It's Simply Criminal
Chapter Two
Childhood Memories
A/N: Omfg. You guys are awesome. Thank you for all the follows, favs & reviews!~
Disclaimers: I don't own the little guy v_v All I own is the plot 'ttbayo!
Warnings: Hm, not much to warn about in this chapter! Just cutesie childhood moments and some sad reminiscing for the most part!
Sasuke's eyes were glued to the ceiling, despite the ungodly hour. He was supposed to be fast asleep by now; lost in a dream. Yet he wasn't. And all he could think was Naruto. The way his blue eyes lit up with determination when he spoke of avenging his friend. The way his smile seemed less bright and forced; more lopsided with an almost non-existent sarcastic edge to it.
Naruto had changed. Yet he had stayed the exact same.
Something-most likely the gang lifestyle-had hardened him.
The raven couldn't tell if this was a good thing or not. Sure, he seemed just like the annoying dobe he was when they were children...but there was something that made Naruto seem like a stranger to him. As if he wasn't completely the best friend he knew and loved.
He let out an annoyed groan. Trust the blonde to be the focus of his nights.
Though he couldn't help thinking... was Naruto thinking of him?
Surely not. He had other things to be worrying about at this time of night. For instance, his injured... friend? Comrade?
...Lover?
No. Gaara Sabaku (yes, he did his research) was not Naruto's lover. The blonde didn't give any hints-he wouldn't anyway; he was painfully obvious-and he would've fought 'til the end if he had been... involvedwith the fellow Jinchuuriki.
Then it happened; suddenly, overwhelming… a bombardment of unwanted memories.
Sasuke stared at the expanse of oil black water. The setting sun was like a falling flame; inches away from igniting the endless black ocean.
Never before had he felt such crushing loneliness.Any other day he was fine. He could handle the… alienation that came with being Uchiha Sasuke, brother of a murderer, kid genius and pitied orphan. But today, today was different. Especially since such an event was everywhere.
It had been one year since the murders of the entire Uchiha family. One year since Sasuke had been found, crumpled and sobbing in a pool of his own kin's blood, trapped in the eternal embrace of his dead mother's arms.
One year since he'd looked into his brother's cold eyes as his brother slaughtered everyone he'd ever loved.
That year had been horrendous. The pity was awful; knowing eyes haunted him at every turn. Whispers started up like a horrible theme tune wherever he walked. His grades were already brilliant at school, despite his young age, yet the grief had forced him into astounding levels, rather than making him lag behind.
The fight for who would be his guardian was still going on. And now, today, it was everywhere. The terrifying story of the Uchiha family replayed for sickeningly curious eyes to watch over and over like some sort of movie. The updates on the custody battle over the innocent and mentally damaged Uchiha Sasuke.
He scowled at the water, ice flowing into his gaze as if the expanse of ocean was to blame. He wanted to scream at it; force all his hatred away. He couldn't deal with it anymore.
The year had hardened him; emotions were easily controlled, true thoughts hidden from all to see. But on a day like this, the tears were difficult to keep at bay. In the twilight of his family's death anniversary, his face was wetted, his chest rising and falling rapidly as breath struggled to escape.
He just wanted all the pain to end.
He just wanted it to go away!
His sobbing was louder now; rasping, desperate noises as he clutched to his chest, feeling his heart beat painfully within.
A sudden warmth beside him caught his attention immediately, his black eyes snapping open as he turned to yell at the stranger to leave.
Yet when his eyes landed on the blonde-haired boy, he felt his shout die in his throat. If there was anyone Sasuke could relate with on this day, it was the boy next to him.
"Y-Y-You're… U-Uzum-maki N-Naruto, ri-right?" Sasuke hicced in a broken question. The blonde turned his head and beamed at him, white teeth exposed in a Cheshire grin and eyes scrunched up.
"Yep! That's me, 'ttebayo!"
Uzumaki Naruto, someone who could rank with Sasuke in traumatic experiences. Sasuke had known him since he was a child—a younger one, at least—and not once had he ever seen the whiskered boy with a friend.
The rumors had been even worse than the Uchiha story. It still circulated, whereas Sasuke's was fresh. Naruto's mother had died giving birth to him, and the doctors had falsely reported Naruto as dead too. Naruto's father was found dead a few wards away, in the bathrooms. No-one had told him it was a glitch in the reports…that his newborn son was alive.
Naruto was seen as a curse. He singlehandedly killed his parents—the locals said—while barely able to open his own eyes.
Nobody fought for custody as they did for Sasuke. They were scared that if they even thought about becoming the "Demon Boy"'s family, they'd die too. Overcome with depression and kill themselves. Haunted by the dead parents. There were many legends—and the people of Konoha were foolish enough to believe it.
Of course, it didn't help that he was born with whiskers too. There were many nicknames for him.
Monster.
Demon Boy.
Demon Fox.
Fox Demon.
Cursed One.
Looking at the smiling blonde, Sasuke couldn't ever think of calling him that. Just being in his presence made him feel… lighter.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke," he automatically replied after a moment's pause. "Though I suppose you already know that," he tagged on bitterly.
The Uzumaki grinned again, jutting out his tanned hand. "Nice to meet ya, Sasuke."
Startled by the odd behaviour—he wasn't being piteous or cautious at all!—he joined his hands with the blonde, momentarily distracted by the contrast. The newly risen moon's light darkened Naruto's skin dramatically, even managing to turn Sasuke's skin a few hues lighter. It was kind of mesmerizing.
"It's nice to meet you too, Naruto." And for once, the words didn't feel forced. And neither did the soft smile that graced his lips. Everything around Naruto seemed to be easy and laid back. Stress and sadness seemed like unknown entities.
The boy's face relaxed and Sasuke could see how truly…well…pretty the blonde's eyes were. They seemed dark in the silvery light, but there was a bright azure glow to them that seemed to make his entire face light up.
The tears were beginning to dry on his face, making his skin itchy. His hand slowly scratched at his face and rubbed at his eyes, feeling the irritation. With a sudden huff, the young raven felt a single arm tighten around his body. He looked at the other boy in shock, seeing the blue-hued eyes set forwards, staring out at the ocean.
Hesitantly, he leaned his head on Naruto's shoulder, feeling the exhaustion from the day kick in. And they sat there, for god knows how long, staring at the silver ripples of the dark water, merely listening to the soft lapping of the ocean and each other's gentle breathing.
When he eventually closed his eyes, Sasuke swore he saw the tiniest smile on Naruto's face.
Sasuke woke abruptly, unknowing he had fallen asleep. His face felt strangely strained, but not painfully so. He started when he realised that he had woken up with a smile on face. A small sigh escaped Sasuke's lips.
"And so it begins," he murmured to himself, rubbing between his eyes.