AN: Yay! We're back and things are finally picking up! :D
They made their way out onto one of the larger balconies. On both sides a large, spacious staircase led to the gardens below. Naruto made his way toward those.
"I wouldn't, if I were you." Sasuke smirked, catching the surprised tipped eyebrow that turned to regard him. "Although it doesn't look it, I'm willing to put money down that there are about 20 pairs of people fucking in the wonderfully trimmed bushes below us. What's more, there is about the same number of spies, sniffing around for a good story and blackmail material."
"You are well versed in the way of these things." Naruto inclined his head in thanks. "Dare I say you saved my shining reputation?"
"Don't jest" Sasuke scoffed and stepped up to him, looking out onto the gardens. He scrabbled around and pulled out a cigar, offering one up to Naruto. The latter declined with a wave of his hand. Sasuke shrugged and used a match to light his. He was aware that Naruto was looking at him. The flare illuminated the handsome features. Sasuke peeked and found the eyes on his.
The sigh from the man beside him was one of amusement and irritation. Sasuke finally looked to him completely. "It's been a while that we have been alone like this." He mused, hoping to bring out some reason Naruto might have been harboring for leaving him thus.
"Indeed."
And that was it. Sasuke's pride hurt like hell when he finally dropped the question. "Any particular reason for leaving me in the dust?"
"Isnt that a bit too harsh of a view from someone who barely knows me?" Naruto's head tilted in question. He looked truly amused; his eyes however, were serious. "You sound like a lover scorned." He looked out again when all Sasuke did was snort into his cigar.
"I was never your lover. As I recall, that slipped away all too quickly, fueled by your attempts to keep me away from yourself." That brought a sharp glance to him from the blonde.
"Isn't that a bit too straight forward to you? Sasuke, you have no idea what you are treading on… There are factors, many of them very dangerous, that you are unaware of, and perhaps for the better."
"I know what I want, Naruto, despite you thinking me a spoiled rich boy, I have quite of an experience in human cruelty behind me, so if that's what you're pertaining to, it wont work on me." He shook his head at Naruto's move to talk. "You've avoided me, and although I understand somewhat, what you did was cruel."
Naruto laughed, "You have no idea Sasuke, of what I learned of recently and of what I had to suffer through my childhood and such, right up until a month ago. It sounds strange, because I sincerely couldn't care less, but there are factors I'm willing to consider dangerous out of people in our world. And you, well, you were infatuated, but that must stop. You will remain here, under intense scrutiny and such, and its not my reputation I'm trying to preserve Sasuke. You know, I have repeated this a hundred times, that never mattered to me, since I never really had any to begin with." He closed his eyes to avoid looking at Sasuke's infuriated expression.
"Don't presume to tell me you were chivalrously trying to save me, when you sucked out my soul in that forest!" He hissed. "Is it that hard to face the truth about yourself? You want me, do not deny it."
Naruto had to agree, this was much too straightforward even for him. Why was this man so obviously desperate? The look that he received scorched him.
"I don't deny it Sasuke, I'll never deny that. But I have enough self restraint to keep my desires in check. We are in a viper pit." The answer he received was a bit startling, Sasuke looked like a man who enjoyed the comfort and luxuries his rank had to offer him.
"I was born in a viper pit Naruto, every single one of these people here were, and thus are, reduced to crawling on their stomachs forever, seeing only what they can." Sasuke stared hard at him. His hands were shaking and he was crushing his unfinished cigar in anger. "You got the opportunity to be born outside the nest, to thrive and grow wings while we we all busy trying not to be eaten alive."
"When I had first met you, when I first saw you riding like some pagan God -" he shook his head, "-You've never seen yourself unguarded Naruto, and I might sound like a fool, but when I first saw you, I had this fleeting hope that you'd let me fly with you."
He took a step back. "I see now that it's impossible, you are content with flying alone." Shaking his head, he walked briskly back inside. Before the blonde could take a step towards him, he was lost in the throng, no longer visible to the wildly searching blue gaze.
xXx
Naruto had never felt less sure. But what could he possibly do? He was afraid, he admitted of his hypnotic pull towards the infuriating raven, and little did he know how close Naruto was to taking him right there on the balcony.
He had intended to descend into the garden and he knew that he wouldn't return without getting a throughout taste of the delectable milky neck. Sasuke's note of warning was what brought him from the edge again, and he had somehow kept most of his composure through their talk, trying to reason more with himself than Sasuke.
He would leave behind this country, rightfully named the viper pit; but Sasuke would remain to bear the consequence of whatever would be done, and he wouldn't be at peace if he left not knowing the man would be fine. This was as much for himself as for Sasuke.
So why did those arguments sound so futile to him now? As they were being refuted and picked apart by the raven, Naruto found himself grabbing at straws to keep his head in check.
What it necessary? Yes.
Was it wanted? Hell no.
It physically hurt to see Sasuke step back and walk away. Even the tale his Father had told him was forgotten.
"Shiiiiit." He hissed at nothing in particular, leaning on the cold stone of the terrance. He wanted to go back inside and look for him, maybe try to explain what he meant in a way that wouldn't hurt them both. He rehearsed many ways of saying what he had to say over and over in his head but nothing came. Even the Sasuke in his head was intent on screwing up his arguments.
A gentle hand on his arm snapped him out of his reverie. He turned around quickly, eyes wide. Not that he was expecting the raven, but he certainly wasn't expecting the slight blonde nymphet that stood shyly before him now. Her big, blue eyes shone brightly in anticipation. He realized with distaste that she had powdered up and reperfumed before calling on him. He could see the tiny dust of hastily applied cover and the perfume was too strong to have been applied previously.
He almost rolled his eyes at the weak attempt to seduce him. What itched him more was the fact that he knew her, whereas she was doing a great job of pretending she had no idea who he was.
Fact of the matter was, this was the pink bitches right hand gal.
"May I help you?" he lowered his tone and bowed slightly, egging her on. It was evil, but at the moment he wanted to be mean.
"You remind me of someone I knew long ago sir… I was curious and dare I say it? A bit enticed." She fluttered her eyelashes and literally bent forward him to reveal even more cleavage than she had exposed. Her fan was tapping on the side of her delicate face. He had to allow her the privilege of beauty.
"Maybe if you stopped acting like a bitch in heat, dear Ino, you'd have time to mobilize your nonexistent intelligence and recognize me." He smiled as he kissed her hand, it took a second for the words to hit home. By which time he had stepped away and made his way briskly back inside.
There, he was met by a slightly tipsy Kakashi. "What have you been up to chap? The night is young! Enjoy what they offer." He chuckled quietly into Naruto's ear. The blonde had a feeling the man was more sober than he cared to admit.
"I'd try upstairs." He ended as Naruto passed by. "Ask at the desk."
He was gone when Naruto made his way back to the front doors and turned to catch a glimpse.
He listened. Walking quickly over to the desk he rang the small bell and fidgeted as he waited to be served. The man came running; asking in a sickly polite tone if there was anything that was needed.
"I need to know what room and floor his grace Uchiha is using. It is a matter of grave importance." He added, after the slight hesitation from the man in front of him.
"No, no, of course! Your lordship will be pleased to learn the Lord Uchiha resides in room 217"
Naruto muttered a hasty "thank you" and made his way quickly to the second floor. He turned left and cursed himself when he realized the number he was looking for was in the other wing. He passed a maid on his hurried way and she plastered herself against the wall with a small gasp as he barreled through the corridor.
The door was closed and he wanted to pound on the door but the bloody woman was still standing there as if she had seen a ghost. He glared at her, hoping she'd get the message, nevertheless, he knocked lightly.
There was a slight movement that he could hear, and then nothing again. He knocked a second time.
"In devil's name leave me alone woman!" Sasuke's voice was clear and annoyed. Naruto smirked despite himself. He grabbed the doorknob and twisted, surprised at finding the door unlocked. He pushed hard and it flew open. There, he within, slamming it closed again and heaving, fixed a very surprised young man with a death glare. "You really should lock your doors Sasuke."
AN: It was meant to be longer, but this seemed like a perfecto cliffie and it would be too long with another chappie on it (for erm, me that is ^.^') So heres this, enjoy!