Disclaimer: Dear duckies, Naruto is not mine. Please still love me? Unbeta~ed out of pure laziness ):
It's time to be so brutally honest about
The way we know we long for something fine
When we pine for higher ceilings
And bourgeois happy feelings.
And here we are in the centre of the first world
It's all laid out for us, who are we to break down?
Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose Light
And we try,
It's too easy just to fall apart
"You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie" by The Submarines
Disenchanted
By
JD01 (Emerald Lies)
CHAPTER NINE:
Big Boys
"Eat your noodles, Shunny."
His Chichiue smiled, pushing the bowl of steaming ramen towards the boy.
The boy sniffed and made a face. He didn't want to eat anything, and he certainly didn't want to eat anything in this stupid place. In fact, the only thing Shun wanted to do was lie on the floor and play dead until this whole nightmare was over.
"Shunny's not going to eat my masterpiece?"
Chichiue jutted his lower lip, pouting in a way that made Shun giggle uncontrollably. He hid his head in his hands. He was mad! Angry! Furious! Now was not the time to be all giggly. He was really mad... but then he sneaked a look from between the slits of his fingers. Chichiue tilted his head and grinned with eyes comically closed in half-moons and his mouth open big, big, and he looked like a funky little monkey, and that was it. Shun couldn't keep from smiling real big.
Chichiue was so silly!
'Masterpiece'
Shun snorted.
You see, Chichiue was a magnificently horrendous cook.
No, seriously.
If there was an award handed out to the world's absolute worse cook, Naruto would get it.
No sweat.
Shun was pretty sure that Chichiue was so tremendously horrible, he could probably burn water.
Ramen was pretty much the only thing that he could make. When Shun was younger, that's all they would ever have. Breakfast, lunch and supper. The flavors changed. Different spices were involved. Sometimes, there was even egg in it. But still, it was ramen. Ramen, ramen and more ramen. Not even particularly good ramen at that.
Otousan complained every now and then, but he never really did anything about it. Shun was pretty sure it was because Otousan wasn't any better when it came to the kitchen.
Shun remembered this one time Chichiue was very insistent on cooking a feast for the Kazekage. He had spent the entire day humming happily, banging pots, cussing loudly every now and then and rushing around the place like a headless chicken.
"Babies, your Chichiue is going to make a feast! A feast!" Naruto excitedly exclaimed, which made Chi in turn coo gleefully, as if somehow she had a part to play in the preparation.
The kitchen was a complete mess. Every inch was covered in food, grease and broken utensils; you'd think a hurricane came and passed through.
In the end, there certainly had been a lot of food on the table... none of which was edible though.
"Sure, it looks peculiar, but it's delicious!" Naruto had boasted brightly. "Don't judge a book by it's cover, am I right? Am I right? Gaara, don't be shy. Help yourself! Help yourself!" he grinned, filling the bowl to the brim with some pukishly green substance.
Gaara had just nodded and Shun smiled crisply, as Naruto looked expectantly at them. Otousan categorically refused to ingest any of this abodimination... abomidation... abomi-whatever. Nobody made a move to approach the food on their plates. Naruto didn't say anything, his smile dropping. He just abruptly stopped speaking and looked away in a way that made Shun's tummy swirl queasily. Chichiue was always very loud and he complained a lot and was all-round goofy, but it's when Chichiue didn't speak that meant something was wrong.
So when Naruto looked back at them with his blue, blue eyes all big and hopeful, Shun couldn't do anything but take a small spoonful of the turdy meal and pretend to swallow. Just the taste of the sickeningly salty goo on the tip of his tongue was enough to induce a coughing fit.
Over an hour later, the Kazekage was keeling over the table, moaning in pain.
Guard nins came flying from every direction, windows were broken, everyone— even baby Chi— was detained in jail cells for questioning. Honestly, the guards were so silly. They kept asking Shun what interest did he have in assassa... assissanating... assassi... killing the Kazekage, which made no sense at all. Chichiue had gotten really, really mad. He had stepped in front of the poor, scared little boy and growled at the guards. Chichiue was amazing like that. Eventually, they left Chi and hmself and only held Otousan and Chichiue for further questioning.
In the end, it turned out, it was just a bad case of indigestion.
Needless to say, Chichiue never cooked for Gaara again.
Not that Gaara would ever accept such an offer again. Everytime Chichiue even suggested they dine together, Kazekage was pretty insistent on eating out. Every single time.
Since then, Naruto learned to make a few pastries... but that's pretty much the extent of his culinary talents.
Chichiue ruffled his head affectionately, snapping him out of his daze.
"At least eat a few spoonfuls of my great work of art, ne?"
"It's just ramen!"
Shun stuck out his tongue and Naruto just smiled brightly, which made Shun all warm and fuzzy on the inside, like when he got to delve into deliciously cold ice cream after a long, hot perfect day back home. Perfect day. Chi and Shun would spend the entire day playing in the sand and being loud, without anyone yelling at them. On some special days, Chi didn't cry at all, and she wouldn't keep his toys when he wanted to play with them and she would listen to everything he said. And Chichiue would buy them this soft, chocolatey ice cream and he'd ask about the tons and tons of fun they had. And at bedtime, Otousan would tuck him in and read his favourite story. Chi would already be fast asleep, so Otousan was just reading to him and no one else. And Chichiue would kiss his forehead and tell him to dream big, big dreams... and that was a perfect day. That's the kind of warm and fuzzy he got when Chichiue smiled like that.
So Shun took a bite, but only because Chichiue was super silly. It didn't make him any less unhappy over his predicament.
"I hate this place! It's stupid!" Shun whined, spitting out the last word like one would an insect.
Naruto crouched down beside the boy, caressing the child's back soothingly. He gently turned the boy's head towards him. His sincere blue, blue eyes bore into the child's unhappy, almost teary dark, dark ones.
"Shunny, you didn't even give Konoha a chance, mhmm?" he said softly, before cupping Shun's face and tenderly placing a kiss on his forehead. "This is where I grew up. Don't you want to see the village where Otousan and Chichiue grew up? Mhmm? Mhmm?" he asked, nuzzling the little boy in the neck. Shun squirmed in his Chichiue's arms, one hand stifling his giggles, the other wrapped around Naruto's neck to keep from falling.
"Chichiue, you're so silly!" Shun exclaimed in between fits of giggles.
Naruto stopped teasing the boy, and got up to tend to his daughter, who up until now had just been quietly eating her food, watching the whole scene with a confused little smile.
"I have some work to take care of, but after that I'll show you all the cool places I used to love growing up. Doesn't that sound fun?" Chichiue asked, handing the sippy cup to Chi, who was excitedly bouncing her feet back and forth.
"I like Suna!" Shun shouted extra loudly, crossing his arms to clearly show that he was not happy. Chichiue had this way of making Shun forget that he was mad in the first place by being so completely silly. And Shun didn't like to get distracted, especially when he was really angry about something.
For good measure, he glared at Chichiue, who wasn't even looking his way, as he was busy wiping stupid Chi's stupid messy face.
Chi, on the other hand, was trying to make Chichiue have a drink from her sippy cup, as he was wiping down her face. They both had that same stupid, big smile. Shun's frown deepened.
"Chichiue, I like Kohano—" Chi blabbered happily.
"It's Konoha, stupid!" Shun boomed, glaring daggers at the little girl beside him.
"Whatever!" Chi retorted in that high-pitch little voice of hers, turning from Chichiue to her older brother, rudely blowing him a extra spit-filled raspberry.
Shun gritted his teeth and was about to knock that stupid Chi right off her chair, when his arm got caught mid-swing.
"Shun," Chichiue scolded harshly, all trace of laughter gone from his face.
Shun shrunk back in his seat, looking at the floor. He wasn't going to push her hard. Besides, she deserved it! Who did she think she was, talking about stuff she didn't know anything about? Chi was so stupid! This whole town was stupid!
He chanced a look up, and Chichiue still had that cold and serious face on, the one that made Shun's insides tie up in so many knots, he couldn't even move.
"Shun!" Chichiue repeated, louder this time, with a hint of a painful threat as he slightly squeezed on the boy's upheld arm.
"I'msorry," he muttered quickly, pouting. It wasn't fair. He didn't even do anything.
Chichiue gave him one long reprimanding look, before finally letting go. They had this talk before. Both Otousan and Chichiue got crazy mad whenever he touched Chi. He had spent hours all alone in his room without any of his toys whenever he hit Chi, no matter how stupid she was being.
"She's just a kid." or "She doesn't know any better." or "We're not animals, we don't settle arguments with fists in this household." It was always the same lecture.
He shot Chi a dirty look, but to her credit, at least she had the decency to not gloat in his face. Sometimes, Chi wasn't all that stupid. Sometimes.
XXX
It had only been a couple of days since they moved into this stupid, sucky place that sucked.
Shun had pouted the entire way.
He had yelled, he had screamed, he had thrown the biggest tantrum, which was all met with strained smiles and these sad, guilt-ridden looks.
But Shun wouldn't budge. A little after that mean bastard and the creepy old guy left, Chichiue had told them that they would be moving into another village, that some important work came up and they'd be leaving in a couple of days. Shun refused to leave, he refused to pack, and Shun even refused to come out of his room. He had spent two whole days, wrapped in bed with his stomach growling in hunger.
"If the boy is going to be so damn difficult, then just let him starve!" Otousan had yelled, when Shun refused to go down for dinner after Chichiue had been calling him for ten whole minutes.
Shun laid on his belly, and shoved his face into the pillow so that nobody could see his tears.
It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, LIFE WASN'T FAIR! Why did they have to move?
But after a few hours, Chichiue had opened the door and put a tray of food on his dresser. Shun was as still as a statue. He pretended to sleep, as Chichiue brushed the bangs off of his forehead and lightly kiss it.
When Chichiue left the room, Shun counted to three before springing out of bed and wolfing down the food. He hated himself for it. He wished he could just starve to death, just to show stupid, meanie Otousan! He had this fantastic scenario all planned out. He'd climb down his window and run away. He'd travel to a nearby forest, maybe in a neighbouring village and learn to hunt and become a kick-ass ninja. And when no one would be looking for him, he'd come back and live happily ever after at home. They'd all cry when Shun was gone!
But just as Shun was about to open his window, Chichiue yanked the door open.
"If you don't come down now, we're leaving without you," he said plainly, almost like the whole thing was boring him.
Blank. For once, his very expressive Chichiue had no emotion written on his face.
We're leaving without you. He didn't care... they didn't care... Shun's heart sunk. Well, there went his plan to make them all suffer. His lower lip quivered and he frowned, trying to knock some sense in himself. He wanted to show one up Chichiue! He couldn't start crying in front of him, just because they were going to leave him! He was a big boy. He could live by himself. He didn't need them!
But right then, Chi burst into the room and she began sobbing and screaming hysterically. She said she wasn't going to leave if aniki wasn't coming and eventually, Chichiue sighed deeply, and scooped the bawling little girl off the floor.
Otousan, on the other hand, believed that reasoning with the kiddies was a waste of time and effort. He just marched into the room and grabbed Shun, whisking him on his back in one fell swoop.
All of Shun's punches and vicious kicks were powerless to Otousan's all-mighty wall of indifference.
This place was stupid.
It was too big compared to Suna, with too many stupid people who spoke funny. And there was no sand, just stupid green trees. And the people weren't really friendly. Well, they weren't outright mean or anything, just that they were weird and blank and gave Chichiue odd stares that didn't sit well with Shun. And when they smiled, it wasn't the way people back home smiled. It was just weird! Phony. And the pavement was right cracked and uneven, and it felt strange to run on. You couldn't go super fast because it would start hurting the balls of your feet. Shun loved running back home.
But this wasn't home.
This wasn't Suna.
But it wasn't just the strange smiles or the lack of sand or the rough, dirt-hit pavement that made him despise Konoha so— no, it was the way Chichiue was different under the Konoha sun.
He had the same face Chichiue had... but it was like he was someone entirely different. Someone Shun couldn't recognize— and that, more than anything, terrified Shun.
Sometimes Chichiue would stop whatever he was doing and just stare. Stare out the window. Stare at the wall. Stare into space, at nothing in particular. Like he was showered with this sudden sadness. And then Shun would call out, "Chichiue!" and Chichiue would blink, and smile lightly, and look around a bit dazed before getting back to whatever he was doing... but the sadness remained.
XXX
Chichiue and Otousan never fought. Or at least, Shun believed they never fought. The thing is, Naruto and Sai, despite their immaturity in age, had vowed to try to be the best parents possible. They tried their best to conceal most unpleasantness from their children. Whenever the argument started to get heated, one of them would just walk away and after a couple of hours apart, they'd have cooled down enough to make peace. They barely cussed in front of the little ones, and they made sure to keep from being disagreeable in front of the kids. Of course, this led Shun to believe that his fathers' relationship was perfect. A picture perfect family. Happily ever after. The whole package. For the most part, Naruto and Sai succeeded in what they had set out...That is, until the moved to this cursed village. The thing about kids is, no matter how little the argument concerns them, they never really ever forget parents fighting.
It was nap time, but instead of sleeping, Chi was sniffling on his bed. Shun glared at his clumsy little sister. She was a dummie. She was stupid. So stupid! They were playing a board game on his bed and Chi got a little too excited and knocked over her sippy cup, spilling grape juice all over the light blue bedspread. If Chichiue saw the mess she made, he'd be furious. And of course, he'd blame it all on Shun for not watching over stupid, dummie Chi.
"Shut up," Shun snapped, throwing his sister a dirty look.
"Don't yell, aniki!" the little girl cried out, tears brimming her dark, dark eyes.
"You're stupid," the boy huffed, getting off the bed. He made sure to give Chi one lasting angry look. He wanted her to feel how much he absolutely hated her face right about then.
"You're so mean!" Chi whimpered, hugging herself on the soiled bedsheets. She didn't dare to look up at her brother. He was super scary whenever he got really mad.
"Stop crying," Shun harshly barked, making Chi quiet down a bit. Her lower lip quivered, which made Shun increasingly annoyed. Stupid Chi.
He had to clean the dummie's mess before Chichiue found out. Stupid, annoying, rotten Chi. Shun padded his way outside his room. He had to go downstairs to the kitchen, quietly, very quietly. He would get the sponge and make stupid Ch clean the bedsheets so that they were spotless. At the threshold of the staircase, he distinctly heard the sharp voices of his Otousan and Chichiue. They were speaking awfully loud, almost to the point of yelling, but not quite. Shun hesitated before taking a step down, scrunching up his face in concentration to hear better. He couldn't explain it, but something felt really wrong. Suddenly, Shun wanted to run back to his room and close the door shut. His tummy was swirling, and he felt like going to the bathroom, except he didn't really have to go. He was nervous, and he didn't know why. He didn't like this feeling.
"Well? How is she?"
That was Chichiue. Chichiue normally was really loud. When he got annoyed, he was even louder. Shun could recognize his Chichiue's voice anywhere. He never got lost in crowded markets back in Suna, even when he wandered off because Chichiue was soooo loud. It was unmistakable.
"You should go see her," his Otousan repeated.
Otousan. Straight to the point. Bored. Almost harsh.
Shun was afraid of Otousan's wrath. Not because he yelled or he was violent or anything, but his voice would change. His words were sharp and prickly. Like icicles.
"How is she?"
"You should go see her."
Shun trudged down the stairs, careful not to step on the areas where the wood tended to creak.
"Goddamn it, Sai! It's a simple question!" Chichiue boomed, like thunder. Shun stopped in his steps and fearfully peaked above the banister, into the kitchen where the sounds were coming from. He couldn't quite see his fathers, but he knew that's where they were.
"We came all the way here to see her. For you to see her. GO SEE HER! You say jump, I fucking jump—!"at this point Shun had covered his ears and bit down on his lip to keep it from trembling. Otousan never yelled before. Otousan never used a bad word before! Never! He wanted to go to the bathroom, but not really. He wanted his tummy to stop feeling so funny. He wanted to go back to Suna. He wanted Otousan and Chichiue to stop fighting.
"I never wanted you to jump!"
"Bullfuckingshit."
Shun wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew it was probably something really bad. Otousan used the "F" word. Twice. In the span of a minute. Shun slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from snifflinf. He didn't want to cry. He really didn't. He wasn't Chi!That's when he noticed a white little slip of paper right by the staircase. He stared at it for a few moments, tilting his head. Shun descended the last few steps soundlessly.
"If you're that unhappy then—"
Chichiue. He sounded like he was about to cry. Shun had never seen his Chichiue cry before.
"What? What? Then what?"
In that every moment, blind rage set on Shun. He hated his Otousan right then. Otousan was really, really mean! Making Chichiue want to cry! Shun half wanted to run to the kitchen and push Otousan. Hard. But he was afraid that Otousan might get really mad and hit him. And then hit Chichiue. He'd start crying if Otousan hurt his Chichiue.
"I can't... I can't go see her."
"Just go see her," Otousan sighed.
Shun stretched his arm and quickly grabbed the piece of paper on the floor before anyone came walking out the kitchen. He niftily opened the small crumbed ball of paper. There wasn't much written on it. Just a word. "Congratulations", with a capital "D" written on the bottom right in a thin, angular, almost spidery writing.
Chichiue had thought Shun to read. He was a fast learner. He loved to read. He read everything, every book, every scroll, every label and every sign they had. He didn't always understand what he read, but he could read very well. Chichiue said he had a very good vocabulary for a boy his age. Otousan said that's a trait he got from him.
Shun reread the note. He scrunched up his face. Weird.
The sinking feeling inside his tummy told him he better put the paper back before he got caught.
He could hear movement; the heavy unmistakable steps of his Otousan stalking away.
"Where are you going?"
"Out," Sai replied in a clipped tone.
"Of fucking course you are!"
As the garbled shouts fizzled to a low buzz, Shun quickly slipped the paper to the floor. He tried to run back up the stairs, but he missed a step and slid back down a bit, just as Otousan briskly walked by. Otousan stopped, noticing the boy. At first his eyes widened, surprised perhaps. He probably didn't expect to find his son listening in on their conversation. Shun didn't move an inch, holding his breath. He ignored the sharp pain in his probably scrapped up knee. He was too afraid of Otousan. Sai then looked down, his right foot just inches away from the cursed ball of paper. He bent down, picked it up— the whole scene playing in slow-motion in Shun's deathly scared mind. He pointedly looked at Shun in a way that made him, for the first time ever, recoil back against the wall. Otousan narrowed his eyes, almost like he was glaring at someone, at an enemy, at someone else, at someone who was not his son. Cold. Blank. No trace of underlying warmth or paternal amiability.
Even when Shun threw the worse tantrums, even when he refused to come to this stupid village— never did Otousan look at him with such a painful unfamiliarity.
"Go to your room," Otousan hissed, in a low, strange tone.
Shun scrambled to his feet and rushed up the steps two-by-two, nearly stumbling n the process. He didn't look back once as he bolted to his room and slammed the door shut.
"Aniki, what's wrong?" asked the snivelling girl, still sitting on the now purple-and-blue bed.
She looked up at him with her moist reddened, puffy eyes. Like a defenceless animal.
"JUST LEAVE!" Shun yelled, grabbing the first object he groped— a book— and hurling it against the opposing wall. He missed Chi's head by only a mere inches.
He breathed hard, fixated on the now-indented spot on the wall.
Chi trembled, huddled in a little ball. But when Shun turned his burning glare towards her, she ran out.
This time, she didn't make a peep.
XXX
Of course, Konoha wasn't all bad.
Chichiue took him to this school type place where kids learned all these neat ninjutsus and taijutsus and basically learned how to be an awesome ninja. That's where Chichiue and Otousan grew up. That's where they learned to be kick-ass ninjas.
Otousan said Chichiue ranked last in class. The class loser. But Shun refused to believe it. He never really saw Chichiue in action, not up close at least. Back home, sometimes after bedtime, after Otousan had tucked him in and read his favourite story and Chichiue had told him to dream big dreams, when Chi was fast asleep and the house was real quiet, too quiet, Shun knew that his fathers were gone. He'd then sneak outside into a nearby training terrain and watch Otousan and Chichiue spar. The way they moved, it was like a dance. Perfect harmony. They never really hit each other. They were like acrobats, flying in the air. And sometimes Chichiue would produce this spinning ball out of nowhere, and it would swirl and swirl and swirl. Shun thought it was really cool.
And this really nice old man, Iruka, bought ice cream for Chi and him. It wasn't like the tasty, soft, melty, chocolatey ice cream that Chichiue would buy on those perfect days in Suna... but it wasn't too, too awful. Iruka gave Chichiue a long hug— so long, for a while, Shun was afraid the old man had died in Chichiue's arms. But then he pulled back, and held Chichiue's face in his hands and started crying. But it wasn't a sad kind of crying, Shun doesn't think so because Chichiue was smiling big, real big like he hadn't in forever. Shun suddenly really, really liked Iruka. He erased Chichiue's sad eyes.
When Chichiue went to take Chi to the washroom, Shun was left alone with Iruka. At first, they didn't say anything and Shun just enjoyed licking his dripping ice cream.
"Are you excited to start the Academy?" Iruka asked good-naturedly.
Shun was going to start ninja-training in a few days. Otousan said even if they didn't end up staying in Konoha for long it would be good if Shun began training. Chichiue was super excited. He said that Shun would fall in love with the Academy.
Shun raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his small chest. Got to look tough to impress his future sensei. Can't look like some weak little boy who followed his daddy around all day and didn't know the first thing about fighting. Shun was small for his age and although he was excellent at hitting shurikens on target and he loved running, he never really tried anything else.
Iruka squatted down beside the boy.
"You're going to surpass both your fathers in no time," he whispered conspiratorially.
He ruffled the boy's mop of jet black, and when the boy looked away with a blush on his cheeks, Iruka smiled.
"I like your boy. He's cute," Iruka plainly stated to Naruto, when he came back from his toilet adventures with Chi.
Shun's face turned flush red. Chichiue laughed really hard and Chi just smiled a bit confused, her hands wrapped around Chichiue's leg.
XXX
The first time he met Sakura, if Shun had to be perfectly honest with himself, he was a bit terrified. Chichiue wasn't afraid of anything or anyone. Chichiue just didn't do fear. But this was probably the first time he witnessed his Chichiue literally shrink in fear in front of someone. They were in this little hospital, near this big tower and this weird mountain with people's faces on it. One of the faces looked so much like Chichiue, Shun stood still and stared until Chichiue noticed he wasn't following him anymore and dragged him along. They had to go to the topmost floor, where they were searched by all these strange animal-mask-wearing guards. Shun thought they looked silly. Why would they dress up only to be so harsh and rude with people at hospitals? But Shun didn't say anything, because Chichiue was doing that silent, staring thing again. Even though he couldn't quite grasp the situation, he knew it was serious.
"Leave them alone, they're with me."
It was a woman's voice. A woman clearly with some authority, because as soon as she said that, the weird costumed-guards-people instantly scattered away. But before Shun could even see who spoke, Chichiue yelped, taking a step back, almost knocking into Shun.
"STOP! I'm with child!" Naruto yelled, putting his arms defensively over his face, lifting his right leg, where a giggling Chi sat with her arms and legs wrapped around him. She hid her face behind his leg.
"You dirty bastard!"
Shun moved from behind his Chichiue, and saw perhaps the scariest thing he has ever seen in his life, up until that point.
A raging pink-haired woman (pink. pink. pink! Actually pink), her right fist in the air, as she glared electricity at his Chichiue. She was positively bestial. Shun swore he could see a vein ready to pop on her forehead. He took a step back, as well. Chichiue was a smart man after all.
"Language!" Naruto shrieked, putting his leg down and hurriedly grabbing Shun. He placed his hands protectively over the boy's ears. Shun just stared blankly at the hulking pink-haired gorilla.
"You purposefully brought them along for protection," she said, crossing her arms on her chest and raising an eyebrow. Shun liked that. Shun made a mental note to try the eyebrow-lifty thing when they went back home. Not real home. Not Suna-home. But ugly, fake Konoha-home.
"There is no way you can prove that!" his Chichiue said, releasing his hold on the boy.
Both Shun and Chi interestedly stared at both parties of this curious interaction. Shun eventually assessed that his Chichiue didn't seem really frightened, and maybe this pink-haired lady didn't actually want to beat his Chichiue up. Shun didn't know what to do. Was he allowed to attack her if she lunged on his Chichiue? Otousan and Chichiue both scolded him when he tried to slap Chi in those moments when she was being really annoying. Shun was fiercely defensive of his Chichiue. Like if that jerky bastard who came all the way to Suna, the one with the funky hair? If he ever insulted or hurt his Chichiue, Shun wouldn't hesitate to knock him over. Stupid jerk.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the pink-haired lady looked down and locked eyes with Shun. He instinctively took a step back, pressing himself into his Chichiue. Her eyes widened and she gasped. And then, she did the strangest thing. She smiled.
"Is... that?" she asked hesitantly, with this really soft expression, that actually made her seem kind of pretty. That's when Shun noticed just how green and sparkly her eyes were.
Chichiue squeezed Shun's shoulder. The boy looked up at his father, who smiled brilliantly at him. Shun felt warm and fuzzy and perfect day-ish.
"It is."
"Oh my! He has grown up so much," she clasped her hands together and suddenly, she was touching him and she was cupping his cheeks. Shun didn't know how to react. Chichiue reassuringly rubbed his back, so it must be okay. "You don't remember me, but I remember you!" she went on. "The very first time I saw you, I knew you'd be a heartbreaker. I held you in my arms when you were just a second old. Such beautifully intense eyes."
A second old? She just kept smiling and Shun tentatively smiled back.
That was a long time ago.
"Cute! Cute!" chirped a voice.
Shun frowned. Chi was always butting in. He turned and glared at the girl, still wrapped up around Chichiue's leg.
The woman did that super cool lifting-one-eyebrow thing at Chichiue and Chichiue started laughing, as he bent over and scooped Chi into his arms.
"Iruka said he was cute," Chichiue explained, leaving a slobbery kiss on Chi's cheek. Shun made a face. Chichiue was so gross sometimes, but of course Chi just giggled it up.
"Oh well," the woman started, grinning madly at Shun, "he definitely is cute." And then, oh God, she winked.
When Shun felt the onslaught of heat making its way up his face, he pressed himself further against his Chichiue, trying to hide his face.
"Oh, look at the blush on this one," the pink-haired lady remarked, amused.
"Stop teasing the kid. He acts all tough, but he's a big softie on the inside," Chichiue laughed, ruffling Shun's hair, he frowned.
He wasn't a kid! And he was not a softie! Shun pouted.
The woman then turned to Chi, who was hiding her face in the crook of Chichiue's neck.
"You know, you're super cute too!" she said, giving the child a big kiss. Chi yelped and turned her face away. Shun crossed his arms and glared. His sister was too shy. She had some serious issues. Stupid. She always had people fawning all over her with her dumb-shy act.
"This little ridiculously shy one here is Chinatsu," Chichiue said, bouncing the girl up and down, "And you already know Shunny boy."
"Your family is insanely good-looking," she whispered, staring at the back of Chi's head. "You're lucky they went on their father."
"Hey!" Chichiue exclaimed, whipping his head back
"Teasing aside, did you take a look at them?" the woman asked, propping an arm on her hip. " Dark hair, dark eyes, heartthrob looks?"
"I know, it's pitiful. They come out of me, yet they have not even a single trace of me on them," Chichiue whined and then he stuck out his tongue to Shun, who retaliated by smirking. "See?" Chichiue screamed, wildly pointing at the smirking boy. Shun didn't understand what he just happened, but suddenly both the pink lady and Chichiue were heaving in fits of laughter.
But then, the pink-haired lady's laughter died down, and her face got real serious. She took a decisive step towards Chichiue and she cupped his face, the same way she touched Shun's face. The boy watched the scene curiously. It was also the way Chichiue sometimes touched Otousan's face.
"I can't even describe how happy I am that you're back, Naruto. I know... I know the circumstances suck. They really... God, they suck. But I have missed you so much. Konoha hasn't been the same since Sai and you left," she said it softly, and all the while Chichiue and the pink lady didn't break eye contact once. It was such an intimate moment, it almost made Shun uncomfortable to be standing watching. Even Chi turned her head back and just stared blankly. Chichiue swallowed. They must be good friends.
"Thanks, that's kind, Sakura."
Sakura. That must be her name, Shun mentally noted.
" 'That's kind', really?" she asked, lightly slapping Chichiue's face. It was more of a tap than a slap. More playful than aggressive. Chichiue smiled. Chichiue looked nice when he smiled. Really nice.
"You know I missed you too. I was on my knees, practically begging you to stay with us."
"I had to come back," Sakura explained.
Stay...? In Suna? Shun wanted to go back. Really badly. It was so strange. It felt like he was watching a movie, like this Sakura lady and his Chichiue were in their own world, and Chi and him were just spectators to their life. Chichiue's voice had changed too. It was low, but soft and gentle, and it made Shun's tummy feel weird. It was like Sakura and Chichiue were in on a secret, but no one else was. It was the very first time Shun felt like there might be things about his Chichiue he didn't know. He didn't like that.
"I know, and I had to stay," Naruto retorted.
They kept staring into each others eyes, and Shun kept disliking it. He shifted from one leg to another and cleared his throat. Finally, Sakura stopped looking so intensely at his Chichiue and looked down for a moment.
She then nudged her head in the air.
"She's over there."
Shun looked behind to see what she was talking about. He saw a single door on the left, which was closed. The only closed door in the entire hallway.
Naruto nodded solemnly and handed a fussy Chi to Sakura. She then extended her hand to the little boy and smiled.
"Come on, cutie pie, I'm going to show you the real fun stuff!"
Shun didn't want to leave his Chichiue. He wanted to see what's behind the door. He wanted to know why his Chichiue looked so serious so suddenly. Naruto gently pushed him towards Sakura. "It's okay, Shunny. I won't be long," he whispered, running his hand through the boy's messy black mop. So Shun reluctantly took her hand, but he kept staring back longingly at his Chichiue. He felt like his Chichiue was abandoning him in slow-motion.
"Naruto...!" Sakura abruptly called, squeezing Shun's hand. His Chichiue half-turned, and Shun almost ran to him, clinging. He didn't want his Chichiue to leave him. "This might sound totally stupid, I'm aware. But... Tsunade is dying to hear your voice. I know it," she said hesitantly, and his Chichiue just stared off into space and weakly nodded. Shun didn't like Konoha. Shun didn't like how Konoha changed his Chichiue. Shun didn't like understanding so little of what was going on. Tsunade...? Who? What was she behind the door? Why did Chichiue have to go?
Sakura cut his lingering short by tugging him along. Eventually, he just broke away. He was a big boy, he didn't like to have his hand held. Chi and Sakura hit it off instantly. Every time the pink lady would say something in a baby voice, Chi would start laughing like it's the funniest thing ever. Shun just followed behind, a bit dazed. She would start showing them all these medical machines and how they worked and why they were important and all the crazy stories behind them. Chi, of course, was head over heels in love,At one point, Shun couldn't take it anymore and just mumbled an excuse about having to go to the washroom. Sakura frowned at the boy's disinterest, but gave him the directions anyways.
Shun padded away and zigzagged back to the corridor where they first met Sakura. That's when he noticed there was a figure, a person, standing right in front of the only closed door. The one his Chichiue went through. Shun squinted and gasped. It was him! Shun could recognize him anywhere with his stupid, messy hair that stuck up on its ends. The stupid jerk who dared to show up at their house with the grey-haired old man. The asshole who made them leave their home and come to this stupid place. Of course Chichiue and Otousan didn't say anything, but he knew that jerkface's appearance has something to do with their sudden move. Shun was a smart boy. The man wasn't moving. He just stood there, clenching and unclenching his fists for a while. Just standing. Shun frowned. He was so weird. Then, finally, he went in the room.
Shun didn't like the idea of his Chichiue alone in a room with that bastard— who knows what he'd make him do this time. He looked about— Sakura and Chi didn't come to find him. Shun took this opportunity to tiptoe down the corridor. The door was left ajar. Good. He waited until he got his wind back— didn't want to be breathing too loudly. Chichiue wouldn't be happy to know he was ease... eabes... eaves... overhearing their conversation. He pushed the door open not more than a crack, and pressed his little head to the slit. It was a small room, that's the first thing he noticed. That bastardly man was standing near the door, his back to it, nearly blocking off all of Shun's view. Someone was lying on the bed. There were a bunch of machines— much like the ones Sakura was enjoying showing off to Chi. He could see Chichiue's head of bright blonde, in the corner of the room, on the opposing side of the bed. His back was turned, he wasn't facing the strange man.
At first, Shun thought that maybe Chichiue didn't know that the jerk was there. Should he warn him? Was the man going to attack his Chichiue? Shun narrowed his eyes, preparing to jump the man, but then he heard the distinct, loud voice of his Chichiue.
"I've heard some interesting stories."
The man didn't say anything. Was he talking to the person in bed? Shun didn't understand what was happening. Stories, he liked stories. Bedtime stories told by Otousan were the best.
"Aren't you curious?"
Shun heard the metallic scrape of a chair. He couldn't really see his Chichiue's face, but he could guess that he probably turned around to face the intruder. Shun made himself smaller.
"I have no interest in hearsay."
Sharp, almost cutting. Deep, deep voice. Practically echoing in the room.
Shun shivered. He didn't like this man. He wasn't outright aggressive like Sakura, but there was something about him, about the way he spoke, about the way he carried himself... Shun knew he shouldn't underestimate his opponent.
"Even when it involves you orchestrating a coup?"
Shun scrunched up his face. He didn't quite know what it meant, but it had a note of accusation in it. It sounded villainy.
"There was no coup. I brought you here, you moron."
Shun's eyes widened. He clenched his fists to keep from bursting blazing into the room and knocking a good one to that bastard. Who was he to call his Chichiue a moron? How dare he?
"I heard they found Inuzuka and Shino in a ditch near the Academy training grounds. Critical condition, barely holding onto life."
Shun frowned. Chichiue continued on seamlessly, as if he hadn't heard the insult.
"They're too stupid to die."
Who says that? Who says something like that? Shun had to start biting his tongue to keep from blowing. That man was so... infuriating. How could you say that about someone?
"Is that your asshole way of saying that I shouldn't worry?"
The man didn't answer. And throughout the entire exchange, Shun couldn't figure out how his Chichiue didn't react at all to this stupid jerk. He was continuously insulting him, yet his Chichiue remained unaffected. He didn't even acknowledge the insults. Chichiue was too soft, Shun thought as he frowned. It was Chinatsu's fault, he was sure. She probably gave Chichiue cooties and made him too gooey to recognize insults anymore.
The funny-haired man cleared his throat.
Then, "Do you believe them?"
"I... I don't know what to believe anymore, honestly," his Chichiue said softly. Shun liked his Chichiue's voice. He really did. Especially when it turned all buttery. But he didn't like that he was talking like that, all soft and gentle and fuzzy, to the mean bastard. "She looks so different. Unrecognizable."
"The jutsu wore off after the first few hours. Her weakened body couldn't sustain it anymore."
"Don't let others see her like this. I mean, Sakura, Kakashi, Jiraiya— they're all okay, but don't let too many people see. She wouldn't want people to know. And this isn't the image they should have of her."
Shun saw the man move his head. It looked like he was nodding.
Why was Chichiue asking him favours? Were they... friends?
"I'm not responsible for this."
The man sounded suddenly, out of the blue, irritated. Shun was so confused.
"Okay."
"I'm not," the man sounded borderline angry.
Shun couldn't understand what was the relationship they had. You would think they were enemies, but the way they spoke to each other, the tone of their voice— more than the actual spoken words— betrayed this sense of familiarity, of something amicable. Of course, neither of this fit in Shun's cleaved vision of the world.
"Sasuke, okay. I believe you."
Shun silently acknowledged the name. He would keep his ears open in the future for the buzz of this name. He didn't trust him.
"Sasuke?" the man asked. It was funny how Shun had barely even seen the man's face, yet he could perfectly picture the snobby-eyebrow-raisy type of look he must have. Shun didn't like snobs.
"Yes, well... you're not my superior anymore. In fact, I'll be instated as Hokage soon, so I'm going to be your boss."
Shun could almost hear the teasing smile on his Chichiue's face. Shun didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit. First the guy came and insulted his Chichiue, who just let it slide. Then he got angry for some reason, but his Chichiue tried to calm him down, instead of rightfully punching him. And now, he was smiling at him.
"When?"
"In a day or two. Sai and I—"
The man, Sasuke, right? snorted. There was something so belittling about that sound, Shun, for the umpteenth time, had to literally restrain himself from pouncing. Seriously, who did this Sausage guy think he was?
"What?"
But the man didn't answer, and Shun could hear his Chichiue get increasingly annoyed when he bit out another, "Sasuke, what?"
"Stop calling me that."
Sasuke all but barked, avoiding the question yet again. Even Shun was getting unnerved by the man's evasiveness.
"That? You mean your name? What do you have against Sai?"
Shun crossed his arms. Sausage didn't like his Otousan? Really? Well, his Otousan could take down this Sausagy Sasuke guy any day.
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing. You two fucktards go shack up in the middle of the desert and have an army full of unnatural babies for all I care."
Unnatural babies? Shun tried to carefully shift. He didn't quite enjoy swearing. Too harsh on the ears. It made him feel uncomfortable.
"Don't insult the father of my children. And don't you ever demean about their conception."
Shun's heart skipped a beat. Something about his Chichiue defending his Otousan and getting all protective over him, even after the ugly fight he witnessed between them, made Shun weak in the knees. It gave him hope that things could maybe go back to normal. If at least his Chichiue and Otousan would go back to being chummy, Shun might not dislike Konoha so much. Might.
"Father of your children? Not 'my lover' or 'my husband'? Trouble in paradise? Are you two even married? Are those two midgets illegitimate children?"
Shun made a list of all the words he didn't quite understand. He couldn't stand not knowing what was happening. There was so much bite in every word Sasuke used, it made Shun crazy. Everything sounded like an attack to his family. He had to ask someone. Maybe that Sakura lady would answer without being too nosy. Midgets? Shun bit his fist to keep from growling. He'd show him what midgets could so.
"Why are you so angry?"
Surprisingly, Shun noted, the man actually properly answered his Chichiue's question for once.
"You could've said something. That night I showed up at your house, right before you left? You could've said something instead of playing me for a fucking fool. You should've told me."
Boy, this Sasuke guy really liked to use bad words. Chichiue told him that bad words were for people who didn't know enough words to express themselves. Sausage must be stupid.
"I... It wasn't planned, it just—"
He could see the mop of blonde move wildly. Chichiue got really excited when he tried to defend a point. He moved his hands a lot. Shun always thought it was funny, because whenever Otousan and Chichiue had an argument, Otousan would just stay calm and blank and Chichiue would move a lot, almost like he had ants in his pants.
"What? It just happened? You just got up and decided to spend eight years in Suna with loverboy and build a family?"
"You know nothing. Always shooting your mouth off, but you know nothing."
His Chichiue sounded upset. Shun couldn't quite understand why his Chichiue was hurt, but he knew that something that Sasuke man said got to him. He wanted to run inside and hug his Chichiue hard. Protect him from the stupid man's bad words.
"Then enlighten me," Sasuke challenged.
For a moment, nobody said anything. Shun held his breath, he could hear the gentle, rhythmic beeping of the machines.
"Right, nevermind. I'm just the man who taught you everything you know about being a ninja. But no need to tell me what happened eight years ago."
Taught him everything? So this jerkface was Chichiue's sensei? Or his boss? Or both? And he was mad that Chichiue left this dump of a place to go to Suna with Otousan? Well too bad for Sausage, Chichiue could differentiate a gem like Otousan from trash like Sasuke any day. Shun smirked to himself.
"Sasuke, it's not like that. It wasn't—"
"Nevermind."
"You're so impossible to talk to!" his Chichiue burst out. This was the first time he heard his Chichiue outright yelling since his fight with Otousan. Chichiue might be really loud by nature, but he never actually outright yelled. Shun was taken aback. He didn't like the cutting tone in his Chichiue's voice, no matter how much jerk-man deserved it. "I swear to God, conversing with an ape would be easier. It wasn't personal! It wasn't personal, okay? I... I can't tell you what—"
"Are you clinically stupid? I said, ne-ver-mind."
Silence followed, and his Chichiue clicked his mouth shut. Shun was shaking. Literally shaking. He shouldn't have come here. He didn't want to hear this! He didn't want to hear this total asshole insult his Chichiue, insult his Otousan, insult his family, and have Chichiue just... accept it!
Shun wished he was man enough to burst into the room, but then a mollified Sasuke added moments later, "So you decided to accept the position of Hokage."
"Yeah. It's my duty as next-in-line. Someone I know told me they didn't want a Hokage who was too coward to face his demons, and he was right. So here I am."
His Chichiue sounded so determined. Hokage? His Chichiue was going to be Hokage? His Chichiue, the leader of a village? Shun bit down on his excitement. Even though he hated this stupid place and he didn't want to stay here ever... his Chichiue was going to be Hokage? For a moment, he pictured his Chichiue in Gaara's flowy, beautiful red robes, with his pretty blonde hair blowing in the wind. His Chichiue was beautiful.
"She just looks different," Sasuke said, eventually.
"She looks like she's dying, Sasuke. Old, wrinkly, frail and dying. I didn't want to see this." Shun heard his Chichiue sigh deeply, and then he continued, stronger, "But that's the thing about being a grown-up. You have to do the things you don't want to."
Somewhere along the way, the conversation had died down. It was these silences that Shun hated the most. He was afraid that he'd get discovered if he breathed too audibly.
"It wasn't personal," his Chichiue whispered. Shun wished the damned man would move so he could see his face. Was his Chichiue sad? Upset? Regretful? He couldn't tell.
"Whatever."
And then before Shun had the time to duck and hide, the man whipped around and stalked out. Shun miserably tried to back away to at least not have Sasuke run smack into him. Immediately, Sasuke drew his eyes to little boy. Dark, almost evil eyes. Shun blanched, his heart wildly thudding inside him. There wasn't even a hint of surprise or acknowledgement, as if the man had known that Shun was listening in all along. Sasuke just vilely smirked and sidestepped the mute boy like so much garbage.
Shun sat on the floor, his heart racing for a good couple of minutes after the man had walked away. For all that talk of knocking him over... He hit himself on the head. Shun promised himself that next time he saw the bastard, he wasn't going to be a scaredy little cat. He'd defend the honour of his family.
He narrowed his eyes, determined.
XXX
Shun moved the thick branches out his view to get a better look. Konoha Academy wasn't a big or fancy school or anything like that. It was pretty small. There was one swing set in the yard, and that was pretty much all the decoration there was. The ground was beaten down with big burnt patches of yellow grass. The whole thing didn't look too appealing. He was too far away, but if he squinted, he could see the distinct blurb of a funky ponytail that could only belong to Iruka-sensei.
"I like your boy. He's cute."
Shun pulled his shirt over his face, suddenly feeling the unpleasant heat creep up his face.
Iruka was nice. Really nice.
Shun was sort for his age and he'd be one of the older students in class, with the least amount of training. Nothing wrong with wanting to scope out the competition.
Yeah... maybe Konoha wasn't so terrible. The Academy could be fun... not that he would ever admit that to Otousan or Chichiue. This is where they went to school, where they learned to be ninjas so it couldn't be all bad.
"I'm just the man who taught you everything you know."
What did he mean by that? Was he Chichiue's sensei? Wasn't Iruka-sensei Chichiue's sensei? Stupid jerky jerk who thinks he's all that.
Shun pushed the collar of his shirt back down in one quick movement of frustration. He furrowed his dark little eyebrows. Bastard. Chichiue was a bajillion times the man that stupid bafoon was. And his hair was so ugly! Like... like a duck's butt! Shun snickered to himself. Duck-butt hair. He put his hand over his mouth as he started laughing loudly. Stupid duck-butt hair!
"So your fathers let you spend all day hiding in a tree, stalking schoolboys? No wonder you turned into such a brat," boomed a crisp voice that made Shun jump a mile high.
He didn't even hear anybody come and he had made sure to hide in a particularly bushy tree to not be seen. He looked around... until he got hit by a stone.
He moaned, rubbing his shoulder and frowning. He looked down, pushing apart the green foliage that's when he saw him. A cool feeling of dread washed over him. A breeze wafted by, the jet black bangs swayed across Sasuke's bored, unmoving face, duck-butt well in place. He was wearing a ridiculous open-chested shirt and a purple skirt-type of clothe, which flowed in the breeze. He looked like a girl. A very pretty girl, but Shun would rather eat pig dung than ever admit that even to himself. Shun would've laughed, if it weren't for that cold, hard stare that kept him in place. Dark, dark eyes pierced through the thick leaves, which made Shun desperately want to blend into the tree.
He was hugging the bark as he glared right back at Sasuke.
"I'm not a brat!" Shun shrieked in a less-than-manly voice.
But instead of retorting, Sasuke just smirked in that I'm-so-much-better-than-you way that made Shun's blood boil. He couldn't explain it, but in that moment he was overcome with this desire to wipe that stupid look right off his face.
"You're stupid!" he screamed.
Sasuke just raised one eyebrow up and continued smirking, his face perfectly smooth. He did it even better than Sakura did. Shun couldn't stand it.
"A stupid jerkface jerk!" he continued, hollering at the top of his little lungs.
Sasuke looked amused as he continued taunting the boy, "My, such vocabulary. Undoubtedly, you're that Uzumaki retard's child."
"Take that back!" Shun growled, grinding his teeth.
Hands on his hips, Sasuke was practically glowing at Shun's fury. Shun had never met such a hateful man in his entire life.
"Which part? You being a brat? Being stupid? Or that you're the spawn of a retard?"
"DON'T INSULT MY CHICHIUE!"
That's when Shun partially blacked out.
Shun couldn't remember exactly what happened, but suddenly this suffocating heat overwhelmed him. He was gritting his teeth. He hated that bastard, he hated him! His eyes were wild, and everything around him began moving in slow-motion. He could hear the blood furiously pumping through him. Every leaf, every branch, every flap of a wing, he could suddenly see it all very distinctly, very slowly. Shun began quaking, he couldn't contain his explosiveness.
He zoned in on that stupid smirk, which suddenly morphed into a tense line. Dark, dark eyes widened, but Shun didn't have time to think about it, because he was already lunging to scratch the bastard's eyeballs off.
The next series of events, Shun couldn't possibly explain if he tried. One second, he was flying mid-air. The next, he was roughly grabbed. Before he could even blink, he was harshly shoved onto the tree bark. Shun closed his eyes and cried out from the impact. He was sure the tree would be naked from the blow.
When he cracked an eye open, there stood Sasuke.
Sasuke... Sasuke... his eyes... they were different. Inhuman. Animalistic, even. Blood, blood red. It almost looked like a star, with two overlapping star-like triangles around his pupil. Sasuke was holding him firmly in place with a single hand pressed to his chest. Shun couldn't feel the blood circulation in the hand that was pinned above his head. Any bravado he had conjured up had evaporated. Shun swallowed his saliva, fear bubbling over him. His skin erupted in gooseflesh.
He didn't know what happened, but in that instant he knew in his very bones that the man before him was capable of killing. Effortlessly. Shun's insides were frozen stiff. He was right to think he shouldn't be underestimated.
Shun was heaving, the wind knocked out of him. Sasuke stood there passively, zeroing in on the boy's eyes.
Of course, Shun was oblivious to the frightening sight Sasuke was privy to.
So the little fearful boy confusedly tried to glare up at Sasuke.
Shun glared up, with crimson eyes, in which a single tomoe slowly spun.
XXX
CHICHIUE/CHICHI-UE: Naruto
OTOUSAN : Sai
Well it took nine chapters, but we finally Disenchanted actually begins.
Can I just start by saying that Shun is too incredibly fun to write. I really hope this enjoyment transcends onto you, the lovely readers.Lord knows, how much I love you, duckies. From constructive criticism to loveydovey reviews, from hate to praise, I really appreciate the time you guys put in giving me feedback. Can we give crzyanimemom a round of applause? She always does a marvellous job at cheering me up and encouraging me to spit out a chappie.
I'm currently entering my finals period (Jo-jo-joy!). And because I have nine classes (count 'em baby!), I'm be in exam-mode for over a month. Unfortunately, I don't plan on making any updates until then. That's the sucky part of growing up. Exams actually matter. -.-
NEW FANFIC OBSESSION: Fallacies of Altruism. It is soooooooooooooooooooooooo effin (fcken? Fucking? Am I allowed to swear here...?) delicious. So much emotional satisfaction, it'll make your head spin. Read it. Read it. Do it.
As always, new poll q should be up. Feel free to vote.
Dear beautiful people, I hope you have a gorgeous week. Keep spreading the smiles and don't ever forget to be awesome. (:
JD