Disclaimers: Naruto isn't mine. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, references to suicide/ suicide attempts, sexual content (yaoi of course), & referenced/ depicted child abuse.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Chapter 22: Rings a Bell

"Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word."

-George R.R. Martin

- - -

Naruto couldn't face anyone else. It was likely that that horrible photo had circulated around the school by now, and he couldn't stand the whispers, the judgement, the vile comments at his expense. Even Sasuke had bought into the lies..

It hurt. More than he wanted to admit. He thought that Sasuke would have his back, that he would defend him- protect him. That he would make sure it never happened again. But instead..

He thought about the accusatory look in his eyes, the way he glared down at him as he advanced on him. Like Naruto had betrayed his trust. Like he was someone he didn't even know. Naruto knew that Ino and her followers had made sure that the picture looked real, that it looked like he was enjoying it, but still-

He should know me well enough to know I wouldn't do that. He should have had my back.

At the very least, he should have tried to understand what happened instead of lashing out.

It made Naruto feel so low, so fucking embarrassed. He hated feeling like a victim, but that was the only thing he could say to defend himself. The judgement from his peers wouldn't fade if they knew. Even if they believed him, it would still be there- changed but just as cruel. Some would assume that he was asking for it, that there was something going on between him and Sai. Others would see him as weak, an easy target.

What if it encourages more people to come after me? he thought, fear curdling in his gut.

He couldn't take anymore of this, especially if he was going to have to face it alone.

So, he ran.

Wiping away tears he sprinted through the building, across the school grounds, and down the street. He didn't stop until he was at his front door, and even then was quick to get inside. As soon as he he was in his home, in his safe space, away from prying hateful eyes, he collapsed. His body slid down the door and to the floor, where he threw his head back and sobbed. His voice grew hoarse and still he didn't stop. He gripped his hair in tight fists as an onslaught of memories flashed through his mind- of his mom bashing his head against the mirror, of Sai shoving him against a wall and forcing himself on him. Of a knife slicing into his face over and over as he screamed for mercy. Of a fist flying towards his face, his mom's manic snarl stretching as she hit him over and over and over.

His chest clenched as the images tore through him, and still he couldn't stop the tears from falling.

It had been a long, long time since he felt this way- since he faced so many horrible memories. It was a feeling he hoped to never have again, but apparently that was too much to hope for.

When the tears finally ran dry, he pulled himself to his feet and trudged up the stairs to his bedroom, where he dropped onto his bed. He just wanted to feel safe, but the fear wouldn't stop. He didn't know how to make it stop. He wished Sasuke would try.

No, he told himself. I don't want to see him. I don't want to face that pain again.

So, instead he wrapped his comforter around his small trembling frame and faced his pain alone.

Horribly, utterly

Alone.

- - -

Sasuke wanted to chase after the blonde, to beg for his forgiveness and hold him until the fear faded from those sad blue eyes, but he had a few things he had to take care of first. He just hoped he'd be ok in the meantime.

He stormed out of the bathroom, anger pulsing in his temples and behind his eyes as he searched for a blonde that wasn't either of the ones he cherished, a blonde that he fucking despised and desperately wanted to destroy. He spotted her in the library whispering with a group of girls he had no doubt were part of this scheme, and immediately headed towards them.

When he walked in, he noticed Kiba wandering between the aisles and he altered his course- moving towards him instead.

The brunette eyed him warily as he approached. He was obviously not a fan of the raven but knew better than to set him off. If the rumors about Sasuke were true, only someone with a death wish would even dare. When he met those dark obsidian eyes, he took a quick step back. Sasuke was livid, and it made him anxious to be on the receiving end of it.

"What?" he asked, not knowing what else to say- not daring to say more.

"I need to ask a favor."

"Yeah, pass" he muttered. He moved to go around him, but Sasuke grabbed his arm and stopped him in his tracks.

"It's not for me" he explained, "it's for Naruto."

Kiba looked away. "Yeah.. I saw the picture. Some damn good photoshop.."

Guilt stabbed through the Uchiha. Kiba doesn't even know him, and he sided with him right away.

God.. I really fucked up.

"I need to get the phone that took that picture. If I distract the person who did it, do you think you could take it from them?"

Kiba considered the raven for a moment. He could see the desperation and sincerity in his eyes. He really wants to help him. "Fine" he said, "but I'm only doing this for Naruto. Whatever they did to him is fucked up- so if this stops them, I'll do it."

"They won't touch him again" Sasuke growled, eyes burning.

Kiba nodded. "Alright, who's our target?"

Sasuke gestured over to the group on the other side of the library. "Ino. She's the one who set this up, so I'm pretty sure she has the picture on her phone. I think it's in her purse."

"Ok" Kiba said, "let's do this before I change my mind."

He wandered off to the far side, weaving through bookshelves to keep cover, as Sasuke closed in on his fangirls. He looked pissed, but he guessed they were used to it- he always looked that way. And yet, it never seemed to dissuade them from approaching him every chance they got and staring lustfully at him all the times inbetween. "Women.." he murmured. He just did not understand them at all.

Kiba moved closer, keeping his focus on the books to not draw any attention to himself. He could hear Sasuke asking them if they would help him find a certain novel, and the group was more than eager to jump at his beck and call. They completely forgot about their belongings after they set off after him, their minds utterly consumed by a raven who was very obviously out of reach. It was quite clear to him that Sasuke and Naruto were a couple, which explained why they set Naruto up to look like he was involved with someone else. A pitiful attempt to separate the two.

Kiba waited until they were out of sight before slipping over to their things. He rustled through Ino's purse and found the phone. He clicked the lock screen and saw a picture of her in the middle of a bizarre collage of Sasuke photos that he very obviously did not agree to, as he was turned away in every single one.

"Fucking weird.." he murmured, pocketing the phone. Then he slipped back into the shelves and waited for his accomplice to rejoin him. He could hear Sasuke thanking the naïve trio before heading back his way.

"Did you get it?" he whispered.

Kiba handed it over, watching with amusement as Sasuke looked at the collage. "What the fuck.."

"My thoughts exactly" the brunette agreed.

Anger flashed in the raven's eyes when he realized he didn't know the passcode to open it. "Shit."

Kiba smirked. "How much you want a bet it's your birthday?"

Sasuke typed in 0723 and rolled his eyes as the home screen appeared. "Of course it is."

He went to her photos and found it- the original photo. Naruto's face looked pained in this one, and it was clear that he was trying to push the other guy away.

He tried to tell me.

He fucking tried and I wouldn't listen.

He sent the photo to himself, then went back to the album to see if there was anything else incriminating.

A video.

She had a video on her phone right above the picture. She must have taken a still from the video. Did she record the attack? He felt nauseous just thinking about seeing it, but he knew that he had to. He had to know what Naruto went through- so he could put a stop to it.

So he could try to help save him from it.

Sasuke took a steadying breath, then looked up at Kiba- who looked just as disgusted by the photo, and the idea of someone recording the attack, as he did. "I think it'd be better if you didn't see this" he said quietly. "I don't want to make Naruto feel-"

Kiba held up a hand. "No need to say more. I understand. I'll be wandering around- come find me when you want me to put the phone back."

Sasuke nodded and thanked him for his help. He waited until the brunette was out of sight, swallowed down the revulsion rising in his throat, and pressed play. He kept the volume low, just loud enough so he could hear it.

It was.. horrible.

He felt a wave of rage and despair as he watched his blonde get dragged into a classroom and shoved up against the wall. A light flickered on, and he immediately saw his fear as he struggled to push his attacker away. Tears filled Sasuke's eyes as he watched the guy grab Naruto's wrists and force them against the wall, Naruto's pained screams muffled against someone else's lips.

He wasn't sure he could stomach watching any more of it, but he forced himself to see the rest. He saw Naruto break the fucker's nose, saw him try to escape, saw the guy throw him to the ground. Sasuke bit his lip, forcing back a sob, when the guy grabbed Naruto by the hair.. when he saw the fear in his eyes after they threatened to do worse.

The video ended but he could still see it in his mind, over and over- Naruto's fear, his stifled screams. And his assailant- grabbing him, kissing him, smiling down at his terrified face.

He wasn't sure he could ever unsee it.

Sasuke sent the video to himself, checked that he received it, then deleted the message, along with the video and photo from her phone. He wouldn't let her use that against him anymore than she already had.

He wandered over to Kiba and dropped the phone in his hands. Without a word, the brunette walked away.

Sasuke had two more stops before he could see his blonde. His next destination was the infirmary. He didn't recognize the guy who hurt Naruto, but he was willing to bet that he had gone to the nurse. Based on the amount of blood he'd seen on the video, and his shrieks of pain, Naruto definitely broke his nose.

He deserved a hell of a lot more.

Sasuke stormed out of the library and straight to the nurse's office, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"And now it's my turn."

- - -

Sasuke reported a fake emergency to the nurse who immediately rushed out of her office to the second floor. It wouldn't be long before she realized that there wasn't anyone bleeding out on the floor, but it would buy him some time.

It didn't bother him.

He wouldn't need long.

He scanned the room and saw that only one curtain was drawn. The room was otherwise empty. Perfect. He walked over and yanked the curtain back, startling the patient lying on a cot just behind it.

That's him.

Dark hair, cold hollow eyes, and pale skin. The boy glared over at the Uchiha, irritated that he had caught him off guard, that he had jumped like that. "What the hell, man? Close the damn-"

Without warning, Sasuke punched him across the face, sending him reeling off the cot and onto the hard tiled floor. The guy grunted in pain, but Sasuke wasn't done.

He was no where near done.

He grabbed the guy by the collar, yanking him close, then punched him across the face again. He crashed to the floor and barely had time to cry out before Sasuke's fists rained down again and again. He punched him in his shattered nose and he screamed a blood-curdling scream.

Sasuke didn't even flinch.

He grabbed a fistful of dark hair and jerked his head black, glaring down at his bruised and bloodied face. "If you go near Naruto again, I will fucking kill you."

Tears slipped down the guy's face, the pain making his eyes lose focus. Sasuke twisted his fist, bringing his attention right back to him. "Did you fucking hear me?!" he shouted. "I will fucking end you if you touch him again."

Sasuke loosened his grip and straightened, eyes still locked on his victim. "Nod if you understand."

The guy nodded.

"When you wake back up, you will come clean about everything you did. Everything. If you don't, we will do all of this all over again. Got it?"

Another weak nod.

"Good." Sasuke kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying back against the wall. His head smashed against it and he choked out another cry before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor.

Sasuke turned away, utterly apathetic to his suffering, and headed to his next destination. He would make sure that Naruto never had to see his assailant again.

- - -

His visit to the principal's office went smoother than expected. Of course, it helped that Sasuke was a model student, and the adoptive son of one of their favored teachers. When he showed the video from Ino's phone and the printout of the photoshopped picture, he was quickly reassured that the two would not be attending this school any longer.

Sexual assault was not something they took lightly.

Sasuke asked him to look further into it, knowing that Ino was not alone in this planning, and he agreed to do so.

Satisfied with his response, Sasuke asked him to consider one more thing. "After everything Naruto has gone through, and with the rumors that have been going all over school, I think it would be best if he was given a few mental health days before returning."

The principal thought it over for a moment before finally agreeing. "I will excuse his absence for the rest of the week. I will let his guardian know when I call today, but you can let him know too if you see him."

Sasuke thanked him and left, preparing himself for what comes next.

I need to see him.

Even if he's mad at me. Even if he despises me now and wants nothing to do with me. I have to see him.

I can't let him be alone with this.

His mind made up, Sasuke ran- through the halls, past all of the curious faces, and out of the building. He raced down the street, moving as fast as he could- anxious to get to his blonde.

Hoping, this time, he wouldn't be too late.