CHAPTER TWO : GERMINATION

People thought that hell was flames and torture. They thought that hell was the devil poking and probing you while you whittle away into ash, into nothing but a vague memory. But none of that was hell, Sasuke could tell you exactly what hell is. He could even give you all the unforgiving details.

Hell is your body hot as a scorching desert, needy and wiggling for something that it has no business needing. Hell is being depended on someone you don't even know to take care of you.

Do I even know where he's going?

No. Nope. Nada. He had no clue.

If he was in his right state of mind, he would have never put himself in this predicament. But he wasn't in his right state of mind. His mind somewhere off a cliff into a fiery abyss.

All he can do in this fresh hell is cling to the last little embers of strength to push the need down, to silence the noise that was buzzing around behind his dark damp strands. He licked his lips, his mouth salivating for something that he knows he can't have. He's thirsting for something that he hasn't ever tasted.

"We're almost there."

Sasuke's ears were hot and ringing, his head felt dizzy and swollen like ballon preparing to burst. He had never done this, held himself back from releasing his essence, which he was sure Naruto or any warm bloodied body could smell from miles aways.

"I'm Naruto, by the way." He usually liked silence, liked to be able to feel and think while shifting gradually, but… This voice.

The sound of his voice, the timber, the vibrations of the gentle words did something inside of Sasuke. He felt himself feel the need to lean in the the words, that voice, felt the need to sway like a flower under a soft warm sun.

"N- Naru- hm." Sasuke would berate himself, scold himself for sounding like such an idiot in front of a colleague, but he didn't have the capacity to handle even that task.

"Close enough." He could hear the soft smile in the voice. It didn't sound malicious, or rude, not at all like the voice he expected.

Why is he doing this for me?

Sasuke swayed, his body laying across the seat, his hand gripping his collar, popping the top buttons in his haste. He knew he needed to keep trying, to keep holding back, but the more he tried the more the shift continued. It seemed to be coming in hot, burning fast like a star.

Why is he so nice to me?

He couldn't stop the moan that released from his lips, his back arching towards the heavens. He was sure he was shifting, looking more green than skin. He was sure he was shifting, smelling like a garden after a sweet rain. He was absolutely sure he was shifting, he could no longer hide his erection, or the pants that were pouring out of him like a waterfall.

Sasuke couldn't stop the shift any longer, his eyes taking in the sacrifice in front of him, his eyes slowly raking up and down sun kissed skin. All that skin he wanted to taste. He paused at the impressive bulge in his pants. Sasuke licked his lips, the air tasted thick and sweet like nectar.

Sasuke had never felt like a black widow before, but here he was luring him in. Preparing to have him however he saw fit.

That smell…I can taste it on my tongue.

He was drawing him in. He was drawing him in. He was being drawn in by the shift of strong thighs cradling something big and divine in the driver seat.

A low needy groan escaped his lips, his hands in his hair pulling. Sasuke at that moment felt so tired, so fragile, and so very alone.

He didn't try to hold on to his facade anymore, didn't try to save face. All he could do was try his best to save the person who tried to save him. Slapping the hand away on instinct, all Sasuke could do in mist of the chaos was release a warning.

"Run."

The word was dark and breathless, sounding like a cup of coffee after midnight.

Sasuke didn't look to see if the idiot listened. Sasuke didn't check to see if anyone else was there. All Sasuke could do was bloom, violently. Sharp large petals coming out of his body like a horror movie, before wiggling out at the center of his back between his two shoulder blades.

It usually didn't happen this way, usually it was sweet, came out softly not quite this violently, but holding himself back caused it to spring forward unrelentingly.

Hell looked like blood splatters and pockets of flesh, but smelled like honey suckles and a good time, luring you in with its sweet embrace.

~ . ~

He couldn't look away, he was a mere insect caught by a Venus fly trap. Blue eyes took it in, savored the image as if it would poof before his very eyes, vanishing like smoke. Naruto Uzumaki, was witnessing something that he didn't think was real, didn't even think was possible.

Thick blood splattered along the windows, mostly on Sasuke's side. Naruto continued to look through the window, his vision slightly obscured by red, but he could still see, could make out ever detail.

He watched as something big formed out of Sasuke's back, watched as soft colors moved along the form. Naruto wasn't sure what it was at first, thinking Sasuke was possibly possessed by some weird spirt. Well to be honest, that wasn't completely ruled out.

He felt his fingers fumble with the door, most men would run from danger, run from so much blood and colors, but Naruto wasn't a fan of running away.

He wasn't scared, but he felt his heart pounding loudly in his chest. He wasn't afraid, but he did see that his hands were shaking. He wasn't horrified, but his mouth was open wide, hanging in shock.

"Sasuke?"

He was worried. He was so fucking worried that his body was on autopilot.

"Sasuke? Are you okay?"

For the first time, Naruto felt something that did scare him. He couldn't shake it off, couldn't make it form into logic, couldn't make the situation make sense.

"Can you- Can you take me home? Please." The voice sounded like Sasuke, but at the same time sounded softer than Sasuke, sounded more relaxed than Sasuke's voice ever could.

Please.

The word was ringing and sweet. Not at all like the Sasuke Naruto had come to know.

Please.

"Of course."

The bloody seats didn't scare him, he sat back down. Starting up the car. The abnormal form that seemed to move and wiggle around between Sasuke's shoulder blades didn't scare him. He leaned a little closer to the man in the passenger seat.

The feeling that was rattling around loudly in his chest, the thoughts that were plaguing his mind, those things scared him like a nightmare. That's when he realized that he was really fucking worried, and he wasn't worried about himself.

~ . ~

Windows down, Naruto was driving along a winding road. He wasn't quite familiar with the area, most of it was just thick trees and luscious greenery. Everywhere blue eyes looked, he saw green. Even as his eyes cut to the corner of his vision to check on his passenger, he saw green.

"Can we put the windows back up, it's cold-"

"No."

"No?! This is my car-"

"I know- just… please."

Please. That damn word again.

"Okay."

Sasuke was Sasuke, but at the same time he wasn't. His hair was no longer dark as midnight, but instead a very deep emerald green. His skin was no longer its usual pale alabaster, but instead a pale and very soft sage green. Naruto clenched the wheel, his hands aching with a need to touch, to feel.

The wind was blowing in and out of the car, causing the dark strands to whip around, making Sasuke look quite ethereal, like something from a dream. Naruto's eyes strayed to the form that was looming out of the man's body, his fingers pinched his thigh. Naruto released a soft hiss from the pain.

"Did you just pinch yourself?"

"Uhh… Yeah."

"Weird."

"I don't think you can call anyone weird in this situation, Sasuke."

"Touché." The word was said with a huff, blue eyes taking in the pout that was forming on lips with puffed out cheeks. Naruto couldn't help the laugh that escaped him, the man looked so endearing, more warm and inviting.

When the sound of a laugh that was light like air and tinkering like a sweet bell was released, Naruto found himself pausing to listen, his eyes moving to take it in. Wide smile, wind blown hair, and eyes that seemed to glow a dark but inviting green. The petals along the shoulder blade seemed to dance, the colors even more vibrate than before.

Naruto could tell that Sasuke tried to use his ruined shirt to mask it, but it couldn't cover it all as a whole. Naruto found himself gasping, mesmerized at something that was out of this world. Blue eyes turned back to the road to see that the car had merged completely into the opposite lane. He gripped the wheel harshly, adjusting the car, which of course did not go unnoticed.

"Eyes on the road idiot!"

"This idiot just did you a favor, and this is the thanks I get!" Naruto wasn't looking for a thanks, his cheeks were tinted red in embarrassment. He just needed something to distract the man that sat beside him. Something to distract himself from wanting to look, to explore.

"You just called yourself an idiot." The words were said with a soft chuckle from Sasuke. Naruto's cheeks were no longer the only thing tinted red, the tops of his ears were stained red too.

"Take a right here." Naruto hummed in acknowledgment, grateful for the change of subject. Continuing to follow the path of the road, the trees grew even thicker than before.

"You're not taking me out to the woods to off me are you?"

"Hm. Now there's an interesting thought." Naruto found himself wailing at the statement, causing Sasuke to once again chuckle, before throwing out a "Calm yourself. I was only joking."

"Phew, good. I was worried there for a second."

"Hn. Turn left at the fork in the road." Naruto once again hummed, taking the left. The road was more dirt than gravel, and it was obvious that the road was not traveled on much.

"You live out here?"

"Hn."

He took it for what it was. Not quite an answer, not quite giving the blond's overactive imagination clarity.

"So…"

Naruto was never good at asking questions right, or speaking on things that were delicate to some. He was always teased about how he always have his foot in his mouth, or how he lacked tack.

But for this situation he tried. He really did try.

"What the hell was that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Hm, I don't know- What do you think Sasuke?! What is happening? Why is there some weird thing coming out of your back? What the hell is that? How- I mean, is this-"

"Hey. Breathe." A soft lean hand landed on Naruto's tense shoulders causing him to flinch, but the press of the hand left as soon as it landed. Naruto wanted to lean in to the touch, wanted to feel it again, see what that skin felt like, now that it was a different color. Still light enough to appear as human skin, but different enough to not quite be normal.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"Would it help if I said that this is completely normal for me."

Not quite.

"It helps a little."

Silence. They were struck with their first ever bout of awkward silence. Naruto drummed his fingers along the steering wheel, willing himself to relax.

"I- IIt's called blooming." The words were said softly after a clearing of the throat, Naruto could see the faint blush on Sasuke's cheeks as he spoke.

"Blooming?"

"Yeah. I'm a faerie. An earth faerie to be exact."

The laugh that escaped him started soft as a snicker, and grew uncontainable like a guffaw. He didn't even stop himself to consider how rude the action may have seemed.

"Come on. Faeries aren't real. Next you'll tell me your grandma is a vampire." Wiping away the stray tears from laughter, he took in Sasuke's appearance cautiously. He noticed that the man seemed even more red and embarrassed, his dark eyes straying out into the trees, not at all looking at him.

"If it's not real, explain this then?" Sasuke responded dryly, his brow raised in question causing Naruto to chuckle at the sarcastic tone. Naruto glanced at the petals that are coming out from between his shoulder blades big like flowery wings. He really wanted to take a longer look, wanted to run his palms along the petals.

"They look so soft." He spoke before he could stop himself. He could feel the temperature rising in the wind soaked car, could smell the addictive fragrance growing even sweeter. Naruto realized that his hard on hadn't quite gone down, he was semi hard and leaning in to the scent.

"You can stop here." Sasuke said as the car made its way to the edge of a dense forest, no longer any road to travel through.

Cutting off the car, Naruto realized that he really didn't want the ride to end. He wanted more answers, wanted to hear him laugh some more, wanted to see if the asshole would help him clean out his car.

While in the mist of pondering, Sasuke's hand landed on the handle, preparing to make his great escape.

"Hey. I'm sorry for laughing. I realize now that it was a bit insensitive." He said as he gave a sheepish grin, scratching at his neck.

And he meant it. Naruto wasn't familiar with the concept of what "blooming" was but he could tell that the act made Sasuke feel vulnerable and nervous.

"Hn." Naruto could see the small smile that graced Sasuke's lips. He wanted to see more of that too.

"Hey Sasuke?"

"Yeah."

Silence once again plagued them. Naruto, for the first time in a long time found himself struggling with what to say. He has so much he wants to say, wants to do. He wants to ask can he touch his petals, ask what blooming was for, ask how he was able to shift from human to faerie.

After too long of a pause, Sasuke released a sigh turning in the seat, his feet landing in dirt.

"Don't follow me, and don't tell anyone. Please." Naruto could tell that please was said as an afterthought, as if Sasuke wasn't use to the term or even speaking the word. Naruto would usually get annoyed, thinking the asshole was trying to be sarcastic, but the blond saw it for what it was.

"I won't."

He saw the effort, saw that the man who usually laced his words with ice and his actions with indifference was trying to be… considerate, possibly even nice. Naruto gave the man a smile, a genuine smile, all teeth showing brightly. Sasuke made a soft sound before looking away, the action was a bit foreign to Naruto but he could tell that the man was pleased but still extremely nervous.

I would be too, if I had a giant flower bloom out of my body and had some random person keeping it a secret.

"I'm sorry and thank you." The words were spoken so softly, that Naruto almost missed them, letters carrying through the wind like a whispered coo.

He could hear how genuine they were, could tell that Sasuke felt the need to show his gratitude. It was more than what Naruto thought he would ever get from the usually distant man.

The car door clicked shut, blue eyes watched as the large flower that sat between the man's shoulder blades danced along the greenery before it too was swallowed whole.

"Take care of yourself, Sasuke."

~ . ~

Sharp eyes watched from the shadows of the trees, taking in the man that had saved him. He made sure he saw the man leave, his car stalling a bit before it was able to fully start. Sasuke found himself softly chuckling when he saw the blond idiot hit his steering wheel in annoyance before rubbing it, leaning in as if he was talking to a wounded animal once the vehicle started to move.

"Dobe."

The words left his lips fondly, causing Sasuke to pause. He had never sounded that way before, when he talked about a colleague.

Turning, Sasuke allowed himself to fully relax into his usual appearance. Removing his shoes and socks, he found himself sighing in relief. The connection to the earth, the trees, the flowers, all living things that move about within this forest. It was like a symphony beautifully playing in his ears.

Sasuke walked through the thick trees, his fingers caressing branches, bark, moss, petals and leaves as he moves. Placing his shoes in his bag, he made his way in deeper.

Once he was on the outskirts of his home, he started to remove his clothes, one item at a time. Bloody torn shirt, drenched pants, uncomfortable belt, his body was relaxing even more as he stood bare under the trees and fading sunlight.

Sasuke had always had mixed feels about his home, about his being, about everything that made him Sasuke. He loved the nature, the connection with the earth, but hated the rules and feeling the pressures of not only his haven but from even his genetic makeup.

He knows mentally that he isn't able to control such a thing, but sometimes, when he was alone, laying naked in a field of flowers, he would wish he could be human. Only human.

Shaking the thought away, Sasuke went to a tree with a large opening of bark were he tended to store his items for outside of the haven. All items that were deemed as forbidden to enter such sacred grounds: Cellphone, Laptops, and even some Literature weren't even permitted.

Pulling out his flowing backless white tunic, the fabric was not like the usual fabrics that humans used. It was softer and as light as air. It was the perfect fabric for when faeries go into bloom, due to our sensitive condition.

Sasuke stored his backpack and all his electronic devices in the bark. He gave the tree a soft caress, thanking it for its help and service. He could hear the tree branches sway rhythmically, causing Sasuke to smile giving the rich wood a longer caress before departing.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke centered himself before continuing on, deeper and deeper into the foliage until he was no longer visible. Until he was one with the forest, swaying like flowers in a breeze.

~ . ~

"Sasuke"

For someone who never said his name often prior, he sure was saying his name a lot more. Naruto had found himself in a dilemma. He was always in a dilemma when it came to Sasuke Uchiha.

"Sasuke."

He was laid across his bed, his head on the foot end with his hands in his hair. His fingers glided along the strands, his mind wondering is Sasuke's hair felt soft, wondering what the strands felt like between his pads of his fingers.

"I did what you told me to do. I didn't tell anyone that you.."

The man had been on his mind all week, he kept thinking about the way he looked, the lidded eyes, the long lashes, the heavy brow, the lips open and wet.

Fuck.

Sure, the bastard was handsome, but seeing him in a new light, Naruto was having a hard time letting it go or thinking about anything else but him.

Sasuke, sasuke, sasuke.

The man was on his mind, and he hated that it had started to bleed into his everyday life. When Monday rolled around and Sasuke hadn't come back, Naruto noticed but he didn't say anything.

Maybe he's still sick, he thought.

Tuesday, Sasuke was once again a no show, that's when his mind started to wonder, if this was something that happened often. He couldn't remember, because he never really gave the man a single thought before. He noticed him when he was there, and when he wasn't he didn't give it much thought.

But now he's been giving it a lot of thought.

Wednesday came, and Naruto started to ask around, but no one had seen the man. In fact it seemed like a lot of people didn't even notice until he asked, that the man had been missing from their classes.

Wednesday night he was plagued with the what ifs. What if Sasuke's condition was actually serious and he died. What if Sasuke moved away, now that someone knows. What if he is in actual danger, and I left him there, alone. Damn it, I'm such an idiot!

What if, what if, what if. They all circled around his mind that night, and he didn't get much sleep.

Thursday, the coffee gods saved him, helping him to get out the door at a decent time. That's when he started asking for something new. He asked if anyone had seen him or if anyone had the man's number. The blond was turned down again and again. No one seemed to have his number.

Makes sense, Sasuke is a bit of a recluse.

He tried to seek him out of campus but he hadn't seen the man in question. Naruto was starting to think that maybe, Sasuke Uchiha was a nightmare, a figment of his imagination.

"Why do you keep asking about Sasuke?" His best friend Shika asked as they were walking to their last class of the day. Kiba was trailing behind them even though his class was in a completely different direction.

"Yeah. I thought you hated that dickhead." Kiba chimed in, his face buried in his phone, as he continued to text with whoever was on the opposite end of the screen.

Hated Sasuke? Did he hate Sasuke?

"Speaking of dickheads, shouldn't you be going to class?" Naruto shot back to Kiba before turning to Shika as his best friend gave a big yawn. "And you, get your fucking bong out of my back seat, asshole."

"Sorry, it lives there now." The dry response caused Kiba to cackle. Naruto wasn't going to get any answers from them, he doesn't even know why he was trying so hard.

Maybe he never existed.

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but what was he suppose to think? A man that blooms a giant flower between his shoulder blades, in the middle of his back?

It sure sounded like Naruto was having a psychotic break.

Maybe he's avoiding me.

That thought, was what stemmed Naruto's nightmares that night. He tossed and turned, he kept seeing Sasuke in the corner of his eyes in his dream, but every time he turned to speak or stop the man, he was gone. It got worst when he thought about the way Sasuke's body arched, and how he looked in mid "bloom".

His nightmare went from making him feel like he was nothing to making him feel everything all at one. It was all just too much, so overstimulating that Naruto woke with a gasp to the sunlight streaming through his window. He was definitely late. Flopping back down to his mattress, Naruto gave a groan, his hand landing over his eyes.

"Happy Friday, woo" Naruto said sarcastically giving his finger a little twirl, his eyes still shielded being his hand.

The sounds of blue birds chirping mixed with his panted gasps as he raked his hands through his sweaty hair. He could feel his erection throbbing between his legs, but his mind was in complete disarray.

Naruto came quick, but it was tainted with the thought of Sasuke's scent, bruised with the sounds Sasuke made that day in his car. His lust was laced with the worry that he might never see him again, or worst never be acknowledged by him.

Naruto couldn't even enjoy the high that coming hard usually gave him, all he could do was wait.

I'm waiting for you Sasuke.