It's really late for me so I'll keep this AN shorter than planned...
But first: An important notice! SasuxNaruFanfictionlover22 is mine! Mine I tell you! And chapter 14 will be a bonus chapter filled with kinky smut as per request from him! Because that's what requests and bonuses are all about!
And I suppose I should also warn you that this chapter contains SasuNaru... I still believe in switching but I know some of you are quite eager to turn Sasuke completely uke (which he kind of is already).
On an unrelated note, my competition last Sunday went awesome. So I'm walking around feeling awesome right now. And I also got my acceptance letter for Helsinki University so next year that's my new home!
I'm sure I'm forgetting something important but who cares, just read the chapter and tell me what you think of the story so far! I've kinda hinted at all the plot twists already but I wonder if you're able to guess them... This story is getting longer and longer every day... :p
Chapter thirteen: Light a candle for my past
'
Naruto groaned when he woke up the next morning, and it took him a while to realize that Sasuke was leaning over him much like he'd done last night, his fingertips tracing patterns on Naruto's skin.
"Good morning" Sasuke mumbled, the morning light lighting up his face.
"I feel like shit" Naruto replied and closed his eyes again, throwing an arm over them to shield them from the light.
Sasuke removed his arm and then cupped his cheek, caressing it with his thumb.
"Because of yesterday?"
"Yeah" Naruto mumbled and peeked up at Sasuke's concerned face. "Well, I didn't sleep that great either."
"Wanna talk about it?"
Naruto smiled half-heartedly. "You say that like we didn't spend last night talking about it."
"Hn. Well you know how my therapist says it's good to vent." He quirked one corner of his lips and pinched Naruto's nose, causing the blond to scrunch it up.
Naruto swatted his hand away and sighed. "It's not only about yesterday I suppose, it's…" He faltered, not sure of how to continue. He felt like there were a lot of things that could make him feel down and he wasn't sure which one to start with.
"Your godparents? Your job? Your parents?"
Naruto sat up suddenly, glaring at the opposite wall. "Shut up" he said, probably harsher than he meant.
"I'm sorry" Sasuke mumbled, looking at him hesitantly.
"No it's… I didn't mean to…" He sighed. "You just hit the nail I suppose." He laid back down, hands over his eyes and trying to make sense of the thoughts that had been swirling around in his head all night. "And it's also the fact that I, compared to you, don't really have much to offer."
Sasuke frowned and pried his hands off his face, glaring at him with concern, as impossible as that sounds.
"That's nonsense Naruto" he said, holding his gaze locked in his own. "You have everything I need from you."
Naruto looked away, not sure why he couldn't just believe Sasuke. "I'm not exactly a great person" he mumbled, and tried to keep his face impassive when Sasuke turned it around to face him again.
Sasuke searched his eyes for a moment, then leaned in closer. "You made me fall in love with you, how much greater can you get?"
Naruto swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. Why did Sasuke always have to say stuff like that? It made him feel… too much. He fought against the tears threatening to spill, the weight of everything he'd been holding back in the past years suddenly deciding to make itself known.
"I…" he whispered, his voice thick with held back emotions.
"You know Naruto" Sasuke interrupted him, still so close their breaths mingled. "When I was a kid my father would always nag at me for not being good enough, always telling me I needed a purpose in my life. And he just couldn't understand that even if I didn't know what my so called purpose was it certainly wasn't to be a puppet for the Uchiha family and dedicate my life to a trophy wife and Uchiha Corps. I felt so lost, and as if my situation was hopeless. Like I could never escape. But I would think secretly that it would be nice if… if I could just be a little happy. And that maybe, if I could make someone else happy too… I wouldn't need to bother with some kind of purpose. I could just…" He paused, breaking eye contact and biting his lip.
"I'm sorry for calling you a bastard so much" Naruto whispered, and returned Sasuke's tiny smile.
"No, it's fine, I mean I do tend to act like one so…"
They stared at each other for a long moment, but the tender atmosphere was starting to get to Naruto, and he felt himself slowly breaking under Sasuke's gaze. He took a shaky breath and pulled Sasuke down on top of him, feeling his strong arms carefully wrap around him until he felt as if he was completely shielded from the world. That's when he finally let go and cried.
~Line breaker~
When Naruto had recovered they'd had breakfast, in a silent agreement to not talk about emotional stuff for a while. Instead, they'd slowly changed the atmosphere to one of more playful banter and light topics, and when Sasuke had suggested they go take a shower together Naruto had agreed eagerly. He felt better after his little breakdown, but still sensitive, so when Sasuke took command he didn't protest. He stood underneath the warm water, letting Sasuke massage his scalp, leaning into him and just enjoying being spoiled for a while. Kiba had certainly never done something like this for him. Sasuke finished with his hair and kissed his cheek, and Naruto smiled contentedly.
"This is nice" he mumbled and rinsed out the shampoo Sasuke had massaged into his hair.
"You know what else is nice?" Sasuke asked and turned him around so that they were facing each other, pulling Naruto closer.
"Let me guess: shower sex?"
Sasuke smirked. "How did you know?"
Naruto grinned back, letting the palms of his hands trail down Sasuke's chest, resting them against his flat stomach.
"Well, I've been known to read minds now and then, but it could also be the fact that you're pretty hard."
Sasuke looked down at himself, pretending to realize just now that he was.
"Touché" he said and closed the distance between them, kissing Naruto lazily and rubbing their groins together.
Sasuke let his hands wander lower, from Naruto's back to his ass, squeezing the cheeks and smirking at the muffled protest from the blond. Naruto now had his arms secured around Sasuke's back, making sure there wasn't any part of them unnecessarily separated. They were kissing deeply, their tongues battling even if neither tried to seriously win. Sasuke eagerly started rubbing Naruto's entrance and the blond moaned, grinding their wet bodies together harder and relocating one hand to grip dark hair harshly. Naruto buried his face in Sasuke's neck when the first finger pushed inside, he kissed along his throat and jaw and then their lips met again in a sloppy kiss at the same time that the second finger entered.
"Hurry up Sasuke" Naruto groaned into the raven's open mouth and got another bruising kiss as a reply. The kiss was so hard that Naruto momentarily forgot about moving his hips to let their cocks slide against each other, instead he just pushed Sasuke's head closer, teeth hitting teeth and biting lips. A third finger inside him and spreading him wider than was probably needed caused him to gasp and tilt his head back, Sasuke taking the opportunity to give him a new large hickey on his neck. Then Sasuke pushed him against the cold tiles, the water no longer hitting him and his skin shivering from the cold. His breaths came out in pants and for a few seconds he and Sasuke just stood there breathing, looking at each other with lust and flushed expressions. Then pale hands slowly caressed Naruto's chest, starting at his stomach and brushing over his nipples, settling on his cheeks and pulling his mouth closer for another kiss. This one was less hurried and more passionate, and Naruto felt his heart skip a beat when Sasuke moaned into it and pushed Naruto harder against the wall.
"Let me fuck you" Sasuke whispered huskily, his lips brushing over Naruto's. He pressed his mouth against Naruto's for just a moment, rubbing his tongue lightly over his bottom lip before moving back to barely touching again. "Let me pleasure you, thrust inside you until you see stars, I'll make you come violently for me, Naruto…" He traced the scars on Naruto's cheeks with both hands, looking deeply into his blue eyes, and Naruto's whole body tingled with the knowledge that yes, Sasuke wanted him, be it bottom or top, as long as it was Naruto anything was fine. He smiled at his boyfriend, a happy smile, and Sasuke smiled back and for a second everything in the whole world was perfect.
"I'm so in love with you Naruto I don't know what to do" Sasuke mumbled and kissed him again, a slow loving kiss that filled both of their stomachs with partying butterflies.
The kiss soon turned heated though, and Naruto bucked his hips impatiently. Sasuke smirked into their kiss and then leaned back, seemingly contemplating something before he reached down to take a hold of Naruto's thighs. Before Naruto had time to ask what he was doing the raven hoisted him up so that he was forced to throw his arms around Sasuke's neck and his legs around his waist, a surprised 'whoa' escaping his lips. Sasuke frowned and changed his position slightly to make it easier to hold Naruto up against the wall, smirking when Naruto looked at him with evident disbelief.
"I'm too heavy for this" Naruto objected but moaned when Sasuke bit one of his nipples.
"I was thinking that all those hours at the gym should pay off for something" Sasuke said and moved his hips so that Naruto could feel his erection against his ass.
Naruto swallowed, and in his mind he had to agree with Sasuke, seeing his arm muscles tensing to lift him was really sexy. He just didn't like the feeling of Sasuke being able to manhandle him this easily. But then his boyfriend smirked for probably the millionth time that day and started pushing inside him, and all objections were lost in the pleasured haze of Sasuke thrusting in and out fast and hard, pushing him harder against the wall and dominating him completely. There was absolutely nothing he could do besides clinging to Sasuke and moaning in his ear as he felt him moving inside, fucking him illegally good. Ten minutes was enough to make Sasuke tired though, and the raven let his feet hit the floor again with a sigh as his arm muscles were allowed to relax again, but relief was short as Sasuke spun Naruto around and slammed him against the wall face first and roughly started pushing inside again. Naruto groaned and swore, the cold tiles mixed with the heated fog around them causing his body to shiver over and over again as Sasuke held his hips securely, making sure he couldn't move anywhere except to meet Sasuke's thrusts. Sasuke was leaning his forehead on Naruto's shoulder, looking down between their bodies to see himself move in and out of that tight heat.
"You feel so fucking good" Sasuke groaned as he sped up, alternating between hitting Naruto's prostate and only brushing over it. The water was cascading down over Sasuke's back and he could hear the sound of their pants magnified inside the shower, all of it adding to his arousal. He didn't think he'd ever be able to stop wanting Naruto, it was all so intense and heady. He released his grip on the tan hips and instead moved them upwards along the hard stomach to rub those pink nipples, causing more moans to reach his ears. Naruto's hips moved eagerly with every thrust he made, and he sucked on Naruto's neck, tasting the salty sweat on his skin, and then bit his ear lobe.
"Shit Sasuke I'm gonna…" Naruto groaned and Sasuke reached down to pump him harshly. Naruto didn't last long after that, and with a strangled cry he came, Sasuke following him and pressing his lips against the base of his neck as they slowed down their movements.
"We're not done yet" Sasuke mumbled when he slipped out and turned Naruto's head so he could roam his mouth again. Naruto moaned and felt his body sparkle with electricity as Sasuke caressed every part of smooth skin that he could reach, arousal soon replacing the recent orgasm.
During their third round Sasuke had sat down on the floor, leaning back on the wall covered with tiles and taking leverage with his feet against the opposite now fogged over glass doors. Naruto was riding him, head thrown back and mouth open, he was right under the spray of hot water and the heat coupled with the continuous pleasure had his head spinning. Sasuke pulled his head down to lick and nibble on his throat, loud moans spilling out in a fast stream and making the raven go harder. Naruto was gripping his shoulders tightly to help Sasuke move him up and down, his eyes were closed and his face was flushed from the heat. Sasuke guided his hips in a circle and they both moaned, neither of them hearing the door bell going off in the distance. They kissed ferociously, both of them incredibly turned on and nearing their third release. The door bell rang again, this time several angry buzzes after each other, and Naruto frowned and was about to ask Sasuke if that really was the door bell when the raven started hitting his prostate repeatedly and mumbled 'ignore it'. The blond reached down with a hand to stroke himself to completion, opening his eyes to look at Sasuke with a hungry expression. Sasuke licked his lips and captured Naruto's mouth with his own again. Their wet bodies slapped together and the kiss was more like two open mouths against each other than a real kiss but it was still so intense, the heavy air around them adding to it. Sasuke released first, groaning and increasing the strength of his hold on tan hips.
"Fuck, yes!" Naruto panted and followed after, coming all over Sasuke's tensed stomach.
They sat there, foreheads pressed together and panting into the other's mouth, calming down and trying to get their furiously pumping hearts to slow down. But apparently the person outside their door hadn't given up, because the bell rang again, this time accompanied by a fist as well.
"Should we go open?" Naruto asked, still breathing heavily.
"Sure, I'll go tell them to stop bothering us during sex" Sasuke replied and attempted to move Naruto so he could stand up.
"What?!" Naruto shouted. "You don't even know who it is, you can't just say stuff like that!
Sasuke gave him a look and lifted him off, standing up with a grimace and stretching his arms over his head. That last position hadn't been very comfortable. "Jeez Naruto, no need to get so worked up. I'll just go tell them to fuck off so we can continue."
Naruto stood up as well and walked past Sasuke, stealing the only towel currently in the bathroom and securing it around his hips.
"I'll go talk to them, you just wait here" he said and left the room, an amused Sasuke looking after his retreating form. If Naruto thought it would be embarrassing to have Sasuke open the door in just a towel he should have seen himself. His appearance pretty much screamed 'just got fucked hard in the shower'. Oh well, Sasuke might as well spend the time waiting under the shower head. No need to get cold was there?
Naruto muttered to himself about bastards and then yelled 'I'm coming!' to whoever the impatient person with a finger pressed to the door bell was. He opened the door and was met with pale eyes giving him the once-over, a smirk resembling Sasuke's forming on Neji's face. Because yeah, it was Neji on the other side dressed smartly in dark jeans and a dark trench coat, a laptop bag slung over one shoulder.
"Well hello there Naruto" he said, and Naruto really wanted to slam the door in his face.
"Whatever Neji, what's up with trying to kill our door bell?"
"Hey, no need to be so impolite, even though my guess is I was interrupting… something."
Naruto crossed his arms and tried to force down the blush forming on his cheeks. "So why are you here anyway? You could have told us you were planning to show up you know."
"Oh, well I did make an appointment with Sasuke last night" Neji said airily and walked past Naruto, his eyes taking in everything of the apartment he could see.
"Really? Because he didn't mention anything" Naruto said with a suspicious frown forming on his face. Neji was his friend, don't get him wrong, but the guy could be a bit creepy sometimes. And it had taken him a long time to accept Naruto as a friend, his arrogant personality blocking most of Naruto's attempts until a certain incident. But that's a story for another time.
"Hmm, well we didn't set up a specific time I suppose, but since I'm here anyway…" Neji trailed off, turning around to give Naruto that self-assured arrogant look that had always pissed him off.
"I'll go talk to him" Naruto muttered and scowled at Neji, he and Sasuke had been having quite fun and he was starting to regret not letting Sasuke open instead. Why the hell would Neji and Sasuke meet up anyway? He entered the bathroom again, finding a very sexy Sasuke busy with lathering up soap all over his body.
"Well?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow, forcing Naruto out of his momentary drooling.
"It was Neji" Naruto said with an expectant look on his face.
"And?"
"And he says you guys have an appointment."
Sasuke frowned, but then a light bulb seemed to go off in his head and he scowled. "I hope you didn't let him in" he said, and when Naruto just raised his eyebrows questioningly he tsk'ed and started to rinse off the soap. "He wants to do an interview with me."
Naruto just stared at Sasuke, but then he remembered that Neji had recently become a reporter. What was the name of the magazine again? He couldn't recall it. "And you agreed?"
Sasuke gave him a look that clearly said 'Do I look stupid to you?'.
"Then what's he doing here? No wait, I should know that Neji doesn't really take no for an answer, not when it comes to being a reporter. It is his dream after all." The last part might have come out a little more bitter than Naruto intended, but he ignored the look Sasuke gave him and sighed. "Well, we might as well get it over with then."
"Wait, you're not going to agree with this are you?" Sasuke asked with horror in his voice.
"Why? I read the article he wrote about your press conference, he's a good writer."
"Naruto, I don't give a damn if he's a good writer or not, I'm not doing an interview."
Naruto gave him a blank look. "I'll tell him to wait in the living room while we get dressed" he said and left again, leaving behind a gaping Sasuke.
When Naruto came back, this time with a dry towel and clothes for Sasuke, the raven waited for him with crossed arms and a thunder cloud over his head.
"I said I'm not doing an interview Naruto" he gritted out through clenched teeth, but Naruto just rolled his eyes.
"Trust me Sasuke, if you're doing an interview you want it to be Neji. I mean, people are dying to know about us if Ino is right, and she's always right about stuff like this. It's bad enough people have been trying to sneakily question me while I'm at work."
"People bother you at work?" Sasuke said with a shocked expression.
Naruto shrugged. "Honestly, that's not so bad, but I do kind of owe Neji a favor so…"
Sasuke glared at him, not making a move to reach for the towel or his clothes. "I'm not doing it" he declared, his voice like steel.
"Oh come on Sasuke, you know you're going to have to do one sooner or later, and if it's Neji you can be sure that it's professional."
"Neji told you this didn't he?" Sasuke's voice was now accusing, but he did take the towel and started drying himself.
"Heh, he did, but I'm guessing it's still true?"
"I won't let you get away with this Naruto. I'll be expecting payback."
Naruto gulped, but then grinned and rubbed his neck hesitantly. "Sure, anything" he said, wondering if he just agreed to his death sentence.
When Sasuke had dressed they found Neji waiting as told in the living room, inspecting Sasuke's books.
"You have quite the collection" he mused when he heard them enter, not bothering to turn around.
"I'm immune to flattery" Sasuke said and sat down on the couch, his whole being radiating business.
Naruto sighed and sat down beside him, shrugging when Neji threw a look at him after turning to face them.
"Business it is then" Neji said and sat down in the armchair, pulling it closer to the small table opposite of Sasuke and Naruto.
"Just to make things clear" Sasuke started and bore his eyes into Nejis, "Any part of this interview not to my liking and your career is over."
"Please, I survived my report from the conference didn't I? Something I know not everyone present did."
Naruto opened his mouth to ask what he meant but Sasuke interrupted him.
"Hn. Well you better make this short and pay me enough."
Naruto stared between the two men as they started bargaining for a suitable amount of money, the sums ridiculous in his opinion. If Sasuke wasn't rich already he could easily be just from doing interviews.
"Do you really need that much money for it?" Naruto asked dubiously once they'd come to an agreement.
"Oh, it's not about needing it, he just wants us to bleed for it" Neji said, meeting Sasuke's haughty look with a slightly angry one.
"Hn" Sasuke said, apparently pleased with winning their little battle. "I'm not selling us cheap."
Naruto rolled his eyes and sank down further into the couch. Trust Sasuke to take things too seriously. Wait, us?
"You're not planning to include me in this are you?" he asked Sasuke, but when both men just gave him blank looks he groaned and slid even further down in his seat, his butt threatening to slip over the edge of it. Great. Just great.
"People are even more interested in getting to know you Naruto, the man who managed to make Uchiha Sasuke feel like a princess." Neji smirked at Sasuke's glare.
"Bad choice of words" Sasuke muttered and crossed his arms with an almost pout.
"Fine, bring it" Naruto said and straightened up, resting an arm over the back of the couch and trying to come off as more confident than he was.
Neji brightened up, pulling out a voice recorder and placing it on the table.
"Perfect. Now, we all know that the two of you met at a bar, but I'd like some more details on that."
"I'm sure you would" Sasuke said, and Naruto hit his arm.
"I'd say we were just looking for some entertainment for the night, and since we'd both had a pretty shitty day we decided to go home together."
Neji looked at Naruto with an interested gleam in his eyes. "So you just agreed to have a one night stand? No getting to know each other before that?"
"Not really" Naruto replied.
"Like he said, we just wanted a distraction."
Neji glanced at Sasuke, but then turned to Naruto again. "And how did you end up in a relationship?"
Naruto bit his lip, looking at Sasuke for guidance. The raven looked as impassive as ever, but he answered for Naruto.
"It was a gradual process. We somehow ended up talking seriously the morning after and spent the whole weekend together, and Naruto being Naruto made me like him. So I offered him to move in with me since his living situation left quite a lot to ask for."
The last part made Neji give Naruto a less friendly look. "Good for you that you and Hinata have cleared things up" he said, momentarily forgetting he was supposed to be a professional at work.
"Yeah yeah" Naruto sighed and combed a hand through his hair. "Let's not bring that stuff into this shall we?"
Neji pursed his lips but nodded, and concentrated on Sasuke again. "So you're saying that he moved in before you decided to be a couple?"
"I am" Sasuke confirmed.
"Interesting" Neji mumbled, but then quickly continued. "And what's it like living with the famous Uchiha Sasuke?" he asked Naruto.
"Umm… it's good? I mean I really like him so… and it hasn't been long enough for us to start being irritated at each other you know."
Neji quirked his lips, and Naruto felt nervous for some reason.
"What about the bedroom department then? Unless Sasuke has been cheating on Sakura he should be rather inexperienced no?"
Sasuke scoffed and gave Neji a pointed look. "Very funny."
Naruto grinned. "Well, I suppose I've had to teach him a thing or two" he replied innocently.
"You write that and I will personally end you" Sasuke threatened and Naruto couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let's just say that we're fairly equal and things are fine, no details needed" Naruto offered.
"Fairly equal? Do I need to remind you of what we just did in the shower?" Sasuke said, obviously offended and completely forgetting about Neji's presence.
Naruto rolled his eyes and patted Sasuke's thigh. "Alright alright, we're both tops so it's a compromise?"
"That's hardly any better" Sasuke pouted, glaring at Neji when he tried to disguise his laugh as a cough.
"I'll just write that what happens behind closed doors is exactly as hot as everyone imagines."
"Hn."
"Sure…"
"Sasuke, how does it feel to finally be out of the closet?"
Sasuke contemplated this for a moment, still looking rather put out. "I'd say it's the best thing that ever happened to me besides meeting Naruto and beating my brother at Trivial Pursuit, but if my mother finds out I said that I'm probably screwed. So just write something about how that's not really an issue."
"You're lying to the public Sasuke, that's really bad" Naruto said in a half-teasing voice, but the look they exchanged was much more understanding.
"Well, you two certainly seem to have a deep connection" Neji commented.
"I'd say Naruto understands me, and that's something I never dared to hope for" Sasuke said, still looking at Naruto and returning his small smile.
"And what exactly does Naruto have that no one else has?"
Sasuke gave Neji an arrogant look. "That's a stupid question, obviously he has everything I'm looking for. He's honest, bright, funny, charming and a good listener. And he doesn't treat me like I'm anything special, I mean, besides special to him. And he's not pretending to be someone he isn't, I really appreciate that. Although, it wouldn't hurt if he appreciated himself a little more." He turned to look at Naruto, the blond blushing and having to avert his gaze at the affection he received. Sasuke claimed to hate talking about feelings, but he certainly didn't hesitate to be painfully honest when he did.
Neji smiled, apparently thinking that they looked cute, and Naruto felt very embarrassed. He didn't have anything against showing affection in public, but this was pushing it a little, so he cleared his throat to make Neji ask the next question.
"And, Naruto, what about you, anything in particular that made you fall for Sasuke besides his looks, money and fame?"
"Honestly I couldn't care less about money and fame, but yeah he's pretty hot isn't he?" He grinned when Sasuke pouted again. "On a more serious note though, Sasuke's a really caring and affectionate guy, so it would be difficult not to like him. I mean, the things he said about me, I could easily say the same about him. It's cute how vain he is though, I'd say he spends more time in front of a mirror than girls do."
"But since I'm sexier than all those girls I'd say it's worth it" Sasuke stuck in, causing both Naruto and Neji to look at him in surprise. "What?"
Naruto just shook his head and took one of Sasuke's hands in his. "See what I mean?" he asked Neji, and got a snort as a response. Sasuke gave them suspicious looks and wondered if maybe he should just shut up and leave the room before they made more fun of him. But sadly enough Neji had a few more questions for him.
~Line breaker~
Maybe ten minutes later when Neji had finally gotten his interview and Sasuke had decided that he'd gotten more than he'd paid for, Naruto leaned against the front door he'd just closed.
"You like Neji don't you?" he asked Sasuke, who gave him a rather shocked look.
"Wait, let me rephrase that, you tolerate his presence? What I'm trying to say is that, you and he could be friends."
Sasuke shrugged. "He's not horrible. Too interested in other people's private lives though."
Naruto snorted and followed Sasuke into the kitchen, only now feeling how hungry he was.
"It's his job isn't it?" he said and opened the fridge to look for something edible, Sasuke leaning over his shoulder apparently on the same mission.
"Who cares if it's his job, anyone wanting to be a reporter is rather suspicious in my eyes" Sasuke said and took a few items out of the fridge.
"We're having something with vegetables in it?" Naruto asked with disdain.
"We are, and if you'd prefer starving to death we are visiting a grave yard later so it's not that inconvenient for me."
"That caring thing I said? Maybe I should take it back."
Sasuke gave him an amused look and grabbed his shirt, pulling him close enough so he could kiss his cheek. "I'm feeding you aren't I? That's pretty caring in my opinion."
Naruto huffed but allowed Sasuke to hold him close for a moment. "Fine, but no asparagus okay?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and let him go, heading over to the counter and placing the vegetables there. "I really don't see what you have against that, but don't worry. It's just carrots and broccoli; I'm making a soup with the left over potatoes from yesterday."
"Please, spare me the details" Naruto groaned and slumped down in his chair. It was bad enough he'd have to eat it later. "Oh, and we need to buy candles don't we?"
"Yeah, we can do that on the way there." Sasuke was now busy peeling the carrots, so Naruto stared at his ass instead so he wouldn't have to see the horror. The fact that they were orange sadly didn't help their case.
They were quiet for a while, Sasuke methodically taking care of lunch and Naruto half sleeping on the table. When Sasuke sat down as well, waiting for the soup to boil, Naruto put his head on his arm and looked at him.
"Hey" he said.
"Hey" Sasuke said back.
"It's going to be dark outside when we get there isn't it?"
"Yeah, why, are you afraid of ghosts?"
"No" Naruto said with a small smile, "I was more thinking that it's always so pretty on All Saints' when all the graves have burning candles on them."
"Hn. I don't think I've ever been to the graveyard during All Saints'."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Well then you've certainly missed something."
"Oh yes, I've definitely missed seeing my father rot away in his grave."
"Tch, that's not something you should joke about."
Sasuke shrugged, leaning his head on the table as well. "I wasn't joking."
"U-huh."
They were quiet again, both of them lost in thought, and neither particularly eager to go. For Naruto it was tradition though, so when they approximately two hours later stepped out of the car after struggling to find a parking lot he grabbed Sasuke's hand and strode confidently towards his parents' tombstone. It was pitch black outside, but the entire church yard was littered with glowing candles. If Sasuke hadn't been so reluctant to enter he'd have thought it was beautiful. Especially the large tree a bit further down the path and to the right, which had a large amount of candles scattered around it and lighting it up.
"Here we are" Naruto suddenly said in a hushed tone, and Sasuke found himself in front of a moderately sized stone, dark grey and with the names written in gold. It first said 'Namikaze', and then underneath it the names Minato and Kushina (born Uzumaki) together with the dates.
"You got your mother's name" he commented, and Naruto nodded.
Then Naruto took out two candles from the plastic bag he was carrying and put them on the grave, fumbling with a match before managing to light it and then also the candles. He blew on the match and killed the flame, putting it back into the small box. He stood up again, taking Sasuke's hand like before and cleared his throat.
"So, mom, dad, this is Sasuke. I just met him recently but he's really important to me now. I think you'd have liked him."
He turned his head to look at Sasuke impatiently.
"Oh, right" Sasuke mumbled. "Hello Minato, Kushina, it's nice to meet you. I'm Uchiha Sasuke, and…" he paused, not really sure of what to say.
"I think they got the point" Naruto whispered with a small smile, and then he simply stood there for a while, looking at his parents' grave lost in thought. Sasuke looked at it as well; it appeared rather well kept and the letters seemed to have been filled in recently. He wondered if Naruto came here often. It was peaceful to just stand there, the graveyard was quiet despite the amount of people moving about, and the sounds of the city were distant. He lifted his gaze to take in the view, finding that Naruto had been right. He couldn't shake off the uneasy feelings he got though.
"Shall we move on?"
Naruto's voice broke the silence, and Sasuke almost jumped.
"…yeah" he said, not giving any indication he wanted to start walking again.
"You okay?" Naruto asked, giving his hand a squeeze.
"I suppose" he sighed and started walking, looking around him again to gather his bearings. If he remembered correctly, his father's grave should be somewhere to the right of the church…
As they came closer, pictures from memory started to swim by. His father had been buried during fall, he thought it must have been early October, and he could easily imagine the church in the sunny bright light it had bathed in that day. He swallowed thickly. He hadn't been here since then, and to think it was the same place Naruto's parents were at. They walked in silence, nodding to the people they met, and every step closer felt heavier than the previous one. They'd entered an older part now, and there weren't many others around, most of the graves dark. He could feel Naruto pressing closer to him, maybe the blond was scared of ghosts after all. After turning right and into one of the many rows he finally came to a halt in front of an impressive decorated tombstone. It looked old and was partly covered in moss, but the white letters could be seen quite clearly. He let his eyes trace over the names, all of them Uchihas and their wives or husbands, sometimes it was an unaccompanied name; like his father's which was the most recently added one. Beside him there was space for his mother, and Sasuke shuddered. He'd always hated visiting this place as a kid, and thankfully his father hadn't brought him here that often. The thought of his own name joining the others had always made him feel a bit sick.
"It's quite impressive" Naruto mumbled, and Sasuke scoffed.
"It's hideous, that's what it is" he said with contempt, glaring at the dark stone as if it would make it less arrogant and ostentatious.
Naruto didn't answer to that. He just squatted down like he'd done earlier and placed a candle among the dried plants covering the space in front of the grave once he'd lit it. Again they stood quiet for a while, but Sasuke felt uncomfortable. He'd always felt uncomfortable in front of his father, said father being dead didn't really change that fact.
"It's hard to believe it's been five years" he mumbled, and Naruto leaned his head on his shoulder.
"Do you think he would have hated me?" Naruto asked quietly, and Sasuke pulled him into a hug.
"He's dead, what he would have thought doesn't matter" he said, trying to come off as reassuring.
Naruto buried his nose in the crook of Sasuke's neck, the fabric of his scarf tickling it but at least it smelled faintly of Sasuke. Sasuke pressed his lips against Naruto's ear, it was a little cold but he didn't notice that. He just stared at the grave, trying to come up with something to say but hopelessly failing, opting to hug Naruto tighter instead. Feeling Naruto close to him helped.
"I haven't been here since the funeral" he mumbled.
"You haven't? Why?"
Sasuke hesitated before answering. "At the funeral, I thought, that I never wanted to see him again. I just wanted to forget everything, erase my memories. But I couldn't of course, and Sakura was still there. It felt like if I came here, he'd chastise me from the other side, I know it's silly but I can't shake off the feeling that he's… watching me. And that I'm disappointing him no matter what I do."
Naruto listened quietly, eyes closed and ears listening to the sound of Sasuke's unsteady breathing.
"I really don't like this place" Sasuke said with conviction. "Can we go home and have sex instead?"
A reprimanding cough from the old lady walking by caused both of them to freeze, but then Sasuke relaxed and chuckled lightly. He released Naruto from his embrace, taking his hand and pulling him away from the depressing tombstone and the interrupting old lady.
"Now that we've met the parents, I'd say we deserve a night without bothersome things don't you think?" he said, and Naruto couldn't help but respond to the smirk Sasuke gave him.
"Fine, but it's my turn to top" he said, grinning at Sasuke's disappointed expression that held all of two seconds before it turned seducing instead.
"I'll let you top if you blow me" Sasuke said, walking backwards so he could see Naruto better.
"I can do better than just blow you" Naruto replied with a smirk of his own.
Sasuke raised one eyebrow but didn't comment, instead he turned around so he could walk faster. The sooner they were out of here the better.
What to say what to say... I'm falling asleep now... Hope you liked... Soon we shall meet Mikoto... :3
