I can't tell you how excited I am for this story: I hope you enjoy!
Illusions
July, 1963
The tear-away calendar on the precinct wall read July 3rd, 1963, and as of noon that day, it was officially the hottest Konoha summer on record. The rolling blackouts that plagued the city made repairing the air conditioning an exercise in futility, leaving the stuttering breeze of the ancient oscillating fan as the only relief from the sweltering heat. Strains of "The Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of summer crackled over the radio while Officers Uzumaki and Sarutobi poured over a report and flicked through a magazine, respectively.
"Looks like that Hyūga Princess is at it again," Konohamaru mused aloud, making a show of turning the page while adjusting the cross of his ankles on his desk.
"The who?"
Officer Sarutobi frowned at his partner and his distracted, disinterested response.
"You know the one. The last heir to the Hyūga Dynasty in Japan? Practically royalty? In literally every single magazine and most newspapers on a daily basis?"
"Oh, yeah," Naruto absently pressed his forehead into his rolled shirtsleeve, perspiration beaded on his lip. "The fake."
"Alleged fake," Konohamaru corrected loftily. "Plenty of experts think she is the real deal."
"Not the ones in the fraud department."
"Fraud is such a strong word. Is it so awful to want to believe that one person survived the plane crash that took out the whole family? Would it kill you to be a little hopeful about something?"
Naruto made a dismissive noise that his current partner was certain he'd learned from his previous partner.
"Scoff all you like," Konohamaru shrugged. "As long as you get the report done."
"Fucking coin toss," Naruto grumbled, yanking a form out of his typewriter and scribbling his signature on the bottom. "Done. I'll turn it in on my way out."
"Going to go see Uchiha?"
"Might as well," he stood and stretched. "Bastard managed to find probably the only place in Konoha with air conditioning."
"Yeah," Konohamaru snorted. "He got a deal, too. Usually it costs an arm and a leg."
A second later, his chair was kicked out from under him, and Konohamaru fell straight on his ass. He rubbed his backside ruefully, a retort sharp on his tongue until he met the still-water gaze of the Captain.
"S..Sir!" he stuttered then winced.
"Taking a break, gentlemen?"
"Finishing up," Naruto said, fishing his stapler out of his drawer. He stapled the files, and handed them directly to Kakashi.
"Got any messages for the patient?"
"Yeah," Kakashi tucked the reports under his arm. "Tell him he's got a place here, when he's ready."
"Will do," Naruto nodded, and headed out of the door, without so much as a glance toward his partner.
The Captain's normally lazy gaze was sharp as it wandered over Konohamaru.
"He helped push through your promotion," he nodded to the door that was still swinging from Naruto's exit. "Don't make him regret that decision."
"No, Sir. I mean, yes, Sir. I mean-"
The door swung closed behind Kakashi.
Konohamaru sank into his chair with a heavy sigh, and raked his hands through his hair.
"I mean I'm sorry."
The rush of cool air over his damp skin was of great relief but little comfort to Naruto. He'd never really had a problem with hospitals – but then again, he'd never had to visit so frequently before last month. He nodded to the receptionist at the main desk before following the all-too familiar trail of worn yellow paint to the elevators. He had no recollection of selecting the seventh floor, but he must've done, as that is where he stepped out. He shoved his rolled sleeves farther up his arms and loosened his tie, not even bothering to check if any of the magazines splayed on the waiting room table were any newer than they had been yesterday.
"Officer Uzumaki?"
He stood out of habit before giving a weary smile to the nurse.
"Oh. Hey, Kaori," he gave a half wave and sank back into his seat. "How're you?"
"Fine," she smiled with an understanding he tried not to resent. "Just finished med rounds," she picked up one of the sweating plastic pitchers and filled a disposable cup with ice water.
He took it gratefully as she put the mostly-full pitcher on the small table at his elbow.
"Drop it back by the Nurses' station before you go back," she put a couple of napkins next to the pitcher. He murmured his thanks, and she offered a small smile before pushing the creaking cart around the corner.
He gulped down two cups of water in quick succession before wetting one of the napkins and mopping his brow and the back of his neck. The pitcher was soon drained, and he returned it with a nod and a half-smile before continuing on his way to the restroom. Bladder emptied, hands washed, and face splashed, he made it back to the waiting room just in time for one of the nurses to nod silently to the patient wing behind her.
The soles of his worn shoes made surprisingly little sound in the long, sterile hallway that grew quieter as he neared room 699. He didn't wait for an answer to his cursory knock before letting himself in.
The private suite was a testament to the respect the community had for the Men in Blue, as well as to the influence the name Uchiha still held in certain circles. Never one for flowers, Sasuke had asked that any arrangements sent to him be stripped of cards and anonymously given to patients with no visitors. The basket for cards had been filled and emptied multiple times, and he was in the middle of reading through the latest batch when Naruto entered the room.
"More admirers?" he asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Hn."
"Looks like Ino will be able to go on that expensive vacation she's been thinking about for the last couple of years."
"Looks like she'll be able to take five of her closest friends," he snorted, tossing in another card.
"You hear from Itachi?"
"He sends his love," he said dryly. "Said it will be in the form of bourbon in five to six weeks."
"Is that when they are clearing you to drink?"
"Projected adjustment to the prosthetic."
Naruto's eyes involuntarily flicked to the heavily bandaged arm held close to his side.
"Not so bad, then," he offered.
"No," Sasuke put the rest of the cards in the box and reached for his water. "Not so bad."
He flicked a glance at the chair near the bed, and Naruto dropped into it wearily.
"Did you see the doctor yet?"
"Me?" Naruto frowned. "What for?"
"That new pain in your ass."
Naruto gave a short bark of laughter, putting his hands behind his head. "He's getting there," his smile was wry. "Smart kid. Just green."
"He's an idiot," Sasuke muttered.
"Well he's not you, that's for sure. Captain says you have a place if you ever want to come back."
"I do. I will. Won't be cleared to return before the new year, unfortunately. Chief already made that abundantly clear. I'll have a better idea when I talk to him – after we get back."
"Probably not a bad idea to make yourself scarce for a while, seeing how there are still a fair few people who want to kick your ass. Sakura finally talk you into taking a vacation?"
"Something like that."
Naruto eyed his friend, trying to put a finger on what he was missing.
"In fact," Sasuke cleared his throat. "You'll probably have to be the one to drop us off at the airport."
"Ok?" Naruto ventured. "Any particular reason why?"
Sasuke gave a careless shrug.
"Part of your Best Man duties."
Naruto blinked several times as he waited for the realization to worm its way through the tangle of synapses and disbelief to break in the bright blue of his eyes.
"You…you finally…?"
Sasuke gave a single nod.
"And she said yes?!"
"What did you think she was going to say?"
"You mean if she actually came to her senses?" Naruto's eyes lit with amusement. "Although, I guess if she hasn't by now it's probably a hopeless case."
Sasuke leveled what should've been an annoyed look at him, but it came off as a fond smirk.
A perfunctory knock rapped against the door, and Naruto smiled up at his old friend.
"Sakura," he stood, and his smile immediately tipped her off.
"He told you?"
"Yeah," he put his hands on his hips and shook his head at her. "Guess we'll have to see about that annulment for real now."
Sakura's eyes sparkled merrily, and her chuckle was warm. "Guess so. Although, I'm fairly certain that those ceremonies weren't strictly binding."
"Dunno," he lifted one shoulder. "At least twice a week from the time we were three until we were six? That's gotta count for something."
"It does," she reached for his hand and pulled him into a hug. "Neither of us can imagine doing this without you."
"Pretty sure there's a two-person limit, Sak."
"Definitely a two-person limit," Sasuke chimed in, making her roll her eyes.
"Is my other wife coming?"
"Ino's my maid of honor."
"And doing the flowers?"
"Naturally."
"Glad that all of those pretend weddings she forced us into paid off," he ruffled her hair before stepping to the side and letting her get to Sasuke.
He watched as she squeezed the top of his arm lovingly before checking his dressings, his vitals, and murmuring questions about his pain levels.
She gave him a quick kiss.
"I have to get back to my rounds. That muscle relaxant will kick in, soon, Sasuke. Don't fight it, alright? Get some rest."
With a final hug from Naruto, she slipped out of the room.
Naruto turned to his best friend and partner, and held out a hand.
"Congratulations, Sasuke."
Sasuke's handshake was awkward – he'd been left-handed after all – but the hug that followed was one between brothers.
Soon after, Sasuke drifted into a restful sleep, looking markedly happier than Naruto had seen him look in years. The late afternoon sun was filling the windows when Naruto drew the blinds and slipped out of the room.
Kaori met him at the Nurses' station with a message from the chief.
"He said don't bother coming back to the precinct tonight – there's been another blackout, and they don't think they'll have power again before your shift ends."
"Must be my lucky day," Naruto said with an attempt at a smile. He gave her half a wave, and was taking the stairs before she could wish him a good night. He paused in the lobby just long enough to visit the water fountain before joining the rest of Konoha streaming into the crowded subway.
There was little relief to be had when he stepped out into the heat of the Konoha night, and habit led his steps to the familiar restaurant. Ayame had his to-go order ready before he even walked in, much to his relief.
"Thought you might stop by," her smile was friendly and kind. "You're welcome to stay and eat, mind you."
"Thanks, Ayame," he gave a shadow of his normal smile. "This is great." He waved to Old Man Teuchi through the small kitchen window, paid, and left.
He walked the few blocks from Ichiraiku to his no-frills apartment building on the edges of the less fashionable end of the old Garment District – the part that hadn't segued into the fashion world, and housed many a skilled seamstress and tailor, educated in old world styles and still speaking in their native tongues. The elevator was perpetually broken, so he trekked up the steps to his apartment. He could still hear Sasuke complaining when he'd moved into the sixteenth floor, particularly as they hauled up his furniture. A few crackled strains of music from the radio met his ears as he locked the deadbolts and set his food on the counter, tossing his keys into a basket Sakura had put there and labeled "Take me with you."
Too tired to change, he slipped his suspenders off his shoulders and peeled off his shirt, tossing it into the basket, but leaving his sleeveless undershirt in place. He grabbed a cold beer out of the fridge and climbed through the window to sit on his fire-escape to eat, enjoying what little breeze there was to be had that many stories above the city.
Below the sun was fading, and a different part of Konoha was waking, even as this one rolled up their sidewalks for the day.
He wondered belatedly if he should've told Teuchi about Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke was pretty private about that kind of stuff, but he doubted he would mind if their old friends knew; they could be relied upon to be discreet. Resolving to ask him when he visited tomorrow or the next day, he lifted the last of his beer in a salute.
"'Bout time, bastard," he muttered fondly, finishing the last of the cold drink, and settling back to watch the stars drift into the sky.
** The Land of Fire is a small, fictitious island/country in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. It was "discovered" by multiple people over the years, and has long history of being multicultural. During WWI and WWII, they accepted amnesty seekers from around the globe, and have a highly diverse population. The city of Konoha is modeled after NYC and London circa 1963. Because of the diverse population, and the island's refusal to participate in the slave trade, the civil rights movment/counter culture movement was not prevalent on the island, although the residents are aware of those trends in other countries.