Whoa I skipped school today and wrote like crazy. I even wrote half the first chapter for the sequel! I'm thinking one more chapter after this, and then we're moving on. Exciting, isn't it! Lots of fluff this chapter yay:D
It's so late so I'll just let you read now...
Chapter forty: I'm right here, you know
'
The quick running of small feet diverted Naruto's attention from the TV screen, and he smiled and raised his arms out of the way as Yukio climbed up onto the couch and promptly fell down on his chest. Making himself comfortable the child squirmed in his bathrobe, making a content noise and leaning his chin in his hands, elbows propped up against Naruto.
"Uncle Naru did you know? I can make huge bubbles in the water! With just my mouth! Like this!" Yukio took a deep breath before blowing air into Naruto's face, excitement shining in his eyes. "Dad said they were really big!"
"Oh no, and I missed it!" Naruto answered with exaggerated chagrin.
"Don't worry I'll show you next time I take a bath" Yukio reassured him, then thought of something and started kicking his legs up and down as he squirmed again. "Hideki blew into his glass at lunch and there was milk everywhere! Iruka was really mad! It was soooo funny!"
"I bet it was" Naruto chuckled, ruffling the protesting kid's hair. "Did you tell Sasuke?"
Yukio nodded, stilling his legs as he turned to look at the TV.
"What are you watching?"
"Hmm, I don't know, some cooking show."
"Dad will get mad at you. You're only supposed to like his cooking!"
Naruto opened his mouth in surprise, then laughed at the accusatory stare he was receiving and poked Yukio's cheek.
"We better change the channel then, huh?"
"Disney channel!"
Naruto shook his head at the shouted demand, thinking the kid was too clever for his own good. Tricking him like that just to get his favorite channel. Still, he picked up the remote and did as told.
"Uncle Naru? My dad is the best dad in the world right?"
"Of course" Naruto smiled.
"When I grow up I'm gonna marry him!"
Again, Naruto's mouth opened in surprise, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or feel worried.
"It's not really possible to marry your dad, Yukio" he settled for answering, frowning when Yukio immediately pouted dejectedly.
"But today, Kana said her mom got married and that's what you do when you want to be with someone forever. I can be with dad forever right?"
"Well, umm…" Naruto struggled for words, panicking slightly when Yukio looked ready to cry.
"You can't marry someone you're related to" Sasuke commented, having finished up in the bathroom apparently, sleeves still rolled up on the business shirt he hadn't bothered changing out of after coming home earlier that evening. "You could say that, well, you can't marry someone that's already family, you marry so the person becomes your family."
There was a moment of silence, during which Naruto really tried not to let his face heat up to a million degrees. When Sasuke went for cheesy, he really went for fuck-with-your-emotions-cheesy.
"Which is why," he continued as he sat down with them, pushing Naruto's legs off so he could fit but allowing the blond to put them right back over his lap, "you shouldn't speak lightly of marriage."
Turning around somehow while still on top of Naruto, causing a few pained grunts, Yukio tilted his head curiously as his face scrunched up in deep thought.
"Yukio your feet are in my face" Naruto complained, but was blatantly ignored.
"So are you married to mom?"
Sasuke sent Naruto a look, and he couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Sasuke and Karin as a married couple.
"Shut up Naruto" Sasuke hissed, then turned back to Yukio. "Well, no, but we're still family because we have you okay? You don't always have to get married to become family."
"I don't get it…"
Yukio now rose to his knees and hands and crawled over Naruto's legs to sit half on Sasuke's lap, half on Naruto's poor legs.
"Yeah well, you kinda, umm, get married when you're in love with someone. Like your boyfriend or girlfriend" Naruto explained.
He refused to look at Sasuke this time, feeling his cheeks heat up again, both of them most likely thinking oh god, waiting for the inevitable question.
"Okay. So when you're boyfriends you're married?"
Naruto almost wanted to groan in frustration at the complete innocence the kid showed. Glancing at Sasuke he saw he wasn't much better off. You'd think the concept of marriage would be simple to explain, but no.
"When you're married you're husbands. Or husband and wife or wife and wife or whatever. It's something you usually do when you've been together for a long time."
Yukio stared at Naruto, mulling over his explanation in his head.
"Like a month? A month is a looong time."
Sasuke chuckled, and Naruto couldn't help but smile too.
"More than a month" Sasuke said, lifting Yukio up and turning him to face the screen instead, most likely hoping he'd get distracted. "Some people wait twenty years before they do it."
"Huh" Yukio said, leaning back against Sasuke and sounding as if the subject was now boring, and apparently it was because soon he forgot all about it, all attention on the TV.
Following suit Naruto tried not to let his mind wander as Sasuke's fingers played with the hem of his pant leg, sneaking underneath it to brush over skin. He'd been home for the better part of a month now, wondering just how the time passed so quickly. A month was a long time, huh? He eyed Sasuke, the other man also occupied with the kids' show. He seemed relaxed enough, but Naruto knew things were pretty tense for him right now. It was only a few days until Gaara and his colleagues would make the move on Uchiha Corp, and Sasuke was worried not so much over whether or not things would go according to plan, but rather how bothersome the sudden jump into the spotlight they were taking would be.
No matter what they'd have to lay low for a while, and once Sasuke's time at the company was over they would hightail it out of there and head for the summer house. Luckily Neji had been fine with keeping things silent about Yukio and Sasuke's relation, and so the kid should be fine. They would have brought him with them, but he still had school for a couple of weeks.
That is to say, Sasuke was more than a little pissed about his brother forcing him to leave the area, letting the older Uchiha deal with the incoming storm. Sure, it was only for the beginning of it; there was still a long time until things could be taken to court. The whole thing with selling the company had already made the headlines though.
Naruto didn't understand all the details; Itachi had tried to explain but he just felt like he was going to get a headache. There were so many aspects and maybes and it wasn't even sure they could find enough evidence to get those board members in jail. He just hoped nothing bad would happen.
Later, as he lay in bed with arms crossed behind his head and eyes trained on Sasuke taking off his pants and changing into an old t-shirt, he somehow found it hard to keep worrying. Just seeing Sasuke doing something so trivial and familiar, it was starting to sink in that this was really how the future was going to be. Them, together. It wasn't how he'd dreamt things would go when he grew up, but this reality was much better than a dream. And then there was Yukio, and Naruto hadn't really prepared to take on a sort of parental role at the age of 21 but hey, being a responsible adult wasn't as boring as it sometimes seemed. Although, he suppose d Sasuke would have to count as the more responsible one.
"What's gotten you all quiet?" Sasuke asked, sinking down next to him on the mattress and settling in underneath the covers.
Instead of answering Naruto rolled over, burying his nose in Sasuke's neck and hugging him tight, arms squeezed in between Sasuke's back and the bed. He smiled as pale hands moved to comb through his hair, scratching lightly and causing a small shiver of comfort to run down his spine.
"Just thinking of you" he mumbled, eyes closed and body relaxed.
"I'm right here you know" Sasuke pointed out, tugging a little at a strand of hair.
"Mm, I know…"
"Hn. I was getting worried there for a while."
Naruto rose up on his forearms, looking down at his boyfriend with a grin on his face.
"You know what else I know?" Lowering his voice he sank down closer to Sasuke again, mouths brushing teasingly. "I know someone has got a little bit of pent up frustration that needs to be taken cared of."
"Are you talking about yourself now? Because I'm feeling perfectly fine here."
Naruto made a disagreeing noise, fingers now moving to twist in dark locks and tilt Sasuke's head backwards.
"You don't even sound convincing to yourself" he snorted and pecked Sasuke's lips quickly before leaning to the side, mouth eagerly latching on to the neck presented to him.
"If you leave marks this time I swear I'll sleep on the couch for a week."
"Sounds cozy, I'll join you."
Sasuke groaned at Naruto's cheerful promise, but didn't protest further as his throat was lovingly sucked, bitten and licked for what felt like forever. He spent the time tracing patterns on the bare skin of Naruto's back, a little out of breath and quite a lot aroused when the blond decided he was satisfied.
"I want you badly, Sasuke" Naruto whispered hoarsely into his ear, sliding his body on top of him, grinding slowly up and down while holding his gaze. "I just wish I could make you scream too."
"You can do that soon enough, I think you need to learn some patience." Sasuke smirked, fingers dragging up Naruto's back and over his shoulders, legs shifting to bend his knees up against Naruto's sides. "For now, just make it really annoying for me to hold back."
Naruto's response to the challenge was a full-blown lecherous grin, and it wasn't long before he was moving inside Sasuke, on their hands and knees and panting in synch. Sasuke had gripped one of his hands tightly, fingers intertwined, pressing into the mattress. Sasuke's other hand was busy getting bitten to keep the sounds from escaping his mouth too loudly, and Naruto used his free one to caress the pale body underneath him; thigh and stomach and chest, all of it tense and shivering in pleasure.
"Can I just do this forever" Naruto groaned into Sasuke's neck, kissing it hard, squeezing the hand in his even tighter. "If I could make love to you all the time…"
"Mm" Sasuke agreed, releasing another moan, Naruto thrusting slowly but deep, hitting all the right places.
Later, as they rode out their orgasms, Naruto hugged Sasuke to his chest and mumbled into his ear.
"Hey, Sasuke? You'll stay with me forever, right?"
Turning around Sasuke smiled, tiredly, perfectly; humming when Naruto felt compelled to kiss his breath away before letting him answer.
"Of course, someone has to take care of you" Sasuke teased, forcing an amused snort out of the blond.
"You are such a bastard" he sighed against his cheek, pressing his nose into it and making a smooching noise when his mouth joined in. "But I love you so much."
Raising his head, he stared into Sasuke's eyes, their color darker than usual in the glowing light from the bedside lamp. When pale fingers brushed some hair behind his ear his face broke out in a large smile, and he let his body fall down on Sasuke's, relishing in too sweaty too warm, amazing all the same.
"I love you too."
~Line breaker~
When Sasuke walked into Itachi's office on Friday morning, their last day at the job, it was to find him deep in conversation with Gaara.
"Hello little brother, come on in" Itachi told him cheerfully, and with narrowed eyes Sasuke did as told.
"You two look a little too relaxed" he said, sitting down in a chair next to the red-haired policeman. "Shouldn't you be preparing or something?"
Gaara snorted, giving Itachi some kind of look he didn't like at all. Something about him being young and innocent, probably.
"Really Sasuke, what do you think is going to happen? On Monday we'll hand in the lawsuit to the court and they'll notify those it concerns."
"That's it?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow. "I mean sure, I studied some law in university but aren't you going to arrest them or something?"
"Well, I'll leave that up to the lawyer handling the case" Gaara answered with a shrug, Itachi shaking his head slowly at him.
"You sure know how to annoy my brother" he said, gesturing towards the now fuming younger Uchiha.
With a frown Sasuke put one hand on the desk, fingers pressing into the surface.
"Ignoring my brother, just what do you mean 'leave it to the lawyer handling the case'?"
"Sasuke" Gaara said with a deadpan look on his face, "I'm not a lawyer. This is clearly the kind of case where you need lawyers. Besides, a little tax evasion is hardly a big enough case that it lands on my table."
Gritting his teeth Sasuke glanced at Itachi, who also seemed perfectly calm.
"Don't worry Sasuke, our lawyer is good enough. Though I'm sure Gaara is flattered to know what you think of his job."
"Be nice" Gaara murmured, but he failed to keep his expression completely serious.
"You guys are terrible" Sasuke muttered, slumping in his chair.
"No, really Sasuke," Gaara started with a sigh, "It's not that I don't care, but I really can't do anything about it at this point. We should be happy they're accepting the case even with the questionable way we found the evidence. Oh, and if someone asks, it was found by accident."
"On the bright side," Itachi interrupted before Sasuke could make an angry retort, "It means that the whole company will go through a thorough search for any other strange financial deals, so chances are we can get some clues as to what exactly the cooperation with Akatsuki looked like."
"Hn" was all Sasuke answered to that.
"Sasuke, if you think things are going slow, may I remind you that this case has been off and on for the past twenty years or so? We're a lot closer to the truth now than just a year ago though, so if anything, we're celebrating a little."
Eyeing Gaara with suspicion, Sasuke decided to stay silent.
"It's a shame though if things turn out the way we're guessing, and those board members really have been working with Akatsuki. At the most, now all they'll get is two years in jail and then they'll come out fairly pissed."
"You really think they're the ones telling Akatsuki what to do?"
Gaara shrugged again.
"As good as my guesses usually are, your brother mentioned last time that this is just hypothetical. I'm fairly sure at some point, their involvement was pretty big, but things have changed and only a few of them are left from back then."
"But, didn't you ask me, I mean when you wanted to search mother's house, if I wanted to give those board members what they deserved? I feel a little cheated."
Itachi chuckled at that, hurriedly catching himself at the glare directed towards him, so he settled for an amused smile.
"I was wondering how you made him agree to help you, I guess it makes sense."
"I was thinking of connecting them to the death of Naruto's parents, but I suppose I'll have to put those charges on hold for a while. We need a lot more info than I thought; the whole 'the more answers you get the more questions you find' or something like that" Gaara answered, ignoring Itachi as well.
"What answers and what questions?" Sasuke asked, disappointed when Gaara shook his head.
"I'm afraid that's confidential information" Gaara said, "I can't spread things around, even though I don't think you'd tell anyone."
"Liar, you're just following orders from Itachi to not tell me anything."
"It's not like that" Gaara disagreed.
"He's got you wrapped around his little finger, it's obvious."
When lightning started to crackle in the air between them Itachi decided to step in, clearing his throat discreetly.
"I'm right here, you know" he said, successfully making the both of them calm down.
"Tell your brother to stop acting like the brat he is" Gaara complained, which had Sasuke slamming his hand against the table again.
"What?! As if you're that much older than me anyway!"
"I'm 34, brat, so don't even think of putting us on the same level."
Feeling rather helpless, Itachi wondered just what Sasuke had said to upset Gaara this uncharacteristically much. Sasuke's open-mouthed surprise was a sight on its own though, and he sighed as he stood up and walked around his desk, putting one hand on Gaara's shoulder.
"It's one thing you like to play with danger, but I really think we should stop before someone gets hurt."
"How the hell is he older than you?!" Sasuke demanded, looking between them as if trying to read their age on their faces. "How is he older than you?"
There was a tick in Itachi's left eye, and Gaara could feel his hand clench slightly around his shoulder.
"Are you saying I look old, little brother?" Itachi asked, and Sasuke immediately snapped his mouth shut and crossed his arms with a defiant look in his eyes.
"I was just wondering" he muttered.
They were silent for a few seconds, but then Gaara stood up, Itachi's hand falling off.
"Well, I suppose my lunch break is over, and I have a feeling they've missed me at the office."
Sasuke ignored them as they said their goodbyes, not particularly interested in when they would see each other next. Instead, his eyes fell onto the desk, the old mahogany looking innocently back at him.
"It's strange," he thought out loud, Itachi moving back to sit in his chair, "To think that I never have to come into this office again. I always hated it so much when father called us here."
"I know. You always looked like a wandering rain cloud on your way out."
Looking up, Sasuke was met with a gentle smile, and he let out a slow breath.
"In some ways I'm really happy we're leaving this behind, but in other ways I just keep thinking of what he would have said if he knew."
"Yes, well, the dead can't speak." They stared at each other for a few seconds, Sasuke doubting and Itachi firm. "Don't feel bad for his sake, Sasuke. We'll start our own lives now, okay?"
Sasuke nodded, hesitant at first but then with determination.
"Yeah. Let's do this."
With another smile from Itachi he got up, both of them ready to do their last few hours of work in preparation for the takeover before heading for their goodbye party later in the evening.
The only regret Sasuke had, was that he hadn't managed to stop his secretary from stealing his pen for signatures. He kind of liked that pen.
~Line breaker~
"Naruto!"
"What?"
Sasuke leaned back on his heels, sitting in front of one of the numerous boxes filling their apartment since yesterday.
"If you don't come here and pick what shoes you want to bring I'll just do it for you!"
"Bastard, I'm trying to organize my shirts okay?" Naruto said as he entered the closet, having dragged all his clothes outside to make packing easier. "And it's not like I even have many shoes."
Without a word Sasuke swept his arm over the pile of shoes, Naruto's eyes widening.
"When did I ever get that many shoes? Have you been buying them in secret?" he accused, crossing his arms as he stepped closer to inspect them. "I've definitely never seen that green pair before."
"Well, those I bought yesterday with Itachi" Sasuke confessed.
Naruto hadn't joined them, instead helping Karin set things up for Yukio's birthday party that was going to be held later that day. The child had been so excited over the dragon candy bags and dragon party hats and dragon everything, and Naruto was worried he'd faint at seeing his specially ordered dragon cake.
"Fine fine, I'll try them on" Naruto conceded at the demanding look from Sasuke, taking them from his outstretched hold.
Once he'd put them on he walked around a little, testing to stand on his tiptoes and running in one place. When he caught Sasuke's too amused smirk he pouted, walking over to him and poking him in the chest with one foot.
"What's so funny?"
"You're funny."
"Well you're not."
Sasuke smirk widened, and when Naruto raised his foot to poke him again he grabbed a hold of his heel and pulled him forwards, the blond protesting loudly and desperately jumping on one foot so he wouldn't fall.
"You're supposed to fall moron" Sasuke complained, finally managing to tug him down so he landed on his butt.
"Oww Sasuke that hurt!"
Waving Naruto's sad look off, he crawled over to grab the orange t-shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.
"Don't think I'll forgive you just because you kissed me" Naruto muttered, and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"I bought you shoes too."
"I never said I wanted them."
Sasuke eyed the shoes, then looked back up at his boyfriend.
"You love them, admit it."
"I love you" Naruto tried, but Sasuke merely huffed and kissed him again.
"Now, sort through your shoes so we can get started on the kitchen."
"What about my shirts?"
Sasuke sighed heavily, getting up on his feet.
"Maybe if someone hadn't insisted we spend the night playing video games we wouldn't be in such a hurry."
Naruto grinned innocently.
"You had fun and you can't deny it!"
Shaking his head Sasuke walked out of the small room, determined to sort through Naruto's shirts. Since his apartment was company owned, they'd decided to move rather than buy it, and spend the time living at the summer house until they found somewhere else to live. It was surprising how much stuff he'd collected over the years, and how much stuff had been added with Naruto and Yukio. Some of it they'd store away, and some they'd bring with them. No point in dragging all his books to the house and back.
As he stood there folding shirts in two piles his thoughts drifted, and somehow he got stuck wondering who would be showing up at the birthday party later. Yukio had already had a party for his classmates together with a girl in class that had been begging him for months apparently, so they'd gone bowling.
When arms snuck around his waist he blinked, tuning back in to reality, Naruto peeking over his shoulder to inspect the piles.
"So is the right one what I'm bringing?"
"Mhm."
"It kinda lacks orange."
"How strange."
Naruto's knee nudged the back of his own, but he didn't seem very upset. Instead he seemed happy just snuggling his face against the side of Sasuke's throat, creating that oh so familiar pleasant buzz in his stomach.
"Who's coming to the party by the way?" Sasuke asked, picking up another shirt and after careful consideration putting it in the left pile.
"Hmm, who knows? I think besides us, it's a few neighbor kids that didn't go bowling, also Kakashi and Obito might show up."
"Really?"
"Yeah, god knows how you managed it but apparently Obito and Karin are sort of buddies now. I bet she just thinks of him as a potential extra baby sitter though, the sneaky little bitch."
"You're always so nice to your cousin."
"Well it's her own fault! Do you even know what she did to me yesterday? I was used as a slave, that sort of thing has to be illegal!"
"Hn, right. What about her parents?"
Naruto became quiet, leaning his chin on Sasuke's shoulder, not speaking during the folding of four shirts.
"I don't know… Well, her dad bailed on them when she was maybe four? I can't remember, but yeah she never liked her step-dad and then there was the whole thing with them being mad that she kept Yukio, so who knows what their relationship is now. She doesn't really talk about it."
Sasuke frowned, remembering the picture he'd seen on her fridge that he'd guessed to be her parents. He could have been wrong though, but who else would they be?
"It's kinda weird, my dad only mentioned my mom's brother once in his diaries. You'd think he'd be a little more important."
"What did it say about him?"
"Hmm. Just that Karin was born, I guess. Maybe they weren't on good terms back then."
"I wonder if my father ever did something like writing a diary… He and mother are related, if you didn't know."
"Eh, really?"
"Yeah, it's pretty distant, but the Uchiha family is big. He was from the main family but she had the money, I guess. It was her dad starting the company, that's why she's so angry right now that we're selling."
Sasuke sighed, and Naruto squeezed him for a moment.
"It's ok, just don't think about it. I'm sure she'll come around eventually."
Sasuke grunted, folding another t-shirt.
"On her death bed maybe" he said, trying to shake off the bad feeling he had.
"Hey" Naruto said, leaning forwards so their eyes could meet. "Just don't think about it, okay?"
Sasuke paused, shirt in one hand hovering over the right pile. Then he smiled, bumping noses with Naruto.
"Yeah, okay."
And somehow, it was okay. Not just today, but tomorrow as well.
"I'm right here, you know" Naruto murmured, smiling back at him.
Dropping the shirt Sasuke placed his hands over Naruto's arms, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I know" he said, "I know."
Aah I don't know what it is and I'm really sorry, but I just can't motivate myself to write smut right now. I wanted to write something longer, but I guess we'll have to be happy there's an update at all. Who knows when I'll have time to write again? Exams are coming up... ugh. Anyway, perhaps I'll start the sequel before ending this heh but it's fine because no spoilers that aren't already in here... If there's anything you want to request now is your chance because the sequel has a strict plot... Well the side stories will have a little of anything I guessX) OK gotta sleep now, goodnight!
