The Slave of Sound

The Slave of Sound
Chapter 16

Sasuke brought Naruto’s hand to his lips once more, pressing them there as he strove to make the blonde understand the magnitude of his emotions with those raw words from the depths of his black heart. Hoped that somehow Naruto would understand that he was sorry. Oh god, so sorry. He struggled to speak those damning words, his apology, his admittance that he’d been so wrong for so long.

Naruto sat frozen there, tears still wet upon his cheeks. Then he stiffened slowly, feeling rage bubbling up inside, hot and furious, and suddenly, he didn’t care anymore. What was life anyway, when it was like this? Filled with pain and torment and scorn and hopelessness? How had he stood it for so long? Whatever game his master was bent upon, he’d had enough. Let the bastard kill him. Good! Then this horrible life would finally be over, and he could rest.

“You what?”

Sasuke was startled by the sudden venom in Naruto’s voice, and didn’t resist when the blonde jerked his hand free.

“You what?” Naruto repeated, his voice louder, higher and colder. “How dare you say that to me!”

With his head still bent, Sasuke never saw it coming.

Naruto was small, yes; his deprived childhood had seen to that. And yes, Naruto was weak; Sasuke had seen to that. But by the same token, the starvation of his childhood and the malnourishment of his youth ended seven years ago. Since then, Naruto had eaten very well. Though rather dainty, and frequently injured, he was exceptionally healthy. Something else Sasuke had seen to. Most of all, he was still a man, no matter how delicate and lissome he’d become. And he had the power of rage behind him now.

His fist caught Sasuke unerringly on the point of his high cheekbone. The force of that vengeful impact snapped the Uchiha’s head back, and slid his whole body two feet across the highly polished and gleaming wood of the floor, and then he fell back and smacked the back of his head against the same, and saw stars.

Naruto… had hit his master, right in the face.

And he didn’t care. Flushed with fury, he leapt to his bare feet. Oh, he would go out with glory! Not weak and whining, not writhing under the instruments of Kabuto’s torture, and certainly not under the raking nails, biting teeth and tearing cock of the damned Uchiha! He would go out on his feet, fighting like a man, not a slave. And he would die, right here, right now, finally, like a man.

Sasuke shook his head, put a hand to his throbbing cheek, and stared up at the wrathful blonde towering over him. Oh, he was magnificent in his rage, insurmountable in his fury! His blue eyes burned with purpose, literally crackled with life! His face was flushed, turning the creamy ivory to a rosy hue. His lips were parted, flash of even white teeth as he panted in his anger and righteousness.

Despite the ache of his cheekbone, and the tearing pain in his heart, he’d never seen anything more wonderful in his life. Naruto… Naruto! …was so bright and vivid and deliciously alive! From the tips of his naked toes, to the flashing stars of his eyes, to the wild mop of golden hair growing brighter with every furious breath he took, Naruto was alive!

“Beautiful,” Sasuke whispered reverently, seeing the blonde finally, as he was meant to be. Not the cringing fearful victim, not the pale and passive slave, but strong and tall and filled with life like the warrior, the lord he’d always been meant to be. Before Uchiha Sasuke had perverted that in all his vainglorious arrogance.

“Get up, you bastard,” Naruto snarled, fists knotting even tighter. “Get to your damned feet and fight me like a man!”

Sasuke didn’t move, just stared up at him, the moment of awe passing, and knew that he would take whatever Naruto dished up right now. He would not fight back. He had anything and everything coming to him. And more.

“Get up!” Naruto howled, not to be denied in his final moments. That bastard would finish this, for once and for all. Finish this, and him. And then, finally, he could rest in the comforting oblivion of death. And he longed for that, with every fiber of his being.

When Sasuke still did not move, he flung himself on the raven, releasing seven years of pain and grief and hatred, all the while his ever mounting rage vented in furious screams. The raven fell back, and didn’t even lift his hands in defense.

“Get up, you fucking bastard!” There was a crack as Sasuke’s nose broke.

“Fight me, you damn coward!” Blood gushed and spattered as another fist smashed into his mouth.

Kicking, biting, scratching, punching, vengeance poured in a brilliant torrent from the blonde, until finally, he paused, realizing Sasuke wasn’t fighting back, wasn’t even trying to protect himself.

He found himself straddling a battered and bleeding Uchiha, panting and gasping as his strength and endurance, once so great and enduring, began to wane, vanishing into the accursed collar around his throat.

“Why don’t you get up?” Naruto growled. Was this that bastard’s way of letting him know he still didn’t think much of him? Damn him! “Why wont you fight me?”

The blond head slowly lowered and the last of his fury flickered and died out. Was this all that there was? Would this be his lot… forever? Why didn’t Sasuke jump up, punch him, hit him, rape him, kill him? Why?

“Why wont you kill me?” He begged softly, struggling to hold back tears.

Sasuke finally closed his eyes, his battered body still not as painful as his aching heart. Naruto wanted him to kill him. Wanted to die so badly he would risk the vaunted Uchiha wrath for the audacity of attacking his master. Tears ran unchecked down the line of his temple into his sweaty, bloody hair.

“Please, Sasuke, kill me. Please.” Naruto whispered, ultimately defeated. “Don’t you know how much I hate you? I don’t want to live another moment with you. Please, kill me.”

And Sasuke suddenly understood the powerful desire to die and be done with the horror of the life. And he’d brought these horrors upon himself, and his most precious person. But understanding meant nothing. No matter how keenly, how deservedly Naruto wanted to die, there was no way in heaven or hell that Sasuke could be the instrument. Not on top of everything else he’d done to the most loyal, kind and loving person to ever grace this god forsaken planet.

“Kill me, damn you!” Naruto screamed, drawing his fist back again. He had to die! He just had to! He couldn’t live this life, or any other, any more.

But unnoticed by both the despairing men, the door had opened, and two frightened panicked girls darted in, and Doa caught Naruto’s hand before he could further harm their precious lord, and further endanger his own beloved life.

The Uchiha’s two door guards had finally broken past the chakra locks Sasuke had put upon them before he’d finally touched his blonde in tender passion, not wanting that moment broken for anything. Behind them hobbled in Sasuke’s major domo, DeKrisso himself, bent and frail, but still so wise, his face wet with tears as he knew what this portended.

For the crime of assaulting his lord and master, Naruto, sweet and gentle Naruto, would die.

Sobbing and gasping, Doa let go of that bloody fist, caught Naruto around the waist and hauled him off Sasuke, while Kia whimpered and immediately began daubing healing ointments and salves upon her lord’s face and body.

Naruto was unceremoniously hauled to his feet by the hair, and Sasuke didn’t miss the blessed relief in the blonde’s eyes as he looked into the face of his executioner. The guard drew his katana.

Sasuke pushed Kia aside, his face and nose already tingling with the chakra infused cream. Dammit, he didn’t want to be healed! He deserved the pain Naruto had unleashed upon him.

“Don’t touch him!” Sasuke voice rang out, forbidding and severe. “If you value your life, let him go.”

“But my Lord,” the man began, fingers loosening in Naruto tangled locks. “He…”

“Enough,” Sasuke got shakily to his feet, and tried to shrug off Kia, who was still dotting and smearing cream on his naked bruised body. “He’s done nothing wrong. He is not to be punished. Do you understand?” Sasuke’s voice was hard and unwavering. He finally pushed Kia away.

“Do you understand? All of you? He is not to be touched. Ever.” Sasuke snapped.

“Yes, my Lord,” both men responded, bewildered.

“Good. Now get out. All of you.”

But when Naruto turned to go, head bowed, Sasuke spoke quietly. “Stay, Naruto. Please.”

A moment later, they were alone. And silent. Unable to even look at each other in this terrible moment of clarity and honesty.