CHAPTER 19 – Ripple Effects
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"Naruto, will you let me try?"
Those words played over and over again in his mind as Naruto lay alone in the guest bed. Shikamaru and Neji had finally passed out. That thought made him smirk. He wondered if Neji would be able to sate the Nara, he had Kyuubi's stamina and some nights Shikamaru would test his limits. He was now completely sure Shikamaru was so lazy during the day so he could fuck all night. Rolling over Naruto sighed as Sasuke's voice echoed through his mind once more.
"Naruto, will you let me try?" Choking Naruto felt his tears well up. Why was it so hard to answer him? He loved Sasuke more than anything. With all of his distractions gone and his need for affirmation sated Naruto felt hallow. In the empty bed he felt lonely but he had no desire to feel Gaara's smaller body pressed against him or Shikamaru's pony tail tickling his nose at that moment all he wanted was Sasuke. He wondered just how sick that made him. For Naruto to want the man who'd broken his heart, destroyed his trust, and ripped to shreds the life he'd known.
"Naruto, will you let me try?" He'd looked into obsidian eyes and felt his tears fall. Elegant long fingers had reached up and wiped the tears away. "Don't cry for me Naruto. I don't deserve your tears. "I have never wanted her. I don't want her and what I did with her makes me angry and disgusted with myself. I was stupid, desperate, and I'd lost a lot of blood. I swear I saw you, I felt you under me… when I came it was your name on my lips. It probably makes me a worse person for using her like that and for cheating on you at the same time." Swallowing Sasuke put his hands on Naruto's shoulders. "I wanted to tell you. I swear I was going to when you got there that morning. I knew what I'd done was wrong and that I could lose you for my stupidity but I wanted to be the one to tell you."
Sasuke's words shouldn't have affected him. The desperation in his eyes and voice shouldn't have swayed him but they did. He felt like sobbing as Sasuke explained himself. Knowing the raven haired man had indented to tell him had at least wanted to be honest about the horrible thing he'd done healed something inside Naruto.
"Naruto, will you let me try?" The words had been repeated and this time Naruto had looked up.
Swallowing he'd replied with only one word. "Maybe." Sasuke had stepped back blinking. He'd been expecting a yes or no, he'd expected lashing out and anger. The calm maybe had thrown him for a loop. He ran the word around his head then smiled at his beloved. It wasn't a no and for now that gave him hope.
"Thank you Naruto. I love you. I will prove that to you." Sasuke had wanted to kiss those pale pink lips but restrained himself. He'd gotten a maybe and those turned into no's so quickly if one pushed too hard. By the time Sasuke had left the sounds of love making echoed through the house. Rolling to his other side Naruto frowned. "Naruto, will you let me try?"
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Shikamaru lay with his head in Neji's lap. He was splayed out on the sofa, hair down so Neji could run fingers through it as he read the latest report on the structural integrity of the village gates. This was troublesome, boring and he'd much rather be having sex with his boyfriend. They'd just returned from three nights at the Hyuuga compound, where he'd done his best to keep silent as Neji worshiped his body time and again. It left him wanting, to be able to babble and scream and order his incredibly talented seme around.
Sliding the door open Shikaku Nara felt his mouth snap shut. Before him lay a sight he'd never expected to see. Neji Hyuuga was bare chested on his son's over stuffed couch. Said son had his head in the Hyuuga's lap and most shocking of all was Shikamaru's hair was down and the Hyuuga was running his fingers through the soft brown hair. His son, like him, rarely let his hair down it simply got in the way, but they were vain and knew just how striking they looked when they did let it fall. That alone was proof of exactly what was going on between the two.
"The Hyuuga Lord just offered me a bride price for you. I'm guessing he wasn't full of shit?" Shikaku leaned on the door frame.
Shikamaru's head lolled to the side, eyes slightly glazed. "I'm not becoming a Hyuuga. Neji can be the wife."
Snorting Neji tugged gently. "Do you really want your father to know what a sweet wonton little uke his son is?" Shikaku grinned and shook his head.
"You just had to be trouble." Groaning Shikaku looked at Neji. "My son won't become a Hyuuga because of that branch shit. If you want him permanently no children can be Hyuuga and you will live on Nara lands. He's my heir." Frowning, the elder Nara shook his head. "Now I've got to tell your mother." The next thought made him smirk. "Put a shirt on Neji will you Shikamaru I don't want your boyfriend distracting my wife when she comes to take his head off."
Groaning Shikamaru rolled over and pressed his face into Neji's taunt abs. "Fuck, now we gotta deal with my MOM!" Glaring he looked up at Neji. "This is your stupid Uncle's fault! We haven't been dating more than two weeks and he's offering my dad a bride price?"
"It is through no fault of my own. We did not even attend meals with my family while you were there with me."Neji laughed leaning over to kiss Shikamaru. Both men sighed as they heard the Nara's mother yell before a metal clank of a thrown pot could be heard.
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Blinking Neji couldn't believe his ears. Shikamaru looked devastated and that wasn't helping the blond's case. "Why would you have done such a thing?" Neji asked said blond crossing his arms over his chest.
"Because I'm a grown man. And you two are… together. Which is GREAT I'm so glad it worked out." Sighing Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Because I need my own place. I really appreciate you taking me in and putting up with me for so long Shika but I need to work some stuff out and I need to remember what that's like. It seems like I've been with Sasuke forever, then Gaara, and then you in what nine months? Wow I sound like some sort of super slut don't I?" Naruto blushed deep red.
"Naru it's ok. You don't have to go. Neji, tell him he doesn't have to go." Shikamaru turned glaring at Neji.
Rolling his pale eyes Neji shook his head. "Shikamaru I believe Naruto does understand that he doesn't have to leave. I believe however he is right, some time alone to relearn who he is would be good for him." Grinning Naruto nodded.
"Exactly! Look Shika it's an apartment not to far from every one. It's even got a separate bedroom from the rest of the place. Three rooms! Open kitchen, dining and living room, a bathroom with a shower and a bedroom with a door!" He bounced excitedly. "Please don't be mad. This way you guys get your privacy and I can get mine." Biting his lip he sighed. "I want us to stay friends. You're my best friend now."
Scowling Shikamaru jumped Naruto hugging him tight. "You stupid Baca! Of course we're still friends. I've been your friend no matter what stupid unpredictable thing you did." Neji watched as the two men tangled falling to the floor ticking and rolling around, peals of laughter ringing off the walls. Neji leaned against the back of the sofa watching and wondering where he could get a pair of hand-cuffs and cat ears.
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Sakura sat in the training field frowning. Team Kakashi was officially training together again as of tomorrow morning and she didn't want to. She'd considered resigning from the team but she didn't want that either. She just wanted the world to go back to the way it had been. So instead of doing anything productive Sakura sat in the training field ripping grass up trying to decide the best way to handle things.
Blinking up in surprise when someone plopped down next to her she whispered. "Ka… Kakashi?" She furrowed her brow when he pulled his book out and began reading.
"Never mind me Sakura. You looked like you could use some company… and I know I could." He tugged a blue book out and passed it to her.
Eyeing it she scowled. "I don't want any of YOUR porn you perv!" She was about to smack him with the book when he spoke up.
"I sto… barrowed it from Ino's collection." He smirked under the mask, one good eye watching her cheeks pinken to match her hair.
Swallowing she eyed the book and then looked at Kakashi. "Ino? Well… uh ok then. I guess I can read with you." She started reading and soon found herself lost in the pretty yaoi manga. She'd rolled to her belly and he legs crossed at the ankles.
Kakashi held his book up and watched enchanted. She was a grown woman, so self conscious about so many things and yet here before him she lay relaxed and looking happier then he'd seen her in so many years. He'd known his team was thick as thieves when they were younger but the relationships and dynamic had changed as they'd grown and taken on new senseis. Naruto and Sasuke had finally come together and Kakashi wondered how long Sakura had been on the outside looking in. How long she had been so lonely and how long had he not noticed? He was tempted to ask, but as the sun turned the sky pink to match her hair he leaned back on his elbows and lifted his book back up. Deciding that he'd ask later, right now they'd just enjoy themselves.
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Gaara frowned as he watched the sun setting. He had to leave tomorrow and he didn't want to. "You're thinking too much Gaara." Shino whispered pressing a soft kiss behind Gaara's ear.
"No, you have to stay and I have to go." Shino frowned hearing the fury in his lover's voice. "I should have picked someone in my own town, someone not the heir of a clan. Instead I fell for you and now we will spend months apart at times."
Gaara was working himself up and Shino's arms wrapped his middle. "Stop that. Who said I was the heir? It is the assumption of most but it is not true. I do not have the gift to converse with all of our various insects. I believe my brother will become heir, he can converse with all of them… its beautiful really. But I don't mind."
Turning Gaara scowled. "You're the eldest. You're a warrior, strong and deserving of the right." Now the red head was indignant for his lover.
"I am GLAD not to have it Gaara." He reached up grabbing the head of his beautiful precious person. "It means that when the time comes and I have finished my training… when we are ready I will have no guilt about following you to the sand dunes of your home."
Looking up in shock Gaara swallowed. "Wha… Shino?" Toying with him could be quite deadly and while he might not kill Shino he couldn't promise not to seriously damage the other man.
Leaning in Shino kissed his Kazekage deeply. "I told you to stop thinking so much. You're with me. I will keep you safe, even from yourself Gaara."
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"Naruto, will you let me try?"
Sasuke sat on his roof looking at the bright moon. Even in the dark his eyes found the building they sought. He took another drink from the bottle in his hand. He'd given up on sake and moved on the whiskey. The building he stared down would soon house his beautiful fox faced lover.
"Naruto, will you let me try?"
Chuckling to himself Sasuke heard the desperation in his own voice when he'd asked that. He needed the answer; he needed to be able to start to prove himself to Naruto. "Naruto, will you let me try?"
"Maybe." One word had never been so important to him his entire life. That simple maybe had given him all of the hope in the world. Naruto was willing to try. Willing to give them the chance to try again. The last year felt as if it was going to kill him and so he downed another fiery gulp.
"Naruto, will you let me try?" – "Maybe."
His lips lifted and he looked down at the paper in his hand. "Maybe…" Sasuke smiled as he saw the note for what it was. Scribbled across it was Naruto's new address, phone number and a warning not to call before ten am… and at the bottom a simple. 'I'm going to need a new coffee maker. Shikamaru named the other one. I think he'll go through post partum depression if I take it with me.'
Grinning Sasuke climbed down to shower and get some rest. He had to train tomorrow and when they were done, MAYBE he could walk Naruto home.
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