CHAPTER EIGHT : When Petals Fall, Come Find Me

Naruto knows that Sasuke is in bloom.

Knows that Sasuke is safe with his faerie people?

Faerie tribe?

Uhh?

Sure, whatever.

But Naruto was still worried.

It has gotten to a point where he couldn't shake it off.

It has been 4 days since he's seen Sasuke, and 3 days since he had his encounter with the blond prick, D.

After he left, he immediately wanted to go back the following day, but he relented. It made no sense to go back, but he wanted to. Oh God, he really wanted to. His body felt a bit out of sorts without Sasuke in his peripheral, or sitting in front of him. It was like his body was going through withdrawals or some shit.

He knows that even if he went back, he wouldn't get to see Sasuke. And if he was lucky,(or unlucky if you consider the situation) he would probably only get to see that prick, D again. Which he was willing to take, if it meant him getting even just a whiff of Sasuke.

Again... Sasuke withdrawals are a bitch.

He wanted to know more, but he didn't want to know more. He wanted Sasuke to tell him these things, but he didn't want to wait too long. Naruto was stuck in a contradictory loop. He was at a crossroads, and had been fighting with himself for most of the morning.

Naruto was always a man of action. He kept wavering back and forward for most of the day until he was sudden back in that same spot. His car parked, his run down and muddy new balance sneakers hitting the dirt road before meeting green luscious grass.

I just can't stay away.

He gave his pockets a pat, his gift that he had brought for Sasuke inside his sweatpants pocket. He knew that he probably would be meeting with D, and if the guy was still feeling chatty and accommodating maybe would be willing to pass the gift along.

Maybe. Just maybe.

Naruto had hope, and as he made his way through the tree lines, that small sliver of hope vanished.

He was greeted by something else entirely. Something that made him want to turn back around and start back up his car.

"Hello. Are you Naruto?"

~ . ~

Naruto was unlucky.

Really unlucky.

Like, the demon lord has selected him as his new host,unlucky.

He expected D.

He hoped for Sasuke.

But what he got was something else entirely.

A man sat under a tree. His limbs long covered in pale skin, and his hair the same color as Sasuke's but so long that the ends were scrapping across the forest floor.

As soon as Naruto entered, passing through several trees that made up the thick tree line. The man looked up, glanced down at a watch on his wrist before closing the book he had perched on his lap with a resounding(and a bit too dramatic) thump.

"Exactly on time. I'll have to thank Deidara for this." The man said dryly, his tone satisfied but monotone.

His eyes were the same almond shape as Sasuke's and his lashes were long. He had some intense bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't been sleeping for the last year, but besides that one thing, he looked so much like Sasuke it made Naruto halt in his tracks.

This isn't at all how I envisioned I would meet Sasuke's family.

"Hello. Are you Naruto?" The words were casual, and the way the man stayed seated under the tree, looked even more regal. He looked as if he was sitting on a throne and not a patch of grass.

Naruto swallowed loudly at the man's question. It was obvious who this man was, and that alone made Naruto nervous. He tried his best not to show it, as he shoved his sweaty palms into his pants pockets, fingers trailing along the gift, nestled inside the pocket of one, like an anchor.

"I am. You must be Itachi." Naruto responded, making his way closer to the man, his stride slow but strong. He hoped he looked confident, like a man worthy to holding Sasuke's hand... and possibly heart one day.

It was the same as D, or Deidara I should say, the presence the man had was irksome, but also predatory. Naruto could feel this aura around him that felt inhuman.

Sasuke had such an aura too, but was it possible that he never really noticed because Sasuke had been going to their campus for so long. His friend had become a fixture in the classroom, a stable occupant by the large tree in the quad. Is it possible that his aura was just something that they all had grown to be aware of, and not think to speak on or acknowledge.

It's possible.

Plus, no one likes to admit that they were afraid, or that they felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation to someone that never even glanced in their direction.

The man gave a hum, his lips quirking into a small, barely present smile. It seemed the long hair man thought it was friendly, but Naruto saw it as terrifying. He felt like he was going to vomit, or like his life was going to flash before his eyes.

If I die here, please delete my browser history.

Naruto thought as he continued closer slowly. He really hopped that Shikamaru could hear his telepathic pleads.

"Sasuke has been talking about me, I see." The words left the regal man's mouth with a sigh, that was soft and tender. The way he spoke so fondly of Sasuke gave Naruto some reassurance, he could feel himself starting to relax a tiny bit.

Good. We have common ground here.

But as soon as those onyx eyes meet his, he could feel himself stumble back to square one.

Fuck.

"Let's chat."

Naruto felt his knees buckle a bit in the man's presence, but he tried his best to shake it off, hoping that it wasn't noticeable. The man simply starred at him with a blank expression, the same expression that used to piss Naruto off when Sasuke did it.

The man felt a bit ominous, and Naruto felt like prey even though he was at a higher advantage with standing. Something told him that him standing didn't mean a damn thing if it came to a physical fight.

Double fuck.

Taking a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stood before him, Sasuke's older brother. The man had the same eyes as Sasuke, but they looked more infinite, more wise, as if he had lived lifetimes longer than Sasuke.

"Come sit."

'No thanks'was on the tip of his tongue, but he still found himself sitting, after a brief hesitation. He really didn't want to appear rude, so he sat. Not too close, but close enough for them to both be inside of hearing distance from each other.

Itachi offered him tea with an incline of his head, Naruto didn't even notice the steaming cups that were sitting next to the man. Naruto again wanted to decline, but Itachi simply handed him a cup and grabbed his own to take a smooth cleansing sip. Naruto simply held the cup, but he could not get himself to take such a sip.

What if he's trying to kill me?

"I have a dilemma. When I picked Sasuke up this past Saturday. He looked a bit peculiar. Would you care to shed some light?"

'No thanks'again was on the tip of Naruto's tongue.

The way the man spoke was light, dry, and a bit stiff as if he was talking about politics, but Naruto could hear the slight tone of his voice, could hear the warning ringing out as clear as day. We were not talking about politics, we were indeed talking about matters of the heart, which are far more deadly.

"I'm not sure what you mean." Naruto tried to keep his tone light and playful, even throwing in a sheepish laugh, but the sound of his voice cracking a bit at the end made it seem more like he was hiding something and less like it was nothing at all. It's like he put a big ass sign on his forehead that he did something wrong or inappropriate with his little brother Sasuke.

"I'm sure you do."

Yup, he's definitely going to kill me.

Naruto found himself opening and closing his mouth, preparing to come up with excuses, jokes, or simple distractions, but every time his mouth opened to form words, he was met with a gaze. Dark onyx eyes piercing and direct, they were practically shouting at Naruto to'cut the bullshit.'

"Drink. It's not poisoned, I promise." Itachi lips formed a soft smirk, as he took a sip from his cup before turning back to Naruto, who was swallowing down his nervousness, and secretly sniffing the tea.

"Sasuke would kill me if I did."

Naruto found himself barking out a laugh at the statement, the tension melting from his shoulders a bit as he took a small sip. The flavors burst on his tongue, very warm, earthy, but some how sweet. It was perfectly balanced, and one of the best cups of tea he had ever had the pleasure of drinking.

"This is really good tea."

"Hmm." Itachi chimed in as he took another sip before putting down his cup, his fingers folding on his lap as if he was ready to conduct business.

"Now, tell me what happened at this so called"Human party"and do not miss a single detail."

Naruto wanted to correct him by saying, 'first it's just a regular party' but he didn't want to come across as a dick like the blond. He also found himself really wanting Itachi to like him. Because if he liked him, and approved of him, he was one step closer to Sasuke possibly accepting him on a deeper level. Naruto craved something more than what he had.

"Why don't you ask Sasuke?"

"I have, and he always dodges my questions. Plus he's in bloom, and I can't wait. I need answers and I refuse to wait for them any longer. Depending on what you tell me, I will decide if I should actually kill you or not. Deal?"

So Sasuke is either going to kill me for telling him or Itachi is going to kill me if I don't. This is a lose-lose situation. Fucking great.

Naruto's mind was whirling around, not sure how to proceed. He didn't want to betray Sasuke's trust, but he also wanted Itachi to know that everything was okay, and that Sasuke would be treasured, that he was safe with him.

Naruto would never hurt Sasuke, the way he had been previously hurt, and if he could, he would beat up all the people who previously hurt him. Yeah, he would definitely tell all those losers to meet him in the parking lot for sure. No one was allowed to hurt Sasuke and get away with it, not anymore.

So, he told him. He told Itachi everything that happened, start to finish. And all while he spoke, he tried his best to not get too nervous, and to remain calm. It all just spilled out of him like a dam breaking.

He was doing good for a while, Itachi never spoke, only tilting his head slightly, his long hair billowing in the breeze as Naruto's voice drifted between the two men. When he got to the part about the man bumping into Sasuke, it was the first time Itachi interrupted the story, his face looking as if he needed further clarity, as if he couldn't wait for the clarity on his own.

"Did this inferior being apologize?"

"Yes. I made him."

"Good. Continue." Itachi gave a nod, his hands picking back up his tea as he continued listening with vigor. He continued on, them walking through the crowd holding hands. He thought Itachi would get a bit upset about the display, but he never batted an eye.

Was it because holding hands is seen as not a big deal in the faerie society?

Any human big brother would get mad even from holding hands or hugging, and they would definitely getpissyabout a kiss or making out. But Itachi didn't look bothered in the slightest.

Naruto continued on, explaining Kiba and Shikamaru as best as he could. He was also iffy on how they felt about smoking weed or drinking, but again Itachi didn't look concerned in the slightest. He only seemed to want to know about Sasuke directly.

"Did Sasuke drink or smoke anything? Take anything?"

"No."

"Did you?"

"No." Naruto answered quickly, but he was met with a stare from Itachi that seemed to pierce right through to his very soul.

"I took one hit from the bong." Naruto responded after a minute of Itachi waiting for an answer. His fingers scratching at the back of his neck a bit sheepishly as he spoke.

"Fine. Continue."

And he did, he continued on, and anytime he tried to stray a bit or cover up some of the story, Itachi would glare. It was like he had a sixth sense for knowing the truth, and that fact was a bit unnerving.

"This Kiba sounds promiscuous. Very much like a typical faerie."

The information left Itachi lips casually, the tone not at all judgmental but just truthful. He had to continue to remind himself that faeries had different standards when it came to their bodies, sex, and even enjoying themselves. The concept was still not full explained, and he refrained from asking more questions.

"He is, but he is a good guy."

"Hn."

The words flow easily, speaking on the game, and how it proceed. But once he got to himself being blind folded and dumped into the closet, not knowing who was inside, he found himself stuttering, a lot. And that unnerving gaze was once again back on him.

Fuck.

"So you were in the closet, alone, with my brother?"

"Yes."

"You kissed him."

"He kissed me, but yes, I kissed him back."

"You said you could tell it was him. How?"

"The way he smelled, the feel of his hand, and the way he sounded."

"Sounded?" The question was casual, a slight tilt of the head, a brow arching high.

Shit. I can't tell this maniac that Sasuke sounded so good whimpering at my lips.

"Uh- I mean- what I'm trying to say-"

"It's fine."

Naruto almost wiped the sweat from his brow with a 'whew'but he caught himself. His shaking hands, tilting back his cup of tea, gulping it all down like a life line. Naruto could swear he heard a sound, something like a small chuckle, but when he looked back at Itachi, he was only met with that unnerving blank face and piercing eyes.

I must be hallucinating.

"What happened after that?"

He spoke about Sasuke leaving, how he tried to chase after him. How he searched through the night because he was worried about him. How he wanted to see with his own eyes that Sasuke was okay and safe.

"Hm."

That's it. The only response Naruto got, and he was once again greeted with an unnerving silence.

"I think I am beginning to see the true dilemma." Itachi said after some time, his eyes raising up towards the blue sky, just as the sun began to peek through the branches.

"Do you like Sasuke?"

Naruto found himself choking, coughing. He couldn't blame the reaction from the tea, his cup had been empty for some time now.

"Yes."

Naruto didn't know why he expected to be greeted with laughing, maybe mocking, but Itachi wasn't Kiba. He found himself swallowing, stilling himself to meet that onyx gaze head on. He did not want Itachi to think he was even thinking of wavering on his feelings for Sasuke.

"In what way?"

"I like him, more than you can understand. I want to be there for him, to support him in anyway. I want to give him encouragement when he gets too down on himself. I want Sasuke to always know I'm here for him if he needs me. I want to protect him from the bullshit humans and the world when it's too much to bare. I like him, so much that sometimes I can't even speak to form words."

Everything reminded him of Sasuke, and if he ever told someone that, they would probably send him to a physic ward.

Kami, I sounded so lame.

"I like you."

Naruto had to do a double take at the statement, his head snapping up, eyes meeting onyx eyes that seemed to have thawed. Without another word, Itachi stood with so much grace that it looked almost like a dance, his fingers dusted off his clothing which was just a simple pair of soft pants and a loose flow-y button down shirt, that was only closed by one button.

"Naruto?"

"Yes?"

"Don't give up on Sasuke."

"I would never."

Naruto responded, his words dripping with renewed determination.

"Treat him good. More than good."

"I will."

"I will hear otherwise if you don't."

Itachi gave Naruto one of his unnerving smiles, before turning and walking towards another tree line, almost disappearing in the thickets of those trees. He looked like he was casually walking, but the distance he covered was great in such a short amount of time.

Naruto gave a sigh as he watched him leave, before he remembered something. The whole reason he made the track over in the first place.

"Wait! Hey, can you give this to Sasuke?" His hands patting his pocket, fumbling fingers retrieving the little hope he had wrapped up to give to Sasuke. His sneakers hitting the grass and dirt as he jogged to catch up with the man, that just barely turned back around.

"Tch. Damn faeries." Naruto found himself mumbling, but he couldn't get the smile off his lips, even if someone tried to remove it with an all purpose eraser.

His joy, his happiness, his thoughts of Sasuke were unremovable. He wasn't going to stand still, he was going to do what he did best, which was fight.

Believe it.'

~ . ~

Taking a deep breath to breathe in love, Sasuke exhaled all of the pain, the stress, and the anxiety.

He was breathing in love, his love for his friends of soft petals and whisking trees, he was breathing in the love for his family, the few friends in the haven that he has grown to love. He was even breathing in Naruto, just Naruto, and that made a smile reach his lips.

He exhaled all of the fear he felt from that party, all the pain from situations were he was deemed a 'freak' and 'abnormal', he was exhaling all of the baggage and self insecurities out. While he was in bloom, he refused to let them enter his safe space. They all had to be released.

Instead he floated about, he dreamed, he allowed his body to reach the peaks of pleasures, all while singing one particular person's name.

"Naruto"

"Ah~Naruto"

"Mmf Naruto"

It was like a chant, like a song that wove within the trees, as he let himself go, to be free, to bask in the sunny glow that loved to glide along his pale green form and peek through the trees. He didn't hold anything back, he allowed himself to feel and love without restrictions, without care.

In gardens where affection grows,

Each petal a tender tale it shows.

Love, like sunlight, softly flows,

In blooms of pink, affection glows.

Roses whisper sweet in ear,

Lilies listen, love to hear.

With every blossom, draw you near,

In flowers' language, crystal clear.

In every hue, a promise kept,

Through storms and seasons, love has slept.

Now in full bloom, our hearts have leapt,

In gardens of affection, secrets wept.

Author Unknown

Sasuke remembers the day he found this beautiful literature. He remembers sitting across Naruto in the library, his tongue poking out at the corner of his lips as he tried to work through an advanced algebra problem.

Sasuke found his lips moving into a smile as he watched the man work, the sun setting behind his blond hair, making it look like a halo. His hair looked almost golden in this light, and Sasuke wanted to touch those strands to see how soft they were.

It was only there second time hanging out together at the library, but Sasuke felt so...

Relaxed, comfortable, he felt like he was finally himself, like he could be himself, and that alone caused him to smile even brighter. He was so relaxed that he was afraid he would slip into his faerie form.

Blue eyes popped up to catch that smile, but Sasuke's lips shifted to his deadpan quickly, scolding the man to "focus dobe". He was met with a chuckle that made him feel tingles in his chest that wiggled down his spine.

Weird.

Shaking the feeling away, he flipped a couple of pages in the book he had decided to check out when he found it. The words, the flow, it was all so perfect, and it felt like in that moment everything was right in Sasuke's life. The universe was giving him the nod, and at that moment Sasuke actually thought this year was going to be one of the greatest and fulfilling years of his life.

Sigh.

Even though everything is so uncertain. He still felt like this year was going to be the year to shake Sasuke out of his comfort zone and into uncharted territory.

~ . ~

His hands were in grass.

Grass so luscious and so green that it didn't look real.

He watched as his own calloused big hands, glided along the soft blades, fingers intertwining through them like hair.

Naruto saw bright yellow in the corner of his vision, causing him to look around, his eyes straying to all the colors, flowers, all different shapes and sizes glittering along the grass. The same luscious grass that he had just been touching, experiencing.

He could hear birds chirping happily, a few large butterflies fluttering through the air as if they were in paradise.

Have I died and gone to heaven?

The flowers seemed to move, swaying this way and that, as if it was following a breeze but the wind wasn't wiping around, it was calm, it was still. But still the flowers moved, swaying, almost dancing as if it was praising, worshiping something.

"Dobe" The name left lips sweetly, almost reverently. The word chiming into the air making Naruto feel as if he was one with the scenery.

Or worshiping someone.

Naruto thought with a soft smile. Following the dancing petals, lead him to a figure. The figure was a several feet away from him, and the figure was swaying as well.

That's when he heard singing, words leaving lips like chimes, a song that Naruto had never heard before, but it sounded soulful, and it sounded sultry. It sounded like something straight out of his wettest of wet dreams. Naruto found himself swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing as he watched the figure dance, hips moving in slow rhythmic circles to music Naruto couldn't hear.

The birds chirped and song with the figure, long dark onyx strands highlighted with streaks of rich emerald green moved along with the figure. The dance was enchanting, it felt like Naruto was put under some spell. He felt drawn to the figure, like he too needed to sway and worship the figure just like the flowers did, just like the trees shifted.

The voice song words louder, hips moving around in a figure eight that made Naruto feel like he was going to swallow his own tongue. Thighs moving, soft sage skin, very obvious in such bright light. The sun seemed to glide along his skin, caressing it curve by curve.

Naruto found himself licking his lips, his body still swaying and shifting. That's when he noticed that the figure was naked, all soft sweet sage and nothing else, and fingers trailed along the sides of what looked to be soft and luscious skin. Fingers caressing exactly were sun beams were just gliding along.

And here I am just touching grass. Idiot.

Naruto's body moved, he couldn't stay away any longer. He needed to be near him, needed to see all that skin up close and personal.

He felt weak in the legs, and found himself on his hands and knees crawling, moving closer. The need to move closer, to see it all, to feel, to possibly taste.. He needed it like a bird needed to fly or like how plants needed rain.

The figure looked over to him with the sweetest of smiles, the corners lifted a bit in mischief, but the eyes. So dark that they looked black, seemed to glow a rich green, and the way they wrinkled around the cresses, long lashes trimmed along the edges of those almond eyes.

Sigh.

Naruto was met with a wink before the figure turned back around, and that's when he saw it. He was choking on air, he felt like he was meeting his maker. Like he was dying, but he was a-okay with that. If this was the way he was going to die, he would gladly make the sacrifice.

Such a beauty.

"Sasuke, I-"

The words died in his throat as he got closer to the figure. Not a stitch of clothing on him. His rounded flesh, smooth and full. Naruto wanted to take a bite out of one of the globes like it was a peach.

The giggle that left Sasuke was soft, floaty, and made Naruto's head feel like it was going to float away with it. All the blood that left his brain was all traveling down south.

"I know. I know."

The words left the figure in a coo, and Naruto's mouth ran dry. He was so close now. He could smell the sweetness, the soft floral aroma, the scent of Sasuke made his senses tingle, and he didn't want to blink or he was afraid the figure would disappear.

Everything about him is so unreal.

Naruto was greeted with a giggle once more, now he was wondering if he had said the thought out loud, but he was in a trance. He had so much he wanted to touch, lick, savor. So much of Sasuke filled Naruto's eyes, his mind, his eyes bouncing from one part of him to the next. He was pretty sure he looked like a man possessed.

"Come. Touch me."

The words left the being before him with a purr and a demand all wrapped into one. Naruto fingers finally got to feel, skin so soft like a petal. His eyes drawing to the large bloom at the middle of his spine. The petals moved and swayed as if vying for attention, and as Naruto's fingers gleamed the petals seemed to lean toward him as if to say, "pet me more".

Naruto swallowed once again. He never got to see the bloom very well last time, but this time, it was in full view. It wasn't just one large flower like he once thought, but it was one large flower at the center while other smaller flowers clustered around it, forming around it creating an even larger shape. Pieces and patches of moss growing along the spine, puttering out at his lower back were small and unassuming lower back dimples sat right above the globes of a full and toned ass.

"I want to pet you all over." Naruto cooed, his finger gliding down sage skin, from exposed waist, down his hip bone, caressing soft curves.

"I want to worship you." Words left him with a growl, so heated, yet so sweet. Naruto was met with a sound from above, a soft whimper that sounded muffled but pure, innocent. It was the exact sound that always drove him crazy with need. He leaned in, his mouth gliding along the blazing trail his fingers left behind. He smelled even more divine up close and personal, he was dizzy with desire and it was consuming him like a drug.

"Taste you." His tongue licking at the exposed hip bone, his hands landing on the globes of his ass, as he nibbled along pelvic bone down to smooth plump but firm thighs.

"You look like everything I have ever wanted and more." His words were panted, mixing in with soft licks and nibbles along delicate skin.

"Sasuke." Fell from his lips like a chant, over and over as his lips grazed and his tongue gleamed.

Each time the name left his lips his ears were greeted with a soft moan, something rich and heavy, no longer soft. There was a fire burning bright between them, flames licking up the field.

Sasuke turned in his embrace, his lips moving into a gentle sweet smile, something that was tender and raw, and just for Naruto's eyes to see. Sage fingers glided along his hair, his shoulders, ever touch from those fingers felt heavenly, felt as if Naruto was being bestowed a blessing.

"Naruto. I love you."

And he was.

Sasuke Uchiha was a blessing, the greatest gift he could have ever received.

The words were etched with desperation as it left Sasuke, pulling Naruto up to stand. Sasuke's body was hairless and smooth gliding along Naruto's clothes covered body, gliding along him like a vine.

Too many clothes.

Their eyes met, their bodies leaned in, and Naruto's mouth watered at just looking at those lips, he was excited to taste them again. And just as their lips brushed, a sound slammed over him like he had a buckle of arctic cold water dumped on him.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Naruto's eyes snapped open, and was met with his dark boring ceiling. No fields or flowers in sight.

"Fuck."

He mumbled, his arm draping over his eyes, his fist clenching as his cock bobbed a greeting at full fucking mass, waving around as if he was welcoming him to the day.

"I've never heard him sound like that. So seductive and confident." Naruto grunted as his eyes shifted to his phone that was still beeping loudly, fumbling sleep-covered fingers silencing it.

"Fuck it, I'm definitely gonna be late."

His fist wrapped around his leaking cock. He needed this release, and wished it was Sasuke's hand wrapped around him instead of his own.

He didn't imagine pale fingers, instead he imagined soft pretty green digits. Fingers so soft that it made he own calloused bitten off nubs look pathetic in comparison.

~ . ~

Before Sasuke went tothatpark, before he started totryand befriend humans, he was always told stories about how he was a happy child. Bright and lovely like the sun.A very expressive child,my father would add in each time.

Sasuke would hear about how he couldn't pass a stream of water without dipping his hands in with a wiggle, to say 'good morning'to the fishes. He was told all about how he would love to lay in the grass and whisper to the flowers and trees nearby, giggles spill from his little lips.

He hadn't been burned yet, he hadn't grown bitter and cold yet. Sasuke at his purest form was a sight to behold.

"You were so happy, Otōto."

"You were and still are such a blessing. It was a joy to watch you bloom." His mother would say with a smile, her head bowing softly to the earth. The trees would rustle and sway at the gesture, and the hum of approval and happiness Sasuke could feel from them, made him smile.

Sasuke had one distinct memory, he was laying amongst the flowers, giggling and whispering. He could see the trees around him shifting as if they too wanted in on the secret the 4 year old was telling.

He remembers the petals lovingly grazing his cheek, before he was scooped up in his mother's arms. He remembers feeling her face nuzzle into his hair, her breath tickling his ear, as she swayed around in a dance.

"Mother Gaia really loves you." His mother would whisper in his ear, as she continued to dance, singing and humming softly just for him.

He always wondered if that was why he found himself singing or dancing in his private field when he was in bloom.

"Otōto? Are you decent?" A voice called from the trees. Itachi hardly ever came to visit him here, especially while he was in his bloom. The sound of his brother so near by shocked something in Sasuke's system.

"Who cares. Sas, baby, I haven't seen your hot ass in ages. Tell these trees to stop cock block- ow."

"That's what you get." Itachi said with a stern voice, causing Sasuke to laugh. The tension leaving him as he moved toward one of the near by trees.

He called out for them to give him a minute, his fingers fumbling around for his loose tunic that was laid across a nearby branch. It wasn't anything fancy, just fabric that would drape over him to give him a sense of modesty. No faeries ever cared for it, but again, this was just another thing that made him feel a bit different, like he was the black sheep of the haven.

Once he was covered, the back of the tunic completely exposed to allow his sensitive bloom to be out in the open air, he called to the trees informing them that to allow entrance to his guest

"Enter."

"Sheesh, Sas, you got it tighter than Fort Knox up in here." Deidara said with a chuckle, giving one of the protective trees a pat as if to say "great job bro." The tall man wasn't in much clothing.

His chest was bare, and he only wore a small draped fabric like skirt around his hips. His long blonde hair was highlighted with red tips, his eyes less of a blue and more of a warm purple, and his skin was a succulent soft red that was more close to a deep shade of pink. He was the the image of carefree.

"You know my offer still stands though. If you ever need a helping hand-" The man said with a lewd gesture with his hands and mouth. A resoundingsmackechoed through the trees, Itachi's hand hovering in the space Deidara's head was in.

"Oww owww" The man whined, giving Itachi a glare as he rubbed the back of his head.

"If all you're going to do is perv on my brother, I would have just left you at the-"

"Fine. Fine. You Uchiha men are all so serious.Breeze through." Deidara said with a shrug giving Itachi's a playful nudge, his lips in a mischievous grin as he jogged over, plopping down by Sasuke. Instead of wrapping his arms around him to give him a hug like he did with most people, he held out his arms, as if he was allowing Sasuke to decide.

"Just watch the bloom, okay?" Sasuke said with a lean in, letting the arms circle him. Deidara may be considered a nuisance to most of the haven, but Sasuke saw him as one of the few faeries he trusted on a deep level. It wasn't that Sasuke didn't trust his own people, he did, to an extent. He trusted that each faerie will always help and watch each other's back. That was a given.

"Salum."

The trust Sasuke spoke of was different. It was the type of trust that he knewthis person, Deidara,would stand up for him, even against their own kind. His family and Deidara have before, along with one other faerie that was sweet as candy.

I miss her.

"We should get drinks soon." The blond said with a smirk, as he gave Sasuke's shoulders a gentle squeeze. Sasuke nodded, his eyes lifted toward the sun, as a gentle breeze passed him. He had missed them, the three of them were as thick as thieves after...

"Don't think about that."

"How did you-"

"I know you, remember?" Deidara said with a cock of the head, his lips forming a smile that was brighter than any sun. His fingers left him, but were he touched, it felt as if he left a trail of heat in its wake. Deidara has always run hot, hotter than Sasuke, after all he was a fire faerie.

"Can I take a look at your bloom? It's so much brighter this time." The blond man hummed as he spoke, his eyes trailing along the petals that were wiggling around at Sasuke's back. He could feel the petals practically begging to be petted, but the act was always a bit intimate and caused Sasuke's hormonal side to stir. He wanted to avoid starting another wave of heat with his brother and his best friend so close by.

"I promise, I won't touch it." Deidara says with lifted hands in surrender, his lips releasing a chuckle that made Sasuke's shoulders drop, no longer tense and worried. He always seemed to know what to say to Sasuke when his anxiety tried to spike.

Sasuke gave a nod, before turning away from the long haired blond, allowing the man coo at his attention seeking bloom. His eyes met with his brothers, onyx to onyx both glowing a bit of an ominous green.

Itachi sat, fully shifted in his faerie form, his lips in a soft smile as he quietly watched the exchange. He sat in long drape pants and a button down of the same fabric, the shirt not buttoned and open to the sunlight.

"This is for you." Itachi said with a small chuckle, his fingers pulling out a thick wad of paper from the pocket of his pants to pass toward Sasuke.

"Ohhh what is that?" Deidara said over Sasuke's shoulder, his body leaning to the side to get a better view, but making sure he wasn't too close to Sasuke's bloom.

"None of your business."

The paper felt warm in Sasuke's grasp, and the feel of it made his lips lift into a smile. He could smell the faint scent of Naruto along the edges, and if he was alone, he probably would have done something completely insane like give the note a long sniff while rubbing it along his cheeks and face.

"It seems you may know who it is from." Itachi said with a smile that was teasing, causing Sasuke's cheeks to burn a soft red under the sage tint.

"I don't know though!" Deidara watched as the blush crept up Sasuke's skin, and the reaction causing Deidara to cackle loudly, moving to be in between the two brothers.

"Now, I have to know!"

"But how- wait you met him?!" Sasuke couldn't believe that his usually cool, calm, and collected brother met silly, cocky, and sometimes-so-bright-you-need-a-pair-of sunglasses-just-to-look-at- him Naruto. There was just no way.

"Met who?"

"Yes. I'm surprised to say, I actually like him."

"Like who? What's happening? Are you guys just going to keep ignoring me?" Deidara wailed between the two men, his eyes shooting back and forward like a tennis match.

"Yes." Both tones dry and dismissive.

"Now you'retwisting my branches."

Deidara huffed in annoyance giving his tongue a loud click. The wild blonde even pretended to hold one of the flowers in the field'hostage'stating "tell me or little miss sunshine here gets it".

It didn't get the answers he was hoping for. Instead Sasuke glared at Deidara before rolling his eyes, the younger Uchiha couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him.

Hearing the sound leave Sasuke caused his company to warm around him, he could feel how happy it made not only his brother and Deidara but the flowers as well. The atmosphere around them grew warmer and sweeter.

Glancing up in the sky, he found his lips moving, stretching and spreading to an even wider smile. One that put the other two in awe. Taking a deep breath, Sasuke's eyes moved back down, his eyes trailing along the piece of paper thoughtfully.

"How was he?" Sasuke asked softly, a level of vulnerability etched in his words as he chewed on his bottom lip.

"He was fine for a human."

"No I mean,how was he?"

"He seemed okay, just missing you."

The answer caused a reaction in Sasuke that had never happened before. The scent from him and his bloom grew sweeter and heavy, it swirled around in obvious pleasure. Sasuke was grateful that the two other men did not tease him at the reaction. It was something that most faeries can't help, their bodies have always been extremely honest.

Naruto misses me.

"Ahhhh, I know who you guys are talking about now." Deidara said leaning back into the thick grass, his body laying along the forest floor, his hands placed casually behind his head as his hair spilled out around the flowers, blond and red mixing in with all that green.

"I thought you would never catch up." Itachi said dryly causing Deidara to click his tongue in annoyance.

"Shut up asshole."

"Wait- Dei do you-"

"Know your puppy dog? Yes. I was the one who told Itachi. As a pet owner, you really should inform your family, Sasuke." Deidara wagged his finger in Sasuke's direction as if he was giving a lecture about responsibility, but Sasuke was still stuck on the fact that Itachi AND Deidara had met Naruto, behind his back. How was this possible?

"Wait, dog? What do you mean, dog?"

"Admit it, doesn't the blonde remind you of a golden retriever?"

The silence took over the space, it felt as even the flowers were contemplating the thought, and they haven't even met him.

"Hn."

"Yes. Yes he does."

"Case closed. Oh, and for the record. I like him too! He looks strong, I bet he is quite tasty-"

The thump to Deidara's forehead caused his already pink skin to sizzle with a deep red mark causing Deidara to groan, before thumping the younger male back. This resulted in the two thumping and slapping the other on shoulders, elbows, and kneecaps before the older male raised his white flag.

"Ow, ow, okay! I won't talk about your puppy anymore! Jeez!" Deidara exclaimed loudly, laughter spilling between his words, as he found himself running away from a mockingly angry Sasuke.

Sasuke wasn't mad, he could never be upset in this moment. The only thing that this moment was missing was wild blonde hair and whiskered cheeks. Sasuke longed to have Naruto here with him, right in that moment.

Maybe one day?

~ . ~

The petals were starting to fall. Sasuke had tried to hold them. Tried to coax them to stay just a little bit longer.

This was the first time Sasuke had ever wanted his bloom to stay bit longer.

It was a first time for everything.

He thought as he saw them slowly descend towards the forest floor.

One petal, Two petals, now there were too many to count.

Sigh

And just like that I'm thrusted back into reality.

Laying stomach flat across the forest floor, he allowed himself to indulge in the note. Unwrapping the corners of the paper slowly, something slipped out from the center.

Sasuke,

I don't want to hide how I feel. I want to talk. I want to talk about what happened in the closet, about your blooms, and about you. I want to talk about everything. Please allow me to know more. I want to know more about you. I want to know everything there is to know about you and being a faerie. If you let me, that is.

When you feel ready, come find me.

Laying on the ground was a small pack of seeds, flower seeds, a pretty mix of desert roses, zinnias, and hydrangeas. The image was bright and beautiful on the pack. At the bottom of the note he saw in the very corner of the page, something that made his heart flutter.

P.S. These flowers reminded me of your bloom. I hope they make you smile, Sasuke. You deserve more happiness in your world.

Sasuke found himself hugging them close. The sound of paper crinkling mixed with the sound of the rustling of the trees. Taking a deep breath, Sasuke vowed to himself that he wouldtry.

One foot in front of the other, venturing into the unknown.

Come find me.

A/N:

First, I want to say thank you so much for reading! I have been getting so many messages and comments on all of my platforms about how different this is, and I'm glad that people are still as captivated as I am with these two.

Next, I want to speak on the delay this story took. I know its been almost two months since my last update, and I've received messages on why I haven't been updating and if I have a schedule. Everyone has been pretty respectful, so that's a good thing, but I just wanted to clear up some of the confusion.

One, my goal is to have this baby be updated every two weeks. That's the goal, but sometimes life gets in the way and that goal has to be pushed back. Two, I have not shared this with many, but I am currently going through a separation (Leading to divorce) in my marriage. I ask that everyone please give me a bit of patience when it comes to updating. Some days I'm great, others I can't even feed myself, so just... be mindful that writing about love right now can sometimes be a bit tough. (I don't even know if I will keep this note up for long... I feel a bit embarrassed admitting this.)

That does not mean I'm going up on this story. I actually am planning for this to be almost 40 chapters, and its going to be a bit intense after we get past Sasuke's self insecurity and the outside pressures. Right now, I'm building Sasuke and Naruto's relation ship, next I'll be getting very in depth with Sasuke's world as a faerie, and last we get through the trials of the two worlds colliding.

Whew!

Lastly, please comment, like, share, kudos me up! All the love I receive makes me giddy, and I could use some more giddy in my life! I really hope you love this update, I've been tinkering with it for a while to make it like I saw it in my head...Sending everyone so much love wherever you may reside.

Tootles,

Ci Mai

xoxo