. If I were you, I'd give up already. 'Cause unless you turn into The Hulk, you have a chance of pulling them out as me becoming a saint. Zero."
Naruto's glare turned to the blond chick-dude who has captured him. He spat.
"Keeping me here won't solve a thing, you know."
"Ahaa, but it would help us contain the little prince. These days, he's been acting out of Danzo-Sama's orders; he needs a discipline. And you were just God's gift for us."
Deidara sat on the bed chewing an apple, he offered Naruto some, but a glare was his only response.
"I want to meet your Danzo-Sama."
Beautifully sick light blue orbs rolled at his request. "And how many times did I tell you that that is close to impossible? Danzo-Sama doesn't have time for kid's games."
"And you do?"
"More or less."
"Why do you think that holding me here will affect Sasuke? We aren't even friends. He won't bother about me at all."
Deidara touched the bruise on his cheeks and smirked. "Funny how he walked in earlier and seemed overly distressed when he learned that I was the one who has taken you. Was very attached I'd say."
Naruto had to bite down his words, why did Sasuke act without thinking? If only he didn't, then there would be a chance of him talking his way out of this. But now…
"You, why are you doing this? Kidnapping is a felony, with real jail time, you know."
"But as I recall, dear hostage-san, you followed me of your own volition. I didn't force anything…well, maybe the drug you drank, but," Deidara shrugged, "it was your decision to come."
"That's 'cause you promised to let me know about Sasuke's family and help me clear any misunderstandings!"
"Are you a kid or something? Why would I, the person who was threatening you to stay away from our prince, want you to learn about the family or, God forbid, the family understanding any relationship you two might have!"
Naruto bit his lower lip feeling like he might have really under-thought this matter.
"But…you were nice and didn't seem to be dangerous."
"You're an idiot! Who would act violent towards that target they want to lure! Really?! God! What did our prince see in a dimwit like you who didn't even realize he was being deceived!"
"Can you stop with calling me an idiot!? I have a problem with trusting people easily; that's all, which I still don't call a flaw, and like it or not, I didn't think you'd hurt me and 'till now, you didn't, so there! I was kidnapped but that doesn't mean you'd do anything to me."
"I wouldn't be too comfy with that idea if I were you, since everything that will happen to you is decided by Sasuke-Sama's actions."
Naruto knotted his brows not fully understanding what this meant. But before he could speak a word about it, a punch was given to him right under the right jaw.
"Like this. An eye for an eye. And you'd better pray he doesn't go around hitting or killing any of my men, since your body will take the blame."
Naruto held his most-likely-broken jaw and spat the blood out. He watched the long haired blond make his way out of the hotel suite that he was being confined in and slowly started walking towards the bathroom to clean his aching mouth. Maybe wanting to learn more about Sasuke wasn't really a very good idea in the first place.
Kakashi felt a headache pounding at the back of his head, increasing the number of the toxic sticks into his lungs. He released a puff of air and offered the red haired man a seat into his living room sofa, ignoring the deathly intent Sasuke seemed to harbour towards the glassed eyes.
"Then, what did you mean by having a way to rescue Naruto?" The doctor asked once the red haired seemed to make himself comfortable ignoring Sasuke's glares.
"I know where Naruto-kun is being held. Yet, taking him out won't be so easy. I've made a plan for that act-"
"I refuse!"
"Sasuke," The silver haired man eased while holding his cigarette close. "Let him finish."
"No Kakashi! This bastard here is working with Deidara, he is his fucking partner! How do you expect me to walk right into the obvious trap! He took Naruto and you want me to believe he wants to help him now!? Then why kidnap him in the fucking first place!? Stop joking!"
Sasori fixed his slipping glasses and corrected the hateful words. "In truth, Sasuke-Sama, Deidara acted out on orders from Danzo-Sama personally; I wasn't informed of it thus, had no hand in the act."
"Then why are you willing to help us? You know what will become of you if they know, right?" Kakashi asked before Sasuke could choose to throw another tantrum.
"Yes, I'm familiar with the consequences. But even I have someone whom I want to help out of Danzo-Sama's clutches, and I'm afraid the only way I can achieve that is by aiding you, and serving a different master."
Kakashi raised a brow at this. "You realize that Sasuke is still didn't come even close to the proper age of holding that title."
Sasori nodded. "And I wasn't referring to him."
"Then who were you referring to? I'm sure it's not me since I left the house early on, therefore dropping all of my rights. And as far as I know, there is no other heir except for Sasuke."
"Fortunately, there is. His whereabouts have been hidden so Danzo-Sama doesn't seek him out and murders him. And gladly, he is now back safe and sound."
"Who are you talking about?" Kakashi frowned. "The rightful heirs are only Sasuke and…..No, that's not true, can't be true. He died in that fire ten years ago!"
Sasori concealed a mischievous smile. "I'm afraid speaking in here has ceased to become safe. If you'd come with me, I'm sure to fill you in with all kinds of details."
Before Sasuke's mouth could open to object, or the confusion inside his eyes and heart became public, Kakashi clasped both his hands on Sasuke's mouth and whispered to his ears.
"The apartment is bugged. We have to get out of here."
Knotting his brows at the sentences, Sasuke released under Kakashi's smoke scented hand. "I don't trust him, what if he is lying?"
Kakashi turned the raven's eyes towards the clock beside the TV, it glittered. "You see that clock? It's not mine, I haven't seen it before, and I'm sure neither you nor Naruto have taken the time of your hormonal lives to get me a clock."
"You think the bug's in it?"
"Sure of it. Besides," Sasuke felt the tone being spoken to him with, darken. "If what Sasori is saying is correct. You'd want to meet this person."
"Wha-"
"Okay, Sasori," Kakashi let go of Sasuke's mouth and headed towards his coats closet. "Lead the way. We're right behind you."
The red haired businessman gave a short nod and exited the apartment with a grinning silver haired doctor and a suspicious prince tailing him.
Sasuke enjoyed rain. It was his silent friend; always pouring to grieve alongside him. When his mother was no longer beside him, the sky rained silently comforting him. When his first friend had betrayed him, it rained. When he failed his first slam dunk and was called an idiot by upperclassmen in primary school, it rained. And finally when he gave a beating to those said upperclassmen for belittling and ridiculing him, the sky had rained. He considered rain his natural ally and would always be joyous when the sky began to rain.
Yet, this time, as he was driving the lately wet streets, he couldn't muster a smile for a dear old friend. His heart was heavy and his emotions were raging. He made a silent amendment to the rain and pulled behind the black Lamborghini SUV, coming to stop beside the overly huge Vila.
Sasori pulled a card and passed it inside the security system. The huge doors were opened and the raven drove behind. Finally, they were able to come inside the parking lot made especially for them. Sasuke stepped out of his car alongside Kakashi as Sasori started guiding them inside the confusion-filled maze.
Kakashi whistled at the designs as they made their way further inside. "Wow, Danzo would sure be jealous if he'd seen this place."
"Our leader's intentions exactly."
"So, he isn't only flaring war on the outside, but on the inside, as well."
"You could say that. This way, gentlemen."
As soon as Sasori's face was seen, the maids disappeared from the hall they were coming through. Sasuke raised a brow at the behaviour and his sense of doubt that there was some sort of a trap waiting at the end of the ungodly long hallway was thickening.
"Doesn't it seem like we've been walking for a while now? Hey, Sasori, you wouldn't be setting up something over there without us knowing?" Kakashi voiced Sasuke's suspicions, planting a smirk on the raven's lips, assured that the doctor with him wasn't oblivious to the many possibilities that may lay ahead.
Sasori stopped walking for a second, and turned around pointing to a door to their right.
"You don't have to concern yourself with anything, Kakashi-san. If I wanted you harmed, you wouldn't have stepped alive out of that apartment of yours to begin with."
Kakashi smirked showing his teeth. "There's always the possibility that you want to kill us here, before your eyes, where you don't need to worry about cleaning up and none would witness helping you shoo the press from investigating our disappearance."
"I would say that you have got quite the imagination there. Right this way, please. I don't use any shady ways into finishing off any assignments that were given to me. And luring you into my home is considered a shady way in my dictionary. Regardless, I'm not allowed to hurt Sasuke-sama by the family's rules."
"Hmph, that only relays on Sasuke, you could whack me out in a second." Kakashi retorted.
"Kakashi-san, I assure you, you don't have any need to feel suspicious. My master doesn't wish you harm, he values you as a very important asset to the family. And we have arrived."
The two were led into a big room planted with black. It felt as if this was the place Night lay in when Day was doing its job - complete an utter darkness that would sent chills down anyone's back. Sasuke's mouth twitched into a pleasant smile. He felt right at home.
"If you would take your seats, my master would come shortly to speak with you."
Sasori excused himself out of the room, leaving Kakashi to a sane-wonder as how their red haired host had left the dark ruled room when there was no apparent door to exit with, in fact, he couldn't even see the door they came in with nor the seats they were supposed to take.
"Hey Sasuke, you wouldn't think that this is really where our lives would come to an end?"
The raven haired shounen hmphed. "If it is, my soul would hunt yours 'till heaven seems like a nice fable of your freaking fantasy."
"A simple yes would have sufficed." Kakashi groaned out.
They didn't have to wait long, for again, the invisible door that Kakashi's eyes failed to see opened and a deep voice he didn't believe he'd ever come to hear radiate in this life time fluttered to both their ears, chilling them to the core.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
Suddenly the dark room flickered with light; Kakashi had to hold down his own shock to control the heavy shiver that rendered Sasuke's body to oblivion. He closed Sasuke's eyes and glared with heated confusion at the long haired, red eyed, pale snake of the Uchiha.
"Itachi."
Sasuke closed his eyes and opened them again. The events that had played a few minutes ago were still paralyzing his body. He brought his right hand to his face and the shivers were still there. He clasped his hand and unclasped it again; suddenly he felt his tips grow cold. Bringing them to his forehead, he breathed the name that always seemed to calm his heated heart softly.
"Naruto…"
Why was this happening to them? They did nothing wrong. Only lived their lives the way they wanted to. But it was his family's fault. Danzo's fault. If only that old geezer wasn't there. If only his real family was still there. He lost count of how much time he'd spent wishing for this to happen. For his dead mother to fluke back to life. For his father and dear brother not perish in that fire, or to see the bastard, Danzo's body in his mother's closed casket instead. But unfortunately, his cries to the heaven were always shut down and he had to live in complete agony for as long as he could remember.
Still, now, when God had finally answered to his undying wish and brought him back a member of his real family. Why was he so freaked out? Shouldn't he have been happy, overjoyed and jumping from delight? His big brother had come back to life, to protect him, help him, aid him and save him. But…
HOW?
His inner soul screamed.
"Sasuke! You're finally up! I have started to lose trust in my medical ways since it took you longer than anticipated to come to reality. Good thing you are up." Kakashi chirped as soon as he came into the room Sasuke's body was placed to rest in.
"I wasn't out the long, was I?"
"Nope, only three hours." Kakashi grinned then released in concern. "You haven't been getting much of sleep these few days, right?"
Sasuke groaned out as he started sitting up. "No, I couldn't, Naruto was away."
Sighing, Kakashi handed a glass of water to the grungy raven. "Then it's good that you've taken a rest here, your body needs it."
"Have I really been out for three hours? It felt more like five minutes or less."
"Your inner clock is as messed up as your head, and yes, they were three whole hours. But I have to say, I was surprised. Never did I think your arrogant ass could actually faint from shock. How girly~"
Kakashi was hit with the pillow Sasuke's head was rested on a few minutes ago.
"Shut it, old man!"
A rough hand found its way towards his shoulder, and Sasuke had to stare at serious black orbs. "All jokes aside, Sasuke. I was shocked, too. I never expected him to be alive."
Sasuke looked at his hands, feeling a jolt at remembering the chilling voice of his older brother.
"Me, too. Did…" Forcing his voice to steady, he continued. "Did he tell you where he's been all these years?"
Kakashi shook his head. "He said once you wake up, he'll explain everything to us. Sasuke, listen to me; you shouldn't be led around by your emotions here. I know how you're feeling right now, but you can't lash out. Be in control, for Naruto's sake, if not for your own."
Sasuke pushed the hand away from his shoulder and released between gritted teeth. "I know that!"
"If you do, then let's go. I know where he's waiting."
Getting out of bed, Sasuke walked behind his older cousin. He had to force his feelings to lock up inside his heart and control the anger that was seeping from his tips. If he was alive all these years, why didn't he bother to come back and help him? Why, when he cried so hard those dark nights asking for his big brother to come back and save him like he used to do – why didn't he come when he needed him the most?
Sasuke fisted his hands and bit his gum. How dare he show his face right now, when Sasuke was already reaching adulthood? When he forgot the true meaning of happiness or how to smile brightly? When all his innocence was so cruelly ripped away out of his arms? How dare he!?
Kakashi spared a look behind him and sighed. His words weren't getting to Sasuke at all, and the raven was clearly fighting with his inner demons regarding how to handle this business with Itachi. The silver haired man groaned inside his heart and pushed the big door open.
The nice smell of lemon coated tea filled their nostrils in a second.
Sasori directed the two males to sit on an expensive looking sofa, while he called for his master to come to the room. Tea was served to them in the meantime, Sasuke ignored it and Kakashi requested his pack of cigarettes back instead, in which he was given a second later.
They didn't have to wait long for the door was opened and an exhausted looking Uchiha walked in with a sweet smile on his lips and a calm look inside his beautiful orbs. Kakashi put a hand on Sasuke's right shoulder jolting him out of his inner hateful thoughts.
"Kakashi, Sasuke," Itachi welcomed and took a seat on the chair made especially for him. He clapped his hands together and all the maids excused themselves except for Sasori.
Kakashi lit up his second cigarette since the first one seemed to smoke itself without him paying attention and addressed the question they all had in mind.
"Where have you been all these years, Itachi?"
Red crimson eyes smiled at him and Itachi's mouth opened to tell the story he'd saved for as long as he could remember, to tell on this particular day. With rain as their background music and the wonderful aroma of lemon tea surrounding them, the words played from his mouth like a nice, old memory.
Here, done! Itachi has made an appearance, at last! I have always wanted to write him in a story! He is just too cool for words! The perfect big brother. Anyways, looking forward to your reviews! The next chapter will be up as soon as I get it! :D
