Disclaimers: Naruto isn't mine. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, angst, & delicious yaoi lemon.
Like Night and Day
Chapter 25
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Naruto and Sai continued to walk through the dense woods, steadily moving away from the villagers so hell-bent on hurting the already tormented blonde. Naruto wasn't thrilled with their current destination, but he was grateful that with every passing moment he was another step further from his hometown. It had never been exactly a happy, warm place for him, but it wasn't always.. well.. this. It just wasn't safe for him to be anywhere near Konohagakure right now. Especially now that everyone wants to fuck me, he thought bitterly- the disgust clear on his face.
Sai noticed the look but kept his thoughts to himself.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was thinking about.
Despite the revulsion coursing through him, Naruto continued to quietly ponder the last several days. He was still struggling to wrap his mind around all of it. He understood that the drugs Orochimaru gave the villagers, that the shit they have been putting in his food for who fucking knows how long, drew out the Nine Tails' pheromones. He knew that it was, as Sai simply put, potent. That it was what had enticed Orochimaru to bring him into his bedroom..
He cringed at the thought but kept going.
It was also the reason the villagers dragged me into that vile warehouse.. and why Sasuke had been so aggressive.
He knew that, but what he still couldn't fathom was what drove Orochimaru to do all of this in the first place. It was no surprise to him that the villagers had resorted to such drastic means to get rid of him, but why would Orochimaru want this to happen? What possible benefit could he get from it? His sudden interest in him just didn't make sense.
And while it was clearly on his mind, and he was definitely curious about the snake's motivation, he had absolutely no desire to actively try to find out. He didn't want to go anywhere near that psycho. Didn't want to give him yet another opportunity to put those repugnant collars on him again.
And yet…
"Sai..? Do we really have to go to Orochimaru's hideout? Maybe we can find someone who knows about this kind of stuff. There has to be someone who can-"
The brunette eyed the blonde. "Naruto, I know that you are worried about being around Orochimaru again, but that is where we will find answers." He noticed the haunted look in his eyes and quickly added, "You don't need to worry. I will keep you safe."
Naruto opened his mouth to speak but his throat clicked, trapping his voice inside. He bit down on his bottom lip and gave a small nod instead.
Sai still struggled with understanding emotions, but Naruto's fear was very apparent. He hated that he was the cause, but he didn't know how to change it. His simple reassurances weren't enough to soothe his tortured mind and frazzled nerves. Not after everything that Naruto had been through. All he could do was be there for the blonde and fight to make sure Orochimaru couldn't get his hands on him again. Naruto was his friend now, after all. His only friend.
And he was desperate to protect him.
Sai took in their surroundings, then glanced up at the darkening sky. "Why don't we set up camp over there" he said, gesturing towards a small clearing to their right.
Naruto nodded without looking and followed as he led the way over. Sai got to work taking out the two sleeping bags he was glad he had thought ahead to pack, while Naruto got started on a fire- happy to have a distraction. Sai wandered off in search of something to eat, and Naruto drew out a kunai and got to work sharpening a few sticks to use as skewers.
As the heat from the flames warmed him and the task at hand calmed him, Naruto's mind wandered. The night closed in, shutting out his troubles, his fears, and in its place recent memories- of smooth moonlit skin, dark penetrating eyes, and long ebony strands around the face of a man he both despised and desired. Someone who constantly filled his mind and his heart- the source of his envy, of pleasure he'd never known and pain he hoped to never know again.
The teme made him feel small and mediocre one moment, then valued and loved the next. He wanted to hate Sasuke. To avoid him the way he had done to him for years. To reject his warmth. But more than that, he wanted to be held by him. He wanted Sasuke by his side. He wanted to see those cold eyes spark for him, wanted to see his usually stoic face come to life. He wanted Sasuke's attention, affection- he wanted all of it. Despite how much of a fucking bastard the guy could be, despite how he had treated him when under the influence of Kyuubi's powerful pheromones and his own pulsing desires, Naruto wanted Sasuke. His comfort, his friendship, and… maybe more.
Maybe…
maybe even love.
"Naruto..?"
The blonde froze. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't heard his approach. Part of him thought it might just be his mind playing tricks on him. I mean, I was just thinking about him. What are the odds that he would actually show up here?
He looked up, expecting to see nothing but growing darkness and flickering flames- and was surprised to find more. "Sasuke..?"
A relieved sigh answered, and he was suddenly in the raven's arms- his name murmured in his hair, a hum low and heavy, like a secret between lovers. Naruto sank into his embrace, too tired to be angry, too afraid of their shared enemy to be afraid of his friend. He just wanted to be comforted, to be held- it was stupid to allow his own walls to keep him from it.
"Are you ok?" Sasuke whispered, his arms still wrapped securely around the blonde, not quite ready to let him go.
"How did you find me?" Naruto murmured against his chest.
"A lot of guessing" Sasuke replied. He paused for a moment, looking for the right words. "Naruto.. I'm so sorry. I know that I've been saying that a lot lately" he swallowed, "probably makes it pretty fucking meaningless at this point.."
Naruto slipped from his arms, which didn't surprise him. Then gently cupped his face, which did. "Sasuke, it's not your fault."
Sasuke covered his hands with his own as he gazed into the blonde's bruised, beautiful, and sincere face. "I don't deserve your excuses, Naruto. I like you." He swallowed. "I want you-"
Naruto blushed.
"-but I shouldn't be treating you like this."
"Sasuke, I appreciate that you have a conscience, it's not always obvious-"
The Uchiha narrowed his eyes.
"-but it really isn't your fault" Naruto continued. "Orochimaru gave the villagers drugs. They've been.. putting it in my food."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Wait- what? Drugs? What the hell are you talking about?"
Naruto quickly explained what the villagers had disclosed, and what Sai had discovered, watching the Uchiha's agitation morph into thick rage. He hadn't really planned on telling Sasuke what happened with the villagers, what Sai had saved him from, but the raven's prying questions made him reveal more than he meant to. Naruto bit his lip nervously as Sasuke paced in front of the fire, his eyes the same red as the heart of the flames.
"That sick fucking snake" he growled.
He knew, Sasuke thought, anger and guilt burning through him. He must have figured out how I feel about Naruto, that he's the reason I went back to Konoha. Does that mean he's doing all of this because I abandoned him to stay close to Naruto? Is he seriously trying to get back at me by getting all of the villagers to try to.. to sexually assault him?
The thought sickened him. He knew that Orochimaru had done plenty of horrible things. He hadn't condoned any of it; he had simply ignored it. After all, he had only joined him to gain more power. He had never felt any respect for the man.
But this..
He didn't know that Orochimaru was capable of something so abhorrent. So…
"So, you found us."
Sasuke was suddenly pulled away from his thoughts and back into the clearing at the sound of someone else's voice. He quickly jerked his head to the side to glare at the approaching teen. "Sai" he spat out, his lips curled, like the name left a bad taste in his mouth.
The brunette came to a stop a couple paces away from the fuming Uchiha and offered a wide smile. "You remember me."
Sasuke's eyes hardened.
"I see" Sai said slowly. "I'm sure Naruto has filled you in then." He glanced at the blonde. "Are you ok with him being here?"
Sasuke grabbed Sai by the collar of his cropped shirt and jerked him close. "What the hell are you implying?"
Dark hollow eyes stared back at him, devoid of emotion, which only heightened Sasuke's. "Does it bother you that I asked him if he was ok? Is that because you know you have hurt him?"
Sasuke's crimson eyes darkened. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Sai tilted his head as he studied the irate raven. "Don't I?"
Naruto could tell that Sasuke was on the verge of losing all control, and that Sai was only making it worse. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed the raven's wrist, giving it a tight squeeze.
Sasuke gritted his teeth as he forced back the urge to shove the blonde away. "I thought you didn't know Sai." he growled. "So why are you trying to protect him?"
"Sasuke, this has nothing to do with him. Sai just wants to help."
"Ughhh!! Why the fuck do you need his help!!?" Sasuke shoved Sai back hard, then spun around and grabbed Naruto's arms, forcing him close.
Blue eyes widened. "Sasuke-"
"Forget him. You have me. You don't need his fucking help."
Naruto clenched his jaw. "Why are you being like this?" he said quietly, reining back his own growing anger. "Sai didn't do anything wrong."
Naruto winced as the grip on his arms tightened. "What is your problem with Sai?" he asked.
"My problem is that you fucking run off with him every chance you get. My problem is that-"
"I helped Naruto when you didn't" Sai cut in.
"SHUT UP!!" Sasuke screamed, sharingan spinning.
"Did I strike a nerve, Sasuke?"
The raven clenched his jaw tight, the promise of a violent death gleaming in his blood-red eyes.
Nervous blues darted between the two, watching the tension grow. "Will you both just-" Naruto ripped his arms free and stepped between them, holding his arms out to force the two hotheads back. "Just fucking cool it, ok? I don't have time to deal with your petty fucking rivalry."
"Rivalry?" Sasuke repeated with a snarl. "What the hell does that mean?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Stop reading into everything I say. It's not like that." He glanced over at the brunette. "Right, Sai?"
Sai's inky black eyes locked onto Naruto's wide uncertain blues. "Naruto is my friend" Sai said softly, his gaze locked on the blonde. "It is only right for me to try to protect him."
Naruto gave him a small smile before looking back at the Uchiha. "See."
Sasuke took a deep breath as he let his sharingan slowly fade.
Satisfied that Sasuke finally had himself under control, Naruto moved back to the fire and dropped down on a log. After a moment of hesitation, his companions did the same- one on either side of him. The tension was thick between them, but he pretended not to notice. An uncomfortable silence soon followed as the three skewered the game that Sai had hunted and skinned. They propped their sticks up in the dirt and proceeded to wait for the meat to cook. They caught each other's eyes a few times but continued to sit in that never-ending silence, the only relief from it the crackling wood and the sizzle of their dinner.
Naruto tried, he really did, but after a while he felt like his head was going to fucking explode if someone didn't say something. "So, tomorrow we're going to another one of Orochimaru's hideouts."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "And why would we do that?" he said, his temper already returning.
"I.. I need to find a way to get these pheromones under control. It's.." he dropped his gaze, "become a problem."
Sasuke turned away. He was very aware that he was one of those problems. "You really think he's just going to give you an antidote?" he asked. "Orochimaru is the one who started all of this in the first place. How do you plan on convincing him to stop it?"
Naruto bit his lip, not sure how to answer that since he had been wondering the same thing. He glanced over at Sai. "Uhh.."
"I have something that Orochimaru will want back" Sai said smoothly. "He won't want to make a deal, but he will."
Sasuke gave him a skeptical look. "And what could you possibly have that would make Orochimaru so compliant?"
"I have the only person he has left."
Naruto looked over at him, surprised. "You mean-"
Sai nodded. "I have Kabuto."
"You really think that bastard will give up Naruto for Kabuto?"
"I do." Sasuke looked like he wanted to comment further, but Sai quickly cut him off. "You've been away for a while, Sasuke. Orochimaru has become a lot closer to Kabuto than he used to be. Quite close, in fact."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean you have Kabuto?" Naruto chimed in. "Where is he?"
Sai turned his attention back to the blonde. "I have many secret rooms in Orochimaru's hideouts. Kabuto is waiting in one of them."
Naruto tugged at long golden locks, wondering how to phrase his next question, but Sasuke beat him to it. "And how are you so sure that he won't escape?"
"Because" Sai gave a wide grin,
"Orochimaru isn't the only one with a set of collars."
~
Author Note:
Thank you for waiting and for returning, my lovely readers.
I'm sorry, I know I've been MIA for a while. But I'm back and my wonderful angst-horse is back too! ;)
"Cinnamon, darling? Are you ready?"
Sinister Sukuna-style horse grin*
"Hehe, Neigh."