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Sky-eyed Kitsune and Gomi-kun blab & Updates
Sky-eyed Kitsune: Oh my, many of you are going to be angry with me… ::hides under chair::
For those of you just joining the madness now, I have stopped replying to reviewers because I've got so many that it tends to take an hour to do so! X0 But please know that I treasure each review I get, and read them all. In fact when I read them they made me smile in the way that a writer does when they've realized that they have a reason to write! So sincerely, thank you all who take the time and read and review! I will though be answering questions if someone doesn't understand one part of the story or something along those lines. ^^
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Chapter Nineteen: Special Day
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Naruto ran a hand over his face, ascending up to pull strands of blond locks through his fingers. He sat at his desk, pen never stopping in its conversation with its dear friend paper.
Naruto hadn't slept. He had done as much work as he possibly could all the way through the night, and now as Naruto tipped his head up painfully slow to the clock on the wall, a faint blush of pink weaved into the sky outside.
Kyuubi couldn't even watch Naruto suffer anymore; it was worse than he could have imagined.
His cage was becoming extremely rusted and brittle as the seal sucked liquid life from its host. The water around Kyuubi's domain was becoming murky to the point of appearing as thick mud. Kyuubi couldn't even reach Naruto anymore, the blond too weak and without chakra to even form a mental connection with the demon.
Though chaos reigned on the inside, Naruto's outside didn't take as much of a hit. The major differences were Naruto's skin becoming paler, his dissipated appetite, and his tired eyes. Otherwise everything was in order, and Kyuubi was surprised the blond didn't look like a zombie at this point. Then again when he thought of it, the seal destroyed from the inside and not the outside.
Kyuubi knew that all was left was to watch Naruto buckle.
Kyuubi jolted a little as Naruto's body limped forward, his head slamming on the table as he took in slow and deep breaths.
Finally, he was sleeping.
Naruto grimaced as light zeroed in on his eyelids, and as much as he wanted to bury his head in his arms and just get on with sleeping, he still had things to do. The time between now and sunrise was the only window of time that he had left to take care of everything.
Naruto stood, and suddenly looked over to his door as he heard a scratching sound. He furrowed his eyebrows as he walked over to open it, and a fuzz ball came zipping through. He blinked at it, before it skid to a stop and faced him, meowing.
"Toro!" Naruto said happily, leaning down to pet the old cat. "It's been a while, huh?" The cat purred in response and arched its back to Naruto's touch. It looked up at him, blinking fondly, and that's when Naruto noticed the tiny scroll attached to the feline's collar.
Naruto untied it, and Toro let out a loud meow.
"I don't have any treats," Naruto said apologetically. "Besides, don't you think you're fat enough already?"
Naruto rolled his eyes as the cat whipped around, showing its backside to Naruto, before scampering off in a huff.
Naruto shook his head and opened the scroll. He just stared at it for a moment, puzzled, before his brain actually devoured the words hanging there on the little piece of parchment.
Midnight
Konoha Forest.
Naruto pocketed the message just before Tsunade burst through the office door, already buzzed.
Naruto wasn't sure of exactly what to expect from such an inconspicuous note, and now, walking through Konoha's gates, he had run out of possible suspicions.
He looked down, watching his feet rise and fall to embrace the ground again and again, and realized just how much he would miss feeling the earth beneath him. Naruto looked up between the string of trees around him, the stars crowding each other as they filtered light through the openings in the leaves.
Naruto looked around. It was almost eight, and he was in Konoha forest. Was the note just a practical joke?
Naruto blinked several times and stumbled back a little when a bright light buzzed into his face. He just barely caught himself, taking in a breath of air before he saw that his attacked was none other than a firefly.
"Watch where you're flying," Naruto commented, brushing himself off. The firefly hovered in front of him, before weaving ahead between the trees, pausing when Naruto did not follow. Naruto scrunched his eyebrows in a confused manner, but nonetheless followed the tiny hovering spark.
The bug took off at a fast pace, and Naruto ran after so as not to loose it. He ducked under branches and leaves, his sapphire orbs locked onto the fleck of light speeding ahead.
Naruto smirked a little before pivoting off a tree, and clapping the firefly between his cupped hands as he tumbled onto the ground.
He smiled triumphantly at his glowing hands that held the little bug captive, before looking up when another light swam in front of his eyes.
Naruto let his hands go limp, the firefly squeezing its way out of his slack hands to join the hundreds of its kin floating about the air like tiny lanterns.
Naruto stood, drinking in the beauty as the fireflies lit up the trees with tiny stars of their own among the leaves, twinkling in the dim light of the crescent moon above. He closed his eyes, listening as the wind whispered sweet nothings through the air and the crickets sang their lonely lullabies to the flowers.
"I though you would like it."
Naruto jumped at the voice, turning around to find Sasuke smiling at him. Not smirking, but smiling. His eyes were their same pitch black against the sublime light of the fireflies, but Naruto saw the kindness and warmth that buffed them over like an old stone, and turned them soft.
"It took me hours to catch that cat," Sasuke said, and Naruto noticed the numerous scratches up the Uchiha's arms, no doubt an indication of the struggle he went through. It was amazing that his face had been spared.
"How did you know…about Toro?" Naruto asked.
"A grumpy old fox told me," Sasuke said, and Naruto smiled a little. Sasuke felt a shiver of warmth rush through his body at the sight. He was getting Naruto to smile more frequently now, and they were all just for his eyes an nobody else's.
"Want some tea?" Sasuke asked, walking over to a container and bag he had placed under a tree. "It's Jinsing, and it's still hot."
"Thanks," Naruto said as Sasuke fished a cup from the bag and poured him some.
Naruto hummed as he drank from the cup.
"Is it ok?" Sasuke asked, a little hesitant.
"It's perfect," Naruto said, grinning. "Stop acting so weird teme. What's this all about?"
Sasuke took Naruto's wrist in his hand and tugged him forward. Naruto followed, and as they walked Sasuke gently slipped his hand into the blond's.
Naruto felt his cheeks heat at Sasuke's touch, but smiled shyly as he intertwined his finger's with Sasuke's.
Sasuke was startled a little as his fingers were caressed and taken captive, but let the warmth of Naruto's hand flow through his and into his body's. Sasuke knew this was a sign. It was Naruto making the move now, almost like he was saying that it was alright now.
Sasuke stopped as they reached the precipice of a cliff, and Naruto felt himself melt as a forest opened up below them, a waterfall parting between the cherry trees and spilling down the cliff rocks into a deep basin that further on trickled down into a river.
The fireflies clung to the trees as they glowed, their reflections dotting the water with golden light
"Amazing," Naruto breathed, looking over at Sasuke, and laughed when a firefly landed on the raven's nose.
Sasuke wiggled his nose, not wanting to swat the bug, and blew air from his nose. It held on fast. He shook his head, but still nothing. Sasuke wiggled his nose again, and then stopped when the inside of It prickled, and he let out a huge sneeze.
Naruto was having a laughing fit, holding his sides as Sasuke glared at the bug still holding on and glowing happily.
"He-here," Naruto said between bouts of calming laughter. "Le-let me."
Naruto cupped his hands over the firefly, and drew it away, his palms now glowing with the light of the creature trapped between them.
Naruto gave one last chuckled as he released the little minx, and Sasuke smiled gently.
"Thanks," Sasuke said, and Naruto shivered as he felt the raven's warm breath billow against the side of his neck, and he realized just how close he was now to Sasuke from removing the firefly.
Naruto turned his head and was eye to eye with Sasuke. They didn't say anything.
The air was thin and silent with the exception of the gentle rush of the water and the orchestra of crickets.
Naruto swallowed thickly, the wind seeming to have whisked all moisture from his throat. Kyuubi couldn't say any words of advice to him anymore—he was alone on this.
All that was left was himself and Sasuke.
Sasuke knew that he would never be satisfied unless Naruto made the move. Then he would know for sure whether or not Naruto really wanted this.
Sasuke took a step forward, their noses an inch away as they now shared breathing space.
Naruto knew that if he did this, it wouldn't be because it was the last time he would ever touch Sasuke again, it would be because he wanted to take that chance of being hurt so much again, because he loved Sasuke so much more.
After a minute of silence and no movement, Sasuke sighed internally.
No, he didn't…Naruto didn't—
Sasuke felt a swift pain in his cheek, and he stumbled back onto the ground in surprise, grunting as he landed hard on his bottom.
"Wh…what!?" Sasuke cried out disbelievingly, holding a hand over his cheek where Naruto had smacked him.
"Sorry," Naruto chuckled, kneeling down to his level. "But you were starting to frown a little, and I want you to look happy right now."
"Wh—" Sasuke was cut off as Naruto pressed his lips against his own without warning, and Sasuke exploded.
…or if he were in one of those cheesy movies he would have. Still, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Naruto was kissing him of his own free will and…and he wasn't dreaming! Oh hell he wasn't dreaming was he?
"I know I'm not a very good kisser," Naruto said, pulling away and scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "But I didn't know that I was so bad as to shock you…"
Sasuke blinked several times.
"Where am I?" he asked.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"
Sasuke rubbed his aching cheek. "Yea sorry, I ju—" Sasuke paused. His cheek hurt. It HURT. You couldn't feel pain in dreams…
"Sasu--!!" Naruto practically had the wind crushed out of him and Sasuke wrapped his arms around him tightly.
"So I'm not sleeping," Sasuke said disbelievingly.
"No, y-you're very awake…" Naruto choked out, taking in a deep breath when Sasuke's hug lessened in intensity. Wait, did Sasuke think this was a dream or something?
Naruto pulled away from Sasuke, smiling genuinely, and pressed his lips against the Uchiha's once more.
This time Sasuke responded, catching the kiss and holding it as he wove one hand into Naruto's golden locks, the other pressing against his back to keep them both as close together as possible.
Naruto grasped the back of Sasuke's shirt tightly, digging his fingers harshly into the fabric with an iron grip. He wouldn't let go, not this time. This moment was theirs and it couldn't be stolen away by any demon or force of nature. This kiss was engraved in their skin, sowed into their minds.
Naruto knew that he would never forget this, even after death.
Sasuke was about to request entrance to Naruto's mouth when it was suddenly granted. They didn't battle for dominance as they fell back onto the grass, Naruto atop Sasuke. They settled in to the gentle, natural rhythm of their tongues sliding over each other in gentle caresses.
Sasuke moved one hand to the edge of Naruto's shirt, sliding up it's smooth surfaced, dipping now and then at the chiseled crevices of the blond's body.
Naruto felt his face grow hot as he groaned into the kiss, Sasuke's touch trailing flames up his skin.
"Naruto," Sasuke breathed as their kiss broke for air, and he kissed along the blond's neck, burying himself under the so desired fragrance that belonged only to Naruto. "I missed you…so…I love you…so much!!"
"Sasuke," Naruto said, and all the wind and emotions were captured from his mouth by Sasuke's as they kissed again. Naruto tightened his grip on Sasuke, and when they parted again, he held the Uchiha as tightly as he possibly could.
"Sasuke…Sasuke…" he choked, gritting his teeth together as he shielded back his tears. Sasuke hugged Naruto tightly back, both of them breathing in each other's essence as they embraced.
"Sasuke…I need to go," Naruto finally said after a long pause, releasing his hold on the raven.
"Why?" Sasuke asked, staring up at Naruto with confusion. "Stay like this…with me, Naruto. Why…"
"I have to go, Sasuke," Naruto said, standing up from the grass. "I'm…" He tightened his fist. "I'm sorry. I have preparations to make."
"For what?" Sasuke asked, standing quickly as well.
Naruto smiled and placed a finger to his lips,
"It's a secret."
Everything was ready.
Every form that could have been filled was, and any work that could have been done was completed. The will was written, and his office was cleared of his things. All that was left for Naruto was to wait until sunrise.
He felt it, the pain of the seal throbbing inside of him, stealing his life energy away from him.
Naruto collapsed into his comfy chair in front of his desk. The room was dark and lifeless- a fitting atmosphere, Naruto thought.
He stood, pulling his Hokage robes around himself tightly, and moved the chair backwards to face the large open window.
Naruto sat back down, closing his eyes and smiling a little as the wind gently embraced him, weaving through his hair like any other day. Then again, it was just any other day. Nothing important was happening, nothing that anyone would remember years from now and feel sad.
It was just another morning in Konoha, just another sunrise. It held no special meaning.
Naruto struggled to release a sigh from his glass body, fatigued to no end. He lowered his eyelids slightly as the first rays of sun spilled through the window and kissed his scarred cheeks.
Naruto turned a little, raising a shaking hand to open a drawer in his desk. He took his headband from within the drawer, and turned back to face the sun. He clutched the headband tightly in his left hand as he slumped slightly in his seat, Hokage robes grazing the floor.
That headband knew Naruto. It had witness everything, knew everything, about the blond. Every secret moment he trained, every night he spent alone, every drop of blood he spilled, it knew. But unlike Naruto, it carried its scratches and battle scars on the outside where there was silver armor to protect it.
Naruto felt his breath winding in and out of every part of him, leaking through his slightly parted lips, never to return to him.
"Konoha…"
Naruto closed his eyes as the sun rose higher and painted his face gold.
"I'm…alright. Because of you, Sasuke…"
Naruto went limp as his body became numb. He opened his eyes a sliver and watched the sun ascend into the sky.
"Thank you Kyuubi-nii…Tsunade…Jirai…a…"
Naruto let his lashes fall as his head fell to the side.
"……..Sasuke…"
Do not panic! It's not over! According to the poll most of you would rather me continue this as one story with many chapters. So there will not be a sequel, and instead, we will keep moving forward with this!
Sky-eyed Kitsune