Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto. Mehhh.
Yay, I'm back! Florida was nifty... except that 20 people died in their sleep when tornadoes came through their area :sweatdrop: Um, and a new chap of When Sounds Become Visual either tomorrow or Wednesday. Most likely Wednesday, but you can check tomorrow anyway.
Once again, this fic is dedicated to my lovely Xaayp. I love him to bits! If you're reading this, Xaayp, I love you:Huggle:
An old woman passing by a small home hidden behind a few trees looked to her right, the sounds of screaming and yells of promised death coming through the open windows. She tugged lightly on the leash that connected to her fuzzy white poodle, trying to calm the pup down, but it wasn't really working. Quickly scurrying away, she glanced back when another cry of mercy was yanked out of some poor someone in the home.
Inside, Sai plopped down on his dark chocolate sofa, a Heineken in his left hand. He smirked against the mouth of the bottle as Silo, once again, defeated Naruto in a game of Soul Calibur 3. He leaned forward, his deep, brown eyes holding laughter.
"You lose again, Naruto-san," he chuckled.
The blond scowled and selected a new character; Yoshimitsu. Ignoring his friend, he tapped the buttons and rolled around the small joysticks until he was able to pull off an ultimate attack. His cerulean eyes shimmered with hope, but that faded away as soon as the move was blocked by a very small, yet powerful, Talim.
"Dammit!" He cried out, "I'll kill you!" he threatened.
Silo smiled sweetly and innocently (something he picked up from Sai), and pressed three buttons at the same time, making his character send Yoshimitsu flying over the edge.
"You're all talk, Chichiue," the crow chided. Pressing the start button to choose new characters, he smiled cutely once again, making Naruto's eyebrows twitch.
"You've been with Sai too much," he hissed, "I don't think he should watch you anymore."
Quickly, Silo's smile faltered and he pouted, his bright blue eyes big and pleading.
"Ne, Chichiue, you wouldn't stop me from seeing Ro-chan, would you?"
Sai arched two brows, amusedly. He always found the small banters between his best friend and his son quite interesting and humorous. The small boy would bring out his cute looks as his lethal weapon, while the older male would bring out his wits and trademark grin. Then when their childish arguments couldn't come to an end, they would ask Sai his opinion.
Basically, they were saying, "Which one of us is right? Huh?.!"
And no matter how right Silo was in most fights, he always agreed with Naruto. People do things like that when they're in love.
He sighed, "Let's end this now, please," he gave Silo a smile, "how about you and I go to Borders while Naruto-san heads out to work?" he chuckled as Silo immediately shut the Playstation 2 off and started putting on his sneakers.
Naruto blinked, "You're taking him to Borders?" then he frowned, "but I don't have any money to give him right now."
"Don't worry about it, I have it covered, Naruto-san," the other Wal-mart worker got up from his seat and sat his untouched beer on the nook, "just go to work," he smiled again, "and tell Sakura I said hello."
"O-oh, alright, thanks," Naruto grinned and patted his good friend on the shoulder before giving Silo a quick hug, "have fun with Ro-chan," he laughed and stood up, "and Sai!" he started, staring down the other man, "don't spend too much on him, got it? He's a kid, not a woman."
Sai chuckled, "I know that. If he was a woman, I doubt I would like him."
"So true, you fag," he joked, then headed toward the front door, his hand moving to the silvery knob, "now Silo, remember, no yaoi until you're thirteen, got it?"
"Hai," his son chirped, his sneakers finally on.
Naruto pulled open the door and waved to them one last time before heading outside, the chilly air hitting him full force. He wrapped his thick coat tighter around himself and held his head down, keeping the wind from blowing against his face. Running across the small yard, he unlocked his car and practically jumped into it, his teeth chattering.
As the days until Christmas lessened, it seemed like the air got colder and colder. It still hadn't snowed yet, but Naruto knew it would soon. He looked forward to it, though. No work, no driving Silo to school, no nothing. Just hanging with his son around the apartment, playing videogames, talking about girls and guys (specifically, Jack), eating instant ramen and rice, and playing with their cute bunny, Kohi.
Crap, which reminds me. I need to get my ass home and feed Kohi.
Turning the corner as soon as the green arrow appeared, he sped down the vacant roads, only trees and cows around. Sai didn't live in the country like Kiba; he just chose to buy a house in between heifer-loving old people.
xXxXx
Silo ran up and down the manga aisles, searching for the perfect one. He wanted a story with a combination of action, drama, Lolita-ness and sci-fi.
"How about… Vampire Knight? Plenty of girls in skimpy, puffy dresses," Sai commented as he scanned over the cover of the manga. He, himself, didn't find manga that interesting. Really, who in their right mind would read about an orange-clad ninja and his emo buddy named… Sashimi?
The worker shook his head.
"Lemme see!" the small crow plucked the black and white book out of his hand, and read the back of it, his crystal blue eyes revealing curiosity. He then skimmed through it and grinned, making him look a lot like his father, "I want this one, Ro-chan!"
"Do you like vampires? Or do you just like the sexy men in there?" Sai smirked as a blush bloomed on Silo's chubby cheeks, "mmm, the silver-haired man in there looks delicious."
The crow huffed and tried to hide his embarrassed blush by covering his face with his book. His gorgeous eyes moved up to meet amused chocolate ones.
"Ano… you don't really like him, do you?"
"Who?" Sai asked.
"The silver-haired guy…
The older man chuckled, "Of course not, he's fictional."
Silo placed his book on the counter to be paid for, his eyes downcast as the woman rung it up, "Oh, ok…"
"Why?"
Silo looked up again, his brows scrunched together, "You can't like him if you like Chichiue."
Sai's eyes widened a fraction, but he kept himself calm as he paid for the book, taking the bag from the employee. He mumbled a "let's go" to the small child and they walked out through the large double doors.
"What makes you think I like Naruto-san?" they both crossed the parking lot quickly, Sai opening the back door and helping Silo in. He buckled the boy in and made his way up front, shutting the door and starting the car.
"You smile around him a lot," Silo started, "and sometimes, you'll be nervous around him. Just like how I am…" he blushed, "with Jack."
Sai looked back and smiled, "I see. Well… I do love him, but he doesn't feel the same. Naruto-san likes women, not men… and certainly not me," he turned back around and pulled out when no cars were coming in his direction. Going through the yellow light, he turned right and began the drive back to his home.
Looking down at his small hands, Silo spoke, "But Chichiue said that if you love someone a lot… God will allow you be with that person, no matter what."
Sai didn't smile, I don't believe in God.
"How much do you love Chichiue?" Silo asked, looking up.
The worker thought about that for a moment. He had fallen for the blond the moment he met him. Naruto was just a beacon of light in the dreary place he called his life. When his parents had died and he was living alone in a roofless and run-down concrete shed, Naruto had found him and offered him a place to stay. Of course, they were both eight at the time, but god, Sai had though the blond was an angel.
"So much it hurts," he stated after a few moments of silence in the automobile, "but it's still bearable…"
xXxXx
Kohi's little pink nose twitched constantly as Naruto stared at her. She blinked her large, golden eyes and moved a fuzzy, padded foot forward, ready to hop away at any second. But Naruto wasn't going to have that. Nope.
"I fed you and played with you, it's time to go back in your cage," the blond reached down and picked the white bunny up before she could scurry away, "be a good little rabbit while I go to work," he then placed her back in her small home and ran out of the room, grabbing his keys off the counter.
His cell phone rang as he ran out of the home and he answered it.
"Yo, Uzumaki Naruto speaking."
"Oi, Fox Boy, wanna come over to watch the Steelers game later today after you get off of work?" It was Kiba.
Naruto blinked as he got into his car and drove off, "Sure, but how'd you get my number?"
"From Sasuke," the brunette was grinning on the other end.
"Ah, is he going to be there too?"
"Of course, man, he's frickin' bummin' off of me right now."
The blond snickered as he drove past Best Buy, then he went into the left turn lane and sped into the Wal-mart parking lot, finding his favorite space vacant and ready just for him. He grinned and parked while Kiba talked about random things.
"I'll be over right after work. That should be around five," Naruto got out of his car and shut the door, locking it before he ran to the front doors, Sakura outside taking her lunch break.
"Ok, see ya then! I'll have booze and chips!" he then hung up.
Naruto closed his phone and tucked it away, grinning to Sakura as he approached her, "Ohayo, Sakura-chan!"
The pink-haired woman turned to him and smiled, "Naruto! I thought you weren't working today!"
"Ah, I am. I put in for extra hours 'cause I need the cash, you—" he suddenly stopped talking, his mouth open.
Sakura frowned, "Something wrong? Is there something on my face?" she ran her fingers over her left cheek.
"Sh-shit! I forgot my vest!" the fox boy whined.
The girl giggled and tugged hers off, "Here," she handed it to him, "I'm thinking about leaving early, anyway. I have a dentist appointment soon."
"You're a lifesaver, Sakura-chan!" he pulled her into a strong embrace, causing her to go into a coughing fit and kick her legs back in forth as she was lifted into the air.
"P-put me down!" she cried.
Placing her back on solid ground, Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry."
"Yeah," Sakura brushed off her skirt and started walking inside, Naruto following right behind her, "well, have fun working and I'll see you tomorrow morning," she gave him a peck on the cheek before running in to tell Jiraiya of her early leave.
Naruto started shrugging the vest on, but he scowled when he finally got it on, the material fitting snug over his chest. He liked his vest to be baggy, but he guessed that he didn't really have a choice. Stepping into the store, he instantly received stares from females.
"Looking good, Naruto!" one of his frequent customers, Amanda, yelled as her items were being rung up by Ten Ten, "trying to look good so you can get some ass?.!"
Naruto grinned idiotically, "Nah, haven't found anyone good enough for me yet," he joked. Going to his own register, he turned the light on to show he was ready for customers.
Just a few hours of this, then a football game and booze!
xXxXx
Sasuke walked down the gravel path that led from the driveway to the mailbox. Pulling down the small door, he reached in and took hold of the mail, flipping through it until he came upon a letter from his brother. He frowned and wondered how the hell Itachi had gotten a hold of his address.
I should've known he'd find me sooner or later.
Going back inside, he dropped the rest of the mail on the counter and began tearing open his own, pulling out a typed up note. He almost rolled his eyes. His brother never hand wrote him a letter in his entire life, why would he now?
Otouto,
I hope you know that your disappearance from Japan has caused quite a stir. Millions of letters from fans have been mailed to my company, all of them asking where you've suddenly gone off to. How reckless and idiotic of you, leaving right before a television interview. You could have left afterwards. Have I taught you nothing over the years?
Sasuke smirked, practically hearing Itachi's annoyance.
And when you actually arrive in America, you stay with that lowclass friend of yours? Well, you could've paid for a room in a Hilton at the very least. But you were probably afraid of me finding you and dragging you back to Tokyo. Sometimes, I wonder if we're even related at all. Except for our looks and similar scowls, we're completely different.
The raven couldn't agree more.
But that is besides the point. I wouldn't have even written this letter at all if it weren't for that worry wart of a lover Kakashi has. He's been bothering me all morning, telling me to write a letter to you and your manager. Honestly, he has no right to boss me around. I write his checks.
Sasuke saw the childish side of his brother in that paragraph. Also, it was true that Kakashi's lover was a worry wart. It amazed him that despite how much Kakashi and Iruka loved each other, his manager still had the audacity to look at women. He was gay for crying out loud.
He wants Kakashi to know that he misses him and if he comes home smelling the least bit like perfume, he's going to burn his Icha Icha Paradise collection. Now, aside from that, I'm not going to stand by and wait for your return to Japan, so I've scheduled a flight to Maryland this week. Expect to see me soon and don't try to relocate yourself, I'll find you. I always do.
Your beloved Aniki
The raven ripped the paper up and threw it in the trash. He scowled at nothing in particular, then went into the living room, Kakashi seated on the couch watching the news. The silver-haired manager smiled under his mask at the annoyed look on the actor's face.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, sounding like he truly cared.
"My aniki's coming to visit this week," he said angrily.
Kakashi blinked, "How did he find out we were here?"
"You know my brother like the back of your hand, Kakashi, I doubt you don't know," Sasuke sat down beside his manager, watching something about weather in Virginia on T.V.
"Ah, so he sent out the other Akatsuki members," the man seemed utterly amused, "Itachi wastes little time, doesn't he?"
Sasuke grumbled in response, then remembered Iruka's message in the letter, "Iruka mentioned something in the letter, as well."
Kakashi practically beamed, "Is that so? What did my precious Dolphin-chan say?"
"That he'll burn all of your filthy porn books if you return to Japan smelling like women," the actor smirked and crossed his arms, watching the look of horror cross Kakashi's face.
"I-I'm sure he won't," the scarecrow laughed nervously, "it's just an empty threat."
"Hn," Sasuke leaned back and continued to watch the news as Kakashi jumped up from the couch and ran to call his lover. He was about to say something about calling long distance, but he just kept his mouth closed and shrugged. After all, he wasn't the one paying the phone bill.
xXxXx
Kiba finished up his task of feeding his farm animals, the empty bags of grain and hollow barrels of hay being discarded somewhere along the outside of the barn. He clapped his hands together to get rid of the remnants of wheat, then he said his farewells to the only animals that were still awake after finishing their meals; the horses.
Kicking off his muddy boots as he entered the house, he sniffled loudly, attracting the attention of Akamaru. The giant, golden dog leaped off of the top step of the stairs and began running in circles around his owner. The brunette grinned and went into the kitchen, Sasuke standing in front of the washer and dryer in the laundry room that was connected to it.
"I know what you want, buddy," he scratched the top of Akamaru's head with affection, "a delicious steak!"
Sasuke glanced over to him and his lips twitched, "You give him steak for dinner? I'm surprised he hasn't gotten fat and died of a heart attack yet."
Kiba opened up the fridge and pulled out a large plate that held a T-bone steak that was lying in a small pool of juices and blood, "Akamaru loses the wait when he's out in the field with me, Uchiha," he then snorted, "and how the hell can you not notice me feeding him steaks every evening? You're fuckin' oblivious."
The raven snorted and went back to waiting for his laundry to be done. But since he knew it'd take a while and he had nothing better to do, he focused on Kiba's tasks in the kitchen. It wasn't the most interesting of things to watch, but it was better than going into the living room and listening to Kakashi plead for his lover not to burn his porn.
His obsidian eyes followed every movement. From giving Akamaru his meal, to pulling out two containers of wheat beer brewed in the wonderful country of Germany. Wait--
Sasuke raised his eyebrows suspiciously, He only brings out that type of beer when something special is about to happen.
"Is there something you're not sharing with me, Inuzuka?" he asked.
Kiba turned to him and had one brow raised, "Um, my beer? Fuck off. Go find something to do. I dunno, go paint your nails or wash your hair with Pantene."
Sasuke scowled at him and stalked forward, ignoring the annoying buzz of the dryer that was trying to tell the Uchiha that his clothes were done. He narrowed his eyes even further, "I'm a very masculine person," he growled.
Kiba grinned impishly, "Yeah, and I'm Virgin Mary."
"You're no virgin," Sasuke hissed.
"That's right!" Kiba's dark eyes shimmered with amusement, "I'm not, am I? But I know someone who is!"
Kakashi chose that moment to walk in, the cordless phone in his hand. He smiled to them under his mask and put the phone back onto the charger, "My, my, what're you buys up to?" he noticed the deadly looks in both of their gazes and chuckled, "well, Naruto just called and he said he'd be over as soon as he picked up Silo."
"Shit, he's bringin' the kid?" Kiba groaned, "I told him I'd have booze, why the hell would he bring his little brat?"
Sasuke was suddenly yanked out of his foul mood, his lips moving up into a smirk, "The dobe's coming over?"
"We're watching a football game," the brunette walked out of the kitchen, ramming his shoulder against Sasuke as some sort of apology. They were like that, ever since childhood. Constant fights, then constant (and strange) apologies right afterwards.
"Why wasn't I informed of this?" the raven asked, following Kiba out into the dining room.
"Because you were never a football fan, Uchiha. I thought you'd have more fun up in your room watching that audition tape of Naruto moaning like a bitch in heat," the farmer joked, a large smile on his tan face.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes dangerously, "You know I haven't watch the tapes yet, and I have no interest in him at all. Personally, I don't find him that attractive."
Kiba laughed, "Yeah, I agree with you there. Blondes just get tiring after a while, ya know?"
Just as he finished his sentence, the doorbell rang and a very high pitched squeel was heard, then an audible "It's trying to eat my son!" echoed around the wooden house.
Kakashi chuckled and began walking to the front door, "Kiba, I believe Rutherford got out again."
"Damn it," Kiba cursed and flew past Kakashi, yanking open the door to see Silo getting tugged across the porch by a large, grey goat. Naruto was tugging on his son, but the animal wouldn't release its hold, "Let go, Rutherford!" he lifted the goat up and it released the shirt sleeve from its mouth with a loud "Baaaa!", its stubby body wriggling back and forth in Kiba's grip.
Silo looked down at his saliva-covered sleeve and pouted, "Ano, it's all sticky and warm..."
"Sorry about that, Rutherford doesn't like staying in his pen all day. Sometimes, he'll get impatient and just ram his way out," Kiba explained.
Naruto glared at him, "That thing almost ate my son!"
"He just wanted to eat his shirt, Blondie, not him," he rolled his eyes and motioned for him to go in, the fat goat still in his arms, "go take a seat, turn on the T.V., have a beer. I'll be right back."
Mumbling under his breath, Naruto led Silo and himself into the house, Sasuke standing by the couch with his arms crossed, smirk in place. Next to him, Kakashi rooted through a large stack of newspapers, intent on finding a certain one to read in the dining room while the football game was on.
"Hey, Teme," Naruto greeted, his voice husky.
Sasuke snorted and plopped down onto the sofa, "Time and place, Dobe," he patted the seat next to him, throwing Silo a friendly smile. It was so unlike him to do something like that, but he couldn't resist being friendly with the adorable child.
Silo moved away from Naruto and jumped onto the couch, scooting close to Sasuke, "Konnichiwa, Uchiha-san! Ogenki desu ka?" he asked in Japanese.
Sasuke crossed his legs, "Genki desu," he replied.
Shoving Sasuke against the arm of the couch, Naruto sat between them, a grin on his face, "Bring on the booze! And chips!"
Kiba came in, brushing off his hands that were now bare (he'd dropped the gloves on the floor in the hallway), and went into the kitchen, "I'm gettin' it, I'm gettin' it," he grabbed the packs of beer and three bags of chips, bringing them into the living room and sitting them on the wide coffee table in front of the sofa, "but what about Silo?"
"I'll take apple juice!" the little crow chirped, settling himself against the warm cushions of the couch.
Kiba went back into the kitchen and pulled out the juice, "You're lucky, kid, I have just enough for one cup," pouring all of the substance into a bright green, plastic cup, he brought it out and gave it to the child.
"Arigato!" Silo took the drink and gulped down half the cup before Kiba could even reach for the remote to turn the T.V. on.
Naruto leaned back and grinned at Sasuke, winking at him suggestively. Of course, he was only teasing, causing the raven to let out a small laugh while he, himself, broke out into continuous chains of laughter. After Kiba turned on the television, he sat down with them.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Naruto grinned once again as the pre-game came on, thousands of fans in the stands of the stadium cheering and screaming for their teams.
xXxXx
Four hours later, Silo was asleep, curled up on Naruto's lap, his head against the blond's chest. The cup he had his apple juice in was empty and lying on the floor, forgotten. Sasuke and Naruto were just sitting there while the television was off, the gave having been over a good ten minutes ago. Upstairs, Kiba was rummaging around for some clothes to put on since he had to run out to get some toilet paper. Sure, he was a bit drunk, but that never stopped him from driving before.
Naruto ran his fingers through Silo's hair, a small smile on his lips, "Oi, Teme, we should do this more often. It really made Silo happy."
Sasuke grunted in agreement as he got up, "Do you need me to drive you two home?"
"I'm not drunk," Naruto laughed, "but that would be nice. I'll sit in the back with Silo and make sure he doesn't wake up. He needed a nap after running around like a nut with Sai today," he got up and carefully hoisted Silo over his shoulder, the crow unconsciously mumbling.
"Don't hit his head on the door frame," Sasuke smirked and grabbed Kiba's car keys off the counter. That mutt could wait a few minutes while Sasuke dropped Naruto off.
Naruto frowned, "What kind of father would I be if I let that happen?" but he slowly pulled Silo closer to himself as he followed Sasuke outside.
xXxXx
After dropping the two Uzumaki's off, Sasuke came back and immediately went up to his room, ignoring the yells of Kiba who had freaked out when he realized his car was gone. Grabbing the audition tapes, he popped one into the VCR and sat on the bed with the remote, ready to watch them. He really had nothing better to do right now and he needed to watch them, anyway.
Of course, the first tape was of Naruto, the blond's huffy appearance reminding Sasuke of the day it was recorded. First, there was the moan, which had Sasuke chuckling once again. Then, came the part dealing with the drama. The way Naruto's expression shifted from annoyed, to desperate, to utter despair... it made Sasuke's stomach drop and his heart skip a beat. How the blond's eyes looked completely empty and how his brows furrowed together in a way that made himself look like he was about to break... Just those simple actions made Sasuke dump the other videos in the trash.
He might be an idiot in real life, but he's a genius when it comes to acting.
I'll try to get the new chap up soon!