20. I Was So Hard to Please
When Sasuke awoke the next morning, he momentarily forgot where he was. He knew he wasn't home – the couch he was sleeping on felt nothing like his bed – but for whatever reason he didn't recognize his whereabouts. It was as if the entire night before had been some sort of bizarre dream. Shikamaru and Kiba running around in their underwear, Akamaru peeing on Gaara, the soda fight with Naruto – he remembered it all quite clearly, but it felt strangely distant. He couldn't actually believe it had all happened just a few hours before, that he'd actually participated in something so normal.
Well, normal in some sense, I guess…
It was only when Sasuke's eyes adjusted to the dim, morning light that he began to take it all in. The faint snores coming from around the room, the couch, and his position curled up in a ball with Naruto, all told him one thing: it was no dream. The Uchiha wasn't sure what to feel at first. It was a little frightening, to think he'd spent the previous evening connecting with such a large group of people. All those bonds he'd formed, all the memories he'd carry with him from that night – there was still that lingering fear that it would all come back to haunt him. These feelings quickly vanished, however, when he considered his position once again.
He had just spent the night with his arms wrapped around the boy he loved. It was embarrassing, to think he'd been cuddling the blond like a teddy bear all night long. Did Naruto know? Maybe he'd already been asleep when Sasuke decided to embrace him, or maybe he was too tired to notice. Did it even matter? Why should he care whether his boyfriend knew about that moment of tenderness? That's what love was all about, right?
Still, Sasuke felt like he'd somehow betrayed himself. That reputation he'd earned as a cold, heartless bastard, had now been completely shattered by a night snuggling with Naruto. As humiliated as the Uchiha was, though, he knew he couldn't stay angry with himself. It was just too easy to fall back into that feeling of contentment and pull Naruto closer.
He still smells like soda…
So, there he lay, hugging Naruto to him under the blankets, their heads just poking out the top. It was nice. Yes, Sasuke could get used to that simple comfort of lying next to his boyfriend, and he would've, if a little thing called 'sex,' hadn't got in the way. The Uchiha lasted only a minute or so with his bare skin rubbing up against Naruto's before he became suddenly aware that he was practically naked. As was Naruto. Save for their underwear, they were completely nude beneath the sheets.
Just this simple realization changed Sasuke's mindset completely. The pleasures of Naruto's presence, of his gentle, peaceful aura, were brushed aside. In their place were only observations of a more physical sort. The smooth texture of Naruto's skin, the warmth from his body, his faint, morning musk, and the firmness of the blond's muscles hidden beneath the blanket. Sasuke felt his hand slowly, carefully run up and down Naruto's front, feeling every square inch of his torso from his chest down to his flat stomach. The Uchiha even paused to feel his boyfriend's stomach move up and down with each breath, and soon his own breathing had slowed to match his boyfriend's.
This is wrong … so wrong. But why can't I stop?
Sasuke knew the answer of course: because it felt right. He wanted to have this moment of intimacy, to learn more about Naruto. They'd already covered mental part of their relationship, learning about each other in great detail. Now he needed to get closer physically, before they could advance their relationship emotionally.
The Uchiha's hands wandered a touch lower, until they found the waistband of Naruto's boxers. Not daring to move any further south, Sasuke opted to slide his fingers along this boundary, moving from the front over to the backside. There, he paused.
Do I dare? His breathing's steady – he must still be asleep. If I move quickly, I should be fine.
Holding his breath, Sasuke let his hand glide over the waistband of Naruto's boxers, exploring below the belt. His fingers brushing against the cotton boxers, Sasuke moved across the blond's firm butt, his hand even passing ever so briefly between the twin mounds. It was exciting for the Uchiha, finally feeling that bubble butt. He remembered admiring it from afar a few days before in the showers at school, and now here he was, actually touching it. Unfortunately, as this thought crossed Sasuke's mind, another person became suddenly aware of the Uchiha's hands.
"Sasuke? Are you… are you touching my ass?" Naruto asked groggily, turning his head to meet his boyfriend's gaze.
Busted.
"What? No – my hand must've bumped against it in my sleep, that's all…"
"But, if you were asleep… why'd you answer me so quickly?" the blond asked, apparently still in a fog.
"I don't know, I guess I woke up just before you did or something," Sasuke responded quickly, though his reddening cheeks revealed the truth.
"Well, well, looks like someone's lying," Naruto said with a smirk, turning his body around on the couch. "Admit it – you were feeling me up, weren't you?"
Sasuke knew he'd been caught. His face turned an even deeper shade of red as he replied. "Yeah… I guess I was. I'm sorry."
"What're you sorry for? I would've done the same thing in your position," the blond admitted with a grin. "It is a bit unfair, though. Why should you get to have all the fun? I'll tell you what: let's finish this in my room."
Sasuke only nodded as Naruto carefully stepped off the couch, avoiding the other sleeping guests on the floor. As the blond tiptoed across the floor, Sasuke couldn't help but admire his butt on more time, secretly wishing his boxers would drop suddenly to the floor. Once on the other side, Naruto paused and turned to his boyfriend, beckoning him with a wave of his hand. With that, the vulpine boy continued down the hall, leaving Sasuke to make the treacherous journey across the body-strewn floor.
As he kicked off the covers, the Uchiha became immensely glad that he'd waited for his boyfriend to move first. Looking down, he found that his exploration of Naruto's body had produced some noticeable side effects in his boxerbriefs, which were now quite tented. Knowing that he couldn't keep Naruto waiting forever, though, Sasuke took a deep breath and stepped foot on the carpet. Daring not even to make a noise, the raven-haired teen crossed the floor, praying to himself that none of the other guys would wake up and see him standing there with a case of morning wood.
Fortunately, by the time Sasuke had cleared the living room and entered the hallway his obvious erection had subsided, preventing any further humiliation as he followed Naruto into his bedroom. As the couple entered, Naruto tentatively sealed the door shut, trying not to make the door creak, lest they wake the others.
"So, what are we doing, exactly?" Sasuke asked, only to have Naruto press a finger to his lips.
"Shh – just lie down on the bed. I'll handle the rest."
Sasuke knew that look – it was better just to go with Naruto's plan than to offer any resistance. It would only spoil the mood, anyway. So, the Uchiha lay back on the bed, resting his head on the blond's pillow. It felt strange, lying there practically naked in front of his boyfriend, but it was a good kind of strange. Not so much weird, but more like exotic. All Sasuke could think was how he didn't want to pop a boner again.
Naruto had something else on his mind, though, as he crawled onto the bed, straddling his boyfriend. His eyes were filled with hunger, as if Sasuke was a piece of meat being dangled in front of Naruto after a weeklong fast. Licking his lips, the blond towered over Sasuke, a naughty smirk on his face.
What's he planning?
Without saying a word, Naruto took his finger and ran it gently down Sasuke's chest, following a path down the exact center. When he reached the Sasuke's navel, Naruto traced a circle around his belly button, and then playfully snapped the waistband of the Uchiha's boxerbriefs.
"You're still sticky from that soda fight last night," Naruto observed with a whisper.
"So are you," Sasuke replied, somewhat puzzled by the statement.
"Let me take care of that, then."
With that, Naruto moved back up to Sasuke's chest and leaned in, so that his face was hovering just above the skin. There, he slid his tongue out and began to lick the Uchiha's skin, savoring the flavors of the sticky soda remnants, as well as the delicate taste of Sasuke's flesh and sweat. At first Sasuke wanted to push the blond away, feeling a little creeped out by the sensation his boyfriend's tongue left, but he resisted this temptation. It was certainly a foreign feeling, but it wasn't necessarily bad. The wetness left in Naruto's wake – it was nice, actually. It was almost as if Naruto was marking his territory, claiming Sasuke as his own. In fact, it wasn't that different from what Sasuke had done that morning.
After Naruto had explored the majority of Sasuke's chest inch by wonderful inch, he turned his attention to two particular points: his nipples. Sasuke heard a soft moan escape his lips as the blond began to suck on his nipple, his tongue brushing against the tip as he worked. The Uchiha chanced a look down at his boyfriend, only to find that Naruto had closed his eyes in concentration.
He's really into this, isn't he – oh! That felt good…
Sasuke soon had to close his own eyes, so that he could focus more on the sensations Naruto was making him feel. For a brief moment, there was nothing, which left the Uchiha feeling frustrated. Why would Naruto stop now, when it felt so good? Shortly thereafter, though, he squirmed as the blond went to work on the other nipple. Again, he moaned.
"You like that, huh?" Naruto asked, before sucking once more on the nipple.
"Don't talk…"
Naruto's response was to tickle the Uchiha briefly with his tongue, sending another wave of pleasure through Sasuke's body. The raven-haired teen found his breathing accelerating as Naruto continued to tease him, sucking ever so delicately on his nipple. Rather than try to control himself, though, and steady his breathing, Sasuke found his hand rising towards his boyfriend's golden hair, which he began to caress slowly.
Sasuke couldn't say why he felt the need to feel Naruto at that moment. He was already having a wonderful experience by simply allowing Naruto to lick every inch of his body, but that felt so shallow. Even though he'd already explored Naruto's body back on the couch, Sasuke didn't want to be passive in this expression of their affection. So, even though it was just a small gesture, the Uchiha ran his fingers through Naruto's golden locks, feeling both the silky, smooth strands and the gnarled patches of bed head.
Does he mind if I do this? Would I mind it if I were in his position? Before… I'd probably hate him for it – that was a good spot – but now… I don't think I'd mind. It's like this. I never would've let Naruto do this before, but… I've changed.
Sasuke was pleased to find that Naruto didn't resist his boyfriend's caresses, but continued to clean the sticky soda from the Uchiha's bare torso. He'd moved south from the nipples not too long before, and was now making his way down to Sasuke's stomach. That area was particularly tender and ticklish, and Sasuke had to resist the urge to squirm with every lick. Before long, Naruto had reached the Uchiha's belly button, at which point Sasuke gasped.
Naruto had placed his entire mouth around the navel and inserted his tongue, wiggling it back and forth rapidly, sending ripple after ripple of titillation through Sasuke's entire body.
Oh god… Naruto, when did you…
Suddenly, Sasuke felt it – that tingling sensation just a bit further below where Naruto was licking. In just a few seconds, his growing member was pressing up against his boxerbriefs, producing a highly noticeable bulge in the cloth. Realizing that Naruto might move on from his belly button at any moment, Sasuke jolted to the side and rolled off the bed, landing on the floor with a loud thud. Naruto, having moved his legs just in time to avoid the fleeing Uchiha, was left with nothing to hold onto, and instead wound up kissing the bedspread in bewilderment.
"Sasuke, what the hell?" Naruto asked, wiping the cotton from his tongue.
"Sorry, I just remembered that the other guys might be waking up soon," Sasuke replied, sitting hunched over on the ground to hide his embarrassing state. "Maybe we should finish this some other time…"
"All right," Naruto pouted, his legs dangling off the edge of the bed and his hands resting on his lap. "You probably should take a shower before you get dressed, though."
"What're you trying to say," the Uchiha replied defensively, his arms crossed over his bare chest.
"Well, just look at you," the blond said, pointing at his boyfriend with a free hand.
Sasuke glanced down at himself, fearing that Naruto had noticed the growing problem in his pants. Instead, he realized that his entire torso was glistening from traces of saliva. He laughed. "You're probably right. Where's the bathroom?"
"It's just down the hall. Should be on your left," Naruto replied as he rose off the bed, adjusting his sky blue boxers before ushering his boyfriend to the door.
"Thanks," Sasuke said simply as he also rose to his feet, though he walked with his back to the blond, so as to conceal his front.
Naruto nodded and waited in the bedroom as the Uchiha headed for the bathroom, which he found with ease. As soon as he stepped in, Sasuke sealed the door shut and stripped off his boxerbriefs, pausing momentarily to examine his reflection in the mirror. He hadn't noticed before in Naruto's darkened room, but now he could clearly see numerous red marks on his skin. Every spot where the blond had gingerly sucked on Sasuke's flesh had been slightly irritated, and Sasuke knew it was highly noticeable. He didn't regret what he'd done, but he hoped that the marks would fade by gym class on Monday. Sasuke didn't particularly want the entire school knowing what'd happened that morning.
Thus, with an amused sigh, Sasuke pulled the shower curtain back and stepped inside, where he turned the water as hot as it would go. At first, it was frigid, and the Uchiha stepped back out of the spray in shock. After a minute or so, though, there was a nice cloud of steam, and Sasuke walked under the showerhead, letting the hot water rush through his hair.
Sasuke was reluctant to eliminate the feeling of Naruto licking him. It had been strangely tender, and he didn't want to wash it off so soon. It was like when they'd kissed under the bridge earlier that week. As strange as it had been, making out in the middle of the stream like that, it had been sweet. This was similar. Sure, Sasuke thought it was different, having his entire body licked like that, but he'd enjoyed it. To him, it was just another way of Naruto expressing his affection for him. It almost made him feel guilty, to think that he was washing the trace amounts of Naruto's saliva from his body, but Sasuke knew he couldn't just ignore it.
It's not that I'm ashamed of what happened… but I don't want the whole world to know that Naruto and I shared an intimate moment either. It's personal – our thing. Or maybe… maybe I'm just not ready for the world to know, yet. It's still so new to me… I feel like everything's moving so fast…
As Sasuke thought of this, reaching for the soap beneath the showerhead, he heard it. The whole thing happened in a blur – one second he was bending over for the soap, the next he was spinning around in shock, for the shower curtain was torn open. There, standing in birthday suit, was Naruto with a naughty grin on his face.
"What the hell are you doing, Naruto? I'm in here!" Sasuke snapped, pulling the curtain around him modestly.
"You honestly think I don't know that?" Naruto asked, stepping into the shower as well. He winced as the steaming water ran around his bare foot. "I came to join you."
Sasuke felt a twitch down below at the thought, which reminded him of why he'd fled for the shower to begin with. "No, you can't! I mean…"
"Sasuke, I know why you left in such a hurry. I don't really care," Naruto said, placing his hands on his hips. "Look, I'm hard too, all right?"
In spite of himself, Sasuke found his eyes drawn to Naruto's crotch where, indeed, he confirmed the blond's statement. Apparently Sasuke wasn't the only one who'd been turned on by their little make-out session. He blushed.
"Geez, Naruto! I don't want to see that!"
"Yes, you do," the vulpine boy replied, taking a step towards Sasuke and into the hot shower spray. "You think I forgot how you reacted the last time you saw me naked?"
Another twitch.
"Well… I don't know. That was different!" Sasuke protested, his blush deepening as he pulled the curtain tighter around him. Again, his eyes drifted involuntarily towards Naruto's crotch, and the Uchiha found himself licking his lips.
"Yeah, sure. This time I know you're watching me," Naruto replied, placing a hand on the curtain. "And you know I'm watching you. Now, stop resisting and just enjoy it, okay?"
Sasuke stared at his boyfriend for a moment, feeling his will melting away as he fell deeper into those deep, blue eyes. Again, he was afraid things were moving too fast, but he found himself releasing his grip on the curtain nonetheless. The water pressed the curtain back to the side, and there they were – two boyfriends, standing completely naked before each other.
"There now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Naruto said, gazing down at the newly revealed area. "Well, maybe 'hard' isn't the right word…"
"Very funny," Sasuke responded, turning his head to the side in embarrassment.
"What? It's nothing to be ashamed of," the blond said, taking another step towards the Uchiha.
Sasuke turned his head to the front and gave a start. He and Naruto were now practically face-to-face, with only an inch or so separating them. The water ran over both their heads, the steam rising up between them and over the curtain, yet Sasuke felt numb. What should he do? He wasn't prepared for this.
"Naruto…"
"It's fine, Sasuke. Just don't think about it," Naruto said, taking a final step forward.
Sasuke closed the gap as well, and they leaned into each other for a kiss. The Uchiha wasn't sure what deserved his focus. Should he just work on the kiss? What about their naked bodies rubbing up against each other? What should he do with his hands? It was incredibly awkward for a moment, and apparently Naruto had a similar problem on the other end of the kiss, because he was not nearly as active as usual. There was no action with his tongue, no delicate sucking on the lips – he hadn't even budged from his initial position. It was as if neither of them could think of anything other than applying more pressure.
In fact, it was only after several seconds that Sasuke felt Naruto's hands. They had been dangling uselessly at the blond's side, but Sasuke now felt them resting on the back of his neck. They traveled up from there, as if Naruto couldn't quite find the right spot, until they dug their way into the Uchiha's wet, black hair. There, the lustful teen pulled Sasuke further into their kiss, causing his eyes to open wide in surprise.
Wow, he must really like this. Is this some fantasy of his or something?
Of course, Sasuke wasn't exactly turned off by the situation himself. Ever since his body had come into contact with Naruto's, the Uchiha's head had been practically swimming as the blood pumped through his body from sheer excitement. The effects were evident down below as well, where Sasuke found himself hardening more than he thought possible. It was almost painful, but in a good way.
Still, Sasuke couldn't let Naruto think that he wasn't enjoying their little adventure in the shower, so he decided to do something with his own hands. Reaching around behind the blond mid-kiss, Sasuke placed his hands firmly on his boyfriend's smooth, bubble butt and squeezed.
As Sasuke expected, Naruto's mouth dropped open in surprise at the sudden contact. Taking advantage of the situation, the Uchiha slid his tongue into his boyfriend's mouth, gently tickling the other's tongue within.
Much better…
Naruto's widened eyes closed completely at the familiar feel of Sasuke's tongue, and he focused entirely on the kiss. Though their hands were still occupied – Naruto's behind Sasuke's head, and Sasuke's planted on the blond's butt – they managed to put their full attention, at least for a moment, into the tender exchange between their lips. They only explored each other's mouths for a moment, their tongues moving back and forth to make room for the other, but that brief minute was perfect. After having spent the whole morning pushing their boundaries physically, this simple kiss somehow made it all come full circle.
When Naruto pulled out of the kiss, then, Sasuke smiled. Normally he would've been mad at the blond for quitting so soon, but on that day it felt right. It'd been an exciting morning, and it was time to move on.
"Could you pass the soap, Sasuke?" the blond asked, indicating the bottle of shower gel beneath the showerhead.
"Sure."
Sasuke handed his boyfriend the bottle, who squeezed out a puddle into his hand. He then flashed the Uchiha a grin. "Now turn around."
"Why?" Sasuke asked, giving the blond a skeptical look.
"Because, I want to wash your back. Now turn around," Naruto replied, twirling his finger for emphasis.
Sasuke sighed and faced the shower spray, letting the hot water run down his face. He didn't like having to release Naruto so easily – not after he'd spent that whole morning admiring the vulpine boy's butt from afar.
Something about that ass…
Again, Sasuke felt himself blushing at the thought, but soon his mind was distracted as Naruto went to work on his back. The way Naruto moved his hands so slowly and deliberately along the Uchiha's bare backside, it almost felt like a massage. Sasuke moaned quietly, and Naruto slowed down even more, working up a nice lather.
"Does that feel good?" he asked, leaning over to whisper into Sasuke's ear.
"Lower," Sasuke ordered, ignoring Naruto's question altogether.
Naruto complied, traveling down and soaping up the Uchiha's back and sides as he went. Before long, all of Sasuke's back was covered in suds, and it was Naruto's turn to clamp his hands on his boyfriend's butt. He moved his hands in circles on both cheeks briefly, his chuckles audible over the running water, before moving back up to Sasuke's neck.
Why'd he stop?
"I have something else in mind," Naruto said, apparently having read Sasuke's mind.
With that, Naruto squirted another puddle of soap into his hand and reached his arms around to the Uchiha's front. There, the blond began to work Sasuke's chest into a lather, covering everything from the collar down to his upper torso. It felt incredible to Sasuke, especially when Naruto stopped by his new favorite spot: the nipples. Still, the blond didn't stay in one spot for long, and soon he had reached Sasuke's navel, which he circled a few times with his finger.
What's he planning? Wait… why isn't he stopping? He couldn't be…
Indeed, Naruto's hands were drifting further south, and Sasuke suddenly realized what the blond had been planning from the start. He had no intention of stopping him, either. As expected, Naruto's hands traveled down to the pelvic area, where he briefly rubbed the Uchiha's lower tummy, moving at a painfully slow pace.
Another twitch.
Just get it over with!
Before Naruto could budge another inch, though, there was a sudden knock at the door, snapping both him and Sasuke back to reality.
"Hey, Naruto! Could you and Sasuke hurry up in there? The rest of us would like to take a shower at some point today!"
Damn you, Kiba…
Naruto leaned over Sasuke's shoulder once more, whispering, "Guess they caught us.
Sasuke sighed, reaching down and removing the blond's hands from his crotch. "It's okay – they were bound to find out eventually. We'll just have to finish this some other time."
"All right…" Naruto pouted, crossing his arms defiantly. "You better not forget, though."
Oh, I won't…
Sasuke reached down and shut off the water, leaving only the sound of their bare feet slapping against the floor as he and Naruto exited the shower. They each reached for a towel and proceeded to dry off, taking their time to get every spot. By the time they finished, both of their erections had subsided, a fact that relieved Sasuke greatly.
Even if they suspect what we were up to, I'd rather not give them any more evidence…
Setting the damp towels back on the rack, Naruto and Sasuke stepped into their underwear and stepped out into the hallway, where they were greeted by a grinning Kiba.
"Have fun?" the Inuzuka asked, backing up to let the boyfriends out. He apparently hadn't dressed yet, either, as he was still in his black briefs.
"That's for us to know, and for you to never find out," Naruto replied, sticking his tongue out chilidishly as he passed.
Sasuke simply shrugged his shoulders and returned to the living room, where he found the rest of the guests were wide-awake. His clothes were sitting in a pile beside the couch, and he got dressed awkwardly, feeling he had the entire world staring at him. By the time he was ready, Naruto had also gotten fully dressed, and together they slumped down on the couch, each with a blush gracing their cheeks.
"Was he good to you, Uchiha?" Gaara asked from the floor, still wrapped up in his blanket from the night before.
"You tell anyone, and I'll kill you," Sasuke responded, shooting the redhead a glare. "That goes for the rest of you, too."
Shikamaru, Lee, and Choji all nodded in agreement, while Gaara simply chuckled. Satisfied, Sasuke slouched back, resting his head on Naruto's shoulder. He'd never live this down.
xxxxx
Sasuke left Naruto's apartment not long after their little make-out session in the shower. Everyone had showered, dressed, and eaten a bit of breakfast (mostly cereal), and it was generally decided that they should all go their separate ways for the day. Lee and Kiba had another track meet that day, which Naruto wanted to attend, while Shikamaru had plans to go cloud gazing with Choji, just to waste the day away. The only ones who didn't seem to have any plans were Gaara and Sasuke, and they simply decided to head home – it had been an exhausting night, and Sasuke, at least, was ready to spend a quiet day in his room.
So, after waving goodbye to the other partygoers, Sasuke started down the sidewalk for home, enjoying the feel of the morning sun on his face. To think that just a week before, he'd been walking in this same direction from Kakashi's apartment, only to stop by the track meet on a whim. It must've been fate that brought him to that meet – if he hadn't gone there and fought Gaara, he never would've been saved by Naruto. He never would've realized how much he cared for the blond – never would've shared a kiss later that night.
The Uchiha smiled. It wasn't like him to be so sentimental. He blamed it on the intense morning – it'd left him in a good mood. Of course, Sasuke knew that wouldn't last long – Itachi usually had Saturdays off, which meant he would be home, ready to harass Sasuke over his love life.
Oh well… I guess it can't be helped…
Thus, his hands tucked into his pockets, Sasuke strolled down the vacant sidewalks, gazing at the passing cars disinterestedly. Before long, he arrived at his familiar neighborhood, filled with enormous mansions and extensive lawns, all a lush, green and cut at a uniform height. It was disgusting, how perfect it all looked. Assuming any of the people in those mansions were like Itachi or Kisame, Sasuke knew they were by no means perfect. No, behind those perfect homes with their neat lawns and generally tidy atmosphere were alcoholics, wife beaters, and thieves, just like the rest of the world. There were probably even murderers hidden somewhere in that neighborhood, concealed by their mask of perfection. It made Sasuke sick.
Murderers… like the one who stole my parents from me. People like Kyuubi… people who act only for themselves, not caring who they hurt along the way.
By the time these thoughts had passed through Sasuke's mind, he'd already arrived at this doorstep. Somehow he'd trudged through his neighborhood instinctively, as if by memory alone, and the feel of the cool, brass doorknob jarred him back to reality. Shaking his head, the Uchiha turned the knob and gently pushed open the door, hoping not to draw attention to himself. If he could make it up to his room without running into Itachi, it would be ideal.
After slipping inside and shutting the door behind him, though, Sasuke heard voices coming from the dining room, which brought him to an abrupt halt. One was Itachi's – that much was clear – but he'd never heard the other voice before. Tip-toeing through the foyer towards the dining room, Sasuke tried to get as close as possible to the conversation without getting caught. Taking a chance to peek around the corner, he found his brother and a man with long, white hair seated at the table, both eyeing each other coldly.
"So, Chief Jiraiya," Itachi said with forced politeness, taking a sip from his coffee. "What brings you by today? Just stopping in to say hello, are we?"
"It's been five years, Itachi," the older man replied, sipping from his coffee as well. "I was hoping you'd have some more information for us. Have you heard anything? Seen anything suspicious lately?"
"No, no – I'm afraid not," the elder Uchiha mused, stirring his drink absentmindedly. "Why? You don't think we're in danger here, do you?"
"You? No… I think you're perfectly safe, Itachi. I just find it a little odd, you know? We've always suspected that your parents' murderer was from a competing company."
"Really? What makes you say that?"
"Well, it makes sense doesn't it?" Jiraiya asked, gesticulating with his free hand. "If, let's say, a company like Akatsuki could eliminate the top shareholders of the Uchiha Corporation, they could throw their competition into turmoil and force them to sell."
"An interesting theory," Itachi replied, taking another sip. "Have you investigated the Uchiha Corporation's former competitors?"
"Thoroughly. Especially Akatsuki – but they're clean. All of their employee's whereabouts are on record for that evening, and their alibis are solid. They're either innocent, or they've done a miraculous job of covering their asses," Jiraiya sighed and set his mug down on the table with a thud. "Which brings me to why I'm here. Since we couldn't find any evidence of foul play from other companies, and since there's been no attempt on your life, as the new owner of the company, we're beginning to think it was an inside job."
"Someone within the Uchiha Corporation? But my parents were loved by all. They paid their employees handsomely – why would anyone want them dead?"
"That's true – they were quite popular. However, we've heard some rumors that things were not going as well as they seemed financially. Apparently your parents were spending more than they had, and things were quickly spiraling out of control. Do you know anything about that?"
Itachi paused and, sighing, set his own mug down on the table. "Chief Jiraiya – my parents' hearts oftentimes got the better of their reason. They knew the Uchiha Corporation was losing ground to growing conglomerates like Akatsuki, but they couldn't afford to lay off workers or cut their salaries. After all, so many people's livelihood relied on that paycheck, and to take that away would be sentencing them to death."
"And how did you feel about that?" Jiraiya asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I thought they were fools," Itachi said simply, a slight smile crossing his lips. "While their intentions were noble, they should've realized that they couldn't have it all. If the company was to continue to provide for a few people, it would have to cut back, or else risk losing everything."
"What would you have done in their situation?"
"All these questions, Chief – I almost think this is an interrogation," Itachi chuckled. "Very well, I'll tell you what I would've done. I would've merged with Akatsuki. It's the only way I could've guaranteed a future for many of my employees, not to mention my children."
"Oh, you were afraid they were closing the door on your future?" Jiraiya asked, his eyes flashing with intrigue.
"Well, of course. The way things were going, there was a chance one of us would be cut off."
"So, in a way, their deaths worked in your favor?"
Itachi paused. "Chief Jiraiya – I've already talked with the police about my parents' deaths. It was an incredibly tragic and traumatic moment for both myself and Sasuke. I would gladly trade money for my family at any time, and I'm gravely offended that you would suggest otherwise. I merely did the best that I could under the circumstances and, yes, that involved merging with Akatsuki. Now, do you have any other questions, or have I been harassed enough?"
Throughout this entire speech, Itachi's tone remained calm and dignified, in spite of the delicate topic being discussed. Jiraiya seemed to take a hint at this point, though, and rose from his chair. "No, no. That'll do, for now. Please, give us a call if you see anything suspicious, though, won't you?"
"Gladly," the elder Uchiha replied, shaking the officer's extended hand.
With that, the two started for the foyer, and Sasuke realized he'd have to make a hasty retreat. Before he had time to sneak off to the nearest hiding place, though, he felt a large, rough hand grab his shoulder, jerking him to a halt.
"Hey, why if it isn't Sasuke. How are you, little guy?" Jiraiya asked, patting the younger Uchiha on the head.
Sasuke made no response, but simply frowned at the white-haired man. Itachi interfered, shooting Sasuke his trademark smirk. "You'll have to forgive my brother, Chief. You see, he just spent the night with his boyfriend, and I'm sure he's a little sore, if you catch my drift."
Jiraiya removed his hand and winked at the raven-haired teen. "Ah, I see. Well, you'd better rest up, then. Goodbye."
With that, Jiraiya stepped out the door, leaving a thoroughly embarrassed Sasuke and a delighted Itachi in his wake. "Why'd you have to tell him that?" Sasuke growled, his hands clenching into fists.
"Oh, was I wrong? No wonder you're so upset, then. I'll tell you what – the bathroom upstairs will be open if you need some… release."
Sasuke opted not to argue with his brother, but instead stormed up the stairs. Before he had reached the fifth step, though, Itachi stopped him once more. "Oh, and Sasuke, just forget that little conversation I had with the Chief, will you? Everything's under control."
Sasuke nodded and finished climbing the stairs, somehow knowing that everything was certainly not under control.
xxxxx
Later that night, Kakashi Hatake found himself sitting alone at the bar in a single's club in downtown Konoha, staring wearily into his glass of punch. Around him, there were numerous couples – men and women – pairing up to dance and chat, but he simply couldn't bring himself to join them. Instead, he just sipped on his drink, questioning why he was even there.
"Hey, Kakashi!"
The silver-haired man turned his head to the side, where he found a burly man with a short beard grinning back at him, a cigarette poking out of his mouth. Kakashi turned back to his drink. "Evening, Asuma."
"So, you're finally putting yourself back on the market, huh? Well good for you!" Asuma said, nudging the other teacher with his elbow. "Hey, barkeep! Gimme a gin and tonic, will ya?"
The bartender prepared the drink and handed it to Asuma, who began to drink it eagerly. "Damn, that's good stuff. Now, why don't you tell me why you're looking so glum?"
"I don't know… I'm thinking I made a mistake coming here. I'm just not ready yet…"
"Well, I'll tell you why – it's because of that drink you got there! Who drinks punch when they go to the bar! You need to get some booze in your system. Hey, barkeep! Another gin and tonic for by buddy here."
"No!" Kakashi snapped, causing both Asuma and the bartender to freeze. Realizing his sudden slip, the silver-hair man rose from his stool and placed some bills on the bar. "Excuse me, Asuma. I'll see you Monday."
"S-sure thing," the bearded man replied before turning back to his drink.
Shaking his head, Kakashi stumbled out the door and sighed.
Obito… why can't I just forget you?